Levineschroeder7043
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug eligible for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It frequently represents the best and the only choice in resistant schizophrenia. However, its use is feared by many professionals due to its possible adverse effects, such as eosinophilia.
We report a case of a young white male suffering from treatment-resistant schizophrenia who rapidly developed eosinophilia after starting clozapine.
We present a case of a 26-year-old white man diagnosed with schizophrenia with poor clinical response to several antipsychotics owing to which clozapine was started. Psychotic symptoms improved dramatically but a progressively ascendant eosinophilia was reported during serial haematological analyses. The patient remained physically asymptomatic. An exhaustive assessment with ancillary diagnostic tests revealed no cause for eosinophilia. Thus, a diagnosis of clozapine-induced eosinophilia was made. The drug was discontinued and eosinophil count progressively returned to normal but psychotic symptoms worsened.
Clozapine treatment is frequently feared due to its possible side effects and complications, delaying its use in refractory schizophrenia. Also, to our knowledge, there are no specific guidelines on how to manage haematological side effects such as eosinophilia. This is problematic as, in some cases, it may lead to an unnecessary withdrawal of clozapine with a worsening of psychotic symptoms. We present a brief discussion of the recent literature on the subject.
Clozapine treatment is frequently feared due to its possible side effects and complications, delaying its use in refractory schizophrenia. Also, to our knowledge, there are no specific guidelines on how to manage haematological side effects such as eosinophilia. This is problematic as, in some cases, it may lead to an unnecessary withdrawal of clozapine with a worsening of psychotic symptoms. We present a brief discussion of the recent literature on the subject.
To investigate whether serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and fatty acid-binding protein-4 (FABP4) are associated with missed abortion (MA) in humans.
Cross-sectional study.
University-affiliated hospital.
Patients with MA at 8-12 weeks of gestation.
None.
Serum levels of FGF21 and FABP4 were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Placental samples were collected during dilation and curettage surgery, and the expression of FGF21 and its related genes were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
In the discovery cohort, 78 patients with MA and 79 healthy pregnant women matched for maternal age and body mass index were nested from a prospective cohort. Circulating levels of FGF21 and FABP4 were significantly and independently elevated in patients with MA relative to the levels in the healthy controls. A single measurement of FGF21 serum level effectively discriminated MA with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.73-0.87). Importantly, in our external validation cohort that comprised subjects with MA (n = 34) or induced abortion (n = 27), the FGF21 serum levels achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.75-0.96) when identifying those with MA. Nevertheless, expression of FGF21 in the placenta was not associated with its serum concentration. Placental tissues from patients with MA exhibited impaired FGF21 signaling.
Our results suggested that serum levels of FGF21 and FABP4 were associated with MA. Circulating FGF21 may serve as a potential biomarker for the recognition of MA.
Our results suggested that serum levels of FGF21 and FABP4 were associated with MA. Circulating FGF21 may serve as a potential biomarker for the recognition of MA.This article has been retracted please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https//www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor in Chief following a report by the institute of one of the co-authors, King's College London. Following concerns raised by Dr A.J. Pelosi and Professor D.F. Marks, King's College London organized a committee to analyse data relevant to personality and physical health outcomes and to ascertain (as far as possible) whether this and related publications were safe in terms of presenting scientifically rigorous results relating personality factors with cancer, coronary heart disease, and other outcomes. The report stated that, "The committee did not have access to any data but have carried out an assessment based on the current literature which includes peer reviewed papers and reviews from critics as well as from collaborators. We also identified some attempted replications of the results either from sychology outlining concerns and asking for an investigation into the data by H.J. Eysenck and R. Grossarth-Maticek.Aberrant responses to UV light frequently lead to the formation of skin lesions and the activation of systemic inflammation in some autoimmune diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus. Whereas the effects of UV light on the skin have been studied for decades, only recently have some of the mechanisms that contribute to abnormal responses to UV light in patients with autoimmune diseases been uncovered. click here This review will discuss the biology of UV in the epidermis and discuss the abnormal epidermal and inflammatory mechanisms that contribute to photosensitivity. Further research is required to fully understand how to normalize UV-mediated inflammation in patients with autoimmune diseases.Several studies have shown an association between aortic valve stenosis (AS), atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors. These risk factors are frequently encountered in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the prognostic implications of AS in patients presenting with STEMI. A total of 2041 patients (61 ± 12 years old, 76% male) admitted with STEMI and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Patients with previous myocardial infarction and previous aortic valve replacement were excluded. Echocardiography was performed at index admission. Patients were divided in 3 groups 1) any grade of AS, 2) aortic valve sclerosis and 3) normal aortic valve. Any grade of AS was defined as an aortic valve area ≤2.0 cm2. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The prevalence of AS was 2.7% in the total population and it increased with age (1%, 3%, 7% and 16%, in the patients aged less then 65 years, 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years and ≥85 years, respectively).