Current medical research and opinion
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disorder characterized by disturbed cellular and humoral immune responses. Dysregulations of immune system and immunosuppressive medications predispose SLE patients to infection. This study aims to investigate the alterations and absolute concentrations of lymphocyte subpopulations in SLE patients with different infection and their responses of low-dose IL-2 therapy. ⋯ Patients with SLE had insufficiency of circulating lymphocyte subsets. This phenomenon was more obverse in those accompanying infection, suggesting the low concentration of lymphocytes may be used as indicators of high infection risk in SLE patients. Low-dose IL-2 induced expansion of Treg cells and NK cells, which may contribute to the restoration of immune homeostasis in SLE patients.
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Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is a poorly known entity. An underlying chronic, low-grade inflammation (LGI) has been theorized as a pathophysiological mechanism. Available data on biomarkers in PCS show conflicting results. Our aim was to know whether subjects with PCS present higher levels of inflammatory markers, after a mild COVID-19. ⋯ The data obtained in the present cross-sectional study seems to demonstrate a consistent association between PCS and upper ranges of the neutrophil count, NLR, fibrinogen, and CRP in the LGI range. Furthermore, composite indices appear useful in detecting relationships between slight elevations of biomarkers and PCS, and our study identifies relevant sex differences in symptoms and markers regarding the PCS.
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Meta Analysis
Risk of Parkinson's disease in glaucoma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between glaucoma and the risk of Parkinson's disease. ⋯ The hazard of developing Parkinson's disease was non-significantly different for those with glaucoma compared to controls; however, there were not enough studies available to draw definitive conclusions.
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The totality-of-evidence approach requires that similarity between a proposed biosimilar and a reference biologic is demonstrated across a range of analytical, preclinical, and clinical parameters to establish biosimilarity. We describe the totality of evidence for Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim (LA-EP2006 [marketed as Ziextenzo]) that supported its regulatory approval in Europe and the United States. ⋯ The totality of evidence confirms that Sandoz biosimilar pegfilgrastim matches the reference biologic and will therefore provide equivalent efficacy and safety in all eligible indications.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Limitations of randomized, controlled, double-blinded studies in determining safety and effectiveness of treatments.
Randomized, controlled, double-blinded studies, in which treated subjects are randomly selected from the same pool as controlled (untreated) ones and neither the caregiver nor the patient knows which is which, are widely accepted as the gold standard of experimental medicine. There are well-documented advantages of such studies. ⋯ Some limitations of them are widely known and taught, such as inadequate sample size, failure of proper randomization, et cetera; others are less well-known. We shall focus on the latter.