Predictors of Relapses or Recurrences in Patients With Giant Cell Arteritis: A Medical Records Review Study.

Objective: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common systemic vasculitis in individuals aged ≥50 years. Its course is marked by a high relapse rate requiring long-term glucocorticoid use with its inherent adverse effects. We aimed to identify factors associated with relapses or recurrences in GCA at diagnosis.

Functional Impairment of Endothelial Colony Forming Cells (ECFC) in Patients with Severe Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD).

Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor in atherosclerosis. However, the link between endothelial repair and severity of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is unclear. This study investigates the relationship between ASCVD, markers of inflammation, and circulating endothelial progenitor cells, namely hematopoietic cells with paracrine angiogenic activity and endothelial colony forming cells (ECFC).

Herpetic encephalitis: which treatment for which body weight?

Background: Prognosis of herpetic encephalitis remains severe, with a high proportion of deaths and sequelae. Its treatment is based on acyclovir, but the precise and most effective modalities of this treatment are not established. The objective of this study was to determine them.

Relevance of systematic anti-nuclear antibodies testing after obstetrical complications.

Adverses pregnancy outcomes are commonly encountered with autoimmune disease (AID). Although anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are often present several years before AID diagnosis, the importance of ANA testing has not been evaluated in this context. The objective of this study was to determine if ANA discovery after obstetrical complications is associated with a diagnosis of AID and improves the prognosis of subsequent pregnancies.

Quantification of Antifibrillarin (anti-U3 RNP) Antibodies: A New Insight for Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.

Background: The detection of additional autoantibodies is of great concern in systemic sclerosis (SSc) when those included in the ACR/EULAR classification are negative. In this context, the interest of antifibrillarin (anti-U3RNP) autoantibodies (AFAs) in the routine evaluation of SSc remains unclear. We aimed to assess the relevance of AFAs and their clinical association in SSc patients.

Characteristics of patients with systemic sclerosis suffering from a lower limb amputation: Results of a French collaborative study.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis mainly affects the microvascular network. However, macrovascular manifestations have been reported. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of systemic sclerosis patients with an amputation of a lower limb segment.

Natural Killer Cells Exhibit a Peculiar Phenotypic Profile in Systemic Sclerosis and Are Potent Inducers of Endothelial Microparticles Release.

The pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc) involves early endothelial and immune activation, both preceding the onset of fibrosis. We previously identified soluble fractalkine and circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) as biomarkers of endothelial inflammatory activation in SSc. Fractalkine plays a dual role as a membrane-bound adhesion molecule expressed in inflamed endothelial cells (ECs) and as a chemokine involved in the recruitment, transmigration, and cytotoxic activation of immune cells that express CX3CR1, the receptor of fractalkine, namely CD8 and γδ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells.

Uric acid levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction and severity of coronary atherosclerosis during a first episode of acute coronary syndrome.

The role of serum uric acid in coronary artery disease has been extensively investigated. It was suggested that serum uric acid level (SUA) is an independent predictor of endothelial dysfunction and related to coronary artery lesions. However, the relationship between SUA and severity of coronary atherosclerosis evaluated via endothelial dysfunction using peripheral arterial tone (PAT) and the reactive hyperhemia index (RHI) has not been investigated during a first episode of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Elevated serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 in systemic sclerosis: a marker of lung fibrosis and severity of the disease.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the clinical significance of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) in the diagnosis and severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in a French cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Serum KL-6 concentrations were measured with chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) in 75 SSc patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD versus SSc-without ILD) on chest High-Resolution Computed Tomography.

Heart rate recovery improves after exercise in water when compared with on land.

Background: Water immersion has demonstrated its effectiveness in the recovery process after exercise. This study presents for the first time the impact of water immersion on heart rate recovery after low-intensity cycle exercise.

Methods: Sixteen male volunteers were involved in the study.

Increased serum levels of fractalkine and mobilisation of CD34CD45 endothelial progenitor cells in systemic sclerosis.

Background: The disruption of endothelial homeostasis is a major determinant in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is reflected by soluble and cellular markers of activation, injury and repair. We aimed to provide a combined assessment of endothelial markers to delineate specific profiles associated with SSc disease and its severity.

Methods: We conducted an observational, single-centre study comprising 45 patients with SSc and 41 healthy control subjects.

Cardiorespiratory alterations induced by low-intensity exercise performed in water or on land.

The aim of this study was to compare the cardiorespiratory alterations induced by a low-intensity exercise performed on land or in water. Sixteen healthy subjects were investigated. The exercise consisted of a 1-h period of ergocycling at 35%-40% of peak oxygen uptake.

Glossopharyngeal insufflation and breath-hold diving: the more, the worse?

Objective: The glossopharyngeal insufflation maneuver (lung packing) is largely performed by competitive breath-hold divers to improve their performance, despite observational evidence of fainting and loss of consciousness in the first seconds of apnea.

Methods: We describe here the time course of hemodynamic changes, induced by breath-holding with and without lung packing, in 2 world-class apnea competitors.

Results: When compared with apnea performed after a deep breath (100% vital capacity), lung packing leads to a decrease in cardiac output, blood pressure, and cerebral blood flow during the first seconds after the beginning of apnea.

Effect of head-out water immersion on vascular function in healthy subjects.

Immersion in thermoneutral water increases cardiac output and peripheral blood flow and reduces systemic vascular resistance. This study examined the effects of head-out water immersion on vascular function. Twelve healthy middle-aged males were immersed during 60 min in the seated position, with water at the level of xiphoid.