Ranjit Sah

• MBBS , MD, Infectious Disease Fellowship, Clinical Research (HMS), Global Clinical Scholars Research Training (Harvard Medical School) Systematic review and Meta-analysis
• Professor (Assistant) at Tribhuvan University

Abstract Background: Oropouche virus (OROV), an emerging arbovirus, poses a significant public health concern in the tropical and subtropical regions of Latin America, as well as in other regions, with imported cases reported in North America and Europe. While OROV is primarily associated with acute febrile illness, especially emerging evidence sug...

Human migration is a dynamic, multifaceted and complex phenomenon shaped by economic, political, social, climatic and environmental factors [1], [2], [3], [4]. Migration refers to the relocation of individuals from their habitual residence to a new location, while travel involves journeying between destinations for various purposes [5]. In recent y...

Background: The global resurgence of Mpox has emerged as a significant public health issue, with cases identified in over 116 countries by 2024. This study leverages join point regression and ARIMA forecasting models to analyze Mpox trends and project future outbreaks, underscoring the need for adaptable public health responses due to varied virule...

CCHF is a tick-borne viral disease with high outbreak potential and no specific treatment or vaccine. It is transmitted via ticks or contact with infected fluids and poses significant risks to healthcare workers and livestock handlers. Prevention relies on strict infection control, public education, and protective measures to reduce transmission.

The recent Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) outbreak in China, though not caused by a novel virus, has attracted significant attention due to its rising incidence and potential impact. hMPV was reported as a respiratory infectious agent by the family of Paramyxovirus in the year 2001 in the Netherlands [1] that can cause acute respiratory infections (A...

Background and Aims Artificial Intelligence (AI) beginning to integrate in healthcare, is ushering in a transformative era, impacting diagnostics, altering personalized treatment, and significantly improving operational efficiency. The study aims to describe AI in healthcare, including important technologies like robotics, machine learning (ML), de...

Iron deficiency anemia remains a significant public health concern, particularly among pregnant women and children. The prevalence of anemia is higher in lower middle income countries including Nepal. Despite government efforts, progress in reducing anemia in the last 15 years has been slow, especially in remote hilly regions. While investing in an...

Background Endemic in more than 20 countries, Chagas disease affects 6.3 million people worldwide, leading to 28,000 new infections and 7700 deaths each year. Previous meta-analyses on antiparasitic treatment need updates to encompass recent studies and to assess key clinically meaningful endpoints. This study aims to evaluate the impact of antitry...

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has re‐emerged as a significant global health concern, particularly during the widespread outbreak of 2022. As an orthopoxvirus related to the eradicated smallpox virus, mpox has been primarily managed with smallpox vaccines and treatments, including the antiviral agent Tecovirimat. This systematic review aims to...

Monkeypox, a zoonotic virus in the Orthopoxvirus genus, has drawn global attention for its impact on public health. In the current Mpox outbreak, a novel clade, Ib, has emerged as a significant and potentially fatal threat. This review examines the dynamics of MPXV transmission, person-to-person spread, and infection mechanisms, highlighting key ri...

Introduction The emergence of the H3N2 influenza virus in 1968 marked a significant event as it crossed the species barrier. This shift led to a pandemic, resulting in the deaths of one million people globally and highlighting the virus's severe impact on older individuals due to antigenic drift. Area Covered This review comprehensively examines th...

Arboviral infections have increasingly threatened public health throughout Latin America in recent years. The emergence of the Oropouche virus (OROV), a member of the Orthobunyavirus genus, is especially concerning. It was first isolated in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955 and endemic in Brazil, Panama, and Peru until 2000. In the last years, cases have...

Yellow fever poses a substantial global health concern as one of the re-emerging diseases with pandemic potential in a scenario of the worldwide distribution of some vectors (such as Aedes aegypti); in the context of climatic change, an unclear knowledge about the immune behavior of the virus, between other determinants. This review details the his...

Mpox (formerly monkeypox) is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the mpox virus (MPXV), which is part of the same family as the smallpox virus.1 Although milder than smallpox, mpox can still lead to severe health issues, particularly in vulnerable individuals. It primarily transmits through close physical contact with an infected person, bodily flui...

Background The recent outbreak of Monkeypox (Mpox), particularly the clade 1b variant, have shifted the epidemiological landscape, making it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Africa remains a hotspot with significant ongoing outbreaks, necessitating a focused study on outbreak trends and forecasting to guide health interventions....

Background Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex auto-immune disorder characterized by immune dysregulation leading to formation of autoantibodies and multiple organ dysfunction. Monoclonal antibodies targeting CD19 and CD20 on the B lymphocytes have demonstrated benefit, however, relapse is common. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells...

Background Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an immune-mediated complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. Current standard dose of corticosteroids used by the most hospitals for GVHD patients is 1-2 mg/kg/day. The prednisone dose used in the treatment of a GVHD has been a matter of debate. In this systematic review, we...

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy predominantly affecting African Americans and Hispanics, which can lead to frequent vaso-occlusive crisis and other complications which necessitate hospitalization. This study investigated trends in admissions for SCD, associated costs, and patient demographics within the US healthcare sys...

As of October 15, 2024, Rwanda’s Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak had caused 62 cases and 15 deaths (CFR 24.2%), with significant transmission among healthcare workers. The WHO and CDC issued warnings and travel advisories, emphasising strict protocols. We discussed the local and global implications of such a situation here.

Background Toxoplasmosis is a chronic protozoan parasitic infection that affects nearly one-third of the global population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases were observed in patients with COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii exposure in patients with...

Background Although the recent literature indicates that mpox (monkeypox) primarily affects men, there are also multiple reports in women. Estimates of the sex distribution of mpox patients and patterns will enable a better understanding of the ongoing mpox outbreak. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, seven databases were searche...

Oropouche fever, caused by the Oropouche orthobunyavirus (OROV), represents a significant yet often overlooked public health issue in South and Central America, particularly in northern Brazil. 1 The virus has been reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru, totalling 9852 cases as of September 6, 2024, with Brazil accounting for over 80...

Background Mpox infection is a zoonotic illness that resembles smallpox. Vaccination is widely regarded as a vital effective method of preventing mpox, however, there is lack of consensus of effectiveness of a single dose of mpox vaccine in the current 2022–2023 outbreak. We pooled data from real‐world studies to evaluate the efficacy of the JYNNEO...

Background Mpox is a severe viral zoonosis that has emerged as a public health concern due to its potential for human-to-human transmission and severe illness. Understanding its clinical manifestations is crucial for effective management and control. Several systematic reviews have assessed various manifestations of Mpox. This umbrella review synth...

Background and Aims Crimean‐Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a significant public health concern transmitted by ticks. This study seeks to thoroughly grasp the epidemiology and transmission patterns of CCHF, which is caused by the CCHF virus (CCHFV), a member of the Nairovirus genus in the Bunyaviridae family. Methods The study investigates the g...

The recent global resurgence of Mpox (formerly monkeypox), primarily transmitted via close contact and respiratory droplets, highlights a significant shift in its epidemiology, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This resurgence underscores the need for robust public health responses and improved surveillance. This comprehensive rev...

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared the ongoing Monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding areas a ‘public health emergency of continental security’ on 13 August 2024, and subsequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on 14 August 2024 that it is a ‘publi...

Background The increase in mpox incidence underscores the crucial need to understand and effectively address prevention, early detection, and agile response to this disease. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the knowledge and attitude towards mpox. Methods A systematic review and comprehensive literature meta-analysis were conducted u...

Background Malaria in pregnancy is a critical public health issue that can lead to severe adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes in malaria-infected pregnancies and examines their association with the condition. Method We searched databases up to Janua...

Background Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed for gastroprotection in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), who are at increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding due to antiplatelet therapy. However, emerging evidence suggests that PPIs may adversely impact cardiovascular outcomes. This systematic review...

Drug targeting for brain malignancies is restricted due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–brain tumor barrier (BBTB), which act as barriers between the blood and brain parenchyma. Certainly, the limited therapeutic options for brain malignancies have made notable progress with enhanced biological understanding and innovativ...

Background Dermatophytosis, commonly known as tinea, poses a significant public health concern worldwide, especially in environments with poor hygiene and overcrowding, such as prisons. Despite its prevalence and impact on quality of life, there is a lack of research on the knowledge and hygiene practices regarding dermatophytosis among prisoners,...

The One Health concept highlights the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health, advocating for a collaborative, multi-sectoral, and interdisciplinary approach to attain the best possible health outcomes. This review comprehensively explores the One Health framework, highlighting its relevance in addressing contemporary global heal...

Background Initial randomised controlled trials (RCTs) showed that prophylactic azithromycin in pregnant women improved maternal and neonatal outcomes; however, the recent evidence did not show any benefit to neonatal survival. There is conflicting evidence over the role of azithromycin prophylaxis in antenatal and intrapartum periods. We explored...

Aim: To synthesize the evidence on the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in adolescents with overweight or obesity. Materials and Methods: For this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched five databases and registries until 2 March 2024 for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The primary outc...

Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is highly prevalent and often coexists with other infectious diseases, especially Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent a vulnerable population in terms of HIV infection. We aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV, HBV among HIV‐infecte...

Introduction & Objective: Obesity in adolescents is linked with adverse health outcomes. GLP1RAs have provided promising but conflicting results. We summarised the evidence for GLP1RAs in adolescents with obesity for weight-related outcomes. Methods: We screened PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science till 2023/04/29 for eligible RCTs. We com...

Introduction Bempedoic acid (BA) has shown varied efficacy in managing hyperlipidemia. We conducted the most extensive up-to-date meta-analysis, the first to include recent studies by Nissen et al., which boast the largest sample size. Methods Literature search was done on Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. The primary endpoint was a change in...

The year 2024 marked a pivotal moment in the history of public health in the Americas as the region grappled with an unprecedented surge in dengue cases1,2. Dengue, primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus, now also has the risk of transmission by A. vitattus3, detected in Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic and Puert...

The COVID-19 pandemic, the latest in a se- ries of coronavirus outbreaks, follows in the foot- steps of its predecessors: the 2002 Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the 2012 Mid- dle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) epidemics [1]. While these outbreaks share virological simi- larities, they differ significantly in their global im- pact a...

Background Global diabetes prevalence has doubled since 1980; India has the second-largest diabetic population. Nearly half of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cases go undiagnosed. This study assesses glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for diagnosing T2DM and prediabetes in at-risk individuals. Materials and Methods We conducted a community-based cro...

Background This study aimed to compare the prevalence of craniofacial dysmorphisms, such as maxillary, mandibular, and dental arch dimensions, and cranial suture fusion in Apert and Crouzon syndrome patients from publicly available scientific information and to provide insights to improve the findings of further studies. Over a large-scale interva...

The recent outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle across several United States (US) states has raised significant concern nationally and globally. This Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak has been confirmed in various states, including Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, South Dakota, New Mexico, Ohio and North Carolina (Fig. 1)...

Background For healthcare delivery to be optimally effective, health systems must possess adequate levels and we must ensure a fair distribution of human resources aimed at healthcare facilities. We conducted a scoping review to map the current state of human resources for health (HRH) in India and the reasons behind its shortage. Methods A system...

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and coordination. Orexin-A (OXA) is an excitatory neuropeptide that is found throughout the central nervous system. There is growing interest in investigating the potential diagnostic and therapeutic utility of OXA in PD. To date, studies have reported...

The human gut has 12 distinct phyla, among which Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes make up ˃90%. Depressed individuals are a significant phylum and are differentiated from healthy individuals by their firmicutes. The micro-biome is a key component of the pathological basis of major depressive illness as a result of disru...

Introduction Human leukocyte antigen‐G (HLA‐G) is a non‐classical class I HLA molecule shown to regulate the immunomodulation of maternal immune cells to prevent fetal tissue destruction. Low levels of freely circulating maternal soluble HLA‐G (sHLA‐G) have been observed in pre‐eclampsia, however, no pooled evidence exists. This meta‐analysis aimed...

Objectives We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of colchicine treatment on clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, medRxiv and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to January 2023. Eligibil...

The emergence of the H3N2 influenza virus in 1968 marked a significant event as it crossed the species barrier. Since then, ongoing mutational dynamics have led to the formation of antigenic clusters, prompting the World Health Organization to advocate for regular updates to H3N2 vaccines. Research in the Western Pacific region underscores the nece...

Background Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), and obesity tend to co-exist, often leading to cardiometabolic syndrome. Managing this multimorbidity follows polypharmacy leading to issues with medication compliance. Tirzepatide, an antidiabetic medication recognized for inducing weight loss, has also demonstrated potential in lowering bl...

Zika virus (ZIKV) is the causative agent of a viral infection that causes neurological complications in newborns and adults worldwide. Its wide transmission route and alarming spread rates are of great concern to the scientific community. Numerous trials have been conducted to develop treatment options for ZIKV infection. This review highlights the...

Background: Dermatophytosis, commonly known as tinea, poses a significant public health concern worldwide, especially in environments with poor hygiene and overcrowding, such as prisons. Despite its prevalence and impact on quality of life, there is a lack of research on the knowledge and hygiene practices regarding dermatophytosis among prisoners,...

Background and objective Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is the causative agent of monkeypox’s zoonotic infection and was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Studies from different countries have shown insufficient knowledge among the general public on MPXV. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the general public of Ne...

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is the causative agent of monkeypox’s zoonotic infection and was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). Studies from different countries have shown insufficient knowledge among the general public on MPXV. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the general public of Nepal on MPXV.

Introduction Co‐infection with HIV and mpox is a significant issue for public health because of the potential combined impact on clinical outcomes. However, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to provide insight into the impact of HIV and mpox co‐infection on clinic...

Background Toxoplasmosis is a chronic protozoan parasitic infection that affects nearly one-third of the global population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases were observed in patients with COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii exposure in patients with...

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health globally, with limited access to mental health care affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the most. In response, alternative strategies to support mental health have been necessary, with access to green spaces being a potential solution. While studies have...