PubMed:
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
From Vaccine Skepticism to Institutional Distrust: The Post-Pandemic Shift.
Vaccines, 14(7):.
Background: Vaccine hesitancy has traditionally been understood as a multifactorial phenomenon shaped by individual beliefs, risk perceptions, and access barriers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the relationship between citizens, science, and public institutions, raising the question of whether vaccine hesitancy has evolved into a broader form of institutional distrust. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes evidence on vaccine confidence, trust dynamics, misinformation, and post-pandemic attitudes to propose a new conceptual framework, i.e., institutional hesitancy, that reframes vaccine acceptance within the wider context of institutional credibility, transparency, and legitimacy. Methods: We conducted a narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, surveillance reports, and cross-national surveys published between 2015 and 2026, focusing on trust in science, governments, public health agencies, healthcare systems, and regulatory authorities as determinants of vaccination behavior. Results: The evidence consistently demonstrates that institutional trust is among the strongest predictors of vaccine acceptance, often surpassing traditional demographic and knowledge-based variables. The pandemic exposed and amplified pre-existing fractures in the relationship between citizens and institutions, creating a legacy of institutional skepticism that extends beyond COVID-19 vaccines to routine immunization programs, seasonal vaccination campaigns, and future pandemic preparedness. Traditional information-based approaches, which assume that knowledge deficits drive hesitancy, have proven insufficient when trust is compromised. Instead, rebuilding vaccine confidence requires sustained investment in institutional transparency, community engagement, and accountable governance. Conclusions: The post-pandemic era calls for a fundamental reconceptualization of vaccine hesitancy. We propose the institutional hesitancy framework as a complementary lens that shifts the analytical focus from individual knowledge deficits to relational dynamics between citizens and institutions. Addressing this challenge requires moving beyond communication campaigns toward long-term strategies that restore institutional trust and strengthen the resilience of public health systems.
Additional Links: PMID-42506659
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42506659,
year = {2026},
author = {Maria, F and Branda, F and Ceccarelli, G and Scarpa, F and Ciccozzi, M and Russo, A},
title = {From Vaccine Skepticism to Institutional Distrust: The Post-Pandemic Shift.},
journal = {Vaccines},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42506659},
issn = {2076-393X},
abstract = {Background: Vaccine hesitancy has traditionally been understood as a multifactorial phenomenon shaped by individual beliefs, risk perceptions, and access barriers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed the relationship between citizens, science, and public institutions, raising the question of whether vaccine hesitancy has evolved into a broader form of institutional distrust. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes evidence on vaccine confidence, trust dynamics, misinformation, and post-pandemic attitudes to propose a new conceptual framework, i.e., institutional hesitancy, that reframes vaccine acceptance within the wider context of institutional credibility, transparency, and legitimacy. Methods: We conducted a narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, surveillance reports, and cross-national surveys published between 2015 and 2026, focusing on trust in science, governments, public health agencies, healthcare systems, and regulatory authorities as determinants of vaccination behavior. Results: The evidence consistently demonstrates that institutional trust is among the strongest predictors of vaccine acceptance, often surpassing traditional demographic and knowledge-based variables. The pandemic exposed and amplified pre-existing fractures in the relationship between citizens and institutions, creating a legacy of institutional skepticism that extends beyond COVID-19 vaccines to routine immunization programs, seasonal vaccination campaigns, and future pandemic preparedness. Traditional information-based approaches, which assume that knowledge deficits drive hesitancy, have proven insufficient when trust is compromised. Instead, rebuilding vaccine confidence requires sustained investment in institutional transparency, community engagement, and accountable governance. Conclusions: The post-pandemic era calls for a fundamental reconceptualization of vaccine hesitancy. We propose the institutional hesitancy framework as a complementary lens that shifts the analytical focus from individual knowledge deficits to relational dynamics between citizens and institutions. Addressing this challenge requires moving beyond communication campaigns toward long-term strategies that restore institutional trust and strengthen the resilience of public health systems.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
Beyond PrEP: The Imperative for an HIV Vaccine to End the Epidemic in Africa.
Vaccines, 14(7):.
The era of highly effective pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has transformed HIV prevention, yet global HIV incidence remains unacceptably high, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. While antiretroviral-based prevention is critical, persistent structural barriers to access and adherence highlight the urgent need for a complementary preventive HIV vaccine. In this narrative review and perspective, we argue that scientific progress toward an HIV vaccine must be matched by equally ambitious preparedness investments across three domains: manufacturing and supply chains, clinical trial and regulatory infrastructure, and delivery systems and community engagement. Drawing on lessons from the global rollout of PrEP, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and the COVID-19 pandemic response, we outline a five-pillar strategic roadmap. This roadmap focuses on ensuring that a future HIV vaccine reaches the people who need it most from the moment of regulatory authorization, calling for co-investment in diverse platforms, binding advance market commitments, logistical simulation, and proactive planning for post-licensure effectiveness trials. Preparedness is not secondary to science; it is its essential partner.
Additional Links: PMID-42506664
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42506664,
year = {2026},
author = {Ndembi, N and Folayan, MO and Pilorget, A and Ntinginya, NE and Mwesigwa, B and Crowell, TA and Mgodi, NM and Kim, JH},
title = {Beyond PrEP: The Imperative for an HIV Vaccine to End the Epidemic in Africa.},
journal = {Vaccines},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42506664},
issn = {2076-393X},
abstract = {The era of highly effective pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has transformed HIV prevention, yet global HIV incidence remains unacceptably high, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. While antiretroviral-based prevention is critical, persistent structural barriers to access and adherence highlight the urgent need for a complementary preventive HIV vaccine. In this narrative review and perspective, we argue that scientific progress toward an HIV vaccine must be matched by equally ambitious preparedness investments across three domains: manufacturing and supply chains, clinical trial and regulatory infrastructure, and delivery systems and community engagement. Drawing on lessons from the global rollout of PrEP, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and the COVID-19 pandemic response, we outline a five-pillar strategic roadmap. This roadmap focuses on ensuring that a future HIV vaccine reaches the people who need it most from the moment of regulatory authorization, calling for co-investment in diverse platforms, binding advance market commitments, logistical simulation, and proactive planning for post-licensure effectiveness trials. Preparedness is not secondary to science; it is its essential partner.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
The Evolution of Pharmacist Administered Vaccinations in Australia: A Narrative Review of Legislation and Regulatory Documents.
Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland), 14(4):.
Background: Since 2014, all Australian jurisdictions have progressively amended legislation to authorise pharmacists to administer vaccines, evolving from restricted pilots to an essential public health pillar. Objective: This review analyses the longitudinal evolution of pharmacist-administered vaccinations (PAVs), documenting changes in authorised vaccines, age eligibility, and regulatory frameworks across all Australian jurisdictions. Methods: A retrospective review of Australian jurisdictional legislation, regulations, and policy documents was undertaken. Searches included official legislative registers, Government Gazettes, Health Department protocols, and professional guidance published by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia between 2014 to 2026. Documents were independently reviewed by five authors, followed by secondary verification and consensus-based adjudication to resolve discrepancies and confirm findings. Results: PAVs scope was expanded from a single influenza pilot in 2014 to include over 21 vaccine-preventable diseases by 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed rapid reform, leading to the standardisation of age eligibility (largely ≥5 years). A landmark milestone occurred in 2025 when South Australia enabled pharmacists to administer any vaccine within their professional scope. Conclusion: Legislative reforms have significantly enhanced vaccine accessibility. However, jurisdictional fragmentation persists. National harmonisation, using a competency-based model similar to South Australia, is recommended to streamline delivery and optimise public health outcomes.
Additional Links: PMID-42506782
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42506782,
year = {2026},
author = {Amare, SN and Choon Yee, K and Leung, M and Naunton, M and Wilson, A and Rooney, A and Gannash, O and Bushell, M},
title = {The Evolution of Pharmacist Administered Vaccinations in Australia: A Narrative Review of Legislation and Regulatory Documents.},
journal = {Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {42506782},
issn = {2226-4787},
abstract = {Background: Since 2014, all Australian jurisdictions have progressively amended legislation to authorise pharmacists to administer vaccines, evolving from restricted pilots to an essential public health pillar. Objective: This review analyses the longitudinal evolution of pharmacist-administered vaccinations (PAVs), documenting changes in authorised vaccines, age eligibility, and regulatory frameworks across all Australian jurisdictions. Methods: A retrospective review of Australian jurisdictional legislation, regulations, and policy documents was undertaken. Searches included official legislative registers, Government Gazettes, Health Department protocols, and professional guidance published by Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and The Pharmacy Guild of Australia between 2014 to 2026. Documents were independently reviewed by five authors, followed by secondary verification and consensus-based adjudication to resolve discrepancies and confirm findings. Results: PAVs scope was expanded from a single influenza pilot in 2014 to include over 21 vaccine-preventable diseases by 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed rapid reform, leading to the standardisation of age eligibility (largely ≥5 years). A landmark milestone occurred in 2025 when South Australia enabled pharmacists to administer any vaccine within their professional scope. Conclusion: Legislative reforms have significantly enhanced vaccine accessibility. However, jurisdictional fragmentation persists. National harmonisation, using a competency-based model similar to South Australia, is recommended to streamline delivery and optimise public health outcomes.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
Pharmacy Students' Perception of E-Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the League of Arab States: A Regional Scoping Review.
Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland), 14(4):.
The COVID-19 pandemic compelled higher education to resort to e-learning, posing new challenges to the teaching/learning of pharmacy students worldwide. While digital learning provided flexibility, diverse technological infrastructure and institutional availability of resources greatly influenced the student experience. This scoping review aims to assess the perceptions relating to the pivot to e-learning among pharmacy students in the League of Arab States due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how the shift affected student engagement, learning outcomes, and institutional preparedness. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search across ten databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2020 and December 2025. Forty studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Pharmacy students in this region responded to the transition to e-learning in diverse ways. While most appreciated the convenience of online modalities, several challenges were consistently enumerated. These were limited technological infrastructure, reduced interpersonal interaction, and disruption of hands-on practical training. Blended learning approaches were largely favored, particularly for their ability to marry online theoretical instruction with face-to-face experiential learning. Reliability and validity issues of internet-based tests were felt by both faculty and students. Stress and mental health problems among students surfaced. Student complaints in general depicted pharmacy education's need for pedagogic reform, better infrastructure, and student mental health services during e-learning. Areas identified from this review are instructional technology infrastructure improvement, adopting a blended learning strategy, and the need to consider the mental health of students learning at a distance.
Additional Links: PMID-42506789
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42506789,
year = {2026},
author = {Malak, H and Mirza, M and Gambescia, SF and Aboul-Enein, BH},
title = {Pharmacy Students' Perception of E-Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the League of Arab States: A Regional Scoping Review.},
journal = {Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {42506789},
issn = {2226-4787},
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic compelled higher education to resort to e-learning, posing new challenges to the teaching/learning of pharmacy students worldwide. While digital learning provided flexibility, diverse technological infrastructure and institutional availability of resources greatly influenced the student experience. This scoping review aims to assess the perceptions relating to the pivot to e-learning among pharmacy students in the League of Arab States due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how the shift affected student engagement, learning outcomes, and institutional preparedness. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search across ten databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2020 and December 2025. Forty studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Pharmacy students in this region responded to the transition to e-learning in diverse ways. While most appreciated the convenience of online modalities, several challenges were consistently enumerated. These were limited technological infrastructure, reduced interpersonal interaction, and disruption of hands-on practical training. Blended learning approaches were largely favored, particularly for their ability to marry online theoretical instruction with face-to-face experiential learning. Reliability and validity issues of internet-based tests were felt by both faculty and students. Stress and mental health problems among students surfaced. Student complaints in general depicted pharmacy education's need for pedagogic reform, better infrastructure, and student mental health services during e-learning. Areas identified from this review are instructional technology infrastructure improvement, adopting a blended learning strategy, and the need to consider the mental health of students learning at a distance.},
}
RevDate: 2026-07-27
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
Human Bocavirus (HBoV): An update on current status and future prospects in Saudi Arabia.
The new microbiologica, 49(2):83-93.
Viral respiratory tract infections, particularly Human Bocavirus (HBoV) infections, are a significant global health concern. COVID-19 has provided a suitable platform for infectious diseases caused by multiple pathogens. This review highlights key aspects of the current status and future prospects of HBoV research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including global and local prevalence, clinical impact, and diagnostic challenges. It also emphasizes the need for future research, particularly in Saudi Arabia, to fill knowledge gaps, improve diagnosis, and design and develop future treatment and prevention strategies. HBoV was identified from a ten-year-old infected patient in Sweden from collected nasopharyngeal samples in 2005. It has been classified into four genotypes (1-4), and HBoV-1 causes respiratory infections requiring hospitalization. Co-infections with other viruses are well known, with the most common symptoms being pneumonia, cough, fever, and wheezing. Most studies on HBoV diagnosis have relied primarily on polymerase chain reaction techniques. Even though pediatric HBoV infections are common worldwide, due to limited HBoV research, there is a lack of awareness among healthcare providers, especially in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East & North Africa region. Expanding research and awareness on HBoV is urgently required to address the burden of respiratory infections in these regions, not only to explore long-term effects, potential treatments, and vaccine development, but also to use advanced diagnostic methods to analyze the changing epidemiology of respiratory pathogens and achieve effective infection control measures.
Additional Links: PMID-42507119
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42507119,
year = {2026},
author = {Algothmi, KM and Alwathinani, NF and Sohrab, SS and Azhar, EI},
title = {Human Bocavirus (HBoV): An update on current status and future prospects in Saudi Arabia.},
journal = {The new microbiologica},
volume = {49},
number = {2},
pages = {83-93},
pmid = {42507119},
issn = {1121-7138},
mesh = {Humans ; Saudi Arabia/epidemiology ; *Human bocavirus/genetics/isolation & purification/classification ; *Parvoviridae Infections/epidemiology/diagnosis/virology ; *Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology/virology/diagnosis ; Prevalence ; },
abstract = {Viral respiratory tract infections, particularly Human Bocavirus (HBoV) infections, are a significant global health concern. COVID-19 has provided a suitable platform for infectious diseases caused by multiple pathogens. This review highlights key aspects of the current status and future prospects of HBoV research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including global and local prevalence, clinical impact, and diagnostic challenges. It also emphasizes the need for future research, particularly in Saudi Arabia, to fill knowledge gaps, improve diagnosis, and design and develop future treatment and prevention strategies. HBoV was identified from a ten-year-old infected patient in Sweden from collected nasopharyngeal samples in 2005. It has been classified into four genotypes (1-4), and HBoV-1 causes respiratory infections requiring hospitalization. Co-infections with other viruses are well known, with the most common symptoms being pneumonia, cough, fever, and wheezing. Most studies on HBoV diagnosis have relied primarily on polymerase chain reaction techniques. Even though pediatric HBoV infections are common worldwide, due to limited HBoV research, there is a lack of awareness among healthcare providers, especially in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East & North Africa region. Expanding research and awareness on HBoV is urgently required to address the burden of respiratory infections in these regions, not only to explore long-term effects, potential treatments, and vaccine development, but also to use advanced diagnostic methods to analyze the changing epidemiology of respiratory pathogens and achieve effective infection control measures.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
*Human bocavirus/genetics/isolation & purification/classification
*Parvoviridae Infections/epidemiology/diagnosis/virology
*Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology/virology/diagnosis
Prevalence
RevDate: 2026-11-05
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
Effect of glucocorticoids on smell sensation in patients with non-traumatic olfactory disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
European journal of clinical pharmacology, 82(8):.
BACKGROUND: The efficacy of glucocorticoids (GCs) for treating non-traumatic olfactory disorders (ODs) remains controversial, with existing meta-analyses showing inconsistent results, largely due to variations in included studies and a lack of etiology-specific analysis.
METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022319449). We searched four databases up to December 2025 for studies assessing GCs therapy in adults with non-traumatic ODs. Efficacy was analyzed by etiology, with the primary outcome being the standardized mean difference (SMD) in objective or subjective olfactory score change.
RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included. GCs therapy significantly improved olfactory function in patients with COVID-19-related ODs (13 studies, 1538 patients, SMD = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27-0.79), nasal polyposis (9 studies, 2022 patients, SMD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39-0.72), and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (5 studies, 318 patients, SMD = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.18-1.59). No significant benefit was found for chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps (4 studies, 464 patients, SMD = 0.25, 95% CI: -0.03-0.53) or allergic rhinitis (3 studies, 240 patients, SMD = 0.50, 95% CI: -0.02-1.01). Significant heterogeneity was observed for the positive outcomes. Given the significant heterogeneity (I² > 50%), subgroup analyses were performed based on the method of olfactory assessment, treatment duration, formulation, and control group type.
CONCLUSION: The efficacy of GCs in olfactory dysfunction is probably etiology-dependent. They are most beneficial for ODs related to nasal polyps. For COVID-19-related ODs, short-term intranasal GCs may be effective, while evidence for allergic rhinitis remains inconclusive.
Additional Links: PMID-42507165
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42507165,
year = {2026},
author = {Salimi, S and Amiri, S and Karimi, SA and Babajani, MM and Rezaiemanesh, A},
title = {Effect of glucocorticoids on smell sensation in patients with non-traumatic olfactory disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {European journal of clinical pharmacology},
volume = {82},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {42507165},
issn = {1432-1041},
mesh = {Humans ; *Olfaction Disorders/drug therapy/etiology ; *Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use/pharmacology/administration & dosage ; Rhinosinusitis/drug therapy/complications ; COVID-19/complications ; *Smell/drug effects ; Nasal Polyps/complications/drug therapy ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The efficacy of glucocorticoids (GCs) for treating non-traumatic olfactory disorders (ODs) remains controversial, with existing meta-analyses showing inconsistent results, largely due to variations in included studies and a lack of etiology-specific analysis.
METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022319449). We searched four databases up to December 2025 for studies assessing GCs therapy in adults with non-traumatic ODs. Efficacy was analyzed by etiology, with the primary outcome being the standardized mean difference (SMD) in objective or subjective olfactory score change.
RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included. GCs therapy significantly improved olfactory function in patients with COVID-19-related ODs (13 studies, 1538 patients, SMD = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.27-0.79), nasal polyposis (9 studies, 2022 patients, SMD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39-0.72), and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (5 studies, 318 patients, SMD = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.18-1.59). No significant benefit was found for chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps (4 studies, 464 patients, SMD = 0.25, 95% CI: -0.03-0.53) or allergic rhinitis (3 studies, 240 patients, SMD = 0.50, 95% CI: -0.02-1.01). Significant heterogeneity was observed for the positive outcomes. Given the significant heterogeneity (I² > 50%), subgroup analyses were performed based on the method of olfactory assessment, treatment duration, formulation, and control group type.
CONCLUSION: The efficacy of GCs in olfactory dysfunction is probably etiology-dependent. They are most beneficial for ODs related to nasal polyps. For COVID-19-related ODs, short-term intranasal GCs may be effective, while evidence for allergic rhinitis remains inconclusive.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Olfaction Disorders/drug therapy/etiology
*Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use/pharmacology/administration & dosage
Rhinosinusitis/drug therapy/complications
COVID-19/complications
*Smell/drug effects
Nasal Polyps/complications/drug therapy
RevDate: 2026-09-29
CmpDate: 2026-09-25
Navigating the efficacy, safety and outcome of intranasal platelet-rich plasma for persistent olfactory loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 283(10):6225-6236.
BACKGROUND: Persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) poses a significant clinical challenge with limited therapeutic options. Intranasal platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous source of regenerative growth factors, presents a biologically plausible intervention, yet its efficacy across various OD etiologies remains synthetically underexplored.
METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (2010-2025) identified studies assessing intranasal PRP for persistent OD (> 6 months). Random-effects models pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) for objective (e.g., Sniffin' Sticks TDI) and subjective outcomes.
RESULTS: Seven studies (n = 473) were included. Meta-analysis of controlled studies (n = 314) demonstrated a moderate, significant improvement in objective olfactory scores favoring PRP over control (SMD 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.84). The pooled mean TDI change from baseline was 7.73 points (95% CI 6.59-8.87), exceeding the minimal clinically important difference of 5.5 points. Benefits were observed across post-COVID-19, post-viral, and post-traumatic etiologies. Adverse events were predominantly mild and transient (e.g., epistaxis).
CONCLUSION: Intranasal PRP appears to be a generally well-tolerated and promising therapeutic strategy, yielding clinically meaningful improvements in persistent OD of diverse origins. However, the evidence remains preliminary and should be interpreted cautiously, as it is based on only two small RCTs plus non-randomized or single-arm studies. Future studies must optimize its protocol and evaluate its potential synergy with standard therapies like olfactory training.
Additional Links: PMID-42507202
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42507202,
year = {2026},
author = {Barnawi, AB and Aseeri, IM and Alotaibi, AA and Alasmari, KAS and Alkholaiwi, F},
title = {Navigating the efficacy, safety and outcome of intranasal platelet-rich plasma for persistent olfactory loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery},
volume = {283},
number = {10},
pages = {6225-6236},
pmid = {42507202},
issn = {1434-4726},
support = {grant number IMSIU- DDRSP2601)//Deanship of Scientific Research, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Administration, Intranasal ; *Olfaction Disorders/therapy/etiology ; *Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Treatment Outcome ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Persistent olfactory dysfunction (OD) poses a significant clinical challenge with limited therapeutic options. Intranasal platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous source of regenerative growth factors, presents a biologically plausible intervention, yet its efficacy across various OD etiologies remains synthetically underexplored.
METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (2010-2025) identified studies assessing intranasal PRP for persistent OD (> 6 months). Random-effects models pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) for objective (e.g., Sniffin' Sticks TDI) and subjective outcomes.
RESULTS: Seven studies (n = 473) were included. Meta-analysis of controlled studies (n = 314) demonstrated a moderate, significant improvement in objective olfactory scores favoring PRP over control (SMD 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.84). The pooled mean TDI change from baseline was 7.73 points (95% CI 6.59-8.87), exceeding the minimal clinically important difference of 5.5 points. Benefits were observed across post-COVID-19, post-viral, and post-traumatic etiologies. Adverse events were predominantly mild and transient (e.g., epistaxis).
CONCLUSION: Intranasal PRP appears to be a generally well-tolerated and promising therapeutic strategy, yielding clinically meaningful improvements in persistent OD of diverse origins. However, the evidence remains preliminary and should be interpreted cautiously, as it is based on only two small RCTs plus non-randomized or single-arm studies. Future studies must optimize its protocol and evaluate its potential synergy with standard therapies like olfactory training.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Administration, Intranasal
*Olfaction Disorders/therapy/etiology
*Platelet-Rich Plasma
Treatment Outcome
RevDate: 2026-08-14
CmpDate: 2026-07-27
National Trends & Disparities in Ischemic Heart Disease & Cardiac Arrhythmias Related Mortality in the United States From 1999 to 2024: A CDC Wonder Analysis.
Clinical cardiology, 49(8):e70427.
BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias are major contributors to cardiovascular mortality in the United States. Understanding long-term national trends and demographic disparities is essential for guiding prevention strategies and public health policies.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database from 1999 to 2024. Deaths in which IHD and a cardiac arrhythmia were both recorded were identified using ICD-10 codes. Crude mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 population were calculated. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC). Mortality patterns were further stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, age group, geographic region, and urbanization status.
RESULTS: A total of 1 885 917 deaths were attributed to IHD and cardiac arrhythmias between 1999 and 2024. The overall AAMR declined from 41.97 in 1999 to 31.75 in 2024. Mortality decreased substantially from 1999 to 2009, stabilized through 2018, and increased sharply during 2018-2021 before declining again through 2024. The cumulative AAMR was 45.09 among males and 23.33 among females. Mortality varied across racial and ethnic groups, geographic regions, urbanization levels, and age groups.
CONCLUSION: Although overall mortality related to IHD and cardiac arrhythmias has declined over the past two decades, demographic and geographic differences persist. The temporary rise during 2018-2021 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic period and underscores the need for sustained prevention strategies and equitable healthcare access.
Additional Links: PMID-42507660
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42507660,
year = {2026},
author = {Murtaza, M and Rasool, MM and Ali, SME and Farhan, M and Ilyas, L and Raza, AA and Amjad, H and Kumar, S and Khan, Z and Tahir, S and Samadi, A},
title = {National Trends & Disparities in Ischemic Heart Disease & Cardiac Arrhythmias Related Mortality in the United States From 1999 to 2024: A CDC Wonder Analysis.},
journal = {Clinical cardiology},
volume = {49},
number = {8},
pages = {e70427},
pmid = {42507660},
issn = {1932-8737},
mesh = {Humans ; United States/epidemiology ; Female ; *Myocardial Ischemia/mortality/ethnology ; *Arrhythmias, Cardiac/mortality/ethnology ; Male ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. ; Age Distribution ; Risk Factors ; *Health Status Disparities ; Adult ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease and cardiac arrhythmias are major contributors to cardiovascular mortality in the United States. Understanding long-term national trends and demographic disparities is essential for guiding prevention strategies and public health policies.
METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database from 1999 to 2024. Deaths in which IHD and a cardiac arrhythmia were both recorded were identified using ICD-10 codes. Crude mortality rates and age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 population were calculated. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC). Mortality patterns were further stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, age group, geographic region, and urbanization status.
RESULTS: A total of 1 885 917 deaths were attributed to IHD and cardiac arrhythmias between 1999 and 2024. The overall AAMR declined from 41.97 in 1999 to 31.75 in 2024. Mortality decreased substantially from 1999 to 2009, stabilized through 2018, and increased sharply during 2018-2021 before declining again through 2024. The cumulative AAMR was 45.09 among males and 23.33 among females. Mortality varied across racial and ethnic groups, geographic regions, urbanization levels, and age groups.
CONCLUSION: Although overall mortality related to IHD and cardiac arrhythmias has declined over the past two decades, demographic and geographic differences persist. The temporary rise during 2018-2021 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic period and underscores the need for sustained prevention strategies and equitable healthcare access.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
United States/epidemiology
Female
*Myocardial Ischemia/mortality/ethnology
*Arrhythmias, Cardiac/mortality/ethnology
Male
Cross-Sectional Studies
Retrospective Studies
Aged
Middle Aged
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
Age Distribution
Risk Factors
*Health Status Disparities
Adult
RevDate: 2026-10-02
CmpDate: 2026-09-26
[Comprehensive cardiovascular prevention: the role of vaccination in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Expert consensus document].
Semergen, 52(7):102819.
INTRODUCTION: Respiratory and systemic infections can trigger cardiovascular events by increasing inflammation, atherosclerotic plaque instability, and a prothrombotic state. Given this situation, vaccination is a relevant preventive tool in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
OBJECTIVE: To review the available evidence on the impact of vaccination in patients with CVD and to propose recommendations to improve vaccination coverage in clinical practice.
CONTENT: This expert consensus, developed through a structured narrative review and panel discussion rounds, synthesizes the evidence on vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, COVID-19, and herpes zoster in patients with CVD. The influenza vaccine presents the strongest evidence for reducing cardiovascular events, especially after acute episodes and in high-risk patients. For vaccination against pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, RSV infection, and herpes zoster, although direct cardiovascular evidence is more limited, the reduction in infections and hospitalizations supports its recommendation for a comprehensive preventive approach.
CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination is part of a comprehensive cardiovascular prevention approach. Improved coverage, supported by shared pathways between cardiology and primary care, along with public health services, can result in fewer infectious complications, fewer cardiovascular decompensations, and better clinical outcomes.
Additional Links: PMID-42508371
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@article {pmid42508371,
year = {2026},
author = {Bonanad, C and Alfaro, R and Morán Bayón, Á and Cainzos-Achirica, M and García-Lledó, A and Raposeiras-Roubín, S and Vivas, D and Freixa-Pamias, R and Mora, J and Martín-Toro, MA and Fernández-Olmo, R and Maidana, D and Barreres-Martín, G and Barrios, V and Redondo, E},
title = {[Comprehensive cardiovascular prevention: the role of vaccination in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Expert consensus document].},
journal = {Semergen},
volume = {52},
number = {7},
pages = {102819},
doi = {10.1016/j.semerg.2026.102819},
pmid = {42508371},
issn = {1578-8865},
mesh = {Aged ; Humans ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control/etiology ; COVID-19/prevention & control ; Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage ; Influenza, Human/prevention & control ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention & control ; *Vaccination/methods ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Respiratory and systemic infections can trigger cardiovascular events by increasing inflammation, atherosclerotic plaque instability, and a prothrombotic state. Given this situation, vaccination is a relevant preventive tool in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
OBJECTIVE: To review the available evidence on the impact of vaccination in patients with CVD and to propose recommendations to improve vaccination coverage in clinical practice.
CONTENT: This expert consensus, developed through a structured narrative review and panel discussion rounds, synthesizes the evidence on vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, COVID-19, and herpes zoster in patients with CVD. The influenza vaccine presents the strongest evidence for reducing cardiovascular events, especially after acute episodes and in high-risk patients. For vaccination against pneumococcal disease, COVID-19, RSV infection, and herpes zoster, although direct cardiovascular evidence is more limited, the reduction in infections and hospitalizations supports its recommendation for a comprehensive preventive approach.
CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination is part of a comprehensive cardiovascular prevention approach. Improved coverage, supported by shared pathways between cardiology and primary care, along with public health services, can result in fewer infectious complications, fewer cardiovascular decompensations, and better clinical outcomes.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Aged
Humans
*Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control/etiology
COVID-19/prevention & control
Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
Influenza, Human/prevention & control
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention & control
*Vaccination/methods
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
The current landscape of mRNA therapy and the strategies for mRNA purification and dsRNA removal.
Journal of biomedical science, 33(1):.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has emerged as a cornerstone in vaccine development and therapeutic applications, offering key benefits such as high potency, rapid scalability, and cost-effectiveness. The success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines has underscored their efficacy and safety. However, residual byproducts generated during mRNA synthesis, such as unincorporated caps, nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), DNA templates, enzymes, abortive transcripts, and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), pose significant challenges to the clinical application of the RNA therapy. Among these, dsRNA is particularly problematic as it can activate various innate immune responses, suppress mRNA translation and potentially compromise the therapeutic efficacy of mRNA. Therefore, effectively removing dsRNA from in vitro synthesized mRNA is essential before its used in preclinical or clinical settings. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of current mRNA development pipelines and ongoing clinical trials, and recent advances in mRNA purification techniques. Specifically, we focus on strategies for dsRNA removal, which can be broadly categorized into two approaches: (1) separating or removing dsRNA from in vitro transcription (IVT) mRNA products using methods such as RP-HPLC chromatography and cellulose-based purification; and (2) minimizing dsRNA formation during IVT by employing engineered RNA polymerase mutants, chaotropic agents, and magnetic beads, as well as modifying/optimizing DNA templates or RNA molecules to reduce dsRNA generation. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of these purification methods, the factors influencing the selection of purification strategies, and explore potential future directions for improving dsRNA purification technologies and their applications in mRNA-based therapeutics.
Additional Links: PMID-42509561
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@article {pmid42509561,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, JH and Zang, J and Xu, JR and Ran, XB and Su, M and Zhang, WM and Ge, ZW and Sun, QY and Ding, LW},
title = {The current landscape of mRNA therapy and the strategies for mRNA purification and dsRNA removal.},
journal = {Journal of biomedical science},
volume = {33},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42509561},
issn = {1423-0127},
support = {MOH-OFIRG21nov-0007//the Singapore Ministry of Health's NMRC Open Fund-Individual Research Grant/ ; NUHSRO/2023/005/STARTUP/3//National University of Singapore startup grant/ ; },
mesh = {*RNA, Double-Stranded/isolation & purification ; Humans ; *RNA, Messenger/isolation & purification/therapeutic use ; *SARS-CoV-2/genetics ; },
abstract = {Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has emerged as a cornerstone in vaccine development and therapeutic applications, offering key benefits such as high potency, rapid scalability, and cost-effectiveness. The success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines has underscored their efficacy and safety. However, residual byproducts generated during mRNA synthesis, such as unincorporated caps, nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), DNA templates, enzymes, abortive transcripts, and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), pose significant challenges to the clinical application of the RNA therapy. Among these, dsRNA is particularly problematic as it can activate various innate immune responses, suppress mRNA translation and potentially compromise the therapeutic efficacy of mRNA. Therefore, effectively removing dsRNA from in vitro synthesized mRNA is essential before its used in preclinical or clinical settings. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of current mRNA development pipelines and ongoing clinical trials, and recent advances in mRNA purification techniques. Specifically, we focus on strategies for dsRNA removal, which can be broadly categorized into two approaches: (1) separating or removing dsRNA from in vitro transcription (IVT) mRNA products using methods such as RP-HPLC chromatography and cellulose-based purification; and (2) minimizing dsRNA formation during IVT by employing engineered RNA polymerase mutants, chaotropic agents, and magnetic beads, as well as modifying/optimizing DNA templates or RNA molecules to reduce dsRNA generation. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of these purification methods, the factors influencing the selection of purification strategies, and explore potential future directions for improving dsRNA purification technologies and their applications in mRNA-based therapeutics.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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*RNA, Double-Stranded/isolation & purification
Humans
*RNA, Messenger/isolation & purification/therapeutic use
*SARS-CoV-2/genetics
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
The Impact of Long COVID on the Female Reproductive System: A Narrative Review.
International journal of molecular sciences, 27(14):.
Long COVID affects multiple organ systems and disproportionately affects women, raising concerns about reproductive health. This updated narrative review summarizes evidence from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through March 2026 and extends previous reviews by distinguishing Long COVID-specific findings from acute and early post-infection observations and integrating newer evidence on ovarian reserve, follicular-fluid biology, assisted reproduction, and endometrial function. Reported menstrual changes include irregular cycles, heavy or prolonged bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, and amenorrhea. Evidence regarding ovarian reserve remains inconsistent: some studies reported lower anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and/or antral follicle count (AFC), whereas others found no significant changes. Case reports describe premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and possible autoimmune oophoritis but do not establish causality. Proposed mechanisms include immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis disturbance. Available evidence does not indicate adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination on ovarian reserve or fertility outcomes. Most studies suggest transient changes. Direct Long COVID-specific evidence for persistent ovarian or endometrial injury remains limited. However, short follow-up precludes conclusions regarding ovarian aging, menopausal timing, lifetime fertility, or long-term endometrial receptivity. Symptom-guided assessment may include menstrual tracking, AMH, early-follicular-phase follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, and pelvic ultrasonography when clinically indicated.
Additional Links: PMID-42511473
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@article {pmid42511473,
year = {2026},
author = {Starek, E and Żak, K and Ostrowska-Leśko, M and Bobiński, M},
title = {The Impact of Long COVID on the Female Reproductive System: A Narrative Review.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {42511473},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *COVID-19/complications/pathology/virology ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; Ovarian Reserve ; SARS-CoV-2 ; *Genitalia, Female ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone/metabolism ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/etiology ; },
abstract = {Long COVID affects multiple organ systems and disproportionately affects women, raising concerns about reproductive health. This updated narrative review summarizes evidence from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through March 2026 and extends previous reviews by distinguishing Long COVID-specific findings from acute and early post-infection observations and integrating newer evidence on ovarian reserve, follicular-fluid biology, assisted reproduction, and endometrial function. Reported menstrual changes include irregular cycles, heavy or prolonged bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, and amenorrhea. Evidence regarding ovarian reserve remains inconsistent: some studies reported lower anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and/or antral follicle count (AFC), whereas others found no significant changes. Case reports describe premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and possible autoimmune oophoritis but do not establish causality. Proposed mechanisms include immune dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis disturbance. Available evidence does not indicate adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination on ovarian reserve or fertility outcomes. Most studies suggest transient changes. Direct Long COVID-specific evidence for persistent ovarian or endometrial injury remains limited. However, short follow-up precludes conclusions regarding ovarian aging, menopausal timing, lifetime fertility, or long-term endometrial receptivity. Symptom-guided assessment may include menstrual tracking, AMH, early-follicular-phase follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, and pelvic ultrasonography when clinically indicated.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Female
*COVID-19/complications/pathology/virology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Ovarian Reserve
SARS-CoV-2
*Genitalia, Female
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/metabolism
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/etiology
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Mechanistic Interplay Between Multiple Myeloma and Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Therapeutic Promise of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.
Biomedicines, 14(7):.
Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) exhibit profound immune dysregulation, predisposing them to severe outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Current evidence highlights shared immunopathological mechanisms linking MM and COVID-19, with particular emphasis on the interleukin-6 (IL-6) axis as a shared amplifier of inflammation rather than the sole driver of disease. MM is characterized by a baseline pro-inflammatory milieu, in part mediated by IL-6, which is further amplified during SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in cytokine escalation, complement activation, coagulopathy, and multi-organ injury. This amplification operates within a broader, redundant network that also includes T-cell exhaustion, NK-cell dysfunction, checkpoint signaling, complement and endothelial injury, and treatment-induced immune defects. This overlap provides a mechanistic basis for the disproportionately high morbidity and mortality observed in this population. Even with advancements in vaccination, antiviral therapy, and clinical practice, patients with MM who exhibit impaired vaccine responses, active disease, or treatment-related immune dysfunction continue to experience considerable vulnerability to COVID-19. In addition, MM patients demonstrate suboptimal vaccine-induced immune responses, contributing to persistent vulnerability to severe and breakthrough infections. Modern MM therapies, including anti-CD38 antibodies, BCMA-directed agents, and bispecific T-cell redirecting antibodies, further reshape antiviral immunity by reducing NK cells, inducing plasma cell aplasia, causing hypogammaglobulinemia, and impairing T-cell function. Emerging treatment approaches targeting this shared pathway have been explored, with a focus on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs exhibit multimodal properties, including suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, restoration of immune homeostasis, inhibition of viral entry, and promotion of tissue repair and regeneration. Early clinical experience in severe COVID-19 populations suggests a favorable short-term safety profile; reported efficacy, however, derives from small, largely uncontrolled or early-phase studies, and the single randomized trial reporting a mortality benefit did so only in an exploratory post hoc subgroup, with its pre-specified primary endpoint not met. Overall, EVs constitute a biologically plausible but as yet unproven adjunctive strategy that warrants further investigation. Critically, no MM patient has ever been enrolled in an EV trial; current rationale for EV use in MM is therefore extrapolated entirely from non-MM populations, and no MM-specific data exist. Difficulties such as EV heterogeneity, manufacturing variability, uncertain pharmacokinetics, limited targeting efficiency, and potential prothrombotic effects must be resolved before their application in MM-specific clinical settings.
Additional Links: PMID-42512089
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42512089,
year = {2026},
author = {Leyfman, Y and Ikkurthy, N and Dohadwala, TK and Coloma, HS and Ghazal, J and Joshi, M and Cortiana, V and Pasnoor, DS and Menon, GP and Levi, N and Balasubramanian, M and Park, C},
title = {Mechanistic Interplay Between Multiple Myeloma and Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Therapeutic Promise of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.},
journal = {Biomedicines},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42512089},
issn = {2227-9059},
abstract = {Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) exhibit profound immune dysregulation, predisposing them to severe outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Current evidence highlights shared immunopathological mechanisms linking MM and COVID-19, with particular emphasis on the interleukin-6 (IL-6) axis as a shared amplifier of inflammation rather than the sole driver of disease. MM is characterized by a baseline pro-inflammatory milieu, in part mediated by IL-6, which is further amplified during SARS-CoV-2 infection, resulting in cytokine escalation, complement activation, coagulopathy, and multi-organ injury. This amplification operates within a broader, redundant network that also includes T-cell exhaustion, NK-cell dysfunction, checkpoint signaling, complement and endothelial injury, and treatment-induced immune defects. This overlap provides a mechanistic basis for the disproportionately high morbidity and mortality observed in this population. Even with advancements in vaccination, antiviral therapy, and clinical practice, patients with MM who exhibit impaired vaccine responses, active disease, or treatment-related immune dysfunction continue to experience considerable vulnerability to COVID-19. In addition, MM patients demonstrate suboptimal vaccine-induced immune responses, contributing to persistent vulnerability to severe and breakthrough infections. Modern MM therapies, including anti-CD38 antibodies, BCMA-directed agents, and bispecific T-cell redirecting antibodies, further reshape antiviral immunity by reducing NK cells, inducing plasma cell aplasia, causing hypogammaglobulinemia, and impairing T-cell function. Emerging treatment approaches targeting this shared pathway have been explored, with a focus on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs exhibit multimodal properties, including suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, restoration of immune homeostasis, inhibition of viral entry, and promotion of tissue repair and regeneration. Early clinical experience in severe COVID-19 populations suggests a favorable short-term safety profile; reported efficacy, however, derives from small, largely uncontrolled or early-phase studies, and the single randomized trial reporting a mortality benefit did so only in an exploratory post hoc subgroup, with its pre-specified primary endpoint not met. Overall, EVs constitute a biologically plausible but as yet unproven adjunctive strategy that warrants further investigation. Critically, no MM patient has ever been enrolled in an EV trial; current rationale for EV use in MM is therefore extrapolated entirely from non-MM populations, and no MM-specific data exist. Difficulties such as EV heterogeneity, manufacturing variability, uncertain pharmacokinetics, limited targeting efficiency, and potential prothrombotic effects must be resolved before their application in MM-specific clinical settings.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis: A Systematic Review.
Cancers, 18(14):.
Background/Objectives: The global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 severely impacted healthcare systems, particularly affecting cancer patients, including those with lung cancer. Understanding the pandemic's effects on lung cancer diagnosis is important for providing guidelines for future similar crises. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using the SCOPUS and PubMed databases, including keywords such as 'COVID-19 pandemic,' 'lung cancer,' 'diagnosis,' and 'screening.' In the initial screening phase, studies were selected based on their title and abstract, followed by the removal of duplicates. A second round of full-text screening was then performed using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Specific checklists were applied to ensure methodological quality. Results: Out of 564 articles, 78 met the inclusion criteria and were grouped according to changes in lung cancer incidence, screening and diagnostic procedures, and staging during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Multiple studies reported an average decline of 20% in newly diagnosed lung cancer cases, alongside significant decreases in screenings, follow-ups, and diagnostic procedures. In contrast, only two studies reported an increase in lung cancer incidence, and three studies reported increases in screening or diagnostic activity. Eight studies reported a shift toward more advanced-stage diagnoses and fewer early-stage detections, while four studies observed a decrease in advanced-stage lung cancer during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic years. Conclusions: Studies show that overall, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lung cancer diagnosis in many countries, highlighting the need for stronger healthcare systems that can support crisis response and equitable care.
Additional Links: PMID-42512304
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42512304,
year = {2026},
author = {Savva, A and Christodoulou, P and Michaeloudes, C and Farazi, PA},
title = {Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Cancers},
volume = {18},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {42512304},
issn = {2072-6694},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: The global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 severely impacted healthcare systems, particularly affecting cancer patients, including those with lung cancer. Understanding the pandemic's effects on lung cancer diagnosis is important for providing guidelines for future similar crises. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using the SCOPUS and PubMed databases, including keywords such as 'COVID-19 pandemic,' 'lung cancer,' 'diagnosis,' and 'screening.' In the initial screening phase, studies were selected based on their title and abstract, followed by the removal of duplicates. A second round of full-text screening was then performed using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Specific checklists were applied to ensure methodological quality. Results: Out of 564 articles, 78 met the inclusion criteria and were grouped according to changes in lung cancer incidence, screening and diagnostic procedures, and staging during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Multiple studies reported an average decline of 20% in newly diagnosed lung cancer cases, alongside significant decreases in screenings, follow-ups, and diagnostic procedures. In contrast, only two studies reported an increase in lung cancer incidence, and three studies reported increases in screening or diagnostic activity. Eight studies reported a shift toward more advanced-stage diagnoses and fewer early-stage detections, while four studies observed a decrease in advanced-stage lung cancer during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic years. Conclusions: Studies show that overall, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lung cancer diagnosis in many countries, highlighting the need for stronger healthcare systems that can support crisis response and equitable care.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Mapping TriNetX-Based Real-World Evidence Publications by Clinical Domain and Study Purpose, 2018-2025: A Bibliometric Analysis.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 14(14):.
Background/Objectives: Federated electronic health record networks are increasingly used for real-world evidence generation, but publication-use patterns for TriNetX remain incompletely characterized. This study mapped Web of Science-indexed articles that explicitly mentioned TriNetX and examined their distribution across clinical domains and study purposes. Methods: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection for articles published during 2018-2025 with "TriNetX" in the title, abstract, or author keywords. Bibliometric indicators, journal sources, citation impact, author-keyword co-occurrence, and trend topics were analyzed using R, bibliometrix, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer. A reproducible rule-based dictionary classified clinical domains and study purposes, and a supplementary Scopus analysis assessed pattern-level reproducibility. Results: The corpus included 1573 articles. Annual output increased from 1 article in 2018 to 871 in 2025. Corresponding-author output was concentrated in the United States and Taiwan. Highly cited studies were dominated by COVID-19 research. Keyword analyses suggested a shift from pandemic-related topics toward mortality, cardiometabolic disease, and medication-related outcomes. Domain-purpose mapping showed that risk/prognosis studies were most common, whereas effectiveness, health services, and method/validation studies were less frequent. Scopus validation reproduced the main annual, source-level, and domain-purpose patterns. Conclusions: TriNetX-based publications expanded rapidly and diversified across clinical fields. Domain-purpose mapping shows where research has concentrated and where it remains sparse; lower frequency, however, should not be read as a definitive clinical evidence gap, since some areas may be less suited to the platform. Where the network is well suited, future work could give greater attention to comparative effectiveness, long-term safety, care pathways, and phenotype validation.
Additional Links: PMID-42512659
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@article {pmid42512659,
year = {2026},
author = {Hsieh, MC and Lu, MC and Koo, M},
title = {Mapping TriNetX-Based Real-World Evidence Publications by Clinical Domain and Study Purpose, 2018-2025: A Bibliometric Analysis.},
journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {14},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {42512659},
issn = {2227-9032},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Federated electronic health record networks are increasingly used for real-world evidence generation, but publication-use patterns for TriNetX remain incompletely characterized. This study mapped Web of Science-indexed articles that explicitly mentioned TriNetX and examined their distribution across clinical domains and study purposes. Methods: We searched the Web of Science Core Collection for articles published during 2018-2025 with "TriNetX" in the title, abstract, or author keywords. Bibliometric indicators, journal sources, citation impact, author-keyword co-occurrence, and trend topics were analyzed using R, bibliometrix, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer. A reproducible rule-based dictionary classified clinical domains and study purposes, and a supplementary Scopus analysis assessed pattern-level reproducibility. Results: The corpus included 1573 articles. Annual output increased from 1 article in 2018 to 871 in 2025. Corresponding-author output was concentrated in the United States and Taiwan. Highly cited studies were dominated by COVID-19 research. Keyword analyses suggested a shift from pandemic-related topics toward mortality, cardiometabolic disease, and medication-related outcomes. Domain-purpose mapping showed that risk/prognosis studies were most common, whereas effectiveness, health services, and method/validation studies were less frequent. Scopus validation reproduced the main annual, source-level, and domain-purpose patterns. Conclusions: TriNetX-based publications expanded rapidly and diversified across clinical fields. Domain-purpose mapping shows where research has concentrated and where it remains sparse; lower frequency, however, should not be read as a definitive clinical evidence gap, since some areas may be less suited to the platform. Where the network is well suited, future work could give greater attention to comparative effectiveness, long-term safety, care pathways, and phenotype validation.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-24
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Occurring After ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 Vaccination Without Evidence of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report and Focused Narrative Review.
Journal of clinical medicine, 15(14):.
Background: Ischemic stroke has been reported rarely after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, most clearly in association with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Nevertheless, temporal proximity alone cannot establish causality, particularly when conventional vascular risk factors are present. We report a case of posterior circulation ischemic stroke occurring 36-48 h after first-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination without VITT and provide a focused narrative review of the clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence regarding post-vaccination stroke. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging data were reviewed retrospectively. A focused narrative literature review was performed to contextualize VITT-related and non-VITT ischemic stroke after COVID-19 vaccination, pharmacovigilance signals, population-based evidence, and proposed biological mechanisms. Results: A 63-year-old man with well-controlled hypertension and a remote history of smoking developed systemic symptoms within 24 h of first-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination, followed by severe hypertension and acute posterior circulation neurological symptoms 36-48 h after vaccination. Neuroimaging showed an acute left cerebellar infarct extending into the middle cerebellar peduncle, with approximately 50% stenosis of the intradural left vertebral artery. Platelet counts remained normal, D-dimer and anti-PF4 antibody testing were normal, SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was negative, and routine cardiac evaluation did not identify a definite cardioembolic source. Conclusions: This case highlights an early posterior circulation ischemic stroke temporally associated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination in the absence of VITT. Although individual causality cannot be established from a single case, careful reporting of such presentations may improve clinical recognition, etiological evaluation, and pharmacovigilance.
Additional Links: PMID-42513402
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42513402,
year = {2026},
author = {Bermejo-Pareja, F and Ramo-Tello, C and Benito-León, J},
title = {Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke Occurring After ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 Vaccination Without Evidence of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report and Focused Narrative Review.},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
volume = {15},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {42513402},
issn = {2077-0383},
support = {R01 NS039422/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; R01 NS094607/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {Background: Ischemic stroke has been reported rarely after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, most clearly in association with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Nevertheless, temporal proximity alone cannot establish causality, particularly when conventional vascular risk factors are present. We report a case of posterior circulation ischemic stroke occurring 36-48 h after first-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination without VITT and provide a focused narrative review of the clinical, epidemiological, and mechanistic evidence regarding post-vaccination stroke. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging data were reviewed retrospectively. A focused narrative literature review was performed to contextualize VITT-related and non-VITT ischemic stroke after COVID-19 vaccination, pharmacovigilance signals, population-based evidence, and proposed biological mechanisms. Results: A 63-year-old man with well-controlled hypertension and a remote history of smoking developed systemic symptoms within 24 h of first-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination, followed by severe hypertension and acute posterior circulation neurological symptoms 36-48 h after vaccination. Neuroimaging showed an acute left cerebellar infarct extending into the middle cerebellar peduncle, with approximately 50% stenosis of the intradural left vertebral artery. Platelet counts remained normal, D-dimer and anti-PF4 antibody testing were normal, SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was negative, and routine cardiac evaluation did not identify a definite cardioembolic source. Conclusions: This case highlights an early posterior circulation ischemic stroke temporally associated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination in the absence of VITT. Although individual causality cannot be established from a single case, careful reporting of such presentations may improve clinical recognition, etiological evaluation, and pharmacovigilance.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
The Burden of Long-COVID-19 Among Pediatric Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Journal of clinical medicine, 15(14):.
Background/Objectives: There is wide variability in the available estimates on the burden of Long-COVID (LC), both among adults and children. Preliminary evidence suggests that this inconsistency may be due, at least in part, to the adoption of uneven diagnostic criteria, proposed by several international entities during the course of the pandemic, but no comprehensive evaluation has been performed so far to quantify the extent of variation among children. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to update the available epidemiological estimates of LC among pediatric subjects, and to systematically appraise the degree of variability that can be attributed to the diagnostic criteria adopted. Methods: A systematic literature search identified cohort studies providing data on LC among children and adolescents with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. We computed (a) proportion and (b) head-to-head meta-analyses (a) to quantify the pooled rates of LC and LC-related symptoms, and (b) to assess the likelihood of developing LC based upon selected demographic and/or clinical characteristics, respectively. Results: In total, 52 cohort studies and 960,089 subjects were included. The pooled rate of LC was 18.1% (95% CI: 13.1-23.6), ranging from 16.2% to 21.6%, according to NIH or WHO diagnostic criteria, respectively. Fatigue, respiratory and neurological symptoms were most commonly reported by LC patients. Stratified analyses showed that females, adolescents (vs. children), subjects with comorbidities, and those with a previous severe COVID-19 (as compared to asymptomatic primary infections) were more likely to develop LC (all p < 0.05). In contrast, the likelihood of LC onset did not significantly vary between individuals with ≥1 anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose, versus the unvaccinated (pooled OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.61-1.41). Conclusions: Although the available estimates may largely vary depending on the adopted definition, LC affects a meaningful proportion of the pediatric population; as such, common clinical criteria and diagnostic approaches are urgently needed. Moreover, given the relevant methodological heterogeneity and the generally poor-to-fair quality of a large part of the available literature, high-quality studies adopting standardized methodologies are warranted to identify at-risk populations and guide the implementation of targeted follow-up strategies.
Additional Links: PMID-42513511
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@article {pmid42513511,
year = {2026},
author = {Cioni, G and Calo', GL and Kerpaci, B and Troia, A and Gregori, N and Manzoli, L and Flacco, ME},
title = {The Burden of Long-COVID-19 Among Pediatric Subjects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
volume = {15},
number = {14},
pages = {},
pmid = {42513511},
issn = {2077-0383},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: There is wide variability in the available estimates on the burden of Long-COVID (LC), both among adults and children. Preliminary evidence suggests that this inconsistency may be due, at least in part, to the adoption of uneven diagnostic criteria, proposed by several international entities during the course of the pandemic, but no comprehensive evaluation has been performed so far to quantify the extent of variation among children. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to update the available epidemiological estimates of LC among pediatric subjects, and to systematically appraise the degree of variability that can be attributed to the diagnostic criteria adopted. Methods: A systematic literature search identified cohort studies providing data on LC among children and adolescents with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. We computed (a) proportion and (b) head-to-head meta-analyses (a) to quantify the pooled rates of LC and LC-related symptoms, and (b) to assess the likelihood of developing LC based upon selected demographic and/or clinical characteristics, respectively. Results: In total, 52 cohort studies and 960,089 subjects were included. The pooled rate of LC was 18.1% (95% CI: 13.1-23.6), ranging from 16.2% to 21.6%, according to NIH or WHO diagnostic criteria, respectively. Fatigue, respiratory and neurological symptoms were most commonly reported by LC patients. Stratified analyses showed that females, adolescents (vs. children), subjects with comorbidities, and those with a previous severe COVID-19 (as compared to asymptomatic primary infections) were more likely to develop LC (all p < 0.05). In contrast, the likelihood of LC onset did not significantly vary between individuals with ≥1 anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose, versus the unvaccinated (pooled OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.61-1.41). Conclusions: Although the available estimates may largely vary depending on the adopted definition, LC affects a meaningful proportion of the pediatric population; as such, common clinical criteria and diagnostic approaches are urgently needed. Moreover, given the relevant methodological heterogeneity and the generally poor-to-fair quality of a large part of the available literature, high-quality studies adopting standardized methodologies are warranted to identify at-risk populations and guide the implementation of targeted follow-up strategies.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Environmental Disinfection in Long-Term Care Facilities-A Scoping Review.
Microorganisms, 14(7):.
Background: Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents are highly susceptible to healthcare-associated infections, and prevention is challenging given frailty, dementia, communal living, and resource constraints. Environmental surface and air contamination contribute to transmission. Novel no-touch automated disinfection technologies have been studied in hospitals, but evidence specific to LTCFs is scarce. This scoping review summarizes recent LTCF-focused interventions, their effectiveness, and implementation considerations. Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus for observational or experimental studies evaluating environmental disinfection in LTCFs/nursing homes, excluding body decolonization, non-LTCF settings, and reviews/protocols. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data via Covidence. This review has been registered on OSF (Open Science Framework). Results: Of 1491 records, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria (6 from the USA, 1 from Australia): one cluster randomized trial, one interrupted time series studies, three prospective observational studies, and two pre-post designs. Interventions included physical methods (HVAC-integrated UV/UVGI, continuous UVGI) and chemical approaches (dry hydrogen peroxide, room fogging plus chlorine dioxide wipes, hydrogen peroxide wipes). Outcomes were heterogeneous (surface SARS-CoV-2 RNA, COVID-19 attack/case rates, airborne/surface microbial loads, and one clinical endpoint-acute respiratory illness). Several studies reported reductions in environmental or airborne bioburden; however, UV-based studies did not demonstrate statistically significant reductions in clinical infections. Certainty was limited by small numbers, non-randomized designs, and diverse outcome measures. Conclusions: No-touch automated disinfection methods appear promising as supplements to standard infection prevention control bundles for reducing environmental contamination in LTCFs. Nevertheless, consistent clinical benefits are unproven. Rigorous, LTCF-tailored, adequately powered trials with standardized clinical and environmental outcomes, plus implementation and cost-effectiveness evaluations, are needed.
Additional Links: PMID-42513914
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42513914,
year = {2026},
author = {He, Y and Lo, WS and Yuen, PL and Ching, PTY and Sze, EPT and Kwok, KO and Ip, M and Lai, CKC},
title = {Environmental Disinfection in Long-Term Care Facilities-A Scoping Review.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42513914},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Background: Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents are highly susceptible to healthcare-associated infections, and prevention is challenging given frailty, dementia, communal living, and resource constraints. Environmental surface and air contamination contribute to transmission. Novel no-touch automated disinfection technologies have been studied in hospitals, but evidence specific to LTCFs is scarce. This scoping review summarizes recent LTCF-focused interventions, their effectiveness, and implementation considerations. Methods: This scoping review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus for observational or experimental studies evaluating environmental disinfection in LTCFs/nursing homes, excluding body decolonization, non-LTCF settings, and reviews/protocols. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data via Covidence. This review has been registered on OSF (Open Science Framework). Results: Of 1491 records, 7 studies met the inclusion criteria (6 from the USA, 1 from Australia): one cluster randomized trial, one interrupted time series studies, three prospective observational studies, and two pre-post designs. Interventions included physical methods (HVAC-integrated UV/UVGI, continuous UVGI) and chemical approaches (dry hydrogen peroxide, room fogging plus chlorine dioxide wipes, hydrogen peroxide wipes). Outcomes were heterogeneous (surface SARS-CoV-2 RNA, COVID-19 attack/case rates, airborne/surface microbial loads, and one clinical endpoint-acute respiratory illness). Several studies reported reductions in environmental or airborne bioburden; however, UV-based studies did not demonstrate statistically significant reductions in clinical infections. Certainty was limited by small numbers, non-randomized designs, and diverse outcome measures. Conclusions: No-touch automated disinfection methods appear promising as supplements to standard infection prevention control bundles for reducing environmental contamination in LTCFs. Nevertheless, consistent clinical benefits are unproven. Rigorous, LTCF-tailored, adequately powered trials with standardized clinical and environmental outcomes, plus implementation and cost-effectiveness evaluations, are needed.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
The Gut-Lung Microbiome Axis in Alveolar Stem Cell Regeneration and Lung Repair.
Microorganisms, 14(7):.
The mammalian respiratory system stands as a frontline barrier, constantly exposed to environmental insults, balancing defensive immunity with gas exchange. Historically considered sterile, the lung harbors a dynamic, low-biomass microbiome that evolves continuously in response to pulmonary pathologies. Accumulating evidence underscores that respiratory health and structural recovery are not autonomous but are critically integrated with distal microbial systems, especially the intestinal tract, through the gut-lung axis (GLA). This review characterizes the GLA as a bidirectional communication highway fueled by immune pathways, microbial metabolites, and direct microbial translocations. During acute or chronic injuries, such as COVID-19, COPD, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer, the gut microbiota serves as a remote metabolic "rheostat". It delivers pivotal signaling molecules, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tryptophan metabolites (indoles), that could shape the local microenvironment in which the respiratory epithelium undergoes functional repair or maladaptive, fibrotic remodeling. Mechanistically, gut-derived butyrate enhances mitochondrial activity in alveolar epithelial cells, while resident progenitors, such as Alveolar Type 2 (AT2) cells, depend on intact mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation for proper regenerative differentiation. Conversely, critical lung illness disrupts this homeostasis via a "pathological circuit," where severe pulmonary inflammation drives gut permeability, fecal dysbiosis, and the subsequent translocation of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs, such as LPS) or gut-associated bacteria back into the pulmonary circulation. This review highlights the systemic nature of lung regeneration, which likely depends heavily on intestinal health through the GLA. Ultimately, leveraging these remote microbial networks through precision postbiotic supplementation, dietary priming, or microbiota transplantation represents a crucial frontier in precision medicine to promote definitive alveolar repair.
Additional Links: PMID-42514077
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42514077,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, A and Ran, D and Shen, Z and Rojba, M and Zhang, J},
title = {The Gut-Lung Microbiome Axis in Alveolar Stem Cell Regeneration and Lung Repair.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42514077},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {The mammalian respiratory system stands as a frontline barrier, constantly exposed to environmental insults, balancing defensive immunity with gas exchange. Historically considered sterile, the lung harbors a dynamic, low-biomass microbiome that evolves continuously in response to pulmonary pathologies. Accumulating evidence underscores that respiratory health and structural recovery are not autonomous but are critically integrated with distal microbial systems, especially the intestinal tract, through the gut-lung axis (GLA). This review characterizes the GLA as a bidirectional communication highway fueled by immune pathways, microbial metabolites, and direct microbial translocations. During acute or chronic injuries, such as COVID-19, COPD, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and lung cancer, the gut microbiota serves as a remote metabolic "rheostat". It delivers pivotal signaling molecules, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and tryptophan metabolites (indoles), that could shape the local microenvironment in which the respiratory epithelium undergoes functional repair or maladaptive, fibrotic remodeling. Mechanistically, gut-derived butyrate enhances mitochondrial activity in alveolar epithelial cells, while resident progenitors, such as Alveolar Type 2 (AT2) cells, depend on intact mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation for proper regenerative differentiation. Conversely, critical lung illness disrupts this homeostasis via a "pathological circuit," where severe pulmonary inflammation drives gut permeability, fecal dysbiosis, and the subsequent translocation of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs, such as LPS) or gut-associated bacteria back into the pulmonary circulation. This review highlights the systemic nature of lung regeneration, which likely depends heavily on intestinal health through the GLA. Ultimately, leveraging these remote microbial networks through precision postbiotic supplementation, dietary priming, or microbiota transplantation represents a crucial frontier in precision medicine to promote definitive alveolar repair.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Wastewater Metagenomics for Antimicrobial Resistance and Pathogen Surveillance: A Bibliometric Analysis.
Microorganisms, 14(7):.
Wastewater systems are critical reservoirs where antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and pathogens converge and disseminate into receiving waters, posing risks to ecosystems and public health. Metagenomics enables culture-independent surveillance of resistome and pathogens in wastewater. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid expansion of wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance, together with growing emphasis on the One Health framework, has further promoted the integration of wastewater metagenomic monitoring with public-health surveillance strategies. However, no bibliometric study has systematically mapped the global research landscape at the intersection of metagenomics, wastewater systems, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogen surveillance. This study retrieved 1161 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection and used CiteSpace to conduct bibliometric analyses. From 2010 to 2025, annual publications increased from 1 to 219, with 72.7% of the total output concentrated between 2021 and 2025. China led in publication output but showed low betweenness centrality, whereas Australia and Sweden served as key intermediaries. Keyword analysis revealed a gradual thematic evolution from the basic detection of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge, through studies of dissemination mechanisms, to recent work on One Health and wastewater surveillance. Literature co-citation analysis showed that integration between environmental monitoring and public health literature remains limited, suggesting that the translation of metagenomic surveillance data into health risk assessment frameworks is still at an early stage. By mapping the field's knowledge structure and gaps, this review highlights priorities for advancing wastewater-based Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance, including standardizing analytical methods, developing artificial intelligence-assisted resistome analysis, promoting equitable participation from underrepresented regions, and operationalizing One Health surveillance, thereby supporting the translation of wastewater monitoring into actionable public-health solutions.
Additional Links: PMID-42514086
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42514086,
year = {2026},
author = {Zheng, Y and Ma, N and Zhao, B and Li, Y and Tian, Y and Liu, J and Quan, Y},
title = {Wastewater Metagenomics for Antimicrobial Resistance and Pathogen Surveillance: A Bibliometric Analysis.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42514086},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {YDZJ202601ZYTS183//Jilin Province Science and Technology Department/ ; },
abstract = {Wastewater systems are critical reservoirs where antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and pathogens converge and disseminate into receiving waters, posing risks to ecosystems and public health. Metagenomics enables culture-independent surveillance of resistome and pathogens in wastewater. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid expansion of wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance, together with growing emphasis on the One Health framework, has further promoted the integration of wastewater metagenomic monitoring with public-health surveillance strategies. However, no bibliometric study has systematically mapped the global research landscape at the intersection of metagenomics, wastewater systems, antimicrobial resistance, and pathogen surveillance. This study retrieved 1161 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection and used CiteSpace to conduct bibliometric analyses. From 2010 to 2025, annual publications increased from 1 to 219, with 72.7% of the total output concentrated between 2021 and 2025. China led in publication output but showed low betweenness centrality, whereas Australia and Sweden served as key intermediaries. Keyword analysis revealed a gradual thematic evolution from the basic detection of antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge, through studies of dissemination mechanisms, to recent work on One Health and wastewater surveillance. Literature co-citation analysis showed that integration between environmental monitoring and public health literature remains limited, suggesting that the translation of metagenomic surveillance data into health risk assessment frameworks is still at an early stage. By mapping the field's knowledge structure and gaps, this review highlights priorities for advancing wastewater-based Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance, including standardizing analytical methods, developing artificial intelligence-assisted resistome analysis, promoting equitable participation from underrepresented regions, and operationalizing One Health surveillance, thereby supporting the translation of wastewater monitoring into actionable public-health solutions.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
New-Onset Myasthenia Gravis Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review.
Life (Basel, Switzerland), 16(7):.
This systematic literature review synthesizes available data from published case reports and case studies describing de novo myasthenia gravis (MG) following confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on clinical presentation, immunological characteristics, temporal relationship, management, and outcomes. The study addresses the following research question: What are the clinical, immunological, temporal, and outcome characteristics of de novo MG following SARS-CoV-2 infection based on published case reports and case studies? Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the analysis included 44 studies describing 48 patients. The findings suggest that MG temporally associated with COVID-19 typically occurred within a relatively short latency period, with a median interval of 21 days. Most patients presented with generalized onset and were predominantly positive for AChR-Abs, consistent with the established clinical and serological profile of classical MG, in which AChR-Abs represent the most common subtype, particularly in generalized disease. MuSK and LRP4-positive cases were less frequent; ICU admission, myasthenic crisis, and respiratory failure were frequently reported. Importantly, most patients responded well to conventional MG therapies.
Additional Links: PMID-42514170
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42514170,
year = {2026},
author = {Călinoiu, AL and Mincă, A and Popescu, CC and Vodă, IM and Cristea, AM and Mincă, DI},
title = {New-Onset Myasthenia Gravis Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42514170},
issn = {2075-1729},
abstract = {This systematic literature review synthesizes available data from published case reports and case studies describing de novo myasthenia gravis (MG) following confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on clinical presentation, immunological characteristics, temporal relationship, management, and outcomes. The study addresses the following research question: What are the clinical, immunological, temporal, and outcome characteristics of de novo MG following SARS-CoV-2 infection based on published case reports and case studies? Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the analysis included 44 studies describing 48 patients. The findings suggest that MG temporally associated with COVID-19 typically occurred within a relatively short latency period, with a median interval of 21 days. Most patients presented with generalized onset and were predominantly positive for AChR-Abs, consistent with the established clinical and serological profile of classical MG, in which AChR-Abs represent the most common subtype, particularly in generalized disease. MuSK and LRP4-positive cases were less frequent; ICU admission, myasthenic crisis, and respiratory failure were frequently reported. Importantly, most patients responded well to conventional MG therapies.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Folic Acid and Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19.
Life (Basel, Switzerland), 16(7):.
Since 2020, recurrent waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection have persisted globally. Despite the advancements in vaccines and pharmacological treatments, a subset of patients still exhibits an aggressive form of COVID-19 requiring prolonged stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) or experiences major acute infections (or reinfections) and long-term symptoms. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the key events contributing to both the severity of acute COVID-19 and the development of long COVID (LC)/post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) syndrome. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the efficacy of nutraceuticals, particularly essential micronutrients, has been investigated as a complementary treatment to prevent disease onset and improve clinical outcomes. One such bioactive molecule is folate (vitamin B9), a member of the B-vitamin family involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including viral infections and vascular disorders. This review examines the role of folic acid in COVID-19 and its interaction with homocysteine metabolism, which is frequently dysregulated in inflammatory endothelial diseases. It further discusses the potential benefits of folic acid supplementation for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in both the acute and long-term phases of the disease, alongside the therapeutic role of vitamin B12 supplementation in LC syndrome.
Additional Links: PMID-42514186
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42514186,
year = {2026},
author = {Massip Copiz, MM},
title = {Folic Acid and Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19.},
journal = {Life (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42514186},
issn = {2075-1729},
abstract = {Since 2020, recurrent waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection have persisted globally. Despite the advancements in vaccines and pharmacological treatments, a subset of patients still exhibits an aggressive form of COVID-19 requiring prolonged stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) or experiences major acute infections (or reinfections) and long-term symptoms. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the key events contributing to both the severity of acute COVID-19 and the development of long COVID (LC)/post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) syndrome. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the efficacy of nutraceuticals, particularly essential micronutrients, has been investigated as a complementary treatment to prevent disease onset and improve clinical outcomes. One such bioactive molecule is folate (vitamin B9), a member of the B-vitamin family involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including viral infections and vascular disorders. This review examines the role of folic acid in COVID-19 and its interaction with homocysteine metabolism, which is frequently dysregulated in inflammatory endothelial diseases. It further discusses the potential benefits of folic acid supplementation for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in both the acute and long-term phases of the disease, alongside the therapeutic role of vitamin B12 supplementation in LC syndrome.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Dual Functions of Polyamines in Shaping Host-Specific Pathogen Dynamics.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 15(7):.
Polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine play essential roles in most living organisms. They regulate fundamental processes, like cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, gene expression (DNA/RNA stability, transcription, and translation), and signal transduction. As important regulators, polyamines influence development, stress responses, and the progression of health and disease, including cancer and aging. These positively charged molecules have been extensively studied for decades. In humans, polyamines are often researched as potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as malaria and, more recently, COVID-19. Obligate parasites, such as Plasmodium falciparum, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rely on host cellular machinery for survival, replication, and growth. Notably, both hosts and pathogens need polyamines to sustain these processes. This review summarizes current advances in understanding the roles of polyamines in humans, viruses, and obligate parasites. It also explores strategies to prevent pathogens from hijacking host polyamine metabolism as a way toward developing novel therapeutic interventions.
Additional Links: PMID-42515022
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515022,
year = {2026},
author = {Makhoba, XH},
title = {Dual Functions of Polyamines in Shaping Host-Specific Pathogen Dynamics.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515022},
issn = {2076-0817},
mesh = {Humans ; *Polyamines/metabolism ; COVID-19/metabolism/virology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *SARS-CoV-2/physiology ; Animals ; Spermine/metabolism ; Plasmodium falciparum/metabolism ; Spermidine/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine play essential roles in most living organisms. They regulate fundamental processes, like cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, gene expression (DNA/RNA stability, transcription, and translation), and signal transduction. As important regulators, polyamines influence development, stress responses, and the progression of health and disease, including cancer and aging. These positively charged molecules have been extensively studied for decades. In humans, polyamines are often researched as potential therapeutic targets for diseases such as malaria and, more recently, COVID-19. Obligate parasites, such as Plasmodium falciparum, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rely on host cellular machinery for survival, replication, and growth. Notably, both hosts and pathogens need polyamines to sustain these processes. This review summarizes current advances in understanding the roles of polyamines in humans, viruses, and obligate parasites. It also explores strategies to prevent pathogens from hijacking host polyamine metabolism as a way toward developing novel therapeutic interventions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Polyamines/metabolism
COVID-19/metabolism/virology
*Host-Pathogen Interactions
*SARS-CoV-2/physiology
Animals
Spermine/metabolism
Plasmodium falciparum/metabolism
Spermidine/metabolism
RevDate: 2026-08-20
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Hiding in Plain Sight: HIV-1 Membraneless Organelles as Nuclear Hubs-Host Hijacking, Replication, Immune Evasion, and Drug-Access Implications.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 15(7):.
Theories on the early steps of the HIV-1 life cycle have been radically revised over the past five years. The long-held assumption that the capsid fully disassembles in the cytoplasm has given way to a more nuanced view: Cytoplasmic disassembly does occur and, in several myeloid systems, is increasingly linked to cytosolic cDNA sensing and to abortive infection. However, a substantial fraction of intact or nearly intact capsid cores instead traverse the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and, upon interacting with the host factor CPSF6, induce liquid-liquid phase separation. This leads to the formation of biomolecular condensates, termed HIV-1 membraneless organelles (HIV-1-MLOs), which subsequently merge with nuclear speckles (NSs). In this Perspective we read these condensates along five interlocking axes. First, the virus drives the host phase separation of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 6 (CPSF6), which quickly fuses with another MLO: the NS composed of the speckle scaffold factors, SON and SRRM2. Second, the resulting condensate behaves as a catalytic site that concentrates the reverse-transcription machinery and thereby promotes integration of the viral DNA into speckle-associated chromatin (SPADs). Third, the same compartment is the final layer of a stratified programme of innate immune evasion, shielding nascent double-stranded DNA from cGAS-STING after cytoplasmic restriction factors and sensors have been outmanoeuvred. Fourth, although demonstrated only in vitro, stable HIV-1-MLOs can maintain the viral RNA genome in the presence of a reverse-transcription inhibitor. Upon removal of the inhibitor, reverse transcription resumes, mirroring, to some extent, the situation in individuals undergoing interruption of antiretroviral therapy and suggesting that these structures may act as a pre-integration reservoir. Fifth, and still largely unexplored, the sanctuary has a pharmacological dimension: anatomical lymphoid compartments, and possibly the condensate itself through selective small-molecule partitioning, may limit antiretroviral drug access. We situate HIV-1-MLOs within the convergent condensate strategies of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, and we discuss the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccine implications, including capsid inhibitors as "block-and-expose" tools.
Additional Links: PMID-42515093
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515093,
year = {2026},
author = {Broccolo, F and Sannino, A and Pollini, M and Paladini, F and Mourer, T and Di Nunzio, F},
title = {Hiding in Plain Sight: HIV-1 Membraneless Organelles as Nuclear Hubs-Host Hijacking, Replication, Immune Evasion, and Drug-Access Implications.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515093},
issn = {2076-0817},
support = {//Institut Pasteur/ ; //PTR-Carnot/ ; B53C20040570005//Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan & European Union/ ; CODSOG S5.P0005//Tackling Influenza Viruses by Optimized Hemagglutinin (HA) and/or Neuraminidase (NA) Inhibitors/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *HIV-1/physiology/drug effects/immunology ; *Immune Evasion ; *Virus Replication ; *HIV Infections/virology/drug therapy/immunology ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Organelles/virology/metabolism ; mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors/metabolism ; Cell Nucleus/virology/metabolism ; cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway ; },
abstract = {Theories on the early steps of the HIV-1 life cycle have been radically revised over the past five years. The long-held assumption that the capsid fully disassembles in the cytoplasm has given way to a more nuanced view: Cytoplasmic disassembly does occur and, in several myeloid systems, is increasingly linked to cytosolic cDNA sensing and to abortive infection. However, a substantial fraction of intact or nearly intact capsid cores instead traverse the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and, upon interacting with the host factor CPSF6, induce liquid-liquid phase separation. This leads to the formation of biomolecular condensates, termed HIV-1 membraneless organelles (HIV-1-MLOs), which subsequently merge with nuclear speckles (NSs). In this Perspective we read these condensates along five interlocking axes. First, the virus drives the host phase separation of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 6 (CPSF6), which quickly fuses with another MLO: the NS composed of the speckle scaffold factors, SON and SRRM2. Second, the resulting condensate behaves as a catalytic site that concentrates the reverse-transcription machinery and thereby promotes integration of the viral DNA into speckle-associated chromatin (SPADs). Third, the same compartment is the final layer of a stratified programme of innate immune evasion, shielding nascent double-stranded DNA from cGAS-STING after cytoplasmic restriction factors and sensors have been outmanoeuvred. Fourth, although demonstrated only in vitro, stable HIV-1-MLOs can maintain the viral RNA genome in the presence of a reverse-transcription inhibitor. Upon removal of the inhibitor, reverse transcription resumes, mirroring, to some extent, the situation in individuals undergoing interruption of antiretroviral therapy and suggesting that these structures may act as a pre-integration reservoir. Fifth, and still largely unexplored, the sanctuary has a pharmacological dimension: anatomical lymphoid compartments, and possibly the condensate itself through selective small-molecule partitioning, may limit antiretroviral drug access. We situate HIV-1-MLOs within the convergent condensate strategies of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, and we discuss the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and vaccine implications, including capsid inhibitors as "block-and-expose" tools.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*HIV-1/physiology/drug effects/immunology
*Immune Evasion
*Virus Replication
*HIV Infections/virology/drug therapy/immunology
*Host-Pathogen Interactions
*Organelles/virology/metabolism
mRNA Cleavage and Polyadenylation Factors/metabolism
Cell Nucleus/virology/metabolism
cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
A Comprehensive Review of Coronavirus Non-Structure Protein 6 on Structure, Functions, Mechanisms and Its Implications for Antiviral Research.
Viruses, 18(7):.
Coronaviruses encode a variety of non-structural proteins (NSPs) that collectively mediate viral genome replication, transcription and remodeling of the host cellular microenvironment. As a highly conserved transmembrane protein, non-structural protein 6 (NSP6) predominantly localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Through interactions with other viral proteins and host factors, NSP6 participates in multiple pivotal processes, including the formation and stabilization of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs), reprogramming of lipid metabolism, blockade of autophagic flux, and evasion of innate immunity. Recent advances in structural biology and research on virus-host interactions have further elucidated the essential roles of NSP6 throughout the viral life cycle. Mutations in NSP6 are closely associated with viral adaptability, transmissibility and pathogenicity. Herein, we comprehensively review the latest advances on the molecular structure, biological functions and mutation hotspots of coronavirus NSP6, as well as its implications for antiviral research. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for further dissecting the pathogenic mechanisms of coronaviruses and developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.
Additional Links: PMID-42515573
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515573,
year = {2026},
author = {Yu, Y and He, W and Geng, X and He, Y and Feng, H and Chen, J and Shu, J},
title = {A Comprehensive Review of Coronavirus Non-Structure Protein 6 on Structure, Functions, Mechanisms and Its Implications for Antiviral Research.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515573},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {2025C01138//Pioneer/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Viral Nonstructural Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; *Coronavirus/genetics/drug effects/physiology/metabolism ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology ; Animals ; Virus Replication ; Immunity, Innate ; Mutation ; Autophagy ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism ; Coronavirus Infections/virology/drug therapy ; },
abstract = {Coronaviruses encode a variety of non-structural proteins (NSPs) that collectively mediate viral genome replication, transcription and remodeling of the host cellular microenvironment. As a highly conserved transmembrane protein, non-structural protein 6 (NSP6) predominantly localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Through interactions with other viral proteins and host factors, NSP6 participates in multiple pivotal processes, including the formation and stabilization of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs), reprogramming of lipid metabolism, blockade of autophagic flux, and evasion of innate immunity. Recent advances in structural biology and research on virus-host interactions have further elucidated the essential roles of NSP6 throughout the viral life cycle. Mutations in NSP6 are closely associated with viral adaptability, transmissibility and pathogenicity. Herein, we comprehensively review the latest advances on the molecular structure, biological functions and mutation hotspots of coronavirus NSP6, as well as its implications for antiviral research. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for further dissecting the pathogenic mechanisms of coronaviruses and developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Viral Nonstructural Proteins/chemistry/genetics/metabolism
*Coronavirus/genetics/drug effects/physiology/metabolism
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
Animals
Virus Replication
Immunity, Innate
Mutation
Autophagy
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism
Coronavirus Infections/virology/drug therapy
RevDate: 2026-08-20
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Detectability of Pathogenic RNA Virus Families in Different Body Sites: A Scoping Review.
Viruses, 18(7):.
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are central to modern virology diagnostics. However, evidence supporting alternative specimen types remains uneven across viral families, especially for emerging viruses. This limits diagnostic flexibility in outbreak and clinically complex settings. We conducted a scoping review of NAAT detectability across key body sites for human RNA viruses. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies reporting NAAT results from urine, blood, fecal, cerebrospinal fluid, or respiratory specimens. Data were independently screened and synthesized to summarize specimen-specific detectability for each virus. From 8676 screened records, 321 studies were included, covering 39 viruses across 25 RNA virus families. Detectability across specimen types varied substantially between viruses. Consistent detection across multiple specimens was observed for few viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, and HIV, whereas many emerging viruses were evaluated in a single body compartment with limited comparative data. NAAT performance across specimen types is highly virus-specific and unevenly studied, with reliance on blood or respiratory specimens, potentially overlooking viable, less invasive alternatives. Evidence gaps are particularly pronounced for urine and cerebrospinal fluid, and heterogeneous reporting limits cross-study comparability. Standardized, cross-specimen and longitudinal studies are needed to improve diagnostic strategies, outbreak preparedness, and future assay development.
Additional Links: PMID-42515595
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515595,
year = {2026},
author = {Ilsby, CS and Kristensen, TL and Bagge, K and Bukh, J and Lisby, JG and Schneider, UV},
title = {Detectability of Pathogenic RNA Virus Families in Different Body Sites: A Scoping Review.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515595},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {Project number: 101102733//The DURABLE project/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *RNA Viruses/isolation & purification/genetics/pathogenicity/classification ; *Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods ; *RNA Virus Infections/diagnosis/virology ; Urine/virology ; RNA, Viral/genetics ; Feces/virology ; Body Fluids/virology ; },
abstract = {Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are central to modern virology diagnostics. However, evidence supporting alternative specimen types remains uneven across viral families, especially for emerging viruses. This limits diagnostic flexibility in outbreak and clinically complex settings. We conducted a scoping review of NAAT detectability across key body sites for human RNA viruses. PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for studies reporting NAAT results from urine, blood, fecal, cerebrospinal fluid, or respiratory specimens. Data were independently screened and synthesized to summarize specimen-specific detectability for each virus. From 8676 screened records, 321 studies were included, covering 39 viruses across 25 RNA virus families. Detectability across specimen types varied substantially between viruses. Consistent detection across multiple specimens was observed for few viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, and HIV, whereas many emerging viruses were evaluated in a single body compartment with limited comparative data. NAAT performance across specimen types is highly virus-specific and unevenly studied, with reliance on blood or respiratory specimens, potentially overlooking viable, less invasive alternatives. Evidence gaps are particularly pronounced for urine and cerebrospinal fluid, and heterogeneous reporting limits cross-study comparability. Standardized, cross-specimen and longitudinal studies are needed to improve diagnostic strategies, outbreak preparedness, and future assay development.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*RNA Viruses/isolation & purification/genetics/pathogenicity/classification
*Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods
*RNA Virus Infections/diagnosis/virology
Urine/virology
RNA, Viral/genetics
Feces/virology
Body Fluids/virology
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Mechanisms Underlying the Induction of Immunological Imprinting by RNA Viruses and Intervention Strategies.
Viruses, 18(7):.
The inherent genomic plasticity of RNA viruses, particularly influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2, poses a major obstacle to the establishment of durable herd immunity. This challenge is further compounded by immune imprinting, whereby prior antigenic exposures bias subsequent responses toward previously encountered epitopes at the expense of effective recognition of antigenically drifted variants. In this review, we delineate the mechanistic basis of immune imprinting, with emphasis on the competitive dominance of cross-reactive memory B cells (MBCs). We discuss how the rapid "back-boosting" of these pre-existing clones can limit de novo priming of naïve B cells-through epitope masking and competition for antigen and T follicular helper cell support-thereby diverting germinal center selection and affinity maturation away from variant-specific de novo epitopes and promoting viral immune escape. To address this challenge, this article further reviews the characteristics of immune imprinting responses in influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and dengue virus, as well as corresponding countermeasures, providing a theoretical basis and new avenues for intervention to address immune imprinting induced by rapidly mutating RNA viruses.
Additional Links: PMID-42515597
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515597,
year = {2026},
author = {Lin, S and Zhang, G and Wang, Q and Niu, K and Liu, Q},
title = {Mechanisms Underlying the Induction of Immunological Imprinting by RNA Viruses and Intervention Strategies.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515597},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {202549CE340077//Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-pathogenic Plant Resources from Western Yunnan/ ; FZ2023ZD029, FZ2024YB004, FZ2025YB056//Dali University/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *RNA Viruses/immunology/genetics ; Immunologic Memory ; Memory B Cells/immunology ; Orthomyxoviridae/immunology/genetics ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology/genetics ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Dengue Virus/immunology ; *RNA Virus Infections/immunology/virology ; Coronavirus/immunology ; },
abstract = {The inherent genomic plasticity of RNA viruses, particularly influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2, poses a major obstacle to the establishment of durable herd immunity. This challenge is further compounded by immune imprinting, whereby prior antigenic exposures bias subsequent responses toward previously encountered epitopes at the expense of effective recognition of antigenically drifted variants. In this review, we delineate the mechanistic basis of immune imprinting, with emphasis on the competitive dominance of cross-reactive memory B cells (MBCs). We discuss how the rapid "back-boosting" of these pre-existing clones can limit de novo priming of naïve B cells-through epitope masking and competition for antigen and T follicular helper cell support-thereby diverting germinal center selection and affinity maturation away from variant-specific de novo epitopes and promoting viral immune escape. To address this challenge, this article further reviews the characteristics of immune imprinting responses in influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and dengue virus, as well as corresponding countermeasures, providing a theoretical basis and new avenues for intervention to address immune imprinting induced by rapidly mutating RNA viruses.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Animals
*RNA Viruses/immunology/genetics
Immunologic Memory
Memory B Cells/immunology
Orthomyxoviridae/immunology/genetics
SARS-CoV-2/immunology/genetics
B-Lymphocytes/immunology
Dengue Virus/immunology
*RNA Virus Infections/immunology/virology
Coronavirus/immunology
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Antiviral Candidates and Vaccine Development for the Neglected Oropouche Virus.
Viruses, 18(7):.
The Oropouche virus (OROV), an orthobunyavirus primarily transmitted by the biting midge Culicoides paraensis, is the causative agent of Oropouche fever, a re-emerging arboviral disease associated with significant morbidity in Central and South America. The increasing frequency of outbreaks, including cases of sustained transmission in non-endemic regions and reports of vertical transmission, highlights the growing public health concern posed by OROV. Currently, there are no specific antiviral therapies or licensed vaccines available, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapeutic and preventive strategies. Recent advances in antiviral research have identified promising candidates, including repurposed drugs and bioactive compounds that target key stages of the viral replication cycle. In parallel, vaccine development has progressed through modern platforms, including viral vector-based and nucleic-acid-based technologies, enabling rapid responses to emerging outbreaks. However, major challenges remain, particularly due to the limited understanding of OROV pathogenesis, virus-host interactions, and the correlates of protective immunity. Furthermore, the ongoing evolution of OROV, including the genetic diversity and potential genomic rearrangements observed among circulating strains, represents an additional challenge that may influence viral characteristics and potentially affect the long-term efficacy of antiviral interventions and vaccine-induced protection. This review summarizes recent advances in the discovery of antiviral candidates and the development of vaccine approaches against OROV, both of which are essential for reducing the impact of OROV infections and strengthening preparedness for future outbreaks.
Additional Links: PMID-42515606
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515606,
year = {2026},
author = {Soares, VC and Dias, SSG},
title = {Antiviral Candidates and Vaccine Development for the Neglected Oropouche Virus.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515606},
issn = {1999-4915},
mesh = {*Orthobunyavirus/immunology/drug effects/genetics ; *Bunyaviridae Infections/prevention & control/drug therapy/virology/immunology ; Animals ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology ; Humans ; *Viral Vaccines/immunology ; *Vaccine Development ; },
abstract = {The Oropouche virus (OROV), an orthobunyavirus primarily transmitted by the biting midge Culicoides paraensis, is the causative agent of Oropouche fever, a re-emerging arboviral disease associated with significant morbidity in Central and South America. The increasing frequency of outbreaks, including cases of sustained transmission in non-endemic regions and reports of vertical transmission, highlights the growing public health concern posed by OROV. Currently, there are no specific antiviral therapies or licensed vaccines available, underscoring the urgent need for effective therapeutic and preventive strategies. Recent advances in antiviral research have identified promising candidates, including repurposed drugs and bioactive compounds that target key stages of the viral replication cycle. In parallel, vaccine development has progressed through modern platforms, including viral vector-based and nucleic-acid-based technologies, enabling rapid responses to emerging outbreaks. However, major challenges remain, particularly due to the limited understanding of OROV pathogenesis, virus-host interactions, and the correlates of protective immunity. Furthermore, the ongoing evolution of OROV, including the genetic diversity and potential genomic rearrangements observed among circulating strains, represents an additional challenge that may influence viral characteristics and potentially affect the long-term efficacy of antiviral interventions and vaccine-induced protection. This review summarizes recent advances in the discovery of antiviral candidates and the development of vaccine approaches against OROV, both of which are essential for reducing the impact of OROV infections and strengthening preparedness for future outbreaks.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Orthobunyavirus/immunology/drug effects/genetics
*Bunyaviridae Infections/prevention & control/drug therapy/virology/immunology
Animals
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
Humans
*Viral Vaccines/immunology
*Vaccine Development
RevDate: 2026-08-25
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Age-Dependent Differences in the Antiviral Response of the Respiratory Epithelium.
Viruses, 18(7):.
Age is an established risk factor for severe viral respiratory infections, yet the mechanisms driving increased severity of illness in infants and older adults remain incompletely understood. The respiratory epithelium is the primary target of viral infection and how it orchestrates the immune response may be a key determinant of clinical outcomes. The profound age-related difference in susceptibility to severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought increased attention to the epithelial response to viral infection in children and adults, adding significant data to the preexisting body of work largely focused on influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This review synthesizes current knowledge on the structural and functional differences in the respiratory epithelium between children and adults at baseline and during viral infection. We review the variable and heterogenous human studies in addition to in vitro and animal model data to identify key gaps in current knowledge. Here, we advocate for a more complete understanding of age-dependent differences in the respiratory epithelial response to viral infection to uncover therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of viral-associated respiratory failure.
Additional Links: PMID-42515632
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515632,
year = {2026},
author = {Setar, L and Coates, B},
title = {Age-Dependent Differences in the Antiviral Response of the Respiratory Epithelium.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515632},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {P01HL154998//National Heart Lung and Blood Institute/ ; P01 HL154998/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01 AI177498/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01 HL168672/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; 1T32HL076139/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; T32 HL076139/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI177498//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/ ; R01HL168672//National Heart Lung and Blood Institute/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Respiratory Mucosa/immunology/virology ; Animals ; Age Factors ; Immunity, Innate ; *Respiratory Tract Infections/immunology/virology ; COVID-19/immunology/virology ; Child ; *Virus Diseases/immunology ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; Infant ; Adult ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/immunology ; },
abstract = {Age is an established risk factor for severe viral respiratory infections, yet the mechanisms driving increased severity of illness in infants and older adults remain incompletely understood. The respiratory epithelium is the primary target of viral infection and how it orchestrates the immune response may be a key determinant of clinical outcomes. The profound age-related difference in susceptibility to severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought increased attention to the epithelial response to viral infection in children and adults, adding significant data to the preexisting body of work largely focused on influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This review synthesizes current knowledge on the structural and functional differences in the respiratory epithelium between children and adults at baseline and during viral infection. We review the variable and heterogenous human studies in addition to in vitro and animal model data to identify key gaps in current knowledge. Here, we advocate for a more complete understanding of age-dependent differences in the respiratory epithelial response to viral infection to uncover therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of viral-associated respiratory failure.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Respiratory Mucosa/immunology/virology
Animals
Age Factors
Immunity, Innate
*Respiratory Tract Infections/immunology/virology
COVID-19/immunology/virology
Child
*Virus Diseases/immunology
SARS-CoV-2/immunology
Infant
Adult
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/immunology
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Drug Repurposing as a Broad-Spectrum Strategy Against Coronaviruses: Frontiers in Mechanisms and Clinical Translation.
Viruses, 18(7):.
Coronaviruses (family Coronaviridae) are enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses with broad host adaptability. They transmit across species among humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, eliciting a disease spectrum ranging from mild respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms to fatal multi-organ failure, thereby posing significant challenges to global health. In this context, drug repurposing has emerged as a practical strategy for rapidly identifying broad-spectrum antivirals against emerging and re-emerging coronaviruses. Using coronaviruses as a paradigm, this review systematically summarizes research advances and mechanistic insights into the repurposing of existing drugs against coronaviruses. Simultaneously, we dissect core challenges including species-specific pharmacokinetic disparities, insufficient inter-genera conservation of viral targets, and systemic barriers between human and veterinary drug regulatory frameworks and propose innovative solutions encompassing AI-driven cross-species drug prediction, next-generation cross-species infection models, and a "human-veterinary dual-track" collaborative research and development system. Collectively, this review highlights the promise of drug repurposing as a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy and provides a translational perspective for the development of cross-species anti-coronavirus therapeutics.
Additional Links: PMID-42515655
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515655,
year = {2026},
author = {Du, S and Wang, Y and Liu, C and Han, Y and Zong, R and Wang, S and Du, W and Yu, L and Li, Y},
title = {Drug Repurposing as a Broad-Spectrum Strategy Against Coronaviruses: Frontiers in Mechanisms and Clinical Translation.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515655},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {No. 32573409, No. 32172839//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. 252300423606//Natural Science Foundation of Henan/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Animals ; *Drug Repositioning/methods ; *Coronavirus/drug effects ; *Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy/virology ; },
abstract = {Coronaviruses (family Coronaviridae) are enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses with broad host adaptability. They transmit across species among humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, eliciting a disease spectrum ranging from mild respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms to fatal multi-organ failure, thereby posing significant challenges to global health. In this context, drug repurposing has emerged as a practical strategy for rapidly identifying broad-spectrum antivirals against emerging and re-emerging coronaviruses. Using coronaviruses as a paradigm, this review systematically summarizes research advances and mechanistic insights into the repurposing of existing drugs against coronaviruses. Simultaneously, we dissect core challenges including species-specific pharmacokinetic disparities, insufficient inter-genera conservation of viral targets, and systemic barriers between human and veterinary drug regulatory frameworks and propose innovative solutions encompassing AI-driven cross-species drug prediction, next-generation cross-species infection models, and a "human-veterinary dual-track" collaborative research and development system. Collectively, this review highlights the promise of drug repurposing as a broad-spectrum antiviral strategy and provides a translational perspective for the development of cross-species anti-coronavirus therapeutics.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use
Animals
*Drug Repositioning/methods
*Coronavirus/drug effects
*Coronavirus Infections/drug therapy/virology
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Chalcones as a Versatile Antiviral Scaffold: Molecular Targets, ADMET Profiles, and Translational Challenges.
Viruses, 18(7):.
Chalcones are naturally occurring open-chain flavonoids widely distributed in plants and recognized for their broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. Their versatile scaffold allows for extensive structural modifications, leading to a diverse range of natural and synthetic derivatives with notable biological potential. In the context of viral infections, chalcones have demonstrated remarkable efficacy against a variety of human pathogens, including dengue virus, HIV, HCV, influenza A, SARS-CoV-2, and other emerging viruses. Beyond human health, several chalcones have shown potent activity against plant viruses such as tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and animal viruses including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and mammalian reovirus (MRV), underscoring their broad antiviral spectrum. These compounds act through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of viral enzymes (e.g., proteases, polymerases, and integrases), interference with viral entry and replication, and the modulation of host-related pathways. Recent advances in molecular docking, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, and synthetic optimization have further highlighted chalcones as a promising scaffold for antiviral drug discovery. Accordingly, this review summarizes and categorizes antiviral chalcones reported over the last two decades, emphasizing and critically discussing their molecular targets, mechanisms of action, and pharmacological potential as lead compounds. It also provides a comparative perspective on their pharmacological relevance by correlating their activities against standard therapeutic agents and reference inhibitors. Furthermore, the most recurrent viral targets were critically discussed regarding their conservation, expected genetic barriers to resistance, and the global SAR trends identified for the corresponding antiviral chalcones. Finally, in silico ADMET profiling of the most promising naturally occurring chalcones was performed to evaluate their drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties, offering guidance for future structural optimization and translational development. Collectively, these findings highlight the chalcone scaffold as a versatile platform for the development of novel antiviral agents targeting diverse viral and host pathways.
Additional Links: PMID-42515657
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515657,
year = {2026},
author = {Helena, AL and Ozanique, PR and Lima, KHS and Tondato, WN and Baio, VYI and Soares, OHL and Regasini, LO},
title = {Chalcones as a Versatile Antiviral Scaffold: Molecular Targets, ADMET Profiles, and Translational Challenges.},
journal = {Viruses},
volume = {18},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515657},
issn = {1999-4915},
support = {Finance code 001//the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)/ ; },
mesh = {*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Chalcones/pharmacology/chemistry/pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Animals ; Drug Discovery ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Virus Replication/drug effects ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Virus Internalization/drug effects ; Virus Diseases/drug therapy ; Plant Viruses/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Chalcones are naturally occurring open-chain flavonoids widely distributed in plants and recognized for their broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. Their versatile scaffold allows for extensive structural modifications, leading to a diverse range of natural and synthetic derivatives with notable biological potential. In the context of viral infections, chalcones have demonstrated remarkable efficacy against a variety of human pathogens, including dengue virus, HIV, HCV, influenza A, SARS-CoV-2, and other emerging viruses. Beyond human health, several chalcones have shown potent activity against plant viruses such as tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and animal viruses including porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and mammalian reovirus (MRV), underscoring their broad antiviral spectrum. These compounds act through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of viral enzymes (e.g., proteases, polymerases, and integrases), interference with viral entry and replication, and the modulation of host-related pathways. Recent advances in molecular docking, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, and synthetic optimization have further highlighted chalcones as a promising scaffold for antiviral drug discovery. Accordingly, this review summarizes and categorizes antiviral chalcones reported over the last two decades, emphasizing and critically discussing their molecular targets, mechanisms of action, and pharmacological potential as lead compounds. It also provides a comparative perspective on their pharmacological relevance by correlating their activities against standard therapeutic agents and reference inhibitors. Furthermore, the most recurrent viral targets were critically discussed regarding their conservation, expected genetic barriers to resistance, and the global SAR trends identified for the corresponding antiviral chalcones. Finally, in silico ADMET profiling of the most promising naturally occurring chalcones was performed to evaluate their drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic properties, offering guidance for future structural optimization and translational development. Collectively, these findings highlight the chalcone scaffold as a versatile platform for the development of novel antiviral agents targeting diverse viral and host pathways.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/chemistry
*Chalcones/pharmacology/chemistry/pharmacokinetics
Humans
Animals
Drug Discovery
Structure-Activity Relationship
Virus Replication/drug effects
Molecular Docking Simulation
Virus Internalization/drug effects
Virus Diseases/drug therapy
Plant Viruses/drug effects
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Chiral-Modified Nucleoside Analogues: From Bioactivity to Therapeutic Applications.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 19(7):.
Nucleosides are extensively employed for the development of pharmaceuticals, chemotherapeutic agents, and bioregulators. Background/Objectives: The introduction of an additional chiral functionality into a carbohydrate or heterocyclic base fragment may increase the selectivity of interactions with nucleos(t)ide-metabolizing enzymes and receptors and, in some cases, lead to more specific physiological activities. Methods: An improvement of the selectivity of nucleoside-based drugs can be achieved either by the chemical modification of a carbohydrate or a base constituent or by a combination of these two approaches. Additionally, stereospecific enzymatic cleavage of nucleos(t)ide prodrugs containing biodegradable substituents can reduce cytotoxicity and enhance bioavailability. Results: A series of enantiomerically pure nucleosides modified at the ribose or heterocyclic base were obtained by chemical and enzymatic methods. Novel antiviral or anticancer active compounds, inhibiting viral or cellular enzymes or activating cellular nucleoside kinases have been found among chemically synthesized derivatives. Some exhibit strengthened "ligand-receptor" interaction, acting on receptors of the purinergic signaling system. During recent extensive structure-activity studies, several drugs and their prototypes have been proposed for the treatment of viral infections: the 2'C-fluoromethyl derivative of sofosbuvir (anti-SARS-CoV, preclinical), VV-261 (SFTSV, phase I clinical), balapiravir (dengue, phase I clinical), mericitabine (approved drug for HCV), and lumicitabine (approved drug for RSV and HMPV). Conclusions: Modern literature data within the scope of the present review suggest that direct modification of nucleosides with various chiral functionalities can be considered as an approach to increase their efficacy, specificity and selectivity.
Additional Links: PMID-42515812
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515812,
year = {2026},
author = {Kozlova, AA and Borokh, VN and Oslovsky, VE and Alexeev, CS and Drenichev, MS},
title = {Chiral-Modified Nucleoside Analogues: From Bioactivity to Therapeutic Applications.},
journal = {Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {19},
number = {7},
pages = {},
pmid = {42515812},
issn = {1424-8247},
support = {25-24-01136//Russian Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Nucleosides are extensively employed for the development of pharmaceuticals, chemotherapeutic agents, and bioregulators. Background/Objectives: The introduction of an additional chiral functionality into a carbohydrate or heterocyclic base fragment may increase the selectivity of interactions with nucleos(t)ide-metabolizing enzymes and receptors and, in some cases, lead to more specific physiological activities. Methods: An improvement of the selectivity of nucleoside-based drugs can be achieved either by the chemical modification of a carbohydrate or a base constituent or by a combination of these two approaches. Additionally, stereospecific enzymatic cleavage of nucleos(t)ide prodrugs containing biodegradable substituents can reduce cytotoxicity and enhance bioavailability. Results: A series of enantiomerically pure nucleosides modified at the ribose or heterocyclic base were obtained by chemical and enzymatic methods. Novel antiviral or anticancer active compounds, inhibiting viral or cellular enzymes or activating cellular nucleoside kinases have been found among chemically synthesized derivatives. Some exhibit strengthened "ligand-receptor" interaction, acting on receptors of the purinergic signaling system. During recent extensive structure-activity studies, several drugs and their prototypes have been proposed for the treatment of viral infections: the 2'C-fluoromethyl derivative of sofosbuvir (anti-SARS-CoV, preclinical), VV-261 (SFTSV, phase I clinical), balapiravir (dengue, phase I clinical), mericitabine (approved drug for HCV), and lumicitabine (approved drug for RSV and HMPV). Conclusions: Modern literature data within the scope of the present review suggest that direct modification of nucleosides with various chiral functionalities can be considered as an approach to increase their efficacy, specificity and selectivity.},
}
RevDate: 2026-10-08
CmpDate: 2026-10-03
Post-COVID-19 rise in central precocious puberty: an integrative Review.
Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM, 39(10):977-989.
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a marked increase in central precocious puberty (CPP), particularly among girls, with pooled estimates showing higher odds during pandemic than pre-pandemic periods. The available evidence supports a reproducible epidemiological signal, but it does not establish a single causal mechanism. This narrative review synthesizes epidemiological findings, clinical features, and proposed mechanisms, including sedentary behavior, weight gain, increased screen exposure, sleep and melatonin rhythm disruption, psychological stress, altered healthcare-seeking behavior, and environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Recent high-throughput toxicology data indicate that selected environmental compounds, including musk ambrette and some quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), can activate human KISS1R- or GnRHR-related signaling in experimental systems. However, pediatric exposure levels, internal dose, target-tissue concentrations, and disease-level causality remain unproven. We therefore frame these chemical findings as a hypothesis-generating exposomic perspective rather than as an established explanation for pandemic-era CPP. A cautious integrative model may help reconcile the strong female predominance, limited mean BMI shift, and temporal association with lockdown-related exposures, while defining testable priorities for future cohort, exposure, and mechanistic studies.
Additional Links: PMID-42515816
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42515816,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, X and Ding, S},
title = {Post-COVID-19 rise in central precocious puberty: an integrative Review.},
journal = {Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM},
volume = {39},
number = {10},
pages = {977-989},
pmid = {42515816},
issn = {2191-0251},
mesh = {Child ; Female ; Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects ; Pandemics ; *Puberty, Precocious/epidemiology/etiology ; },
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a marked increase in central precocious puberty (CPP), particularly among girls, with pooled estimates showing higher odds during pandemic than pre-pandemic periods. The available evidence supports a reproducible epidemiological signal, but it does not establish a single causal mechanism. This narrative review synthesizes epidemiological findings, clinical features, and proposed mechanisms, including sedentary behavior, weight gain, increased screen exposure, sleep and melatonin rhythm disruption, psychological stress, altered healthcare-seeking behavior, and environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Recent high-throughput toxicology data indicate that selected environmental compounds, including musk ambrette and some quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), can activate human KISS1R- or GnRHR-related signaling in experimental systems. However, pediatric exposure levels, internal dose, target-tissue concentrations, and disease-level causality remain unproven. We therefore frame these chemical findings as a hypothesis-generating exposomic perspective rather than as an established explanation for pandemic-era CPP. A cautious integrative model may help reconcile the strong female predominance, limited mean BMI shift, and temporal association with lockdown-related exposures, while defining testable priorities for future cohort, exposure, and mechanistic studies.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Child
Female
Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology
Environmental Exposure/adverse effects
Pandemics
*Puberty, Precocious/epidemiology/etiology
RevDate: 2026-08-31
Established and Emerging Biomarkers to Characterize Persons at Risk for Obesity-Paving the Way for Targeted Clinical Intervention Trials-A Comprehensive Position Paper.
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity [Epub ahead of print].
Despite all efforts, obesity remains a major health concern worldwide, with continuously increasing rates, affecting approx. 14% of the total world population, being as high as 43% in some countries. As obesity is related to numerous comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some types of cancer, the consequences for the individual and society at large are drastic. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and predict who is at risk of developing obesity in order to implement early prevention strategies. Many individual risk factors have been emphasized. However, as obesity is a rather multifactorial complication, single markers/biomarkers have thus far not allowed for an efficient prediction of obesity. In addition to less modifiable parameters, such as environment and socio-demographics, studies have revealed that obesity is related to several interacting aspects, including host factors such as genetics/epigenetics or gut microbiota, and more readily modifiable factors, including nutrition and physical activity, as well as sleep patterns and psychological well-being. It is likely that combining markers from across different domains, that is, multimodal markers, allows for better predictability for the risk of developing obesity. However, it must be considered that not all markers are fully predictive; many are rather reactive or even both. In this review and position paper, we emphasize the state-of-the-art regarding (bio)markers that have successfully been employed for predicting obesity risk. An emphasis will rest on novel, emerging biomarkers, and the need for a more integrative, multimodal assessment of obesity risk for a combined assessment aimed at improving risk prediction.
Additional Links: PMID-42515932
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@article {pmid42515932,
year = {2026},
author = {Vahid, F and Stopa, V and Malisoux, L and Devaux, Y and Lamy, E and Silva, FCE and Forberger, S and de Magistris, T and Sureda, A and Monserrat-Mesquida, M and Pérez-Jiménez, M and Nagrani, R and Onorati, MG and Fontefrancesco, MF and Turner, J and Desai, MS and Tur, J and Bouzas, C and Bonetti, GG and Riedel, O and Ravn-Haren, G and Andersen, R and Bohn, T},
title = {Established and Emerging Biomarkers to Characterize Persons at Risk for Obesity-Paving the Way for Targeted Clinical Intervention Trials-A Comprehensive Position Paper.},
journal = {Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70175},
doi = {10.1111/obr.70175},
pmid = {42515932},
issn = {1467-789X},
support = {n°101080645//European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme/ ; CB12/03/30038//CIBEROBN/ ; 101016072//EU Horizon 2020 project COVIRNA/ ; C14/BM/8225223//National Research Fund/ ; C17/BM/11613033//National Research Fund/ ; COVID-19/2020-1/14719577/miRCOVID//National Research Fund/ ; CA17129//COST Association/ ; CA21153//COST Association/ ; //Ministry of Higher Education and Research/ ; //Heart Foundation-Daniel Wagner of Luxembourg/ ; //Co-operative Research Programme (OCDE) (2023): Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems/ ; },
abstract = {Despite all efforts, obesity remains a major health concern worldwide, with continuously increasing rates, affecting approx. 14% of the total world population, being as high as 43% in some countries. As obesity is related to numerous comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some types of cancer, the consequences for the individual and society at large are drastic. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and predict who is at risk of developing obesity in order to implement early prevention strategies. Many individual risk factors have been emphasized. However, as obesity is a rather multifactorial complication, single markers/biomarkers have thus far not allowed for an efficient prediction of obesity. In addition to less modifiable parameters, such as environment and socio-demographics, studies have revealed that obesity is related to several interacting aspects, including host factors such as genetics/epigenetics or gut microbiota, and more readily modifiable factors, including nutrition and physical activity, as well as sleep patterns and psychological well-being. It is likely that combining markers from across different domains, that is, multimodal markers, allows for better predictability for the risk of developing obesity. However, it must be considered that not all markers are fully predictive; many are rather reactive or even both. In this review and position paper, we emphasize the state-of-the-art regarding (bio)markers that have successfully been employed for predicting obesity risk. An emphasis will rest on novel, emerging biomarkers, and the need for a more integrative, multimodal assessment of obesity risk for a combined assessment aimed at improving risk prediction.},
}
RevDate: 2026-09-25
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Pathogen effects on the brain: the case of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neuro COVID.
Frontiers in neurology, 17:1853951.
Many patients develop cognitive and neuropsychiatric issues after viral infections, but the mechanisms are not well understood. A case in point is Long-COVID syndrome, which may affect as many as 50 percent of patients after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is characterized by lingering physical and mental fatigue, brain fog and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Meanwhile, emerging evidence suggests the presence of inflammation around blood vessels in the brain due to the Spike protein remaining in "reservoirs" especially in the meninges that contain great numbers of the unique tissue immune cells, mast cells (MCs). In fact, Spike protein has been reported to stimulate MCs and microglia to release pro-inflammatory, neurotoxic and vasoactive mediators leading to Long-COVID and other neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, it is of great urgency to gain insight into how the Spike protein and neuroinflammatory molecules contribute to Long-COVID and how to regulate this response.
Additional Links: PMID-42516401
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@article {pmid42516401,
year = {2026},
author = {Theoharides, TC and Papadopoulou, P},
title = {Pathogen effects on the brain: the case of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neuro COVID.},
journal = {Frontiers in neurology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1853951},
pmid = {42516401},
issn = {1664-2295},
abstract = {Many patients develop cognitive and neuropsychiatric issues after viral infections, but the mechanisms are not well understood. A case in point is Long-COVID syndrome, which may affect as many as 50 percent of patients after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is characterized by lingering physical and mental fatigue, brain fog and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Meanwhile, emerging evidence suggests the presence of inflammation around blood vessels in the brain due to the Spike protein remaining in "reservoirs" especially in the meninges that contain great numbers of the unique tissue immune cells, mast cells (MCs). In fact, Spike protein has been reported to stimulate MCs and microglia to release pro-inflammatory, neurotoxic and vasoactive mediators leading to Long-COVID and other neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, it is of great urgency to gain insight into how the Spike protein and neuroinflammatory molecules contribute to Long-COVID and how to regulate this response.},
}
RevDate: 2026-09-22
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Experiences of team collaboration among intensive care nurses during COVID-19: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1852917.
OBJECTIVE: This study included qualitative studies and employed a meta-synthesis to assess the support, challenges, and coping strategies related to teamwork among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DESIGN: Qualitative meta-synthesis.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. The search period covered from inception to December 11, 2025. The study employed the three-stage thematic synthesis approach by Thomas and Harden, aided by the NVivo 14 software.
FINDINGS: A total of 48 qualitative studies were included, and six main themes with thirteen sub-themes were identified: (1) the support and understanding received from colleagues, the team, and management; (2) interpersonal unfamiliarity and tension; (3) instability in the team structure; (4) managerial inadequacies; (5) team adaptability; (6) empowered teamwork.
CONCLUSION: Beyond the need for psychological support from colleagues, the team, and management, it was found that strengthening organizational resilience was key to improving teamwork.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261281080, identifier PROSPERO (CRD420261281080).
Additional Links: PMID-42518594
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@article {pmid42518594,
year = {2026},
author = {Liao, H and Gao, Y},
title = {Experiences of team collaboration among intensive care nurses during COVID-19: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1852917},
pmid = {42518594},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/nursing ; *Cooperative Behavior ; Qualitative Research ; *Critical Care Nursing/organization & administration ; *Patient Care Team/organization & administration ; Adaptation, Psychological ; Pandemics ; Intensive Care Units ; SARS-CoV-2 ; *Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: This study included qualitative studies and employed a meta-synthesis to assess the support, challenges, and coping strategies related to teamwork among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DESIGN: Qualitative meta-synthesis.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. The search period covered from inception to December 11, 2025. The study employed the three-stage thematic synthesis approach by Thomas and Harden, aided by the NVivo 14 software.
FINDINGS: A total of 48 qualitative studies were included, and six main themes with thirteen sub-themes were identified: (1) the support and understanding received from colleagues, the team, and management; (2) interpersonal unfamiliarity and tension; (3) instability in the team structure; (4) managerial inadequacies; (5) team adaptability; (6) empowered teamwork.
CONCLUSION: Beyond the need for psychological support from colleagues, the team, and management, it was found that strengthening organizational resilience was key to improving teamwork.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261281080, identifier PROSPERO (CRD420261281080).},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
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Humans
*COVID-19/nursing
*Cooperative Behavior
Qualitative Research
*Critical Care Nursing/organization & administration
*Patient Care Team/organization & administration
Adaptation, Psychological
Pandemics
Intensive Care Units
SARS-CoV-2
*Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Home-based telework and worker health and well-being across service occupations: A critical interpretive synthesis.
SSM - population health, 35:101951.
The rapid expansion of home-based telework since COVID-19 has diversified the remote workforce to include service occupations centered on real-time interaction with patients, clients, and customers. Yet the literature on telework and health remains largely oriented toward the experiences of knowledge workers, obscuring how home-based telework shapes the health and well-being of interaction-intensive service workers. We conducted a Critical Interpretive Synthesis of 69 peer-reviewed studies (2000 to 2025) to develop a theoretical account of how home-based telework is experienced across service occupations. The evidence base was profoundly skewed: 64 studies examined healthcare and social work professionals, while only three focused on scripted, routinized, and monitored service roles such as call and contact center work. The synthesis identified two divergent narratives, each reflecting a distinct labor process through which home-based telework shapes worker health and well-being. For healthcare and social work professionals, home-based telework eroded the institutional boundaries that had contained clinical distress within the workplace, transforming the home into a "contaminated sanctuary" as the emotional and psychological demands of care work increasingly spilled into private life. For call and contact center workers, while home-based telework initially appeared to reduce direct physical surveillance, control was reconstituted through digital technologies, producing a "digital panopticon" marked by algorithmic monitoring, enforced immobility, and the collapse of work-home boundaries. These findings suggest that the health consequences of home-based telework are shaped as much by the organization and demands of the work being performed as by the domestic setting.
Additional Links: PMID-42518759
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@article {pmid42518759,
year = {2026},
author = {Lee, J and Almomani, Y and Davis, A and Miller, M and Li, P and Cockayne, D and Premji, S and MacEachen, E},
title = {Home-based telework and worker health and well-being across service occupations: A critical interpretive synthesis.},
journal = {SSM - population health},
volume = {35},
number = {},
pages = {101951},
pmid = {42518759},
issn = {2352-8273},
abstract = {The rapid expansion of home-based telework since COVID-19 has diversified the remote workforce to include service occupations centered on real-time interaction with patients, clients, and customers. Yet the literature on telework and health remains largely oriented toward the experiences of knowledge workers, obscuring how home-based telework shapes the health and well-being of interaction-intensive service workers. We conducted a Critical Interpretive Synthesis of 69 peer-reviewed studies (2000 to 2025) to develop a theoretical account of how home-based telework is experienced across service occupations. The evidence base was profoundly skewed: 64 studies examined healthcare and social work professionals, while only three focused on scripted, routinized, and monitored service roles such as call and contact center work. The synthesis identified two divergent narratives, each reflecting a distinct labor process through which home-based telework shapes worker health and well-being. For healthcare and social work professionals, home-based telework eroded the institutional boundaries that had contained clinical distress within the workplace, transforming the home into a "contaminated sanctuary" as the emotional and psychological demands of care work increasingly spilled into private life. For call and contact center workers, while home-based telework initially appeared to reduce direct physical surveillance, control was reconstituted through digital technologies, producing a "digital panopticon" marked by algorithmic monitoring, enforced immobility, and the collapse of work-home boundaries. These findings suggest that the health consequences of home-based telework are shaped as much by the organization and demands of the work being performed as by the domestic setting.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
A scoping review of the available literature on the epidemiologic profile of migrants in-transit through South America, Central America, and Mexico from 2013-2025.
Journal of migration and health, 14:100422.
BACKGROUND: Migration through Latin America has increased, resulting in new routes and greater diversity among migrants. Timely, accurate data on the epidemiologic profiles of migrants in-transit could inform public health surveillance and interventions.
OBJECTIVE: Provide an overview of the type of data collected on the epidemiologic profiles of migrants in-transit through South America, Central America, and Mexico.
METHODS: We conducted a scoping review from peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting quantitative health data on selected infectious and non-infectious diseases, vaccination coverage, and causes of mortality migrants in-transit through South America, Central America, and Mexico between 2013 and 2025 by searching Embase, Medline, Global Health, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus, LILACS, NTIS, OpenGrey, and MedRxlv.
RESULTS: We identified 7,355 publications; 124 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 24% specified a transit migration phase. Cross-sectional methodology was employed in 86%; and 62% were published in the last four years (2022-2025). Sociodemographic variables were inconsistently reported, and migration-related variables were infrequent. Health concepts frequently investigated included HIV (28%), TB (14%) COVID-19 (15%), mental health (33%), food insecurity (14%), mortality (10%) and vaccination (6%). Chronic conditions were frequently reported as comorbidities.
CONCLUSION: Limited detailed information is available to inform health surveillance and interventions among migrants in-transit. Additional migration-related variables, including time in-transit and transit migration phase, an expansion of data collection to geographical areas experiencing an increase in mobility, and rigorous study designs could yield valuable insights.
Additional Links: PMID-42518987
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@article {pmid42518987,
year = {2026},
author = {Gittinger, R and Halper, E and Nur, N and Kennar, A and Thomas, H and Loh, S and Byrd, KM and Ehlman, D and Bustamante, ND},
title = {A scoping review of the available literature on the epidemiologic profile of migrants in-transit through South America, Central America, and Mexico from 2013-2025.},
journal = {Journal of migration and health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {100422},
pmid = {42518987},
issn = {2666-6235},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Migration through Latin America has increased, resulting in new routes and greater diversity among migrants. Timely, accurate data on the epidemiologic profiles of migrants in-transit could inform public health surveillance and interventions.
OBJECTIVE: Provide an overview of the type of data collected on the epidemiologic profiles of migrants in-transit through South America, Central America, and Mexico.
METHODS: We conducted a scoping review from peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting quantitative health data on selected infectious and non-infectious diseases, vaccination coverage, and causes of mortality migrants in-transit through South America, Central America, and Mexico between 2013 and 2025 by searching Embase, Medline, Global Health, Sociological Abstracts, Scopus, LILACS, NTIS, OpenGrey, and MedRxlv.
RESULTS: We identified 7,355 publications; 124 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 24% specified a transit migration phase. Cross-sectional methodology was employed in 86%; and 62% were published in the last four years (2022-2025). Sociodemographic variables were inconsistently reported, and migration-related variables were infrequent. Health concepts frequently investigated included HIV (28%), TB (14%) COVID-19 (15%), mental health (33%), food insecurity (14%), mortality (10%) and vaccination (6%). Chronic conditions were frequently reported as comorbidities.
CONCLUSION: Limited detailed information is available to inform health surveillance and interventions among migrants in-transit. Additional migration-related variables, including time in-transit and transit migration phase, an expansion of data collection to geographical areas experiencing an increase in mobility, and rigorous study designs could yield valuable insights.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Mapping COVID-19 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research in Medical Imaging: A Bibliometric Analysis of Datasets, Trends, and Clinical Challenges.
Cureus, 18(6):e111190.
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for COVID-19 pandemic diagnosis has exposed critical gaps in medical imaging datasets. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-compliant bibliometric review of 450 PubMed studies (2020-2024) reveals that only 21.5% of the datasets remain clinically validated, while 55% are unavailable or repurposed from non-COVID-19 sources. We identified persistent issues, such as resolution heterogeneity and radiologist annotation scarcity, that undermine model reliability. Numerous convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures have been developed to enable fast and accurate automated diagnosis of COVID-19 using computed tomography (CT) or X-ray imaging. However, due to the urgency of the pandemic and the rapid demand for solutions, existing computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems face several critical limitations, such as imbalanced datasets, insufficient bias assessment in model training, and inconsistent quality control in image acquisition and preprocessing. In this bibliometric analysis, we provide an analysis of PubMed articles on COVID-19 imaging published between January 1, 2020, and November 1, 2024. The research included 1261 publications. VOSviewer was used to generate a visual map of the keyword networks and authors. The journal with the most publications was Elsevier, and the most used dataset was the COVID-19 Radiography Database from Kaggle.
Additional Links: PMID-42519268
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@article {pmid42519268,
year = {2026},
author = {Menoudji Djetoyom, P and Ngueilbaye, A and Abakar Hamid, A and Akofala, A},
title = {Mapping COVID-19 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research in Medical Imaging: A Bibliometric Analysis of Datasets, Trends, and Clinical Challenges.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {18},
number = {6},
pages = {e111190},
pmid = {42519268},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for COVID-19 pandemic diagnosis has exposed critical gaps in medical imaging datasets. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-compliant bibliometric review of 450 PubMed studies (2020-2024) reveals that only 21.5% of the datasets remain clinically validated, while 55% are unavailable or repurposed from non-COVID-19 sources. We identified persistent issues, such as resolution heterogeneity and radiologist annotation scarcity, that undermine model reliability. Numerous convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures have been developed to enable fast and accurate automated diagnosis of COVID-19 using computed tomography (CT) or X-ray imaging. However, due to the urgency of the pandemic and the rapid demand for solutions, existing computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) systems face several critical limitations, such as imbalanced datasets, insufficient bias assessment in model training, and inconsistent quality control in image acquisition and preprocessing. In this bibliometric analysis, we provide an analysis of PubMed articles on COVID-19 imaging published between January 1, 2020, and November 1, 2024. The research included 1261 publications. VOSviewer was used to generate a visual map of the keyword networks and authors. The journal with the most publications was Elsevier, and the most used dataset was the COVID-19 Radiography Database from Kaggle.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
FcγR-ACE2 cooperative antibody-dependent enhancement in human and veterinary coronaviruses: mechanistic insights, comparative immunology, and implications for nano-engineered immunomodulatory platforms.
Frontiers in immunology, 17:1859321.
Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is a paradoxical immunological phenomenon in which pre-existing antibodies facilitate viral entry into host cells rather than conferring protection. ADE has been extensively characterised in flaviviral systems, most notably dengue virus (DENV), and presents a significant challenge for vaccine development and antibody-based therapeutic design. In coronavirus infections, ADE may operate through both classical Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-mediated pathways and an intrinsic signalling mechanism involving inhibitory FcγRIIb-mediated suppression of the type I interferon (IFN-I) response. Of critical translational relevance is the functionally demonstrated cooperative FcγR-ACE2 entry model for SARS-CoV-2, wherein virus-antibody immune complexes engage Fcγ receptors and require ACE2 interaction for efficient enhancement. For SARS-CoV-2 specifically, ADE magnitude appears to be determined by an antibody's capacity to block spike-ACE2 interaction rather than its neutralisation potency in vitro-a finding distinct from FIPV and other coronavirus ADE systems where classical FcγR-mediated mechanisms predominate without ACE2 co-receptor dependency. Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) represents one of the most rigorously documented biological systems in which antibody-mediated macrophage infection directly determines systemic disease outcome. This comprehensive review integrates current knowledge of FcγR biology, IgG subclass dynamics, antibody glycosylation, coronavirus cell entry mechanisms, intracellular signalling cascades, cytokine dysregulation, comparative veterinary immunopathology, and nano-engineered immunomodulatory platforms for ADE-safe vaccine development. No confirmed clinical ADE has been documented to date in mRNA-vaccinated populations, though theoretical risk windows and population-specific vulnerabilities are critically discussed.
Additional Links: PMID-42519317
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@article {pmid42519317,
year = {2026},
author = {Neelakantan, HJ},
title = {FcγR-ACE2 cooperative antibody-dependent enhancement in human and veterinary coronaviruses: mechanistic insights, comparative immunology, and implications for nano-engineered immunomodulatory platforms.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1859321},
pmid = {42519317},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Receptors, IgG/immunology/metabolism ; Animals ; *Antibody-Dependent Enhancement/immunology ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/immunology ; COVID-19/immunology ; *Antibodies, Viral/immunology ; *Coronavirus Infections/immunology/veterinary/virology ; *Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/immunology ; *Coronavirus/immunology ; *Betacoronavirus/immunology ; Virus Internalization ; },
abstract = {Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is a paradoxical immunological phenomenon in which pre-existing antibodies facilitate viral entry into host cells rather than conferring protection. ADE has been extensively characterised in flaviviral systems, most notably dengue virus (DENV), and presents a significant challenge for vaccine development and antibody-based therapeutic design. In coronavirus infections, ADE may operate through both classical Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-mediated pathways and an intrinsic signalling mechanism involving inhibitory FcγRIIb-mediated suppression of the type I interferon (IFN-I) response. Of critical translational relevance is the functionally demonstrated cooperative FcγR-ACE2 entry model for SARS-CoV-2, wherein virus-antibody immune complexes engage Fcγ receptors and require ACE2 interaction for efficient enhancement. For SARS-CoV-2 specifically, ADE magnitude appears to be determined by an antibody's capacity to block spike-ACE2 interaction rather than its neutralisation potency in vitro-a finding distinct from FIPV and other coronavirus ADE systems where classical FcγR-mediated mechanisms predominate without ACE2 co-receptor dependency. Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) represents one of the most rigorously documented biological systems in which antibody-mediated macrophage infection directly determines systemic disease outcome. This comprehensive review integrates current knowledge of FcγR biology, IgG subclass dynamics, antibody glycosylation, coronavirus cell entry mechanisms, intracellular signalling cascades, cytokine dysregulation, comparative veterinary immunopathology, and nano-engineered immunomodulatory platforms for ADE-safe vaccine development. No confirmed clinical ADE has been documented to date in mRNA-vaccinated populations, though theoretical risk windows and population-specific vulnerabilities are critically discussed.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Receptors, IgG/immunology/metabolism
Animals
*Antibody-Dependent Enhancement/immunology
SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2/immunology
COVID-19/immunology
*Antibodies, Viral/immunology
*Coronavirus Infections/immunology/veterinary/virology
*Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/immunology
*Coronavirus/immunology
*Betacoronavirus/immunology
Virus Internalization
RevDate: 2026-09-27
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Psychotherapy Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Trends in Treatment Modalities and Digital Therapy Uptake (2019-2023).
Clinical psychology & psychotherapy, 33(4):e70311.
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid transitions to digital psychotherapy delivery formats, yet systematic quantification of these developments within psychotherapy research remains limited. This study presents an updated trend analysis of psychotherapy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2019 to 2023. Systematic searches in PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO identified RCTs across predefined psychotherapeutic intervention categories. Trials were categorized by treatment approach, region and age group. A total of 1223 psychotherapy RCTs were identified. Despite a temporary decline in 2022 (-13%), the overall number of trials increased by 26.3% across the study period. eHealth interventions constituted the largest psychotherapeutic intervention category (43%), surpassing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT; 37%). Among eHealth trials, 71% evaluated internet-delivered CBT. Only eHealth and telehealth showed statistically significant increases in proportional representation over time. Other therapeutic approaches each represented < 7% of treatment arms and showed no significant proportional change. Trial activity remained concentrated in high-income countries (73.4%) and predominantly targeted adult populations, with children and adolescents comprising 17.3% of trials. The findings illustrate a dynamic field that remained active during the COVID-19 crisis, with eHealth emerging as the most frequently investigated therapeutic approach accompanied by substantial growth in telehealth interventions. Despite the overall growth in trial activity, research efforts remained heavily concentrated around CBT-derived interventions, adult populations and high-income country settings.
Additional Links: PMID-42519879
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@article {pmid42519879,
year = {2026},
author = {Sivel, I and Rief, W and Weise, C},
title = {Psychotherapy Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Trends in Treatment Modalities and Digital Therapy Uptake (2019-2023).},
journal = {Clinical psychology & psychotherapy},
volume = {33},
number = {4},
pages = {e70311},
pmid = {42519879},
issn = {1099-0879},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19 ; *Psychotherapy/trends/methods ; *Telemedicine/trends ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Pandemics ; Mental Health Teletherapy ; Digital Health ; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/trends ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Digital Media ; *Mental Disorders/therapy/psychology ; },
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid transitions to digital psychotherapy delivery formats, yet systematic quantification of these developments within psychotherapy research remains limited. This study presents an updated trend analysis of psychotherapy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2019 to 2023. Systematic searches in PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO identified RCTs across predefined psychotherapeutic intervention categories. Trials were categorized by treatment approach, region and age group. A total of 1223 psychotherapy RCTs were identified. Despite a temporary decline in 2022 (-13%), the overall number of trials increased by 26.3% across the study period. eHealth interventions constituted the largest psychotherapeutic intervention category (43%), surpassing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT; 37%). Among eHealth trials, 71% evaluated internet-delivered CBT. Only eHealth and telehealth showed statistically significant increases in proportional representation over time. Other therapeutic approaches each represented < 7% of treatment arms and showed no significant proportional change. Trial activity remained concentrated in high-income countries (73.4%) and predominantly targeted adult populations, with children and adolescents comprising 17.3% of trials. The findings illustrate a dynamic field that remained active during the COVID-19 crisis, with eHealth emerging as the most frequently investigated therapeutic approach accompanied by substantial growth in telehealth interventions. Despite the overall growth in trial activity, research efforts remained heavily concentrated around CBT-derived interventions, adult populations and high-income country settings.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*COVID-19
*Psychotherapy/trends/methods
*Telemedicine/trends
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Pandemics
Mental Health Teletherapy
Digital Health
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/trends
SARS-CoV-2
Digital Media
*Mental Disorders/therapy/psychology
RevDate: 2026-08-26
CmpDate: 2026-08-12
Low reporting quality limits the contribution of human organ models to COVID-19 research: a systematic review.
EBioMedicine, 130:106392.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic created a unique situation in which researchers repurposed human models of varying complexity to investigate SARS-CoV-2, providing the opportunity to analyse their contribution across organs.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of 558 studies, divided into pandemic and post-pandemic periods, to assess how human models were applied to investigate host factors, viral replication of SARS-CoV-2, immune responses, and to evaluate reporting quality.
FINDINGS: Our analysis revealed substantial limitations that were only partially alleviated in post-pandemic studies. These limitations included heterogeneity of outcome measures, incomplete documentation of model characteristics and experimental procedures, and variable reporting quality, which were associated with reduced cross-study comparability, more difficult risk-of-bias assessment, and limited reliability and interpretability of evidence synthesis and meta-analytical results.
INTERPRETATION: Strengthening community-driven reporting standards and methodological transparency is essential to enable robust evidence synthesis and to fully realise the potential of human organ models in future pandemics and translational research.
FUNDING: The study was supported by Einstein Foundation Berlin; Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space; European Union; Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung; Volkswagen Foundation; Charité 3R; Foundation Charité.
Additional Links: PMID-42520549
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@article {pmid42520549,
year = {2026},
author = {Hülsemann, M and Kniffert, S and Löwa, A and Baumgardt, M and Hönzke, K and Vallone, VF and Drude, NI and Stüdemann, T and Ali, ASM and Arroyo Araujo, M and Bannach-Brown, A and Brunotte, L and Faist, A and Fatykhova, D and Fischer, M and Hellwig, L and Hinse, S and Kessler, M and Carlisle, BG and Khankeh, S and Dhamrait, IS and Klein, C and Koceva, H and Kumar, S and Kurreck, J and Ludwik, KA and Mergenthaler, P and Schmerbeck, SS and Singh, S and Teixeira Alves, LG and Wyler, E and Stachelscheid, H and Hippenstiel, S and Toelch, U and Hocke, AC},
title = {Low reporting quality limits the contribution of human organ models to COVID-19 research: a systematic review.},
journal = {EBioMedicine},
volume = {130},
number = {},
pages = {106392},
pmid = {42520549},
issn = {2352-3964},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/virology ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology ; Pandemics ; *Models, Biological ; Virus Replication ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic created a unique situation in which researchers repurposed human models of varying complexity to investigate SARS-CoV-2, providing the opportunity to analyse their contribution across organs.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of 558 studies, divided into pandemic and post-pandemic periods, to assess how human models were applied to investigate host factors, viral replication of SARS-CoV-2, immune responses, and to evaluate reporting quality.
FINDINGS: Our analysis revealed substantial limitations that were only partially alleviated in post-pandemic studies. These limitations included heterogeneity of outcome measures, incomplete documentation of model characteristics and experimental procedures, and variable reporting quality, which were associated with reduced cross-study comparability, more difficult risk-of-bias assessment, and limited reliability and interpretability of evidence synthesis and meta-analytical results.
INTERPRETATION: Strengthening community-driven reporting standards and methodological transparency is essential to enable robust evidence synthesis and to fully realise the potential of human organ models in future pandemics and translational research.
FUNDING: The study was supported by Einstein Foundation Berlin; Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space; European Union; Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung; Volkswagen Foundation; Charité 3R; Foundation Charité.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*COVID-19/virology
SARS-CoV-2/physiology
Pandemics
*Models, Biological
Virus Replication
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
The Role of CD4 T Cell Repertoire and Immune Memory Mechanisms in Vaccination and Infection Immunity.
Immunological reviews, 341(1):e70148.
CD4[+] T cells orchestrate adaptive immunity against respiratory viruses through functionally distinct subsets, yet the qualitative differences between vaccine- and infection-induced responses remain incompletely understood. This review summarizes current evidence on how CD4[+] T cell subsets shape the magnitude, breadth, and durability of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. mRNA vaccines elicit a potent Th1/Tfh1-biased response that generates high-affinity neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic CD4[+] T cells (CD4-CTLs) with stem-cell memory properties. However, this strong type I bias may come at the cost of long-term maintenance of humoral memory. Natural infection additionally establishes tissue-resident memory CD4[+] T cells (CD4 TRMs) at respiratory mucosal surfaces, providing a frontline defense that current intramuscular vaccines fail to recapitulate efficiently. Crucially, this T cell immunity proves far more resilient than neutralizing antibodies against Variants of Concern, as many memory T cell epitopes from the ancestral strain are conserved across successive variants, a robustness further reinforced by pre-existing cross-reactive CD4[+] T cells primed through prior seasonal coronavirus exposure or influenza infection. These observations argue for a fundamental shift in vaccine design toward mucosal delivery and conserved-epitope antigens to achieve durable, broadly cross-reactive protection.
Additional Links: PMID-42522246
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@article {pmid42522246,
year = {2026},
author = {Kubo, M},
title = {The Role of CD4 T Cell Repertoire and Immune Memory Mechanisms in Vaccination and Infection Immunity.},
journal = {Immunological reviews},
volume = {341},
number = {1},
pages = {e70148},
pmid = {42522246},
issn = {1600-065X},
support = {19gm1310002//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)/ ; 25K10403//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Immunologic Memory ; Animals ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Vaccination ; *Influenza, Human/immunology ; *COVID-19/immunology/prevention & control ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology ; *Influenza Vaccines/immunology ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology ; Memory T Cells/immunology ; },
abstract = {CD4[+] T cells orchestrate adaptive immunity against respiratory viruses through functionally distinct subsets, yet the qualitative differences between vaccine- and infection-induced responses remain incompletely understood. This review summarizes current evidence on how CD4[+] T cell subsets shape the magnitude, breadth, and durability of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. mRNA vaccines elicit a potent Th1/Tfh1-biased response that generates high-affinity neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic CD4[+] T cells (CD4-CTLs) with stem-cell memory properties. However, this strong type I bias may come at the cost of long-term maintenance of humoral memory. Natural infection additionally establishes tissue-resident memory CD4[+] T cells (CD4 TRMs) at respiratory mucosal surfaces, providing a frontline defense that current intramuscular vaccines fail to recapitulate efficiently. Crucially, this T cell immunity proves far more resilient than neutralizing antibodies against Variants of Concern, as many memory T cell epitopes from the ancestral strain are conserved across successive variants, a robustness further reinforced by pre-existing cross-reactive CD4[+] T cells primed through prior seasonal coronavirus exposure or influenza infection. These observations argue for a fundamental shift in vaccine design toward mucosal delivery and conserved-epitope antigens to achieve durable, broadly cross-reactive protection.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Immunologic Memory
Animals
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
Vaccination
*Influenza, Human/immunology
*COVID-19/immunology/prevention & control
*COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
*Influenza Vaccines/immunology
Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology
Memory T Cells/immunology
RevDate: 2026-08-25
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Impact of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Targeted at COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Burden-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 20(8):e70301.
Seasonal influenza imposes a substantial global health burden. The COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by widespread non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), profoundly disrupted respiratory virus circulation, offering a unique opportunity to assess their broader epidemiological impact. This study aimed to quantify changes in influenza burden between the pre-pandemic and intra-pandemic periods. Within the RESPINOW project, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting absolute influenza case counts before and during the pandemic were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using a modified NHLBI tool for before-after studies. Influenza cases were normalized by reporting period length, and relative changes were estimated using incidence rate ratios. Subgroup analyses explored age, setting, hemisphere, human development index, influenza transmission zones, WHO regions, and viral strains. Of 20,676 screened records, 115 studies from 98 countries were included. Globally, influenza incidence declined by -92% (95% CI: -94 to -90) following the onset of the pandemic. Reductions varied geographically, ranging from near-elimination in several countries to more modest declines (e.g., South Korea: -61%, 95% CI: -79 to -26). Decreases were observed across all transmission zones and WHO regions, with descriptively larger reductions observed in high-income countries (-96%, 95% CI: -98 to -94) than in low-income settings (-82%, 95% CI: -88 to -73). Age-specific declines appeared smaller among young children (< 6 years: -66%, 95% CI: -79 to -45) compared with adults aged 18-64 years (-80%, 95% CI: -90 to -63). Influenza A appeared to decline more strongly than influenza B. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an unprecedented global reduction in influenza incidence. Data limitations and the need for robust epidemiological indicators highlight the importance of strengthened, integrated global surveillance to inform future pandemic responses.
Additional Links: PMID-42522402
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42522402,
year = {2026},
author = {Böhler, LI and Koeppel, L and Weber, SF and Gaeddert, M and Thielemann, K and Glaser, K and Ismail, HM and Reinacher, U and Jaeger, VK and Böhnke, J and Bartz, A and Pavic, M and Harries, M and Kuczewski, C and Heinsohn, T and Hovardovska, O and Huei, SY and Xu, C and Gottschick, C and Contreras, S and Filinski, M and Grilli, M and Lange, B and , and Denkinger, CM},
title = {Impact of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Targeted at COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Burden-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Influenza and other respiratory viruses},
volume = {20},
number = {8},
pages = {e70301},
pmid = {42522402},
issn = {1750-2659},
support = {031L0298C//Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)/ ; MV2021-012//Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)/ ; FKZ031L0298B//Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)/ ; 031L0298G//Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)/ ; 031L0298F//Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Influenza, Human/epidemiology/prevention & control ; *COVID-19/epidemiology/prevention & control ; Incidence ; *Pandemics/prevention & control ; Global Health ; },
abstract = {Seasonal influenza imposes a substantial global health burden. The COVID-19 pandemic, accompanied by widespread non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), profoundly disrupted respiratory virus circulation, offering a unique opportunity to assess their broader epidemiological impact. This study aimed to quantify changes in influenza burden between the pre-pandemic and intra-pandemic periods. Within the RESPINOW project, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. Studies reporting absolute influenza case counts before and during the pandemic were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using a modified NHLBI tool for before-after studies. Influenza cases were normalized by reporting period length, and relative changes were estimated using incidence rate ratios. Subgroup analyses explored age, setting, hemisphere, human development index, influenza transmission zones, WHO regions, and viral strains. Of 20,676 screened records, 115 studies from 98 countries were included. Globally, influenza incidence declined by -92% (95% CI: -94 to -90) following the onset of the pandemic. Reductions varied geographically, ranging from near-elimination in several countries to more modest declines (e.g., South Korea: -61%, 95% CI: -79 to -26). Decreases were observed across all transmission zones and WHO regions, with descriptively larger reductions observed in high-income countries (-96%, 95% CI: -98 to -94) than in low-income settings (-82%, 95% CI: -88 to -73). Age-specific declines appeared smaller among young children (< 6 years: -66%, 95% CI: -79 to -45) compared with adults aged 18-64 years (-80%, 95% CI: -90 to -63). Influenza A appeared to decline more strongly than influenza B. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an unprecedented global reduction in influenza incidence. Data limitations and the need for robust epidemiological indicators highlight the importance of strengthened, integrated global surveillance to inform future pandemic responses.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Influenza, Human/epidemiology/prevention & control
*COVID-19/epidemiology/prevention & control
Incidence
*Pandemics/prevention & control
Global Health
RevDate: 2026-07-29
Understanding anthropological contributions to infectious disease outbreak preparedness and response: a scoping review of key trends since 2019.
Anthropology & medicine [Epub ahead of print].
This review explores how anthropology has been applied in outbreak preparedness and response since the onset of COVID-19 in 2019, identifying key trends and providing recommendations to its integration into global health practice. Our search of four databases yielded 68 studies published between 2019 and August 2024. Most studies (71%) focused on COVID-19, followed by Ebola (17%). Nearly half examine African contexts (46%), with fewer studies in Asia (26%), Europe (8%) and North America (4%). Existing studies predominantly address outbreak response rather than preparedness. Key themes include: local knowledge and the governance of outbreaks; the heterogeneity of communities and the vital role of local leaders; power dynamics and mistrust; and growing recognition of multispecies, zoonotic and planetary health dimensions. The review highlights persistent structural inequalities, with anthropological engagement in outbreak preparedness and response deeply shaped by Global North dominance. It calls for more critical and inclusive approaches to local leadership, challenging assumptions about representation, authority and trust. While rapid methods enable timely insights, they also involve trade-offs in depth and long-term engagement. Addressing these challenges requires more equitable partnerships, sustained investment in Global South capacity and participation, and deeper engagement with the structural, cultural and political dimensions of health emergencies.
Additional Links: PMID-42522596
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42522596,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhao, Y and Lees, S and Palmer, J and Nyikuri, M and Beckmann, N},
title = {Understanding anthropological contributions to infectious disease outbreak preparedness and response: a scoping review of key trends since 2019.},
journal = {Anthropology & medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-18},
doi = {10.1080/13648470.2026.2688493},
pmid = {42522596},
issn = {1469-2910},
abstract = {This review explores how anthropology has been applied in outbreak preparedness and response since the onset of COVID-19 in 2019, identifying key trends and providing recommendations to its integration into global health practice. Our search of four databases yielded 68 studies published between 2019 and August 2024. Most studies (71%) focused on COVID-19, followed by Ebola (17%). Nearly half examine African contexts (46%), with fewer studies in Asia (26%), Europe (8%) and North America (4%). Existing studies predominantly address outbreak response rather than preparedness. Key themes include: local knowledge and the governance of outbreaks; the heterogeneity of communities and the vital role of local leaders; power dynamics and mistrust; and growing recognition of multispecies, zoonotic and planetary health dimensions. The review highlights persistent structural inequalities, with anthropological engagement in outbreak preparedness and response deeply shaped by Global North dominance. It calls for more critical and inclusive approaches to local leadership, challenging assumptions about representation, authority and trust. While rapid methods enable timely insights, they also involve trade-offs in depth and long-term engagement. Addressing these challenges requires more equitable partnerships, sustained investment in Global South capacity and participation, and deeper engagement with the structural, cultural and political dimensions of health emergencies.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Understanding the biology of mucormycosis using contemporary omics tools: a review.
Biotechnologia, 107(2):205-220.
Mucormycosis (the "black fungus infection") is a life-threatening angioinvasive fungal infection caused by opportunistic fungi of the class Mucormycetes. A lot of clinical exercises were made in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period due to admission of patients suffering from so called "black fungus disease". Many of patients had been operated for excision of their vital organs, colonized with massive fungal mycelia to restrict further invasion. In these circumstances, this apt article endeavour to scrutinize and debate some of the viable factors and prospective mechanisms that can assist to understand and elucidate the enigma of sudden, steep and deadly upsurge of mucormycosis infection. Here we review the specific contribution of high-throughput next-generation sequencing and multi-omics-based approaches to the general knowledge and understanding of Mucormycetes and further detail about the most exciting discoveries pertaining to the recently identified genetic advancements in Mucormycetes and mucormycosis. Through the use of a few genetic study models virulence factors in Mucormycetes that were previously unknown have been identified. Most remarkably, new research has opened up new possibilities for developing novel treatments against mucormycosis by identifying novel genes and process governing the pathogenic potential of Mucormycetes and their interaction with host. Ultimately virulence investigations in Mucormycetes that were previously hindered are now possible with new study models indicating a promising future for the field leading to the development of therapies to treat mucormycosis.
Additional Links: PMID-42524094
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42524094,
year = {2026},
author = {Mishra, D and Pattnaik, S},
title = {Understanding the biology of mucormycosis using contemporary omics tools: a review.},
journal = {Biotechnologia},
volume = {107},
number = {2},
pages = {205-220},
pmid = {42524094},
issn = {2353-9461},
abstract = {Mucormycosis (the "black fungus infection") is a life-threatening angioinvasive fungal infection caused by opportunistic fungi of the class Mucormycetes. A lot of clinical exercises were made in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period due to admission of patients suffering from so called "black fungus disease". Many of patients had been operated for excision of their vital organs, colonized with massive fungal mycelia to restrict further invasion. In these circumstances, this apt article endeavour to scrutinize and debate some of the viable factors and prospective mechanisms that can assist to understand and elucidate the enigma of sudden, steep and deadly upsurge of mucormycosis infection. Here we review the specific contribution of high-throughput next-generation sequencing and multi-omics-based approaches to the general knowledge and understanding of Mucormycetes and further detail about the most exciting discoveries pertaining to the recently identified genetic advancements in Mucormycetes and mucormycosis. Through the use of a few genetic study models virulence factors in Mucormycetes that were previously unknown have been identified. Most remarkably, new research has opened up new possibilities for developing novel treatments against mucormycosis by identifying novel genes and process governing the pathogenic potential of Mucormycetes and their interaction with host. Ultimately virulence investigations in Mucormycetes that were previously hindered are now possible with new study models indicating a promising future for the field leading to the development of therapies to treat mucormycosis.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Emerging zoonotic threats: HKU5-CoV-2 and the CBRNE approach to pandemic prevention.
Infectious diseases & immunity, 6(1):72-77.
The emergence of HKU5-CoV-2, a novel lineage in the Merbecovirus subgenus, represents a potential zoonotic threat with significant implications for global health. This bat-derived virus, which is phylogenetically similar to the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has demonstrated the ability to use the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to enter human cells. Although no human infections have been reported, its zoonotic potential raises the possibility of spillover events, which could lead to widespread transmission and, under certain conditions, pandemics. This study explores the virological characteristics, epidemiological risks, and clinical implications of HKU5-CoV-2, emphasizing its capacity to cross species barriers and cause severe respiratory diseases. To address the potential for a future pandemic, we propose a theoretical response framework based on the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive approach traditionally employed for high-consequence biological threats. This strategy integrates early detection through advanced genomic surveillance, rapid containment measures, the development of targeted medical countermeasures, effective risk communication, and international collaboration. By leveraging lessons from previous coronavirus outbreaks, this framework aims to mitigate the impact of a potential HKU5-CoV-2 spillover and to ensure a coordinated and efficient global response. This study underscores the importance of preparedness in the face of emerging zoonotic viruses and provides a roadmap for managing future biological threats of pandemic potential.
Additional Links: PMID-42524579
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42524579,
year = {2026},
author = {Ludovici, GM and Tassi, PA and Iannotti, A and Russo, C and Quaranta, R and Manenti, G and Malizia, A},
title = {Emerging zoonotic threats: HKU5-CoV-2 and the CBRNE approach to pandemic prevention.},
journal = {Infectious diseases & immunity},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {72-77},
pmid = {42524579},
issn = {2693-8839},
abstract = {The emergence of HKU5-CoV-2, a novel lineage in the Merbecovirus subgenus, represents a potential zoonotic threat with significant implications for global health. This bat-derived virus, which is phylogenetically similar to the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has demonstrated the ability to use the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to enter human cells. Although no human infections have been reported, its zoonotic potential raises the possibility of spillover events, which could lead to widespread transmission and, under certain conditions, pandemics. This study explores the virological characteristics, epidemiological risks, and clinical implications of HKU5-CoV-2, emphasizing its capacity to cross species barriers and cause severe respiratory diseases. To address the potential for a future pandemic, we propose a theoretical response framework based on the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive approach traditionally employed for high-consequence biological threats. This strategy integrates early detection through advanced genomic surveillance, rapid containment measures, the development of targeted medical countermeasures, effective risk communication, and international collaboration. By leveraging lessons from previous coronavirus outbreaks, this framework aims to mitigate the impact of a potential HKU5-CoV-2 spillover and to ensure a coordinated and efficient global response. This study underscores the importance of preparedness in the face of emerging zoonotic viruses and provides a roadmap for managing future biological threats of pandemic potential.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-25
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 98(suppl 1):e20251250 pii:S0001-37652026001003002.
The objective of the study was to evaluate the convergence between cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) and COVID-19. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and cross-sectional studies, considering the best level of evidence available and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42024508173). After the criteria were established, the search encompassed three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science) to identify studies that evaluated the possible convergence between cf-mtDNA and the development of COVID-19, verifying its relationship with survival and severity. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used for data extraction, and R software for analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. After the identification and screening processes, eleven studies were selected for the final analysis, that revealed a convergence between elevated levels of cf-mtDNA and the development of COVID-19 (MD=0.70, IC95% 0.39-1.01, p<0.001) and its relationship with the disease severity (MD=1.08, IC95% 0.35-1.82, p=0.004), but not with survival (MD=0.58, IC95% -0.24-1.41, p=0.16). Conclusions: These findings contribute to a better understanding of cf-mtDNA's role in COVID-19 pathogenesis, its potential as a promising biomarker, and pave the way for the identification of new therapeutic targets.
Additional Links: PMID-42525082
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@article {pmid42525082,
year = {2026},
author = {Souza, FC and Souza, KP and Scaramello, CBV},
title = {Evaluating the Relationship Between Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) Levels and COVID-19 Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias},
volume = {98},
number = {suppl 1},
pages = {e20251250},
doi = {10.1590/0001-3765202620251250},
pmid = {42525082},
issn = {1678-2690},
mesh = {*DNA, Mitochondrial/blood ; Humans ; *COVID-19/blood ; Severity of Illness Index ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics ; *Cell-Free Nucleic Acids/blood ; Biomarkers/blood ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; },
abstract = {The objective of the study was to evaluate the convergence between cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) and COVID-19. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and cross-sectional studies, considering the best level of evidence available and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD 42024508173). After the criteria were established, the search encompassed three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science) to identify studies that evaluated the possible convergence between cf-mtDNA and the development of COVID-19, verifying its relationship with survival and severity. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used for data extraction, and R software for analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. After the identification and screening processes, eleven studies were selected for the final analysis, that revealed a convergence between elevated levels of cf-mtDNA and the development of COVID-19 (MD=0.70, IC95% 0.39-1.01, p<0.001) and its relationship with the disease severity (MD=1.08, IC95% 0.35-1.82, p=0.004), but not with survival (MD=0.58, IC95% -0.24-1.41, p=0.16). Conclusions: These findings contribute to a better understanding of cf-mtDNA's role in COVID-19 pathogenesis, its potential as a promising biomarker, and pave the way for the identification of new therapeutic targets.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
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*DNA, Mitochondrial/blood
Humans
*COVID-19/blood
Severity of Illness Index
SARS-CoV-2
Pandemics
*Cell-Free Nucleic Acids/blood
Biomarkers/blood
Cross-Sectional Studies
RevDate: 2026-09-23
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
NSAIDs in the environment: a 2020-2025 review of impacts on plant and algal Physiology.
Ecotoxicology (London, England), 35(6):.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belong to the most frequently detected pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, raising growing concern about their effects on non-target primary producers. Unlike earlier reviews, based mainly on data collected before the year 2020, when environmental exposure levels were substantially lower, this work synthesizes research conducted over the last five years (2020-2025), a period that includes the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The pandemic was associated with a sharp global increase in the consumption of NSAIDs, resulting in their markedly elevated environmental loads. Consequently, the studies assessed in this review reflect plant and algal responses under significantly higher contamination pressures than those reported in pre-pandemic decades, offering a new perspective on their phytotoxic potential. A systematic literature search retrieved over 5,000 records, from which the most relevant experimental studies were selected for detailed evaluation. The compiled evidence demonstrates that NSAIDs adversely affect photosynthesis, induce ultrastructural damage to chloroplasts, and compromise mitochondrial respiration, including alterations in membrane potential and ATP production. Exposure to NSAIDs triggers oxidative stress responses, characterized by reactive oxygen species overproduction, lipid peroxidation, and variable changes in antioxidant enzyme activity. Beyond primary metabolism, numerous reports document disruptions in growth patterns, root system architecture, mineral balance, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. By integrating the most up-to-date findings from a period of exceptionally intense pharmaceutical pollution, this review provides a novel and more realistic assessment of the ecological risks posed by NSAIDs. It underscores the urgency of developing stricter environmental quality standards and highlights key directions for future research under contemporary contamination scenarios.
Additional Links: PMID-42525146
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@article {pmid42525146,
year = {2026},
author = {Majewska, M and Harshkova, D and Aksmann, A},
title = {NSAIDs in the environment: a 2020-2025 review of impacts on plant and algal Physiology.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)},
volume = {35},
number = {6},
pages = {},
pmid = {42525146},
issn = {1573-3017},
support = {UMO-2023/49/N/NZ8/02077//National Science Centre, Poland/ ; },
mesh = {*Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/toxicity ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; *Plants/drug effects ; },
abstract = {Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) belong to the most frequently detected pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, raising growing concern about their effects on non-target primary producers. Unlike earlier reviews, based mainly on data collected before the year 2020, when environmental exposure levels were substantially lower, this work synthesizes research conducted over the last five years (2020-2025), a period that includes the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The pandemic was associated with a sharp global increase in the consumption of NSAIDs, resulting in their markedly elevated environmental loads. Consequently, the studies assessed in this review reflect plant and algal responses under significantly higher contamination pressures than those reported in pre-pandemic decades, offering a new perspective on their phytotoxic potential. A systematic literature search retrieved over 5,000 records, from which the most relevant experimental studies were selected for detailed evaluation. The compiled evidence demonstrates that NSAIDs adversely affect photosynthesis, induce ultrastructural damage to chloroplasts, and compromise mitochondrial respiration, including alterations in membrane potential and ATP production. Exposure to NSAIDs triggers oxidative stress responses, characterized by reactive oxygen species overproduction, lipid peroxidation, and variable changes in antioxidant enzyme activity. Beyond primary metabolism, numerous reports document disruptions in growth patterns, root system architecture, mineral balance, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. By integrating the most up-to-date findings from a period of exceptionally intense pharmaceutical pollution, this review provides a novel and more realistic assessment of the ecological risks posed by NSAIDs. It underscores the urgency of developing stricter environmental quality standards and highlights key directions for future research under contemporary contamination scenarios.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/toxicity
*Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity
Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Photosynthesis/drug effects
*Plants/drug effects
RevDate: 2026-10-20
CmpDate: 2026-09-07
AI for mental disorders and diabetes comorbidity management: A scoping review.
General hospital psychiatry, 102:105-114.
BACKGROUND: The comorbidity of mental disorders and diabetes is on the rise, presenting a significant global public health challenge that gravely impacts the physical and psychological health of patients and presents obstacles to their effective management. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in particular, aggravated these challenges owing to restrictions on in-person care. Artificial intelligence (AI) interventions have emerged as a promising solution to alleviate this burden. Thus, we conducted a scoping review to map the current evidence in the literature and provide a clear understanding of AI for mental disorders and comorbid diabetes.
METHODS: This scoping review utilized the Arksey & O'Malley framework. Five electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published in the post-COVID era, focusing on AI-assisted approaches for individuals with mental disorders and comorbid diabetes.
RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were reviewed. Supervised learning algorithms were most commonly employed, with studies reporting positive performance metrics, while generative AI was essentially absent. The findings demonstrated promising outcomes in four functional domains: Risk assessment, Prediction, Diagnosis, and Personalised care. AI applications are predominantly at the capability stage of translation maturity, focusing mainly on model development and validation, with limited adoption in existing clinical workflows. Other limitations include little demographic reporting, limited external validation, scarce intervention-focused research, and ethical concerns.
CONCLUSION: AI shows promise in enhancing support for individuals with mental disorders and diabetes through targeted, data-driven strategies. Future studies should prioritize clinically integrated, patient-centred AI interventions and evaluate their effectiveness in improving functional outcomes, while addressing ethical considerations.
Additional Links: PMID-42526183
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@article {pmid42526183,
year = {2026},
author = {Kaburu, FM and Zhu, P and Kudiza, A and McDonnell, D and da Veiga, CP and Nie, JB and Xiang, YT and Su, Z},
title = {AI for mental disorders and diabetes comorbidity management: A scoping review.},
journal = {General hospital psychiatry},
volume = {102},
number = {},
pages = {105-114},
doi = {10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2026.06.009},
pmid = {42526183},
issn = {1873-7714},
mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; Comorbidity ; *Diabetes Mellitus/therapy/epidemiology ; *Digital Health ; *Mental Disorders/therapy/epidemiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The comorbidity of mental disorders and diabetes is on the rise, presenting a significant global public health challenge that gravely impacts the physical and psychological health of patients and presents obstacles to their effective management. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in particular, aggravated these challenges owing to restrictions on in-person care. Artificial intelligence (AI) interventions have emerged as a promising solution to alleviate this burden. Thus, we conducted a scoping review to map the current evidence in the literature and provide a clear understanding of AI for mental disorders and comorbid diabetes.
METHODS: This scoping review utilized the Arksey & O'Malley framework. Five electronic databases were systematically searched for studies published in the post-COVID era, focusing on AI-assisted approaches for individuals with mental disorders and comorbid diabetes.
RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were reviewed. Supervised learning algorithms were most commonly employed, with studies reporting positive performance metrics, while generative AI was essentially absent. The findings demonstrated promising outcomes in four functional domains: Risk assessment, Prediction, Diagnosis, and Personalised care. AI applications are predominantly at the capability stage of translation maturity, focusing mainly on model development and validation, with limited adoption in existing clinical workflows. Other limitations include little demographic reporting, limited external validation, scarce intervention-focused research, and ethical concerns.
CONCLUSION: AI shows promise in enhancing support for individuals with mental disorders and diabetes through targeted, data-driven strategies. Future studies should prioritize clinically integrated, patient-centred AI interventions and evaluate their effectiveness in improving functional outcomes, while addressing ethical considerations.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Artificial Intelligence
Comorbidity
*Diabetes Mellitus/therapy/epidemiology
*Digital Health
*Mental Disorders/therapy/epidemiology
RevDate: 2026-07-29
CmpDate: 2026-07-29
Daily Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Type 1 Diabetes: What we've Learned and What Comes Next.
Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America, 55(3):421-435.
Phase 2 clinical trials using daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as adjunct therapy in type 1 diabetes showed promising signals for efficacy on glycemic control and weight. These effects were confirmed in larger phase 3 trials but accompanied by safety issues including hypoglycemia and ketosis. Of note, these trials were conducted before the availability of widespread continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and used simple one size fits all rules for insulin dose titration. Attention has moved on to weekly injectable agents at present, with more individualized insulin titration and guided by CGM.
Additional Links: PMID-42526994
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@article {pmid42526994,
year = {2026},
author = {Innes, R and Petrie, JR and Dejgaard, TF},
title = {Daily Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Type 1 Diabetes: What we've Learned and What Comes Next.},
journal = {Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America},
volume = {55},
number = {3},
pages = {421-435},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecl.2026.04.002},
pmid = {42526994},
issn = {1558-4410},
mesh = {Humans ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy/blood ; *Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists ; *Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage/therapeutic use/adverse effects ; Continuous Glucose Monitoring ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor ; Peptides/administration & dosage ; },
abstract = {Phase 2 clinical trials using daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists as adjunct therapy in type 1 diabetes showed promising signals for efficacy on glycemic control and weight. These effects were confirmed in larger phase 3 trials but accompanied by safety issues including hypoglycemia and ketosis. Of note, these trials were conducted before the availability of widespread continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and used simple one size fits all rules for insulin dose titration. Attention has moved on to weekly injectable agents at present, with more individualized insulin titration and guided by CGM.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy/blood
*Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
*Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage/therapeutic use/adverse effects
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
Peptides/administration & dosage
RevDate: 2026-10-10
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
Strengthening data, analytic and scientific writing skills: Insights from working with 17 health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) centres in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Population health metrics, 23(Suppl 2):.
In the ever-evolving landscape of global health, Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) generate rare and valuable longitudinal data for understanding health and population dynamics and their determinants in low- and middle-income countries, where vital registration systems are often weak. However, the utility of HDSS centres relies heavily on the capabilities of those responsible for cleaning, describing and analysing the wealth of data they generate. This paper describes our targeted strategy for strengthening the capacity of personnel in HDSS research settings, particularly focusing on data managers and analysts. Additionally, we explore the unique challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic for HDSS research centres, emphasizing the need for a skilled workforce to navigate complex data dynamics. Our approach involved three in-person workshops dedicated to data preparation, analysis, and scientific writing, supplemented by weekly online check-ins and a 25-week writing program. Each workshop included two representatives from participating sites with skills aligned to the workshops. Following two years of intensive capacity building, this project has yielded 15 original research manuscripts currently under review, forming part of a journal special issue on the impact of COVID-19 on mortality in African and South Asian populations. Open-access aggregated data will complement these papers.
Additional Links: PMID-42527933
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@article {pmid42527933,
year = {2026},
author = {Seabi, T and Barr, BAT and Kabudula, CW and Herbst, K and Ohene-Kwofie, D and Bashingwa, J and Dube, A and Kahn, K and Tollman, S},
title = {Strengthening data, analytic and scientific writing skills: Insights from working with 17 health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) centres in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.},
journal = {Population health metrics},
volume = {23},
number = {Suppl 2},
pages = {},
pmid = {42527933},
issn = {1478-7954},
mesh = {Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology ; Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology ; *Population Surveillance/methods ; Asia, Southern ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics ; Capacity Building ; Public Health Infrastructure ; *Demography ; },
abstract = {In the ever-evolving landscape of global health, Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) generate rare and valuable longitudinal data for understanding health and population dynamics and their determinants in low- and middle-income countries, where vital registration systems are often weak. However, the utility of HDSS centres relies heavily on the capabilities of those responsible for cleaning, describing and analysing the wealth of data they generate. This paper describes our targeted strategy for strengthening the capacity of personnel in HDSS research settings, particularly focusing on data managers and analysts. Additionally, we explore the unique challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic for HDSS research centres, emphasizing the need for a skilled workforce to navigate complex data dynamics. Our approach involved three in-person workshops dedicated to data preparation, analysis, and scientific writing, supplemented by weekly online check-ins and a 25-week writing program. Each workshop included two representatives from participating sites with skills aligned to the workshops. Following two years of intensive capacity building, this project has yielded 15 original research manuscripts currently under review, forming part of a journal special issue on the impact of COVID-19 on mortality in African and South Asian populations. Open-access aggregated data will complement these papers.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
COVID-19/epidemiology
Africa South of the Sahara/epidemiology
*Population Surveillance/methods
Asia, Southern
SARS-CoV-2
Pandemics
Capacity Building
Public Health Infrastructure
*Demography
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
The impact of training and education programs for healthcare professionals on video- and text-based consultations in ensuring healthcare quality: a scoping review.
Frontiers in digital health, 8:1861018.
BACKGROUND: The rapid expansion of video- and text-based consultations has transformed healthcare delivery, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. As virtual care becomes embedded in routine practice, healthcare professionals require appropriate training to deliver safe and effective digital healthcare.
OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize evidence on training and education programs designed to prepare healthcare professionals for video- and text-based consultations and to examine reported outcomes, facilitators, and barriers.
METHODS: This review followed Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR and PRISMA-S guidelines. Multiple bibliographic databases and grey literature sources were searched for studies published between January 1, 2003, and December 24, 2024. Eligible studies included those involving healthcare professionals receiving training in video consultations or text-based communication. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection and data extraction. Findings were synthesized descriptively.
RESULTS: Twenty studies were included. Training approaches varied considerably and included workshops, webinars, online modules, simulations, telehealth Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, and hybrid programs. Most studies reported improvements in confidence, perceived competence, and readiness to provide virtual care. However, outcomes were predominantly based on short-term self-reported measures, with limited evidence relating to long-term skill retention, patient outcomes, or organizational impact. Most included studies focused on video-based consultations, while evidence relating specifically to text-based consultation training was limited. Common challenges included virtual physical examinations, technological barriers, and maintaining patient engagement.
CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth training programs are increasingly used to support healthcare professionals in delivering video- and text-based consultations. The available evidence is concentrated on learner-focused outcomes, whereas patient-level, organizational, and long-term outcomes remain underexplored. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review to synthesize training approaches across both video- and text-based consultation modalities. Future research should prioritize longitudinal evaluation, patient and organizational outcomes, and modality-specific competency development to support sustainable digital healthcare delivery.
Additional Links: PMID-42528790
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42528790,
year = {2026},
author = {Jabin, MSR and Bi, N and Thomas, S and Ashfaq, A and Nilsson, E},
title = {The impact of training and education programs for healthcare professionals on video- and text-based consultations in ensuring healthcare quality: a scoping review.},
journal = {Frontiers in digital health},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {1861018},
pmid = {42528790},
issn = {2673-253X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The rapid expansion of video- and text-based consultations has transformed healthcare delivery, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. As virtual care becomes embedded in routine practice, healthcare professionals require appropriate training to deliver safe and effective digital healthcare.
OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize evidence on training and education programs designed to prepare healthcare professionals for video- and text-based consultations and to examine reported outcomes, facilitators, and barriers.
METHODS: This review followed Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR and PRISMA-S guidelines. Multiple bibliographic databases and grey literature sources were searched for studies published between January 1, 2003, and December 24, 2024. Eligible studies included those involving healthcare professionals receiving training in video consultations or text-based communication. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection and data extraction. Findings were synthesized descriptively.
RESULTS: Twenty studies were included. Training approaches varied considerably and included workshops, webinars, online modules, simulations, telehealth Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, and hybrid programs. Most studies reported improvements in confidence, perceived competence, and readiness to provide virtual care. However, outcomes were predominantly based on short-term self-reported measures, with limited evidence relating to long-term skill retention, patient outcomes, or organizational impact. Most included studies focused on video-based consultations, while evidence relating specifically to text-based consultation training was limited. Common challenges included virtual physical examinations, technological barriers, and maintaining patient engagement.
CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth training programs are increasingly used to support healthcare professionals in delivering video- and text-based consultations. The available evidence is concentrated on learner-focused outcomes, whereas patient-level, organizational, and long-term outcomes remain underexplored. To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review to synthesize training approaches across both video- and text-based consultation modalities. Future research should prioritize longitudinal evaluation, patient and organizational outcomes, and modality-specific competency development to support sustainable digital healthcare delivery.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
High-flow nasal oxygen in perioperative and critical care: a bibliometric analysis.
Frontiers in medicine, 13:1856380.
BACKGROUND: High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), also known as high-flow nasal cannula, is an important noninvasive respiratory support strategy in perioperative and critical care practice. As the literature has expanded across multiple clinical contexts, a structured overview is needed to clarify the development, knowledge base, and emerging priorities of the field.
METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric and visual analysis of HFNO research using English-language articles and reviews retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed for the period 2000-2025. After screening, merging, and deduplication, 2,314 unique publications were included. Bibliometrix in R was used for performance analysis, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution; VOSviewer for collaboration analysis; and CiteSpace for co-citation analysis, keyword clustering, timeline visualization, burst detection, and dual-map overlay.
RESULTS: HFNO research showed sustained exponential growth, with marked acceleration after 2018 and especially after 2020. The literature was concentrated in respiratory medicine, critical care, and anesthesiology journals, with Respiratory Care ranking first in publication output. The United States and China were the leading contributors, while several French institutions, particularly Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, were prominent in the institutional network. Co-citation analysis identified major clusters related to acute respiratory failure, perioperative oxygen therapy, preoxygenation strategies, and coronavirus disease. Keyword and thematic analyses indicated a shift from early emphasis on perioperative oxygenation and postoperative respiratory support toward broader critical care application and, more recently, toward context-specific deployment, acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, awake prone positioning, treatment monitoring, and the ROX index.
CONCLUSION: HFNO research has evolved from a focused literature on oxygenation support into a broader and more clinically differentiated field spanning perioperative and critical care practice. Current hotspots are increasingly centered on context-specific use, monitoring, failure prediction, and escalation decisions. Future research should prioritize clinically actionable patient stratification, standardized outcome definitions, and protocol-based integration of HFNO across different care pathways.
Additional Links: PMID-42529082
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42529082,
year = {2026},
author = {Xi, B and Zhao, Y and Fu, W and Ling, Y and Zhuang, Q and Zhang, D},
title = {High-flow nasal oxygen in perioperative and critical care: a bibliometric analysis.},
journal = {Frontiers in medicine},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1856380},
pmid = {42529082},
issn = {2296-858X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), also known as high-flow nasal cannula, is an important noninvasive respiratory support strategy in perioperative and critical care practice. As the literature has expanded across multiple clinical contexts, a structured overview is needed to clarify the development, knowledge base, and emerging priorities of the field.
METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric and visual analysis of HFNO research using English-language articles and reviews retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed for the period 2000-2025. After screening, merging, and deduplication, 2,314 unique publications were included. Bibliometrix in R was used for performance analysis, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution; VOSviewer for collaboration analysis; and CiteSpace for co-citation analysis, keyword clustering, timeline visualization, burst detection, and dual-map overlay.
RESULTS: HFNO research showed sustained exponential growth, with marked acceleration after 2018 and especially after 2020. The literature was concentrated in respiratory medicine, critical care, and anesthesiology journals, with Respiratory Care ranking first in publication output. The United States and China were the leading contributors, while several French institutions, particularly Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, were prominent in the institutional network. Co-citation analysis identified major clusters related to acute respiratory failure, perioperative oxygen therapy, preoxygenation strategies, and coronavirus disease. Keyword and thematic analyses indicated a shift from early emphasis on perioperative oxygenation and postoperative respiratory support toward broader critical care application and, more recently, toward context-specific deployment, acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, awake prone positioning, treatment monitoring, and the ROX index.
CONCLUSION: HFNO research has evolved from a focused literature on oxygenation support into a broader and more clinically differentiated field spanning perioperative and critical care practice. Current hotspots are increasingly centered on context-specific use, monitoring, failure prediction, and escalation decisions. Future research should prioritize clinically actionable patient stratification, standardized outcome definitions, and protocol-based integration of HFNO across different care pathways.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
The regulatory mechanisms and translational applications of non-coding RNA in SARS-CoV-2 infection-related cardiovascular pathology.
Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 13:1837477.
SARS-CoV-2 infection not only leads to severe respiratory diseases but also has a significant impact on the cardiovascular system, inducing acute cardiac injury and various long-term cardiovascular complications. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as key molecules in gene expression regulation, exhibit important regulatory roles in viral infections and cardiovascular pathological processes. Current research indicates that ncRNAs such as miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA participate in the occurrence and development of cardiac injury related to SARS-CoV-2 infection by regulating apoptosis, metabolic reprogramming, and cell communication. However, there are still many challenges and unresolved mysteries regarding their specific regulatory networks and clinical applications. This review systematically summarizes the expression changes and functional characteristics of ncRNAs in COVID-19-related cardiovascular diseases, focusing on their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and combining the latest multi-omics data and cutting-edge technologies to anticipate the development direction of precise interventions and personalized treatments.
Additional Links: PMID-42529130
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@article {pmid42529130,
year = {2026},
author = {Cao, Z and Song, Y and Li, J and Cao, Y},
title = {The regulatory mechanisms and translational applications of non-coding RNA in SARS-CoV-2 infection-related cardiovascular pathology.},
journal = {Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1837477},
pmid = {42529130},
issn = {2297-055X},
abstract = {SARS-CoV-2 infection not only leads to severe respiratory diseases but also has a significant impact on the cardiovascular system, inducing acute cardiac injury and various long-term cardiovascular complications. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), as key molecules in gene expression regulation, exhibit important regulatory roles in viral infections and cardiovascular pathological processes. Current research indicates that ncRNAs such as miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA participate in the occurrence and development of cardiac injury related to SARS-CoV-2 infection by regulating apoptosis, metabolic reprogramming, and cell communication. However, there are still many challenges and unresolved mysteries regarding their specific regulatory networks and clinical applications. This review systematically summarizes the expression changes and functional characteristics of ncRNAs in COVID-19-related cardiovascular diseases, focusing on their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and combining the latest multi-omics data and cutting-edge technologies to anticipate the development direction of precise interventions and personalized treatments.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
Toll-like receptors in infectious myocarditis: pathogen-specific recognition, spatiotemporal dynamic regulation and clinical translation.
Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 13:1881939.
Infectious myocarditis is a life-threatening cardiovascular inflammatory disorder characterized by high heterogeneity in clinical onset, progression and prognosis. Large-sample clinical data have demonstrated that the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19-associated myocarditis reaches 19.4%, significantly higher than that of influenza-associated myocarditis (10.5%). Additionally, the incidence of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy-related myocarditis is 6.2%, while the mortality of sepsis-associated myocarditis is as high as 70%-90%. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the core pattern recognition receptors of innate immunity, dominate the entire pathological cascade, ranging from pathogen recognition and acute inflammatory burst to myocardial injury and chronic fibrous remodeling. Nevertheless, most current studies merely focus on the linear correlation between individual TLR activation and myocardial inflammation, failing to systematically clarify pathogen-TLR matching specificity and the spatiotemporal dynamic regulatory mechanisms of TLR signaling throughout disease progression. This review comprehensively combs the latest epidemiological profiles of infectious myocarditis, characterizes the expression patterns and signaling regulatory features of the TLR family within the cardiac immune microenvironment, analyzes pathogen-specific recognition modes mediated by common pathogens, elaborates the spatiotemporal regulatory rules of TLR signaling across acute inflammation, immune deviation and chronic fibrosis stages, and summarizes pathogen-oriented intervention strategies as well as relevant translational bottlenecks. Cumulative clinical evidence confirms that pathogen-TLR matching determines inflammatory phenotypes and severity of infectious myocarditis, and that the spatiotemporal dynamics of TLR signaling directly govern disease progression. Notably, TLR-targeted therapies must adhere to the core principles of pathogen specificity and staged precise regulation. This review provides a systematic theoretical basis for precise immunodiagnosis and individualized immunotherapy of infectious myocarditis.
Additional Links: PMID-42529204
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42529204,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Y and Liao, W and Liang, Q and Li, Y},
title = {Toll-like receptors in infectious myocarditis: pathogen-specific recognition, spatiotemporal dynamic regulation and clinical translation.},
journal = {Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1881939},
pmid = {42529204},
issn = {2297-055X},
abstract = {Infectious myocarditis is a life-threatening cardiovascular inflammatory disorder characterized by high heterogeneity in clinical onset, progression and prognosis. Large-sample clinical data have demonstrated that the in-hospital mortality of COVID-19-associated myocarditis reaches 19.4%, significantly higher than that of influenza-associated myocarditis (10.5%). Additionally, the incidence of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy-related myocarditis is 6.2%, while the mortality of sepsis-associated myocarditis is as high as 70%-90%. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the core pattern recognition receptors of innate immunity, dominate the entire pathological cascade, ranging from pathogen recognition and acute inflammatory burst to myocardial injury and chronic fibrous remodeling. Nevertheless, most current studies merely focus on the linear correlation between individual TLR activation and myocardial inflammation, failing to systematically clarify pathogen-TLR matching specificity and the spatiotemporal dynamic regulatory mechanisms of TLR signaling throughout disease progression. This review comprehensively combs the latest epidemiological profiles of infectious myocarditis, characterizes the expression patterns and signaling regulatory features of the TLR family within the cardiac immune microenvironment, analyzes pathogen-specific recognition modes mediated by common pathogens, elaborates the spatiotemporal regulatory rules of TLR signaling across acute inflammation, immune deviation and chronic fibrosis stages, and summarizes pathogen-oriented intervention strategies as well as relevant translational bottlenecks. Cumulative clinical evidence confirms that pathogen-TLR matching determines inflammatory phenotypes and severity of infectious myocarditis, and that the spatiotemporal dynamics of TLR signaling directly govern disease progression. Notably, TLR-targeted therapies must adhere to the core principles of pathogen specificity and staged precise regulation. This review provides a systematic theoretical basis for precise immunodiagnosis and individualized immunotherapy of infectious myocarditis.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-20
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
COVID-19 pandemic response in South American countries: lessons learned and recommendations for health strengthening.
Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud publica, 43(2):260-266.
The COVID-19 pandemic represented the greatest health and public management challenge of the 21st century for health systems in South America. Peru was one of the countries with the highest mortality rates globally during 2020 and 2021, a situation that evidenced deep structural gaps in its health system. This special article synthesizes the available scientific evidence on the response and lessons learned in South American countries facing the pandemic, based on a literature review published between 2020 and February 2025. It analyzes non-pharmacological interventions, the functioning of health services, the fight against the infodemic, social support, the use of telehealth, vaccination campaigns, and the innovations applied. Responses varied significantly among countries in terms of timeliness, scope, and effectiveness, allowing for the identification of key areas of intervention and replicable good practices. Among the most relevant lessons, the highlights include the need to strengthen critical health infrastructure, institutionalize telehealth, actively combat the infodemic, and promote research and innovation as strategic components of the response.
Additional Links: PMID-42531590
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@article {pmid42531590,
year = {2026},
author = {Suárez-Moreno, V},
title = {COVID-19 pandemic response in South American countries: lessons learned and recommendations for health strengthening.},
journal = {Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud publica},
volume = {43},
number = {2},
pages = {260-266},
pmid = {42531590},
issn = {1726-4642},
mesh = {*COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology ; Humans ; South America/epidemiology ; Telemedicine/organization & administration ; *Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration ; Pandemics ; Public Health Infrastructure ; },
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic represented the greatest health and public management challenge of the 21st century for health systems in South America. Peru was one of the countries with the highest mortality rates globally during 2020 and 2021, a situation that evidenced deep structural gaps in its health system. This special article synthesizes the available scientific evidence on the response and lessons learned in South American countries facing the pandemic, based on a literature review published between 2020 and February 2025. It analyzes non-pharmacological interventions, the functioning of health services, the fight against the infodemic, social support, the use of telehealth, vaccination campaigns, and the innovations applied. Responses varied significantly among countries in terms of timeliness, scope, and effectiveness, allowing for the identification of key areas of intervention and replicable good practices. Among the most relevant lessons, the highlights include the need to strengthen critical health infrastructure, institutionalize telehealth, actively combat the infodemic, and promote research and innovation as strategic components of the response.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
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*COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology
Humans
South America/epidemiology
Telemedicine/organization & administration
*Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration
Pandemics
Public Health Infrastructure
RevDate: 2026-10-20
CmpDate: 2026-08-07
A scoping review on community health care centers: Evidence in support of Italian policymakers to redesign the Italian primary care system.
Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 172:105690.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the central role of primary health care in managing patients with complex and chronic health conditions. In response, the Italian government launched a reform of the National Health Service, introducing Community Health Care Centers ("Case della Comunità") as a key pillar of the new primary care model. Evidence is needed on which organizational features of such centers best support integrated, high-quality care.
OBJECTIVE: This scoping review synthesized international evidence on community health care centers characterized by integrated care and co-location of professionals, to identify organizational elements relevant to the Italian reform.
METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of international literature on community health care centers. Included studies were assessed using eight integration domains derived from Valentijn's taxonomy, which were combined into an overall integration score. Additional features, including horizontal collaboration, accessibility, home care, and multiprofessional integration, were also analyzed.
RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed a positive association between horizontal collaboration, overall level of integration, and multiprofessional integration. Centers with higher integration and stronger horizontal collaboration more often reported improved organization of services and care for people with complex or chronic conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support Community Health Care Centers in Italy as integrated, multiprofessional hubs within the primary care network, where strengthened horizontal collaboration may improve quality and continuity of care for complex and chronic patients.
Additional Links: PMID-42531714
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42531714,
year = {2026},
author = {Cerri, A and Arcaro, P and Perilli, A and Veneziano, E and D'Agostino, L and Romano, A and Sessa, G and Cicciarella Modica, D and Cecchetti, L and Panà, A and Mete, R and De Vito, C and Maurici, M and Damiani, G},
title = {A scoping review on community health care centers: Evidence in support of Italian policymakers to redesign the Italian primary care system.},
journal = {Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {172},
number = {},
pages = {105690},
doi = {10.1016/j.healthpol.2026.105690},
pmid = {42531714},
issn = {1872-6054},
mesh = {Humans ; Access to Primary Care ; *Community Health Centers/organization & administration ; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization & administration ; Health Care Reform ; Italy ; *Primary Health Care/organization & administration ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the central role of primary health care in managing patients with complex and chronic health conditions. In response, the Italian government launched a reform of the National Health Service, introducing Community Health Care Centers ("Case della Comunità") as a key pillar of the new primary care model. Evidence is needed on which organizational features of such centers best support integrated, high-quality care.
OBJECTIVE: This scoping review synthesized international evidence on community health care centers characterized by integrated care and co-location of professionals, to identify organizational elements relevant to the Italian reform.
METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of international literature on community health care centers. Included studies were assessed using eight integration domains derived from Valentijn's taxonomy, which were combined into an overall integration score. Additional features, including horizontal collaboration, accessibility, home care, and multiprofessional integration, were also analyzed.
RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed a positive association between horizontal collaboration, overall level of integration, and multiprofessional integration. Centers with higher integration and stronger horizontal collaboration more often reported improved organization of services and care for people with complex or chronic conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support Community Health Care Centers in Italy as integrated, multiprofessional hubs within the primary care network, where strengthened horizontal collaboration may improve quality and continuity of care for complex and chronic patients.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Access to Primary Care
*Community Health Centers/organization & administration
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization & administration
Health Care Reform
Italy
*Primary Health Care/organization & administration
RevDate: 2026-10-31
CmpDate: 2026-07-30
COVID-19 treatments: current options and therapies under investigation.
Topics in antiviral medicine, 34(Ahead of Issue):1-10.
The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to more than 7 million deaths globally and has triggered a variety of postacute sequelae, now commonly referred to as long COVID, in millions more. Early efforts during the pandemic resulted in several therapies to mitigate the severity and mortality of acute COVID-19. However, despite effective therapies and accumulated immunity through vaccination and natural infection reducing disease severity, COVID-19 continues to contribute to hospitalizations and mortality. Long COVID encompasses several distinct yet overlapping clinical syndromes, and evidence suggests that these manifestations are mediated by numerous underlying mechanisms. There are currently no approved therapies for the treatment of long COVID, driven in part by its heterogeneity in presentation and etiology. This review will outline the current guidelines for treating acute COVID-19 and summarize information on the mechanistic rationale behind various published and ongoing clinical trials investigating potential long COVID therapeutic agents.
Additional Links: PMID-42532101
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@article {pmid42532101,
year = {2026},
author = {Opsteen, S and Erdmann, N},
title = {COVID-19 treatments: current options and therapies under investigation.},
journal = {Topics in antiviral medicine},
volume = {34},
number = {Ahead of Issue},
pages = {1-10},
pmid = {42532101},
issn = {2161-5853},
support = {F30 AI186615/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/therapy/complications ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; SARS-CoV-2/drug effects ; },
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to more than 7 million deaths globally and has triggered a variety of postacute sequelae, now commonly referred to as long COVID, in millions more. Early efforts during the pandemic resulted in several therapies to mitigate the severity and mortality of acute COVID-19. However, despite effective therapies and accumulated immunity through vaccination and natural infection reducing disease severity, COVID-19 continues to contribute to hospitalizations and mortality. Long COVID encompasses several distinct yet overlapping clinical syndromes, and evidence suggests that these manifestations are mediated by numerous underlying mechanisms. There are currently no approved therapies for the treatment of long COVID, driven in part by its heterogeneity in presentation and etiology. This review will outline the current guidelines for treating acute COVID-19 and summarize information on the mechanistic rationale behind various published and ongoing clinical trials investigating potential long COVID therapeutic agents.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*COVID-19/therapy/complications
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
SARS-CoV-2/drug effects
RevDate: 2026-09-29
CmpDate: 2026-09-29
The Shifting Paradigm of Feline Infectious Peritonitis: New Diagnostics and Therapeutics.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 56(6):1277-1292.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has long represented one of the most devastating and frustrating diseases in feline medicine. Historically regarded as almost universally fatal, the FIP paradigm has shifted dramatically over the past 5 to 10 years. Safe and effective antiviral therapies, including GS-441524 and related compounds, have transformed FIP into a treatable disease with survival rates previously unimaginable. In parallel, advances in molecular diagnostics and immunocytochemical techniques have improved antemortem diagnostic confidence. This review explores the evolving understanding of FIP pathogenesis, diagnostic testing, and antiviral therapy, emphasizing the rapid pace of change and the implications for contemporary clinical practice.
Additional Links: PMID-42532773
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42532773,
year = {2026},
author = {Evans, SJM},
title = {The Shifting Paradigm of Feline Infectious Peritonitis: New Diagnostics and Therapeutics.},
journal = {The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice},
volume = {56},
number = {6},
pages = {1277-1292},
doi = {10.1016/j.cvsm.2026.06.003},
pmid = {42532773},
issn = {1878-1306},
mesh = {Animals ; *Feline Infectious Peritonitis/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Cats ; Coronavirus, Feline ; *Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; },
abstract = {Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) has long represented one of the most devastating and frustrating diseases in feline medicine. Historically regarded as almost universally fatal, the FIP paradigm has shifted dramatically over the past 5 to 10 years. Safe and effective antiviral therapies, including GS-441524 and related compounds, have transformed FIP into a treatable disease with survival rates previously unimaginable. In parallel, advances in molecular diagnostics and immunocytochemical techniques have improved antemortem diagnostic confidence. This review explores the evolving understanding of FIP pathogenesis, diagnostic testing, and antiviral therapy, emphasizing the rapid pace of change and the implications for contemporary clinical practice.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Animals
*Feline Infectious Peritonitis/diagnosis/drug therapy
Cats
Coronavirus, Feline
*Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-07-31
Responsible artificial intelligence in medical imaging: a systematic review.
Frontiers in digital health, 8:1884692.
INTRODUCTION: Responsible artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging requires more than high diagnostic accuracy; it also requires transparent reasoning, equitable performance across patient subgroups, privacy protection, calibrated uncertainty, and clinical trustworthiness.
METHODS: This PRISMA-informed systematic review synthesized 24 studies published between 2020 and 2025 that used AI or deep learning for disease detection or diagnostic support in X-ray, CT, MRI, mammography, ultrasound, dermoscopy, retinal fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography, and abdominal CT. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar were searched, and extracted evidence was appraised qualitatively using adapted QUADAS-2 and PROBAST-AI domains.
RESULTS: The included studies covered lung diseases, COVID-19, pneumonia, lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and other dermatological disorders, brain tumors, diabetic retinopathy, chest abnormalities, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Explainability methods such as Grad-CAM, Grad-CAM++, LIME, SHAP, saliency maps, and layer-wise relevance propagation dominated the evidence base, whereas fairness, privacy-preserving learning, uncertainty estimation, and human-centered clinical trust were represented by fewer studies. Several papers reported accuracy or sensitivity above 90%, but these values should be interpreted cautiously because many studies relied on internal validation, curated public datasets, class-balanced splits, augmentation, or limited demographic reporting.
DISCUSSION: Responsible medical-imaging AI should be evaluated through multidimensional evidence, including external and subgroup validation, calibration, privacy risk analysis, clinician-centered explanation assessment, workflow integration, regulatory readiness, and post-deployment monitoring.
Additional Links: PMID-42535035
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42535035,
year = {2026},
author = {Fahad, N and Sadib, RJ and Sajib, RH and Morol, MK and Nandi, D and Liew, TH},
title = {Responsible artificial intelligence in medical imaging: a systematic review.},
journal = {Frontiers in digital health},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {1884692},
pmid = {42535035},
issn = {2673-253X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Responsible artificial intelligence (AI) in medical imaging requires more than high diagnostic accuracy; it also requires transparent reasoning, equitable performance across patient subgroups, privacy protection, calibrated uncertainty, and clinical trustworthiness.
METHODS: This PRISMA-informed systematic review synthesized 24 studies published between 2020 and 2025 that used AI or deep learning for disease detection or diagnostic support in X-ray, CT, MRI, mammography, ultrasound, dermoscopy, retinal fundus imaging, optical coherence tomography, and abdominal CT. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar were searched, and extracted evidence was appraised qualitatively using adapted QUADAS-2 and PROBAST-AI domains.
RESULTS: The included studies covered lung diseases, COVID-19, pneumonia, lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma and other dermatological disorders, brain tumors, diabetic retinopathy, chest abnormalities, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Explainability methods such as Grad-CAM, Grad-CAM++, LIME, SHAP, saliency maps, and layer-wise relevance propagation dominated the evidence base, whereas fairness, privacy-preserving learning, uncertainty estimation, and human-centered clinical trust were represented by fewer studies. Several papers reported accuracy or sensitivity above 90%, but these values should be interpreted cautiously because many studies relied on internal validation, curated public datasets, class-balanced splits, augmentation, or limited demographic reporting.
DISCUSSION: Responsible medical-imaging AI should be evaluated through multidimensional evidence, including external and subgroup validation, calibration, privacy risk analysis, clinician-centered explanation assessment, workflow integration, regulatory readiness, and post-deployment monitoring.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-20
CmpDate: 2026-08-18
Coronavirus Nsp15 endoribonuclease: linking viral RNA regulation to immune evasion and viral fitness.
Journal of virology, 100(8):e0170025.
Coronavirus nonstructural protein 15 (Nsp15) is a conserved uridine-preferring endoribonuclease (EndoU). Studies using mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), SARS-CoV-2, and other coronaviruses have shown that Nsp15 associates with replication-transcription complexes (RTCs) and contributes to viral immune evasion. Structural studies of alpha- and beta-coronavirus Nsp15 proteins reveal a hexameric enzyme that engages viral RNA substrates and cleaves at unpaired uridines through an RNase A-like, largely metal-independent mechanism stimulated by divalent cations. The Nsp15 hexamer functions as a dynamic, cooperative platform capable of accommodating extended double-stranded and structured RNA substrates. Genetic studies in several coronaviruses indicate that EndoU activity is dispensable for viral RNA synthesis in cell culture, but critical for suppressing host antiviral responses. Loss of EndoU activity promotes accumulation of immunostimulatory RNA species and activation of dsRNA-sensing pathways, including MDA5-dependent interferon signaling, PKR-mediated translational arrest, and the OAS/RNase L system. Mechanistically, Nsp15 is proposed to suppress these responses by selectively processing uridine-rich and structurally accessible regions in viral RNA, including poly(U)-containing negative-strand RNAs, and elements within untranslated regions and transcription regulatory sequences. Beyond catalysis, Nsp15 may contribute to RTC organization and regulate viral RNA recombination or defective viral genome formation, although these roles remain less well-defined and may vary among coronavirus species. Together, these findings support a model in which Nsp15 functions as a regulator of viral RNA composition and immunogenicity rather than solely as a degradative nuclease. This review summarizes recent advances in Nsp15 structure, RNA processing, immune evasion, and antiviral targeting, and highlights key unresolved questions.
Additional Links: PMID-42535959
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42535959,
year = {2026},
author = {Liang, X and Chi, X and Deng, X},
title = {Coronavirus Nsp15 endoribonuclease: linking viral RNA regulation to immune evasion and viral fitness.},
journal = {Journal of virology},
volume = {100},
number = {8},
pages = {e0170025},
pmid = {42535959},
issn = {1098-5514},
support = {2023-67015-39096//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; R01 AI158775/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R01AI158775//National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/ ; HR23-096//Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology/ ; 58-5030-3-047//Agricultural Research Service/ ; },
mesh = {*RNA, Viral/metabolism/genetics ; *Endoribonucleases/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; Animals ; *Immune Evasion ; *Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics/immunology ; *Coronavirus/genetics/enzymology/immunology ; Humans ; Virus Replication ; Murine hepatitis virus/genetics ; RNA Replication ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics ; },
abstract = {Coronavirus nonstructural protein 15 (Nsp15) is a conserved uridine-preferring endoribonuclease (EndoU). Studies using mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), SARS-CoV-2, and other coronaviruses have shown that Nsp15 associates with replication-transcription complexes (RTCs) and contributes to viral immune evasion. Structural studies of alpha- and beta-coronavirus Nsp15 proteins reveal a hexameric enzyme that engages viral RNA substrates and cleaves at unpaired uridines through an RNase A-like, largely metal-independent mechanism stimulated by divalent cations. The Nsp15 hexamer functions as a dynamic, cooperative platform capable of accommodating extended double-stranded and structured RNA substrates. Genetic studies in several coronaviruses indicate that EndoU activity is dispensable for viral RNA synthesis in cell culture, but critical for suppressing host antiviral responses. Loss of EndoU activity promotes accumulation of immunostimulatory RNA species and activation of dsRNA-sensing pathways, including MDA5-dependent interferon signaling, PKR-mediated translational arrest, and the OAS/RNase L system. Mechanistically, Nsp15 is proposed to suppress these responses by selectively processing uridine-rich and structurally accessible regions in viral RNA, including poly(U)-containing negative-strand RNAs, and elements within untranslated regions and transcription regulatory sequences. Beyond catalysis, Nsp15 may contribute to RTC organization and regulate viral RNA recombination or defective viral genome formation, although these roles remain less well-defined and may vary among coronavirus species. Together, these findings support a model in which Nsp15 functions as a regulator of viral RNA composition and immunogenicity rather than solely as a degradative nuclease. This review summarizes recent advances in Nsp15 structure, RNA processing, immune evasion, and antiviral targeting, and highlights key unresolved questions.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*RNA, Viral/metabolism/genetics
*Endoribonucleases/metabolism/genetics/chemistry
Animals
*Immune Evasion
*Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics/immunology
*Coronavirus/genetics/enzymology/immunology
Humans
Virus Replication
Murine hepatitis virus/genetics
RNA Replication
SARS-CoV-2/genetics
RevDate: 2026-08-19
CmpDate: 2026-07-31
Bibliometric and visualization analysis of exercise interventions for respiratory infectious diseases (2000-2025): Trends, hotspots, and future directions.
Medicine, 105(31):e50013.
BACKGROUND: Respiratory infectious diseases impose a heavy burden on global health. Exercise-related interventions have attracted increasing research attention, but the knowledge landscape and emerging trends in this field have not yet been comprehensively mapped. This study aims to address this gap through a bibliometric and visualization analysis of the literature published between 2000 and 2025.
METHODS: A search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed databases, incorporating relevant English-language literature published between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2025. After deduplication and screening, 944 articles were ultimately included. Co-occurrence network, clustering, and emergence analyses were conducted using CiteSpace 6.4.R1 software. Descriptive statistical analyses of publication volume and country, institutional, and author distribution were performed using Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS: Publication output in this field has increased significantly since 2020, peaking in 2022, a trend highly consistent with the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Arena Ross, the University of London (United Kingdom), and the United States emerged as the most prolific author, institution, and country, respectively. Frequent keywords include "Physical activity," "Pulmonary rehabilitation," "Exercise," "COVID-19," "Coronavirus disease," "Rehabilitation," and "Quality of life." Keywords exhibiting high burst strength include "COVID-19 (30.04)," "Coronavirus disease (10.19)," and "respiratory tract infections (7.95)." Emerging research hotspots concentrate primarily on 3 domains: "respiratory function," "Telerehabilitation," and "dyspnea."
CONCLUSION: Research on physical activity interventions for respiratory infectious diseases has shown sustained growth over the past 25 years, undergoing significant structural shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides a broad overview of the knowledge landscape and developmental trajectory in this field.
Additional Links: PMID-42536576
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42536576,
year = {2026},
author = {Zheng, Q and Chen, J and Wang, N and Hou, M and Xu, X and Liu, Z},
title = {Bibliometric and visualization analysis of exercise interventions for respiratory infectious diseases (2000-2025): Trends, hotspots, and future directions.},
journal = {Medicine},
volume = {105},
number = {31},
pages = {e50013},
pmid = {42536576},
issn = {1536-5964},
mesh = {Humans ; *Bibliometrics ; COVID-19/epidemiology ; SARS-CoV-2 ; *Exercise Therapy/trends/methods ; Pandemics ; *Respiratory Tract Infections/rehabilitation/therapy ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Respiratory infectious diseases impose a heavy burden on global health. Exercise-related interventions have attracted increasing research attention, but the knowledge landscape and emerging trends in this field have not yet been comprehensively mapped. This study aims to address this gap through a bibliometric and visualization analysis of the literature published between 2000 and 2025.
METHODS: A search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed databases, incorporating relevant English-language literature published between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2025. After deduplication and screening, 944 articles were ultimately included. Co-occurrence network, clustering, and emergence analyses were conducted using CiteSpace 6.4.R1 software. Descriptive statistical analyses of publication volume and country, institutional, and author distribution were performed using Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS: Publication output in this field has increased significantly since 2020, peaking in 2022, a trend highly consistent with the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Arena Ross, the University of London (United Kingdom), and the United States emerged as the most prolific author, institution, and country, respectively. Frequent keywords include "Physical activity," "Pulmonary rehabilitation," "Exercise," "COVID-19," "Coronavirus disease," "Rehabilitation," and "Quality of life." Keywords exhibiting high burst strength include "COVID-19 (30.04)," "Coronavirus disease (10.19)," and "respiratory tract infections (7.95)." Emerging research hotspots concentrate primarily on 3 domains: "respiratory function," "Telerehabilitation," and "dyspnea."
CONCLUSION: Research on physical activity interventions for respiratory infectious diseases has shown sustained growth over the past 25 years, undergoing significant structural shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides a broad overview of the knowledge landscape and developmental trajectory in this field.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Bibliometrics
COVID-19/epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2
*Exercise Therapy/trends/methods
Pandemics
*Respiratory Tract Infections/rehabilitation/therapy
RevDate: 2026-09-03
CmpDate: 2026-07-31
The use of patient-reported outcome questionnaires in patients with post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Family practice, 43(5):.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) is a complication of acute COVID-19, which often presents with a variety of symptoms. It can also impact individuals' overall well-being, capacity to carry out daily activities, engage in physical exercise, maintain employment, and their general quality of life. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the role of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaires in assessing patients with PCC through prevalence of abnormal tests.
METHODS: We searched three databases. Two reviewers independently screened articles using Laser Al and extracted relevant data using a piloted Google Sheets. We performed a meta-analysis using OpenMeta and RevManWeb and conducted a subgroup analysis based on the setting of the patients during their acute COVID-19 infection. We assessed the risk of bias using a modified ROBINS-I tool and the certainty using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
RESULTS: No studies reported diagnostic test accuracy measures for questionnaires in PCC. However, 23 comparative studies reported on the prevalence of abnormal questionnaire results in patients with PCC. Outcomes showed that patients with PCC have higher abnormal results than controls, regardless of their setting during acute COVID-19 infection. The overall certainty of the evidence was low due to the high risk of bias, indirectness, and imprecision.
CONCLUSION: This review sheds light on the importance of testing PROMs in patients with PCC using these questionnaires and the need for further testing their validity in this condition.
Additional Links: PMID-42536797
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42536797,
year = {2026},
author = {Khawandi, J and Kivan, H and Al Hussein, S and Azzam, M and Nazzal, J and Vasquez Camargo, A and Kamrul, R and Al Khader, A and Kawtharany, H and Al Zabibi, MA and Ahmad, J and Patel, K and Rehman, AU and Ahmed, Z and Piché, A and McNaughton, CD and Lam, GY and Oudit, GY and Afzal, S and Schunemann, H and Wiercioch, W and Nieuwlaat, R and Brignardello-Petersen, R and Falcone, EL and Mustafa, RA},
title = {The use of patient-reported outcome questionnaires in patients with post-COVID-19 condition: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Family practice},
volume = {43},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/fampra/cmag054},
pmid = {42536797},
issn = {1460-2229},
support = {//Public Health Agency of Canada/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/complications ; *Patient Reported Outcome Measures ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Quality of Life ; Pandemics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) is a complication of acute COVID-19, which often presents with a variety of symptoms. It can also impact individuals' overall well-being, capacity to carry out daily activities, engage in physical exercise, maintain employment, and their general quality of life. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the role of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) questionnaires in assessing patients with PCC through prevalence of abnormal tests.
METHODS: We searched three databases. Two reviewers independently screened articles using Laser Al and extracted relevant data using a piloted Google Sheets. We performed a meta-analysis using OpenMeta and RevManWeb and conducted a subgroup analysis based on the setting of the patients during their acute COVID-19 infection. We assessed the risk of bias using a modified ROBINS-I tool and the certainty using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
RESULTS: No studies reported diagnostic test accuracy measures for questionnaires in PCC. However, 23 comparative studies reported on the prevalence of abnormal questionnaire results in patients with PCC. Outcomes showed that patients with PCC have higher abnormal results than controls, regardless of their setting during acute COVID-19 infection. The overall certainty of the evidence was low due to the high risk of bias, indirectness, and imprecision.
CONCLUSION: This review sheds light on the importance of testing PROMs in patients with PCC using these questionnaires and the need for further testing their validity in this condition.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*COVID-19/complications
*Patient Reported Outcome Measures
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
SARS-CoV-2
Surveys and Questionnaires
Quality of Life
Pandemics
RevDate: 2026-08-19
CmpDate: 2026-07-31
Timing, Titre, and Host Determinants of Convalescent Plasma Efficacy in COVID-19: A Systematic Review With Design-Stratified Narrative Synthesis.
Reviews in medical virology, 36(5):e70189.
The efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) in COVID-19 has been contested, with large randomized trials producing conflicting results that led to recommendations against routine use. We performed a systematic review with design-stratified narrative synthesis (PRISMA 2020; SWiM; OSF: https://osf.io/tjcuq) to test whether these conflicting outcomes can be reconciled through three interacting determinants-timing, antibody titre, and host characteristics-using a standardized 91-field extraction matrix applied to each study. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched through May 2026. Thirty-one studies (20,793 patients; 8 RCTs, 23 observational) were included. The synthesis indicates that CP is effective, but only under a specific convergence of conditions: when administered early in the disease course, with sufficient antibody titre, to seronegative or immunocompromised hosts who have not yet mounted an endogenous antibody response. Among RCTs analysing timing, 4 of 6 found benefit with earlier administration; for titre, 3 of 4 RCTs with explicit comparisons found benefit with higher-titre CP; and two large RCTs (combined n = 12,522) demonstrated preferential benefit in seronegative recipients. This interpretation is consistent with modelling estimates that CP, deployed largely to hospitalised patients, nonetheless saved tens of thousands of lives in the United States during the first pandemic year, an effect attributed to the subset treated early enough to modify disease progression. A second, previously unquantified finding concerns antibody class: characterisation of non-IgG immunoglobulins was nearly absent, with only 2 of 31 studies-both from our group-reporting IgA or IgM data, despite evidence that IgA and IgM are among the most potent neutralising classes against SARS-CoV-2. This hypothesis-generating observation identifies a systematic gap in CP product assessment. These findings reframe CP efficacy from a binary question to a conditional one and provide a template for the precision deployment of passive immunotherapy in future pandemics.
Additional Links: PMID-42536815
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42536815,
year = {2026},
author = {Kuś, A and Makuch, S and Dybko, J and Agrawal, S},
title = {Timing, Titre, and Host Determinants of Convalescent Plasma Efficacy in COVID-19: A Systematic Review With Design-Stratified Narrative Synthesis.},
journal = {Reviews in medical virology},
volume = {36},
number = {5},
pages = {e70189},
pmid = {42536815},
issn = {1099-1654},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/therapy/immunology ; COVID-19 Serotherapy ; *Antibodies, Viral/blood/immunology ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *Immunization, Passive/methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; },
abstract = {The efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) in COVID-19 has been contested, with large randomized trials producing conflicting results that led to recommendations against routine use. We performed a systematic review with design-stratified narrative synthesis (PRISMA 2020; SWiM; OSF: https://osf.io/tjcuq) to test whether these conflicting outcomes can be reconciled through three interacting determinants-timing, antibody titre, and host characteristics-using a standardized 91-field extraction matrix applied to each study. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched through May 2026. Thirty-one studies (20,793 patients; 8 RCTs, 23 observational) were included. The synthesis indicates that CP is effective, but only under a specific convergence of conditions: when administered early in the disease course, with sufficient antibody titre, to seronegative or immunocompromised hosts who have not yet mounted an endogenous antibody response. Among RCTs analysing timing, 4 of 6 found benefit with earlier administration; for titre, 3 of 4 RCTs with explicit comparisons found benefit with higher-titre CP; and two large RCTs (combined n = 12,522) demonstrated preferential benefit in seronegative recipients. This interpretation is consistent with modelling estimates that CP, deployed largely to hospitalised patients, nonetheless saved tens of thousands of lives in the United States during the first pandemic year, an effect attributed to the subset treated early enough to modify disease progression. A second, previously unquantified finding concerns antibody class: characterisation of non-IgG immunoglobulins was nearly absent, with only 2 of 31 studies-both from our group-reporting IgA or IgM data, despite evidence that IgA and IgM are among the most potent neutralising classes against SARS-CoV-2. This hypothesis-generating observation identifies a systematic gap in CP product assessment. These findings reframe CP efficacy from a binary question to a conditional one and provide a template for the precision deployment of passive immunotherapy in future pandemics.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*COVID-19/therapy/immunology
COVID-19 Serotherapy
*Antibodies, Viral/blood/immunology
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*Immunization, Passive/methods
Treatment Outcome
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
RevDate: 2026-08-19
CmpDate: 2026-07-31
Convalescent Plasma Restores Viral Clearance After Anti-Spike Monoclonal Antibody Failure in Immunocompromised COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.
Reviews in medical virology, 36(5):e70185.
Anti-Spike monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) progressively lost efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the emergence and predominance of resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants. By contrast, high-titre COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) collected from vaccinated donors recently recovered from infection provides a polyclonal source of antibodies that remains effective in clearing SARS-CoV-2 in immunosuppressed patients, unable to mount an adequate immune response against the virus. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis to examine the effect of CCP in immunocompromised patients persistently positive for SARS-CoV-2 viraemia following mAb therapy, and to evaluate possible biological factors associated with a favourable outcome. Electronic databases were searched for studies published from January 2020 to January 2026. All studies including eligible cases were considered in the systematic review. Unpublished cases were also collected from investigators of the selected studies. The protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD420251142891). Forty-seven cases (30 cases from 12 published studies and 17 unpublished cases) were included. In 33 out of 47 patients (70.2%) with a mAb-resistant infection, SARS-CoV-2 clearance occurred following CCP transfusion, with a mean of 2.7 CCP units administered. In logistic regression, total CCP volume transfused was positively associated with SARS-CoV-2 clearance. In conclusion, CCP transfusion was associated with SARS-CoV-2 clearance in persistently positive immunocompromised patients following failure of anti-Spike mAb therapy.
Additional Links: PMID-42536824
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42536824,
year = {2026},
author = {Focosi, D and Aiello, TF and Casadevall, A and Cruciani, M and D'Abramo, A and De Marco, P and Gachoud, D and Garcia-Vidal, C and Glingani, C and Hueso, T and Joyner, MJ and Lacombe, K and Mengoli, C and Nicastri, E and Richier, Q and Rufer, N and Senefeld, JW and Shoham, S and Sullivan, DJ and Tomisti, L and Weinbergerova, B and Zani, M and Zaremba, S and Franchini, M},
title = {Convalescent Plasma Restores Viral Clearance After Anti-Spike Monoclonal Antibody Failure in Immunocompromised COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.},
journal = {Reviews in medical virology},
volume = {36},
number = {5},
pages = {e70185},
pmid = {42536824},
issn = {1099-1654},
mesh = {Humans ; *Immunocompromised Host ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use/immunology ; *COVID-19/therapy/immunology/virology ; Immunization, Passive/methods ; COVID-19 Serotherapy ; *Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use/immunology ; *Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology/antagonists & inhibitors ; },
abstract = {Anti-Spike monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) progressively lost efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the emergence and predominance of resistant SARS-CoV-2 variants. By contrast, high-titre COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) collected from vaccinated donors recently recovered from infection provides a polyclonal source of antibodies that remains effective in clearing SARS-CoV-2 in immunosuppressed patients, unable to mount an adequate immune response against the virus. We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis to examine the effect of CCP in immunocompromised patients persistently positive for SARS-CoV-2 viraemia following mAb therapy, and to evaluate possible biological factors associated with a favourable outcome. Electronic databases were searched for studies published from January 2020 to January 2026. All studies including eligible cases were considered in the systematic review. Unpublished cases were also collected from investigators of the selected studies. The protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD420251142891). Forty-seven cases (30 cases from 12 published studies and 17 unpublished cases) were included. In 33 out of 47 patients (70.2%) with a mAb-resistant infection, SARS-CoV-2 clearance occurred following CCP transfusion, with a mean of 2.7 CCP units administered. In logistic regression, total CCP volume transfused was positively associated with SARS-CoV-2 clearance. In conclusion, CCP transfusion was associated with SARS-CoV-2 clearance in persistently positive immunocompromised patients following failure of anti-Spike mAb therapy.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Immunocompromised Host
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use/immunology
*COVID-19/therapy/immunology/virology
Immunization, Passive/methods
COVID-19 Serotherapy
*Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use/immunology
*Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology/antagonists & inhibitors
RevDate: 2026-09-27
CmpDate: 2026-07-31
Co-managing the double burden: strategies for simultaneously tackling infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Infectious diseases of poverty, 15(1):.
BACKGROUND: Evidence increasingly shows close, bidirectional links between infectious diseases (IDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, research, health policy, and prevention practices still largely address them in separate frameworks. This scoping review summarises the current evidence on the interconnections between IDs and NCDs and explores integrated strategies for their prevention and management.
METHODS: This scoping review systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for English-language systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between Jan 1, 2000, and April 20, 2026. Two reviewers independently screened eligible studies and extracted effect estimates for associations between IDs and NCDs. Evidence was grouped into two themes: associations between infectious agents and cancer, and the effects of NCDs on susceptibility to or severity of IDs.
RESULTS: From 5799 records identified, 41 meta-analyses or systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. The included reviews showed associations between pathogen infections and specific cancers, including hepatitis B and C virus infections with liver cancer, human papillomavirus infection with cervical cancer, and Helicobacter pylori infection with gastric cancer. IDs were also associated with an increased risk or burden of NCDs, as illustrated by the association between tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conversely, NCDs could affect susceptibility to and outcomes of IDs; patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease had higher risks of severe disease or adverse outcomes following tuberculosis, influenza, or COVID-19 infection.
CONCLUSION: IDs and NCDs can interact through shared mechanisms, overlapping risk factors, and bidirectional pathways, underscoring the need for integrated strategies that combine prevention, early detection, treatment, and long-term management. At the public health level, this calls for health policies and financing mechanisms to move beyond disease-specific silos towards systemic frameworks that support integrated prevention and control, coordinated management, and cross-sectoral action.
Additional Links: PMID-42538553
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42538553,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, JJ and Fu, ML and Kong, LF and Zhao, ZY and Ohore, OE and Bergquist, R and Tanner, M and Yang, GJ},
title = {Co-managing the double burden: strategies for simultaneously tackling infectious and non-communicable diseases.},
journal = {Infectious diseases of poverty},
volume = {15},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42538553},
issn = {2049-9957},
support = {Hys2025-466//Hainan Medical University Graduate Innovative Research Project/ ; 82260655//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZDYF2024SHFZ083//Key Research and Development Program in Hainan Province/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Communicable Diseases/epidemiology/therapy ; Neoplasms ; *Noncommunicable Diseases/prevention & control/epidemiology/therapy ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Evidence increasingly shows close, bidirectional links between infectious diseases (IDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, research, health policy, and prevention practices still largely address them in separate frameworks. This scoping review summarises the current evidence on the interconnections between IDs and NCDs and explores integrated strategies for their prevention and management.
METHODS: This scoping review systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for English-language systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between Jan 1, 2000, and April 20, 2026. Two reviewers independently screened eligible studies and extracted effect estimates for associations between IDs and NCDs. Evidence was grouped into two themes: associations between infectious agents and cancer, and the effects of NCDs on susceptibility to or severity of IDs.
RESULTS: From 5799 records identified, 41 meta-analyses or systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. The included reviews showed associations between pathogen infections and specific cancers, including hepatitis B and C virus infections with liver cancer, human papillomavirus infection with cervical cancer, and Helicobacter pylori infection with gastric cancer. IDs were also associated with an increased risk or burden of NCDs, as illustrated by the association between tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conversely, NCDs could affect susceptibility to and outcomes of IDs; patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease had higher risks of severe disease or adverse outcomes following tuberculosis, influenza, or COVID-19 infection.
CONCLUSION: IDs and NCDs can interact through shared mechanisms, overlapping risk factors, and bidirectional pathways, underscoring the need for integrated strategies that combine prevention, early detection, treatment, and long-term management. At the public health level, this calls for health policies and financing mechanisms to move beyond disease-specific silos towards systemic frameworks that support integrated prevention and control, coordinated management, and cross-sectoral action.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Communicable Diseases/epidemiology/therapy
Neoplasms
*Noncommunicable Diseases/prevention & control/epidemiology/therapy
RevDate: 2026-09-23
CmpDate: 2026-08-01
Respiratory mucosal immunity: Biological functions, diseases, prevention and therapy.
Genes & diseases, 13(6):102200.
Respiratory mucosal (RM) immunity is a highly specialized and dynamic network that safeguards the airways from inhaled pathogens while preserving tissue homeostasis. Acting as the body's first line of defense, RM immunity integrates immune tolerance, barrier protection, immune surveillance, tissue repair, and the establishment of long-term immunological memory. Dysregulation of these processes contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including acute viral and bacterial infections, fungal colonization, and chronic inflammatory disorders, highlighting the urgent need for effective preventive strategies targeting the respiratory mucosa. The unprecedented global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has further highlighted this need and catalyzed rapid advances in vaccines capable of inducing both local and systemic immunity at the respiratory portal of entry, alongside progress in inhalable antibody therapies. This review first summarizes the principal biological functions of the respiratory mucosa and the underlying mechanisms, followed by an overview of immune dysregulation associated with respiratory diseases. It then highlights recent advances in mucosal intervention strategies, with a particular focus on the development of RM vaccine platforms-including live-attenuated, inactivated, viral vector, protein subunit, and mRNA vaccines. It further discusses next-generation RM vaccine strategies emphasizing upper airway immunity, broadened antigen design and intranasal safety. Together, these advances provide a conceptual and translational framework for advancing RM-based interventions against respiratory pathogens.
Additional Links: PMID-42541079
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42541079,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Song, Z and Hong, W and He, X and Wei, X},
title = {Respiratory mucosal immunity: Biological functions, diseases, prevention and therapy.},
journal = {Genes & diseases},
volume = {13},
number = {6},
pages = {102200},
pmid = {42541079},
issn = {2352-3042},
abstract = {Respiratory mucosal (RM) immunity is a highly specialized and dynamic network that safeguards the airways from inhaled pathogens while preserving tissue homeostasis. Acting as the body's first line of defense, RM immunity integrates immune tolerance, barrier protection, immune surveillance, tissue repair, and the establishment of long-term immunological memory. Dysregulation of these processes contributes to a broad spectrum of diseases, including acute viral and bacterial infections, fungal colonization, and chronic inflammatory disorders, highlighting the urgent need for effective preventive strategies targeting the respiratory mucosa. The unprecedented global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has further highlighted this need and catalyzed rapid advances in vaccines capable of inducing both local and systemic immunity at the respiratory portal of entry, alongside progress in inhalable antibody therapies. This review first summarizes the principal biological functions of the respiratory mucosa and the underlying mechanisms, followed by an overview of immune dysregulation associated with respiratory diseases. It then highlights recent advances in mucosal intervention strategies, with a particular focus on the development of RM vaccine platforms-including live-attenuated, inactivated, viral vector, protein subunit, and mRNA vaccines. It further discusses next-generation RM vaccine strategies emphasizing upper airway immunity, broadened antigen design and intranasal safety. Together, these advances provide a conceptual and translational framework for advancing RM-based interventions against respiratory pathogens.},
}
RevDate: 2026-09-23
CmpDate: 2026-08-01
Telemedicine in pediatrics: a critical narrative review of innovations, limitations, and future priorities.
European journal of pediatrics, 185(8):.
UNLABELLED: This narrative review synthesizes recent technological and organizational developments in pediatric telemedicine, maps their principal clinical applications, and critically discusses implementation, safety, equity, and future priorities. This narrative review used a transparent, non-systematic literature-search approach in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, considering publications available through April 2026. Searches were intended to identify and contextualize relevant literature across pediatric settings rather than to provide an exhaustive, reproducible systematic evidence synthesis. No formal risk-of-bias assessment, meta-analysis, or certainty-of-evidence grading was undertaken; therefore, findings are interpreted cautiously and according to the maturity and consistency of the available evidence. Evidence suggests that telemedicine can support follow-up, access to specialist care, and family engagement in several pediatric chronic-care pathways, particularly diabetes and asthma. However, the evidence base is heterogeneous across specialties, frequently relies on observational or implementation studies, and is less mature for acute assessment, neonatal and rehabilitation uses, wearables, and AI-enabled tools.
CONCLUSION: Telemedicine should be considered a complementary component of pediatric healthcare rather than a replacement for in-person assessment. Hybrid models may support accessibility, continuity, and sustainability when embedded in structured, patient-centered, equitable, and clinically appropriate pathways.
WHAT IS KNOWN: • Telemedicine expanded rapidly in pediatrics during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now used across many specialties. • It can improve access, continuity of care, remote monitoring, and family engagement, especially in chronic and complex conditions.
WHAT IS NEW: • This review summarizes recent technological and organizational innovations, including wearables, mHealth, EHR integration, AI, and hybrid care models. • It highlights current limits and future requirements for safe, equitable, and sustainable integration into routine pediatric care.
Additional Links: PMID-42541600
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42541600,
year = {2026},
author = {Zuccotti, G and Scavone, IAM and Cordaro, E and Rossi, V and Calcaterra, V},
title = {Telemedicine in pediatrics: a critical narrative review of innovations, limitations, and future priorities.},
journal = {European journal of pediatrics},
volume = {185},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {42541600},
issn = {1432-1076},
mesh = {Humans ; *Telemedicine/trends/organization & administration ; *Pediatrics/trends/methods ; Child ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: This narrative review synthesizes recent technological and organizational developments in pediatric telemedicine, maps their principal clinical applications, and critically discusses implementation, safety, equity, and future priorities. This narrative review used a transparent, non-systematic literature-search approach in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, considering publications available through April 2026. Searches were intended to identify and contextualize relevant literature across pediatric settings rather than to provide an exhaustive, reproducible systematic evidence synthesis. No formal risk-of-bias assessment, meta-analysis, or certainty-of-evidence grading was undertaken; therefore, findings are interpreted cautiously and according to the maturity and consistency of the available evidence. Evidence suggests that telemedicine can support follow-up, access to specialist care, and family engagement in several pediatric chronic-care pathways, particularly diabetes and asthma. However, the evidence base is heterogeneous across specialties, frequently relies on observational or implementation studies, and is less mature for acute assessment, neonatal and rehabilitation uses, wearables, and AI-enabled tools.
CONCLUSION: Telemedicine should be considered a complementary component of pediatric healthcare rather than a replacement for in-person assessment. Hybrid models may support accessibility, continuity, and sustainability when embedded in structured, patient-centered, equitable, and clinically appropriate pathways.
WHAT IS KNOWN: • Telemedicine expanded rapidly in pediatrics during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now used across many specialties. • It can improve access, continuity of care, remote monitoring, and family engagement, especially in chronic and complex conditions.
WHAT IS NEW: • This review summarizes recent technological and organizational innovations, including wearables, mHealth, EHR integration, AI, and hybrid care models. • It highlights current limits and future requirements for safe, equitable, and sustainable integration into routine pediatric care.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*Telemedicine/trends/organization & administration
*Pediatrics/trends/methods
Child
Digital Health
RevDate: 2026-11-05
CmpDate: 2026-08-01
Past achievements and future perspectives of personalized vaccines and the role of dendritic cells.
Immunologic research, 74(1):.
Personalized vaccines provide the advantage of patient-specific antigen selection to optimize immune responses, a strategy extensively explored in oncology through neoantigen-targeted peptide, mRNA, and dendritic cell platforms. Peptide vaccines provide simplicity and stability though often elicit limited cytotoxic T-cell responses. What is more, mRNA vaccines lead to rapid, multiplexed neoantigen delivery, endogenous antigen processing and eventually improved immunogenic coverage. Dendritic cell-based vaccines have the potency to prime potent T-cells although this technology requires labor-intensive manufacturing and extensive production timelines. Integration with immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and oncolytic viruses further enhances efficacy, suggesting that rational combinations may be more effective than single modalities. Recent advances in sequencing, computational epitope prediction, and bioinformatics pipelines have facilitated neoantigen prioritization and DC vaccine design, enabling more rapid and precise personalization. Hybrid vaccination strategies, such as ex-vivo mRNA-electroporated dendritic cells and in-vivo DC-targeted platforms, bridge the gap between manufacturing feasibility and potent immune activation. Emerging technologies, including AI-driven neoepitope prediction, receptor-targeted antigen delivery, biomaterial-based modulation, and distributed mRNA manufacturing, seem to be promising approaches to accelerate personalized vaccine development in future. From another point of view, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development, large-scale deployment, and validation of mRNA vaccine platforms for infectious diseases. Host HLA diversity, prior immune history, and viral evolution create heterogeneity in immune responses, highlighting opportunities for semi-personalized or adaptive strategies. In this review, we provide a landscape of personalized vaccines, with a focus on DC-based platforms, and explore translational lessons for viral pathogens. A conceptual framework linking cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease preparedness is proposed, emphasizing hybrid personalization approaches, rapid manufacturing, and AI-enabled epitope selection. This perspective highlights how convergence of immunology, computational biology, and advanced vaccine technologies could expand the scope of personalized vaccination, from oncology to future epidemic and pandemic scenarios as well as the current challenges.
Additional Links: PMID-42541646
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42541646,
year = {2026},
author = {Sadat Larijani, M and Bavand, A and Moradi, L and Ramezani, A},
title = {Past achievements and future perspectives of personalized vaccines and the role of dendritic cells.},
journal = {Immunologic research},
volume = {74},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42541646},
issn = {1559-0755},
mesh = {Humans ; *Dendritic Cells/immunology/transplantation ; *Precision Medicine/methods ; *Cancer Vaccines/immunology ; *Neoplasms/immunology/therapy ; Animals ; Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology ; mRNA Vaccines/immunology ; Vaccine Development ; Protein Subunit Vaccines ; *COVID-19/immunology/prevention & control ; },
abstract = {Personalized vaccines provide the advantage of patient-specific antigen selection to optimize immune responses, a strategy extensively explored in oncology through neoantigen-targeted peptide, mRNA, and dendritic cell platforms. Peptide vaccines provide simplicity and stability though often elicit limited cytotoxic T-cell responses. What is more, mRNA vaccines lead to rapid, multiplexed neoantigen delivery, endogenous antigen processing and eventually improved immunogenic coverage. Dendritic cell-based vaccines have the potency to prime potent T-cells although this technology requires labor-intensive manufacturing and extensive production timelines. Integration with immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and oncolytic viruses further enhances efficacy, suggesting that rational combinations may be more effective than single modalities. Recent advances in sequencing, computational epitope prediction, and bioinformatics pipelines have facilitated neoantigen prioritization and DC vaccine design, enabling more rapid and precise personalization. Hybrid vaccination strategies, such as ex-vivo mRNA-electroporated dendritic cells and in-vivo DC-targeted platforms, bridge the gap between manufacturing feasibility and potent immune activation. Emerging technologies, including AI-driven neoepitope prediction, receptor-targeted antigen delivery, biomaterial-based modulation, and distributed mRNA manufacturing, seem to be promising approaches to accelerate personalized vaccine development in future. From another point of view, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development, large-scale deployment, and validation of mRNA vaccine platforms for infectious diseases. Host HLA diversity, prior immune history, and viral evolution create heterogeneity in immune responses, highlighting opportunities for semi-personalized or adaptive strategies. In this review, we provide a landscape of personalized vaccines, with a focus on DC-based platforms, and explore translational lessons for viral pathogens. A conceptual framework linking cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease preparedness is proposed, emphasizing hybrid personalization approaches, rapid manufacturing, and AI-enabled epitope selection. This perspective highlights how convergence of immunology, computational biology, and advanced vaccine technologies could expand the scope of personalized vaccination, from oncology to future epidemic and pandemic scenarios as well as the current challenges.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Dendritic Cells/immunology/transplantation
*Precision Medicine/methods
*Cancer Vaccines/immunology
*Neoplasms/immunology/therapy
Animals
Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology
mRNA Vaccines/immunology
Vaccine Development
Protein Subunit Vaccines
*COVID-19/immunology/prevention & control
RevDate: 2026-08-03
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
[Perspectives on the Future of Antibody Therapeutic Use for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases].
Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 146(8):709-721.
Antibodies are endogenous proteins that are involved in humoral immunity. Although various therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting cancer and immune diseases have been widely used, the development of mAbs for the treatment of infectious diseases has remained limited. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, various mAbs targeting the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were developed, received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and were used for treating and preventing COVID-19. As successive SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged and the pandemic spread, mAbs with high target specificity proved less effective against these variants. Consequently, their EUAs were suspended within a short period, highlighting the limitations of antiviral mAbs developed against emerging infectious diseases. Since 2021, guidance documents on mAbs for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 have been issued by the WHO and US FDA, and efforts to prepare a regulatory environment supportive of drug development for future emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have accelerated. The EMA published a concept paper on development of guidelines for non-clinical and clinical evaluation of mAbs for COVID-19. These trends indicate that the international regulatory landscape for mAbs against infectious diseases is entering a new era. We here provide an overview of the guidance documents issued by regulatory agencies, based on insights obtained from anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the challenges and future prospects for the development of mAbs against infectious diseases, particularly in situations requiring rapid responses during pandemics.
Additional Links: PMID-42543609
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42543609,
year = {2026},
author = {Tada, M and Aoyama, M and Ishii-Watabe, A},
title = {[Perspectives on the Future of Antibody Therapeutic Use for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases].},
journal = {Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan},
volume = {146},
number = {8},
pages = {709-721},
doi = {10.1248/yakushi.26-00014},
pmid = {42543609},
issn = {1347-5231},
mesh = {Humans ; *Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use ; Emergency Use Authorization ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology ; Drug Development/trends ; *COVID-19/prevention & control ; },
abstract = {Antibodies are endogenous proteins that are involved in humoral immunity. Although various therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting cancer and immune diseases have been widely used, the development of mAbs for the treatment of infectious diseases has remained limited. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, various mAbs targeting the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were developed, received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and were used for treating and preventing COVID-19. As successive SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged and the pandemic spread, mAbs with high target specificity proved less effective against these variants. Consequently, their EUAs were suspended within a short period, highlighting the limitations of antiviral mAbs developed against emerging infectious diseases. Since 2021, guidance documents on mAbs for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 have been issued by the WHO and US FDA, and efforts to prepare a regulatory environment supportive of drug development for future emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have accelerated. The EMA published a concept paper on development of guidelines for non-clinical and clinical evaluation of mAbs for COVID-19. These trends indicate that the international regulatory landscape for mAbs against infectious diseases is entering a new era. We here provide an overview of the guidance documents issued by regulatory agencies, based on insights obtained from anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discuss the challenges and future prospects for the development of mAbs against infectious diseases, particularly in situations requiring rapid responses during pandemics.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
Emergency Use Authorization
SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
Drug Development/trends
*COVID-19/prevention & control
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
Mapping the global landscape of wearable devices in healthcare: A dual-database bibliometric analysis (2016-2026).
Digital health, 12:20552076261473979.
BACKGROUND: The escalating demand for proactive, personalized healthcare, heavily driven by the rising global burden of chronic diseases, necessitates a shift in modern medical management. While wearable devices are central to this transition, a comprehensive, multi-source quantitative mapping of the field's evolutionary trajectory and application domains remains lacking.
OBJECTIVE: This study systematically visualizes the knowledge structure, spatiotemporal distribution, and developmental trends of wearable healthcare technology over the past decade.
METHODS: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using integrated data from Web of Science and Scopus (2016-2026). Utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer, we performed cooperation network analysis, co-citation clustering, and keyword burst detection to identify global collaboration patterns and research emerging trends.
RESULTS: Analysis of 12,812 eligible articles identified China and the United States as leading contributors. Ten distinct research clusters emerged: (1) PM2.5; (2) breast milk; (3) chronic wounds; (4) COVID-19 pandemic; (5) Internet of medical things; (6) human activity recognition; (7) cancer survivors; (8) chronic disease; (9) water-soluble composite; (10) personalized health monitoring. Burst detection further highlighted an escalating shift toward telemedicine integration, cost-efficiency, and quality-of-life-focused rehabilitation.
CONCLUSION: This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric assessment of wearable health technology. By delineating established domains and emerging trajectories in telemedicine and personalized prevention, it provides evidence for researchers and policymakers to optimize resource allocation in digital health innovation.
Additional Links: PMID-42544134
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42544134,
year = {2026},
author = {Ding, Y and Wen, S and Tao, X and Yu, W},
title = {Mapping the global landscape of wearable devices in healthcare: A dual-database bibliometric analysis (2016-2026).},
journal = {Digital health},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {20552076261473979},
pmid = {42544134},
issn = {2055-2076},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The escalating demand for proactive, personalized healthcare, heavily driven by the rising global burden of chronic diseases, necessitates a shift in modern medical management. While wearable devices are central to this transition, a comprehensive, multi-source quantitative mapping of the field's evolutionary trajectory and application domains remains lacking.
OBJECTIVE: This study systematically visualizes the knowledge structure, spatiotemporal distribution, and developmental trends of wearable healthcare technology over the past decade.
METHODS: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using integrated data from Web of Science and Scopus (2016-2026). Utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer, we performed cooperation network analysis, co-citation clustering, and keyword burst detection to identify global collaboration patterns and research emerging trends.
RESULTS: Analysis of 12,812 eligible articles identified China and the United States as leading contributors. Ten distinct research clusters emerged: (1) PM2.5; (2) breast milk; (3) chronic wounds; (4) COVID-19 pandemic; (5) Internet of medical things; (6) human activity recognition; (7) cancer survivors; (8) chronic disease; (9) water-soluble composite; (10) personalized health monitoring. Burst detection further highlighted an escalating shift toward telemedicine integration, cost-efficiency, and quality-of-life-focused rehabilitation.
CONCLUSION: This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric assessment of wearable health technology. By delineating established domains and emerging trajectories in telemedicine and personalized prevention, it provides evidence for researchers and policymakers to optimize resource allocation in digital health innovation.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Dental Services Utilisation Among Patients Visiting a Tertiary Health Facility in South-South, Nigeria.
Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 67(1):291-299.
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 caused significant disruption to dental services worldwide, with Nigeria restricting care to emergencies, which could have worsened existing access barriers. Empirical data from the South-South region remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on dental service utilisation, barriers, perceived oral health outcomes, and post-pandemic recovery among patients at a tertiary facility in South-South Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 120 adults attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital dental clinic from March 2020 to December 2021, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS v25.
RESULTS: Utilisation sharply declined during the pandemic, with 53.3% not attending the clinic versus 35.8% before the pandemic. Major barriers included fear of infection (29.2%) and lack of information about services (16.7%). Post-pandemic attendance improved but remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels. While 40.8% reported improved oral health due to increased self-care, 17.5% reported deterioration. Most participants were satisfied with current service availability (58.3%) and perceived improved access (60.8%).
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 significantly reduced dental utilisation due to fear and restricted access. Although recovery is underway, preventive visits remain low. Public education, tele-dentistry, and enhanced emergency preparedness are recommended.
Additional Links: PMID-42544214
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42544214,
year = {2026},
author = {Omokhua, H and Beauty, O and Favour, E and Blessing, I and Gabriella, O and Onyekachi, C},
title = {Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Dental Services Utilisation Among Patients Visiting a Tertiary Health Facility in South-South, Nigeria.},
journal = {Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association},
volume = {67},
number = {1},
pages = {291-299},
pmid = {42544214},
issn = {0300-1652},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: COVID-19 caused significant disruption to dental services worldwide, with Nigeria restricting care to emergencies, which could have worsened existing access barriers. Empirical data from the South-South region remains limited. Objective: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on dental service utilisation, barriers, perceived oral health outcomes, and post-pandemic recovery among patients at a tertiary facility in South-South Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 120 adults attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital dental clinic from March 2020 to December 2021, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed with SPSS v25.
RESULTS: Utilisation sharply declined during the pandemic, with 53.3% not attending the clinic versus 35.8% before the pandemic. Major barriers included fear of infection (29.2%) and lack of information about services (16.7%). Post-pandemic attendance improved but remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels. While 40.8% reported improved oral health due to increased self-care, 17.5% reported deterioration. Most participants were satisfied with current service availability (58.3%) and perceived improved access (60.8%).
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 significantly reduced dental utilisation due to fear and restricted access. Although recovery is underway, preventive visits remain low. Public education, tele-dentistry, and enhanced emergency preparedness are recommended.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
A Descriptive National Survey of Post-COVID Experiences of Nigerian Surgical Trainees.
Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 67(1):59-73.
BACKGROUND: Medical training was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an unprecedented reduction in elective, emergency surgical, and clinical procedures. This led to great interest in the use of virtual lectures, virtual conferences, webinars, and other technology-based resources such as telehealth consultations. This trend has introduced changes that have transformed surgical training/fellowship. The study aims to explore the transformation in clinical practice and residency training induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in a low- and middle-income country such as Nigeria, and ways of aligning with global trends.
METHODOLOGY: This was a quantitative questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The survey link was distributed through professional WhatsApp® platforms of the residency associations of diverse surgery training institutions in Nigeria, and via email.
RESULTS: There were 157 respondents. Urology (26.1%) and orthopaedic surgery (22.3%) had the highest numbers of respondents. The major cases done after the lockdown decreased COMPARED to the period before the lockdown. The residents using the audio form of telemedicine increased from 48% in the pre-COVID period to 61% in the post-COVID period. The video form increased from 4.5% to 21%, and those using internet Apps for clinical consultation increased from 13.4 % to 31.8%. McNemar's test was significant for the differences in responses before and after COVID for audio telemedicine (p = 0.011), video (p = 0.000), and internet App telemedicine (p = 0.000). In the pre-COVID period, lectures, tutorials, and seminars were frequently delivered in-person (96.2%), while in the post-COVID period, they were predominantly done virtually (74.5%). Pearson's chi-square test showed no significant associations between the stage of training and the responses (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The pandemic affected surgical training for fellowships, hastening the adoption of virtual platforms, simulation technology, remote teaching, and mentorship into many fellowships' curricula, giving rise to a flexible hybrid model of surgical fellowship.
Additional Links: PMID-42544246
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42544246,
year = {2026},
author = {Nnabugwu, II and Okwesili, OR and Anyimba, SK},
title = {A Descriptive National Survey of Post-COVID Experiences of Nigerian Surgical Trainees.},
journal = {Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association},
volume = {67},
number = {1},
pages = {59-73},
pmid = {42544246},
issn = {0300-1652},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Medical training was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an unprecedented reduction in elective, emergency surgical, and clinical procedures. This led to great interest in the use of virtual lectures, virtual conferences, webinars, and other technology-based resources such as telehealth consultations. This trend has introduced changes that have transformed surgical training/fellowship. The study aims to explore the transformation in clinical practice and residency training induced by the COVID-19 pandemic in a low- and middle-income country such as Nigeria, and ways of aligning with global trends.
METHODOLOGY: This was a quantitative questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. The survey link was distributed through professional WhatsApp® platforms of the residency associations of diverse surgery training institutions in Nigeria, and via email.
RESULTS: There were 157 respondents. Urology (26.1%) and orthopaedic surgery (22.3%) had the highest numbers of respondents. The major cases done after the lockdown decreased COMPARED to the period before the lockdown. The residents using the audio form of telemedicine increased from 48% in the pre-COVID period to 61% in the post-COVID period. The video form increased from 4.5% to 21%, and those using internet Apps for clinical consultation increased from 13.4 % to 31.8%. McNemar's test was significant for the differences in responses before and after COVID for audio telemedicine (p = 0.011), video (p = 0.000), and internet App telemedicine (p = 0.000). In the pre-COVID period, lectures, tutorials, and seminars were frequently delivered in-person (96.2%), while in the post-COVID period, they were predominantly done virtually (74.5%). Pearson's chi-square test showed no significant associations between the stage of training and the responses (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The pandemic affected surgical training for fellowships, hastening the adoption of virtual platforms, simulation technology, remote teaching, and mentorship into many fellowships' curricula, giving rise to a flexible hybrid model of surgical fellowship.},
}
RevDate: 2026-09-24
CmpDate: 2026-09-22
One virus-many strategies: type-specific interactions between human adenoviruses and innate immunity.
Journal of virology, 100(9):e0020426.
Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are double-stranded DNA viruses that can cause a wide range of infections, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and ocular diseases, as well as less common conditions such as hepatitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, and encephalitis. While most infections in immunocompetent individuals remain clinically asymptomatic, immunocompromised patients are at a high risk of developing severe HAdV infections. Due to their exceptional transduction efficiency, HAdVs are also widely used as vaccine vectors, such as in vector-based COVID-19 vaccines. Although HAdVs are present as pathogens and vectors, the interaction between HAdVs and the human immune system remains insufficiently studied. Most adenoviral basic research in this context has focused on HAdV-C5. However, differences in capsid structure and genome organization exist not only between adenovirus species but also among types within the same species. These variations may influence the ability of the virus to evade or counteract the host immune system, ultimately influencing viral infectivity and replication efficiency. Further studies are needed to elucidate these differences. In this review, we summarize the differences in immune responses, with a particular emphasis on triggered IFN responses, across various HAdV species and their influence on infection outcomes, as well as their implications for the use of adenoviral vectors. Future research addressing these differences will be essential to better understand adenovirus pathogenesis and the rational design of adenovirus-based vectors.
Additional Links: PMID-42545007
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42545007,
year = {2026},
author = {Hanrieder, L and Schreiner, S},
title = {One virus-many strategies: type-specific interactions between human adenoviruses and innate immunity.},
journal = {Journal of virology},
volume = {100},
number = {9},
pages = {e0020426},
pmid = {42545007},
issn = {1098-5514},
support = {Research Unit FOR5898 AdBHealth (548065690) project P01//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; FOR5200 DEEP-DV (443644894) project P08//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC 2155 - (390874280)//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Immunity, Innate ; *Adenoviruses, Human/immunology/genetics/classification ; *Adenovirus Infections, Human/immunology/virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Interferons/immunology ; Virus Replication ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are double-stranded DNA viruses that can cause a wide range of infections, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and ocular diseases, as well as less common conditions such as hepatitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, and encephalitis. While most infections in immunocompetent individuals remain clinically asymptomatic, immunocompromised patients are at a high risk of developing severe HAdV infections. Due to their exceptional transduction efficiency, HAdVs are also widely used as vaccine vectors, such as in vector-based COVID-19 vaccines. Although HAdVs are present as pathogens and vectors, the interaction between HAdVs and the human immune system remains insufficiently studied. Most adenoviral basic research in this context has focused on HAdV-C5. However, differences in capsid structure and genome organization exist not only between adenovirus species but also among types within the same species. These variations may influence the ability of the virus to evade or counteract the host immune system, ultimately influencing viral infectivity and replication efficiency. Further studies are needed to elucidate these differences. In this review, we summarize the differences in immune responses, with a particular emphasis on triggered IFN responses, across various HAdV species and their influence on infection outcomes, as well as their implications for the use of adenoviral vectors. Future research addressing these differences will be essential to better understand adenovirus pathogenesis and the rational design of adenovirus-based vectors.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Immunity, Innate
*Adenoviruses, Human/immunology/genetics/classification
*Adenovirus Infections, Human/immunology/virology
Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology
Interferons/immunology
Virus Replication
Animals
RevDate: 2026-10-20
CmpDate: 2026-10-05
Necrotizing pneumonia in children: a comprehensive narrative review of current challenges and future perspectives.
Minerva anestesiologica, 92(9):890-903.
Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) represents an uncommon but severe complication of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, characterized by the destruction of lung parenchyma and formation of multiple thin-walled cavities. Despite its rarity, the incidence of pediatric NP has increased substantially over the past two decades, creating major diagnostic and treatment challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has further altered the epidemiological landscape, with unique patterns of respiratory pathogen circulation. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on pediatric necrotizing pneumonia through a comprehensive literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for articles published between January 1994 and January 2025. Search terms included "necrotizing pneumonia," "necrotising pneumonia," and "cavitary pneumonia" paired with "child," "pediatric," or "paediatric," along with specific terms for etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. We included English-language original research articles, systematic reviews, and case series with at least 10 patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae continues to dominate as the primary pathogen, accounting for 30-60% of cases, though the emergence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a major cause in Asia, with macrolide resistance exceeding 85%, presents new therapeutic challenges. Diagnostic approaches have evolved significantly, with lung ultrasound demonstrating comparable accuracy to CT (κ=0.85) while avoiding radiation exposure. Novel biomarkers including presepsin, copeptin, and fetuin-A show promise for early detection and prognostication. Treatment outcomes remain encouraging, with most cases (80%) successfully managed conservatively using prolonged antibiotics for a median duration of 28 days. Surgery is reserved for specific complications, and long-term outcomes are favorable with normal pulmonary function in 80-90% of children at one-year follow-up. While pediatric necrotizing pneumonia remains a serious condition, recent advances in non-invasive diagnostics, biomarker development, and understanding of post-pandemic epidemiology offer opportunities for improved outcomes. Future research should focus on validating AI-powered diagnostic tools, optimizing antimicrobial therapy in the era of resistance, and establishing evidence-based surgical intervention criteria. The integration of lung ultrasound as a radiation-free diagnostic modality represents a paradigm shift in pediatric pneumonia management.
Additional Links: PMID-42545025
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42545025,
year = {2026},
author = {Portaccio, I and Piastra, M and Spadaro, S and Ferrone, G and Zito Marinosci, G and Moggia, S and Chidini, G and Bitondo, MM and Bonanomi, E and Visconti, F and Tipo, V and Maglione, M and Giannattasio, A and Morena, TC and Picconi, E and Tosi, F and Mensi, S and Chioffi, M and Lecci, F and Genovese, O and Conti, G and Spinazzola, G},
title = {Necrotizing pneumonia in children: a comprehensive narrative review of current challenges and future perspectives.},
journal = {Minerva anestesiologica},
volume = {92},
number = {9},
pages = {890-903},
doi = {10.23736/S0375-9393.26.19635-7},
pmid = {42545025},
issn = {1827-1596},
mesh = {Child ; Humans ; Community-Acquired Pneumonia ; Forecasting ; *Pneumonia, Necrotizing/diagnosis/therapy/epidemiology/etiology ; },
abstract = {Necrotizing pneumonia (NP) represents an uncommon but severe complication of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, characterized by the destruction of lung parenchyma and formation of multiple thin-walled cavities. Despite its rarity, the incidence of pediatric NP has increased substantially over the past two decades, creating major diagnostic and treatment challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has further altered the epidemiological landscape, with unique patterns of respiratory pathogen circulation. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on pediatric necrotizing pneumonia through a comprehensive literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for articles published between January 1994 and January 2025. Search terms included "necrotizing pneumonia," "necrotising pneumonia," and "cavitary pneumonia" paired with "child," "pediatric," or "paediatric," along with specific terms for etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. We included English-language original research articles, systematic reviews, and case series with at least 10 patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae continues to dominate as the primary pathogen, accounting for 30-60% of cases, though the emergence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a major cause in Asia, with macrolide resistance exceeding 85%, presents new therapeutic challenges. Diagnostic approaches have evolved significantly, with lung ultrasound demonstrating comparable accuracy to CT (κ=0.85) while avoiding radiation exposure. Novel biomarkers including presepsin, copeptin, and fetuin-A show promise for early detection and prognostication. Treatment outcomes remain encouraging, with most cases (80%) successfully managed conservatively using prolonged antibiotics for a median duration of 28 days. Surgery is reserved for specific complications, and long-term outcomes are favorable with normal pulmonary function in 80-90% of children at one-year follow-up. While pediatric necrotizing pneumonia remains a serious condition, recent advances in non-invasive diagnostics, biomarker development, and understanding of post-pandemic epidemiology offer opportunities for improved outcomes. Future research should focus on validating AI-powered diagnostic tools, optimizing antimicrobial therapy in the era of resistance, and establishing evidence-based surgical intervention criteria. The integration of lung ultrasound as a radiation-free diagnostic modality represents a paradigm shift in pediatric pneumonia management.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Child
Humans
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Forecasting
*Pneumonia, Necrotizing/diagnosis/therapy/epidemiology/etiology
RevDate: 2026-10-29
CmpDate: 2026-09-02
Targeting SARS-CoV-2 programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting: structural dynamics and RNA-directed antiviral strategies.
Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 70(9):e0068726.
Programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting (-1 PRF) is a translational recoding mechanism used by many RNA viruses to regulate the expression of viral replication proteins. In coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, -1 PRF is controlled by a conserved frameshift stimulation element containing a three-stemmed RNA pseudoknot located downstream of a slippery sequence. Studies have shown that conformational dynamics, mechanical stability, and structural variability of the pseudoknot influence ribosome pausing and frameshifting efficiency, identifying viral RNA structures as potential antiviral targets. This review outlines the structural organization, mechanistic basis, and conformational dynamics of viral frameshifting pseudoknots, with emphasis on the SARS-CoV-2 frameshift stimulation element. Advances in cryo-electron microscopy, single-molecule biophysics, molecular dynamics simulations, and computational modeling have identified multiple pseudoknot conformations involved in translational recoding and ribosome-RNA interactions. RNA-targeted therapeutic approaches used to suppress or modulate -1 PRF are also discussed, including small-molecule RNA binders, antisense oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids, and ribonuclease-targeting chimeras. These approaches act on distinct aspects of RNA structure, conformational flexibility, and stability to inhibit viral translation or promote selective RNA degradation. Major challenges include selective targeting of highly dynamic RNA structures, optimization of intracellular delivery, and minimizing off-target effects. Integration of structural biology, computational modeling, and RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies may support the development of next-generation antivirals targeting conserved viral RNA regulatory elements.
Additional Links: PMID-42545119
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42545119,
year = {2026},
author = {Jeena, N and Khan, IA},
title = {Targeting SARS-CoV-2 programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting: structural dynamics and RNA-directed antiviral strategies.},
journal = {Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy},
volume = {70},
number = {9},
pages = {e0068726},
pmid = {42545119},
issn = {1098-6596},
support = {CRG/2022/001303, SERB CRG//Science and Engineering Research Board/ ; No. IPA/2021/000196-G, SERB IRHPA//Science and Engineering Research Board/ ; DST/WISE-PhD/LS/2023/107 (G), WISE Fellowship//Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India/ ; },
mesh = {*Frameshifting, Ribosomal/drug effects/genetics ; *RNA, Viral/genetics/chemistry/metabolism ; *SARS-CoV-2/genetics/drug effects ; Humans ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Ribosomes/metabolism ; COVID-19/virology ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; },
abstract = {Programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting (-1 PRF) is a translational recoding mechanism used by many RNA viruses to regulate the expression of viral replication proteins. In coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, -1 PRF is controlled by a conserved frameshift stimulation element containing a three-stemmed RNA pseudoknot located downstream of a slippery sequence. Studies have shown that conformational dynamics, mechanical stability, and structural variability of the pseudoknot influence ribosome pausing and frameshifting efficiency, identifying viral RNA structures as potential antiviral targets. This review outlines the structural organization, mechanistic basis, and conformational dynamics of viral frameshifting pseudoknots, with emphasis on the SARS-CoV-2 frameshift stimulation element. Advances in cryo-electron microscopy, single-molecule biophysics, molecular dynamics simulations, and computational modeling have identified multiple pseudoknot conformations involved in translational recoding and ribosome-RNA interactions. RNA-targeted therapeutic approaches used to suppress or modulate -1 PRF are also discussed, including small-molecule RNA binders, antisense oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids, and ribonuclease-targeting chimeras. These approaches act on distinct aspects of RNA structure, conformational flexibility, and stability to inhibit viral translation or promote selective RNA degradation. Major challenges include selective targeting of highly dynamic RNA structures, optimization of intracellular delivery, and minimizing off-target effects. Integration of structural biology, computational modeling, and RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies may support the development of next-generation antivirals targeting conserved viral RNA regulatory elements.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
*Frameshifting, Ribosomal/drug effects/genetics
*RNA, Viral/genetics/chemistry/metabolism
*SARS-CoV-2/genetics/drug effects
Humans
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Ribosomes/metabolism
COVID-19/virology
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
RevDate: 2026-08-03
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
[Interdisciplinary Management of Acute and Chronic Mastoiditis].
Laryngo- rhino- otologie, 105(8):516-532.
Acute mastoiditis represents the most common complication of acute otitis media in childhood and, despite a declining incidence in the era of vaccine prevention, remains a clinically significant entity. Particularly in infants and immunocompromised patients, symptoms may be nonspecific, thereby complicating early diagnosis. The present review provides a structured overview of the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and therapeutic management of acute and chronic mastoiditis, with special emphasis on interdisciplinary aspects.The pathogen spectrum is age-dependent and subject to epidemiological shifts driven by vaccination programs and external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In acute cases, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pyogenes predominate, whereas chronic mastoiditis frequently exhibits a polymicrobial flora including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and anaerobic pathogens. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical and is supported by imaging modalities (CT, MRI).Treatment is stage-dependent and may be conservative (high-dose intravenous antibiotic therapy, with or without ventilation tube placement) or surgical (mastoidectomy). Interdisciplinary management involving otolaryngology, pediatrics, (pediatric) radiology, neuropediatrics, and infectious diseases is of crucial importance-particularly in complicated courses such as abscess formation, labyrinthitis, facial nerve palsy, Gradenigo's syndrome, or intracranial complications.Special consideration is given to high-risk populations, including infants, immunocompromised patients, and children with cochlear implants, in whom atypical clinical courses and biofilm formation necessitate tailored management strategies. Follow-up care includes structured audiological assessment, vaccination counseling, and parental education aimed at preventing recurrence. A coherent, stage-oriented interdisciplinary treatment algorithm combined with close clinical re-evaluation by the surgical team enables effective management while reducing the rate of operative interventions-consistent with current international standards.
Additional Links: PMID-42546716
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PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42546716,
year = {2026},
author = {Lailach, S and Neudert, M and Zahnert, T},
title = {[Interdisciplinary Management of Acute and Chronic Mastoiditis].},
journal = {Laryngo- rhino- otologie},
volume = {105},
number = {8},
pages = {516-532},
doi = {10.1055/a-2623-3015},
pmid = {42546716},
issn = {1438-8685},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mastoiditis/therapy/diagnosis/etiology ; Acute Disease ; Chronic Disease ; *Patient Care Team ; Child ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Infant ; Mastoidectomy ; Intersectoral Collaboration ; Combined Modality Therapy ; },
abstract = {Acute mastoiditis represents the most common complication of acute otitis media in childhood and, despite a declining incidence in the era of vaccine prevention, remains a clinically significant entity. Particularly in infants and immunocompromised patients, symptoms may be nonspecific, thereby complicating early diagnosis. The present review provides a structured overview of the etiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic workup, and therapeutic management of acute and chronic mastoiditis, with special emphasis on interdisciplinary aspects.The pathogen spectrum is age-dependent and subject to epidemiological shifts driven by vaccination programs and external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In acute cases, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pyogenes predominate, whereas chronic mastoiditis frequently exhibits a polymicrobial flora including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and anaerobic pathogens. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical and is supported by imaging modalities (CT, MRI).Treatment is stage-dependent and may be conservative (high-dose intravenous antibiotic therapy, with or without ventilation tube placement) or surgical (mastoidectomy). Interdisciplinary management involving otolaryngology, pediatrics, (pediatric) radiology, neuropediatrics, and infectious diseases is of crucial importance-particularly in complicated courses such as abscess formation, labyrinthitis, facial nerve palsy, Gradenigo's syndrome, or intracranial complications.Special consideration is given to high-risk populations, including infants, immunocompromised patients, and children with cochlear implants, in whom atypical clinical courses and biofilm formation necessitate tailored management strategies. Follow-up care includes structured audiological assessment, vaccination counseling, and parental education aimed at preventing recurrence. A coherent, stage-oriented interdisciplinary treatment algorithm combined with close clinical re-evaluation by the surgical team enables effective management while reducing the rate of operative interventions-consistent with current international standards.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Mastoiditis/therapy/diagnosis/etiology
Acute Disease
Chronic Disease
*Patient Care Team
Child
Interdisciplinary Communication
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
Infant
Mastoidectomy
Intersectoral Collaboration
Combined Modality Therapy
RevDate: 2026-08-03
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 in Older Adults.
Clinics in geriatric medicine, 42(3):399-425.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains asymptomatic in 33% to 90% of older adults depending on their immune status from prior infection, vaccination, and circulating strain. Older adults symptomatic with SARS-CoV-2 often both present atypically, such as with a blunted fever response, and develop more severe disease. Early and late reports showed that older adults have increased severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with higher case fatality rates and higher intensive care needs compared with younger adults. Infection and vaccine-induced antibody response and long-term effects of COVID-19 also differ in older adults.
Additional Links: PMID-42547170
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@article {pmid42547170,
year = {2026},
author = {Abul, Y and Leeder, C and Gravenstein, S},
title = {Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 in Older Adults.},
journal = {Clinics in geriatric medicine},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {399-425},
doi = {10.1016/j.cger.2025.09.007},
pmid = {42547170},
issn = {1879-8853},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology/diagnosis/therapy ; Aged ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Severity of Illness Index ; Age Factors ; },
abstract = {Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains asymptomatic in 33% to 90% of older adults depending on their immune status from prior infection, vaccination, and circulating strain. Older adults symptomatic with SARS-CoV-2 often both present atypically, such as with a blunted fever response, and develop more severe disease. Early and late reports showed that older adults have increased severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with higher case fatality rates and higher intensive care needs compared with younger adults. Infection and vaccine-induced antibody response and long-term effects of COVID-19 also differ in older adults.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology/diagnosis/therapy
Aged
SARS-CoV-2
Severity of Illness Index
Age Factors
RevDate: 2026-08-03
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
Vaccines for the Prevention of COVID-19 in Older Adults.
Clinics in geriatric medicine, 42(3):427-448.
Institutionalized and community-dwelling older adults have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with increased morbidity and mortality. The advent of vaccines and their widespread use in this population has brought about a dramatic turnaround in COVID-19 outcomes. The immunogenicity and effectiveness of the various vaccine options worldwide will be discussed. Optimizing vaccine usage will remain crucial to maximize protection due to reduced initial immunity, the emergence of variant strains, and the waning of immunity over time. There are also lessons learned specific to older populations for future pandemics of novel pathogens where there is minimal to no prior immunity.
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@article {pmid42547171,
year = {2026},
author = {Olagunju, OJ and Oyebanji, OA and Mylonakis, E and Canaday, DH},
title = {Vaccines for the Prevention of COVID-19 in Older Adults.},
journal = {Clinics in geriatric medicine},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {427-448},
doi = {10.1016/j.cger.2025.09.003},
pmid = {42547171},
issn = {1879-8853},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19 Vaccines ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology ; Aged ; SARS-CoV-2 ; *Pandemics/prevention & control ; Vaccine Efficacy ; Vaccination/methods ; },
abstract = {Institutionalized and community-dwelling older adults have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with increased morbidity and mortality. The advent of vaccines and their widespread use in this population has brought about a dramatic turnaround in COVID-19 outcomes. The immunogenicity and effectiveness of the various vaccine options worldwide will be discussed. Optimizing vaccine usage will remain crucial to maximize protection due to reduced initial immunity, the emergence of variant strains, and the waning of immunity over time. There are also lessons learned specific to older populations for future pandemics of novel pathogens where there is minimal to no prior immunity.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*COVID-19 Vaccines
*COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology
Aged
SARS-CoV-2
*Pandemics/prevention & control
Vaccine Efficacy
Vaccination/methods
RevDate: 2026-08-03
CmpDate: 2026-08-03
Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy in Older Adults.
Clinics in geriatric medicine, 42(3):529-543.
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for older adults is a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders and care coordination, but it is a useful and patient-centered tool with opportunities for the treatment of complicated infections, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced health-care costs. Older age should not be an exclusion for OPAT but rather prompt the OPAT provider to thoroughly evaluate candidacy and safety. Amid the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, innovations in OPAT are needed to shepherd OPAT care into a more patient-centered, thoughtful practice, whereas minimizing harm to older patients from unnecessary health-care exposure and thus health-care associated infections.
Additional Links: PMID-42547176
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@article {pmid42547176,
year = {2026},
author = {Oliver, NT and Skalweit, MJ},
title = {Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy in Older Adults.},
journal = {Clinics in geriatric medicine},
volume = {42},
number = {3},
pages = {529-543},
doi = {10.1016/j.cger.2025.09.011},
pmid = {42547176},
issn = {1879-8853},
mesh = {Humans ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage ; Aged ; *Ambulatory Care/methods ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Infusions, Parenteral ; },
abstract = {Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) for older adults is a complex process that involves multiple stakeholders and care coordination, but it is a useful and patient-centered tool with opportunities for the treatment of complicated infections, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced health-care costs. Older age should not be an exclusion for OPAT but rather prompt the OPAT provider to thoroughly evaluate candidacy and safety. Amid the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, innovations in OPAT are needed to shepherd OPAT care into a more patient-centered, thoughtful practice, whereas minimizing harm to older patients from unnecessary health-care exposure and thus health-care associated infections.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage
Aged
*Ambulatory Care/methods
*COVID-19/epidemiology
SARS-CoV-2
Infusions, Parenteral
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-04
New-onset adrenal insufficiency in COVID-19 patients without preexisting adrenal disease: A systematic review.
Qatar medical journal, 2026(2):35.
INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem disorder with potential endocrine sequelae. Emerging reports suggest that adrenal insufficiency (AI) may occur in patients with COVID-19 without preexisting adrenal disease, but the clinical spectrum and strength of evidence remain unclear. To systematically review the literature on new-onset AI associated with COVID-19 in patients without prior adrenal disorders, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 28, 2025. Eligible studies included observational studies, case reports, and case series reporting AI in COVID-19 patients without known adrenal disease. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Given the heterogeneity, a qualitative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS: Nine primary studies (two observational studies and seven case reports) were included. Four narrative reviews were used solely for contextual discussion. Cases involved adults and children and occurred during acute infection or the post-COVID period. Most reports described biochemically confirmed central AI, while fewer reported primary AI due to adrenal infarction, hemorrhage, or autoimmune adrenalitis. Some presentations based mainly on steroid responsiveness were interpreted as probable critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency. Diagnostic thresholds and the use of ACTH stimulation testing varied. Most patients improved with glucocorticoid replacement.
CONCLUSION: New-onset AI has been reported in temporal association with COVID-19 and may represent an infrequently reported but clinically significant endocrine manifestation. Prospective studies with standardized hormonal assessment are needed to clarify incidence, mechanisms, and screening strategies.
REGISTRATION: The review was registered with PROSPERO under registration number CRD420251275141.
Additional Links: PMID-42549148
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@article {pmid42549148,
year = {2026},
author = {Fatima, I and Saif, MA and Messova, AM and Abdrahmanova, ST and Mussin, NM and Tamadon, A},
title = {New-onset adrenal insufficiency in COVID-19 patients without preexisting adrenal disease: A systematic review.},
journal = {Qatar medical journal},
volume = {2026},
number = {2},
pages = {35},
pmid = {42549148},
issn = {0253-8253},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem disorder with potential endocrine sequelae. Emerging reports suggest that adrenal insufficiency (AI) may occur in patients with COVID-19 without preexisting adrenal disease, but the clinical spectrum and strength of evidence remain unclear. To systematically review the literature on new-onset AI associated with COVID-19 in patients without prior adrenal disorders, focusing on clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and underlying mechanisms.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 28, 2025. Eligible studies included observational studies, case reports, and case series reporting AI in COVID-19 patients without known adrenal disease. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Given the heterogeneity, a qualitative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS: Nine primary studies (two observational studies and seven case reports) were included. Four narrative reviews were used solely for contextual discussion. Cases involved adults and children and occurred during acute infection or the post-COVID period. Most reports described biochemically confirmed central AI, while fewer reported primary AI due to adrenal infarction, hemorrhage, or autoimmune adrenalitis. Some presentations based mainly on steroid responsiveness were interpreted as probable critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency. Diagnostic thresholds and the use of ACTH stimulation testing varied. Most patients improved with glucocorticoid replacement.
CONCLUSION: New-onset AI has been reported in temporal association with COVID-19 and may represent an infrequently reported but clinically significant endocrine manifestation. Prospective studies with standardized hormonal assessment are needed to clarify incidence, mechanisms, and screening strategies.
REGISTRATION: The review was registered with PROSPERO under registration number CRD420251275141.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-04
Association between physical activity and depression in university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis with public health implications.
Frontiers in psychology, 17:1850043.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between physical activity and depression among university students, quantify the linear correlation between physical activity level and depressive symptoms, and examine the binary association of insufficient physical activity or sedentary behavior with depression risk, thereby providing evidence-based support for mental health promotion and public health interventions in higher education settings.
METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and PsycINFO from inception to March 31, 2026, for observational studies examining the relationship between physical activity and depression in university students. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. For studies reporting correlation coefficients, separate meta-analyses were conducted for Pearson and Spearman correlations using Fisher's z-transformation under a random-effects model. For studies reporting binary outcomes, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were extracted and pooled separately for physical activity and sedentary behavior groups.
RESULTS: A total of 36 studies were included: 30 in the linear correlation meta-analysis and 6 in the binary association meta-analysis. The linear correlation analysis comprised 31 effect sizes with a total sample of 30,307 individuals. The pooled correlation estimates showed an inverse direction but substantial to extreme heterogeneity (Pearson: r = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.11, I[2] = 94.4%; Spearman: r = -0.44, 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.01, I[2] = 99.2%), indicating that these pooled estimates should be interpreted as average directional trends rather than precise or universally applicable effect sizes. After trim-and-fill correction, the Pearson correlation remained statistically significant (r = -0.114, 95% CI: -0.209 to -0.016). The binary association analysis showed that the pooled OR for the physical activity group (4 studies) was 0.53 (95% CI: 0.27 to 1.07), suggesting a protective trend of higher physical activity against depression that did not reach statistical significance; the pooled OR for the sedentary behavior group (2 studies) was 1.60 (95% CI: 1.26 to 2.04), indicating a significant association between higher sedentary behavior and increased depression risk. Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger negative association between physical activity and depression during and after the COVID-19 period.
CONCLUSION: Physical activity promotion and sedentary behavior reduction may be practical components of campus mental health strategies, including brief activity breaks during long lectures, low-threshold exercise opportunities, and active commuting support. However, because most included studies were cross-sectional, geographically skewed toward Chinese samples, and highly heterogeneous, these implications should be interpreted cautiously as public health directions rather than causal or universally generalizable recommendations.
Additional Links: PMID-42549181
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42549181,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Mao, H and Zhang, X and Li, D and Liu, Z and Shang, W and Song, G},
title = {Association between physical activity and depression in university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis with public health implications.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1850043},
pmid = {42549181},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between physical activity and depression among university students, quantify the linear correlation between physical activity level and depressive symptoms, and examine the binary association of insufficient physical activity or sedentary behavior with depression risk, thereby providing evidence-based support for mental health promotion and public health interventions in higher education settings.
METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and PsycINFO from inception to March 31, 2026, for observational studies examining the relationship between physical activity and depression in university students. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. For studies reporting correlation coefficients, separate meta-analyses were conducted for Pearson and Spearman correlations using Fisher's z-transformation under a random-effects model. For studies reporting binary outcomes, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were extracted and pooled separately for physical activity and sedentary behavior groups.
RESULTS: A total of 36 studies were included: 30 in the linear correlation meta-analysis and 6 in the binary association meta-analysis. The linear correlation analysis comprised 31 effect sizes with a total sample of 30,307 individuals. The pooled correlation estimates showed an inverse direction but substantial to extreme heterogeneity (Pearson: r = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.11, I[2] = 94.4%; Spearman: r = -0.44, 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.01, I[2] = 99.2%), indicating that these pooled estimates should be interpreted as average directional trends rather than precise or universally applicable effect sizes. After trim-and-fill correction, the Pearson correlation remained statistically significant (r = -0.114, 95% CI: -0.209 to -0.016). The binary association analysis showed that the pooled OR for the physical activity group (4 studies) was 0.53 (95% CI: 0.27 to 1.07), suggesting a protective trend of higher physical activity against depression that did not reach statistical significance; the pooled OR for the sedentary behavior group (2 studies) was 1.60 (95% CI: 1.26 to 2.04), indicating a significant association between higher sedentary behavior and increased depression risk. Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger negative association between physical activity and depression during and after the COVID-19 period.
CONCLUSION: Physical activity promotion and sedentary behavior reduction may be practical components of campus mental health strategies, including brief activity breaks during long lectures, low-threshold exercise opportunities, and active commuting support. However, because most included studies were cross-sectional, geographically skewed toward Chinese samples, and highly heterogeneous, these implications should be interpreted cautiously as public health directions rather than causal or universally generalizable recommendations.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-04
Emerging Ethical Considerations in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery [Epub ahead of print].
OBJECTIVES: To perform a scoping review of ethics-based literature published in the last 5 years in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS), and to identify and reflect on emerging topics of ethical consideration for otolaryngologists.
DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases.
REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews protocol. Inclusion criteria included peer-review articles published from 2019 to 2024 that explored at least one foundational bioethical principle in a primary context of OHNS. Original research, literature reviews, editorials, and letters to the editor were included to capture the full extent of the academic ethics conversation. An inductive qualitative content analysis was performed in multi-step process to identify recurrent ethics issues and themes.
RESULTS: The systematic review identified 1191 unique abstracts, of which 31 met inclusion criteria. This literature emphasized topics including conflicting physician obligations during the coronavirus-19 pandemic, integration of artificial intelligence into clinic practice, diversity and inclusion within OHNS, health equity, ethics education, pediatric autonomy, and considerations for global health programs. These conversations explored conflicting definitions of justice and divergence between personal and institutional ethical obligations.
CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified salient topics within the current ethics OHNS literature and explores implications for practicing otolaryngologists.
Additional Links: PMID-42549744
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42549744,
year = {2026},
author = {Harris, JC and Holovac, DJ and Marino, GA and Montes, R and Holt, GR and Bowe, SN},
title = {Emerging Ethical Considerations in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.},
journal = {Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ohn.70376},
pmid = {42549744},
issn = {1097-6817},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To perform a scoping review of ethics-based literature published in the last 5 years in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS), and to identify and reflect on emerging topics of ethical consideration for otolaryngologists.
DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases.
REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews protocol. Inclusion criteria included peer-review articles published from 2019 to 2024 that explored at least one foundational bioethical principle in a primary context of OHNS. Original research, literature reviews, editorials, and letters to the editor were included to capture the full extent of the academic ethics conversation. An inductive qualitative content analysis was performed in multi-step process to identify recurrent ethics issues and themes.
RESULTS: The systematic review identified 1191 unique abstracts, of which 31 met inclusion criteria. This literature emphasized topics including conflicting physician obligations during the coronavirus-19 pandemic, integration of artificial intelligence into clinic practice, diversity and inclusion within OHNS, health equity, ethics education, pediatric autonomy, and considerations for global health programs. These conversations explored conflicting definitions of justice and divergence between personal and institutional ethical obligations.
CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified salient topics within the current ethics OHNS literature and explores implications for practicing otolaryngologists.},
}
RevDate: 2026-10-01
CmpDate: 2026-10-01
Theranostic innovation in infectious lung diseases: integrating biotechnology and nanotechnology for precision medicine.
Expert review of molecular diagnostics, 26(10):805-828.
INTRODUCTION: Infectious lung diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, COVID-19, influenza, and emerging fungal infections, are major causes of illness and death worldwide. Traditional methods have serious limitations such as diagnostic delays, antimicrobial resistance, and non-targeted therapy. Theranostics, unifying diagnosis and therapy, offers a precision medicine solution for real-time, individualized pulmonary care.
AREAS COVERED: This review explores biotechnological and nanotechnological synergies in pulmonary theranostics. Biotech tools include CRISPR-Cas for pathogen detection, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as biomarkers/modulators, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for targeted neutralization. Nanotech platforms feature nanosensors and SERS for early diagnosis, plus diverse nanocarriers enabling targeted drug/gene/vaccine delivery, controlled release, and imaging. Case studies across infectious lung diseases demonstrate real-world applications. We also address safety, manufacturing scalability, regulatory complexity, and economic barriers.
EXPERT OPINION: This convergence marks a paradigm shift toward personalized pulmonary medicine. Future success demands smart, multi-stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms, AI-driven predictive modeling, and closed-loop systems linking real-time diagnostics to adaptive therapies. Translational priorities include standardized preclinical models, clear combination-product regulations, and cost-effectiveness data. Ultimately, interdisciplinary collaboration among material scientists, molecular biologists, clinicians, and regulatory experts is essential to bridge bench-to-bedside gaps and realize clinical impact.
Additional Links: PMID-42549821
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42549821,
year = {2026},
author = {Jafari, A and Manzari-Tavakoli, A and Manzari Tavakoli, M and Hashemian, SM and Jamaati, H and Akhtari, M and Tabarsi, P and Omrani, M},
title = {Theranostic innovation in infectious lung diseases: integrating biotechnology and nanotechnology for precision medicine.},
journal = {Expert review of molecular diagnostics},
volume = {26},
number = {10},
pages = {805-828},
doi = {10.1080/14737159.2026.2714060},
pmid = {42549821},
issn = {1744-8352},
mesh = {Humans ; *Precision Medicine/methods ; *Theranostic Nanomedicine/methods ; *Nanotechnology/methods ; *Biotechnology/methods ; *Lung Diseases/diagnosis/therapy ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19/diagnosis/therapy ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Infectious lung diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, COVID-19, influenza, and emerging fungal infections, are major causes of illness and death worldwide. Traditional methods have serious limitations such as diagnostic delays, antimicrobial resistance, and non-targeted therapy. Theranostics, unifying diagnosis and therapy, offers a precision medicine solution for real-time, individualized pulmonary care.
AREAS COVERED: This review explores biotechnological and nanotechnological synergies in pulmonary theranostics. Biotech tools include CRISPR-Cas for pathogen detection, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as biomarkers/modulators, and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for targeted neutralization. Nanotech platforms feature nanosensors and SERS for early diagnosis, plus diverse nanocarriers enabling targeted drug/gene/vaccine delivery, controlled release, and imaging. Case studies across infectious lung diseases demonstrate real-world applications. We also address safety, manufacturing scalability, regulatory complexity, and economic barriers.
EXPERT OPINION: This convergence marks a paradigm shift toward personalized pulmonary medicine. Future success demands smart, multi-stimuli-responsive nanoplatforms, AI-driven predictive modeling, and closed-loop systems linking real-time diagnostics to adaptive therapies. Translational priorities include standardized preclinical models, clear combination-product regulations, and cost-effectiveness data. Ultimately, interdisciplinary collaboration among material scientists, molecular biologists, clinicians, and regulatory experts is essential to bridge bench-to-bedside gaps and realize clinical impact.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Precision Medicine/methods
*Theranostic Nanomedicine/methods
*Nanotechnology/methods
*Biotechnology/methods
*Lung Diseases/diagnosis/therapy
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19/diagnosis/therapy
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-13
Deciphering viral action on host genome structure: a computational physics perspective.
Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease, 1872(8):168394.
Recent experimental findings indicate that several viruses are able to substantially re-organize the host cell genome architecture. Since chromatin three-dimensional (3D) organization is tightly linked to vital cellular functions, investigating how viral infections impact physical mechanisms shaping DNA folding provides useful clues about virus action on gene regulation and consequent activation. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the development of computational modelling approaches used to shed light on how host cell chromatin 3D structure is altered following viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza IAV-H5N1. Given the flexibility of this approach, such models can be adapted to a wide range of pathogens, making them valuable methods for investigating the specificity of distinct infection mechanisms. Overall, we show how such models can be helpful tools that, in tandem with traditional experimental methods, allow to decipher complexity of infection mechanisms at molecular level from a new perspective.
Additional Links: PMID-42551545
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42551545,
year = {2026},
author = {Fontana, A and Chiariello, AM},
title = {Deciphering viral action on host genome structure: a computational physics perspective.},
journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease},
volume = {1872},
number = {8},
pages = {168394},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbadis.2026.168394},
pmid = {42551545},
issn = {1879-260X},
mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Chromatin/chemistry/genetics/metabolism ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/genetics/pathogenicity ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics/pathogenicity ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; *COVID-19/virology/genetics ; Genome ; Computational Biology/methods ; },
abstract = {Recent experimental findings indicate that several viruses are able to substantially re-organize the host cell genome architecture. Since chromatin three-dimensional (3D) organization is tightly linked to vital cellular functions, investigating how viral infections impact physical mechanisms shaping DNA folding provides useful clues about virus action on gene regulation and consequent activation. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the development of computational modelling approaches used to shed light on how host cell chromatin 3D structure is altered following viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza IAV-H5N1. Given the flexibility of this approach, such models can be adapted to a wide range of pathogens, making them valuable methods for investigating the specificity of distinct infection mechanisms. Overall, we show how such models can be helpful tools that, in tandem with traditional experimental methods, allow to decipher complexity of infection mechanisms at molecular level from a new perspective.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Animals
*Chromatin/chemistry/genetics/metabolism
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/genetics/pathogenicity
SARS-CoV-2/genetics/pathogenicity
*Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics
*COVID-19/virology/genetics
Genome
Computational Biology/methods
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Advanced statistical approaches in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Africa: a systematic review.
Tropical medicine and health, 54(1):.
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in Africa; however, conventional statistical approaches often fail to capture diagnostic uncertainty, spatial heterogeneity, and complex disease dynamics, limiting evidence-based decision-making. This review synthesizes the application and performance of advanced statistical and computational methods for TB diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Africa.
METHODS: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed and Scopus for peer-reviewed studies (2010-2025) conducted in Africa that applied advanced methods, including Bayesian models, machine learning (ML) algorithms, spatiotemporal analyses, time-series models, and multistate or survival frameworks. Study selection, data extraction, and quality appraisal were independently conducted by multiple reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Findings were synthesized narratively because of substantial methodological heterogeneity.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies from nine African countries were included. Bayesian hierarchical, geostatistical, and latent class models improved estimation of TB incidence, mortality, and diagnostic accuracy by accounting for uncertainty, imperfect reference standards, and sparse data. Spatiotemporal analyses consistently identified geographic TB and TB-HIV hotspots linked to low Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine coverage, illiteracy, and urban crowding as risk factors. Time-series models quantified the significant decline in TB notifications during the COVID-19 disruptions. ML approaches, particularly random forests, outperformed traditional regression in predicting latent TB infection and treatment outcomes. Drug resistance, notably to bedaquiline and levofloxacin, showed clear spatial clustering and dynamic progression patterns.
CONCLUSIONS: Advanced statistical and computational methods are increasingly improving TB diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment insights in Africa by capturing complex patterns beyond classical models, but their broader impact is limited by data gaps, heterogeneity, and insufficient validation, highlighting the need for high-quality, multi-country research and stronger implementation frameworks.
PROSPERO ID: CRD420251160248.
Additional Links: PMID-42552557
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42552557,
year = {2026},
author = {Okesanya, OJ and Oso, TA and Amisu, BO and Abdullahi, YB and Ahmed, MM and Adebayo, UO and Abdi, YH and Ong, CJN and Adigun, OA and Ogaya, JB and Lucero-Prisno, DE},
title = {Advanced statistical approaches in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Africa: a systematic review.},
journal = {Tropical medicine and health},
volume = {54},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42552557},
issn = {1348-8945},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in Africa; however, conventional statistical approaches often fail to capture diagnostic uncertainty, spatial heterogeneity, and complex disease dynamics, limiting evidence-based decision-making. This review synthesizes the application and performance of advanced statistical and computational methods for TB diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Africa.
METHODS: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed and Scopus for peer-reviewed studies (2010-2025) conducted in Africa that applied advanced methods, including Bayesian models, machine learning (ML) algorithms, spatiotemporal analyses, time-series models, and multistate or survival frameworks. Study selection, data extraction, and quality appraisal were independently conducted by multiple reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Findings were synthesized narratively because of substantial methodological heterogeneity.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies from nine African countries were included. Bayesian hierarchical, geostatistical, and latent class models improved estimation of TB incidence, mortality, and diagnostic accuracy by accounting for uncertainty, imperfect reference standards, and sparse data. Spatiotemporal analyses consistently identified geographic TB and TB-HIV hotspots linked to low Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine coverage, illiteracy, and urban crowding as risk factors. Time-series models quantified the significant decline in TB notifications during the COVID-19 disruptions. ML approaches, particularly random forests, outperformed traditional regression in predicting latent TB infection and treatment outcomes. Drug resistance, notably to bedaquiline and levofloxacin, showed clear spatial clustering and dynamic progression patterns.
CONCLUSIONS: Advanced statistical and computational methods are increasingly improving TB diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment insights in Africa by capturing complex patterns beyond classical models, but their broader impact is limited by data gaps, heterogeneity, and insufficient validation, highlighting the need for high-quality, multi-country research and stronger implementation frameworks.
PROSPERO ID: CRD420251160248.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing: new horizons in microbiology.
Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 16:1824160.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in global health systems while accelerating the adoption of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) as a transformative tool for culture-independent, unbiased microbial detection. In clinical diagnostics, mNGS enables simultaneous detection of diverse pathogens without prior hypothesis, though its yield depends heavily on specimen type and clinical context. In public health, mNGS has demonstrated remarkable utility in outbreak tracing, novel pathogen discovery, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, and One Health initiatives. However, massive data volumes pose persistent challenges in bioinformatics, standardization, and computational demands. Future integration of artificial intelligence, automated platforms, and multi-omics approaches will enhance the conversion of raw data into actionable insights. Collectively, mNGS is poised to drive a paradigm shift from reactive responses to proactive, system-level microbial surveillance across human, animal, and environmental health.
Additional Links: PMID-42553092
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Citation:
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@article {pmid42553092,
year = {2026},
author = {Guo, N and Chen, S and Guo, L and Qiu, X and Li, Z},
title = {Metagenomic next-generation sequencing: new horizons in microbiology.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1824160},
pmid = {42553092},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Animals ; COVID-19/diagnosis ; Computational Biology/methods ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics ; Public Health ; One Health ; },
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in global health systems while accelerating the adoption of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) as a transformative tool for culture-independent, unbiased microbial detection. In clinical diagnostics, mNGS enables simultaneous detection of diverse pathogens without prior hypothesis, though its yield depends heavily on specimen type and clinical context. In public health, mNGS has demonstrated remarkable utility in outbreak tracing, novel pathogen discovery, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, and One Health initiatives. However, massive data volumes pose persistent challenges in bioinformatics, standardization, and computational demands. Future integration of artificial intelligence, automated platforms, and multi-omics approaches will enhance the conversion of raw data into actionable insights. Collectively, mNGS is poised to drive a paradigm shift from reactive responses to proactive, system-level microbial surveillance across human, animal, and environmental health.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods
*Metagenomics/methods
Animals
COVID-19/diagnosis
Computational Biology/methods
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2/genetics
Public Health
One Health
RevDate: 2026-08-26
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Assessing the prevalence of anosmia and taste dysfunction in COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1815114.
OBJECTIVES: Patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) frequently report olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, including anosmia and ageusia. Multiple studies have assessed the prevalence of these symptoms in COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anosmia and taste dysfunction in confirmed COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings, from March 2020 to March 2023.
METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. No review protocol was prospectively registered prior to this review. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar (supplementary) from 1 March 2020 to 1 March 2023. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools for prevalence studies.
RESULTS: Of 230 records identified across all databases, 156 remained after deduplication; 24 met the eligibility criteria, encompassing 26,068 COVID-19 patients (58.2% female). The pooled prevalence of anosmia was 44% (95% CI: 37-52%) and of taste dysfunction was 46% (95% CI: 39-54%). Subgroup analyses comparing validated versus non-validated assessment instruments revealed no statistically significant difference in prevalence estimates.
CONCLUSION: Anosmia and taste loss are common manifestations of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. The findings should be interpreted with caution given the methodological heterogeneity of included studies, reliance on self-reported measures in the majority of studies, and the absence of a prospectively registered protocol. Future studies using objective validated instruments are warranted.
Additional Links: PMID-42553294
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@article {pmid42553294,
year = {2026},
author = {Aldrees, T},
title = {Assessing the prevalence of anosmia and taste dysfunction in COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1815114},
pmid = {42553294},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; Saudi Arabia/epidemiology ; *COVID-19/epidemiology/complications ; Prevalence ; *Anosmia/epidemiology ; *Taste Disorders/epidemiology ; Female ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) frequently report olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, including anosmia and ageusia. Multiple studies have assessed the prevalence of these symptoms in COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anosmia and taste dysfunction in confirmed COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings, from March 2020 to March 2023.
METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. No review protocol was prospectively registered prior to this review. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar (supplementary) from 1 March 2020 to 1 March 2023. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools for prevalence studies.
RESULTS: Of 230 records identified across all databases, 156 remained after deduplication; 24 met the eligibility criteria, encompassing 26,068 COVID-19 patients (58.2% female). The pooled prevalence of anosmia was 44% (95% CI: 37-52%) and of taste dysfunction was 46% (95% CI: 39-54%). Subgroup analyses comparing validated versus non-validated assessment instruments revealed no statistically significant difference in prevalence estimates.
CONCLUSION: Anosmia and taste loss are common manifestations of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. The findings should be interpreted with caution given the methodological heterogeneity of included studies, reliance on self-reported measures in the majority of studies, and the absence of a prospectively registered protocol. Future studies using objective validated instruments are warranted.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Saudi Arabia/epidemiology
*COVID-19/epidemiology/complications
Prevalence
*Anosmia/epidemiology
*Taste Disorders/epidemiology
Female
RevDate: 2026-08-26
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab in refractory membranous nephropathy: a single-arm meta-analysis.
Frontiers in immunology, 17:1880420.
OBJECTIVE: Membranous nephropathy (MN) constitutes an autoimmune glomerular disorder and represents the most frequent etiology of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults. Although obinutuzumab exhibits favorable efficacy in managing refractory MN, outcomes diverge across individual investigations. Consequently, the present meta-analysis is undertaken to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab in individuals with refractory MN.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed to determine relevant clinical investigations published up to November 12, 2025. Treatment effects were quantified employing the pooled proportion rate with 95% confidence interval (CI), mean difference (MD, 95% CI), and standardized mean difference (SMD, 95% CI). Heterogeneity was examined via the I² statistic. Subgroup analyses were implemented based on the geographic distribution of the study population and duration of follow-up. All extracted data were subjected to statistical analysis using R (v4.5.2).
RESULTS: The present meta-analysis ultimately incorporated 12 articles (222 individuals) after applying the eligibility criteria. Concerning remission rates, the overall clinical remission rate reached 86% (95% CI: 80% to 90%), the complete clinical remission rate stood at 31% (25% to 37%), the partial clinical remission rate was 55% (49% to 63%), and the immunologic remission rate achieved 88% (81% to 92%). Obinutuzumab reduced proteinuria (SMD = -1.2, 95%CI -1.37 to -1.03) and raised serum albumin (MD = 12.5, 95%CI 9.91-15.08), while eGFR showed no significant change (MD = 3.23, 95%CI -3.76-10.21). The pooled adverse event rate was 29% (95%CI 15%-48%), with two fatal pneumonia-related events: severe COVID-19 pneumonia and pneumonia-induced respiratory failure.
CONCLUSION: Obinutuzumab demonstrates marked efficacy in treating refractory MN, with an overall clinical remission rate of 86% and a low incidence of severe adverse events. This profile signifies a potential therapeutic role for this condition. However, all raw data included in this meta-analysis were derived from uncontrolled retrospective single-arm trials and case series. Given factors such as selection bias, the remission rate may be overestimated. Large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials are necessary for verification in future investigations.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251231344.
Additional Links: PMID-42553309
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42553309,
year = {2026},
author = {Cong, P and Wang, J and Du, X},
title = {Efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab in refractory membranous nephropathy: a single-arm meta-analysis.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1880420},
pmid = {42553309},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use ; *Glomerulonephritis, Membranous/drug therapy ; Remission Induction ; Treatment Outcome ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Membranous nephropathy (MN) constitutes an autoimmune glomerular disorder and represents the most frequent etiology of primary nephrotic syndrome in adults. Although obinutuzumab exhibits favorable efficacy in managing refractory MN, outcomes diverge across individual investigations. Consequently, the present meta-analysis is undertaken to systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab in individuals with refractory MN.
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed to determine relevant clinical investigations published up to November 12, 2025. Treatment effects were quantified employing the pooled proportion rate with 95% confidence interval (CI), mean difference (MD, 95% CI), and standardized mean difference (SMD, 95% CI). Heterogeneity was examined via the I² statistic. Subgroup analyses were implemented based on the geographic distribution of the study population and duration of follow-up. All extracted data were subjected to statistical analysis using R (v4.5.2).
RESULTS: The present meta-analysis ultimately incorporated 12 articles (222 individuals) after applying the eligibility criteria. Concerning remission rates, the overall clinical remission rate reached 86% (95% CI: 80% to 90%), the complete clinical remission rate stood at 31% (25% to 37%), the partial clinical remission rate was 55% (49% to 63%), and the immunologic remission rate achieved 88% (81% to 92%). Obinutuzumab reduced proteinuria (SMD = -1.2, 95%CI -1.37 to -1.03) and raised serum albumin (MD = 12.5, 95%CI 9.91-15.08), while eGFR showed no significant change (MD = 3.23, 95%CI -3.76-10.21). The pooled adverse event rate was 29% (95%CI 15%-48%), with two fatal pneumonia-related events: severe COVID-19 pneumonia and pneumonia-induced respiratory failure.
CONCLUSION: Obinutuzumab demonstrates marked efficacy in treating refractory MN, with an overall clinical remission rate of 86% and a low incidence of severe adverse events. This profile signifies a potential therapeutic role for this condition. However, all raw data included in this meta-analysis were derived from uncontrolled retrospective single-arm trials and case series. Given factors such as selection bias, the remission rate may be overestimated. Large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials are necessary for verification in future investigations.
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251231344.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use
*Glomerulonephritis, Membranous/drug therapy
Remission Induction
Treatment Outcome
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Multiscale bone remodeling in COVID-19: from osteoimmune signaling to structural and mechanical impairment.
Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 14:1812439.
The skeletal consequences of COVID-19 have emerged as an important but still underrecognized component of post-viral systemic disease. Increasing clinical, experimental, and imaging-based evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may impair bone health through multiscale mechanisms involving bone remodeling, osteoimmune signaling, vascular regulation, and mechanical adaptation. In this review, we summarize current evidence linking COVID-19 to skeletal deterioration, ranging from changes in bone mineral density, trabecular microarchitecture, and mechanical competence to osteocyte lacunar remodeling and altered bone-cell activity. We discuss both potential direct and indirect mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may affect the skeletal system. Direct effects may involve viral infection-associated inflammatory and oxidative responses that promote osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Indirectly, SARS-CoV-2 may disturb bone homeostasis through ACE2 downregulation and renin-angiotensin system imbalance, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, glucocorticoid exposure, avascular necrosis, prolonged bed rest and mechanical unloading, vitamin D deficiency, and mineral dysregulation. Based on well-characterized mechanisms from other osteotropic viral diseases, we propose possible modes by which SARS-CoV-2 may affect the skeletal system. This review emphasizes key knowledge gaps, including the limited availability of longitudinal human data, the need for advanced imaging and multiscale mechanical modeling, and the potential role of host genetic susceptibility. Overall, COVID-19-related skeletal impairment should be considered a multifactorial and multiscale process. Integrated clinical, molecular, imaging, genetic, and biomechanical approaches will be essential to identify vulnerable individuals, monitor long-term skeletal outcomes, and develop targeted strategies to preserve bone health in COVID-19 survivors.
Additional Links: PMID-42553313
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42553313,
year = {2026},
author = {Jiang, G and Buccino, F and Vergani, LM},
title = {Multiscale bone remodeling in COVID-19: from osteoimmune signaling to structural and mechanical impairment.},
journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1812439},
pmid = {42553313},
issn = {2296-4185},
abstract = {The skeletal consequences of COVID-19 have emerged as an important but still underrecognized component of post-viral systemic disease. Increasing clinical, experimental, and imaging-based evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may impair bone health through multiscale mechanisms involving bone remodeling, osteoimmune signaling, vascular regulation, and mechanical adaptation. In this review, we summarize current evidence linking COVID-19 to skeletal deterioration, ranging from changes in bone mineral density, trabecular microarchitecture, and mechanical competence to osteocyte lacunar remodeling and altered bone-cell activity. We discuss both potential direct and indirect mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may affect the skeletal system. Direct effects may involve viral infection-associated inflammatory and oxidative responses that promote osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. Indirectly, SARS-CoV-2 may disturb bone homeostasis through ACE2 downregulation and renin-angiotensin system imbalance, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, glucocorticoid exposure, avascular necrosis, prolonged bed rest and mechanical unloading, vitamin D deficiency, and mineral dysregulation. Based on well-characterized mechanisms from other osteotropic viral diseases, we propose possible modes by which SARS-CoV-2 may affect the skeletal system. This review emphasizes key knowledge gaps, including the limited availability of longitudinal human data, the need for advanced imaging and multiscale mechanical modeling, and the potential role of host genetic susceptibility. Overall, COVID-19-related skeletal impairment should be considered a multifactorial and multiscale process. Integrated clinical, molecular, imaging, genetic, and biomechanical approaches will be essential to identify vulnerable individuals, monitor long-term skeletal outcomes, and develop targeted strategies to preserve bone health in COVID-19 survivors.},
}
RevDate: 2026-10-20
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
The growing burden of mental health and the role of digital technologies in the Global South: policies, cultural contexts, and community-based transformations-a systematic review of gray literature evidence.
Frontiers in public health, 14:1875110.
BACKGROUND: Mental health conditions are among the fastest growing and most inequitably distributed global disease burdens. Structural determinants- poverty, conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic compound a persistent mismatch between internationally developed policy frameworks and the cultural and infrastructural realities of populations in the Global South.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review identified, appraised, and synthesized gray literature evidence on (1) the growing mental health burden across Global South regions (2015-2025); (2) digital technology responses in Global South LMIC contexts; and (3) policy, cultural, and community-based factors shaping mental health transformation efforts.
METHODS: A pre-registered systematic gray literature review spanned five source tiers. Following systematic screening and AACODS quality appraisal, 140 records published between 2015 and 2025 were included.
RESULTS: Four themes emerged: (1) an accelerating, structurally driven mental health burden across Global South regions; (2) a severe and entrenched treatment gap sustained by chronic underinvestment, workforce shortages, and stigma; (3) a rapidly expanding but uneven digital mental health landscape, in which SMS-based and CHW-mediated platforms achieve substantially greater reach than smartphone-dependent tools; and (4) significant structural, cultural, and policy barriers constraining scale-up. The effectiveness of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) varies by modality, population, and setting, and is not a single generalizable finding.
CONCLUSION: The mental health burden in the Global South is growing faster than existing systems can address. Transformative progress requires sustained investment in CHW-mediated digital tools, culturally co-designed platforms, decolonized research partnerships, and mental health policies that center Global South communities as co-producers of their own mental health futures.
Additional Links: PMID-42553331
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42553331,
year = {2026},
author = {Onyango, JO},
title = {The growing burden of mental health and the role of digital technologies in the Global South: policies, cultural contexts, and community-based transformations-a systematic review of gray literature evidence.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1875110},
pmid = {42553331},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; Developing Countries ; Digital Health ; Digital Media ; *Digital Technology ; *Global Health ; *Health Policy ; *Mental Disorders/epidemiology ; *Mental Health ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mental health conditions are among the fastest growing and most inequitably distributed global disease burdens. Structural determinants- poverty, conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic compound a persistent mismatch between internationally developed policy frameworks and the cultural and infrastructural realities of populations in the Global South.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review identified, appraised, and synthesized gray literature evidence on (1) the growing mental health burden across Global South regions (2015-2025); (2) digital technology responses in Global South LMIC contexts; and (3) policy, cultural, and community-based factors shaping mental health transformation efforts.
METHODS: A pre-registered systematic gray literature review spanned five source tiers. Following systematic screening and AACODS quality appraisal, 140 records published between 2015 and 2025 were included.
RESULTS: Four themes emerged: (1) an accelerating, structurally driven mental health burden across Global South regions; (2) a severe and entrenched treatment gap sustained by chronic underinvestment, workforce shortages, and stigma; (3) a rapidly expanding but uneven digital mental health landscape, in which SMS-based and CHW-mediated platforms achieve substantially greater reach than smartphone-dependent tools; and (4) significant structural, cultural, and policy barriers constraining scale-up. The effectiveness of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) varies by modality, population, and setting, and is not a single generalizable finding.
CONCLUSION: The mental health burden in the Global South is growing faster than existing systems can address. Transformative progress requires sustained investment in CHW-mediated digital tools, culturally co-designed platforms, decolonized research partnerships, and mental health policies that center Global South communities as co-producers of their own mental health futures.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Developing Countries
Digital Health
Digital Media
*Digital Technology
*Global Health
*Health Policy
*Mental Disorders/epidemiology
*Mental Health
RevDate: 2026-09-27
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
IOIBD: the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology, 19:17562848261470923.
The International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) is an international scientific organization that has shaped the framework for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research, clinical management strategy, therapeutic development, and clinical trial methodology for more than four decades. Formally constituted in April 1981 in Lyon, France, IOIBD was created to address fundamental barriers to scientific and clinical progress in IBD, including inconsistent definitions of disease activity and outcomes across studies and countries. Since the establishment of the IOIBD Foundation for Research and Education in 1997, IOIBD has combined a highly engaged global membership of experts with structured governance, continuously active thematic clusters, and an annual rotating international meeting to deliver consensus frameworks and collaborative initiatives that translate directly to clinical practice and regulatory and translational science. Key outputs include studies of global epidemiology of IBD, the Selecting Therapeutic Targets in IBD (Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, STRIDE) treat-to-target programs; the SPIRIT consensus initiative addressing long-term disease impact and endpoints for disease-modification trials; validated approaches to capturing disability and patient-reported outcomes; consensus guidance on nutrition and diet as modifiable and potentially disease-modifying factors; recommendations to optimize IBD clinical trial design and endpoints; reclassification of IBD initiative; rapid international guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic; and educational initiatives including topic-focused satellite symposia, the Helmsley-IOIBD Clinical Experience Exchange Program, and the Empowering Women in IBD Leadership Program (EMPOWHER). This manuscript reviews IOIBD's history, operational model, selected scientific contributions, educational mission, and evolving strategy as the field moves toward precision medicine, globalization of care, and data-intensive approaches, including artificial intelligence.
Additional Links: PMID-42553409
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42553409,
year = {2026},
author = {Dotan, I and Dubinsky, MC and Siegel, CA and Lindsay, J and McGovern, D and Allez, M and Myrelid, P and Lewis, J and Sands, BE and Peyrin-Biroulet, L and Danese, S and Ahuja, V and Kaplan, GG and Konings, M and Gearry, R and Ng, SC and Jairath, V and Magro, F and Silverberg, MS and Turner, D and Abreu, MT and Hart, A and Dignass, A and Rubin, DT and , },
title = {IOIBD: the International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.},
journal = {Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology},
volume = {19},
number = {},
pages = {17562848261470923},
pmid = {42553409},
issn = {1756-283X},
abstract = {The International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) is an international scientific organization that has shaped the framework for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research, clinical management strategy, therapeutic development, and clinical trial methodology for more than four decades. Formally constituted in April 1981 in Lyon, France, IOIBD was created to address fundamental barriers to scientific and clinical progress in IBD, including inconsistent definitions of disease activity and outcomes across studies and countries. Since the establishment of the IOIBD Foundation for Research and Education in 1997, IOIBD has combined a highly engaged global membership of experts with structured governance, continuously active thematic clusters, and an annual rotating international meeting to deliver consensus frameworks and collaborative initiatives that translate directly to clinical practice and regulatory and translational science. Key outputs include studies of global epidemiology of IBD, the Selecting Therapeutic Targets in IBD (Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, STRIDE) treat-to-target programs; the SPIRIT consensus initiative addressing long-term disease impact and endpoints for disease-modification trials; validated approaches to capturing disability and patient-reported outcomes; consensus guidance on nutrition and diet as modifiable and potentially disease-modifying factors; recommendations to optimize IBD clinical trial design and endpoints; reclassification of IBD initiative; rapid international guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic; and educational initiatives including topic-focused satellite symposia, the Helmsley-IOIBD Clinical Experience Exchange Program, and the Empowering Women in IBD Leadership Program (EMPOWHER). This manuscript reviews IOIBD's history, operational model, selected scientific contributions, educational mission, and evolving strategy as the field moves toward precision medicine, globalization of care, and data-intensive approaches, including artificial intelligence.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Engineering Organoid Platforms for Pathogenesis Research.
Research (Washington, D.C.), 9:1346.
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases ranging from the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic to the recent SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox virus outbreaks continue to pose profound threats to global public health. These crises underscore the critical need for high-fidelity and human-relevant infection models. Organoid technology has emerged as a cornerstone platform for pathogen research by faithfully recapitulating the 3-dimensional architecture and physiological microenvironment of native human tissues in vitro. This review systematically examines the development and structural refinement of organoid-based infection models with an emphasis on evidence-based strategies for stem cell source selection, extracellular matrix optimization, and dynamic culture system engineering. Such advancements enable the robust generation of multi-organ models including respiratory, intestinal, and neural organoids tailored for investigating viral tropism, spatiotemporal infection kinetics, and host immune responses. Furthermore, we evaluate the translational utility of organoids in high-throughput antiviral drug screening and preclinical vaccine assessment. To further enhance physiological relevance and functional fidelity, organoid platforms are being increasingly combined with advanced engineering strategies, including coculture approaches, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genetic perturbation, engineered microphysiological systems (such as organ-on-a-chip), and 3D bioprinting. These integrated technologies improve biomimicry while expanding experimental controllability and scalability. In addition, we critically examine the major bottlenecks limiting clinical translation and discuss emerging frontiers driven by artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. Through iterative technological refinement and cross-disciplinary convergence, organoids have evolved beyond reductionist in vitro surrogates into physiologically informed and mechanism-driven platforms that advance our understanding of host-pathogen interactions while enhancing global preparedness against emerging pathogens.
Additional Links: PMID-42553490
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42553490,
year = {2026},
author = {Han, X and Zhang, J and Bai, J and Tian, W and Zhou, J and Ding, L and Gao, X},
title = {Engineering Organoid Platforms for Pathogenesis Research.},
journal = {Research (Washington, D.C.)},
volume = {9},
number = {},
pages = {1346},
pmid = {42553490},
issn = {2639-5274},
abstract = {Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases ranging from the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic to the recent SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox virus outbreaks continue to pose profound threats to global public health. These crises underscore the critical need for high-fidelity and human-relevant infection models. Organoid technology has emerged as a cornerstone platform for pathogen research by faithfully recapitulating the 3-dimensional architecture and physiological microenvironment of native human tissues in vitro. This review systematically examines the development and structural refinement of organoid-based infection models with an emphasis on evidence-based strategies for stem cell source selection, extracellular matrix optimization, and dynamic culture system engineering. Such advancements enable the robust generation of multi-organ models including respiratory, intestinal, and neural organoids tailored for investigating viral tropism, spatiotemporal infection kinetics, and host immune responses. Furthermore, we evaluate the translational utility of organoids in high-throughput antiviral drug screening and preclinical vaccine assessment. To further enhance physiological relevance and functional fidelity, organoid platforms are being increasingly combined with advanced engineering strategies, including coculture approaches, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genetic perturbation, engineered microphysiological systems (such as organ-on-a-chip), and 3D bioprinting. These integrated technologies improve biomimicry while expanding experimental controllability and scalability. In addition, we critically examine the major bottlenecks limiting clinical translation and discuss emerging frontiers driven by artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. Through iterative technological refinement and cross-disciplinary convergence, organoids have evolved beyond reductionist in vitro surrogates into physiologically informed and mechanism-driven platforms that advance our understanding of host-pathogen interactions while enhancing global preparedness against emerging pathogens.},
}
RevDate: 2026-09-27
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Bazedoxifene and Beyond: Identifying This SERM's Targets and Deciphering Its Molecular Mechanisms.
Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences, 2026:3028716.
Bazedoxifene (BZA), a third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) approved for osteoporosis treatment, is attracting attention for drug repurposing, especially in cancer research. While designed primarily for estrogen receptors, BZA exhibits in vitro off-target interactions that may explain novel therapeutic benefits or account for potential side effects. This review comprehensively examines both established and newly identified targets of BZA beyond estrogen receptors. To gather relevant data, we reviewed over 1500 articles selecting key studies proposing insights into BZA targets and mechanisms. This review details BZA's roles in estrogen receptor signaling and its interactions with glycoprotein 130, elaborating on vital components of each signaling pathway. It also compiles its potential interactions with cannabinoid receptors, as well as BZA targets related to biotransformation, absorption/transport, DNA cycle, Sars-CoV-2, ferroptosis, ROS production, and cholesterol biosynthesis. For each target, we discuss evidence from computational studies, direct interaction assay, and functional testing. This work provides the most complete overview of BZA's molecular mechanisms to date and suggests new avenues for future research and potential applications beyond osteoporosis.
Additional Links: PMID-42553575
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42553575,
year = {2026},
author = {Bherer, J and Clemenceau, A and Diorio, C and Durocher, F},
title = {Bazedoxifene and Beyond: Identifying This SERM's Targets and Deciphering Its Molecular Mechanisms.},
journal = {Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences},
volume = {2026},
number = {},
pages = {3028716},
pmid = {42553575},
issn = {2633-4690},
abstract = {Bazedoxifene (BZA), a third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) approved for osteoporosis treatment, is attracting attention for drug repurposing, especially in cancer research. While designed primarily for estrogen receptors, BZA exhibits in vitro off-target interactions that may explain novel therapeutic benefits or account for potential side effects. This review comprehensively examines both established and newly identified targets of BZA beyond estrogen receptors. To gather relevant data, we reviewed over 1500 articles selecting key studies proposing insights into BZA targets and mechanisms. This review details BZA's roles in estrogen receptor signaling and its interactions with glycoprotein 130, elaborating on vital components of each signaling pathway. It also compiles its potential interactions with cannabinoid receptors, as well as BZA targets related to biotransformation, absorption/transport, DNA cycle, Sars-CoV-2, ferroptosis, ROS production, and cholesterol biosynthesis. For each target, we discuss evidence from computational studies, direct interaction assay, and functional testing. This work provides the most complete overview of BZA's molecular mechanisms to date and suggests new avenues for future research and potential applications beyond osteoporosis.},
}
RevDate: 2026-08-13
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Comparative innate immune responses across major RNA and DNA viral infections: Mechanisms, immunopathology, and therapeutic perspectives.
Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 22(1):2714657.
Innate immunity is the first defense against viral infections, limiting viral replication and initiating adaptive immunity. Viral pathogens are recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), (RIG-I-like receptors) RLRs, and the (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase) cGAS-STING pathway, which trigger interferon production and antiviral responses. This review compares innate immune responses to major RNA viruses (influenza, SARS-CoV-2, HIV) and DNA viruses (HSV, HBV, CMV). While these viruses activate similar pathways, they differ in interferon dynamics, inflammatory responses, immune cell activation, and immune evasion mechanisms. RNA viruses often induce rapid and strong innate responses, whereas many DNA viruses establish persistence through immune modulation. Dysregulated innate immunity can contribute to cytokine storms, chronic inflammation, and tissue damage. Therapeutic strategies targeting innate immunity, such as interferons, cytokine inhibitors, PRR agonists, and host-directed antivirals, may improve outcomes. Infection severity depends on the timing, magnitude, and regulation of innate immune responses.
Additional Links: PMID-42555410
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42555410,
year = {2026},
author = {Mashhadi Abolghasem Shirazi, M},
title = {Comparative innate immune responses across major RNA and DNA viral infections: Mechanisms, immunopathology, and therapeutic perspectives.},
journal = {Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {2714657},
pmid = {42555410},
issn = {2164-554X},
mesh = {Humans ; *Immunity, Innate/immunology ; *DNA Virus Infections/immunology/pathology/drug therapy/therapy ; Innate Immunity Recognition ; *RNA Virus Infections/immunology/pathology/drug therapy ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Animals ; cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway ; *RNA Viruses/immunology ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology ; *DNA Viruses/immunology ; Host-Directed Therapy ; Immune Evasion ; },
abstract = {Innate immunity is the first defense against viral infections, limiting viral replication and initiating adaptive immunity. Viral pathogens are recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), (RIG-I-like receptors) RLRs, and the (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase) cGAS-STING pathway, which trigger interferon production and antiviral responses. This review compares innate immune responses to major RNA viruses (influenza, SARS-CoV-2, HIV) and DNA viruses (HSV, HBV, CMV). While these viruses activate similar pathways, they differ in interferon dynamics, inflammatory responses, immune cell activation, and immune evasion mechanisms. RNA viruses often induce rapid and strong innate responses, whereas many DNA viruses establish persistence through immune modulation. Dysregulated innate immunity can contribute to cytokine storms, chronic inflammation, and tissue damage. Therapeutic strategies targeting innate immunity, such as interferons, cytokine inhibitors, PRR agonists, and host-directed antivirals, may improve outcomes. Infection severity depends on the timing, magnitude, and regulation of innate immune responses.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Immunity, Innate/immunology
*DNA Virus Infections/immunology/pathology/drug therapy/therapy
Innate Immunity Recognition
*RNA Virus Infections/immunology/pathology/drug therapy
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
Animals
cGAS-STING Signaling Pathway
*RNA Viruses/immunology
Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology
*DNA Viruses/immunology
Host-Directed Therapy
Immune Evasion
RevDate: 2026-09-14
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Cost-Effectiveness of Virtual Emergency Care Models: Systematic Review.
JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 14:e82143.
BACKGROUND: Virtual care technologies have rapidly expanded in emergency medicine, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, comprehensive economic evaluations of their cost-effectiveness remain fragmented across different clinical applications and health care settings, creating uncertainty for policymakers and health care administrators considering implementation.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize evidence on the cost-effectiveness of virtual emergency care models compared to traditional in-person emergency care across diverse clinical conditions, populations, and health care settings.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, searching 8 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) from inception to February 2025. We included full economic evaluations comparing virtual emergency care interventions with usual care. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Drummond checklist and Consensus Health Economic Criteria (CHEC) list. Evidence certainty was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Given heterogeneity in interventions and methods, we conducted a narrative synthesis by virtual care modality and clinical application.
RESULTS: From 5817 identified references, 13 studies met inclusion criteria, representing diverse virtual care modalities across 6 countries (United States, Australia, Italy, Canada, Haiti, and Belgium). All included studies reported favorable economic outcomes for virtual emergency care. Video consultation was the most common modality (11/13 studies), achieving 31% to 73% reduction in patient transfers and cost savings of US $73 (AUD $105) to US $5118 per encounter. A total of 6 (46%) studies found virtual care to be dominant (both less costly and more effective). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from US $1273 (€990) to US $108,363 per quality-adjusted life year, with most below accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds. Transfer avoidance was the primary economic driver, particularly in rural settings. Quality assessment revealed high methodological rigor (mean Drummond score 92.3%, SD 6.0%; mean CHEC score 95%, SD 4.2%). Using GRADE, evidence certainty was rated high for cost-effectiveness, moderate for transfer reduction and quality of life improvements, and low for emergency department length of stay and mortality benefits.
CONCLUSIONS: Virtual emergency care demonstrates strong and consistent cost-effectiveness across diverse clinical conditions, populations, and health care settings. The evidence particularly supports implementation for stroke care, pediatric emergencies, and rural/remote populations where transfer avoidance drives substantial economic benefits. All evaluated modalities achieved favorable economic outcomes, suggesting technology should match context rather than maximize sophistication. These findings provide robust economic justification for expanding virtual emergency care access and removing regulatory barriers. As health care systems face mounting pressures from aging populations, workforce shortages, and budget constraints, virtual emergency care offers a proven strategy for improving access and quality while reducing costs.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42025648218; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42025648218.
Additional Links: PMID-42555953
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42555953,
year = {2026},
author = {Shankar, R and Wang, L and Ho, SH and Liew, MF and Kumar Gollamudi, SP and Wong, TC and Wong, S},
title = {Cost-Effectiveness of Virtual Emergency Care Models: Systematic Review.},
journal = {JMIR mHealth and uHealth},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {e82143},
pmid = {42555953},
issn = {2291-5222},
mesh = {Humans ; *Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis ; *Emergency Medical Services/economics/methods ; *Telemedicine/economics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Virtual care technologies have rapidly expanded in emergency medicine, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, comprehensive economic evaluations of their cost-effectiveness remain fragmented across different clinical applications and health care settings, creating uncertainty for policymakers and health care administrators considering implementation.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize evidence on the cost-effectiveness of virtual emergency care models compared to traditional in-person emergency care across diverse clinical conditions, populations, and health care settings.
METHODS: We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, searching 8 electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) from inception to February 2025. We included full economic evaluations comparing virtual emergency care interventions with usual care. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Drummond checklist and Consensus Health Economic Criteria (CHEC) list. Evidence certainty was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Given heterogeneity in interventions and methods, we conducted a narrative synthesis by virtual care modality and clinical application.
RESULTS: From 5817 identified references, 13 studies met inclusion criteria, representing diverse virtual care modalities across 6 countries (United States, Australia, Italy, Canada, Haiti, and Belgium). All included studies reported favorable economic outcomes for virtual emergency care. Video consultation was the most common modality (11/13 studies), achieving 31% to 73% reduction in patient transfers and cost savings of US $73 (AUD $105) to US $5118 per encounter. A total of 6 (46%) studies found virtual care to be dominant (both less costly and more effective). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from US $1273 (€990) to US $108,363 per quality-adjusted life year, with most below accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds. Transfer avoidance was the primary economic driver, particularly in rural settings. Quality assessment revealed high methodological rigor (mean Drummond score 92.3%, SD 6.0%; mean CHEC score 95%, SD 4.2%). Using GRADE, evidence certainty was rated high for cost-effectiveness, moderate for transfer reduction and quality of life improvements, and low for emergency department length of stay and mortality benefits.
CONCLUSIONS: Virtual emergency care demonstrates strong and consistent cost-effectiveness across diverse clinical conditions, populations, and health care settings. The evidence particularly supports implementation for stroke care, pediatric emergencies, and rural/remote populations where transfer avoidance drives substantial economic benefits. All evaluated modalities achieved favorable economic outcomes, suggesting technology should match context rather than maximize sophistication. These findings provide robust economic justification for expanding virtual emergency care access and removing regulatory barriers. As health care systems face mounting pressures from aging populations, workforce shortages, and budget constraints, virtual emergency care offers a proven strategy for improving access and quality while reducing costs.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42025648218; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42025648218.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
*Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
*Emergency Medical Services/economics/methods
*Telemedicine/economics
RevDate: 2026-10-08
CmpDate: 2026-10-03
Point-of-care detection for respiratory diseases: From samples and biomarkers to principles and applications.
Talanta, 312(Pt A):130377.
Early screening can significantly reduce the severe morbidity and mortality of respiratory diseases and alleviate the burden on public healthcare systems. Point-of-care (POC) devices refer to portable instruments that meet the REASSURED criteria and can be conveniently used near the patient without professional laboratory conditions. POC devices played an important role in patient initiated early diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating great potential. From a macro-to-micro perspective, this review first comprehensively introduces clinically relevant sample types, including blood, respiratory tract and oral samples, and exhaled breath, along with the clinical significance of corresponding biomarkers (nucleic acids, proteins, gaseous molecules, extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor cells, and pathogen particles) and pre-processing methods. Subsequently, it summarizes the test principles and promising bioreceptors including base pairing-based systems (PCR, isothermal amplification, CRISPR/Cas), antibodies and antibody mimetics, and other affinity-based recognition elements, and innovatively presents portable integration platforms of biosensors from the perspective of bioreceptor compatibility. It then evaluates the application performance of transducers and corresponding optical or electrochemical portable detection devices, including SERS, e-nose, nanopore sensors, and portable GC-MS. Finally, the latest applications of computer technology and artificial intelligence tools in POC detection for respiratory diseases, spanning device design, bioreceptor screening, biomarker discovery, and diagnostic data processing, are presented by functional category. This review aims to provide a reference for the research and application of multiplex biomarker/sample/disease POC testing in respiratory diseases, and to offer perspectives on future directions for technological innovation, intelligentization, and commercial translation.
Additional Links: PMID-42556039
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@article {pmid42556039,
year = {2027},
author = {Li, H and Du, H and Xu, R and Xue, H and Liu, Y and Cao, Y and Guo, Z and Pan, J and Liu, Y},
title = {Point-of-care detection for respiratory diseases: From samples and biomarkers to principles and applications.},
journal = {Talanta},
volume = {312},
number = {Pt A},
pages = {130377},
doi = {10.1016/j.talanta.2026.130377},
pmid = {42556039},
issn = {1873-3573},
mesh = {Humans ; Biomarkers/analysis ; Biosensing Techniques/methods/instrumentation ; COVID-19/diagnosis ; Pandemics ; *Point-of-Care Systems ; *Point-of-Care Testing ; Rapid Diagnostic Tests ; *Respiratory Tract Diseases/diagnosis ; },
abstract = {Early screening can significantly reduce the severe morbidity and mortality of respiratory diseases and alleviate the burden on public healthcare systems. Point-of-care (POC) devices refer to portable instruments that meet the REASSURED criteria and can be conveniently used near the patient without professional laboratory conditions. POC devices played an important role in patient initiated early diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating great potential. From a macro-to-micro perspective, this review first comprehensively introduces clinically relevant sample types, including blood, respiratory tract and oral samples, and exhaled breath, along with the clinical significance of corresponding biomarkers (nucleic acids, proteins, gaseous molecules, extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor cells, and pathogen particles) and pre-processing methods. Subsequently, it summarizes the test principles and promising bioreceptors including base pairing-based systems (PCR, isothermal amplification, CRISPR/Cas), antibodies and antibody mimetics, and other affinity-based recognition elements, and innovatively presents portable integration platforms of biosensors from the perspective of bioreceptor compatibility. It then evaluates the application performance of transducers and corresponding optical or electrochemical portable detection devices, including SERS, e-nose, nanopore sensors, and portable GC-MS. Finally, the latest applications of computer technology and artificial intelligence tools in POC detection for respiratory diseases, spanning device design, bioreceptor screening, biomarker discovery, and diagnostic data processing, are presented by functional category. This review aims to provide a reference for the research and application of multiplex biomarker/sample/disease POC testing in respiratory diseases, and to offer perspectives on future directions for technological innovation, intelligentization, and commercial translation.},
}
MeSH Terms:
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hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Biomarkers/analysis
Biosensing Techniques/methods/instrumentation
COVID-19/diagnosis
Pandemics
*Point-of-Care Systems
*Point-of-Care Testing
Rapid Diagnostic Tests
*Respiratory Tract Diseases/diagnosis
RevDate: 2026-08-25
CmpDate: 2026-08-25
Virtual hospital services for adult patients: A scoping review.
International journal of medical informatics, 220:106611.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic expedited the use of virtual hospital services (VHS) and hybrid hospital-in-the-home (HITH) models. However, the current evidence base remains fragmented and heterogeneous in care model designs, terminology, and reported outcome measures. This scoping review maps the published literature on VHS models implemented or evaluated for adults aged 18 to 65 during and after the COVID-19 period.
METHODS: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search of four online databases was conducted, identifying articles published between March 2021 and July 2025, followed by screening of reference lists of included studies by two authors.
RESULTS: Of 1624 records identified, 28 studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies were published in the last two years, reflecting accelerated interest in sustaining VHS models beyond the pandemic. Of these, 16 studies reported on fully virtual models, while 12 studies described hybrid HITH models. Most models utilised mixed synchronous and asynchronous communication, while mobile applications and wearables were uncommon. Respiratory conditions were the most common diagnostic group (n = 17/28), and heart failure exacerbation was the most frequently reported specific condition (n = 6/28). Patient satisfaction and experience were most frequently reported outcome measures (n = 17/28); qualitative evidence on clinician and caregiver experience was limited.
CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a structured map of VHS model components in the adult non-geriatric population, revealing substantial heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting amongst different care models. The evidence base remains dominated by pilot and single-site studies. Future research should prioritise standardised taxonomy and clear model descriptions to inform future effectiveness and implementation research.
Additional Links: PMID-42556091
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PubMed:
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@article {pmid42556091,
year = {2026},
author = {Kaur, M and Promi, TJ and Gopali, L and Lee, J and Ward, K and Jackson, TM and Lau, AYS},
title = {Virtual hospital services for adult patients: A scoping review.},
journal = {International journal of medical informatics},
volume = {220},
number = {},
pages = {106611},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2026.106611},
pmid = {42556091},
issn = {1872-8243},
mesh = {Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; *Home Care Services, Hospital-Based/organization & administration ; *Models, Organizational ; *Telemedicine/organization & administration ; *Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration ; Outcome Assessment, Health Care ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic expedited the use of virtual hospital services (VHS) and hybrid hospital-in-the-home (HITH) models. However, the current evidence base remains fragmented and heterogeneous in care model designs, terminology, and reported outcome measures. This scoping review maps the published literature on VHS models implemented or evaluated for adults aged 18 to 65 during and after the COVID-19 period.
METHODS: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search of four online databases was conducted, identifying articles published between March 2021 and July 2025, followed by screening of reference lists of included studies by two authors.
RESULTS: Of 1624 records identified, 28 studies met the eligibility criteria. Most studies were published in the last two years, reflecting accelerated interest in sustaining VHS models beyond the pandemic. Of these, 16 studies reported on fully virtual models, while 12 studies described hybrid HITH models. Most models utilised mixed synchronous and asynchronous communication, while mobile applications and wearables were uncommon. Respiratory conditions were the most common diagnostic group (n = 17/28), and heart failure exacerbation was the most frequently reported specific condition (n = 6/28). Patient satisfaction and experience were most frequently reported outcome measures (n = 17/28); qualitative evidence on clinician and caregiver experience was limited.
CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a structured map of VHS model components in the adult non-geriatric population, revealing substantial heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting amongst different care models. The evidence base remains dominated by pilot and single-site studies. Future research should prioritise standardised taxonomy and clear model descriptions to inform future effectiveness and implementation research.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
hide MeSH Terms
Humans
Male
Female
Adult
Adolescent
Young Adult
Middle Aged
Aged
*Home Care Services, Hospital-Based/organization & administration
*Models, Organizational
*Telemedicine/organization & administration
*Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
RevDate: 2026-08-26
CmpDate: 2026-08-05
Guiding pluripotent stem cell therapies past the immune system.
Stem cells translational medicine, 15(8):.
Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based therapies hold the potential to unlock cures for numerous diseases, including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration, heart failure, type 1 diabetes, and cancer. Yet as protocols to differentiate PSCs into therapeutically useful cell types have progressed rapidly, immunological rejection remains a major barrier that may limit the widespread use of such PSC-based therapies. In recent years, strategies to genetically modify PSCs to prevent immunological rejection of the downstream cell product have become a point of emphasis. Here, we provide an immunological perspective on these strategies, discussing the breadth of rejection mechanisms that have been uncovered through decades of research and the relative simplicity of designing PSC immune evasion strategies to circumvent these mechanisms. We focus in particular on how these strategies apply to the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Additional Links: PMID-42556322
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@article {pmid42556322,
year = {2026},
author = {Pizzato, HA and Bhattacharya, D},
title = {Guiding pluripotent stem cell therapies past the immune system.},
journal = {Stem cells translational medicine},
volume = {15},
number = {8},
pages = {},
pmid = {42556322},
issn = {2157-6580},
support = {R41 AI191979/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R41 AI192172/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States ; R41AI191979/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; R41AI192172/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Pluripotent Stem Cells/immunology/transplantation ; Animals ; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/therapy/immunology ; *Stem Cell Transplantation/methods ; *Graft Rejection/immunology/prevention & control ; *Immune System ; },
abstract = {Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based therapies hold the potential to unlock cures for numerous diseases, including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease, macular degeneration, heart failure, type 1 diabetes, and cancer. Yet as protocols to differentiate PSCs into therapeutically useful cell types have progressed rapidly, immunological rejection remains a major barrier that may limit the widespread use of such PSC-based therapies. In recent years, strategies to genetically modify PSCs to prevent immunological rejection of the downstream cell product have become a point of emphasis. Here, we provide an immunological perspective on these strategies, discussing the breadth of rejection mechanisms that have been uncovered through decades of research and the relative simplicity of designing PSC immune evasion strategies to circumvent these mechanisms. We focus in particular on how these strategies apply to the treatment of type 1 diabetes.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
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Humans
*Pluripotent Stem Cells/immunology/transplantation
Animals
*Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/therapy/immunology
*Stem Cell Transplantation/methods
*Graft Rejection/immunology/prevention & control
*Immune System
RevDate: 2026-08-25
CmpDate: 2026-08-25
Carbon dioxide monitoring and other practical tools to investigate infection prevention issues associated with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems: You can't improve what you don't measure.
American journal of infection control, 54(9S):S34-S41.
BACKGROUND: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems play an essential role in minimizing the risk for transmission of airborne pathogens. A basic understanding of how HVAC systems work and of tools that are available to assess their performance is essential for infection prevention.
METHODS: The published English literature was searched for articles on use of practical tools to assess ventilation and airflow and their application to address infection prevention issues related to health care HVAC systems.
RESULTS: Carbon dioxide monitoring is an inexpensive, easy-to-use tool that provides rapid information on the quality of ventilation and the efficacy of interventions. Clearance of aerosol particles provides supplemental information on ventilation and devices that emit smoke or condensed moisture show patterns of airflow. Multiple publications have demonstrated the use of these tools to evaluate ventilation and airflow patterns and assess the impact of interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Several practical tools are available to assess ventilation and patterns of airflow. These tools can be used to develop effective interventions to reduce the risk for airborne transmission of pathogens.
Additional Links: PMID-42556934
Publisher:
PubMed:
Citation:
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@article {pmid42556934,
year = {2026},
author = {Donskey, CJ},
title = {Carbon dioxide monitoring and other practical tools to investigate infection prevention issues associated with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems: You can't improve what you don't measure.},
journal = {American journal of infection control},
volume = {54},
number = {9S},
pages = {S34-S41},
doi = {10.1016/j.ajic.2026.02.008},
pmid = {42556934},
issn = {1527-3296},
mesh = {Humans ; *Carbon Dioxide/analysis ; *Environmental Monitoring/instrumentation/methods ; Environment, Controlled ; *Ventilation/methods ; *Cross Infection/etiology/prevention & control ; *Infection Control/instrumentation/methods ; Aerosolized Particles and Droplets/adverse effects/analysis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems play an essential role in minimizing the risk for transmission of airborne pathogens. A basic understanding of how HVAC systems work and of tools that are available to assess their performance is essential for infection prevention.
METHODS: The published English literature was searched for articles on use of practical tools to assess ventilation and airflow and their application to address infection prevention issues related to health care HVAC systems.
RESULTS: Carbon dioxide monitoring is an inexpensive, easy-to-use tool that provides rapid information on the quality of ventilation and the efficacy of interventions. Clearance of aerosol particles provides supplemental information on ventilation and devices that emit smoke or condensed moisture show patterns of airflow. Multiple publications have demonstrated the use of these tools to evaluate ventilation and airflow patterns and assess the impact of interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Several practical tools are available to assess ventilation and patterns of airflow. These tools can be used to develop effective interventions to reduce the risk for airborne transmission of pathogens.},
}
MeSH Terms:
show MeSH Terms
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Humans
*Carbon Dioxide/analysis
*Environmental Monitoring/instrumentation/methods
Environment, Controlled
*Ventilation/methods
*Cross Infection/etiology/prevention & control
*Infection Control/instrumentation/methods
Aerosolized Particles and Droplets/adverse effects/analysis
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