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Introduction: Health apps play an increasing role in everyday healthcare, especially for chronic diseases. The Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation (CRUSE) is a new mobile health app for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients, which replaces disease tracking via paper and pen, thus making disease monitoring more convenient, increasing tracking compliance, and improving data quality and access. Methods: CRUSE enables patients to complete patient-reported outcome measures on their smartphone and send the results, along with current medication and pictures, to their treating physician via email. CRUSE captures the urticaria (UAS) and angioedema activity (AAS) scores and the urticaria and angioedema control tests (UCT and AECT). In this work, a descriptive analysis of CRUSE users and reported days was performed. The global network of Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) provides the app and its data. Results: CRUSE is now available in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the UK, Italy, Spain, France, and Turkey. Of 620 newly registered users (from July 1st until November 18th of 2022), 72 % were female, and the mean age was 36.6 years (17 - 78 years). The average daily UAS and AAS value (mean ± standard deviation) were 2.1 ± 1.9 and 7.2 ± 3.3, respectively. Most CRUSE patients had poorly controlled disease, with mean UCT values of 7.0 ± 4.4 and mean AECT values of 8.1 ± 4.5. Conclusion: The first days of patients with CSU using CRUSE confirm the high need for an app that helps to monitor disease activity, impact, and control. The first results indicate low levels of disease control in most CRUSE users, with low UCT and AECT values. Future analyses will assess follow-up documentation data and evaluate the effects of treatment changes on CSU activity, impact, and control.
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Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), also known as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, is an innate immune protein encoded by the LCN2 gene. In this study, we investigated various roles and functions of Lcn2 characterized in a systems-based format and evaluated its therapeutic potentials and clinical relevance for diagnosis and prognosis. An additional systematic presentation was presented for 70 ongoing clinical trials utilizing Lcn2 in the diagnostic and prognostic setting as a key outcome measure. With trials being conducted through December 2030, Lcn2 will become all the more relevant given its associations with diseases as a prognostic biomarker. Data also suggests that it plays a role in pathological conditions. The gaps in our understanding of Lcn2, once filled, may improve the immune mediation of acute and chronic disease.
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Lipocalina 2 , Lipocalina 2/genética , Biomarcadores , PronósticoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: South Asia has had a dynamic response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The overall burden and response have remained comparable across highly-burdened countries within the South Asian Region. METHODOLOGY: Using a population-based observational design, all eight South Asian countries were analyzed using a step-wise approach. Data were obtained from government websites and publicly-available repositories for population dynamics and key variables. RESULTS: South Asian countries have a younger average age of their population. Inequitable distribution of resources centered in urban metropolitan cities within South Asia is present. Certain densely populated regions in these countries have better testing and healthcare facilities that correlate with lower COVID-19 incidence per million populations. Trends of urban-rural disparities are unclear given the lack of clear reporting of the gaps within these regions. COVID-19 vaccination lag has become apparent in South Asian countries, with the expected time to complete the campaign being unfeasible as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses. CONCLUSION: With a redesigning of governance policies on preventing the rise of COVID-19 promptly, the relief on the healthcare system and healthcare workers will allow for adequate time to roll out vaccination campaigns with equitable distribution. Capacity expansion of public health within the Region is required to ensure a robust healthcare response to the ongoing pandemic and future infectious disease outbreaks.