Clinical experience of pulmonary vein isolation via single transseptal puncture in atrial fibrillation patients: Comprehensive characterization and follow-up.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly observed cardiac rhythm disorder. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an effective treatment option to maintain sinus rhythm. This study evaluates the safety, efficacy, clinical outcomes and radiation exposures using a standardized single transseptal puncture (STP)-strategy.

Fecal urgency and incontinence in inflammatory bowel disease perceived by physician and patient: Results from the Swiss fecal urgency survey.

Introduction: Although increasingly appreciated, little is known about the prevalence of fecal urgency, fecal incontinence and differences between patients' and physicians' perception in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: We performed an online patient and physician survey to evaluate the assessment, prevalence and impact of fecal urgency and incontinence in IBD.

Results: A total of 593 patients (44.

Odynophagia and Retrosternal Pain Are Common in Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Associated with an Increased Overall Symptom Severity.

Background And Aims: Dysphagia is the hallmark symptom in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). However, data are limited regarding the overall prevalence and potential implications of atypical symptoms like odynophagia and retrosternal pain.

Methods: Patients enrolled into the Swiss EoE cohort study (SEECS) were analyzed regarding the presence of odynophagia and retrosternal pain.

Detection of natural autoimmunity to ghrelin in diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide that becomes post-translationally modified. Natural autoantibodies to ghrelin (ghrelin-aAb) have been described in healthy subjects, in eating disorders and rheumatic diseases, with potential clinical relevance. Despite these important reports, the data base on the prevalence and physiological role is small and technical approaches for assessing ghrelin-aAb are few, encouraging respective research for improving knowledge on the potential endocrine significance.

Endoscopic Features of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Endoscopic evaluation with biopsies is a mainstay of the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs). Increasing knowledge has resulted in the development of 2 standardized scoring systems: the Endoscopic REFerence Score (EREFS) for EoE and the EG-REFS for eosinophilic gastritis, although the latter has not been validated. In EGIDs, diagnosis and follow-up focus on eosinophil infiltration in biopsies.

Challenges and pitfalls during CRT implantation in patients with persistent left superior vena cava.

Background: Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare venous anomaly, affecting 0.3-0.5% of the general population.

A Multicenter Long-Term Cohort Study of Eosinophilic Esophagitis Variants and Their Progression to Eosinophilic Esophagitis Over Time.

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) variants have been recently characterized as conditions with symptoms of esophageal dysfunction resembling EoE, but absence of significant esophageal eosinophilia. Their disease course and severity have yet to be determined.

Methods: Patients from 6 EoE centers with symptoms of esophageal dysfunction, but peak eosinophil counts of <15/hpf in esophageal biopsies and absence of gastroesophageal reflux disease with at least one follow-up visit were included.

Elevated TSH Levels: A Database Study of General Practitioners' Course of Action.

Objective: To investigate general practitioners' course of action after detection of elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels regarding repeat testing, direct levothyroxine replacement, or neither.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of adults without prior evidence of thyroid disease and with a first detection of elevated TSH levels from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020, using data from electronic medical records of a Swiss primary care database. We determined the occurrence of either repeat TSH testing or direct levothyroxine initiation in primary care during 12-month follow-up and determined associations with demographic and clinical factors.

Eosinophil Distribution in Eosinophilic Esophagitis and its Impact on Disease Activity and Response to Treatment.

Although mostly accentuated in the distal esophagus, distribution of esophageal eosinophilia in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) seems to be nonuniform. Disease extent has been associated with disease severity and disease progression in inflammatory bowel disease. Whether the same holds true for EoE remains largely unknown.

Histological Phenotyping in Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Localized Proximal Disease Is Infrequent but Associated with Less Severe Disease and Better Disease Outcome.

Introduction: It is still unknown whether eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients with localized disease are different from those with extended disease.

Methods: We evaluated prospectively included patients in the Swiss EoE cohort. Data on all patients with active disease at baseline, no concomitant gastroesophageal reflux disease, no strictures at baseline, and at least one follow-up visit were analyzed.

The Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The genetic background of inflammatory bowel disease, both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, has been known for more than 2 decades. In the last 20 years, genome-wide association studies have dramatically increased our knowledge on the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease with more than 200 risk genes having been identified. Paralleling this increasing knowledge, the armamentarium of inflammatory bowel disease medications has been growing constantly.

Olfactory dysfunction after autoimmune encephalitis depending on the antibody type and limbic MRI pathologies.

Objective: Patients' olfactory function after autoimmune encephalitis (AE) involving limbic structures may be impaired. This study aimed to characterize olfactory function in patients after autoimmune encephalitides.

Methods: A case-control study was performed including 11 AE patients with antibodies against NMDAR ( = 4), GAD ( = 3), VGKC ( = 3) and antibody-negative AE ( = 1) and a control group of 12 patients with pneumococcal meningo-encephalitis (PC).

Eosinophilic Esophagitis beyond Eosinophils - an Emerging Phenomenon Overlapping with Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Collegium Internationale Allergologicum (CIA) Update 2023.

Having long been considered the mainstay in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) diagnosis and pathogenesis, the role of eosinophils has been questioned and might be less important than previously thought. It is well known now that EoE is a Th2-mediated disease with many more disease features than eosinophilic infiltration. With more knowledge on EoE, less pronounced phenotypes or nuances of the disease have become apparent.

Myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccine: incidence, presentation, diagnosis, pathophysiology, therapy, and outcomes put into perspective. A clinical consensus document supported by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the ESC Working Group on Myocardial and Pericardial Diseases.

Over 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines based on RNA technology, viral vectors, recombinant protein, and inactivated virus have been administered worldwide. Although generally very safe, post-vaccine myocarditis can result from adaptive humoral and cellular, cardiac-specific inflammation within days and weeks of vaccination. Rates of vaccine-associated myocarditis vary by age and sex with the highest rates in males between 12 and 39 years.

Microvesicles released from activated CD4 T cells alter microvascular endothelial cell function.

Background: Microvesicles are vesicles shed by plasma membranes following cell activation and apoptosis. The role of lymphocyte-derived microvesicles in endothelial function remains poorly understood.

Methods: CD4 T cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy human donors were stimulated using anti-CD3/anti-CD28-coated beads.

Angiotensin II receptor 1 controls profibrotic Wnt/β-catenin signalling in experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

Aims: Angiotensin (Ang) II signalling has been suggested to promote cardiac fibrosis in inflammatory heart diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. Using Agtr1a-/- mice with genetic deletion of angiotensin receptor type 1 (ATR1) and the experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) model, we aimed to elucidate the role of Ang II-ATR1 pathway in development of heart-specific autoimmunity and post-inflammatory fibrosis.

Methods And Results: EAM was induced in wild-type (WT) and Agtr1a-/- mice by subcutaneous injections with alpha myosin heavy chain peptide emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant.