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PubMed2026

A 4-year longitudinal wastewater surveillance of five gastroenteritis viruses and the correlation with clinical cases in Alberta, Canada.

Viruses are common causes of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. They are detected in large quantities in raw sewage making them amenable to wastewater-based surveillance (WBS). To monitor the prevalence of gastroenteritis viruses in wastewater and assess their correlation with clinical cases, wastewater samples collected between July 2020 and June 2024 from 12 wastewater treatment plants across Alberta, Canada were analyzed for norovirus (NoV) GI & GII, rotavirus (RoV), adenovirus (AdV), sapovirus (SaV) and astrovirus (AsV). Among the 5726 wastewater samples tested, AdV (80.5%) had the highest detection rate followed by NoV GII (75.6%), SaV (63.2%), NoV GI (59.4%), RoV (42.2%) and AsV (20.2%). Winter and spring seasonality was found for NoV and RoV in both wastewater and clinical disease. Public health interventions especially in the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on their burden with marked reduction in wastewater detected viruses and clinical cases. NoV showed a strong correlation between its level in wastewater and the number of clinical cases, while moderate correlation was observed for the other four viruses. Cross-correlation analysis showed that changes of viral RNA concentration in wastewater lagged behind reported gastroenteritis cases by approximately 6 days to 3 weeks. To our knowledge, this is the longest multi-region WBS study monitoring multiple gastroenteritis viruses spanning both COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic periods. The data obtained from this study supported WBS as a complementary tool to track population-based circulation of gastroenteritis viruses, providing actionable public health data.

Clinical cases↗

PubMed2026

Evolution of Candidaemia and azole resistance in Italy: A multicentre retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Candidaemia is the most common healthcare-associated invasive fungal infection. The evolution of the epidemiology of candidaemia in Italy has not been assessed, except at the local level. The primary objective of this study is monitoring changes in the epidemiology of candidaemia and in the susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates between 2015 and 2023. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre study (2015-2023), involved 11 tertiary-care hospital microbiology laboratories across the Italian country. The confirmed candidaemia episodes were included and demographic data, hospital ward, species identification, and antifungal susceptibility profiles (Sensititre Yeast One) were collected. RESULTS: 6,927 candidaemia cases were identified; incidence increased from 1.1/1000 hospitalisations in 2017 to 2.3/1000 in 2020-2021, peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic, and declined in 2023 while remaining above prepandemic levels. Patients older than 65 years accounted for most infections. Medical wards represented the main setting of occurrence, followed by intensive care units, especially during pandemic years. C. albicans remained the most common species (45.4%), followed by C. parapsilosis (24.7%), C. glabrata (11.8%), and C. tropicalis (11.4%). Echinocandin resistance remained low (< 2% for C. albicans and C. glabrata), whereas azole resistance increased markedly, particularly in C. parapsilosis, reaching fluconazole resistance rates of 25.6% in 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Candidaemia increased during the 9-year study period in Italy, particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic, in medical wards and ICU. Emerged a growing azole resistance, underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and informed empirical treatment strategies.

Candida species etiology↗

PubMed2026

Impact of Contact Lens Use on Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Fungal Keratitis: An 8-Year Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical characteristics, microbiological profiles, treatment strategies, and outcomes between contact lens-associated (CL) and noncontact lens-associated (non-CL) fungal keratitis. DESIGN: Retrospective, comparative clinical cohort study. METHODS: A review of culture-proven fungal keratitis treated at a tertiary referral center between 2018 and 2025 was conducted. Cases were categorized as CL or non-CL-associated. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, treatment, and outcome data were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes were included, comprising 16 CL and 21 non-CL cases. CL users presented earlier than non-CL patients (median 7 vs 14 days, P = .007) and had fewer associated ocular risk factors (31% vs 81%, P = .001). Baseline visual acuity and infiltrate size did not differ significantly between groups. Candida species were isolated in 21% cases, Fusarium in 16% and Aspergillus in 8%. Fusarium (19% vs 13%) and Candida (24% vs 19%) infections were slightly more frequent in non-CL cases. Overall, filamentous fungi were the predominant organism group. Topical voriconazole was the most frequently used antifungal agent (78%). All CL-associated cases resolved with medical therapy alone, with a median time to resolution of 38 days (IQR 22-58). In contrast, 76% of non-CL cases resolved medically (median 42 days, IQR 32-76), while 23% required therapeutic keratoplasty (P = .04). Final visual acuity was comparable between groups (logMAR 0.2 vs 0.5, P = .56). CONCLUSION: Contact lens-associated fungal keratitis is characterized by earlier presentation and fewer underlying ocular comorbidities, with favorable outcomes achieved through medical therapy alone. Despite similar microbiological profiles and treatment approaches, noncontact lens-associated fungal keratitis more frequently follows a complicated course requiring surgical intervention.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Efficacy and safety of microwave ablation for the treatment of pulmonary osteosarcoma oligometastases.

PURPOSE: Evaluate efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) for pulmonary osteosarcoma oligometastases. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (median age, 16 years [range, 9-41 years]; 15 male) with pulmonary osteosarcoma oligometastases who underwent MWA from January 2018 to December 2023 were included, with 27 MWA sessions for 36 lung metastases. Technical success and complications were evaluated in all 22 patients, while efficacy and survival were evaluated in 19 patients with 24 MWA sessions in treatment of 32 tumors. Technical success was assessed for each tumor. Local tumor control, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. Complications were classified using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all 36 tumors (100.0%). Local tumor progression occurred in five of 32 tumors (15.6%). The estimated local tumor control rates at 12, 24 and 36 months were 96.9%, 86.1% and 81.5%, respectively. No significant difference in local control was found between tumors ≤ 10 mm and > 10 mm (p = .470). Twelve of 19 patients (63.2%) developed new lung metastases outside the ablation area, including one with concurrent newly developed bone metastases and one with recurrence of primary osteosarcoma. The median PFS was 21.5 months. The estimated OS rates at 12, 24 and 60 months were 100.0%, 94.4% and 94.4%, respectively. Major complications occurred in five of 27 sessions (18.5%). CONCLUSIONS: MWA preliminarily demonstrates a high technical success rate, notable local tumor control, promising overall survival and acceptable safety for pulmonary osteosarcoma oligometastases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2026

Clinical Performance in Critical Care Simulation under Sleep Deprivation: Effects of Power Napping in the Recovery Napping Protocol for Anesthesiologist Performance (R-NAP) Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation is common among anesthesia residents and impairs both technical and nontechnical skills such as leadership. Napping is recommended in fatigue management across healthcare and other safety-sensitive sectors, yet its effectiveness for healthcare providers remains underexplored. This study evaluated whether a 30-min nap opportunity improved simulated crisis performance after a 24-h shift. METHODS: Residents were tested twice: once rested and once using a 24-h shift to induce partial sleep deprivation. Between sessions, they were trained in fatigue management. In the sleep-deprived condition, they were randomized to a nap opportunity or a control condition. Actigraphy objectively assessed sleep and nap duration. The primary endpoint was overall simulated clinical performance (0 to 200; combined technical and nontechnical scores). Secondary endpoints were technical and nontechnical subscales. Group effects were primarily tested using intention-to-treat regression models adjusted for rested performance, previous sleep, and critical care experience. RESULTS: Thirty-five residents were enrolled (nap opportunity, n = 19; control, n = 16). In the primary analysis sample (n = 27), clinical performance was 14.8 points higher after the nap opportunity compared with controls (95% CI, 2.8 to 26.9; P = 0.018), corresponding to a 7.4% improvement. Technical skills did not differ significantly between groups, although more sleep was associated with better technical performance. Nontechnical skills were higher in the nap opportunity condition (+11.0 points; 95% CI, 2.2 to 19.8; P = 0.016), including significant effects of leadership and resource utilization. Exploratory analyses suggested associations between longer nap duration and multiple performance domains, strongest for technical skills ( P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Napping appears to enhance clinical performance, while the nap opportunity, nap duration, and previous sleep deprivation each influenced technical and nontechnical performance in distinct ways. These findings support integrating napping and recovery into medical education and scheduling.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Impact of oliceridine versus sufentanil on postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing thyroid surgery: a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following thyroid surgery, often exacerbated by opioid use. Oliceridine, a novel G protein-biased μ-opioid receptor agonist, may reduce opioid-related adverse events. This study aimed to compare the impact of oliceridine versus sufentanil on the incidence and severity of PONV in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial conducted between May 2025 and February 2026, 232 patients scheduled for thyroid surgery were randomly assigned to receive either oliceridine or sufentanil for intraoperative analgesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV during the first 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included PONV severity, need for rescue anti-emetics, postoperative pain scores, recovery quality, and other adverse events. RESULTS: The incidence of PONV within 48 h postoperatively was significantly lower in the oliceridine group [13/107 (12%)] compared with the sufentanil group [31/110 (28%)] (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17-0.72, p = 0.006). Postoperative pain scores, rescue analgesia requirements, and Quality of Recovery-15 scores were comparable between the two groups (p > 0.05). Besides, exploratory unadjusted analyses revealed fewer rescue anti-emetics: O group 8/107 (8%) vs S group 25/110 (23%) (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12-0.64, p = 0.002); and less abdominal distension: O group 4/107 (4%) vs S group 19/110 (17%) (OR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.57, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: For young ASA I-II patients undergoing thyroid surgery, oliceridine yields adequate postoperative analgesia and lower PONV rates versus sufentanil. Additional trials involving high-intensity surgical procedures are needed to confirm consistent equivalence.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Lung function after randomization to metformin, lifestyle intervention or placebo in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS).

INTRODUCTION: Metformin and physical activity have been suggested as beneficial for chronic lung disease; however, there are no prior randomized trials. METHODS: The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) was a 3-year trial that randomized 3234 individuals at risk for diabetes to metformin, lifestyle intervention or placebo. After the DPP, 88% of participants enrolled in the DPP Outcomes Study that offered lifestyle intervention to all and open-label continuation of metformin. Spirometry was performed at approximately 19 and 22 years post-randomization. Lung function measures were compared in an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis by original randomization group. Models were unadjusted and adjusted for demographics, body size, smoking and sitting/standing at spirometry. Additional analyses tested prevalence of obstruction (FEV1/FVC <70%), restrictive pattern (FVC < LLN and FEV1/FVC ≥70%), preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm: FEV1 <80% predicted, FEV1/FVC ≥70%) and symptoms (COPD Assessment Test [CAT] score ≥10). RESULTS: The 1888 participants with spirometry were a mean (±SD) age of 68.2 ± 9.3 years, 70% female and 6% currently smoked and 33% had previously smoked cigarettes. Mean follow-up time was 19.0 ± 0.8 years. The mean FEV1 was 2.14 ± 0.60 L, FVC 2.74 ± 0.74 L, FEV1/FVC 78.4 ± 6.4%, mean BMI was 32.4 ± 6.7 kg/m2 and 58% had diabetes. In both unadjusted and adjusted ITT analyses, randomization group was not associated with FEV1, FVC or FEV1/FVC. Likewise, rates of obstruction, restrictive pattern, PRISm or symptoms did not differ by randomization group. CONCLUSIONS: In this long-term follow-up after a randomized trial, we found no significant associations between randomization to metformin or lifestyle intervention and lung function or respiratory symptoms.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Pregnancy diet based on ancestral patterns increases growth in subcortical fetal brain regions.

Evidence on the biological basis for maternal nutrition effects on fetal and newborn neurodevelopment remains limited. This randomized controlled trial in Ecuador tested a maternal dietary pattern-derived from empirical studies of nutrition in human evolution and adapted locally-on offspring growth and brain development. Pregnant women (n = 215) in their first trimester were randomized to: 1) control (n = 104); or 2) Mikhuna ("nourish" in Kichwa) intervention (n = 111). The intervention, from 12 wk gestation to birth, consisted of a weekly food delivery (8 eggs, 500 g fish, and a variety of sustainably sourced fruits and vegetables) and a behavior change communication strategy encouraging diet diversity and limiting highly processed foods. Longitudinal data collection occurred at 12 wk, 21 wk, 35 wk gestation, and 2 wk postpartum, and included ultrasound imaging of fetal bone and brain parameters, maternal dietary intakes, anthropometry, socioeconomic and demographic variables, and other biomarkers. At close of intervention, a significantly higher percentage of women met the minimum dietary diversity threshold in Mikhuna (74.5%) vs. control groups (55.8%) (P = 0.004). Generalized linear regression models showed significant differences in Mikhuna compared to control for: corpus callosum length 0.19 cm (95% CI [0.02, 0.35]), gangliothalamic ovoid height 0.15 cm (95% CI [0.03 to 0.26]), and femur length -0.10 cm (95% CI [-0.19, -0.02]) from 21 wk to 35 wk; and corpus callosum Z 0.56 (95% CI [0.03, 1.09]) and femur length Z -0.21 (95% CI [-0.42, 0.00]) at 35 wk. The Mikhuna intervention increased the growth of subcortical fetal brain structures, which have established roles in motor control, cognition, and signal transmission.

Female↗

PubMed2026

The Impact of Baseline Negative Emotions on Postoperative Quality of Life in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity that develops during puberty without a clear etiology. Beyond physical manifestations, AIS severely impacts adolescents' psychological and social well-being, leading to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. While advancements in surgical techniques have enhanced objective outcomes, existing studies on AIS have primarily focused on objective indices, with limited attention to the long-term impact of preoperative negative emotions on patient-reported subjective quality of life. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 112 eligible AIS patients who underwent posterior spinal correction surgery between April and August 2023 were enrolled. Inclusion criteria included confirmed AIS, completion of 2-year follow-up, and informed consent; exclusion criteria included missing imaging/questionnaire data, comorbid psychiatric/neurological diseases, or prior spinal surgery. Patients were grouped using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) administered on admission. Quality of life was assessed preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22, evaluating self-image, mental health, pain, function, treatment satisfaction) and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36, assessing 8 physical and mental health dimensions). Statistical analysis was performed via SPSS, using independent t-tests, paired t-tests, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test. p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics (age, gender, BMI, surgical parameters, scoliosis type, preoperative/postoperative Cobb angles) between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Preoperatively, SRS-22 and SF-36 scores showed no inter-group differences (all p > 0.05). Postoperatively, the Negative Emotion Group had significantly lower scores in SRS-22 mental health (3.9 ± 0.3 vs. 4.5 ± 0.2) and treatment satisfaction (4.0 ± 0.3 vs. 4.6 ± 0.7), as well as SF-36 general health (68.6 ± 6.4 vs. 79.7 ± 13.3), role-emotional (61.3 ± 9.3 vs. 70.8 ± 9.7), and mental health (61.8 ± 14.3 vs. 68.9 ± 10.7) (all p < 0.05); no inter-group differences were observed in physical function-related dimensions. Both groups showed significant improvements in physical function-related dimensions postoperatively. The Non-Negative Emotion Group also exhibited significant improvements in SRS-22 self-image/pain and SF-36 bodily pain (all p < 0.05), while the Negative Emotion Group showed no significant improvements in these dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative anxiety and depression do not affect the recovery of physical function in AIS patients after spinal correction surgery but significantly impede improvements in subjective quality of life dimensions, including mental health and treatment satisfaction. These findings highlight the need to integrate psychological assessment and targeted interventions into the perioperative management of AIS. Such a patient-centered approach will help optimize both physical and psychological outcomes, ultimately achieving comprehensive rehabilitation for AIS adolescents.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Relationship Between Number of Acute Pancreatitis Episodes and Risk of New-onset Diabetes in the U.S.: A Real-world Data Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common inflammatory disorder that is associated with increased risk for diabetes mellitus (DM). It remains unclear whether recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) is associated with further increased risk of incident DM. This study aims to investigate the association between RAP and incident DM using real-world data. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the MerativeTM MarketScan® claims database (2016-2023), identifying patients with AP and no prior history of DM at baseline. The primary exposure of interest, RAP, was defined as one or more episodes of AP occurring ≥90 days after the index AP diagnosis, whereas one episode of AP referred to a single episode of AP (SAP) with no subsequent recurrence within 90 days following the index event. A multivariable stratified Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine the association between RAP and incident DM, identified using ICD-10 codes. RESULTS: In total, 16,184 individuals with AP (mean [SD] age: 45.8 [12.3]) contributed 40,712 person-years of follow-up, during which 1,477 incident cases of DM were documented. Individuals with RAP had an increased risk of incident DM compared with those with a SAP(adjusted HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.61-2.29). The risk increased significantly with the frequency of RAP. In comparing the modifying effect of patient demographics and comorbidities, a stronger association between RAP and incident DM was observed in females (adjusted HR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.87-3.19) than in males (adjusted HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.30-2.07; Pinteraction=0.03). Also, stronger associations were observed among younger patients (18-46 y) (adjusted HR=2.56; 95% CI, 1.97-3.31) and among non-tobacco abuse (adjusted HR=2.19; 95% CI, 1.81-2.65), with significant interactions for all comparisons (Pinteraction<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world study, RAP was associated with an increased risk of incident DM. Our findings highlight an opportunity for glycemic monitoring and proactive management of patients with RAP to mitigate their risk of developing DM.

AP↗

PubMed2026

Performance of Photon-counting CT for Assessing Pretreatment Breast Cancer: Comparison with Mammography, MRI, and 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Background Photon-counting CT (PCCT) offers improved spatial resolution, contrast to noise ratio, and dose efficiency, but its clinical utility remains incompletely defined for breast cancer. Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of PCCT for pretreatment breast cancer assessment through comparisons with MRI, full-field digital mammography (FFDM), and fluorine 18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT. Materials and Methods In this prospective study (March-May 2025), female participants with breast lesions categorized as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 4C or higher at US or FFDM underwent breast MRI and multiphasic contrast-enhanced PCCT. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed in a subset with locally advanced disease. Four radiologists independently evaluated lesion morphologic characteristics, additional findings, and clinical TNM stage. Agreement was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and κ statistics. The diagnostic performance for additional lesions and nodal metastasis was compared with the reference standard (pathologic examination). Results Among 126 participants (mean age, 58.1 years ± 12.3 [SD]), interreader agreement across PCCT, MRI, and FFDM was good to excellent. PCCT agreed with MRI for lesion characterization (κ = 0.57-0.96) and clinical T categorization (κ = 0.86-0.88), with highest agreement with pathologic size (ICC, 0.70-0.81). For 46 pathologically confirmed additional lesions, PCCT was more sensitive than FFDM (difference, 44% [95% CI: 19, 66]) and similar to MRI (difference, 7% [95% CI: -5, 21]). Additionally, 44% (95% CI: 27, 52) of microcalcifications were missed at PCCT versus FFDM. For pathologically confirmed nodal metastasis, PCCT was more sensitive (difference, 10% [95% CI: 1, 20]) and accurate (difference, 6% [95% CI: 1, 11]) than MRI. For clinical N category, PCCT agreed with PET/CT (κ = 0.82 [95% CI: 0.62, 0.96]; n = 19). Two distant metastases identified at PCCT were consistent with 18F-FDG PET/CT and pathologic findings. Conclusion PCCT demonstrated similar performance to MRI for lesion characterization and detection of additional lesions, with better performance for nodal metastasis evaluation; however, detection of microcalcifications was limited. © RSNA, 2026 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Patient and hospital factors associated with disparities in acute stroke treatment in community and academic hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Systemic barriers may affect identification, emergency transportation (EMS), and care coordination for people with stroke. We assessed patient- and hospital-level factors for associations with pre-hospital and emergency department care. We compared trends for patients presenting to an academic medical center (AMC) versus community hospitals (CHs). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at an AMC (Tufts Medical Center) with 542 patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack between 1/1/2018-12/31/2020 who presented directly to AMC or presented to AMC as a transfer from initial contact CHs. Primary outcomes were EMS use, stroke code activation, door-to-CT time, and door-to-needle time. RESULTS: AMC patients identifying as non-Hispanic Asian (odds ratio (OR) = 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13-0.47) and Hispanic (OR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.05-0.72) and CH non-Hispanic Black/African-American patients (OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.05-0.62) were less likely to use EMS compared to non-Hispanic white patients. Patients with non-English primary language were less likely to use EMS (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.23-0.63) compared to English-speaking patients in both hospital settings. CH Hispanic patients were less likely to have stroke code activation (OR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.05-0.86) compared to non-Hispanic white patients. CH patients were less likely to have stroke code activation (OR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.07-0.19), had 31% shorter door-to-CT time (95% CI = 15-43% shorter), and had 29% longer door-to-needle time (95% CI = 5-58% longer). CONCLUSION: Patient-level factors and hospital setting were associated with differences in acute care suggesting opportunities for community outreach on EMS use, interventions to alleviate language barriers, and a need to address systemic biases.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

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↗

PubMed2026

Effects of positive psychotherapy on anxiety and quality of life in chronic Urticaria.

INTRODUCTION: Individual, social, and economic consequences including anxiety and poor quality of life are recognised to result from allergic disorders. A positive, realistic viewpoint that emphasises balance and the body is provided by positive psychotherapy. The purpose of this randomized, controlled intervention study was to investigate how counseling based on positive psychotherapy affected anxiety and quality of life. METHODS: Patients in the intervention group had eight sessions of individual counseling based on positive psychotherapy in addition to standard treatment. Other than standard care, the members of the control group received no interventions. The Dermatological Quality of Life Scale (DYQS), Urticaria Activity Score, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, and Personal Information Form were employed as data collection instruments. The study had 66 patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU), 32 of whom were in the intervention group and 34 of whom were in the control group. RESULTS: The mean scores of the intervention group decreased significantly from pre-test to post-test for urticaria activity (UAS7: 28.22 ± 11.17 to 4.22 ± 4.30, p < 0.001), dermatological quality of life (DLQI: 38.63 ± 7.61 to 5.09 ± 6.19, p < 0.001), situational anxiety (61.63 ± 7.73 to 26.03 ± 4.71, p < 0.001), and trait anxiety (61.56 ± 7.90 to 25.13 ± 3.66, p < 0.001). Furthermore, post-test scores between the intervention and control groups showed statistically significant differences in favor of the intervention group in all primary outcomes, including the total UAS7 score (intervention: 4.22 ± 4.30 vs. control: 21.56 ± 11.81, p < 0.001) and the total dermatological quality of life score (intervention:5.09 ± 6.19 vs. control:30.85 ± 10.17, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Counseling based on positive psychotherapy has been shown to improve people's quality of life while lowering anxiety and urticaria symptoms. This study demonstrates how these treatments can enhance the quality of life for patients with chronic urticaria by lowering their anxiety and illness symptoms.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of testosterone-augmented multimodal exercise intervention in spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to profound muscle atrophy, aerobic deconditioning, and metabolic dysfunction. Exercise-based interventions alone produce modest benefits. Whether testosterone can augment physiologic responses to exercise in this population remains untested. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate efficacy and safety of home-based intervention combining functional electrical stimulation-assisted leg cycling (FES-LC), arm ergometry (AE), and testosterone compared with FES-LC, AE plus placebo in adults with SCI. METHODS: This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial enrolled 84 adults (76 males and 8 females) aged 19-70 years with SCI (neurologic levels C4-T12; AIS grades A-D). Participants were randomized to multimodality intervention (home-based FES-LC, AE and intramuscular testosterone undecanoate) (n = 38) or control intervention (FES-LC, AE plus placebo) (n = 46) for 16 weeks. The primary outcome was change in aerobic capacity (peak VO2) during AE cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes included lean mass, hemoglobin, cardiometabolic markers, and safety. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 44 (13) years and time since injury was 13.9 (13) years). Between-group changes in peak VO2 were not statistically significant. Within-group improvements were larger in multimodality (∼19% increase; 0.10 L/min; 95% CI, 0.02-0.18 L/min) compared to controls (∼6% increase; 0.06 L/min; 95% CI, -0.01-0.13). The multimodality group gained significantly more lean mass (whole-body:1.84 kg, 95% CI: 0.52-3.16, P = .007; lower extremity 0.92 kg, 95% CI: 0.38-1.45, P = .001), and anemia was corrected in a greater proportion of participants. Adverse event rates were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: A home-based multimodality intervention combining FES-LC, AE, and testosterone was safe and associated with greater improvements in lean mass and hemoglobin. Although between-group differences in aerobic capacity were not statistically significant, greater within-group increases were observed in the multimodality group. These findings may inform future studies of testosterone-augmented exercise interventions for individuals living with SCI.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Impact of Commercial Artificial Intelligence on Radiologist Reading Time for Pulmonary Nodule Evaluation at Chest CT.

Background Chest CT is a primary method for identifying pulmonary nodules, yet interpreting scans remains time-intensive and demanding. Currently, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to reduce reading times, but the effect of AI on reporting times in this setting is unknown. Purpose To evaluate the impact of a commercial AI software on radiologists' reading time for pulmonary nodule assessment on chest CT scans within a real-world clinical setting. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included patients who underwent chest CT examinations at a tertiary medical center between September 2021 and May 2024. The study period was divided into pre- and post-AI phases. The primary outcome was radiology reporting time. The association between AI implementation and reporting time was evaluated using a multivariable parametric Weibull shared frailty survival model adjusted for reader function, examination type, patient location, and requesting specialty, with clustering at the radiologist level. Interaction analyses assessed heterogeneity across prespecified subgroups. An exploratory extrapolation estimated projected workforce and financial impact. Results This study included 19 433 patients (mean age, 62 years ± 14.2 [SD]; 21 814 men; 39 323 chest CT examinations, 19 190 pre-AI, and 20 133 post-AI). AI implementation was associated with faster report completion (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.21; P < .001). The adjusted median reporting time decreased from 21.3 minutes pre-AI to 18.2 minutes post-AI (14.6% reduction; P < .001). Heterogeneity was observed across reader function (P < .001), examination type (P = .048), and requesting specialty (P = .03). The largest relative reductions were observed for CT thorax electrocardiogram-gated examinations (-41.1%; P < .001) and thoracic radiologists (-25.0%; P < .001), whereas emergency department examinations showed increased median reporting time (7.1%; P < .001). At institutional scan volumes (approximately 20 000-22 000 chest CT examinations annually), exploratory modeling suggested an approximate reduction of 0.5 full-time equivalent radiologist workload. Conclusion Implementation of commercial AI-assisted pulmonary nodule assessment on chest CT scans reduced radiologist reporting time in a real-world clinical setting. © The Author(s) 2026. Published by the Radiological Society of North America under a CC BY 4.0 license. Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Iwasawa in this issue.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Efficacy and Safety of Psychedelic Microdosing on Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psychedelic microdosing has gained increasing popularity for enhancing mood and cognition, yet its effects on psychological outcomes in healthy adults remain unclear. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of psychedelic microdosing on psychological outcomes in healthy/non-clinical adult population. METHODS: This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD420251035294). We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO from inception to February 2026 for original studies in healthy adults using sub-hallucinogenic psychedelic doses on separate days. We included randomized studies, nonrandomized prospective studies, cross-sectional studies, and observational longitudinal designs and stratified meta-analyses by design. Random-effects models were used; safety in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was pooled as risk differences (RDs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools appropriate for each study design. RESULTS: 24 studies (3,681 participants) met inclusion criteria, 6 contributed to meta-analyses. RCTs of psilocybin and LSD microdosing showed subjective and neurophysiological effects but minimal impact on cognition, creativity, or sustained mood. Psilocybin altered EEG and speech with little behavioral change, while LSD caused transient mood and minor physiological effects without lasting cognitive or personality benefits. Observational studies indicated mood and personality improvements, likely influenced by expectancy or lifestyle factors. Meta-analyses included two parallel RCTs (3 comparisons; n = 117) and three non-RCT studies (n = 1,013). Adverse event analyses included two RCTs (4 comparisons; n = 109). RCTs showed no clear evidence of immediate symptom reduction: depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.19; 95% CI -0.56, 0.19; I2 = 0%), anxiety (SMD = -0.20; 95% CI -1.11, 0.71; I2 = 82.3%),and stress (SMD = 0.02; 95% CI -0.39, 0.43; I2 = 0%). Non-RCT within-arm estimates were imprecise and heterogeneous for depressive symptoms (SMCC -0.33; 95% CI -0.75, 0.08) and anxiety (SMCC -0.29; 95% CI-0.84, 0.26). Exploratory pooling across all designs suggested decreases in depressive symptoms and stress, while anxiety remained uncertain. Adverse event risks were similar between treatment and control. CONCLUSIONS: Microdosing does not show consistent immediate benefits for depressive, anxiety, or stress symptoms in healthy adults, and evidence from RCTs remains inconclusive. Although improvements were observed in some studies, these effects were not significantly different from placebo. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of psychedelic microdosing beyond placebo.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Franseen Fine-Needle Biopsy for Solid Pancreatic Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Accurate tissue acquisition (TA) of solid pancreatic lesions is essential for guiding treatment with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) being the preferred method. Among FNB designs, the three-pronged Franseen-tip needle demonstrates strong diagnostic performance, though direct head-to-head comparisons with other FNB designs remain limited. METHODOLOGY: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251123856). Eligible studies enrolled patients with solid pancreatic lesions who underwent EUS-guided FNB, directly compared the Franseen-tip with other FNB needles. Six databases were systematically searched through July 2025, and study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (QUADAS-2 tool) were performed independently by two reviewers. Pooled estimates were generated using random-effects and bivariate hierarchical models. RESULTS: Sixteen studies (2,010 Franseen vs. 2,811 comparator) were included. Bivariate analysis showed that sensitivity and specificity of the Franseen needle were comparable to newer-generation comparator needles (sensitivity 91.3% vs. 94.0%; specificity 99.99% vs. 99.15%), whereas older-generation needles demonstrated lower sensitivity (80.8%) and inferior discriminatory performance (Negative Likelihood Ratio [LR⁻] 0.19 vs. 0.09). Diagnostic accuracy was higher with the Franseen needle (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.14; I2 = 69%). Sample adequacy was similar overall (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.95-1.14) but superior to older-generation needles (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.41) and in lesions > 30 mm (RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.28, I2 = 81.2%). The Franseen needle achieved nominally strong diagnostic performance (DOR 116.6), although small-study effects were observed. Primary procedural outcomes were comparable between Franseen and comparator needles, including technical success (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98-1.02) and histological core procurement (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.92-1.17). The Franseen needle had fewer low-cellularity samples (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.45-0.69) and lower specimen bloodiness (RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25-0.90) but a slightly higher overall adverse event rate (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.57). CONCLUSION: The Franseen needle provides superior diagnostic accuracy and sample adequacy compared to older-generation FNB needles with comparable performance to newer-generation designs. It reduces low-cellularity samples and specimen bloodiness, although adverse events are slightly increased, with other primary procedural outcomes remaining comparable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD420251123856).

Humans↗