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PubMed2026

Ketamine Plus Midazolam versus Fentanyl Plus Midazolam for Sedation and Analgesia during Image-guided Procedures in Interventional Radiology: Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background Opioid-benzodiazepine regimens remain common for radiologist-administered procedural sedation despite respiratory and analgesic effectiveness concerns. Purpose To compare intraprocedural pain and patient-reported experience between ketamine/midazolam and fentanyl/midazolam during image-guided procedural sedation. Materials and Methods This randomized clinical trial was conducted at a single academic center between June 2025 and February 2026. Adults undergoing image-guided lung or bone biopsy or abscess drainage were randomized to fentanyl/midazolam or ketamine/midazolam administered by interventional radiologists. Procedures were performed using US, CT, CT fluoroscopy, or combined CT and US guidance. The primary outcome was maximum intraprocedural pain (0-10 on the Numeric Rating Scale). Secondary outcomes included sedation depth, physiologic parameters, oxygen desaturation, patient-reported experience assessed using a modified Heidelberg questionnaire, and complications. Results Among 264 randomized procedures (132 procedures per group) in 260 participants (median age, 68 years [IQR, 61-75 years]; 135 [52%] female), ketamine/midazolam resulted in lower maximum intraprocedural pain than fentanyl/midazolam (mean difference, -1.4 points [95% CI: -2.0, -0.8]; P < .001). Pain scores greater than 4 occurred less frequently with ketamine/midazolam (2.3% vs 17%; absolute difference, 14 percentage points [95% CI: 8, 21]; P < .001). Ketamine/midazolam was associated with higher nadir oxygen saturation (mean difference, +1.4% [95% CI: 0.6, 2.2]; P = .001) and fewer oxygen desaturation events below 90% (three [2.3%] vs 13 [9.8%]; absolute difference, 7.6 percentage points [95% CI: 1.9, 13.3]; P = .02). Ketamine/midazolam produced deeper sedation and higher intraprocedural systolic blood pressure. Hallucinations occurred more frequently with ketamine/midazolam (15 [11.4%] vs five [3.8%]; absolute difference, 7.6 percentage points [95% CI: 1.3, 13.9]; P = .03), though overall procedural comfort, reduced recall, and perceived adequacy of sedation were improved. Procedure-related and sedation-related complications did not differ between groups. Conclusion Radiologist-administered ketamine/midazolam during image-guided procedural sedation improved analgesia and patient-reported experience with fewer hypoxemic events and no increase in complications compared with fentanyl/midazolam. Clinical trial registration no. NCT07040163

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Blue light therapy delivered through light glasses improves sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease: A randomized trial.

BackgroundSleep disturbances, including excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and fragmented nocturnal sleep, are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and significantly reduce quality of life. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of a novel approach using blue light, delivered via dedicated glasses with integrated LED lights, to improve sleep and non-motor symptoms.MethodsRandomised, placebo-controlled, single-blind pilot study with a 2-week light intervention. Participants were assessed at baseline, two weeks, and five weeks. The study was designed to evaluate between- and within-group changes. Participants were randomly allocated to receive blue light therapy (n = 15) or red light placebo (n = 15), delivered via LED-integrated glasses for one hour, twice daily, given for a 2-week period. Primary outcome was improvement in sleep quality, assessed via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Secondary outcomes included diary-based sleep outcomes, excessive daytime sleepiness, mood, anxiety, and motor symptoms.ResultsThere was a significant group × time effect with blue light therapy leading to better Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (p = 0.021). Between-group analyses showed that at two weeks a trend toward significance was observed (p = 0.065), while sleep quality significantly improved at five weeks compared to placebo (p = 0.029) with a large effect size (0.896). Excessive sleepiness improved in the blue light group (p < 0.001), with a reduction in clinically relevant sleepiness from 50.0% to 6.7% (p = 0.005).ConclusionsBlue light therapy delivered through dedicated glasses appeared to show an improvement in sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in individuals with PD. Blue light therapy offers a promising alternative to traditional light therapy utilising lower light intensities and eliminating the need for light boxes.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Effectiveness and usability of artificial intelligence-powered assistive technologies in Supporting daily activities of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the main cause of motor disabilities in childhood, necessitating innovative approaches to rehabilitation and assistive technology (AT). Simultaneously, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into devices to create more adaptive, personalized, and effective AT. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of AI-powered assistive technologies designed to support daily activities and rehabilitation in children with CP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and IEEE Xplore, were systematically searched, and 23 articles were included in the final analysis. Articles were identified, selected, and categorized into emerging thematic areas based on the primary function and application of the technology. RESULTS: Five key thematic topics were identified: 1) AI-driven motor rehabilitation and gait training for functional mobility; 2) intelligent assessment and monitoring systems for clinical decision support; 3) AI-supported communication, social interaction, and intention recognition tools; 4) gamified and virtual reality-based interventions to enhance engagement and usability; and 5) smart assistive systems supporting daily living and independent mobility. The findings demonstrate a strong trend toward the application of AI technologies in personalized, engaging, and data-driven interventions for children with CP. However, the field is predominantly in the proof-of-concept stage, with limitations including small sample sizes, lack of long-term clinical validation, challenges in user-centered design, and usability for children with CP. CONCLUSION: AI-powered assistive technologies hold significant potential for transforming the care of children with CP by enabling highly personalized and engaging interventions. To actualize this potential, future work must realize that practical application remains challenging owing to limited clinical validation, technological integration, and usability barriers for children with CP. Future research must prioritize user-centered design and multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure that AI and robotic advancements improve the usability and quality of life for children with CP.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Construction of precision clinical-proteomics risk model based on machine learning for predicting heart failure in type II diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is a severe complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but current risk stratification scores have limited predictive accuracy. We aimed to develop novel prediction tools integrating clinical variables with proteomics to improve risk stratification of hospitalization for HF in T2DM. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we included 2111 UK Biobank participants with T2DM but no prior HF, and profiled 2920 proteins to predict 10-year incident HF hospitalization. Participants were randomly divided into training (70%), tuning (10%), and validation (20%) sets.Three prediction models were developed: a Clinical model based on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, medication use, and laboratory indices; a Protein model based on 40 proteins selected by the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM); and the Clinical OMics and Protein ASSessment for Heart Failure (COMPASS-HF) model, which integrated both clinical variables and the LGBM-selected proteins. Models were evaluated for area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. During follow-up, 168 participants (7.96%) developed incident HF. The COMPASS-HF model showed better discrimination than the Clinical model, with an AUC of 0.897 (95% CI: 0.850-0.945) versus 0.790 (95% CI: 0.723-0.856). It also demonstrated higher sensitivity (0.882; 95% CI: 0.725-0.967) and consistent performance in subgroups. COMPASS-HF effectively stratified risk of hospitalization for HF, with cumulative incidence rates of 31.9% in the high-risk group and 1.2% in the low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: By combining clinical and proteomic variables, we developed a high-performance HF prediction model for T2DM, enabling precise risk stratification and informing early intervention strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dual-Reporter Gene-Based Multimodal Imaging for Tracking Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Diabetic Skin Wound Repair.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a clinically challenging complication characterized by poor healing outcomes, and conventional therapies provide limited benefit. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation offers a promising strategy for DFU repair. However, the low survival of transplanted MSCs in the hostile wound microenvironment, coupled with the lack of real-time, non-invasive methods to track these cells in vivo, severely hampers their therapeutic efficacy and clinical translation. METHODS: We engineered MSCs to co-express a dual reporter system comprising near-infrared fluorescent protein (iRFP) and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1). These modified cells were then integrated with a fibrin glue (FG) scaffold to create a unified platform that supports both multimodal imaging and therapeutic function within skin wounds. First, FTH1 overexpression enhances the antioxidant capacity of MSCs, while the FG scaffold provides structural support; this combination enhances cell survival and retention. Second, the iRFP/FTH1 dual reporter enables near-infrared fluorescence imaging and MRI-based localization, establishing a multimodal platform for real-time cell tracking. RESULTS: In a full-thickness skin defect model in diabetic mice, multimodal imaging revealed that transplanted cells persisted in the wound area for approximately seven days. Treatment with iRFP/FTH1-MSCs/FG significantly accelerated wound closure and promoted hair follicle regeneration and angiogenesis. Additionally, local iron deposition resulting from FTH1 expression enhanced fibroblast migration and collagen synthesis, further facilitating extracellular matrix remodeling. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that this therapy drives macrophage polarization toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and activates the PI3K-AKT-VEGF signaling pathway. These complementary effects synergistically enhance tissue regeneration and systematically improve diabetic wound healing. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, this multimodal stem cell-scaffold system effectively integrates dynamic cell tracking with stem cell therapy during skin wound repair. It addresses a critical technical gap in visualizing stem cells within the wound microenvironment and provides valuable methodological and theoretical foundations for optimizing regenerative strategies for diabetic skin wounds.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Closed-loop vasopressor systems for hemodynamic control in perioperative and critical care settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) within a predefined target is central to haemodynamic management in surgical and critically ill adults receiving vasopressors. Closed-loop vasopressor (CLV) systems automate titration to optimise blood pressure control, but their clinical effectiveness remains uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing CLV with manual titration. This PRISMA 2020-compliant review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250655697). MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Library were searched (January 2000-June 2025). Randomised controlled trials enrolling adults receiving vasopressors in perioperative or intensive care settings were included. Primary outcomes were time within the MAP target range and time spent in hypotension or hypertension. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2.0 and certainty of evidence using GRADE. Random- or fixed-effects models were selected according to heterogeneity. Six randomized controlled trials (215 patients) were included in the systematic review, whereas five perioperative trials contributed to the meta-analysis of haemodynamic control outcomes, and one ICU-based study was summarized narratively because it did not report comparable MAP control endpoints. CLV increased time within the MAP target range (mean difference [MD] 33.94%, 95% CI 20.41-47.46; I2 = 77%) and reduced time in hypotension (MD - 18.24%, 95% CI - 28.95 to - 7.53; I2 = 73%). There was no significant difference in time in hypertension, cumulative norepinephrine dose, or major/minor adverse events. ICU length of stay was not pooled because of clinical and methodological heterogeneity. Certainty of evidence ranged from low to high (moderate for haemodynamic control outcomes). CLV systems improved haemodynamic control, primarily in perioperative settings, but heterogeneity and small samples limit confidence in effect size and generalisability. Evidence in critically ill populations remains limited, and larger trials are needed to determine whether improvements in these physiological surrogate endpoints translate into meaningful patient-centred outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Clinical performance evaluation of single-shade versus multi-shade composite resins in non-carious cervical lesions: a 36-month randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Composite resins are widely used as the material of choice for definitive restorations due to their ability to integrate functional and aesthetic aspects in dental rehabilitation. Recently, one-shade composite resins have been introduced to simplify the clinical workflow. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the clinical performance of a "chameleon effect" composite resin with that of a multi-shade composite resin in non-carious cervical lesions after 36 months of follow-up. METHODS: This study was a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial with an equivalence design using a split-mouth approach. The sample consisted of 60 patients presenting at least two non-carious cervical lesions, totaling 120 restorations. Restorations were performed using two materials from the same commercial brand: Vittra Unique (one-shade group) and Vittra APS (multi-shade group). The clinical performance of the restorations was longitudinally evaluated according to the FDI criteria. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test, while other clinical parameters were compared using the chi-square test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: At baseline, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups regarding the evaluated biological, functional, and aesthetic parameters (p > 0.05). Both materials demonstrated clinically acceptable performance according to the FDI criteria, with no significant differences between them. CONCLUSIONS: After 36 months, no significant differences were observed between the one-shade and the multi-shade composite resins in the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This 36-month randomized clinical trial demonstrates that single-shade composite resins achieve structural durability and aesthetic integration equivalent to traditional multi-shade layering when restoring non-carious cervical lesions. This evidence validates a simplified, single-shade restorative workflow, significantly reducing chairside time and operator-dependent variables without compromising the clinical longevity.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions among adolescents and young adults in North America: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions are common among adolescents and young adults and represent an important clinical and public health concern in North America. Trauma exposure, psychiatric symptoms, and social adversity frequently co-occur with substance-related problems in this population. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on prevalence patterns, associated clinical and psychosocial factors, and care-related implications described in the literature on adolescents and young adults with substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions. METHODS: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42024581685). A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies examined adolescents and young adults (≤ 25 years) in North America. A combination of subject headings, keywords, and synonyms for the concepts "adolescents," "young adults," "substance use disorders," and "co-occurring mental health conditions" was used. Of 1,882 records identified, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Given the heterogeneity of the literature, findings were synthesized narratively. RESULTS: The included studies showed heterogeneity in population, setting, denominator, and ascertainment method. Across the literature, depressive, anxiety-related, trauma-related, and externalizing mental health presentations were frequently reported alongside substance-related problems in adolescents and young adults. Trauma exposure, adverse childhood experiences, and broader social adversity were also commonly reported in association with substance-related problems across studies. Care-related implications were more limited and were largely derived as future directions mentioned across studies rather than direct evaluations of youth-specific service models. CONCLUSION: Co-occurring mental health and substance-related problems were frequently reported among adolescents and young adults in high-risk and service-engaged populations in North America. Trauma and social adversity were prominent across the reviewed literature, while direct evidence for evaluated, integrated, youth-specific care models remains limited. These findings support the relevance of developmentally appropriate, integrated, and trauma-informed approaches to care and highlight the need for further research directly evaluating improved service delivery models for this population. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Could the preoperative urethral curve be used to predict immediate urinary continence following Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy? A retrospective multi-center study.

PURPOSE: Immediate urinary continence (UC) recovery following Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) remains highly variable, highlighting the need for reliable preoperative prediction. We aimed to develop and validate models to identify patients likely to achieve immediate UC recovery following RS-RARP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 580 prostate cancer patients who underwent RS-RARP from four medical centers were assigned to a training set (n=348), an internal validation set (n=103) and an external validation set (n=129). Independent predictors were identified through univariate analysis and LASSO regression. A nomogram was constructed using multivariate logistic regression. Its performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Immediate UC recovery was observed in 84.5% (294/348) of patients in the training cohort, 80.6% (83/103) in the internal validation cohort, and 81.4% (105/129) in the external validation cohort, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified membranous urethral length (MUL) (OR=1.23, P=0.029) and urethral curvature (OR=2.84, P<0.001) as independent predictors, while prostate volume (PV) (OR=0.84, P <0.001) as a protective factor. The nomogram integrating MUL, PV, and urethral curvature demonstrated superior predictive accuracy, with an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.91) in the training cohort. The bootstrap-corrected calibration slope was 0.96, and the Brier score was 0.08. Calibration curves and decision curve analysis confirmed the predictive accuracy and clinical utility of the nomogram. CONCLUSIONS: Our study introduces a novel quantitative method for assessing urethral curvature. The mpMRI-based model, integrating urethral curvature and prostate spatial configuration, offers enhanced predictive accuracy for postoperative immediate UC recovery.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Changes in hemoglobin levels and cardiometabolic health in adults with metabolic syndrome - a secondary outcome analysis of a six-month randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lower hemoglobin (Hb) levels within the normal range have been associated with favorable metabolic traits in cross-sectional studies. This study investigated whether changes in Hb levels correlated with changes in physiological and cardiometabolic parameters during a six-month behavioral intervention in individuals with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: The six-month randomized controlled trial aimed to reduce sedentary behavior in adults with metabolic syndrome (n = 64). Key measurements included fasting blood samples, insulin sensitivity during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, insulin-stimulated liver glucose uptake, liver fat content (LFC), indirect calorimetry, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiac function. Correlations between changes in these variables and changes in Hb levels at baseline, three, and six months were examined. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, higher Hb levels correlated with lower insulin sensitivity (r=-0.35, p = 0.005), higher resting O2 consumption (r = 0.41, p < 0.001), higher resting energy expenditure (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), higher LFC (r = 0.40, p = 0.011), and greater left ventricular wall thickness (r = 0.42, p = 0.001). The intervention did not significantly impact Hb levels, and changes in Hb levels did not correlate with most cardiometabolic changes. However, reduced Hb levels correlated with reduced fasting blood glucose (r = 0.29, p = 0.032), improved insulin sensitivity (r = -0.26, p = 0.045), and increased cardiorespiratory fitness (r = -0.29, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in Hb levels did not consistently correlate with changes in cardiometabolic markers during the intervention. However, reductions in Hb levels may relate to improved insulin sensitivity and fitness. Along cross-sectional correlations, this may be clinically relevant for individuals with metabolic syndrome. Further studies are merited to clarify the role of Hb levels in this high-risk group.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of testosterone-augmented multimodal exercise intervention in spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to profound muscle atrophy, aerobic deconditioning, and metabolic dysfunction. Exercise-based interventions alone produce modest benefits. Whether testosterone can augment physiologic responses to exercise in this population remains untested. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of home-based intervention combining functional electrical stimulation-assisted leg cycling (FES-LC), arm ergometry (AE), and testosterone compared with FES-LC, AE plus placebo in adults with SCI. METHODS: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial enrolled 84 adults (76 males and 8 females) aged 19-70 years with SCI (neurologic levels C4-T12; AIS grades A-D). Participants were randomized to multimodality intervention (home-based FES-LC, AE and intramuscular testosterone undecanoate) (n = 38) or control intervention (FES-LC, AE plus placebo) (n = 46) for 16 weeks. The primary outcome was change in aerobic capacity (peak VO2) during AE cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes included lean mass, hemoglobin, cardiometabolic markers, and safety. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 44 (13) years and time since injury was 13.9 (13) years). Between-group changes in peak VO2 were not statistically significant. Within-group improvements were larger in multimodality (∼19% increase; 0.10 L/min; 95% CI, 0.02-0.18 L/min) compared to controls (∼6% increase; 0.06 L/min; 95% CI, -0.01-0.13). The multimodality group gained significantly more lean mass (whole-body:1.84 kg, 95% CI: 0.52-3.16, P = .007; lower extremity 0.92 kg, 95% CI: 0.38-1.45, P = .001), and anemia was corrected in a greater proportion of participants. Adverse event rates were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: A home-based multimodality intervention combining FES-LC, AE, and testosterone was safe and associated with greater improvements in lean mass and hemoglobin. Although between-group differences in aerobic capacity were not statistically significant, greater within-group increases were observed in the multimodality group. These findings may inform future studies of testosterone-augmented exercise interventions for individuals living with SCI.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genome-resolved analysis reveals disruption of gut microbial vitamin B and K2 biosynthesis during Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice.

UNLABELLED: Toxoplasma gondii infection remodels the gut microbiome, yet its impact on microbial vitamin biosynthetic potential and host redox metabolism remains unclear. Here, we integrated mouse gut metagenomes with publicly available metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) to construct a genome-resolved atlas of B-vitamin and vitamin K2 biosynthesis. From 45,697 MAGs, we curated 4,771 representative genomes, of which 2,682 met high-quality criteria (completeness ≥90%, contamination <5%). Functional annotation identified 229,717 vitamin-related genes corresponding to 177 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologs across de novo pathways for eight B vitamins, thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenate (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9), cobalamin (B12), and vitamin K2. Among the high-quality genomes, 1,665 encoded complete de novo pathways for at least one vitamin, highlighting functional specialization and community-level complementarity. Transcripts per million-normalized metagenomic read counts revealed significant differences in KEGG ortholog abundances across six of the nine vitamin pathways. Reanalysis of metagenomic data from infected mice (acute, chronic, and control; n = 10 per group) revealed a stage-dependent reduction in α-diversity of vitamin biosynthesis pathways during acute infection, and a clear β-diversity separation from chronic and control groups. Core niacin biosynthesis genes (nadB, nadA, nadC) displayed phylum-specific redistribution, indicating selective remodeling of microbial NAD+ precursor production under infection-induced metabolic stress. These results suggest that T. gondii infection disrupts cooperative vitamin biosynthetic networks while specifically modulating niacin pathways linked to host NAD+ metabolism. IMPORTANCE: Gut microbes can synthesize essential vitamins, but how infection alters this function is poorly understood. By integrating mouse gut metagenomes with genome-resolved microbial data, we show that Toxoplasma gondii infection reshapes the vitamin biosynthetic potential of the gut microbiome in a stage-dependent manner. Acute infection reduces the diversity of vitamin biosynthesis pathways and shifts the taxonomic distribution of key niacin biosynthesis genes involved in microbial NAD+ precursor production. These findings identify vitamin metabolism, especially niacin-related pathways, as a sensitive functional axis of microbiome remodeling during infection. Our work links microbial taxonomic changes to functional metabolic consequences and suggests that microbiome-mediated regulation of NAD+-related metabolism may contribute to host redox adaptation during T. gondii infection.

B vitamins↗

PubMed2026

Toward personalized interventions for preventing depression in primary care: Qualitative and quantitative findings from the e-predictD pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The predictD intervention, delivered by family physicians (FPs), has demonstrated effectiveness and cost-efficiency in preventing depression and anxiety. The e-predictD study aims to design, develop, and evaluate a novel personalized intervention for depression prevention by integrating information and communication technologies (ICTs), risk prediction algorithms, and decision support systems (DSS) for both patients and FPs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the satisfaction, usability, and acceptability, of a beta version of the e-predictD intervention in primary care settings. METHODS: The e-predictD intervention follows a biopsychosocial approach, including an initial patient-FP interview, specific FP training, and an app. A β-version was tested in a pilot study without a control group over three months. The app integrates a validated depression risk prediction algorithm, decision algorithms, and a monitoring system supporting the DSS. The DSS generates a personalized prevention plan (PPP) from eight intervention modules: physical exercise, social relationships, problem-solving, communication skills, decision-making, assertiveness, sleep improvement, and cognitive restructuring. Patients and FPs discussed the PPP in a 15-minute baseline interview, selecting modules for implementation over three months. Semi-structured interviews gathered feedback. Assessments included depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), quality of life (SF-12), and major depression risk (predictD algorithm). RESULTS: Six FPs from six Spanish cities enrolled 56 non-depressed patients at moderate-to-high risk of depression; 47 (84%) completed follow-up. The app was used for a median of six days (interquartile range: 1-30). Both FPs and patients expressed satisfaction, leading to incorporated improvements. After three months, significant reductions in major depression risk and anxiety symptoms were observed, alongside improved mental quality of life. However, no significant changes were found in depressive symptoms or physical quality of life. CONCLUSION: This pilot study supports the feasibility and acceptability of the e-predictD β-version, despite lower-than-expected app usability. Health improvements were observed, warranting confirmation in a randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03990792.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Latent profile analysis of pregnant exercise adherence and the relationship with demographic and socio-psychological factors: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy physical activity (PA) and exercise benefits both mothers and babies, but requires sustained adherence. Many pregnant women fail to meet recommended levels. The reasons for low adherence comprised fluctuating physiological and environmental factors. This study aims to identify discrete profiles of pregnant women based on exercise adherence and to examine differences in demographic and socio-psychological factors across these profiles. METHODS: A survey was conducted among 1,255 pregnant women in three hospitals in Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Shunde, China, using the Exercise Adherence Rating Scale (EARS), the Pregnancy Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (P-ESES), and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Social Support Scale (P-PASSS). In the analysis, EARS items were scored higher, indicating a healthier state (e.g., sufficient time and energy). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to classify adherence profiles, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine differences in demographic, self-efficacy, and social support across four groups. RESULTS: Four profiles of exercise adherence were identified: (1) Profile 1 (16.97%), characterized by deficits in time and energy, (2) Profile 2 (15.22%), a group with sufficient time resources but the lowest self-efficacy, (3) Profile 3 (43.98%), characterized by high adherence despite moderate barriers, and (4) Profile 4 (23.83%), a group with optimal exercise adherence, confidence, and resources. Women with higher P-ESES (OR: 1.14-1.38) and P-PASSS (OR: 1.04-1.06) scores were more likely to be in Profiles 3 and 4. Additionally, women's partners who never or occasionally exercise were significantly more likely to be categorized into Profile 1 (OR = 0.18 for Profile 4 vs. Profile 1). Furthermore, the first trimester emerged as a significant risk period for lower exercise adherence, whereas overweight/obesity was independently associated with higher odds of membership in Profile 4. CONCLUSION: The study identified four distinct profiles of exercise adherence among pregnant women. 32.19% of participants were in the two lower exercise-adherence groups. Pregnant women in Profile 1 were characterized by challenges related to a lack of time and knowledge. Participants in Profile 2 showed the lowest exercise self-efficacy and social support among the four profiles. Furthermore, women in early pregnancy were more likely to have lower adherence profiles. Hence, targeted interventions addressing these specific groups are warranted to improve exercise adherence during pregnancy.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Comparison of Adult Tracheostomy Outcomes Before and After Implementation of a Dedicated Tracheostomy Team.

OBJECTIVE: (A) Determine patient and institutional factors associated with increased length of stay (LOS) and complications of tracheostomy, (B) Develop data-driven quality improvement in tracheostomy care. DESIGN: Mixed methods protocol used cross-sectional survey assessing institutional trends in tracheostomy-specific care. Retrospective chart review compared tracheostomy patient outcomes prior to and during implementation of a multidisciplinary tracheostomy care team and standardized guidelines. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing tracheostomy from January 2019 to December 2021 at a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Patient factors, procedure type and indication, tracheostomy tube size, management timeline, insurance, and disease severity using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score were analyzed for associations with LOS and adverse events. Multivariate analyses controlled for APACHE II score and payer source. LOS and complications were compared between patients before and during implementation of multidisciplinary tracheostomy care team and standardized guidelines. RESULTS: Three-hundred and eighteen patients met criteria with a 21.7% complication rate, average LOS of 24 days (SD = 28.523), and median LOS post-tracheostomy of 14 days (IQR 7, 29). Departments without standardized protocols had greater LOS (F[1,316] = 28.706, P < .001]) and complication odds (OR = 2.92, P = .015, 95% CI[1.231, 6.930]). Larger tracheostomy tube size was linked to increased LOS (β = .253, t(314) = 4.741, P < .001, 95% CI[4.137, 10.081]). Delays from ventilation discontinuation to cuffless tube exchange and decannulation correlated with increased LOS (β = .406, t(184) = 6.321, P < .001, 95% CI[.928, 1.771]); (β = .554, t(129) = 7.625, P < .001, 95% CI[1.008, 1.715]). When focusing on a single department, comparing 2019 patients to 2021 patients (pre- and post-guideline and care team), overall, LOS decreased from 33.08 to 30.83 days (P = .586). When excluding patients discharged on a ventilator, the 2019 group had average LOS of 37.938 days versus 33.41 days in 2021 (P = .344). CONCLUSIONS: Standardized tracheostomy care guidelines and multidisciplinary care teams are critical to improving institutional outcomes. Data-driven approaches to quality improvement ensure efficient and targeted methods to improving patient care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Access to palliative care in rural settings: A mixed-methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Rural populations experience persistent inequities in access to palliative care. Existing evidence often describes individual barriers separately, with less attention to how access breaks down across the care pathway or how different service configurations shape access. OBJECTIVES: To synthesise evidence on access to palliative care in rural settings and examine how access barriers, service models, and implementation conditions interact across the care pathway. METHODS: A mixed-methods systematic review using a convergent integrated approach searched nine databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CNKI, WanFang, SinoMed) from inception to 15 March 2026, supplemented by hand-searching. Eligible studies were primary qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies on access to palliative care for adults in rural or non-urban settings. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were mapped to the Levesque access framework, analysed using the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, and integrated through mixed-methods synthesis, with additional coding of service models. RESULTS: Thirty-four studies were included, of which 26 were conducted in high-income countries and eight in low- and middle-income countries. Service configurations included specialist or hospice-oriented care, generalist or primary-care-oriented care, mixed specialist-generalist models, home-based and caregiver-centred care, nurse-coordinated services, telehealth-supported care, and community or implementation-oriented approaches. Access broke down cumulatively across four interdependent stages: recognition, entry, reach, and use and continuity, with affordability constraining every stage. Recognition was limited by low awareness, poor service visibility, and delayed identification of need. Entry was shaped by stigma, trust, family expectations, and unclear referral processes. Reach was constrained by distance, transport, workforce shortages, limited specialist capacity, and weak infrastructure. Use and continuity were affected by fragmented coordination, weak transitions, unstable follow-up, and reliance on family caregivers. Access problems varied across service configurations. Evidence on service innovations was methodologically less certain, and the overall evidence base remained concentrated in high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Access to palliative care in rural settings is best understood as a pathway and service-configuration problem rather than simply a deficit in service availability. Improving access requires earlier recognition, clearer referral routes, stronger specialist-generalist and nursing links, better support for family caregivers, and greater attention to affordability, continuity, and rural settings with limited resources. REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD420261340783.

Health Services Accessibility↗

PubMed2026

Experiences of stigma, bias, and communication challenges among pregnant healthcare workers: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare work environments are fraught with occupational hazards that can impact pregnant healthcare workers' health as well as patient care. Despite the feminization of healthcare globally, systematic discrimination against pregnant workers persists across diverse healthcare settings and cultural contexts. The intersection of stigma, bias, and communication challenges creates substantial barriers to career advancement and wellbeing. However, no systematic review has synthesized qualitative evidence on how these three constructs interact across healthcare professions and cultural contexts using an integrated theoretical framework. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and synthesize qualitative evidence on experiences of stigma, bias, and communication challenges among pregnant healthcare workers across different healthcare settings and cultural contexts using an integrated theoretical framework. DESIGN: Systematic review of qualitative studies following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines with thematic synthesis. DATA SOURCES: Seven databases were searched from inception to January 2026. REVIEW METHODS: Included qualitative studies were appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist and synthesized through theory-guided thematic synthesis. Confidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual) approach. RESULTS: Fourteen studies encompassing 1223 participants across 17 countries revealed four major themes: (1) professional identity stigma and workplace discrimination through systematic labeling and stereotyping; (2) gender-based institutional bias rooted in masculine organizational logic; (3) multilevel communication failures creating fear-based climates; and (4) individual and collective resistance strategies developed despite constraints. Occupational hazards specific to pregnancy included exposure to infectious diseases, imaging, physical tasks, cleaning products, patient violence, and medication administration. Support from coworkers and supervisors was identified as the most critical facilitator for avoiding hazards and making necessary modifications, while the desire to be 'supernurses' and fear of consequences emerged as significant barriers. These patterns were consistent across healthcare professions, settings, and cultural contexts, with specialty culture and healthcare system type moderating discrimination intensity. Confidence in core findings was rated high using GRADE-CERQual. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant healthcare workers globally experience interconnected stigma, bias, and communication challenges that are systematically embedded within healthcare organizational structures. These challenges operate synergistically, requiring comprehensive multilevel interventions beyond policy compliance. Healthcare organizations must implement evidence-based strategies addressing stigma reduction, bias interruption, and communication transformation simultaneously to retain skilled workers and ensure quality patient care.

Female↗

PubMed2026

Nourishing collaboration: interdisciplinary nutrition education for health care professionals.

Nutrition education remains insufficient in many health care professional training programs despite the central role of diet in the prevention and management of chronic disease. Contemporary nutrition science increasingly recognizes that dietary behaviors and health outcomes are shaped by complex interactions among biological, behavioral, environmental, and food system factors. This perspective proposes an interdisciplinary framework for nutrition education that integrates the complementary expertise of physicians, dietitians, chefs, and farmers. By bridging clinical care, nutrition science, culinary practice, and agricultural systems, such an approach may strengthen the translation of evidence into practice, improve nutrition-related competencies among health care professionals, and ultimately enhance population health outcomes.

Humans↗