Publications by Year: 2025

BACKGROUND: Serum hepatic injury markers indexes are altered in COVID-19 patients. We aimed to explore the factors that could be associated with abnormal serum hepatic injury markers in adult COVID-19 patients.

METHODS: Eight main hepatic injury markers were examined. Demographic and hematological information, mean CT values (MCTVs) of liver and pancreas, and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness were recorded. Regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to abnormal hepatic injury markers.

RESULTS: 1,007 adult COVID-19 patients (444 males and 563 females) were included, among whom 697 patients (69.2%) had at least one abnormal hepatic injury markers marker. Females had lower risks of elevated Total Bilirubin (TBil), Direct Bilirubin (Dbil), ALT, AST, GGT and decreased albumin, with ORs of 0.61 (95%CI: 0.42-0.89), 0.36 (95%CI: 0.16-0.83), 0.20 (95%CI: 0.12-0.32), 0.42 (95%CI: 0.30-0.58), 0.36 (95%CI: 0.22-0.60) and 0.40 (95%CI: 0.30-0.54). Patients with greater ratios of subcutaneous fat thickness to abdominal diameters also had lower risks of abnormalities in these six markers. Older patients had higher serum levels of AST but lower levels of albumin and ALT. The risks of abnormal DBil and AST were 3.26 and 1.62 times higher in patients with a history of HBV infection. Patients with many abnormal hepatic injury markers indexes had significantly lower MCTVs of liver and pancreas and higher levels of fibrinogen and LDH in blood.

CONCLUSIONS: Sex, age, HBV infection, fibrinogen, LDH, liver and pancreas MCTVs, and ratio of abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness to the sum of the abdominal diameters were independently associated with many abnormal serum hepatic injury markers in adult COVID-19 patients.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and its corresponding Fc epsilon receptors (FcϵRs) are essential components of the immune system. The constant, crystallizable fragment (Fc) region of IgE binds with high affinity to its specific receptor, FcϵRI, anchoring IgE molecules to the surface of effector cells such as mast cells and basophils. Once bound, IgE uses its antigen-binding fragment (Fab) to recognize specific antigens. Antigen-induced crosslinking of cell-bound IgE triggers activation of these effector cells. Over fifty years ago, intensive research identified IgE as a key mediator of allergic reactions. Subsequent studies have demonstrated that the production of antigen-specific IgE and its interactions with innate immune cells are critical not only for allergic responses but also for certain non-atopic immune processes. N-glycosylation, a crucial post-translational modification, has been shown to strongly influence the stability and function of IgG antibodies. Similarly, glycosylation is vital for maintaining the structure and biological activity of IgE. Individual variations in IgE glycosylation patterns regulate its functional properties, contributing to the diversity and complexity of IgE-mediated immune responses. Given the emerging role of IgE in non-atopic diseases, understanding how site-specific glycosylation variations affect IgE function is essential for characterizing disease-specific molecular signatures and identifying new therapeutic targets. Comprehensive glycoproteomic analyses of IgE from diverse pathological conditions may clarify how glycosylation influences disease progression, identify Fc glycans associated with pathology, and elucidate their biological roles.

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors, with treatment involving resection and radiation therapy. However, therapeutic options are limited for recurrent or progressive disease, particularly in higher World Health Organization (WHO) grade tumors. Somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression in meningiomas has opened new therapeutic opportunities as the differential SSTR2 overexpression permits molecular targeting using radiolabeled somatostatin analogs. PRRT offers promising therapeutic efficacy in select meningioma patients, with clinical responses strongly correlated to WHO tumor grade and SSTR expression levels. Combining SSTR PET imaging, to evaluate receptor density, with radiomic analysis can reveal tumor heterogeneity patterns and quantitative imaging features that can guide clinical decision-making and monitor treatment response. Integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical workflows offer novel approaches to apply quantitative SUV parameters, image texture features, and histopathologic data in order to identify patients with WHO grade II and III meningiomas at greater risk of tumor recurrence. Given the heterogeneity in imaging and treatment protocols across institutions and the limited number of PRRT-treated meningioma cohorts, future research should prioritize prospective, multicenter studies that integrate histologic and molecular imaging data to refine patient selection strategies and establish PRRT's role within personalized, precision cancer treatment paradigms.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant psychological response of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. This review synthesizes evidence on the psychological, socioemotional, and biomedical determinants of cancer-related PTSD, emphasizing how these factors interact across the disease trajectory.

METHODS: We conducted a narrative integrative review of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Eligible studies included articles published between 2015 and March 2025 reporting adults with cancer assessed for PTSD using validated instruments across different study designs. Based on findings on prevalence, predictors, and assessment tools a biopsychosocial model was structured.

RESULTS: Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria, mainly from the United States and China, with breast cancer as the most frequently studied diagnosis. Reported PTSD prevalence ranged widely, from 0 to 72.5%, depending on the instruments and cutoffs used. Psychological determinants included affective comorbidities, fear of recurrence, maladaptive coping, and prior psychiatric history. Socioemotional determinants involved social support, communication quality, demographic variables, and cultural factors. Medical-biological determinants related to treatment aggressiveness, symptom burden, disease stage, and inflammation. Younger age, female sex, and limited social support consistently elevated risk. PTSD was associated with lower quality of life, reduced adherence to treatment, and poorer survivorship outcomes.

CONCLUSION: Cancer-related PTSD reflects the continuous interaction of psychological, socio-emotional, and medical-biological factors across the cancer journey. These findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive assessment tools and for adapting interventions to the specific demands of each phase of care. Increasing trauma-informed awareness among multidisciplinary teams can enhance early identification of at-risk patients and support patient-centered care.

INTRODUCTION: Women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) than men, with hormonal changes during menopause being a potential factor. However, the exact relationship between these hormonal changes, cognitive function, and AD pathology is not fully understood. This study investigates the differential associations between serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels with cognitive function and cerebral amyloid-βeta (Aβ) deposition, quantified using amyloid positron emission tomography, in postmenopausal women across the spectrum from cognitively normal aging to AD dementia.

METHODS: A total of 884 postmenopausal women, aged 60 years or older, were enrolled in the study. Participants were classified into three groups based on their cognitive function: cognitively normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD dementia.

RESULTS: Higher FSH levels were associated with poorer cognitive performance and greater cerebral Aβ deposition in postmenopausal women. FSH levels were highest in women with AD dementia, followed by those with MCI, and lowest in CN participants. No significant relationship was observed between estradiol levels and cognitive outcomes or Aβ burden. Further analysis showed a positive correlation between FSH levels and global as well as regional cerebral Aβ deposition. Mediation analysis indicated that FSH's impact on cognitive function was mediated by cerebral Aβ burden. Estradiol levels, however, had no significant association with either cognitive performance or Aβ pathology.

DISCUSSION: Elevated FSH, not low E2, is linked to cognitive decline and Aβ pathology in postmenopausal women. FSH may be a key risk factor for cerebral Aβ deposition and cognitive decline in older women. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved and explore hormonal interventions for AD.

Bereavement following an opioid overdose death (OOD) is a particularly disturbing circumstance of sudden, unexpected loss. Despite epidemic proportions, little is known about grief in the wake of an OOD. We collected cross-sectional survey data from N=158 individuals grieving an OOD, supporting someone actively using opioids, or grieving while supporting similar others, to better understand the mental health impacts of these experiences. Study participants completed assessments of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), and prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Regression models examined associations between learning of a close other's opioid use, the OOD of a child, the OOD of a contemporary, increases in substance use following the event, and current mental health symptoms. Post-hoc path modeling evaluated mediated relationships between losing a child or contemporary to OOD and current mental health symptoms. Losing a child to OOD was associated with increased overall substance use (OR=4.10) during the following year and increased current symptoms of PGD (β=0.46). Increasing substance use following the event was significantly associated with greater current symptoms of PGD (β=0.24), PTSD (β=0.28), SUD (β=0.29), and depression (β=0.27). Indirect effects mediated by increased substance use after the event were observed between both types of bereavement and current symptoms of depression, PTSD, and SUD. Substance use post-loss appears to contribute to adverse outcomes and future research should address ways to reduce substance use and promote adaptive coping in OOD bereavement.