The histamine analogue clobenpropit modulates IRF7 phosphorylation and interferon production by targeting CXCR4 in systemic lupus erythematosus models.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by an overactive immune response, particularly involving excessive production of type I interferons. This overproduction is driven by the phosphorylation of IRF7, a crucial factor in interferon gene activation. Current treatments for SLE are often not very effective and can have serious side effects.

Early midlife ovarian removal is associated with lower posterior hippocampal function.

Introduction: Women with early bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) have greater Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk than women with spontaneous menopause (SM), but the pathway toward this risk is understudied. Considering associative memory deficits may reflect early signs of AD, we studied how BSO affected brain activity underlying associative memory.

Methods: Early midlife women with BSO (with and without 17β-estradiol therapy [ET]) and age-matched controls (AMCs) with intact ovaries completed a face-name associative memory task during functional magnetic resonance imaging.

In vitro neuraminidase inhibitory concentrations (IC) of four neuraminidase inhibitors in the Japanese 2023-24 season: Comparison with the 2010-11 to 2022-23 seasons.

Introduction: To assess the susceptibility of epidemic influenza viruses to the four most used neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) during the 2023-24 influenza season in Japan, we measured the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC) of oseltamivir, peramivir, zanamivir, and laninamivir in virus isolates from the sample of 100 patients.

Methods: Viral isolation was done using specimens obtained before and after treatment, with the type/subtype determined by RT-PCR using type- and subtype-specific primers. IC values were determined by a neuraminidase inhibition assay using a fluorescent substrate.

Exclusion of older persons from randomized controlled trials in type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Prevalence of type 2 diabetes increases with age. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) promote the enrollment of older patients to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess the eligibility criteria limiting the inclusion of older adults to RCTs in type 2 diabetes.

Unraveling the impact of SARS-CoV-2 mutations on immunity: insights from innate immune recognition to antibody and T cell responses.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of new viral variants has challenged public health efforts, often evading antibody responses generated by infections and vaccinations. This immune escape has led to waves of breakthrough infections, raising questions about the efficacy and durability of immune protection. Here we focus on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron spike mutations on ACE-2 receptor binding, protein stability, and immune response evasion.

Insights into the complexities of Citrullination: From immune regulation to autoimmune disease.

Citrullination, a post-translational modification that changes arginine to citrulline in proteins, is vital for immune response modulation and cell signaling. Catalyzed by peptidyl arginine deiminases (PADs), citrullination is linked to various diseases, particularly autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Citrullinated proteins can trigger the production of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), included in RA classification criteria.

Glucocorticoid tapering pace in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Japanese real-world practice: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study from the J-CANVAS registry.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and outcomes among regimens of glucocorticoid tapering for microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in real-world practice.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the Japan Collaborative Registry of ANCA-associated Vasculitis (J-CANVAS) registry, and evaluated the prevalence of glucocorticoid tapering regimens in the PEXIVAS trial. In patients with newly diagnosed MPA and GPA, we compared outcomes among standard and reduced pace regimens.

Clinical correlations of serum anti-dsDNA immunoglobulin subfamilies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an extremely heterogenous autoimmune disorder. A key biomarker, the double stranded (ds) DNA autoantibody, provides diagnostic specificity for SLE. We analyzed anti-dsDNA by mass spectrometry (MS) to determine if ascertaining the autoantibody's heavy chain variable region (IGHV) may hold any clinical relevance.

Humoral response 24 months after the first COVID-19 vaccination in people with HIV with and without diabetes.

People with HIV (PWH) and people with diabetes mellitus have increased risk of severe COVID-19, but little is known about humoral response to COVID-19 vaccines in PWH with DM. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 antireceptor-binding domain (anti-RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) geometrical concentrations and neutralizing antibody capacity (nAB) in PWH with and without diabetes mellitus. Anti-RBD IgG and nAB in COVID-19-vaccinated PWH were not associated with diabetes mellitus-status or HbA1c 24 months after the initial COVID-19 vaccination.

MicroRNAs as Biomarker in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Pathogenesis to Clinical Relevance.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as intricate players in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), holding promise as discerning biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. The lack of sensitivity and specificity in current diagnostic techniques, such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), causes diagnosis delays in RA. The miR-146a and miR-155 act in inflammatory cascades and reduce joint deterioration, and miR-223 is paradoxical, acting differently in different illness scenarios.

The climate emergency for rheumatologists: where do we stand?

Climate change and pollution are a major existential threat. Healthcare contributes a noteworthy 4-6% to the total carbon footprint and 5-7% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Environmental pollution and modern lifestyles are also contributing to the increased prevalence of autoimmune and lifestyle-related rheumatic disease.

The di-leucine motif in the host defense peptide LL-37 is essential for initiation of autophagy in human macrophages.

The human cathelicidin peptide LL-37 induces autophagy in human macrophages. Different post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as citrullination, acetylation, and formylation impact LL-37, yet their effect on autophagy remains unknown. Thus, we set out to study how the cellular source could impact PTM of LL-37 and subsequent effects on autophagy initiation.

COVID-19-sensitive tumour response: 2-year assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 humoral response in cancer patients in oncology hospital in Poland.

Unlabelled: Vaccination has been considered the most crucial defence against viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Numerous reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of the above vaccines in oncological patients. It has also been proven that, apart from vaccinations and oncological therapy, the course of the cancer process itself influences the magnitude of the humoral response, especially in people after infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Calceolarioside B inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant cell entry and modulates immune response.

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of calceolarioside B, extracted from the traditional Chinese herb Mutong (Akebia quinata Thumb), on the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations predicted the binding sites and interactions between calceolarioside B and the Omicron BA.

Anakinra in relapsing polychondritis: a case report and review of the literature.

Relapsing polychondritis is rare and affects non-synovial fibrocartilage. Currently, there is a paucity of treatment algorithms, especially for those with refractory disease. A middle-aged man presented with polychondritis affecting the nose, ears, joints, and larynx.

EXPRESSION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAIN GENES IN STEREOTYPED CASES FROM UKRAINIAN COHORT OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA PATIENTS.

Background: Analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGHV) rearrangements expressed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells has provided insights into the B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire in CLL. In more than 40% of CLL patients, (quasi)identical or stereotyped BCR is expressed. The recent data point at the non-stochastic expression of immunoglobulin light lambda (IGLV) or kappa (IGKV) chains as well.

Efficacy and safety of a 72-h infusion of prostacyclin (1 ng/kg/min) in mechanically ventilated patients with pulmonary infection and endotheliopathy-protocol for the multicenter randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded, investigator-initiated COMBAT-ARF trial.

Background: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is common in critically ill patients, and 50% of patients in intensive care units require mechanical ventilation [3, 4]. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that COVID-19 infection induced ARF caused by damage to the microvascular pulmonary endothelium. In a randomized clinical trial, mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients with severe endotheliopathy, as defined by soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) ≥ 4 ng/mL, were randomized to evaluate the effect of a 72-h infusion of low-dose prostacyclin 1 ng/kg/min or placebo.

Poor prognostic factors for relapse of interstitial lung disease in microscopic polyangiitis: the Japanese multicentre REVEAL cohort study.

Background: This study investigated poor prognostic factors for the relapse of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) after remission induction therapy.

Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with MPA complicated by ILD according to the Chapel Hill Consensus definition from 2001 to 2023 in multiple institutions in the REVEAL cohort. All patients who were treated with immunosuppressive therapy were followed up, and those who relapsed with ILD were extracted in this study.

Independent evaluation of an 11-CpG panel for age estimation in blood.

DNA methylation patterns have emerged as reliable markers for age estimation, offering potential applications in forensic investigations, namely, in cases where there is no information about a possible suspect, in the identification of victims of mass disasters, or in immigration cases when assessing the age of individuals seeking asylum. This study aimed to evaluate the 11-CpG panel proposed by Aliferi et al. (2022) for age estimation.

Evaluation of the clinical effect of a nationwide implementation of targeted routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis in Denmark.

Background: In 2010, Denmark was the first country to implement a targeted routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis (tRAADP) program, offering fetal RHD genotyping to all nonimmunized D negative pregnant women. The program represented a shift from only postnatal prophylaxis to a combined antenatal and postnatal prophylaxis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of tRAADP in Denmark.

Recommendations for Transitioning Young People with Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders and Autoinflammatory Diseases to Adult Care.

Purpose: Significant improvements in the prognosis for young patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PID) and Autoinflammatory Disorders (AID), which together make up the majority of Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), have resulted in the need for optimisation of transition and transfer of care to adult services. Effective transition is crucial to improve health outcomes and treatment compliance among patients. Evaluations of existing transition programmes in European health centres identified the absence of disease-specific transition guidelines for PID and AID, as a challenge to the transition process.

Host-directed therapies modulating innate immunity against infection in hematologic malignancies.

Patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) are highly susceptible to bloodstream infection (BSI), particularly those undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy. A common and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy is oral and intestinal mucositis. These Patients are also at high risk of developing sepsis, which can arise from mucosal barrier injuries and significantly increases mortality in these patients.

Serious infections and tuberculosis adversely impact outcomes of juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus in India.

Background: Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We assessed the incidence and risk factors for major infections in juvenile SLE.

Methods: A retrospective review of 225 patients of juvenile SLE (ACR 1997 criteria) with age <18 years visiting the rheumatology clinic at a single centre between 2000 to 2020 was done from case records and the hospital electronic health records.