Real-life use of the PEXIVAS reduced-dose glucocorticoid regimen in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.

Background: The PEXIVAS (Plasma exchange and glucocorticoids in severe antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis) trial showed that a reduced-dose glucocorticoid regimen (redGC) was non-inferior to a standard-dose regimen (standGC) with respect to death or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). However, the primary endpoint did not include disease progression or relapse, cyclophosphamide was the main induction therapy and rituximab (RTX)-treated patients tended to have a higher risk of death or ESKD with redGC. We aimed to evaluate the real-world use of redGC.

The predictive performance of the ANCA renal risk score in patients over 65 years of age with renal ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: The anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) renal risk score (ARRS) for predicting renal survival in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) had not previously been validated in adults over 65 years of age and presenting impairments associated with an aging kidney, a high cardiovascular comorbidity burden and prevalent microscopic polyangiitis.

Methods: We retrospectively studied a cohort of 192 patients over 65 years of age [median (interquartile range) age: 73 (68-78) years], including 17.2% with renal-limited vasculitis, 49.

A healthy dietary pattern is associated with microbiota diversity in recently diagnosed bipolar patients: The Bipolar Netherlands Cohort (BINCO) study.

Background: Diet largely impacts the gut microbiota, and may affect mental and somatic health via the gut-brain axis. As such, the relationship between diet and the microbiota in Bipolar Disorder (BD) could be of importance, but has not been studied before. The aim was therefore to assess whether dietary quality is associated with the gut microbiota diversity in patients with recently diagnosed BD, and whether changes occur in dietary quality and microbiota diversity during their first year of treatment.

Are serum C3 levels or kidney C3 deposits useful markers for predicting outcomes in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis?

Introduction: Complement activation emerged as a key actor of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis (AAV). Whether serum levels of C3 (sC3) or C3 kidney deposition may help to refine the prognosis of AAV remains elusive.

Methods: Retrospective multicentric study that included 154 patients with a first flare of AAV and sC3 (n = 143) or C3 kidney staining (n = 95) available at diagnosis.

Clinical and Prognostic Factors in Patients with IgG4-Related Kidney Disease.

Background: IgG4-related kidney disease is a major manifestation of IgG4-related disease, a systemic fibroinflammatory disorder. However, the clinical and prognostic kidney-related factors in patients with IgG4-related kidney disease are insufficiently defined.

Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study using data from 35 sites in two European countries.

Dynamic time warp analysis of individual symptom trajectories in individuals with bipolar disorder.

Background: Manic and depressive mood states in bipolar disorder (BD) may emerge from the non-linear relations between constantly changing mood symptoms exhibited as a complex dynamic system. Dynamic Time Warp (DTW) is an algorithm that may capture symptom interactions from panel data with sparse observations over time.

Methods: The Young Mania Rating Scale and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology were repeatedly assessed in 141 individuals with BD, with on average 5.

ANCA-associated scleritis: impact of ANCA on presentation, response to therapy and outcome.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics, treatment and outcome of isolated ANCA-associated scleritis at diagnosis compared with idiopathic scleritis with negative ANCA tests.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre case-control study was performed within the French Vasculitis Study Group (FVSG) network and in three French tertiary ophthalmologic centres. Data from patients with scleritis without any systemic manifestation and with positive ANCA results were compared with those of a control group of patients with idiopathic scleritis with negative ANCA tests.

Rituximab resistance at 3months of induction therapy in newly diagnosed or relapsing ANCA-associated vasculitis: A French multicentre retrospective study in 116 patients.

Objective: To evaluate rituximab (RTX) resistance at 3months (M3) of induction therapy in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: Multicentre French retrospective study conducted between 2010 and 2020 including patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing AAV (granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis) having received induction therapy with RTX. Primary endpoint was the presence of RTX resistance at 3months (M3) defined as uncontrolled disease (worsening feature on the BVAS/WG 1month after RTX induction) or disease flare (increase in BVAS/WG of≥1 point before M3).

Evaluation of Rituximab for Induction and Maintenance Therapy in Patients 75 Years and Older With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Importance: Older patients are underrepresented in studies of rituximab for the treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. Little is known about outcomes and adverse events associated with the use of rituximab therapy among patients 75 years and older with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To examine outcomes and adverse events associated with the use of rituximab therapy in patients 75 years and older with ANCA-associated vasculitis, specifically granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).

Gaining insights into the compositional constraints and molecular phylogeny of five silkworms mitochondrial genome.

This study was performed to identify codon usage bias (CUB), genetic similarity and phylogenetic analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes along with separate sequences of 13 protein coding genes per each genome from five types of silkworm including Bombyx mori, Bombyx mandarina, Samia cynthia ricini, Antheraea pernyi and Antheraea assama. Nucleotide composition analysis suggested that AT content was higher than GC content and t-test analysis revealed significance difference (p < 0.01) between AT and GC content.

Kidney Histopathology Can Predict Kidney Function in ANCA-Associated Vasculitides with Acute Kidney Injury Treated with Plasma Exchanges.

Background: Data from the PEXIVAS trial challenged the role of plasma exchange (PLEX) in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). We aimed to describe kidney biopsy from patients with AAV treated with PLEX, evaluate whether histopathologic findings could predict kidney function, and identify which patients would most benefit from PLEX.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective study on 188 patients with AAV and AKI treated with PLEX and 237 not treated with PLEX.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a preexisting longitudinal study of patients with recently diagnosed bipolar disorder: Indications for increases in manic symptoms.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic interfered in the daily lives of people and is assumed to adversely affect mental health. However, the effects on mood (in)stability of bipolar disorder (BD) patients and the comparison to pre-COVID-19 symptom severity levels are unknown.

Method: Between April and September, 2020, symptoms and well-being were assessed in the Bipolar Netherlands Cohort (BINCO) study of recently diagnosed patients with BD I and II.

Association between Increased Bcl-2, Fas and FasL Levels and Inflammation Extent in Labial Salivary Glands During Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Background: Primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by epithelial atrophy, mononuclear infiltration in exocrine glands resulting in the defective function of these glands. In pSS, atrophy of the epithelium is caused by an increased amount of apoptosis.

Objective: The main aim of this study is to investigate the role of the apoptosis-related factors by studying Bcl-2, Fas and FasL expression in relation to the extent of inflammation as well as the effect of therapy on the expression of these mediators.

Personality traits and the risk of incident (hypo)mania among subjects initially suffering from depressive and anxiety disorders in a 9-year cohort study.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by the alternating occurrence of (hypo)manic and depressive episodes. The aim of the current study was to determine whether personality traits independently predicted the subsequent development of (hypo)manic episodes within a group of patients who were initially diagnosed with depressive and anxiety disorders.

Methods: The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety is a cohort study with measurements taken at baseline and at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 9-year follow-up.

Differential Determinants of Tubular Phosphate Reabsorption: Insights on Renal Excretion of Phosphates in Kidney Disease.

We assessed the tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TRP) and maximal renal threshold for phosphate reabsorption to glomerular filtration rate (TmPi/GFR) and their determinants in 64 stages 2-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in order to define the early changes in phosphate metabolism in CKD. In multivariable analysis, TmPi/GFR correlates were estimated GFR (eGFR), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and hemoglobin (R2 = 0.417), while TRP correlates were eGFR, iPTH, 24-h phosphaturia, and calcitriol (R2 = 0.

A multicentre study of 95 biopsy-proven cases of renal disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective.: Renal involvement is a rare event during primary SS (pSS). We aimed to describe the clinico-biological and histopathological characteristics of pSS-related nephropathy and its response to treatment.

Mental Imagery Affects Subsequent Automatic Defense Responses.

Automatic defense responses promote survival and appropriate action under threat. They have also been associated with the development of threat-related psychiatric syndromes. Targeting such automatic responses during threat may be useful in populations with frequent threat exposure.