Clin Exp Med. 2026 Apr 6. doi: 10.1007/s10238-026-02119-1. Online ahead of print.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:41940982 | DOI:10.1007/s10238-026-02119-1
Category: Nevin Manimala
Abdom Radiol (NY). 2026 Apr 6. doi: 10.1007/s00261-026-05494-1. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) at 40 keV improves iodine attenuation in colon cancer CT but is constrained by severe image noise. Deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) may address this limitation, but its effect on anatomical edge preservation across multiple targets requires investigation.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of DLIR on objective and subjective image quality of 40-keV VMIs in colon adenocarcinoma, with emphasis on the trade-off between noise reduction and edge definition.
METHODS: In this completed retrospective study (patient enrollment window: May 2024 to February 2025), 60 patients (mean age, 62.8 years ± 15.1; 34 men) with confirmed colon adenocarcinoma underwent dual-energy CT using a low-iodine protocol (1.0 mL/kg). Portal venous phase data were reconstructed at 40 keV using adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) 50%, medium-strength DLIR (DLIR-M), and high-strength DLIR (DLIR-H). Objective metrics, including contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), edge rise distance (ERD), and edge rise slope (ERS), were measured. Two radiologists independently scored five qualitative categories, including regional lymph node visualization, using a 5-point Likert scale.
RESULTS: DLIR-H yielded the lowest image noise and highest CNR across all anatomical targets compared with DLIR-M and ASIR-V 50% (all P < 0.001). For colon tumors, the CNR of DLIR-H (5.4 ± 2.2) was 80% higher than that of ASIR-V 50% (3.0 ± 1.1, P < 0.001). Although ASIR-V 50% maintained a higher ERS than DLIR-H (median, 108.3 vs. 101.5 HU/mm; P < 0.001), the ERD remained highly stable across all algorithms (median, 2.5 mm; pairwise P > 0.05). Subjectively, DLIR-H received the highest scores for overall image quality and regional lymph node visualization (median, 5.0 and 4.5, respectively, vs. 3.0 for both in ASIR-V 50%; all P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: In 40-keV virtual monoenergetic CT of colon cancer, DLIR-H significantly improves objective and subjective image quality for tumors, vessels, and lymph nodes. While a minor objective edge-smoothing effect exists, DLIR-H provides an optimal balance between robust noise suppression and anatomical clarity. Although these findings suggest the potential to facilitate low-iodine spectral protocols, future diagnostic accuracy trials are required to confirm their true clinical impact.
PMID:41940980 | DOI:10.1007/s00261-026-05494-1
Eur Radiol. 2026 Apr 6. doi: 10.1007/s00330-026-12428-4. Online ahead of print.
NO ABSTRACT
PMID:41940959 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-026-12428-4
Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 2026 Mar 27. doi: 10.2174/0113862073445368260131002109. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority of cases. Alterations in metabolic activities play important roles in NSCLC development, wherein related genes and metabolites interact with each other, involving multiple forms.
METHODS: To comprehensively understand the pathogenic mechanisms and improve the performance of clinical early, precise diagnosis, this study proposed a data-driven approach for biomarker discovery based on U-centered distance correlation network (DCN) to investigate NSCLC metabolism-related reactions. In DCN, changes in molecular relationships during NSCLC initiation and progression are measured using the t-statistics of U-centered distance correlation for network construction, in which prospective warning signals representing NSCLC onset can be identified without human intervention. Additionally, the network construction criterion in DCN can precisely and effectively capture both linear and nonlinear molecular relationships in simple and biologically relevant manners.
RESULTS: DCN was successfully employed to analyze NSCLC metabolism-related metabolomics and genomics datasets. Statistical analyses confirmed that compared with other algorithms, the gene and metabolite biomarker panels identified by DCN provided more reliable diagnostic capabilities for clinical NSCLC detection. Biological analyses revealed that disturbed energy metabolism and lipid metabolism occurred during tumor cell proliferation and growth in NSCLC patients.
DISCUSSION: The gene ASPA and metabolite aspartic acid were significantly decreased in NSCLC samples, suggesting that the corresponding amino acid metabolic activities were intricately linked to NSCLC progression.
CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated that DCN can further facilitate NSCLC studies to improve clinical outcomes in patients.
PMID:41937706 | DOI:10.2174/0113862073445368260131002109
Anim Genet. 2026 Apr;57(2):e70092. doi: 10.1002/age.70092.
ABSTRACT
Oyster pompano (Trachinotus anak) is a commercially valuable marine species widely farmed in Southeast Asia, yet growth heterogeneity remains a persistent challenge in cage aquaculture. To investigate whether body weight influences the intestinal microbiota of this species, we compared the gut microbial communities of small and large T. anak using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The intestinal microbiota was dominated by Pseudomonadota (Proteobacteria) and Mycoplasmatota, together accounting for nearly 80% of total sequences, with additional contributions from minor phyla such as Spirochaetota, Thermodesulfo bacteriota, and Bacteroidota. While alpha- and beta-diversity analyses revealed no significant differences between groups, community composition and structure varied. Smaller fish harbored a more heterogeneous assemblage at the class level and a broader suite of core taxa, including Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Bdellovibrio, and Comamonas. In contrast, larger fish were dominated by fewer classes, with Photobacterium and Brevinema emerging as distinctive core members. LEfSe analysis identified discriminant taxa between groups, although these trends were not statistically significant after multiple-testing correction. Network analysis highlighted striking differences in microbial interactions: smaller fish exhibited highly modular, densely connected networks with potential keystone taxa such as Paracidovorax and Ensifer, whereas larger fish displayed simpler, less structured networks indicative of reduced ecological stability. Together, these findings demonstrate that body weight is associated with subtle but ecologically meaningful shifts in microbiota composition, core membership, and interaction networks in cage-cultured T. anak. This work underscores the potential of microbiome-informed management strategies to mitigate growth variability and enhance the sustainability of marine aquaculture.
PMID:41937700 | DOI:10.1002/age.70092
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2026 Apr 6:34894261435254. doi: 10.1177/00034894261435254. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of local anesthesia in reducing pain associated with fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules, examine the side effects of local anesthesia, and identify factors that influence pain during FNA of thyroid nodules.
METHOD: We conducted a randomized clinical trial in the Department of Otolaryngology at Ramathibodi Hospital. Patients scheduled to undergo FNA of thyroid nodules were divided into four groups and subsequently administered four types of local anesthesia: Group A (Placebo cream), Group B (Cold placebo cream), Group C (Topical anesthetic cream), and Group D (Cold topical anesthetic cream). The primary outcome was the mean difference in pain levels (measured using a visual analog scale [VAS] and a numeric rating scale [NRS]) between the treatment and control groups.
RESULTS: Initially, 72 participants were enrolled in this study, and data from 62 participants were analyzed. The VAS scores were measured at 0, 10, and 30 minutes post-procedure, with mean scores of 25.85 ± 4.65 (Group A), 21.26 ± 4.81 (Group B), 18.05 ± 4.51 (Group C), and 16 ± 4.97 (Group D). Although Group D showed the lowest pain scores, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between groups (all P > .05).
CONCLUSION: Local anesthesia and cooling can decrease the level of pain. However, in this study, topical anesthetic did not significantly reduce pain compared to non-anesthetic treatments.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.
PMID:41937677 | DOI:10.1177/00034894261435254
Vopr Virusol. 2026 Feb 28;71(1):62-72. doi: 10.36233/0507-4088-359.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widespread gamma-herpesvirus associated with a number of malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric cancer (GC/EBV+). The primary oncogenic protein of EBV is latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). Genetic variability of the LMP1 protein affects its oncogenic activity and clinical manifestations.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal threshold value for EBV viral load, determine the correlation between high viral load and the detection of the LMP1 gene in the blood of patients with GC/EBV+, and to identify mutations in the C-terminal domains of the LMP1 gene that may affect protein function.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total DNA was extracted from 227 blood samples of GC patients. The LMP1 gene was amplified using nested PCR. EBV DNA viral load in blood samples was analyzed by qPCR, followed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and interquartile range (IQR) assessment. A selection criterion for positive DNA samples (EBV+) was established based on the mean viral load and ROC threshold.
RESULTS: ROC curve analysis and descriptive statistics identified 23 EBV-positive (EBV+) DNA samples, with the following results: AUC (area under the curve) = 0.83, optimal threshold 526.92 copies/reaction, sensitivity 0.69, specificity 0.87, and mean viral load: 513.5 copies/reaction. A statistically significant association was found between detection of the LMP1 gene in the blood and viral load level (χ2 test p = 0.018; Mann-Whitney U test p < 0.0001). Additionally, synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations were identified in regions of LMP1 gene coding the C-terminal activating domains (CTAR1 and CTAR2).
CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the heterogeneous molecular nature of EBV-associated gastric cancer, including genetic mutations in the LMP1 gene.
PMID:41937671 | DOI:10.36233/0507-4088-359
Vopr Virusol. 2026 Feb 28;71(1):32-41. doi: 10.36233/0507-4088-327.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the level of humoral immunity to the West Nile virus (WNV) in the Moscow region population after the end of the outbreak in October 2021, as well as to confirm the specificity of antibodies to WNV by comparatively testing patient sera for antibodies to the antigenically related endemic tick-borne encephalitis orthoflavivirus (TBEV) using ELISA-IgM, ELISA-IgG, and 50% plaque reduction neutralization test.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 1,594 sera from outpatients-residents of Moscow and the surrounding region-who underwent outpatient examination in the winter of 2021 at Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Moscow (IKB No. 1) and medical institutions of the Moscow Regional Research Institute named after M.F. Vladimirsky Regional Research Institute (MONIKI) conducted a study without any connection to WNV infection in the summer-autumn of 2021.
RESULTS: All samples were negative in ELISA-IgM test with WNV and TBEV antigens. In an ELISA-IgG test with the WNV antigen, antibodies were detected in 64 samples (4.0%). All samples were tested for IgG antibodies to TBEV in an ELISA and neutralizing antibodies to WNV and TBEV in a 50% plaque reduction neutralization test. Specific antibodies to WNV were detected in 44 samples (68.8%), to TBEV in eleven (17.2%), and group-specific antibodies in nine (14.0%). According to the total data from the test of 1,594 sera from residents of the Moscow region, specific antibodies to WNV were detected in 2.8% of cases, to TBEV in 0.7%, and group-specific antibodies in 0.6%. Ten of the 11 individuals with specific IgG antibodies to TBEV were undergoing outpatient examination at Moscow’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Hospital No. 1 for a history of tick-borne encephalitis or for post-vaccination immunity testing following vaccination against this infection. The detection rate of specific antibodies to WNV in similar studies conducted in the same region in 2013 was 0.2%, while in 2021 it was 2.8%. The difference between these rates is statistically significant (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Based on these data, it can be concluded that sporadic undiagnosed cases of WNV infection occurred in Moscow and the surrounding region between 2013 and 2021.
PMID:41937668 | DOI:10.36233/0507-4088-327
Womens Health (Lond). 2026 Jan-Dec;22:17455057261424102. doi: 10.1177/17455057261424102. Epub 2026 Apr 6.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Postnatal care (PNC) is recommended as a means of preventing maternal mortality during the postpartum period, but many women in low- and middle-income countries do not access care during this period.
OBJECTIVE: We set out to examine sociocultural preferences that have been portrayed as barriers to care.
DESIGN: We designed a qualitative study using the Health Equity Implementation Framework (HEIF).
METHODS: We performed an abductive analysis of 63 semi-structured interviews with women who had recently given birth in three regions of Ethiopia using the HEIF and an inductive-deductive codebook to understand why women in Ethiopia do not use recommended PNC.
RESULTS: We found that, in many cases, health providers do not consider women’s cultural safety a primary need, but rather as a barrier to care. However, women’s perceived refusal to participate in postnatal visits was, for many, an expression of agency and assertion of their needs for cultural safety.
CONCLUSION: We propose adding cultural safety to HEIF as a process outcome so that implementers consider cultural needs in a dynamic manner that does not ask patients to choose between meeting their cultural needs and receiving necessary health care during the postnatal period.
PMID:41937658 | DOI:10.1177/17455057261424102
Prog Community Health Partnersh. 2026;20(1):23-35. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2026.a987070.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In King County, Washington, the new HIV diagnosis rate is 10 times higher among African immigrants than the general population. Many African immigrants report never testing for HIV due to various reasons, including inaccessible testing, stigma around HIV and testing, and concerns over jeopardizing their immigration status.
OBJECTIVES: We partnered with the Ethiopian Community in Seattle, the Eritrean Health Board, and the Congolese United Foundation to deliver community-based HIV testing via health fairs at faith-based organizations in King County. We also worked to address community-level HIV-related stigma HIV through pilot implementation of an existing workshop intervention.
METHODS: We held four health fairs from September 2023 to April 2024 at three faith-based organizations, including free point-of-care HIV and other health screenings. Participants completed questionnaires related to sociodemographics and HIV testing history and stigma. Additionally, we adapted and piloted a faith-based HIV stigma reduction intervention called Project FAITHH.
RESULTS: There were 105 health fair attendees and 11 Project FAITHH workshop participants across the three communities. Sixty (52%) were women, 62 (54%) were from Ethiopia and Eritrea, and 85 (74%) had health insurance at the time. Seventy-two (69%) participants underwent HIV testing at the health fairs. Commonly perceived barriers to accessing HIV testing include fear of discovering their results, concerns about privacy and confidentiality, and anxiety about HIV-related stigma.
CONCLUSIONS: Building relationships between academic researchers, community organizations, and faith-based organizations can improve the acceptability of and access to HIV testing among African immigrant communities by addressing perceived barriers to HIV testing.
PMID:41937644 | DOI:10.1353/cpr.2026.a987070