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Diseases, Volume 14, Issue 3

2026 March - 32 articles

Cover Story: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are widespread environmental contaminants increasingly affecting human health. Clinical studies suggest that higher MNP burdens are associated with increased disease severity in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems. In vitro studies further indicate that MNPs can penetrate human cells and induce oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage. In addition, toxic effects were size-, polymer-, and concentration-dependent. These findings highlight growing public health concerns and the need for further research to inform risk assessment and regulation. View this paper
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Articles (32)

  • Systematic Review
  • Open Access
540 Views
12 Pages

Spondylodiscitis Following Oxygen–Ozone Therapy: A Case Report of Lactobacillus iners Infection and a Systematic Literature Review

  • Calogero Velluto,
  • Giovan Giuseppe Mazzella,
  • Michele Inverso,
  • Maria Ilaria Borruto,
  • Andrea Perna,
  • Riccardo Totti,
  • Laura Scaramuzzo and
  • Luca Proietti

23 March 2026

Background: Oxygen–ozone (O2–O3) therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for discogenic lumbar pain. Although rare, spinal infections—specifically spondylodiscitis—have been reported following intradiscal injections. To date...

  • Case Report
  • Open Access
520 Views
11 Pages

Giant Malignant Phyllodes Tumor with Secondary Thyroid Involvement

  • Daciana Grujic,
  • Teodora Hoinoiu,
  • Catalin-Alexandru Pirvu,
  • Mihai Iliescu-Glaja,
  • Simona Cerbu,
  • Silviu Cristian Suciu,
  • Daniel Pit,
  • Cristina Marinela Oprean and
  • Horia Cristian

22 March 2026

Background/Objectives: Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial neoplasms of the breast, accounting for less than 1% of all breast tumors and approximately 2–3% of breast fibroepithelial tumors. They can be benign, borderline, or malignant, de...

  • Article
  • Open Access
383 Views
15 Pages

Association Between HLA Polymorphisms and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Observational Study

  • Tatjana Zekić,
  • Nataša Katalinić,
  • Filip Blažić,
  • Nada Starčević Čizmarević and
  • Aleksandar Čubranić

22 March 2026

Background/Objectives: This observational study investigated associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphisms and imaging-defined hepatic steatosis (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease—NAFLD) and liver fibrosis in patients with rh...

  • Article
  • Open Access
583 Views
11 Pages

Clinical and Demographic Features of Primary Biliary Cholangitis in Kazakhstan

  • Aisulu Gainutdin,
  • Alexander Nersesov,
  • Komori Atsumasa,
  • Aigul Raissova,
  • Saltanat Madenova,
  • Laura Yerdaliyeva,
  • Dinara Suleimenova and
  • Balday Issenova

20 March 2026

Background/Objectives: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic immune-mediated cholestatic liver disease with increasing global prevalence. However, data on this disease from Central Asia are lacking. We aimed to describe the clinical, serolog...

  • Review
  • Open Access
2,006 Views
17 Pages

Pediatric Dialysis: From Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Renal Replacement Therapies: Challenges and Perspectives in Resource-Limited Countries

  • Djilali Batouche,
  • Djamila Djahida Batouche,
  • Zoheir Zakaria Addou,
  • Souhila Fatima Bouchama,
  • Rabia Okbani,
  • Siham Simerabet,
  • Nadia Faiza Benatta,
  • Soulef Saadi-Ouslim and
  • Miloud Lahmer

19 March 2026

Background: Pediatric kidney failure, whether acute or chronic, constitutes a major public health issue because of its impact on survival, linear growth, neurocognitive development, and long-term quality of life. While high-income countries have mark...

  • Article
  • Open Access
484 Views
17 Pages

Healthcare Resource Consumption and Related Costs of People Living with HIV and Antiviral Treatment: A Retrospective Observational Study in Italy

  • Luca Degli Esposti,
  • Stefania Mazzoni,
  • Maria Cappuccilli,
  • Franco Maggiolo,
  • Sergio Lo Caputo,
  • Silvia Nozza,
  • Lucia Taramasso,
  • Anna Marra and
  • Mario Pittorru

18 March 2026

Background/Objectives: Among the antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) recently introduced for people living with HIV (PLWH), the fixed-dose combination of bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) became reimbursable in Italy in June...

  • Review
  • Open Access
495 Views
16 Pages

Intravascular Lymphoma Associated with the Female Genital Tract—Diagnostic Considerations, Therapeutic Approaches, and Outcomes

  • Aleksandar Ristic,
  • Marija Rovcanin,
  • Ana Tomic,
  • Aleksandar Rakic,
  • Nebojsa Zecevic and
  • Svetlana Jankovic

17 March 2026

Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is an uncommon subtype of non-Hodgkin’s extranodal lymphoma, distinguished by the proliferation of neoplastic cells within the lumen of small- to medium-sized arteries, with various organs recorded as impacted. The...

  • Article
  • Open Access
529 Views
19 Pages

Integrated Functional and Histopathological Modulation of Chronic Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in a Preclinical Model

  • Anthony Brayan Rivera Prado,
  • Luis Lloja Lozano,
  • Daysi Zulema Diaz Obregón,
  • Víctor Hugo Carbajal Zegarra,
  • Joel De León Delgado,
  • Jhon Wilfredo Pando Mayta,
  • Alexis German Murillo Carrasco,
  • Kelly Geraldine Yparraguirre Salcedo and
  • Claudio Willbert Ramirez Atencio

15 March 2026

Background: Chronic liver fibrosis is a progressive pathological condition characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and architectural remodeling, which may ultimately lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Although mesenchymal stem ce...

  • Article
  • Open Access
648 Views
9 Pages

13 March 2026

Background/Objectives: Delayed umbilical cord clamping (DCC) is widely recommended for neonatal benefit; however, concerns persist among professionals that DCC may increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. There is a higher risk of postpartum hemor...

  • Article
  • Open Access
699 Views
13 Pages

Trends and Demographics of Hepatorenal Syndrome-Related Mortality in the U.S., 1999–2024: A CDC WONDER Analysis

  • Syed Faisal Ali,
  • Julia Natche,
  • Mahendrakumar Achlaram Chaudhari,
  • Hassan Abbasi,
  • Sammy Dawoud,
  • Hany Dawoud,
  • Amna Shoaib,
  • Hersh Tilokani,
  • Harleen Kaur Chela and
  • Arsal Zafar

12 March 2026

Background: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis, marked by rapid renal function decline and poor prognosis. Although clinical predictors of HRS outcomes have been extensively studied, less is known about how demogra...

  • Article
  • Open Access
513 Views
13 Pages

Tear Film Interferometry, Meibography, and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for Rosacea

  • Matteo Capobianco,
  • Marco Zeppieri,
  • Federico Visalli,
  • Francesco Pellegrini,
  • Leandro Inferrera,
  • Rosa Giglio,
  • Irene Gattazzo,
  • Francesco Cappellani,
  • Fabiana D’Esposito and
  • Caterina Gagliano

12 March 2026

Background/Objectives: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that may involve the eye, causing surface and adnexal damage that can precede cutaneous signs. Detecting subclinical ocular changes is clinically important because early ocular surfa...

  • Article
  • Open Access
597 Views
10 Pages

Bevacizumab and Tocotrienol in Recurrent Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer, and the Role of HOXA9 as a Prognostic Biomarker

  • Elisabeth Emanuel Graae,
  • Louise Faaborg,
  • Rikke Fredslund Andersen,
  • Lars Ulrik Fokdal and
  • Caroline Brenner Thomsen

12 March 2026

Background/Objectives: Platinum resistant ovarian cancer represents a treatment challenge due to lack of efficient treatments and the absence of prognostic biomarkers. The circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), methylated homebox A9 (meth-HOXA9), has been su...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1 Citations
497 Views
21 Pages

Optimizing Aortic Valve Replacement Through Strategic Upsizing: A Modern Framework for Lifetime Valve Management

  • Dimitrios E. Magouliotis,
  • Vasiliki Androutsopoulou,
  • Andrew Xanthopoulos,
  • Noah Sicouri and
  • Bo Yang

12 March 2026

Aortic valve disease is increasingly recognized as a chronic, progressive condition in which the initial valve intervention exerts a decisive influence on all subsequent therapeutic options. The persistence of prosthesis–patient mismatch (PPM),...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1,448 Views
20 Pages

Navigating Tuberculosis in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Maternal and Neonatal Considerations

  • Tiago Lima,
  • Sandra Trigo,
  • Eduarda Silveira,
  • Gabriela Jorge da Silva and
  • Sara Domingues

11 March 2026

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite the availability of effective treatments and advances in diagnostic methods, TB remains the leading cause of death from infectious disease globally, with its inc...

  • Article
  • Open Access
895 Views
13 Pages

The Prevalence of Anemia and Diagnostic Usefulness of Ferritin and Hepcidin in Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

  • Natasa Stanisavljevic,
  • Ljudmila Stojanovich,
  • Aleksandra Djokovic,
  • Violeta Dopsaj,
  • Neda Milinkovic,
  • Dusica Mrdaković,
  • Olivera Markovic,
  • Marija Zdravkovic and
  • Dragomir Marisavljevic

11 March 2026

Background: Anemia is common among patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). It can persist alone (primary APS—pAPS) or with another associated disease (secondary APS—sAPS), predominantly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There are...

  • Article
  • Open Access
590 Views
11 Pages

Association of Fetal Growth Retardation with Postnatal Osteoprotegerin Concentrations and Aortic Intima–Media Thickness

  • Ageliki A. Karatza,
  • Eirini Kostopoulou,
  • Sotirios Fouzas,
  • Nikolaos Antonakopoulos,
  • Xenophon Sinopidis,
  • Dimitra Kritikou,
  • Alexandra Efthymiadou,
  • Gabriel Dimitriou and
  • Dionysios Chrysis

8 March 2026

Background: Fetal Growth Retardation (FGR) is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease in adulthood. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is reported to be elevated in athe...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1,405 Views
17 Pages

Autoimmune Diseases and Mycobacterial Infection

  • Abraham Chorbajian,
  • Ira Glassman,
  • Akhila Swarna,
  • Manvita Mareboina,
  • Po-En Chen,
  • Jammal Abu-Khazneh,
  • Jiayan Tan,
  • Surbi Dayal,
  • Kian Yazdan and
  • Vishwanath Venketaraman
  • + 1 author

Background/Objectives: Mycobacterial infections and autoimmune diseases affect many worldwide, and growing evidence suggests that there is a bidirectional relationship. This review examines mechanisms by which various autoimmune diseases predispose p...

  • Systematic Review
  • Open Access
765 Views
15 Pages

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Silicosis: A Systematic Review

  • Maria Carmina Pau,
  • Elisabetta Zinellu,
  • Barbara Piras,
  • Alice Nardi,
  • Maria Roberta Lacana,
  • Chiara Scala,
  • Angelo Zinellu,
  • Arduino A. Mangoni,
  • Ciriaco Carru and
  • Pietro Pirina
  • + 2 authors

Background: Silicosis is a progressive fibrotic lung disease caused by chronic inhalation of crystalline silica. Increasing evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a central role in linking silica exposure to inflammation, tissue injury, and f...

  • Article
  • Open Access
615 Views
14 Pages

Objectives: The TNM staging system for distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) has limited accuracy due to its anatomical basis. This study developed a prognostic model integrating inflammatory-nutritional markers and tumor biomarkers to improve risk strati...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1,387 Views
38 Pages

Pesticides Drive Liver Diseases Through Non-Apoptotic Regulated Cell Death Pathways

  • Zamza Khairullina,
  • Saulesh Kurmangaliyeva,
  • Rustam Yussupov,
  • Elmira Kelimberdiyeva,
  • Liliya Tryfonyuk,
  • Nasriddin Shapambayev,
  • Aizat Seidakhmetova,
  • Talgat Medetbekov and
  • Anton Tkachenko

A compelling body of evidence links pesticide exposure to human diseases. The liver plays a central role in the detoxification of pesticides, suggesting intense pesticide–liver cell interactions. A growing body of studies highlighted in this re...

  • Article
  • Open Access
823 Views
21 Pages

Thiamine and Micronutrient Deficiencies in Hospitalized Veterans Without Alcohol Use Disorder

  • Elisabeth A. Mates,
  • Kellie Watkins,
  • Christopher Sanchez,
  • Nicolas Fiore and
  • Claire Phibbs

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies (MiDs) can increase medical complexity in hospitalized adults, but the prevalence in those without alcohol use disorder (AUD) is unknown. Our objectives were to prospectively determine the prevalence of thiamine...

  • Article
  • Open Access
834 Views
11 Pages

Background: Severe infectious diseases remain a preventable cause of adolescent mortality worldwide, yet global evidence focused on adolescence as a distinct life-course stage—and its vulnerability to health system disruption—remains limi...

  • Article
  • Open Access
425 Views
11 Pages

The development of sternal infection in neonates after cardiac defect correction using median sternotomy is a serious complication, increasing the length of hospital stay, mortality, and treatment costs. One effective method for preventing this compl...

  • Article
  • Open Access
817 Views
21 Pages

Functional Characterization of POLE1 Variant Fibroblasts Reveals Replication Stress and Increased Sensitivity to Genotoxic Stress

  • Enas Khdeda,
  • Nora Naumann-Bartsch,
  • Nawres Khdeda,
  • Giulia Cramer,
  • Laura S. Hildebrand,
  • Paula Schiller,
  • Paul Julian Wagner,
  • Franziska Fahrmeier,
  • Ulrike Hüffmeier and
  • Lukas C. F. Kuhlmann
  • + 2 authors

Background/Objectives: DNA polymerase ε (Pol ε), encoded by POLE1, plays a pivotal role in high-fidelity DNA replication and in coordinating DNA repair. While pathogenic exonuclease-domain variants are well established in cancer, bial...

  • Review
  • Open Access
755 Views
17 Pages

First Reported Use of Recombinant Parathyroid Hormone in Kenny–Caffey Syndrome Type 2: A Case Report and Literature Review

  • Maja Djordjevic Milosevic,
  • Anita Skakic,
  • Marina Andjelkovic,
  • Angelica Maria Delgado-Vega,
  • Håkan Thonberg,
  • Kristel Klaassen,
  • Jovana Komazec,
  • Bozica Kecman,
  • Nikola Jocic and
  • Maja Stojiljkovic
  • + 2 authors

Background/Objectives: Hypoparathyroidism (HPT) is a disorder caused by the insufficient production of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Its main features include decreased serum calcium, increased serum phosphorus, and abnormal bone modeling. In children,...

  • Review
  • Open Access
1,002 Views
14 Pages

Gut Dysbiosis, Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Liver Cirrhosis: A Narrative Review

  • Marian-Vlad Lăpădat,
  • Claudia Georgeta Iacobescu,
  • Ion Daniel Baboi,
  • Maria Nedelcu,
  • Lavinia Alice Bălăceanu,
  • Valeria Ioana Grigorescu and
  • Ion Dina

Liver cirrhosis represents the end stage of chronic liver disease arising from diverse etiologies and is characterized by persistent hepatic injury, architectural distortion, extensive fibrosis, and nodular regeneration. While decompensated cirrhosis...

  • Article
  • Open Access
888 Views
19 Pages

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in tumor progression and intercellular communication, yet the contribution of specific cancer-related genes to EV secretion remains incompletely defined. Methods: To address this, we per...

  • Systematic Review
  • Open Access
1 Citations
4,513 Views
26 Pages

Harmful Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Human Body Systems: A Systematic Review

  • Precious Patrick Edet,
  • Amal K. Mitra,
  • Melissa Dennis and
  • Md S. Zaman

27 February 2026

Background: Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants from plastic degradation, leading to human exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. While emerging evidence suggests potential health effec...

  • Article
  • Open Access
614 Views
22 Pages

The Psycho-Social Impact of Dental Emergencies in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Case–Control Study

  • Marius Moroianu,
  • Ramona-Oana Roșca,
  • Laura-Carmen Cristescu-Budala,
  • Valeriu Ardeleanu,
  • Iulian Bounegru and
  • Mădălina Nicoleta Matei

26 February 2026

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted access to routine dental care, resulting in delayed treatment and increased presentation of dental emergencies. When combined with SARS-CoV-2 infection, these conditions may significantly impair p...

  • Case Report
  • Open Access
675 Views
10 Pages

Reversible Causes of Transitory Motor Evoked Potential Decrease During Posterior Spine Fusion in Rapidly Progressive Scoliosis Treatment: A Case Report

  • Vladimir Djan,
  • Vladimir Galić,
  • Nemanja Galetić,
  • Rastislava Krasnik,
  • Stanislava Bodonji,
  • Ivana Fratrić,
  • Anna Uram Benka,
  • Izabela Fabri Galamboš,
  • Nikola Bošković and
  • Jelena Mačar Novaković

26 February 2026

Introduction: Idiopathic adolescent scoliosis (IAS) is commonly managed non-surgically; however, patients with a Cobb angle >45° before skeletal maturity often require posterior spinal fusion. Because this procedure carries a risk of neurologi...

  • Review
  • Open Access
751 Views
28 Pages

Tracking the Metabolites of Health and Disease Using Artificial Intelligence

  • Ahmed Fadiel,
  • Kenneth D. Eichenbaum,
  • Aya Hassouneh and
  • Kunle Odunsi

25 February 2026

Using AI to analyze metabolite profiles provides critical insights into health, aging, and disease. Metabolomic signatures reveal how lifestyle and therapy impact organ function and cancer progression. This review highlights emerging toolkits for hig...

  • Systematic Review
  • Open Access
1,031 Views
16 Pages

Head and Neck Kaposi Sarcoma—An Updated Focus on Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics: A Comprehensive Review

  • Luis Alberto Gaitán-Cepeda,
  • Brenda Daniela Ortega-Hidalgo,
  • César Esquivel-Chirinos,
  • Iñigo Gaitán-Salvatella,
  • Stephany Paladines-Calle and
  • Daniela Carmona-Ruíz

24 February 2026

Background/Objectives: Interest in Oral Kaposi’s sarcoma (OKS) has declined recently, potentially causing diagnostic errors due to physicians’ unfamiliarity with its presentation. This review describes clinical and demographic characteris...

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Diseases - ISSN 2079-9721