Second Trimester Amniotic Fluid Angiotensinogen Levels Linked to Increased Fetal Birth Weight and Shorter Gestational Age in Term Pregnancies.

Background: Despite the considerable progress made in recent years in fetal assessment, the etiology of fetal growth disturbances is not as yet well understood. In an effort to enhance our knowledge in this area, we investigated the associations of the amniotic fluid angiotensinogen of the renin-angiotensin system with fetal growth abnormalities.

Methods: We collected amniotic fluid samples from 70 pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis during their early second trimester.

International Variation in Severe Exacerbation Rates in Patients With Severe Asthma.

Background: Exacerbation frequency strongly influences treatment choices in patients with severe asthma.

Research Question: What is the extent of the variability of exacerbation rate across countries and its implications in disease management?

Study Design And Methods: We retrieved data from the International Severe Asthma Registry, an international observational cohort of patients with a clinical diagnosis of severe asthma. We identified patients aged ≥ 18 years who did not initiate any biologics prior to baseline visit.

Efficacy and Safety of Thirty-Day Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy Following Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The optimal duration of DAPT after complex PCI remains under investigation. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the safety and efficacy of a one-month therapy period versus a longer duration of DAPT after complex PCI. We systematically screened three major databases, searching for randomized controlled trials or sub-analyses of them, which compared shortened DAPT (S-DAPT), namely, one month, and longer DAPT (L-DAPT), namely, more than three months.

Revisiting Cardiovascular Benefits of Blood Pressure Reduction in Primary and Secondary Prevention: Focus on Targets and Residual Risk-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Previous meta-analyses resurrected the debated statement "the lower, the better" following blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment. We investigated the benefits of BP-lowering treatment at different BP targets by prevention category.

Methods: The meta-analysis protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022379249).

Pituitary gland height evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging in premature twins: the impact of growth and sex.

Background: Pituitary gland height reflects secretory activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis.

Objective: To assess the cumulative impact of fetal growth and sex on pituitary gland height in premature twins, dissociated from prematurity.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted, assessing the pituitary gland height in 63 pairs of preterm twins, measured from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Viral and Host Factors Are Associated With Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19.

Background: Persistent mortality in adults hospitalized due to acute COVID-19 justifies pursuit of disease mechanisms and potential therapies. The aim was to evaluate which virus and host response factors were associated with mortality risk among participants in Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 (TICO/ACTIV-3) trials.

Methods: A secondary analysis of 2625 adults hospitalized for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection randomized to 1 of 5 antiviral products or matched placebo in 114 centers on 4 continents.

Progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis: a 10-year prospective study.

Chronic systemic inflammation contributes to increased CVD burden in Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Since long-term follow-up data on subclinical atherosclerosis acceleration are lacking, we examined its progression in contemporary AS patients during 10 years. Fifty-three (89% male, aged 50.

Keratin Expression in Podocytopathies, ANCA-Associated Vasculitis and IgA Nephropathy.

Keratins are the main components of the cell cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells under stressful stimuli react by modifying their keratin expression pattern. Glomerular diseases are pathological conditions that may lead to loss of kidney function if not timely diagnosed and treated properly.

Endotyping Eosinophilic Inflammation in COPD with ELAVL1, ZfP36 and HNRNPD mRNA Genes.

: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease characterized by progressive airflow obstruction, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Eosinophils have been implicated in COPD pathogenesis, prompting the categorization into eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic endotypes. This study explores the association between eosinophilic inflammation and mRNA expression of ELAVL1, ZfP36, and HNRNPD genes, which encode HuR, TTP and AUF-1 proteins, respectively.

Emergency research without prior consent in the United States, Canada, European Union and United Kingdom: How regulatory differences affect study design and implementation in cardiac arrest trials.

Aim: A major barrier to performing cardiac arrest trials is the requirement for prospective informed consent, which is often infeasible during individual medical emergencies. In an effort to improve outcomes, some governments have adopted legislation permitting research without prior consent (RWPC) in these circumstances. We aimed to outline key differences between legislation in four Western locations and explore the effects of these differences on trial design and implementation in cardiac arrest research.

Carotid-cavernous fistula: A potential treatable cause of bilateral abducens palsy and conjunctival hyperemia.

Objective: Carotid cavernous fistulas (CCFs) represent uncommon and anomalous communications between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus.

Materials And Methods: Case report RESULTS: We present the clinical details and successful management of a previously healthy 44-year-old patient who presented with one-month worsening headache, bilateral abducens palsy and conjunctival injection. Imaging modalities including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) facilitated the diagnosis of CCF.

Expression of Circulating miR-21 and -29 and their Association with Myocardial Fibrosis in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and sarcomeric disarray.

Objective: To evaluate the expression levels of circulating miR-21 and -29 in patients with HCM and their association with clinical characteristics and myocardial fibrosis.

Methods: In this case-control study, 27 subjects with HCM, 13 subjects with hypertensive cardiomyopathy, and 10 control subjects were enrolled.

Associations between household food environment and daily intake of regular and diet soft drinks per BMI status of European children: Feel4Diabetes Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate how the availability of food in the household environment is associated with a daily intake of regular and diet soft drinks in European children, considering BMI status. This cross-sectional study utilised baseline data from 12 211 schoolchildren participating in the Feel4Diabetes European lifestyle modification intervention. Sociodemographics, soft drink intake and household food availability data were collected using parent-completed questionnaires.

Spinal cord injury: Olfactory ensheathing cell-based therapeutic strategies.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a highly disabling neurological disorder that is difficult to treat due to its complex pathophysiology and nerve regeneration difficulties. Hence, effective SCI treatments are necessary. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), glial cells derived from the olfactory bulb or mucosa, are ideal candidates for SCI treatment because of their neuroprotective and regenerative properties, ample supply, and convenience.

Disease Profile and Achievement of Therapeutic Goals in a Modern, Nationwide Cohort of 923 Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogenous chronic inflammatory disease affecting skin, joints, entheses, and spine with various extra-musculoskeletal manifestations and comorbidities. The reported patient, disease and treatment characteristics in the modern therapeutic era are limited.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, multi-centre, nationwide study, we recorded the demographic, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics as well as the comorbidities of patients with PsA seen for 1 year (1/1/2022-31/12/2022).

Development of robust normative data for the neuropsychological assessment of Greek older adults.

Objective: Normative data for older adults may be tainted by inadvertent inclusion of undiagnosed individuals at the very early stage of a neurodegenerative process. To avoid this pitfall, we developed norms for a cohort of older adults without MCI/dementia at 3-year follow-up.

Methods: A randomly selected sample of 1041 community-dwelling individuals (age ≥ 65) received a full neurological and neuropsychological examination on two occasions [mean interval = 3.