Journal of Clinical Medicine最新文献

Background/Objectives: Dental anxiety is a common clinical problem that negatively affects patient cooperation, treatment acceptance, and physiological stability during dental procedures. This randomized controlled clinical trial study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music-based interventions in reducing dental anxiety and stress responses during restorative dental treatment. The null hypothesis was that music exposure would not result in significant differences in anxiety levels or physiological stress parameters compared with standard dental care. Methods: Seventy-five patients with moderate to high pre-treatment dental anxiety (MDAS ≥10) were randomly assigned to three groups: classical music, Turkish music, and control (no music) (n = 25 per group). Anxiety levels were assessed using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS). Restorations were performed using a standardized adhesive protocol. Physiological parameters, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), heart rate (HR), and oxygen saturation (SpO₂), as well as salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels, were measured before and after restorative treatment. Salivary cortisol and amylase levels were measured using a Human ELISA Kit. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). Results: Both music groups showed significant reductions in SBP, DBP, HR, cortisol, amylase, and MDAS scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Oxygen saturation increased significantly in the music groups, whereas it decreased significantly in the control group. There were no significant differences between classical and Turkish music regarding their anxiety-reducing effects. Conclusions: Music-based interventions effectively reduce dental anxiety and physiological stress during restorative dental procedures. This study is novel in simultaneously evaluating subjective anxiety scores and multiple physiological and biochemical stress markers in adult patients undergoing restorative treatment, supporting music as a simple and non-invasive adjunct in clinical dentistry.

Background: Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) can be done using either a three-arm or four-arm configuration. However, the evidence comparing the perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes between these two approaches is inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to quantitatively compare the outcomes of three-arm versus four-arm RAPN. Methods: A comprehensive search of multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane, was conducted, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies comparing three-arm and four-arm RAPN were included. Continuous outcomes were assessed using mean differences (MD), and dichotomous outcomes were evaluated using risk ratios (RR). The ROBINS-I tool was used to determine the risk of bias. Results: Five studies that met the selection criteria were included in the final review and analysis. The pooled analyses demonstrated no significant difference in estimated blood loss, warm ischemia time, transfusion rates, overall complications, major complications, or positive surgical margins between the three-arm and four-arm RAPN. Although the initial primary analysis showed a shorter length of stay within the three-arm RAPN technique, the sensitivity analysis did not reflect this finding. Conclusions: The three-arm and four-arm RAPN demonstrated comparable perioperative, functional, and oncologic outcomes. As both techniques appear to be effective, the choice of configuration may be decided by the institutional resources, case complexity, and the surgeon's preference.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a chronic, heterogeneous airway disease characterised by irreversible bronchial dilatation, recurrent infections, and persistent inflammation, leading to progressive lung damage, frequent exacerbations, and impaired quality of life. Neutrophil-driven inflammation, largely mediated by excessive activity of neutrophil serine proteases such as neutrophil elastase, represents a central pathogenic mechanism and an important therapeutic target. Methods: Brensocatib, a first-in-class, selective, and reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-1 (DPP-1), prevents the activation of neutrophil serine proteases during neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow. By reducing downstream protease activity, brensocatib modulates aberrant neutrophilic inflammation without broadly suppressing immune function. Results: Clinical studies, including the Phase-2 WILLOW trial and the Phase-3 ASPEN trial, have demonstrated that brensocatib significantly reduces exacerbation frequency, prolongs time to first exacerbation, and lowers sputum neutrophil protease activity, with a favourable safety profile. Importantly, these benefits were observed across multiple patient subgroups and in addition to standard-of-care therapies. Conclusions: As the first FDA-approved (12 August 2025) mechanism-based therapy for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, brensocatib represents a paradigm shift toward targeted, precision treatment of neutrophil-mediated airway disease. Its clinical efficacy, biomarker-driven rationale, and potential to reduce antibiotic dependence highlight brensocatib as a cornerstone therapy in bronchiectasis management and a promising strategy for other neutrophil-driven inflammatory conditions.

Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is an established preventive therapy for chronic migraine (CM), yet the accompanying neurochemical changes remain incompletely characterized. Objective: To evaluate the effects of BoNT-A on plasma substance P (SP), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, glutamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and on urinary 5-HT, and to explore relationships with clinical outcomes. Methods: In this prospective study, plasma neurotransmitters were analyzed in CM patients (n = 31) at baseline and one month after BoNT-A (155 U; PREEMPT protocol) and in healthy controls (n = 30). Plasma SP was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); plasma GABA, glutamate, and glutamine were quantified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with isotopically labeled internal standards; plasma and urinary 5-HT were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Clinical outcomes included monthly headache frequency, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS). Statistical analyses applied appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: One month post-BoNT-A, headache frequency, MIDAS, and VAS were significantly reduced (all p < 0.001). SP levels were significantly higher after BoNT-A than at baseline and versus controls. Plasma 5-HT increased post-BoNT-A, while urinary 5-HT decreased. Plasma GABA was elevated in patients versus controls without statistical significance. Glutamine was significantly higher before treatment, whereas the Glu/Gln ratio increased after BoNT-A. Correlations revealed that higher GABA was associated with lower VAS and attack frequency post-treatment. Conclusions: BoNT-A provided short-term clinical improvement with distinct neurochemical changes, including increased plasma SP and 5-HT, decreased urinary 5-HT, reduced glutamine, and a higher Glu/Gln ratio. These biomarkers, particularly Glu/Gln, may serve as indicators of cortical excitability and therapeutic response in CM.

Background: Chronological age inadequately captures biological vulnerability among surgical patients. Frailty and muscle strength reflect physiological reserve, yet their combined contribution to postoperative length of stay (LOS) remains insufficiently explored. Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter observational cohort study including 223 adults undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Frailty was assessed using the Fried phenotype, and admission handgrip strength (HGS) was measured with a calibrated dynamometer. Prolonged LOS was defined as >10 days (75th percentile) and also analyzed continuously using ln(LOS + 1). Multivariable logistic and linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, frailty status, and surgical indication. Patients were additionally stratified into four physiological reserve phenotypes combining frailty and HGS. Results: LOS ranged from 0 to 68 days; a total of 48 patients (21.6%) experienced prolonged hospitalization. In multivariable logistic regression, frailty (adjusted OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.72-5.67) and oncologic surgery (adjusted OR 7.63, 95% CI 3.12-18.65) were independently associated with prolonged LOS, whereas chronological age was not. Female sex was associated with lower odds of prolonged LOS (adjusted OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.87). Similar associations were observed when LOS was analyzed continuously. Physiological reserve phenotyping revealed graded LOS distributions: Fit-Strong patients had the shortest stays (mean 5.5 ± 4.3 days), while Frail-Weak patients experienced the longest and most variable hospitalization. Conclusions: Postoperative LOS clusters according to multidimensional physiological reserve rather than chronological age. Integrating frailty and muscle strength identifies clinically meaningful phenotypes that may improve perioperative risk stratification beyond age-based approaches and inform personalized perioperative planning, resource allocation, and patient-centered decision-making across heterogeneous surgical populations in worldwide settings.

Background/Objectives: While most patients resume sports within one year after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), data on whether patients achieve their desired level of sports activity remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between desired sports activity levels and postoperative outcomes after TKA and to identify factors associated with achieving the desired activity level. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 280 patients (63.9% female; mean age, 65.7 years) who underwent primary TKA with a mean follow-up of 28.2 months. The University of California and Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score was used pre- and postoperatively to assess the desired and the achieved activity level. Results: The mean UCLA activity score improved significantly after surgery (from 4.6 to 5.6; p < 0.001). However, the mean preoperative desired UCLA score was significantly higher than the mean postoperative achieved UCLA score (7.1 vs. 5.6; p < 0.001). Overall, 34.6% of patients reached their desired activity level. These patients demonstrated a significantly lower preoperative desired UCLA score (6.1 vs. 7.6; p < 0.001) and a higher postoperative achieved UCLA score (6.7 vs. 5.0; p < 0.001) compared with patients who did not. Male sex, higher preoperative UCLA scores, and lower preoperative desired UCLA scores were identified as independent predictors of achieving the desired activity level. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that despite excellent Knee Society function and WOMAC scores only 1/3 of patients reach their sport-related desired activity level. Surgeons must ensure that they communicate realistic expectations to patients prior to surgery, in order to avoid dissatisfaction that may arise from unmet expectations.

Background: The lead breakage (LB) during transvenous lead extraction (TLE) increases procedural complexity, increases the risk of complications, and decreases procedural efficiency. This study aimed to identify protective and risk factors for the breakage of cardiac electronic device leads during extraction. Methods: Data were sourced from the EXTRACT prospective registry for TLE procedures conducted between January 2016 and June 2025. A total of 702 consecutive TLE procedures involving 1375 leads were enrolled. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent protective and risk factors and develop a model to predict the occurrence of LB during TLE. Results: In the analysed group, 56 (7.98%) of 702 TLE procedures were disrupted by the breakage of at least one lead. The model showed a lower lead breakage rate in procedures when an atrial lead was simultaneously extracted, a locking stylet was used, and when the procedure was conducted in older patients or those who had undergone prior cardiac surgery. Higher risk of LB was proven in the following cases: the extraction of leads implanted a long time ago; the extraction of VDD-type leads; the extraction of abandoned leads; extraction during a prolonged procedure. Occurrence of lead breakage may lead to pericardial effusion requiring intervention, acute kidney injury, or leaving remnants of the leads. Conclusions: Lead breakage is an underestimated procedural difficulty that can occur during transvenous lead extraction. In this study, several clinical and procedural variables were independently associated with lead breakage. Abandoned leads, VDD leads, and prolonged procedure time were associated with increased risk. In contrast, older age, use of a locking stylet, atrial lead extraction, prior cardiac surgery, and later year of implantation demonstrated independent protective associations.

Background: Robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation via an extravesical approach (RALUR-EV) is an established minimally invasive option for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR); however, surgical success remains variable, and detrusorraphy technique is a key determinant of reflux resolution. This study evaluated whether a refined detrusorraphy technique is associated with improved surgical outcomes following RALUR-EV. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent RALUR-EV performed by a single surgeon between August 2013 and February 2023. A technique modification introduced in November 2021 incorporated ureteral adventitia inclusion during detrusorraphy and a distal-first detrusorraphy suture. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical period. Surgical success was defined as radiographic resolution of VUR on postoperative voiding cystourethrography without ureteral obstruction. Results: A total of 62 patients (96 ureters) were included. The modified technique group demonstrated significantly higher surgical success rates than the conventional group at both the ureter level (97.8% vs. 76.5%, p = 0.002) and the patient level (96.6% vs. 69.7%, p = 0.006). On patient-level multivariable analysis, the modified detrusorraphy technique was independently associated with a reduced risk of surgical failure. Conclusions: A refined detrusorraphy technique is associated with improved early radiographic success after RALUR-EV without increasing perioperative morbidity.

Background: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease and the second leading cause of irreversible blindness in developed countries. It is characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve axons, leading to permanent vision impairment. Although elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the main recognized risk factor, recent evidence suggests that ocular and gut microbiota may play a significant role in the onset and progression of glaucoma. Objectives: This study aimed to characterize ocular and gut microbiota alterations in patients with different types of glaucoma. Methods: Five searches were conducted between June and September 2025 using selected keywords. A total of 121 articles were identified, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Results: Findings indicate a Mendelian genetic predisposition influencing microbiota composition associated with glaucoma development. Patients treated with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) showed increased Gram-negative and Alphaproteobacteria on the ocular surface, along with enhanced lipopolysaccharide synthesis. Compared with controls, glaucoma patients exhibited reduced Corynebacterium mastiditis and Actinobacteria and increased Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobiota. Dysbiosis was more pronounced in patients with concurrent dry eye disease, characterized by higher Gram-negative taxa and pro-inflammatory microbial activity. Conclusions: Significant differences in ocular and gut microbiota were observed between glaucoma patients and controls, as well as among glaucoma subtypes such as pseudoexfoliation and primary open-angle glaucoma. Age-related dysbiosis and epigenetic factors appear to contribute to disease development. Microbiota profiling may offer new opportunities for improved prediction, management, and treatment of glaucoma.

Background/Objectives: Epilepsy represents one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in children, with a considerable proportion of patients exhibiting resistance to pharmacotherapy despite the advent of novel antiseizure medications (ASMs) in recent decades. This retrospective study assesses the off-label administration of cenobamate-a newly approved antiseizure medication (ASM) for focal seizures in adults-in a cohort of paediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy at a single neurology centre. Methods: Clinical outcomes were reviewed retrospectively for 18 children who received cenobamate for at least 6 months. Results: Eighteen paediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy received cenobamate therapy at a neurology centre. The mean age was 164.6 months, and each patient had previously trialled an average of 8.7 antiseizure medications. During a follow-up period of up to 29 months, 39% of participants achieved complete seizure freedom, while five additional patients experienced a seizure reduction exceeding 80%. Concomitant clobazam use was common among the cohort. Adverse events were reported in 78% of patients, predominantly somnolence, though these were generally transient or manageable. One patient developed a temporary exacerbation of seizures, which resolved following a dosage adjustment. Many patients were able to reduce or discontinue other ASMs during the observation period. Conclusions: Cenobamate demonstrated acceptable tolerability in this paediatric cohort, and seizure improvements were observed in a subset of patients. Further clinical trials are warranted to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of cenobamate in this patient population.