Similar Weaning Success Rate with High-Intensity and Sham Inspiratory Muscle Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial (IMweanT).

Rationale: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves respiratory muscle function in patients with weaning difficulties. IMT protocols involve performing daily sets of breaths against external loads. However, the impact of IMT on weaning outcomes while incorporating sham control interventions remains unclear.

Exploiting the role of CSF NfL, CHIT1, and miR-181b as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by relentless and progressive loss of motor neurons. A molecular diagnosis, supported by the identification of specific biomarkers, might promote the definition of multiple biological subtypes of ALS, improving patient stratification and providing prognostic information. Here, we investigated the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), chitotriosidase (CHIT1) and microRNA-181b (miR-181b) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of ALS subjects (N = 210) as well as neurologically healthy and neurological disease controls (N = 218, including N = 74 with other neurodegenerative diseases) from a large European multicentric cohort, evaluating their specific or combined utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

osteomyelitis of the greater trochanter in a patient with multiple sclerosis using ocrelizumab - a case report.

Ocrelizumab - a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody used in treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) - marks significant progress in treating autoimmune diseases but raises susceptibility to opportunistic infections due to hypogammaglobulinemia. A young MS patient developed osteomyelitis from persistent urethritis, which was diagnosed with specialized polymerase chain reaction and resolved with targeted antibiotics. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial for managing such infections.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Scoliosis in the Era of Background Therapies-A Review of the Literature.

Spinal deformities are considered an important complication of neuromuscular disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA patients typically develop progressive early-onset scoliosis, which is associated with increased functional decline, discomfort, and respiratory dysfunction. Over the second decade of the twenty-first century, a lot has changed in terms of the therapeutic options available to people with SMA.

Nivolumab plus relatlimab in patients with previously treated microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer: the phase II CheckMate 142 study.

Background: Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, including nivolumab, have demonstrated long-term survival benefit in previously treated patients with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). PD-1 and lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) are distinct immune checkpoints that are often co-expressed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and contribute to tumor-mediated T-cell dysfunction. Relatlimab is a LAG-3 inhibitor that has demonstrated efficacy in combination with nivolumab in patients with melanoma.

What Is the Patient-reported Outcome and Complication Incidence After Operative Versus Nonoperative Treatment of Minimally Displaced Tibial Plateau Fractures?

Background: Much controversy remains about whether minimally displaced tibial plateau fractures should be treated operatively or nonoperatively. It is generally accepted that gaps and stepoffs up to 2 mm can be tolerated, but this assumption is based on older studies using plain radiographs instead of CT to assess the degree of initial fracture displacement. Knowledge regarding the relationship between the degree of fracture displacement and expected functional outcome is crucial for patient counseling and shared decision-making, specifically in terms of whether to perform surgery.

Advanced imaging shows extra-articular abscesses in two out of three adult patients with septic arthritis of the native hip joint.

: Septic arthritis (SA) of the native adult hip is a rare orthopaedic emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. As clinical presentation and laboratory findings are frequently atypical, advanced imaging is often requested. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence and pattern of extra-articular infectious manifestations and their implications for pre-operative advanced imaging in patients with proven SA of the native hip joint.

Tibial plateau fracture morphology based on injury force mechanism is predictive for patient-reported outcome and conversion to total knee arthroplasty.

Purposes: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between injury mechanism-based fracture patterns and patient-reported outcome as well as conversion rate to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at follow-up.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed including 1039 patients treated for a tibial plateau fracture between 2003 and 2019. At a mean follow-up of 5.

Long-term follow-up of the red density pilot trial: a basis for long-term prediction of sustained clinical remission in ulcerative colitis?

Red density (RD) technology is an automated operator-independent endoscopic scoring system for disease activity in ulcerative colitis (UC). In this retrospective analysis we aimed to assess the predictive value of the RD sore for sustained clinical remission. All 39 patients from the RD pilot trial were evaluated for clinical outcome in a 5-year period.

Treatment of non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome with the histamine 1 receptor antagonist ebastine: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: We evaluated the histamine 1 receptor antagonist ebastine as a potential treatment for patients with non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in a randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 study.

Methods: Non-constipated patients with IBS fulfilling the Rome III criteria were randomly assigned to 20 mg ebastine or placebo for 12 weeks. Subjects scored global relief of symptoms (GRS) and abdominal pain intensity (API).

Should treatment decisions in septic arthritis of the native hip joint be based on the route of infection?

: Surgical management of septic arthritis (SA) of the hip aims at treating the infection by either preserving, resecting or replacing the joint. In some cases, joint preservation should be attempted, whereas other cases would benefit from immediate joint resection or replacement. Prognostic factors have been proposed to guide decision-making.

Optimizing pharmacotherapy and deprescribing strategies in older adults living with multimorbidity and polypharmacy: EuGMS SIG on pharmacology position paper.

Inappropriate polypharmacy is highly prevalent among older adults and presents a significant healthcare concern. Conducting medication reviews and implementing deprescribing strategies in multimorbid older adults with polypharmacy are an inherently complex and challenging task. Recognizing this, the Special Interest Group on Pharmacology of the European Geriatric Medicine Society has compiled evidence on medication review and deprescribing in older adults and has formulated recommendations to enhance appropriate prescribing practices.

Fatigue-induced Landing Alterations in ACL Reconstructed Athletes after Return-to-Sport.

At the time of return-to-sport, anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed athletes still show altered neuromechanics in their injured leg during single leg hopping tasks. Part of these alterations can be magnified when these athletes are fatigued. So far, little is known whether fatigue-induced landing alterations persist after return-to-sport.

Hepcidin Status in Cord Blood: Observational Data from a Tertiary Institution in Belgium.

The hormone hepcidin plays an important role in intestinal iron absorption and cellular release. Cord blood hepcidin values reflect fetal hepcidin status, at least at the time of delivery, but are not available for the Belgian population. Therefore, we aimed (1) to provide the first data on cord blood hepcidin levels in a Belgian cohort and (2) to determine variables associated with cord blood hepcidin concentrations.

End Stage Hip Osteoarthritis in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome - A Case Report.

Introduction: Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues (such as skin and muscles), and bone. It is a rare cause of severe degenerative joint disease at an early age. Orthopedic interventions in these patients bring numerous difficulties for various reasons.

Safety, Efficacy, and Predictors for Late Reintervention After Embolization of Renal Angiomyolipomas - Embolization renal angiomyolipoma.

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the procedural and long-term clinical outcome of the selective embolization of renal angiomyolipoma. In addition, potential predictive factors for higher risk of late re-intervention were analyzed.

Methods: Retrospective monocentric study, including 34 consecutive patients, analyzing the safety, efficiency, and long-term clinical outcome of catheter-directed embolization of renal AML.

Information Needs and Counseling Preferences among Potential Users of the Future Teratology Information Service in Belgium: A Cross-Sectional Study Involving the Public and Healthcare Professionals.

A Teratology Information Service (TIS) does not exist in Belgium yet but will hopefully be established soon. To prepare for this, we aimed to provide insight into the information needs and counseling preferences of the Belgian public and healthcare professionals (HCPs) regarding medication use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. A cross-sectional study using two anonymous, online surveys disseminated via social media, websites, and newsletters addressing Dutch and French-speaking individuals (≥18 years) and licensed HCPs was performed between June and September 2020.

Serum thymidine kinase activity in patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer treated with palbociclib and fulvestrant.

Background: Biomarkers for cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, such as palbociclib, for patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer are lacking. Thymidine kinase is a proliferation marker downstream of the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 pathway. We prospectively investigated the prognostic role of serum thymidine kinase activity (sTKa), in patients treated with Palbociclib + fulvestrant.

Septic Failure After One-Stage Exchange for Prosthetic Joint Infection of the Hip: Microbiological Implications.

Background: The microbiological implications of septic failure after 1-stage exchange for prosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the hip remain unclear.

Methods: Information was gathered on comorbidities, previous procedures, preoperative and postoperative microbiology results, methods of detection, and antibiotic resistance patterns, for all patients, who developed septic failure after 1-stage exchange for PJI of the hip performed at our institution during 2001-2017.

Results: Seventy-seven patients were identified.