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PubMed2026

A Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Intervention for Workplace Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Work-related stress has been widely associated with an increased risk of various mental disorders and poor mental well-being. The fast-growing mobile health services industry has provided new opportunities for workplace mental health. OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of Neurum (Neurum Limited), a smartphone-based intervention tool featuring ecological momentary assessments and interventions that aims to reduce workplace stress in real-time and real-world settings. METHODS: A total of 201 working adults were recruited for a 4-week smartphone-based intervention that incorporated cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness exercises, and self-regulation exercises delivered on Neurum. A simple randomization procedure was used. Participants in the intervention group were encouraged to log mood journals, complete mental health exercises, and provide user feedback whenever applicable. The key outcome was measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21; Cronbach α=0.87). RESULTS: The intervention group consisted of 102 participants, while the control group consisted of 99 participants. More participants dropped out from the intervention group (n=21) than from the control group (n=2; χ21=18.259; P<.001). The final sample consisted of 178 participants (male: 85/178, 47.8%; female: 93/178, 52.2%; mean age of 34.65, SD 7.67 y). Analyses revealed that after the 4-week intervention, the DASS-21 scores decreased in the intervention group (mean difference [MD]post-pre intervention=-14.518) but increased in the control group (MDpost-pre intervention=3.319; F1,176=59.358, P<.001; η2=0.252). This effect was largely led by stress reduction (F1,176=64.679, P<.001; for the intervention group, MDpost-pre intervention=-6.692, while for the control group, MDpost-pre intervention=2.000). On average, participants completed 6.27 (SD 9.4) exercises and provided 9.74 (SD 18.2) mood journal logs, with a daily engagement of 4.95 (SD 6.89) minutes. However, the associations between the changes in DASS-21 scores and the numbers of exercises or mood journal logs did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: This study primarily established the effectiveness of Neurum in alleviating depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in noninstitutionalized working adults, with a satisfactory user retention rate. Despite potential health-related culture differences, Neurum contributed to evidence-based digital health in nonclinical settings for timely needs and general accessibility as an alternative to traditional, face-to-face, and high-cost mental health services. Future directions involving a personalized approach in online mental health services were discussed.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Assessing the threat of Bacillus cereus: From toxin characterization to modern detection strategies.

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming pathogen responsible for both diarrheal and emetic foodborne illnesses worldwide. Its significance in food safety has received growing attention. Recent advances, including the discovery of novel virulence factors and the development of emerging detection technologies, have provided new insights into its pathogenic mechanisms and surveillance strategies. This review critically examines the global burden of B. cereus infections, and molecular mechanisms of its major virulence factors, and the performance characteristics of current detection knowledge gaps such as the viable-but-non-culturable state and regulatory blind spots for emetic toxins, and discuss unresolved challenges in clinical management. By integrating epidemiological, microbiological, and technological perspectives with critical lens, this review aims to provide a valuable reference for future research and food safety practices.

Bacillus cereus↗

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

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.

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PubMed2026

Isometric Exercises for Tendinopathies: A Systematic Literature Review.

PURPOSE: Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common reasons for medical consultation, with tendinopathies accounting for up to 30% of such presentations. Although exercise remains the cornerstone of management, the most effective modality continues to be debated. Eccentric exercise has long been the mainstay, but the role of isometric exercise in pain modulation and functional recovery remains unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy of isometric exercises in the management of tendinopathies across various anatomic sites. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to August 1, 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and prospective or retrospective cohort studies assessing isometric exercise interventions for tendinopathy, with or without comparator groups. Case series and case reports were excluded. Data extracted included participant demographic characteristics, site of tendinopathy, symptom duration, treatment duration, adherence, and outcome measures such as Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment (A, P, or G), visual analog scale, Patient-Specific Functional Scale, 36 item short form health survey (SF-36), and EuroQol 5-Dimension questionnaires. Imaging outcomes (ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging) were recorded where available. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. FINDINGS: The search identified 304 articles, of which 13 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 336 participants (40% female). Tendinopathy sites included the patellar (n = 4), Achilles (n = 3), lateral elbow (n = 2), rotator cuff (n = 2), wrist extensor (n = 1), and gluteal (n = 1) tendons. Median symptom duration was 23 months (interquartile range, 3-51 months). Intervention periods ranged from a single 45-minute session to 4-month exercise programs. Treatment adherence was high initially (nearly 100%) but declined over time, with 70% of participants in the isometric and 58% in the control (isotonic) groups completing ≥80% of sessions. Pain reduction and functional improvement were statistically significant in only 3 studies. Imaging-based outcomes were inconsistently reported, and study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Overall methodological quality was rated as good in 3 studies and poor in 10. IMPLICATIONS: Current evidence provides limited support for the superiority of isometric exercise in tendinopathy management. Although isometric regimens appear tolerable and may confer short-term analgesic benefits, their long-term efficacy relative to eccentric or isotonic protocols remains uncertain. Future research should prioritize standardized outcome measures, longer follow-up, and uniform diagnostic criteria to strengthen the evidence base for exercise prescription in tendinopathies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Telmisartan-based monotherapy and combination regimens for blood pressure control in adults with hypertension: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and certainty of evidence for telmisartan-based antihypertensive regimens in adults with hypertension. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA 2020. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception to 2026. Eligible studies enrolled adults with hypertension and compared telmisartan monotherapy or telmisartan-containing combinations with placebo, usual care, non-telmisartan antihypertensive agents, or alternative telmisartan-based regimens. Continuous outcomes were pooled as mean differences (MDs) and dichotomous outcomes as risk ratios (RRs), both with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using random-effects models, with additional subgroup analyses conducted by comparator type. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. RESULTS: Twenty-five included reports (24 unique trials, since two reports present secondary outcomes from the same underlying trial) involving 6,521 participants were included, spanning placebo-controlled, usual-care-controlled, active-comparator, and telmisartan-combination-versus-telmisartan-monotherapy designs. Telmisartan-based therapy significantly reduced office systolic blood pressure (MD - 6.39 mm Hg; 95% CI - 7.86 to - 4.93; low certainty) and office diastolic blood pressure (MD - 4.88 mm Hg; 95% CI - 6.67 to - 3.09; low certainty), although the magnitude of effect was comparator-dependent. Based on only two trials, 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure (MD - 7.16 mm Hg; 95% CI - 10.61 to - 3.72) and ambulatory diastolic blood pressure (MD - 4.42 mm Hg; 95% CI - 6.36 to - 2.48) were reduced with moderate certainty. Telmisartan-based regimens improved blood pressure response (RR 1.68; 95% CI 1.31 to 2.16; moderate certainty) but not blood pressure control achievement (RR 1.44; 95% CI 0.92 to 2.24; very low certainty). Overall adverse events, dizziness, and headache were comparable (very low to low certainty), while edema was less frequent with telmisartan-based therapy (RR 0.33; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.73; moderate certainty). CONCLUSION: Telmisartan-based regimens, particularly fixed-dose and multidrug combinations, effectively reduce office and ambulatory blood pressure and improve blood pressure response, with broadly comparable short-term safety and less edema. These effect sizes are comparator-dependent, and certainty of evidence for absolute blood pressure control achievement and for major adverse events is very low; heterogeneity, limited long-term data, and a predominance of Asian-population trials warrant cautious interpretation pending larger, higher-quality, and more geographically diverse confirmatory studies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Valproate vs levetiracetam in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a genetic generalized epilepsy syndrome with onset typically in adolescence and a chronic course requiring long-term antiseizure medications (ASMs). Valproate (VPA) is the most effective treatment for seizure control in JME but use is limited by metabolic, cognitive, and teratogenic adverse effects (AEs). Levetiracetam (LEV) is an alternative ASM when VPA is contraindicated or not tolerated. Comparisons of the efficacy and long-term tolerability of VPA and LEV remain limited. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception through January 2026 for studies in JME patients comparing LEV and VPA, and included randomized controlled trials and comparative observational studies with ≥ 6 months of follow-up. Primary outcomes were seizure remission and ASM failure or treatment discontinuation. Secondary outcomes included, memory impairment, weight gain or obesity, dizziness, and overall AEs. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: Seven studies encompassing 1,009 patients were included. VPA was associated with higher pooled seizure remission rates compared with LEV (344 of 574 vs. 169 of 390; RR 1.44, 95% CI 1.27-1.63); however, substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 88.4%) limits confidence in this finding. VPA was associated with a lower risk of drug failure or treatment discontinuation (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54-0.86), with no heterogeneity (I2 = 0.0%). VPA was also associated with a higher risk of memory impairment (RR 5.37, 95% CI 2.05-14.04; I2 = 74.5%) and weight gain or obesity (RR 6.40, 95% CI 3.64-11.26; I2 = 35.9%). No significant differences were observed between treatments regarding dizziness (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.61-1.37; I2 = 21.2%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the pooled estimates. CONCLUSION: VPA was associated with higher seizure remission rates and lower treatment discontinuation compared with LEV; however, these findings must be interpreted with caution given the substantial heterogeneity, the predominance of observational studies, and the serious risk of bias identified in most included studies VPA also demonstrated lower rates of treatment discontinuation, despite a higher burden of cognitive impairment and weight gain. No relevant differences were observed regarding dizziness. Large-scale randomized trials with standardized outcome definitions and longer follow-up are needed to define the comparative risk-benefit profiles of LEV and VPA in JME.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Digital Structured Education With Behavioral Nudge Tools for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Digital interventions offer scalable alternatives to traditional face-to-face diabetes education, but often face challenges related to inconsistent clinical effectiveness, and declining user engagement. However, whether a digital structured education program integrated with behavioral nudge tools can improve metabolic, behavioral, and psychological outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital structured education program integrated with behavioral nudge tools in improving metabolic, behavioral, and psychological outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in the endocrinology departments of 4 hospitals in China. Adults with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving a digital structured education program integrated with behavioral nudge tools (n=146) or a control group receiving standard digital diabetes education (n=147). Assessments were conducted at baseline and 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome was hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at 12 weeks, adjusted for baseline HbA1c, and study center. Secondary outcomes included fasting blood glucose (FBG), weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, and habit strength. RESULTS: Among 293 participants (mean age 49.19, SD 10.02 y), 287 (97.9%) completed follow-up. At 12 weeks, the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the control group in HbA1c (adjusted mean difference -0.38%, 95% CI -0.68% to -0.09%; P=.01), FBG (adjusted mean difference -0.75, 95% CI -1.27 to -0.44 mmol/L; P<.001), weight (adjusted mean difference -0.84, 95% CI -1.61 to -0.07 kg; P=.03), BMI (adjusted mean difference -0.38, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.11 kg/m²; P=.01), systolic blood pressure (adjusted mean difference -2.71, 95% CI -4.62 to -0.79 mm Hg; P=.01), diastolic blood pressure (adjusted mean difference -2.92, 95% CI -4.47 to -1.37 mm Hg; P<.001), and total cholesterol (adjusted mean difference -0.27, 95% CI -0.48 to -0.05 mmol/L; P=.02). The intervention was also associated with significantly greater improvements in self-management behaviors, self-efficacy, and habit strength (all P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Digital structured education integrated with behavioral nudge tools improved metabolic outcomes and strengthened psychological and behavioral determinants of self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes over a 12-week period. These findings suggest that a digital structured education program integrated with behavioral nudge tools may enhance diabetes self-management beyond standard digital diabetes education. Further studies with longer follow-up and real-world implementation are warranted to evaluate the sustainability, generalizability, and long-term clinical impact of this integrated intervention.

Humans↗

PubMed2024

Emotional and Cognitive Processes Underlying Persuasion, Moderating Factors, and Physiological Reactions: A Systematic Review.

Persuasion is a type of social influence aiming to produce changes in others' attitudes or behaviors. This study explores the relationship between emotions and persuasion, principal moderating factors, and physiological reactions during persuasive attempts. Following PRISMA guidelines, 28 empirical articles were analyzed, addressing emotions, affective/cognitive orientations, framing effects, and psychophysiological reactions. Mixed findings emerged regarding emotions, with fear appeals being effective in health education, while more recent studies favor the use of positive persuasive messages to increase behavior intention. Principal moderating factors included personal relevance, need for cognition (NFC) and need for affect (NFA), thought confidence, vulnerability, and efficacy beliefs. Psychophysiological studies revealed distinct physiological arousal during persuasion processing compared to a rest state. In addition, a greater misalignment between current behavior and the persuasive attempt led to perceived freedom threat and psychological reactance. These insights enhance persuasive effectiveness and deepen understanding of persuasion processes, guiding future research directions.

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

[Clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture at the motor area for Parkinson's disease with musculoskeletal pain: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at the motor area for Parkinson's disease (PD) with musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with PD accompanied by musculoskeletal pain were randomly assigned to an EA group (29 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a sham EA group (29 cases, 1 case dropped out). The EA group was treated with EA at the motor area contralateral to the painful side (for bilateral pain, the left motor area was selected), using disperse-dense wave (2 Hz/20 Hz), with a current intensity of 1-2 mA, and needles were retained for 30 min. The sham EA group was treated with sham EA at non-acupoint area located 5-20 mm posterior to the motor area contralateral to the painful side. The connection mode was the same as that in the EA group, but no electrical current was delivered, and the needles were retained for 30 min. Both groups were treated once daily for 5 consecutive days. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, unified Parkinson's disease rating scale part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ), 24-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-24), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA), and 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) scores were evaluated before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment completion in the two groups. Safety was also assessed in the two groups. RESULTS: In both groups, VAS scores for pain after treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment completion were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). VAS scores for pain in the EA group were lower than those in the sham EA group after treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment completion (P<0.05). In the EA group, UPDRS-Ⅲ, HAMD-24, HAMA, and PDQ-39 scores after treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment completion were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the sham EA group, there were no statistically significant differences in UPDRS-Ⅲ, HAMD-24, HAMA, and PDQ-39 scores at any post-treatment time point compared with those before treatment (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in UPDRS-Ⅲ, HAMD-24, HAMA, and PDQ-39 scores between the two groups at any post-treatment time point (P>0.05). No serious adverse events occurred during the trial. CONCLUSION: EA at the motor area could reduce pain intensity in patients with PD accompanied by musculoskeletal pain, and improve pain-related motor symptoms, emotional status, and quality of life, with a favorable safety profile.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Crinecerfont: emerging role in the management of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is a rare genetic endocrine disorder characterized by impaired cortisol synthesis, excessive adrenal androgen production, and elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations. The current standard of care involves supraphysiologic doses of glucocorticoids to suppress ACTH and manage androgen excess, often leading to long-term complications. AREAS COVERED: A literature search of PubMed was conducted. This review critically examines the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and potential role of crinecerfont in redefining CAH management. EXPERT OPINION: Crinecerfont, a selective corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 receptor (CRF1) antagonist, offers a novel therapeutic approach by targeting ACTH secretion at its hypothalamic origin. Recent Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials have demonstrated promising efficacy and safety across adult, adolescent, and pediatric populations. Crinecerfont may represent a promising adjunctive therapy in CAH management, addressing both biochemical control as well as quality of life and potentially long-term outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Colorimetric gold nanosensors for monitoring protein aggregation: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide. It remains a major public health challenge due to the lack of early diagnostic tools and effective disease-modifying therapies. Molecularly, AD is characterized by extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular Tau tangles, as well as soluble oligomers that are likely the neurotoxic species. However, the transient and heterogeneous nature of these oligomers makes them difficult to detect using conventional biosensing approaches. Nanomaterial-based colorimetric biosensors have emerged as promising platforms for detecting protein aggregates and discovering aggregation inhibitors. Specifically, the localized surface plasmon resonance properties of metallic nanomaterials can enable rapid, label-free, and visually detectable colorimetric sensing of molecular interactions. These features can be leveraged to monitor protein aggregation processes in real time and achieve high-throughput screening of aggregation inhibitors, which may collectively enable early detection and timely intervention of AD progression. This Review Article presents the design and engineering of gold-nanomaterial-based colorimetric biosensors for monitoring protein aggregation and highlights the current challenges and emerging opportunities for applying these nanosensors to combat AD.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Multi-omic biomarkers in cardiovascular disease: Discovery to clinical translation.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating improved risk stratification and early detection strategies. Multiomics approaches that integrate genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics offer unprecedented opportunities for biomarker discovery and precision medicine in cardiovascular care. This narrative review examines the current landscape of multiomics biomarkers for CVD, tracing their evolution from discovery to clinical translation. We synthesize evidence from recent studies evaluating the clinical utility of integrated omics approaches across diverse cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. High-throughput proteomics has identified novel protein signatures that enhance cardiovascular risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors. Metabolomics has revealed pathway-specific biomarkers, including trimethylamine N-oxide and lipid species, associated with atherogenesis. Polygenic risk scores derived from genomic data demonstrate incremental value when combined with clinical risk scores. Multiomics biomarkers represent a transformative approach to cardiovascular risk assessment and disease management.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Multi‑omics approaches to decipher the molecular mechanisms of exercise‑mediated bone protection: From mechanistic insights to personalized exercise prescription (Review).

The global burden of bone metabolic disorders necessitates a shift from generic exercise recommendations toward personalized prescription strategies. Exercise confers skeletal protection through mechanotransduction, yet the underlying molecular networks remain incompletely understood. Multi‑omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and single‑cell spatial approaches, have revolutionized the capacity to decode exercise‑mediated bone adaptation at the systems level. The present review synthesizes current single‑omics landscapes and integrative multi‑omics analyses that elucidate the core regulatory networks, mechanobiological coupling mechanisms and multiorgan crosstalk that are implicated in the bone response to mechanical loading. Translational applications across clinical scenarios such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and disuse bone loss are evaluated, and the technical, analytical and translational challenges limiting clinical implementation are addressed. Finally, the present review provides a framework for translating multi‑omics molecular signatures into personalized exercise prescriptions for optimized skeletal health.

Humans↗

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.

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PubMed2026

Distal versus proximal radial access for diagnostic cerebral angiography: comparative outcomes and learning curve analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Distal transradial access (dTRA) is an alternative to proximal transradial access (pTRA) for neuroangiography, but comparative real-world data and evidence on its early learning curve remain limited. We compared procedural performance and access-site complications between dTRA and pTRA and evaluated the early learning curve of dTRA. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 470 diagnostic cerebral angiography procedures, representing 421 unique patients, performed via radial access at a single center between January 2025 and February 2026, including 237 dTRA and 233 pTRA procedures. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI) category, aortic arch type, and antiplatelet/anticoagulant use, procedural performance, and clinically assessed access-site events were compared between groups. Radial artery occlusion (RAO) was assessed by postoperative bedside pulse examination and confirmed with Doppler ultrasound when clinical findings were uncertain. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of RAO, persistent bleeding or repeated compression, hand edema, and a composite access-site event endpoint. Because repeated procedures occurred in a subset of patients and event counts were limited, first-procedure sensitivity analysis and analyses of infrequent outcomes were interpreted cautiously. The dTRA learning process was assessed in the first 100 dTRA cases performed by a single operator using multivariable regression, cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis, segmented trend analysis, and phase-based comparisons. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups, including age, male sex, BMI category, aortic arch type, and antiplatelet/anticoagulant use. Compared with pTRA, dTRA was associated with more puncture attempts (3.0 [2.0-4.0] vs 2.0 [1.0-3.0], P < 0.001), longer puncture time (2.0 [1.0-5.0] vs 2.0 [1.0-3.0] min, P = 0.003), lower first-pass success (19.4% vs 35.2%, P < 0.001), and a higher crossover rate (11.4% vs 6.0%, P = 0.037). However, dTRA was associated with a lower clinically assessed RAO rate (2.5% vs 7.7%, P = 0.011). On multivariable analysis, pTRA was independently associated with higher odds of RAO (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.26-8.49, P = 0.015) and the composite access-site event endpoint (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.55-6.28, P = 0.001). Similar findings were observed in a sensitivity analysis restricted to the first procedure per patient. In the first 100 dTRA cases, cumulative dTRA experience was independently associated with shorter total procedure time (beta = -0.074 min/case, P = 0.009), while CUSUM and moving-average analyses suggested that the major learning effect occurred within approximately the first 10-15 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective single-operator cohort, dTRA was associated with lower clinically assessed RAO than pTRA despite greater access difficulty. The early learning effect was mainly reflected in shorter total procedure time. These findings support the feasibility of dTRA but should be interpreted cautiously given the study's observational design and limited anatomical data.

Humans↗