Nitrofurantoin as an Add-On to Conventional Prophylaxis for the Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Kidney Recipients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) constitute one of the main complications in kidney recipients, increasing both morbidity and mortality. Due to the resurgence of antimicrobial resistance, new prophylactic approaches are being investigated. Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic from the nitrofuran group that is effective against several Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms; hence, there has been a resurgence in its prescription for treating MDR pathogens.

Role of Myostatin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Clinical Impact.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects synovial joints and that frequently involves extra-articular organs. A multiplicity of interleukins (IL) participates in the pathogenesis of RA, including IL-6, IL-1β, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; immune cells such as monocytes, T and B lymphocytes, and macrophages; and auto-antibodies, mainly rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). Skeletal muscle is also involved in RA, with many patients developing muscle wasting and sarcopenia.

Intravenous Vitamin C as an Add-on Therapy for the Treatment of Sepsis in an Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Cohort Study.

: According to the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3), sepsis is defined as "life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection". The increased presence of free radicals causes an increase in oxidative stress. Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin with antioxidant activity and immunoregulatory effects that plays a potential role in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Association of the Gene rs7574865 Polymorphism with IFN-γ Levels in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

STAT4 plays an important role in disease activity in SLE patients. STAT4 particles have the capacity to activate the transcription of genes associated with the production of TH1 and Th17 lymphocytes, with a greater predominance on the production of IFN-γ and IL-17A. The presence of variants in genes has a major impact on the generation of autoimmunity.

Myostatin Levels and the Risk of Myopenia and Rheumatoid Cachexia in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Myostatin is a regulator of muscle size. To date, there have been no published studies focusing on the relation between myostin levels and myopenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: Evaluate the value of serum myostatin as a biomarker of cachexia and low skeletal muscle mass (LSMM) in RA patients, along with whether high serum myostatin is associated to these conditions after adjusting for potential confounders.

Serum irisin concentrations and osteoporotic vertebral fractures in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Irisin stimulates osteoblast differentiation increasing bone mass a decreasing in irisin levels might contribute to osteoporotic fractures in inflammatory diseases. To date, there is controverted whether irisin levels are associated with osteoporotic fractures in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, we evaluate the association of serum irisin with osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures (VFs) in women with RA.