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Age-related macular degeneration associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly prescribed for diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular risk reduction. However, their ocular safety profile, particularly regarding age-related macular degeneration (AMD), remains uncertain. This systematic review evaluates the association between GLP-1 RA use and the incidence or progression of AMD including both nonexudative and neovascular subtypes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251183938). MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and PubMed were searched from inception through 2025 for observational studies and randomized trials evaluating AMD outcomes among adults exposed to GLP-1 RAs. Comparators included nonuse, placebo, or alternative metabolic therapies. Risk of bias was assessed using Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions and certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. Due to heterogeneity of outcome definitions, results were synthesized qualitatively. RESULTS: Eight observational studies encompassing 91 408 to 600 816 participants were included. GLP-1 RA use was associated with a reduced incidence of nonexudative AMD across diabetic and nondiabetic populations, with relative risk reductions varying substantially by population, comparator, and follow-up duration. Findings for neovascular AMD were heterogeneous: most studies reported neutral or protective associations, whereas one population-based cohort of older adults with diabetes observed an increased risk (adjusted hazard ratio 2.21, 95% CI 1.65-2.96), with low absolute event rates. Overall risk of bias was moderate to high, and certainty of evidence for all outcomes was very low. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not demonstrate a consistent increase in AMD risk associated with GLP-1 RA therapy and may be associated with a lower incidence of nonexudative AMD, although the certainty of evidence is very low and noncausal explanations cannot be excluded. Prospective studies with standardized endpoints are needed to clarify causal relationships.

Humans

Intraspecific variation in Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom: Influence of age and sex.

Snake venom is a complex mixture of molecules and is subject to intraspecific variations due to the influence of abiotic and/or biotic factors, one of which is the animal's ontogeny. Some studies have already shown the influence of age on the composition and properties of snake venom, but these variations are not uniform, and each species may exhibit a specific pattern of variation. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the influence of age on the venom of Bothrops neuwiedi, using 5 age groups, differentiating between males and females. To this end, we analyzed the protein profile of these venoms (using SDS-PAGE, HPLC, and proteomic analyses); enzymatic activities (PLA2, LAAO, and proteolytic activities); coagulant activity, in vivo assays (MDH; LD50 and ED50), and immunorecognition tests (Western blotting and ELISA). Protein profile analysis showed that males exhibited a gradual increase in SVMP and PLA2 concentrations. Both sexes showed a decrease in CTL concentration and a loss of PLA2 activity, which occurred more gradually in males. Proteolytic activity did not show clear ontogenetic differences, but both sexes showed activity peaks in the 2-year-old and senile groups, with females exhibiting higher proteolytic activity than males. Regarding LAAO activity, it increased in males and decreased in females. Although the LD50 did not show age-dependent differences, the venom from the 1-year-old group took longer to cause death in mice but showed a higher hemorrhagic activity than seniles. Furthermore, more antivenom was needed to neutralize the venom from the 1-year-old group than the venom from the senile group; despite this, immunorecognition tests did not show significant ontogenetic variations. In conclusion, the venom of the snake B. neuwiedi undergoes ontogenetic variations with certain sexual differences, showing some peculiarities that have not been found in ontogenetic analyses of other species of the same genus.

Animals

Efficacy and safety of thulium fiber laser versus conventional holmium:YAG laser in anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate: a systematic review and pairwise meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Anatomical endoscopic enucleation is an established treatment for benign prostatic obstruction. Whether thulium fiber laser enucleation (ThuFLEP) improves outcomes over conventional holmium:YAG laser enucleation (HoLEP) remains uncertain. We compared the efficacy and safety of ThuFLEP versus non-MOSES-modulated HoLEP. METHODS: We performed a PRISMA-compliant systematic review and pairwise meta-analysis of randomised and comparative cohort studies comparing ThuFLEP and conventional HoLEP in adult men. Six databases were searched. Outcomes included International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS quality-of-life score, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual volume, hospital stay, and complications. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed with RoB 2/ROBINS-I and GRADE. RESULTS: Seven non-overlapping comparative populations in eight publications included 3,509 patients. ThuFLEP was associated with a small statistically significant reduction in IPSS at 3 months (mean difference [MD] -1.04 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.81 to -0.28) of uncertain clinical relevance. Qmax differences were small and directionally inconsistent across follow-up (favouring HoLEP at 3 months and ThuFLEP at 6 and 12 months) and derived mainly from retrospective cohorts, with neutral randomised subgroups. Stress and urge urinary incontinence were less frequent overall (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.96, and RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.68), but both estimates depended on one large registry cohort and were not robust to its exclusion. Most other complications and hospital stay showed no clear between-group difference. Limitations include few studies per outcome, heterogeneity, sparse safety events, inconsistent prostate-specific antigen reporting, and mostly low/very low certainty evidence. CONCLUSION: ThuFLEP and conventional HoLEP are clinically comparable with no definitive superiority of either laser. Platform selection should be individualised according to surgeon expertise, institutional resources, and patient characteristics. Future trials should standardise cost-effectiveness outcomes and investigate whether the distinct laser-tissue interactions impact adenoma clearance, PSA reduction, enucleation completeness, and long-term durability.

Humans

The effect of tDCS on emotion-related risk-taking behavior and delay discounting in adults with ADHD.

INTRODUCTION: Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often engage in risky behaviors due to impaired decision-making processes. This study aims to investigate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) on emotion-related risk-taking behavior and delay discounting in adults with ADHD. METHODS: Thirty adults with ADHD underwent three tDCS conditions, administered in a randomized order with at least one week between sessions: (1) left dlPFC anode/right vmPFC cathode, (2) left dlPFC cathode/right vmPFC anode, and (3) sham stimulation. In each session, participants completed the Delay Discounting Task (DDT) and the Modified Balloon Analogue Risk Task (mBART) under three emotional conditions (neutral, positive, and negative) which were induced using emotionally congruent photographs and sounds. Galvanic skin responses (GSR) were also recorded. In the DDT, both area under the curve (AUC) values and log-transformed discounting rates (log k) were calculated for small, medium, and large reward magnitudes (RM). Exploratory electric field modeling was also performed to characterize current distribution. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated task-specific effects of tDCS on decision-making. Although no overall tDCS effect was observed on DDT performance, significant tDCS × RM interactions emerged, particularly for smaller rewards. In contrast, exploratory analyses suggested that tDCS affected all mBART scores. Emotional condition did not influence consistently behavioral performance in either task, whereas both emotional stimulation and tDCS significantly affected GSR responses. However, exploratory electric field modeling indicated a broad prefrontal current distribution extending beyond the intended cortical targets. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest preliminary evidence that prefrontal tDCS can influence risk-related decision-making and autonomic responses in adults with ADHD. However, its effects on delay discounting appear to be context-dependent and limited to specific RMs. Future studies combining neuroimaging with individualized electric field modeling are needed to clarify the neural mechanisms underlying the observed effects of tDCS and to optimize stimulation protocols in adults with ADHD.

Humans

Pharmacological therapies for the prevention of fractures in men.

RATIONALE: Pharmacological therapies for fracture prevention usually target osteoporosis, a skeletal disorder characterised by compromised bone mass or quality (or both). As most participants in osteoporosis trials are women, a review of pharmacological therapies for fracture prevention in men was warranted. OBJECTIVES: To determine the benefits and harms of bisphosphonates, parathyroid (PTH) or parathyroid-related protein (PTHrP) analogues, denosumab, and romosozumab therapy for the prevention of fractures in men. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and two trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO ICTRP) until 14 October 2025, with no restrictions on date or language of publication. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials that compared bisphosphonates, PTH or PTHrP analogues, denosumab, or romosozumab (alone or with calcium or vitamin D, or both) with placebo, other drugs, or non-pharmacological therapies in men aged 50 years or older. Our primary comparison was bisphosphonates versus placebo. OUTCOMES: Critical outcomes were incidence of hip fractures, symptomatic vertebral fractures, other (not hip or vertebral) fractures, disability, participants with adverse events, study withdrawals due to adverse events, and participants with serious adverse events. Our primary time point was the final time point reported in the trials. RISK OF BIAS: We used Cochrane's RoB 2 tool to assess risk of bias. SYNTHESIS METHODS: We used a random-effects model for meta-analysis employing the Mantel-Haenszel approach, and the DerSimonian and Laird method to estimate between-trial variance. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE. INCLUDED STUDIES: Seventeen trials (4132 participants) met our inclusion criteria. The average age of participants ranged from 52 to 73 years. Twelve trials used a placebo comparator versus bisphosphonate (7 trials, 2548 participants), PTH or PTHrP analogues (4 trials, 569 participants), denosumab (1 trial, 240 participants), and romosozumab (1 trial, 244 participants). For the other planned comparisons, a bisphosphonate was compared to vitamin D/vitamin D analogues (2 trials, 434 participants), to calcitonin (1 trial, 32 participants), to PTH or PTHrP analogues (1 trial, 19 participants), or to another bisphosphonate (1 trial, 301 participants), and one trial compared a bisphosphonate plus calcium to calcium tablets alone (46 participants). SYNTHESIS OF RESULTS: Placebo-controlled trials were largely susceptible to bias in selection of the reported result (83%), while most trials without a placebo control were also susceptible to bias arising from the randomisation process (100%) and in measurement of the outcome (80%). We are very uncertain about the effect of bisphosphonates on the incidence of hip fractures, symptomatic vertebral fractures, or other (non-hip non-vertebral) fractures compared to placebo at the final follow-up (up to two years). We downgraded the certainty of evidence once for risk of bias, twice for imprecision (very low event rates), and once for suspected publication bias. The certainty of evidence for incidence of other fractures was further downgraded for indirectness, as it was unclear if hip fractures were also included in the outcome. At up to two years, 2/875 participants (2 per 1000) in the bisphosphonate group reported hip fractures compared with 2/760 (3 per 1000) in the placebo group (risk ratio (RR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06 to 8.51; I² = 36%; 4 trials, 1635 participants); 5/1021 (4/1000) participants in the bisphosphonate group had a symptomatic vertebral fracture compared to 7/855 (8/1000) participants in the placebo group (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.14 to 1.74; I² = 0%; 5 trials, 1876 participants); 25/1130 participants (16/1000) in the bisphosphonate group reported other (non-hip non-vertebral) fractures compared to 19/913 participants (21/1000) in the placebo group (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.45; I² = 0%; 6 trials, 2043 participants). Bisphosphonates probably do not increase the risk of adverse events: 1024/1374 participants (746/1000) receiving bisphosphonates reported adverse events compared to 826/1174 participants (704/1000) receiving placebo (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.19; I² = 75%; 7 trials, 2548 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) or serious adverse events: 329/1329 participants (272/1000) receiving bisphosphonate reported serious adverse events compared to 323/1128 participants (286/1000) receiving placebo (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.08; I² = 0%; 6 trials, 2457 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). We downgraded the certainty of evidence once due to potential bias for adverse events and serious adverse events. We are very uncertain if bisphosphonates result in more withdrawals due to adverse events: 41/1374 participants (25/1000) in the bisphosphonate group withdrew due to adverse events compared with 43/1174 participants (37/1000) in the placebo group (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.18; I² = 37%; 7 trials, 2548 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We downgraded the certainty of evidence once for risk of bias, once for indirectness, and once for imprecision. No trial reported disability. We are very uncertain about the effects of PTH or PTHrP analogues, denosumab, or romosozumab compared to placebo on fracture outcomes. We are very uncertain about the effects of PTH/PTHrP analogues on total adverse events, withdrawals due to adverse events, and serious adverse events. Denosumab may not increase the risk of adverse events or serious adverse events compared to placebo, while the evidence for withdrawals due to adverse events is very uncertain. Romosozumab probably does not increase the risk of adverse events and may not increase the risk of serious adverse events or result in more withdrawals due to adverse events. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We are very uncertain about the effects of bisphosphonates compared to placebo on the incidence of hip fractures, symptomatic vertebral fractures, or other (non-hip non-vertebral) fractures in men at up to two years of use. Bisphosphonates probably do not increase the risk of adverse events or serious adverse events, and we are very uncertain if they result in more withdrawals due to adverse events. We downgraded the certainty of evidence for indirectness, imprecision (low event rate), and serious risk of bias in selection of the reported result, as it was unclear if all studies fully reported every fracture. We found similar results for PTH or PTHrP analogues, denosumab, or romosozumab versus placebo. Larger, longer placebo-controlled studies are needed to determine whether pharmacological therapies are beneficial for reducing fractures in men. FUNDING: This Cochrane review had no dedicated funding. REGISTRATION: Protocol (2021): https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD014707.

Humans

Sensor-based measures of knee brace adherence have low agreement with self-report methods: A multi-measure study among knee osteoarthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore agreement between self-report and objectively measured adherence to brace wearing by patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHOD: A single-arm observational analysis nested within the PROP OA randomised controlled trial (ISRCTN28555470). Of 237 adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis randomised to brace treatment, 60 were included in this sub-study investigating three different methods of assessing knee brace wear time over 26 weeks: 1. Self-report questionnaires (SRQ) at 12 weeks and 26 weeks; 2. Short message service (SMS) questions (days worn in past week, typical hours per day when worn) administered from week 1 to week 24; 3. A skin temperature sensor embedded in the brace, sampling every 10 min for 26 weeks. The presence and reason for the sensor were concealed from participants. The estimated proportion of participants meeting "minimum brace use", defined a priori as ≥1 h on ≥2 days in past week, was described for each measurement method, overall and by brace type (unloader, neutral). For temperature sensor measurements, time spent above 24°C and time spent above 25°C were used. Agreement between the measures was summarised by percentage agreement and kappa (ĸ). RESULTS: The estimated proportions of participants meeting "minimum brace use" at 12 weeks were 83% (SRQ), 83% (SMS), 60% and 58% (temperature sensor, 24°C and 25°C thresholds, respectively). At 26 weeks, the corresponding estimates reduced to 72%, 71% (SMS at 24 weeks), 43% and 37%. Sensor data suggested the sharpest decline in brace use occurred within the first 12 weeks. Agreement between self-report measures was higher than between self-report measures and sensor (SRQ vs SMS at 12 weeks: 92% agreement, ĸ=0.67 (95%CI: 0.34, 1.00); SRQ vs Sensor at 12 weeks: 74%, 0.35 (0.10, 0.60); SMS vs Sens at 12 weeks: 76%, 0.36 (0.05, 0.66). Agreement between all measurement methods reduced at 26 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This novel use of a temperature sensor to monitor brace adherence in knee osteoarthritis indicates that self-report adherence substantially overestimates knee brace wearing time, with implications for clinical trials and practice.

Humans

A dual-dimensional CRISPR toolkit enables one-step high-efficiency multiplex genome editing in Komagataella phaffii.

Against the backdrop of green biomanufacturing, engineering methanol-utilizing Komagataella phaffii (K. phaffii) represents an effective strategy to expand the one carbon (C1) product profile and speed up the industrialization of C1-based bioeconomy. To address the technical challenges of low efficiency and cumbersome experimental procedures for multiplex gene editing and precise large-fragment integration during the reconstruction of complex metabolic pathways in K. phaffii, this study established a CRISPR toolkit - Efficient Multi-Gene Editing System 3.0 (EMGES 3.0) - which enabled one-step large-fragment integration coupled with multiplex gene knockout. EMGES 3.0 was constructed through the synergistic optimization of a repair-engineered chassis and an episomal CRISPR vector. For chassis engineering, five DNA repair modules: Δlig4 (DNA Ligase IV, non-homologous end joining end ligation), ppMRE11(The endogenous MRE11 gene from Pichia pastoris) overexpression (The Meiotic Recombination 11, DNA double-strand break end resection), Δrad9 (Radiation-Sensitive 9, DNA damage checkpoint regulation), Δmph1 (Mutator Phenotype Helicase 1, improvement of homologous recombinant strand extension), and PapRecT-PaSSB co-expression (stabilization of recombination intermediates) were integrated to generate the highly recombinogenic strain Y09. For vector engineering, cenARS was replaced by panARS and the endogenous promoter PGAP was employed to drive the double hammerhead ribozyme-single guide RNA-hepatitis delta virus ribozyme (double HH-sgRNA-HDV: dHgH)-mediated sgRNA expression, yielding the optimized vector Nov_pGAP_panARS_pLAT1_Cas9. These two features on K. phaffii together enhanced the EMGES 3.0 to a higher standard of transformation rate and editing efficiency. According to our results, EMGES 3.0 achieved dual-functional gene knockout efficiencies between 76.6% and 100%. For insertion of medium-long fragments (>4.5 kb), the efficiency achieved 93.3%. In addition, the one-step integration of ultra-long fragments (>16 kb) achieved 14.8%, which was reported for the first time. Furthermore, the efficiency of simultaneous long-fragment integration at three neutral loci reached 38.4% (>15 kb). We applied the system for one-step production of free fatty acids (FFAs, yield: 5.82 ∼ 7.30 mg/L/OD600) and resveratrol (yield: 1.14 ∼ 1.28 mg/L) using methanol as the sole carbon source. EMGES 3.0 provides a robust technical foundation for complex compounds biosynthesis and high-yield industrial strains, while also advancing K. phaffii as an industrial synthetic biology chassis for efficient C1 utilization.

CRISPR-Cas Systems

Feasibility of implementation, diagnostic accuracy, and end-user impact of an electronic health record (EHR)-based ureteral stent tracking tool in a pediatric population.

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Ureteral stent tracking systems have reduced stent retention in adults, but their accuracy and impact in pediatrics have been minimally explored. With low event rates in children, such tools may yield high false positives, raising questions on balancing event prevention with provider burden. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, diagnostic accuracy, and end-user impact of an Electronic Surveillance Tool for Evaluating Nephroureteral stent Tracking (eSTENT) at our institution. STUDY DESIGN: eSTENT, implemented in 1/2024, flags ureteral stents at risk for retention based on implant documentation, expected explant date, and explant documentation. Monthly reports are generated for stents missing explant documentation. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic performance of eSTENT from 1/2024-8/2025 at our pediatric hospital. A usability survey including a validated 1-7 implementation score (higher = easier implementation) was distributed to pediatric urologists and operating room nurses. RESULTS: Of 172 cases with ureteral stent placement, eSTENT flagged 28 events (16%) in 24 patients. Of these, 26 represented documentation gaps where explant had been appropriate. Two flags had no documentation of explant, representing near miss events that were identified. No retained stents occurred, consistent with high sensitivity and modest specificity. There were no flags in the last 6 months of the study period. Survey response rate was 100% for surgeons and 55% for nurses. Before eSTENT, stents were not routinely tracked. All surgeons and 93% of nurses reported no added burden, despite occasional misidentification of retained stents. Three surgeons found eSTENT beneficial, four were neutral, and free-text responses generally cited eSTENT's "fail safe" nature as positive. Nurses suggested improvements, including user support and integrated documentation reminders. The average implementation score among both groups was 6/7, indicating easy adoption. DISCUSSION: While the impact of stent tracking tools in adult literature has been positive, our study emphasizes the feasibility of broader adoption at a pediatric hospital. Integration of eSTENT may avoid the potentially devastating consequences of a retained stent. Prioritizing sensitivity over specificity appears acceptable for a "never event" in patient safety. Our study is limited by the retrospective nature of data collection and survey bias. CONCLUSIONS: Though no stents were retained in the study period, eSTENT appropriately flagged two cases without added burden to most end-users. Further optimization is warranted, but adoption in pediatric centers may enhance care reliability.

Humans

Histoplasmosis in children: emerging insights and evolving guidelines.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review provides an update on the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management recommendations incorporating recommendations from recent publications including the Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines for the management of pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Updates to the epidemiology of histoplasmosis indicate a broader geographic range than historically defined. Updated guidelines do not recommend routine treatment for asymptomatic, mild and moderate pulmonary histoplasmosis although itraconazole can be offered for immunocompromised children or for prolonged or worsening symptoms. Liposomal amphotericin B is recommended as initial treatment for severe histoplasmosis syndromes (severe pulmonary and disseminated histoplasmosis). Fibrosing mediastinitis, a late complication of histoplasmosis is treated with stenting of vessels and bronchi. Recent studies demonstrate that rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) may stop progression or lead to regression of progressive fibrosis. SUMMARY: Histoplasmosis has manifold manifestations, many of which are self-limited and do not require treatment. Severe histoplasmosis and its complications should be treated with liposomal amphotericin B followed by itraconazole. Clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of rituximab for the treatment of fibrosing mediastinitis.

Humans

Efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors after acute myocardial infarction: Are the benefits limited to patients with diabetes? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Recently, studies have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in this scenario. Objectives We aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors vs standard care. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing patients with acute myocardial infarction using iSGLT2 inhibitors and standard care. Statistical analyses were conducted using R software (v 4.3.2) and a random-effects model was employed for all outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 31,378 patients were included, with 10,897 (34.7%) assigned to the SGLT2 inhibitor group. Among these studies, three were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). There was a significant difference in reduction of HF readmissions (OR 0.61; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01), all-cause mortality (OR 0.62; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01;) and stroke (OR 0.67; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01;). However, there was no significant difference in cardiovascular death, rehospitalization for any cause and recurrence of acute MI. Meta regression and subgroup analysis showed a trend toward better outcomes in the diabetic and non-STEMI population. CONCLUSIONS: SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with lower HF rehospitalization, stroke, and all-cause mortality after acute MI, mainly in observational studies. Benefits appeared greater in diabetic and non-STEMI patients. Dedicated RCTs focusing on diabetic, particularly non-STEMI, populations are needed to confirm these findings. KEY POINTS: What is already known on this topic: SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated cardiovascular and renal benefits in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, their role in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) setting remains uncertain, particularly regarding post-AMI outcomes such as heart failure readmissions, mortality, and recurrent ischemic events, with current evidence derived from heterogeneous and predominantly observational studies. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This meta-analysis, including over 31,000 patients, suggests that SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with reductions in heart failure readmissions, all-cause mortality, and stroke following AMI. These associations were more consistently observed in patients with type 2 diabetes and in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) populations. However, randomized controlled trials showed neutral results, and the observed benefits were mainly driven by observational studies. Meaning: These findings should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating. While SGLT2 inhibitors may represent a potential therapeutic strategy in selected post-AMI populations, particularly patients with diabetes and NSTEMI, current evidence does not support routine early in-hospital initiation. Dedicated randomized trials specifically enrolling diabetic post-AMI patients are required to clarify optimal timing and clinical benefit.

Humans

Management of neonates born to mothers with reactive serologic tests for syphilis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The dramatic resurgence of maternal and congenital syphilis in the United States highlights the need for their optimal management as syphilis in pregnancy can result in substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes current epidemiology and discusses guidance on the management of neonates born to mothers with reactive serologic tests for syphilis. RECENT FINDINGS: Timely communication with local health department professionals is essential for optimal management of mothers with reactive serologic tests for syphilis and their neonates. Knowledge of maternal syphilis treatment history by partnering with local jurisdictions can circumvent much of the incertitude surrounding neonatal management. All neonates born to mothers with reactive serologic tests for syphilis should be tested using a nontreponemal ('lipoidal antigen') test. However, a reactive test may only indicate maternal nontreponemal IgG antibodies that are transferred transplacentally to the fetus. Therefore, neonatal management depends on maternal history and treatment for syphilis as well as clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings in the neonatal evaluation. Existing management algorithms are complex, highlighting the need for a more practical, yet safe, approach. SUMMARY: A neonatal management guideline is proposed that may simplify the management of neonates born to mothers with reactive serologic tests for syphilis while advocating for expanded use of single-dose benzathine penicillin G therapy.

Humans

Surface shaving proteomics reveals a parasite-encoded protein embedded in the spore filaments of Ameson portunus.

The surfaces of microsporidian spores are frequently adorned with filamentous appendages of unknown origin and function. Although some studies suggest that these structures may be host-acquired, the absence of identified parasite-encoded components has hindered our understanding of their biogenesis and role in infection. Here, we applied surface shaving proteomics to profile the surface-exposed proteins of Ameson portunus -a microsporidian pathogen causing severe myopathy in portunid crabs. Our analysis identified 120 candidate surface proteins. Nineteen of these were highly enriched by both direct shaving and SDS-assisted methods, representing a high-confidence surfome. Among these, a previously uncharacterized protein, designated 8-2.11, was confirmed via immunofluorescence assay and immunoelectron microscopy. It was expressed early in development stage and specifically localized to the spore wall and hair-like projections (HLPs) of microsporidia. Notably, polyclonal antibodies against recombinant 8-2.11 recognized a native protein in spores, specifically labeled the HLP structures, and showed no cross-reactivity with host cells. Our results provide the first evidence of a parasite-encoded protein that is integral to HLP formation, challenging the prevailing hypothesis that these surface filaments are solely host-derived. This study establishes surface shaving as a powerful tool for microsporidian research and highlights 8-2.11 as a promising candidate for future functional studies on spore surface biology and host-parasite interactions.

Animals

Perinatal depression, maternal thyroid status and fetus/infant health and development: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones are known to influence both maternal depression and child developmental outcomes, while maternal depression independently affects child outcomes. The potential interaction between thyroid dysfunction and depression in shaping child development remains insufficiently explored. The present study addresses such interplay. METHODS: Following PRISMA 2020 and JBI guidelines, three databases were searched through December 2025 for primary studies on maternal thyroid status, perinatal depression, and child development. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using validated tools. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, data were synthesized narratively following SWiM guidelines. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included. Beyond independent risks for preterm birth and behavioral problems, limited evidence supports a synergistic model, while most studies likely reflect the simple co-occurrence of risks. Maternal thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were associated with child externalizing problems exclusively in the presence of clinical depression. High depressive symptoms also attenuated the cognitive benefits of prenatal iodine supplementation. Thyroid status appears to function as a risk moderator rather than a mediator. However, 50% of observational studies presented high RoB, primarily due to participant attrition. CONCLUSION: Findings are still scarce to support a synergistic risk model where specific maternal thyroid parameters (i.e. thyroid autoimmunity and iodine status) may moderate the impact of depressive symptoms on child development. Despite the high RoB in half of the studies, results highlight the need for integrated screening protocols. Simultaneously assessing mental health and thyroid status may optimize risk stratification for high-risk mother-infant dyads.

Female

Co-occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease are forms of inflammatory arthritis which may have similar presentations. There is growing recognition that these conditions can coexist, especially in elderly patients. This systematic literature review aims to examine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients with both RA and CPPD disease. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed from database inception to 31st January 2026 using the databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane. Keywords relating to RA, CPPD and chondrocalcinosis were used. Inclusion criteria were studies published in English and those that addressed the co-occurrence of RA and CPPD. RESULTS: The search yielded 24 studies comprising 12 cross-sectional studies, 2 case series, and 10 case reports published between 1965 and 2026. A total of 404 patients had both RA and CPPD, with 397/404 (98.3%) aged over 60 years old. Of 365 patients with serostatus data, 204/339 (60.2%) were seronegative for both rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA). Radiographic chondrocalcinosis was evident in 271/287 (94.4%). Of 271 patients with chondrocalcinosis, 162 (59.8%) were seronegative for both RF and ACPA. The most prescribed medications were methotrexate and prednisolone, in 75/205 (36.6%) and 64/205 (31.2%) patients, respectively. Colchicine was prescribed for 24/205 (11.7%). CONCLUSION: While the studies were small, RA, which is commonly seronegative, and CPPD can co-exist in the elderly. Higher-quality studies are required to determine the prevalence of co-existent RA and CPPD, thereby improving insight into the epidemiology and potentially enhancing outcomes of these patients.

Humans

Dynamic lysine acetylation and succinylation of platelet proteins regulates platelet storage lesion: mechanistic insights from multi-omics.

OBJECTIVES: Platelet storage lesion (PSL) severely impairs platelet function during storage, presenting a major hurdle in transfusion medicine; however, the dynamic interplay between global proteomic changes and post-translational modifications (PTMs) underlying these functional deteriorations remains insufficiently characterized. Here, we report the first comprehensive multi-omics analysis integrating global proteomics, acetylomics, and succinylomics to dissect the molecular dynamics during platelet storage. METHODS: We performed quantification of global proteomics, acetylome and succinylome based on TMT-labeled LC-MS/MS analysis, combined with antibody-affinity enrichment and purification. Dynamic molecular changes and functional transformation of platelet were also characterized under proper conditions stored for 1, 3, 5, 7&#x2009;days, respectively. RESULTS: We systematically characterized 3,609 proteins, 1,308 acetylation sites, and 1,947 succinylation sites across multiple storage time points (D1, D3, D5, D7). We distinct temporal patterns of post-translational modifications, with succinylation showing more extensive coverage than acetylation in platelets. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed extensive metabolic reprogramming involving complement activation, energy metabolism, and cellular detoxification processes. The identification of specific motif patterns provided mechanistic insights into the functional specificity of these modifications. Random forest machine learning identified 20 core regulatory proteins representing critical nodes in PSL development. Furthermore, we employed real - time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT - QPCR) to measure the expression levels of key genes related to platelet function and PTM - associated pathways. CONCLUSION: By mapping the interplay between proteomic abundance shifts and PTM dynamics, this study provides a multidimensional understanding of PSL, establishing a foundational framework for optimizing storage protocols and enhancing transfusion safety.

Blood Platelets

Artificial intelligence for anticancer drug discovery from natural products of macroalgae and sponges: A systematic review.

Marine natural products (MNPs) from macroalgae and marine sponges have inspired clinically important anticancer agents, including the cytarabine pharmacophore and the eribulin scaffold, while cyanobacterial dolastatin chemistry supplies the auristatin payloads of several marine-inspired antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as brentuximab vedotin. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods, encompassing both classical machine learning (ML) with hand-engineered features and modern deep learning (DL) with many-layered neural networks, are increasingly supporting key decisions in natural-product anticancer drug discovery, including bioactivity prediction, target identification, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) filtering, generative analogue design, and the selection of preclinical candidates. DL architectures relevant to this field include graph neural networks, transformer-based molecular generators, diffusion models for protein-ligand docking, and convolutional networks for mass spectrometry, while classical ML contributes interpretable fingerprint-based bioactivity models and molecular networking for dereplication. This review follows a systematic literature review methodology to organize the landscape of AI methods now applied to MNP anticancer discovery, distinguishing ML and DL approaches where relevant, situating them within the chemical context of macroalgal and sponge-derived oncology leads, and critically examining published case studies, including validation level (computational, in vitro, in vivo, clinical). The principal bottleneck for medical translation has shifted partly from algorithmic capability toward data infrastructure and experimental validation. Sparse, heterogeneous, and taxonomically biased bioactivity records limit what current models can learn and reduce the reliability of AI-prioritized candidates entering the preclinical pipeline. A roadmap is proposed that prioritizes open MNP-specific benchmarks, symbiont-aware modeling, and active learning loops with synthesizability and ADMET constraints. These AI workflows may accelerate the prioritization of marine-derived anticancer leads and support earlier, more evidence-based translational decisions in oncology drug development.

Biological Products

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Early Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Fluorouracil, Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide Followed by Docetaxel Versus an Anthracycline-Free Regimen With Docetaxel, Cyclophosphamide-Results From a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains an important side effect despite new antiemetic drugs. This study tried to understand the occurrence of CINV in patients receiving two different chemotherapy regimens. As part of the randomized controlled clinical trial SUCCESS C (NCT00847444), 1582 of the 3463 patients completed CINV diaries. Patients were randomized to receive either chemotherapy with FEC (5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel) or TC (docetaxel, cyclophosphamide). CINV was evaluated hourly using a specially designed questionnaire. Endpoints of the study were complete response (no emesis) and total control (no nausea and no emesis) and were assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analyses over three chemotherapy cycles. Eight hundred fourteen patients received FEC and 768 received TC; patients and tumor characteristics were similar in both groups. Patients receiving FEC had significantly more nausea and vomiting, with the main difference in the first 12&#x2009;h. In the first cycle, the 0-12-h nausea/emesis-free rates were 70%/41% for FEC and 91/76% for TC. By 24&#x2009;h after chemotherapy, the rates were 65%/33% (FEC) and 85%/60% (TC). The differences were similar in cycles 2 and 3. The detailed analysis of CINV in the study is unique and paves the way for modern CINV analysis of new therapeutics such as antibody-drug conjugates.

Adult

Reduced FOXP3 expression and its association with genetic ancestry in neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder: a Colombian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune disorders are characterized by impaired immune tolerance, largely mediated by CD4&#x207a; regulatory T cells (Tregs), whose function depends on the transcription factor FOXP3. OBJECTIVES: To compare FOXP3 expression levels between patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and healthy controls from Bogot&#xe1;, Colombia, and to explore their association with genetic ancestry. METHODS: FOXP3 expression was quantified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using RNA-based analysis. Genomic ancestry proportions were estimated using ancestry-informative markers. RESULTS: FOXP3 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in NMOSD patients compared with controls (&#x223c;2.4-fold decrease in median expression; p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.027). Lower FOXP3 mRNA expression was associated with optic neuritis (p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.0059), but not with historical or current AQP4-IgG seropositivity. In a sensitivity analysis restricted to patients with documented historical AQP4-IgG seropositivity, the direction of reduced FOXP3 mRNA expression was preserved but did not reach statistical significance. In pre-specified exploratory ancestry-related analyses, African (p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.035) and Amerindian ancestry (p&#x202f;=&#x202f;0.012) were associated with FOXP3 mRNA expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced FOXP3 mRNA expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) suggests an altered immune regulatory profile in NMOSD, potentially involving mechanisms beyond antibody-mediated immunity. The association between genetic ancestry and FOXP3 mRNA expression suggests that population-specific genetic background may influence immune regulatory pathways. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory and require validation in larger, clinically homogeneous cohorts.

Adolescent