PubMed Trending Research Digest — September 19, 2026

Automated digest · 99 articles · 15 research areas · September 19, 2026

Overview

Across this week’s set of studies, a dominant theme is precision stratification—using biomarkers, imaging, and molecular profiling to better match patients to therapies and to predict outcomes. Examples include reappraising MET IHC/FISH cutoffs for savolitinib plus osimertinib, developing decentralized HCV antigen testing for point-of-care use, and building noninvasive models for clinically significant portal hypertension in HCC. In oncology, age-stratified proteogenomics in pediatric/AYA high-grade glioma and multiple NSCLC trials (METex14 and EGFR exon 20 insertions/PD-L1–positive disease) reinforce the push toward mechanism-informed, subtype-specific standards of care.

A second major thread is immune modulation—both mechanistic and translational. Several papers dissect how immune checkpoints and antigen presentation shape cancer immunity (e.g., TP53 neoantigen processing escape, TIGIT–CD155 effects on adapter CAR-T function, and TET2-driven myeloid reprogramming after radiotherapy). Alongside this, clinical and translational immunotherapy work spans CAR-T–associated secondary malignancy monitoring and novel B-cell–targeted mRNA CD19 T cell engagers for immune thrombocytopenia. Outside cancer, immune pathways also appear in microbiome–immune axes (dietary pectin driving IgA via specific microbial surface lipids; defined commensals for recurrent CDI prevention; and indoleacetic-acid–linked microbiota effects in allergic asthma).

Finally, the digest highlights expanding mechanistic biology and AI-enabled tools. Structural biology and systems approaches (ATR–ATRIP cryo-EM states, HUWE1 ubiquitin chain amplification, epitranscriptomic RNA phosphorothioates, and organelle-resolved spatial phenotyping) aim to identify actionable molecular control points. In parallel, AI benchmarks and foundation/agentic systems (LongevityBench, abdominal CT report-supervised RADAR, and “Virtual Biotech”) show accelerating momentum toward scalable, interpretable biomedical discovery—while clinical reviews and cohorts continue to emphasize real-world implementation, from frailty screening and cardiac rehab to sex-informed CKD research and progressive MS “smoldering” neuroinflammation targets.

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Hematologic Malignancies & Clonal Hematopoiesis

mRNA-encoding CD19-targeting T cell engager for refractory immune thrombocytopenia.

The study evaluated ABO2203, a lipid nanoparticle-formulated mRNA encoding a CD19-targeting T cell engager (TCE), in transgenic mice and in three first-in-human patients with refractory secondary immune thrombocytopenia. ABO2203 induced complete peripheral B-cell depletion with attenuated cytokine release in mice and achieved rapid, complete peripheral B-cell depletion with sustained bone-marrow depletion and durable platelet recovery in patients. These findings support mRNA-encoded CD19 TCEs as a potentially safer and more durable B-cell–targeted immunotherapy for refractory immune thrombocytopenia.

Wang M, Liu T, Dai Q et al. · Cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Outcomes of adult patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome and myeloid neoplasms.

This retrospective analysis studied treatment approaches and outcomes of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (MNs) in 14 individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) among 190 LFS patients. The median age at MN diagnosis was 43 years (range 25–73), and most MN cases were therapy-related (79% reported as therapy-related in the truncated abstract). Characterizing MN outcomes in LFS is clinically important for risk assessment and for tailoring surveillance and treatment strategies in this inherited cancer predisposition population.

Senapati J, Abdel-Salam HM, Jdanov VD et al. · Cancer · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Venetoclax Plus Hypomethylating Agent for 7- Versus 14- Versus 21- Versus 28-Day Cycles in Newly-Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia: ELN and Mayo Genetic Risk-Stratified Analysis in 540 Patients.

This Mayo Clinic–based ELN 2024 and Mayo genetic risk–stratified analysis studied newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (ND-AML) patients treated with venetoclax plus hypomethylating agents (Ven-HMA) using different Cycle 1 venetoclax durations (7, 14, 21, or 28 days) across 540 patients. Allogeneic stem cell transplant rates were similar across venetoclax duration groups (15%, 18%, 18%, and 20%; p=0.86), with transplant-censored survival reported as truncated in the abstract. These findings help define optimal venetoclax scheduling by genetic risk group in ND-AML, informing regimen design to balance efficacy and treatment burden.

Kumar S, Warraich M, Fatima M et al. · American journal of hematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Clinical activity and safety of rilzabrutinib in patients with previously treated immune thrombocytopenia (LUNA3): results from the open-label period of a phase 3 trial.

This report from the open-label period of the phase 3 LUNA3 trial evaluated long-term clinical activity and safety of rilzabrutinib in adults (≥18 years) with primary persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who had previously responded to intravenous or anti-D immunoglobulins or corticosteroids. Rilzabrutinib showed sustained activity with a favorable safety profile during the open-label follow-up. The long-term data strengthen the evidence base for rilzabrutinib as a therapeutic option for previously treated ITP patients.

Kuter DJ, Ghanima W, Cooper N et al. · The Lancet. Haematology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Exacerbation of inflammatory bone loss in TET2-driven clonal hematopoiesis.

Researchers investigated how TET2-driven clonal hematopoiesis (CHIP) affects inflammatory bone loss using mouse models with partial bone marrow reconstitution using Tet2-/- cells and monitoring periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss. TET2-deficient clonal expansion promoted spontaneous periodontitis and worsened inflammatory bone loss, linking TET2 loss to enhanced inflammatory pathology. These findings provide causal evidence that TET2-mutant CHIP can directly exacerbate inflammatory tissue damage, informing risk stratification for inflammatory complications in CHIP patients.

Wang H, Hu N, Barovic M et al. · Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

IDH3 regulates citrate homeostasis to control metabolic fitness and venetoclax resistance of AML stem cells.

This mechanistic study investigated how the TCA-cycle enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 (IDH3), specifically the IDH3A catalytic subunit, regulates citrate homeostasis to control metabolic fitness and venetoclax resistance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells. The authors found that IDH3 is more abundant in AML leukemic stem cells than in healthy hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, that TCA activity correlates with worse clinical outcomes, and that IDH3A knockdown impairs leukemic stem cell maintenance and reduces venetoclax resistance. These results are scientifically important because they identify IDH3 as a selective metabolic regulator and potential therapeutic target to overcome venetoclax resistance in AML.

Demir A, Mönnig M, Aroua N et al. · Blood · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Impact of maintenance therapy on survival after autologous stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma regardless of response: a global analysis.

This global real-world analysis evaluated the impact of maintenance therapy on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM), regardless of response, using the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) registry (transplants 2013–2017; n=8,269). Using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models with a 6-month landmark approach (including random effects for country), the study compared outcomes across different maintenance strategies. The results are clinically significant because they inform which maintenance regimens may improve survival after AHCT in NDMM patients in routine practice.

Cowan AJ, Gras L, Cassano R et al. · Haematologica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

T-cell lymphoma following chimeric antigen receptor-T therapy: a cause for concern?

This review synthesized evidence on T-cell lymphomas occurring after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies and multiple myeloma, drawing on pivotal trials, real-world registries, meta-analyses, pharmacovigilance data, and molecular case reports. It highlights that although T-cell lymphoma after CAR T is rare, accumulating reports have raised safety concerns and prompted regulatory attention, with discussion of incidence, biological plausibility, and clinical relevance. Scientifically and clinically, the article supports improved long-term monitoring and mechanistic understanding of secondary malignancy risk following CAR T therapy.

Stella F, Fraietta JA, Schuster SJ et al. · Haematologica · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cancer Treatment Trials & Therapeutic Strategies

Phase III Trials Test First-Line Options in Advanced NSCLC.

Two phase III trials (PAPILLON and REZILIENT3) and one phase III trial (HARMONi-2) were assessed for first-line treatment efficacy in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), focusing on EGFR exon 20 insertions and PD-L1–positive disease. PAPILLON and REZILIENT3 showed improved progression-free survival with amivantamab plus zipalertinib as first-line therapy for EGFR exon 20 insertions, while HARMONi-2 found ivonescimab improved overall survival versus pembrolizumab in PD-L1–positive NSCLC despite crossover limiting overall survival interpretation in the EGFR trials. These results support new standard-of-care options in specific NSCLC molecular subsets, with ivonescimab particularly relevant for China pending broader global validation.

Cancer discovery · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Navigating uncertainties and evidence gaps in adjuvant therapy for premenopausal women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

This article reviewed and synthesized evidence gaps in adjuvant therapy decision-making for premenopausal women with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer. It highlighted that treatment choices—especially endocrine therapy and the selective addition of CDK4/6 inhibitors in higher-risk patients—remain challenging due to heterogeneous and extrapolated evidence from broader (often postmenopausal) populations. The review underscores where future trials and better subgroup data are needed to optimize adjuvant treatment for this clinically distinct premenopausal population.

Licata L, Mariani M, Chiavassa A et al. · Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Proteogenomic analysis of pediatric and AYA high-grade glioma reveals age-dependent biology, female-male differences, and kinase targets.

This work performed comprehensive proteogenomic profiling of tumors from 112 pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) patients with high-grade glioma (age 0–40 years) to define tumor-intrinsic molecular features. It identified two AYA subgroups (adolescents 15–26 and young adults 26–40) with distinct molecular profiles and survival outcomes, implicating oxidative phosphorylation and neuronal system biology in progression. These age-stratified proteogenomic findings and kinase target signals support more precise, mechanism-informed therapeutic targeting in pediatric/AYA high-grade glioma.

Tignor NL, Koptyra M, Chowdhury S et al. · Cell reports. Medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A Multicenter Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing MET Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors vs. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With or Without Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring MET Exon 14 Skipping Mutations: JCOG2506 (DECIDE-MET).

This multicenter randomized Phase III trial (JCOG2506, DECIDE-MET) studied first-line treatment strategies in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations by comparing MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors versus immune checkpoint inhibitors with or without chemotherapy. The trial is designed to directly determine which approach yields more favorable outcomes, motivated by retrospective data suggesting ICI-based therapy may match or exceed MET-TKI survival and may differ in tolerability. If successful, DECIDE-MET will provide high-level evidence to set optimal first-line standards for the clinically distinct METex14-mutant NSCLC population.

Mitome N, Kunimasa K, Nomura S et al. · Clinical lung cancer · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Reappraisal of Cisplatin vs Carboplatin Treatment for Solid Tumors: An Umbrella Meta-Analysis.

This umbrella meta-analysis compared cisplatin- versus carboplatin-based systemic therapies across solid tumors by reanalyzing evidence from published meta-analyses. The study quantified and graded the certainty of evidence for efficacy and safety outcomes between the two platinum regimens. Clinically, it helps refine which platinum agent has stronger evidence for benefit and tolerability in specific solid-tumor contexts.

Jiménez-Labaig P, Mirallas O, Pereira F et al. · JAMA network open · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

PDS0101 With Pembrolizumab in HPV16-Positive Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

This phase 2, open-label, multicenter nonrandomized trial (V-002) evaluated PDS0101, an HPV16-targeted immunotherapy, in combination with pembrolizumab in HPV16-positive recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), with separate analyses for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-naive versus ICI-resistant cohorts. The study’s key finding was the efficacy and safety profile of PDS0101 plus pembrolizumab across these two HPV16 R/M HNSCC populations. The results are significant because they test a tumor-targeted strategy for HPV16-driven disease and may expand therapeutic options for patients who have limited durable responses to existing ICI-based regimens.

Weiss J, Kaczmar J, Chintakuntlawar A et al. · JAMA oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Targeting tryptophan hydroxylase 1 restricts growth and suppresses plasticity in neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

This study investigated the role of tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1) in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), including de novo and therapy-induced NEPC models in human systems. The key finding was that TPH1 upregulation was necessary and sufficient for neuroendocrine differentiation and that targeting TPH1 restricted tumor growth while suppressing phenotypic plasticity. This is clinically important because it identifies TPH1 as a potential therapeutic target to counter NEPC emergence after androgen receptor signaling inhibitor treatment.

Wei J, Wang J, Chen J et al. · The Journal of clinical investigation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Spontaneous lytic reactivation drives a persistent B cell-vector pathway for epithelial dissemination of the Epstein-Barr virus.

The study investigated how Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) drives epithelial dissemination via a persistent B cell-vector pathway, using an induction-free primary B cell system. It found that B cells infected with carcinoma-associated EBV strains exhibited markedly higher epithelial transmission than those carrying lymphoproliferative strains, supporting a strain-dependent mechanism linking ubiquitous B cell infection to distant epithelial spread. This clarifies a biological bridge between EBV infection and epithelial carcinogenesis and suggests potential intervention points in the B cell–mediated dissemination process.

Vo DNK, Chang CT, Ho HPT et al. · Cell reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Advances in therapeutic approaches to gastric cancer.

This 2026 clinical review summarized advances in diagnosis and treatment strategies for gastric cancer, focusing on early-stage endoscopic resection/minimally invasive surgery and curative surgery for locally advanced disease (including D2 lymphadenectomy) plus perioperative systemic therapy. The key message is that standard curative approaches for early and locally advanced gastric cancer remain surgery-centered (with D2 lymphadenectomy as the cornerstone for locally advanced disease), while systemic therapies are used perioperatively to improve outcomes. The review is clinically significant because it consolidates current evidence to guide treatment selection across disease stages.

Wang F, Wang ZX, Zhang YJ et al. · CA: a cancer journal for clinicians · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

RAS-targeted therapies for pancreatic cancer.

This 2026 review summarized RAS-targeted therapeutic strategies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), emphasizing the shift enabled by the discovery of the KRAS switch-II pocket. The key finding is that KRASG12C inhibitors can achieve tumor control in KRASG12C-mutant cancers including PDAC, and it also discusses emerging pan-RAS approaches such as daraxonrasib. This is clinically significant because it frames current and next-generation targeted options for a RAS-driven cancer with historically limited targeted therapy success.

Chan LL, Kwong TT, Yau JCW et al. · ESMO gastrointestinal oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Autoimmune & Inflammatory Disease (Rheumatology/IBD/IA)

Breakthrough Hemolysis in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: Mechanistic Insights and Management Strategies.

This article reviewed the mechanisms and management of breakthrough hemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a disease driven by somatic PIGA mutations causing loss of GPI-anchored complement regulators CD55 and CD59. It highlights that terminal complement inhibitors reduce intravascular hemolysis but do not prevent C3-mediated extravascular hemolysis, whereas proximal complement inhibition may better address this residual hemolysis. Understanding these mechanistic gaps is clinically significant for selecting complement inhibitor strategies to reduce ongoing hemolysis and transfusion needs in PNH.

Raman G, Vivek M, Hasan R et al. · Transfusion · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Comparison of demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics among patients with irritable bowel syndrome meeting the Rome clinical, Rome V, and Rome IV criteria.

This prospective tertiary-clinic study compared demographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics among adults with suspected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who met different diagnostic criteria sets: Rome clinical criteria only, Rome V only, or Rome IV. Participants were classified into mutually exclusive groups after symptom questionnaires and investigations to exclude organic disease, and the study assessed diagnostic discordance and characteristic differences across criteria (details truncated). Clarifying how Rome clinical criteria map onto Rome V and Rome IV profiles is scientifically and clinically important for improving IBS diagnosis consistency and applicability.

Wu J, Thongchuenjit S, Luo X et al. · The American journal of gastroenterology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Clinical phenotypes of ANCA-associated vasculitis using ensemble clustering: prognostic and therapeutic insights from two Japanese cohorts.

This multicenter retrospective study used ensemble clustering on high-dimensional organ-involvement data to derive clinical phenotypes of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) from two Japanese nationwide cohorts (J-CANVAS derivation and JPVAS validation). The analysis identified data-driven disease phenotypes across microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and assessed their prognostic and therapeutic implications. The significance lies in providing a more granular, phenotype-based framework that may better predict outcomes and inform treatment choices than conventional subtype or ANCA serotype classification.

Inoue H, Kida T, Fujioka K et al. · Rheumatology (Oxford, England) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Sex and menopausal status differences in coronary calcification and extra-coronary computed tomography findings in inflammatory arthritis.

This cross-sectional study examined inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients aged >40 years without prior cardiovascular disease to assess sex and menopausal status differences in computed tomography (CT) cardiovascular abnormalities, including coronary artery calcium (CAC) scored by the Agatston method. The key finding was that CT-detected coronary calcification and extra-coronary CT findings differed by sex and menopausal status among IA patients. This is significant because it helps clarify how demographic factors modify cardiovascular risk phenotypes in IA, potentially guiding more tailored screening and prevention.

Mohammed MA, Nguyen E, Shahab S et al. · Clinical and experimental rheumatology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Real-world effectiveness and drug retention rate of risankizumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis: data from the multicentre GIRRCS cohort.

This observational multicentre GIRRCS cohort study evaluated real-world effectiveness and 6-month treatment persistence of the IL-23 p19 inhibitor risankizumab in 55 consecutive adults with moderate-to-active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treated between January 2022 and June 2025. Risankizumab improved PsA disease activity at 6 months as assessed by DAPSA using age- and sex-adjusted linear mixed-effects modeling, with treatment retention/persistence also assessed over follow-up. These real-world effectiveness and retention data support risankizumab as a practical therapeutic option for moderate-to-active PsA outside randomized trials.

Caso F, Celletti E, Pantano I et al. · Expert opinion on biological therapy · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Comparative Safety of Common Immunosuppressant Therapies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Target Trial Emulation Study.

This target trial emulation study compared infection-related hospitalization risk among non-renal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients initiating azathioprine, belimumab, methotrexate, or mycophenolic acid analogues (MPAA) using Optum Labs Data Warehouse claims. Excluding patients with prior lupus nephritis and other major confounders, it estimated time to first infection-related hospitalization with intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. The results are significant for selecting immunosuppressive regimens in SLE by quantifying real-world infection hospitalization risk.

Duarte-García A, Sandino-Bermúdez MJ, González-Treviño M et al. · Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Transcriptomic Profiling in Skeletal Muscle Identifies Associations With Knee Osteoarthritis: the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA).

This study examined associations between skeletal muscle bulk RNA sequencing (RNAseq) gene expression in vastus lateralis and knee osteoarthritis (OA) severity among older adults in the Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA) cohort (n=523; 56% female). Compared with controls (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grade ≤1), 27 genes were associated with KL≥2 and 41 genes with KL≥3 (FDR≤0.05) in differential expression analyses using nested case groups. These transcriptomic links between muscle gene programs and radiographic knee OA could help identify biological pathways and biomarkers relevant to OA risk and progression.

Evans DS, Mansfield TA, Many GM et al. · Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cardiovascular Risk, Rehabilitation & Frailty

Divergent associations of estimated cardiorespiratory fitness with cognitive trajectories in Chinese and U.S. middle-aged and older adults: A descriptive cross-national comparison from CHARLS and HRS.

This cross-national descriptive study examined whether estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) had divergent associations with cognitive trajectories in Chinese (CHARLS, n=3458) versus U.S. (HRS, n=6905) middle-aged and older adults. Using latent class growth modeling for cognitive trajectories and sex-specific non-exercise algorithms to estimate eCRF in METs, the study tested associations between per-1-MET eCRF and trajectory membership via multinomial logistic regression (results truncated). Demonstrating population-specific fitness–cognition relationships is significant for tailoring preventive strategies and interpreting observational cognitive aging evidence across cultures.

Ma J, Chen N, Xu L et al. · Alzheimer’s & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease.

This Cochrane review studied the clinical and cost-effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (exercise training alone or with psychosocial/educational components) versus no-exercise control in people with coronary heart disease. The review synthesized evidence on mortality, morbidity, and health-related quality of life outcomes to determine whether exercise-based rehabilitation improves patient endpoints. The findings are intended to guide evidence-based rehabilitation recommendations for CHD management across diverse healthcare settings.

Dibben G, de Vries FB, Faulkner J et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Handgrip strength asymmetry and cardiometabolic multimorbidity in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: a longitudinal cohort study.

This longitudinal cohort study followed 8132 Chinese adults aged 45–80 years without cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) at baseline in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011–2020) to test whether handgrip strength asymmetry predicts incident CMM. Handgrip asymmetry (defined as ≥10% relative difference between hands) was associated with a higher risk of developing CMM over follow-up, with exploratory effects examined across sleep duration and restless-sleep frequency categories. These findings suggest that simple, bedside measures of grip asymmetry may help identify older adults at elevated cardiometabolic risk, potentially enabling earlier prevention strategies.

Huang Y, Huang L, Gao Y et al. · Experimental gerontology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Effects of Resistance Training on Muscle Hypertrophy in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated how resistance training affects muscle hypertrophy in children and adolescents (<18 years), examining differences by maturational stage, sex, and hypertrophy-oriented program design. The pooled results quantified hypertrophy responses to resistance training and assessed whether effects varied across puberty-related stages and training characteristics. Scientifically and clinically, it supports evidence-based recommendations for resistance training in youth by clarifying expected morphological adaptations during development.

Komm Y, Zeiler L, Held S et al. · Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Accelerometer-derived real-world sleep stages and risk of incident diseases: A UK Biobank cohort study and phenome-wide association analysis.

This UK Biobank cohort study analyzed wrist-worn accelerometer data from 95,559 participants to determine how objectively derived sleep stages (REM, N1, N2, N3), sleep duration, and sleep irregularity relate to risk of incident diseases using phenome-wide association analysis. The key finding was that specific accelerometer-derived sleep-stage and sleep-pattern metrics were associated with increased risk of developing various diseases. This is clinically important because it links real-world, objective sleep physiology to future morbidity beyond what self-report or polysomnography alone can capture.

Luo J, Liu R, Yin J et al. · PLoS medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Eyeballing for Frailty Assessment in Elderly Patients Referred for Coronary Angiography.

This prospective observational study assessed whether physician “eyeballing” can accurately detect frailty in elderly patients (≥70 years) referred for coronary angiography, compared with the formal Fried frailty test. Two blinded cardiologists independently rated frailty using both a Fried test and an eyeballing Fried-like scale. If validated, eyeballing could provide a faster bedside frailty screen to improve risk stratification for invasive cardiac procedures.

Hilu R, Arow Z, Barashi R et al. · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Molecular/Cellular Mechanisms & Systems Biology (incl. AI benchmarks)

Mechanistic insights into phosphorylation-driven activation and therapeutic inhibition of human ATR-ATRIP.

This mechanistic study investigated how phosphorylation-driven activation and therapeutic inhibition regulate the human ATR–ATRIP complex. Using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy, the authors resolved multiple functional states of ATR–ATRIP, including ATPγS-bound precatalytic states and inhibitor-bound states with gartisertib, berzosertib, ceralasertib, and elimusertib, showing that ATPγS binding can prime the ATR catalytic center and position Chk1 with minimal conformational rearrangement. These structural insights are clinically significant for improving rational development and optimization of ATR inhibitors used in cancer therapy.

Wang L, Wang M, Zhao L et al. · Nature structural & molecular biology · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Gene regulatory mechanisms downstream of DNA methylation.

This Nature Reviews Genetics article reviewed gene regulatory mechanisms downstream of cytosine DNA methylation, focusing on how methylation is interpreted by reader proteins and transcription factors to shape transcriptional programs and chromatin architecture. It synthesizes evidence on how methylation affects chromatin accessibility, recruits effector complexes, and interfaces with parallel epigenetic systems (details truncated). This review is significant for guiding future research into how DNA methylation translates into functional gene regulation and genome stability across eukaryotes.

Buckley TJ, Burns MJ, Jarry L et al. · Nature reviews. Genetics · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

AP2-HS and a GDV1 regulatory feedback loop mediate environmental induction of sexual conversion in Plasmodium falciparum.

This study investigated how environmental stress in Plasmodium falciparum induces sexual conversion to gametocytes, focusing on the transcription factors AP2-HS and GDV1. Environmental induction of gdv1 expression and sexual conversion required AP2-HS, which acts as an activator or repressor in different regulatory pathways. The work clarifies a molecular regulatory feedback loop controlling malaria transmission and identifies AP2-HS/GDV1 as potential targets to block gametocytogenesis.

Tintó-Font E, Casas-Vila N, Martínez-Guardiola C et al. · Nature microbiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Hypoxia-activated scleraxis a mediates epicardial progenitor differentiation into a unique cardiac perivascular cell type.

This study examined how hypoxia regulates epicardial progenitor cell fate in zebrafish, identifying the transcription factor scleraxis a (scxa) and its downstream differentiation program during development and cardiac injury. Single-cell transcriptomics, genetic lineage tracing, and injury models showed transient scxa expression in activated epicardial progenitor cells, which predominantly differentiated into a novel col18a1a+ epicardial-derived perivascular cell population. These results define a hypoxia-activated scxa-mediated mechanism for generating a specific perivascular cell type, informing regenerative strategies for heart repair.

Perder B, Xia Y, Yao J et al. · Nature communications · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Drug-induced metabolic remodeling promotes antimicrobial activity in macrophages and extends longevity in vivo.

This study used systems biology and single-cell analyses to determine how the silane derivative K21 reprograms human macrophage metabolism and antimicrobial function, and tested its effects on longevity in vivo. K21 reduced Enterococcus faecalis infectivity in macrophages while enhancing bacterial phagocytosis, with pathway changes resembling mitophagy inducers and pro-inflammatory activation in both M1 and M2 macrophage states. These results indicate that drug-induced metabolic remodeling can boost broad antimicrobial activity and may extend lifespan, supporting K21 as a candidate immunometabolic therapeutic.

Hollmann C, Chan Park E, Liu Z et al. · Life science alliance · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Toward autonomous science with agentic artificial intelligence.

This Cell perspective reviewed the evolution of AI in biomedicine toward agentic systems that can generate hypotheses, design experiments, perform computational analysis, and iteratively refine reasoning using experimental feedback. It highlighted recent agentic platforms (e.g., Co-Scientist, Robin, and Biomni) as examples of increasingly autonomous scientific workflows. The article frames how agentic AI could accelerate discovery in biomedical research while discussing scaling and the concept of autonomous laboratories.

Guo LY, Ting DSJ, Su X et al. · Cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Phosphate backbone epitranscriptomics: Discovery of natural RNA phosphorothioates and their writer machinery.

This study developed sequencing- and mass spectrometry-based methods to detect and map RNA phosphorothioates (PSs) at single-nucleotide resolution and to identify their enzymatic “writer” machinery. Across diverse archaeal species, the authors identified stereospecific PS modifications in rRNA and tRNA hotspots that were dynamically regulated by sulfur availability and temperature, and they uncovered a diverse enzyme family responsible for PS installation. These advances establish phosphate-backbone epitranscriptomics as a natural RNA modification system and provide tools to study its regulation and biological roles.

Maman A, Nobe Y, Fluke KA et al. · Cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Zonated cholesterol sensing by SIRT2 drives MASLD-HCC.

In models of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), this study examined how zonated cholesterol sensing is controlled by sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) in liver zonation. Lineage tracing indicated zone 1 hepatocytes as the tumor origin, and SIRT2 overexpression in zone 1 drove HCC while SIRT2 deletion prevented carcinogenesis by restoring cholesterol/bile acid metabolism and enhancing CD8+ T cell recruitment. Mechanistically, cholesterol activated SIRT2, which deacetylated sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) at Lys546 to block downstream peroxisome-related reprogramming, linking metabolic zonation to tumorigenesis.

Zhang Y, Long X, Fu Y et al. · Cell metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Post-inhibitory rebound firing promotes hypothalamic activation during male mating in mice.

Using in vivo neural recordings in male mice during mating, this study examined how inhibitory circuitry enables activation of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) during mount initiation. Mount-active mPOA neurons were suppressed before behavioral onset, and the degree of suppression—dependent on bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) activity—predicted subsequent activation consistent with post-inhibitory rebound firing (PIR). These results clarify how PIR converts inhibitory limbic-hypothalamic dynamics into behaviorally timed activation, informing circuit-level models of reproductive behavior.

Zhang W, Zha X, Cao H et al. · Neuron · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Phylogenomics and museomics reveal five distinct species of tiger cats in South America.

The study used phylogenomics and “museomics” to analyze complete genomes from 38 individuals of the Neotropical cat genus Leopardus, including 26 samples from the Leopardus tigrinus species complex and eight genomes from museum specimens to assess the type locality in the Guiana Shield. The authors found the complex comprises five distinct species, including a novel species discovered in Bolivia. This genomic reclassification improves biodiversity understanding and conservation planning for cryptic South American felids by resolving evolutionary units that were previously treated as a single species complex.

Lescroart J, Nogales-Ascarrunz P, Cassatt-Johnstone M et al. · Current biology : CB · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Molecular mechanism of HUWE1-HAPSTR1-USP7-mediated ubiquitin chain amplification on nuclear proteins.

This study elucidated the molecular mechanism of ubiquitin chain amplification on nuclear proteins by the HUWE1 E3 ligase in complex with HAPSTR1 and USP7, using structural and biochemical approaches. The authors showed HUWE1 acts as a ubiquitin chain amplifier that captures pre-ubiquitinated substrates and assembles long ubiquitin chains with K11–K48 branch points, regulated by HUWE1 partners HAPSTR1 and USP7. By defining how HUWE1–HAPSTR1–USP7 increases degradation signals, the work advances understanding of stress-responsive nuclear protein turnover and substrate selectivity.

Yatskevich S, Mohapatra J, Mroue R et al. · Molecular cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

An open benchmark and language models for AI in aging biology.

The authors developed LongevityBench, an open benchmark of 17 tasks across five biodata domains, and evaluated 18 frontier AI systems (and fine-tuned multitask Longevity-LLMs) for interpreting heterogeneous aging data. They found no single model dominates all tasks and that omics-based age prediction is the hardest task regardless of scale. This benchmark and modeling framework provides a standardized way to measure and improve AI performance in aging biology, accelerating translation of multi-omics analyses into interpretable predictors.

Zhavoronkov A, Naumov V, Sidorenko D et al. · Cell · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Exosomes in Alzheimer’s Disease: From Pathological Mechanisms to Biomarker Potential and Therapeutic Applications.

This review summarized current evidence on exosomes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), focusing on pathological mechanisms and their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic delivery tools. It highlights that exosomes may both contribute to amyloid-β and tau propagation and serve as blood-based biomarker candidates, while also discussing context-dependent roles in microglia and disease progression. By integrating mechanistic and translational evidence, the review supports continued development of exosome-based diagnostics and therapies for AD.

Aydın AC · Molecular neurobiology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Evidence for multiple prion conformers in natural scrapie isolates.

This work studied whether natural scrapie isolates contain multiple prion conformers (including minor, hidden substrains) by using a modified protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) approach. The key finding was evidence consistent with multiple prion conformers within classical scrapie isolates, indicating the presence of more than one transmissible/biologically relevant prion population. This is significant for understanding prion strain diversity and for assessing potential transmission risks to humans and livestock.

Imamura M, Miyazawa K, Okada H et al. · PLoS pathogens · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Lipids regulate export of lysosomal enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum.

This PNAS study examined how lipid metabolism regulates the export of lysosomal enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), focusing on the role of de novo lipogenesis. The key finding was that inhibiting de novo lipogenesis causes lysosomal enzymes to be retained in the ER, demonstrating that fatty-acid synthesis controls ER-to-lysosome enzyme transport. This is significant because it identifies a metabolic control point for lysosomal trafficking that could be relevant to lysosomal storage disorders and related diseases.

Xia B, Han M, Park I et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

NAD+ depletion by catalytic TIR domains triggers a distinct form of regulated necrosis in mammalian cells.

This PNAS study investigated how catalytic Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains that deplete NAD+ trigger a distinct regulated necrosis pathway in mammalian cells. The key finding was that NAD+ depletion driven by catalytic TIR domains induces a specific form of regulated necrosis and that SARM1’s NADase activity is linked to host cell death and suppression of TLR signaling. This is clinically and scientifically important because it connects NAD+ metabolism to innate immune regulation and regulated cell death mechanisms that may be targetable in inflammatory or neurodegenerative contexts.

Espinas NA, Lacante L, Hartenian E et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

The Virtual Biotech: A multi-agent AI framework for therapeutic discovery and development.

The study developed and tested the “Virtual Biotech,” a multi-agent AI framework for therapeutic discovery and development, with AI agents covering target discovery, safety assessment, modality selection, and clinical development. Using annotated outcomes from 55,984 trials, it found that drugs targeting cell-type-specific genes were 48% more likely to reach market with 32% fewer adverse events and that multimodal evidence could be integrated to propose therapeutic strategies at key decision points. This provides a scalable, evidence-integrating computational pipeline that could accelerate safer, more effective drug development by prioritizing cell-type-specific targets and reducing adverse-event burden.

Zhang HG, Eckmann P, Miao J et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Ancient DNA unveils distinctive ancestries in the Bronze and Iron Ages of East Tianshan.

The study used genome-wide ancient DNA from 135 individuals across 11 archaeological sites in East Tianshan to reconstruct Bronze and Iron Age population history. It identified a previously unrecognized Bronze Age admixture between Yellow River millet-farmer–related populations and steppe pastoralists associated with the Chemurchek culture, with little contribution from contemporaneous middle-to-late Bronze Age steppe pastoralists, and found increased heterogeneity by the Iron Age. This refines models of Eurasian steppe and agricultural population interactions and clarifies how regional ancestry shifted over time in a key Central–East Asia corridor.

Ning C, Wang K, Wang T et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Multi-organelle signatures map cell-state diversity and metabolic adaptation in tissues.

The study developed spatial Organellomics (sOrganellomics), an imaging workflow combining automated segmentation with machine learning to classify cell states from multi-organelle signatures, and applied it to liver and pancreas tissues. The organelle-defined signatures distinguished broad cellular classes and revealed that hepatocyte categories were not fully explained by zonal position, indicating intermixed hepatocyte states and metabolic/stress adaptation patterns. This advances organelle-resolved spatial phenotyping as a way to map cell-state diversity and tissue adaptability beyond transcription-only approaches.

Adhikari R, Hillsley A, Johnson AD et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Splenic regulation of systemic platelet activation state.

The study investigated how the spleen regulates systemic platelet activation state in mice, focusing on molecular pathways controlling platelet quiescence during thrombotic and inflammatory conditions. It found that the spleen filters activated platelets to limit pathology and that platelet activation via glycoprotein VI (GPVI) in splenic red pulp is counterbalanced by G6b-B inhibitory signaling triggered by perlecan in quiescent platelets. These results identify a physiological spleen–platelet inhibitory axis (GPVI/perlecan–G6b-B) that could be targeted to prevent hyperresponsive platelet states and thrombotic complications.

Laun L, Leunig A, Zhang F et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A noncontiguous code for RNA-guided DNA recognition at the origin of CRISPR-Cas.

The study examined how the earliest CRISPR-Cas effector system could have arisen by characterizing Viral Interference Programmable Repeat (VIPR) systems, including a Vipr protein ancestral to early CRISPR-Cas effectors and VIPR RNAs (vrRNAs) with alternating GGY/NN motifs. It showed that vrRNAs recognize double-stranded DNA using a noncontiguous “gapped” code in which variable NN dinucleotides collectively specify the target sequence, consistent with natural vrRNA targets against competing phages. This mechanistic insight links RNA-guided DNA recognition to a plausible evolutionary precursor of CRISPR-Cas and expands the design principles for programmable DNA targeting systems.

Yoon PH, Loi KJ, Zhang ZT et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

VIPR RNA-guided DNA recognition by noncontiguous geometric triplex formation.

The study elucidated the molecular mechanism of VIPR RNA-guided DNA recognition by determining 21 cryo-electron microscopy structures of the Vipr protein–vrRNA complex bound to DNA. It showed that Vipr protomers oligomerize along the vrRNA to form a right-handed helical filament that positions GGY and NN segments for target engagement, and that DNA binding skips every third nucleotide to form a gapped vrRNA–DNA hybrid that creates a geometric triplex. This structural mechanism explains how a noncontiguous RNA code achieves precise DNA targeting and informs rational engineering of programmable nucleic-acid recognition systems.

Yoon PH, Docter TA, Zhang ZT et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Emerging roles of the ciliary-mitochondrial axis in cellular homeostasis and neuroprotection.

This 2025 review examined how the ciliary-mitochondrial axis regulates cellular homeostasis and neuroprotection, focusing on bidirectional signaling/metabolic coupling between primary cilia and mitochondria. The key finding is that this axis integrates calcium dynamics, bioenergetics, and organelle quality control (including mitophagy) and that dysfunction contributes to neuronal vulnerability. This is significant because it highlights mechanistic targets and biomarkers that could be leveraged for neuroprotective strategies in neurodegenerative disease.

Miller E, Bambakidis P, Templin P et al. · Molecular neurodegeneration advances · (2025) · 2 citations · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A human two-hit platform modeling post-ischemic sterile inflammation and diastolic dysfunction in hiPSC-derived cardiac models.

This study developed a human two-hit in vitro platform to model post-ischemic sterile inflammation and diastolic dysfunction using HUVECs, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), and 3D heart organoids (hHOs). The key finding was that oxidative priming followed by exposure to macrophage secondary necrosis secretome (SN-Sec) recapitulated redox-activated inflammatory and electromechanical dysfunction phenotypes relevant to post-MI/R injury. This is scientifically significant because it provides a human-relevant model to dissect mechanisms linking sterile inflammation to cardiac functional impairment.

Jeong SE, Han C, Kim JH et al. · Materials today. Bio · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Effective amyloid clearance with lecanemab in a female with Alzheimer’s disease: A case report.

This 2026 case report described an 81-year-old woman with amnestic mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease treated with the anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody lecanemab for 18 months in a non-trial clinical setting. The key finding was effective amyloid clearance on follow-up assessment after prolonged lecanemab therapy. This is clinically significant because it adds real-world evidence on disease-modifying anti-amyloid therapy effectiveness and tolerability outside randomized trials.

Noguchi-Shinohara M, Ono K · Radiology case reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

A novel mitochondrial microprotein reprograms cellular bioenergetics and protects against hepatic steatosis.

The study used a novel proteomic strategy combining organelle enrichment with a custom small open reading frame (sORF) database to identify mitochondrial “dark proteome” regulators in mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The authors discovered the 28–amino acid mitochondrial microprotein MNP33, which localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane and protected mice by reducing body-weight gain, improving glucose homeostasis, and decreasing hepatic triacylglycerol accumulation. These findings suggest MNP33 as a potential therapeutic target for MASLD by reprogramming cellular bioenergetics at the mitochondrial level.

Xu Y, Yuan Q, Wang Y et al. · iScience · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Human papilloma virus as causal in breast cancer.

This review evaluated whether high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are causally involved in breast cancer by synthesizing evidence from multiple countries and study designs. It reports that HPV DNA/transcripts and oncogenic activity (including E6/E7 expression) have been detected in breast cancers (reported 32.7%) more often than in benign/normal controls (7.6%), and that HPV-positive benign lesions can progress to HPV-positive malignancies. If validated, HPV-driven mechanisms could support HPV-targeted prevention or therapies for a subset of breast cancers.

Lawson JS, Glenn WK · Frontiers in oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Gut microbiota dysbiosis shapes brain T-cell immunity in accelerated aging.

This animal study examined how gut microbiota dysbiosis shapes brain T-cell immunity during accelerated aging using senescence-accelerated SAMP8 mice versus senescence-resistant SAMR1 controls at young and aged stages. It found that accelerated-aging SAMP8 mice showed behavioral decline and brain transcriptomic changes alongside age-associated alterations in fecal microbiota composition and brain T-cell profiles. These results support a gut–brain immunology mechanism linking microbiome dysbiosis to neuroinflammation and immune aging.

Peschke L, Nguyen TT, Leite JA et al. · Gut microbes · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

SAV1 in Cooperation With FKBP52 Participates in Implantation.

This mechanistic study identified Salvador homolog 1 (SAV1), a Hippo pathway scaffold, as a critical regulator of progesterone (P4)- and estrogen (E2)-dependent endometrial changes required for implantation. It reported that deletion of Sav1 disrupts the temporal coordination of P4-progesterone receptor (PR) signaling with estrogenic cues, and it further implicated SAV1’s cooperation with FKBP52 in implantation-related processes. The findings are significant because they define a specific gene–pathway interaction (SAV1 with FKBP52) that may control uterine receptivity and could inform targets for improving implantation outcomes.

Shao Y, Lu Y, Jia Z et al. · Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Immuno-oncology & Cellular Immunotherapy (CAR-T/Checkpoint/T cells)

Spatiotemporal single-cell profiling reveals T cell clonal dynamics and phenotypic plasticity in human graft-versus-host disease.

This study mapped T cell clonal dynamics and phenotypic plasticity in human graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) by integrating longitudinal T cell receptor (TCR) profiling with single-cell RNA sequencing/TCR sequencing and spatial transcriptomics in 31 transplant recipients. The authors developed DecompTCR to resolve temporal dynamics and computational methods to map clone phenotypes and niches, finding that cyclophosphamide selectively depletes alloreactive clones but that insufficient early expansion can lead to incomplete depletion and severe disease (truncated). These findings are significant for understanding how specific T cell clones drive tissue injury and for optimizing timing and targeting of immunosuppression in GVHD.

Shi L, Uzuni A, Wang XK et al. · Nature immunology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Cancers modulate processing and presentation of p53 neoantigens to evade T cell detection.

This study investigated how cancers evade T cell detection of TP53 neoantigens by analyzing immunogenicity and antigen presentation of p53-derived peptides in human tumors. Comprehensive immunopeptidomics showed that hotspot TP53 mutations preferentially occur in p53 regions resistant to antigen processing, leading to reduced or absent presentation of HLA-A02:01- or HLA-B07:02–presentable neoantigens in clinical tumors. This mechanistic insight identifies antigen-processing escape as a common feature of TP53-mutant cancers and informs neoantigen-based immunotherapy design.

Haratani K, Reinhold B, Duke-Cohan JS et al. · Immunity · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Myeloid reprogramming generates myeloid-derived activating cells to potentiate radiotherapy and suppress metastasis.

In advanced lung cancer models receiving radio-immunotherapy, this study identified TET2 as a radiation-induced regulator of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tested whether myeloid-specific Tet2 deletion alters post-radiotherapy immune cell fate. After radiotherapy, deleting Tet2 suppressed tumor progression and redirected monocytes toward antigen-presenting myeloid-derived activating cells (MDACs) that enhanced antitumor T cell responses, mediated by a radiation-responsive p53–TET2 axis that altered chromatin m5C. These findings support targeting the TET2-controlled myeloid reprogramming pathway to improve the efficacy of radiotherapy and reduce metastasis.

Ji F, Zheng L, Chen D et al. · Cancer cell · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma With PD-L1 Combined Positive Score Less Than 1: A Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

This Bayesian meta-analysis studied whether immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improve or worsen survival in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) whose tumors have a programmed death-ligand 1 combined positive score (PD-L1 CPS) <1, drawing on phase 3 randomized clinical trials. The analysis quantified the probability of survival benefit versus standard non-ICI therapy specifically for the PD-L1 CPS <1 subgroup. These findings are clinically significant because they directly inform the evidence base for using PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in HNSCC patients who fall below the commonly used PD-L1 threshold for expected benefit.

Jin M, Shi S, Li Z et al. · JAMA oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Immune checkpoint knockout screen reveals TIGIT-CD155 interaction as a significant modulator of adapter CAR-T cell function in acute myeloid leukemia.

This study used an immune checkpoint knockout screen to identify how TIGIT-CD155 signaling modulates adapter CAR-T cell function in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The authors report that TIGIT-CD155 interaction significantly affected AdCAR-T activity, and they investigated checkpoint receptors (PD-1, CD96, LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT) and immunomodulatory CD276 using multiparametric flow cytometry. The findings are significant because they pinpoint a specific immune checkpoint axis that could be targeted to improve adapter CAR-T efficacy and safety in AML.

Mast AS, Atar D, Ruoff L et al. · Oncoimmunology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Epilepsy & Antiseizure Therapeutics

Levetiracetam therapeutically targets GABAergic synapses in diffuse midline glioma.

This study evaluated whether the antiseizure drug levetiracetam improves outcomes in children with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) versus hemispheric high-grade glioma, and tested its antitumor effects in DMG orthotopic xenograft mouse models. Retrospective real-world clinical data showed longer overall survival in pediatric DMG patients taking levetiracetam, and preclinical experiments found reduced glioma proliferation/tumor burden with extended survival in mice. These findings support repurposing levetiracetam to therapeutically target GABAergic synapses as a potential adjunct strategy specifically for DMG.

Barron T, Drexler R, Mochizuki A et al. · Nature medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Cancer Biomarkers, Diagnostics & Patient Selection

Prognostic Impact of Serum microRNA Profiles on the Progression-Free Survival of Patients With High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

This study assessed whether serum microRNA profiles measured pre-, peri-, and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy predict progression-free survival in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Using Cox regression with leave-one-out LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) on microRNA microarray data, the authors identified prognostic serum microRNA signatures associated with progression-free survival across treatment timepoints. The findings suggest that minimally invasive serum microRNA profiling could help stratify risk and guide management in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Uehara T, Matsuzaki J, Yamamoto Y et al. · The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Evaluation of MET Detection Methods and Cutoffs in EGFR-Mutated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Following Disease Progression on Osimertinib in the phase II SAVANNAH study.

This phase II SAVANNAH study evaluated MET detection methods and the MET cutoffs used to define the primary efficacy population in EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer after progression on osimertinib. MET overexpression was measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and MET amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and the analysis reappraised the cutoff thresholds used for patient selection. The work is significant because it informs how MET biomarkers should be measured to optimize enrichment and interpretation of outcomes for savolitinib plus osimertinib.

Ahn MJ, de Marinis F, Cho BC et al. · Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Germline EGFR T790M mutation and lung cancer risk.

The study assessed whether the germline EGFR T790M variant is associated with lung cancer risk in a large population of more than 3.3 million individuals. The EGFR T790M germline variant was significantly associated with lung cancer risk, showed no increased risk for 17 other cancers, had no interaction with polygenic risk, and conferred several-fold higher risk in never-smokers than smoking alone. These findings establish inherited EGFR T790M as a clinically relevant lung cancer predisposition marker, supporting risk stratification beyond smoking and polygenic risk scores.

LoPiccolo J, Micheletti S, Shi J et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

An expert-level generalist AI for abdominal CT diagnosis.

The study developed RADAR, an expert-level generalist vision-language AI model for abdominal CT diagnosis trained on more than 400,000 contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scans and 15 million anatomy-wise image-text pairs using clinical reports without manual image annotation. Across internal and external multi-center evaluations, RADAR achieved robust generalization for 18 anatomical structures and 146 imaging findings, and a reader study assessed its assistance for clinical interpretation. This supports the feasibility of report-supervised, annotation-light foundation models that can deliver expert-like diagnostic performance across diverse abdominal imaging tasks.

Zhang Q, Zhang J, Cao W et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Noninvasive Prediction of Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Tumor-Adjusted Model.

This multicenter retrospective study evaluated how tumor-related factors affect noninvasive clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) prediction in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by relating liver stiffness measurement (LSM) to hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Using 452 patients with compensated cirrhosis and HCC who had LSM and HVPG within three months, the authors developed a tumor-adjusted model to improve CSPH prediction beyond standard LSM/platelet criteria (Baveno VII). A tumor-adjusted noninvasive model could reduce misclassification of CSPH in HCC and better guide management without invasive HVPG measurement.

Demirtas CO, Mezzacappa C, Sartoris R et al. · The American journal of gastroenterology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Dermatology & Allergy (including Eczema/Asthma/Atopic Dermatitis)

Efficacy and Field Safety of the Second-Generation, Highly Selective JAK1 Inhibitor Atinvicitinib for the Treatment of Canine Atopic Dermatitis: A Multicentre, Blinded, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial in Client-Owned Dogs.

This randomized, masked, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and field safety of the second-generation, highly selective JAK1 inhibitor atinvicitinib in 61 client-owned dogs with canine atopic dermatitis. Atinvicitinib dosing regimens (0.8–1.2 mg/kg once daily or 0.4–0.6 mg/kg twice daily for 14 days followed by once daily) were compared with placebo b.i.d.-q.d., with the study designed to confirm the optimal regimen over 28 days. The trial provides veterinary clinical evidence for JAK1-targeted therapy to reduce pruritus and improve outcomes in canine atopic dermatitis.

Jirjis F, Kowalski TJ, Lynn RC et al. · Veterinary dermatology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Anatomical distribution of infant eczema predicts food allergy and food sensitization in early childhood.

This prospective population-based cohort study examined whether the anatomical distribution of infant eczema at 9 months predicts food allergy and food sensitization at 18 months in 4456 children from the NorthPop Birth Cohort Study in Sweden. Children with eczema involving different body sites showed different risks for later physician-diagnosed food allergy and food sensitization, indicating that eczema location is a meaningful predictor. Clinically, this supports using eczema distribution to refine early risk assessment and potentially target prevention strategies for food allergy.

Bodén S, Österlund J, Klinteberg MA et al. · The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum GUANKE Alleviates Allergic Asthma by Restricting Monocyte-to-DC Differentiation Via Microbiota-Associated IAA.

This study investigated whether Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GUANKE alleviates allergic asthma by modulating dendritic cell (DC)-driven airway inflammation through microbiota-associated indoleacetic acid (IAA). GUANKE provided prophylactic and therapeutic protection by reducing airway hyperresponsiveness and Th2 inflammation, partially restoring regulatory T cells (Tregs), and antibiotic depletion plus fecal microbiota transfer supported a microbiota-dependent mechanism. The work is significant because it links a specific gut microbe and metabolite pathway (IAA) to immune regulation in allergic airway disease, suggesting a potential microbiome-based intervention strategy.

He Y, Mi J, Zhao Z et al. · Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Microbiome, Probiotics & Diet–Microbe–Immune Interactions

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii EXL01 Strain for the prevention of multiple-recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection.

This study evaluated whether the defined commensal strain Faecalibacterium prausnitzii EXL01 can prevent multiple-recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, first in a murine CDI model and then in a multicenter open-label single-arm phase I trial in adults with ≥3 CDI episodes. After vancomycin preconditioning, patients received oral EXL01 for 8 weeks with 8-week follow-up, with safety as the primary endpoint and microbiome/clinical outcomes as secondary endpoints. If effective and safe, EXL01 would provide a scalable, defined alternative to fecal microbiota transplantation for preventing rCDI recurrence.

Benech N, Guarino-Vignon P, McLellan P et al. · Gastroenterology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Dietary pectin remodels commensal bacterial surfaces to promote IgA-mediated protection from intestinal inflammation.

The study tested whether dietary pectin drives strain-specific IgA responses by using gnotobiotic mice mono-colonized with Bacteroides uniformis and assessing mucosal inflammation outcomes. Dietary pectin induced a microbiota-dependent high-IgA phenotype via a pectin-responsive rcsC-associated regulatory program that remodels bacterial surfaces, with HexCer (34:0) recognized by the CLEC4E receptor on intestinal neutrophils; CLEC4E deficiency abrogated IgA induction. This mechanistic diet–microbe–immune pathway clarifies how specific microbial surface lipids can be harnessed to promote IgA-mediated protection from intestinal inflammation.

Tang W, Wang Y, Feng S et al. · Cell host & microbe · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Probiotics in Cardiometabolic Diseases: Current Evidence, Postbiotic Perspectives, and Future Directions.

This narrative review summarized current evidence for probiotics in cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) and discussed emerging postbiotic approaches and future directions, focusing on gut microbiome-mediated mechanisms relevant to obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. It emphasizes that microbial dysbiosis can influence cardiometabolic pathology through multiple signaling axes, and that probiotic or postbiotic interventions may modulate these pathways. The significance is that it frames how microbiome-targeted therapies could be optimized for CMD prevention or treatment based on mechanistic and clinical evidence.

Yang F, Qin W, Zhang G et al. · Journal of microbiology and biotechnology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Effects of Wilac D001 (Weissella confusa WIKIM51) Supplementation on Metabolic Parameters and Central Adiposity in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tested whether supplementation with Wilac D001 (Weissella confusa WIKIM51) improves metabolic parameters and central adiposity in overweight adults, and it explored GLP-1-related mechanisms. The study evaluated GLP-1 secretory activity after Wilac D001 in vitro using STC-1 enteroendocrine cells and used a high-fat-diet mouse model (C57BL/6 males) to assess metabolic effects after oral dosing for 10 weeks. If Wilac D001 improves central adiposity and metabolic outcomes via GLP-1 pathways, it could represent a microbiome-targeted strategy for obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction.

Park S, Lee B, Sun H et al. · Journal of microbiology and biotechnology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Infectious Diseases (HCV/HIV-like/Other Pathogens) & Vaccines

Effectiveness of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines against hospitalisation according to frailty risk: a prespecified analysis of the randomised trial DANFLU-2.

In a prespecified analysis of the open-label, individually randomized DANFLU-2 trial, adults aged ≥65 years in Denmark were randomized to high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV) versus standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (SD-IIV) and vaccine effectiveness was assessed by frailty risk. High-dose vaccination provided relative vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for influenza or pneumonia that varied by frailty category. This supports tailoring influenza vaccination strategies for older adults by frailty status to reduce severe outcomes.

Espersen C, Johansen ND, Modin D et al. · The lancet. Healthy longevity · (2027) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

State-level burden of chronic respiratory diseases in the USA, 1990-2023, with forecasts to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.

Using Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 data, this systematic analysis quantified US state-level burden and trends (1990–2023) for chronic respiratory diseases (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among others), identified contributing risk factors, and projected prevalence to 2050. The study reported substantial geographic disparities in prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) across US states, with forward projections indicating continued burden changes through 2050. These results provide actionable, region-specific targets for public health interventions addressing modifiable environmental, occupational, and behavioral risks.

The Lancet. Respiratory medicine · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

A novel decentralized rapid test for detection of HCV antigens using smart polymer technology: a prospective multinational study.

This prospective multinational diagnostic accuracy study developed and evaluated SMART-C, a decentralized lateral-flow HCV antigen test using smart polymer technology, for point-of-care use. SMART-C performance was assessed against the Cobas 6800 HCV RNA PCR assay as the reference standard using blinded paired serum/plasma samples from Egypt, Pakistan, and Japan. The study is significant because it advances a rapid, affordable approach for detecting HCV antigen in decentralized settings where RNA PCR is less feasible.

Shiha G, Ebara M, Hassan A et al. · The Journal of infectious diseases · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Tobramycin enhances Mycobacterium abscessus fitness through whiB7 induction.

This study investigated how tobramycin affects Mycobacterium abscessus fitness by focusing on whiB7 induction in the context of chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection. The key finding was that tobramycin enhances M. abscessus fitness through induction of the bacterial gene regulator whiB7. This is important scientifically because it reveals a mechanism by which an antibiotic used in co-infections (e.g., in cystic fibrosis) could inadvertently promote persistence of M. abscessus.

Corley JM, Congel JH, Haist KC et al. · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Screening the MMV Pathogen Box reveals the mitochondrial bc1-complex as a drug target in mature Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites.

This study used a human myotube-based culture model to screen compounds from the MMV Pathogen Box for activity against mature Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites, identifying the mitochondrial bc1-complex as a drug target. The key finding was that compounds targeting the mitochondrial bc1-complex can inhibit or impair mature bradyzoite biology, addressing the long-standing failure of therapies that mainly affect tachyzoites. This is scientifically significant because it provides a tractable target and screening framework for developing therapies that can eradicate chronic T. gondii infection.

Maus D, Putrianti E, Hoffmann T et al. · eLife · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Global Burden and Temporal Trends of Early-Onset Tracheal, Bronchial, and Lung Cancer: An Analysis of GLOBOCAN 2022 and GBD 2023 Data.

This study quantified the global burden and temporal trends of early-onset tracheal, bronchial, and lung (EOTBL) cancer using GLOBOCAN 2022 and GBD 2023 data, stratifying by geography and Human Development Index (HDI) tiers. It reported 137,705 incident cases and 72,646 deaths globally in 2022, with Eastern Asia having the highest incidence and higher HDI regions showing the greatest incidence burden. These findings are significant for identifying where prevention and control efforts should be prioritized to address socioeconomic disparities in early-onset lung cancer.

Tian Y, Zhang W, Lu Y et al. · Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Surgical Oncology & Perioperative Care

Cutting-edge organization: A consensus-informed framework in surgical oncology.

This position paper studied how to organize surgical oncology care by proposing a consensus-informed, network-based Hub-and-Spoke framework rather than focusing solely on case volume. It argues for procedure- and disease-specific referral criteria, minimum center requirements, multidisciplinary decision-making, rescue capacity, outcome monitoring, and equity safeguards to balance quality with access and sustainability. The framework is significant for guiding health-system design to reduce delays and fragmentation while maintaining high-quality cancer surgery delivery.

Nicolai N, Bogani G, Agresti R et al. · European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Complication Profile of Reoperative Thyroidectomy Versus First-Time Thyroidectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis studied complication rates of reoperative thyroidectomy versus first-time thyroidectomy by searching multiple databases through October 2025. The goal was to synthesize heterogeneous evidence to quantify comparative complication risks associated with reoperation after prior thyroid surgery. The results are clinically significant because they can better inform surgical risk counseling and decision-making for patients requiring repeat thyroid operations.

Ghani A, van Zoest E, Al Rashdi AS et al. · The Journal of surgical research · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Suzetrigine for Postoperative Pain in Head and Neck Free Flap or Transoral Robotic Surgery.

This retrospective cohort study assessed whether adjunctive suzetrigine, a selective NaV1.8 inhibitor, reduces postoperative opioid consumption after head and neck surgery involving free flap reconstruction or transoral robotic surgery. Patients receiving suzetrigine had lower postoperative opioid requirements compared with those who did not receive it. The findings are clinically relevant because they suggest a potential opioid-sparing strategy for postoperative pain management in these common surgical settings.

Bestourous DE, Soule S, Beiriger J et al. · JAMA otolaryngology— head & neck surgery · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Intrauterine Mepivacaine Instillation vs Placebo for Pain During IUD Placement: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

This multicenter, double-blind, randomized clinical trial tested whether intrauterine instillation of mepivacaine reduces pain during IUD placement compared with placebo in nulliparous individuals. The trial evaluated pain outcomes during the procedure and whether mepivacaine provided meaningful analgesia for this population. The results are important for improving patient comfort, satisfaction, and informed contraceptive decision-making during IUD insertion.

Elgemark K, Envall N, Kopp Kallner H · JAMA · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Neurodevelopmental & Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Prevalence of neuropsychiatric and seizure disorders in neurofibromatosis type 1: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of neuropsychiatric and seizure disorders in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), including analyses that compared NF1 general versus NF1 microdeletions. Across included studies, the authors synthesized pooled prevalence estimates for intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epileptic seizures, and emotional disorders in NF1. These findings clarify the burden of neurologic and psychiatric comorbidities in NF1 and support more targeted screening and genotype-informed clinical management.

Moreno-Charco E, Pascual-Morena C, Álvarez-Bueno C et al. · Journal of neurology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Transcriptome-based classification in mice with ASD-risk mutations.

The study created a sex-balanced atlas of 1008 prefrontal RNA-seq profiles from 17 mouse lines carrying autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-risk mutations to classify transcriptomic states. It identified two opposing transcriptomic states that differed in sex bias, regional specificity, developmental stability, cell type remodeling, and responses to fluoxetine and lithium, with single-nucleus RNA-seq showing broader cell type remodeling in one group and reciprocal cell-type module associations. This provides a mutation-to-transcriptome framework that can guide mechanism-based stratification and therapeutic response hypotheses for ASD.

Roh JD, Jun Y, Jeon H et al. · Science (New York, N.Y.) · (2026) · 1 citations · View on PubMed ↗

Smoldering neuroinflammation in progressive multiple sclerosis: mechanisms, imaging biomarkers, and therapeutic opportunities.

This 2026 narrative review focused on progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and the concept of smoldering neuroinflammation, including mechanisms, pathological substrates (e.g., chronic active lesions), imaging biomarkers, and therapeutic opportunities. The key finding is that progression is driven by a distinct, persistent inflammatory process beyond acute relapses, with chronic active lesions featuring ongoing lesion-edge inflammation and incomplete repair. This is significant because it frames new biomarker and treatment targets aimed at the smoldering inflammatory component of progressive MS.

Wang M, Zhu BC, Mao X · Frontiers in immunology · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Use of neurostimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression: current options and future directions.

This expert review summarized current and emerging neurostimulation modalities for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), focusing on circuit-level neuromodulation approaches. It highlights options including rTMS and theta-burst/accelerated TMS, deep TMS, transcranial electrical stimulation, temporal interference stimulation, photobiomodulation, low-field magnetic stimulation, transcranial focused ultrasound, and electroconvulsive therapy, and discusses future directions. The synthesis is clinically significant because it maps device-based strategies to TRD’s network dysfunction and may guide selection of next-step interventions.

Noda Y · Expert review of medical devices · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

[Intravenous ketamine in suicidal crisis : indications and patient referral].

This clinical article reviewed the use of intravenous (IV) ketamine for patients in suicidal crisis, focusing on indications and referral pathways. It emphasizes that IV ketamine can reduce suicidal ideation within hours in treatment-resistant depression and acute suicidal crisis, but requires hospital-based monitoring and a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. The guidance is clinically important for primary care clinicians to identify appropriate candidates and route patients safely into specialized care.

Nasserdine R, Xhymshiti L, Paporé AC et al. · Revue medicale suisse · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

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Pulmonary Hypertension & Cardio-Pulmonary Risk Prediction

The added value of echocardiography in pulmonary arterial hypertension risk assessment an artificial intelligence machine learning-derived analysis of the ULTRA RIGHT VALUE registry.

This machine learning–derived analysis evaluated whether adding right-ventricular (RV) echocardiographic information improves pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) mortality risk prediction beyond existing scores. Using the multicenter ULTRA RIGHT VALUE registry cohort of 401 prevalent PAH patients, the study assessed the added value of echocardiography of the RV to risk scores such as REVEAL 2.0 and other comparator models. The clinical significance is that incorporating RV-focused echocardiographic features may improve risk stratification and guide management in PAH.

Tello K, Escribano-Subias P, Ghio S et al. · European heart journal. Cardiovascular Imaging · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Kidney Disease (CKD/AKI/DKD) & Sex Differences

Glucosuria as a Marker of Adherence to Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Clinical Outcomes in Real-World Practice.

This real-world cohort study used Optum Labs Data Warehouse (2014–2023) to test whether glucosuria on routine urinalysis serves as an objective marker of adherence to sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and whether adherence proxies relate to clinical outcomes in patients prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors. The key finding was that glucosuria patterns during active fill periods were associated with adherence and with downstream clinical outcomes, supporting glucosuria as a practical adherence proxy. This is scientifically and clinically important because it offers a scalable, urine-based method to reduce the efficacy–effectiveness gap for SGLT2 inhibitor therapy in routine care.

Li Z, Surapaneni A, Charytan DM et al. · Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

Women’s Kidney Health in Focus: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

This American Heart Association scientific statement reviewed sex differences in chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemiology, progression, treatment response, and outcomes, emphasizing that women are underrepresented in clinical trials. The key finding is that women have higher CKD prevalence but lower rates of progression to kidney failure and that estrogen receptor signaling may contribute to sex-specific renal physiology and pathophysiology. This is clinically significant because it argues for sex-informed CKD research and care to improve evidence-based kidney health for women.

Gohar EY, Oh ES, Ahmed SB et al. · Circulation · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗

AKI in Severe Legionnaires’ Disease in Intensive Care Unit.

This multicentre retrospective cohort study in 39 French ICUs (2012–2024) investigated incidence, clinical features, prognosis, and risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) in 561 critically ill patients with Legionnaires’ disease requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. The key finding was characterization of AKI burden and its prognostic implications in severe Legionnaires’ disease, along with identification of factors associated with AKI development. This is clinically significant because it informs risk stratification and management of kidney complications in ICU patients with Legionella pneumonia.

Bobot M, Charruyer E, Arrestier R et al. · Kidney international reports · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Comparative Cardiorenal Efficacy and Safety of Finerenone, SGLT2 Inhibitors, Semaglutide and Their Combination in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

This study performed a frequentist network meta-analysis of randomized trials to compare cardiorenal efficacy and safety of finerenone, SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin/canagliflozin), semaglutide, and their combination in adults with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Across 10 randomized datasets (37,923 participants), the interventions including dapagliflozin, canagliflozin, finerenone, and semaglutide reduced cardiovascular composite events versus control (with safety and other cardiorenal outcomes assessed). The results are important for evidence-based selection and potential sequencing of kidney-protective therapies in DKD.

Zhou Z, Fu L, Chen D et al. · Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

Predicting the Long-Term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease With Orforglipron in People With Overweight or Obesity: A Post Hoc Analysis of the ATTAIN-1 Trial.

This post hoc analysis assessed how orforglipron (5.5 mg, 9 mg, or 17.2 mg) versus placebo for 72 weeks changed predicted 10-year cardiometabolic risk in adults with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes (ATTAIN-1; ≥18 years). Orforglipron treatment was evaluated using three validated risk engines—Cardiometabolic Disease Staging (T2D risk), Framingham (total CVD risk), and PREVENT (total CVD/ASCVD risk)—to quantify shifts from baseline to week 72. If risk predictions track real-world outcomes, these findings would support orforglipron’s potential to reduce long-term T2D and cardiovascular disease risk in high-risk obese/overweight populations.

Shinde S, Kahles F, Vasileva-Metodiev S et al. · Diabetes, obesity & metabolism · (2026) · View on PubMed ↗ · Free PDF ↗

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Generated automatically on September 19, 2026 from PubMed’s trending articles. Summaries are AI-generated; always consult the original publication for clinical or research decisions.