1,721,036 research outputs found
Advances in tuberculosis control: vaccines and biomarkers
No full textTuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The present chapter explores cutting-edge developments in the field of TB control, with a specific focus on the pivotal roles played by vaccines and biomarkers. This chapter includes the latest advancements in TB vaccine research, highlighting novel candidates and approaches that show promise in providing more effective protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Additionally, the discussion extends to the emergence of biomarkers as indispensable tools for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and monitoring treatment response. The exploration of these advancements underscores the ongoing efforts to combat TB and offers insights into the evolving landscape of tuberculosis control.</p
Artificial intelligence in tuberculosis management
No full textDespite medical advances, tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis remains challenging, particularly in resource-limited settings where conventional methods like sputum microscopy and culture can be slow and unreliable. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies hold the potential to revolutionize TB management by enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and transmission control. AI-based techniques, leveraging advanced algorithms and machine learning (ML), analyze various medical imaging data, including chest X-rays and CT scans, with exceptional precision. By detecting subtle abnormalities indicative of TB, AI significantly improves the diagnostic process, enabling early intervention and containment of the disease. Furthermore, AI facilitates ongoing monitoring of treatment progress and patient compliance, crucial aspects of TB management. Predictive models developed through AI algorithms utilize patient-specific data to personalize treatment regimens and forecast responses, optimizing outcomes. In addition to aiding individual patient care, AI-driven surveillance systems play a vital role in tracking TB epidemiology, including the emergence of drug-resistant strains. By identifying resistance patterns early on, healthcare providers can adapt treatment strategies accordingly, minimizing the development of drugresistant TB strains and improving overall treatment efficacy. This chapter provides an in-depth overview of employing AI for the management of TB, highlighting its potential to revolutionize diagnosis, treatment, and control strategies in combating this global health threat.</p
Plant-based vaccines for emerging infectious diseases
No full textUnderstanding the relationship of infectious materials with host immunity, along with the importance of faulty immune function in the progression of the disease, would be instrumental in explaining infectious pathogenicity, predisposing factors for the worst outcome, and the rational design of therapeutic interventions and immunization. There is a rising need for defended, improved, and effectual vaccine candidates against emerging infectious diseases in various components of the world. Plant-derived vaccines are primarily based on the protein components of infectious viruses. However, some vaccine candidates also use a unique pathogen target, such as the N protein. Tobacco plants have been used to create virus-like particles (VLPs), chimeric VLPs, protein subunit vaccines, and carrier molecule-fused protein subunit vaccines. The plant-based manufacturing process could meet a portion of the world's vaccine demand. In this review, an attempt is made to summarize the state-of-the-art plant-derived vaccine rostrum for infectious diseases that are in the clinical development stage and have demonstrated favorable results with reference to effectiveness and security.<br/
Parenteral vaccine delivery: From basic principles to new developments
No full textParenteral administration of vaccines has been a highly effective strategy for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. Parenteral vaccines are administered through routes other than the gastrointestinal tract, such as intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal injections. These routes offer several advantages, including the rapid and efficient delivery of antigens to the immune system, induction of robust immune responses, and enhanced vaccine stability. Moreover, parenteral vaccines can be formulated with adjuvants to further enhance their immunogenicity. Recent advancements in parenteral vaccine development have focused on several key areas. First, there has been significant progress in the design and formulation of novel antigen delivery systems, such as liposomes, virus-like particles, and nanoparticle-based carriers. These systems offer improved antigen stability, controlled release, and targeted delivery to specific immune cells. Second, advances in recombinant DNA technology have enabled the production of highly purified and well-characterized antigens, improving the safety and efficacy of parenteral vaccines. Third, the development of novel adjuvants, including toll-like receptor agonists and nanoparticle-based adjuvants, has facilitated the modulation of immune responses and the induction of long-lasting immunity. However, parenteral vaccine development also faces several challenges. Vaccine formulation and stability are critical factors, as certain antigens may degrade or lose potency during storage and transportation. Additionally, the choice of adjuvants requires careful consideration, as they need to elicit robust immune responses without causing adverse reactions. Furthermore, the high cost and complex manufacturing processes associated with parenteral vaccines can limit their accessibility, particularly in resource-limited settings. This chapter provides an overview of parenteral vaccine development, highlighting recent advancements and addressing the challenges associated with this approach.<br/
Impact of parenteral microemulsion on healthcare therapeutics
No full textThe injectable formulations for controlled release actions play a major role in different indications. Several approaches have been implemented to achieve parenteral delivery of drugs, especially hydrophobic drugs, by using co-solvents and novel carriers, such as liposomes and cyclodextrin-based encapsulation, to make them effective tools. However, there are still a few limitations, including scale-up issues and validation failure. Other major reasons for the limited use of such formulations are incompatibility for drug and excipient processes and very few reliable polymer options available for effective drug delivery. Parenteral microemulsions are one of the better options to address these issues, providing several advantages over other drug delivery systems, including ease of formation, effective solubilization power, and self-preservation ability for the formulation. Several researchers have demonstrated microemulsion impacts on in vitro drug release, which makes it a perfect tool for optimization of parameters related to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic sectors. Such approaches are helping to extend the drug residence time, which further results in more benefits for selected drug candidates.</p
Regulatory processes involved in clinical trials and intellectual property rights around vaccine development
No full textThis chapter explores the critical intersection of regulatory processes and intellectual property rights (IPR) within the context of vaccine development. With the ongoing global focus on public health and the urgent need for effective vaccines, understanding the intricate regulatory frameworks and IPR landscape becomes vital for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The chapter begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the regulatory processes governing clinical trials, delving into the various stages, including preclinical testing, investigational new drug applications, and the distinct phases of human clinical trials. The ethical considerations inherent in clinical research and the importance of adherence to regulatory guidelines are emphasized. Moreover, the chapter examines the roles and responsibilities of regulatory bodies involved, such as the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, the European Medicines Agency in Europe, and other regional authorities. Furthermore, this chapter explores the intricate relationship between vaccine development and IPR. It examines the impact of IPR on vaccine accessibility, including potential monopolies, high prices, and implications for global health equity. The protection of intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements, is discussed in detail. Strategies for balancing IPR protection with the need for affordable and accessible vaccines are explored, including technology transfer, compulsory licensing, and patent pooling. The global regulatory frameworks governing clinical trials are also addressed, focusing on international guidelines, harmonization efforts, and regional challenges. The chapter examines regulatory approval processes, postmarketing surveillance, and expedited pathways for vaccine development, including emergency use authorization. Lastly, the chapter delves into the practical aspects of clinical trial management, encompassing site selection, regulatory submissions, monitoring, safety reporting, data management, and trial completion. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory processes involved in clinical trials and their interaction with IPR in the context of vaccine development. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding vaccine regulation and intellectual property.<br/
Vaccine safety, efficacy, and ethical considerations
No full textVaccines play a crucial role in preventing and regulating the spread of infectious agents in the face of new infectious diseases and global health threats. This chapter seeks to provide an up-to-date comprehension of the field by examining the most important aspects of vaccine safety, efficacy, and ethical concerns. Vaccine safety is critical for maintaining public trust and confidence. Extensive preclinical and clinical investigations evaluate vaccination safety profiles, examining possible side effects and determining the risk-benefit ratio. Surveillance systems are critical for identifying and managing possible adverse events during postlicensure monitoring. Vaccine safety monitoring is a continuous procedure that strives to raise the safety profile and resolve public concerns. Every step of the vaccine life cycle requires careful consideration of ethics. With a focus on at-risk groups and the advancement of global health equality, ethical frameworks guide the equitable distribution of vaccines. Transparency, autonomy respect, and informed consent are fundamental ethical concepts in vaccination research and communication. To further combat vaccine skepticism, it is crucial to involve the community, dispel myths, and educate the public to achieve broad vaccine adoption. Successful vaccination programs balance safety, efficacy, and ethics. Vaccine reluctance, equitable distribution, and limited resources require worldwide collaboration and coordinated efforts. Vaccine safety surveillance, vaccine development, and ethical frameworks are important steps ahead. We emphasize vaccine safety, efficacy, and ethics in public health. By addressing these critical variables, we can develop effective vaccination programs that protect individuals and populations from infectious diseases while honoring ethical values and retaining public confidence in vaccines.<br/
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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