FAMILY HEALTH

The study finds an increased risk of heart failure and mortality associated with azithromycin use in COVID-19 patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease. Among the total of 2934 patients, 36.4% had preexisting cardiovascular disease. Azithromycin therapy was consistently linked to a higher risk of acute heart failure in patients with prior cardiovascular disease. However, azithromycin use was not significantly associated with death compared to standard care. These findings emphasize the need for caution in prescribing azithromycin to COVID-19 patients with preexisting cardiovascular conditions.

Azithromycin Use in COVID-19 Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Increased Risk of Heart Failure and Mortality Revealed in New Study

GYNAECOLOGY - IVF

Machine learning did not outperform logistic regression in predicting LGA neonates, with EFW emerging as the strongest predictor.

Machine Learning vs Logistic Regression for LGA Prediction

A large cohort study of 21,743 singleton pregnancies found that both machine-learning and traditional logistic regression models accurately predicted large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates using late third-trimester ultrasound data. Both achieved an AUC of 0.888, while EFW centile was the strongest predictor. ML provided no additional predictive benefit over conventional regression.

UROLOGY

Actinium-225 PSMA therapy showed encouraging responses and manageable toxicity in postdocetaxel mCRPC.

Alpha-Based PSMA Therapy Shows Promise in mCRPC

A real-world observational study of 66 patients with postdocetaxel metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer found encouraging responses with [225Ac]Ac-PSMA-617 after prior [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 therapy. The treatment achieved PSA decline >50% in 60% and disease control in 80%, with manageable toxicity. Larger prospective trials are needed to confirm these findings.

MRI-targeted prostate biopsy may safely omit systematic cores in carefully selected high-risk MRI profiles.

MRI-Targeted Prostate Biopsy May Reduce Need for Systematic Cores

A retrospective study found that systematic cores could potentially be omitted in carefully selected patients undergoing antibiotic-free transperineal cognitive MRI-targeted prostate biopsy. A model using PSA density, MRI lesion size, and PI-RADS score showed strong discrimination (AUC 0.881), with 95.2% concordant or superior grading in patients meeting all criteria.

DERMATOLOGY

HA-collagen combination therapy improved perioral aging and aesthetic outcomes more than either treatment alone.

HA-Collagen Combination Improves Perioral Rejuvenation

A randomized trial of 90 women with perioral aging found that combining hyaluronic acid with collagen produced significantly greater improvements in facial aging and aesthetic outcomes than either treatment alone. Guided by baseline CPAS scores, the combination provided better tissue support and lifting effects, with benefits sustained through 6 months.

TAVI before PCI was noninferior to PCI before TAVI for 1-year outcomes in severe aortic stenosis with CAD.

TAVI Before PCI Noninferior to PCI Before TAVI in CAD

An international randomized trial of 986 patients with severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease found that performing TAVI before PCI was noninferior to PCI before TAVI at 1 year. The primary outcome occurred in 22.2% vs 24.2% of patients, respectively, supporting TAVI-first as an alternative treatment sequence.

Transcatheter tricuspid repair reduced death or heart-failure hospitalization risk by 60% through 3 years.

Transcatheter Tricuspid Repair Improves 3-Year Outcomes

A randomized trial of 360 patients with symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation found that transcatheter valve repair plus medical therapy significantly improved outcomes versus medical therapy alone. At 3 years, freedom from death or heart-failure hospitalization was 52.4% vs 21.0%, with a 60% lower risk of the combined outcome.

Five-year PSA and PSA doubling time predicted late prostate cancer recurrence after low-dose-rate brachytherapy.

5-Year PSA Predicts Late Recurrence After Prostate Brachytherapy

A machine-learning analysis of 1,123 prostate cancer patients who remained recurrence-free for 5 years after low-dose-rate brachytherapy found that PSA level and PSA doubling time at year 5 strongly predicted late biochemical recurrence. Patients with PSA <0.93 ng/mL or PSA-DT >5.3 years had substantially better 10-year recurrence-free survival.

PEDIATRICS

A clinical score may help predict complicated pleural effusion in children with pneumonia for earlier risk-based management.

Score Predicts Complicated Pleural Effusion in Children

A retrospective study of 122 children with parapneumonic pleural effusion identified five early predictors of progression to complicated disease: younger age, chest retractions, high CRP, greater effusion thickness, and mediastinal shift. The model showed strong discrimination (AUC 0.883), with 92.2% sensitivity and 71.1% specificity.

Functional lung imaging could enhance pediatric lung assessment, but further validation and standardization are needed.

Functional Lung Imaging Shows Promise in Children

ABSTRACT
Functional lung imaging enables pulmonary parameters, including ventilation, perfusion, gas exchange, and biomechanics, to be mapped and quantified noninvasively throughout the lungs. Pulmonary function testing is generally more difficult to perform in a child in comparison to an adult, and so pulmonary functional imaging has the potential to significantly benefit pediatric cohorts, giving clinicians an additional tool in assessing and managing pediatric lung disease. This scoping review aims to (1) identify current and emerging functional lung imaging techniques that have been investigated in pediatric cohorts and (2) describe how they have been compared to pulmonary function tests. PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched for studies comparing pulmonary functional imaging techniques with pulmonary function testing in pediatric cohorts ≤ 18 years old. A total of 54 studies were included. Techniques were grouped into magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), electrical impedance tomography (EIT), X‐ray, and nuclear medicine methods. Most studies compared spirometry, multiple breath nitrogen washout, or both. At present, hyperpolarized gas MRI studies are the most widely investigated modality in children. However, despite the multiple different modalities investigated, there are no methods that have entered standard clinical pediatric use. Further research into functional lung imaging in pediatrics is required to provide validation, standardization, and establishment of normal values prior to implementation of these modalities into routine clinical care.

High tumor volume independently predicted poorer survival in laryngeal cancer beyond conventional TNM staging.

Tumor Volume Predicts Survival in Laryngeal Cancer

A study of 88 patients with cT2–T4 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma found that tumors larger than 22.498 cm³ were associated with markedly worse survival. High tumor volume increased mortality 3.6-fold and remained independently associated with overall survival after adjustment for age, T stage, and nodal status, suggesting added value beyond TNM staging.

PET/CT effectively excluded synchronous tumors in HPV-positive throat cancer, but suspicious uptake requires biopsy confirmation.

PET/CT Helps Detect Synchronous Tumors in HPV-Positive OPSCC

A multi-center study of 306 patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma found that PET/CT had a 99.31% negative predictive value for excluding synchronous primary tumors. While specificity was high at 97.31%, its 46.67% positive predictive value highlights the need for biopsy confirmation when multifocal FDG uptake is detected.

CARDIOLOGY

Pulsed-field ablation shortened procedure times and reduced phrenic nerve palsy versus cryoballoon ablation in AF.

Pulsed-Field vs Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

A meta-analysis of six trials involving 2,024 patients found that pentaspline pulsed-field ablation (PFA) achieved similar overall atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence to cryoballoon ablation (CBA), while significantly shortening ablation and left atrial dwell times. PFA was associated with fewer phrenic nerve palsy events, although troponin release was higher.

NEUROLOGY

Plasma p-tau217 showed sustained accuracy for Alzheimer’s disease risk and progression over 5 years.

p-tau217 Blood Test Tracks Alzheimer’s Risk Over 5 Years

A multi-cohort study of 2,117 individuals found that plasma p-tau217 thresholds maintained 86%–95% accuracy for detecting amyloid-β PET positivity for up to 5 years. Most p-tau217-positive participants remained stable, while those progressing to positivity showed greater amyloid abnormalities, faster tau accumulation, hippocampal atrophy, and higher dementia risk.

PULMONOLOGY

ICS, ICS/salmeterol, and ICS/formoterol showed similar exacerbation outcomes in children with persistent asthma.

Asthma Controller Therapies Show Similar Outcomes in Children

A retrospective study of 296 children aged 6–11 years with persistent asthma found no significant difference in exacerbations among inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) monotherapy, ICS/salmeterol, and ICS/formoterol. About 38.2% experienced at least one exacerbation, while emergency visits, hospitalizations, and systemic corticosteroid use were also comparable.

Air pollution and intracellular metals were linked to blood changes, immune gene alterations, and anemia in COPD.

Air Pollution and Metal Exposure Linked to Anemia in COPD

A study of 61 patients with COPD and 10 healthy controls found that PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased intracellular chromium, zinc, and cadmium levels and altered red blood cell measures. Several metals were linked to hemoglobin, hematocrit, and cell size, while immune-related gene expression also differed in anemic COPD patients.

Relationship Between Azit...

Relationship Between Azithromycin and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Unvaccinated Patients With COVID-19 and Preexisting Cardiovascular Disease