Research articles
Recent India-relevant research summaries for doctors Check the original source and local guidance before use.
Sex differences in tuberculosis incidence: a pooled analysis of 11 prospective cohort studies.
September 1, 2026
Pooled individual participant data from 11 prospective cohorts (n=22,424; 2005–2017; Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Asia, South America) evaluated sex differences in TB after accounting for baseline QuantiFERON status. Over median 2.8 years, 411 (1.8%) developed TB. Males had slightly higher baseline infection odds (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.02–1.22). Among those infected at baseline, incidence rates were similar in females (16.3/1000 person-years) and males (15.6/1000); hazard ratios showed no clear sex difference for progression with or without baseline infection (HR 0.86 and 1.02, respectively). Findings suggest higher infection prevalence in males without evidence of excess progression risk; residual confounding and heterogeneity are possible.
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Based on PubMed (India-relevant) and saved with the original source record.
View official sourceGut microbiome-enteric virus interactions: mechanisms, clinical implications, and translational directions.
Source date not listed
Narrative review of gut microbiome–enteric virus interactions across bacteriome, phageome/virome, and mycobiome for norovirus, rotavirus, poliovirus, hepatitis A, and hepatitis E. Strongest mechanistic evidence cited includes bacterial glycan interactions for norovirus, LPS-mediated stabilization of poliovirus, bile acid–dependent human norovirus replication in enteroids, and rotavirus-associated barrier disruption. Human data are largely stool-based associations confounded by inflammation, diet, antibiotics, diarrhea, and timing. The review ranks evidence from experimental to clinical-translational levels and highlights potential applications in risk prediction, prolonged shedding, barrier recovery, and oral vaccine nonresponse, noting current translational uncertainty.
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Based on PubMed (India-relevant) and saved with the original source record.
View official sourceAssociation of haemoglobinopathies with adverse foetal outcomes among pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (23 included; databases to Feb 14, 2025) comparing pregnant women with hemoglobinopathies (HPLC/CE-screened) to those without. Methods included independent screening, data extraction, Newcastle–Ottawa risk of bias assessment, and random-effects pooling of odds ratios with heterogeneity metrics. Hemoglobinopathies were associated with increased odds of adverse fetal outcomes, including preterm labor, intrauterine growth restriction, and intrauterine demise. Human evidence is observational with heterogeneity; nonetheless, the pooled analysis indicates higher risk. Screening and tailored management are mentioned but detailed strategies are not provided in the source.
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Based on PubMed (India-relevant) and saved with the original source record.
View official sourceSerum Procalcitonin and Outcomes in Severe Pediatric Pneumonia: A Secondary Analysis of An Observational Multicenter Study.
Source date not listed
Secondary analysis of a multicenter Asian cohort of critically ill children with severe pneumonia (n=846; 344 with early procalcitonin) examined peak serum procalcitonin within 5 days, grouped as <0.5, 0.5–2.0, 2.0–10.0, and >10.0 ng/mL. Higher procalcitonin groups had higher mortality (rising from 4.9% to 19.0%; p=0.002) and higher proportions of ARDS, septic shock, and multiorgan dysfunction (all p<0.001). Discrimination by AUROC was moderate for mortality (0.69, 95% CI 0.58–0.80) and good for septic shock (0.81, 95% CI 0.76–0.87). As a secondary analysis with partial procalcitonin availability, findings suggest association but procalcitonin alone is insufficient for outcome prediction.
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Based on PubMed (India-relevant) and saved with the original source record.
View official sourceThe heart-skin connection: Carvajal syndrome in a child with a novel DSP gene variant-a case report and literature review.
Source date not listed
Case report and literature review on Carvajal syndrome, a rare cardio-cutaneous disorder marked by woolly hair, palmoplantar keratoderma, and dilated cardiomyopathy. The condition is linked to DSP gene mutations affecting desmoplakin, a desmosomal protein essential for cell adhesion; dysfunction compromises myocardial and epidermal integrity and can progress to life‑threatening heart failure. Authors report a 7‑year‑old from Delhi with decompensated heart failure and characteristic skin/hair findings; genetic testing showed a homozygous DSP mutation with a novel variant, confirming the diagnosis. The report highlights that dermatologic signs may serve as early indicators of significant cardiac disease. As a single case, findings are descriptive; broader generalizability and variant pathogenicity require further study.
About this update
Based on PubMed (India-relevant) and saved with the original source record.
View official sourceThese AI summaries are a quick starting point. Check the original source, local guidance and your own clinical judgement before using them.