Eosinophilic oesophagitis in adults: from symptoms to therapeutic options.

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is a chronic and progressive immune-mediated condition, typically affecting young atopic male adults and potentially leads to organ dysfunction and fibrosis. The clinical spectrum widely varies -from non-troublesome dysphagia to food impaction- and hence the rate of misdiagnosis and diagnostic delay are high, especially when presenting with minor symptoms, such as heartburn and acid regurgitation. There have been several major therapeutic breakthroughs for the management of EoE in recent years.

Factors Associated With Mortality in Patients With Immune-Mediated Rheumatic Diseases and COVID-19 From Latin America: Data From Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil.

Objective: To describe characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with rheumatic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) from Argentina, Mexico and Brazil, and to assess factors associated with mortality in this population.

Methods: Data from 3 national registries, SAR-COVID (Argentina), CMR-COVID (Mexico), and ReumaCoV-Brasil (Brazil), were combined. Adult patients with IMIDs and SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited.

Role of mucosal immunity and epithelial-vascular barrier in modulating gut homeostasis.

The intestinal mucosa represents the most extensive human barrier having a defense function against microbial and food antigens. This barrier is represented externally by a mucus layer, consisting mainly of mucins, antimicrobial peptides, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), which serves as the first interaction with the intestinal microbiota. Below is placed the epithelial monolayer, comprising enterocytes and specialized cells, such as goblet cells, Paneth cells, enterochromaffin cells, and others, each with a specific protective, endocrine, or immune function.

Immunotherapy with Pru p 3 for food allergy to peach and non-specific lipid transfer protein: a systematic review.

Background: Non-specific lipid-transfer protein (nsLTP) is a pan-allergen in the plant world, and a cause of significant concern as food allergen in the Mediterranean area, due to its general heat- and acid-resistance and hence the risk of severe allergic reactions. Pru p 3, the peach nsLTP, is considered the primary sensitizer to this allergen family and this allergy is usually persistent. Allergen-free diet and acute treatment of manifestations are the main recognized management goals in food allergy.

A mid-term follow-up with a lung ultrasonographic score correlates with the severity of COVID-19 acute phase.

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has rapidly emerged in COVID-19 diagnosis and for the follow-up during the acute phase. LUS is not yet used routinely in lung damage follow-up after COVID-19 infection. We investigated the correlation between LUS score, and clinical and laboratory parameters of severity of SARS-COV-2 damage during hospitalization and at follow-up visit.

Does the Use of Immunosuppressive Drugs Impact on SARS-CoV-2 Infection Outcome? Data From A National Cohort of Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (SAR-COVID Registry).

Background/objective: This study describes the impact of immunomodulatory and/or immunosuppressive (IM/IS) drugs in the outcomes of COVID-19 infection in a cohort of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs).

Methods: Adult patients with IMIDs with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Data were reported by the treating physician between August 13, 2020 and July 31, 2021.

Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes in patients with rheumatic diseases: data from the SAR-COVID Registry.

Background/objective: This study aims to describe the course and to identify poor prognostic factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years of age, with a rheumatic disease, who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were consecutively included by major rheumatology centers from Argentina, in the national, observational SAR-COVID registry between August 13, 2020 and July 31, 2021. Hospitalization, oxygen requirement, and death were considered poor COVID-19 outcomes.

Comparison between real-world practice and application of the FRAX algorithm in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Background And Aims: The most recent guidelines suggest treating patients whose FRAX 10-year fracture risk scores are ≥ 20%. However, this method of evaluation does not take into account parameters that are nonetheless relevant to the therapeutic choice. Our aim was to compare the therapeutic choices for treatment based on a wider assessment (real-world practice) with those based on FRAX scores, taking 20% as the cut-off score.

Clinical, sociodemographic and environmental factors impact post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Background: Sociodemographic and environmental factors are associated with incidence, severity, and mortality of COVID-19. However, little is known about the role of such factors in persisting symptoms among recovering patients. We designed a cohort study of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors to describe persistent symptoms and identify factors associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Clinical and Serological Features in Latin American IgG4-Related Disease Patients Differ According to Sex, Ethnicity, and Clinical Phenotype.

Background/objective: Data on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) come almost exclusively from cohorts from Asia, Europe, and North America. We conducted this study to describe the clinical presentation, phenotype distribution, and association with sex, ethnicity, and serological markers in a large cohort of Latin American patients with IgG4-RD.

Methods: We performed a multicenter medical records review study including 184 Latin American IgG4-RD patients.

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

Background: Despite the multitude of clinical manifestations of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), studies applying statistical methods to directly investigate patterns of symptom co-occurrence and their biological correlates are scarce.

Methods: We assessed 30 symptoms pertaining to different organ systems in 749 adults (age = 55 ± 14 years; 47% female) during in-person visits conducted at 6-11 months after hospitalization due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including six psychiatric and cognitive manifestations. Symptom co-occurrence was initially investigated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and latent variable modeling was then conducted using Item Response Theory (IRT).

[Risk of Burnout syndrome in medical professionals in Córdoba City, Argentina].

Background: Burnout syndrome is a chronic, adaptive disorder, being considered the most important cause of work injury of psychosocial cause. The objective was to know the risk of burnout in Córdoba city’s physician and its relationship with sociodemographic factors and clinical and surgical specialties.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was performed in 10 care centers in Córdoba City.

Is lupus nephritis a prognosis factor for pregnancy? Maternal and foetal outcomes.

Background: Pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and nephritis (LN) is at risk of foetal and maternal complications.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of LN on pregnancy with respect to foetal and maternal outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively studied all pregnant SLE patients with and without diagnosis of LN, who attended the Materno Neonatal Hospital in Cordoba city, Argentina, from January 2015 to April 2017.

Is Lupus Nephritis a Prognosis Factor for Pregnancy? Maternal and Foetal Outcomes.

Background: Pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and nephritis (LN) is at risk of foetal and maternal complications.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of LN on pregnancy with respect to foetal and maternal outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively studied all pregnant SLE patients with and without diagnosis of LN, who attended the Materno Neonatal Hospital in Cordoba city, Argentina, from January 2015 to April 2017.

Clinical use of a 180-day implantable glucose sensor improves glycated haemoglobin and time in range in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Aims: This real-world study evaluated the changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics associated with use of the implantable 180-day Eversense CGM System (Eversense) in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective, multicentre, observational study among adult participants aged ≥18 years with type 1 diabetes across seven diabetes-care centres in Italy who had Eversense inserted for the first time. HbA1c was measured at baseline and at 180 days.

Sperm Count and Hypogonadism as Markers of General Male Health.

Background: Some evidence suggests that infertile men, who are at increased risk for hypogonadism, metabolic derangements, and osteoporosis, have higher long-term morbidity and mortality than controls, but data are scarce and not conclusive.

Objective: We tested whether semen quality and reproductive function could represent a marker of general male health.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective study of 5177 individuals from a prospectively collected database of 11516 males of infertile couples who had semen analysis in a tertiary university center.

Functional polymorphisms of the receptor for the advanced glycation end product promoter gene in inflammatory bowel disease: a case-control study.

The receptor for the advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a multiligand transmembrane receptor involved in chronic inflammation whose specific polymorphisms of the promoter gene were found to increase its transcriptional activity. We investigated the association of both allelic and genotypic -374T/A and -429T/C polymorphisms with inflammatory bowel disease. The STREGA guidelines were applied for planning and reporting.

There Is No Association between Coeliac Disease and Autoimmune Pancreatitis.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare disorder whose association with coeliac disease (CD) has never been investigated, although CD patients display a high prevalence of both endocrine and exocrine pancreatic affections. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the frequency of CD in patients with AIP and in further medical pancreatic disorders. The screening for CD was carried out through the detection of tissue transglutaminase (tTG) autoantibodies in sera of patients retrospectively enrolled and divided in four groups: AIP, chronic pancreatitis, chronic asymptomatic pancreatic hyperenzymemia (CAPH), and control subjects with functional dyspepsia.