Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding protein, is found in mammalian milk. LF is also secreted by different cell phenotypes. LF shows a wide range of biological activities, as many preclinical and clinical studies indicate that LF and its derived peptides have many biological functions in host defence, including not only antibacterial, but also antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects. These results raise the view that these compounds might affect the composition of the intestinal microbiota. LF is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). This protein has been shown in experimental studies to exert beneficial effects on intestinal inflammation. This review will target the beneficial effects of oral LF supplements on the intestinal ecosystem during inflammation and highlight the mechanisms by which LF may contribute to reducing inflammatory flare, and present perspectives for future research.

The inflammasome is a critical inflammatory signaling cascade. Diverse events, including infections or tissue damage, activate it. It is essential in regulating the early stages of wound healing but is overall downregulated in the later stages. If uncontrolled inflammasome expression occurs, healing tends to stall and chronic wounds ensue due to the release of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Furthermore, if left unchecked, chronically activated inflammasomes can promote a healing milieu when none is warranted and this can cause fibroproliferative skin disorders such as keloids and hypertrophic scars. This review examines the role of the inflammasome and what is known about its regulation in each phase of wound healing. This review also discusses the contribution of inflammasome activation during stalled wound healing, such as that found in chronic wounds and diabetic ulcers. It discusses the hyperactivation of the inflammasome during fibrotic skin pathology. A better understanding of the contribution of inflammasome signaling in various stages of wound healing could lead to identifying more effective therapeutics for treating different aspects of abnormal wound healing.

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare and potentially lethal complication of blood transfusion. It occurs when transfused immune cells, such as lymphocytes, elicit an immune response against the recipient’s tissues, including the skin, bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract. TA-GVHD leads to severe pancytopenia, resulting in increased vulnerability to severe, often untreatable infections. Although the pathogenesis of TA-GVHD is fairly well understood, management remains challenging given the paucity of successful outcomes. We present a case of an immunocompetent 40-year-old Yemeni male who developed TA-GVHD after receiving a single unit of irradiated blood from his brother. The transfusion was done prior to an upper endoscopy procedure that confirmed the diagnosis of a peptic ulcer disease after which the patient was treated appropriately. He presented later with severe dyspnea and productive cough, necessitating oxygen support via face mask. The patient rapidly deteriorated with unstable vitals and was subsequently intubated and mechanically ventilated. Unfortunately, the patient died later due to cardiopulmonary compromise despite appropriate resuscitative measures. In summary, TA-GVHD is a serious condition that attacks the recipient’s tissues and results in severe pancytopenia.

The cardiovascular system remains vulnerable to a multitude of threats, including infections, inflammation, and oxidative stress. These factors contribute significantly to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, a pressing global health concern. Historically, research into natural medicines has primarily focused on isolated compounds. However, complex natural entities like essential oils, rich in diverse chemical constituents, offer superior therapeutic potential. We discuss here how their inherent variability can lead to unpredictable synergistic and antagonistic effects, hindering consistent therapeutic outcomes. This inconsistency is particularly problematic in addressing the rising incidence of perioperative infections and the need to combat radical-mediated damage and subclinical inflammation. This scoping review departs from the hypothesis “Can we leverage complex natural products for the discovery of new clinical approaches to cardiovascular diseases encompassing inflammation and infection?”. Therefore, we delve into the potential of complex natural products, particularly essential oils, in preventing cardiovascular infections and mitigating oxidative damage, emphasizing the crucial role of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in advancing this field. The review emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to generate quality data for effective ANN analysis, envisioning future integration of omics technologies with ANNs for more precise predictions of natural product activities. It addresses challenges in translating AI-designed essential oils to clinical practice, including intellectual property protection and standardization issues due to regional variability, suggesting a potential role for the World Health Organization in establishing guidelines for essential oil specifications to ensure consistent efficacy while enabling global accessibility. The author concludes by stressing the need to address ethical considerations at the intersection of technology, science, and clinical practice, particularly regarding the proprietary status of essential oils versus making them freely available worldwide.

Vaccines are typically designed either for human or veterinary use. Using One Health principles it would be more efficient to develop a single vaccine to cover all animal and human species at threat from a specific pathogen. A major issue for designing One Health vaccines is that some commonly used human adjuvants such as aluminium salts are not suitable for some animal species, such as felines, where they can cause injection site sarcomas. Conversely, some commonly used animal adjuvants such as mineral oil emulsions are too reactogenic to be used in humans. In addition, species-specific differences in innate immune receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) may mean an adjuvant that works in one species does not work in another. This review presents an overview of human and veterinary adjuvants in use and from this list identifies those that might be most suitable for use in a One Health vaccine strategy. Two notable adjuvant candidates already supported by both human and animal data are squalene oil emulsions and delta inulin-CpG combination adjuvant known as Advax-CpG55.2. These two adjuvants have already been shown to be safe and effective across multiple species including when formulated in influenza vaccines. This could be highly relevant to adjuvant selection for vaccines in development against the current North American bovine H5N1 avian influenza outbreak with the potential need to cover multiple susceptible species including birds, cattle and cats in addition to humans. Additional considerations for One Health adjuvants would be suitable administration routes and dosing across species of widely varying size, physiology and genetics. The availability of adjuvants such as squalene emulsions and Advax-CpG55.2 with broad species activity and safety, including in humans, should make One Health vaccine approaches more common in the future.

The interaction between cancer and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses significant challenges, particularly for immunocompromised individuals who are at heightened risk for acute infections and long-term complications. The pandemic has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in cancer care by disrupting treatment protocols and delaying diagnoses, leading to worsened health outcomes. This article emphasizes the importance of investigating the potential impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on cancer progression and highlights the need for effective strategies to protect this high-risk population. Long-term health consequences, including the emergence of long COVID, further emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance and comprehensive healthcare planning for cancer patients during and after pandemics. A multifaceted approach is essential, incorporating vaccination, timely therapeutic interventions, and sustained support for patients with lingering symptoms. This article also discusses and urges continued research into the oncogenic risks associated with SARS-CoV-2, which is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the broader health implications of COVID-19 and for informing public health strategies aimed at safeguarding cancer patients in future pandemics. Moreover, effective data collection and the development of refined clinical guidelines are vital for improving patient outcomes and preparing healthcare systems to support cancer patients during crises. Additionally, this article discusses the importance of investigating the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may increase cancer susceptibility, including chronic inflammation, cellular senescence, and immune dysregulation. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for elucidating the virus’s long-term oncogenic potential, particularly among cancer survivors and individuals with chronic infections. Ensuring continuity and resilience in cancer care during global crises requires strategies to mitigate healthcare disruptions, enhance access to screenings and treatments, and address the specific challenges faced by cancer patients experiencing long COVID.

We report a rare case of a female patient with multiple rheumatological conditions. The patient initially presented with periodic, diffuse abdominal pain. This complaint was not fully investigated because polyarthritic symptoms became the predominant ones. This led to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Afterward, the patient complained of xerostomia, xerophthalmia, and diffuse rash. After investigations, she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome. Suspecting a case of methotrexate-induced vasculitis, her initial prescription was changed to azathioprine and then to etanercept. Eventually, her persistent abdominal pain, combined with her Armenian origin, prompted her physician to order a genetic analysis of the MEFV gene, which revealed the V726A/P369S mutation, giving rise to the diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever. In her routine follow-up, the patient was in a stable condition, adherent to the medications, and showed improvement in her symptoms. Therefore, this case shows the importance of early genetic testing in similar cases, which in turn will allow timely diagnosis and treatment.