Researchers explored the viability of intra-cavitary saline-assisted ultrasound (US) guided transoral biopsy or excision of retropharyngeal nodes. Using the IDEAL 2a framework, the technique was developed and tested on five patients (July 2020 - July 2022) at a head and neck center. Seven procedures were conducted, including transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and fine needle aspirations (FNA). Six patients had diagnostically sufficient samples for treatment planning, and no major complications were reported. The saline-assisted US-guided biopsy proves safe and effective for accurate tissue sampling, tumor excision, and treatment planning in retropharyngeal nodes.

Intra-Cavitary Saline-Assisted Ultrasound (US) Guided Transoral Biopsy of Retropharyngeal Nodes: IDEAL 2a Framework Study Results

PEDIATRICS

Winter-born children showed better early cognitive and psychomotor development than summer-born peers in a rural China study.

Birth Season Linked to Early Childhood Development in Rural China

A longitudinal study of 866 children from low-income rural areas in China found that winter-born infants showed better cognitive and psychomotor development than summer-born children. The early advantage was linked to healthier feeding practices, greater social interaction and more caregiver stimulation. Seasonal conditions may therefore contribute to early developmental inequalities.

Review warns that apparently mild asthma in children may carry hidden risks and calls for standardized care and better prevention.

Pediatric Mild Asthma: Why “Mild” May Not Mean Low Risk

A narrative review highlights that pediatric mild asthma should not always be considered harmless, as children may experience overlooked or poorly controlled exacerbations. Differences in definitions, asthma phenotypes and treatment recommendations create clinical uncertainty. Experts call for standardized definitions, better risk prediction and improved access to asthma care globally.

PULMONOLOGY

Biologic therapies improved lung function and reduced exacerbations in patients with T2-high severe asthma after 12 months.

Biologics Improve Lung Function in T2-High Severe Asthma

A retrospective study of 80 patients with T2-high severe asthma found that biologic therapies—including omalizumab, mepolizumab and benralizumab—were associated with improved lung function and fewer asthma exacerbations after 12 months. Omalizumab and mepolizumab showed broad improvements in spirometry, while benralizumab improved selected airflow measures, supporting better control of distal airway limitation.

NEUROLOGY

RESILIENT trial analysis suggests thrombectomy benefits may be reduced in elderly stroke patients in resource-limited settings.

Age May Modify Stroke Thrombectomy Benefits in Developing Countries

A subgroup analysis of Brazil’s RESILIENT trial found that increasing age was linked to lower functional independence after large-vessel stroke. Among 221 patients, younger adults showed substantial benefit from endovascular treatment, while benefits appeared markedly reduced in elderly and very elderly patients. The findings highlight the need for further research on thrombectomy outcomes in resource-limited healthcare systems.

Pro-inflammatory EBV antibodies were linked to relapses and active brain lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis.

EBV Antibodies May Drive Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis

A study of 60 people with relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis found that antibodies against Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) EBNA1 carry a distinctive pro-inflammatory signature with enhanced immune effector functions. Stronger Fc receptor binding by antibodies against EBNA1 and EBV-gp350 was associated with relapses and active brain lesions, suggesting EBV-specific immune responses may contribute to MS disease activity.

PROSE is a reliable new patient-reported scale that measures the long-term impact and recovery of autoimmune encephalitis.

PROSE: New Patient-Reported Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis

Researchers have developed PROSE, a 40-item patient-reported outcome scale designed specifically for autoimmune encephalitis. Tested in 202 patients, the tool showed high reliability and captured cognitive, behavioral, emotional, physical and daily-life impacts. PROSE may help clinicians and researchers better measure recovery and disease severity beyond traditional clinical scales.

Declining DTI-ALPS scores were linked to cognitive decline and amyloid buildup, supporting a new imaging marker for Alzheimer’s progression.

DTI-ALPS Imaging Marker May Track Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

A 2-year study of 211 participants found that declines in the DTI-ALPS index, an MRI-based marker of perivascular fluid movement, were associated with worsening cognition and greater amyloid-beta accumulation. Participants who developed mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease showed greater declines, supporting DTI-ALPS as a potential non-invasive marker of disease progression.

Long-term subcutaneous EEG detected more seizures and identified treatment-related changes earlier than patient seizure diaries.

Subcutaneous EEG Improves Seizure Monitoring in Resistant Epilepsy

A multicenter study of 65 adults with treatment-resistant epilepsy found that ultra long-term subcutaneous EEG detected 2.2–3.4 times more seizures than patient-reported diaries. Across 160 medication changes, sqEEG also identified treatment-related seizure changes and return to baseline sooner, particularly after dose reductions, highlighting the value of continuous objective seizure monitoring.

Faster declines in systolic blood pressure were linked to greater cognitive decline in older women, but not men.

Declining Blood Pressure Linked to Cognitive Decline in Older Women

A 9-year study of 4,719 older adults found that faster declines in systolic blood pressure were associated with faster cognitive decline, particularly among women. The association was seen across global cognition and five cognitive domains in women but not men. Researchers suggest that declining systolic BP may serve as a simple clinical indicator of concurrent cognitive decline in older women.

ENDO-DIABETOLOGY

Women with obesity may face greater wage, employment and workplace discrimination disadvantages than men, review finds.

Obesity Linked to Greater Workplace Disadvantages for Women

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies found that obesity is associated with wage penalties, employment disadvantages and workplace discrimination in high-income countries. Women with obesity showed a consistent pattern of greater socio-economic disadvantage than men, including larger wage and employment penalties, although differences between sexes were not statistically conclusive.

New speech biomarkers may help detect DBS-induced dysarthria and optimize stimulation settings in Parkinson’s disease.

Speech Biomarkers May Improve DBS Programming in Parkinson’s Disease

A study of 24 Parkinson’s disease patients with subthalamic deep brain stimulation identified objective speech biomarkers that detect stimulation-induced dysarthria. Speech deterioration increased rapidly above certain stimulation thresholds, with phonation duration, voice quality and monopitch showing particular sensitivity. Left-sided stimulation caused greater speech impairment, potentially helping improve DBS programming.

Review of 47 obesity guidelines calls for less BMI-focused, more equitable and practical approaches to obesity care.

Global Obesity Guidelines Need More Equitable, Evidence-Based Care

A review of 47 obesity guidelines published between 2014 and 2026 found major gaps in translating evidence into consistent and equitable care. Most guidelines still rely heavily on BMI, while newer approaches such as body composition assessment, GLP-1 therapies, anti-stigma care and precision medicine remain incompletely integrated. Experts call for more practical, harmonized and accessible obesity care.

DENTISTRY

Laboratory scanning achieved consistent passive fit in full-arch implant prostheses, outperforming variable intraoral workflows.

Laboratory Scanning Improves Fit of Full-Arch Implant Prostheses

An in vitro study found that laboratory scanning with the OptiSplint grammetry system achieved complete passive fit across all interim full-arch implant-supported prosthesis designs. In contrast, intraoral scanner workflows showed variable results, with up to 100% misfit in Direct-to-MUA designs. Verification-cast cementation improved outcomes, highlighting laboratory scanning as a more predictable approach.

ChatGPT-5 and OpenEvidence led AI dental treatment planning, but specialist oversight remains essential for safe clinical use.

ChatGPT-5 and OpenEvidence Lead AI Dental Treatment Planning

A study comparing four AI platforms across 10 dental cases found that OpenEvidence and ChatGPT-5 produced treatment plans most closely aligned with expert recommendations. They scored highest for diagnostic accuracy, restorability assessment, multidisciplinary planning and treatment sequencing. However, clinically important errors occurred across all systems, reinforcing the need for specialist oversight.

Sinus surgery was linked to increased daily activity and improved quality of life in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Sinus Surgery Improves Daily Activity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

A pilot study of 51 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis found that sinus surgery was associated with significant improvements in daily physical activity tracked through Apple Health data. After surgery, patients took more daily steps, walked or ran farther, burned more active calories and exercised more, alongside substantial improvements in sinus-related quality-of-life scores.

Saline‐aided ultrasound‐g...

Saline‐aided ultrasound‐guided transoral biopsy of retropharyngeal nodes in head and neck cancer: A feasibility study of five patients