Medical Articles Research Articles

Innovative therapeutic strategies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: A review of advances and perspectives

Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease associated with chronic inflammation and increased angiogenesis, which leads to joint destruction. Current therapies focus on anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying drugs, with methotrexate being the first-line drug. TNF-α inhibitors, such as adalimumab, are effective but expensive. Research is focusing on new methods such as inhibiting angiogenesis and using nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery, which could revolutionize the treatment of RA by minimizing side effects. Materials and methods. This work was based on medical articles collected from PubMed. The research was conducted by analyzing keywords such as: “innovative methods of treating RA”, “angiogenesis process in RA”, “nanotechnology as treatment of RA”, “inflammation pathogenesis”, “angiogenesis inhibition”. Results. The article discusses innovative therapeutic strategies in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), focusing on the role of angiogenesis and the use of nanoparticles. The importance of inhibiting angiogenesis in the synovial membrane is emphasized as a key element in the pathogenesis of RA and a potential therapeutic path. Nanoparticles are presented as a promising method for delivering drugs directly to the site of inflammation, which may reduce systemic side effects. Conclusions. Targeting angiogenesis and utilizing nanotechnology represent promising directions for improving the treatment of RA. These approaches may allow more precise drug delivery and reduced systemic side effects, potentially enhancing patient outcomes.

Examining the association between placental malperfusion assessed by histopathological examination and child and adolescent neurodevelopment: a systematic review.

Placental malperfusion, categorised into maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) and foetal vascular malperfusion (FVM), is a main placental pathology known to affect placental functioning and offspring outcomes. The aim of this review is to evaluate the association between exposure to placental malperfusion and offspring neurodevelopment from birth to 18 years of age. Following the registered protocol on Prospero, Medline, Cochrane, CINHAL, Embase and PsycINFO databases were searched systematically from inception to 01/11/2023. Included were publications examining exposure to placental malperfusion detected on histopathological examination and clinically measured neurodevelopmental outcomes. Publications on multi-pregnancies or animals, exposure to malformations, surgical or medical interventions, review and opinion articles, or those not translated to English, were excluded. Grey literature search and forward and backward citation chaining were performed. The Joanna Briggs Institute's checklists were used for quality assessment. Three studies were pooled using percentages of adjusted associations. Nine observational studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The included neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed from 5 days to 8 years when age of assessment is reported. Four publications showed an association between exposure to MVM and poor neurodevelopment at 10-40 months and 8 years, however, no association was observed when examining preterm infants up to 24 months. Conversely, in the six studies examining exposure to FVM, FVM association with neurodevelopmental disorders was reported in two studies looking at preterm infants assessed at 24 months and 8 years and better neurodevelopmental scores in other two studies at 10-40 months. The pattern of association between MVM and FVM with neurodevelopmental outcomes varied among the included studies. Clinical and methodological heterogeneities and poor reporting of relevant populations' characteristics hindered full understanding of the results. Methodologically rigorous research is required to help utilise histopathological findings of placental malperfusion in predicting offspring's neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Text mining for case report articles on "peritoneal dialysis" from PubMed database.

The number of published medical articles on peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been increasing, and efficiently selecting information from numerous articles can be difficult. In this study, we examined whether artificial intelligence (AI) text mining can be a good support for efficiently collecting PD information. We performed text mining and analyzed all the abstracts of case reports on PD in the PubMed database. In total, 3137 case reports with abstracts related to "peritoneal dialysis" published from 1970 to 2021 were identified. A total of 280 347 relevant words were extracted from all the abstracts. Word frequency analysis, word dependency analysis, and word frequency transition analysis showed that peritonitis, encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis, and child have been important keywords. Theseanalyses not only reflected historical background but also anticipated future trends of PD study. These suggest that text mining can be a good support for efficiently collecting PD information.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux in the light of current medical knowledge – a literature review

Introduction and aim of the work: Laryngopharyngeal reflux often occurs in daily otolaryngological clinical practice. Diagnostics and treatment of this disease are complex for clinicians. Proton pump inhibitors cause many adverse effects, so alternative therapeutic methods are required. This study aims to submit current medical knowledge about laryngopharyngeal reflux, including possible treatment options. Materials and methods: The literature review of medical articles published between 2014 and 2024 was performed. These papers were accessed from the PubMed and Springer Nature Link databases. To find relevant articles, the following keywords were used: “laryngopharyngeal reflux”, “reflux laryngitis”, “proton pump inhibitors”, and “baclofen side effects”. State of knowledge: Symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux can result in reduced quality of life. Laryngopharyngeal symptoms are not that specific. Patients often search for a reason for their complaints at different specialists. Treatment of this disease is usually based on the trial-and-error method and observing patients’ responses. Summary: The accurate incidence of laryngopharyngeal reflux is not known. Various factors influence the occurrence of this disease. There are disparate opinions about using 24-hour pH monitoring as a gold standard; thus, other methods are sought. Proton pump inhibitors are the most common drugs used in the therapy, but their effectiveness is doubtful. More research should be done on the different methods of laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment. Pepsin inhibitors seem like an auspicious alternative, but there are too few studies on this subject.

Advancing Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care: AI and Generative AI Approaches for Classification, Prediction, Segmentation, and Detection.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent a significant challenge in managing diabetes, leading to higher patient complications and increased healthcare costs. Traditional approaches, such as manual wound assessment and diagnostic tool usage, often require significant resources, including skilled clinicians, specialized equipment, and extensive time. Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI offer promising solutions for improving DFU management. This study systematically reviews the role of AI in DFU classification, prediction, segmentation, and detection. Furthermore, it highlights the role of generative AI in overcoming data scarcity and potential of AI-based smartphone applications for remote monitoring and diagnosis. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies published between 2020 and 2025 were identified from databases including PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, and Web of Science. The review focused on AI and generative AI applications in DFU and excluded non-DFU-related medical imaging articles. Results: This study indicates that AI-powered models have significantly improved DFU classification accuracy, early detection, and predictive modeling. Generative AI techniques, such as GANs and diffusion models, have demonstrated potential in addressing dataset limitations by generating synthetic DFU images. Additionally, AI-powered smartphone applications provide cost-effective solutions for DFU monitoring, potentially improving diagnosis. Conclusions: AI and generative AI are transforming DFU management by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and predictive capabilities. Future research should prioritize explainable AI frameworks and diverse datasets for AI-driven healthcare solutions to facilitate broader clinical adoption.

Characteristics of photographs accompanying medical articles in Liječnički vjesnik between 1877 and 1950

Characteristics of photographs accompanying medical articles in Liječnički vjesnik between 1877 and 1950

Exploring fertility treatment add-on use, information transparency and costs in the UK: Insights from a patient survey

This study presents the findings from a UK-based survey exploring fertility treatment add-ons, treatment costs, and information transparency. The online survey, distributed via social media, targeted current and prospective IVF patients, yielding 304 eligible responses. Results indicate an increase in the use of fertility treatment add-ons compared to previous data. Respondents primarily relied on multiple sources for information about these add-ons, with search engines being the most frequently used, followed by fertility clinic websites, the HFEA website, and medical or scientific articles. These sources were also deemed the most reliable. In contrast, social media, online forums, and blogs were less frequently used and rated as less reliable. Respondents reported significant variation in the total cost per cycle of privately funded treatment, ranging from £5,000 to £13,000, with an average of £11,950. Although there was a slight upward trend in costs with rising household income, no strong correlation was observed. Fertility clinic websites were the primary source of cost-related information, with 99% of respondents emphasising the importance of clinics providing accurate and up-to-date information on their websites. The findings also reveal respondents’ views on potential policy actions to improve transparency around information and costs in the fertility sector.

Renal Trauma Management: A Century of Evolution from 'Stabbing in the Dark' to the Radiographic Revolution.

Renal Trauma Management: A Century of Evolution from 'Stabbing in the Dark' to the Radiographic Revolution.

Diachronic change of noun phrase complexity in the IMRD sections of medical research articles (1970–2020)

Diachronic change of noun phrase complexity in the IMRD sections of medical research articles (1970–2020)

The Art of Quality Health Science Article Writing for Peer-Reviewed Professional Journals: A Review Article

ABSTRACT Navigating the intricacies of writing a peer-reviewed medical article demands meticulous adherence to guidelines and an acute understanding of the publication process. This discourse provides a comprehensive overview, emphasizing the crucial components requisite for a successful publication. Delving into the structuring nuances, it delineates the essential elements spanning from title formulation to conclusion drafting. The significance of adherence to journal-specific guidelines, avoidance of plagiarism, and recognition of impact factors are underscored. Furthermore, it elucidates the distinct sections of a medical article, including Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion, elucidating their roles in conveying research findings effectively. Notably, it expounds on the diverse types of health science articles, ranging from original research to systematic reviews, delineating their unique characteristics. Moreover, insights into indexing criteria and impact assessment metrics, such as h-index and journal impact factor, are provided, elucidating their implications for publication success. Finally, common reasons for article rejection and strategies for enhancing publication prospects are discussed, underscoring the evolving landscape of evidence-based medical writing.

Trends, causes, and collaboration patterns of retracted Taiwanese medical research: a bibliometric study

Purpose: Retraction of published literature is an increasingly important mechanism for protecting the scholarly record in today’s accelerated publishing environment. Analyzing retracted articles offers unique insights into how research communities maintain academic integrity. Taiwan is a major contributor to global medical research and has sustained public and media interest in academic integrity. Yet, no comprehensive analysis of retractions involving Taiwan-affiliated authors has been conducted. This paper therefore aimed to systematically examine retractions in Taiwanese medical research.Methods: Data extracted from both PubMed and the Retraction Watch Database were analyzed to determine the number of retracted articles and their reasons for retraction.Results: In total, 181 retractions of medical research articles with at least one Taiwan-affiliated author were included in the analysis, with the number of retractions steadily increasing since the first retracted article was published in 1992. Taiwanese medical research has the 9th highest retraction rate among the top 21 countries in medical research publications (6.08 retractions per 10,000 publications). However, this rate is lower than those of other highly productive Asian countries, including China, Korea, Japan, and India. Fifty-eight (32.04%) of the retractions involved international collaboration, most commonly with authors affiliated with the United States and China. Over the past 33 years, the reasons for retraction have gradually shifted from plagiarism or data manipulation to compromised peer review systems, ethical issues, and authorship disputes.Conclusion: The results reveal that retractions in Taiwanese medical research are evolving and distinct from those in neighboring regions. This finding highlights the need to examine Taiwanese medical researchers’ perspectives on academic integrity and current publishing trends.

Predicting the time to first citation for medical articles using survival analysis and the association between this time and citation counts

Thailand is transitioning to a knowledge-based economy that relies on a highly skilled workforce and the leveraging of innovative research. This has led to top universities aiming to become world-class institutions. However, Thai universities’ citation indicators still need to be improved, meaning that bibliometric research is needed to find appropriate new strategies for achieving this. We investigated bibliometric data for Thailand and made a comparison with Malaysia. Appropriate models for predicting the time to first citation were also found. Survival analysis and Cox regression were applied in the prediction models. The sample used consisted of 2000 medical articles with authors from four universities. Slight differences were found between the bibliometric data for Thailand and Malaysia. The journal quality was found to be a strong predictor of the time to first citation. Several other statistically significant main variables and interaction variables were found, including the number of citations. Citation counts remain a recognized indicator of research potential. Faster publication can increase the number of citations, but care needs to be taken regarding self-citation. It is notable that Malaysian universities have a higher proportion of cross-disciplinary publications compared with Thai universities.

Identifying Opportunities and Barriers to Enhance Research among Family Physicians in Iraq; A Cross-sectional Survey 2021

Background: Family Medicine research is any study that addresses questions of importance to physicians with the intent to improve the care of patients. Research is essential to enhance the role of family physicians in health care systems, to improve the optimal functioning of health care systems, and to improve the health of populations in general, also serve as the basis to aid in policy-making. Aim: This study aimed to highlight the willingness of family physicians towards conducting research. Subjects and Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytic element conducted for a period from the 1st of March through the 31st of May 2021. The target population included all family physicians in Iraq. A total of 297 participants were recruited for this study. Participants were asked to fill out an electronically distributed questionnaire specially constructed for the sake of the study. Results: Females constituted 79% of the sample and 82% of the participants were less than or equal to 40 years of age. The specialists in family medicine constituted 70% of the participants; 81.5% had medical experience less than or equal to 15 years, and 52.9% worked for more than 30 hours per week. The mean of the participant response regarding the attitude questionnaire was 45.03 (±9.21). The participants with a positive attitude were 167 (56.2%). Applying multivariate binary logistic regression, the only significant association was between attitude and frequency of reading medical articles. Lack of time was the main stated barrier that obstacles to research conduction among family physicians. Conclusion: More than half of the participants had a positive attitude towards research conduction. Lack of time and health care support were the main barriers to research conduction. Increasing the frequency of research reading was the main predictor of research conduction.

Compliance with research participant protection guidelines by Nigerian medical journals

BackgroundStakeholders in medical research have roles in ensuring that research participants are protected. Medical journals play gatekeeping roles in the responsible conduct of research. They help guard against the publication of findings of unethical research, such as those with compromised participant welfare. Nigerian medical journals are being created to support the growing number of research enterprises. In this study, we aimed to determine the compliance of Nigerian medical journals with guidelines on research participant protection.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study of Nigerian medical journals and articles. We used a checklist to obtain information on journal characteristics and the presence of recommendations from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) on the protection of research participants in the journal instructions to authors and articles. The data were analysed via IBM SPSS version 23.ResultsWe studied 40 journals and 350 journal articles. Thirty-one (77.5%) journals required ethical approval and the Declaration of Helsinki statement in their instructions to the authors, while informed consent was present in 26 (65.0%) journals; 6 (15.0%) journals had no participant protection guidelines. Forty-one (11.7%) articles complied with all three recommendations on research participant protection, whereas 60 (17.1%) articles did not. Ethical approval was most common in 268 (76.6%) articles, whereas it was least common in statements on the Declaration of Helsinki in 50 (14.3%) articles. The presence of participant protection recommendations in instructions to authors was not associated with compliance with these recommendations in published articles (p > 0.05).ConclusionAlthough there is fairly good compliance of Nigerian medical journals with research participant protection recommendations, there are still gaps, which highlight the need for remedial measures.

Status of medical articles on religion and spirituality from past to present

Status of medical articles on religion and spirituality from past to present

The characteristics of customs official registration of medical articles under importation into the Russian Federation

The article considers characteristics of customs official registration of medical articles under their import into the Russian Federation. The actuality of issue is conditioned by increasing need in modernization of health care and supply of population with high-quality medical articles. The main attention is paid to analysis of actual legislative and normative acts regulating this process and to discover characteristics occurring at stages of registration, control and certification of medical articles. The key stages of customs official registration are investigated including preparation of necessary documentation and interaction with state agencies. The attention is paid to changes made to legislation in the light of global challenges and needs of national market. In conclusion, causes are presented having critical importance for observance of customs formalities during transportation of medical articles.

Review the Importance of Breastfeeding from the Perspective of the Holy Quran and Medical Literature

Background: Mother's breast milk is the sole and best food for a neonate. It is one of the blessings of Almighty God that is physiologically given to the child through the mother’s breast. Breastfeeding is one of the issues receiving special attention in the Holy Quran. Nowadays, this issue has been explored and investigated in scientific and medical literature. In the present review, the importance of breastfeeding was examined from the reported medical scientific studies and articles and compared with the verses of the Holy Quran and authentic Islamic traditions. Methods: This study was a review developed by PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using predetermined keywords. Authentic valid narrations related to breastfeeding in Arabic and articles published in English during 2014-2024 on its importance in neonatal health were selected by the present researchers. After applying inclusion criteria, the papers related to this topic were screened by experts for suitability. Results: This review included one verse of the Holy Quran, 3 valid authentic Islamic traditions, and 6 scientific medical literature highlighting the importance of mothers’ breastfeeding. Thematic analysis indicated the health and safety of mothers during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding duration and breastfeeding time are important points in the Holy Quran and traditions emphasized by researchers. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the results of scientific medical literature, like the Holy Quran, emphasized the importance of breastfeeding. There are special instructions for breastfeeding in the Holy Quran. Today, the guidelines of the Quran in this field of study are emphasized in scientific research articles.

First Diagnostic Questionnaire for Assessing Patients' Social Functioning: Comprehensive DDX3X Syndrome Patient Profile.

Background/Objectives: DDX3X syndrome is often misdiagnosed as autism spectrum disorder (ASD, Rett Syndrome, and Dandy-Walker Syndrome). Precise phenotyping is needed with reference to neurodevelopmental diagnosis. Observation of behavior and communication in parents with DDX3X syndrome in the USA, France, and Poland; conversations with the parents of patients; and rudimentary information in evidence-based medical articles prompted us to identify differences in communication, play, and social interaction between children with ASD only, those with both ASD and DDX3X, and those with DDX3X only. Methods: As diagnostic tool for DDX3X patients, we created a questionnaire divided into four sections: medical, social, play, and communication. Results: The results showed inconsistent diagnoses in different countries where children could have been diagnosed with DDX3X. In a comparative analysis, individuals with DDX3X exhibited greater social skills than individuals with ASD. Furthermore, those with DDX3X demonstrated higher levels of social functioning compared to children with ASD. Therefore, parents of children recently diagnosed with ASD or similar conditions are encouraged to complete a survey to determine if their child is likely to have features of DDX3X syndrome. Conclusion: Identification of early behavioral markers that differentiate children with ASD and those with DDX3X could lead to the earliest opportunity for identification and intervention, and can significantly impact developmental trajectories, leading to better long-term outcomes.

Hedging in Medical Articles from Two Pandemics

As academic and scientific disciplines continue to evolve, it remains essential for scholars to present their claims with caution. Hedging, a vital linguistic tool, is pervasive in academic writing, although its boundaries are not strictly defined. This research tracks the changes in the use of hedging within medical literature, underpinning the idea that linguistic patterns reflect societal changes. Our study focuses on the analysis of hedging devices within a corpus of 30 medical articles, spanning two distinct pandemic periods: the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic and the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive review, involving contextual analysis, was conducted for each article to identify hedging instances. Types of hedges were documented and their frequency was calculated, while ambiguous cases were clarified through in-depth discussions and consistency checks. Our analysis confirms that contextual conditions influence both the frequency and types of hedges used. The results show a significant decrease in overall hedging frequency between the two pandemic periods, with approximators declining sharply while shields remained stable. This shift, along with a reduction in the variety of hedging devices used, suggests an evolution towards more precise quantification and a more formulaic style in scientific writing, while maintaining caution in knowledge claims. The conclusions drawn in this paper contribute to our understanding of scientific discourse and its evolution.

Hedging in Medical Articles from Two Pandemics

As academic and scientific disciplines continue to evolve, it remains essential for scholars to present their claims with caution. Hedging, a vital linguistic tool, is pervasive in academic writing, although its boundaries are not strictly defined. This research tracks the changes in the use of hedging within medical literature, underpinning the idea that linguistic patterns reflect societal changes. Our study focuses on the analysis of hedging devices within a corpus of 30 medical articles, spanning two distinct pandemic periods: the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic and the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive review, involving contextual analysis, was conducted for each article to identify hedging instances. Types of hedges were documented and their frequency was calculated, while ambiguous cases were clarified through in-depth discussions and consistency checks. Our analysis confirms that contextual conditions influence both the frequency and types of hedges used. The results show a significant decrease in overall hedging frequency between the two pandemic periods, with approximators declining sharply while shields remained stable. This shift, along with a reduction in the variety of hedging devices used, suggests an evolution towards more precise quantification and a more formulaic style in scientific writing, while maintaining caution in knowledge claims. The conclusions drawn in this paper contribute to our understanding of scientific discourse and its evolution.