Objectives: To explore prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of COVID-19 breakthrough infections (BIs) in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) using data from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study.
Methods: A validated patient self-reporting e-survey was circulated by the COVAD study group to collect data on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in 2022. BIs were defined as COVID-19 occurring ≥14 days after 2 vaccine doses.
Introduction: The annual incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is 3-9 cases per 100000 in developed countries and most cases are due to staphylococci and streptococci. IE due to Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC) is very rare.
Case Report: We present a case of a 38-year-old female with bacteremia and infective endocarditis of the native mitral valve.
To investigate the frequency, profile, and severity of COVID-19 breakthrough infections (BI) in patients with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) compared to healthy controls (HC) after vaccination. The second COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD-2) survey is a multinational cross-sectional electronic survey which has collected data on patients suffering from various autoimmune diseases including T1DM. We performed a subgroup analysis on this cohort to investigate COVID-19 BI characteristics in patients with T1DM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report a simultaneous occurrence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. A 64-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a pancreatic head mass with a mesenteric artery encasement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We aimed to investigate the gender-based differences in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), with a particular focus on patient-reported outcomes, utilizing the data obtained through the international COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease e-survey.
Methods: Patient-reported outcomes including fatigue, pain, and physical function were extracted from the COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease database and compared between genders, adjusting for demographics and IIM subgroups by multivariable analysis. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) was analysed separately because of the substantial differences in outcomes.
Data on short-term safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were explored previously in the first COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) survey conducted in 2021. However, delayed adverse events (ADEs) (occurring > 7 days post-vaccination) are poorly characterized in these patients with SSc. In this study, we analysed delayed COVID-19 vaccine-related ADEs among patients with SSc, other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (SAIDs) and healthy controls (HCs) using data from the second COVAD study conducted in 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims/introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations have been proven to be generally safe in healthy populations. However, the data on vaccine safety in patients with type 1 diabetes are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and severity of short-term (<7-day) adverse vaccination events (AEs) and their risk factors among type 1 diabetes patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to assess the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of breakthrough infection (BI) following coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a risk group associated with an immune-suppressed state and high cardiopulmonary disease burden. Cross-sectional data from fully vaccinated respondents with SSc, non-SSc autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), and healthy controls (HCs) were extracted from the COVAD database, an international self-reported online survey. BI was defined according to the Centre for Disease Control definition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypernatremia is defined as having a serum sodium concentration exceeding 145 mmol/L (normal range is 136 - 145 mmol/L). When the serum sodium level surpasses 160 mmol/L and 190 mmol/L, it is classified as severe and extreme hypernatremia, respectively. Extreme hypernatremia is an uncommon occurrence and is associated with significant risks of mortality and morbidity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We investigated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine safety in pregnant and breastfeeding women with autoimmune diseases (AID) in the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study.
Methods: Delayed-onset (>7 days) vaccine-related adverse events (AE), disease flares and AID-related treatment modifications were analysed upon diagnosis of AID vs healthy controls (HC) and the pregnancy/breastfeeding status at the time of at least one dose of vaccine.
Results: Among the 9201 participants to the self-administered online survey, 6787 (73.
Limited evidence on long-term COVID-19 vaccine safety in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) continues to contribute to vaccine hesitancy. We studied delayed-onset vaccine adverse events (AEs) in patients with IIMs, other systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs), using data from the second COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study. A validated self-reporting e-survey was circulated by the COVAD study group (157 collaborators, 106 countries) from Feb-June 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) confer a significant risk of disability and poor quality of life, though fatigue, an important contributing factor, remains under-reported in these individuals. We aimed to compare and analyze differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores (0-10 cm) for fatigue (VAS-F) in patients with IIMs, non-IIM systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the data from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) international patient self-reported e-survey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We aimed to explore current practice and interregional differences in the treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). We triangulated these observations considering countries' gross national income (GNI), disease subtypes, and symptoms using patient-reported information.
Methods: A cross-sectional ancillary analysis of the 'COVID-19 vaccination in auto-immune disease' (COVAD) e-survey containing demographic characteristics, IIM subtypes (DM, PM, IBM, anti-synthetase syndrome [ASSD], immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy [IMNM], overlap myopathies [OM]), current symptoms (surrogate for organ involvement) and treatments (corticosteroids [CS], immunomodulators [IM], i.
The light-scattering effect of hypertriglyceridemia may interfere with the photometric analysis of the electrolytes, leading to errors in laboratory values. We present a case of erroneously low bicarbonate levels due to the presence of severe hypertriglyceridemia. A 49-year-old male was admitted for knee cellulitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGangrenous gallbladder (GGB) is a life-threatening complication of acute cholecystitis, which happens due to gallbladder (GB) wall ischemia and necrosis. Delaying the diagnosis of GGB is life-threatening and may happen in asymptomatic patients. We present a case of an elderly male patient with a history of gastric carcinoid tumor, with partial gastric resection, who presented with generalized weakness and jaundice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines is understudied in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). We compared short-term adverse events (AEs) 7 days following vaccination in patients with SSc vs other rheumatic (AIRDs), non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nrAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). The COVID-19 Vaccination in autoimmune diseases (COVAD) self-reporting e-survey was circulated by a group of > 110 collaborators in 94 countries from March to December 2021.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlagiarism is one of the most frequent forms of research misconduct in South and East Asian countries. This narrative review examines the factors contributing to research misconduct, emphasizing plagiarism, particularly in South, East and Southeast Asian countries. We conducted a PubMed and Scopus search using the terms plagiarism, Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, research misconduct and retractions in January of 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Flares of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) following COVID-19 vaccination are a particular concern in vaccine-hesitant individuals. Therefore, we investigated the incidence, predictors and patterns of flares following vaccination in individuals living with AIRDs, using global COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) surveys.
Methods: The COVAD surveys were used to extract data on flare demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 history, and vaccination details for patients with AIRDs.