Irish journal of medical science
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Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) modulates CD4+ T cell differentiation and inflammatory response, the latter ones mediate ulcerative colitis (UC) initiation. This study intended to explore the correlation of serum PCSK9 with disease activity, T helper (h)1/Th2/Th17 cells, and clinical response of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in UC patients. ⋯ Serum PCSK9 is positively related to disease activity, Th1, and Th17 cells in UC patients; further, its decline correlates with TNFi response achievement in these patients.
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Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) comprises patients with both radiographic and non-radiographic features. Previous studies have shown similar burden of disease between these two groups. ⋯ This study provides evidence to suggest that the burden of disease is less in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis than radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
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Childhood and adolescence are critical periods of physiological growth as well as development in biological, emotional, and social domains. During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescent's lives were drastically changed. Many countries including the United Kingdom and Ireland imposed strict universal lockdowns, which included the closing of creches, schools and universities as well as restricting peer interactions, social activities, and recreational pursuits. Evidence is emerging of a catastrophic impact on the younger generation, which leads the authors to explore the ethicality of the COVID-19 response in this population in relation to the four pillars of medical ethics: beneficence, nomaleficence, autonomy, and justice.
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With the development of sequencing technologies, there is increasing evidence that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The level of NR_103776.1 expression in SLE and its clinical associations are still not well defined. ⋯ This study not only provided a transcriptome profile of lncRNAs aberrantly expressed in individual nucleated cells of SLE patients but also suggested NR_103776.1 as a novel potential diagnostic biomarker.
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Observational Study
Factors influencing accidental food allergic reactions in schools and preschools.
Children spend a large proportion of their childhood in schools. In Ireland, there is no government policy on the management of food allergy (FA) in schools or preschool childcare settings (CCS). There is limited data worldwide on rate of accidental allergic reactions (AARs) within these settings. ⋯ The incidence of AARs in this Irish cohort was found to be equivalent to the international experience. However, many of the recorded reactions identified in this study were likely avoidable. Preparation for AARs needs optimising. The ineffectiveness of "nut bans" remains unrecognised. Promoting milk and egg allergy resolution in infancy would likely reduce preschool- and school-based reaction numbers.