Tag: pubmed

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-46350-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The study of associations between an individual’s age and imaging and non-imaging data is an active research area that attempts to aid understanding of the effects and patterns of aging. In this work, we have conducted a supervoxel-wise association study between both volumetric and tissue attenuation features in coronary computed tomography angiograms (CCTA) and the chronological age of a subject, to understand the localized changes in morphology and CT attenuation (as a measure of tissue density) with age. To enable a supervoxel-wise correlation study, we developed a novel method based on image segmentation, inter-subject image registration, and robust supervoxel-based correlation analysis to achieve a statistical association study between the images and age. We evaluated the registration methodology in terms of the Dice coefficient for the heart chambers and myocardium, and the inverse consistency of the transformations, showing that the method works well in most cases with high overlap and inverse consistency. In a sex-stratified study conducted on a subset of [Formula: see text] images from the SCAPIS study, the supervoxel-wise analysis was able to find localized associations with age outside of the commonly segmented and analyzed sub-regions, and several substantial differences between the sexes in the association of age and volume.

PMID:41917232 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-46350-y

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1007/s00266-026-05761-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Stabilizing the nasal tip is often one of the most challenging aspects of rhinoplasty, and various factors can lead to its deviation. This paper presents a new technique called the backstay suture to improve nasal tip stability.

METHODS: In this longitudinal case series study (Level III evidence), conducted in accordance with STROBE guidelines, data were collected from all patients treated with the backstay suture from 2017 to 2023. Patients with incomplete information were excluded. Patients were assessed preoperatively and up to twelve months postoperatively. Outcomes included patient-reported satisfaction, the presence of postoperative nasal tip deviation assessed by three facial plastic surgeons, and the need for reoperation or additional procedures recorded as binary outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 147 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall satisfaction rate was 85.7% and was comparable to weighted literature estimates (p = 0.36). The nasal obstruction rate was 12.2% (p = 0.82), and the overall reoperation rate was 12.2% (p = 0.82). Minor revision surgeries accounted for 88.8% of reoperations. Nasal tip deviation requiring correction occurred in four patients (2.7%), which was significantly lower than the weighted average reported in the literature (z = – 2.52, p = 0.0118, 95% CI: 0.1-5.3%). Three of these patients had preoperative deviations, and one presented with weak cartilage support. Multivariate logistic regression analysis did not identify age, sex, or deformity type as statistically significant predictors of dissatisfaction, reoperation, or postoperative nasal tip deviation.

CONCLUSIONS: The backstay suture technique was associated with a low rate of postoperative nasal tip deviation in this case series and may represent a useful adjunct in selected rhinoplasty cases. Further comparative studies are warranted to better define its role relative to other stabilization techniques.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID:41917227 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-026-05761-y

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-45461-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To examine the associations between immune-inflammatory status and exercise capacity and psychological status in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), and to inform multidimensional patient characterization. In this cross-sectional study, consecutively hospitalized patients with AECOPD were enrolled and classified into Grade I, II, and III according to predefined severity criteria. General clinical data were collected. Peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺%, CD4⁺%, CD8⁺%, and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio) and inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, WBC, and hs-CRP) were measured. Exercise capacity, symptom burden, psychological status, and activities of daily living were assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, Borg scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale. Group differences across severity grades were compared, and correlation analyses were performed to evaluate relationships between immune-inflammatory markers and clinical outcomes. Across increasing AECOPD severity grades, CD3⁺% and CD4⁺% decreased, whereas CD8⁺% showed a non-significant increasing trend. Inflammatory markers such as IL-8, WBC, and hs-CRP increased with severity grade, whereas IL-6 and TNF-α did not show significant overall differences across the three groups. The 6MWT distance decreased with higher severity grade, and Borg, CAT, HADS-A, and HADS-D scores increased. mMRC and ADL did not show statistically significant overall differences across severity grades. CD4⁺% and the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were positively correlated with 6MWT distance and negatively correlated with CAT, while CD8⁺% was negatively correlated with 6MWT distance and ADL and positively correlated with CAT.Among inflammatory markers, several showed significant correlations with 6MWT distance, Borg, CAT, and selected psychological or ADL outcomes, while others were non-significant. In hospitalized AECOPD patients, immune-inflammatory profiles varied across severity grades and were associated with exercise capacity, symptom burden, psychological status, and daily functioning. Integrating immune-inflammatory markers with functional and psychological assessments may support more comprehensive characterization of patients. Prospective multicenter studies are warranted to evaluate prognostic utility and clarify temporal relationships.

PMID:41917220 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-45461-w

Eur Radiol. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1007/s00330-026-12518-3. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41917219 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-026-12518-3

Br J Cancer. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41416-026-03408-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This multicentre, modular, Phase 1 study evaluated escalating doses of ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related kinase) inhibitor ceralasertib plus PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab in patients with previously treated advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

METHODS: Patients received ceralasertib 80/160/240 mg twice-daily (BID) or 320 mg once-daily (QD) for 7 (Days 22-28) or 14 (Days 15-28) days, plus durvalumab 1500 mg (Day 1), per 28-day cycle. The primary objective was to investigate the safety/tolerability of the combination.

RESULTS: Sixty patients were treated. Two patients had dose-limiting toxicities of: Grade 3 thrombocytopenia with Grade 3 anaemia (ceralasertib 320 mg QD for 14 days); and Grade 4 thrombocytopenia with Grade 3 neutropenia accompanied by systemic chest infection (ceralasertib 240 mg BID for 14 days). Overall, 59 (98.3%) patients had treatment-emergent adverse events; 31 (51.7%) had grade ≥3 events. The recommended Phase 2 dose was durvalumab 1500 mg (Day 1) plus ceralasertib 240 mg BID (Days 15-28). Five (8.3%) patients had objective responses; 31 (51.7%) had stable disease. Pharmacodynamic activity (pRAD50 increase) was observed in 10/14 paired biopsies.

CONCLUSION: Ceralasertib plus durvalumab was tolerated and associated with antitumour activity in advanced/metastatic NSCLC and HNSCC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02264678.

PMID:41917211 | DOI:10.1038/s41416-026-03408-y

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41409-026-02845-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (ASCT) is the only curative option for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but whether cytoreductive pretreatment and molecular “downstaging” according to the IPSS-M improves outcomes remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 128 consecutive adults with MDS who underwent ASCT grouped as frontline transplantation (n = 87) or pretreated before transplant (n = 41). Median bone marrow blasts at diagnosis were 12% vs. 10%. IPSS-M was calculated at diagnosis and immediately before transplant using cytogenetic and next-generation sequencing data. IPSS-M improved in 26% of frontline and 34% of pretreated patients, was unchanged in 41% and 34%, and worsened in 30% and 32%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 17.3 months, overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and graft-versus-host disease relapse-free survival (GRFS) were superior with frontline transplantation (median OS 112.6 vs 14.0 months, p = 0.03, median RFS 61.0 vs 8.9 months, p = 0.007 and median GRFS 13.3 vs 5.3 months, p = 0.004). However, in a landmark analysis starting at the time of transplantation, the difference in OS was no longer statistically significant. Non-relapse mortality was significantly higher after pretreatment (p = 0.018). Pretransplant cytoreduction did not improve post-transplant outcomes despite modest IPSS-M improvements, supporting molecular-risk-guided timing and early donor identification rather than treatment aimed at IPSS-M downstaging.

PMID:41917167 | DOI:10.1038/s41409-026-02845-w

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-46713-5. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41917162 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-46713-5

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-46580-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated floor and ceiling (F/C) effects within the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and examined item-level correlations with total TSK scores and pain intensity in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 134 participants diagnosed with KOA. Each TSK item was analyzed to identify F/C effects, with a threshold of 15% set as the criterion for significance. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was employed to assess the relationships between each TSK item and the total TSK score, as well as between each item and pain intensity. Also, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a varimax rotation, was performed on the 17 items. Notably, significant floor effects were observed in items 4 and 12, while a ceiling effect was noted in item 13. Statistically significant correlations between individual items and the total TSK score were identified for all items except for items 8, 12, and 16. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between item 3 and pain intensity. For the EFA analysis, the data were appropriate, the KMO and Bartlett sphericity tests were 0.748 and p < 0.001. the EFA suggests 4 components which explained 53% of the total variance. Items 4, 8, 12, 13, and 16 of the TSK demonstrated either F/C effects. Correlations with the total TSK score were generally non-significant, with values ranging from r = -0.053 to 0.308. For grouping of the items, 4 components are suggested. Therefore, it is recommended that these items may require further evaluation in future adaptations or psychometric evaluations of the TSK for this population.

PMID:41917156 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-46580-0

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-46144-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

To systematically review and meta-analyze the effects of speed-agility-quickness (SAQ) training on pre-planned change-of-direction speed (CODS) in adolescent and young adult team-sport athletes and to explore potential moderating factors. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, randomized controlled trials published from database inception to 15 November 2025 were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, EBSCOhost, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies involved basketball, soccer, or handball athletes aged 9-26 years, with the experimental group receiving SAQ-dominant interventions and the control group performing routine training, regular sport-specific practice, no additional training, or other non-SAQ comparison conditions. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses, restricted cubic spline meta-regression, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias assessments were conducted. Twenty-two studies contributing 26 effect sizes were included, comprising 17 effect sizes for pre-planned CODS and 9 for linear sprint performance. Compared with controls, SAQ training significantly improved pre-planned CODS (SMD = – 0.71, 95% CI – 0.92 to – 0.51, P < 0.00001) and also improved linear sprint performance (SMD = – 0.90, 95% CI – 1.18 to – 0.62). For CODS, subgroup analyses revealed no significant moderation by age (≤ 18 vs. > 18 years, P = 0.92), weekly training volume (≤ 120 vs. > 120 min/week, P = 0.19), competitive level (elite/club vs. school/university, P = 0.63), or sport discipline (basketball, soccer, handball). Meta-regression did not identify statistically significant non-linear associations for the examined moderators. Sensitivity analyses supported the stability of the pooled estimates, although potential publication bias should be considered when interpreting the magnitude of the effects. SAQ training appears to be an effective strategy for improving pre-planned CODS and linear sprint performance in team-sport athletes aged 9-26 years. The available evidence suggests that these benefits may be observed across different age groups, training volumes, competitive levels, and sports, although variability in intervention design, outcome assessment, and study quality should be acknowledged. These findings support the inclusion of SAQ training within routine physical conditioning programs for this population.

PMID:41917150 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-46144-2

Sci Rep. 2026 Mar 31. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-45573-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a critical public health challenge with mortality rates close to 90%. Current prognostication methods commonly analyze data of individual modalities separately and delay assessment until 72 hours post-arrest, creating a critical gap in early decision-making. Here, we introduce contrastive language and image reasoning with masked autoencoders (CLAIR), a novel multimodal framework integrating head computed tomography (CT) imaging with non-imaging clinical patient information through a cross-attention mechanism and contrastive learning approach to predict cerebral performance category (CPC) score in patients after cardiac arrest. In a retrospective study of 208 patients, we evaluated CLAIR against CT-based imaging-only assessment, as well as clinical evaluation by two experienced ICU neurologists. Our method achieved an AUC-ROC of 0.94 (CI: 0.90-0.97) when trained on a combination of multiplanar CT reconstructions and non-imaging clinical data, significantly outperforming CT scan-based imaging-only methods (AUC-ROC: 0.80, CI: 0.74-0.86) with statistical significance (p = 0.03). In a structured evaluation, the clinicians suggested that CLAIR assisted assessments resulted in fewer prognostic errors than non-assisted evaluations. Further, we demonstrate the applicability of our approach for early neurologic outcome prediction using CT scans obtained within the first 24 hours post-arrest (median acquisition time: 3.1 hours). Our results suggest that CLAIR can contribute value as a clinical assistive tool aiming at reliable early prognostication for post-cardiac arrest patients, potentially enabling more timely clinical decision-making, family counseling, and resource allocation.

PMID:41917125 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-026-45573-3