The unintended consequences of COVID-19 vaccine policy: why mandates, passports and restrictions may cause more harm than good

AbstractVaccination policies have shifted dramatically during COVID-19 with the rapid emergence of population-wide vaccine mandates, domestic vaccine passports and differential restrictions based on vaccination status. While these policies have prompted ethical, scientific, practical, legal and political debate, there has been limited evaluation of their potential unintended consequences. Here, we outline a comprehensive set of hypotheses… Continue reading The unintended consequences of COVID-19 vaccine policy: why mandates, passports and restrictions may cause more harm than good

Associations between persistent organic pollutants and type 1 diabetes in youth

BackgroundDiabetes affects millions of people worldwide with a continued increase in incidence occurring within the pediatric population. The potential contribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to diabetes in youth remains poorly known, especially regarding type 1 diabetes (T1D), generally the most prevalent form of diabetes in youth. ObjectivesWe investigated the associations between POPs and T1D… Continue reading Associations between persistent organic pollutants and type 1 diabetes in youth

Occurrence and transmission potential of asymptomatic and presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections: Update of a living systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundDebate about the level of asymptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continues. The amount of evidence is increasing and study designs have changed over time. We updated a living systematic review to address 3 questions: (1) Among people who become infected with SARS-CoV-2, what proportion does not experience symptoms at all during… Continue reading Occurrence and transmission potential of asymptomatic and presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections: Update of a living systematic review and meta-analysis

Socioeconomic Disadvantage is Associated with Probable Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

BackgroundSarcopenia is characterized by the accelerated loss of muscle strength, mass, and function in aging. The disease is a major public health issue with emerging evidence of a disproportionate burden in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of probable sarcopenia overall, and according to Socioeconomic Position (SEP). To explore the association between markers… Continue reading Socioeconomic Disadvantage is Associated with Probable Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Rising temperatures erode human sleep globally

Insufficient sleep is a risk factor for several adverse physical and mental outcomes. A lack of sleep has been associated with reduced cognitive performance, diminished productivity, compromised immune function, adverse cardiovascular outcomes, depression, anger, and suicidal behavior. High ambient temperatures have been associated with reduced subjective sleep quality, but little is known regarding the influence… Continue reading Rising temperatures erode human sleep globally

The Lancet Commission on pollution and health

Pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today. Diseases caused by pollution were responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths in 2015—16% of all deaths worldwide—three times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined and 15 times more than from all wars and other forms… Continue reading The Lancet Commission on pollution and health

Frequency of adolescent cannabis smoking and vaping in the United States: Trends, disparities and concurrent substance use, 2017–19

AimTo quantify the trends in frequent and occasional cannabis vaping, demographic differences and concurrent nicotine and alcohol use. DesignObservational study. Survey-weighted multinomial logistic regression models assessed trends and disparities in past 30-day cannabis use. Trends were assessed overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, parental education and urbanicity. Multinomial logistic regression models also estimated associations of cannabis… Continue reading Frequency of adolescent cannabis smoking and vaping in the United States: Trends, disparities and concurrent substance use, 2017–19

School Closures During Social Lockdown and Mental Health, Health Behaviors, and Well-being Among Children and Adolescents During the First COVID-19 WaveA Systematic Review

Importance School closures as part of broader social lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Objective To review published reports on the association of school closures during broader social lockdown with mental health, health behaviors, and well-being in children and adolescents aged 0 to… Continue reading School Closures During Social Lockdown and Mental Health, Health Behaviors, and Well-being Among Children and Adolescents During the First COVID-19 WaveA Systematic Review

Stress-induced protein disaggregation in the endoplasmic reticulum catalysed by BiP

Protein synthesis is supported by cellular machineries that ensure polypeptides fold to their native conformation, whilst eliminating misfolded, aggregation prone species. Protein aggregation underlies pathologies including neurodegeneration. Aggregates’ formation is antagonised by molecular chaperones, with cytoplasmic machinery resolving insoluble protein aggregates. However, it is unknown whether an analogous disaggregation system exists in the Endoplasmic Reticulum… Continue reading Stress-induced protein disaggregation in the endoplasmic reticulum catalysed by BiP