Clinical intelligence & editorial.

PubMed

Circulating Type 2 Memory B Cell Frequency Is a Biomarker for Allergen Immunotherapy Efficacy in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis.

To the Editor, Reliable early biomarkers are needed to monitor allergen immunotherapy (AIT) efficacy in allergic rhinitis (AR). Type 2 memory B cells, marked by IL‐4Rα and CD23, are implicated in antigen‐specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and promote enhanced antigen recall responses in allergic disease [1, 2]. However, the precise dynamics of type 2 memory B (MBC2) cells during AIT remain poorly understood and their potential utility as candidate biomarkers for treatment monitoring has...

Allergen Immunotherapy

Ma Y, Li S, Ye L, Qiu L, Wu J, Li J, Feng X, Qian W, Yang X, Li H, Lou H• January 18, 2026

PubMed

Neuraminidase activity in pediatric nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by increased glomerular permeability resulting from podocyte injury and disruption of the glomerular filtration barrier. Although its pathogenesis is thought to involve immune-mediated mechanisms, the molecular events underlying disease onset and relapse, often triggered by infectious episodes, remain incompletely understood [1]. Sialic acids are terminal monosaccharides and fundamental components of glycoproteins and glycolipids, where they regulate mole...

Nephrotic Syndrome

Kajana X, Spennacchio A, Angeletti A• January 17, 2026

PubMed

Aortic Valve Regurgitation in a Girl With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Background Cardiac involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is very rare but potentially life-threatening, and cases dominated by aortic regurgitation are particularly uncommon. Case Summary We describe the case of a 9-year-old girl with severe aortic regurgitation secondary to JIA. Her overall condition improved after cardiac surgical intervention combined with perioperative immunosuppressive therapy. Discussion This case highlights the rare severe aortic regurgitation in JIA. Ou...

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Ye L, Luo X, Chen F, Qing H, Jian X• January 17, 2026

PubMed

Effect of rosuvastatin as add-on to standard treatment on disease severity, inflammatory, and angiogenic biomarkers in chronic plaque psoriasis patients having cardiovascular risk: A nonrandomized, assessor blind, controlled clinical trial (RoSInA-P3 trial).

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the effect of rosuvastatin on disease severity, inflammatory, and angiogenic markers in plaque psoriasis patients having cardiovascular (CV) risk. Methodology: In this nonrandomized, assessor blind clinical trial, plaque psoriasis patients were allocated to rosuvastatin add-on (n = 24) or standard therapy group (n = 24) depending upon baseline CV risk. The primary outcome was the mean change in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scor...

Plaque Psoriasis

Siwach S, Mittal N, Dayal S, Goel N, Asija M, Mishra A• January 17, 2026

PubMed

Perspectives on potential pharmacist prescribing in an outpatient dialysis center: qualitative interviews with patients and clinicians.

Introduction Pharmacist prescribing is expanding across care settings, supported by pharmacists’ expertise in pharmacology, therapeutics, disease management, and medication optimization. In settings where pharmacists can prescribe, patients and providers report positive outcomes. However, limited research has examined pharmacist prescribing in dialysis centers. Aim This study explored patient and clinician perspectives on potential pharmacist prescribing in the outpatient hemodialysis unit at...

Pharmacist

Choi AS, Theodorlis M, Abbaticchio A, Battistella M• January 17, 2026

PubMed

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a text message system for COVID-19 testing for K-12 school communities.

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures led to loss of school-based resources and substantial learning losses for children. To facilitate the return to in-person learning, schools across the US partnered with health agencies to implement strategies such as on-site and at-home COVID-19 testing programs. We aimed to quantify the cost-effectiveness of SCALE-UP Counts, a project that used text messaging and health navigation interventions to promote equitable COVID-19 tes...

Covid-19 Testing

Dougherty M, Wu YP, Kolp L, Brady HL, Stump TK, Kuzmenko TV, Yoo M, Chipman J, Del Fiol G, Kaphingst KA, Hersh AL, Lundberg KJ, Orleans B, Wirth J, Wetter DW, Nelson RE• January 17, 2026

PLOS

Beyond the skin: Lived experiences and coping strategies of psoriasis patients in Malaysia

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition that significantly impacts an individual’s quality of life, resulting in physical discomfort, psychological distress, and compromised social well-being. However, there is limited understanding regarding the challenges faced by patients in Malaysia. This study examines the lived experiences of patients with psoriasis in Malaysia, focusing on the emotional, social, financial, and treatment-related challenges they face, as well as the cop...

Psoriasis

Che Jusoh Che Awanis, Mohd Noor Norhayati, Zainab Mat Yudin• January 16, 2026

PLOS

Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates at a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, are dominated by specific local clones rather than previously described international lineages

Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) are increasingly prevalent pathogens in hospital settings worldwide. In early 2019, an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) at a tertiary hospital in South Africa triggered a retrospective investigation to determine local CRKP molecular epidemiology. The evolution of CRE at the institution progressed from sporadic cases in 2016–2017 to establishment of CRKP as an endemic pathogen by 2020. Of 778 clinical and carriage CRKP isolates (201...

Klebsiella Pneumonia

Kedišaletše Moloto, Mae Newton-Foot, Angela Dramowski, Stefany Ayala-Montaño, Ifeoluwa Akintayo, Andrew Whitelaw, Sandra Reuter• January 16, 2026

PLOS

Lack of social support associated with major depressive disorder in middle-aged and older adults from the United States: A propensity score-matched cohort study

Background and objective: Current widely used depression assessment criteria may not accurately reflect the true prevalence of depression, and previous studies have insufficiently addressed the multidimensional nature of social support. Research on the relationship between depression and specific dimensions of social support remains limited, which impedes the targeted allocation of scarce social resources to mitigate the disease burden. This study aimed to explore the association between multi-d...

Major Depressive Disorder

Ping Li, Kunlun Wu• January 16, 2026

PLOS

The role of age and gender in the relationship between personality traits, quality of life, and decision-making about orthognathic surgery—A cross-sectional study

Objective: To explore how age and gender shape the relationship between personality traits, quality of life (QoL), and a patient’s decision to undergo surgery for correction of dentofacial deformity. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 108 individuals aged 14–53 years (median age 18 years; interquartile range 17–26) with a moderate to very great need for surgery according to the Index of Orthognathic Functional Treatment Need were assessed. There were 43% adolescents (≤17 years) and 68% females...

Aed

Renata Vidakovic, Martina Zigante, Jeta Kelmendi, Stjepan Spalj• January 16, 2026

PLOS

Quality of life in hypertensive patients using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument in the post-pandemic Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Background: To combat growing prevalence of hypertension in Bangladesh, it is critical to have an in-depth understanding about quality of life (QOL) among people living with hypertension and related factors. In the recent COVID-19 pandemic the QOL of hypertensive people got downsized. This study aimed to measure QOL among hypertensive people in a selected tertiary hospital in Dhaka city, and its association with the basic characteristics of the patients. Methods: This study was conducted among r...

Hypertension

Nasrin Akter, Farhana Faruque Zerin, Bilkis Banu, Fatema Afrin Kanta, Shahnaz Begam, Sarder Mahmud Hossain• January 16, 2026

PLOS

Viewing low back pain through the lens of spinal evolution: Understanding the morphology and limits of the human spine

Background and objective: Low back pain remains a pervasive global health challenge, with significant disability and socio-economic burden. While contemporary biomechanical and occupational factors are well-studied, the role of human spinal evolution and its divergence from modern postural behaviors is less frequently examined. This study aims to visually explore and illustrate the historical evolution of human spinal posture through artistic representations, conceptually highlighting the potent...

Back Pain

Abdullah Emre Taçyıldız, Özden Erhan Sofuoğlu, Aydın Sinan Apaydın, Melih Üçer• January 16, 2026