Vidofludimus Calcium in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial.

Introduction: Vidofludimus calcium (VidoCa) is a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor that demonstrated efficacy in immune-related diseases. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of VidoCa in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: This placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial randomized adults with moderate-severe UC to receive once-daily VidoCa (10, 30, or 45 mg) or placebo for 10 weeks (induction); patients with symptomatic remission were re-randomized to VidoCa 10, 30 mg, or placebo once-daily for an additional 40 weeks (maintenance).

Achievements, priorities and strategies in pediatric nephrology in Europe: need for unifying approaches or acceptance of differences?

Background: There is a lack of information on the current healthcare systems for children with kidney diseases across Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the different national approaches to the organization and delivery of pediatric nephrology services within Europe.

Methods: In 2020, the European society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) conducted a cross-sectional survey to identify the existing pediatric nephrology healthcare systems in 48 European countries covering a population of more than 200 million children.

Epidemiological trends for burn wound infections in 2020 in albania.

The burn patient is at high hazard for nosocomial infections (NI) as a result of the nature of the burn damage itself, the immune-compromising impacts of burns, prolonged clinic stays, and intensive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study is to describe the actual epidemiology of burn wound colonization and infection in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Service of Burns and Plastic Surgery at the University Hospital Center in Tirana, Albania. The study is retrospective clinical and analytical.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dermatology patients with rare skin diseases.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health crisis, presenting novel challenges while worsening preexisting difficulties for individuals with rare diseases. Internationally, they have experienced disruptions in their medical care, with a lack of access to essential treatments and diagnostics. We focused on the specific challenges faced by individuals living with rare skin diseases in Albania, a country with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Validation of the Filipino Version of the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7).

Introduction The Eustachian tube (ET) serves various functions, such as pressure regulation, mucociliary clearance, and middle ear protection. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) pertains to a problem with the ventilatory function of the Eustachian tube and is a common condition seen in the ENT clinic. There is currently no gold standard in diagnosing ETDs, but numerous measures are being employed and studied.

Management of Cardiac Involvement in Becker Muscular Dystrophy: A Case Report.

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is an X-linked recessive neuromuscular disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. Cardiac involvement is a frequent finding in BMD, and manifestations may vary from asymptomatic cardiac involvement to developing symptoms of heart failure and severe cardiomyopathy. We presented the case of a 32-year-old wheelchair-dependent BMD patient who came to our cardiology clinic with a two-month history of heart palpitations, rest and nocturnal dyspnea, fatigue, and generalized muscular weakness.

Global vaccination against hepatitis E virus: position paper from the European society of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases viral hepatitis study group.

Scope: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant global health issue, impacting both low- and middle-income countries and industrialized nations. HEV genotypes 1 and 2, primarily transmitted through contaminated water, are endemic in low- and middle-income countries, whereas genotypes 3 and 4 are zoonotically transmitted in industrialized regions. Acute HEV infection poses severe risks, particularly to pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, whereas chronic HEV infection leads to serious complications in those with pre-existing liver disease and transplant recipients.

Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2) Deficiency: An Overlooked and Elusive Cause of Acute Kidney Injury.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2) deficiency is a rare inherited disorder affecting fatty acid metabolism. This enzymatic defect presents with a broad clinical spectrum, from severe neonatal forms that can be fatal, to milder myopathic variants characterized by myalgia and recurrent myoglobinuria in adolescence and adulthood. Herein, we report the case of a male patient who developed exertional rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury due to CPT2 deficiency.

Oscillatory activity in bilateral prefrontal cortices is altered by distractor strength during working memory processing.

Working memory (WM) enables the temporary storage of limited information and is a central component of higher order cognitive function. Irrelevant and/or distracting information can have a negative impact on WM processing and suppressing such incoming stimuli is critical to maintaining adequate performance. However, the neural mechanisms and dynamics underlying such distractor inhibition remain poorly understood.

The Spectrum and Frequency of Cystic Fibrosis Mutations in Albanian Patients.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease characterized by a wide spectrum of severity, resulting from the inheritance of a mutant allele of the gene for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The aim of the study was to present a CFTR mutation analysis among the Albanian population and to identify rare variants.

Methods: We identified CFTR mutations in a representative cohort of CF patients comprising of Albanian patients and some Kosovo patients followed up by the Department of Pediatrics at the University Hospital Center "Mother Theresa" (UHCMT).

Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Smoking among Schoolchildren in Albania.

Smoking among children remains a critical public health issue, with millions of minors engaging in tobacco use, leading to addiction and long-term health consequences. Our objective was to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic distribution of smoking habits among Albanian children. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania in 2022, including a nationwide representative sample of 5454 schoolchildren aged 11, 13, and 15 years (N = 5454; ≈52% girls; response rate: 96%).

Alpha oscillations during visual selective attention are aberrant in youth and adults with cerebral palsy.

Our understanding of the neurobiology underlying cognitive dysfunction in persons with cerebral palsy is very limited, especially in the neurocognitive domain of visual selective attention. This investigation utilized magnetoencephalography and an Eriksen arrow-based flanker task to quantify the dynamics underlying selective attention in a cohort of youth and adults with cerebral palsy (n = 31; age range = 9 to 47 yr) and neurotypical controls (n = 38; age range = 11 to 49 yr). The magnetoencephalography data were transformed into the time-frequency domain to identify neural oscillatory responses and imaged using a beamforming approach.

Definitive radiotherapy and trismus in HNC patients: A critical review.

Introduction: Trismus is a potentially critical morbidity following curative-intended radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. However, in this setting, evidence regarding this side effect remains to be fully defined, particularly in terms of dosimetric parameters.

Materials And Methods: Key references were derived from a PubMed query.

Identifying risk factors for blood culture negative infective endocarditis: An international ID-IRI study.

Background: Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a diagnostic challenge, therefore our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE.

Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data were collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI).

Contralateral approach to giant ruptured and unruptured ophthalmic artery aneurysms: patient series.

Background: Giant ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms remain surgically challenging despite the progress in endovascular treatments. This study describes the contralateral interoptic corridor in select patients based on imaging criteria suitable for clipping. The aim of this study was to show that despite the growing use of novel endovascular techniques, such as coil embolization and flow diversion, for the treatment of OphA aneurysms, microsurgical clipping may still be preferred for giant ones under certain conditions.

Congenital Anomalies of the Left Main Coronary Artery: A Case Series.

Coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) are rare congenital defects. The most frequent congenital anomaly is the origin of the left circumflex artery (LCX) from the right coronary sinus, followed by the common origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD) from the right coronary sinus, as well as LAD originating from the right coronary sinus. The rarest anomaly is the left coronary artery or left main (LM) originating from the right coronary sinus.

Mapping the path to excellence: Evaluation of the diagnostic and treatment tools for invasive fungal infections in the balkans.

Background: In the Balkans, rising concerns about invasive fungal infections over the past decade stem from various factors. Primarily, there has been a notable uptick in immunocompromised individuals, including those with chronic illnesses like immunological and hematological diseases. Thus, it is essential to assess the region's laboratory capabilities and the availability of antifungals.

In silico and in vitro studies for the identification of small molecular inhibitors from Euphorbia hirta Linn for rheumatoid arthritis: targeting TNF-α-mediated inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that is now potentially lethal and has a significant detrimental influence on people's daily lives by affecting bone joints. Inflammation plays a vital role in this type of autoimmune disorder. In rheumatoid arthritis, long-term production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) stimulates the immune system against cells in bone joints and helps to develop the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Role of Intracoronary Adrenaline in the Treatment of No-Reflow Phenomenon in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

The no-reflow phenomenon is defined as the failure to restore coronary flow demonstrated by the reduced or missing flow in angiography despite the patent artery. There are pharmacological strategies proposed and studied to manage the no-reflow phenomenon. The medication groups used are purine nucleoside (adenosine), calcium channel blockers (verapamil, nicardipine), beta 2 receptor agonists (adrenaline, nitroprusside), fibrinolytic agents (streptokinase, tissue plasminogen activators), glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (abciximab, tirofiban).