Search Results (3,152)

Background: Early prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains a major clinical challenge, and the current oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is time-consuming and inconvenient for clinical routine. This study aimed to develop a novel predictive model for postprandial hyperglycemia GDM (pp-GDM) and postprandial glucose elevation using fasting serological and metabolic profiles. Method: We used High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to analyze fasting plasma amino acid profiles at 24–28 weeks of gestation for 60 pp-GDM patients and 120 controls. Binary logistic regression model was constructed to identify potential biomarkers for pp-GDM prediction. Results: By incorporating amino acid indicators such as isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, and aspartate into the predictive model alongside traditional predictors (including BMI at sampling, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin, and uric acid), the overall predictive performance was significantly improved from 78.2% to 91.1%. A clinically practical nomogram for risk assessment was subsequently developed. Conclusions: This fasting metabolite-based model provides a reliable tool for early prediction of pp-GDM and postprandial hyperglycemia, which may reduce the need for OGTT and facilitate timely clinical decision making. Full article

Background: Travel-associated melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is increasingly reported in non-endemic countries due to rising global travel. Understanding demographic, clinical, and outcome patterns of imported cases is important to improve recognition and management in settings where melioidosis is uncommon. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus (last search: 24 September 2025) for case reports and case series of melioidosis diagnosed outside endemic regions and linked to travel exposure. Data were extracted on demographics, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, and outcomes. We performed descriptive analyses, subgroup analyses, and Firth’s penalized logistic regression to explore predictors of death. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251154559). Results: A total of 104 studies, encompassing 143 individual cases, were included. Most diagnoses occurred in non-endemic, high-income countries, especially the Netherlands (21%), France (10%), the United States (9%), and South Korea (7%). Infections were predominantly acquired in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand (39%). The mean patient age was 50.6 years, with a male predominance (78%). Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent comorbidity (28%). Clinical presentations included pulmonary (33%), sepsis (27%), cutaneous (13%), abdominal (4%), and osteoarticular disease (1%). Overall mortality was 12.6% and relapse occurred in 7%. In penalized regression analyses, no baseline characteristic was statistically significantly associated with mortality; septic presentation showed an elevated point estimate for odds of death, but with imprecise estimates. Conclusions: Travel-associated melioidosis is a rare but clinically significant imported infection. Most cases followed exposure in Southeast Asia, and pulmonary disease and sepsis were the most frequent presentations. Mortality remained substantial (12.6%), and relapse was reported in 7%, underscoring the need for early recognition, appropriate therapy, and follow-up in non-endemic settings. Full article

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a major cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and are associated with substantial short-term mortality. Diabetes mellitus is a frequent comorbidity in patients with COPD, yet its impact on short-term outcomes in critically ill AECOPD patients remains uncertain. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether diabetes mellitus is independently associated with 30-day mortality in critically ill adult patients admitted to the ICU with AECOPD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult ICU patients with AECOPD using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. All eligible adult patients with a documented diagnosis of AECOPD during the study period were included. Patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus was identified based on documented diagnostic codes and clinical records at the time of ICU admission. Demographic variables, laboratory parameters obtained within the first 24 h of ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation requirements were assessed. Mechanical ventilation was initiated according to standard clinical indications, including acute respiratory failure, hypoxemia, or hypercapnia. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, multivariable logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazards models were applied to identify independent predictors of mortality. Results: A total of 5874 ICU patients were included, of whom 2489 (42.3%) had diabetes. Patients with diabetes were slightly younger, more frequently male, and more often received mechanical ventilation than non-diabetic patients. Unadjusted 30-day mortality was lower among diabetic patients (15.3% vs. 17.5%; p = 0.032). However, after adjustment for relevant covariates, diabetes was not an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (HR = 0.80; p = 0.46). Age, male sex, and elevated lactate levels were associated with increased mortality, while early mechanical ventilation showed an association with improved short-term survival. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus was not independently associated with 30-day mortality in critically ill patients with AECOPD. Short-term outcomes were primarily influenced by age, markers of metabolic stress, and timely ventilatory support. Due to limitations of the database, reliable differentiation between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus and detailed assessment of COPD severity or phenotype were not consistently feasible. Further prospective studies are warranted to clarify the long-term implications of diabetes in this patient population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive fibrotic interstitial lung disease with high mortality and limited treatment options. Despite recent therapeutic advances, predicting survival remains challenging. Given the challenge of predicting disease progression in IPF, identifying reliable prognostic markers may support individualized treatment strategies, guide follow-up intensity, and improve clinical decision making. This study aimed to evaluate mortality rates and factors associated with poor prognosis in patients with IPF over a 10-year period at a tertiary care center. Methods: Medical records of 268 patients diagnosed with IPF between 2015 and 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, radiological findings, pulmonary function test results, frequency of exacerbations and hospitalizations, treatment details, and survival outcomes were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of mortality. Results: This study included 268 patients (77.2% male; median age, 72 years). During a median follow-up of 24 months, 44% (n = 118) of patients died. Deceased patients were older (p < 0.001) and had higher rates of coronary artery disease, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, and malignancy (all p < 0.05). A definite UIP pattern was more common among deceased patients (71.2% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.02). Acute exacerbations (23.3% vs. 8.1%) and hospitalizations (61.9% vs. 23.3%) were significantly more frequent in this group (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, GAP score (OR 11.68, p = 0.001), pulmonary hypertension (OR 15.39, p = 0.02), history of exacerbation (OR 56.2, p = 0.04), baseline FVC (OR 1.10, p = 0.02), mean platelet volume (OR 0.29, p = 0.01), and AST level (OR 1.12, p = 0.04) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: Despite advances in management, IPF continues to carry a high mortality risk. This study represents one of the largest single-center IPF cohorts from our region with long-term real-life follow-up and additionally evaluates laboratory biomarkers such as MPV and AST, which have not been widely investigated as prognostic indicators in IPF. Advanced age, reduced pulmonary function, comorbidities, and acute exacerbations are major prognostic factors. Early recognition and proactive management of these parameters may help improve survival outcomes. Full article

Background: Breast cancer requires long-term surveillance, as recurrence and mortality risks extend beyond 10 years. Mammography (MMG) is the standard imaging modality; however, its effectiveness is reduced in Asian women owing to dense breast tissue. The optimal timing of surveillance MMG after breast-conserving surgery remains unclear, particularly the value of routine 6-month MMG. We evaluated the roles of MMG and ultrasound in detecting ipsilateral and contralateral breast cancer recurrence after breast-conserving surgery. Methods: This retrospective study included 961 patients with operable breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery with or without axillary surgery between 2011 and 2015 at Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. Surveillance consisted of biannual imaging for the first 2 years, followed by annual imaging for up to 10 years. Ipsilateral and contralateral breast cancer recurrences were analyzed according to detection modality, including MMG and ultrasound. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for recurrence. Results: During a mean follow-up of 139 months, 56 patients (5.8%) experienced locoregional recurrence, and 41 (4.3%) developed distant metastasis. Among 35 in-breast recurrences, 14 (40.0%) were ipsilateral and 21 (60.0%) contralateral. Ipsilateral recurrences were more often detected via either MMG or ultrasound alone, whereas contralateral cancers were typically detected through both modalities. During the first postoperative year, all ipsilateral and contralateral recurrences were detected exclusively by ultrasound, with no cancers identified by 6-month MMG (95% CI for 6-month detection: 0–0.38%). Multivariate analysis identified positive axillary lymph node status as the only independent predictor of locoregional recurrence (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.14–5.54, p = 0.022). Detection patterns showed no significant differences across molecular subtypes (p = 0.665). Conclusions: Annual MMG remains appropriate for breast cancer surveillance in accordance with current guidelines. However, MMG at 6 months post-surgery may be unnecessary, as early detection during the first year was achieved solely by ultrasound. The complementary role of MMG and ultrasound is consistent regardless of molecular subtype. Full article

Background and Objectives: Hyperleukocytosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is life-threatening, often complicated by leukostasis, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), with very high early mortality. Leukapheresis (LA) can rapidly reduce circulating blast burden, but its effect on survival and prognostic relevance of disease markers remains unclear. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 74 adult AML patients with WBC > 100 × 10⁹/L treated at the University Clinical Center of Serbia between 2014 and 2024: 28 received LA plus cytoreduction (LA group), and 46 received cytoreduction alone (non-LA group). We evaluated 15-, 30-, and 90-day mortality and overall survival (OS), and assessed clinical, laboratory, and immunophenotypic predictors using Cox regression, with separate subgroup analyses. Results: Patients in the LA group had significantly higher baseline leukocyte counts and LDH (p = 0.18 and p = 0.024, respectively). Although LA resulted in a median 34% reduction in WBC, there was no statistically significant difference in early mortality: 15-day survival was 68% vs. 76% (HR 0.70, p = 0.423), 30-day survival 50% vs. 65% (HR 0.62, p = 0.197), and 90-day survival 39.3% vs. 41.3% (HR 0.85, p = 0.604). Median OS was similarly poor, about 1 month in the LA group compared to 2 months in the non-LA (HR 0.73). Across all patients, ECOG PS ≥2, elevated LDH, TLS, and DIC were the strongest indicators of early death. In the LA group, elevated LDH and increased peripheral blood (PB) monocyte count predicted 15-day mortality (p = 0.021 and p = 0.031, respectively), but lost significance by day 90. In non-LA patients, CD25 positivity (p = 0.034) and DIC (p = 0.045) predicted 15-day death. By day 90, CD25 expression (p = 0.048) remained prognostic, while PB blast percentage (p = 0.045) and PB monocyte count (p = 0.017) emerged as additional adverse prognostic predictors in the non-LA group. In multivariate analysis, higher PB blast percentage, CD25 positivity, and ECOG PS ≥ 2 independently predicted poorer OS. Conclusions: Although LA did not reduce early mortality in the entire cohort, the loss of prognostic significance of elevated LDH, high PB blast percentage, PB monocyte burden, and CD25 expression in the LA group may suggest that the intervention can attenuate the impact of biologically aggressive disease. Full article

Background: The prognostic value of preoperative deterioration in older patients with moderate-to-mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative neurological and radiological deterioration on clinical outcomes in this population undergoing surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients aged ≥ 65 years with moderate-to-mild TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≥ 9) who underwent surgery between 2013 and 2022. Patients were grouped based on preoperative deterioration, classified as neurological (≥2-point sustained GCS drop lasting more than 1 h) or radiological (new/aggravated imaging lesions). Study outcomes included in-hospital mortality and 6-month functional status. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of outcomes. Results: Among 58 patients, preoperative deterioration was observed in 34 (58.6%), including 14 (24.1%) with neurological and 20 (34.5%) with radiological deterioration. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with neurological deterioration than in those without (57.1% vs. 13.6%; p = 0.002). Radiological deterioration alone was not associated with increased mortality or unfavorable functional outcome at 6 months. Neurological deterioration was an independent predictor of in-hospital death (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 47.9; p = 0.004) and unfavorable 6-month outcome (adjusted OR, 35.0; p = 0.014), whereas radiological deterioration was not. A lower initial GCS was also associated with unfavorable outcomes (adjusted OR, 0.5; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Preoperative neurological deterioration is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and unfavorable functional outcome at 6 months in older patients undergoing surgery for moderate-to-mild TBI. These findings underscore clinical neurological decline—not radiologic progression—should guide prognostication and early intervention strategies. Full article

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the baseline characteristics, risk factors, and prognosis of surgical patients with left-sided valvular infective endocarditis (IE) complicated by preoperative neurological complications, as well as the impact of complication subtypes and surgical timing on outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 605 consecutive surgical patients with left-sided valvular IE (May 2012–June 2024) was performed. Patients were stratified into neurological complication and non-complication groups, with 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) balancing baseline confounders. Six neurological complication subtypes were defined; surgical timing was categorized as early (≤7 days for infarction, ≤30 days for hemorrhage) or delayed. Logistic/Cox regression analyzed risk factors and prognosis; subgroup analyses compared modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores, and Kaplan–Meier curves evaluated long-term survival. Results: Mitral valve involvement, highly mobile vegetations, and longer IE symptom-to-surgery time were risk factors for neurological complications. After PSM balancing, the neurological complications group had similar in-hospital, long-term mortality to the control group, but a significantly higher new-onset cerebral complication rate. In total, 81.5% of complication patients achieving mRS ≤ 2 (good functional status) with infarction showed improved postoperative mRS scores. Cerebral hemorrhage was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality, while cerebral hemorrhage and regional infarction were independent predictors of new-onset cerebral complication. Early surgery in infarction patients increased the neurological complication rate. Conclusion: Neurological complication incidence was 27.8%. Mitral valve involvement, high vegetation mobility, and preoperative emboli were risk factors. Except for preoperative cerebral hemorrhage and regional infarction, which increase the risk of in-hospital mortality, neurological complications overall do not affect short-term and long-term mortality rates, but increase the risk of postoperative neurological deterioration. Individualized surgical timing is recommended. Full article

Hyperketonemia (HYK), defined by blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) ≥ 1.2 mmol/L, is described as a significant risk factor for cows developing postpartum (pp) diseases and impaired reproductive performance. The goal of the present study was to observe metabolic challenges in transition cows and to identify systemic markers reflecting HYK associated with lessened reproductivity. Fifty-four Simmental cows were monitored, revealing approximately 30% prevalence of HYK at the early pp period on 7, 14, or 28 days in milk (DIM). We assessed the dry matter intake, rumination time (RT), serum liver activity index, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), acute phase proteins, and uterine and oviductal health. Elevated NEFA and reduced RT 14 days antepartum were a good predictor for HYK at 7 DIM. Hyperketonemia at 14 DIM resulted in higher milk yield compared with controls. We could neither detect differences in uterine health nor in reproductive key performance parameters between hyperketonemic and control cows, whereby the proportion of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in oviductal epithelia was significantly lower in hyperketonemic cows 14 DIM. We conclude that elevated concentrations of BHB in HYK 7, 14, or 28 DIM indicated energy supply to support physiological metabolic adaptations and lactation and that, in the absence of excessive inflammation during the transition period, HYK was not a risk factor for impaired fertility. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the Philippines remains highly vulnerable to recurrent outbreaks of the Rice Black Bug (RBB; Scotinophara coarctata F.) and White Stemborer (WSB; Scirpophaga innotata W.), two of the most destructive pests in Southeast Asian rice ecosystems. Classical economic threshold levels (ETLs) are difficult to estimate in smallholder settings due to the lack of cost–loss data, often leading to either delayed or excessive pesticide application. To address this, the present study developed an adaptive outbreak-forecasting framework that integrates the Number–Size (N–S) fractal model with machine learning (ML) classifiers to define and predict pest regime transitions. Seven years (2018–2024) of light-trap surveillance data from the Philippine Rice Research Institute–Midsayap Experimental Station were combined with daily climate variables from the NASA POWER database, including air temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, soil moisture, and lunar phase. The N–S fractal model identified natural breakpoints in the log–log cumulative frequency of pest counts, yielding early-warning and severe-outbreak thresholds of 134 and 250 individuals for WSB and 575 and 11,383 individuals for RBB, respectively. Eight ML algorithms such as Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, Balanced Bagging, LightGBM, XGBoost, and CatBoost were trained on variance-inflation-filtered climatic and temporal predictors. Among these, CatBoost achieved the highest predictive performance for WSB at the 94.3rd percentile (accuracy = 0.932, F1 = 0.545, ROC–AUC = 0.957), while Logistic Regression performed best for RBB at the 75.1st percentile (F1 = 0.520, ROC–AUC = 0.716). SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis revealed that outbreak probability increases under warm nighttime temperatures, high surface soil moisture, moderate humidity, and calm wind conditions, with lunar phase exerting additional modulation of nocturnal pest activity. The integrated fractal–ML approach thus provides a statistically defensible and ecologically interpretable basis for adaptive pest surveillance. It offers an early-warning system that supports data-driven integrated pest management (IPM), reduces unnecessary pesticide use, and strengthens climate resilience in Philippine rice ecosystems. Full article

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a frequent and clinically significant comorbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a reported prevalence ranging from 20% to 50% depending on the cohort and definition applied. The high burden of CKD in RA reflects the complex interplay between traditional risk factors (aging, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia) and RA-specific factors such as persistent systemic inflammation, immune complex deposition, and long-term exposure to nephrotoxic agents, including older DMARDs (gold, D-penicillamine) and calcineurin inhibitors. Histopathologically, RA-associated kidney involvement encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions, including mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous nephropathy, AA amyloidosis, and drug-induced interstitial nephritis. Recent advances in RA therapy, particularly the widespread use of biologic DMARDs, have markedly reduced the incidence of AA amyloidosis and may exert indirect renoprotective effects through stringent inflammation control. However, targeted synthetic DMARDs such as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors require careful dose adjustment in CKD and heightened infection vigilance. CKD in RA is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events, serious infections, and all-cause mortality. Importantly, recent data indicate that even low-grade albuminuria below the traditional microalbuminuria threshold is associated with excess mortality in RA. Early detection through routine monitoring of eGFR and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), combined with individualized pharmacologic adjustment and close collaboration with nephrologists, is essential for optimizing long-term outcomes. This review provides an updated synthesis of the epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and prognostic implications of CKD in RA, with a particular focus on both Japanese and international evidence. Full article

Background/Objectives: Shift-working healthcare professionals are exposed to high psychophysiological demands associated with occupational stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Salivary chromogranin A (sCgA) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) are non-invasive biomarkers reflecting sympathetic nervous system activation and mucosal immune function, respectively, and are increasingly used to assess biological stress responses. This study examined changes in these biomarkers and their associations with anxiety and depression. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative observational study was conducted among healthcare professionals working 12-h shifts (n = 95) and non-shift-working controls (n = 95) and included a within-shift pre-post assessment, with saliva samples collected before and after the work shift. Salivary biomarkers were determined using ELISA methods. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Data were analyzed with t-tests, correlation, and multiple linear regression. Statistical analyses included between- and within-group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression models to examine independent associations between salivary biomarkers and psychological outcomes. Results: After a 12-h shift, healthcare professionals showed increased sCgA (3.82 ± 0.95 vs. 4.68 ± 1.02 ng/mL; p < 0.001) and decreased sIgA (165.3 ± 32.4 vs. 142.6 ± 29.8 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Psychological scores were higher in healthcare professionals than in controls (p < 0.001). Salivary sCgA correlated positively with anxiety and depression (r = 0.41 to 0.45), while sIgA correlated negatively (r = −0.29 to −0.36). Regression analysis confirmed occupational group (healthcare professionals vs. controls) as the strongest predictor, with independent contributions of sCgA and sIgA to psychological scores. Conclusions: A 12-h work shift in healthcare professionals leads to increased salivary chromogranin A, indicating sympathetic activation, and decreased secretory IgA, reflecting reduced mucosal immune activity. The combined assessment of sCgA and sIgA provides a sensitive and non-invasive approach for monitoring occupational stress and identifying early risks of anxiety and depressive symptoms among shift-working healthcare professionals. Full article

Wildfire occurrence in arid and semiarid landscapes is increasingly driven by shifts in climatic and biophysical conditions, yet its dynamics remain poorly understood in the mountainous environments of western Saudi Arabia. This study modeled wildfire probabilities across the Aseer, Al Baha, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and Jazan regions via multisource Earth observation datasets from 2012–2025. Active fire detections from VIIRS were integrated with ERA5-Land reanalysis variables, vegetation indices, and Copernicus DEM GLO30 topography. A random forest classifier was trained and validated via stratified sampling and cross-validation to predict monthly burn probabilities. Calibration, reliability assessment, and independent temporal validation confirmed strong model performance (AUC-ROC = 0.96; Brier = 0.03). Climatic dryness (dew-point deficit), vegetation structure (LAI_lv), and surface soil moisture emerged as dominant predictors, underscoring the coupling between energy balance and fuel desiccation. Temporal trend analyses (Kendall’s τ and Sen’s slope) revealed the gradual intensification of fire probability during the dry-to-transition seasons (February–April and September–November), with Aseer showing the most persistent risk. These findings establish a scalable framework for wildfire early warning and landscape management in arid ecosystems under accelerating climatic stress. Full article

Population-level evidence on how different phases of assistive technology service delivery contribute to user satisfaction with assistive products remains limited, despite its importance for strengthening provision systems. This study investigates how different aspects of assistive technology service delivery influence user satisfaction with assistive products and their perceived usefulness. Drawing on data from 992 Italian respondents to the WHO rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey, hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relative contribution of pre- and post-delivery services (i.e., assessment and training, and maintenance and follow-up) to overall product satisfaction. Results showed that satisfaction with pre-delivery services (β = 0.571, p < 0.001) was the strongest predictor of product satisfaction, followed by post-delivery services (β = 0.280, p < 0.001). Together, both service dimensions explained nearly 60% of the variance in product satisfaction (R² = 0.595). Mediation analysis further revealed that satisfaction with pre-delivery services partially mediated the relationship between product satisfaction and perceived usefulness (β = 0.147, p < 0.001), accounting for 29% of the total effect. These findings suggest a complementary pattern, in which pre-delivery services may provide a foundation for positive user experiences, while post-delivery services contribute meaningfully to sustaining satisfaction and perceived usefulness. The results provide population-level insights that may support national reflections on how to strengthen assistive technology service delivery, while recognizing that both early- and later-stage service components play important and interdependent roles. Full article

Early word learning is a critical milestone for children, yet autistic children often experience delays in language development. Social communication differences are a core feature of autism and may contribute to variability in learning experiences. Prior research has shown that word-level features such as iconicity, concreteness, and input frequency shape the timing of word learning, but less is known about the role of social word features. This study examined whether social word ratings predict when words tend to be acquired by autistic and non-autistic children. Social word ratings were examined as a predictor of word-level autistic and non-autistic acquisition normative data, while accounting for word input frequency. Regression analyses demonstrated that social ratings significantly predicted vocabulary acquisition, even after controlling for word frequency. Additional analyses demonstrated that socialness ratings continued to be a unique predictor of word acquisition when other affective features of words were included in the model (i.e., arousal and valence); this was also the case when iconicity and concreteness were included. Importantly, differences in group and interactions with social ratings and group were not statistically significant in any of the models. Lastly, the pattern of highly social words being acquired later in vocabulary development was strongest for nouns; the association was non-significant when examining verbs separately. Thus, in addition to previously studied word features like concreteness, imageability, and iconicity, social word features are predictive of vocabulary acquisition. These findings highlight an overlap in word features that influence learning in autistic and non-autistic children. Full article