From errors to excellence: the pre-analytical journey to improved quality in diagnostics. A scoping review.

This scoping review focuses on the evolution of pre-analytical errors (PAEs) in medical laboratories, a critical area with significant implications for patient care, healthcare costs, hospital length of stay, and operational efficiency. The Covidence Review tool was used to formulate the keywords, and then a comprehensive literature search was performed using several databases, importing the search results directly into Covidence (n=379). Title, abstract screening, duplicate removal, and full-text screening were done.

Erector Spinae Muscle to Epicardial Visceral Fat Ratio on Chest CT Predicts the Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for diagnosing and predicting the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and assessing extrapulmonary organs. Reduced muscle mass and visceral fat accumulation are important features of a body composition phenotype in which obesity and muscle loss coexist, but their relationship with COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the erector spinae muscle (ESM) to epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) ratio (ESM/EAT) on chest CT and disease severity in patients with COVID-19.

Classifying Mild Cognitive Impairment from Normal Cognition: fMRI Complexity Matches Tau PET Performance.

Background: Tau protein accumulation is closely linked to synaptic and neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD), resulting in progressive cognitive decline. Although tau-PET imaging is a direct biomarker of tau pathology, it is costly, carries radiation risks, and is not widely accessible. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) complexity-an entropy-based measure of BOLD signal variation-has been proposed as a non-invasive surrogate biomarker of early neuronal dysfunction associated with tau pathology.

Tumor-Stroma Ratio is a Critical Indicator of Peritoneal Metastasis in Gastric Cancer.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) and peritoneal metastasis (PM) in gastric cancer (GC) and constructs a diagnostic model based on preoperative examination data.

Methods: To determine the feasibility of obtaining TSR in GC patients through preoperative examinations, the consistency of TSR between endoscopic biopsy tissues and postoperative histopathological tissues was evaluated. Additionally, the correlation between TSR and PM in GC was analyzed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets.

Evaluating SCUBE-1 as Predictive Biomarker for Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage: A Comparative Study.

Background: Hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) is a critical complication of hypertension that can present with cardiac, retinal, and renal manifestations and affect patient outcomes. Serum signal peptide, CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1) domain, and epidermal growth factor-like domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE-1), a novel biomarker implicated in vascular pathology, shows promise for detecting HMOD. This study aims to explore the relation between SCUBE-1 levels and HMOD in hypertensive patients.

Airway Basal Stem Cells Inflammatory Alterations in COVID-19 and Mitigation by Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and the resultant COVID-19 pneumonia cause significant damage to the airway and lung epithelium. This damage manifests as mucus hypersecretion, pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, which often lead to long-term complications collectively referred to as long COVID or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). The airway epithelium, as the first line of defence against respiratory pathogens, depends on airway basal stem cells (BSCs) for regeneration.

Influences of age and sex on the diagnostic accuracy of human epididymis secretory protein 4 for malignant pleural effusion.

Previous studies have suggested that the presence of human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) in pleural fluid can be used to diagnose malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with moderate accuracy. However, the factors that affect the diagnostic accuracy of HE4 remain unknown. This study aimed to examine how age and sex influence the diagnostic accuracy of HE4.

Risk of Nipah Virus Seroprevalence in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic pathogen with the potential to cause human outbreaks with a high case fatality ratio. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, available evidence on NiV infections occurring in healthcare workers (HCWs) was collected and critically appraised. According to the PRISMA statement, four medical databases (PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Scopus) and the preprint repository medRixv were inquired through a specifically designed searching strategy.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns and Virulence Profiles of Classical and Hypervirulent Strains Isolated from Clinical Samples in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

The emergence of hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant hypermucoviscous strains presents a significant public health challenge due to their increased virulence and resistance to multiple antibiotics. This study evaluates the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and virulence profiles of classical and hypervirulent strains isolated from various clinical samples. A total of 500 clinical samples were collected from patients at the Mardan Medical Complex and Ayub Medical Complex in KPK between July 2022 and June 2024.

How Will Nanomedicine Revolutionize Future Dentistry and Periodontal Therapy?

Periodontitis is a prevalent inflammatory disease affecting the supporting structures of the teeth, leading to gum recession, tooth loss, and systemic health complications. Traditional diagnostic methods and treatments, such as clinical evaluation and scaling, often fall short in early detection and targeted therapy, particularly in complex or advanced cases. Recent advancements in nanomedicine offer promising solutions for improving both the diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training vs. Vaginal Vibration Cone Therapy for Postpartum Dyspareunia and Vaginal Laxity.

Pelvic floor dysfunction and sexual health issues are common postpartum due to weakened pelvic muscles, significantly impacting women's quality of life (QoL). Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a widely used approach to address these issues. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two rehabilitation methods-vibrating vaginal cones (VCG) and PFMT exercises (CG)-in improving pelvic floor muscle strength, reducing dyspareunia, and enhancing sexual function in postpartum women.

Pharmacogenetics of the Treatment of Neglected Diseases.

Background/objectives: Pharmacogenetics (PGx) aims to identify individuals more likely to suffer from adverse reactions or therapeutic failure in drug treatments. However, despite most of the evidence in this area being from European populations, some diseases have also been neglected, such as HIV infection, malaria, and tuberculosis. With this review, we aim to emphasize which pharmacogenetic tests are ready to be implemented in treating neglected diseases that have some evidence and call attention to what is missing for these three diseases.

Targeting Invasion: The Role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer Therapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide, prompting ongoing research into innovative therapeutic strategies. This review aims to systematically evaluate the role of gelatinases, specifically MMP-2 and MMP-9, as therapeutic targets in CRC, providing a critical analysis of their potential to improve patient outcomes. Gelatinases, specifically MMP-2 and MMP-9, play critical roles in the processes of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosing Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN): Practical Recommendations and Insights from Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive orphan hematopoietic malignancy characterized by cutaneous and systemic hematologic involvement. BPDCN is frequently misidentified, but early, accurate diagnosis is critical to extending patient survival using tagraxofusp, a first-in-class CD123-targeted therapy, and increasing their chances of receiving a potentially curative stem cell transplantation. Cases of BPDCN in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are lower than the extrapolated incidence from other geographic locations due to lack of awareness of key diagnostic features, lack of consensus on the minimal phenotype for diagnosis, and lack of local immunohistochemistry testing facilities, contributing to underdiagnosis in this region.

Clinical and molecular characteristics and long-term outcomes of pediatric intracranial meningiomas: a comprehensive analysis from a single neurosurgical center.

Background: Meningioma represents the most common intracranial tumor in adults. However, it is rare in pediatric patients. We aimed to demonstrate the clinicopathological characteristics and long-term outcome of pediatric meningiomas (PMs).

A phylogenetic epidemiology approach to predicting the establishment of multi-host plant pests.

Forecasting emergent pest spread is paramount to mitigating their impacts. For host-specialized pests, epidemiological models of spread through a single host population are well developed. However, most pests attack multiple host species; the challenge is predicting which communities are most vulnerable to infestation.

Critical Perspectives on Global Health Policy, Diagnostic Access and Practice Gaps towards a Tuberculosis Free India.

Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge in India. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India tops the list of 30 countries responsible for 87% of global TB cases in 2023. Recent data indicates that India's TB incidence rate was 195 cases per 100,000 population in 2023, accounting for approximately 26% of global TB cases.

AI-Driven Innovations for Early Sepsis Detection by Combining Predictive Accuracy With Blood Count Analysis in an Emergency Setting: Retrospective Study.

Background: Sepsis, a critical global health challenge, accounted for approximately 20% of worldwide deaths in 2017. Although the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score standardizes the diagnosis of organ dysfunction, early sepsis detection remains challenging due to its insidious symptoms. Current diagnostic methods, including clinical assessments and laboratory tests, frequently lack the speed and specificity needed for timely intervention, particularly in vulnerable populations such as older adults, intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and those with compromised immune systems.

Unveiling Paramyrothecium kamalii (Stachybotryaceae) as a novel foliar fungal pathogen on Matourea azurea in Kerala, India, based on morpho-cultural, pathological and molecular phylogenetic evidences.

During recent survey for the investigation of foliar fungi in Kerala, India, a new species of foliicolous hyphomycete, Paramyrothecium kamalii was discovered on living leaves of Matourea azurea (Plantaginaceae) based on morpho-cultural characteristics and multigene (ITS, LSU, cmdA, tub2, and rpb2) phylogenetic analysis; is described, illustrated and discussed. In vitro Pathogenicity tests were performed and confirmed the pathogenic nature of the fungus, thereby fulfilling Koch's postulates. Phylogenetically, P.

Rebiopsy Enhances Survival with Afatinib vs. Osimertinib in EGFR Exon 19 Deletion Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Study in Taiwan.

Background: Afatinib and Osimertinib are first-line treatments for EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their comparative efficacies and the patient groups that benefit the most remain unclear. This multicenter retrospective study evaluated the efficacy of first-line Afatinib and Osimertinib in NSCLC patients with EGFR 19del and no brain metastases at diagnosis.

Methods: The primary endpoints were time on treatment (ToT) and overall survival (OS).

Primary Epithelioid Angiosarcoma of the Penis: A Case Report With a Brief Review of the Literature.

Angiosarcoma of the penis is an exceptionally rare mesenchymal tumor, with only about 30 cases documented in the literature. Because of its rarity and the often nonspecific clinical presentation, histopathological examination plays a critical role in accurate diagnosis. Angiosarcoma of the penis typically arises in the corpus cavernosum but has also been reported in the glans and urethra, often presenting with metastases.

The role of the C5a-C5aR pathway in iron metabolism and gastric cancer progression.

Gastric cancer continues to be a leading global health concern, with current therapeutic approaches requiring significant improvement. While the disruption of iron metabolism in the advancement of gastric cancer has been well-documented, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Additionally, the complement C5a-C5aR pathway has been identified as a crucial factor in gastric cancer development.

Phenotypic and genetic extended spectrum beta lactamase profiles of bacterial isolates from ICU in tertiary level hospital in Kenya.

Background: Bacterial infections in the Intensive Care Units are a threat to the lives of critically ill patients. Their vulnerable immunity predisposes them to developing bacteria-associated sepsis, deteriorating their already fragile health. In the face of increasing antibiotics resistance, the problem of bacterial infection in ICU is worsening.

The effect of anesthesia on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in adults undergoing cataract surgery: a systematic review.

Background: We systematically reviewed the evidence on the effect of anesthetic methods and drugs on the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after cataract surgery.

Methods: The Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched for relevant English reports published from 2000 to August 2024. After full-text screening and checking the quality assessment of each article using the JBI checklist, 9 relevant articles were included in this study.

The Cutaneous Pathology of Erythromelalgia and Its Role in Establishing Critical Clues Regarding Pathogenesis.

Erythromelalgia, a rare cutaneous pain syndrome, is characterized by acral burning pain and flushing, often alleviated by cold and rest. Primary erythromelalgia is caused by gain-of-function mutations of genes encoding for sodium channels, resulting in hyperexcitability of pain signaling neurons. Autoimmunity and hematologic dyscrasias such as thrombocythemia have been implicated in secondary erythromelalgia.