A medical robot enables safe, accurate, and non-contact swab collection, reducing infection risk and optimizing PCR testing in clinics, airports, and ports during outbreaks.

Medical Robot for Safe and Efficient COVID-19 Swab Collection

Medical robots offer a safe and efficient alternative for PCR testing. A clinical trial comparing robotic and manual swab collection found a 92.31% RNase P detection rate for robots versus 100% manually. Participant discomfort was similar, resolving within 48 hours. The robot minimized infection risk while maintaining accuracy. Its use in clinics and high-traffic areas could optimize medical resource distribution during outbreaks.

CARDIOLOGY

A plant-based vegan diet was feasible and acceptable in cardiac outpatients and improved key cardiometabolic risk markers.

Vegan Diet Feasible for Cardiac Patients and Improves Risk Markers

A mixed-methods study of 20 cardiac outpatients found that a plant-based vegan diet (PBVD) was feasible and generally acceptable. After 8 weeks, 55% of participants were fully adherent, while cholesterol, BMI, body weight, and waist circumference significantly decreased. The PBVD-S also proved useful for assessing dietary adherence and diet quality.

Genetic causes were found in one-third of fetal cardiomyopathy cases, with hydrops linked to higher mortality risk.

Genetic Causes and Outcomes of Fetal Cardiomyopathy Identified

A multicenter study of 148 fetal cardiomyopathy cases found that genetic causes were identified in 34% of patients. Among continuing pregnancies, 1-year survival was 61.5%, while transplant-free survival was 50%. Fetal hydrops and extracardiac structural anomalies were significant predictors of death or cardiac transplantation, highlighting key prenatal risk factors.

Atherectomy may primarily modify coronary calcium and facilitate PCI rather than substantially debulk calcified lesions.

Atherectomy’s Role in Coronary Calcium Modification Reconsidered

An editorial in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions challenges the traditional view of atherectomy as a calcium-debulking technique. Findings from the DUAL-PREP registry suggest atherectomy produces limited absolute calcium removal, while its main value may be modifying calcium and facilitating subsequent balloon or stent delivery.

ONCOLOGY

SSTR4 may drive HNSCC and cSCC tumorigenesis through MAPK-ERK signaling and cell-cycle regulation.

SSTR4 Identified as Potential Driver of HNSCC and cSCC

A preclinical study identified somatostatin receptor 4 (SSTR4) as a potential driver of cutaneous and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. SSTR4 activation influenced MAPK-ERK signaling and cell-cycle progression, while targeted Sstr4 knockout accelerated tumor formation in a mouse model, providing new insights into mechanisms of tumorigenesis.

MRAs show consistent efficacy and safety in Black and non-Black patients with heart failure across ejection-fraction groups.

MRAs Show Consistent Heart Failure Benefits Across Racial Groups

A meta-analysis of 13,846 patients from four major heart failure trials found no significant difference in the efficacy or safety of mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists (MRAs) between Black and non-Black patients. MRAs reduced cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization, with benefits consistent across reduced, mildly reduced, and preserved ejection fraction.

UROLOGY

ANDROLOGY

Microfluidic sperm selection mimics natural reproductive conditions and may improve sperm quality for IVF and ICSI.

Microfluidic Sperm Selection Advances in Assisted Reproduction

A review highlights advances in sperm selection for assisted reproductive technologies, emphasizing microfluidic systems that mimic conditions of the female reproductive tract. Unlike conventional swim-up and density-gradient methods, these devices can select sperm based on motility, thermotaxis, chemotaxis, and rheotaxis. Larger multicenter studies are needed to confirm their clinical benefits.

NEUROLOGY

PULMONOLOGY

Women with OSA showed greater functional impairment despite milder respiratory measures, highlighting the role of comorbidities.

Women With OSA Have Greater Functional Impairment Despite Milder Disease

A study of 518 untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnoea found that women experienced greater mood symptoms and daytime functional impairment despite lower apnoea-hypopnoea index and hypoxic burden than men. Respiratory measures did not consistently explain these differences, while comorbid mood disorders, insomnia, and chronic pain had a stronger influence on functional outcomes.

ENDO-DIABETOLOGY

Integrating mental health and behavioral assessment could improve personalized obesity treatment and long-term outcomes.

Integrating Mental Health Into Personalized Obesity Care

A new Perspective calls for integrating mental health into obesity management, highlighting the high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and their impact on treatment resistance, adherence, and outcomes. The authors advocate behavioral phenotyping alongside therapies such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, with multidisciplinary care, psychological assessment, stigma reduction, and personalized nutrition counseling.

DENTISTRY

Contemporary adhesive strategies showed no significant differences in 12-month outcomes for posterior composite restorations.

Adhesive Strategies Show Similar Outcomes in Posterior Restorations

A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials found no significant differences among contemporary adhesive strategies used for direct posterior composite restorations in permanent teeth. At 12 months, marginal adaptation and retention loss were similar across approaches. Although etch-and-rinse and universal adhesives ranked higher, evidence was uncertain due mainly to imprecision.

CRT-D showed no clear survival advantage over CRT-P in nonischemic cardiomyopathy but had more device-related complications.

CRT-D Shows No Clear Survival Benefit Over CRT-P in NICM

A nationwide Veterans Affairs cohort study of 3,965 patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy found no significant difference in mortality between CRT-D and CRT-P over a median 5.2-year follow-up. CRT-D was also associated with higher rates of generator replacement and device-related infections, highlighting uncertainty about the added value of defibrillator therapy in this population.

NEPHROLOGY

R881S in NBCe1 causes defective trafficking, glycosylation and transport, providing insights into proximal renal tubular acidosis.

R881S NBCe1 Variant Impairs Transport in Proximal RTA

Researchers characterized the previously unstudied R881S variant of NBCe1, encoded by SLC4A4, which is associated with proximal renal tubular acidosis and related disorders. The variant showed defective glycosylation, reduced cell-surface expression, and nearly absent transport activity. Unlike R881C, R881S did not form heterodimers with normal NBCe1, suggesting no dominant-negative effect.

RHEUMATOLOGY

Pulmonary complications, especially interstitial lung abnormalities, are common in SLE, supporting targeted respiratory screening.

Pulmonary Complications Common in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 40 studies found that pulmonary complications are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Interstitial lung abnormalities affected 12.4% of patients, while clinical ILD occurred in 2.9%. NSIP was the most common ILD pattern. PAH, lupus pneumonitis, DAH, and shrinking lung syndrome were less frequent, supporting targeted pulmonary screening.

Calcium silicate sealer retreatment showed favorable outcomes, while larger preoperative lesions predicted reduced healing.

Calcium Silicate Sealer Shows Favorable Retreatment Outcomes

A clinical study of 118 previously root canal-treated teeth found favorable outcomes after nonsurgical retreatment using a calcium silicate sealer. Success rates ranged from 64.4% to 93.2% depending on assessment criteria. Larger preoperative periapical lesions were strongly associated with lower complete-healing rates, while non-molar teeth had better CBCT-assessed outcomes.

Segmental intentional replantation showed clinical stability and minimal bone changes in teeth with large periapical cystic lesions.

Segmental Intentional Replantation for Large Periapical Cysts

A retrospective case series of seven patients involving eight teeth found segmental intentional replantation (SIR) to be clinically feasible for persistent large periapical cystic lesions. All replanted teeth remained clinically stable without major complications or signs of ankylosis, while CBCT and radiographs showed minimal bone changes and stable marginal bone levels during follow-up.

P2X3 signaling may drive dental pulp inflammation by linking mechanical and bacterial stimuli to ATP and IL-6 release.

P2X3 Receptor Linked to Dental Pulp Inflammation and Pain

A study of dental pulp cells found that combined bacterial and mechanical stimulation significantly increased ATP and IL-6 release, amplifying inflammatory responses. Blocking the P2X3 purinergic receptor with AF-353 reduced IL-6 release by 34–36%, highlighting P2X3 signaling as a potential therapeutic target for controlling dental pulp inflammation and pain.

Robot-Assisted Swab Colle...

Robot-Assisted Swab Collection: A Safe and Efficient PCR Solution