Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Cesar G. Victora, Parul Christian, Luis Paulo Vidaletti, Giovanna Gatica-Dominguez, Purnima Menon, Robert E. Black
Summary: Despite progress in reducing childhood stunting globally, low-income countries still face challenges with stunting and wasting. Data on women's micronutrient status is lacking, and anemia prevalence remains high among women.
Article
Economics
Safia Aggarwal, Anne Larson, Constance McDermott, Pia Katila, Lukas Giessen
Summary: The urgent need to restore and sustainably manage land and forests to combat social and environmental threats like climate change, COVID-19, and biodiversity loss highlights the critical role of tenure reform, particularly strengthening collective forest tenure. However, there are still challenges in providing robust tenure for community forestry in terms of legal protections, barriers to rights usage, access to justice, and administrative support, despite some successful cases showcasing the potential of communities and smallholders in sustainable forest management and climate change mitigation. Governments are urged to strengthen community and local rights within their legal frameworks and mainstream implementation in policies and practices, with support from NGOs, civil society organizations, donors, research institutions, and academia.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Business
Ross Gruetzemacher, Florian E. Dorner, Niko Bernaola-Alvarez, Charlie Giattino, David Manheim
Summary: Forecasting AI progress is crucial for reducing uncertainty and planning research efforts on AI safety and governance. Expert opinions on prioritized questions and methods for forecasting AI progress were collected using the Delphi technique, highlighting the diversity of methods to consider and the importance of validation, action-guiding forecasts, and performance metric quality. While statistical methods show promise, there is recognition of the benefits of supplementing with judgmental techniques.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Cara Ocobock
Summary: Research on human extreme cold climate adaptations has experienced a resurgence since Ted Steegmann's Human Cold Adaptation Agenda in 2007. Human biologists have greatly expanded our knowledge in this area in the past 15 years, but there is still much work to be done to fulfill the cold climate adaptation agenda.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ethics
Karine Dube, John Kanazawa, Jeff Taylor, Lynda Dee, Nora Jones, Christopher Roebuck, Laurie Sylla, Michael Louella, Jan Kosmyna, David Kelly, Orbit Clanton, David Palm, Danielle M. Campbell, Morenike Giwa Onaiwu, Hursch Patel, Samuel Ndukwe, Laney Henley, Mallory O. Johnson, Parya Saberi, Brandon Brown, John A. Sauceda, Jeremy Sugarman
Summary: Ethical challenges and prospects in HIV cure research need to be addressed in six main categories: social value, scientific validity, fair selection of participants, benefit/risk balance, informed consent, and respect for enrolled participants and community. Collaboration between scientific research and bioethics is essential to advance ethical HIV cure research, as ethical considerations will need continual reassessment and refinement as HIV cure research evolves.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sitota Tsegaye, Kalkidan Yibeltal, Haset Zelealem, Walelegn Worku, Meaza Demissie, Alemayehu Worku, Yemane Berhane
Summary: Antenatal care coverage in Ethiopia has been increasing, but has not yet reached national targets. Inequalities have decreased, but women from poor households, with no education, and in rural areas still face disadvantages in accessing recommended antenatal care services. Addressing these disparities through multisectoral efforts is crucial to achieving national coverage goals.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Infectious Diseases
Lance E. Rodewald
Summary: China conducted a large-scale vaccination campaign during the COVID-19 zero infection period, reaching over 90% of the population with highly effective vaccines. The campaign strengthened and expanded the national immunization program, achieving high coverage and vaccinating millions of adults. The momentum from this campaign should be invested into a well-resourced national immunization program capable of reaching everyone in the country.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Hana M. Abdelzaher, Asmaa S. Gabr, Basma M. Saleh, Rana M. Abdel Gawad, Ahmed A. Nour, Anwar Abdelanser
Summary: mRNA vaccines have attracted significant interest for their potential in treating cancer and controlling infectious diseases. The success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has been remarkable, but they still face challenges in terms of safety, delivery, uptake, manufacturing, logistics, and storage.
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Seyedabdolhossein Mehvar, Kathelijne Wijnberg, Bas Borsje, Norman Kerle, Jan Maarten Schraagen, Joanne Vinke-de Kruijf, Karst Geurs, Andreas Hartmann, Rick Hogeboom, Suzanne Hulscher
Summary: Infrastructure systems are crucial in providing vital services to societies, and resilience in design can enhance community preparedness for hazards. However, the analysis of resilience in infrastructure systems within a cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary perspective is currently limited and fragmented. Key challenges include conceptual tensions, engineering and non-engineering measures, and future research directions, with a focus on integrating social, ecological, and technical resilience and developing new technologies for identifying recovery factors.
NATURAL HAZARDS AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Thomas J. Bollyky
Summary: Cholera has played a significant role in the history of cities, transforming them from disease victims into conquerors. However, the current burden of cholera and diarrheal diseases in fast-urbanizing areas of low-income nations highlights the unfinished urban health agenda that needs to continue evolving.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Erin F. Blau, Madhava Ram Balakrishnan, Helena Skold, Ravi Shankar Santhana Gopala Krishnan, Pinelopi Lundquist, Shanthi Pal, Jane F. Gidudu
Summary: Effective surveillance of adverse events following immunization relies on collaboration between national regulatory authorities and national expanded programs on immunization. The World Health Organization introduced a new indicator for monitoring immunization safety and this report describes progress in its implementation from 2020-2022 at the global, regional, and national levels. The findings demonstrate increasing support for timely use and sharing of immunization safety data, but further efforts are needed to strengthen global vaccine safety monitoring.
MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Christoph A. Steffen, Louise Henaff, Antoine Durupt, Nathalie El Omeiri, Sidy Ndiaye, Nyambat Batmunkh, Jayantha B. L. Liyanage, Quamrul Hasan, Liudmila Mosina, Ian Jones, Katherine O'Brien, Joachim Hombach
Summary: In recent years, many countries have established National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) to provide independent expert advice to ensure transparent and evidence-based vaccination decision-making. There has been a significant growth in the number and functionality of NITAGs, and further capacity building is needed to adapt to the changing landscape of vaccination in the next decade.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Danae Bixler, Henry Roberts, Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos, Noele P. Nelson, Philip R. Spradling, Eyasu H. Teshale
Summary: From 1990 to 2019, universal vaccination for hepatitis B significantly reduced acute cases among children and young adults in the US, but cases among adults aged 40 and above have plateaued or increased. Surveillance strategies are crucial for eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat, with ongoing transmission among high-risk groups like drug users and those with multiple sexual partners.
PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Thomas C. Jhou
Summary: Between 2005 and 2009, a new region (RMTg/tVTA) was discovered to provide dense inhibitory input to midbrain dopamine neurons, playing critical roles in behavioral inhibition, punishment learning, and aversive responses to drugs like cocaine and alcohol. Despite progress, important questions remain about the molecular/genetic properties, projection targets, and applications of the RMTg in addiction, depression, and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Review
Anesthesiology
Juliana Onwumere, Brendon Stubbs, Mary Stirling, David Shiers, Fiona Gaughran, Andrew S. C. Rice, Amanda C. de C. Williams, Whitney Scott
Summary: Additional digital content is available in the text.
Article
Immunology
Leonardo W. Heyerdahl, Stef Dielen, Helene Dodion, Carla Van Riet, ToTran Nguyen, Clarissa Simas, Lise Boey, Tarun Kattumana, Nico Vandaele, Heidi J. Larson, Koen Peeters Grietens, Tamara Giles-Vernick, Charlotte Gryseels
Summary: Polarized debates about Covid-19 vaccination and vaccine mandates among healthcare workers in Belgium have led to difficulties in discussing vaccination with colleagues and patients. Unvaccinated healthcare workers fear expressing their vaccine sentiments and avoid discussing vaccines out of concern for upsetting others or facing disciplinary action. Surprisingly, some vaccine-confident healthcare workers also hide their vaccine sentiments to avoid conflicts. Loss of trust and strained social relationships between healthcare workers and individuals with different vaccine sentiments are common.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ikechukwu Adigweme, Ahmed Futa, Ebrima Saidy-Jah, Bassey Edem, Edem Akpalu, Tida Dibbasey, Vistasp Sethna, Rajeev Dhere, Beate Kampmann, Christopher Bengt, Jake Sirr, Nancy Hosken, David Goldblatt, Kalpana Antony, Mark R. Alderson, Steve Lamola, Ed Clarke
Summary: A study conducted in The Gambia found that SIIPL-PCV vaccine is safe and immunogenic when administered to infants according to a 2 + 1 schedule, comparable to PHiD-CV and PCV13. This vaccine is expected to provide similar protection against invasive and mucosal pneumococcal disease as PCV13 and PHiD-CV.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yumeng Du, Chenqi Jin, Mark Jit, Tracey Chantler, Leesa Lin, Heidi J. Larson, Jing Li, Wenfeng Gong, Fan Yang, Nina Ren, Weibin Cheng, Yi Zhou, Weiming Tang, Joseph D. Tucker, Dan Wu
Summary: This study aimed to understand the factors associated with influenza vaccine uptake among children and older people in China. The results showed that the vaccination rate was higher in the subsidized group compared to the self-paid group. In the self-paid group, prior vaccination experiences and trust in providers' advice were associated with higher vaccine uptake, while in the subsidized group, marital status, perception of vaccine effectiveness, and previous experience of influenza-like illnesses in the family were associated with vaccine uptake.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Antoine Flahault, Alexandra Calmy, Dominique Costagliola, Oxana Drapkina, Isabella Eckerle, Heidi J. Larson, Helena Legido-Quigley, Catherine Noakes, Michel Kazatchkine, Hans Kluge
Article
Immunology
Rose J. Wilson, Lamin Leigh, Haddy Bah, Heidi J. Larson, Ed Clarke
Summary: This study is the first to investigate HPV vaccination in The Gambia using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The study found that despite high uptake rates, knowledge of HPV vaccination was low and there were concerns about infertility and population control. The study suggests that addressing these concerns in a holistic manner considering socio-political contexts could lead to more positive perceptions and increased vaccine uptake rates.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kristi Yoonsup Lee, Saudamini Vishwanath Dabak, Vivian Hanxiao Kong, Minah Park, Shirley L. L. Kwok, Madison Silzle, Chayapat Rachatan, Alex Cook, Aly Passanante, Ed Pertwee, Zhengdong Wu, Javier A. Elkin, Heidi J. Larson, Eric H. Y. Lau, Kathy Leung, Joseph T. Wu, Leesa Lin
Summary: Chatbots have become popular in health services and communications, but few studies have evaluated their effectiveness in improving vaccine confidence and acceptance. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore, comparing the effects of COVID-19 vaccine chatbots on confidence and acceptance among unvaccinated individuals. The results showed mixed success, with decreased confidence in vaccine effectiveness in Thailand, decreased vaccine acceptance in Hong Kong, and decreased vaccine confidence in safety in Singapore. Process evaluation indicated support for vaccine chatbots, but further studies are needed to link chatbot usage and real-world vaccine uptake.
NPJ DIGITAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Samuel Channon-Wells, Ortensia Vito, Andrew J. McArdle, Eleanor G. Seaby, Harsita Patel, Priyen Shah, Ekaterina Pazukhina, Clare Wilson, Claire Broderick, Giselle D'Souza, Ilana Keren, Ruud G. Nijman, Adriana Tremoulet, Daniel Munblit, Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez, Michael J. Carter, Padmanabhan Ramnarayan, Tisham De, Clive Hoggart, Elizabeth Whittaker, Jethro A. Herberg, Myrsini Kaforou, Aubrey J. Cunnington, Oleg Blyuss, Michael Levin
Summary: This study evaluated immunomodulatory treatments for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and found that glucocorticoids or glucocorticoids plus intravenous immunoglobulin were not significantly different from intravenous immunoglobulin alone in terms of clinical efficacy. Initial treatment with glucocorticoids may be a safe alternative to immunoglobulin or combined therapy.
LANCET RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Aly Passanante, Ed Pertwee, Leesa Lin, Kristi Yoonsup Lee, Joseph T. Wu, Heidi J. Larson
Summary: The use of conversational artificial intelligence (AI) in vaccine communication has the potential to provide credible and personalized information to users, leading to positive effects on vaccine attitudes. However, more research is needed to understand the long-term and societal impacts of this technology, as well as address ethical concerns.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Oghenebrume Wariri, Chigozie Edson Utazi, Uduak Okomo, C. Jessica E. Metcalf, Malick Sogur, Sidat Fofana, Kris A. Murray, Chris Grundy, Beate Kampmann
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of geospatial modelling techniques to generate high-resolution maps of delayed childhood vaccination prevalence in The Gambia. The findings show significant subnational heterogeneity in delayed vaccination, with specific districts in the central and eastern regions exhibiting the highest prevalence. The study also identifies districts with a high estimated prevalence and a significant population of affected infants.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Tarun Kattumana, Leonardo W. W. Heyerdahl, ToTran Nguyen, Stef Dielen, Koen Peeters Grietens, Anne-Mieke Vandamme, Tamara Giles-Vernick, Heidi J. J. Larson, Nico Vandaele, Corinne Vandermeulen, Charlotte Gryseels, Carla Van Riet
Summary: This research investigates the experiences of COVID-19 response actors during the initial phase of vaccine rollout in Flanders, Belgium. The study reveals that participants faced multi-dimensional crises related to prioritization, communication, the image of science, epistemic agency and autonomy, and trust in responding to the pandemic and vaccine hesitancy.
CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zain Jafar, Jonathan D. Quick, Heidi J. Larson, Verner Venegas-Vera, Philip Napoli, Godfrey Musuka, Tafadzwa Dzinamarira, Kolar Sridara Meena, T. Raju Kanmani, Eszter Rimanyi
Summary: With over 4.26 billion social media users worldwide, social media has become a major platform for health information, exchange, and influence. While it offers benefits such as promoting preventive behaviors and connecting individuals to reliable information, it also poses risks like exacerbating a decline in public trust and spreading dangerous misinformation. Therefore, concerted efforts from various stakeholders are necessary to ensure healthy and responsible use of social media.
HEALTH PROMOTION PERSPECTIVES
(2023)
Book Review
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Heidi J. Larson
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMANITIES
(2023)
Correction
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Heidi J. Larson
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMANITIES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oghenebrume Wariri, Chigozie Edson A. Utazi, Uduak Okomo, Malick Sogur, Kris Murray, Chris Grundy, Sidat Fofanna, Beate Kampmann
Summary: The Gambia's routine childhood vaccination program is highly successful but there are delays in many vaccinations, which could lead to disease outbreaks. A study was conducted using data from The Gambia 2019-2020 Demographic and Health Survey to determine the timeliness of vaccination. The study found high routine coverage but also a high rate of untimely vaccination, with delayed vaccination being the most common.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Saikou Y. Bah, Mariama A. Kujabi, Saffiatou Darboe, Ngange Kebbeh, Bunja F. K. Kebbeh, Abdoulie Kanteh, Ramatouille Bojang, Joy E. Lawn, Beate Kampmann, Abdul K. Sesay, Thushan I. de Silva, Helen Brotherton
Summary: Bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics are a major cause of infection and death in newborns, especially in low-resource countries. This study in The Gambia found that these bacteria are commonly acquired by newborns in the hospital environment, rather than being transferred from their mothers. Strategies to reduce the presence of such bacteria in hospitals are important for protecting vulnerable newborns.
COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE
(2023)
