Sinisa Maksimovic, Ivan Kuhajda, Jelena Djekic-Malbasa, Dragana Tegeltija, Tamara Maksimovic, Ivan Ergelasev
{"title":"Pretreatment and dynamic neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in relation to CT-based volumetric response to platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in NSCLC.","authors":"Sinisa Maksimovic, Ivan Kuhajda, Jelena Djekic-Malbasa, Dragana Tegeltija, Tamara Maksimovic, Ivan Ergelasev","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.14043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.14043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) serves as a marker of systemic inflammation and is an established prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its predictive value for treatment response, particularly when evaluated through three-dimensional CT volumetry, remains ambiguous. This study investigates whether pretreatment NLR and treatment-related changes in NLR correlate with volumetric tumor response to platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Adult patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC who received platinum-based NACT and had evaluable pre- and posttreatment CT imaging were included in the analysis. Tumor response was defined as a ≥30% reduction using three-dimensional CT volumetry. We analyzed pretreatment NLR, posttreatment NLR, changes in NLR (ΔNLR), and the NLR ratio. To enhance statistical stability, additional analyses utilized log-transformed NLR values. Associations were examined through non-parametric tests, correlation analysis, and both univariable and multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, histology, disease stage, performance status, and baseline tumor volume. A total of 70 patients were included, with 33 (47.1%) achieving a volumetric response. NLR decreased during treatment (median ΔNLR = -0.42), yet no significant differences were noted between responders and non-responders regarding pretreatment NLR (p = 0.773), posttreatment NLR (p = 0.920), ΔNLR (p = 0.514), or NLR ratio (p = 0.630). None of the NLR-derived parameters showed significant associations with treatment response in univariable or multivariable models, including those utilizing log-transformed variables. Furthermore, the NLR ratio exhibited substantial instability, reflected in wide confidence intervals. In conclusion, within this cohort, neither pretreatment nor dynamic NLR parameters were significantly associated with CT-based volumetric tumor response following platinum-based NACT.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Edie Gobel, Grace S Saglimbeni, Iosef I Perez, Bhanu Surabi Upadhyayula, Tyson J Morris, Akaash Surendra, Beau Hsia, Abubakar Tauseef
{"title":"Genomic and mutational landscape of anaplastic ependymoma: Insights from the AACR Project GENIE Consortium.","authors":"Edie Gobel, Grace S Saglimbeni, Iosef I Perez, Bhanu Surabi Upadhyayula, Tyson J Morris, Akaash Surendra, Beau Hsia, Abubakar Tauseef","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.13602","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.13602","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anaplastic ependymoma (AE) is a rare and aggressive central nervous system tumor that predominantly affects children and remains inadequately characterized at the genomic level. This study aimed to delineate the genomic and demographic landscape of histologically defined AE while identifying potential therapeutic targets. We conducted a retrospective analysis of AE cases from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Project Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (GENIE) repository via cBioPortal, examining recurrent somatic mutations, copy number alterations, mutation co-occurrence, and exploratory sex- and race-based enrichment using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. The most frequent alterations included mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter, followed by recurrent changes in lysine methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D), lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A), lysine methyltransferase 2C (KMT2C), E1A binding protein p300 (EP300), additional sex combs like 1 (ASXL1), and SET domain containing 2 (SETD2), indicating significant disruption of chromatin remodeling. Recurrent alterations in tumor protein p53 (TP53), ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) suggested dysregulation of the p53 and DNA damage response pathways. Additionally, alterations in notch receptor 1 (NOTCH1) and notch receptor 2 (NOTCH2) indicated aberrant NOTCH signaling. Neurofibromin 2 (NF2) mutations were observed in male patients, and exploratory subgroup differences emerged across racial groups. Overall, AE appears to be driven by recurrent alterations in chromatin remodeling, p53, DNA damage response, and NOTCH signaling pathways, highlighting these areas as priorities for future biological validation and therapeutic investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ionuț-Alexandru Chelaru, Ramona-Alexandra Ciausu, Alexandra Savuca, Camelia Ureche, Mircea Nicusor Nicoara, Alin Stelian Ciobica, Gabriel-Andrei Andronic, Rares-Mircea Ambrosie, Dorel Ureche
{"title":"Effects of environmentally relevant ibuprofen and valproic acid exposure on zebrafish behavior.","authors":"Ionuț-Alexandru Chelaru, Ramona-Alexandra Ciausu, Alexandra Savuca, Camelia Ureche, Mircea Nicusor Nicoara, Alin Stelian Ciobica, Gabriel-Andrei Andronic, Rares-Mircea Ambrosie, Dorel Ureche","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.14030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.14030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are increasingly entering aquatic environments due to human and veterinary use, wastewater discharges, and inadequate waste containment, raising significant concerns for both ecosystems and human health. Ibuprofen and valproic acid are among the pharmaceuticals detected in surface waters, primarily due to incomplete metabolism and the limited removal efficiency of conventional wastewater treatment systems. Ibuprofen, readily available over the counter, is frequently found in high concentrations, while valproic acid, which is available only by prescription, is detected less often, likely reflecting its more restricted use. This study employed the established behavioral ecotoxicology model, Danio rerio, to investigate the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of ibuprofen (20 µg L-1) and valproic acid (3 µg L-1) on zebrafish (8 months old) after 96 hours of exposure. Both compounds influenced locomotor and anxiety-related endpoints, with changes in social preference primarily associated with valproic acid exposure. Single compound exposures resulted in reduced total distance traveled and average velocity, while combined exposure did not differ from the control group, indicating no additive locomotor impairment. Inactivity duration decreased in both individual treatments, most significantly with valproic acid, whereas the mixture produced no significant effect. Only ibuprofen reduced counterclockwise rotations, suggesting a mild anxiolytic-like response. Given the ecological importance of social cohesion and locomotor performance in predator avoidance, foraging, and reproduction, such behavioral disruptions may compromise population stability. These findings highlight the necessity of integrating behavioral endpoints and considerations of mixture toxicity into ecological risk assessments of pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Konstantinos Papatheodosiou, Andreas M Matthaiou, Nikoleta Bizymi, Maria Gangadi, Vasileios Panagoulias, Ioannis Tomos, Serafeim Chrysikos, Adamantia Liapikou
{"title":"Pulmonary actinomycosis and pulmonary nocardiosis mimicking lung cancer: A case series and narrative review.","authors":"Konstantinos Papatheodosiou, Andreas M Matthaiou, Nikoleta Bizymi, Maria Gangadi, Vasileios Panagoulias, Ioannis Tomos, Serafeim Chrysikos, Adamantia Liapikou","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.14101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.14101","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pulmonary actinomycosis and pulmonary nocardiosis are rare chronic respiratory infections that may closely resemble lung cancer due to their overlapping clinical, radiological, and bronchoscopic characteristics. This hybrid case series and narrative review aims to elucidate the presenting patterns, diagnostic pathways, management strategies, and practical implications of these infections in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer. We analyzed four consecutive cases managed at the Sotiria Thoracic Diseases General Hospital in Athens from 2021 to 2025, supplemented by eight additional cases identified through a review of Greek grey literature from the same period. In the 12 cases reviewed, patients commonly presented with cough, dyspnea, fever, hemoptysis, malaise, and weight loss. Chest imaging frequently revealed consolidation, cavitation, atelectasis, nodules, or mediastinal lymphadenopathy, often prompting an oncological evaluation. Bronchoscopic findings occasionally mimicked malignant submucosal spread, and increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake added to the diagnostic uncertainty. Notably, one case exhibited coexistence of pulmonary actinomycosis with lung adenocarcinoma. Microbiological and histopathological evaluations confirmed the diagnoses, and most patients showed clinical and radiological improvement following prolonged targeted antimicrobial therapy. Given these findings, pulmonary actinomycosis and nocardiosis should be considered in patients with suspected lung cancer, particularly when infectious features coexist with mass-like or cavitary lesions. Careful tissue sampling, specialized microbiological testing, and structured follow-up are essential for excluding occult or coexisting malignancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles enriched with miR-22-3p for cataract treatment - Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential: A review.","authors":"Xingcheng Li, Lili Zhang","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.13941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.13941","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cataracts, characterized by progressive lens opacification, affect a significant number of individuals globally, particularly the elderly and those with systemic diseases. Research on the pathogenesis of visual impairments has identified alterations in crystalline proteins, primarily driven by inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in lens epithelial cells, as the primary mechanisms contributing to cataract development. Current treatment options, including surgical lens implantation and stem cell therapy, have notable limitations, highlighting the need for alternative non-invasive therapies. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (SC-EVs) have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach for various diseases. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the literature regarding the therapeutic potential of SC-EVs in cataract treatment, particularly when enriched with miR-22-3p. A literature search was conducted focusing on the molecular mechanisms of miR-22-3p in lens epithelial cells and cataract models, discussing its regulatory pathways in retinal and optic nerve injuries, as well as the advantages of utilizing SC-EVs as nanocarriers for targeted therapy. Studies indicate that miR-22-3p can inhibit crystalline remodeling by modulating gene expression and regulating apoptosis, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Consequently, it plays a role in the signaling pathways associated with cataracts and may also exhibit neuroprotective effects in neurons and retinal ganglion cells. By integrating current insights from research on cell-free EV therapies and the molecular mechanisms of miR-22-3p in cataract pathology, this review underscores the potential of miR-22-3p-enriched SC-EVs as a promising therapeutic option for cataracts. However, this hypothesis necessitates rigorous preclinical and clinical validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matej Pekar, Anna Pekarova, Jan Alexander Mohr, Lubomir Blaha, Marek Kantor, Barbora Ryskova, Otakar Jiravsky
{"title":"CT-derived body composition as a predictor of supervised exercise therapy response in intermittent claudication and peripheral arterial disease: COMPOSE-PAD study protocol.","authors":"Matej Pekar, Anna Pekarova, Jan Alexander Mohr, Lubomir Blaha, Marek Kantor, Barbora Ryskova, Otakar Jiravsky","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.14062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.14062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) commonly presents with intermittent claudication, for which supervised exercise therapy (SET) is recommended as first-line treatment; however, real-world SET non-completion is frequent and a clinically relevant subgroup of patients fails to achieve meaningful functional improvement. No validated pre-treatment tool currently identifies these likely non-responders. This protocol describes a prospective single-centre observational cohort study designed to determine whether body composition derived opportunistically from routine computed tomography angiography (CTA) at the third lumbar vertebral level (L3), specifically skeletal muscle density and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, independently predicts 3-month SET outcome in patients with Fontaine IIa-IIb intermittent claudication. A total of 128 consecutive patients will be enrolled at the Complex Cardiovascular Centre, Hospital AGEL Trinec-Podlesi, Czech Republic. The primary composite outcome is treatment success at 3 months, defined as both functional improvement on standardised treadmill testing, expressed as an absolute increase of at least 50 m or a relative increase of at least 50% in maximum walking distance (MWD), and freedom from revascularisation. Treatment failure includes SET non-completion, functional non-response among programme completers, or revascularisation during follow-up irrespective of functional result. Associations between skeletal muscle density, VAT area, and treatment outcome will be examined using prespecified multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, and baseline MWD, with bootstrap internal validation. As this is a study protocol, no outcome data are yet available; enrolment is planned to begin in June 2026. This study will assess whether zero-burden metabolic phenotyping from routine CTA can help identify patients less likely to benefit from conservative management alone, but any derived model will require external multicentre validation before clinical use. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07433309.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147694177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hanxun Yue, Guozhi Wu, Na Jiang, Renpeng Li, Ya Zheng, Yuping Wang, Zenan Hu, Yongning Zhou
{"title":"FDPS links tumor progression, phosphoproteomic reprogramming, and therapeutic vulnerability in hepatocellular carcinoma.","authors":"Hanxun Yue, Guozhi Wu, Na Jiang, Renpeng Li, Ya Zheng, Yuping Wang, Zenan Hu, Yongning Zhou","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.13996","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.13996","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for most cases. This study aimed to clarify the expression pattern, biological role, therapeutic relevance, and phosphoproteomic impact of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS) in HCC. FDPS expression was assessed in public datasets and clinical specimens using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Its function was investigated through small interfering RNA-mediated silencing, lentiviral overexpression, pamidronate treatment, in vitro proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis assays, xenograft models, phosphoproteomic profiling, and Western blot validation. FDPS was upregulated in HCC tissues and was potentially associated with poorer survival. FDPS silencing reduced HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity and increased apoptosis, whereas FDPS overexpression produced opposite effects. Pamidronate, a selective FDPS inhibitor, suppressed malignant phenotypes in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed extensive phosphorylation changes after FDPS depletion, with enrichment in pathways related to GTPase and protein kinase C activation, glucose metabolism, cytoskeletal remodeling, immune regulation, cell cycle control, Golgi function, and ErbB and phospholipase D signaling. FDPS knockdown was further associated with decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 expression, reduced phosphorylation of Caspase-9 at Ser196, increased cleaved Caspase-3, and reduced phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin at Ser2448. Collectively, these findings suggest that FDPS contributes to HCC progression and may serve as a candidate biomarker and therapeutic target.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jun Li, Yuan Feng, Huaying Zhang, Xin Zhou, Yunyan Tai
{"title":"Survival outcomes and prognostic nomogram for primary pulmonary MALT lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A SEER database study.","authors":"Jun Li, Yuan Feng, Huaying Zhang, Xin Zhou, Yunyan Tai","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.13944","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.13944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary pulmonary lymphoma is a rare extranodal malignancy, and robust population-based evidence regarding its treatment and outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to compare treatment patterns and survival outcomes between primary pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and primary pulmonary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), as well as to develop an individualized prognostic model for pulmonary DLBCL. Patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2022 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Propensity score matching (PSM), Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression were employed to compare survival outcomes and identify prognostic factors. Additionally, a nomogram was constructed and internally validated for DLBCL. Among the 2,343 patients analyzed, 1,427 had MALT lymphoma and 916 had DLBCL. MALT lymphoma was more frequently managed with surgical intervention, while chemotherapy was more commonly utilized for DLBCL. After PSM, 441 matched pairs were analyzed, revealing that MALT lymphoma was significantly associated with better overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to DLBCL, with median OS of 131 months versus 68 months, respectively (p < 0.001). In patients with DLBCL, age ≥60 years emerged as an independent adverse prognostic factor, whereas surgical intervention and chemotherapy were independently associated with improved OS and CSS. The nomogram demonstrated moderate discrimination and good calibration in predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. These findings underscore that histological subtype is a critical determinant of prognosis in primary pulmonary lymphoma. The proposed nomogram may facilitate individualized prognostic assessments in pulmonary DLBCL.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Response to the Letter regarding \"The role of reviewers in the era of systematic reviews and meta-analysis: A practical guide for researchers\".","authors":"Emir Begagić, Faruk Skenderi, Semir Vranić","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.14271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.14271","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This response to the letter expands the discussion on the evolving demands of peer review for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We emphasize that the main concern surrounding artificial intelligence is not its limited and disclosed use for language support, but undisclosed application and insufficient human verification, which may compromise citation accuracy, interpretation, and overall trustworthiness. We also argue that similarity reports should be interpreted contextually, particularly in evidence syntheses where standardized methodological language is unavoidable, and that low similarity does not necessarily exclude manuscript manipulation. Finally, we highlight reference verification as a central research-integrity challenge that should not rest on peer reviewers alone. Preserving the credibility of evidence synthesis requires shared responsibility across authors, reviewers, editors, and publishers.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Letter regarding \"The role of reviewers in the era of systematic reviews and meta-analysis: A practical guide for researchers\".","authors":"Himel Mondal","doi":"10.17305/bb.2026.14264","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2026.14264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This correspondence addresses three significant concerns regarding the current peer review process for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. First, while artificial intelligence tools can enhance language and readability, their implementation necessitates transparent disclosure and diligent human oversight, as AI-generated content may contain errors, fabricated references, or misleading interpretations. Second, an overreliance on text similarity reports may promote unnecessary paraphrasing of standardized methodological descriptions, leading to unclear or convoluted phrasing without enhancing scientific originality. Third, the verification of references has increasingly burdened reviewers due to inaccurate citations and repeated security barriers encountered during source verification, which further prolongs the review process and exacerbates reviewer fatigue. We contend that journals and publishers should enhance editorial screening, utilize responsible similarity and reference-checking tools, provide clearer guidelines for systematic review and meta-analysis methods sections, and improve access systems to facilitate efficient and reliable peer review.</p>","PeriodicalId":72398,"journal":{"name":"Biomolecules & biomedicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}