Objective: To consolidate the scarce and scattered evidence on oral cysticercosis, a rare and often overlooked manifestation of Taenia solium infection.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in three major databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. A total of 75 records were initially identified (PubMed: n=23; Scopus: n=29; Embase: n=23). After screening and eligibility assessment, 22 studies meeting inclusion criteria were selected for final analysis.

Results: Oral cysticercosis primarily involved the tongue, typically presenting as a painless swelling. The majority of reported cases were from India. Clinically, it was most often misdiagnosed as a mucocele or fibroma, with cysticercosis rarely considered due to its uncommon occurrence. Among the muscles affected, the masseter, mentalis, and buccinator were most frequently involved. Diagnosis was primarily made through histopathological examination. Treatment commonly included surgical excision, and albendazole was the most frequently used antiparasitic medication. Recurrence was uncommon, except in cases with disseminated or deep muscular involvement.

Conclusions: Oral cysticercosis should be considered a potential differential diagnosis, particularly in regions where pork consumption is common. Given that most reported cases originated from India, pathologists in this region should maintain a high index of suspicion. Oral pathologists, in particular, should be well- acquainted with its histopathological features to ensure accurate diagnosis and avoid diagnostic pitfalls.

Objective: To systematically review the safety of different types of chikungunya vaccines in human populations.

Methods: This study retrieved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the safety of chikungunya vaccines in human populations through electronic searches of the Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase, and Cochrane Library databases. Two reviewers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment for the included studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 18.0 software.

Results: A total of eight RCTs involving 9 336 subjects were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that three out of the five chikungunya vaccines (VLA1553, mRNA-1388, and PXVX0317) exhibited favorable safety profiles, with no significant increase in the incidence of serious adverse events. The vaccine group had a higher incidence of any adverse events [risk ratio (RR)=1.26, P<0.001] and any systemic adverse events (RR=1.18, P=0.010) compared to the placebo group. The incidence of local adverse events was also higher in the vaccine group (RR=2.09, P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidences of erythema (RR=1.41, P=0.402), headache (RR=1.14, P=0.457), or arthralgia (RR=1.45, P=0.660).

Conclusions: Current evidence supports that chikungunya vaccines have a favorable safety profile. However, due to limitations in the number and quality of included studies, further high-quality research is needed to validate these conclusions.

Objective: To identify predictive factors for brucellosis by analyzing cases with and without focal involvement.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study included adults (⩾18 years) diagnosed with brucellosis at Ağri Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024. Patients were evaluated for organ involvement based on localized symptoms and classified accordingly. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify demographic, clinical, and laboratory predictors of organ involvement.

Results: A total of 210 cases were analyzed including 115 females (54.8%) and 95 males (45.2%). Among patients with focal involvement, the proportion of males was higher (54.4%), and comorbidities were also more common (34.4%). Days of complaints before hospital admission was significantly longer in patients with focal involvement (median 31 days) compared to those without focal involvement (median 20 days) (P=0.004). Lower back pain and testicular pain were more common in focal cases, with elevated levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Osteoarticular involvement was found in 61/90 cases (67.7%). Logistic regression identified male sex (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.29-5.04), subacute (OR 3.74; 95% CI 1.36-10.32) or chronic presentation (OR 29.01; 95% CI 2.96-284.20), and elevated ESR (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.05) as independent risk factors for focal involvement. The model explained 33.9% of the variance, with 74.3% accuracy.

Conclusions: Male sex, subacute or chronic brucellosis, and elevated ESR are key risk factors for focal brucellosis.

Objective: To evaluate the phenotypic resistance profile of Aedes (Ae.) albopictus against multiple insecticides and to delineate the frequency and pyrethroid-resistance association of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations V1016G, I1532T and F1534S in Ae. albopictus in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China.

Methods: From June to July 2024, a total of 1 249 Ae. albopictus eggs and 4 732 adults were collected from five towns in the Pudong New Area. These collected specimens were then reared to obtain the F1 generation including 10 235 larvae at the late 3rd to early 4th instar stages, as well as 5 800 non-blood-fed adults aged 3 to 5 days. Larval resistance was assessed via the immersion method, and adult resistance via the contact tube method. For the larval, 0≤resistance ratio (RR)<3 indicates sensitivity; 3≤RR<10 denotes low resistance; 10≤RR<40 signifies moderate resistance; RR≥40 represents high resistance. While for adults, a mortality rate of ≥98% stands for sensitivity, 80%≤mortality rate<98% indicates suspected resistance, and mortality rate<80% denotes a resistant population. A pooled sequencing strategy (8 sample pools) was used to detect genotype kdr mutations including V1016G, I1532T, F1534S in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene.

Results: Ae. albopictus larvae displayed low resistance to fenthion (RR=5.85), temephos (RR=4.63) and β-cypermethrin (RR=3.20), but remained fully susceptible to propoxur (RR=0.33). Adults showed incipient resistance to β-cypermethrin (mortality: 92.7%), lambda-cyhalothrin (mortality: 96.8%) and permethrin (mortality: 86.6%), while remained sensitive to propoxur (mortality: 100%). For Ae. albopictus population in the Pudong New Area, pyrethroid tolerance was primarily driven by F1534S mutation, which was amplified when the mutation was paired with V1016G or I1532T.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for integrated resistance monitoring and targeted insecticide rotation—such as prioritizing propoxur for Ae. albopictus larval and adult control—to mitigate resistance spread and preserve vector management efficacy.