Diagnosing Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation-Comparison of the Modified Glucksberg Criteria Versus the MAGIC Criteria.

Diagnosing acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is challenging due to heterogeneity in interpreting current clinical criteria. Recently, the Mount Sinai Acute GvHD International Consortium (MAGIC) criteria were introduced to improve diagnostic consistency. In a study of 117 pediatric patients undergoing HSCT, the modified Glucksberg and the MAGIC criteria were retrospectively compared.

Immune checkpoint blockade in experimental bacterial infections.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors designed to reinvigorate immune responses suppressed by cancer cells have revolutionized cancer therapy. Similarities in immune dysregulation between cancer and infectious diseases have prompted investigations into the role of immune checkpoints in infectious diseases, including the therapeutic potential of immune checkpoint blockade and drug repurposing. While most research has centered around viral infections, data for bacterial infections are emerging.

Acquisition of Fc-afucosylation of PfEMP1-specific IgG is age-dependent and associated with clinical protection against malaria.

Protective immunity to malaria depends on acquisition of parasite-specific antibodies, with Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) being one of the most important target antigens. The effector functions of PfEMP1-specific IgG include inhibition of infected erythrocyte (IE) sequestration and opsonization of IEs for cell-mediated destruction. IgG glycosylation modulates antibody functionality, with increased affinity to FcγRIIIa for IgG lacking fucose in the Fc region (Fc-afucosylation).

Thromboinflammation in ischemic cerebrovascular patients with the JAK2V617F mutation.

Background: The JAK2V617F mutation is a driver of Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and is also implicated in cardiovascular diseases. Thrombosis in MPN involves JAK2V617F-associated platelet activation and endothelial dysfunction, all potentially influenced by chronic inflammation. Whether the mutation affects thromboinflammatory markers similarly in non-MPN patients remains unclear.

Changes in gut microbiota predict neutropenia after induction treatment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Delayed neutrophil recovery during acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment increases risk of infection and causes delay in chemotherapy. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiota in neutrophil reconstitution after chemotherapy. We explored the interplay between the gut microbiota and neutrophil dynamics, including neutrophil chemoattractants, in 51 children with newly-diagnosed ALL.

Dietary intake and risk of metabolic syndrome in long-term survivors of pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We explored the dietary intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in 85 survivors of pediatric stem cell transplantation (median age 30 years, median follow-up time 20 years). Overall, the distribution of fatty acid deviated from the recommendations with a higher intake of saturated fat and a lower intake of unsaturated fat but was comparable to that of the background population. The prevalence of MetS was 27%, corresponding to that of the elderly background population.

Cerebrospinal fluid soluble CD27 is a sensitive biomarker of inflammation in autoimmune encephalitis.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) comprises a group of rare, severe neuroinflammatory conditions. Current biomarkers of neuroinflammation are often normal in AE which therefore can be difficult to rule out in patients with seizures, cognitive and/or neuropsychiatric symptoms. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) soluble CD27 (sCD27) and soluble B-cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) have high sensitivity for neuroinflammation in other neuroinflammatory conditions.

Upregulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in Response to Chemotherapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The treatment of childhood cancer is challenged by toxic side effects mainly due to chemotherapy-induced organ damage and infections, which are accompanied by severe systemic inflammation. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a key regulating factor in tissue repair. This study investigated associations between the circulating IGF-I levels and chemotherapy-related toxicity in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Cytokine stability in chronic wound fluid and its association to fibroblast proliferation.

Cytokines are commonly deregulated in venous leg ulcers. We have investigated cytokine stability by incubating sterile-filtered wound fluids from chronic venous leg ulcers in vitro. Incubation of wound fluids for 24 h at 37°C decreased IL-1β levels by 88% and TNF-α levels by 64%.

Proteomic and Cytokine Profiling in Plasma from Patients with Normal-Tension Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is subdivided depending on eye pressure. Patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) have never had high intraocular pressure (IOP) measured while patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) have high eye pressure but no signs of glaucoma. Although IOP is considered to be a risk factor for all glaucoma patients, it is reasonable to assume that other risk factors such as inflammation play a role.

Intestinal mucositis, systemic inflammation and bloodstream infections following high-dose methotrexate treatment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: Comparison between the NOPHO ALL 2008 protocol and the ALLTogether1 protocol.

Severe intestinal mucositis (IM) increases the risk of bloodstream infections (BSI) and inflammatory toxicity during acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) induction treatment. However, the implications of IM in subsequent ALL therapy phases after achieving remission remain unknown. This study investigated the relationship between IM (measured by plasma citrulline and the chemokine CCL20) and the development of BSI and systemic inflammation (reflected by C-reactive protein, CRP) in children with ALL during high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) treatment, an important part of ALL consolidation therapy.

Evaluating risk factors in recurrent pregnancy loss: A prospective cohort study and its impact on live birth outcomes.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects 1-2 % of all couples trying to conceive and is a challenging heterogeneous condition. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and impact of various risk factors in patients suffering from RPL. We performed a prospective cohort study including patients at the tertiary RPL Unit in the Capital Region of Denmark between 1st January 2000 and 1st January 2023.

Supragingival microbiota, cytokines, and proteins in individuals with different trajectories in experimental gingivitis.

Background: Gingivitis in response to biofilm formation may exhibit different trajectories. The purposes of the present study were to characterize the composition of the supragingival microbiota and salivary cytokine and protein levels in healthy individuals with different gingivitis patterns, to test the hypothesis that manifestations of gingivitis associate with specific profiles in terms of supragingival microbiota, salivary cytokines, and proteins.

Methods: Forty orally and systemically healthy individuals refrained from all oral hygiene procedures for a period of 14 days, followed by a resolution period of 14 days with regular oral care.

Bone remodeling in survivors of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Impact of heavy resistance training.

Background: Early-onset osteoporosis is a frequent late effect after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It remains unknown if physical training can improve bone formation in these patients, as the transplantation procedure may cause sustained dysregulation of the bone-forming osteoblast progenitor cells.

Objective: We aimed to explore the effect of resistance training on bone remodeling in long-term survivors of pediatric HSCT.

Cytomegalovirus infection is associated with thymic dysfunction and chronic graft-versus-host disease after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is challenged by chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) significantly affecting survival and long-term morbidity, but underlying mechanisms including the impact of post-HSCT CMV infection are sparsely studied. We first investigated the impact of CMV infection for development of cGvHD in 322 children undergoing standard myeloablative HSCT between 2000 and 2018. Clinically significant CMV infection (n = 61) was an independent risk factor for chronic GvHD in a multivariable Cox regression analysis (HR = 2.

The Association between Genetics and Response to Treatment with Biologics in Patients with Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Genetic biomarkers could potentially lower the risk of treatment failure in chronic inflammatory diseases (CID) like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and response to biologics. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) meta-analyses were performed.

Evaluation of circulating IgG antibodies against Porphyromonas gingivalis or its gingipains as serological markers of periodontitis and carriage of the bacterium.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that periodontitis contributes to systemic low-grade inflammation. Porphyromonas gingivalis is strongly associated with periodontitis, and antibodies against the bacterium may be used as a serological proxy to account for periodontal status, when studying diseases associated with periodontitis. The aim of the present study is to identify an easily accessible and reliable serological biomarker for determination of periodontal status and oral carriage of the bacterium.

Prospective reproductive outcomes according to sperm parameters, including DNA fragmentation, in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Research Question: Are the prospective reproductive outcomes in couples experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) related to the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), as measured by sperm chromatin structure assay, sperm morphology and sperm concentration at referral?

Design: This prospective cohort study included 95 couples seen between 1 April 2018 and 1 December 2019 at the tertiary Copenhagen RPL Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. The couples had experienced three or more unexplained consecutive pregnancy losses or two late pregnancy losses (>12 weeks gestation). Follow-up was 12-31 months.

Evaluation of Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Involvement in Human Atrial Fibrillation: A Computational Study.

In the present study, we have explored the involvement of Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) in atrial fibrillation (AF), by using a meta-analysis of publicly available human transcriptomic data. The meta-analysis revealed 565 upregulated and 267 downregulated differentially expressed genes associated with AF. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted a significant overrepresentation in immune-related pathways for the upregulated genes.