Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread to many countries around the world. In addition to lung disease, severe cases also displayed varying degrees of liver injury. This article will describe the latest developments regarding coronavirus and the pathogenesis of liver injury, the prone population and clinical characteristics of these patients, as well as providing some suggestions for clinical treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias are major public health concerns with an increasing global impact. The burden of these conditions varies by region, age, and gender, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these disparities, potentially influencing disease prevalence, mortality, and disability burden. This study aimed to assess the global and regional burden and trends of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in adults aged 60 years or older from 1990 to 2021, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years. Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD 2021) data, we analyzed age-standardized death rates (ASDR), incidence rates (ASIR), prevalence rates (ASPR), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021. Temporal trends were assessed using the Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC). Projections were modeled using Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort (BAPC) techniques. We evaluated excess mortality by comparing actual versus expected deaths during the pandemic. Decomposition analysis examined the contributions of population growth, aging, and epidemiological shifts. We analyzed health inequality to highlight and address disparities in health status and resource access across regions. All plots and tables were created using Joinpoint Regression model (Version 4.8.0.1), StataMP 18, and R statistical packages (Version 4.4.1). In 2021, global mortality from AD and other dementias among individuals aged 60 and older reached approximately 1,922,970.75 cases (95% CI: 480,348.08 to 5,104,315.95), and the prevalence was 52,560,253.51 cases (95% CI: 41,399,948.84 to 65,633,448.71). High Body Mass Index (BMI) and High Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) were prominent risk factors. Projections suggest a near fourfold increase in AD cases by 2050, driven by population growth and aging, with females disproportionately affected. Health inequalities persist, with higher disease burdens in high-SDI regions. The pandemic impacted mortality unevenly, highlighting regional disparities. Although incidence rates declined from 1990 to 2021, the overall burden of AD and dementias remains substantial and is expected to rise significantly by 2050. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing risk factors like High FPG, gender disparities, and the socioeconomic effects of COVID-19, particularly in high-SDI countries.

Background: The present meta-analysis examined the diagnostic accuracy of T2 Candida for candidiasis. Methods: The literature databases, such as PubMed, Embase, DVIO, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and CNKI, were searched on T2 Candida detection. Results: A total of 8 articles, comprising of 2717 research subjects, were included in the study. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88–0.94) and 0.94 95% CI: 0.93–0.95), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio was 10.16 (95% CI: 2.75–37.50) and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.02–0.35), respectively. The combined diagnostic odds ratio is 133.65 95% CI: 17.21–1037.73), and the AUC of SROC is 0.9702 [(SE = 0.0235), Q* = 0.9201(SE = 0.0381)]. Conclusions: The current evidence supported that T2 Candida has high accuracy and sensitivity and is of major clinical significance in the diagnosis of Candida infection.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). An estimated 1.7 billion people worldwide are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) during the incubation period without any obvious symptoms. Because of MTB’s high infection and mortality rates, there is an urgent need to develop a fast, portable, and sensitive diagnostic technology for its detection. Methods: We included research from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase and extracted the data. MetaDisc and STATA were used to build forest plots, Deek’s funnel plot, Fagan plot, and bivariate boxplot for analysis. Results: Forty-six articles were analyzed, the results of which are as follows: sensitivity and specificity were 0.92 (0.91–0.93) and 0.95 (0.94–0.95) respectively. The NLR and PLR were 0.04 (95% CI 0.03–0.07) and 25.32 (95% CI 12.38–51.78) respectively. DOR was 639.60 (243.04–1683.18). The area under the SROC curve (AUC) was 0.99. Conclusions: MPT64 exhibits good diagnostic efficiency for MTB. There is no obvious heterogeneity between the three commercial kits.

The role played by serum folate in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of serum folate with NAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis (AHF). We conducted a cross-sectional study with 5417 participants using 2011–2018 NHANES data. Multiple logistic regression analysis and propensity score matching analysis were used to investigate the association of serum folate with NAFLD and AHF. In the completely adjusted model, participants in the high serum folate group had a 27% (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62, 0.87, p = 0.0003) and 53% (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.35, 0.63, p < 0.0001) lower odds of suffering from NAFLD and AHF, respectively, compared to the low serum folate group. The similar results in propensity score matching further validated the above association. Stratified analysis showed that the negative correlation of serum folate with NAFLD and AHF demonstrated a broad consistency across populations. The results of this study indicate that higher serum folate level was associated with lower odds of NAFLD and AHF among US adults. Further prospective studies are necessary due to the limitations of cross-sectional studies.

To detect Zika virus more rapidly and accurately, we developed a novel method that utilized a real-time fluorescence reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. The NS5 gene was amplified by a set of six specific primers that recognized six distinct sequences. The amplification process, including 60 min of thermostatic reaction with Bst DNA polymerase following real-time fluorescence reverse transcriptase using genomic Zika virus standard strain (MR766), was conducted through fluorescent signaling. Among the six pairs of primers that we designate here, NS5 was the most efficient with a high sensitivity of up to 3.3 ng/μl and reproducible specificity on eight pathogen samples that were used as negative controls. The real-time fluorescence reverse transcription LAMP detection process can be completed within 35 min. Our study demonstrated that real-time fluorescence reverse transcription LAMP could be highly beneficial and convenient clinical application to detect Zika virus due to its high specificity and stability.