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Background: The treatment of vitiligo is a persistent challenge in dermatology. New treatments are being offered and studied in this field for those resistant to or intolerant of classical therapies. Aims: In this systematic review, we study the use of prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) and phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEIs) in the treatment of vitiligo, as they are known for their pigmentation inducing effects through activating melanocytes. Methods: We searched four main online databases with the keywords "Vitiligo", "Prostaglandin analogue" and "Phosphodiesterase inhibitor". Results: A total of 42 articles were included, with 1027 cases, studying drugs like bimatoprost, latanoprost, travoprost, dinoprostone, apremilast, crisaborole, etc. Among the included studies, the treatment regimens are commonly once or twice daily for 12–48 weeks, with a mean of 20.61 weeks, and the routes of administration are mainly topical gels or ophthalmic solutions and oral tablets. Side effects are mild and tolerable, namely erythema, itching or burning sensations at application site for topicals, or gastrointestinal problems with apremilast. Repigmentation results are significant in both adult and pediatric patients and progressive or stable vitiligo. PGAs and PDEIs outperform many classical therapies, for example, narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy (NB‐UVB), tacrolimus, mometasone or methylprednisolone mini‐pulse. PGAs or PDEIs are usually used in combination therapies to either cause synergism or increase drug delivery, and almost always enhance repigmentation, for example, with NB‐UVB, fractional CO2 laser, microneedling, and mometasone. Conclusion: Monotherapy or add‐on PGAs and PDEIs can be considered effective treatments for vitiligo and promising last resorts for those resistant to other therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID‐19 pandemic has taken many forms and continues to evolve, now around the Omicron wave, raising concerns over the globe. With COVID‐19 being declared no longer a "public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)," the COVID pandemic is still far from over, as new Omicron subvariants of interest and concern have risen since January of 2023. Mainly with the XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 subvariants, the pandemic is still very much "alive" and "breathing." Methods: This review consists of five highly concerning questions about the current state of the COVID Omicron peak. We searched four main online databases to answer the first four questions. For the last one, we performed a systematic review of the literature, with keywords "Omicron," "Guidelines," and "Recommendations." Results: A total of 31 articles were included. The main symptoms of the current Omicron wave include a characteristically high fever, coughing, conjunctivitis (with itching eyes), sore throat, runny nose, congestion, fatigue, body ache, and headache. The median incubation period of the symptoms is shorter than the previous peaks. Vaccination against COVID can still be considered effective for the new subvariants. Conclusion: Guidelines recommend continuation of personal protective measures, third and fourth dose boosters, along with administration of bivalent messenger RNA vaccine boosters. The consensus antiviral treatment is combination therapy using Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir, and the consensus for pre‐exposure prophylaxis is Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab combination. We hope the present paper raises awareness for the continuing presence of COVID and ways to lower the risks, especially for at‐risk groups. Key points: The COVID pandemic is far from over, with new variants of interest and concern rising since January of 2023 (mainly XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 subvariants).The main symptoms of the current Omicron wave include a high fever, coughing, conjunctivitis (with itching of the eyes), sore throat, runny nose and congestion, fatigue, body ache, and headache.The median incubation period for the current peak was calculated to be 3.8 days which is shorter than the incubation period calculated for most of the previous peaks; and the median duration of the symptoms was calculated to be 5 days for the current peak which is shorter than the duration calculated for the previous peaks by 3–5 days.A cumulative 64.42% of the population worldwide are fully vaccinated against COVID‐19 as of June 16, 2023. Vaccination against COVID can still be considered mostly effective against new symptoms, severe disease, long COVID, and death for the new subvariants.Guidelines recommend continuation of personal protective measures, third and fourth dose boosters, particularly in individuals above 60, immunocompromised patients, and healthcare personnel, along with administration of bivalent messenger RNA vaccine boosters.The consensus option for antiviral treatment is combination therapy using Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir, and the consensus for pre‐exposure prophylaxis is Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection caused by moulds from the Mucorales order. Concerns have been mounting due to the alarming increase in severe morbidity and mortality associated with mucormycosis during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This condition, known as COVID‐19‐associated mucormycosis (CAM), has been linked to various environmental, host‐related, and medical factors on a global scale. We have categorized the most significant potential risk factors for developing mucormycosis in individuals with a previous history of coronavirus infection into 10 major categories. These categories include acute hyperglycemia, the impact of cytokine release, immune response deficiencies in COVID‐19 patients, microvasculopathy and dysfunction of endothelial cells, imbalances in iron metabolism, metabolic acidosis, organ damage resulting from COVID‐19, underlying health conditions (such as diabetes), environmental factors, and medical treatments that can be iatrogenic in nature (such as inappropriate glucocorticoid use). Many of these factors can lead to potentially life‐threatening infections that can complicate the treatment of COVID‐19. Physicians should be vigilant about these factors because early detection of mucormycosis is crucial for effective management of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a comparative, cross-sectional study that evaluates the association of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEinhs), and hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (HMGRis) with clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. It mentions that the study analyzed demographic variables, clinical and laboratory tests, chest computed tomography findings of COVID‑19 in hospitalized, hypertensive patients.