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Bibliography on: covid-19

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ESP: PubMed Auto Bibliography 14 Jul 2025 at 01:41 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.

NOTE: To obtain the entire bibliography (all 56539 citations) in bibtek format (a format that can be easily loaded into many different reference-manager software programs, click HERE.

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: 2025-07-12

Flamant A, Demirjian A, Lamagni T, et al (2025)

Invasive group A streptococcal infections: lessons learned from the 2022-23 upsurge.

The Lancet. Infectious diseases pii:S1473-3099(25)00343-3 [Epub ahead of print].

During the late phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, several high-income countries reported a surge in invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infections, with notable paediatric morbidity and mortality. This Review explores three potential drivers of this increase: the role of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated non-pharmaceutical interventions on group A streptococcus (GAS) circulation; the potential burden associated with other respiratory viruses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus; and the potential role of hypervirulent GAS clones and lineages. The resurgence of iGAS disease highlights the need for enhanced surveillance of both invasive and non-invasive GAS infections, as well as further research to clarify the role of immunity, viral interactions, and bacterial molecular epidemiology and its evolution. A comprehensive understanding of these dynamics is essential to inform future public health strategies aimed at mitigating the burden of iGAS disease.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Wimalawansa SJ (2025)

Reforming Food, Drug, and Nutraceutical Regulations to Improve Public Health and Reduce Healthcare Costs.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 14(13):.

Neglecting preventive healthcare policies has contributed to the global surge in chronic diseases, increased hospitalizations, declining quality of care, and escalating costs. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)-notably cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and cancer-consume over 80% of healthcare expenditure and account for more than 60% of global deaths, which are projected to exceed 75% by 2030. Poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, regulatory loopholes, and underfunded public health initiatives are driving this crisis. Compounding the issue are flawed policies, congressional lobbying, and conflicts of interest that prioritize costly, hospital-based, symptom-driven care over identifying and treating to eliminate root causes and disease prevention. Regulatory agencies are failing to deliver their intended functions. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) broad oversight across drugs, devices, food, and supplements has resulted in inefficiencies, reduced transparency, and public safety risks. This broad mandate has allowed the release of unsafe drugs, food additives, and supplements, contributing to the rising childhood diseases, the burden of chronic illness, and over-medicalization. The author proposes separating oversight responsibilities: transferring authority over food, supplements, and OTC products to a new Food and Nutraceutical Agency (FNA), allowing the FDA to be restructured as the Drug and Device Agency (DDA), to refocus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. While complete reform requires Congressional action, interim policy shifts are urgently needed to improve public health. Broader structural changes-including overhauling the Affordable Care Act, eliminating waste and fraud, redesigning regulatory and insurance systems, and eliminating intermediaries are essential to reducing costs, improving care, and transforming national and global health outcomes. The information provided herein can serve as a White Paper to help reform health agencies and healthcare systems for greater efficiency and lower costs in the USA and globally.

RevDate: 2025-07-13
CmpDate: 2025-07-13

Torres BP, Aguiniga A, Yzaguirre S, et al (2025)

Trends and considerations in the pursuit of postgraduate training: Motivations, barriers, and well-being.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 82(14):831-843.

PURPOSE: Pharmacy residency training, endorsed by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), is designed to enhance clinical pharmacy practice. However, in 2022 and subsequent years, the ASHP Resident Matching Program reported unprecedented numbers of unfilled positions, notably in postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) programs. This review explores motivations, barriers, and well-being indices in pharmacy residency pursuit and training, seeking to explain the rise in unfilled postgraduate training positions.

METHODS: Two literature searches were performed using relevant resources and databases: search 1, to determine motivating factors and barriers to pursuit of postgraduate training; and search 2, to gather evidence related to resident well-being, burnout, and resiliency.

RESULTS: Search 1 yielded 11 studies about motivating or deterring factors for pharmacy residency pursuit, whereas search 2 produced 16 articles on resident well-being. Major motivators for pursuing postgraduate training included the desire to gain knowledge and specialized training, recognition of evolving pharmacist roles, and viewing residency as a prerequisite for certain positions. Conversely, major barriers included financial or family obligations and concerns about job availability following graduation. Most articles discussed student pursuit of PGY1 residencies. Resident well-being encompassed burnout assessments, other wellness indicators like depression, and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Developed well-being programs elicited mostly positive perceptions from pharmacy residents.

CONCLUSION: There is a body of published literature elucidating motivations and barriers to the pursuit of postgraduate training and well-being related to wellness/satisfaction on the job. However, to comprehensively evaluate well-being program impact and address gaps in literature regarding barriers to and motivators for pursuit of specialized PGY2 programs, further research is needed.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Okuhara T, Okada H, Yokota R, et al (2025)

Effectiveness and determinants of narrative-based corrections for health misinformation: A systematic review.

Patient education and counseling, 139:109253 pii:S0738-3991(25)00620-2 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of narrative-based interventions in correcting health-related misinformation and to identify key message-related, sender-related, and recipient-related factors influencing their success.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases including PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Communication Abstracts, and Web of Science. Eligible studies included quantitative intervention studies examining the impact of narrative-based corrections on health-related misinformation.

RESULTS: Twenty studies covering topics such as COVID-19, vaccination, tobacco use, and e-cigarette use were included. Among the 16 studies comparing narrative and nonnarrative corrections, only four showed that narratives were significantly more effective in reducing misinformation-related beliefs than other message types. Several factors influenced narrative effectiveness. Message-related factors include emotional language, social framing, and message sidedness. Sender-related factors, such as the credibility of the source and relational closeness with recipients, also affected outcomes. Recipient-related factors, including cognitive style, political ideology, and social media use motivation, moderated the intervention effects. Some studies have reported unintended backfire effects in which narratives reinforce misinformation.

CONCLUSION: Narrative-based corrections show the potential for addressing health-related misinformation; however, their effectiveness remains inconsistent. The variability in narrative design, media platforms, and insufficient theoretical grounding may explain these mixed results. Future research should focus on theoretically informed narratives and systematically examine the influencing factors to optimize misinformation correction strategies.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The effectiveness of narrative-based corrections on health misinformation depends on thoughtful design grounded in theoretical principles such as transportation, identification, and exemplification. Health communicators should consider narrative length, depth, and emotional content and adapt messages to different platforms (e.g., social media). Tailoring interventions to audience characteristics, such as cognitive styles and prior beliefs, can further enhance efforts to correct misinformation.

RevDate: 2025-07-12
CmpDate: 2025-07-12

Alvarado-Hernández DL, Noyola MV, Martínez-Rider R, et al (2025)

NK Cells: A Powerful Squad Versus SARS-CoV-2.

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(13): pii:ijms26136500.

The function of NK cells in cancer and viral infections is well documented and understood. NK cell activity, including cytokine secretion, cytotoxic activity, and the coordination of inhibitory and activating receptors, linking innate and adaptive immunity, among others, has been examined for numerous pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, and viruses. The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 health crisis has exposed a deficiency in understanding the previously elucidated mechanisms; the rationale for the reported variability in symptomatology among COVID-19 patients is extensive and intricate. It is evident that NK cells exert a significant influence on symptom severity, and their absence, with the presence or absence of their surface receptors, elicits a tailored response to the virus. This overview examines the impact of NK cells on the progression of several viral diseases, emphasizing their involvement in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 via the activation of surface receptors.

RevDate: 2025-07-12
CmpDate: 2025-07-12

Capotă R, Ciaușu-Sliwa D, Bostănaru-Iliescu AC, et al (2025)

Latest Findings in Immunoglobulin Y Technologies and Applications.

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(13): pii:ijms26136380.

Immunoglobulin Y (IgY), the major antibody class in birds, has gained increasing attention in recent years as a versatile and ethically sustainable alternative to mammalian immunoglobulins. IgY has demonstrated strong potential in diagnostics, prophylaxis, and therapy across a wide range of fields, including infectious diseases, allergy management, oral health, and food safety. Its applications in animal health-particularly in poultry, livestock, and companion animals-further underscore its relevance within the One Health framework. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of IgY technology, starting with its physiological role in maternal immunity and the structural characteristics that distinguish it from mammalian immunoglobulin G (IgG). This review outlines current strategies for IgY production and purification. It also provides an overview of its biomedical and veterinary applications, including its use in diagnostics, prevention, and treatment-such as for SARS-CoV-2-primarily based on studies published in the past five years. The final section addresses the current limitations of IgY technology, such as variability in protocols, stability challenges, and the need for safety assessment, while highlighting the importance of harmonized guidelines to support broader implementation. With growing scientific interest, expanding clinical research, and increasing availability of commercial products, IgY is well positioned to become a valuable immunobiological tool for both human and veterinary applications.

RevDate: 2025-07-12
CmpDate: 2025-07-12

Hein ZM, Thazin , Kumar S, et al (2025)

Immunomodulatory Mechanisms Underlying Neurological Manifestations in Long COVID: Implications for Immune-Mediated Neurodegeneration.

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(13): pii:ijms26136214.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the profound and lasting impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the nervous system. Beyond acute infection, SARS-CoV-2 acts as a potent immunomodulatory agent, disrupting immune homeostasis and contributing to persistent inflammation, autoimmunity, and neurodegeneration. Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), is characterized by a spectrum of neurological symptoms, including cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, neuropathy, and mood disturbances. These are linked to immune dysregulation involving cytokine imbalance, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, glial activation, and T-cell exhaustion. Key biomarkers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NFL) correlate with disease severity and chronicity. This narrative review examines the immunopathological mechanisms underpinning the neurological sequelae of long COVID, focusing on neuroinflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and molecular mimicry. We also assess the role of viral variants in shaping neuroimmune outcomes and explore emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, including biomarker-guided and immune-targeted interventions. By delineating how SARS-CoV-2 reshapes neuroimmune interactions, this review aims to support the development of precision-based diagnostics and targeted therapies for long COVID-related neurological dysfunction. Emerging approaches include immune-modulatory agents (e.g., anti-IL-6), neuroprotective drugs, and strategies for repurposing antiviral or anti-inflammatory compounds in neuro-COVID. Given the high prevalence of comorbidities, personalized therapies guided by biomarkers and patient-specific immune profiles may be essential. Advancements in vaccine technologies and targeted biologics may also hold promise for prevention and disease modification. Finally, continued interdisciplinary research is needed to clarify the complex virus-immune-brain axis in long COVID and inform effective clinical management.

RevDate: 2025-07-12
CmpDate: 2025-07-12

Aklilu A, Lai MS, Jiang Z, et al (2025)

Immunothrombosis in Sepsis: Cellular Crosstalk, Molecular Triggers, and Therapeutic Opportunities-A Review.

International journal of molecular sciences, 26(13): pii:ijms26136114.

Sepsis remains a critical global health challenge characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction arising from a dysregulated host response to infection. Immunothrombosis refers to the intersection of immune activation and coagulation pathways, particularly relevant in the context of sepsis. A growing body of evidence identifies immunothrombosis, a tightly interwoven process between innate immunity and coagulation. While immunothrombosis serves as a host defense mechanism under physiological conditions, its aberrant activation in sepsis precipitates microvascular thrombosis, organ ischemia, and progression toward disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This review provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular contributors to immunothrombosis, including neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells, and elucidates the signaling cascades, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and inflammasome activation, that govern their interplay. We further highlight emerging molecular mediators, including extracellular traps, tissue factor expression, and cytokine amplification loops, that collectively promote pathological thromboinflammation. A deeper understanding of these interconnected pathways offers critical insights into the pathogenesis of sepsis and unveils potential targets for timely intervention. Ultimately, this review aims to bridge immunological and hematological perspectives to inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies against sepsis-induced coagulopathy.

RevDate: 2025-07-12
CmpDate: 2025-07-12

Brahmi F, Mackrill JJ, Ghzaiel I, et al (2025)

Oxysterol-Induced Inflammation in Human Diseases: Strategies for Treatment with Natural Compounds and Synthetic Molecules.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 30(13): pii:molecules30132883.

Oxysterols can be derived from the diet, physiologically produced via specific enzymes, or are generated by autoxidation. These molecules have physiological properties and can also adversely affect vital organs. Indeed, some of them have pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory activities and can lead to major pathologies. The present review focuses on oxysterols (7-ketocholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol, 27-hydroxycholesterol, 5,6α-epoxycholesterol, 5,6β-epoxycholesterol, and cholestane-3β, 5α, 6β-triol) involved either in cholesterol metabolism, age-related diseases (such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and eye diseases, e.g., sarcopenia), and inflammatory diseases (especially Behcet's disease and bowel and lung diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis, COVID-19)). Metabolic pathways associated with oxysterol-induced inflammation are discussed considering the cytokinic TLR4 pathway, non-cytokinic pathways, and the contribution of Ca[2+] and K[+] channels. Therapeutic approaches targeting oxysterol-induced inflammation either by natural or synthetic molecules are also presented.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Abumayyaleh M, Schupp T, Behnes M, et al (2025)

COVID-19 and Myocarditis: Trends, Clinical Characteristics, and Future Directions.

Journal of clinical medicine, 14(13): pii:jcm14134560.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been associated with a range of cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis. This review aims to systematically present the clinical manifestations, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for both COVID-19-associated myocarditis and myocarditis related to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. We conducted a literature search using the PubMed database, covering studies published up to early 2024. Search terms included combinations of "COVID-19", "Coronavirus", "SARS-CoV-2", and/or "vaccination" with "cardiac injury", "cardiac inflammation", "myocarditis". The reported prevalence of COVID-19-associated myocarditis varies between 2.3% and 5.0%, though myocardial injury is more frequently observed than confirmed myocarditis. Pathophysiological mechanisms include direct viral damage, immune-mediated injury, and molecular mimicry. Clinically, patients may present with chest pain, dyspnea, and fever. Diagnostic workup includes electrocardiography (ECG), troponin measurement, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), and in selected cases, endomyocardial biopsy (EMB). The management and disposition of COVID-19-associated myocarditis varies according to severity, especially to allow targeted treatment of complications. Glucocorticoids are a mainstay of treatment in severe cases. Myocarditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is rare, more frequently reported in males under 30 years, and is generally associated with a favorable prognosis. Despite this, the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks. COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and other cardiovascular complications, underlining the importance of long-term follow-up and preventive strategies. Further research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis and optimal management of myocarditis in the context of COVID-19, with the goal of developing evidence-based therapeutic algorithms.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Sakaretsanou AK, Bakola M, Chatzeli T, et al (2025)

Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on College Students: A Literature Review with Emphasis on Vulnerable and Minority Populations.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(13): pii:healthcare13131572.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted higher education worldwide, imposing strict isolation measures, transitioning learning online, and exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. This literature review examines the pandemic's impact on the mental health of college students, with a focus on those belonging to minority groups, including racial, ethnic, migrant, gender, sexuality-based, and low-income populations. While elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness were observed across all students, findings indicate that LGBTQ+ and low-income students faced the highest levels of psychological distress, due to compounded stressors such as family rejection, unsafe home environments, and financial insecurity. Racial and ethnic minority students reported increased experiences of discrimination and reduced access to culturally competent mental healthcare. International and migrant students were disproportionately affected by travel restrictions, legal uncertainties, and social disconnection. These disparities underscore the need for higher education institutions to implement targeted, inclusive mental health policies that account for the unique needs of at-risk student populations during health crises.

RevDate: 2025-07-12

Kalok A, Kamisan Atan I, Sharip S, et al (2025)

Psychosocial Determinants of Childbirth Fear Among Asian Women: A Scoping Review.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(13): pii:healthcare13131535.

Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) or tokophobia has a detrimental impact on women during and after pregnancy. Childbirth fear is multidimensional and may differ across nations and cultures. We aimed to determine the psychosocial determinants of tokophobia among Asians. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in September 2023. Included were original English-language articles that focused on Asian cohorts. We identified independent variables associated with maternal childbirth fear based on multivariable logistic and linear regression analysis. Results: Twenty-three studies are discussed in this review. We categorized the factors into (1) psychiatry, (2) psychology, (3) perception and experience, (4) relationships and support, (5) spirituality, and (6) COVID-19. The studies involved 10,538 women with overall FOC prevalence ranging between 56.6% to 82.1%. Maternal history of psychiatric disorder, depression, and anxiety were positive predictors of childbirth fear. Childbirth self-efficacy protects Asian mothers against tokophobia. A reduced level of fear was associated with higher maternal psychological and spiritual well-being, as well as stronger maternal resilience. Spousal and social support alongside good family function were shown to exert a protective effect against childbirth fear. Intimate partner abuse was associated with an increased risk of tokophobia in women. Studies during the pandemic indicated that maternal fear, obsession, and anxiety about COVID-19 were positively correlated to fear of childbirth. Conclusions: Childbirth fear among Asian women is greatly influenced by various psycho-social factors. More culturally driven research is needed to help develop relevant interventions that will enhance maternal psychological and spiritual well-being and reduce the fear of childbirth.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-11

Valkanas H, McFadden K, Mignacca I, et al (2025)

Impact of the COVID-19 era on preventative primary care for children 0-5 years old: a scoping review.

BMC primary care, 26(1):221.

BACKGROUND: Restrictions to routine preventative primary care well child visits (WCV) during COVID-19 may have affected a variety of outcomes for young children including growth, development, and the identification and management of developmental delays. To better understand the effect of the pandemic on these outcomes, we conducted a scoping review of studies published between March 2020 and April 2024. The objectives of this scoping review were to determine the impact of the COVID-19 era on WCV attendance and developmental outcomes in children 0-5 years old.

RESULTS: 23 articles met inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in the U.S. The overall COVID-19 era WCV rate was lower compared to pre-COVID visit rates. Higher rates of missed WCVs and reduced access were reported for racialized children and those from families with lower socioeconomic status. Studies measuring developmental outcomes found associations between children born during the pandemic and increased rates of expressive language delays, decreased personal-social skills, increased delays in achieving verbal, motor, and overall cognitive performance milestones, increased externalizing behaviours, and decreased prosocial behaviour. No study examined the impact of WCV attendance rates on developmental outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, infants, toddlers, and young children attended fewer preventative primary care visits and pandemic-born children were more likely to show signs of developmental delay. This review highlights the need for further research to better understand the longitudinal impact of reduced access to preventative primary care and child health outcomes, including the early detection of, and referral for, developmental delays.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-11

Ryu JO, Seong YJ, Lee E, et al (2025)

Applications and research trends in organoid based infectious disease models.

Scientific reports, 15(1):25185.

Recently, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture technology has been developing rapidly, and disease-specific organoid models that can simulate human diseases are being developed. These models are being studied as a valuable tool that can be applied to pathogen biology research and drug screening analysis platforms to obtain fast, reliable, and reproducible results. Organoids are 3D cell aggregates formed from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), adult stem cells (ASCs), or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through self-renewal and self-organization. They are also called mini-organs and have a structure and function similar to those of real organs, providing a more physiologically relevant model compared to traditional 2D cultures. In particular, due to the recent epidemics of infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), many studies are using organoids for infectious disease research, enabling more accurate pathogen-host interaction modeling. In this review, we briefly introduce organoids and discuss research trends in developing organoid-based models of infectious diseases, focusing on organoids derived from the brain, liver, intestines, lung, kidney, skin, and blood vessels. These models hold significant potential for advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic development.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Gurley ES, RK Plowright (2025)

A Roadmap of Primary Pandemic Prevention Through Spillover Investigation.

Emerging infectious diseases, 31(8): [Epub ahead of print].

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, attention and investment in pandemic preparedness have increased. Although there are many valiant plans around pandemic preparedness, they typically involve slowing the spread or mitigating the effects of a pathogen after it has already entered the human population. The task of stopping the pathogen from entering the human population in the first place, spillover prevention, remains a neglected area in discussions and planning for pandemic risk mitigation. Every spillover offers an opportunity to learn about an emerging public health threat and the conditions that aligned to enable spillover occurrence. In this article, we outline One Health approaches for use in spillover investigations, drawing from our experience investigating Hendra and Nipah virus spillovers. We present a roadmap for how findings from those investigations can lead to the development of interventions for spillover and ultimately pandemic prevention.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Chen X, Shao M, Liu Y, et al (2025)

Role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in sepsis and its therapeutic targets.

International immunopharmacology, 162:115192 pii:S1567-5769(25)01182-8 [Epub ahead of print].

An imbalance in the host's response to infection causes sepsis, a potentially fatal condition. Sepsis may advance to septic shock, organ dysfunction (including the brain, liver, lung, kidney, and heart), skeletal muscle atrophy, and an array of severe complications. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) undergoes significant alterations during sepsis, and the expression of its principal bioactive components is closely associated with the prognosis of patients with sepsis. Targeting RAAS may offer an effective approach to managing sepsis and its complications. Consequently, this review primarily summarizes the impact of sepsis on the activity and expression of key RAAS components in the circulation and tissues. We also discuss the effects and mechanisms of selectively modulating the RAAS in the context of sepsis and its associated complications. Furthermore, we introduce innovative perspectives on the precise regulation of the RAAS with the aim of optimizing treatment strategies tailored to different stages of sepsis and diverse complications.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-11

Jeeves SP, Kotwa JD, Pearl DL, et al (2025)

Coronaviruses in wild rodent and eulipotyphlan small mammals: a review of diversity, ecological implications and surveillance considerations.

The Journal of general virology, 106(7):.

Coronaviruses are abundant and diverse RNA viruses with broad vertebrate host ranges. These viruses include agents of human seasonal respiratory illness, such as human coronaviruses OC43 and HKU1; important pathogens of livestock and domestic animals such as swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus and feline coronavirus; and human pathogens of epidemic potential such as SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Most coronavirus surveillance has been conducted in bat species. However, small terrestrial mammals such as rodents and eulipotyphlans are important hosts of coronaviruses as well. Although fewer studies of rodent and eulipotyphlan coronaviruses exist compared to those of bats, notable diversity of coronaviruses has been reported in the former. No literature synthesis for this area of research has been completed despite (a) growing evidence for a small mammal origin of certain human coronaviruses and (b) global abundance of small mammal species. In this review, we present an overview of the current state of coronavirus research in wild terrestrial small mammals. We conducted a literature search for studies that investigated coronaviruses infecting rodent and eulipotyphlan hosts, which returned 63 studies published up to and including 2024. We describe trends in coronavirus diversity and surveillance for these studies. To further the examination of the interrelatedness of these viruses, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of coronavirus whole genomes recovered from rodent and eulipotyphlan hosts. We discuss important facets of terrestrial small mammal coronaviruses, including evolutionary aspects and zoonotic spillover risk. Lastly, we present important recommendations and considerations for further surveillance and viral characterization efforts in this field.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-11

Beka SG, Griffiths RF, Myers JA, et al (2025)

Appropriate Screening Tests to Assess Post-COVID-19 Cognitive Dysfunction in Aeromedical Settings.

Aerospace medicine and human performance, 96(5):414-424.

INTRODUCTION: Post-COVID-19, 10-20% of individuals may experience long-term symptoms (some having cognitive deficits), even after mild or nonsymptomatic infection. A sufficiently sensitive screening test of cognitive function, based on the typical cognitive effects of COVID-19 and skills considered most relevant to pilot performance, would be highly beneficial to be used alongside other performance checks. This study aimed to identify appropriate screening tests for post-COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction.

METHODS: Initially, a systematic search and narrative review identified 13 screening tools that are likely to be effective in screening pilots for post-COVID-19 neurocognitive impairment. Following a more in-depth evaluation of the identified tools, five tests including the Trail Making Test, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, Stroop Color Word Test, Psychomotor Vigilance Test, and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test were chosen for a Delphi evaluation exercise. A two-round modified Delphi process was undertaken with international aviation medicine and psychology experts to obtain a consensus on which of the identified tests would be appropriate to screen for cognitive dysfunction in pilots.

RESULTS: Based on evaluation of literature review findings and Delphi consultation with subject matter experts, the Trail Making Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test were identified as quick and suitable screening tests likely to detect post-COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction.

DISCUSSION: These tools are objective, have good utility, are available in multiple versions, and assess cognitive abilities relevant to pilot performance. Their use for screening in aeromedical examinations would be further supported by confirming their ability to reliably detect neurocognitive impacts associated with COVID-19. Beka SG, Griffiths RF, Myers JA, Skirrow PM. Appropriate screening tests to assess post-COVID-19 cognitive dysfunction in aeromedical settings. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(5):414-424.

RevDate: 2025-07-11
CmpDate: 2025-07-11

Rahimian A, Askari H, Nabati A, et al (2025)

A Roadmap for the Application of Convalescent Plasma and Hyperimmune Globulins in Emerging Viral Outbreaks.

TheScientificWorldJournal, 2025:9976167.

The outbreak of COVID-19 took the world by surprise and dealt a serious blow to the global economy. Even today, few drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infection have been proven useful, and repurposing existing antiviral therapies remains a major research area in the treatment of the disease. During previous viral outbreaks, therapies using convalescent plasma and related products have repeatedly been used as empirical approaches. Rapid preparation of convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulins (hIVIGs) makes these two treatment options useful in dealing with outbreaks of emerging diseases. The current study presents a systematic roadmap concerning the guidelines, criteria, and regulations involved in plasma transfusion and the preparation of hIVIGs applicable to possible future viral outbreaks.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Momeni Moghaddam A, Rastkar M, Soltanzadi A, et al (2025)

Incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse after COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Caspian journal of internal medicine, 16(2):192-197.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 could exacerbate the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Literature shows an increase in the incidence of relapse in patients with MS after COVID-19. We designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled incidence of MS-relapse after COVID-19.

METHODS: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google scholar. Gray literature including references of the references and conference abstracts were also searched to find relevant articles. We extracted data regarding the total number of participants, the name of the first author, publication year, country of origin, mean age, mean disease duration, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and the number of patients with relapse after COVID.

RESULTS: A literature search revealed 5160 articles, after deleting duplicates, 2270 remained. After careful evaluation of the full texts, twelve studies were included for meta-analysis. Totally, 1595 patients with MS who had a history of COVID-19 were evaluated. Most studies were done in Iran. The mean age of included patients ranged between 35 and 49 years, and mean durations of the disease were between 7and 15.4 years. The incidence of relapse ranged between 2% and 20% in included studies.The pooled incidence of relapse after COVID-19 was 7% (95%CI:5-10%) (I2=64%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that the pooled incidence of MS-related relapse after COVID-19 is 7%.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Zhang M, Hu X, Wu H, et al (2025)

Narcolepsy: a machine learning bibliometric analysis (1996-2024).

Frontiers in neurology, 16:1505574.

BACKGROUND: Narcolepsy is a rare neurological cause of chronic sleepiness. This study aimed to better understand global narcolepsy through bibliometric analysis.

METHODS: Articles and reviews on narcolepsy were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection. A bibliometric analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, Python, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, R (bibliometrix), and the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology to assess publication outputs, countries, institutions, authors, journals, co-cited references, and keywords.

RESULTS: The analysis included 5,215 publications, with citations significantly increasing from 1996 to 2024. The USA led in publications, while the top institutions were Stanford University, INSERM, and Université de Montpellier. Key authors like Professors Plazzi G, Mignot E, and Dauvilliers Y greatly contributed to the field through numerous publications and high citation rates. Sleep published the most articles, followed by Sleep Medicine. Keyword analysis indicated a shift toward molecular mechanisms, comorbidities, and diagnosis. Recent interest has surged in medications for excessive daytime sleepiness, such as "Pitolisant", "Modafinil" and "Sodium Oxybate" along with the relationship between narcolepsy and COVID-19.

CONCLUSION: "Pitolisant," "Modafinil," and "Sodium Oxybate" have gained prominence in narcolepsy treatment. This study also highlights common comorbidities linked to narcolepsy, including "obstructive sleep apnea", "epilepsy" and "atrial fibrillation" driving researchers to explore these conditions to improve the quality of life for affected individuals. However, the interactions between key neurotransmitters in narcolepsy are still unclear, and challenges remain regarding factors that complicate drug therapy efficacy, necessitating further investigation.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Wang F, Ge R, Cai Y, et al (2025)

Oxidative stress in ARDS: mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Frontiers in pharmacology, 16:1603287.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by acute lung inflammation, increased vascular permeability, and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Oxidative stress, driven by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key contributor to ARDS pathogenesis, causing cellular damage, inflammation, and alveolar-capillary barrier disruption. This review elucidates the mechanisms of oxidative stress in ARDS, focusing on ROS production via NADPH oxidase (NOX) and mitochondria, which activate pathways like NF-κB and MAPK, promoting pro-inflammatory cytokine release. ROS-induced lipid and protein peroxidation, endothelial dysfunction, and programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, exacerbate lung injury. In COVID-19-related ARDS, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein amplifies mitochondrial ROS, worsening outcomes. Antioxidant therapies falter due to non-specific ROS suppression, patient heterogeneity (e.g., GSTP1 polymorphisms), and poor bioavailability. We propose a model where oxidative stress drives ARDS stages-early alveolar injury and late systemic dysfunction-suggesting targeted therapies like endothelial-specific nanoparticles or ferroptosis inhibitors. Precision medicine using biomarkers (e.g., mtDNA) and gender-specific approaches (e.g., estrogen-Nrf2 regulation) could enhance outcomes. This review bridges mechanistic gaps, critiques therapeutic failures, and advocates novel strategies like mitochondrial-targeted therapies to improve ARDS management.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Schmeyers L, Thomschke S, Mende LV, et al (2025)

Economic methods and spatial scales in One Health: Results from a scoping review.

One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 21:101115.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 and other zoonoses indicate the close connection between human, animal, and environmental health. This interdependency underscores the need for a comprehensive One Health approach. However, the One Health concept is sometimes reduced to combating zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance, neglecting the spatial and environmental dimensions. This narrow focus overlooks the potential of One Health in geographic contexts, where it can optimize health within regional ecosystems. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of geographic contexts and economic approaches to measuring One Health and the importance of these factors for effective health outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comprehensive search for economic evidence and the geographical scope of One Health was conducted. The search terms 'One Health', combined with 'region, landscape, area, geography, cost, economics, utility,' were used in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. Articles were screened by two blinded reviewers. Year, author, economic method, intervention, outcome, study aim, topic, and geographical area of the articles were recorded.

RESULTS: 1214 articles were retrieved and 108 were included in this analysis. The topics focused on: zoonoses (56 %), antimicrobial resistance (14 %), food safety/security (7 %), animal welfare (6 %), and governance (6 %). Most studies were conducted in African countries, the majority of studies (57 %) adopted a regional perspective, while 19 % employed a national and 13 % adopted a multi-country perspective. The most common economic approaches were mixed methods and CEA, regression analysis, as well as index methods.

DISCUSSION: The analyzed articles largely focus on zoonoses and current measurement instruments that do not yet align with the requirements of the One Health Joint Plan of Action 2022-26. Integrating geographical considerations promises a more comprehensive and effective approach to One Health challenges. The diversity of identified measurement instruments provides a valuable foundation for developing future, context-sensitive One Health strategies.

RevDate: 2025-07-11

Peng Y, Ke Y, Cai R, et al (2025)

Post-pandemic one health: Unpacking the role of greenspaces and human-dog interactions in long-term health and well-being.

One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 21:101116.

The social isolation measures implemented during the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 have had lasting effects on public health and well-being. In response, a growing body of discourse has emerged to examine the long-term impacts of the pandemic on human health and welfare. Addressing these complex challenges requires innovative, interdisciplinary approaches grounded in a conceptual framework that integrates perspectives from both the social and natural sciences. At the intersection of human-animal-green space interactions, the One Health framework has become a prominent driver of holistic health research. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive reviews on how this framework has been applied to investigate the interconnected health and well-being outcomes associated with these dynamics. To fill this gap, the present study conducted a systematic scoping review to identify patterns, gaps, and key themes in the literature, while outlining priorities and considerations for future research. Following standardized PRISMA guidelines, the review employed clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, along with dual-reviewer screening and data extraction procedures. A total of 29 studies were included, all of which directly or indirectly utilized the One Health framework. These studies were categorized into two primary thematic areas: (1) the role of green spaces in promoting human health in the post-pandemic context, and (2) emotional interactions between humans and animals during the pandemic. A notable trend in the literature is the incorporation of the Sense of Coherence as a key dimension of health and well-being within the One Health framework, highlighting the potential of human-dog-green space interactions to contribute meaningfully to salutogenic health processes. The limited number of studies identified also reflects the current underrepresentation of well-being as a core pillar within established One Health research. Based on existing evidence, this review provides a foundational reference for researchers seeking to explore health and well-being through a One Health perspective. It offers guidance for future investigations into the synergistic effects of human-dog-green space interactions on well-being, and proposes data-driven interventions and policy recommendations to address both general health outcomes and the prolonged effects of COVID-19.

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

Guo Y, Pan N, Zou Y, et al (2025)

Neuroimaging insights into the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review.

Translational psychiatry, 15(1):236.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented threat to global health. However, neural substrates underlying mental health vulnerabilities brought by the pandemic remain elusive. We conducted a systematic review relating structural and functional brain abnormalities to mental health issues associated with COVID-19 at brain regional and network levels. A literature search on neuroimaging studies of mental health problems derived by COVID-19 was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science and MEDLINE databases. We identified 46 studies across various imaging techniques and found that COVID-19-related mental health problems were principally associated with brain structural and functional alterations in the prefrontal cortex, insula, cingulate, hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as the affective cortical network. This review may facilitate the targeted development of therapies tailored to the pandemic context and provide insights for proactive prevention against future collective stressors and traumas.

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.

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In reading the early works of classical genetics, one is drawn, almost inexorably, into ever more complex models, until molecular explanations begin to seem both necessary and natural. At that point, the tools for understanding genome research are at hand. Assisting readers reach this point was the original goal of The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project.

ESP Usage

Usage of the site grew rapidly and has remained high. Faculty began to use the site for their assigned readings. Other on-line publishers, ranging from The New York Times to Nature referenced ESP materials in their own publications. Nobel laureates (e.g., Joshua Lederberg) regularly used the site and even wrote to suggest changes and improvements.

ESP Content

When the site began, no journals were making their early content available in digital format. As a result, ESP was obliged to digitize classic literature before it could be made available. For many important papers — such as Mendel's original paper or the first genetic map — ESP had to produce entirely new typeset versions of the works, if they were to be available in a high-quality format.

ESP Help

Early support from the DOE component of the Human Genome Project was critically important for getting the ESP project on a firm foundation. Since that funding ended (nearly 20 years ago), the project has been operated as a purely volunteer effort. Anyone wishing to assist in these efforts should send an email to Robbins.

ESP Plans

With the development of methods for adding typeset side notes to PDF files, the ESP project now plans to add annotated versions of some classical papers to its holdings. We also plan to add new reference and pedagogical material. We have already started providing regularly updated, comprehensive bibliographies to the ESP.ORG site.

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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

Electronic Scholarly Publishing
961 Red Tail Lane
Bellingham, WA 98226

E-mail: RJR8222 @ gmail.com

Papers in Classical Genetics

The ESP began as an effort to share a handful of key papers from the early days of classical genetics. Now the collection has grown to include hundreds of papers, in full-text format.

Digital Books

Along with papers on classical genetics, ESP offers a collection of full-text digital books, including many works by Darwin and even a collection of poetry — Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg.

Timelines

ESP now offers a large collection of user-selected side-by-side timelines (e.g., all science vs. all other categories, or arts and culture vs. world history), designed to provide a comparative context for appreciating world events.

Biographies

Biographical information about many key scientists (e.g., Walter Sutton).

Selected Bibliographies

Bibliographies on several topics of potential interest to the ESP community are automatically maintained and generated on the ESP site.

ESP Picks from Around the Web (updated 28 JUL 2024 )