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ChatGPT, a chatbot based on a large language model, is currently attracting much attention. Modern machine learning (ML) architectures enable the program to answer almost any question, to summarize, translate, and even generate its own texts, all in a text-based dialogue with the user. Underlying technologies, summarized under the acronym NLP (natural language processing), go back to the 1960s. In almost all areas including medicine, ChatGPT is raising enormous hopes. It can easily pass medical exams and may be useful in patient care, diagnostic and therapeutic assistance, and medical research. The enthusiasm for this new technology shown even by medical professionals is surprising. Although the system knows much, it does not know everything; not everything it outputs is accurate either. Every output has to be carefully checked by the user for correctness, which is often not easily done since references to sources are lacking. Issues regarding data protection and ethics also arise. Today's language models are not free of bias and systematic distortion. These shortcomings have led to calls for stronger regulation of the use of ChatGPT and an increasing number of similar language models. However, this new technology represents an enormous progress in knowledge processing and dissemination. Numerous scenarios in which ChatGPT can provide assistance are conceivable, including in rhythmology. In the future, it will be crucial to render the models error-free and transparent and to clearly define the rules for their use. Responsible use requires systematic training to improve the digital competence of users, including physicians who use such programs., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared.

The spleen filters blood cells and contributes to the immune defense. The red pulp clears the blood from altered red blood cells via its unique microcirculatory network ; while the white pulp is a secondary lymphoid organ, directly connected to the bloodstream, whose specificity is the defense against encapsulated bacteria through the production of "natural" IgM in the marginal zone. Various health conditions can cause acquired impairment of the splenic function (or hyposplenism) directly and/or through therapeutic splenectomy. Hypo/asplenia is complicated by an increased susceptibility to encapsulated germ infections, but an increased risk of thrombosis and pulmonary hypertension has also been reported after surgical splenectomy. Homozygous sickle cell disease is the most common disease associated with functional asplenia. The latter appears early in childhood likely through repeated ischemic alterations caused by the sickling of red blood cells. In addition, specific complications such as hypersplenism and acute splenic sequestration can occur and may be life-threatening. We provide here an update on the role and physiology of the spleen, which will allow a better understanding of the pathophysiology of spleen damage and its consequences in sickle cell disease., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background and Purpose: Ischemic stroke has been reported in various conditions associated with eosinophilia. FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion ([Fip1-like 1-platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha]; F/P) leads to the proliferation of the eosinophilic lineage and thus to a clonal hypereosinophilic syndrome that is highly responsive to imatinib., Methods: We previously reported on a nationwide retrospective study of 151 patients with F/P-associated clonal hypereosinophilic syndrome. Patients from this cohort with a clinical history of ischemic stroke (as well as 2 additional cases) were further analyzed to better define their clinical picture and outcomes., Results: Sixteen male patients (median age, 51 [43–59] years) with low-to-intermediate cardiovascular risk were included. Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 4 (range, 1–6). Most cerebral imaging disclosed multiple bilateral infarctions of watershed distribution (69%). Despite frequent cardiac involvement (50%), cardiac thrombus was evidenced in a single patient and, according to the TOAST classification (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment), 62.5% of strokes were presumably of undetermined etiology. Among the 15 patients treated with imatinib, and after a median follow-up of 4.5 years, stroke recurred in only 3 patients (consisting of either cardio embolic or hemorrhagic events, unrelated to the first episode)., Conclusions: F/P+ clonal hypereosinophilic syndrome is a diagnosis to consider in patients with unexplained ischemic stroke and hypereosinophilia (especially in the setting of multiple cortical borderzone distribution) and warrants prompt initiation of imatinib.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a common systemic autoimmune disease characterised by exocrinopathy resulting in dryness of the mouth and eyes, unexplained fatigue and diffuse pain. Neurological involvement is uncommon in pSS, involving the central nervous system in 2-5% of cases and more frequently the peripheral nervous system in 5-15% of cases. The diagnosis of pSS is to be considered when confronted with symptoms such as mouth and eye dryness, fatigue and pain, the most frequent of pSS symptoms. Objective measures of oral and eye dryness may help assert the diagnosis of pSS, as well as ACR/EULAR criteria. Differential diagnoses have to be excluded in patients exhibiting neurological symptoms, such as cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis or multiple sclerosis, before considering a neurological involvement specific to pSS. The treatment of these neurological manifestations takes into account different parameters, such as the presence of cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis, the severity of the symptoms, a rapidly progressing evolution and the failure of previous symptomatic treatments.

Fraction A, a concentrate derived from short ragweed extract by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, contains all major allergens including antigen E. Therapeutic efficacy and safety of this alum-adsorbed product was evaluated in a multicenter double-blind clinical trial by comparing it to placebo in 131 randomly matched ragweed hay fever patients who were not treated for at least 1 year. Therapeutic response to fraction A injections was more significant than placebo (p less than 0.05) by investigators' evaluation, by average daily symptom score (1.097 vs. 1.378, p less than 0.05) during the peak ragweed season, or by average proportion of days in which medication was required (0.411 vs. 0.584, p = 0.01). Fraction A patients exhibited a significantly higher (p less than 0.0005) increase in hemagglutinating titer after treatment than placebo controls. Radioallergosorbent binding, evaluated in a subgroup of 31 patients before and after the ragweed season, was unchanged or decreased in 12 of 15 patients treated with fraction A. In contrast, 9 of 16 placebo-treated patients showed an increase in this index. Systemic effects were noted after 42 (1.5%) of 2.641 injections, while local reactions occurred at the rate of 2.3%. It is concluded that a single course of preseasonal immunotherapy wih alum-adsorbed fraction A is effective and relatively safe.

The serums of dogs that are allergic to ragweeed can passively sensitize normal dogs. Cutaneous reactions or systemic anaphylaxis may be produced by appropriate challenge with ragweed extract. Canine antiserum produced by immunization of normal dogs with ragweed extract is shown to inhibit these reactions of the passively sensitized dogs.