Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is commonly known as a pathogen of the bronchiolitis in children, however, recently also as a pathogen of the severe virus pneumonia in adults, especially elderly persons, and vaccines for elderly persons have been developed. There are two vaccines, such as the vaccines targeted for subgroup A with the adjuvant, and that targeted for both subgroup A and B but not included the adjuvant in Japan. Both vaccines are considered effective to prevent not only the incident of RSV infection/pneumonia, but also the exacerbations of the elderly persons with underlying diseases including chronic cardiopulmonary diseases.

COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the prevalence of serious illnesses. The relative risk of hospitalization and mortality for patients who get breakthrough infections after immunization versus those who develop reinfections after a prior spontaneous infection is examined in this correspondence. Based on a study on U.S. Veterans who were not vaccinated and experienced reinfections had a much higher risk of experiencing severe illness outcomes compared to those who had received immunizations and experienced breakthrough infections, even if the rates of reinfection and breakthrough infection were similar. Our findings highlight the value of immunization in reducing severe COVID-19 outcomes, even in the presence of reinfections.

Objective: The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of SUA students about the use of plastics containing endocrine disruptors were investigated in this study. Methodology: A study with 150 participants was conducted to assess individuals' knowledge about endocrine disruptors, attitudes, and plastic use practices. Results: The findings indicate that the participants possessed an average degree of knowledge 50.2 ± 3.85 with the main emphasis of awareness being generic concepts rather than specific substances. Regarding the potential health impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in plastics, respondents' attitudes ranged from fair to positive, with a mean score of 3.5 ±0.09 indicating a fair attitude overall. Conclusion: It is important to practice polite behavior and increase public awareness of safe plastic disposal methods. Surprising only 38.0% of the participants mentioned that they refrain from heating their food in plastic containers to reduce their exposure to plastics. Students' practices revealed a notable dependence on plastic products despite their awareness of the concerns surrounding endocrine disruptors, as most of them reported using plastic water bottles, plastic cups, and plastic bags almost always. Additionally, only 20.7% of the respondents consistently implemented strategies to prevent exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Recommendation: The study recommended increasing the use of cleaner plastic substitutes and improving educational programs to convert information into practical actions. Policies that encourage environmentally friendly behavior and raise public awareness of safe plastic disposal techniques should be put into practice.

Background: Mechanical low back pain (MLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with well-established risk factors such as obesity, occupational ergonomics, and core muscle strength. However, the role of pes planus (flat foot) as a contributing factor remains underrecognized. This study aims to investigate the association between flat foot and MLBP using Clarke’s angle as an objective measure of foot posture. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in South Timor Tengah Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, from December 2024 to February 2025. Fifty patients diagnosed with MLBP and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Foot type assessment was performed using Clarke’s angle, with a cutoff of ≤30° indicating flat foot. Pain severity in the LBP group was recorded using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square and independent t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Flat foot was significantly more prevalent in the LBP group (58%) than in the control group (18%) (p = 0.000; OR: 6.29, 95% CI: 2.52-15.69), indicating that individuals with flat feet are over six times more likely to experience MLBP. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding BMI, age, or gender. Conclusion: These findings suggest that flat foot is an independent risk factor for MLBP, likely due to altered spinal biomechanics and compensatory postural changes. Clinicians should consider foot posture assessments in MLBP patients and explore targeted interventions, such as orthotic support, to mitigate symptoms.