SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “reference values”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

453 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

PubMed2026

Global Seroprevalence of Q Fever Antibodies to Coxiella burnetii in Children and Adolescents : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively determine global estimates of Q fever seroprevalence in children and adolescents by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Searches of published articles in MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases were conducted from inception until February 2025. STUDY SELECTION: Cross-sectional studies reporting seroprevalence of Q fever/ Coxiella burnetii antibodies, using any established laboratory test, in any population of healthy children and adolescents <20 years old were included. The quality of eligible articles was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. DATA EXTRACTION: Data from eligible articles were extracted using a standardized form, which included year of publication, year(s) the study was conducted, numbers of antibody-positive cases/specific population, age, country, geographic region, serology test used and antibody titer cutoff value. DATA SYNTHESIS: DerSimonian and Laird random effects models were used to calculate pooled seroprevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals in data from 41 eligible articles reporting 42 studies comprising 9841 children and adolescents. Q fever seroprevalence was observed in multiple countries across 7 geographic regions, and varied markedly between countries and regions, with the highest estimate observed by an individual country in Ethiopia (45%) and by region in the Middle East (14%). Seroprevalence estimates were higher in older children and adolescents ≥10 years (15%) compared with younger children <10 years of age (8%). CONCLUSION: Despite varying geographical prevalence, our findings demonstrate that widespread exposure to Q fever antigens occurs across multiple global regions in children and adolescents to potentially serious C. burnetii infection, indicating that diagnostic surveillance and preventive measures should be considered in both endemic and previously unreported areas.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of psychosocial and lifestyle interventions in promoting behaviour change and improving cognitive outcomes in older people with memory concerns: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline have a greater dementia risk, particularly those from minority ethnic and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Psychosocial and lifestyle interventions targeting modifiable risk factors offer hope for reducing risk, yet behavioural mechanisms remain unclear. This systematic review examines these mechanisms and associated outcomes. METHOD: We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Web of Science, and Scopus for randomised control trials testing interventions that aimed to improve lifestyle and cognition in older adults with memory concerns. We explored behavioural mechanisms using the COM-B model and synthesised intervention effectiveness, overall and within underserved groups. We prioritised lower risk of bias studies. RESULTS: 26 studies described 23 randomised controlled trials (14 multidomain, 9 single domain interventions). Certainty of evidence that behaviour change was associated with cognition was low. Moderate-certainty evidence indicated that interventions providing a socially supportive environment and combining nutritional education and counselling for 6 + months improved diet. Physical activity improved primarily in interventions incorporating education, structured training, and enablement strategies (e.g., tailored programmes, providing tools). Interventions simultaneously targeting capability, opportunity and motivation showed greater overall effectiveness. Few studies recorded ethnicity (13%) or sociodemographic status (9%), and none explored their impact. CONCLUSIONS: Non-pharmacological interventions can help this population improve their lifestyles if they feel capable, equipped and motivated, highlighting the value of careful design and implementation. There is scarce evidence on how these interventions work for underserved populations. Future research should explore this to inform tailored interventions and develop equitable dementia prevention strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparative Efficacy of Non-opioid Analgesic Drugs for Chronic Cancer Pain: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: While opioids remain the primary pharmacological intervention for cancer pain management, their clinical utility is frequently compromised by dose-limiting toxicities. This study aimed to determine the comparative efficacy, opioid-sparing potential, and clinical hierarchy of non-opioid adjuvant drug classes. The study was structured around the PICO framework to evaluate the pharmacological strategies currently utilized in multimodal clinical oncology. METHODS: A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane) was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and 2025. The primary outcome was global analgesic efficacy (standardized mean difference [SMD]), while secondary outcomes included the opioid-sparing effect, defined as the percentage reduction in morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) and the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (Harms). A Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to rank treatments using SUCRA values. The methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2.0) tool. RESULTS: Twenty-three RCTs (n = 1845) met the inclusion criteria. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (-1.10) and anticonvulsants (-1.06) demonstrated the most robust analgesic effects. The SUCRA ranking confirmed a clear hierarchy, with the combination of anticonvulsants and antidepressants showing the highest probability of efficacy. A significant opioid-sparing effect was observed for gabapentinoids and ketamine, facilitating MEDD reduction. While serious adverse events were rare, minor harms (somnolence, dizziness) were more frequent in the most effective classes. CONCLUSION: Our NMA provides a robust evidence base for a "Clinical Tier" system, ranking adjuvants by their balance of efficacy and safety. These findings support the early integration of Tier I agents (anticonvulsants and NSAIDs) to optimize pain control and reduce opioid-related toxicities in chronic cancer pain management.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Assessment of atypical glandular cell interpretation in Pap tests using the Hologic Genius Digital Diagnostics System.

Atypical glandular cells (AGC) are a diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and diagnostic performance of AGC detection on the Hologic Genius Digital Diagnostics System (HGDDS). A retrospective analysis of 451 ThinPrep Pap cases was conducted, including 207 cases of AGC, 27 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 25 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), and 192 benign cases. All AGC cases had follow-up histologic diagnoses, with 66 cases subsequently diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. The slides were randomized, scanned, and analyzed by the HGDDS. Patient age and HPV test results were provided to reviewers, an experienced cytologist, who screened the cases, followed by two cytopathologists who independently examined the cases on the HGDDS. Diagnostic concordance between the two cytopathologists indicated strong agreement (κ = 0.829). Sensitivity of AGC on Papanicolaou (Pap) tests for adenocarcinoma detection on HGDDS was 98.5% and 95.5%, respectively, comparable to the original ThinPrep interpretation (OTPI). Specificity for adenocarcinoma detection was significantly higher (84.6% and 85.6%) with the HGDDS than 27.7% with OTPI. Overall, the diagnostic performance for AGC/HSIL interpretation to detect CIN2/3/adenocarcinoma appeared to have improved with HGDDS compared with OTPI, particularly for specificity and positive predictive value (PPV). This is the first study evaluating AGC diagnosis using the HGDDS. The findings demonstrate that the sensitivity of adenocarcinoma detection as AGC on HGDDS is comparable to the ThinPrep Imaging System, but the specificity and PPV are improved. This suggests the potential of artificial intelligence to augment the performance of cervical cancer screening.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Positive conversion of latent tuberculosis screening in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on antitumor necrosis factor alpha drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients undergoing antitumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF) therapy are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), making screening before anti-TNF initiation mandatory. Repeated screening during treatment is not yet recommended because of a lack of studies to support this practice. We aimed to determine the proportion of patients who develop latent TB during anti-TNF therapy. We systematically searched studies from MEDLINE, Embase, and Lilacs, and performed a single-arm meta-analysis investigating the positive conversion rate in IBD patients under anti-TNF therapy with previous negative TB screening. We calculated the combined proportion with 95% confidence interval, using the random-effects model. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for subgroup differences. We included 13 studies from nine countries with 1153 patients. The overall positive conversion rate was 9.20%. Portugal had 18.01% of positive conversion, Spain 4.51%, and the USA 1.11%. Tests for subgroup differences were statistically significant for subgroup analysis by country and consistency of test used (performig same test as baseline). Subgroup analyses by continent, study design, or specific test (tuberculin skin test or interferon-gamma release assay) showed no statistical difference. Meta-regression analysis showed a significant positive association between positive conversion and TB incidence. In conclusion, IBD patients on anti-TNF therapy can have a positive conversion rate of 9.20%. Higher conversion rates were seen in European and Asian studies compared with those in the Americas (particularly the USA). TB prevention strategies should, therefore, be individualized and based on geographic location and risk factors.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Faster N1 latency in response to homeostatic-like plasticity of PREPs is impaired during pain: A randomized-placebo capsaicin-pain study.

INTRODUCTION: Homeostatic-like plasticity (HP-like) stabilizes cortical excitability through long-term potentiation and depression-like mechanisms. The efficacy of homeostatic regulation in the corticomotor system is impaired during pain, which may have functional relevance for chronic pain. This study investigated whether a cortical HP-like response could be assessed by nociceptive stimulation, and if such response was impaired by experimental tonic pain. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy participants completed placebo and capsaicin sessions, with 11 sham controls for time and design. HP-like plasticity was induced with two blocks of anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex. The N1 (TP7) and N2P2 (Cz) components of electrically induced pain-related evoked potentials (PREPs) were assessed from the volar forearm before and after patch application, and again immediately and 20 min after HP-like induction. An HP-like response was defined by PREP decrease after induction, and further normalization to baseline. RESULTS: Anodal tDCS did not induce an HP-like regulation of PREP amplitudes. Interestingly, an HP-like response was observed as a fastening of N1 latency after HP-like induction, which returned to baseline values after 20 min. The latter effect was impaired during capsaicin-induced pain, where N1 was slower. The N2P2 component showed habituation over time in all sessions. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that investigates the HP-like regulation of nociceptive-evoked responses. An HP-like response was observed as a shortening of N1 latency, suggesting that early nociceptive processing may be susceptible to homeostatic regulation. In contrast, the later component, N2P2, showed habituation over time, which prevented evaluation of HP-like effects.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Novel environmental contaminant 6PPD-quinone promotes malignant phenotypes in colorectal cancer cells and identifies candidate response-associated genes.

6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ), an oxidative transformation product of the widely used tire antioxidant 6PPD, is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant with bioaccumulation potential and widespread human exposure. Recent epidemiological evidence indicates a positive association between urinary 6PPDQ levels and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk; however, its biological effects on CRC-related phenotypes and associated molecular responses remain unclear. We integrated bioinformatics analysis, prognostic modeling, molecular docking and dynamics simulations, and in vitro experiments to investigate cellular and molecular responses to 6PPDQ in CRC models. Predicted 6PPDQ targets were intersected with CRC prognosis-related genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas, followed by functional enrichment and LASSO regression to construct a prognostic risk model, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year AUC values of 0.727, 0.754, and 0.778, respectively. Molecular docking and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations suggested interactions between 6PPDQ and candidate proteins, including CPT2, SHC2, SRMS, and STK35. Functional assays showed that 6PPDQ exposure altered proliferation, wound-closure capacity, and invasion in Caco-2 and HCT116 cells across the nanomolar concentration range, with non-monotonic and cell-line-dependent responses. In contrast, NCM460 cells showed no increase in EdU incorporation at 10 or 100 nM, whereas reduced proliferation at higher concentrations was accompanied by increased LDH release. 6PPDQ also altered the expression of several prognosis-associated candidate genes. These findings identify cellular phenotypes and candidate molecular responses associated with 6PPDQ exposure under the tested in vitro conditions, but do not establish their causal roles or in vivo relevance. Further mechanistic and in vivo studies are required.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Nociception-guided opioid administration within multimodal analgesia for laparoscopic endometriosis surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Women with endometriosis are at increased risk of severe postoperative pain due to nociceptive sensitization. While multimodal analgesia reduces opioid use, the added value of objective nociception monitoring remains unclear. This study evaluated whether NOL®-guided opioid titration improves perioperative outcomes within a standardized multimodal regimen. In this prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial, premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for suspected endometriosis or adenomyosis were assigned to NOL®-guided analgesia or standard care based on clinical assessment. All patients received a standardized multimodal protocol. The primary outcome was total perioperative opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores (NRS) and PACU length of stay. Exploratory analyses assessed the association between preoperative pain (Mankoski Pain Scale, MPS) and postoperative outcomes. A total of 111 patients were analyzed (NOL®: n = 54; control: n = 57). Total perioperative opioid consumption did not differ significantly between groups (adjusted mean difference = 14 μg for Fentanyl and 52 μg for Remifentanil; p = 0.8). Surgery duration was an independent predictor of opioid use (p < 0.001) and PACU length of stay (p = 0.01), whereas treatment group had no significant effect. Postoperative pain scores were comparable between groups at all time points. NOL®-derived metrics were not associated with opioid consumption or pain. Higher preoperative MPS scores independently predicted higher pain scores in the late PACU phase. NOL®-guided opioid titration did not reduce perioperative opioid consumption or improve early postoperative outcomes compared with standard multimodal analgesia in women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Quantifying the combined effects of semi-closed terrain and monsoon on PM2.5 and O3 pollution aggregation in the North China Plain.

The North China Plain (NCP) and its surrounding regions represent one of the key priority areas for air pollution control. As anthropogenic emissions decline significantly, the effect of terrain and meteorology on air pollution pattern has become increasingly prominent, particularly given the NCP's unique semi-closed terrain and East Asian monsoon dynamics. However, quantitative characterization of terrain-dominated blocking effects remains unexplored. Here we quantitatively assess the blocking effects of mountains and terrain-coupled meteorological factors on air pollutant dispersion. We find the NCP on the eastern side of the Taihang Mountains showed high PM2.5 and O3 pollution levels, with winter PM2.5 and summer O3 high-value zones showing opposite north-south aggregation patterns. PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were highest in plains, followed by platforms, hills, and finally mountains. Within the 120-km buffer zones of the typical mountains in the NCP and its surrounding regions, PM2.5 and O3 concentrations increased initially with altitude but then decreased markedly above a threshold altitude. Above the threshold altitude, mountain blocking effects became dominant. The effective blocking altitudes of typical mountains in the NCP and its surrounding regions ranged between 22 and 929 m for winter PM2.5 pollution, and between 19 and 1060 m for summer O3 pollution. The Terrain-Wind Close Index indicates that the terrain-coupled East Asian monsoon showed stronger blocking effects on PM2.5 dispersion in southern NCP during winter and on O3 diffusion in northern NCP during summer, matching observed high-pollution zones. This study offers key insights for regional joint air pollution mitigation strategies, as well as regional pollution assessment.

Particulate Matter↗

PubMed2026

Linking women leaving jail to medications for opioid use disorder: Costs to implement pre-release telehealth and peer navigation services.

AIMS: Telehealth and peer navigation are feasible strategies for connecting women in the criminal-legal system with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), yet implementation costs are not well understood. This study conducted a microcosting analysis of two interventions for women leaving jail in Kentucky: pre-release, PreTreatment Telehealth with a MOUD provider (TH-Only) and PreTreatment Telehealth combined with peer navigation (TH+PN) through the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). METHODS: From the provider perspective, we estimated total start-up costs, total intervention costs, and average cost per participant. Women participating in the clinical trial were randomly assigned to TH-Only (n=299) or TH+PN (n=301). Start-up costs were incurred primarily in 2019 - 2020; intervention costs represent expenses in 2021 - 2023. Cost data were collected from study and agency financial records and interviews with research staff and analyzed using Microsoft Excel (version 16.90.2). RESULTS: Start-up costs were $36,320, comprising planning, meetings, travel, and supplies. The total cost of TH-Only was $60,767, representing 259 telehealth sessions with an average duration of 47 minutes. Total cost of TH+PN was $472,148 based on 270 telehealth sessions (48 minutes), 268 peer navigation (PN) sessions (30 minutes), and 12 weeks of PN support post-release per participant. Average cost per TH-Only participant was $235 and per TH+PN participant was $1,760. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth may be a relatively low-cost approach for jails lacking on-site MOUD services. Although more costly, combining telehealth with PN may add value by supporting service continuity and facilitating linkage to treatment during the jail to community transition.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Biomonitoring of industrial heavy metal pollution via enzymatic and metabolic responses in desert ants (Cataglyphis savignyi) and beetles (Tentyrum sp) as bioindicators.

The current work seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of Cataglyphis saviginyi and Tentyrum sp as indicators of pollution in the city's main industrial regions by analyzing their enzymatic activity and primary metabolites. Soil samples were collected at each site under investigation to analyze soil characteristics and heavy metal content. C. saviginyi and Tentyrum sp were collected across four consecutive seasons (2023-2024) to investigate enzymatic (GPT, GOT, ALP, ACP, LDH) and metabolic (lipid, protein, carbohydrate) biomarkers. The physicochemical properties of the soil differed substantially between the industrial areas and the control site. Soil heavy metal buildup was highest at industrial sites (1 and 4) compared to the control site, with the order being Zn > Cr > Cd > Cu. Heavy metal pollution indices were determined. Increased industrial activity from metal industries, ceramics, and chemical painting companies defines this area, as seen by the high Cdeg, mCd, PI, and PLI values derived for industrial sites 1 and 4. While C. saviginyi and Tentyrum sp deconcentrated and released Cr, Cd, and Zn into the soil via the biological accumulation factor (BAF), Cu acted as a macro-concentrator. Compared with the control site, industrial environments were shown to increase levels of GPT, GOT, LDH, ACP, protein, and carbohydrates in C. saviginyi. However, lipid and ALP activity was suppressed. at industrial sites, Tentyrum sp carbohydrate content was higher than at control sites, but GPT, GOT, ALP, ACP, LDH, protein, and lipid activities were all suppressed. Consequently, enzymatic and metabolic biomarkers proved to be sensitive indicators for assessing industrial heavy metal pollution in desert ecosystems.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Development and Validation of a Predictive Model for Identification of Cognitive Impairment Risk in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline：A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a transitional state between objective cognitive impairment and cognitively intact mental status, providing a critical window for implementing preventive interventions to delay objective cognitive decline. AIMS: We aimed to develop a predictive model for SCD progression in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This model will facilitate the identification of risk factors and establishment of targeted interventions for community-based SCD management. METHODS: Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) was utilized in this study, extracting 18 indicators. Potential predictors selected through univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression analyses were sequentially incorporated into a multivariable Cox regression model. A nomogram was constructed to establish a predictive model. Model validation encompassed Area Under Curve (AUC) metrics for discriminative capacity, complemented by quantitative assessments using calibration curve analysis for precision verification and decision curve analysis (DCA) for clinical utility evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 1099 older adults with SCD were included in the final analysis, of whom 114 (10.3%) developed MCI. Multivariable Cox regression identified residence, marital status, educational level, social participation, gait speed, and baseline cognitive function. The model demonstrated time-dependent AUC values of 0.885, 0.830, 0.839, and 0.836 in the training set when evaluating discriminative capacity at 2-, 4-, 7-, and 9-year, respectively. The predictive model showed excellent predictive ability according to AUC, calibration curve, and DCA. CONCLUSIONS: A predictive model was created to estimate the risk of developing MCI in older individuals with SCD, offering clinician-actionable intervention benchmarks for preventive care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Illicium verum polysaccharide targets fimbriae and flagella to disrupt biofilm and inhibit multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli proliferation.

The widespread dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli has led to a decrease in the efficacy of antibiotics, posing severe challenges to clinical anti-infective therapy. Owing to their safety, multitarget activities, and low risk of inducing drug resistance, plant polysaccharides represent a promising alternative strategy. In this study, an acidic polysaccharide (IVP-3) was isolated and purified from the medicinal and edible plant Illicium verum, and it was found to inhibit MDR E. coli colonization by disrupting its biofilm. The Mw of IVP-3 was determined to be 35.566 kDa. Its backbone consists of →4)-α-D-GalpA-6-OMe-(1→, →4)-α-D-GalpA-(1→, →4)-β-D-Galp-(1→, and →3,4)-α-D-GalpA-(1 → residues, whereas the branched chain is composed of α-L-Araf-(1 → 5)-α-L-Araf-(1 → attached to the O-5 position of →2,5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, which is further linked to the O-3 position of the backbone. Mechanistically, IVP-3 disrupts the structure of fimbriae and flagella, inhibits bacterial motility, effectively prevents initial biofilm adhesion, and eradicates preformed mature biofilms. Additionally, IVP-3 damages cell membrane integrity, disrupts the proton motive force, and induces energy metabolism disorder, efflux pump inhibition, and oxidative stress, ultimately leading to bacterial lysis. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of natural antibacterial agents targeting MDR E. coli biofilms and for the high-value utilization of Illicium verum.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2026

Risk-Benefit of Phase 2 Monotherapy Trials in Adult Solid Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Phase 2 (and phase 1 dose expansion, which we label phase 2 for the purposes of this study) cancer trials are the first direct tests of a new drug's efficacy. Because efficacy evidence is lacking, the therapeutic status of drug administration during ethical review is uncertain. We compared the efficacy and safety of cancer monotherapies in phase 2 with phase 3, where clinical equipoise underwrites a therapeutic status for drug administration. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Clinicaltrials.gov for phase 2 and 3 investigational monotherapy drug trials in six solid malignancies, with primary completion dates 2015-2020, inclusive. Two independent reviewers completed data extraction. Effects were estimated using an inverse-variance weighted random-effects model meta-analysis of proportions using the R package meta. We analyzed 130 phase 2 and 52 phase 3 trial arms, enrolling 6665 and 18,694 patients. The pooled objective response rate was 7% (95% CI 5%-11%) in phase 2 versus 24% in phase 3 (95% CI 17%-31%; p < 0.0001). The median PFS and OS were shorter in phase 2 compared to phase 3 (3.23 vs. 5.43 months, p < 0.0001; 9.46 vs. 14.44 months, p = 0.0001). The pooled rate of drug-related grade 3-4 adverse events was 30% (95% CI 23%-37%) in phase 2 and 25% (95% CI 19%-32%) in phase 3. Monotherapies delivered in phase 2 cancer trials present diminished risk-benefit compared with phase 3 and align with historic estimates for phase 1. Though there may be exceptions, risks for drug administration in phase 2 should generally be justified by appeals to research rather than therapeutic value.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dissociating behavioral, neural and experiential effects of prefrontal HD-tDCS during conflict resolution.

Inconsistent evidence regarding the cognitive effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) highlights the need for more comprehensive approaches to assess its impact. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) on conflict resolution by combining behavioral, neural, and subjective experience measures. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to anodal, cathodal, or sham HD-tDCS groups and completed a 30-min flanker task. EEG was recorded during the first and last blocks (without stimulation), while stimulation was applied during the intermediate blocks of the task. Using a multidimensional methodological approach including Drift-Diffusion Modeling (DDM), EEG spectral analysis, Lempel-Ziv complexity, and Temporal Experience Tracing (TET), we assessed the cognitive, neural, and phenomenological effects of stimulation. Behavioral results indicated no significant improvements in reaction times or accuracy across the stimulation groups. Similarly, DDM parameters showed no effect of HD-tDCS on latent cognitive processes. However, EEG data revealed a significant reduction in neural complexity in the anodal group during resting-state, suggesting a stabilization or reorganization of neural dynamics. Subjective experience analysis identified two distinct clusters of task-related feelings, though time spent in these experiential states did not differ between groups. Interestingly, sensation of stimulation was significantly higher for anodal stimulation than sham when analyzed as a single dimension. Despite null behavioral effects, this study provides important insights into the neural and subjective responses to HD-tDCS and highlights the value of integrating complementary multidimensional approaches to better characterize brain stimulation effects. These findings contribute to the ongoing debate about the efficacy of tDCS in cognitive enhancement.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Culturally adapted post-diagnostic dementia support for South Asian people living with dementia and caregivers: a rapid review.

BACKGROUND: The number of minority ethnic people living with dementia (PLWD) in the UK is predicted to rise to 50 000 by 2026 and 172 000 by 2051. As the global population ages, there is a greater need to develop culturally appropriate post-diagnostic support for PLWD from minority ethnic backgrounds. METHODS: A rapid review was conducted of culturally adapted post-diagnostic dementia support for South Asian people with dementia and carers. Eight electronic databases were searched from inception until 16 September 2025. Databases included Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Excerpta Medica Database, MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Psychological Information, Turning Research Into Practice, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Social Policy and Practice and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Two reviewers independently screened the studies. Consistent with rapid review methods, no formal quality assessment of included studies was undertaken. The rapid review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included. These included seven carer support programmes focusing on raising awareness and education on dementia and care. These interventions increased carers' knowledge of dementia and confidence in caregiving. Four studies reported on psychosocial interventions: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Meditation Therapy, demonstrating benefits for caregiver burden and mental health. One study reported on service-level innovations through a South Asian link nurse, which improved access to services and facilitated the development of culturally appropriate information materials. CONCLUSION: The findings of this rapid review demonstrate the feasibility and perceived value of culturally sensitive psychoeducation, carer training and psychosocial interventions. However, research remains small-scale, methodologically limited, with little focus given to interventions directly supporting PLWD.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The role of adjunctive aqueous suppressants for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy: A systematic review.

Our goal is to determine whether adjunctive aqueous suppressants (topical β-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, or oral acetazolamide) enhance outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy for diabetic macular edema (DME), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), focusing on retinal thickness, visual acuity, injection burden, intraocular pressure (IOP), and safety. DME, RVO, and nAMD are leading causes of vision loss treated with repeated intravitreal injections, yet many eyes show persistent fluid. Aqueous suppressants are inexpensive and widely available, with potential to prolong intravitreal drug residence and improve outcomes, but their clinical value remains uncertain. Following a registered protocol, we searched 4 databases (January, 2000 toMay, 2025) for randomized and comparative studies evaluating adjunct aqueous suppressants with anti-VEGF therapy. Primary outcome was change in retinal thickness; secondary outcomes included visual acuity, injection burden, IOP, and adverse events. Risk of bias was assessed and findings synthesized narratively. Twelve studies (7 randomized trials; 495 eyes) met inclusion criteria. In DME, 3 of 4 trials showed greater thickness reduction with adjunctive dorzolamide (±timolol), although visual gains were inconsistent. In RVO, 1 trial suggested transient anatomical benefit, whereas oral acetazolamide showed no added effect. In nAMD, adjunctive dorzolamide-timolol reduced residual fluid in refractory cases without visual or treatment-sparing benefit. Topical therapy produced modest IOP reductions without serious adverse events. Adjunct aqueous suppressants may provide limited short-term anatomical benefit, particularly in DME and refractory nAMD, but consistent functional or durability effects are not found in this study. Larger, longer-term randomized studies are needed.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Robotic assistance in total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of leg length, cup orientation, and early outcomes.

This review examined whether robotic assistance alters postoperative leg-length discrepancy (LLD), acetabular cup orientation, or early hip-specific outcomes relative to conventional total hip arthroplasty (THA). We searched PubMed and Web of Science through May 2026 for comparative English-language reports. Study eligibility, data extraction, and methodological appraisal were undertaken independently by two reviewers. Mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in Review Manager 5.4. Model selection was based on the target estimand and anticipated clinical and methodological diversity; leave-one-out and alternative-model sensitivity analyses were undertaken for heterogeneous outcomes. The protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD420261454043). The review included seven studies and 968 participants. Compared with conventional THA, robot-assisted THA yielded a smaller postoperative LLD (MD = -2.02, 95% CI -3.46 to -0.58; P = 0.006) and a higher Harris Hip Score (MD = 2.96, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.80; P = 0.002). Mean cup anteversion was lower in the robotic group (MD = -1.52, 95% CI -2.29 to -0.76; P < 0.0001), whereas cup inclination did not differ (MD = -0.71, 95% CI -3.26 to 1.83; P = 0.58). The robotic group also had higher Forgotten Joint Score (MD = 14.68, 95% CI 5.02 to 24.33; P = 0.003) and Oxford Hip Score values (MD = 2.61, 95% CI 0.71 to 4.51; P = 0.007). Robotic assistance was linked to a modest improvement in leg-length restoration and to higher scores on several early functional measures. The limited number of studies, predominance of nonrandomized designs, and marked heterogeneity in some analyses temper the certainty of these findings.

Humans↗