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Vector-borne microbial diseases are ubiquitous, and their management remains elusive. Such diseases with zoonotic potential result in public health challenges requiring additional control and preventive measures. Despite their cosmopolitan presence, vector-borne infections are neglected due to their endemicity in specified geographical regions. The Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) caused by the Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) is among such diseases transmitted through ticks and localized to India. Despite its prevalence, high transmissibility, and potential to cause fatalities, KFDV has not been given the deserved attention by the governments. Further, KFDV circulates in the rural and wild geographical areas threatening infections to people living in these areas with limited access to medical and healthcare. Therefore, physicians, healthcare workers, and the general population need to understand the KFDV and its ecology, epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, laboratory diagnosis, and control and prevention as described comprehensively in this review., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, N et al.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Currently, there is unavailability of disease-modifying medication for Alzheimer's disease (AD), a debilitating neurological disorder. The pathogenesis of AD appears to be complex and could be influenced by the glymphatic system present in the central nervous system (CNS). Amyloid-beta (Aβ) and other metabolic wastes are eliminated from the brain interstitium by the glymphatic system, which encompasses perivascular channels and astroglial cells. Dysfunction of the glymphatic system, which could occur due to decreased aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression, aging-related alterations in the human brain, and sleep disruptions, may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD and also accelerate the development of AD by causing a buildup of harmful proteins like Aβ. Promising approaches have been examined for reducing AD pathology, including non-pharmacological therapies that target glymphatic function, like exercise and sleep regulation. In addition, preclinical research has also demonstrated the therapeutic potential of pharmaceutical approaches targeted at augmenting AQP4-mediated glymphatic flow. To identify the precise processes driving glymphatic dysfunction in AD and to find new treatment targets, more research is required. Innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches for AD could be made possible by techniques such as dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, which promises to evaluate glymphatic function in neurodegenerative diseases. Treatment options for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases may be improved by comprehending and utilizing the glymphatic system's function in preserving brain homeostasis and targeting the mechanisms involved in glymphatic functioning. This review intends to enhance the understanding of the complex link between AD and the glymphatic system and focuses on the function of AQP4 channels in promoting waste clearance and fluid exchange., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Thipani Madhu et al.)

Introduction Traditional classroom teaching involves a process where knowledge is disseminated to students by the teachers through a one-way process. Such a learning environment makes students passive and muted, which can be improved by alternative teaching and learning (TL) methods like the flipped classroom (FC) technique. The FC approach involves a student-inclusive TL process. FC is a student-centered approach that benefits teachers and students by emphasizing the key information during the learning process. The present study aimed to understand the efficacy of the FC TL method and evaluate students' perception of FC among underachieving first-year medical students in learning physiology. Methods This prospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 underachieving first-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students in the Department of Physiology at a tertiary care teaching hospital. All the participants were taught cardiovascular physiology through the FC method. The study subjects were asked to take a pretest including multiple choice questions a week before the study. The study period was four weeks, following which the students were asked to take a post-test. A questionnaire was used to understand the student's perception of FC. The responses to the questionnaire were graded based on the Likert scale.  Results The mean scores of the post-test (19.40±4.22) were significantly (p< 0.05) greater than those of the pre-test (12.43±4.26). Regarding the perception of FC, 68% (68/100) of students agreed that the objectives, methodology, and outcomes were well-defined. Around 39% (39/100) of students strongly agreed that the study material was adequate, relevant, and easy to learn. Nearly 58% (58/100) of the students agreed that the competencies are dealt with completely in every session. Roughly 16% (16/100) of students agreed that the classroom time is sufficiently utilized for peer-based learning. Many (61%, 61/100) students agreed that sufficient time was given for learning. About 34% (34/100) of the students strongly agreed that the assessment tools were relevant. About 56% (56/100) of students agreed and 21% (21/100) strongly agreed that the FC method helped them to improve their understanding of the subject. More than half (54%, 54/100) of the students agreed and 18% (18/100) strongly agreed that the FC promoted self-directed learning. Most students (71%, 71/100) believed FC to be an interesting and satisfactory learning experience. Conclusions The results indicate that most students believed FC was an effective and innovative TL technique. The FC method could help underachievers improve their cognitive skills and analytical thinking and enhance exam performance., Competing Interests: This project was accomplished as part of the Advanced Course in Medical Education (ACME) being implemented by the National Medical Commission(NMC) and carried out under the guidance of the nodal center for National Faculty Development, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry. The first author would like to acknowledge the support of Dr. Madusudhanan. P, Dr. Sree Rekha. J, Dr. Kadambari. D, Dr. Ravi Venkatachalam (college principal, Government Medical College, Srikakulam), and Dr. Ram Prasad (coordinator of Medical Education Unit, Government Medical College, Srikakulam), (Copyright © 2024, Shireesha et al.)

Introduction Menopause is an important milestone in the lives of women. Despite it being a natural phenomenon, menopause brings a lot of changes in a woman's life, which significantly affects their health and well-being. Menopause involves the cessation of hormone production necessary for menstrual cycles and fertility of females. The absence of these hormones may disturb the homeostasis of minerals, blood glucose, and lipid parameters and predispose women to several health conditions affecting different organs. Obesity has been identified as one of the several conditions that influence the health of women. Therefore, assessing women's health before menopause may improve understanding of their well-being and predict problems during and after menopause. The present study evaluated the activities of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and lipid parameters in obese and nonobese premenopausal women. Methods The present study included 90 obese and 110 nonobese premenopausal women attending the General Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments of Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H), Secunderabad, Telangana, India. The body mass index (BMI) was measured in all the study participants to put them under obese and nonobese categories. Blood samples were collected from all the study participants for the estimation of the activities of minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, FBG, and lipid parameters including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Results The results demonstrated a significant difference in the activities of lipid parameters (TC-obese (158.90 ± 20.20 mg/dl) versus nonobese (148.7 ± 18.6 mg/dl), p < 0.05; TG-obese (143.1 ± 58.2 mg/dl) versus nonobese (118.40 ± 55.80 mg/dl), p < 0.01; VLDL-obese (28.30 ± 11.50 mg/dl) versus nonobese (23.30 ± 11 mg/dl), p < 0.05; LDL-obese (92 ± 30.30 mg/dl) versus nonobese (73.90 ± 26.10 mg/dl), p < 0.01; HDL-obese (61.60 ± 12.50) versus nonobese (65.30 ± 11.25 mg/dl), p < 0.01), FBG (obese (106.80 ± 32.20 mg/dl) versus nonobese (88.50 ± 42.60 mg/dl); p < 0.01)), and magnesium (obese (1.79 ± 0.36 mg/dl) versus nonobese (2.42 ± 0.67 mg/dl); p < 0.01)). However, the activities of calcium (obese (9 ± 0.54 mg/dl) vs. nonobese (8.9 ± 0.58); p > 0.05)) and phosphorous (obese (3.84 ± 0.53 mg/dl) versus nonobese (3.75 ± 0.46 mg/dl); p > 0.05)) was found to be similar in obese and nonobese premenopausal women.  Conclusions The results suggest that obese premenopausal women revealed lowered activities of magnesium that can predispose them to chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases. In addition, obese women showed higher activities of FBG that predisposes them to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There was significant variation in the lipid parameters among obese and nonobese women. However, serum calcium and phosphorous were similar in obese and nonobese premenopausal women., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Kondagadapu et al.)

Background and Aim: Dengue and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection is commonly encountered and constantly reported in particularly the dengue-endemic regions thus posing a co-epidemic threat. Coinfection is also significantly associated with morbidity and mortality. Comorbidity risk during a coinfection is of a greater concern. Although the pathophysiologies of the two infections vary, their identical clinical symptoms during coinfection result in diagnostic and therapeutic complexities., Methods: A literature search for the current relevant reports was carried out. The searched databases were Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar and the Web of Science, with health agencies like the WHO. Based on the selection criteria, the most recent and pertinent reports published in English language were included for the ease of understanding, deciphering and analysing the secondary data., Results: A delay in proper diagnosis of coinfection could result in serious complications with poor patient outcome. Whether it is a standalone dengue or COVID-19 infection or a coinfection, specific biomarkers may be utilized for its foolproof diagnosis. This article highlights the various diagnostic techniques and immune responses from the perspective of prompt and appropriate public health management for patients suffering from COVID-19 and dengue viral coinfections, both being independently or collectively capable of damaging a human body., Conclusion: As coinfection poses significantly large burden on an already-fragile healthcare facility, constant monitoring of a coinfected patient is needed for prompt and suitable therapeutics. Also, to maintain high vigilance and invoke appropriate preventive measures particularly in dengue endemic regions, the government, healthcare authority and the general public need to collaborate and cooperate., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

As the mankind counters the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), it simultaneously witnesses the emergence of mpox virus (MPXV) that signals at global spread and could potentially lead to another pandemic. Although MPXV has existed for more than 50 years now with most of the human cases being reported from the endemic West and Central African regions, the disease is recently being reported in non-endemic regions too that affect more than 50 countries. Controlling the spread of MPXV is important due to its potential danger of a global spread, causing severe morbidity and mortality. The article highlights the transmission dynamics, zoonosis potential, complication and mitigation strategies for MPXV infection, and concludes with suggested 'one health' approach for better management, control and prevention. Bibliometric analyses of the data extend the understanding and provide leads on the research trends, the global spread, and the need to revamp the critical research and healthcare interventions. Globally published mpox-related literature does not align well with endemic areas/regions of occurrence which should ideally have been the scenario. Such demographic and geographic gaps between the location of the research work and the endemic epicentres of the disease need to be bridged for greater and effective translation of the research outputs to pubic healthcare systems, it is suggested., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction Efficient delivery of medical education (ME) is crucial to improving the standards of future physicians or clinicians. India has been experiencing an enormous increase in medical colleges and student admissions into medicine. This has resulted in overcrowding and compromised the student-to-teacher ratio. Conversely, students and teachers face difficulties with learning and teaching, respectively. Classroom assessment techniques (CATs) offer an egalitarian and productive approach to student learning and evaluation. This study was conducted to understand the role of CATs in improving student learning and motivation during community medicine lectures. Further, this study assessed the classroom teaching and learning (TL) process. Method This study included 100 third-year medical students pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and 12 faculty members working at Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital (GEMS&H), Srikakulam, India. To facilitate learning and boost motivation, this study applied three CATs including a one-minute paper (OMP), muddiest point (MP), and student-generated test questions (SGTQs). After two months of applying CATs, the teachers and students were asked for feedback on their experiences. The data generated from feedback forms were tabulated and analyzed. Results According to 76% (76/100) of students, these strategies have stimulated their interest in learning community medicine. Besides, 64% (64/100) of students believed utilizing these strategies would improve their exam outcomes. Further, 77% (77/100) of students believed these methods must be applied in subsequent lessons. About 68% (68/100) of students thought other subject teachers should also employ these strategies. Of the 12 faculty members included in the study, they mostly liked the OMP (5; 41.66%) and MP technique (5; 41.66%). Conclusions Teachers and students have highly welcomed the utility of CATs to improve learning in community medicine. Of the three CATs applied, the OMP was the most popular with students, and teachers agreed that using OMP in the classroom along with MP would be beneficial. Most students and teachers were enthusiastic about employing additional TL strategies like CATs., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Bose et al.)

Background and Aim: The traditional drug delivery approach involves systemic administration of a drug that could be nonspecific in targeting, low on efficacy, and with severe side-effects. To address such challenges, the field of smart drug delivery has emerged aiming at designing and developing delivery systems that can target specific cells, tissues, and organs and have minimal off-target side-effects., Methods: A literature search was done to collate papers and reports about the currently available various strategies for smart nano-inspired drug delivery. The databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Based on selection criteria, the most pertinent and recent items were included., Results: Smart drug delivery is a cutting-edge revolutionary intervention in modern medicines to ensure effective and safe administration of therapeutics to target sites. These hold great promise for targeted and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents to improve the efficacy with reduced side-effects as compared to the conventional drug delivery approaches. Current smart drug delivery approaches include nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, and hydrogels, each with its own advantages and limitations. The success of these delivery systems lies in engineering and designing them, and optimizing their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties., Conclusion: Development of drug delivery systems that can get beyond various physiological and clinical barriers, as observed in conventionally administered chemotherapeutics, has been possible through recent advancements. Using multifunctional targeting methodologies, smart drug delivery tries to localize therapy to the target location, reduces cytotoxicity, and improves the therapeutic index. Rapid advancements in research and development in smart drug delivery provide wider and more promising avenues to guarantee a better healthcare system, improve patient outcomes, and achieve higher levels of effective medical interventions like personalized medicine., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a menace, spreading among bacterial species globally. AMR is now recognized as a silent pandemic responsible for treatment failures. Therefore, an effective surveillance mechanism is warranted to understand the bacterial species isolated from human clinical specimens. The present study employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) or whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the resistance and virulence genes, sequence type, and serotypes. Methods This study included 18 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K . pneumoniae ) isolates obtained from patients suffering from different infections attending the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, India. All isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined through conventional microbiological techniques and confirmed by automated systems. All the isolates were investigated using NGS or WGS to identify the genes coding for resistance, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), metallo-beta-lactamases, and virulence genes. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was conducted to identify the sequence types, and Kleborate analysis was performed to confirm the species, genes for AMR, and virulence and evaluate the capsular polysaccharide (KL) and cell wall/lipopolysaccharide (O) serotypes carried by the isolates. Results The mean age of the patients was 46.11±20.35 years. Among the patients included, 12 (66.66%) were males and 6 (33.33%) were females. A high percentage (>50%) of hypervirulent K . pneumoniae (hvKp) strains that had genes coding for AMR and plasmids having the potential to carry  bla NDM  and resistance genes were observed. Among the isolates, 16 (88.88%) revealed the presence of multiple antibiotic-resistant genes with evidence of at least one gene coding for beta-lactamase resistance. There was a high prevalence of bla SHV (17/18; 94.44%) and bla CTX-M-15 (16/18; 88.88%) AMR genes. Other AMR genes identified included bla TEM (83.33%; 15/18) and bla OXA (14/18; 77.77%). Two (11.11%) strains each showed the presence of bla NDM-1 and bla NDM-5 genes. The virulence genes identified included  gapA , infB , mdh , pgi , phoE , rpoB , tonB , and ybt . The most frequent K . pneumoniae serotypes found were KL51:O1v2 (3/18, 16.66%), KL17:O1v1 (3/18, 16.66%), and KL64:O2v1 (3/18, 16.66%). KL64 (4/18; 22.22%) was the most common capsular serotype identified among the isolates. The most frequent MLST-based sequence type (ST) identified included ST-147 (5/18, 27.77%), followed by ST-231 (3/18, 16.66%) and ST-101 (2/18, 11.11%). Conclusions The molecular analysis of  K . pneumoniae  isolates revealed multiple AMR, plasmid, and virulence genes. Additionally, many global STs were noticed by MLST. The results noted a high prevalence of hvKp strains. Molecular characterization of bacterial strains using NGS/WGS is important to understand the epidemiology of bacterial strains and the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes they are potentially carrying. The data obtained from this study may be utilized to devise careful antibiotic-prescribing approaches and improve patient management practices., Competing Interests: Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences has made a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dr. Venkataramana Kandi, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, to collaborate under the project supported by the Global Health Research Unit (GHRU), United Kingdom, (Copyright © 2024, Moses et al.)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare.

Allergy and immunological disorders like autoimmune diseases are vastly prevalent worldwide. These conditions account for a substantial amount of personal and social burden. Such illnesses have lengthy, uncertain, and spotted courses with unpredictable exacerbations. A definite tendency for improving the overall quality of life of individuals suffering from such diseases is crucial to tackling these diseases, especially through diet or lifestyle modification. Further, interventions like microbiome-based therapeutics such as prebiotics or probiotics were explored. Changes in the microbial population were evident during the flare-up of autoimmune and allergic conditions. The realization that the human microbiome is a central player in immunological diseases is a hallmark of its potential usefulness in therapy for such illnesses. This review focuses on the intricate symphony in the orchestra of the human microbiome and the immune system. New therapeutic strategies involving probiotics appear to be the future of personalized medicine. Through this review, we explore the narrative of probiotics and reaffirm their use as therapeutic and preventive agents in immunological disorders., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Vijayan et al.)

Introduction An enormous increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacteria isolated from human clinical specimens contributed to treatment failures. Increased surveillance through next-generation sequencing (NGS) or whole genome sequencing (WGS) could facilitate the study of the epidemiology of drug-resistant bacterial strains, resistance genes, and other virulence determinants they are potentially carrying. Methods This study included 30 Escherichia coli ( E . coli ) isolates obtained from patients suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) attending Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, India. All bacterial isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined through conventional microbiological techniques and confirmed by automated systems. All the isolates were investigated using NGS to identify genes coding for resistance, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), metallo-beta-lactamases, and virulence genes. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to understand the prevalent strain types, and serotyping was carried out to evaluate the type of O (cell wall antigen) and H (flagellar antigen) serotypes carried by the isolates. Results The conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that 15 (50%) isolates were resistant to imipenem (IPM), 10 (33.33%) were resistant to amikacin (AK), 13 (43.33%) were resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ), 17 (56.66%) were resistant to cephalosporins, and 14 (46.66%) were resistant to nitrofurantoin (NIT). Among the isolates, 26 (86.66%) had revealed the presence of multiple antibiotic-resistant genes with evidence of at least one gene coding for beta-lactamase resistance. There was a high prevalence of bla CTX-M  (19/30, 63.33%) genes, followed by bla TEM  and bla OXA-1 . The bla NDM-5 gene was found in three isolates (3/30, 10%). The virulence genes identified in the present study were  iutA , sat , iss , and papC , among others. The E . coli serotype found predominantly belonged to O25:H4 (5, 16.66%), followed by O102:H6 (4, 13.33%). A total of 16 MLST variants were identified among the examined samples. Of the MLST-based sequence types (STs) identified, ST-131 (7, 23.33%) was the predominant one, followed by ST-167 (3, 10%) and ST-12 (3, 10%). Conclusions The study results demonstrated that the E . coli strains isolated from patients suffering from UTIs potentially carried antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes and belonged to different strain types based on MLST. Careful evaluation of bacterial strains using molecular analyses such as NGS could facilitate an improved understanding of bacterial antibiotic resistance and its virulence potential. This could enable physicians to choose appropriate antimicrobial agents and contribute to better patient management, thereby preventing the emergence and spread of drug-resistant bacteria., Competing Interests: Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences has made a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dr. Venkataramana Kandi, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, to collaborate under the project supported by the Global Health Research Unit (GHRU), United Kingdom., (Copyright © 2024, Kandi et al.)

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of diseases caused by diverse organisms, affecting millions of people in tropical and subtropical conditions. NTDs are more prevalent among people who live in poverty, without access to clean water, adequate sanitation, and quality health care. Most NTDs are chronic conditions and are potentially disablers than killers, leaving behind a trail of social consequences. Controlling NTDs has become complicated due to limited resources and are frequently ignored by global funding agencies. India experiences a significant burden of global NTDs. The paradox is that NTDs are preventable and treatable at an affordable cost. It then makes no sense as to why we co-exist with such diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has donned the leadership role of eliminating, eradicating, and controlling global NTDs. The WHO published a roadmap delineating a plan of action, which was being reviewed periodically. This led to substantive progress in tackling the NTDs. However, many challenges still exist to controlling and preventing NTDs. India has achieved significant progress towards NTD control and elimination by implementing the WHO strategies and action plans. This was evident by an increase in research and funding in this direction. The number of new drugs, vaccines, and investigative tools available and those in the pipeline is testimony to their efforts. Focusing singly on India's NTD problem would substantially reduce the burden of poverty-related neglected diseases and could dramatically advance the global health agenda. This review highlights the problem of NTDs in the Indian and global perspective., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, CA et al.)

Recurring Listeria outbreaks in the United States is a growing public healthcare concern. Although no associated reported death, 17 were hospitalized out of the 18 reported illnesses in the recent outbreak in 15 US states. The United States has experienced about 30 Listeria outbreaks in the last decade with 524 Listeriosis cases and 80 deaths. The identified origin were ice cream, leafy greens, mushroom, meat slice, dairy products like cheese, packaged salads, cooked chicken, hard-boiled egg, pork product, frozen vegetable, raw milk, packaged caramel apple, bean sprout and soya products. Although rare, Listeria may lead to serious illness (invasive listeriosis) or death. Listeriosis is critically harmful and medically complicated, especially in the pregnant, the old above 65 years and in the immunocompromised. It could cause premature birth, miscarriage or even neonatal death. Hospitalization is often necessary in the geriatric, being fatal at times. Among Listeria sp., Listeria monocytogenes is often human infection-associated. It is a gram-positive, non-sporulating, motile bacillus opportunistic pathogen. Food-borne listeriosis is often associated with frozen foods due to its ability to thrive at low temperatures. Hypervirulent strains of L. monocytogenes with an ability to infect the respiratory system (the lungs) was recently reported in the coronavirus disease-19 patients during the pandemic. L. monocytogenes seemed to have developed antimicrobial resistance to ciprofloxacin and meropenem, possibly acquired through the food chain. An early onset of listeriosis in the newborn is evident in the first 7 days postparturition. As the bacteria colonize the genitourinary tract, majority of such cases result from teratogenic transfer during vaginal delivery. Premature newborns, neonates born outside healthcare facilities and low-birth-weight babies were increasingly predisposed to an early onset of listeriosis. Listeria outbreaks were earlier reported in South Africa, Australia and Europe, with an unclear origin of the outbreaks. Social media updates about such outbreaks, the most likely food source, and measures to self-protect are suggested as preventive measures. The article deals on various such aspects related to listeriosis primarily originating from food, to ensure better public healthcare and human wellness., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Aim: Severe morbidity and mortality due to seasonal infectious diseases are common global public health issues. Vector-borne viral illnesses like dengue and chikungunya overload the healthcare systems leading to critical financial burden to manage them. There is no effective drug or vaccine currently available to control these two diseases., Methods: The review was formulated by incorporating relevant reports on chikungunya and dengue in the Americas regions through a comprehensive search of literature that were available on dedicated scientific publication portals such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science., Results: The strategies of public health administrations to control largely the mosquito vectors during tropical monsoon seem to be effective. Yet, it seems practically impossible to completely eliminate them. The mosquito vector disseminates the virus via transovarian route thereby internalising the virus through generations, a reason behind reappearing and recurring outbreaks. The numerous factors associated with industrialisation, urbanisation, population density, and easy transboundary movements appear to have contributed to the spread of vectors from an endemic region to elsewhere., Conclusion: The article made a state-of-affair comprehensive analysis of the rising dengue and chikungunya cases in the tropics, particularly the tropical Americas, as a human health concern, the countermeasures undertaken and the overall preparedness. The viral transmission is a hard situation to tackle as the vector survives in diverse temperature and ecology, is resistant to insecticides, and the unavailability of drugs. Better vector-control measures and improved understanding of the reemerging arboviral infections could offer an extended reaction time to counter outbreaks, and minimise associated morbidity/mortality., (© 2024 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Cancer is a complex disease that can affect different parts of the body. The rates of cancer have shown an increasing trend in the past decade. A majority of cancers are detected late, therefore becoming untreatable and resulting in significant mortality. Additionally, the lack of awareness about cancers, their risk factors, diagnostic modalities, and preventive measures contributes to increased burden among people. Despite significant developments in the therapeutic and comprehensive management of cancers, the cause for concern is the lack of medication adherence. This is majorly attributed to the adverse effects of the medication, the cost of the drugs, and other reasons. This review comprehensively discusses various aspects of cancer medication adherence that include therapeutic modalities for treating cancers, factors influencing medication adherence, barriers, and facilitators to medication adherence., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, V et al.)

Competing Interests: All the authors hereby declare that there are no conflicts of interest among them.

Microbial infections are extremely prevalent throughout the world. Bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses generally cause them. Most microbial infections spread from humans to humans and from animals to humans. A vast majority of microbial infections are self-limiting. However, some microbial infections result in severe morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of microbial infections generally depends on the direct demonstration of microbes in human clinical specimens through microscopy followed by culture. Some microbes are uncultivable, and among those that are cultivable, some take a very long time to grow in the laboratory. This causes delays in the diagnosis that may result in poor patient outcomes. Serological and molecular methods like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively, have been extensively used to diagnose infectious diseases. However, these require costly infrastructure and adequate personnel training. In this context, alternative, more efficient, and rapid detection methods for the diagnosis of microbial infections are warranted. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the role played by radiological investigations in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Vaishnav et al.)

Background and Aim: Severe viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is caused by Marburg virus which is a member of the Filoviridae (filovirus) family. Many Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks are reported in five decades. A major notable outbreak with substantial reported cases of infections and deaths was in 2022 in Uganda. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported MVD outbreak in Ghana in July 2022 following the detection of two probable VHF patients there. Further, the virus was reported from two other African countries, the Equatorial Guinea (February 2023) and Tanzania (March 2023). There have been 35 deaths out of 40 reported cases in Equatorial Guinea, and six of the nine confirmed cases in Tanzania so far., Methods: Data particularly on the several MVD outbreaks as reported from the African countries were searched on various databases including the Pubmed, Scopus, and Web-of-science. Also, the primary data and reports from health agencies like the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) were evaluated and the efficacy reviewed., Results: Chiroptera in general and bat species like  Rousettus aegyptiacus and Hipposideros caffer in particular are natural reservoirs of the Marburg virus. MVD-infected nonhuman primate African fruit-bat and the MVD-infected humans pose significant risk in human infections. Cross-border viral transmission and its potential further international ramification concerns raise the risk of its rapid spread and a potential outbreak. Occurrence of MVD is becoming more frequent in Africa with higher case fatality rates. Effective prophylactic and therapeutic interventions to counter this deadly virus are suggested., Conclusion: In the face of the lack of effective therapeutics and preventives against MVD, supportive care is the only available option which contributes to the growing concern and disease severity. In view of the preventive approaches involving effective surveillance and monitoring system following the "One Health" model is extremely beneficial to ensure a healthy world for all, this article aims at emphasizing several MVD outbreaks, epidemiology, zoonosis of the virus, current treatment strategies, risk assessments, and the mitigation strategies against MVD., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict to declare., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Aim: Understanding the prevalence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants has assumed paramount importance. This study statistically analyzed to effectively track the emergence and spread of the variants and highlights the importance of such investigations in developing potential next-gen vaccine to combat the continuously emerging Omicron subvariants., Methods: Transmission fitness advantage and effective reproductive number ( R e ) of epidemiologically relevant SARS-CoV-2 sublineages through time during the study period based on the GISAID data were estimated., Results: The analyses covered the period from January to June 2023 around an array of sequenced samples. The dominance of the XBB variant strain, accounting for approximately 57.63% of the cases, was identified during the timeframe. XBB.1.5 exhibited 37.95% prevalence rate from March to June 2023. Multiple variants showed considerable global influence throughout the study, as sporadically documented. Notably, the XBB variant demonstrated an estimated relative 28% weekly growth advantage compared with others. Numerous variants were resistant to the over-the-counter vaccines and breakthrough infections were reported. Similarly, the efficacy of mAB-based therapy appeared limited. However, it's important to underscore the perceived benefits of these preventive and therapeutic measures were restricted to specific variants., Conclusion: Given the observed trends, a comprehensive next-gen vaccine coupled with an advanced vaccination strategy could be a potential panacea in the fight against the pandemic. The findings suggest that targeted vaccine development could be an effective strategy to prevent infections. The study also highlights the need of global collaborations to rapidly develop and distribute the vaccines to ensure global human health., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world and unless diagnosed timely has limited options for treatment. Paraoxonase (PON) is a glycosylated protein that has been implicated in antioxidant and other biochemical functions. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an esterase associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. The present study was carried out to assess the PON1 activity and compare it with the standard liver function tests (LFTs) in assessing the predictability of liver damage among patients diagnosed with HCC. Methods This case-control study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry attached to Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Serum PON1 activities and LFTs like total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, and albumin were estimated in 30 patients diagnosed with HCC and 30 healthy persons. All the parameters were estimated using standard biochemical methods. The data was analyzed using GraphPad Prism version 6.0 (GraphPad Software, Inc). A probability (p) value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the area under the curve (AUC) for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic efficiency. Results The serum activities of PON1 had identical sensitivity (70%) to albumin (70%) and were superior to other tested parameters. Additionally, PON1 activities showed lower specificity (86.67%) than the other tested parameters. ROC analysis showed increased diagnostic efficacy (DE) of PON1 (DE=78.3%; p<0.0001) when compared with total bilirubin (DE=76.6%; p=0.0039), direct bilirubin (DE=74.9%; p=0.04), ALT (DE=73.30%; p=0.0006), and total protein (DE=71.6%; p=0.0005). However, the DE of PON1 was comparable with AST (DE=81.60%; p<0.0001), ALP (DE=79.9%; p<0.0001), and albumin (DE=83.30%, p<0.0001). Conclusions Serum activities of PON1 could be used as a diagnostic marker for assessing liver damage among HCC patients., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Bade et al.)

Background: Historically, a critical aetiological agent of health concern stays till eternity after its discovery, so shall it be with the COVID-19 outbreak. It has transformed human life to a 'new normal' with huge tolls on the social, psychological, intellectual and financial spheres., Aim: This perspective aimed to collate numerous reported COVID-19 vaccine-associated adverse events and the predisposing factors. It focussed on the efficacy of mix-n-match (cocktail) vaccines to effectively counter COVID-19 infection to facilitate future research and possible interventions., Material and Methods: Databases like Scopus, Pubmed and the Web-of-science were searched for published literature on 'adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccine'. The reports and updates from health agencies like the WHO and CDC were also considered for the purpose. The details with respect to the adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccination and the predisposing factors were compiled to obtain insights and suggest possible future directions in vaccine research., Results: India stood strong to manage its health resources in time and turned into a dominant global vaccine supplier at a time when healthcare infrastructure of many countries was still significantly challenged. Developing indigenous vaccines and the vaccination drive in India were its major achievements during the second and the subsequent COVID-19 waves. The fully indigenous Covaxin vaccine, primarily as an emergency intervention, was successfully rapidly launched. Similar such vaccines for emergency use were developed elsewhere as well. However, all of these reached the marketplace with a 'emergency use only' tag, without formal clinical trials and other associated formalities to validate and verify them as these would require much longer incubation time before they are available for human use., Discussion: Many adverse events associated with either the first or the second/booster vaccination doses were reported. Evidently, these associated adverse events were considered as 'usually rare' or were often underreported. Without the additional financial or ethical burden on the vaccine companies, fortunately, the Phase IV (human) clinical trials of their manufactured vaccines are occurring by default as the human population receives these under the tag 'emergency use'. Thus, focused and collaborative strategies to unveil the molecular mechanisms in vaccine-related adverse events in a time-bound manner are suggested., Conclusion: Reliable data particularly on the safety of children is lacking as majority of the current over-the-counter COVID-19 vaccines were for emergency use. Many of these were still in their Phase III and Phase IV trials. The need for a mutant-proof, next-gen COVID-19 vaccine in the face of vaccine-associated adverse events is opined., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Adjuvants are the important part of vaccine manufacturing as they elicit the vaccination effect and enhance the durability of the immune response through controlled release. In light of this, nanoadjuvants have shown unique broad spectrum advantages. As nanoparticles (NPs) based vaccines are fast-acting and better in terms of safety and usability parameters as compared to traditional vaccines, they have attracted the attention of researchers. A vaccine nanocarrier is another interesting and promising area for the development of next-generation vaccines for prophylaxis. This review looks at the various nanoadjuvants and their structure-function relationships. It compiles the state-of-art literature on numerous nanoadjuvants to help domain researchers orient their understanding and extend their endeavors in vaccines research and development., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background and Aim: Rift valley fever (RVF) virus (RVFV) is reportedly steadily circulating in Mauritania being repeated in 1987, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2020. Mauritania seems a preferred niche for RVF virus due to its persistent outbreak there. Lately, nine Mauritanian wilayas confirmed 47 (23 fatalities with 49% CFR) human cases between August 30 and October 17, 2022. Most of the cases were largely among livestock breeders associated with animal husbandry activities. The review aimed at understanding the origin, cause, and measures to counter the virus., Methods: The facts and figures from the various published articles sourced from databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Scopus as also some primary data from health agencies like WHO, CDC, and so forth were evaluated and the efficacy of countermeasures reviewed., Results: Among the reported confirmed cases, it was found that 3-70 year age-group males outnumbered the females. Deaths after fever occurred primarily due to acute hemorrhagic thrombocytopenia. Human infections often occurred through zoonotic transmission mainly through mosquitoes in the population contiguous to cattle outbreak, a conducive site for local RVFV transmission. Many transmission cases were through direct or indirect contact with blood or organs of the infected animal., Conclusion: RVFV infection was predominant in the Mauritanian regions bordering Mali, Senegal, and Algeria. High human and domesticated animal density as also the existing zoonotic vectors further contributed to RVF virus circulation. Mauritanian RVF infection data confirmed that RVFV was zoonotic that included small ruminants, cattle, and camel. This observation hints at the role of transborder animal mobility in RVFV transmission. In light of this, preventive approaches with effective surveillance and monitoring system following the One Health model is extremely beneficial for a free and fair healthy world for all., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a small, circular, double-stranded DNA inherited from the mother during fertilization. Evolutionary evidence supported by the endosymbiotic theory identifies mitochondria as an organelle that could have descended from prokaryotes. This may be the reason for the independent function and inheritance pattern shown by mtDNA. The unstable nature of mtDNA due to the lack of protective histones, and effective repair systems make it more vulnerable to mutations. The mtDNA and its mutations could be maternally inherited thereby predisposing the offspring to various cancers like breast and ovarian cancers among others. Although mitochondria are considered heteroplasmic wherein variations among the multiple mtDNA genomes are noticed, mothers can have mitochondrial populations that are homoplasmic for a given mitochondrial mutation. Homoplasmic mitochondrial mutations may be transmitted to all maternal offspring. However, due to the complex interplay between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, it is often difficult to predict disease outcomes, even with homoplasmic mitochondrial populations. Heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations can be maternally inherited, but the proportion of mutated alleles differs markedly between offspring within one generation. This led to the genetic bottleneck hypothesis, explaining the rapid changes in allele frequency witnessed during the transmission of mtDNA from one generation to the next. Although a physical reduction in mtDNA has been demonstrated in several species, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms is yet to be demonstrated. Despite initially thought to be limited to the germline, there is evidence that blockages exist in different cell types during development, perhaps explaining why different tissues in the same organism contain different levels of mutated mtDNA. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the potential mechanisms through which mtDNA undergoes mutations and the maternal mode of transmission that contributes to the development of tumors, especially breast and ovarian cancers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Vadakedath et al.)

This article discusses the interplay between the gut-brain axis and stroke, a multifaceted neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication network linking the central nervous system (CNS) to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including the enteric nervous system (ENS), vagus nerve, and gut microbiota. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiota, alterations in the ENS and vagus nerve, and gut motility changes have been linked to increased inflammation and oxidative stress, which are contributing factors in the development and progression of stroke. Research on animals has shown that modifying the gut microbiota can impact the results of a stroke. Germ-free mice displayed improved neurological function and decreased infarct volumes, indicating a positive effect. Furthermore, studies in stroke patients have shown alterations in the gut microbiota composition, indicating that targeting dysbiosis could be a potential therapeutic strategy for stroke. The review suggests that targeting the gut-brain axis may represent a potential therapeutic approach to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with stroke., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Murthy et al.)

Influenza A virus (IAV), particularly the H3N2 variant, is known to cause respiratory manifestations, but it can also lead to neurological complications ranging from mild symptoms like headache and dizziness to severe conditions such as encephalitis and acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). In this article, the correlation between the H3N2 variant of the IAV and neurological manifestations is discussed. Additionally, prompt recognition and treatment of influenza-associated neurological manifestations are highlighted to prevent infection-related long-term complications. This review briefly discusses various neurological complications linked to IAV infections, such as encephalitis, febrile convulsions, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and the potential mechanisms involved in the development of neurological complications., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Reddy et al.)

Clinical research is an alternative terminology used to describe medical research. Clinical research involves people, and it is generally carried out to evaluate the efficacy of a therapeutic drug, a medical/surgical procedure, or a device as a part of treatment and patient management. Moreover, any research that evaluates the aspects of a disease like the symptoms, risk factors, and pathophysiology, among others may be termed clinical research. However, clinical trials are those studies that assess the potential of a therapeutic drug/device in the management, control, and prevention of disease. In view of the increasing incidences of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, and especially after the effects that Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) had on public health worldwide, the emphasis on clinical research assumes extremely essential. The knowledge of clinical research will facilitate the discovery of drugs, devices, and vaccines, thereby improving preparedness during public health emergencies. Therefore, in this review, we comprehensively describe the critical elements of clinical research that include clinical trial phases, types, and designs of clinical trials, operations of trial, audit, and management, and ethical concerns., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Kandi et al.)

Recently, we have been noticing an increase in the emergence and re-emergence of microbial infectious diseases. In the previous 100 years, there were several incidences of pandemics caused by different microbial species like the influenza virus , human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), dengue virus , severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2 that were responsible for severe morbidity and mortality among humans. Moreover, non-communicable diseases, including malignancies, diabetes, heart, liver, kidney, and lung diseases, have been on the rise. The medical fraternity, people, and governments all need to improve their preparedness to effectively tackle health emergencies. Clinical research, therefore, assumes increased significance in the current world and may potentially be applied to manage human health-related problems. In the current review, we describe the critical aspects of clinical research that include research designs, types of study hypotheses, errors, types of sampling, ethical concerns, and informed consent., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Purna singh et al.)

Global public health is significantly challenged due to the continuing COrona VIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak brought forth by the severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) [...].

Introduction Despite the availability of a vaccine and extensive vaccination, breakthrough infections are commonly noted, which is jeopardizing the vaccine-based protection against COVID-19. The present study aims to evaluate COVID-19 breakthrough infections and to compare the clinical profile and outcomes of the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations.  Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted for two months (March-April 2021), and all cases reported during the study period were included in the study. Socio-demographic details, COVID-19 profiles, clinical outcomes, vaccination statuses, and types of vaccine were collected from the patients. Further, COVID-19-positive samples were screened for lineages using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results Of the total 103 patients included in the study, 79 (76.7%) were symptomatic and 24 (23.3%) were asymptomatic. Only 32% were vaccinated and 68% were unvaccinated. 29.2% were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and all of them were unvaccinated. The mortality among hospitalized patients was extremely high (60%). The time to positivity after complete vaccination was noted to be 37.09±23.74 days. The unvaccinated study participants showed lower Cycle threshold (Ct) values (E Gene/N Gene: 17.38±4.53) as compared to the vaccinated people (E Gene/N Gene: 22±4.25). The Delta (B. 1.1. 629) (76.7%) was the predominant variant among the study population followed by AY.4 (20.4%) and Kappa (2.9%) variants. Conclusion Although the vaccination does not restrict/avoid infection, it appears to protect the vaccinated people from severe forms of COVID-19. Also, the higher Ct values among vaccinated people indicate that the viral load among such people may be lower and, therefore, minimizes viral transmission., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Shahapur et al.)

The emergence of different variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant in November 2021, has resulted in a continuous major health concern at a global scale. Presently, the Omicron variant has spread very rapidly worldwide within a short time period. As the most mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2, Omicron has instilled serious uncertainties on the effectiveness of humoral adaptive immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccination or an active viral infection as well as the protection provided by antibody-based immunotherapies. Amidst such high public health concerns, the need to carry out booster vaccination has been emphasized. Current evidence reveals the importance of incorporating booster vaccination using several vaccine platforms, such as viral vector- and mRNA-based vaccines, as well as other platforms that are under explorative investigations. Further research is being conducted to assess the effectiveness and durability of protection provided by booster COVID-19 vaccination against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.