Clinical intelligence & editorial.

PLOS

Landscape-scale assessment of the contribution of improved Urochloa humidicola pastures to soil organic carbon stocks enhancement in the Colombian Llanos

Tropical grasslands can sequester substantial soil organic carbon (SOC), yet the temporal dynamics of SOC across soil layers—particularly in deep horizons—remain poorly understood at landscape scale. This study presents the first large-scale, stratified assessment of SOC stocks under Urochloa humidicola pastures in the Colombian Llanos. We evaluated SOC stocks and related soil properties (soil texture and bulk density) across pasture age classes (Uh 1, Uh 2, Uh 3, and Uh > 3 years), and compared...

Scales

Mike Bastidas, Javier M. Martín-López, Sandra Loaiza, Jacobo Arango, Mayesse da Silva, Leonardo Rodriguez, Natalia Matiz-Rubio, Juliana Arias, Idupulapati M. Rao, Ciniro Costa Junior• January 28, 2026

PLOS

The relationship between the level of economic development, the scale of youth football development and competitive strength in Chinese provinces

This study aims to explore the relationship between the economic development level of Chinese provinces, the scale of youth football development, and competitive strength. The data are derived from 31 provinces of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Indicators of economic development level include GDP, per capita GDP, per capita disposable income, and per capita consumption expenditure. Indicators of the scale of youth football development include the number of featured schools, the...

Scales

Peng Shi, Shunding Hu, Ziyun Zhang• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Feasibility of a conversation-based brief intervention in general practice to reduce post-traumatic symptoms after intensive care treatment—A qualitative analysis of the PICTURE study

There is currently a gap in the follow-up care of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after intensive care. Long-term care is mainly provided within the setting of general practice. A conversation-based brief intervention carried out by general practitioners improved the symptoms of mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder sustainably. The aim of this study is to assess the subjective effectiveness and feasibility of short-term, primary care-based narrative exposure interv...

Aed

Antina Beutel, Chris Maria Friemel, Daniela Lindemann, Linda Sanftenberg, Robert Philipp Kosilek, Konrad Schmidt, Cornelia Wäscher, Ulf-Dietrich Reips, Maggie Schauer, Tobias Dreischulte, Thomas Elbert, Jochen Gensichen, On behalf of the PICTURE study group• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Pregnant women’s attitudes and intentions toward tuberculosis, malaria, group B streptococcus, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines in pregnant: Findings from a cross-sectional study of pregnant women living in Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, and Pakistan

There are numerous infections that can adversely impact a developing fetus, neonates, and pregnant women, and there is limited research related to how specific infections experienced during pregnancy can affect these populations. Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, Group B streptococcus (GBS) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause negative outcomes to maternal and neonatal health. For TB and GBS, there are vaccines in various stages of clinical trial development, and malaria and RSV vaccines ar...

Respiratory

Rupali Limaye, Jessica Schue, Berhaun Fesshaye, Prachi Singh, Emily Miller, Renato Souza, Saleem Jessani, Marleen Temmerman, Caroline Dinam Badzi, Molly Sauer, Vanessa Brizuela, Ruth Karron• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Investigating the effects of cannabinoids for the reduction of inflammation and sickle cell disease pain (CRISP); A protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hemoglobinopathy affecting millions of people globally. Pain, both acute and chronic, affects over half of those living with SCD, but treatment of chronic pain is an ongoing challenge. While opioid treatments are widely used for chronic pain, it’s efficacy is limited, so alternatives must be explored. This protocol outlines a procedure for investigation of dronabinol, an FDA-approved synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), for the treatment of pain in patients living...

Pain

Jordan Bellis, Lydia Monk, Ritika Jhawar, Galia Pollock, Angela Liu, Charleen Jacobs-McFarlane, Brittany McCrary, Jeffrey Glassberg, Susanna Curtis• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Femoral radiographic indices for pre-operative osteoporosis screening in postmenopausal female patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between femoral morphological indices from anteroposterior hip radiographs and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-assessed bone mineral density in postmenopausal female patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty for hip osteoarthritis. We also evaluated the impact of hip deformity on these correlations and the diagnostic cut-off values for osteoporosis. This retrospective study, conducted at a single institute (February 2018 to J...

Osteoporosis

Masanori Nishi, Yasushi Yoshikawa, Yuki Usui, Hajime Nishida, Shota Nakamura, Koichiro Tashiro, Yoshifumi Kudo• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Capacity needs of Pakistani psychiatrists to deliver community-sensitive mental health services to sexual minority men

Sexual minorities face a high degree of social and religious stigma in Pakistan. The current study aims to identify the capacity needs of the psychiatry fraternity for providing person-centered care to sexual minority men in Pakistan. A qualitative exploratory study was conducted from May 2024 to October 2024. Four consultant psychiatrists (CP), nine postgraduate residents (PGR) in psychiatry, and eight sexual minority men (SM) were interviewed. Thematic analysis was done. Data was analyzed usin...

Mental Health

Usman Ali, Kamran Maqsood, Asad Ullah, Bariah Rafiq, Noman Tariq, Azhar Ali, Ali Madeeh Hashmi• January 28, 2026

PLOS

The relationship between METS-IR and the risk of diabetes incidence in rural adults in China: A retrospective cohort study based on dynamic population

Objective: To evaluate the longitudinal association between the Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR) and the risk of diabetes mellitus in rural Chinese adults. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 53,120 participants aged ≥18 years from 2018 to 2023. Participants were stratified by quartiles of the METS-IR metrics. Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between METS-IR and incident diabetes. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models examined nonlinear trends...

Diabetes

Zihao Li, Xuejiao Chen, Wanli Hu, Gefei Li, Xiaoke Zhang, Datian Gao, Haiyun Gao, Songhe Shi• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Distinct brain pathways link depressive symptoms due to respiratory dysfunction and reduced physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A single-center observational pilot study

Mental health issues, such as depression, are increasingly recognized as critical comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While analyses of individual domains or pairwise relationships among airflow obstruction severity, brain morphological features, and mental health conditions in COPD have provided valuable insights into their direct associations, a more integrative approach may offer additional mechanistic understanding. This study aimed to clarify potential mediators i...

Respiratory

Shunsuke Sakakura, Motoyasu Honma, Yuri Masaoka, Ryo Manabe, Kentaro Okuda, Masaki Yoshida, Akira Yoshikawa, Misako Matsui, Daiki Shoji, Miku Kosuge, Shota Kosuge, Kenta Miyo, Masahiro Ida, Fumihiro Yamaguchi, Takuya Yokoe, Masahiko Izumizaki• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Occupational psychosocial risks as predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among hospital employees

Workplace mental health is a growing concern in Malaysia’s healthcare sector, yet comprehensive psychosocial risk assessments across all staff remain limited. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among employees in four government tertiary hospitals in Kota Kinabalu, namely Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Hospital Queen Elizabeth II, Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak Sabah, and Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang. From 21st March 2025–20th April 20...

Anxiety

Aaron Siong Fatt Tsen, Khamisah Awang Lukman, Mohammad Saffree Jeffree, Syed Shajee Husain, Izzul Syazwan Ismail• January 28, 2026

PLOS

Molecular detection and antibiotic resistance of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli from street food and water in mukuru slums, Nairobi County

Globally, diarrheal diseases account for 550 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually. In Kenya, Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections from contaminated food and water pose a serious health concern, especially in settings with poor sanitation and hygiene practices This study examined the genetic characteristics and antimicrobial resistance profiles of diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) recovered from street foods and water from Mukuru informal settlements, Nairobi. Between September and December 2...

Antibiotic

Sheillah Mundalo, Regina Ntabo, Kelvin Kering, Rael Too, Kevin Kariuki, Diana Imoli, Brian Silantoi, Evans Kiptanui, Susan Kavai, Samuel Kariuki, Cecilia Mbae• January 28, 2026

PLOS

From ADHD symptoms to parental stress: The roles of functional impairment, family functioning, and parental ADHD

Background: Raising a child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is associated with significant parental stress. However, the complex relationships between factors in the child and family in shaping this stress are not well understood. This study aimed to elucidate these interrelationships and identify the key determinants of parental stress. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 127 children and adolescents with ADHD (70.9% males; mean age 9.6 ± 3.3 years) and their caregive...

Adhd

Nitchawan Jongrakthanakij, Thanavadee Prachason, Nida Limsuwan, Komsan Kiatrungrit, Masatha Thongpan, Passaporn Lorterapong, Pattarabhorn Wisajun, Sudawan Jullagate• January 28, 2026