Although COVID-19 vaccination decreases the risk of severe illness, it is unclear whether vaccine administration may impact the prevalence of long-COVID. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and long-COVID symptomatology. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, as well as medRxiv and bioRxiv preprint servers were searched up to June 20, 2022. Peer-reviewed studies or preprints monitoring multiple symptoms appearing after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection either before or after COVID-19 vaccination collected by personal, telephone or electronic interviews were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. From 2584 studies identified, 11 peer-reviewed studies and six preprints were included. The methodological quality of 82% (n=14/17) studies was high. Six studies (n=17,256,654 individuals) investigated the impact of vaccines before acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (vaccine-infection-long-COVID design). Overall, vaccination was associated with reduced risks or odds of long-COVID, with preliminary evidence suggesting that two doses are more effective than one dose. Eleven studies (n=36,736 COVID-19 survivors) investigated changes in long-COVID symptoms after vaccination (infection-long-COVID-vaccine design). Seven articles showed an improvement in long-COVID symptoms at least one dose post-vaccination, while four studies reported no change or worsening in long-COVID symptoms after vaccination. Low level of evidence (grade III, case-controls, cohort studies) suggests that vaccination before SARS-CoV-2 infection could reduce the risk of subsequent long-COVID. The impact of vaccination in people with existing long-COVID symptoms is still controversial, with some data showing changes in symptoms and others did not. These assumptions are limited to those vaccines used in the studies. The LONG-COVID-EXP-CM study supported by a grant of Comunidad de Madrid.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected over 600 million individuals and caused nearly 7 million deaths worldwide (10 January 2023). Patients with renal disease undergoing hemodialysis are among those most adversely affected, with an increased predisposition to SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. This systematic review aimed to pool evidence assessing the humoral response of hemodialysis patients (HDP) post-mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. A systematic search of the literature was performed through MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases, as well as medRxiv and bioRxiv preprint servers up to 10 January 2023. Cohort and case-control studies were included if they reported an immune response in one group of patients undergoing hemodialysis who received mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared with another group of patients receiving the same vaccine but not on hemodialysis. The methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis was not deemed appropriate due to the high heterogeneity between studies. From the 120 studies identified, nine (n = 1969 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Most studies (n = 8/9, 88%) were of high or medium methodological quality (≥6/9 stars). The results revealed that HDP developed lower antibody levels across all timepoints post-vaccination when compared with controls. Patients with chronic kidney disease elicited the highest antibody immune response, followed by HDP and, lastly, kidney transplant recipients. Overall, post-vaccination antibody titers were comparatively lower than in the healthy population. Current results imply that robust vaccination strategies are needed to address waning immune responses in vulnerable populations.

Background: Cancer remains a global health challenge, characterized not just by uncontrolled cell proliferation but also by the complex metabolic reprogramming that underlies its development and progression. Objectives: This review delves into the intricate relationship between cancer and its metabolic alterations, drawing an innovative comparison with the cosmological concepts of dark matter and dark energy to highlight the pivotal yet often overlooked role of metabolic reprogramming in tumor evolution. Methods: It scrutinizes the Warburg effect and other metabolic adaptations, such as shifts in lipid synthesis, amino acid turnover, and mitochondrial function, driven by mutations in key regulatory genes. Results: This review emphasizes the significance of targeting these metabolic pathways for therapeutic intervention, outlining the potential to disrupt cancer’s energy supply and signaling mechanisms. It calls for an interdisciplinary research approach to fully understand and exploit the intricacies of cancer metabolism, pointing toward metabolic reprogramming as a promising frontier for developing more effective cancer treatments. Conclusion: By equating cancer’s metabolic complexity with the enigmatic nature of dark matter and energy, this review underscores the critical need for innovative strategies in oncology, highlighting the importance of unveiling and targeting the “dark energy” within cancer cells to revolutionize future therapy and research.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer, accounting for 80% of cases worldwide. While chronic hepatitis B and C infections remain primary risk factors, emerging evidence highlights the increasing contributions of metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) to HCC development. Genetic predispositions play a crucial role in modulating individual susceptibility to HCC, particularly through variants affecting viral persistence, lipid metabolism, and fibrogenesis. This review aims to summarize key genetic variants associated with precancerous conditions leading to HCC. The genetic risk factors, such as TP53 R249S mutant, TERT promoter mutations, and Wnt/B‐catenin pathway alterations, influence disease progression and treatment response in HCC subjects with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. In MASLD‐related HCC, variants in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, and MBOAT7 modulate hepatic lipid metabolism and fibrosis. ALD‐associated HCC is influenced by polymorphisms in ADH1B, ADH1C, and ALDH2, which affect alcohol metabolism and oxidative stress. Additionally, inherited metabolic disorders, including Wilson's disease and hemochromatosis, further contribute to HCC susceptibility. Despite previous insights into HCC‐related genetic cues, challenges such as limited population‐specific data, lack of genetic screening programs, and ethical concerns regarding genetic tests hinder the translation of genetic discoveries into personalized HCC prevention strategies. Expanding population‐specific studies, improving genetic screening accessibility, and developing standardized risk prediction models will be crucial in shifting traditional medications toward a precision medicine setting for HCC management.

Powdery mildews are important obligate biotrophic ectoparasites that cause severe damage to various plant species in Southeast Asia. So far, 14 genera and 96 species of powdery mildew have been reported in Southeast Asia, with Thailand having the most number of recorded species. Of the 14 genera reported, Oidium sp. had the most recorded host, including several important species of vegetables, fruits, vines, herbs, field crops, ornamentals, and tree species. This paper briefly reviews the knowledge of powdery mildew disease in Southeast Asia, focusing on the pathogens' host range, impact, and some sources of resistance to powdery mildew.

With the lack of baseline information on avifauna within Bicol University and the adjacent forest fragment, this research aimed to identify bird species and compare their presence between an urbanized and forest areas. Avian diversity was documented within the Kalikasan Park and Bicol University Main Campus adjacent ecosystems, representing a forest fragment and semi-urbanized ecosystems, respectively. Bird survey was carried out through point count method. Identification was aided by existing taxonomic keys. A total of 44 species were recorded with eleven as Philippine endemics. Lonchura malacca(Chestnut Munia) and Aplonis panayensis (Asian Glossy Starling) were among the most frequently sighted. Bird species sighted was higher in the forest fragment as compared with the main campus area. The study recommends that Bicol University Main campus be transformed into an avian buffer and safe zone for the protection and conservation of these species and to provide policies to maintain high bird diversity.