Autoimmune related interstitial lung disease can worsen between clinic visits, and episodic assessment may miss clinically important change. Digital health extends observation into daily life through home spirometry, wearable sensors, application based patient reported outcomes, and therapist supported telerehabilitation. This Review synthesizes recent evidence on feasibility and adherence, data quality and agreement with clinic assessments, patient experience and safety, and service integration for remote monitoring in autoimmune related interstitial lung disease. Device derived signals and patient generated health data show useful agreement with clinic measures when interpreted across repeated time points, and remote monitoring data can reveal actionable trends and support rehabilitation and self-management. Important limitations remain, including variability and artifacts, missing data, uneven interoperability, workload implications for services, and inequities in digital access. We outline a practical workflow for adoption that includes enrolment, training, quality checks, alert thresholds, and escalation to the multidisciplinary team, with attention to privacy, cost, and record integration. Remote monitoring can complement standard care by increasing observation frequency and patient support. Priorities for the field are to define clinically meaningful digital endpoints, evaluate effects on outcomes and use of resources, and develop strategies that sustain long term engagement.

Pre-hospital emergency health staff (PHEHS) and emergency service staff (ESS) who were directly involved in the fight against COVID-19, have been the most affected group among health service units. The aim of the study is to evaluate the traumatic cognition, depression and death anxiety according to having had the COVID-19 disease.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between 15 December 2021-1 April 2022 in Gümüşhane, Turkey, with the participation of PHEHS and ESS (N=304. The Post-Traumatic Cognition Scale (PTCI), Beck Depression Scale (BDI) and Turkish Death Anxiety Inventory (TDAI) were used.

Based on the scoring ranges of the instruments used, the study found that participants exhibited moderate levels of depression (BDI scores between 17-29), high levels of death anxiety (TDAI scores approaching the upper limit of 80), and elevated trauma-related cognitions (PTCI scores within the higher range of 36-252, indicating increased negative cognitions related to the traumatic event). The mean scores of the PTCI and BDI were significantly higher among employees diagnosed with COVID-19 compared to those who were not (p < 0.05). Conversely, the mean scores of the TDAI were significantly higher among participants who had not been diagnosed with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). A gender-based analysis revealed that female participants scored significantly higher on the PTCI than male participants (t = -8.634, p < 0.05). Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was observed between BDI and PTCI scores (r = 0.822), indicating that increased depressive symptoms were associated with intensified trauma-related cognitions.

Participants had moderate depression, moderate traumatic findings and moderate death anxiety; whereas participants diagnosed with COVID-19 had higher average of trauma and depression findings, lower death anxiety. It is important to take psycho-social measures for PHEHS and ESS providing health services, to take special precautions especially for women and employees diagnosed with COVID-19 who are more affected by the process, to supply and inspect equipment such as personal protective equipment.

Mumps infection, a public health problem caused by the mumps virus, presents with uni/bilateral swelling of the parotid gland(s) with meningitis and orchitis as complications. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted successful mumps vaccination programs. A prospective study was conducted from January to March 2024 to diagnose suspected mumps patients attending hospitals in southern India. Samples analyzed for mumps using fast-track diagnostics reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction kits were categorized as per WHO clinical case definition. Of 200 samples screened, 26 (13%) were positive - 10 blood, 11 cerebrospinal fluid, and 5 Buccal swab samples. In developing countries like India, laboratories with advanced testing methodologies reduce mumps-related morbidity.

RNA-based vaccination has been broadly applied in the COVID-19 pandemic. A characteristic of the immunization was fast-waning immunity. However, the time scale of this process varied considerably for virus subtypes and among individuals. Understanding the origin of this variability is crucial in order to improve future vaccination strategies. Here, we introduce a mathematical model of RNA-based vaccination and the kinetics of the induced immune response. In the model, antigens produced following vaccination give rise to an immune response leading to germinal center reactions and accordingly B-cell differentiation into memory B-cells and plasma cells. In a negative feedback loop, the antibodies synthesized by newly specified plasma cells shut down the germinal center reaction as well as antigen-induced differentiation of memory B-cell into plasma cells. This limits the build-up of long-lasting immunity and thus is accompanied by fast-waning immunity. The detailed data available on infection with and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 enabled computational simulation of essential processes of the immune response. Through simulation, we analyzed to what extent a single- or double-dose vaccination provides protection against infection. We find that variability in the immune response in individuals, originating, e.g., in different immune-cell densities, results in a broad log-normal-like distribution of the vaccine-induced protection times that peaks around 100 days. Protection times decrease for virus variants with mutated antibody-binding sites or increased replication rates. Independent of these virus specifics, our simulations suggest optimal timing of a second dose about 5 weeks after the first in agreement with clinical trials.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, high rates of infection with SARS-CoV-2 were reported in healthcare workers (HCWs), among whom asymptomatic individuals had high potential to spread the virus while assisting high-risk patients. This study conducted routine SARS-CoV-2 screening among the staff of a specialized cardiology hospital in Brazil during 2022 and 2023, while also evaluating variables associated with infection and the occurrence of symptoms.

A prospective cohort study of 94 HCWs with biweekly RT-PCR screening was performed, employing RT-PCR from nasal swabs.

Participants aged 50.9 ± 10.2 years and were predominantly female (85.1%) and non-white (56.4%). The follow-up period was 576.4 ± 185.9 days, and most participants worked in the intensive care unit/emergency department (34%). Although the HCWs with the highest COVID-19 rates before inclusion were technicians/graduates (67.3%) and non-white individuals (57.7%), these groups presented lower infection rates at follow-up (p < 0.001, CI 95% 2.924-27.93; and p = 0.02, CI 95% 0.129-0.859, respectively). The number of asymptomatic cases increased during the study (p = 0.001), and simultaneous infection upsurges occurred in different hospital departments.

These data highlight the association between educational level and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs. The synchronicity of cases in different hospital departments offers insights about the nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2. The increase in the number of asymptomatic infections with repeated infections suggests that regular molecular screening may contribute to increasing the safety of both patients and HCWs in a pandemic context.

Although vaccination for COVID-19 and mask wearing were two of the main preventive measures against infection, their impact is unclear. In the present study, by using national surveillance data in Japan, we compared the incidence rate and weekly case increase ratios of COVID-19 with the domestic stocks of masks and vaccination coverage. The trajectory of epidemic growth increased rapidly in the summer of 2021, concomitant with the launch of the mass national vaccination program. The most rapid spread of the epidemic was found in 2022, approximately 6 months after the national mass vaccination started, with the emergence of the Omicron variant. From 2022, two annual epidemic peaks occurred with seasonal changes. Whilst the winter peak follows the expected seasonal trend in respiratory infections, the summer peak may reflect a combination of short-term herd immunity and behavioral patterns. Nevertheless, these epidemic peaks continued irrespective of vaccine coverage and mask use. Further analysis into the duration of protective efficacy of the vaccines and mask use is required.

Background: The link between clinical recovery and immune restoration after severe COVID-19 remains poorly defined. Although most survivors experience symptomatic improvement, persistent symptoms have been hypothesized to reflect ongoing immune dysregulation. Methods: This prospective cohort study followed 93 unvaccinated adults with RT-PCR-confirmed moderate-to-critical COVID-19 at 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge. Clinical assessments used structured interviews to evaluate the persistent symptoms. Peripheral blood analyses were used to measure lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulins, and complement components. Results: Clinical recovery was substantial; fatigue prevalence declined from 70.9% to 24.7% and dyspnea prevalence from 81.7% to 25.8% by 12 months (p < 0.001 for both). However, immune recovery exhibited divergent patterns. Activated T cells (CD3⁺HLA-DR⁺) decreased significantly (from 20% to 13%; p < 0.001), complement C3c levels paradoxically increased from 1.23 to 1.35 g/L (p < 0.001), and serum IgA increased by 32% (p = 0.003). NK cells remained stable overall but were persistently reduced in a subset (~25%) of patients, particularly among those with fatigue and dyspnea. Critical illness was associated with slower T-cell resolution, prolonged IgM elevation, and increased complement activity. Conclusions: One year after hospitalization, most patients achieved substantial clinical improvement, but immune reconstitution lagged behind. These findings highlight the dissociation between clinical and immunological recovery and suggest that persistent immune dysregulation may be associated with long COVID manifestations. Incorporating immune monitoring into post-COVID care may help identify patients at risk of prolonged sequelae and guide targeted therapeutic strategies.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a recognized risk factor for poor outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet its specific impact on critically ill patients remains unclear. We aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory profiles of ICU SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia patients with or without pre-existing COPD and identify factors associated with mortality among those with COPD. In this retrospective study, adult intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (n = 1536) were divided into a COPD group (n = 253) and a non-pulmonary-disease (NPD) group (n = 1283). Demographics and clinical characteristics, severity of disease, length of stay, laboratory values, and survival outcomes were compared. COPD patients were older, had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, and had a greater prevalence of comorbidities (p < 0.05). They required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) more frequently, had experienced higher mortality, and had shorter hospital stays (p < 0.05). Ferritin levels were lower in COPD patients (p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis also identified that length of hospital stay, IMV, elevated procalcitonin, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were associated with COPD patients' mortality (p < 0.05). COPD is associated with an increased disease burden and mortality rate in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients. High NLR levels and IMV are significantly associated with mortality in these patients.

The diversity of clinical presentations and outcomes of COVID-19 suggests the influence of host-intrinsic factors that modulate the infectious process. Therefore, a study was conducted with professionals from a hospital in the state of Sergipe, in the Northeast region of Brazil, aiming to identify in this population the effect of rs12329760 and rs2070788, SNPs of the TMPRSS2 enzyme that facilitates the infectious process. Recruitment of the 363 participants followed a non-probabilistic method using a QR code that led to the Informed Consent Form (ICF) and a clinical-epidemiological questionnaire based on self-reported information on the number of positive tests, the presence/absence of symptoms, and severity. Buccal epithelial cells were collected, DNA was extracted using a silica column, and SNP amplification was performed by qPCR. The data were processed using PSPP software, using chi-squared tests for associations in three statistical genetic models (additive, dominant, and recessive). The results showed that, in this population, rs12329760 did not influence any of the outcomes, while rs2070788 was significant in both the additive and recessive models. The action of the G allele is evident in the most severe cases, and it is associated with increased TMPRSS2 expression and potentially increased viral entry efficiency.

Seasonal influenza is a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in children, with the potential for severe complications and considerable socioeconomic impact. We conducted a retrospective observational study including 1046 children aged 0-14 years with laboratory-confirmed influenza who accessed the Paediatric Emergency Department of a tertiary center in Bologna, Italy, across three consecutive epidemic seasons (2022-2025). While the entire cohort was analysed, particular attention was given to children with severe complications requiring hospitalization, for whom more detailed clinical and laboratory data were available. Overall, 12.3% of patients required hospitalization, and 6.1% experienced complications, most frequently influenza-associated encephalopathy, lower respiratory tract infections and myositis. Influenza A predominated overall (82.0%), except for in the last season, which saw a predominance of influenza B (57.4%), closely associated with myositis and elevated creatine phosphokinase levels. Younger age was consistently associated with increased severity and hospitalization. Intensive care admissions were rare (0.8%), and no deaths were recorded. Our findings suggest that, although influenza is generally self-limiting, younger children are at higher risk of complications. These results highlight the importance of active surveillance, careful monitoring of clinical manifestations and targeted paediatric vaccination strategies to reduce the burden of seasonal influenza.