Safety and efficacy of individualised exercise and NAD+ precursor supplementation in patients with Friedreich's ataxia in the USA: a single-centre, 2 × 2 factorial, randomised controlled trial.

The ASCENT Consortium was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in August 2025 with the goal of advancing palliative care (PC) research, evidence, implementation and practice to improve care of persons with serious illness and those who care for them across the lifespan. ASCENT aims to: (1) Develop and coordinate the national scientific infrastructure and community needed to advance PC research, marshalling research expertise currently distributed across research centers and leveraging the impact of that expertise via partnership and collaboration. Partners include persons who have lived experiences with serious illness personally or as caregivers, practicing clinicians, patient advocacy organizations, professional organizations, community organizations, health care systems/settings/payers across the continuum of care and other NIH-funded consortia and networks. (2) Generate new PC research knowledge and methodologies, directly by conducting projects to establish new knowledge or methods that support the work of PC scientists. (3) Foster career development and impact of the PC scientist workforce by funding career development and pilot and exploratory awards, providing access to methodologic consultations and resources such as PC research methodology and career development curricula and facilitating mentoring. (4) Disseminate PC research findings and facilitate subsequent implementation via a multi-pronged approach, including providing resource libraries, guidance documents, best practices, training, and toolkits to facilitate collaboration and co-design with health system partners and relevant organizations. This article describes the goals, organization, resources, programs and activities of the ASCENT Consortium, intending to raise awareness about ASCENT and encourage engagement with, utilization of and collaboration with ASCENT.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is distinguished by alterations in ovarian morphology, ovulatory failure, and increased androgen levels. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines it as ovulatory dysfunction accompanied by hyperandrogenism. Women with PCOS may have obesity, type 2 diabetes, anxiety, hypertension, insulin resistance, and pregnancy-related complications. PCOS is additionally linked with a greater chance of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Several factors, including LH/FSH ratio, FAI levels, and ovarian USG, should be considered when diagnosing PCOS. The Rotterdam criterion is employed to determine the condition when two of the three features are present and other etiologies are eliminated. Biomarkers have developed as a means of optimizing PCOS diagnosis and treatment results. This review has examined a number of biomarkers associated with PCOS, such as insulin, anti-Mullerian hormone, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, and others. Controlling these disease-related markers may aid in lessening the symptoms of PCOS.

For nearly 40 years, from my student days to the present, I have been engaged in research primarily at my alma mater, Nagoya University; at the National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.) in the United States, where I served as a postdoctoral fellow; and at the University of Tokyo, where I am currently affiliated. At each of these institutions, I have consistently focused on research themes related to the chemical reactions underlying biological phenomena associated with food and health, with a particular emphasis on covalent protein modifications induced by reactive species. This research has become the lifelong theme to which I have dedicated my career.

The digital mental health (DMH) industry has grown drastically over the last decade; yet, many DMH products have failed to demonstrate meaningful clinical outcomes, in large part due to lack of scientific evidence. This viewpoint paper highlights an example of how early-stage DMH companies can prioritize science as a strategic advantage. We discuss Moment for Parents, an artificial intelligence-driven maternal mental health app built entirely with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. We illustrate the advantages and challenges of building a science-backed product with federal funding. Benefits include credible evidence generation, independence in product development, and enhanced market differentiation. We also discuss the challenges of navigating the SBIR ecosystem, including grant writing and administrative demands, and aligning business objectives with federal research priorities. By showcasing both the promise and complexity of SBIR funding, this viewpoint paper offers actionable insights for founders and chief executive officers who aim to prioritize science in the DMH space.

Over the past few decades, The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (network) has engaged in multiple collaborations with professional organizations. The authors evaluated the impact of a long-standing collaboration between the network and the American Association of Endodontists. The authors assessed the impact of articles resulting from research done in the network using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) iCite metrics. Over the past 3 funding cycles, 7 studies pertaining to endodontics were conducted. These studies have so far resulted in 22 published articles, 1 in press article, and 4 articles under review. The overall mean relative citation ratio for 18 articles for which iCite metrics were available was 1.72, indicating that the articles were cited 72% more often than typical NIH-funded articles after adjusting for field of publication and time since publication. Two articles were cited over the 90th NIH percentile. The mean Approximate Potential to Translate score for the 18 articles was 56.4%. These results from the network and the American Association of Endodontists showed that national-level collaborations between large organizations can result in impactful research that has immediate clinical relevance in everyday practice. The network facilitates research conducted in the real world of clinical practice and has positively affected the field of endodontics.

Peer support specialist services aimed at reducing suicide risk are becoming more prominent in professional roles in healthcare systems and community settings. Such services may directly or indirectly contribute to suicide prevention efforts. Despite some evidence suggesting the feasibility and acceptability of this strategy, major research gaps exist regarding effectiveness and sustained implementation success. The National Institute of Mental Health convened a 2-day workshop in February 2024 to inform the field on the state of the science in peer support suicide prevention research. This summary presents several cross-cutting challenges in research on peer support in suicide prevention and how they can be addressed.

Health literacy, healthcare access, and self-perception of health among intracranial tumor patients: an analysis of the National Institute of Health (NIH) "All of Us" research program.

Recent progress has been made in developing validated myositis outcome measures. However, critical deficiencies remain for data standardization across myositis registries. Although the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Data Elements (CDE) Repository has been developed to facilitate standardized data collection and sharing, few myositis-specific CDEs currently exist. We developed CDEs for myositis outcome measures using novel data science strategies. Data dictionaries of myositis registries were examined to understand how outcome measures are currently captured. We used the Linked data Modeling Language, an open-source data modeling framework, to develop computable CDEs. After drafting CDEs for myositis core set measures (CSMs), an international conference was held with an expert myositis panel to reach consensus on the coding of CDEs and prioritize additional measures for CDE creation, using Delphi and modified nominal group techniques. This workflow was repeated for the prioritized measures in the second phase. A workflow was established for CDE creation. CDEs for 10 myositis CSMs were drafted. After receiving comments to improve their coding, universal agreement among participants was reached for CSM CDEs. The prioritized measures for future CDEs included myositis response and classification criteria, damage measures, physical function measures, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System instruments. CDEs for 18 additional measures were discussed at a second consensus conference. Similarly, high agreement rates were achieved, except for flare criteria. Altogether, 852 new CDEs were created for 27 myositis forms and achieved consensus, readying their deposit in the NIH CDE Repository. Leveraging multispecialty expertise in myositis and its patient communities and data science expertise of the National Library of Medicine, the first myositis-specific CDEs have been developed to accelerate the ability to conduct interoperable myositis clinical studies and therapeutic trials. The workflow established here should also benefit creation of CDEs and data sharing for other autoimmune diseases.

The compounding effects of climate change and resource scarcity on human health require locally led, action-oriented solutions. Pressures on water, energy, and food systems are intensified by resource limitations, population growth, and migration. The Arab region faces some of the highest recorded temperatures and acute water stress, making locally driven climate-health solutions critical. Despite increasing global climate finance, significant gaps remain in mobilizing funds and building capacity among community organizations addressing these issues. The Global Center on Climate Change, Water, Energy, Food, and Health Systems (GC3WEFH), funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), launched an innovative Pilot Grants Program in 2023. This paper explains the unique design and approach of the pilot program, which combines NIH review standards with grassroots empowerment and capacity building. The program operates as a “project/policy laboratory” utilizing a rigorous merit review process, a novel dual-tiered metrics framework, and dedicated capacity-building efforts, to produce actionable knowledge across its portfolio. By the conclusion of its third call, the program had received 20 total proposals and awarded 9 grants in Jordan, achieving an overall sanction rate of 45.0% and successfully turning broad climate, resource, and health services usage goals into concrete on-the-ground actions. Evaluation results demonstrate that this small-grant approach can achieve systemic results, such as a 60% reduction in agricultural water consumption and statistically significant improvements in clinical health outcomes among vulnerable populations. The findings suggest the program successfully encourages community participation, cultivates unique solutions to grassroots challenges, connects local efforts to national policies, and strengthens long-term organizational capacity of community organizations.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene exposure, cognition, and cortical thickness at middle age in US Latinas (the CHAMACOS Maternal Cognition Study): a prospective cohort study.

Important slogans deployed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Francis S. Collins’ leadership have institutionalized patterns of synecdochic and metonymic reasoning about public health while idealizing molecular medicine, sustaining Nikolas Rose’s notion of molecularization, and advancing Rose’s notion of optimization. Because of NIH’s status and because of how tropes work, however, the messaging invites “arrested reconciliation,” a process that may occur when tropes misrepresent and reduce complex meaning about science amidst social forces that complicate processing. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s public health rhetoric about vaccine schedules for Black Americans performs arrested reconciliation as misaligned mimicry of NIH’s modeling.

Pitavastatin effects on lipids in relation to major adverse cardiovascular events: a REPRIEVE secondary analysis.

Risk factors for early-onset and late-onset dementia: a prospective cohort study.

Cellular senescence has emerged as a key contributor to the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), a nuclear transcription factor, regulates senescence across multiple cell types. However, the role of PPAR-γ in allergic airway inflammation, particularly through regulation of macrophage senescence, remains poorly defined. Cellular senescence was evaluated in an allergic asthma mouse model using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Senescent cells were selectively eliminated with dasatinib and quercetin (D&Q) to assess their contribution to disease pathogenesis. Macrophage-lineage-specific PPAR-γ conditional knockout model (PpargΔCD11c) were generated to define the role of macrophage PPAR-γ in senescence and allergic airway inflammation. PPAR-γ activity was further examined in isolated alveolar macrophages and in vivo using rosiglitazone, including macrophage-targeted delivery via phosphatidylserine-modified liposomes (PSL-ROSI). scRNA-seq analysis revealed enhanced senescence signatures in mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs), characterised by increased SenMayo scores and elevated Cdkn2a (p16) expression. Clearance of senescent cells significantly reduced airway inflammation and Th2 cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-5). Correlation analysis identified PPAR-γ as a key transcriptional regulator inversely associated with cellular senescence. Macrophage-lineage-specific deletion of PPAR-γ (PpargΔCD11c) exacerbated airway inflammation and increased cellular senescence. In vitro, rosiglitazone reduced allergen-induced senescence and suppressed proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, ICAM-1, CCL4, CCL5, TIMP-1, TNF-α) in alveolar macrophages. In vivo, rosiglitazone and inhaled PSL-ROSI attenuated cockroach allergen-induced airway inflammation, with PSL-ROSI effectively bypassing the airway mucus barrier to deliver rosiglitazone to lung macrophages. Integrated chromatin binding and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that PPAR-γ promotes macrophage lipid metabolic programs (e.g., CD36, Fabp4). These findings identify macrophage senescence as a pathogenic driver of allergic airway inflammation and establish PPAR-γ as a critical regulator of macrophage senescence and homoeostasis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for asthma. US National Institutes of Health (NIH) (1R01AI153331 and R01AI141642 to Dr. Gao), Anhui Provincial Key projects of Natural Science Foundation for Colleges and Universities 2025AHGXZK31476 (Dr. Wan).

The Sexual Health and Well-being of Individuals With Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS).

New approach methodologies for drug discovery.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) frequently face psychological challenges, including stigma, stress and social isolation, which can negatively affect adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Even in high-income countries where treatment is accessible, poor adherence can lead to drug resistance, reduced immune function and early morbidity. This systematic review aims to synthesise evidence on the relationship between psychological and mental health factors and ART adherence among PLHIV in high-income settings. We will include studies published in any language between January 2015 and the date of the last searches. Reports of studies published in languages other than English, and which appear to be eligible for inclusion after the first level of screening, will be translated using Google Translate.Studies will be included if they continue to meet the inclusion criteria and the quality of the translation is sufficient to extract the relevant data. PLHIV aged ≥15 years receiving ART in high-income countries. The studies to be included must assess psychological or mental health variables and ART adherence. Peer-reviewed journal articles will be the primary source of evidence. Grey literature identified from reference lists of key articles or using Google Advanced search techniques will be included. Searches for published studies will be done in OVID Medline, PsycINFO and Embase. Cochrane CENTRAL will be used to identify clinical trials in ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform.Two independent reviewers will assess study quality and risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool and Jadad Scale. Discrepancies will be resolved by a third reviewer. Synthesis of quantitative data will be primarily descriptive. Predictors that have been examined in three or more studies will be reported in detail while those assessed in fewer studies will be presented concisely. This study will be a review of the literature and will not involve primary collection of patients' data. We will include amendments to the protocol in the final review. The final study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences. The results of this systematic review will inform clinical practice, guide future research and support policy development that minimise mental health barriers to ART adherence. CRD420251102248.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age and a leading cause of infertility, metabolic dysfunction, and hormonal imbalance. Despite its high prevalence, the diagnosis of PCOS remains challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations and the absence of universally accepted diagnostic standards. The aim of this study is to analyze modern diagnostic criteria of PCOS and evaluate their clinical applicability in improving early detection and management of the syndrome. The study is based on a comprehensive review of clinical, biochemical, and imaging parameters used in current diagnostic approaches, including the Rotterdam criteria, National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria, and Androgen Excess and PCOS Society (AE-PCOS) guidelines. The findings indicate that the Rotterdam criteria remain the most widely used due to their broader diagnostic scope, allowing identification of different phenotypes of PCOS. However, variability in diagnostic approaches may lead to inconsistencies in clinical practice. Biochemical markers such as hyperandrogenism, along with ultrasound findings of polycystic ovarian morphology, play a crucial role in confirming the diagnosis. In conclusion, the use of standardized and comprehensive diagnostic criteria is essential for accurate diagnosis, early intervention, and prevention of long-term complications associated with PCOS. Integrating clinical, hormonal, and imaging data provides the most reliable diagnostic strategy.

Five years since the scientific and patient communities first identified the syndrome now known as Long COVID, affected individuals lack treatments, and the US lacks population-based data on its disability burden and correlation with National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Moreover, akin to other debilitating conditions it often co-occurs with, e.g., Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and dysautonomia, Long COVID disproportionately impacts females whose concerns are often marginalized. We quantify Long COVID years lived with disability (YLDs= prevalence x disability weight) in US adults and its actual/YLD-commensurate average annual NIH FY2022-2024 funding versus 68 comparator conditions, by sex predominance. We derive Long COVID prevalence from Census Bureau surveys (9/2022-8/2023) and apply disability weights from the Global Burden of Disease Study. Long COVID YLDs approximate those of Alzheimer's and Asthma. Long COVID received 14% of its disability commensurate funding: $106 million vs. $739.8 million. ME/CFS is the most under-funded condition, receiving <1% of its YLD proportionate funding. Among conditions analyzed, 24 are female-predominant (we estimate Long COVID funding two ways), 12 male-predominant, and 33 show no sex predominance. Among the 12 below-median funded/above-median YLD conditions, 7/12 are female-predominant, none are male-predominant. Median funding/per YLD is 5.2 times higher for male- vs. female-predominant conditions (7.0 vs 1.3 million per YLD, p = 0.007). Overall, YLDs explain 6.5% of funding variance in a linear regression model using YLD as the sole predictor (Adjusted R-squared: 0.065). With chronic conditions like Long COVID rising, disability burden merits greater consideration in funding decisions, as does biological sex.