Recent Submissions

  • Correction to: Principles of Surgical Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcomas (Cancers, (2025), 17, 3, (401), 10.3390/cancers17030401)

    Gonzalez, Marcos R.; Mendez-Guerra, Carolina; Goh, Megan H.; Pretell-Mazzini, Juan (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-07-01)
    In the original publication [1], there was a mistake: Table 3 and its citations in the main text were missing. The correct Table 3 and its caption appear below. The citations for Table 3 have been added in 3.1. Margin Assessment. The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.
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  • Prevalence and exploration of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness in men who have sex with men aged 18–29 years in Lima, Peru, during 2021: A mixed methods study

    Tofeño, Diego; Uypan, Diana; Torres-Slimming, Paola (Elsevier B.V., 2025-07-01)
    Introduction: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a therapeutic scheme that has shown effectiveness in reducing the risk of HIV infection through sexual contact. PrEP has been used in various countries globally and in Latin America as a public health measure. In Peru, the greatest increase in HIV incidence in recent years has occurred in the age group of 20–29 years and 15–19 years, this being an important range to be able to implement prevention measures. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of awareness of HIV PrEP and to explore the knowledge and attitudes regarding its use among men who have sex with men (MSM) aged 18–29 years in Lima, Peru. Methods: Explanatory sequential mixed method study whose central component is quantitative. A survey (non-probabilistic descriptive cross-sectional) and a virtual interview (phenomenological approach) were used for data collection. Results: Of 100 seronegative MSM surveyed, 49 % were aware of PrEP. In the qualitative component, it was found that most participants obtained information casually through their social networks. It was also found that they had significant concern about the adverse effects of PrEP, which was mentioned as a barrier to its use. Conclusion: Almost half of MSM are aware of the existence of PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV. However, it is important to find more reliable sources of information about PrEP because the fear of adverse effects and ignorance about it are limitations to its consumption.
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  • Sleep Quality and Cardiovascular Adaptation in Health Sciences University Students

    Ortega-Contreras, Aruna Marcela; Caycho-Infantes, Maria Jazmin; Sánchez-Huamash, Claudia María (Universidad del Rosario, 2025-05-01)
    Introduction: It is important to have a good cardiovascular adaptation; sleep quality influences the autonomic system, affecting heart rate and blood pressure. The evidence about the relationship between both variables is still insufficient; its measurement is diverse, as are the results. The objective was to evaluate the association between sleep quality and cardiovascular adaptation in health sciences university students. Methods: Cross-sectional and analytical observational study, carried out on 106 students from the Faculty of a private university in Lima (Peru). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (psqi) was applied to evaluate the sleep quality, the Ruffier-Dickson Test to assess the cardiovascular adaptation, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (audit) to identify the risk of alcoholism, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (ipaq) to determine the physical activity. Results: 75.5 % of participants had poor sleep quality, and 26.4 % had inefficient or poor cardiovascular adaptation. The prevalence of inefficient or poor cardiovascular adaptation in those with poor sleep quality was 1.66 times higher than the prevalence of inefficient or poor cardiovascular adaptation in those with good sleep quality, but this difference was not statistically significant (pr = 1.66; p = 0.321). Conclusions: No association was found between sleep quality and cardiovascular adaptation in health sciences university students.
  • Empathetic communication in higher education: Implications for teacher success

    Bartra-Rivero, Karina Raquel; Armesto-Céspedes, Miguel Sebastián; Barrantes, Fanny E.; Guzmán-Melgar, Catalina Chepa; Rodriguez-Barboza, Jhonny Richard; Chavarri-Joo, Eduardo Francisco (Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2025-07-01)
    This study examines the relationship between teachers' empathetic communication and their academic performance, focusing on two dimensions: empathetic concern and perspective taking. The main objective was to determine if there is a positive and significant relationship between empathetic communication and teaching performance in the university context. A descriptive correlational design was employed to analyze data collected from 364 students from private universities in Lima. Twenty-four items of empathetic communication and 23 of teaching performance were evaluated using a Likert scale survey. As a result, Spearman correlation analyses revealed a positive and significant correlation between empathetic communication and teaching performance (r = 0.211, P < 0.01). Furthermore, positive, and significant correlations were found between empathetic concern (r = 0.279, P < 0.01) and perspective taking (r = 0.166, P < 0.01) with teaching performance. It is concluded that empathetic communication is positively associated with teaching performance, highlighting the importance of developing empathetic communication skills in teachers to enhance their effectiveness in the classroom. However, caution is advised to balance empathy to avoid potential biases or deviations in teaching. It is recommended to focus teacher training programs on strengthening these social skills to optimize the teaching learning process.
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  • Underdiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea detected by respiratory polygraphy in hospitalized patients with heart failure at a tertiary hospital in Lima-Peru

    Bazán Lavanda, Eduardo; Camones Huerta, José; Raraz Rivera, Cecilia; Vásquez Ramírez, Nikole; Ayala Díaz, Pedro; Cruzado Grau, Carlos; Novoa Millones, Luis; Rodríguez Hurtado, Diana (Colegio Medico del Peru, 2025-04-01)
    Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is often undiagnosed in heart failure (HF) patients. Early identification using affordable sleep studies could improve patient outcomes in resource-limited clinical settings like Peru. The objective was to determine the frequency of OSA in hospitalized HF patients using respiratory polygraphy (RP) (Sleep Study Type III). Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. We included patients >18 years, hospitalized with exacerbated HF, and a STOP-BANG score ≥ 3. Enrolled patients underwent overnight RP using ApneaLink Air™. Data collected included clinical parameters, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and echocardiography results. Statistical analysis was carried out using R Studio. Results: Of 46 enrolled patients, 39 underwent successful RP; 84.61% were diagnosed with OSA. Patients exhibited a mean Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) of 14.41 ± 10.08/h with mild (51.28%), moderate (25.64%), and severe (7.69%) cases. Symptoms associated with OSA included a lack of restorative sleep and concentration problems. RP data showed a mean minimum SpO2% of 76.85 ± 9.99% and an Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) of 20.01 ± 10.66. Correlation analysis indicated a strong positive correlation between AHI and ODI (r = 0.73, p < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation between AHI and LVEF (r =-0.64, p = 0.056). Conclusion: This study reveals a high frequency of previously undiagnosed OSA among hospitalized heart failure patients in our institution, indicating the importance of active screening in this high-risk population.
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  • Impact of anemia on the association between red cell distribution width and 1-year mortality in acute heart failure patients

    Maita-Arauco, Sherelym Alessandra; Quispe-Vasquez, Sthephanie María; Benites-Zapata, Vicente Aleixandre; Segura-Saldaña, Pedro Antonio (SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025-01-01)
    Background: Different accessible and low-cost biomarkers have been investigated to stratify patients with acute heart failure (AHF). One of them is the red cell distribution width (RDW), which proved to be a greater prognostic marker of mortality than other conventional markers. Objective: Therefore, the objective of our study is to determine whether the anemic status modifies the magnitude of association between high RDW and 1-year mortality in patients with AHF. Design: Observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study. Methods: We included participants ⩾18 years old hospitalized with a diagnosis of AHF. As an association measure, a crude and adjusted generalized linear model of the Poisson family calculated the risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: In all, 709 participants with an average age of 73.48 years were included. At 1 year, the risk of dying was three times higher with high RDW (RR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.39–6.66; p < 0.01). In anemic participants, the risk of dying at 1 year is two times greater with high RDW (RR = 2.18, 95% CI: 0.91–5.22; p = 0.07), while in non-anemic participants, the risk of dying increased almost seven times (RR = 6.95, 95% CI: 1.65–29.23; p < 0.01). Conclusion: High RDW is a risk factor for mortality at 1 year in patients with AHF. A greater magnitude of association was found in non-anemic patients. © The Author(s), 2025.
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  • Clinicopathological Features, Surgical Outcomes and Microbial Patterns in Chronic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Retrospective Study from a Public Hospital in Lima, Peru

    Pinto-Paz, Mirian E.; Gómez-De-la-Torre, Juan Carlos; Vásquez-Cubas, Humberto; Bueno-Lazo, Luis; Montero, Stephanie (S. Karger AG, 2025-01-01)
    Objective: To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of patients, surgery-related factors, and microbial patterns in patients diagnosed with chronic granulomatous mastitis (GM) treated at a public hospital in Lima, Peru. Methods: Retrospective study that included 161 women diagnosed with chronic GM at the Hospital de Emergencias Grau, Seguro Social de Salud, Lima, Peru, between 2019 and 2021. The diagnosis of GM was established based on anatomical and microbiological criteria. We evaluated clinicopathological features, and factors associated with the need for oncoplastic surgery and postsurgical complications. Additionally, we analyzed 26 out of 161 breast tissue samples to detect the presence of pathogens using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: The average age was 37.7 ± 8.4 years, 53.9% reported the use of hormonal contraceptives, and 14.8% displayed elevated prolactin. Eighty percent of patients received corticosteroids, and 50.9% underwent surgical intervention, with 22.5% experiencing postsurgical complications. Factors associated with the need for surgery included the presence of a tumor, inflammation, shorter disease duration, higher Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System classification, lesion size of 2–5 cm, and corticosteroid use. A recurrence rate of 3.8% was identified. Among the 26 analyzed samples, Corynebacterium was detected in 80.8%, with Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii identified in 13 of the 26 (50%) samples. Conclusion: Medical treatment was the initial choice for all patients, nearly half underwent oncoplastic surgery, with some postsurgical complications reported. Nonetheless, chronic GM recurrence was low. Corynebacterium was the most frequently identified genus through NGS.
  • Determination of Serum Levels of Interleukin-6 and the Trace Element Zinc According to the Clinical Status of Patients With COVID-19

    Roman-Pimentel, Andrea; Medina-Cáceres, Sandra; Valle-Mendoza, Juana del; Aguilar-Luis, Miguel Angel; Kym, Sungmin; Aquino-Ortega, Ronald; Tarazona-Castro, Yordi; Carrillo-Ng, Hugo; Villa, Eliezer Bonifacio Velez de; Silva-Caso, Wilmer (John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2025-01-01)
    In the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the present study aimed to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics and serum levels of IL-6 and zinc in patients with COVID-19 according to their clinical condition in a hospital in Lima, Peru. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the clinical condition of the disease, the group of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit, hospitalized patients who did not require intensive care unit, COVID-19 patients who did not require hospitalization, and a control group. It was determined that 64.8% of the patients evaluated were men. Patients hospitalized in the ICU were 11.25 times more likely to have a cough and 36.7 times more likely to have a fever compared to the control group. In the group of hospitalized patients who did not require ICU, the presence of cough was 9.44 times higher than in the control group. The lowest IL-6 values were obtained in the group of COVID-19 patients who did not require hospitalization (2 pg/mL) and the highest in the ICU group (168.5 pg/mL). On the other hand, the highest values of the micronutrient zinc were also obtained in the ICU group (3402.5 μg/dL). In this group, the highest values of lymphocytes, C-reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase were also found with statistical significance compared to the group of hospitalized patients who did not require ICU. In conclusion, patients with COVID-19 in the ICU had higher levels of IL-6 and zinc compared to the other groups. This group also had the highest levels of lymphocytes, C-reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase compared to the group of hospitalized patients who did not require ICU care.
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  • Tea and Tablets: What I Learned About Healing in Chupuro, Peru

    Badell, Camila S.; Ponce-Ponte, Oscar J.; Ruiz, Eloy F. (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-10-01)
    No presenta resumen
  • Transitioning from pediatric to adult multiple sclerosis care: Challenges, strategies and therapy

    Beniwal, Shreya Singh; Sharma, Neetika; Khan, Mohammed Sulaiman; John, Krithi Pichiah; Gyawali, Kopila; Calderón, Daniela Castro; Dahiya, Prashasti; Yathindra, Meenakshi Reddy; Saeed, Muhammad; Rawat, Akash; Ather, Muaaz; Dwivedi, Ayush (2025-05-01)
    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune condition causing damage to the protective covering of nerves in the central nervous system. Pediatric multiple sclerosis is a rare form of the disease that affects 3-5% of individuals with multiple sclerosis. Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis (POMS) has a rather different clinical profile from the more prevalent adult multiple sclerosis. Alongside the classic symptoms of multiple sclerosis, children tend to present with various atypical symptoms that can impact motor milestones, speech development, and cognitive functions. This review aims to explore the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis and progression of Pediatric Onset Multiple Sclerosis into adulthood, address the challenges accompanying this transition and identify strategies and therapies to overcome them. Pediatric multiple sclerosis patients transitioning into adulthood face many challenges, such as difficulty in school and social life, and dealing with uncertainties especially due to changes in healthcare providers from pediatric to adult settings. These challenges can be overcome by an emphasis on a well-structured transition plan, early planning, personalized care, proper counselling of the patient as well as the family and caretakers, a multidisciplinary approach with good communication and coordination between all healthcare personnel a robust support network with a gradual transition rather than an abrupt one. Proper care during the transition period is crucial to enhance patient adherence and deepen the understanding of the disease for both patients and their families. This will empower them to seek timely assistance when needed, reduce loss to follow-up, and ultimately improve overall quality of life.
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  • The Relationship Between Prematurity and Mode of Delivery with Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction in Children

    Velasco-Benitez, Carlos Alberto; Velasco-Suarez, Daniela Alejandra; Palma, Natalia; Arrizabalo, Samantha; Saps, Miguel (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-06-01)
    Background: Disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) are multifactorial. Early-life events are proposed as factors involved in their etiopathogenesis. The relationship between mode of delivery, prematurity, and DGBI development remains unclear. This study examines whether cesarean delivery and prematurity contribute to early childhood DGBI. Methods: Caregivers of children aged 1 month to 4 years from four Colombian cities participated in a cross-sectional study. Pediatricians completed the Spanish-validated Questionnaire of Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rome IV (QPGS-IV). Data of children born by cesarean delivery and prematurity were compared with controls. Categorical data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: DGBIs were identified in 26.6% of children, with functional constipation (FC) being the most prevalent (22.3%). Among children born via cesarean section (54.3%), 30.4% of them had a DGBI (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.20–1.96, p = 0.00), and 26.3% had FC (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.29–2.18, p = 0.00). Prematurity was observed in 12.6% of children and was associated with a higher prevalence of DGBI (35.7%, (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.16–2.29, p = 0.00), with FC affecting 30.8% (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.16–2.35, p = 0.00). Conclusions: Cesarean delivery and prematurity were found to be associated with DGBI in early childhood, particularly FC. These findings highlight the need for further research to explore potential mechanisms and confirm these associations.
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  • Relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis of 4 million patients

    Chaponan-Lavalle, Andres; Godoy, Ambar; Estrada-Grossmann, Jose M.; Acosta, Eduardo S.; Chaponan-Lavalle, Yolanda; Azañedo-Garcia, Luis G.; Ordaya-Gonzales, Karina; Gonzales-Palomo, Manuel; Príncipe-Meneses, Fortunato S.; Mohan, Arjunmohan; Beas, Renato; Arriola-Montenegro, Jose (Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2025-07-01)
    Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with higher risk of gastrointestinal disorders, particularly Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the magnitude of this association and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across major databases from inception to November 2024. We included cross-sectional and case-control studies evaluating the relationship between CKD and GERD. Data were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and prevalence rates. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and heterogeneity was evaluated using the Cochran's Q test and I² statistic. Results: Nine studies involving 4,650,709 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of GERD among CKD patients was 18% (95% CI: 0.10-0.26, I² =93.64%). The pooled crude OR for the association between CKD and GERD was 2.53 (95% CI: 1.30-4.92) and adjusted OR was 1.48 (95% CI: 1.05-2.08). Conclusion: This meta-analysis reveals a marginally significant association between CKD and GERD, highlighting higher prevalence of GERD among individuals with CKD. Furthers studies are needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and potential clinical implications.
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  • Surgical preferences in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A cross-sectional study in a low-middle income country

    Sánchez-Carbonel, José Fernando; Calmet-Rojas, José; Visconti-Lopez, Fabriccio J.; Urrunaga-Pastor, Diego; Torres-Manrique, David (Public Library of Science, 2025-07-01)
    Introduction Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is one of the most common surgical procedures in sports orthopedics; however, there is a lack of literature related to this topic in Peru. This study aimed to describe the current surgical preferences in ACLR among Peruvian orthopedic surgeons. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey sent to 500 Peruvian orthopedic surgeons, supplemented with physical surveys distributed during the “IX OrthoTrauma Update” congress held in October 2022 in Lima, Peru. The survey collected demographic characteristics (e.g., residence area, health care sector), employment characteristics (e.g., experience as orthopedic surgeon, experience in ACLR), and surgical preferences for ACLR (choice of femoral tunnel drilling technique, choice of graft, tourniquet use). A total of 162 surgeons responded (32.4%). Results A total of 134 responses were analyzed. 50% (n = 67; 95% CI: 41.5–58.5) of orthopedic surgeons had more than 10 years of experience, and 53.7% (n = 72; 95% CI: 45.2–62.1) had less than 5 years of experience in ACLR. Anteromedial portal was the most popular choice for femoral tunnel drilling (62.7%; n = 84; 95% CI: 54.1–70.5). Additionally, 85.1% preferred using autograft and 83.6% (n = 114; 95% CI: 77.9–90.2) of surgeons reported a preference to obtain the graft from hamstrings. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the surgical preferences for ACLR among Peruvian orthopedic surgeons, revealing a predominant preference for autografts and hamstring tendon grafts, as well as a high frequency of the anteromedial (AM) portal technique and variability in tourniquet use.
  • Impact of Phototherapy on Childhood Cancer: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

    Galdos-Bejar, Marcelo; Belanovic-Ramirez, Ivana; Baquedano-Rojas, Carlos; Alarcón-Espinosa, Jorge; Joya-Arista, Valeria; Arrarte-Perez, Aaron; Orco-Leon, Alipio (SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025-07-01)
    Neonatal phototherapy is a widely used and generally safe short-term treatment. This review aims to explore the association between phototherapy and the risk of childhood neoplasia. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted, including cohort or case-control studies that investigated this association. Bias and certainty assessments were performed, utilizing the DerSimonian-Laird model for random-effects analyses. Publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot, with adjustments made through the trim-and-fill method. A total of 15 studies from nine countries were included, encompassing 7,842,858 individuals, of whom 4.8% received neonatal phototherapy The findings, rated at a medium level of evidence, indicated that those who underwent phototherapy had a 19% increased risk of developing any cancer (HR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.07-1.32; I² = 0.0%; T² = 0.00). The risk was 22% for hematopoietic malignancies (HR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.00-1.50) and 31% for leukemia (HR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.26-1.53), with no significant association found for solid tumors, brain tumors, or lymphomas. Moreover, those receiving phototherapy had 44% greater odds of developing any neoplasm (OR 1.44; 95% CI = 1.07-1.93). Despite limitations regarding dosage, duration, and shared risk factors in patients receiving phototherapy, the treatment should be administered according to guidelines to minimize unnecessary exposure.
  • The State of Cardiovascular Care in Peru: Needs for System Strengthening

    Cuevas, Cecilia; Kikushima-Alcantara, Pedro; Miranda, J. Jaime (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2025-07-08)
    Sin resumen
  • Prevalence of low genital tract complaints in postmenopausal women assessed with the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire: Systematic review and meta-analysis

    Pérez-López, Faustino R.; Fernández-Alonso, Ana M.; Ulloque-Badaracco, Juan R.; Benites-Zapata, Vicente A. (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025-08-01)
    Aim: We evaluated the prevalence of low genital tract symptoms in postmenopausal women using the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (VSQ). Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting results obtained using the VSQ. The study was registered at PROSPERO-University of York (CRD 2024570513). Electronic database searches were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for studies evaluating postmenopausal women using the VSQ as reported by the authors. The pooled proportions of vulvovaginal symptoms were calculated as the prevalence of symptoms with their 95% confidence interval (CI), using random effects and inverse variance methods. Results: We meta-analyzed seven cross-sectional studies with a low to moderate risk of bias, including 1455 postmenopausal women based on the VSQ. Prevalences of vulvovaginal symptoms were dryness at 46.75% (95% CI, 28.61%–65.34%); burning at 26.08% (95% CI, 13.98%–40.36%); discharge at 19.96% (95% CI, 11.04%–30.69%); hurting at 21.26% (95% CI, 10.53%–34.47%); irritation at 31.76% (95% CI, 21.34%–43.18%); itching at 33.30% (95% CI, 22.35%–45.23%); and odor at 23.14% (95% CI, 11.27%–37.67%). The sensitivity analyses showed that the prevalence trends were maintained. The prevalence of women without vulvovaginal symptoms was 29.81% (95% CI, 17.42%–43.91%). Conclusion: The VSQ provides detailed prevalences of vulvovaginal symptoms, ranging from vulvovaginal discharge in 19.96% to dryness in 46.75% of postmenopausal women. The VSQ allows for measuring subjective vulvovaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women and determining their prevalence.
  • The Efficacy of Solanezumab in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

    Renteros, Mathias S.; Barreto-Abanto, Renzo; Huapaya, Diego C.; Tovar-Cobos, Mateo; Alvarado-Ramos, Richard D.; Rivera-Lozada, Oriana; Barboza, Joshuan J. (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-08-01)
    Background/Objectives: Solanezumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to bind soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) and facilitate its clearance from the brain, aiming to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: A systematic search was applied in four medical databases through October 2024 to identify phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials evaluating solanezumab in patients aged ≥50 years with mild AD or in preclinical stages. The primary outcomes were changes in cognitive and functional scales, including ADAS-cog14, MMSE, ADCS-ADL, and CDR-SB. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, and certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results: Seven trials involving 4181 participants were included. Solanezumab did not significantly reduce cognitive decline based on ADAS-cog14 (MD = −0.75; 95% CI: −2.65 to 1.15; very low certainty) or improve functional scores on ADCS-ADL (MD = 0.85; 95% CI: −1.86 to 3.56; very low certainty) and CDR-SB (MD = −0.15; 95% CI: −0.89 to 0.60; very low certainty). A modest but statistically significant improvement was observed in MMSE scores (MD = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.86; moderate certainty). Conclusions: While solanezumab may offer slight benefits in general cognitive performance, its overall impact on clinically meaningful outcomes remains limited. The results do not support its use as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease in either preclinical or symptomatic stages.
  • Scoping review of global control strategies for Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato

    De la Cruz-Saldaña, Tania A.; Bustos, Javier A.; Requena-Herrera, María P.; Martinez-Merizalde, Nelson; Ortiz-Cam, Lizzie; Cáceres, Ana Lucía; Guzman, Carolina; Gavidia, Cesar M.; Ugarte-Gil, Cesar; Castillo-Neyra, Ricardo (Elsevier B.V., 2025-09-01)
    Objectives: Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (EG) causes cystic echinococcosis (CE), a neglected zoonotic disease with a global control burden in the billions of dollars. We provide a comprehensive overview of EG control interventions worldwide. Methods: We followed the Arksey and O'Malley Framework. We identified and coded selected articles and classified the data based on target host, type of study, and control mechanism. We described each intervention's efficacy, safety, barriers, and facilitators. Critical appraisal was conducted independently by two reviewers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: We screened 7853 studies and analyzed seven on human interventions, 21 on animals, and 17 on both. Human studies focused mostly on educational strategies and monitoring. Animal studies focused predominantly on praziquantel (PZQ) for dogs and the EG95 vaccine for sheep. Animal and human studies were larger, longer, and covered wider areas. Overall, study quality was moderate to low. Conclusions: Long-term interventions targeting animals and humans can significantly reduce EG transmission, particularly when PZQ is included. Higher-quality evidence, standardized methods, and better reporting on post-intervention outcomes are necessary to draw stronger conclusions and assess the sustainability and scalability of control measures. A One Health approach is essential for integrating and sustaining long-term EG control efforts.
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  • Prehospital cardiac arrest resuscitation practices differ around the globe

    Kjær, Jeannett; Milling, Louise; Brøchner, Anne Craveiro; Lippert, Freddy; Blomberg, Stig Nikolaj; Christensen, Helle Collatz; Holgate, Robyn; Morrison, Laurie J.; Bakhsh, Abdullah; Mikkelsen, Søren; Alsulimani, Loui K.; Popela, Stanislav; Vidunová, Jana Kruba; Peran, David; Gregor, Roman; Papousek, René; Simić, Anđela; Cairol, Andrés; Ingelmo, Vicente Sánchez Brunete; Björnsson, Hjalti Már; Stammet, Pascal; Escalante-Kanashiro, Raffo; Nikolaidou, Olympia; Karageorgos, Vlasios; Aslanidis, Theodoros; Wallner, Bernd; Rief, Martin; Eichinger, Michael; Chakra Rao, Siddha S.C.; SinghMD, Baljit; Birkun, Alexei A.; Aguilera, Pablo; Bakker, Jan; Zaher, Muhammad Sultan; Alwajeeh, Sultan Ali; Tanabe, Seizan; Iwami, Taku; Saito, Shunsuke; Fraga-Sastrias, Juan Manuel; Kittivo, June Eva; Achiro, Kephas Ochieng; Ndinda, Caroline; Monsieurs, Koen; Snijders, Erwin; Abdullah, Naseef; Stanton, David; Meyer, John Thomas; Crawford, Steven John; Loghmari, Dorra; Turkia, Hela ben; Barbaria, Wiem; Wijesuriya, Nilmini; Dilruk Indika Rathnayake, Rathnayake Mudiyanselage; Woltman, Nathan; Mesa-Gaerlan, Faith Joan; Convocar, Pauline; Velasco, Bernadett Pua; Alihodžić, Hajriz; Alrawashdeh, Ahmad; Alwidyan, Mahmoud T.; Soares-Oliveira, Miguel; Mota, Mauro; Cao, Yu; Yao, Peng; Kin Lam, Rex Pui; Cheung, Arthur Chi Kin; Bogár, Bence; Temesvari, Peter; Gebei, Róbert; Karaaslan, Pelin; Sofuoglu, Turhan; Ciocan, Liviu; Jaeger, Déborah; Sung, Chih Wei; Chen, Chi Hsin; Gellerfors, Mikael; Wahlin, Rebecka Rubenson; Schell, Carl Otto; Gardiner, Fergus; Nichols, Martin; Perillo, Sam; Reid, David; Mohrsen, Stian; Corfield, Alasdair R.; Allen, Marc; Falcetta, Stefano; Menarini, Maurizio; Rehn, Marius; Kramer-Johansen, Jo; Bredmose, Per P.; Olasveengen, Theresa Mariero; Uleberg, Oddvar; Wilson, Thomas; Lindner, Thomas W.; Jacobsen, Lars; Formo, Amund; Elden, Trond; Olsen, Mari Stokstad; Kowalski, Marcin; Derkowski, Tomasz (Elsevier B.V., 2025-09-01)
    Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health problem. This study aims to describe the international variations in the practices related to the initiation, termination, and refraining from resuscitation of adult patients (≥18 years) with a non-traumatic OHCA. Methods: An exploratory descriptive study was conducted using a cross-sectional online survey. The respondents were recruited using snowball sampling technique. Framework analysis was used to identify key themes in responses, with descriptive statistics summarising data trends. Results: The study collected responses from 59 countries. Our findings reveal that respondents from 59.3% of countries reported that they initiate resuscitation in all cases where the patients do not show obvious signs of irreversible death or do not have confirmed advance directives. Respondents from 15.3% of countries reported that once started, prehospital resuscitation attempts are not terminated. Prehospitally respondents from 20.3% of the countries reported that they rely exclusively on specific criteria to decide when to terminate resuscitation efforts while in 45.8%, these decisions are made at the discretion of the provider. Respondents from most countries (91.5%) reported that they refrain from resuscitation in the presence of obvious signs of irreversible death. Respondents from 57.6% of countries, reported that they refrained from resuscitation if the patient had a confirmed do-not-attempt-cardiopulmonaryresuscitation (DNACPR), while 15.3% mentioned staff safety as a reason to abstain from attempting resuscitation. Conclusion: This study reveals global variation in EMS resuscitation practices, reflecting disparities in resources, healthcare infrastructure, EMS system design, community acceptability given cultural and societal norms, and legislation.
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  • Shared genetic architecture of posttraumatic stress disorder with cardiovascular imaging, risk, and diagnoses

    Shen, Jie; Valentim, Wander; Friligkou, Eleni; Overstreet, Cassie; Choi, Karmel W.; Koller, Dora; O’Donnell, Christopher J.; Stein, Murray B.; Gelernter, Joel; Koenen, Karestan C.; Ressler, Kerry J.; Zwart, John Anker; Zoellner, Lori A.; Zhao, Hongyu; Zervas, Mark; Zai, Gwyneth C.; Zai, Clement C.; Young, Keith A.; Young, Ross Mc D.; Yehuda, Rachel; Xiong, Ying; Xia, Yan; Wolf, Christiane; Wolf, Erika J.; Winternitz, Sherry; Winsvold, Bendik S.; Williamson, Douglas E.; Williams, Michelle A.; Werge, Thomas; Wendt, Frank R.; Weber, Heike; Waszczuk, Monika; Wang, Yunpeng; Wang, Zhewu; Voisey, Joanne; Vinkers, Christiaan H.; Vermetten, Eric; van Rooij, Sanne J.H.; Van Hooff, Miranda; van den Heuvel, Leigh Luella; Valdimarsdóttir, Unnur; Ursano, Robert J.; Uddin, Monica; Trapido, Edward; Tiwari, Arun K.; Thompson, Wesley K.; Teicher, Martin H.; Sumner, Jennifer A.; Stevens, Jennifer S.; Stensland, Synne; Stein, Dan J.; Sponheim, Scott R.; Smoller, Jordan W.; Smith, Alicia K.; Silove, Derrick; Sheerin, Christina M.; Shabalin, Andrey; Seng, Julia S.; Seedat, Soraya; Seah, Carina; Santoro, Marcos; Sanchez, Sixto E.; Sampson, Laura; Salum, Giovanni Abrahão; de Viteri, Stacey Saenz; Rutten, Bart P.F.; Runz, Heiko; Rung, Ariane; Ruggiero, Kenneth J.; Roy-Byrne, Peter; Rothbaum, Alex O.; Rothbaum, Barbara O.; Roberts, Andrea L.; Risbrough, Victoria B.; Ratanatharathorn, Andrew; Qin, Xue Jun; Powers, Abigail; Porjesz, Bernice; Polusny, Melissa A.; Pietrzak, Robert H.; Peverill, Matthew; Peterson, Alan L.; Peters, Edward S.; Panizzon, Matthew S.; Pan, Pedro M.; Orcutt, Holly K.; O’Donnell, Meaghan; Nugent, Nicole R.; Norman, Sonya B.; Nordentoft, Merete; Nelson, Elliot C.; Mufford, Mary S.; Mortensen, Preben Bo; Mors, Ole; Morris, Charles Phillip; Morey, Rajendra A.; Miller, Mark W.; Milberg, William; Milani, Lili; Mikita, Elizabeth A. (Nature Research, 2025-12-01)
    Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder face increased cardiovascular risk. This study examines shared genetic regions between post-traumatic stress disorder and 246 cardiovascular conditions across electronic health records, 82 cardiac imaging, and health behaviors defined by Life’s Essential 8. Post-traumatic stress disorder is genetically correlated with cardiovascular diagnoses in 33 regions, imaging traits in 4 regions, and health behaviors in 44 regions. Potentially shared causal variants between post-traumatic stress disorder and 17 cardiovascular conditions were observed in 11 regions. Subsequent observational analysis in AllofUS cohort showed post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with 13 diagnoses even after accounting for socioeconomic factors and depression. Genetically regulated proteome expression in brain and blood tissues identified 33 blood and 122 brain genes shared between the two conditions, revealing neuronal, immune, metabolic, and calcium-related mechanisms, with several genes as targets for existing drugs. These findings exhibit shared risk loci and genes are involved in tissue-specific mechanisms.
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