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Previous studies have proposed alopecia areata (AA) as a potential outcome of COVID‐19 infection among autoimmune diseases, yet the findings might be inconclusive and difficult to generalize due to limited sample sizes and evidence levels. Thus, we aimed to investigate in detail the long‐term risk of AA following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection based on large, binational, general population‐based cohort studies. Our study investigated the long‐term AA risk after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection by analyzing bi‐national, claim‐based cohorts in South Korea and Japan: a Korean nationwide cohort (K‐COV‐N cohort; discovery cohort; total n = 10 027 506) and a Japanese claims‐based cohort (JMDC cohort; validation cohort; total n = 12 218 680). AA was identified based on the international classification of diseases 10th revision code (L63) requiring at least three claims within 1 year. After exposure‐driven propensity score matching, SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was associated with an increased risk of incident AA (aHR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.38–1.99). This increased risk was observed and persisted for up to 6 months. A similar pattern was observed in the validation cohort. As modifiable factors, severe COVID‐19 increased the risk of AA, whereas receiving two or more doses of the COVID‐19 vaccine before infection decreased the risk of AA. Through a bi‐national cohort study in South Korea and Japan, SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was associated with an elevated risk for incident AA in the aspect of long COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive analysis of the international pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase, was conducted to examine the global burden of vaccine-associated alopecia. The study analyzed data from 1979 to 2023 and included reports from over 156 countries. The results showed that vaccine-associated alopecia was highly linked to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, papillomavirus vaccines, and Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccines. The study also found that reports of vaccine-associated alopecia were more prevalent among males and showed a U-shaped association with age. However, the study acknowledged limitations, such as underrepresentation of vaccine-associated alopecia from low-income countries. The findings highlight the need for strengthening vaccine safety measures and enhancing adverse-event monitoring. [Extracted from the article]

Developing sustainable Li‐ion batteries requires high‐energy cathodes based on low‐cost, earth‐abundant elements, moving away from low‐reserve nickel and cobalt. Fe‐based oxide cathodes with Fe3+/4+ and O2−/n− redox couples offer potential but face low initial Coulombic efficiency and significant voltage hysteresis. This study investigates Li‐excess Fe‐based disordered rock‐salt (DRX) oxyfluorides (Li2Fe0.5M0.5O2F; M = Fe, Ti, Mn) using combined electrochemical/spectroscopic characterization and first‐principles calculation. Oxygen‐dependent Fe3+/4+ redox, related to Fe 3d–O 2p hybrid state, can be stabilized when combined with Mn3+/4+ redox in DRX structure owing to the unusual decrease in its redox potential. The moderately high charge transfer gap stabilizes Fe4+ against ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) on charge, reduces the amount of oxygen oxidation, thereby increasing Coulombic efficiency. On discharge, it allows metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) without substantial overpotential, reducing hysteresis in oxygen redox. The resulting composition exhibits high capacity (309 mAh g−1) and energy density (998 Wh kg−1), providing insights for next‐generation Ni‐ and Co‐free cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine‐associated multiple sclerosis (MS) is rare, with insufficient evidence from case reports. Given the scarcity of large‐scale data investigating the association between vaccine administration and adverse events, we investigated the global burden of vaccine‐associated MS and potential related vaccines from 1967 to 2022. Reports on vaccine‐associated MS between 1967 and 2022 were obtained from the World Health Organization International Pharmacovigilance Database (total number of reports = 120 715 116). We evaluated global reports, reporting odds ratio (ROR), and information components (IC) to investigate associations between 19 vaccines and vaccine‐associated MS across 156 countries and territories. We identified 8288 reports of vaccine‐associated MS among 132 980 cases of all‐cause MS. The cumulative number of reports on vaccine‐associated MS gradually increased over time, with a substantial increase after 2020, owing to COVID‐19 mRNA vaccine‐associated MS. Vaccine‐associated MS develops more frequently in males and adolescents. Nine vaccines were significantly associated with higher MS reporting, and the highest disproportional associations were observed for hepatitis B vaccines (ROR 19.82; IC025 4.18), followed by encephalitis (ROR 7.42; IC025 2.59), hepatitis A (ROR 4.46; IC025 1.95), and papillomavirus vaccines (ROR 4.45; IC025 2.01). Additionally, MS showed a significantly disproportionate signal for COVID‐19 mRNA vaccines (ROR 1.55; IC025 0.52). Fatal clinical outcomes were reported in only 0.3% (21/8288) of all cases of vaccine‐associated MS. Although various vaccines are potentially associated with increased risk of MS, we should be cautious about the increased risk of MS following vaccination, particularly hepatitis B and COVID‐19 mRNA vaccines, and should consider the risk factors associated with vaccine‐associated MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis is a rare but life‐threatening reaction that occurs within minutes to hours of exposure to allergens. As studies utilizing large‐scale data to investigate this topic are limited, further research is needed to assess its burden, long‐term trends, and associated risk factors so as to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis globally. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the global burden of vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis and related vaccines. Method: This study utilized the World Health Organization International Pharmacovigilance Database, in which reports of vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis between 1967 and 2023 were obtained (total reports = 131,255,418). We estimated the global reporting counts, reported odds ratio (ROR), and information component (IC) to identify the relationship between 19 vaccines and associated anaphylaxis in 156 countries and territories. Results: We identified 31,676 reports of vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis among 363,290 reports of all‐cause anaphylaxis. The cumulative number of reports on vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis has gradually increased over time, with a dramatic increase after 2020, owing to reports of COVID‐19 mRNA vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis. The typhoid vaccines were associated with the most anaphylactic reports (ROR: 4.35; IC0.25: 1.86), followed by encephalitis (3.27; 1.45), hepatitis B (2.69; 1.30), cholera (2.65; 0.54), hepatitis A (2.44; 1.12), influenza (2.36; 1.16), inactivated whole‐virus COVID‐19 (2.21; 1.02), and COVID‐19 mRNA vaccines (1.89; 0.79). In terms of age‐ and sex‐specific risks, vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis reports develop more frequently in females and at young ages. The Ad5‐vectored COVID‐19 vaccine anaphylaxis reports were associated with the highest fatality rate (15.0%). Conclusions: Although multiple vaccines are associated with various spectra and risks of anaphylaxis, clinicians should recognize the possibility of anaphylaxis occurring with all vaccines, particularly the COVID‐19 mRNA and inactivated whole‐virus COVID‐19 vaccines, and consider the risk factors associated with vaccine anaphylaxis reports. Further studies are warranted to identify better ways of preventing vaccine‐associated anaphylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]