Alternative Complement Pathway Inhibition with Iptacopan in IgA Nephropathy.

Background: The alternative complement pathway plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Iptacopan specifically binds to factor B and inhibits the alternative pathway.

Methods: In this phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled adults with biopsy-confirmed IgA nephropathy and proteinuria (defined as a 24-hour urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of ≥1 [with protein and creatinine both measured in grams]) despite optimized supportive therapy.

A whole-cell pertussis vaccine engineered to elicit reduced reactogenicity protects baboons against pertussis challenge.

Whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccines introduced in the 1940s led to a dramatic reduction of pertussis incidence and are still widely used in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) worldwide. The reactogenicity of wP vaccines resulted in reduced public acceptance, which drove the development and introduction of acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines in high-income countries in the 1990s. Increased incidence of pertussis disease has been observed in high-income countries following the introduction of aP vaccines despite near universal rates of pediatric vaccination.

The periscope sign as a new dermatoscopy finding to facilitate the diagnosis of furuncular myiasis.

In this text, we introduce the ‘periscope sign’ as a novel dermatoscopic finding in furuncular myiasis. This clinical sign may aid in diagnosing this rare condition, particularly in patients with a history of travel to endemic areas.