Research & publications

Long-Term Survival Advantage of Reoperative Surgical Mitral Valve Replacement Over Transcatheter Mitral Valve-in-Valve: A Multicenter Cohort.

The Annals of thoracic surgery · 2028-03-23 · Won D, Bolling SF, Romano MA, Johnston DR

BACKGROUND: Although transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement (mViV) is safe, long-term outcomes compared with reoperative surgical mitral valve replacement (rSMVR) remains unknown. This study compared long-term outcomes between mViV and rSMVR in patients with failing mitral bioprostheses. METHODS: This retrospective, cohort study analyzed patients undergoing mViV or rSMVR for failing bioprosthetic mitral valves without active endocarditis at 2 quaternary care centers from 2004 to 2023. Primary end points included 30-day Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium (MVARC) procedural succe

Pandemic impacts on protected rainforests and rural communities with variable health and livelihood support in West Kalimantan, Indonesia: a mixed-methods approach combining household surveys and remote sensing.

The Lancet. Planetary health · 2027-06-22 · Hopkins SR, Hazel A, Pourtois JD, Chamberlin AJ

BACKGROUND: Community support programmes can simultaneously improve human and ecosystem health. However, whether and how supported communities maintain these sustainable trajectories during major disruptions remains unclear. We used a mixed-methods approach to document how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted rural communities and protected rainforests in West Kalimantan. METHODS: We surveyed 1016 households across six villages with non-governmental organisation (NGO)-affiliated health-livelihood support and four nearby unaffiliated villages to understand their pandemic experiences and logging activ

Effect of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines on hospitalisation outcomes and mortality in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The lancet. Healthy longevity · 2027-06-22 · Zhao W, Lian R, Zhao Y, Li Z

BACKGROUND: The comparative efficacy and safety of high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV) versus standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (SD-IIV) in adults 65 years or older remain uncertain. Hence, we aimed to compare the effects of HD-IIV versus those of SD-IIV for hospitalisation and mortality outcomes in this population by synthesising evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Global Health, and ClinicalTrials.gov from incep

High-dose influenza vaccines in older adults: benefits and gaps.

The lancet. Healthy longevity · 2027-06-22 · Icardi G, Paolozzi V

Pain as a component of complexity in stroke care for older adults.

The lancet. Healthy longevity · 2027-06-09 · Mendes Neto NN, Mendes JM

Pain in the framework of complexity in stroke care for older adults.

The lancet. Healthy longevity · 2027-06-09 · Quinn TJ, Evans N, Fearon P, Gallacher K

Severe anaemia and invasive bacterial infections in Kenyan children: a 26-year hospital surveillance observational study.

The Lancet. Global health · 2027-05-12 · Abuga KM, Muriuki JM, Mutua AM, Wambui KM

BACKGROUND: Severe anaemia is a major cause of hospital admission and mortality in children living in sub-Saharan Africa, but data on its association with invasive bacterial infection are sparse. We aimed to characterise severe anaemia and its association with invasive bacterial infection in Kenyan children. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, we systematically collected admission data for children aged 1 month to 14 years admitted to Kilifi County Hospital, Kenya, between Aug 1, 1998, and July 31, 2024. We excluded children with missing haemoglobin data. We examined prevalence

Initial Experience With Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage Using Lumen-apposing Metal Stents in Extremely Elderly and Frail Patients.

DEN open · 2027-04-01 · Kobayashi K, Nomura T, Ayaki M, Ogi T

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) is a treatment option for acute cholecystitis in high-risk surgical patients. However, data on extremely elderly and frail patients are limited. We report our initial experience with EUS-GBD using electrocautery-enhanced LAMS in this population after reimbursement approval in Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who underwent EUS-GBD using electrocautery-enhanced LAMS for acute cholecystitis at a single center after reimbursement approval in June 2025. RE

Frailty as a mediator of the association between hyperuricemia and stroke risk: A prospective cohort study.

Clinical and experimental hypertension (New York, N.Y. : 1993) · 2026-12-31 · Song Q, Tu X, Zheng Z, Liu R

BACKGROUND: Existing evidence on the interrelationship among hyperuricemia, physical frailty, and stroke remains limited and unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations of hyperuricemia and frailty with the incidence of stroke, and to evaluate the potential mediating role of frailty. METHODS: We include Chinese adults aged 45 years and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Serum urate concentrations were measured using an enzymatic colorimetric method, and hyperuricemia was defined as serum urate ≥420 μmol/L. The frailty index (FI) was constructed ba

Uric acid alleviates the inflammatory response in LPS-induced BV2 cells and MPTP-induced PD mice by resisting ferroptosis through the Nrf2 signalling pathway.

Redox report : communications in free radical research · 2026-12-31 · Zhou D, Xiong T, Yang B, Liu F

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis are implicated in Parkinson' s disease (PD) pathogenesis. Epidemiological studies suggest that elevated uric acid (UA) levels may reduce PD risk, but the precise molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of UA in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or MPP+-stimulated BV2 microglia and MPTP-induced PD mouse models. METHODS: BV2 cells are recognized as a standardized and reproducible neural inflammatory cell model for mechanism exploration. The anti-ferroptosis and anti-inflammatory effects of UA

Association of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis with 1-year cognitive impairment after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Clinical and experimental hypertension (New York, N.Y. : 1993) · 2026-12-31 · Cao Y, Feng G, Zhang Y, Ye Z

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is common in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA), but its relationship with long-term cognitive impairment remains unclear. This study examined whether ICAS was associated with 1-year cognitive impairment after AIS/TIA independently of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and extracranial carotid artery stenosis (ECAS). METHODS: Data were obtained from the impairment of cognition and sleep after AIS or TIA in Chinese patients (ICONS), a subgroup of the China National Stroke Registry II

Caffeine makes a splash: a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis exploring the effects of caffeine intake on swimming performance.

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026-12-31 · Wang Z, Qiu B, Bao J, Diao P

BACKGROUND: Evidence for acute caffeine supplementation in swimming remains inconsistent across reviews, likely due to between-study heterogeneity and methodological differences. METHODS: Five databases were searched for randomized placebo-controlled crossover trials exploring the effects of caffeine on swimming performance in competitive swimmers. Performance outcomes were pooled as standardized mean differences (SMD; Hedges' g), with time outcomes sign-reversed so that positive values indicated improved performance. Dependence among multiple outcomes within studies was addressed using three-

Branched-chain amino acids and gut microbiota: coregulation and impact on neurological function via the gut-brain axis.

Gut microbes · 2026-12-31 · Li Q, Fan B, Xiao Y, Zhang Z

Diseases that cause neurological dysfunction, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), among others, are characterized by complex and multifaceted etiologies. There is growing evidence that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), regulated by the gut microbiota, play a critical role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This review focuses on the potential role of branched-chain amino acid metabolism in regulating brain function and gut microbiota. First, we summarize the current understanding of BCAAs, encompassi

Training of trainers on medical education reforms: a prospective multicenter French survey among intensivists.

Medical education online · 2026-12-31 · Hermann B, Truchot J, Cariou A, Benghanem S

BACKGROUND: The recent reform of the second cycle of medical education in France introduced competency-based medical education (CBME) with the incorporation of several pedagogical modalities into undergraduate training and assessment, including objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), simulation-based teaching (SBT), and clinical reasoning (CR) instruction throughout the academic year. While these tools are central to preparing competent practitioners, their effective implementation depends on adequately trained educators. We hypothesized that training would be insufficient, notably

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) in a vaccinated 16-month-old Inuit boy: a case report.

International journal of circumpolar health · 2026-12-31 · Dorey R, Morzycki A, Scott D, Robinson J

Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) is rare and life-threatening. We report severe monomicrobial Hib NSTI in a 16-month-old Inuit child who had received 3 doses of the Hib vaccine, highlighting vaccine failure and host susceptibility. The child sustained a minor fall to the left thigh without skin breakdown and developed fever the same day, initially treated with amoxicillin for presumed acute otitis media. He re-presented with persistent fever, progressive leg pain, swelling, ecchymosis, and refusal to weight-bear, prompting air transfer to t

Local governance and health equity: Practical reflections from Chinese crisis governance.

Global public health · 2026-12-31 · Zhang T, Xu R

This study examines mass testing in three Chinese cities since 2020 as a 'stress test' for local governance. It analyses the governance performance of Shenzhen, Nanjing and Wuxi in terms of efficiency, equity and community resilience. Using Melbourne's pandemic lockdown as a reference case, it discusses the underlying mechanisms linking different governance approaches to health equity outcomes. The study adopts a nested governance framework to examine how governance capacities and policy logics operate across different local contexts. The results indicate that Chinese cities can efficiently co

Prevalence of primary Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance in Europe over the past four decades.

Gut microbes · 2026-12-31 · Nafria B, Nyssen OP, Narbaiza J, Montes M

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Antibiotic resistance is a major determinant of the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence and geographical distribution of primary antibiotic resistance in patients infected with H. pylori across Europe over the last four decades. METHODS: Bibliographical searches were conducted from 1990 to 2024 in the PubMed database with no language restrictions. Selected studies evaluated the primary resistance of H. pylori to clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, tetracycline and rifampicin in

"I thought I was normal" children's understanding of overweight and obesity: a qualitative study in chile.

International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026-12-31 · Prieto Bravo C, Boydell N, Bauld L, Harden J

BACKGROUND: Childhood overweight and obesity are prevalent in Chile and globally. Health care responses typically emphasise biomedical and risk-focused approaches, with limited attention to children's own perspectives. OBJECTIVE: This study explored how children clinically classified as overweight or obese understand health, growth and weight within health contexts. METHODS: Participants were recruited from primary care clinics in two municipalities in Santiago, Chile. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 18 children aged 10-12 years during COVID-19 restrictions, incorporating

In-hospital and short-term outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy.

Hematology (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026-12-31 · Zhao N, Li W, Chen Q, Zhang Q

BACKGROUND: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is an innovative immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies. Cardiovascular complications associated with CAR-T therapy have also received increasing attention. However, the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on outcomes in patients undergoing CAR-T therapy remains poorly understood. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using the National Readmission Database (NRD) to identify adult patients who underwent CAR-T therapy between 2017 and 2020. We divided the patients into two groups based on the presence of AF to study in-hospit

Prognostic interaction between clinical stage and left atrial remodeling in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

The veterinary quarterly · 2026-12-31 · Park SW, Kim K, You KH, Ro WB

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is leading cause of acquired heart failure in small-breed dogs. Although the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) staging is widely used in practice, how each stage and the degree of cardiac remodeling affect survival has not been clearly defined. We aimed to determine whether severe remodeling in dogs with preclinical (stage B2) disease is associated with survival differences compared with dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF; stage C) and less severe remodeling. This retrospective study analyzed 270 dogs with MMVD, stratified by t

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome through the lens of gut‑derived uremic toxins.

Gut microbes · 2026-12-31 · Xu C, Snelson M, Marques FZ

Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome represents a complex, interconnected cluster of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. These conditions share overlapping metabolic, inflammatory, and vascular pathways, with the gut microbiome increasingly recognised as a key contributor and common underlying risk factor. Uremic toxins, traditionally considered waste products of host and microbial metabolism, are now recognised as active mediators of tissue damage across the CKM spectrum, particularly in the context of impaired

Effects of serotonergic pharmacological manipulation on exercise performance and central fatigue: a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis.

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · 2026-12-31 · Guan L, Han L, Zou Y, Feng D

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced fatigue is a complex, non-pathological state that acutely limits physical performance, and the serotonergic (5-HT) system has been proposed as an important modulator of its central components. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the effects of serotonergic pharmacological manipulation on exercise-related outcomes. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, and SportDiscus from inception to August 2025. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of serotonergic phar

Beyond the pump: integrating the heart's endocrine function into early medical education.

Medical education online · 2026-12-31 · Malsawmzuali JC, Adel FW, Pawlina W, Kattil P

BACKGROUND: The heart is commonly introduced in early medical education through its structural, mechanical, and electrophysiological roles. Although this framing remains foundational, it may underemphasize the heart's endocrine functions. Cardiac endocrine signaling, particularly natriuretic peptide physiology, offers a concise structure-function example linking anatomy, histology, cardiovascular physiology, and clinical biomarker interpretation. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize scientific and educational principles of cardiac endocrine function and propose an anatomy-anchored framework for integratio

Engagement in cardiac rehabilitation after a first myocardial infarction: a qualitative evidence synthesis of patient experiences.

International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026-12-31 · Niu Z, Zhao J, Ma Z, Sui Y

PURPOSE: To synthesize qualitative evidence on factors influencing patients' participation in cardiac rehabilitation after a first acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: A search of eight databases was conducted from inception to May 2026. Included studies were quality assessed using JBI criteria, and findings were synthesized using a hybrid approach that combined meta-aggregation for data extraction with thematic synthesis for interpretive analysis. RESULTS: The synthesis of 9 qualitative studies yielded 33 synthesized findings. These findings were organized into three key themes: (1) the comp

Support Experiences Following Unintended Pregnancy in the Netherlands

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Inan, Z., Sprenger, M., Slagboom, N. M., Molenaar, J. M.

BackgroundUnintended pregnancies can introduce stress and shift life trajectories. Social support may buffer these effects, yet its influence during an unintended pregnancy and into the early parenthood period is not clear. This study aimed to understand the types and gaps of social support experienced throughout this period. MethodsThis study utilized interview data under the RISE UP study in The Hague, the Netherlands. 13 mothers and 8 partners who experienced an unintended pregnancy participated in semi-structured interviews between 2024 and 2025. Interviews were thematically analyzed usin

Design and implementation of maternal-infant clinical trial recruitment alert using linked electronic medical records, and evaluation of researcher-perceived alert usability

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Panganiban, H. P., Segal, A., Kuschel, C.

BackgroundClinical decision support systems configured as electronic medical records alerts can support clinical trial recruitment by identifying eligible participants. While they are typically used to evaluate a single patient record, their application for a linked maternal-infant chart has not been extensively explored. ObjectiveThis project aimed to design and implement a clinical trial alert using linked maternal-infant records and to evaluate researchers perceived usability. Materials and MethodsWe conducted a two-phase quality assurance project: (1) design and implementation of an aler

Adaptation and Psychometric Validation of a Facility-Level Tool to Assess Telemedicine Readiness in Primary Care

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Escobar-Agreda, S., Villarreal-Zegarra, D., Reategui-Rivera, C. M., Paredes-Gonzales, Y.

BackgroundTelehealth has expanded rapidly, yet its sustained use beyond emergency responses remains uneven. Facility and organizational conditions are modifiable determinants of healthcare intervention implementation, and readiness assessments are key steps in the early adoption and further uptake process. However, many telemedicine readiness assessment instruments lack psychometric evidence, limiting their value for benchmarking, prioritizing investments, and monitoring progress at scale. ObjectiveTo adapt and psychometrically validate the Telemedicine Readiness Inventory at the Facility Lev

TRAJECTORY AND PREDICTORS OF MATERNAL RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION FROM PREGNANCY TO FIVE YEARS POSTPARTUM

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Crowther, M. E., Strakie, S. C. O., Pinnington, D. M., Drummond, S. P.

PurposeRelationship satisfaction is a key factor in womens mental health and wellbeing outcomes, however, relationship satisfaction may change in times of stress and uncertainty, such as the perinatal period. While positive romantic relationships during the perinatal period may offer benefits, changes in relationship satisfaction and what may contribute to them longitudinally is not currently well understood. MethodOne hundred and fifty-seven women in late pregnancy ([~]30 weeks gestation) took part in a longitudinal analysis of relationship satisfaction from pregnancy to five years postpartu

No Point Beating Around the Bedpan: Lessons from a Major Intra-Hospital NDM-Producing Escherichia coli Carriage Outbreak : a Mixed-Methods Study.

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Le Hir, A., Vincent, P., Sardi, F. S., Giglione, C.

Antimicrobial resistance constitutes a major threat to global public health. Among emerging extensively drug-resistant bacteria (eXDR), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) expose hospitals to outbreaks through rapid dissemination, and to therapeutic limitations. Through a mixed epidemiological-qualitative methods study, we report the most extensive CPE carriage outbreak known to date in France, which occurred at Hopital Europeen Marseille (HEM) between January and June 2025. By the end of November 2024, the admission of an index patient returning from Senegal carrying an NDM-produ

Modeling the Effectiveness of Antibiotic Therapies Against Sepsis Using Continuous-time Hidden Markov Models

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Schmiegel, S., Marchi, H., Borgstedt, R., Rehberg, S.

Patients suffering from sepsis need to be treated with an effective antibiotic therapy within the first hour after sepsis onset to decrease their risk of death. Microbiological data that provide information about the suitability of antibiotic therapies, however, is usually available only after 72 hours. Consequently, the treating physicians need to judge a therapys effectiveness based on the patients measured health records and their general health condition. This medical assessment is complex and requires years of experience. In our study, we investigate how statistical modeling can contribut

A Modified Thromboelastometry Assay Enables Rapid, Real-Time Evaluation of Complement-Driven Immunothrombosis

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Papadimitriou, E., Natsi, A.-M., Papagoras, C., Mastellos, D.

IntroductionComplement and coagulation are tightly interconnected systems that contribute to immunothrombosis and can drive inflammatory or thrombotic diseases. Leveraging this relationship and crosstalk we developed a method to functionally evaluate complement-induced coagulation activity using thromboelastometry (thermoelastometry of complement-driven immunothrombosis; TCDI). MethodsTo study the complement-dependent activation of coagulation, platelet-poor plasma (PPP) from patients was mixed with healthy blood in the presence or absence of the compstatin-based C3 inhibitor Cp40. PPP from h

MRI-Derived Fat Depots and Cardiometabolic Pathways Underlying Heart Failure Risk: A Mendelian Randomization Study

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Sharma, P., Levin, M.

BackgroundObesity is a major modifiable risk factor for heart failure (HF), but body mass index (BMI) does not distinguish biologically distinct fat depots. Whether imaging-derived adipose tissue depots capture specific cardiometabolic pathways underlying HF risk beyond conventional anthropometric measures remains uncertain. MethodsWe performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR mediation analyses using published genome-wide association study summary statistics. General adiposity traits included BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and WHR adjusted for BMI from GIANT and U

Comparative Evaluation of Central Venous Oxygen Saturation, Carbon Dioxide Venous Arterial Gradient, and Lactate Levels as Markers of Tissue Perfusion After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Exploratory Observational Study

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Neves, J. K., Venturini, V., Zeferino, S., Galas, F. R. B. G.

ObjectiveThis study aims to identify which markers of tissue hypoperfusion--specifically lactate levels, central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), and venous arterial carbon dioxide gradient (CO2 gradient)--have the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting the discharge of postoperative cardiac surgical patients from the ICU within 48 hours. This is an exploratory, hypothesis-generating investigation. MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study involving 100 patients in the Surgical ICU at the Heart Institute of the Hospital das Clinicas, FMUSP, across two collection period

Integrating Causal Inference into Pharmacovigilance: Target Trial Emulations for Proactive Signal Detection of Atorvastatin Initiation in Medicare Beneficiaries

medrxiv · 2026-07-10 · Rowan, C. G., Tran, M., Srivastava, S.

ImportanceAdverse drug events (ADEs) in older adults are a substantial public health burden, yet spontaneous reporting systems detect them poorly owing to underreporting and the lack of a defined population. These limitations are of particular concern for older adults, who are underrepresented in pre-approval trials yet at elevated ADE risk owing to polypharmacy, multimorbidity, and age-related changes in drug metabolism. ObjectiveTo develop and apply an active, claims-based pharmacovigilance framework using sequential target trial emulation to detect ADE signals in older adults, with atorvas

Modulation of Cerebral Ischemia by Albumin

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2026-02-03 ·

A single-center, open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled, prospective phase II clinical trial to investigate the efficacy of low-dose albumin in patients with ischemic stroke with an indication for vasographic intervention. The clinical trial consists of the following phases: Screening, randomization, treatment phase - administration of albumin/placebo and vasographic intervention (with the duration of all these 3 phases in the order of hours) and a follow-up phase, which takes place first in the intensive care unit (ICU) and then in a standard ward and lasts 90 (±7) days. The clinical tria

Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Hematological Malignancies.

2026-01-01 · Garg A, Eswaradass P, Chopra S.

<h4>Background and purpose</h4>There is limited evidence regarding the use of acute interventions and outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of AIS in patients with hematological malignancies.<h4>Methods</h4>Hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of AIS were identified from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2018. Logistic regression was used to compare differences in acute stroke interventions and clinical outcomes. Survival analysis was used to evaluate recurrent AIS after disc

Safety and efficacy of intravenous tPA after successful thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion: a retrospective study.

2026-01-01 · Kotsugi M, Okamoto T, Hayami H, Nakase K

<h4>Introduction</h4>This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration following successful mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion (LVO).<h4>Methods</h4>This single-center retrospective study included patients with anterior circulation LVO who achieved successful recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2b) after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) between January 2021 and December 2024. Beginning in December 2022, 25% of the standard IV tPA

Real-World Endovascular Management of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease in Japan from the Acute to the Chronic Stage: A Narrative Review.

2026-01-01 · Okada H, Yamaguchi Y, Koyama Y, Tetsuo Y

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke in Japan. The clinical manifestations of ICAD are heterogeneous, ranging from transient ischemic attacks caused by thromboembolism to progressive stroke related to severe atherosclerotic stenosis and acute, devastating stroke resulting from ICAD-related large vessel occlusion (LVO). Initial management strategies are also heterogeneous in the acute stage, ranging from aggressive medical management (AMM) as a primary strategy for nonocclusive ICAD to emergent endovascular treatment for ICAD-related LVO. Despite the w

Life-Saving Intracranial Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke in Pregnancy: Balancing Maternal and Fetal Risk.

2026-01-01 · Enesi E, Leka V, Huti G, Rroji A

Stroke during pregnancy is uncommon but poses a significant threat to both mother and fetus, requiring rapid, carefully balanced interventions. We describe a 46-year-old woman at 24 weeks' gestation who presented with sudden speech difficulties, facial droop, and weakness on one side of her body. Imaging revealed an acute right middle cerebral artery occlusion, and extensive evaluation ruled out cardioembolic, thrombophilia, and vascular causes. She underwent urgent mechanical thrombectomy under monitored anesthesia care, achieving partial revascularization without complications. Her neurologi

Association Between Circadian Onset Time and Clinical Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

2026-01-01 · Abbaszade N, Sorgun MH, Bozkurt U, Yalap ÖE

<h4>Introduction</h4>It has been demonstrated that the circadian rhythm influences the onset of ischemic stroke, however its impact on treatment strategies and clinical outcomes remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the circadian timing of stroke onset and vascular risk profiles, stroke severity, prognosis, and treatment methods in patients with acute ischemic stroke.<h4>Methods</h4>We retrospectively reviewed acute ischemic patients with stroke admitted to our University Hospital Stroke Unit (August 2017-December 2023). Patients were grouped by st

Beyond the Catheter: Contemporary Aspiration Pump Systems in Neurointerventional Stroke Therapy.

2026-01-01 · Sanikommu S, Berger C, Santos AN, Roach C

Acute ischemic stroke is the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality among cerebrovascular pathologies. Over time, several therapeutic options have been developed for treating patients with stroke, including IV r-tPA (intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator) and IV-TNK (intravenous tenecteplase) thrombolysis, and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy, with the latter showing favorable recanalization rates. Stent retrievers and mechanical aspiration, the 2 types of mechanical thrombectomy, are used for acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusions. The first reported a

Cerebrovascular Disease (Nursing)

2026-01-01 · Khaku AS, Tadi P, Gunn AA.

A stroke is an acute compromise of the cerebral perfusion or vasculature or cerebrovascular accident (CVA).  Approximately 85% of strokes are ischemic and rest are hemorrhagic. In this discussion, we mainly confine to ischemic strokes. Over the past several decades, the incidence of stroke and mortality are decreasing. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability worldwide.  It is thus critical to recognize stroke early and treat it rapidly to prevent or minimize morbidity and mortality. There are many causes of stroke. Hypertension is the leading cause of ischemic stroke.  In the younger p

Real-World Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke Interventions in Older Patients: A Cohort Study from a Tertiary Medical Center.

2026-01-01 · Levy Y, Haj Ali E, Derazne E, Kagansky D

<h4>Background</h4>Evidence regarding optimal reperfusion strategies in older patients with acute ischemic stroke remains inconsistent, particularly in real-world settings where patient selection and comorbidity burden differ from randomized trials.<h4>Objective</h4>This study evaluates real-world outcomes of ischemic stroke interventions among older adults in a tertiary medical center.<h4>Methods</h4>This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients aged ≥ 65 years with acute ischemic stroke admitted between August 2022 and December 2023. Mortality follow-up continued until Sept

Transcription Accuracy as a Driver of Phenotypic Variability

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · Christophe Herman

Accurate transcription is essential for faithful gene expression, yet even rare misincorporation events can generate aberrant proteins or regulatory RNAs that profoundly alter cellular physiology. In bacteria, transient bursts of transcription errors have been implicated in phenotypic heterogeneity, enabling a subpopulation to survive sudden environmental stresses, such as antibiotic exposure, without permanent genetic changes. The long-term objective of this proposal is to define the mechanisms and consequences of transcription errors in Escherichia coli. The objective of this proposal is to

Quantifying respiratory and gut bacterial strain persistence to predict pneumonia treatment failure

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · Brendan Kelly

PROJECT SUMMARY Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are complications of hospitalization that cause significant mortality. Even when the bacterium causing HAP or VAP is recognized, antibiotic treatment for HAP and VAP often fails, resulting in adverse patient outcomes and contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Novel molecular measures of respiratory bacterial load have the potential to improve monitoring of HAP/VAP treatment response, enabling precision antibiotic treatment durations, and improving clinical outcomes. Our previous work char

Site specific gene-microbial interactions in children with early-onset Crohn’s disease

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · Roberta Caruso

Crohn's disease (CD), one of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is characterized by chronic inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract in children and adults. When IBD develops in children under the age of 6, it is defined as very early onset IBD (VEO-IBD). Children with VEO-IBD often have distinct phenotypes, characterized by a severe disease course that is more refractory to conventional therapies than older patients. Abnormal interactions between gut microbes and the immune system in genetically susceptible individuals are thought to contribute to

Second-Generation Stat5 Inhibitors for Prostate Cancer Therapy

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · MARJA NEVALAINEN, VINCENT NJAR

PROJECT SUMMARY: There is an unmet medical need for potent orally bioavailable pharmacological inhibitors of Stat5a/b (Stat5) for clinical development. Stat5 is activated in 60% of clinical castrate-resistant (CR) prostate cancers (PC). The CR state of PC is incurable and results from a failure of androgen-deprivation therapy, which targets androgen receptor (AR) activity. AR and its splice variants are expressed and persistently active in the majority of the cells in CRPC tumors. A continuum of focused research has shown that Stat5 is critical for sustaining PC cell viability and, consequent

Development and Mechanist Validation of Next Generation Allosteric PRC2 Inhibitors for Cancer Epigenetics

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · Guillermo Gerona-Navarro

Despite advances in oncology, there remains an urgent need for innovative anticancer strategies that can overcome resistance and improve patient outcomes. Epigenetic dysregulation is a key driver of tumorigenesis, with aberrant gene silencing and altered chromatin architecture contributing to cancer progression. Among epigenetic marks, trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3), installed by the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is strongly linked to poor prognosis in diverse malignancies. Hyperactivation of PRC2, particularly through EZH2 overexpression, leads to widespread repre

Cognate CD4+ T cell help to macrophages during tuberculosis

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · Samuel Becker

Project Summary Tuberculosis, caused by the phagosomal bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is the most widespread bacterial disease among humans and the number one cause of mortality by an infection. Efforts to combat tuberculosis have been hampered by the lack of an effective vaccine, burdensome treatment regimens and drug resistance. Thus, a deeper understanding of the immune mechanisms that restrict Mtb growth or survival within the host is necessary to develop more effective therapies. Mtb preferentially infects monocyte- derived macrophages (MDMs) in the lungs. In humans

Medical Scientist Training Program

NIH FY2026 · 2026-01-01 · TODD WALDMAN

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The Georgetown University Medical Science Training Program (MSTP) will assemble a community of trainees for clinical, basic science, and translational research training in neuroscience, cancer biology, pharmacology, and bioethics. The MSTP at GU will be the first and only MSTP in the nation’s capital and will have 75 mentors with over $28M in annual research funding. Currently, 39 trainees are in the GU MD/PhD program, 11 of whom have received NIH F30 MD/PhD fellowships. Since it was established in 1989, the GU MD/PhD program has graduated 107 trainees. Recent gradua