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PubMed2026

Sleep stage-dependent distribution of interictal epileptiform discharges in epilepsy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Sleep and epilepsy interact through complex bidirectional mechanisms. Although NREM sleep facilitates interictal epileptiform discharges (IED), the diagnostic contribution of individual sleep stages remains uncertain. In particular, it is unclear whether deeper sleep stages such as N3 provide an advantage over N2 for spike detection or localization in clinical (electroencephalography) EEG practice. METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Web of Science were searched for studies reporting quantitative IED measures across sleep stages in patients with epilepsy. Eligible studies included scalp EEG, video-EEG, polysomnography, or intracranial recordings. Mean IED rates per minute were derived when possible. Comparisons between NREM and REM sleep and between N2 and N3 stages were performed using study level non-parametric tests. Risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool. RESULTS: Ten observational studies including 266 patients (mean age 30.1 years) were analyzed. IED rates were significantly higher during NREM than REM sleep (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, W = 0, p = 0.0019, r = 0.87). No significant difference was observed between N2 and N3 sleep, although median spike rates were slightly higher during N3 than N2 (0.99 vs 0.86 IED/min). REM showed the lowest activity. CONCLUSIONS: NREM sleep consistently exhibited higher IED rates than REM sleep, reinforcing the neurophysiological association between sleep stage and epileptiform activity without establishing diagnostic superiority.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparison of a 755-nm picosecond laser and a 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser for the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a 20-week prospective, randomized, split-face clinical study.

To compare the efficacy and safety of a 755-nm picosecond laser with a diffractive lens array (P-DLA) and a 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser (NAFL) for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Twenty-seven patients with atrophic acne scars underwent three sessions of randomized split-face treatment with P-DLA and NAFL at 4-week intervals. Patients were followed up at 1, 2, and 3 months after the final treatment. Efficacy was assessed using the Échelle d'Évaluation Clinique des Cicatrices d'Acné (ECCA) grading scale, the Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score, patients' self-rated improvement, and overall satisfaction. Treatment-related adverse reactions were recorded daily by patients until resolution. Both modalities demonstrated significant improvements in scar appearance based on ECCA score, IGA score, and patients' self-rated improvement (P < 0.001). No statistically significant differences in efficacy were observed between the two treatments. However, the P-DLA group showed higher patient satisfaction (P = 0.035) and a more favorable safety profile, including shorter durations of erythema and edema and the absence of crusting. Both P-DLA and NAFL were effective and safe for the treatment of atrophic acne scars, with similar efficacy. P-DLA offered better tolerability.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Hip Arthroscopy-Assisted Management of Pipkin Types I and II Femoral Head Fracture-Dislocations: Mid-Term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Hip arthroscopy-assisted surgery has been proposed as a minimally invasive option for femoral head fractures; however, evidence with mid-term follow-up remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of arthroscopy-assisted management for Pipkin Types I and II femoral head fracture-dislocations with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. METHODS: This retrospective study included 23 consecutive adults (19 Pipkin I and 4 Pipkin II) treated with hip arthroscopy-assisted fragment excision or internal fixation between March 2013 and January 2020. Preoperative computed tomography was used for surgical planning, and fixation was placed with arthroscopic headless screws. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Thompson-Epstein (T-E) criteria. Radiographic evaluation included avascular necrosis (AVN), heterotopic ossification (HO; Brooker), osteoarthritis (OA; Tönnis), and fracture reduction quality (Matta's criteria). Group comparisons were evaluated using independent samples t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Fisher's exact test. The mean follow-up was 86.2 ± 21.2 months. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 19 males and 4 females with a mean age of 28.7 ± 9.9 years. Fifteen patients underwent fixation and eight underwent excision. The final mean HHS was 98.3 ± 1.9, with 21 patients (91%) achieving excellent and 2 (9%) good T-E criteria. There were no significant differences between the fixation and excision groups in demographic characteristics, operative time, or functional outcomes (all p > 0.05); however, hospital stay was significantly shorter in the excision group (2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 5.5 ± 4.6 days, p = 0.028). In the fixation group, mean maximal displacement improved from 7.6 mm preoperatively to 2.6 mm postoperatively, with anatomic reduction achieved in 6 cases (40%), imperfect in 6 (40%), and poor in 3 (20%). Patients with Pipkin Type I fractures had significantly higher HHS than those with Type II fractures (98.7 ± 1.7 vs. 96.0 ± 0.8, p = 0.018). Complications were rare, with one case of Brooker Grade I HO and one case of mild OA. No AVN or total hip arthroplasty occurred during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Hip arthroscopy-assisted management of selected Pipkin Type I and II femoral head fractures yields excellent mid-term clinical outcomes with acceptable radiographic reduction and a low complication rate. This minimally invasive technique represents a viable alternative in appropriately selected patients when fragment characteristics and surgical expertise permit.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Phase-resolved functional lung MRI detects single-dose and sustained bronchodilator responses in COPD in a randomized crossover trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of tiotropium/olodaterol (T/O) on phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) MRI parameters in hyperinflated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and examine correlations with conventional cardiopulmonary and hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective subanalysis of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial with open-label extension. Thirty-two patients with moderate-to-severe COPD (61.5 ± 7.7 years; 17 men); 30 completed the MRI extension at 1.5 T. PREFUL analysis yielded regional ventilation (RVent), flow-volume loop correlation metric (FVL-CM), normalized perfusion (QN), ventilation defect percentage (VDP), perfusion defect percentage (QDP), V/Q match metrics (VQM), and pulmonary pulse wave velocity (PWV; post-hoc parameter). Linear mixed-effects models tested treatment effects; correlations were evaluated with Spearman's rank and bootstrap 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: PREFUL parameters improved after T/O single dose (SD) versus placebo, including improvements in FVL-CM by 4.1 percentage points (pp; 95% CI: 1.0 to 7.3 pp) and QN by 0.4 pp (95% CI: 0.2 to 0.6 pp) and reductions in VDP and QDP, with parallel gains in VQM(Non-Defect) (p < 0.05). PWV decreased after multiple doses (-0.87 m/s, 95% CI: -1.26 to -0.48 m/s). PREFUL MRI baseline values showed significant correlations with pulmonary function tests, cardiac, dynamic contrast-enhanced and 129Xe MRI. SD treatment-induced absolute changes in VDP(FVL-CM) correlated with reductions in residual volume (ρ = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.64). Further correlations were observed between PREFUL MRI and ¹²⁹Xe-derived VDP, apparent diffusion coefficient, and compartment ratios. CONCLUSION: PREFUL MRI sensitively captured immediate SD T/O-induced improvements in V/Q parameters and dose-dependent PWV responses after sustained bronchodilation. KEY POINTS: Question Can phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) MRI sensitively capture immediate single-dose and sustain multi-dose effects of tiotropium/olodaterol on ventilation-perfusion and vascular function in COPD patients? Findings Tiotropium/olodaterol improved PREFUL MRI-derived ventilation, perfusion, and V/Q matching parameters after a single dose, with sustained pulmonary vascular improvements after repeated dosing. Clinical relevance PREFUL MRI detected immediate and sustained functional improvements after tiotropium/olodaterol and showed significant correlations with cardiopulmonary tests and hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe MRI, supporting its role as a sensitive, radiation-free tool for monitoring COPD treatment response.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Differences in Radiological Risk Perceptions Following Online and In-Person Workshops.

Nuclear energy is widely regarded as a critical part of the pathway toward a secure, low-carbon electricity grid, yet long-term management of used nuclear fuel remains a persistent challenge. Although technically viable options for interim and consolidated storage exist, public concern and community opposition - rooted in historical distrust and risk perception - continue to complicate siting decisions. In response, recent federal efforts have emphasized collaboration-based approaches and community engagement, though empirical evidence on the effectiveness of different engagement strategies remains limited. This study examines how the structure and delivery of community engagement influence changes in public attitudes toward hosting interim used nuclear fuel storage facilities. Using survey data from 13 educational workshops around the United States, we evaluate: (1) the inclusion of trust-building content prior to technical content, and (2) engagement format, comparing online and in-person workshops. Analyses focus on participant changes in perceptions of safety, risk, and support for hosting, using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and other non-parametric hypothesis tests on surveys conducted before and after workshops. Results indicate that workshop participation is associated with some measurable attitude changes, with significant (p < 0.05) differences in response variability for some questions across workshop formats. In particular, when comparing nuclear energy to other clean energy sources, in-person workshop participants are substantially more likely to gain a more favorable opinion of nuclear energy than online participants. These findings contribute empirical evidence on how trust-building and delivery mode shape outcomes in public engagement on complex and contested energy policy issues such as storage of used nuclear fuel.

nuclear fuel cycle↗

PubMed2026

Assessment of Genetic Correlations Between Tobacco or Alcohol Use and Neurodegenerative Diseases Using East Asian Genetic Ancestry Genome-Wide Association Study Results.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most prevalent late-onset neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. Both are influenced in part by genetic factors and are currently incurable. Tobacco and alcohol, the two most common substances used among the general adult population, are potential AD/PD risk factors and are also heritable. Although important progress has been made, most existing research on the genetics of AD and PD has been carried out in individuals of European genetic ancestry. Investigations in a broad range of groups are crucial to understand disease mechanisms. Given the current availability of ancestry-specific tobacco and alcohol use as well as AD and PD genome-wide association study summary statistics, we performed global and local genetic correlation analyses using East Asian datasets. Genes within the correlated genetic regions were subsequently used to identify potentially enriched biological pathways between substance use and neurodegenerative diseases. We identified a global genetic correlation between smoking cessation and PD, which we confirmed in complementary European genetic ancestry data. Gene set enrichment analyses highlighted potentially shared genetic mechanisms between breast cancer and AD, which warrants further exploration. This work aims to promote further analyses across genetic ancestry groups.

Female↗

PubMed2026

Quo vadis, BGA? A collaborative EDNAP exercise on the challenges and progress in forensic biogeographical ancestry inference.

There is a broad consensus that forensic tests for the prediction of externally visible characteristics (EVC) and analysis of biogeographic ancestry (BGA) of an individual are technically reliable. However, interpretation of the results and population-specific genotype distribution patterns remains challenging. EVC and BGA analyses provide valuable information for population genetics studies and as investigative leads for criminal cases, as well as for historical and contemporary identification tests. However, inaccurate or incorrect predictions, for example, from subjective bias in the interpretations made, have the potential to misdirect police investigations. The legal situation regarding EVC and BGA testing varies by country: ranging from countries where it is explicitly prohibited, to those without specific regulations on biogeographic ancestry prediction, and others that have already enacted laws governing its use. The reluctance to utilize these analyses is not only due to legal restrictions and data protection concerns, but also to initial limited sets of sufficiently comprehensive forensic DNA assays. Forensic BGA marker panels typically contain up to ∼300 SNPs. This relatively small number of genetic markers, along with limited reference population data, complicates the interpretation of results from donors of unknown origin. This paper presents the results of a collaborative EDNAP study, which, for the first time, evaluated the approach to reporting EVC and BGA data between international laboratories. For the study, DNA from nine individuals with self-reported ancestry was collected and analysed using various forensic panels differing in the number and composition of ancestry-informative markers genotyped, comprising: the Precision ID mtDNA Whole Genome Panel, the VISAGE Basic Tool and the VISAGE Enhanced Tool for Appearance and Ancestry Prediction, and the Ion AmpliSeq™ PhenoTrivium Panel. To ensure full data protection, all SNP genotypes and uniparental marker haplotypes obtained were not shared with third parties. Instead, the genetic data were analysed using a range of commonly used population analysis software packages. These analysis outcomes were then distributed to twelve European forensic laboratories (both academic and law enforcement institutions), who were asked to prepare reports based on their interpretation of the phenotypes and ancestry they inferred from the analysis data. A questionnaire sent alongside the genetic information, aimed to evaluate which difficulties were encountered by the participants in processing the BGA analysis data they were given.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Post-weaning social isolation increases reward-seeking behavior in mice.

Social isolation is a growing public health concern. Although isolation at any age is harmful, previous studies have shown that isolation during adolescence, correlating with critical periods of brain development, can impair cognitive function and increase the risk for psychiatric illness later in life. In this study, we utilized a mouse model of social isolation (SI) during adolescence (postnatal day 21-35) and compared performance of isolated and group-housed mice on a touchscreen-based continuous performance test (rCPT) and fixed ratio/progressive ratio (FR/PR) tasks in adulthood. SI improved performance in the rCPT and the improvement in performance was consistent across time bins within the 45-minute testing session. There were no effects of SI on reaction times or reward retrieval latencies. A possible confound for performance in the rCPT would be SI-induced changes in reward-seeking or motivation for the strawberry milk reward. We next compared the SI mice to their group-housed littermate controls on both PR and FR schedules of reinforcement and found that SI mice had higher breakpoints on a PR4 schedule and earned significantly more reinforcers on an FR1 schedule of reinforcement compared to their group-housed littermates, suggesting that high performance in the CPT may be due to increased motivation for food rewards. These data indicate that SI during adolescence has significant effects on reward-seeking behavior in adult mice and may provide a useful behavioral model for studying the link between SI and risk for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Spatially confined electrochemical strategy with DNA-assembled nanogaps for SNP detection.

Accurate detection of low-abundance single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) against a large excess of homologous wild-type sequences requires both selective molecular recognition and effective transduction of small sequence differences into measurable signals. Here, we report a spatially confined electrochemical strategy that couples sequence-selective recognition with size-dependent mass-transport gating. DNA-hybridization-driven self-assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) forms a three-dimensional self-assembled electrode (3D-SAE) with a DNA-defined interparticle architecture. Competitive probes (SP/WP) convert single-base recognition into distinct molecular-size states: the SNP-associated pathway preferentially triggers a hybridization chain reaction (HCR), generating bulky AuNP-anchored HCR/methylene blue complexes (Au@HCR/MB) with reduced electrochemical accessibility through the porous 3D-SAE, whereas the wild-type pathway does not trigger HCR and maintains a high-current response from more readily accessible MB-containing species. Thus, sequence recognition is translated into a molecular-size difference and subsequently into an electrochemical signal through differential mass transport. Under buffer conditions, the platform achieved a statistically estimated detection limit of ∼0.47 fM and a quantitative range of 1 fM-100 pM. It discriminated a 0.1% mutant abundance in a fragmented genomic-DNA background. The downstream signal-transduction chemistry is enzyme-free and isothermal. This work establishes a mechanistical recognition-size-conversion-mass-transport-gating architecture for electrochemical nucleic acid analysis.

Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide↗

PubMed2026

Comparing Traditional Motor Speech Practice to Contextualized Speech Practice in Preschoolers With Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare retention of real-word targets across practice conditions (contextualized vs. motor-only) within a modified integral stimulation treatment for preschoolers with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). METHOD: A single-subject experimental design with alternating treatments was used with matched target sets randomly assigned to contextualized practice, motor-only practice, or no treatment. Three preschoolers with CAS completed 18 therapy sessions, each consisting of two 25-min blocks: one contextualized practice and one motor-only practice. Order of practice was randomized each visit. Changes in percent phonemes correct (PPC) and lexical stress accuracy, derived from blinded transcription, were explored with visual analysis and effect sizes (standardized mean difference, d statistic). RESULTS: Meaningful improvements (d > 1) were observed in PPC across words treated in contextualized practice for all three children immediately posttreatment and for two of three children at the 1-month follow-up. Meaningful improvements in the motor-only condition were observed in two of three children immediately posttreatment and at follow-up. No meaningful changes were observed in lexical stress across any conditions in any participant. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary support for the feasibility of a modified integral stimulation therapy that incorporates elements of linguistically grounded therapies (linguistic retrieval, recasts, expansions) that may facilitate target retention in some preschoolers with CAS. However, other elements should be explored in conjunction with integral stimulation to maximize clinical outcomes. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.33228981.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Depression and amyloid-β across CSF, PET, and plasma biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Alzheimer's disease is increasingly defined by biomarker evidence of amyloid-β and tau pathology, sharpening questions about whether late-life depression contributes to, or instead reflects, this pathology. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 2000 and 2025 that compared amyloid-β biomarkers in adults with and without depression, with depression defined by validated clinical diagnoses or symptom rating scales. Twenty-four studies were included, spanning three biomarker sources: cerebrospinal fluid, positron emission tomography imaging, and plasma. Across all sources, the pooled difference in amyloid-β burden between depressed and non-depressed individuals was small and clustered near zero, indicating only a weak, statistically non-significant tendency toward higher amyloid in depression. When the three sources were examined separately, each yielded a similar near-null result, although between-study heterogeneity was considerable for cerebrospinal fluid and plasma and moderate for imaging. Importantly, a prespecified subgroup analysis showed that imaging results diverged by quantification method: studies using the simpler standardized uptake value ratio clustered around zero, whereas the smaller group of studies using kinetic distribution volume ratio modelling showed a significant positive association, suggesting that methodological choices critically influence the observed relationship. Taken together, these findings indicate that depression is not consistently accompanied by greater amyloid-β burden across widely used biomarker platforms. The distribution volume ratio signal nonetheless raises the possibility of subtle associations that cruder methods may obscure, and suggests that depression may shape Alzheimer's disease trajectories more by modifying the clinical impact of amyloid than by altering its amount.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Nutrition and Diet-Related Training and Curriculum in the US Predoctoral Dental Programs.

PURPOSE: Nutrition and diet are vital for oral and systemic health. It is unclear how well US predoctoral dental programs prepare students in nutrition screening and counseling. This study analyzed US dental school curricula on these topics. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to the publicly available email addresses of 67 of 72 academic dental deans at US Commission on Dental Accreditation-accredited dental schools. Items assessed availability, modes and hours of instruction, curricular topics, clinical integration, and instructors. Descriptive statistics summarized responses. RESULTS: A total of 21 academic deans responded, for an overall response rate of 29%. Most (85%) of responding academic dental deans reported that nutrition and diet education was mandatory, with none treating it as optional. Of these schools, 83% offered both classroom and clinical training, while 17% provided only didactic teaching. Didactic hours varied; 42% reported 10 or fewer hours. Foundational nutrition topics were common, although dietary guidelines such as MyPlate were reported less often (66%). Oral health-related nutrition content was broadly covered, with all respondents reporting instruction related to caries, erosion, periodontal disease, and oral dysfunction. Counseling content was less consistent, particularly public health nutrition (67%) and the impact of oral dysfunction on diet and nutrition (72%). CONCLUSION(S): Most responding academic dental deans report including nutrition and diet education in their curricula. However, it remains uncertain whether these topics are incorporated at schools that did not participate in the survey. Variability in curricular time, counseling, and teaching highlights the need for clearer competencies and more clinical training. Improving this could better prepare future dentists for common dietary risks affecting oral and systemic health.

dental caries↗

PubMed2026

Effects of strength and balance training on the structure of the aging brain.

BACKGROUND: While it is established that motor training induces structural changes in the brains of young adults, structural adaptations in aging brains are less studied. METHODS: This randomized controlled study investigated the impact of long-term strength and balance training on the structural plasticity in 60 elderly adults (64 - 82 years old, 70.6 ± 4.7) using multi-modal neuroimaging. We compared the effects of three months of strength training to balance training of the same duration and to a passive control group. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to assess grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) plasticity. White matter tract integrity (WMTI) modelling was employed to explore the microstructural underpinnings of white matter alterations. RESULTS: We found that strength training was associated with changes in diffusion metrics consistent with white matter microstructural remodeling, specifically increased extra-axonal axial diffusivity in the bilateral inferior fronto-occipital and longitudinal fasciculi. Additionally, both balance and strength training mitigated reductions in axonal water fraction in the splenium of the corpus callosum and the right posterior corona radiata observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results underscore the potential relevance of strength and balance training to induce beneficial neural plasticity by counteracting aging-related demyelination in the corpus callosum and highlight the specific role of strength training in facilitating white matter reorganization in key transmission fiber pathways.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

An AI-assisted Clinical Decision Support System for Green Classification of Cystocele on Dynamic Transperineal Ultrasound.

Green classification of cystocele on dynamic transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) remains operator-dependent because it requires manual frame selection and landmark-based assessment of the Valsalva maneuver. We developed a workflow-oriented AI-assisted clinical decision support system for automated urethrovesical junction localization and dynamic Green classification and prospectively evaluated its standalone and reader-support performance. This diagnostic accuracy and reader study included 881 patients from a tertiary referral hospital, comprising a retrospective development cohort (n = 688) and an independent prospective test cohort (n = 193). A nested subset of 67 prospective patients was used for a reader study involving two junior and two intermediate radiologists under unaided and AI-assisted conditions. In the complete prospective test cohort, Green-AttGRU achieved a macro-averaged AUC of 0.939 (95% CI, 0.897-0.971) and an overall accuracy of 0.902 (95% CI, 0.860-0.943). In the reader study, overall accuracy increased from 0.761 to 0.821 without AI to 0.851-0.881 with AI, while macro-F1 increased from 0.660 to 0.777 to 0.820-0.860. Overall inter-reader agreement increased from a Fleiss' κ of 0.453 to 0.786, and pooled median interpretation time decreased from 26.7 s to 9.9 s. These findings support the preliminary feasibility of the system as a workflow-oriented decision-support tool for dynamic TPUS interpretation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Long-term mortality in pediatric sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric sepsis represents a significant factor in the mortality rates among children, with survivors remaining highly fragile during the period following discharge. While in-hospital and short-term mortality have been widely studied, the long-term mortality of pediatric sepsis is not adequately synthesized or appreciated. This study aims to estimate the long-term mortality associated with pediatric sepsis, providing a basis for optimizing post-discharge surveillance and care protocols. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251137504). Exhaustive searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies published from the inception of each database to June 30, 2025. Studies reporting long-term mortality in pediatric sepsis patients diagnosed using international consensus criteria were included. After literature screening, long-term mortality was pooled using a random effects meta-analysis in R statistical software. RESULTS: A total of 72,065 records were identified through database searching. After removing duplicates and screening, six studies comprising 11,318 pediatric sepsis patients were included. The pooled long-term mortality in pediatric sepsis was 11% (95% CI: 7-16%), though significant heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 98.2%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results, and evidence of publication bias was limited. CONCLUSION: Long-term mortality after pediatric sepsis was 11%, highlighting the persistent risk of mortality after hospital discharge. Further high-quality longitudinal studies are required to identify modifiable risk factors and guide evidence-based follow-up and personalized care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Lower androgen sulfate metabolites in women with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may be associated with changed metabolism and disposition.

Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), characterized by joint hypermobility and multisystem involvement, is the most common type of EDS. Its comorbidities are wide-ranging, reflecting the involvement of connective tissue and its role in a multitude of processes. hEDS has been hypothesized to have hormonal aspects since the disorder is diagnosed more often in women and symptom changes closely correlate with hormonal shifts. To better understand the etiology and biochemical changes in hEDS and its comorbidities, a multiple-omics study was performed in women, controls (n = 45) and those with hEDS (n = 45), alongside the collection of questionnaires related to symptom severity. Metabolomic evaluation was performed on serum samples and RNA isolated from fibroblasts cultured from skin punches was analyzed for transcriptomics. Samples from hEDS patients had statistically significantly lower levels of multiple androgen sulfate metabolites, compared with controls, driven largely by participants aged 30-49. Changes to other classes of steroid hormones (corticosteroids, progestogens, and estrogens) were largely not significant between hEDS and control groups. Transcriptomics of skin fibroblasts from hEDS patients revealed downregulation of multiple enzymes involved in biosynthesis, metabolism, and disposition of androgens, compared with controls. Multiple steroid hormones correlated with symptoms surveyed in 18-29 year old participants with hEDS. Shifts in steroid hormone metabolites in hEDS compared with controls may be due to changes to metabolism and disposition, but more validation is necessary to be conclusive. This data provides insights into the unclear links between steroid hormones and hEDS and its comorbidities.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effect of Music on Pain, Anxiety, and Satisfaction During Intrauterine Device Application: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine the effect of music played during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion on perceived pain, state anxiety, and satisfaction levels. The study was conducted with 70 women who applied to a maternal and child health and family planning center and were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups using simple randomization. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as Bluetooth speakers and the musical piece Evgeny Grinko-Valse. Participants in the intervention group listened to music before and during the IUD insertion procedure, whereas the control group received routine care only. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 with appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Women in the music group had significantly lower perceived pain (p < 0.001) and state anxiety levels during the procedure (p = 0.022), and significantly higher satisfaction levels compared with the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, post-procedure state anxiety levels were positively correlated with pain intensity experienced during and after the procedure (r = 0.542 and r = 0.496, respectively; p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with procedural satisfaction (r = -0.652; p < 0.001). These findings suggest that listening to music during IUD insertion may help reduce pain and anxiety while potentially enhancing patient satisfaction. Trial Registration: NCT06215183.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effect of Various Types of Remineralizing Agents on the Remineralization of Mild and Moderate Defects Caused by Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization in Mexican Schoolchildren: A 12-month Follow-up Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF), this study aimed to evaluate the effect of three remineralizing agents on permanent molars and incisors with both mild and moderate Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) in 8-to-12-year-old Mexican schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 104 children were selected to participate and then divided randomly into four groups: Group I: control, Oral-B kids (toothpaste); Group II: Fluor Protector (varnish); Group III: Clinpro White Varnish; and Group IV: MI Paste (CCP-ACP). Both varnishes were applied once every four weeks for twelve months for each group. Remineralization was evaluated by LIF at intervals of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Paired-sample t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA were performed, while the Greenhouse-Geisser correction was used to evaluate sphericity. RESULTS: The three test agents used increased the level of remineralization observed at the site of mild and moderate MIH defects over the course of twelve months (p0.001). A similar decrease in average LIF values was observed across the three treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of both fluoride varnishes and the CPP-ACP toothpaste was observed to promote the remineralization of both mild and moderate MIH defects.

Humans↗