Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) infections cause recurrent oral lesions and are the primary cause of infectious blindness and genital lesions in developed countries. HSV-1 can also lead to life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. Currently, the primary class of antiviral therapeutics for HSV-1 treatment are nucleoside analogues such as acyclovir. However, these therapeutics are only partially effective and are subject to development of resistance. Thus, the development of new, effective antiviral agents, which can be used topically to inactivate HSV-1, is a necessity. We have recently demonstrated the potent antiviral activity of a family of biomimetic compounds. These 'peptoid' (N-substituted glycine) oligomers mimic the structure and activity of antimicrobial peptides like LL-37, while being highly resistant to proteases. Antiviral peptoids rapidly inactivate HSV-1 in vitro by disruption of the viral envelope, likely through interaction with the lipid phosphatidylserine on the outer membrane leaflet. To test the in vivo activity of these peptoids, we optimized a lip treatment model of HSV-1 infection. We demonstrate that delivery of a clinical isolate of HSV-1, strain 294.1, onto scarified lips of BALB/c mice led to reproducible lesions within 5 days. Treatment of these lesions on day 2 post infection with increasing concentrations of an antiviral peptoid resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of lesion formation, comparable to acyclovir cream, and the host defense peptide LL-37. The same dose-dependence was observed when quantifying viral DNA from both the lip and the trigeminal ganglion by qPCR. The results demonstrate the ability of these peptoids to be developed as topical antiviral agents to prevent herpes labialis infections caused by HSV-1.

Following the initial infection, herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) establish latency in sensory nerve ganglia. The viruses can later reactivate, producing recurrent lesions such as painful vesicles or ulcers. HSV-1 is most often associated with oral herpes (cold sores), whereas HSV-2 is more commonly linked to genital herpes. Serologic IgG tests can be used to determine if a person has antibodies to HSV-1 or HSV-2 from past infection. In this paper, we describe the development and performance evaluation of an antibody based lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFA) device for the detection and differentiation between HSV-1&2 IgG antibody in fingerstick blood. Analytical and clinical analyses were performed to compare the performance characteristics of the HSV-1&2 IgG LFA (VIZIHSV™) with Western Blot. VIZIHSV™ results from 373 subjects seeking STI care and 267 pregnant women at four clinical sites were compared with results obtained by testing serum samples obtained from the same study participants with Western Blot. When compared to Western Blot, the Positive Predictive Agreement (PPA) and Negative Predictive Agreement (NPA) in individuals seeking care for STIs was 94.6% (95% CI: 91.4-96.6%) and 94.9% (95% CI: 87.5-98.0%), respectively. PPA for HSV-2 in this group was 99.0%, 95% CI (96.3%,99.7%) and the NPA was 91.6%, 95% CI (86.6%, 94.8%). Performance in pregnant women was similar to that in the STI-care-seeking group with an HSV-1 PPA of 90.4% (95% CI: 85.0-94.0%) and NPA of 96.0% (95% CI: 90.2-98.4%). PPA for HSV-2 in pregnant women was 91.3% (95% CI: 79.7-96.6%) and NPA was 91.7% (95% CI: 87.3-94.7). Results from the clinical study also showed that 29% of the 373 subjects seeking STI care and 66.3% of pregnant women did not indicate a past history of HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection, indicating that HSV-1&2 IgG LFA type-specific serology will enhance the ability to detect past infection and make the diagnosis and guide clinical management in select patients. VIZIHSV™ has been demonstrated to be simple and sufficiently robust for use in CLIA-waived point-of-care (POC) facilities by untrained healthcare professionals and to detect and differentiate between HSV1&2 IgG antibody from fingerstick blood in 30 min. Therefore, this test provides a fast, reliable, and highly sensitive method to detect IgG antibody to HSV-1 and/or HSV-2 viral infection.

Endometritis is a well-described cause of postdelivery morbidity for both mother and neonate. Although the usual causative organisms are bacteria, in very rare cases it can be due to herpes simplex virus (HSV). In postpartum endometritis unresponsive to conventional treatment, prompt diagnosis and early antiviral therapy are required for clinical improvement in mothers and their neonates.

Background/Objectives: The efficacy of topical therapies in dermatology is often limited by the barrier function of the stratum corneum, which restricts drug penetration. Iontophoresis is a non-invasive transdermal delivery technique that uses a low-intensity electrical current to enhance the transport of charged and polar molecules across the skin. It has emerged as a strategy to improve local drug bioavailability while minimizing systemic exposure. We systematically reviewed the clinical evidence on the efficacy, safety, and pharmacologic performance of iontophoresis-assisted topical drug delivery in dermatologic diseases. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251234877). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through 19 November 2025 without language restrictions. Records were screened against predefined eligibility criteria, and data were extracted on study design, participants, dermatologic indications, intervention/comparator, iontophoresis parameters, efficacy outcomes, and adverse events. The risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized trials and the JBI checklist for non-randomized studies. Because of substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity, the findings were synthesized narratively and no meta-analysis was performed. Results: Twenty-one studies published between 1990 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria, including 15 randomized and 6 non-randomized studies. Investigated conditions included psoriasis, eczema, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, herpes labialis, onychomycosis, chronic ulcers, systemic sclerosis-related digital ulcers, acne scarring, and actinic keratosis. Across studies, findings were mixed. The most consistent signals of benefit were observed in pigmentary disorders and infectious diseases, whereas results were more heterogeneous in inflammatory dermatoses and some studies did not show superiority over active comparators. Tolerability was generally favorable, with adverse events limited to mild, reversible local reactions such as erythema, tingling, burning, or transient irritation. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Iontophoresis may represent a useful non-invasive delivery-enhancement strategy in selected dermatologic settings, particularly when topical efficacy is limited by anatomical or physicochemical barriers. However, heterogeneity in protocols, formulations, outcomes, and clinical indications limits direct comparison and does not support broad conclusions of efficacy across all dermatologic conditions. Larger, standardized trials are needed to clarify its therapeutic role, long-term efficacy, and indication-specific benefit.

Trait mindfulness refers to one's natural tendency to be aware of and attentive to present experiences. Although the trait has been associated with physical health, most studies have been cross-sectional and failed to account for confounding variables. The present study tested the longitudinal relationship between trait mindfulness and physical health symptoms. Undergraduate student participants completed four surveys over a period of 3 months, in which they reported their trait mindfulness, physical symptoms (e.g. fatigue, stomachache), and cold symptoms (sore throat, congestion). Additionally, participants answered questions to assess general health, recent perceived stress, and trait neuroticism. Initial enrolment included 409 participants with 288 at Time 2, 218 at Time 3, and the final wave including 172 participants. Findings indicated that those higher in trait mindfulness reported fewer symptoms across all time points, regardless of general health, recent stress, or neuroticism, t(395) = -6.75, p < 0.001. By examining associations across time and covarying related variables, this study underscores the importance of trait mindfulness in predicting health outcomes. It is the largest longitudinal investigation of trait mindfulness and physical health symptoms in emerging adults. Future studies should explore pathways through which mindfulness influences symptoms.