Tag: pubmed

Prev Sci. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s11121-026-01908-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Research shows that genetic literacy varies as a function of individual-level factors, but these factors may not account for all observed differences in genetic literacy. We tested the hypothesis that neighborhood opportunity-a structural factor-is associated with genetic literacy. We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data on a weighted sample of 606 US adults from the 2024 Measurement of Genetic Literacy Survey. The Genetic Literacy and Comprehension measure assessed genetic literacy ( $\alpha$ = 0.87). The Childhood Opportunity Index 3.0 measured overall neighborhood opportunity and three domains (Education, Health and Environment, Social and Economic resources). Unadjusted and adjusted weighted linear regression models quantified the associations between neighborhood opportunity and genetic literacy. Among the weighted sample (mean age = 48, SD = 18), 52% were female, and 61% were as non-Hispanic White. Very low overall neighborhood opportunity was significantly associated with lower genetic literacy (β = – 0.70, 95% CI: – 1.40 to – 0.04, p = 0.037), adjusting for demographic characteristics, health-related factors, and receipt of genetic testing. We observed a similar pattern for exposure to very low social and economic resources (β = – 0.95, 95% CI: – 1.60 to – 0.31, p = 0.004). There was no evidence of a statistically significant association between the Health and Environment domain and genetic literacy in the final model (β = – 0.13, 95% CI: – 0.64 to – 0.38, p = 0.62). Findings indicate that neighborhood opportunity is associated with genetic literacy. These results reinforce the importance of assessing structural factors along with individual-level characteristics in genetic literacy research.

PMID:41910920 | DOI:10.1007/s11121-026-01908-0

Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s44402-026-00042-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Scotland has comprehensive vision screening at age 3.5-5.5 years, with ~85% participation (40,000-50,000 episodes annually). Orthoptists deliver the screening, including presenting vision and tests for binocular vision anomalies (BVAnom). The aims were to investigate (1) changes in the prevalence of BVAnom, 2013-2022 and (2) whether less comprehensive screening of solely presenting vision would detect BVAnom.

METHODS: Data from eight Scottish Health Boards were available for 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Binocular vision tests included cover test, ocular motility (OM) and additional tests (near point of convergence, 20Δ base out, pass/fail stereopsis). Data were analysed to determine the prevalence of various BVAnom and adequacy of screening if based solely on vision.

RESULTS: From 2013 to 2022, there was a statistically significant increase in prevalence of exotropia (including intermittent; r² = 0.983, p = 0.001) and of any strabismus (including intermittent; r² = 0.887, p = 0.02), with strabismus prevalence ~2% in 2020-2022. Prevalence of OM anomalies remained stable (r² = 0.364, p = 0.28). The prevalence of BVAnom for each year studied, consecutively, was 3.02, 3.78, 3.83, 4.87, 4.89% (r² = 0.930, p = 0.008). If vision screening had been confined to presenting vision, 342-512 cases of BVAnom would have been missed each year, increasing over time (r² = 0.934, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: In a large population of children in Scotland aged 3.5-5.5 years, the prevalence of BVAnom is increasing, especially exotropia. Many cases of BVAnom would not be detected by solely assessing presenting vision, highlighting the benefits of including binocular vision tests in vision screening. It is recommended that vision screening is repeated during the school years.

PMID:41910916 | DOI:10.1007/s44402-026-00042-2

BioDrugs. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s40259-026-00774-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the monoclonal antibody innovation landscape through patent activity and market data.

METHODS: A dedicated dataset was constructed by linking multiple sources (Antibody Society, Orange Book, Ark Patent Intelligence, US Patent and Trademark Office, PATSTAT, Purple Book, US Veterans Affairs, US-FDA, and ORBIS), covering patents registered between 1986 and 2019. Data analysis comprised six components: (i) a general description of the dataset, (ii) an examination of monoclonal antibody patents and approval trends, (iii) an analysis of therapeutic indications, (iv) a characterization of patent holders and producers through descriptive and network analyses, (v) an assessment of shareholder influence, including common-ownership patterns, and (vi) an evaluation of monoclonal antibody prices.

RESULTS: The dataset included 63 monoclonal antibodies, 1732 unique patents, 89 active pharmaceutical ingredients, 34 producers, and 214 therapeutic indications, of which 36.5% were single indication, while the average number of secondary indications was 3.78. Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Amgen, and Novartis led reference medicine production, while Amgen and Pfizer were notable in biosimilars, with only five companies producing both. Shareholders such as BlackRock, UBS, Vanguard, and JPMorgan exerted strong market influence in monoclonal antibody production. Prices were extremely high, averaging US$127,430 per course or year (s = US$142,509), with 42.1% of monoclonal antibodies priced above US$100,000.

CONCLUSIONS: While monoclonal antibodies have transformed modern medicine and improved safety and effectiveness, their persistently high prices, reinforced by market concentration and financial investor influence, raise serious concerns for equity and social welfare.

PMID:41910914 | DOI:10.1007/s40259-026-00774-0

Clin Rheumatol. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s10067-026-08064-4. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) can serve as a potential biomarker for assessing subclinical inflammation during the attack-free (intercritical) period in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

METHODS: In a single-center cross-sectional case-control study, 52 FMF patients in the attack-free period were compared with 52 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. ELISA measured serum GDF-15 levels; acute-phase reactants (CRP, ESR, SAA, fibrinogen) and various hematologic inflammation indices were evaluated. Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation, and ROC curve methods.

RESULTS: Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in the FMF group than in controls (p < 0.001). Subclinical inflammation, defined by SAA > 10 mg/L, was detected in 78.8% of FMF patients. GDF-15 correlated positively with CRP and SAA (p < 0.05). GDF-15 levels did not differ across MEFV mutation subgroups or by the presence of the M694V mutation. Patients with subclinical inflammation had significantly higher GDF-15 levels than those without. ROC analysis showed that GDF-15 had a statistically significant ability to distinguish FMF from controls (AUC = 0.78; p < 0.001) and to identify subclinical inflammation (AUC = 0.74; p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION: GDF-15 appears to be a potential biomarker reflecting ongoing subclinical inflammation during the attack-free period in FMF. Elevated GDF-15 levels in patients with SAA-defined subclinical inflammation suggest that GDF-15 may reflect low-grade inflammatory activity. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings. Key Points • Serum GDF-15 was significantly higher in the attack-free FMF patients than in controls, supporting its potential to reflect persistent low-grade (subclinical) inflammation. • GDF-15 showed moderate discriminative performance (AUC 0.783) and may complement conventional acute-phase reactants in assessing inflammatory burden during attack-free periods. • GDF-15 levels did not differ significantly across MEFV mutation subgroups or by M694V status in this cohort.

PMID:41910911 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-026-08064-4

Health Econ Rev. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1186/s13561-026-00764-6. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:41910908 | DOI:10.1186/s13561-026-00764-6

Intern Emerg Med. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s11739-026-04330-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Sepsis, a life-threatening infection-induced condition, is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, particularly among older adults. Survivors often experience long-term health complications, including decline in functional capacity, cognitive impairment, and worsening of chronic comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sepsis on frailty and functional status over 12 months in patients with community-acquired infections. 50 patients completed the follow-up and were analyzed: 24 in the sepsis group and 26 in the control group, matched by age, sex, and infection source. Functional status was assessed at baseline and 12 months using the Barthel Index, Lawton Scale, and FRAIL questionnaire. At 12 months, septic patients showed significant declines in both functional capacity and frailty. Specifically, there was a significant decline in functional independence as measured by the Lawton Scale, with 33.3% of septic patients exhibiting reduced ability in instrumental activities of daily living, compared to 11.7% in controls (p = 0.032). FRAIL scale showed significant worsening in the sepsis group (41.7% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.005). Notably, 33.3% of previously robust septic patients developed new frailty, compared to 0% in the control group (p = 0.025). The study also found a significant increase in comorbidity burden at 12 months within the sepsis group (p = 0.041), whereas between-group differences were not statistically significant. These results highlight the long-term impact of sepsis on functional capacity and frailty, emphasizing the need for targeted post-sepsis rehabilitation and management.

PMID:41910885 | DOI:10.1007/s11739-026-04330-0

Ear Nose Throat J. 2026 Mar 30:1455613261438070. doi: 10.1177/01455613261438070. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: YouTube is a video-sharing platform that patients frequently utilize. However, there are no objective assessments of the quality of information about otosclerosis on YouTube. Therefore, we aimed to assess the quality of YouTube videos for patient education via a cross-sectional study. We utilized 4 search phrases and analyzed them with 3 different scoring metrics, followed by statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Fifty videos were analyzed for the search terms “stapedectomy,” “stapedotomy,” “laser stapedotomy,” and “otosclerosis.” Most videos for “stapedotomy” (42%) and “otosclerosis” (41.2%) were intended for patients, while those for “stapedotomy” (48%) and “laser stapedotomy” (96%) were created for healthcare professionals or students. Higher modified DISCERN scores were associated with healthcare organization-produced videos for “otosclerosis” (P = .01964) and “stapedotomy” (P = .02842). Higher global quality score (P = .02964) and Journal of the American Medical Society scores (P = .01488) were significantly associated with videos made by verified users for “otosclerosis.”

CONCLUSION: The quality of YouTube videos may not be sufficient for patient education on stapedectomy and stapedotomy for otosclerosis. Only 2 search terms included most videos geared toward patient education, while the other 2 terms had more videos for healthcare professionals. Lower transparency and reliability scores may give concerns about bias.

PMID:41906985 | DOI:10.1177/01455613261438070

J Atten Disord. 2026 Mar 30:10870547261428864. doi: 10.1177/10870547261428864. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulated immune homeostasis may play a role in the pathophysiology of ADHD; however, comprehensive profiling of T-helper (Th) cell subsets and microglial regulatory cytokines remains limited.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adolescents aged 12 to 18 years with ADHD (n = 45) and healthy controls (n = 41). Serum levels of Th1 (IL-12 and IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-4), Th17 (IL-17 and IL-23), Treg (IL-10 and TGF-β), and microglia regulatory cytokines (IL-34 and CSF-1) were measured by ELISA. ROC curve and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the diagnostic and predictive value of the parameters in distinguishing ADHD.

RESULTS: Significant increases in IL-12, IL-17, IL-23, IL-4, and IL-10 levels were observed in the ADHD group compared to the control group. IL-12 and IL-17 showed the highest diagnostic yield (AUC = 0.77). IL-12 remained a strong independent predictor in multivariate analysis (OR = 55.88, P = .015). IFN-γ and TGF-β did not differ significantly between the groups. CSF-1 levels did not differ between the groups, while IL-34 showed an increase that approached statistical significance in the ADHD group (P = .052; AUC = 0.622).

CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal a profile of Th1/Th17-dominated proinflammatory activation, partially compensatory Th2/Treg modulation, and potentially IL-34-mediated microglial divergence in ADHD. IL-12 and IL-17 showed the highest discriminatory performance; however, their AUC values (~0.77) remained at a moderate level. Our findings highlight the need for multidimensional immunophenotyping and point toward novel immune-targeted therapeutic strategies.

PMID:41906980 | DOI:10.1177/10870547261428864

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2026 Apr;61(4):e71599. doi: 10.1002/ppul.71599.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low-birth-weight percentile has been associated with impaired pulmonary function at adulthood. However, its impact on pulmonary function early in life remains less well established.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) status on pulmonary function in infants 3 months to 2 years of age.

METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study evaluating infant pulmonary function tests (iPFTs) performed at Hadassah medical center between 2008 and 2023. Tests were performed as part of routine clinical evaluation following referral for respiratory symptoms. iPFTs results in infants born SGA were compared with infants born appropriate and large for gestation age (AGA/LGA). Excluded from the study were infants diagnosed with chronic diseases other than prematurity.

RESULTS: iPFT data from 161 SGA infants were compared with 545 AGA/LGA infants. No consistent significant differences were found between the groups (mean (SD); FEV_0.5 = 80.11 (18.40) %predicted vs. 81.55 (18.03) %predicted, P = 0.40; FVC = 84.24 (20.30) %predicted vs. 85.61 (20.22) %predicted, P = 0.47). SGA infants were not more likely to demonstrate restrictive (8.3% vs. 4.7%, P = 0.09) or obstructive (53.7% vs. 49.7%, P = 0.40) patterns. Findings were similar in analyses stratified by prematurity and term birth.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings challenge the hypothesis that SGA is associated with impaired pulmonary function in infancy. While subtle differences were observed, they were not statistically or clinically significant. However, as this cohort consisted of symptomatic infants, the findings may not be generalizable to the broader infant population. Population-based studies are needed to further clarify the respiratory outcomes of intrauterine growth restriction.

PMID:41906950 | DOI:10.1002/ppul.71599

Perspect Biol Med. 2026;69(1):106-125. doi: 10.1353/pbm.2026.a985817.

ABSTRACT

Death certificates act as verified records concluding the administrative aspects of a person’s life. In the US, the death certificate includes essential biographical information about the decedent, including the manner and cause of death. To some, the cause of death may be a procedural step necessary to obtain a death certificate, and where there is not an ensuing forensic investigation, the cause of death may even seem immaterial. But specificity in determining the cause of death is crucial to epidemiological and public health initiatives and for the maintenance of accurate mortality records. This article argues that inaccuracies in cause of death determinations are harmful: they are detrimental to the professional commitments physicians owe their patients and distort the lived experiences of the deceased. Inaccuracy in vital statistics affects individuals and families by misrepresenting the physiological and biological processes leading to death and potentially altering the deceased person’s life story. While there is extensive literature exploring the challenges faced by clinicians in determining the cause of death, this article focuses on modifications made to the cause of death-whether consciously through deliberate intent to conceal, or unconsciously through error or omission-where the death may be socially stigmatizing.

PMID:41906895 | DOI:10.1353/pbm.2026.a985817