High-Risk HPV in Men: A Hidden Threat to Public Health?
Rev Med Virol. 2026 Mar;36(2):e70115. doi: 10.1002/rmv.70115. ABSTRACT High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is a leading cause of several cancers, including those of the genital and oropharyngeal regions. While public health efforts have largely focused on women due to its link to cervical cancer, HPV also poses significant risks to men, particularly in the oropharyngeal […]
Recent from Medicine
Adolescent and Young Adult Leadership and Engagement in HIV Strategy and Policy Development: Experiences from the UNICEF/WHO/UNAIDS Blueprint Collaborative
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2026 Feb 14;23(1):4. doi: 10.1007/s11904-026-00774-3. ABSTRACT PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) face disproportionately worse outcomes along the HIV prevention and care continuum. Despite global commitments to AYA engagement, AYA remain underrepresented in research, programming, and policy development. We summarize recent innovations in AYA engagement within the HIV literature and […]
Causal Rule Ensemble Approach for Multi-Arm Data
Stat Med. 2026 Feb;45(3-5):e70443. doi: 10.1002/sim.70443. ABSTRACT The estimation of the heterogeneous treatment effect (HTE) is critical in medical research. It provides insights into how treatment effects vary among individuals, which can provide statistical evidence for precision medicine. While most existing methods focus on binary treatment situations, real-world applications often involve multiple interventions. However, current […]
Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions for Mental Health: A 10-Year Update
Behav Modif. 2026 Mar;50(2):87-122. doi: 10.1177/01454455251380218. Epub 2025 Oct 15. ABSTRACT Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer scalable ways to deliver mental health support via smartphone technology. This updated meta-analysis builds on Lindhiem et al., synthesizing findings from 79 randomized controlled trials identified through PsycINFO. Eligible studies included clinical samples, randomized designs, and at least one […]
Coping with heat: exploring psychometric properties and relationships of a heat-related health literacy scale
Health Promot Int. 2026 Jan 7;41(1):daag020. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daag020. ABSTRACT Climate change and rising temperatures are increasingly threatening public health, underscoring the need for effective strategies to manage heat-related risks. Promoting heat-related health literacy (HRHL) is crucial, yet no validated scale exists to measure it. We developed a 20-item HRHL scale and tested it in a […]
Taiwan working for a healthy, sustainable aging
Lakartidningen. 2026 Feb 12;123:25077. ABSTRACT Taiwan is addressing rapid population aging by promoting senior health and nutrition. By 2025, over 20% of its population is aged 65 or older. For this reason, Taiwan launched Community Nutrition Promotion Centres in 2017, that are now operating in all counties. The community nutritionists guide seniors on balanced diets […]
Risk signal assessment of Tdap vaccine use alone by pregnant women: An updated pharmacoepidemiological study
Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2026 Jan 27;15:1689560. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1689560. eCollection 2025. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Despite global recommendations for maternal tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination to protect neonates, safety concerns persist regarding pregnancy-specific adverse events (AEs). We conducted a 20-year analysis of U.S. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) data (2005-2024) to characterize Tdap-associated AEs during pregnancy, with […]
Clinical outcomes of genomically guided trametinib monotherapy across cancer types: results from the IMPRESS-Norway trial
Acta Oncol. 2026 Feb 10;65:90-96. doi: 10.2340/1651-226X.2026.45086. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Molecular profiling guides cancer treatment, by identifying actionable genomic alterations. The IMPRESS-Norway trial (NCT04817956) is a nation-wide precision medicine trial evaluating the efficacy of approved cancer drugs on a novel indication in patients with advanced cancers harbouring potentially actionable alterations. Trametinib, a selective MEK1/2 […]
Randomized Controlled Trials and Real-World Evidence in Allergen Immunotherapy: A Critical Reflection on Methodological Paradigms, Ethical Implications, and Industry Influence
J Eval Clin Pract. 2026 Feb;32(1):e70382. doi: 10.1111/jep.70382. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only intervention capable of modifying the natural history of allergic diseases. The evidence supporting its effectiveness comes from two distinct but complementary methodological approaches: randomized controlled trials (RCTs), traditionally considered the gold standard for establishing causality, and real-world evidence (RWE), […]
Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Diversity of Influenza B Viruses Based on Whole-Genome Analysis in Japan and Myanmar, 2016-2020
Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2026 Feb;20(2):e70234. doi: 10.1111/irv.70234. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Influenza B virus (IBV) contributes to seasonal epidemics, but its molecular evolution is less defined than influenza A. We analyzed IBVs collected in Japan and Myanmar (2016-2020) to investigate lineage dynamics, reassortment, and genetic mismatch with vaccine strains. METHODS: Respiratory specimens from patients with influenza-like […]
Exploring determinants of patient attitudes toward telemedicine in primary care: a cross-sectional study in Türkiye
Fam Pract. 2026 Feb 7;43(2):cmaf107. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmaf107. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is a promising tool for integration into primary care, where it can enhance access and continuity of care. In Türkiye, telemedicine has not yet been routinely implemented in primary care, although regulatory and infrastructural preparations are underway. The success of such services depends not only […]
Development of Telenursing Guidelines to Improve the Quality of Services in Diabetic Wound Care in a Hospital in Thailand: Case Study
JMIR Nurs. 2026 Feb 9;9:e74228. doi: 10.2196/74228. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The majority of patients with diabetic wounds living in Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province face challenges such as a shortage of nurses, limited access to health care, and insufficient resources. Strategies such as specialist networks, patient monitoring, and online care platforms are crucial to improving […]
Patient and Clinician Perspectives on Expanding Telehealth Use for Older Adults Across the Cancer Control Continuum: Mixed Methods Study
JMIR Cancer. 2026 Feb 9;12:e73058. doi: 10.2196/73058. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Reliance on telehealth increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing new opportunities to consider the use of telehealth across the cancer control continuum. However, patient, clinician, and staff perspectives about the types of cancer care appointments that are considered appropriate and the clinical care needs to […]
Personalized Diabetes Treatment Support Using Large Language Models Fine-Tuned on Electronic Health Records: Development and Evaluation Study
JMIR Form Res. 2026 Feb 9;10:e71541. doi: 10.2196/71541. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Effective diabetes management requires individualized treatment strategies tailored to patients’ clinical characteristics. With recent advances in artificial intelligence, large language models (LLMs) offer new opportunities to enhance clinical decision support, particularly in generating personalized recommendations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and evaluate an LLM-based […]
Digital Inequalities in the Use of eHealth Services in European Public Health Care Systems: Systematic Review of Observational Studies
J Med Internet Res. 2026 Feb 9;28:e81841. doi: 10.2196/81841. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: European public health care systems are expanding eHealth tools such as teleconsultations, online appointment bookings, and electronic health records to improve efficiency and access to health care. However, their use depends on factors such as digital skills and internet access, which are unequally distributed […]
Standards and conditions for the success of digitalization for Public health authorities
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2026 Feb;151(4):180-184. doi: 10.1055/a-2725-3723. Epub 2026 Feb 9. ABSTRACT In 2025, Germany faces a dual transformation: the institutionalization of a federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and a controversial relaxation of data protection regulations, i.e. register for mentally ill people. These developments coincide with increasing political polarization, which not only shapes public discourse […]
Indocyanine green assists with sentinel lymph node mapping in pediatric and adolescent patients: A Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative prospective observational study
Cancer. 2026 Feb 15;132(4):e70274. doi: 10.1002/cncr.70274. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a critical staging tool in skin and soft tissue cancers. Although technetium lymphoscintigraphy is the most common adjunct, indocyanine green (ICG) demonstrates a promising alternative in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) skin and soft tissue cancers. METHODS AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluate […]
Control arm overperformance in phase 3 oncology clinical trials
Cancer. 2026 Feb 15;132(4):e70306. doi: 10.1002/cncr.70306. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), anticipating control arm outcomes is important for power calculations and enrollment goals. Unexpected overperformance of the control arm can underpower RCTs. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of control arm overperformance in phase 3 oncology RCTs. METHODS: The […]
Value of Clinical Evidence and Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) Studies
Muscle Nerve. 2026 Feb;73 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S7-S12. doi: 10.1002/mus.70037. ABSTRACT Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remain the gold standard for establishing the efficacy and safety of new treatments. However, clinical evidence derived from the systematic analysis of real-world data generated through routine clinical practice can complement RCT data by offering insights into treatment performance in broader, […]
Out-of-hours services in Zealand, Denmark. Consequences of changeover from GP-cooperative to integrated deputized services. A retrospective cohort study
Scand J Prim Health Care. 2026 Dec;44(1):2616519. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2026.2616519. Epub 2026 Feb 7. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Out-of-hours services (OOHS) worldwide exhibit diverse organisational models, especially within the European Union. This study aims to describe the transformation of OOHS in Region Zealand, Denmark, from a General Practitioner cooperative (GP-OOHS) to a regional organization/service, known as the 1818 […]
Antibiotic treatment for acute sinusitis and subsequent health care use and work absence: a nationwide registry study from Norway
Fam Pract. 2026 Feb 7;43(2):cmag001. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmag001. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Acute sinusitis is common in general practice. Although typically self-limiting, antibiotics are frequently prescribed despite guideline recommendations to restrict use. It remains unclear whether antibiotic treatment reduces subsequent health care use or work absence. OBJECTIVE: To assess how initial treatment with or without antibiotics for acute […]
The Adolescent Athlete and the Team Physician: A Consensus Statement. 2025 Update
Curr Sports Med Rep. 2026 Feb 1;25(2):59-90. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001321. Epub 2026 Jan 30. ABSTRACT Team physicians may be called upon to treat adolescent athletes, defined in this document as those in the range of 12-18 yr of age. Many are involved in school-based, intramural, or specialized sports participation and/or training, potentially resulting in injury and/or […]
Vascularization and maturation of kidney organoids: a comprehensive review of technological trends and challenges
J Artif Organs. 2026 Feb 5;29(1):18. doi: 10.1007/s10047-026-01545-y. ABSTRACT Chronic kidney disease is a global health issue, and novel therapeutic alternatives to dialysis and kidney transplantation must be developed. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids recapitulate developmental processes and mimic kidney-like structures in vitro and have thus attracted attention for treating chronic kidney disease. However, […]
Scalable and distributed individualized treatment rules for multicenter datasets
Biometrics. 2026 Jan 6;82(1):ujag003. doi: 10.1093/biomtc/ujag003. ABSTRACT Synthesizing information from multiple data sources is crucial for constructing accurate individualized treatment rules (ITRs). However, privacy concerns often present significant barriers to the integrative analysis of such multicenter data. Classical meta-learning, which averages local estimates to derive the final ITR, is frequently suboptimal due to biases in […]
Global and regional prevalence of metallo-β-lactamases in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: a systematic review and meta-analysis
J Antimicrob Chemother. 2026 Feb 2;81(3):dkag037. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkag037. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), especially New Delhi MBLs (NDMs), are concerning due to resistance to last-resort antibiotics. METHODS: PubMed and Scopus were queried for studies published between 2020 and 2024 reporting MBL prevalence in CRAB isolates. Risk of […]
Economic shock and the erosion of COVID-19 precautionary behavior in Canada during the early pandemic
PLoS One. 2026 Feb 5;21(2):e0340685. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340685. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT Maintaining voluntary adherence to public health guidelines during a pandemic is fundamentally a collective action problem. We argue that one challenge is the economic costs these behaviors impose on individuals and society. As their costs are revealed to citizens, adherence declines, in part by changing […]
Facilitators and barriers of physical activity, sedentariness and exercise adoption among healthcare professionals in Lagos State, Nigeria – A qualitative review
PLoS One. 2026 Feb 3;21(2):e0342108. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0342108. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT Physical inactivity is a major global public health concern, identified by the World Health Organization as the fourth leading cause of mortality worldwide and associated with an estimated 3.2 million deaths annually. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) serve as frontline advocates for health promotion and disease prevention, […]
USAG-1 and Regenerative Dentistry, Therapeutic Implications and Future Directions: Review of the Literature
Clin Exp Dent Res. 2026 Feb;12(1):e70301. doi: 10.1002/cre2.70301. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Uterine Sensitization-Associated Gene 1 (USAG-1) is a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist vital for tooth regeneration that is expressed in kidney, gingiva, and dental tissues. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed recent studies focusing on USAG-1 and its involvement in BMP and Wnt signaling pathways related […]
Evaluation of a mobile-based remote aftercare application in cochlear implant users
PLoS One. 2026 Feb 3;21(2):e0326650. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326650. eCollection 2026. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Clinical follow-up for cochlear implant (CI) users is typically carried out in a face-to-face session in a clinical site. Users must travel to the site, which incurs burdens of travel time, expenses, and time lost from work or education. To help alleviate this, a […]
Vaccine literacy among Italian travelers: A web-based survey using a brief assessment tool
Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2026 Dec;22(1):2607235. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2025.2607235. Epub 2026 Feb 3. ABSTRACT The convergence of emerging infectious diseases, accelerating ecological changes, and increasing global mobility makes Vaccine Literacy (VL) a critical component of contemporary travel medicine. Enhanced VL can facilitate more effective provider-traveler communication, ultimately reducing infectious disease transmission risks associated with international travel. This […]
Assessing the Feasibility, Usability, Acceptability, and Efficacy of an AI Chatbot for Sleep Promotion: Quasi-Experimental Study
JMIR Form Res. 2026 Feb 3;10:e84023. doi: 10.2196/84023. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Poor sleep is a concerning public health problem in the United States. Previous sleep interventions often face barriers such as high costs, limited accessibility, and low user engagement. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offer a novel approach to overcoming these limitations. In response, […]
Can Medical Students Learn the Pediatric Musculoskeletal Examination Independently?
South Med J. 2026 Feb;119(2):81-84. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001933. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate whether medical students can learn a pediatric musculoskeletal examination independently by studying the pediatric Gait, Arms, Legs, and Spine (pGALS) assessment. METHODS: Fourth-year medical students were surveyed in 2018 regarding confidence and experience with the pediatric musculoskeletal training. Students performed an […]
Designing a Case Management Mobile Health App for Violence Intervention Programs: Mixed Methods Human-Centered Design Study
JMIR Form Res. 2026 Feb 2;10:e79533. doi: 10.2196/79533. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Hospital-based violence intervention programs have shown promise in mitigating the effects of violence, but their impact is limited by time constraints and inefficient practices faced by the violence prevention professionals (VPPs) who function as case managers. Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer the potential to enhance […]
Digital Health Tools Embedded in a Cancer Genetics Clinic: Observational Study
JMIR Form Res. 2026 Feb 2;10:e74375. doi: 10.2196/74375. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Digital Health Tools (DHTs), including wearables and mobile apps, offer promising avenues for personalized care and real-time monitoring, but user engagement and clinical utility-especially in pediatric populations-remain unclear. Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a genetic mutation in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene, predisposing individuals to cancer, […]
Certified Athletic Trainers Are Preferred Coordinators in Sports Medicine Clinics: A Patient Survey Study
South Med J. 2026 Feb;119(2):93-95. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001929. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Certified athletic trainers (ATCs) are increasingly used in sports medicine clinics. Patient comfort for ATCs as clinical coordinators has yet to be determined. This study aims to determine patient comfort with ATCs as clinical coordinators compared with registered nurses (RNs). METHODS: One hundred patients from a […]
Barriers to Digital Health Adoption in Older Adults: Scoping Review Informed by Innovation Resistance Theory
J Med Internet Res. 2026 Feb 2;28:e75591. doi: 10.2196/75591. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The transformation of digital health technologies has reshaped health care delivery in primary care. Despite these benefits, older adults remain among the most resistant users. Traditional technology adoption models may not fully capture this reluctance, which is shaped not only by usability challenges but […]