Non-neuraxial labour analgesia.

Epidural analgesia is considered the gold standard for labour pain but may not be an option for all parturients due to patient choice or medical contraindication. Non-neuraxial alternatives for labour analgesia have been extensively studied and include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological options. Pharmacological options include the use of opioids and inhalational agents while non-pharmacological options range from non-invasive methods such as continuous labour support to techniques such as sterile water injection.

The FEBS Journal in 2025: in all science, error precedes the truth.

The FEBS Journal publishes primary papers as well as reviews in the molecular life sciences relating to the molecules and mechanisms underpinning biological processes. Editor-in-Chief Seamus Martin shares some thoughts on the nature of conducting research, some highlights of the past year at the journal, and what is in store for 2025.

A study evaluation framework for measuring cognition. Lessons learned in cross-national contexts from four English-speaking aging cohorts.

The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) is a detailed battery assessing cognition among older people used by studies across the world. Data harmonization is a key priority for HCAP studies. We used a mixed-methods approach using established theories from the existing literature detailing the methodologies of longitudinal studies and from the implementation of HCAP in four English-speaking studies adopting the same protocol.

Non-Canonical Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Nature.

Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are a superfamily of thiolate-ligated heme metalloenzymes principally responsible for the hydroxylation of unactivated C-H bonds. The lower-axial cysteine is an obligatory and universally conserved residue for the CYP enzyme class. Herein, we challenge this paradigm by systematically identifying non-canonical CYPs (ncCYPs) that do not harbor a cysteine ligand.

The potential role of synthetic computed tomography in spinal surgery: generation, applications, and implications for future clinical practice.

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of spinal pathologies, particularly for pedicle screw placement. However, CT's limitations, notably radiation exposure, necessitate the development of alternative imaging techniques. Synthetic CT (sCT), which generates CT-like images from existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, offers a promising alternative to reduce radiation exposure.

Head and Neck Rhabdomyosarcoma in Pediatric Patients: An International Collaborative Study.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a rare malignant tumor, frequently affects pediatric patients, with 35%-40% occurring in the head and neck. This study analyzes the clinicopathologic profile of pediatric head and neck rhabdomyosarcomas from Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, and South Africa.

Methods: We reviewed 44 cases from 10 Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology services, conducting immunohistochemical analyses of desmin, myogenin, Myo-D1, and Ki67, with quantification via QuPath software.

Unlocking Low-Temperature Ammonia Decomposition via an Iron Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Catalyst Under Photo-Thermal Conditions.

Photo-thermal catalysis, leveraging both thermal and non-thermal solar contributions, emerges as a sustainable approach for fuel and chemical synthesis. In this study, an Fe-based catalyst derived from a metal-organic framework is presented for efficient photo-thermal ammonia (NH) decomposition. Optimal conditions, under light irradiation without external heating, result in a notable 55% NH conversion.

Breaking down barriers: Improving accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities in veterinary ophthalmology.

Over 25% of people in the United States are affected by physical disabilities, leading to regular interactions between the disabled community and veterinary ophthalmology. However, various barriers hinder individuals with disabilities from accessing care for their pets, working in veterinary clinics, pursuing training as veterinarians and veterinary ophthalmologists, and continuing their careers as disabilities develop. This article explores strategies for the veterinary ophthalmology community to implement positive changes that enhance access and inclusivity within clinics and the profession at practical, institutional, and cultural levels.

The influence of electronic health record design on usability and medication safety: systematic review.

Background: The advantages of electronic health records (EHRs) are well-documented regarding the process of care, enhanced data accessibility and cost savings. However, EHR design can also contribute to usability challenges, with poorly designed EHRs being implicated in user errors including patient overdoses. Our study seeks to evaluate how EHR design influences both usability and medication safety.

Causal genes identification of giant cell arteritis in CD4+ Memory t cells: an integration of multi-omics and expression quantitative trait locus analysis.

Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a prevalent artery and is strongly correlated with age. The role of CD4+ Memory T cells in giant cell arteritis has not been elucidated.

Method: Through single-cell analysis, we focused on the CD4+ Memory T cells in giant cell arteritis.

Association of real life postural transitions kinematics with fatigue in neurodegenerative and immune diseases.

Fatigue is prevalent in immune-mediated inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, yet its assessment relies largely on patient-reported outcomes, which capture perception but not fluctuations over time. Wearable sensors, like inertial measurement units (IMUs), offer a way to monitor daily activities and evaluate functional capacity. This study investigates the relationship between sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions and self-reported physical and mental fatigue in participants with Parkinson's, Huntington's, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren's syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.

Explainable attention based breast tumor segmentation using a combination of UNet, ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet models.

This study utilizes the Breast Ultrasound Image (BUSI) dataset to present a deep learning technique for breast tumor segmentation based on a modified UNet architecture. To improve segmentation accuracy, the model integrates attention mechanisms, such as the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) and Non-Local Attention, with advanced encoder architectures, including ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet. These attention mechanisms enable the model to focus more effectively on relevant tumor areas, resulting in significant performance improvements.

Significance of location and extent of perineural invasion in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: Perineural invasion (PNI) is associated with survival in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). There is evidence to suggest that PNI location and extent may be of additional significance. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic ability of PNI, including location and extent, in early-stage OCSCC.

NCHD handover in the acute mental health setting: a quality improvement initiative implementing an electronic handover tool.

Background: Cork University Hospital, Ireland's largest teaching hospital, faced challenges in maintaining consistent handover processes in its Acute Mental Health Unit (AMHU). Prior to 2019, handovers relied on informal methods, risking information loss and compromising patient care. This quality improvement (QI) initiative aimed to standardise handover practices using an electronic tool integrated with the ISBAR communication protocol.

Pediococcus acidilactici CECT 9879 (pA1c®) and heat inactivated pA1c® (pA1c® HI) ameliorate gestational diabetes mellitus in mice.

Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common complication of pregnancy and is known to be associated with an increased risk of postpartum metabolic disease. Based on the important role that the intestinal microbiota plays in blood glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity, supplementation of probiotic and postbiotic strains could improve glucose metabolism and tolerance in GDM.

Main Methods: 56 4-week-old female C57BL/6J-mice were divided into 4 groups (n = 14 animals/group): control (CNT), high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS), pA1c® alive (pA1c®) and heat-inactivated pA1c® (pA1c®HI).

Optimum diagnostic pathway and pathologic confirmation rate of early stage lung cancer: Results from the VIOLET randomised controlled trial.

Background: Pathologic confirmation of lung cancer influences treatment selection for suspected early-stage lung cancer. High pre-treatment tissue confirmation rates are recommended. We sought to define management and outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for primary lung cancer in a UK multi-centre clinical trial.

Developing an Evidence- and Theory-Informed Mother-Daughter mHealth Intervention Prototype Targeting Physical Activity in Preteen Girls of Low Socioeconomic Position: Multiphase Co-Design Study.

Background: Preteen girls of lower socioeconomic position are at increased risk of physical inactivity. Parental support, particularly from mothers, is positively correlated with girls' physical activity levels. Consequently, family-based interventions are recognized as a promising approach to improve young people's physical activity.

Examining the Emotional and Physical Health Impact in Users of Open-Source Automated Insulin Delivery and Sources of Support: Qualitative Analysis of Patient Narratives.

Background: Although commercially developed automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have recently been approved and become available in a limited number of countries, they are not universally available, accessible, or affordable. Therefore, open-source AID systems, cocreated by an online community of people with diabetes and their families behind the hashtag #WeAreNotWaiting, have become increasingly popular.

Objective: This study focused on examining the lived experiences, physical and emotional health implications of people with diabetes following the initiation of open-source AID systems, their perceived challenges, and their sources of support, which have not been explored in the existing literature.