Clinical intelligence & editorial.

PLOS

Integrative multi-omics analyses identify key genes and elucidate bidirectional regulatory mechanisms in thyroid dysfunction

Objective: Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are globally prevalent endocrine disorders, with their pathogenesis involving multifactorial mechanisms including genetics, immunity, and metabolism. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified risk genes such as PDE8B, critical gaps remain in the annotation of causal variants in non-coding regions, characterization of tissue-specific regulatory networks, and understanding of ethnic heterogeneity. This study aimed to systematicall...

Thyroiditis

Yilang Hu, Hong Hu, Lijun Xu, Xuzheng Tang, Chongyu Wang, Zhengyi Lian, Chenyu Xie, Zhiwan Xie, Qingqing Wang• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Evaluating community pharmacists’ involvement in patient counselling and health education in Nairobi, Kenya: A cross-sectional study

Background: Community pharmacists serve as the most accessible healthcare providers, playing a pivotal role in patient counselling, health education, and disease prevention. Despite their critical function in the healthcare system, limited research has examined their actual involvement in these areas within Nairobi, Kenya. This study aimed to assess community pharmacists’ engagement in patient counselling and health education, comparing self-reported practices with observed behaviours using a si...

Pharmacist

Seraphine Wanjiro Manjari, Mergia Terefe Ermias• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Gender-inclusive sexual health literacy scale for sex workers (SHL-SW): Development and validation in Thailand

Background: Marginalized sex workers worldwide face persistent sexual health inequities, yet lack a validated, gender-inclusive tool to measure their sexual health literacy (SHL). This study aimed to develop and validate the Gender-inclusive Sexual Health Literacy Scale for Sex Workers (SHL-SW). Methods: A mixed methods approach was employed in three stages: (1) literature review, (2) expert consultation using the Delphi technique, and (3) questionnaire development and validation. The participan...

Scales

Saowanee Thongnopakun, Worarat Magteppong, Sawitree Visanuyothin, Jaturapon Charoenying, Orathai Thongnoppakun, Pitak Ketkrongkuay, Natsariya Chaksomsak, Aimutcha Wattanaburanon, Yuvadee Rodjarkpai, Tanunchai Boonnuk• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Homeostasis after injury: How intertwined inference and control underpin post-injury pain and behaviour

Injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable fact of life, leading to an evolutionary mandate for powerful homeostatic processes of recovery and recuperation. The physiological responses of the body and the immune system must be coordinated with behaviour to allow protected time for this to happen, and to prevent further damage to the affected bodily parts. Reacting appropriately requires an internal control system that represents the nature and state of the injury and specifies and withholds acti...

Pain

Pranav Mahajan, Peter Dayan, Ben Seymour• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Stratifying cardiometabolic risk in urban Chinese children with obesity: Study protocol of the Shenzhen Children Cohort Study (SCCS)

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors often begin in early childhood, with obesity being a major contributor. However, not all children with obesity share the same risk profile. The Shenzhen Children Cohort Study (SCCS) is a prospective, multimodal cohort designed to follow overweight and obese children aged 5–11 years, aiming to identify subgroups with elevated long-term cardiometabolic risk. The study will longitudinally track the evolution of cardiometabolic risk by integrating anthropometr...

Obesity

Yuehao Xu, Xin Guo, Jinwen Liao, Xiaolin Sun, Zhangcong Liang, Mingguo Xu• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Impact of COVID-19 on new pharmacotherapy for insomnia: A matched cohort study using the national insurance claims database in Japan

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected impacted both physical and mental well-being. This matched cohort study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on pharmacological treatments for insomnia, using Japan’s National Insurance Claims Database. Methods: Data were matched by age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, and enrollment month. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and incidence rate differences (IRD) were calculated and compared for insomnia medication initiation, and sub...

Insomnia

Daisuke Miyamori, Shuhei Yoshida, Wataru Omori, Saori Kashima, Masanori Ito• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Functional role of THRAP3 in modulating thyroid hormone–mediated gene networks in C2C12 myotubes

Thyroid hormone (TH) secreted by the thyroid gland plays essential roles in regulating metabolism, development, and nervous system function. Thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein 3 (THRAP3) is a nuclear coactivator that interacts with the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) and facilitates target gene regulation through the mediator complex. Although this mechanism has been well studied in other tissues, the specific role of THRAP3 in skeletal muscle remains unclear. Here we investigated the fun...

Hormone

Taku Fukushima, Sachi Kuse, Yuka Hasegawa, Taiju Fujioka, Takeshi Nikawa, Satoru Masubuchi, Iori Sakakibara• January 22, 2026

PLOS

The shared biomarkers and molecular mechanisms of systemic lupus erythematosus and type 2 diabetes

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) share inflammatory and metabolic disturbances, yet the molecular mechanism of their overlap remains unclear. This study used integrated bioinformatics to identify transcriptomic signatures and potential biomarkers common to both conditions. Gene expression profiles from publicly available datasets (SLE: 38 patients/32 controls; T2DM: 6 patients/6 controls; validation cohorts: 79/30 and 41/15, respectively) were analyzed to de...

Diabetes

Dawei Yang, Youqi Zhang, Liu Ji, Jianjun Wu, Fan Yang• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Impact of coexisting diabetes on the development of cardiovascular disease and death in patients with cancer

Diabetes is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, its effects on the incidence of CVD and survival in patients with cancer without CVD at the time of cancer diagnosis remain unclear. Population-based information was obtained from the Osaka Cancer Registry linked to administrative data, and the impact of diabetes at cancer diagnosis on overall survival and the development of CVD in patients without CVD at cancer diagnosis was analyzed using Cox proportional h...

Cardiovascular

Yoshihiro Kuwabara, Toshitaka Morishima, Haruka Kudo, Mizuki Shimadzu Kato, Shihoko Koyama, Kayo Nakata, Isao Miyashiro• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Productivity losses and treatment cost of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Ghana

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition among ageing men, characterized by lower urinary tract symptoms that significantly impact the quality of life and economic productivity of affected individuals. The financial burden of BPH extends beyond direct medical expenses to include direct non-medical costs and productivity losses. In Ghana, limited data exist on the cost implications of BPH, leaving a critical gap in healthcare planning and resource allocation. We aimed to determine...

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Daniel Senanu Dadee-Seshie, Sedem Godson Agbeteti, Banabas Kpankyaano, Aishah Fadila Adamu, Selase Kofi Adanu, Yakubu Alhassan, Maxwell Ayindenaba Dalaba, Kekeli Kodjo Adanu• January 22, 2026

PLOS

Identification of hypoxia- and mitophagy-related diagnostic biomarkers for ulcerative colitis based on bioinformatic analysis and machine learning

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease of unknown etiology that is associated with a significant risk of progression to colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to systematically identify hypoxia- and mitophagy-related molecular signatures associated with UC, thereby providing novel insights into disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Methods: A comprehensive analytical framework integrating differential expression analysis and functio...

Ulcerative Colitis

Zewei Sheng, Lun Zhao, Yu Fu, Xuefeng Liu, Yuyu Peng, Yangling Huang, Yuhan Jian, Yanlin Zhu, Yuedong Liu• January 21, 2026

PLOS

Altered coagulation and platelet indices in Yemeni patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A conflict-affected population

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a prothrombotic state; however, its hemostatic profile in conflict-affected populations remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate coagulation parameters and platelet indices among Yemeni adults with T2DM and to correlate these markers with glycemic control. A case-control study was conducted on 140 T2DM patients and 100 age- and sex-matched non-diabetic controls in Aden, Yemen. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombopla...

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Naif Taleb Ali, Radfan Saleh Abdullah, Mansour Abdelnabi H. Mehdi, Gamila Saleh Ali• January 21, 2026