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Bibliography on: covid-19

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Robert J. Robbins is a biologist, an educator, a science administrator, a publisher, an information technologist, and an IT leader and manager who specializes in advancing biomedical knowledge and supporting education through the application of information technology. More About:  RJR | OUR TEAM | OUR SERVICES | THIS WEBSITE

RJR: Recommended Bibliography 11 Jul 2025 at 01:43 Created: 

covid-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2), a virus closely related to the SARS virus. The disease was discovered and named during the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak. Those affected may develop a fever, dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. A sore throat, runny nose or sneezing is less common. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some can progress to pneumonia and multi-organ failure. The infection is spread from one person to others via respiratory droplets produced from the airways, often during coughing or sneezing. Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is generally between 2 and 14 days, with an average of 5 days. The standard method of diagnosis is by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab or sputum sample, with results within a few hours to 2 days. Antibody assays can also be used, using a blood serum sample, with results within a few days. The infection can also be diagnosed from a combination of symptoms, risk factors and a chest CT scan showing features of pneumonia. Correct handwashing technique, maintaining distance from people who are coughing and not touching one's face with unwashed hands are measures recommended to prevent the disease. It is also recommended to cover one's nose and mouth with a tissue or a bent elbow when coughing. Those who suspect they carry the virus are recommended to wear a surgical face mask and seek medical advice by calling a doctor rather than visiting a clinic in person. Masks are also recommended for those who are taking care of someone with a suspected infection but not for the general public. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, with management involving treatment of symptoms, supportive care and experimental measures. The case fatality rate is estimated at between 1% and 3%. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). As of 29 February 2020, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are areas having evidence of community transmission of the disease.

Created with PubMed® Query: ( SARS-CoV-2 OR COVID-19 OR (wuhan AND coronavirus) AND review[SB] ) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2025-07-10

Rengarajan A, Bazarbashi AN, CP Gyawali (2025)

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF ACHALASIA.

Digestion pii:000547354 [Epub ahead of print].

Achalasia is a rare primary esophageal motility disorder of the esophageal smooth muscle, characterized by abnormal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and associated with abnormal, spastic or absent esophageal body peristalsis. The primary pathophysiological defect is abnormal esophageal inhibitory nerve function from neuronal death in the esophageal neuronal plexuses and ganglia that control esophageal smooth muscle peristalsis. This is a consequence of an autoimmune cytotoxic insult from molecular mimicry following an intercurrent viral infection, typically herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, human papilloma virus, measles virus, and even the COVID-19 virus. Neuronal inflammation rather than death can lead to imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory forces, and varying degrees of retained spastic, premature or even normal peristalsis in the smooth muscle esophageal body. Chagas disease caused by trypanosoma cruzi, eosinophilic inflammation, direct infiltration with neoplastic cells from adjacent cancers, or humoral autoimmune destruction from distant cancers can also result in an achalasia-like syndrome. Mechanical obstruction from tight strictures, anti-reflux or bariatric surgery and extrinsic compression can mimic the manometric features of achalasia. Chronic opioid medication usage can result in a clinical and pathophysiological syndrome identical to spastic achalasia. Careful clinical evaluation, and judicious interpretation of esophageal function tests following pathophysiological principles can lead to an accurate diagnosis of achalasia, opening the door to durable permanent disruption of the malfunctioning esophageal smooth muscle, and resulting in symptom relief.

RevDate: 2025-07-10

Hinzpeter EL, Kairies-Schwarz N, Beaudart C, et al (2025)

A Systematic Review of Discrete Choice Experiments on Preferences for COVID-19 Vaccinations.

The patient [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced vaccination strategies and public health policies. Discrete choice experiments have emerged as a valuable tool for understanding preferences regarding vaccination. This study systematically reviews discrete choice experiments conducted on COVID-19 public vaccination preferences to identify key determinants influencing vaccine uptake and to assess methodological approaches used in these studies.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify discrete choice experiments focusing on COVID-19 vaccination preferences up to 31 December, 2024. Attribute categorization into five dimensions Outcome, Process, Cost, Trust, and Framing was performed and quality appraised according to the DIRECT checklist. Conditional relative importance as well as geographical differences were assessed.

RESULTS: The review identified 58 studies employing discrete choice experiments that assessed public COVID-19 vaccine preferences. Among attribute categories, outcome-related factors were the most frequently used and had the highest relative importance. Other commonly evaluated attributes included cost, origin/brand, and required doses. A notable geographic disparity was observed, with studies being unevenly distributed across different regions. Methodological heterogeneity was observed in attribute selection and experimental design.

CONCLUSIONS: This review emphasizes the importance of considering individual preferences into vaccination strategies to enhance uptake, particularly in preparation for future pandemics. The findings reveal that vaccine effectiveness and safety are key concerns for individuals. Future research could focus on increasing representation of underexamined regions in preference studies to better inform local policymakers in developing effective vaccination programs for future health crises.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) with the ID CRD42025543234.

RevDate: 2025-07-10

Tralongo P, Ballato M, Fiorentino V, et al (2025)

Cuproptosis: A Review on Mechanisms, Role in Solid and Hematological Tumors, and Association with Viral Infections.

Mediterranean journal of hematology and infectious diseases, 17(1):e2025052.

Cuproptosis is a distinct modality of regulated cell death precipitated by an overload of intracellular copper, critically dependent on mitochondrial respiration. The underlying mechanism involves the direct interaction of copper ions with lipoylated components integral to the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. This binding event triggers the aggregation of these proteins, induces significant proteotoxic stress, and leads to the depletion of essential iron-sulfur cluster proteins, culminating in cell demise. Given that copper homeostasis is frequently dysregulated within cancer cells, rendering them potentially more susceptible to copper-induced toxicity, cuproptosis has rapidly become a focal point of oncological research. This systematic review meticulously analyzes and synthesizes findings from a curated collection of 45 research articles. It aims to provide a comprehensive description of the molecular intricacies of cuproptosis, explore its documented associations with a spectrum of solid tumors (including gastric, lung, liver, neuroblastoma, and ovarian cancers) and lymphoma, and examine its emerging connections with viral infections like COVID-19 and pseudorabies virus. The review elaborates on the reported prognostic significance of cuproptosis-related genes and associated pathways across various malignancies. Furthermore, it details the burgeoning therapeutic strategies designed to harness cuproptosis, encompassing the application of copper ionophores, the development of sophisticated nanomedicine platforms, and synergistic approaches that combine cuproptosis induction with immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or sonodynamic therapy. The potential clinical utility of cuproptosis-associated biomarkers for predicting patient prognosis and therapeutic response is discussed based on the evidence presented in the reviewed literature.

RevDate: 2025-07-10
CmpDate: 2025-07-10

Hu C, Niu C, Li X, et al (2025)

Progress in combination vaccines and the co-administration of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Frontiers in immunology, 16:1578733.

COVID-19 and seasonal influenza have taken a huge toll on the global economy and global health. Given the potential of COVID-19 to transform into a chronic epidemic akin to seasonal influenza, the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 will continue to be a significant threat to healthcare for some time to come. Coinfection involving the two viruses has been proven to worsen the severity of the illness, as evidenced by clinical observational data. Vaccination remains the most effective measure in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, the coadministration of influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 vaccines offered greater benefits than either vaccine alone. Combination vaccines are also a major hotspot in novel vaccine development. This review highlights the advancements in the development of combined vaccines for COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, as demonstrated in animal studies and clinical trials, and emphasizes the importance of a combined vaccine.

RevDate: 2025-07-10

Pan J, Lin S, Qian Q, et al (2025)

Gut-brain axis in post-traumatic stress disorder: microbial - mediated mechanisms and new therapeutic approaches - A narrative review.

Frontiers in pharmacology, 16:1621678.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental disorder that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Not only does this disorder severely impair the quality of life and emotional wellbeing of patients, but in recent years the global rate of PTSD diagnoses has increased to 1.5-2 times, and the prevalence of PTSD associated with COVID-19 events in particular has surged to 10%-25%, underscoring the urgency of developing effective treatments. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the general population is estimated to be approximately 3.9%, while in high-risk populations, such as war veterans, it can be as high as 30%. As a key pathway connecting the central nervous system to peripheral organs, the gut-brain axis has received increasing attention for its role in PTSD. Although the gut-brain axis has been shown to be associated with several psychiatric disorders, especially depression, its specific role in PTSD remains undercharacterized. Existing studies suggest that specific strains of Lactobacillus (e.g., Lactobacillus reuteri) may alleviate inflammatory responses and improve PTSD-like behaviors by down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α). In this study, we used a narrative review approach to sort out the research progress of gut microbiota alteration in PTSD, and compared the characteristics of changes in specific microbial taxa (e.g., Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, etc.), the index of microbiota diversity (α/β diversity), and the levels of inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) between the animal model and the human patients, respectively, in order to We further explored the potential pathogenic mechanisms mediated by microorganisms, such as influencing the vagal pathway, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, immune system and other processes involved in the pathology of PTSD, and summarized the intervention strategies targeting gut microecology, such as probiotic supplementation, dietary interventions and fecal bacteria transplantation.

RevDate: 2025-07-09
CmpDate: 2025-07-10

Ayo-Farai O, Gopep N, Alarape-Raji A, et al (2025)

Exploring co-infection dynamics and immune response interactions between COVID-19 and Monkeypox: implications for disease severity, viral transmission, and vaccine efficacy.

Virology journal, 22(1):230.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and Monkeypox (Mpox) are viral infections that have similar modes of presentation, diagnosis and treatment strategies. Understanding their co-infection dynamics and immune response is important for public health policies.

AIM: This article aims to determine the relationship between dynamicity and immune response interactions between Mpox and COVID-19, focusing more on the implications for disease severity, viral transmission, and vaccine efficacy.

METHODOLOGY: An extensive literature review was conducted through electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science from the last decade (2014-2024) using keywords: COVID-19, Co-infections, Immune response, Monkeypox, and Vaccination.

RESULTS: Several co-infections between COVID-19 and Mpox have been reported, especially a case from Florida, in the United States of America (USA), in Barcelona, Spain (a 56-year-old man who suffered both Mpox and COVID-19 and syphilis simultaneously, and from Italy (a 36-year-old male). Both COVID-19 and Mpox have been shown to have some effects on the immunity of a person, especially the innate system, which can occasionally produce inadvertent effects. A common factor that links the two diseases is the endoglycosidase named Heparanase (HPSE). Both COVID-19 and Mpox clinical features have bizarre severity and complications. The rising co-infection of COVID-19 and increased Mpox infection rate has led to the development of only approved vaccines JYNNEOS and COH04S1.

CONCLUSION: Global efforts such as adequate awareness campaigns through webinars, social media platforms, and research, including experimental studies, cohort studies, case series, etc., should be put in place to give more insights into both diseases. Such efforts should be backed up with good political will, adequate funding, the establishment of research facilities and interprofessional measures among the concerned countries and policymakers in the world.

RevDate: 2025-07-10
CmpDate: 2025-07-10

Kerpel-Fronius S, Becker AL, Members of the IFAPP Ethics Working Group (2025)

The Value and Importance of a Professional Ethical Code for Medicines Development: IFAPP International Ethics Framework.

Pharmaceutical medicine, 39(4):249-257.

Pharmaceutical medicine professionals have to face many ethical problems during the entire life span of new medicines extending from animal studies to broad clinical practice. The primary aim of the general ethical principles governing research conducted in humans is to diminish the physical and psychological burdens of the participants in human drug studies but overlooks many additional social and ethical problems faced by medicine developers. These arise mainly at the interface connecting the profit-oriented pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare-centered medical profession cooperating in medicines development. In 2002, the International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Pharmaceutical Medicine developed the International Code of Ethical Conduct for Pharmaceutical Physicians for providing ethical advice for their members to manage the frequently competitive goals characteristic for their specialty. The ethical framework compiled by the International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Pharmaceutical Medicine serves its members by presenting morally acceptable or inacceptable behaviors in frequently encountered controversies arising from competing industrial and healthcare interests in medicines development. The authors selected this format to encourage reflection and debate for finding optimal moral conclusions in specific issues. Many recent examples of serious scientific-ethical misconduct, such as the oxycodone tragedy, the recommendations of unproven useless occasionally dangerous therapies during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and the withdrawal of many papers containing non-reproducible results, contributed to the increasing loss of trust by the public in science including pharmaceutical medicine. We are convinced that the ethical guidance developed by the International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians and Pharmaceutical Medicine will encourage its members to reflect intensively on optimal ethical behavior in drug development for strengthening the trust of society in innovative new medicines. Finally, considering the increasingly active participation of non-medically trained scientists in producing and applying complex biological medicines, distant monitoring methods coupled together with artificial intelligence technology in innovative clinical trials, the Ethics Working Group recommended already in 2017 measures to optimize their smooth cooperation and underlined their joint ethical responsibilities in guarding the safety and human dignity of trial participants.

RevDate: 2025-07-09
CmpDate: 2025-07-09

Ivanova J, Ong T, Wilczewski H, et al (2025)

Mental Health Care Guidelines for Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review.

JMIR mental health, 12:e56534 pii:v12i1e56534.

BACKGROUND: Mental health care providers have widely adopted telemedicine since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some providers have reported difficulties in implementing telemedicine and are still assessing its sustainability for their practices. Recommendations, best practices, and guidelines for telemedicine-based mental health care (ie, telemental health care [TMH]) have been published, but the nature and extent of this guidance have not been assessed.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine (1) the form of TMH guidelines and recommendations presented to providers, (2) the most commonly presented recommendations and guidelines, and (3) the perceived benefits and challenges of these TMH guidelines and recommendations.

METHODS: Through our scoping review of practice guidelines, we aimed to identify themes in TMH guidelines and clinical recommendations published between 2020 and 2024 in peer-reviewed journals. This review focused on the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify and characterize the available TMH guidance. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and ScienceDirect for articles in peer-reviewed journals published between January 1, 2020, and July 16, 2024. We included articles that were available in English and presented recommendations, best practices, or guidelines for TMH. We excluded duplicates, articles unrelated to telehealth, brief editorial introductions, and those not publicly available. We applied the Healthcare Provider Taxonomy of the National Uniform Claim Committee to article titles and abstracts to identify records relevant to mental health. We used content and thematic analyses to identify key themes.

RESULTS: Of the 1348 articles retrieved, we identified 76 that matched our criteria. Through content and thematic analyses, we identified 3 main themes-along with subthemes and topics-related to Facilitators, Concerns, and Changes Advised. The majority of articles called for further research (59/76) and for telemental health education and innovation in some form (43/76) regarding advised changes. Twenty-four articles included specific guidelines, recommendations, or checklists for providers.

CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the need for further large-scale research to support the development of effective guidelines and protocols for therapy plans. Although TMH care is widespread, scholarly work emphasizes the need for a stronger evidence base that includes testing protocols in diverse settings and populations. The results also underscore the importance of increasing health professionals' knowledge of regulatory compliance and providing them with adequate TMH practice education.

RevDate: 2025-07-09

Zhang Y, Ji X, Huang D, et al (2025)

The Coronavirus 3CL protease: Unveiling Its Complex Host Interactions and Central Role in Viral Pathogenesis.

Virologica Sinica pii:S1995-820X(25)00095-1 [Epub ahead of print].

The 3CL protease, a highly conserved enzyme in the coronavirus, plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle by facilitating viral replication through precise cleavage of polyproteins. Beyond its proteolytic function, the 3CL protease also engages in intricate interactions with host cell proteins involved in critical cellular processes such as transcription, translation, and nuclear-cytoplasmic transport, effectively hijacking cellular machinery to promote viral replication. Additionally, it disrupts innate immune signaling pathways, suppresses interferon activity and cleaves antiviral proteins. Furthermore, it modulates host cell death pathways including pyroptosis and apoptosis, interferes with autophagy and inhibits stress granule formation to maintain viral infection and exacerbate viral pathogenesis. This review highlights the molecular mechanisms by which the 3CL protease orchestrates virus-host interactions, emphasizing its central role in coronavirus pathogenesis and highlighting potential therapeutic targets for future interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-09

Shi T, Ye Y, Fan Z, et al (2025)

Respiratory mucosal vaccines: Applications, delivery strategies and design considerations.

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 189:118326 pii:S0753-3322(25)00520-7 [Epub ahead of print].

Respiratory mucosal vaccines represent a groundbreaking and promising route to trigger both local and systemic immune responses by mimicking the natural cause of infection, offering great potential for fighting against pathogens and limiting their transmission at entry sites, particularly effective for infectious diseases like Influenza virus and Coronavirus. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advance and current landscape of vaccines by mucosal routes, with an emphasis on their design, engineering, and delivery mechanisms across various vaccine platforms. Particular attention is given to the emerging advanced technologies, exosome and lipid nanoparticle vaccine delivery systems. The critical design considerations of mucosal vaccines are highlighted for engineering safe and efficacious mucosal vaccines, proving meaningful insights on the engineering of safe and effective mucosal vaccines. We foresee a promising future for respiratory mucosal vaccines in their translation into clinical applications, ultimately bringing benefits to human individuals.

RevDate: 2025-07-09

Nairz M, G Weiss (2025)

How to identify respiratory pathogens in primary health care - a review on the benefits, prospects and pitfalls in using point of care tests.

Infection [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: Respiratory tract infections are among the most common reasons for consultations in primary health care (PHC) settings. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of diagnostic tests for selected respiratory pathogens useful in PHC.

METHODS: We performed a PubMed search on diagnostic tests for influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Bordetella pertussis. We then selected and summarized clinical trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews published between May 1994 and April 2025 relevant to PHC.

RESULTS: Diagnostic tests are useful if the test result will guide subsequent clinical management. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have high diagnostic accuracy but are not always available in PHC. Accurate rapid antigen detections tests (RADTs) are required to have a sensitivity of at least 80% and a specificity of at least 97% and are available for influenza virus, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 as are urinary antigen tests for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila. In contrast, due to the lack of appropriate RADTs, infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Bordetella pertussis typically require PCR tests.

CONCLUSION: From a clinical perspective, the differentiation between viral and bacterial infections and the accurate identification of the specific causative agent may guide medical interventions including antimicrobial therapy. From a diagnostic perspective, adequate microbiologic sampling and careful interpretation of laboratory test results in a clinical context are central requirements.

RevDate: 2025-07-08
CmpDate: 2025-07-08

Onohuean H, Ogunmola T, Adesiyan A, et al (2025)

Updates on cancer vaccines in brain cancer: Advances in neuroblastoma, delivery systems, and emerging technologies.

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 21(1):2526964.

Neuroblastoma stands as a major concern in pediatric oncology because it develops from neural crest cells as a neuroendocrine cancer. Nanoparticle-based vaccine delivery approaches the therapeutic activity of immune cells only toward tumor cells without inflicting damage to healthy tissues like those sustained by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Neuroblastoma treatment faces two major barriers: penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and using nanoparticle technology. The promising developments for neuroblastoma treatment emerge from mRNA COVID-19 vaccine research and brain cancer vaccine clinical trials especially through phase I autologous dendritic cell vaccine studies. Future research needs to develop optimized nanoparticles which can trigger the release of mRNA or peptides based on tumor-specific pH and enzyme signals. The BBB can be opened temporarily through ultrasound and receptor-mediated transport approaches, which enhance vaccine delivery to brain tissues. New immunotherapeutic approaches for pediatric malignancies emerge from these recent findings to yield future success.

RevDate: 2025-07-09
CmpDate: 2025-07-09

Metcalfe J, Scoullar MJL, Whyler NCA, et al (2025)

Beyond time as the healer: action in long COVID treatment to improve patient outcomes.

Internal medicine journal, 55(7):1203-1207.

Long COVID is complex and disabling. Despite emerging therapies, the lack of guidelines and clinician awareness delays treatment. This paper highlights options available now to improve function and quality of life. We call for a symptom-focused, person-centred approach that incorporates lived experience and clinical judgement to bridge the gap between evidence and care. Time alone is not the answer.

RevDate: 2025-07-08

Bartlett ML, Palese P, Davis MF, et al (2025)

Enhancing the response to avian influenza in the US and globally.

Lancet regional health. Americas, 46:101100.

The recent emergence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infections in dairy cows and humans in the U.S. has raised alarms regarding the potential for a pandemic. Over 995 dairy cow herds and at least 70 humans have been affected, including cases of severe disease and the first reported H5N1-related death in the U.S. Sporadic human infections with no known contact with infected animals highlight the possibility of viral adaptation for efficient human-to-human transmission. Concurrently, the virus continues to circulate in wild birds, backyard flocks, and hunted migratory species, further amplifying the risk to humans and domestic animals. This article provides an overview of the current outbreak status, emphasizes the importance of robust surveillance systems to detect emerging strains with pandemic potential, and highlights risks to the U.S. dairy and poultry industries. Recommendations for risk mitigation include enhanced biosecurity measures, improved surveillance, decentralized testing, and targeted public health messaging. The Global Virus Network calls for urgent, proactive measures to prevent widespread outbreaks, leveraging lessons learned from prior pandemics. These measures include targeted vaccination, improved communication strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy, and the incorporation of social sciences to address barriers to public health interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-08

Goel F, Kumar D, Singh P, et al (2025)

The dual threat: exploring the emergence of human metapneumovirus and SARS-CoV-2 coinfections in respiratory infections.

3 Biotech, 15(8):235.

SARS-CoV-2-triggered COVID-19 epidemic has thrown unprecedented challenges at the global public health system but has also drawn attention to the co-circulation of other respiratory viruses, among them human metapneumovirus (hMPV). Both viruses are significant contributors to respiratory illnesses. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) can cause serious respiratory infections, particularly in young children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. This review explores the overlap between human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and SARS-CoV-2, focusing on their epidemiological patterns, clinical manifestations, and the impact of co-infection on disease severity and patient outcomes. We consider the molecular mechanisms of hMPV's interaction with the host immune system, which might have an impact or exacerbate SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity. The challenges of identifying and treating co-infections are also discussed in this study as are the effects of clinical management during the present pandemic. Furthermore, the possibilities of synergistic effects between the two viruses involved in these coinfections, particularly modified immune response and worsened respiratory outcomes, have been brought up. We address the intersection of these two viral pathogens to provide insights into their combined burden on healthcare systems, underscore the need for improved diagnostic tools, and advocate for research on targeted treatment and vaccine strategies. This review highlights the dual threat posed by hMPV and SARS-CoV-2 and calls for greater attention to the implications of viral co-infections in respiratory diseases.

RevDate: 2025-07-08
CmpDate: 2025-07-08

Naito T (2025)

A second-generation, self-amplifying COVID-19 Vaccine: World's first approval and distribution in the Japanese market with vaccine hesitancy.

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 21(1):2530291.

The mRNA vaccine is a milestone in immunotherapeutics, as symbolized by the 2023 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine awarded to Drs. Karikó and Weissman. Whereas the conventional, "first-generation" mRNA vaccine was globally distributed to hundreds of millions of people to decrease COVID-19 prevalence, further advanced constructs have been pursued by researchers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The key feature of the "second-generation" mRNA vaccine is a self-amplifying replicon that may allow a low dose to ensure durable immunogenicity. In clinical trials, ARCT-154 indeed showed effectiveness (magnitude, persistence, and breadth) superior to conventional mRNA vaccines, with similar or less frequent adverse responses, and acquired its world's first approval in November 2023 in Japan (brand name: KOSTAIVE manufactured by Meiji Seika Pharma, Tokyo, Japan) to prevent COVID-19 infection. Real-world distribution of KOSTAIVE was started in October 2024, and researchers are collecting data on its effectiveness and safety despite nonscientific, but persistent, antivaccine skepticism.

RevDate: 2025-07-08

Tang Y, Ren L, E Liu (2023)

Current status and reflections on the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory tract infections in children in the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID-19 era.

Pediatric discovery.., 1(3):e33.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are common and frequently occurring diseases in children, posing a significant health threat to children worldwide. Viruses are the most important pathogens of childhood RTIs. Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a series of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been widely implemented around the globe, and important changes have taken place in the spectrum of respiratory diseases and viruses in children. However, with relaxation of NPIs, there has been a "virus resurgence" in some areas, with multiple viral infectious diseases appearing simultaneously. This review comprehensively summarizes the changes observed in the spectrum of respiratory diseases and viruses in children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, explores possible mechanisms, and presents reflections on the key points of diagnosis and treatment of RTIs in children in the post-COVID-19 era in light of recent advances in COVID-19 in children.

RevDate: 2025-07-08

Xia W, Z Peng (2023)

Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection: The potential vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and impact on neonates: A review.

Pediatric discovery.., 1(2):e22.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a large, lipid-enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus, is a highly contagious virus that caused coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Pregnant women are usually considered at high risk for infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection can adversely affect the pregnancy and birth outcomes, such as abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, and prematurity. Some meta-analysis suggested that the outcomes of newborns are different between symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women but similar in asymptomatic and SARS-CoV-2 negative group. Maternal infection increases the risk of vertical transmission; also the presence of SARS-CoV-2 or its RNA in maternal samples in some case reports raised the possibility of intrauterine transmission. Also, contact transmission during delivery and postnatal transmission are discussed. Although most infected newborns are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, there are case reports of severe neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection, including cardiorespiratory failure and death. Otherwise, some studies suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a reduction for preterm birth during the pandemic compared with the prepandemic period. We conduct this review to try to make a conclusion about the vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and impact on neonates due to Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Alzahrani RS, Alkhatabi TF, Bokhari AF, et al (2025)

Efficacy of Omega-3 supplementation in olfactory dysfunction: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

BMC nutrition, 11(1):135.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) significantly impacts patients' quality of life, yet effective treatments are limited. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown promise in improving olfactory function, but further research is needed to evaluate their efficacy.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of omega-3 supplementation on OD.

METHODS: A comprehensive search identified randomized controlled trials investigating omega-3 supplementation in OD patients. Inclusion criteria involved adult patients receiving omega-3 fatty acids and undergoing olfactory function assessments.

RESULTS: Three studies with 175 participants were included. Two studies reported omega-3's protective effect against olfactory loss over three months. However, a trial on COVID-19 patients found no significant improvement in olfactory function.

CONCLUSIONS: Omega-3 supplementation, along with olfactory training or nasal rinses, appears to improve olfactory function in OD patients. However, further research is needed to evaluate its standalone efficacy. Omega-3 fatty acids offer a potential therapy for OD, warranting optimization and long-term effects investigation.

RevDate: 2025-07-07
CmpDate: 2025-07-07

Eneh SC, Anokwuru CC, Onukansi FO, et al (2025)

Implementation of integrated disease surveillance and response systems in West Africa: lessons learned and future directions.

BMJ health & care informatics, 32(1): pii:bmjhci-2024-101346.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework, introduced by the WHO in 1998, aimed to unify disease surveillance across West Africa, replacing fragmented systems. However, challenges such as limited real-time reporting, inadequate data collection and workforce shortages continue to impede disease control and outbreak response. The resurgence of infectious diseases like Ebola, cholera, COVID-19 and monkeypox highlights the need to strengthen IDSR systems for effective public health management. This article reviews IDSR implementation in West Africa, identifying persistent gaps, including delayed outbreak detection, limited laboratory capacity and weak surveillance infrastructure. It emphasises the importance of policy development, capacity building and stakeholder engagement to secure political support and resources. Integrating technological innovations-such as mobile health (mHealth), geographic information systems (GIS), electronic health records and big data analytics-can enhance real-time data sharing and response coordination. Strengthening laboratories, workforce training and monitoring frameworks is essential to improve IDSR performance. Strategic investments are crucial to bolster public health capacities, accelerate response times and mitigate future epidemics in West Africa.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Bowyer W, Haslam A, V Prasad (2025)

An Analysis of Studies Comparing Myocarditis and Pericarditis in COVID-19 Vaccinated and SARS-CoV-2 Infected Individuals.

The American journal of the medical sciences pii:S0002-9629(25)01096-1 [Epub ahead of print].

We sought to identify studies that examined myocarditis and pericarditis after both COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection. A literature search was conducted and retrospective cohort studies examining incidence rates for myocarditis and pericarditis after both COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. The methodologies and conclusions of each study was assessed, and a risk of bias was determined. We found 6 articles that utilized cohorts from the same population. Of the included articles, all of them had risk of bias concerns with 50% having a poor-quality rating and 50% having a fair quality rating. Methodological biases, including reliance on EHR data, inadequate observational periods, and failure to account for baseline characteristics between the two cohorts, were observed across studies. Ultimately, these methodological limitations lead to hyperinflated myocarditis rates in the infection cohorts and a lack of meaningful comparisons between the infection and vaccination cohorts.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Sadowski J, Huk J, Otulak S, et al (2025)

Association between Guillain-Barré syndrome and SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, including the impact of COVID-19 vaccination in the context of the development and general clinical characteristics of the disease.

Journal of neurovirology [Epub ahead of print].

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has begun to be observed. This article discusses the impact of immunological processes on structural and functional changes in the peripheral nervous system on the pathogenesis of GBS. The aim of the systematic review is to analyze and discuss available information from the scientific literature regarding a possible clinical relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection along with vaccination mainly, adenovector and mRNA vaccines and the development of different types of Guillain-Barré syndrome. The review specifically discusses the role of proinflammatory cytokines and "cytokine storm" in patients with COVID-19 and their potential impact on the phenomenon of "molecular mimicry" and the generation of autoantibodies in GBS. This issue has been expanded to include information from studies on the impact of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 virus and the higher number of observed cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Focusing on the characteristics of the methods, materials, results and conclusions, the review finally included 114 publications, like studies, meta-analyses, clinical cases and reviews. The systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier databases. It pointed out the molecular and clinical association between SARS-CoV-2 virus infections and COVID-19 vaccination, in the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the context of its clinical course.

RevDate: 2025-07-07
CmpDate: 2025-07-07

Chen J, Aherfi S, Steichen P, et al (2025)

[Molecular epidemiology of viruses sequenced from wastewater].

Medecine sciences : M/S, 41(6-7):585-592.

Virus surveillance using metagenomic analysis of sequences from wastewater appears to be a promising epidemiological tool for monitoring the spread of viruses in large populations. Its use during the COVID-19 pandemic enabled the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 circulation without requiring the collection of multiple individual samples. This approach allows both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections to be monitored in a highly cost-effective way. Initially based on PCR detection, the introduction of nucleic acid sequencing has improved this tool by providing more detailed metagenomic information. Experience with COVID-19 pandemics suggests that this epidemiological tool should now be extended to other viruses detectable in wastewater. This review discusses the different methods used, highlighting the challenges of a rapid deployment on an international scale to better understand the global circulation of viral pathogens.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Azhar S, Ibañez NC, Zamora J, et al (2025)

Coronavirus-two infection among adults: A scoping review of literature published in 2023-24.

Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 41(6):1788-1798.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and synthesize evidence on Coronavirus-two infection (SARS-CoV-2) among adults diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction.

METHODS: The protocol was registered on Open Science Forum (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/2837X). Three bibliographic databases (Medline, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched from July 2024 to December 2024. Peer-reviewed, quantitative studies with participants aged 18 and over were eligible to enlist potential risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR). The evidence was summarized as illustrations and tabulations with risk factors grouped into various categories. EndNote 20 was used for deduplications and organization of the literature.

RESULTS: Of 28,688 unique entries searched, 299 were shortlisted and 32 full-text manuscripts selected from 17 countries. There were two (6.2%) manuscripts based on real-time surveillance of at-risk populations. A total of 42 individual risk factors were examined in the evidence.

CONCLUSION: Low socioeconomic status and occupation were consistent risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with minimal representation from low- and middle-income countries in the evidence body. Future research should prioritize standardized methods and inclusion of underrepresented regions to enhance global applicability and inform targeted public health interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-07

Endeshaw D, Kebede N, Abadi Tareke A, et al (2025)

Prevalence of infection and associated factors after intramedullary nailing in African countries with the Surgical Implant Generation Network program: A systematic review and meta-analysis of available evidence.

SAGE open medicine, 13:20503121251352653.

BACKGROUND: Infections following orthopedic procedures, such as implant insertion, are common and pose significant burdens globally. Comprehensive evidence of its prevalence and the influencing factors is crucial for developing effective infection prevention strategies across regions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of infection and associated factors after Surgical Implant Generation Network nailing in African countries with the Surgical Implant Generation Network program.

METHOD: A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Global Index Medicus, Scopus, Embase, Science Direct, Hinari, and African Journals Online, complemented by a search of Google Scholar. After data extraction, the data were exported to STATA 17 statistical software for analysis. The pooled prevalence of infection was estimated using a random effects model. The level of heterogeneity was assessed using the I² test, while publication bias was evaluated through a funnel plot and Egger's and Begg's tests.

RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 23 full-text studies involving a total of 4266 patients treated with Surgical Implant Generation Network intramedullary nailing for long bone fractures. The pooled prevalence of infection was 5.69% (95% CI: 4.55%-6.83%), with a moderate level of heterogeneity (I² = 57.86%, p < 0.001). The review also identified significant predictors of infection, including open fracture type, complex fracture patterns, surgery performed within 15 days of injury, the presence of a prophylactic drain, female gender, and procedures conducted by junior surgeons.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis revealed a relatively high infection prevalence in patients who underwent Surgical Implant Generation Network nailing for fractures. Infection risk was significantly higher in cases involving open or complex fractures, early surgical intervention, use of prophylactic drains, female patients, and procedures conducted by less-experienced surgeons. To mitigate this burden, clinical efforts should focus on optimizing the timing of surgery, avoiding unnecessary drain placement, strengthening supervision for junior surgeons, and prioritizing enhanced intraoperative and postoperative care for high-risk fracture types.

RevDate: 2025-07-07
CmpDate: 2025-07-07

Brüssow H (2025)

From Bat to Worse: The Pivotal Role of Bats for Viral Zoonosis.

Microbial biotechnology, 18(7):e70190.

Zoonotic infections are increasingly observed and bats (Chiroptera) are playing a pivotal role here. The causal chain of events has been elucidated for Henipavirus (family: paramyxoviruses) infections. Deforestation combined with climate change has reduced the food sources of Pteropus fruit bats and attracted them to fruit trees planted around piggeries in Malaysia, transmitting Nipah virus to pigs as amplifying hosts and then to pig farmers and abattoir workers. Similar scenarios were seen in Australia where Pteropus bats transmitted Hendra virus to horses as intermediate hosts for human infections. Pteropus bats contaminated palm sap collected in Bangladesh with Nipah virus where fatal human-to-human transmissions occurred annually. Less direct evidence links coronaviruses carried by Rhinolophus bats with SARS and COVID-19 pandemics and a piglet epidemic in China. Rousettus bats living in caves transmitted the Marburg virus (family: filovirus) to miners in Africa. Most cases of human rabies in North America were caused by bat lyssaviruses (family: Rhabdoviruses). Bats are viral reservoir species for various virus families (reovirus, Hepacivirus of Flavivirus family, influenza A viruses). Bats are the only flying mammals which opened enormous evolutionary possibilities resulting in a worldwide radiation with 1400 species. Some bat species are represented by huge populations that come together in extremely crowded resting places that are conducive to viral transmission. Bats have evolved mechanisms that tolerate virus replication but suppress the associated pathology, making them healthy carriers for many viruses. It is speculated that with that strategy bats avoid an arms race with viruses for resistance and anti-resistance mechanisms. The excretion of viruses that are highly pathogenic for other mammalian orders could be used as biological weapons to defend their habitat against intrusion by mammalian competitors, including humans. This hypothesis might explain the increasing involvement of bat viruses in emerging infectious diseases observed in recent decades and expected in the future.

RevDate: 2025-07-07
CmpDate: 2025-07-07

Debbag R, Gallo J, Ávila-Agüero ML, et al (2025)

Rebuilding vaccine confidence in Latin America and the Caribbean: strategies for the post-pandemic era.

Expert review of vaccines, 24(1):615-623.

INTRODUCTION: Vaccine hesitancy in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has a complex nature. It is shaped by socio-political, cultural, economic factors, and an influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on increasing hesitancy patterns. While LAC has maintained high vaccination coverage, it has experienced a decline over the past 10-years, further exacerbated by declining vaccine confidence during the pandemic, driven by misinformation, political polarization, and conspiracy theories.

AREAS COVERED: We review the impact of vaccine hesitancy across various stakeholders in LAC, focusing on healthcare professionals, parents, and community leaders, including data from studies conducted in Argentina and Colombia highlighting regional variations in hesitancy patterns. It describes the role of pediatricians in recommending vaccines, particularly in COVID-19 vaccines. The study explores how the rapid spread of misinformation, particularly through social media, exacerbated mistrust, and offers an overview of vaccine hesitancy trends in LAC during/after the pandemic.

EXPERT OPINION: While vaccine acceptance remains high among certain populations, communication strategies are essential to address concerns about vaccine safety. It is imperative to strengthen the relationship between health-providers and the public to mitigate misinformation and improve vaccine uptake. We propose seven strategic approaches for a comprehensive communication aimed at changing the public behavior about vaccines.

RevDate: 2025-07-07
CmpDate: 2025-07-07

Sada KE, Iwata S, Inoue Y, et al (2025)

Telemedicine as an alternative to in-person care in the field of rheumatic diseases: A systematic scoping review.

Modern rheumatology, 35(4):715-721.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the widespread adoption of telemedicine as an alternative to in-person care. This systematic scoping review evaluated the effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and challenges of telemedicine for patients with rheumatic diseases.

METHODS: A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE database was conducted using specific terms related to rheumatoid or juvenile arthritis, and telemedicine. The literature search included studies published up to March, 2024. In this review, we only considered studies assessing telemedicine as an alternative to in-person care.

RESULTS: The search, conducted on 15 March 2024, generated 258 references. Eight reports from three randomized controlled trials and three observational studies were included. Randomized controlled trials have shown that the outcomes of telemedicine intervention are comparable to those of in-person care in terms of disease activity, functional status, and quality of life, while enabling fewer outpatient visits and cost-effectiveness. However, the high dropout rates highlight the importance of patient preferences and comprehensive education. Observational studies revealed similar findings but were limited by a high confounding bias.

CONCLUSION: Telemedicine offers economic advantages and maintains clinical outcomes comparable to those of in-person care. Its success depends on structured patient education and alignment with patient preferences. Further research is required, particularly in the context of healthcare in Japan.

RevDate: 2025-07-06

Ghosh M, Lahiri M, Dalal A, et al (2025)

Advancements in Tuberculosis Diagnostics: An Update.

Microbial pathogenesis pii:S0882-4010(25)00568-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major life-threatening diseases caused by a single pathogen which has become a social menace owing to its high resistance. TB has even surpassed AIDS prior the COVID 19 pandemic. Every year the number of affected persons is increasing exponentially. In 2023 8.2 million new cases of TB were reported. There are various factors responsible for such infectivity rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) including emergence of rapid resistant strains, treatment failure and lack of proper diagnosis. In order to combat the infection, early and effective treatment of the infection is very crucial. This calls for the existence of effective and point of care (POC) diagnostic tool for successful management of the disease. The conventional diagnostics includes staining, microscopy, tuberculin skin test and chest X ray. However, they have various limitations which increases the public threat. These tools lack the ease of transportation, less sensitive, time consuming and lack accuracy. To eliminate such limitations and bridge the gap associated with the proper diagnosis of disease, various biochemical, molecular, immunological diagnostic tools have come up in rescue of the infection. These modern tools are potent enough in characterizing Mtb, detect mutations correlated with the existing medications and ensure effective management. In this article we are focusing on modern diagnostic tools such as T-SPOT, artificial intelligence, electronic nose, RT PCR, TB LAM, CRISPR, biosensor-based detection techniques including the conventional techniques for detection of Mtb in clinical setup in resource limited healthcare facilities for comprehensive diagnosis of tuberculosis.

RevDate: 2025-07-06

Hazra S, Bisht KS, Makkar S, et al (2025)

Knowledge, attitude, perception and satisfaction level of Ayurveda and allopathy in India: A systematic literature review.

Explore (New York, N.Y.), 21(5):103208 pii:S1550-8307(25)00099-0 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system, remains integral to India's healthcare despite the dominance of allopathy. The lack of scientific validation, standardized regulations, and clinical trials has hindered its integration into modern healthcare. The Ministry of AYUSH has played a key role in promoting Ayurveda, though regional disparities persist in its implementation. The COVID-19 pandemic revived interest in Ayurveda, highlighting its preventive aspects but also raising concerns about misinformation. A balanced, integrative approach combining Ayurveda and allopathy can enhance healthcare by leveraging the strengths of both systems. This study aimed to decipher the knowledge, attitude, perception, and satisfaction levels of Ayurveda and Allopathic, and/or integrative system of medicine, among the Indian Population.

METHODS: The search for eligible studies for inclusion was conducted via the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Original research, review, early access, open/early access articles, and meeting abstracts were eligible for inclusion.

RESULTS: This search generated 10,690 articles published between 2004 and 2024, and of these, 24 were assessed for eligibility. This included 20 original research and 4 review article. Only the research articcles were considered for the present review, with a collective total of 7952 participants. The manuscript revealed that the preference for Ayurveda was driven by perceptions of naturalness, safety, cultural familiarity, and affordability, rather than scientific validation. Additionally, while patients viewed it as a low-risk alternative, it was revealed through the included studies that there is limited awareness of proper dosage, risks, and potential interactions with Allopathy, leading to unsafe practices. Moreover, the gap between public interest in Ayurveda and the healthcare system's ability to provide regulated, evidence-based services was highlighted as one of the key issues in the adoption of Ayurvedic system of medicine. Thus, despite increased government support, integration remains weak due to operational barriers, professional hesitancy, and regional disparities in AYUSH services. Additionally, the private sector has not significantly incorporated Ayurveda, limiting urban access to integrative care.

CONCLUSIONS: The review highlights the preference for Ayurveda in chronic disease management and Allopathy for acute care, driven more by perceptions of safety and affordability than scientific validation. However, a lack of awareness about proper usage and herb-drug interactions leads to unsafe practices like unsupervised dual-use. Despite government efforts, integration remains limited due to operational barriers, professional hesitancy, and uneven AYUSH service distribution. The private sector has not meaningfully adopted Ayurveda, restricting urban access to integrative care. Advancing integrative medicine requires rigorous research, regulatory frameworks, and institutional reforms to ensure the safe, evidence-based coexistence of both systems.

RevDate: 2025-07-05

Rostami M, Parsa-Kondelaji M, Bos MHA, et al (2025)

Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis [Epub ahead of print].

COVID-19 patients are at an increased risk of developing thrombotic events, with venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurring in 16% and arterial thrombosis in 11.1% of cases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the prevalence of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPLs) in COVID-19 patients and their potential role in thrombotic complications. A comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science identified 48 studies from an initial pool of 1,819 articles, which met the inclusion criteria and were rigorously evaluated for methodological quality. The analysis of studies revealed varying prevalence rates of aPLs among COVID-19 patients. Anti-β2 glycoprotein I IgM (aβ2GPI-IgM) was found in 5.3% of 5,176 patients, while aβ2GPI-IgG was observed in 3.6% of 5,348 patients. In contrast, aβ2GPI-IgA showed a higher prevalence of 10.8% across 18 studies involving 1,930 patients. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies also demonstrated distinct prevalence rates: aCL-IgG was present in 7.2% of 5,478 patients, aCL-IgM in 6.7% of 5,485 patients, and aCL-IgA in 4.7% of 1,626 patients. Notably, lupus anticoagulant (LA) had the highest pooled prevalence rate of 27.2% across 16 studies involving 1,731 patients. Among the aPL subgroups, LA were the most frequently detected, which may be due to interference of C-reactive protein (CRP). The findings underscore the heterogeneity in aPL distribution and emphasize the need for further research to clarify their role in the thrombotic manifestations of COVID-19. These insights may aid in prevention of thrombotic events by administration of anticoagulants in affected patients. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024529786.

RevDate: 2025-07-05

Bauernschmidt D, Dichter MN, Horbach A, et al (2025)

[Nursing research in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany: A scoping review].

Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitat im Gesundheitswesen pii:S1865-9217(25)00151-5 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a major impact on nursing and healthcare as well as on research. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of nursing- and SARS-CoV-2-related research in Germany.

METHODS: A scoping review was conducted. We systematically searched (06/2023) Medline, CINAHL, the German Register of Clinical Trials, abstract books of conferences and conducted a manual literature search. We included empirical studies addressing aspects of nursing and the pandemic and involving German researchers. Study selection and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. Results were analysed descriptively.

RESULTS: We included 131 publications (85 quantitative, 27 qualitative, 6 mixed-/multi-methods studies, 12 systematic reviews, 1 discussion paper); 49 % of the studies were published in 2021. First authors were mostly from medicine, psychology and nursing science, last authors from medicine. Most studies were explorative. Most of the quantitative studies used observational designs, only four were experimental. Nurses and other healthcare professionals were the most common target group; people with care needs or relatives were rarely addressed. The most common topics included health, perceived burden, working conditions, and characteristics of care during the pandemic. A quarter of the studies were not externally funded, 32 % did not provide information on funding. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (21 %) was the most common funding body.

CONCLUSION: Pandemic-related nursing research was published to a limited extent by nursing scientists; clinical nursing research was particularly underrepresented. Dependable funding and the development of a research infrastructure for nursing research are necessary to ensure evidence-based nursing in times of crisis and to generate findings that are relevant to clinical practice and health policy decision-makers.

RevDate: 2025-07-05

Milne BM, Mallett EM, DSB Brogly (2025)

The effect of COVID-19 vaccination on menstrual cycles of adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology pii:S1083-3188(25)00299-2 [Epub ahead of print].

The binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from vaccination can affect the menstrual cycle. Most studies have focused on women of reproductive age, with less attention given to adolescent and young women, despite their increased risk of heightened responses to vaccines. Thus, we consolidated evidence on menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination for adolescent and young women.

METHODS: OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched (January 2020-December 2024) for peer-reviewed studies on COVID-19 vaccination on menstruating people <25. Of 80 articles identified, 15 met the inclusion criteria after review by two independent reviewers. We estimated risk ratios (RR) and mean differences (MD) when data permitted. We assessed publication bias with funnel plots and evaluated heterogeneity using Cochran's Q, Galbraith plots, and I² statistic. Outcomes included any measured or perceived changes in menstrual cycles, in bleeding length, and in cycle length (i.e. length between the first day of bleeding of two periods).

RESULTS: Among the 15 studies, 24,647 adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 were included. The summary effect measure showed no effect of vaccination on any menstrual change (RR:1.09; 95% CI: 0.84-1.42) and significant heterogeneity across studies (I[2] = 69%). There was, however, a greater risk of longer cycle length after vaccination (RR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.27) and no heterogeneity between these two studies (I[2]=0%); however, when assessed continuously there was a non-significant increase in cycle length (MD=0.24 days, 95% CI: -0.34, 0.82). No studies assessed menses bleeding length in adolescent and young women. Funnel plots suggested no publication bias.

CONCLUSION: Although few studies were included, available data suggest that there may be increased risk of a longer menstrual cycle length in adolescents and young women, but no other changes were identified. Further data are needed.

RevDate: 2025-07-05

Wier J, Price N, Brisley H, et al (2025)

Underserved groups access to reproductive services: A literature review of women aged 18-25 years.

Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives, 45:101126 pii:S1877-5756(25)00064-3 [Epub ahead of print].

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for several improvements for young women, in terms of accessing, funding, and strategies for the development of sexual and reproductive health care (SRH). Core recommendations were highlighted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Report (Johnson,2020) on sexual and reproductive Health in the UK. Key recommendations included that the choice of method and delivery of reproductive services for women is reducing. This was furthered globally by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) who note a need for equity in access, supportive health monitoring and a focus on underserved groups. This literature review was conducted using the established method of thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke,2006), and in parallel with the APPG report and WHO recommendations, consolidates the findings into three key themed areas: underserved women's reproductive healthcare, cost effective contraception, young people's access to and understanding of fertility and contraception services. Underserved communities such as young women from marginalised groups, people of colour (Messinis et al,2021), women who have sex with women (Burkill & Waterhouse2019) and women with disabilities (McCarthy,2011), experience inadequate and disparity of provision when accessing reproductive services. The review highlights limited high quality, recent, UK-based studies to further inform local governments, that considers the views and needs of young women 18-25 years when accessing reproductive services to implement change.

RevDate: 2025-07-06
CmpDate: 2025-07-06

Sato K, Ishii K, Nagai S, et al (2025)

Factors related to nurses' posttraumatic growth during the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a scoping review.

Journal of occupational health, 67(1):.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing nurses' posttraumatic growth (PTG) during the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

METHODS: A literature search was conducted in February 2023 across databases, including Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, for articles published between January 2020 and February 2023 related to PTG in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inclusion criteria were English-language articles, original research on nurses' PTG, and studies conducted after January 2020. Of 1089 identified articles, 142 were screened, and 27 were selected for final analysis. Data extracted from the articles included the author(s) name(s), the study's geographic location, publication year, study purpose, study design, participants, methods, measurement scales, results, and notes. PTG factors were extracted and grouped into 4 broad categories: COVID-related factors, nursing-related factors, factors in Tedeschi's PTG conceptual model, and other factors. Smaller categories were then created by inductively categorizing the factors based on similarities and differences.

RESULTS: As factors of nurses' PTG during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 subcategories were organized under 4 categories. In addition to all factors from Tedeschi's PTG model, some COVID-related factors (eg, care context, organizational training), and some nursing-related factors (eg, work environment) were shown to be related to PTG. No significant relationships were found between almost all of the other factors, including sociodemographic attributes, and PTG.

CONCLUSIONS: Factors found in this study can help identify nurses' PTG facilitators and guide the development of interventions for future crises.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Atnafu A, Teshale G, Dellie E, et al (2025)

Exploring health system challenges and gaps for crisis response in Ethiopia: a scoping review of publications and reports from 2020-2024.

BMC health services research, 25(1):928.

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia's health system has faced significant challenges due to COVID-19, natural disasters, and conflicts, disrupting healthcare delivery. This scoping review examined health system gaps and responses during crises, aiming to recommend strategies for resilience.

METHOD: We followed a systematic scoping review approach using the five-step methodology: defining the research question, identifying relevant literature, selecting studies, charting the data, and summarizing/analyzing results. The review was guided by PRISMA-ScR and used the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. We included all English-language studies published between January 2000 and December 2024 addressing challenges or responses of the Ethiopian health system during crises, regardless of study design. PubMed, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Google were searched using MeSH terms/keywords. After title, abstract, and full-text screening, 44 articles were included for final analysis. Data were synthesized using descriptive analytical methods and narrative synthesis to summarize and interpret findings.

RESULTS: Findings revealed crises severely impacted health services due to shortages of medical supplies, workforce, and infrastructure. Demand surges, transport restrictions, border closures, and financial constraints exacerbated these gaps. Additional challenges included poor data availability, high staff turnover, lack of emergency communication plans, and insufficient funding.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the northern Ethiopian conflict notably disrupted routine services, infrastructure, and health information systems. To build resilience, the study recommends: (1) developing scalable emergency plans for essential services, (2) strengthening primary healthcare and community-based systems, (3) maintaining medical stockpiles, and (4) providing crisis-specific training for health workers. These measures aim to enhance preparedness and sustainability in Ethiopia's health system amid future shocks.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Shahid S, Hasan A, Iqbal M, et al (2025)

Discontinuation of disease-modifying therapy in stable multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 101:106599 pii:S2211-0348(25)00341-4 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are used to manage multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly in individuals with relapse-onset MS, to slow disease progression, reduce inflammation and demyelination and improve quality of life. Discontinuing treatment may pose a greater relapse risk for younger individuals with active disease, whereas the safety of treatment cessation in older, stable patients remains uncertain.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing discontinuation of disease-modifying therapy in stable multiple sclerosis patients. Data were collected from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager v5.4. A random-effects model was applied to pool risk ratios (RRs) and 95 % confidence intervals, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: A total of eight studies, including 4517 patients (3355 in the continuation group and 1162 in the discontinuation group), were analyzed. The mean age of participants was 53 years, with 72.7 % being female. Discontinuation of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in patients with stable multiple sclerosis (MS) was associated with a significantly higher risk of mild adverse events (RR 1.29; 95 % CI 1.15-1.46; p < 0.0001). However, the risk of relapse (RR 0.31; 95 % CI 0.03-3.21; p = 0.33), as well as moderate (RR 1.11; 95 % CI 0.97-1.28; p = 0.14) and severe adverse events (RR 0.90; 95 % CI 0.45-1.78; p = 0.75), was comparable between the two groups. Similarly, the risk of common or treatment-related adverse events, including COVID-19 (RR 0.65; 95 % CI 0.28-1.52; p = 0.32), influenza (RR 0.39; 95 % CI 0.14-1.08; p = 0.07), and abnormal white blood cell count (RR 1.03; 95 % CI 0.11-3.21; p = 9.77), did not differ significantly between the continuation and discontinuation groups.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis found no significant increase in relapse risk after DMT discontinuation in stable MS patients. However, outcomes varied based on patient age, prior DMT, and duration of disease stability. Agents like S1P inhibitors and natalizumab may carry higher relapse risk after cessation. Additionally, new MRI lesions were noted in some studies, highlighting the need for continued monitoring. Treatment decisions should be individualized until further long-term data become available.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Matula Z, Bacskai M, Andrikovics H, et al (2025)

[Genetic factors underlying the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19].

Orvosi hetilap, 166(18):679-696.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Grewal T, C Buechler (2025)

Physiological Activities of Adiponectin Provide Therapeutic Opportunities in Sepsis.

Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition), 30(6):26129.

Sepsis represents a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a compromised host response caused by bacterial and viral infections. Although progress has been made to unravel the underlying pathophysiology, sepsis remains a very serious condition. Adiponectin is an adipokine with multiple beneficial activities relevant to glucose and lipid metabolism whose serum levels are low in obesity and metabolic diseases. In addition, several immunoregulatory activities of adiponectin have been described and circulating adiponectin levels have been positively associated with inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Although an understanding of physiological consequences is still limited, blood adiponectin levels are also elevated in chronic kidney disease and liver cirrhosis, possibly due to impaired biliary and renal excretion. Natriuretic peptides, which increase adiponectin synthesis in adipocytes and are induced in autoimmune diseases and cirrhosis and decreased in obesity, appear to contribute to altered systemic adiponectin levels. In patients with sepsis, data on circulating adiponectin levels are not concordant, probably due to the large diversity in cohorts analyzed, often including patients with a higher risk for severe sepsis due to chronic metabolic disease or other comorbidities. This review article summarizes the main physiological activities of adiponectin and describes its role in inflammation and experimental sepsis. Adiponectin levels obtained in observational studies from serum or plasma of patients with critical illness are discussed. From this analysis, we conclude that circulating adiponectin levels are reduced in sepsis and septic shock, suggesting the potential of adiponectin receptor agonists as an option for sepsis therapy.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Wang ZH, Zhao JY, XF Shi (2025)

[Interaction between COVID-19 Infection and Hematological Malignancies --Review].

Zhongguo shi yan xue ye xue za zhi, 33(3):922-926.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted our lifestyles. On the one hand, the patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Once infected with COVID-19, these patients tend to develop into severe type with a higher mortality rate. Although patients with HM demonstrated a reduced response to COVID-19 vaccines, they still can benefit from vaccine injection with reduced rates of viral infection and incidence of severe cases. The combination of monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs is helpful to the COVID-19 treatment of patients with HM. On the other hand, COVID-19 infection can lead to a delay of hematopoietic recovery and low immunity in patients with HM. For HM patients with COVID-19 infection, to reduce the intensity and shorten the course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is needed. This article will review the interaction between COVID-19 infection and HM.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Almskog LM, A Ågren (2025)

Thromboinflammation vs. immunothrombosis: strategies for overcoming anticoagulant resistance in COVID-19 and other hyperinflammatory diseases. Is ROTEM helpful or not?.

Frontiers in immunology, 16:1599639.

Thrombosis and inflammation are closely interconnected. Systemic inflammation activates the coagulation system, while components of the coagulation system can, in turn, significantly influence the inflammatory response. This process, where the immune system contributes to thrombus formation, is known as immunothrombosis. Conversely, thromboinflammation describes the effect of thrombus formation on the immune system. Various immune cells, including neutrophils and monocytes, play key roles in these processes, as well as endothelial cells, strategically positioned to rapidly detect and respond to invading pathogens. Platelets are also actively recruited, promoting coagulation and releasing procoagulant factors. When the endothelium becomes dysfunctional and acquires proinflammatory and procoagulant properties, it fosters the formation of microvascular thrombosis. The excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines further intensifies this cycle, contributing to cytokine storms, as observed in severe COVID-19 cases. This phenomenon exemplifies immunothrombosis and thromboinflammation. Anticoagulant therapy is standard care for venous thromboembolism prevention in Intensive Care Unit patients, with critically ill COVID-19 patients often receiving higher doses. However, variations in individual responses to heparin were observed in COVID-19 patients, suggesting a degree of resistance to anticoagulant therapy. This resistance may be linked to thromboinflammation, where the intense inflammatory response diminishes the effectiveness of anticoagulation. In this context, combining anticoagulants with immunomodulatory drugs has shown promising potential. This review aims to delve into the concepts of immunothrombosis and thromboinflammation, with a particular focus on the complex interplay between the coagulation and inflammation systems and their mutual reinforcement in the context of COVID-19. We examine why standard anticoagulant therapies often proved insufficient in managing hyperinflammatory diseases and discuss potential alternative treatment strategies. Furthermore, we evaluate the potential role of rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM) in managing immunothrombotic states.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Chittiprol N, Kandi V, Pinnelli VBK, et al (2025)

The Re-emergence of Human Metapneumovirus: Virus Classification, Characteristics, Mechanisms of Infection, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment.

Cureus, 17(6):e85259.

The respiratory virus known as the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was discovered for the first time in 2001 in the Netherlands. It is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus that belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family. It causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs), especially in young children and the elderly. Although the majority of HMPV infections are resolved on their own, some infected infants, children, and elderly patients need to be hospitalized. Patients with underlying immunodeficiency diseases, transplant recipients, and those with other co-morbidities, such as chronic diseases, are more likely to develop complications from HMPV infections, such as pneumonia. The symptoms of HMPV infections are similar to those of other viral RTIs caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza viruses, and coronaviruses. Differential diagnosis and identification of the etiological agents responsible for RTIs are crucial for improved patient care. Concerns of the next pandemic have been fueled by the discovery of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) that caused the pandemic, and the recent advent of other viral diseases like mpox. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of public health readiness, as many pandemics are expected to occur. In light of this and a recent increase in HMPV cases signifying its potential re-emergence, we tried to thoroughly examine and update information on origin, transmission, pathogenicity, clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of HMPV.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Thompson M, Buttery AK, Oh SX, et al (2025)

Risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region: a literature review.

Frontiers in public health, 13:1562179.

This comprehensive synthesis of severe COVID-19 risk factors specific to the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region addresses gaps in previous global studies, which often overlook regional demographic, epidemiological, and healthcare system variations. Three databases (PubMed, Ovid MedLine, Scopus) and two preprint platforms (BioRxiv, MedRxiv) were searched between December 1, 2019, and March 31, 2023. English-language publications from 11 APAC countries/regions (Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam) reporting conditions associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes in adults (aged ≥16 years) were included. Of 295 publications screened, 123 met inclusion criteria, mostly from South Korea (n = 68) and Japan (n = 23). Common risk factors included older age, male sex, obesity, diabetes, heart failure, renal disease, and dementia. Less commonly hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardio-and cerebrovascular disease, immunocompromise, autoimmune disorders, and mental illness were reported. To date, no prior region-specific synthesis of risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes across the APAC region has been identified. The findings support the development of tailored vaccination strategies and public health interventions at both national and regional levels, helping ensure high-risk populations are prioritized in ongoing COVID-19 prevention and management efforts.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Abourjeili J, Lattouf C, Abou Mrad A, et al (2025)

Myocarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccine: What Did We Learn?.

Sage open pediatrics.., 12:30502225251336877.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, with vaccination emerging as a key strategy for controlling the virus. However, concerns have arisen regarding potential cardiovascular side effects, particularly myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. This review examines the risk of post-vaccination myocarditis by analyzing over 40 studies. Findings indicate that myocarditis occurs most commonly within 2 to 4 days after the second dose, particularly in males aged 12 to 39 years. Proposed mechanisms include molecular mimicry and hypersensitivity reactions. Despite these concerns, most cases present with mild symptoms such as chest pain and dyspnea, resolving with supportive care. Importantly, the overall safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines remains high, with benefits significantly outweighing risks. Further multi-center studies are needed to fully understand the pathophysiology and mitigate potential adverse effects. No clinical trials were conducted for this review.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Panzuti G, Giancotti G, Nava S, et al (2025)

A clinicians' guide to non-invasive ventilation for exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Expert review of respiratory medicine [Epub ahead of print].

INTRODUCTION: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a debilitating condition marked by persistent airflow limitation, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) can cause rapid deterioration, resulting in hypercapnic respiratory failure and respiratory acidosis. Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a key treatment for AECOPD, improving gas exchange, oxygenation, and reducing work of breathing while avoiding the risks of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

AREAS COVERED: This review highlights NIV role as a first-line therapy in AECOPD management, discussing its mechanisms, indications, and clinical benefits. Proper patient selection, tailored settings, and careful monitoring are crucial for optimizing outcomes and minimizing complications.

EXPERT OPINION: The widespread use of NIV in AECOPD management raises concerns about staff expertise, as success depends on patient selection, ventilator settings, and monitoring. Identifying failure predictors is crucial to prevent delayed intubation and poor outcomes. Research should focus on training, reducing errors, and advancing technology, including Artificial Intelligence-driven automation to improve synchrony. Despite its increased use, especially during COVID-19, progress in staff education and technology remains limited. Enhancing clinician confidence and developing intelligent ventilator algorithms are key, but human expertise remains essential in ensuring effective and life-saving NIV application.

RevDate: 2025-07-03

Cahuapaza-Gutierrez NL, Calderon-Hernandez CC, TV Villavicencio-Escudero (2025)

Kikuchi-Fujimoto in the light of the COVID-19: infection and vaccination. A systematic review.

Clinical rheumatology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: The association between SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination, and the development of autoimmune diseases such as the Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is currently unknown.

AIMS: This study aims to review, synthesize, and analyze the current available evidence on the occurrence of KFD associated with both SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination.

METHODS: Case report, case series, and observational studies were included. Narrative review studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, etc., were excluded. A selective bibliographic search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science until January 26, 2025. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool was used to assess the risk of bias and quality of the studies. The SPSS Statistics tool (version 25.0; IBM Corp., Armonk, N. Y., USA) was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were reported in the included studies. Of these, 16 developed new-onset KFD as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while 36 presented with the disease as an adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccination. Cases associated with infection had a mean age of 27.25 ± 16.87 years, and the most frequent clinical manifestations were fever, fatigue, cough, and weight loss. On the other hand, cases related to vaccination had a mean age of 30.8 ± 12.63 years, with a greater association to mRNA technology vaccines, particularly Pfizer-BioNTech (75%) and Moderna (11.1%). Most cases were related to the administration of the first dose (75%). There was a predominance of female sex and the presence of cervical lymphadenopathy in both groups. There were no cases of mortality or unfavorable evolution; on the contrary, almost all patients evolved favorably after timely diagnosis and adequate treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection could represent a new causative agent of KF disease. However, its occurrence as an adverse effect of COVID-19 vaccination is rare and infrequent, which may be attributed to limited case reporting and the relative novelty of the disease.

PROSPERO CRD42024522470.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Cooper N, Agius S, Freeman K, et al (2025)

Impact of physician assistants on quality of care: rapid review.

BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 390:e086358.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of physician assistants, compared with physicians, on quality of care in the context of an ongoing UK policy review.

DESIGN: Rapid systematic review.

SEARCH STRATEGY: Keyword search of three databases; search and citation tracking of previous systematic reviews.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Empirical studies that quantitatively compared care delivered by physician assistants with care delivered by physicians, including residents, in economically developed countries, published between January 2005 and January 2025.

MAIN OUTCOMES OF INTEREST: Measures of outcomes of care, as defined by the Institute of Medicine's definition of quality: safety, effectiveness, patient centredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.

METHODS: Eligible studies were categorised as primary care, secondary care, physician assistants versus residents in hospitals, diagnosis/performance, and cost effectiveness. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study design, samples, methods, and findings. Each study was assessed using a risk of bias tool. Owing to the heterogeneity of included studies, a narrative synthesis of the main findings was conducted. An assessment of confidence in the body of evidence for each outcome was based on the number and quality of relevant studies and the consistency of results between similar studies.

RESULTS: Of 3636 studies screened, 167 studies were eligible and 40 met the inclusion criteria. These consisted mainly of retrospective observational studies of weak quality. Most (31/40) were from the US, and no data from a post-covid-19 context were found. The greatest number of studies with the most consistent results were those that found that physician assistants practised safely and effectively when working under direct supervision and in post-diagnostic care. No difference was found in patient satisfaction between physician assistants and physicians. Although adding physician assistants to medical teams increases access to care, this may reflect the benefits of increased staffing rather than the unique contribution of the physician assistant role. Evidence on cost effectiveness is limited. Patients in the UK are more likely to see a physician assistant if they live in a socioeconomically deprived area.

CONCLUSION: The evidence found in this review is limited and does not support the safety or effectiveness of indirect supervision of physician assistants in undifferentiated (pre-diagnosis) settings. National guidance on the supervision and scope of practice for physician assistants can ensure that physician assistants practise safely and effectively.

STUDY REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024614992.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Kazakova AA, Leonova EI, Sopova JV, et al (2025)

Progress in CRISPR/CAS13-Mediated Suppression of Influenza A and SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection in in vitro and in vivo Models.

Biochemistry. Biokhimiia, 90(6):786-803.

The worldwide number of deaths from complications caused by severe influenza and COVID-19 is about 1 million cases annually. Development of the effective antiviral therapy strategies for the disease treatment is one of the most important tasks. Use of the CRISPR/Cas13 system, which specifically degrades viral RNA and significantly reduces titer of the virus, could be a solution of this problem. Despite the fact that Cas13 nucleases have been discovered only recently, they already have shown high efficiency in suppressing viral transcripts in cell cultures. The recent advances in mRNA technology and improvements in non-viral delivery systems have made it possible to effectively use CRISPR/Cas13 in animal models as well. In this review, we analyzed experimental in vitro and in vivo studies on the use of CRISPR/Cas13 systems as an antiviral agent in cell cultures and animal models and discussed main directions for improving the CRISPR/Cas13 system. These data allow us to understand prospects and limitations of the further use of CRISPR/Cas13 in the treatment of viral diseases.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar M, Kesharwani P, A Sahebkar (2025)

Impact of resveratrol on neutrophil extracellular traps.

Mutation research. Reviews in mutation research, 796:108550 pii:S1383-5742(25)00021-3 [Epub ahead of print].

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and the process of NETosis have emerged as critical participants in various pathological conditions. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol found in several plants, has received significant attention due to its potential therapeutic properties. The purpose of this review is to investigate how resveratrol affects NETs and NETosis. The molecular mechanisms underlying NET formation and its role in disease pathogenesis are discussed, highlighting the involvement of various cellular and molecular factors. Moreover, the effects of resveratrol on NET formation, release, and stability are reported, focusing on its potential as a modulator of NET-associated diseases. Studies investigating the effect of resveratrol on NETosis in different disease models, including lung injury, COVID-19, cancer, and hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, are also summarized. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms through which resveratrol exerts its effects on NETosis, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, are elucidated. The review also addresses the challenges and future perspectives in the field, emphasizing the need for further research to fully understand the therapeutic potential of resveratrol in targeting NET-associated disorders. Generally, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of resveratrol on NETs and NETosis, shedding light on its potential as a therapeutic intervention in various pathological conditions characterized by excessive NET formation. However, further research is essential to clarify the detailed mechanisms through which resveratrol exerts its effects on NETosis and to determine optimal dosages and treatment procedures.

RevDate: 2025-07-03

Drzymała J (2025)

Environmental risk assessment of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) after COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

Chemosphere, 385:144545 pii:S0045-6535(25)00489-8 [Epub ahead of print].

Nearly 4 % of people worldwide struggle with depression. This mental illness significantly affects daily functioning, and its treatment typically involves long-term pharmacotherapy combined with psychotherapy. Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, the number of individuals suffering from depression increased substantially. One of the most commonly prescribed classes of antidepressants is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline. These compounds are detected in the environment, sometimes in considerable concentrations. For instance, fluvoxamine was found in surface waters at levels up to 1.92 μg L[-1], while fluoxetine was detected in drinking water at 0.0592 μg L[-1]. Their environmental presence is largely attributed to the limited efficiency of wastewater treatment plants, which allows these pharmaceuticals to enter aquatic ecosystems. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of recent data (2019-2025) concerning the environmental occurrence and ecological risks of SSRIs. Environmental risk assessments based on Risk Quotient (RQ) calculations, derived from measured environmental concentrations (MEC) and predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC), using acute and chronic aquatic toxicity data, reveal a concerning picture. Citalopram was the only SSRI assessed to pose a moderate risk to algae (RQ = 0.50). All other SSRIs showed high environmental risks, particularly to algae (RQ range: 1.65-83.00). Fluoxetine was the only substance that exhibited a high risk to algae, crustaceans, and fish. Given the elevated risks, it is crucial to implement preventive measures to limit the environmental concentrations of SSRIs. These should include upgrades to wastewater treatment technologies and the introduction of systematic micropollutant monitoring programs.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Bricklin L, Snooks KS, Mack EH, et al (2025)

Firearm Injury Prevention From a Pediatric Critical Care Perspective.

Pediatric annals, 54(7):e238-e243.

Firearm injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and young adults in the United States. Inequities in this mechanism of injury related to race, gender, location, and economic status have increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Firearm injury is a public health crisis and requires a public health approach. By utilizing the Haddon matrix and injury equity framework, pediatric providers can systematically apply evidence-based medicine and strategies to combat this epidemic. It is imperative that acute care providers, including pediatric intensivists, pediatric hospitalists, and emergency medicine providers, unite with other subspecialists and primary care providers to reduce the burden of this preventable epidemic. [Pediatr Ann. 2025;54(7):e238-e243.].

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Freire MP, Chioro A, Tureck F, et al (2025)

Regulatory technology arrangements for hospital bed access during the COVID-19 pandemic: scope review.

Cadernos de saude publica, 41(5):e00044824 pii:S0102-311X2025000501100.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous challenges to health care systems, including hospital bed access. Analyzing the response provided and identifying regulatory technology arrangements that contributed to provide improved health care access can support the preparation of systems for future emergencies and also provide alternatives to current difficulties. The aim of this study is to mapping, summarize and categorize the regulatory technology arrangements used in hospital bed access during the COVID-19 pandemic using the scoping review method. The review used the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and the PRISMA-ScR report, and the PCC acronym (population [P]: of COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 patients; the concept [C]: of bed access regulation; and the context [C]: of the COVID-19 pandemic). The search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and LILACS databases between July and September 2022 and 45 articles were selected for review. We established three categories of analysis: Reorganization of services; Use of virtual tools and artificial intelligence; and Creation of alternative spaces, that assisted in the identification and analysis of the regulatory technology arrangements used. We note arrangements such as telehealth and telemedicine, the reconfiguration of existing spaces for expansion of health care capacity and modifications in the work process, including the adoption of specific protocols and the establishment of differentiated flows. The review showed the importance of regulatory technology arrangements in bed access and challenges such as regulation and financing, factors that may be essential for the use of regulatory technology arrangements.

RevDate: 2025-07-03

Bifarin OO, Yelluru VS, Simhadri A, et al (2025)

A Large Language Model-Powered Map of Metabolomics Research.

Analytical chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

We present a comprehensive map of the metabolomics research landscape, synthesizing insights from over 80,000 publications. Using PubMedBERT, we transformed abstracts into 768-dimensional embeddings that capture the nuanced thematic structure of the field. Dimensionality reduction with t-SNE revealed distinct clusters corresponding to key domains, such as analytical chemistry, plant biology, pharmacology, and clinical diagnostics. In addition, a neural topic modeling pipeline refined with GPT-4o mini reclassified the corpus into 20 distinct topics─ranging from "Plant Stress Response Mechanisms" and "NMR Spectroscopy Innovations" to "COVID-19 Metabolomic and Immune Responses." Temporal analyses further highlight trends including the rise of deep learning methods post-2015 and a continued focus on biomarker discovery. Integration of metadata such as publication statistics and sample sizes provides additional context to these evolving research dynamics. An interactive web application (https://metascape.streamlit.app/) enables the dynamic exploration of these insights. Overall, this study offers a robust framework for literature synthesis that empowers researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to identify emerging research trajectories and address critical challenges in metabolomics while also sharing our perspectives on key trends shaping the field.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Ruzi Z, Zha W, Yuan HY, et al (2025)

RNA G-quadruplexes: emerging regulators of gene expression and therapeutic targets.

Functional & integrative genomics, 25(1):143.

RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) are non-canonical, four-stranded secondary structures formed by guanine-rich RNA sequences. These dynamic elements have garnered significant attention for their critical roles in regulating gene expression, including translation, alternative splicing, mRNA localization, and stability. This review synthesizes recent progress in understanding the structural determinants and formation dynamics of rG4s, highlighting the contributions of sequence motifs, ionic conditions, and RNA-binding proteins to their stability and function. Functional studies reveal that rG4s modulate key oncogenic transcripts (e.g., MYC, BCL2), contribute to splicing regulation, and influence intracellular RNA trafficking. In pathological contexts, rG4s have been implicated in the molecular etiology of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Fragile X syndrome, and viral replication mechanisms in pathogens including HIV and SARS-CoV-2. Advances in high-throughput techniques, such as G4-seq, rG4-seq, and live-cell imaging, have facilitated the global identification and characterization of rG4s in physiological and disease settings. Moreover, the therapeutic targeting of rG4s using small molecules holds promise for selective gene regulation and biomarker development. Comparative analyses across in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies underscore the cell-type-specific and context-dependent roles of rG4s, especially in mediating stress responses and apoptosis. Despite methodological limitations and challenges in achieving targeted delivery, rG4s represent a compelling frontier for precision medicine. This review outlines current insights and future directions toward harnessing rG4 biology for therapeutic innovation.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Panagiotidis GD, Vasquez-Pacheco E, Chu X, et al (2025)

Revisiting pulmonary fibrosis: inflammatory dynamics of the lipofibroblast-to-inflammatory lipofibroblast-to-activated myofibroblast reversible switch.

Frontiers in immunology, 16:1609509.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and irreversible lung damage. A key driver of disease progression is the phenotypic shift of lipofibroblasts (LIFs) into activated myofibroblasts (aMYFs), triggered by sustained epithelial injury, caused by inflammation, oxidative stress, viral infections (e.g., influenza, SARS-CoV-2), and metabolic dysfunction. Emerging evidence demonstrates that this transition is reversible, with pharmacological agents that promote aMYF-to-LIF reprogramming contributing to fibrosis resolution. The identification of inflammatory lipofibroblasts (iLIFs) highlights the importance of inflammation in fibrosis progression. Inflammation, mediated by IL-1β, IL-17A, and TGF- β, sustain aMYF activation, while immune cells shape fibrosis formation. This review combines current insights on the cellular and molecular pathways controlling fibroblast differentiation, highlighting key metabolic, immunologic, and oxidative stress-modulating targets for therapeutic intervention. Understanding and manipulating the LIF-iLIF-aMYF axis offers a promising strategy for reversing fibrosis and restoring pulmonary homeostasis in IPF.

RevDate: 2025-07-04

Halldorsdottir T (2025)

Youth mental health crisis: A translational view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neurobiology of stress, 37:100738.

Mental health problems among children and adolescents have increased over the past two decades, a trend that was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To improve prevention and treatment strategies, developmentally informed and data-driven multidisciplinary approaches are urgently needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying youth vulnerability and resilience. Stress and trauma exposure are among the strongest predictors of youth mental health problems; however, most children and adolescents remain resilient despite such exposures. The widespread and heterogeneous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic offer a unique opportunity to examine, at scale, who develops mental health problems under stress and who remains resilient. Integrating emerging findings on pandemic-related risk and protective factors with evidence from animal models can illuminate sensitive developmental periods of heightened susceptibility to environmental influence and biological embedding. This approach can identify when, how, and through what pathways mental health problems emerge, including gene-environment interactions and epigenetic mechanisms. Such knowledge will inform both behavioral and pharmacological interventions, pinpointing not only specific treatment targets but also the optimal timing for intervention to be the most effective.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Yang YL, T Zhang (2025)

[Recurrent COVID-19 in a patient with Good's syndrome: a case report and literature review].

Zhonghua nei ke za zhi, 64(7):680-684.

We herein report a case of recurrent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a 56-year-old female with Good's syndrome (GS) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital in April 2024. The patient was previously treated with thymectomy for thymoma and her immunoglobulin assays and lymphocyte subset analysis confirmed an immunocompromised state characterized predominantly by humoral immunodeficiency, consistent with a diagnosis of GS. Clinical symptoms improved following two courses of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and four courses of molnupiravir, administered alongside adjunctive glucocorticoids and regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) supplementation. By the end of August 2024, a review of the literature identified 40 reported cases of COVID-19 in patients with GS worldwide. Among them, 25 met the diagnostic criteria for severe or critical illness, and 12 experienced persistent or relapsing infections. Antiviral therapy was administered in approximately half of the cases, most commonly for a 5-day course. However, four patients required prolonged or multi-target antiviral regimens due to persistent or relapsing infection, with the longest duration reported at 20 days. Convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies were used in 15 patients, and adjunctive glucocorticoids in 13. The vast majority received regular IVIG supplementation. Ten patients (25%) with GS and COVID-19 died. Patients with GS are susceptible to prolonged or recurrent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and are at increased risk of severe disease and mortality due to impaired antibody production. Upon diagnosis of GS, IVIG therapy should be initiated. In the context of COVID-19, potential treatment strategies include extended multi-agent antiviral therapy guided by viral load, use of convalescent plasma (where available), and glucocorticoids tailored to disease severity. Further research is needed to define the optimal duration and combination of antiviral and immunomodulatory therapies in this population.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Katzmarzyk D, Holle D, M Roes (2025)

Factors influencing the implementation of interventions for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among hospital-based nurses and physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review.

BMC health services research, 25(1):885.

BACKGROUND: In the field of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among nurses and physicians working in an acute hospital setting, various investigations have been conducted on the prevalence of PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than on the implementation of PTSD-related interventions to improve the mental health of health care workers. It is known that implementation faces challenges, such as social restrictions or the dynamic of the pandemic itself. However, for successful implementation under these conditions, identifying barriers and facilitators is inevitable before using tailored implementation strategies. The following research question was addressed: What are the barriers/facilitators in the implementation of PTSD-related interventions for nurses and physicians working in an acute hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic?

METHODS: Using a scoping review approach, we conducted systematic literature searches from February to May 2023 in MEDLINE via PubMed and PsychINFO/CINAHL via EBSCO. We included primary studies (protocols), and concept articles focused on influencing factors in the implementation of PTSD-related interventions for nurses and physicians working in an acute hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed data analysis in MaxQDA via evaluative content analysis using the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR).

RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included. Most of them used an empirical approach to evaluate the intervention during its development or adaptation process. The identified factors were mainly neutral factors that emerged from the inner setting and individuals as the intervention's target group. The management, the nurses, and the physicians as innovation recipients themselves, and the connection between the inner and outer settings could influence the implementation of PTSD-related interventions.

CONCLUSION: With these results, decision-makers in organizations in health care systems can be encouraged to implement interventions to improve PTSD among hospital-based nurses and physicians under pandemic conditions. Future research needs to focus on conducting implementation studies to evaluate influencing factors and investigate whether these factors enable or hinder the implementation of PTSD-related interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Domingos ES (2025)

Rethinking malaria elimination: a perspective on challenges and solutions in Angola.

Malaria journal, 24(1):214.

BACKGROUND: Multiple challenges hinder malaria control in Angola, including climatic variability, ineffective vector control, population displacement, socioeconomic inequalities, and increasing resistance to anti-malarial drugs and insecticides. These barriers have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupting healthcare services and reversing prior gains. Despite a 36% reduction in malaria mortality since 2000, Angola remains off track to meet the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) targets for 2025, with no significant progress recorded in reducing malaria mortality between 2015 and 2023.

PERSPECTIVES: This paper analyses Angola's malaria landscape, emphasizing that persistent healthcare system weaknesses such as financial instability, workforce shortages, poor disease surveillance, and regional disparities in intervention coverage, necessitate urgent, tailored responses. Drawing from lessons learned in successful malaria elimination programmes in Cabo Verde, Algeria, China, and the recent WHO recommendations, the study recommends the implementation of three integrated strategies: (i) mass drug administration, to rapidly reduce transmission and help consolidate malaria control; (ii) intermittent preventive treatment for school-age children, to protect a high-risk yet often overlooked population; and (iii) post-hospitalization malaria prevention to decrease readmissions and mortality linked to severe malaria episodes.

CONCLUSION: Achieving malaria elimination or a substantial reduction in Angola's disease burden demands increased political commitment, sustainable financing, professional capacity building, and rigorous monitoring. A coordinated, evidence-based approach, aligned with WHO recommendations and tailored to Angola's epidemiological context, is essential to overcoming barriers and accelerating progress toward the 2030 malaria elimination goal.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Aon M, Oberconz S, M Brasholt (2025)

The association between health and prison overcrowding, a scoping review.

BMC public health, 25(1):2218.

It is estimated that the majority of prisons globally are overcrowded. There is consensus that overcrowding leads to negative health outcomes, however quantitative research of this association appears limited. This scoping review aimed to identify literature examining the association between prison overcrowding and health outcomes, and to summarize these associations. Two databases and a grey literature site were searched for quantitative studies where overcrowding was an independent variable, and the outcome was any physical or mental health issue. This yielded 34 records from 16 mostly high-income countries in addition to three multi-country studies. Studies applied a range of definitions of overcrowding with the most common being occupancy rates. Studies mostly concluded that overcrowding had a positive association on the outcome under study, i.e., as overcrowding increased so did the prevalence of the disease under study. When methodological limitations were taken into consideration, we found that in eighteen articles prison overcrowding was independently and positively associated with tuberculosis, COVID-19, self-harm, depression, overall prison mortality, and injuries due to violence respectively. Prison overcrowding was not found to be independently associated with suicide in four of the five studies where it featured.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Kim CY, Holroyd KB, KT Thakur (2025)

Emerging neuroinfectious diseases: public health implications.

Current opinion in neurology, 38(4):436-442.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Direct neurological consequences from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as poliomyelitis, West Nile virus and Zika virus, and those with indirect neurological effects such as COVID-19 and Influenza, are major contributors to the profound impact of infectious diseases on global human health. Here, we highlight select infections of the nervous system of public health significance and discuss some of the key factors of emergence. We focus on vector-borne infections including Oropouche virus and West Nile virus, those transmitted by other nonvector animal species including Nipah and Hendra virus, and vaccine preventable infections including neurological effects of Measles virus.

RECENT FINDINGS: Currently, the emergence of Oropouche virus, Avian Influenza, and the re-emergence of Measles outbreaks across Europe and America, are examples of current emerging infectious disease outbreaks. As pathogens spread to new areas, we will continue to see a rise in populations at risk of severe neurological effects. The recent resurgence of measles virus cases exemplifies the importance of strong vaccination programs and preventive public health measures to mitigate the impact of preventable re-emerging infections in vulnerable populations.

SUMMARY: Neuroinfectious diseases will continue to drive significant morbidity and mortality on global populations as risk factors remain high, and global public health initiatives are hampered by inadequate governmental support.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Karp-Tatham E, Knight JC, A Bolze (2025)

Human genetics of responses to vaccines.

Clinical and experimental immunology, 219(1):.

The human response to vaccination exhibits considerable variability due to a complex interplay of heritable and environmental factors. This review examines the current understanding of the role of human genetics in vaccine responses, encompassing both rare adverse events following immunization as well as immunogenicity and efficacy. We highlight recent studies including from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which provided a unique opportunity to study vaccine genetics at scale for a newly emerging infection and revealed significant associations between HLA alleles and responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Understanding genetic contributions to vaccine responses holds promise for enhancing vaccine safety and efficacy, and the development of personalized vaccination strategies.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Facio F, Colonnello E, Alzweri L, et al (2025)

Infection, inflammation, and sexual function in male and female patients-recommendations from the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM 2024).

Sexual medicine reviews, 13(3):301-317.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual dysfunction in men and women is an important clinical issue; infection and inflammation can cause social, medical, and psychological problems that have a profound impact on sexual and reproductive health worldwide.

OBJECTIVES: We set out to identify sexual dysfunctions in men and women that arise from infection and inflammation and propose meaningful interventions, as evaluated by the Fifth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine (ICSM) held in June 2024 in Madrid (Spain).

METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for published peer-reviewed journal articles and ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization's (WHO's) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for prospective trials. This manuscript represents the opinions of 10 experts from 6 countries developed in a consensus process after completing the literature review, which produced a list of recommendations graded as weak or strong. This document was presented for peer review and debate in a public forum, and revisions were made based on the recommendations of chairpersons of the 5th ICSM.

RESULTS: Infections, and in particular sexually transmitted infections (STIs), dramatically affect the sexual and reproductive health of individuals and couples, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender. Similarly, non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), through the common pathogenetic mechanism of inflammation, can directly impair the ability to copulate, reproduce, and enjoy sexual life.

CONCLUSIONS: This expert consensus recommends prioritizing early detection, comprehensive treatment approaches, and preventive measures to mitigate the effects of infection and inflammation on sexual health, both for the patient and the couple. These insights provide a foundation for improving patient outcomes and fostering global awareness of the interconnections between infection, inflammation, and sexual dysfunction.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Tix T, Alhomoud M, Shouval R, et al (2025)

Non-relapse mortality with bispecific antibodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis in lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy, 33(7):3163-3176.

Bispecific antibodies (BsAb) are associated with distinct immune-related toxicities that impact morbidity and mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined non-relapse mortality (NRM) with BsAb therapy in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM). A PubMed and Embase search up to October 2024 identified 29 studies (21 NHL, 8 MM) involving 2,535 patients. The overall NRM point estimate was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.4%-6.4%), with a median follow-up of 12.0 months. We noted no significant difference in NRM across disease entities (NHL: 4.2%, MM: 6.2%, p = 0.22). In NHL, prespecified subgroup analyses revealed increased NRM in real-world studies compared to clinical trials. For MM, an association between NRM and higher response rates and longer follow-up was noted. Meta-regression comparing BsAb and CAR-T therapies (n = 8,592) showed no significant NRM difference when accounting for key study-level confounders (p = 0.96). Overall, infections were the leading cause of NRM, accounting for 71.8% of non-relapse deaths. Of the infection-related deaths, 48% were attributed to COVID-19. In a pre-specified sensitivity analysis excluding COVID-19 fatalities, the overall NRM estimate was 3.5% (95% CI 2.6%-4.6%). Taken together, these results provide a benchmark for the estimated NRM with BsAb therapy and highlight the paramount importance of infection reporting, prevention, and mitigation.

RevDate: 2025-07-04
CmpDate: 2025-07-04

Caponcello MG, Navarro PO, Bonazzetti C, et al (2025)

ORCHESTRA Delphi consensus: diagnostic and therapeutic management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatological diseases.

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 31(8S):S37-S43.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical management of COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients remains a challenge. This work aimed to develop a consensus to establish recommendations for the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic management of patients with rheumatic diseases and COVID-19.

METHODS: A panel of 14 international experts was selected, and Delphi methodology was used for the consensus, after a systematic literature review. Twenty-four questions were formulated and presented to the panel. The experts voted using a 6-point Likert scale (1) 'Strongly disagree' (SD); (2) 'Disagree' (D); (3) 'Somewhat disagree' (SWD); (4) 'Somewhat agree' (SWA); (5) 'Agree' (A); (6) 'Strongly agree' (SA). To establish consensus, simple or cumulative agreement ≥80% was required over a maximum of three rounds. Cumulative agreement was defined as the sum of response percentages on items 1-2 (SD + D); 2-3 (D + SWD); 4-5 (SWA + A); or 5-6 (A + SA), distinguishing a strong degree of agreement (A + SA) or disagreement (SD + D) from a moderate degree of agreement (SWA + A) or disagreement (D + SWD).

RESULTS: After the three rounds, consensus was reached on 23 of the 24 questions and 10 recommendations were made.

DISCUSSION: The Delphi methodology allowed consensus on recommendations in areas with insufficient scientific evidence, which can be considered for decision-making in the management of patients with rheumatological diseases while awaiting better evidence.

RevDate: 2025-07-03
CmpDate: 2025-07-03

Patra I, Muda I, Ketut Acwin Dwijendra N, et al (2025)

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Death Anxiety During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Omega, 91(3):1079-1097.

This systematic review was conducted to estimate the pooled score of death anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. All eligible articles from January 2020 to May 2022 reporting the death anxiety score were included in the analysis b.y searching the Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and ISI databases. The standard score of death anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic was 50%. The highest score of death anxiety was related to patients with COVID-19 (59.4%), other chronic patients (58.9%), and the elderly (56.4%). The lowest death anxiety score was related to the general population (42.9%) and health care workers (48.2%). The death anxiety score in the studies whose data was collected in 2020 and 2021 was 51% and 62%, respectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people experienced high death anxiety, which had terrible effects on their lives. Therefore, it seems necessary to provide training courses to deal with death anxiety for other possible pandemics.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Madsen HB, Durhuus JA, Andersen O, et al (2024)

Mitochondrial dysfunction in acute and post-acute phases of COVID-19 and risk of non-communicable diseases.

npj metabolic health and disease.., 2(1):36.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in widespread morbidity and mortality, with a significant portion of the affected population experiencing long-term health complications. This review explores the mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in both the acute and post-acute phases of COVID-19, highlighting its impact on various organs and its potential role in the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We discuss how SARS-CoV-2 directly affects mitochondrial function and the role of the virus-induced immune response in exacerbating mitochondrial impairment. This review highlights the critical role of mitochondria in COVID-19 pathogenesis and the importance of addressing mitochondrial health to mitigate acute and chronic effects of the disease.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Amare SN, Yee KC, Leung M, et al (2025)

Impact of pharmacist-led interventions on COVID-19, herpes zoster, influenza, pneumococcal, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines uptake in people aged 60 years and older: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Research in social & administrative pharmacy : RSAP pii:S1551-7411(25)00377-8 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: While some review studies have assessed the role of pharmacists in vaccination services, none have comprehensively assessed their impact specifically on improving vaccination uptake among older adults across all major recommended vaccines. These include COVID-19, herpes zoster, influenza, pneumococcal disease, and respiratory syncytial virus. This systematic review aimed to generate evidence on the effectiveness of pharmacist-led interventions in promoting the uptake of these vaccines among individuals aged 60 years and older.

METHOD: Relevant publications up to June 2024 were comprehensively searched across six databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The pooled effect size was estimated using a random-effects model with a 95 % confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were used to evaluated differences in effect sizes according to pharmacist roles.

RESULT: A total of 10,998 studies were initially identified, of which 13 met the inclusion criteria. In eight pre-post studies, pharmacist involvement in immunisation services significantly increased vaccine uptake among older adults, yielding a pooled relative risk (RR) of 3.29 (95 % CI: 2.01-5.39). Similarly, in five randomised studies, pharmacist-led interventions were significantly associated with increased vaccine uptake, with a pooled RR of 3.04 (95 % CI: 1.46-6.34).

CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates the substantial impact of pharmacist-led interventions on vaccination uptake among older people. The findings suggest that the greatest improvements occur when pharmacists serve as educators, facilitators, immunisers, and advocators. Healthcare policymakers and organisations should prioritise and implement comprehensive pharmacist-led strategies to enhance vaccine uptake in this population.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Ono R, Iwahana T, Aoki K, et al (2025)

Concurrent Fulminant Myocarditis and Severe Rhabdomyolysis in COVID-19-related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Adults: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 64(13):2007-2013.

This case report describes a 47-year-old woman with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A), who presented with fulminant myocarditis and severe rhabdomyolysis. Despite the absence of severe respiratory symptoms, the patient showed remarkable myocardial and leg edema with significant systemic inflammation and elevated creatine kinase levels after the COVID-19 infection. The patient required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and Impella CP[®] for hemodynamic stabilization; however, she was successfully treated. We also reviewed reported cases of concurrent myocarditis and muscular involvement in patients with COVID-19, as well as cases of fulminant myocarditis and MIS-A requiring VA-ECMO.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Ostrowsky JT, Vestin NC, Mehr AJ, et al (2025)

Accomplishments and challenges in developing improved influenza vaccines: An evaluation of three years of progress toward the milestones of the influenza vaccines research and development roadmap.

Vaccine, 61:127431 pii:S0264-410X(25)00728-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Influenza vaccines that provide more effective immunity to seasonal influenza as well as protection against a broad range of emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential are needed to reduce the public-health burden of influenza and enhance pandemic preparedness. The Influenza Vaccines Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap (IVR) was published in 2021 to serve as a strategic planning tool to advance influenza vaccine R&D. Following IVR publication, a 3-year monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment (ME&A) program was implemented to assess progress in meeting the milestones outlined in the IVR. As of mid-May 2025, 16 (17%) of the 93 milestones had been accomplished or partially accomplished, with the majority (67; 72%) in various stages of progress. Of the 35 milestones designated high-priority, five (14%) had been accomplished or partially accomplished, 29 (83%) are in progress, and no progress was identified for one (3%). Key accomplishments include: establishing longitudinal cohort studies to characterize immune responses to influenza virus infection and vaccination by age over time and by vaccine product; creating a comprehensive landscape of innovative influenza vaccine technologies in preclinical and clinical development; advancing next-generation and broadly protective influenza vaccine candidates into clinical trials; identifying relevant lessons learned from accelerated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic; and initiating development of a full value of improved influenza vaccine assessment (FVIVA) to inform investment and guide the eventual uptake of improved vaccines globally. Persistent challenges include clarifying immune mechanisms for generating durable and broadly protective immunity, enhancing understanding of immune imprinting and the role of mucosal immunity in preventing infection and transmission, identifying correlates of protection, and exploring regulatory options for broadly protective influenza vaccine licensure. The IVR ME&A program provides a basis for ongoing critical review of progress in influenza vaccine R&D to inform decision-making on research priorities and funding.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Li Q, Fang F, Zhang Y, et al (2025)

eHealth Literacy and Its Outcomes Among Postsecondary Students: Systematic Review.

Journal of medical Internet research, 27:e64489 pii:v27i1e64489.

BACKGROUND: eHealth literacy is essential for postsecondary students; however, few studies have systematically reviewed its levels and related outcomes in this population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically review the existing literature on eHealth literacy levels and the associated outcomes among postsecondary students.

METHODS: We systematically searched the PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo and APA PsycArticles, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Base, and OpenGrey databases for studies published from 2006 to July 01, 2024, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies were eligible if they were quantitative research papers, assessed eHealth literacy, described the relationship between eHealth literacy and other outcomes, and included postsecondary students. The risk of bias was assessed using the modified Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies.

RESULTS: A total of 89 cross-sectional studies were included from among 45,168 eHealth literacy-related publications, with 68 rated as high quality and 21 as moderate quality. Various assessment tools were used across studies, with the eHealth Literacy Scale being the most commonly used (56/89, 63%). Reported eHealth literacy total scores ranged from 23.6 (SD 6.8) to 31.4 (SD 4.4), and mean item scores ranged from 3.42 (SD 0.61) to 4.10 (SD 0.56). Associated outcomes were grouped into cognitive, emotional, and behavioral domains. eHealth literacy was positively associated with cognitive outcomes, including health knowledge, self-efficacy, disease prevention behaviors, and health attitudes. Regarding emotional outcomes, eHealth literacy was linked to higher psychosocial well-being, more positive emotions, and lower negative emotions; however, its associations with overall well-being, depression, and COVID-19 fear were inconclusive. Regarding behavioral outcomes, eHealth literacy was associated with greater use of electronic information, disease prevention practices, volunteerism, and clinical decision-making. Its relationships with health care use, social media engagement, and healthy living were more complex and context-dependent.

CONCLUSIONS: eHealth literacy among postsecondary students ranges from moderate-low to moderate-high, with variations due to inconsistent assessment tools. It shows positive associations with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral outcomes, though links to healthy living, digital and health service engagement, and certain psychosocial aspects remain complex. Future research should standardize measurements and explore the mechanisms across disciplines and cultures to guide effective health promotion.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024559587; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024559587.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Zhang P, Yang M, He S, et al (2025)

Evaluating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Telepharmaceutical Service Effectiveness: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Journal of medical Internet research, 27:e64073 pii:v27i1e64073.

BACKGROUND: Telepharmaceutical services (TPS) led by pharmacists, an emerging telehealth service, improve access to medical services and enable patients to receive specialized services in areas with limited resources. With a lower risk of infection and no restriction of isolation measures, TPS showed great potential during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, whether the effectiveness of TPS changed before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic remained unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of TPS, compare the effectiveness before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore whether the effectiveness changed over time.

METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP databases for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of TPS. The search covered studies published from inception to October 24, 2023. Eligible studies were conducted before May 5, 2023, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. We used the random-effect model to pool the results and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the certainty of evidence. To explore whether the effectiveness of TPS changed over time, we applied subgroup analyses (studies conducted before December 31, 2019, and studies conducted after January 1, 2020). Using the independent-sample z test, we compared the effectiveness of TPS between the 2 subgroups. When a significant difference arose between them, we conducted a meta-regression analysis to further evaluate the trend of effectiveness over time.

RESULTS: In addition, 40 studies were finally included. Compared with no TPS or usual care (ie, face-to-face pharmaceutical services), TPS probably increased patient medication adherence (risk difference [RD] 0.15, 95% CI 0.09-0.20, moderate certainty), and may reduce the occurrence of adverse events (RD -0.10, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.02, low certainty) and improve the proportion of patients who were satisfied with medication (RD 0.16, 95% CI 0.05-0.26, low certainty). Moderate to high evidence indicated that patients accepting TPS probably achieved superior management of diabetes and hypertension. The effectiveness of TPS was not significantly different before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic except for medication adherence (RD 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.21, P=.007), which also increased over time (coefficient=0.01, 95% CI 0.01-0.02, P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: TPS probably improved patient medication adherence and may lead to better satisfaction and the incidence of adverse events. The effectiveness of TPS in general did not change after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023487476; https://tinyurl.com/3s47enj6.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Halma M, Vottero P, Thorp J, et al (2025)

The Possible Mechanistic Basis of Individual Susceptibility to Spike Protein Injury.

Advances in virology, 2025:7990876.

Injury from spike protein, whether induced by COVID-19 infection or vaccination, constitutes a significant health concern for numerous individuals. Considerable heterogeneity exists in individual responses to both COVID-19 infection and vaccination, despite the latter being principally more controlled and consistent than the wide variety of infection circumstances. This review explores the possible mechanisms by which the spike protein contributes to cellular and systemic damage, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes for developing effective diagnostics and treatments.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Bargahi N, Ghasemian A, Hoseinpoor R, et al (2024)

A Concise Review of Major Challenges in the Vaccination, Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Archives of Razi Institute, 79(6):1155-1164.

The rapid dissemination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on a global scale. An efficacious strategy to control the ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) includes the rapid recognition of infected patients and the implementation of vaccination programs utilizing accurate and reliable methods. A variety of diagnostic techniques, including computed tomography (CT) scans, serological assays, and molecular methods, have been employed for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Furthermore, a variety of vaccines, antiviral drugs, and immunotherapies have been employed to combat the virus. This is of particular importance for patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection who are at high risk of developing serious complications. The prognosis, diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment of COIVD-19 present a number of challenges, including variability in disease severity, the emergence of new variants, individual factors and immune responses, co-infections and complications, a lack of long-term data, psychological and social factors, the availability and accessibility of tests, the sensitivity and specificity of tests, variability in symptoms, mild or asymptomatic cases, a limited number of specific antiviral options, clinical heterogeneity, the lack of a universal treatment protocol, overburdened healthcare systems, the management of severe cases, long-term effects and post-COIVD-19 syndrome, vaccine hesitancy, global cooperation, and vaccine production capacity. This article presents an overview of the most recent advancements in the field of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), encompassing prognosis, diagnosis, vaccination, and therapy. It is of the utmost importance to consult reliable sources such as national health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to obtain the latest information on the vaccination of individuals against the novel coronavirus, including details on eligibility, availability, and recommended protocols in any specific region. The range of available treatment options and strategies is subject to ongoing evolution. Healthcare professionals and researchers are assiduously striving to surmount the challenges inherent to therapy and to enhance the outcomes for those affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is imperative that randomized clinical studies be conducted with the objective of identifying the most appropriate and proven treatment in order to reduce the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to prevent the occurrence of future pandemics.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Lei ZJ, Bai MX, Li MJ, et al (2025)

The Effectiveness and Influence of COVID-19 Vaccination on Perinatal Individuals and Their Newborns: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

The Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale, 2025:6115890.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected pregnant individuals, increasing risks of severe illness and adverse outcomes. While vaccination is a key mitigation strategy, initial exclusion from clinical trials led to limited safety data. Despite evidence of vaccine effectiveness, hesitancy persists in this population. Objective and Sources: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and impact of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals, synthesizing evidence from 82 studies (3,676,654 participants) retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus (2019-2024). Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (80/82 scored ≥ 7). Key Findings: Vaccination reduced maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection risk by 48% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.52), with mRNA vaccines showing higher efficacy (52% vs. 43% for inactivated). Maternal hospitalization risk decreased by 42% (OR = 0.58), and severe outcomes by 50% (OR = 0.50). Furthermore, neonatal outcomes improved, including reduced infection (OR = 0.69), preterm birth (OR = 0.87), stillbirth (OR = 0.64), and neonatal death (OR = 0.47). Protection against neonatal death was stronger in individuals without prior infection (OR = 0.43). Third-trimester vaccination may offer better protection against preterm birth. Conclusion: Overall, COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy effectively mitigates infection and adverse maternal/neonatal outcomes, supporting its clinical recommendation.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Jaafarzadeh N, Ghanbari M, Neisi N, et al (2025)

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the Indoor Air of a Hospital and Comparison of Results With Other Studies Based on a Systematic Review.

Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 39(3):e70061.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence or absence of the COVID-19 virus in the indoor air of Razi Specialized and Sub-specialized Educational and Medical Hospital in Ahvaz, one of the main centres for the hospitalization of COVID-19 patients in the southwestern region of Iran. The purpose was to enhance awareness regarding the potential airborne transmission of the virus in hospital environments and to support protective measures for healthcare personnel and the general public.

METHODS: A total of 48 air samples were collected during two different periods: 24 samples in the autumn and 24 in the spring. The samples were taken from the ICU4 ward and its adjacent corridor, where COVID-19 patients were being treated. Standard air sampling procedures were employed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the indoor air. During the spring sampling period, two specific samples were emphasized as follows: one collected at a distance of 0.5 m from a patient and another from the corridor leading to the positive section.

RESULTS: All 24 samples collected in autumn tested negative for the virus. However, during the spring sampling period, two of the 24 samples tested positive: one sample taken at a distance of 0.5 m from a patient and another collected from the corridor leading to the COVID-19 positive section.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the COVID-19 virus can be present in indoor air, particularly when central cooling systems (such as chillers) are in operation. The detection of the virus both near a patient and in a common area indicates a potential for airborne transmission. Further research is necessary to investigate the aerodynamic properties and particle weight of the virus, as well as the role of central air conditioning systems in its distribution within indoor spaces.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Fujishima S (2025)

Current corticosteroid therapeutic strategy for community-acquired pneumonia in adults: indications, dosage, and timing.

Journal of intensive care, 13(1):37.

Despite advances in treatment and the expansion of standard care, pneumonia remains a major cause of mortality. It frequently leads to complications such as septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), both of which carry high fatality rates. Although antimicrobial therapy is the cornerstone of treatment, additional supportive care and adjunctive therapies, such as corticosteroids, are often required, especially in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Recent updates to major guidelines on CAP, sepsis, ARDS, and critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency generally support corticosteroid use in severe CAP. However, the REMAP-CAP randomized controlled trial, published in 2025, failed to demonstrate significant benefit, potentially influencing future recommendations. Currently, corticosteroid therapy should be individualized based on CAP severity, particularly the degree of hypoxemia and respiratory failure. In eligible patients, early initiation and flexible duration of corticosteroid use based on clinical response may be appropriate. For nonbacterial pneumonia, strong evidence supporting corticosteroid use exists only for COVID-19 and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in HIV-infected individuals. Conversely, observational data do not support corticosteroid use for influenza or fungal infections. In CAP complicated by septic shock or ARDS, corticosteroid use is endorsed by recent guidelines; however, the recommended timing, dosage, and duration vary. Although combination therapy with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone is a potential option, further direct evidence is needed. Biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and, in the near future, insights into corticosteroid-related immune repair mechanisms in COVID-19 may aid in identifying corticosteroid-responsive phenotypes.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Elhosseiny AA, M Salama (2025)

Navigating the next surge: a perspective on Egypt's preparedness and prospects for another COVID-19 outbreak.

Population health metrics, 23(1):34.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has presented healthcare systems and economies with unprecedented challenges. Like many other countries, Egypt has experienced the pandemic's multifaceted effects. As new variants continue to emerge, countries are enhancing their preparedness and response strategies in anticipation of possible future outbreaks. This review article focuses on Egypt and discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country's economy. It also examines the country's preparedness for a potential resurgence of COVID-19. Further, it explores Egypt's vaccination campaign, discussing the progress in achieving population immunity and the potential challenges encountered. It also extends to the public health communication strategies employed by the government, investigating their efficacy in disseminating accurate information and fostering public adherence to safety measures. While recognizing progress, the article also flags possible gaps and opportunities for improvement in Egypt's pandemic preparedness.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Mehjabeen D, Patel K, RM Jindal (2025)

Decolonizing global health: a scoping review.

BMC health services research, 25(1):828.

We summarize research on decolonizing global health and highlight existing gaps, including the lack of a formal definition and clear aims for the movement. We examine the decolonization of global health curricula and authorship in indexed journals, aiming to build a shared understanding among global health scholars. The review included studies from all global regions to ensure comprehensive geographical representation. Of the 155 identified records, most were published from 2021 onward and predominantly originated from the Global North. Studies focusing solely on racism were excluded. Additionally, non-English publications and studies prior to 2019 were excluded, which may have limited insights from other perspectives, such as those available in Spanish from Latin America. The included studies centered on topics such as curricula, the COVID-19 pandemic, and equity in authorship for Global South scholars. However, despite these discussions, voices from the Global South remain underrepresented in indexed journals, and there is limited focus on actionable strategies for shifting power dynamics to foster true decolonization in global health governance and funding. To address these issues, we recommend mentorship programs targeted at academics from the Global South, focusing on research capacity-building, grant writing, and leadership development. We call for broader structural reforms, including equitable funding allocation, the decolonization of research agendas, and the dismantling of hierarchical systems that privilege voices from the Global North over the Global South. The creation of collaborative networks focused on decolonization is critical in demonstrating a commitment to dismantling oppressive systems and fostering equity. While some progress has been made, further research is needed to explore how funding, knowledge systems and publishing can be more equitably distributed, supporting a truly decolonized global health agenda that advances social justice and health equity.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Münte C, Glattacker M, Müller S, et al (2025)

Long COVID in people with mental health disorders: a scoping review.

BMC psychiatry, 25(1):669.

BACKGROUND: Long COVID, Post COVID Syndrome or PASC (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19), according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is defined as the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation. The term Long COVID will be used throughout this review. Little is known about individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions experiencing Long COVID. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of these individuals, focusing on: 1) the course of mental disorders, 2) care needs, 3) utilization of healthcare services, and 4) psychosocial aspects, as outlined by the International Classification of Functioning (ICF).

METHODS: This review followed the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. We included reports focusing on individuals with at least one pre-existing mental health diagnosis and Long COVID. Full-text reports in English or German were included, with no geographical limitations. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO on November 1, 2023, for records published between January 2020 and October 2023. Six reviewers participated in the screening process in pairs, independently conducting study selection and data extraction. Conflicts were resolved by consensus. Citation tracking was performed, and data were summarized narratively in tables.

RESULTS: From 4256 initial hits and citation tracking, 8 reports were included. The studies were heterogeneous, including chart reviews, case reports, cross-sectional, and longitudinal studies. Evidence on the impact of Long COVID on pre-existing mental health conditions was inconsistent. Most findings focused on the course of mental health disorders, ranging from symptom worsening to new symptoms of anxiety, depression, or insomnia. Evidence on mental health care needs, service utilization, and psychosocial aspects was limited.

CONCLUSION: Limited evidence suggests that individuals with pre-existing mental health disorders who experience Long COVID may be at an increased risk of worsening mental health. However, critical aspects such as care needs, service utilization, and psychosocial factors remain under-researched, highlighting the need for further studies on mental health care for Long COVID.

REVIEW REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/tqexa .

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Ghafourian K, Salehian F, Shakeri H, et al (2025)

Subacute thyroiditis as a post-COVID-19 complication: a systematic review.

BMC infectious diseases, 25(1):862.

INTRODUCTION: The emergence of Subacute Thyroiditis (SAT) in the wake of COVID-19 has presented a unique set of challenges for clinicians and researchers. This study delves into the intricate interplay between COVID-19 and SAT, examining a wealth of cases from observational studies.

METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature review utilizing PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases, encompassing studies available up to January 2, 2025. The search strategy incorporated a combination of keywords such as "Subacute Thyroiditis" and "COVID-19," complemented by synonyms and Mesh terms. Relevant studies, investigating COVID-19-associated SAT were included.

RESULTS: After a meticulous review of 964 papers, 46 records were included in the final analysis, consisting of 37 case reports and 9 case series. Our study, covered 75 individuals aged 18 to 85. Investigated patients presenting diverse symptoms, including anterior cervical pain and palpitations, displaying varying timelines from COVID-19 onset to SAT symptoms. Treatment approaches, involving prednisone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), led to recovery in many cases, but some individuals experienced a transition to hypothyroidism. The diagnostic and laboratory investigations across revealed diverse profiles, thyroid imaging findings, inflammatory markers, thyroid function tests, and the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies.

CONCLUSION: The complexity of SAT is emphasized, particularly in the context of COVID-19. The consistent trend toward recovery of thyroid function not only suggests potential treatment efficacy but also emphasizes the necessity for vigilant symptom monitoring, especially in individuals with a history of COVID-19. Future studies should further investigate the details of SAT post-COVID-19, improving approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Maggio MC, Castana C, Caserta M, et al (2025)

MIS-C, inherited metabolic diseases and methylmalonic acidemia: a case report and review of the literature.

Italian journal of pediatrics, 51(1):202.

BACKGROUND: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) secondary to mutase deficiency, mut0, is an inborn error of metabolism causing complete enzyme defect, allowing a high risk of irreversible complications, secondary to metabolic decompensation, induced by infections and the hyperinflammatory state. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome that manifests 14-60 days after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients aged < 21 years. Only a few cases of patients with inherited metabolic diseases (IMD) and MIS-C are described. However, to our knowledge, this is the first case of MMA with MIS-C.

CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a 2-year-old child with MMA secondary to mutase deficiency, carrying the homozygous mutation c.2179 C > T of MMUT gene, associated to mut0 phenotype. One month after SARS-CoV-2 infection, he presented fever, rash, significant increase of C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, triglycerides, interleukin (IL)-6, N-terminal fragment of the pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), compatible with the diagnosis of MIS-C. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulins and methylprednisolone, with rapid clinical improvement. Ten days later, he showed the worsening of clinical and hematological parameters, associated with anemia, thrombocytopenia, metabolic acidosis, hyperlactatemia, increased urinary methylmalonic acid, leading to multiorgan failure (MOF). He was treated with high caloric intake nutrition by intravenous carbohydrates infusion; sodium bicarbonate, thiamine, carnitine, coenzyme Q, vitamin C, antibiotics, methylprednisolone and anakinra. Three days after the start of anakinra, a significant improvement in clinical and biochemical parameters occurred. Twenty days later, a sepsis from Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and Candida Albicans required the interruption of anakinra, with the decline of the clinical conditions and the exitus.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with a severe form of MMA and MIS-C anakinra is a safe treatment. MOF and metabolic decompensation, secondary to the hyperinflammatory state typical of MIS-C, can be successfully treated with targeted therapy against proinflammatory cytokines. The description of these clinical cases is a precious lesson in managing IMD therapeutic emergencies. Paediatricians must provide a strict monitoring of metabolic compensation, to avoid irreversible complications.

RevDate: 2025-07-02

Ramadan HK, Salah AE, Mohamed ZR, et al (2025)

False-positive reactivity of fourth-generation HIV enzyme immunoassay caused by COVID-19 and other infections.

HIV medicine [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) are the cornerstones in HIV elimination. Fourth- and fifth-generation HIV enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) can detect patients with acute infection. However, HIV false-positive results can occur, requiring confirmatory nucleic acid amplification testing, which is expensive and may not be available.

OBJECTIVES: This review highlights reports on various infections and vaccines causing false-positive reactivity in fourth-generation HIV immunoassays.

RESULTS: Despite the improvements in tests of HIV immunoassays, false-positive results may occur, which require continuous updates in testing algorithms to be used appropriately with newer assays. Many factors can result in false-positive HIV serological assays, such as COVID-19, several viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, and vaccines.

CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should be aware of the causes of false-positive HIV reactions and include them in the clinical assessment of suspected cases and consider confirmatory testing.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

SeyedAlinaghi S, Mehraeen E, Mirzapour P, et al (2025)

A systematic review on natural products with antimicrobial potential against WHO's priority pathogens.

European journal of medical research, 30(1):525.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global issue, with bacteria increasingly resistant to traditional antibiotics, resulting in more treatment failures and higher mortality rates. Resistance can be defined microbiologically or clinically and arises through genetic mutations or acquired traits. In response to this growing threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in 2016 to guide the research and development of new antimicrobial agents. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated AMR, underscoring the urgent need for new antibiotics. Natural products continue to be a valuable source of antibacterial compounds and play a significant role in developing new antimicrobial treatments.

METHOD: This study employed a systematic review methodology, conducting comprehensive searches across PUBMED/MEDLINE, WEB OF SCIENCE, and SCOPUS databases, adhering to modified PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. A research librarian assisted in developing the search strategy, with searches executed on May 5, 2024, without restrictions on publication dates.

STUDY SELECTION PROCESS: Titles and abstracts were screened using Rayyan and Endnote. Inclusion criteria focused on original studies examining the antimicrobial effects of natural products against antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The review identified significant effects of natural products on 12 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). These findings underscore the potential of natural compounds as therapeutic agents in combating antimicrobial resistance.

RESULTS: A total of 4371 articles published between 2014 and 2024 were initially identified, from which 290 articles were selected for detailed review based on their relevance to the study period. All included studies were clinical trials. The analysis indicated that most of the research on dietary plants was conducted in countries within the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Among the pathogens investigated, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus emerged as the most frequently studied due to their involvement in a wide range of infectious diseases. The findings revealed that alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids were the principal classes of plant-derived compounds exhibiting antioxidant activity against bacterial strains. These bioactive compounds were extracted using a variety of solvents, including ethanol, methanol, aqueous solutions, benzoate, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and methanolic preparations obtained from different plant parts such as leaves, bark, flowers, and roots. Notably, flavonoids represented 24.8% of the antioxidant product derivatives examined. The overall results underscore the significant therapeutic potential of regional medicinal plants in combating pathogens resistant to chemical drugs. Their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties may enhance the efficacy of existing antibiotic classes and contribute to reversing antimicrobial resistance.

CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this review, the diverse effects and therapeutic efficacy of herbal compounds in managing antibiotic resistance were extensively examined. Consequently, in light of the demonstrated antimicrobial activities of these plant-derived compounds, further investigation into their potential as alternative agents to counteract antibiotic resistance has become increasingly essential.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Yang XF, Guo JY, Peng WS, et al (2025)

Global perspectives on challenges, coping strategies, and future preparedness of nursing home staff during COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-synthesis.

BMC health services research, 25(1):872.

BACKGROUND: The global public health crisis caused by COVID-19 in late 2019 was unprecedented. Due to their vulnerable population, nursing homes are a key epidemic response area. This study described the challenges and coping strategies of nursing home staff during COVID-19 and proposed recommendations for future public health crises in nursing homes.

METHOD: A meta-synthesis was performed to address the research question: What are the experiences of nursing home staff from the perspectives of COVID-19? From the beginning until August 31, 2024, searches were conducted in five international databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang). Two reviewers used the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) qualitative research checklist to evaluate each manuscript. The findings were synthesized using pragmatic meta-aggregators.

RESULTS: The meta-synthesis included 22 qualitative studies and four mixed studies, which including 906 participants was analyzed to identify 268 findings that were organized into 15 categories and combined into three syntheses. Three synthesized findings were identified: Challenges (sub-findings: challenges implementing epidemic prevention and control, resource shortage, negative emotions, inadequate departmental communication and coordination, lack of support, physical strain); coping strategies (sub-findings: role adaptation and redefinition, innovative solutions and technology, work organisation and cooperation, positive psychological service, seeking community and organisational support, Improving infection prevention awareness), and suggestions for future preparedness (sub-findings: Enhancing communication and decision-making in response to COVID-19 changes, Optimizing material supply channels and physical space, and increasing medical related team and training).

CONCLUSION(S): This study focuses on the COVID-19 experiences and coping strategies of nursing home staff. Key coping strategies include role transition and redefinition, with staff taking on additional tasks to ensure ongoing diagnosis and treatment; innovative concepts and technologies, such as remote healthcare and digital tools, reduce the risk of infection; and strengthening collaboration and cooperation, improving efficiency, and decreasing employee workload. Mental health services and social support can alleviate stress and promote health. Maintaining optimism among staff members necessitates community and organisational support, resources, and effective communication. The findings of this study have implications for nursing home practices and policies. Sanatoriums require PPE, medical supplies, and trained personnel. Encourage system and organisational transformation. Emergency preparedness and flexible workforce initiatives enhance organisational adaptability. Increase infection prevention awareness: Sanatorium employees should get continual infection prevention training. Exploring nursing homes Layout: Relevant departments should establish criteria for the physical layout of current and prospective nursing facilities to prevent basic infectious diseases.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Madhukalya R, Yadav U, Parray HA, et al (2025)

Nipah virus: pathogenesis, genome, diagnosis, and treatment.

Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 109(1):158.

The highly infectious Nipah virus (NiV) is classified under the Paramyxoviridae family and is categorized under the genus Henipavirus. NiV spreads to humans through zoonotic transmission from reservoir host bats and other intermediate hosts. It is highly contagious and has a high case fatality rate (CFR) of ~ 40-80%. Only sporadic outbreaks have been reported so far, but like SARS-CoV2, NiV has a high pandemic potential and has been put on the World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogen list. Currently, no clinically approved antivirals, immunotherapy, or vaccines are available to tackle NiV infection, thereby necessitating further research into its life cycle, transmission, and pathogenesis. This detailed review outlines the origin and spread of the Nipah virus, its modes of transmission, risk factors, its genome, key proteins, pathogenesis, and clinical features. We also discuss different diagnostic approaches and ongoing research to develop therapies ranging from antibodies to vaccines. KEY POINTS: •Pandemic preparedness for emerging and re-emerging viruses. •Novel approaches for diagnostics and therapeutics for Nipah viruse. •Global threat from biosafety level 4 pathogens. •Animal models for Nipah virus research.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Liston K, Bartley G, Haddadan G, et al (2025)

Emergency Nursing Care in a Patient With a Serum Blood Glucose of 2394 mg/dL: A Case Review.

Journal of emergency nursing, 51(4):578-586.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency arising from insufficient insulin supply in diabetes and is commonly triggered by infection. Management for diabetic ketoacidosis is well documented, which involves the administration of short-acting insulin, fluids, and electrolyte correction, with some studies describing a probable relationship between diabetic ketoacidosis and coronavirus disease 2019, resulting in extreme hyperglycemia.

PATIENT PRESENTATION: This case review details the emergency nursing management of a 34-year-old female who presented in metabolic extremis from probable diabetic ketoacidosis. Serum blood analysis results revealed a blood glucose of 2394 mg/dL, a ketone level of 45.32 mg/dL, a potassium level of 6.1 mmol/L, unmeasurable hypothermia, coronavirus disease 2019 positivity, and progressive torsades de pointes. Management strategies focused on airway management, suitable tonicity and osmolarity correction, and rectification of electrolyte derangements.

CONCLUSION: The patient was transferred to a tertiary care hospital and discharged home with no physiological deficits. This case review aimed to inform the management of extreme hyperglycemia in diabetic ketoacidosis.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Leep-Lazar K, Ma C, AW Stimpfel (2025)

Factors Associated With Intent to Leave the Nursing Profession in the United States: An Integrative Review.

Research in nursing & health, 48(4):429-440.

The ongoing regional nursing shortages in the United States, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, compromise patient safety and quality. Additionally, an aging workforce coupled with an aging population requiring more nursing care services limits organizations' ability to adequately staff their facilities. Nurses' turnover from the profession has been studied less than organizational turnover, thus, the purpose of this integrative review is to identify factors associated with intention to leave the nursing profession in the United States. Using Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) guidelines for integrative review methods, we conducted systematic searches in CINAHL, PubMed, and Web of Science in July 2024. There were 39 peer-reviewed studies that met inclusion criteria. Synthesis of findings resulted in four individual and four work-level themes associated with intent to leave the nursing profession. Individual themes included individual beliefs, health and wellbeing, individual work experiences, and career stability. Work-level themes included job characteristics, job demands/workload, resources and support, and work environment. Notably, job-level factors (i.e., workload, work environment, and support) were associated with professional turnover intention, which suggests that nurses do not believe their experiences will improve at another nursing job. Gaps in the literature include studies with nationally representative samples, studies using validated measures of health, and qualitative studies conducted with the aim of understanding why nurses want to leave the profession. To promote retention of nurses at the professional and organizational level, organizations should measure and modify relevant job-level factors, and the protection of nurses' wellness should be a top organizational priority.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Lin KH, Selvanayagam N, Patnaik S, et al (2025)

Burnout Among Physicians and Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Journal of emergency nursing, 51(4):702-720.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to discover the prevalence and risk factors of burnout among physicians and nurses working in intensive care units and emergency departments.

METHODS: This systematic review followed the reporting guidance from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. A literature search was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase. The search was conducted in November 2023. English-language studies reporting burnout prevalence and risk factors among intensive care units and emergency physicians and nurses, with primary outcomes, were identified. Quantitative studies with observational designs underwent review, with 2 independent reviewers screening titles, abstracts, and full texts for inclusion. Quality assessment used Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. A meta-analysis was conducted if data were sufficient.

RESULTS: This review included 17 studies. The pooled prevalence rates for burnout, high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment were 46%, 48%, 30%, and 47%, respectively. Factors such as age, sex, smoking/tobacco use, education level, years of experience, workload, and the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 were identified as significant determinants of burnout in this population.

DISCUSSION: The results assisted in determining preventive strategies and identified areas for future research.

RevDate: 2025-07-02
CmpDate: 2025-07-02

Zalud I (2025)

Faculty retention in academic OB/GYN: comprehensive strategies and future directions.

Journal of perinatal medicine, 53(6):696-701.

The retention of academic faculty, particularly in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), has become a growing challenge in the post-COVID era. The healthcare landscape has been dramatically altered, leading to a "Great Exit" where a large number of faculty members are resigning or retiring early. This phenomenon is not just a financial burden as recruitment costs have skyrocketed, but also poses a threat to the stability and reputation of academic institutions. In this review article, we explore the underlying causes of faculty attrition, the predictors of resignation, and propose comprehensive strategies to retain talented faculty members. We highlight the importance of mentorship, career development opportunities, and fostering a supportive work environment that aligns with both institutional and individual values. The goal is to create a sustainable framework for faculty engagement that strengthens the academic mission and improves clinical outcomes.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Himmels JPW, Magnusson K, KG Brurberg (2025)

Systematic review of post-COVID condition in Nordic population-based registry studies.

Nature communications, 16(1):5717.

The long-term effects of COVID-19, known as post-COVID condition (PCC), are still not fully understood. This systematic review synthesizes findings from Nordic registry studies to highlight long-term outcomes after COVID-19 infection. Twenty-two studies, primarily reflecting the pre-omicron and early vaccination phases, reveal increased primary care use for respiratory issues and fatigue in the sub-acute and chronic phases, with PCC incidence estimated below 2% in the general population. Most individuals returned to work within three months post-infection, and the risk of new neurological or mental disorders did not exceed that in patients with other infections. The review demonstrates the value of high-quality Nordic health registries in capturing reliable, population-wide data, though generalizability may be limited to similar healthcare systems. Findings suggest the need for targeted follow-up in patients with severe COVID-19, particularly those requiring intensive care, to manage potential new-onset diseases and guide resource allocation in the pandemic's endemic phase.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Jiang X, Sun Q, Huang Y, et al (2025)

Inactivated Mycobacterial Vaccine Nebulized Inhalation: A Effective Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Diseases?.

The clinical respiratory journal, 19(7):e70101.

Nebulized inhalation therapy is an important method in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, and inactivated mycobacterial vaccine nebulized inhalation has received a wide attention recently, but the roles and mechanisms are still not fully understood. A literature search showed there is a strong scientific rationale and evidence that nebulized inhalation of inactivated mycobacterial vaccine is effective in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. Clinically available mycobacterial vaccines include Mycobacterium phlei (M. phlei), BCG, and Mycobacterium vaccae (M. vaccae). Nebulized inhalation of inactivated mycobacterial vaccine, especially M. vaccae, has been used in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and sepsis. It acts on the respiratory tract directly, thus stimulating the body to produce an immune response, enhance respiratory immunity, and achieve prevention and treatment effects. Nebulized inhalation of inactivated mycobacterial vaccine will be an effective therapy in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.

RevDate: 2025-07-01

van der Drift AR, Welling A, Arntzen V, et al (2025)

Wastewater surveillance studies on pathogens and their use in public health decision-making: a scoping review.

The Science of the total environment, 993:179982 pii:S0048-9697(25)01622-5 [Epub ahead of print].

This study provides a comprehensive overview of wastewater surveillance studies on pathogens, identifies key characteristics of studies that are associated with public health actions, and highlights the actions resulting from these studies. Many studies refer to the value of wastewater surveillance in public health decision-making, but it remains unclear how many studies support public health action and whether this is incorporated into study designs. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review following PRISMA guidelines and used the machine learning tool ASReview to identify wastewater surveillance studies monitoring pathogen circulation in human populations, followed by correlational analyses. A total of 974 studies were included, of which only 84 described public health action. Merely 28 of these incorporated strategies to facilitate action within their study designs. Studies leading to public health action primarily monitored viruses, e.g., SARS-CoV-2 and poliovirus, and since 2024 also influenza A and B virus, respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis A virus and mpox virus. Furthermore, studies conducted by public health institutes or targeting non-standard locations are more likely to result in action, whereas those with larger population sizes or focusing on residential areas are less likely to result in action. The most common public health actions included informing health authorities and identifying cases. Our findings highlight the value of learning from existing use cases. While wastewater surveillance can support public health actions, evidence of its use is limited. Future studies should improve study designs by, e.g., incorporating strategies for public health actions to maximize their effectiveness and impact on decision-making.

RevDate: 2025-07-01

Masquelet AC (2025)

Misconduct in science and medicine.

EFORT open reviews, 10(7):439-444.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Mukherjee A, Roy D, A Chakravarty (2025)

Uncommon Non-MS Demyelinating Disorders of the Central Nervous System.

Current neurology and neuroscience reports, 25(1):45.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Definitive diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) requires exclusion of other central nervous system (CNS) disorders sharing similar clinical, pathological and radiological features. In this review we discuss some relatively uncommon disorders with special emphasis on their differentiation from MS clinically and radiologically. While most conditions have a demyelinating pathology, a few very important mimics may have a non-demyelinating pathology to merit some discussion.

RECENT FINDINGS: Two major areas of diagnostic advances have been made in recent times, the recognition of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and the myelin oligodendrocyte antibody mediated disorder (MOGAD). These two entities are mediated by completely different antibodies detectable in peripheral blood samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or cell-based assays and produce clinical disorders could be differentiated from MS by their clinical features, disease course, prognosis, and imaging features. NMOSD is a rare CNS autoimmune disease that predominantly targets the spinal cord, optic nerves and brainstem. In sixty to eighty% of cases of NMOSD, optic neuritis (ON) and/or longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) result in blindness and paralysis. In NMOSD these are associated with a serological antibody to aquaporin-4 (AQP4). AQP4 is a water channel protein found in many organs, but in the CNS, AQP4 is expressed in a perivascular distribution on astrocytic foot processes around blood vessels and the glia limitans (glymphatic). Comparative studies of AQP4-seropositive and AQP4- seronegative NMOSD cohorts note that some of the seronegative NMOSD cases tend to differ from the seropositive cases in several aspects: bilateral optic neuritis, simultaneous optic neuritis and transverse myelitis, younger age at onset, and an apparently monophasic course. This prompted search for putative antibodies other than AQP4. MOG antibody disease is a CNS autoimmune disease associated with a serological antibody against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MDG). MOG is a glycoprotein expressed on the outer membrane of myelin and solely found within the CNS, including the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. Clinically, the disease resembles NMOSD in its predilection for relapses of optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. In addition, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a well-recognized phenotype of MOG antibody disease in children. About 42% of NMOSD patients who test seronegative for the AQP4 antibody test positive for MOG antibodies. MOG antibody disease has thus recently emerged as a distinct entity in a sizable portion of the patient population diagnosed with NMOSD or even MS. The second field where significant progress has been made is the recently modified McDonald criteria proposed at the ECTRIMS (European Committee (2024) for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis) which includes three new features - the central vein sign (CVS) and the paramagnetic ring lesions (PRL), along with CSF kappa free light chains (kFLC). The CVS refers to a blood vessel in the middle of MS lesions, visible on MRI. The PRL refers to rings of iron around the edges of active MS lesions, also detectable by MRI. Lastly, kFLC are molecules produced by white blood cells, now considered a diagnostic biomarker equivalent to CSF oligoclonal bands. This new criterion refines doing an MRI mandatory for making a diagnosis of MS. The list of non-MS demyelinating disorders of the CNS is vast. Most of the conditions are immunologically mediated. In the present review, diagnosis and management of NMOSD and MOGAD are discussed, along with a brief discussion on ADEM. Stress has been given also to some rarer conditions like antiphospholipid syndrome, Behcet disease, chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS), and Susac syndrome, which can mimic MS. The auto inflammatory syndromes, a newly described group of conditions, which are being increasingly recognized as conditions which can cause systemic as well as neurological disease, are briefly discussed. There is aberrant activation of the innate immune system, as against autoimmune diseases where the adaptive immune system is involved. Non-immune mediated conditions can also cause or mimic demyelination. The causes include drugs, toxins, infections, and neoplastic conditions. CNS lymphomas, both primary and secondary, may mimic MS plaques. Infections including bacterial, viral and parasitic, may also produce white matter signal abnormalities mimicking MS. COVID 19 related CNS lesions and PML are also discussed. The ready availability of genetic testing, including whole exome sequencing, have resulted in expansion of the phenotypic spectrum of leukodystrophies, and in some cases of atypical MS the diagnosis is being revised to some form of leukodystrophy. The types of leukodystrophy which can mimic MS have been discussed. Longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions (LECL) can occur in demyelinating (LETM) as well as other conditions, and are extremely important to differentiate from each other, so that appropriate management can be provided. Lastly commonly encountered vascular lesions like lacunes resulting from lipohyalinosis may also mimic MS plaques and in this category more extensive lesion like in CADASIL, an autosomal dominant disorder with a specific genetic marker, needs differentiation.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Dou A, Xu J, C Zhou (2025)

The relationship between HERVs and exogenous viral infections: A focus on the value of HERVs in disease prediction and treatment.

Virulence, 16(1):2523888.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are virus-related sequences that are a normal part of the human genome; they account for about 8% of the human genome. Reactivation of these ancestral proviral sequences can lead to the generation of functional products. Several reactivated HERVs are associated with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Emerging research suggests that reactivated HERVs may play a significant role in the development of viral diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as in neuroinflammatory diseases possibly triggered by viral factors, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies exploring the relationship between HERVs and exogenous viral infections have the potential to offer a fresh perspective on developing treatment and prevention strategies for exogenous viral infections. The mechanism of the transactivation of HERVs caused by exogenous viral infection, as well as the contribution of HERVs to viral diseases or diseases triggered by viral factors, deserve further research. Here, we review the relationship between exogenous viruses and HERVs in several common diseases caused or triggered by viral infections, with a focus on the value of HERVs as biomarkers for forecasting disease advancement or prognosis and as potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Sampson AT, Hlaváč M, Gillman ACT, et al (2025)

Developing the next-generation of adenoviral vector vaccines.

Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 21(1):2514356.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the first extensive use of adenoviral vector vaccines, with over 3 billion doses produced during the first year of the pandemic alone and an estimated 6 million lives saved. These vaccines were safe and effective, and could be produced at low cost in several continents allowing widespread use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite their successful deployment against SARS-CoV-2, their impact has been overshadowed by relatively lower immunogenicity in contrast to mRNA vaccine technologies and very rare but serious adverse events such as vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopaenia (VITT). The next-generation of adenoviral vector vaccines must address these challenges: here, we explore strategies to improve immunogenicity and safety by novel serotype selection, vector engineering, capsid modification and new delivery technologies, and discuss opportunities for next-generation adenoviral vectors against infectious disease and cancer.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Saikarthik J, Saraswathi I, Padhi BK, et al (2025)

Structural and functional neuroimaging of hippocampus to study adult neurogenesis in long COVID-19 patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms: a scoping review.

PeerJ, 13:e19575.

BACKGROUND: Worsening of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders occurs in COVID-19. Impaired adult neurogenesis is linked to most of the neuropsychiatric symptoms and disorders.

AIM: The current scoping review identified and mapped the available evidence on adult neurogenesis in long COVID-19, at a global level following the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and followed the framework by Arksey and O'Malley.

METHOD: Original studies focusing on structural and functional neuroimaging of the hippocampus to study adult neurogenesis in long COVID-19 were included in the review. Studies published in English language with no restriction on the time of publication were searched using the specified search strategy in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and SCOPUS. Articles obtained from the database search were collated and uploaded into the Nested Knowledge AutoLit semi-automated systematic review platform for data extraction.

RESULTS: The current review provides evidence of the potential alterations in adult neurogenesis in long COVID-19 and its potential link to neuropsychiatric sequelae of long COVID-19, with further research required to validate this assertion.

CONCLUSION: This review proposes conceptual and methodological approaches for future investigations to address existing limitations and elucidate the precise role of adult neurogenesis in the pathophysiology and treatment of long COVID-19.

RevDate: 2025-07-01

Ertural B, Çiçek BN, IA Kurnaz (2025)

RNA Therapeutics: Focus on Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Nervous System.

Biomolecules & therapeutics, 33(4):572-581.

RNA therapeutics represent a disruptive technology that has transformed drug discovery and manufacturing, gaining significant prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. RNA therapeutics encompass diverse molecules like antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), RNA aptamers, and messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which can function through different mechanisms. RNA therapeutics are increasingly used to treat various diseases, including neurological disorders. For example, ASO therapies such as nusinersen for spinal muscular atrophy and eteplirsen for Duchenne muscular dystrophy are successful applications of RNA-based treatment. Emerging ASO treatments for Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are also promising, with ongoing clinical trials demonstrating significant reductions in disease-associated proteins. Still, delivery of these molecules remains a pivotal challenge in RNA therapeutics, especially for ASOs in penetrating the blood-brain barrier to target neurological disorders effectively. Nanoparticle-based formulations have emerged as leading strategies to enhance RNA stability, reduce immunogenicity, and improve cellular uptake. Despite these advances, significant hurdles remain, including optimizing pharmacokinetics, minimizing off-target effects, and ensuring sustained therapeutic efficacy. Regulatory frameworks are evolving to accommodate the unique challenges of RNA-based therapies, including ASOs with efforts underway to establish comprehensive guidelines for RNA therapeutics, yet there are also sustainable manufacturing issues that need to be considered for long-term feasibility. By addressing these challenges, RNA therapeutics hold immense potential to revolutionize treatment paradigms for neurological disorders. Looking forward, the future of RNA therapeutics in neurology appears promising but requires continued interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation.

RevDate: 2025-07-01
CmpDate: 2025-07-01

Srinivasan S, Patel S, Hassan T, et al (2025)

Lessons from the pandemic: a retrospective study and literature comparative review of provider and patient experiences with telemedicine in spine care.

Journal of neurosurgery. Spine, 43(1):122-137.

OBJECTIVE: Telemedicine use for patient care in spine surgery drastically increased after the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors aimed to examine factors influencing telemedicine utilization during this period by comparing perspectives from patients and spine surgeons to better guide the use of telehealth beyond the pandemic.

METHODS: Between June 2021 and December 2021, a survey was administered to spine care patients receiving virtual visits at a single multidisciplinary spine center to assess their telemedicine experience, including visit quality, overall communication, and technical challenges. Furthermore, a systematic review using the PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and Web of Science databases in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to identify survey studies of spine surgeons and patients assessing telemedicine experiences.

RESULTS: A total of 407 patients were included in our survey; 65.6% were female, and 82.8% were at least 55 years of age. Most patients were White (86.2%) and had at least a bachelor's degree (81.6%). The majority of respondents (96.8%) reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their telemedicine visits. Explanations at the end of visit (p < 0.001), time spent during the visit (p < 0.001), and absence of technical issues (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased patient satisfaction. Barriers to access such as education level, age, or race were not significantly associated with patient satisfaction (p > 0.05). The authors also performed a systematic review that identified 10 studies on patient attitudes toward telemedicine with 3569 respondents in North America and 10 surveys of spine surgeons with 3043 respondents internationally. Most telemedicine visits were pre- or postoperative (56.3%, 1914/3399; range 42%-95%), and the majority of patients reported traveling less than 25 miles for in-person visits (63.3%, 815/1287; range 57%-68%). Nine patient studies revealed a high patient satisfaction level with telemedicine (79.7%, 2248/2821; range 36%-93%). The virtual physical examination was of greater concern for surgeons (48.6%, 433/891; range 10%-91%) than for patients (15.5%, 156/1007; range 2%-74%).

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the high level of patient satisfaction with telemedicine in spine care, emphasizing factors including clear explanations, sufficient time during visits, and minimal technical issues. Despite concerns about the virtual physical examination, especially among surgeons, telemedicine was effectively utilized for pre- and postoperative care. Telemedicine can continue to play a valuable role in spine care beyond the pandemic, provided that technical challenges are addressed, and communication remains clear and thorough.

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RJR Experience and Expertise

Researcher

Robbins holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in the life sciences. He served as a tenured faculty member in the Zoology and Biological Science departments at Michigan State University. He is currently exploring the intersection between genomics, microbial ecology, and biodiversity — an area that promises to transform our understanding of the biosphere.

Educator

Robbins has extensive experience in college-level education: At MSU he taught introductory biology, genetics, and population genetics. At JHU, he was an instructor for a special course on biological database design. At FHCRC, he team-taught a graduate-level course on the history of genetics. At Bellevue College he taught medical informatics.

Administrator

Robbins has been involved in science administration at both the federal and the institutional levels. At NSF he was a program officer for database activities in the life sciences, at DOE he was a program officer for information infrastructure in the human genome project. At the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, he served as a vice president for fifteen years.

Technologist

Robbins has been involved with information technology since writing his first Fortran program as a college student. At NSF he was the first program officer for database activities in the life sciences. At JHU he held an appointment in the CS department and served as director of the informatics core for the Genome Data Base. At the FHCRC he was VP for Information Technology.

Publisher

While still at Michigan State, Robbins started his first publishing venture, founding a small company that addressed the short-run publishing needs of instructors in very large undergraduate classes. For more than 20 years, Robbins has been operating The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project, a web site dedicated to the digital publishing of critical works in science, especially classical genetics.

Speaker

Robbins is well-known for his speaking abilities and is often called upon to provide keynote or plenary addresses at international meetings. For example, in July, 2012, he gave a well-received keynote address at the Global Biodiversity Informatics Congress, sponsored by GBIF and held in Copenhagen. The slides from that talk can be seen HERE.

Facilitator

Robbins is a skilled meeting facilitator. He prefers a participatory approach, with part of the meeting involving dynamic breakout groups, created by the participants in real time: (1) individuals propose breakout groups; (2) everyone signs up for one (or more) groups; (3) the groups with the most interested parties then meet, with reports from each group presented and discussed in a subsequent plenary session.

Designer

Robbins has been engaged with photography and design since the 1960s, when he worked for a professional photography laboratory. He now prefers digital photography and tools for their precision and reproducibility. He designed his first web site more than 20 years ago and he personally designed and implemented this web site. He engages in graphic design as a hobby.

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With the world now in the middle of a new and rapidly spreading pandemic, now is the time to read this book, originally published in 2012, that describes animal infections and the next human pandemic (that's actually the book's subtitle). You would be hard pressed to find a more relevant explanation of how this got started and why there will be more after this one. R. Robbins

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Collection of publications by R J Robbins

Reprints and preprints of publications, slide presentations, instructional materials, and data compilations written or prepared by Robert Robbins. Most papers deal with computational biology, genome informatics, using information technology to support biomedical research, and related matters.

Research Gate page for R J Robbins

ResearchGate is a social networking site for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators. According to a study by Nature and an article in Times Higher Education , it is the largest academic social network in terms of active users.

Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

short personal version

Curriculum Vitae for R J Robbins

long standard version

RJR Picks from Around the Web (updated 11 MAY 2018 )