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Non-linear predictive modeling and comprehensive meta-analysis of rectal temperature in Santa Inês sheep: a systematic review of thermal challenges and biometerological trends.

A systematic and bibliometric review, combined with a meta-analysis, was used to adjust an equation for estimating the physiological responses of Santa Inês sheep subjected to different thermal challenges. The systematic review compiled data on physiological responses and the thermal environment, which were then used in the meta-analysis to adjust regression models. The bibliometric analysis mapped the relationships among studies, highlighting their usefulness in interpreting research findings and biases. Addressing prior methodological critiques, the core of this study involves replacing the linear approach with a non-linear segmented regression model to accurately define the Thermal Neutral Zone (TNZ). The Segmented Regression Model was crucial, establishing the upper limit of the Thermal Neutral Zone (TNZ) at an air temperature (tair) of 34.64 °C, where trectal begins to increase abruptly. The model, while identifying a biologically significant breakpoint, exhibited a moderate Multiple R-squared of 0.3529, highlighting the high heterogeneity and methodological variability in the current Santa Inês literature. This non-linear approach offers a biologically superior tool for identifying the onset of thermal distress.

Animals

Safety and outcomes of dapagliflozin initiation in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: A post-hoc analysis of the defender trial.

BACKGROUND: SGLT2 inhibitor use in acute kidney injury (AKI) is controversial due to concerns about hemodynamic instability. We evaluated dapagliflozin initiation in critically ill patients with AKI enrolled in the DEFENDER trial. METHODS: Among 212 patients with AKI at enrollment (100 dapagliflozin, 112 control), we compared 28-day mortality, kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and composite death/KRT. Adjusted risk differences were estimated controlling for age, sepsis, baseline vasopressor use, and creatinine. Physiological trajectories (creatinine, urine output, fluid balance, acid-base parameters) over days 1-5 were analyzed using mixed models. Likelihood ratios quantified compatibility with clinically meaningful harm or benefit. RESULTS: Event rates were similar: 28-day mortality 38% vs 40%, KRT 12% vs 18%, composite 41% vs 42% (dapagliflozin vs control). Adjusted risk differences were - 1.9% (95% CI -14.5 to 10.7) for death, -7.4% (-16.2 to 1.5) for KRT, and - 0.9% (-13.6 to 11.8) for the composite. Physiological trajectories showed no divergence suggestive of hemodynamic or metabolic instability. Likelihood ratios provided limited separation: at 5% absolute effect threshold, LR against harm was 1.47 and against benefit 1.19. CONCLUSIONS: Dapagliflozin initiation in critically ill patients with AKI was not associated with excess mortality, KRT, or physiological derangement. The near-neutral evidential profile indicates neither moderate harm nor benefit can be excluded, supporting feasibility of dedicated trials of SGLT2 inhibitors in AKI.

Humans

Association between Kidney Tubular Secretory Clearance with Cognitive Function among Adults with CKD in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial.

BACKGROUND: Persons with CKD are disproportionally affected with cognitive impairment, yet the pathophysiology linking the two conditions is unclear. Because kidney tubule secretion is essential for clearance of medications, uremic toxins, and metabolites, we hypothesized that worse tubular secretion would be associated with reduced cognitive function in CKD. METHODS: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial tested a systolic blood pressure target <120 mmHg vs. <140 mmHg in hypertensive individuals at high cardiovascular risk. In paired blood and urine specimens from 1,937 participants with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2, we measured 10 endogenous tubule-secreted metabolites and calculated a urine/plasma ratio for each, then averaged these to generate a summary secretion score. We used unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted linear regression and mixed models to evaluate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of the secretion score with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Digit Symbol Coding, and Logical Memory immediate and delayed tests-measured at baseline and months 24 and 48 of follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression evaluated associations with incident probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment, adjudicated by prespecified criteria. RESULTS: Mean age was 73 &#xb1; 9 years, 41% were women, mean eGFR was 48.2 &#xb1; 11.4 ml/min/1.73m2, median albuminuria was 14.8 [7.1-48.6] mg/g. Lower secretion score was associated with a 0.06 higher adjusted logical memory delayed score (95% CI: 0.02, 0.11) but not with other cognitive tests at baseline or longitudinal cognitive decline. After a median 4.1 years of follow-up, 118 developed probable dementia and 187 developed mild cognitive impairment. Each 1-SD lower secretion score was associated with lower risk of probable dementia (HR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.98) but not mild cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Among Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial participants with CKD, lower estimated tubular secretion was not associated with worse cognition at baseline or during longitudinal follow-up.

Journal Article

Umbilical Cord-Derived Cell-Based Interventions for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Related Complications in Preterm Infants: A Bayesian Sparse-Data Meta-Analysis.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major complication of prematurity with limited disease-modifying therapies. We evaluated umbilical cord-derived cell-based interventions for BPD and related complications in preterm infants. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020-based systematic review and meta-analysis were registered in PROSPERO. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang were searched from inception to June 14, 2026. Comparative clinical studies of umbilical cord-derived cell-based interventions in preterm infants at risk of or diagnosed with BPD were included. Outcomes included BPD, BPD severity, death, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), late-onset sepsis (LOS), and adverse events (AEs). Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis used a binomial-normal hierarchical model to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs), 95% credible intervals (CrIs), prediction intervals, and heterogeneity. Twelve studies were included. Umbilical cord-derived cell-based interventions showed a possible protective effect on overall BPD (OR, 0.48; 95% CrI, 0.14-1.20). Stronger associations were observed for severe BPD (OR, 0.17; 95% CrI, 0.01-0.85), moderate or severe BPD (OR, 0.28; 95% CrI, 0.09-0.70), and ROP stage &#x2265;3 (OR, 0.17; 95% CrI, 0.02-0.65). No conclusive benefit or harm was observed for death, PPHN, PDA, IVH, NEC, or LOS. No treatment-related serious AEs were identified. However, prediction intervals were generally wide, and the certainty of evidence was low to very low for most outcomes. Umbilical cord-derived cell-based interventions may reduce the risk of moderate or severe BPD in preterm infants, with an additional potential benefit for ROP stage &#x2265;3. Current evidence remains limited, and larger randomized trials with standardized outcomes and long-term follow-up are needed.

Humans

Validation of the newly introduced Deauville score 5a for patients treated for advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Lugano Imaging Committee recently refined the Deauville score (DS), subdividing DS5 into DS5a (>2&#xd7; liver uptake without new lesions) and DS5b (new lesions). We investigated whether this improves prognostic discrimination at interim positron emission tomography (PET) after 2 cycles (PET-2) in patients with advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (AS-cHL) treated in recent German Hodgkin Study Group randomized phase 3 trials. The primary analysis cohort was HD18 postamendment standard arms (uniform treatment with 6 cycles of escalated doses of bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone [eBEACOPP]); sensitivity cohorts were HD18 intention-to-treat and HD21 eBEACOPP and brentuximab vedotin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, dacarbazine, and dexamethasone arms. Progression-free survival (PFS) was analyzed by landmark Cox models starting at PET-2. DS5a was infrequent (4%-6% across cohorts; 39/639, 67/1745, 33/568, and 29/560). In the primary cohort, DS5 was associated with inferior PFS vs DS1 to DS3 (hazard ratio [HR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-7.23) and vs DS1 to DS4 (HR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.01-5.50). Across sensitivity cohorts, DS5a remained adverse compared with DS1 to DS4 (HR range, 2.57-5.47), whereas DS4 according to the new definition did not consistently separate from DS1 to DS3, which is likely a result of PET-adapted treatment. Overall survival trends were concordant, but interpretation is limited by few events. To our knowledge, this is the first prognostic validation of the refined DS in prospectively randomized trial populations. The newly introduced DS5a isolates a small high-risk AS-cHL, which further supports risk assessment and adaptation using quantitative biomarkers from PET. The HD18 and HD21 trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00515554 and NCT02661503, respectively.

Humans

Vertical distribution of accessory canals in different tooth types: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically analyze the vertical distribution of accessory canals and propose potential root-end resection levels in different tooth types. DATA: Proportional distribution of accessory canals (PD-AC) in 1 mm intervals, cumulative proportions within 2 mm and 3 mm (CP-AC0-2 and CP-AC0-3), mean distance from accessory foramen to root apex or main foramen (MD-AF), and prevalence of accessory canals in 2D cross-sections (PR-AC-2D). SOURCES: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted through December 25, 2025. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251107855). STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the AQUA tool. Nineteen studies were included for qualitative synthesis, of which eleven provided sufficient data for meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used, and subgroup analyses were stratified by tooth type, accessory canal type, and country. Within 0-1 mm, 1-2 mm, 2-3 mm, and 3-4 mm from the apex, 41.5%, 34.3%, 9.9%, and 4.4% of accessory canals were located, respectively. Molars had significantly higher proportions than anterior teeth both within 2 mm (90.0% vs. 72.4%) and 3 mm (96.9% vs. 87.5%). Of apical ramifications, 86.4% were within 2 mm. The pooled MD-AF was 1.472 mm. PR-AC-2D decreased from 29.3% at 1 mm to 1.3% at 5 mm. All studies presented moderate to high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: A 2 mm root-end resection level may be sufficient for molars, whereas anterior teeth may require a higher level. Further randomized controlled trials are needed. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A 2 mm resection may adequately expose or remove most accessory canals in molars, potentially preserving more root length while maintaining treatment efficacy. In anterior teeth, a traditional 3 mm resection remains advisable until further evidence becomes available.

Humans

Intramuscular Fat Infiltration and Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intramuscular fat infiltration (IMFI) is considered to be closely associated with knee osteoarthritis (KOA); however, its overall association, muscle-specific involvement, and clinical relevance remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the association between IMFI and KOA, identify affected muscle groups, and evaluate prognostic value. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase up to December 2025 for observational studies. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data, and assessed bias (NOS/JBI). Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated using random-effects models, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included. IMFI was significantly higher in KOA patients than controls (SMD&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.63, 95% CI 0.41-0.85, I2&#xa0;=&#xa0;84.7%). Anatomically, the anterior thigh muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis) demonstrated a significant pooled effect (SMD&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.96, 95% CI 0.66-1.25, I2&#xa0;=&#xa0;3.2%) and showed the strongest pooled association, whereas posterior, medial, and composite measures did not demonstrate significant associations. At the individual muscle level, a single study reported a notable association for the semimembranosus (SMD&#xa0;=&#xa0;1.25, 95% CI 0.57-1.93); however, this finding is based on limited evidence and requires confirmation in future studies. Subgroup by imaging modality: CT demonstrated a significant association (SMD&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.59, 95% CI 0.28-0.90), while MRI and ultrasound did not show significant associations. Elevated IMFI was also associated with reduced muscle strength, higher KOA incidence, structural progression, and increased knee replacement risk. CONCLUSION: A moderate positive association exists between IMFI and KOA, with notable muscle-specific heterogeneity. Anterior thigh muscles show the strongest pooled association, whereas individual muscle findings require further confirmation. These findings suggest that IMFI may represent a promising potential marker warranting further prospective investigation for risk stratification, though causality and its role in modifying disease progression remain to be established.

Humans

Improving insurance deduction identification: a hybrid artificial intelligence model using machine learning and expert systems.

PURPOSE: Financial challenges in healthcare systems worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Iran, have increased hospitals' reliance on insurance reimbursements. Unrecognized insurance deductions often cause severe financial shortages, making efficient deduction management crucial. This study aimed to design a hybrid intelligent system for identifying and predicting insurance deductions by combining machine learning and expert system frameworks. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A mixed-methods design was applied in four stages. First, a scoping review identified the causes and patterns of insurance deductions. Second, interviews with 15 insurance experts produced a validated checklist and a dataset from inpatient billing records. Third, using the CRISP-DM methodology, machine learning algorithms were developed and tested in SPSS Modeler alongside a fuzzy expert system developed in MATLAB. Finally, the model was validated using the holdout method. FINDINGS: Four categories of deduction drivers were identified: service provision, registration errors, document submission issues, and revenue conversion processes. The CHAID decision tree outperformed other algorithms with a 99% precision rate and the lowest Mean Absolute Error (9.43). A brief assessment of potential overfitting was conducted to ensure that the CHAID model's high accuracy was interpreted cautiously and supported by the validation results. The fuzzy expert system with validated rules was adaptable for deduction classification, especially for cases unsuitable for quantitative modeling. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The hybrid model improves detection and prevention of deductions, offering actionable insights for hospital administrators, insurers, and policymakers. Its implementation can enhance hospital information systems, streamline claims processing, and optimize revenue management amid financial constraints.

Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence Cannot Replace Peer Reviewers but May Help Editors Triage: A Comparative Analysis of a Large Language Model and Human Reviewer Recommendations at the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

BACKGROUND: The peer review system faces increasing strain from rising manuscript volumes, reviewer fatigue, and well-documented interreviewer disagreement. Large language models (LLMs) have shown potential to support the peer review process, but their ability to replicate editorial decisions at high-impact medical journals and their utility as manuscript screening tools remain unknown. PURPOSE: To compare the agreement between an LLM and the final editorial decision on manuscripts submitted to the American Journal of Sports Medicine and to evaluate the potential of LLMs as a manuscript screening tool. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional agreement study. METHODS: Fifty-four manuscripts randomly selected from submissions to the American Journal of Sports Medicine (September 2024-October 2024) were reviewed by a locally deployed LLM (Ministral 3 14B; Mistral AI) using a standardized prompt. The artificial intelligence (AI) produced a categorical recommendation (reject, cascade, revision, or accept) and a numerical score (0-100) for each manuscript. Agreement with the final editorial decision was assessed by Cohen kappa (4-category model) for pooled human reviewers (n = 139 reviews) and the AI (n = 54). Screening performance was evaluated by positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity. RESULTS: Pooled human reviewers demonstrated fair agreement with the final decision (&#x3ba; = 0.181 [P < .001]; 42.4% agreement), while the AI demonstrated slight, nonsignificant agreement (&#x3ba; = 0.126 [P = .099]; 37.0% agreement). The AI recommended revision for 61.1% of manuscripts, of which 72.7% were ultimately rejected or cascaded, demonstrating systematic "revision bias." When the AI recommended rejection, 54.5% of those manuscripts were ultimately rejected and 27.3% were cascaded; when the AI recommended cascade, 50% were rejected and 50% were cascaded. However, when the AI recommended rejection or cascade (n = 21), 90.5% received a final decision of rejection or cascade (PPV, 90.5%; specificity, 81.8%). Manuscripts with an AI score <70 were rejected or cascaded 88.0% of the time (PPV, 88.0%). CONCLUSION: AI cannot replicate the nuanced judgment of human peer reviewers at a high-impact sports medicine journal. When AI recommended rejection or cascade, 90.5% of manuscripts received that final decision (descriptive PPV, 90.5%; 95% CI, 71.1%-97.3%), suggesting potential utility as an exploratory first-pass screening tool warranting further validation in larger cohorts. However, AI could not reliably distinguish manuscripts destined for outright rejection from those that would be cascaded to a sister journal-an important limitation for editorial triage applications.

Sports Medicine

Volumetric bone marrow cellularity (VBMC) assessment from routinely processed trephines using three-dimensional x-ray histology and gaussian peak modelling.

Objective.Bone marrow cellularity is routinely estimated from a small number of two-dimensional histology sections, making assessment sensitive to section representativeness, processing artefacts and observer interpretation. Three-dimensional (3D) x-ray histology (XRH), using x-ray computed microtomography (&#xb5;CT), enables non-destructive whole-block imaging of trephine biopsies. This study evaluated whether XRH combined with Gaussian peak modelling could provide a pragmatic whole-block volumetric bone marrow cellularity (VBMC) estimate from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) trephine biopsy blocks.Approach.Six routinely processed FFPE bone marrow trephine blocks were imaged using &#xb5;CT-based XRH at &#x223c;15 &#xb5;m spatial resolution. VBMC was defined as the red-marrow (RM) fraction of the marrow soft-tissue compartment, RM/(RM + intra-biopsy wax), with wax serving as the volumetric proxy for adipocyte/yellow marrow space. Whole-volume greyscale histograms were modelled using a three-peak Gaussian approach representing intra-biopsy wax, RM and demineralised trabecular matrix. Peak-height and area-under-the-curve metrics were compared with whole-volume 3D segmentation and clinical two-dimensional (2D) cellularity estimates.Main Results.Gaussian peak modelling successfully approximated the segmented tissue-phase distributions. The peak-height-derived VBMC metric showed the closest agreement with whole-volume 3D segmentation, with an average absolute percentage difference of 9.3%, compared with 18.6% for clinical expert 2D cellularity estimates. The area-under-the-curve metric followed similar trends but consistently overestimated VBMC. Clinical 2D cellularity broadly followed whole-biopsy trends but showed one discordant case not explained by slice-position sampling alone. XRH also enabled unrestricted virtual reslicing and visualisation of sectioning-associated artefacts prior to further microtomy.Significance.Pre-sectioning XRH combined with Gaussian peak modelling provides a rapid, segmentation-free route to volumetric cellularity estimation from intact clinical FFPE trephine blocks. The approach supports objective whole-biopsy assessment while remaining compatible with routine histopathology workflows, reflecting the expected limitations of section-based visual estimation despite its role as the current clinical standard. In the near term, it could provide a non-disruptive adjunct to conventional 2D cellularity reporting, pending larger validation studies.

Imaging, Three-Dimensional

Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelic Microdosing on Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psychedelic microdosing has gained increasing popularity for enhancing mood and cognition, yet its effects on psychological outcomes in healthy adults remain unclear. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of psychedelic microdosing on psychological outcomes in healthy/non-clinical adult&#xa0;population. METHODS: This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD420251035294). We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO from inception to February 2026 for original studies in healthy adults using sub-hallucinogenic psychedelic doses on separate days. We included randomized studies, nonrandomized prospective studies, cross-sectional studies, and observational longitudinal designs and stratified meta-analyses by design. Random-effects models were used; safety in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was pooled as risk differences (RDs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools appropriate for each study design. RESULTS: 24 studies (3,681 participants) met inclusion criteria, 6 contributed to meta-analyses. RCTs of psilocybin and LSD microdosing showed subjective and neurophysiological effects but minimal impact on cognition, creativity, or sustained mood. Psilocybin altered EEG and speech with little behavioral change, while LSD caused transient mood and minor physiological effects without lasting cognitive or personality benefits. Observational studies indicated mood and personality improvements, likely influenced by expectancy or lifestyle factors. Meta-analyses included two parallel RCTs (3 comparisons; n = 117) and three non-RCT studies (n = 1,013). Adverse event analyses included two RCTs (4 comparisons; n = 109). RCTs showed no clear evidence of immediate symptom reduction: depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.19; 95% CI -0.56, 0.19; I2 = 0%), anxiety (SMD = -0.20; 95% CI -1.11, 0.71; I2 = 82.3%),and stress (SMD = 0.02; 95% CI -0.39, 0.43; I2 = 0%). Non-RCT within-arm estimates were imprecise and heterogeneous for depressive symptoms (SMCC -0.33; 95% CI -0.75, 0.08) and anxiety (SMCC -0.29; 95% CI-0.84, 0.26). Exploratory pooling across all designs suggested decreases in depressive symptoms and stress, while anxiety remained uncertain. Adverse event risks were similar between treatment and control. CONCLUSIONS: Microdosing does not show consistent immediate benefits for depressive, anxiety, or stress symptoms in healthy adults, and evidence from RCTs remains inconclusive. Although improvements were observed in some studies, these effects were not significantly different from placebo. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of psychedelic microdosing beyond placebo.

Humans

Effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen in traumatic brain injury patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common neurological disorder and a leading cause of global mortality and disability. Although growing evidence suggests potential benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for TBI, its efficacy remains controversial. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to March 2026. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating HBOT versus any comparator including sham, standard care and no treatment in adults with TBI were included. Two independent reviewers screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I&#xb2; statistic. Effect sizes were pooled using random/fixed-effects models per heterogeneity results. RESULTS: 8 studies involving 570 participants were included. HBOT significantly improved computerized cognitive performance (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.07-0.40, p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.004, I&#xb2; = 0%), executive function and processing speed (SMD = -0.59, 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.26, p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.0005, I&#xb2; = 30%), memory function (SMD = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.03-0.63, p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.03, I&#xb2; = 0%), and sleep quality (MD = 1.98, 95% CI: 0.07-3.88, p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.04, I&#xb2; = 65%). No significant benefits were observed for Glasgow Outcome Scale (RR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.55-4.44, I&#xb2; = 87%), PTSD symptoms (MD = -3.05, 95% CI: -7.05-0.95, I&#xb2; = 67%), neurobehavioral symptoms (MD = -9.06, 95% CI: -32.13-14.00, I&#xb2; = 97%), and emotional distress (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI: -0.32-0.81, I&#xb2; = 85%). Most adverse events were mild and transient. CONCLUSION: HBOT demonstrates domain&#x2011;specific benefits for cognitive function and sleep quality in TBI patients, predominantly those with mild TBI. However, evidence for PTSD, neurobehavioral symptoms, and emotional distress remains uncertain. Furthermore, the applicability of current evidence to moderate-to-severe TBI populations is restricted.

Humans

Efficacy and Safety of the Dual Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 and Glucagon Receptor Agonist Mazdutide in Predominantly Chinese Adults With Obesity and/or Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

AIM: To assess the effects of mazdutide on body weight, HbA1c, metabolic outcomes, and adverse events in adults with overweight/obesity and/or type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing mazdutide with placebo or active comparators in adults with overweight/obesity and/or T2D, identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov to 20 February 2026. Co-primary outcomes were percent change in body weight and change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes included other weight-related and metabolic outcomes, as well as safety. Random-effects models were used to generate pooled mean differences (MDs) or risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and the certainty of the evidence (COE) was assessed using GRADE. RESULTS: Nine RCTs (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;2292; most with low risk of bias) were included. In overweight/obesity without diabetes, mazdutide 3, 4, and 6&#x2009;mg reduced body weight more than placebo (MDs -6.56%, -9.92%, and -11.1%, respectively; very low COE due to substantial heterogeneity and few trials). In T2D, mazdutide 4 and 6&#x2009;mg reduced body weight and HbA1c versus placebo (moderate COE) and also outperformed dulaglutide for both outcomes. Mazdutide also improved waist circumference, lipids, liver enzymes, and uric acid levels. Gastrointestinal adverse events were more frequent, but serious adverse events and treatment discontinuation rates were comparable with those of the comparators. CONCLUSIONS: Mazdutide was associated with dose-dependent reductions in body weight and HbA1c, with broader metabolic benefits in predominantly Chinese adults with obesity and/or T2D. Longer-term, multi-ethnic studies are needed to confirm durability, generalizability, and cardiovascular safety.

Humans

A multi-scale fusion model based on multi-phase contrast-enhanced CT for predicting pancreatic cancer resectability.

Purpose.Develop a multi-scale fusion model (MSFM) based on multi-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to predict pancreatic cancer (PC) resectability, thereby assisting expert decision-making.Methods.This retrospective study enrolled 280 patients with PC from four institutions, which were randomly divided into a training cohort (202 patients) and an independent test cohort (78 patients). Three-phase CECT images (arterial, venous, and delayed phases) were used for modeling. The MSFM comprises two sub-networks: (1) a multi-phase fusion network for extracting cross-phase shared fusion features, (2) a phase-specific branch network for capturing phase-specific features; and a post-fusion strategy to generate the final predictive score by integrating the shared fusion features and three groups of phase-specific features. Additionally, a human-machine fusion deep learning model (HMfDL) was constructed by fusing the predictive score of the MSFM with expert assessments.Results.In the independent test, the MSFM achieved an AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 0.8385 (95% CI: 0.7521-0.9249), accuracy of 84.62%, sensitivity of 72.00%, and specificity of 90.57%. This performance outperformed single-phase models (AUC range: 0.7638-0.7781), two-phase models (AUC range: 0.7826-0.7864), and ten states-of-the-art classifiers (AUC range: 0.7404-0.7796). The HMfDL further improved the performance, reaching an AUC of 0.8626 (95% CI: 0.7853-0.9400), accuracy of 91.03%, sensitivity of 80.00%, and specificity of 96.23%. Notably, the HMfDL corrected 58.82% of misdiagnosis made by experts.Conclusions. The MSFM effectively fuses multi-phase CECT to enable highly accurate predictions of PC resectability, and provides valuable support for expert decision-making through HMfDL.

Humans

ReMeDy: A Flexible Statistical Framework for Region-Based Detection of DNA Methylation Dysregulation.

Region-based epigenome-wide association studies have demonstrated improved statistical power and biological interpretability compared with probe-wise analyses of DNA methylation data. However, most existing region-based methods characterize methylation dysregulation primarily through changes in mean methylation levels associated with a phenotype of interest. Substantial evidence indicates that phenotype-associated methylation alterations may also manifest through changes in methylation variability or through joint shifts in mean and variability. Despite this, no existing statistical framework jointly models mean-variance methylation changes in a region-based manner. We propose ReMeDy, a flexible statistical framework that uses a hierarchical likelihood approach within a generalized linear model setting to identify differentially methylated regions, variably methylated regions, and regions exhibiting joint differential and variable methylation at a genome-wide scale. Unlike existing models, ReMeDy operates directly on biologically defined co-methylated regions, allowing it to naturally capture spatial correlation inherent in DNA methylation array data, while avoiding reliance on heuristic, user-defined tuning parameters such as smoothing spans and kernel bandwidths that can substantially influence results and introduce subjectivity. Through extensive simulation studies and comprehensive benchmarking against popular models, we demonstrate that ReMeDy maintains false discovery and Type-I error rates at nominal levels while achieving consistently higher statistical power across a wide range of realistic scenarios. Application to population-level DNA methylation data further shows that ReMeDy identifies biologically meaningful regions and pathways implicated in complex human diseases that are not captured by conventional mean-based analyses alone. ReMeDy is implemented as an open-source R package and is freely available at https://github.com/SChatLab/ReMeDy.

DNA Methylation

"Orphaned bereavement": Toward a public health model for bereavement.

Bereavement is increasingly recognized as a public health concern, yet support systems in many welfare states continue to allocate support according to the circumstances of death rather than the functional needs of bereaved families. Existing bereavement frameworks have substantially advanced understanding of social recognition and public legitimacy but provide more limited guidance for understanding how institutional responsibility for bereaved families is organized. using Israel as a bereavement-saturated case, this study introduces the concept of orphaned bereavement to describe bereavement in which no institution holds clearly defined and continuing responsibility for identifying needs, coordinating support, and ensuring continuity of care. Drawing on 25 semi-structured interviews with five bereaved family members and 20 professionals, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, the analysis generated three interrelated themes: institutionalized invisibility and unequal recognition; reorganizing life in the absence of institutional support; and pathways toward a needs-based model of bereavement support. The findings extend existing theories of disenfranchized grief and grievability by introducing institutional responsibility as a complementary lens for understanding bereavement inequality and support a needs-based public health approach in which support is organized according to families' evolving functional needs rather than the circumstances of death.

Journal Article

Timing of aneurysm repair and clinical outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) causes substantial morbidity and mortality, and guidelines recommend aneurysm repair as early as feasible. However, the association between onset-to-treatment time and outcomes remains uncertain. This review synthesized evidence across multiple clinical outcomes and examined whether treatment modality modifies this association. METHODS: Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and LILACS for studies comparing clinical outcomes across different onset-to-treatment windows in adults with confirmed aSAH. Findings were synthesized narratively according to the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guideline. The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261415084). RESULTS: Twenty reports comprising 11,096 participant records were included, with likely overlap between two reports. Treatment categories ranged from <6&#xa0;h to &#x2265;15&#xa0;days. Earlier securement likely reduced pretreatment rebleeding, particularly when untreated or markedly delayed patients were included, although treated-cohort comparisons were inconsistent. More methodologically informative adjusted analyses showed no reproducible independent association between treatment timing and functional outcome or mortality. No consistent association emerged for vasospasm or related cerebral ischemia, hydrocephalus, or length of stay. Two observational studies modeled time continuously: one found a significant U-shaped mortality association with an estimated nadir at 32.6&#xa0;h, whereas the other showed a similar but non-significant adjusted pattern with an estimated nadir near 12.16&#xa0;h. These findings are highly susceptible to confounding by indication and survivor bias and do not establish benefit from treatment delay. Three studies formally tested modality-timing interaction; one found a significant mortality interaction and two did not. Additional stratified analyses showed no consistent modality-specific pattern. Certainty of evidence for the timing-mortality association was very low because of serious risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision. CONCLUSION: Earlier aneurysm securement remains supported for preventing pretreatment rebleeding. The independent association of treatment timing with mortality or functional outcome remains uncertain. The observed mortality patterns are hypothesis-generating and do not define a validated therapeutic window, support intentional treatment delay, or justify changing current guideline recommendations. Prospective multicenter studies using continuous-time modeling and rigorous methods to address confounding and survivor bias are needed.

Humans

A multi-model genome-wide association study identifies genetic variants underlying resistance to Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) in Micropterus salmoides.

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an economically important freshwater aquaculture species, yet recurrent outbreaks of Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) continue to impair production and cause substantial losses. The genetic basis of host variation in LMBV resistance remains insufficiently characterized. Here, we applied a multi-model genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify loci associated with resistance following a controlled challenge with the LMBV-23PY strain. Whole-genome resequencing was performed for 146 phenotyped fish, including 72 susceptible and 74 resistant individuals. After stringent quality control, 877,262 high-quality variants were retained and tested using six GWAS models. Across binary survival status and survival time phenotypes, 32 shared suggestive variants were consistently detected across models, representing suggestive loci for LMBV-23PY resistance. Genes within &#xb1;50&#xa0;kb of these loci were annotated, and functional enrichment highlighted immune- and redox-related biological processes. Three prioritized candidates-GSTT3L (glutathione S-transferase theta-3-like), CGRP2 (calcitonin gene-related peptide 2), and NPPC (natriuretic peptide C)-were associated with pathways involved in oxidative stress responses and immune regulation. Collectively, these results provide insight into the genetic architecture of LMBV-23PY resistance in largemouth bass and identify suggestive variants and associated candidate genes for downstream validation, functional interrogation, and the development of marker-assisted and genome-enabled breeding strategies.

Animals