Air pollution represents a critical yet modifiable factor influencing the recurrence and progression of upper-airway infections. This review explores the molecular, immunological, and environmental mechanisms linking airborne pollutants to recurrent sinus and respiratory tract inflammation. Particular focus is placed on pollutant-induced oxidative stress, epithelial barrier disruption, alterations in the microbiome, and immune dysregulation, which collectively heighten disease susceptibility. Integrating recent advances in exposomics, multi-omics, and artificial intelligence, the discussion highlights new approaches to unravel exposure–response pathways and identify predictive biomarkers. Future directions emphasize precision exposure assessment, interventional strategies to improve air quality, and the emerging framework of “clean-air medicine” to guide prevention and policy. Overall, this synthesis underscores the urgent need for multidisciplinary collaboration across environmental science, molecular biology, and clinical research to mitigate the growing burden of pollution-related airway disease and promote sustainable respiratory health.

Since the nasopharynx serves as an ecological niche for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Corynebacterium spp., Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, etc., colonization is influenced by antimicrobial treatments, host immune responses, viral infections, and vaccines, often leading to local and systemic infections. We aimed to investigate the patterns of nasopharyngeal colonization and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial isolates in Bulgarian individuals under 20 years of age presenting with acute, protracted, and chronic cough. We analyzed 1383 samples using conventional culture methods, MALDI-TOF MS, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and genetic analyses for Bordetella pertussis and Mycoplasma spp. Among 896 isolates, H. influenzae was the most prevalent (26.23%), followed by M. catarrhalis (23.55%), S. pneumoniae (22.54%), and S. pyogenes causing 7.59% of infections. In children (0–10 years), M. catarrhalis (198 isolates) and H. influenzae (142 isolates) were the most common pathogens, followed by S. pneumoniae (73 isolates), while in those aged 10–20 years, S. pneumoniae was the most common isolate (129), followed by H. influenzae (93) and M. pneumoniae (21). Colonization in children and young adults serves as a reservoir for pathogen transmission to adults, highlighting its significant public health implications. Monitoring bacterial colonization and resistance patterns remains essential to inform targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

The interplay between the human gut microbiota and the peripheral immune system significantly affects the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer therapy. Despite this profound connection, the practical implications of microbiota dysbiosis in cancer immunotherapy ICIs & and CAR-T remain intricate and poorly understood in practical terms. This paper offers a comprehensive review of current literature on the role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in tumor development, and emerging microbiota modulation interventions, with a focus on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). FMT is a cost-effective therapeutic avenue, particularly in addressing diseases rooted in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile. Here we provided insights into the applications of FMT and other gut microbiota therapies in the landscape of cancer treatment, emphasizing their influence on the tumor microenvironment and the efficacy of ICIs with suggestions for future research directions and their implications for clinical practice.

Background : Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe complication following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Early recognition and forecasting may support preparedness and clinical resource allocation. Objective : We aimed to model the temporal relationship between COVID-19 incidence and MIS-C cases using time series analysis. Materials and methods : We retrospectively analyzed data from 51 children with MIS-C (age 0–18 years) hospitalized in a single center between November 2020 and April 2021. A regression model with ARIMA(1,0,0) errors was applied to predict MIS-C cases based on weekly COVID-19 incidence in individuals aged 0–18 years. Results : The majority of children were male (n = 37, 72.5%) and older than 5 years (n = 40, 78%), with a mean age of 8.82 ± 4.16 years. Abdominal symptoms were predominant (n = 38, 74%), and nearly half experienced respiratory (n = 23, 45%) or cardiac (n = 26, 51%) involvement. The ARIMA model identified a lag of 5–6 weeks between COVID-19 cases and MIS-C incidence (R² = 0.41). A selection-aware Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the robustness of the model’s significant regressors when extrapolated beyond the original data period. Conclusion : The moderate predictive power of the ARIMA model supports the potential of syndromic surveillance to forecast MIS-C clusters, aiding early intervention. Larger datasets could further enhance prediction accuracy.

Background: Fecal calprotectin (FC) is a well-established, non-invasive biomarker of intestinal inflammation and is widely used to differentiate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from functional gastrointestinal disorders. Although enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) remain the reference method, rapid immunochromatographic tests (ICTs) offer important operational advantages for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. However, variability in analytical performance among available ICTs remains a concern. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the CerTest Calprotectin one-step card (CerTest Biotec S.L., Zaragoza, Spain) in comparison with the Actim^® Calprotectin lateral flow assay and the reference Calprest^® ELISA (Eurospital Diagnostics, Italy). Methods: A total of 128 fresh stool samples from patients clinically suspected of IBD were analyzed in parallel using all three assays. For the reference ELISA (Calprest^®), a cutoff value of >40 µg/g was applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For discrepant results between assays, a cutoff of 200 ng/mL (equivalent to 200 µg hCp/g stool) was employed for ELISA Calprest^® to resolve inconsistencies. The results of the lateral flow assays (CerTest^® Calprotectin ICT and Actim^® Calprotectin) were interpreted using their respective manufacturer-recommended thresholds. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated using ELISA as the reference standard. Agreement between methods was assessed using Cohen’s κ coefficient. Results: Using ELISA, 47 of 128 samples (36.7%) exceeded the 40 µg/g cutoff. Compared with the Actim^® assay, the CerTest card demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.0% (95% CI: 75.7–95.5), a specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 95.4–100), and a strong agreement (κ = 0.90). When compared with ELISA, the CerTest assay showed a sensitivity of 87.2% (95% CI: 74.3–95.2), a specificity of 96.3% (95% CI: 89.6–99.2), a PPV of 93.2%, an NPV of 93.2%, and a strong agreement (κ = 0.85). Conclusions: The CerTest Calprotectin one-step card provides a rapid and reliable detection of fecal calprotectin, demonstrating a high sensitivity and specificity that are comparable to both other lateral flow assays and the ELISA reference method. These findings support the use of rapid immunochromatographic testing as a valuable tool for preliminary screening and clinical decision-making in patients suspected of IBD, while acknowledging that histology remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis.

In 2023, approximately 108 million infants worldwide received three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine, yet significant disparities persist, particularly in low-resource settings like West Africa. Despite the DPT vaccine's proven efficacy against diphtheria, the region continues to experience high rates of outbreaks for diphtheria, tetanus, and typhoid in 2024. This review aims to highlight the recent diphtheria crisis and analyze the trends and challenges of DTP vaccine coverage in West Africa by shedding light on socio-economic conditions, healthcare facilities and genetic factors. The review seeks to provide insights into improving vaccination rates and public health outcomes in the region, emphasizing the critical role of the DPT vaccine in combating life-threatening diseases. Enhanced surveillance and effective response strategies and development of region specific theraputics by the analysis of genomic variability in Africans, specifically within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus are essential to address the ongoing public health challenges posed by diphtheria and related infections in West Africa.