Clinical intelligence & editorial.

PLOS

Dynamical modeling of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 interactions in stroke-induced inflammation

In acute stroke, dysregulated cytokine interactions drive secondary injury, yet bidirectional feedback mechanisms between pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6) and the anti-inflammatory mediator IL-10 remain poorly quantified. We developed a systems biology model using nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to resolve these dynamics, incorporating Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-mediated cross-activation, delayed IL-10 induction via a Hill func...

Stroke

Fozia Ali M. Arishi, Azmin Sham Rambely, Fatimah Abdul Razak• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Factors associated with and socioeconomic inequalities in underweight, overweight and obesity among adults aged 18–49 years in Lesotho: Evidence from the 2023–2024 Demographic and Health Survey

The coexistence of underweight and overweight/obesity within populations presents a major public health concern for low- and middle-income countries undergoing rapid nutrition transition. In Lesotho, limited evidence exists on the prevalence, determinants, and socioeconomic inequalities of these conditions among adults. This study utilized data from the nationally representative 2023–2024 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS), comprising 5,457 adults aged 18–49 years. Body mass index (BMI...

Obesity

Ananna Mazumder, Promit Ananyo Chakraborty, Arpan Das Gupta, Shams Shabab Haider, Rajat Das Gupta• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Impact of health literacy and medication adherence on achieving blood pressure goals among hypertensive patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Background: This study assessed hypertensive health literacy and its association with achieving blood pressure goals at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 393 hypertensive patients from September 1 to October 30, 2024, selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Result: Among the 393 participants, only...

Blood Pressure

Alemante Tafese Beyna, Assefa Kebad Mengesha, Habtamu Semagne Ayele, Firomsen Mamuye Dajane, Abreham Honelgn Mule, Assefa Belay Asrie, Tafere Mulaw Belete, Demis Getachew, Tekletsadik Tekleslassie Alemayehu, Gebresilassie Tadesse, Gebremariam Wulie Geremew, Liknaw Workie Limenh, Gizachew Kassahun Bizuneh• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Impact of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram on changes in surgical management among patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery in Thailand

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is essential to perioperative cardiac care, providing enhanced cardiac visualization compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), especially in complex cases. While TEE is standard in high-income countries, its utilization in resource-limited settings is not as well-defined. This study aimed to quantify the impact of intraoperative TEE on surgical management at a major tertiary care center in Thailand and to investigate the effects of combining preoper...

Cardiovascular

Naruenart Lomarat, Chaiyawat Suppasilp, Chanpitcha Khumchoei Sidfeldt• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Potential mechanisms and effects of AFB1-induced asthma: A comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking

The aim of this study was to systematically explore the potential molecular mechanisms by which aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) may trigger asthma using network toxicology and molecular docking. Potential targets related to asthma caused by AFB1 were obtained from databases, such as PubChem, ProTox, ADMETab, and GeneCards. The targets most significantly related to asthma were further screened using STRING and Cytoscape and analyzed using GO and KEGG enrichment. Finally, molecular docking and visualization w...

Asthma

Zhiyue Yu, Ming Gao, Xiaowen Wu, Jiaxiang Li, Baijun Liu, Rui Wang, Jing Tan, Xiangyan Yu, Limei Geng• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Temporal evolution of digital health communication in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A longitudinal NLP analysis of reddit discussions (2018–2024)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by joint pain, fatigue, and reduced quality of life. Although pharmacological interventions, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), address physical symptoms, the psychological and emotional challenges associated with RA are frequently neglected. Social media platforms, particularly Reddit, have emerged as significant venue for patients to share experience...

Arthritis

Naisarg Patel, Rajesh Sharma, Prakash Lingasamy, Vino Sundararajan, Sajitha Lulu S, Vijayachitra Modhukur• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Peptidoglycan architecture dictates protein interactions, tissue tropism, and arthritis in the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness transmitted by infected Ixodes spp. ticks. Dissemination of the Lyme spirochete—Borrelia burgdorferi—from the tick bite site results in a bi-phasic infection; the latter phase can cause severe musculoskeletal disease including arthritis. Lyme arthritis is an inflammatory disorder and maladaptive immune response to B. burgdorferi infection and its cellular products. One such product, which has been implicated as a key mediator of Lyme arthritis, is peptidogl...

Arthritis

Saadman S. Ahmad, Osamudiamen Ebohon, Mecaila E. McClune, Rebecca N. Trimble, Casey N. Kellogg, Carmen J. Booth, Wolfram R. Zückert, Brandon L. Jutras• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Exploring the values and preferences of children and adolescents with obesity and their parents/caregivers concerning diet or physical activity interventions for weight management: Mega-ethnography of qualitative syntheses

Introduction: Obesity and overweight are a global health problem affecting over 2.6 billion people worldwide. Diet and physical activity, including structured exercise, are critical components in the management of obesity. This review of reviews explores the values and preferences of children, adolescents, and their parents/caregivers that influence engagement and adherence to dietary and physical activity interventions for obesity management. Methods: Eleven electronic databases were searched (...

Weight Management

Munira Essat, Christopher Carroll, Andrew Booth, Joanna Leaviss, Diana Castelblanco Cuevas, Roos Verstraeten• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Therapeutic targeting of oligodendrocytes in an agent-based model of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which misdirected, persistent activity of the immune system degrades the protective myelin sheaths of nerve axons. Historically, treatment of MS has relied on disease-modifying therapies that involve immunosuppression, such as targeting of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to restrict lymphocyte movement. New therapeutic ideas in the development pipeline are instead designed to promote populations of myelin producing cells, oligodendrocytes,...

Multiple Sclerosis

Georgia R. Weatherley, Robyn P. Araujo, Samantha J. Dando, Adrianne L. Jenner• January 20, 2026

PLOS

Beyond the skin: Lived experiences and coping strategies of psoriasis patients in Malaysia

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition that significantly impacts an individual’s quality of life, resulting in physical discomfort, psychological distress, and compromised social well-being. However, there is limited understanding regarding the challenges faced by patients in Malaysia. This study examines the lived experiences of patients with psoriasis in Malaysia, focusing on the emotional, social, financial, and treatment-related challenges they face, as well as the cop...

Psoriasis

Che Jusoh Che Awanis, Mohd Noor Norhayati, Zainab Mat Yudin• January 16, 2026

PLOS

Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates at a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, are dominated by specific local clones rather than previously described international lineages

Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) are increasingly prevalent pathogens in hospital settings worldwide. In early 2019, an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) at a tertiary hospital in South Africa triggered a retrospective investigation to determine local CRKP molecular epidemiology. The evolution of CRE at the institution progressed from sporadic cases in 2016–2017 to establishment of CRKP as an endemic pathogen by 2020. Of 778 clinical and carriage CRKP isolates (201...

Klebsiella Pneumonia

Kedišaletše Moloto, Mae Newton-Foot, Angela Dramowski, Stefany Ayala-Montaño, Ifeoluwa Akintayo, Andrew Whitelaw, Sandra Reuter• January 16, 2026

PLOS

Lack of social support associated with major depressive disorder in middle-aged and older adults from the United States: A propensity score-matched cohort study

Background and objective: Current widely used depression assessment criteria may not accurately reflect the true prevalence of depression, and previous studies have insufficiently addressed the multidimensional nature of social support. Research on the relationship between depression and specific dimensions of social support remains limited, which impedes the targeted allocation of scarce social resources to mitigate the disease burden. This study aimed to explore the association between multi-d...

Major Depressive Disorder

Ping Li, Kunlun Wu• January 16, 2026