@article {pmid42371512,
year = {2026},
author = {Cezar da Cruz, D and Haertl, K and Tomlin, GS and Yu, CH and Hernández-Lanas, O and Haigh, J},
title = {Mapping the occupational therapy process in response to COVID-19 and long COVID: A scoping review.},
journal = {The British journal of occupational therapy},
volume = {89},
number = {7},
pages = {435-448},
pmid = {42371512},
issn = {1477-6006},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: COVID-19 and long COVID have had an impact worldwide on people's participation in occupations. Occupational therapists play a role in supporting individuals' recovery and participation in daily life.

OBJECTIVE: This present study undertook a scoping review of research on COVID-19 and long COVID to map the occupational therapy process with this population, including evaluation, intervention and outcomes.

METHODOLOGY: Three online databases were searched to identify research papers published between 2020 and 2023 from all countries, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. From 455 texts, 25 studies were selected for this review.

RESULTS: Studies were conducted across varied healthcare settings, mainly inpatient hospitals. Participants ranged from children to older adults, with adults being the most represented group. Standardised assessments included occupational history, activities, body functions, cognition and emotional regulation. Interventions were educational, compensatory, restorative or acquisitional, with outcomes focused on daily living activities, performance skills and client factors.

CONCLUSION: Our review underscores the need for more comprehensive documentation of occupational therapy effectiveness, particularly in unpredictable circumstances such as COVID.},
}

@article {pmid42374300,
year = {2026},
author = {Kennard, A and Kılıç, A and Alsugeir, D and Hamada, Y and Rangaka, MX},
title = {A systematic review of the determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the UK: Implications for future TB vaccine adoption.},
journal = {BMC public health},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42374300},
issn = {1471-2458},
mesh = {Humans ; *Vaccination Hesitancy/statistics & numerical data/psychology ; United Kingdom ; *Tuberculosis Vaccines/administration & dosage ; *Tuberculosis/prevention & control ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly yet vaccine-preventable disease mostly affecting adolescents and adults. Novel TB vaccines are now emerging, particularly for these populations; however, vaccine hesitancy, characterised by delays, doubts or refusal to seek or accept vaccines, poses a challenge for sufficient adoption once these vaccines become available. Thus, this review systematically explored system- and individual-level determinants of vaccine hesitancy among adults in the UK, interpreting implications for the adoption of novel TB vaccines.

METHODS: Five databases systematically searched for studies from 2020 - 2024 reporting qualitative outcomes on determinants of vaccine hesitancy among people living in the UK. Thematic analysis mapped extracted data onto a framework combining the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) model to explore system-level factors (e.g., vaccine-specific influences) and the Perceptions and Practicalities Approach (PaPA) to explore individual-level factors (e.g., perceptual influences) of vaccine hesitancy. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess study quality.

RESULTS: 29 qualitative and 21 mixed methods studies; 87.5% investigated hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines. All SAGE themes were identified at the system level, most notably vaccine novelty, the media environment and health system experiences. At individual-level, all PaPA themes emerged, with vaccine-specific beliefs and knowledge most frequently identified. Overall, themes varied across the lifespan, with adolescents influenced mainly by media and social norms, and older adults by safety concerns and trust in health professionals.

CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine hesitancy determinants interacted and were compounded in vulnerable subgroups, while post-pandemic disruptions to TB services may undermine adoption of novel TB vaccines. Addressing these challenges requires multi-level strategies centred on trusted, culturally sensitive communication. Delivery through routine, school and community-based programs aligns with evidence from high-incidence settings and highlights the need for coordinated action by policymakers and healthcare providers.},
}

Humans
*Vaccination Hesitancy/statistics & numerical data/psychology
United Kingdom
*Tuberculosis Vaccines/administration & dosage
*Tuberculosis/prevention & control

@article {pmid42374517,
year = {2026},
author = {Harvey, E and Van Brussel, K and Holmes, EC},
title = {Empowering One Health with metagenomics.},
journal = {One health outlook},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42374517},
issn = {2524-4655},
support = {GNT2017197//National Health and Medical Research Council/ ; },
abstract = {In an increasingly connected world a global One Health approach to the management of human, animal and ecosystem health will be critical to effective infectious disease responses. The emergence and rapid global spread of several emerging and re-emerging pathogens in the past decade has highlighted the need for rapid, sensitive and accurate diagnostics. Metagenomics, while commonly used for research purposes for almost two decades, entered the global spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review we discuss the impacts that metagenomic studies have had on our understanding of origins, aetiology and ecology of infectious diseases within a One Health context. We also discuss the role of metagenomics in the future of diagnostics and disease surveillance, and outline the challenges and limitations of current metagenomic methods.},
}

@article {pmid42374546,
year = {2026},
author = {Stroobants, T and Willemart, C and Walravens, M and Veeckmans, G and Ligthart, S and Hoste, E and Benoit, DD and Berghe, TV and Jorens, PG},
title = {Clinical implications of ferroptosis in critical illness: a narrative review.},
journal = {Journal of intensive care},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42374546},
issn = {2052-0492},
support = {BOF-IMPULS//University of Antwerp/ ; 1SH9524N//Fund for Scientific Research (FWO) Flanders/ ; },
abstract = {Despite major advances in care for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), mortality remains high and functional outcomes for ICU survivors are often poor. The persistent burden underscores the need for innovative, mechanism-based approaches. Precision medicine has emerged as a promising paradigm in critical illness, and regulated cell death (RCD) may offer a novel entry point for targeted interventions. Among the various RCD pathways, ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of RCD driven by excessive lipid peroxidation within cellular membranes, has gained increasing attention. Its mechanistic distinctiveness from other RCDs and potential reversibility make it particularly relevant in acute, dynamic disease states. In this narrative review, we explore the role of ferroptosis in critical care, focusing on high-impact conditions such as sepsis, COVID-19, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, and neurological emergencies. We outline the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and discuss how it may contribute to organ dysfunction across systems. While most insights to date stem from preclinical models, emerging clinical data suggest translational potential. We highlight key studies, discuss current limitations in detection and therapeutic targeting, and consider how the evaluation of ferroptosis could help shape the future of precision medicine in the ICU.},
}

@article {pmid42374888,
year = {2026},
author = {Talabani, B and Hanif, S and Ramzan, K and Mohammed, F and Naseem, A and Alauddin, E},
title = {Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Ethnic Minority Communities in Wales: A Community-Based Approach.},
journal = {Immunology and cell biology},
volume = {104},
number = {7},
pages = {700-707},
pmid = {42374888},
issn = {1440-1711},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage ; *Ethnicity ; Islam ; *Minority Groups ; Vaccination ; Vaccination Hesitancy ; Wales/epidemiology ; },
abstract = {During the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation and vaccine hesitancy disproportionately affected ethnic minority communities across the United Kingdom, including in Wales. Muslim Doctors Cymru (MDC), a grassroots coalition of Muslim healthcare professionals, played a pivotal role in countering this challenge. This paper describes the strategies and impact of MDC's work in addressing health misinformation, building trust, and promoting vaccine uptake among ethnic minority communities in Wales. Through culturally sensitive engagement, multilingual public health messaging, and close collaboration with mosques, community leaders, and local media, MDC delivered targeted outreach that bridged gaps between public health authorities and underserved populations. This case study draws on a grassroots-efforts approach to tackling vaccine inequity using community-based approaches. Findings highlight the importance of culturally competent healthcare communication and the value of community-led initiatives in improving public health outcomes during crises. MDC's model offers a replicable framework for addressing health inequalities and misinformation in diverse populations.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology
*COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage
*Ethnicity
Islam
*Minority Groups
Vaccination
Vaccination Hesitancy
Wales/epidemiology

@article {pmid42376297,
year = {2026},
author = {Mao, X and Cai, M and Fan, B},
title = {Lung organoids for respiratory diseases: overcoming translational hurdles in drug discovery and safety assessment.},
journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1859058},
pmid = {42376297},
issn = {2296-4185},
abstract = {Respiratory diseases, encompassing chronic inflammatory conditions, interstitial fibrotic disorders, acute infectious diseases, and pulmonary malignancies, represent a profound global health burden with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates. Historically, the pharmaceutical pipeline for respiratory therapeutics has suffered staggering attrition rates during clinical development. This is primarily due to the fundamental inability of conventional two-dimensional cell cultures and in vivo animal models to faithfully recapitulate the complex three-dimensional architecture, multicellular heterogeneity, and human-specific physiological dynamics of the pulmonary system. To bridge this critical translational gap, lung organoids-self-organizing, three-dimensional microphysiological constructs derived from pluripotent or adult stem cells-have emerged as a useful human-cell-based platform. This comprehensive review critically evaluates current lung organoid technologies, elucidating their derivation pathways and capacity for high-fidelity disease modeling. We analyze their application in dissecting the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, viral infections including SARS-CoV-2, and non-small cell lung cancer. Furthermore, we highlight their important role in predictive toxicology for assessing environmental inhalation hazards, cosmetic safety, and drug-induced lung injury, aligning with evolving regulations prioritizing alternatives to animal testing. Despite their immense potential, widespread clinical and industrial translation is currently impeded by biological bottlenecks: the absence of functional vascularization, incomplete immune integration, and reliance on undefined xenogeneic matrices. We systematically examine bioengineering strategies addressing these limitations-including synthetic hydrogels, microfluidic organ-on-a-chip platforms, and 3D bioprinting-to overcome translational hurdles, accelerate precision medicine, and improve respiratory pharmacology.},
}

@article {pmid42376726,
year = {2026},
author = {Abdul Rahman, H and Zahari, NH},
title = {The Silent Crisis: Loneliness in Older Adults-A Critical Review of Impacts, Strategies and Path Forward.},
journal = {Scandinavian journal of caring sciences},
volume = {40},
number = {3},
pages = {e70292},
doi = {10.1111/scs.70292},
pmid = {42376726},
issn = {1471-6712},
mesh = {Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/psychology ; *Loneliness/psychology ; *Social Isolation/psychology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Loneliness, distinct from social isolation, is a subjective sense of social disconnection exacerbating a public health crisis among older adults. Affecting ~33% of community-dwelling individuals aged 50-80 years post-COVID-19, it rivals smoking in mortality risk and drives cognitive, cardiovascular, and mental health declines. This review synthesises evidence to inform clinical strategies.

METHODS: A critical review of per-reviewed meta-analyses, RCTs, and prospective cohorts literature (2019-2025) was conducted for adults aged 50 years and above. Studies were selected using validated loneliness or social isolation measures, with quality appraised via AMSTAR-2, Cochrane RoB 2, and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale; 34 studies met eligibility criteria from an initial yield of 1,847 records.

RESULTS: Prevalence of loneliness stands at 29% isolation by 2024, highest among those with poor health (53%-75%), unemployment (52%), solitary living, and ages 50-64. Loneliness elevates all-cause mortality (32%), dementia (50%-59%), cardiovascular events (29%-32%), depression (40%), and anxiety (35%). Mechanisms include increased inflammation (↑CRP, IL-6), HPA dysregulation, immune compromise, hippocampal atrophy, and behavioural lapses. Interventions like CBT/reminiscence therapy, multicomponent programs, animal therapy, exercise, and digital platforms have been shown to reduce loneliness, though primary care implementation lags due to screening/referral barriers. Tools such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale enable feasible assessment.

CONCLUSIONS: Loneliness as a geriatric syndrome demands mandated screening, provider education, and reimbursement reforms. Coordinated healthcare-community efforts could avert substantial morbidity/mortality, addressing gaps in long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness research.},
}

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
COVID-19/psychology
*Loneliness/psychology
*Social Isolation/psychology

@article {pmid42376837,
year = {2026},
author = {Tafazoli, A and Dowran, R},
title = {Syncytia Formation in the Pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Lessons from Viral Infections.},
journal = {Viral immunology},
volume = {39},
number = {6},
pages = {232-240},
doi = {10.1177/08828245261433819},
pmid = {42376837},
issn = {1557-8976},
mesh = {Humans ; *Giant Cells/virology/immunology ; *COVID-19/virology/immunology/pathology ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics/immunology/metabolism ; *SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity/genetics/immunology/physiology ; Virus Internalization ; Immunity, Innate ; Mutation ; Animals ; },
abstract = {It is widely known that numerous enveloped viruses can produce multinucleated cells (syncytia) as a result of viral entry-related membrane fusion events. By protecting the virus from the host's immune reaction, these syncytia are thought to promote viral reproduction. Syncytia are collections of merged cells. A viral spike protein (S) on the surface of an infected cell interacts with receptors on nearby cells to cause the syncytia response. The innate immune system's response to viruses affects how syncytia form. Some interferon-stimulated genes change the membrane in a way that reduces the likelihood of fusion. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) virus is quickly changing; also, several mutations occurred in its S protein. Individually and together, the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants carry mutations that significantly affect S function and syncytia formation. The function of syncytia in newly emerging variant diseases is still unknown, though. Syncytia could cause disease through promoting viral transmission, cytopathicity, immunological evasion, and inflammatory responses. The SARS-CoV-2 S protein variations include several changes that improve receptor interactions, fusogenicity, and antibody reactivity. A wide range of clinical symptoms, including moderate febrile sickness, severe respiratory distress, and occasionally deadly lung damage, can be brought on by an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Several of these lung illnesses (MERS-CoV) are linked to both the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Compared to acute respiratory syndromes, the lung thrombosis brought on by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is incredibly severe. In this review we focused on innate immunological elements that prevent syncytia from forming and the molecular triggers of S-mediated fusion.},
}

Humans
*Giant Cells/virology/immunology
*COVID-19/virology/immunology/pathology
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics/immunology/metabolism
*SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity/genetics/immunology/physiology
Virus Internalization
Immunity, Innate
Mutation
Animals

@article {pmid42377214,
year = {2026},
author = {Tanriover, MD and Forsyth, K and He, Q and Diavatopoulos, DA and Orozco Fernández, R and Hozbor, DF and Middleton, DB and Muloiwa, R and Muñoz, FM and Ong-Lim, A and Tan, TQ and Heininger, U},
title = {Immunological insights into why pertussis continues to be endemic.},
journal = {Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {2692306},
pmid = {42377214},
issn = {2164-554X},
mesh = {*Whooping Cough/epidemiology/immunology/prevention & control ; Humans ; *Bordetella pertussis/immunology/genetics ; *Pertussis Vaccine/immunology/administration & dosage ; *Endemic Diseases/prevention & control ; Th1 Cells/immunology ; Th17 Cells/immunology ; Vaccines, Acellular/immunology ; Th2 Cells/immunology ; },
abstract = {Pertussis (whooping cough) is a vaccine-preventable bacterial disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. Despite widespread vaccination, cases have increased globally since the 1990s, with notable outbreaks in 2012, 2016, and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Persistent endemicity and periodic epidemics are driven by limited prevention of nasal colonization, waning immunity after vaccination or natural infection, and pathogen adaptation. Differences between acellular (aP) and whole-cell (wP) vaccines reflect distinct immune profiles, with aP vaccines favoring Th2 responses and wP vaccines inducing Th1/Th17 responses and tissue-resident memory T cells. Circulating strains have evolved under vaccine pressure, including shifts in ptxP, ptxA and prn alleles, increasing pertussis toxin production, emergence of pertactin-deficient variants, and rising macrolide resistance linked to 23S rRNA mutations. Optimizing current vaccine strategies and developing next-generation vaccines that improve durable, Th1/Th17-polarized immunity and reduce transmission are essential for enhanced pertussis control.},
}

*Whooping Cough/epidemiology/immunology/prevention & control
Humans
*Bordetella pertussis/immunology/genetics
*Pertussis Vaccine/immunology/administration & dosage
*Endemic Diseases/prevention & control
Th1 Cells/immunology
Th17 Cells/immunology
Vaccines, Acellular/immunology
Th2 Cells/immunology

@article {pmid42377340,
year = {2026},
author = {Rodríguez-Rodríguez, E and Rodríguez-Rodríguez, P and Jiménez-Ortega, AI and Aparicio, A},
title = {[Nutrition, microbiota and respiratory infections: key aspects of their interaction].},
journal = {Nutricion hospitalaria},
volume = {43},
number = {Spec No4},
pages = {54-57},
doi = {10.20960/nh.06966},
pmid = {42377340},
issn = {1699-5198},
mesh = {Humans ; *Respiratory Tract Infections/immunology/microbiology/prevention & control ; *Nutritional Status ; Probiotics ; *Diet ; COVID-19/immunology ; Prebiotics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Microbiota ; },
abstract = {Introduction: respiratory infections (RI) have experienced a rebound following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, constituting a major public health problem. Diet and nutritional status are determining factors in the competence of the immune system, where the gut-lung axis has been identified as a key mechanism in regulating the immune response against these processes. Objectives: to analyze the scientific evidence on the role of diet and microbiota in the prevention and evolution of respiratory infections. Methods: narrative review of recent scientific literature on nutrients, dietary patterns, gut microbiota, and their relationship with respiratory immunity. Results: various nutrients such as fiber, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, as well as the use of probiotics, modulate the gut microbiota and promote the production of metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with immunomodulatory effects. These mechanisms contribute to improving the pulmonary immune response and reducing the incidence and severity of RI. Conclusions: a balanced and high-nutrient-density diet, rich in prebiotic and probiotic compounds, can contribute to strengthening the immune response and decreasing vulnerability to respiratory infections.},
}

Humans
*Respiratory Tract Infections/immunology/microbiology/prevention & control
*Nutritional Status
Probiotics
*Diet
COVID-19/immunology
Prebiotics
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
*Microbiota

@article {pmid42378128,
year = {2026},
author = {Escobar, M and Arenas, Á and Perdomo-Luna, C and Londoño, D and Molano, JC and Nieto, M and Borrero, E and Vanegas, E},
title = {Is mental health in Colombia a right or a privilege?.},
journal = {Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud},
volume = {46},
number = {2},
pages = {219-227},
pmid = {42378128},
issn = {2590-7379},
mesh = {Colombia/epidemiology ; Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology/psychology ; *Mental Disorders/epidemiology/therapy ; *Mental Health ; *Mental Health Services/organization & administration ; Health Services Accessibility ; Armed Conflicts ; Social Stigma ; Healthcare Disparities ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Right to Health ; Pandemics ; },
abstract = {This article offers a vision of the mental health situation in Colombia, highlighting its growing relevance in the public sphere and the specific challenges facing the country. It analyzes the impact of the armed conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the Colombian population, focusing on how these situations have exacerbated pre-existing problems. Additionally, the existence of significant barriers to accessing specialized services is highlighted, such as stigma, lack of trained personnel, and high costs associated with the treatment of mental disorders. Therefore, the need to address inequalities in mental health care is raised, both nationally and internationally. Finally, recommendations are proposed to improve prevention, community care and access to mental health services in Colombia.},
}

Colombia/epidemiology
Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology/psychology
*Mental Disorders/epidemiology/therapy
*Mental Health
*Mental Health Services/organization & administration
Health Services Accessibility
Armed Conflicts
Social Stigma
Healthcare Disparities
SARS-CoV-2
Right to Health
Pandemics

@article {pmid42378358,
year = {2026},
author = {Atencio, MA and Luini, JA and Cappella, RB and Mattei, L and Giuffre, CV and Pereyra Huertas, J and Scherñuk Schroh, MP and Davit Baridón, NS and Boscardin, C and Esandi, ME and Duran, LG},
title = {Effectiveness of strategies to prevent burnout syndrome in hospital-based healthcare personnel: an overview of systematic reviews.},
journal = {Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas (Cordoba, Argentina)},
volume = {83},
number = {2},
pages = {e49503},
pmid = {42378358},
issn = {1853-0605},
mesh = {Humans ; *Burnout, Professional/prevention & control ; *Personnel, Hospital/psychology ; *COVID-19/psychology ; *Health Personnel/psychology ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Burnout syndrome (BO) significantly affects healthcare personnel, especially in hospital settings. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this issue, highlighting the need for effective preventive strategies.

OBJECTIVES: To synthesize available evidence on the effectiveness of individual, organizational, and combined strategies to prevent or reduce BO in hospital-based healthcare personnel.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, and the Virtual Health Library for systematic reviews published between January 1, 2014, and January 15, 2024. Reviews with or without meta-analyses were included if they evaluated preventive interventions for BO and contained at least one primary study. Reviews focused solely on stress, well-being, or anxiety without specific BO outcomes were excluded. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study characteristics, types of interventions, measurement tools, and outcomes. A de novo extraction of 107 primary studies was also performed.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven systematic reviews were included. The most frequently evaluated interventions were mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, workload reduction, and professional coaching. Structured, in-person interventions generally showed greater effectiveness. Organizational strategies yielded mixed results.

CONCLUSION: Both individual and organizational interventions can reduce BO in healthcare professionals. Structured, face-to-face, and multifaceted approaches appear to be more effective. High-quality research is needed, with emphasis on implementation strategies tailored to clinical contexts.},
}

Humans
*Burnout, Professional/prevention & control
*Personnel, Hospital/psychology
*COVID-19/psychology
*Health Personnel/psychology
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42379196,
year = {2026},
author = {Blakney, AK and Top, KA and Cowling, BJ and Larson, HJ and Shattock, RJ and Sadarangani, M},
title = {Safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines: a mechanistic and public health perspective.},
journal = {Lancet (London, England)},
volume = {408},
number = {10551},
pages = {275-288},
doi = {10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00512-X},
pmid = {42379196},
issn = {1474-547X},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/immunology ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects/immunology ; *mRNA Vaccines/adverse effects/immunology ; Public Health ; *Vaccine Efficacy ; *Vaccines, Synthetic/adverse effects/immunology ; },
abstract = {mRNA vaccines represent a transformative advance in vaccinology, combining rapid development timelines, scalable manufacturing, and strong immunogenicity with a favourable safety profile. Global deployment of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic provided an unprecedented real-world evaluation of this platform, with billions of doses administered across diverse populations. In this Review, we critically examine the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines from mechanistic, preclinical, clinical, and public health perspectives. We outline the biological basis of mRNA vaccines, including their transient cytoplasmic expression, lack of genomic integration, and rapid clearance, distinguishing them clearly from other gene therapies. We synthesise evidence on vaccine components, manufacturing quality controls, and regulatory standards that underpin safety, alongside data from randomised trials, post-authorisation surveillance, and active pharmacovigilance systems. We also review real-world effectiveness across age groups, pregnancy, and populations that are immunocompromised, along with the effects on transmission. Last, we address public perception and vaccine confidence, and discuss implications for next-generation mRNA vaccines, including strategies to reduce reactogenicity, improve breadth and durability of immunity, enhance global access, and support sustainable public trust. Together, the accumulated evidence affirms mRNA vaccines as a safe, effective, and adaptable platform with enduring relevance for future infectious disease prevention and public health preparedness, and for the treatment of cancer and autoimmunity.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/prevention & control/immunology
*COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects/immunology
*mRNA Vaccines/adverse effects/immunology
Public Health
*Vaccine Efficacy
*Vaccines, Synthetic/adverse effects/immunology

@article {pmid42379531,
year = {2026},
author = {Alsulami, AS and Al-Kuraishy, HM and Al-Gareeb, AI and Abdelnaby, MA and Haggag, MM and El-Saber Batiha, G},
title = {Pathophysiology of silent hypoxia in COVID-19: Truth and mystery.},
journal = {Respiratory medicine},
volume = {261},
number = {},
pages = {109013},
doi = {10.1016/j.rmed.2026.109013},
pmid = {42379531},
issn = {1532-3064},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/complications/physiopathology ; *Hypoxia/physiopathology/etiology/virology ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome/physiopathology ; Carotid Body/physiopathology ; Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology ; },
abstract = {Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious viral disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 commonly leads to mild flu-like illness in most of cases. However, severe COVID-19-induced pneumonia and associated acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may lead to ventilation-perfusion mismatch and the development of silent hypoxia. Silent hypoxemia is observed in critically COVID-19 patients without signs of subjective dyspnea that is often linked with poor clinical outcomes. Proposed mechanisms include impairment of peripheral carotid chemoreceptors, attenuation of the sensitivity of the respiratory center, and the development of acute vascular distress syndrome (AVDS). However, it should be noted that while AVDS is supported by imaging and pathological evidence, the roles of carotid body dysfunction and other proposed mechanisms remain incompletely validated and require further investigation. The pathophysiology of silent hypoxia in COVID-19 and other viral infections is a complex condition. Accordingly, this review aims to explain and discuss the pathophysiology of silent hypoxia, and its critical role in COVID-19.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/complications/physiopathology
*Hypoxia/physiopathology/etiology/virology
SARS-CoV-2
Pandemics
Respiratory Distress Syndrome/physiopathology
Carotid Body/physiopathology
Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology

@article {pmid42380588,
year = {2026},
author = {Singh, A and Tekade, M and Nagaraja, S and Bharti, A and Tekade, RK},
title = {Advancements in RNA-based therapies from bench to bedside.},
journal = {npj drug discovery},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42380588},
issn = {3005-1452},
abstract = {RNA research has advanced rapidly, becoming a key component of modern therapeutics. This review outlines key milestones and innovations from antisense oligonucleotides and RNA interference to mRNA therapies and aptamers that have enabled targeted treatments for diverse diseases. The success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines highlighted the remarkable clinical potential of RNA-based technologies. Emphasis is placed on delivery technologies, landmark approvals, and ongoing trials shaping the future of RNA-based medicine.},
}

@article {pmid42380995,
year = {2026},
author = {Delano, P and Serra-Suton, V and Benavides, FG and Utzet, M},
title = {Prolonged return to work and hampered work ability: insights from a scoping review on the impact of long COVID on healthcare workers job performance.},
journal = {BMC health services research},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42380995},
issn = {1472-6963},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Frontline Workers ; *Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *Return to Work/statistics & numerical data ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Time Factors ; *Work Performance/statistics & numerical data ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) may have a higher risk of developing long COVID due to greater exposure to COVID-19, with symptoms extending beyond the acute phase impacting their daily living activities and job performance.

AIMS: To systematically map the existing literature on the impact of long COVID on HCWs' job performance, focusing on their time to return to work and work ability.

METHODS: A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidance included peer-reviewed studies in English or Spanish (January 2020-December 2024). Four databases were searched. Experimental, epidemiological and qualitative studies were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened records. Methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal tool (MMAT).

RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included, mainly European and predominantly cross-sectional. Long COVID was most often defined as symptoms lasting ≥ 3 months. Among HCWs with prior infection or whole-staff samples, prevalence ranged from 10% to 74%, with multiple reports above 50%. Thirteen studies evaluated RTW, with 19-63% resumed work within six months, commonly with restrictions, while around one in five remained unable to work in some cohorts. Full-time employment decreased markedly (e.g., 57% pre-infection vs 31% at follow-up). Between 16% and 40% required workplace adjustments such as reduced hours, reassignment, or avoidance of night shifts. Sixteen studies reported diminished work ability compared with pre-infection or unaffected peers. Greater symptom burden, particularly cognitive impairment and fatigue, consistently predicted poorer outcomes. One study estimated a mean of 223 days to reach current work-ability levels. Older age, depression, comorbidity, and acute disease severity were recurrent associated factors while evidence for gender and job category was inconsistent.

CONCLUSIONS: Long COVID delays RTW and reduces work ability in HCWs. Health services should plan long-term occupational follow-up, flexible reintegration pathways, and targeted accommodations while higher-quality longitudinal research refines risk and prognosis.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology
Frontline Workers
*Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*Return to Work/statistics & numerical data
SARS-CoV-2
Time Factors
*Work Performance/statistics & numerical data

@article {pmid42381166,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, Y and Weng, J and Tao, Y and Luo, B and Lian, D and Li, F and Yan, J and Chen, Y},
title = {Cost-Effectiveness of Vaccination Strategies for COVID-19: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Journal of evidence-based medicine},
volume = {19},
number = {2},
pages = {e70136},
doi = {10.1111/jebm.70136},
pmid = {42381166},
issn = {1756-5391},
mesh = {Humans ; *Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/economics ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/economics/administration & dosage ; *Vaccination/economics/methods ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination strategies and examine the reporting quality of the included studies.

METHODS: A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment, and Chinese databases (CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and SinoMed). Health economic evaluations published from inception to December 19, 2024, considering both costs and effects of vaccination strategies for COVID-19 were included. The reporting quality of the included studies was comprehensively assessed according to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards Checklist (CHEERS) 2022. A narrative synthesis was employed to summarize and present the findings across diverse vaccination strategies. To ensure transparency, the study protocol was registered prospectively in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42025629706).

RESULTS: A total of 68 studies were included. These studies were heterogeneous concerning reporting quality, vaccination strategies, adopted perspective, applied models, and outcome indicator used. The CHEERS quality scoring rate of 68 studies ranged from 23% to 88%, with a median of 71%. Vaccination was consistently found more cost-effective or cost-saving than no vaccination. Prioritizing high-risk populations, particularly older adults, delivered even higher economic benefits across diverse settings.

CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccination remains cost-effective globally. While rapid deployment and high risk prioritization maximize economic benefits, optimal strategies are sensitive to epidemiological and methodological factors, placing substantial demands on policymakers. Future research should integrate long-term impacts, health equity, and reporting standards to strengthen evidence based vaccination policies.},
}

Humans
*Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
*COVID-19/prevention & control/economics
*COVID-19 Vaccines/economics/administration & dosage
*Vaccination/economics/methods
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42381225,
year = {2026},
author = {Shakerdi, AL and Drda, J and Dutta, JA and Vockley, J},
title = {Immune Dysregulation in Branched Chain Organic Acidemias.},
journal = {Journal of inherited metabolic disease},
volume = {49},
number = {4},
pages = {e70203},
pmid = {42381225},
issn = {1573-2665},
support = {1U54HD121579-01//Foundation for the National Institutes of Health/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/immunology ; Cytopenia ; Animals ; Adaptive Immunity ; },
abstract = {Organic acidemias (OAs) are a group of inherited disorders, most commonly caused by defects in mitochondrial enzymes involved in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. While they characteristically present with metabolic and neurological crises, growing evidence reveals a significant burden of chronic immune dysregulation in some disorders and patients. This review provides a synthesis of clinical and mechanistic evidence discussing immune dysregulation in OAs. Cytopenia can occur in OAs and predispose patients to recurrent and severe infections. Adaptive immune deficits, such as hypogammaglobulinemia, reduced B and T cell populations, and impaired vaccine-specific antibody responses, including to diphtheria and tetanus in MSUD and to the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in propionic acidemia, have also been reported. Additionally, some case series note hyperinflammatory conditions, such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Mechanistic studies indicate that accumulated metabolites disrupt innate and adaptive hematopoietic progenitor function, mitochondrial homeostasis, and inflammatory signaling. Emerging therapeutic avenues, such as gene and mRNA-based therapies, hold the potential to improve or normalize the biochemical phenotype in OAs. While their impact on immune abnormalities remains largely unexplored, future clinical trials offer an opportunity to systematically assess potential effects on immune parameters. OAs are increasingly recognized as disorders with intrinsic immune dysregulation, extending beyond their well-characterized metabolic and neurological manifestations. Future clinical trials will benefit from including immunological endpoints to evaluate immunological recovery for novel therapies.},
}

Humans
*Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/immunology
Cytopenia
Animals
Adaptive Immunity

@article {pmid42381868,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Z and Wang, J and Wu, Q and Wang, B},
title = {Glycemic variability and the short-term mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a meta-analysis.},
journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1846640},
pmid = {42381868},
issn = {1664-2392},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/mortality/blood ; Hospitalization ; *Blood Glucose/metabolism/analysis ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Hospital Mortality ; Pandemics ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Glucose variability (GV) reflects fluctuations in blood glucose and may better capture metabolic instability than static glycemic measures in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, its association with mortality remains uncertain due to heterogeneous study designs and inconsistent findings. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between GV and short-term all-cause mortality in adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched for longitudinal observational studies reporting the association between GV and mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model accounting for the possible influence of heterogeneity.

RESULTS: Ten cohort studies comprising 11 datasets and 77,395 patients were included, with 8,189 deaths. High GV was associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.69-2.59; I² = 45%). The association was stronger in studies with a mean age ≥ 62 years (RR = 2.79) compared with < 62 years (RR = 1.78; p for subgroup difference = 0.03). Results were consistent across GV metrics, analytic models, adjustment for diabetes status, and study quality (all p > 0.05). Meta-regression analysis showed that mean age demonstrated a borderline association with the effect estimate (coefficient = 0.020, p = 0.07), explaining a moderate proportion of heterogeneity (adjusted R² = 49.2%).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher GV is associated with increased short-term mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, supporting its role as a potential prognostic marker.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420261358246.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/mortality/blood
Hospitalization
*Blood Glucose/metabolism/analysis
SARS-CoV-2
Hospital Mortality
Pandemics

@article {pmid42382219,
year = {2026},
author = {Renukappa, S and Subbarao, C and Suresh, S and Pillai, P and Fernando, K and Rangaswamy, C and Shetty, J and Krishnadas, R and Veenith, T},
title = {An assessment of cyber security and resilience of the National Digital Health Mission of India.},
journal = {Oxford open digital health},
volume = {4},
number = {},
pages = {oqag012},
pmid = {42382219},
issn = {2754-4591},
abstract = {The healthcare sector has undergone a transformation driven by the adoption of digital technology. Digital strategies have become the principal mechanism for delivering high-quality, cost-effective healthcare at scale. The Indian Government is also rapidly deploying the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), launched in September 2021. ABDM is the flagship programme of the Indian Government, which has become the standard platform for healthcare delivery and allied services, including insurance management. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated digital adoption, making dependence on digital infrastructure both pervasive and unavoidable. Ensuring cybersecurity and resilience is therefore fundamental to uninterrupted healthcare delivery. This paper examines cyber resilience and cybersecurity within ABDM, with specific reference to its architecture and governing policies. A rigorous assessment of cyber resilience and cybersecurity, encompassing potential threats and attack vectors, is essential to the programme&#×2019;s long-term success. We conclude that ABDM&#×2019;s success is intrinsically linked to robust cybersecurity and resilience. Further work is required to develop a comprehensive framework for ABDM cyber resilience and security that is applicable across all ecosystem partners.},
}

@article {pmid42384225,
year = {2026},
author = {Miranda, M and Brown, M and van Haren, FMP and Brown, B and Page, CP},
title = {Nebulised heparin as a treatment for lung diseases: formulation challenges and pulmonary drug delivery strategies.},
journal = {Lung},
volume = {204},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42384225},
issn = {1432-1750},
mesh = {Humans ; *Heparin/administration & dosage/chemistry ; Administration, Inhalation ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; *Drug Delivery Systems ; *Lung Diseases/drug therapy ; *Anticoagulants/administration & dosage ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Drug Compounding ; Aerosols ; },
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the global demand for heparin and its expanding clinical relevance, indicating that even one of the oldest drugs in medicine continues to reveal new therapeutic horizons. Traditionally recognized for its anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities, heparin is increasingly being explored for its versatile therapeutic potential in the treatment of a range of pulmonary diseases, including respiratory infections (e.g. COVID-19), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. In all of these diseases, inhaled unfractionated heparin (UFH) therapy has been investigated in a number of clinical trials that have demonstrated promise for this drug when administered directly to the lungs. However, using heparin by this "off label" route of administration, poses a number of technical challenges: the physicochemical properties of heparin at therapeutic doses often results in highly viscous formulations, causing device blockage and drug sorption during nebulization. These limitations underscore the need for innovative formulation strategies to improve aerosol flow, reduce dosing inefficiencies, and enable reliable pulmonary administration. Advancing heparin formulations for delivery to the lung could therefore unlock significant benefits for a wide spectrum of respiratory disorders, marking a new chapter in the long medical history of this drug as discussed below.},
}

Humans
*Heparin/administration & dosage/chemistry
Administration, Inhalation
Nebulizers and Vaporizers
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
*Drug Delivery Systems
*Lung Diseases/drug therapy
*Anticoagulants/administration & dosage
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Drug Compounding
Aerosols

@article {pmid42384642,
year = {2026},
author = {Kagbadouno, M and Camara, O and Diallo, BM and Camara, AD and Soumah, A and Leno, M and Béavogui, F and Gassama, MD and Camara, I and Coulibaly, B and Kaba, D and Camara, A and Boiro, S and Ilboudo, H and Rayaisse, JB and MacLeod, A and Ndungu, J and Bieler, S and Bessell, P and Ott, D and Lejon, V and Ravel, S and Courtin, F and Solano, P and Jamonneau, V and Bart, JM and Rotureau, B and Bucheton, B and Camara, M},
title = {Elimination of gambiense human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem in Republic of Guinea: Paving the way for zero transmission.},
journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases},
volume = {20},
number = {7},
pages = {e0014469},
pmid = {42384642},
issn = {1935-2735},
mesh = {Humans ; *Trypanosomiasis, African/prevention & control/epidemiology/transmission ; Animals ; Guinea/epidemiology ; *Trypanosoma brucei gambiense/physiology ; *Disease Eradication ; Public Health ; Insect Vectors/parasitology ; Tsetse Flies/parasitology ; },
abstract = {The Republic of Guinea has faced an important challenge with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), which was endemic over the last century. After initial control in the 1960s-1970s, HAT resurged in the 1990s along the Guinean coast, driven by economic and demographic pressures on the mangrove ecosystem. In response, the Guinean government established a national control program in 2002, focusing on medical mass screenings. In 2012, vector control using tiny targets was introduced in the East Boffa focus to reduce fly density and human-vector contact. However, the Ebola epidemic from 2013 to 2016 disrupted these efforts, leading to a reliance on passive screening. Resuming screenings in 2016-2017 revealed increased cases in all foci except the East Boffa area, where vector control had been effective. Vector control continued during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic and at the same time targeted door-to-door screenings were introduced to target high-risk individuals. Since 2018, around 30,000 at-risk individuals have been screened annually. These strategies reduced the total number of new cases below 1 per 10,000 inhabitants in endemic areas over the period 2019-2023, allowing to validate the elimination of HAT as a public health problem. The Guinean team and partners then focused on systematic spatial monitoring of patients and community engagement in vector control. The program also integrates control of other neglected tropical diseases and addresses new research questions, especially about anatomical and animal reservoirs for parasites. These efforts, combined with implementation of improved diagnostic tests and new oral treatments, through active involvement in multiple clinical trials and studies, now aim to interrupt HAT transmission by 2030.},
}

Humans
*Trypanosomiasis, African/prevention & control/epidemiology/transmission
Animals
Guinea/epidemiology
*Trypanosoma brucei gambiense/physiology
*Disease Eradication
Public Health
Insect Vectors/parasitology
Tsetse Flies/parasitology

@article {pmid42385584,
year = {2026},
author = {Kiprov, DD and Green, AP and Boyinapalli, P},
title = {Technological advances in selective plasma adsorption: The MTx.100 column and the emergence of subtractive precision medicine.},
journal = {Transfusion and apheresis science : official journal of the World Apheresis Association : official journal of the European Society for Haemapheresis},
volume = {65},
number = {4},
pages = {104484},
doi = {10.1016/j.transci.2026.104484},
pmid = {42385584},
issn = {1473-0502},
mesh = {Humans ; *Precision Medicine/methods ; Adsorption ; *Plasma Exchange/methods/instrumentation ; },
abstract = {Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is well-established for autoimmune, hematological, and neurological disease but is intrinsically non-selective: protective immunoglobulins, coagulation factors, and albumin are depleted alongside pathogenic substances, and reliance on donor-derived replacement fluid carries logistical and immunological costs. The MTx.100 column (Marker Therapeutics AG) is a selective plasma adsorption device that addresses these limitations through hydrophobic-affinity adsorption. It targets pro-inflammatory cytokines, protein-bound metabolic waste, hydrophobic environmental contaminants, and microparticulates while preserving immunoglobulins, coagulation factors, electrolytes, and the patient's own signaling proteins. Plasma is treated and conserved, eliminating replacement-fluid dependency. Clinical experience encompasses approximately 1000 procedures globally. A prospective single-arm multicenter trial in 107 critically ill COVID-19 patients (424 procedures) demonstrated 28-day mortality of 37.4% against an FDA-agreed performance goal of 88.1% (p < 0.0001); propensity-matched analysis showed approximately three-fold higher survival odds versus standard of care (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.56-5.85; p = 0.0008), with significant reductions in inflammatory and metabolic markers and no serious adverse events attributable to the column or procedure. Hospital case reports across polytrauma, post-LVAD implantation, and toxin-induced hepatitis demonstrated hemodynamic and electrolyte stability and favorable clinical trajectories. Across 114 elective outpatient procedures, vital signs and electrolytes remained stable throughout treatment, and third-party laboratory analyses confirmed measurable reduction of PFAS, microplastics, and persistent organic pollutants in treated patients. Within the emerging framework of subtractive precision medicine, selective plasma adsorption offers a complementary paradigm to additive pharmacotherapy for conditions characterized by inflammatory and toxic burden. A pilot trial in Alzheimer's disease is underway.},
}

Humans
*Precision Medicine/methods
Adsorption
*Plasma Exchange/methods/instrumentation

@article {pmid42386620,
year = {2026},
author = {Kishikawa, JI},
title = {[Structural Analysis Using Cryo-electron Microscopy for Protein-based Drug Design].},
journal = {Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan},
volume = {146},
number = {7},
pages = {631-639},
doi = {10.1248/yakushi.25-00183-3},
pmid = {42386620},
issn = {1347-5231},
mesh = {*Cryoelectron Microscopy/methods ; *Drug Design ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Protein Conformation ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Vibrio cholerae/enzymology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Betacoronavirus ; },
abstract = {Structure-based drug design (SBDD) plays a crucial role in modern drug discovery. SBDD is a methodology that utilizes the three-dimensional (3D) structural information of a target protein to computationally search for compounds that bind to it and/or to optimize the binding of known compounds. This article provides an overview of recent advances in SBDD. Furthermore, we introduce 2 case studies conducted by the authors using single-particle analysis via Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), a powerful technique for obtaining protein structures. The first example is the sodium ion (Na[+])-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase derived from Vibrio cholerae. This enzyme is suggested to undergo large conformational changes during the reaction cycle. By performing classification in single-particle analysis, we successfully captured a partial view of these conformational dynamics. The second example involves the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) decoy, which binds to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein and inhibits infection. Focusing on ACE2, which is critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection, an ACE2 decoy was developed to achieve higher binding affinity than the wild-type ACE2. We successfully elucidated how this ACE2 decoy binds to the spike protein.},
}

*Cryoelectron Microscopy/methods
*Drug Design
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
SARS-CoV-2
Protein Conformation
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry/metabolism
Humans
Vibrio cholerae/enzymology
Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/chemistry
Protein Binding
Betacoronavirus

@article {pmid42387249,
year = {2026},
author = {Frischhut, M and Gamba, S and Magazzini, L and Pertile, P},
title = {The Price of National Pharmaceutical Pricing in the EU: A Proposal for "Common Procurement".},
journal = {Applied health economics and health policy},
volume = {24},
number = {5},
pages = {801-808},
pmid = {42387249},
issn = {1179-1896},
mesh = {Humans ; *Drug Costs/legislation & jurisprudence ; Drug Industry/economics ; European Union ; },
abstract = {Within the European Union (EU), pricing and reimbursement decisions for new medicines are the responsibility of individual Member States. The presence of many regulated prices for medicines within the EU single market drives strategic decisions by payers and manufacturers, resulting, among other things, in launch delays and unequal patient access across European countries. To increase equity in patient access, we propose strengthening collaboration on medicines procurement among Member States beyond emergency situations. Joint initiatives undertaken by groups of countries have demonstrated their potential to deliver benefits, and the need for common procurement initiatives has become apparent during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We present our proposal within the context of the current European regulatory framework and the recently proposed "Critical Medicines Act", emphasising the key legislative provisions that can be invoked to support a common procurement initiative. We also provide relevant, actionable options for designing such initiatives. Strong political commitment and agreement on equity and solidarity principles would be needed for the successful implementation of the proposal.},
}

Humans
*Drug Costs/legislation & jurisprudence
Drug Industry/economics
European Union

@article {pmid42388294,
year = {2026},
author = {Arévalo-Guadalupe, GC and Gamboa-Tama, JE and Mederos-Mollineda, K and Peralta-Gamboa, DA},
title = {Digital epidemiology and public health surveillance: scientometric mapping of emerging technologies and challenges (2000-2025).},
journal = {Frontiers in digital health},
volume = {8},
number = {},
pages = {1789164},
pmid = {42388294},
issn = {2673-253X},
abstract = {The rapid advancement of digital technologies has transformed traditional mechanisms of epidemiological surveillance and response, giving rise to an interdisciplinary field known as digital epidemiology. This study presents a scientometric mapping of the main trends, collaboration networks, and thematic foci linked to the use of emerging technologies-such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and social media mining-in global public health surveillance from 2000 to 2025. The methodology combines bibliometric and social network analysis on documents indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, complemented by a qualitative examination of the fifty most cited studies. The results reveal an exponential growth in scientific output starting from 2010, with an inflection point during the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China stand out as the primary centers of production and international collaboration. However, significant gaps persist in digital equity, interoperability, and ethical governance, particularly in regions with lower technological infrastructure. This work contributes to understanding the evolution and challenges of digital epidemiology, proposing a future research agenda centered on algorithmic ethics, transparency, international cooperation, and technological inclusion in vulnerable contexts.},
}

@article {pmid42388544,
year = {2026},
author = {Simon, AK and Bhatt, S and Thakkar, VP and Sajjanshetty, M and Bano, S and Maheswaran, T and Sivaguru, K},
title = {A Narrative Review of Teledentistry in the AI Era: Scope, Opportunities, and Future Prospects in India.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {18},
number = {5},
pages = {e110008},
pmid = {42388544},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {Teledentistry has evolved from pilot programs and COVID-19 adaptations into a clinically validated component of modern oral healthcare. In India, where access to dental care remains severely limited in rural populations, the convergence of teledentistry with artificial intelligence (AI) offers an urgent opportunity to reduce the burden of oral diseases. This narrative review examines the modalities and clinical evidence for teledentistry; awareness profiles and adoption barriers among Indian dental professionals and students; the diagnostic capabilities and readiness landscape for AI in dentistry; and the prospects, challenges, and implementation frameworks for AI-teledentistry integration in India. Evidence supports the diagnostic validity of synchronous and asynchronous teledental platforms for caries screening, oral lesion triage, and community surveillance. AI tools, including convolutional neural networks, large language models, and AI-generated educational content, enhance diagnostic accuracy, patient education, and resource optimization. However, formal training deficits, rural infrastructure gaps, limited oral health digital initiatives, and the absence of national regulatory frameworks remain critical barriers. A coordinated policy response that integrates AI into the dental curriculum and is supported by equity-centered implementation research is required.},
}

@article {pmid42388548,
year = {2026},
author = {Koul, PA and Vora, A and Tiwaskar, M and Bhargava, R and Dhar, R and Ramasubramanian, VR and Kher, V and Nangia, V and Jha, V and Dutta, T and Mahajan, M},
title = {Life Course Vaccination Continuum (LCVAC): An Expert Consensus on Life Course Vaccination in India.},
journal = {Cureus},
volume = {18},
number = {5},
pages = {e110007},
pmid = {42388548},
issn = {2168-8184},
abstract = {India's immunization program focuses predominantly on children, leaving adults vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted routine vaccination. A life course approach (LCA) is needed to address these gaps. However, implementation of adult vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains challenged by inequities in healthcare access, infrastructural limitations, and variable awareness regarding adult immunization. A 16-member expert panel from pulmonology, geriatrics, oncology, obstetrics, nephrology, diabetology, and life sciences reviewed literature (2014-2023) from MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Using a structured, evidence-based grading approach, the panel formulated consensus recommendations for adult vaccination in India. The Life Course Vaccination Continuum (LCVAC) proposes three target groups: adults aged 18-59 years with comorbidities; elderly ≥60 years with or without comorbidities; and healthy adults aged 18-60 years. Key recommended vaccines include Tdap (every 10 years), influenza (annual), pneumococcal (PCV13/PPSV23 series), zoster (for ≥50 years), hepatitis B, meningococcal, and hepatitis A (risk-based). Major barriers identified include vaccine hesitancy, cost, access limitations, and inadequate provider prioritization. Life Course Vaccination Continuum provides the first comprehensive expert consensus on life course vaccination in India. The framework is intended to complement broader public health strengthening efforts, and its successful implementation will require vaccine awareness campaigns, healthcare professional education, equitable access strategies, and the establishment of dedicated adult vaccination centers nationwide.},
}

@article {pmid42388750,
year = {2026},
author = {Luo, X and Deng, JS and Chen, JN and Ye, T and Chen, SJ and Su, HL and Tung, TH and Zhu, JS},
title = {Bidirectional associations between influenza and COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1756985},
pmid = {42388750},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage ; *Influenza, Human/prevention & control ; *Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage ; *Vaccination/statistics & numerical data/psychology ; *COVID-19/prevention & control ; *Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of vaccination history on future willingness or behavior to receive vaccinations for influenza and COVID-19.

METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL and Scopus databases were searched up to February 28, 2026, to identify relevant studies in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analysis ultimately included 145 population-based studies conducted in the United States, China, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other countries.

RESULTS: Prior vaccination histories for influenza and COVID-19 interacted with each other and were associated with an increased willingness and likelihood to receive future vaccines. Specifically, having received the influenza vaccine was associated with an increased willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine(odds ratio [OR] = 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34-3.19, 95% prediction interval:[PI] 0.66-11.07), as well as with an increased likelihood of actually receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 2.32-3.29, 95%PI: 0.90-8.52). Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine was associated with an increased willingness to receive a influenza vaccine (OR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.25-7.39), and was also associated with an increased likelihood of actually receiving the influenza vaccine (OR = 3.91, 95% CI: 2.45-6.24, 95%PI: 0.81-18.81).

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, prior vaccination history was associated with higher odds of future vaccination, and influenza and COVID-19 vaccination experiences influenced each other. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine promotion strategies can likely be combined to increase overall vaccination rates.

PROSPERO identifier CRD42024594174.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage
*Influenza, Human/prevention & control
*Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage
*Vaccination/statistics & numerical data/psychology
*COVID-19/prevention & control
*Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data

@article {pmid42389412,
year = {2026},
author = {El-Annan, RJ and Safi, D and Arabi, M},
title = {Point-of-care Cardiac Ultrasound in Coronavirus Disease 2019: Indications and Potentials.},
journal = {Journal of cardiovascular echography},
volume = {36},
number = {2},
pages = {101-110},
pmid = {42389412},
issn = {2211-4122},
abstract = {Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strained health systems worldwide and underscored the need for rapid, safe, and efficient bedside imaging. This narrative review synthesizes forty studies, largely from the United States and Europe, on the role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the care of patients with COVID-19, with emphasis on cardiology. Compared with full transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography, POCUS is faster, less costly, and free of ionizing radiation. Several reports document a reduction in staff exposure time by up to seventy-one percent, lowering infection risk and conserving personal protective equipment. In critically ill patients, POCUS frequently identifies right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary abnormalities, including vertical reverberation artifacts and subpleural consolidations, which support timely clinical decisions; some series observed management changes in as many as seventy percent of cases. Limitations include operator dependence, variable image quality, and a restricted field of view that can necessitate complementary imaging. Overall, POCUS shows strong promise as an integral element of COVID-19 pathways and routine cardiovascular care. Broader training, competency assessment, and standardized protocols are needed to ensure consistent, high-quality implementation at the bedside.},
}

@article {pmid42389926,
year = {2026},
author = {Öztürk, K and Haslak, F and Yıldız, M and Adrovic, A and Kasapçopur, Ö},
title = {Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in Pediatric Rheumatology: Established Roles, Emerging Applications, and Future Perspectives.},
journal = {Balkan medical journal},
volume = {43},
number = {7},
pages = {360-371},
pmid = {42389926},
issn = {2146-3131},
mesh = {Humans ; *Microscopic Angioscopy/methods/trends ; Child ; Raynaud Disease/diagnosis/physiopathology ; *Rheumatology/methods/trends/instrumentation ; *Nails/blood supply/physiopathology ; Scleroderma, Systemic/diagnosis/physiopathology ; *Pediatrics/methods/trends ; Capillaries/physiopathology ; },
abstract = {Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) provides direct, non-invasive access to the peripheral microcirculation and has become a central tool in adult rheumatology. Its primary clinical value lies in the evaluation of patients presenting with signs of Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and scleroderma-spectrum disorders. In particular, NVC facilitates the differentiation between primary and secondary (scleroderma-related) RP. The characteristic scleroderma pattern observed on NVC, including giant capillaries, capillary loss, microhemorrhages, and architectural disorganization, supports the diagnosis of scleroderma-spectrum disorders. International standardization efforts have further improved the reliability and interpretability of these findings, particularly in adult populations with RP and systemic sclerosis (SSc). In children, the clinical utility of NVC is now well established for similar indications; however, interpretation requires age-specific reference data. Pediatric capillary density, diameter, and length vary throughout childhood, and minor findings such as tortuosity, crossing, and isolated microhemorrhages may also be observed in healthy individuals. Without normative pediatric data, these features may be overinterpreted as pathological findings. Beyond RP and juvenile SSc, evidence supporting the use of NVC is accumulating across a range of pediatric rheumatic diseases. NVC abnormalities have been reported in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), mixed connective tissue disease, childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile Sjögren disease, and juvenile localized scleroderma. Among these conditions, JDM demonstrates the strongest association between NVC abnormalities-including reduced capillary density, dilatation, abnormal morphology, and microhemorrhages-and disease activity. In contrast, findings in juvenile idiopathic arthritis remain non-specific. More recent studies involving pediatric patients with Behçet disease, psoriatic arthritis, and certain autoinflammatory and vasculitic disorders suggest that NVC may detect subtle microvascular alterations; however, disease-specific patterns have not been established outside the scleroderma spectrum. Selected non-rheumatologic conditions, particularly diabetes mellitus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and long coronavirus disease, further highlight the potential of NVC to reflect systemic endothelial dysfunction and non-specific microvascular injury, although these applications remain exploratory. Despite its promise, several limitations continue to restrict the broader clinical application of NVC. Pediatric reference data remain heterogeneous, scoring systems are largely adapted from adult protocols, and longitudinal evidence linking capillaroscopic changes to disease progression, treatment response, or long-term outcomes remains limited. Standardized image acquisition and reporting, multicenter cohort studies, and validation of automated image-analysis techniques are essential next steps for translating descriptive observations into clinically actionable information. This review summarizes the contribution of NVC to pediatric rheumatology and explores potential areas for future expansion. The strongest indications remain RP and scleroderma-spectrum disorders, whereas the most promising emerging application is in JDM, where microvascular changes correlate with disease activity. Across other pediatric rheumatic diseases, NVC currently serves as a complementary descriptive tool for vascular phenotyping rather than a standalone diagnostic modality. With the development of age-specific reference standards, harmonized protocols, and longitudinal validation studies, NVC has the potential to evolve from a descriptive imaging technique into an integral component of risk stratification and disease monitoring in pediatric rheumatology.},
}

Humans
*Microscopic Angioscopy/methods/trends
Child
Raynaud Disease/diagnosis/physiopathology
*Rheumatology/methods/trends/instrumentation
*Nails/blood supply/physiopathology
Scleroderma, Systemic/diagnosis/physiopathology
*Pediatrics/methods/trends
Capillaries/physiopathology

@article {pmid42390108,
year = {2026},
author = {Marie, SE},
title = {Examining the state of telehealth for mental health and substance use care after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: An integrative review.},
journal = {The Journal of international medical research},
volume = {54},
number = {7},
pages = {3000605261459841},
pmid = {42390108},
issn = {1473-2300},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/psychology/epidemiology ; *Substance-Related Disorders/therapy/psychology ; *Telemedicine ; *Mental Disorders/therapy/psychology ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Mental Health ; Mental Health Teletherapy ; Health Services Accessibility ; Mental Health Services ; Patient Satisfaction ; Digital Health ; },
abstract = {ObjectiveThe objective of this integrative review was to synthesize literature and provide implications for clinical practice on telehealth use among patients with serious mental illness and substance use disorders following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.MethodsAn integrative review guided by Socio-Technical Systems Theory was applied. The PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, Medline, Academic Search Complete, and Gale Health and Wellness databases were searched for publications from 1 January 2019 to 1 December 2024. Articles selected according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria were evaluated using a rapid critical appraisal checklist developed by Fineout-Overholt and Melnyk.ResultsAmong the 172 articles reviewed, 16 peer-reviewed and 2 government publications were included. Four themes were identified: (a) treatment adherence; (b) satisfaction reported by patients and providers; (c) telehealth policy developments; and (d) access to services. Telehealth supported continuity of care, improved satisfaction, and improved access. Technological and financial barriers restricted equitable access. Policy changes enabled broader adoption; however, regulatory approaches varied across jurisdictions.ConclusionTelehealth remains an integral method for delivering mental health and substance use care following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Greater focus is needed on long-term effectiveness and limitations of telehealth.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/psychology/epidemiology
*Substance-Related Disorders/therapy/psychology
*Telemedicine
*Mental Disorders/therapy/psychology
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Mental Health
Mental Health Teletherapy
Health Services Accessibility
Mental Health Services
Patient Satisfaction
Digital Health

@article {pmid42390310,
year = {2026},
author = {Bidhendi-Yarandi, R and Nosrati Nejad, F and Biglarian, A and Roshnfekr, P and Behboudi-Gandevani, S},
title = {Global prevalence of domestic violence against adults during COVID-19 and its determinants: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis.},
journal = {Women's health (London, England)},
volume = {22},
number = {},
pages = {17455057261465474},
pmid = {42390310},
issn = {1745-5065},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology/psychology ; Prevalence ; *Domestic Violence/statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Adult ; Global Health/statistics & numerical data ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Regression Analysis ; Male ; },
abstract = {BackgroundDomestic violence (DV) is a pressing public health issue with worldwide implications. Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic can exacerbate this problem, as social and personal challenges intersect with the disruptive effects of health measures.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of DV during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify its associated determinants.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources and methodsA comprehensive review of the literature in PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Covid-19 register up to July 2024 were conducted. Pooled prevalence of DV during COVID-19, including overall and subtype prevalence were assessed, while also extracting associated factors and determinants. Meta-regression analyzed the impact of determinants on heterogeneity. A random effects model estimated the pooled prevalence using the meta-prop method, applying Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation for variance stabilization.ResultsA total of 37 qualifying studies were included in our final analysis with a total sample size of 160,701 individuals. The overall pooled prevalence of DV, regardless of subtypes, was 13% (95% CI: 12-14%). Among the different subtypes, psychological violence had the highest pooled prevalence of 24% (95% CI: 19-28%), while financial violence had the lowest pooled prevalence of 7% (95% CI: 6-9%). Sexual violence (11%, 95% CI: 9-12%), physical violence (10%, 95% CI: 9-12%), and violence involving threats and controlling behaviors 11% (95% CI: 8-13%) had approximately similar prevalence rates. Meta-regression analyses showed the risk of overall DV was significantly higher among younger women Risk Difference (RD) =15% (P<0.001), 40 years and younger individuals RD=12% (P<0.001), and those living in developing countries RD=14% (P<0.001) compared to their counterparts. On average, women had a higher risk of overall DV than the elderly and men RD=9% (P<0.001).ConclusionThe study revealed a concerning global prevalence of DV at 13% during the COVID-19 pandemic, with psychological violence being the most common subtype. Women and young adults were identified as particularly vulnerable, with risk differentials of 15% and 12%, respectively, notably higher in developing countries (14%). This comprehensive assessment of DV prevalence and determinants offers valuable insights for future research and public health strategies.RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42022351634.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology/psychology
Prevalence
*Domestic Violence/statistics & numerical data
Female
Adult
Global Health/statistics & numerical data
SARS-CoV-2
Regression Analysis
Male

@article {pmid42391691,
year = {2026},
author = {Halwe, NJ and Krammer, F},
title = {Vaccine strategies and development before and during the 1968 H3N2 influenza pandemic.},
journal = {Vaccine},
volume = {89},
number = {},
pages = {128877},
doi = {10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128877},
pmid = {42391691},
issn = {1873-2518},
mesh = {Humans ; *Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/immunology ; *Influenza Vaccines/immunology ; *Influenza, Human/prevention & control/epidemiology/immunology ; *Pandemics/prevention & control ; *Vaccine Development/methods ; Animals ; COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology ; Vaccination ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {Nearly 60 years ago, in 1968, the global population was confronted with the emerging pandemic influenza A virus (IAV) subtype H3N2 (1968 H3N2pdm). An estimate of up to two million fatalities have been linked to 1968 H3N2pdm, and the H3N2 subtype continues to circulate as seasonal IAV among humans until today. The last IAV pandemic dates back to the year 2009 but concerns about a new IAV pandemic in the near future are increasing. The global spread of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and its spill-over into new mammalian hosts, discovery of novel influenza A virus with zoonotic or even pandemic potential, as well as seasonal influenza viruses undergoing antigenic changes necessitate constant vigilance. Here, we highlight the proactive actions, precautionary measures and vaccination strategies used during the 1968 H3N2 IAV pandemic. Our review highlights the emergence and spread of 1968 H3N2pdm over the course of the pandemic, alongside a delineation of vaccine development before, during and after the 1968 pandemic. Updating these strategies in the context of new findings combined with our experiences during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is necessary to improve preparedness for the next pandemic. Influenza viruses with zoonotic potential will remain a constant threat to public health, and improving countermeasures and communication to the public is key to limit the pandemic ramifications.},
}

Humans
*Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/immunology
*Influenza Vaccines/immunology
*Influenza, Human/prevention & control/epidemiology/immunology
*Pandemics/prevention & control
*Vaccine Development/methods
Animals
COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology
Vaccination
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42391692,
year = {2026},
author = {Brown, J and Brennan, H and Levine, CB and Gwynn, L},
title = {A historical overview of the anti-vaccine movement and its public health implications.},
journal = {Vaccine},
volume = {89},
number = {},
pages = {128903},
doi = {10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128903},
pmid = {42391692},
issn = {1873-2518},
mesh = {Humans ; History, 20th Century ; *Public Health/history ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology ; History, 21st Century ; *Vaccination Hesitancy/psychology/history ; *Anti-Vaccination Movement/history/psychology/trends ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; *Vaccination/psychology/history ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Smallpox/prevention & control ; Vaccines ; Pandemics ; United States ; },
abstract = {Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions in history, yet resistance to vaccines has persisted across centuries. This narrative historical review examines the evolution of vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine sentiment from the smallpox era to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sources were identified through PubMed and major public health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spanning the early 18th century through 2025. Across distinct historical periods, including early smallpox vaccination, mid-20th-century vaccine controversies, the 1998 Wakefield publication, and the COVID-19 pandemic, recurring themes emerge. Concerns regarding vaccine safety, distrust of institutions, and objections grounded in personal liberty have consistently shaped resistance. While these core arguments have remained stable, the mechanisms of dissemination have transformed dramatically. Modern digital platforms enable rapid, large-scale spread of misinformation, often amplified by algorithms that prioritize emotionally engaging content. The COVID-19 pandemic marked a critical inflection point, with vaccine hesitancy becoming increasingly politicized and, in some cases, economically incentivized through monetized online content. Historical examples demonstrate that both genuine safety events and misinformation can produce long-lasting effects on public trust, even after scientific refutation. This review highlights that vaccine resistance is not solely a deficit of scientific knowledge but a complex interplay of social, political, and cultural factors. Effective public health strategies must therefore extend beyond evidence dissemination to include trust-building, transparent communication, and engagement within modern information ecosystems. Sustaining vaccine confidence will require addressing both the historical roots and contemporary drivers of hesitancy.},
}

Humans
History, 20th Century
*Public Health/history
*COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology
History, 21st Century
*Vaccination Hesitancy/psychology/history
*Anti-Vaccination Movement/history/psychology/trends
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
*Vaccination/psychology/history
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19 Vaccines
Smallpox/prevention & control
Vaccines
Pandemics
United States

@article {pmid42391723,
year = {2026},
author = {Husein, A and Jamal, A and Ali, R and Kamal, MA and Alqurashi, YE and Nasim, A and Hussain, SA and Hattiwale, HM},
title = {Ras signalling in infectious disease pathology: Mechanisms, tissue damage, and clinical implications.},
journal = {Pathology, research and practice},
volume = {286},
number = {},
pages = {156609},
doi = {10.1016/j.prp.2026.156609},
pmid = {42391723},
issn = {1618-0631},
mesh = {Humans ; *Signal Transduction/physiology ; *ras Proteins/metabolism ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Animals ; *Communicable Diseases/metabolism/pathology ; },
abstract = {Ras signalling is an important regulator of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, and immune responses. Although Ras pathways have been extensively studied in cancer biology, increasing evidence suggests that many pathogens also manipulate Ras-associated signalling networks to support infection, persistence, and immune evasion. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites can alter Ras activity either directly or indirectly through downstream pathways such as MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT. However, activation of ERK or AKT does not always indicate direct Ras involvement, and this distinction remains important in infectious disease research. Recent studies show that pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B virus, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Leishmania species regulate Ras-associated signalling in ways that contribute not only to pathogen survival but also to inflammation, tissue injury, and disease progression. In several infections, isoform-specific regulation of H-Ras, K-Ras, and N-Ras has also been observed, suggesting distinct roles in immune modulation and pathological outcomes. Dysregulated Ras-associated signalling has been linked to lung injury, liver fibrosis, gastric epithelial damage, granuloma formation, and systemic dissemination of infection. This review summarizes current evidence on the role of Ras signalling in infectious disease pathology, focusing on host-pathogen interactions, isoform-specific regulation, tissue damage, and therapeutic implications. Although Ras signalling represents a promising host-directed target, much of the current evidence remains indirect and requires further pathogen-specific validation.},
}

Humans
*Signal Transduction/physiology
*ras Proteins/metabolism
*Host-Pathogen Interactions
Animals
*Communicable Diseases/metabolism/pathology

@article {pmid42391726,
year = {2026},
author = {Kaplan, G},
title = {Therapeutic plasma exchange and immunomodulatory strategies in post-infectious syndromes: A review of immune dysregulation in PTLDS, long COVID, ME/CFS, and PANS/PANDAS.},
journal = {Transfusion and apheresis science : official journal of the World Apheresis Association : official journal of the European Society for Haemapheresis},
volume = {65},
number = {4},
pages = {104482},
doi = {10.1016/j.transci.2026.104482},
pmid = {42391726},
issn = {1473-0502},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/therapy/immunology/complications ; *Plasma Exchange/methods ; *Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/therapy/immunology ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome/therapy/immunology ; *Streptococcal Infections/therapy/immunology ; *Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/therapy/immunology ; *Autoimmune Diseases/therapy/immunology ; Post-Infectious Disorders ; Child ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; },
abstract = {Post-infectious syndromes including post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS)/pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) share overlapping clinical phenotypes characterized by fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbance, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Increasing evidence suggests that immune dysregulation-including persistent inflammation, autoantibody production, and cellular immune dysfunction-may underlie these conditions. This narrative review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature describing immune abnormalities across these syndromes and evaluates the rationale for immunomodulatory therapies, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), rituximab, and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Evidence supporting immune-targeted treatment strategies is strongest in subsets of patients with identifiable immunologic abnormalities. Notably, the phase III RituxME trial in ME/CFS and a phase II trial of TPE in post-COVID condition both failed to demonstrate efficacy in unselected populations, reinforcing the importance of biomarker-guided patient stratification. TPE functions by removing circulating immune complexes, autoantibodies, and inflammatory mediators, and observational data suggest benefit in patients with demonstrable autoantibody burden. Further controlled studies incorporating immunologic phenotyping and early intervention are needed to define the therapeutic role of immune-directed interventions across these conditions.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/therapy/immunology/complications
*Plasma Exchange/methods
*Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic/therapy/immunology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*Post-Lyme Disease Syndrome/therapy/immunology
*Streptococcal Infections/therapy/immunology
*Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/therapy/immunology
*Autoimmune Diseases/therapy/immunology
Post-Infectious Disorders
Child
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

@article {pmid42392062,
year = {2026},
author = {Leichtle, A and Bruchhage, KL and Hoffmann, TK and Leffers, D},
title = {[Otitis media - update on clinical presentation, diagnosis and therapy].},
journal = {Laryngo- rhino- otologie},
volume = {105},
number = {7},
pages = {450-460},
doi = {10.1055/a-2606-8101},
pmid = {42392062},
issn = {1438-8685},
mesh = {Humans ; Acute Disease ; Chronic Disease ; *Otitis Media/diagnosis/therapy/epidemiology/etiology ; Risk Factors ; },
abstract = {Otitis media is a complex disease. The pathogenesis of both acute and chronic otitis media results from a complex interplay of anatomical, microbiological, and immunological factors. Identified risk factors include patient-related aspects such as nutrition, allergies, ethnicity, and genetic predisposition, as well as environmental factors such as socioeconomic status, tobacco use, attendance at daycare centers and recurrent respiratory infections. During the COVID-19 pandemic, strict measures led to a significant decline in the incidence of acute otitis media. However, infections with variants such as Omicron showed an increased rate of secretory otitis media. In the post-COVID phase, complication rates due to middle ear infections rose again, with prevalence returning to pre-lockdown levels. Preventive measures focus on ensuring adequate Eustachian tube function, treating allergies, and consistently administering pneumococcal vaccinations. In contrast, surgical treatment remains the gold standard for chronic middle ear infections and cholesteatoma. However, radical removal can be associated with high morbidity rates, underscoring the need for innovative approaches. These include optical coherence tomography (OCT) and minimally invasive laser surgery. Furthermore, new insights into the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic otitis media could open up new therapeutic possibilities for the future. This article discusses the current state of knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms, classification, diagnosis, and treatment of otitis media, as well as new treatment models and their implications.},
}

Humans
Acute Disease
Chronic Disease
*Otitis Media/diagnosis/therapy/epidemiology/etiology
Risk Factors

@article {pmid42392626,
year = {2026},
author = {Beulen, V and Noben, C and Smits, M and Mertens, H and Paulus, A and Van Mook, W},
title = {Workforce shortages and supported access to medical care for hospital employees: a scoping review.},
journal = {BMJ open},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {e117423},
pmid = {42392626},
issn = {2044-6055},
mesh = {Humans ; *Health Services Accessibility ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; *Personnel, Hospital ; Pandemics ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This scoping review synthesises peer-reviewed and grey literature on supported access to medical care for hospital employees with existing physical health complaints to understand how it may reduce sickness absenteeism by promoting sustainable employability and to identify gaps and opportunities to inform the design and implementation of organisational supported care frameworks.

DESIGN: We conducted this scoping review following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and Levac et al's methodological recommendations, reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extensions for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR).

DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO) and Web of Science were searched from database inception to 8 November 2024. The search was updated on 18 May 2026. This was supplemented by forward and backward citation tracking of included peer-reviewed articles and targeted hand searching of Dutch grey literature in Medisch Contact , a leading Dutch professional journal for the medical profession, focusing on clinical practice, medical policy and professional issues.

ELIGIBILITY: English-language or Dutch-language peer-reviewed publications and well-argued opinion pieces on healthcare workers' access to care (COVID-19 and beyond) in hospital or transferable settings were included. Sources focused on mental health or health promotion, financial aspects, personal protective equipment, patient access or healthcare worker utilisation, as well as non-English/Dutch sources, webpages and papers without full text, were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION: ASReview was used for title and abstract screening following the SAFE procedure and full-text screening was conducted with team consensus.

RESULTS: 27 publications were included from 36 685 identified records. The literature was predominantly qualitative in nature and COVID-19-focused, yielding four themes (ethical considerations, multilevel challenges, target groups and strategies and outcomes). It also highlighted limited evidence on evaluated supported-access interventions and workforce outcomes beyond crises.

CONCLUSIONS: Although supported access to medical care for hospital employees appears a promising multilevel, system-embedded strategy to reduce sickness absenteeism and promote sustainable employability in general, the evidence to substantiate and justify such strategies beyond acute crises is limited. Moreover, current literature lacks clear conceptualisation, operationalisation as well as robust implementation and evaluation frameworks. Addressing these gaps is a priority for future research to scientifically scaffold policies and frameworks to sustain a healthy and stable future hospital workforce.},
}

Humans
*Health Services Accessibility
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
*Personnel, Hospital
Pandemics

@article {pmid42392788,
year = {2026},
author = {Yan, X and Tang, X and Zhang, YZ and Liu, YY and Liu, Y and Pang, WT and Yang, FW and Jin, XY},
title = {[Status analysis of clinical outcome for treatment of long COVID with traditional Chinese and western medicines].},
journal = {Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica},
volume = {51},
number = {7},
pages = {2081-2091},
doi = {10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20251125.501},
pmid = {42392788},
issn = {1001-5302},
mesh = {Humans ; COVID-19 ; *Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use ; *Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pandemics ; *Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome/drug therapy ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology/drug effects ; Treatment Outcome ; },
abstract = {This study sorted out the clinical outcome of traditional Chinese and western medicines in the treatment of long COVID to lay the foundation for the construction of a core indicator set. Search was made on some databases and platforms from their inception to December 2024, which included eight databases of CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, VIP, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science and three clinical research protocol registration platforms, namely the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(ChiCTR), the International Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Registry(ITMCTR), and the American Clinical Trial Registry(ClinicalTrials.gov). Two researchers independently extracted the basic information, outcomes, measurement time points, and measurement tools of literature in parallel according to the inclusion and exclusion standards. If there are any differences, a third researcher would make discussions and decisions. A total of 152 studies, including 50 literature studies and 102 protocol studies, were ultimately included. A total of 338 outcomes indicators were reported, with a reporting frequency of 1 633 times. Outcome indicators can be classified into 10 indicator domains based on attributes, including symptoms and signs(694 times, 42.50%), TCM diseases(61 times, 3.74%), security incidents(93 times, 5.70%), etiological detection(23 times, 1.41%), long-term prognosis(72 times, 4.41%), economic indicators(14 times, 0.86%), physical and chemical testing(472 times, 28.90%), quality of life(173 times, 10.59%), major events(16 times, 0.97%), and other indicators(15 times, 0.92%). There were problems in the outcomes indicators of treating long COVID with both traditional Chinese and western medicines, such as significant differences in symptom descriptions, lack of standardization in indicator selection, diverse choices of measurement tools, diverse selection of measurement time, lack of practicality in clinical practice, and non-prominent TCM indicators. These issues led to scattered evidence and the absence of a unified core indicator set to guide clinical research. Further efforts are needed to develop COS of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatments for long COVID, and to enhance the quality of clinical research on long COVID.},
}

Humans
COVID-19
*Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use
*Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Pandemics
*Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome/drug therapy
SARS-CoV-2/physiology/drug effects
Treatment Outcome

@article {pmid42393625,
year = {2026},
author = {Shrivastav, VN and Akurathi, HK and Kalariya, H and Savaj, D},
title = {Anemia burden in tuberculosis patients across Southeast Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {BMC pulmonary medicine},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42393625},
issn = {1471-2466},
mesh = {Humans ; *Anemia/epidemiology ; Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology ; Comorbidity ; HIV Infections/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; *Tuberculosis/epidemiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Anemia represents a significant comorbidity in tuberculosis (TB) patients, affecting treatment outcomes and mortality. Despite Southeast Asia accounting for 46% of global TB cases, no comprehensive regional synthesis of anemia burden exists, limiting evidence-based policy development.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of anemia among tuberculosis patients across Southeast Asia and to examine variations in prevalence by geographic, demographic, and clinical characteristics.

METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science for observational studies published from 2000 onwards that reported anemia prevalence in drug-susceptible TB patients from Southeast Asian countries. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analyses were conducted by country, HIV co-infection status, treatment status, study setting, COVID-19 period, and World Bank income classification. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests.

RESULTS: Twenty-one studies comprising 6,090 TB patients from five Southeast Asian countries were included. The pooled prevalence of anemia was 72% (95% CI: 68%-76%), with substantial heterogeneity (I²=89.9%). These regional prevalence estimates are higher than the global pooled estimate of 53.9% reported by Barzegari et al. (2019), reflecting the distinct epidemiological context of Southeast Asia. Subgroup analysis revealed significantly higher prevalence in HIV-positive patients (88%, 95% CI: 78%-94%) compared to HIV-negative patients (70%, 95% CI: 65%-74%). Studies conducted during COVID-19 showed elevated prevalence (84%, 95% CI: 75%-90%) compared to pre-COVID (72%, 95% CI: 70%-73%) and post-COVID periods (72%, 95% CI: 68%-83%, p = 0.03). Lower-middle income countries showed higher prevalence (73%, 95% CI: 69%-77%) than upper-middle income countries (67%, 95% CI: 63%-70%). No significant publication bias was detected (Egger's p = 0.721, Begg's p = 0.537).

CONCLUSIONS: This first regional synthesis demonstrates that anemia affects three-quarters of TB patients in Southeast Asia, with significant variation by HIV status, income level, and pandemic period. Unlike previous global estimates (53.9%), our region-specific findings (72%) and documentation of COVID-19 impact (84% during pandemic) provide actionable evidence for Southeast Asian TB programs to integrate anemia screening and management, particularly for vulnerable populations during health system disruptions.},
}

Humans
*Anemia/epidemiology
Asia, Southeastern/epidemiology
Comorbidity
HIV Infections/epidemiology
Prevalence
*Tuberculosis/epidemiology

@article {pmid42393859,
year = {2026},
author = {Wickramarathna, EAAM},
title = {Student-authored expressions of gratitude as an alternative approach to ceremonial body donor commemoration: An experience from a New Sri Lankan Medical Faculty.},
journal = {Anatomical sciences education},
volume = {19},
number = {10},
pages = {1725-1733},
doi = {10.1002/ase.70298},
pmid = {42393859},
issn = {1935-9780},
mesh = {Humans ; Altruism ; *Anatomy/education ; *Ceremonial Behavior ; *Faculty, Medical/psychology ; Sri Lanka ; *Students, Medical/psychology ; *Tissue and Organ Procurement ; *Tissue Donors/psychology ; },
abstract = {The sustainability of body donation programs is contingent not only on cultural and religious frameworks that motivate altruistic giving, but also on the institutional practices that honor donors and maintain public trust. In Sri Lanka, Theravada Buddhist principles of dana (generosity) and karuna (compassion) underpin a well-established culture of body donation. The formal memorial ceremonies have served as the conventional expression of institutional gratitude to body donors. The Faculty of Medicine (FOM) at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka (WUSL), however, faced successive and compounding adversities following its inaugural student intake in 2018-including the Easter Sunday terrorist attack (2019), the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), and a national economic crisis (2022-2023)-that rendered formal ceremonial commemoration logistically and practically unfeasible. In response, the corresponding author implemented an alternative commemorative practice in which medical students authored gratitude notes, poems, and artistic tributes addressed to body donors. This discursive article describes that initiative, situates it within the pluralistic society of Sri Lanka, and examines its implications for humanistic medical education. Drawing on the established literature on reflective writing, professional identity formation, and inclusive commemorative practice, student-authored expressions of gratitude are proposed as a pedagogically meaningful, complementary, and mutually reinforcing practice alongside formal ceremony. This experience offers a transferable model for newly established or resource-limited medical institutions navigating institutional constraints while remaining committed to the body donor commemoration.},
}

Humans
Altruism
*Anatomy/education
*Ceremonial Behavior
*Faculty, Medical/psychology
Sri Lanka
*Students, Medical/psychology
*Tissue and Organ Procurement
*Tissue Donors/psychology

@article {pmid42393869,
year = {2026},
author = {Marne, O and Jacob Machado, D},
title = {Advancing FAIR phylogenetics for health threats: a systematic review of SARS-CoV-2 research and guidelines for future outbreaks.},
journal = {Cladistics : the international journal of the Willi Hennig Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/cla.70050},
pmid = {42393869},
issn = {1096-0031},
abstract = {During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for quick public health action often conflicted with the careful methods required in phylogenetics. To explore this, we reviewed 217 SARS-CoV-2 studies published from January 2020 to March 2025 in 121 journals. We found many methodological problems that weaken the reliability and reproducibility of these studies. Key issues include missing outgroup sampling, which affects ingroup topology, tree rooting and how we interpret evolutionary changes and relationships. Another issue is the lack of gene annotations, which can cause characters from one gene to align with those of a different gene. Many studies also misinterpret support or other branch statistics, treating them as proof of clade accuracy instead of as measures of relative evidence. In addition, 91% of the studies do not follow FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles, with data and code often unavailable. Finally, we also found a "prestige paradox": journals with higher impact factors do not necessarily have better methods or transparency. Therefore, we offer simple guidelines for authors, reviewers and editors to improve transparency and FAIR data standards in viral phylogenetics, making writing and reviewing papers easier, ensuring published phylogenetic analyses remain a trustworthy resource for future pandemics.},
}

@article {pmid42393993,
year = {2026},
author = {Ito, E and Harris, L and Gold, S and Archer, A},
title = {AI-Enabled Public Health Surveillance: Interim Findings from a Scoping Review of Governance and Implementation Frameworks.},
journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics},
volume = {338},
number = {},
pages = {211-212},
doi = {10.3233/SHTI260831},
pmid = {42393993},
issn = {1879-8365},
mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; *Public Health Surveillance/methods ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled public health surveillance systems have expanded rapidly following the COVID-19 pandemic, yet governance and implementation structures guiding their deployment remain inconsistently defined. We conducted a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines to examine governance and regulatory frameworks associated with AI-enabled surveillance systems. A search of three databases yielded 707 unique records after deduplication. Preliminary findings indicate a predominance of centralized governance models and limited explicit articulation of equity safeguards or public oversight mechanisms. Results will provide a typology of centralized, federated, and hybrid governance models characterized by authorization structure, data governance architecture, oversight mechanisms, and equity safeguards, to inform the design of accountable AI surveillance systems.},
}

Humans
*Artificial Intelligence
*COVID-19/epidemiology
*Public Health Surveillance/methods
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42395315,
year = {2026},
author = {Turebekova, D and Kosherova, B and Dauletkaliyeva, Z and Shayakhmetova, Y and Marchenko, A and Solyanov, D and Hendrixson, V and Kadyrova, I},
title = {Long COVID and health-related quality of life: a systematic review of immune, inflammatory, and metabolic markers.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1846407},
pmid = {42395315},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; *Quality of Life ; Biomarkers/blood ; *COVID-19/immunology ; *Inflammation/immunology ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Long COVID is known to be associated with prolonged multiple organ symptoms and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but the pathogenesis and relationship between immune, inflammatory, and metabolic biomarkers and HRQoL remains poorly understood. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the health-related quality of life of patients with Long COVID and to summarize the reported associations between health-related outcomes and biomarkers.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus in search of studies that evaluated immune, inflammatory, or metabolic biomarkers and HRQoL in patients with Long COVID. This review included case-control and cohort studies with a control group. The Rayyan tool was used to select studies, and full-text articles were evaluated for compliance with the criteria. Information was obtained on biomarkers, analytical methods, tools for assessing the HRQoL, and the relationship between HRQoL and biomarkers. Due to the high heterogeneity of the methods, the results were summarized in a descriptive form.

RESULTS: Ten studies were included, involving 1,078 patients with Long COVID and 768 healthy controls. Most studies that used various methods to assess HRQoL consistently reported long-term deterioration after COVID, with the greatest deterioration observed in the areas of physical functioning, vitality, fatigue, daily activities, pain, discomfort, and respiratory distress. The most frequently measured markers were related to inflammation and endothelial/coagulation pathways, including CRP, hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, D-dimer, and VCAM-1. Autoimmune, metabolic, intestinal barrier, and omics-based markers were measured less frequently, but indicated phenotype-specific biological heterogeneity. Only a few studies have identified a direct link between biomarkers and HRQoL. Lower HRQoL indicators were associated with increased neurotoxicity, decreased calcium levels, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and signals from individual autoantibodies.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that Long COVID is consistently associated with a long-term decline in HRQoL, especially in the physical and functional areas. The available data indicate the presence of a strong signal regarding inflammatory processes and endothelial coagulation, while autoimmune, metabolic, and genetic data indicate phenotype-specific heterogeneity.

Unique identifier: CRD420251239371, URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD420251239371.},
}

Humans
*Quality of Life
Biomarkers/blood
*COVID-19/immunology
*Inflammation/immunology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42396427,
year = {2026},
author = {Grover, S and Vaishya, R and Gupta, BM and Mahapatra, N and Chaman, SM and Madhu, S},
title = {A bibliometric assessment of the Indian Journal of Psychiatry: Trends, impact, and collaboration (2009-2024).},
journal = {Indian journal of psychiatry},
volume = {68},
number = {6},
pages = {510-516},
pmid = {42396427},
issn = {0019-5545},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Indian Journal of Psychiatry (IJP) serves as a premier repository for psychiatric research in India.

AIM: This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to evaluate the journal's publication trends and citation impact from 2009 to 2024.

METHODS: Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database, covering the period from January 2009 to December 2024. A final dataset of 2,357 publications was analyzed for this paper.

RESULTS: The journal experienced robust growth, registering an average annual publication growth rate of 9.16% over the 16 years. The journal's Impact Factor rose significantly from 0.384 in 2010 to a peak of 3.1 in 2022. Authors from India contributed 88.63% of the total output, anchored by institutions such as the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, although international contributions from countries like Switzerland (Citation per paper [CPP]: 22.36), Germany (CPP: 17.68), Canada (CPP: 17.68), and Italy (CPP: 17.63) demonstrated a higher citation efficiency compared to those from India (11.6). The authorship pattern revealed a definitive shift from single-author (reduced from 28.65% to 9.9%) to collaborative, multiauthor research. Thematically, research concentrated on core areas such as depression and schizophrenia, while displaying responsiveness to emerging crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSION: The IJP has consistently demonstrated a trajectory of upward influence and academic reputation over the past 16 years. While the journal serves as a vibrant ecosystem for domestic research, future strategies should focus on leveraging international collaborations to enhance global visibility and citation impact further.},
}

@article {pmid42396674,
year = {2026},
author = {Charlton, KE and Pickles, SC and Kent, K},
title = {Redistributing power in food systems: how community-led responses move from crisis buffering to systems transformation.},
journal = {The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-14},
doi = {10.1017/S0029665126105059},
pmid = {42396674},
issn = {1475-2719},
abstract = {Food and nutrition insecurity in high‑income countries is increasingly persistent, driven by intersecting economic, social and environmental disruptions. In Australia, acute shocks such as the COVID‑19 pandemic, floods and bushfires, alongside chronic pressures including rising food prices, housing stress and concentrated corporate power, have exposed structural weaknesses in food access, governance and system resilience. This review examines how community‑led responses to food and nutrition insecurity function during disruption, whether they buffer short-term hardship or contribute to adaptive capacity and redistribution of agency. Guided by the six‑pillar food security framework and a socio-ecological model, responses are examined across household, community, organisational and governance levels. A continuum of responses is identified, ranging from downstream emergency food relief that buffers immediate hardship through to community and organisational food infrastructure that strengthens local resilience and governance‑level responses with greater transformative potential. Drawing on this synthesis, we propose the SEEDS (Socio-Ecological Enablers of Dietary Security) Model, which conceptualises how food system responses across socio-ecological levels and over time can progress from buffering (acute) to adaptation (medium‑term) and ultimately transformation (long‑term). Central to this framework is a shift in decision‑making power, accountability and participation. While many initiatives improve food access and short‑term stability during crises, the greatest potential for transformation lies where responses are embedded within governance structures, enable meaningful community participation and influence policy, procurement and resource allocation. Implications for public health nutrition practice include expanded roles in systems leadership, cross‑sector governance and advocacy for upstream policy reform.},
}

@article {pmid42396845,
year = {2026},
author = {Sagar, K and Mukherjee, D and Savareh, BA and Talibouya Toure, C and Ceruti, A and Ghosh, P and Weidmann, M and Truyen, U and Abd El Wahed, A and Kobialka, RM},
title = {Artificial intelligence in molecular diagnostics for pandemic preparedness.},
journal = {Expert review of molecular diagnostics},
volume = {26},
number = {8},
pages = {709-718},
doi = {10.1080/14737159.2026.2697900},
pmid = {42396845},
issn = {1744-8352},
mesh = {Humans ; *Artificial Intelligence ; *Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods ; Pandemic Preparedness ; *COVID-19/diagnosis/epidemiology/virology ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics ; *Pathology, Molecular/methods ; Pandemics ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Molecular diagnostics focusing on the detection and analysis of nucleic acids are indispensable tools for early pathogen identification, transmission monitoring, and genomic surveillance during pandemics. Recent technological advances have broadened the diagnostic landscape, incorporating PCR-based methods, isothermal amplification, high-CRISPR-based amplification detection, and sequencing. Despite their diagnostic potential, widespread implementation remains limited by high validation costs, time and logistical constraints, the need for specialized professional knowledge, and a lack of adaptability in resource-limited settings. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized as a promising but challenging approach, offering tools that streamline assay development, automate data interpretation, and optimize real-time diagnostic performance.

AREAS COVERED: This review introduces recently published AI tools with potential to enhance the in-silico design validation process of oligonucleotides for molecular assays. These cover tools for initial assay design and optimization to validation and continuous assay updates. The limitations, including concerns regarding data accuracy, the lack of transparency in data processing ('black box' models), and unresolved licensing and regulatory issues, are highlighted for each tool and as expert opinion.

EXPERT OPINION: Collectively, these challenges currently confine most AI-based approaches to research settings and prevent their routine implementation in clinical molecular diagnostics. Their widespread adoption depends on addressing remaining technical, regulatory, and practical challenges.},
}

Humans
*Artificial Intelligence
*Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods
Pandemic Preparedness
*COVID-19/diagnosis/epidemiology/virology
SARS-CoV-2/genetics
*Pathology, Molecular/methods
Pandemics

@article {pmid42398834,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhou, J and Li, N and Liu, R and Kabanov, AV and Polacheck, WJ and Nguyen, J and Cao, Y},
title = {New approach methodologies (NAMs) for preclinical and translational evaluation of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) therapeutics.},
journal = {Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society},
volume = {397},
number = {},
pages = {115157},
pmid = {42398834},
issn = {1873-4995},
support = {R35 GM142944/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *RNA, Messenger/administration & dosage ; Animals ; *Nanoparticles/administration & dosage/chemistry ; *Lipids/chemistry/administration & dosage ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods ; Translational Research, Biomedical/methods ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; Computer Simulation ; Liposomes ; },
abstract = {Messenger RNA-lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) therapeutics have emerged as a versatile drug modality, enabling in vivo protein expression for vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, and the treatment of genetic and metabolic diseases. Although mRNA-LNP platforms achieved rapid clinical success during the COVID-19 pandemic, most candidates fail to progress beyond preclinical development, largely due to the limited capacity of conventional animal models to predict human-relevant efficacy, safety, inflammation, biodistribution, and population heterogeneity. New approach methodologies (NAMs), encompassing advanced in vitro and ex vivo human systems and in silico computational models, offer a promising strategy to address these translational gaps while reducing reliance on animal testing. In this review, we evaluate commonly used animal models for mRNA-LNP development and highlight key areas where animal findings have shown poor concordance with human clinical outcomes. We then provide a comprehensive overview of emerging NAM technologies, including in vitro and ex vivo-based platforms such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell culture systems and microphysiological platforms; as well as in silico tools, including physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK), quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), and artificial intelligence (AI) models for formulation design and delivery optimization. Collectively, this review highlights how systematic adoption of NAMs can improve human predictivity, accelerate development timelines, and support more efficient, ethical, and translational robust mRNA-LNP drug development.},
}

Humans
*RNA, Messenger/administration & dosage
Animals
*Nanoparticles/administration & dosage/chemistry
*Lipids/chemistry/administration & dosage
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
Translational Research, Biomedical/methods
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Computer Simulation
Liposomes

@article {pmid42398993,
year = {2026},
author = {Ahmad Nazari, MA and Yaacob, SS and Muzaini, K and Rosely, MF and Md Yazin, NKR and Mohamad, M},
title = {Factors associated with occupational fatigue among healthcare workers in Malaysia: a systematic review.},
journal = {BMJ open},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {e118439},
pmid = {42398993},
issn = {2044-6055},
mesh = {Humans ; Malaysia/epidemiology ; *Fatigue/epidemiology/etiology ; *Health Personnel/psychology ; *Occupational Diseases/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Working Conditions ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Due to the nature of their work, occupational fatigue is an important issue among healthcare workers (HCWs), with implications for workers' health, patient safety and healthcare organisation performance. However, the evidence on factors of work fatigue among HCWs in Malaysia remains fragmented.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the existing evidence on work fatigue among HCWs in Malaysia, with a focus on its associated factors across HCW populations and to examine the types of fatigue instruments used.

DESIGN: Systematic literature review.

SETTING: Literature on fatigue among HCWs in Malaysia.

PARTICIPANT: Studies on occupational fatigue involving HCWs conducted within the Malaysian context.

METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct. Studies must involve HCWs. Studies not in English, focusing on burn-out and different fatigue constructs, such as compassion fatigue, were excluded. Data extracted included study characteristics, setting, fatigue instruments, HCW groups and key findings. Factors associated with fatigue were synthesised thematically. This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, and the quality of the study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Factors associated with work fatigue among HCWs in Malaysia.

RESULTS: Out of 1699 articles screened, 138 studies were within the Malaysian setting. Nine (n=9) articles were finally included. One study, each was conducted nationwide, in Peninsular zones, in Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, also, three studies in Selangor and two in Sarawak. A total of 4662 HCWs participated, of which 1419 were doctors (30.4%), 1014 nurses (21.8%) and 2229 HCWs of various positions (47.8%). Fatigue instruments used were the Occupational Fatigue/Exhaustion Recovery Scale, the Chalder Fatigue Scale, the Fatigue Assessment Scale, the Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale, and the postacute COVID syndrome checklist. Two studies used electroencephalogram. Thematic synthesis identified factors such as high job demands (66.67%), high effort (11.11%), sustained strain (11.11%), and an environmental/contextual factor related to the COVID-19 pandemic (11.11%). An integrated conceptual framework is proposed.

CONCLUSION: Occupational fatigue among HCWs in Malaysia is multifactorial. Limitations include heterogeneity in study design and fatigue assessment tools. Despite the limited number of included studies, the findings provide theory-informed insights into understanding occupational fatigue; however, they should be interpreted cautiously, despite the need for standardised work fatigue surveillance as part of an efficient fatigue management system.

REGISTRATION: This review was registered under PROSPERO with the ID of CRD420251001576.},
}

Humans
Malaysia/epidemiology
*Fatigue/epidemiology/etiology
*Health Personnel/psychology
*Occupational Diseases/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Working Conditions

@article {pmid42399828,
year = {2026},
author = {Appel, S and Coughtrey, AE and Kyrdalen, A and Takeda, A and Newlands, F and Stephenson, T and Shafran, R and Pereira, SMP},
title = {Understanding heterogeneity in paediatric long COVID research: an overview of reviews and recommendations for future pandemics.},
journal = {BMC pediatrics},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42399828},
issn = {1471-2431},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Child ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; Pandemics ; Prevalence ; Research Design ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Studies of Long COVID or Post-COVID-19 condition in children and young people have varied considerably in their reported prevalences. We aimed to examine the methodological heterogeneity underlying this variability and explore whether methodological characteristics were correlated with reported Long COVID outcome prevalence, in order to inform recommendations to improve reporting in future pandemic-related epidemiological research.

METHODS: We conducted an overview of reviews with a narrative synthesis, identifying systematic reviews and meta-analyses and extracting their included primary studies. We identified reviews of Long COVID in children & young people in PubMed and Embase using a systematic search strategy. We extracted key methodological details including study design, sample size, sample and control group characteristics, data collection and reporting methods, as well as time-point(s) of surveying and frequency of follow-up. We explored correlations between these factors and prevalence of Long COVID via Spearman's rank correlation coefficients or the Kruskal-Wallis test.

RESULTS: 69 studies, from identified reviews, met the inclusion criteria with outcome symptom prevalence varying between 0 and 90% at > 3-months post-COVID-19 infection. Only 19% of studies used an established Long COVID definition to guide analyses. There was substantial heterogeneity in the design and outcome reporting of Long COVID studies. We did not find Long COVID prevalence varied by examined methodological factors (p ≥ 0.08 for all correlations).

CONCLUSION: While substantial methodological heterogeneity was observed across studies of paediatric Long COVID, no statistically significant correlations were identified between examined methodological factors and reported prevalence. Such variability limits comparability across studies and highlights the need for more standardised definitions, outcome measures, and reporting approaches in future pandemic-related epidemiological research: we discuss reporting guidelines and recommendations for future paediatric epidemiological research during a pandemic.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology
Child
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Pandemics
Prevalence
Research Design

@article {pmid42402140,
year = {2026},
author = {Fésü, D and Horváth, G and Müller, V},
title = {[Long-COVID syndrome and lung-specific abnormalities following COVID-19].},
journal = {Orvosi hetilap},
volume = {167},
number = {27},
pages = {1051-1058},
doi = {10.1556/650.2026.33584},
pmid = {42402140},
issn = {1788-6120},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/complications/physiopathology ; *Pulmonary Fibrosis/etiology ; Quality of Life ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *Lung/diagnostic imaging ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Respiratory Function Tests ; },
abstract = {Following the acute phase of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, post-COVID - or long-COVID - syndrome may develop. This condition is characterized by unpleasant, persistent or new-onset symptoms following the acute phase of the infection. It might lead to an impaired health-related quality of life of affected patients and may involve multiple organ systems. It often poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the healthcare system, and its exact course and outcomes are not yet fully understood. A multidisciplinary approach is required for diagnosis, including imaging studies (e.g., chest CT), tests to assess functional status (e.g., 6-minute walk test, pulmonary function tests, cardiopulmonary exercise testing) and the evaluation of parameters reported by patients subjectively (e.g., symptom burden, health-related quality of life). As part of long-COVID, lung parenchymal changes or abnormalities resulting from the viral infection can be detected on imaging studies in some cases, referred as post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis. Currently, therapeutic options are limited and largely based on symptomatic or organ-specific approaches. However, antiviral treatments used in the acute phase, such as remdesivir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, may be potentially beneficial regarding the development of late complications. Prevention, particularly COVID-19 vaccination, plays a key role, as it has been shown to reduce the risk of severe acute disease and the later probability of long-COVID syndrome. Further long-term patient follow-up is necessary to better understand the pathomechanisms underlying long-term effects of the virus, such as long-COVID and post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis. This article aims to present an up-to-date, comprehensive review of long-COVID syndrome and post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(27): 1051-1058.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/complications/physiopathology
*Pulmonary Fibrosis/etiology
Quality of Life
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*Lung/diagnostic imaging
SARS-CoV-2
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use
Respiratory Function Tests

@article {pmid42402151,
year = {2026},
author = {Monreal-Escalante, E and León-Montoya, H and Ramos-Vega, A and Trujillo, E and Angulo, M and Guerra, K and Reyes-Becerril, M and Angulo, C},
title = {Rickettsial Diseases and Vaccines: Is There an Opportunity for Plant-Made Vaccine Technology?.},
journal = {Biotechnology and bioengineering},
volume = {123},
number = {10},
pages = {2587-2604},
pmid = {42402151},
issn = {1097-0290},
support = {PAZA-2026//Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste/ ; },
mesh = {*Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology/genetics/biosynthesis ; Humans ; *Rickettsia Infections/prevention & control/immunology ; *Rickettsia/immunology/genetics ; *Rickettsial Vaccines/genetics/immunology/biosynthesis ; Genetic Engineering ; },
abstract = {Rickettsiosis is a zoonotic disease caused by obligate intracellular bacteria of the family Rickettsiae, transmitted by arthropods. No commercial vaccine exists, despite the efficacy of experimental prototypes based on whole cells, DNAs, nanosystems, and recombinant antigens. Plants have been used as a platform for producing and delivering recombinant antigens, allowing the commercial vaccines for COVID-19 and Influenza. This technology can be used for recombinant Rickettsia vaccines for the target host, potentially for vector arthropods. These aspects are reviewed in this work, considering a brief immunobiology of Rickettsiae, experimental vaccines against Rickettsiosis, step-by-step genetic engineering in plants for recombinant antigen production and immunological assessment, representative successful examples of plant-made vaccines, and the analysis of the potential of plant-made vaccines to control arthropod-transmitted Rickettsiae. Perspectives in this field are offered, highlighting hurdles and opportunities.},
}

*Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics/metabolism
Animals
Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology/genetics/biosynthesis
Humans
*Rickettsia Infections/prevention & control/immunology
*Rickettsia/immunology/genetics
*Rickettsial Vaccines/genetics/immunology/biosynthesis
Genetic Engineering

@article {pmid42402418,
year = {2026},
author = {Ma, S and Chen, H and Wang, J},
title = {Occurrence of antibacterials, antivirals, and anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals for COVID-19 treatment as emerging contaminants in the Chinese freshwater environment before, during and after the pandemic: the need for dynamic eco-pharmacovigilance.},
journal = {Environmental health and preventive medicine},
volume = {31},
number = {},
pages = {44},
pmid = {42402418},
issn = {1347-4715},
mesh = {China/epidemiology ; *Antiviral Agents/analysis ; Humans ; *Fresh Water/chemistry ; *Pharmacovigilance ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/analysis ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis ; *Anti-Inflammatory Agents/analysis ; COVID-19/epidemiology ; Pandemics ; Environmental Monitoring ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Global epidemic diseases such as COVID-19 have driven both the excessive use of pharmaceuticals and shifts in their usage spectrum. Consequently, the profile of pharmaceuticals in the environment (PiE) may undergo dynamic temporal changes, posing a significant challenge to eco-pharmacovigilance (EPV), a specialized branch of pharmacovigilance focused on detecting, evaluating, understanding, and preventing the adverse environmental effects of pharmaceuticals.

METHODS: Based on data extracted from 89 studies published between 2014 and 2025, this review conducts a focused comparison of the occurrence patterns of 43 selected typical anti-COVID-19 drugs (20 antibacterials, 11 antivirals, and 12 anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals) as contaminants in distinct regions across China's seven major river basins before, during, and after the pandemic. The need of dynamic EPV was then analyzed.

RESULTS: Before the COVID-19 outbreak, erythromycin, ampicillin, roxithromycin, and acetaminophen dominated the PiE profile in terms of reported maximum residual concentrations; during the pandemic lockdown, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, azithromycin, and ketoprofen were identified as the top-priority anti-COVID-19 PiE; after the pandemic, azithromycin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and roxithromycin remained the dominant PiE. Residual levels of individual PiE at the same location varied noticeably across the three periods.

CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed highly distinct regional and temporal variations in surface freshwater pollution by these COVID-19-associated PiE across the three periods, with no consistent regularity observed, thereby further highlighting the necessity of implementing EPV in a "dynamic" manner. Drawing on the framework of dynamic pharmacovigilance, the implementation of dynamic EPV can be promoted by establishing a dynamic watch-list mechanism, clarifying stakeholder roles, and advancing supportive policies and technological platforms, so as to enable adaptive interventions for the timely management of event-driven pharmaceutical pollution.},
}

China/epidemiology
*Antiviral Agents/analysis
Humans
*Fresh Water/chemistry
*Pharmacovigilance
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/analysis
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
*Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis
*Anti-Inflammatory Agents/analysis
COVID-19/epidemiology
Pandemics
Environmental Monitoring
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42402538,
year = {2026},
author = {Kumar, K},
title = {Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology in Medicine: A Comprehensive Review.},
journal = {Molecular biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42402538},
issn = {1559-0305},
abstract = {Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology has revolutionised modern medicine by providing precise genetic manipulation for therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive uses. By integrating genetic material from multiple sources, rDNA permits the creation of physiologically active compounds and the development of new medical therapies. This study summarises the basics of rDNA technology, including DNA separation, gene cloning, vector design, transformation, and expression systems, emphasising their foundational importance in biotechnology. Recombinant procedures make it possible to produce insulin, growth hormones, interferons, monoclonal antibodies, and enzymes on a large scale with better purity, safety, and scalability in the biopharmaceutical industry. Subunit, DNA, and viral-vector vaccines are examples of recombinant vaccines that have been effectively used to prevent infectious diseases such COVID-19, HPV, and hepatitis B. Gene therapy techniques using viral and non-viral vectors, together with CRISPR-based genome editing, provide targeted repair of genetic diseases. Additionally, recombinant systems promote pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine by improving molecular diagnostics such as PCR, qPCR, DNA probes, and enzyme-based tests. Furthermore, platforms for translational research and disease modelling are provided by genetically modified animal and cell models. The paper further examines ethical, safety, and regulatory considerations, as well as upcoming technologies such as CRISPR 2.0, synthetic biology, mRNA therapies, and designer vaccinations. Together, rDNA technology is still revolutionising healthcare by providing novel approaches to illness diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.},
}

@article {pmid42403377,
year = {2026},
author = {Das, B and Moodley, M},
title = {Post-COVID paediatric dysautonomia: never the heart, always the brain-myth or maxim?.},
journal = {Cardiology in the young},
volume = {36},
number = {7},
pages = {1329-1339},
doi = {10.1017/S1047951126113900},
pmid = {42403377},
issn = {1467-1107},
mesh = {Humans ; *Primary Dysautonomias/diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy/etiology/epidemiology ; Child ; *COVID-19/complications/epidemiology ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {Paediatric dysautonomia has become increasingly recognised in children and adolescents, particularly in the post-COVID era. Affected patients commonly present with dizziness, palpitations, exercise intolerance, fatigue, and syncope, although reported prevalence varies widely because of evolving definitions and heterogeneous referral patterns. Contemporary evidence suggests that post-COVID dysautonomia arises from complex interactions among central autonomic network dysfunction, neurovascular dysregulation, impaired venous return, endothelial injury, hypovolemia, and altered cerebral perfusion, with tachycardia often representing a compensatory physiological response rather than a primary cardiac abnormality. Clinical phenotypes include postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, neurocardiogenic syncope, orthostatic hypotension, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and undifferentiated orthostatic intolerance, frequently accompanied by fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep disturbances, and post-exertional symptom exacerbation. Paediatric dysautonomia is best conceptualised as a distributed brain-heart-vascular network disorder that requires mechanistic understanding, standardised orthostatic assessment, and careful exclusion of structural heart disease and arrhythmia. The rapid expansion of specialised dysautonomia programmes and direct-to-consumer diagnostic pathways has also contributed to broader, and occasionally premature, application of autonomic diagnoses. Management should follow a stepwise, mechanism-guided approach emphasising patient education, trigger avoidance, hydration and salt optimisation, lower-body compression, individualised exercise rehabilitation, pacing strategies when post-exertional symptom exacerbation is present, school accommodations, and phenotype-directed pharmacotherapy for persistent functional impairment. Although post-COVID dysautonomia shares features with established paediatric autonomic disorders, important gaps remain in disease definitions, mechanistic understanding, and evidence-based treatment, underscoring the need for multidisciplinary care, standardised diagnostic frameworks, and prospective paediatric research.},
}

Humans
*Primary Dysautonomias/diagnosis/physiopathology/therapy/etiology/epidemiology
Child
*COVID-19/complications/epidemiology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Adolescent
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42404849,
year = {2025},
author = {Cairney, P and Intropido, S},
title = {The pursuit of equity in COVID-19 policy and policymaking: A qualitative systematic review.},
journal = {Open research Europe},
volume = {5},
number = {},
pages = {167},
pmid = {42404849},
issn = {2732-5121},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic produced a devastating and unequal effect on global population health and wellbeing. Although research demonstrated multiple COVID-19 inequalities, the pursuit of equity (to address unfair inequalities) remained politically contested and overshadowed by higher priority crisis responses. It is essential to learn from these experiences to inform future crisis responses and anticipate the lack of proportionate and sustained attention to inequalities. We seek to understand how COVID-19 equity research defines this policy problem, offers solutions, and considers their feasibility in complex and political policy processes.

METHODS: We conducted a qualitative systematic review (2024) to identify peer reviewed journal articles on COVID-19, policymaking, and equity in three databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Proquest). We sought articles providing a non-trivial reference to policymaking concepts, including 55 texts that meet the inclusion criteria, and adding 30 texts by snowballing. We used an immersive and inductive approach to identify key themes and show how the use of policy concepts and theories informs an overall narrative of COVID-19 equity research.

RESULTS: This research documents the unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and policy, then identifies potential policy solutions and some hopes that governments will support them. However, it highlights a major gap between this aspiration for change versus political reality, and identifies barriers to the production and use of lessons for future crises.

CONCLUSION: Most governments appear to have learned few lessons about inequalities from their COVID-19 experiences. The literature suggests that most governments will contribute to very similar unfair inequalities in their responses to the next crisis.},
}

@article {pmid42404887,
year = {2026},
author = {Ponnachan, P and Dhawlarker, A and Yasmin, H and Shah, A and Malhotra, A and Shastri, A and Al-Ramadi, BK and Kishore, U},
title = {Mechanisms and impact of long COVID: pathophysiology, neuropsychiatric effects and vaccination.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1710777},
pmid = {42404887},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/immunology/physiopathology/psychology/complications/prevention & control ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology ; Vaccination ; Mental Disorders/etiology ; },
abstract = {Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 is defined as an after-effect of acute COVID-19 infection. Its broad clinical symptoms include brain fog, shortness of breath, fatigue, joint, chest, or muscle pain, dysautonomia and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is estimated that 1 in every 5 COVID-19 survivors exhibit symptoms within the Long COVID bracket. An array of risk factors such as smoking habit, age, obesity, female sex, and prior hospitalization may increase the probability of a person developing Long COVID. While the underlying mechanisms of Long COVID remain elusive, we examine the various possible pathophysiologies involved in Long COVID. We take up impactful neuropsychiatric issues as another spectrum of Long COVID symptoms and the likely effect of various forms of COVID-19 vaccines. In this review, the focus will be on the main mechanisms associated with the development of long COVID, which include latent Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, molecular mimicry, virus persistence, autoantibodies, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Understanding these mechanisms shed light on the continued persistence of COVID-19 related symptoms long after the resolution of acute infection. For instance, the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus in the immunocompromised context seen post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection could lead to the symptoms commonly observed in Long COVID such as fatigue and brain fog. The Epstein-Barr virus could possibly disrupt mitochondrial function, explaining the fatigue commonly observed in Long COVID patients. Other factors such as continued presence of viral particles in specific areas such as the gut may result in continued inflammation, leading to manifestations such as fatigue, cognitive impairment and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Additionally, heightened and persistent presence of autoantibodies post-acute infection results in persistent symptoms and could potentially trigger the onset of autoimmune disorders. We also aim to revisit the diverse and prolonged effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that continue to affect the well-being and quality of human life.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/immunology/physiopathology/psychology/complications/prevention & control
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
Vaccination
Mental Disorders/etiology

@article {pmid42404899,
year = {2026},
author = {Oh, SJ and Shin, OS and Hur, JY},
title = {From infection to dysfunction: viral triggers and antiviral immune factors in Alzheimer's disease pathology.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1839357},
pmid = {42404899},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Alzheimer Disease/immunology/pathology/virology ; Animals ; *Virus Diseases/immunology ; Brain/immunology/virology/pathology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; },
abstract = {Neurodegenerative diseases and neurocognitive disorders increasingly appear to share a common and underappreciated contributor: the viral-immune axis in the brain. This review presents current evidence linking neurotropic viruses and host antiviral immunity to the onset and progression of neurodegeneration and neurocognitive dysfunction. We explore how viral infections, particularly by Herpesviruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, disrupt neural homeostasis through neuroinflammation, amyloidosis, tauopathy, and autophagy dysregulation in neurodegeneration including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Simultaneously, host antiviral mechanisms, including type I interferons and interferon regulatory factors, often amplify neuronal damage when dysregulated. By examining viral and immune interactions within the neurodegenerative diseases, this review aims to broaden our understanding of the viral-immune axis in the brain and inspire novel approaches to prevention and treatment.},
}

Humans
*Alzheimer Disease/immunology/pathology/virology
Animals
*Virus Diseases/immunology
Brain/immunology/virology/pathology
Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology
SARS-CoV-2/immunology

@article {pmid42405478,
year = {2026},
author = {Wyszynski, DF and Renz, C and Espinueva, A and Shulman, LP and Lee, E and Fitzgibbon, A and Brown, G},
title = {Remdesivir Use During Pregnancy: Findings From the Prospective COVID-19 International Drug Pregnancy Registry and Narrative Literature Review.},
journal = {Journal of pregnancy},
volume = {2026},
number = {1},
pages = {e8700344},
pmid = {42405478},
issn = {2090-2735},
support = {//Genentech/ ; //Roche/ ; //Merck Sharp and Dohme United Kingdom/ ; //Regeneron Pharmaceuticals/ ; //GlaxoSmithKline/ ; //Gilead Sciences/ ; },
mesh = {Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; *Adenosine Monophosphate/analogs & derivatives/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; *Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; *Alanine/analogs & derivatives/adverse effects/therapeutic use ; *Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy ; Registries ; Adult ; Prospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Remdesivir (RDV), an inhibitor of coronavirus replication including SARS-CoV-2, has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19. Nevertheless, its use during pregnancy lacks specific efficacy and safety data due to the exclusion of pregnant patients from clinical trials. Authorization for compassionate use in pregnant women was granted during the conduct of the Phase 3 clinical trials in adult patients hospitalized with moderate or severe COVID-19. Available evidence from prior studies suggests that no consistent safety concern has been identified, although available data remain limited. The most commonly reported adverse event (AE) is transaminitis, which rarely necessitates treatment discontinuation.

METHODS: Safety data for RDV exposure during pregnancy were collected by the COVID-19 International Drug Pregnancy Registry (COVID-PR) between December 2021 and November 2023. Information was obtained through self-administered online questionnaires completed during pregnancy and up to 1 year after live birth, with medical record corroboration when available.

RESULTS: Nine women reported a total of 15 AEs, with an additional seven AEs reported in three infants. Ten of these AEs were considered serious and included a life-threatening hypersensitivity episode. No consistent pattern of AEs suggestive of a specific safety concern was identified.

CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes additional observational safety data regarding RDV use during pregnancy. However, due to the small size of the study population and various study limitations, definitive conclusions about the safety of this treatment in pregnant populations cannot be drawn.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: RDV is a drug used to treat COVID-19 by blocking the virus from multiplying in the body. However, since pregnant women were not included in early clinical trials, we did not have much information about how safe and effective this drug is for them. During the pandemic, some pregnant women with severe COVID-19 were allowed to receive RDV through compassionate use programs, and our study is aimed at collecting data on their experiences. We looked at 23 pregnant women who took RDV between December 2021 and November 2023. Out of these, eight were followed through the end of their pregnancy, resulting in seven live births and one miscarriage. Some women and their babies experienced side effects, with the most common being temporary increases in liver enzyme levels, and one woman had a serious allergic reaction. Overall, no consistent pattern of adverse pregnancy or infant outcomes was identified. However, because only a small number of pregnancies were available for analysis and many participants were lost to follow-up, larger studies are needed to better understand the safety of RDV use during pregnancy.},
}

Female
Humans
Pregnancy
*Adenosine Monophosphate/analogs & derivatives/adverse effects/therapeutic use
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
*Antiviral Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use
*Alanine/analogs & derivatives/adverse effects/therapeutic use
*Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy
Registries
Adult
Prospective Studies
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19

@article {pmid42405958,
year = {2026},
author = {Zarrinpanah, T and Mashhadi Abolghasem Shirazi, M and Modarressi, SMH and Haghighat, S},
title = {Next-generation vaccine adjuvants: Integrating nanotechnology, systems immunology, and computational approaches for precision vaccinology.},
journal = {Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {2684345},
pmid = {42405958},
issn = {2164-554X},
mesh = {Humans ; *Vaccinology/methods ; *Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage ; *Nanotechnology/methods ; *Adjuvants, Vaccine/administration & dosage ; Immunoinformatics ; *Vaccines/immunology ; COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology ; Vaccine Development/methods ; Systems Biology ; Nanoparticles ; Animals ; Immunity, Innate ; },
abstract = {Vaccines based on purified antigens, recombinant proteins, and nucleic acid platforms increasingly depend on adjuvants to induce robust, durable, and appropriately polarized immune responses in humans. While classical adjuvants such as aluminum salts and oil-in-water emulsions have enabled the success of many licensed vaccines, their largely empirical design limits adaptability to emerging pathogens and population-specific needs. This review presents a translational framework for next-generation vaccine adjuvant development by integrating nanotechnology-based delivery systems, innate immune signaling mechanisms, and systems-level computational strategies relevant to human vaccination. We summarize the mechanisms and clinical relevance of licensed and advanced adjuvants, including alum, MF59, AS01/AS04, saponins, toll-like receptor agonists, and lipid nanoparticles, with emphasis on influenza, HPV, herpes zoster, and COVID-19 vaccines. By linking immunological mechanisms with delivery engineering and predictive modeling, this review highlights rational strategies to support safer and more effective human vaccines.},
}

Humans
*Vaccinology/methods
*Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage
*Nanotechnology/methods
*Adjuvants, Vaccine/administration & dosage
Immunoinformatics
*Vaccines/immunology
COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology
Vaccine Development/methods
Systems Biology
Nanoparticles
Animals
Immunity, Innate

@article {pmid42406005,
year = {2026},
author = {Ahuja, S and Kanwar, D and Silakari, P and Sahu, SK and Kaur, P},
title = {Medicinal Chemistry Perspectives on Drug Repurposing: Innovative Approaches and Therapeutic Breakthrough.},
journal = {Therapeutic innovation & regulatory science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {42406005},
issn = {2168-4804},
abstract = {Drug repurposing involves the discovery of new therapeutic uses of existing drugs that have already been approved by the regulatory authorities. It provides an alternative with more efficient approaches to traditional drug discovery, leveraging already known safety profiles, shortened development and financial costs. Current advances in computational biology, artificial intelligence and big-data analytics have expanded the range of opportunities for systematic repurposing, but the successful translation of these opportunities is increasingly dependent on the holistic input of medicinal chemistry. The therapeutic relevance of medicinal chemistry-guided repurposing is being investigated over a range of unmet medical conditions, such as complicated diseases, rare diseases and new health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we underscore the critical importance of medicinal chemistry, including structure-activity relationship analysis, molecular optimization, target engagement assay, and ADMET refinement, in supporting the efficacy and safety of repurposed candidates. We further discuss the co-existence of these strategies with in silico predictions of the target, virtual screening, and phenotypic assays to narrow down lead compounds and improve translational success. Additionally, the role of medicinal chemistry in personalized medicine is also taken into account, where special attention is paid to the possibility of modifying pharmacological characteristics to patient-specific molecular and biological phenotypes. The study aims to encourage researchers and clinicians to adopt the revolutionary potential of drug repurposing to enhance treatment decisions and overall health outcomes among a large number of patients. Moreover, in a medical landscape that is becoming more complex, drug repurposing can transform the pharmaceutical industry, accelerate the process of making viable therapy available, and facilitate the delivery of quality healthcare.},
}

@article {pmid42406015,
year = {2026},
author = {Mirchevska, G},
title = {The Emerging Global Threat of Candida auris: A Call for Enhanced Public Health Policy and Regional Coordination.},
journal = {Prilozi (Makedonska akademija na naukite i umetnostite. Oddelenie za medicinski nauki)},
volume = {47},
number = {2},
pages = {73-83},
doi = {10.2478/prilozi-2026-0020},
pmid = {42406015},
issn = {1857-8985},
mesh = {Humans ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; *Candida auris/drug effects ; *Candidiasis/epidemiology/prevention & control/diagnosis/drug therapy ; *Cross Infection/prevention & control/epidemiology/microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Global Health ; *Health Policy ; Infection Control ; *Public Health ; Candidiasis, Invasive ; },
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance represents a paramount challenge to global public health in the 21st century. The multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen Candida auris poses a critical and escalating threat to global public health. Characterized by rapid nosocomial transmission, persistent environmental contamination, and resistance to multiple antifungal classes, C. auris challenges healthcare systems worldwide. Its independent emergence across distinct geographic clades and exponential rise in cases, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the urgent need for robust, coordinated response. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on C. auris with a focus on its implications for public health policy, particularly in the European and Balkan healthcare settings, where surveillance gaps and cross-border transmission risks remain pronounced. We analyze the key drivers of spread, including diagnostic misidentification, extensive antifungal resistance, and lapses in infection control, and evaluate the strain on surveillance and hospital preparedness. Effective mitigation is fundamentally dependent on implementing comprehensive, multi-faceted infection prevention and control strategies, guided by antifungal stewardship and rapid diagnostics. We conclude that addressing the C. auris threat requires an urgent, coordinated international and regional response focused on strengthening surveillance networks, standardizing diagnostic and infection prevention and control protocols, and fostering data sharing across borders to contain this resilient pathogen.},
}

Humans
Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use
*Candida auris/drug effects
*Candidiasis/epidemiology/prevention & control/diagnosis/drug therapy
*Cross Infection/prevention & control/epidemiology/microbiology
Drug Resistance, Fungal
Global Health
*Health Policy
Infection Control
*Public Health
Candidiasis, Invasive

@article {pmid42406565,
year = {2026},
author = {Mugwagwa, T and Marcano Belisario, J and Hartley, L and Phan, NTN and Mokgokong, R},
title = {Evaluation of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment for COVID-19 on health-related outcomes: a global economic value systematic literature review.},
journal = {Journal of medical economics},
volume = {29},
number = {1},
pages = {1875-1897},
doi = {10.1080/13696998.2026.2695551},
pmid = {42406565},
issn = {1941-837X},
mesh = {*Ritonavir/therapeutic use/economics ; Humans ; *COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Quality-Adjusted Life Years ; *Antiviral Agents/economics/therapeutic use ; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis ; Drug Combinations ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Lopinavir ; },
abstract = {AIMS: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r)[i] is an antiviral drug indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease. We performed an updated economic systematic literature review (eSLR) of NMV/r to build upon evidence reported in our previous eSLR and additionally examine the health-related outcomes associated with NMV/r and any potential effect of long COVID.

METHODS: A systematic search of Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and EconLit and of conference and health technology assessment agency websites was performed to identify economic analyses published between January 2022 and October 2025.

RESULTS: Of the 33 included economic evaluations, most were cost-utility analyses (n = 16) and used an analysis of a short-term decision tree with a long-term Markov model (n = 11). Several types of health-related endpoints were reported by studies, with most including hospital-related endpoints (n = 20), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (n = 18), and death-related endpoints (n = 18). Positive health-related outcomes were associated with NMV/r treatment, including reductions in hospitalizations and deaths and an increase in QALYs. NMV/r treatment was also associated with a reduced number of patients with long COVID complications.

LIMITATIONS: Most studies were conducted in high-income countries, were based on different COVID-19 variants, and were limited in data on the long COVID population.

CONCLUSION: In addition to monetary benefits, NMV/r provides short-term and long-term health-related benefits to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. This study provides further support for NMV/r as a cost-effective treatment option.},
}

*Ritonavir/therapeutic use/economics
Humans
*COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
*Antiviral Agents/economics/therapeutic use
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Drug Combinations
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Lopinavir

@article {pmid42407372,
year = {2026},
author = {Kachanov, A and Brezgin, S and Kostyusheva, A and Ponomareva, N and Chulanov, V and Parodi, A and Kostyushev, D},
title = {Safeguarding nanovesicles and their payload: A framework for stable storage.},
journal = {Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces},
volume = {267},
number = {},
pages = {115956},
doi = {10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115956},
pmid = {42407372},
issn = {1873-4367},
mesh = {Humans ; *Nanoparticles/chemistry ; Animals ; *Drug Storage/methods ; Freeze Drying ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods ; },
abstract = {Recent advances in biomedical science have shifted therapeutic strategies toward biologics, nucleic acid-based medicines, and precision gene regulation, demanding equally sophisticated delivery and preservation vehicles. This shift is epitomized by the breakthrough of RNA therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are now advancing into oncology, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory diseases, alongside powerful gene-editing, and gene-regulation tools. Biological nanoparticles and, in particular, (EVs) are uniquely positioned to enable targeted delivery of these advanced strategies. Their favorable biodistribution, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high loading capacity make them an ideal delivery platform. However, a critical translational gap remains: while experimental innovation accelerates, the practical knowledge of selecting appropriate dosage forms, storage conditions, and necessary stabilizers is lacking. This challenge extends beyond maintaining vehicle integrity to the crucial preservation of the therapeutic payload's activity. This review examines current advancements in EVs storage methods and conditions, highlighting the challenges for preserving functional activity of the payload. By evaluating preservation strategies and their effects on EV integrity and cargo stability, we discuss critical insights to enhance storage, ensuring both structural preservation of EVs and functionality of bioactive cargo.},
}

Humans
*Nanoparticles/chemistry
Animals
*Drug Storage/methods
Freeze Drying
SARS-CoV-2
Drug Delivery Systems/methods

@article {pmid42410869,
year = {2026},
author = {O'Donnell, J and Fenn, R},
title = {Respiratory Support in the Emergency Department: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Worldviews on evidence-based nursing},
volume = {23},
number = {4},
pages = {e70165},
pmid = {42410869},
issn = {1741-6787},
mesh = {Humans ; *Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration/statistics & numerical data ; Noninvasive Ventilation ; *Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/methods ; *Respiratory Therapy/methods ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: An estimated 20% of emergency department (ED) patients require respiratory support (RS). Evidence suggests that nasal high flow (NHF) reduces RS need.

AIMS: This is an update of a published review comparing NHF to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or to conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in adult ED patients.

METHOD: This updated systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) methods reflect the Cochrane Collaboration's methodology. The search of six databases was first completed in July 2023 and then repeated in November 2025. Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NHF to COT or NIV in the ED. Three summary estimates were reported: (1) need to escalate care, (2) mortality, and (3) adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS: The updated search identified three new studies, bringing the total to 21 eligible RCTs (n = 2158). One of the six MA conclusions was statistically significant. Compared with COT, NHF showed no SS difference in the risk of escalation (RR 0.65; 95% CI [0.41, 1.04]; p = 0.07), mortality (RR 1.05; 95% CI [0.74, 1.51]; p = 0.77), and AE (RR was 0.98; 95% CI [0.6, 1.6]; p = 0.94) outcomes were found. Compared with NIV, NHF increased the risk of escalation by 86% (RR 1.86; 95% CI [1.26, 2.75]; p = 0.001), but mortality risk was not SS (RR 1.33; 95% CI [0.86, 2.06]; p = 0.20).

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Evidence suggests NHF therapy may be an alternative to COT in managing RS in EDs. While NHF may not be as effective as NIV at preventing escalation, it does not increase mortality risk, offering a nuanced approach to RS tailored to patient-specific needs. This evidence-informed decision-making can enhance patient outcomes. However, further research is needed, especially given the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on ED research.},
}

Humans
*Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration/statistics & numerical data
Noninvasive Ventilation
*Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/methods
*Respiratory Therapy/methods

@article {pmid42410924,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, W and Wang, B and Cosco, TD and Cai, Z and Tang, X and Zhou, Z and Ren, Z},
title = {Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among older adults during COVID-19 lockdowns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Aging & mental health},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-14},
doi = {10.1080/13607863.2026.2690401},
pmid = {42410924},
issn = {1364-6915},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 lockdowns presented an unprecedented challenge to public mental health. The impact of these lockdowns on older adults remains unclear. To quantify the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among older adults during COVID-19 lockdowns, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS: We systematically searched nine electronic databases for relevant literature published in English or Chinese, covering the period from January 1, 2020, to November 29, 2024. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool was used to assess the risk of bias. A random-effects model was used to calculate the overall pooled prevalence.

RESULTS: A total of 51 articles, encompassing 57 studies, satisfied the inclusion criteria and included data from 26,616 participants across 23 countries. The estimated prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms was 12.82% (95% CI: 9.13-17.72) and 15.01% (95% CI:11.61-19.19), respectively. Factors significantly associated with anxiety symptom prevalence included the proportion of females, study quality, lockdown duration, international travel control policies, workplace closure policies, and changes in human mobility across six categories of location. Factors significantly associated with depressive symptom prevalence included study quality, international travel control policies, and public transport closure policies.

CONCLUSIONS: This study enhances our understanding of anxiety and depression symptoms among older adults during COVID-19 lockdowns, notably revealing the moderating effects of human mobility on anxiety symptoms. The findings offer tentative insights for comprehending and addressing the psychological impact of major public health emergencies on older adults.},
}

@article {pmid42410961,
year = {2026},
author = {Almulla, AF and Zhang, Y and Tunvirachaisakul, C and Carvalho, AF and Maes, M},
title = {Increased Insulin Resistance and Hyperglycaemia in Long COVID: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Expert reviews in molecular medicine},
volume = {28},
number = {},
pages = {e38},
pmid = {42410961},
issn = {1462-3994},
mesh = {Humans ; *Insulin Resistance ; *Hyperglycemia/blood/metabolism/virology/etiology ; *COVID-19/complications/metabolism/virology ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; Insulin/blood ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Blood Glucose/analysis/metabolism ; Biomarkers/blood ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism/analysis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that long COVID (LC) is mediated by chronic immune activation, oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation. These processes may impair glucose homeostasis and promote insulin resistance (IR). However, no prior meta-analysis has systematically and quantitatively evaluated IR indices and related biomarkers in LC compared with normal controls.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review and meta-analyse IR indices including HOMA-IR, HOMA-%B, HOMA-%S, insulin, fasting and random blood sugar (FBG, RBS), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), C-peptide and adipokine levels in individuals with LC compared with normal controls.

METHODS: PubMed, SCOPUS, SciFinder and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant studies from inception to September 2025. Fifty-six eligible studies were included, comprising 9623 participants, 5340 LC patients and 4283 normal controls.

RESULTS: LC disease is characterized by elevated HOMA-IR (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.539; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.311; 0.766), insulin (SMD = 0.424; 95% CI: 0.113; 0.735), FBG and RBS (SMD = 0.734; 95% CI: 0.190; 1.277, SMD = 0.325; 95% CI: 0.133; 0.517). Furthermore, reduced HOMA-%S was observed in LC patients versus normal controls. Publication bias was generally low, though evidence of small-study effects was observed for several outcomes. The Immunological Confounder Scale was employed to evaluate study quality, revealing an overall intermediate methodological quality.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that LC is associated with multiple abnormalities in glucose homeostasis, including increased HOMA-IR, hyperglycaemia and impaired insulin sensitivity indices, sustained metabolic disturbances beyond the acute phase.},
}

Humans
*Insulin Resistance
*Hyperglycemia/blood/metabolism/virology/etiology
*COVID-19/complications/metabolism/virology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Insulin/blood
SARS-CoV-2
Blood Glucose/analysis/metabolism
Biomarkers/blood
Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism/analysis

@article {pmid42411042,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Chen, J and Li, J and Xu, Z and Wang, J and Shang, L},
title = {Advances in Antiviral Drug Development Targeting Viral Proteases.},
journal = {Medicinal research reviews},
volume = {46},
number = {6},
pages = {1871-1896},
doi = {10.1002/med.70075},
pmid = {42411042},
issn = {1098-1128},
support = {22177055//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; U23A20147//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; GZNL2023A01002//R&D Program of Guangzhou Laboratory/ ; 63243133//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Nankai University/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Drug Development ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; *Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry ; *Viral Proteases ; *Viral Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Viral proteases are critical targets in antiviral drug development due to their essential role in the viral lifecycle and high conservation across viral strains. This review summarizes the recent progress of antiviral drugs based on protease structures, with a focus on the structural characteristics and inhibitor design strategies targeting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Enterovirus 71 (EV71), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Based on the three-dimensional structure of proteases, various types of protease inhibitors such as peptidomimetic, non-peptidic, and natural product-derived inhibitors are discussed. Given the critical challenge of drug resistance in antiviral therapies, we address the mechanisms of protease inhibitor resistance and explore advanced strategies, including allosteric inhibition, dual-target inhibition, and Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC) to overcome drug resistance. This review also explores the cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for viral protease-based antiviral drug discovery, providing valuable insights for the rational design and development of antiviral drugs.},
}

Humans
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology/chemistry
*Drug Development
Drug Resistance, Viral
*Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry
*Viral Proteases
*Viral Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry
Animals

@article {pmid42411507,
year = {2026},
author = {Kumar, V and Qadri, SH and Nardelli da Silva, AB and Malaj, A and Qadri, SF and Wajeeha, F and Kasina, P and Jumani, MM and Muhammad, H},
title = {Ivabradine in the Treatment of POTS Before and After COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology},
volume = {88},
number = {2},
pages = {115-122},
pmid = {42411507},
issn = {1533-4023},
mesh = {Humans ; *Ivabradine/therapeutic use/adverse effects ; *Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome/drug therapy/physiopathology/diagnosis/epidemiology ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Heart Rate/drug effects ; Treatment Outcome ; *Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use/adverse effects ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; },
abstract = {Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a debilitating autonomic disorder characterized by excessive orthostatic tachycardia and significant functional impairment. Conventional therapies, including beta-blockers, often provide incomplete relief or are poorly tolerated. Ivabradine, a selective If channel inhibitor, reduces heart rate without affecting blood pressure or myocardial contractility, making it a promising option, particularly in post-COVID-19 POTS. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of ivabradine in patients with POTS. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched through August 2025 in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PROSPERO CRD420251073600). Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case series reporting ivabradine outcomes in POTS. Primary outcomes were changes in standing and supine heart rate; secondary outcomes included symptom burden, quality of life, and adverse events. A random-effects model was used, heterogeneity was assessed through sensitivity analyses, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Nine studies involving 245 patients were included. Ivabradine significantly reduced standing heart rate (-18.5 bpm; 95% confidence interval -23.3 to -13.8) and supine heart rate (-9.7 bpm; 95% confidence interval -13.4 to -6.1). Symptom improvement particularly palpitations, lightheadedness, and exercise intolerance was consistently reported across classic, pediatric, hyperadrenergic, and post-COVID-19 subgroups. Adverse events were infrequent and mild, most commonly transient visual disturbances, with no reports of severe bradycardia or hypotension. Heterogeneity was high, largely driven by pediatric and post-COVID-19 cohorts. In conclusion, ivabradine seems to provide meaningful heart rate reduction and symptomatic improvement in POTS with a favorable safety profile. However, evidence is limited by small, heterogeneous, predominantly observational studies, underscoring the need for large, multicenter randomized controlled trials.},
}

Humans
*Ivabradine/therapeutic use/adverse effects
*Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome/drug therapy/physiopathology/diagnosis/epidemiology
*COVID-19/epidemiology
Heart Rate/drug effects
Treatment Outcome
*Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use/adverse effects
Female
Male
Adult

@article {pmid42412197,
year = {2026},
author = {Goldberg-Bockhorn, E and Reich, A and Vahl, JM and Hoffmann, TK and Hahn, J},
title = {[Otorhinolaryngologic infections in the post-pandemic context: What can we learn from the literature?].},
journal = {HNO},
volume = {74},
number = {9},
pages = {590-598},
pmid = {42412197},
issn = {1433-0458},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Germany/epidemiology ; *Pandemics ; *Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases/epidemiology/microbiology ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of various respiratory infections changed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and other containment measures (nonpharmacologic interventions, NPI) led to a decline in virus circulation, resulting in fewer cases at hospitals and practices. Once restrictions were eased, a rebound effect was observed worldwide, resulting in an increase in viral and severe invasive bacterial infections.

OBJECTIVE: Various case series on different ear, nose, and throat (ENT) infections have been conducted in the context of the pandemic in Germany. These studies should be summarized and interpreted in the context of currently available data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature review focuses particularly on studies from Germany before, during, and after the pandemic, supplemented by European and international data.

RESULTS: Following the lifting of NPIs, a general increase in severe bacterial ENT infections was observed worldwide, particularly among children. Evidence from the underlying retrospective data from Germany is limited. For mastoiditis and complicated sinus infections, cohort studies showed no change in the bacterial spectrum or in the complication rate. Microbiological data for peritonsillar abscesses are currently lacking. Necrotizing fasciitis in the head and neck region increased globally. Reliable data from Germany are currently unavailable.

CONCLUSION: The increased susceptibility due to low exposure to pathogens during the pandemic and the simultaneous surge in post-pandemic virus circulation is believed to be the main cause of the rise in infections. The current data do not prove a direct influence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Vaccinations, strict hygiene measures, patient education, and monitoring could help to mitigate the severity of such phenomena in the future.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology
Germany/epidemiology
*Pandemics
*Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases/epidemiology/microbiology
SARS-CoV-2
Bacterial Infections/epidemiology

@article {pmid42412629,
year = {2026},
author = {Dai, Y and Li, S and He, X and Lu, K and Tian, J and Huang, Y and Wei, D and He, X and Duan, X and Liu, Y and Zhang, B},
title = {Recent advances in functional studies of coronavirus NSP13 helicase and challenges in inhibitor development.},
journal = {Virulence},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {2696653},
pmid = {42412629},
issn = {2150-5608},
mesh = {Humans ; *Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics ; *Antiviral Agents/pharmacology ; *RNA Helicases/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/chemistry ; Virus Replication/drug effects ; *Coronavirus/enzymology/drug effects/genetics ; G-Quadruplexes ; SARS-CoV-2/enzymology/drug effects/genetics ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; Methyltransferases ; },
abstract = {Coronavirus helicase NSP13 is essential for viral replication and transcription and is a promising target for broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drugs due to its high sequence conservation and structural homology. This review summarizes NSP13 sequence features, structural organization, and functional activities across the seven human-infecting coronaviruses. We outline key enzymatic properties, including duplex RNA/DNA unwinding and NTP hydrolysis, and describe how NSP13 cooperates with other nonstructural proteins to drive replication and transcription. Beyond canonical helicase roles, we discuss the genomic distribution of G-quadruplex (G4) elements in coronaviruses and potential functional connections between G4 structures and NSP13 in regulating the viral life cycle. Finally, we highlight recent progress in developing NSP13-targeting inhibitors and consider their potential utility against COVID-19 and other emerging coronaviruses, providing a rationale for broad-spectrum antiviral design.},
}

Humans
*Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors/chemistry/genetics
*Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
*RNA Helicases/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/chemistry
Virus Replication/drug effects
*Coronavirus/enzymology/drug effects/genetics
G-Quadruplexes
SARS-CoV-2/enzymology/drug effects/genetics
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Methyltransferases

@article {pmid42414623,
year = {2026},
author = {Vidal, D and Castro, ÍA and López, CB},
title = {Implications of RNA virus persistence for post-acute sequelae and chronic inflammatory syndromes.},
journal = {Nature immunology},
volume = {27},
number = {8},
pages = {1553-1562},
pmid = {42414623},
issn = {1529-2916},
mesh = {Humans ; *Inflammation/virology/immunology ; *RNA Viruses/immunology/physiology/genetics ; Animals ; *RNA Virus Infections/immunology/virology/complications ; *Persistent Infection/immunology/virology ; Chronic Disease ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; Genome, Viral ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology ; Virus Replication ; },
abstract = {Viral persistence refers to the ability of a virus to remain in its host for an extended period. Although most non-retroviral RNA viruses are traditionally known for causing acute, self-limiting infections, accumulating evidence of the detection of viral products long after the infectious virus is cleared suggests that RNA viruses can establish persistent infections. Persistent viral products include replication-competent viral genomes, viral proteins, mutated viruses or non-standard viral genomes. The persistence of viral products entails a continuous interaction with the host and is often associated with prolonged tissue inflammation and chronic disease. Here, we discuss emerging evidence of the persistence of viral products from viruses commonly considered to cause acute infections. We explore the known requirements for virus persistence and the implications for the development of post-acute sequelae and predisposition to chronic inflammatory syndromes.},
}

Humans
*Inflammation/virology/immunology
*RNA Viruses/immunology/physiology/genetics
Animals
*RNA Virus Infections/immunology/virology/complications
*Persistent Infection/immunology/virology
Chronic Disease
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Genome, Viral
Host-Pathogen Interactions/immunology
Virus Replication

@article {pmid42414952,
year = {2026},
author = {Parent-Lamarche, A and Beauregard, N and Blanc, MÈ and Cadieux, N and Dextras-Gauthier, J and Afota, MC and Merkouche, W and Hamouche, S and R'biaa, O and Garneau, J},
title = {Teleworking and its impact on health and well-being: a systematic review of longitudinal studies considering the psychosocial work environment (2005-2024).},
journal = {BMC public health},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42414952},
issn = {1471-2458},
support = {IRSST 2024-0004//Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Health Status ; Longitudinal Studies ; *Occupational Health ; Psychological Well-Being ; *Teleworking ; Working Conditions ; *Workplace/psychology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Teleworking expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to remain widespread. While it offers benefits such as greater autonomy and improved work-life balance, teleworking also poses challenges related to workload, social isolation, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life, shaped by the psychosocial work environment. These contrasting effects raise questions about whether teleworking promotes or undermines workers' health. This systematic review synthesizes longitudinal evidence on the relationship between teleworking and workers' health, with particular attention to the role of the psychosocial work environment as an explanatory framework. Specifically, it addresses two questions: (1) What is the impact of teleworking on health (physical and mental) when psychosocial work environment factors are considered? (2) How have longitudinal studies examined the relationship between teleworking and health, including direct, mediation, and moderation effects, and how the role of teleworking in these relationships has been studied?

METHODS: This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42024599518). We searched five electronic databases (Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus) and bibliographies for longitudinal studies published between 2005 and 2024 in OECD countries. Eligible studies examined teleworking and workers' health (physical and/or psychological) in combination with psychosocial work environment factors. Study quality was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Quality Assessment Tool. Data from 20 studies published between 2017 and 2024 were extracted and synthesized based on study and psychosocial work environment characteristics, as well as the nature of the association between telework and health outcomes.

RESULTS: All 20 studies were rated fair or good in methodological quality. Teleworking effects on health were heterogeneous and context-dependent, increasing psychological distress, exhaustion, and anxiety under high psychosocial risk (i.e., adverse work conditions such as high workload or work intensification, low autonomy, limited social support, job insecurity, reduced psychological detachment, and blurred work-nonwork boundaries) or mandatory arrangements, but protective with autonomy, supportive psychosocial conditions, or individual resources. Psychosocial work environment factors such as autonomy, job security, workload, and social support emerged as central determinants of health outcomes. Effects operated through moderation and mediation involving psychosocial work environment factors. Important gaps remain, particularly the limited investigation of physical health outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Teleworking is neither uniformly beneficial nor harmful. Its health impact depends on psychosocial work environment factors, individual characteristics, and contextual conditions. Longitudinal research should expand the range of psychosocial work environment factors examined, consider physical health outcomes, and investigate effects across pre-, during-, and post-pandemic periods. These insights are critical to inform evidence-based workplace interventions and organizational policies that promote employee health.},
}

Humans
*Health Status
Longitudinal Studies
*Occupational Health
Psychological Well-Being
*Teleworking
Working Conditions
*Workplace/psychology

@article {pmid42415007,
year = {2026},
author = {Tsehay, A and Menkir, S and Hailegebriel, T},
title = {Prevalence and associated risk factors of malaria in Amhara National Regional State: a systematic review and meta-analyses.},
journal = {Malaria journal},
volume = {25},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42415007},
issn = {1475-2875},
mesh = {Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Humans ; Ethiopia/epidemiology ; *Malaria/epidemiology/parasitology ; *Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology/parasitology ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major parasitic infectious disease caused by Plasmodium species and remains a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan African, including Ethiopia. The Amhara National Regional State is among the most malaria-affected region in Ethiopia. However, comprehensive evidence on the pooled prevalence of malaria and its associated risks in the region has been limited. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of malaria and identify its associated risk factors in Amhara National Regional State.

METHODS: A systematic search of studies published between 2013 to March 3, 2023, was conducted using PubMed, Springer nature, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analysed with Stata version 17. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the inverse variance (I[2]) statistic, while publication bias was evaluated using Egger's regression test and funnel plot.

RESULTS: Out of 2,743 records initially identified, 43 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of malaria in the Amhara National Regional State was 14% (95% CI 12.0-17.0%). Subgroup analysis showed that the highest (17%, 95% CI 4.0-30.0%) pooled prevalence was from South and North Gonder Zones, whereas the lowest (8%, 95% CI 5.0-11.0%) prevalence was observed in East Gojjam Zone. Malaria prevalence estimate varied according to the diagnostic methods; with microscopy reporting a prevalence of 16%; 95% CI 13.0-18% and combination of microscopy with RDT reporting 9%; 95% CI 4.0-14.0%. The prevalence increased from 13% (95% CI 10.0-17%) before the onset of COVID-19 pandemic to 15% (95% CI 14.0-10.0%) after the onset. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species, accounting 9% (95% CI 6-11%) of the infection followed by P. vivax at 5% (95% CI 4-5%). Significant predictors of malarial infection included, the presence of stagnant water near residences (OR = 2.64; 95% CI 2.09-3.34), engagement in outdoor night activities (OR = 1.69; 95% CI 1.33-2.16), and lack of insecticide treated net (ITN) utilization (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.71-2.46).

CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that malaria remained a considerable public health burden in the Amhara National Regional State with Plasmodium falciparum as the dominant species. Malaria prevalence varied across administrative zones, diagnostic methods, study seasons, and study periods. Environmental and behavioural factors significantly contributed to malaria transmission, highlighting the need for a strengthened and targeted malaria prevention and controlled interventions in the region.},
}

Prevalence
Risk Factors
Humans
Ethiopia/epidemiology
*Malaria/epidemiology/parasitology
*Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology/parasitology

@article {pmid42415124,
year = {2026},
author = {Sewell, PE and Jensen, C},
title = {Clinical rationale for thymic restoration in adult immunosenescence.},
journal = {Immunity & ageing : I & A},
volume = {23},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42415124},
issn = {1742-4933},
abstract = {Age-related thymic involution is a central feature of immunosenescence and intersects with multiple "hallmarks of aging", including genomic instability, telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. The decline in thymic epithelial integrity and FOXN1-driven thymopoiesis reduces naïve T-cell output, contracts TCR repertoire diversity, and perturbs central tolerance, contributing to increased susceptibility to infection, cancer, and autoimmunity. These changes occur alongside broader immune-aging phenomena such as inflammaging and frailty and are reflected in poorer vaccine responses and altered outcomes to novel pathogens such as SARS-CoV‑2. This review integrates mechanistic, preclinical, and human data to reassess the adult thymus as a therapeutic target. Higher-confidence domains for thymic restoration include cancer immunosurveillance, infectious disease vulnerability, vaccine responsiveness, and post-treatment immune reconstitution, supported by modeling of age-related disease incidence, transplant and HIV cohorts, and new observational links between radiographic thymic health, mortality, and immunotherapy outcomes. High-plausibility but less directly validated domains include autoimmunity, chronic herpesvirus control, HIV immunological non-responders, and post-acute infection syndromes such as long COVID, which share convergent patterns of T-cell dysfunction and persistent immune activation. The translational landscape spans hormonal and somatotropic modulation (sex steroid ablation, growth hormone/ghrelin), cytokine and growth-factor strategies (IL‑7, IL‑22, KGF/BMP4, FGF21), cell- and tissue-engineering approaches leveraging thymic epithelial stem cells and FOXN1-reprogrammed stromal cells, and gene-therapy concepts such as intrathymic AAV delivery of FOXN1, AIRE, chemokines, and stromal-support pathways. Collectively, these data support the biological plausibility of adult thymus restoration but highlight that robust, domain-specific clinical benefits have not yet been demonstrated in controlled trials. Future work should prioritize harmonized structural and functional biomarkers, domain-focused interventional studies in high-risk populations, and combined strategies that situate thymus-directed interventions within broader efforts to modify immune and organismal aging.},
}

@article {pmid42415281,
year = {2026},
author = {Aldana, BI and Freude, K},
title = {Chemokines in Alzheimer's Disease: Early Defence, Late Damage and the Impact of Sex and Infection.},
journal = {Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology},
volume = {139},
number = {2},
pages = {e70273},
pmid = {42415281},
issn = {1742-7843},
support = {R434-2023-242//Lundbeck Foundation/ ; N/A//Alzheimersfonden/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; *Alzheimer Disease/immunology/metabolism ; Brain/immunology/metabolism ; *Chemokines/metabolism/immunology ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/immunology ; Receptors, Chemokine/metabolism ; Sex Characteristics ; Sex Factors ; Signal Transduction ; Virus Diseases/immunology ; },
abstract = {Chemokines constitute a versatile signalling network maintaining homeostasis and glia-neuron communication in the healthy brain but become progressively dysregulated during aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review examines how chemokine systems transition from tightly regulated homeostatic signals to drivers of chronic neuroinflammation in AD. We describe the major chemokine families (CC, CXC, CX3C) and their dominant central nervous system (CNS) receptors (CCR2, CXCR3, CX3CR1), which activate canonical inflammatory pathways including NF-κB, JAK/STAT and PI3K-AKT. In AD, chemokine dysregulation occurs in a coordinated manner across multiple functional modules, including recruitment-associated (CCL2, CXCL1), interferon-inducible (CXCL10), loss-of-restraint (CX3CL1) and vascular-associated chemokines. These alterations shift the network from regulated immune communication to self-sustaining inflammatory circuits perpetuating chronic neuroinflammation. These networks reprogram microglia and astrocytes into disease-associated phenotypes, amplify peripheral immune cell infiltration and destabilise synaptic function. Biological sex profoundly influences neuroinflammatory trajectories, with females exhibiting enhanced microglial senescence and interferon signalling, while males show accelerated complement activation. Viral pathogens, particularly neurotropic viruses (HSV-1, HHV-6, VZV) and SARS-CoV-2, actively reprogram chemokine networks, linking infection to amyloid-β accumulation, tau pathology and neurodegeneration. Therapeutically, chemokine axes represent precision targets requiring stage-matched, sex-stratified interventions rather than broad anti-inflammatory approaches. Understanding chemokine network dynamics offers mechanistic insights into AD pathogenesis and could provide pointers for therapeutic strategies.},
}

Animals
Female
Humans
Male
*Alzheimer Disease/immunology/metabolism
Brain/immunology/metabolism
*Chemokines/metabolism/immunology
Neuroinflammatory Diseases/immunology
Receptors, Chemokine/metabolism
Sex Characteristics
Sex Factors
Signal Transduction
Virus Diseases/immunology

@article {pmid42415571,
year = {2026},
author = {Kılıç, S},
title = {Effectiveness of manual detorsion in the treatment of testicular torsion: systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {The Canadian journal of urology},
volume = {33},
number = {3},
pages = {505-514},
pmid = {42415571},
issn = {1488-5581},
mesh = {Humans ; Male ; *Spermatic Cord Torsion/therapy/surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Orchiectomy ; *Musculoskeletal Manipulations/methods ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Testicular torsion is the most common surgical cause of an acute scrotum. Manuel detorsion renewed attention as a practical initial treatment, particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the current literature to determine whether manual detorsion offers a viable alternative to immediate surgery in improving testicular salvage rates.

METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251039489). Studies including ≥30 male patients comparing manual detorsion and surgical exploration were included. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, TR Index, and Web of Science. Risk of bias was assessed using a predefined scoring system based on methodology, sample size, and follow-up objectivity. Data were synthesized using RevMan 5.4 to calculate pooled risk ratios.

RESULTS: Eight retrospective studies involving a total of 670 patients were included. Patients were divided into a manual detorsion group (G1, n = 394) and a surgical exploration group (G2, n = 316). Success rates of manual detorsion ranged from 15% to 76%, while orchiectomy rates were lower in G1 (0% to 10.3%) compared to G2 (0% to 43.8%). The pooled success rate of manual detorsion was 75.7%. Although orchiectomy rates appeared numerically lower in the manual detorsion group (3.8% vs. 29.2%), the pooled analysis did not demonstrate a statistically significant overall difference between the two groups (risk ratio [RR] = 1.23; 95% CI: 0.82-1.84; p = 0.31).

CONCLUSION: Manual detorsion appears time-saving and effective maneuver. To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis focused exclusively on manual detorsion, and it supports its consideration as an initial management strategy in selected clinical scenarios.},
}

Humans
Male
*Spermatic Cord Torsion/therapy/surgery
Treatment Outcome
Orchiectomy
*Musculoskeletal Manipulations/methods

@article {pmid42415773,
year = {2026},
author = {Kusunoki, H and Sakai, R and Watanabe, Y and Kakeya, H},
title = {Persistent excess mortality in post-pandemic Japan: current evidence, methodological limitations, and future directions.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1878166},
pmid = {42415773},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Japan/epidemiology ; Humans ; *COVID-19/mortality/prevention & control ; *Mortality/trends ; COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Immunization, Secondary ; },
abstract = {More than six years after the emergence of COVID-19, Japan continues to experience persistently elevated excess mortality despite entering a post-pandemic phase. Excess mortality, defined as the difference between observed and expected deaths, reflects both direct and indirect effects of the pandemic, including healthcare disruption, delayed care, and broader social changes. In Japan, mortality decreased slightly in 2020 but increased markedly from 2022 onward, with annual excess deaths approaching 100,000, despite widespread vaccination and the predominance of the less virulent Omicron variant. Multiple factors may underlie this sustained increase, including population aging, changes in healthcare access, delayed diagnosis and treatment, regional disparities, and psychosocial stress. Some ecological and observational studies have reported a statistical association between repeated COVID-19 booster vaccination and excess mortality in Japan; however, these findings do not establish causality, and a causal relationship cannot currently be concluded. Against this background, this narrative review examines persistent excess mortality in Japan, uses the literature on repeated booster vaccination as an illustrative example to highlight methodological limitations, and discusses the need for nationwide, linked individual-level data infrastructure and appropriate analytical frameworks for more robust future evaluations.},
}

Japan/epidemiology
Humans
*COVID-19/mortality/prevention & control
*Mortality/trends
COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Immunization, Secondary

@article {pmid42415774,
year = {2026},
author = {You, Q and Li, J and Yang, L and Zhang, Y and Chen, L},
title = {Prevalence of secondary traumatic stress in nurses: a meta-analysis of observational studies.},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
volume = {14},
number = {},
pages = {1877091},
pmid = {42415774},
issn = {2296-2565},
mesh = {Humans ; *Compassion Fatigue/epidemiology ; COVID-19/epidemiology ; *Nurses/psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Observational Studies as Topic ; Prevalence ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The reported prevalence of secondary traumatic stress (STS) among nurses varies considerably across studies, ranging from 22. 1 to 84.4%. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of STS and identify potential moderating factors among nurses.

METHODS: From the inception of each target database to April 2026, a comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. We calculated the pooled prevalence of STS using a random-effects model and assessed heterogeneity using the I[2] statistic. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS: A total of 28 studies comprising 7,090 nurses were included. The pooled prevalence of STS in nurses was 57.3% (95% CI: 49.7-64.9%). STS prevalence was significantly associated with mean age (β = -0.064, p = 0.023), work experience (β = -0.080, p = 0.040), publication year (during COVID-19: β = 0.979, p = 0.024; after COVID-19: β = 0.848, p = 0.030), and geographic region (North America: β = -0.881, p = 0.019; Europe: β = -1.031, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that STS was very prevalent in nurses, and the prevalence is moderated by mean age, work experience, publication year, and geographic region. Regular STS assessments and multi-level support systems, such as early warning, peer support, and mental health training, are recommended to reduce STS risk and enhance the wellbeing of nurses.},
}

Humans
*Compassion Fatigue/epidemiology
COVID-19/epidemiology
*Nurses/psychology/statistics & numerical data
Observational Studies as Topic
Prevalence

@article {pmid42415809,
year = {2026},
author = {Sun, C and Chen, Q and Wang, Y and Yuan, S and Su, Y and Zhang, L},
title = {A visualization analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine for influenza prevention and treatment: advances, hotspots, and future trends.},
journal = {Frontiers in medicine},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1852941},
pmid = {42415809},
issn = {2296-858X},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: As an acute respiratory infectious disease, influenza continues to impose a substantial public health burden worldwide. This study aims to systematically review the progress of research on the treatment of influenza with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from 2005 to 2025, identify current research hotspots, and forecast future development trends, in order to provide a clear and systematic reference framework for subsequent research.

METHODS: A bibliometric and scientometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC), PubMed, and Scopus databases. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, the retrieved records underwent a comprehensive deduplication process and stringent quality control checks. By comprehensively applying CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R-based Bibliometrix package, metrics and visualization were performed across multiple dimensions, including publication volume, geographical contribution, annual trends, national/regional influence, core authors and institutions, and keywords.

RESULTS: A total of 1,527 publications were included in this study. Since 2014, publication output in this field has shown significant growth, with a rapid upward trend emerging after 2020. At the national and institutional level, China ranked first globally in both the number of publications and total citation frequency. Research institutions in China not only serve as the dominant force in this field but also act as hubs for international collaboration. Notable contributions were made by institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Journal analysis revealed that the Journal of Ethnopharmacology is the most influential journal in this domain. In terms of scholarly impact, Yang Zifeng ranked first in both h-index and publication output, establishing them as the most prolific and influential core scholar in the field. Keyword analysis indicated that research focuses on core themes such as "herbal medicine" and "antiviral activity." The evolutionary trajectory demonstrates a shift from traditional clinical practice toward modern mechanistic investigation. Driven by emerging public health events such as COVID-19, the field has rapidly integrated cutting-edge methodologies like network pharmacology, reflecting distinct characteristics of contemporary responsiveness and interdisciplinary convergence.

CONCLUSION: This analysis confirms that TCM for influenza has matured into a structured and interdisciplinary research field. Substantial evidence supports its multi-component and multi-target therapeutic model as a clinically effective strategy against influenza. Future efforts should prioritize the integration of mechanistic insights with standardized clinical translation to enhance global antiviral preparedness.},
}

@article {pmid42416292,
year = {2026},
author = {Kim, SJ and Choi, KS},
title = {Vaccination-driven evolution of infectious bronchitis virus in Korea: implication for the control of other coronavirus infections.},
journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1859772},
pmid = {42416292},
issn = {2297-1769},
abstract = {Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) remains a major pathogen in global poultry production due to its extensive genetic diversity and rapid evolutionary capacity. Antigenic diversification driven by mutation, homologous recombination, and sustained immune selection pressure complicates long-term control and reduces vaccine effectiveness. Increasing evidence suggests that IBV evolution is largely driven by the selective expansion of pre-existing variants under changing ecological and immunological conditions, rather than by the de novo emergence of novel lineages. South Korea provides a valuable model for understanding these processes within intensive poultry systems characterized by high host density, extensive farm connectivity, widespread vaccination, and long-term molecular surveillance. Since its first isolation in 1986, IBV in Korea has undergone repeated cycles of lineage emergence, diversification, and replacement, culminating in the predominance of nephropathogenic GI-19 viruses, including KM91 and QX-like variants. Persistent co-circulation of multiple lineages, together with frequent recombination and regional viral introduction, has shaped a highly dynamic viral population. Within this environment, vaccination plays a central yet paradoxical role. While essential for disease control, widespread vaccination imposes continuous immune selection pressure and may contribute to co-circulation of vaccine-derived and field strains, facilitating recombination and the emergence of immune escape variants. These processes drive lineage turnover and antigenic mismatch between circulating viruses and vaccine strains, forming a vaccination-driven evolutionary cycle. This review integrates global IBV diversity with insights from the Korean system to propose an evolution-centered framework in which viral genetic plasticity, host population dynamics, and vaccination practices interact. These findings have important implications for optimizing vaccination strategies and provide broader insights into the evolutionary dynamics of rapidly evolving RNA viruses under sustained immune pressure.},
}

@article {pmid42417247,
year = {2026},
author = {Gong, H and Cai, C},
title = {Plastic antibodies that see viruses: optical sensing with molecularly imprinted polymers.},
journal = {Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)},
volume = {62},
number = {57},
pages = {14113-14125},
doi = {10.1039/d6cc03116a},
pmid = {42417247},
issn = {1364-548X},
mesh = {*Molecularly Imprinted Polymers/chemistry ; *Antibodies/chemistry/immunology ; SARS-CoV-2/immunology/isolation & purification ; *Biosensing Techniques/methods ; Polymers/chemistry ; Surface Plasmon Resonance ; Humans ; },
abstract = {The need for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of viral pathogens has never been more apparent. Molecularly imprinted polymers have emerged as robust synthetic receptors that rival biological antibodies in affinity and specificity, while offering superior chemical stability, low cost, and design flexibility. This Feature Article focuses on recent advances in the integration of virus-imprinted polymers with optical transducers, creating powerful platforms for viral diagnostics. We discuss key imprinting strategies including solid-phase synthesis, epitope imprinting, and nanogel approaches that enable precise recognition of whole viruses or their surface proteins. The optical readout mechanisms-fluorescence, resonance light scattering, colorimetric/visual detection, and surface plasmon resonance-are critically reviewed, with emphasis on signal amplification, multiplexing, and point-of-care deployment. Special attention is paid to the work of our group and others in engineering paper-based sensors, ratiometric probes, and smartphone-readable devices that detect viruses from Hepatitis A and B to SARS-CoV-2 and influenza at femtomolar or even attomolar levels. Current challenges and future directions for virus-imprinted optical sensors are discussed, highlighting the road toward commercial and clinical translation.},
}

*Molecularly Imprinted Polymers/chemistry
*Antibodies/chemistry/immunology
SARS-CoV-2/immunology/isolation & purification
*Biosensing Techniques/methods
Polymers/chemistry
Surface Plasmon Resonance
Humans

@article {pmid42417638,
year = {2026},
author = {Bendoumou, M and Langlet, P and Gustot, T},
title = {Auto-immune hepatitis following COVID-19 Vaccination and SARS-COV2 infection : A narrative Review.},
journal = {Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica},
volume = {89},
number = {2},
pages = {341-354},
doi = {10.51821/89.2.15138},
pmid = {42417638},
issn = {1784-3227},
mesh = {Humans ; *Hepatitis, Autoimmune/etiology/immunology/drug therapy/diagnosis ; *COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology/immunology ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects ; Female ; SARS-CoV-2 ; *Vaccination/adverse effects ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination have been implicated as potential triggers for de novo autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). This review summarizes published cases, outlining clinical and biological features, treatment approaches, and outcomes.

METHODS: A PubMed search identified reports of new-onset AIH following SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination up to February 1, 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed case reports, series, and reviews. Data were extracted on demographics, vaccine type, onset timing, laboratory findings, histology, treatments, and outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 74 post-vaccination AIH cases and 22 post-infection cases were included. Post-vaccination AIH predominantly affected older women (median age 62) and occurred mainly after mRNA vaccines, with a median onset of 14 days. Most patients showed marked transaminase elevation, high IgG, and positive ANA (74.3%). Liver biopsies (performed in 92% of cases) showed features compatible with AIH. A total of 80% of the 50 cases of our study with available serology and liver histology were classified as probable / definite AIH, according to the simplified AIH score. Corticosteroid therapy was effective in most cases (survival 95.9%). Post-infection AIH cases showed similar features but affected younger individuals (median age 47), with uniformly favorable responses to immunosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS: New-onset AIH can occur following both SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. Although these events remain rare, recognition of this association is essential for timely diagnosis and management.},
}

Humans
*Hepatitis, Autoimmune/etiology/immunology/drug therapy/diagnosis
*COVID-19/prevention & control/epidemiology/immunology
*COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects
Female
SARS-CoV-2
*Vaccination/adverse effects

@article {pmid42417685,
year = {2026},
author = {Hovnanian, A and Mondon, G and Titeux, M},
title = {History and future of RNA medicines.},
journal = {The Journal of investigative dermatology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jid.2026.05.023},
pmid = {42417685},
issn = {1523-1747},
abstract = {RNA therapeutics are a versatile class of medicines that exploit different types of RNA molecules to prevent or treat a wide spectrum of diseases. Compared with traditional small-molecule drugs, protein drugs, or gene therapies, these therapies offer notable advantages, including faster, less expensive development, and simplified manufacturing. The field encompasses multiple modalities, such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, microRNAs, mRNAs, and aptamers. The success of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has accelerated research and clinical translation of RNA approaches for conditions with limited treatment options, including chronic wounds, aggressive metastatic melanoma, and autoimmune and genetic skin diseases.},
}

@article {pmid42417944,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Y and Yu, W and Yun, J and Wang, J and Liu, Y and Su, H and Guo, H and Yang, J and Yan, Y and Yan, X and Zhang, S and Yang, H and Wang, Z},
title = {Virus infections and cancers: from mechanisms to therapeutics.},
journal = {Molecular biomedicine},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42417944},
issn = {2662-8651},
support = {202503021211266//The Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province/ ; 2021M691995//china postdoctoral foundation committee/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Neoplasms/virology/therapy ; Tumor Microenvironment ; *Oncogenic Viruses/genetics ; *Virus Diseases/therapy/complications/virology ; *Tumor Virus Infections/therapy ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Viral infections are a major contributor to global cancer incidence and mortality. However, integrative reviews that connect viral classification, carcinogenic mechanisms, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and translational strategies remain limited. This review summarizes the classification and epidemiological characteristics of major oncogenic viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as well as emerging viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We then discuss the molecular basis of virus-associated carcinogenesis, including viral oncogenes, viral DNA integration, epigenetic remodeling, aberrant host signaling, and metabolic dysregulation. We further examine how chronic inflammation and fibrosis create oncogenic niches within the tumor microenvironment (TME), how viruses promote tumor progression through immune evasion and immune exhaustion, and how infected cells interact with stromal and immune components of the TME. At the preventive and therapeutic levels, we discuss antiviral therapies, vaccines, biomarker-based precision diagnostics, and prognostic strategies, with particular attention to the synergistic potential of emerging therapeutic approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), CAR-T therapy, and oncolytic viruses (OVs). Finally, we highlight how multi-omics approaches, single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, organoid models, and artificial intelligence can advance mechanistic studies and translational innovation in virus-associated cancers. Overall, this review provides an integrated framework for understanding, preventing, and treating virus-associated tumorigenesis.},
}

Humans
*Neoplasms/virology/therapy
Tumor Microenvironment
*Oncogenic Viruses/genetics
*Virus Diseases/therapy/complications/virology
*Tumor Virus Infections/therapy
Animals

@article {pmid42418812,
year = {2026},
author = {Tse, WC and Ajluni, T and Chene, C and Leach, D and Leech, M},
title = {Safeguarding medical empathy and cultivating compassion in contemporary medicine.},
journal = {Internal medicine journal},
volume = {56},
number = {9},
pages = {1660-1663},
pmid = {42418812},
issn = {1445-5994},
mesh = {Humans ; Burnout, Professional/prevention & control/psychology ; Compassion Fatigue/prevention & control ; *Education, Medical ; *Empathy ; Physician-Patient Relations ; *Students, Medical/psychology ; },
abstract = {Empathy and compassion are both fundamental to patient-centred care, enhancing satisfaction, adherence and outcomes while improving clinician well-being. However, certain aspects of medical culture may put these emotional qualities at risk. The preclinical-to-clinical transition exposes students to hierarchical structures, time constraints and performance expectations prioritising technical competence over interpersonal skills. Negative role modelling, rushed consultations and inadequate emotional support normalise emotional detachment. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified burnout and moral injury, while societal desensitisation through social media compounds these effects. Although medical humanities programmes show promise, meaningful change requires addressing both curricula and clinical environments through structured reflection, compassion-focused training and recognising empathy fatigue as an occupational hazard, reaffirming medicine's ethical foundations.},
}

Humans
Burnout, Professional/prevention & control/psychology
Compassion Fatigue/prevention & control
*Education, Medical
*Empathy
Physician-Patient Relations
*Students, Medical/psychology

@article {pmid42420694,
year = {2026},
author = {Mosa, KA and Khare, T and Syed, F and Sirajudeen, F and Afzal, S and Dairi, Z and Younus, K and Chauhan, V and Kumar, A and Shaaban, AM and Katoch, M},
title = {Plant Biofactories for Vaccination: Progress in Edible Vaccine Technologies as a Sustainable Approach to Global Immunization.},
journal = {Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)},
volume = {81},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {42420694},
issn = {1573-9104},
support = {24021450161//Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Sharjah/ ; },
mesh = {*Vaccines, Edible/immunology ; Humans ; Animals ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; *Vaccination/veterinary/methods ; Vaccine Development ; },
abstract = {Globally, the pathogen-driven enteric diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, disproportionately affecting populations in low-income regions. While significant strides have been made in vaccine research, challenges such as high production costs, complex manufacturing processes, and inefficient distribution continue to hinder global vaccine accessibility. To overcome these challenges, plant-based edible vaccines have emerged as a promising and innovative alternative, offering advantages such as affordability, ease of administration, and reduced reliance on cold-chain infrastructure. This study presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the development of edible plant-derived vaccines, highlighting the strategic evolution from conventional genetic engineering to more refined and scalable biotechnological methods. In the work, various applications targeting diseases such as measles, hepatitis B, rabies, dengue, and norovirus, are discussed as well as veterinary vaccines for livestock and aquaculture. The significant progress in creating vaccines targeting prevalent human pathogens is examined and the discussion is extended to include edible vaccines developed for livestock, underscoring their role in both public and veterinary health. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the transformative potential of 'omics' technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, as well as artificial intelligence in streamlining vaccine design, improving antigen expression, and accelerating development timelines. This assessment review was conducted by performing a comprehensive literature survey of peer-reviewed articles. By integrating multidisciplinary insights, the work underscores the feasibility and future prospects of edible plant vaccines as a sustainable solution to global immunization challenges, with practical applications in improving vaccine accessibility, enhancing outbreak preparedness, and supporting immunization efforts in resource-limited settings. It aims to inform and inspire continued research and collaborative innovation in this emerging field with significant implications for global public health.},
}

*Vaccines, Edible/immunology
Humans
Animals
Plants, Genetically Modified
*Vaccination/veterinary/methods
Vaccine Development

@article {pmid42420701,
year = {2026},
author = {Zeng, Y and Fu, BM and Tarbell, JM},
title = {Endothelial Surface Glycocalyx in Vascular Functions and Diseases.},
journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology},
volume = {1512},
number = {},
pages = {1-42},
pmid = {42420701},
issn = {0065-2598},
mesh = {*Glycocalyx/metabolism/ultrastructure/pathology/physiology ; Humans ; *Mechanotransduction, Cellular/physiology ; Animals ; *Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism/pathology ; *Vascular Diseases/metabolism/pathology ; *Endothelial Cells/metabolism/pathology ; },
abstract = {Endothelial cells (ECs), which form the inner lining of the vasculature, are perpetually exposed to mechanical stimuli from blood flow. Their capacity to sense and respond to these forces is essential for vascular homeostasis. A diverse array of mechanosensors operates on the EC surface, within the plasma membrane, and throughout the cytoskeleton. Among these, the endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG)-uniquely positioned at the blood-endothelium interface and intimately linked to classical mechanosensory complexes-has emerged as a pivotal yet underappreciated regulator. Once viewed merely as a passive barrier, the ESG is now acknowledged as a primary mechanosensor that converts hemodynamic forces into biochemical signals critical for vascular health. This updated chapter from the first edition offers a comprehensive review of the ESG. We begin with its molecular composition, ultrastructural organization, and variable thickness, as elucidated by advanced imaging techniques such as immunolabeling, electron microscopy, and super-resolution microscopy. Next, we examine the ESG's biomechanical properties and its central role in endothelial mechanotransduction and barrier regulation. We then explore its dynamic remodeling in response to physiological and pathological stimuli, with a focus on degradation in major vascular diseases. ESG shedding is not only a hallmark but also a causal driver of pathophysiology in conditions including atherosclerosis, sepsis, diabetes, cancer metastasis, and COVID-19-associated endotheliopathy. Finally, we spotlight emerging diagnostic tools for evaluating ESG integrity and review promising therapeutic strategies to preserve or restore its structure and function.},
}

*Glycocalyx/metabolism/ultrastructure/pathology/physiology
Humans
*Mechanotransduction, Cellular/physiology
Animals
*Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism/pathology
*Vascular Diseases/metabolism/pathology
*Endothelial Cells/metabolism/pathology

@article {pmid42421001,
year = {2026},
author = {Nila, FH and Villeneuve, M and Chang, KJ and Subramaniam, P},
title = {Service continuity of community-based health and social care organisations in times of disaster and health emergencies: a mapping review.},
journal = {BMC health services research},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {42421001},
issn = {1472-6963},
mesh = {Humans ; *Community Health Services/organization & administration ; *Continuity of Patient Care/organization & administration ; *Disaster Planning/organization & administration ; *Disasters ; *Emergencies ; *Social Work/organization & administration ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The physical and economic impacts of disaster and health emergencies have become a global concern that continues to generate discussion regarding disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation strategies. Maintaining continuity of services during these challenging and dynamic circumstances requires adequate organisational preparedness. This study aimed to map the existing research on the emergency management capabilities of community-based health and social care organisations and identify the factors that impact service continuity as a critical component of business continuity planning.

METHOD: This mapping review was carried out in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Eight databases were searched: Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, EBSCOhost. Studies written in English and published between January 2000 and August 2022 were included. Eligible studies were primarily focused on business or service continuity of community-based health and social care organisations. Thematic analysis of data was conducted.

RESULTS: Out of 3,195 articles, 176 met the inclusion criteria, mostly conducted in developed countries. These studies investigated various natural hazard emergencies, disease outbreaks, and pandemics, using different study designs, offering valuable insights into emergency management capabilities of community-based health and social care organisations across the disaster cycle. The findings suggest that several factors can serve as both barriers and enablers to the continuity of care, depending on the context and the specific stage of the disaster cycle at which they are addressed. Limited research was found on organisational preparedness for at-risk clients, including the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, there is a scarcity of research on the prevention and recovery stages of the emergency management cycle.

CONCLUSION: This mapping review offers a comprehensive overview of the factors influencing service continuity, highlights existing research gaps and targeted recommendation for service providers and governments to inform effective planning that ensures continuity of service and supports for people whose health, safety and well-being can be compromised in emergency situations. Future research could focus on strengthening organisational resilience during the prevention phase, examine tools and approaches for optimising emergency management efforts, and investigate strategies to improve cross-sector collaboration across all stages of disaster management cycle.},
}

Humans
*Community Health Services/organization & administration
*Continuity of Patient Care/organization & administration
*Disaster Planning/organization & administration
*Disasters
*Emergencies
*Social Work/organization & administration

@article {pmid42421498,
year = {2026},
author = {Carnevali, F and Muollo, MC and Biagini, L and Rossi, G},
title = {Xenosialylation as immunological chimerism: a host-centered unifying model for viral and post-vaccination immune complications.},
journal = {European cytokine network},
volume = {37},
number = {2},
pages = {55-77},
pmid = {42421498},
issn = {1952-4005},
mesh = {Humans ; Glycosylation ; *COVID-19/immunology/prevention & control ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *Vaccination/adverse effects ; *COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology/adverse effects ; Neuraminic Acids/immunology ; *Models, Immunological ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Severe immune-mediated complications following viral infections and vaccinations, including COVID-19 and anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunization, display remarkable clinical overlap despite occurring in distinct biological contexts. In a previous hypothesis-driven work, we proposed that metabolic incorporation of the non-human sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) into human glycoconjugates-defined as xenosialylation-may contribute to post-infectious and post-vaccination immune dysregulation. We further suggest that this phenomenon may represent a form of "immunological chimerism", in which host glycoconjugates incorporate non-self molecular structures that predispose the immune system to varying degrees of immune imbalance. In its most severe manifestation, this process may culminate in a profound state of immune dysregulation characterized by loss of immune tolerance, aberrant antibody responses, cytokine storm, and thrombo-inflammatory pathology, which we define as "immunological marasmus". In the present paper, we extend this conceptual framework by integrating glycobiology, Fc immunoglobulin glycosylation, endothelial biology, and sex-dependent immune regulation into a unified, testable immunopathogenic model. We hypothesize that interindividual differences in the extent, tissue distribution, and persistence of xenosialylation may influence susceptibility to exaggerated innate and adaptive immune responses following antigenic challenge. In this context, immune activation may unmask pre-existing xeno-sialylated self-structures embedded within host glycans, promoting varying degrees of glycan dysregulation, autoantibody production, immunothrombosis and chronic inflammatory sequelae. We further propose circulating anti-Neu5Gc antibodies as functional biomarkers for risk stratification and outline preventive strategies based on dietary modulation of xenosialic acid exposure. Taken together, this expanded model provides a potential mechanistic framework for understanding the shared immunological features of post-viral syndromes and vaccine-related adverse immune reactions, while offering a basis for experimental validation and future approaches to personalized risk mitigation.},
}

Humans
Glycosylation
*COVID-19/immunology/prevention & control
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*Vaccination/adverse effects
*COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology/adverse effects
Neuraminic Acids/immunology
*Models, Immunological
Animals

@article {pmid42421939,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, E and Shi, M and Huang, S},
title = {New-onset allergic diseases after SARS-CoV-2 infection: mechanistic hypotheses and emerging strategies for risk stratification.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1879430},
pmid = {42421939},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/immunology/complications ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; *Hypersensitivity/immunology/epidemiology ; Animals ; Risk Assessment ; },
abstract = {Multinational cohort studies consistently associate SARS-CoV-2 infection with elevated incidence of allergic diseases, with hazard ratios of 2.25 for asthma and 1.23 for allergic rhinitis persisting beyond six months post-infection; whether this excess risk reflects de novo allergic sensitization or preferential unmasking of pre-existing subclinical atopy remains to be established. Yet mechanisms bridging acute viral illness to delayed allergic phenotypes remain incompletely understood. This review synthesizes recent advances across epithelial biology, immunology, and neuroimmune interactions to propose a unified mechanistic framework organized around three interconnected axes. First, epithelial injury during COVID-19 triggers passive IL-33 release while inducing active TSLP and IL-25 production. These alarmins act through mechanistically distinct pathways to converge on type 2 immune priming, which is established and reinforced by epigenetic memory in group 2 innate lymphoid cells and dendritic cells. Second, regulatory T cell depletion and, hypothetically, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell epigenetic reprogramming driven by acute interleukin-6 elevation may generate immune cell progeny with persistently altered inflammatory responsiveness, while dendritic cells adopt Th2-polarizing phenotypes that lower the threshold for allergic sensitization; the direct contribution of hematopoietic reprogramming to Th2-skewed allergic outcomes remains to be demonstrated. Third, mast cells undergo direct spike protein-mediated activation via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, and alarmin-primed mast cells establish bidirectional crosstalk with sensory neurons that amplifies neuroinflammation and links long COVID symptoms to heightened allergic susceptibility. Together, these axes define a post-infectious vulnerability window during which allergen encounters trigger exaggerated type 2 responses. Risk stratification incorporating disease severity, circulating biomarkers including immunoglobulin E and eosinophil counts, and genetic susceptibility variants may identify individuals requiring targeted surveillance, while mechanistically informed interventions such as low-dose interleukin-2, mast cell stabilizers, and alarmin-targeted biologics warrant prospective evaluation in convalescent cohorts.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/immunology/complications
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
*Hypersensitivity/immunology/epidemiology
Animals
Risk Assessment

@article {pmid42421948,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, A and Chen, H and Liu, Q and Al-Azab, M and Shaher, F and Li, J and Liu, T and Yang, M},
title = {Cardiovascular sequelae of Long COVID: immune dysregulation inflammation as central drivers.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1815269},
pmid = {42421948},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/immunology/complications ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *Cardiovascular Diseases/immunology/etiology ; *Inflammation/immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; *SARS-CoV-2/immunology ; Animals ; Adaptive Immunity ; },
abstract = {Long coronavirus disease 2019 (Long COVID-19), also referred to as post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has emerged as a major global health challenge. Common manifestations include fatigue, dyspnea, cognitive dysfunction, and exercise intolerance. Beyond these systemic manifestations, the enduring cardiovascular manifestations are increasingly identified as core characteristics of Long COVID-19 syndromes secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection, encompassing myocarditis, ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and thrombotic events. Accumulating evidence suggests that immune dysregulation and persistent inflammation are central drivers of cardiovascular injury in Long COVID. Persistent activation of innate and adaptive immune pathways fosters endothelial injury, thrombo-inflammation, and adverse myocardial remodeling. In this review, we focus on current clinical and experimental evidence to delineate the immune-mediated mechanisms underlying cardiovascular sequelae in Long COVID and explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/immunology/complications
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*Cardiovascular Diseases/immunology/etiology
*Inflammation/immunology
Immunity, Innate
*SARS-CoV-2/immunology
Animals
Adaptive Immunity

@article {pmid42421959,
year = {2026},
author = {Bansal, A},
title = {Proteomic landscapes of post-COVID condition: biomarkers and translational pathways.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1783192},
pmid = {42421959},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Biomarkers/blood/metabolism ; *Proteomics/methods ; *COVID-19/complications/immunology/metabolism ; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome ; *SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {Post-COVID condition is a heterogeneous, multi-system sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection that imposes substantial socioeconomic burden and currently needs validated diagnostic biomarkers or established therapeutic pathways. This brief communication synthesises blood-based proteomic and targeted biomarker evidence and organises it into three overlapping pathophysiological domains: persistent immune dysregulation (IL-6, IL-20, MCP-1 and TNF- α), endothelial dysfunction and disordered haemostasis (VEGF-A, P-selectin, vWF, ICAM-1 and D-dimer); and neurological injury (NFL, GFAP, NAAA, LXN, NBL1, HAGH). Across studies, no single protein provides adequate diagnostic performance; phenotype-linked multi-analyte panels show the greatest promise. Researching post-COVID conditions requires harmonised case definitions, cross-platform validation, and the integration of coagulation assays and extracellular vesicle profiling to improve tissue signal detection.},
}

Humans
*Biomarkers/blood/metabolism
*Proteomics/methods
*COVID-19/complications/immunology/metabolism
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
*SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42421968,
year = {2026},
author = {Ramesh, RP and Premraj, A and Yasmin, H and Alkaabi, H and Dodan, S and Almahri, M and Alameri, N and Alyaarbi, YY and Mohteshamuddin, K and Al Aiyan, A and George, AJT and Conca, W and Kishore, U},
title = {Delving into the innate and adaptive immunity of camelids: a paradigm of interspecies adaptation and evolutionary innovation.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1833289},
pmid = {42421968},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Animals ; *Immunity, Innate ; *Adaptive Immunity ; *Camelidae/immunology/genetics ; *Biological Evolution ; Humans ; *Adaptation, Physiological/immunology ; Camelus/immunology ; },
abstract = {Camelids have evolved to survive some of the most challenging climatic conditions on our planet and are resilient to physiological stress such as temperature extremes, drought, storms, intense ultraviolet radiation, dehydration, and starvation. They exhibit remarkable resistance to several diseases that severely affect other livestock including tetanus, foot-and-mouth disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The robust nature of the camelid immune system, which maintains functionality under extreme conditions, is remarkable. The special features of the camelid immune system include differences (when compared to ruminants) in the distribution and anatomy of their lymphoid organs. The innate immune system merits further investigation, though potent antimicrobial peptides have been identified in camelid milk. It is in the adaptive immune response that the most distinctive aspects of the camelid immune system are seen, especially, the presence of heavy chain-only antibodies, somatic hypermutation of T cell receptors; in the dromedary, a significant number of γδ T cells. In this review, the interplay between innate and adaptive immunity in camelids is examined, highlighting their functions in systemic and mucosal immune defense. An understanding of these adaptations is important for the development of innovative biomedical applications, such as nanobody-based diagnostics and therapeutics. In addition, dromedary camels are the main likely animal reservoir for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), an emerging zoonotic pathogen with potential for large-scale human spillover. Finally, as climate change is likely to result in increased environmental stress worldwide, a comparison of how the immune system in different species has adapted to their environment will be important.},
}

Animals
*Immunity, Innate
*Adaptive Immunity
*Camelidae/immunology/genetics
*Biological Evolution
Humans
*Adaptation, Physiological/immunology
Camelus/immunology

@article {pmid42422050,
year = {2026},
author = {Ha, KM},
title = {A post-PHEIC review of cultural awareness in the COVID-19 response.},
journal = {Public health reviews},
volume = {47},
number = {},
pages = {1608243},
pmid = {42422050},
issn = {0301-0422},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: The PHEIC status of COVID-19 was officially lifted by the WHO on May 5, 2023. However, many nations continue to grapple with its impacts, particularly those that have not fully embraced the emergency culture. This study aims to explore ways to enhance emergency culture that rose during the COVID-19 response, ultimately contributing to effective pandemic management.

METHODS: A systematic literature review, including the PRISMA 2020 flow diagram and checklist, was used to compare cultural unawareness with cultural awareness across six nations: Japan, Sweden, South Africa, the United States, Brazil, and Australia.

RESULTS: To varying degrees, all six nations exhibited cultural unawareness during their COVID-19 responses, which manifested in issues such as personal responsibilities, herd immunity, inequalities, individualism, economic priorities, language barriers, and other factors.

CONCLUSION: These six nations must adaptively transform their cultural unawareness into cultural awareness while enhancing leadership, communication, cultural competence, emergency preparedness, and international cooperation. This study offers a comprehensive perspective on the emergency culture surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, emphasizing the critical importance of cultural awareness.},
}

@article {pmid42422161,
year = {2026},
author = {Santis, B and Baldo, F and Vento, G and Nobile, S},
title = {Impact of COVID-19 on Subsequent Lung Function in Childhood: A Systematized Review.},
journal = {Health science reports},
volume = {9},
number = {7},
pages = {e72793},
pmid = {42422161},
issn = {2398-8835},
abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to transiently altered lung function in adults, but data is less clear in children. We aimed to summarize the available evidence about respiratory outcomes after COVID-19 in childhood.

METHODS: We conducted a literature search on post-COVID-19 lung function tests (LFT) on the Medline and Cochrane databases, including studies published between 2019 and 2025.

RESULTS: Three hundred forty-seven publications were identified, and 20 were selected. Results are presented in two sections, based on the duration of follow-up. Most studies included spirometry, whereas many of them presented data from diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide, multiple breath nitrogen washout, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, impulse oscillometry, 6-minute walking test, and interrupter resistance. Five papers described no association between COVID-19 and respiratory outcomes, nor a link between the persistence of symptoms and the outcomes. Other authors reported a mild obstructive pattern which showed reversibility post bronchodilators, or a restrictive pattern, particularly when long-COVID was evident. Some papers showed that pulmonary function may be influenced by the initial severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

CONCLUSION: Some studies reported no clear association between lung function impairment and previous history of COVID-19. Other authors reported mild, transient consequences. A small number of papers concluded that severe infection, which is relatively rare in children, might affect pulmonary function. The main limitation of this review was the high heterogeneity of the included studies, especially regarding the COVID-19 severity, the age groups, the LFT details, and the duration of follow-up.},
}

@article {pmid42422237,
year = {2026},
author = {Garzón-Duque, MO and Rodriguez-Ospina, FL and Tobón, ST and Vasquez-Trespalacios, EM and Naranjo, VM},
title = {Food insecurity, habits, and working conditions in subsistence workers during COVID-19 isolation, Medellin, Colombia, 2021.},
journal = {Revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho : publicacao oficial da Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho-ANAMT},
volume = {24},
number = {},
pages = {e20261279},
pmid = {42422237},
issn = {1679-4435},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Mandatory isolation and quarantine measures implemented between 2020 and 2021 had important repercussions on labor dynamics.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the characteristics of COVID-19 isolation, as well as the habits and working conditions that characterize food insecurity in subsistence workers in Medellin, Colombia, in 2021.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study using primary data sources. An interviewer-administered survey was conducted among 656 workers selected through snowball sampling.

RESULTS: Overall, 56.4% were men and 74.7% were aged ≥45 years. Furthermore, 89.9% of women were the primary household income provider, and 74.8% did not have a partner. Alcohol and tobacco use were more frequent among men, and 43.0% of women consumed two meals a day. Furthermore, 95.6% of participants underwent mandatory quarantine; 73.2% remained isolated > 12 weeks; and 77.0% received support during isolation. The prevalence of moderate/severe food insecurity was 44.1%, increasing to 51.4% among women. Conditions characterizing food insecurity included being female, consuming one meal a day, not having a partner, being the primary household income provider, lacking work permit, not receiving government food assistance, making payment arrangements with landlords, and receiving food assistance from a university.

CONCLUSIONS: Although food insecurity decreased by 10 percentage points, the conditions characterizing it reveal the subsistence circumstances experienced by workers, particularly women, whose social and occupational disadvantage deepened.},
}

@article {pmid42424026,
year = {2026},
author = {Kianfar, E},
title = {Vitamins impacting mental/physical well-being during viral pandemics: a mechanistic review based on COVID-19: a comprehensive review.},
journal = {Inflammopharmacology},
volume = {34},
number = {8},
pages = {4969-5012},
pmid = {42424026},
issn = {1568-5608},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19 ; *Vitamins/therapeutic use/pharmacology/administration & dosage ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2 ; },
abstract = {The emergence of novel strains of SARS-CoV-2 highlights the pressing need to investigate various strategies for enhancing pandemic resilience. Even though tried-and-true methods like social separation, masks, and vaccinations have proven effective, issues with immunizations make finding a global answer more complex. This paper underscores the pivotal connection between immunological resilience and vitamins, shedding light on the compromised immune response resulting from undernourishment. Vitamins become essential for protecting the body from viral invasion, particularly from SARS-CoV-2. Crucial roles in cellular activities are played by vitamin A, which is necessary for vision, and the B-vitamin complex, which supports energy synthesis and nerve function. In the context of viral infections, the significance of vitamin D, crucial for both immune system function and bone health, along with vitamin C and its ability to combat free radicals, becomes paramount.This research aims to to elucidate the specific effects and mechanisms by which essential vitamins (A, B, C, D, and E) contribute to the mitigation of COVID-19. By investigating the distinct roles of vitamins within the framework of the pandemic, this research seeks to clarify the potential benefits that these micronutrients may offer in mitigating the severity of COVID-19 and bolstering immune responses to combat viral infectons.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19
*Vitamins/therapeutic use/pharmacology/administration & dosage
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2

@article {pmid42424341,
year = {2026},
author = {Ruan, B and Tian, J and Wang, X and Su, D},
title = {The Association Between eHealth Literacy and Health Behaviors During and Since the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.},
journal = {Journal of medical Internet research},
volume = {28},
number = {},
pages = {e94233},
pmid = {42424341},
issn = {1438-8871},
mesh = {Humans ; *COVID-19/epidemiology ; Digital Health ; *Health Behavior ; *Health Literacy ; *Pandemics ; *Telemedicine ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Since COVID-19, health information seeking, service navigation, and routine care have become increasingly digitally mediated. It remains unclear whether the association between eHealth literacy and health behaviors is consistent across behavioral domains, populations, and analytic frameworks.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 evidence on the association between eHealth literacy and health behaviors and examined variation across study contexts.

METHODS: We conducted a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020-compliant, PROSPERO-registered review (CRD420251009048). PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL Ultimate, and Scopus were searched from January 1, 2020, through March 27, 2026. Eligible observational studies assessed eHealth literacy and reported analyzable associations with health behavior outcomes collected in 2020 or later. Health behaviors were classified as health decision-making, health-promoting, or health management behaviors. Correlation coefficients, grouped odds ratios (ORs), and continuous ORs were synthesized separately using random-effects models with Knapp-Hartung adjustment. Certainty was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework.

RESULTS: In total, 19 studies were included: 10 contributed correlation coefficients, 6 grouped ORs, and 3 continuous ORs. In the correlation-based synthesis, higher eHealth literacy was associated with more favorable health behaviors (pooled r=0.43, 95% CI 0.36-0.51; 95% prediction interval 0.22-0.61), with substantial heterogeneity (I2=80.50%). In the grouped OR synthesis, higher eHealth literacy was also associated with more favorable health behaviors (pooled OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.47-3.05; 95% prediction interval 1.11-4.06), with moderate heterogeneity (I2=46.33%). In the continuous OR synthesis, all 3 studies showed positive associations, but the pooled effect was not statistically significant (pooled OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.89-1.30; 95% prediction interval 0.84-1.37), with very high heterogeneity (I2=97.98%). Subgroup analyses showed a significant difference only by geriatric status in the grouped OR synthesis. Certainty was low for the grouped OR synthesis and very low for the other 2 syntheses.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher eHealth literacy was generally associated with more favorable health behaviors in the correlation-based and grouped OR syntheses, whereas evidence from the continuous OR synthesis was inconclusive. Given the predominantly cross-sectional evidence base, heterogeneity, risk-of-bias concerns, and low to very low certainty, the association should be interpreted as contextual and associative rather than causal or uniform. This review is innovative in synthesizing COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 evidence, applying a functional classification of health behaviors, and analyzing distinct effect measures separately. Unlike previous reviews that summarized the association more broadly, it avoids a single mixed pooled effect and provides a cautious, context-specific interpretation. In practice, interventions should pair eHealth literacy improvement with trustworthy digital services, clinician support, and behavior-specific conditions that help translate digital information into sustained health-related action.},
}

Humans
*COVID-19/epidemiology
Digital Health
*Health Behavior
*Health Literacy
*Pandemics
*Telemedicine