Progressive Uveitis as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge in Whipple's Disease.

A caucasian male in his 60s presented with a several-month history of weight loss and recurrent fever, accompanied by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and progressive uveitis. Initial investigations were inconclusive, including Pet CT and duodenal biopsy with  polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on a suspicion of autoimmune disease, immunosuppressive treatment was initiated without clinical improvement.

Ocular Sarcoidosis as Initial Presentation of the Disease: Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors Associated with Disease Recurrence.

Purpose: To review the clinical presentation and diagnostic workup of patients presenting with ocular sarcoidosis as initial manifestation of the disease and identify risk factors for disease recurrence.

Methods: All cases of sarcoidosis followed in our departments of Ophthalmology and Internal Medicine were retrospectively reviewed. Among 177 patients, 50 had ocular sarcoidosis as initial presentation of the disease.

The first reported familial case of statin-induced immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with anti-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase autoantibodies and HLA DRB1*11:01.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is a rare type of auto-immune myositis, characterized by symmetric muscle pain, proximal weakness, elevated serum CK levels and pathologic findings of necrotized muscle fibers. IMNM may be seronegative, associated with anti-signal recognition particle (SRP) antibodies or anti-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) antibodies, the last widely related with statin use. This last entity affects only 2 to 3 of 100,000 patients under statins.

Central Vein Sign, Cortical Lesions, and Paramagnetic Rim Lesions for the Diagnostic and Prognostic Workup of Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be challenging in clinical practice because MS presentation can be atypical and mimicked by other diseases. We evaluated the diagnostic performance, alone or in combination, of the central vein sign (CVS), paramagnetic rim lesion (PRL), and cortical lesion (CL), as well as their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods: In this multicenter observational study, we first conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the CVS (proportion of CVS-positive lesions or simplified determination of CVS in 3/6 lesions-Select3*/Select6*), PRL, and CL in MS and non-MS cases on 3T-MRI brain images, including 3D T2-FLAIR, T2*-echo-planar imaging magnitude and phase, double inversion recovery, and magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo image sequences.

A Comparison Study of Lymph Node Tuberculosis and Sarcoidosis Involvement to Facilitate Differential Diagnosis and to Establish a Predictive Score for Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) and sarcoidosis are two common granulomatous diseases involving lymph nodes. Differential diagnosis is not always easy because pathogen demonstration in tuberculosis is not always possible and both diseases share clinical, radiological and histological patterns. The aim of our study was to identify factors associated with each diagnosis and set up a predictive score for TB.

Intravascular large cell B lymphoma presenting as central nervous system pseudo-vasculitis: A rare diagnostic challenge.

Intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a very rare subtype of aggressive non-Hodgkin B cell lymphoma characterized by intravascular proliferation of clonal B lymphocytes, classically associated with pulmonary and cutaneous disease and, less frequently, with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Brain imaging findings are usually non-specific, with evidence of multiple vascular occlusions and stroke as non-specific multifocal abnormalities. We present an exceptionally rare case of IVLBCL in a patient with unexplained inflammatory syndrome with B symptoms and rapidly progressive neurological impairment, with multifocal hemorrhagic and tumefactive brain lesions seen on MRI.

[F]FDG-PET/CT in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: Retrospective Data from a Belgian Cohort.

[F]FDG-PET/CT is a useful tool for diagnosis and cancer detection in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), especially polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). Data deriving from Europe are lacking. We describe [F]FDG-PET/CT results in a Belgian cohort with IIMs, focusing on patients with PM and DM.

Epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of neurosarcoidosis: A mono-centric retrospective study and literature review.

Introduction: Neurosarcoidosis is a rare granulomatous disorder, and treatment guidelines are mainly based on retrospective studies.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was performed to provide a detailed description of the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with neurosarcoidosis followed at Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc in Belgium. The second objective of our study was to perform a comparative literature review of neurosarcoidosis, with a focus on treatment outcomes with the use of TNF-α antagonist.

pH indicator films fabricated from soy protein isolate modified with chitin nanowhisker and flower extract.

Sensor films are finding wide range of applications. Different type of sensing films is fabricated for the identification of chemicals, ions, heavy metals, changes in the pH, etc. The present report is on the fabrication of pH sensitive films from completely natural sources-soy protein isolate, chitin nano whiskers and flower extract.

Sustained Downregulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Acta2 After Transient Angiotensin II Infusion: A New Model of "Vascular Memory".

Background: Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a critical role in the development of hypertension. Published evidence on a putative "memory effect" of AngII on the vascular components is however scarce.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term effects of transient exposure to AngII on the mouse heart and the arterial tissue.

Legacy in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Control: From Theory to Future Therapeutic Strategies?

In medicine, a legacy effect is defined as the sustained beneficial effect of a given treatment on disease outcomes, even after cessation of the intervention. Initially described in optimized control of diabetes, it was also observed in clinical trials exploring intensification strategies for other cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Mechanisms of legacy were particularly deciphered in diabetes, leading to the concept of metabolic memory.

Validation of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Cut-off Value Associated with High In-Hospital Mortality in COVID-19 Patients.

Introduction: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could be a predictive factor of severe COVID-19. However, most relevant studies are retrospective, and the optimal NLR cut-off point has not been determined. The objective of our research was identification and validation of the best NLR cut-off value on admission that could predict high in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Follow-up of functional exercise capacity in patients with COVID-19: It is improved by telerehabilitation.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on functional exercise capacity seemed quickly clinically evident. The objective of this study was to assess the functional exercise capacity of patients with severe COVID-19 and to evaluate the effect of a telerehabilitation program in the specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: Patients hospitalized for severe or critical COVID-19 were recruited.

Determinants of IgG antibodies kinetics after severe and critical COVID-19.

The kinetics of IgG antibodies after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain poorly understood. We investigated factors influencing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG antibody levels and time to seronegativation during the follow-up of severe and critically ill patients. We retrospectively reviewed serological evaluations drawn during the follow-up of severe or critical laboratory-proven COVID-19 patients hospitalized at a large academic hospital.

Integrative respiratory follow-up of severe COVID-19 reveals common functional and lung imaging sequelae.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented number of hospitalizations in general wards and intensive care units (ICU). Severe and critical COVID-19 patients suffer from extensive pneumonia; therefore, long-term respiratory sequelae may be expected.

Research Question: We conducted a cohort study to determine respiratory sequelae in patients with severe and critical COVID-19.

Hydroxychloroquine in the post-COVID-19 era: will this pandemic upset decades of clinical practice?

In the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Belgian health authorities endorsed the interim guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia: hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) recommended for treatment of hospitalized patients with moderate to severe disease. As a growing number of patients were admitted, inevitably, our internal medicine team questioned the efficacy and safety of HCQ, especially with regard to cardiac side effects. In parallel with our concerns, data regarding the safety and efficacy of HCQ were published, with discordant results and debate in the medical community.

Development of starch based intelligent films by incorporating anthocyanins of butterfly pea flower and TiO and their applicability as freshness sensors for prawns during storage.

Intelligent pH sensitive starch films were developed by incorporation of anthocyanin pigment extracted from butterfly pea flower (BPE) and nanosized TiO using the method of solution casting. This research work evaluated the influence of BPE and TiO on the physical and structural properties of starch films. The physical properties of the starch films could be significantly altered by the addition of BPE and or TiO.

Immune-mediated neurological syndromes in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

Background: Evidence of immune-mediated neurological syndromes associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is limited. We therefore investigated clinical, serological and CSF features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with neurological manifestations.

Methods: Consecutive COVID-19 patients with neurological manifestations other than isolated anosmia and/or non-severe headache, and with no previous neurological or psychiatric disorders were prospectively included.