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16 pages, 3242 KB  
Article
Sequential Helical–Axial–Helical Triple-Rule-Out CT Angiography: Technical Feasibility and Territory-Specific Image Quality in the Emergency Department
by Yeon-Jun Kim, Gi-Yong An, Sung-Jin Cha and Sung Min Ko
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4640; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124640 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Triple-rule-out CT angiography (TRO-CTA) enables simultaneous evaluation of coronary, pulmonary, and aortic causes of acute chest pain, but conventional single-acquisition protocols may compromise vascular enhancement because of conflicting contrast timing requirements. This study evaluated whether a physiology-based sequential helical–axial–helical acquisition strategy could [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Triple-rule-out CT angiography (TRO-CTA) enables simultaneous evaluation of coronary, pulmonary, and aortic causes of acute chest pain, but conventional single-acquisition protocols may compromise vascular enhancement because of conflicting contrast timing requirements. This study evaluated whether a physiology-based sequential helical–axial–helical acquisition strategy could provide consistent tri-territory enhancement in emergency settings. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, 71 consecutive evaluable emergency department patients (mean age, 66.6 ± 17.0 years; 33 women) with undifferentiated acute chest pain underwent TRO-CTA using a structured sequential protocol (pulmonary, coronary, and aortic phases) guided by individualized test-bolus timing. Objective image quality was assessed using vascular attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR); subjective image quality was independently graded by two radiologists. Results: Mean vascular attenuation exceeded predefined diagnostic thresholds in all territories (pulmonary 546.7 ± 237.8 HU [95% CI, 490.4–603.0]; coronary 438.8 ± 113.9 HU [95% CI, 411.9–465.8]; aortic 604.3 ± 190.9 HU [95% CI, 559.2–649.5]). Diagnostic interpretability was achieved in all three territories in every technically analyzable examination without repeat contrast-enhanced imaging. Median subjective image-quality scores were 5 (IQR, 4–5) for pulmonary, 4.5 (IQR, 4–5) for coronary, and 4 (IQR, 4–5) for aortic phases; interobserver agreement was good to excellent. Mean total DLP was 461.5 ± 122.5 mGy·cm. Conclusions: A sequential physiology-based TRO-CTA strategy is technically feasible in a tertiary emergency setting and provides consistent tri-territory enhancement. Because this was a single-arm technical validation study, prospective comparative and outcome-based studies are required to confirm its clinical impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances and Insights in Cardiovascular Imaging)
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28 pages, 7969 KB  
Review
Melatonin as a Pleiotropic Modulator of Mitochondrial Function and Cellular Signaling in Ischemic Brain Injury
by Georgina Ortiz-Martínez, Luis Fernando Ortega-Varela, María Esther Olvera-Cortés, Miguel Russi-Hernández, Socorro Azarell Ansurez-Gutiérrez, Santos Ramírez-Medina, Laura María Rosas-Ponce and José Miguel Cervantes-Alfaro
Cells 2026, 15(12), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15121084 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
Acute ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability globally, characterized by a complex and temporally structured cascade of cellular and molecular events. Although reperfusion therapies have improved outcomes, their narrow therapeutic window and limited availability leave many patients [...] Read more.
Acute ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability globally, characterized by a complex and temporally structured cascade of cellular and molecular events. Although reperfusion therapies have improved outcomes, their narrow therapeutic window and limited availability leave many patients without effective treatment, highlighting the need for effective neuroprotective strategies capable of targeting multiple interconnected pathways. Melatonin has been proposed as a potential adjunctive neuroprotective agent based on its pleiotropic properties, modulating cellular signaling networks including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondrial stabilizing, and BBB-preserving effects. Melatonin regulates key signaling pathways, thereby coordinating cellular responses to injury in multiple stages of ischemic pathophysiology, positioning it as a potential adjunctive therapy. Preclinical studies consistently demonstrate reductions in infarct volume, preservation of neuronal architecture, and improvements in neurological outcomes. However, clinical evidence remains limited to a small number of clinical trials, which suggest safety and possible early neurological benefit but are underpowered to determine long-term efficacy. Importantly, translational gaps persist regarding optimal dosing, duration of administration, and alignment with the temporal dynamics of post-ischemic injury. This review integrates current knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the potential neuroprotective actions and its role as a pleiotropic modulator of ischemic injury. Full article
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8 pages, 2338 KB  
Case Report
Resolution of Pneumomediastinum, Cervicofacial Emphysema, and Internal Ophthalmoplegia with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy After Hip Arthroscopy: A Case Report
by Samuel J. Thomas, Jeffery M. Bao, Aida Ansari, Eshaal Kizilbash, Jack H. Langford, Nicholas E. Kalafatis, Aumer Shughoury, Diane M. Gregory, John R. Larson, Nicholas J. Adams, Mathew K. Marsee, Christopher C. Jordan, David M. Johnson, Syed Raza, Ann Wiarda, Adeela M. Alizai and Mark M. Walsh
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4634; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124634 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with rare complications that can occur due to air entry outside the joint space. Case Presentation: A 19-year-old patient underwent right hip arthroscopy with attempted joint venting. The next morning, she had pain [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with rare complications that can occur due to air entry outside the joint space. Case Presentation: A 19-year-old patient underwent right hip arthroscopy with attempted joint venting. The next morning, she had pain in her right leg, neck, and chest with paresthesias over her hands and feet. A subsequent emergency department physical exam revealed crepitation of the lower extremities, abdomen, chest, and neck caused by air entrance during arthroscopy. The patient also reported blurred near vision. Additionally, the pupils were fixed, did not accommodate, and were dilated at 7 mm. Computed tomography scans revealed subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and cervicofacial emphysema. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a Chiari I malformation. The patient received four hyperbaric oxygen treatments. By the fourth treatment, near visual acuity had improved, but far visual acuity had worsened. Vision had returned to normal eight days after discharge. Conclusions: It is proposed that the patient’s reduced near vision, accommodation paralysis, and fixed and dilated pupils were brought about by pneumomediastinum and cervicofacial emphysema, inhibiting the ability of the pupils to constrict, causing bilateral mydriasis and accommodation paralysis for near targets. Additionally, the subsequent transient myopic shift is a known complication of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which increases the refractive index of the crystalline lens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Emergency Medicine)
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18 pages, 986 KB  
Review
Advancing Insights into Biomarkers in Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract: A Scoping Review
by Francesco Maria Rosanio, Giulia Borgia, Elena Ferone, Adriano Braile, Seyedeh Fatemeh Hosseininasab and Mariantonia Braile
Cells 2026, 15(12), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15121083 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) comprise a heterogeneous spectrum of developmental disorders and represent the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in the pediatric population. Although imaging remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, its limited [...] Read more.
Background: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) comprise a heterogeneous spectrum of developmental disorders and represent the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in the pediatric population. Although imaging remains the cornerstone of diagnosis, its limited ability to accurately assess disease severity and predict long-term outcomes has driven growing interest in urinary, serum, and tissue biomarkers as potential indicators of early renal injury. Objectives: To systematically summarize the current evidence on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in pediatric CAKUT, with particular focus on their potential clinical utility in early detection of renal injury and disease monitoring. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched up to March 2026 using combinations of CAKUT-related terms and “biomarkers.” Studies involving human subjects with CAKUT that evaluated the diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility of biomarkers were included. Results: Out of 1130 records identified, 101 studies met the inclusion criteria. Urine was the most commonly analyzed biological sample. The principal biomarkers identified included NGAL, KIM-1, MCP-1, TGF-β1, CA19-9, β2-microglobulin, cystatin C, and microRNAs. Across various CAKUT subtypes—including posterior urethral valves, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, and multicystic dysplastic kidney—these biomarkers showed significant associations with renal function, inflammatory activity, and fibrotic processes. Several biomarkers, particularly urinary NGAL, MCP-1, and CA19-9, demonstrated good diagnostic performance in differentiating obstructive from non-obstructive hydronephrosis and in predicting renal impairment. However, substantial heterogeneity in study design, along with the lack of standardized cutoff values, limits their translation into routine clinical practice. Conclusions: Current evidence underscores the potential of several biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of CAKUT-related renal injury. Nevertheless, well-designed multicenter prospective studies are needed to validate their clinical utility and to support the integration of biomarker-based approaches with imaging in pediatric practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Kidney Disease: The Role of Cellular Mechanisms in Renal Pathology)
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16 pages, 684 KB  
Article
Barriers Associated with Help-Seeking for Stroke Symptoms Despite Public Awareness Campaigns: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Sheharyar S. Baig, Mudasar Aziz, Sara Sara, Sarah Ingram, Arshad Majid, Elizabeth Abbey, Lucy A. Eaves, Noor Sharrack, Ali Ali and Jessica N. Redgrave
NeuroSci 2026, 7(3), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurosci7030070 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
Background: The nationally advertised mass media campaign Act-FAST UK, delivered in multiple waves since its launch in 2009, has increased public awareness of stroke symptoms. However, many stroke patients still delay in calling for help and reach the hospital too late to receive [...] Read more.
Background: The nationally advertised mass media campaign Act-FAST UK, delivered in multiple waves since its launch in 2009, has increased public awareness of stroke symptoms. However, many stroke patients still delay in calling for help and reach the hospital too late to receive emergency treatments. The reasons for this cognitive dissonance between recognition of symptoms and urgent seeking of emergency medical services (EMS) are unclear. Aims: This study aimed to quantify cognitive, psychological, and knowledge-based barriers to help-seeking in patients with acute stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), as well as in intervening witnesses, and to examine their association with the use of EMS as the initial point of contact. Methods: We interviewed patients admitted to a hyperacute stroke unit with a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) from 2013 to 2016. People who contacted emergency services on the patient’s behalf (intervening witnesses (IWs)) were also interviewed when available. Reasons given for delays in calling for help were related to correct symptom recognition, and whether/at what time, emergency services were contacted after symptoms onset. Results: A total of 602 patients (429 with stroke, 173 with TIA) along with 128 witnesses who intervened in calling for help in those cases (IWs) were interviewed. In the subset of patients with both measures available, there was a strong positive correlation between NIHSS score and number of FAST symptoms (Spearman’s rho = 0.645, p < 0.001), providing supportive evidence for the use of FAST symptom count as a proxy measure of stroke severity. A total of 469 (77.9%) of the patients were aware of a media education campaign about stroke, but only 145 (24.1%) had attributed their own symptoms to stroke at onset. However, correct self-diagnosis of stroke was not associated with direct calls to the EMS (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.84–2.45). Cognitive, psychological or emotional barriers to help-seeking, as reported by prior published studies, were reported by 463 (81.2%) of the patients we interviewed but in only 63 (53.3%) of the IWs (p < 0.001). Amongst the patient cohort, “not thinking symptoms were serious” (275, 45.7%) and “waiting to see if symptoms would go away” (285, 47.3%) were most strongly negatively associated with EMS use (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.84 and OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21–0.55, respectively). Only 55 (9.1%) of the patients interviewed had been aware of any time-critical stroke treatment prior to their stroke. Eighteen stroke patients (4.2%) reached hospital in time to receive thrombolysis, but an additional 170 (39%) could have been considered for this treatment (i.e., had no apparent other contraindications from a notes review) had they arrived within 4 h of symptom onset. Conclusions: Future public education campaigns may be more effective if they specifically address factors associated with delays in calling for help after stroke symptoms and emphasise the existence of emergency treatments, which are also time-critical. More effective public education may have the potential to increase the proportion of patients arriving in time to benefit from such treatments. Full article
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14 pages, 283 KB  
Article
Fall-Related Extremity Injuries During a Severe Snowfall and Icing Episode in Diyarbakır, Türkiye: Injury Patterns, Treatment Characteristics, and Need for Surgery in the Emergency Department
by Mustafa Altintaş, Remzi Çetinkaya, Mehmet Özel and Habip Balsak
Medicina 2026, 62(6), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62061152 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Viewed by 128
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Severe snowfall and icing are associated with weather-related trauma presentations, especially in cities unaccustomed to prolonged winter conditions. However, the clinical characteristics of these injuries and their implications for surgical management remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to describe [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Severe snowfall and icing are associated with weather-related trauma presentations, especially in cities unaccustomed to prolonged winter conditions. However, the clinical characteristics of these injuries and their implications for surgical management remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to describe injury patterns, treatment approaches, and factors associated with the need for surgery among patients presenting with extremity trauma during an intense snowfall and icing episode in Diyarbakır. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study included patients presenting to the emergency department with extremity trauma during a severe snowfall and icing period. Demographic characteristics, injury features, imaging modality, ambient temperature, anatomical localization, and treatment approaches were analyzed. Patients were categorized according to nonoperative versus operative management. Factors associated with the need for surgery were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the discriminative ability of age and ambient temperature for predicting the need for surgery. Results: A total of 943 patients were included. The largest age group was 18–44 years (38.6%), and 55.9% were male. Fractures were identified in 50.7% of cases, whereas 46.7% had no fracture and 2.7% had joint dislocation. Upper-extremity injuries predominated (65.2%), with distal segment involvement observed in 55.0% of cases. Most presentations occurred on days with mean ambient temperatures ≤ 0 °C (81.5%). Overall, 82.1% of patients were managed nonoperatively, while 17.9% required surgical treatment. In multivariable analysis, increasing age and the use of computed tomography were independently associated with the need for surgery, whereas ambient temperature was not. Conclusions: Fall-related extremity injuries during severe snowfall and icing were predominantly upper-extremity and distal injuries, and most were managed nonoperatively. The need for surgery was more strongly associated with patient age and injury complexity than with ambient temperature alone. These findings describe a distinct trauma profile during short-term winter events in mild-climate cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Orthopedics)
13 pages, 1450 KB  
Perspective
The Implementation Gap in Early Septic Shock Resuscitation: A Three-Barrier Framework
by Sajid Kadir, Travis Murphy and Joseph Shiber
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4572; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124572 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 121
Abstract
The case for early vasopressor initiation in septic shock has been argued in detail in physiologic reviews and randomized trials. The evidence base is no longer the limiting factor. What remains limiting is delivery. Across most U.S. emergency departments and many international settings, [...] Read more.
The case for early vasopressor initiation in septic shock has been argued in detail in physiologic reviews and randomized trials. The evidence base is no longer the limiting factor. What remains limiting is delivery. Across most U.S. emergency departments and many international settings, patients with septic shock still do not reliably receive norepinephrine within the first hour of recognition. This review reframes the early-vasopressor question from a physiologic argument into an implementation problem and identifies three structural barriers that operate independently of any individual clinician’s understanding of the underlying evidence. The first is regulatory: the SEP-1 quality measure, despite a documented physician exception for the fluid requirement, continues to incentivize a fluids-first sequence as the institutional default. The second is cultural: the gap between policies that permit peripheral norepinephrine administration and the workflows, scope-of-practice arrangements, and standing orders required to actually start it at the bedside. The third is upstream: time-to-vasopressor is partly a downstream surrogate for time-to-recognition, and interventions that target only the pressor decision miss the larger source of delay. We propose a parallel resuscitation framework with explicit protocolized triggers and stratify implementation considerations across U.S. academic centers, U.S. community emergency departments, and resource-limited international settings. Closing the gap means stopping the physiology argument and rebuilding the operational architecture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Emergency Medicine)
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32 pages, 2227 KB  
Review
Potential Activity of Non-Platinum Metal-Based Organic Complexes Against Different Cancer Cell Types
by Dobrina Tsvetkova, Stefka Ivanova and Danka Obreshkova
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(6), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19060925 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 271
Abstract
The disadvantages of Cisplatin in anticancer treatment are connected to its poor selectivity, resistance developed of cancers to the drug, and its toxicity against normal organs. An important strategy in anticancer treatment is the synthesis and clinical investigation of non-platinum metal complexes with [...] Read more.
The disadvantages of Cisplatin in anticancer treatment are connected to its poor selectivity, resistance developed of cancers to the drug, and its toxicity against normal organs. An important strategy in anticancer treatment is the synthesis and clinical investigation of non-platinum metal complexes with superior anticancer activity and improved selectivity compared to Cisplatin, combined with lower toxicity, fewer side effects and decreased resistance of cancer to the drug. In the current study, we aim to summarize the potential of important non-platinum metal-based organic compounds as therapeutic agents against different cancer cell types. The review covers the general principles of chemotherapy. A literature analysis shows that organic complexes of the metalloids arsenic (As), boron (B), antimony (Sb), and selenium (Se), and of metals, such as Ag, Au, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Zn, Ce, Ga, Gd, Ir, Os, Pd, Re, Rh, Ru, Ti, and V, have been investigated for potential applications in cancer therapy. This is due to their antiproliferative effects against different cancer types: lung [Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Ru(II), Zn(II)]; breast [Ag(I), Cu(I), Cu(II), Ir(III), Ni(II), Mn(II),. Rh(III), Ru(II)]; gastric [Cu(II), Cu(II)-La(III)]; colon [Ag(I), Cu(II), Ir(III), Pd(II), Rh(III), Ru(II), vanadium(V)]; colorectal [Ag(I), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)]; liver [Ag(I), Co(II), Cu(II), Gd(III), vanadium(V)]; pancreatic [vanadium(IV)]; bladder [Ag(I), Cu(II), Ru(II)]; cervical [Ag(I), Au(I), Cu(I), Cu(II), Fe(II), Ir(III), Rh(III), Ru(II)]; testicular [vanadium(IV)]; prostate [Cu(II), Pd(II), Zn(II)]; leukemia [Ag(I), Co(II), Cu(II), Pd(II), Zn(II)]; sarcoma [Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II)]; mesothelioma [Cu(II)]; neuroblastoma [Cu(II)]; glioma [Cu(II)]; and melanoma [Au(I), Cu(II), Pd(II), Ru(II)]. The main goals for increasing anticancer metal-based complexes include increasing anticancer activity and selectivity, reducing toxicity, and avoiding cancer cell resistance. Compared to Cisplatin, organocomplexes of copper, ferrocene, and ruthenium are more active. Ruthenium and copper complexes, in particular, are also more selective. Notably, ruthenium and ferrocene derivatives are less toxic than Cisplatin. Lastly, cancers appear to exhibit less resistance against copper, gold, ruthenium, palladium, and ferrocene complexes. Full article
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13 pages, 5852 KB  
Article
Quantification of Plus Demand Response Availability by Building Use Type Under Renewable Energy Curtailment in South Korea
by Jiyoung Eum and Jiyoun Lim
Buildings 2026, 16(12), 2351; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16122351 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 130
Abstract
Renewable energy curtailment has emerged as a growing challenge on the Korean mainland grid as photovoltaic (PV) and wind power capacity continues to expand toward national carbon neutrality targets. Plus demand response (Plus DR), in which electricity consumers increase consumption during curtailment periods, [...] Read more.
Renewable energy curtailment has emerged as a growing challenge on the Korean mainland grid as photovoltaic (PV) and wind power capacity continues to expand toward national carbon neutrality targets. Plus demand response (Plus DR), in which electricity consumers increase consumption during curtailment periods, has been introduced as a demand-side mitigation measure. Buildings represent a potential resource for Plus DR participation. However, existing studies have primarily focused on load-reduction DR, and Plus DR availability by building use type under curtailment conditions has not been systematically quantified. This study estimates Plus DR availability of building loads by use type—department store, hotel, general commercial, public facility, apartment, and school—based on representative building load profiles, PV generation data, and 2025 curtailment occurrence data from the Korean mainland grid. Curtailment events were concentrated in the 10:00–16:00 window with peak frequency at 12:00 (80 events). The combined Plus DR availability across the six use types averaged 290.3 kW during curtailment hours, peaking at 300.9 kW at 14:00. The estimated Plus DR availability operated primarily through the load-increase pathway (additional grid consumption) rather than the surplus absorption pathway (reduced PV export). Surplus generation was observed only in the school at 13:00 (0.77 kW). These results provide a quantitative basis for identifying suitable building types and curtailment-responsive time windows for building-based Plus DR program design on the Korean mainland, and may serve as a reference for mainland DR market development. Full article
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21 pages, 963 KB  
Review
Scenario-Driven Rapid Testing for Top Pathogens in Pediatric Respiratory Infections: Clinical and Economic Value from Emergency Triage to Precision Anti-Infective Management in the PICU
by Jiahui Chen, Huaying Wang, Ying Li, Yuyi Xiao, Yi Yan, Yifei Zhang and Xiaoxia Lu
Pathogens 2026, 15(6), 628; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15060628 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 161
Abstract
Pediatric respiratory infections remain among the leading causes of emergency department visits, hospitalization and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Although most acute respiratory infections in children are viral, clinical manifestations overlap substantially among viral, bacterial and atypical pathogens, creating diagnostic uncertainty and [...] Read more.
Pediatric respiratory infections remain among the leading causes of emergency department visits, hospitalization and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Although most acute respiratory infections in children are viral, clinical manifestations overlap substantially among viral, bacterial and atypical pathogens, creating diagnostic uncertainty and promoting empirical antimicrobial use. Rapid antigen tests, nucleic acid amplification tests, multiplex respiratory panels and metagenomic sequencing have expanded the ability to detect pathogens within clinically actionable timeframes. However, evidence from pediatric emergency trials indicates that rapid pathogen detection alone does not necessarily reduce antibiotic prescribing or healthcare costs. These findings suggest that the value of rapid diagnostics depends less on analytical breadth than on whether testing is applied to the right child, in the right clinical scenario and within a predefined decision pathway. This narrative review reorganizes the evidence around a scenario-driven top-pathogen framework. Top pathogens are defined as organisms that, in a specific age group, syndrome, season or care setting, have high prevalence, severe disease potential, transmissibility, treatment implications, antimicrobial resistance relevance or infection-control value. We discuss how top-pathogen testing should differ across emergency triage, inpatient ward management, severe pneumonia, PICU care, hospital-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia and outbreak settings. We further examine the economic mechanisms through which rapid testing may generate value, including reduced unnecessary antibiotics, timely antiviral therapy, optimized isolation, shorter length of stay, reduced repeated testing and prevention of healthcare-associated transmission. Finally, we propose implementation principles centered on diagnostic stewardship, antimicrobial stewardship, local epidemiology and real-world cost-effectiveness evaluation. A scenario-driven top-pathogen strategy may provide a practical bridge between broad syndromic testing and precision infectious disease management in children. Full article
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11 pages, 401 KB  
Article
Utilization of Intravenous Iron Therapy and Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Emergency Department Patients with Anemia: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
by Sung-Joon Park, Min Joung Kim, Young-Hoon Yoon and Jung-Youn Kim
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(12), 4552; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15124552 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 136
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Anemia is frequently encountered in emergency departments (EDs). Although intravenous (IV) iron can be used as an alternative or adjunct to red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in selected hemodynamically stable patients, its use in the ED remains limited. This study described [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Anemia is frequently encountered in emergency departments (EDs). Although intravenous (IV) iron can be used as an alternative or adjunct to red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in selected hemodynamically stable patients, its use in the ED remains limited. This study described IV iron utilization and RBC transfusion patterns in ED patients with anemia and evaluated their associations with clinical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of patients who presented to a tertiary ED with hemoglobin (Hb) ≤ 10 g/dL between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients were categorized according to receipt of IV iron in the ED. Baseline characteristics, laboratory findings, transfusion practice, hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU admission, and in-hospital mortality were compared between groups. Results: Among 3340 patients, 89 (2.7%) received IV iron in the ED. IV iron recipients were older and had lower Hb levels than non-recipients. Gastrointestinal disorders were more frequent in the IV iron group (68.5% vs. 19.9%), and IV iron was commonly administered with ED RBC transfusion. ED transfusion (69.7% vs. 11.1%) and ICU admission (24.7% vs. 15.7%) were more frequent in the IV iron group. Among patients with available ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT), IV iron recipients had lower ferritin levels and more frequently showed ferritin-based or combined ferritin/TSAT findings suggestive of iron deficiency. In-hospital mortality was similar between groups (5.6% vs. 5.7%). Among hospitalized patients, median LOS was shorter in the IV iron group than in the non-IV iron group (6.6 vs. 9.7 days). Conclusions: IV iron was infrequently administered in ED patients with Hb ≤ 10 g/dL and was used mainly as an adjunct to RBC transfusion in older patients with gastrointestinal causes of anemia. Its association with shorter LOS should be interpreted cautiously. Structured ED-based anemia evaluation may help optimize IV iron use in selected patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Emergency Medicine)
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20 pages, 5561 KB  
Article
Multicriteria Adjustment Fairness Framework: Measurement, Mitigation, and Interpretability in Emergency Department Prediction
by MyeongHo Shin, Hansol Chang and Jae Yong Yu
Mathematics 2026, 14(12), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/math14122085 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 104
Abstract
Algorithmic prediction models are increasingly used to support decision-making in high-stakes environments, including emergency departments (ED). However, aggregate performance metrics may obscure systematic differences in classification errors or calibration across subgroups. This study presents a stage-wise, multi-metric, and interpretable fairness auditing framework for [...] Read more.
Algorithmic prediction models are increasingly used to support decision-making in high-stakes environments, including emergency departments (ED). However, aggregate performance metrics may obscure systematic differences in classification errors or calibration across subgroups. This study presents a stage-wise, multi-metric, and interpretable fairness auditing framework for ED prediction. The framework compares mitigation strategies across data-, model-, and decision-level interventions, evaluates subgroup fairness using complementary classification and calibration criteria including equalized odds difference (EOD) and expected calibration error (ECE) disparity, and incorporates interpretability analyses based on SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and the calibration adjustment difference (CAD) to characterize changes in feature-contribution patterns and subgroup-specific probability adjustments after mitigation. The framework was applied to 126,819 ED encounters from MIMIC-IV-ED using measurements recorded within the first 2 h after arrival, and penalized logistic regression and random forest models were compared under reweighting, reduction, and multicalibration. Baseline AUROC values were 0.748 ± 0.028 for random forest and 0.746 ± 0.028 for penalized logistic regression. Reduction and multicalibration largely preserved discrimination performance, whereas reweighting was associated with reduced AUROC and AUPRC. Reweighting most clearly reduced EOD-based classification disparity, particularly for age, yielding reductions of 80.6% in random forest and 86.4% in penalized logistic regression. By contrast, multicalibration most consistently reduced ECE-based calibration disparity for sex and age but did not consistently improve EOD-based classification disparity. In the interpretability analyses, SHAP indicated that data- and model-level mitigation altered feature-contribution patterns, whereas CAD showed that decision-level mitigation produced subgroup-specific probability adjustments that varied in direction and magnitude across groups. These findings reveal trade-offs among discrimination performance, classification fairness, and calibration fairness, indicating that fairness mitigation should be guided by a clearly defined target fairness objective. Pre-deployment fairness auditing should therefore combine complementary fairness metrics with interpretability analyses to evaluate both subgroup-level outcomes and unintended changes in model behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section E: Applied Mathematics)
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12 pages, 808 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Health Literacy Levels in Patients in the Emergency Department of a University Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Gulsum Ozturk Emiral, Pakize Gozde Gok, Alaettin Unsal, Didem Arslantas, Engin Ozakin and Nurdan Acar
Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121665 - 11 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to assess the health literacy (HL) levels of patients visiting the emergency department of a university hospital and identify related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the health literacy levels of patients visiting the emergency [...] Read more.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the health literacy (HL) levels of patients visiting the emergency department of a university hospital and identify related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the health literacy levels of patients visiting the emergency department of a university hospital, and to identify related factors. The re-quired sample size was at least 384 individuals, assuming an inadequate HL level of 50%, with 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Data were collected through a two-part questionnaire designed by the researchers. The first part covered the patients’ socio-demographic characteristics and details regarding their emergency department visits. Meanwhile, the second part included the widely used Chew’s short questions to assess inadequate HL. The analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 27.0. Descriptive sta-tistics, including frequency, percentage, and mean, were used to summarize the charac-teristics of the study group. The Chi-square test was applied for data analysis. Results: The study group included 58% (n = 250) female and 42% (n = 181) male. Their ages ranged from 18 to 64 years, with a mean (SD) of 29.6 (10.8) and a median of 26.0. In terms of HL levels, 197 individuals (45.7%) had inadequate HL. The frequency of inadequate HL was higher in individuals over the age of 40 years and those with an education level of ≤8 years (p < 0.05 for each). A total of 39.2% (n = 169) of the patients had visited the emergency department multiple times for their current complaints, whereas 243 participants (56.4%) visited the emergency department for a different reason within the past six months. Conclusions: In our study, four out of ten individuals had inadequate HL, and the frequency of repeated emergency department visits was quite high. No statistically significant association was found between emergency department usage characteristics and health literacy levels in the present sample, highlighting the need for larger longitudinal studies with adjusted analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Literacy: Evidence and Approaches)
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21 pages, 466 KB  
Review
Artificial Intelligence for Patient-Reported Outcomes in Oncology: Current Applications and Future Directions Toward Multimodal Monitoring
by Sebastian Gorecki, Aleksandra Tatka and Malgorzata Osmola
Cancers 2026, 18(12), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18121905 - 11 Jun 2026
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Abstract
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are an integral component of contemporary oncology. They provide direct insight into symptom severity, treatment tolerability, and health-related quality of life. Despite their clinical relevance, routine implementation faces several hurdles. Key limitations include patient survey fatigue, challenges in real-time interpretation [...] Read more.
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are an integral component of contemporary oncology. They provide direct insight into symptom severity, treatment tolerability, and health-related quality of life. Despite their clinical relevance, routine implementation faces several hurdles. Key limitations include patient survey fatigue, challenges in real-time interpretation of complex symptom trajectories, and incomplete longitudinal data that limit reliable analysis. This narrative review summarizes recent advances (2020–2026) in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to structured questionnaires, including EORTC QLQ-C30, PROMIS, and PRO-CTCAE, as well as to unstructured clinical text. Machine learning and natural language processing may enhance the clinical utility of PROs through automated analysis, symptom extraction, and predictive modeling. Current studies suggest that AI-based approaches can support the prediction of symptom deterioration, treatment-related toxicity, and healthcare utilization, including unplanned hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Furthermore, NLP models can extract clinically meaningful information from free-text narratives. We also discuss emerging non-invasive digital biomarkers derived from speech and facial expressions. Multimodal approaches suggest that these features may provide complementary indicators of pain, fatigue, and affective state. Overall, AI has the potential to transform PROs from static assessment tools into dynamic clinical instruments. This shift may enable more continuous and proactive symptom monitoring and support the integration of multimodal patient data into oncology decision-making workflows. Full article
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17 pages, 1343 KB  
Article
Functional Recovery and Emotional Burden After Burn Injury: A Quality of Life Assessment in Romanian Burn Survivors
by Andreea Ungureanu, Maria-Cristina Marinescu, Adriana-Nicoleta Trandafir, Valeria Coviltir, Carmen Giuglea and Silviu-Adrian Marinescu
Diseases 2026, 14(6), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14060212 - 11 Jun 2026
Viewed by 152
Abstract
Background: Burn injuries are increasingly being recognized as chronic conditions with long-term physical, emotional, and social consequences. As survival after acute burn trauma improves, greater attention has shifted toward health-related quality of life (QoL) in survivors, particularly in regions where data remain [...] Read more.
Background: Burn injuries are increasingly being recognized as chronic conditions with long-term physical, emotional, and social consequences. As survival after acute burn trauma improves, greater attention has shifted toward health-related quality of life (QoL) in survivors, particularly in regions where data remain limited. Methods: This study included burn survivors treated between January 2022 and December 2023 in the Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery of the Emergency Clinical Hospital “Bagdasar-Arseni,” Bucharest, Romania. Patients who survived hospitalization and follow-up were invited to complete a Romanian-adapted version of the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records, including burn type, total body surface area (TBSA), burn depth, burn localization, and access to rehabilitation services. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods, chi-square tests, t-tests, Kendall’s tau-b, Cramer’s V, Cronbach’s alpha, and exploratory factor analysis. Results: Thirty-eight patients were included. Most burns were thermal (94.74%), while burns involving <10% TBSA were most frequent (60.53%). Functional outcomes were generally favorable, with most patients reporting no difficulty in basic daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and writing. However, fine motor activities and return to previous work were more frequently affected. Emotional recovery appeared less complete, with persistent mild-to-moderate loneliness, sadness, and emotional distress reported by many participants. Women reported higher levels of loneliness (p = 0.015), while third-degree burns were associated with more frequent depressive symptoms (p = 0.008). Depressive symptoms were also significantly associated with functional limitations (such as getting dressed, p = 0.002) and work impairment (p < 0.001). The adapted functional and emotional subscales showed excellent internal consistency. Conclusions: Post-burn recovery extends beyond physical healing. Although most patients regained functional independence, emotional distress and occupational difficulties often persisted. These findings support the need for multidisciplinary long-term burn care integrating physical rehabilitation, psychological screening, and psychosocial support. Full article
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