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PubMed2026

Air Pollution and Heat Impacts on Respiratory Morbidity and Mortality Outcomes in Africa: A Systematic Review Towards a Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: This review synthesised evidence on associations between air pollution and respiratory morbidity in Africa. Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, ScienceDirect and Elicit for case-control studies published between 2015 and 2025. RECENT FINDINGS: Thirteen studies from ten African countries reported pollutant levels far exceeding WHO guidelines. Indoor PM₂.₅ in biomass-using homes ranged from 96 to 177 µg/m³, and ambient PM₂.₅ reached 259 µg/m³. Nitrogen oxides were consistently associated with reduced lung function in children, while household air pollution increased risks of under-five mortality and low birthweight. Associations with acute respiratory infections varied across settings. Vulnerability was greatest among young children, those with airway hyperresponsiveness, and households with poor ventilation. Only three studies included temperature, and none examined heat-respiratory interactions. Across African case-control studies, particulate matter and household air pollution remain consistently linked to adverse respiratory outcomes, highlighting urgent needs for cleaner fuels, improved ventilation, and stronger evidence on combined pollution and heat exposures.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of Contact Lens Use on Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Fungal Keratitis: An 8-Year Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical characteristics, microbiological profiles, treatment strategies, and outcomes between contact lens-associated (CL) and noncontact lens-associated (non-CL) fungal keratitis. DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative clinical cohort study. METHODS: A review of culture-proven fungal keratitis treated at a tertiary referral center between 2018 and 2025 was conducted. Cases were categorized as CL or non-CL-associated. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes were included, comprising 16 CL and 21 non-CL cases. CL users presented earlier than non-CL patients (median 7 vs 14 days, P = .007) and had fewer associated ocular risk factors (31% vs 81%, P = .001). Baseline visual acuity and infiltrate size did not differ significantly between groups. Candida species were isolated in 21% cases, Fusarium in 16% and Aspergillus in 8%. Fusarium (19% vs 13%) and Candida (24% vs 19%) infections were slightly more frequent in non-CL cases. Overall, filamentous fungi were the predominant organism group. Topical voriconazole was the most frequently used antifungal agent (78%). All CL-associated cases resolved with medical therapy alone, with a median time to resolution of 38 days (IQR 22-58). In contrast, 76% of non-CL cases resolved medically (median 42 days, IQR 32-76), while 23% required therapeutic keratoplasty (P = .04). Final visual acuity was comparable between groups (logMAR 0.2 vs 0.5, P = .56). CONCLUSION: Contact lens-associated fungal keratitis is characterized by earlier presentation and fewer underlying ocular comorbidities, with favorable outcomes achieved through medical therapy alone. Despite similar microbiological profiles and treatment approaches, noncontact lens-associated fungal keratitis more frequently follows a complicated course requiring surgical intervention.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of creatine supplementation alone or combined with exercise on inflammatory and clinical outcomes in chronic musculoskeletal pain treated in the rheumatological field: a systematic review.

Creatine supplementation has demonstrated ergogenic and anabolic effects in healthy and clinical populations. However, its potential therapeutic role in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain treated in rheumatological contexts remains unclear. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation on pain, physical function/disability, quality of life, muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass, and inflammatory markers in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain usually treated from the rheumatological field. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Searches were performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, and EMBASE up to July 2026. Eligible studies were randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials that provided creatine supplementation alone or in combination with exercise as a treatment compared to a control or placebo group. Eight studies (n = 189) were included, encompassing fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Creatine dosages varied from chronic low-dose to loading protocols (20 g/d, 2-5 g/d). Combined creatine plus resistance training may improve strength, skeletal muscle mass, and quality of life beyond exercise alone in osteoarthritis. Trials on fibromyalgia suggest an increase in muscle strength, but inconsistent effects on pain. Rheumatoid arthritis studies suggest gains in skeletal muscle mass and, in pilot studies, reduced disease activity. No major adverse events were reported. In conclusion, creatine supplementation alone may be insufficient to obtain clinical benefits, while combined with resistance exercise it could offer potential benefits for muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass and certain aspects of quality of life in these clinical conditions. However, evidence on pain and inflammation remains limited; Furthermore, the response across different clinical conditions is heterogeneous, highlighting the need for larger, high-quality trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Sodium supplementation strategies in preterm infants: effects on growth, electrolyte balance, and exploratory evidence on neurodevelopment - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study evaluated the effects of sodium supplementation on growth, electrolyte balance, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies were conducted using data from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, including randomized controlled trials and observational studies involving infants born before 37 weeks of gestation. Twelve studies comprising more than 2,800 participants were analysed using random-effects models. Sodium supplementation was associated with improved weight gain and a significant reduction in the risk of hyponatremia (RR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08-0.96). Pooled incidence estimates indicated hypernatremia (32%) and intraventricular hemorrhage (29%) among supplemented cohorts; however, substantial heterogeneity was observed, and comparative risk estimates were limited. Only one study reported long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up, suggesting potential benefit; however, the available evidence remains limited and hypothesis-generating.These findings suggest that sodium supplementation may support growth and is associated with a lower risk of hyponatremia in preterm infants; however, hypernatremia and other morbidity estimates reported here are largely descriptive frequencies within supplemented cohorts rather than comparative treatment effects, and careful, individualized therapy with close monitoring is needed to minimize potential risks.

Growth outcomes↗

PubMed2026

Endovascular thrombectomy versus best medical therapy for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion in patients with low NIHSS scores: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO) presenting with mild symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score ≤10) remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of EVT versus best medical therapy (BMT) in this population. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to September 2025 for comparative studies. The primary outcome was 90-day excellent functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0-1). Secondary outcomes included functional independence (mRS 0-2), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and all-cause mortality. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Seven observational studies involving 3,107 patients were included. In unadjusted analyses, EVT was associated with a higher rate of excellent functional outcome (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.58-2.96) but not with functional independence (OR 1.58; 95% CI 0.90-2.77). After adjustment for confounders, EVT was associated with higher rate of excellent functional outcome (OR 2.86; 95% CI 1.89-4.31) and functional independence (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.01-3.62). Safety outcomes including sICH and mortality did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute VBAO and mild symptoms, EVT may be associated with superior functional outcomes compared to BMT alone, without a significant increase in procedural risks. These findings suggest a potential role for EVT in selected patients with low NIHSS scores and underscore the need for confirmation in randomized trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Ten-Year Update of Nurse Practitioner Service Impact on Patient and Health Service Outcomes in Emergency Care Settings-A Systematic Review.

AIMS: To provide a 10-year update on the best available evidence evaluating the impact of nurse practitioner services on cost, waiting times, patient satisfaction, representation rates, and length of stay in emergency and urgent care settings. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: The search was completed on January 28, 2025, in Embase (Elsevier), Medline (EBSCOhost), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Cochrane Library (Wiley), Emcare (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate) and Scopus (Elsevier). The data range (2014-2024) was used to limit the search. METHODS: The search was conducted with results imported into Covidence. In Covidence, two reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal of articles, and findings were analysed using a narrative synthesis approach. Eligible studies examined nurse practitioner services in emergency or urgent care settings, reporting outcomes of cost, waiting times, patient satisfaction, representation rates, and length of stay. RESULTS: Title and abstract screening were performed on 2329 records. Of these, 236 full-text articles were reviewed, and 17 underwent critical appraisal and data extraction. Narrative analysis of outcome measures yielded mixed results, with both favourable and unfavourable findings reported regarding nurse practitioner services. CONCLUSIONS: Global evaluation of nurse practitioner services in emergency care remains inconsistent. Nevertheless, emerging evidence supports their positive impact, particularly in improving patient outcomes. To effectively inform policy, workforce planning and clinical integration, there is a need for professional benchmarks that provide clear frameworks for the evaluation of patient-centred outcomes and operational impacts in emergency departments. IMPLICATIONS: Evidence related to nurse practitioner services in emergency and urgent care clinics highlights the positive impact of nurse practitioner services on patient wait times and satisfaction; however, there is limited and variable evidence of impact on health care costs and outcomes. IMPACT: This paper recommends that evaluating emergency nurse practitioner services requires homogeneous research using consistent professional benchmarks and evaluation frameworks. REPORTING METHOD: This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting. TRAIL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2025 CRD420250645148.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Health and Physical Activity Outcomes in Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: A Systematic Review of Emerging Evidence and a Future Research Agenda.

OBJECTIVES: The World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCCs) promotes the development of urban environments, policies and services that support the health and participation of older adults. This systematic review examined contemporary evidence concerning associations between WHO AFCC conditions and directly measured health and physical activity outcomes among older residents. METHODS: The registered review adhered to the PRISMA protocol for systematic reviews and meta-analyses and applied the Downs and Black quality criteria for randomised and non-randomised research. RESULTS: Structured Boolean searches of five research repositories identified 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2025 based upon original research conducted in WHO AFCC signatory cities. Although most studies reported positive associations between age-friendly features and domains, such as accessible transport, walkable environments, outdoor infrastructure and self-rated health or physical activity, the strength of evidence was limited by methodological inconsistency, variable study quality and reliance on self-reports. Barriers to evaluation included limited use of longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs, heterogeneous outcome measures, subjective response data and the challenge of establishing appropriate comparison conditions in complex municipal settings. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening evaluation frameworks for AFCC initiatives is essential for evidence-based urban health policy and governance in rapidly ageing societies. A research agenda is proposed to strengthen AFCC evaluation through standardised measurement, community-based and mixed-methods research, and a greater commitment to co-designed assessment frameworks.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Early-stage trajectories of social-occupational functioning and long-term functional outcome prediction in early psychosis: A 12-year follow-up of the randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention.

BACKGROUND: Functional impairment in psychosis often persists despite symptomatic remission. There is a paucity of research examining early-course psychosocial functioning trajectories, and none has been conducted to examine relationship between the trajectories and prospective long-term functional outcomes in early psychosis sample. METHODS: We conducted 12-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial on extended early intervention for first-episode psychosis to identify early-course social-occupational functioning trajectories and their baseline predictors and associations with 12-year outcomes. Participants who completed Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS) scores at three or more timepoints between baseline and 3-year follow-up were included in the study. Premorbid adjustment, illness characteristics, symptom severity, functioning, and treatment profiles were assessed. Latent growth mixture modeling was employed to derive early-course social-occupational functioning trajectories based on SOFAS scores over 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 148 participants were included in this study, with 106 patients having completed the 12-year follow-up. Our results identified four distinct trajectories, including persistently-good class, gradually-improved class, suboptimal-stable class, and persistently-poor class. Patients in persistently-poor class had more severe negative symptoms at baseline compared to patients in persistently-good class. Patients with persistently-poor trajectory had worse long-term outcomes than those with other classes in the majority of functional measures at 12-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients were classified in early-stage suboptimal or poor functional trajectories. Above one-fourth of the participants exhibited persistently-poor social-occupational functioning trajectory, which predicted worse functional outcomes at 12-year follow-up. These findings highlighted the importance of tracking functional changes during the initial years of illness.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pegcetacoplan Delivers Real-World Therapeutic Benefits and Reduces Disease Burden for Patients With Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria: A Systematic Literature Review of Pegcetacoplan Real-World Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes.

AIMS: Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an ultra-rare, acquired, non-malignant haematological disorder that, if left untreated, can lead to significant morbidity. This systematic literature review (SLR) summarized real-world evidence (RWE) for pegcetacoplan, a complement 3/3b inhibitor (C3i) available since 2021. METHODS: The SLR (PROSPERO-CRD420251043506) followed 2020 PRISMA guidelines and included RW studies of pegcetacoplan (n > 1 pts.; English; to April 2025) in adults (age ≥ 18 years) with PNH. RESULTS: Of 409 identified records, 39 qualified, representing 12 distinct studies. Six studies (n = 4-39) reported median haemoglobin (Hb) with baseline 8.1-9.6 g/dL. Ending median Hb and maximum pegcetacoplan durations were: 12.0 g/dL at 12 months, 11.1-12.1 g/dL at 6 months (3 studies), and 11.1 g/dL at 3 months (1 study). In 4 other studies (n = 48-70), ending mean Hb (maximum pegcetacoplan duration) was: 11.3 g/dL (7.2 months), 11.5 g/dL (6.6 months), 11.5 g/dL (5.9 months), and 11.58 g/dL (3 months). Six studies reported reduced absolute reticulocyte count (ARC; n = 4-39) from baseline median 155-301 × 109/L to median 56-106 × 109/L from 14 days of pegcetacoplan, maintained to maximum pegcetacoplan of 1-12 months. Three studies reported lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; n = 4-62); all showed reductions from baseline median 543.0 to 161.7 U/L after 3 months, and baseline median 299.5-316.0 U/L to 193.5-187.0 U/L after 6 months of pegcetacoplan. In complement 5 inhibitor-naïve, LDH reduced from 977.8 to 358.9 U/L after 8.4 months, and 503.6 to 292.5 U/L in C5i-experienced after 7.2 months. Three studies (n = 4-63) reported reduced LDH from above the upper limit of normal levels. Six studies (n = 23-70) reported reduced red blood cell transfusions (RBCt) after maximum pegcetacoplan durations of up to 12 months, and median durations of 3.0 and 10.2 months. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale scores in 1 study increased from baseline (mean 28.4) to 38.6 at 3 months, 36.3 at 6 months, and 34.9 at 9 months of pegcetacoplan treatment. Two studies reported FACIT-Fatigue scores of 34.6-40.1 with pegcetacoplan for ≥ 1 month. EQ-5D mean utility scores (0.85-0.94) in 2 studies were comparable to population normative values. On the Short-Form 36 Health Survey, mental and physical component scores were slightly lower than US normative values. CONCLUSIONS: RWE indicates pegcetacoplan is associated with improved haematological outcomes, reduced RBCt dependence and fatigue, and enhanced HRQoL. These findings from real-world studies with diverse cohorts support generalizability and are broadly comparable with clinical trial evidence.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Assessing time to symptomatic progression, a patient-relevant efficacy endpoint, in the MARIPOSA study in non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: In the phase 3 randomized MARIPOSA study, amivantamab and lazertinib combination therapy demonstrated improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) versus osimertinib in participants with previously untreated, epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Time to symptomatic progression (TTSP) was introduced to assess clinical worsening and complement endpoints that investigate radiographic disease progression and patient-reported outcomes. TTSP provides an easily interpretable measure of disease-specific symptom worsening to further support patient experience. METHODS: In MARIPOSA, TTSP was quantitatively assessed as a secondary efficacy endpoint and defined as the time from randomization until participants experience disease-specific symptom worsening requiring a clinical intervention or treatment change, or death. To evaluate the impact of amivantamab and lazertinib on TTSP considering its established OS benefit against osimertinib, an exploratory analysis censoring death events was performed. RESULTS: At the final protocol-specified OS analysis (median follow up: 37.8 months), median TTSP was 43.6 months with amivantamab and lazertinib versus 29.3 months with osimertinib (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.83; p < 0.0001). Amivantamab and lazertinib reduced deaths following a TTSP event compared to osimertinib. A strong correlation between TTSP and PFS or OS was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Amivantamab and lazertinib significantly delayed TTSP versus osimertinib. TTSP offers a clinician-validated measurement of disease-specific symptom worsening, capturing symptoms perceived by patients that prompt clinical action. TTSP is highly correlated with PFS and OS, providing complementary insights alongside traditional endpoints. TTSP enhances understanding of treatment benefit and supports informed clinical decision-making by integrating patient experience.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Instruments for measuring body image in breast cancer patients: a systematic review of measurement properties.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of PROMs for measuring body image in breast cancer patients. METHODS: In December 2024, a psychometric systematic review was performed in the nine databases. The COSMIN checklist was employed to evaluate the methodological quality and psychometric properties of the included body image measures. The level of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework, and final recommendations were formulated for the scale. RESULTS: Thirty-eight articles evaluating fifteen PROMs were included in this review. Structural validity, internal consistency, and hypothesis testing had been most frequently evaluated. Measurement error had not been assessed for all PROMs. Twelve instruments show potential application value but require further research. The BAS-BC, PSPP, and ASI-R are not recommended for use, as these instruments do not meet the strict COSMIN thresholds for full recommendation. CONCLUSION: The BIS can be recommended as a temporary screening tool for assessing body image outcome in clinical practice. The BIRS can be tentatively advised for measuring specific postoperative body image changes. However, further comprehensive studies are required to validate the psychometric properties of existing PROMs.

Female↗

PubMed2026

Comparison of conventional and micro-surgical techniques for gingival recession using collagen matrix: Randomised controlled split-mouth clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the microsurgical approach in treating gingival recession with collagen matrix by comparing it with Conventional surgery in terms of clinical and patient-centered outcomes. METHODS: A total of 29 patients with bilateral gingival recession in the maxillary canine and/or premolar region were selected. After randomisation, bilateral recession sites were grouped into the test group (Microsurgery under 3.5 X magnification) and the control group (Conventional surgery). All the clinical and patient-reported parameters were recorded at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: Both groups showed statistically significant differences in terms of reduction in gingival recession height (GRH), gingival recession width (GRW), clinical attachment level gain (CAL gain), increase in keratinized tissue thickness (KTT) and keratinized tissue width (KTW) after 6 months. But intergroup comparison showed no significant difference in terms of clinical parameters. The only significant difference was noted in terms of patient-centred parameters (Patient satisfactory score, Hypersensitivity score, Root aesthetic scores), which favoured the microsurgical group. CONCLUSIONS: Both groups demonstrated comparable clinical improvement; However, Patient-centred parameters were significantly better with the Microsurgical approach. Selection of the surgical approach should balance patient needs with practical considerations like cost, time, and clinician proficiency.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Applications and outcomes of virtual reality in inpatient psychiatry: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used in outpatient psychiatric services and has demonstrated benefits across several clinical diagnoses, but its use and effects in inpatient settings remain to be explored. This systematic review aimed to examine the use of VR during psychiatric hospitalization, including types of VR applications, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and effects on various outcomes. METHODS: The review was registered in PROSPERO (#CRD42023446524). Following PRISMA guidelines, databases (Ovid, SciVerse, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and WorldCat) were searched from 1983 to 2025 using keywords related to VR and psychiatric disorders. Studies involving the use of VR with psychiatric inpatients (≥85%) were included. Descriptive statistics and narrative syntheses were used to summarize findings. Study quality was assessed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: After full-text screening, 37 studies (N = 1,004) met inclusion criteria. VR was used for both assessment and intervention, with cognitive-behavioral therapy/exposure (35%) and assessment (24%) being the most frequently used. VR use in inpatient units appeared feasible, acceptable, and safe for inpatients and clinicians, though findings remain preliminary. Several facilitators (e.g. adequate staff training and supervision) and common barriers (e.g. technical difficulties and limited resources) were identified. The most consistent improvements were observed in clinical symptoms (e.g. anxiety) compared with psychosocial, cognitive, and physiological outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that inpatient settings represent a promising, yet understudied context for VR-based assessments and interventions. High-quality trials and systematic reporting of implementation are needed in future studies to inform research and clinical practice.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner outcomes after completion of a 1-year postgraduate fellowship.

Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are an essential and growing part of the health care workforce, especially in community settings. To address PMHNPs' increasing presence in community psychiatry, a 1-year postgraduate PMHNP fellowship in community psychiatry was developed with the goals of enhancing clinical competency and employment retention in underserved public sector settings. Data on 5 cohorts and 31 fellows are presented in this article. PMHNP fellows, preceptors, didactics, and clinical sites were evaluated across several time points including baseline and 6 and 12 months. The program has graduated 100% of fellows with largely positive feedback. Fellows reported significant improvements in competency across the domains of 1) assessment and diagnosis, 2) treatment, and 3) professionalism and leadership. These items were substantiated by clinical preceptors' ratings of fellows' clinical skills from 6-month and 12-month time points. Relatedly, clinical sites, preceptors, and didactics were all rated highly by fellows. After the program, 90.3% of graduates remained working in the public sector including correctional settings, community clinics, and safety net hospitals.

Community psychiatry↗

PubMed2026

Implementation outcomes of a dementia-focused intervention for family care partners and clinicians in home hospice care.

OBJECTIVES: End-of-life care for persons living with dementia in home hospice relies heavily on coordination between family care partners (FCPs) and clinicians (e.g., hospice social workers and nurses). FCPs and clinicians have reported support and knowledge gaps in end-of-life dementia care. Interventions are needed to improve FCPs' support and clinicians' educational gaps. METHODS: A pilot randomized controlled trial was designed to examine implementation outcomes for a dementia-focused end-of-life intervention for FCPs (n = 37) and clinicians (n = 15). Data on survey completion and acceptability were collected at baseline, during 4 follow-up visits, and at the conclusion of the study. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (75%) caregivers completed the post-study survey, and 10 (27%) reported using the structured worksheet. Thirteen (87%) clinicians completed the post-training survey, 8 (53%) completed the post-study survey, and 8 (100%) used the worksheet. Clinicians (n = 8) were satisfied or highly satisfied with the instructional videos, and half (50%) used the information frequently with patients. Both groups reported the worksheet helpful, easy to use, and satisfactory, though clinicians rated helpfulness slightly higher (mean = 3.88 vs. 3.70 for FCPs). Clinicians liked the worksheet's structured guidance and the enhanced collaboration. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: This study provides preliminary evidence for implementation outcomes of a dementia-focused end-of-life intervention in home hospice. Findings suggest the intervention can be implemented in a hospice setting, with moderate worksheet uptake and perceived value among FCPs and clinicians.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of Multidomain Cardiac Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction by Patient Frailty: Prespecified Subgroup Analysis of the PIpELINe Trial.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is common among older patients surviving myocardial infarction, is associated with adverse outcomes, and is often perceived as a barrier to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The aim of this study is to determine whether frailty influences prognosis after myocardial infarction, and whether frailty modifies the clinical benefit of multidomain CR. METHODS: We performed a prespecified subgroup analysis of the PIpELINe (Physical Activity Intervention in Elderly Patients With Myocardial Infarction) randomized clinical trial conducted in Italy, which enrolled 512 patients aged ≥65 years recovering from myocardial infarction and randomized them in a 2:1 ratio to CR or usual care. Frailty was assessed using the Fried Frailty Phenotype, and patients were categorized as nonfrail (robust) or prefrail/frail. Time-to-event outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models, including treatment-by-frailty interaction terms to evaluate effect modification of the multidomain CR. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death or unplanned hospitalization for cardiovascular causes within 1 year after randomization. RESULTS: Overall, 350 patients (68.4%) were classified as prefrail/frail, of whom 232 were randomized to intervention arm (66%). Frail patients were older (median age, 80 [75-85] years) and more frequently female (41.7% versus 24.7%). Compared with robust patients, prefrail/frail patients had a higher risk of the primary outcome (16 [9.9%] versus 62 [17.7%]; hazard ratio, 1.59 [95% CI, 0.89-2.82]; adjusted P=0.117). Among prefrail/frail patients, assignment to multidomain CR was associated with a lower risk of the primary outcome compared with usual care (hazard ratio, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.34-0.94]; P=0.028), with no statistically significant interaction in the treatment effect on the primary end point (P=0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Among older patients recovering from myocardial infarction, frailty is associated with worse prognosis but does not diminish the benefit of multidomain CR. These findings support the use of frailty assessment to guide rather than limit access to CR. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04183465.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Aquablation/AquaBeam Waterjet Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Three-Year Functional and Ejaculatory Outcomes in a Multicenter Real-World Italian Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the 3-year functional outcomes of Aquablation/AquaBeam waterjet therapy for bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with particular attention to urinary symptoms, quality of life, continence, ejaculatory function, and complications. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained multicenter database including 218 consecutive men who underwent Aquablation/AquaBeam for symptomatic BPH between January 2019 and January 2022 at three referral centers. Functional outcomes assessed preoperatively and during follow-up included International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS quality-of-life item (IPSS-QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urine (PVR), continence, and ejaculatory function. Median follow-up was 36 months. Ejaculatory preservation was evaluated only in patients with preserved antegrade ejaculation at baseline. RESULTS: Median age was 61 years (IQR 57-66), median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 2.52 ng/mL (IQR 0.40-21.60), and median prostate volume was 55 mL (IQR 40-73). Median operative time was 56 min, while median catheterization time and length of hospital stay were both 48 h. Functional improvements were evident from the 3-month follow-up and remained stable through 36 months. At 36 months, median IPSS improved to 5 and median Qmax to 18 mL/s. Median PSA changed modestly from 2.52 ng/mL at baseline to 2.75 ng/mL at 36 months. No cases of de novo urinary incontinence were observed throughout follow-up. Among patients with preserved antegrade ejaculation at baseline, 87% maintained antegrade ejaculation at 36 months. Most postoperative complications were minor (Clavien-Dindo grade I-II, 20.2%). One grade III rectal injury occurred (0.5%). Median hemoglobin decreased from 15.2 g/dL preoperatively to 14.0 g/dL before hospital discharge, and two patients required blood transfusion. During the 36-month follow-up, no surgical retreatment was required, whereas 11 patients (5.0%) received temporary medical retreatment. CONCLUSION: In this multicenter real-world cohort, Aquablation/AquaBeam was safe and effective over 3 years, providing durable improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life while preserving continence and antegrade ejaculation in most patients. These findings support Aquablation/AquaBeam as a valuable minimally invasive surgical option for selected men with BPH, particularly those who prioritize preservation of ejaculatory function. Longer-term and comparative studies are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 48281.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Clinical outcomes of Epstein-Barr virus infection/reactivation following CAR-T cell therapy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or reactivation is an emerging but underrecognized complication following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy and is likely associated with treatment-induced immune dysregulation. Data regarding its clinical impact remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reported occurrence, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of EBV infection or reactivation in adults undergoing CAR-T therapy. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception to March 2025 for studies reporting EBV infection or reactivation after CAR-T therapy in adults. Due to limited and heterogeneous data, results were synthesized descriptively. RESULTS: Five studies comprising 80 patients were included (median age, 55 years; 52.6% male among patients with reported sex data [10/19]). Across the included studies, 11 EBV infection/reactivation events were identified among 80 described CAR-T recipients, representing 13.8% of the reported sample rather than a true incidence estimate. Among events with usable individualized timing data, the median interval from CAR-T infusion to EBV detection/reactivation was 9.8 months (approximate range, 1-44 months). Because EBV surveillance strategies and definitions were inconsistently reported across studies, this proportion should not be interpreted as a true incidence estimate. Four patients (36.4%) developed EBV-associated disease, including three cases of EBV-related lymphoproliferative disorder and one case of EBV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Among seven patients with reported post-CAR-T treatment response, four achieved Complete Remission/ Continuous Complete Remission; treatment response should be interpreted separately from final survival status. Confirmed EBV-related mortality occurred in 2/11 patients with reported EBV infection/reactivation and in 2/4 patients with EBV-associated disease; all-cause mortality could not be reliably estimated because patient-level vital status could not be fully attributed to the EBV-reactivated subgroup. Reported toxicities predominantly consisted of low-grade cytokine-release syndrome; however, toxicity data were limited. CONCLUSION: Although infrequently reported, EBV infection or reactivation after CAR-T therapy may be associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among affected patients. However, the available evidence is limited by the small sample size, heterogeneous study designs, and inconsistent EBV surveillance practices.

Humans↗