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Archives of Rheumatology Mar 2024This study aimed to extend the literature by analyzing immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgE, IgG, IgG2, IgG3, and IgM antibody levels in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis,...
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to extend the literature by analyzing immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgE, IgG, IgG2, IgG3, and IgM antibody levels in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This study retrospectively analyzed the antibody test results of 20 pediatric patients (10 males, 10 females; mean age: 2.5±1.5 years; range, 0.5 to 5.4 years) with and without flare who were initially evaluated for a number of underlying diseases due to periodic fever/infectious symptoms but then diagnosed with PFAPA between January 2015 and December 2020. Antibody levels were determined by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. The results were retrospectively compared with a group of healthy children after the PFAPA diagnosis was confirmed.
RESULTS
The chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay revealed 35%, 65%, 20%, 86.6%, and 55% of PFAPA cases with low serum levels of IgA, IgG, IgG2, IgG3, and IgM respectively, while 56.2% had high IgE levels. Moreover, low serum levels of at least two antibody classes or subclasses were reported in 80% of the PFAPA children. While cases with low IgG serum levels were with the highest incidence rates among the low IgG3 PFAPA patient population, both high IgE and low IgM cases were common in the rest of the patients.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest an association between PFAPA and low serum antibody levels, particularly of IgG3. Future studies are needed to confirm our conclusion.
PubMed: 38774691
DOI: 10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9988 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal May 2024A neoplasm was found in the left nasal cavity of a 45-year-old woman during electronic laryngoscopy for reflux pharyngitis. She reported experiencing an occasional...
A neoplasm was found in the left nasal cavity of a 45-year-old woman during electronic laryngoscopy for reflux pharyngitis. She reported experiencing an occasional slight headache in the left parietal region for 1 to 2 years, which she considered a migraine. Electronic laryngoscopy showed a gray, soft, smooth neoplasm in the left nasal meatus, located near the olfactory region blocking the olfactory clef and compressing the left middle turbinate. The neoplasm was resected at endonasal endoscopic surgery. Histological assessments indicated chronic mucus inflammation and cyst formation. This is a rare case because the polyp was large but asymptomatic and originated from nasal septum.
PubMed: 38770963
DOI: 10.1177/01455613241256836 -
Luminescence : the Journal of... May 2024The purpose of the work was to find optimal conditions for bioluminescent enzymatic analysis of saliva (based on the use of NADH:FMN oxidoreductase + luciferase) and...
The purpose of the work was to find optimal conditions for bioluminescent enzymatic analysis of saliva (based on the use of NADH:FMN oxidoreductase + luciferase) and then to determine the biological effect of using bioluminescence assay of saliva to study the physiological state of the body under normal and pathological conditions. The saliva of snowboarders and students were studied in the "rest-training" model. The saliva of patients diagnosed with acute pharyngitis was examined in the "sick-healthy" model. Bioluminescence assay was performed with a lyophilized and immobilized bi-enzyme system using cuvette, plate, and portable luminometers. The concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and cortisol were determined by enzyme immunoassay, and the total protein content was measured by spectrophotometric method. The activity of the bioluminescent system enzymes increased as the amount and volume of saliva in the sample was decreased. The cuvette and plate luminometers were sensitive to changes in the luminescence intensity in saliva assay. Luminescence intensity correlated with the concentrations of sIgA and cortisol. The integrated bioluminescent index for saliva was reduced in the "rest-training" model and increased in the "sick-healthy" model. Thus, the non-invasive bioluminescent saliva analysis may be a promising tool for assessing the health of the population.
Topics: Humans; Saliva; Luminescent Measurements; Biological Assay; Hydrocortisone; Luciferases; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory
PubMed: 38769690
DOI: 10.1002/bio.4776 -
International Journal of Infectious... Aug 2024The objective was to estimate the probability that finding a Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus) in a throat swab in a patient with a sore throat reflects the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
The objective was to estimate the probability that finding a Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus) in a throat swab in a patient with a sore throat reflects the aetiology. We also investigated to what extent this is influenced by age, carrier rates of S. pyogenes and climate zone.
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive search of Medline and Scopus up until October 2023 for case-control studies reporting the prevalence of S. pyogenes in patients with a sore throat and healthy controls. We only included studies with separate data for children and adults. We used the positive and negative etiologic predictive values (P-EPV and N-EPV) to estimate the probability of a link between a sore throat and a finding of S. pyogenes.
RESULTS
We included 15 studies in our meta-analysis. The overall P-EPV for children and adults were 63% (49-74%) and 92% (87-95%), respectively. The P-EPV rose to 83% (64-93%) for children and 94% (90-97%) for adults when only patients with 3-4 Centor criteria were included. The overall N-EPV was 97% (96-98%) for children and 96% (95-97%) for adults.
CONCLUSION
Detecting S. pyogenes in adult patients with an uncomplicated acute sore throat is useful to rule in S. pyogenes as the likely aetiologic agent. The P-EPV significantly increased for children when those with 3-4 Centor criteria were selected. A negative throat swab is always useful for both children and adults to rule out S. pyogenes as the cause of sore throat.
Topics: Humans; Streptococcus pyogenes; Pharyngitis; Streptococcal Infections; Child; Adult; Carrier State; Pharynx; Prevalence
PubMed: 38762046
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107100 -
Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal May 2024Systemic autoinflammatory disorders (SAIDs) represent a growing spectrum of diseases characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune system. The most common...
BACKGROUND
Systemic autoinflammatory disorders (SAIDs) represent a growing spectrum of diseases characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune system. The most common pediatric autoinflammatory fever syndrome, Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis (PFAPA), has well defined clinical diagnostic criteria, but there is a subset of patients who do not meet these criteria and are classified as undefined autoinflammatory diseases (uAID). This project, endorsed by PRES, supported by the EMERGE fellowship program, aimed to analyze the evolution of symptoms in recurrent fevers without molecular diagnosis in the context of undifferentiated AIDs, focusing on PFAPA and syndrome of undifferentiated recurrent fever (SURF), using data from European AID registries.
METHODS
Data of patients with PFAPA, SURF and uSAID were collected from 3 registries including detailed epidemiological, demographic and clinical data, results of the genetic testing and additional laboratory investigations with retrospective application of the modified Marshall and PRINTO/Eurofever classification criteria on the cohort of PFAPA patients and preliminary SURF criteria on uSAID/SURF patients.
RESULTS
Clinical presentation of PFAPA is variable and some patients did not fit the conventional PFAPA criteria and exhibit different symptoms. Some patients did not meet the criteria for either PFAPA or SURF, highlighting the heterogeneity within these groups. The study also explored potential overlaps between PFAPA and SURF/uAID, revealing that some patients exhibited symptoms characteristic of both conditions, emphasizing the need for more precise classification criteria.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with recurrent fevers without molecular diagnoses represent a clinically heterogeneous group. Improved classification criteria are needed for both PFAPA and SURF/uAID to accurately identify and manage these patients, ultimately improving clinical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Registries; Child; Europe; Female; Male; Stomatitis, Aphthous; Child, Preschool; Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases; Lymphadenitis; Pharyngitis; Adolescent; Infant; Retrospective Studies; Fever; Recurrence
PubMed: 38760816
DOI: 10.1186/s12969-024-00987-z -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... May 2024To test the prevailing dogma that Streptococcus pyogenes emm-types that cause pharyngitis are the same as those associated with the carriage, using a global dataset.
OBJECTIVES
To test the prevailing dogma that Streptococcus pyogenes emm-types that cause pharyngitis are the same as those associated with the carriage, using a global dataset.
METHODS
Drawing on our systematic review of the global distribution of S. pyogenes emm-types and emm-clusters from 1990 to 2023, we compared the distribution and diversity of strains associated with pharyngitis and pharyngeal carriage, in the context of local United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index (HDI) values.
RESULTS
We included 20 222 isolates from 71 studies done in 34 countries, with the vast majority of carriage strain data from studies in 'Low HDI' settings (550/1293; 43%). There was higher emm-type diversity for carriage than pharyngitis strains (Simpson Reciprocal Index of diversity 28.9 vs. 11.4). Compared with pharyngitis strains, carriage emm-types were disproportionately from emm-clusters E and D, usually described as 'generalist' or 'skin' strains.
DISCUSSION
A limited number of studies have compared S. pyogenes strains from cases of pharyngitis compared with carriage. Our understanding of strains associated with carriage is the poorest for high-income settings. In low and medium HDI countries, we found greater strain associated with pharyngeal carriage than pharyngitis. Improving our understanding of S. pyogenes carriage epidemiology in the pre-vaccine era will help to decipher the direct and potential indirect effects of vaccines.
PubMed: 38759867
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.05.007 -
Medicine May 2024This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative inhaled budesonide combined with intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative sore throat... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of preoperative inhaled budesonide combined with intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative sore throat in patients who underwent thyroidectomy: A randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative inhaled budesonide combined with intravenous dexamethasone on postoperative sore throat (POST) after general anesthesia in patients who underwent thyroidectomy.
METHODS
Patients who underwent elective thyroidectomy were randomly divided into the intravenous dexamethasone group (group A) and budesonide inhalation combined with intravenous dexamethasone group (group B). All patients underwent general anesthesia. The incidence and severity of POST, hoarseness, and cough at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery were evaluated and compared between the 2 groups.
RESULTS
There were 48 and 49 patients in groups A and B, respectively. The incidence of POST was significantly lower at 6, 12, and 24 hours in group B than that in group A (P < .05). In addition, group B had a significantly lower incidence of coughing at 24 hours (P = .047). Compared with group A, the severity of POST was significantly lower at 6 (P = .027), 12 (P = .004), and 24 (P = .005) hours at rest, and at 6 (P = .002), 12 (P = .038), and 24 (P = .015) hours during swallowing in group B. The incidence and severity of hoarseness were comparable at each time-point between the 2 groups (P > .05).
CONCLUSION
Preoperative inhaled budesonide combined with intravenous dexamethasone reduced the incidence and severity of POST at 6, 12, and 24 hours after extubation compared with intravenous dexamethasone alone in patients who underwent thyroidectomy. Additionally, this combination decreased the incidence of postoperative coughing at 24 hours.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Dexamethasone; Budesonide; Thyroidectomy; Pharyngitis; Middle Aged; Administration, Inhalation; Postoperative Complications; Adult; Preoperative Care; Administration, Intravenous; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hoarseness; Anesthesia, General; Glucocorticoids; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38758857
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038235 -
Hospital Pediatrics Jun 2024To characterize the prescribing trends and clinical outcomes related to azithromycin (AZI) among children hospitalized for critical asthma (CA).
OBJECTIVES
To characterize the prescribing trends and clinical outcomes related to azithromycin (AZI) among children hospitalized for critical asthma (CA).
METHODS
We performed a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information Systems registry of children 3 to 17 years of age hospitalized in a PICU for CA from January 2011 to December 2022. We excluded for alternative indications for AZI (eg, atypical pneumonia, B. pertussis infection, acute otitis media, acute sinusitis, pharyngitis/tonsillitis, and urethritis). The primary outcome was AZI prescribing rate by hospital and calendar year (trends assessed by Joinpoint regression). Cohorts with and without AZI exposure were further characterized by demographics, CA treatments, and inpatient outcomes using descriptive and comparative (ie, χ2 and Wilcoxon rank tests) statistics.
RESULTS
Of the 47 797 children studied, 9901 (20.7%) were prescribed AZI with a downward annual trend noted from 34.7% in 2011% to 12.4% in 2022 (-1.7% per year, R2 = 0.91). Median institutional AZI prescribing rate was 19.2% (interquartile range [IQR] 11.7%-28%; total range 5.6%-60%). Compared with children not prescribed AZI, those prescribed AZI were older (median 8.3 [IQR 5.7-11.6] vs 7.3 [4.9-10.8] years, P < .001) and experienced a more severe clinical trajectory with greater rates of bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation (19.7% vs 12.6%, P < .001), invasive ventilation (22.1% vs 13.5%, P < .001), extracorporeal life support (0.8% vs 0.1%, P < .001), and median length of stay (4 [IQR 3-6] vs 3 [IQR 2-4] days, P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
Between 2011 and 2022, 20.7% of children hospitalized for CA were prescribed AZI notwithstanding the absence of trial-derived efficacy or safety data for this indication and population.
Topics: Humans; Child; Retrospective Studies; Female; Child, Preschool; Male; Asthma; Adolescent; Azithromycin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Critical Illness
PubMed: 38757173
DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007627 -
Zeitschrift Fur Gastroenterologie May 2024A 21-year-old female patient presented with fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy and generalized exanthema that had started 2 weeks prior. Allergies were not known, the...
A 21-year-old female patient presented with fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy and generalized exanthema that had started 2 weeks prior. Allergies were not known, the family and travel history were negative. Due to depression, Duloxetine had been taken for 1.5 years, and due to bipolar disorder, a treatment with Lamotrigine was started four weeks prior but was stopped because of increased transaminase levels. Laboratory findings on admission showed eosinophilia (1.327 /nl), lymphocytosis and acute hepatitis (GOT 428 U/l, GPT 438 U/l) with deranged coagulation. Inflammatory parameters were increased. Ultrasound revealed hepatosplenomegaly with ascites. Acute viral or parasitic infection was excluded serologically. A skin biopsy showed a perivascular inflammatory infiltrate, compatible with a drug reaction. An inflammatory infiltrate was found in the liver biopsy, consistent with drug-induced hepatitis. Cough, dyspnea and pleural effusion occurred. In summary of the findings and with the help of the RegiSCAR-Score, the diagnosis of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) could be made. Under high-dose prednisolone therapy, a gradual decrease of transaminases and reconstitution of liver synthesis could be observed.In patients with eosinophilia, lymphadenopathy, acute hepatitis and generalized exanthema, DRESS is a rare but-due to its potentially life-threatening consequences-important differential diagnosis. The most important measure is to stop the suspected inducing medication immediately. Severe cases should be treated with high-dose systemic corticosteroids.
PubMed: 38749459
DOI: 10.1055/a-2300-0620 -
Innere Medizin (Heidelberg, Germany) May 2024Streptococcus pyogenes is a human pathogenic, gram positive bacterium that primarily leads to pharyngitis or soft tissue infections. Primary peritonitis caused by...
Streptococcus pyogenes is a human pathogenic, gram positive bacterium that primarily leads to pharyngitis or soft tissue infections. Primary peritonitis caused by S. pyogenes infection is rare and there are only a few published cases worldwide. Primary peritonitis due to other pathogens occurs in immunosuppressed conditions such as HIV or other chronic diseases. However, younger, healthy women are more likely to be affected by S. pyogenes peritonitis. At present, the underlying molecular mechanisms can only be speculated on. One possibility is that, similar to the clinical picture of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), a specific serotype of the M protein in combination with inhibition of the cell response of neutrophil granulocytes could play a role. In addition to peritonitis, the clinical picture may include other organ manifestations such as acute kidney damage or circulatory dysregulation. In terms of treatment, rapid pathogen-directed empirical antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice. If there is no indication of secondary peritonitis, diagnostic laparoscopy can be dispensed with in the further diagnostic work-up.
PubMed: 38748278
DOI: 10.1007/s00108-024-01713-3