Inflammatory signature in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis predicting disease progression.

Experimental studies identified a role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the role of inflammatory molecules as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in patients with ALS is unclear. In this cross-sectional study, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of a set of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were analyzed in 56 newly diagnosed ALS patients and in 47 age- and sex-matched control patients without inflammatory or degenerative neurological disorders.

A schedule for tapering glucocorticoid treatment in patients with severe SARS-CoV 2 infection can prevent acute adrenal insufficiency in the geriatric population.

Objective And Design: Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been widely used in symptomatic patients for the treatment of COVID-19. The risk for adrenal insufficiency must be considered after GC withdrawal given that it is a life-threatening condition if left unrecognized and untreated. Our study aimed to diagnose adrenal insufficiency early on through a GC reduction schedule in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Cohort analysis of novel variants in SPG4 patients and implementation of and studies to identify the pathogenic mechanism caused by splicing mutations.

Introduction: Pure hereditary spastic paraplegia (SPG) type 4 (SPG4) is caused by mutations of gene. This study aimed to analyze variants in SPG4 patients to highlight the occurrence of splicing mutations and combine functional studies to assess the relevance of these variants in the molecular mechanisms of the disease.

Methods: We performed an NGS panel in 105 patients, analysis for splicing mutations, and minigene assay.

Safety of Lumason® (SonoVue®) in special populations and critically ill patients.

Evidence for the safe use of Lumason® (SonoVue®), an ultrasound enhancing agent (UEA), in special patient populations is critical to enable healthcare professionals to make informed decisions concerning its use in such patients. Herein, we provide insight on the safety and tolerability of Lumason® in special patient populations. Findings are presented from clinical pharmacology studies conducted in patients with compromised cardiopulmonary conditions, from a retrospective study performed in critically ill patients, and from post-marketing surveillance data from over 20 years of market use of Lumason® (SonoVue®).

Habitual adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a longitudinal analysis.

Evidence on habitual Mediterranean diet (MD) and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and COVID-19 is limited. 1,520 participants from the Moli-sani Study (2017-2020) were tested during January-September 2021 and adherence to MD was ascertained through the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were determined through serology, and previous clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 disease was self-reported.