"Herbs rather than chemicals." Doctors are hearing similar statements more and more often. This attitude reflects the so-called appeal to nature –⁠ a logical fallacy based on the assumption that natural means better and safer. In academic literature, this type of thinking is more broadly referred to as the naturalistic fallacy. Such reasoning significantly influences not only patients’ decisions but often also those of healthcare professionals themselves.

A post hoc analysis of a phase II study with tofacitinib in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) evaluated the suppression of spinal inflammation using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on the Canadian-Danish scoring system (CANDEN), which allows for the assessment of changes in posterolateral structures of the spine, characteristic of AS involvement.

Intravenous iron application in patients with heart failure and iron deficiency is now part of ESC guidelines aimed at improving symptoms, increasing exercise tolerance and quality of life in these patients, and simultaneously reducing the risk of hospitalization or death from cardiovascular causes.

In recent years, there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). High-quality laboratory diagnostics (molecular genetics, cytogenetics, and flow cytometry) are absolutely essential, and monitoring measurable residual disease is becoming increasingly important. The range of treatment options is also beginning to expand. The content of the latest 'Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML),' which are part of this year's updated 'Red Book' of the Czech Hematology Society ČLS JEP (CHS), is primarily based on the 2022 European Leukemia Network (ELN) guidelines and offers, among other things, an updated disease classification and risk stratification, as well as an overview of current treatment options for both intensive and non-intensive regimens.

In June 2020, the journal Radiology and Oncology published the results of an analysis of data from patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from a Central European registry. A large team led by Czech experts focused on the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used and the treatment results achieved in real-world practice.

Existing scientific and clinical evidence suggests the involvement of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Some of the initial experimental therapy proposals included various interventions in the RAAS.

Immunotherapeutic strategies have been successfully utilized recently in the treatment of various malignancies. Increasing understanding of the interactions between the tumor and the host organism over the last few years has led to proposals of various promising therapeutic approaches. This overview briefly summarizes the basic principles of immunotherapy for cancer diseases.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and liver. It is considered a rare disease, but it is also significantly underdiagnosed. Given the availability of specific treatment, which involves the administration of purified alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) derived from human plasma in patients with COPD due to AATD, identifying these patients is crucial. We summarize the recently issued Italian recommendations for the diagnosis of AATD and place them in the context of Czech standards.

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) is a relatively new antibiotic with very good efficacy against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Unfortunately, strains resistant to this antimicrobial treatment are now beginning to emerge. The authors of the presented study developed and tested a new laboratory test for the rapid and accurate detection of these multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

In response to skin injury, bodily processes initiate to restore the function of the skin barrier, minimize fluid loss, and ensure optimal hydration. Studies have shown that wounds maintained in a moist or hyperhydrated environment heal faster than those left to dry in the air. Research further suggests that the harmful effects of exudate in poorly healing wounds are not due to the water itself, but to the biological components contained in the exudate.

At the XXIX Congress of the Czech Society of Internal Medicine ČLS JEP, held November 6−9, 2022 in Prague, lectures on innovative dyslipidemia therapy using the small interfering RNA molecule −⁠ inclisiran were presented at the Novartis company symposium.

An international team of authors published a systematic review addressing the relationship between the programmed cell death receptor ligand (PD-L1) and important clinical characteristics of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the significance of PD-L1 expression for NSCLC prognosis, and the potential use of this biomarker to predict the response of patients with advanced/metastatic NSCLC to therapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

Previous research has suggested an increased risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with warfarin. A recent analysis also identified a higher incidence of osteoporosis in patients treated with warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). However, less is known about the risk of this disease when using DOACs compared to warfarin. Therefore, Australian doctors compared its incidence in patients treated with different oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation (AF) in a population cohort study using data from a nationwide primary care database.

What efficacy and safety do insulin, metformin, or the sulfonylurea derivative glibenclamide (glyburide) offer in lowering glucose levels in women with gestational diabetes? The authors of a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials used a probabilistic model –⁠ a Bayesian network –⁠ to answer this question.