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Abstract Vitiligo is described with a prevalence of 0.5%−1%. Recent studies suggest an increasing prevalence, but there is a scarcity of studies that have systematically evaluated the global incidence and prevalence. We examined the incidence and the global, regional, and country‐specific prevalence of vitiligo in the general population (PROSPERO: CRD42021261643). We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Each study was categorised in subgroups. The overall analysis comprised all studies, except for studies only examining children and adolescents. Pooled proportions were calculated with the DerSimonian‐Laird method for random‐effects models with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of the 7,838 identified studies, 171 were eligible for analysis (participants n = 572,334,973). The overall incidence was 1.59 per 10,000 person‐years (95% CI: 0.70−2.83). The overall prevalence was 0.40% (95% CI: 0.37−0.44); no difference was observed between females (0.50%, 95% CI: 0.36−0.66) and males (0.49%, 95% CI: 0.35−0.65). West Asia showed the highest prevalence (0.77%, 95% CI: 0.44−1.10) and East Asia the lowest (0.12%, 95% CI: 0.10−0.14). The highest country‐specific prevalence was reported in Jordan (1.34%, 95% CI: 0.12−3.87) and the lowest in Sweden (0.19%, 95% CI: 0.08−0.34). Children and adolescents showed a lower prevalence (0.27%, 95% CI: 0.24−0.31) compared to adults (0.70%, 95% CI: 0.59−0.81). Questionnaire‐based studies showed a higher prevalence (0.73%, 95% CI: 0.52−0.98) compared to examination‐based studies (0.59%, 95% CI: 0.46−0.73) and register‐based studies (0.13%, 95% CI: 0.10−0.17). The prevalence in examination‐based studies increased from 0.40% (95% CI: 0.17−0.73) between 1943 and 1979 to 0.89% (95% CI: 0.68−1.13) between 2020 and 2023. Questionnaire‐based studies also showed an increasing prevalence, while in register‐based studies, the prevalence was continuously low. This study shows the global impact of vitiligo and how subgroup analyses influence the prevalence. The overall prevalence of vitiligo is lower than previously assumed; females and males are equally affected, and vitiligo is more common in adults.

ABSTRACT As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance shifts to genomics, ensuring the quality of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data produced across laboratories is critical. Participation in genomic proficiency tests (GPTs) not only increases individual laboratories' WGS capacity but also provides a unique opportunity to improve species-specific thresholds for WGS quality control (QC) by repeated resequencing of distinct isolates. Here, we present the results of the EU Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance (EURL-AR) network GPTs of 2021 and 2022, which included 25 EU national reference laboratories (NLRs). A total of 392 genomes from 12 AMR-bacteria were evaluated based on WGS QC metrics. Two percent (n = 9) of the data were excluded, due to contamination, and 11% (n = 41) of the remaining genomes were identified as outliers in at least one QC metric and excluded from computation of the adjusted QC thresholds (AQT). Two QC metric correlation groups were identified through linear regression. Eight percent (n = 28) of the submitted genomes, from 11 laboratories, failed one or more of the AQTs. However, only three laboratories (12%) were identified as underperformers, failing across AQTs for uncorrelated QC metrics in at least two genomes. Finally, new species-specific thresholds for “N50” and “number of contigs > 200 bp” are presented for guidance in routine laboratory QC. The continued participation of NRLs in GPTs will reveal WGS workflow flaws and improve AMR surveillance data. GPT data will continue to contribute to the development of reliable species-specific thresholds for routine WGS QC, standardizing sequencing data QC and ensure inter- and intranational laboratory comparability.IMPORTANCEIllumina next-generation sequencing is an integral part of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and the most widely used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) platform. The high-throughput, relative low-cost, high discriminatory power, and rapid turnaround time of WGS compared to classical biochemical methods means the technology will likely remain a fundamental tool in AMR surveillance and public health. In this study, we present the current level of WGS capacity among national reference laboratories in the EU Reference Laboratory for AMR network, summarizing applied methodology and statistically evaluating the quality of the obtained sequence data. These findings provide the basis for setting new and revised thresholds for quality metrics used in routine WGS, which have previously been arbitrarily defined. In addition, underperforming participants are identified and encouraged to evaluate their workflows to produce reliable results.

This study explores the role of music and singing in fostering transformative caring relationships between fathers and their children. It aims to understand how these interactions contribute to fatherhood identity and relational dynamics, filling a significant gap in research on musical fatherhood. Employing a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach, the study conducted open‐ended interviews with eight fathers, analysing data through the lens of Paul Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. Findings reveal that musical activities enable fathers to engage intuitively and responsively with their children, facilitating a pre‐verbal form of communication that deepens emotional bonds and enhances paternal identity. Music and singing emerge as powerful tools that transcend traditional parenting roles, allowing fathers to experience and express a potentiated sense of fatherhood marked by empathy, connection and care. This study highlights the profound impact of musical engagement on father–child relationships and suggests broader implications for emotional intelligence and gender roles in parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reinterpretation of Mauss's The Gift reveals—besides its central topic, reciprocity—another implicit theme of generosity, which Mauss was criticized for having ignored. This renders the gift a double transaction. Generosity is a movement away from the self, constituting ethics as envisaged by Levinas. Introducing ethics into the context of the gift allows us to identify points missed by Mauss's supporters and his critics. Mauss locates generosity primarily in exchanges with the mythical world that we identify as "the beyond," that is, as a cultural expression of Levinas's "other." The other, as an ethical template expressed in generosity, transcends the cultural moralities of reciprocity. This ethical dimension eludes a utilitarian rationality that centers on the self and renders the notion of a "pure gift" impossible. Bataille and Derrida find no escape from this conundrum, but the Maussian double transaction resolves it. We explore this resolution via new insights into the ambiguities of the South Asian "pure gift" dan , examined in the Muslim Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human skin is a highly complex organ comprising multiple tissue layers and diverse cell types. Here, the authors present a spatially-resolved quantitative proteomic atlas of the healthy human skin, characterizing the protein profiles of four skin layers and nine cell types.

Coastal groundwater‐dependent ecosystems (GDEs), such as wetlands, estuaries and nearshore marine habitats, are biodiversity hotspots that provide valuable ecosystem services to society. However, coastal groundwater and associated ecosystems are under threat from groundwater exploitation and depletion, as well as climate change impacts from sea‐level rise and extreme flood and drought events. Despite many well‐intentioned policies focused on sustainable groundwater use and species protection, coastal GDEs are falling through gaps generated by siloed policies and as a result, are declining in extent and ecological function. This study summarized then examined policies related to the management of coastal groundwater and connected ecosystems in two key case study areas: Queensland (Australia) and California (USA). Despite both areas being regarded as having progressive groundwater policy, our analysis revealed three universal policy gaps, including (1) a lack of recognition of the underlying groundwater system, (2) fragmented policies and complex governance structures that limit coordination, and (3) inadequate guidance for coastal GDE management. Overall, our analysis revealed that coastal GDE conservation relied heavily on inclusion within protected areas or was motivated by species recovery, meaning supporting groundwater systems remained underprotected and outside the remit of conservation efforts. To close these gaps, we consider the adoption of ecosystem‐based management principles to foster integrated governance between disparate agencies and consider management tools that bridge traditional conservation realms. Our findings advocate for comprehensive policy frameworks that holistically address the complexities of coastal GDEs across the land‐sea continuum to foster their long‐term sustainability and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proteins play a central role in psoriasis as they are involved in the structural phenotypic changes and inflammation that characterize the disease. This systematic review aimed to assess which proteins have been consistently reported as upregulated or downregulated in the skin and blood from patients with psoriasis. Methods: We included proteomic studies reporting differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in at least one of four predefined comparisons using a standardized procedure to extract and align data. Network analysis of functional protein associations was made with StringApp in Cytoscape. A protocol for this review was registered in the PROSPERO database (ref:CRD42022363226). Results: We identified and assessed 772 studies published between December 2, 1996, and April 28, 2023, among which 30 studies met the inclusion and data availability criteria for analysis that together reported a sum of 5,314 DEPs. The majority of consistently reported upregulated and downregulated proteins were found in lesional versus non-lesional skin (n = 313), followed by lesional versus healthy skin (n = 185), blood from patients with psoriasis versus blood from healthy individuals (n = 140), and non-lesional versus healthy skin (n = 1). Network analysis of upregulated proteins revealed different functional clusters with interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-17A, C-C motif chemokine (CCL) 20, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, and interferon (IFN)-γ along with less well-studied proteins playing central roles. Some of the reported changes are associated with anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, the proteomic dysregulation also included antimicrobial peptides, alarmins, angiogenic factors, and proteins related to protein synthesis. Conclusion: Our findings generally support current understandings of the pathological mechanisms in psoriasis. Importantly, some consistent findings have not been discussed before and deserve attention in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction At least 40 human face transplants have been reported worldwide since the first procedure was performed in 2005. In the intervening years, face transplantation has proven to be an [...], BACKGROUND. Rejection is the primary barrier to broader implementation of vascularized composite allografts (VCAs), including face and limb transplants. The immunologic pathways activated in face transplant rejection have not been fully characterized. METHODS. Using skin biopsies prospectively collected over 9 years from 7 face transplant patients, we studied rejection by gene expression profiling, histology, immunostaining, and T cell receptor sequencing. RESULTS. Grade 1 rejection did not differ significantly from nonrejection, suggesting that it does not represent a pathologic state. In grade 2, there was a balanced upregulation of both proinflammatory T cell activation pathways and antiinflammatory checkpoint and immunomodulatory pathways, with a net result of no tissue injury. In grade 3, IFN-[gamma]-driven inflammation, antigen-presenting cell activation, and infiltration of the skin by proliferative T cells bearing markers of antigen- specific activation and cytotoxicity tipped the balance toward tissue injury. Rejection of VCAs and solid organ transplants had both distinct and common features. VCA rejection was uniquely associated with upregulation of immunoregulatory genes, including SOCST, induction of lipid antigen-presenting CD1 proteins; and infiltration by T cells predicted to recognize CD1b and CD1c. CONCLUSION. Our findings suggest that the distinct features of VCA rejection reflect the unique immunobiology of skin and that enhancing cutaneous immunoregulatory networks may be a useful strategy in combatting rejection. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01281267. FUNDING. Assistant Secretary of Defense and Health Affairs, through Reconstructive Transplant Research (W81XWH-17-1-0278, W81XWH-16-1-0647, W81XWH-16-1-0689, W81XWH-18-1-0784, W81XWH-1-810798); American Society of Transplantation's Transplantation and Immunology Research Network Fellowship Research Grant; Plastic Surgery Foundation Fellowship from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons; Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF150C0014092); Lundbeck Foundation; Aage Bangs Foundation; A.P. Moller Foundation for the Advancement of Medical Science; NIH UL1 RR025758.