Primers

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a natural consequence of ageing and involves a loss of tissue structural integrity, which can lead to various pathological states. In this Primer, Hammoor et al. review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of the various pathologies. They also discuss the effects of disc pathology on patient quality of life and highlight emerging and future therapies to improve outcomes.

This Primer summarizes the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease and other related peripheral neuropathies.

Cytokine storm represents a severe, often life-threatening systemic inflammatory syndrome characterized by elevated levels of cytokines that lead to organ damage. In this Primer, Kanneganti and colleagues describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of cytokine storm as well as the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment, and highlight areas of future research to improve clinical outcomes.

This Primer by Wilson and colleagues summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric manifestations of COVID-19.

Buruli ulcer is a necrotizing skin disease and a neglected tropical disease that is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans infection. In this Primer, Yotsu et al. review the epidemiology, transmission and pathophysiology of the disease. They also discuss Buruli ulcer diagnosis and management, and highlight the disease burden on patients and future areas for research.

Podocytopathies are kidney diseases characterized by serum protein loss into the urine, and can lead to chronic kidney disease. In this Primer, the authors describe the epidemiology of this disease group, its six subtypes, diagnosis and management approaches. They also highlight effects on quality of life and future research areas.

Vitiligo is a chronic, autoimmune, depigmenting disorder that has both physiological and psychological effects on affected individuals. In this Primer, Seneschal and colleagues provide an overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of the condition as well as of its effect on quality of life, and highlight current and emerging treatments.

Schizophrenia is a complex and often long-lasting mental health condition that typically begins in late adolescence. In this Primer, Leucht and colleagues review the epidemiology of schizophrenia and current understanding of its pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment, and discuss the quality of life of affected individuals as well as future research directions.

Leishmaniasis is an endemic disease caused by Leishmania parasites and transmitted through the bite of female sandflies. In this Primer, Pareyn and colleagues review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of leishmaniasis, discuss current diagnosis and management, and identify future areas of research.

Inflammation of the appendix, acute appendicitis, is one of the most common reasons for acute abdominal pain in children and adults and surgical emergency visits worldwide. In this Primer, Salminen and colleagues review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of appendicitis, and discuss future research areas.

This Primer by Guttman-Yassky and colleagues reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of alopecia areata. This Primer also discusses the quality of life issues faced by patients and future research avenues.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the respiratory pathogen that caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this Primer, Sherman et al. focus on the acute stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection, describing its epidemiology and pathogenesis, discussing its diagnosis and management, and summarizing effects on quality of life as well as areas for further research.

In this Primer, Plikus and colleagues review the epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, an inherited hair loss condition that affects both men and women, and highlight the current and emerging treatment and management options.

Listeriosis is a food-borne bacterial infection that causes severe illness in at-risk populations. In this Primer, Disson et al. review the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disease; discuss its diagnosis, prevention and management; and identify areas of research that need to be prioritized in the future.

Lupus nephritis is an autoimmune-mediated glomerulonephritis and a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. In this Primer, Parodis and colleagues describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this disease, discuss current diagnosis and management, and highlight the effects on patient quality of life as well as future areas of research.

Peripheral artery disease is a vascular disorder characterized by narrowing of the peripheral arteries owing to atherosclerosis or thrombosis. In this Primer, Aboyans and colleagues review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of peripheral artery disease, and discuss areas for future research.

In this Primer, de Bruijin et al. discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management and quality of life of adults with autoimmune encephalitis, a rare neurological condition that causes progressive inflammation of the brain. The authors also discuss unmet needs of the field and discuss strategies to improve long-term outcomes.

Diabetic retinal disease describes the spectrum of pathophysiological retinal changes due to diabetes mellitus. In this Primer, Sivaprasad et al. review the epidemiology, mechanisms, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinal disease, and highlight patient quality of life and future research areas.

The lungs are a common metastatic site for several cancers, including colorectal cancer, primary lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. This Primer summarizes the epidemiology, mechanisms and diagnosis of lung metastasis, discusses the various treatment options and effects on quality of life, and highlights ongoing and future research areas.

Hypertrophic cardiomyoapthy is a condition in which the left ventricle of the heart becomes thickened. In this Primer, Argirò and colleagues discuss the epidemiology, pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyoapthy and describe how the disease can affect patient quality of life.