Cardiac hypertrophy often progresses to heart failure, but the underlying link between lysosomes and mitochondria remains unclear. A new study in Engineering finds that the lysosomal protein TRPML1 is significantly reduced in hypertrophic hearts. It directly binds VDAC1 to maintain mitochondrial calcium balance and energy production, providing a potential target for treating pathological cardiac remodeling.

Statins are among the most effective medications for preventing cardiovascular disease, yet concerns about their safety continue to discourage many patients from treatment. A survey of 260 physicians conducted by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University found that fears of muscle damage and liver injury remain the most common reasons for statin refusal, despite extensive evidence supporting the drugs’ safety and effectiveness.

According to the physicians surveyed, misinformation and persistent myths play a major role in treatment discontinuation. Many patients also express concerns about dementia, cataracts, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, and diabetes, although current scientific evidence does not support most of these fears. Serious adverse effects were reported to occur in fewer than 10% of treated patients.

The authors conclude that improving patient education and addressing misinformation are essential for effective cardiovascular prevention. Patients at high cardiovascular risk benefit the most from statin therapy, yet they are also among those most likely to discontinue treatment because of misconceptions about adverse effects.

Vaccination has saved millions of lives and is regarded as one of modern medicine's most important successes. Effective vaccination programs should be based on risk assessment that considers demographic and occupational factors. When developing a vaccination program, it is essential to identify the target groups, including travelers, infants, high-risk workers, and those in critical roles such as farming and agriculture. In biosafety and biosecurity, vaccines are a key component of measures designed to protect laboratory personnel, the community, and the environment. Guidelines from global health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are tailored to specific pathogens and depend on the type of work performed and the associated risk. These guidelines are continuously revised and updated to ensure the effectiveness of vaccination programs. Vaccines also play a role in One Health approaches that are focused on the interconnectedness of animals, humans, and the environment. Targeted vaccination strategies for both domestic animals and wildlife are necessary to maintain animal health, improve livestock productivity, and prevent the spread of zoonotic and foodborne diseases to humans. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview regarding the crucial roles of vaccines in biosafety, biosecurity, and One Health approaches, as well as to highlight the importance of targeted and personalized strategies to improve the effectiveness of vaccination programs. Herein, we also discuss various vaccines aimed at specific target groups as recommended by global health organizations, with a particular emphasis on laboratory workers and the vaccines necessary to reduce laboratory-acquired infections. Finally, we discuss animal vaccines and targeted strategies for vaccinating domestic and wildlife populations.