Articles

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) across disease surveillance, epidemiological forecasting, medical imaging, prognosis, drug discovery, vaccine research, contact tracing, and public-health decision support. This review synthesizes the literature on these applications while critically examining the evidence needed for translation into clinical and public-health practice. A structured literature-search and selection framework was used to organize evidence published from the emergence of COVID-19 through the contemporary literature, with emphasis on peer-reviewed studies and recent reviews. The evidence was synthesized according to the pandemic-response pathway: early warning and surveillance; diagnosis and differential diagnosis; severity and prognosis; clinical and resource decision support; therapeutic and vaccine discovery; genomic surveillance; and privacy-preserving and responsible AI. Across these domains, AI demonstrates potential to process heterogeneous data and support time-sensitive decisions, but reported performance does not by itself establish clinical utility. Recurring limitations include small or non-representative datasets, dataset shift, limited external validation, class imbalance, information leakage, insufficient calibration and interpretability, privacy and security risks, and uncertainty about workflow integration and regulatory accountability. Recent systematic reviews also indicate that multimodal, federated, and privacy-preserving approaches remain less developed than conventional centralized models. The principal contribution of this review is a unified critical framework that links technical performance with data quality, external validation, clinical relevance, fairness, privacy, interpretability, and implementation readiness. The review therefore identifies not only where AI has been applied to COVID-19, but also the conditions required for responsible translation to clinical practice and future pandemic preparedness.

Chocolate is one of the most widely consumed confectionery products among adolescents, a developmental stage characterized by significant emotional, psychological, and neurobiological changes. Growing scientific interest in nutritional psychiatry has prompted investigation into the potential relationship between chocolate intake and mental health outcomes in this age group. This narrative review examines current evidence exploring the association between chocolate consumption and psychological well-being, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress regulation, mood, and broader emotional health in adolescents.Existing literature suggests that chocolate, particularly cocoa-rich varieties, contains bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, methylxanthines, and essential minerals that may influence neurotransmitter activity, cerebral blood flow, and neuroinflammatory pathways. These mechanisms may contribute to short-term mood enhancement and stress reduction. However, findings remain inconsistent, as frequent consumption of highly processed, sugar-rich chocolate products has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes and maladaptive eating behaviors.The review also highlights important moderating factors, including chocolate type, consumption frequency, lifestyle patterns, and psychosocial influences unique to adolescence. Methodological limitations, such as reliance on self-reported dietary data and limited longitudinal or experimental research, contribute to variability in study findings.Overall, the evidence suggests that chocolate consumption may exert both beneficial and detrimental effects on adolescent mental health depending on its composition and consumption patterns. Further high-quality longitudinal and experimental studies incorporating standardized dietary assessments and biological markers are necessary to clarify these relationships and inform evidence-based dietary and mental health strategies for adolescents.

Road infrastructure serves as the primary medium of economic and agricultural transportation in developing countries. Afghanistan’s district roads play a critical role in connecting rural production centers to markets; however, systematic maintenance is often hindered by inadequate funding, lack of structural monitoring, and climatic deterioration. This research develops pavement condition assessment and deterioration prediction models using Pavement Condition Index (PCI), pavement age, characteristic rebound deflection (Dc), and Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT). Multiple regression models were generated based on recorded field data across six district road sections in Herat Province. Regression coefficients demonstrated high goodness of fit (R² = 0.964 – 0.992), indicating reliable predictive capability. Based on PCI-based prioritization, maintenance strategies were ranked and scheduled under budget constraints. Results indicate that Sections D01 and D02 urgently require rehabilitation due to structural fatigue and distress propagation, while other sections can be preserved through preventive maintenance. This study provides a scientifically supported PMS framework for Afghan district roads, enabling optimized resource allocation, deterioration forecasting, and long-term serviceability planning.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and disrupted carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, representing a growing health issue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly among the elderly. This study evaluated the accumulation and distribution of identified risk factors among 108 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (54 females and 54 males) treated at the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Evaluated risk factors included age, sex, hyperlipidemia, adiposity, family history, smoking, hypertension, and elevated fibrinogen levels. The overall mean number of identified risk factors was 4.11 per patient (SD = 1.32, range: 1–8). Female patients exhibited a slightly higher mean (4.26, SD = 1.36) than male patients (3.96, SD = 1.27), but this difference was not statistically significant (t = 1.18, df = 106, p = 0.240). Overall, 80.56% of patients presented with 3–5 risk factors, 12.04% with 6 or more, and only 7.41% with 2 or fewer, showing no significant association between sex and risk burden category (p = 0.670). In conclusion, elderly patients with type 2 diabetes exhibit a high cumulative risk-factor burden that is comparable between sexes, underscoring the need for comprehensive, multi-targeted intervention strategies in clinical practice.

Fenvalerate is a widely used synthetic pyrethroid insecticide with recognised toxicity to aquatic organisms. This study evaluated its toxic effects on zebrafish (Danio rerio) by assessing mortality, biochemical alterations, and protein profile changes following exposure to 20–100 µg/L fenvalerate. Mortality increased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. At 20 µg/L, mortality increased from 55% at 24 h to 82% at 96 h, while 40 and 60 µg/L resulted in mortality rising from 62% to 94% and 71% to 99%, respectively. Exposure to 80 µg/L caused 79–100% mortality, and complete mortality was observed at 80 and 100 µg/L after 72 and 96 h, respectively. Sublethal (LC50) exposure induced significant biochemical changes in gill and muscle tissues. Gill protein content decreased from 120.0 ± 1.22 mg/g in controls to 110.0 ± 1.40 mg/g after 96 h, whereas muscle protein declined from 80.2 ± 1.3 to 60.0 ± 2.7 mg/g. Lipid reserves were also markedly reduced, with muscle lipid content decreasing from 4.0 ± 0.46% to 3.1 ± 0.12% and gill lipid content from 6.5 ± 0.22% to 2.5 ± 0.31% after 96 h. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed distinct alterations in protein banding patterns between control and treated fish, indicating fenvalerate-induced changes in protein expression. These findings demonstrate that fenvalerate causes severe concentration- and time-dependent toxicity, leading to increased mortality, depletion of proteins and lipids, and altered protein profiles, highlighting its ecological risk to aquatic organisms and the utility of zebrafish as a sensitive model for pesticide toxicity assessment.

Introduction: In the Republic of Congo, Mombénzélé village’s an area endemic for cholera where environmental and socio-economic factors favor the persistence of the epidemic. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the indigenous peoples of Mombénzélé regarding cholera to design culturally appropriate and sustainable prevention strategies.Materials and methods: This was a preliminary cross-sectional pilot study, descriptive and analytical in nature, conducted from April 21 to 31, 2026, in the indigenous community of Mombénzélé (Impfondo district, Republic of Congo). The study assessed adults. Convenience sampling was used. Data were collected via a questionnaire in Lingala and face-to-face interviews, with secure data entry on tablets. Analysis using SPSS, including socio-demographic profiles, KAP variables, and chi-square tests (p < 0.05), was conducted in strict compliance with ethical principles and anonymization guidelines. Results: The population studied is predominantly male (60%) and without formal education (92%). Cholera is largely unknown to 92% of individuals, who believe exclusively in mystical causes. Hygiene practices are dangerous, with a complete lack of water treatment (100%) and systematic recourse to traditional healers (60%). Vulnerability is exacerbated by open defecation (56% in the river) and a refusal to use chlorinated water (88%). Sociodemographic factors significantly influence behaviors, notably age, which impacts funeral practices (p = 0.033), and educational level, which determines access to the river (p = 0.0033). The main activity influences the consumption of treated water (p = 0.0218) and determines (p = 0.000026) funeral practices. Household size impacts the perception of cholera lethality (p = 0.009) and guides the choice of funeral practices (p = 0.045).Discussion: A cholera epidemic has struck the Mombénzélé village, affecting 96% of adults and exacerbated by a complete lack of awareness of the symptoms and a rejection of chlorinated water. The health crisis has driven 76% of the population to traditional medicine. Conclusion: To contain the health crisis in Mombénzélé, it’s essential to deploy a strategy combining the training of bilingual mediators and the improvement of water infrastructure, in order to overcome the lack of information on the transmission of cholera and to adapt prevention to the realities and cultural barriers of the indigenous community.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) may be associated with peripheral neuropathy; however, IgG MGUS–associated chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is uncommon and generally follows a slowly progressive or relapsing course. We report a man in his early 40s who developed rapidly progressive sensorimotor weakness resulting in quadriparesis and inability to ambulate within eight weeks. Examination demonstrated severe proximal and distal weakness, glove-and-stocking sensory loss, and absent reflexes. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was markedly elevated, and nerve conduction studies/electromyography demonstrated acquired demyelination with secondary axonal loss. Evaluation identified IgG MGUS, supporting the diagnosis of MGUS-associated CIDP after alternative etiologies were excluded. Intravenous immunoglobulin was discontinued on day 3 following the development of a pulmonary embolism. The patient subsequently completed eight plasma-exchange sessions, with improvement in lower-extremity strength to 3/5, upper-extremity strength to 4/5, and sensory symptoms. He was discharged to rehabilitation with planned monthly plasma exchange.recognised clinical spectrum of IgG MGUS–associated CIDP and demonstrates that meaningful neurological improvement may occur with plasma exchange despite rapid progression and severe initial disability.

While canine pets offer significant psychological and physical benefits to their owners, especially children, there are well-documented health risks associated with pathogens that can be transmitted to humans.To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites, with an emphasis on zoonotic ones, in children and their dogs, and to identify risk factors associated with infection, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in children from primary schools in the Cerro municipality, province of Havana. One hundred and three children (36 with dogs and 67 without pets) from fifth and sixth grades were selected. Three stool samples were collected on alternate days, and one stool sample was collected from their pets using conventional coproparasitological techniques between September and December 2023. The results showed a prevalence of 38.8% of intestinal parasites in the children studied. Blastocystis spp. (30.1%) and Giardia duodenalis (17.5%) were the most prevalent zoonotic species. Ancylostoma caninum (8.3%) was the most frequent zoonotic parasite in dogs. Male sex was the only variable that showed statistical significance, associated with a higher risk of infection. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of intestinal parasites in the group of children with dogs compared to those without pets, and no statistical association in the analyzed epidemiological variablesIt is important to develop a One Health approach for the control of these zoonoses, as dogs can act as important sentinels of public health.

Introduction: Few studies have explored the vulnerability of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to developing cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. Objective: To describe the clinical, metabolic, and endocrine characteristics of a series of women with cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions and polycystic ovary syndrome, aiming to generate hypotheses regarding the potential pathophysiological mechanisms linking both conditions.Methods: A descriptive and hypothesis-generating study was conducted. The series consisted of nine women with a cytological diagnosis of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) who also met the Rotterdam criteria for PCOS. Characterization included age, sexual behavior, toxic habits, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), metabolic parameters (insulin resistance, dyslipidemia), serum hormone levels (testosterone, prolactin, estradiol), human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 infection, grade of the lesion, and PCOS phenotypes. Results: The mean age was 37,11 ± 12,8 years. Abdominal obesity was detected in 55,5% and insulin resistance in 44,4% of cases. Hyperprolactinemia was present in 33,3%. HPV 16/18 infection was identified in 77,7% of cases. Most patients presented high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and PCOS phenotype D. Conclusion: The presence of HSIL in more than a third of the women in this case series is compatible with the hypothesis that PCOS, particularly those with insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, or hyperprolactinemia, may act as a multifactorial risk factor for cervical lesions, either independently or synergistically through metabolic and hormonal pathways that interact with HPV. These findings should be interpreted as preliminary observations that warrant confirmation in larger, controlled studies.

Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion is the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The impact of the type of urinary diversion on quality of life (QoL) remains debated. This cross-sectional study assessed QoL in 57 patients who underwent radical cystectomy between 2014 and 2022 at two urology departments in Rabat, Morocco, using the Bladder Cancer Index (BCI), the SF-36, and the Body Image Scale (BIS). Multiple linear regression identified socioeconomic status, body image perception, urinary discomfort, and comorbidities as the main determinants of QoL, with the type of urinary diversion playing an indirect role mediated through these factors. These findings underscore the need for a multidimensional approach when evaluating and optimizing QoL outcomes after radical cystectomy.