Search PubMedSearch

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Core domain”

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

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

277 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Effects of a programmed reflexology therapy on sleep quality, insomnia, and fatigue among individuals with poor sleep quality: evidence for autonomic nervous system modulation.

Poor sleep quality is closely associated with autonomic dysregulation and increased risks of cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental disorders. Foot reflexology is a widely used complementary therapy; however, its physiological mechanisms and comparative efficacy remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to compare the effects of manual reflexology treatment (MRT) and foot massage equipment (FEM) on autonomic nervous system function, sleep quality, insomnia severity, and fatigue in adults with poor sleep quality. Using a randomized crossover design, 32 participants with poor sleep quality received MRT and FEM interventions for 6 weeks each (once weekly, 30-40 min/session). Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and heart rate variability (HRV; time- and frequency-domain indices) were assessed at weeks 1 and 6 before and after each intervention. Subjective outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). Following MRT, participants demonstrated significantly greater reductions in global PSQI scores and all PSQI components compared with FEM. MRT also resulted in larger improvements in insomnia severity and both mental and physical fatigue. In contrast, FEM primarily improved physical fatigue. Physiologically, MRT induced an immediate decrease in HR and significant increases in HRV time-domain indices (SDNN, RMSSD, pNN50), which were sustained after 6 weeks. Frequency-domain analysis further revealed reduced LF, increased HF, and a lower LF/HF ratio, indicating enhanced parasympathetic activity and cumulative autonomic modulation. In conclusion, programmed manual reflexology, delivered according to the TIDieR framework, is more effective than mechanical foot massage in improving autonomic balance, sleep quality, insomnia severity, and fatigue in individuals with poor sleep quality. These findings support MRT as a feasible and evidence-based non-pharmacological complementary intervention for sleep health promotion. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov; NCT Number: NCT07402460; Registered 3 February 2026.

Adult

The musculoskeletal pain literacy questionnaire (MSK-PLq) - Part 1: Development of a preliminary version through a systematic review and Delphi consensus.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and self-management is a first-line approach recommended by international clinical guidelines. Access to evidence-based information that enhances health literacy may support patients' engagement in their self-management and treatment decision-making, potentially reducing disease burden and pain. However, no tool currently exists to assess health literacy specifically in MSK pain. This study aimed to develop and describe the preliminary version of a knowledge-based questionnaire to evaluate MSK pain literacy, the Musculoskeletal Pain-Literacy questionnaire (MSK-PLq). METHODS: A systematic literature review identified existing health literacy instruments and generated a preliminary list of domains. A two-round Delphi study with 22 panellists (19 experts and three people living with chronic MSK pain), followed by consensus meetings, was used to refine domains and items (≥70% agreement). Readability was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) score and three stakeholders were consulted to review the questionnaire for comprehensibility, clarity, and face validity. RESULTS: Six domains were retained (Understand, Access, Appraise, Apply, Digital, Beliefs), comprising 20 items in the preliminary version of MSK-PLq. Readability was acceptable (mean FRE 74, indicating fairly easy reading), and subject feedback supported the questionnaire's clarity and face validity. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary version of the MSK-PLq is proposed as the first knowledge-based tool to assess functional, interactive, and critical aspects of MSK pain literacy. It may have applications in clinical practice, research, education, and digital health, by informing tailored patient education and supporting self-management strategies, although further psychometric validation is required.

Humans

Efficacy of smartphone- and bibliotherapy-delivered multicomponent lifestyle medicine interventions for probable depression: A three-arm randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the efficacy of smartphone- (AG) and bibliotherapy-delivered (BG) lifestyle medicine (LM) interventions compared with a waitlist control group (WLG) in reducing depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 122 adults with probable depression were randomized to AG (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;41), BG (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;40), or WLG (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;41). AG and BG received the same core 8-week multicomponent LM intervention via a smartphone application or booklets, respectively. The core content included lifestyle psychoeducation, physical activity, diet and nutrition, stress and sleep management, goal-setting, and motivational techniques. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and immediate post-intervention (Week 9) in all groups, with 1-month (Week 13) and 3-month (Week 21) follow-ups conducted in the intervention groups only. RESULTS: At Week 9, AG (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.89) and BG (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.64) showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms than WLG, with within-group improvements maintained at 1- and 3-month follow-ups (ps&#xa0;<.001, d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.77-0.96). Clinically significant improvement was achieved by 78% of AG and 55% of BG participants, both significantly higher than WLG (19.5%; ps&#xa0;<.001). Compared with WLG, both interventions yielded greater improvements in overall lifestyle and physical activity (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.59-0.91) at Week 9. The AG showed additional benefits for perceived stress, health responsibility, nutrition, spiritual growth, and stress management (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.58-0.73), whereas BG uniquely improved insomnia symptoms (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.83). CONCLUSION: Smartphone- and bibliotherapy-delivered LM interventions are efficacious for managing probable depression. Further RCTs comparing them with established treatments are warranted.

Humans

Exploring Immersive Virtual Reality as an Approach to Improve School Participation-Related Constructs in Children With ADHD.

BACKGROUND: School participation is frequency and involvement from person-environment transactions, not diagnosis, per the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the family of participation-related constructs (fPRC). In this framework, the environmental and child determinants of school participation (e.g., school routines and peer/teacher context; self-regulation, activity competence and preferences) interact bidirectionally to shape everyday participation. However, many interventions still target isolated impairments, overlooking coordinated changes in capacities and context. Grounded in this contemporary view, this study aimed to investigate the impact of an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention on school participation-related constructs in children with ADHD. METHODS: The study included 92 children aged between 7 and 12&#x2009;years diagnosed with ADHD. Participants were randomly assigned into intervention (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;46) and control (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;46) groups. Both groups completed the School Participation Questionnaire (SPQ) and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Test 2 Brief Form (BOT2-BF) assessment prior to the intervention. The intervention group received an IVR intervention program twice a week for 8 weeks. During this period, the control group did not receive additional therapy. At the end of the 8 weeks, the SPQ was readministered to both groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences in SPQ and BOT2-BF results between groups, confirming homogeneity prior to intervention. Following the intervention, the study group demonstrated significant improvements across all domains of the SPQ (doing, being, symptoms and environment), with large effect sizes for SPQ total score (d&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.978) and subdomains (d&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.452-0.910). In contrast, the control group showed no improvements and even declines in subdomains. Post-intervention, between-group comparisons revealed significant differences favouring the study group across all domains (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001), with large effect sizes (d&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.878-1.165). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the IVR program was associated with improvements in teacher-rated environmental and child determinants of school participation (SPQ domains) in children with ADHD.

Humans

Challenges and future directions in AI-driven biomaterials for microbiome-associated oral infectious diseases: A systematic review.

Oral biofilm-induced antimicrobial resistance is the core pathogenic mechanism of microbiome-associated oral infectious diseases (dental caries, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and endodontic infection). Traditional therapies and biomaterials are limited by poor biofilm penetration, drug resistance induction, single functionality, and inadequate adaptation to dynamic oral microenvironmental changes (e.g., pH fluctuations, salivary rinsing, masticatory stimulation). Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the field by integrating materials science, microbiology, and stomatology data. Via machine learning, deep learning, and multi-physics simulation, AI optimizes biomaterial physicochemical properties, decodes microenvironmental signals, constructs precise sensing-response loops, and supports the full chain of material design, performance prediction, and action simulation, advancing treatment from empirical intervention to precision regulation. This systematic review retrieved literature from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science (January 2016-January 2026) using keywords across three dimensions: AI, biomaterials, and oral microbiome. Following inclusion/exclusion criteria, 99 articles were included. It elaborates on five core mechanisms of AI-driven oral biomaterials (precise oral microbiome analysis, targeted material design/optimization, performance prediction/simulation, targeted delivery/intervention, effect evaluation/dynamic regulation), analyzes their applications in microbiome-targeted biomaterial research and development (R&D) and clinical practice for the four major oral infectious diseases, addresses technical bottlenecks (insufficient targeting specificity and precision of biomaterials, poor stability and durability in complex oral microenvironments, inadequate biofilm disruption capacity, and clinical translation obstacles), and proposes future directions (multimodal design to enhance targeting specificity, structural and component optimization to improve stability/durability, development of multi-mechanism synergistic biofilm disruption strategies, strengthening translational research for clinical application, and deep integration of AI in the full chain of biomaterial R&D). This work provides comprehensive theoretical and practical support for the R&D, optimization, and clinical translation of AI-driven microbiome-targeted oral biomaterials.

Humans

Moderate expression and activity of flocculins underlie the characteristic flocculation phenotype of Saccharomyces pastorianus.

Flocculation is a key technological trait in lager brewing, governing fermentation performance, yeast recovery, and beer quality. In the allo-aneuploid hybrid yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus, the genetic basis of flocculation remains poorly resolved due to its complex dual sub-genome architecture. Here, we systematically re-annotated and functionally characterized the complete FLO gene repertoire of the Group II strain CBS 1483. Thirteen FLO genes were identified, including allelic variants and a previously uncharacterized adhesin, Flo12, containing a Hyphal_reg_CWP domain instead of the canonical PA14 lectin-binding domain. Structural modeling revealed strong conservation of Ca&#xb2;+-binding residues in PA14 domains, alongside repeat-region diversification likely contributing to functional variability. Using optogenetic expression in a FLO-null background, we demonstrated that SpcI-FLO9-1 and SpcI-FLO9-2_1 are the strongest drivers of flocculation, exhibiting NewFlo-like sugar sensitivity. Transcriptomic analysis during 17&#xb0;P wort fermentation showed dynamic induction of these genes coinciding with flocculation onset. Surprisingly, deletion of both loci in CBS 1483 did not abolish but only delayed sedimentation in wort, accompanied by improved maltose utilization and attenuation. These findings reveal functional redundancy and compensatory mechanisms within the FLO network of lager yeast, highlighting the genetic complexity underlying flocculation, and providing a molecular framework to inform yeast selection, strain development, and optimization of the lager fermentation processes.IMPORTANCEFlocculation, the process by which yeast cells aggregate and settle, is essential for producing clear, high-quality lager beer, and for efficient yeast recovery during brewing. However, the genetic basis of this trait in lager yeast has remained poorly understood because these strains possess unusually complex hybrid genomes. In this study, we systematically identified and characterized the complete set of flocculation genes in the industrial lager yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus CBS 1483. We demonstrated that lager yeast flocculation is not controlled by a single dominant gene, but instead emerges from the combined action of several moderately active adhesion proteins that are expressed at low levels during fermentation. Surprisingly, deleting the two strongest candidate genes only delayed, rather than eliminated, sedimentation, revealing a robust compensatory network that preserves brewing performance. These findings refine the current understanding of yeast flocculation and provide a molecular framework for developing brewing strains with improved fermentation efficiency, product consistency, and flavor quality.

Saccharomyces pastorianus

Comparison of clinical efficacy and gut microbiota characteristics in children with ASD treated with fecal microbiota transplantation and ketogenic diet.

OBJECTIVE: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication and interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. It is often accompanied by gastrointestinal dysfunction and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) and the Ketogenic Diet (KD) are interventions targeting the gut microbiota for ASD. METHODS: 30 participants were diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-5 and ADOS-2. ASD core symptoms were evaluated with CARS and ABC. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in core symptoms. In the FMT group, the mean CARS score significantly decreased from 34.87 to 33.53 (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01); in the KD group, it declined from 35.13 to 33 (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01). The mean ABC score reduced from 79.93 to 69.33 (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.064) in the FMT group and from 63.07 to 42.73 (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01) in the KD group. Following the intervention, no statistically significant changes were observed in &#x3b1;-diversity or &#x3b2;-diversity within either group. LEfSe analysis revealed distinct post-intervention microbial signatures: FMT significantly enriched butyrate-producing taxa (Wujia chipingensis, Eubacterium sp. MSJ-33, and Butyrivibrio crossotus), while KD elevated Blautia massiliensis and decreased propionate metabolism -associated taxa (Veillonella sp. S12025-13 and Veillonella nakazawae). KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that KD enriched propionate metabolism (Fold enrichment&#x2009;=&#x2009;3.747, q&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.010) and aromatic compound degradation (Fold enrichment&#x2009;=&#x2009;3.591, q&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Both interventions significantly improved clinical symptoms among children with ASD, potentially through distinct patterns of gut microbiota modulation. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER: NCT06348433 (03/21/2024).

Child

LitCTL1: A novel C-type lectin involved in the mucosal and cellular immunity of the common periwinkle Littorinalittorea.

C-type lectins (CTLs) are vital pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) that mediate innate immune responses in mollusks, yet their characterization in Caenogastropoda, the largest gastropod group, remains limited. This study characterizes LitCTL1, a novel secreted single-domain C-type lectin from the common periwinkle, Littorina littorea. The 199-amino acid polypeptide contains a conserved carbohydrate recognition domain with canonical QPD and WND motifs and is predicted to form a homodimer. Uniquely, LitCTL1 was localized in both circulating hemocytes and mucus-secreting epithelial cells of the foot, mantle, and hypobranchial gland - the first report of such dual localization for a molluscan lectin, linking systemic and mucosal defense. Expression analysis revealed that LitCTL1 is constitutively expressed in hemocytes. Functional assays with recombinant LitCTL1 demonstrated its role as a potent opsonin with hemagglutinating activity, significantly enhancing hemocyte spreading and the phagocytosis of zymosan. Genomic analysis reveals that LitCTL1 belongs to a rapidly diversifying, genus-specific expansion distinct from conserved perlucin-like lineages. These results identify LitCTL1 as a key effector molecule in both systemic and mucosal innate immunity, likely reflecting an evolutionary adaptation to the microbial challenges of the intertidal environment.

Animals

How to assess different types of abstract concepts in brain disorders: A systematic review.

The clinical evaluation of semantic knowledge has predominantly relied on tools targeting concrete concepts, whereas abstract knowledge has historically received limited attention despite its importance in everyday communication. Only a few instruments have explored the internal subdivision of abstract knowledge, likely due to the intrinsic difficulty of defining specific types of concepts or dimensions, resulting in a fragmented and heterogeneous neuropsychological assessment framework that limits our understanding of this domain. This systematic review examined the tools used to assess various types of abstract concepts in clinical populations. A literature search has been performed on the electronic databases of PubMed and Google Scholar (last update: October 2025). A total of 17 tests is reviewed, differing in the test characteristics, i.e. ranging from automatic to controlled processes and varying in ecological validity, the type of stimuli employed, and the abstract dimensions explored. Most studies have focused on neurodegenerative patients, while comparatively few have examined other clinical conditions. The risk of bias of the reviewed studies was assessed using an ad hoc developed instrument. This review highlights the need for future research to extend investigations to additional abstract domains and clinical populations, while also identifying key challenges related to stimulus selection and the determination of the most appropriate assessment framework.

Humans

A risk-need-responsivity (RNR)-informed systematic review of needs during the pretrial period.

OBJECTIVE: Pretrial risk assessments are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Despite the importance of assessing and intervening around "needs" in the risk-need-responsivity model, few pretrial risk assessments include comprehensive assessment of needs. We aim to provide a systematic review of the prevalence of and predictive utility of needs within the pretrial population. HYPOTHESES: There were no hypotheses given the nature of the study. METHOD: We conducted searches for articles in the EBSCO, ProQuest, and Google Scholar databases using key words related to 11 needs domains: antisocial personality, procriminal attitudes, procriminal associates, substance use, family/marital relationships, school/work, prosocial recreational activities, self-esteem, housing, mental health, and physical health. We identified 215 articles that reported on the prevalence of needs or explored their predictive associations with pretrial misconduct outcomes in adult populations. RESULTS: Overall, we find few comprehensive investigations of needs in the pretrial domain, apart from substance use. Variation in methodology and operationalization contributes to wide variability in prevalence estimates. We found only 15 articles that examined predictive associations between pretrial needs and outcomes, which were limited to investigations of behavioral health, employment, and housing needs. Substance use and housing needs emerged as the only consistent predictors of pretrial misconduct. CONCLUSIONS: Researchers should more directly assess the prevalence and predictive utility of needs within the pretrial period to bolster the evidence base for including these factors in pretrial risk assessments. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Humans

Effects of exercise snacking on neuromuscular performance in insufficiently active adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of exercise snacking (ES) on neuromuscular performance in insufficiently active adults. METHODS: Six databases were searched from inception to July 17, 2026. Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions involving insufficiently active adults undertaking ES interventions were included. Outcomes were functional performance, muscular strength, and muscular power. A three-level random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 or ROBINS-I, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. RESULTS: Nine studies (13 reports) involving 313 participants were included. In the primary three-level model, ES showed a small positive overall effect on neuromuscular performance (g = 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.58, p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.001), which remained supported under trial-clustered robust inference with small-sample adjustment. Domain-specific estimates for muscular power/velocity, functional performance, and muscular strength were positive but imprecise and were not statistically supported after small-sample robust adjustment. Robust moderator tests provided no evidence of between-subgroup differences, and the certainty of evidence was low for all outcomes. CONCLUSION: Current low-certainty evidence suggests that ES may produce a small improvement in overall neuromuscular performance. However, domain-specific effects remain uncertain because of the limited number of independent trials, and the overall prediction interval crossed zero, indicating uncertainty across future populations and settings. Larger, preregistered randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Adult

Proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiles of time-dependent dynamic changes in LPS-induced macrophage polarization.

The temporal proteomic and phosphoproteomic reprogramming during early M1 macrophage polarization (0-6&#xa0;h) remains poorly understood. We performed time-resolved proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages at seven time points within 6&#xa0;h. Time-clustering of differentially expressed molecules revealed two patterns: initial change with partial recovery, and sustained dysregulation. Upregulated proteins and phosphorylation sites were enriched in the Rho GTPase signaling pathway, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, NF-&#x3ba;B cascade, osteoclast differentiation pathway, and antiviral immune pathway. Downregulated pathways were associated with cell cycle regulation, chromatin remodeling, RNA metabolism, and mRNA processing, indicating resource reallocation to prioritize acute inflammatory responses. Kinase-substrate network analysis confirmed the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), protein kinase B (AKT), and ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) families as core upstream phosphorylation regulators. Integrated analysis revealed synergistic and antagonistic relationships between proteomic and phosphoproteomic changes. This study provides a temporal molecular atlas of M1 polarization, delineating inflammatory signaling dynamics and offering a basis for therapeutic target discovery in inflammatory diseases. SIGNIFICANCE: Macrophage M1 polarization is a central event in innate immune defense against pathogenic invasion, yet its dysregulation is a pivotal driver of the onset and progression of a broad spectrum of inflammation-associated disorders, spanning autoimmune diseases, infectious conditions and inflammatory bone diseases, making the dissection of its molecular regulatory mechanisms an urgent research priority in immunology and translational medicine. Dynamic molecular events within 0-6&#xa0;h after LPS stimulation are critical for initiating and shaping M1 inflammatory activation, yet systematic time-resolved proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling remains insufficient.In this study, we comprehensively characterized temporal proteome and phosphoproteome changes at seven consecutive time points during macrophage polarization, clarified two distinct dynamic molecular patterns, identified core signaling pathways and key kinase regulators involved in inflammatory reprogramming, and uncovered the leading role of post-translational phosphorylation modifications in initiating polarization. This work delineates the time-series molecular atlas of early macrophage activation, provides novel insights into the temporal regulatory mechanism of inflammatory signaling networks, and lays a solid experimental foundation for exploring new intervention targets and regulatory nodes in clinical translational research.

Lipopolysaccharides

Nurse-led acute care post-operative interventions in adult cardiac surgery: a systematic review.

AIMS: The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify nurse-led clinical interventions evaluated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for adults who had undergone cardiac surgery. The secondary aim was to assess the effectiveness of these interventions on post-operative clinical and patient-reported outcomes during the acute inpatient phase. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic review was undertaken according to an a priori protocol using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA guideline for reporting. Eligible studies were RCTs of adult (&#x2265;18 years) cardiac surgery, nurse-led inpatient interventions implemented immediately post-surgery and prior to discharge. Six databases were searched from inception to June 2025. Of 2690 records, 19 RCTs were eligible, representing 13 countries, and 3142 participants. Risk of bias varied, with only two low-risk trials. Interventions were grouped into seven domains: behavioural support; temperature management and comfort strategies; pain and symptom management; wound care; infection prevention; respiratory and pulmonary function; and post-operative recovery, mobilization, and hydration. Across these domains, nurse-led interventions were generally feasible, safe, and positively affected patient comfort, physiological stability, symptom relief, and aspects of functional recovery. CONCLUSION: Nurse-led inpatient interventions contribute meaningfully to inpatient post-operative recovery in cardiac surgery, although the broader cardiac surgical nursing scope is underrepresented in RCTs. This review provides a foundation for developing further high-quality research, peer-reviewed interdisciplinary practice guidelines, and strengthening the scope and recognition of cardiac surgical nursing as a distinct specialty. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO-CRD420251063851.

Humans

Care Experience Disparities in Individuals With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Systematic Review and Content Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to characterize the landscape of the literature and describe lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) care experiences using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ's) patient experience framework, describe the characteristics of the studies, and identify critical knowledge gaps. METHODS: We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus of peer-reviewed publications from 1995 to 2024. The search terms were related to LUTSs, drivers of healthcare inequities, and the domains of the AHRQ. We then performed a content analysis of the included studies. RESULTS: Of the 4597 articles reviewed, we included 11 studies in the analysis. The most studied LUTS was urinary incontinence (10/11, 91%). Of the included studies, six were comparative, and most (4/6, 66.7%) found worse care experience in patients with limited English proficiency and low socioeconomic status. When examining the studies using the care experience framework of the AHRQ, the most frequently evaluated domains of care experience were communication with clinicians (8/11, 73%) and access to care (8/11, 73%). For communication with clinicians, language barriers (3/11, 27%) and symptom minimization by clinicians (3/11, 27%) were common, especially among patients with limited English proficiency and of older age, respectively. In regard to access to care, concerns about healthcare costs (5/11, 45%) and patients' fear or embarrassment about accessing LUTS care (4/11, 36%) were commonly occurring themes, especially among racially minoritized groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this systematic review demonstrated that patients with limited English proficiency, older age, low socioeconomic status, and racially minoritized backgrounds have poor LUTS care experiences.

Humans

Updated adjunctive minocycline for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and cognitive outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Minocycline has been proposed as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia due to its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, evidence regarding its efficacy across clinical and cognitive outcomes remains inconsistent. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind RCTs was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 2000 to August 2025. Eligible studies included patients with schizophrenia receiving adjunctive minocycline plus stable antipsychotics. Primary outcomes were PANSS total and subscale scores and overall cognitive performance. Secondary outcomes included SANS, CDS, CGI, GAF, and seven cognitive domains. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs were calculated. RESULTS: Ten RCTs involving 895 participants were included. Adjunctive minocycline was associated with improvements in negative symptoms (PANSS negative: SMD = -0.55, 95% CI: -0.96 to -0.13; SANS: SMD = -0.75, 95% CI: -1.00 to -0.49) and overall psychopathology (PANSS total: SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.80 to -0.18). Cognitive benefits were limited to a modest improvement in working memory (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.39), with no significant effects in other cognitive domains. Subgroup analyses suggested that illness stage, antipsychotic regimen, treatment duration, sample size, and geographic region may contribute to variability in treatment effects. Adverse event rates were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive minocycline may improve negative symptoms and provide modest working memory benefits in schizophrenia. However, the evidence is limited by substantial heterogeneity, potential small-study effects, and inconsistent findings. Although short- to medium-term tolerability appeared comparable to placebo, larger, longer-term RCTs are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.

Humans

PCa Detection in PI-RADS 4 and 5 Lesions: Comparison of [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT-Guided Robot-Assisted Biopsy Versus mpMRI Cognitive-Fusion TRUS-Guided Prostate Biopsy.

Lesions with a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of 4 or greater on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) indicate a high likelihood of prostate cancer (PCa), and guidelines recommend a targeted biopsy. We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of robotic arm-assisted [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT-guided prostate biopsy (PGPB) with mpMRI-directed cognitive-fusion transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy (MCFB) in biopsy-na&#xef;ve men with clinical findings suggestive of PCa. Methods: This prospective, single-center, randomized clinical trial (NCT05137561) enrolled biopsy-na&#xef;ve men age 50-90 y with elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (&#x2265;4 ng/mL) and abnormal digital rectal examination findings. All participants underwent mpMRI, and those with a PI-RADS score of 4 or greater were randomized into 2 arms. In arm 1, participants underwent PGPB for a [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-avid lesion, and participants in arm 2 underwent MCFB. Participants in arm 1 with PET-negative findings subsequently underwent MCFB, and participants with negative biopsy results underwent PET and PGPB. The primary outcome was the detection of PCa. Secondary outcomes included complication rates and participant-reported pain. Result: Of the 267 participants enrolled, 81.3% (217) had lesions with a PI-RADS score of 4 or greater and were randomized to either PGPB (n = 112) or MCFB (n = 105). PCa was detected in 97.1% of participants (101/104) in arm 1 and 81.0% (85/105) in arm 2 (P < 0.05). PGPB showed higher diagnostic accuracy for PI-RADS 5 lesions (100% vs. 95.1%, P = 0.09). Major complications were observed in arm 2 only (n = 5). Arm 1 had significantly fewer complications (10.8% vs. 51.4%, P < 0.01), a lower median visual analog scale score for pain (3 vs. 5), and shorter procedure times. The core positivity rate was higher in arm 1 (60% &#xb1; 20%), despite obtaining fewer cores. Conclusion: [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PGPB demonstrated higher diagnostic performance, fewer complications, and better tolerability compared with MCFB. This approach enables integrated diagnosis and staging, offering a promising alternative for efficient, safe, and accurate evaluation of prostate cancer.

Humans

ESC quality indicators for post-myocardial infarction care: transition and chronic coronary syndrome phases.

AIMS: We aimed to develop the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) quality indicators (QIs) for myocardial infarction (MI), from 1 year after hospital discharge, corresponding to transition to the chronic coronary syndrome phases. METHODS AND RESULTS: We collaborated with the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) and developed QIs for the long-term management of patients following MI. We applied the ESC methodology for QI development by (i) determining key domains of post-MI care; (ii) developing candidate QIs by performing a systematic review of the literature, and (iii) selecting the final set of QIs using a modified Delphi approach. In total, 18 QIs were identified across seven domains of care including (i) structural framework, (ii) risk assessment and follow-up, (iii) pharmacological management, (iv) rehabilitation, behavioural, and preventive interventions, (v) coronary revascularization, (vi) clinical outcomes, and (vii) patient-reported outcomes. CONCLUSION: We present the ESC QIs from 1 year after hospitalization for MI, to standardize and address gaps in care for this high-risk group. These QIs are supported by evidence from contemporary literature, endorsed by expert consensus, and aligned with the 2024 ESC guidelines on the management of chronic coronary syndromes. LAY SUMMARY: Measures to evaluate and improve the long-term management of patients following a heart attack are needed. In this paper, we identified key aspects of care that can help clinicians, decision-makers and patients improve the quality of care, from one year after a heart attack onwards, and help address inequalities and variations in clinical practice.

Humans

Storm and Stress 2.0? A Dual-Factor, Person-Centered Analysis of Adolescent Well-being Across Two Year 7 Cohorts and Gender.

PURPOSE: Concerns about the mental health and well-being of younger generations is a recurring theme across countries and time. Adolescence is debated as a period of volatility ("storm and stress") or growth. Recent trends have reignited worries about youth mental health and well-being, particularly for females, and revived a deficit-based view of adolescence. To advance understanding, this study adopts a dual-factor approach that incorporates both negative and positive well-being domains. Mental health trends were compared across two grade-matched Australian adolescent cohorts assessed 5 years apart. METHODS: Data were drawn from cross-sectional cohorts of year 7 students (12-13 years) in one Australian jurisdiction: 2,085 in 2018 and 2,378 in 2023. Positive affect, happiness, resilience, depression, and anxiety were assessed using latent profile analysis to identify mental health profiles, which were then compared between cohorts and gender. RESULTS: Four profiles were identified: complete mental health, symptomatic but positive, resilient but disaffected, and troubled. Approximately 80% of students were classified in profiles reflecting some positive mental health. Between 2018 and 2023, the proportion with complete mental health declined by 7.93%, while those categorized as troubled increased by 4.76%. Declines were most pronounced among female students. DISCUSSION: Findings highlight both resilience and vulnerability in adolescent mental health. While most students continue to show positive well-being, the decline among females signals an urgent need for gender-sensitive approaches. At the same time, the results add nuance to accounts of a youth mental health 'crisis' to some degree, by highlighting positive domains of well-being which are often overlooked.

Humans