FAMILY HEALTH

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can enhance the accuracy and refinement of results obtained from various medical imaging methods such as MRI scans, X-rays, and ECGs. Recently researchers made a significant breakthrough using AI by discovering a new antibiotic called "Abaucin" that shows potent antimicrobial properties against a highly dangerous superbug called Acinetobacter Baumannii. This bacterium is known for its resistance mechanisms and ability to transfer genetic material, posing a major threat to healthcare facilities and patients. They employed AI algorithms to screen hundreds of thousands of molecules and successfully identified Abaucin as a promising antibiotic candidate. This study highlights the efficacy of machine learning in the search for novel antibacterial molecules and the potential impact of AI/ML in pharmacological research.

AI and Machine Learning in Medical Imaging and Antibiotic Discovery: A Breakthrough Study on Abaucin for Acinetobacter Baumannii

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Review of adult-onset Coats disease examines retinal features, treatment outcomes, recurrence and potential inflammatory mechanisms.

Adult-Onset Coats Disease: Treatment Outcomes and Imaging

A systematic review of 35 studies involving 240 adults with Coats disease examined clinical features, imaging findings and treatment outcomes. Visual acuity stabilized or improved in 57.1% of treated eyes, while recurrence occurred in 19.3%. Laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF therapy were commonly used, with better outcomes reported in earlier disease stages. Findings also suggest a potential role for inflammatory pathways alongside VEGF-related mechanisms.

NEUROLOGY

Review explores deep learning for smarter mechanical circulatory support, earlier deterioration detection and safer ICU decision-making.

Deep Learning in Mechanical Circulatory Support: ICU Applications

A review explores how deep neural networks could improve care for patients receiving temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS). By analyzing continuous physiological data, these systems may enable earlier recognition of cardiopulmonary deterioration, personalized pump-speed optimization, and eventually closed-loop regulation. The authors highlight transparency, explainability, clinical performance, regulatory oversight, and rigorous clinical trials as essential for safe implementation.

GYNAECOLOGY - IVF

Review compares feticide methods before pregnancy termination, finding the lowest pooled failure rate with intracardiac potassium chloride.

Feticide Methods Before Pregnancy Termination: Systematic Review

A systematic review of 25 studies involving 10,683 cases compared pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of inducing fetal asystole before second- or third-trimester pregnancy termination. Intracardiac potassium chloride (KCl) had the lowest pooled procedure failure rate at 0.4%, compared with higher rates for digoxin-based approaches. Serious procedure-related adverse events were uncommon in the included studies, although evidence on postmortem effects remained limited.

UK study identifies ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in prenatal screening, highlighting the need for equitable testing access.

Ethnic and Socioeconomic Inequalities in Prenatal Screening

A UK study of 6,339 women found ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in prenatal screening access. Black and Mixed-ethnicity women, along with women living in the most deprived areas, were more likely to receive the less accurate quadruple screening test than White women. Further-testing uptake also varied by ethnicity, highlighting the need for equitable access to timely and appropriate prenatal screening.

DENTISTRY

Study finds high long-term All-on-6 implant survival but frequent screw-related complications, emphasizing regular prosthetic maintenance.

All-on-6 Dental Implants: Long-Term Outcomes and Complications

A retrospective study of 35 patients evaluated long-term outcomes of All-on-6 maxillary rehabilitation combined with bilateral sinus floor elevation. After a mean follow-up of approximately six years, implant survival was 99.1%, while post-definitive implant and prosthesis survival reached 100%. However, mechanical complications affected 82.9% of patients, with screw loosening the most common issue, highlighting the need for regular prosthetic maintenance.

RHEUMATOLOGY

Real-world study finds improved psoriatic arthritis activity with IL-23 and IL-12/23 inhibitors over 12 months.

IL-23 Inhibitors in Axial Psoriatic Arthritis: Real-World Outcomes

A multicentre study of 167 patients found that guselkumab, risankizumab, and ustekinumab significantly reduced disease activity over 12 months in axial and mixed psoriatic arthritis. IL-23 inhibitors showed numerically higher response rates than ustekinumab, but the differences were not statistically significant. Higher baseline disease activity and fulfilment of ASAS criteria independently predicted treatment response.

A validated model estimates myopic macular degeneration probability using age and axial length, supporting risk assessment.

Myopic Macular Degeneration: New Age and Axial Length Risk Model

A large population-based study involving 14,108 individuals developed and validated equations to estimate the probability of myopic macular degeneration (MMD) using age and axial length. The model showed excellent predictive performance, with AUC values of 0.996 for MMD stage 2+ and 0.998 for stage 3+. At age 75, the estimated probability of stage 3+ MMD reached 57.5% for an axial length of 28 mm and 98.5% for 30 mm, highlighting the importance of eye length and ageing in risk assessment.

Finnish study links postmenopausal hormone therapy with increased glaucoma odds, particularly estrogen-only therapy in POAG.

Postmenopausal HRT and Glaucoma Risk: Findings from Finland

A Finnish population-based study involving 1,096 glaucoma cases and 5,480 age-matched controls found that postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. Adjusted odds were higher among users of estrogen-only therapy (33%), progestogen-only therapy (25%), and combined estrogen–progestogen therapy (19%). In the primary open-angle glaucoma subgroup, the association remained significant for estrogen-only therapy. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Severe brain perivascular spaces were linked to a higher risk of CAA-related hemorrhagic lesions in older adults.

Brain MRI Marker May Predict Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Hemorrhage Risk

A study of 932 cognitively unimpaired, amyloid-positive older adults found that severe enlarged perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale were associated with a higher risk of developing cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related hemorrhagic lesions. Over a median follow-up of 5.1 years, such lesions developed in 33.7% of participants with severe spaces versus 13.6% without severe enlargement. The findings suggest that MRI markers may help identify individuals at risk before hemorrhagic signs appear, although further validation is needed.

Study links lower REM sleep and reduced slow-wave activity with blood-based amyloid biomarkers in older adults.

REM Sleep and Slow-Wave Activity Linked to Early Alzheimer's Biomarkers

A study of 64 cognitively unimpaired older adults found that sleep architecture was associated with blood-based Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. Lower frontal slow-wave activity correlated with cross-sectional amyloid burden, while a lower percentage of REM sleep was associated with a faster annual decline in the plasma Aβ42/40 ratio over 2.6 years. The association appeared stronger among amyloid-positive participants, suggesting that sleep patterns may offer clues to early Alzheimer's-related changes. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings.

A 10-year Iranian cohort study found 4.6% myopia incidence and a predominant hyperopic shift in middle-aged adults.

10-Year Myopia Study in Older Adults: Incidence and Risk Factors

A 10-year prospective study from Iran’s Shahroud Eye Cohort found a myopia incidence of 4.6% among adults initially aged 40–64 years. Despite a small degree of myopic progression in some eyes, the overall refractive trend was toward a hyperopic shift. Longer baseline axial length, male sex, older age, and lower economic status were associated with a myopic shift, highlighting the varied factors influencing refractive changes in middle-aged and older adults.

A German real-world study examines myopia prevalence, healthcare use and costs, highlighting the greater burden of high myopia.

High Myopia in Germany: Prevalence, Healthcare Use and Costs

A real-world study in Germany found that myopia prevalence increased with age, with mild/moderate myopia more common than high myopia across all age groups. Among 17-year-olds, prevalence of mild/moderate myopia reached 19.86% in females versus 14.00% in males. High myopia was associated with greater ophthalmic healthcare utilization and costs, particularly among older adults, highlighting the need for early intervention and effective myopia management.

An international study identifies predictors of surgical need and evaluates long-term outcomes in X-linked retinoschisis.

X-Linked Retinoschisis: Surgical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

An international multicentre study of 318 patients with congenital X-linked retinoschisis found that fundus and OCT features can help predict disease progression and surgical need. Surgery achieved 68.7% anatomical success after one procedure, rising to 94.7% with additional interventions. Visual acuity improved significantly in patients with retinal detachment or vitreous haemorrhage, supporting individualized treatment strategies for this rare inherited retinal disorder.

UROLOGY

A German trial found that a novel coated ureteric stent reduced encrustation and symptoms while improving patient quality of life.

Sulfonic Acid-Coated Ureteric Stent: Reduced Encrustation and Symptoms

A randomised controlled trial involving 100 patients across two German urological centres found that a novel sulfonic acid-coated ureteric stent reduced encrustation weight by 49.7% compared with a standard stent. The coating was also associated with fewer urinary symptoms, reduced antimicrobial therapy use, less fatigue, and improved light physical activity, suggesting potential benefits for patients undergoing treatment for urinary stones.

PSYCHIATRY

Review finds self-administered single-session interventions may modestly reduce anxiety and depression in young people.

Self-Administered Single-Session Interventions for Youth Mental Health

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials involving 5,628 young people found that self-administered single-session interventions (SSIs) may help reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. The analysis showed small improvements in anxiety and depression, although substantial variability across studies and wide prediction intervals highlight the need for further research to establish their effectiveness in youth mental healthcare.

Invention of this superbu...

Invention of this superbug killing antibiotic shows how AI aids drug discovery - INDIAai