Biologic agents licensed for severe asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Six biologic agents are now approved for patients with severe asthma. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of licensed biologic agents in patients with severe asthma, including the recently approved tezepelumab.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL to identify randomised controlled trials involving licensed biologics until 31 January 2023.

Power Doppler signal at the enthesis and bone erosions are the most discriminative OMERACT ultrasound lesions for SpA: results from the DEUS (Defining Enthesitis on Ultrasound in Spondyloarthritis) multicentre study.

Objectives: To assess, in spondyloarthritis (SpA), the discriminative value of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasound lesions of enthesitis and their associations with clinical features in this population.

Methods: In this multicentre study involving 20 rheumatology centres, clinical and ultrasound examinations of the lower limb large entheses were performed in 413 patients with SpA (axial SpA and psoriatic arthritis) and 282 disease controls (osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia). 'Active enthesitis' was defined as (1) power Doppler (PD) at the enthesis grade ≥1 plus entheseal thickening and/or hypoechoic areas, or (2) PD grade >1 (independent of the presence of entheseal thickening and/or hypoechoic areas).

Syncope in the setting of trifascicular block and retrograde concealed conduction: A case report.

In clinical practice, the accurate diagnosis of the causes of syncope is often challenging and demanding. Moreover, certain rare electrocardiographic phenomena may complicate the diagnostic workup, leading to imprecise diagnoses. The present study briefly describes the case of an 82-year-old male patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy who suffered syncopal episodes in the setting of trifascicular block.

Urinary Bladder Carcinoma Demonstrated on Bone Scintigraphy and SPECT/CT Images.

Bone scintigraphy with Tc-99m-diphosphonate analogs are widely used in staging, restaging, and monitoring the therapy effectiveness of various cancer types. Bone-seeking agents are excreted through urination, resulting in the visualization of either anatomical abnormalities or pathological conditions of the kidneys and bladder. We present a case of a 63-year-old man with urinary bladder carcinoma depicted on whole body planar and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography images.

Brain Perfusion Changes in a Patient with Facial Trauma.

A 69-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of left facial trauma with bone fractures, including the maxillary sinus, zygomatic arch, and ethmoid and sphenoid bones. Brain computed tomography was unremarkable but regional cerebral blood flow with hexamethyl-propylene-amine oxime single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed hypoperfusion of the left hemisphere, which was reversible since a repeat SPECT 4 months later was substantially improved. Brain perfusion SPECT may provide information on cerebrovascular status in some cases of facial injury.

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: An Update on the Current State of Management.

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a relatively common retinal disorder that leads to central vision impairment, often with a high recurrence rate. The exact etiology and pathogenetic mechanisms have not been fully elucidated but are likely to be associated with hyperpermeability of the choroidal capillaries and failure of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), leading to serous detachment of the neurosensory retina. Multimodal imaging plays a critical role in the diagnostic approach and monitoring of CSCR.

Effects of Hypoglycemia on Cardiovascular Function in Patients with Diabetes.

Hypoglycemia is common in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D, T2D), treated with insulin or sulfonylureas, and has multiple short- and long-term clinical implications. Whether acute or recurrent, hypoglycemia significantly affects the cardiovascular system with the potential to cause cardiovascular dysfunction. Several pathophysiological mechanisms have been proposed linking hypoglycemia to increased cardiovascular risk, including hemodynamic changes, myocardial ischemia, abnormal cardiac repolarization, cardiac arrhythmias, prothrombotic and proinflammatory effects, and induction of oxidative stress.

Microalbuminuria on admission for acute exacerbation of COPD as a predictor of all-cause mortality and future exacerbations.

Objectives: Microalbuminuria (MAB) is a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular risk that is directly associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. Recent studies have evaluated the presence of MAB in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or hospitalised for acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).

Methods: We evaluated 320 patients admitted for AECOPD in respiratory medicine departments of two tertiary hospitals.

Inflammatory bowel disease and atrial fibrillation: a contemporary overview.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice and it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Atrial fibrillation is linked with inflammatory signaling while inflammation and oxidative stress promote atrial remodeling promoting the development and perpetuation of the arrhythmia. On the other hand, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered a chronic inflammatory condition with flares and remissions.

Anatomical variations of the great saphenous vein at the saphenofemoral junction. A cadaveric study and narrative review of the literature.

Objectives: The great saphenous vein is the lower limb's longest and thickest-walled superficial vein. Its anatomy is complex, while its anatomical variations are widespread. This study aimed to illustrate the anatomy and variations of the great saphenous vein at the saphenofemoral junction.

Recurrent bilateral lung infiltrates in a patient with ulcerative colitis.

https://bit.ly/3AnNJNN.

The Associations of Dietary Vitamin K Intake and Circulating Vitamin 25(OH)D with Serum Lipoprotein Levels: The Vitamin Deficiency Matters.

A synergistic interplay between vitamins K and D appears to exist. We aimed to investigate for the first time whether the associations of dietary vitamin K intake and circulating 25(OH)D with serum lipoprotein levels are influenced by the existence of deficiency of either or both vitamins K and D. Sixty individuals [24 males, 36(18-79) years old] were examined.

Accurate Characterization of Bladder Cancer Cells with Intraoperative Flow Cytometry.

Bladder cancer represents a major health issue. Transurethral resection is the first line treatment and an accurate assessment of tumor margins might warrant complete tumor removal. Genomic instability and proliferative potential are common hallmarks of cancer cells.

Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in the neonatal population.

The consistently high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has urged the need for punctual and effective prevention. Extended research on this specific area has demonstrated the influence of fetal and neonatal periods on the risk of developing CVD in adulthood. Thus, the role of traditional and novel biological markers to the effective screening of CVD among the neonatal population is widely investigated.

Microalbuminuria on admission for acute exacerbation of COPD as a predictor of all-cause mortality and future exacerbations.

Objectives: Microalbuminuria (MAB) is a sensitive biomarker of cardiovascular risk that is directly associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. Recent studies have evaluated the presence of MAB in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or hospitalised for acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).

Methods: We evaluated 320 patients admitted for AECOPD in respiratory medicine departments of two tertiary hospitals.

Tocilizumab administration for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tocilizumab has been repurposed against the 'cytokine storm' in the setting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of tocilizumab in the management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL and medRxiv for studies of tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

A direct adverse effect of smoking.

Smoking has been accounted for numerous adverse effects. We report a direct effect of smoking in a 73-year-old patient, a heavy smoker who presented to the emergency department with a 48-h history of productive cough and fever. Chest x-ray and chest CT revealed right lung infiltrates; however, they were not suggestive of the diagnosis, which was established through flexible bronchoscopy.

Repeated Leftover Serosurvey of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in Greece, May to August 2020.

A serosurvey of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was conducted in Greece between May and August 2020. It was designed as a cross-sectional survey and was repeated at monthly intervals. The leftover sampling methodology was used and a geographically stratified sampling plan was applied.