Long-term efficacy of immunoglobulins in small fiber neuropathy related to Sjögren's syndrome.

The most common peripheral nervous system manifestations in Sjogren's syndrome are small fiber sensory neuropathies (SFPN) and axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathies. Currently, treatment in small fiber neuropathy is mainly symptomatic and based on anti-depressors and anti-epileptics. The benefit of treatment with polyvalent immunoglobulins for SFPN has been reported in small series of patients, although transient in several cases.

Application of targeted next generation sequencing for the mutational profiling of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children, whereas it is less common in adults. Identification of cytogenetic aberrations and a small number of molecular abnormalities are still the most important risk and therapy stratification methods in clinical practice today. Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology provides a large amount of data contributing to elucidation of mutational landscape of childhood (cALL) and adult ALL (aALL).

Peripheral neural response and sex hormones in type 1 Gaucher disease.

Background: In a rare Gaucher disease, reduced activity of lysosomal b-glucocerebrosidase incompletely blocks glucosphingolipid catabolism. Accumulation of the unhydrolyzed substrate glucosylceramide within lysosomes results in progressive, multisystem Gaucher disease, classified into three types. Both parkinsonism and peripheral neuropathy are observed in cases of putative non-neuronopathic type 1 disease.

Antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome and / or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

The use of triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) consisting of an oral anticoagulant (OAC), aspirin, and a P2Y12 inhibitor in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and / or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a high risk of bleeding. Recently, several randomized clinical trials tested the hypothesis as to whether dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT) regimens (consisting of an OAC and a single antiplatelet drug) may be safer in terms of bleeding events as compared with TAT. They also investigated the role of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) as a part of DAT and TAT.

Cohort profile: the ESC EURObservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation III (AF III) Registry.

Aims: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) EURObservational Research Programme (EORP)-Atrial Fibrillation (AF) III Registry aims to identify contemporary patterns in AF management in clinical practice, assess their compliance with the 2016 ESC AF Guidelines, identify major gaps in guideline implementation, characterize the clinical practice settings associated with good vs. poor guideline implementation and assess and compare the 1-year outcome of guideline-adherent vs. guideline non-adherent management strategies.

Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsatility Index in No-Risk Pregnancies: Effects of Auditory Stimulation and Pregnancy Order.

Pulsatility index (PI) values in a fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) were compared in no-risk pregnancies to examine the differences related to auditory stimulation test and pregnancy order. The study included 196 women with no-risk pregnancies selected from the database of more than 1000 pregnant women divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 98 nulliparous women (C1 = 98) and Group 2 consisted of 98 parous women (C2 = 98).

Factors associated with the onset of major depressive disorder in adults with type 2 diabetes living in 12 different countries: results from the INTERPRET-DD prospective study.

Aims: To examine the factors that are associated with changes in depression in people with type 2 diabetes living in 12 different countries.

Methods: People with type 2 diabetes treated in out-patient settings aged 18-65 years underwent a psychiatric assessment to diagnose major depressive disorder (MDD) at baseline and follow-up. At both time points, participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the WHO five-item Well-being scale (WHO-5) and the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scale which measures diabetes-related distress.

Management of heart failure patients with COVID-19: a joint position paper of the Chinese Heart Failure Association & National Heart Failure Committee and the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is causing considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Multiple reports have suggested that patients with heart failure (HF) are at a higher risk of severe disease and mortality with COVID-19. Moreover, evaluating and treating HF patients with comorbid COVID-19 represents a formidable clinical challenge as symptoms of both conditions may overlap and they may potentiate each other.

EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2019 update.

Objective: To update the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: According to the EULAR standardised operating procedures, a systematic literature review was followed by a consensus meeting to develop this update involving 28 international taskforce members in May 2019. Levels of evidence and strengths of recommendations were determined.

HIV care in times of the COVID-19 crisis - Where are we now in Central and Eastern Europe?

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has hit the European region disproportionately. Many HIV clinics share staff and logistics with infectious disease facilities, which are now on the frontline in tackling COVID-19. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of the current pandemic situation on HIV care and continuity of antiretroviral treatment (ART) supplies in CEE countries.

Viscoelasticity of multicellular systems caused by collective cell migration: dynamics at the biointerface.

Viscoelasticity of multicellular systems caused by collective cell migration depends on (1) viscoelasticity of migrating clusters, (2) viscoelasticity of surrounding resting cells and (3) the size, slip effects and thickness of the biointerface. A previously developed model for a sharp biointerface is expanded for the case of a finite biointerface based on thermodynamic and rheological considerations to estimate the influence of the biointerface properties on viscoelasticity. These properties of the interface layer are one of the key factors which influence the overall properties of the mixture, such as its viscoelasticity.

Usefulness of the NULL-PLEASE Score to Predict Survival in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Purpose: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) carries a very high mortality rate even after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Currently, information given to relatives about prognosis following resuscitation is often emotive and subjective, and varies with clinician experience. We aimed to validate the NULL-PLEASE score to predict survival following OHCA.

The heart failure specialists of tomorrow: a network for young cardiovascular scientists and clinicians.

The "Heart failure specialists of Tomorrow" (HoT) group gathers young researchers, physicians, basic scientists, nurses and many other professions under the auspices of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology. After its foundation in 2014, it has quickly grown to a large group of currently 925 members. Membership in this growing community offers many advantages during, before, and after the 'Heart Failure and World Congress on Acute Heart Failure'.

Acute coronary syndromes and acute heart failure: a diagnostic dilemma and high-risk combination. A statement from the Acute Heart Failure Committee of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

Acute coronary syndrome is a precipitant of acute heart failure in a substantial proportion of cases, and the presence of both conditions is associated with a higher risk of short-term mortality compared to acute coronary syndrome alone. The diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome in the setting of acute heart failure can be challenging. Patients may present with atypical or absent chest pain, electrocardiograms can be confounded by pre-existing abnormalities, and cardiac biomarkers are frequently elevated in patients with chronic or acute heart failure, independently of acute coronary syndrome.

5-(1-Indol-3-ylmethylene)-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl)alkancarboxylic Acids as Antimicrobial Agents: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Studies.

Background: Infectious diseases symbolize a global consequential strain on public health security and impact on the socio-economic stability all over the world. The increasing resistance to the current antimicrobial treatment has resulted in crucial need for the discovery and development of novel entity for the infectious treatment with different modes of action that could target both sensitive and resistant strains.

Methods: Compounds were synthesized using classical methods of organic synthesis.

In utero exposure to Azathioprine in autoimmune disease. Where do we stand?

Azathioprine (AZA), an oral immunosuppressant, is safe during pregnancy. Some reports suggested different impairments in the offspring of mothers with autoimmune diseases (AI) exposed in utero to AZA. These observations are available from retrospective studies or case reports.

Triple therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention/stenting.

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at high risk of stroke, recurrent coronary ischemic events, and cardiovascular mortality. The composition of antithrombotic therapy including an oral anticoagulant and antiplatelet drug(s) should be tailored according to the individual patient's risk profile, to reduce the bleeding risk and maintain antithrombotic effect. There is no single antithrombotic treatment regimen that would fit to all patients with AF and ACS.

Carboranyl Derivatives of Rofecoxib with Cytostatic Activity against Human Melanoma and Colon Cancer Cells.

Owing to the involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in carcinogenesis, COX-2-selective inhibitors are increasingly studied for their potential cytotoxic properties. Moreover, the incorporation of carboranes in structures of established anti-inflammatory drugs can improve the potency and metabolic stability of the inhibitors. Herein, we report the synthesis of carborane-containing derivatives of rofecoxib that display remarkable cytotoxic or cytostatic activity in the micromolar range with excellent selectivity for melanoma and colon cancer cell lines over normal cells.

Management of patients with newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation: Insights from the BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: BALKAN-AF evaluated patterns of atrial fibrillation (AF) management in real-world clinical practice in the Balkans. The objectives were: to assess the proportion of patients with first-diagnosed AF in the BALKAN-AF cohort and to compare the management of patients with newly-diagnosed AF and those with previously known AF in clinical practice.

Methods: Consecutive patients from 7 Balkan countries were enrolled prospectively to the snapshot BALKAN-AF survey.

How to diagnose heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: the HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithm: a consensus recommendation from the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Making a firm diagnosis of chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains a challenge. We recommend a new stepwise diagnostic process, the 'HFA-PEFF diagnostic algorithm'. Step 1 (P=Pre-test assessment) is typically performed in the ambulatory setting and includes assessment for heart failure symptoms and signs, typical clinical demographics (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, elderly, atrial fibrillation), and diagnostic laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography.