Individualised therapeutic approach to the patient with atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome.

Atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease associated with uncontrolled activation of the alternative complement pathway, leading to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Early diagnosis and treatment with eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the complement component C5, are crucial to improve outcomes and prevent renal failure and mortality. Current recommendations include lifelong eculizumab therapy, yet this practice presents challenges including high treatment costs and increased infection risks from prolonged complement inhibition.

The relationship between vaccine acceptance and COVID-19 mortality in Europe: A Cross-Country analysis of public opinion and Epidemiological data.

Introduction: More than two years after SARS-CoV-2 emerged in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 has become one of the most severe pandemics in modern human history. Prior to the widespread availability of specific vaccines in 2021, public opinion surveys indicated significant vaccine hesitancy in 26 European countries.

Materials And Methods: Epidemiological data on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality for 26 European countries were collected in November 2021 and compared with the proportions of people willing to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine according to public opinion surveys analysed in 2020.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy in hospitalised adult COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy has been suggested as a potential treatment option for hospitalised COVID-19 patients. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the potential impact of IVIg on mortality and length of hospitalisation in adult COVID-19 patients. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and medRxiv were searched in the week of 20.

Broad T Cell Targeting of Structural Proteins After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: High Throughput Assessment of T Cell Reactivity Using an Automated Interferon Gamma Release Assay.

Background: Adaptive immune responses to structural proteins of the virion play a crucial role in protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We therefore studied T cell responses against multiple SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins in a large cohort using a simple, fast, and high-throughput approach.

Methods: An automated interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) for the Nucleocapsid (NC)-, Membrane (M)-, Spike-C-terminus (SCT)-, and N-terminus-protein (SNT)-specific T cell responses was performed using fresh whole blood from study subjects with convalescent, confirmed COVID-19 (n = 177, more than 200 days post infection), exposed household members (n = 145), and unexposed controls (n = 85).

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth in cardiovascular patients.

Drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO) is a pathological growth of gingival tissue, primarily associated with calcium channel blockers and immunosuppressants. Consequently, it is mainly seen in cardiovascular and transplanted patients. Nifedipine remains the main calcium channel blocker related to the development of this unpleasant side-effect.

Impaired cortico-limbic functional connectivity in schizophrenia patients during emotion processing.

Functional dysconnection is increasingly recognized as a core pathological feature in schizophrenia. Aberrant interactions between regions of the cortico-limbic circuit may underpin the abnormal emotional processing associated with this illness. We used a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm designed to dissociate the various components of the cortico-limbic circuit (i.

Childhood trauma and emotional processing circuits in schizophrenia: A functional connectivity study.

Childhood trauma strongly impacts emotional responses in schizophrenia. We have explored an association between early trauma and the amygdala functional connectivity using generalized psychophysiological interaction during an emotional task. Twenty-one schizophrenia patients and twenty-five controls were included.

CYP2D6 *6/*6 genotype and drug interactions as cause of haloperidol-induced extrapyramidal symptoms.

A 66-year-old male Caucasian, received 1 mg of haloperidol orally and rapidly developed severe iatrogenic extrapyramidal symptoms. Treatment was immediately discontinued, and the side effects resolved. Haloperidol is mainly metabolized by Phase I CYP2D6 and to the lesser extent by CYP3A4 and by Phase II UGT2B7 enzymes.

Childhood neglect predicts disorganization in schizophrenia through grey matter decrease in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

Objective: Psychosocial trauma during childhood is associated with schizophrenia vulnerability. The pattern of grey matter decrease is similar to brain alterations seen in schizophrenia. Our objective was to explore the links between childhood trauma, brain morphology and schizophrenia symptoms.

Dabigatran - a continuing exemplar case history demonstrating the need for comprehensive models to optimize the utilization of new drugs.

Background: There are potential conflicts between authorities and companies to fund new premium priced drugs especially where there are effectiveness, safety and/or budget concerns. Dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant for the prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), exemplifies this issue. Whilst new effective treatments are needed, there are issues in the elderly with dabigatran due to variable drug concentrations, no known antidote and dependence on renal elimination.

Antimicrobial prescribing at a university hospital: justified or 'just in case': testing a new scoring system as a key quality indicator.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of antimicrobial drug prescribing at a university hospital in the Department of Medicine, by using a new scoring system as a quality indicator.

Design: a prospective, longitudinal survey, during a 21-week period. The necessity of antimicrobial treatment of all in-patients at the Department of Medicine, to whom new antimicrobials were prescribed, was assessed by using a scoring system based on the presence of signs and symptoms of an infection.

Utilization of antimicrobials in Rijeka (Croatia).

Purpose: In this study, the extent and pattern of inpatient and outpatient antimicrobial drug use was investigated in Rijeka, Croatia, and the impact of control measures was evaluated.

Methods: Consumption of antibacterials for the years 2000 and 2001 was monitored using the ATC/DDD methodology.

Results: During the investigation period, the antimicrobial utilization at the University Hospital Center (UHC) Rijeka has decreased by 14%.

Factors influencing antimicrobial utilization at a university hospital during a period of 11 years.

Objective: A number of factors may influence antibiotic prescribing. The objective of this study was to identify trends in antimicrobial prescribing during a period of 1 years at the University Hospital Center Rijeka (UHC), Croatia, and to identify possible factors that might have influenced changes in prescribing patterns. This may help in establishing criteria for future intervention.