Peripheral blood E2F1 expression and clinical significance in asthma with persistent airflow obstruction.

Signal regulatory protein γ is associated with an exhaustion-prone immune microenvironment in metastatic melanoma.

PANoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques: Molecular mechanisms, clinical significance, and therapeutic potential.

The importance of tumor deposits (TDs), also known as "cancer nodules", as an adverse prognostic factor in colorectal cancer has been increasingly recognized. Although they have been incorporated into the staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), ambiguities still exist. Current criteria rely heavily on the subjective judgment of pathologists, and the existing classification does not fully reflect their prognostic impact. This is particularly evident in the presence of positive lymph nodes. The definition, differentiation and clinical significance of TDs remain complex and sometimes controversial, and several unresolved issues surrounding TDs warrant our attention and further investigation.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex is an important nosocomial cause of bacteraemia. The complex comprises multiple species, but their relative clinical and genomic significance remains unclear. We examined clinical and genomic differences between S. maltophilia and non-S. maltophilia species to better understand their virulence and implications for patient care. Hospitalized adult patients (≥ 21years) between January 2022 and June 2024 with Stenotrophomonas species bacteraemia were examined. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on all isolates, with species assignment confirmed by average nucleotide identity. S. maltophilia and non-S. maltophilia species were compared. Fifty-three S. maltophilia complex isolates were identified, of which 45 had clinical data. S. maltophilia predominated (n = 32), followed by S. pavanii (n = 7), S. sepilia (n = 4), S. muris (n = 1), and S. geniculata (n = 1). S. maltophilia isolates formed multiple clades with diverse sequence types, consistent with both clonal expansion and ongoing diversification. Virulence genes, including stmPr, smoR, and iron acquisition-associated genes were conserved across S. maltophilia lineages, but stmPr1 was less frequently observed in non-S. maltophilia. Most infections were line-related. Pneumonia-associated bacteraemia appeared more frequently among with S. maltophilia infections. Polymicrobial bacteraemia appeared more commonly in non-S. maltophilia infections. Mortality was similar between groups, but recurrence of infection within one year occurred only in S. maltophilia. Compared with non-S. maltophilia, S. maltophilia appeared to be associated with pneumonia and recurrent bacteraemia episodes, although mortality was similar. These exploratory findings suggest potential differences within the complex, but require validation in larger studies.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are common arrhythmia encountered in patients with and without structural heart disease. Although often benign and asymptomatic, they may also cause palpitations, exercise intolerance, presyncope, and reduced quality of life, and in some patients can contribute to PVC-induced cardiomyopathy or trigger malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Their clinical significance depends on symptom burden, PVC frequency, ventricular function, and the presence of underlying myocardial disease. Diagnostic evaluation includes electrocardiography, ambulatory rhythm monitoring, echocardiography, exercise testing, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for tissue characterization and risk stratification. Management ranges from reassurance and lifestyle modification to pharmacologic therapy and catheter ablation. Beta-blockers and nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers remain common first-line options, whereas antiarrhythmic drugs may be considered in carefully selected patients. Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for symptomatic PVCs, high PVC burden, and PVC-induced cardiomyopathy, with high procedural success rates and favorable effects on arrhythmic burden and ventricular function. Novel approaches, including electrocardiographic imaging-guided planning, pulsed field ablation, stereotactic radioablation, neuromodulation, and renal denervation, may further expand future therapeutic options. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, clinical implications, diagnostic evaluation, and contemporary management of PVCs, with emphasis on medical therapy, catheter ablation, and emerging treatments.

Targeting AARS1-dependent lactylation improves neuronal process plasticity and mitigates cognitive deficits in sepsis-associated encephalopathy.

Nrf2-mediated modulation of ROS homeostasis is associated with NF-κB activation and glioblastoma progression.

Endoscopically-assisted parotid gland surgery has been increasingly adopted as a minimally invasive alternative to conventional open parotidectomy, aiming to improve perioperative outcomes and cosmetic results while maintaining surgical safety. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized contemporary comparative evidence on endoscopic versus conventional parotid gland surgery. A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar was conducted from inception to December 14, 2025. Observational and interventional studies comparing endoscopically-assisted or fully endoscopic parotidectomy with conventional open surgery in adult patients were included. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE framework. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes and odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous outcomes, with heterogeneity quantified using the I2 statistic. Eleven studies involving 1188 patients were included. Tumor diameter and operative time did not differ significantly between the endoscopic and conventional groups. Endoscopic parotidectomy was associated with significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss (MD -42.28mL, 95% CI -61.56 to -23.01) and lower postoperative drain output (MD -40.73mL, 95% CI -68.60 to -12.86). No statistically significant differences were observed for drain duration, salivary fistula formation, auricular skin numbness, or Frey syndrome. A lower OR of temporary facial nerve dysfunction was observed in the endoscopic group, while permanent facial nerve paralysis and surgical site infection rates were low and comparable between approaches. All included studies were of moderate methodological quality, and the overall certainty of evidence was low. Endoscopic parotid gland surgery appears to be a feasible alternative to conventional parotid gland surgery in selected patients, providing modest perioperative advantages without compromising postoperative outcomes. However, the small absolute magnitude of these differences suggests limited clinical impact, indicating that this approach represents a cosmetically favorable and safe option rather than a clearly superior technique. Given the limited number of studies, regional concentration of the available evidence, and substantial heterogeneity across several outcomes, further high-quality, multicenter prospective studies are needed to better define its clinical significance and generalizability.

Clinical significance of fragmented QRS in isolated hypertension: Associations with ventricular arrhythmia burden and autonomic dysfunction.

A retrospective study on the association between C-Reactive Protein-Albumin-Lymphocyte (CALLY) index and adverse prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) at different glucose metabolic states.

GHSR antagonist LEAP2 concentrations negatively correlate with alcohol craving and are modulated by alcohol exposure: Evidence from human and rat studies.

Children and adolescents represent a challenging population due to their incomplete physical development, and lack of specific criteria for interpreting electrocardiography (ECG) in children and adolescent athletes. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of short PR interval in pediatric and adolescent athletes undergoing pre-participation cardiac screening. This is a cross-sectional study, where a total of 1310 athletes (age range: 7-18years) underwent a comprehensive screening including medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, and exercise testing under stress at Exercise and Sports Medicine Unit, University of Molise, Campobasso Italy between January 2023 and June 2024. Short PR interval prevalence and clinical significance were evaluated by frequency analysis and association with cardiac symptoms, respectively. Short PR interval (< 120ms) was present in 26.9% of athletes, while using a z-score threshold of - 2 as the age- and sex-adjusted lower limit of normal, 3.82% of the athletes met criteria for a short PR interval. No significant associations were found between short PR interval and cardiac symptoms: syncope, palpitations, chest pain, exercise-induced arrhythmias, or need for additional diagnostic testing beyond standard screening (p > 0.05). Isolated short PR interval was not associated with adverse cardiac findings among children and adolescent athletes following pre-participation screening, supporting its interpretation as a benign age-dependent variant. However, long-term outcome data are needed to confirm these observations.

Evidence-based, patient-centred management of tooth wear: 15-years insights from the Radboud Tooth Wear Project.

Cells, bacteria, and other bioparticles exist in diverse shapes, and their morphology plays a pivotal role in biological functions and clinical significance. Various microfluidic approaches have been developed for shape-based separation of bioparticles with the same or similar volume; however, most of them were limited to separation of prolate spheroids from spheres or required a priori labeling and consequent detection. Here, we propose a vertical-type acoustofluidic method for the first separation of oblate spheroids from spheres in a label-free manner. The acoustic radiation torque suppresses the rotational motion of oblate micro-objects, leading to horizontal alignment with an increase in projected surface area compared to that of isovolumetric spheres. The enhanced acoustic radiation force, proportional to the projected surface area normal to the wave propagation, allows the oblate spheroids to have greater vertical migration inside a microchannel, resulting in distinct trajectories for shape-based separation. We conduct numerical simulations of asymmetric wave scattering to elucidate the working principle and experiments to demonstrate the separation of polystyrene microparticles and red blood cells of spherical and oblate shapes at high purity and recovery rate. The proposed acoustofluidic approach holds promise for label-free, shape-based manipulation of bioparticles in cell biology and microbiology.

Targeting the NSUN5-circPPAP2A axis reverses immunosuppression and sensitizes renal cell carcinoma to anti-PD-1 therapy.

A recent international case involving a sperm donor who unknowingly transmitted a pathogenic TP53 variant to numerous offspring has renewed attention to germline mosaicism and its clinical implications. This column traces the evolution of mosaicism from early clinical observations of segmental and asymmetric phenotypes to its current recognition as a common biological phenomenon. Advances in genetic technologies, including ultra-deep next-generation sequencing, have transformed the detection of mosaicism and helped clarify its biological and clinical significance. These insights have prompted important shifts in clinical thinking, as mosaicism challenges traditional assumptions about genotype-phenotype relationships, contributes to variable expressivity across disorders, and complicates genetic testing and counseling. This column also provides a foundation for a companion article in this issue, which presents clinically focused case studies illustrating different forms of mosaicism and offering practical guidance for nurse practitioners in applying these principles to patient care.

Association of Tirzepatide versus Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists with Incident Glaucoma in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Beta blockers, stroke, and noncardiac surgery: resolving an enduring perioperative dilemma.

ALK protein expression and gene copy number alterations in triple-negative breast cancer: Clinical implications.