Lisa R Goldberg

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Researchers built and tested a model to predict blood clot risk in adult leukemia patients receiving the chemotherapy drug asparaginase. Two factors at diagnosis — elevated D-dimer (a clotting marker) and higher hemoglobin — identified patients with a four-fold difference in 30-day clot rates. The model's high negative predictive value means it can reliably identify low-risk patients who might safely avoid preventive blood thinners.

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An expert panel developed 47 clinical guidelines for managing skin cancers in Gorlin syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes patients to develop numerous basal cell carcinomas throughout their lives. The guidelines cover topical treatments, systemic drugs, surgery, and psychosocial support, with an emphasis on reducing the burden of repeated procedures. This fills a major gap in care and offers a template for creating evidence-based guidelines for other rare conditions.

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Sixty-eight older adults used a smartphone app called TapTalk to test their hand and speech motor function daily for a week, completing over 400 sessions across 43 different phone models. Most motor features showed acceptable reliability, and users rated the app highly for ease of use. The results support TapTalk as a practical tool for tracking motor changes associated with neurological diseases from home.

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A scoping review of 59 studies covering over 27,000 older adults found consistent evidence that lower tongue strength is linked to cognitive decline, physical frailty, muscle loss, and poor nutrition. The finding is significant because tongue strength is easy and inexpensive to measure and could serve as an early warning sign for dementia risk. Effective tongue-strengthening exercises already exist, making this a potentially actionable screening target.

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A study of 2,751 knee replacement patients compared outcomes between those who received thicker (13 mm or more) versus thinner plastic joint spacers. Thicker spacers did not worsen pain or function scores at any time point, and showed marginally better results in men at six and twelve months. Surgeons can use thicker spacers when needed for joint stability without worrying about compromising patient recovery.

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Researchers investigated how genetic variants linked to sudden death in young people affect a newly discovered nuclear fragment of the hERG1 heart channel. Testing six variants in lab cells showed that some disrupt the fragment's ability to reach the nucleus or suppress electrical current, while others amplify its activity. This reveals a previously unknown disease mechanism where the same channel can cause both too much and too little electrical activity, depending on which variant is present.

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Videos of 28 deaf mothers playing with their hearing infants were analyzed to assess the quality of their early interactions. Most pairs showed sensitive or adequate interaction, but about one in five pairs were flagged as likely to benefit from additional support. Lower socioeconomic status and differences in vocal and touch behavior appeared to influence outcomes, offering practical guidance for professionals supporting deaf parents.

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Researchers studied the energy metabolism of CAR T cells used to treat a hard-to-cure form of blood cancer and found that cells from patients who stayed in remission long-term had more robust metabolic activity before infusion. After infusion, these long-term responders' T cells remained metabolically flexible within the bone marrow. Temporarily blocking a key metabolic regulator (mTOR) during cell manufacturing improved the cells' cancer-fighting ability, pointing toward a manufacturing tweak that could help more patients achieve durable remissions.

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Researchers surveyed nearly 400 deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the UK and Spain to understand how they access information and what predicts their satisfaction and wellbeing. Most relied on subtitles for government and news content, but preferred sign language when it was available. Reading skill was the strongest predictor of outcomes, meaning people with weaker literacy were less satisfied and had worse health, highlighting the need for signed content and accessible written materials.

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A study of 1,000 consecutive dermatologic surgery referrals found that a substantial share had incorrect descriptions of biopsy site locations, raising the risk of operating on the wrong area. Referrals that included a clinical photograph or anatomical diagram were more accurate, and every referral that used triangulation to mark the site was correct. The findings point to simple, concrete documentation practices that could eliminate a significant source of surgical errors.

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Researchers used co-design workshops and surveys with people living with dementia, carers, and stakeholders in Australia to define the ideal role of a dedicated post-diagnostic support worker. Participants agreed this person should identify needs, provide education, connect people to services, and offer emotional support, with university-level training in dementia and counseling skills. Formalizing this role could improve care quality and help build a larger, better-trained dementia workforce.

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By comparing two nearly genetically identical strains of laboratory mice, researchers identified a small genomic region linked to differences in sensitivity to oxycodone and anxiety during withdrawal. Within that region, two genes — Kcnj9 and Atp1a2 — were confirmed to produce different protein levels between the strains, both involved in how neurons respond to opioids. The findings point to specific genetic candidates that may help explain why some individuals are more vulnerable to opioid use disorder.

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Researchers developed a statistical method called I-Rand for analyzing health data collected at two time points without a control group, and applied it to a dietary intervention promoting low-carbohydrate eating. The analysis confirmed that obesity is a significant driver of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk, and that a low-carbohydrate diet measurably reduces those risks. The method and accompanying code provide a practical tool for drawing causal conclusions from common real-world clinical datasets.

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A survey of transgender individuals found that voice was the second most important physical feature contributing to gender dysphoria, after upper body characteristics, and was cited by 79% of respondents. Unlike concerns about the lower body, which were driven primarily by self-perception, voice dysphoria was largely driven by how others perceived the person. The findings indicate that voice interventions should be considered a high-priority component of gender-affirming care.

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A quality improvement initiative at 61 U.S. hospitals worked to increase use of the full four-drug treatment regimen for heart failure patients with reduced pumping function. Over two and a half years, the proportion of eligible patients receiving all four medications at discharge rose from under 5% to nearly 45%. Improvements were similar across racial, ethnic, and sex groups, though significant variation between regions remained, showing both the power and the limits of learning collaborative models.

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Interviews with 13 people recently diagnosed with dementia and 17 of their carers across nine Australian memory clinics revealed widespread gaps in post-diagnostic support. Participants described receiving written information that was often overwhelming, referrals that were not followed up, and a focus on medication rather than practical guidance. People consistently called for a single trusted support person to guide them through the period after diagnosis, along with more personalized and ongoing help.

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Researchers compared patient-reported outcomes among 624 knee replacement patients who received one of three types of plastic joint inserts — posterior-stabilized, cruciate-retaining, or medial congruent designs. At all time points from before surgery through one year after, pain, function, and recovery scores were equivalent across the three groups. Because all three designs perform similarly, the choice of insert can be based on surgeon preference and patient anatomy rather than expected outcome differences.

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Semi-structured interviews with five German general practitioners explored their experiences managing patients with chronic pain on long-term opioid therapy, with a focus on how patient sex and gender shape care. Doctors reported that gender stereotypes influenced their interactions even when they tried to be neutral, and that female patients faced greater stigma that made open communication harder. The study recommends longer consultation times, better training in gender-sensitive care, and stronger peer collaboration to improve outcomes for this complex patient group.

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This review covers synchronized diaphragmatic stimulation, a treatment being tested for moderate-to-severe heart failure patients who have not improved enough on standard medications but are not yet candidates for a transplant or mechanical heart device. Early clinical data suggest the therapy improves exercise tolerance, quality of life, and heart function over six to twelve months. The device has received FDA Breakthrough Device designation and is currently under evaluation in a double-blinded randomized trial.

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A 16-week training program launched in Kenya by the Kenya Cardiac Society and American College of Cardiology has trained 95 non-cardiologist health workers to perform heart ultrasound (echocardiography) using a blended online and hands-on curriculum. Early results include shorter travel distances for patients and earlier detection of heart conditions in areas that previously lacked cardiac diagnostic services. The program offers a replicable model for expanding cardiovascular diagnostic capacity in low- and middle-income countries.

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A survey of 1,150 breast cancer patients from a diverse Chicago cohort found no significant differences between racial and ethnic groups in whether they were offered or chose to participate in clinical trials, after adjusting for other factors. Among those who declined, the top barriers were ineligibility, worry about receiving a placebo, and the time demands of trial participation. The findings suggest that improving clinical trial access requires reducing time burden as much as addressing racial or ethnic disparities.

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A retrospective study of 17 children with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia — a rare and aggressive childhood cancer — treated with bone marrow transplant using a busulfan and melphalan conditioning regimen showed 100% disease-free and overall survival at a median follow-up of nearly eight years. The regimen avoided cyclophosphamide, potentially reducing long-term side effects, with no transplant-related deaths. The results are strikingly positive for a disease where survival typically hovers around 50% and warrant a prospective trial.

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This paper argues that neonatal intensive care nurses can use a caring science framework — centering on meaningful human connection — to address the persistent problem of undertreated pain in premature infants. Despite the availability of effective pain management strategies, gaps in practice remain, and a philosophy grounded in the nurse-patient relationship may help close them. The paper offers a practical foundation for building a more compassionate approach to pain care in neonatal settings.

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Over 1,000 older adults performed short motor speech tests — repeating syllables like "pa," "ta," and "ka" — and completed cognitive tests measuring memory, executive function, and working memory. Acoustic features from the speech recordings improved prediction of cognitive scores beyond age, sex, education, and mental health factors in both cognitively healthy adults and those with subjective cognitive concerns. This supports brief, remotely administered speech tests as a low-cost, scalable way to screen for early signs of Alzheimer's disease risk.

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A retrospective study described how an Israeli children's hospital prepared for and cared for 26 people, including children and adolescents, returned from Hamas captivity in late 2023. The hospital created a home-like ward environment with dedicated family spaces, a multidisciplinary care team, and a structured evaluation protocol developed in advance. All returnees reported high satisfaction with their care, and the approach offers a model for other institutions preparing for similar mass casualty or captivity-return events.

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Heart failure patients were trained during a hospital stay to perform self-administered lung ultrasound scans at home using a handheld device and upload images to a secure cloud platform three times a week. Out of 792 expected scans, 788 were obtained, and 81% were interpretable by a physician. The pilot demonstrates that patients can reliably acquire and transmit diagnostic-quality ultrasound images from home, opening a path to earlier detection of worsening heart failure outside the clinic.

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A comparison of 136 South Asian migrants and 2,743 non-migrant Australians aged 50 and older in Tasmania found that migrants had substantially higher rates of nearly every modifiable dementia risk factor, including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and cognitive inactivity. The only factor where migrants had lower rates was alcohol consumption. The large differences point to an urgent need for culturally tailored dementia prevention programs for this population.

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A study of 881 pregnant women in rural Bangladesh found that flooding of homes or latrines was associated with more than double the rate of depression, with latrines flooding linked to an even larger increase. Higher local water levels and living close to rivers were also linked to worse depression scores. Focus groups highlighted that destroyed sanitation infrastructure, domestic violence, food insecurity, and limited mobility for women during floods were key drivers of prenatal mental health problems.

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Researchers compared preparedness and outcomes between the first and second surgeries in patients who needed knee or hip replacements on both sides. Patients reported feeling significantly more prepared and better-informed about pain management for their second procedure. Despite the difference in subjective preparedness, actual surgical outcomes and recovery scores were equivalent, suggesting that first-surgery education has room for improvement.

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A survey and focus group study of 1,200 adolescents in Bangladesh compared those in a high-flood-risk region to those in a lower-risk area and found that living under greater flood exposure nearly doubled the odds of anxiety and tripled the odds of depression. Adolescents with anxiety were twice as likely to favor short-term over long-term planning. Focus groups revealed that mental overload during floods makes it harder to think about or invest in long-term climate adaptation.

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Researchers developed and piloted a digital intervention called EBA that combines breathing exercises with cognitive-behavioral strategies delivered via telehealth and smartphone to address stress-driven alcohol misuse. In two separate studies totaling 91 adults with alcohol use disorder, participants showed significant reductions in drinking, cravings, stress, and anxiety both during and after the intervention. The sustained improvements across follow-up periods support testing EBA in a larger randomized trial.

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A six-week intensive oral hygiene program for older adults with dementia in residential care did not significantly change the types or proportions of bacteria and fungi living in their mouths. Individual variation among residents accounted for the vast majority of differences in oral microbiome composition, far outweighing any effect of the cleaning intervention. The results suggest that general hygiene programs may be insufficient to alter oral microbial communities and that more targeted strategies are needed.

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Researchers reviewed records of 75 children hospitalized with pseudotumor cerebri — a condition of elevated pressure in the brain — to assess whether the standard extensive laboratory workup adds diagnostic value. In most cases, the cause could be identified from medical history and physical examination alone, and the expanded blood tests did not uncover any additional secondary causes. The study suggests routine testing could be safely narrowed to vitamin D levels, reducing discomfort, blood loss, and cost.

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A participatory nutrition intervention in two Australian nursing homes for residents with dementia found that malnutrition and dehydration were widespread but that staff engagement and research participation were difficult to sustain. Appointing Nutrition Champions within facilities and using a participatory approach helped overcome barriers and generate meaningful staff involvement. The experience provides practical lessons for designing nutrition research in residential aged care settings.

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A survey of 146 South Asian migrants aged 50 and older in Tasmania, divided by country of origin, found striking differences in cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors for dementia. Afghan and Bhutanese respondents had far higher rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes compared to Indian and Nepali respondents. The findings show that grouping all South Asian migrants together in health research obscures critical differences and that targeted interventions must account for country of origin.

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A matched comparison of 229 patients receiving cemented versus uncemented knee replacements found that uncemented implants were associated with more pain and higher opioid use in the days immediately after surgery. At one year, patients with uncemented implants were also significantly less likely to forget they had a prosthesis, suggesting a lower satisfaction threshold. Both implant types produced similar functional and complication rates, but the short-term pain difference is an important consideration for surgical planning.

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Reviewing records of 101 children who presented with migratory joint pain over eight years, researchers found that only half were diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever, the condition classically associated with this symptom. The remaining children had a wide range of diagnoses including reactive arthritis, viral arthritis, lupus, and in rare cases, cancer. Overcrowded living conditions and elevated CRP were the strongest indicators of rheumatic fever, while rash and abnormal immune markers pointed toward other causes.

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In 158 cognitively healthy adults over 50, researchers measured tongue strength, handgrip strength, and pinch strength alongside a blood marker of Alzheimer's disease risk (phosphorylated tau 181). Handgrip and pinch strength, but not tongue strength, were negatively linked to higher p-tau181 levels, particularly in adults 69 and older. The results add early evidence that physical strength tests could help identify people at elevated Alzheimer's risk before symptoms appear.

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Researchers analyzed the cellular energy metabolism of CAR T cells before and after infusion in leukemia patients and found that cells from long-term survivors were metabolically stronger from the start. In the bone marrow after infusion, these cells also stayed metabolically adaptable in ways that supported their continued activity. Briefly blocking mTOR during cell manufacturing boosted the cells' anti-tumor performance, offering a concrete way to improve this therapy.

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This study tested how six genetic variants associated with sudden cardiac death in young people affect a nuclear fragment of the hERG1 heart channel. The results showed that some variants reduce the fragment's normal function while others abnormally enhance it, producing opposite effects on the channel's electrical behavior. The findings identify this nuclear fragment as a new potential disease mechanism and suggest that the same gene can cause heart problems through more than one biological pathway.

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A longitudinal study followed 31 hearing children of deaf parents from infancy to age 7, tracking development in both British Sign Language and spoken English alongside comparison groups. Children exposed to both a signed and spoken language from birth developed language at the same pace as those raised with only one spoken language, and showed stronger early communication skills than children raised with two spoken languages. The data confirm that learning sign and speech simultaneously poses no developmental disadvantage.