Fatal and sp. co-infestation in wolves () at the Białowieża National Park, Poland - is it a consequence of climate change?

Introduction: In winter 2021/2022, a wolf population in the primeval Białowieża Forest in Poland was struck by an outbreak of severe mange caused by mixed infestations of and mites. We present an epidemiological analysis of this mange which caused significant morbidity and mortality.

Material And Methods: Ten sites known for wolf activity were monitored by camera trapping.

The Influence of Anti-ETAR and Anti-CXCR3 Antibody Levels on the Course of Specific Glomerulonephritis Types.

Anti-ETAR (endothelin A receptor) antibodies and anti-CXCR3 (C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3) antibodies are types of non-HLA (human leukocyte antigens) antibodies that could have some influence on the course of glomerulonephritis. The authors aimed to study the influence of these antibodies' levels on the course of specific glomerulonephritis types. We evaluated the anti-ETAR and anti-CXCR3 antibody levels in the serum of patients with membranous nephropathy (n = 18), focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (n = 25), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 17), IgA nephropathy (n = 14), mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (n = 6), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA) vasculitis (n = 40), and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) vasculitis (n = 16), and we compared their levels with the control group (n = 22).

The role of a distal forearm perforating vein and deep vein system in supporting patency of a snuffbox fistula - A case report.

The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the clinical course of a 66-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in whom an access arteriovenous fistula was created in the anatomical snuffbox. At discharge, the fistula thrill was normal. Two months later, a duplex examination revealed previously unrecognized obstruction of the mid-forearm segment of the cephalic vein; flow was maintained by a perforator into the deep venous system, which returned blood to the upper arm cephalic vein above the occlusion.

Endothelin Inhibitors in Chronic Kidney Disease: New Treatment Prospects.

The endothelin system is reported to play a significant role in glomerular and tubulointerstitial kidney disease. In the kidney, endothelins are produced in mesangial cells and the glomerular basement membrane by the endothelium and podocytes. The endothelin system regulates glomerular function by inducing proliferation, increasing permeability and in effect proteinuria, and stimulating inflammation, tubular fibrosis, and glomerular scarring.

Multiplex CLIA-waived point-of-care tests for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, ± other respiratory pathogens: A systematic review.

Background: Many multiplex CLIA-waived point of care tests are available in the United States for community pharmacists to incorporate into their practice.

Objective: To characterize the eleven multiplex CLIA-waived point of care tests available for detecting SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B ± other respiratory pathogens and summarize their performance characteristics from published studies.

Methods: Food and Drug Administration websites and databases were utilized to identify currently available tests.

Association of Autoimmune Disorders and Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: (DMARDs) with the Risk of Alzheimer's and/or Dementia: A Population Study Using Medicare Beneficiary Data.

Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or dementia is a prevalent neurocognitive disorder primarily affecting individuals over the age of 65. Identifying specific causes of AD and/or dementia can be challenging, with emerging evidence suggesting a potential association with autoimmune inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to assess the prevalence rate of AD and/or dementia among Medicare beneficiaries reporting an autoimmune disorder.

Point-of-Care Testing to Differentiate Various Acid-Base Disorders in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Normal-anion-gap metabolic acidosis (AGMA) and high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) are two forms of metabolic acidosis, which is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of various acid-base disorders in patients with advanced CKD using point-of-care testing (POCT) and to determine the relationship between POCT parameters.

Methods: In a group of 116 patients with CKD in stages G4 and G5, with a mean age of 62.

Radial Artery Deviation and Reimplantation (RADAR) to Accelerate the Maturation of Radial-Cephalic Fistulas for Hemodialysis in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease.

Background: The most common form of vascular access for hemodialysis is a native arteriovenous fistula, which connects the site of the artery to the end of the vein. The maturation process of the fistula plays a crucial role in the establishment of a functional vascular access. Radial artery stenosis is among the potential causes of maturation failure.

The Artificial Neural Network as a Diagnostic Tool of the Risk of Infection among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

The majority of recently published studies indicate a greater incidence and mortality due to infection (CDI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hospitalization, older age, the use of antibiotics, immunosuppression, proton pump inhibitors (PPI), and chronic diseases such as CKD are responsible for the increased prevalence of infections. The aim of the study is to identify clinical indicators allowing, in combination with artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, the most accurate assessment of the patients being at elevated risk of CDI.

Stereochemistry-Driven Interactions of α,γ-Peptide Ligands with the Neuropeptide Y Y-Receptor.

The G-protein-coupled Y-receptor (YR) and its endogenous ligand, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), suppress appetite in response to food intake and, thus, are attractive drug targets for body-weight control. The C-terminus of human PP (hPP), T-R-P-R-Y-, penetrates deep into the binding pocket with its tyrosine-amide and di-arginine motif. Here, we present two C-terminally amidated α,γ-hexapeptides (/) with sequence -R-γ-CBAA-R-L-R-Y-, where γ-CBAA is the (1,2,3)-configured 2-(aminomethyl)-3-phenylcyclobutanecarboxyl moiety () or its mirror image ().

Secondary IgA Nephropathy and IgA-Associated Nephropathy: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.

Primary (pIgAN), secondary IgA nephropathy (sIgAN), and IgA-associated nephropathy can be distinguished. While pIgAN has been thoroughly studied, information about the etiology of sIgAN remains scarce. As concerns sIgAN, several studies suggest that different etiologic factors play a role and ultimately lead to a pathophysiologic process similar to that of pIgAN.

Upcycling the anthracyclines: New mechanisms of action, toxicology, and pharmacology.

The anthracyclines are a family of natural products isolated from soil bacteria with over 2000 chemical representatives. Since their discovery seventy years ago by Waksman and co-workers, anthracyclines have become one of the best-characterized anticancer chemotherapies in clinical use. The anthracyclines exhibit broad-spectrum antineoplastic activity for the treatment of a variety of solid and liquid tumors, however, their clinical use is limited by their dose-limiting cardiotoxicity.

Artificial neural network - an effective tool for predicting the lupus nephritis outcome.

Background: Lupus nephropathy (LN) occurs in approximately 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 20% of them will eventually progress into end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A clinical tool predicting remission of proteinuria might be of utmost importance. In our work, we focused on predicting the chance of complete remission achievement in LN patients, using artificial intelligence models, especially an artificial neural network, called the multi-layer perceptron.

The Clinical Significance of Urinary Retinol-Binding Protein 4: A Review.

Effective biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication, and monitoring in renal diseases (in general) comprise an unmet need. Urinary retinol-binding protein 4, which is the most sensitive indicator of renal tubular damage, holds great promise as a universal biomarker for renal pathologies, in which tubular injury is the driving force. Here, we summarize the most important existing data on the associations between urinary retinol-binding protein 4 and renal diseases and highlight the untapped potential of retinol-binding protein 4 in clinical use.

The economic burden of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the United States.

Background: Previous U.S. economic burden estimates for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varied from $85.

Clinical Determinants Predicting Infection among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

The majority of recently published studies indicate a greater incidence rate and mortality due to Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical determinants predicting CDI among hospitalized patients with CKD and refine methods of prevention. We evaluated the medical records of 279 patients treated at a nephrological department with symptoms suggesting CDI, of whom 93 tested positive for CDI.

Prone Position Facilitates Creation of Ulnar-Basilic Arteriovenous Fistula.

Background: The distal ulnar-basilic arteriovenous fistula (UBAVF) is a rarely used alternative type of vascular access for haemodialysis. The location of the vein on the back aspect of the forearm forces an extremely uncomfortable external rotation of the upper limb during surgery when the patient is in a supine position.

Methods: We present a new approach towards creating UBAVF, which involves placing the patient in the prone position, thus eliminating the aforementioned inconvenience.

Multisystem Amyloidosis in a Coal Miner with Silicosis: Is Exposure to Silica Dust a Cause of Amyloid Deposition?

The over-secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains by clonal B cells followed by the aggregation and extracellular deposition of fibrillar deposits are responsible forthe clinical course AL amyloidosis. It is well documented that silica significantly increases the number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells. In the present paper, we report on a coal miner with silicosis and fast progressing primary amyloidosis with predominantly heart, kidney, and lung manifestations.

Artificial Intelligence-A Tool for Risk Assessment of Delayed-Graft Function in Kidney Transplant.

Delayed-graft function (DGF) might be responsible for shorter graft survival. Therefore, a clinical tool predicting its occurrence is vital for the risk assessment of transplant outcomes. In a single-center study, we conducted data mining and machine learning experiments, resulting in DGF predictive models based on random forest classifiers (RF) and an artificial neural network called multi-layer perceptron (MLP).

Antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 proteins N, S and E in COVID-19 patients in the normal population and in historical samples.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally; recognition of immune responses to this virus will be crucial for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control, prevention and treatment. We comprehensively analysed IgG and IgA antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N), spike protein domain 1 (S1) and envelope protein (E) in: SARS-CoV-2-infected patient, healthy, historical and pre-epidemic samples, including patients' medical, epidemiological and diagnostic data, virus-neutralizing capability and kinetics. N-specific IgG and IgA are the most reliable diagnostic targets for infection.

Celiac disease: uncommon, oligosymptomatic course of illness, with profound hypoalbuminemia in an adult patient.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disease, caused by gluten, occurring in people with genetic predisposition. The course of the disease can vary and includes both intestinal and extra-intestinal manifestations. Many patients are undiagnosed for many years and some of them, in particular with nonspecific symptoms or asymptomatic, might never be diagnosed.

N-Terminus to Arginine Side-Chain Cyclization of Linear Peptidic Neuropeptide Y Y Receptor Ligands Results in Picomolar Binding Constants.

The family of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors comprises four subtypes (YR, YR, YR, YR), which are addressed by at least three endogenous peptides, i.e., NPY, peptide YY, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), the latter showing a preference for YR.