Safety of medications for hereditary angioedema during pregnancy and lactation.

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) attacks show an increased frequency and severity for pregnant and lactating females secondary to the hormonal changes. The diagnosis and management of HAE in pregnant and lactating females pose a challenge for physicians due to the rarity of the disease and the paucity of the data for specific management. AREAS COVERED: In this manuscript, we discuss the diagnosis and special presentation of HAE types 1 and 2 in pregnant and lactating females, including acute management, short-term prophylaxis, long-term prophylaxis, and drugs that should be avoided. Relevant publications were found through key word search of papers indexed in both Google Scholar and PubMed on 1 July 2022. EXPERT OPINION: Treatment of HAE in the past has been mainly provided by experts; however, with more medications and an increasing number of patients, knowledge of how to care for HAE patients during pregnancy and lactation is important to review. Despite approval of additional medications in many countries, plasma-derived C1-inhibitor remains the drug of first choice for treatment in this unique population. Additional research is needed to increase safe access to other therapy options. We hope that future clinical studies, registries, and databases will shed additional light on this subject.

The Evaluation of Lymphadenopathy in a Resource-Limited Setting.

Lymphadenopathy (LAP) refers to abnormalities in the size or consistency of lymph nodes. A wide range of etiologies contributes to the difficulty in diagnosing LAP, from mild self-limited viral infections to grave autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Detailed history-taking and a thorough physical examination are essential. Some physicians in developing countries may consider therapeutic testing. Certain groups may require additional evaluations and special treatment. When treating LAP, the etiology is targeted, but corticosteroids should not be administered before a complete diagnosis has been established due to their ability to mask the histological diagnosis of lymphoma and malignancy. This review aims to provide more straightforward and affordable methods available in almost all healthcare settings, especially those with limited resources.

Body mass index, breast density, and the risk of breast cancer development in relation to the menopausal status; results from a population-based screening program in a native African-Arab country.

Background: Risk factors are traits or behaviors that have an influence on the development of breast cancer (BC). Awareness of the prevalent risk factors can guide in developing prevention interventions. Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between the breast density, body mass index, and the risk of breast cancer development in relation to the menopausal status in a native African-Arab population. Material and methods: The study included 30,443 screened females who were classified into cancer and non-cancer groups and each group was further sub-classified into pre- and postmenopausal groups. The breast density (BD) was reported and subjectively classified according to the 2013 ACR BI-RADS breast density classification. The weight and height were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified according to the WHO BMI classification. Results: A statistically significant difference was calculated between the mean BMI in the cancer and non-cancer groups (p: .027) as well as between the pre- and postmenopausal groups (p < .001). A positive statistically insignificant correlation was calculated between the breast density and the risk of breast cancer in the premenopausal group (OR: 1.062, p: .919) and a negative highly significant correlation was calculated in the postmenopausal group (OR: 0.234, p < .001). Conclusion: BMI and BD are inversely associated with each other. The current studied population presented unique ethnic characteristics, where a decreased BD and an increased BMI were found to be independent risk factors for developing breast cancer.

PPAR agonists as effective adjuvants for COVID-19 vaccines, by modifying immunogenetics: a review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Several coronavirus vaccine have been fast-tracked to halt the pandemic, the usage of immune adjuvants that can boost immunological memory has come up to the surface. This is particularly of importance in view of the rates of failure of seroconversion and re-infection after COVID-19 infection, which could make the vaccine role and response debatable. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have an established immune-modulatory role, but their effects as adjuvants to vaccination have not been explored to date. It is increasingly recognized that PPAR agonists can upregulate the levels of anti-apoptotic factors such as MCL-1. Such effect can improve the results of vaccination by enhancing the longevity of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). The interaction between PPAR agonists and the immune system does not halt here, as T cell memory is also stimulated through enhanced T regulatory cells, antagonizing PD-L1 and switching the metabolism of T cells to fatty acid oxidation, which has a remarkable effect on the persistence of T memory cells. What is even of a more significant value is the effect of PPAR gamma on ensuring a profound secretion of antibodies upon re-exposure to the offending antigen through upregulating lipoxin B4, therefore potentially assisting the vaccine response and deterring re-infection. SHORT CONCLUSION: In view of the above, we suggest the use of PPAR as adjuvants to vaccines in general especially the emerging COVID-19 vaccine due to their role in enhancing immunologic memory through DNA-dependent mechanisms.

A 69-year-old woman with periodic fever, facial swelling, and neck pain.

We presented a case of a 69-year-old woman who experienced monthly episodes of facial swelling and nonpruritic, erythematous rash on her face, accompanied by high fever, nausea, headache, and neck pain over 1 year. Her symptoms started with myalgia, arthralgia, fever and neck stiffness, and headache, and then angioedema occurred, which was painful to touch. She underwent multiple iatrogenic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that did not lead to the correct diagnosis. Subsequently, relevant immunology laboratory tests were conducted after a careful history and physical examination, which led to the diagnosis. This case illustrated the need for a detailed history and thorough immunologic assessment, and the requirement to maintain a broad differential diagnosis.