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PubMed2026

A validated sensitive LC-MS/MS method and its application in elucidating the unique ocular pharmacokinetic profile of 0.01% atropine underpinning its clinical utility for myopia.

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify atropine in ten rabbit ocular tissues enabling systematic characterization of the ocular pharmacokinetic profile of 0.01% atropine sulfate eye drops after a single topical administration. The method demonstrated excellent linearity (coefficient of determination, R2 ≥ 0.9908) across all matrices, with lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.05 ng/mL for most tissues and 0.10 ng/mL for retina and lens; intra- and inter-day accuracy, precision, matrix effects, extraction recoveries, and stability all met the acceptance criteria. Following a single bilateral topical dose (50 μL/eye) in New Zealand White rabbits, atropine distributed rapidly into all 12 ocular compartments (the sclera further divided into three anatomical regions) with marked heterogeneity-the highest exposures were found in conjunctiva and cornea, a distinct anterior-to-posterior concentration gradient was observed in the sclera, sustained retention was noted in the retina (mean residence time from zero to the last measurable time point, MRT0-t 3.30 h), while aqueous and vitreous humor eliminated rapidly (elimination half-life, t₁/₂ < 0.7 h), and all tissues except aqueous humor followed a two-compartment model. This validated method and the comprehensive pharmacokinetic data reveal that topically applied 0.01% atropine achieves sustained exposure in key myopia-regulating tissues (retina, choroid, posterior sclera) with low exposure in side-effect target tissues (iris, ciliary body, lens).

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Interface-dependent V. parahaemolyticus biofilm under varying temperatures, media, and oxygen conditions: implications for seafood safety.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus biofilms play a critical role in pathogen persistence in marine and seafood-processing environments, where oxygen availability, temperature, and surface interfaces vary widely. This study investigated biofilm development by three strains on partially submerged stainless-steel coupons under gas-liquid-wall (GLW) and fully submerged (SM) interfaces. Viable cell counts (log₁₀CFU/cm2) along with normalized protein concentration per viable cell (nProt) and normalized polysaccharide concentration per viable cell (nPol) were measured, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions across a temperature range of 15-30 °C, using tryptic soy broth with 3% NaCl (TSB) and seawater-based medium (SW). GLW biofilms consistently exhibited higher cell counts (6.4-7.3 log₁₀CFU/cm2) compared to SM biofilms (5.9-6.3 log₁₀CFU/cm2), suggesting that enhanced oxygen diffusion promotes bacterial proliferation. Conversely, SM biofilms exhibited significantly higher nProt and nPol levels (p < 0.001), indicating increased production of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix under low-oxygen, high-nutrient conditions. Microscopy and three-dimensional surface plot analyses revealed relatively uniform biofilm layers at the GLW interface, whereas SM biofilms formed heterogeneous, tower-like structures. EPS production was further influenced by medium composition, oxygen, and temperature. SM biofilms grown in SW exhibited significantly higher nProt and nPol than those in TSB under aerobic conditions (p < 0.001), indicating enhanced matrix stabilization. Under anaerobic conditions at 15 °C, nProt and nPol were higher, whereas under aerobic conditions, peak nProt and nPol occurred at elevated temperatures. These findings highlight a trade-off between bacterial growth and matrix production and provide insight into biofilm adaptation and persistence in seafood-processing environments. These insights may help develop improved biofilm control and seafood safety management.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2026

Novel splice site variants in GBA1 are associated with Gaucher disease and genotype-phenotype correlations.

BACKGROUND: Variants in GBA1 are associated with neurodegenerative disease. This study aimed to explore pathogenic GBA1 variants. METHODS: Four patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME) and extremely low β-glucosidase levels were recruited. Whole-exome sequencing and long-range PCR were performed to identify GBA1 variants. Bioinformatic analyses were used to predict the impact of the identified variants. A literature review was performed to explore the genotype-phenotype correlations. GBA1 expression data across different brain regions and developmental stages were analyzed using the BrainSpan database. RT-PCR was performed to verify the splicing effects. RESULTS: Compound heterozygous GBA1 variants were identified in four patients. Five distinct variants were detected, including two novel splice site variants (c.308-2A>G and c.762-2A>C) and three previously reported variants. All identified variants were rare or absent in gnomAD. Splice site variants c.308-2A>G and c.762-2A>C were predicted to cause aberrant splicing. Minigene-based splicing assays coupled with RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing confirmed that both variants cause complete exon skipping (exon 4 and exon 7, respectively). All patients presented with PME onset in childhood/adolescence, intellectual regression, low β-glucosidase, and diffuse brain atrophy and were subsequently diagnosed with Gaucher disease type 3. GBA1 expression in the brain showed two distinct peaks: one in infancy and another after five years of age. The onset age of PME aligned with the second GBA1 expression peak (after five years of age). CONCLUSION: This study identified compound heterozygous GBA1 variants, including two novel candidate pathogenic splice site variants, in Gaucher disease type 3 patients, expanding the known mutational spectrum.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Emergence of a Novel, Phenotypically Difficult-to-Detect Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Clone (ST117/CT7799).

A significant increase of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) infections was observed in South-Eastern Austria since 2024. The prolonged outbreak is caused by a novel vanB-VREfm clone (ST117/CT7799, "VREfmstyr"). This study characterizes the atypical difficult-to-detect resistance phenotype and assesses the genomic relatedness of the isolates. Patient and outbreak characteristics were investigated including whole genome sequencing of the isolates. Sensitivity of broth microdilution (BMD), gradient tests (GT), disk diffusion (DD), and automated susceptibility testing (VITEK2) was compared. The performance of commercial screening media was evaluated. From sporadic detections in early 2024 case numbers began to rise during the year. In 30/31 (97%) of all cases, intra-hospital transmission was considered likely and an association with invasive procedures was identified in most cases. Core genome multilocus sequence typing revealed only six allelic differences between VREfmstyr isolates collected in a 12-month period, all belonging to the E. faecium ST117/CT7799 lineage. BMD detected vancomycin resistance (MIC > 4 mg/L) in no more than 16/31 (52%) of isolates after 24 h incubation, while GT and DD misclassified all isolates. Only prolonged incubation improved the performance of these assays. VITEK2 analysis, however, correctly classified all 31 isolates. Of four commercially available VRE-screening agars, only one was capable of detecting VREfmstyr after 24 h incubation. The emergence and clonal dissemination of VREfm ST117/CT7799 reveals a serious diagnostic gap as commonly used diagnostic algorithms fail to reliably detect this resistance phenotype. Our findings should help to further evaluate the true geographical distribution and clinical significance of this novel VREfm clone.

Enterococcus faecium↗

PubMed2026

Genomic epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli across humans, poultry and wastewater sectors in Douala, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: The global health threat of antimicrobial resistance involves the human, animal and environmental sectors. Data from Cameroon are scarce. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to define extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) rates and associated risk factors across the three sectors in Douala, Cameroon, and to define molecular characteristics of isolates. METHODS: From June 2022 to May 2023, we collected blood cultures from hospitalized patients, rectal swabs from healthy pregnant women, caeca from broiler chickens and environmental wastewater. Samples were screened for ESBL-Ec using CHROMAgar™ ESBL and cefotaxime-supplemented Tryptone Bile X-glucuronide agar. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion following EUCAST guidelines. Whole-genome sequencing was carried out using Illumina technology. RESULTS: Of 628 samples, 374 yielded ESBL-Ec. Prevalence was 54.6% (131/240) in pregnant women, 70.4% (169/240) in chickens and 93.1% (67/72) in wastewater. The proportion of ESBL-Ec among E. coli-positive-blood cultures was 9.2% (7/76). Multi-family household living was independently associated with ESBL-Ec carriage among pregnant women (adjusted odds ratio = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-3.1, P = 0.03). High co-resistance (>70%) was observed for tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Sequencing of 32 isolates revealed 45 distinct resistance genes, including blaCTX-M-15 (n = 13, 40.6%), blaCTX-M-55 (n = 11, 34.4%) and last-resort antibiotic resistance genes mcr-1 and bla OXA-181. High-risk sequence types included ST131 (pregnant women) and ST10 (chickens). Notably, ST48 was shared between pregnant women and chickens, and ST155 between pregnant women and wastewater. CONCLUSION: Cross-sectoral ESBL-Ec in Douala exhibits high genomic diversity and alarming resistance. The occurrence of last-resort genes requires immediate One Health surveillance and coordinated interventions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Unravelling bioanalytical innovations, degradation processes, and impurity landscapes of VEGFR inhibitors.

From pre-formulation studies to clinical trials, VEGFR-targeted small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) require rigorous analytical standards. Bioanalysis, stability-indicating studies, and impurity profiling are used to examine chromatographic advances for VEGFR-targeted TKIs like sunitinib, pazopanib, axitinib, sorafenib, cabozantinib, vandetanib, apatinib, lenvatinib, nintedanib, and regorafenib. An LC-MS/MS and UPLC-MS/MS routinely show sub ng/mL performance, as shown by LLOQs (0.2 ng/mL) for sunitinib and axitinib, 1 ng/mL for pazopanib, 5-7 ng/mL for sorafenib, 0.5-1.5 ng/mL for regorafenib metabolic products, and 0.1-0.5 ng/mL for lenvatinib. These approaches are used for pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring due to their good correlation coefficient of 0.1-10,000 ng/mL, accuracy of 95%-108%, and precision of 15% RSD. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS distinguishes degradants and metabolites during forced degradation studies, enabling structural elucidation following ICH M7 risk evaluation protocol. HPTLC/MLC offers fast, sensitive screenings, while RP-HPLC/DAD or HPLC-UV offer reliable, cost-effective routine quality-control solutions with LOD/LOQ in the μg/mL range and linearity of 10-240 μg/mL. This review lists the structures and CAS numbers of ten VEGFR-2 TKI degradants and metabolites, as well as pharmacopeial impurities in SMILES forms. It will be useful for future method development and regulatory applications. To ensure VEGFR-targeted TKI quality, safety, and therapeutic efficacy, LC-MS/MS for trace quantification and HRMS for structure elucidation provide a robust, future-oriented framework. To improve VEGFR-targeted TKI quality, safety, and regulatory compliance, analytical development should focus on HRMS-based impurity characterization, AI-assisted degradation prediction, green chromatography, and harmonized bioanalytical validation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Climate and soil shape Daqu wheat quality and seed microbiome via rhizosphere taxa and microbial assembly.

The grain quality and seed microbiome of Daqu wheat are fundamental determinants of Daqu fermentation performance; however, the mechanisms by which cultivation environments influence these traits via rhizosphere microbial communities remain unclear. Bacterial and fungal communities across the bulk soil-rhizosphere-seed continuum of three wheat cultivars grown in four ecoregions were characterized using absolute quantitative amplicon sequencing. The rhizosphere microbiome was treated as a central intermediary, while the response variables were seed microbial diversity and grain-quality traits, including starch content, protein content, and grain hardness. Twelve physicochemical properties of soil and 11 climatic factors were integrated into a multidimensional association framework. Environmental conditions exerted stronger influences on both seed quality traits and microbial diversity than cultivar identity. Distinct regional signatures were also evident in rhizosphere microbiomes, with environmental gradients explaining community variation more effectively than geographic distance. Bacterial communities exhibited greater sensitivity to environmental fluctuations than fungi. Mantel analyses identified available nitrogen, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure as significant drivers of core rhizosphere taxa (P < 0.05). iCAMP revealed that stochastic processes predominantly governed rhizosphere bacterial assembly, whereas stochastic and deterministic mechanisms jointly shaped fungal assembly. Partial least squares path modeling further uncovered a rhizosphere-mediated environment-seed cascade, wherein sunlight intensity and duration, atmospheric pressure, and soil nitrogen directly or indirectly affected seed wet gluten content, grain hardness, and seed microbial diversity through their influences on rhizosphere microbiota. Rhizosphere bacterial diversity was negatively associated with seed bacterial diversity (path coefficient = -0.118, P < 0.05), indicating that rhizosphere communities may shape seed endophytic bacterial assemblages via environmental filtering and competitive interactions. Collectively, these findings elucidate how environments shape the quality and seed microbiomes of Daqu wheat, providing scientific guidance for optimal site selection and the standardized production of high-quality brewing wheat for industrial Baijiu.

Triticum↗

PubMed2026

Exploring the dose-response relationship between prenatal exercise and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

IMPORTANCE: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a hidden and widespread global public health crisis affecting millions of mothers and infants annually. Prenatal exercise is a potentially accessible nonpharmacological strategy for PPD prevention, but its optimal dose remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To explore the dose-response relationship between prenatal exercise and the incidence of PPD through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES: Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library using MeSH terms and keywords related to "pregnant women," "prenatal exercise," and "postpartum depression," up to June 23, 2025. STUDY SELECTION: RCTs included examined prenatal exercise interventions in pregnant women without a history of depression, with PPD incidence reported using validated depression scales (such as EPDS, CES-D). Non-RCT studies, duplicate publications, and studies with insufficient data were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two researchers independently extracted data according to the PRISMA guidelines. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Linear and nonlinear dose-response models were employed to analyze and evaluate the relationship between exercise dose (measured in METs-min/week) and the incidence of PPD. MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURE(S): The primary outcome is the incidence of PPD, analyzing its relationship with prenatal exercise dose. RESULTS: Eight RCTs involving 2231 pregnant women were included. The pooled analysis showed that prenatal exercise was associated with a potential reduction in PPD incidence, although the overall effect did not reach statistical significance (OR=0.58, 95% CI [0.33, 1.02]). In dose-stratified analysis, exercise doses ≥500 METs-min/week were associated with significantly lower PPD incidence (OR=0.44, 95% CI [0.24, 0.78]). Subgroup analyses suggested trends toward greater benefits among women aged ≥30 years and those initiating exercise between 14 and 28 weeks of gestation; however, subgroup differences did not reach statistical significance. The linear dose-response trend did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0533), and neither the overall spline association (p = 0.1704) nor the test for nonlinearity (p = 0.6361) was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Prenatal exercise may be associated with a lower risk of PPD, but the overall pooled effect did not reach statistical significance. Findings concerning ≥500 METs-min/week and the apparent flattening of the dose-response curve should be considered exploratory and require confirmation in larger trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Predictive Models for Hypoglycemia Risk in Haemodialysis Patients With Diabetic Kidney Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

AIM: To provide evidence for selecting and developing reliable clinical assessment tools for hypoglycemia in diabetic kidney disease patients during haemodialysis. DESIGN: Review. METHODS: Systematic searches were performed in 9 Chinese and English databases to collect literature regarding the development of hypoglycemia risk prediction models in haemodialysis patients with diabetic kidney disease. Two reviewers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and applicability evaluation. The Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was used to assess the risk of bias and applicability of the included studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using R software. DATA SOURCES: CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, and CINAHL. The search period covered from the establishment date of each database to December 2025. RESULTS: Six studies, comprising six prediction models, were included. Two studies performed internal validation, and three conducted external validation. All models reported the area under the curve, ranging from 0.813 to 0.866, and calibration measures. Four studies were rated as having a high risk of bias, while all six demonstrated good overall applicability. The meta-analysis showed that the pooled AUC value of the six studies was 0.846 (95% CI: 0.823-0.867). CONCLUSION: Research on hypoglycemia risk prediction models in haemodialysis patients with diabetic kidney disease remains in the developmental stage. Although the included prediction models exhibited satisfactory apparent discriminatory ability and clinical applicability, most of the original studies suffered from a high risk of bias and lacked adequate validation. The true predictive performance and clinical application value of these models remain to be further verified. Accordingly, routine and unconditional clinical application is not recommended at this stage. Future studies should include more high-quality, multicenter external validation and develop models with high generalizability, favourable clinical applicability, and robust predictive performance to facilitate early identification of hypoglycemia risk in this population. IMPACT: This study systematically evaluated the hypoglycemia risk prediction models for diabetic kidney disease patients during haemodialysis, and the research on hypoglycemia risk prediction models for maintenance haemodialysis patients during dialysis is still in the development stage. This study provides a reference for clinical medical staff to select or develop hypoglycemia risk prediction and assessment tools for diabetic kidney disease patients during haemodialysis. REPORTING METHOD: This study was conducted in accordance with the relevant guidelines of the EQUATOR Network and followed the TRIPOD-SRMA Checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD420251243352.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Contemporary surgical decision-making for hallux valgus and hallux rigidus in Switzerland: A national cross-sectional survey using standardized clinical scenarios.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of hallux valgus and hallux rigidus is influenced by deformity severity, surgeon training, and evolving techniques. Previous surveys in Australia (2012), Switzerland (2015), and Israel (2023) using identical hypothetical cases demonstrated marked regional differences and a recent rise in minimally invasive Chevron-Akin (MICA). Whether these advances have altered contemporary Swiss practice remains unclear. METHODS: An electronic survey replicating the original questionnaire was distributed to members of the Swiss Foot and Ankle Society. Three standardized clinical cases were presented: mild hallux valgus, severe hallux valgus, and hallux valgus et rigidus. Respondents selected nonoperative versus operative management and specified procedures and fixation methods. Demographics, subspecialty training, and surgical volume were recorded. Current results were compared with prior Swiss data to assess temporal change. RESULTS: Eighty surgeons completed the survey (94% foot and ankle specialists). For mild hallux valgus, 87.7% recommended surgery; Scarf osteotomy remained most common (49.4%), followed by Chevron (21.0%) and Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus correction (14.8%). Minimally Invasive adopters were predominantly mid-career (83% aged 41-50), high-volume surgeons. For severe hallux valgus, 95.1% favoured surgery; MTPJ arthrodesis was preferred (50.6% isolated; 11.1% with Lapidus), while Minimally Invasive Hallux Valgus correction was rarely chosen (2.5%). In hallux valgus et rigidus, 96% selected MTPJ fusion, most commonly plate-and-screw fixation (45.1%). Compared with 2015, fixation strategies evolved, yet procedure selection remained largely unchanged. CONCLUSION: Despite global expansion of minimally invasive bunion surgery, Swiss surgeons continue to favour established open techniques, particularly Scarf osteotomy and fusion-based strategies. Adoption of MIS remains limited and concentrated among high-volume, mid-career specialists, indicating a cautious national diffusion pattern. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, survey study.

Hallux Valgus↗

PubMed2026

Genomic and food-safety evaluation of Staphylococcus chromogenes in Chinese dairy milk.

Non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM) cause mastitis and may contaminate milk and dairy products. Milk samples (n = 1916) from cows with subclinical or clinical mastitis (SCM and CM, respectively) were collected from 28 large-scale (> 500 lactating cows) Chinese dairy farms. Overall, 999 NASM isolates representing 19 species were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and cpn60 sequencing, with Staphylococcuschromogenes, Mammaliicoccus sciuri and Staphylococcus haemolyticus being most prevalent. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was determined with disc diffusion; non-susceptible to penicillin was most common (SCM, 30% and CM, 29%) whereas cefoxitin non-susceptible NASM accounted for 8-10% of isolates; among these, 12.5% carried mecA but none carried mecC. Galleria mellonella was used to assess virulence of 78 strains of S. chromogenes, a dominant species; subsequently, 32 strains, representing higher- and lower-virulence in the Galleria model, were selected for whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics. S. chromogenes isolates from CM had higher virulence (p < 0.05) than those from SCM. The 32 genomes comprised 20 sequence types, indicating high genetic diversity. No robust genomic marker of Galleria virulence phenotype was identified in this selected WGS subset. Acquired resistance genes (n = 5) were detected, including a first report of fusC in S. chromogenes; the fusC-positive isolate had an elevated fusidic acid MIC (8 mg/L). Although S. chromogenes persisted in milk at 4 °C, pasteurization (64 °C for 30 min) reduced viable counts to below detection. This study provided new insights into the prevalence, AMR, genomic diversity, and dairy-chain relevance of milk-derived NASM, particularly S. chromogenes. However, the genomic findings were based on an intentionally selected WGS subset and should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating rather than population-representative.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Longitudinal comparison of treat-to-target states and clinical outcomes in patients with late-onset versus early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: We compared demographic and clinical characteristics between patients with late-onset (LO) and early-onset (EO) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and examined their longitudinal associations with treatment targets and long-term outcomes, irreversible organ damage accrual and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: We analyzed prospectively collected data from patients enrolled in the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration cohort. Patients diagnosed with SLE at age >50 years were classified as LO-SLE and compared with those diagnosed at age ≤50 years (EO-SLE). Longitudinal associations with treatment targets (LLDAS and DORIS remission), organ damage accrual (SLICC/ACR Damage Index), and HRQoL (SF36v2 physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) scores) were examined using multivariable multilevel logistic, recurrent-event survival, and linear mixed-effects models, respectively. Disease activity, flares, medication exposure, and other clinical characteristics were also compared between groups. RESULTS: Among 3,917 patients studied, 346 (8.8%) had LO-SLE. Compared with EO-SLE, patients with LO-SLE had lower disease activity, lower glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant exposure, and higher attainment of treatment targets; LO-SLE was associated with higher odds of attaining LLDAS (OR: 2.33 (1.66, 3.28)) and DORIS remission (OR: 2.22 (1.45, 3.38)). However, they were at a greater risk of damage accrual (HR:1.82 (1.50, 2.21)) and lower PCS scores, meaning poorer physical health (regression coefficient (RC) = -3.63 (-4.58, -2.68)) but not MCS (RC= 0.68 (-.50, 1.86)). CONCLUSION: Despite higher attainment of treatment targets, patients with LO-SLE experienced greater damage accrual and poorer physical health, suggesting that disease activity targets alone may not fully capture outcome risk in LO-SLE.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2026

Delphi study robot consenso: Strategies for the implementation of robotic surgery in general surgery in the Spanish hospital network.

INTRODUCTION: The implementation of robotic surgery in public hospitals presents multiple logistical, educational, and organizational challenges. In the absence of unified guidelines, a national consensus is required to optimize its safe and efficient adoption. This study aimed to establish a set of consensus-based and measurable recommendations for the implementation of robotic surgery programs in hospitals within the Spanish National Health System, based on the experience of centres with established robotic programs and intended to serve as guidance for hospitals that are initiating or planning their implementation. METHODS: A national Delphi study was conducted with the participation of robotic surgery experts from 26 public hospitals. The expert panel was composed exclusively of digestive surgeons with experience in robotic surgery. Three iterative rounds of expert panel evaluation were conducted between March 2024 and March 2025. The questions were grouped into five thematic blocks. Consensus was defined as an agreement level of ≥66.7%. Kendall's W coefficient was used to assess concordance. RESULTS: High levels of consensus were achieved on key aspects related to infrastructure, structured training, cost evaluation, and quality assurance mechanisms. Areas of disagreement were also identified, such as the need for a dedicated anaesthesiologist, purchase of accessory instruments during the initial phase, and official accreditation pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a guideline for developing a national robotic surgery strategy focused on patient safety, program sustainability, and standardized training of surgical teams. These recommendations can guide hospitals at different stages of robotic technology adoption. Given that the consensus was reached from an exclusively surgical perspective, the recommendations focus on patient safety, program sustainability, and standardized training of the surgical team, and should be interpreted in an adaptable manner according to each centre's context, case volume, and available resources.

Cirugía Asistida por Robot↗

PubMed2025

Healthcare transition readiness in an adolescent and young adult urologic population: The ADHERENT study.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of research regarding transition to adult services within pediatric and adolescent urology. Several recent articles have discussed the barriers in transitioning urologic patients from pediatric to adult health care, but empiric data that may drive intervention are lacking. This study proposes to begin to address this gap in literature and to provide information that may lead to improved understanding of how best to support transition in urologic care. OBJECTIVES: 1) to identify modifiable and non-modifiable factors related to transition readiness as measured by Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) scores in a congenital urologic population and 2) to evaluate the relationships between TRAQ scores (a validated questionnaire measuring transition readiness) and scores measuring anxiety levels related to transition (using an adapted, non-validated questionnaire). STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study of adolescent and young adult patients with complex congenital urologic diagnoses. Subjects were electronically administered the validated TRAQ and a study-developed ADHERENT survey, which assesses anxiety and worry surrounding transition. Regression models for the outcomes of the TRAQ and ADHERENT scales were developed to assess multivariable associations with variables of clinical importance. RESULTS: The youngest subgroup (14-17 years of age) compared to the oldest subgroup (21-25 years of age) had significantly lower TRAQ scores [regression estimate = 12.3 (95 % CI: 2.9, 21.7), p = 0.010]. Additionally, single participants versus those in a stable relationship had significantly lower TRAQ scores [estimate = 8.7 (95 % CI: 1.9, 15.4), p = 0.012]. The Spearman correlation coefficient between TRAQ and ADHERENT scores was 0.52 (p = <0.001), indicating a positive, moderate relationship between the two measures, suggesting more readiness correlated with less anxiety. DISCUSSION: This study found that age, higher education, and stable relationship status were associated with higher measures of transition readiness. There was a correlation found between more transition readiness and less anxiety surrounding transition. This finding can be used to inform future research and emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary support throughout the transition process. CONCLUSION: Early discussion of transition of care and education around transition readiness are not the only solution to improving transition success. The second phase of ADHERENT seeks to understand the patient experience and to include adolescents and young adults in shaping effective healthcare transition strategies.

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↗

PubMed2026

Selective monitoring of trace-level catechin and myricetin in herbal and aqueous matrices using magnetic MIP-DSPME: Optimization via design of experiments.

A novel dispersive solid-phase microextraction approach utilizing a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP) integrated with HPLC-UV detection was developed for the concurrent quantification of catechin and myricetin in herbal extracts and aqueous samples. The sorbent was engineered as a core-shell nanocomposite, consisting of a selective polymer layer deposited onto Fe3O4@SiO2-APTMS magnetic nanoparticles. Dual-template imprinting using catechin and myricetin generated complementary binding cavities within the polymer framework. Experimental variables influencing extraction were systematically screened and subsequently optimized. A Plackett-Burman design was first applied to identify the most influential factors, with pH and sorption time identified as the dominant variables. These parameters were subsequently fine-tuned using a central composite design, and the optimization process was completed in only 30 experimental runs. The sorption characteristics of the imprinted sorbent (MMIP) were compared with those of its non-imprinted counterpart (MNIP). The MMIP demonstrated markedly higher maximum binding capacities (Qmax), reaching 119.3 mg g-1 for myricetin and 112.1 mg g-1 for catechin, whereas the corresponding values for the MNIP were 32.55 and 32.08 mg g-1, respectively. Moreover, the affinity constants (KL = 0.760-0.950 L mg-1) were approximately 2.3-fold higher for the MMIP, confirming its stronger and more selective interactions with the target analytes. The selectivity coefficients for the targeted flavonoids relative to structurally related compounds, including ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, melatonin, and curcumin, exceeded 3.5 for the MMIP, whereas the corresponding values for the MNIP were close to 1.1, demonstrating the high molecular recognition capability of the imprinted sorbent. Method validation demonstrated limits of detection (LODs) of 0.33-0.59 ng mL-1 and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 1.10-1.96 ng mL-1, and excellent linearity over the concentration range of 5.0-5500 ng mL-1 (R2 > 0.998). The method achieved recoveries of 93.96% to 105.69% with RSDs below 5.5%, while the preconcentration factors ranged from 209 to 229. Furthermore, the sorbent retained more than 95% of its extraction efficiency after four consecutive reuse cycles and more than 80% after six cycles, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of six medicinal plant extracts and water samples, showing negligible matrix interference and superior sensitivity, selectivity, and operational simplicity compared with conventional solid-phase extraction methods.

Flavonoids↗

PubMed2026

Premenarche risk factors for future dysmenorrhoea: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Dysmenorrhoea, or pain during menstruation, is common in adolescence and is often dismissed or left untreated. Dysmenorrhoea can interfere with daily functioning and can lead to other chronic pain conditions; however, little is known about the risk factors for dysmenorrhoea. We aimed to characterise premenarche risk factors for the presence and severity of future dysmenorrhoea. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we obtained data for female adolescents from the population-based Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (USA) who were premenarchal at baseline (age 9-10 years) and had both reached menarche and completed the Menstrual Cycle Survey at 3-year follow-up (age 12-13 years). Parents or guardians provided sociodemographic information and completed the Child Behavior Checklist, the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, and the Pubertal Development Scale, which captured data on non-painful somatic symptoms, attention problems, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and pubertal development at baseline. Our primary objective was to analyse associations between dysmenorrhoea at 3-year follow-up (status and severity) with select symptom domains (sleep problems, attention problems, somatic symptoms, anxious or depressive symptoms, and baseline pain status) at baseline. We also investigated associations between dysmenorrhoea and participant characteristics (pubertal status, race or ethnicity, and income-to-needs ratio) that underlie social determinants of health. Differences by race were tested using Fisher exact tests. Differences by ethnicity and baseline pain status were tested using χ2 tests. Differences in continuous variables were assessed using ANOVA. Wilcoxon-Rank Sum tests were used in analyses of sleep problems, attention problems, and somatic symptoms, and ANOVA was used for pubertal status and income-to-needs ratio. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test associations with dysmenorrhoea severity, and linear regression was used to test associations with dysmenorrhoea status and menstrual pain interference. FINDINGS: 2254 female adolescents were included in this study. 1299 (57·6%) participants developed dysmenorrhoea at age 12-13 years, and 247 (19·0% of those with dysmenorrhoea) reported severe dysmenorrhoea. Non-painful somatic symptoms were prospectively associated with future dysmenorrhoea (odds ratio [OR] 1·17 [95% CI 1·04-1·32]; p=0·0070), whereas anxiety or depression, sleep disturbances, and attention problems were not. Sleep disturbances were prospectively associated with menstrual pain interference (β coefficient 0·16 [95% CI 0·01-0·31]). Advanced pubertal status at ages 9-10 years was prospectively associated with risk of dysmenorrhoea 3 years later (OR 1·79 [95% CI 1·47-2·17]; p<0·0001), as was lower income-to-needs ratio (0·96 [0·93-1·00]; p=0·031). Black (1·38 [1·05-1·83]; p=0·024) and Hispanic (1·34 [1·03-1·68]; p=0·010) young females were at a significantly greater risk of experiencing dysmenorrhoea than were White and non-Hispanic young females, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Sociodemographic characteristics and clinical symptoms present before menarche might help to identify at-risk individuals for dysmenorrhoea before pain becomes a lifelong issue. FUNDING: The National Institute of Nursing Research, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development.

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