Torque Teno virus (TTV) DNA load in blood may act as a marker of immune competence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). Conflicting data have been reported as to the value of this biomarker for anticipating acute Graft versus host disease (aGvHD) occurrence. Here, we hypothesized that quantitation of TTV DNA load in stool specimens early after allo-HSCT could be used to identify patients at high risk of acute intestinal graft versus host disease (aIGvHD). In this prospective two-center study, we recruited a total of 83 nonconsecutive adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT. The study period comprised the first 120 days after allo-HSCT. TTV DNA was quantitated in paired stool samples collected at a median of 2 days prior to cell infusion and at a median of 14 days after allo-HSCT by real-time PCR. Thirty-seven patients developed aGVHD, of whom 25 had aIGVHD (diagnosed at a median of 42 days after allo-HSCT). Median TTV DNA load values in posttransplant stools specimens were comparable (P = .34) in patients with or without subsequent aIGvHD; nevertheless, a falling trajectory (decrease in TTV DNA load >0.5 log10 copies/0.1 g) in paired pretransplant and posttransplant specimens was independently associated with the occurrence of aIGvHD (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.3-21.3; P = .02). selleck chemical Notably, displaying a rising trajectory had a negative predictive value of 87.5% for aIGvHD. In summary, in this hypothesis-generating study, we suggest that the decrease in TTV DNA load from baseline in stool specimens may identify patients at risk of aIGVHD.

While chemosensory dysfunctions, dysgeusia and anosmia/hyposmia, are recognized as distinctive symptoms of COVID-19, their temporality of presentation and association with the patient age, gender, disease severity, and comorbidities has been sparsely studied. Hence, we evaluated the latter associations of chemosensory dysfunction, in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Information on chemosensory dysfunction and history of chronic systemic comorbidities, if any, was obtained from 149 COVID-19 patients in an infectious disease hospital in UAE, using their medical records, as well as from a face-to-face questionnaire survey. Additionally, a modified SNOT-22 questionnaire that measures disease-specific quality of life in patients with upper respiratory tract affections was also administered.

Chemosensory dysfunction was reported by 94.6% of the cohort, and anosmia with dysgeusia was significantly more in males than females with severe COVID-19. Males with moderate COVID-19 and systemic comorbidities were more likely to present with chemosensory dysfunction in comparison with females. SNOT-22 questionnaire revealed that nasal blockage and runny nose were more prevalent in mild/moderate, than in the severe, state of COVID-19.

Our data confirm the commonality of chemosensory dysfunction during COVID-19 progression, and the significantly more pronounced combined dysfunction in males with severe COVID-19, and comorbidities.

Our data confirm the commonality of chemosensory dysfunction during COVID-19 progression, and the significantly more pronounced combined dysfunction in males with severe COVID-19, and comorbidities.

Arterial revascularization is seldom considered as a treatment option in thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) due to diffuse segmental involvement of medium- and small-sized extremity vessels. Although typical angiographic features include bilaterally symmetrical involvement of infrapopliteal vessels, larger vessels too can be affected. Similarly, there could be distal target vessels feasible for revascularization. This study was conducted to describe the patterns of arterial involvement in TAO and assess the feasibility of revascularization.

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and research ethics committee of Christian Medical College, Vellore (IRB no 12034). A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Vascular Surgery, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, between January 2009 and December 2018. There were 329 patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria for TAO of whom 83 had an angiogram done. These 83 patients formed the study cohort.

Large vessel involvement was ch the use of angiography should be more liberal.

Limited research has investigated methamphetamine use and related harms in rural and regional Australia. We investigated whether people who used methamphetamine in non-metropolitan Victoria differed in their sociodemographics and were more likely to be methamphetamine-dependent than those recruited in Melbourne.

We used baseline data from an ongoing prospective cohort study, ‘VMAX’. Participants were recruited from Melbourne and three non-metropolitan Victorian regions. Sequential multivariable logistic regression of nested models assessed unadjusted and adjusted associations between residential locations and methamphetamine dependence.

The sample mostly (77%) comprised people who used methamphetamine via non-injecting means (N = 744). Thirty-nine percent were female. Melbourne-based participants were less likely than non-metropolitan participants to identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, be heterosexual, have children and be unemployed. More frequent methamphetamine use (adjusted odds ratios in non-metropolitan Victoria were more likely to be methamphetamine-dependent than those living in Melbourne. Unmet need for professional support appears to exist among people using methamphetamine across the state, regardless of geographical location.Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) lacks a specific trigger. The urticaria activity score (UAS) is used to evaluate disease status. Some studies have reported elevated serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in CSU patients, which is correlated with disease severity. The neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio is a significant indicator of systemic inflammation. We investigated the potential correlation between serum levels of hsCRP and N/L ratio, as well as urticaria activity, in CSU patients. We included 52 CSU patients treated at the Dermatology Polyclinic of Beysehir State Hospital between August and October 2020, and 50 controls. The 7-day UAS were graded mild, moderate, or intense. We measured N/L ratios, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs), and the levels of hsCRP, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in each group. The anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and anti-microsomal antibody (anti-TPO) levels of CSU patients were also assayed. There were no significant differences in hsCRP, T4, or TSH levels between the groups; however, both the ESR and N/L ratio were significantly higher in CSU patients hsCRP (P = .