Genetic predisposition to high circulating levels of interleukin 6 and risk for Alzheimer's disease. Discovery and replication.

Importance: Aging is accompanied by immune dysregulation, which has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Individuals who are genetically predisposed to elevated levels of proinflammatory mediators might be at increased risk for AD.

Objective: To investigate whether genetic propensity for higher circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) is associated with AD risk.

Prevalence and correlates of postpartum PTSD following emergency cesarean sections: implications for perinatal mental health care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The increasing awareness of the emotional consequences of emergency cesarean deliveries (C-sections) highlights their substantial role in fostering postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of PTSD following emergency C-sections, as well as the implications of these events on maternal mental health and welfare.

Methods: Undertaking extensive searches of Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, we have incorporated studies published from 2013 onwards that examined the occurrence of PTSD following emergency C-sections.

Optimal Strategy for Complete Revascularization in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Multivessel Disease: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease, most but not all randomized trials have reported that complete revascularization (CR) offers advantages over culprit vessel-only revascularization. In addition, the optimal timing and assessment methods for CR remain undetermined.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal revascularization strategy in patients with STEMI and multivessel disease, using a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A WAidid Consensus Document on New Preventive Options.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections, particularly affecting young infants, older adults, and individuals with comorbidities. : This document, developed as a consensus by an international group of experts affiliated with the World Association of Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid), focuses on recent advancements in RSV prevention, highlighting the introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccines. : Historically, RSV treatment options were limited to supportive care and the monoclonal antibody palivizumab, which required multiple doses.

-Related Myocarditis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

, a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, has also been associated with rare extraintestinal infections, including myocarditis. We report a unique case of a 24-year-old male who presented with febrile diarrhea and acute chest pain. Diagnostic investigations revealed elevated cardiac troponin levels, normal electrocardiography findings, and myocardial inflammation on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, confirming the diagnosis of acute myocarditis.

Arrhythmias Following Patent Foramen Ovale Closure: An Unsolved Enigma.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure has proven to be an effective method of reducing the risk of recurrent stroke in patients with embolic stroke of unknown origin (ESUS). One of the most recognized post-procedural complications is the de novo occurrence of supraventricular arrhythmias, mainly atrial fibrillation, in the first three months following PFO closure. Earlier studies reported the incidence to be around 3.

Detection rate for ESR1 mutations is higher in circulating-tumor-cell-derived genomic DNA than in paired plasma cell-free DNA samples as revealed by ddPCR.

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis to track estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mutations is highly beneficial for the identification of tumor molecular dynamics and the improvement of personalized treatments for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Plasma-cfDNA is, up to now, the most frequent liquid biopsy analyte used to evaluate ESR1 mutational status. Circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration and molecular characterization analysis provides important clinical information in patients with MBC.

Clinical remission in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with mepolizumab: A analysis of RELIght study.

Remission of asthma can occur as part of the natural history of the disease; however, the use of biologics can result in disease remission in some patients. In this post hoc analysis of the RELIght study, we aimed to evaluate clinical remission in real life among patients treated with mepolizumab, to detect possible differences between "remitters" and "nonremitters," and to evaluate possible predictors of remission. Clinical remission was defined as the absence of asthma exacerbations, discontinuation of oral corticosteroids (OCS), achievement of asthma control (Asthma Control Test [ACT] ≥ 20), and stable or improved lung function.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in 7704 Individuals: An Analysis from the Greek Registry for the Prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH).

The intention of this study was to profile the cohort from the Greek Registry for the prevalence of Familial Hypercholesterolemia (GRegistry-FH) by estimating the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), pre-DM, smoking, abnormal thyroid function (ATF), and lipid values. The GRegistry-FH is a prospective study involving door-to-door interviews conducted by trained interviewers. Overall, 7704 individuals aged ≥18 years, randomly selected from all the regions of Greece, participated.

Sudden cardiac death in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease marked by significant morbidity and mortality due to pulmonary vasculopathy and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Despite advances in PAH medical therapies which have improved clinical outcomes and survival, patients continue to face severe complications, including a notable incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The high arrhythmic burden, coupled with mechanical complications such as left main compression syndrome, pulmonary artery dissection, rupture, and severe hemoptysis, significantly contribute to the risk of SCD.

Assessing Disability in Thalassaemia: A Position Statement by the Thalassaemia International Federation.

Thalassemia is not currently conceived per se as a disability, but it can be a disability-inducing condition if poorly treated or as complications increase with age. People living with thalassemia do not wish, on the one hand, to be considered disabled persons to avoid stigma and loss of opportunities to achieve social inclusion in all paths of life while, on the other, they are in need of lifelong appropriate, disease-specific health and social care, including disability allowances and schemes, in order to be able to smoothly integrate into society and achieve professional, educational, personal, and social goals. The ongoing debate on whether thalassemia is a disability or not is thus complex and inconclusive and has created a vast heterogeneity of policies and approaches across the globe.

Do we need a patient surgical class categorization similar to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade?

We aim to enhance the reporting of complications in surgical operations by establishing a classification for patient complexity. Current comorbidity assessment tools are insufficient due to their reliance on physiological parameters. The proposed patient surgical class category (PSCC) aims to address these limitations and enhance results by incorporating relevant aspects of a patient's surgical history.

European S2k guidelines for hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa part 2: Treatment.

Introduction: This second part of the S2k guidelines is an update of the 2015 S1 European guidelines.

Objective: These guidelines aim to provide an accepted decision aid for the selection, implementation and assessment of appropriate and sufficient therapy for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa/acne inversa (HS).

Methods: The chapters have been selected after a Delphi procedure among the experts/authors.

The Effect of Medial Circumflex Artery Variation on the Success Rate of Gracilis Flap Procedures: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review examines the impact of anatomical variations in the medial circumflex artery (MCA) on the outcomes of gracilis flap procedures in reconstructive surgery. Incorporating 16 studies, this review analyzes how different MCA variants influence the success rates of these procedures. Findings highlight critical MCA variations, including cases of split and double pedicles and differences in pedicle length and branching patterns, which can complicate flap harvesting and vascular anastomosis.

Lactate to Albumin Ratio and Mortality in Patients with Severe Coronavirus Disease-2019 Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.

This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of lactate/albumin ratio for ICU mortality prediction in a large cohort of patients with severe Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data derived from the COVID-19 dataset for all critically ill patients admitted to an academic ICU. Data were used to determine the relation between lactate/albumin ratio and other laboratory parameters measured on the first day of the ICU stay and to evaluate the prognostic performance for ICU mortality prediction.

The Bronchodilator and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonists in Asthma: An EAACI Position Paper.

As cholinergic innervation is a major contributor to increased vagal tone and mucus secretion, inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) are a pillar for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. By blocking the muscarinic receptors expressed in the lung, LAMA improve lung function and reduce exacerbations in asthma patients who remained poorly controlled despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2 agonists. Asthma guidelines recommend LAMA as a third controller to be added on before the initiation of biologicals.

The Discovery of Autoimmune Nodopathies and the Impact of IgG4 Antibodies in Autoimmune Neurology.

In the past decade, significant progress has been made on the understanding of IgG4-mediated autoimmune diseases, of both the central and the peripheral CNS. In addition to the description of diverse antigenic targets, the description of IgG subclasses associated with specific pathogenic autoantibodies has provided useful insights into the pathophysiology and, more importantly, into the therapeutic implications of the autoantibody subclasses. This understanding has affected how myasthenia gravis, autoimmune encephalitis, and autoimmune neuropathies are treated.

Effect of patient-contextual skin images in human- and artificial intelligence-based diagnosis of melanoma: Results from the 2020 SIIM-ISIC melanoma classification challenge.

Background: While the high accuracy of reported AI tools for melanoma detection is promising, the lack of holistic consideration of the patient is often criticized. Along with medical history, a dermatologist would also consider intra-patient nevi patterns, such that nevi that are different from others on a given patient are treated with suspicion.

Objective: To evaluate whether patient-contextual lesion-images improves diagnostic accuracy for melanoma in a dermoscopic image-based AI competition and a human reader study.

An Updated Review on Arterial Stiffness Measurement Techniques and Arterial Stiffness Alterations After Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Background: Studies over the last years have revealed the possible impact of endovascular repair of abdominal or thoracic aortic aneurysms on the arterial stiffness and secondary on the cardiac function and the central hemodynamics.

Methods: A literature search was conducted to collect data on current methods of arterial stiffness assessment and the induced changes in arterial stiffness after endovascular or open surgical repair of abdominal or thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Results: Seventeen studies were analyzed.

SGLT2 inhibitors in the prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy: Targeting the silent threat.

Heart failure (HF) is a major global health challenge, particularly among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), who are at significantly higher risk of developing HF. Diabetic cardiomyopathy, a unique form of heart disease, often progresses silently until advanced stages. Recent research has focused on sodium-dependent glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), originally developed for hyperglycemia, which have shown potential in reducing cardiovascular risks, including HF hospitalizations, irrespective of diabetic status.