CARDIOLOGY

For therapeutic materials to be successfully delivered to the heart, several barriers need to be overcome, including the anatomical challenges of access, the mechanical force of the blood flow, the endothelial barrier, the cellular barrier and the immune response. Various vectors and delivery methods have been proposed to improve the cardiac-specific uptake of materials to modify gene expression.

Enhancing Therapeutic Material Delivery to the Heart: Overcoming Anatomical, Mechanical, and Cellular Barriers

Japanese data suggest ARBs may modestly reduce dementia risk, especially vascular dementia, versus CCBs.

ARBs May Lower Dementia Risk Compared With CCBs

A nationwide Japanese target-trial emulation of 52,019 adults aged ≥65 found that starting angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) was associated with a modestly lower risk of all-cause dementia than calcium channel blockers (CCBs), particularly vascular dementia, despite similar blood pressure levels.

UROLOGY

NEUROLOGY

Study shows TOT surgery competency can be achieved within 11–21 cases using structured training and LC-CUSUM monitoring.

Competency in TOT Surgery Reached Within 11–21 Cases

A prospective study of 80 transobturator tape (TOT) surgeries for stress urinary incontinence found that surgical trainees achieved competency after 11–21 procedures when supported by structured training, cadaveric practice, and mentorship. The LC-CUSUM method effectively tracked skill acquisition, highlighting the value of competency-based surgical training over traditional case-volume requirements.

Dorsal buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty achieved 96.2% cure with preserved sexual function and no new incontinence.

Buccal Graft Urethroplasty Achieves 96.2% Cure in Women

A prospective study of 27 sexually active women with female urethral stricture found that dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty achieved 96.2% objective and subjective cure rates. Urinary flow improved substantially, while no de novo urinary or coital incontinence was reported, and overall sexual function remained largely unchanged after surgery.

The Failure Index may help identify reduced spiral ganglion health and predict speech perception in cochlear implant users.

Failure Index May Assess Neural Health in Cochlear Implants

A retrospective study of 278 cochlear implant ears found that the electrically evoked compound action potential–based Failure Index (FI) may provide a useful marker of spiral ganglion neuron health. FI varied with age and hearing-loss etiology, often showing greater abnormalities at basal contacts, and showed stronger associations with speech perception than other eCAP markers.

International experts provide consensus guidance on patient selection, risks and complications in masculinising genital surgery.

Expert Consensus on Masculinising Genital Surgery

An international Delphi consensus involving 27 experienced urologists reached agreement on 75 of 83 statements covering patient selection, contraindications, risk factors and complication management in masculinising genital surgery. Experts emphasised individualised risk assessment and multidisciplinary evaluation, while identifying obesity, diabetes, smoking and cardiovascular disease as important risk factors.

A Belgian pilot study found telesurgical robotic prostatectomy feasible and safe under stable, low-latency network conditions.

Telesurgical Robotic Prostatectomy Shows Safe Clinical Feasibility

A prospective Belgian pilot study of 20 patients found that telesurgical robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) could be performed safely between two institutions. All 10 telesurgical procedures were completed without intraoperative adverse events or local takeover, with favourable early outcomes and stable network performance, supporting further evaluation of telesurgery in urologic surgery.

PULMONOLOGY

Reduced NUPR1 may promote ferroptosis, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing to COPD-related lung damage.

NUPR1 May Drive Ferroptosis and COPD Progression

New research suggests that reduced NUPR1, a natural inhibitor of ferroptosis, may contribute to COPD progression. NUPR1 inhibition increased iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in lung epithelial cells, while NUPR1-deficient mice developed lung abnormalities resembling emphysema, highlighting a potential therapeutic pathway.

Smartphone-based home hearing tests showed reliable results in young adults under suitable low-noise conditions.

Smartphone-Based Hearing Tests Show Reliable Home Results

A proof-of-concept study in 15 young adults found that smartphone-based home hearing assessments could provide reliable results. Pure-tone threshold testing demonstrated good test–retest reliability, while loudness-growth testing showed generally high reliability and minimal overall environmental bias, suggesting potential for accessible remote hearing evaluation under suitable low-noise conditions.

ENDO-DIABETOLOGY

Single-cell analysis reveals hypercholesterolemia reshapes immune cell populations and promotes proinflammatory gene activity.

Hypercholesterolemia Linked to Immune Remodeling and Inflammation

A single-cell analysis of 472,204 circulating cells from 31 human blood samples revealed that monocytes and macrophages have heightened cholesterol-transport activity. Hypercholesterolemia was linked to more macrophages, T cells and natural killer cells, fewer B cells and monocytes, and increased proinflammatory gene expression, including VCAM1, highlighting cholesterol-driven immune remodeling.

PEDIATRICS

Mental health symptoms remain among youth with cystic fibrosis receiving ETI, highlighting the need for broader family-based screening.

Mental Health Symptoms Persist in Youth With Cystic Fibrosis

A U.S. study of 118 youth with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers found that clinically relevant mental and behavioral health symptoms remain despite treatment with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI). Depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and attention problems were reported, while caregiver and youth mental health scores were significantly correlated, supporting routine and family-based screening.

Large study finds RSV may have a limited causal role in childhood asthma, with seasonal factors also contributing.

RSV and Childhood Asthma: New Evidence on Causal Risk

A large Ontario study of 1.44 million infants found that severe RSV infection may contribute only modestly to childhood asthma risk. Using birth timing as a quasi-random approach, researchers found the strongest association when infants were 13–16 weeks old during RSV peaks. Findings also suggest seasonal factors and other mechanisms may explain much of the RSV–asthma link.

Review highlights menopause-aware exercise research to improve muscle health, metabolism and healthy aging in women.

Menopause and Exercise: New Insights From Multi-Omics Research

Postmenopausal women face rising risks of sarcopenia and cardiometabolic disease, yet exercise research remains largely based on male or hormone-replete populations. A new review highlights how menopause-related hormonal changes can alter metabolism, inflammation and recovery, and calls for menopause-aware multi-omics research to develop more precise exercise strategies for healthy aging.

DENTISTRY

Custom digital facial prostheses provided functional, esthetic and psychosocial support during staged facial reconstruction.

Custom Facial Prostheses Transform Complex Facial Reconstruction

A 5-year clinical report describes the evolving use of custom facial prostheses in a 35-year-old man with a severe midfacial defect caused by idiopathic purpura fulminans. Combining 3D facial scanning, digital modeling, additive manufacturing and traditional sculpting, successive prostheses adapted to anatomical changes while supporting healing, speech, lymphatic drainage, surgical planning and appearance.

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Presepsin may help detect infection and decompensation early in cirrhosis, but stronger clinical evidence is still needed.

Presepsin as a Biomarker for Infection in Liver Cirrhosis

A literature review highlights presepsin as a promising biomarker for early detection of infections and decompensation in patients with liver cirrhosis. While infections can trigger acute-on-chronic liver failure and significantly increase mortality, reliable non-invasive markers remain limited. Current evidence on presepsin in cirrhosis is scarce, but it may eventually help guide hospital-based treatment decisions.

Review finds Child Life Specialists may reduce pain, distress and anxiety in children during medical procedures.

Child Life Specialists Reduce Pain, Distress and Anxiety in Children

A systematic review of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 1,096 children found that Child Life Specialist interventions may reduce pain, distress and anxiety during medical procedures. Pain, distress and anxiety scores were significantly lower with CLS involvement, while the effect on fear was not significant. Researchers support wider recognition of CLS services but call for further evidence.

Targeted delivery of ther...

Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to the heart