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Sarcomas: Research on Ultrarare Subtypes Gains Ground.

Rare cancers account for almost one fourth of all cancers. Sarcomas belong to the group of cancerous diseases with an incidence of less than 6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Over the past decade, activities were launched worldwide to elucidate the peculiarities of many of the more than 100 sarcoma subtypes described in the World Health Organization handbook. The major contributor to exact diagnosis is molecular pathology. The subgroup of ultrarare sarcomas (URS) poses a significant problem as each URS type has its own morphology, biology, natural history, and prognosis. In 2020, 35 international sarcoma centers agreed to standards of evaluating URS. The threshold was set to an incidence of less than 1 case per 1,000,000 inhabitants, and 77 URS subtypes were defined. Also quality criteria for centers to be selected for retrieving data to registries were consented. This issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention contains the first article to validate these principles of URS using the data from a nationwide cancer database. The authors from Taiwan also pointed out limitations of the approach. Combination with the national death database allowed to calculate overall survival (OS) and identified age as a significant factor for OS per URS type. These new data might foster future research on diagnosis and treatment of URS. See related article by Lee et al., p. 1654.

Humans

Transpulmonary proteomic gradient analysis in women with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis.

This study investigated proteomic alterations in the pulmonary circulation of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis (PAH-SSc) by analyzing the transpulmonary protein gradient and comparing the proteomic profiles with systemic sclerosis (SSc) without PAH. Twenty women were included (10 PAH-SSc, 64.6 ± 10.8 years; 10 SSc, 62.8 ± 11.5 years). The transpulmonary gradient was defined as the difference in biomarker concentrations between wedge-position and pulmonary artery blood samples. Peptides were analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and differentially abundant proteins were identified with Proteome Discoverer. Protein-protein interaction networks were generated with STRING and visualized in Cytoscape. A total of 270 proteins were detected, with no significant transpulmonary gradient alterations. However, patients with PAH-SSc showed distinct proteomic profiles compared to SSc. Multivariate analysis identified 48 differentially abundant proteins in pulmonary artery plasma, with 15 overrepresented and 33 downregulated in PAH-SSc. Among these, the downregulation of transforming growth factor-beta-induced protein ig-h3 (TGFβI/ig-h3) points to a potential involvement of the TGF-β-related extracellular matrix remodelling pathway in PAH-SSc. However, further validation in larger and independent cohorts is required before its relevance as a biomarker or therapeutic target can be established. In conclusion, while no transpulmonary proteomic gradient was observed, the proteomic profiles of PAH-SSc and SSc were different. The profile in PAH-SSc was characterized by differences in immune response, lipid metabolism, and hemostatic proteins. SIGNIFICANCE: This study offers the first proteomic characterization of the transpulmonary gradient in PAH-SSc and SSc. Although no differences in the gradient were found, the pulmonary artery plasma proteome of PAH-SSc patients showed a distinct pattern compared to SSc. Several proteins associated with immune function, haemostasis, and cellular processes were altered, which may indicate specific pathophysiological features of PAH-SSc or suggest how lung dysfunction develops in SSc. Targeting dysregulated proteins like TGFβI/ig-h3 or addressing immune-coagulation imbalances may support future research studies. Overall, these findings refine the molecular profile of PAH-SSc and provide a basis for future large-scale studies aimed at clarifying disease mechanisms and identifying clinically relevant molecular signatures.

Humans

Exploring the role of successful exercise-induced body weight loss on cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is known to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., VO2MAX), a key marker of cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Nonetheless, body weight loss is widely recognized as a crucial factor in reducing insulin resistance and improving metabolic risk factors. Thus, we aimed to determine the importance of body weight loss following exercise training on improving MetS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-eight adults (55.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.9&#xa0;yr) with overweight/obesity (32.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;4.6&#xa0;kg&#xb7;m-2) and MetS were randomized to: a) standard health care non-exercise group (CONTROL group, N=58) or b) standard health care plus 16 weeks of HIIT (EXER group, N=170). MetS (MetS z-score), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2PEAK), maximal cycling power (WPEAK), and body weight/composition were assessed. After intervention, EXER group participants were divided according to their weight loss response to training: i) those achieving the weight loss predicted from estimated exercise energy expenditure (-BW group, n=78; -3.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;2.2&#xa0;kg); ii) those not reaching the expected weight loss (=BW group, n=38; -0.7&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.5&#xa0;kg); iii) and those who gained weight (+BW group, n=54; 1.1&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;1.0&#xa0;kg). VO2PEAK significantly improved regardless of body weight loss response (-BW, 0.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.3; =BW, 0.2&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.3; +BW, 0.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.2&#xa0;L&#xb7;min-1; all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) compared to CONTROL group (0.0&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.3&#xa0;L&#xb7;min-1). However, significant improvements in MetS z-score (-0.31&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.41) and HOMA-IR (-0.7&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;1.6) were observed only in the -BW group (both p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise recommendations should consider that greater improvements in MetS are observed when interventions are accompanied by successful body weight loss. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05120778.

Humans

Paramedian supracerebellar transtentorial approach for Ya&#x15f;argil T2 tentorial incisura meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE: Tentorial incisura meningiomas, particularly those arising from the middle incisural region (Ya&#x15f;argil T2), are surgically challenging because of their deep location and compression of critical neurovascular structures. These lesions typically have supratentorial or infratentorial extension but can also extend across both compartments. Although approach selection is often guided by the dominant compartment of tumor extension, for lesions with supratentorial-dominant extension, the optimal approach remains controversial, and a standardized strategy has not been established. Authors of this study evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of the paramedian supracerebellar transtentorial (PST) approach for Ya&#x15f;argil T2 tentorial incisura meningiomas with a supratentorial-dominant or combined extension. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed data from consecutive patients with radiographic and intraoperative findings consistent with a Ya&#x15f;argil T2 tentorial incisura lesion treated via the PST approach from September 2005 through December 2025. Patients were placed in a semisitting position whenever feasible and in a semilateral position when semisitting was contraindicated. Collected data included demographics, tumor extension patterns, extent of resection on postoperative MRI, neurological outcomes, histopathology, rate of recurrence, and follow-up. RESULTS: Six patients, 1 male and 5 female, with an overall mean age of 43 years, underwent resection via the PST approach. Four lesions had predominantly supratentorial extension, and 2 had combined supra- and infratentorial growth, with no cases of isolated infratentorial extension. Five patients had been placed in the semisitting position and 1 in a semilateral position because of a cardiac contraindication to the semisitting position. No new permanent neurological deficits were observed. Postoperative MRI showed Simpson grade I resection in all 6 patients. The mean follow-up was 8.6 years. Histopathological analysis revealed 3 WHO grade 1 meningiomas, 1 WHO grade 2 meningioma (clear cell), and 2 solitary fibrous tumors (meningioma mimics). These diagnoses were evaluated according to the 2021 WHO classification. CONCLUSIONS: In this consecutive series, the PST approach was a viable single-corridor strategy for Ya&#x15f;argil T2 tentorial incisura lesions, including supratentorial-dominant tumors, achieving Simpson grade I resection with no permanent neurological deficits. By providing early devascularization at the tentorial attachment and a gravity-assisted, retractorless working corridor with favorable deep venous visualization, the PST approach challenges compartment dominance as the primary determinant of approach selection.

Humans

Formation of environmental persistent free radicals in soil of ammunition demolition site: Roles of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and heavy metals.

Environmental Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) are a particular type of contaminant present in soil. This study investigated the formation process, environmental behavior, and main influencing variables of EPFRs in soils contaminated with heavy metals and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from an ammunition demolition site. The results showed that the concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) in the soil was negatively correlated with EPFRs (r = -0.29). In contrast, the content of TNT and copper was significantly positively correlated with EPFRs (r = 0.90 and 0.78, respectively), indicating that TNT acts as a precursor macromolecule in the formation of EPFRs in this type of contaminated soil. Transition metal Cu may be an essential carrier in EPFR production. In order to explore the possible formation mechanism of EPFRs, a simulation experiment was carried out under different temperature and light conditions. The results showed that the photolysis process of TNT was impacted by external energy sources such as heat and light. TNT was firstly adsorbed onto the surface of a transition metal (Cu), and then EPFRs were formed through further electron transfer. This is the first study to detect significant levels of EPFRs in the soil at ammunition demolition sites.

Trinitrotoluene

Prevalence and risk factors of red blood cell alloimmunization among sickle cell disease patients in resource-limited countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy characterized by hemoglobin S production, in which homozygous individuals (HbSS) develop a broad range of acute and chronic complications. While disease-modifying and curative therapies are increasingly available in high-income settings, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion remains the mainstay of treatment in resource-limited countries and is associated with high rates of alloimmunization. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of alloimmunization and identify associated risk factors among patients with SCD living in resource-limited settings. METHODS: Africa Journals Online (AJOL), Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for original studies published from inception to December 15, 2025. Only studies conducted in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) were included. Eligible studies evaluated the prevalence of alloimmunization in patients with SCD receiving RBC transfusions. A random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was performed to pool quantitative data, while qualitative findings were systematically summarized in tabular form. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I&#xb2; statistic and further explored using Baujat plots, leave-one-out analyses, and meta-regression. RESULTS: Our analysis included 27 studies conducted in Africa (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;23) and Asia (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;4), predominantly from lower-middle-income countries (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;19) and mainly employing a cross-sectional design (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;20), comprising 3128 previously transfused patients with SCD. The pooled prevalence of RBC alloimmunization was 8.76% (95% CI: 6.71-11.37%; I&#xb2; = 75%). Higher alloimmunization rates were observed in West and North Africa, particularly in C&#xf4;te d'Ivoire, Egypt, and Nigeria, whereas lower rates were reported in Asia and East Africa. The most frequently identified antibodies belonged to the Rh blood group system (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;153), followed by the Kell system (n&#x202f;=&#x202f;65). CONCLUSION: In resource-limited settings, RBC alloimmunization is a frequent and clinically significant complication in patients with SCD, contributing to increased morbidity and potential mortality. Targeted and economically viable antigen matching may reduce alloimmunization rates and improve transfusion safety in LMICs.

Humans

Targeted variant analysis of feline mediastinal lymphoma using MassARRAY and clinical associations.

Lymphoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in cats. This study used the Agena MassARRAY to genotype 40 variants across 17 genes in feline mediastinal lymphoma. These variants have previously been identified in tumors, including T- and B-cell lymphomas, acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemias, and mast cell tumors, in humans, dogs, and cats, using various methods. They were selected based on high prevalence reported in prior oncology studies, potential relevance to targeted therapy, and suitability for multiplex PCR amplification. Pleural fluid samples were collected from 76 cats with mediastinal lymphoma, including 69 domestic shorthairs, two Persians, two Siamese, two Wichienmaat, and one Scottish Fold. The most prevalent variants were found in the BCL2, KIT, STAT3, and ZEB1 genes. Specifically, BCL2 c.83275986G&#xa0;>&#xa0;A and c.83275992G&#xa0;>&#xa0;T were present in 71.1% and 57.9%, respectively. In cats with variant-positive in KIT c.163965724C&#xa0;>&#xa0;CT significantly reduced (11&#xa0;days) compared to wild-type cats (94&#xa0;days) (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). In cats with variant-positive in STAT3 c.42942437C&#xa0;>&#xa0;CA, resulted in shorter median survival compared to wild-type cats (18&#xa0;days vs. 77&#xa0;days, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.006). The findings suggest that the variant panel could be useful for the genomic landscape of feline mediastinal lymphoma and warrant further validation.

Animals

A multi-center, open-labelled, randomized controlled extended phase III non-inferiority clinical trial to evaluate the immunogenicity and tolerability of poliomyelitis vaccine (Vero cells), inactivated, Sabin strains administered with or without routine infant vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) has been reported to cause vaccine-derived poliovirus and vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis, and the limited global supply of conventional IPV has led many countries to rely on fractional-dose IPV regimens alongside OPV. The current study aims to assess the sIPV safety and immunogenicity when given concurrently with or in a staggered manner with routine immunization. METHODS: A multi-country, multi-center, open-label, randomized controlled, extended phase III non-inferiority clinical trial was conducted with 1442 healthy infants aged 6-8&#xa0;weeks from Bangladesh and Pakistan enrolled and randomized into four groups, i.e., co-administration group 1 (group C1), co-administration group 2 (group C2), staggered administration group 1 (group S1) and staggered administration group 2 (group S2). Antibody levels were determined using the collected sera for immunogenicity evaluation. The difference in seroconversion rates between the coadministration group and the staggered administration group is compared using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel &#x3c7;2 (CMH-&#x3c7;2) test, stratified by study site. Non-inferiority is concluded if the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the rate difference (coadministration group minus staggered administration group) is greater than -10%. The trial was registered prior to patient enrollment at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05850364), and the protocol and statistical analysis plan are available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05850364. The trial is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: The post-vaccination seroconversion rates for PV I were 90.3% (306/339) in group C1 and 87.0% (261/300) in group S1, for PV II, 91.7% (311/339) in group C1 and 91.3% (274/300) in group S1 and for PV III, 86.4% (293/339) in group C1 and 92.3% (277/300) in group S1. Among adverse reactions (ARs) reported within 7&#xa0;days of vaccination, the incidence was similarly high in both the co-administration and staggered vaccination groups (92.8% vs. 95.5%). INTERPRETATION: Our results demonstrated favorable safety and immunogenicity of co-administration of sIPV with other routine infant vaccines according to a 3-dose primary immunization schedule.

Humans

Multi-omics reveals that burdock seed aglycone alleviates renal fibrosis by restoring mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation function.

Renal fibrosis (RF), a common pathological process driving chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression to end-stage renal failure, is closely associated with oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Arctigenin (ATG), the main active component of burdock seed, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities, but its mechanisms in RF treatment remain unclear. Here, we performed integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify key targets and pathways of ATG in a unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced rat RF model. Multi-omics enrichment analysis revealed that NDUFS8 and NDUFS2 were the core targets of ATG, with the OXPHOS pathway as the central intersecting pathway. Our results suggest that ATG exerts anti-renal fibrosis effects by targeting the OXPHOS pathway to inhibit excessive reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress. SIGNIFICANCE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to impose an escalating global health and socioeconomic burden, while renal fibrosis (RF), as the convergent pathological endpoint of virtually all progressive nephropathies, remains the principal determinant of irreversible renal failure and adverse clinical outcomes. Despite extensive efforts to develop antifibrotic therapies, effective clinical interventions remain elusive, largely due to the complex and multifactorial nature of RF pathogenesis. In this study, we employed an integrated multi-omics framework encompassing transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to systematically decipher the antifibrotic mechanism of arctigenin (ATG), a bioactive natural compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Our findings identify mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation as the pivotal regulatory axis underlying the renoprotective effects of ATG and further establish key catalytic subunits of mitochondrial complex I as its direct molecular targets. Mechanistically, ATG not only restores complex I activity and reprograms mitochondrial energy metabolism but also preserves the intracellular stability and localization of these subunits, thereby preventing their aberrant release-mediated inflammatory activation and disrupting the self-perpetuating cycle linking metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis progression. Beyond revealing a previously unrecognized dual mechanism integrating metabolic and inflammatory regulation, this study provides compelling evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction is not merely a secondary consequence of tissue injury but a fundamental driver of fibrotic remodeling. Importantly, our work highlights the translational potential of natural product-based mitochondrial interventions for CKD treatment and supports a broader conceptual shift toward metabolism-centered therapeutic strategies for chronic fibrotic diseases. Given the central role of mitochondrial dysfunction across multiple organs, these findings may also have far-reaching implications for the treatment of systemic fibrosis-related disorders beyond the kidney.

Animals

Re-evaluating pediatric laryngoscope blade size recommendations: Comparable intubation performance across blade sizes in pediatric manikin models.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric airway management traditionally emphasizes strict adherence to age-based laryngoscope blade size recommendations, despite limited empirical validation. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether intubation performance varies across a range of blade sizes, and whether a Macintosh 2 blade performs comparably across multiple pediatric age groups in a simulation setting. METHODS: We conducted a randomized crossover simulation study using three pediatric airway manikins (neonate, infant, and child age groups). Emergency medicine residents and faculty physicians performed intubations using multiple laryngoscope blade types and sizes, including standard and nonstandard options. Primary outcomes were intubation time and first-attempt success. Secondary outcomes included complications and operator-rated ease of glottic view and tube passage. Between-blade differences were estimated with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Across manikin sizes and blade types, intubation times were short and first-attempt success rates exceeded 98% in most conditions. Performance remained consistent even with blade sizes outside conventional age-based recommendations. Between-blade differences in intubation time were small, and complication rates were low across conditions. The Macintosh 2 blade performed comparably across all manikin sizes, with similar intubation times, high success rates, and favorable ease ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Intubation performance in pediatric manikin models was similar across a wide range of blade sizes. These hypothesis-generating findings warrant prospective clinical evaluation of simplified blade selection strategies for pediatric intubation.

Manikins

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 &#x223c;0.47&#x202f;fM and a quantitative range of 1&#x202f;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

Comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacokinetically guided and body surface area-based 5-fluorouracil dosing in colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Body surface area (BSA)-based 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dosing remains the standard in colorectal cancer despite substantial interpatient pharmacokinetic variability, which may lead to underexposure, treatment failure, or severe toxicity. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated whether pharmacokinetically guided 5-FU dosing improves efficacy and safety compared with conventional BSA-based dosing. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched from inception to the final search date. The search identified 1,802 records: PubMed/MEDLINE, 47; Embase, 118; and Scopus, 1,637 records. Comparative randomized and non-randomized studies evaluating pharmacokinetically guided, area under the curve-guided, or therapeutic drug monitoring-based 5-FU dosing versus BSA-based dosing in colorectal cancer were included. Random-effects models were employed. The risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. RESULTS: Five studies comprising 809 unique patients were included. Across the primary severe-toxicity analysis, the pooled denominator was 1,338 reported observations, including 625 in the PK-guided 5-FU dosing arm and 713 in the BSA-based 5-FU dosing arm, because one study reported severe toxicity by treatment cycle rather than by patient. PK-guided dosing was associated with lower severe or grade&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;3 toxicity (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.33-0.76; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001; I&#xb2;=79%). PK-guided dosing was also associated with a higher objective response rate (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.24-1.80; P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001) and disease control rate (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.30; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001). Severe diarrhea was reduced (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18-0.62; P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0006), whereas mucositis, neutropenia/leukopenia, and hand-foot syndrome were not significantly different between dosing strategies. CONCLUSION: PK-guided 5-FU dosing was associated with lower severe toxicity and diarrhea and higher objective response and disease-control rates than conventional BSA-based dosing. However, the evidence was derived from a small and clinically heterogeneous group of studies, and progression-free or overall-survival benefits could not be established. The findings apply predominantly to metastatic colorectal cancer treated with infusional 5-FU within FOLFOX- or FOLFIRI-based regimens. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable. This study was a systematic review and metaanalysis, and not a clinical trial.

Humans

Multisensory stimulation for promoting development and preventing morbidity in preterm infants.

RATIONALE: Multisensory stimulation is a structured, developmentally appropriate intervention that provides simultaneous or sequential stimulation of two or more senses (e.g. tactile, auditory, visual, or vestibular) in a controlled and non-stressful manner, with the aim of supporting early neurodevelopment in preterm infants. It has the potential to enhance physiological regulation in preterm infants by stabilizing key functions, such as respiratory patterns, heart rate, and oxygen saturation; reducing the need for respiratory support; and improving feeding performance and sleep regulation. Targeted multisensory interventions have also been associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes, including enhanced psychomotor development and visual function. OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of multisensory stimulation compared to any single sensory intervention or standard care on major neurodevelopmental disability, mortality, and growth in preterm infants. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, Epistemonikos, two trial registries, and conference abstracts up to 28 November 2025. We checked reference lists of included trials, and systematic reviews on sensory interventions. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing multisensory stimulation in preterm infants with no intervention (placebo or standard care), and one RCT comparing multisensory stimulation with single-sense stimulation (tactile stimulation). OUTCOMES: Our critical outcomes were major neurodevelopmental disability at 18 to 24 months: cerebral palsy (CP), developmental delay, intellectual impairment, blindness, sensorineural deafness; death during initial hospitalization; and total weight gain (grams), assessed at discharge. When comparing multisensory stimulation with single-sense intervention, we also included weight gain during the intervention, an outcome added during the post-hoc analysis. Important outcomes were duration of hospital stay, of NICU stay, and of respiratory support; and time until full oral feeding. RISK OF BIAS: We used the Cochrane tool, RoB 2. SYNTHESIS METHODS: We conducted meta-analyses using fixed-effect models to calculate risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous data, and mean differences (MDs) for continuous data, each with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed statistical heterogeneity by calculating the I2 statistic when we included more than two trials in a meta-analysis. We evaluated the certainty of evidence using GRADE. INCLUDED STUDIES: We included 19 trials (1554 newborn infants): 18 studies compared multisensory stimulation with standard care; one compared multisensory stimulation with single-sensory stimulation (tactile). In 10 studies, the primary aim was to assess the neurobehavioral outcomes of multisensory stimulation on preterm neo-nates. The other nine studies aimed to assess the impact of multisensory stimulation on weight gain during the intervention, weight gain until hospital discharge, length of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, length of hospital stay, time until full oral feeding, length of respiratory support, or a combination. In the abstract we report results for the critical outcomes only. We identified 13 ongoing studies. Four studies are awaiting assessment. SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS: Multisensory stimulation compared to standard care No studies reported on these major neurodevelopmental disabilities, assessed at 18 to 24 months' corrected age (CA): developmental delay, intellectual impairment, blindness, or sensorineural deafness. One study reported on rates of CP at 12 months of age. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of multisensory stimulation on CP (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.58; I&#xb2; not applicable; 1 study, 18 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence suggests that multisensory stimulation may result in little to no difference in death during initial hospitalization (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.73; I&#xb2; not applicable; 1 study, 395 participants; low-certainty evidence). Multisensory stimulation may increase total weight gain prior to discharge (MD 72.67, 95% CI 68.23 to 77.12; I&#xb2; = 0%; 3 studies, 474 participants; low-certainty evidence). Multisensory stimulation compared to single-sense (tactile) stimulation No studies reported on major neurodevelopmental disability, assessed at 18 to 24 months' CA, or death during initial hospitalization. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of multisensory stimulation compared to tactile stimulation on weight gain during the intervention (MD -175.00, 95% CI -376.60 to 26.60; I&#xb2; not applicable; 1 study, 20 participants; very low-certainty evidence). The certainty of the evidence was low to very low across outcomes, primarily due to risk of bias, imprecision from small sample sizes and wide CIs, and in some cases, inconsistency. The evidence base was also limited by the lack of reporting of relevant outcomes and reliance on surrogate outcomes or shorter follow-up periods. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence on multisensory stimulation in preterm infants is limited and of low to very low certainty. No included studies reported on major neurodevelopmental disabilities at 18 to 24 months' CA, which represented a critical outcome for this review. Evidence regarding the effect of multisensory stimulation on CP is very uncertain, as it is based on a single small study reporting a surrogate outcome at 12 months. Multisensory stimulation may result in little to no difference in mortality during the initial hospitalization. It may increase total weight gain prior to discharge. However, the clinical significance of this finding is uncertain, particularly given the low certainty of the evidence and the multifactorial nature of growth in preterm infants. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of multisensory stimulation compared to single-sense (tactile) stimulation on weight gain during the intervention. The only included study did not report major neurodevelopmental disabilities at 18 to 24 months' CA, mortality during the initial hospitalization, or total weight gain prior to discharge, which represented the critical outcomes for this review. Overall, the current evidence does not allow firm conclusions about the effectiveness of multisensory stimulation in promoting development or preventing morbidity in preterm infants. Future studies on multisensory stimulation should use more rigorous designs, larger samples, and report interventions using the template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) checklist to ensure transparency. They should also report essential outcomes, such as neonatal death, major neurodevelopmental disabilities, length of hospital and NICU stay, time to full oral feeding, duration of respiratory support, and weight gain, to better assess the long&#x2011;term effects of multisensory stimulation in preterm infants. FUNDING: This Cochrane review had no dedicated funding. REGISTRATION: Protocol available via DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD016073.

Humans

Higher Rates of PASS and SCB After Arthroscopic Subspine Decompression Are Associated With a Positive Diagnostic AIIS Injection: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Hip arthroscopy effectively treats femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), but persistent pain may be related to concomitant extra-articular pathology such as subspine impingement syndrome (SSI). Standard diagnosis of SSI often relies on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) morphology (Hetsroni type II/III), although this morphology is common in individuals who are asymptomatic and correlates poorly with symptoms. PURPOSE: To compare minimum 2-year clinical outcomes after arthroscopic subspine decompression in patients with concurrent FAIS and type II/III anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) morphology, stratified by diagnostic method: 3D-CT morphology alone versus 3D-CT morphology plus a positive ultrasound-guided diagnostic injection. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This study included patients aged 18 to 55 years with type II/III AIIS morphology who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS and SSI between January 2021 and November 2023 and had minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients diagnosed by CT morphology alone (CT classification group) were propensity score matched 1:1 to patients with a positive ultrasound-guided AIIS injection (injection group), with 57 patients per group. Matching variables were age, sex, body mass index, lateral center-edge angle, alpha angle, T&#xf6;nnis grade, and Beighton score. All patients underwent arthroscopic subspine decompression. Patient-reported outcomes and rates of achieving the minimal clinically important difference, Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) were compared. RESULTS: Preoperative patient-reported outcome scores were similar between groups (all P > .05). At minimum 2-year follow-up, the injection group had significantly better scores on the modified Harris Hip Score (90.8 vs 84.2), Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (88.4 vs 82.4), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Subscale (71.9 vs 64.1), 12-item International Hip Outcome Tool (83.9 vs 76.1), and visual analog scale for pain (1.2 vs 2.0) (all P < .001). Minimal clinically important difference rates were high in both groups, with higher rates in the injection group for modified Harris Hip Score (93% vs 77%; P = .033) and Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (91% vs 75%; P = .042). PASS and SCB rates were significantly higher in the injection group across all patient-reported outcome measures (all P < .05). Revision and complication rates were low and did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSION: Both groups improved significantly after arthroscopic subspine decompression. However, patients with a positive ultrasound-guided diagnostic AIIS injection achieved higher PASS and SCB rates than those selected by CT morphology alone, suggesting that injection-confirmed SSI may improve patient selection for subspine decompression.

Humans

Evaluating Patient Satisfaction and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14): A Multicenter Crossover Study Comparing Selective Pressure Impression Conventional Dentures with Mucostatic Digital Dentures.

PURPOSE: To compare patient satisfaction and oral health impact between individuals receiving complete dentures made by digital methods and those using conventional techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized crossover clinical trial, 23 patients aged 40 years and older with completely edentulous arches were enrolled at three treatment centers. Each participant received two sets of complete dentures: one set created using conventional methods (selective pressure impression) and the other through digital techniques (mucostatic digital impression). The order of denture placement was randomized, with each set used for 4 weeks. A trained specialist administered treatments alongside research tools, including a general information questionnaire, a denture satisfaction survey, and the OHIP-14 interview tool. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Participants with digital dentures reported significantly higher satisfaction regarding treatment duration, comfort, confidence, chewing ability, esthetics, and overall satisfaction compared to those with conventional dentures. There were no significant differences in satisfaction concerning speech and pronunciation. Overall, the oral health impact on quality of life was similar between denture types, but participants indicated improved quality of life while using dentures compared to being edentulous. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with digital dentures exhibited greater satisfaction across various domains compared to those with conventional dentures, despite similar satisfaction levels in speech and pronunciation. The impact on quality of life was comparable between both types, as measured by the OHIP-14.

Humans

ARR1 and ARR12 negatively regulate arsenic stress tolerance by controlling flavonoid metabolism in Arabidopsis.

ARR1/12-mediated cytokinin signaling negatively regulates the accumulation of glycosylated flavonoids, thereby increasing plant susceptibility to As(III) stress. Cytokinins negatively regulate arsenic stress tolerance in plants through cytokinin-signaling type-B Arabidopsis response regulators (B-ARRs), specifically ARR1 and ARR12. However, the mechanism by which cytokinin signaling regulates plant metabolite dynamics, particularly antioxidant flavonoids, in response to arsenic toxicity remains largely unknown. Here, we hypothesized that ARR1/12-mediated cytokinin signaling modulates flavonoid metabolism to regulate arsenite [As(III)] tolerance. By comparing the global metabolic changes in roots of the arr1 12 double mutant (rD) and wild-type (WT) plants, we found that As(III) stress globally reduced metabolite abundance in WT roots. Importantly, the rD mutant accumulated significantly more flavonoids, most in glycosylated forms, than WT under As(III) exposure, which was supported by the specific upregulation of UDP-glycosyltransferase genes involved in flavonoid glycosylation. Accordingly, exogenous application of the glycosylated quercitrin-enhanced As(III) tolerance in WT roots, strengthening that the increase of glycosylated flavonoids in rD roots was beneficial for plant survival under As(III) exposure. Our data collectively strongly support that the increased glycosylation of flavonoids in the rD mutant improves their antioxidant functionality, thereby enhancing the As(III) stress tolerance. This study provides a new insight into the negative role of cytokinin signaling in repressing glycosylated flavonoid accumulation, causing increased susceptibility of plants to As(III) stress. Manipulation of cytokinin signaling or flavonoid glycosylation is, therefore, a promising approach for heavy metal stress mitigation in crops.

Arabidopsis

Non-parametric differential methylation analysis characterizes histotype-specific promoter regions in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a heterogenous disease with frequent late-stage diagnosis and high mortality rates, for which no reliable screening tests exist. In recent years, epigenetic biomarkers in the form of DNA methylation in CpG-rich regions have gained increased attention in the scientific community due to their robust nature and accessibility, allowing for diagnosis without the need for invasive surgery. In this study, we investigated the aberrant methylation of promoter regions in early stage EOC through non-parametric methods, with the purpose of characterizing candidate epigenetic biomarkers. The approach was used on a cohort of early stage EOC samples, and results were compared to existing programs for differential methylation. Significant regions were then used to construct a CpG panel for stratifying EOC histotypes through predictive classification in external data. Identified promoter regions were highly reproducible across cohorts, and the constructed CpG model stratified histotypes in external cohorts through predictive classification. Comparisons against other DMP and DMR callers showed a degree of homogeneity between results but also revealed promoter regions that were overlooked despite clear signs of aberrant methylation. Finally, EOC histotypes were found to differ in their methylation distribution types, and results indicate that methods sensitive to non-normally distributed data may be poorly suited to compare groups with different distribution types. The non-parametric approach identified aberrantly methylated promoter regions that were highly reproducible across cohorts. Results from predictive classification indicate that these regions may be useful for the purpose of EOC histotype stratification.

Humans

Prognostic Value of Circulating Tumor DNA-Based Minimal Residual Disease for Recurrence-Free Survival in Resectable Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Serial Monitoring Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based minimal residual disease (MRD) is an emerging biomarker, but its utility in resectable gastric cancer remains incompletely characterized. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies (520 patients) to evaluate the prognostic value of ctDNA-based MRD for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in resectable gastric cancer. RESULTS: In localized resectable gastric cancer (Stage I-III), the setting in which postoperative ctDNA most coherently represents true molecular residual disease after curative-intent surgery, postoperative ctDNA positivity was associated with diminished recurrence-free survival (RFS: HR 12.26, 95% CI 3.30-45.52) and overall survival (OS: HR 8.57, 95% CI 3.06-23.98). The test for subgroup differences between localized and mixed-stage cohorts was not statistically significant (P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.57), and the numerically higher HR in the localized subgroup should therefore not be interpreted as evidence of a quantitatively stronger prognostic effect. Postoperative ctDNA detection demonstrated substantially stronger prognostic value (overall RFS: HR 10.00, 95% CI 4.53-22.10) compared to preoperative assessment (HR 2.17, 95% CI 1.10-4.28). Both tumor-informed and tumor-agnostic strategies effectively stratified high-risk patients. However, these effect sizes should be interpreted cautiously given the small number of studies and substantial heterogeneity (I2&#x2009;=&#x2009;65-72%). Results from mixed-stage cohorts including Stage IV disease are supportive but should not be considered equivalent to localized-disease findings, as ctDNA in metastatic disease reflects persistent systemic burden rather than minimal residual disease in the postoperative sense. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative ctDNA-based MRD shows a consistent adverse prognostic association in resectable gastric cancer, with localized disease (Stage I-III) representing the most biologically and clinically coherent setting for interpretation. However, the large pooled hazard ratios (HR 10.00-12.26) should be interpreted as a directionally consistent signal rather than precise quantitative estimates, given the small number of studies, wide confidence intervals, and substantial heterogeneity (I2&#x2009;=&#x2009;65-73%). This heterogeneity is largely driven by substantial variation in postoperative sampling timing (4&#xa0;days to 16&#xa0;weeks) and ctDNA assay characteristics (platform, sensitivity, coverage, variant filtering, and positivity thresholds), which require standardization in future studies. While ctDNA is prognostically valuable, its clinical utility remains unestablished. Prospective randomized trials are needed to determine whether ctDNA-guided strategies improve patient outcomes before routine clinical implementation can be recommended.

Humans