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PubMed2026

Evaluation of Sexual Function With Adjunctive Lumateperone in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder.

Objective: Lumateperone is an atypical antipsychotic to treat schizophrenia, bipolar I or II depression, and major depressive disorder (MDD). Randomized phase 3 Study 502 (NCT05061706) investigated the impact of adjunctive lumateperone 42 mg/day on sexual functioning, per Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire 14-item version (CSFQ-14). Methods: Adults meeting DSM-5 criteria for MDD with inadequate response to 1-2 antidepressant therapies (ADTs) in the current depressive episode, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Total score ≥24, Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity score ≥4, and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report-16-item score ≥14 were randomized to 6-week lumateperone 42 mg+ADT or placebo+ADT. Sexual function was assessed by CSFQ-14 Total and domain scores in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population and subgroups. Results: Of 480 patients in the ITT population, 82.5% had sexual dysfunction at baseline (women=284; men=112). Lumateperone+ADT significantly improved CSFQ-14 Total score at Day 43 vs placebo+ADT (least squares mean difference [LSMD]=2.7; effect size [ES]=0.38; P<.0001). Significantly greater improvements were observed in patients with baseline sexual dysfunction (LSMD=3.1; ES=0.42; P<.0001), with no change in those without. Improvements were observed in women (LSMD=3.5; ES=0.47; P<.0001) and in men (LSMD=1.9; ES=0.33; P=.08). Significant improvements in CSFQ-14 Total score at Day 43 were observed across age groups and CSFQ domain scores, with both sexes having significant improvements in pleasure and arousal/ excitement. Improvements in depressive symptoms may be linked to improvement in sexual functioning. Conclusions: Adjunctive lumateperone 42 mg did not worsen sexual functioning and was not associated with treatment-related sexual dysfunction in patients with MDD with inadequate response to ADT. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05061706.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Characterizing Submental Neuromuscular Activity of Swallowing Rehabilitation: An Electromyographic Evaluation of Rehabilitative Maneuvers in Healthy Adults.

PURPOSE: The effortful swallow (ES), the Mendelsohn maneuver (MM), and isometric tongue presses (TPs) are widely used swallowing maneuvers/exercises to improve elements of swallowing, such as muscle strength and biomechanics. However, the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms of these exercises remain unclear, potentially limiting our ability to specify treatment targets and improve treatment efficacy. This study aimed to compare submental neuromuscular activation patterns during the ES, MM, TPs, and typical swallows in healthy young and older adults. METHOD: As part of a larger randomized crossover validation study, 60 healthy adults (30 young and 30 older) completed typical swallows and three maneuvers using a wearable submental surface electromyographic (sEMG) system (i-Phagia). Outcome variables included (a) normalized mean sEMG amplitude and (b) time to peak sEMG amplitude. Linear mixed models were used to examine effects of task, age, and sex on both outcomes. RESULTS: Normalized mean amplitude was significantly different across tasks. Post hoc pairwise comparisons confirmed that all three maneuvers produced higher normalized mean sEMG amplitude than typical swallows, with the ES eliciting the highest amplitude across age groups. Time to peak amplitude differed significantly across tasks, with typical swallows requiring the shortest time to reach peak amplitude, followed by the ES, MM, and TP. CONCLUSIONS: The ES required the highest neuromuscular effort with the shortest time to reach peak amplitude, suggesting its potential for targeting submental muscle power. Typical swallows required the least neuromuscular effort with the shortest time to reach peak amplitude, suggesting their potential for training submental muscle speed. The MM and TP may also improve submental muscle strength; however, given their temporal requirements (longer durations), they may be more beneficial for targeting coordination and endurance, though more research in this area is warranted. These findings underscore the importance of task-specific neuromuscular profiling to inform mechanism-based swallowing rehabilitation. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.32948549.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Evaluation of intravenous sedation in dental implant surgeries: A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intravenous sedation on patient-centered outcomes during implant and bone augmentation surgeries. METHOD: A prospective observational cohort study included 40 patients undergoing placement of ≥3 implants, with or without bone augmentation. Patients underwent surgery under either intravenous sedation (n = 20) or local anesthesia alone (n = 20), according to routine clinical decision-making and patient preference. The sedation group received intravenous sedation with a multimodal regimen comprising remimazolam, dexmedetomidine, alfentanil, and low-dose esketamine, whereas the control group received local anesthesia only. Patient-reported outcome measures, hemodynamic parameters (SBP, DBP, HR, SpO2), postoperative pain (0-10 scale), and OHRQoL (OHIP-14) were recorded from baseline through 7 days post-surgery. RESULTS: Intravenous sedation was associated with significantly lower intraoperative pain (0.5 [IQR: 0∼2.75] vs. 3.25 ± 2.40, p = 0.003), anxiety (1 [IQR: 0∼2.75] vs. 4 [IQR: 3∼6], p = 0.001), and experienced discomfort (2 [IQR: 1∼3.75] vs. 4.15 ± 2.16, p = 0.016), and shortened perceived treatment duration (2.90 ± 2.34 vs. 5 [IQR: 4∼5], p = 0.020). Early postoperative pain was lower in the sedation group from Days 1-4 (p = 0.003-0.010). Hemodynamic parameters were more stable under sedation, with lower SBP (116.42 ± 13.32 vs. 144.11 ± 17.42 mmHg, p < 0.001), DBP (73.21 ± 10.28 vs. 82.37 ± 11.03 mmHg, p = 0.012), and HR (71.00 [IQR: 62.50∼79.25] vs. 85.00 ± 10.72 bpm, p = 0.021). OHRQoL scores favored the sedation group in swallowing, diet, malaise, and daily activities, particularly during the first three postoperative days (p=0.006-0.040). CONCLUSION: Intravenous sedation may enhance the patient experience during implant and/or bone augmentation procedures by reducing intraoperative pain and anxiety, improving hemodynamic stability, and promoting better early-postoperative recovery and OHRQoL. These findings suggest that intravenous sedation provides a safe and effective alternative for implant dentistry surgery, particularly for anxious or pain-sensitive individuals.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

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

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

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Molecular mechanisms underlying umami taste perception: A DIA-based proteomic analysis of Agrocybe aegerita peptides.

The mechanisms underlying the modulation of the salivary perception of umami peptides remain poorly understood. Herein, three umami peptides (DDL, DEL, and ENG) obtained from Agrocybe aegerita were used to investigate the regulatory role of saliva in umami taste perception via a combined approach involving sensory evaluation and proteomics analysis based on 4D-DIA technology. The results revealed that umami intensity peaked at 10 s after ingestion and was accompanied by a significant increase in saliva secretion (p < 0.05). Further proteomics analysis revealed that lactotransferrin and proline-rich proteins are closely associated with the sensory perception of umami peptides. Differentially expressed proteins were mainly enriched in pathways related to saliva secretion and proteasome function. This study provides new insights from the perspectives of salivary proteomics and dynamic salivary secretion, contributing to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which saliva regulates umami perception.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Evaluation of pilocarpine effects on sweat proteome.

BACKGROUND: Sweat is increasingly recognized as a valuable, non-invasive biofluid for biomarker discovery, yet its composition depends on the stimulation method. This study aimed to determine how pharmacological induction with pilocarpine compares to physiologically induced sweat through exercise in shaping the sweat proteome. RESULTS: We analyzed thermoregulatory sweat from exercise, pilocarpine-induced sweat, and combined pilocarpine plus exercise sweat. Total protein concentrations were similar across conditions, but pilocarpine markedly increased proteomic diversity, with combined pilocarpine plus exercise sweat showing the highest number of identifications. The core sweat proteome remained stable, while pilocarpine selectively enriched low-abundance proteins involved in vesicular trafficking, cytoskeletal remodelling, and metabolism. Proteins linked to the canonical M3-Gq-PLC-Ca2+ pathway, including AQP5, CALML5, and CLIC1, were consistently enriched, confirming cholinergic activation. Pilocarpine-induced sweat also contained plasma-derived and immune-related proteins, reflecting enhanced secretion and reduced ductal reabsorption. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise yields a physiologically relevant but less complex proteome, pilocarpine-induced sweat produces a pharmacologically enriched yet biased profile, and combined pilocarpine plus exercise sweat maximizes protein detection at the expense of interpretability. These findings highlight the critical impact of stimulation paradigm on sweat proteomics and provide a reference framework for biomarker research. SIGNIFICANCE: This study employed LC-MS/MS to systematically characterize eccrine sweat and delineate how stimulation paradigms-exercise, pilocarpine, and their combination-shape its proteomic landscape. By demonstrating that pharmacological induction profoundly alters protein diversity and composition compared to physiologically induced sweat, these findings establish a critical benchmark for sweat-based biomarker research and highlight the need for paradigm-aware sampling strategies in clinical and translational contexts. Nonetheless, several methodological constraints warrant consideration: the limited sample size (five individuals per group), the exclusive inclusion of women under combined oral contraceptive treatment (21 active pills followed by 7 pill-free days), which restricts extrapolation to naturally cycling women, and the focus on healthy young adults (18-25 years), limiting generalizability to older or clinically heterogeneous populations. Despite these limitations, this work provides a foundational framework for optimizing sweat collection protocols and advancing precision approaches in non-invasive diagnostics.

Pilocarpine↗

PubMed2026

Comparative Evaluation of Virtual Reality versus Standard Nursing Care in Managing Pain and Fear during Lumbar Puncture Procedures: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Meningitis is a serious infectious disease that can cause significant morbidity and long-term neurological problems. Although a lumbar puncture is a necessary diagnostic procedure, it is often accompanied by discomfort, anxiety, and fear, which can severely impact the patient's experience. Although there is few data on its application prior to lumbar puncture in adult patients with meningitis, immersive virtual reality (VR) has become a promising non-pharmacological technique for lowering procedural distress. Thus, among individuals undergoing lumbar punctures, this randomized controlled research assessed how well pre-procedural VR reduced pain, anxiety, and fear while enhancing patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) in reducing pain and fear among adults undergoing lumbar puncture (LP) compared with standard care protocol. METHODS: A randomised clinical trial was conducted from May to October 2025, using a single-blind, true experimental design. A total of 85 patients were randomly assigned to either the VR intervention group ( n = 41) or the control group receiving standard care ( n = 44). Pain levels were assessed using a visual analogue scale. Fear was assessed using the Multidimensional Fear-of-Injection Scale. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. RESULTS: According to the study, the findings revealed a significant reduction in pain levels among the study group following the VR intervention, with mean pain scores dropping from 7.54 ± 1.925 to 2.49 ± 0.675. In contrast, the control group showed increased pain intensity, with mean scores rising from 6.84 ± 1.842 to 8.36 ± 1.348. The VR group showed a significant reduction in fear scores across all domains, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Direct fear decreased from 20.12 ± 1.71 to 9.44 ± 2.00, indirect fear from 17.24 ± 1.46 to 8.66 ± 2.24, physiological response improved from 0.34 ± 0.66 to 3.00 ± 1.00 and avoidance behaviour decreased from 16.71 ± 1.49 to 7.80 ± 1.85. CONCLUSIONS: The research shows that the use of VR prior to LP significantly reduces level of pain and fear compared to standard care. These results support VR as a non-pharmacological intervention for fear and pain to improve patient experience during invasive procedures. In contrast, the control group experienced no improvement.Trial Registration: The IRCT code for the trial was IRCT ID 20250803066743N1.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Evaluating the utility of melatonin in spine surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Spine surgery is increasingly performed worldwide, and acute postoperative stressors such as pain and anxiety remain highly prevalent despite historical management with opioids and other pharmacological agents. Recently, interest has emerged in melatonin administration given its endogenous physiological roles, low cost, favorable adverse event profile, and documented benefits throughout surgical literature. PURPOSE: This study aims to consolidate the existing evidence on melatonin's utility specifically in spine surgery, an area not yet comprehensively evaluated, to inform clinical practice and enhance spine surgeon comprehension. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Preregistered on PROSPERO, this systematic review queried PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science on November 21st, 2025, for studies reporting outcomes following melatonin administration in patients undergoing spine surgery. METHODS: Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool. Extracted variables included demographics, comparator medications, dosages, and other relevant details. Statistical analyses included frequency-weighted means (FWMs), associated standard deviations, narrative syntheses, and limited meta-analyses, where appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 6 moderate-quality randomized trials were included from 749 screened. Melatonin (3-10 mg) was administered to 227 patients (FWM age=43.3±8.6 years; 46.2% male; BMI=26.6±3.2 kg/m2), placebo to 125 patients (age=43.2±10.1 years; 60% male; BMI=28.5±4.3 kg/m2), and active pharmacologic comparators (fentanyl, gabapentin, dexmedetomidine, zolpidem) to 151 patients (age=46.6±8.9 years; 40.5% male; BMI=26.3±3.5 kg/m2). Procedures primarily involved uncomplicated lumbar laminectomies (1-4 levels), with outcomes assessed up to 24 hours postoperatively. Melatonin was associated with significant improvements in early postoperative VAS-pain scores, blood-pressure-related, analgesic-related, and anxiety-related outcomes versus placebo across most reporting studies. Compared with active pharmacologic agents, significant benefits were observed only in select nausea- and anxiety-related instances. Limited meta-analysis (n=2) demonstrated higher 24-hour VAS-pain for melatonin versus gabapentin, though mean difference was near-negligible and harbored extensive statistical constraints. CONCLUSION: Melatonin demonstrates variable utility following spine surgery, with generally consistent anxiolysis and frequent benefit versus placebo but less consistent and comparatively weaker efficacy relative to active pharmacologic comparators. Future outcome-homogenous studies incorporating more granular, expansive comparator arms and more robust quantitative analyses are needed to further elucidate melatonin's role in advancing spine care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pre-clinical evaluation of the anticaries effect of an experimental Malva sylvestris extract mouthwash using a cariogenic model in situ.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and anticariogenic potential of Malva sylvestris extract on enamel and dentin in situ. METHODS: A double-blind crossover in situ study was conducted with 12 participants wearing palatal appliances containing two bovine enamel and two dentin specimens per 3 phases, a total of 72 enamel and dentin specimens. Biofilm formation and daily sucrose exposure were allowed. Treatments were applied twice daily in three phases: Malva sylvestris (2.5%, MS); fluoride (225 ppm, F); and placebo (P). After seven days, biofilm was collected from the bovine specimens for analysis of Lactobacillus spp. and mutans streptococci by Colony Forming Unit counts (CFU log₁₀/mL). Dental demineralization of the bovine specimens was assessed by transverse microradiography (TMR). RESULTS: MS did not reduce Lactobacillus spp. counts (CFU log₁₀/mL: enamel 6.63±0.81; dentin 6.68±0.92) compared to P (6.63±0.70; 6.62±0.51). F also did not differ (6.29±0.75; 6.32±0.41; ANOVA/Tukey, p>0.38). Mutans streptococci data were inconclusive. In enamel, both MS (2320.8±768.2 %vol·µm; 101.6±27.0 µm) and F (1777.3±733.3 %vol·µm; 95.8±23.5 µm) significantly reduced integrated mineral loss and lesion depth compared to P (3517.2±1119.9 %vol·µm; 138.6±19.5 µm; ANOVA/Tukey, p≤0.0003). In dentin, MS significantly reduced integrated mineral loss (322.5 [250-580] %vol·µm) and lesion depth (30.1 [15-42.2] µm) compared to P (880 [580-1705]; 58.3 [32.2-88.6] µm; Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn, p≤0.001), while F (587.5 [305-720]; 25.2 [16.5-38.8] µm) did not differ significantly (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Malva sylvestris extract had no antimicrobial effect on Lactobacillus spp. counts, but significantly reduced enamel and dentin demineralization, showing anticaries effect comparable to fluoride. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Malva sylvestris has demonstrated promising biological activity. This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of Malva sylvestris against cariogenic microorganisms in situ. Our findings provide relevant evidence that M. sylvestris exert significant anticaries effects using an in situ model.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2026

Ethiopia missed opportunities for vaccination study: Cluster-randomized evaluation of 5-dose measles vaccine vials and a flexible open-vial policy, 2021-2022.

INTRODUCTION: In 2024, an estimated 95,000 people died from measles globally, largely from suboptimal coverage with the measles-containing vaccine (MCV). Health workers may defer vaccinating eligible children to avoid wasting doses from 10-dose MCV vials, which must be discarded six hours after opening. These missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) reduce coverage and timeliness. Ethiopia, which provides MCV at 9 and 15 months, considered switching to 5-dose vials. METHODS: We conducted a 15-month, randomized controlled trial with a nested cross-sectional design in Ethiopia. Sixty woredas were randomized to: (1) policy-only, instructing health workers to open 10-dose vials for any number of eligible children, with additional stock for increased wastage; (2) 5-dose switch, combining this policy with replacement of 10-dose by 5-dose vials; or (3) control (routine 10-dose practice). Household and health-facility surveys at baseline and endline assessed effects on first-dose (MCV1) and second-dose (MCV2) coverage, MCV1 timeliness, and wastage. Generalized estimating equation models estimated net intervention effects versus control. We also estimated the government cost of a nationwide 5-dose switch. RESULTS: MCV1 coverage was similar between policy-only and control (adjusted risk difference [ARD] = -1%, 95%CI: -17%, 15%), with no significant differences in MCV1 timeliness or MCV2 coverage. In the 5-dose switch group, MCV1 coverage changed little (ARD = 1%, 95%CI: -17%, 18%), but timely MCV1 at 9 months (ARD = 18%, 95%CI: 7%, 28%) and MCV2 coverage (ARD = 17%, 95%CI: 1%, 34%) rose significantly, and wastage fell (ARD = -7%, 95%CI: -14%, -1%). By endline, 29% of 5-dose health workers opened vials ≥10 times monthly (none in control); caregivers in both intervention groups reported 11% fewer measles-related MOVs. A nationwide 5-dose switch was estimated to save 17% in procurement cost per fully vaccinated (two-dose) child. CONCLUSIONS: The combined 5-dose intervention improved MCV1 timeliness and MCV2 coverage and reduced wastage, addressing a key operational barrier and potentially supporting measles elimination in Ethiopia.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Peptide molecular lock-engineered nanobodies enable an oriented dual-modal immunoassay for reliable detection of Cronobacter sakazakii.

Conventional nanobody ELISAs for trace Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula suffer from random orientation and low signal output. We developed an oriented dual-modal immunoassay that combines site-specific biotinylation via a C-terminal AviTag and a peptide molecular lock, enabling controlled surface orientation while preserving nanobody structural integrity. This strategy was further integrated with phage-displayed nanobodies for multivalent amplification and both fluorescent and colorimetric readouts. The assay exhibited a broad linear range of 103-106 CFU/mL, with limits of detection (LODs) of 6.70 × 102 CFU/mL for fluorescence and 1.55 × 103 CFU/mL for colorimetry, showing improved sensitivity compared with the conventional passive adsorption-based Nb-ELISA evaluated in this study. XGBoost-based multimodal fusion improved quantitative accuracy, and SHAP analysis elucidated modality contributions. In spiked powdered infant formula samples, recoveries ranged from 92.1% to 118% with coefficients of variation below 5.98%, confirming acceptable matrix tolerance and analytical reliability.

Cronobacter sakazakii↗

PubMed2026

Recovery of polysaccharides from marc and pomace through sequential extractions assisted by ultrasound, enzymes and acid maceration.

This study evaluated the pilot-scale recovery of polysaccharides from Vitis vinifera pomace/marc using sequential extraction strategies combining high-power ultrasound (UAE), enzymes (EAE), and acid maceration (AAE). Laboratory-scale trials identified optimal conditions for enzyme dosage and liquid/solid ratio (L/S). Pilot-scale trials demonstrated that the extraction sequence and the processing byproducts influenced extraction efficiency, total soluble polysaccharide in the extract (TSP), and polysaccharide composition. Post-maceration at pH 3.2, with/without the maximum enzyme dose after UAE in a L/S of 1.3/1, improved structural polysaccharide extraction from Viura pomace, while Tempranillo marc showed better recovery of pectic families and TSP with UAE + EAE. Separating grape pomace extract (UAE) from the post-maceration stage at pH 3.2 produced two extracts: E1, with higher yield (19.9%), enriched in structural polysaccharides and oligosaccharides, and E2, enriched in high and medium molecular weight pectic polysaccharides (58.03%), a low degree of esterification (17.1%) and more complex rhamnogalacturan structures.

Polysaccharides↗

PubMed2025

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness of Family Navigation for Low-income Ethnoracially Diverse Preschoolers with Developmental Concern.

OBJECTIVE: To assess for feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of an ethnoracially-matched family navigation intervention aimed at reducing barriers to developmental evaluations for preschoolers with developmental concern attending Head Start. METHODS: Fifty-eight parents of Head Start preschoolers who were identified as at risk for developmental delay were assigned using stratified block random sampling to the family navigation intervention (n = 28) and 30 controls (usual care). Key outcomes included the percentage of children who completed the planned intervention visits, satisfaction with the intervention, and the proportion of children guided by family navigators who completed developmental evaluations. RESULTS: Of the 28 families, 21 parents completed the family navigation intervention visits. The intervention sample was diverse, including 57% Black, 24% White, and 19% Latino(a) parents. Ninety percent of Head Start educators (n = 18) and 100% of healthcare providers (n = 6) were satisfied with the intervention. Parents qualitatively reported that they valued the advocacy support from the family navigators and navigators (n = 7) valued their role in "giving back." Sixty-six percent of the intervention group were seen by a healthcare provider to discuss developmental concerns showing preliminary effectiveness for completion of healthcare evaluations. However, there was no significant difference between those in the intervention and control group completing Head Start recommended evaluations, and over half of all participants were not referred for educational evaluations. CONCLUSION: Results support the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of an ethnoracially matched family navigation intervention to reduce barriers to developmental healthcare evaluations for preschoolers at risk for developmental delays. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03499405; Date of Registration: April 9, 2018.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

ZrO₂@C-based colorimetric/photothermal dual-mode immunosensor coupled with a novel monoclonal antibody for quantification of Aspergillus ochraceus biomass.

Aspergillus ochraceus contaminates agricultural products and produces nephrotoxic, carcinogenic ochratoxin A (OTA), posing severe food safety hazards. A dual-signal lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (dLFIA) based on ZrO₂@C nanoprobes was established for quantitative detection of A. ochraceus biomass. A novel monoclonal antibody (mAb 4B4) was prepared as the capture antibody to immobilize A. ochraceus mycelial lysate antigen on the test line, and a rabbit polyclonal antibody (pAb G2801) as the detection antibody to modify ZrO₂@C composites (synthesized via UiO-66 pyrolysis) into 200 nm colorimetric/photothermal nanoprobes. This dLFIA achieved limits of detection of 0.164 μg/mL (colorimetric) and 0.517 μg/mL (photothermal). This efficient and reliable method allows quantitative analysis of A. ochraceus biomass, which is suitable for routine monitoring of fungal contamination in agro-food matrices.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2026

A Meta-learning-driven strategy for adulteration detection in sweet potato starch and vermicelli using Raman spectroscopy.

To address the widespread adulteration of sweet potato starch and its vermicelli with cheaper starches and overcome conventional supervised learning's dependency on large labeled datasets, this study developed a few-shot discrimination method integrating Raman spectroscopy with meta-learning. We constructed a meta-learning framework using cassava- and wheat-adulterated sweet potato starch as the source domain for training, with potato-adulterated sweet potato starch and cassava-adulterated sweet potato vermicelli as two target domains for testing. Raman spectra showed high consistency between sweet potato vermicelli and its raw starch, laying the foundation for cross-domain detection. Testing yielded comprehensive classification accuracies of 95.33% and 98.00% for the two target domains, significantly outperforming SVM, RF, and CNN (max. 85.24%). This approach effectively identifies subtle starch variety differences in complex adulteration, providing novel food quality inspection solutions and verifying the feasibility of raw material-to-finished product cross-domain detection.

Ipomoea batatas↗

PubMed2026

Assessment and CommuniCation ExcelLEnce foR sAfe paTient outcomEs (ACCELERATE): A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial evaluating the effectiveness of a nurse-led assessment and handover communication intervention on patient adverse events.

BACKGROUND: Patients continue to experience harm from undetected deterioration, falls and pressure injuries. We aimed to implement and evaluate an organisational, ward-level nurse-led assessment and communication intervention to proactively reduce patient adverse events. METHODS: A stepped-wedge cluster randomised Trial over 12-months was conducted at three metropolitan hospitals. Our intervention comprised a comprehensive, systematic patient assessment at shift commencement; a structured patient-centred bedside nurse-to-nurse clinical handover; and multidisciplinary communication consisting of nurse participation in medical ward rounds. Evidence-based implementation strategies informed intervention delivery to nine clusters (20-35 bed-wards with ≥70% permanent nurses) over three sequential 14-week steps. Routinely collected patient-level data were used to measure intervention effect. The primary outcome was a composite measure of medical emergency team calls, unplanned intensive care unit admissions, in-hospital falls; and stage 2-4 pressure injuries. Secondary outcomes were: individual measures of the primary outcome; nurse-reported perceptions of safety culture; organisational readiness to change; barriers to physical assessment; staff engagement; and patient-reported experience measures of safety and overall hospital experience. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, hospital, pre/post intervention, and Trial step (fortnight), with random effects for ward and patient. RESULTS: There were 13,753 eligible admissions. No change was observed in the primary composite outcome measure (odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.99 [0.77, 1.28]; p = 0.95). There was no significant difference in medical emergency team calls (OR [95% CI]: 1.02 [0.75, 1.39]; p = 0.91); unplanned intensive care unit admissions (OR [95% CI]: 1.35 [0.57, 3.20]; p = 0.50) and falls (OR [95% CI]: 1.53 [0.96, 2.45]; p = 0.07). However, stage 2-4 pressure injuries significantly decreased by 41% (OR [95% CI]: 0.59 [0.38, 0.93]; p = 0.02); a significant absolute effect improvement of 0.8% ([95% CI: 0.3%-1.3%], p < 0.01). There were statistically significant improvements in nurses' overall perceptions of Safety Attitudes (Pre: 74.6, Post: 79.7; p = 0.02), and the Organisational Readiness to Change subscales of, leader culture (Pre: 3.73, Post 3.91; p = 0.02), leadership behaviour (Pre: 3.85, Post: 4.11; p = 0.03), and general resources (Pre: 3.06, Post: 3.30; p = 0.03). A statistically significant decrease in Barriers to Physical Assessment (Pre: 2.48, Post: 2.24; p <0.001) and in six of seven sub-scales was observed. Patients' overall Measure of Safety remained high, but unchanged (Pre: 3.94 Post: 3.92; p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: The ACCELERATE Trial demonstrated that nurse-driven initiatives, emphasising structured physical assessments by nurses, patient-centred clinical handovers, and multidisciplinary communication, significantly: reduced pressure injuries; decreased nurses' perceived barriers to performing physical assessments; and improved leadership behaviour, communication, and ward safety culture perceptions. Results highlight the transformative potential of this approach, which now warrants testing at scale for broader implementation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ID: ACTRN12621000265875.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Interfacial engineering of cobalt tungstate-halloysite nanotube nanocomposite for electrochemical detection of synthetic vanillin in food matrices.

In processed foods and medicine, synthetic vanillin is widely used, although excessive intake poses toxicological risks. Due to the rising usage of synthetic vanillin in food products and associated health hazards, quick, sensitive, and reliable analytical methods are needed to precisely measure vanillin in complex food matrices. This work introduces a CoWO4@F-HNT/GCE nanocomposite as an efficient electrocatalytic modifier for glassy carbon electrodes aimed at trace-level synthetic vanillin detection. Structural and microscopic analyses confirmed phase-pure monoclinic CoWO4, preservation of the tubular aluminosilicate framework, and homogeneous nanoparticle anchoring on F-HNT. Differential pulse voltammetry provided a broad linear range from 0.01 to 372.14 μM and a low detection limit of 4.3 nM, together with excellent selectivity against common interferents, good cycling stability, and high inter-electrode reproducibility. These characteristics position the CoWO4@F-HNT-modified electrode as a cost-effective and reliable platform for on-site quality control of synthetic vanillin in complex food matrices.

Benzaldehydes↗

PubMed2026

Morphology-engineered NiFe@C nanocages boosting electrochemical quantification of ractopamine in meat samples.

It is essential to acquire efficient electrocatalysts to develop ractopamine (RAC) electrochemical sensors. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of carbon coated NiFe alloy nanostructures (e.g., NiFe@C nanoparticles, nanocubes and nanocages) using NiFe Prussian blue analogue (PBA) as the precursor. The NiFe@C nanocages exhibited the best electrocatalytic performance for RAC sensing. This is attributed to the embedded NiFe alloy nanoparticles that provide abundant active sites, and the unique nanocage structure facilitates electron transfer pathways while offering a high specific surface area. The resulting sensor achieves a low detection limit (LOD) of 54 nM (S/N = 3) within a linear range of 0.2-12 μM. Moreover, the sensor demonstrates good reproducibility, stability, and excellent long-term stability. Practical applicability was confirmed in meat samples, yielding satisfactory recovery rates ranging from 98% to 108%. A feasible strategy was introduced herein for rational design of metal@carbon electrocatalysts.

Phenethylamines↗