Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yi-Chen Shen, Ning-Yi Hsia, Wan-Hua Wu, Cheng-Li Lin, Te-Chun Shen, Wei-Chien Huang
Summary: A case-control study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database found a significant association between premorbid allergic diseases and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), especially in cases of allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. Further analysis showed that patients with more concurrent allergic diseases and more annual medical visits for their allergic diseases had higher associations with AMD. The underlying mechanisms of this association require further investigation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Young Gun Park, Yong Soo Park, In-Beom Kim
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disease characterized by neovascularization or geographic atrophy. The complement system plays a crucial role in AMD and has become a therapeutic target. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of complement disease propagation in AMD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Ophthalmology
Shenouda Girgis, Lawrence R. Lee
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration is a global disease with a significant social impact, and the treatment of neovascular AMD has been revolutionized by the advent of anti-VEGF therapy. Currently, investigations are being conducted for possible therapeutic options for dry AMD. Various treatments, including complement pathway inhibitors, visual cycle modulators, antioxidative therapy, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy, are undergoing clinical trials. Two intravitreal anti-complement factors have shown promising results in reducing the growth of geographic atrophy.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angela Armento, Marius Ueffing, Simon J. Clark
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disease with genetic, aging, and lifestyle factors all playing a role in its onset and progression. Therapeutic attempts targeting the complement system have not been successful, highlighting the complexity of AMD beyond genetic factors.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Niloofar Piri, Henry J. Kaplan
Summary: AMD is a progressive degenerative disease that severely affects central vision in people over age 50, impacting their ability to read, write, drive, and recognize faces. The disease is complex and multifactorial, involving age, genetics, and environmental factors. The role of complement system in the development of AMD is reviewed. Understanding the pathophysiology of AMD and its risk factors is crucial for drug discovery.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Shih-Han Hung, Sudha Xirasagar, Tung-Mei Tammy Kuang, Wei-Wen Chang, Yen-Fu Cheng, Nai-Wen Kuo, Herng-Ching Lin
Summary: This study found a statistically significant association between thyroid dysfunction and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Patients with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism were at higher risk of developing AMD. The results suggest that patients with thyroid disorder should receive regular eye checkups even if their vision is normal.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Prem N. Patel, Parth A. Patel, Matthew R. Land, Ibrahim Bakerkhatib-Taha, Harris Ahmed, Veeral Sheth
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of vision loss in elderly individuals. The pathophysiology of dry AMD is associated with key proteins in the complement cascade, providing potential therapeutic targets. Early intervention may prevent disease progression.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jonathan B. Lin, Stylianos Serghiou, Joan W. Miller, Demetrios G. Vavvas
Summary: Complement dysregulation is observed in early/intermediate nonexudative AMD, but not in patients with geographic atrophy. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of AMD and inform future clinical trials.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chloe N. Thomas, Dawn A. Sim, Wen Hwa Lee, Nada Alfahad, Andrew D. Dick, Alastair K. Denniston, Lisa J. Hill
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world, with the need for new therapies to address disease progression and treatment challenges at different stages.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
John T. Demirs, Junzheng Yang, Maura A. Crowley, Michael Twarog, Omar Delgado, Yubin Qiu, Stephen Poor, Dennis S. Rice, Thaddeus P. Dryja, Karen Anderson, Sha-Mei Liao
Summary: The dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway is a major pathogenic mechanism in age-related macular degeneration. Complement mRNA and protein expression levels were found to be significantly higher in macular retinal pigment epithelium/choroid tissue than in the neural retina, regardless of AMD grade status. The study suggests that the RPE/choroid is the primary site for complement inhibition to treat geographic atrophy or earlier stages of the disease.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Sarah de Jong, Jiaqi Tang, Simon J. Clark
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision impairment, but currently there is no effective treatment for the majority of patients. Studies have shown that the complement system and remodeling of the extracellular matrix play a significant role in AMD. Excessive activation of the complement system can lead to tissue damage and complement-associated diseases like AMD. The latest findings suggest abnormal activation of the alternative pathway in AMD patients, which has important implications for future clinical trials and treatment prospects.
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Matteo Stravalaci, Mariantonia Ferrara, Varun Pathak, Francesca Davi, Barbara Bottazzi, Alberto Mantovani, Reinhold J. Medina, Mario R. Romano, Antonio Inforzato
Summary: Age related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases of the eye. Both diseases involve cellular components of the blood-retina barrier (BRB) and share common drivers, such as chronic inflammation. Long pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a soluble pattern recognition molecule, is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in retinal diseases, as it plays a role in trapping complement and modulating inflammation at the BRB.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Yingbo Ma, Xueqing Ding, Mingxi Shao, Yichao Qiu, Shengjie Li, Wenjun Cao, Gezhi Xu
Summary: This study investigated the association between serum complement components and AMD. The results showed that higher levels of C1q and lower levels of C3 were associated with increased risk of AMD in female patients. This suggests that the complement classical pathway may be involved in the development of AMD, especially in females.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sarah Hammadi, Nikolaos Tzoumas, Mariantonia Ferrara, Ingrid Porpino Meschede, Katharina Lo, Claire Harris, Majlinda Lako, David H. Steel
Summary: The complement system is essential for the body's defense against pathogens, but dysregulation can lead to diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Complement activation occurs in various parts of the eye, including the choriocapillaris and the subretinal and retinal pigment epithelium spaces. The barrier of Bruch's membrane impedes complement protein diffusion and its dysfunction contributes to AMD pathogenesis. This review examines the structure of Bruch's membrane, its age-related changes, and the potential of different delivery routes for complement inhibitors in treating AMD.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chao-Chien Chang, Chi-Hung Huang, Yu-Ching Chou, Jin-Yin Chang, Chien-An Sun
Summary: The study found that AMD was associated with an increased risk of HF, and this significant association was evident in both nonexudative and exudative AMD subgroups. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms behind this association.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Patrick Bidulka, Rohini Mathur, David G. Lugo-Palacios, Stephen O'Neill, Anirban Basu, Richard J. Silverwood, Paul Charlton, Andrew Briggs, Liam Smeeth, Amanda Adler, Ian J. Douglas, Kamlesh Khunti, Richard Grieve
Summary: This study assessed the disparities in the prescription of second-line antidiabetic treatments among people with type 2 diabetes in England based on ethnicity and social deprivation. The findings showed no significant differences in the percentage of different types of antidiabetic medications prescribed as second-line treatment based on ethnicity or deprivation level.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Soren Viborg Vestergaard, Henrik Birn, Simon Kok Jensen, Henrik Toft Sorensen, Dorothea Nitsch, Christian Fynbo Christiansen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the incidence, histopathology, and mortality of adult nephrotic syndrome over a 24-year period. The study found a slight increase in the incidence of adult nephrotic syndrome and a significant decrease in mortality. These findings may reflect changes in epidemiology or awareness and coding of nephrotic syndrome.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jennifer A. Davidson, Amitava Banerjee, Ian Douglas, Clemence Leyrat, Richard Pebody, Helen McDonald, Emily Herrett, Harriet Forbes, Liam Smeeth, Charlotte Warren-Gash
Summary: This study reveals that the incidence of first myocardial infarction and stroke is reduced 1-3 months after influenza vaccination. However, it is still unclear how underlying cardiovascular risk affects this association.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Loes M. Hollestein, Morgan Ya Fang Ye, Ky-Leigh Ang, Harriet Forbes, Kathryn E. Mansfield, Katrina Abuabara, Liam Smeeth, Sinead M. Langan
Summary: This study found an association between atopic eczema and decreased lymphocyte count, which increased with the severity of eczema. The lymphocyte count was lower in patients with atopic eczema, regardless of immunosuppressive drug use. Further research is needed to investigate the broader health implications of lower lymphocyte count in patients with severe eczema.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Transplantation
Michele Farisco, Irene Zecchino, Giovambattista Capasso, CONNECT Consortium
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
William J. Hulme, Elizabeth Williamson, Elsie M. F. Horne, Amelia Green, Helen I. I. McDonald, Alex J. J. Walker, Helen J. J. Curtis, Caroline E. Morton, Brian MacKenna, Richard Croker, Amir Mehrkar, Seb Bacon, David Evans, Peter Inglesby, Simon Davy, Krishnan Bhaskaran, Anna Schultze, Christopher T. Rentsch, Laurie Tomlinson, Ian J. Douglas, Stephen J. W. Evans, Liam Smeeth, Tom Palmer, Ben Goldacre, Miguel A. Hernan, Jonathan A. C. Sterne
Summary: The COVID-19 vaccines were developed and evaluated through randomized trials, but important questions remain unanswered. Observational studies and target trial emulation can provide valuable insights, although potential biases need to be managed. This article presents two approaches to emulate target trials using observational data.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Liam Smeeth, Catherine Kyobutungi
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Shalini Santhakumaran, Manuela Savino, Fran Benoy-Deeney, Retha Steenkamp, James Medcalf, Dorothea Nitsch
Summary: This study compared two methods of data collection for COVID-19 infections among patients on kidney replacement therapy in England. The results showed that direct submission of data by renal centers allowed real-time monitoring for patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis treatment. For other kidney replacement therapy modalities, using a national swab test dataset through frequent linkage may be the most effective method. Optimizing central surveillance can improve patient care by informing interventions and assisting planning at local, regional, and national levels.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Esther Wong, Javeria Peracha, David Pitcher, Anna Casula, Retha Steenkamp, James F. Medcalf, Dorothea Nitsch
Summary: A study in the English National Health Service found that the mortality rate for patients with acute kidney injury is higher in winter compared to summer by 33%. Furthermore, the mortality rate varied across different NHS trusts, with 9 out of 90 centers being outliers. Despite adjusting for clinical and demographic factors, the reasons for increased mortality in winter remain unclear and warrant further investigation into other factors such as winter pressures.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Emily Herrett, Keith Tomlin, Liang-Yu Lin, Laurie A. Tomlinson, Mark Jit, Andrew Briggs, Michael Marks, Frank Sandmann, John Parry, Christopher Bates, Jessica Morley, Seb Bacon, Benjamin Butler-Cole, Viyaasan Mahalingasivam, Alan Dennison, Deb Smith, Ethan Gabriel, Amir Mehrkar, Ben Goldacre, Liam Smeeth, Rosalind M. M. Eggo
Summary: This study aims to understand the impact of long COVID on health-related quality of life and productivity in English primary care patients. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires through a smartphone app, covering aspects such as HRQoL, productivity, and symptoms of long COVID. Analysis will be conducted using the OpenSAFELY data platform to estimate the impact on HRQoL, productivity, and cost to the NHS.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Maria da Conceicao N. Costa, Luciana Lobato L. Cardim, Cynthia C. Moore, Eliene dos Santos de Jesus, Rita Carvalho-Sauer, Mauricio B. Barreto, Laura K. Rodrigues, Liam Smeeth, Lavinia Schuler-Faccini, Elizabeth Brickley, Wanderson Oliveira, Eduardo Hage V. Carmo, Julia Moreira C. Pescarini, Roberto F. S. Andrade, Moreno M. S. Rodrigues, Rafael S. Veiga, Larissa Costa, Giovanny V. A. Franca, Maria Gloria Teixeira, Enny Paixao
Summary: This study aimed to describe the sequence of events leading to death of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) up to 36 months of age and their probability of dying from a given cause, 2015 to 2018. The study found that CZS children's deaths were mainly due to multiple congenital malformations not classified elsewhere and unspecified septicemia, indicating their greater vulnerability to infectious and respiratory conditions compared to children with non-Zika-related CNS congenital anomalies.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Enny C. Paixao, Andrea J. F. Ferreira, Idalia Oliveira dos Santos, Laura Rodrigues, Rosemeire Fiaccone, Leonardo Salvi, Guilherme Lopes de Oliveira, Jose Guilherme Santana, Andrey Moreira Cardoso, Carlos Antonio de S. S. Teles, Maria Auxiliadora L. Soares, Eliana Amaral, Liam Smeeth, Mauricio Barreto, Maria Yury Ichihara, Philippa Dodd
Summary: This study aimed to estimate excess all-cause mortality in children under 5 years with congenital syphilis (CS) compared to those without CS. The findings showed that children with CS had a significantly higher mortality rate than those without CS. Therefore, timely detection and treatment of pregnant women with CS can reduce vertical transmission and mitigate child mortality.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Winnie Magadi, Javeria Peracha, William S. McKane, Manuela Savino, Fiona Braddon, Retha Steenkamp, Dorothea Nitsch
Summary: In this study, differences in burden of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (H-AKI) and mortality risk across different treatment specialties in the English National Health Service (NHS) were identified. It was found that patients in surgical specialties had a lower 30-day mortality risk compared to general medicine, while critical care and oncology patients had the highest mortality risk.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophie Graham, Elise Tessier, Julia Stowe, Jamie Lopez Bernal, Edward P. K. Parker, Dorothea Nitsch, Elizabeth Miller, Nick Andrews, Jemma L. Walker, Helen I. McDonald
Summary: National test-negative-case-control studies are conducted in the UK to monitor the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. A questionnaire was sent to participants of the first published study to assess potential biases and changes in behavior related to vaccination. The findings showed a slight decrease in vaccine effectiveness after two doses of BNT162b2, but minimal evidence of riskier behavior after vaccination. These results provide reassurance to policymakers and clinicians.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Opeyemi Soremekun, Clarisse Musanabaganwa, Annette Uwineza, Maddalena Ardissino, Skanda Rajasundaram, Agaz H. Wani, Stefan Jansen, Jean Mutabaruka, Eugene Rutembesa, Chisom Soremekun, Cisse Cheickna, Mamadou Wele, Joseph Mugisha, Oyekanmi Nash, Eugene Kinyanda, Dorothea Nitsch, Myriam Fornage, Tinashe Chikowore, Dipender Gill, Derek E. Wildman, Leon Mutesa, Monica Uddin, Segun Fatumo
Summary: Observational studies have shown a link between PTSD and IS, but it is unclear if this association is causal. Using Mendelian randomization, the researchers found evidence that genetic liability to specific sub-phenotypes of PTSD, such as hyperarousal and avoidance, may have a causal effect on the risk of IS in individuals of European and African ancestry.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)