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Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the liver caused by an immune response of unknown origin. It affects people from all ethnic groups irrespective of age or sex. AIH is characterized by hyperglobulinemia, presence of circulating autoantibodies, and liver inflammation. The clinical picture of the disease varies from asymptomatic or mild to severe acute hepatitis or liver failure. A timely and prompt diagnosis is of utmost importance to prevent progression to advanced liver disease by immediate initiation of immunosuppressive treatment. So far, several diagnostic scoring systems have been proposed, which incorporated demographic data as well as biochemical, clinical, and histological characteristics of the disease. However, due to the high heterogeneity of the disease presentation, diagnosis of AIH remains challenging. Most patients initially respond to first‑ line treatment, which consists of corticosteroids combined with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil. However, insufficient response to the treatment and intolerance due to side effects are common, so a significant proportion of patients require second- and / or third‑ line therapies. Herein, we review the challenges and recent advances in AIH diagnosis and management.

Aims Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) may lead to the development of severe respiratory failure. In hospitalized-patients, prompt interruption of the virus-driven inflammatory process by using combination treatments seems theoretically of outmost importance. Our aim was to investigate the hypothesis of multifaceted management of these patients. Methods A treatment algorithm based on ferritin was applied in 311 patients (67.2% males; median age 63-years; moderate disease, n=101; severe, n=210). Patients with ferritin

Complement C3 activation contributes to COVID-19 pathology, and C3 targeting has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. We provide interim data from ITHACA, the first randomized trial evaluating a C3 inhibitor, AMY-101, in severe COVID-19 (PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 mmHg). Patients received AMY-101 ( n = 16) or placebo ( n = 15) in addition to standard of care. AMY-101 was safe and well tolerated. Compared to placebo (8 of 15, 53.3%), a higher, albeit nonsignificant, proportion of AMY-101–treated patients (13 of 16, 81.3%) were free of supplemental oxygen at day 14. Three nonresponders and two placebo-treated patients succumbed to disease-related complications. AMY-101 significantly reduced CRP and ferritin and restrained thrombin and NET generation. Complete and sustained C3 inhibition was observed in all responders. Residual C3 activity in the three nonresponders suggested the presence of a convertase-independent C3 activation pathway overriding the drug’s inhibitory activity. These findings support the design of larger trials exploring the potential of C3-based inhibition in COVID-19 or other complement-mediated diseases.

Obesity is a chronic disease and a major public health problem due to its association with non-communicable diseases and all-cause mortality. An increased energy intake and decreased physical activity have been long recognized as the classical parameters that contribute to the development of obesity. However, several other, non-classical factors have also been associated with obesity through various complex mechanisms. Some of them are diet related, such as diet quality, dietary habits and speed of eating. Other factors are non-dietary, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, sleep quality and quantity, psychotropic medications and light at night. The scope of the present narrative review is to address these non-classical factors that are implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity, to clarify their potential role in the management of obesity and, where possible, to provide some practical clinical recommendations.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as substantial economic burden for the health care system. The standard of care for DFUs includes pressure off-loading, sharp debridement, and wound moisture balance, along with infection control and management of peripheral arterial disease. A variety of advanced modalities that target distinct pathophysiological aspects of impaired wound healing in diabetes are being studied as possible adjunct therapies for difficult to heal ulcers. These modalities include growth factors, stem cells, cultured fibroblasts and keratinocytes, bioengineered skin substitutes, acellular bioproducts, human amniotic membranes, oxygen therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, and energy therapies. Additionally, the use of advanced biomaterials and gene delivery systems is being investigated as a method of effective delivery of substances to the wound bed. In the present narrative review, we outline the latest advances in the nonpharmacological management of DFUs and summarize the efficacy of various standard and advanced treatment modalities.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on mortality and admission to intensive care unit (ICU) of COVID-19 patients.A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science and medRxiv with terms relative to vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 was conducted on 26 March 2021. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was used for the quantitative assessment of data and random-effects model was applied. To investigate the association between the dose of vitamin D and the outcomes of interest, meta-regression analysis was performed.Two thousand and seventy-eight patients from nine studies with data on mortality were included (583 received vitamin D supplementation, while 1495 did not). Sixty-one (10.46%) individuals in the treated group died, compared to 386 (25.81%) in the non-treated group (odds ratio [OR]: 0.597; 95% CI: 0.318-1.121; p = 0.109). Eight hundred and sixty patients from six studies with data on ICU admission were included (369 received vitamin D supplementation, while 491 did not). Forty-five (12.19%) individuals in the treated group were admitted to ICU, compared to 129 (26.27%) in the non-treated group (OR: 0.326; 95% CI: 0.149-0.712; p = 0.005). No significant linear relationship between vitamin D dose and log OR of mortality or log OR of ICU admission was observed.This meta-analysis indicates a beneficial role of vitamin D supplementation on ICU admission, but not on mortality, of COVID-19 patients. Further research is urgently needed to understand the benefit of vitamin D in COVID-19.

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most dreadful complications of diabetes mellitus and efforts to accelerate diabetic wound healing are of paramount importance to prevent ulcer infections and subsequent lower-limb amputations. There are several treatment approaches for the management of diabetic foot ulcers and honey seems to be a safe and cost-effective therapeutic approach on top of standard of care. The aim of this review was to summarize the therapeutic properties of honey and the data regarding its possible favorable effects on diabetic wound healing. A literature search of articles from 1986 until April 2021 was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to assess for studies examining the therapeutic wound healing properties of honey, it's in vitro effect, and the efficacy and/or mechanism of action of several types of honey used for the treatment of diabetic animal wounds. Honey has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties and in vitro studies of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, as well as studies in diabetic animal models show that treatment with honey is associated with increased re-epithelialization and collagen production, higher wound contraction, and faster wound healing. The use of honey could be a promising approach for the management of diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as substantial economic burden for the health care system. The standard of care for DFUs includes pressure off-loading, sharp debridement, and wound moisture balance, along with infection control and management of peripheral arterial disease. A variety of advanced modalities that target distinct pathophysiological aspects of impaired wound healing in diabetes are being studied as possible adjunct therapies for difficult to heal ulcers. These modalities include growth factors, stem cells, cultured fibroblasts and keratinocytes, bioengineered skin substitutes, acellular bioproducts, human amniotic membranes, oxygen therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, and energy therapies. Additionally, the use of advanced biomaterials and gene delivery systems is being investigated as a method of effective delivery of substances to the wound bed. In the present narrative review, we outline the latest advances in the nonpharmacological management of DFUs and summarize the efficacy of various standard and advanced treatment modalities. © The Author(s) 2020.

Aims Infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) may lead to the development of severe respiratory failure. In hospitalized-patients, prompt interruption of the virus-driven inflammatory process by using combination treatments seems theoretically of outmost importance. Our aim was to investigate the hypothesis of multifaceted management of these patients. Methods A treatment algorithm based on ferritin was applied in 311 patients (67.2% males; median age 63-years; moderate disease, n=101; severe, n=210). Patients with ferritin

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing at an epidemic level, leading to a consequent increase of its chronic complications, including neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy constitutes a heterogeneous group of disorders with distinct clinical presentations and pathophysiological mechanisms. These distinct forms may be categorised according to their clinical presentation as symmetrical (distal symmetrical polyneuropathy, autonomic and acute sensory neuropathy) and focal or multifocal (radiculoplexus neuropathies, entrapment syndromes, cranial palsies and other mononeuropathies). Additionally, people with diabetes may have neuropathies due to causes other than diabetes. The commonest forms of diabetic neuropathy are distal symmetrical polyneuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. However, clinicians should be aware that people with diabetes may suffer from less common forms of neuropathy and should be able to recognise their symptoms and signs. The recognition of the rare diabetic neuropathies is crucial, as they often lead to different clinical outcomes and require different management. The aim of the present narrative, non-systematic review is to outline the rare types of diabetic neuropathies. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most dreadful complications of diabetes mellitus and efforts to accelerate diabetic wound healing are of paramount importance to prevent ulcer infections and subsequent lower-limb amputations. There are several treatment approaches for the management of diabetic foot ulcers and honey seems to be a safe and cost-effective therapeutic approach on top of standard of care. The aim of this review was to summarize the therapeutic properties of honey and the data regarding its possible favorable effects on diabetic wound healing. A literature search of articles from 1986 until April 2021 was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to assess for studies examining the therapeutic wound healing properties of honey, it's in vitro effect, and the efficacy and/or mechanism of action of several types of honey used for the treatment of diabetic animal wounds. Honey has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties and in vitro studies of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, as well as studies in diabetic animal models show that treatment with honey is associated with increased re-epithelialization and collagen production, higher wound contraction, and faster wound healing. The use of honey could be a promising approach for the management of diabetic foot ulcers.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. The disease is characterized by a variable clinical phenotype, ranging from asymptomatic carriage to severe and/or critical disease, which bears poor prognosis and outcome because of the development of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS) requiring ICU hospitalization, multi-organ failure and death. Therefore, the determination of risk factors predisposing to disease phenotype is of outmost importance. The aim of our study was to evaluate which predisposing factors, including MBL2 genotyping, affected clinical phenotype in 264 COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that older age along with underlying comorbidities, primarily obesity, chronic inflammatory disorders and diabetes mellitus, represent the most important risk factors related to hospitalization, the development of pneumonia and SARS. Moreover, we found that the presence of the MBL deficiency-causing B allele (rs1800450) was significantly associated with almost 2-fold increased risk for developing pneumonia and requiring hospitalization, suggesting its usage as a molecular predictor of severe disease in SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.