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PubMed2026

Ten-Year Update of Nurse Practitioner Service Impact on Patient and Health Service Outcomes in Emergency Care Settings-A Systematic Review.

AIMS: To provide a 10-year update on the best available evidence evaluating the impact of nurse practitioner services on cost, waiting times, patient satisfaction, representation rates, and length of stay in emergency and urgent care settings. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: The search was completed on January 28, 2025, in Embase (Elsevier), Medline (EBSCOhost), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Emcare (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate) and Scopus (Elsevier). The data range (2014-2024) was used to limit the search. METHODS: The search was conducted with results imported into Covidence. In Covidence, two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal of articles, and findings were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach. Eligible studies examined nurse practitioner services in emergency or urgent care settings, reporting outcomes of cost, waiting times, patient satisfaction, representation rates, and length of stay. RESULTS: Title and abstract screening were performed on 2329 records. Of these, 236 full-text articles were reviewed, and 17 underwent critical appraisal and data extraction. Narrative analysis of outcome measures yielded mixed results, with both favourable and unfavourable findings reported regarding nurse practitioner services. CONCLUSIONS: Global evaluation of nurse practitioner services in emergency care remains inconsistent. Nevertheless, emerging evidence supports their positive impact, particularly in improving patient outcomes. To effectively inform policy, workforce planning and clinical integration, there is a need for professional benchmarks that provide clear frameworks for the evaluation of patient-centred outcomes and operational impacts in emergency departments. IMPLICATIONS: Evidence related to nurse practitioner services in emergency and urgent care clinics highlights the positive impact of nurse practitioner services on patient wait times and satisfaction; however, there is limited and variable evidence of impact on health care costs and outcomes. IMPACT: This paper recommends that evaluating emergency nurse practitioner services requires homogeneous research using consistent professional benchmarks and evaluation frameworks. REPORTING METHOD: This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting. TRAIL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2025 CRD420250645148.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

RFC1 Repeat Expansions in Chronic Idiopathic Axonal Polyneuropathy: Prevalence, Phenotype, and Diagnostic Implications.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP) accounts for approximately 20%-30% of adult-onset axonal polyneuropathies. Pathogenic RFC1 repeat expansions have emerged as a frequent cause of idiopathic sensory neuropathy, but their recognition in routine clinical practice may be challenging, particularly in the presence of potentially confounding comorbidities. We aimed to determine the prevalence of pathogenic RFC1 repeat expansions in a well-defined CIAP cohort, characterize the associated clinical and electrophysiological phenotype, and evaluate whether coexisting well-controlled diabetes mellitus (DM) or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) may hinder recognition of RFC1-related neuropathy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study of adult patients with CIAP followed at a tertiary neuromuscular unit. All patients underwent RFC1 genetic testing. Clinical and electrophysiological features were compared between RFC1+ and RFC1- patients in the full cohort and after exclusion of patients with DM or MGUS. RESULTS: Ninety patients met CIAP criteria and were analyzed. Twenty-four (27%) carried biallelic pathogenic AAGGG repeat expansions in RFC1, of whom 6 (25%) had coexisting DM or MGUS. Compared with RFC1- patients, RFC1+ individuals more frequently exhibited dysautonomic symptoms, unsteadiness, history of falls, need for walking support, chronic cough, impaired vibration sense in the upper limbs and up to the knees in the lower limbs, brisk upper-limb reflexes, mild cerebellar signs, an abnormal head-impulse test, and a positive Romberg's test. Most of these differences persisted after exclusion of DM or MGUS. Electrophysiological studies in RFC1+ patients showed widespread sensory nerve involvement, including the upper limbs, with relative motor sparing, whereas RFC1- patients exhibited a more typical length-dependent pattern. INTERPRETATION: Biallelic AAGGG repeat expansions in RFC1 were identified in 27% of patients with CIAP. Specific clinical and electrophysiological features may help distinguish RFC1-related disease from other forms of CIAP and identify candidates for genetic testing, even in the presence of potentially confounding comorbidities such as well-controlled DM or MGUS.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors after acute myocardial infarction: Are the benefits limited to patients with diabetes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Recently, studies have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in this scenario. Objectives We aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors vs standard care. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing patients with acute myocardial infarction using iSGLT2 inhibitors and standard care. Statistical analyses were conducted using R software (v 4.3.2) and a random-effects model was employed for all outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 31,378 patients were included, with 10,897 (34.7%) assigned to the SGLT2 inhibitor group. Among these studies, three were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). There was a significant difference in reduction of HF readmissions (OR 0.61; p < 0.01), all-cause mortality (OR 0.62; p < 0.01;) and stroke (OR 0.67; p < 0.01;). However, there was no significant difference in cardiovascular death, rehospitalization for any cause and recurrence of acute MI. Meta regression and subgroup analysis showed a trend toward better outcomes in the diabetic and non-STEMI population. CONCLUSIONS: SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with lower HF rehospitalization, stroke, and all-cause mortality after acute MI, mainly in observational studies. Benefits appeared greater in diabetic and non-STEMI patients. Dedicated RCTs focusing on diabetic, particularly non-STEMI, populations are needed to confirm these findings. KEY POINTS: What is already known on this topic: SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated cardiovascular and renal benefits in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, their role in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) setting remains uncertain, particularly regarding post-AMI outcomes such as heart failure readmissions, mortality, and recurrent ischemic events, with current evidence derived from heterogeneous and predominantly observational studies. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This meta-analysis, including over 31,000 patients, suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with reductions in heart failure readmissions, all-cause mortality, and stroke following AMI. These associations were more consistently observed in patients with type 2 diabetes and in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) populations. However, randomized controlled trials showed neutral results, and the observed benefits were mainly driven by observational studies. Meaning: These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. While SGLT2 inhibitors may represent a potential therapeutic strategy in selected post-AMI populations, particularly patients with diabetes and NSTEMI, current evidence does not support routine early in-hospital initiation. Dedicated randomized trials specifically enrolling diabetic post-AMI patients are required to clarify optimal timing and clinical benefit.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Impact of Chatbot Type and Normative Messaging on Chatbot Usage Intention Based on the Health Technology Acceptance Model: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Digital health tools, such as health chatbots, may improve access to scalable health support, but adoption remains inconsistent. Existing models do not fully integrate technology acceptance factors with health motivation factors relevant to digital health use. OBJECTIVE: This study proposed and tested the health technology acceptance model and examined whether normative message framing and chatbot type were associated with health motivation, technology acceptance, and intention to use a health chatbot. METHODS: In October 2025, we conducted a 4 × 2 between-participants online experiment with 1000 US adults recruited from a nationally representative YouGov panel. Participants were randomized to 1 of 8 conditions varying norm message type (self-oriented, peer-oriented, expert-oriented, or family-oriented) and chatbot type (AI-powered or rule-based) in a cancer prevention and genetic risk information scenario. Outcomes included descriptive norms, injunctive norms, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, trust, privacy concerns, and usage intention. Data were analyzed using a multivariate ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc tests and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Peer-oriented and family-oriented messages produced higher usage intention than expert-oriented messages, and peer-oriented messages also increased descriptive norms, injunctive norms, self-efficacy, and trust. AI-powered chatbots were associated with higher usage intention (P=.02) and greater trust (P=.008) than rule-based chatbots. In regression analyses, the model explained 50.8% of the variance in usage intention. Usage intention was positively associated with descriptive norms (β=0.087; P=.003), injunctive norms (β=0.078; P=.009), perceived susceptibility (β=0.051; P=.03), perceived benefits (β=0.253; P<.001), and trust (β=0.33; P<.001), and negatively associated with perceived severity (β=-0.047; P=.049) and privacy concerns (β=-0.11; P<.001). Perceived ease of use and self-efficacy were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: The health technology acceptance model was a useful framework for explaining the intention to use a health chatbot by combining technology acceptance and health motivation constructs. Both social design features and chatbot design features shaped adoption-related beliefs, with peer-oriented and family-oriented framing and AI-powered chatbots showing particular promise. Trust and privacy concerns remained central determinants of intended use.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Maternal Intake of Vitamins A, C, D, and E During Pregnancy and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Child: The Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary vitamins play a role in antioxidant defense and immunoregulation. However, prospective studies exploring the association between vitamin intakes during pregnancy and the child's risk of type 1 diabetes are limited. OBJECTIVES: This population-based prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy and risk of type 1 diabetes in children. METHODS: We included 85,244 children born between 2002 and 2009 in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, with follow-up until 31 December, 2021. Maternal intake of vitamins from food and dietary supplements from conception to the 22nd week of pregnancy was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for background factors. RESULTS: During follow-up, 529 (0.6%) children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a mean age of 9.4 y (standard deviation: 4.1 y) No associations were observed between maternal pregnancy intake of vitamin A [HR: 0.993; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.983, 1.003/100 μg], vitamin C (HR: 1.000; 95% CI: 0.993, 1.007/10 mg), vitamin D (HR: 0.991; 95% CI: 0.978, 1.003/1 μg), or vitamin E (HR: 0.999; 95% CI: 0.996, 1.004/10 mg) and risk of type 1 diabetes in the child when adjusted for potential confounders. The results were similar when intakes were assessed separately from food and dietary supplements and after restriction to children with human leukocyte antigen DQ2 and/or DQ8 risk haplotypes. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study does not support the hypothesis that higher maternal intake of vitamins A, C, D, and E during pregnancy would decrease risk of type 1 diabetes in the child. Corroborated with previous evidence, our findings support a general pattern of null associations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Evaluation of intravenous sedation in dental implant surgeries: A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intravenous sedation on patient-centered outcomes during implant and bone augmentation surgeries. METHOD: A prospective observational cohort study included 40 patients undergoing placement of ≥3 implants, with or without bone augmentation. Patients underwent surgery under either intravenous sedation (n = 20) or local anesthesia alone (n = 20), according to routine clinical decision-making and patient preference. The sedation group received intravenous sedation with a multimodal regimen comprising remimazolam, dexmedetomidine, alfentanil, and low-dose esketamine, whereas the control group received local anesthesia only. Patient-reported outcome measures, hemodynamic parameters (SBP, DBP, HR, SpO2), postoperative pain (0-10 scale), and OHRQoL (OHIP-14) were recorded from baseline through 7 days post-surgery. RESULTS: Intravenous sedation was associated with significantly lower intraoperative pain (0.5 [IQR: 0∼2.75] vs. 3.25 ± 2.40, p = 0.003), anxiety (1 [IQR: 0∼2.75] vs. 4 [IQR: 3∼6], p = 0.001), and experienced discomfort (2 [IQR: 1∼3.75] vs. 4.15 ± 2.16, p = 0.016), and shortened perceived treatment duration (2.90 ± 2.34 vs. 5 [IQR: 4∼5], p = 0.020). Early postoperative pain was lower in the sedation group from Days 1-4 (p = 0.003-0.010). Hemodynamic parameters were more stable under sedation, with lower SBP (116.42 ± 13.32 vs. 144.11 ± 17.42 mmHg, p < 0.001), DBP (73.21 ± 10.28 vs. 82.37 ± 11.03 mmHg, p = 0.012), and HR (71.00 [IQR: 62.50∼79.25] vs. 85.00 ± 10.72 bpm, p = 0.021). OHRQoL scores favored the sedation group in swallowing, diet, malaise, and daily activities, particularly during the first three postoperative days (p=0.006-0.040). CONCLUSION: Intravenous sedation may enhance the patient experience during implant and/or bone augmentation procedures by reducing intraoperative pain and anxiety, improving hemodynamic stability, and promoting better early-postoperative recovery and OHRQoL. These findings suggest that intravenous sedation provides a safe and effective alternative for implant dentistry surgery, particularly for anxious or pain-sensitive individuals.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Sensor-based measures of knee brace adherence have low agreement with self-report methods: A multi-measure study among knee osteoarthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore agreement between self-report and objectively measured adherence to brace wearing by patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHOD: A single-arm observational analysis nested within the PROP OA randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN28555470). Of 237 adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis randomised to brace treatment, 60 were included in this sub-study investigating three different methods of assessing knee brace wear time over 26 weeks: 1. Self-report questionnaires (SRQ) at 12 weeks and 26 weeks; 2. Short message service (SMS) questions (days worn in past week, typical hours per day when worn) administered from week 1 to week 24; 3. A skin temperature sensor embedded in the brace, sampling every 10 min for 26 weeks. The presence and reason for the sensor were concealed from participants. The estimated proportion of participants meeting "minimum brace use", defined a priori as ≥1 h on ≥2 days in past week, was described for each measurement method, overall and by brace type (unloader, neutral). For temperature sensor measurements, time spent above 24°C and time spent above 25°C were used. Agreement between the measures was summarised by percentage agreement and kappa (ĸ). RESULTS: The estimated proportions of participants meeting "minimum brace use" at 12 weeks were 83% (SRQ), 83% (SMS), 60% and 58% (temperature sensor, 24°C and 25°C thresholds, respectively). At 26 weeks, the corresponding estimates reduced to 72%, 71% (SMS at 24 weeks), 43% and 37%. Sensor data suggested the sharpest decline in brace use occurred within the first 12 weeks. Agreement between self-report measures was higher than between self-report measures and sensor (SRQ vs SMS at 12 weeks: 92% agreement, ĸ=0.67 (95%CI: 0.34, 1.00); SRQ vs Sensor at 12 weeks: 74%, 0.35 (0.10, 0.60); SMS vs Sens at 12 weeks: 76%, 0.36 (0.05, 0.66). Agreement between all measurement methods reduced at 26 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This novel use of a temperature sensor to monitor brace adherence in knee osteoarthritis indicates that self-report adherence substantially overestimates knee brace wearing time, with implications for clinical trials and practice.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

How I do it: 3-Suture robotic pyeloplasty: Step-by-step technique.

Robot-assisted pyeloplasty is now a gold standard in the treatment of pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction. We describe a standardized "3-suture" technique designed to facilitate the pyelo-ureteral anastomosis. We used this technique in 65 paediatric patients aged 3-17 years. Early major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade III) occurred in 3 patients (4.6%). The median operative time was 150 min. Surgical success was achieved in 96% of cases at a median follow-up of 9.5 months. This 3-suture approach offers a highly reproducible method for robotic pyeloplasty, facilitating accurate anatomical reconstruction with excellent surgical outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Repeated scoring with the adult appendicitis score improves the sensitivity and the specificity of appendicitis diagnosis in patients with early equivocal signs of appendicitis: a secondary analysis.

PURPOSE: The utilization of computed tomography in the early stage of acute appendicitis may result in overdiagnosis and unnecessarily expose patients to ionising radiation. The Adult Appendicitis Score (AAS) can be used to select patients for imaging. Observation and re-scoring in the DIAMOND trial reduced the need for imaging. Now, we wanted to determine if the change in AAS (∆AAS) can serve as a diagnostic tool to select patients for imaging even more precisely. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients with early equivocal appendicitis participated in the observation arm of the DIAMOND trial. The data for these patients were reanalysed, and ∆AAS during the observation was calculated. The baseline AAS, final AAS, and the change in C-reactive protein (∆CRP) were selected as reference standards. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients with complete data were included in the analysis. The AUROC (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic) values are as follows: ∆AAS, 0.932 (95% CI 0.868-0.996); baseline AAS, 0.629 (95% CI 0.498-0.760); final AAS, 0.936 (95% CI 0.886-0.987); and ∆CRP, 0.796 (95% CI 0.696-0.897). Using receiver operating characteristic curves, we established the thresholds for low (AAS ≤ -2), intermediate (AAS -1 to 0), and high (AAS ≥ 1) probability of appendicitis. The negative predictive value for the low-probability group and the positive predictive value for the high-probability group concerning acute appendicitis were 97% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Patients with equivocal signs of appendicitis may benefit from short observation and the calculation of ∆AAS to reduce overdiagnosis and exposure to excessive imaging. REGISTRATION: The DIAMOND trial was officially registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02742402) on April 13, 2016.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Emerging Principles in Spatial Functional Genomics.

Spatial transcriptomic and proteomic atlases have enabled mapping of gene programs within intact tissues, but these measurements remain largely descriptive and do not define the mechanisms controlling tissue biology. Pooled CRISPR screening provides scalable causal interrogation of gene function but remains largely confined to dissociated systems that lack spatial context. In vivo spatial functional genomics (SFG) bridges these approaches by integrating genetic perturbations with in situ transcriptomic and proteomic readouts to measure gene function within intact tissue ecosystems. By preserving spatial organization, SFG enables interpretation of perturbations through effects on cell-cell interactions, diffusible signals, multicellular niches, and tissue architecture. Here, we outline key design axes of SFG: perturbation strategy, barcoding strategy, and phenotypic readout. We discuss computational challenges, including spatial autocorrelation, neighborhood dependence, and context-aware null modeling, and highlight how SFG reveals non-cell-autonomous, architecture-dependent mechanisms of gene function, advancing toward predictive models of tissue organization and gene function.

Genomics↗

PubMed2026

Characteristics of children with ureteroceles presenting for urological evaluation in the modern medical era.

INTRODUCTION: Historically, children with ureteroceles presented symptomatically and were managed surgically. It is unclear if this changed in the modern medical era of prenatal imaging and shared decision making. We aimed to describe the presentation and management of ureteroceles during initial urological evaluation of children in the era of widespread prenatal ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of children (<18 years old [yo]) initially evaluated at our center with a ureterocele (2011-2020). We analyzed demographics, renal anatomy, initial presentation for evaluation, and initial management with non-parametric statistics. Febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs, ≥ 38 °C) were classified as 1) urosepsis (positive urine culture admitted to pediatric intensive care), 2) documented (positive urine culture) or 3) family-reported. RESULTS: We identified 188 children (65% female). Median age at presentation was 1.2 months old (mo) (IQR 18 days-4.4 mo). Antenatally-detected congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (aCAKUT) were noted in 143 (76%) children with a confirmed postnatal diagnosis of ureterocele. Overall, 129/188 (69%) children presented without symptoms and 59 (31%) presented with symptoms. fUTI was the most common symptomatic presentation (46/188, 24%): urosepsis (6 children), documented (30), and family-reported (10). Children with aCAKUT presented earlier than those without aCAKUT (27 days vs. 1.6 yo, p < 0.0001). They were also less likely to present with symptoms (11% vs. 96%, p < 0.0001), including fUTIs (7% vs. 78%, p < 0.0001). In total, 108 children (57%) were initially managed with transurethral incision, 73 (39%) were observed, and 7 (4%) had reconstructive surgery. Asymptomatic children with aCAKUT (42%) and symptomatic children without aCAKUT (37%) were more likely to be observed than symptomatic children with aCAKUT (7%, p = 0.02). Among 143 children with aCAKUT, those on antibiotic prophylaxis were less likely to present with a history of a fUTI compared to those not on prophylaxis (4/106 vs. 6/37, 4% vs. 16%, p = 0.02). COMMENT: We present a large observational study describing clinical and anatomical characteristics of children presenting with ureteroceles in a medical era of ubiquitous prenatal ultrasonography. Our retrospective study was limited by incomplete documentation of all antenatal ultrasonography and adherence with antibiotic prophylaxis. Long-term clinical outcomes will be the focus of future work. CONCLUSION: In contrast to historical cohorts, most children presented to urologists with asymptomatic ureteroceles diagnosed with aCAKUT. Most children without aCAKUT presented with a fUTI. Overall, 39% of children were initially observed, indicating an increased use of observation in the modern medical era.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Quality of life and gender identity in females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia after genital restoration surgery: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Legislation restricting surgical interventions in children with differences of sex development (DSD) has intensified debate about female genital restoration surgery (FGRS) in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Long-term patient-reported outcomes are needed regarding the optimal timing of surgery. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL), gender identity, and family satisfaction regarding surgical timing and outcome in females with CAH following genital restoration surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of CAH patients who underwent surgery between January 2007 to December 2016 at our institution. Validated instruments (KINDL questionnaire for HRQoL, Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale, UGDS) and structured telephone interviews were employed. RESULTS: Data on HRQoL was available for 25 patients (self- and/or parent-reported) out of 56 eligible patients (45% response rate). Median age at first surgery was 6 months (range: 3-137 months). Patients' age at time of participation ranged from 2 to 28 years. All had 21-hydroxylase deficiency (92% salt-wasting form) with Prader grades ranging from II-V. Wound dehiscence requiring secondary suturing occurred in 15% of patients with primary surgery at our center, while only one (4%) patient developed vaginal stenosis after early primary vaginoplasty. Two additional patients (8%) with prior outside surgery required vaginal revision after FGRS at age 12. HRQoL scores were comparable to healthy reference populations across most age groups. Children aged 3-6 and adolescents and young adults showed no significant difference from reference values, while children aged 7-13 showed a slight elevation. None of five patients ≥14 years demonstrated gender dysphoria (all UGDS scores <40, threshold ≥40). 14 patients and families were also interviewed by telephone. All preferred early surgical timing. No family expressed regret about the decision or preferred delayed surgery. DISCUSSION: This study provides validated intermediate-term patient- and parent-reported outcomes after FGRS in CAH. Key limitations include the small sample size, single-center design, and young age of most patients. Selection bias may exist, though participating families included those who underwent revision surgery. The absence of a non-operated comparison group reflects current clinical reality, as nearly all CAH patients with urogenital sinus underwent surgical correction. CONCLUSIONS: Females with CAH reported normal HRQoL and a comfortable female gender identity after early FGRS. The patients and their families expressed a preference for early surgery. However, there is need for longer-term follow-up to assess sexual function and reproductive outcomes as well comparison of outcomes with a non-operated group.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Multidisciplinary mHealth Rehabilitation for Patients With Abdominal Cancer Who Are Receiving Chemoradiotherapy: Randomized Phase II Trial.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for abdominal cancer frequently induces muscle loss, weight loss, and malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory randomized phase II trial evaluated whether a multidisciplinary, mobile health (mHealth)-based multimodal rehabilitation program could preserve handgrip strength and muscle mass in patients with abdominal cancer undergoing CCRT. METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label phase II trial (NCT05325554), 111 eligible patients with abdominal malignancies scheduled for CCRT were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either multidisciplinary mHealth rehabilitation care (MRC; n=57) or standard care (SC; n=54). The MRC program was delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team using the AiNST mHealth platform and wearable heart rate monitors. The primary end point was handgrip strength at the end of CCRT (analyzed with analysis of covariance adjusting for baseline). Secondary end points were exploratory and analyzed without multiplicity adjustment; sensitivity analysis using false discovery rate (FDR) correction was performed. RESULTS: Between February 2022 and April 2023, 111 patients were enrolled. Adherence was high (n=93, 83.9% achieved exercise targets). After adjusting for baseline handgrip strength, the MRC group had significantly higher handgrip strength at the end of CCRT than the SC group (adjusted mean difference 4.87 kg, 95% CI 3.36-6.38; P<.001). Exploratory analyses of secondary end points (without multiplicity adjustment) showed that the MRC group also had better preservation of body weight (P=.005), skeletal muscle mass (P<.001), serum albumin (P=.009), prealbumin (P=.02), and lower rates of hematological toxicity (P<.05), as well as improved psychological status (distress thermometer [DT] and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]) and nutritional scores (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 [NRS-2002] and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment [PG-SGA]) at the end of CCRT (all P<.05). All nominally significant secondary end points remained significant after FDR correction (q<.05). These findings are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution due to the open-label design, population heterogeneity, and exploratory secondary analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this exploratory phase II trial, a multidisciplinary, mHealth-based multimodal rehabilitation program was associated with better preservation of handgrip strength, muscle mass, and nutritional status, as well as lower rates of certain treatment toxicities, compared with SC. However, definitive conclusions are limited by the open-label design, heterogeneity of tumor types, and short follow-up. Larger, blinded phase III trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

How Following Medical Artificial Intelligence Advice Can Mitigate Malpractice Liability: Cross-National Insights from a Randomized Trial.

Artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly influences clinical decision-making, yet its recommendations may diverge from standard care. Although malpractice concerns are thought to discourage physicians from following AI advice, experimental evidence from the United States suggests the opposite: lay jurors are more likely to hold physicians liable when they reject AI recommendations. Whether this pattern extends to systems in which court-appointed experts, not lay jurors, determine liability remains unknown. Methods: To examine how physicians and laypeople in expert-based and lay-juror legal systems evaluate physicians' acceptance or rejection of AI recommendations, particularly when those recommendations deviate from standard care, we designed a randomized vignette study: a 2 × 2 factorial design varying the AI recommendation (standard vs. nonstandard care) and a fictional physician's decision (accept vs. reject). The study was conducted online in 2023 among nationally representative samples of U.S. and German adults and from 2023 to 2024 among German physicians. In total, 387 German physicians, 2291 U.S. adults, and 2283 German adults participated; those not completing the survey or failing attention checks were excluded per preregistered criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 vignettes, varying the AI recommendation (standard vs. nonstandard care) and physician's decision (accept vs. reject). The reasonableness of the fictional physician's decision was measured, rated by participants on a Likert scale. Results: Analysis, following preregistered exclusion criteria, included 248 German physicians, 1202 U.S. adults, and 1358 German adults. Physicians accepting standard-care AI recommendations were rated more reasonable than those rejecting them (U.S. laypeople: t = 5.36; 95% CI, 0.45-0.97; P < 0.001; German physicians: t = 2.47; 95% CI, 0.14-1.30; P = 0.02; German laypeople: t = 4.14; 95% CI, 0.27-0.76; P < 0.001). Ratings of physicians accepting versus rejecting AI nonstandard-care recommendations were statistically equivalent. Equivalence was tested at an α-value of 0.05 using a two 1-sided tests procedure, reported with 90% CIs per standard convention (U.S. laypeople: t = -4.90; 90% CI, -0.1 to 0.36; P < 0.001; German physicians: t = -1.76; 90% CI, -0.12 to 0.67; P = 0.04; German laypeople: t = 5.35; 90% CI, -0.35 to 0.06; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Across the United States and Germany, samples representative of lay jurors and court-appointed experts viewed accepting standard-care AI advice as more reasonable, whereas accepting or rejecting nonstandard-care AI advice was judged similarly. Contrary to predictions, malpractice liability regimes do not necessarily pose a barrier to AI use in precision medicine.

Artificial Intelligence↗

PubMed2026

The landscape of pruning for large language models: A systematic review and unified taxonomy.

Confronting the inherent tension between the exceptional capabilities and the immense computational costs of Large Language Models (LLMs), pruning has become a crucial technique for achieving efficient deployment. However, a systematic analytical framework dedicated specifically to LLM pruning remains absent. In this paper, we aim to bridge this gap. We first elucidate the theoretical foundations that underpin the effectiveness of pruning, namely overparameterization and redundancy, and then propose a multidimensional taxonomy that organizes existing approaches along the axes of granularity, timing, and criteria. Building upon this unified perspective, we further analyze performance recovery mechanisms and the broader evaluation ecosystem, while also exploring forward-looking challenges such as interpretability, automation, and hardware-algorithm co-design. Through this comprehensive synthesis, we seek to provide an integrated and coherent analytical lens for advancing both research and practice in LLM pruning.

Large Language Models↗

PubMed2026

Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity Increases the Risk of Hip Fracture: A Longitudinal Cohort Study Based on CHARLS.

BACKGROUND: Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity (CMM) is defined as the co-occurrence of two or more conditions among heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, and hypertension. Previous studies have shown associations between cardiometabolic diseases and fragility fractures; however, the relationship between CMM and hip fractures remains unclear in the Chinese population. This study therefore aims to investigate this association in a Chinese cohort to inform fracture prevention strategies. METHODS: This prospective cohort study used data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) collected from 2011 to 2020. Participants from the 2011 baseline survey cohort were initially included. Subsequently, individuals were sequentially excluded if they were under 45 years of age, had incomplete baseline CMM information, had a history of hip fracture, lost to follow-up, or had missing data on confounders. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the association between CMM and the risk of hip fracture. RESULTS: A total of 6314 participants aged 45 years and older were included, of whom 544 had CMM. Over a 9-year follow-up period, 287 incident hip fractures (4.55%) were identified. Among these, 36 participants had been diagnosed with CMM at baseline, whereas 251 had not. The incidence of hip fracture was significantly higher in participants with CMM than in those without CMM (13% vs. 8%, p = 0.015). After full adjustment for confounders, multivariable Cox regression showed that CMM was associated with a 70% increased risk of hip fracture (HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.318-2.47; p = 0.005). Subgroup analyses indicated that age and history of falls were significant effect modifiers. The association between CMM and hip fracture was more pronounced in participants under 60 years old (P for interaction = 0.048) and those with a history of falls (P for interaction = 0.014). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that CMM increases the risk of hip fracture, particularly among relatively younger individuals and those with a history of falls.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Compliance With Ecological Momentary Assessment Among Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer often experience substantial fluctuations in psychological states during disease management. Traditional research tools are limited in capturing these dynamic changes in real time, constraining clinicians' understanding of patients' true conditions. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) enables high-frequency, real-time data collection, providing patient-reported data with greater ecological validity. However, the effectiveness of EMA studies critically depends on patient compliance, and reported compliance rates vary widely, with a lack of systematic quantitative synthesis. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to systematically review and quantitatively analyze compliance with EMA among patients with cancer, and to examine whether EMA design characteristics were associated with compliance. METHODS: Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for literature published up to April 30, 2026. Compliance was defined as completed prompts divided by delivered prompts. Single-group proportions were pooled using logit transformation and random-effects models with the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman adjustment. Prediction intervals were calculated to describe the expected distribution of compliance in future comparable settings. Subgroup analyses, univariable meta-regressions, leave-one-out sensitivity analyses, and tests for small-study effects were performed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data, methodological reporting quality was assessed using a modified Checklist for Reporting EMA Studies, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies involving 13,565 participants were included. The pooled compliance rate was 78.55% (95% CI 73.48%-82.87%), with a prediction interval of 48.59%-93.41%. Subgroup analyses identified no robust differences across study characteristics. Although study length showed a statistically significant subgroup test, the result was not stable after excluding singleton categories. Meta-regression analyses similarly found no significant linear associations for study length, prompts per day, items per prompt, or assessment window. Leave-one-out analyses showed that no single study drove the pooled estimate. Regarding the risk of bias, 2 studies were judged as low, while 21 were judged as moderate risk. Quality scores ranged from 6.5 to 9.0, and the certainty of evidence for the pooled compliance rate was rated as very low according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. CONCLUSIONS: Overall compliance with EMA among patients with cancer was moderate to high, suggesting that repeated real-world assessment may be feasible in oncology research settings. Nevertheless, the very high heterogeneity, wide prediction interval, and very low certainty of evidence indicate that compliance is context-dependent. The pooled estimate should therefore be interpreted as an approximate benchmark rather than a universal expected rate. Future oncology EMA studies should use standardized compliance denominators, report missing prompts transparently, and prospectively evaluate patient-centered design strategies that reduce burden while preserving data quality.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions on stress outcomes in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Stress symptoms were the most common psychological problem in pregnancy. Cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions are effective for antenatal depression and anxiety symptoms; but there are fewer studies for stress symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The review aims to (1) examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions in reducing stress outcomes (pregnancy-specific stress symptoms, generic symptoms, and objective stress) in pregnant women, and (2) identify significant moderators affecting the effectiveness of the intervention. DESIGN: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis of randomised controlled trials. METHODS: We conducted a three-step search (12 databases, 4 clinical registries, and citation searches) in English and Chinese up to July 24, 2025, by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses were performed using the R software. Quality assessment and certainty of the evidence were assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool version 2 and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. RESULTS: We included 20 randomised controlled trials involving a total of 6966 pregnant women from nine countries. Random-effects meta-analyses found that interventions significantly alleviated pregnancy-specific stress symptoms (Hedges' g = -0.84, 95% Confidence Interval, CI -1.42, -0.26, p < .01, I2 = 92.3%), reduced generic stress symptoms (g = -0.64, 95% CI -1.09, -0.20, p < .01, I2 = 87.4%) with median and large effect sizes at post-intervention. No effect was found in lowering cortisol levels (g = -0.99, 95% CI -2.58, -0.60, p = .12, I2 = 84%) at post-intervention. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses indicated that region, age of participants, use of intention-to-treat, missing data management analyses, frequency, modalities, and approaches of interventions, use of different comparators, and attrition rate were significant factors affecting the effectiveness of interventions. Subgroup analyses suggested that the intensity of intervention should be more than once per week using a blended mode among Asian populations. Multivariate meta-regression analyses indicated that both younger age (β = 0.13, p = .02) and a lower attrition rate (β = 0.03, p = .03) significantly improved the effectiveness of interventions. The overall certainty of the evidence was rated as either very low or low. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions can supplement antenatal care to alleviate pregnancy-specific stress symptoms and generic stress symptoms, particularly in young Asian women. However, the evidence has some uncertainties. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to substantial heterogeneity. Well-designed trials on a large-scale with long-term follow-ups were needed. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration ID: CRD420251115913.

Humans↗