Tag: pubmed

Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2026 Apr 24;360:112228. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2026.112228. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Neuroimaging studies in familial high-risk (FHR) individuals are vital for identifying vulnerability markers independent of overt illness. However, research on purely non-prodromal FHR cohorts using comparative multimodal approaches remains limited. This study addresses this gap through multimodal MRI analysis-including cortical morphometry, white matter microstructure, tractography, and functional connectivity-in non-prodromal FHR for psychosis (FHR-P, n = 18), bipolar disorder (FHR-BD, n = 19), and healthy controls (HC, n = 25). FHR-BD showed increased right inferior parietal surface area and right middle temporal volume compared to HC. Conversely, FHR-P exhibited reduced right superior frontal cortical thickness compared to FHR-BD and decreased left pallidum volume compared to HC. White matter analysis revealed significantly lower fractional anisotropy in FHR-P compared to both FHR-BD and HC. FHR-BD showed higher axial diffusivity than HC in the forceps minor, uncinate fasciculus, and right-fronto-occipital fasciculus. No significant differences were found in network-based statistics or graph theoretical measures. These findings reveal shared and distinct neurobiological alterations in non-prodromal FHR-P and FHR-BD, suggesting that grey and white matter disruptions constitute endophenotypes even without clinical symptoms. The lack of network-level findings may reflect the modest sample size, requiring further investigation in larger cohorts.

PMID:42070334 | DOI:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2026.112228

Comput Biol Chem. 2026 May 1;124(Pt 1):109099. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2026.109099. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are major health challenges. While both individually disrupt systemic homeostasis, their potential synergistic effects on hematological, lipid, and renal function profiles remain poorly defined in specific demographics.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to comparatively analyze key hematological, lipid, and renal function biomarkers among Iraqi CKD patients with HBV co-infection, CKD patients without HBV, and healthy controls.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 participants (50 CKD, 50 CKD+HBV, 50 controls). Hematological parameters (WBCs, Hb, PCV, RBCs, PLTs, iron, ferritin), lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL, HDL), and renal function markers (urea, creatinine) were measured. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA with post-hoc tests to assess group differences, Chi-square tests for categorical distributions, and Pearson correlations to evaluate linear relationships between independent biomarkers, with P ≤ 0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, both CKD and CKD+HBV groups exhibited significantly lower WBCs, Hb, PCV, RBCs, PLTs, and iron, and higher ferritin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and renal markers (P < 0.05). Notably, there were no statistically significant differences in these biomarkers between the CKD-only and CKD+HBV groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Both CKD and CKD+HBV profoundly alter hematological and biochemical profiles compared to healthy controls. However, HBV co-infection did not significantly exacerbate these abnormalities in this cohort. These findings suggest that the profound metabolic and hematological disruptions driven by uremia may overshadow the secondary physiological effects of HBV infection, highlighting the need for future longitudinal studies incorporating viral load and multivariable modeling.

PMID:42070332 | DOI:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2026.109099

Forensic Sci Int Genet. 2026 Apr 27;84:103518. doi: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2026.103518. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Y-STRs are used in forensic genetics to investigate male trace material in cases where no useful autosomal STR profiles can be established. While non-matching suspects can be safely excluded from trace donorship this way, interpreting Y-STR haplotype matches is less straightforward. Equating the corresponding Y-STR match probabilities to haplotype frequencies estimated from population databases is not only common practice, but is also recommended by the International Society for Forensic Genetics. However, this approach ignores that population databases, in principle, cannot be representative of all plausible alternative suspects in each and every case. Therefore, we previously introduced a novel mathematical framework for calculating Y-STR match probabilities drawing upon the suspect’s male pedigree, thereby obviating the use of haplotype frequency estimates from population databases for this purpose. Here, we present the implementation of this framework into a publicly available software tool, named MatchY. Expanding the original approach in various ways, the tool can handle any number of single or multi-copy Y-STRs with known mutation rates and allowing both one-step and two-step mutations. MatchY can calculate match probabilities for pedigrees of any size and complexity based upon the haplotype information of its typed members, while simulating haplotypes of untyped ones. In addition to considering all plausible trace donor candidates within the pedigree, the tool can also consider a hypothetical, most closely related candidate from outside the pedigree. The performance of MatchY has been tested using various marker sets and example pedigrees. Together, these features make MatchY a practical and formally correct tool for the interpretation of Y-STR matches by calculating Y-STR match probabilities based on the suspect’s male pedigree.

PMID:42070321 | DOI:10.1016/j.fsigen.2026.103518

J Eval Clin Pract. 2026 Jun;32(4):e70450. doi: 10.1111/jep.70450.

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Ankle fractures are common orthopaedic injuries with wide variability in recovery duration and outcome. While long-term outcomes are well documented, less is known about the short-term recovery period. An updated analysis using claims data would provide greater clarity on short-term recovery patterns.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to characterise recovery duration after treatment for ankle fracture and to evaluate associations between comorbidities, perioperative complications, additional procedures and healthcare costs.

METHOD: Healthcare claims from the IBM MarketScan database (2015-2018) were analysed to determine recovery costs for the index treatment and subsequent events including revision surgery, motion restoring surgery (MRS), rehospitalizations, and complication-related interventions. Recovery duration was defined as the interval between the initial surgery/treatment and the final physical/occupational therapy claim. Outcomes were summarised using medians and interquartile ranges (IQR).

RESULTS: Among 7,112 patients, the median index treatment cost was $5163 (IQR: $994-$12,444), and the recovery duration was 88 days (IQR: 36-492). Thirty-eight percent of patients required more than 6 months to complete recovery. Post-treatment complications were associated with markedly longer and more expensive recovery. Patients who required a complication-related surgery had a recovery duration that was 4 times longer and incurred costs that were 8 times greater than those without such events. Joint contracture and MRS were strongly associated with prolonged and costly recoveries.

CONCLUSION: This claims‑based analysis identified wide variation in short‑term recovery after ankle fracture. Strong associations were demonstrated between complications, including joint contracture, MRS and rehospitalizations, and extended recovery duration and higher costs. These findings may help clinicians identify patients at risk for delayed recovery and support more informed decision‑making in early post‑treatment care.

PMID:42070271 | DOI:10.1111/jep.70450

Prostate. 2026 May 3. doi: 10.1002/pros.24904. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The article by Pae et al., titled “LHRH Antagonists Restore Serum Testosterone Faster Than LHRH Agonists in Prostate Cancer Patients After Radiotherapy,” provides valuable insights into the differential effects of LHRH antagonists and agonists on testosterone recovery in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. While the study highlights the statistically significant accelerated recovery of testosterone with LHRH antagonists, several limitations warrant further discussion. Notably, the study does not adequately address the variability in the duration and formulations of LHRH agents (e.g., 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month formulations), which may influence recovery times. Existing evidence suggests that long-acting formulations are associated with prolonged recovery, raising questions about whether the observed differences are due to pharmacological properties or formulation duration. The clinical relevance of faster testosterone recovery remains uncertain, as the study does not evaluate its impact on patient-reported outcomes such as quality of life, sexual function, or metabolic health. Future research should focus on stratifying analyses by formulation type and duration and assessing the clinical implications of testosterone recovery on patient-centered outcomes to enhance the applicability of these findings to clinical practice.

PMID:42070253 | DOI:10.1002/pros.24904

J Eval Clin Pract. 2026 Jun;32(4):e70459. doi: 10.1111/jep.70459.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) resources are scarce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a median of 0.7 beds per 100,000 population. The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) aids early identification of clinical deterioration and supports standardized escalation and ICU triage decisions to optimize critical-care resource use. However, adherence to MEWS protocols remains inconsistent.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Does adherence to MEWS-based ICU admission criteria improve patient outcomes, and which admission categories/service lines contribute most to MEWS-threshold discordance?

METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional baseline needs assessment of 120 adult ICU admissions over 3 months at a university teaching tertiary referral centre in Pakistan. MEWS at ICU admission was compared against the prespecified admission threshold (MEWS ≥ 7) to quantify threshold compliance and to characterise sub-threshold admissions by admission category/service line. Mortality and ICU length of stay were analysed as secondary, exploratory outcomes using univariable logistic regression and correlation analyses, respectively.

RESULTS: Only 34.2% of ICU admissions met the prespecified MEWS threshold, while 65.8% were admitted despite sub-threshold scores, indicating substantial MEWS-threshold discordance. Discordance was most frequent in trauma-related/neurosurgical and major surgical admissions. Meeting the MEWS threshold was associated with worse survival (OR = 0.247; 95% CI: 0.111-0.548), consistent with higher illness severity among threshold-concordant admissions. This association was not adjusted for confounders due to the limited events and should be interpreted cautiously. MEWS showed minimal correlation with ICU length of stay (r = 0.05; p = 0.576).

CONCLUSION: In this baseline needs assessment, ICU admissions frequently diverged from the prespecified MEWS threshold, suggesting that clinician discretion and service-line context commonly override score-based recommendations. These findings provide an institution-specific foundation for targeted quality improvement (protocol refinement, training, audit-feedback, decision support, and step-up/HDU pathways).

PMID:42070252 | DOI:10.1111/jep.70459

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2026 May 3. doi: 10.1111/jce.70357. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The role of dominant frequency (DF)-guided ablation after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remains uncertain. We evaluated the clinical and mechanistic impact of DF mapping in a multicenter randomized study.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In this multicenter, prospective study, 103 patients were enrolled. Patients with high-DF sites (≥ 7 Hz) were randomized 1:1 to PVI plus DF ablation (DF group, n = 32) or PVI alone (PVI group, n = 32). Patients without high-DF sites (< 7 Hz, n = 39) underwent PVI only (non-DF group; exploratory cohort). The primary endpoint was freedom from documented AF recurrence without antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) at 12 months. AF-free survival off AADs was 81.3% in the DF group versus 68.9% in the PVI group (p = 0.228) at 12 months. Arrhythmia-free survival with or without AADs was 78.1% versus 65.6% (p = 0.263). The non-DF group showed the most favorable outcomes (83.3%, p = 0.065 vs PVI group). No adverse events were associated with DF mapping or ablation. Multivariate analysis identified right atrial (RA) low-voltage area extent (HR 1.031, 95% CI 1.005-1.058, p = 0.018) and LA diameter (HR 0.899, 95% CI 0.816-0.991, p = 0.032) as independent predictors of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter randomized trial, adjunctive DF-guided ablation following PVI did not result in a statistically significant improvement in arrhythmia-free survival compared with PVI alone. However, the absence of high-DF sites was associated with favorable outcomes, and RA low-voltage burden emerged as an independent predictor of recurrence, supporting the potential mechanistic value of DF mapping and highlighting the prognostic importance of right atrial structural remodeling.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000042543.

PMID:42070248 | DOI:10.1111/jce.70357

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2026 May 3. doi: 10.1007/s11356-026-37789-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Air pollution is one of the important environmental and public health hazards that requires a combination of assessments, monitoring, and mitigation approaches. The current review is an attempt to review the tools for monitoring and modeling air pollution data focusing on predictive forecasting. The review involves different modeling techniques, including deterministic models, statistical methods, and machine learning and deep learning techniques employed to process pollutant concentration, considering data quality, uncertainty assessment, model interpretability, and temporal and spatial scales. An emphasis is laid on hybrid and ensemble models integrating physics-based and data-driven approaches to enhance the prediction accuracy and robustness. Finally, the review explores emerging directions, such as physics-informed machine learning and edge-computing models, and identifies opportunities for open data platforms and collaborative research to promote fair and meaningful air quality management in a global context.

PMID:42070218 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-026-37789-7

Discov Ment Health. 2026 May 3. doi: 10.1007/s44192-026-00468-7. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The coach-athlete relationship is central for the development and well-being of adolescent athletes, but the mechanisms underlying this relation are underexplored. Learning life skills may explain these underlying mechanisms; therefore, understanding this line of inquiry can help optimize the coaching process and life skill development. Given this context, this study aims to analyze how the interactions between coaches and adolescent athletes are associated with well-being, as well as understand the statistical mediating role of life skills. A total of 312 Brazilian adolescent athletes participated, completing measures assessing the coach-athlete relationship, life skills and well-being. The paths (coach-athlete relationship → life skills → well-being) were tested using structural equation modeling. As a result, life skills showed a statistical indirect association accounting for 45.7% of the variance explained in the association between the coach-athlete relationship with well-being. Among the dimensions associated with the coach-athlete relationship, commitment emerged as a significant correlate of all life skills. Moreover, complementarity showed a direct association with all three well-being domains. Additionally, closeness showed a specific direct association only with psychological well-being. With regards to life skills, goal setting was positively associated with all three well-being domains, whereas emotional skills showed a negative association, suggesting that they may function as a marker of prior adversity. Taken together, the coach-athlete relationship is not a monolithic construct; its dimensions show functional specificity in their associations. From an applied standpoint, sport-based programs should prioritize building a relationship of commitment as a foundational element to support the intentional teaching of skills.

PMID:42070203 | DOI:10.1007/s44192-026-00468-7

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2026 May 3. doi: 10.1007/s13555-026-01763-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aerosol foam formulation of calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD) is an efficacious topical treatment for psoriasis. This study evaluated the efficacy of Cal/BD foam versus ointment in Chinese patients, on the basis of investigator-assessed and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from a 4-week clinical trial, including post hoc analyses after 2 weeks of treatment.

METHODS: A randomized, investigator-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group phase 3 trial was conducted in China. Native Chinese adults (≥ 18 years) with plaque psoriasis involving 2-30% of the body surface area (BSA), with at least mild disease severity according to the Physician’s Global Assessment (PGA), and modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (mPASI) ≥ 2 were randomized 1:1 to receive either Cal/BD foam or ointment once daily for a 4-week treatment period. Efficacy was assessed at weeks 0, 2, and 4 using mPASI, PGA, BSA, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI), and Subject’s Global Assessment of disease severity (SGA).

RESULTS: A total of 302 patients were randomized to each treatment. Both groups had clinically meaningful improvements across all outcome measures from baseline to week 2, with sustained or further improvements at week 4. For Cal/BD foam-treated patients, mean change from baseline in mPASI was -59.87% at week 2 (versus ointment: -54.59%; P = 0.010) and -74.69% at week 4 (versus ointment: -70.22%; P = 0.043). Other investigator-assessed outcomes based on mPASI and PGA showed statistically significant treatment differences favoring Cal/BD foam at week 4. Improvements in PROs (DLQI, PSI, and SGA) were numerically slightly greater with Cal/BD foam than ointment, though not statistically significant. For Cal/BD foam-treated patients, mean change from baseline in DLQI was -3.9 at week 2 (versus ointment: -3.7; P = 0.5012) and -5.5 at week 4 (versus ointment: -5.3; P = 0.5119).

CONCLUSIONS: Cal/BD foam showed rapid onset of action with clinically meaningful improvements in signs, symptoms, and quality of life in Chinese patients with plaque psoriasis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05919082. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis, a chronic disease affecting the skin and other body systems. Plaques are thick, scaly patches of skin that can be itchy and painful, limiting patients’ everyday activities. Plaque psoriasis has a major impact on quality of life, comparable with the impact of other chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Many treatments, such as creams, tablets, and injections, can improve plaque psoriasis, but they do not always work well for everyone. In a clinical trial in China, we tested two treatments-a foam and an ointment-that have the same amount of two active ingredients: calcipotriol (Cal) and betamethasone dipropionate (BD). The goal was to find out if Cal/BD foam, which is the newer treatment, worked as well as Cal/BD ointment in Chinese men and women with plaque psoriasis. The trial participants were randomly distributed into two groups, each with 302 participants. One group applied Cal/BD foam on their plaques and the other group applied Cal/BD ointment, both once daily for 4 weeks. Both groups had meaningful improvements in psoriasis signs and symptoms as well as quality of life already after 2 weeks, with sustained or further improvements after 4 weeks. Overall, the improvements were slightly greater with Cal/BD foam than with Cal/BD ointment.

PMID:42070197 | DOI:10.1007/s13555-026-01763-5