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Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains underdiagnosed in high-burden, resource-limited settings. Caregivers' knowledge and perceptions, along with healthcare providers' practices, are crucial for early recognition and timely care-seeking for children with suspected TB. To assess knowledge, perceptions, and care-seeking practices related to pediatric tuberculosis among caregivers and healthcare providers in the Kabondo-Dianda Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 163 caregivers and 27 healthcare providers selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of tuberculosis transmission and prevention, perceptions of tuberculosis transmission, and care-seeking practices. Tuberculosis knowledge was assessed using 11 items related to transmission and prevention, and composite knowledge scores were calculated. Perceptions were assessed through structured items exploring biomedical and non-biomedical beliefs, including perceived transmission through coughing, contact, evil spirits, and domestic animals. Care-seeking practices were assessed by documenting the first point of care, timing of consultation, and reasons for choosing specific care options. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and group-level comparisons. No inferential statistical tests were performed. Caregivers had a low tuberculosis knowledge score, with a mean of 2.7 ± 1.28 out of 11 and a knowledge index of 24.5/100. Healthcare providers had a higher score, with a mean of 8.3 ± 1.36 and a knowledge index of 75.5/100. Among caregivers, misconceptions were common, including perceived transmission by evil spirits and domestic animals. Only 49.1% of caregivers reported seeking care first at a health facility, while 64.5% reported delayed care-seeking and 50.9% reported informal care-seeking. Among healthcare providers, 70.4% reported health facilities as the first point of care, 48.1% reported delayed consultation, and 29.6% reported informal care-seeking. In descriptive comparisons, healthcare providers showed higher tuberculosis knowledge scores and reported more frequent use of formal health services than caregivers. However, no inferential statistical tests were performed; therefore, these observations should not be interpreted as statistically significant associations. This study identified important gaps in pediatric tuberculosis knowledge, perceptions, and care-seeking practices, particularly among caregivers. The findings suggest the need to strengthen community-based tuberculosis education, culturally appropriate risk communication, and continued capacity-building of frontline healthcare providers, while recognizing the descriptive nature of the study. Given the descriptive design and convenience sampling, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and cannot establish statistical associations or causal relationships.

Getah virus (GETV) is a mosquito-borne RNA virus whose cross-species transmission poses a potential threat to both animal and public health. Studies have revealed that the reservoir range of GETV is broad, ranging from primary vectors (e.g., mosquitoes) and key amplifying hosts (e.g., horses and pigs) to a variety of newly identified hosts such as foxes, cattle, red pandas, and squirrels. Notably, although no confirmed clinical cases in humans have been reported to date, serological evidence from healthy individuals and febrile patients in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Oceania suggests possible subclinical or past infections. Furthermore, the detection of GETV in wastewater treatment plants and its contamination of veterinary vaccines underscore the risks of environmental and iatrogenic transmission. These findings demonstrate the broad host diversity and multiple transmission routes of GETV, highlighting the need to monitor and mitigate its cross-species transmission risks. This review comprehensively summarizes the known reservoirs of GETV, with the aim of informing future research and control strategies.

Linkage error can bias downstream estimates. South Africa's National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) National HIV Cohort, created through probabilistic linkage of routine laboratory records, offers a rare opportunity to examine viral suppression durability at scale. We propose a sensitivity analysis approach to assess robustness of findings to linkage error. People living with HIV (PLHIV) aged 15-59 years in the NHLS cohort were followed for 18 months from their first viral load (VL) <200 copies/mL between July 2021-June 2022. We assessed: 1) 12-month monitoring (any VL 6-18 months post-baseline), and 2) 12-month transmission risk using WHO thresholds: <200 copies (zero risk), 200-999 copies (minimal risk), and &#x2265;1000 copies (elevated risk). To assess robustness to linkage error, we repeated analyses in a subset of high-confidence patient clusters - clusters stable across linkage thresholds. We applied inverse probability weighting using demographics for representativeness. Assuming cluster selection is independent of outcomes, this yields minimal-error estimates for comparison with na&#xef;ve estimates. The cohort was linked with 90.4% sensitivity (Sen) and 91.9% positive predictive value (PPV). We identified 3,584,204 PLHIV with baseline VL<200 copies, of which 80% were monitored in 12 months; of these, 91% had no transmission risk, 5% minimal risk, and 4% elevated risk. In the high-confidence subset (3,072,758 individuals), 78% were monitored in 12 months with 92% having no transmission risk, 5% minimal risk, and 3% elevated risk. Viral suppression is highly durable among PLHIV in South Africa. Sensitivity analyses confirmed findings were robust despite non-trivial linkage error rates.

Cartilage is widely used for tympanic membrane (TM) reconstruction, but the impact of graft position relative to the bony ear canal on middle ear mechanics remains unclear. This study examined how cartilage placement affects the middle ear transfer function (METF) and TM vibration. Single&#x2011;point Laser Doppler Vibrometry (LDV) was performed on five fresh frozen human temporal bones before and after creating a 2.5 mm perforation in the posterior inferior TM quadrant and after reconstruction with a round-shaped cartilage graft of 4 mm diameter and 0.5 mm thickness placed either on (on&#x2011;bony) or separated from (off&#x2011;bony) the bony ear canal. TM motion was further assessed using a scanning LDV in a technical membrane model. A validated finite element (FE) model of the middle ear was used to replicate temporal bone measurements and the effect of an experimentally opened versus closed tympanic cavity, representing the in-vivo condition in patients, was evaluated by FE modelling. After TM perforation, the METF significantly decreased between 562 - 2094 Hz, and 2951 - 3194 Hz, while showing increased measurement variability below 500 Hz. When performing reconstruction with either the on-bony or the off-bony technique, the METFs partially recover, but show a significant difference in METF compared to the intact TM in the frequency range of 146 - 195, 200 - 217, 739 - 933 Hz (on-bony) and 146 - 295, 718 - 930, 722 - 930 and 1332 - 1719 Hz (off-bony). No significant difference in METF between the on-bony and off-bony reconstruction were found (p > 0.05). Scanning LDV analysis of a technical membrane model showed similar membrane peak velocities between the two graft positions, although the off&#x2011;bony configuration shifted the best frequency to lower values. FE simulations of the middle ear confirmed the findings of the temporal bone measurements. Additionally, the model work showed that middle ear transmission with an experimentally opened tympanic cavity differed by <2 dB after on- or off-bony reconstruction compared to a closed tympanic cavity. This was different for the perforated TM: While the transmission loss was nearly constant with an experimentally opened tympanic cavity, a closed tympanic cavity produced frequency&#x2011;dependent transmission loss exceeding 40 dB. In this temporal bone study, placing the cartilage on the bony ear canal wall did not have an impact on the METF. FE modeling supported the temporal bone findings and suggested that similar behavior could be expected in vivo with a closed tympanic cavity. However, the FE-model suggests that perforation&#x2011;induced losses were substantially underestimated in the temporal bone measurements with an experimentally opened tympanic cavity. Positioning of the cartilage graft on the bony ear canal can be advantageous in patients with chronic middle-ear disease to reduce the risk of medialization and formation of retraction pockets without compromising the patients hearing outcome.

Early diagnosis and immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) for acute and early HIV-1 infection (AEHI) effectively curb HIV transmission and restrict viral reservoir formation. However, subtype-specific transmitted drug resistance (TDR) and early ART virological response remain insufficiently characterized among circulating HIV-1 recombinants in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This study aimed to compare these key indicators across different HIV-1 subtypes. This hospital-based cohort study enrolled 105 AEHI patients from 2019 to 2024. HIV-1 pol gene sequencing was performed for subtype classification and drug resistance genotyping. Antiretroviral therapy responses were monitored at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 48. Demographic, clinical, virological, immunological, and TDR data were systematically analyzed across all HIV-1 subtypes. CRF07_BC was the dominant strain (32.4%), followed by other BC recombinants (30.5%) and CRF01_AE (22.9%). Poppers use was significantly associated with CRF07_BC transmission among MSM (P = 0.007). The B+CRF01_AE/CRF55_01B group exhibited an extremely high TDR rate of 90.9% (P < 0.001), dominated by V179E and M184V mutations. At weeks 12 and 24 post-ART, BC recombinants and B+CRF01_AE/CRF55_01B showed slower viral suppression than CRF07_BC, while all subtypes achieved comparable long-term immune recovery (92.6% virological suppression at week 48). Significant heterogeneity in TDR and early viral load suppression exists among HIV-1 subtypes during acute infection. Baseline drug resistance testing and intensified viral load monitoring are recommended for patients with B/CRF01_AE recombinant strains. These findings support regional HIV molecular surveillance and subtype-targeted early intervention.

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is a well-known vector of several zoonoses including SFTS and Japanese spotted fever. This species consists of two different reproductive forms, bisexual and parthenogenetic, which are suggested to have differential roles in disease transmission. In Japan, the distributions of these forms have been suspected from sex bias in each population. Meanwhile, recent insights about the origin of the parthenogenetic form suggest the possibility of individual-level diagnosis using mitochondrial phylogeny. To reassess the current distribution of those reproductive forms and potential changes over time in Japan, 1750 H. longicornis collected across 23 prefectures of Japan were investigated. The COI barcoding region was used to distinguish the mitochondrial haplogroup of each individual. Additionally, we developed real-time PCR probes to distinguish the two mitochondrial haplogroups representing each reproductive form. As previous studies have suggested, the parthenogenetic mitochondrial haplogroup was present throughout the country, while the bisexual mitochondrial haplogroup was found only in central and western Japan. Interestingly, populations consisting of either one or both haplogroups were found in neighboring areas, highlighting the need for more detailed and fine-scaled investigations in order to fully reveal the distribution of the reproductive groups. The newly developed real-time PCR method successfully differentiated all tested haplotypes. Furthermore, alignment of 173 COI haplotypes revealed that the diagnostic nucleotide selected for the method was consistent across all haplotypes, including those outside of Japan. This suggests that this method can accurately distinguish between the two haplogroups of H. longicornis in both Japan and other countries. This one-step method will serve as a rapid tool to distinguish bisexual and parthenogenetic H. longicornis, making further investigations, particularly into their role in disease transmission and shifts in distributions, possible.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that damages the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), reduces the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles, and thus causes fluctuating muscle weakness and fatigue. The main types of MG are autoantibodies that target necessary components of the postsynaptic membrane, such as acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and muscle-specific kinase (MuSK). The above immune-mediated alterations disrupt synaptic transmission and reduce muscle contraction. Study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of MG to find genes that regulate the immune system, cause inflammation, or affect NMJ homeostasis and may serve as biomarkers. These biomarkers can provide more information on the course of a disease and help to customise diagnosis and treatment according to this information. The transcriptomic data in this study were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database under accession number GSE85452 (GPL10558), which contains peripheral blood gene expression profiles of MG patients and healthy controls. Differential Expression Analysis was conducted to find genes in *M. fitumendi* related to MG. Preprocess and normalise the raw data before the following comparisons. Mendelian Randomisation (MR) was employed to investigate whether the candidate genes causally affected MG risk. PTGS2 was found to be a protective factor (OR&#xa0;<&#xa0;1) and selected for further study. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was then carried out to identify related pathways, and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to explore associations with the immune system. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to find out which cells expressed PTGS2, how the proportions of different cell types in the MG microenvironment were changed, and what inter-cellular communication occurred. A network-based virtual PTGS2 overexpression analysis was also carried out in MG cells with scTenifoldNet. Single-cell gene regulatory networks were built from the raw count data and denoised by tensor decomposition. PTGS2 regulatory activity increased due to a doubling of the weight of the positive regulatory edge. Genes with an adjusted P-value <0.05 were regarded as significantly altered and subjected to KEGG and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis. Using a sensitive threshold of |log&#x2082;FC|&#xa0;>&#xa0;0.38 for the initial screening of the MG transcriptome, a particular set of differentially expressed genes in patients was identified compared with healthy individuals. Mendelian Randomisation analysis also showed that PTGS2 is associated with a reduced risk of MG and has a negative causal association with the disease. Functional enrichment analysis linked PTGS2-associated molecular signatures to immune and inflammatory pathways. Immune infiltration analysis showed variations in the proportion of immune cells in MG, and PTGS2 expression was significantly correlated with several subsets of immune cells. Gene-disease association mapping links PTGS2 to multiple immune-related disorders. Single-cell RNA sequencing also showed cell-type-specific expression and different distributions of PTGS2 in MG patients and healthy controls. Overexpression of virtual PTGS2 mainly modified genes and pathways in the myeloid cell, such as IL-17 signalling, chemotaxis and neutrophil migration. Therefore, PTGS2 may be involved in the regulation of inflammatory myeloid responses in MG. Transcriptome and gene analysis identified PTGS2 as a protective gene for myasthenia gravis. PTGS2 is linked to immune-inflammatory signals, and single-cell data have identified specific cell types in the MG immune microenvironment that express it. Network-based virtual PTGS2 overexpression mainly altered myeloid-associated genes and pathways of IL-17 signalling, chemotaxis and neutrophil migration. PTGS2 may be a biomarker and a possible therapeutic target for MG.

The 2026 Bundibugyo virus disease (BDBV) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjacent Uganda has revealed major deficiencies in outbreak response. The available diagnostics, vaccines, and therapies were primarily designed against Zaire Ebola virus -&#xa0;leaving us ill-prepared for BDBV detection and control. We call for five immediate actions to strengthen existing efforts. First, rapidly establish&#xa0;a decentralized three-tier molecular diagnostic network to allow timely detection and genomic surveillance. Second, since there are few approved treatments that target BDBV specifically, adaptive platform trials should assess the potential of repurposed host-directed therapies. Third, in conflict-affected settings, routine enabling environment data collection to strengthen surveillance is needed, whilst digital proximity tracing and social support mechanisms, such as community tracing collaborative (CTC) responses to combat community transmission through contact identification and isolation, would also add value. Fourth, ring vaccination strategies with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV-ZEBOV) as a post-exposure intervention should be explored, given the potential for cross-protection against BDBV. Fifth, implementation of extensive genomic surveillance should be enhanced to differentiate between continuous human transmission and sporadic zoonotic spillover events while informing ecology-based control strategies. Together, these recommendations highlight actionable, scalable steps that can be implemented quickly through existing systems and out-of-the-box solutions. Filling these key gaps could significantly affect the outcome of this current outbreak and enhance regional and global preparedness for future ebolavirus outbreaks.

Langya virus (LayV), classified in the species Parahenipavirus langyaense, is a newly identified zoonotic paramyxovirus discovered in febrile patients in eastern China in recent years. The discovery of LayV has expanded the field beyond the prevailing paradigm of highly pathogenic, bat-borne henipaviruses represented by Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV), toward a parahenipavirus spillover model shaped by shrews, rodents, and agricultural ecological interfaces. Reported cases have mainly presented with fever, fatigue, cough, and vomiting, and may be accompanied by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and abnormalities in hepatic and renal function. However, owing to the limited number of cases, restricted surveillance coverage, incomplete follow-up data, and the lack of standardized serological tools, the true burden of infection, full spectrum of natural hosts, role of intermediate hosts, and animal-to-human transmission pathways remain unresolved. Sustained human-to-human transmission has not been confirmed. In recent years, accumulating evidence from viromic analyses of shrew lung tissues along the eastern coast of China, positive detection in the Ussuri white-toothed shrew (Crocidura lasiura) in South Korea, characterization of the LayV genome architecture, P-gene RNA editing, ELISA/multiplex RT-qPCR/CRISPR-Cas12a diagnostic platforms, and structure-based F/G antigen engineering and antibody development has begun to move LayV research from pathogen discovery toward mechanistic dissection and the construction of countermeasure platforms. In this Review, we systematically summarize the discovery of LayV, clinical features and epidemiological evidence, taxonomy and molecular evolution, animal host ecology, noncanonical receptor-mediated entry mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, and immunological intervention strategies. We further propose key research priorities centered on One Health surveillance, identification of the unknown receptor, structure-guided F/G antigen design, and integrated sampling across animal, environmental, and human populations.

Failure of stent delivery remains a major technical limitation of endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS), often necessitating additional tract dilation and increasing procedural complexity and cost. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the guidewire-bile duct angle is associated with stent delivery success in EUS-HGS, and to explore whether a double-lumen dilator (DLD) is associated with procedural improvement consistent with an angle-mediated mechanism rather than direct mechanical advantage. Prospective observational study with a propensity score-matched historical control. This was a prospective single-arm observational study of patients undergoing EUS-HGS using a DLD, compared with a propensity score-matched historical (retrospective) cohort that underwent conventional dilation. The main outcome was successful stent delivery without additional tract dilation. A total of 25 patients in the DLD group were compared with 25 matched controls. Successful stent delivery without additional dilation was significantly higher in the DLD group than in the conventional group (92% vs 48%, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001). The guidewire-bile duct angle measured immediately before stent delivery-system insertion was significantly larger in the DLD group than in the conventional group (153.4&#xb0; vs 123.3&#xb0;, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). On multivariable analysis, a larger guidewire-bile duct angle remained independently associated with successful stent delivery without additional tract dilation (odds ratio per 10-degree increase, 5.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.79-10.83; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), whereas DLD use itself was not independently associated with success after adjustment for angle. Device-related costs were lower in the DLD group due to reduced need for additional dilation. The guidewire-bile duct angle showed excellent apparent discrimination in this cohort, with an exploratory threshold of 126&#xb0; (AUC 0.969), requiring external validation before clinical implementation. In conclusion, the improvement associated with DLD use was consistent with an angle-mediated mechanism rather than a direct effect of dilation force; these findings should be regarded as hypothesis-generating mechanistic evidence rather than mechanistic proof. Improving the guidewire angle to make ultrasound-guided internal bile duct drainage easier and reduce the need for extra dilation devices When standard endoscopic bile duct drainage is not possible, doctors may create an internal drainage route between a liver bile duct and the stomach using endoscopic ultrasound. This procedure is called EUS-guided hepaticogastrostomy. One difficult step is advancing the metal stent into the bile duct after the access route has been created. If the stent delivery system cannot pass smoothly, doctors may need to use additional dilation devices. This can make the procedure more complex and may increase the chance of bile leakage. This study examined whether the angle between the guidewire and the bile duct affects how easily the stent can be delivered. We prospectively studied 25 patients treated with a double-lumen dilator, a device that allows a second guidewire to be inserted while creating the access route. We compared these patients with 25 matched historical patients treated with conventional dilation methods. Successful stent delivery without any additional dilation device was achieved more often with the double-lumen dilator strategy than with conventional dilation. The guidewire&#x2013;bile duct angle was also wider in the double-lumen dilator group. Statistical analysis showed that the guidewire&#x2013;bile duct angle, rather than the device itself, was the strongest factor associated with successful stent delivery. A wider angle may help align the stent delivery system with the bile duct and improve force transmission during stent advancement. The double-lumen dilator strategy also reduced the need for extra dilation devices, which lowered direct procedure-related device costs in this exploratory analysis. However, this was a small, non-randomized study using historical controls, and the proposed angle threshold needs to be tested in larger prospective studies before it is used to guide routine clinical practice.

This study investigated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and associated factors in children from households with members' history of successful H. pylori eradication. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to December 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Eligible households were those having lived together for at least 12&#x2009;months, including at least one child under 16&#x2009;years old and at least one member with successful H. pylori eradication. H. pylori infection status among family members was assessed using stool antigen testing. Data on household demographic characteristics, childcare practices, and infection status of family members were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with infection in children. A total of 193 households with 877 members were included, including 338 children under 16&#x2009;years old. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 59% overall and 53% among children. Children living with both infected parents had a higher infection prevalence than those with only one infected parent (58% vs. 38.2%, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), with a similar trend observed among infected siblings. After adjustment, parental infection status remained the strongest predictor of infection (aOR&#x2009;=&#x2009;3.18; 95% CI: 1.83-5.52), while larger household size was inversely associated (aOR&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.74; 95% CI: 0.58-0.93). Children's infection risk increased according to the infection status of parents and siblings, while a higher number of family members was associated with a lower likelihood of infection, although this finding should be interpreted with caution, supporting the importance of household-level transmission and family-based prevention strategies in high-prevalence settings.

SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets epithelial cells in the respiratory and intestinal tracts where its cognate receptor ACE2 and obligate processing enzymes furin and TMPRSS2 are richly expressed. However, compared with severe inflammation and tissue damage in the lungs of a COVID-19 patient, clinical lesions in the intestine are rare, suggesting an effective intestinal mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we report that MMP7-/-/hACE2 hybrid mice lacking mature enteric &#x3b1;-defensins or cryptdins were more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the intestine than K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. The mouse &#x3b1;-defensin cryptdin-5 (Crp5) displayed potent and broad antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo by two distinct mechanisms, (1) directly targeting the RBD of the spike (S) protein to antagonize its interactions with ACE2, thus blocking viral attachment, membrane fusion and cell-to-cell transmission, and (2) binding to the 630 loop of the S protein to induce its multimerization, thereby impairing proteolytic processing, membrane fusion and, ultimately, viral infectivity. Our findings imply that enteric &#x3b1;-defensins help alleviate, as host protective factors, Covid-19 symptoms in the intestine despite higher ACE2 expression in the gut than in the lungs, and that Crp5 may be developed as a broad-spectrum antiviral for the treatment of coronavirus infection irrespective of virus type and variant.

Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is a highly sensitive modality for non-invasive cell tracking; however, imaging performance is strongly influenced by nanoparticle properties and intracellular behavior following labelling. In this study, four commercially available superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) - ProMag, VivoTrax, SynoMag-D, and Ferumoxytol - were evaluated for labelling efficiency and cytocompatibility in mouse mesenchymal stem/stromal cells, followed by MPI characterization of biocompatible candidates. SPION labelling efficiency and cytocompatibility were systematically evaluated across a range of iron concentrations and incubation durations using Prussian blue staining, and ATP-based viability assay respectively. Based on these outcomes, biocompatible candidates were selected for further analysis. Cells labelled with ProMag or VivoTrax for 2-hour underwent MPI characterization to evaluate signal properties, alongside transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine intracellular nanoparticle localization and distribution. ProMag achieved >90% labelling efficiency at 20&#xa0;&#xb5;g Fe/mL, whereas VivoTrax required &#x2265;240&#xa0;&#xb5;g Fe/mL to reach >75% efficiency. SynoMag-D and Ferumoxytol required transfection agents that induced cytotoxicity and were excluded. MPI analysis demonstrated a linear correlation between signal intensity and cell number for both SPIONs. ProMag-labelled cells exhibited a 2.33-fold increase in total signal intensity, closely matching the ~2.3-fold increase in intracellular iron loading, confirming iron content as the primary determinant of signal strength and detection sensitivity (limit: 7,812 cells). In contrast, VivoTrax-labelled cells produced higher maximum signal per unit iron and significantly improved spatial resolution, indicated by reduced full width at half maximum, suggesting that spatial resolution is primarily governed by particle-specific physicochemical properties and their intracellular behavior following uptake. TEM revealed ProMag predominantly as dispersed particles, whereas VivoTrax formed aggregates within endosomal structures. Intracellular iron loading dictates MPI signal strength, whereas particle-specific characteristics govern spatial resolution. Optimizing SPION selection is therefore essential to balance sensitivity and image quality for preclinical cell tracking applications.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, and volcanic eruptions directly and indirectly impact health and wellbeing. This work aimed to understand how access to, and use of, peripartum health services were impacted following a large 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Vanuatu in the context of an ongoing field trial looking at the effectiveness of universal peripartum antiviral prophylaxis for pregnant women living with hepatitis B to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Participants were pregnant women enrolled in the intervention-arm of a field trial at sites in the earthquake-affected area. During routine monitoring calls, we asked additional questions about the impact of the earthquake on continued access to health services and continued use of daily hepatitis B antiviral prophylaxis with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Seventeen participants of 26 women enrolled in the trial could be contacted and answered all questions from early-February to early-March 2025. Self-reported continued use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was high, with only two of 17 participants reporting interruptions to use in the weeks following the earthquake. Seven participants (41%) reported missing at least one routine antenatal or postnatal appointment in the three months following the earthquake. In natural disaster-prone settings, it is critical that field research take an adaptive approach that can adjust and respond to health emergencies. While natural disasters are inevitable, health systems must implement risk mitigation strategies to limit interruptions to routine health services to reduce negative short-, medium-, and long-term health impacts of natural disasters.

Fresh vegetables are important components of a healthy diet but may serve as vehicles for transmission of intestinal parasites when contaminated during production, harvesting, transport, and marketing. This study assessed the prevalence and distribution of parasitic contamination in fresh vegetables cultivated on small-scale farms and marketed through wholesale and retail outlets in Hosanna town and surrounding areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2024 to June 2025 on 492 vegetable samples, including Ethiopian kale, Swiss chard, carrot, tomato, cabbage, and beetroot, collected from small-scale farms (n = 96), wholesale markets (n = 216), and retail markets (n = 180). Samples were washed with physiological saline and microscopically inspected for intestinal parasite infectious stages. The study revealed that parasitic contamination increased significantly along the farm (preharvest)-to-market (postharvest) chain (p < 0.05), with 35.42% of preharvest farm samples, 46.30% of wholesale, and 72.78% of retail market (postharvest) samples testing positive. Among farm (preharvest) samples, Ethiopian kale (54.16%) and beetroot (41.66%) had the highest contamination rates, predominantly with Strongyloides stercoralis (33.33%) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (16.67%). In wholesale markets (postharvest), carrot showed the highest contamination (69.44%), whereas E. histolytica/dispar was the most frequently detected parasite (30.56%). Retail markets (postharvest) exhibited the greatest contamination burden, particularly tomatoes and cabbages from Arada and Gofer Meda markets, where E. histolytica/dispar reached 50.00%. Leafy and root vegetables, especially Ethiopian kale and carrots, were the most contaminated with parasites. Fresh vegetables grown and sold in the study area were commonly contaminated with intestinal parasites, with retail vegetables showing the highest contamination rates. Enhanced hygiene practices during production, handling, and marketing, alongside targeted public health interventions, are crucial to reducing foodborne parasitic infections in the community.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were large-scale international mass gathering events associated with an elevated risk of infectious disease transmission and potential cross-border spread. This report describes the infectious disease preparedness and response system established by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) to protect the Korean delegation and to generate evidence to inform policy development for future international mass gathering events. A structured preparedness and response framework was implemented before the event. This included the establishment of an interagency coordination mechanism and the development of a infectious disease preparedness and response plan. An infectious disease task force was constituted to conduct situation assessment meetings, epidemiological surveillance, risk assessment, and incident management. During the event, suspected and confirmed infectious disease cases were actively monitored, and all response activities were systematically documented for post-event evaluation. The KDCA established a coordinated multi-sectoral response network involving relevant national ministries and supporting organizations, including the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and the Korea Paralympic Committee. An infectious disease task force comprising a central headquarters unit and five functional teams was deployed for epidemiological surveillance, risk assessment, risk communication, situation management, and post-event evaluation. Continuous real-time monitoring and structured situation reporting enabled timely detection and response to potential public health threats during the event period. Two formal situation assessment meetings were conducted to ensure interagency coordination and operational alignment. Following the event, a structured post-event evaluation was conducted to assess response effectiveness, operational performance, and resource utilization. The KDCA response framework demonstrated operational feasibility for infectious disease risks during international mass gatherings. This system may serve as a foundational model for the development of a standardized national preparedness and response framework for future international events. It also provides policy-relevant evidence to support the institutionalization of coordinated public health emergency systems for future similar events.

Bangladesh's fisheries sector, central to national nutrition, food security, and rural livelihoods, is increasingly threatened by the convergence of zoonotic pathogens, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and environmental degradation. Using a One Health framework, this review synthesizes evidence from 87 peer-reviewed articles, institutional reports, and regional studies to demonstrate how interactions among aquatic ecosystems, farmed and wild fish populations, and human communities drive the emergence and transmission of disease. Zoonotic parasites including trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, and protozoa persist through contaminated water, inadequate market hygiene, and exposure to domestic and wild animals. Aquaculture systems are further burdened by zoonotic bacteria (e.g., Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp., and Mycobacterium spp.) and microsporidian parasites (e.g., Enterocytozoon spp.), together posing significant occupational and foodborne risks. Emerging fungal pathogens, notably Saprolegnia spp. and Aphanomyces invadans, intensify disease burdens under poor farm management and environmentally stressed conditions. Critical contamination pathways, industrial and agricultural runoff, cross-contamination in fish markets, unregulated chemical use, and weak biosecurity link aquatic pollution with human and animal health outcomes. The introduction of non-native fish species (e.g., tilapia, pangas, carp) and the expanding ornamental fish trade further amplify pathogen risks, facilitating the silent spread of bacterial, parasitic, and fungal agents with zoonotic potential. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities exacerbate these pressures by destabilizing aquatic ecosystems, reducing resilience, and accelerating AMR dissemination across aquatic, human, and livestock interfaces. By integrating insights from parasitology, microbiology, epidemiology, and environmental science, this review underscores the urgent need for coordinated surveillance, diagnostic capacity, regulatory enforcement, and risk communication strategies. Embedding One Health and climate-smart approaches into fisheries governance is essential to mitigate zoonotic hazards, safeguard food safety, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Bangladesh's aquaculture sector under accelerating environmental change.