Tackling the spread of COVID-19 remains a crucial part of ending the pandemic. Its highly contagious nature and constant evolution coupled with a relative lack of immunity make the virus difficult to control. For this, various strategies have been proposed and adopted including limiting contact, social isolation, vaccination, contact tracing, etc. However, given the heterogeneity in the enforcement of these strategies and constant fluctuations in the strictness levels of these strategies, it becomes challenging to assess the true impact of these strategies in controlling the spread of COVID-19. In the present study, we evaluated various transmission control measures that were imposed in 10 global urban cities and provinces in 2021– Bangkok, Gauteng, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, London, Manila City, New Delhi, New York City, Singapore, and Tokyo. Based on our analysis, we herein propose the population-level Swiss cheese model for the failures and pitfalls in various strategies that each of these cities and provinces had. Furthermore, whilst all the evaluated cities and provinces took a different personalized approach to managing the pandemic, what remained common was dynamic enforcement and monitoring of breaches of each barrier of protection. The measures taken to reinforce the barriers were adjusted continuously based on the evolving epidemiological situation. How an individual city or province handled the pandemic profoundly affected and determined how the entire country handled the pandemic since the chain of transmission needs to be broken at the very grassroot level to achieve nationwide control. The present study did not receive any external funding.

Objective: Although whole-body vibration (WBV) is often employed alongside traditional physical therapies to treat cerebral palsy, its effects on motor function remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of WBV either alone or in combination with other therapies in children with cerebral palsy, compared with control groups that underwent traditional physical therapy or remained untreated. Methods: We analyzed randomized controlled trials published up to September 2024 that assessed motor function in WBV and control groups, including those receiving conventional physical therapy or no intervention. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. The random-effects model was used to analyze the outcomes of these trials. Results: Our search yielded 23 studies involving 729 participants. Compared with the control group, the WBV group exhibited significantly greater improvements in walking speed (pooled mean difference: 14.26 cm/s [95% CI = 6.45 to 22.08 cm/s]), Timed “Up & Go” test (TUG) results (pooled mean difference = −2.52 seconds [95% CI = −3.66 to −1.37 seconds]), Gross Motor Function Measure scores (total score: pooled mean difference = 0.69 [95% CI = 0.30 to 1.08]; dimension D: pooled mean difference = 3.41 [95% CI = 0.53 to 6.29]; dimension E: pooled mean difference = 3.28 [95% CI = 1.36 to 5.20]), and overall stability index values (standardized mean difference = −1.20 [95% CI = −2.28 to −0.11]). The Modified Ashworth Scale results varied between the muscle groups, and no intolerable adverse effects of WBV were reported. Conclusion: WBV improves postural control and motor performance in children with cerebral palsy by enhancing walking speed, TUG performance, and gross motor function without causing intolerable adverse effects. However, the certainty of the current evidence on the topic is very low or low. Additional well-structured trials are required to determine the optimal intensity of WBV treatment. Impact: Given its therapeutic benefits and safety, WBV may be considered as an adjunctive therapy for managing cerebral palsy, particularly for children with spastic cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 6-week betaine supplementation during a preparatory period of collegiate athletes on muscular power and strength. Sixteen male collegiate athletes received 5 g/day of betaine (betaine group, n = 9) or carboxymethyl cellulose (placebo group, n = 7) for 6 weeks. All participants engaged in their regular training during the experimental period. The overhead medicine-ball throw (OMBT), countermovement jump, and maximal strength (one repetition maximum, 1-RM) on the bench press, overhead press, half squat, and sumo dead lift by the participants were assessed before and after betaine supplementation. Blood lipids were also analyzed before and after betaine supplementation. After supplementation, there were no significant differences between betaine and placebo groups on any variables. Compared to presupplementation, the performance of OMBT and 1-RM of overhead press and half squat in the betaine group had significantly improved (p < 0.05). By contrast, no significant differences were observed in the placebo group before and after supplementation. Blood analysis revealed no negative effect on blood lipid profiles. Betaine seems to be a useful nutritional strategy to improve and maintain performance during 6-week preparatory periods in collegiate athletes.

Background: Acne is a common dermatological disease, characterized by the presence of comedones, papules, pustules or purulent cysts on seborrhoeic areas. Probiotics are a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms, conferring a health benefit. It has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for dermatological disorders. However, the effects of probiotics on acne remain unclear. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the therapeutic difference (disease severity grading and number of lesions) between oral probiotics and control (placebo) in patients with acne. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library for randomized trials published before February 2025, comparing probiotics with other interventions, including pharmacological treatments or placebo, in patients with acne. Results: We identified a total of 632 articles initially, and 9 studies involving 623 patients were included in the systematic review. Seven studies were further included in quantitative analysis. After the 4-week intervention, slight differences were observed in the number of inflammatory or noninflammatory lesions between the probiotics and control groups. However, after the 12-week intervention, probiotics significantly alleviated disease severity grading (standard mean difference −1.38, 95% confidence interval −2.69 to −0.08); decreased the total number of lesions (mean difference −10.4, 95% CI −16.2 to −4.51), the number of inflammatory lesions and the number of noninflammatory lesions; and improved skin hydration and sebum content compared with control. Moreover, no major adverse effects of probiotics were reported. Conclusions: Probiotics may exert therapeutic effects in patients with acne.