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Patients with diabetes are particularly susceptible to COVID-19 infection, which can result in severe respiratory illness. This study conducted a comparative assessment of the impact of antiviral therapy using molnupiravir and favipiravir in COVID-19 patients with underlying diabetes. A cohort of one hundred individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, diagnosed with diabetes, and consecutively admitted, was included in the present study. These patients were treated with antivirals according to local guidelines: Group F (51 cases) was treated with favipiravir - 10 days and Group M (49 cases) was treated with molnupiravir - 5 days. In Group F, the average hospitalization was higher than in Group M (11.29±2.27 vs. 7.14±3.16, p<0.001). The risk score for severe evolution was less statistically significant at the end point of treatment in group M (156.29±61.32; 160.59±59.41, p<0.001). Administration of molnupiravir led to a decrease in the number of deaths among patients with COVID-19 compared to those treated with favipiravir [2 (4.08%) vs. 9 (17.65%), p=0.034]. Molnupiravir demonstrated superiority over favipiravir in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in diabetic patients, and controlling or diagnosing diabetes is crucial to prevent the critical progression of COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to confirm its potential in the management of infected individuals with SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ekbom syndrome, also known as delusional parasitosis (DP) or delusional infestation, is an uncommon psychiatric disorder distinguished by an enduring conviction of parasitic infestation, persisting notwithstanding the presence of medical evidence to the contrary. Primarily affecting middle-aged women, DP can manifest either as isolated psychological distress or as a component within a more intricate psychiatric framework, substantially influencing the quality of life for affected individuals. Its pathophysiological mechanism involves uncertain dopaminergic imbalances and dysfunction in the dopamine transporter system. Dermatologists often play a pivotal role in diagnosis, as patients first seek dermatological assessments of their signs and symptoms. However, DP frequently originates from underlying psychiatric disorders or medical variables, manifesting with neurological and infectious causative factors. The diagnostic complexity is attributed to patients' resolute convictions, leading to delayed psychiatric intervention. First-line DP treatment involves antipsychotics, with newer agents demonstrating promising prospects, but the lack of standardized protocols poses a significant therapeutic challenge. In this narrative review, both a comprehensive approach to this uncommon pathology and an update on the state of knowledge in this medical subfield focused on optimizing the management of DP are provided. The complexity of DP underlying its uncommon nature and the incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology highlight the need for further research through multicenter studies and multidisciplinary teams to enhance therapeutic efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis (IE). Echocardiography is an essential examination, especially in native valve endocarditis (NVE), but its diagnostic accuracy is reduced in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). The diagnostic ability is superior for transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), but a negative test cannot exclude PVE. Both transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE can provide normal or inconclusive findings in up to 30% of cases, especially in patients with prosthetic devices. New advanced non-invasive imaging tests are increasingly used in the diagnosis of IE. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques have demonstrated their superiority over TEE for the diagnosis of PVE and cardiac implantable electronic device infective endocarditis (CIED-IE). Cardiac computed tomography angiography imaging is useful in PVE cases with inconclusive TTE and TEE investigations and for the evaluation of paravalvular complications. In the present review, imaging tools are described with their values and limitations for improving diagnosis in NVE, PVE and CIED-IE. Current knowledge about multimodality imaging approaches in IE and imaging methods to assess the local and distant complications of IE is also reviewed. Furthermore, a potential diagnostic work-up for different clinical scenarios is described. However, further studies are essential for refining diagnostic and management approaches in infective endocarditis, addressing limitations and optimizing advanced imaging techniques across different clinical scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant environmental and social issues confront the textile and apparel industries, including resource depletion and excessive textile waste. Implementing circular economy principles is essential for the sustainability of this industry. The present paper is a bibliometric analysis study type designed to identify collaborative networks, prolific countries, journals, and influential articles pertaining to the implementation of the circular economy in the textile and apparel industries that may serve as a starting point for an in-depth understanding of the subject, facilitating the knowledge of essential bibliometric parameters for pre-publication phases. The data were extracted from the Web of Science and analyzed using both the Web of Science web interface and the VOSviewer software version 1.6.19. The bibliometric data were divided into two distinct periods to analyze the evolution of this subject over time: from 1975 to 2010 and from 2011 to 2023. In the first period, the most productive country was the United States, with 527 publications, accounting for 10.81% of the scientific output during that time. In the second period, China emerged as the most productive country, with 2478 published documents, constituting 18.44% of the total production in this period. During the first period, Istanbul Technical University was the most active institution, with 91 publications (1.87% of the total production), while in the second period the Indian Institute of Technology System was the most productive, with 265 documents (1.95%). These key findings demonstrate the textile industry's commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. They also highlight the industry's adoption of advanced technologies and its exploration of new research areas; but there is still room for improvement, which is why continuous research implemented through future research areas is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating autoimmune disorder with an inflammatory condition targeting the joints that affects millions of patients worldwide. Several unmet needs still need to be addressed despite recent improvements in the management of RA. Although current RA therapies can diminish inflammation and alleviate symptoms, many patients remain unresponsive or experience flare-ups of their ailment. The present study aims to address these unmet needs through in silico research, with a focus on the identification of novel, potentially active molecules. Therefore, a molecular docking analysis has been conducted using AutoDockTools 1.5.7 on Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that are either approved for RA or in advanced phases of research. The binding affinities of these small molecules against JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3, which are target proteins implicated in the pathophysiology of RA, have been assessed. Subsequent to identifying the ligands with the highest affinity for these target proteins, a ligand-based virtual screening was performed utilizing SwissSimilarity, starting with the chemical structures of the previously identified small molecules. ZINC252492504 had the highest binding affinity (−9.0 kcal/mol) for JAK1, followed by ZINC72147089 (−8.6 kcal/mol) for JAK2, and ZINC72135158 (−8.6 kcal/mol) for JAK3. Using SwissADME, an in silico pharmacokinetic evaluation showed that oral administration of the three small molecules may be feasible. Based on the preliminary results of the present study, additional extensive research is required for the most promising candidates to be conducted so their efficacy and safety profiles can be thoroughly characterized, and they can become medium- and long-term pharmacotherapeutic solutions for the treatment of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]