Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)最新文献

{"title":"Post-Psychotic Depression: A Comprehensive Narrative Review.","authors":"Karol Piotr Mirkowski, Kalina Aleksandra Hac, Zuzanna Kryś, Jerzy Leszek","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Post-psychotic depression (PPD) is an underestimated but clinically significant affective syndrome that occurs during remission from psychosis, particularly in schizophrenia.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This comprehensive review traces the evolution of this concept over five decades of research, starting from its initial differentiation from primary depression and schizoaffective disorders in the 1970s. Relying on more than thirty studies, we analyze historical definitions, biological and psychosocial mechanisms, diagnostic controversies, and therapeutic implications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Research indicates that PPD develops from multiple contributing factors, including psychological insight, autobiographical disturbances, pharmacological influences, and social losses, rather than simply as a byproduct of psychosis or pharmacological treatment. We discuss the persistence of depressive symptoms after acute remission, their role in suicidal tendencies, and the diagnostic challenges arising from the overlap of negative symptoms and demoralization. Despite its exclusion from current diagnostic standards, PPD continues to affect a significant fraction of patients, particularly those with high insight and early onset.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Effective treatment requires a multidimensional, phase-specific approach combining antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics such as lurasidone, and psychological interventions targeting identity, self-esteem, and narrative processing. We argue that PPD should be reintroduced as a distinct clinical unit and incorporated into psychiatric guidelines to reduce diagnostic oversights and improve patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13114832/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of Response to Induction Therapy with Ustekinumab in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: Results from a National Study in Greece.","authors":"Konstantina Chalakatevaki, Georgios Kokkotis, Maria Gazouli, Stratigoula Sakellariou, Ioannis Vamvakaris, Alexandros Chatzidakis, Gerasimos Gerasimatos, Maria Kalogirou, Kanellos Koustenis, Dimitra Lazou, Afroditi Orfanidou, Maria Palatianou, Evgenia Papathanasiou, Andreas Psistakis, Christos Sotiropoulos, Evaggelia Anagnostopoulou, Konstantinos Argyriou, Matina-Lydia Chatzinikolaou, Kalliopi Foteinogiannopoulou, Olga Giouleme, Andreas Kapsoritakis, Pantelis Karatzas, Konstantinos Karmiris, Nikolaos Kiriakos, Ioannis Koutroubakis, Christos Liatsos, Aikaterini Mantaka, Gerasimos Mantzaris, Panagiotis Markopoulos, Georgios Michalopoulos, Spiros Michopoulos, Dimitrios Polymeros, Konstantinos Soufleris, Georgios Theocharis, Angeliki Theodoropoulou, Eftychia Tsironi, Maria Tzouvala, Nikos Viazis, Eirini Zacharopoulou, Evanthia Zampeli, Giorgos Bamias","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040149","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Ustekinumab has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Real-world data regarding its efficacy and the discovery of predictive factors of response need to be studied further. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and identify predictors of response to induction treatment with ustekinumab in patients with ulcerative colitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a multicenter, prospective cohort study. Clinical response (CR) at week 16 was the primary endpoint, and steroid-free clinical remission (SFCRem) and endoscopic response were the secondary endpoints. Baseline histology, mucosal gene expression, and pharmacokinetics were studied for their effect on response to treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We included 123 patients (mean age = 50.3 years). CR was recorded in 70.8% (75/106), SFCRem in 48% (59/123), endoscopic improvement in 71.4% (40/56), and mucosal healing in 28.6% (16/56). Higher PRO-stool frequency (OR = 0.49, <i>p</i> = 0.027), concomitant use of 5-ASA (OR = 3.69, <i>p</i> = 0.021), platelet number of ≥284 × 10⁹/L (OR = 6.52, <i>p</i> = 0.001) at baseline, and a drop in the total count of platelets by 10⁸/L (OR = 1.23, <i>p</i> = 0.022) at week 8 were independently associated with CR. Elevated trough levels of ustekinumab at week 16 were associated with a higher probability of endoscopic improvement (median difference = 3784 ng/mL, <i>p</i> = 0.013), with an optimal cut-off value of 3500 ng/mL (AUC = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.66-0.96). Increased mucosal mRNA expression for <i>IL-23</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and <i>IL-23R</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.031) at baseline was associated with increased probability of CR. Higher continuous Geboes scores at baseline were associated with a lower probability of CR (OR = 0.80, <i>p</i> = 0.045), with an optimal cut-off value of 14 (AUC = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57-0.93).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinical, laboratory, and molecular markers may identify patients with ulcerative colitis who are more likely to respond to ustekinumab.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115418/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early Detection of Gastric Cancer: Linking Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Innovations in Digestive Endoscopy.","authors":"Marta La Milia, Mario Capasso, Tommaso Pessarelli, Guido Manfredi, Arnaldo Amato","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Despite substantial progress in understanding its pathophysiology and risk factors, gastric cancer remains a significant global health burden. Advances in endoscopic technology have improved the potential for early detection, yet variability in clinical practice persists. In this comprehensive narrative review, we summarize the most recent epidemiological trends in gastric pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions and critically appraise current evidence on optimizing endoscopic techniques and strategies for the detection of early gastric neoplasia, with an emphasis on emerging innovations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The relevant literature on epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, and endoscopic management of GC was selectively reviewed based on the authors' expertise and appraisal of contemporary evidence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Marked global disparities persist in GC incidence, mortality, and stage at diagnosis. Interval GC-including missed lesions and so-called \"true\" interval cancers-remains a clinically relevant challenge and is frequently identified at advanced stages. These gaps are partly attributable to inconsistent quality in diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). High-quality EGD relies on adequate mucosal inspection time, systematic photodocumentation, optimal gastric preparation, and the use of standardized terminology, including mucosal visibility scores. Routine integration of chromoendoscopy and magnification techniques further enhances detection rates. Looking ahead, artificial intelligence holds promise as a transformative adjunct to standardize and augment real-time lesion recognition and quality assurance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High-quality endoscopic evaluation, coupled with tailored surveillance strategies, enables earlier detection of pre-neoplastic lesions and early gastric cancer, improving clinical outcomes. Future priorities include broadening access to high-quality endoscopy, harmonizing performance standards, and promoting continuous training alongside technological integration.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115024/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Towards a Better Understanding of MASLD: Patient Health Literacy, Illness Perception, and Awareness.","authors":"Irini Gergianaki, Foteini Anastasiou, Sophia Papadakis, Marilena Anastasaki, Manolis Linardakis, Juan Mendive, Leen J M Heyens, Ger Koek, Jean Muris, Christos Lionis","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study was to investigate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-related awareness, health literacy (HL), and illness perception among patients at risk of MASLD in European primary care settings.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants aged ≥50 years with either obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and attending general practices (GPs) in Greece, Spain, or The Netherlands were included in the study. The participants completed surveys to collect data on their socio-demographic characteristics and health habits, including the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-E-Q16), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire [B-IPQ], and the Public Awareness of NAFLD Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 234 patients participated in the study (mean age: 66.5 ± 9.5 years; 45.7% were male). Among the participants, 64.5%, 66.2%, and 59.8% had a diagnosis of diabetes, obesity, and MetS, respectively. Almost one-third (27.9%) had never heard about MASLD or discussed MASLD with their GP. Twelve percent (12.1%) had never heard about cirrhosis, and 20.5% were unaware that liver disorders may cause serious health problems. Overall, 43.6% of the patients had a sufficient level of HL (score >13) with a mean score of 11.5 ± 3.3. Illness perception (B-IPQ score) was low at 41.6 ± 11.6. Significantly higher B-IPQ scores were documented for female compared to male respondents (43.1 vs. 39.8; <i>p</i> < 0.01). Multivariate analysis found that knowledge about MASLD was associated with higher HLS-E-Q16 (<i>p</i> = 0.017) and B-IPQ (<i>p</i> = 0.028) scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite being at risk, a significant proportion of the study participants were unaware of MASLD, its risk factors, and their personal susceptibility. This study underscores the importance of enhancing patient HL and promoting prevention and risk reduction, particularly among high-risk patient populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115058/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cow's Milk Protein Allergy, a Systematic Review of Clinical Characteristics, Diagnosis, Management, and Economic Impact.","authors":"Fabiola Menco Contreras, Karina Pastor-Sierra, Nany Castilla Herrera","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) is one of the most common food allergies in early infancy and poses important clinical and economic challenges for affected children, their families, and healthcare systems. In Latin America, variability in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches remains substantial.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aim to systematically review the available evidence on CMPA, with emphasis on clinical characteristics, diagnosis, management, and economic impact, and to provide a complementary cost analysis of specialized formulas in the Colombian context.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines to synthesize current evidence on CMPA in pediatric populations. Studies published between 2010 and 2023 were screened using predefined eligibility criteria, and 46 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. A complementary cost analysis was also performed to estimate the six-month costs associated with specialized infant formulas in Colombia, based on average age-specific formula consumption and standardized 2025 market prices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The reviewed evidence confirms that CMPA is a heterogeneous condition with variable clinical manifestations and persistent diagnostic challenges, particularly in non-IgE-mediated presentations. Elimination of cow's milk protein followed by oral food challenge remains the reference diagnostic approach. Breastfeeding with maternal dairy exclusion is consistently recommended as the preferred first-line strategy, whereas extensively hydrolyzed and amino-acid-based formulas are used when breastfeeding is not feasible or is insufficient. Estimated six-month costs ranged from COP 4,337,640 to COP 14,480,700 (approximately USD 1100-3600), depending on formula type.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CMPA requires early recognition, careful clinical evaluation, individualized nutritional management, and improved access to effective and affordable treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115248/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neuromodulatory Interventions in Experimental Acute Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review of Rodent Studies.","authors":"Maxim Rantsev, Alexey Sarapultsev, Valeriy Chereshnev","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Acute pancreatitis (AP) lacks disease-modifying pharmacotherapy. Neuroimmune, serotonergic, and redox-regulated pathways may modulate inflammatory amplification and acinar injury, although pharmacovigilance data link some psychotropic drug classes to AP risk. This review synthesized controlled rodent studies evaluating neuromodulatory interventions with serotonergic, stress-axis, or ferroptosis-linked targets in experimental AP. <b>Methods</b>: PubMed, Scopus, eLIBRARY.ru, and Elicit were searched in January 2026, supplemented by Google Scholar audit and citation chasing. Eligible studies were controlled in vivo rodent experiments using validated AP models with quantitative outcomes. Intervention timing was classified a priori as a primary analytic variable. Risk of bias was assessed with SYRCLE. A prespecified audit showed that no subset met the criteria for quantitative pooling because of heterogeneity in model class, compounds, timing, outcome definitions, units, and sampling timepoints. Mechanism-stratified qualitative synthesis was therefore performed. The protocol was registered on OSF (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/CZXDJ). <b>Results</b>: Nine studies (1992-2023) yielded 410 outcome rows across three mechanistic strands. Serotonergic modulation (5-HT₂/5-HT₂A-focused; six studies) reduced serum amylase/lipase (-37% to -65% vs. disease controls) and histological injury, with receptor-selectivity data supporting 5-HT₂A-mediated mechanisms. Stress-axis modulation with thiadiazine L-17 reduced 7-day mortality in two severe models (from 50-70% to 30%). Olanzapine attenuated ferroptosis-linked injury via off-target antioxidant activity independent of serotonergic receptors. All interventions were prophylactic, peri-induction, or very early post-induction; no delayed therapeutic-window studies were identified. Most SYRCLE domains were unclear, particularly allocation concealment and blinding-related procedures. <b>Conclusions</b>: Neuromodulatory pathways modulate experimental AP in rodents, but evidentiary strength differs across mechanistic strands. Inference is constrained by absent therapeutic-window testing, heterogeneous endpoints, and reporting deficits. The findings support mechanism-level target prioritization rather than clinical repurposing.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115382/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical and Lifestyle Predictors of Vascular Health in Premenopausal East Asian Women: The Women's Vascular Health Project.","authors":"Wei Xiong, Fei Tang, Beck Graefe, Ana Raquel Calzada Bichili, Duncan Ryan, Joseph Bonner, Arlette Perry","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040144","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of adult deaths globally and has recently been reported to be on the rise in younger adult women. The present study examined the impact of physical and lifestyle predictors of vascular health in 125 apparently healthy premenopausal East Asian volunteers. <b>Methods</b>: Vascular health outcomes included carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), central augmentation index (cAIx), and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Body composition/anthropometric predictors included total adiposity, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM), as well as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Lifestyle predictors included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and dietary recall. Multivariate linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of combined vascular health and individual vascular outcome variables. The analysis for independent vascular outcomes was repeated after age stratification (<35 years versus ≥35 years). <b>Results</b>: VAT showed a significant multivariate effect on combined vascular health outcomes (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and independently contributed to cfPWV (<i>p</i> = 0.013). WC positively predicted cAIx (<i>p</i> = 0.010) while SMM was inversely related to cAIx (<i>p</i> = 0.024). BMI positively predicted MAP (<i>p</i> = 0.039) in the multivariate analysis. After age adjustment however, only BMI emerged as a significant independent predictor of both cfPWV (<i>p</i> = 0.040) and MAP (<i>p</i> = 0.024). Furthermore, WC remained positively associated with cAIx (<i>p</i> = 0.042) while SMM remained inversely related to cAIx (<i>p</i> = 0.038). After age stratification, IPAQ was inversely related to cfPWV while BMI was positively associated with MAP (<i>p</i> = 0.035) in women < 35 years only. However, in older women, total adiposity (<i>p</i> = 0.040) and total cholesterol (<i>p</i> = 0.011) were both positively, while SMM (<i>p</i> = 0.046) was negatively associated with cAIx. <b>Conclusions</b>: With the exception of age, VAT was the single best predictor of general vascular health in East Asian women. Independent of age, however, BMI, WC, and SMM significantly contributed to independent vascular outcome measures and in combination with age, substantially add to the prediction of vascular risk. Furthermore, stratifying younger versus older premenopausal women resulted in different associations with independent vascular outcome measures demonstrating that across a large age range of premenopausal women, it is important to consider age in the evaluation of vascular health.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13114829/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishment of a Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatotoxicity Model in Synanthropic Rats with Translational Relevance.","authors":"Lesly Adelis Valdivia Quispe, Lucio Velasco Lopez, Daysi Zulema Díaz Obregón, Alexis German Murillo Carrasco, Joel de León Delgado, Luis Lloja Lozano, Jhon Wilfredo Pando Mayta, Anthony Brayan Rivera Prado, Kelly Geraldine Yparraguirre Salcedo, Víctor Hugo Carbajal Zegarra, Claudio Willbert Ramírez Atencio","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Chemically induced hepatotoxicity is widely used in experimental research to model liver disease pathophysiology and to support preclinical studies. Thioacetamide (TAA) is a well-established hepatotoxic agent in conventional laboratory rodents; however, its effects in synanthropic rats-characterized by genetic heterogeneity and chronic environmental exposure-remain poorly defined. This study aimed to establish and characterize a preclinical model of TAA-induced hepatotoxicity in synanthropic rats and to assess its relevance for experimental liver disease research. <b>Methods</b>: Female synanthropic rats representing four phenotypic variants (albino, mottled, black, and brown; total <i>n</i> = 132) were housed under controlled conditions and assigned to control or TAA-treated groups. TAA was administered intraperitoneally at doses ranging from 200 to 300 mg/kg. Clinical parameters, including body weight and vital signs, were periodically monitored. Hematological profiles and serum biochemical markers of liver function were analyzed. Hepatic injury was evaluated by histopathological examination using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. <b>Results</b>: TAA-treated rats developed consistent clinical manifestations of hepatotoxicity, including progressive weight loss and reduced activity. Biochemical analyses revealed significant increases in serum transaminases, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase, accompanied by alterations in hematological parameters. Histological evaluation demonstrated dose-dependent liver injury characterized by centrilobular necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, hepatocellular degeneration, and architectural disruption across all synanthropic rat variants. <b>Conclusions</b>: Synanthropic rats exhibit reproducible biochemical, hematological, and histopathological features of TAA-induced liver injury comparable to those reported in conventional laboratory strains. This model represents a robust preclinical approach for studying chemically induced hepatotoxicity and may provide enhanced translational relevance due to its genetic and environmental heterogeneity.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13114294/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinicopathological Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes Following Parotidectomy: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Center.","authors":"Mohammad Aljarba, Mishari Alanezi, Majed A Alali, Azzam Alotaibi, Faisal Alkhunein, Khalid Alqahtani","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objective:</b> The parotid gland is the largest salivary gland, and tumors arising from it exhibit wide histopathological diversity. Management approaches vary according to tumor characteristics and carry a risk of postoperative complications, particularly facial nerve injury. However, local data remain limited. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological characteristics, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing parotidectomy. <b>Method:</b> A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a high-volume tertiary center in Saudi Arabia. All consecutive patients who underwent parotidectomy between June 2015 and January 2025 were included. Demographic data, histopathological diagnoses, surgical procedures and postoperative complications were extracted from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26, with A <i>p</i>-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. <b>Results:</b> A total of 154 patients were included, with a mean age of 45.2 ± 12.6 years; 61% were male. Benign lesions constituted 87% of cases, with pleomorphic adenoma being the most common histopathological diagnosis. Malignancies accounted for 13% of cases, most frequently mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The most common postoperative complications were facial nerve palsy, followed by sensory numbness. <b>Conclusions:</b> The majority of parotid gland tumors in this cohort were benign, with pleomorphic adenoma as the most common histological subtype. Facial nerve palsy and sensory disturbances were the most common postoperative complications. These findings provide valuable local data on parotid gland lesions in Saudi Arabia and support current surgical management practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13114666/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knowledge and Determinants of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Adults in Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Yusef Muhana Alenezi, Rana Awad S Alanazi, Danah Ashwi S AlShalikhi, Rimas Naif A Alanazi, Aryam Meshal S Alanazi, Sarah Ahmed S Alanazi, Renad Abdulrahman O Alanazi, Noor Awad S Alanazi, Baraah Abu Alsel, Fathia Ahmed Mersal, Safya E Esmaeel, Manal S Fawzy","doi":"10.3390/diseases14040139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases14040139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also referred to as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), affects roughly one-quarter of the global population and represents a major public health concern. Despite its rising prevalence and potential for serious complications, NAFLD remains underrecognized and poorly understood in many communities. This study aimed to assess knowledge of NAFLD and its determinants among adults in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive, population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a previously validated online questionnaire adapted from published NAFLD awareness instruments, administered to adults residing in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed using Python (statsmodels, version 0.14), and non-parametric tests, correlation analyses, and multivariable linear regression were used to examine NAFLD knowledge and its associated determinants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1016 adults (mean age 34.7 ± 11.8 years) were included in the analysis. The mean NAFLD knowledge score was 14.6 ± 8.3 out of 30 (48.7% correct responses), with a median of 16 (interquartile range 8-21). Overall, 59.2% of participants had poor knowledge, 26.8% had moderate knowledge, and 14% had good knowledge. In bivariate analyses, educational level (χ² = 15.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001), family history of liver disease (<i>p</i> = 0.001), body weight category (<i>p</i> = 0.003), and smoking status (<i>p</i> = 0.007) were significantly associated with NAFLD knowledge. In multivariable linear regression, university education (B = 2.783, 95% CI 0.627-4.940, <i>p</i> = 0.011) was an independent positive predictor of higher knowledge scores. Current smoking (B = -1.857, 95% CI -3.477 to -0.237, <i>p</i> = 0.025), private-sector employment (B = -1.934, 95% CI -3.867 to -0.001, <i>p</i> = 0.050), and overweight status (B = -4.119, 95% CI -7.337 to -0.901, <i>p</i> = 0.012) were independently associated with lower knowledge scores. The final model explained 2.2% of the variance in knowledge (adjusted R² = 0.022).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study demonstrates generally low levels of NAFLD knowledge among adults in the Northern Border Region of Saudi Arabia, with only a minority achieving good knowledge scores. The findings underscore the need for targeted health promotion initiatives, educational interventions, and public campaigns to improve awareness of NAFLD and to support its prevention and management.</p>","PeriodicalId":72832,"journal":{"name":"Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"14 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13114724/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}