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22 pages, 1420 KB  
Review
Current Management of Resistant Hypertension in Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage
by Michelle Nguyen, Sookyung Oh, Matthew King, Wengui Yu and Ahmad Riad Ramadan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(6), 2716; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062716 (registering DOI) - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Approximately 795,000 people experience new or recurrent strokes in the United States each year; between 10 to 20% of these are spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). Uncontrolled hypertension is not only the most common cause of ICH but also a major risk factor for [...] Read more.
Approximately 795,000 people experience new or recurrent strokes in the United States each year; between 10 to 20% of these are spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH). Uncontrolled hypertension is not only the most common cause of ICH but also a major risk factor for hematoma expansion. Resistant hypertension, defined as persistently elevated blood pressure despite the use of three or more antihypertensives of different classes, is common in patients with ICH. A long-acting calcium channel blocker, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), and a thiazide diuretic are generally considered the mainstay for the treatment of resistant hypertension. However, due to the risk of hyponatremia and worsening cerebral edema, thiazide diuretics should be avoided during the first few weeks of ICH. Recent evidence supports the use of a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist. While resistant hypertension may be idiopathic, a workup of secondary causes should be pursued. Adequate and timely control of elevated blood pressure remains one of the main cornerstones of treatment in patients with ICH. Previous studies have revealed that resistant hypertension in patients with ICH is associated with longer ICU stays, a higher risk of recurrent stroke, and can contribute to renal, cardiac, and neurologic complications. This emphasizes the need for early initiation of oral antihypertensives and adequate blood pressure control at hospital discharge. Landmark studies have shown that early lowering of SBP to 130–150 mm Hg with smooth, sustained BP control is safe and may improve functional outcomes in patients with mild to moderate ICH. After initiating oral antihypertensives with a calcium channel blocker, an ACEi or ARB beta-blocker, and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist to maximally tolerated doses, the next line of antihypertensive treatment should be tailored to the patient’s co-morbidities, and may include a beta-blocker, central alpha agonist, hydralazine, and minoxidil. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology of resistant hypertension in ICH and its molecular basis, diagnostic workup, and acute and long-term treatment. We present novel mechanisms implicated in hypertensive ICH, including ferroptosis, neuroinflammation, the CNS–gut microbiome axis, and novel therapeutics. We also propose a simple algorithm for the optimal pharmacological management of resistant hypertension in ICH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Hypertension and Related Complications)
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31 pages, 5465 KB  
Article
Vape-Associated lncRNA Transcript 1 (VALT1) Amplifies the Tumorigenic Effects of e-Cigarette Vapor in Lung Epithelial Cells
by Daniel Angelo R. Mirador, Jose Lorenzo M. Ferrer, Kim Denyse Hao Lin and Reynaldo L. Garcia
Non-Coding RNA 2026, 12(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ncrna12020010 (registering DOI) - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Lung cancer remains a major global health burden, largely driven by cigarette use. Although electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are viewed as safer alternatives due to their reduced chemical load, growing evidence shows their vapor can disrupt cellular transcriptomes, including long noncoding RNAs [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Lung cancer remains a major global health burden, largely driven by cigarette use. Although electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are viewed as safer alternatives due to their reduced chemical load, growing evidence shows their vapor can disrupt cellular transcriptomes, including long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In this study, we examined the regulation and function of vape-associated lncRNA transcript 1 (VALT1), a novel transcript upregulated in the oral transcriptomes of e-cigarette users and similarly elevated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors. Methods: Publicly available RNA-seq datasets were analyzed, and VALT1 was identified as an e-cigarette-responsive lncRNA. Its dose-dependent induction by e-cigarette smoke extract (eCSE) and cytoplasmic localization were confirmed via RT-qPCR. Its effects on cancer-associated phenotypes including proliferation, ROS detoxification, resistance to apoptosis, migration, cytoskeletal disorganization, and nuclear remodeling were assessed through overexpression and siRNA-mediated knockdown in A549 and BEAS-2B cells. Results: Acute eCSE exposure induced a biphasic, dose-dependent increase in VALT1 expression, accompanied by enhanced proliferation, ROS detoxification, apoptosis resistance, migration, cytoskeletal disorganization, and nuclear remodeling in A549 cells. VALT1 overexpression reproduced these phenotypes in both cell lines without eCSE treatment, whereas knockdown attenuated them. VALT1 promoted survival under cytotoxic stress in A549 but not BEAS-2B cells. Conclusions: These findings support an active role for VALT1 as an e-cigarette vapor-upregulated transcript that contributes to its phenotypic readout and enhances cellular survival under extracellular chemical stress—thereby aggravating tumorigenic phenotypes even in the absence of mutations that contribute to malignant transformation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Long Non-Coding RNA)
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29 pages, 47085 KB  
Article
Discovery of Waimirite-(Y) in Egypt: Insights into REE Mineralization in Neoproterozoic Granite and Metasediments, Wadi Abu Rusheid, Eastern Desert
by Mustafa A. Elsagheer, Hilmy E. Moussa, Ayman E. Maurice, Paul D. Asimow, Oliver D. Wilner, Maysa M. N. Taha, Adel A. Surour and Mokhles K. Azer
Geosciences 2026, 16(3), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16030122 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
We report, for the first time, waimirite-(Y) in Egypt. This is only the third reported occurrence of this mineral in the world. This observation arose during our study of the rare earth element (REE) mineralization associated with the Neoproterozoic rare-metal granite intrusion in [...] Read more.
We report, for the first time, waimirite-(Y) in Egypt. This is only the third reported occurrence of this mineral in the world. This observation arose during our study of the rare earth element (REE) mineralization associated with the Neoproterozoic rare-metal granite intrusion in Wadi Abu Rusheid in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The principal lanthanide and yttrium (Y) hosts in the area are waimirite-(Y) and bastnäsite-(Ce) in leucogranite and bastnäsite-(Y) in adjacent metasedimentary country rock. The leucogranite is a strongly fractionated, metaluminous to weakly peraluminous (A/CNK = 0.98–1.03), medium- to high-K calk-alkaline I-type granite. The metasediments are composed of upper greenschist to lower amphibolite-grade biotite schists with variable amounts of amphibole, graphite, and garnet. Leucogranite contains accessory Li-bearing mica, garnet, zircon, fluorite, and columbite in addition to the REE minerals. It is enriched by three orders of magnitude relative to primitive mantle in Li, Rb, Th, Ta, Nb, Pb, U, and Sn; relative to these highly enriched elements the concentrations of Sr, Ba, Ga, Zr, Hf, and Y are notably low. The REE patterns of most samples show strong enrichment in heavy relative to light REE but occasional samples have light REE-enriched patterns controlled by accessory REE minerals, and all display strong negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* ≤ 0.05). The whole-rock chemistry of the metasedimentary units are different; relative to average upper continental crust they show enrichments of one to two orders of magnitude in Li, Rb, Pb, Sn, Cs, and sometimes Cr and Zn. The REE patterns of the metasedimentary units are nearly flat, with some samples showing negative Eu anomalies. Waimirite-(Y), nominally YF3, also contains several weight percent each of Yb, Dy, and Er. The empirical formula (based on one cation) is (Y0.55Ce0.02Pr0.01Nd0.02Sm0.02Gd0.02Dy0.05Er0.04Yb0.05Th0.05Ca0.16Pb0.01)∑1.00(F2.48O0.52)∑3.00. Bastnäsite-(Ce) in leucogranite samples, nominally Ce(CO3)F, also has several weight percent each of Nd2O3 and La2O3. The REE host in metasedimentary rocks is bastnäsite-(Y), nominally Y(CO3)F, but also rich in Nd2O3 (11–19 wt.%) and La2O3 (4–14 wt.%). It is intimately associated with fluorophlogopite. The geochemical, mineralogical, and textural evidence indicates that waimirite-(Y) and bastnäsite-(Ce) in leucogranite crystallized from granite-derived F- and CO2-bearing hydrothermal fluids, whereas the source of Y for growth of the bastnäsite-(Y) in the metasedimentary rocks is unclear; the large negative Ce anomaly in bastnäsite-(Y) suggests an oxidizing supergene setting. Despite their proximity, if there is a genetic connection between the mineralization in the granite and in its country rocks, the relationship is not evident from elemental patterns or host mineralogy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geochemistry)
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12 pages, 1020 KB  
Article
Dimensionality Reduction and Machine Learning Methods for COVID-19 Classification Using Chest CT Images
by Alexandra Isabella Somodi, Akul Sharma, Alexis Bennett and Dominique Duncan
Electronics 2026, 15(6), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics15061235 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have made efforts to detect COVID-19 through various methods. In the dataset used for this study, COVID-19 patients were identified using chest computed tomography (CT) images. High dimensionality is frequently an issue in machine learning image classification. Accordingly, [...] Read more.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have made efforts to detect COVID-19 through various methods. In the dataset used for this study, COVID-19 patients were identified using chest computed tomography (CT) images. High dimensionality is frequently an issue in machine learning image classification. Accordingly, this study implemented three dimensionality reduction methods in combination with various machine learning algorithms for improved classification. Principal component analysis (PCA), uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP), and diffusion maps were applied to the dataset to extract the most important features of the chest CT images. The extracted features were given as input either to logistic regression or the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm to perform classification. The strongest model identified from this study was diffusion maps in combination with logistic regression. This model, evaluated against existing models from similar studies in recent years, yielded strong performance for detecting COVID-19 cases using chest CT images. Our proposed model achieved 97.35% accuracy, 92.16% sensitivity, and 98.59% specificity on the held-out test set in differentiating between COVID-19-positive cases and healthy, non-COVID-19 cases. This study aimed to detect COVID-19 without the use of viral testing. Importantly, this method could assist clinicians in making an initial diagnosis, especially when viral testing is not available or timely enough for the patient’s case. This study also provides deeper insight into various dimensionality reduction methods and how compatible they are with biomedical imaging data. Models were trained using stratified cross-validation on the training set, with final performance evaluated on a held-out test set at the patient level to prevent data leakage. Additional imbalance-aware metrics were used to assess robustness given class distribution differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Machine Learning for Image Classification)
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21 pages, 2831 KB  
Article
Chemical Characterization and Protective Effects of a Subcritical Water Extract from Olive Pomace Against Dyslipidemia and Hepatic Steatosis in High-Fat/High-Sugar Diet–Fed Mice
by Alicia Ochoa-Acosta, Analy Aispuro-Pérez, Feliznando Cárdenas-Torres, Mayra Arias-Gastelum, Marco Antonio Valdez-Flores, María de la Paz Espinoza, Julio Montes-Avila, Bianca Amezquita-López, Roberto Avena-Bustillos, Selina C. Wang, Eli Terán-Cabanillas and Ulises Osuna-Martínez
Molecules 2026, 31(6), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31060995 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Olive pomace, a byproduct of olive oil production, is a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds with potential health benefits. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition and evaluate the metabolic effects of a subcritical water extract from California olive pomace (SWE [...] Read more.
Olive pomace, a byproduct of olive oil production, is a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds with potential health benefits. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition and evaluate the metabolic effects of a subcritical water extract from California olive pomace (SWE COP) obtained from Arbequina olives. The extract was mainly composed of carbohydrates (72.81%) and contained 66.62 ± 1.22 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of phenolics, with 3,4-DHPEA-EDA, hydroxytyrosol, and verbascoside identified as the predominant compounds. Male C57BL/6N mice were fed a standard diet (SD; n = 7), a high-fat and high-sugar diet (HFSD; n = 7), which was used to induce features of diet-associated metabolic syndrome, or an HFSD supplemented with 3% (w/w) SWE COP (n = 7) for 16 weeks. Supplementation with SWE COP significantly reduced plasma triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol levels compared with the HFSD group. Moreover, SWE COP improved glucose tolerance, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and reduced mesenteric and epididymal adiposity. Histological analysis showed that SWE COP alleviated hepatic steatosis and lowered the NAFLD activity score. These findings demonstrate that phenolic-rich SWE COP exerts beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism and reduces liver fat accumulation in diet-induced obese mice. Overall, SWE COP represents a promising functional ingredient derived from olive industry byproducts for mitigating metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity. Full article
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14 pages, 1659 KB  
Article
Differences in Assessing Loneliness Among Japanese Older Adults: A Comparison of Family Physicians and Nurses
by Kazutaka Yoshida, Aya Goto and Ichiro Kawachi
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(6), 2255; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062255 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Loneliness is highly prevalent in Japan and has become a major public health concern. Although primary health care professionals are often the first to encounter lonely patients, loneliness is subjective and difficult to detect in routine clinical practice. This study aims [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Loneliness is highly prevalent in Japan and has become a major public health concern. Although primary health care professionals are often the first to encounter lonely patients, loneliness is subjective and difficult to detect in routine clinical practice. This study aims to examine how family physicians and nurses assess patient loneliness, and whether their approaches differ. Methods: This mixed-methods study comprised two surveys administered in Japanese family medicine clinics. Survey 1 (August 2020) was a cross-sectional questionnaire involving patients aged ≥ 50 years (n = 470), six family physicians, and seven nurses, of whom one responded on behalf of the group. Patient loneliness was measured using the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Loneliness Scale (Version 3) and served as the reference standard. Physicians and nurses independently assessed patient loneliness based on medical records. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. Survey 2 (August–September 2023) used an open-ended questionnaire completed by the same physicians and nurses, with responses analyzed using quantitative text mining to explore assessment perspectives. Results: Based on the UCLA scale, 38% of patients were classified as lonely. Compared to each other, family physicians demonstrated a higher sensitivity (45.3%) but lower specificity (67.4%), whereas nurses showed a lower sensitivity (21.8%) but higher specificity (84.5%). Text mining revealed that family physicians emphasized relational quality and psychological context, sometimes identifying loneliness even when there is no apparent lack of social connections. In contrast, nurses tended to define loneliness in terms of clearly observable social circumstances and emphasized patients’ subjective acknowledgment. Conclusions: Family physicians and nurses employ distinct yet complementary approaches to identifying loneliness in primary health care. Collaborative, role-based strategies may enhance the accurate detection of loneliness and support more effective patient care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Epidemiology & Public Health)
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16 pages, 1273 KB  
Article
Tumor Size Modifies the Survival Benefit of Chemotherapy in Localized Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study
by Kole Joachim, Brandon Gettleman, Michael Fice, Adrian Lin, Christopher David Hamad, Othneil Sparks, Ezekiel Dingle, Casey Abernethy, Nicholas M. Bernthal and Alexander B. Christ
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(6), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062253 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Background/Introduction: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) represent a diverse group of rare cancers that have variable responses to chemotherapy. Although tumor size is an established prognostic factor, its influence on the benefit of chemotherapy within specific histologies is not well understood. Methods: We conducted [...] Read more.
Background/Introduction: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) represent a diverse group of rare cancers that have variable responses to chemotherapy. Although tumor size is an established prognostic factor, its influence on the benefit of chemotherapy within specific histologies is not well understood. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 3890 patients with five STS subtypes using SEER data from 2000 to 2021. Patients were stratified by tumor size (<5 cm, 5–10 cm, >10 cm) and propensity score matched within each subtype-size cohort to control for confounders. Cox regression assessed the impact of chemotherapy on overall survival, with results presented as hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%-CI). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to improve selection bias. Results: Chemotherapy use in UPS demonstrated worse survival in smaller tumors <5 cm (HR = 2.65, 95%-CI = 1.19–5.92, p = 0.018) and 5–10 cm tumors (HR = 1.45, 95%-CI = 1.03–2.04, p = 0.031). In larger UPS tumors (>10 cm), a directionally protective association observed in matched analysis attenuated after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) (HR = 0.82, 95%-CI = 0.60–1.12, p = 0.211). Fibromyxosarcoma 5–10 cm tumors demonstrated worse survival with chemotherapy (matched HR = 3.74, 95%-CI = 2.30–6.10, p < 0.001), which remained consistent after IPTW (HR = 4.47, 95%-CI = 2.63–7.60, p < 0.001), along with >10 cm tumors (IPTW HR = 2.16, 95%-CI = 1.07–4.34, p = 0.031). DDLPS >10 cm tumors demonstrated a directionally harmful association (HR = 1.49, 95%-CI = 0.96–2.29, p = 0.073). Synovial sarcoma 5–10 cm tumors demonstrated a directionally protective trend that remained statistically non-significant across analyses. Conclusions: The effect of chemotherapy on survival in localized STS depends on both histologic subtype and tumor size. However, subgroup estimates with confidence intervals approaching 1.0 should be interpreted cautiously. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Oncology)
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15 pages, 523 KB  
Article
Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Their Long-Term Association with Anxiety and Depression in Women: Findings from the Rhea Study in Crete, Greece
by Katerina Koutra, Chrysi Mouatsou, Katerina Margetaki, Georgios Mavroeides and Lida Chatzi
Healthcare 2026, 14(6), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14060745 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Postpartum depression affects 10–20% of women and may have long-term consequences for mental health. This study examines the association between postpartum depressive symptoms and women’s depression and anxiety symptoms 11 and 15 years after childbirth. Methods: Data were drawn from the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Postpartum depression affects 10–20% of women and may have long-term consequences for mental health. This study examines the association between postpartum depressive symptoms and women’s depression and anxiety symptoms 11 and 15 years after childbirth. Methods: Data were drawn from the Rhea Mother–Child Cohort in Crete, Greece. A total of 1079 women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at approximately 8–10 weeks postpartum. Of these, 516 participated in follow-up assessments at 11 and 15 years, which included measures of anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Trait version [STAI-Trait]) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]). Multivariable linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the relationship between postpartum depressive symptoms (EPDS) and later anxiety (STAI-Trait) and depression (BDI) outcomes, adjusting for sociodemographic and family-related characteristics and psychosocial factors. Results: Higher postpartum EPDS scores were associated with greater anxiety (STAI-Trait) and depressive symptoms (BDI) across follow-up assessments. Associations remained significant after adjusting for maternal baseline characteristics and follow-up factors. An interaction with time suggested that the association between postpartum depressive symptoms and anxiety levels strengthened over time, with a stronger association at the 15-year follow-up, indicating a higher long-term mental health burden. Conclusions: Postpartum depressive symptoms are associated with higher levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms 11 and 15 years after childbirth. The association with depression appeared relatively consistent across follow-up assessments, while the relationship with anxiety was stronger at the 15-year follow-up. These findings suggest that postpartum depression is an early marker of long-term vulnerability to mood and anxiety disorders, highlighting the importance of early screening, intervention, and long-term mental health support for mothers to reduce the risk of enduring psychological difficulties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being)
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25 pages, 1253 KB  
Review
Junctions, Transporters, and Interactions of Endothelial Cells: Regulation by Ethanol
by Chitra D. Mandyam, Angelica Vandekerkhoff, Sehwa Jung, Dhwani Kharidia, Igor Ponomarev and Brent Kisby
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(6), 2695; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062695 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Alcohol (ethanol, an intoxicating agent in all alcoholic beverages) is the most widely consumed beverage in the United States and is a leading risk-factor for cerebrovascular diseases. Although neurons, microglia, and astrocytes have been moderately studied for their responsiveness to ethanol, the brain [...] Read more.
Alcohol (ethanol, an intoxicating agent in all alcoholic beverages) is the most widely consumed beverage in the United States and is a leading risk-factor for cerebrovascular diseases. Although neurons, microglia, and astrocytes have been moderately studied for their responsiveness to ethanol, the brain vasculature is minimally explored and is emerging as a key player in the interplay between neuroinflammation, cerebrovascular disease, and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The blood–brain barrier (BBB), a critical regulator of brain homeostasis, relies on the coordinated function of various cellular and molecular components to maintain its immune-privileged status. Emerging evidence indicates that chronic ethanol exposure disrupts BBB function, contributes to neurovascular dysfunction, and increases brain permeability to peripheral immune factors. This review introduces the endothelial cells (ECs) that make up the BBB and provides a brief overview of the junction proteins and transporters that assist with EC function and EC interactions with other cells of the neurovascular unit, including pericytes, smooth muscle cells, and perivascular macrophages and glial cells. In addition, this review highlights ethanol’s effects on ECs and the cells that interact with them. Lastly, given the mounting evidence on gender differences in AUD and the supporting sex differences in ethanol consumption in preclinical models, this review discusses the discovered sex differences in EC-specific genes and identifies open questions such as the influence of sex-dependent differences, genetic factors, and their interactions with ethanol on EC function. Taken together, a deeper understanding of how ethanol disrupts EC structure and function will advance therapeutic strategies to mitigate neuroinflammation and related pathologies associated with chronic ethanol exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry)
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12 pages, 273 KB  
Article
Decision-Making on Nicotine Replacement Therapy Use and Product Selection: An Explorative Qualitative Study Among Chinese Americans Who Smoke
by Nan Jiang, Jennifer Yang, Sue A. Kaplan, Erin S. Rogers, Janice Y. Tsoh, Joanne Chen Lyu and Scott E. Sherman
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(3), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23030372 - 16 Mar 2026
Abstract
Chinese Americans who smoke have low use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This study explored perceptions of NRT and decision-making around product choice among Chinese American smokers who received NRT. From September 2023 to January 2024, we conducted in-depth phone interviews with 20 [...] Read more.
Chinese Americans who smoke have low use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). This study explored perceptions of NRT and decision-making around product choice among Chinese American smokers who received NRT. From September 2023 to January 2024, we conducted in-depth phone interviews with 20 participants recruited in New York City from a WeChat-based cessation pilot trial and a community-based cessation program, both providing free nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges. Participants (aged 26–72; 85% male; 60% current smoking) included 12 consistent NRT users (≥2 weeks), four trial users (<2 weeks), and four non-users. Five participants (25%) had never heard of NRT before program enrollment, and 14 (70%) had never used it previously. Consistent users generally viewed NRT as helpful in reducing cravings. Others reported barriers, including culturally rooted skepticism toward pharmacotherapy, preference for unassisted quitting, lack of readiness to quit, prior negative experiences, and unpleasant taste or side effects. Product choice was influenced by lay knowledge, ease of integrating NRT into daily routines, perceived effectiveness, and taste and side effects. Cessation programs addressing cultural beliefs, reframing willpower, engaging individuals not ready, and providing diverse NRT options with guidance on side effect management and routine integration may increase NRT use among this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smoking and Tobacco Use: A Health Equity Perspective)
17 pages, 30817 KB  
Article
Millimeter-Wave Body-Centric Radar Sensing for Continuous Monitoring of Human Gait Dynamics
by Yoginath Ganditi, Mani S. Chilakala, Zahra Najafi, Mohammed E. Eltayeb and Warren D. Smith
Sensors 2026, 26(6), 1844; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26061844 - 15 Mar 2026
Abstract
Gait is a sensitive marker of mobility decline and fall risk, motivating unobtrusive sensing methods that can extract spatiotemporal parameters outside specialized gait laboratories. This paper presents a physics-based comparison of two millimeter-wave frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar deployment paradigms using a low-cost, system-on-chip [...] Read more.
Gait is a sensitive marker of mobility decline and fall risk, motivating unobtrusive sensing methods that can extract spatiotemporal parameters outside specialized gait laboratories. This paper presents a physics-based comparison of two millimeter-wave frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar deployment paradigms using a low-cost, system-on-chip (SoC) 60 GHz Infineon BGT60TR13C radar sensor: (i) a fixed (tripod-mounted) corridor observer and (ii) a shoe-mounted body-centric configuration attached to the medial side of the left shoe. Four healthy adult author-participants performed repeated 30 s corridor trials under five gait styles (regular, slow, fast, simulated festination, and simulated freezing-of-gait), including brief pauses during turns; an empty-corridor recording was acquired to characterize static clutter. Step events were detected using peak-picking on foot-related velocity envelopes with adaptive thresholds, and step count, cadence, step time, and step-time variability were derived. Performance of the fixed and shoe-mounted configurations was quantitatively compared to video ground truth using mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for step count estimation. Across all gait styles, the shoe-mounted FMCW radar consistently reduced step-count error relative to the fixed corridor-mounted configuration, with the largest gains under irregular patterns (e.g., festination: 37.1% fixed vs. 9.6% shoe-mounted). These findings highlight the advantages of body-centric millimeter-wave radar sensing and support low-cost SoC radar as a pathway toward wearable, privacy-preserving gait monitoring in real-world environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Radar Sensors)
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21 pages, 1306 KB  
Article
Are Baby Rattlesnakes More Dangerous than Adults? Origin, Transmission, and Prevalence of a Media-Driven Myth, with Evidence of Effective Messaging to Dispel It
by William K. Hayes and M. Cale Morris
Toxins 2026, 18(3), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18030144 - 14 Mar 2026
Abstract
The easily defanged myth that baby rattlesnakes (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) are more dangerous than adults has persisted in North America despite all evidence to the contrary. The most often cited reason for the babies-more-dangerous (BMD) myth is the venom-dump (VD) hypothesis: [...] Read more.
The easily defanged myth that baby rattlesnakes (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) are more dangerous than adults has persisted in North America despite all evidence to the contrary. The most often cited reason for the babies-more-dangerous (BMD) myth is the venom-dump (VD) hypothesis: babies, in contrast to adults, cannot control how much venom they expend, and therefore inject all of it when biting. We undertook three approaches to explore the origin, transmission, and prevalence of this myth and its most frequent explanation. First, we examined historical newspaper accounts. From 130 newspaper stories mentioning the relative danger of baby rattlesnakes, we identified a timeline in which (1) most stories prior to 1969 were factually correct; (2) the BMD myth and VD hypothesis likely originated in the mid-to-late 1960s and became entrenched in California, especially, from 1970 to 1999; (3) factually incorrect statements subsequently prevailed throughout North America from 2000 to 2014; and (4) factually correct stories regained prominence with apparent effective messaging success from 2015 onward. We further learned that general information stories about rattlesnakes, more often citing subject experts like university professors, were much more likely to provide accurate information than local snakebite stories, which more often cited health professionals (e.g., physicians, veterinarians, pharmacists) and emergency responders (e.g., police and fire officers) who frequently supplied misinformation. Second, we surveyed familiarity with the BMD myth and VD hypothesis among 53 university classrooms (including one high school) representing 3751 students across 29 states within the United States. Consistent with the California media’s outsized influence on misinformation transmission, familiarity with the myth was greatest in the southwestern states (52.6%) and declined moving north and east, with the least familiarity in the northeastern states (16.4%). Third, a small survey of 75 emergency responders and health professionals from Southern California revealed that a whopping 73.3% actually believed the BMD myth. Numerous organizations generally regarded as authoritative further amplified the misinformation, especially on the internet, where some content persists to this day. Unfortunately, belief in the BMD myth and VD hypothesis can lead to negative consequences, including misinformed risk-taking by those encountering snakes, unwarranted fear among snakebite victims, and inappropriate care delivered by misinformed or patient/family-pressured medical professionals. Our findings target health professionals and emergency responders as priority audiences for education. Full article
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21 pages, 6472 KB  
Article
Wave Climate Dynamics of a Morphologically Complex Coast: A Hybrid Downscaling Study of Manzanillo, Mexico
by Héctor García-Nava, Julieta Hernández-López, Manuel Gerardo Verduzco-Zapata, Marco Agustín Liñán-Cabello and Rodolfo Silva-Casarín
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(6), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14060544 - 14 Mar 2026
Abstract
A comprehensive characterization of the wave climate on the coast at Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, based on an 11-year hindcast (2008–2018), was performed using a hybrid approach that integrates hydrodynamic numerical models with machine learning techniques. Wave conditions were analyzed at 23 nearshore sites, [...] Read more.
A comprehensive characterization of the wave climate on the coast at Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, based on an 11-year hindcast (2008–2018), was performed using a hybrid approach that integrates hydrodynamic numerical models with machine learning techniques. Wave conditions were analyzed at 23 nearshore sites, including headlands, outer beaches, and sheltered beaches. The effects of the complex coastal morphology on wave propagation were evident, especially regarding storm waves. Two distinct wave climates were seen: a low-energy regime in the dry season (November–April) and a more energetic regime in the rainy season (May–October). Spatial variability was greatly modulated by headlands, bays, and port infrastructure, leading to sharp local contrasts in wave height, slope, and wave power. For instance, mean wave power ranged from 9.34 kW/m at exposed sites such as El Faro de Campos to only 0.36 kW/m near sheltered areas, such as San Pedrito beach. From these findings, it is clear that a regional scale description of the wave climate is insufficient when assessing coastal vulnerability in this morphologically complex area. The new dataset is a valuable baseline for use in coastal management, port planning, and risk assessments for Manzanillo, which is one of Mexico’s most important ports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Oceanography)
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19 pages, 7257 KB  
Article
Gelatin/Lignin Hydrogel Loaded with Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Enriched in Microrna-185 Inhibits Progression of Oral Cancer
by Meitong Liu, Kai Wang, Can Zeng, Yijiang Jia, Jiaqi Wang, Ayijiang Taledaohan, Yuji Wang and Xiaobing Guan
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(3), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18030363 - 14 Mar 2026
Abstract
Purpose: Due to the lack of effective local therapeutic strategies for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), this study aimed to develop a novel gelatin/lignin hydrogel loaded with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes enriched in microRNA-185 (miR-185 EV) for intraoral delivery, followed by systematic [...] Read more.
Purpose: Due to the lack of effective local therapeutic strategies for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), this study aimed to develop a novel gelatin/lignin hydrogel loaded with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes enriched in microRNA-185 (miR-185 EV) for intraoral delivery, followed by systematic evaluation of its therapeutic efficacy and underlying molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: The gelatin/lignin hydrogel was prepared and subsequently loaded with miR-185 EV. The physicochemical properties of the hydrogel, including microstructure, swelling behavior, chemical composition, and rheological characteristics, were systematically evaluated. Next, the stability, viscosity, biocompatibility, and exosome release kinetics of the hydrogel were further assessed. A 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO)-induced mouse tongue carcinogenesis model was established to assess the in vivo antitumor activity of the hydrogel via intraoral administration. Moreover, a proteomic analysis was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms of miR-185 EV on OSCC. Results: The miR-185 EV-loaded gelatin/lignin hydrogel exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, stability, and biocompatibility while prolonging the tissue retention time of miR-185 EV. In vivo antitumor efficacy experiments showed that the miR-185 EV-loaded hydrogel significantly inhibited tumor occurrence and alleviated epithelial dysplasia. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed significant suppression of tumor proliferation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the hydrogel. Proteomic analysis indicated that miR-185 EV suppressed OSCC progression by downregulating interleukin-1β (IL-1β), consequently inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the successful development of the miR-185 EV-loaded gelatin/lignin hydrogel that represents an effective nanomedicine platform for intraoral drug delivery, providing a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of OSCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Drug Delivery and Controlled Release)
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13 pages, 2289 KB  
Article
Functional Outcomes of Early vs. Delayed Arthroscopic Repair for Traumatic and Degenerative Rotator Cuff Tears: A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Yuzhi Chen, Yucheng Lin, Sinuo Shen, Jinge Qi, Jinan Wei, Jiachen Sun and Jun Lu
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(6), 2205; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062205 - 13 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The optimal surgical timing for rotator cuff tears (RCTs) remains controversial, particularly regarding how tear etiology influences the final functional recovery. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of early versus delayed arthroscopic repair stratified by etiology, providing evidence for [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The optimal surgical timing for rotator cuff tears (RCTs) remains controversial, particularly regarding how tear etiology influences the final functional recovery. This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of early versus delayed arthroscopic repair stratified by etiology, providing evidence for etiology-specific surgical timing. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 183 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tears. Patients were stratified into traumatic (n = 74) and degenerative (n = 109) groups based on etiology. They were further divided into early-repair and delayed-repair subgroups based on symptom duration (traumatic cut-off: 3 months; degenerative cut-off: 6 months). Clinical outcomes were assessed preoperatively and at the final follow-up using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and range of motion. Complications, including retear rates and stiffness, were recorded. Results: In the traumatic group, early repair yielded significantly better postoperative pain relief (VAS) and higher functional scores (ASES and UCLA) compared to delayed repair. Notably, the delayed traumatic group exhibited a significantly higher retear rate compared to the early group (16.7% vs. 2.6%; p = 0.039). Conversely, in the degenerative group, comparisons between early and delayed repair revealed no significant differences in the final functional scores, pain levels, or complication rates (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Surgical timing significantly impacts outcomes in traumatic RCTs, where early repair is critical to optimize functional recovery and minimize retear risks. In contrast, delayed arthroscopic repair for degenerative tears yielded comparable outcomes to early repair, suggesting that an initial trial of conservative management is safe and does not compromise final surgical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sports Medicine)
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