Irish journal of medical science
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Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common autoinflammatory disease characterized by short, repeated, and self-limiting attacks of fever and serositis. Subclinical inflammation can persist in the periods with no symptoms and result in amyloidosis even with colchicine treatment. Neopterin and calprotectin have been considered essential players in inflammation and immune response. ⋯ Calprotectin, neopterin, and RDW can be valuable marker candidates to be used in the follow-up of subclinical inflammation in FMF patients.
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Cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated liver disease commonly manifests as portal hypertension and its complications. We investigated the proposal that the pathophysiology is of non-cirrhotic rather than cirrhotic portal hypertension. This distinction may have important implications for treatment. ⋯ This study demonstrates that non-cirrhotic portal hypertension or obliterative portal venopathy is the predominant hepatic pathophysiology in adult CF patients requiring liver transplantation. It suggests that treatments directed at the hepatic portal venous system may be more effective than current treatment directed at the biliary system in cystic fibrosis.
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Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleeding) can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions that require emergency intervention. Therefore, it is important to first identify the high-risk and low-risk patients in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ This study validated that lactate clearance at three-hourly intervals is useful for early prediction of mortality and prognosis in patients with GI bleeding. It is important to perform not only an initial lactate measurement, but also a follow-up lactate measurement after initial resuscitation to check the lactate clearance.
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We evaluated the use of the PPI treatment by physicians in older adults hospitalized in a long-term care unit. ⋯ Few PPI prescriptions had an indication in the patient's electronic record. Prescriptions were ongoing with no date of discontinuation or re-evaluation.
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Rituximab (RTX) is an important immunosuppressive agent used for many rheumatologic diseases. This study investigated the factors affecting mortality and mortality due to COVID-19 infection in patients receiving RTX. ⋯ As a result of the study, it was found that RTX treatment in particular increased the risk of death from COVID-19 infection. However, vaccination against COVID-19 has a very important place in this patient group. It is important that vaccination is administered at the full dose and adjusted according to the RTX treatment time, and that the dose and timing of RTX treatment are regulated.