Loss of opportunities in the diagnosis and treatment of primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS): from theory to reality.

Objectives: (I) To identify and measure the clinical consequences of a delayed diagnosis in patients with primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS), in terms of time and events associated to antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and (II) to evaluate the impact of their treatment status on perinatal outcomes, before and after diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective multicentre study included 99 POAPS women who were separated in two groups of timelines based on their diagnostic status: group 1: women who met the clinical criteria for POAPS; group 2: included the same patients from group 1 since they meet the laboratory criteria for APS. In group 1, we assessed the following variables: obstetric events, thrombotic events and time (years) to diagnosis of APS.

Clinical and therapeutic value of the adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome.

Objectives: (1) To assess the clinical utility of the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS) to predict new obstetric events during follow-up in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS) patients under standard-of-care treatment (SC) based on the use of low-dose aspirin (LDA) + heparin and (2) to study the risk of a first thrombotic event and to evaluate whether stratification according to this score could help to identify POAPS patients who would benefit from long-term thromboprophylaxis.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicentre study. 169 women with POAPS were evaluated for the presence of a new obstetric event and/or a first thrombotic event during follow-up [time period: 2008-2020, median: 7 years (6-12 years)].

Tick-borne encephalitis outbreak following raw goat milk consumption in a new micro-location, Croatia, June 2019.

In June 2019, the Croatian Institute of Public Health was informed of a cluster of patients with laboratory confirmed tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) from the Gorski Kotar region. Five of the six patients with TBE reported consuming raw (unpasteurized) goat milk in the two week period before symptom onset, and one reported a recent tick bite. To assess risk factors for infection, we selected six control individuals from among healthy family and community members, and conducted a case-control analysis.

Risk factors for early severe preeclampsia in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome with conventional treatment. The impact of hydroxychloroquine.

Objective: The first aim was to retrospectively identify risk factors for the development of early severe preeclampsia (sPE) in patients with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS) who received conventional treatment (CT). The second aim was to evaluate the impact of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing early sPE among a subgroup of patients considered at high risk.

Methods: A total of 102 women diagnosed with OAPS and treated with CT since the diagnosis of pregnancy were selected.

A high-risk laboratory profile of antiphospholipid antibodies and thrombosis is associated with a large number of extra-criteria manifestations in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome.

Extra-criteria manifestations such as thrombocytopenia and livedo are described associated with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) but are not included in the current classification criteria. Their clinical expression might be important, as they may be associated with a high-risk profile of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and thrombosis. We evaluated the association between the presence of extra-criteria manifestations in primary obstetric-APS (POAPS) and aPL profiles.

Variation in antiretroviral treatment coverage and virological suppression among three HIV key populations.

Objectives: We assessed differences in antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage and virological suppression across three HIV key populations, as defined by self-reported HIV transmission category: sex between men, injection drug use (IDU) and heterosexual transmission.

Design: A multinational cohort study.

Methods: Within the EuroSIDA study, we assessed region-specific percentages of ART-coverage among those in care and virological suppression (<500 copies/ml) among those on ART, and analysed differences between transmission categories using logistic regression.

What is the best time to assess the antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) profile to better predict the obstetric outcome in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients?

Serological risk factors are the most important determinant in predicting unsuccessful pregnancy in obstetric antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome (OAPS) despite conventional treatment. It is not clear if changes in the profile of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) during pregnancy modify the risk associated with a poor response to conventional treatment. The aim of our study was to compare the value of a serological tag for aPL obtained before and during the first trimester of pregnancy to predict the response to conventional treatment.

Maternal carriers of the ANXA5 M2 haplotype are exposed to a greater risk for placenta-mediated pregnancy complications.

Purpose: Annexin A5 (ANXA5) is a protein abundantly expressed in normal placenta where it contributes to the healthy outcome of a pregnancy. Lower ANXA5 levels have been observed in M2/ANXA5 haplotype carrying chorion. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the potential association of M2 maternal carrier status with the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), the timing of miscarriages, and other obstetric complications, for the first time in a population from Latin America.

Ascorbic acid deficiency in patients with lichen planus.

Objectives: Recent studies have highlighted the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of lichen planus (LP). In the present study, the interest of the authors is focused on the investigation of ascorbic acid status in patients with LP and identification of parameters that might influence the level of this vitamin.

Material And Method: We analyzed the level of urinary ascorbic acid (reflectometric method) in 77 patients with LP (cutaneous LP (CLP)-49 cases; oral LP (OLP)-28 cases) and 50 control subjects.

Pregnancy failure in patients with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome with conventional treatment: the influence of a triple positive antibody profile.

Conventional treatment of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome fails in approximately 20-30% of pregnant women without any clearly identified risk factor. It is important to identify risk factors that are associated with these treatment failures. This study aimed to assess the impact of risk factors on pregnancy outcomes in women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome treated with conventional treatment.

Efficacy and safety of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/r and dasabuvir compared to IFN-containing regimens in genotype 1 HCV patients: The MALACHITE-I/II trials.

Background & Aims: Telaprevir plus pegylated interferon/ribavirin (TPV+PegIFN/RBV) remains a therapeutic option for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 1 infection in many regions. We conducted two open-label, phase IIIb trials comparing safety and efficacy of all-oral ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir±ribavirin (OBV/PTV/r+DSV±RBV) and TPV+PegIFN/RBV.

Methods: Treatment-naïve (MALACHITE-I) or PegIFN/RBV-experienced (MALACHITE-II) non-cirrhotic, chronic HCV GT1-infected patients were randomized to OBV/PTV/r+DSV+weight-based RBV, OBV/PTV/r+DSV (treatment-naïve, GT1b-infected patients only), or 12weeks of TPV+PegIFN+weight-based RBV and 12-36 additional weeks of PegIFN/RBV.

Illness perception in tuberculosis by implementation of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire - a TBNET study.

How patients relate to the experience of their illness has a direct impact over their behavior. We aimed to assess illness perception in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) by means of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) in correlation with patients' demographic features and clinical TB score. Our observational questionnaire based study included series of consecutive TB patients enrolled in several countries from October 2008 to January 2011 with 167 valid questionnaires analyzed.

Sex, ethnicity, and slow acetylator profile are the major causes of hepatotoxicity induced by antituberculosis drugs.

Background And Aim: Treatment with antituberculosis (TB) drugs produces liver damage in a large proportion of patients. Isoniazid, an antibacterial drug, is primarily responsible for this hepatotoxicity. Several polymorphisms of the N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT-2) and cytochrome P450 2E1 enzymes, which are involved in the metabolism of isoniazid, may be directly associated with the development of hepatotoxicity.

Marked improvement in survival among adult Croatian AIDS patients after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment.

We compared the survival of patients following the first AIDS event in Croatia from the period 1986-1996 to the period 1997-2000. A total of 72 (81.8%) out of 88 patients from 1986-1996 and 18 (32.

Azithromycin: single 1.5 g dose in the treatment of patients with atypical pneumonia syndrome--a randomized study.

An open comparative study was undertaken in order to assess the efficacy and safety of a single dose of azithromycin in the treatment of community-acquired atypical pneumonia. A total of 100 adult patients with atypical pneumonia syndrome were randomized to receive 1.5 g of azithromycin as a single dose, or 500 mg once daily for 3 days.

Inhibition of classical complement activation by sera from HIV-1-positive patients.

It was shown that gp120/160-coupled CD4+ T cells could be lysed by complement activation, but the target cell lysis was strongly inhibited by the majority of HIV-1-positive sera. Significantly more sera from HIV-1-infected patients with CD4+ T cell count higher than 500 microl (N = 38) as well as from patients with 200-500/microl (N = 32) showed strong inhibition of complement activation as compared to sera from those with less than 200 CD4+ T cells/microl (N = 28) (P = 0.0064 and 0.

Azithromycin in the treatment of pneumonias caused by Chlamydia spp: a retrospective study.

A retrospective study was undertaken in order to compare the efficacy and safety of azithromycin and doxycycline in the treatment of pneumonias caused by Chlamydia spp. Patients with radiologically confirmed pneumonia and positive complement fixation test for chlamydial infection who were hospitalized in the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Zagreb during the years 1989-1992 were reviewed. Among them, 83 were treated with azithromycin, given in a total dose of 1.

Asymptomatic pharyngeal carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci and streptococcal pharyngitis among patients at an urban hospital in Croatia.

In a one-year study at the University Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia the rate of asymptomatic throat carriage of beta-haemolytic streptococci was investigated. Throat carriage was investigated in 1796 patients, none of whom had a sore throat nor signs and/or symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. The carrier rate of beta-haemolytic streptococci was 8.

Production of pyrogenic exotoxins in group A streptococci isolated from patients in Zagreb, Croatia.

The pyrogenic exotoxin profiles were determined of group A streptococci isolated from patients in Zagreb, Croatia in the period 1989-1990. A total of 12 strains were studied, five from patients with serious infections and seven from patients with uncomplicated infections. Serotypes M1 and M3 were found in seven (58%) patients.

Mononucleosis-like syndrome associated with a multisystem Coxsackie virus type B3 infection in adolescence.

We describe a severe multisystem Coxsackie virus type B3 infection in a previously healthy 14-year-old girl who presented with a mononucleosis-like syndrome (MS). Initial observations included a prominent cervical lymphadenopathy, exudative pharyngitis and leucocytosis with atypical lymphocytosis. At the end of the 2nd week of illness the patient developed meningoencephalomyelitis and haemolytic anaemia.