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Treating neurogenic detrusor overactivity in order to manage autonomic dysreflexia - A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a severe and potentially life-threatening complication of a spinal cord injury (SCI), particularly in patients with lesions at or above the sixth thoracic level. Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is one of the main triggering factors. The impact of NDO treatment on AD remains insufficiently clarified. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature in PubMed and Cochrane Database between January 1990 and May 2025. Eligible studies included patients with SCI and AD undergoing treatment for NDO, including antimuscarinics, botulinum toxin (BTX) or augmentation cystoplasty. The primary outcome was the assessment of systolic blood pressure (SBP) parameters in patients undergoing cystomanometry. RESULTS: Of the thirteen eligible studies, only five were included. No study evaluated augmentation cystoplasty. One study (12 patients) evaluating fesoterodine and four studies (95 patients) evaluating BTX injection demonstrated improved urodynamic parameters and a decrease in severity of AD during urodynamic studies and in daily life. Improvements in AD-HR-QoL and I-QoL scores were also demonstrated. DISCUSSION: Controlling NDO with fesoterodine or BTX injection reduces the prevalence and severity of AD, likely by limiting abnormal C-fiber recruitment and reducing neurogenic inflammation. BTX additionally modulates TRPV1-expressing afferents, which further reduces AD risk. Although hypertensive peaks improve, submaximal parameters remain unchanged, highlighting the need for additional complementary strategies. CONCLUSION: The use of BTX and fesoterodine for NDO treatment effectively reduces AD episodes in patients with SCI. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm the cardiovascular benefits and inform future therapeutic strategies.

Humans

Characterization of local tolerability of TV-46000, a long-acting subcutaneous formulation of risperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia.

TV-46000 is a long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) approved for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. LAIs like TV-46000 can improve adherence and reduce relapse in patients with schizophrenia; however, injection site reactions (ISRs) can contribute to LAI discontinuation. ISRs with TV-46000 treatment were characterized using data from two phase 3 trials of patients with schizophrenia (RISE [NCT03503318], SHINE [NCT03893825]) and a phase 1 study of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Patients in the pooled safety population (aged 16-67 years) from RISE and SHINE (n = 525 TV-46000, n = 179 placebo) received 4554 TV-46000 injections and 2721 placebo injections. ISRs were reported in 19 % (n = 102) of patients who received TV-46000, corresponding to an exposure-adjusted event rate (EAER)/100 patient-years of 48.67. ISRs led to 9 (1.7 %) treatment discontinuations of TV-46000. The most frequently reported ISR adverse events were injection site pain (EAER, 15.38, n = 36 [7 %]) and injection site nodule (EAER, 12.01, n = 35 [7 %]). ISR frequency and pain and nodule adverse event frequency decreased after the first injection. In the phase 1 study (n = 99), mean injection site pain scores were highest immediately after injection, showed a notable decrease within 10 min of injection, and further decreased within 1 h after injection. In conclusion, for >4500 injections evaluated, ISR rates with TV-46000 were modest. Most ISRs were mild or moderate and rarely led to treatment discontinuation. Results support the favorable tolerability of TV-46000 as a treatment for schizophrenia in adults.

Humans

Transdermal 17β-Estradiol for the Treatment of COVID-19: Protocol of an Early Terminated Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Early epidemiological studies suggested that pre- and postmenopausal women receiving estrogen therapy were less likely to develop severe disease or die from COVID-19 infection. Potential mechanisms include estrogen-mediated immunomodulation and 17β-estradiol-induced downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2), the cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of transdermal 17β-estradiol as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19 in men and postmenopausal women. METHODS: We designed and conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing 17β-estradiol transdermal gel plus standard care with standard care alone in adults with confirmed COVID-19. Initial ethics and funding approvals were obtained in March 2021. Owing to changes in the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Qatar and revisions to national quarantine policies, protocol amendments were required before recruitment commenced in February 2022. The treatment duration was reduced from 10 to 7 days due to changes in national quarantine guidelines. Recruitment and follow-up were conducted between February 2022 and June 2022. RESULTS: Recruitment was substantially lower than anticipated because widespread COVID-19 vaccination, declining disease severity, and revised national quarantine policies markedly reduced the number of eligible hospitalized patients. Consequently, the planned sample size was not achieved, and the study was terminated in June 2022. A total of 29 men with mild COVID-19 were enrolled, with 44.8% (n=13) randomized to standard care and 55.2% (n=16) to transdermal 17β-estradiol plus standard care. The intervention was well tolerated, with no adverse safety signals or thromboembolic events reported. CONCLUSIONS: Although the study was underpowered to assess efficacy because recruitment targets were not achieved, it showed that transdermal 17β-estradiol was well tolerated, with no major safety concerns among enrolled participants. The experience also provided important operational lessons for conducting clinical trials during rapidly evolving pandemics. Adequately powered studies are required to determine whether transdermal estrogen has therapeutic potential against COVID-19, other ACE2-mediated coronavirus infections, or potentially other severe viral illnesses.

Humans

Neuroimaging anxious children and adolescents before and after cognitive behavioral therapy: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review investigates brain changes in youths with anxiety disorders following cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and neural markers that predict CBT responses. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search using the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest. The inclusion deadline was set to October 27, 2025. We included fifteen peer-reviewed neuroimaging studies that examined the effects of CBT in youths under 19 years old with a primary clinical diagnosis of an anxiety disorder based on DSM-5 criteria. RESULTS: Although the existing literature is marked by substantial diversity in methods and outcomes, task-related neural response in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC, 2/8, 25.0%), insula (1/8, 12.5%) increased from pre to post CBT and these changes were further correlated with clinical symptom improvements. Moreover, CBT outcomes were predicted by pre-treatment activity or connectivity in the ACC and amygdala (3/13, 23.0%). A smaller proportion of studies (2/13, 15.3%) found that activity or connectivity in the insula, precuneus/cuneus, postcentral gyrus, and activity or structure in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) predicted response to CBT. The low consistency of these findings was driven by methodological variability, low reliability of the neural markers, and relatively small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights promises of neural predictors and outcomes to enhance anxiety disorder treatments in children and adolescents, facilitating future personalized and effective CBT. Beyond this initial promise, the field is hindered by methodological inconsistencies and limited replications. While longitudinal and personalized approaches are important next steps, the central challenge remains: identifying neural markers that are both reliable and robust.

Adolescent

Beyond Glycaemia: Fear of Hypoglycaemia, Cognition and Functional Mobility After Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop Therapy in Older Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Prespecified Secondary Analysis of a Randomised, Single-Centre Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on psychological, cognitive and functional outcomes of advanced diabetes technologies in older adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains limited. We evaluated whether initiation of advanced hybrid closed-loop (AHCL) therapy was associated with changes in fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes distress, psychological well-being, cognition, frailty-related measures and mobility-related function in adults aged ≥ 65 years with T1D. METHODS: This prespecified, exploratory secondary analysis was conducted within a single-centre, open-label, randomised, controlled, parallel-group trial including adults aged ≥ 65 years with long-standing T1D. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to initiate AHCL therapy using the MiniMed 780G system or to continue standard diabetes treatment. The secondary outcomes included WHO-5, the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-II (HFS-II), Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Fried frailty phenotype and performance-based functional measures. No formal sample-size calculation was performed for these secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-one participants were randomised and 29 completed 12 months of follow-up and were included in the treatment-effect analyses. In the baseline-adjusted primary analysis, AHCL therapy was associated with a lower HFS-II score than standard treatment (adjusted mean difference -18.9; 95% CI: -32.4 to -5.4; nominal p = 0.008), although this finding did not remain statistically significant after Holm correction (adjusted p = 0.104) or in an exploratory model additionally adjusted for sex (difference -13.6; 95% CI: -32.2 to 5.0; p = 0.145). Diabetes distress, psychological well-being, global cognition and processing speed did not differ between groups. In sex-adjusted sensitivity analyses, the between-group differences remained statistically significant for 6-min walk distance (92.6 m; 95% CI: 36.8 to 148.3; p = 0.002) and Timed Up and Go performance (-2.27 s; 95% CI: -4.28 to -0.27; p = 0.028), but not for gait speed (0.27 m/s; 95% CI: -0.05 to 0.59; p = 0.099). At 12 months, 12 of 14 AHCL participants were robust and 2 were pre-frail; in the control group, 11 of 15 were robust and 4 were pre-frail. No participant was classified as frail at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this small, selected cohort, AHCL therapy was associated with a nominally lower fear-of-hypoglycaemia score and better performance on selected mobility-related tests over 12 months. The fear-of-hypoglycaemia finding did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons or additional adjustment for sex. Six-minute walk distance and Timed Up and Go remained statistically significant in the exploratory sex-adjusted sensitivity analyses, whereas the gait-speed difference did not. No measurable between-group deterioration in global cognition or processing speed was observed. These exploratory findings require confirmation in larger studies with balanced representation by sex and direct measurement of physical activity. These findings also support a person-centred clinical message: older age alone should not be regarded as a barrier to AHCL when treatment is introduced with individualised education and appropriate ongoing support.

Humans

Adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibitors in early-stage breast cancer: Clinical evidence and considerations for risk stratification and treatment selection.

Hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer is the most common biologic subtype and carries a persistent risk of recurrence, particularly in patients with high-risk, early-stage disease. Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors, initially established as a standard component of first-line therapy in the metastatic setting based on improvements in progression-free and overall survival, have since been evaluated in the adjuvant setting. While adjuvant palbociclib did not improve invasive disease-free survival, the monarchE and NATALEE trials demonstrated that abemaciclib and ribociclib, respectively, reduce recurrence risk in patients with high-risk, early-stage disease, with emerging overall survival data further supporting their use. However, the absolute magnitude of benefit varies substantially with baseline risk, and treatment-related toxicity and adherence challenges must be considered, as approximately 20% to 25% of patients discontinue therapy before completion. The integration of these agents into clinical practice also intersects with ongoing efforts to deescalate axillary surgery, as treatment eligibility has been largely defined by anatomic staging, particularly nodal status. Available data suggest that the incremental impact of axillary surgery on identifying candidates for cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibition is modest, especially among the favorable-risk populations now eligible for surgical deescalation. As the field evolves, advances in molecular risk stratification, genomic profiling, and dynamic biomarkers are poised to shift treatment selection from anatomic staging toward biologically driven approaches. Multidisciplinary decision-making that integrates tumor biology, anticipated absolute benefit, toxicity, patient preferences, and surgical considerations will be essential to ensure individualized care.

Humans

Nebivolol treatment improves hypertension-induced endothelial cell dysfunction by reducing TGF-β1-dependent senescence and normalizing mitochondrial indices.

OBJECTIVES: Serum from patients with hypertension (HT) causes endothelial cell (EC) damage, leading to senescence and dysfunctional phenotype. This study investigated whether serum from patients treated with the antihypertensive drugs could normalize EC activity. METHODS: This study involved 71 patients with newly diagnosed HT, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups based on the antihypertensive treatment: amlodipine, nebivolol, or perindopril. Serum samples collected before and 6 weeks after treatment were applied to ECs in vitro to assess their angiogenic activity, cellular senescence, mitochondrial metabolism, and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Results showed that exposure of ECs to serum from patients treated for 6 weeks significantly altered EC function, with varying effects among the drugs. Serum from nebivolol-treated patients produced the most consistent benefits, reducing EC proliferation and HIF-1α expression, likely due to lower levels of angiogenic factors such as angiopoietin-1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Additionally, this serum contained reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (E-selectin, P-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)) and lower TGF-β1, which are linked to HT-related EC senescence. Nebivolol treatment decreased senescence biomarkers such as SA-β-Gal, 53BP1, and p16, with SA-β-Gal reduction comparable to that of TGF-β1 neutralizing antibodies. Oxidative stress was reduced, indicated by lower oxidized DNA product levels. CONCLUSIONS: Nebivolol was the most effective at reducing the factors, associated with HT induced cellular senescence of endothelium, through reducing TGF-β1.

Humans

Clinical features and outcomes of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus from a single-center retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: The role of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. ANCA positivity has been linked to more severe disease and possible overlap with ANCA-associated vasculitis, but available data are inconsistent. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of SLE patients treated at the University Hospital in Kraków (2012-2022). Patients fulfilled the 2019 EULAR/ACR criteria. ANCA positivity (anti-MPO or anti-PR3) was confirmed by ELISA. Clinical features, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1039 SLE patients, 18 (1.73%) were ANCA-positive (anti-MPO, 72.22%; anti-PR3, 27.78%). Most ANCA-positive SLE patients were female (88.89%), with a median age at disease onset of 35.5 years. The most common manifestations in ANCA-positive cases were hematological abnormalities (100%), constitutional symptoms (88.89%), and joint involvement (88.89%). Renal involvement was observed in 72.22% (n = 13) of ANCA-positive SLE patients; however, lupus nephritis was confirmed by kidney biopsy in only seven cases. Vasculitis was rare (5.56%). Anti-dsDNA (61.11%) and anti-SSA (50%) were the most frequent autoantibodies. No significant differences were found between anti-MPO and anti-PR3 subgroups. Most ANCA-positive patients received glucocorticoids (94.44%), cyclophosphamide (61.11%), and antimalarials (61.11%). No statistically significant differences were observed between the ANCA-positive and ANCA-negative groups (p > 0.05 for all parameters). CONCLUSIONS: ANCA positivity in SLE is rare and predominantly associated with anti-MPO antibodies. It is linked to frequent renal involvement but infrequent vasculitis. No differences were observed between ANCA subtypes, suggesting no distinct clinical phenotype. Key Points • ANCA positivity was rare in this systemic lupus erythematosus cohort (1.73%) and was predominantly associated with anti-MPO antibodies rather than anti-PR3 antibodies. • No significant differences in demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, comorbidities, or autoantibody profiles were observed between ANCA-positive and ANCA-negative patients. Similarly, no significant differences were identified between the anti-PR3-positive and anti-MPO-positive groups. • ANCA-positive SLE was commonly associated with the need for intensive immunosuppressive treatment, highlighting its potential relevance as a marker of severe disease course.

Humans

A multicenter randomized phase II/III trial of salvage treatment for refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma using tirabrutinib: JCOG2314 (ReSTART).

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive malignancy. Patients refractory to high-dose methotrexate-based induction therapy have an extremely poor prognosis. Although whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is the standard salvage treatment and provides potent tumor control, early functional deterioration and late neurocognitive toxicity remain major concerns. A phase I/II trial on relapsed or refractory PCNSL demonstrated favorable efficacy and tolerability of tirabrutinib, a second-generation selective Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Tirabrutinib's oral administration has enabled outpatient management. However, its clinical value for induction-refractory PCNSL remains uncertain. We designed a multicenter, randomized phase II/III trial (JCOG2314) to assess the non-inferiority of tirabrutinib to WBRT in overall survival and its potential to reduce functional deterioration and cognitive impairment. A total of 94 patients from 49 institutions will be enrolled over 4 years. The trial has been registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (study number: jRCT1031250645).

Humans

Stratified medicine with eplerenone for myocardial infarction or injury and no obstructive coronary arteries: A registry-based basket trial.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial Infarction with No Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) or Nonischemic Myocardial Injury affects approximately 1 in 9 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome, yet evidence-based therapies are lacking. Coronary microvascular dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of suspected MINOCA, but its prevalence, prognostic implications and treatment are uncertain. The objectives are, first, to assess the prevalence of coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with suspected MINOCA and, second, to implement endotype-informed stratified medicine involving patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction to treatment with eplerenone, a cardio- and vasculo-protective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. METHODS: This is a prospective, registry-based, multicenter, diagnostic study and nested, randomized, controlled, open-label, blinded-endpoint (PROBE) basket trial. Up to 400 patients with clinically suspected MINOCA and one or more cardiovascular risk factors will be enrolled into a registry-based diagnostic study. Coronary microvascular function will be assessed during invasive angiography using thermodilution. Patients with an index of coronary microvascular resistance (IMR) ≥ 25 will be randomized 1:1 to eplerenone (25-50 mg daily for 6 months) or standard care without eplerenone (control group) (n = 150 randomized). Final endotypes will be centrally adjudicated by a panel of blinded cardiologists. The primary outcome of the diagnostic study is the proportion of patients with IMR ≥ 25 during index coronary angiography. Secondary outcomes include coronary flow reserve, cardiovascular MRI parameters, patient-reported outcome measures, biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis and vascular inflammation, health outcomes and health economic assessments. The primary outcome of the randomized trial is the within-individual change in NT-proBNP at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months, based on intention-to-treat. Secondary outcomes include mechanistic blood biomarkers and patient-reported outcome measures. VALUE: This registry-based randomized trial will provide novel evidence on endotype-informed secondary prevention therapy with eplerenone for suspected MINOCA.

Humans

Matching-adjusted indirect comparison of fruquintinib versus ramucirumab in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Aim: Fruquintinib (Fruq), a selective VEGFR 1/2/3 inhibitor, showed a significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in the Phase III FRUTIGA trial for advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Ramucirumab (RAM), an anti-VEGFR2 antibody, demonstrated efficacy in the RAINBOW-Asia trial. This anchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) evaluated Fruq plus paclitaxel versus RAM plus paclitaxel as second-line therapy for G/GEJ adenocarcinoma in the absence of head-to-head trials. Materials & methods: Data from individual patients in the FRUTIGA study (N&#xa0;=&#xa0;703) and aggregated data from the RAINBOW-Asia study (N&#xa0;=&#xa0;440) were analyzed. Baseline characteristics were balanced using entropy balancing. The placebo plus paclitaxel (PBO&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX) groups served as the common comparators. The primary outcome was PFS; secondary outcomes included overall survival, objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were also compared as an exploratory outcome using an adjusted indirect risk difference. Sensitivity analyses included restricted mean survival time and simulated treatment comparison. Results: After weighting (effective sample size&#xa0;=&#xa0;564), baseline covariates were balanced. The anchored MAIC demonstrated that Fruq&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX significantly improved PFS compared with RAM&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX (HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.51-0.96; p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.0280), corresponding to a 30% reduction in progression risk, with a significant restricted mean survival time benefit of 1.18&#xa0;months at 20&#xa0;months (95% CI: 0.08-2.27; p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.024). Fruq achieved significantly higher ORR (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.16-2.68; p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.008) and DCR (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.33-2.83; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). Overall survival was similar (0.97; 95% CI: 0.73-1.30; p = 0.8640). Subgroup analyses showed PFS benefits with Fruq in patients with ECOG PS 1, peritoneal metastases and two or fewer metastatic sites. In sensitivity analysis, the simulated treatment comparison also suggested a PFS benefit for Fruq&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX (HR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.32-0.50; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.0001). For any-grade TEAEs, the indirect comparison showed higher adjusted relative incidences of increased bilirubin with Fruq&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX than with RAM&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX (RD: 12.3%; 95% CI: 2.3-22.4%, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) and of hypokalemia (RD: 9.0%; 95% CI: 1.5-16.4%, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). For grade &#x2265;3 TEAEs, the adjusted relative incidence of decreased body weight was higher with Fruq&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX than with RAM&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX (RD: 2.9%; 95% CI: 0.6-5.2%, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). The adjusted relative incidences of increased AST, ALT and hypocalcemia were numerically lower in the fruquintinib group than in the RAM group. Conclusion: This MAIC indicates that Fruq&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX may be more effective than RAM&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX in second-line advanced G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, with potentially improved PFS, ORR and DCR, and similar overall survival. Safety analyses suggested generally comparable safety profiles across the two regimens. Fruq&#xa0;+&#xa0;PTX remains a valuable treatment option, offering important comparative evidence for clinical and health technology assessment decisions. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT07144995.

Adult

Systematic review of microorganism disinfection performance by chemical and ultraviolet light water treatment methods.

Safe drinking water is critical for public health, yet microbial contamination remains a significant global challenge. We conducted a systematic review to update World Health Organization guidance on water disinfection technologies by synthesizing peer-reviewed literature from 1997 to 2021 on the performance of free chlorine, chlorine dioxide, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) light against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Following PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed log10 reduction values (LRVs) and contact times (Ct) or fluence (for UV) from laboratory and field studies. We included studies from multiple databases and expert-recommended studies. Results show mean Cts for 2 LRV of non-opportunistic bacteria as 6.0 (free chlorine), 0.4 (chlorine dioxide), and 1.2 (ozone) mg/L*min, and a mean UV fluence of 8.2 mJ/cm&#xb2; (all bacteria). Viruses required lower Cts, except for UV-resistant adenoviruses, while protozoa required higher Cts or fluences. Opportunistic bacteria required significantly higher Cts than non-opportunistic bacteria for free chlorine and chlorine dioxide. Temperature and pH effects were inconsistent, highlighting data variability and gaps in field studies. These findings support global guidance on water treatment and may be used alongside other context-specific data to understand the roles these technologies play in reducing waterborne exposures. We recommend standardized reporting from performance studies to enable straightforward synthesis of evidence.

Disinfection

Impact of Albuminuria-Lowering Treatments on Cardiovascular Predictive Ceramides in Diabetes: Post Hoc Analysis of the ROTATE Trials.

AIM: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in individuals with diabetes. Diabetic kidney disease, closely related to CVD risk, is prevalent in up to 40% of this population. Emerging evidence suggests ceramide lipids as accurate biomarkers for CVD. We assessed the effect of four albuminuria-lowering drugs on CVD-related ceramides in diabetes by post hoc analysis of the ROTATE trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six adults with type 1 (T1D) as well as 37 with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with a urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) of 30-500&#x2009;mg/g participated in a 4-week 4-time randomized crossover study with periods of telmisartan, empagliflozin, linagliptin and baricitinib treatment, each separated by a 4-week washout period. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of each period and ceramide lipids (Cer16, Cer18, Cer20, Cer22, Cer24 and Cer24:1) were measured. The effect of each treatment was evaluated using linear mixed-effect models. RESULTS: At baseline, individuals with T2D had greater levels of Cer22 and Cer24 compared to the individuals with T1D. Among the treatments, linagliptin was the only drug that demonstrated a reduction of Cer22, Cer24 and Cer24:1 from baseline by 22.6% (95% CI: -33.58; -9.79, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001), 25.7% (95% CI: -38.94; -9.69, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003) and 19.6% (95% CI: -31.34; -5.95, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.007), respectively. No changes in the ceramides were observed for the other drugs. CONCLUSION: Our exploratory findings suggest that certain albuminuria-lowering drugs may affect ceramide levels as a secondary effect. However, further mechanistic investigations are needed.

Humans

Eating Experiences During Cancer Treatment in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Synthesis.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15-39 with cancer face distinct challenges during treatment, with eating consistently emerging as one of the most distressing and underrecognized concerns. At a critical life stage, AYAs must navigate illness-related consequences that profoundly affect well-being. Eating reflects these broader challenges and is identified as a key issue requiring health care attention. To address this, we synthesized evidence on AYAs' eating experiences and well-being during mealtime-related activities to inform health care practice. Qualitative and mixed-method studies were identified through searches across CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published up to May 2025, supplemented by snowball searches. Of 3214 records, 74 full-text articles were reviewed, and 18 met the inclusion criteria. These represented 302 AYAs, 73 relatives, and 88 health care professionals. Studies were analyzed using Joanna Briggs Institute review methods and GRADE-CERQual to support clinical interpretability. The meta-synthesis identified one core theme: "Eating as an embodied struggle and act of agency," with three subthemes: (a) living through physical and sensory disruption, (b) carrying the weight of new emotions and shifting relations, and (c) finding ways through gaps in support. Eating emerged as a disrupted, emotionally charged, yet agentic act requiring sensitive, individualized approaches. Thirteen evidence-informed recommendations were developed to guide clinical application. These emphasize early nutritional screening, dietetic support, flexible meal options, respectful family involvement, and psychosocially attuned care. Future research should codevelop and evaluate tailored interventions that address AYAs' embodied, emotional, and social needs to improve eating-related quality of life during cancer treatment.

Humans

Pesticide occurrence, transformation, and transport from wastewater treatment plants into stream networks with diverse land uses.

Neonicotinoid insecticides and strobilurin fungicides are detected in many environmental compartments and have been associated with negative environmental and human health implications. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are often hotspots for introducing such contaminants into the environment. Therefore, the occurrence of strobilurin fungicides, neonicotinoids, and their metabolites at two WWTPs with varying land uses and population sizes was investigated. Polar organic chemical integrative samplers were deployed in WWTP influent and effluent and placed upstream and downstream of the effluent mixing zone for 2 weeks in April and July 2022. Biosolids were also collected at each time point. Neonicotinoids were detected with the highest frequency (68%), followed by strobilurin fungicides (49%) and neonicotinoid metabolites (31%). Time-weighted average concentrations for influent/effluent ranged from 85.2&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;87.8 to 409.4&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;74.5&#xa0;ng/L. Pesticide concentrations, specifically the metabolites, typically increased from influent to effluent, resulting in effluent having higher pesticide loads than influent. Pesticide concentrations varied between the upstream and downstream monitoring locations by analyte, with WWTP samples in the highly developed region having significantly higher concentrations of pesticides and less variation by monitoring period. Chronic ecotoxicity benchmarks for freshwater invertebrates for imidacloprid were surpassed in treated effluent at both WWTPs in July and in the downstream monitoring location in the heavily developed area. Findings support the need for further exploration of pesticide contributions from WWTPs to river systems, specifically related to metabolite contributions to downstream streams and their effects on aquatic environments.

Water Pollutants, Chemical

A prospective pharmacokinetic interaction study between rifampicin and fusidic acid for the treatment of staphylococcal infections.

OBJECTIVE: Fusidic acid with rifampicin is used for the treatment of severe staphylococcal infection, particularly prosthetic joint infections. Previous studies using twice daily fusidic acid showed rifampicin increases fusidic acid clearance, potentially causing sub-therapeutic concentrations. It is uncertain whether this occurs with three-times daily dosing. This study sought to re-evaluate this potential drug-drug interaction. METHODS: In this prospective, open-label drug-drug interaction population pharmacokinetic (PK) study, participants were randomized to receive fusidic acid or rifampicin for 24&#x2005;hours, followed by combination therapy for the duration of treatment. Drug concentration assays used liquid-chromatography mass spectroscopy on dried blood spots. Population PK models were built for fusidic acid, rifampicin and 25-desacetyl rifampicin. RESULTS: Ten participants were recruited. Inter-individual variability for both absorption (98.1%) and clearance (77.8%) were high for fusidic acid. A population pharmacokinetic model for fusidic acid revealed that early autoinhibition dominated over later rifampicin-mediated induction, resulting in a net decrease in fusidic acid clearance. The mean fusidic acid area under the curve during each dosing interval (AUC&#x3c4;) at steady state was 1.76-fold [0.049, 34.918] higher relative to Day 1, despite high uncertainty.Large inter-individual (110%) variability in absorption was observed for rifampicin. There was no apparent effect on rifampicin metabolism by fusidic acid co-administration, however, fusidic acid decreased clearance of 25-desacetyl rifampicin. CONCLUSION: In patients treated with fusidic acid three times daily in combination with rifampicin, autoinhibition potentially counteracted rifampicin induction such that fusidic acid concentrations were not reduced. Rifampicin clearance was not affected by fusidic acid, but 25-desacetyl rifampicin clearance was decreased. There was large inter-individual variability in the observed concentrations and final parameter estimates.

Fusidic Acid

Frequent readmissions after hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorder and alcohol withdrawal syndrome impose substantial clinical and economic burdens, with repeated hospitalizations being common. We aimed to systematically review readmission rates following inpatient detoxification, assess variation across study designs and hospital settings, and identify key risk and protective factors. METHODS: We performed a literature search in Embase and Pubmed on 10/04/2026 focusing on studies assessing in hospital alcohol detoxification. Exclusion criteria included studies on substance use other than alcohol and outpatient or residential treatment. Main outcome was rehospitalization, and meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled readmission proportions. Secondary outcomes were risk factors and protective factors influencing the rate of rehospitalization. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included. The pooled proportion of readmissions following alcohol detoxification was estimated at 17% (95% CI: 14%-21%; 13 studies, n&#xa0;=&#xa0;287,896) within 1&#xa0;month, increasing to 44% (95% CI: 36%-52%; 8 studies, n&#xa0;=&#xa0;2,877) at 1&#xa0;year. Substantial between-study heterogeneity was observed. Subgroup analyses found no significant differences by hospital setting or time period. Findings for study aim and study design were mixed and based on limited data A small number of studies suggested associations with housing stability, employment, and treatment engagement. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that approximately one in six patients are readmitted within 1&#xa0;month and nearly half within 1&#xa0;year after inpatient alcohol detoxification. However, readmission rates varied considerably across settings and populations. Future research should evaluate targeted interventions to reduce readmissions among high-risk patient groups.

Humans

A Randomized Phase II Study of Combination Atezolizumab and Varlilumab (CDX-1127) with or without Cobimetinib in Previously Treated Unresectable Biliary Tract Cancer.

PURPOSE: The addition of MEK inhibition (MEKi) to programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. Although MEK inhibitors may increase tumor cell immunogenicity, they can impair T-cell priming/effector function, limiting combination efficacy. We hypothesized that the addition of a CD27 agonist could restore T-cell function and enhance antitumor immunity in this combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized, phase II trial evaluating atezolizumab (840 mg, intravenously, days 1 and 15) in combination with the CD27 costimulatory monoclonal antibody [CDX-1127/varlilumab (3 mg/kg, intravenously, days 1 and 15)], with/without the addition of an MEK inhibitor [cobimetinib (60 mg, orally, daily, days 1-21, off days 22-28)] in unresectable biliary tract cancer following at least one metastatic therapy. Overall response rate (ORR) and PFS were coprimary endpoints. Treatment-related changes in CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were the primary correlative outcomes. RESULTS: The trial was closed early following interim preplanned ORR analysis. At closure, 57 patients had been enrolled [n = 29 in the cobimetinib + atezolizumab + varlilumab (CAV) arm; n = 28 in the atezolizumab + varlilumab (AV) arm]. A majority (67%) had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and 32% were immunotherapy experienced. Both regimens were well tolerated without new safety signals. Objective responses were rare [0% (CAV); 3.8% (AV)]. The median PFS (mPFS) was 2.40 (CAV) and 1.84 (AV) months [hazard ratio (HR), 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38-1.18]. Among immunotherapy-experienced patients, the mPFS was 3.62 (CAV) and 1.84 (AV) months (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.18-1.62). Treatment with CAV increased intratumoral CD8+ T-cell density compared with treatment with AV. CONCLUSIONS: The combinations of atezolizumab and varlilumab with/without cobimetinib were safe, but neither meaningfully improved outcomes in biliary tract cancer treated in the later lines. Correlative tissue studies validated preclinical work that MEKi increases CD8+ TILs.

Humans