Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Ahead of print Beyond the boundaries: Transitioning from categorical to dimensional paradigms in mental health diagnostics Mental health diagnostics is undergoing a transformation, with a shift away from traditional categorical systems like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), and the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), and toward innovative frameworks like the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). These emerging models prioritize dimensional and biobehavioral approaches in order to overcome limitations such as oversimplification, comorbidity and heterogeneity. This editorial explores the challenges of implementing these paradigms, such as the need for empirical validation, interdisciplinary collaboration and clinician training. It highlights the importance of advanced tools, biomarkers and technological integration to improve precision in diagnosis and treatment. Future research directions include creating reliable dimensional assessment methods, conducting longitudinal studies and fostering interdisciplinary networks. By bridging traditional and emerging frameworks, the field can progress toward personalized, biologically informed mental health treatment. This transition necessitates collaboration among researchers, clinicians and policymakers to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes for those affected by mental health disorders. https://lnkd.in/dwNk9y_w

Ahead of print   Anti-amyloid treatments in Alzheimer’s disease: elegance, evidence and ethics   The so-called “amyloid cascade hypothesis” provides an elegant explanation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has motivated the amyloid-lowering therapeutic strategy, and led to the elaboration of a rich experimental and conceptual toolkit for the field to progress. But it might be incorrect. The scientific evidence base supporting the efficacy and safety of current anti-amyloid antibody treatments in AD is weak. Nevertheless, we argue that there is a bias towards the amyloid-lowering therapeutic strategy amongst key opinion leaders in the research and advocacy communities. To demonstrate this, we first focus on the AD lexicon: while any accrual of amyloid on a brain PET scan can now permit diagnosis/definition of AD, lowering positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid is considered disease modification, and treatment-induced side-effects are hidden behind neutral-sounding acronyms: ARIA (amyloid-β (Aβ)-related imaging abnormalities: brain bleeding and swelling) and ARPA (amyloid-β (Aβ) removal-related pseudo-atrophy: brain shrinkage). Second, we underline that drugmakers did not test anti-amyloid antibodies against the best proven interventions and did not adequately inform trial participants of risks, thus violating research ethics of the Declaration of Helsinki on 2 counts. In conclusion, we are critical of over-reliance on the idea that PET amyloid-lowering treatments for AD are a therapeutic revolution as claimed, and consider that optimism does not excuse a lack of scientific, regulatory, and ethical integrity. We argue for rigorous, properly controlled (e.g. donepezil) anti-amyloid trials demonstrating cognitive and functional benefit before accepting amyloid-lowering drugs as the new standard of care for AD patients.   https://lnkd.in/d5NrSFdu

Ahead of print Do sociodemographic and health predictors affect the non-insulin-based insulin resistance index? A cross-sectional study Insulin resistance (IR) is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Therefore, early diagnosis of IR is clinically significant for primary and secondary CVD prevention initiatives. In addition, non-insulin metabolic indices may be useful for diagnosing IR. The first objective was to estimate the triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index and the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index values in a local community with high social deprivation and increased cardiovascular risk according to the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation scale. The second objective was to identify significant sociodemographic and health predictors for the TyG index and METS-IR index. https://lnkd.in/d88Dn_pH

Ahead of print Enhancement of human native skin fibroblast proliferation in natural salso-bromo-iodic mineral water added to in vitro culture The favorable regenerative effects of some mineral waters on wound healing have long been empirically demonstrated. The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the effects of an Italian salso-bromo-iodic mineral water (Rivanazzano, Italy) on an in vitro human native fibroblast culture model to identify any potential regenerative actions. https://lnkd.in/djb8R2PW

Ahead of print Which risk factors are involved in a distal biceps tendon injury? A systematic review Distal biceps tendon rupture is a rare injury predominately occurring in middle-aged men. This study aimed to collect relevant risk factors associated with distal biceps tendon rupture from the published literature. This systematic review aimed to collect and tabulate the risk factors for distal biceps tendon rupture. Studies published in English were searched concerning risk factors for distal biceps tendon ruptures until July 2022; cohort studies, case series and randomized controlled trials were subjected to analysis. Case studies, cadaveric studies and reviews in any form were excluded. The studies were quantitatively and qualitatively reviewed. One hundred twenty-one articles presenting risk factors for distal biceps tendon ruptures were identified, recruiting a total of 7,484–7,576 patients. The average age of the individuals was 46.8 years, with 96.7% being males and 94.7% having affinity for sports activities. In 56.7% of the cases, the dominant arm was involved, and in 54.6%, the right arm was affected. The use of tobacco was found in 20.8% of cases and of anabolic steroids in 2.5% of cases. On average, 55.8% of distal biceps tendon rupture patients had a physical occupation and the most common mechanism of the injury was related to heavy weight lifting observed in 53.2% of subjects. The most common and outstanding reported risk factors for distal biceps tendon ruptures were age, sex and sports activity, i.e., middle-aged males being still physically active and practicing sports. Steroid usage does not seem to increase significantly the risk of the distal biceps tendon rupture. https://lnkd.in/dhk7r9G7

Ahead of print The only constant in life is change: Summary of the last 4 years of Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine In the last 4 years, the journal Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine has made significant strides in adapting to changes in scientific publishing. It has maintained high levels of citations and submitted manuscripts, publishing a considerable number of articles ahead of print releases to minimize wait times. With a solid reputation and a growing base of over 7,000 reviewers, the journal upholds rigorous ethical standards and thorough statistical verification for all manuscripts. Bibliometric indicators showcase the impact of Adv Clin Exp Med, including an increased impact factor, CiteScore, Index Copernicus Value (ICV) and recognition in indexes and databases like Scopus and PubMed Central (PMC). International cooperation support for early-career researchers are key focuses, with efforts to provide guidelines, online meetings, and social media promotion. Various materials for authors prepared by the editorial staff are discussed, including detailed instructions for authors, tips regarding graphical abstracts and choosing a checklist, as well as ethical guidelines, a brochure on the rules of statistical analysis and data presentation, and technical requirements for figures. The journal also emphasizes data sharing, detailed procedures for errata and retractions, and clear policies concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Calls for submissions show authors the optimal direction for creating original, innovative scientific papers. Financing from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education ensures the financial stability of the journal. By adapting to the evolving landscape of scientific communication, Adv Clin Exp Med remains dedicated to facilitating open access publishing and disseminating high-quality medical research to its readers. https://lnkd.in/dzrKwUZ4

Ahead of print The consequences of cardiac autonomic nervous system modulation during pulmonary vein isolation: A review Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a well-established treatment modality for atrial fibrillation (AF). Apart from the desired effect regarding the arrhythmic substrate within the left atrium, PVI commonly leads to modulation of the intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system (ICANS). Using the available literature, this article presents the anatomy of ICANS and describes methods of assessing its function, mainly focusing on heart rate (HR) variability metrics. Then, we summarize the modern pathophysiological outlooks on the onset and recurrence of AF and explain how the arrhythmia and the activation of ICANS are intertwined. Further, the article discusses the extent, dynamics and persistence of ICANS modulation during PVI, accounting for various modalities and procedural strategies. Both the potential benefits and pitfalls of such modulation are explored, considering AF recurrence, HR and HR variability changes, as well as the unclear effect on ventricular arrhythmias and nerve remodeling. Finally, the article aims to outline further directions of research necessary to improve our understanding of ICANS and its modulation. https://lnkd.in/dSexsknS

New CiteScore Tracker Our CiteScore Tracker has increased from 3.8 to 4.1! CiteScore Tracker follows how the current year’s CiteScore is building month by month, eliminating the need to wait until mid-year to see how a journal performed in the prior year. As new citations are received each month, the metric builds up, so you can get a more up-to-date look at the performance of the journal.

Ahead of print Impact of intravenous infusion of lidocaine on intrapulmonary shunt and postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation Intravenous infusion of lidocaine as an anesthesia adjuvant can improve patient outcomes, but its impact on intrapulmonary shunt during one-lung ventilation (OLV) has not been clarified. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of intravenous lidocaine infusion on intrapulmonary shunt during OLV and postoperative cognitive function in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). https://lnkd.in/dbpH6G_G

Ahead of print Acute kidney injury during transplantation and the role of inflammasomes: A brief review The increasing demand for an effective therapeutic modality in the form of organ transplantation leads to the need to improve the long-term outcomes of the process. Ischemia/reperfusion injuries (IRI) are an integral part of the kidney transplantation process, contributing to inflammation, oxidative stress and activation of the immune system. Inflammasomes, as a component of the immune response, in the form of inflammatory mediators during infection or tissue damage, initiate cell death called pyroptosis. In this context, we have defined the process of inflammasome activation in response to IRI, which is a potential cause of early kidney rejection due to increased susceptibility of the kidneys to ischemia. This review focuses on analyzing the modulation of inflammasome activity in kidney transplants and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome as a crucial element of kidney injury during the transplantation procedure, which could be a potential target for future preventive/therapeutic strategies. https://lnkd.in/d8knd2Qv