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4% vs. 28.6%; RR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.14-4.94; I2 = 91%). However, these non-significant differences between the tocilizumab and control groups may have been the result of baseline characteristics of the tocilizumab group, which were more severe than those of the control group. Based on low-quality evidence, there is no conclusive evidence that tocilizumab would provide any additional benefit to patients with severe COVID-19. Therefore, further recommendation of tocilizumab for COVID-19 cases should be halted until high-quality evidence from randomised controlled trials is available.The crude mortality rate in critical pneumonia cases with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reaches 49%. This study aimed to test whether levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in combination with D-dimer were predictors of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. The clinical characteristics of 305 COVID-19 patients were analysed and were compared between the survivor and non-survivor groups. Of the 305 patients, 85 (27.9%) died and 220 (72.1%) were discharged from hospital. Compared with discharged cases, non-survivor cases were older and their BUN and D-dimer levels were significantly higher (P less then 0.0001). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariable Cox regression analyses identified BUN and D-dimer levels as independent risk factors for poor prognosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that elevated levels of BUN and D-dimer were associated with increased mortality (log-rank, P less then 0.0001). The area under the curve for BUN combined with D-dimer was 0.94 (95% CI 0.90-0.97), with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 91%. Based on BUN and D-dimer levels on admission, a nomogram model was developed that showed good discrimination, with a concordance index of 0.94. Together, initial BUN and D-dimer levels were associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients. The combination of BUN ≥ 4.6 mmol/L and D-dimer ≥ 0.845 μg/mL appears to identify patients at high risk of in-hospital mortality, therefore it may prove to be a powerful risk assessment tool for severe COVID-19 patients.

To compare the prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) stratified by body mass index (BMI) categories in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA).

The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of MetS was calculated by BMI categories and compared between RA and SpA patients before starting first biologic, and controls. The determinants of metabolic syndrome in patients without obesity were investigated.

MetS was observed in 28% of RA (21/75), 22.5% of SpA (18/80), 19% of controls (187/998). The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of MetS was not significantly different between RA 19% (95% CI 11-27%), SpA 26% (95% CI 16-36%) and controls 16% (95% CI 14-18%). When stratified by BMI, the standardized prevalence of MetS was less frequent in obese RA patients (15%, 95% CI 4-27%) compared to obese controls (48%, 95% CI 40-55%) or to obese SpA (36%, 95% CI 26-45%). In normal-weight RA patients, MetS standardized prevalence was 16% (95% CI 7-25%) compared to 5% (95% CI 0-11%) in SpA, and 6% (95% CI 4-8%) in controls. In non-obese SpA, MetS was associated with abdominal obesity, visceral fat mass and cardiovascular risk. In non-obese RA patients with metabolic syndrome, body composition did not differ from metabolically healthy RA patients.

MetS is not uniform among patients with similar BMI. In RA, MetS was less frequent in obese patients, and unlike SpA, was not associated with body fat composition in non-obese patients. Differences between RA and SpA for metabolic health suggest various pathophysiological mechanisms.

MetS is not uniform among patients with similar BMI. In RA, MetS was less frequent in obese patients, and unlike SpA, was not associated with body fat composition in non-obese patients. Differences between RA and SpA for metabolic health suggest various pathophysiological mechanisms.

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is associated with a variety of human diseases; however, whether they have a role in childhood asthma is unknown.

We sought to determine the differential expression profiles of lncRNAs in PBMCs of children with asthma and the mechanisms underlying the effects of lncRNAs on the pathogenesis of asthma.

The differential expression profiles of lncRNAs were analyzed by transcriptome microarray. The effects and mechanisms by which lncRNAs influence macrophage activation were detected by real-time quantitative PCR, Western blot, RNase protection assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The roles played by lncRNAs in asthma were tested in a cockroach allergen extract (CRE)-induced mouse model.

We identified 719 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed in PBMCs of children with asthma, 502 of which were upregulated and 217 were downregulated. An lncRNA of unknown function, lnc-BAZ2B, was dominantly expressed in monocytes and significantly upregulated in children with asthma. lnc-BAZ2B promotes M2 macrophage activation by enhancing BAZ2B expression and exacerbated lung inflammation in an M2 macrophage-associated CRE-induced asthma model. Mechanistically, lnc-BAZ2B promoted the expression of its cis target gene BAZ2B by stabilizing its pre-mRNA. BAZ2B, a reader of H3K14ac modification, enhanced the transcription of IRF4 and promoted M2 macrophage activation. lnc-BAZ2B expression was correlated with that of BAZ2B in PBMCs from children with asthma. 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine concentration Baz2b knockdown could alleviate asthma severity in a CRE-induced asthma model.

lnc-BAZ2B promotes M2 macrophage activation and inflammation in children with asthma and may serve as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target in children with asthma.

lnc-BAZ2B promotes M2 macrophage activation and inflammation in children with asthma and may serve as a potential therapeutic and diagnostic target in children with asthma.Recent years have seen an important shift in the target population for myocardial revascularization. Patients are increasingly presenting with more complex coronary artery disease (CAD), but also with multiple comorbidities and frailty. At the same time, minimally invasive strategies such as Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (MIDCAB) and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI) have been developed, which might be more appealing for this group of patients. As a result, the landscape of options for myocardial revascularization is evolving while adequate use of all resources is required to ensure optimal patient care. Heart Teams are confronted with the challenge of incorporating the new minimally invasive strategies into the decision process, yet current guidelines do not fully address this challenge. In this review, the current evidence regarding outcomes, indications, benefits, and risks of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB), MIDCAB, PCI, and hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) are discussed.