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PubMed2026

Impact of Physical Environment of Pediatric Inpatient Wards on Children: A Systematic Literature Review.

ObjectiveThe study aimed to examine empirical studies published between 2003 and 2025 to identify elements of physical environments influencing health outcomes and experiences of children and families.BackgroundIn the past 40 years, research has shown that the physical environment influences the health and well-being of patients in the healthcare environment. However, similar research in the context of "pediatric inpatient wards" remains underexplored.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to identify relevant articles. All extracted articles underwent a three-step screening process using PRISMA. A total of 30 eligible articles were used for the analysis. The protocol is registered at PROSPERO (CRD42023408997).ResultsKey findings reveal positive and negative impacts of identified elements. Positive-effect elements include play spaces, space for parents, natural light, connections with nature, and so on, which promote comfort, healing, and emotional resilience. Conversely, negative-effect elements, such as noise, artificial lighting, uncomfortable temperature, and so on, contribute to stress and disrupted sleep. Mixed effects were observed for elements like art and television, which underscore the complexity of designing environments that address the diverse needs of different age groups and genders.ConclusionsThe review findings highlight significant knowledge gaps. The study also tries to bridge existing gaps between research and practice by systematically identifying environmental elements, offering actionable insights to architects, designers, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Future research must adopt rigorous, culturally inclusive approaches to advance the field of pediatric healthcare design and ensure equitable care across diverse sociocultural contexts.

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PubMed2026

Eating Experiences During Cancer Treatment in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Synthesis.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15-39 with cancer face distinct challenges during treatment, with eating consistently emerging as one of the most distressing and underrecognized concerns. At a critical life stage, AYAs must navigate illness-related consequences that profoundly affect well-being. Eating reflects these broader challenges and is identified as a key issue requiring health care attention. To address this, we synthesized evidence on AYAs' eating experiences and well-being during mealtime-related activities to inform health care practice. Qualitative and mixed-method studies were identified through searches across CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published up to May 2025, supplemented by snowball searches. Of 3214 records, 74 full-text articles were reviewed, and 18 met the inclusion criteria. These represented 302 AYAs, 73 relatives, and 88 health care professionals. Studies were analyzed using Joanna Briggs Institute review methods and GRADE-CERQual to support clinical interpretability. The meta-synthesis identified one core theme: "Eating as an embodied struggle and act of agency," with three subthemes: (a) living through physical and sensory disruption, (b) carrying the weight of new emotions and shifting relations, and (c) finding ways through gaps in support. Eating emerged as a disrupted, emotionally charged, yet agentic act requiring sensitive, individualized approaches. Thirteen evidence-informed recommendations were developed to guide clinical application. These emphasize early nutritional screening, dietetic support, flexible meal options, respectful family involvement, and psychosocially attuned care. Future research should codevelop and evaluate tailored interventions that address AYAs' embodied, emotional, and social needs to improve eating-related quality of life during cancer treatment.

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PubMed2026

Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Enhancing Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Outcomes after Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Total knee and hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) effectively alleviate chronic pain and improve joint function and quality of life. However, postoperative recovery is often hindered by pain, edema, restricted range of motion (ROM), and muscle weakness, necessitating structured physical rehabilitation. Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) has been proposed as an adjunct modality to enhance rehabilitation outcomes. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of PBMT in reducing postoperative pain and edema as well as improving ROM and functional performance compared with placebo or standard physical therapy in post-arthroplasty patients. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was conducted from inception to May 31, 2025. Only prospective controlled trials assessing PBMT effects on postoperative pain, swelling, ROM, or functional performance following TKA or THA were included. Case reports, uncontrolled studies, and trials focusing on unrelated outcomes were excluded. Article selection involved title, abstract, and full-text screening, with additional studies identified through reference lists. The review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251123169). RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n = 133 participants) met the inclusion criteria, three studies focused on TKA, and one study examined THA. PBMT significantly improved postoperative pain and edema reduction in three trials, while two studies demonstrated enhanced ROM and functional outcomes compared with control or placebo interventions. PEDro scores ranged from 8 to 10, indicating moderate-to-high methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS: PBMT shows promising short-term benefits in reducing postoperative pain and swelling and improving functional performance after knee or hip arthroplasty. However, due to heterogeneity in treatment parameters and limited high-quality trials, conclusive evidence remains insufficient. Future large-scale RCTs with standardized PBMT parameters and extended follow-up are warranted to confirm its clinical efficacy.

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PubMed2026

Published Database Resources for Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine: Update of a Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) has been established in the academic context of universities. In recent years, strategies have been developed worldwide to strengthen the role of TCIM in supporting the health of the population. Online databases are a common way for obtaining evidence-based information. This article is an update of a former systematic review from 2010 on published databases resources for TCIM. METHODS: The databases CINAHL, CAMbase, Web of Science, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Google Scholar search engine were searched for databases related to TCIM published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and November 2024. All included databases were visited online, and information on the origin, content, and scope of the database was extracted. RESULTS: A total of 6579 articles were identified through the literature search. After exclusion of irrelevant articles, full-text screening of 127 articles yielded 37 new databases. Together with 16 still available old databases, these mainly contained information on herbal therapies (n = 15) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (n = 11) from 18 different countries. Newly identified medicinal plant databases offer various scientific resources such as crude drugs, indigenous plants, and structures for natural and phytochemical components with molecular biological content. CONCLUSIONS: This literature review illustrates the dynamic development in the database landscape over the last 15 years. While the number of bibliographic databases is shrinking, databases in the field of medical plants/herbal therapy content are on the rise, which might be due to advances in plant genomics and molecular biology.

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PubMed2026

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis Involvement in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma.

CONTEXT: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare malignancy that may involve the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA), leading to underrecognized but clinically significant endocrine dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to characterize the spectrum and patterns of HPA-related endocrine disturbances in patients with PCNSL. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by gray literature. The search concluded in February 2025. STUDY SELECTION: We included studies reporting adult PCNSL cases with documented dysfunction of at least one hormonal axis. Exclusion criteria were preexisting hypopituitarism or lack of endocrine data. DATA EXTRACTION: Data on demographics, tumor localization, hormonal axes affected, radiological findings, treatment, and outcomes were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed using JBI tools. RESULTS: Ninety-nine cases met the inclusion criteria. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for 84% of cases. Endocrine dysfunction included isolated adenohypophyseal involvement (46%), neurohypophyseal (8%), and combined (45%). The most affected pituitary axes were the gonadal and thyroid axes, with 89.7% and 89.2% involvement, respectively. Hypothalamic tumors were strongly associated with combined dysfunction (odds ratio = 9.47; 95% CI, 3.76-23.86; P < .001). Persistent endocrinopathy was more frequent in progressive disease. No direct association was found between endocrine dysfunction and mortality. CONCLUSION: HPA dysfunction in PCNSL is frequent and often underdiagnosed. Hypothalamic involvement is associated broader hormonal impairment. Routine hormonal screening and multidisciplinary management should be standard in PCNSL care to minimize complications and improve outcomes.

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PubMed2026

Pancreatic fat and the risk of future dysglycemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Pancreatic fat has emerged as a metabolically relevant ectopic fat depot, but its longitudinal association with future dysglycemic outcomes remains incompletely defined. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the longitudinal association of pancreatic fat with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and glycemic progression, with exploratory narrative synthesis of evidence in lean populations. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 1, 2026. STUDY SELECTION: Longitudinal observational studies assessing pancreatic fat at baseline and reporting subsequent incident T2D, glycemic progression, or both were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA SYNTHESIS: Ten studies were included. In the primary binary meta-analysis (5 studies), higher pancreatic fat burden was associated with incident T2D (pooled effect estimate, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.27-5.14; I2 = 93.3%). Exclusion of 1 influential ultrasound-based study attenuated heterogeneity while preserving the association (pooled effect estimate, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23-1.73; I2 = 10.2%). A separate continuous analysis (3 studies) also supported an association with incident T2D (1.17; 95% CI, 1.04-1.32; I2 = 79.2%), although exposure scales were not directly comparable. Pancreatic fat was also associated with glycemic progression (2 studies; 1.96; 95% CI, 1.10-3.48; I2 = 73.2%). Exploratory lean-population evidence was limited to 2 analytical contexts, synthesized narratively, and directionally consistent with the overall findings. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic fat was associated with adverse future glycemic outcomes across multiple analytical contexts. These findings support pancreatic fat as a potentially meaningful imaging-derived marker of future dysglycemia, while suggesting that heterogeneity is partly explained by differences in exposure ascertainment.

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PubMed2026

Thyroid-joint crosstalk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Recent observational studies outlined the concomitant presence of autoimmune diseases in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), including endocrine autoimmunity. Despite the growing evidence of thyroid involvement in JIA, available data are heterogeneous and fragmented. We aimed to systematically review the available evidence on the prevalence of thyroid autoantibody positivity and thyroid dysfunction in patients with JIA. METHODS: PubMed/Medline, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were approached to identify studies reporting data on thyroid autoantibody positivity and dysfunction in children with JIA. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included in the final analysis, encompassing 19 015 children with JIA (13 225 females, 69.6%) with a weighted mean age of 8.0 years (range 1.8-21 years). The pooled prevalence estimates of antithyroid antibody positivity and thyroid dysfunction were 0.04 (95% CI: 0.03-0.05) and 0.04 (95% CI: 0.03-0.08), respectively. The risk difference for thyroid autoantibody positivity between children with JIA and controls was 0.08 (95% CI: 0.02-0.14). Possible risk factors were analyzed: the presence of family history for thyroid autoimmune disease (odds ratio - OR 3.91, 95% CI 1.86-8.25), concurrent Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) positivity (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.13-2.31), and older age (MD 2.10 years, 95% CI 1.32-2.89) were associated with thyroid autoantibody positivity and/or thyroid dysfunction in children with JIA. No significant difference emerged for the specific JIA form. CONCLUSION: Thyroid dysfunction may be detected in children with JIA, with a significant risk difference in comparison to healthy controls. Specific clinical characteristics, such as family history, ANA positivity, and older age at JIA onset, may suggest which patients should benefit from thyroid autoantibody screening.

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PubMed2026

Macroprolactinemia as a diagnostic pitfall in hyperprolactinemia: a systematic review and quantitative synthesis.

CONTEXT: Macroprolactinemia is a well-recognized cause of hyperprolactinemia and an important diagnostic pitfall in endocrine practice. However, interpretation of published quantitative prolactin data remains sparse as studies vary in confirmation method, assay platform, polyethylene glycol (PEG) recovery cutoff, and reporting of prolactin measurement. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Eligible studies reported macroprolactinemia-specific quantitative prolactin data in patients with confirmed macroprolactinemia defined by PEG precipitation, gel filtration chromatography (GFC), or both. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Findings were summarized using study-level descriptive synthesis. The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO and conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Forty-five studies encompassing 2853 macroprolactinemia cases from 21 413 screened patients with hyperprolactinemia across 22 countries were included. Among 33 studies eligible for primary quantitative analysis, the median study-level central total prolactin attributed to macroprolactinemia was 61.4 ng/mL ([IQR] 42.0-80.0; range 28.1-137.6), and the median study-level post-PEG monomeric prolactin was 11.7 ng/mL (IQR 8.3-13.2; range 4.0-17.0)). The median study-level maximum total prolactin was 264.5 ng/mL (IQR 97.0-425.5; range 81.8-663.0); extreme elevations were attributable to coexisting prolactinomas. CONCLUSION: In confirmed macroprolactinemia, total prolactin elevation is typically moderate, and post-PEG monomeric prolactin is usually within or near the normal range. The post-PEG monomeric prolactin value, rather than percent recovery alone, is the most informative parameter for distinguishing isolated macroprolactinemia from coexisting true hyperprolactinemia. These quantitative benchmarks may help clinicians to avoid unnecessary investigation or treatment.

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PubMed2026

Systematic Review of Pharmacologic Treatment for Migraine Prevention in Adults: Report of the AAN Guidelines Subcommittee and the American Headache Society.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This systematic review (SR) provides updated evidence-based conclusions regarding the use of pharmacologic migraine prevention in adults to inform a new joint American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Headache Society practice guideline. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel conducted an SR following the 2017 AAN Clinical Practice Guideline Process Manual. Randomized controlled trials evaluating pharmacologic preventive treatments for adults with episodic or chronic migraine were included. Searches encompassed MEDLINE, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov from database inception through June 6, 2024. Studies were screened in duplicate, with dual independent risk-of-bias assessment. Outcomes included change in monthly headache days, ≥50% responder rate, and validated patient-reported quality of life (QOL) measures. Raw mean differences, standardized mean differences, and risk ratios were calculated. A modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation process was used to classify certainty of evidence. RESULTS: A total of 217 studies met inclusion criteria. For episodic migraine, high-confidence evidence showed that galcanezumab and erenumab are more effective than placebo in reducing headache frequency. Moderate-confidence evidence supported benefit from atogepant, eptinezumab, fremanezumab, propranolol, topiramate, and valproate. Several additional oral agents including amitriptyline, bisoprolol, flunarizine, fluoxetine, levetiracetam, metoprolol, nifedipine, pizotifen, and telmisartan had low-confidence evidence suggesting possible benefit. For chronic migraine, high-confidence evidence supported reductions in headache frequency with fremanezumab, galcanezumab, and onabotulinumtoxinA. Moderate-confidence evidence supported benefit from atogepant, eptinezumab, erenumab, topiramate and valproate. Across both episodic and chronic migraine populations, erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, eptinezumab, rimegepant, atogepant, topiramate and onabotulinumtoxinA demonstrated improvements in patient-reported QOL outcomes on validated instruments. Evidence comparing active treatments was limited and generally of low or very low confidence, restricting conclusions about comparative effectiveness. DISCUSSION: This SR provides a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on pharmacologic migraine prevention in adults. High- and moderate-confidence findings confirm the efficacy of several established and newer preventive therapies and demonstrate improvements in patient-reported outcomes across multiple validated measures. These conclusions informed the development of evidence-based recommendations, presented in a companion publication, to guide clinicians in selecting preventive medications for adults with episodic and chronic migraine.

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PubMed2026

[Moxibustion combined with Jianpi Wenshen formula for cancer-related anorexia of spleen-kidney yang deficiency: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion combined with Jianpi Wenshen formula in treating cancer-related anorexia of spleen-kidney yang deficiency. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with cancer-related anorexia of spleen-kidney yang deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 40 cases in each group.Jianpi Wenshen formula was given orally in the control group. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, moxibustion was applied at bilateral Zusanli (ST36), Neiguan (PC6) and Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4), Mingmen (GV4) in the observation group, once daily for the first 15 days, then once every other day. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The scores of appetite, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS-2002), and patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), as well as the serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and C-reactive protein (CRP)were observed before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of appetite, NRS-2002, PG-SGA, and the serum levels of IFN-γ and CRP were decreased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01), and the above indexes in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001); the KPS scores were increased in the two groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.001, P<0.05), and the KPS score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). The marked response rate was 57.5% (23/40) in the observation group, which was higher than 30.0% (12/40) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion combined with Jianpi Wenshen formula can effectively improve appetite and overall status, and reduce the levels of IFN-γ and CRP in patients with cancer-related anorexia of spleen-kidney yang deficiency.

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PubMed2026

Effect of a digitally augmented general health promotion intervention on abstinence from health-risk behaviors among emergency department discharge patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading global cause of death and are driven by modifiable behaviors, such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. Recognizing that emergency department (ED) visits represent a unique opportunity to promote behavior change, this trial evaluated a digitally augmented, theory based general health promotion approach, combining a brief telephone-based intervention with mobile instant messaging support, to help discharged ED patients abstain from health risk behaviors. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in a major public hospital ED in Hong Kong. Adults (18-65 years) triaged as semi-urgent or non-urgent and with ≥1 health-risk behavior and smartphone access were randomized to receive a digitally augmented, theory‑based general health‑promotion intervention consisting of a brief telephone‑based AWARD‑model intervention (Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer, and Do-it-again) followed by weekly WhatsApp or WeChat messages for 6 months, or to a control group receiving brief telephone advice only. The primary outcome was self-report abstinence from ≥1 health-risk behavior at 6 months; secondary outcomes included the proportion of participants who achieved self-reported abstinence from ≥1 health-risk behavior at 12 months and reduction in the number of behaviors at 6 and 12 months. Of the 2,134 screened patients, 572 were enrolled (286 per group). At 6 months, 30.1% of the intervention participants versus 19.9% of the controls achieved self-reported abstinence (RR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.13-2.02; P = 0.006). The intervention also significantly increased the likelihood of fewer risky behaviors at 6 (RR = 1.54; P = 0.01) and 12 (RR = 1.48; P = 0.02) months. Physical inactivity showed the greatest improvement at 6 months (31.7% versus 16.2%; P < 0.001). The effects attenuated after cessation of booster messaging. Limitations include reliance on self-reported outcomes, the single-center study design, and loss to follow-up, which may have affected the generalizability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: A digitally augmented, theory-based general health promotion strategy delivered at ED discharge through brief telephone intervention and mobile instant messaging support demonstrated short-term benefits in promoting self-reported abstinence and reducing health-risk behaviors at 6 months. However, the absence of a sustained effect at 12 months suggests that extended support or maintenance strategies may be required to maintain these improvements over time. Multicenter trials with longer follow-up are warranted to evaluate long-term effectiveness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (Registration No: NCT06077565).

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PubMed2026

Plasma proteomics: considerations for preanalytical variability; a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

BACKGROUND: The plasma proteome (PP) is a dynamic system subject to pathology-associated changes and a focus for novel disease biomarker discovery. Disease-related PP research assumes protein concentrations in test specimens accurately reflect the in vivo milieu. However, measures to maintain the physicochemical integrity of the proteome before assay are often rudimentary, poorly described, or lacking standardisation in published studies. Contrastingly, in laboratory medicine, there is an expectation that errors in the so-called "preanalytical phase" (PAP) that impact patient results are understood, monitored, and mitigated against, while also being well described in research publications. There is therefore scope for good practice from laboratory medicine to inform PP research workflows. This review considers factors in the PAP which may impact the validity of PP results. CONTENT: A systematic review was conducted per PRISMA guidelines, limited to English-language peer-reviewed studies (2014-2024). Candidate studies were imported, screened, and managed using Covidence systematic review software. SUMMARY: 15 eligible studies were reviewed, covering many relevant processes. 11 studies reported statistically significant differences in PP due to factors in the PAP. Temperature and time-to-processing were the most commonly reported factors affecting the PP, with significant effects reported in 8 studies. OUTLOOK: PAP variability can significantly affect results in PP studies. Careful consideration of the effect of each stage of the PAP is needed when working with the PP. In multicenter studies, pre-defined and research question-specific sample processing workflows are essential for reducing PAP variability, which helps ensure the validity of PP studies.

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PubMed2026

Respiratory-onset peripartum cardiomyopathy: a systematic review of diagnostic pitfalls and clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) may initially present with prominent respiratory symptoms that resemble primary pulmonary disease, particularly in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period. In clinical practice, this presentation often triggers alternative diagnostic pathways, introducing delay at a time when rapid cardiac assessment is critical. Although respiratory-dominant presentations are repeatedly described across case-based and observational reports, they have not been systematically examined as a distinct diagnostic pathway within the PPCM literature. CONTENT: This PRISMA-guided systematic review synthesized evidence relating to respiratory-onset presentations of PPCM. Major databases and registers were searched comprehensively. Following screening of 589 records and full-text assessment of 145 reports, 49 studies met inclusion criteria. Twenty studies were qualitatively prioritized for narrative synthesis using ROBIS-informed methodological appraisal. Evidence was examined across diagnostic misclassification patterns, cardiopulmonary mechanisms, differential diagnoses, investigative strategies, and acute and longitudinal management considerations. SUMMARY: Respiratory-led presentations were commonly misattributed to asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, or perioperative causes, with diagnostic delay frequently reported. Across heterogeneous study designs, cardiogenic pulmonary edema with left-ventricular systolic dysfunction emerged as a recurring unifying mechanism. Early use of echocardiography, natriuretic peptides, and targeted imaging consistently aided differentiation from primary respiratory pathology. Severe clinical deterioration was often described in the context of delayed recognition. OUTLOOK: Respiratory-onset PPCM represents a high-risk diagnostic pathway rather than a discrete disease entity. Prospective registries, standardized diagnostic algorithms, and closer integration of obstetric and cardiopulmonary care are needed to refine early recognition and improve maternal outcomes.

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PubMed2026

Prenatal exposure to particulate matter (PM) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The global surge in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cases, coupled with evidence linking prenatal Particulate Matter (PM) exposure to developmental disruption, demands a comprehensive review to design targeted health interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the strength and consistency of evidence linking prenatal PM exposure to ASD across studies, quantifying this relation to identify actionable environmental risk thresholds. This study employed PRISMA protocols to systematically extract and evaluate evidence from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect (2010-2024), and screened 4,013 articles to identify qualified case-control and cohort studies (n=29). Data synthesis employed random-effects modeling, accompanied by comprehensive assessment through I2 statistics, Q-tests, funnel plots, Duval and Tweedie's trim-and-fill analysis, and Egger's regression, to ensure validity. A meta-analysis of 16 case-control studies revealed a 34 % increased risk of ASD associated with prenatal PM exposure (pooled OR=1.34; 95 % CI: 1.13-1.54), despite substantial between-study heterogeneity (I2=94.02 %, p<0.001). Publication bias was not significant (Egger's test p value=0.114). Critical trimester-specific analysis uncovered that third-trimester exposure significantly increased ASD risk (OR=1.17; 95 % CI: 1.01-1.34), while first-trimester (OR=1.02; 95 % CI: 0.92-1.11; I2=49.18 %, p<0.10) and second-trimester exposures (OR=1.13; 95 % CI: 0.88-1.38; I2=92.59 %, p<0.001) showed non-significant associations. This review identified prenatal and early life exposure to PM as a risk factor for ASD, indicating a trimester-specific vulnerability. It highlighted the necessity of focused air quality interventions and targeted guidance to reduce prenatal PM exposure to alleviate ASD risk during the critical-window.

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PubMed2026

Two-Year Outcomes of a 211 Care Coordination Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Early screening for developmental concerns enables timely diagnosis and referral, yet many families face barriers accessing services. Prior work showed that early childhood care coordination could improve timely service connection. This study assessed developmental outcomes among children participating in a randomized controlled trial of Information and Referral Federation of Los Angeles County (211LA). METHODS: Participants, aged 21-42 months, were randomized to usual care or the 211LA intervention. Developmental and behavioral measures, including the Parental Evaluation of Developmental Status Developmental Milestones Assessment Level (PEDS-DM-AL) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), were collected at baseline and 24 months later. The sample included 499 participants, 250 in the 211LA intervention and 249 in usual care. Primary analyses examined changes in PEDS-DM-AL and CBCL scores over the 24-month period by study arm. Post hoc analyses compared family characteristics between intervention and control families who enrolled in services. RESULTS: Developmental and behavioral measures showed some clinically insignificant change over time, but these changes did not differ by condition (expressive/receptive language skills mastered: P > .9; autism, attention, aggression, and externalizing behavior T scores: P > .4). Post hoc analyses identified potentially relevant imbalances between the treatment arms at baseline as well as in the subgroup that enrolled in services, with families assigned to the 211LA intervention being more likely to have a non-US born parent and a parent with limited English proficiency compared with families assigned to usual care. Intervention families enrolled in services also used telehealth more frequently and received a lower duration of services than those receiving usual care. CONCLUSIONS: This study measured the indirect influence of service enrollment through 211LA care coordination on developmental outcomes. Although increased service enrollment through 211LA did not affect developmental outcomes, we hypothesize this may be because of several factors, including overrepresentation of a subset of historically underrepresented families in the 211LA intervention, suboptimal performance of our developmental assessment tool, and complexity of conducting a trial of this magnitude during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have diminished the ability of this trial to demonstrate developmental benefits despite demonstrated service enrollment gains.

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PubMed2026

Cost-Effectiveness of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Interventions in Cancer: Systematic Review and Parameter Extraction for Economic Modeling.

BACKGROUND: Complex digital interventions that integrate electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROM) into clinical practice in cancer have the potential to improve quality of life, increase survival, and reduce health resource use and costs. Such systems can help patients with cancer self-manage chemotherapy symptoms, reduce clinicians' workloads through automated decision support, and resolve problems earlier. However, more research on the cost-effectiveness of ePROM monitoring is needed. OBJECTIVE: This paper comprises two complementary components: (1) a systematic literature review summarizing and evaluating the quantitative and qualitative evidence related to the cost-effectiveness of ePROM monitoring and (2) a health economic model parameter extraction. We also conducted supplementary targeted searches and scoping to provide context to our findings. METHODS: We searched Ovid (including MEDLINE and Embase), Scopus, and the International Health Technology Assessment Database for original English-language papers published on or before March 2025 using search strings that combined terms related to ePROMs, health economics, and cancer/oncology. We included papers reporting health economic-related outcomes for ePROM interventions designed for adult cancer populations and excluded screening tools and conference abstracts. RESULTS: We included 34 publications from 27 unique studies and identified and analyzed 26 ePROM-integrated interventions within these. Most (23/26) of the included interventions explicitly described some form of alert handling and automated decision support based on remote ePROM monitoring. Of the 34 publications, 5 presented full cost-effectiveness analysis results, of which 3 were highly uncertain and lacked clear differences in costs and health outcomes between ePROMs and standard care; conversely, 2 presented strong evidence of cost-effectiveness due to quality-of-life improvements, reduced hospitalizations, and potentially more autonomy in health-related travel (eg, ePROM-monitored patients can drive or walk to the hospital instead of using taxis or ambulances). A further 5 publications reported partial health economic results (eg, cost-consequence and budget impact), of which 1 detected no difference in strategies; in contrast, 4 reported lower health resource use and costs of ePROMs, mainly due to hospitalization reductions. Overall, 12 of the 27 studies included a qualitative component but mostly focused on user experience and design-related themes; only 2 of these addressed economic-specific themes (eg, changes in workflow and resource use due to ePROM implementation and integration), indicating some potential for time saving due to ePROM monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Some ePROM-integrated interventions demonstrated cost-effectiveness in cancer care, but the evidence base remains limited. Where evidence does exist, cost-effectiveness appears driven by reduced hospitalization and improved quality of life. Qualitative research within the included studies rarely addressed economic questions. We provide a detailed parameter extraction for use in future economic modeling and recommend research priorities, including quantitative mapping of ePROM symptom data onto health resource use patterns, and qualitative work exploring how ePROM implementation affects clinical workloads and patient-perspective costs.

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PubMed2026

Remotely Supervised, Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Major Depressive Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder affects over 280 million people worldwide, and access to effective treatment remains limited. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive option, and portable devices now allow for home-based delivery under varying degrees of remote supervision. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy, safety, feasibility, and acceptability of home-based and remotely supervised tDCS for depressive disorders. METHODS: Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 and PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses literature search extension) guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane databases, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform up to July 2025, with backward and forward citation searching. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies, and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for qualitative studies) and certainty of evidence (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation; GRADE). RESULTS: This review included 12 distinct studies (16 reports), of which 6 (50%) were randomized sham-controlled trials forming the meta-analytic pool. Active home-based tDCS produced a small, statistically significant improvement over sham (pooled Hedges g=0.36, 95% CI 0.06-0.66; P=.03; I2=34.3%). The effect was not robust to removal of the single largest positive trial (omitting the one study from 2025: g=0.39, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.91), and trial-level results were mixed: the 2 largest trials (one unsupervised [n=210] and one self-administered [n=141]) were negative on their primary depression outcomes, whereas the largest real-time supervised trial (n=174) was positive (between-group 95% CI 0.51-4.01; P=.01). This estimate was concordant in direction with an independent peer-reviewed meta-analysis of overlapping trials, which reported a pooled Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale reduction (weighted mean difference -2.74, 95% CI -4.19 to -1.29) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale reduction (weighted mean difference -2.24, 95% CI -4.16 to -1.49), attenuating to nonsignificance (P>.05) in major depressive disorder without comorbid cognitive impairment. The pooled effect fell at or near the minimal clinically important difference. GRADE certainty was moderate. Adverse events were predominantly mild: one pilot study was terminated early for skin lesions, and one nonfatal suicide attempt occurred in an unsupervised trial. CONCLUSIONS: Home-based and remotely supervised tDCS produces a small, statistically significant but clinically modest antidepressant effect that is sensitive to the inclusion of the largest positive trial, with the 2 largest trials being negative. The available controlled evidence does not establish supervision intensity as a determinant of efficacy. Current data are insufficient to recommend routine clinical adoption; adequately powered trials with standardized supervision and longer follow-up are needed.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of Wearable Digital Therapeutics in Improving Sleep Outcomes Among Individuals With Insomnia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Wearable devices are increasingly used for sleep monitoring and as adjunctive treatment. Existing meta-analyses mostly pool composite digital therapies and rarely isolate stand-alone wearables or distinguish between objective and subjective end points. Whether stand-alone wearable interventions improve sleep outcomes in adults with insomnia, and which factors moderate treatment heterogeneity, remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of wearable digital interventions on sleep outcomes in adults with insomnia versus control strategies and explore moderators of effectiveness, including device-wearing position, intervention duration, and control type, using meta-regression. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analyses) 2020 statement and the PRISMA-S (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analyses Literature Search Extension) guideline. Five electronic databases and clinical trial registries were searched from inception to May 18, 2026. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating wearable digital interventions in adults with insomnia compared with sham, waitlist, usual care, or active control conditions and had an intervention duration of at least 1 week. Study screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were carried out independently by 2 reviewers. Pooled estimates were calculated using a restricted maximum likelihood random-effects model with the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman correction. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and 95% prediction intervals (PIs) were calculated for the primary analyses. The certainty of evidence was rated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs (N=910) were included. Wearable digital interventions were associated with a significant reduction in objective sleep-onset latency (SOL; mean difference [MD] -4.52, 95% CI -8.38 to -0.67, PI -9.52 to 0.47 min) and a significant improvement in subjective sleep efficiency (SE; MD 2.00%, 95% CI 1.90%-2.11%, PI 1.85%-2.15%). Subjective total sleep time (TST) also showed a significant increase (MD 19.11, 95% CI 2.98-35.24, PI -16.20 to 54.43 minutes). Meta-regression showed that control type, intervention duration, and device location did not explain the heterogeneity of the insomnia severity index (ISI) (R²=0). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of pooled ISI estimates, and an Egger test indicated no small-study effects (P=.07). Certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to high. CONCLUSIONS: Wearable digital interventions provide selective benefits for objective SOL, subjective SE, and subjective TST in adults with insomnia, with no improvement in overall ISI. Despite statistically significant effects on several sleep parameters, wide PIs, substantial heterogeneity, and limited study numbers indicate preliminary, nonconclusive findings. Wearables should be viewed as affordable adjunctive tools requiring further validation, not substitutes for first-line cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Large-scale, long-term RCTs with standardized protocols and patient-level external validation are required to consolidate the evidence base.

Humans↗