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Journal articleJebreel WMA, Abdel Hamid MM, Mustafa SA, et al., 2026, , BMC Infectious Diseases, Vol: 26, ISSN: 1471-2334
BackgroundMalaria causes high morbidity and mortality in Sudan. Malaria control efforts have been disrupted by conflict and displacement, which affected the whole health system. This study aimed to characterize malaria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in conflict-affected zones of southern and eastern Sudan.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between 2023 and 2024, enrolling 717 patients with clinical symptoms suggestive of malaria in Kosti (southern Sudan, n = 252) and Kassala (Eastern Sudan, n = 465). Malaria infection was confirmed by light microscopy as a standard test, and qPCR was used as a reference method. Haematological indices were analysed on automated analysers, and PCR-RFLP was used to determine G6PD genotypes.ResultsMalaria prevalence was 62.6% (291/465; 95% CI 58.2–67.0%) in Kassala and 52% (133/252; 95% CI 46.6–59.0%) in Kosti using PCR. In Kassala, 157 cases (54%; 95% CI: 48.2–59.7%) were Plasmodium vivax (P.v), 99 (34%; 95% CI: 28.6–39.8%) were Plasmodium falciparum (P. f), and 35 (12%; 95% CI: 8.6–16.2%) were P. f/P. v infections. In Kosti, P. f was detected in 130 (97.7%) subjects, and P. v was detected in 3 (2.7%; all were negative by microscopy). There were 37 (8.7%) subjects not detected by microscopy but positive by PCR (submicroscopic), 20 (15%) in Kosti and 17 (5.8%) in Kassala. The G6PD B variant predominated in Kassala (438/94.2%) and Kosti (200/79.4%). The African A− variant was detected in 9 (3.5%) individuals in Kosti (7 males, 2 females). In Kosti females, BA, BA−, AA, and AA− were observed in 11 (7%), 4 (2.5%), 4 (2.5%), and 9 (5.7%), respectively, compared to 10 (4.1%), 4 (1.6%), and 7 (3%) BA, BA−, and AA cases in Kassala females. No significant association was observed between G6PD genotype and parasite density. Malaria prevalence did not differ significantly between Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and residents.Conclu
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Journal articleWan Y, Wong JLC, Sanchez-Garrido J, et al., 2026, , BMC Genomic Data, Vol: 27, ISSN: 2730-6844
Background Resistance to carbapenems and third-generation cephalosporins is increasing in Klebsiella pneumoniae globally, restricting therapeutic options. The β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations are widely used to circumvent β-lactamase-mediated resistance. In 2021, an unusual K. pneumoniae clinical isolate, KpMVR1, was recovered from a hospitalised patient in England, exhibiting resistance to meropenem-vaborbactam, imipenem-relebactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam. To investigate this phenomenon, we characterised the genome and antimicrobial susceptibility of KpMVR1 alongside two clonally related isolates susceptible to all three β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations: KpMVS1, collected from the same patient 42 days earlier, and KpMVS2, from another patient in the same hospital. Methods Illumina and MinION whole-genome sequencing were conducted for these three isolates, followed by hybrid genome assembly. Annotated genome assemblies were compared to identify genetic variation. Mutagenesis experiments were performed to verify predicted functional alterations. Results All isolates belonged to clone ST8134 and carried blaKPC-2 alleles (KpMVR1: blaKPC-157; KpMVS1 and KpMVS2: blaKPC-2) in plasmids predicted to be conjugative. Insertion sequence ISEc68 caused a frameshift mutation in KpMVR1’s ompK36 gene, reducing susceptibility to meropenem-vaborbactam and imipenem-relebactam. KPC-157 demonstrated decreased hydrolysis of imipenem and ceftazidime when compared with KPC-2. KpMVR1 also encoded a disrupted transcriptional repressor MarR and a destabilising mutation in AcrB, a component of the AcrAB-TolC multidrug efflux pump. An intact, iron-transporting fec operon was identified on a novel IncFII(pKP91)/IncFIB(K) plasmid unique to KpMVS2, possibly accounting for the cefiderocol resistance observed in this isolate. ConclusionsKpMVR1 carried multiple resistance-associated genetic alterations and likely developed its resistance profile
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Journal articleCelsa C, Pressiani T, Nishida N, et al., 2026, , JHEP Reports, Vol: 8, ISSN: 2589-5559
Background & AimsDurvalumab plus tremelimumab (STRIDE) has emerged as a first-line systemic treatment option for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This international multicentre study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of STRIDE or durvalumab monotherapy in routine clinical practice, comparing outcomes between patients within and outside key eligibility criteria for the HIMALAYA trial.MethodsFrom a database of 1,423 patients with advanced/unresectable HCC treated with immunotherapy across 35 centres, we analysed 233 patients receiving STRIDE or durvalumab monotherapy. Patients were categorized as HIMALAYA-IN or HIMALAYA-OUT based on key trial eligibility criteria (no prior systemic therapy, ECOG-PS 0–1, Child-Pugh class A, no Vp4 thrombosis). Baseline characteristics were assessed for overall survival (OS) and hepatic decompensation using a multivariable Cox model and competing-risk analysis, respectively. Objective response rates and treatment-related adverse events were recorded.ResultsOf the 233 patients, 123 (53%) were HIMALAYA-IN and 110 (47%) were HIMALAYA-OUT. STRIDE was given in 95% of HIMALAYA-IN patients. After median follow-up of 6.0 months, median OS was 20.4 months (95% CI 11.7-NR) in the overall population. HIMALAYA-IN patients achieved significantly longer OS than HIMALAYA-OUT patients (23.0 vs. 12.2 months; hazard ratio 0.61; 95% CI 0.39-0.96; p = 0.03). Macrovascular invasion and hepatic decompensation were independent negative prognostic factors in the whole cohort. Hepatic decompensation occurred in 10.5% of patients within 12 months from treatment start. Objective response rate was 23.7% and 17.8% of HIMALAYA-IN and -OUT patients, respectively. Patients achieving disease control (whole cohort: 59.4%) demonstrated 24-month OS of 58.2% in HIMALAYA-IN and 44.8% in HIMALAYA-OUT groups. Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 16.3% of patients.ConclusionsSTRIDE shows reproducible effectiveness and an ac
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Journal articleCorbaux P, You B, McNeish I, et al., 2026, , International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, Vol: 36, ISSN: 1048-891X
Objective: Growing evidence suggests potential ethnic and geographical variations in chemotherapy efficacy. The CA125 ELIMination rate constant K score is a pragmatic and reproducible indicator of tumor chemosensitivity in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer. We compared ELIMination rate constant K distributions and prognostic performances between patients enrolled in Japanese and Western trials who had stage III/IV serous ovarian cancer from the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup individual-patient-data Meta-Analysis in OVarian cancer. Methods: The ELIMination rate constant K values were previously estimated for 5884 women receiving first-line chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Data from 246 women enrolled in the Japanese JGOG-3016 trial were compared to 2561 patients from Western trials. ELIMination rate constant K was analyzed as a binary variable (favorable ≥1.0 vs unfavorable <1.0). Prognostic value for progression-free survival and overall survival was assessed using univariable and multi-variable models. A standardization cut-off specific to patients enrolled in the Japanese trial was explored using maximally selected rank statistics. Results: KELIM was significantly higher in patients enrolled in the Japanese trial (median 0.071 day<sup>-1</sup> vs 0.056 day<sup>-1</sup>; p <.0001). Using the standard cut-off, favorable ELIMination rate constant K was independently associated with improved progression-free survival (hazard ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.83) and overall survival (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 0.79) in patients from the Japanese trial. Applying the exploratory cut-off of 0.07 day<sup>-1</sup> strengthened prognostic discrimination (progression-free survival: hazard ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.49, p <.0001; overall survival: hazard ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.26 to 0.61, p <.0001). Conclusions: Potential higher ELIMination rate constant K-asse
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Journal articlePawa R, Derecichei I, Klein K, et al., 2026, , Iscience, Vol: 29
RNA viruses are responsible for many zoonotic disease transmission events, and remain a global health challenge. To evade immune detection, RNA viruses suppress the numbers of immunostimulatory oligonucleotide motifs (INMs) present in their genomes. Although this is thought to occur in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), our bioinformatic analysis on well characterized clinical datasets, along with in vitro studies, demonstrate that HIV-1 is enriched for INMs within its transmitted/founder (T/F) population relative to non-transmitting variants. Importantly, our data suggests that within the host, there is an evolutionary genetic replacement of T/F viruses that otherwise exhibit high transmission fitness and low replicative fitness, with variants having low transmission fitness but high replicative fitness. These findings provide insights into HIV-1 transmission by studying within-host and between-host evolutionary dynamics, enabling us to identify a framework for HIV infection biology, with viral RNA playing a role in transmission and replication processes.
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Journal articleDurmisevic A, Openy J, Majid A, et al., 2026, , Nucleic Acids Research (NAR), Vol: 54, ISSN: 0305-1048
Gaining control over DNA G-quadruplex topology bears potential to modulate and study their interaction with other biomacromolecules such as proteins. To achieve this, we introduced bipyridine ligands into short oligonucleotide strands derived from telomeric regions of humans and Tetrahymena as well as into an oncogenic promoter region capable of forming such G-quadruplexes. This modification makes it possible to dynamically access different G-quadruplex topologies through the formation of chelate complexes within the quadruplex loop regions using metals such as Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Cd2+. The metal coordinated systems show enhanced stability towards thermal denaturation as well as a solvation-related response in the presence of molecular crowding reagents. Furthermore, herein introduced G-quadruplexes modified with bipyridine-metal complexes stay folded in cellulo and therefore show potential for creating new oligonucleotide-based diagnostic agents and therapeutics. Metal-stabilized G-quadruplexes will be suited as robust probes for finding new protein binders, inducers for cellular pathways or decoys to sequester transcription factors.
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Journal articleSaralaya D, Mustapa MN, Ferreira J, et al., 2026, , Eur Respir J
BACKGROUND: Neutrophilic inflammation is a common feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mitiperstat, an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase expressed in neutrophils, may have potential as a COPD treatment. METHODS: This phase 2a, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-arm, event-driven trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of mitiperstat 5 mg daily up to 24 weeks (NCT05492877). Adults (40-80 years) with moderate-to-severe COPD, at high risk of exacerbation, and receiving dual or triple inhaled therapy were included. The primary endpoint was time to first composite endpoint for exacerbations in COPD (COPDCompEx) event. Secondary endpoints included time to first moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbation, post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (post-BD FEV1) change at Week 12, respiratory symptoms, disease impact and safety. RESULTS: Overall, 381 participants (mean age, 66.0 years; 39.6% female) were randomised to mitiperstat (n=189) or placebo (n=192). In total, 125 (66.1%) mitiperstat-treated versus 125 (65.1%) placebo-treated participants experienced COPDCompEx events over 24 weeks. There was no improvement in time to first COPDCompEx event (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07 [90% confidence interval (CI) 0.87, 1.32]; p=0.599) or time to first moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbation (HR 1.23 [90% CI 0.88, 1.73]) with mitiperstat versus placebo. Improvements in post-BD FEV1, respiratory symptoms or disease impact were not seen with mitiperstat. A similar proportion of participants in both groups reported adverse events; seven mitiperstat-treated participants and two placebo-treated participants had pneumonia during the study. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the risks outweigh the benefits of mitiperstat as a treatment for COPD.
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Journal articleHerranz-Ors C, Bhosle SG, Beck AE, et al., 2026, , Nature
Cancer cell lines remain foundational for research and drug discovery, yet they incompletely capture tumour diversity, lack linked patient context, and have undergone adaptation to culture. Tumour organoids are three-dimensional cultures derived from patient tissue that offer a powerful complement to cell lines1. Here we derived and characterized 256 clinically annotated tumour organoids directly from colorectal, oesophageal, ovarian, pancreatic and gastric cancers as renewable, genetically stable models. Extensive characterization of each model and matched patient tumour samples included whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing, and genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens across 162 organoids mapped gene dependencies. Integrative analyses revealed genomic and clinical markers of dependency across common and rare subtypes, identified organoid-specific essential genes, and revealed targetable vulnerabilities following tumour evolution in paired pre- and post-treatment samples. In colorectal cancer, functional and pharmacological interrogation of the EGFR-RAS-MAPK axis uncovered differential effects of KRAS variant alleles. This open, publicly available resource provides a systematic map of gene dependencies in patient-derived organoids, expanding the model diversity and mechanistic insight needed to advance precision oncology.
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Journal articleYeung AC, Phylactou M, Koysombat K, et al., 2026, , Eur J Endocrinol
OBJECTIVE: To develop a protocol for chronic kisspeptin administration that persistently stimulates gonadotropin secretion. We evaluated the effects of acute and chronic subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 administration on reproductive hormones in healthy men to: (i) characterize the acute dose-response relationship to subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 infusion, (ii) assess the effects of continuous kisspeptin-10 infusion over 5-days, (iii) daily intermittent administration (8-hours on, 16-hours off) for 12-days. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: Overall, 15 healthy men were recruited (Study 1: n=7, Study 2: n=4; Study 3: n=7); 12 men served as controls. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone, were assessed during an acute 8-hour dose-response subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 infusions (1.25-10.0 nmol/kg/h). Thereafter, we evaluated chronic subcutaneous administration, including continuous kisspeptin-10 infusion at 180 nmol/h for 5-days, and daily 8-hour infusions at 150 nmol/h for 12-days. RESULTS: (i) Acute subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 infusions dose-dependently increased LH, FSH, and testosterone vs vehicle (p<0.0001). (ii) Although testosterone concentrations remained elevated after 5-days of continuous kisspeptin-10, gonadotropin concentrations were similar to vehicle. (iii) Daily 8h subcutaneous infusions over 12-days sustained increases in gonadotropins (mean LH increase: vehicle -0.16 ±0.19; Day 1: +1.68 ±0.25; Day 12: +1.14 ±0.33, p=0.003 vs vehicle). Following 12-days, gonadotropin rises were still detected after kisspeptin-10 bolus (1nmol/kg) indicating that the kisspeptin receptor remained functional. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that chronic subcutaneous kisspeptin administration sustain gonadotropin and testosterone secretion in healthy men for 12-days. These data can inform development of chronic kisspeptin administration protocols for the treatment of reproductive disorders.
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Journal articleZou J, Jiang M, Xiao R, et al., 2026, , Nat Commun, Vol: 17
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