Validation of a Hand-Held Point-of-Care Device to Measure Breath Hydrogen and Its Utility in Detecting Response to Antibiotic Treatment.

Background: Breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is typically performed using clinic-based equipment or single-use test kits.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of a portable, point-of-care breath analysis device (AIRE®, FoodMarble) in patients suspected to have SIBO. A technical assessment including a comparison to existing mail-in kits was first performed.

Joint Hypermobility, Autonomic Dysfunction, Gastrointestinal Dysfunction, and Autoimmune Markers: Clinical Associations and Response to Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy.

Introduction: We examined autoimmunity markers (AIM) and autonomic dysfunction in patients with chronic neurogastroenterological symptoms and their relationship to joint hypermobility/hypermobility spectrum disorder (JH/HSD).

Methods: AIM positivity was defined as a diagnosis of known autoimmune/autoinflammatory disorder with at least 1 positive seromarker of autoimmunity or at least 2 positive seromarkers by themselves. Three cohorts were studied: (i) retrospective (n = 300), (ii) prospective validation cohort (n = 133), and (iii) treatment cohort (n = 40), administered open-label intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Gastrointestinal syndromes preceding a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease: testing Braak's hypothesis using a nationwide database for comparison with Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular diseases.

Objective: Braak's hypothesis states that Parkinson's disease (PD) originates in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and similar associations have been established for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). We aimed to determine the incidence of GI syndromes and interventions preceding PD compared with negative controls (NCs), AD and CVD.

Design: We performed a combined case-control and cohort study using TriNetX, a US based nationwide medical record network.

Guidance Statement for the Management of Febrile Neutropenia in Pediatric Patients Receiving Cancer-Directed Therapy in Central America and the Caribbean.

Purpose: Our objective was to provide regionally appropriate, resource-conscious recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with febrile neutropenia.

Methods: A multinational panel of Central American and Caribbean clinicians who deliver pediatric oncology care prioritized clinically important questions and then used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to provide recommendations on the selected topics.

Results: Twenty-two questions and 2 definitions were included in the guideline, which was intended to establish minimum care standards for pediatric patients treated in regional centers.