Leonardo Jaimes, MD, is a Venezuelan medical doctor with teaching experience in the field of immunology currently working as a general practitioner and in the field of telehealth.
Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS)-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears to increase survival and improve overall quality of life in patients with postoperative cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) recurrence, according to an article recently published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. Although surgical resection is the preferred treatment for CCA, the majority of patients have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis…
Sequential immunotherapy may be beneficial for patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), although its indications are still unclear, according to a case series study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology. “This study can also serve as the foundation to build further tests on the true effectiveness and ideal duration of sequential therapy with dual immunotherapy…
Rituximab may be effective in preventing debilitating symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG), indicating its efficacy as a potential first-line treatment, according to a randomized trial. The results showed that patients who received rituximab had fewer symptoms and needed less rescue therapy at week 16 compared to those in the placebo group. About 70% of patients…
Diagnosis and treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) may be initiated in utero, an approach supported by most patients, according to an observational study. Of all survey respondents, who included patients with SMA or the parents of individuals with SMA, only 2% received a prenatal diagnosis, while 81% thought their diagnosis was delayed. Nearly all…
Pompe disease (PD) therapeutic options reduce disease burden, however, customized care remains challenging despite these notable treatments, according to a recent review paper. The review provided an update regarding treatment options for PD to help metabolic and neuromuscular specialists in clinical practice. In doing so, it highlighted recent advancements in enzyme replacement therapy, gene therapy, and…
Metformin may reverse some of the autoimmune landmarks in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), according to an experimental study. In the rodent study, the spleen showed the highest levels of miR-146a, a microRNA previously linked with autoimmune disorders. On the other hand, lymph nodes and the thymus had decreased levels of the same molecule. Moreover,…
A drug candidate for Pompe disease (PD) recently received the Rare Pediatric Drug (RPD) designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a recent press release. ABX1100 is a centyrin-small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) conjugate under experimental research as a novel treatment option for patients with PD. Gaining the RPD is an important…
Microvascular pathology may play a greater role than previously known in the etiology of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a study. The findings showed that the underlying biological mechanism of microvascular dysfunction is autonomous abnormalities in angiogenesis and blood vessel creation, consequent to survival motor neuron (SMN) deficit in cultured human and mouse endothelial…
A mouse model demonstrates a single-cell atlas for severe spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in the spinal cord, according to a recent study. After running a dimensionality reduction analysis, the researchers identified a total of 29 cell types. Fibroblasts showcased the most differing pattern compared to normal tissue, with a marked decrease in the number of…
Patients with myelitis due to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) may experience functional alternations in several brain regions. Some of these changes may be associated with better clinical performance and could play a role in NMOSD rehabilitation, according to a recently published study in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. Several studies have shown a correlation between…
