Exploring the role of point-of-care ultrasound for people with HIV in a resource affluent setting: A prospective observational study.

Background: In low resource settings point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has proven value for the detection of opportunistic diseases in HIV, especially tuberculosis. Few studies have explored POCUS in people with HIV and potential opportunistic infections in resource affluent settings.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study in the Netherlands.

Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential From a Heart Failure Specialist's Point of View.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common bone marrow abnormality induced by age-related DNA mutations, which give rise to proinflammatory immune cells. These immune cells exacerbate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and may induce or accelerate heart failure. The mechanisms involved are complex but point toward a central role for proinflammatory macrophages and an inflammasome-dependent immune response (IL-1 [interleukin-1] and IL-6 [interleukin-6]) in the atherosclerotic plaque or directly in the myocardium.

Procoagulant factors and future risk of arterial cardiovascular disease in patients with prior venous thrombosis: A cohort study.

Patients with venous thrombosis (VT) are at increased risk of future arterial cardiovascular disease (CVD) (i.e., myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or peripheral artery disease).

Efficacy of BCG Vaccination Against Respiratory Tract Infections in Older Adults During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: Older age is associated with increased severity and death from respiratory infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The tuberculosis BCG vaccine may provide heterologous protection against nontuberculous infections and has been proposed as a potential preventive strategy against COVID-19.

Methods: In this multicenter, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned older adults (aged ≥60 years; n = 2014) to intracutaneous vaccination with BCG vaccine (n = 1008) or placebo (n = 1006).

Assessing COVID-19 pneumonia-Clinical extension and risk with point-of-care ultrasound: A multicenter, prospective, observational study.

Background: Assessing the extent of lung involvement is important for the triage and care of COVID-19 pneumonia. We sought to determine the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for characterizing lung involvement and, thereby, clinical risk determination in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational study included patients with COVID-19 who received 12-zone lung ultrasound and chest computed tomography (CT) scanning in the emergency department (ED).

Central nervous system tuberculosis.

Purpose Of Review: Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is the most devastating form of tuberculosis (TB), with mortality and or neurological sequelae in over half of individuals. We reviewed original research and systematic reviews published since 1 January 2019 for new developments in CNS TB pathophysiology, diagnosis, management and prognosis.

Recent Findings: Insight in the pathophysiology is increasing steadily since the landmark studies in 1933, focussing on granuloma type classification, the relevance of the M.

Heavy menstrual bleeding on direct factor Xa inhibitors: Rationale and design of the MEDEA study.

Background: In premenopausal women, treatment with direct oral factor Xa inhibitors is associated with an increased risk of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Treatment with the direct oral thrombin inhibitor dabigatran appears to be associated with a reduced risk of HMB compared with VKA. These findings come from small observational studies or post hoc analyses of trials in which HMB was not a primary outcome.

Platelet Inhibition, Endothelial Function, and Clinical Outcome in Patients Presenting With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Randomized to Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel Maintenance Therapy: Long-Term Follow-Up of the REDUCE-MVI Trial.

Background Off-target properties of ticagrelor might reduce microvascular injury and improve clinical outcome in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. The REDUCE-MVI (Evaluation of Microvascular Injury in Revascularized Patients with ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Ticagrelor Versus Prasugrel) trial reported no benefit of ticagrelor regarding microvascular function at 1 month. We now present the follow-up data up to 1.

Inflammation in the subcutaneous adipose tissue does not attenuate endothelial function in subjects with diabetes mellitus and subjects with dyslipidaemia and hypertension: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation that may be related to vascular disease. We hypothesized that inflammation in the subcutaneous adipose tissue is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation.

Methods: We assessed endothelial function by measuring forearm vascular response to acetylcholine and determined inflammation in subcutaneous fat biopsies in 2 groups of subjects; 15 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 19 subjects with dyslipidaemia combined with hypertension (DcH).

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in an immunocompetent patient.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease of the brain, is typically diagnosed in immunocompromised persons. Here, we describe the diagnostic challenge of PML in an apparently immunocompetent patient. Thorough analyses, including cytokine release assays and whole exome sequencing, revealed a deficit in the antiviral interferon gamma production capacity of this patient and compound heterozygous mutations in BCL-2-associated athanogene 3.