ANCA-Positive Small-Vessel Vasculitis Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination-A Systematic Review.

As vaccinations against the SARS-CoV-2 virus have become a crucial tool in controlling the spread of the disease, reports of rare health complications have emerged, including new-onset antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We systematically reviewed new-onset AAV following COVID-19 vaccination case reports and case series published in three databases before January 2024 following PRISMA guidelines to understand the characteristics of possible causal relationships or coincidences. In total, 404 articles were screened respectively by title, abstracts, and full-texts. Thirty-four papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria and have been analyzed, covering 44 patients with new-onset AAV after COVID-19 vaccination with no prior history of COVID-19 infection. Data regarding patients' metrics, comorbidities, vaccination characteristics, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, and outcomes were investigated and summarized. The cohort consisted predominantly of females. AAV diagnosis was confirmed via biopsy, with renal dysfunction as a prevailing manifestation. In most cases, the first symptoms of AAV developed after the second dose; moreover, Pfizer-BioNTech was the most frequently administered vaccine among the analyzed cohort. Primary treatment involved glucocorticoid therapy, with a mostly favourable response. This systematic review aims to raise awareness among clinicians in the field regarding this rare but possible complication, to promote the prompt recognition and diagnosis of de novo ANCA-positive small-vessel vasculitis in timely association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

The Role of Neutrophils in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: The Pathogenic Role and Diagnostic Utility of Autoantibodies.

Recent years have brought progress in understanding the role of the neutrophil, dispelling the dogma of homogeneous cells mainly involved in the prime defence against pathogens, shedding light on their pathogenic role in inflammatory diseases and on the importance of antineutrophil-cytoplasmic antibodies' pathogenic role in ANCA-associated vasculitides vasculitis (AAV). Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proteinase 3 (PR3) expressed in neutrophil granulocytes are the most common targets for ANCAs and contribute to the formation of MPO-ANCAs and PR3-ANCAs which, released to the bloodstream, become an excellent diagnostic tool for AAV. In this study, we focus on increasing the clinical and experimental evidence that supports the pathogenic role of ANCAs in AAV. Additionally, we discuss the diagnostic utility of ANCAs for disease activity and prognosis in AAV. Understanding the central role of ANCAs in AAV is crucial for advancing our knowledge of these complex disorders and developing targeted therapeutic strategies in the era of personalized medicine.

Advances and Perspectives in Relation to the Molecular Basis of Diabetic Retinopathy-A Review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing problem nowadays, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) is its predominant complication. Currently, DR diagnosis primarily relies on fundoscopic examination; however, novel biomarkers may facilitate that process and make it widely available. In this current review, we delve into the intricate roles of various factors and mechanisms in DR development, progression, prediction, and their association with therapeutic approaches linked to the underlying pathogenic pathways. Specifically, we focus on advanced glycation end products, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), asymmetric dimethylarginine, endothelin-1, and the epigenetic regulation mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs) in the context of DR.

Primary Hyperparathyroidism Secondary to Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma: A Case Report.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) secondary to parathyroid gland adenoma is mildly symptomatic and thus often incidentally diagnosed. In this report, we present a case of a 46-year-old man who was treated for hypertension and other nonspecific complaints. An elevated level of blood calcium led to the suspicion of parathyroid adenoma. Technetium-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) planar and single-photon emission computed tomographic scintigraphy (SPECT/CT) confirmed the presence of a 10-mm-wide adenoma behind the sternal handle in the anterior mediastinum. The tumor was excised by Kocher's cervical access along with the right and left upper horns of the thymus gland and was histologically confirmed as being of parathyroid nature. However, blood parathyroid hormone and calcium remained persistently elevated. Repeated scintigraphy imaging revealed the presence of another retrosternal tracer focus at the level of Ludwig's angle. The patient was reoperated with the longitudinal sternotomy access, and thymus remnants, parathymic nodule, and fragments of mediastinal fat and right parietal pleura were removed. On the second postoperative day, parathyroid hormone and calcium reverted to normal values, but the patient remained hypertensive. Despite the successful surgical treatment, the patient remained hypertensive suggesting that the underlying reason was a familial hypertensive disease rather than parathyroid adenoma. In conclusion, this report underscores the need for diagnostic vigilance in the case of persisting hypercalcemia with hypertension and diagnostic and surgical difficulties in the management of ectopic PHPT secondary to parathyroid gland adenomas.