Role of Therapeutic Plasmapheresis in SARS-CoV-2 Induced Cytokine Release Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study on COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) significantly contributes to the pathophysiology and progression of COVID-19. It is speculated that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can dampen CRS via elimination of pathogenic cytokines.

Objectives: The study is intended to compare the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with CRS treated with TPE and standard care (SC) to their counterparts receiving SC alone.

Adults with Crohn's disease exhibit elevated gynoid fat and reduced android fat irrespective of disease relapse or remission.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a debilitating inflammatory bowel condition of unknown aetiology that is growing in prevalence globally. Large-scale studies have determined associations between female obesity or low body mass index (BMI) with risk of CD at all ages or 8- < 40 years, respectively. For males, low BMI entering adult life is associated with increased incidence of CD or ulcerative colitis up to 40 years later.

Familial clustering of hepatitis C virus in a Pakistani population.

Pakistan has the second-highest burden of hepatitis C patients in the world. A total of 683 individuals, who visited the Liver Clinic during the study period, were screened for the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A total of 534 individuals who showed positive HCV infection were grouped into the case group and 149 individuals with HCV negative status were grouped into the control group.

Elevated Faecal Calprotectin Levels are a Reliable Non-Invasive Screening Tool for Small Bowel Crohn's Disease in Patients Undergoing Capsule Endoscopy.

Background: Approximately 10% of Crohn's disease (CD) patients have this disease affecting the small bowel (SB) beyond the reach of Ileo-colonoscopy. Capsule endoscopy (SBCE) is the recommended investigation for SB disease. An accurate and inexpensive biomarker would help identify at-risk patients.