Global Infectious Diseases in August of 2022: Monthly Analysis

Infectious diseases have greatly affected the development of human history, owing to their unpredictable zoonotic characteristics. The recording of infectious diseases epidemic data provides information on disease transmission trends, and enables research on the risk of penitential epidemics and the mechanisms of transmission of infectious diseases. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of confirmed and fatal cases of COVID-19 since it became a pandemic in late 2019. Monkeypox also has potential for global transmission, because the World Health Organization (WHO) [ 1 ] reported cases of MPXV in at least 12 Countries that are not endemic for monkeypox virus. Africa and Southeast Asia appear to be the main regions where mosquito-borne diseases are epidemic, possibly because of the rainy weather in these regions in the past month. Tracking disease incidence and epidemic tendency remains imperative in these areas, although most infectious diseases appear to be dispersed and transmitted in only several areas at the moment

Development of targeted drugs for diabetic retinopathy using Mendelian randomized pharmacogenomics

PurposeThis study aims to utilize genetic instrumental variables - protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL), and through analysis methods such as Mendelian randomization (MR), systematically screen and validate druggable proteins that have a causal relationship with diabetic retinopathy (DR), and further explore related drug targets, providing genetic evidence and new directions for the drug development of this disease.MethodsThe research was based on large-scale public databases to conduct two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Firstly, 511 encoded proteins were selected from the known 4,479 druggable genes as initial exposure factors, with the summary data of GWAS for diabetic retinopathy as the outcome. MR analysis was conducted using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and the Wald ratio method, and strict screening was performed through Bonferroni correction. For the significantly associated proteins, heterogeneity tests, pleiotropy tests, leave-one-out analysis, and Steiger directionality tests were further conducted to verify the robustness of the results. Additionally, summary MR (SMR) analysis and colocalization analysis (coloc) were used to confirm the reliability of the causal relationship. Finally, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database, and potential targeted drugs were mined from the DrugBank and DSigDB databases.ResultsA preliminary analysis identified 37 proteins with potential causal relationships to DR (p < 0.05). After more rigorous pQTL screening and multiple testing corrections, it was found that Noggin (NOG) protein has a significant negative causal relationship with the risk of DR (p.adjust < 0.05), meaning that higher NOG protein levels may reduce the risk of disease. All sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of this result (no heterogeneity, no pleiotropy), and SMR and colocalization analyses (PP.H4 > 0.8) further confirmed this causal association. PPI network analysis revealed that NOG interacts with 10 proteins (such as BMP2, BMP4, etc.). Drug mining identified DB01373 as a corresponding drug for BMP4, and through DSigDB analysis, progesterone and estradiol were found to be potential therapeutic compounds targeting the NOG network.ConclusionsThrough comprehensive genetic analysis, this study identified the NOG protein as a novel potential protective drug target for DR. Its function may be achieved by regulating the BMP signaling pathway. The research findings not only provide a new perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of this disease but also recommend existing drugs such as progesterone and estradiol as potential therapies, which are worthy of further functional experiments and clinical studies for verification

Efficient single-molecular white-light emission for iridium-based photoluminescent and electroluminescent white OLEDs

The white organic light-emitting diode has become as a new class of emerging solid-state lighting sources due to its advantage of warm, pure white light emission, flexible lighting, and environmentally friendly indoor lighting. Here, we report three rationally designed cyclometalated [3 + 2+1] iridium(Ⅲ) complexes that emit white emission simultaneously from phosphorescent blue and yellow in the solid-state thin film. The blue GaN-based solid-state white light-emitting diodes with iridium(Ⅲ) complexes as a color converter show a color rendering index of 84.4 and International Commission on Illumination (CIE) coordinates of (0.30, 0.33). In addition, the vacuum-deposited organic light-emitting diode device exhibits a low turn-on voltage of 3.0 V and a maximum luminance (Lmax) of 335 cd m−2 with CIE coordinate of (0.31, 0.33), reaching standard naturally warm white light

Global Infectious Diseases in September 2022: Monthly Analysis

The threat of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms to both human health and the economy is enormous. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global pandemic. In contrast to many other infectious diseases, monkeypox spreads rapidly and cannot be ignored. Collection of data on contagious diseases can provide quantitative evidence to support effective pandemic control strategies. Global data on predominant infectious diseases collected in the past several weeks and a summary of their epidemiology are presented herein

Global Infectious Diseases in October 2022: Monthly Analysis

Infectious diseases continue to pose a major threat to worldwide public health. Infections by Coronavirus Disease 2019 have eased but continue to negatively affect international economic development. The situation of other infectious diseases, such as monkeypox and mosquito-borne diseases, became stable in October. Monitoring epidemic situation of infectious diseases can provide rapid insight into global transmission trends and assist in predicting epidemic situations. Visualizations and analyses summarizing the past few weeks of global data on major infectious diseases are provided

Global Status of Infectious Diseases from January to June of 2025

In the first half of 2025, cholera, mpox, measles, dengue fever, chikungunya, malaria, and Zika virus spread globally, and severe outbreaks occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Afghanistan. The primary drivers were enhanced pathogen adaptability and healthcare system vulnerabilities. These diseases showed remarkable spatial heterogeneity and dynamic evolution, influenced by climate, healthcare resources, and vector control. Temperature and precipitation played major roles in mosquito-borne disease transmission, and rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns extended the zones of vector suitability. Four major challenges in arboviral disease control are summarized herein: vector ecology complexity, diagnostic-therapeutic access disparities, fragility of public health infrastructure, and climate-driven transmission expansion. Future prospects and recommendations include enhancing international cooperation, innovating prevention and control technologies, boosting public health system capacity, and addressing climate change to decrease the risk of mosquito-borne disease transmission

Global Infectious Diseases in December 2022: Monthly Analysis

The emergence and reoccurrence of infectious diseases constitute a significant threat to human health. Data for this paper were mainly obtained from official websites, such as the WHO and national CDC websites. The report summarizes and analyzes information on infectious diseases for early outbreak monitoring from 24 November to 23 December 2022. Monkeypox cases declined in December 2022 with few deaths, while cholera infections have increased in African regions and war-torn countries. Most sub-Saharan countries are affected by insect-borne diseases, such as dengue, Lassa, and chikungunya fever

Annual Summary of Global Infectious Diseases in 2024

Infectious diseases pose a major challenge to public health worldwide. In recent years, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases have emerged as major public health threats. Effective prevention, control, and essential monitoring strategies are required to combat the rising global incidence and prevalence of infectious diseases. The frequency of infectious disease outbreaks has increased in the past several decades, and this trend has been predicted to be likely to continue. To effectively identify public health threats, and monitor and alert against infectious diseases, we obtained surveillance data from Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System and conducted a comprehensive analysis of outbreak timing and location from the beginning of the year to December of 2024

Global Infectious Diseases in February 2023: Monthly Analysis

Public health security in human societies is placed under enormous strain by infectious disease epidemics. According to the WHO, COVID-19 and Mpox remain on the list of PHEICs, whereas cholera, dengue, and other contagious diseases remain endemic in several countries and regions. Data on prevalent infectious diseases have been collected worldwide in recent weeks, and may provide new ideas for international collaboration in public health

Global Infectious Diseases in June 2023: Monthly Analysis

Infectious diseases are a class of diseases caused by various pathogens that can be transmitted between humans and animals or between humans and animals, thus seriously affecting the development of human society. To control the spread of infectious diseases worldwide and ensure the safety of people’s lives, it is essential to regularly analyze global infectious disease cases. This review is based on data from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control in countries around the world, Outbreak News Today and many other epidemiological websites to predict the global infectious disease outbreak trend. In addition, using the Shuci Technology global epidemic information monitoring system, we analyzed the distribution of infectious diseases that occurred around the world from 24 May 2023 to 23 June 2023