Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Literature review”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

1,091 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Clinical outcomes of fusion vs excision in the treatment of painful type II accessory naviculars: A matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: For painful Type II accessory naviculars, whether to remove or fuse them remains unclear based on the current literature. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of fusion versus excision in treating painful type II accessory naviculars. METHODS: This retrospective comparative study included and followed 54 eligible patients (from May 2017 to March 2023). After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 34 patients (17 fusion versus 17 excision) were analyzed. Outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score, Tegner score, complication rates, and radiographic measurements. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the appropriate accessory navicular size cutoff for predicting nonunion following fusion. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 35.0&#x202f;&#xb1;&#x202f;9.9 months. The fusion and excision groups showed significant and comparable VAS and AOFAS score improvements (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;.001). The fusion group had a higher complication rate (41.2% vs. 5.9%, p&#x202f;=&#x202f;.039), primarily nonunion and persistent pain. ROC curve analysis identified 50.3&#x202f;mm&#xb2; as the cutoff for nonunion risk; sizes <&#x202f;50.3&#x202f;mm&#xb2; predicted high nonunion likelihood. CONCLUSIONS: Both fusion and excision are effective treatments for painful type II accessory naviculars, demonstrating acceptable pain and functional improvement during midterm follow-up. However, the lower complication rate along with relatively superior functional recovery favors the excision technique. For accessory naviculars smaller than 50.3&#x202f;mm2, excision may be a better choice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Humans

Subtle cortical thinning in the temporal pole in middle-aged APOE-&#x3b5;4 and PICALM (rs3851179) AA/AG carriers without dementia.

The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are caused by neurodegeneration and atrophy in particular brain regions, especially in the temporal lobe. However, the influence of genetic risk on cortical thickness prior to dementia onset, remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between AD genetic risk (related to APOE and PICALM genes) and cortical thickness in selected regions of interest (ROIs) in middle-aged individuals without dementia. Sixty-nine (N&#x202f;=&#x202f;69) participants (34 females, 35 males; age: 55.45&#x202f;&#xb1;&#x202f;3.19) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They were divided into three groups based on their genetic AD risk: A+&#x202f;P+&#x202f;(APOE/PICALM risk variants), A+P- (APOE risk variant, PICALM neutral variants), and the N group (APOE/PICALM neutral alleles). Cortical thickness was analyzed using CAT12 software (surface-based morphometry with the Destrieux atlas) based on T1-weighted MR images in five ROIs referred to as "the cortical signature of AD" in previous studies. The A+P- group had a thinner right temporal pole cortex than non-carriers after controlling for sex, age, and Raven's Progressive Matrices scores. Although this finding did not survive FDR correction across the 10 tested regions, it is consistent with our hypotheses and prior literature. No other differences in cortical thickness were found in the analyzed regions of AD "signature". The observed effect was restricted to single-risk APOE carriers without PICALM risk alleles. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the genetic interplay between these two genes in conferring AD risk.

Humans

Effect of cognitive enhancement therapy for early course schizophrenia on gray matter volume: A confirmatory multisite randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) is an evidence-based cognitive remediation intervention for early course schizophrenia with established benefits for cognition. CET may protect against broad temporolimbic gray matter volume loss associated with cognitive improvement, but this finding has yet to be replicated. This research reexamined if CET protects against temporolimbic gray matter volume loss in an independent and larger multisite early course sample, and if this neuroprotective effect predicts cognitive and social adjustment improvement. METHODS: Ninety-nine participants with early course schizophrenia completed MRI, cognitive, and social adjustment assessments at baseline, 9 (mid-treatment), and 18 (end of treatment) months. Linear mixed-effects models examined the differential impact of CET (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;56) compared to Enriched Supportive Therapy (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;43) on temporolimbic gray matter volume in regions-of-interest (ROIs) that previously demonstrated CET-related neuroprotection (primary ROIs), as well as frontotemporal ROIs outlined in the first trial (secondary ROIs). RESULTS: The right rostral anterior cingulate was the only primary ROI to demonstrate a significant group&#x202f;&#xd7;&#x202f;time interaction, but was unrelated to cognitive and social adjustment change. No secondary ROIs exhibited a differential treatment effect. CONCLUSION: This confirmatory trial did not recapitulate the observed broad pattern of CET-related temporolimbic gray matter volume neuroprotection. Consistent with the larger literature demonstrating limited evidence of cognitive remediation effects on the brain in schizophrenia, these findings underscore the need for continued investigation of CET-related changes with other neuroimaging modalities, especially given its established cognitive benefits. Such information is critical for cognitive remediation optimization based on validated therapeutic mechanisms.

Humans

Exercise with motor cortex high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation enhances cardiovascular efficiency and lower-limb function in multiple sclerosis: A crossover, double-blind, and proof-of-principle study.

Combining exercise with high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) could offer a strategy to help people with Multiple Sclerosis improve outcomes. In this crossover study, participants with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale &#x2265;3.0, n&#x202f;=&#x202f;12) and controls (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;10) completed baseline testing, followed by three randomized experimental conditions: 1) exercise+active HD-tDCS; 2) exercise+sham HD-tDCS; and 3) HD-tDCS alone. Exercise performance metrics [heart rate, work rate, heart rate-to-work rate (HR/WR) ratio, and perceived exertion] were compared across the exercise conditions. Secondary outcomes included the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25F), Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), and acute symptom ratings (fatigue and pain), assessed pre-, immediately post-, and 1h-Post. Cardiovascular efficiency (HR/WR ratio) significantly improved during exercise+HD-tDCS compared to exercise alone, particularly in older MS participants (p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.010). SDMT declined immediately post HD-tDCS alone, 1h-post-exercise alone, and at both time points during exercise+active HD-tDCS (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05). Both groups increased walking speed only post-exercise+active HD-tDCS, while no condition affected upper-limb function (p&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05). These results are in line with the tDCS literature in the general population, suggesting that tDCS improves exercise performance and selectively improves engaged motor function. The trade-off between physical and cognitive outcomes underscores the importance of personalized neuromodulation strategies in neurorehabilitation to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects, and warrants further large-scale, long-term investigations of this approach in MS.

Humans

Premature closure underlies bias in medical diagnosis in students: A randomised controlled experiment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study reported in this article was to shed light on the cognitive mechanism mediating between biasing information and diagnostic error. The literature suggests at least two different hypotheses: premature closure leading biased participants to spend less time on diagnosis or increased competition between diagnostic hypotheses. The latter hypothesis predicts that biased participants would spend more time reaching a diagnosis. METHOD: Using the salient distracting findings (SDF) experimental paradigm, we biased 58 fourth-year medical students while diagnosing 12 clinical vignettes in a within-group incomplete block design under three conditions: cases presented without SDF, with SDF at the beginning and with SDF at the end. For each of these conditions, diagnostic accuracy, the number of SDF-related mistakes and time per word needed to process the case were recorded. The data were analysed using linear mixed modelling. Estimated marginal mean scores were reported. RESULTS: Participants confronted with salient distracting features (SDFs) at the beginning of a clinical case demonstrated significantly lower diagnostic accuracy (mean 0.11) compared with the No-SDF condition (0.27), representing a 61% reduction (F2,693&#x2009;=&#x2009;11.995, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), and made more SDF-related mistakes (F2, 693&#x2009;=&#x2009;16.395, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). When SDFs were presented at the end of the case, diagnostic accuracy was also reduced (mean 0.17; 36% reduction), but processing time did not differ from the No-SDF condition. Only early presentation of SDFs was associated with reduced processing time per word (F2,636&#x2009;=&#x2009;4.799, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01), consistent with premature closure. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that biasing information increases diagnostic error in medical students and that only early bias is associated with reduced information processing. The data do not support the competition hypothesis for early bias, as processing time did not increase under biasing conditions. Premature closure can therefore be directly observed rather than inferred, inviting further research.

Humans

Bioepidemiology of cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac amyloidosis, primarily due to immunoglobulin light chain (AL) or transthyretin (ATTR) amyloid, is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure. Modern diagnostic advances suggest that ATTR, particularly in older adults, may be more prevalent than historically reported. METHODS: All Olmsted County decedents aged &#x2265;40 years from 1970 to 1976 were identified. Available ventricular myocardium from retained paraffin blocks was screened histologically for amyloid using sulfated Alcian blue staining; positive cases underwent grading and proteomic typing by laser microdissection coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Beyond prevalence estimation, this analysis characterizes amyloid type, deposition grade and distribution, associated comorbidities, and cause-of-death patterns, comparing amyloid-positive decedents with age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Of 2,566 eligible deaths, 1,028 autopsy cases with evaluable myocardium formed the study cohort (mean age 70.5 years; 61.1% male; 97% White). Cardiac amyloid was present in 52 cases giving an overall prevalence of 5.1% (95% CI: 3.8-6.6, which rose from 0% under age 60 to 37.5% (95% CI: 21.1-56.3) in those &#x2265;90 years (p < 0.001). While prevalence estimates were higher in men above age 80 compared to women, there was no evidence of an interaction of age and sex (p = 0.90). The quantity of amyloid was sufficient for typing in 38 cases: ATTR (84.2%), AL (7.9%), serum amyloid A (5.3%), and apolipoprotein A-IV (2.6%). Adjusted estimates assuming untyped mild cases were ATTR-type increased ATTR prevalence to 4.5% (95% CI: 3.3-5.9) overall. Comorbidity profiles were similar between amyloid-positive and negative groups, though syncope and leg weakness were more common in amyloid-positive decedents. CONCLUSIONS: In an unselected autopsy cohort, cardiac amyloid was common, particularly ATTR in older adults. Prevalence increased steeply after age 80. These findings suggest that ATTR amyloidosis is not rare and is likely underdiagnosed and has similar prevalence in women and men, despite the male predominance reported in the literature.

Humans

Healthcare transition readiness in an adolescent and young adult urologic population: The ADHERENT study.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of research regarding transition to adult services within pediatric and adolescent urology. Several recent articles have discussed the barriers in transitioning urologic patients from pediatric to adult health care, but empiric data that may drive intervention are lacking. This study proposes to begin to address this gap in literature and to provide information that may lead to improved understanding of how best to support transition in urologic care. OBJECTIVES: 1) to identify modifiable and non-modifiable factors related to transition readiness as measured by Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) scores in a congenital urologic population and 2) to evaluate the relationships between TRAQ scores (a validated questionnaire measuring transition readiness) and scores measuring anxiety levels related to transition (using an adapted, non-validated questionnaire). STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study of adolescent and young adult patients with complex congenital urologic diagnoses. Subjects were electronically administered the validated TRAQ and a study-developed ADHERENT survey, which assesses anxiety and worry surrounding transition. Regression models for the outcomes of the TRAQ and ADHERENT scales were developed to assess multivariable associations with variables of clinical importance. RESULTS: The youngest subgroup (14-17 years of age) compared to the oldest subgroup (21-25 years of age) had significantly lower TRAQ scores [regression estimate = 12.3 (95 % CI: 2.9, 21.7), p = 0.010]. Additionally, single participants versus those in a stable relationship had significantly lower TRAQ scores [estimate = 8.7 (95 % CI: 1.9, 15.4), p = 0.012]. The Spearman correlation coefficient between TRAQ and ADHERENT scores was 0.52 (p = <0.001), indicating a positive, moderate relationship between the two measures, suggesting more readiness correlated with less anxiety. DISCUSSION: This study found that age, higher education, and stable relationship status were associated with higher measures of transition readiness. There was a correlation found between more transition readiness and less anxiety surrounding transition. This finding can be used to inform future research and emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary support throughout the transition process. CONCLUSION: Early discussion of transition of care and education around transition readiness are not the only solution to improving transition success. The second phase of ADHERENT seeks to understand the patient experience and to include adolescents and young adults in shaping effective healthcare transition strategies.

Humans

Effect of Local Anesthetic Solution at Different Temperatures for Epidural Labor Analgesia on Intrapartum Fever: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Whether heating local anesthetic solutions to core body temperature (37&#xb0;C) for epidural labor analgesia reduces intrapartum fever incidence remains undefined in the current literature. METHODS: This double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) enrolled 220 nulliparous parturients (18-35 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status II, term singleton pregnancy). Participants were randomized to receive epidural labor analgesia with 0.075% ropivacaine + 0.5 &#xb5;g/mL sufentanil at 37&#xb0;C (warmed group) or 22&#xb0;C (room-temperature group). Epidurals were placed at L3-L4 with a test dose of 3 mL of 1.5% lidocaine at room temperature, followed by programmed bolus epidural analgesia (initial 10 mL, 10 mL/h) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) 5 mL (30-minute lockout). Tympanic temperature was measured every 30 minutes from epidural initiation to delivery, defining intrapartum fever as &#x2265;38&#xb0;C. The primary outcome was fever incidence, on which the power analysis was based, and also maximum temperature and shivering. Secondary outcomes comprised analgesia onset, block level, labor durations, neonatal Apgar scores, umbilical cord blood pH and BE, and maternal adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 220 parturients were included (warmed group, n = 110; room-temperature group, n = 110). The warmed group had a lower intrapartum fever incidence (15.5% [17/110] vs 30.9% [34/110], relative risk [RR] 0.5 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.298-0.840]; P = .007); however, the reduction of 49.8% did not reach the preset clinically meaningful difference of 60% reduction proposed in the power analysis. The maximum body temperature was also lower in the warmed group: median (interquartile range [IQR]) 37.4 (IQR, 37.2-37.7) &#xb0;C vs 37.6 (IQR, 37.3-38.0) &#xb0;C, median difference -0.2 (95% CI, -0.3 to -0.1) &#xb0;C ( P = .006). Shivering incidence was not different between groups (10.9% [12/110] vs 14.5% [16/110]; P = .418). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in any of the secondary outcomes assessed, including block characteristics, local anesthetic consumption, labor duration, neonatal outcomes, and maternal adverse events. CONCLUSION: Although we found a 50% reduction in the incidence of temperature rise using warmed (37&#xb0;C) local anesthetics for epidural labor analgesia, this did not reach our preset threshold of 60% reduction.

Humans

Effectiveness of an educational video for caregivers of children with neurogenic bladder: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The complexity of neurogenic bladder (NGB) management underscores the importance of caregiver education, yet high-quality education materials remain scarce. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of an educational video designed to improve knowledge about NGB among caregivers of children with this condition. METHODS: We identified English-speaking caregivers of patients aged zero to 18 years, diagnosed with NGB, without prior major bladder reconstructive surgery, who received care at our institution from 2018 to 2022. Caregivers were randomly assigned into control or video groups using a block randomization model based on age. The control arm completed a six-item knowledge assessment before viewing the video, while the video group watched the video first. All participants rated the video's acceptability. Qualitative analysis of the open-ended responses to the acceptability questionnaire followed principles of thematic analysis. RESULTS: Of 409 eligible participants, 106 (25.9%) completed the study. Video (n = 48) and control (n = 58) groups were demographically similar. In the video group, 64.6% answered correctly all questions in the knowledge questionnaire, compared to 31% in the control group. After adjusting for patient age, caregivers in the video group were more likely to answer any question in the knowledge assessment correctly (relative probability: 1.13, 95% CI [1.06, 1.21], p < 0.01). Evidence for a difference in correct response rate among individual questions was strongest for question #1, which asked about common urological conditions for which NGB patients are at higher risk (95.8% vs. 79.3%, p = 0.01), and question #6, which asked about indications for bladder surgery (87.5% vs. 67.2%, p = 0.01), with the video group more likely to answer correctly for both questions. Qualitative analysis identified three major themes regarding parents' acceptance of the educational video: 1) attitudes towards video content and presentation, 2) usefulness of video as an educational tool, and 3) future directions. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that an educational video about NGB effectively enhanced parental understanding of the condition and was deemed acceptable by parents as an introductory educational tool. The literature shows the benefit of using technology and visual aids to enhance health literacy for patients and caregivers, a key first step towards optimizing health outcomes for pediatric urologic patients.

Humans

Feasibility of implementation, diagnostic accuracy, and end-user impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-based ureteral stent tracking tool in a pediatric population.

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Ureteral stent tracking systems have reduced stent retention in adults, but their accuracy and impact in pediatrics have been minimally explored. With low event rates in children, such tools may yield high false positives, raising questions on balancing event prevention with provider burden. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, and end-user impact of an Electronic Surveillance Tool for Evaluating Nephroureteral stent Tracking (eSTENT) at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: eSTENT, implemented in 1/2024, flags ureteral stents at risk for retention based on implant documentation, expected explant date, and explant documentation. Monthly reports are generated for stents missing explant documentation. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of eSTENT from 1/2024-8/2025 at our pediatric hospital. A usability survey including a validated 1-7 implementation score (higher = easier implementation) was distributed to pediatric urologists and operating room nurses. RESULTS: Of 172 cases with ureteral stent placement, eSTENT flagged 28 events (16%) in 24 patients. Of these, 26 represented documentation gaps where explant had been appropriate. Two flags had no documentation of explant, representing near miss events that were identified. No retained stents occurred, consistent with high sensitivity and modest specificity. There were no flags in the last 6 months of the study period. Survey response rate was 100% for surgeons and 55% for nurses. Before eSTENT, stents were not routinely tracked. All surgeons and 93% of nurses reported no added burden, despite occasional misidentification of retained stents. Three surgeons found eSTENT beneficial, four were neutral, and free-text responses generally cited eSTENT's "fail safe" nature as positive. Nurses suggested improvements, including user support and integrated documentation reminders. The average implementation score among both groups was 6/7, indicating easy adoption. DISCUSSION: While the impact of stent tracking tools in adult literature has been positive, our study emphasizes the feasibility of broader adoption at a pediatric hospital. Integration of eSTENT may avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a retained stent. Prioritizing sensitivity over specificity appears acceptable for a "never event" in patient safety. Our study is limited by the retrospective nature of data collection and survey bias. CONCLUSIONS: Though no stents were retained in the study period, eSTENT appropriately flagged two cases without added burden to most end-users. Further optimization is warranted, but adoption in pediatric centers may enhance care reliability.

Humans

No association between alcohol consumption and hip osteoarthritis: a diverse national analysis of 87,585 adults from the "All of Us" research program.

INTRODUCTION: Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is estimated to affect 62.6 million individuals by 2050. A probable link exists between alcohol use and hip OA. However, the results are inconsistent, and the relationship between alcohol and hip OA remains speculative. To address these gaps, this study aimed to utilize the diverse, nationally representative All of Us Research Program dataset to explore the association between alcohol consumption and hip OA. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study utilized data from the All of Us Research Program Controlled Tier Dataset v8. 17,517 hip OA cases and 70,068 controls were identified. A 1:4 case-to-control matching ratio was applied based on age and sex. Alcohol use frequency was categorized into five levels: Never, Monthly or Less, Two to Four Times per Month, Two to Three Times per Week, and Four or More Times per Week. Multivariable logistic regression models evaluated the association between alcohol use frequency and hip OA after adjusting for demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis found that alcohol use frequency was not significantly associated with hip OA. Compared to never users, participants with low (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.93-1.04, P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.583), moderate (OR 0.99-1.01, all P&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05), and high (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.95-1.09, P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.599) levels of alcohol consumption had no statistically significant differences in odds of hip OA. Female sex, Asian race, diabetes,&#xa0;hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and nicotine dependence increased the odds of hip OA. CONCLUSION: Any level of alcohol consumption was not significantly associated with the odds of hip OA. This study adds valuable insight to the current body of conflicting evidence. Further prospective studies appear warranted to shed light on the long-term effects of different alcoholic beverages on different joints. Key Points &#x2022; This study found no significant association between any degree of alcohol consumption and the odds of developing hip osteoarthritis. &#x2022; Utilizing data from 87,585 adults in the NIH "All of Us" Research Program, this is the first study to analyze this relationship in a large, nationally representative population. &#x2022; The research provides clarity to previously conflicting literature by demonstrating that alcohol lacks a clear harmful or protective effect on the clinical course of the disease. &#x2022; The analysis highlights that independent risk factors such as Asian race, nicotine dependence, and components of metabolic syndrome increase the odds of hip osteoarthritis.

Humans

Proteome-level evidence that tebuconazole, both alone and in interaction with thiacloprid, affects epigenetic events in bumblebee heads.

Tebuconazole, a widely used ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicide, can affect nontargets, especially when combined with insecticides. We employed label-free quantitative proteomics to investigate the effects of long-term exposure to sublethal concentrations (100&#xa0;&#x3bc;g/L) of tebuconazole, either by itself or alongside the neonicotinoid thiacloprid (100&#xa0;&#x3bc;g/L), on the heads of Bombus terrestris workers. A Bayesian factor power analysis revealed that the experiment produced conclusive proteomic results. Tebuconazole treatment revealed eleven differentially abundant proteins, which increased elevenfold with thiacloprid. The proteins that changed in the same direction in both treatments suggest the occurrence of epigenetic events because they are involved in histone trimethylation (H3K4me3), pre-mRNA processing, and folate (vitamin B9) metabolism. Following co-exposure, the abundance of histone H2A.V and its associated proteins was affected. Two important detoxification-related proteins, CYP6BE1 and CYP6AQ1 (honey bee homologs), were identified, as well as proteins that suggest hormonal and neurotoxic effects. Overall, this study suggests that tebuconazole affects key epigenetic processes in bumblebee heads at the proteome level, though this was not confirmed at the biological level or through orthogonal methods. The tested chemicals were previously found to affect trimethylations, but not H3K4me3. We suggest analyzing the different trimethylations, their interplay, and associated hallmarks, such as folate levels. SIGNIFICANCE: The effects of pesticides and their combinations on organisms can be unexpected until they are examined using modern, complex methods. High-throughput proteomics can provide data on important biochemical processes affected by pesticides, offering a different perspective to that at the expression level. Despite their low acute toxicity, a group of fungicides that inhibit (ergo)sterol biosynthesis (EBI or SBI) are considered dangerous to pollinators, including bumblebees. This is due to the increasing toxicity of insecticides through the inhibition of cytochrome P450 detoxification enzymes. We found that tebuconazole had a similar effect on epigenetic events when used alone or in combination with the insecticide thiacloprid. Key proteins suggest that H3K4 histone trimethylation (H3K4me3) was impacted. To our knowledge, this expands the existing evidence suggesting that tebuconazole/triazole fungicides affect histone trimethylation H3K27me3. Since literature shows that thiacloprid affects H3K9me3, it is possible that thiacloprid and tebuconazole interact in these epigenetic events that affect each other. Overall, our results suggest that tebuconazole affects proteins involved in histone trimethylation, pre-mRNA processing, and folate metabolism. These are all hallmarks of epigenetic processes and were further extended by the co-exposure of tebuconazole and thiacloprid to more differently abundant proteins. Additionally, the results provide data on cytochrome P450s of the CYP6 family, which act as detoxifying proteins, as well as proteins that indicate hormonal and neurotoxic effects in bumblebee heads. Finally, the results of the Bayesian power analysis confirmed the meaningfulness of the proteomic data analyzed in this study. If the new findings obtained at the proteome level are verified by different methods, the full extent of the side effects of tebuconazole can be revealed.

Animals

Effectiveness of exercise-based prehabilitation on pre and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery-An umbrella review of systematic reviews.

AIMS: Individuals undergoing cardiac surgery are becoming older, frailer, and less mobile. Prehabilitation has shown to improve postoperative outcomes by optimizing preoperative physical function. This umbrella review aims to pool the systematic reviews assessing the effectiveness of exercise-based prehabilitation in cardiac surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: The review followed the PRIOR checklist. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane library, Scopus, Web of science, ProQuest NAHD, ProQuest HMC, Open Grey and MedNar were searched using relevant keywords from inception to 16th December, 2024. Two reviewers screened and extracted data from the included reviews and assessed primary study overlap with the corrected covered area. Methodological quality of the reviews was evaluated with the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews-2 scale. Certainty of evidence was assessed using a previously developed criteria for overview of reviews. Six systematic reviews with 30 unique trials and 6705 participants were included. The interventions assessed included breathing exercises, inspiratory muscle training, and exercise training. Prehabilitation reduced length of hospital stay, postoperative pulmonary complications, and clinically improved functional capacity with a very low to moderate certainty of evidence. However, there was uncertainty regarding the effects pertaining to adverse events and quality of life. The methodological quality of all reviews was critically low. The primary trials scored poorly in the domains of selection and detection bias. CONCLUSION: Exercise-based prehabilitation might reduce length of hospital stay and postoperative complications, and improve functional capacity. However, the quality of evidence is poor, and individual discretion is required before implementing them into practice. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42023480100.

Humans

Health risk assessment of inorganic arsenic: an umbrella review.

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a toxic environmental pollutant linked to serious health risks, prompting global regulatory efforts. This study identifies major health conditions associated with iAs exposure using text network analysis, and assesses health risk assessments through an umbrella review and dose-response analysis. It synthesizes previous systematic reviews to offer a broader perspective on iAs-related health effects. An optimized text network analysis-based search strategy was applied across multiple databases to identify relevant systematic reviews. An umbrella review framework was employed to synthesize and reinterpret findings across systematic reviews. The methodological quality of included systematic reviews was assessed using the A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 tool. Extracted data on study characteristics, exposure levels, and risk estimates were analyzed to evaluate the dose-response relationship between iAs exposure and health outcomes. From 922 systematic reviews, 36 were included and categorized into 10 health condition groups. For example, seven SRs found a significant dose-response relationship between iAs and bladder cancer, with one systematic review reporting relative risks of 2.70, 4.20, and 5.80 at 10, 50, and 150&#x202f;&#xb5;g/L, respectively. Individual study analysis further showed that each 10&#x202f;&#xb5;g/L increase in iAs raised bladder cancer risk by 3.11&#x202f;% (p=0.003). iAs exposure is associated with hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and adverse fetal outcomes. Dose-dependent increases in bladder cancer, lung cancer, and hypertension risks were observed. These findings support more precise health risk assessments and regulatory strategies.

Humans

Artificial intelligence for dental caries detection: An umbrella review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been proposed as a tool to improve dental caries detection across imaging modalities; however, its clinical value remains uncertain. This umbrella review aimed to synthesize and critically appraise systematic reviews evaluating AI for caries detection and diagnosis. An umbrella review was conducted following PRIOR guidance (PROSPERO CRD420261340728). Searches were performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to 15 March 2026. Methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR 2, and overlap of primary studies was quantified using the corrected covered area (CCA). Seventeen systematic reviews were included, of which five reported diagnostic test accuracy meta-analyses using bivariate or HSROC models. Across these meta-analyses, pooled sensitivity ranged from 0.76 to 0.94 and specificity from 0.85 to 0.91. Most systems were based on deep learning models applied to bitewing radiographs and intraoral photographs. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in imaging modalities, lesion thresholds, analytical tasks, and evaluation metrics. In addition, a high degree of overlap across reviews and recurrent methodological limitations, including reliance on retrospective datasets, limited external validation, and inconsistent reporting, substantially weaken the reliability of the evidence. Although AI models demonstrate high diagnostic performance under experimental conditions, current evidence does not support their use as stand-alone diagnostic tools. Their clinical applicability remains limited, and implementation should be restricted to decision-support contexts until robust prospective validation demonstrates meaningful impact on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Dental Caries

The environmental impact of diagnosis and therapy in obstructive sleep Apnea: A systematic review.

Healthcare contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet the environmental impact of sleep medicine, particularly the diagnosis and therapy of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), remains poorly characterized. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase (2015-2025) for studies on OSA care reporting environmental metrics (carbon footprint, energy use, resource consumption) or healthcare resource utilization. Supplementary searches identified additional non-peer-reviewed sustainability-focused studies that have been presented at conferences. Of 19 primary peer-reviewed studies on OSA care and utilization, only one reported environmental metrics (telemedicine CO2 savings related to reduction in travel-related emissions). Supplementary sources revealed that OSA care has a measurable carbon footprint driven by disposable equipment, device electricity, and travel and that OSA diagnostics create significant solid waste with opportunities for waste reduction through the use of reusable equipment. This review shows that while the environmental impact of sleep medicine has been rarely studied to this date, available evidence suggests significant opportunities for sustainability through virtual care, home testing, and equipment optimization. Future research should incorporate environmental impact into the assessment of clinical pathways.

Humans

Urban Design Quality and Clinical Mental Health: A Systematic Review.

ObjectivesThis systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on core urban design dimensions that affect clinical mental health outcomes and examines how environmental exposures mediate or moderate these relationships.BackgroundUrban design has increasingly been recognized as a determinant of psychological well-being, yet a standardized framework to evaluate its mental health impact remains underdeveloped.MethodsFollowing PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically reviewed 19 quantitative empirical studies published through January 2025, examining relationships between outdoor urban design features and validated clinical mental health indicators across four major databases.ResultsFindings reveal that urban design influences clinical mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive decline) through two objective spatial scales: street-level features (imageability, enclosure, human scale, complexity) and neighborhood environments (land use mix, density, green infrastructure). Environmental exposures (traffic, noise, air pollution) operate as perceptual and experiential mechanisms that mediate or moderate the mental health effects of these spatial design features.ConclusionsWe propose an integrated three-domain conceptual framework distinguishing objective spatial design scales from subjective exposure mechanisms. This framework provides evidence-based guidance for urban planners and policymakers toward creating mentally healthier urban environments.

Humans