Global burden of viral infectious diseases of poverty based on Global Burden of Diseases Study 2021

Global containment policy duration and long-term epidemic progression: A target trial emulation using COVID-19 data from 2020 to 2022

OBJECTIVES

Global countries often apply containment policies (CPs) to combat infectious disease surges. Whether countries with longer cumulative duration of CPs are associated with slower long-term epidemic progression necessitates a thorough evaluation.

METHODS

We collected CP and COVID-19 data of 185 territories during 2020-2022, with a total of 23 CPs. Using the target trial emulation and cloning-censoring-weighting approaches, we assessed the effectiveness of CPs with different cumulative durations in delaying countries from reaching the 1% and 10% cumulative infection incidence end points (i.e. 10,000 and 100,000 COVID-19 cases per million population, respectively) over a 3-year observation period.

RESULTS

For reaching the 1% cumulative infection incidence, recommending closing workplaces and limiting gatherings to 10 people, each presented that a longer cumulative duration of those CPs is associated with a lower proportion of countries achieving this end point throughout 2020-2022. For reaching the 10% cumulative infection incidence, mandatory bans on public events and domestic movements, closing public transports, and screening and quarantining inbound tourists, each showed similar associations. Notably, long-lasting border bans upon high-risk regions are associated with a higher proportion of countries reaching the 10% cumulative infection incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

From the long-term perspective, we highlight CPs that warrant extending the duration to achieve slower epidemic progression. By contrast, our findings demonstrate the limited effectiveness of the ban on regions in slowing the long-term epidemic progression.

Encapsulation of Ferula-derived bioactive compounds in nanoparticles: A promising therapeutic route for cancers and infectious diseases

The biomedical sector is constantly searching for new drugs that efficiently improve human health and well-being with minimum side effects. Bio-inspired nanomedicine has emerged as a feasible alternative to chemotherapeutic agents for diagnosis and therapy due to its safety, biocompatibility, affordability, and sustainability. Among biological sources available for green nanomedicine are plants offering the avoidance of the labor-intensive and time-consuming processes of cultivation and maintenance compared to microorganisms. With a long history of treating over a hundred health-related issues, Ferula-derived metabolites have received special consideration for combining with nanoparticles (NPs) since they have been reported to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of NPs, enable targeted drug delivery, and ensure controlled release, which make them elusive candidates for green nanotechnology. This review aimed to provide comprehensive information about the inhibitory effects of NPs carrying Ferula-originated bioactive compounds on several cancers and pathogenic bacteria. Plus, it explores the potential of these NPs in addressing different viral diseases, such as HIV, SARS-CoV2, and hepatitis. The anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral mechanisms of action are also briefed. The valuable insights provided by this article may result in the development of designer Ferula-based NPs that satisfy the growing needs of the pharmaceutical industry for innovative and effective medications.

[ART adherence and its association with depression, anxiety and stress]

Background

Stress, anxiety, and depression are associated with low adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV patients, but there are no reports of this association in southeastern Mexico.

Objective

To describe the frequency of adherence to ART and its association with depression, anxiety, and stress.

Material and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted. 442 HIV-positive outpatients treated at General Hospital Number 1 in Tapachula, Chiapas, in the period August-December 2022 were analyzed. Adherence to ART was assessed with the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was applied. To assess the association between variables, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression model. Cases with ART adherence between 95% and 100% were compared with those with ART adherence below 95%.

Results

Of the total 442 HIV-positive subjects, 344 had ART adherence between 95% and 100%, and 98 had ART adherence below 95%. The frequencies of depression, anxiety, and stress were 33%, 13.3%, and 8.8%, respectively. Associations were observed between ART adherence below 95% and anxiety, depression, and stress.

Conclusions

Since low ART adherence was associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among HIV-positive patients, early mental health interventions may help improve therapeutic adherence.

Exploring the Antiviral Potential of Artemisia annua Through JAK-STAT Pathway Targeting: A Network Pharmacology Approach

BACKGROUND

Artemisia annua, a plant with antiviral potential, has shown promise against various viral infections, yet its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. This study explores A. annua's antiviral effects using network pharmacology and molecular docking, focusing on key active compounds and their interactions with viral protein targets, particularly within the JAK-STAT signaling pathway-a critical mediator of immune responses to viral infections.

METHODS

From the TCMSP database, we identified eight active compounds and 335 drug targets for A. annua, with 19 intersecting targets between A. annua compounds and viral proteins. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network highlighted 10 key hub genes, analyzed further through Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathways to understand their immune and antiviral roles. ADMET properties of the active compound Patuletin (MOL004112) were assessed, followed by 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations to examine its stability in complex with JAK2.

RESULTS

PPI analysis identified JAK2, MAPK3, MAPK1, JAK1, PTPN1, HSPA8, TYK2, RAF1, MAPT, and HMOX1 as key hub genes, with JAK2 emerging as a critical regulator of immune and antiviral pathways. ADMET analysis confirmed Patuletin's favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and molecular dynamics simulations showed a stable Patuletin-JAK2 complex, with FEL analysis indicating minimal disruption to JAK2's intrinsic flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight JAK2 as a promising target in the antiviral activity of A. annua compounds, particularly Patuletin, supporting its potential as an antiviral agent and providing a foundation for further research on A. annua's therapeutic applications.

Global, regional, and national burden of upper respiratory infections, 1990-2021: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021

Background

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are common infectious diseases worldwide. Accurate and timely assessment of the disease burden of URIs is crucial for governments to develop comprehensive prevention and control strategies, and to allocate and utilize healthcare resources more efficiently.

Methods

For URIs in Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR), age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and case numbers for incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs across the globe, five socio-demographic index (SDI) regions, 21 geographical regions, and 204 countries and territories were provided and analyzed. Trends from 1990 to 2021 were described using the average annual percentage change (AAPC), and future URIs burden was projected with a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model.

Results

From 1990 to 2021, there was a significant decline in global ASIR (APCC = -289.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -298.59 to -281.12), ASPR (AAPC = -4.04, 95% CI: -4.16 to -3.92), ASMR (AAPC = -0.02, 95 % CI: -0.02 to -0.03) and age-standardized DALY rate (AAPC = -0.75, 95% CI: -0.76 to -0.74). The ASIR, ASPR, ASMR, and age-standardized DALY rate were high in elderly for both males and females, and both genders. Similarly, the number of incident cases, prevalence cases, deaths, and DALY cases for URIs was highest in children under five years. The ASMR and age-standardized DALY rate exhibited a negative correlation with SDI across 204 countries and territories in 2021. The ASIR and ASPR for URIs will show an upward trend from 2022 to 2050, while ASMR and age-standardized DALY rate are expected to decline. Low birth weight for gestation remains the leading contributor to deaths related to URIs.

Conclusion

Despite the global decline in URIs burden, significant challenges remain among the elderly population. These findings support the optimization and implementation of public health policies, including targeted vaccination and integrated One Health approaches to reduce the burden in high-risk populations.