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Digital Health

  • September 5, 2026
The Impact of Unintentional Exposure on Ongoing Utilization of AI Chatbots in Healthcare: A Multigroup Study
  • Shuming Yang
  • Zikun Liu
  • Yangwen Jiang
  • September 5, 2026
  1. AI chatbots, including those based on large language models, are increasingly used for self-diagnosis, with 78% of respondents utilizing them.
  2. In China, health-oriented AI chatbots are becoming more common as people seek health information through generative AI tools.
  3. Despite initial use, many individuals discontinue engagement with healthcare AI chatbots, highlighting the need to understand factors influencing continued usage.
  4. The study investigates how incidental media exposure to AI chatbots affects users' cognitive and affective responses, influencing their intention to continue usage.
  5. The research also examines variations in media effects among users based on their pre-existing attitudes toward human doctors.
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Critical Care

  • September 5, 2026
Assessing the Role of Mechanical Ventilation in Diaphragm Dysfunction Associated with Critical Illness: Longitudinal Patterns Alone Do Not Confirm Causality
  • Xibin Feng
  • Miao Yang
  • Wei Xu
  • September 5, 2026

Objective: To challenge the assertion that mechanical ventilation is the primary cause of diaphragm weakness in critically ill patients and to clarify the roles

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Obesity Surgery

  • September 5, 2026
Metabolic Enhancements and Weight Patterns Following Bariatric Surgery in Women Diagnosed with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Lei Zhang
  • Xihan Li
  • Shiyan Zhang
  • Bojun Zhou
  • Boyi Hu
  • YiLin Gai
  • Chaojun Wang
  • Guoqing Yang
  • Hua Meng
  • September 5, 2026
  1. Obesity affects 50% to 80% of women with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), increasing their health risks significantly.
  2. Metabolic-bariatric surgery (MBS) improves body mass index, metabolic profiles, and menstrual regularity in women with PMOS.
  3. Approximately 20% to 30% of patients experience inadequate weight loss or significant weight regain after MBS.
  4. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) will be used to identify distinct patterns of BMI decline in women with PMOS post-MBS.
  5. The study aims to characterize the relationship between weight-loss trajectories and metabolic improvements in women with PMOS.
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Digital Health

  • September 5, 2026
Impact of Virtual Reality Therapy on Depression and Anxiety Among Older Adults During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analytic Review
  • Xiuchuan He
  • Jingying Xie
  • Xiaoyang Yang
  • YingQun Zhou
  • September 5, 2026
  1. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health among older adults, increasing loneliness and depressive symptoms.
  2. VR interventions have been shown to effectively reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in older adults, improving their overall mental health.
  3. The effectiveness of VR therapy varies based on participant characteristics and implementation contexts, indicating a need for tailored approaches.
  4. Some studies report limited emotional improvement from VR interventions, suggesting that their effectiveness may depend on session specifics and individual differences.
  5. Future research should focus on defining best practices for VR interventions by systematically reporting contextual variables and intervention parameters.
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Digital Health

  • September 5, 2026
Analysis of the Global Research Environment, Key Areas, and New Developments in Digital Biomarkers: A Bibliometric Study
  • Yufei Tian
  • Xin Tian
  • Zheng Li
  • Zhongkai Wang
  • Haoxin Guo
  • Fanyu Meng
  • Zhongqing Wang
  • September 5, 2026
  1. Digital biomarkers are defined by the FDA as characteristics from digital health technologies indicating biological processes or responses.
  2. Digital biomarkers support personalized assessment, reduce diagnostic uncertainty, and guide therapeutic decisions through continuous monitoring.
  3. Research shows digital biomarkers can track neurodegenerative disorders and represent symptom variations in mental health conditions.
  4. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to assess the progress and trends in digital biomarker research from 2014 to 2026.
  5. Annual publications on digital biomarkers increased significantly, peaking at 255 in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 71.4%.
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Pediatric Cardiology

  • September 5, 2026
Prenatal Risk Assessment of Pulmonary Venous Obstruction in Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return through Maternal Hyperoxygenation
  • Michelle Mathevosian
  • Shuo Wang
  • Arpine Davtyan
  • Jon Detterich
  • Jodie Votava-Smith
  • Jay Pruetz
  • September 5, 2026
  1. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by abnormal pulmonary vein drainage.
  2. Pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) occurs in 25–50% of TAPVR cases and significantly impacts neonatal morbidity and mortality.
  3. Maternal hyperoxygenation (MHO) enhances fetal pulmonary blood flow and may reveal previously undetected anatomical obstructions.
  4. MHO testing was conducted on three fetuses with TAPVR, correlating Doppler measurements with neonatal clinical outcomes.
  5. Case findings indicated that MHO can provide critical insights for perinatal planning and potential postnatal interventions.
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Dermatology And Therapy

  • September 5, 2026
Correction: Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Micronized Isotretinoin in Patients Suffering from Severe Recalcitrant Nodular Acne on the Face in India: A Retrospective Study Utilizing Electronic Medical Records
  • Byalakere S. Chandrashekar
  • Maya Vedamurthy
  • Seetharamanjaneyulu Kolalapudi
  • Vijaya Bhaskar Mallela
  • Shahnaz Arsiwala
  • Anil Ganjoo
  • Abir Saraswat
  • Farida Modi
  • Sowmya C. Sujatha
  • Satish Udare
  • Surajit Gorai
  • Mukesh Gabhane
  • Bhavesh Lalan
  • Gaurang Jani
  • Aditi Jain
  • Shruti Dharmadhikari
  • Chintan Khandhedia
  • Prashant Devkare
  • Amey Mane
  • Asif Shaikh
  • Suyog Mehta
  • September 5, 2026
  1. A correction notice has been issued in Dermatology and Therapy regarding an article on low-dose micronized isotretinoin.
  2. The DOI for the original article is 10.1007/s13555-026-01841-8.
  3. The authors' names were incorrectly presented in the original article.
  4. The correct author names are Byalakere S. Chandrashekar and Soumya C. Sujatha.
  5. The original article has been corrected to reflect the accurate author names.
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Hernia

  • September 5, 2026
Effectiveness and Safety of Ovine-Enhanced Tissue Matrix in Repairing Ventral Hernias: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  • Diego L Lima
  • Maria Clara Morais
  • Augusto Graziani e Sousa
  • Lorraine Michelle da Silva de Almeida
  • Leticia Graciolli
  • Eduardo Parra-Davila
  • Salvador Morales-Conde
  • Flavio Malcher
  • September 5, 2026
  1. Ventral hernia repair (VHR) is a common surgical procedure in the U.S., with recurrence rates between 10% and 32%.
  2. Synthetic mesh is the standard for VHR due to its mechanical strength, but biologic mesh aims to reduce infection risk.
  3. OviTex® is a biosynthetic mesh designed to combine biologic and synthetic elements, potentially improving outcomes for high-risk patients.
  4. The systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of OviTex in VHR, focusing on recurrence and surgical site infections.
  5. Quality assessment of included studies utilized the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, categorizing studies by their risk levels.
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Hernia

  • September 5, 2026
Evaluating Results of Inguinal Hernia Repair: Assessing the Evidence for Minimally Invasive Compared to Open Techniques
  • Benjamin A. Y. Cher
  • Qinyun Lin
  • Kenneth A. Frank
  • Courtney J. Balentine
  • September 5, 2026

Objective: To assess the strength of evidence comparing minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and open surgery for elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair using t

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MDSpire News

  • September 4, 2026
FDA approves first therapy for Alexander disease
  • Kathryn Wighton
  • September 4, 2026
  • 2 min

Objective: To announce the FDA approval of zilganersen (Zanvastro) for treating Alexander disease. Approach: FDA Approval: The FDA approved zilganersen injectio

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2 min

MDSpire News

  • September 4, 2026
Biomarker may flag early pregnancy risk
  • Andrea Surnit
  • September 4, 2026
  • 4 min

Objective: To investigate the association of low maternal serum isthmin-2 (ISM2) levels in the first trimester with the risk of preeclampsia (PE) and fetal grow

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2 min

Fox Chase Cancer Center

  • September 4, 2026
Adaptive Radiation Boost for Rectal Cancer (ARBOR)
  • September 4, 2026
  • 3 min

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of additional adaptive radiation therapy following standard chemoradiation treatment in patients with rectal can

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Fox Chase Cancer Center

  • September 4, 2026
Adaptive Radiation for Locally Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer
  • September 4, 2026
  • 4 min

Objective: To learn if Adaptive Radiation Therapy (ART) is safe and effective in treating patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Approach: Study Desi

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The Pathologist

  • September 4, 2026
Can Technology Make Pathology More Human? Part 2
  • Helen Bristow
  • September 4, 2026
  • 9 min
  1. AI is expected to enhance the pathologist's work by improving efficiency and supporting decision-making without diminishing professional autonomy.
  2. Pathologists face increasing workloads due to workforce shortages and demand, making AI a potential solution to manage these challenges.
  3. The role of pathologists may expand beyond diagnosis to include treatment planning, particularly in the context of precision medicine and companion diagnostics.
  4. AI can automate routine tasks, allowing pathologists to focus on complex tests and contribute more directly to treatment decisions.
  5. Pathologists are encouraged to engage actively with emerging technologies to enhance their influence and adapt to the evolving landscape of healthcare.
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MDSpire News

  • September 4, 2026
Extended antiviral therapy may not improve long COVID
  • Andrea Surnit
  • September 4, 2026
  • 4 min

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir treatment for up to 25 days in improving cognitive dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, or exercise

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The Pathologist

  • September 4, 2026
Whole Blood Opens New Route to Biomarker Discovery
  • September 4, 2026
  • 2 min
  1. A new method for extracting extracellular vesicles (EVs) from whole blood could enhance diagnostic biomarker discovery.
  2. The optimized PROSPR workflow produces purified EVs suitable for protein and lipid analysis in under 20 minutes.
  3. Whole-blood EVs contain unique molecular information not captured by plasma EVs, including 251 distinct proteins.
  4. The study highlights the potential of using stored whole-blood specimens for revisiting existing cohorts in EV research.
  5. Further validation is necessary before the identified biomarkers can be considered for clinical use.
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The Ophthalmologist

  • September 4, 2026
Fanny Kaplan and the Attempted Assassination of Vladimir Lenin
  • Stephen G. Schwartz
  • Christopher T. Leffler
  • Peter M. Allen
  • Andrzej Grzybowski
  • September 4, 2026
  • 5 min
  1. On August 30, 1918, Vladimir Lenin was shot in an assassination attempt, with two bullets striking him and one hitting a bystander.
  2. Fanny Kaplan, arrested shortly after the shooting, confessed and was executed, although some historians question her role as the shooter.
  3. Kaplan, born Feyga Chaimovna Roitblat, was a revolutionary who suffered visual impairment, possibly due to a previous bomb explosion.
  4. Her ophthalmologic diagnosis remains unclear, with suggestions of hysterical blindness or injuries from the bomb blast affecting her vision.
  5. Despite her visual impairment, Kaplan's shooting accuracy was notable, hitting Lenin with two of three shots, a higher rate than modern police officers.
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The Ophthalmologist

  • September 4, 2026
Rethinking Ophthalmology Referrals
  • September 4, 2026
  • 3 min
  1. A Canadian study analyzed 634 ophthalmology referrals to assess quality using a 21-point checklist across five domains.
  2. The mean completeness score of referrals was 11.6 out of 21, with significant gaps in essential clinical information.
  3. Optometrists submitted the most complete referrals, while ophthalmologist referrals showed the greatest variability in detail.
  4. Overall referral completeness did not predict diagnostic agreement; clear identification of the referrer and provisional diagnosis was crucial.
  5. The study suggests focusing on pertinent clinical information and using standardized templates to improve referral quality.
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