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PubMed2026

Ribosomal protein S3: a critical regulator of human disease mechanisms.

Ribosomal protein S3 (RPS3) is an essential structural component of the 40S ribosomal subunit, yet growing evidence highlights crucial extraribosomal roles in genome maintenance, cell-cycle control, and immune signaling. Dysregulation of RPS3 contributes to diverse human disorders, including cancer, inflammatory diseases, neurodegeneration, and resistance to antimicrobial and anticancer therapies. As a cofactor of NF-κB and a participant in DNA damage responses, RPS3 occupies a node that integrates stress signaling with transcriptional reprogramming, enabling both protective and pathological outcomes. The present review critically evaluates mechanistic insights into RPS3 biology, emphasizing recent findings that delineate its context-dependent effects, discrepancies across models, and remaining gaps that restrict translational applications. Understanding these complexities is essential to assess RPS3's potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Community-driven advances in computational mass spectrometry: The perspective of EuBIC-MS members.

Advances in data acquisition, artificial intelligence, and integrative bioinformatics are driving the rapid evolution of computational mass spectrometry, and in turn, transforming modern proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics. These developments have greatly increased the scale and complexity of mass spectrometry data, underscoring the importance of evolving accurate, transparent, efficient and reproducible data processing workflows. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative innovation that brings together expertise in software engineering, statistics, and biology. The European Bioinformatics Community for Mass Spectrometry (EuBIC-MS), an initiative of the European Proteomics Association (EuPA), fosters a culture of open, community-driven development through its biennial Developers Meetings and Winter Schools. This commentary summarizes the scientific background and outcomes of the EuBIC-MS Developers Meeting 2025, which took place in Novacella, Italy. Three keynote presentations highlighted major frontiers in the field: deep proteome and phosphoproteome profiling, text mining for protein-protein interaction extraction, and scalable proteomics for AI-driven drug discovery. Seven community-selected hackathons addressed emerging challenges such as single-cell proteomics data analysis, FAIR metadata extraction, deep learning frameworks, R-Python interoperability, and DIA validation. Together, these efforts demonstrate the potential for scientific and technical innovation to arise from open collaboration, and highlight how community-driven initiatives can accelerate progress in computational mass spectrometry. SIGNIFICANCE: Modern proteomics increasingly depends on computational advances to translate complex, high-dimensional data into biological knowledge. The EuBIC-MS Developers Meeting 2025 exemplifies how community-driven collaboration can directly accelerate this process by bringing together experts from bioinformatics, statistics, and experimental proteomics to co-develop open, interoperable, and reproducible analytical tools. By fostering shared software frameworks, transparent benchmarking, and collaborative problem solving, the EuBIC-MS community helps ensure that technological innovation translates into reliable biological insights. This collaborative model strengthens the foundation for quantitative, system-level understanding of proteomes and establishes a sustainable path for integrating artificial intelligence and next-generation data acquisition into routine biological discovery. This commentary shows some current highlights in the field of computational mass spectrometry and community-based approaches undertaken during the most recent Developers Meeting to solve these challenges. The approaches discussed and initiated during the meeting - ranging from deep proteome profiling and phosphosite mapping to text mining, single-cell data analysis, and FAIR metadata extraction - address key bottlenecks that currently limit the biological interpretability and comparability of proteomics data.

Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed2026

Obesity in obstetric anesthesia: A systematic review.

Maternal obesity presents complex challenges for anesthetic management, with implications spanning neonatal, cardiovascular, airway, neuraxial, and procedural domains. This review synthesizes evidence on how elevated maternal body mass index (BMI) impacts perioperative evaluations, risks, complications, and outcomes, in addition to anesthetic modalities and efficacy in the pregnant population. Given the increasing global prevalence of maternal obesity, anesthesiologists must refine clinical practices, employing tailored, evidence-based strategies to mitigate risks and enhance patient outcomes. This review aims to provide anesthesiologists and obstetricians with key considerations and best practices for managing obstetric anesthesia patients with obesity. Clinical recommendations herein are based on current research and evaluated using Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine for level of evidence and class of recommendation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Exploring the perceptions, experiences, and behaviours that nurses and midwives face in relation to sleep: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

BACKGROUND: The importance of sleep for nurses and midwives is increasingly being recognised. Poor sleep is known to have negative impacts on physical health, mental wellbeing, and work performance. This has prompted efforts to promote and support staff sleep. However, further efforts are needed to understand how nurses and midwives consider and manage sleep to ensure that meaningful and effective interventions are adopted and sustained. AIMS: This review of qualitative evidence aims to examine nurses' and midwives' perceptions, experiences, and behaviours around sleep. METHODS: This review followed JBI's systematic meta-aggregative approach including development of an a priori protocol. A systematic search of six electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus) was undertaken to identify qualitative studies that examine nurses' and midwives' perceptions, experiences, and behaviours related to sleep. The search was conducted on the 10th of October 2024. Study selection, quality appraisal, data extraction, and synthesis followed JBI approaches and the ConQual approach was used to report assessment of synthesised findings. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included for review, and 245 findings were aggregated into 24 categories and nine synthesised findings related to the perceptions, behaviours, and experiences. While sleep was perceived as important, poor sleep was often understood as an expected and inevitable part of the job and that there was a need to always be awake to provide continual care. Experiences influencing sleep related to personal circumstances and work-related factors, as well as professional training and institutional practices. A range of behaviours, including planning time to sleep, using sleep aids, modifying the sleep environment, and altering daytime behaviours were also described. CONCLUSION: This review identified a range of perceptions, behaviours, and experiences that may influence the sleep of nurses and midwives which are vital to supporting individual and workforce wellbeing and safe, effective clinical practice. Insights from this review can be used to better understand nurses' and midwives' relationship with sleep and to develop and enhance targeted sleep interventions and programs that aim to promote and support healthy sleep among nurses and midwives. Open Science Framework Registration: 10.17605/OSF.IO/F32UM.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Navigating Social Media: Balancing Connectivity With Media Literacy to Combat Misinformation and Protect Mental Well-Being.

BACKGROUND: The pervasive use of social media has created a complex digital ecosystem where high connectivity coexists with significant challenges, including the rapid spread of misinformation, particularly regarding mental health, and documented negative impacts on psychological well-being. Platform architectures designed for engagement maximization have been identified as central factors in both issues. OBJECTIVE: This paper critically analyzes the interconnected relationships between social media use, misinformation dissemination, and mental health impacts, with particular attention to psychiatric misinformation across diagnostic categories (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD). A primary objective is to evaluate the potential of advanced critical digital literacy frameworks to serve as protective mechanisms against these dual threats. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines across APA PsycInfo, PubMed, JSTOR, and Google Scholar for literature published between January 2018 and March 2026 (updated from the original 2023 search). The search yielded 2672 records. After removing 624 duplicates, 2048 records underwent title and abstract screening, with 1802 excluded. The remaining 246 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, resulting in 86 studies included in the final qualitative synthesis. Inter-rater reliability was established (Cohen's κ = 0.82). Quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist, AXIS, and CASP tools, with findings weighted by methodological quality. A thematic analysis was undertaken to synthesize findings. RESULTS: The analysis reveals that core architectural features of social media platforms, algorithmic curation and engagement-based metrics, simultaneously foster environments ripe for misinformation spread and contribute to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and harmful social comparison. Psychiatric misinformation specifically (e.g., inaccurate claims about treatment effectiveness, diagnostic criteria, and medication side effects) represents a growing concern, particularly on image- and video-based platforms. The findings indicate that conventional media literacy approaches focused solely on fact-checking are insufficient. Instead, a critical digital literacy framework encompassing algorithmic awareness, data literacy, and emotional awareness is essential for building user resilience, with evidence from high-quality systematic reviews supporting this approach. CONCLUSIONS: Navigating the complexities of modern social media requires an integrated approach combining "pedagogies of play" for experiential skill development with advocacy for structural change (e.g., algorithmic transparency, well being by design principles). This dual strategy empowers individual users to critically engage with digital content while advocating for ethical platform design, thereby safeguarding both mental well-being and democratic discourse. Implications for educators, mental health professionals (including competencies for addressing patient encounters with psychiatric misinformation), policymakers, and platform designers are discussed.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Improved quality of life and prolonged survival with add-on homeopathic treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-arm, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Alongside conventional anticancer treatment, add-on homeopathy might help to alleviate adverse effects of conventional therapy. AIM: The aim of this study was to replicate previous studies on the effect of adjunctive homeopathy on quality of life (QoL) and survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHOD: In this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-arm multicenter phase III study with quadruple-checked data analysis, we investigated the potential effects of an add-on homeopathic treatment compared to placebo in patients with stage IV NSCLC in terms of QoL. Ninety-eight received either individualized homeopathic medicinal products (HMPs; n = 51) or placebo (n = 47) in a double-blinded fashion. Fifty-two control patients without homeopathic treatment were only observed in terms of their survival rate. The ingredients of the various HMPs were mainly prepared of plant, mineral, or animal origin. The data entry and statistical analysis were subject to an exceptional quadruple-checked data analysis process. The analysis presented in this article was inspired by our earlier report of this trial published in The Oncologist in 2020, which was retracted by that journal in November 2025 after two corrections; a majority of the co-authors disagreed with this decision. The present article is based on the same trial dataset but was deliberately designed to highlight the unique research methodology: design and preparation by a lead statistician, data entry, data clearing and independent statistical evaluation were performed in four mutually independent steps, reporting follows the CONSORT statement, and the interpretation of the findings has been reframed conservatively. RESULTS: Global health status (QoL) was higher in the homeopathy group than in the placebo group after 9 weeks and after 18 weeks (p < 0.001). With the exception of cognitive functioning at 9 weeks and of pain, diarrhea and financial difficulties at 9 weeks, all functional and symptom scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 favored the homeopathy group (p < 0.001 for the multivariate comparisons), with between-group differences exceeding the threshold of 10 points that is generally regarded as clinically meaningful. Median survival time over the 730-day observation period was 435 days in the homeopathy group, 257 days in the placebo group (p = 0.010), and 228 days in the non-randomized control group (p < 0.001); the corresponding 2-year survival rates were 45.1%, 23.4%, and 13.5% (homeopathy vs. placebo p = 0.020; homeopathy vs. control p < 0.001). The difference between the placebo group and the non-randomized control group was not statistically significant (p = 0.154). CONCLUSION: In this trial, add-on homeopathy was associated with better quality of life across most functional and symptom domains, with clinically meaningful effect sizes congruently to a previous open study. Survival time was significantly longer in the homeopathy group compared to both the placebo and control groups. Independent replication, ideally within contemporary immuno-oncological treatment regimens is required. TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01509612; January 7, 2012.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Influence of Concave Versus Convex Emergence Profiles on Midfacial Mucosal Stability-A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically evaluate the influence of concave versus convex emergence profiles on midfacial mucosal stability in partially edentulous patients restored with implant-supported single restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251139042). An electronic search in MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase was performed up to May 7, 2026. Eligible studies included RCTs comparing concave (test group) and convex (control group) transmucosal prosthetic designs and reporting midfacial mucosal level changes (mm). Data extraction and risk of bias assessment (RoB 2) were performed independently. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using weighted mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic and sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: Four RCTs including 144 implants with a 12-month follow-up were included. Of these, 128 implants contributed to the quantitative synthesis, with 66 implants allocated to the concave/modified emergence profile group and 62 implants allocated to the convex/non-concave emergence profile group. The pooled analysis demonstrated a mean difference of -0.31 mm (95% CI -0.63 to 0.02; p = 0.064), indicating a trend toward greater midfacial mucosal recession with convex emergence profiles compared with concave designs. Between-study heterogeneity was low to moderate (I2 = 28%), suggesting consistent findings across studies. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the direction of the effect, with pooled estimates ranging from -0.12 to -0.43 mm. Exclusion of one study resulted in a statistically significant difference favoring concave emergence profiles (-0.43 mm; 95% CI -0.70 to -0.16; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Convex emergence profiles are associated with a tendency toward increased midfacial mucosal recession. Concave profiles are preferable to support peri-implant soft-tissue stability. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Emergence profile design should be considered an integral component of prosthetic and surgical planning. The use of concave transmucosal contours during provisionalization and definitive restoration may contribute to improved peri-implant soft tissue stability and enhanced esthetic outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Impact of PCSK9 Inhibitors on Development of Retinal Vascular Occlusions.

PURPOSE: PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) are a newer class of lipid-lowering drug that may be effective at lowering risk for retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). This study aims to investigate the relationship between PCSK9i use and retinal vascular occlusion among patients with hyperlipidemia. DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative clinical cohort study SUBJECTS, PARTICIPANTS, AND/OR CONTROLS: Patients with hyperlipidemia, defined as serum low-density lipoprotein level of ≥130 mg/dL and total cholesterol level of ≥220 mg/dL, prescribed a lipid-lowering medication were identified. Patients prescribed a PCSK9i were included in the study group and compared with control patients prescribed any other type of lipid-lowering drug. METHODS: This study was conducted using electronic health record data from health organizations in the United States through the TrinetX platform. Propensity score matching was completed based on relevant patient demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory values. Comparison of main outcomes between the PCSK9i and non-PCSK9i groups was performed using measures of association analysis to determine risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcomes measured consisted of occurrence of retinal vascular occlusion, RAO, RVO, central RAO, and central RVO at 3-year, 5-year, and 7-year time points. RESULTS: After propensity score matching, a total of 12,960 patients were included in each cohort. The analysis revealed that the PCSK9i cohort had a significantly lower risk for development of retinal vascular occlusions at multiple points, including 3-year (RR = 0.56, CI = 0.39-0.79), 5-year (RR = 0.50, CI = 0.37-0.67), and 7-year (RR = 0.46, CI 0.35-0.61) time points. This lower risk was also found in the PCSK9i group for an outcome of RVO at 5 years (RR = 0.50, CI = 0.34-0.73) and 7 years (RR = 0.47, CI = 0.33-0.67). For occurrence of RAOs (RR = 0.47, CI = 0.30-0.76) and central RVO (RR = 0.46, CI = 0.29-0.74) separately, the PCSK9i cohort had a lower risk at 7 years. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that PCSK9i may reduce the risk of retinal vascular occlusion compared with other classes of lipid-lowering medications.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of PerioperAtive LidocAine Infusions on Enhanced Recovery After Noncardiac Surgery (IMPALA-ERAS) in an inpatient setting: rationale, design and protocol for a sequential, repeated crossover trial.

INTRODUCTION: Multimodal analgesic strategies designed to minimise perioperative opioid exposure are fundamental components of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways. Despite widespread implementation of ERAS protocols, the optimal analgesic regimen remains undefined, as the individual contributions of specific agents to overall analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effects are not fully elucidated. Intravenous lidocaine, a widely utilised local anaesthetic, possesses both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with improved gastrointestinal recovery. This study seeks to pragmatically evaluate the impact of incorporating perioperative intravenous lidocaine infusion into established ERAS pathways on postoperative functional recovery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Impact of PerioperAtive LidocAine Infusions (IMPALA) on ERAS trial is a single-centre, pragmatic, cluster-randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. A total of 2290 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, emergency general surgery, urology, ventral hernia repair, surgical oncology or spine surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either intraoperative and postoperative intravenous lidocaine infusions (administered for up to 48 hours) or placebo as part of a standardised multimodal analgesic regimen integrated into established ERAS pathways. The primary outcome is case mix index-adjusted resource length of stay, defined as the time interval from surgical initiation to hospital discharge adjusted for case mix index. The primary outcome is total inpatient opioid consumption within the first 72 hours, reported in oral morphine milligram equivalents. Secondary outcomes include various in-hospital clinical endpoints derived from the electronic health record. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol and accompanying statistical analysis plan outline the study design, primary and secondary endpoints and analytic methodology. The IMPALA-ERAS trial has received ethical approval from the Vanderbilt University Institutional Review Board (IRB: 250617). The findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences. Results from this trial are expected to inform evidence-based practices regarding perioperative lidocaine infusion and its potential contributions to enhanced postoperative recovery in surgical patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT07224711.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Cooperative anaerobic catabolism of chlorinated organic compounds: implications for sustainable bioremediation.

Biodegradation research historically followed a reductionist approach focused on axenic (pure) cultures capable of catabolizing the specific contaminant(s) of interest. While this approach has substantially advanced our understanding of the microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of contaminant degradation under laboratory conditions, it does not capture the complexity of natural and engineered environments. During in situ bioremediation, microbiomes are exposed to mixtures of contaminants, and microbial interactions profoundly influence contaminant transformation and fate. In anoxic environments, degradation of chlorinated compounds is often sustained by metabolic cooperation among taxonomically and physiologically distinct microorganisms. Through the exchange of metabolites such as hydrogen, formate, acetate, and other nutrients, microbial populations establish interdependent networks that overcome thermodynamic and physiological constraints, enabling self-sustaining systems of contaminant transformations that would be inefficient or impossible with individual organisms. We highlight examples of microbial interactions that underpin anaerobic catabolism of chlorinated contaminants, including systems resulting in self-sustained anaerobic bioremediation.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2026

Exploring Professional Experiences in Caring for Vulnerable Migrants in an Italian Rural Reception Centre: A Qualitative Study Using Multidimensional Textual Analysis-Professional Experiences in Rural Migrant Care.

AIM: This study aims to explore the experiences, strengths, challenges, and potential improvements for professionals in managing the complex needs of vulnerable migrants (VM) in an Italian rural reception centre. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted in April 2024. Data were analysed using the Automatic Analysis of Textual Data, based on Fraire's seven-step model for Exploratory Multidimensional Data Analysis. DATA SOURCES: Data were collected from 16 professionals working in a rural reception centre in southern Italy. Interviews were conducted and analysed using AATD in April 2024. FINDINGS: The analysis identified two main dimensions of professionals' roles: balancing systemic responsibilities with personal engagement and managing immediate needs versus long-term integration goals. Professionals face significant challenges, such as resource scarcity, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and emotional fatigue, which impact their well-being and the quality of care provided to migrants. Resilience, adaptability, and multidisciplinary collaboration were identified as key strengths. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the dual nature of professionals' work in reception centres, requiring them to balance operational tasks with emotional involvement in migrant care. Targeted interventions and systemic reforms are necessary to support professionals and enhance the quality of care for vulnerable migrants, particularly in resource-constrained rural settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND/OR PATIENT CARE: This study underscores the importance of providing targeted support to professionals working in reception centres, including training in intercultural competence, stress management, and coping strategies. Policies should address systemic challenges and provide resources to enhance healthcare delivery and social integration programs. REPORTING METHOD: This study adhered to the EQUATOR guidelines for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). The findings were reported in compliance with these guidelines, ensuring methodological rigour and transparency. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: This study highlights the critical need for targeted support and training for professionals working in reception centres, particularly in rural settings. To improve care for vulnerable migrants, professionals should receive training in intercultural competence, stress management, and coping strategies to better navigate the complex challenges they face. Furthermore, systemic changes are necessary to alleviate the pressures on reception centres, such as streamlining bureaucratic processes and enhancing healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited. By addressing these needs, we can improve the well-being of both the professionals and the migrants they serve, fostering more effective support systems and better care outcomes. Additionally, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and community engagement can contribute to more comprehensive and sustainable care models. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The Ethics Committee of the University of Rome Tor Vergata approved this study on 07/07/2021 (protocol registration number 160.21).

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Spatial transcriptomics of Ciona adult brains reveals functional zonalization and insights into neural gland function.

The ascidian Ciona is a pivotal chordate model for illuminating the evolutionary origins of the vertebrate brain. Here, spatial transcriptomics of the adult Ciona neural complex, combined with image-based computational super-resolution mapping, resolved distinct tissue domains including the cerebral ganglion, neural gland, ciliated funnel, neural gland duct/dorsal strand, and body wall muscle. Within the cerebral ganglion, high-resolution mapping revealed clear molecular zonalization separating the cortex and medulla, alongside regional specialization within the cortex itself. The neural gland exhibited localized enrichment of genes associated with extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions. These spatial features suggest that the neural gland functions as a homeostatic and signaling interface, reminiscent of primitive vertebrate meninges or choroid plexus. Overall, this spatially defined gene expression map provides a foundational framework for understanding functional regionalization in the tunicate brain and its evolutionary relationship to vertebrate nervous systems.

Ciona↗

PubMed2026

Impact of oxytocin discontinuation on fetal heart rate and uterine contractility: A pre-specified ancillary analysis embedded within a randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin is widely used to augment uterine contractions during labor. However, its use has been associated with fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities and neonatal morbidity, which may be reduced by discontinuing oxytocin during labor. We aimed to assess the impact of oxytocin discontinuation at the onset of the active phase of labor on FHR patterns and uterine contractility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is a pre-specified ancillary analysis of the STOPOXY trial, a multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled superiority trial conducted in 21 French maternity units between January 2020 and January 2022, which aimed to assess the impact of oxytocin discontinuation during active labor on neonatal morbidity. Participants who received oxytocin before 4 cm dilation were randomly assigned (1:1) to either oxytocin discontinuation or oxytocin continuation. For the present analysis, we included women from the per-protocol discontinuation group of the parent trial. Inclusion was restricted to the six centers with electronic cardiotocography storage where valid cardiotocography recordings were available for at least 1 h before and 1 h after oxytocin discontinuation. Using a paired before-and-after design, FHR parameters (classified according to FIGO criteria) and uterine activity were compared during the 60 min preceding versus the 60 min following oxytocin discontinuation by independent obstetricians blinded to neonatal outcomes. Changes in FHR pattern were categorized as no change, improvement, or deterioration. RESULTS: 284 women fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Following oxytocin discontinuation, mean FHR increased (135 vs. 137.5 bpm; p < 0.002) and FHR variability significantly changed (p = 0.010), with a lower rate of reduced variability (3.9% vs. 2.5%) and a higher rate of normal variability (48.2% vs. 53.3%). The proportion of tracings with decelerations significantly decreased (64.1% vs. 48.6%; p < 0.001). Uterine activity decreased, with fewer uterine contractions (4.0 vs. 3.5 contractions per 10 min; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among women receiving oxytocin during early labor, discontinuation at the onset of the active phase was associated with improved FHR patterns and reduced uterine activity, suggesting a lower fetal stress and tachysystole. Further studies are needed to assess whether these changes affect labor management or maternal experience.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Clinical Efficacy and Learning Curve of Far-Lateral Approach (FLA) in Uni-Portal Non-Coaxial Spinal Endoscopic Surgery (UNSES) in the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Diseases: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Uniportal non-coaxial spinal endoscopic surgery (UNSES) via far-lateral approach (FLA) is an innovative minimally invasive procedure for lumbar degenerative diseases, particularly far-lateral disc herniation and foraminal stenosis. However, complex lateral lumbar anatomy and strict endoscope-instrument coordination create a distinct learning curve that may compromise early surgical efficiency and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety, quantify the learning curve, and to provide clinical guidance for the standardized promotion and application of this technology. METHODS: A total of 40 consecutive patients with lumbar degenerative diseases who underwent UNSES via FLA by a single surgeon between January 2025 and December 2025 were included. All data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software (IBM, USA). Primary outcomes included operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, and intraoperative complication rate. Secondary outcomes were VAS, ODI, and modified Macnab criteria at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The learning curve and the inflection point of the learning curve was determined using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. The differences in clinical indicators between early and proficient stage were compared. RESULT: Operation time, blood loss, and fluoroscopy times decreased significantly with case accumulation (p < 0.05). CUSUM identified an inflection point at the 16th case, after which operation time stabilized at (55.3 ± 8.6) min, much shorter than the early phase (89.5 ± 10.3) min (p < 0.001). Before the 16th case, the curve was in an upward trend; after the 16th case, the curve tended to be flat, indicating the proficiency stage. Postoperative VAS and ODI improved significantly than those before surgery at each follow-up time (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative VAS score and ODI between the two groups at each follow-up time point (p > 0.05). The total complication rate was 12.5% (5/40), were cured by conservative treatment. The total excellent-good rate was 90.0% (36/40). L5/S1 and Bertolotti's syndrome were independent factors affecting the learning curve. CONCLUSION: UNSES via FLA is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique for treating complex lumbar degenerative diseases. It has a certain learning curve, and the inflection point is about the 16th case. After mastering the key techniques such as anatomical positioning, endoscopic manipulation and hemostasis, the surgeon can gradually reach the proficiency stage, with significantly improved surgical efficiency and clinical efficacy, and controllable complications. This study provides a theoretical basis for the clinical training and technology promotion of UNSES via FLA.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Artificial intelligence enabled social robotic interventions (PARO) in Australian dementia care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although there is a growing body of research indicating that Personal Robot/Social Robot could be used in various aspects of care for individuals with dementia, little is known about how well these types of interventions work in an actual hospital setting in Australia. AIMS & OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the effectiveness of PARO-based socially assistive robotic intervention in terms of its effectiveness outcomes towards the reduction of dementia-related behavioural and psychological symptoms in Australian based healthcare settings. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library, to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating PARO-based socially assistive robotic interventions for dementia in Australian healthcare settings. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251251916) and followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. In addition, the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2) was used to evaluate the risk of bias across all studies. Pooled standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for agitation, anxiety, and depression. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: Six RCTs involving 1444 participants were identified for inclusion in this review. AI-enabled socially assistive robotic interventions, specifically the PARO therapeutic robot, significantly reduced agitation and anxiety when compared to standard treatment or control conditions. The pooled analysis showed that agitation [SMD = -0.44 (95 % CI: -0.70, -0.18) p = 0.0008] and anxiety [SMD = -0.59 (95 % CI: -0.91, -0.27) p = 0.0003] were reduced significantly, while the decrease in depression [SMD = -0.44 (95 % CI: -0.95, -0.07) p = 0.09] scores was non-significant among dementia patients receiving PARO-based socially assistive robotic interventions as compared to the control. The overall risk of bias across all six studies was considered low to moderate. CONCLUSION: PARO-based socially assistive robotic interventions may provide preliminary evidence of effectiveness in reducing agitation and anxiety in individuals with dementia in Australian healthcare, but the evidence regarding the reduction of depression remains unclear. Therefore, additional high-quality trials with consistent methodology and extended follow-up will be necessary to determine both the short-term and long-term clinical efficacy and practicality of implementing these interventions into practice.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Risk factors for bleeding after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: ERCP is associated with adverse events, including bleeding, which occurs in up to 1.3% of cases. This meta-analysis aims to identify and quantify risk factors associated with post-ERCP bleeding. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search of electronic databases was conducted from inception to January 10, 2025. Studies were eligible if they used multivariate analysis to identify predictors of post-ERCP bleeding. Risk factors reported in at least 2 studies were pooled using a random-effects model to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. A further subgroup analysis was performed, including risk factors for postsphincterotomy bleeding and postendoscopic papillectomy bleeding. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies (4 prospective and 23 retrospective studies) comprising 149,870 patients were included, of whom 1865 experienced post-ERCP bleeding. Twenty potential risk factors were analyzed. The meta-analysis identified several factors significantly associated with increased odds of post-ERCP bleeding in the pooled adjusted analysis, including male gender (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05-1.46), anticoagulation therapy (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.66-4.56), cirrhosis (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.76-3.65), hemodialysis (OR, 5.82; 95% CI, 3.32-10.18), coagulopathy (OR, 11.01; 95% CI, 2.50-48.40), endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.69-6.01), precut sphincterotomy (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.52-3.30), and intraoperative bleeding (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.80-3.66). Several factors in the pooled adjusted analysis were not found to be significantly associated with higher odds of post-ERCP bleeding, including high body mass index (BMI), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, antiplatelet therapy, thrombocytopenia, common bile duct stones, cholangitis, endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation, and covered self-expandable metal stent insertion. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis identified that the anticoagulation therapy, cirrhosis, hemodialysis, coagulation disorder, EST, precut sphincterotomy, and male gender are associated with increased odds of post-ERCP bleeding in the pooled adjusted analysis. Conversely, age, high BMI, cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, pancreatic duct stones, needle-knife sphincterotomy, NSAID use, and antiplatelet therapy were not significantly associated with higher odds of post-ERCP bleeding in the pooled adjusted analysis. Incorporating our results into a prediction model may assist in identifying patients at increased risk, optimizing informed consent, and guiding prevention and management strategies for post-ERCP bleeding.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A Meta-learning-driven strategy for adulteration detection in sweet potato starch and vermicelli using Raman spectroscopy.

To address the widespread adulteration of sweet potato starch and its vermicelli with cheaper starches and overcome conventional supervised learning's dependency on large labeled datasets, this study developed a few-shot discrimination method integrating Raman spectroscopy with meta-learning. We constructed a meta-learning framework using cassava- and wheat-adulterated sweet potato starch as the source domain for training, with potato-adulterated sweet potato starch and cassava-adulterated sweet potato vermicelli as two target domains for testing. Raman spectra showed high consistency between sweet potato vermicelli and its raw starch, laying the foundation for cross-domain detection. Testing yielded comprehensive classification accuracies of 95.33% and 98.00% for the two target domains, significantly outperforming SVM, RF, and CNN (max. 85.24%). This approach effectively identifies subtle starch variety differences in complex adulteration, providing novel food quality inspection solutions and verifying the feasibility of raw material-to-finished product cross-domain detection.

Ipomoea batatas↗

PubMed2026

Whole-Genome Deep Learning Predicts Chemotherapy Response in Colorectal Cancer.

Chemotherapy response in colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits significant heterogeneity, with current clinical predictors failing to capture complex genomic determinants of resistance. We developed a hybrid deep learning framework integrating convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) networks to analyze whole-genome somatic mutations, evolutionary conservation, chromatin accessibility, and 3D genome architecture in 2,546 TCGA patients. An attention mechanism identified predictive genomic regions. The model achieved an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89-0.94) in cross-validation and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85-0.91) in independent validation, outperforming clinical models (ΔAUC = +0.18, p < 0.001). Key predictors included non-coding variants in TP53, KRAS, and PIK3CA regulatory regions. Triple-positive patients (mutations in all 3 regions) had significantly worse progression-free survival (HR = 4.7, p < 0.001). Our framework enables accurate chemotherapy response prediction and reveals novel non-coding resistance mechanisms, advancing precision oncology in CRC.

Humans↗