Search Results (4,804)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of congenital malformations, often presenting with atypical clinical findings. Fetal damage is most severe following primary maternal infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, with the likelihood of transmission increasing with pregnancy advancement. CMV damage may continue to intensify during the early postnatal years. In this narrative review we summarized publications from the last 30 years addressing the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of CMV in pregnancy, with a special emphasis on embryonic and fetal damage. Substantial progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of CMV infection during pregnancy, warranting a reconsideration of current clinical approaches. Assessment of viral load enables prediction of fetal infection; its reduction by maternal treatment with valacyclovir may lower both the rate and severity of transmission. Confirmed fetal infection can be diagnosed by amniocentesis and viral DNA detection. Clinical manifestations in infants may be evident at birth (cCMV) or gradually emerge during the first years. The most common fetal damage is hearing loss alongside a variety of brain lesions resulting in significant neurological deficits, including intellectual impairment. Brain involvement is diagnosed by ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pharmacological treatment with ganciclovir or valganciclovir, if initiated early after birth, can slow the progression of hearing loss and may ameliorate other neurological and neurodevelopmental deficits. As of today, there is no approved CMV vaccine for prevention. The mRNA-1647’s vaccine, currently in phase 3 clinical trial, appears promising. These advances underscore the need for screening pregnant women in the first trimester and newborn infants of mothers suspected of having CMV infection. Neurodevelopmental follow up for several years, including hearing and visual assessment, is advised in all infants positive for CMV. Infants with clinical manifestations should be offered treatment as early as possible following diagnosis of cCMV. Full article

(1) Background: Subclinical neck pain is mild-to-moderate neck pain that has not yet been treated, and where individuals experience pain-free days. Alterations in sensorimotor integration, motor control, proprioception, and cerebellar inhibition have been observed in individuals with subclinical neck pain. Upregulation of the cervico-ocular reflex is documented in subclinical neck pain, with no difference in the gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Vestibulo-ocular reflex gain adaptation and associated differences in visuo-motor control have not been successfully measured in this population. This study aims to investigate the vestibulo-ocular reflex gain adaptation and visuo-motor control in individuals with subclinical neck pain. (2) Methods: 30 right-hand-dominant participants (19 healthy controls: 10 male and 9 female; 16 subclinical neck pain: 6 male and 10 female) aged 18 to 35 performed an eye tracking task. Participants were seated 90cm away from a monitor and instructed to hold their gaze on a stationary or moving target projected onto a screen while performing active head rotations. Trials were divided into 12 blocks (pre-adaptation, 10 adaptation, and post-adaptation) for a total of 192 trials. During adaptation, the target would move at increasing speeds during each block, increasing by 10% of active head velocity up to a maximum of 100%. (3) Results: The subclinical neck pain group demonstrated significantly higher total saccades (p = 0.006, ƞ² = 0.240) and overt catch-up saccades (p = 0.041, ƞ² = 0.141) than the healthy control group. (4) Conclusion: Subclinical neck pain alters the visual–vestibular interaction. Full article

(1) Background: Oat (Avena sativa L.) is a crop that is widely used in human nutrition, while it also plays an important role in animal husbandry as a high-quality forage crop. However, this crop is particularly susceptible to combined biotic stressors, including insect pests (Agriotes lineatus) and fungal infections (Fusarium spp.). These stresses act synergistically: root damage caused by wireworms increases the plant’s susceptibility to fungal infection, while pathogens further limit nutrient uptake and root system development. In recent years, the reduced efficacy of chemical pesticides against both insect pests and fungal pathogens has highlighted the need for alternative strategies in oat protection, leading to an increased focus on developing bacterial bio-inoculants as sustainable and effective biocontrol agents. (2) Methods: This study aimed to identify bacterial strains capable of suppressing wireworms (Agriotes lineatus) and Fusarium spp. in oats, while simultaneously promoting plant growth. Bacterial isolates were screened for key Plant Growth Promoting (PGP) and biocontrol traits, including IAA and siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, and the presence of toxin- and antibiotic-coding genes. (3) Results: The highest insecticidal effect against wireworms was recorded for Bacillus velezensis BHC 3.1 (63.33%), while this isolate also suppressed the growth of F. proliferatum for 59%, F. oxysporum for 65%, F. poae for 71%, and F. graminearum for 15%. The most effective Bacillus strains (with insecticidal and antifungal activity) were identified and tested in two pot experiments, where their ability to enhance plant growth in the presence of insects and fungi was evaluated under semi-controlled conditions. An increase in plant biomass, grain yield, and nitrogen content was observed in oat inoculated with B. velezensis BHC 3.1 and B. thuringiensis BHC 2.4. (4) Conclusions: These results demonstrate the strong potential of both strains as multifunctional bio-inoculants for enhancing oat growth and mitigating the adverse effects of wireworm damage and Fusarium infection. Full article

Screening is a critical link in the separation of gold ores. However, issues such as the agglomeration of material masses and screen aperture blinding often lead to low screening precision and poor desliming performance, severely impacting the efficiency of subsequent crushing processes. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a rigid–flexible coupled screening method for viscous and moist gold ores. The time-frequency response characteristics of the screen surface motion were investigated, the influence of processing capacity and moisture content on screening performance was analyzed, and an industrial performance evaluation of the rigid–flexible coupled screen surface was conducted. Laboratory and industrial test results demonstrate that the rigid–flexible coupled screen surface exhibits a periodic, non-regular waveform with a maximum peak vibration intensity of 14.79 g. Screening efficiency is synergistically inhibited by moisture content and processing capacity. When the ore moisture content is below 3% and the processing capacity ranges from 15 to 22.5 t/(h·m²), the screening efficiency can exceed 85%. Compared with conventional screen surfaces, the implementation of the rigid–flexible coupled screen surface achieved a desliming efficiency of 91%, a maximum processing capacity in the crushing stage of 380 tons per hour, a nearly 12% improvement in the screening efficiency of the closed-circuit checking process for crushed products, and an approximately 8% reduction in the circulating load ratio of the crushing circuit. These enhancements collectively ensure the stable operation of both the screening and crushing processes. Full article

Change in direction ability (COD) is a fitness component that may be related to safe and effective participation in pickleball. The general aim of the research was to examine a COD test that may be specific to the movement demands of the sport. Therefore, we tested the inter-trial reliability of the modified spider test for pickleball, compared learning effects between younger and older adults, and examined the reliability and validity of hand timing compared to timing gates. In this cross-sectional study, 36 participants (ages 19–78) were grouped as adults (ages 18–49) or seniors (ages 50+) according to the USA Pickleball age groupings. Participants completed a standard warm-up, one practice trial, and five full-effort trials with 4–6 min of rest between trials. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine reliability across five trials. Inter-rater reliability and validity of hand timing were also examined with ICCs. Pairwise comparison t-tests of individual trials were performed using the Hochberg method to determine learning effect. Linear regression analyses were used to determine if any segment could predict total trial time. During participation, older players provided unsolicited feedback that they were concerned about the safety of the backpedaling in the spider test. We observed that one person fell while backpedaling, though suffered no injury. Results indicate that the spider test was reliable across all five trials (ICC = 0.977). A learning effect was detected between the first and second trial (p = 0.001), and the magnitude of the effect was significantly different between age groups (p = 0.009). Hand timing demonstrated excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.993) and validity (ICC = 0.990). Splits 2, 3, and 4 significantly predicted total test time (R² = 0.973, 0.973, and 0.986, respectively). The test demonstrated reliability, but older players expressed concern about backpedaling. This raises questions about backpedaling safety in pickleball. Therefore, we do not recommend this test. Future research needs to determine appropriate tests to screen for fall risk in the dynamic movements relevant to pickleball. Full article

RNA has emerged as a critical drug target, and accurate prediction of its binding affinity with small molecules is essential for the design and screening of RNA-targeted therapeutics. Although current deep learning methods have achieved progress in predicting RNA–small molecule interactions, existing models commonly suffer from reliance on single-modality features and insufficient representation of cross-level interactions. This paper proposes a multi-level cross-modal attention fusion framework, named MCARSMA, which integrates sequence, structural, and semantic information from both RNA and small molecules. The model employs a dual-path interaction mechanism to capture multi-scale relationships spanning from atom–nucleotide fine-grained interactions to global conformational features. The model architecture comprises (1) the feature extraction of RNA secondary structure and sequence using GAT and CNN; (2) small molecule representation that combines GCN and Transformer for joint graph and sequence embedding; (3) a dual-path fusion module for atom–nucleotide fine-grained interactions and structure-guided multi-level interactions; and (4) an adaptive feature weighting mechanism implemented via a gated network. The results demonstrate that on the R-SIM dataset, MCARSMA achieves RMSE = 0.883, PCC = 0.772, and SCC = 0.773, validating the effectiveness of the proposed multi-level cross-modal attention fusion framework. This study provides a highly interpretable deep learning solution with high predictive accuracy. Full article

Background and Objectives: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune blistering disease caused by IgG autoantibodies against desmoglein 3 and/or desmoglein 1, leading to flaccid blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. The course of PV during pregnancy represents a special clinical challenge due to immunological changes accompanying physiological immunosuppression and the need to protect the developing fetus. Materials and Methods: To analyze the current state of knowledge, a literature review was performed covering the years 2015–2025. Publications describing PV diagnosed during pregnancy or in neonates were screened, and nine case reports discussing ten patients meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for detailed analysis. In this study, we also present our own clinical case of PV in pregnancy to complement the literature review and provide practical insight into disease management. Results: In most cases, the disease was diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy, and the most common symptoms were flaccid blisters and erosions of the oral mucosa. The diagnosis was confirmed by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and ELISA testing. The first-line treatment remained systemic glucocorticosteroids (GCS), mainly prednisolone, which is considered the safest. In resistant cases, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) were used, which were considered effective and safe, though their use may limit the transplacental transfer of autoantibodies to the fetus. In newborns, the symptoms rarely occurred, were mild, and resolved spontaneously. Drugs with proven teratogenic effects, such as methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate mofetil, are contraindicated during pregnancy. In the case of rituximab therapy, it is recommended to postpone pregnancy for at least 12 months after the completion of treatment to minimize the potential risk of immunosuppression in the newborn. Conclusions: The treatment of PV during pregnancy requires close interdisciplinary cooperation. Therapy should be carefully individualized, taking into account both therapeutic efficacy and fetal safety. Perhaps then, pregnancy-related pemphigus diseases, given their peculiarities, should be classified as a distinct variety within the desmosomal type of autoimmune blistering diseases. Full article

Background: Mood disturbances, often accompanied by cognitive deficits, represent a major public health challenge. Diet is increasingly recognized as a modifiable factor in mental health, with specific nutrients such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) showing therapeutic potential. This study investigated whether dietary omega-3 intake moderates variations in cognitive performance associated with psychological symptoms in non-clinical samples. Method: A total of 313 healthy adults completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intake. Psychological symptoms were measured using the depression screening questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the stress assessment instrument (PSS-10), while cognitive performance, including short-term and episodic memory, was evaluated using Sternberg and Old/New recognition tests. A subgroup of 52 older adults completed a detailed in-person FFQ to enable the precise quantification of EPA, DHA, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake. Results: Diets rich in omega 3, particularly nuts, seeds, fish and seafood, were associated with lower depression and stress scores. EPA and DHA, but not ALA, were specifically linked to those mood benefits. However, dietary omega-3 intake was not significantly associated with cognitive performance and did not moderate the relationship between mood and memory. Self-reported omega-3 supplementation was linked to fewer depressive symptoms and better episodic memory. Conclusions: While dietary omega-3 is associated with improved well-being, its role in cognition in healthy adults is not well-established and warrants further investigation. Full article

The expression of polysialic acid (polySia) on the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is called NCAM-polysialylation, which is strongly related to the migration and invasion of tumor cells and aggressive clinical status. During the NCAM polysialylation process, polysialyltransferases (polySTs), such as polysialyltransferase IV (ST8SIA4) or polysialyltransferase II (ST8SIA2), can catalyze the addition of CMP-sialic acid (CMP-Sia) to the NCAM to form polysialic acid (polySia). In this study, the docking models of polysialyltransferase IV (ST8Sia4) protein and different ligands were predicted using Alphafold 3 and DiffDock servers, and the prediction accuracy was further verified using the NMR experimental spectra of the interactions between polysialyltransferase domain (PSTD), a crucial peptide domain in ST8Sia4, and a different ligand. This combination strategy provides new insights into a quick and effective screening for inhibitors of tumor cell migration. Full article

This study aimed to identify scientific evidence that addresses women’s experiences in the process of illness and care during tuberculosis treatment. A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in the Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, SciVerse Scopus, and LILACS databases. The following descriptors were used: “Women,” “Tuberculosis,” “Gender Perspective,” and “Qualitative Approach.” Studies reporting the experiences of women with active tuberculosis, published in any language, without time restrictions, were included. Of the 16,029 studies initially identified, 7079 duplicates were removed and 8895 were excluded after title and abstract screening. A total of 55 studies were read in full, of which 41 did not meet the eligibility criteria, resulting in a final inclusion of 14 studies. Most selected studies were conducted in high-tuberculosis-burden, low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2024. All studies focused on pulmonary tuberculosis, with one addressing drug-resistant tuberculosis. The results revealed that women’s experiences with tuberculosis are shaped by the following four thematic categories: (1) stigma and social vulnerability of women with tuberculosis; (2) gender factors in access to health services and in the interruption of tuberculosis treatment among women; (3) intersectionality and social determinants of health; and (4) the importance of social, family, and healthcare support in the experience of tuberculosis illness. The experience of illness due to tuberculosis among women is profoundly shaped by vulnerabilities related to gender, stigma, and social class, which intensify social exclusion, hinder access to diagnosis and treatment, and deepen physical and emotional suffering. Stigma reinforces isolation and weakens support networks, while the burden of domestic labor, caregiving responsibilities, and economic dependence makes it difficult for women to prioritize their own health. In this context, family support and gender-sensitive, humanized healthcare are essential. Therefore, the implementation of public policies that address these specificities and confront structural inequalities is urgent to ensure comprehensive care and a dignified, effective recovery for women with tuberculosis. Full article

Sugarcane production in China is severely constrained by frequent seasonal droughts, especially in the major planting region of Guangxi. Identifying drought-resistant varieties is crucial for ensuring yield stability. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the drought resistance of 15 sugarcane varieties and screen key identification indicators. A pot experiment was conducted with both well-watered (control) and drought-stress treatments. Fifteen agronomic and physiological traits were measured, and drought resistance was assessed using the comprehensive drought resistance evaluation value (D value), the comprehensive drought resistance coefficient (CDC), and the weighted drought resistance coefficient (WDC). Results showed significant variations in trait responses to drought: green leaf number (NGL) decreased the most (66.06%), while proline (Pro) increased the most (88.09%). PCA reduced 15 traits to 5 principal components, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 82.26%. Comprehensive evaluation using D values, comprehensive drought resistance coefficients (CDCs), and weighted drought resistance coefficients (WDCs) showed consistent overall drought resistance rankings, with slight differences in individual varieties. Cluster analysis based on D values classified the 15 varieties into three groups: 10 drought-resistant (66.67%, e.g., YZ08-1609, LT5), 3 moderately drought-resistant (e.g., GT08-56), and 2 drought-sensitive (GT10-612, ZT13-012). Grey relational analysis identified single stalk weight (SSW), number of leaves (NL), and number of green leaves (NGL) as key indicators closely associated with drought resistance. This study provides a scientific basis for establishing a drought-resistant sugarcane variety evaluation system and lays the foundation for breeding drought-resistant varieties. Full article

Background/Objectives: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have significantly improved outcomes in metastatic melanoma. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and persistent chronic toxicities (CTs) among this emerging survivor population likely influence different facets of quality of life. This study characterized CT, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), diet, physical activity and gut microbiome features in a cohort of long-term survivors with a history of ICB-treated metastatic melanoma. Methods: Forty-eight patients with a history of metastatic melanoma who initiated ICB treatment at least 3 years earlier and were not currently on treatment were prospectively enrolled from a melanoma survivorship clinic. Participants completed screening questionnaires for depression, anxiety, diet and physical activity. The gut microbiome was characterized via metagenomic sequencing in a subsample (n = 39). Patients’ clinicopathological characteristics and experience of irAEs (during treatment) and CT (persisting >6 months after completion of therapy) were extracted retrospectively from the medical record. Results: In the overall cohort, 60% were experiencing CT, while 16% and 20% reported clinically relevant levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. We observed significant differences in overall gut microbiome composition between survivors with and without CT (p = 0.02). Consumption of fruit and vegetables was inversely associated with anxiety (ρ = 0.3, p = 0.038). Added sugar consumption was correlated with the severity of experienced symptoms (ρ = 0.4, p = 0.003), with pronounced associations across the spectrum of symptoms, including pain, fatigue and shortness of breath (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that CT is experienced by a substantial proportion of ICB-treated metastatic melanoma survivors. Patients experiencing CT also showed distinct microbiome features. However, additional research in prospective settings is needed to confirm these hypotheses. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common malignancy in women around the world, with more than 600,000 new cases registered in 2022 and around 350,000 deaths. It is a growing social problem, especially in developing countries. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with oncogenic high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). This malignancy usually exhibits a gradual development through well-defined precursor stages, known as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 1, 2, and 3, before evolving into invasive carcinoma. In diagnostic practice, several biomarkers have been implemented to improve the detection of high-risk cervical lesions. p16 and Ki-67 greatly aid in identifying HPV-driven dysplasia, but they cannot always reliably distinguish progressive lesions from regressive or transient HPV infections. These limitations highlight the need for novel biomarkers with better predictive accuracy to complement current screening and diagnostic algorithms. ROMO1 has become a possible marker of a high-ROS, high-risk tumor phenotype in a number of cancers. Although oxidative stress, HPV, and cervical carcinogenesis have been linked, nothing is known about ROMO1’s involvement in cervical neoplasia. There is currently a lack of thorough information regarding the expression of ROMO1 in normal vs. precancerous lesions and in cervical cancer, as well as on whether or not its expression is correlated with the severity of the disease. In order to define ROMO1 expression throughout the course of cervical squamous neoplastic development, the current study was created. Methods: We performed immunohistochemical analysis of ROMO1 expression on cervical tissue samples from three groups: healthy cervix (n = 30), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (n = 41), and invasive cervical carcinoma (n = 205). ROMO1 expression in invasive carcinoma was evaluated using an H-score scale. Results: ROMO1 expression was basal in all normal cervix samples (0/30 cases). In contrast, CIN lesions showed 100% ROMO1 expression in the suprabasal layers of abnormal cells in all CIN cases. In invasive cervical carcinomas, ROMO1 expression was heterogeneous. In our cancer cohort (n = 205), ROMO1 H-score showed no significant association with the following: FIGO stage I vs. II vs. III (p = 0.25); histologic grade G1 vs. G2 vs. G3 (p = 0.46); lymphovascular invasion (no vs. yes; p = 0.80); nodal status N0 vs. N1 (p = 0.67); patient age (≤50 y vs. >50 y; p = 0.38). However, ROMO1 expression did vary by histologic subtype (AC vs. ASC vs. SCC; p = 0.02), with SCC enriched for strong staining compared to AC/ASC. With regard to tumor stage (pT stage), pT2a tumors exhibited significantly lower ROMO1 (pT1b1–pT2b; p = 0.035) than pT1b1 (p = 0.04). No other clinicopathologic variable remained significant. Notably, ROMO1 expression was highest in stage I tumors and declined in more advanced stages of cervical carcinoma. Conclusions: These results show a clear pattern of ROMO1 expression across the cervical neoplasia spectrum: it is attenuated in invasive tumors (with a peak in early-stage illness), significantly raised in pre-cancerous CIN lesions, and negligible in normal epithelium. The idea that oxidative stress may be the primary cause of early malignant transformation in the cervix is supported by the noticeable overexpression of ROMO1 in early lesions. For the detection of early-stage cervical carcinoma and high-grade precancerous lesions, ROMO1 may be a useful auxiliary biomarker. Full article

Background/Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented societal changes globally and negatively impacted the psychosocial health of pregnant women. This study aimed to explore how direct, indirect, and unrelated factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic influenced stress levels among pregnant women. Methods: This interpretivist qualitative study employed open-ended survey questions to capture the lived experiences of 313 pregnant women in the third trimester residing in Florida between January and March 2022, during the Omicron surge. Thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the Stress and Coping Theory and the Stress Buffering Theory. Results: Participants described a range of stressors directly and indirectly related to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected pregnant women. Themes related to increased stress were (1) fear, worry, and anxiety related to COVID-19 infection, (2) fear, worry, and anxiety related to preparedness for birth/baby due to pandemic restrictions, (3) prevention concerns associated with COVID-19, (4) lack of social support, (5) return to normalcy, (6) health-related social needs, (7) physical health issues, and (8) navigating conflict and grief. Conversely, stress-reducing factors were (1) preventive measures during the pandemic, (2) coping strategies, (3) not having to work, and (4) social support. Conclusions: Pregnant women experienced heightened stress due to a complex interplay of factors related directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that maternity care, mental health and health-related social needs screenings and referrals, and tailored interventions are integrated into public health crises preparedness plans to limit the stress that pregnant women experience and support their well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is increasingly used to monitor ulcerative colitis (UC), but its predictive value remains unclear. This systematic review evaluated the ability of IUS parameters and scores to predict short- and long-term treatment response, remission, and adverse outcomes in hospitalized and outpatient UC populations. Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and Embase were searched for prospective studies assessing IUS as a predictor of clinical or endoscopic response, remission, relapse, or adverse outcomes in adult UC. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, and QUADAS-2 assessment. Results: Eighteen prospective studies were included: eleven outpatient studies and seven involving hospitalized patients treated with intravenous corticosteroids (IVCS). In hospitalized patients, bowel wall thickness (BWT) was the most consistent predictor of treatment failure, rescue therapy, colectomy, and clinical response. Baseline BWT showed variable performance, but once IVCS was initiated, early BWT change within 48–72 h was the strongest marker of disease trajectory. Non-responders had higher BWT and smaller reductions. A BWT ≥ 4 mm, absolute reduction ≤ 1 mm, or relative reduction ≤ 20% at 48 h reliably identified patients needing rescue therapy (area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.77 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–0.74), 0.71 (95% CI 0.56–0.86), and 0.74 (95% CI 0.60–0.88)). Colectomy risk was similarly predicted: BWT < 3 mm at 48 h was associated with no colectomies, whereas BWT ≥ 4 mm or persistently elevated BWT at day 6 markedly increased risk (Odds ratio (OR) 9.5-fold (95% CI 1.4–64.0) and OR 8.3 (95% CI 1.7–40.0), respectively). Other sonographic features (loss of haustration, increased vascularity) added supplementary but less consistent value. In outpatients, BWT also demonstrated the strongest predictive accuracy. BWT ≤ 3.6 mm at 2 weeks and <3.0 mm at 6 weeks were associated with early endoscopic remission (area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 0.87 (95% CI 0.71–1.00) and 0.82 (95% CI 0.63–1.00), respectively). Dynamic changes with ≥23–25% relative reduction predicted clinical or endoscopic response (AUROC of 0.81 (95% CI 0.61–1.00) and OR of 13.9 (95% CI 1.13–1986.85), respectively). Persistent BWT > 3.5 mm or minimal reduction (<20% or <1 mm) indicated a low likelihood of long-term remission. Composite vascularity-based indices, particularly the Milan Ultrasound Criteria (MUC), strengthened prediction: MUC ≤ 4.3 or ≥2-point reduction at 12 weeks predicted long-term remission (AUROC 0.88 (95% CI 0.750–0.952) and 0.82 (95% CI 0.68–0.91), respectively), while MUC ≥ 7.7 indicated high risk of treatment failure or colectomy (AUROC 0.77 (95% CI: 0.73–0.82)). Conclusions: Across clinical settings, BWT consistently emerged as the strongest IUS predictor of UC treatment outcomes. Early BWT change within 48–72 h in hospitalized patients and absolute BWT values at 2–6 weeks in outpatients showed high predictive accuracy for response, remission, and colectomy. Composite indices incorporating vascularity further improved prediction. These findings support the incorporation of IUS into early treatment-response algorithms and underscore the need for standardized cut-offs and multicenter validation. Full article