Fungal infections pose a major global health concern, particularly among individuals with weakened immune system, due to their significant morbidity and mortality rates, as well as the escalating issue of antifungal resistance (AFR). These challenges highlight the pressing need for innovative solutions in diagnostics, resistance surveillance, and therapeutic interventions. Artificial intelligence (AI) presents a groundbreaking opportunity to tackle these issues by utilizing machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) to process complex datasets, identify hidden correlations, and optimize decision-making. This paper examines the application of AI in mycology, emphasizing its role in enhancing diagnostic precision, forecasting antifungal resistance, and accelerating drug discovery to improve patient care.

Despite transforming care for severe aortic stenosis, TAVR is still followed by early and late mortality. The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index, an insulin-resistance marker from routine triglyceride and glucose levels, may flag high-risk patients in Ashkenazi-Jewish and Mediterranean individuals. We examined whether baseline TyG predicts all-cause mortality at 30 days, 1 year, and 3 years post-TAVR. We retrospectively studied patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR at a single tertiary center between 2010 and 2024. The TyG index was calculated from baseline triglyceride and glucose values. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 1 year, with secondary endpoints of all-cause mortality at 30 days and 3 years. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the association between TyG (per 1-unit increase) and mortality, adjusting for major clinical risk factors. Additionally, ROC curves were used to derive cohort-specific TyG thresholds for short-term and long-term mortality. Results: A total of 821 TAVR patients were included. All-cause mortality was 3.4 % at 30 days, 10.9 % at 1 year, and 19.7 % at 3 years. Higher baseline TyG was associated with significantly increased mortality risk at all time points. After multivariable adjustment, each 1-unit increase in TyG index conferred a higher hazard of 1-year death (adjusted HR 1.62, 95 % CI 1.21–2.16) and remained predictive of mortality at 30 days (HR 1.92, 95 % CI 1.08–3.42) and 3 years (HR 1.42, 95 % CI 1.14–1.77). ROC analysis identified distinct TyG thresholds for short-term and long-term outcomes, with an optimal cut-point of 9.012 for 30-day mortality, 9.15 for 1-year mortality, and 8.700 for 3-year mortality. Baseline TyG index is an independent predictor of early, short-term, and long-term mortality after TAVR. The identification of cohort-specific TyG cut-points highlights population-specific metabolic risk calibration and supports the use of TyG as a simple and informative biomarker for refining risk stratification and follow-up intensity in TAVR recipients.

Background: Timely diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is essential for effective management, as delayed treatment can lead to serious complications, including infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Acute PID often presents with mild, varied symptoms, making diagnosis challenging and risking delayed intervention. While laparoscopy provides high diagnostic accuracy for PID, its limited availability and occasional inability to detect subtle cases restrict its utility in routine clinical settings.Aim: This article aims to assess the diagnostic role of transvaginal sonography (TVS) as an accessible, nonionizing alternative for early PID detection, with a focus on its use alongside clinical evaluation to enhance diagnostic accuracy.Methods: This article synthesizes recent studies on the diagnostic efficacy of TVS for acute PID. Relevant literature was selected to evaluate TVS's sensitivity, specificity, and clinical utility in detecting pelvic inflammatory changes, comparing it to laparoscopy as the reference standard.Results: The findings suggest that TVS, particularly when combined with thorough clinical assessment, offers high sensitivity and specificity in identifying inflammatory changes associated with PID. TVS enables timely diagnosis, facilitating earlier treatment and reducing upper genital tract complications. Moreover, its noninvasive nature and accessibility make it a practical alternative to laparoscopy in diverse healthcare settings.Conclusion: TVS serves as a valuable diagnostic tool for early PID detection, especially when laparoscopy is unavailable. Its integration with clinical evaluation can expedite diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and mitigate the risk of severe reproductive complications, supporting TVS as a critical component in PID management protocols.

Variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can influence transmissibility, virulence, vaccine efficacy, the effectiveness of therapeutic agents, diagnostic accuracy, and the overall success of public health interventions. This study aimed to assess the impact of emerging variants on healthcare workers’ (HCWs) fear related to SARS-CoV-2 new variant infection and to evaluate their confidence in the received vaccines. A globally distributed cross-sectional study was performed using an online anonymous survey and face-to-face interviews between 1 ^st November and 5 ^th December 2023. The fear level was assessed by the Fear of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) Scale (FCS), and the confidence level in the received COVID-19 vaccines was measured using the Arabic Tool for Assessment of Post-vaccination Confidence in COVID-19 vaccines (ARAB-VAX-CONF). A total of 5843 eligible HCWs completed the survey with a mean age of 32.1 ± 10.8 years. Of them, 42.5% were from the Eastern Mediterranean region, 24.2% were from the African region, 14.4% were from the Western region, and 18.9% were from other regions (Eastern Asia and Latin America). Nearly three-fourths (72.7%) were vaccinated, primarily with Pfizer (40.0%), AstraZeneca (36.8%), and Sinopharm (14.3%). Nearly two-fifths (40.5%) were in extreme fear of catching infection from the COVID-19 emerging variants. Among the HCWs who received COVID-19 vaccines, 41.0% showed good confidence in the received vaccine. Predictors of lower fear included being married [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.8; 95% CI (0.7–0.9)], having a small family of two members [AOR: 0.63; 95% CI (0.5–0.78)] or three members [AOR: 0.62; 95% CI (0.51–0.72)], and being a pharmacist [AOR: 0.75; 95% CI (0.55–0.92)]. Conversely, predictors of increased fear included being divorced or widowed [AOR: 1.3; 95% CI (1.0–1.8)], residing in rural areas [AOR: 1.6; 95% CI (1.4–1.8)] or desert/mountain areas [AOR: 2.5; 95% CI (1.6–4.0)], having insufficient income and in debt [AOR: 2.5; 95% CI (2.2–3.1)], having insufficient income [AOR: 2.4; 95% CI (2.0–2.8)], and having chronic diseases [AOR: 1.2; 95% CI (1.1–1.4)]. Predictors of good confidence in the received vaccine were middle age (30–39 years) [AOR: 1.4; 95% CI (1.1–1.8)], age group 40 years and more [AOR: 1.8; 95% CI (1.4–2.3), rural/other residence [AOR: 1.3; 95% CI (1.1–1.5)], male sex [AOR: 1.3; 95% CI (1.1–1.4)], and small family members of one [AOR: 5.5; 95% CI (4.2–7.2)], two [AOR: 1.5; 95% CI (1.2–1.9)], and three [AOR: 1.3; 95% CI (1.1–1.6)]. On the other hand, having chronic diseases [AOR: 0.82; 95% CI (0.71–0.95)], having mental disorders [AOR: 0.59; 95% CI (0.51–0.69)], high family number of four [AOR: 0.78; 95% CI (0.69–0.89)], personal history of COVID-19 infection [AOR: 0.61; 95% CI (0.53–0.71)], and experiencing side effects of vaccination [AOR: 0.63; 95% CI (0.55–0.72)] were associated with low confidence regarding the received vaccine. In conclusion, HCWs exhibited notable fear of infection with SARS-CoV-2 new variants, along with low confidence in the vaccine. The study suggests realistic approaches, such as targeted interventional programs to address the fear, resolve uncertainties, and promote widespread vaccine confidence among HCWs.