Meaningful Outcomes Determine the Winners of the Health AI Race - The World Economic Forum

A large-scale study, presented today at UEG Week 2026, has identified distinct antibody patterns up to 10 years before the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), potentially opening new avenues for earlier risk detection and providing insights into future disease course. IBD is a group of chronic conditions, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), in which abnormal immune responses contribute to ongoing inflammation and damage in the digestive system. Although IBD is increasingly recognized to develop over a prolonged period before diagnosis, relatively little is known about the immune changes that occur during this time.

Antibiotic use from childhood through early adulthood was associated with higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at age 24, with the odds increasing as the number of antibiotic prescriptions rose, according to a new study presented today at UEG Week 2026. IBS is a common digestive disorder that affects more than 60 million people across Europe, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Whilst previous research has suggested a link between antibiotic use and IBS, evidence on whether childhood exposure is associated with IBS in adulthood remains inconsistent. Much of the existing evidence relies on people recalling past antibiotic use, with a lack of population-based studies using objectively recorded antibiotic data across childhood.

AN EXPERIMENTAL vaccine designed to prevent invasive Escherichia coli infections in older adults has failed to demonstrate clinical efficacy in a large Phase III trial, despite generating robust and sustained immune responses. The E.mbrace trial, involving 17,701 participants across 20 countries, found no demonstrated protective benefit from the nine-valent ExPEC9V vaccine compared with placebo. Following a prespecified futility analysis, the study was terminated early, and development of the vaccine has been discontinued.

We’re sharing this article early to provide faster access to peer-reviewed, accepted research. It is citable and carries a permanent DOI. This version is subject to further edits and will be replaced automatically by the final Version of Record. All legal disclaimers apply. AbstractChanges in corneal curvature have been reported with low-concentration atropine eyedrops for myopia treatment and have been suggested to play a role in the refractive changes observed during atropine therapy. A case of keratoconus was identified from the Western Australia atropine for the treatment of myopia (WA-ATOM) cohort. We tested the null hypothesis that 0.01% atropine eyedrops produce no change in corneal parameters or ectasia risk compared to placebo. Children with progressive myopia (6–16 years; n = 153) were randomly assigned to receive 0.01% atropine eyedrops or a placebo (2:1 ratio) for 2 years, followed by a 1-year washout. Scheimpflug imaging was performed at baseline, 24-months, and 36-months. Changes in corneal parameters were compared between the treatment and placebo groups using linear mixed models.

Improving sleep before surgery through the use of melatonin or Ambien (zolpidem) may ease presurgical anxiety, reduce pain after surgery, decrease opioid requirements and help patients recover better, according to an analysis of 25 years of research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2026 annual meeting. Poor sleep and anxiety are common before surgery and can contribute to heightened pain sensitivity, increased opioid use and slower recovery. In the studies, patients typically took melatonin the night before surgery and/or 20 to 90 minutes before anesthesia. Ambien was taken at bedtime, either the night before surgery or on multiple nights beginning up to two days before surgery. The findings suggest that addressing sleep may be a modifiable part of preparing for surgery that helps support recovery.

Worldwide about 13.5 million children have never received a vaccine at all. These are known as zero-dose children. Reaching them is central to the Immunization Agenda 2030, a global drive to ensure that everyone has access to the vaccines they need. Gavi, the vaccine alliance, has built its strategy around finding and reaching them. Reaching zero-dose children starts with knowing where they are: putting them on a map.