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Life
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Feature Papers in Medical Research: 4th Edition
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Feature Papers in Medical Research: 4th Edition

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 June 2026 | Viewed by 1925

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Christian Lehmann

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
Interests: anesthesiology; physiology and biophysics; pharmacology; microbiology and immunology; computer science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are grateful to the researchers who contributed to the first three volumes of this issue:

Feature Papers in Medical Research: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/SK0T5PC4U2

Feature Papers in Medical Research: 2nd Edition: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/9GV5QM8A9T

Feature Papers in Medical Research: 3rd Edition：https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/FP_Medicalv3

We are pleased to announce the upcoming publication of our Special Issue, entitled “Feature Papers in Medical Research: 4th Edition".

We aim to collect research articles and systematic reviews in all fields of medical research. Since the goal of this Special Issue is to present novel medical research, we encourage the Editorial Board Members of Life to contribute papers reflecting the latest progress in their field or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Dermatological research;
  • Cancer research;
  • Cardiovascular research;
  • General medicine;
  • Gastroenterological research;
  • Hematological research;
  • Immunological research;
  • Infectious diseases research;
  • Metabolism and endocrinology;
  • Nervous system research;
  • Nursing;
  • Pediatrics;
  • Pulmonary research;
  • Psychiatric research;
  • Rehabilitation;
  • Renal and urinary research;
  • Reproductive research and women's health;
  • Rheumatological research;
  • Skeletal and muscular research;
  • Vision research.

Prof. Dr. Christian Lehmann
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • dermatological research
  • cancer research
  • cardiovascular research
  • general medicine
  • gastroenterological research
  • hematological research
  • immunological research
  • infectious diseases research
  • metabolism and endocrinology
  • nervous system research
  • nursing
  • pediatrics
  • pulmonary research
  • psychiatric research
  • rehabilitation
  • renal and urinary research
  • reproductive research and women's health
  • rheumatological research
  • skeletal and muscular research
  • vision research

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 794 KB  
Article
Hemoglobin-to-Red Cell Distribution Width Ratio and Vitamin D Status as Early Predictors of Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
by Francesca Coppi, Francesco Sbarra, Aurora Vicenzi, Cecilia Campani, Martina Moretti, Dilia Giuggioli, Caterina Vacchi, Amelia Spinella, Daniela Aschieri, Anna Vittoria Mattioli, Francesco Fedele, Alessio Baccarani, Marcello Pinti, Alessandra Dei Cas, Federica Fantuzzi, Leila Bigdelu, Gianluca Pagnoni and Susan Darroudi
Life 2026, 16(2), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16020190 - 23 Jan 2026
Viewed by 468
Abstract
Introduction: Primary Sjögren’s (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that affects several organs, especially the heart, and raises cardiovascular risk. Investigating the associations of hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width (RDW) ratio (HRR), vitamin D status, and cardiac function could provide valuable insights and biomarkers regarding [...] Read more.
Introduction: Primary Sjögren’s (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that affects several organs, especially the heart, and raises cardiovascular risk. Investigating the associations of hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width (RDW) ratio (HRR), vitamin D status, and cardiac function could provide valuable insights and biomarkers regarding early cardiovascular risk in patients with pSS. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 61 patients diagnosed with pSS based on ACR/EULAR criteria. Data on demographics, hematological (Hb, RDW), echocardiography, and serum vitamin D levels were collected. Echocardiograms were conducted by trained cardiologists following established guidelines, while vitamin D levels were measured using ELISA. Statistical analyses, including univariate linear regression, were performed with SPSS in order to identify whether HRR tertiles were related to cardiac function and vitamin D status. Results: A study of 61 pSS patients (mean age 59.8 years, 89% female) revealed that patients with a lower hemoglobin-to-RDW ratio (HRR ≤ 0.98) had significantly higher pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) and lower values for the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)/PAPs ratio, contributing to poor right heart function. These associations were particularly strong in patients with insufficient levels of vitamin D (<30 ng/mL), while differences in other echocardiographic parameters remained nonsignificant between HRR groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the clinical value of HRR as a composite biomarker that reflects the interplay between anemia, inflammation, and cardiovascular health in primary Sjögren’s disease. They also suggest that vitamin D status may be an important therapeutic consideration to mitigate cardiopulmonary risks in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 4th Edition)
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Review

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19 pages, 871 KB  
Review
Advances in Insulin Delivery: Transdermal and Needle-Free Technologies as Emerging Strategies to Improve Metabolic Control and Treatment Adherence
by Manuel García-Sáenz, Oscar Josué Gómez-Romero, Etual Espinosa-Cárdenas, Claudia Ramírez-Rentería, José Luis Eduardo Doval-Caballero, Daniel Uribe-Cortés and Aldo Ferreira-Hermosillo
Life 2026, 16(3), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030377 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 970
Abstract
Insulin therapy remains essential for the management of diabetes mellitus; however, conventional subcutaneous injection continues to impose significant physical, psychological, and behavioral barriers that negatively affect treatment adherence and metabolic outcomes. Injection-related pain, fear of needles, local tissue complications, and psychological insulin resistance [...] Read more.
Insulin therapy remains essential for the management of diabetes mellitus; however, conventional subcutaneous injection continues to impose significant physical, psychological, and behavioral barriers that negatively affect treatment adherence and metabolic outcomes. Injection-related pain, fear of needles, local tissue complications, and psychological insulin resistance contribute to delayed insulin initiation, inadequate dose titration, and suboptimal glycemic control worldwide. In response, alternative insulin delivery routes (including oral, pulmonary, nasal, and transdermal strategies) have been explored to reduce invasiveness and improve patient experience. Among these, transdermal insulin delivery has emerged as a particularly promising approach due to its potential to bypass gastrointestinal degradation, provide controlled absorption, and enhance patient acceptance. Recent advances in microneedle-based systems and needle-free jet injectors have enabled effective transdermal insulin administration by overcoming the skin barrier while minimizing pain and discomfort. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on insulin delivery technologies with a specific focus on transdermal and needle-free systems. We discuss the biological and physicochemical challenges of insulin transport, the mechanisms underlying emerging delivery platforms, and clinical evidence regarding metabolic efficacy, glycemic variability, and patient-reported outcomes. The integration of these technologies with continuous glucose monitoring is also explored. Finally, we address translational challenges and future perspectives, highlighting the role of needle-free insulin delivery as a patient-centered strategy to improve adherence and metabolic control in diabetes care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Medical Research: 4th Edition)
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