(p=.85).

Multiple myeloma patients had an increased risk for IPA, most notably in patients with 3 or more lines of anti-myeloma treatment and more advanced disease. This clearly emphasises the vigilance needed for IPA in these patients.

Multiple myeloma patients had an increased risk for IPA, most notably in patients with 3 or more lines of anti-myeloma treatment and more advanced disease. This clearly emphasises the vigilance needed for IPA in these patients.

To assess the relation of high serum OPG level and carotid atherosclerosis in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients using low-flux reused dialyzer.

We examined 209MHD patients with and without carotid atherosclerosis (83 patients and 126 patients) to establish the relation between OPG and atherosclerosis.

The proportion of carotid atherosclerosis was 39.7%. BFA inhibitor clinical trial The median serum OPG level was 45.3pmol/L. Serum OPG had a good predicting value for atherosclerosis in MHD patients using low-flux reused dialyzer (AUC=0.934, p<0.001, cutoff value=43.35pmol/L, Se=81.3%, Sp=90.9%).

In this study, serum OPG had a good predicting value for atherosclerosis in MHD patients using low-flux reused dialyzer.

In this study, serum OPG had a good predicting value for atherosclerosis in MHD patients using low-flux reused dialyzer.

Muscle wasting is associated with worse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We assessed the association of calf circumference (CC) measurements with clinical outcomes in COPD patients referred to an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP).

In this single-center, retrospective study, we analyzed demographic and clinical data ( spirometry tests, comorbidities, COPD exacerbations, dyspnea scoring, exercise capacity, quality-of-life scores, BMI, CC measurements, and all-cause deaths [for 2 years]) from COPD patients PRP medical records. Patients were grouped according to CC into reduced CC (male, ≤34 cm; female, ≤33 cm) or adequate CC groups.

We evaluated 144 patients (aged 64.6 ± 8.5 years; mostly males; forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 40.3% ± 15.8%, predicted). Eighteen patients (12.5%) died during the 2 years of follow-up. Logistic regression showed that patients with reduced CC were more likely to present worse outcomes compared with COPD patients with adequate CC more advanced disease severity (odds ratio [OR] = 5.09; 95% CI, 2.00-12.96), COPD frequent exacerbators (OR = 2.34; 95% CI, 1.11-4.91), worse total quality-of-life score (OR = 2.70, 95% CI, 1.22-6.00), and higher mortality (OR = 3.69; 95% CI, 1.06-12.87).

Reduced CC in COPD patients under initial assessment for PRP admission was associated with disease severity, frequent exacerbation, poor health status, and higher mortality in 2 years of follow-up. Considering its clinical applicability, CC measurement should be introduced in the nutrition assessment of COPD patients admitted to the PRP.

Reduced CC in COPD patients under initial assessment for PRP admission was associated with disease severity, frequent exacerbation, poor health status, and higher mortality in 2 years of follow-up. Considering its clinical applicability, CC measurement should be introduced in the nutrition assessment of COPD patients admitted to the PRP.

Although it is relatively common after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is a rare complication following solid organ transplantation (SOT).

This study evaluated skin biopsy specimens from five cases of SOT GVHD, 15 cases of HCT GVHD, and 15 cases of cutaneous drug eruption. Immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD4, CD8, T-bet, and GATA-3 was performed to examine the density and immune phenotype of skin-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Similar to HCT GVHD, the predominant histopathologic findings in skin biopsy specimens of SOT GVHD were widespread vacuolar interface dermatitis with scattered necrotic keratinocytes. However, the density of dermal inflammation was considerably higher in SOT GVHD. Features that were more predictive of a cutaneous drug eruption over GVHD included spongiosis, confluent parakeratosis, and many eosinophils. Involvement of the hair follicle epithelium was seen in all three disorders. Both forms of cutaneous GVHD showed a predominance of Th1 (CD3+/T-bet+) lymphocytes within the inflammatory infiltrates. This shift was more pronounced in SOT GVHD, particularly among intraepidermal T-cells.

SOT GVHD shares many histopathologic features with HCT GVHD. However, SOT GVHD has a greater tendency to develop brisk lichenoid inflammation.

SOT GVHD shares many histopathologic features with HCT GVHD. However, SOT GVHD has a greater tendency to develop brisk lichenoid inflammation.

Fusarium species are emerging causative agents of superficial and disseminated human infections. Early diagnosis and treatment contribute to better prognosis of severe infection.

To detect the effectiveness of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) for Fusarium identification, and evaluate the susceptibility profiles to clinical available antifungals.

All 203 clinical Fusarium isolates and 25 environmental isolates were identified by using translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) and RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2) sequencing and MALDI-ToF MS. Antifungal susceptibility testing was determined by a microdilution method following the CLSI approved standard M38-A3 document.

Correct identification rates at the species and genus levels were 89.04% (203/228) and 95.18% (217/228), respectively, using Bruker Filamentous Fungi Library 1.0 combined with the novel database. Seven species complexes with 19 Fusarium species were identified, including F.solani (59.21%, n=135), F.verticillioides (17.54%, n=40), F.proliferatum (6.58%, n=15) and F.oxysporum (4.39%, n=10). Four uncommon species complexes (F.incarnatum-equiseti SC, F.dimerum SC, F.redolens SC and F.sporotrichioides SC) were also identified. A high degree of antifungal resistance was observed. Fusarium isolates exhibited lower MICs to luliconazole and terbinafine compared with amphotericin B and voriconazole, which in turn were significantly more active than amorolfine, fluconazole and itraconazole.

MALDI-ToF MS showed good performance in Fusarium species with an adapted Bruker library and expanded database. Fusarium isolates exhibited lower MICs to luliconazole and terbinafine compared to amphotericin B and voriconazole.

MALDI-ToF MS showed good performance in Fusarium species with an adapted Bruker library and expanded database. Fusarium isolates exhibited lower MICs to luliconazole and terbinafine compared to amphotericin B and voriconazole.