FAMILY HEALTH

Researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) repurposed protein kinase inhibitors, originally developed for cancer treatment, for accelerated drug therapy for malaria. Their study identified a specific inhibitor, BI-2536, demonstrating strong anti-malarial properties. This approach of repurposing existing drugs offers a faster path to drug discovery, addressing the urgent need for more effective malaria treatments.

UCF Study: Repurposed Cancer Drug BI-2536 Shows Promise for Accelerated Malaria Therapy

GYNAECOLOGY - IVF

Fetal position can alter O/E-LHR measurements in L-CDH, potentially affecting prognosis and fetal therapy decisions.

Fetal Position Influences Lung Size Assessment in L-CDH

A prospective study of 49 fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (L-CDH) found that fetal position can significantly influence ultrasound-based lung size assessment. O/E-LHR measurements were 11.3% higher when the lung was closer to the ultrasound probe, while measurements with the lung farther away tended to underestimate lung size and classify more fetuses as severe disease. The findings could affect prognosis, survival prediction, and eligibility for fetal therapy.

Larger fetal lymphatic malformations may predict bleeding, airway intervention and delivery complications.

Lymphatic Malformation Size Predicts Fetal Complication Risk

A retrospective study of 18 fetuses with non-nuchal lymphatic malformations found that lesion size may help predict complications. In cervical lesions, larger lymphatic malformation volume ratios (LVRs) were associated with intralesional bleeding and the need for postnatal tracheostomy. In axillary lesions, higher LVR was linked to delivery complications. The findings may help clinicians identify pregnancies requiring closer monitoring and delivery planning.

Prenatal testing can detect BWS-related abnormalities, but mosaicism means false-negative results remain possible.

Prenatal Testing for Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Shows Promise

A review of 646 prenatal samples evaluated genetic testing for Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), a rare imprinting disorder associated with characteristic fetal ultrasound findings. Testing detected BWS-related molecular abnormalities in 9.75% of samples, while 4.3% failed analysis. Researchers support prenatal testing when ultrasound findings or family history raise suspicion, but caution that mosaicism can cause false-negative results.

NEUROLOGY

Researchers call for better animal models to advance mechanical circulatory support for acute right ventricular failure.

Better Models Needed for Mechanical Support in Right Heart Failure

A review highlights major gaps in preclinical research on acute right ventricular failure (ARVF) and mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Existing animal models often fail to fully reproduce severe right heart failure, ventricular–pulmonary artery uncoupling, and cardiogenic shock, while direct comparisons of MCS strategies remain scarce. Researchers call for standardized, clinically relevant models to accelerate development and selection of right-sided MCS devices and improve outcomes.

Fetal brain injury after TTTS laser therapy progresses from hemorrhagic insults to destructive changes on imaging.

Fetal Brain Injury Patterns After Fetoscopic Laser Treatment for TTTS

A retrospective case series of 15 fetuses from 14 twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) pregnancies found a consistent evolution of severe brain injury following fetoscopic laser ablation. Early imaging most often showed periventricular hemorrhagic infarction and cerebellar hemorrhage, while later scans predominantly revealed cerebral volume loss, polymicrogyria, and Wallerian degeneration. The findings highlight a progression from acute hemorrhagic or ischemic injury to irreversible brain damage and support the need for close serial fetal imaging.

Ultrasound and MRI showed similarly high accuracy for preoperative endometriosis detection, with US better for adhesions.

Ultrasound vs MRI for Preoperative Endometriosis Detection

A prospective study of 463 women compared ultrasound (US) with MRI for preoperative endometriosis assessment using the #Enzian classification. US and MRI showed similarly high diagnostic accuracy across pelvic compartments, while US had significantly higher specificity for tubo-ovarian adhesions. US also demonstrated slightly better agreement with surgical findings for adnexal disease severity and rectosigmoid deep endometriosis.

MCA Doppler and CPR may help predict adverse neurological outcomes and improve risk stratification in fetal growth restriction.

MCA Doppler Predicts Neurological Outcomes in Fetal Growth Restriction

A retrospective study found that middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler and the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) can help predict adverse neurological outcomes in fetuses with fetal growth restriction (FGR). MCA and CPR were significant predictors, while a combined multivariable model achieved an 80.3% area under the curve, supporting their potential role in fetal risk stratification.

ONCOLOGY

NDURE navigation improves timely postoperative radiation therapy across diverse head and neck cancer patient groups.

NDURE Improves Timely Radiation Therapy in Head & Neck Cancer

A randomized clinical trial subgroup analysis found that NDURE, an enhanced navigation-based intervention, significantly improved timely postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) initiation in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Benefits were observed across demographic and clinical subgroups, including older adults, Black patients, stage IV disease, free-flap reconstruction, and postoperative complications.

Only 8.8% underwent prenatal genetic testing, highlighting gaps in testing despite inherited condition risks.

Low Prenatal Genetic Testing Uptake Despite Inherited Risk

A cross-sectional study of 283 pregnancies involving maternal genetic conditions found that only 8.8% underwent prenatal diagnostic testing. Among those tested, 96% were assessed specifically for the maternal condition, with inheritance identified in 48%. The findings highlight low uptake of prenatal testing despite transmission risk and its importance for perinatal planning and fetal health.

A rare breast epidermal cyst case highlights key ultrasound features and improves awareness of this uncommon lesion.

Rare Breast Epidermal Cyst: Ultrasound Findings and Diagnosis

A study examining a rare breast epidermal cyst highlights its distinctive clinical and multimodal ultrasonographic features. Unlike typical cutaneous epidermal cysts, breast lesions may have increased risks of infection, rupture, and malignant transformation. The case and literature review aim to improve diagnostic awareness and imaging accuracy for this uncommon breast lesion.

Celocentesis enables accurate prenatal diagnosis of rare monogenic diseases as early as 7–9 weeks of pregnancy.

Celocentesis Enables Early Prenatal Diagnosis of Monogenic Diseases

A retrospective study of 876 pregnancies evaluated celocentesis at 7–9 weeks for early prenatal diagnosis of rare monogenic diseases. Fluid aspiration succeeded in 99.9% of cases, while an optimized molecular workflow achieved 98% diagnostic success. Validation showed 100% sensitivity and specificity, supporting celocentesis as an early alternative to CVS and amniocentesis.

NIPT consistently outperforms traditional Down syndrome screening, despite limitations in systematic review quality.

NIPT Shows Higher Accuracy for Down Syndrome Screening

An umbrella review of 42 systematic reviews found that non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) consistently demonstrated higher accuracy for Down syndrome screening than traditional methods. However, 88.1% of reviews had low or critically low confidence, 66.7% had high risk of bias, and only 9.6% had high-certainty evidence, highlighting the need for stronger prospective research.

Plasma brain-derived p-tau217 accurately tracks the Alzheimer’s amyloid PET continuum and improves biomarker assessment.

Plasma BD p-Tau217 Improves Alzheimer’s Amyloid Assessment

A study of 924 participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative found that plasma brain-derived (BD) p-tau217 most closely tracked the continuous amyloid PET spectrum. It showed the strongest association with PET Centiloid values (R²=0.63) and the best prediction accuracy, suggesting potential value for assessing Alzheimer’s disease amyloid burden.

A review identifies policy, infrastructure, access, and cultural barriers to equitable prenatal aneuploidy screening in SEA.

Improving Prenatal Aneuploidy Screening Policies in Southeast Asia

A systematic review of 83 published documents and insights from four key informants identified major barriers and enablers to prenatal aneuploidy screening across Southeast Asia. Challenges span policies, healthcare infrastructure, screening access, and cultural attitudes. The study calls for clear guidelines, adequate resources, education, monitoring, collaboration, and regular policy updates.

Autopsy sequencing reveals extensive genetic heterogeneity and branched tumor evolution in metastatic salivary cancers.

Genetic Heterogeneity Revealed in Metastatic Salivary Cancers

A radiology-guided autopsy study of three patients with metastatic salivary gland cancers revealed extensive genetic heterogeneity and branched tumor evolution. Whole-genome sequencing identified consistent MYB-NFIB fusions in adenoid cystic carcinoma and LIFR-PLAG1 fusion in myoepithelial carcinoma, while multiple metastatic sites showed parallel evolutionary patterns.

Malaria treatment made po...

Malaria treatment made possible by cancer medication: Study - Devdiscourse