GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.

This year's Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award goes to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, for providing sustained access to childhood vaccines around the globe, saving millions of lives, and highlighting the power of immunization to prevent disease.

Towards fair and clinically relevant polygenic predictions.

Lennon et al. recently proposed a clinical polygenic score (PGS) pipeline as part of the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network initiative. In this spotlight article we discuss the broader context for the use of PGS in preventive medicine and highlight key limitations and challenges facing their inclusion in prediction models.

Nonspecific effects of neonatal and infant vaccination: public-health, immunological and conceptual challenges.

Vaccines can have nonspecific effects through their modulation of responses to infections not specifically targeted by the vaccine. However, lack of knowledge about the underlying immunological mechanisms and molecular cause-and-effect relationships prevent use of this potentially powerful early-life intervention to its greatest benefit. The World Health Organization has identified investigations into the molecular basis of nonspecific vaccine effects as a research priority.

The Role of Quercetin as a Plant-Derived Bioactive Agent in Preventive Medicine and Treatment in Skin Disorders.

Quercetin, a bioactive plant flavonoid, is an antioxidant, and as such it exhibits numerous beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antibacterial and antiviral activity. It occurs naturally in fruit and vegetables such as apples, blueberries, cranberries, lettuce, and is present in plant waste such as onion peel or grape pomace which constitute good sources of quercetin for technological or pharmaceutical purposes. The presented study focuses on the role of quercetin in prevention and treatment of dermatological diseases analyzing its effect at a molecular level, its signal transduction and metabolism. Presented aspects of quercetin potential for skin treatment include protection against aging and UV radiation, stimulation of wound healing, reduction in melanogenesis, and prevention of skin oxidation. The article discusses quercetin sources (plant waste products included), methods of its medical administration, and perspectives for its further use in dermatology and diet therapy.

[Prevalence and clinical associations of steatotic liver disease in a Preventive Medicine Unit: A cross-sectional study]. / Prevalencia y caracterización de pacientes con esteatosis hepática en una Unidad de Medicina Preventiva: Estudio observacional, de corte transversal.

BACKGROUND: Steatotic Liver Disease is the most frequent chronic hepatic disease worldwide. Its prevalence is 30-38% and is associated with progression to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. A new terminology for this condition was recently published, classifying it into five groups. AIM: To evaluate the prevalence and the association of Steatotic Liver Disease with clinical and laboratory variables in a Preventive Medicine Unit. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive study. Patients over 18 years of age, with or without chronic diseases, who consulted the Preventive Medicine Unit of the Clínica Universidad de los Andes between February 2022 and March 2024 were included. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data were collected. A hepatic steatosis diagnosis was made using abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: 4535 patients were included in the analysis; the mean age was 45.1 years, and 37.4% were women. 1214 patients (26.8%) met criteria for hepatic steatosis, who were older (p<0.001) and had a higher proportion of male sex than healthy patients (p<0.001). 94.3% met the criteria for hepatic steatosis associated with metabolic dysfunction; 3.2% met the criteria for metabolic dysfunction and alcohol consumption; 0.5% met the criteria for hepatic steatosis associated with alcohol consumption; and 2.0% met the criteria for cryptogenic hepatic steatosis or due to another cause. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hepatic steatosis in our sample was 26.8%, with a significant difference between men and women. In 94.3% of cases, it was associated with metabolic dysfunction.

[Construction of terminology system in public health and preventive medicine].

Public Health and Preventive Medicine, as a first-level discipline within the field of medical sciences, plays a crucial role in standardizing terminology for the purposes of discipline construction, technological advancement, and societal progress. Given the current macro-environment of social development, establishing and perfecting a standardized terminology system for Public Health and Preventive Medicine is not only a necessity for the discipline itself but also a pressing need for the nation and the world. This paper focuses on the development environment and current status of the Public Health and Preventive Medicine discipline system. It explores the current state, challenges, and future prospects of building a terminology system for Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the perspectives of terminology evaluation, standardized application, and discipline construction.

[Physical activity, a key-role in preventive medicine]. / L'activité physique, un rôle essentiel dans le cadre d'une médecine préventive.

The importance of physical activity in preventing diseases and maintaining physical and mental health in humans is undeniable. An active lifestyle plays a significant role in the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of chronic diseases. Despite abundant evidence in the literature and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) on physical activity, the global population remains insufficiently active. It is therefore essential to promote physical activity and educate individuals in order to create an environment conducive to the sustainable adoption of an active lifestyle and the maintenance of health. In Belgium, initiatives such as «Sport-Health¼ programmes are emerging to overcome barriers to autonomous physical activity by offering tailored programmes for individuals with chronic diseases or those wishing to age healthily. With this perspective, the «Citizen, in motion for my health¼ project offers physical activity sessions while improving the physical literacy of participants to promote their autonomy.

L'importance de l'activité physique dans la prévention des maladies et le maintien de la santé physique et mentale de l'être humain n'est plus à démontrer. Un mode de vie actif joue un rôle considérable dans la prévention primaire, secondaire et tertiaire des maladies chroniques. Malgré les preuves abondantes dans la littérature ainsi que les recommandations de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) en matière d'activité physique, la population mondiale demeure insuffisamment active. Il est donc essentiel de promouvoir l'activité physique et l'éducation des individus pour créer un environnement favorable à l'adoption durable d'un mode de vie actif en vue de la préservation de la santé. En Belgique, des initiatives telles que les programmes «Sport-Santé¼ émergent pour surmonter les obstacles à la pratique autonome de l'activité physique en proposant des programmes adaptés aux besoins des personnes atteintes de maladies chroniques ou souhaitant vieillir en bonne santé. C'est dans cette optique que le projet «Citoyen, en mouvement pour ma santé¼ offre des séances d'activité physique, tout en développant la littératie physique des participants pour favoriser leur autonomie.

[Clinical metabolomics : an innovative approach towards preventive and personalized medicine]. / La métabolomique clinique : une approche novatrice vers une médecine préventive et personnalisée.

In order to improve our healthcare system, it is undeniable that the future of modern medicine must focus on a more preventive and personalized approach, notably based on the individual characteristics specific to each patient. In this perspective, clinical metabolomics, which focuses on metabolites, emerges as a particularly interesting and promising approach. Indeed, this science reflects the internal and external stimuli received by an individual, thus capturing their physiological and/or pathological state. Close to the phenotype, it represents the interface between the patient, their genes, and their environment in the broadest sense. Its translational nature requires the conjunction of several expertise areas, both in analytical, biostatistical, and clinical levels. Combined with other data, it allows the generation of predictive or diagnostic models useful for early detection and monitoring of pathologies, taking into account notably the individual characteristics of patients. There are, of course, many obstacles and challenges to overcome for metabolomics to transition into clinical practice, but it is evident that this innovative approach will, in the years to come, find its place among the tools available to clinicians in a more personalized vision of patient care.

Dans le but d'améliorer notre système de santé, il est indéniable que l'avenir de la médecine moderne doit se porter sur une approche plus préventive et personnalisée, basée, notamment, sur les caractéristiques individuelles propres au patient. Dans cette optique, la métabolomique clinique, qui s'intéresse aux métabolites, apparaît comme une approche particulièrement intéressante et prometteuse. En effet, cette science est le reflet des stimuli internes et externes que reçoit un individu et permet donc de capturer son état physiologique et/ou pathologique. Proche du phénotype, elle représente l'interface entre le patient, ses gènes et son environnement au sens large. Sa nature translationnelle nécessite la conjonction de plusieurs expertises, tant au niveau analytique que bio-statistique et clinique. Combinée à d'autres données, elle permet de générer des modèles prédictifs ou diagnostiques utiles pour détecter précocement et suivre des pathologies, en tenant compte, notamment, des caractéristiques individuelles des patients. Il reste, bien entendu, de nombreux obstacles et défis à relever pour que la métabolomique passe dans la pratique clinique. Cependant, il apparaît évident que cette approche novatrice trouvera, dans les années à venir, sa place parmi les outils à disposition des cliniciens dans une vision préventive et plus personnalisée de la prise en charge du patient.

[Towards a disruptive preventive approach for sustainable healthcare systems]. / Vers une approche préventive disruptive pour «soigner¼ durablement nos systèmes de santé.

Faced with the multiple challenges impacting the Belgian healthcare system - notably the aging of the population, the increase in chronic diseases and growing social inequalities in health - the development of a disruptive preventive approach rooted in health promotion is essential to address the population's health problems in a cross-sectional and intersectoral way. However, the scant attention paid to prevention and promotion in the Belgian political landscape (only 3 % of healthcare expenditure), accentuated by the fragmentation of its deployment between the various political-institutional entities (Federal Authority, Communities and Regions), represents a significant limitation. New opportunities, supported in particular by "4P medicine", are paving the way for a modernization of preventive approaches. However, this new way of conceiving prevention will only be beneficial to the community, in all its diversity and complexity, if it re-engages with the fundamentals of health promotion.

Devant les multiples défis auxquels est confronté le système de santé belge - notamment le vieillissement de la population, la progression des maladies chroniques, l'accroissement des inégalités sociales de santé - le développement d'une approche préventive disruptive, qui trouve ses fondements dans la promotion de la santé, est essentiel pour aborder, de façon transversale et intersectorielle, les problèmes de santé de la population. Toutefois, la faible place accordée à la prévention et à la promotion dans le paysage politique belge (seulement 3 % des dépenses de santé), accentuée par un éclatement de son déploiement entre les différentes entités politico-institutionnelles (Autorité fédérale, Communautés et Régions), représente des limites non négligeables. De nouvelles opportunités, notamment soutenues par une «médecine des 4P¼, ouvrent la voie à une modernisation des approches préventives. Toutefois, cette nouvelle façon de concevoir la prévention ne sera profitable à la collectivité, prise dans sa diversité et sa complexité, qu'à la condition de se réancrer dans les fondamentaux inhérents à la promotion de la santé.

[Interest in the use of polygenic risk scores in breast cancer screening and preventive medicine]. / Intérêt de l'utilisation des scores de risques polygéniques dans le dépistage du cancer du sein et la médecine de prévention.

Despite screening programmes, numerous clinical studies and new breast imaging techniques, breast cancer incidence for women continues to rise. The arrival of predictive and personalized medicine could clearly redefine our screening recommendations. One promising approach to improving screening would be to use tools to predict the risk of developing breast cancer, including polygenic risk scores (PRS). This approach will enable us to offer women risk-based screening by adapting the frequency, type and age of screening. This article reviews some definitions of the PRS and breast cancer screening. We also explain the risk assessment models that have been developed and the various studies underway on personalized screening.

Malgré les programmes de dépistage, les nombreuses études cliniques et les nouvelles techniques d'imagerie mammaire, l'incidence du cancer du sein chez la femme continue à augmenter. L'arrivée de la médecine prédictive et personnalisée pourrait clairement redéfinir nos recommandations de dépistage. Une des approches prometteuses pour améliorer le dépistage serait d'utiliser les outils de prédiction du risque de développer un cancer du sein en incluant les scores de risques polygéniques (PRS). Cette approche permettra de proposer aux femmes un dépistage basé sur le risque en adaptant la fréquence des examens ainsi que le type et l'âge du début du dépistage. Cet article reprend quelques définitions concernant le PRS et le dépistage du cancer sein. Nous allons passer en revue les modèles de prédiction de risque qui ont été développés et les différentes études en cours sur le dépistage personnalisé.

Community Health Workers in Early Childhood Well-Child Care for Medicaid-Insured Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: An intervention model (the Parent-focused Redesign for Encounters, Newborns to Toddlers; the PARENT intervention) for well-child care that integrates a community health worker into preventive care services may enhance early childhood well-child care. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of the PARENT intervention vs usual care for parents with children younger than 2 years of age. Design, Setting, and Participants: A cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted between March 2019 and July 2022. Of the 1283 parents with a child younger than 2 years of age presenting for a well-child visit at 1 of the 10 clinic sites (2 federally qualified health centers in California and Washington) approached for trial participation, 937 were enrolled. Intervention: Five clinics implemented the PARENT intervention, which is a team-based approach to care that uses a community health worker in the role of a coach (ie, health educator) as part of the well-child care team to provide comprehensive preventive services, and 5 clinics provided usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures: There were 2 primary outcomes: score for parent-reported receipt of recommended anticipatory guidance during well-child visits (score range, 0-100) and emergency department (ED) use (proportion with ≥2 ED visits). The secondary outcomes included psychosocial screening, developmental screening, health care use, and parent-reported experiences of care. Results: Of the 937 parents who were enrolled, 914 remained eligible to participate (n = 438 in the intervention group and n = 476 in the usual care group; 95% were mothers, 73% reported Latino ethnicity, and 63% reported an annual income <$30 000). The majority (855/914; 94%) of the children (mean age, 4.4 months at parental enrollment) were insured by Medicaid. Of the 914 parents who remained eligible and enrolled, 785 (86%) completed the 12-month follow-up interview. Parents of children treated at the intervention clinics (n = 375) reported receiving more anticipatory guidance than the parents of children treated at the usual care clinics (n = 407) (mean score, 73.9 [SD, 23.4] vs 63.3 [SD, 27.8], respectively; adjusted absolute difference, 11.01 [95% CI, 6.44 to 15.59]). There was no difference in ED use (proportion with ≥2 ED visits) between the intervention group (n = 376) and the usual care group (n = 407) (37.2% vs 36.1%, respectively; adjusted absolute difference, 1.2% [95% CI, -5.5% to 8.0%]). The effects of the intervention on the secondary outcomes included a higher amount of psychosocial assessments performed, a greater number of parents who had developmental or behavioral concerns elicited and addressed, increased attendance at well-child visits, and greater parental experiences with the care received (helpfulness of care). Conclusions and Relevance: The intervention resulted in improvements in the receipt of preventive care services vs usual care for children insured by Medicaid by incorporating community health workers in a team-based approach to early childhood well-child care. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03797898.

Current treatment options for cluster headache: limitations and the unmet need for better and specific treatments-a consensus article.

AIM: Treatment for cluster headache is currently based on a trial-and-error approach. The available preventive treatment is unspecific and based on few and small studies not adhering to modern standards. Therefore, the authors collaborated to discuss acute and preventive treatment in cluster headache, addressing the unmet need of safe and tolerable preventive medication from the perspectives of people with cluster headache and society, headache specialist and cardiologist. FINDINGS: The impact of cluster headache on personal life is substantial. Mean annual direct and indirect costs of cluster headache are more than 11,000 Euros per patient. For acute treatment, the main problems are treatment response, availability, costs and, for triptans, contraindications and the maximum use allowed. Intermediate treatment with steroids and greater occipital nerve blocks are effective but cannot be used continuously. Preventive treatment is sparsely studied and overall limited by relatively low efficacy and side effects. Neurostimulation is a relevant option for treatment-refractory chronic patients. From a cardiologist's perspective use of verapamil and triptans may be worrisome and regular follow-up is essential when using verapamil and lithium. CONCLUSION: We find that there is a great and unmet need to pursue novel and targeted preventive modalities to suppress the horrific pain attacks for people with cluster headache.

Training and career opportunities for residencies in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine: results of a survey on 39 Italian schools.

INTRODUCTION: The Italian National Health Service (SSN) is currently grappling. with a complex situation, characterized by a persistent shortage of medical personnel and the divergent aspirations of young medical graduates. Additionally, recent regulatory developments concerning specialist training further contribute to the intricacies of the landscape, calling for a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities within the sector. This study aims to provide an updated overview of the current placement of medical graduates, residents and specialists in the specific hygiene and preventive medicine (Public Health) field. METHODS: Data on admissions, withdrawals and resignations were obtained from the Ministries of Universities and Health and from the archives of the "Associazione Liberi Specializzandi" (ALS). Information regarding the professional prospects for specialists and residents in the field of Public Health was gathered through a tailored survey conducted by the "Consulta dei Medici in Formazione Specialistica" (Council of Medical Residents) of the Italian Society of Hygiene (SItI). RESULTS: In 2022, a total of 483 specialization contracts were granted, indicating a decrease of 37% compared to the previous year. Notably, 85 positions (17.6%) remained unallocated or resulted in dropouts. Six months after completing their residency, 1.5% of hygiene residents were still actively seeking employment. On a positive note, 75.4% of fourth-year residents secured contracts under the "Decreto Calabria". Career opportunities within the Italian SSN have witnessed growth, with a significant proportion of placements in territorial services and hospital medical directorates. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The updating of training programs provided by residency schools and the exploration of innovative approaches are of paramount importance to address the urgent need for high-quality training and to cater to the requirements of the national health system.

On the utilization of polygenic risk scores for therapeutic targeting.

The promise of personalized genomic medicine is that knowledge of a person's gene sequences and activity will facilitate more appropriate medical interventions, particularly drug prescriptions, to reduce the burden of disease. Early successes in oncology and pediatrics have affirmed the power of positive diagnosis and are mostly based on detection of one or a few mutations that drive the specific pathology. However, genetically more complex diseases require the development of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) that have variable accuracy. The rarity of events often means that they have necessarily low precision: many called positives are actually not at risk, and only a fraction of cases are prevented by targeted therapy. In some situations, negative prediction may better define the population at low risk. Here, I review five conditions across a broad spectrum of chronic disease (opioid pain medication, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, major depression, and osteoporotic bone fracture), considering in each case how genetic prediction might be used to target drug prescription. This leads to a call for more research designed to evaluate genetic likelihood of response to therapy and a call for evaluation of PRS, not just in terms of sensitivity and specificity but also with respect to potential clinical efficacy.

Application of P4 (Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, Participatory) Approach to Occupational Medicine.

In recent years there has been a growth in the role of prevention in controlling the disease burden. Increasing efforts have been conveyed in the screening implementation and public health policies, and the spreading knowledge on risk factors reflects on major attention to health checks. Despite this, lifestyle changes are difficult to be adopted and the adherence to current public health services like screening and vaccinations remains suboptimal. Additionally, the prevalence and outcome of different chronic diseases and cancers is burdened by social disparities. P4 [predictive, preventive, personalized, participatory] medicine is the conceptualization of a new health care model, based on multidimensional data and machine-learning algorithms in order to develop public health intervention and monitoring the health status of the population with focus on wellbeing and healthy ageing. Each of the characteristics of P4 medicine is relevant to occupational medicine, and indeed the P4 approach appears to be particularly relevant to this discipline. In this review, we discuss the potential applications of P4 to occupational medicine, showing examples of its introduction on workplaces and hypothesizing its further implementation at the occupational level.

[The criterion mode of evaluating functioning of stomatologic polyclinic].

To improve quality and efficiency of primary health care and to strengthen its preventive directivity is possible through health care modernization including implementation of management technologies, development of database for evaluation and control. The purpose of the study is to develop method of evaluating activity of stomatologic clinic. The methodology was based on concepts of "functional systems" and "decision making". The listing of informative criteria was based on data analysis of functioning of stomatologic service of the Chechen Republic in 2002-2016 and results of sociological survey of stomatologists (n=181), health care administrators in stomatology (n=45), paramedics (n=220) and patients (n=359). The experts (n=13) developed required number of criteria and their gradation. The algorithm of evaluating activity of stomatologic clinic was developed using systematic approach. The listing of 52 criteria and their 10 blocks were established. The experts established coefficients of significance of criteria (0.0084-0.0781; ≥0.0224 - more significant, <0.0224 - less significant). Three levels were determined for each criterion (according principle of minimization) that became a basis for calculation of integrated indicator of efficiency of functioning of stomatologic polyclinic. The expanded methodological approaches ensure comparartivity of estimates of stomatologic polyclinic in various time periods. The health care authorities have opportunity to objectify analysis of functioning of a number of polyclinics in different periods.

The multifactorial mechanisms of bacterial infection in decompensated cirrhosis.

Infections, due to a dysfunctional immune response, pose a great risk to patients with decompensated cirrhosis and herald the beginning of the terminal phase of this disease. Infections typically result from breaches in innate immune barriers and inadequate clearance by immune cells. This leads to bacterial and bacterial product translocation to the systemic circulation, which is already primed by ongoing hepatic inflammation in patients with cirrhosis, who are particularly prone to developing organ failure in the presence of an infection. Early identification of bacterial infection, along with the prompt use of appropriate antibiotics, have reduced the mortality associated with certain infections in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Judicious use of antibiotic therapy remains imperative given the emergence of multidrug-resistant infections in the cirrhotic population. Important research over the last few years has identified molecular targets on immune cells that may enhance their function, and theoretically prevent infections. Clinical trials are ongoing to delineate the beneficial effects of targeted molecules from their off-target effects. Herein, we review the mechanisms that predispose patients with cirrhosis to bacterial infections, the clinical implications of infections and potential targets for the prevention or treatment of infections in this vulnerable population.

A mixed-methods analysis of younger adults' perceptions of asthma, self-management, and preventive care: "This isn't helping me none".

BACKGROUND: Young adults (ages 18-44) have increased emergency department use for asthma and poor adherence to medications. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to understand experiences with and approaches to managing asthma, of which little is known in this age group. METHODS: Surveys (Asthma Control Questionnaire, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire) and 1:1 semi-structured interviews were used to explore experiences with asthma, symptoms, self-management behaviours, and relationship to asthma control and quality of life. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis techniques. Descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations were used to examine distributive characteristics and associations between variables. RESULTS: Forty urban adults participated (mean age 32.7 ± 6.2, 1σ). Coughing was reported nearly 46% more often than wheezing, with 42.5% (17/40) coughing until the point of vomiting most days. Most participants delayed using medication for symptoms due to misperceptions about inhalers. Higher symptom frequency and worse asthma control were associated with greater use of non-pharmacologic symptom management strategies (r = 0.645, P < .001; r = 0.360, P = .022, respectively). Five themes were identified regarding young adults experiences with asthma: (1) having asthma means being limited and missing out on life; (2) health care for asthma is burdensome, and other things are more important; (3) there is not enough personal benefit in medical interactions to make preventive care worthwhile; (4) there are insufficient support and education about asthma for adults; and (5) people normalize chronic symptoms over time and find ways of coping that fit with their lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Young adults may tolerate symptoms without using quick-relief medication or seeking preventive care. Increasing engagement with preventive services will require decreasing perceived burdens and increasing the personal benefits of care. Evaluating for non-pharmacologic approaches to managing symptoms and asthma-related coughing may identify uncontrolled asthma. Enhanced training for clinicians in patient-centric asthma care may be needed.

Precision medicine in autoimmune diseases: fact or fiction.

Much is said about precision medicine, but its real significance and potential are far from certain. Several studies in each of the autoimmune diseases have provided important insights into molecular pathways, but the use of molecular studies, particularly those looking into transcriptome pathways, has seldom approached the possibility of using the data for disease stratification and then for prediction, or for diagnosis. Only the type I IFN signature has been considered for therapeutic purposes, particularly in the case of SLE. This review provides an update on precision medicine, on what can be translated into clinical practice and on what single-cell molecular studies contribute to our knowledge of autoimmune diseases, focusing on a few examples. The main message is that we should try to move from precision medicine of established diseases to preventive medicine in order to predict the development of disease.