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PubMed2026

Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement in Pediatric Health Research: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) can increase the relevance and efficiency of research projects. An overview of PPIE approaches and implementation in pediatric research studies is needed to facilitate learning from others' experiences. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically review practices in PPIE across all pediatric health research disciplines regarding characteristics and recruitment of PPIE participants, timepoints and methods used for PPIE, levels of involvement, benefits and barriers of PPIE. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane and PsycInfo using a comprehensive set of terms based on the concepts 'Patient and Public Involvement,' 'Health Research' and 'Pediatrics.' INCLUSION CRITERIA: We included original research articles describing PPIE implementation in pediatric health research published in English or German between 01/2003-10/2024. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data was extracted using predefined categories and synthesized by narrative summary and thematic synthesis. PPIE reporting quality was assessed using the GRIPP2 short form checklist. MAIN RESULTS: Out of 1910 references, we included 37 original research articles, representing 35 studies. PPIE participants were mostly children, adolescents or caregivers involved in all research stages, especially in study design (89%) and recruitment (51%). Key positive impacts of PPIE on research included enhanced recruitment and retention rates and personal benefits for PPIE participants. Barriers to PPIE were financial and time resources required and challenges in recruiting representative PPIE participants. The level of involvement and PPIE reporting quality varied highly between studies. DISCUSSION: Common benefits and barriers of PPIE exist across pediatric research disciplines. Reporting quality varied highly between studies. CONCLUSIONS: PPIE is valuable in pediatric health research. Adherence to guidelines for conducting and reporting PPIE is important to enhance mutual learning. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: PPIE input contributed to the understandability of the lay summary. The findings of this review, together with parent and public input, will inform guidelines for future PPIE activities at the authors' institutions.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Pembrolizumab-Chemotherapy Versus Pembrolizumab in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A PD-L1 CPS-Stratified Analysis of Updated KEYNOTE-048 Data.

Based on KEYNOTE-048, pembrolizumab monotherapy and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy are established category 1 first-line treatments for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 1. We compared their efficacy using updated trial data. We analyzed 4-year progression-free survival on next-line therapy (PFS2) and 5-year overall survival (OS) data from KEYNOTE-048 by reconstructing time-to-event data using KMSubtraction. Efficacy was compared in CPS 1-19 and CPS ≥ 20 subgroups using Kaplan-Meier estimates, Cox models, restricted mean survival time (RMST), and landmark analyses. Among 499 patients with CPS ≥ 1, 240 (48.1%) had CPS 1-19 and 259 (51.9%) had CPS ≥ 20. In the CPS 1-19 subgroup, pembrolizumab-chemotherapy showed numerically longer median PFS2 (10.1 vs. 8.0 months; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62-1.06) and OS (12.8 vs. 10.8 months; HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.67-1.15) versus monotherapy, without statistical significance. For CPS ≥ 20 patients, efficacy was comparable between regimens, with similar median PFS2 (11.3 vs. 11.7 months; HR: 0.95) and OS (14.7 vs. 14.9 months; HR: 0.96). RMST and landmark analyses showed an early PFS2 benefit and a trend toward OS benefit with pembrolizumab-chemotherapy in CPS 1-19, with comparable outcomes in CPS ≥ 20. Pembrolizumab-chemotherapy showed a trend toward improved outcomes in the CPS 1-19 subgroup, with comparable efficacy in the CPS ≥ 20 subgroup, supporting a refined first-line strategy: monotherapy for CPS ≥ 20 to minimize toxicity, and combination therapy for CPS 1-19 to potentially enhance disease control.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Providing Feedback on Previous Pain Scores Did Not Affect Weekly Pain Variability: A Cohort-Nested Randomised Study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and repeated symptom monitoring is increasingly used to capture its fluctuating nature. However, repeated pain assessments may be influenced by prior responses, potentially affecting longitudinal patterns of pain reporting. This study examined whether providing feedback on prior pain scores influenced within-person variability in weekly pain intensity ratings and retention over 60 weeks. METHODS: This randomised study evaluating a methodological feature of repeated pain assessment was embedded within a cohort of adults with spinal pain referred to an outpatient hospital clinic. Participants (n = 2448) were randomised 1:1 to weekly pain intensity ratings (0-10 numerical rating scale) either with feedback ('You answered [X] last week') or without feedback. Analyses included participants with ≥ 40% valid responses (n = 1883), of whom 948 received feedback and 935 did not. The primary outcome was within-person variability in pain intensity, quantified using the root mean square of successive differences. Secondary outcomes included additional fluctuation metrics and the number of weeks with missing responses. RESULTS: No meaningful between-group differences were observed for the primary outcome (mean difference -0.04 points [95% confidence interval -0.08 to 0.01]) or secondary outcomes, including retention rates. Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent findings. CONCLUSIONS: Providing participants with feedback on their previous pain score did not meaningfully influence within-person pain variability or retention during 60 weeks of weekly monitoring. These findings aid the interpretation of repeated longitudinal pain assessments by showing that the observed variability was robust to this specific study design. SIGNIFICANCE: This randomised study showed that providing participants with feedback on prior pain scores did not meaningfully alter weekly pain variability or retention during 60 weeks of longitudinal monitoring. These findings contribute to the interpretation of repeated longitudinal pain assessments in spinal pain research and suggest that weekly pain reporting patterns are robust to prior-pain feedback during long-term symptom monitoring.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Obesity-Related Coagulation Activation in Adolescents and Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

UNLABELLED: Obesity is recognized as a pro-thrombotic condition, yet the extent of coagulation activation across biomarkers remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluates the impact of obesity on parameters-D-dimer, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), factor VIII (FVIII), and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP)-in children and adults. METHODS: Sixty-four studies comprising 59,503 individuals were analyzed. Plasma biomarker levels were compared between non-obese and obese groups using standardized mean differences (SMDs), with subgroup analyses. RESULTS: D-dimer was significantly elevated in adults with obesity (SMD 1.36, 95% CI 0.47-2.25, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003) and children with obesity (SMD 0.77, 95% CI 0.19-1.36, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.009), indicating increased fibrin turnover. Fibrinogen levels were markedly higher in both adults (SMD 1.17, 95% CI 0.14-2.20, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.03) and children (SMD 1.43, 95% CI 0.93-1.92, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). PAI-1 showed the most pronounced increase in adults (SMD 2.30, 95% CI 0.1.51-3.09, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001) and children (SMD 3.54, 95% CI 1.65-5.43, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0002). FVIII levels were modestly elevated (SMD 0.52, 95% CI 0.10-0.94, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.02), whereas vWF levels showed inconsistent changes. ETP was significantly higher in obesity, in children (SMD 1.06, 95% CI 0.24-1.88, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.01) and adults (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.46-0.97, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). Gender-stratified data indicated higher PAI-1, fibrinogen, and ETP levels in females. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with increased coagulation activation, suggesting a pro-thrombotic shift. These findings support the need for age- and gender-specific research into obesity-related hemostatic alterations.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Penpulimab and Gemcitabine With or Without Anlotinib in Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Phase 2 Study.

This prospective exploratory phase 2 study employed a three-cohort, two-phase design to evaluate the potential of anlotinib as a substitute for cisplatin in gemcitabine-penpulimab combinations for metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients who were previously treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy. Patients enrolled in the study were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio during the lead-in phase to one of three treatment arms: gemcitabine, cisplatin, penpulimab, and anlotinib (GP-PA, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;8); gemcitabine, cisplatin, and penpulimab (GP-P, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;6); or gemcitabine, penpulimab, and anlotinib (GAP, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;6). The expansion phase enriched the optimal cohort, with stratification based on PD-L1 expression. The primary endpoints were safety and objective response rate (ORR), while the secondary endpoints included duration of response, disease control&#xa0;rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). In the lead-in phase, grade &#x2265;&#x2009;3 treatment-emergent&#xa0;adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 87.5% (GP-PA), 100% (GP-P), and 66.7% (GAP) patients, predominantly hematologic toxicities. ORR/DCR were 62.5%/87.5% (GP-PA), 83.3%/100% (GP-P), and 100%/100% (GAP). At median 20.2-month follow-up, median PFS/OS were 4.1/18.4&#x2009;months for GP-PA and not reached for GP-P/GAP. In the expansion phase, a total of 14 patients&#xa0;received GAP, with an ORR of 93.3% and grade &#x2265;&#x2009;3 TEAEs in 71.4% of patients. At data cut-off point, the median PFS had not been reached, and the 12-month PFS and OS rates were 53.8% and 78.6%, respectively. The GAP regimen demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile, compared to the GP-PA and GP-P regimens in patients with metastatic NPC. These findings suggest that substituting cisplatin with anlotinib may offer a viable therapeutic strategy for this patient population.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Clinical Performance of Bulk-Fill Versus Incremental Composite Placement Approaches in Vital Posterior Teeth: A 24&#x2009;Months Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Composite resin placement technique may influence marginal integrity, polymerization stress distribution, and long-term clinical performance of posterior restorations. This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the 24-month clinical performance of four different placement techniques in Class I posterior composite restorations. METHODS: Fifty patients aged 20-35&#x2009;years presenting with four occlusal carious lesions each were enrolled, resulting in 200 restorations. Cavities (4-5&#x2009;mm depth) were prepared according to caries extension. Restorations were randomly allocated into four equal groups (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;50) according to placement technique: stamp technique, snowplow technique, modified incremental "pizza" technique, and bulk-fill technique. All materials were applied following manufacturers' instructions. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline and after 6, 12, and 24&#x2009;months using FDI criteria. Functional (fracture/retention, marginal adaptation), esthetic (marginal staining, anatomical form), and biological (postoperative sensitivity, secondary caries) properties were assessed by two calibrated evaluators. Statistical analysis was performed at a significance level of &#x3b1;&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.05. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with a total of 152 restorations were evaluated at the end of the 24&#x2009;months in line with FDI at the end of the study with 76% recall rates. No statistically significant differences were observed among groups regarding fracture/retention or secondary caries (p&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05). Marginal adaptation and marginal staining demonstrated minor deterioration over time across all groups, with statistically significant intergroup differences found (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Postoperative sensitivity was minimal and transient in all groups with no significant difference (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.181). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this 24-month follow-up, the four placement techniques demonstrated comparable clinical performance in Class I posterior composite restorations. Selection of technique may therefore be guided by clinical preference and procedural efficiency rather than differences in short-term clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07415317.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

F-URS with FANS versus mPCNL for 2-3&#x2009;cm UUTS: a RCT with a subgroup analysis of 2-2.5&#x2009;cm stones.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy (f-URS) with a flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) compared with mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) in the treatment of 2-3&#x2009;cm upper urinary tract stones (UUTS), with a prespecified subgroup analysis for stones &#x2265;2 to <2.5&#x2009;cm. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 326 patients with 2-3&#x2009;cm UUTS between June 2023 and December 2025. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either f-URS with FANS or mPCNL. A prespecified subgroup analysis was conducted for stones measuring &#x2265;2 to <2.5&#x2009;cm. The primary outcomes were the immediate and 1-month stone-free rate (SFR). Secondary outcomes included the operative duration, decrease in haemoglobin, hospital stay, and complication rate. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. In the overall 2-3&#x2009;cm cohort, the FANS group achieved immediate and 1-month SFRs comparable to those of the mPCNL group. Although the operative time was longer in the FANS group, it was associated with significantly less haemoglobin loss and a shorter hospital stay, with no significant difference in infection-related complications. Notably, in the subgroup of stones &#x2265;2 to <2.5&#x2009;cm, the FANS group demonstrated a non-inferior SFR at both time points, and the operative time was not significantly longer than that of the mPCNL group. CONCLUSION: For 2-3&#x2009;cm UUTS, f-URS with FANS offers a SFR comparable to that of mPCNL, along with the advantages of reduced blood loss and shorter hospitalization. In the &#x2265;2 to <2.5&#x2009;cm subgroup, FANS shows comprehensive benefits over mPCNL. These findings support FANS as an effective alternative to mPCNL for 2-3&#x2009;cm stones and a potentially preferred option for stones measuring 2-2.5&#x2009;cm.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Vaginal Hysterectomy Versus Vaginal Assisted Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Hysterectomy; Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare Vaginal Hysterectomy (VH) with Vaginal Assisted Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) hysterectomy (VANH) as a day-care procedure. DESIGN: Single-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Two Dutch non-academic teaching hospitals. POPULATION: Women aged &#x2265;&#x2009;18&#x2009;years undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications. METHODS: Women were randomised 1:2 (VH or VANH). Primary outcome was SDD. Secondary outcomes included operative time, rate of elective salpingectomies, intraoperative blood loss, complications (Clavien-Dindo), pain scores (NRS) and analgesic use, post-operative recovery (RI-10), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients were included in the analyses (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;42 VH, and n&#x2009;=&#x2009;71 VANH). SDD occurred significantly more frequently in the VANH group (87.3%) than VH group (71.4%; OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.04-7.25; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.04). VANH was associated with a significantly shorter operative time (median 55&#x2009;min versus 65&#x2009;min; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.005), less blood loss (median 50&#x2009;mL vs. 150&#x2009;mL; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and more often elective opportunistic salpingectomy compared to VH (100% vs. 77.4%; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.008). NRS were significantly lower in the VANH group the first hour post-operative (3 vs. 1, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Post-operative complications (VH 9.5% vs. VANH 15.5%; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.34), readmission (VH 4.8% vs. VANH 8.5%; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.47), analgesic use, recovery, and quality of life were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: VANH is a safe and effective alternative to VH, offering a higher likelihood of SDD, shorter operative time, reduced blood loss, and more often an elective salpingectomy, without increased complications or differences in pain, recovery, or quality of life.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Comparison of Traditional Chinese Exercise and Equipment-Based Exercise on Glycaemic Control and Vitamin D Levels in Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients With Prediabetes: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes is a critical window for preventing progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Both vitamin D deficiency and physical inactivity are associated with impaired glucose metabolism. This study compared the effects of Traditional Chinese Exercise (TCE) and Kuanle Equipment Exercise (KEE) on glycaemic measures, lipid profiles, body composition and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] in middle-aged and elderly adults with prediabetes. METHODS: We conducted a 12-week, single-centre, randomised controlled trial involving 62 participants with prediabetes (mean age 55.2&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;8.4&#x2009;years; 88.7% female). Participants were randomly assigned to control (usual care, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;21), TCE (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;20), or KEE (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;21). Primary outcomes included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h OGTT glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum 25(OH)D3. Secondary outcomes comprised triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and body composition. RESULTS: At baseline, mean serum 25(OH)D3 was 21.53&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;3.90&#x2009;nmol/L. At 12&#x2009;weeks, both TCE and KEE improved FPG, 2-h OGTT glucose, HbA1c and 25(OH)D3 versus control (all p&#x2009;&#x2264;&#x2009;0.001). Relative changes in FPG were -9.4% (TCE) and -15.2% (KEE) versus -1.5% (control); corresponding changes were -14.6% and -21.2% for 2-h OGTT glucose, -6.7% and -12.9% for HbA1c, and +60.6% and +81.9% for 25(OH)D3. Direct TCE-KEE comparisons were not significant (all p&#x2009;>&#x2009;0.05). In an exploratory analysis, change in 25(OH)D3 was inversely associated with change in 2-h OGTT glucose (partial r&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.358, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.006), but not with FPG, HbA1c, or triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: Both TCE and KEE improved glycaemic outcomes and increased serum 25(OH)D3 compared with usual care in middle-aged and elderly adults with prediabetes. Although KEE produced numerically larger estimates, direct between-group comparisons were not significant, and the superiority of KEE over TCE was not established. These vitamin D findings require confirmation in trials that quantify sunlight exposure and dietary vitamin D intake.

Aged↗
PubMed2026

Prenatal exome sequencing of fetuses with central nervous system anomalies based on prenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis: A retrospective cohort study with a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Fetal central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities have diverse etiologies, with genetic factors as a major contributor. Prenatal exome sequencing (ES) is a powerful tool for precise molecular diagnosis of CNS anomalies, but its diagnostic yield varies among studies. This study aimed to evaluate the additional diagnostic yield of prenatal ES compared with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in fetuses with CNS anomalies detected by prenatal imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We collected ES results from fetuses diagnosed with CNS anomalies by prenatal imaging (2019-2024) who had negative results. Subgroup analyses assessed phenotype-specific ES diagnostic yield for associated genes and variants. A systematic review and meta-analysis incorporating our data and published studies further explored the association between phenotype and diagnostic yield. RESULTS: In the cohort study of 219 cases, ES identified pathogenic/likely pathogenic single nucleotide variations in 36 cases (16%). The highest diagnostic yield of ES was in cases with multisystem malformations (25%, 14/55), followed by multiple CNS anomalies (15%, 2/13) and isolated CNS anomalies (13%, 20/151). The most commonly identified isolated CNS anomaly was agenesis of the corpus callosum (31%, 5/16). Neural tube defects with urogenital anomalies were associated with a positive ES finding in 57% (4/7) of cases. The meta-analysis of 989 cases from 22 studies showed a pooled diagnostic yield of ES of 27% (95% CI, 21%-34%). The highest diagnostic yield of ES was in cases of corpus callosum anomalies with facial abnormalities (75%, 8/11) and neural tube defects with urogenital malformations (80%, 12/15). The diagnostic yield of ES for three or more CNS abnormalities was 43% (95% CI, 31%-58%), significantly higher than that for only two abnormalities (10%, 95% CI, 4%-18%). No significant difference in diagnostic yield was found between cases identified by prenatal MRI combined with ultrasound (27%, 95% CI, 20%-36%) and those identified by ultrasound alone (25%, 95% CI, 17%-35%). CONCLUSIONS: ES provided a significantly higher diagnostic yield than CMA for fetal CNS abnormalities, with diagnostic yields varying by phenotype. The systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that the complexity and combination of malformations are key factors associated with differences in ES diagnostic yield.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Associations of Illness Perception, Resignation Coping, and Social Support With Self-Regulatory Fatigue in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIMS: To examine the associations among illness perception, resignation coping, social support, and self-regulatory fatigue (SRF) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study specifically explores whether resignation coping and social support exhibit indirect associations with SRF in the context of illness perception. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: From November 2024 to October 2025, a convenience sample of 302 adult patients with T2DM was recruited from a tertiary general hospital in China. Participants completed validated instruments with established psychometric properties, namely the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Self-Regulatory Fatigue Scale. Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation and serial mediation analysis using the PROCESS Macro (Model 6) with bias-corrected bootstrapping. RESULTS: SRF was positively correlated with negative illness perception (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.579, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01) and resignation coping (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.612, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01), and negatively correlated with social support (r&#x2009;=&#x2009;-0.598, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01). Serial mediation analysis revealed that illness perception was associated with SRF through indirect pathways involving resignation coping and social support. Resignation coping and social support mediated the association between illness perception and self-regulatory fatigue, both individually and sequentially. CONCLUSIONS: Negative illness perception correlates with higher SRF. This observed correlation is additionally linked to indirect pathways involving resignation coping and lower social support. Collectively, these findings highlight a pattern of interrelated cognitive (illness perception), behavioural (resignation coping), and resource (social support) factors that are associated with self-regulatory fatigue in this cross-sectional study. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: The findings offer a clear, evidence-based framework for nursing practice. They highlight the potential value of integrated assessment and intervention that simultaneously addresses patients' illness beliefs, maladaptive coping strategies, and social support systems, which are associated with lower SRF and better diabetes self-management. REPORTING METHOD: This study adheres to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines for cross-sectional studies. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients participated solely as research participants by providing survey data. They were not involved in the study design, implementation, data analysis, interpretation, or manuscript preparation. All patients provided written informed consent prior to questionnaire completion.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Orchard netting impacts on biodiversity leading to cascading effects at the ecosystem level.

Agriculture must ensure food production without further compromising the ecosystem functions upon which it depends. Agricultural practices should therefore avoid harming farmland biodiversity, especially of taxa that supply the key ecosystem services (e.g. pollination, pest control and nutrient uptake) that ultimately support crop production. Orchards are among the largest permanent plantations worldwide and are increasingly characterised by the spread of plastic nets used to protect fruits/nuts from either abiotic (anti-hail, anti-rain, shade nets) or biotic (exclusion nets) hazards. Despite having received little attention to date, these nets may impact natural communities, acting both as physical barriers and as drivers of habitat changes to which biota must respond. Species-level responses to netting depend on the organism's ability to enter the netted environment and successfully exploit available resources. Net-mediated ecological filtering and plastic behavioural responses may alter species interactions, leading to cascading ecological impacts that may create species-poorer 'netted communities' with simplified ecological networks. Such changes may erode biological control potential, other ecosystem functions, and overall system stability. We conducted a systematic review on the effects of protection nets on biota, and reported novel empirical evidence on anti-hail nets' impacts on communities of orchard-dwelling birds, flower-visiting insects, and rodents. In total, we identified 48 studies from the literature, however this literature was strongly biased towards apple orchards, western countries, and pest taxa. Net deployment was highly effective in deterring target pest species, in some cases regardless of their original function, as even weather-protection nets limited pest populations. Side effects on non-target taxa were also often reported, such as decreases in pollinators and natural enemies, and/or increases in secondary pests or microbial diseases. However, most assessments largely disregarded non-pest taxa and the broader ecological consequences of netting. The few studies that addressed the effects of nets at the guild/community level, including our empirical study, confirmed that orchard netting resulted in species-poor assemblages, with possible ecosystem-level consequences. We propose that future assessments should pay more attention to the indirect effects of netting on non-target taxa, and on the supply of crop-supporting ecosystem services mediated by wild species occurring in agroecosystems. Due to the trade-offs between these services and net-mediated crop protection, integrated alternatives should be tested to improve the environmental sustainability of food production and biodiversity conservation in farmed landscapes.

Biodiversity↗
PubMed2026

Phase IIB, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Intravenous Defibrotide for the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Distress and Cytokine Release Syndrome in COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Endothelial dysfunction is key in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This randomized, double-blind phase IIb trial investigated continuous intravenous infusion of defibrotide in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection and respiratory failure. METHODS: One-hundred and fifty patients were randomized (2:1) to defibrotide or placebo, stratified by disease severity (WHO COVID-19 severity scale 4/5 vs. 6). The primary endpoint was clinical improvement time (days from first improvement through Day 30). RESULTS: Median clinical improvement time was not significantly different with defibrotide versus placebo (15.0 [IQR: 0-24] vs. 20.0 [IQR: 9-25] days; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.10). Day-30 (23.0% vs. 22.0%) and Day-60 (26.0% vs. 22.0%) mortality, reduction in mean fraction of inspired oxygen during treatment, and median duration of hospitalization did not differ with defibrotide versus placebo. Defibrotide demonstrated favorable safety, with no differences versus placebo in serious adverse events (34.0% vs. 36.0%), hypotension (16.0% vs. 12.0%), or hemorrhage (13.0% vs. 8.0%). Exploratory pre-specified biomarker analyses showed greater early d-dimer reduction and lymphocyte recovery with defibrotide, although these results require validation. CONCLUSION: Continuous intravenous infusion of defibrotide was safe but did not improve clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19. Further analyses will explore mechanistic actions and pharmacokinetics of defibrotide and the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT identifier: 2020-001409-21. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT04348383.

Adult↗
PubMed2026

Adding Rib Mobilization to Diaphragm Release Techniques in Patients With Non-Specific Neck Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Non-specific neck pain (NSNP) is a frequent issue that can negatively affect both mobility and function. Recently, there has been growing interest in newer therapeutic approaches, including rib mobilization and diaphragm release techniques, as potential ways to address NSNP and support better outcomes for those affected. PURPOSE: To find out the immediate effects of how (DRT) combined with (RMT) affects the level of pain and the extent to which patients' functional abilities are improved in cases of NSNP. METHODS: For this prospective RCT, 96 participants aged 20 to 45&#xa0;years were randomly assigned to one of three equal groups based on their pain score (VAS). Group B engaged in (DRT) for 40&#xa0;minutes, three times weekly for 8&#xa0;weeks, in contrast to Group A, which got both RMT combined with DRT. Group C (active control) received advice and some exercises. Measurements were collected before and after the intervention; the primary outcomes included pain severity, evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS); active neck range of motion (ROM), measured with a cervical range of motion (CROM) device; and neck flexion endurance. Additionally, the secondary outcome of neck-related disability was assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was identified among the three groups at baseline; nevertheless, a treatment effect emerged after 8&#xa0;weeks (p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.001 and f-value&#xa0;=&#xa0;4.15, &#x19e;2&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.306). A statistically significant time-treatment interaction was seen when comparing the pre- and post-treatment periods in groups A and B (p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.001, f-value&#xa0;=&#xa0;3.16, &#x19e;2&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.251). CONCLUSION: The addition of rib mobilization to diaphragm release techniques in patients with non-specific neck pain resulted in statistically significant improvements in pain intensity, cervical flexion, right lateral rotation, left lateral rotation, right rotation, and neck flexor endurance, with moderate to large effect sizes for pain reduction and cervical motion. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups for cervical extension, left rotation, or the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and only a marginal clinical improvement in NDI was noted in Group A. The observed benefits in the combined intervention group may not be attributable solely to rib mobilization. The increased treatment complexity and greater therapist interaction inherent in the combined approach could also have influenced the outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07133646.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Exploring Professional Experiences in Caring for Vulnerable Migrants in an Italian Rural Reception Centre: A Qualitative Study Using Multidimensional Textual Analysis-Professional Experiences in Rural Migrant Care.

AIM: This study aims to explore the experiences, strengths, challenges, and potential improvements for professionals in managing the complex needs of vulnerable migrants (VM) in an Italian rural reception centre. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted in April 2024. Data were analysed using the Automatic Analysis of Textual Data, based on Fraire's seven-step model for Exploratory Multidimensional Data Analysis. DATA SOURCES: Data were collected from 16 professionals working in a rural reception centre in southern Italy. Interviews were conducted and analysed using AATD in April 2024. FINDINGS: The analysis identified two main dimensions of professionals' roles: balancing systemic responsibilities with personal engagement and managing immediate needs versus long-term integration goals. Professionals face significant challenges, such as resource scarcity, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and emotional fatigue, which impact their well-being and the quality of care provided to migrants. Resilience, adaptability, and multidisciplinary collaboration were identified as key strengths. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the dual nature of professionals' work in reception centres, requiring them to balance operational tasks with emotional involvement in migrant care. Targeted interventions and systemic reforms are necessary to support professionals and enhance the quality of care for vulnerable migrants, particularly in resource-constrained rural settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND/OR PATIENT CARE: This study underscores the importance of providing targeted support to professionals working in reception centres, including training in intercultural competence, stress management, and coping strategies. Policies should address systemic challenges and provide resources to enhance healthcare delivery and social integration programs. REPORTING METHOD: This study adhered to the EQUATOR guidelines for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). The findings were reported in compliance with these guidelines, ensuring methodological rigour and transparency. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: This study highlights the critical need for targeted support and training for professionals working in reception centres, particularly in rural settings. To improve care for vulnerable migrants, professionals should receive training in intercultural competence, stress management, and coping strategies to better navigate the complex challenges they face. Furthermore, systemic changes are necessary to alleviate the pressures on reception centres, such as streamlining bureaucratic processes and enhancing healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited. By addressing these needs, we can improve the well-being of both the professionals and the migrants they serve, fostering more effective support systems and better care outcomes. Additionally, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and community engagement can contribute to more comprehensive and sustainable care models. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The Ethics Committee of the University of Rome Tor Vergata approved this study on 07/07/2021 (protocol registration number 160.21).

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Pegcetacoplan Delivers Real-World Therapeutic Benefits and Reduces Disease Burden for Patients With Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria: A Systematic Literature Review of Pegcetacoplan Real-World Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes.

AIMS: Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an ultra-rare, acquired, non-malignant haematological disorder that, if left untreated, can lead to significant morbidity. This systematic literature review (SLR) summarized real-world evidence (RWE) for pegcetacoplan, a complement 3/3b inhibitor (C3i) available since 2021. METHODS: The SLR (PROSPERO-CRD420251043506) followed 2020 PRISMA guidelines and included RW studies of pegcetacoplan (n&#x2009;>&#x2009;1 pts.; English; to April 2025) in adults (age&#x2009;&#x2265;&#x2009;18&#x2009;years) with PNH. RESULTS: Of 409 identified records, 39 qualified, representing 12 distinct studies. Six studies (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;4-39) reported median haemoglobin (Hb) with baseline 8.1-9.6&#x2009;g/dL. Ending median Hb and maximum pegcetacoplan durations were: 12.0&#x2009;g/dL at 12&#x2009;months, 11.1-12.1&#x2009;g/dL at 6&#x2009;months (3 studies), and 11.1&#x2009;g/dL at 3&#x2009;months (1 study). In 4 other studies (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;48-70), ending mean Hb (maximum pegcetacoplan duration) was: 11.3&#x2009;g/dL (7.2&#x2009;months), 11.5&#x2009;g/dL (6.6&#x2009;months), 11.5&#x2009;g/dL (5.9&#x2009;months), and 11.58&#x2009;g/dL (3&#x2009;months). Six studies reported reduced absolute reticulocyte count (ARC; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;4-39) from baseline median 155-301&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;109/L to median 56-106&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;109/L from 14&#x2009;days of pegcetacoplan, maintained to maximum pegcetacoplan of 1-12&#x2009;months. Three studies reported lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; n&#x2009;=&#x2009;4-62); all showed reductions from baseline median 543.0 to 161.7&#x2009;U/L after 3&#x2009;months, and baseline median 299.5-316.0&#x2009;U/L to 193.5-187.0&#x2009;U/L after 6&#x2009;months of pegcetacoplan. In complement 5 inhibitor-na&#xef;ve, LDH reduced from 977.8 to 358.9&#x2009;U/L after 8.4&#x2009;months, and 503.6 to 292.5&#x2009;U/L in C5i-experienced after 7.2&#x2009;months. Three studies (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;4-63) reported reduced LDH from above the upper limit of normal levels. Six studies (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;23-70) reported reduced red blood cell transfusions (RBCt) after maximum pegcetacoplan durations of up to 12&#x2009;months, and median durations of 3.0 and 10.2&#x2009;months. Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale scores in 1 study increased from baseline (mean 28.4) to 38.6 at 3&#x2009;months, 36.3 at 6&#x2009;months, and 34.9 at 9&#x2009;months of pegcetacoplan treatment. Two studies reported FACIT-Fatigue scores of 34.6-40.1 with pegcetacoplan for &#x2265;&#x2009;1&#x2009;month. EQ-5D mean utility scores (0.85-0.94) in 2 studies were comparable to population normative values. On the Short-Form 36 Health Survey, mental and physical component scores were slightly lower than US normative values. CONCLUSIONS: RWE indicates pegcetacoplan is associated with improved haematological outcomes, reduced RBCt dependence and fatigue, and enhanced HRQoL. These findings from real-world studies with diverse cohorts support generalizability and are broadly comparable with clinical trial evidence.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

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

BACKGROUND: Evidence on psychological, cognitive and functional outcomes of advanced diabetes technologies in older adults with long-standing type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains limited. We evaluated whether initiation of advanced hybrid closed-loop (AHCL) therapy was associated with changes in fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes distress, psychological well-being, cognition, frailty-related measures and mobility-related function in adults aged &#x2265;&#x2009;65&#x2009;years with T1D. METHODS: This prespecified, exploratory secondary analysis was conducted within a single-centre, open-label, randomised, controlled, parallel-group trial including adults aged &#x2265;&#x2009;65&#x2009;years with long-standing T1D. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to initiate AHCL therapy using the MiniMed 780G system or to continue standard diabetes treatment. The secondary outcomes included WHO-5, the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-II (HFS-II), Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Fried frailty phenotype and performance-based functional measures. No formal sample-size calculation was performed for these secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-one participants were randomised and 29 completed 12&#x2009;months of follow-up and were included in the treatment-effect analyses. In the baseline-adjusted primary analysis, AHCL therapy was associated with a lower HFS-II score than standard treatment (adjusted mean difference -18.9; 95% CI: -32.4 to -5.4; nominal p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.008), although this finding did not remain statistically significant after Holm correction (adjusted p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.104) or in an exploratory model additionally adjusted for sex (difference -13.6; 95% CI: -32.2 to 5.0; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.145). Diabetes distress, psychological well-being, global cognition and processing speed did not differ between groups. In sex-adjusted sensitivity analyses, the between-group differences remained statistically significant for 6-min walk distance (92.6&#x2009;m; 95% CI: 36.8 to 148.3; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.002) and Timed Up and Go performance (-2.27&#x2009;s; 95% CI: -4.28 to -0.27; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.028), but not for gait speed (0.27&#x2009;m/s; 95% CI: -0.05 to 0.59; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.099). At 12&#x2009;months, 12 of 14 AHCL participants were robust and 2 were pre-frail; in the control group, 11 of 15 were robust and 4 were pre-frail. No participant was classified as frail at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this small, selected cohort, AHCL therapy was associated with a nominally lower fear-of-hypoglycaemia score and better performance on selected mobility-related tests over 12&#x2009;months. The fear-of-hypoglycaemia finding did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons or additional adjustment for sex. Six-minute walk distance and Timed Up and Go remained statistically significant in the exploratory sex-adjusted sensitivity analyses, whereas the gait-speed difference did not. No measurable between-group deterioration in global cognition or processing speed was observed. These exploratory findings require confirmation in larger studies with balanced representation by sex and direct measurement of physical activity. These findings also support a person-centred clinical message: older age alone should not be regarded as a barrier to AHCL when treatment is introduced with individualised education and appropriate ongoing support.

Humans↗