Tag: pubmed

Sci Rep. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-44103-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Electrocardiogram (ECG) classification is essential for accurately detecting and tracking heart rhythm disorders. This study proposes a multi-class ECG classification framework for identifying cardiac arrhythmias like Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), Normal Rhythm (NR), and Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). The ECG signals were decomposed using Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), and higher-order statistics as well as entropy-based features were extracted from each mode. Multi-task Particle Swarm Optimization (MT-PSO) was employed to reduce redundant features and enhance the discriminative capability of the dataset. Multiple machine-learning models were evaluated, and optimized feature set led to clear performance improvements. The best results were obtained using LightGBM (ACC 0.993), HistGradientBoost (0.991), XGBoost (0.990), and ExtraTrees (0.990). Execution time also decreased for several models after optimization. Confusion-matrix and ROC analyses confirmed reliable detection across all four cardiac classes, and comparison with reported works shows that the proposed framework offers competitive or improved performance for ECG classification.

PMID:41922908 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-44103-5

Int Urol Nephrol. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s11255-026-05099-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major global health problem, burdening more than 650 million people worldwide and exposing them to the risk of aortic stenosis (AS). The present study responds to the urgent need to assess the safety and effectiveness of aortic valve replacement (AVR) interventions young adults with CKD, who tend to be excluded from randomized trials.

METHODS: We analyzed the in-hospital outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a young adult population with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. This large, publicly available United States inpatient healthcare database allowed cross-sectional analysis of hospital admissions during 2018-2020. The population included patients under the age of 65 with a primary or secondary CKD diagnosis who underwent TAVR or SAVR procedures. Baseline factors and in-hospital outcomes, such as mortality rates, hospital costs, and hospital stay, were compared between the TAVR and SAVR groups using statistical analysis, adjusting for these baseline factors.

RESULTS: The 11,315 young adults with CKD trial revealed that TAVR was associated with comparable risk of in-hospital death, reduced length of hospital stay, and decreased hospital charges in comparison to SAVR. TAVR was also associated with reduced risk of acute kidney injury, cardiogenic shock, and venous thromboembolism complications.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, TAVR presents a favorable alternative to SAVR for young adults with CKD. These findings contribute strong evidence to guide clinical decision-making and improve care for this complex patient population.

PMID:41922882 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-026-05099-z

Diabetologia. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s00125-026-06715-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Blood pressure variability (BPV) is a risk factor for kidney disease progression in hypertension and type 2 diabetes; however, the role of BPV in kidney disease in type 1 diabetes is unknown. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether BPV has an impact on kidney disease progression in an ethnically diverse cohort of people with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS: We studied 3079 people (median age 36 [range 18-85] years; 50% female; 78.5% White, 10.9% African Caribbean, 4.5% Asian, 6.1% Other) with type 1 diabetes and baseline eGFR >45 ml/min per 1.73m² attending two university hospital clinics between 2004 and 2018. BPV was assessed using visit-adjusted standard deviation (adj-SD), CV and average real variability (ARV) for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The primary endpoint was eGFR decline of ≥50% from baseline with final eGFR <30 ml/min per 1.73m², with death as a competing risk.

RESULTS: Over a 14 year period, 272 people (8.8%) reached the primary endpoint. All BPV metrics for SBP and DBP were significantly associated with the primary endpoint. ARVs of SBP and DBP and African Caribbean ethnicity emerged as risk factors in multivariable analyses, independent of traditional risk factors, including baseline blood pressure, eGFR, HbA_1c, albuminuria and mean blood pressure in the exposure window. The strongest association was observed for the ARV of SBP (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.27, 1.87, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In people with type 1 diabetes, SBP and DBP variability are associated with kidney disease progression. Further studies are needed to investigate if BPV is a modifiable risk factor for kidney disease progression.

PMID:41922880 | DOI:10.1007/s00125-026-06715-4

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2026 Apr 1;49(4):28. doi: 10.1140/epje/s10189-026-00568-w.

ABSTRACT

This paper extends a field-theoretical dynamical networking formalism for mesoscopic polymer dynamics to explicitly include dedicated cross-linker particles. Cross-linkers are represented within a Martin-Siggia-Rose generating functional and reversibly coupled to polymers through Gaussian networking fields, enabling an approximation scheme that reduces their degrees of freedom while remaining compatible with polymer dynamics. The framework is applied to a two-species polymer system in which intra- and inter-species cross-linking are assigned different statistical advantages. Effective networking potentials are derived and used to calculate correlation functions and dynamic structure factors. To validate these results, molecular dynamics simulations of semi-flexible polymers with reversible intra- and inter-species cross-linking are performed. Simulations show that cross-linking decreases polymer persistence lengths and local alignment, and the resulting trajectories yield dynamic structure factors consistent with theoretical predictions. Qualitative comparison reveals that in both approaches, cross-linking broadens the diffusive peaks and enhances the high-frequency tails of the structure factors. Together, theory and simulation provide complementary insights into the dynamics of cross-linked polymers, establishing a tractable framework that captures essential features observed in experiments and offering a basis for exploring more complex synthetic and biological networks.

PMID:41922872 | DOI:10.1140/epje/s10189-026-00568-w

Environ Monit Assess. 2026 Apr 1;198(4):399. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15238-9.

ABSTRACT

Cement manufacturing releases potentially toxic metals into the surrounding environment, raising notable ecological and public health concerns. In this study, soils collected around a major cement facility in Obajana, Nigeria were analyzed for Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Pb, and Sr using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Soil pH and particle-size distribution were also assessed to evaluate factors influencing metal mobility. Among the analyzed metals, Fe exhibited the highest abundance, followed by Sr, Pb, Cr, Co, and Cd. Measured concentrations were generally within the international guideline limit, although spatial variations reflected the hot zone of the metal concentration distribution in the study area. Relative enrichment assessed using enrichment factor (EF) indicated minor to considerable enrichment (EF = 1-20), suggesting contribution from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Contamination factor (CF) values ranged from moderate to very high contamination (CF < 1: 3 ≤ CF ≥ 6), while pollution load index (PLTI) values (2.34-5.00) indicated overall decline in soil quality. The Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) results further revealed strongly polluted cobalt levels (4.25-4.66), with the remaining metals falling within the low-to-moderate contamination range. The health risk assessment showed higher exposure risks for children than for adults. Hazard index (HI) values for adults and children remained below one, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic risk in the study area. Total carcinogenic risk values for both age groups fall within the acceptable threshold of 1.0E – 04 to 1.0E – 06. The Statistical evaluation pointed to both natural and anthropogenic emissions via cement-related activities as the source of these metals.

PMID:41922869 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15238-9

Drug Saf. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s40264-026-01664-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Medication use in pregnancy is common, but decisions balancing the needs of maternal and fetal health can be complex. Ongoing monitoring of medication use in pregnancy is essential to ensure their continued safe and appropriate use in this population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to estimate the prevalence of prescribed medication use in pregnancy.

METHODS: This review was carried out in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42024533866). PubMed, Medline, Cinahl (EBSCO), APA PsychINFO (EBSCO), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for relevant articles published from January 2010 to May 2025. Inclusion criteria specified that studies provided a value for prescribed medication use in the general population of pregnant women during part or all of the gestational period. Articles were independently dual screened, and relevant data were extracted and validated from included studies. Quality and bias of the studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies. A narrative synthesis was conducted for all studies. A random-effects meta-analysis with logit transformation was used to pool prevalence estimates (95% confidence interval, CI) where sufficient studies defined medication use in a similar way. Cochran’s Q, I², and τ² were used to measure heterogeneity.

RESULTS: A total of 13,416 unique articles were identified and screened. Seventy studies were included. The pooled prevalence for prescribed medication alone during pregnancy was 56% (CI 44-67%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 1.30), based on 23 studies and a population of 7.3 million. The pooled prevalence for prescribed medications alone for the first, second, and third trimesters was 31% (CI 22-40%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 0.65) from 14 studies, 30% (CI 21-42%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 0.56) from 9 studies, and 34% (CI 22-49%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 0.77) from 8 studies, respectively. The pooled prevalence for prescribed medications including prescribed vitamins and minerals was 83% (CI 75-89%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 1.66) based on 26 studies and a population of 4.9 million. For this more inclusive group, the pooled prevalence for the first, second, and third trimesters was 52% (CI 44-61%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 0.46) from 14 studies, 56% (CI 42-70%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 0.88), and 59% (CI 42-74%, p < 0.01, I² = 100%, τ² = 1.25) both from 10 studies, respectively. Methods used to estimate prevalence varied greatly owing to differences in the definition of prescribed medications, the measured exposure period, and the pregnancy outcomes included.

CONCLUSIONS: From this review, it was evident that a large proportion of women use prescribed medications during pregnancy, but estimates vary greatly. A more standardized approach to studying medication use in pregnancy is needed to allow for consistent and standardised estimates that are comparable across populations.

PMID:41922857 | DOI:10.1007/s40264-026-01664-8

Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s40368-026-01203-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Physicians and dentists have a central role in preventing and managing oral health problems in children. This survey aimed to evaluate their knowledge and attitudes towards paediatric oral health.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted via an anonymous questionnaire distributed to healthcare professionals in the province of Milan, Italy, assessing knowledge of paediatric dentistry and exploring attitudes towards clinical advice for improving or maintaining children’s oral health. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all items; the total number of correct answers served as a measure of participants’ preparedness. Comparisons were conducted using Pearson’s Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test.

RESULTS: Overall, 843 healthcare professionals participated (424 physicians and 419 dentists). Comparison between physicians and dentists revealed differences in knowledge and attitudes, with dentists achieving higher scores (p < 0.01), although variability in responses was evident in both groups. Dentists demonstrated superior knowledge concerning the number of primary teeth (99.52% vs. 81.13%, p < 0.01) and the effectiveness of sealants (96.9% vs. 82.08%, p < 0.01), whilst physicians recognised that toothpaste with 500 ppm F was not suitable for all children (59.91% vs. 57.28%, p = 0.48) and understood that initial caries lesions can be reversed (86.79% vs. 66.83%, p < 0.01). ANOVA revealed variability across health professionals with different specialties (F-statistic: 9.59 for physicians, 12.40 for dentists; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Dentists showed greater preparedness than physicians; however, variability remained, partly attributable to inconsistent guidelines, underscoring the need for targeted educational and harmonised recommendations.

PMID:41922849 | DOI:10.1007/s40368-026-01203-0

Abdom Radiol (NY). 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s00261-026-05484-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether measurement of prostate lesion size on sagittal or coronal imaging planes influences PI-RADS v2.1 categorization and histopathologic correlation compared with axial measurement.

METHODS: In this single-center retrospective study, 261 prostate lesions categorized as PI-RADS 4 or 5 underwent subsequent targeted MRI/TRUS fusion biopsy or prostatectomy. Lesion size was measured as maximal axial diameter (MAD) and maximal coronal or sagittal diameter (MCSD). Lesions were subsequently categorized according to PI-RADS v2.1 using these measurements. The agreement between MAD and MCSD was assessed using a Bland-Altman analysis. Measurement reliability and interobserver agreement were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Kappa statistics were used to assess agreement in PI-RADS categorization for clinically significant prostate cancer.

RESULT: Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated minimal bias and strong agreement between MAD and MCSD measurements for the whole prostate (mean difference 0.28 mm; 95% limits of agreement – 2.62 to 3.19 mm), with similar results in both the peripheral and transition zones. Intraclass correlation analysis showed excellent reliability between measurements (ICC = 0.93). Agreement in PI-RADS categorization between MAD and MCSD was almost perfect (κ = 0.931). Reclassification from PI-RADS 4 to 5 occurred in 1.74% of lesions when using MCSD, and all reclassified lesions demonstrated clinically significant prostate cancer on histopathology.

CONCLUSION: MAD and MCSD measurements of prostate lesion size demonstrate excellent agreement and highly concordant PI-RADS categorization. Although reclassification is uncommon, evaluation of the sagittal or coronal planes may provide additional value for selected lesions with craniocaudal elongation, where the maximal tumor extent may not be fully represented on axial images.

PMID:41922779 | DOI:10.1007/s00261-026-05484-3

Nature. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10357-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent observations of superconductivity in twisted bilayer WSe₂ (refs. ^1,2) have extended the family of moiré superconductors beyond twisted graphene^3-15. In WSe₂, two different twist angles were studied, 3.65° (ref. ¹) and 5.0° (ref. ²), and two seemingly distinct superconducting phase diagrams were reported, raising the question of whether the superconducting phases in the two devices share a similar origin. Here we address the question by experimentally mapping the evolution of the phase diagram across devices with twist angles spanning the range defined by the initial reports and comparing the results to twist angle-dependent theory. We find that the superconducting state evolves smoothly with twist angle and at all twist angles is proximal to a Fermi surface reconstruction with, presumably, antiferromagnetic ordering, but is neither necessarily tied to the Van Hove singularity nor to the half-band insulator. Our results connect the previously distinct phase diagrams at 3.65° and 5°, and offer new insight into the origin of the superconductivity in this system and its evolution as the correlation strength increases. More broadly, the smooth phase diagram evolution, repeatability between different devices and dynamic gate tunability within each device establish twisted transition metal dichalcogenides as a unique platform for the study of correlated phases as the ratio of interaction strength to bandwidth is varied.

PMID:41922768 | DOI:10.1038/s41586-026-10357-2

Commun Biol. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09923-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mining multi-cellular spatial patterns associated with biological events from high-resolution spatial omics data remains a fundamental challenge. While current computational methods have advanced from pairwise associations to identifying higher-order spatial domains, they often lack the granularity to resolve subtle local architectural shifts or the statistical framework to quantify condition-specificity. Here, we present FDPMining (Frequent and Distinctive spatial Patterns Mining), a computational framework that reformulates the biological problem of pattern discovery into a scalable data mining task through a Neighborhood-to-Sequence (N2S) encoding strategy. This transformation uniquely converts spatial grid neighborhoods for each cell into lossless and reversible numerical sequences, enabling efficient and scalable discovery of FDPs (Frequent and Distinctive spatial Patterns) via data mining algorithms. Our approach systematically explores the vast combinatorial space of cellular arrangements to identify FDPs associated with specific biological conditions. To enable spatial traceability, we further develop FDPs-Mapping, a spatial reconstruction component that maps identified patterns back to their original tissue context. This advancement allows researchers to examine and interpret patterns directly in situ. In extensive benchmarking, FDPMining demonstrates superior sensitivity in capturing subtle and condition-specific differences, outperforming state-of-the-art pairwise and higher-order pattern discovery methods. We applied our framework across diverse biological systems and spatial omics technologies, successfully identifying biologically meaningful spatial multicellular patterns in axolotl brain regeneration, brain aging, liver zonation, Alzheimer’s disease, and colorectal cancer. Notably, FDPMining enables landmark-anchored pattern discovery around specific anatomical or pathological features such as blood vessels or amyloid plaques, among which applications to Alzheimer’s disease revealed previously inaccessible insights into the multicellular organization of these microenvironments. FDPMining offers a paradigm for quantitatively dissecting spatial heterogeneity in complex tissues, enabling more systematic mining, visualization, and interpretation of cellular organization across diverse biological conditions.

PMID:41922721 | DOI:10.1038/s42003-026-09923-1