Tag: pubmed

J Med Primatol. 2026 Jun;55(3):e70080. doi: 10.1111/jmp.70080.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Colon cancer death toll due to metastasis is expected to rise. Extracellular vesicles are signalling molecules which can regulate communication between cells and either inhibit or promote cancer metastasis.

METHODS: Extracellular vesicles from adipose mesenchymal stem cells of Macaca fascicularis were obtained from previous research. Various concentrations of extracellular vesicles (5 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, and 20 μg/mL) were applied to colon cancer cell line WiDr in a transwell invasion assay. CXCR3 gene expression analysis was done using RT-qPCR.

RESULTS: Application of extracellular vesicles successfully inhibited colon cancer invasion with decrease of number of invasive cells with increase in concentration. There was no statistical difference between cells treated with 10 μg/mL and 20 μg/mL of extracellular vesicles. Colon cancer cells treated with extracellular vesicles show upregulation of CXCR3A and CXCR3B gene expression compared to negative control.

CONCLUSION: Extracellular vesicles inhibit colon cancer cell invasion through upregulation of CXCR3B expression.

PMID:42144563 | DOI:10.1111/jmp.70080

Neth Heart J. 2026 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s12471-026-02050-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the clinical impact of a dedicated multidisciplinary spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) care pathway compared with standard acute coronary syndrome management, focusing on safety, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, and recurrence rates in patients with SCAD.

METHODS: In this retrospective observational cohort study, 117 SCAD patients were included: 63 managed within a SCAD-specific care pathway and 54 receiving standard care prior to or independent of its implementation. The SCAD pathway included protocolized angiographic diagnosis, conservative management when feasible, individualized medical therapy, screening for fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and systemic disorders, and SCAD-specific rehabilitation with structured follow-up. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1‑year follow-up.

RESULTS: Patients in the SCAD pathway group were more often managed conservatively in the acute setting (76% vs. 24%, p < 0.001), had significantly lower rates of stent implantation (8% vs. 65%, p < 0.001), and were less frequently prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy (19% vs. 96%, p < 0.001). At 12-month follow-up, beta-blocker adherence was higher (76% vs. 41%, p < 0.001), aspirin use was lower (38% vs. 59%, p < 0.001), and recurrent SCAD occurred numerically less often but not statistically significantly (3% vs. 9%, p = 0.231). MACE rates were similar between groups, and no deaths occurred. FMD screening was more common in the pathway group (92% vs. 17%, p < 0.001), facilitating diagnosis and tailored long-term therapy.

CONCLUSION: Implementation of a standardized SCAD care pathway was associated with a safe conservative approach, more targeted secondary prevention, improved beta-blocker adherence, and a trend toward fewer recurrent SCAD events. These findings support integration of SCAD-specific multidisciplinary care into routine clinical practice to improve diagnostic precision and long-term outcomes.

PMID:42144538 | DOI:10.1007/s12471-026-02050-w

Infect Dis Ther. 2026 May 17. doi: 10.1007/s40121-026-01352-1. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The continual emergence of new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants drives the need to update evidence on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and disease burden, and better understand the impact on prevention, treatment, and healthcare systems.

METHODS: This systematic review aimed to determine relative disease severity, through comparative measures of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and mortality, between SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern emerging since Omicron was first identified. A protocol was registered a priori (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024619193). Systematic searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were conducted in November 2024 and supplemented by conference searches from 2022-2024. Population, Exposure, Comparisons, Outcomes (PECO) criteria were used to screen publications for inclusion. Critical appraisal tools published in the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Handbook for Evidence Synthesis were used to assess the risk of bias of the primary studies included. The outcomes associated with Omicron variants, identified by sequencing or predominance periods, included hospitalization, admission to intensive care, death, and various composite endpoints.

RESULTS: Thirty-two studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria, most reported on relative disease severity for early Omicron BA.5 (n = 23) and XBB (n = 24) variants. Overall, COVID-19 severity appeared largely comparable across the various Omicron subvariants. Among the subset of studies that directly compared various severity outcomes to earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants (n = 7), some reported modest increases or decreases in severity. However, these differences were generally not statistically significant. Five studies stratifying outcomes by the presence of comorbid conditions noted that comorbidities were predictors of significantly worse COVID-19 disease outcomes (p = 0.000-0.027).

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this systematic review found the severity of COVID-19 disease to be comparable among Omicron subvariants. As SARS-CoV-2 subvariants continue to emerge, these results highlight the continuing need for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection alongside early antiviral intervention to support short-term management and long-term reduction of COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality.

PMID:42144508 | DOI:10.1007/s40121-026-01352-1

Ir J Med Sci. 2026 May 18. doi: 10.1007/s11845-026-04444-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition predominantly affecting preterm infants. The majority of patients with NEC are treated medically, however, approximately 25% of patients require surgical intervention.

AIMS: This study wished to assess the national outcomes for patients with surgical NEC in Ireland. The data was gathered from the only two centres in Ireland that perform this type of surgery.

METHOD: All patients in the Republic of Ireland who underwent a laparotomy for NEC were identified over a 10 year period (2012-2022). The following information was obtained for each patient: sex, gestational age, birth weight, medical co-morbidities, length of bowel resection in centimetres, presence/absence of ileocecal valve after surgery, stoma formation, time from maternity hospital referral to surgical procedure and mortality.

RESULTS: 133 patients underwent laparotomy for NEC over the 10 year study period. 101 (75.9%) patients were alive at the time of data collection and 32 patients died, resulting in a mortality rate of 24.1%. All 13 patients with NEC totalis died (phi correlation with mortality 0.555). 0 patients with spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) died (phi correlation-0.152). Loss of ileocaecal valve at surgery was statistically significantly associated with mortality (phi correlation 0.536).

CONCLUSION: The outcomes for neonates with surgical NEC in Ireland in our study are favourable compared to the published literature. Our outcomes may be better than published data as they may not reflect a subgroup of patients with NEC in Ireland that never made it to our tertiary institutions for surgical assessment.

PMID:42144499 | DOI:10.1007/s11845-026-04444-6

Ann Biomed Eng. 2026 May 17. doi: 10.1007/s10439-026-04159-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Prosthetic clinics and philanthropic organizations are increasingly using additive manufacturing (AM) to manufacture upper-limb prostheses (ULP). However, a lack of documented use cases and guidelines hinders its broader implementation. Additional data are required to establish recommendations. This exploratory study aims to investigate the sociodemographics and expertise of individuals using AM to manufacture ULP.

METHODS: An international cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from October 1st, 2023, to June 30th, 2024. Participants were recruited using non-probability sampling through specialized online channels. We collected sociodemographic data and explored AM ULP manufacturing workflows and outcomes. The survey was available in French, English, and Spanish. Survey data underwent descriptive analyses.

RESULTS: Of 111 participants who started the survey, 61 (55%) completed it. Participants included aid organizations members (40%), prosthetists (37%), and other related professions (23%), with up to 5 years (60%) of AM experience. Active (56%) ULP were predominantly manufactured using Fused Filament Fabrication (84%) with polylactic acid (77%) material. Poor digital customization skills represented the main barrier to 3D production. Functionality and reliability of AM ULP parts represent major limitations in 3D devices studied.

CONCLUSION: Although additive manufacturing offers significant technological advantages for the production of upper-limb prostheses, human (e.g., digital skills, training) and technical (e.g., mechanical performance of materials) barriers can hinder its implementation and clinical relevance. Further studies, endorsed by official institutions, are warranted to establish guidelines for each subgroup of stakeholders to manufacture optimal ULP using AM.

PMID:42144492 | DOI:10.1007/s10439-026-04159-w

J Robot Surg. 2026 May 18;20(1):510. doi: 10.1007/s11701-026-03449-8.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) and transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) have emerged as scarless alternatives to conventional open thyroidectomy, offering excellent cosmetic outcomes. However, the comparative perioperative outcomes between these two minimally invasive techniques remain to be systematically evaluated. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of TOETVA and TORT in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

METHODS: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to March 1, 2026, for studies comparing TOETVA and TORT. The primary outcomes included recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, mental nerve injury, seroma, surgical site infection, and postoperative hemorrhage. The secondary outcome included operation time, length of hospital stay, number of lymph nodes dissected, and postoperative pain score. Pooled weighted mean differences (MD) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Study quality was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.

RESULTS: A total of 5 studies involving 1,080 patients were included (639 in the TOETVA group and 441 in the TORT group). Compared with TOETVA, TORT was associated with significantly longer operation time (MD = -56.74 min, 95% CI [-73.41, -40.07], p < 0.05) but shorter hospital stay (MD = 0.26 days, 95% CI [0.03, 0.49], p < 0.05). The incidence of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was significantly higher in the TOETVA group than in the TORT group (OR = 3.56, 95% CI [1.14, 11.06], p = 0.03). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of lymph nodes dissected, the number of metastatic central compartment lymph nodes, the incidence of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, mental nerve injury, transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism, seroma, surgical site infection, or postoperative hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION: Although TORT is associated with longer operative time, it demonstrates potential advantages in terms of length of hospital stay and neuroprotection.The two procedures are comparable in terms of radicality of lymph node dissection, postoperative pain, and low complication rates. TORT is a safe and effective minimally invasive surgical option with better neural protection, especially suitable for patients prioritizing cosmetic outcomes. Long-term oncological safety still needs to be verified in future multicenter studies with larger samples and longer follow-up durations.

PMID:42144490 | DOI:10.1007/s11701-026-03449-8

Int Urol Nephrol. 2026 May 17. doi: 10.1007/s11255-026-05207-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The benefits of incremental peritoneal dialysis (IPD) with days off remain controversial. This study aimed to compare the survival rate between IPD with days off and standard-dose peritoneal dialysis (PD).

METHODS: Participants who started continuous peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) between October 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021, in a tertiary hospital in Thailand were enrolled. IPD with two days off (performed 5 days a week) and standard-dose PD (performed every day) were compared using propensity score matching at a 1:1 ratio for baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was 1-year patient survival. One-year PD continuation rate, PD-associated peritonitis rate, admission rate, and weekly Kt/V at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months were analyzed.

RESULTS: The 118 eligible patients (37 IPD and 81 standard-dose PD) were included. After propensity score matching, the groups were compared. One-year patient survival rates were comparable between groups, with no statistically significant difference (94.3% vs. 97.4% in the IPD and standard-dose PD groups, respectively; hazard ratio (HR) 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19-23.75). The 1-year PD continuation, PD-associated peritonitis rate, and admission rate were comparable between groups. Total weekly Kt/V over the 12 months showed no significant change over time.

CONCLUSION: IPD with days off appears to be safe and comparable to standard-dose PD in terms of short-term patient survival.

PMID:42144488 | DOI:10.1007/s11255-026-05207-z

Curr Microbiol. 2026 May 17;83(7):365. doi: 10.1007/s00284-026-04952-9.

ABSTRACT

In this study, optimization of medium components for high cell density culturing of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells expressing the gene coding for the recombinant cellulolytic chimera, CtGH1-L1-CtGH5-F194A was carried out. The chimera comprised an N-terminal β-glucosidase, of glycoside hydrolase family 1, CtGH1 and a C-terminal mutant of an β-1,4-endoglucanase of family GH5, CtGH5-F194A both from Clostridium thermocellum (now known as Acetivibrio thermocellus), fused together with natural linker L1. The growth dynamics of E. coli BL21(DE3) cells was analysed in minimal salt medium (M9) supplemented with glycerol or glucose. The glycerol-supplemented medium provided higher growth (OD₆₀₀ ~5) and lower acetic acid accumulation (0.3 g/L) than that of glucose supplemented medium giving OD₆₀₀ ~4 and acetic acid accumulation of 2.1 g/L. The optimum inoculum size of 5% (v/v) and initial medium pH 7.0 gave the maximum cell growth. The screening of medium components performed by Plackett-Burman design, revealed KH₂PO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO₄ and glycerol as significant variables influencing the cell growth. Response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) utilized for optimization of medium component composition gave final concentrations, KH₂PO₄ (11.22 g/L), (NH₄)₂HPO₄ (5.19 g/L) and glycerol (18.11 g/L) resulting in model predicted value of cell, OD₆₀₀ 7.7. The experimental validation of optimized concentration of medium components displayed cell, OD₆₀₀ of 7.0, fairly matching with the model predicted value. The optimised M9 medium gave 5.3 g_DCW/L with a total protein yield of 12.5 mg/g_DCW displaying 59 U/mg and 44 U/mg β-1,4-endoglucanase and β-glucosidase activity, respectively. Statistical optimization of a defined minimal medium enhanced recombinant protein yield and enzyme activity while reducing the substrate input and acetate accumulation, thereby providing a reproducible and scalable platform for enzyme production. This study establishes the first medium‑optimization framework tailored to E. coli producing a recombinant chimeric enzyme, enabling controlled growth and supporting fed‑batch strategies for high‑cell‑density culturing.

PMID:42144487 | DOI:10.1007/s00284-026-04952-9

Environ Monit Assess. 2026 May 18;198(6):599. doi: 10.1007/s10661-026-15455-2.

ABSTRACT

Surges in gold prices coupled with socio-economic factors have increased small- and medium-scale gold mining in Guyana, which drives the emission of large quantities of mercury (Hg) into the atmosphere. Given the distribution of Hg through the atmosphere, reliable and affordable measurement of concentrations in the air is vital. Moss bags and Hg passive air samplers (MerPAS) were deployed to measure atmospheric Hg around a gold mine in Mahdia, Guyana over a 90-day period as well as a separate 2-day period that encompassed a periodic burn of Hg-gold amalgam (typically 2-h). Mercury in moss and MerPAS were positively correlated over both deployment periods, but Hg concentrations measured during the 2-day event were several-fold higher in both moss and MerPAS compared with the 90-day deployment. Using the 2-day deployment as an estimate of atmospheric Hg, Hg air concentrations around the burning station exceeded 100,000 ng m^-3 averaged over a 48-h period, and moss Hg concentrations were greater than 250,000 ng g^-1 around the burning station, although Hg concentrations in both media decreased rapidly with distance. There was no relationship between Hg in moss and soil Hg at the sampling sites; Hg in soil was instead positively associated with soil organic matter content. Overall, our study shows that Hg concentrations in air at artisanal gold mines in Guyana can exceed international health guidelines of 100,000 ng m^-3 averaged over a 48-h period and that moss provides reliable estimates of relative Hg concentrations in air over both short-term and long-term exposures.

PMID:42144486 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-026-15455-2

J Mol Med (Berl). 2026 May 18;104(1):74. doi: 10.1007/s00109-026-02680-y.

ABSTRACT

Platelets are increasingly recognised as inflammatory mediators that influence leukocyte behaviour, yet their spatial organisation and contribution to psoriatic skin inflammation remain incompletely understood. Here, spatial transcriptomics was used to map platelet-leukocyte niches (PLNi) across inflammatory skin diseases, contrasting psoriasis (PsO) with atopic dermatitis (AD). PLNi were selectively expanded in PsO lesions, where platelet-neutrophil co-localisation defined transcriptionally active regions enriched for stress and inflammatory mediators. PsO and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) shared a convergent cellular profile in which platelet association occurred across immune lineages but was markedly increased in neutrophils, particularly within the epidermis. Epidermal PLNi showed coordinated spatial patterns of dendritic and T cell enrichment, with neutrophil-platelet niches correlating with both. Neutrophil-platelet regions displayed enhanced inflammatory activity and stronger dendritic- and T-cell activation signatures, becoming more frequent with disease severity and pointing to a role for epidermal platelet-neutrophil associations in amplifying psoriatic immune responses. Peripheral multiomic analysis revealed enhanced platelet-neutrophil coupling and increased neutrophil activation in PsA, consistent with the higher systemic inflammatory burden of the arthritic form of the disease. Altogether, these results establish platelet-neutrophil niches as spatial features linked to immune activation in psoriatic disease, with consistent platelet-neutrophil aggregation patterns in circulation. KEY MESSAGES: Platelet-neutrophil niches expand selectively in psoriatic lesions Epidermal niches align with dendritic and T-cell activation programs syndrome Niche prevalence correlates with psoriasis clinical severity Psoriatic arthritis shows systemic platelet-neutrophil coupling Findings outline a platelet-associated inflammatory axis in autoimmunity.

PMID:42144473 | DOI:10.1007/s00109-026-02680-y