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PubMed2026

The Effect of Breastfeeding on Cervical Dysplasias.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding and precancerous cervical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case control study was conducted at a tertiary training and research hospital between September 1 and November 1, 2023. A total of 168 patients who attended the gynecology outpatient clinic and reported their breastfeeding experiences were included. Patients with abnormal cervical cytology formed the study group (n = 37), while patients with normal cytology formed the control group (n = 131). Breastfeeding duration and patterns were compared between groups. RESULTS: The control group had normal smear results. In the study group, 15 patients had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 22 patients had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Human papillomavirus (HPV) was positive in 54.1% of the study group versus 9.2% of the control group. The mean breastfeeding duration was shorter in the study group (9.18 ± 3.43 months) than the control group (23.6 ± 3.35 months; p < 0.05). Most control group patients breastfed for 13-36 months (35.1%), while most study group patients breastfed for <6 months (48.6%; p < 0.05). Shorter breastfeeding (<6 months) and HPV positivity were the strongest predictors of abnormal cytology. Breastfeeding <6 months increased the risk 9.883-fold compared with >36 months, while HPV positivity increased the risk 27.612-fold. CONCLUSION: Breastfeeding and longer breastfeeding duration appear to be associated with a lower risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Given its multiple health benefits, including prevention of gynecological cancers, promoting breastfeeding through public health policies is strongly recommended. Early recognition and prevention of precancerous lesions remain essential to reducing the risk of cervical cancer.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Initial 4-Year Experience With Microaxial Flow Pumps Within a Tertiary Centre in Regional Australia.

BACKGROUND & AIM: The Microaxial Flow Pump (MFP) is a miniaturised rotary pump that aspirates blood from the left ventricle and expels it into the ascending aorta. It unloads the left ventricle and increases mean arterial pressure and cardiac output. MFP is most commonly utilised in cardiogenic shock, for protected percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and for ventricular offloading in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). METHOD: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who underwent MFP insertion at John Hunter Hospital, Australia. Categorical data are represented as counts and percentages, with continuous variables described as means with standard deviations. RESULTS: Twenty-three MFP devices were inserted between September 2020 and May 2024. Five (22%) were for protected PCI, three (13%) for venting with VA-ECMO (ECPELLA), and 15 (65%) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cardiogenic shock. The median age for the overall cohort was 62 years, with a 74% male predominance. Eighty percent of the protected PCI cohort were elective outpatient procedures, and there were no deaths in this cohort. The mortality in the ECPELLA group was 67%. Thirteen (87%) of the patients with cardiogenic shock presented with an anterior infarct, and 53% had cardiac arrest on admission. The overall morality in the cardiogenic shock cohort was 40%. Complications in this cohort included limb ischaemia in four patients (17%) and site bleeding in seven patients (30%). Four patients (17%) required vascular surgery intervention. CONCLUSION: Our initial experience showed the use of MFP in a tertiary centre was safe and feasible, allowing progression from protected percutaneous intervention to acute cardiogenic shock.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

An Overview of Red Breast Syndrome: A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Literature and a Single-Center Case Series.

Red breast syndrome (RBS) is an uncommon inflammatory complication that may occur following implant-based breast reconstruction and can clinically mimic surgical-site infection. This qualitative systematic review, based on comprehensive PubMed and Scopus searches, summarizes the existing literature on RBS, focusing on its etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic characteristics, and therapeutic approaches following breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrices (ADMs). A management protocol is proposed based on available data, and a single-center case series is presented from our Hospital, including patients who developed RBS after direct-to-implant reconstruction with ADM between January 2022 and December 2024. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising case reports, case series, and retrospective or prospective cohort studies. The reported incidence of RBS ranged from 0% to 29.6%. Proposed etiologies include endotoxin contamination, residual cellular debris, delayed hypersensitivity reactions, and lymphatic or vascular impairment of mastectomy flaps. Most reports described localized erythema confined to the area of the ADM, with normal inflammatory markers and negative imaging findings, whereas antibiotic therapy frequently failed to achieve improvement. Corticosteroids represented the most consistently effective treatment, although some cases required ADM removal or replacement. In our institutional case series (n = 8), symptom onset occurred between 4 weeks and 7 months postsurgery. Inflammatory markers remained within normal limits, imaging rarely demonstrated fluid collections, and symptoms resolved within days to weeks with corticosteroid therapy or conservative management. This review consolidates current evidence, proposes a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm and highlights the need for prospective investigations and manufacturer-level endotoxin testing to elucidate pathogenesis and optimize clinical management. Level of Evidence: 2 (Risk) For image description, please refer to the figure legend and surrounding text.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on postoperative pain in patients undergoing thoracoscopic partial lung resection: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain after thoracic surgery remains common and challenging. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique with potential analgesic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taVNS for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing thoracoscopic partial lung resection. METHODS: Adults undergoing thoracoscopic partial lung resection were randomized to active or sham taVNS. The primary outcome was cough pain intensity at 48h post-surgery, assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes included cough pain at 24h and 72h, resting pain, moderate-to-severe pain incidence, opioid consumption, quality of recovery, postoperative pulmonary complications , chest tube duration, hospital stay, postoperative nausea/vomiting, and adverse events. RESULTS: Among 119 analyzed patients (active n = 60, sham n = 59), active taVNS reduced cough pain scores at 24h, 48h, and 72h postoperatively, as well as resting pain (p < 0.05). It also lowered the incidence of moderate-to-severe cough pain at 24h and 48h, reduced cumulative postoperative opioid use at 24h and 72h, and decreased rescue analgesia on postoperative day 3 (p < 0.05). Active taVNS was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative pneumothorax (p < 0.05). No serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Perioperative taVNS was associated with a modest analgesic benefit and reduced postoperative opioid requirements after thoracoscopic partial lung resection. The observed reduction in postoperative pneumothorax requires cautious interpretation, and further multicenter trials are needed to determine its clinical utility.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Anabolic androgen therapy in critically ill adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Critical illness is characterized by a catabolic, proinflammatory state. Anabolic agents, such as testosterone, have therefore been proposed as therapeutic targets. Our objectives were to assess the effects of testosterone in critically ill populations on patient-important outcomes and identify design limitations to inform future studies. We searched for randomized control trials (RCTs) through Medline, Embase, and EBM Reviews databases from inception through February 24, 2026, including English language articles enrolling adults (≥18 years) admitted to ICU where anabolic androgen therapies (AAT) were compared with placebo or standard of care. Studies had to report at least one of: mortality, ICU and hospital lengths of stay, or duration of mechanical ventilation. We extracted data independently using a standardized data extraction tool, and feedback was received from all co-authors to ensure agreement. For each outcome, we performed meta-analyses using a random-effects model with inverse variance weighting in RevMan. We used the GRADE approach to assess certainty in pooled estimates of effect. Of 1325 screened articles, we found 4 that fit our inclusion criteria. Together, we judged risk of bias as 'some concerns' in 3 trials and 'high' in the final trial, and ultimately found that the effects of anabolic-androgen therapy on patient-important outcomes uncertain. With the uncertainty of current evidence for the effects of anabolic-androgen therapy in critically ill adults, there is insufficient support for its routine use. Future randomized evidence is needed to determine whether anabolic-androgen therapy improves clinically-important outcomes and better define its safety profile in critically ill adults.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Costs of surgeries in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Surgical care is essential for achieving global health equity, yet low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face major gaps in access and planning, partly due to limited evidence on the costs and resource requirements of surgical interventions. Understanding these costs is vital for designing efficient and equitable health systems. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review (covering MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, EconLit and grey literature) to identify studies reporting the costs of surgeries in LMICs from January 2000 to June 2023. Minor and major surgical procedures were considered, focusing on therapeutic procedures (excluding diagnostic interventions). Studies that clearly identified, quantified and costed hospital resources and services deployed in the provision of surgical care, and included at least two of the surgical production factors (ie, consumables, diagnostics, personnel, infrastructure and overhead) in the costing were included. Costs were standardised to 2023 International dollars (I$) for comparability. RESULTS: A total of 74 studies from 29 countries met the inclusion criteria, with 210 cost estimates across 65 procedure groups. Costs varied widely: from I$1.54 for a caesarean section in Tanzania to I$618 098 for paediatric cataract surgery in Zambia. Full costing studies reported higher estimates than partial costing studies. Most studies (60%) originated from upper-middle-income countries, with limited data (10%) from low-income settings. CONCLUSION: This review provides a reference list of surgical procedure costs across LMICs, highlighting considerable cost variation by procedure, specialty and country. The findings underscore the need for better-quality, standardised cost data-especially from low-income countries-to inform national surgical plans, universal health coverage benefit packages and reimbursement policies.

Developing Countries↗

PubMed2026

Orofacial Cleft Disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence, access to care, and health outcomes of orofacial clefts (OFCs) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations through a systematic review and meta-analysis.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis performed in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251035364).SettingUS-based population registries, hospital databases, and institutional or community-level retrospective studies involving AI/AN populations.Patients and ParticipantsAI/AN individuals with OFCs compared with non-Hispanic White patients.InterventionsPrimary cleft lip and palate repair, secondary cleft-related procedures, and multidisciplinary cleft care.Main Outcome Measure(s)Prevalence of OFCs, timing of cleft surgery, discharge disposition, access to specialists, and qualitative determinants of disparities.ResultsEighteen studies including more than 1985 AI/AN patients were identified. Meta-analysis of 5 studies estimated a pooled OFC prevalence of 15 per 10 000 live births (95% confidence interval: 5-49), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99.8%). Individual studies reported significantly higher OFC prevalence in AI/AN populations compared to non-Hispanic Whites (odds ratio range: 1.44-2.68). Geographic maldistribution of craniofacial-trained surgeons, increased odds of nonhome discharge, and delayed cleft palate repair were consistently observed barriers. Qualitative analyses highlighted structural inequities, perceived racism, and lack of culturally responsive care as major contributors to disparities.ConclusionsAI/AN populations face a disproportionately high burden of OFCs alongside structural barriers to timely, culturally competent care. Addressing these disparities requires community-engaged, multidisciplinary interventions that improve geographic access and integrate culturally responsive approaches to care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Assessing perinatal depression identifying abilities among maternal and child health workers in rural China using smartphone-based virtual patients: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess rural maternal and child health (MCH) workers' virtual patients (VPs)-assessed performance in identifying perinatal depression (PND) using smartphone-based VPs, and to identify factors associated with this performance in rural Hunan, China. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in Hunan Province, China. A standardized questionnaire collected demographic and work-related characteristics of rural MCH workers. Smartphone-based VPs were used to assess PND identification performance in a simulated clinical scenario. An overall score ≥60 was used as a prespecified operational benchmark across consultation, ancillary assessment, diagnosis, management, and health education domains. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0. RESULTS: A total of 375 rural MCH workers participated, yielding an effective response rate of 90.4%. Only 25.9% met the prespecified operational benchmark for VP-assessed PND identification performance. The mean accuracy scores for consultation, ancillary assessment, diagnosis, management, and health education were 94%, 48%, 64%, 58%, and 74%, respectively. Complete consultation accuracy was higher among MCH workers from township health centers than among those from county-level MCH hospitals. MCH workers aged 18-39 years showed higher odds of complete diagnostic accuracy for PND than those aged ≥40 years. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone-based VP assessment was feasible in rural MCH settings and revealed suboptimal PND identification performance. Mobile VPs may help identify frontline performance gaps and inform targeted training, but further validation against real-world clinical performance, or standardized patient encounters is needed before large-scale implementation. These findings may support targeted capacity-building for rural MCH workers and more equitable perinatal mental health care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Maternal prior pregnancy outcome subtype and offspring cryptorchidism: A retrospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether maternal prior pregnancy outcome subtype and frequency are associated with cryptorchidism in male offspring, and whether first-trimester exogenous progesterone exposure mediates any observed association. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based retrospective case-control study of 1220 mother-son pairs (610 cryptorchidism cases; 610 controls). Maternal prior pregnancy outcome subtype was defined using a prespecified proximal-event approach based on the most recent qualifying pregnancy event before the index pregnancy: no prior pregnancy loss or termination, miscarriage, or pregnancy termination. Subtype-specific frequency was categorized as 0, 1, or ≥2. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression; robustness was examined using 1:1 propensity score matching with conditional logistic regression. Exploratory mediation analysis estimated indirect effects through first-trimester exogenous progesterone exposure. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, miscarriage was associated with higher odds of cryptorchidism compared with no prior pregnancy loss or termination (aOR 1.97; 95% CI 1.26-3.09), whereas pregnancy termination was not (aOR 1.14; 95% CI 0.86-1.52). In joint subtype-frequency analyses, odds increased with the number of miscarriages (one: aOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.07-2.83; two or more: aOR 3.77; 95% CI 1.22-11.66) and were higher for two or more pregnancy terminations (aOR 1.77; 95% CI 1.10-2.84). Matched analyses were directionally consistent. Mediation analyses suggested a modest indirect effect through first-trimester progesterone exposure for the miscarriage association. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal prior miscarriage was associated with cryptorchidism in male offspring, whereas pregnancy termination showed higher odds only among women with two or more prior procedures. First-trimester exogenous progesterone exposure may account for a modest proportion of the miscarriage-cryptorchidism association.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Temporal Trends and Spatial Variation in Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the temporal trends in Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) in metropolitan France and the geographical distribution at the administrative division level. DESIGN: Exploratory population-based study using administrative data of the French National Health Data System. SETTING: Metropolitan France, 2015 to 2023. POPULATION: Pregnancy with a diagnosis of PROM before 37 SA. METHODS: Annual crude incidence of PPROM was calculated by dividing the number of pregnancies with PPROM diagnosis by the number of live births recorded during the same period. Annual trend was estimated by a binomial negative mixed model. Smoothed standardised incidence ratios were estimated based on a BYM2 model, which accounts for spatial variability between departments. MAIN OUTCOME: PPROM cases, defined as pregnancies with first hospitalizations with a diagnosis of PROM before 37 weeks. RESULTS: Over the study period, we included 150 615 PPROM cases representing 16 735 (±596) per year. Incidence of PPROM cases showed an ascending trend over time (incidence rate ratio 1.023 per year; 95% CI: 1.017-1.030) with an annual crude incidence ranging from 2.2% in 2015 to 2.7% in 2023. A decrease in the incidence was observed in 2020 relative to other years (incidence rate ratio 0.903, 95% CI: 0.887-0.920). A map of smoothed SIRs of PPROM cases at the French administrative division level revealed geographical inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: This first population-based study describing PPROM cases in metropolitan France paves the way for further studies to explore environmental hypotheses. Identifying temporal and geographical disparities in PPROM incidence is relevant to public health policy and practice as such disparities argue for the development of targeted prevention strategies in high-risk areas.

French national health data system↗

PubMed2026

Compound muscle action potential amplitudes in newborn screen positive spinal muscular atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes as biomarkers of disease severity in newborn screening (NBS)-positive infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 21 infants identified through SMA NBS (11 with 2 SMN2 copies and 10 with 3 SMN2 copies). Baseline and serial right median, ulnar, and fibular motor nerve CMAP amplitudes (millivolts, mV) were obtained during the study. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP-INTEND). RESULTS: At baseline, infants with 2 SMN2 copies demonstrated significantly lower median, ulnar, and fibular CMAP amplitudes compared with infants with 3 SMN2 copies (p < 0.05). In contrast, baseline CHOP-INTEND scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. Prior to genetic confirmation, a right median CMAP amplitude ≥3.2 mV predicted ≥3 SMN2 copies. Following treatment, right median and fibular CMAP amplitudes demonstrated significant improvement over time, including in analyses accounting for SMN2 copies number. CONCLUSION: CMAP amplitudes obtained from multiple upper- and lower-extremity motor nerves provided objective electrophysiological measures that distinguished infants with two versus three SMN2 copies, despite similar baseline CHOP-INTEND scores. Furthermore, CMAP abnormalities were detectable in some cases before confirmatory genetic testing results became available. Serial CMAP measurements demonstrated significant longitudinal changes following treatment, whereas functional assessments approached ceiling values, supporting the potential value of electrophysiological monitoring in the era of disease-modifying therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: CMAP assessment is a useful adjunct in the evaluation of infants identified through SMA NBS.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genetic determinants of gestational diabetes mellitus in thai pregnant women: role of GCKR, CDKAL1, TCF7L2, NEDD1, and CMIP variants.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has a high global prevalence and arises from complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. GDM is associated with metabolic disturbances and chronic low-grade inflammation, both of which contribute to its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between GDM and 135 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 20 genes related to metabolic traits. METHODS: In this case-control study, 152 pregnant women with GDM and 684 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) who underwent antenatal examination at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, were enrolled. Clinical data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genomic DNA was isolated and subjected to whole-genome sequencing using the DNBSEQ-T7RS high-throughput sequencing platform. Genotype analyses were performed using R software, and haplotype analyses were conducted using the online SNPStats software. RESULTS: After adjusting for maternal age and pre-pregnancy body mass index, polymorphisms in TCF7L2 (rs34872471, rs7901695, rs4506565, rs7903146, rs12243326, and rs12255372), NEDD1 (rs10431408, rs11830756, rs249579, rs249585, and rs4762339), CMIP (rs2306115 and rs201681534), CDKAL1 (rs4710942), GCKR (rs2293572 and rs2293571), and GCK (rs5883890) were significantly associated with the risk of GDM. Haplotype analysis demonstrated that the TCF7L2 rs12243326-rs12255372 CA haplotype was associated with a decreased risk of GDM (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23-0.81), while the NEDD1 rs249579-rs249585-rs4762339 GGT haplotype was associated with an increased risk of GDM (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.08-1.82). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that genetic variations in TCF7L2, NEDD1, CMIP, CDKAL1, GCK, and GCKR contribute to GDM susceptibility in the Thai population.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Timing of carbetocin administration in vaginal deliveries: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of administering carbetocin before vs. after placental delivery in preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in low-risk vaginal deliveries. METHODS: The randomized controlled trial was conducted at Kartal City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. A total of 160 primiparous women with uncomplicated pregnancies who underwent vaginal delivery were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 100 μg of carbetocin either before or after placental delivery. The primary outcome was the incidence of PPH. Secondary outcomes included the need for additional uterotonics, manual removal of the placenta with consequent antibiotic administration, blood transfusions, maternal adverse events, and changes in hemoglobin levels at baseline and 24 h postpartum. RESULTS: The incidence of PPH was significantly lower in the carbetocin-before group than in the carbetocin-after group (p=0.015). The carbetocin-before group had a significantly lower mean hemoglobin drop compared to the carbetocin-after group (p<0.001). The need for additional uterotonics was significantly higher in the carbetocin-after group (p<0.001). Manual placenta removal and the need for antibiotics were more frequent in the carbetocin-before group (p=0.017). No significant differences in adverse maternal events were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administering carbetocin before placental delivery significantly reduces the incidence of PPH, blood loss, and the need for additional uterotonics. However, the increased rate of manual placenta removal necessitates individualized risk-benefit assessment; pre-placental administration may be most advantageous in women at elevated risk for PPH, in whom the hemorrhagic benefit outweighs the risks associated with manual extraction.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Preoperative Patient Education on Opioid Use and Pain After Surgery: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of preoperative analgesic education on postoperative opioid consumption, pain scores, and patient satisfaction with analgesia. BACKGROUND: Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for patient recovery and satisfaction, yet opioid use poses risks of tolerance and addiction. Preoperative patient education offers a potential avenue to mitigate opioid reliance and improve pain management outcomes. METHODS: This single-center randomized trial was conducted at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus between October 2021 and October 2023. Adult patients scheduled for hip arthroplasty or laparoscopic-assisted abdominal surgery with an ASA physical status of 1 to 4 were eligible. Patients with a history of prolonged opioid use, planned regional block or epidural analgesia, or limited English fluency were excluded. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either an analgesic educational video or a generic video about surgery and hospitalization. The primary outcome was opioid consumption during the initial 72 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes included time-weighted average pain scores and patient satisfaction with analgesia. RESULTS: Among 957 analyzed patients, preoperative analgesic education did not significantly reduce opioid consumption (adjusted ratio of geometric means, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.86-1.18; P =0.890) or improve pain scores (adjusted mean difference, -0.1; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.2; P =0.617). Patient satisfaction scores also did not differ significantly between groups (adjusted mean difference, -0.1; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.2; P = 0.611). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative analgesic education did not result in clinically meaningful reductions in opioid consumption or improvements in pain management outcomes. Further research may explore more intensive educational interventions to optimize postoperative pain management strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Whole genome sequencing of unusual Hepatitis C virus subtypes and drug resistance analysis during direct-acting antiviral therapy in India.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals (DAA) are effective against highly prevalent Hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtypes, but have been clinically validated almost exclusively in high-income countries. Unusual HCV subtypes may carry natural polymorphisms, potentially impacting DAA susceptibility. We conducted full-genome characterization and resistance analysis of unusual HCV subtypes in patients receiving DAA treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective hospital-based study, eligible patients were screened for anti-HCV antibodies and active infection was confirmed by diagnostic 5'NCR-based HCV RNA detection. Genotyping was performed by core region sequencing, and viral load quantified by real-time PCR. For whole genome sequencing, multiplex primers were designed using alignments of global reference sequences. Sequencing was carried out using the Oxford Nanopore Technology platform. Phylogenetic analysis used multiple sequence alignment and the HCV-GLUE resource for resistance-associated substitution (RAS) analysis. RESULTS: Predominant genotype was genotype 3 in 64.3% (n = 45); genotype 6 in 21.4% (n = 15); and genotype 1 in 14.2% (n = 10). Unusual HCV subtype 6xa was detected in two patients and showed no NS5A resistance mutations. One genotype 3b patient relapsed at 24 weeks post-DAA treatment completion and carried NS5A resistance-associated substitutions 30 K and 31 M both at baseline and at relapse, conferring high-level resistance to NS5A inhibitors. CONCLUSION: This is the first report from India of whole genome sequencing of HCV subtype 6xa. The identification of NS5A resistance mutations in the 3b relapse case underscores challenges for global HCV elimination strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Non-motor symptoms and healthcare utilization before diagnosis of myasthenia gravis: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Non-motor symptoms have been reported prior to myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis. However, the temporal patterns of non-motor symptoms and healthcare utilization before MG diagnosis remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) database from 2011 to 2021. Incident MG cases were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth and Rare Intractable Disease codes. Individuals younger than 20  years or with missing health screening data were excluded. Each MG case was matched 1:10 by age, sex, and index date to controls. Non-motor symptoms and healthcare utilization were defined using operational criteria derived from KNHIS claims data. Rate ratios (RRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated across four prespecified intervals (0-1, 1-2, 2-5, and 5-10  years) before MG diagnosis. RESULTS: We included 8,355 MG patients and 83,550 controls (mean age, 53.7  years; male, 44 %). MG patients had higher rates of any non-motor symptoms over 10  years(RR 1.34; 95 % CI 1.30-1.39), with the sharpest increase in the year before diagnosis. Depression, anxiety, migraine, constipation, and insomnia consistently showed higher RRs across all intervals. Hospitalizations (RR 1.66; 95 % CI 1.61-1.71) and outpatient clinic visits (RR 1.10; 95 % CI 1.04-1.17) were consistently higher across 10  years, peaking during the 0-1 year before MG diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Non-motor symptoms and healthcare utilization increased years before MG diagnosis. Earlier recognition of these symptom patterns may facilitate timelier evaluation for MG and improve diagnostic pathways.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Artificial intelligence-derived myocardial fibrosis on cardiac magnetic resonance for prognosis in cardiomyopathy: A systematic review of a sparse evidence base.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial fibrosis on cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), assessed by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and parametric mapping, is an established predictor of adverse events in cardiomyopathy. We assessed whether artificial intelligence (AI) quantification of fibrosis adds independent prognostic value. METHODS: We searched six databases, a clinical-trials register, and a preprint server from inception to 13 June 2026. Eligible studies used AI to generate a fibrosis marker in adults with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, with covariate-adjusted outcomes over ≥12 months. Risk of bias was assessed using PROBAST, PROBAST+AI, and QUIPS. Fewer than three comparable studies precluded meta-analysis; certainty was rated using GRADE. RESULTS: Of 448 records (381 after de-duplication), 18 full texts were reviewed and two included, one peer-reviewed and one preprint. In an ischemic-cardiomyopathy registry (Ghanbari et al.; n = 216 analytic, 26 events), AI-derived dense LGE scar predicted arrhythmic events (univariable hazard ratio [HR] 2.35, 95% CI 1.33-4.15), and AI-derived but not manual scar improved discrimination beyond guideline criteria (area under the curve 0.63 to 0.68; p = 0.02). In a nonischemic dilated-cardiomyopathy preprint (Kim et al.; n = 347, 119 events), automated extracellular volume ≥30% predicted cardiovascular death or heart-failure hospitalization (adjusted HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.32-3.03). Both were at high risk of bias, with data-derived thresholds and no external validation. CONCLUSIONS: Across only two studies, AI-derived fibrosis was independently associated with adverse cardiovascular events, but its added value over manual quantification remains unproven. Certainty was very low. The evidence base is sparse and not yet ready for clinical use.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Emergence of a Novel, Phenotypically Difficult-to-Detect Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Clone (ST117/CT7799).

A significant increase of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) infections was observed in South-Eastern Austria since 2024. The prolonged outbreak is caused by a novel vanB-VREfm clone (ST117/CT7799, "VREfmstyr"). This study characterizes the atypical difficult-to-detect resistance phenotype and assesses the genomic relatedness of the isolates. Patient and outbreak characteristics were investigated including whole genome sequencing of the isolates. Sensitivity of broth microdilution (BMD), gradient tests (GT), disk diffusion (DD), and automated susceptibility testing (VITEK2) was compared. The performance of commercial screening media was evaluated. From sporadic detections in early 2024 case numbers began to rise during the year. In 30/31 (97%) of all cases, intra-hospital transmission was considered likely and an association with invasive procedures was identified in most cases. Core genome multilocus sequence typing revealed only six allelic differences between VREfmstyr isolates collected in a 12-month period, all belonging to the E. faecium ST117/CT7799 lineage. BMD detected vancomycin resistance (MIC > 4 mg/L) in no more than 16/31 (52%) of isolates after 24 h incubation, while GT and DD misclassified all isolates. Only prolonged incubation improved the performance of these assays. VITEK2 analysis, however, correctly classified all 31 isolates. Of four commercially available VRE-screening agars, only one was capable of detecting VREfmstyr after 24 h incubation. The emergence and clonal dissemination of VREfm ST117/CT7799 reveals a serious diagnostic gap as commonly used diagnostic algorithms fail to reliably detect this resistance phenotype. Our findings should help to further evaluate the true geographical distribution and clinical significance of this novel VREfm clone.

Enterococcus faecium↗