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Impact of PerioperAtive LidocAine Infusions on Enhanced Recovery After Noncardiac Surgery (IMPALA-ERAS) in an inpatient setting: rationale, design and protocol for a sequential, repeated crossover trial.

INTRODUCTION: Multimodal analgesic strategies designed to minimise perioperative opioid exposure are fundamental components of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways. Despite widespread implementation of ERAS protocols, the optimal analgesic regimen remains undefined, as the individual contributions of specific agents to overall analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effects are not fully elucidated. Intravenous lidocaine, a widely utilised local anaesthetic, possesses both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with improved gastrointestinal recovery. This study seeks to pragmatically evaluate the impact of incorporating perioperative intravenous lidocaine infusion into established ERAS pathways on postoperative functional recovery. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Impact of PerioperAtive LidocAine Infusions (IMPALA) on ERAS trial is a single-centre, pragmatic, cluster-randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. A total of 2290 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery, emergency general surgery, urology, ventral hernia repair, surgical oncology or spine surgery will be randomly assigned to receive either intraoperative and postoperative intravenous lidocaine infusions (administered for up to 48 hours) or placebo as part of a standardised multimodal analgesic regimen integrated into established ERAS pathways. The primary outcome is case mix index-adjusted resource length of stay, defined as the time interval from surgical initiation to hospital discharge adjusted for case mix index. The primary outcome is total inpatient opioid consumption within the first 72 hours, reported in oral morphine milligram equivalents. Secondary outcomes include various in-hospital clinical endpoints derived from the electronic health record. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol and accompanying statistical analysis plan outline the study design, primary and secondary endpoints and analytic methodology. The IMPALA-ERAS trial has received ethical approval from the Vanderbilt University Institutional Review Board (IRB: 250617). The findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national conferences. Results from this trial are expected to inform evidence-based practices regarding perioperative lidocaine infusion and its potential contributions to enhanced postoperative recovery in surgical patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT07224711.

Humans

Nurse-led attribution remodeling training based on the Neuman systems model to enhance resilience, adaptive coping, and attributional style in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Psychological interventions for patients with breast cancer often overlook the critical role of maladaptive attributional style in shaping their adjustment. Therefore, the need for theory-driven, scalable interventions that target cognitive restructuring, particularly during the vulnerable post-diagnosis period, is clear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led attribution remodeling training intervention grounded in the Neuman systems model for improving resilience, adaptive coping, and attributional style among women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary general hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 130 eligible women newly diagnosed with breast cancer were recruited between March and November 2024. METHODS: A two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either attribution remodeling training plus routine nursing (n = 65) or routine nursing only (n = 65). The nurse-led attribution remodeling training intervention, delivered via a blended model of in-person sessions and continued support through the WeChat mobile platform, was designed to systematically reshape maladaptive attributions into more adaptive ones. Resilience (primary indicator), coping strategy (i.e., confrontation, avoidance, resignation), and attributional style (secondary indicators) were assessed at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-baseline. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the effects of group, time, and group-by-time interactions. Effect sizes (Cohen's D) were calculated based on the means and standard deviations. RESULTS: At the 6-month follow-up, the intervention group had better outcomes than the control group in terms of resilience (mean difference: 1.49, 95% confidence interval: 0.37, 2.61), confrontation coping (3.35 [2.33, 4.37]), and adaptive attributional style (4.16 [3.87, 4.45]). Avoidance coping showed a small increase (0.82 [0.22, 1.42]), whereas resignation coping decreased (-1.66 [-2.49, -0.83]). Group effects and group-by-time interactions were statistically significant for all outcomes. Effect sizes at 6 months ranged from small for resilience (D = 0.28) and avoidance coping (D = 0.26) to moderate for confrontation coping (D = 0.60) and resignation coping reduction (D = -0.51), and large for attributional style (D = 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Attribution remodeling training is a promising and effective theory-based intervention that can enhance psychological adaptation in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. By strengthening key defense mechanisms, as conceptualized by the Neuman systems model, the program is effective, scalable, and nurse-deliverable for psycho-oncology care, bridging a critical gap in supportive cancer care and empowering nurses as primary psychological support providers. REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000031827, registered prospectively on April 11, 2020, www.Chictr.or.cn.

Humans

Cost-Effectiveness of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Interventions in Cancer: Systematic Review and Parameter Extraction for Economic Modeling.

BACKGROUND: Complex digital interventions that integrate electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROM) into clinical practice in cancer have the potential to improve quality of life, increase survival, and reduce health resource use and costs. Such systems can help patients with cancer self-manage chemotherapy symptoms, reduce clinicians' workloads through automated decision support, and resolve problems earlier. However, more research on the cost-effectiveness of ePROM monitoring is needed. OBJECTIVE: This paper comprises two complementary components: (1) a systematic literature review summarizing and evaluating the quantitative and qualitative evidence related to the cost-effectiveness of ePROM monitoring and (2) a health economic model parameter extraction. We also conducted supplementary targeted searches and scoping to provide context to our findings. METHODS: We searched Ovid (including MEDLINE and Embase), Scopus, and the International Health Technology Assessment Database for original English-language papers published on or before March 2025 using search strings that combined terms related to ePROMs, health economics, and cancer/oncology. We included papers reporting health economic-related outcomes for ePROM interventions designed for adult cancer populations and excluded screening tools and conference abstracts. RESULTS: We included 34 publications from 27 unique studies and identified and analyzed 26 ePROM-integrated interventions within these. Most (23/26) of the included interventions explicitly described some form of alert handling and automated decision support based on remote ePROM monitoring. Of the 34 publications, 5 presented full cost-effectiveness analysis results, of which 3 were highly uncertain and lacked clear differences in costs and health outcomes between ePROMs and standard care; conversely, 2 presented strong evidence of cost-effectiveness due to quality-of-life improvements, reduced hospitalizations, and potentially more autonomy in health-related travel (eg, ePROM-monitored patients can drive or walk to the hospital instead of using taxis or ambulances). A further 5 publications reported partial health economic results (eg, cost-consequence and budget impact), of which 1 detected no difference in strategies; in contrast, 4 reported lower health resource use and costs of ePROMs, mainly due to hospitalization reductions. Overall, 12 of the 27 studies included a qualitative component but mostly focused on user experience and design-related themes; only 2 of these addressed economic-specific themes (eg, changes in workflow and resource use due to ePROM implementation and integration), indicating some potential for time saving due to ePROM monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: Some ePROM-integrated interventions demonstrated cost-effectiveness in cancer care, but the evidence base remains limited. Where evidence does exist, cost-effectiveness appears driven by reduced hospitalization and improved quality of life. Qualitative research within the included studies rarely addressed economic questions. We provide a detailed parameter extraction for use in future economic modeling and recommend research priorities, including quantitative mapping of ePROM symptom data onto health resource use patterns, and qualitative work exploring how ePROM implementation affects clinical workloads and patient-perspective costs.

Humans

Feasibility and effectiveness of the Bergen 4-Day Treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in Australia: A pilot comparison with 3-week inpatient obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a debilitating and chronic condition that, when untreated or unresponsive to treatment, imposes a significant health and economic burden on individuals and families. This prospective non-randomised inpatient study compared the acceptability and clinical outcomes of the Bergen 4-Day Treatment programme with those of a standard 3-week specialised treatment programme for obsessive-compulsive disorder in Australia. METHOD: Twenty-five participants diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder were non-randomly assigned to Bergen 4-Day Treatment (n = 12) or a 3-week standard (n = 13) inpatient programme. Independent assessments were completed at pre-treatment, 10 days post treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was rated to assess obsessive-compulsive disorder severity, while secondary measures of depression, anxiety, obsessive beliefs and wellbeing were self-rated by participants. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of both groups were comparable, with obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity within the moderate to severe range. After treatment, obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms as well as secondary depression and anxiety symptoms were reduced in both treatment groups. Participants receiving Bergen 4-Day Treatment had significantly lower Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores at 10 days (M = 13.46) and 3 months (M = 11.84), compared to standard treatment (M = 19.04 and M = 19.15, respectively). Response (91.9%) and remission (45.8%) rates for the Bergen 4-Day Treatment group were significantly higher at both post-treatment timepoints, compared to the standard treatment group. No dropouts occurred in the Bergen 4-Day Treatment group, and participant satisfaction was high. CONCLUSION: The findings of this pilot open-label study suggest that Bergen 4-Day Treatment shows promise as an acceptable, efficient and effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, warranting further investigation as a scalable alternative for improving access to specialised obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment in Australia.

Humans

Efficacy of targeted neuromodulation treatments: a clinical report.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral neuropathy is a debilitating condition characterized by chronic pain, numbness, tingling, burning, and tightness/swelling. Conventional therapies often focus on symptom management, and some patients experience chronic and refractory symptoms. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective clinical analysis evaluated the clinical outcomes of neuromodulation neuropathy treatment using the NeuroGen-Series device in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) or idiopathic peripheral neuropathy (IPN). 9,805 unique patients who underwent 133,741 treatments between 18 August 2017, and 23 July 2024, were analyzed. Patients were divided into treatment completers (&#x2265;24 sessions) and noncompleters (<24 sessions). Paired t-tests confirmed statistically significant reductions in pre- and post-treatment symptom scores (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). RESULTS: Among completers, symptom severity decreased by an average of 46.2%. Tingling and pain showed the greatest improvement, while tightness/swelling and numbness showed the least reduction. 64% of patients reported improvement after one session, and 84% reported improvement after 24 sessions. Nonresponders accounted for 5.8% of patients overall. Younger patients and those with higher initial symptom severity were more likely to discontinue treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, neuromodulation treatment resulted in statistically significant reductions in symptom severity, though nonresponders and high attrition rate highlight the need for individualized treatment strategies and further investigation.

Humans

Association of Baloxavir Treatment Timing with Serial Interval and Household Transmission of Influenza through a Likelihood-Based Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Baloxavir treatment is associated with reduced influenza transmission within households, and the serial interval varies by treatment status. However, it remains unclear how baloxavir-induced changes in the serial interval relate to household transmission. We aimed to quantify the model-based association between baloxavir treatment timing and the serial interval and household transmission risk. METHODS: We conducted a household survey of influenza cases in Japan between October 2018 and February 2019. We defined the likelihood-based model integrating the serial interval distribution by treatment status and the secondary attack rate (SAR) using individual-level data from index cases. Using this model, we estimated the reduction in the serial interval associated with baloxavir treatment. RESULTS: Compared with untreated index cases, baloxavir-treated cases were estimated to have a serial interval density reduced by 21.42% following treatment. Treatment within 24 hours was associated with a 0.1685 reduction in the area under the curve, with smaller reductions as treatment was delayed. Earlier treatment was associated with a shorter, more concentrated distribution, whereas treatment 72 hours after onset resembled untreated cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight that baloxavir treatment is associated with a shorter serial interval and lower estimated secondary household transmission risk. We provide model-based estimates suggesting that earlier administration is associated with a greater reduction in serial interval density and estimated transmission risk, which may inform public health strategies for infection control.

Influenza

Assessing the Concurrent Validity of the Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile in a Methamphetamine Dependent Treatment-Seeking Population.

INTRODUCTION: The Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile (ATOP) is a brief clinical tool assessing substance use, health and well-being used in Australian alcohol and other drug treatment services. It is validated for use with clients using alcohol, opioids and cannabis, but not yet for clients who primarily use methamphetamine. METHODS: An embedded validation study was undertaken in treatment-seeking adults enrolled in a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of lisdexamfetamine for methamphetamine dependence with sites in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Participant demographics were collected during study screening. The ATOP and comparators (Time Line Follow Back, Opiate Treatment Index, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, WHOQOL-BREF and Personal Wellbeing Index) were collected at baseline. Continuous ATOP items were analysed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and dichotomous items were analysed using Fleiss's &#x3ba;. Agreement was rated as strong where measures were &#x2265;&#x2009;0.50, moderate where agreement was 0.30-0.49, and weak where <&#x2009;0.30. RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen study participants (2018-2020) had data for concurrent validity analysis. Strong validity was demonstrated for physical health, psychological health, quality of life, injecting drug use and crime items, and for days of use for amphetamines, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine. There was weak validity for days of use for benzodiazepines. Heroin use days and other opioid use days were endorsed by fewer than five participants and were therefore unable to be assessed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The ATOP is valid for use in a treatment-seeking methamphetamine-dependent population, expanding the range of tools for assessment and standardised outcome monitoring across different settings and services.

Humans

Comparison of a 755-nm picosecond laser and a 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser for the treatment of atrophic acne scars: a 20-week prospective, randomized, split-face clinical study.

To compare the efficacy and safety of a 755-nm picosecond laser with a diffractive lens array (P-DLA) and a 1565-nm nonablative fractional laser (NAFL) for the treatment of atrophic acne scars. Twenty-seven patients with atrophic acne scars underwent three sessions of randomized split-face treatment with P-DLA and NAFL at 4-week intervals. Patients were followed up at 1, 2, and 3 months after the final treatment. Efficacy was assessed using the &#xc9;chelle d'&#xc9;valuation Clinique des Cicatrices d'Acn&#xe9; (ECCA) grading scale, the Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score, patients' self-rated improvement, and overall satisfaction. Treatment-related adverse reactions were recorded daily by patients until resolution. Both modalities demonstrated significant improvements in scar appearance based on ECCA score, IGA score, and patients' self-rated improvement (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). No statistically significant differences in efficacy were observed between the two treatments. However, the P-DLA group showed higher patient satisfaction (P&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.035) and a more favorable safety profile, including shorter durations of erythema and edema and the absence of crusting. Both P-DLA and NAFL were effective and safe for the treatment of atrophic acne scars, with similar efficacy. P-DLA offered better tolerability.

Humans

Mindfulness and Sex Education for Sexual Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Survivors: Mediators and Moderators of Treatment Outcome.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and supportive-expressive sex education therapy (STEP) are effective group treatments for sexual dysfunction after breast cancer (BrCa). We explored mediators and moderators of outcomes following the 8-week groups. BrCa survivors (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;116, mean age&#x2009;=&#x2009;49.9&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;9.5) were randomized to group and completed measures before, immediately after, and 6&#x2009;months after treatment. Mediators assessed were changes in depression, chronic pain acceptance, pain catastrophizing, and trait mindfulness. Potential moderators included age, treatment expectations, baseline mental health, cancer treatment duration, use of chemotherapy, and adjuvant endocrine therapy. Longitudinal mediation and moderation were assessed using linear mixed models. Increases in pain acceptance mediated improvements in sexual desire and reductions in both sexual distress and vaginal pain. Decreases in pain catastrophizing mediated improvements in sexual distress. Higher expectations for treatment led to greater reductions in sexual distress. Those with low baseline anxiety showed greater improvements in desire and distress. Low baseline depression predicted greater improvements in desire, but only in the STEP arm. Older STEP participants improved significantly more than younger STEP participants. Cancer-related treatment variables, and the impact of adjuvant endocrine therapy, had differential effects on outcomes based on the treatment arm of the study. In conclusion, treatments aimed at improving pain acceptance and pain catastrophizing are likely to promote improvements in sexual health among BrCa survivors, and factoring in patients' expectations about treatment improvements, depression and anxiety, age, duration of cancer treatment, chemotherapy, and adjuvant hormonal therapy may help to guide treatment recommendations for sexual dysfunction.

Humans

"It was good because they have a relationship with us": A qualitative study on low-threshold buprenorphine treatment at syringe services programs.

INTRODUCTION: Syringe service programs (SSPs) reach people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder (OUD) and are novel "low-threshold" venues to initiate buprenorphine treatment. The study investigated patients' experiences with SSP-initiated buprenorphine treatment, which could aid in improving buprenorphine treatment delivery at SSPs. METHODS: The study included 12 participants who completed qualitative exit interviews after a randomized controlled trial of buprenorphine treatment at SSPs. In the parent study, participants received buprenorphine treatment through an onsite model at an SSP or enhanced referral to a community health center based on the randomization sequence. Most participants started taking buprenorphine at home. Exit interviews included participants from both study arms, and the semi-structured interview guide focused on their experiences with clinicians, experiences initiating buprenorphine, prior experiences with OUD treatment, and perceptions about continuing buprenorphine treatment. Four researchers iteratively read, coded, and discussed each transcript, then they derived recurring themes using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants were mostly male, middle-aged, and 50% identified as Latino. Four main themes related to buprenorphine treatment initiation: 1) Onsite treatment facilitated buprenorphine prescription, but some participants also expressed a need for additional support; 2) Precipitated withdrawal complicated participants' buprenorphine initiation in both arms; 3) Participants largely experienced the SSPs as affirming and welcoming; and 4) Developing strong relationships with healthcare providers was critical to successful buprenorphine treatment initiation. CONCLUSIONS: The SSP-based model provided rapid access to buprenorphine prescriptions, but precipitated withdrawal was a common complication. Some participants desired additional support and guidance when they started taking buprenorphine at home. The findings point to a "low-threshold, high-touch" approach where participants receive expedited access to buprenorphine providers at SSPs but also additional support throughout the initiation process to avoid and/or manage precipitated withdrawal. Despite some challenges, SSP-based buprenorphine treatment was highly valued by study participants.

Humans

Effectiveness and moderators of PE and CPT in adult PTSD treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition that challenges mental health services worldwide. Effective psychological interventions are crucial for treatment, among which Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) are prominent. Comparative analyses of these treatments, considering moderators such as patient demographics and treatment specifics, are necessary to tailor interventions effectively.Objective: This meta-analysis synthesised findings from 175 treatment arms across 163 studies to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of PE and CPT for PTSD. Effect sizes were calculated as Hedges' g for between-group (treatment vs. control) and within-group (pre-post) comparisons.Results: Using a random-effects model, the overall pooled effect size was large (Hedges' g&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.67, 95% CI [1.56, 1.79]), suggesting substantial treatment-related symptom improvement. Multivariate meta-regression revealed, across the full sample, none of the main effects or interactions was significant. A sensitivity analysis excluding 10 influential outliers reduced the overall effect size (g&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.55), indicating that PE was associated with larger effects than CPT among non-military samples, and larger effects were observed in studies with a higher proportion of female participants, military samples, and samples with lower proportions of sexual trauma. Treatment-by-sample-characteristic interactions were not significant in the trimmed model.Conclusions: Findings suggest that PE and CPT produce large effects in reducing PTSD symptoms, with some variation across treatment type and sample characteristics. Results underscore the importance of examining contextual moderators such as treatment setting and population type and highlight the need for transparent reporting of key sample features to improve future meta-analytic precision.

Humans

Symptoms and treatment response to florensocatib and inhaled tobramycin in bronchiectasis: Post hoc analysis of two randomized trials.

Inhaled antibiotics and DPP-1 inhibitors improve clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis, but whether baseline symptom burden predicts differential treatment responses remains unclear. In this post hoc analysis of two multicenter randomized trials (SAVE-BE, n = 224; TORNASOL, n = 357), we evaluate the association between baseline Quality of Life-Bronchiectasis Respiratory Symptom Scale (QoL-B-RSS) and treatment effects of florensocatib and inhaled tobramycin. In SAVE-BE, florensocatib reduces exacerbation rates versus placebo (relative risk [RR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.67; p < 0.0001), with RRs of 0.53 and 0.40 observed in patients with high and low symptom burdens, respectively, but no significant symptomatic improvement. In TORNASOL, tobramycin produces clinically meaningful QoL-B-RSS improvements (exceeding the 8-point cutoff in high-symptom patients) and ameliorates bronchitic symptoms, with greater benefits in those with higher baseline symptom burden. These hypothesis-generating findings suggest that baseline symptom burden may identify differential responses to anti-inflammatory versus anti-infective therapies in bronchiectasis and support its potential as a simple, practical stratification tool to guide personalized treatment.

Humans

Relationships among mechanisms in psychosocial treatments for chronic pain: mechanism to mechanism lagged effects and relationships with outcomes.

Results suggest that psychosocial treatments for chronic pain work via several mechanisms, and that they often do so to similar degrees and in similar ways. Extant research, however, has focused on individual and/or independent effects of mechanisms on outcomes. Whether successful outcomes are also partly because of sequential and meaningful relationships among and between mechanisms-mechanism-to-mechanism effects-has not been examined. Secondary analyses were conducted of an RCT that compared cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and behavior therapy to treatment as usual in a sample (N = 521) of people with chronic low back pain. Results of hierarchical linear modeling revealed that (1) Treatment Condition &#xd7; Mechanism interactions predicting changes in other mechanisms were nonsignificant; (2) lagged prior session mechanism changes predicted next session changes in another mechanism; (3) lagged relationships between pain catastrophizing and pain self-efficacy were reciprocal, whereas links between lagged pain catastrophizing and mindfulness changes and lagged pain catastrophizing changes and behavioral activation changes were unidirectional; and (4) individual differences in the strengths of mechanism-to-mechanism relationships predicted pre- to post-treatment changes in outcomes. Results reveal heretofore hidden therapeutic processes that cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and behavior therapy may share. Namely, that mechanism-to-mechanism lagged effects do indeed emerge beyond mechanism-to-outcome effects. Findings show not only that mechanisms may change in definable sequences relative to each other but that individual differences in the strengths of mechanism-to-mechanism relationships may themselves be predictive of outcomes.

Humans

New Horizons in the Development of Treatments for Substance Use Disorders.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major public health problem in the United States and cause substantial morbidity and mortality. There are meaningful gaps in the available SUD treatment options, and the development of new therapies is urgently needed. While medications with U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval are available for alcohol, nicotine, and opioid use disorders, there are no approved pharmacotherapies for cannabis, cocaine, or methamphetamine use disorders. Behavioral treatments for SUDs have significant limitations in effectiveness and accessibility, and there is a need for the development of both new behavioral treatment options and new models of treatment delivery. The next generation of treatments for SUDs will likely come from a diverse set of interventions, including new drug classes, new technologies, and new methods of delivery.

Humans

Mitomycin C in the Endoscopic Treatment of Airway Stenosis: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of adjuvant MMC in the endoscopic treatment of airway stenoses. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases. REVIEW METHODS: A literature search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The PICOS tool was used to determine the eligibility criteria for this study. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for stenosis resolution, the rate of patients requiring multiple endoscopic procedures, and the rate of patients requiring other surgical treatments. RESULTS: A total number of 358 patients (median age: 48.0&#x2009;years; 95% CI 44.8-50.8) were included. The median follow-up was 25.2&#x2009;months (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;244/358; 95% CI 15.4-38.3). Overall, the cumulative stenosis resolution rate was 76.37% (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;187/254; 95% CI 59.72-89.64), the rate of patients requiring multiple endoscopic procedures was 52.33% (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;131/260; 95% CI 32.03-72.25), and the rate of patients requiring other surgical treatments was 4.08% (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;26/310; 95% CI 0.37-11.48). The median intervention-free interval was 366&#x2009;days (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;155/358; 95% CI 270-696). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not allow definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of adjuvant MMC in reducing recurrence or prolonging intervention-free intervals in airway stenosis. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of MMC and to inform evidence-based guidelines for patient selection and treatment use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Humans

Perceptions of Pharmacogenomic Testing Among People With Treatment Resistant Depression: Legitimization as a Facilitator of Acceptance.

Pharmacogenomic testing for psychiatric medications has been proposed as both an early intervention to optimize treatment response, and for use among patients who have tried multiple medications without symptom remission. Therefore, this testing may be particularly salient to the subset of individuals with major depressive disorder for whom depression has been labeled as "treatment resistant". Understanding the impact of this diagnostic label on illness identity and attitudes towards new therapies is important as genomic technology expands and rates of depression increase. We sought to explore perceptions and attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing among individuals who had received a diagnosis of treatment resistant depression. We conducted a qualitative study with a constructivist orientation. Participants were recruited from a larger genomic research study and interviewed by phone or video call. We took an inductive approach to coding guided by reflexive thematic analysis. Themes were then organized into a relational framework following principles of interpretive description. Twelve individuals were interviewed. Key themes included internalized acceptance/hopelessness, and external validation/frustration, which were cyclically interconnected. These themes were situated within a larger framework illustrating the ways that illness identity and modifying factors such as relief of guilt, social support, pharmacogenomic testing and depressive symptoms can either facilitate acceptance and validation or contribute to feelings of hopelessness and frustration. Though participants expressed some skepticism around its effectiveness, pharmacogenomic testing may contribute to the shift towards acceptance and validation by legitimizing individuals' experiences with lack of treatment response. Genetic counselors and other healthcare providers should be aware of the complex balance between hope and frustration underlying conversations around pharmacogenomic testing, and factors that are more likely to foster self-acceptance.

Humans

Effectiveness of a digi-physical tool and working method for paediatric obesity treatment in Abu Dhabi: a non-inferiority intervention study using an external historical comparator.

BACKGROUND: Effective paediatric obesity treatment requires high intensity, scalable interventions. A digi-physical tool for paediatric obesity treatment has shown positive results in Stockholm, Sweden. This study evaluates whether the same treatment method is effective in a different cultural setting. METHODS: This non-inferiority intervention study, using an external historical comparator, included 60 consecutively recruited children aged 6-15.9 years with obesity who initiated treatment at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi between June and December 2023. Patients were treated with Evira, a digi-physical tool and working method enabling high intensity individualized care, real-time monitoring, and interactive patient-clinician communication. The primary outcome was BMI z-score change at 26 weeks. Non-inferiority was assessed using a predefined margin of 0.10 BMI z-score, with outcomes compared to a prior published trial in Stockholm (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;107). RESULTS: A total of 112 children were included in the analysis (Abu Dhabi cohort, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;35; Stockholm cohort, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;77). The adjusted mean change in BMI z-score was -&#x2009;0.20 (95% CI: -&#x2009;0.28, -&#x2009;0.12) in the Abu Dhabi cohort and -&#x2009;0.20 (- 0.26, -&#x2009;0.14) in the Stockholm cohort (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.88). Non-inferiority was confirmed, (predefined margin 0.10 was not exceeded). A clinically significant BMI z-score reduction (&#x2265;&#x2009;0.20 units) was achieved by 45.7% of participants in Abu Dhabi and 36.4% in Stockholm (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.35). Non-retention rates at 26 weeks were 41.7% vs. 28.0%, respectively (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide promising evidence that treatment outcomes achieved with the digi-physical treatment tool were comparable in the Abu Dhabi and Stockholm cohorts, supporting its feasibility in a second cultural and healthcare setting.

Humans

Timing of aneurysm repair and clinical outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) causes substantial morbidity and mortality, and guidelines recommend aneurysm repair as early as feasible. However, the association between onset-to-treatment time and outcomes remains uncertain. This review synthesized evidence across multiple clinical outcomes and examined whether treatment modality modifies this association. METHODS: Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and LILACS for studies comparing clinical outcomes across different onset-to-treatment windows in adults with confirmed aSAH. Findings were synthesized narratively according to the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guideline. The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261415084). RESULTS: Twenty reports comprising 11,096 participant records were included, with likely overlap between two reports. Treatment categories ranged from <6&#xa0;h to &#x2265;15&#xa0;days. Earlier securement likely reduced pretreatment rebleeding, particularly when untreated or markedly delayed patients were included, although treated-cohort comparisons were inconsistent. More methodologically informative adjusted analyses showed no reproducible independent association between treatment timing and functional outcome or mortality. No consistent association emerged for vasospasm or related cerebral ischemia, hydrocephalus, or length of stay. Two observational studies modeled time continuously: one found a significant U-shaped mortality association with an estimated nadir at 32.6&#xa0;h, whereas the other showed a similar but non-significant adjusted pattern with an estimated nadir near 12.16&#xa0;h. These findings are highly susceptible to confounding by indication and survivor bias and do not establish benefit from treatment delay. Three studies formally tested modality-timing interaction; one found a significant mortality interaction and two did not. Additional stratified analyses showed no consistent modality-specific pattern. Certainty of evidence for the timing-mortality association was very low because of serious risk of bias, inconsistency, and imprecision. CONCLUSION: Earlier aneurysm securement remains supported for preventing pretreatment rebleeding. The independent association of treatment timing with mortality or functional outcome remains uncertain. The observed mortality patterns are hypothesis-generating and do not define a validated therapeutic window, support intentional treatment delay, or justify changing current guideline recommendations. Prospective multicenter studies using continuous-time modeling and rigorous methods to address confounding and survivor bias are needed.

Humans