Featured
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Correspondence |
COVID-19 has left the world less prepared for an influenza pandemic
- Alexandra L. Phelan
- , Erin M. Sorrell
- & Caitlin M. Rivers
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessConcerns about the Burden of Proof studies
- Andrea J. Glenn
- , Xiao Gu
- & Walter C. Willett
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Research Highlight |
NCD policy implementation needs a global kick-start
Implementation of WHO-recommended policies to tackle noncommunicable diseases has stalled since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
Effects of urban versus rural living on child development
Decades ago, city living was associated with a height advantage in children and adolescents — but this developmental advantage has now diminished in much of the world.
- Karen O’Leary
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Correspondence |
Malaria is increasing in Indigenous and artisanal mining areas in the Brazilian Amazon
- Marcia C. Castro
- & Cassio Peterka
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Research Highlight |
Time to target inflammation alongside cholesterol
For people taking statins, inflammation contributes more to cardiovascular disease risk than residual cholesterol does — and could be targeted with adjunct therapy.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
Racial disparities in stroke-prediction models
Existing models for predicting the 10-year risk of stroke are less accurate for Black adults than for white adults, even with the addition of novel machine-learning algorithms.
- Karen O’Leary
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Article
| Open AccessA deep-learning algorithm to classify skin lesions from mpox virus infection
A deep-learning algorithm was developed to identify skin lesions caused by the mpox virus and was then implemented in a web-based app designed for patient use.
- Alexander H. Thieme
- , Yuanning Zheng
- & Olivier Gevaert
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Research Highlight |
Human–AI collaboration boosts mental health support
Hailey, an AI feedback tool, helps online mental health support workers to respond with more empathy.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
One dose of antibiotic reduces sepsis in childbirth
A single dose of azithromycin substantially reduced maternal sepsis and death, according to a large, international, randomized study.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
Viruses linked to neurodegenerative disease
Certain viruses — many of which have vaccines available — are linked to a significantly increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in the years following infection.
- Karen O’Leary
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Correspondence |
An EU task force to assess the burden of rare diseases
- Pavel Kolkhir
- , Diana Alecsandra Grad
- & Juanita Haagsma
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Article |
Determinants of COVID-19 vaccination status and hesitancy among older adults in China
Analysis of a longitudinal cohort revealed that only 72% of Chinese adults aged 60 years and older received a booster coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination by July 2022, with contraindications, advanced age and living with chronic conditions being the main determinants of vaccine hesitancy in this population.
- Gewei Wang
- , Yao Yao
- & Yaohui Zhao
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Research Highlight |
Statins beat supplements at cholesterol control
Six supplements widely marketed as cholesterol-lowering agents performed poorly compared with a low-dose statin — with a similar safety profile.
- Karen O’Leary
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Comment |
A prescription for the US FDA for the regulation of health misinformation
The US Food and Drug Administration should address health misinformation through existing and new regulatory approaches, including modernizing product labeling, investing in infodemic surveillance and addressing the roles of the internet and social media.
- Kushal T. Kadakia
- , Adam L. Beckman
- & Harlan M. Krumholz
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Correspondence |
One Health interprofessional stewardship to combat antimicrobial resistance
- Amy M. Sjoberg
- , Claire L. Fellman
- & Shira Doron
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Article
| Open AccessReal-world COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron BA.2 variant in a SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive population
An analysis of sera samples collected between January and July of 2022 in Hong Kong shows that the effectiveness of both the BNT162b2 and CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 variant infection waned rapidly after the third and fourth doses.
- Jonathan J. Lau
- , Samuel M. S. Cheng
- & Joseph T. Wu
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Correspondence |
An equitable route forward from China’s ‘zero COVID’ policy
- Zhicheng Wang
- , Kit Chan
- & Yan Guo
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Article |
A survey of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance across 23 countries in 2022
In the third annual iteration of a survey assessing vaccine confidence in 23 high-income, middle-income and low-income countries, although results were heteregeous across countries, overall willingness to accept a COVID-19 vaccine was found to have increased.
- Jeffrey V. Lazarus
- , Katarzyna Wyka
- & Ayman El-Mohandes
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Article |
Leukocyte telomere length in children born following blastocyst-stage embryo transfer
Analyses of whole-genome sequencing data in children and validation in mouse models show that offspring born from blastocyst-stage embryo transfer have shorter leukocyte telomere lengths.
- Cheng Wang
- , Yayun Gu
- & Zhibin Hu
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Research Briefing |
Vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity improves mortality risk
Vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA) refers to brief bouts of strenuous movement performed as part of daily living, such as walking uphill or running for a bus. We find that as little as 3–4 minutes of VILPA per day is associated with substantially reduced mortality risk compared to no VILPA.
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Article
| Open AccessEfficacy of supermarket and web-based interventions for improving dietary quality: a randomized, controlled trial
In a randomized control trial, individuals who received dietitian-led counseling in the supermarket, together with web-based tools, had improved dietary quality in comparison to a control group, as assessed by adherence to the heart-healthy DASH diet plan.
- Dylan L. Steen
- , Robert N. Helsley
- & Sarah C. Couch
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Research Highlight |
Gender-affirming care for adolescents
The initiation of gender-affirming treatment before puberty is controversial; a Dutch study finds that the vast majority of adolescents who initiated this treatment continued it into adulthood, which may alleviate some concerns.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
Uncertain role for colonoscopy screening
Despite a reduction in colorectal cancer incidence, a large, randomized screening study shows no impact of screening on cancer-related deaths.
- Karen O’Leary
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Correspondence |
A Food is Medicine approach to achieve nutrition security and improve health
- Dariush Mozaffarian
- , Heidi M. Blanck
- & Ruth Petersen
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Research Highlight |
To screen or not to screen?
In a randomized study, population-based screening for cardiovascular disease failed to reduce mortality in older men, but suggested benefits in certain (younger) subgroups.
- Karen O’Leary
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Article
| Open AccessGenetic risk factors have a substantial impact on healthy life years
A new analysis combining data from large biobanks and the Global Burden of Disease study estimates that genetic risk factors significantly impact the number of healthy life years lost both at the individual and population level
- Sakari Jukarainen
- , Tuomo Kiiskinen
- & Andrea Ganna
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Research Highlight |
Telemedicine for abortion access
Unsafe abortions cause preventable deaths; telemedicine could improve access to safe abortions, particularly in low-resource settings.
- Karen O’Leary
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Comment |
Wastewater surveillance of pathogens can inform public health responses
Wastewater monitoring has been used to identify SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks and track new variants. This sentinel system should be expanded to monitor other pathogens and boost public health preparedness.
- Megan B. Diamond
- , Aparna Keshaviah
- & Samuel V. Scarpino
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Research Highlight |
Climate change cranks up infectious disease impact
Over half of all infectious diseases that affect humans worldwide can be aggravated by climate change, which highlights the urgency of tough climate action and mitigation measures.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
Tackling under-reporting of violence against women
A large study in India showed that gender-based police interventions — including training, outreach and dedicated spaces staffed by female officers — led to increased reporting of violence against women.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
A smart solution for detecting ear problems
Tympanometers to test for ear disorders are costly, so scientists developed a portable and cheap smartphone-based tympanometer for use in resource-limited settings.
- Karen O’Leary
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Correspondence |
A prospective national cohort evaluating ring MVA vaccination as post-exposure prophylaxis for monkeypox
- Liem Binh Luong Nguyen
- , Jade Ghosn
- & Odile Launay
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Correspondence |
Questions of accountability and transparency in the US organ donation and transplantation system
- Macey L. Levan
- , Samantha Klitenic
- & Dorry Segev
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News Feature |
Africa’s outbreak sentinels
How monitoring wildlife can prevent the next pandemic
- Paul Adepoju
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Research Highlight |
The burden of unrecognized Ebola virus infection
People with less-severe Ebola virus disease may go undiagnosed, but they can still suffer long-term sequelae; this highlights the public health value of testing close contacts to identify and adequately treat all infections.
- Karen O’Leary
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News & Views |
Unclear role for e-cigarettes during pregnancy
Electronic cigarettes might be superior to nicotine replacement therapy as a quitting aid for pregnant women — but enthusiasm is hampered by low rates of smoking cessation and unknown long-term harm.
- Yael Bar-Zeev
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Correspondence |
A joint international collaboration to address the inevitable mental health crisis in Ukraine
- Wei Bai
- , Hong Cai
- & Yu-Tao Xiang
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Correspondence |
A web-based app to provide personalized recommendations for COVID-19
- Alexander H. Thieme
- , Maximilian Gertler
- & Olivier Gevaert
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Research Highlight |
Single vaccine shot protects against cervical cancer
A WHO expert panel concluded that a single dose of HPV vaccine has efficacy comparable to that of the two-dose regimen, which could help boost cervical cancer–elimination efforts.
- Karen O’Leary
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Correspondence |
Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Governance: The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data Project
- Courtney Ryder
- , Roland Wilson
- & Kate Curtis
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Research Highlight |
Fracking linked to adverse birth outcomes
A large Canadian study showed that those living close to fracking sites had an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, but the reasons for this are still unknown.
- Karen O’Leary
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Research Highlight |
Diabetes risk after COVID-19
Data reveal an increased risk of diabetes in the months after acute COVID-19 infection – which could have implications for stretched public health systems.
- Karen O’Leary
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Analysis |
Suicide risk and mortality among patients with cancer
A global analysis across 62 studies, of which 28 were meta-analyzed, reveals an increased risk of death by suicide in patients with cancer and underscores the need for comprehensive psycho-oncological therapy during clinical routine to improve the quality of life of patients.
- Michael Heinrich
- , Luisa Hofmann
- & Corinna Seliger
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World View |
Innovative approaches from recent conflicts can aid the health crisis in Ukraine
Evidence from recent armed conflicts shows that a long-term approach is needed to support health infrastructure and protect the vulnerable.
- Debarati Guha-Sapir
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Research Highlight |
Brain pathology of COVID-19
A large-scale study reveals infection-related structural changes in the brain — further research and long-term follow-up will be needed to determine their impact.
- Karen O’Leary
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Correspondence |
Building a pandemic supply chain — equity over equality
- Vivian Yee
- , Simar Singh Bajaj
- & Fatima Cody Stanford
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News Feature |
Africa prepares for endemic COVID-19
The pandemic is far from over in Africa, but there is also a funding gap in preparing for endemic COVID-19, which will require long-term investment in healthcare infrastructure.
- Paul Adepoju
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Research Highlight |
HIV variant causes concern
The identification of a highly virulent subtype of HIV in the Netherlands underscores the importance of surveillance, testing and prompt initiation of therapy.
- Karen O’Leary