Diseases MDPI

✨ New article published

We are pleased to present a recent article in Diseases 🧬:

“Herpes Simplex Keratitis and Vitamin D Receptor Agonist: Two Case Reports” by Atsushi Kawahara

This case report describes two elderly female patients with recurrent herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) who were treated with an oral vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonist.

📄 Read the full article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/2/38

📢New publication alert

We are pleased to share a new article published in Diseases 📘:

“Is There Bias in the Assessment of Contraindications for Resection? Disparities in the Surgical Management of Early-Stage Esophageal Cancer” 🏥
by Boutros et al.

This study 📊 examines disparities in the surgical management of early-stage esophageal cancer using National Cancer Database data (2004–2018) .

📄 Read the full article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/2/37

📢 Please check our New Issue

📚Diseases, Volume 14, Issue 4 (April 2026) – 35 articles
📃 Cover Story: Intestinal strictures in Crohn’s disease affect about 20% of patients at diagnosis. Medical therapy controls inflammation but is often ineffective for fibrotic strictures. Endoscopic balloon dilation is first-line, yet recurrence rates are high with repeat procedures.

New techniques such as endoscopic stricturotomy and strictureplasty:
• 15 studies 📊
• 1500 patients 👥
• technical success 93% ✅
• clinical success 50–96% 📈
• complications uncommon, rare perforation

🧠 New Paper Alert

📄 Title: Possible Significance of Neutrophil–Hemoglobin Ratio in Differentiating Progressive Supranuclear Palsy from Depression: A Pilot Study

🧑‍⚕️ Authors: Michał Markiewicz; Natalia Madetko-Alster; Dagmara Otto-Ślusarczyk; Karolina Duszyńska-Wąs; Bartosz Migda; Patryk Chunowski; Marta Struga; Piotr Alster
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/4/119

🧫 Paper Spotlight
📄 Title: False-Positive Galactomannan Test Results in Multiple Myeloma
🧑‍⚕️ Authors: Shingen Nakamura; Yusaku Maeda; Ryohei Sumitani; Masahiro Oura; Kimiko Sogabe; Hikaru Yagi; Shiro Fujii; Takeshi Harada; Ken-ichi Matsuoka; Hirokazu Miki
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/4/118

🧬 How is neurogenic bladder managed in children with myelomeningocele?

🧾 This review explores the urological challenges of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in children with myelomeningocele (MMC), a severe neural tube defect. It highlights the complexity of diagnosis and emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to care. Management strategies include non-surgical interventions such as clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and pharmacotherapy (e.g., oxybutynin), as well as surgical options like botulinum toxin injections and reconstructive procedures. The review also addresses common complications, including recurrent urinary tract infections, and underscores the importance of optimizing long-term functional outcomes through coordinated care.

📄 Neurogenic Bladder in Children with Myelomeningocele
✍️ Aleksandar Sič et al.
📘 Diseases 2025, 13(4), 117
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/4/117

💉 How can autologous dendritic cell therapy improve kidney perfusion in diabetic kidney disease?

🧾 This quasi-experimental study involving 35 patients assessed renal hemodynamics and angiogenesis-related biomarkers before and four weeks after autologous dendritic cell therapy in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The results demonstrated a significant reduction in pulsatility index (PI) from 1.61 ± 0.63 to 1.21 ± 0.26 (p < 0.001), indicating improved renal perfusion. In contrast, changes in resistive index (RI), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and endothelin levels were not statistically significant, suggesting a selective effect on renal vascular dynamics.

📄 The Effect of Autologous Dendritic Cell Therapy on Renal Perfusion in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Analysis of Doppler Ultrasound and Angiogenesis Biomarkers
✍️ Ardianto Pramono et al.
📘 Diseases 2025, 13(4), 116
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/4/116

📢 Feel free to read our publication:

📚 Title: Artificial Sweeteners: A Double-Edged Sword for Gut Microbiome

🔗 Website: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/4/115

✍️ by Helal F. Hetta, Nizar Sirag, Hassabelrasoul Elfadil et al.

🏫 University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Assiut University & Badr University in Assiut, Egypt
Suez Canal University, Egypt

🩺 Research Highlight
📘 Title: Optimal Timing of Colostomy Reversal Following Hartmann’s Procedure: A Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Outcomes
👨‍⚕️ Authors: Constantin Popazu; Dragoș Voicu; Dorel Firescu; Ionica Grigore; Alexandra Toma; Răzvan Petru Derihaci
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/13/3/72

🧪 How can senolytic therapies target liver aging and fibrosis in metabolic disease?
💬 This experimental study explores the effects of combining Dasatinib and Quercetin as senolytic agents in a medaka model of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). It highlights their ability to eliminate senescent cells, reduce fat accumulation in the liver, and suppress fibrosis-related pathways.
📄 Dasatinib and Quercetin as Senolytic Drugs Improve Fat Deposition and Exhibit Antifibrotic Effects in the Medaka MASLD Model
✍️ Shunta Yakubo et al.
📘 Diseases 2024, 12(12), 317
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/12/12/317

📢 Feel free to read our publication:

📚 Title: ECMO in the Management of Noncardiogenic Pulmonary Edema with Increased Inflammatory Reaction After Cardiac Surgery: A Case Report and Literature Review

🔗 https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases12120316

✍️ by Raluca Elisabeta Staicu, Ana Lascu, Petru Deutsch et al.

🏫 “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara
Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Timișoara

🧠 Paper Spotlight
📘 Title: Differences in Pain Scores and Medication Consumption for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
🧑‍⚕️ Authors: Alvaro Guerra Branger; Stefania Diaz Morales; Fabiola Adkisson; Nebojsa Nick Knezevic
🔗 Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/12/12/314