Characteristics and Risk Factors of Central Nervous System Infection in Children With Febrile Seizures.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the necessity of performing lumbar puncture in patients experiencing febrile seizures, considering the epidemiology specific to Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed from January 2017 to December 2021. RESULTS: A total of 469 children with seizure and fever were analyzed. The identified event was the first in 65.9% (n = 309). A total of 54.2% (n = 254) of patients had a simple febrile seizure. Infectious focus, excluding previous central nervous system (CNS) infection, was identified in 35.6% (n = 167) patients. Meningitis was identified in 7.7% (n = 36) patients, all of them were viral. Patients with CNS infection had a higher frequency of symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, headache, and higher level of leukocytosis. A longer duration of fever was found to be more strongly associated with CNS infection. CONCLUSIONS: When considering the use of lumbar puncture in febrile seizure, it is important to conduct a comprehensive evaluation that considers multiple factors, including clinical signs, symptoms, and the overall clinical context. Meningeal signs may be less prominent, and other symptoms such as lethargy, irritability, and vomiting may serve as more reliable indicators. Although clinical examination suggestive of meningitis remains an important factor, the recurrence of febrile seizures and a longer length of fever can provide additional insights and aid in decision-making regarding lumbar puncture.

A reverse translational approach reveals the protective roles of Mangifera indica in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic intestinal disorders often characterized by a dysregulation of T cells, specifically T helper (Th) 1, 17 and T regulatory (Treg) repertoire. Increasing evidence demonstrates that dietary polyphenols from Mangifera indica L. extract (MIE, commonly known as mango) mitigate intestinal inflammation and splenic Th17/Treg ratio. In this study, we aimed to dissect the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of MIE using a reverse translational approach, by initially using blood from an adult IBD inception cohort and then investigating the mechanism of action in a preclinical model of T cell-driven colitis. Of clinical relevance, MIE modulates TNF-α and IL-17 levels in LPS spiked sera from IBD patients as an ex vivo model of intestinal barrier breakdown. Preclinically, therapeutic administration of MIE significantly reduced colitis severity, pathogenic T-cell intestinal infiltrate and intestinal pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-22). Moreover, MIE reversed colitis-induced gut permeability and restored tight junction functionality and intestinal metabolites. Mechanistic insights revealed MIE had direct effects on blood vascular endothelial cells, blocking TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced up-regulation of COX-2 and the DP2 receptors. Collectively, we demonstrate the therapeutic potential of MIE to reverse the immunological perturbance during the onset of colitis and dampen the systemic inflammatory response, paving the way for its clinical use as nutraceutical and/or functional food.

Loss of RAS Mutations in Liquid Biopsies of Patients With Multi-Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Liquid biopsy (LB) is a non-invasive tool to evaluate the heterogeneity of tumors. Since RAS mutations (RAS-mut) play a major role in resistance to antiepidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), serial monitoring of RAS-mut with LB may be useful to guide treatment. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the loss of RAS-mut (NeoRAS-wt) in LB, during the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with mCRC between January 2018 and December 2021. RAS-mut were examined in tissue biopsy, at mCRC diagnosis, and with LB, during treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with RAS-mut mCRC were studied. LB was performed after a median of 3 lines (0-7) of systemic treatment including anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) Mabs. NeoRAS-wt was detected in 13 patients (33.3%); 9 (69.2%) of them received further treatment with anti-EGFR Mabs with a disease control rate of 44.4%. Median overall survival (OS), from the date of LB testing, was 20 months in the NeoRAS-wt group and 9 months in the persistent RAS-mut group (log-rank 2.985; P = .08), with a 12-month OS of 84.6% and 57.7%, respectively. NeoRAS-wt was identified as a predictor of survival (HR = 0.29; P = .007), with an 11-month improvement in median OS and a 71% decrease in risk of death, in heavily pretreated patients. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, monitoring clonal evolution in mCRC by LB may provide an additional treatment line for patients with NeoRAS-wt in advanced disease.

Toxicological Profile and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Mucoadhesive Gel from Residues of Agave sisalana and Punica granatum.

Inflammation is a natural protective reaction of the body against endogenous and exogenous damage, such as tissue injuries, trauma, and infections. Thus, when the response is adequate, inflammation becomes a defense mechanism to repair damaged tissue, whereas when the response is inadequate and persistent, the increase in inflammatory cells, cytosines, and chymosins impair tissue regeneration and promote a response harmful to the organism. One example is chronic tissue inflammation, in which a simple lesion can progress to ulcers and even necrosis. In this situation, the anti-inflammatory medications available in therapy are not always effective. For this reason, the search for new treatments, developed from medicinal plants, has increased. In this direction, the plants Agave sisalana (sisal) and Punica granatum (pomegranate) are rich in saponins, which are secondary metabolites known for their therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory effects. Although Brazil is the world's leading sisal producer, approximately 95% of the leaves are discarded after fiber extraction. Similarly, pomegranate peel waste is abundant in Brazil. To address the need for safe and effective anti-inflammatory treatments, this study aimed to create a topical mucoadhesive gel containing a combination of sisal (RS) and pomegranate residue (PR) extracts. In vitro experiments examined isolated and combined extracts, as well as the resulting formulation, focusing on (1) a phytochemical analysis (total saponin content); (2) cytotoxicity (MTT assay); and (3) a pharmacological assessment of anti-inflammatory activity (phagocytosis, macrophage spreading, and membrane stability). The results revealed saponin concentrations in grams per 100 g of dry extract as follows: SR-29.91 ± 0.33, PR-15.83 ± 0.93, association (A)-22.99 ± 0.01, base gel (G1)-0.00 ± 0.00, and association gel (G2)-0.52 ± 0.05. In MTT tests for isolated extracts, cytotoxicity values (µg/mL) were 3757.00 for SR and 2064.91 for PR. Conversely, A and G2 exhibited no cytotoxicity, with increased cell viability over time. All three anti-inflammatory tests confirmed the presence of this activity in SR, PR, and A. Notably, G2 demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect comparable to dexamethasone. In conclusion, the gel containing SR and PR (i.e., A) holds promise as a novel herbal anti-inflammatory treatment. Its development could yield economic, social, and environmental benefits by utilizing discarded materials in Brazil.

Derivation and validation of four patient clusters in Still's disease, results from GIRRCS AOSD-study group and AIDA Network Still Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND: Different patient clusters were preliminarily suggested to dissect the clinical heterogeneity in Still's disease. Thus, we aimed at deriving and validating disease clusters in a multicentre, observational, prospective study to stratify these patients. METHODS: Patients included in GIRRCS AOSD-study group and AIDA Network Still Disease Registry were assessed if variables for cluster analysis were available (age, systemic score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin). K-means algorithm with Euclidean metric and Elbow plot were used to derive an adequate number of clusters. RESULTS: K-means clustering assessment provided four clusters based on means standardised according to z-scores on 349 patients. All clusters mainly presented fever, skin rash and joint involvement. Cluster 1 was composed by 115 patients distinguished by lower values of age and characterised by skin rash myalgia, sore throat and splenomegaly. Cluster 2 included 128 patients identified by lower levels of ESR, ferritin and systemic score; multiorgan manifestations were less frequently observed. Cluster 3 comprised 31 patients categorised by higher levels of CRP and ferritin, they were characterised by fever and joint involvement. Cluster 4 contained 75 patients derived by higher values of age and systemic score. Myalgia, sore throat, liver involvement and life-threatening complications, leading to a high mortality rate, were observed in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Four patient clusters in Still's disease may be recognised by a multidimensional characterisation ('Juvenile/Transitional', 'Uncomplicated', 'Hyperferritinemic' and 'Catastrophic'). Of interest, cluster 4 was burdened by an increased rate of life-threatening complications and mortality, suggesting a more severe patient group.

JAK Inhibitors in Psoriatic Disease.

Psoriasis is now considered to be the cutaneous phenotype of a systemic inflammatory condition, recognized under the term Psoriatic Disease (PsD). PsD has several extracutaneous manifestations, such as inflammatory articular and entheseal involvement, leading to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and the less frequent intestinal and ocular manifestations with colitis/inflammatory bowel disease and uveitis, respectively. There have also been several reports of an increased frequency of comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular manifestations during the course of PsD. The link between psoriasis and related comorbidities is considered a long-term disease sequela, often characterized by an unhealthy lifestyle and a consequence of systemic inflammation; hence, psoriasis requires adequate and prompt treatment, with the aim of controlling not only cutaneous manifestations but also extracutaneous manifestations and systemic inflammation. Pharmacological strategies for PsD have significantly increased over recent years. Recently, the targeted synthetic DMARDs, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, tofacitinib and upadacitinib, were added to the therapeutic armamentarium for treating PsA, and deucravacitinib for psoriasis. These oral agents act directly on inflammatory mechanisms underlining the disease, as antagonists of the intracellular JAK signal pathway and, by STAT phosphorylation, inhibit gene proinflammatory cytokine transcription. JAK inhibitors represent a recent additional treatment strategy for PsD management and, among these, tofacitinib and upadacitinib have recently been approved for PsA, and deucravacitinib for psoriasis. In this review we describe ongoing and recent phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational JAK inhibitors in psoriasis and PsA.

New biologic (Ab-IPL-IL-17) for IL-17-mediated diseases: identification of the bioactive sequence (nIL-17) for IL-17A/F function.

OBJECTIVES: Interleukin (IL) 17s cytokines are key drivers of inflammation that are functionally dysregulated in several human immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Targeting these cytokines has some therapeutic benefits, but issues associated with low therapeutic efficacy and immunogenicity for subgroups of patients or IMIDs reduce their clinical use. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the coverage and efficacy of antibodies targeting IL-17A and/or IL-17F and IL-17A/F heterodimer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we initially identified a bioactive 20 amino acid IL-17A/F-derived peptide (nIL-17) that mimics the pro-inflammatory actions of the full-length proteins. Subsequently, we generated a novel anti-IL-17 neutralising monoclonal antibody (Ab-IPL-IL-17) capable of effectively reversing the pro-inflammatory, pro-migratory actions of both nIL-17 and IL-17A/F. Importantly, we demonstrated that Ab-IPL-IL-17 has less off-target effects than the current gold-standard biologic, secukinumab. Finally, we compared the therapeutic efficacy of Ab-IPL-IL-17 with reference anti-IL-17 antibodies in preclinical murine models and samples from patients with RA and IBD. We found that Ab-IPL-IL-17 could effectively reduce clinical signs of arthritis and neutralise elevated IL-17 levels in IBD patient serum. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our preclinical and in vitro clinical evidence indicates high efficacy and therapeutic potency of Ab-IPL-IL-17, supporting the rationale for large-scale clinical evaluation of Ab-IPL-IL-17 in patients with IMIDs.

Role of Patrick-FABER test in detecting sacroiliitis and diagnosing spondyloarthritis in subjects with low back pain.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of Patrick-FABER test in assessing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sacroiliitis and addressing the diagnosis of spondyloarthritis (SpA) in subjects with low back pain (LBP). METHODS: Subjects with LBP were consecutively enrolled. The assessors were blinded to patients' clinical, laboratory, or imaging data. All subjects underwent sacroiliac joint MRI to detect presence of sacroiliac oedema or structural changes. RESULTS: One hundred and ten subjects were included in the study [males (61.8%); median age of 45 (21-69) years; LBP duration of 78 (3-240) months]. Patrick-FABER test sign's sensitivity was 76.2% (95% CI: 60.5-87.9%), specificity was 66.2% (95% CI: 53.6-77.2%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 58.1% (95% CI: 44.1-71.3%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 81.8% (95% CI: 69.1-90.9%) for the diagnosis of sacroiliitis, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 70%. At the univariate and multivariate analysis, Patrick-FABER test sign was associated with inflammatory lesions of sacroiliitis at MRI and SpA diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed an association between smoking status (p=0.01), sacroiliitis, and SpA diagnosis. The odds of having sacroiliitis was 2.7 higher in smokers (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1-7) as compared to non-smokers and 6.3 higher in those with a positive Patrick-FABER test sign (OR: 6.3; 95%CI: 2.5-15.6) as compared to those with a negative sign. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that Patrick-FABER test positivity could represent a useful clinical test for addressing the use of sacroiliac joints MRI and SpA diagnosis in subjects with LBP. Further, smoking habit could represent an associate anamnestic element for addressing the use of sacroiliac MRI.

Rheumatologist's Perspective on Non-Infectious Uveitis: Patterns from Tertiary Referral Rheumatologic Clinics in Italy.

Non-infectious uveitis (NIU) can be an early or even the first extra-articular manifestation of systemic rheumatic diseases, or the first one; thus, rheumatologists are often involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic assessment of NIU. We evaluated 130 patients with a diagnosis of NIU who were admitted to two Italian rheumatologic clinics (Tor Vergata University Hospital in Rome, and Federico II University in Naples) from January 2018 to December 2021. Anterior uveitis (AU) occurred in 75.4% of patients, followed by posterior uveitis (PU, 21.5%); acute (54.6%) and recurrent (35.4%) NIU were more documented than chronic NIU (10%), and a bilateral involvement was observed in 38.7% of cases. Half of NIU cases were associated with spondyloarthritis (SpA); the remaining were affected by Behçet disease (BD)-related uveitis (13.9%) and idiopathic NIU (9.2%). HLA-B27+ patients (34.8%) had a higher prevalence of anterior and unilateral NIU (p = 0.005) with acute course (p = 0.04) than HLA-B27- patients. On the contrary, HLA-B51+ patients (19.6%) had mostly PU and bilateral NIU (p < 0.0001) and recurrent course (p = 0.04) than HLA-B51- patients. At the first rheumatologic referral, 117 patients (90%) received systemic treatments. Findings from this study demonstrate that rheumatologic referral has a pivotal role in the diagnostic work-up of NIU and may dramatically influence NIU-treatment strategies.

The negative impact of pain catastrophising on disease activity: analyses of data derived from patient-reported outcomes in psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Psychosocial factors are recognised as important determinants of pain experience in patients with inflammatory arthritides. Among them, pain catastrophising, a maladaptive cognitive style, observed in patients with anxiety and depressive disorders, garnered specific attention. Here, we evaluated pain catastrophising (PC) and its related domains (Rumination, Magnification, and Helplessness), in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarhtiritis (axSpA) participants, to assess its impact on disease activity. Furthermore, we analysed possible correlations of PC-Scale (PCS) with those psychometric domains which have been already related to catastrophisation in patients with chronic pain. Lastly, we aimed to define the relationship between PCS and the different variables included in the composite indices of disease activity. METHODS: A multi-centre, cross-sectional, observational study has been conducted on 135 PsA (age 56 (47-64) years, males/females 40.74/59.26%; Disease Activity in Psoriasic Arthritis (DAPSA) 13.34 (5.21-22.22)) and 71 axSpA (age 49 (37-58) years, males/females 56.34/43.66%; Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Arthritis Activity (BASDAI) 4.17 (2.1-6.3)) participants. Multivariable regressions and correlations were performed to evaluate the relationship between pain catastrophising and both disease activity and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: The adjusted linear regression model showed a positive association between PCS and DAPSA as well as between PCS and BASDAI; PCS negative impacts on the subjective domains of disease activity scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the role of PC, independently of inflammation, in disease perception and achievement of remission or low disease activity in chronic arthritides.

Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Agave sisalana Extract Derived from Agroindustrial Residue.

BACKGROUND: In several countries, the leaf juice of Agave sisalana (also known as sisal) is widely used topically, especially as an antiseptic, and orally for the treatment of different pathologies. However, in Brazil, which is the largest producer of Agave sisalana, its residue, which represents the majority of its weight, has been thrown away. For this reason, the determination of the pharmacological and toxicological potentials of sisal residue and its possible therapeutic use is seen as a way to contribute to the sustainable development and social promotion of the largest producer of sisal in Brazil, the interior of Bahia State, which is among the poorest areas in the country. Given the scarcity of available scientific studies on the pharmacological and toxicological properties of sisal residue juice, this study aimed to promote the acid hydrolysis of this juice to potentiate the anti-inflammatory effect already described in the literature. Furthermore, it aimed to evaluate the toxicological profile of the hydrolyzed extract (EAH) and to determine its acute toxicity, as well as its side effects on the reproductive aspects of rats. METHOD: The anti-inflammatory effect of EAH was evaluated in vitro using the induction of hemolysis by hypotonic solution and in vivo in rats using the carrageenan-induced paw edema test and the xylene-induced ear edema test. The acute toxicity, resulting from a single-dose administration, was investigated for some manifestation of toxic symptoms related to motor control and consciousness in rats. At a concentration of 100 mg/kg, by repeated doses, the reproductive toxicity effects of EAH in rats were assessed. RESULTS: In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was positive using the human red blood cell membrane stabilization method. In both in vivo tests used to assess the anti-inflammatory activity, EAH (at three doses) significantly inhibited edema when compared to the control group. At a dose of 50 mg/kg, EAH exhibited a greater effect than indomethacin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with known activity. In vivo toxicological studies have shown that EAH does not present toxic effects when administered orally in a single dose, up to 1000 mg/kg. Finally, EAH promoted a gonadotoxic effect and increased the embryonic mortality rate after implantation. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that the anti-edematogenic effect of the acid hydrolysis extract from sisal juice is due to the high concentration of steroidal sapogenins. Therefore, this extract can be considered a potential new anti-inflammatory or even an important sapogenin source for the development of steroidal glucocorticoids. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the chemical composition of sisal juice. Regarding toxicology studies, EAH did not show cytotoxic and clastogenic potentials, but it presented a powerful reproductive toxic effect in rats.

Recent developments for new investigational JAK inhibitors in psoriatic arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting about one-third of subjects with psoriasis. Several treatment modalities targeting Janus Kinase pathways and intracellular inflammatory cascade are now available and under clinical investigation to treat this disease. AREAS COVERED: This review describes ongoing and recently completed phase 2 and 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of approved JAK (Tofacitinib and Upadacitinib) and investigational JAK inhibitors (JAK1 inhibitors: Filgotinib and Ivarmacitinib (SHR0302); TYK2 inhibitors: Brepocitinib (PF-06700841) Deucravacitinib (BMS-986165), and NDI-034858) in PsA through February 2023. EXPERT OPINION: Current standard of care has significantly improved the quality of life in PsA. Recently approved JAK inhibitors for PsA have addressed many of the unmet needs of PsA, particularly of those with severe phenotypes. Preliminary results from several RCTs have reported good and fast efficacy and an acceptable safety profile of investigational JAK inhibitors in PsA. Additional clinical trials and long-term outcome data on these agents are necessary for increasing available therapeutic options for PsA.

Clinical characteristics of obese patients with adult-onset Still's disease. Data from a large multicentre cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of obesity in patients with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and to assess their clinical characteristics and disease outcomes. METHODS: The clinical features of AOSD patients with a body mass index (BMI)≥30 were assessed among those included in the multicentre Gruppo Italiano di Ricerca in Reumatologia Clinica e Sperimentale (GIRRCS) cohort. RESULTS: Out of 139 AOSD patients, who had BMI registered in our database, 26 (18.7%) had a BMI≥30. A lower rate of sore throat (P<0.05), pericarditis (P<0.05), and pleuritis (P<0.05) was shown in obese patients. Additionally, obese patients showed higher values of C-reactive protein (CRP) (P<0.05) and ferritin (P<0.05) than others. Furthermore, obese patients were characterised by biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) failure in subsequent follow-up (P<0.05). They also presented higher rate of comorbidity than non-obese patients (P<0.05). Finally, obesity predicted the presence of a chronic disease course in both univariate (HR: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.03-2.51, P<0.05) and multivariate analyses (HR: 1.85, 95%CI: 1.45-2.89, P<0.05). Obesity was also a significant predictor of bDMARD failure in AOSD patients in both univariate (HR: 3.03, 95%CI: 1.42-6.45, P<0.01) and multivariate analyses (HR: 3.59, 95%CI: 1.55-8.27, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Obese patients at the time of diagnosis of the disease were characterised by a lower prevalence of sore throat, serositis, as well as by higher values of CRP and ferritin. Obesity was also a predictive factor for a chronic disease course and bDMARD failure, thus highlighting a subset of patients with AOSD to be carefully managed.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Toxicological Profile of Pulp Residue from the Caryocar Brasiliense, a Sustainable Raw Material.

Caryocar brasiliense Cambess is a plant species typical of the Cerrado, a Brazilian biome. The fruit of this species is popularly known as pequi, and its oil is used in traditional medicine. However, an important factor hindering the use of pequi oil is its low yield when extracted from the pulp of this fruit. Therefore, in this study, with aim of developing a new herbal medicine, we an-alyzed the toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of an extract of pequi pulp residue (EPPR), fol-lowing the mechanical extraction of the oil from its pulp. For this purpose, EPPR was prepared and encapsulated in chitosan. The nanoparticles were analyzed, and the cytotoxicity of the encapsu-lated EPPR was evaluated in vitro. After confirming the cytotoxicity of the encapsulated EPPR, the following evaluations were performed with non-encapsulated EPPR: in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, quantification of cytokines, and acute toxicity in vivo. Once the anti-inflammatory activity and absence of toxicity of EPPR were verified, a gel formulation of EPPR was developed for topical use and analyzed for its in vivo anti-inflammatory potential, ocular toxicity, and previous stability assessment. EPPR and the gel containing EPPR showed effective anti-inflammatory activity and lack of toxicity. The formulation was stable. Thus, a new herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory activity can be developed from discarded pequi residue.

Using Markov chains and temporal alignment to identify clinical patterns in Dementia.

In the healthcare sector, resorting to big data and advanced analytics is a great advantage when dealing with complex groups of patients in terms of comorbidities, representing a significant step towards personalized targeting. In this work, we focus on understanding key features and clinical pathways of patients with multimorbidity suffering from Dementia. This disease can result from many heterogeneous factors, potentially becoming more prevalent as the population ages. We present a set of methods that allow us to identify medical appointment patterns within a cohort of 1924 patients followed from January 2007 to August 2021 in Hospital da Luz (Lisbon), and to stratify patients into subgroups that exhibit similar patterns of interaction. With Markov Chains, we are able to identify the most prevailing medical appointments attended by Dementia patients, as well as recurring transitions between these. To perform patient stratification, we applied AliClu, a temporal sequence alignment algorithm for clustering longitudinal clinical data, which allowed us to successfully identify patient subgroups with similar medical appointment activity. A feature analysis per cluster obtained allows the identification of distinct patterns and characteristics. This pipeline provides a tool to identify prevailing clinical pathways of medical appointments within the dataset, as well as the most common transitions between medical specialities within Dementia patients. This methodology, alongside demographic and clinical data, has the potential to provide early signalling of the most likely clinical pathways and serve as a support tool for health providers in deciding the best course of treatment, considering a patient as a whole.

Correction: Association of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes With Survival in Stages II and III Colorectal Cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31144.].

Management of Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients With Comorbidities: An Updated Literature Review Informing the 2021 GRAPPA Treatment Recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: The 2021 Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) treatment recommendations provide an evidence-based guide for selecting therapy based on the individual's disease features. Beyond the disease features and associated conditions (eg, uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease), comorbidities play an important role in selecting therapy for an individual patient. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review. We examined the available evidence to inform treatment selection based on the presence or absence of comorbidities in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). RESULTS: Common comorbidities in PsA that may affect treatment selection include presence of baseline cardiovascular disease (CVD) or high risk for CVD, obesity and metabolic syndrome, liver disease, mood disorders, including depression in particular, chronic infections, malignancies, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia and/or central sensitization. CONCLUSION: Comorbidities may influence both the effectiveness of a given therapy but also the potential for adverse events. It is important to assess for the presence of comorbidities prior to therapy selection.

Association of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes With Survival in Stages II and III Colorectal Cancer.

The tumor microenvironment is crucial in tumourigenesis, response to therapy, and elimination of tumor cells. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) promote the host immune response and are associated with a better prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). This multicentric retrospective study evaluated the relationship between the presence and intensity of TILs and survival outcomes. A total of 651 patients from four Portuguese oncological centers who underwent surgical resection for stages II or III colorectal adenocarcinoma between 2016 and 2019 were included in this study. The mean age of the study population was 70 years; 58.2% were males. The median overall survival was 58.03 ± 1.29 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 55.50 - 60.56), and the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 53.02 ± 1.39 months (95% CI 50.29 - 55.74). Patients with high infiltrate (including those with moderate, abundant, or Crohn-like infiltrate) had significantly longer DFS i.e., 58.48 ± 1.84 months (95% CI 54.87 - 62.09 months) vs 49.22 ± 1.75 months (95% CI 45.79 - 52.64 months) in the group with absent or minimal infiltrate; p = 0.003. Assessing the side of the tumor, high infiltrate was associated with higher DFS (59.86 ± 2.36 months (95% CI 55.23 - 64.50 months) vs 49.60 ± 2.40 months (95% CI 44.90 - 54.29 months), p = 0.011). This work reinforces the importance of research into possible prognostic and predictive factors in patients with CRC.

Biologically Unrelated Living Donor for Kidney Transplantation Associated With Higher Acute Rejection Rate but With Similar Graft Survival of a Related Living Donor.

INTRODUCTION: Kidney transplantation (KT) from living donors has been shown to have multiple benefits compared to those from deceased donors. We sought to compare significant graft outcomes, namely acute rejection (AR), graft function, and survival between transplant recipients who received a kidney from living related donor (LRD) and living unrelated donor (LURD). METHODS: Our cohort comprised 198 donor and recipient pairs undergoing living-donor KT at our center over 10 years. The LRD recipients were compared with LURD recipients according to demographic and clinical characteristics, transplant variables (including immunosuppression), graft function, survival, and AR rate. RESULTS: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was similar in both groups over the follow-up time i.e., 60-65 mL/min (p>0.05 over 10 years). Censored graft survival was similar between LRD and LURD recipients (96.9% vs. 98.0% at five years and 87.8% vs. 79.4% at 10 years, respectively; p=0.837). The LURD recipients had a higher incidence of AR, although LURD recipient status was not an independent risk factor for AR. Multivariate analysis showed that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR mismatch (MM) was an independent predictor of AR (hazard ratio (HR) 2.256, p<0.05). Both HLA-A and HLA-B MM did not affect the AR HR between the groups. CONCLUSION:  Graft function and censored graft survival rates were similar between LURD and LRD KT recipients in our study. The AR was higher in LURD recipients, although the LURD recipient status was not an independent risk factor for AR. The HLA-DR MM was an independent predictor of AR, while HLA-A and HLA-B MM did not affect AR HR between groups of patients.

Analysis of rheumatoid- vs psoriatic arthritis synovial fluid reveals differential macrophage (CCR2) and T helper subsets (STAT3/4 and FOXP3) activation.

OBJECTIVE: In psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory responses are characterized by increased production of pro-inflammatory molecules secreted by various immune cells. The main objectives of our study were: i) to measure levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cyto-chemokines and soluble factors expressed in both PsA and RA SF; ii) to characterize the phenotype of infiltrated leuko-lymphocytes and; iii) to identify specific synovial biomarkers for both diseases. Notably, Synovial Fluid (SF) samples obtained from PsA and RA populations were compared with SF samples collected from clinically active osteoarthritis (OA) joints. METHODS: SF samples were collected from clinically active knee arthritis of PsA, RA and OA patients and assayed for cyto-chemokines profile and macrophage and T helper subsets markers and transcriptional factors by Elisa Spot and western blot. RESULTS: our study revealed that modulation of CCL-2, G-CSF, IL-1ß and TNF-α is peculiar and specific to RA synovial fluid, whereas we detected more significant levels of ICAM-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17A, C5a and CXCL-9/12 in PsA compared to RA patients. We also found that CCR2 expression appeared to be significantly upmodulated in PsA and, even more, in RA group, as well as the expression of specific Th and Treg transcriptional factors as STAT3/4 and FOXP3. CONCLUSION: Even though this study has several limitations, we identified a heterogenous scenario of peculiar molecular pathway and soluble mediators' production that characterize PsA and RA SF that may be useful in understanding the complex pattern of macrophages and lymphocytes infiltration in both pathologies and, potentially, pave the way for personalized precision therapies.