Communications Medicine first anniversary collection

We are celebrating a year since Communications Medicine published its first articles. Here, we reflect on how far the journal has come, and share the goals that we will work towards in coming years.

Inglese et al. develop a predictive model that computes multi-regional statistical morpho-functional mesoscopic traits from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans. Their model reliably discriminates people with Alzheimer’s disease-related pathologies from those without.

Airaksinen et al. describe an infant wearable system that accurately quantifies key aspects of infant motor ability and uses deep learning algorithms to analyze movement signals. Motor ability age and maturation can be predicted, with the predictions correlating with other clinical and parental assessments.

Lu, Andescavage et al. scanned fetal brains by MRI and assessed maternal distress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Impaired fetal brain growth, delayed cerebral cortical gyrification and increased maternal distress was seen in COVID-19 pandemic era pregnancies.

Parker et al. determine the aroma compounds responsible for the distortions experienced by those with the olfactory disorder parosmia, by applying a technique normally used in flavour chemistry, GC-Olfactometry. The authors show that a group of 15 highly odour-active compounds are common triggers of distortion and individually elicit the perception of disgust.

Orton and Symons et al. compare respiratory particle sizes and emission rates by sampling exhalates from participants at rest, and while speaking or exercising. They find that vocalisation produces larger particles and that while emission rates are similar between speaking and vigorous exercise, very vigorous exercise leads to higher rates.

Corbin et al. train machine learning models on electronic health record data to predict susceptibility of infections to particular antibiotics (personalized antibiograms). Antibiotic selection driven by personalized antibiograms achieves similar coverage rates to those seen in actual clinical practice using fewer broad spectrum antibiotics.

Serruya et al. test in an N-of-1 trial whether a wearable, powered exoskeletal orthosis, driven by a percutaneous, implanted brain–computer interface can restore voluntary upper extremity function following chronic hemiparesis subsequent to a cerebral subcortical stroke. Using this approach, voluntary opening of the paralyzed hand is restored.

Ertesvåg, Xiao et al. describe a method to evaluate neutralising antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination, including variants of concern. A second mRNA-vaccine dose results in a broader antibody repertoire in adults, although with reduced cross-reactivity to beta and gamma compared to alpha and delta, particularly in the elderly.

Krueger, Gogolewski, and Bodych et al. assess the risk of COVID-19 epidemic resurgence in relation to SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccination passes. Their model predicts that new COVID-19 infection waves within two years from the onset of the vaccination program are possible but that suitable adaptive policies can help to avoid unfavorable outcomes.

Piler et al. perform a longitudinal serology study of the Czech population between October 2020 and March 2021 and describe an increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies that correlates with SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing data. They include data stratified by age, sex, body mass and history of symptoms.

Blum et al. combine computational and experimental methods to study the long-term development of tissue engineered vascular grafts in a lamb model. The authors demonstrate that the grafts undergo growth and remodeling, evolving to mimic the characteristics and function of a native blood vessel.

Phan et al. assess the presence of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) in the serum and brain samples of individuals with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) with TDP-43 pathology, as seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The authors show HERV-K is associated with manifestations of bvFTD with TDP-43 pathology.

Coutinho et al. use genomic and epidemiological data from Manaus, Brazil, to estimate the transmissibility and potential for reinfection with the SARS-CoV-2 variant-of-concern P.1 (gamma). Using mathematical modelling, the authors estimate that P.1 is 2.6 times more transmissible than previous SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Manaus and underlies a large proportion of reinfections in Manaus.

Jeong et al. report a series of COVID-19 patients with hearing- and balance-related symptoms. The authors show that human and mouse inner ear tissues, as well as human inner ear cells and organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, express SARS-CoV-2 entry factors, and that these in vitro models of the human inner ear are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Sachak-Patwa et al. estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in low prevalence settings following the removal of travel restrictions and other non-pharmaceutical interventions, with the Isle of Man and Israel as case studies. Using a branching process mathematical model, the authors show that even after a large proportion of the population is vaccinated, there remains a risk of local outbreaks from imported cases.

Berg et al. establish a panel of patient-derived endometrial cancer organoids and xenograft models. They show that their models recapitulate the genetic profile of the donor tumor and can be used for drug testing and development of a prognostic gene signature.

Mascheroni et al. develop a method for individual clinical predictions by combining mathematical modelling and machine learning in a Bayesian framework (BaM³). By using both synthetic and real clinical datasets, they show the potential of the method to predict tumour growth in the context of clinical data sparsity and limited knowledge of disease mechanisms.

Wulczyn et al. utilise a deep learning-based Gleason grading model to predict prostate cancer-specific mortality in a retrospective cohort of radical prostatectomy patients. Their model enables improved risk stratification compared to pathologists’ grading and demonstrates the potential for computational pathology in the management of prostate cancer.

Dr. Daniel Demant is an Epidemiologist and Senior Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney and a Visiting Fellow in the School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. His research focuses on health in disadvantaged populations and he has a particular interest in sexual health and substance use in LGBTQ+ populations. In this Q&A, we ask Dr. Demant a series of questions on disparities in substance use in LGBTQ+ people, the potential reasons underlying such disparities and harms associated with them, and the direction of research in this area.

Dr. Jessica N. Fish is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Science, University of Maryland Prevention Research Center, University of Maryland, USA. Her research seeks to promote the positive development and health of LGBTQ+ people and their families. In this Q&A, Dr. Fish provides insight into the health disparities that affect LGBTQ+ populations, with a particular focus on mental health and the development of LGBTQ+ youth, and important research and policy considerations in this area.

Hu et al. describe their experiences running a training course for medical students about applying artificial intelligence to medical practice. They also provide recommendations for future training programs.

Sinaki et al. highlight ethnic disparities in the populations of 12 publicly-available pulse oximetry databases. The authors outline the potential consequences of such disparities on pulse oximetry device and algorithm development.

Wen et al. discuss how implementing a 5G network in hospitals can be used to reduce nosocomial infections. Such systems can reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Recent years have seen rapid advances in the preclinical development and clinical evaluation of oncolytic (cancer-lysing) virus-based therapies, and these are emerging as treatment modality for some cancers. There are challenges to address, however, if we are to maximize the impact of these therapies in patients.

Despite the significant advances made in our understanding of cancer and how to treat it over the last hundred years, there are wide global disparities in access to cancer care and in who gets to benefit from cutting-edge cancer research.

Listening to the different communities that we serve, and promoting dialogue between them, are important goals for us as a journal. To further these aims, Communications Medicine is now publishing a new article type that will help us capture and amplify the voices of all those involved in clinical, translational and public health research, and allow them to more easily hear each other’s point of view.

van Dijk et al. discuss the potential for antimicrobial resistance as a consequence of disinfectant use. The authors advocate for the prudent use of disinfectants in all sectors of society.

Bast et al. discuss the early detection of ovarian cancer in the context of the recent UKCTOCS screening trial. The authors suggest potential reasons why the trial failed to achieve a reduction in mortality and outline next steps in the development of biomarkers and imaging modalities to detect ovarian cancer.

Kurtovic et al. highlight some of the recent advances in the development and clinical evaluation of malaria vaccines. The authors outline key vaccine strategies and clinical trials, and discuss priorities for research into the development of an efficacious malaria vaccine.

Vokinger et al. discuss potential sources of bias in machine learning systems used in medicine. The authors propose solutions to mitigate bias across the different stages of model development, from data collection and preparation to model evaluation and application.

Alwan discusses the lessons learnt over the past year regarding Long COVID, prolonged illness resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their implications for public health policy and disease management, drawing insight form her own lived experience, research, and advocacy work with Long COVID.

Lazarus et al. outline the barriers slowing down the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Spain. They issue a call to action for all stakeholders to improve access to vaccines, with a particular emphasis on reaching marginalised populations.

Kundu discusses how artificial intelligence will transform medical practice and doctors’ training. The author explores the changing role of the clinician in the doctor-patient relationship, drawing parallels with the role of the pilot in light of increased automation in aviation.

Kurtzhals et al. mark the centenary of the discovery of insulin by looking back at how this model protein has changed science and medicine. They discuss how lessons learned from insulin over the last one hundred years are shaping the present and future of protein-based therapies for chronic disease.

Communications Medicine is publishing its first articles today. We are an inclusive and open access medical journal that aims to facilitate and disseminate discovery that will promote health for all and improve the lives of those experiencing or living with disease.