The study led by Dr. Otavio Ranzani provides the first real-world evidence that the tetravalent Qdenga vaccine protects against dengue and significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization during a major epidemic.

Results show that, 14 days after the first dose, the vaccine reduces symptomatic cases by up to 62% with the second dose and hospitalizations by 68%, reinforcing its value as an immediate tool in emergency health campaigns.

Although the work was conducted in Brazil, its findings are also relevant for Europe, where the spread of the Aedes mosquito increases the risk of local transmission, positioning Qdenga as a key tool in outbreak prevention and traveler protection.

Huntington’s disease is a rare genetic disorder and a representative neurodegenerative disease, characterized by loss of motor control, cognitive decline, and psychiatric problems. An international research team has discovered that the “huntingtin protein,” the causal protein of Huntington’s disease (whose mutations are the direct cause of the disease), also performs a new function: directly organizing the cytoskeleton, the fine structural framework inside cells. This discovery is expected to contribute not only to understanding the pathogenic mechanism of Huntington’s disease, but also to research on neurodevelopmental disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, as well as muscle- or mobility-related diseases such as muscular dystrophy.

An Osaka Metropolitan University researcher investigated factors influencing older adults’ acceptance and use of demand-responsive transport (DRT) in Senboku New Town, Osaka. The study found a significant relationship between citizen engagement and behavioral intention to use DRT.

A study evaluating how various shift work patterns contribute to kidney stone risk has revealed that shift workers have a 15% higher risk of developing kidney stones, especially younger workers and those with low levels of manual labor. Body mass index (BMI), fluid intake, and other lifestyle factors play key roles contributing to the occurrence of kidney stones. The findings of the novel study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, published by Elsevier, indicate that kidney stone prevention efforts should extend to shift workers.