Dinah Parums - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dinah Parums

Med Sci Monit, 2025

The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Consortium was founded in 2016 as an open global initiative to map eac... more The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Consortium was founded in 2016 as an open global initiative to map each cell type in the human body and create a three-dimensional (3-D) atlas. As of December 2024, 18 Biological Networks are assembling the first draft of the HCA from organs, tissues, and organ systems, including the heart, lung, liver, and immune system. Although the completed first version of the HCA should be released within a year, possibly two, the HCA Biological Networks are making the atlases available on the HCA Data Portal as they are released. Since 2016, the Consortium has grown to include more than 3,200 members from more than 1,700 institutes and now involves 99 countries to allow data from diverse geographic and ethnic groups and age ranges. The freely available data and cell maps will help transform future healthcare by improving the understanding of tissue-specific human cell biology in health and disease. This Editorial aims to provide an update on the current status of the HCA and highlights how this encyclopedia of cells will be an important step towards providing better care to individual patients, which will benefit all of humanity.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

This year, 2024, marks the 60 th anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki, with the latest revi... more This year, 2024, marks the 60 th anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki, with the latest revision adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA) in October 2024. The 2024 Declaration of Helsinki is a statement document of ethical principles for research involving humans, human data, and human cells and tissues. Revising the 2013 Declaration of Helsinki document was undertaken over more than two years with international collaboration to enhance the inclusivity of medical research, protect the rights of research study participants, and address contemporary research challenges such as global health emergencies and data privacy. The revised Declaration document does not replace the roles of the Institutional Review Board and the local Ethics Committee in reviewing and approving all research study protocols but continues to provide ethical guidance for the individuals who support, review, and conduct medical research. This editorial highlights the timely revisions in the 2024 Declaration of Helsinki and the importance of updating and maintaining an international consensus for a code of ethics that guides medical research.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Vertical transmission, or mother-to-child transmission, of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infecti... more Vertical transmission, or mother-to-child transmission, of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection is rare due to the success of the barrier functions of the placental maternal-fetal interface, which provides physical, molecular, and immunological mechanisms to protect the developing fetus. Infections in pregnancy that can cross the placenta and reach the fetus can cause fetal loss, stillbirth, or prematurity or can lead to congenital infection, malformation of organs, and neonatal disease at birth. The acronym TORCH stands for Toxoplasma gondii, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Within the TORCH category of 'other,' there are increasing emerging viral pathogens that can pass from mother to fetus, including Ebola virus, Zika virus, and emerging arbovirus infections, including West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever virus. Although SARS-CoV-2 has rarely been reported to show transplacental spread, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of surveillance of new human pathogens with rapidly evolving transmission patterns. This article reviews the protective roles of the placental maternal-fetal interface, the concept of TORCH infections, and the emergence of viral pathogens currently causing concerns for vertical transmission from mother to fetus.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

On October 8 2024, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physic... more On October 8 2024, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Hopfield and Hinton for their foundation research on machine learning with artificial neural networks, which resulted in the current applications for artificial intelligence (AI). Digital diagnostic histopathology combines image capture with image analysis and uses digital tools to collect, analyze, and share diagnostic information. An increase in chronic diseases, diagnostic departmental workloads, and diagnostic tests to support targeted therapy in cancer patients have driven the use and development of image analysis systems, and several medical device companies have recently developed whole-slide scanning devices. In April 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted marketing authorization for the first whole slide imaging (WSI) system. During 2024, large-scale studies from several cancer centers have shown the potential for diagnostic reporting for real-world data and whole-slide modeling to develop validated diagnostic AI algorithms. This editorial discusses why recent advances and applications in AI and digital image analysis may have an important future role in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Rising levels of obesity in all age groups are associated with profound effects on health and eco... more Rising levels of obesity in all age groups are associated with profound effects on health and economies in developed and developing countries. This year, the scientific research behind the development of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 analogs or incretin mimetics) has been recognized. On 19 September 2024, three scientists were presented with a Lasker Award for their basic clinical research on identifying and studying the roles of GLP-1. The research by Joel Habener, Svetlana Mojsov, and Lotte Bjerre Knudsen began three decades ago and has led to new anti-obesity drugs, which mimic GLP-1 to lower blood glucose levels and control appetite. The efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the management of obesity in adults, as well as in children and adolescents, has now been supported by several clinical trials. This editorial aims to describe the research behind developing GLP-1 receptor agonists and their potential and pitfalls in managing obesity in all age groups.

American Journal of Case Reports, Sep 30, 2023

Between 2012 and 2022, the American Journal of Case Reports published over 3,500 case reports and... more Between 2012 and 2022, the American Journal of Case Reports published over 3,500 case reports and case series. In 2022-23, this journal achieved an impact factor (IF) of 1.2. The significant merits of published case reports include identifying rare diseases and syndromes, treatment complications or side effects, pharmacovigilance, and medical education. The limitations or cautions of the case report include the inability to generalize, the lack of establishment of a cause-effect relationship, and over-interpretation. Historically, new clinical conditions and syndromes have been identified. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted manuscript submissions and publications, as illustrated for this journal. This editorial aims to highlight the importance of case reports and series, recent publication trends and includes recommendations on what to do and what not to do when preparing and writing the manuscript for a case report.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as post-COVID-19 co... more Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as post-COVID-19 condition or post-COVID syndrome, can affect anyone infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age or the severity of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Long COVID/PASC is the continuation or development of new symptoms after three months from the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, which lasts for at least two months and has no other identifiable cause. Long COVID/PASC occurs in 10-20% of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms include fatigue, cognitive impairment (brain fog), and shortness of breath. However, more than 200 symptoms have been reported. No phenotypic or diagnostic biomarkers have been identified for developing long COVID/PASC, which is a multisystem disorder that can present with isolated or combined respiratory, hematological, immunological, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. There is no cure. Therefore, individualized patient management requires a multidisciplinary clinical approach. Because millions of people have had and continue to have COVID-19, even in the era of vaccination and antiviral therapies, long COVID/PASC is now and will increasingly become a health and economic burden that the world must prepare for. Almost five years from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this article aims to review what is currently known about long COVID/PASC, the anticipated increasing global health burden, and why there is still an urgent need to identify diagnostic biomarkers and risk factors to improve prevention and treatment.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

On August 14, 2024, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the... more On August 14, 2024, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the increasing outbreaks of mpox (formerly monkeypox) should be regarded as an international public health emergency due to the growing number of cases in endemic and non-endemic geographical areas, and increasing disease severity. The latest update from the WHO and the alerts given regarding the status of mpox follows an upsurge in the incidence and severity of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and an increasing number of African countries, with spread to other continents and countries This Editorial aims to provide an update on the current status of mpox and includes reasons for the increasing global concerns for the spread of the mpox virus (MPXV).

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Therapeutic human gene editing technologies continue to advance, with the endonuclease, clustered... more Therapeutic human gene editing technologies continue to advance, with the endonuclease, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) being one of the most rapidly developing technologies. Recently, in 2024, a method of RNA editing called 'bridge editing' has been described in bacteria, which is more powerful and has broader applications than CRISPR to reshape the genome. The term 'bridge editing' is used because the method physically links, or bridges, two sections of DNA and can alter large sections of a genome. 'Bridge editing' relies on insertion sequence (IS) elements, the simplest autonomous transposable elements in prokaryotic genomes. This method provides a unified mechanism for the three fundamental types of DNA rearrangement required for genome design: inversion, insertion, and excision. The 'bridge' recombination system could expand the range and diversity of nucleic acid-guided therapeutic systems beyond RNA interference and CRISPR. This editorial aims to introduce new developments in 'bridge' RNA editing that have the increased potential to reshape the genome.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

At the end of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified climate change as the greatest... more At the end of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified climate change as the greatest threat to human health. Global climate change is due to rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gasses, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, mainly by populations in developed and developing countries. In 2022, the world experienced the highest temperatures for over 100,000 years. However, in 2022, global investment in fossil fuels increased by 10% and reached more than USD 1 trillion. The 2023 Lancet Commission report concluded that there has been little progress in protecting individuals from the adverse health effects of climate change. It is clear that global action against climate change needs to move more quickly, and the inequalities in the effects of climate change, including the impact on health, are increasing. This article aims to review the ongoing global impact of climate change on human health at individual and population levels, including recent initiatives and medical approaches to prepare for this increasing challenge.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Antimicrobial resistance and the associated morbidity and mortality from untreatable common infec... more Antimicrobial resistance and the associated morbidity and mortality from untreatable common infectious organisms is an increasing threat to global public health. In 2019, the Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators identified that antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for up to 1.27 million deaths worldwide and was associated with up to 4.95 million deaths, with low-income and middle-income countries being the most severely affected. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began, they predicted that antimicrobial resistance could result in 10 million deaths per year by 2050, overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new approaches to antimicrobial treatment. In June 2024, the findings from researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research (IOI) and the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology in the UK reported the use of a small molecule that can work alongside antibiotics to suppress the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. The SOS inhibitor molecule has been called OXF-077. This editorial aims to highlight the global threats from increasing antimicrobial resistance and the urgent need for new molecules that function through novel mechanisms of action, including molecular antimicrobial adjuvants.

Medical Science Monitor, Feb 1, 2022

The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, was included in the World Health Organization (WHO)... more The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, was included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of variants of concerns (VOC) on 26 November 2021. Within only three months, omicron has spread rapidly to become the dominant variant in many countries. Studies have begun to evaluate the virulence, transmissibility, and degree of immune protection from current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines or previous of infection with the omicron variant. On 21 January 2022, the WHO published its seventh technical update and recommendations for priority actions in response to the omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant and cautioned that the overall risk from omicron remains high. At the start of this third year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this editorial aims to summarize the evidence that supports the current priority recommendations and response from the WHO regarding the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529.

The Journal of Pathology, 1998

Medical Science Monitor, Jan 26, 2023

In November 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) first identified the Omicron variant of SAR... more In November 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) first identified the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, as a variant of concern (VOC). By early 2022, the Omicron variant and its five lineages, BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4. and BA.5, had become the predominant cause of COVID-19 in most countries. The Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant is a sublineage of the XBB variant, a recombinant of two BA.2 sublineages, with the F486P mutation in the spike protein that increases infectivity due to increased binding affinity to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. On the week ending 21 January 2023, the XBB.1.5 subvariant caused 49.1% of cases of COVID-19 in the US. The rapid rise in the prevalence of this subvariant may be explained by immune escape to previous infection or vaccines, spike mutations in F486P, and increased affinity for the ACE2 receptor. Also, current booster vaccines may not provide adequate protection from infection from this subvariant, which has been named by the media as the ‘Kraken’ subvariant. This Editorial aims to present the current status of the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 and the reasons for, and implications of, its rapid global spread.

Clinical science. Supplement (1979), Aug 1, 1997

Medical Research Soci ety oligodendrocytes capable of ensheathing axons. Previous work from our l... more Medical Research Soci ety oligodendrocytes capable of ensheathing axons. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated, in rodents, that such oligodendrocyte lineage cells when cultured in vifro express a limited repertoire of integrin receptors for extracellular matrix. Further, this repertoire is modulated during differentiation of the cells, with downregulation of the avpl integrin and upregulation of avp3 and avp5. Expression of

Medical Science Monitor, Dec 1, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, increased resistance to antifungal drugs, and an increased... more The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, increased resistance to antifungal drugs, and an increased number of immunocompromised patients have driven a recent global surge in pathogenic fungal infections, including aspergillosis, candidiasis, and mucormycosis. On 25 October 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of 19 fungal priority pathogens identified as having the greatest threat to public health. The WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List represents the first global response to identify and prioritize fungal pathogens and their impact on global public health and to consider the unmet research and development needs. The WHO has grouped the priority fungal pathogens into those of critical, high, and medium priority. This Editorial aims to highlight the importance of identifying and prioritizing fungal pathogens and identifying emerging fungal pathogens and the global factors driving changing patterns of infection.

Medical Science Monitor, Aug 20, 2021

Subjective narrative review articles have an educational and informative role in medical and scie... more Subjective narrative review articles have an educational and informative role in medical and scientific journals. Systematic review of the literature requires an objective and complete review of all available publications on an identified topic. Systematic review that undergoes meta-analysis aims to provide a complete and objective evaluation of all the published data. Data from systematic review and meta-analysis publications support evidence-based medical practice and are prepared as original research articles. These studies require a clear aim and detailed planning with registration and approval of the study protocol before the study commences. Systematic review and meta-analysis studies are designed, conducted, and reported according to mandatory guidelines. The number of these publications has continued to rise during the past decade. However, concerns with the quality of the studies have resulted in more stringent study guidelines. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, guidelines, reporting checklist, and study flow diagram from 2009 were updated and published in March 2021 as PRISMA 2020. The Editorial aims to present the roles and requirements of subjective narrative review articles, systematic review of the literature, and systematic review and meta-analysis, and introduces the revisions and aims of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

PubMed, Apr 1, 1990

The incidence of serum antibodies to human low-density lipoprotein, to oxidized low-density lipop... more The incidence of serum antibodies to human low-density lipoprotein, to oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and to ceroid extracted from human atheroma was assessed in 100 subjects using an adaptation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Patients with chronic periaortitis, subclinical chronic periaortitis, and ischemic heart disease, and "elderly control" individuals were compared with young, healthy adults. Provided that precautions were taken to prevent oxidation of the low-density lipoprotein during the assay, antibodies were not found to native human low-density lipoprotein. Antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein or ceroid, usually both, were detected in all 20 patients with clinical chronic periaortitis, in 17 of 20 patients with subclinical chronic periaortitis, in 12 of 20 patients with ischemic heart disease, and in 10 of 20 elderly control subjects. Binding inhibition studies showed cross-reactions between oxidized low-density lipoprotein and ceroid. Western blotting after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that in some patients with clinical chronic periaortitis, these antibodies were directed against breakdown products of apolipoprotein B that resulted from oxidation of low-density lipoprotein. Antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein or ceroid were not detected in healthy young adults. These findings show that chronic periaortitis is accompanied by autoallergy to ceroid, which is probably at least partly composed of low-density lipoprotein oxidized within the human atherosclerotic plaque, and that a number of middle-aged and elderly people without chronic periaortitis also have such antibodies.

PubMed, Jul 1, 1996

Inflammatory cytokines associated with atherosclerosis may be capable of stimulating the synthesi... more Inflammatory cytokines associated with atherosclerosis may be capable of stimulating the synthesis and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which could further influence the pathologic features associated with the disease. Although there is a certain amount of indirect evidence to support the presence of iNOS in atherosclerosis, there has been no definitive study to confirm this. This study has assessed the localization of iNOS within human normal and atherosclerotic vessels by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and in situ hybridization. Further, activity of NO synthase has been assessed by detection of nitrotyrosine, which is a marker indicative of the formation and activity of the nitric oxide-derived oxidant, peroxynitrite. In Western blots of crude homogenates of atherosclerotic aorta, the iNOS antiserum reacted with a band of approximately 130 kd (the known molecular weight for iNOS), but no such band was seen in normal aorta. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization confirmed the presence of iNOS in atherosclerotic vessels, in which it was specifically localized to (CD68-positive) macrophages, foam cells, and the vascular smooth muscle. The antiserum to nitrotyrosine reacted with a wide range of protein bands (approximately 180 to 30 kd) in Western blots of atherosclerotic aorta. The distribution of immunostaining for nitrotyrosine was virtually identical to that seen for iNOS and was present in macrophages, foam cells, and the vascular smooth muscle. In conclusion, these studies have demonstrated that stimulated expression of iNOS is associated with atherosclerosis and that the activity of this enzyme under such conditions preferentially promotes the formation and activity of peroxynitrite. This may be important in the pathology of atherosclerosis, which contributes to lipid peroxidation and to vascular damage.

Medical Science Monitor, Oct 4, 2021

There have been five viral pandemics in the past century, four were due to influenza, and the ong... more There have been five viral pandemics in the past century, four were due to influenza, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 99% global reduction in the diagnosis of influenza. Also, from 2020, global mortality rates from influenza fell to record levels during the influenza seasons in the southern and northern hemispheres. However, as social restrictions become lifted and the winter season begins in the northern hemisphere, it is expected that influenza will reemerge. The World Health Organization (WHO) FluNet surveillance platform provides global surveillance data on influenza, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records national weekly infection rates. Both surveillance programs have identified zoonotic avian and swine influenza variants in humans. The WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework requires WHO Member States to share data on cases of emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential in a regular and timely way. The WHO PIP Framework organizes the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), a global network of public health laboratories developing candidate virus vaccines. This Editorial aims to present the reasons for concern regarding the emergence of pandemic influenza viruses driven by the social and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the importance of global influenza surveillance at this time.

Med Sci Monit, 2025

The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Consortium was founded in 2016 as an open global initiative to map eac... more The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Consortium was founded in 2016 as an open global initiative to map each cell type in the human body and create a three-dimensional (3-D) atlas. As of December 2024, 18 Biological Networks are assembling the first draft of the HCA from organs, tissues, and organ systems, including the heart, lung, liver, and immune system. Although the completed first version of the HCA should be released within a year, possibly two, the HCA Biological Networks are making the atlases available on the HCA Data Portal as they are released. Since 2016, the Consortium has grown to include more than 3,200 members from more than 1,700 institutes and now involves 99 countries to allow data from diverse geographic and ethnic groups and age ranges. The freely available data and cell maps will help transform future healthcare by improving the understanding of tissue-specific human cell biology in health and disease. This Editorial aims to provide an update on the current status of the HCA and highlights how this encyclopedia of cells will be an important step towards providing better care to individual patients, which will benefit all of humanity.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

This year, 2024, marks the 60 th anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki, with the latest revi... more This year, 2024, marks the 60 th anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki, with the latest revision adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA) in October 2024. The 2024 Declaration of Helsinki is a statement document of ethical principles for research involving humans, human data, and human cells and tissues. Revising the 2013 Declaration of Helsinki document was undertaken over more than two years with international collaboration to enhance the inclusivity of medical research, protect the rights of research study participants, and address contemporary research challenges such as global health emergencies and data privacy. The revised Declaration document does not replace the roles of the Institutional Review Board and the local Ethics Committee in reviewing and approving all research study protocols but continues to provide ethical guidance for the individuals who support, review, and conduct medical research. This editorial highlights the timely revisions in the 2024 Declaration of Helsinki and the importance of updating and maintaining an international consensus for a code of ethics that guides medical research.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Vertical transmission, or mother-to-child transmission, of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infecti... more Vertical transmission, or mother-to-child transmission, of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection is rare due to the success of the barrier functions of the placental maternal-fetal interface, which provides physical, molecular, and immunological mechanisms to protect the developing fetus. Infections in pregnancy that can cross the placenta and reach the fetus can cause fetal loss, stillbirth, or prematurity or can lead to congenital infection, malformation of organs, and neonatal disease at birth. The acronym TORCH stands for Toxoplasma gondii, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Within the TORCH category of 'other,' there are increasing emerging viral pathogens that can pass from mother to fetus, including Ebola virus, Zika virus, and emerging arbovirus infections, including West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever virus. Although SARS-CoV-2 has rarely been reported to show transplacental spread, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of surveillance of new human pathogens with rapidly evolving transmission patterns. This article reviews the protective roles of the placental maternal-fetal interface, the concept of TORCH infections, and the emergence of viral pathogens currently causing concerns for vertical transmission from mother to fetus.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

On October 8 2024, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physic... more On October 8 2024, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Hopfield and Hinton for their foundation research on machine learning with artificial neural networks, which resulted in the current applications for artificial intelligence (AI). Digital diagnostic histopathology combines image capture with image analysis and uses digital tools to collect, analyze, and share diagnostic information. An increase in chronic diseases, diagnostic departmental workloads, and diagnostic tests to support targeted therapy in cancer patients have driven the use and development of image analysis systems, and several medical device companies have recently developed whole-slide scanning devices. In April 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted marketing authorization for the first whole slide imaging (WSI) system. During 2024, large-scale studies from several cancer centers have shown the potential for diagnostic reporting for real-world data and whole-slide modeling to develop validated diagnostic AI algorithms. This editorial discusses why recent advances and applications in AI and digital image analysis may have an important future role in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Rising levels of obesity in all age groups are associated with profound effects on health and eco... more Rising levels of obesity in all age groups are associated with profound effects on health and economies in developed and developing countries. This year, the scientific research behind the development of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 analogs or incretin mimetics) has been recognized. On 19 September 2024, three scientists were presented with a Lasker Award for their basic clinical research on identifying and studying the roles of GLP-1. The research by Joel Habener, Svetlana Mojsov, and Lotte Bjerre Knudsen began three decades ago and has led to new anti-obesity drugs, which mimic GLP-1 to lower blood glucose levels and control appetite. The efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the management of obesity in adults, as well as in children and adolescents, has now been supported by several clinical trials. This editorial aims to describe the research behind developing GLP-1 receptor agonists and their potential and pitfalls in managing obesity in all age groups.

American Journal of Case Reports, Sep 30, 2023

Between 2012 and 2022, the American Journal of Case Reports published over 3,500 case reports and... more Between 2012 and 2022, the American Journal of Case Reports published over 3,500 case reports and case series. In 2022-23, this journal achieved an impact factor (IF) of 1.2. The significant merits of published case reports include identifying rare diseases and syndromes, treatment complications or side effects, pharmacovigilance, and medical education. The limitations or cautions of the case report include the inability to generalize, the lack of establishment of a cause-effect relationship, and over-interpretation. Historically, new clinical conditions and syndromes have been identified. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted manuscript submissions and publications, as illustrated for this journal. This editorial aims to highlight the importance of case reports and series, recent publication trends and includes recommendations on what to do and what not to do when preparing and writing the manuscript for a case report.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as post-COVID-19 co... more Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), also known as post-COVID-19 condition or post-COVID syndrome, can affect anyone infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age or the severity of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Long COVID/PASC is the continuation or development of new symptoms after three months from the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, which lasts for at least two months and has no other identifiable cause. Long COVID/PASC occurs in 10-20% of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms include fatigue, cognitive impairment (brain fog), and shortness of breath. However, more than 200 symptoms have been reported. No phenotypic or diagnostic biomarkers have been identified for developing long COVID/PASC, which is a multisystem disorder that can present with isolated or combined respiratory, hematological, immunological, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. There is no cure. Therefore, individualized patient management requires a multidisciplinary clinical approach. Because millions of people have had and continue to have COVID-19, even in the era of vaccination and antiviral therapies, long COVID/PASC is now and will increasingly become a health and economic burden that the world must prepare for. Almost five years from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this article aims to review what is currently known about long COVID/PASC, the anticipated increasing global health burden, and why there is still an urgent need to identify diagnostic biomarkers and risk factors to improve prevention and treatment.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

On August 14, 2024, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the... more On August 14, 2024, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the increasing outbreaks of mpox (formerly monkeypox) should be regarded as an international public health emergency due to the growing number of cases in endemic and non-endemic geographical areas, and increasing disease severity. The latest update from the WHO and the alerts given regarding the status of mpox follows an upsurge in the incidence and severity of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and an increasing number of African countries, with spread to other continents and countries This Editorial aims to provide an update on the current status of mpox and includes reasons for the increasing global concerns for the spread of the mpox virus (MPXV).

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Therapeutic human gene editing technologies continue to advance, with the endonuclease, clustered... more Therapeutic human gene editing technologies continue to advance, with the endonuclease, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) being one of the most rapidly developing technologies. Recently, in 2024, a method of RNA editing called 'bridge editing' has been described in bacteria, which is more powerful and has broader applications than CRISPR to reshape the genome. The term 'bridge editing' is used because the method physically links, or bridges, two sections of DNA and can alter large sections of a genome. 'Bridge editing' relies on insertion sequence (IS) elements, the simplest autonomous transposable elements in prokaryotic genomes. This method provides a unified mechanism for the three fundamental types of DNA rearrangement required for genome design: inversion, insertion, and excision. The 'bridge' recombination system could expand the range and diversity of nucleic acid-guided therapeutic systems beyond RNA interference and CRISPR. This editorial aims to introduce new developments in 'bridge' RNA editing that have the increased potential to reshape the genome.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

At the end of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified climate change as the greatest... more At the end of 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified climate change as the greatest threat to human health. Global climate change is due to rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gasses, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, mainly by populations in developed and developing countries. In 2022, the world experienced the highest temperatures for over 100,000 years. However, in 2022, global investment in fossil fuels increased by 10% and reached more than USD 1 trillion. The 2023 Lancet Commission report concluded that there has been little progress in protecting individuals from the adverse health effects of climate change. It is clear that global action against climate change needs to move more quickly, and the inequalities in the effects of climate change, including the impact on health, are increasing. This article aims to review the ongoing global impact of climate change on human health at individual and population levels, including recent initiatives and medical approaches to prepare for this increasing challenge.

Med Sci Monit, 2024

Antimicrobial resistance and the associated morbidity and mortality from untreatable common infec... more Antimicrobial resistance and the associated morbidity and mortality from untreatable common infectious organisms is an increasing threat to global public health. In 2019, the Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators identified that antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for up to 1.27 million deaths worldwide and was associated with up to 4.95 million deaths, with low-income and middle-income countries being the most severely affected. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began, they predicted that antimicrobial resistance could result in 10 million deaths per year by 2050, overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new approaches to antimicrobial treatment. In June 2024, the findings from researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research (IOI) and the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology in the UK reported the use of a small molecule that can work alongside antibiotics to suppress the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. The SOS inhibitor molecule has been called OXF-077. This editorial aims to highlight the global threats from increasing antimicrobial resistance and the urgent need for new molecules that function through novel mechanisms of action, including molecular antimicrobial adjuvants.

Medical Science Monitor, Feb 1, 2022

The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, was included in the World Health Organization (WHO)... more The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, was included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of variants of concerns (VOC) on 26 November 2021. Within only three months, omicron has spread rapidly to become the dominant variant in many countries. Studies have begun to evaluate the virulence, transmissibility, and degree of immune protection from current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines or previous of infection with the omicron variant. On 21 January 2022, the WHO published its seventh technical update and recommendations for priority actions in response to the omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant and cautioned that the overall risk from omicron remains high. At the start of this third year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, this editorial aims to summarize the evidence that supports the current priority recommendations and response from the WHO regarding the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529.

The Journal of Pathology, 1998

Medical Science Monitor, Jan 26, 2023

In November 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) first identified the Omicron variant of SAR... more In November 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) first identified the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.529, as a variant of concern (VOC). By early 2022, the Omicron variant and its five lineages, BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4. and BA.5, had become the predominant cause of COVID-19 in most countries. The Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant is a sublineage of the XBB variant, a recombinant of two BA.2 sublineages, with the F486P mutation in the spike protein that increases infectivity due to increased binding affinity to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. On the week ending 21 January 2023, the XBB.1.5 subvariant caused 49.1% of cases of COVID-19 in the US. The rapid rise in the prevalence of this subvariant may be explained by immune escape to previous infection or vaccines, spike mutations in F486P, and increased affinity for the ACE2 receptor. Also, current booster vaccines may not provide adequate protection from infection from this subvariant, which has been named by the media as the ‘Kraken’ subvariant. This Editorial aims to present the current status of the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 and the reasons for, and implications of, its rapid global spread.

Clinical science. Supplement (1979), Aug 1, 1997

Medical Research Soci ety oligodendrocytes capable of ensheathing axons. Previous work from our l... more Medical Research Soci ety oligodendrocytes capable of ensheathing axons. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated, in rodents, that such oligodendrocyte lineage cells when cultured in vifro express a limited repertoire of integrin receptors for extracellular matrix. Further, this repertoire is modulated during differentiation of the cells, with downregulation of the avpl integrin and upregulation of avp3 and avp5. Expression of

Medical Science Monitor, Dec 1, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, increased resistance to antifungal drugs, and an increased... more The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, increased resistance to antifungal drugs, and an increased number of immunocompromised patients have driven a recent global surge in pathogenic fungal infections, including aspergillosis, candidiasis, and mucormycosis. On 25 October 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of 19 fungal priority pathogens identified as having the greatest threat to public health. The WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List represents the first global response to identify and prioritize fungal pathogens and their impact on global public health and to consider the unmet research and development needs. The WHO has grouped the priority fungal pathogens into those of critical, high, and medium priority. This Editorial aims to highlight the importance of identifying and prioritizing fungal pathogens and identifying emerging fungal pathogens and the global factors driving changing patterns of infection.

Medical Science Monitor, Aug 20, 2021

Subjective narrative review articles have an educational and informative role in medical and scie... more Subjective narrative review articles have an educational and informative role in medical and scientific journals. Systematic review of the literature requires an objective and complete review of all available publications on an identified topic. Systematic review that undergoes meta-analysis aims to provide a complete and objective evaluation of all the published data. Data from systematic review and meta-analysis publications support evidence-based medical practice and are prepared as original research articles. These studies require a clear aim and detailed planning with registration and approval of the study protocol before the study commences. Systematic review and meta-analysis studies are designed, conducted, and reported according to mandatory guidelines. The number of these publications has continued to rise during the past decade. However, concerns with the quality of the studies have resulted in more stringent study guidelines. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, guidelines, reporting checklist, and study flow diagram from 2009 were updated and published in March 2021 as PRISMA 2020. The Editorial aims to present the roles and requirements of subjective narrative review articles, systematic review of the literature, and systematic review and meta-analysis, and introduces the revisions and aims of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

PubMed, Apr 1, 1990

The incidence of serum antibodies to human low-density lipoprotein, to oxidized low-density lipop... more The incidence of serum antibodies to human low-density lipoprotein, to oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and to ceroid extracted from human atheroma was assessed in 100 subjects using an adaptation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Patients with chronic periaortitis, subclinical chronic periaortitis, and ischemic heart disease, and "elderly control" individuals were compared with young, healthy adults. Provided that precautions were taken to prevent oxidation of the low-density lipoprotein during the assay, antibodies were not found to native human low-density lipoprotein. Antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein or ceroid, usually both, were detected in all 20 patients with clinical chronic periaortitis, in 17 of 20 patients with subclinical chronic periaortitis, in 12 of 20 patients with ischemic heart disease, and in 10 of 20 elderly control subjects. Binding inhibition studies showed cross-reactions between oxidized low-density lipoprotein and ceroid. Western blotting after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that in some patients with clinical chronic periaortitis, these antibodies were directed against breakdown products of apolipoprotein B that resulted from oxidation of low-density lipoprotein. Antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein or ceroid were not detected in healthy young adults. These findings show that chronic periaortitis is accompanied by autoallergy to ceroid, which is probably at least partly composed of low-density lipoprotein oxidized within the human atherosclerotic plaque, and that a number of middle-aged and elderly people without chronic periaortitis also have such antibodies.

PubMed, Jul 1, 1996

Inflammatory cytokines associated with atherosclerosis may be capable of stimulating the synthesi... more Inflammatory cytokines associated with atherosclerosis may be capable of stimulating the synthesis and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which could further influence the pathologic features associated with the disease. Although there is a certain amount of indirect evidence to support the presence of iNOS in atherosclerosis, there has been no definitive study to confirm this. This study has assessed the localization of iNOS within human normal and atherosclerotic vessels by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and in situ hybridization. Further, activity of NO synthase has been assessed by detection of nitrotyrosine, which is a marker indicative of the formation and activity of the nitric oxide-derived oxidant, peroxynitrite. In Western blots of crude homogenates of atherosclerotic aorta, the iNOS antiserum reacted with a band of approximately 130 kd (the known molecular weight for iNOS), but no such band was seen in normal aorta. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization confirmed the presence of iNOS in atherosclerotic vessels, in which it was specifically localized to (CD68-positive) macrophages, foam cells, and the vascular smooth muscle. The antiserum to nitrotyrosine reacted with a wide range of protein bands (approximately 180 to 30 kd) in Western blots of atherosclerotic aorta. The distribution of immunostaining for nitrotyrosine was virtually identical to that seen for iNOS and was present in macrophages, foam cells, and the vascular smooth muscle. In conclusion, these studies have demonstrated that stimulated expression of iNOS is associated with atherosclerosis and that the activity of this enzyme under such conditions preferentially promotes the formation and activity of peroxynitrite. This may be important in the pathology of atherosclerosis, which contributes to lipid peroxidation and to vascular damage.

Medical Science Monitor, Oct 4, 2021

There have been five viral pandemics in the past century, four were due to influenza, and the ong... more There have been five viral pandemics in the past century, four were due to influenza, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a 99% global reduction in the diagnosis of influenza. Also, from 2020, global mortality rates from influenza fell to record levels during the influenza seasons in the southern and northern hemispheres. However, as social restrictions become lifted and the winter season begins in the northern hemisphere, it is expected that influenza will reemerge. The World Health Organization (WHO) FluNet surveillance platform provides global surveillance data on influenza, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records national weekly infection rates. Both surveillance programs have identified zoonotic avian and swine influenza variants in humans. The WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework requires WHO Member States to share data on cases of emerging influenza viruses with pandemic potential in a regular and timely way. The WHO PIP Framework organizes the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), a global network of public health laboratories developing candidate virus vaccines. This Editorial aims to present the reasons for concern regarding the emergence of pandemic influenza viruses driven by the social and public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the importance of global influenza surveillance at this time.