Search Results (2,336)

Purpose: Facial expressions and aesthetics are vital for communication, self-expression, and social interaction. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of localization and size of facial cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) on changes in perceived pre- and postoperative health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Methods: This retrospective study included patients who had undergone surgery for facial cSCC. Size, localization and stage were assessed. Pre- and postoperative HR-QoL were evaluated using the Skindex-29. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, the X2 Test, Wilcoxon Test, and repeated-measures ANOVA, were performed to analyze demographic data, tumor characteristics, and changes in HR-QoL. Results: Forty patients (mean age of 78.5 years) were included. Postoperatively, significant improvements were observed in the overall, emotional, and symptomatic HR-QoL. Tumor dimensions had an impact on presurgical emotional distress. For tumor sizes from 6 to 15 mm, significant release in symptom burden and improvement in general HR-QoL were observed. While women experienced notable improvement only in emotional distress, men also exhibited improvement in symptoms, and overall HR-QoL. All age groups showed improvements in emotional distress, symptoms and overall HR-QoL. No significant differences were found in terms of age or localization. Conclusions: This study suggests that sex, tumor localization, and tumor size may interact in influencing postoperative HR-QoL outcomes in patients with cSCC. While surgical treatment by experienced specialists was associated with an overall improvement in HR-QoL following successful tumor eradication, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the limited sample size. The results indicate that surgery remains an important first-line treatment option, particularly for medium-sized tumors. In this cohort, TNM classification was not associated with postoperative HR-QoL changes; however, interpretation is limited by the predominance of early-stage tumors. Further studies with larger patient populations are required to confirm these observations and to better elucidate the relationship between clinical staging and HR-QoL outcomes. Full article

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella spp. represent a critical and escalating global public health threat. Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has been designated a critical-priority pathogen by the World Health Organization, and in the 2024 WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List, it was the top-ranked pathogen overall. The convergence of carbapenem resistance with hypervirulence in emerging strains has further complicated therapeutic decision-making. This review provides a narrative synthesis of the evidence published between 2020 and 2025 on the prevalence, resistance mechanisms, molecular epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic strategies for Klebsiella pneumoniae infections acquired in healthcare settings, with particular attention to the Eastern European and Romanian context. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant publications from January 2020 to June 2025, supplemented by WHO and ECDC surveillance reports. Studies were selected narratively for their relevance to the themes addressed. No new quantitative pooling was undertaken; all summary estimates reported below are cited from the published meta-analyses and surveillance reports that generated them. In the most recent global meta-analysis of hospital-acquired CRKP infection, which pooled 61 studies and 513,307 patients from 14 countries, the global prevalence of CRKP among nosocomial K. pneumoniae infections was 28.69% (95% CI: 26.53–30.86%), with pronounced regional variation from 14.29% in high-income North America to 66.04% in South Asia, and 42.05% in Western Europe. Pooled mortality among patients infected with CRKP has been estimated in a separate meta-analysis at 42.14%, compared with 21.16% among patients infected with carbapenem-susceptible strains, rising to 54.30% in bloodstream infections. Surveillance data place Romania third in Europe for carbapenem resistance among invasive K. pneumoniae isolates, at 50.30%, with a distinctive predominance of NDM plus OXA-48-like co-producers. Ceftazidime-avibactam is recommended for KPC- and OXA-48-producing strains, whereas metallo-beta-lactamase producers require aztreonam-containing combinations. CRKP in HAIs constitutes a global epidemiological emergency characterised by marked regional heterogeneity in carbapenemase distribution, high attributable mortality and rapidly evolving molecular profiles. Locally adapted surveillance, rapid molecular diagnostics, and stewardship programmes are required since empirical therapy cannot be standardised across regions. Full article

Background: Otolaryngology conditions significantly influence public health globally, often posing challenges in accessing specialized ear, nose, and throat (ENT) services. Digital referral systems can facilitate access to specialized care while supporting resource allocation. This study analyzed ENT digital referrals through the digital referral system of the Saudi Medical Referrals Centre to describe utilization patterns across different ENT subspecialties. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 50,514 ENT digital referrals across Saudi Arabia from January 2023 to December 2024. Crude population-based rates per 10,000 were calculated using national census data. Cross-tabulation tables were utilized to compare patient demographics, regional variables, and referral characteristics with ENT subspecialties. Results: ENT digital referral utilization over two years reached 15.70 per 10,000 population (7.38 in 2023, and 8.32 in 2024). Patients over 60 years showed the highest rates (42.17), followed by children aged 1–7 years (29.90). Females demonstrated a higher crude population-based rate (17.07 vs. 14.83) despite males comprising 57.76% of total referrals. General ENT services represented 59.49% of referrals, audiology services 32.92%, while specialized services showed lower volumes. Routine outpatient referrals predominated at 91.14%, and only 1.3% of total requests required intensive care beds. Most referrals were managed internally (93.75%) with overall acceptance rate reaching 89.41%. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate distinct age- and subspecialty-related utilization patterns within Saudi Arabia’s national ENT digital referral system, with the highest demand among older patients and young children. General ENT constituted the majority of referrals, while other specialized services appeared in smaller volumes. The predominantly outpatient, highly accepted, and internally managed referral patterns establish baseline metrics for national ENT subspecialty access. These findings outline nationwide coordination patterns of subspecialty care and support continued investment in digital health infrastructure for specialized care coordination. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hematological malignancies (HMs) are an important component of the cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (AYA, 15–39 years), requiring long-term specialized care. In Poland, recent healthcare reforms under the National Oncology Network (KSO) have not formally included haemato-oncology or AYA-specific needs. Methods: A population-based study was conducted using data from the Polish National Cancer Registry. AYAs diagnosed with HM between 2000 and 2022 were included. Descriptive analyses and projections were based on cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2022, whereas age-specific incidence trend analyses were restricted to the 2015–2022 period. Tumours were classified according to the HAEMCARE framework. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), annual percentage changes (APCs), and short-term projections through 2028 were estimated using generalized linear models. Additionally, data from the National Health Fund (NFZ) were analyzed to assess the geographical distribution of reimbursed drug programmes dedicated to selected HMs. Results: A total of approximately 23,000 AYA patients diagnosed with HMs were identified. Hodgkin lymphomas (HL) were the predominant tumour type across all age groups, while lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma was most common among younger AYAs and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) increased in relative importance with age. Between 2015 and 2022, ASIRs remained stable only in two age groups (20–24 and 25–29), whereas statistically significant increases were observed among individuals aged 15–19, 30–34 and 35–39 years. Despite largely stable incidence patterns, projections indicated a growing absolute number of cases for DLBCL and follicular lymphomas. Analysis of NFZ data revealed substantial regional variation in the availability of reimbursed drug programmes, with up to six-fold differences in facility density between voivodships. Conclusions: HM epidemiology among AYAs in Poland is characterized by increasing incidence in selected lymphoma subtypes alongside declining mortality. Incorporating haemato-oncology and AYA-specific needs into national cancer planning frameworks should therefore be considered essential for future healthcare system preparedness. Full article

AI-generated synthetic media are evolving from tools of digital manipulation into a practical antidote for persistent challenges in digital health implementation. However, the computational capabilities that characterise these technologies, their applications and downstream health-related benefits remain fragmented and insufficiently synthesised. This systematic review identified the computational capabilities that characterise AI-generated synthetic media in health, examined their applications and benefits, and developed an integrative framework linking these domains. Twenty-four studies published between 2021 and 31 May 2026 were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and findings were synthesised through thematic analysis. The synthesis revealed an integrated set of capabilities spanning photorealistic medical-image generation, modality-specific synthesis of clinical images and physiological signals, synthetic non-image health-data creation, preservation of statistical distributions, temporal patterns and clinical relationships, generation of diverse, novel and non-memorised samples and controlled transformation of medical and audiovisual content. Privacy-oriented synthesis and deepfake detection emerged as distinct components supporting privacy-conscious data use, clinical verification and healthcare safety. These demonstrated capabilities were linked to empirically evaluated and indicated applications, including data augmentation, AI model training, diagnostic model development, privacy-oriented health-data sharing, medical education, patient-facing communication, therapeutic support, clinical safety, health-system analytics and planning. The resulting Computational Capability–Application–Benefit (CAB) Framework conceptualises synthetic media as an evidence-graded pathway distinguishing demonstrated computational capabilities, evaluated health-related applications and reported, indicated or potential downstream benefits requiring further validation. AI-generated synthetic media, therefore, represent an emerging computational infrastructure with potential to support safer, privacy-conscious, adaptive and data-intensive healthcare. Full article

Background: Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune enteropathy whose only established treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD). Beyond physical symptoms, the disease and its dietary management affect emotional, social, and economic functioning. Objectives: This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients with celiac disease and to identify factors associated with their daily functioning and adherence to the GFD. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and March 2026 among 101 adults with a self-reported diagnosis of celiac disease made by a gastroenterologist, recruited through online support groups. Data were collected using an author-designed sociodemographic questionnaire, the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), and the Celiac Dietary Adherence Test (CDAT). Analyses (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests, repeated-measures ANOVA, Spearman correlations with false-discovery-rate correction, and multivariable linear and logistic regression with prespecified sensitivity analyses) were performed in R 4.5.2, with α = 0.05. Results: The most frequently reported difficulties were eating away from home, the high cost of the GFD, and limited product availability; the most common symptoms after inadvertent gluten exposure were abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, and headache. HRQoL was lowest in the emotional and physical domains. Better dietary adherence was significantly correlated with higher HRQoL across the total score and all domains except the social domain, whose weak internal consistency in this sample (α = 0.57) precludes substantive interpretation (total GIQLI: ρ = −0.50; p < 0.001), and in the multiple regression, adherence remained the strongest independent correlate of HRQoL (β = −0.36; adjusted R² = 0.41). Longer time on the diet was independently associated with better adherence (adjusted OR = 0.55 per duration category; p = 0.017). In a small vocational education subgroup (n = 8), poorer adherence and lower HRQoL were observed relative to participants with higher education, though only the HRQoL difference survived correction for multiple testing (FDR-adjusted p = 0.011 vs. 0.060 for adherence); given the size of this subgroup, this comparison is exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Higher HRQoL was also associated with milder symptoms, better-rated medical care, greater product availability, and higher household income. Conclusions: In this sample, HRQoL scores were lowest in the emotional and physical domains; because the design was cross-sectional and included no comparison group, these data characterize the distribution of HRQoL within the sample and do not establish that celiac disease reduces HRQoL. Dietary adherence was the strongest correlate of patient functioning, alongside symptom burden, self-rated quality of medical care, and product availability. Because the design is cross-sectional, these associations do not establish direction, and whether comprehensive health education and psychological support improve outcomes requires prospective and interventional evaluation. Full article

Background and Objectives: The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Cancer patients may have been more adversely affected during the COVID-19 Pandemic due to their receipt of immunosuppressive treatments, higher burden of comorbidities, and greater nutritional vulnerability compared to the general population. The aim of our study is to identify potential measures by detecting changes in the nutritional statuses of patients with an oncological diagnosis who presented to our hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the globally accepted NRS-2002 questionnaire. Materials and Method: Our study included 324 patients diagnosed with malignancy who applied to the outpatient clinic of Gaziantep University, Şahinbey Training and Research Hospital, Gaziantep/Türkiye, between December 2021 and January 2022 or were hospitalized in the service. Patients included in the study were evaluated in terms of clinical–demographic information and COVID-19-related characteristics using a sociodemographic data form we developed, and then the NRS-2002 questionnaire was administered. Results: Our study included 324 patients. Overall, 49.07% (159 patients) of the patients were male, and 50.93% (165 patients) were female. A total of 20.37% of our patients (66 patients) had COVID-19 disease. While those living with their families constituted 96.91% of the patients, at least one of the family members of 36.42% of the patients had COVID-19 disease. While 76.23% (247 patients) of the patients were vaccinated, 23.77% (77 patients) were not vaccinated. When NRS analyses were examined according to the type of malignancy, a statistically significant difference was found between NRS analyses according to the type of diagnosis. When NRS analyses were examined according to the stages of the diseases, it was determined that stage 4 patients were in the risk group in terms of nutrition. When NRS analyses according to age were examined, it was determined that patients over the age of 65 were in the risk group in terms of nutrition. When NRS analyses by gender were examined, it was found that male patients were in the risk group in terms of nutrition. When the NRS analyses were examined according to whether or not radiotherapy was administered, it was determined that the patients who received radiotherapy were in the risk group in terms of nutrition. Contrary to the literature, no statistically significant difference was found according to whether or not chemotherapy was administered. Conclusions: According to NRS analysis, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of nutritional status according to COVID-19 transmission and vaccination status. When NRS analyses were examined according to the delay of treatment during the pandemic period, it was found that patients who postponed treatment were in the risk group in terms of nutrition, while patients who did not postpone treatment were mostly in the follow-up group. In multivariable analyses, however, no independent relationship was identified between this parameter and NRS-2002 risk. Full article

Background/Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, characterised by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for weight management and metabolic optimisation in PCOS. This scoping review evaluates the efficacy and safety of semaglutide in women with PCOS, with pre-specified primary outcomes (weight loss, metabolic parameters) and secondary outcomes (menstrual cyclicity, hormonal regulation, ovarian function, safety). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across four electronic databases (SciSpace Deep Search, SciSpace Full Text, Google Scholar, and PubMed) from inception through July 2026. Studies were included if they evaluated semaglutide in women with confirmed PCOS and reported outcomes related to weight loss, hormonal regulation, metabolic parameters, ovarian function, or safety. Two independent reviewers screened 356 unique records; 28 reports were assessed for eligibility, of which full-text access was confirmed for 5, and the remaining 23 were assessed using published abstracts or conference summaries. Two additional records were subsequently excluded due to unverifiable source identification, yielding a final corpus of 25 studies. The review adhered to the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Results: Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Semaglutide produced clinically relevant weight reduction (mean 7.6–11.5 kg over 3–6 months; ≥5% weight loss in approximately 80% of patients in responsive cohorts) with concurrent improvements in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, based predominantly on observational and small-sample study designs. Improvements in menstrual regularity were reported by several studies; however, these data derive largely from conference abstracts or small pilot studies and should be interpreted cautiously. Gastrointestinal adverse events were the most frequent side effects, generally mild-to-moderate and transient. Important safety considerations include gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, and the risk of inadvertent pregnancy exposure following the potential restoration of ovulatory function; semaglutide must be discontinued before planned conception. Conclusions: Based on preliminary evidence from heterogeneous and predominantly low-quality studies, semaglutide shows potentially beneficial effects on weight, metabolic health, and menstrual regularity in women with PCOS. Confirmatory data on ovulation rates, reproductive outcomes, and long-term safety from large-scale RCTs with standardised endpoints are needed before definitive clinical recommendations can be made. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of dental erosion using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index in an adult cohort, exploring its associations with systemic health, gastrointestinal symptoms, and dietary habits. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with 170 adult patients at a university clinic in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between January and June 2026. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire detailing general characteristics, diet, systemic conditions, and symptoms. Dental erosion was clinically recorded via the highest BEWE score per sextant. Chairside tests evaluated unstimulated salivary pH and buffering capacity. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and ordinal logistic regression. Results: Most patients exhibited low BEWE risk. Bivariate analyses revealed significant associations between elevated BEWE risk and advanced age, GERD, eating disorders, and carbonated beverage consumption. However, in the adjusted ordinal logistic regression model, only advanced age, GERD, digestive symptoms (difficulty swallowing, digestive burns), and specific medications (anti-asthma drugs, aspirin) remained independent predictors of increased erosive wear risk. Conclusions: Dental erosion is a multifactorial condition strongly shaped by advanced age, GERD, eating disorders, and carbonated beverage intake. A comprehensive risk-based approach incorporating medical histories, symptom screening, and dietary counseling is essential for early clinical identification and prevention. Full article

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic was a major challenge for healthcare systems and social life worldwide. During the pandemic, studies focused on examining structural changes in patient care and establishing new guidelines to manage COVID-19, but very few of them addressed patients’ perceptions and concerns regarding changes in cancer treatment during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the changes in their therapy situation during three waves of the pandemic and the impact on their social life. Methods: This exploratory cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted among patients with gynecological malignancies and breast cancer at gynecological oncology centers in Germany between October 2020 and February 2022. An anonymous paper-based 50-item questionnaire, available in German, assessed medical care, treatment modifications, mental health, and socioeconomic burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed descriptively. Two subgroup analyses were conducted, comparing age groups ≤70 and >70 years, as well as patients with and without a migrant background. Results: Overall, 778 patients met the inclusion criteria of the survey (median age: 59; range: 24–93). In the majority of the patients (77.1%), the treatment schedules remained unchanged during COVID-19 pandemic. Treatment appointments were modified in a small number of patients (9.0%). Changes in therapy schedules were slightly more common among the second- and third-generation migrants and among patients ≤70 years. Despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, most patients (83.4%) kept their trust in the healthcare system. Acceptance of preventive measures was high, and 85.9% were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Psychological symptoms such as worries and fear were reported by more than half of the participants during the last 2 weeks previous to the survey and more common among patients ≤70 years. Only 8.6% were more afraid of a COVID-19 infection than their cancer disease. Conclusions: Despite major challenges in cancer care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to cancer treatment and adequate management at gynecological oncology centers in Germany remained stable. The increased psychological burden in crises requires new infrastructure and should be addressed to improve patient care in future crises. The acceptance of taking preventive measures against COVID-19 was high among cancer patients. Full article

Recent statistics reported by the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer indicate that the global incidence of bladder cancer has continued to increase in recent years, particularly in industrialized countries. Therefore, the timely diagnosis of early-stage bladder cancer is of great clinical importance for improving patient prognosis and treatment outcomes. In this context, computational optical sensing frameworks that integrate Spectrum-Aided Visual Enhancer (SAVE) technology with cystoscopy have attracted significant attention to overcome the limitations of conventional visual data interpretation. In this study, an AI-driven optical biosensing framework was evaluated using 1372 white-light cystoscopy (WLC) images of bladder cancer (RGB-WLC) collected in collaboration with Chung Shan Medical University Hospital. Hyperspectral conversion technology was applied to extract precise spectral information from the white-light images. Subsequently, dimensionality reduction was performed based on the characteristic wavelengths of narrow-band imaging cystoscopy at 415 nm and 540 nm to generate hyperspectral reconstructed narrow-band images. The images were categorized into Ta stage (Ta), above T1 stage (Above T1), and four additional classes. The dataset was divided into training and testing sets to establish both a standard white-light cystoscopy model (RGB-WLC) and an advanced hyperspectral biosensing model utilizing the YOLOv8 architecture for enhanced pattern recognition. Model performance was evaluated using sensitivity, F1-score, and overall accuracy. The standard RGB-WLC model achieved an accuracy of 0.852, whereas the SAVE-based biosensing model achieved an accuracy of 0.948, representing an improvement of approximately 11.27%. The results demonstrate that combining algorithmic hyperspectral reconstruction with deep learning architectures effectively addresses the challenges of clinical data interpretation and significantly enhances the detection and staging performance of bladder cancer imaging. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic factors influencing oral hygiene habits and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among complete denture wearers at Kuwait University Dental Clinic (KUDC). Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire and an Oral Health Impact Profile-19 (OHIP-19) instrument to assess oral hygiene habits and OHRQoL in 61 complete denture patients, treated by dental undergraduate students at KUDC, between January 2019 and December 2023. Additionally, a clinical assessment of denture hygiene was performed using the Budtz-Jörgensen denture plaque index for all patients (n = 61). Sociodemographic, general health status, oral hygiene habits, and OHRQoL-related data were collected. Results: A total of 37.7% of included participants were aged 51–60 years, with 75.4% being male. Most participants (81.96%) had a high school education or less. Caries was reported as the primary cause of tooth loss (83.6%), and 77.04% recorded irregular dental visits. Only 46.05% of participants demonstrated optimal and/or good denture hygiene. Toothpaste was the most common cleaning method (79.21%), and 70.62% removed their dentures at night. A significant association was found between education level and denture wearing (p = 0.035), as well as between gender and the frequency of dental visits (p = 0.024). However, no significant relationship was observed between gender and denture hygiene (p = 0.52). The OHIP-19 results revealed that poor denture hygiene impacted OHRQoL across multiple domains, including functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, and social disability. Conclusions: Unsatisfactory denture hygiene was prevalent among participants, possibly due to limited awareness or inadequate instructions provided by dental health practitioners. Education level and gender influenced certain aspects of denture care, highlighting the need for targeted oral health education programs and improved patient guidance from dental practitioners. Additionally, poor denture hygiene was associated with reduced OHRQoL, emphasizing the importance of addressing both oral hygiene practices and their psychosocial impacts to improve overall well-being. Full article

Language barriers hinder healthcare, particularly during case history-taking, a key part of diagnosis. While multilingual artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots offer solutions, there is fragmented evidence of their effectiveness and impact. This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examining studies published between 2015 and 2025 on multilingual AI chatbots in healthcare across four databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed), using a two-stage screening process. Data extraction focused on applications, supported languages, underlying technologies, target populations, and clinical outcomes. From 503 records, 49 studies, covering primary care, telemedicine, oncology, mental health, and other areas, met the criteria. Supported languages included English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, and other underrepresented languages. In individual system evaluations using heterogeneous methodologies and evaluation settings, AI chatbots achieved a diagnostic accuracy ranging from 72–92%. Core technologies included large language models (LLMs), bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT), a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), speech recognition, and distillation. The findings show that these improve clinical workflow (30–70% time savings) and patient engagement, reduce language barriers, and promote health equity. However, the overall evidence certainty was low to moderate, reflecting the predominance of prototype and proof-of-concept studies. Multilingual AI chatbots demonstrate a boost in healthcare efficiency, a reduction in language barriers, and the promotion of health equity, but exhibit challenges regarding validation, workflow integration, and evaluation standards, along with ethical issues such as privacy and bias. Future research should include real-world studies, diverse populations, standardized outcome measures, and long-term equity assessments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dermatologic toxicities are among the most common adverse effects of anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies. Although typically non-life-threatening, these conditions can significantly impair quality of life, alter body image, and lead to treatment non-adherence which may compromise health outcomes. This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence on the incidence, severity, and management of treatment-related dermatologic toxicities, with a focus on pharmaceutical and multidisciplinary care strategies. Methods: This review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane were searched for studies published between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2025. Eligibility criteria were defined using the PICO (R) framework. Study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Given study heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Results: Seventeen studies were included. Dermatologic toxicities were frequently reported during cancer treatment and were generally mild to moderate in severity, although they imposed a substantial burden on patients. Supportive dermatologic care strategies were associated with reduced symptom severity and improved quality of life in some studies. Evidence for pharmaceutical care and multidisciplinary management was more limited, and the available data do not allow firm conclusions regarding their effectiveness. Conclusions: Dermatologic toxicities remain an important challenge in oncological care. The evidence suggests potential benefits of supportive care approaches, but the certainty of the evidence is limited, particularly for pharmaceutical care. Further high-quality studies are needed to clarify the impact of these interventions and support standardized recommendations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy cures chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but its short-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are captured differently by generic and disease-specific instruments. We examined longitudinal changes in utility scores and HRQoL in a multicenter Japanese cohort. Methods: Adults with chronic HCV completed the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), the 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8), and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) at baseline and at 12, 24, and 36 weeks after treatment initiation; 48-week data were included when available. Complete-case panels were analyzed for each instrument (SF-8, n = 112; CLDQ, n = 131; EQ-5D-5L, n = 128). Domain trajectories were summarized and compared with baseline. Results: By week 36, SF-8 general health improved significantly from 50.42 to 52.47, whereas vitality (50.73 to 52.55) and mental health (51.02 to 53.05) showed nonsignificant numerical increases. CLDQ showed improvements in worry (5.21 to 5.82) and total score (5.21 to 5.47). EQ-5D-5L utility values remained high and largely stable (0.913 to 0.920), suggesting ceiling effects in patients with relatively good baseline health status. External real-world evidence also suggested better on-treatment HRQoL with ribavirin-free regimens. Conclusions: In Japanese patients with HCV, interferon-free DAA therapy was associated with early improvements in symptom-proximal and mental domains of HRQoL. Generic utility scores changed little over the short term, indicating that disease-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments and utility measures should be used together for patient-centered assessment and cost–utility modeling. Full article