Reviews & Analysis

Chaturvedi, Köster et al. discuss challenges faced by studies evaluating tests for emerging infectious agents. They propose a unified framework for test development, evaluation, and validation based on the feedback loop between test accuracy evaluation, use of accuracy estimates in modelling studies, and interventions based on modelling results.

Bellomo et al. highlight the importance of umbrella reviews and discuss their limitations and potential. They specifically evaluate the methods used in published umbrella reviews on vaccines, to illustrate the diversity of approaches currently adopted.

Sridhar et al. review the opportunities that mobile health technologies offer to improve the care of patients with cardiac arrhythmias. The current status, challenges, and future opportunities to use these technologies to predict, screen, diagnose, and manage of cardiac arrhythmias are highlighted.

Shankar et al. discuss how to better undertake research and assure health interests of pregnant women and gender diverse pregnant people. Their recommendations include growing research and regulatory partnerships and innovation, plus promoting responsible inclusion in place of presumptive exclusion.

Ng, Chaturvedi et al. discuss established, emerging, and promising biomarkers related to preeclampsia. They highlight novel approaches for screening these biomarkers at the point of care, aiming to democratize testing and reduce the burden of the disease.

Labenz and Schoppmann discuss the approach to treatment for patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease that is resistant to standard medical treatment with proton pump inhibitors. They highlight the scope of the problem and the principles of various treatment options with a focus on surgical options, in appropriate patients.

Despite the constant development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), few new antimicrobials are currently becoming available clinically. Alternative approaches, such as different mechanisms to fund their use, are being explored to encourage development of new antimicrobials.

Dulanto Chiang and Dekker discuss recent work on efflux pump-mediated antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria. They highlight evidence implicating RND-class efflux pumps in resistance to new broad spectrum beta lactam and beta lactam/beta lactamase inhibitor antibiotics, and implications for therapy and antibiotic development.

Elgendi et al. discuss pros and cons of seven measures to assess photoplethysmography-based algorithm performance for blood pressure estimation. They highlight the need for standardized error evaluation to enhance accuracy and reliability in hypertension management and make recommendations to achieve this goal.

Vasudevan et al. discuss optical melanometry as a tool for objective, quantitative evaluation of skin pigmentation in studies addressing pulse oximeter racial disparity. The authors analyze research on commercial melanometer accuracy, discuss best practices for implementation and highlight promising future research directions.

Roope et al. discuss the importance of accounting for the broad benefits that occur as a consequence of optimising antibiotic use. They propose a threshold-based approach that estimates the minimum costs that would need to be averted by an intervention to make it cost-effective.

Nittas et al. discuss the importance of cultural adaptations in eliminating systemic exclusion of traditionally underserved cultural groups to minimize barriers to accessing digital healthcare interventions. They outline the existing challenges of the digital divide and provide recommendations to overcome them.

Lauffer et al. discuss the possibilities that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) approaches can bring to treating rare genetic diseases. The authors outline considerations and barriers to their implementation, and how these might be overcome.

Rao and Rolston discuss recent challenges to foundational assumptions underlying responsive neurostimulation therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy. An emerging mechanistic model helps explain variability in clinical outcomes and suggests this therapy may have untapped potential for reducing seizures.

Clusmann et al. describe how large language models such as ChatGPT could be used in medical practice, research and education. These models could democratize medical knowledge and facilitate access to healthcare, but there are also potential limitations to be considered.

Rouzine and Rozhnova discuss the potential consequences of vaccination on the antigenic evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The authors outline the possibility of its acceleration by mass vaccination and considerations for future vaccination strategies.

Thorlund et al. discuss considerations when selecting appropriate endpoints for outpatient COVID-19 clinical trials. Improvements in patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic have necessitated changes to the outcomes being assessed.

Badal et al. outline principles that should be adopted during the development of artificial intelligence-based healthcare tools. These principles expand upon principles proposed by several organizations by emphasizing that AI be developed to improve longstanding health care challenges.

Nekkab, Malinga, Braunack-Mayer et al. discuss how modelling can be incorporated early on in the research and development of malaria tools alongside clinical evidence and expert opinion. In addition, population models can provide estimates of potential effectiveness of novel interventions to inform product criteria and support decision-making.

HIV remains a major global health issue, with the burden of the epidemic disproportionately falling on low- and middle-income countries. Progress in HIV prevention, most notably pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), has been slow to reach those most in need.