Vaccination strategies to achieve outbreak control for MPXV Clade I with a one-time mass campaign in sub-Saharan Africa: A scenario-based modelling study.

Background: Limited mpox vaccination coverage, declining cross-protection from historical smallpox vaccination campaigns, and persistent zoonotic reservoirs leave many sub-Saharan countries susceptible to mpox outbreaks. With millions of vaccine doses made available to the region since late 2024 and the absence of country-specific guidelines for allocation, estimating the country-specific impact of one-time mass vaccination strategies is necessary for ongoing outbreaks and other countries at future risk.

Methods And Findings: We adapted a next generation matrix model to project disease transmission potential for 47 sub-Saharan countries from 2025 to 2050 under four transmission scenarios with different contributions of community versus sexual contacts.

Network Meta-Analysis of Quality of Life in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background: Although the effects of various combinations of treatments on mortality and morbidity outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have been evaluated, the impact on quality of life is unknown. This study evaluated and compared the composite impact of pharmacological therapies on quality of life in HFrEF using a frequentist network meta-analysis and systematic review methodology.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials published between January 1, 2021 and August 10, 2024.

Ethnic differences in protein biomarkers of peripartum cardiomyopathy: a proteomic study on the EORP cohort.

Aims: The diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is often delayed due to the absence of disease-specific biomarkers. Recently, serum proteins-QSOX1, adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and ITIH3-have shown potential for improving diagnostic accuracy, especially when used with NT-proBNP. However, the influence of ethnicity on their expression remains unclear.

Extreme weather events and dengue in Southeast Asia: A regionally-representative analysis of 291 locations from 1998 to 2021.

Background: Climate change, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events (EWEs), could significantly impact dengue transmission. However, the associations between EWEs and dengue remains underexplored in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. We investigated the association between selected EWEs (i.

Factors affecting disease progression in early-stage chronic kidney disease in a multi-ethnic, southeast Asian primary care population.

Background: While effective risk factor control and medication optimization in early-stage CKD can significantly slow disease progression, a paucity of studies hinders comprehensive understanding. This study aims to identify factors associated with progression of early-stage CKD in primary care.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of CKD G1-G2 patients with type 2 diabetes or hypertension, recruited from an ongoing cohort between 2017 and 2023 from six polyclinics in Singapore.

Blending of virtual reality with high-fidelity simulation for interprofessional team training: A mixed methods study.

Background: Developing interprofessional competencies at the pre-registration level is essential for preparing a collaborative practice-ready workforce committed to patient-centered care and safety.

Aim: (1) To evaluate the impact of a Blended Learning Approach with Simulation-based TeamSTEPPS® (BLAST) training on nursing and medical students' attitudes, knowledge, and perceived confidence in interprofessional collaboration, and (2) to explore the learning experiences of students and teaching experiences of simulation facilitators.

Design: Mixed-methods design using a one-group pretest-posttest design and focus group discussions.

The Impact of Sarcopenic Obesity on Frailty, Cognition, and Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives: The impact of sarcopenic obesity (SO) on frailty, cognition, and function compared to sarcopenia and obesity alone remains unclear. This study examined SO's effects on these domains in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: We assessed 202 older adults (mean age 80.

Pharmacological Treatment of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: An Updated Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: In 2022, our network meta-analysis showed that a combination of β-blockers, angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNi), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) was most effective in reducing all-cause mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study updates the treatment benefit by including additional large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) since 2022, including the Vericiguat Global Study in Participants with Chronic Heart Failure (VICTOR) trial.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare regimens of pharmacotherapy in patients with HFrEF.

Progress and challenges in tuberculosis preventive treatment in the Western Pacific Region: a situational analysis of seven high tuberculosis burden countries.

Background: Tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) can avert progression from infection to disease, yet scale-up across the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region is patchy. To guide acceleration, we assessed progress, challenges and responses in seven high-burden countries-Cambodia, China, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Viet Nam-drawing on 2015-2023 programme data, structured questionnaires, follow-up interviews and a regional validation workshop.

Main Body: Six of the seven countries have issued national TPT guidelines and five now offer shorter rifapentine- or rifampicin-based regimens.

Multiple myeloma associated long non-coding RNA PLUM confers chemoresistance by enhancing PRC2 mediated UPR pathway activation.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy that displays diverse genetic heterogeneity leading to treatment resistance. Recurrent mutations causing hyperactivation of the non-canonical NF-ĸB pathway are highly prevalent in relapsed, refractory MM patients, but the precise mechanisms driving chemoresistance are poorly understood. Here, we identify a long non-coding RNA termed PLUM, that is overexpressed in NF-ĸB mutant high-risk MM subtypes and patients who are refractory to VRd treatment regimen.

Evaluating Temporomandibular Disorder Severity: A Four-Dimensional Model.

Background: This study developed and tested a multi-dimensional model for evaluating the severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) based on the five core symptoms (5Ts) of the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs (DC/TMD).

Methods: Study participants were sourced from a university hospital. The 5Ts screener was expanded to include the dimensions of duration, frequency, intensity, and interference with daily activities (5Ts-4D).

Epigenetic, ribosomal, and immune dysregulation in paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.

Paediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is characterised by abrupt onset obsessive compulsive disorder and regression in neurodevelopmental skills, triggered by infection or stress. Whether PANS is a distinct entity or part of a neurodevelopmental spectrum is uncertain, and its pathophysiology remains unclear. We show that children with PANS (n = 32) and other non-PANS (n = 68) neurodevelopmental disorders (total n = 100) have higher reported early childhood infections and a loss of previously acquired developmental skills compared to neurotypical controls (n = 58).

Artificial intelligence for TB education and counselling: a modified Delphi consensus.

Optimal TB care and control requires improved health education and effective patient counselling. Effective counselling is a lengthy process that requires addressing all questions related to TB transmission, risk, the disease process, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We evaluated the quality of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot responses, compared to global expert opinion.

Developmental Trajectories of Anxiety Subtypes from Childhood to Early Adolescence: the Role of Parenting Practices and Maternal Distress.

The present study was embedded in an Asian birth cohort to (a) investigate the trajectories of specific anxiety subtypes from middle childhood to early adolescence, (b) compare developmental trajectories by child sex, and (c) examine their associations with caregiving factors including parenting practices and maternal distress. Data from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort were analyzed (N = 547; 52.8% boys; 57.

The Impact of Frailty, Activity of Daily Living, and Malnutrition on Mortality in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.

Background: Malnutrition contributes to frailty dementia, intensifying adverse health outcomes including mortality risk.

Objectives: We aim to investigate the impact of malnutrition risk in those with frailty and functional decline on short-term mortality among older adults with dementia and/or cognitive impairment.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 2677 hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years with a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment discharged between March 2022 and December 2023.

A Comprehensive Review of the Role of Rho-Kinase Inhibitors in Corneal Diseases.

There is growing interest in the application of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors (ROCKI) to the treatment of corneal diseases. ROCK is a key regulator of several cellular processes in the cornea, including cytoskeletal organization, cell proliferation, migration, inflammation, and wound healing. ROCKI, such as ripasudil and netarsudil, enhances endothelial cell migration, and promotes repair in conditions characterized by endothelial dysfunction.

Assocation Between a Brain Care Score Derived from Participant Responses and Incident Stroke from the COSMOS Study.

Objective: The Brain Care Score (BCS), previously validated to predict the risk of age-related brain diseases, incorporates 12 modifiable risk factors, including blood pressure and laboratory measurements. In the U.S.

Biscapular Protraction Force and Excursion in Adult Patients With Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries: A Comparative Study.

Purpose: Traditional body-powered upper limb prostheses use a Bowden cable to translate shoulder and residual upper limb movements into forces that control the terminal device. The necessary force and excursion required to use a traditional body-powered prosthesis in patients with traumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPI) has yet to be ascertained. This study compared the force and excursion generated during biscapular protraction in adults with traumatic BPI compared to healthy volunteers.

Temporomandibular Disorder Symptoms in Prospective Orthodontic Patients: Correlations With Treatment Needs, Psychosocial Distress, Jaw Function and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life.

Background: Emerging research suggests that reduced Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in orthodontic patients may be more closely linked to Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) than malocclusion severity.

Objectives: This study assessed the burden and severity of TMD symptoms in prospective orthodontic patients, examined their relationships with malocclusion severity, somatic symptoms, psychological distress, jaw function and OHRQoL, and identified factors associated with high jaw functional limitation (JFL) and low OHRQoL.

Methods: Participants completed a survey covering demographics, the Five TMD Symptoms-Burden screener, Short-form Fonseca Anamnestic Index, Somatic Symptom Scale-8, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-8 and Oral Health Impact Profile-14.

Maternal Experiences and Perspectives of Marketing and Regulation of Commercial Milk Formula in Thailand: A Qualitative Study.

Commercial milk formula (CMF) marketing adversely influences breastfeeding practices globally. Thailand enacted the Control of Marketing Promotion of Infant and Young Child Food Act ('Thai Code') in 2017 to restrict the marketing of CMF for infants aged 0-12 months. This qualitative study aimed to explore mothers' experiences and perspectives of CMF marketing and its regulation by the Thai Code through semistructured interviews with 15 mothers across Thailand between July 2023 and March 2024.

Suction in mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a meta-analysis from the European Association of Urology Section of Endourology.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of vacuum-assisted access sheath (VAAS) mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) vs conventional access sheath (CAS) mPCNL.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, with registration in PROSPERO (CRD42024619780). A comprehensive search identified comparative studies (randomised controlled trials and observational studies).

Rethinking reflexivity, replicability and rigour in qualitative research.

This commentary re-examines recent proposals to define quality in qualitative research through a singular unifying framework, situating them alongside historical and ongoing debates in qualitative methodology. By juxtaposing different traditions, this piece highlights areas of tension between procedural notions of rigour and interpretive approaches that emphasise the co-constructed, context-bound nature of meaning. The discussion argues that quality in qualitative research cannot be captured by a single metric or universal rule.