Former White House pandemic advisor Dr. Deborah Birx highlights concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 strain, in an interview. Birx emphasizes the need for proactive infection prevention, including enhanced surveillance, biosecurity protocols and public health education, to address the virus's potential to mutate and pose a greater risk to humans.

A study in JAMA Network Open finds that a high burden of infections in early life is linked to an increased risk of moderate to severe infections and systemic antibiotic use up to age 13. Researchers analyzed data from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, involving 614 children.

The average duration of respiratory syncytial virus illness in children under the age of 5 was found to be 11.7 days, with 36% of children still experiencing symptoms 30 days post-infection, according to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and involving children in five European countries. This extended illness period contributes to a high burden on health care systems and parental work absence.

Nonprofit hospitals are expected to see better financial performance this year, driven by easing labor costs and increased patient volumes, according to Fitch Ratings. Some hospitals, particularly smaller ones and those in areas with stagnant population growth, may continue to struggle.

Researchers are working to develop nasal vaccines to better protect against respiratory infections by generating resident memory T and B cells in the nasal mucosa. Challenges include overcoming physiological barriers in the respiratory tract, such as mucosal tolerance and efficient antigen delivery, but advancements in synthetic vehicles and adjuvants show promise.

Transradial secondary access during transcatheter aortic valve replacement is linked to fewer access site complications and fewer severe bleeding events compared with transfemoral secondary access, according to a study in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. The study of more than 10,000 patients found that secondary access vascular complications occurred in 3.2% of transfemoral cases and 0.3% of transradial cases.

Dr. Brita Roy of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine highlights the importance of engaging minoritized populations to address medical mistrust, emphasizing hiring community members as clinical trial coordinators. Roy also discusses a need for the incoming presidential administration to prioritize health care equity by ensuring access to basic needs, education and health care.

A study in JACC indicates that prolonged sitting can increase the risk of heart disease, even for those who exercise regularly. Small amounts of physical activity during the workday can help people mitigate this risk.