Processed electroencephalography (pEEG) monitoring is commonly employed to assess the level of hypnosis under anaesthesia, although it is susceptible to various non-brain-related artefacts. Several sources of artefacts have been published, but how these sources affect the pEEG and their related hypnotic indices have not been summarised before. This scoping review will summarise the published literature on how non-pharmacological artefacts affect pEEG monitoring during anaesthesia andintensive care, including their influence on the hypnotic index and the underlying mechanisms of interference.

Non-pharmacological, non-brain-related sources of artefacts affecting human patients under anaesthesia or intensive care will be included. The covered concepts include the sources of interference affecting pEEG in which the artefact causes the hypnotic index to no longer be reflective of the depth of hypnosis, how they affect the hypnotic index, and the suspected mechanism by which they affect the pEEG monitor. Databases to be searched will include PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and the Web of Science. Grey literature will include sources from Google Scholar, the Web of Science, preprint repositories and reference lists of included studies and review papers. The search will be conducted on 19 June 2025, followed by a later repeat search for new articles once the data from the initial search have been extracted. The search will be limited to English articles. Search results will be imported into Covidence for screening. Data extraction will be conducted by two extractors independently, and the data will be summarised in tables.

There are no ethical or safety concerns associated with this study. Ethics approval was not obtained as this scoping review will summarise data from previously published sources, and the findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

To characterise the reporting practices of sequential multiple assignment randomised trials (SMARTs) in human health research.

Scoping review of protocol and primary analysis papers describing SMARTs published between January 2009 and February 2024.

SMARTs are innovative trial designs that allow for multiple stages of randomisation to treatment, with randomization potentially based on a patient’s response(s) to previous treatment(s). They are uniquely designed to develop sequential adaptive interventions (dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs)) to support personalized clinical decision-making over time. Previous reviews have identified inconsistencies in how the design, implementation and results of SMARTs have been reported in published studies. A comprehensive assessment of SMART reporting practices is lacking and necessary for developing standardised SMART-specific reporting guidelines.

We systematically searched multiple databases for SMART-related protocol and primary analysis papers published between January 2009 and February 2024. Title, abstract and full-text screenings were performed by pairs of reviewers, with disagreements resolved by consensus. Data extraction included study characteristics, design elements and analytical approaches for embedded or tailored DTRs. Results were synthesised qualitatively and presented descriptively.

From 5486 screened studies, 103 (59 protocol papers, 16 primary analysis papers, 14 protocol papers with corresponding primary analysis papers) met the inclusion criteria. Most studies targeted adults (62.7% protocols, 62.5% primary analyses, 42.9% protocol+primary analyses) and were primarily conducted in the USA. Behavioural and mental health constituted the most frequent therapeutic domain. While intervention descriptions and re-randomisation criteria were consistently reported, operational characteristics such as blinding (protocols: 64.4%, primary analyses: 62.5%, protocols+primary analyses: 71.4%) and randomisation details (protocols: 55.9%, primary analyses: 37.5%, protocols+primary analyses: 50.0%) were inconsistently documented. Only 46.7% of primary analyses evaluated embedded DTRs, and none explored deeply tailored DTRs.

Despite the increased adoption of SMART designs, substantial reporting variability persists. Most primary analyses underuse the capability of SMARTs to generate data for developing DTRs. SMART-specific standardised reporting guidelines can help accelerate the scientific and clinical impact of SMARTs.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease, which has extensive pathology that critically includes the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. This loss leads to debilitating motor features such as bradykinesia and rigidity, as well as some non-motor symptoms. Intracerebral dopamine cell transplants have been explored for many years as a new approach to treating PD and initially used human fetal ventral mesencephalic tissue with inconsistent results, related in part to major logistical challenges in sourcing enough tissue of the right quality and the limited possibilities for quality control and standardisation. Dopaminergic neurons can now be derived reliably from human stem cell sources, which may overcome some of the challenges associated with fetal tissue transplantations.

STEM-PD is a multi-centre, single-arm, dose-escalation, first-in-human advanced therapy investigational medicinal product (ATIMP) trial in Europe using a cell product that consists of dopaminergic neural progenitors derived from the RC17 human embryonic stem cell line. The aim of the study is to assess the safety, tolerability and feasibility of intraputamenal transplantation of this cell product in patients with moderately advanced PD. Eight participants will be recruited from two sites, Skånes University Hospital (Lund, Sweden) and Cambridge University Hospital (Cambridge, UK). The primary outcome of the trial is safety and tolerability, assessed by the number and nature of adverse events and serious adverse events, and the absence of space-occupying lesions on cranial MRI, in the first 12 months following transplantation. Secondary and exploratory outcomes, including clinical measures, changes in anti-Parkinson’s medication and measures of graft survival using positron emission tomography imaging, will be assessed at both 12 and 36 months post-grafting.

Ethical approval was obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM dnr 2021-06945-01) and South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee (reference 23/SC/0243). Clinical Trial Authorisation was given by the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Dnr: 5.1-2022-57953) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for clinical trials authorisation (reference CTA 40773/0001/001-0001). Authorisation for transfer to Clinical Trial Regulation (EU) 536/2014 was given by the Swedish Medical Products Agency (Dnr: 5.1.1-2024-100773). Potential participants will receive verbal and written information about the trial and written informed consent will be obtained prior to enrolment. A lay summary of the results of the trial will be uploaded to the trial website which is publicly accessible. Trial results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

NCT05635409.

Despite global commitments to eliminate malnutrition, over half the world’s population remains affected. Multisectoral nutrition interventions targeting both proximate and distal causes of malnutrition are essential across the lifespan. Yet, current data collection lacks comprehensive nutrition intervention coverage measures, risking inaccuracies in tracking progress. The One Nutrition Coverage Survey (ONCS) aims to test new and refined coverage measurement methods, assess coverage equity and guide integration into large-scale household surveys.

The ONCS will be a cross-sectional, population-representative household survey conducted in four districts of Bangladesh (Rangpur, Sylhet, Dhaka and Khulna), selected for their geographic spread and urban–rural balance. A stratified multistage sampling approach will be used to select enumeration areas, and a total of approximately 3280 households randomly selected within each EA will be included in the survey. The survey will interview women of reproductive age (15–49 years), caregivers of children (0–9 years), adolescents (10–19 years) and pregnant women, collecting data on multisectoral nutrition interventions relevant to these groups. It will use both existing and new measures, while also capturing monetary and non-monetary costs for survey design to implementation. Data will be analysed to assess coverage, co-coverage and equity by sociodemographic characteristics, as well as the feasibility, accuracy and costs of the survey approach.

The study protocol and instruments were reviewed and approved by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh’s (icddr,b) Ethical Review Board in Bangladesh and the International Food Policy Research Institute’s Institutional Review Board in Washington, DC, USA. Adults provided signed informed consent and adolescents their assent. Findings will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and presentations in Bangladesh with key stakeholders. This study will yield new tools, methods and evidence for measuring multisectoral nutrition intervention coverage, applicable to other low-income and middle-income countries. Learnings from ONCS will enhance data collection aligned with national strategies, helping governments improve coverage assessments, inform decisions and strengthen programme monitoring.

To evaluate the association between cumulative radiation dose and haematological parameters among radiation workers and compare the prevalences of abnormalities in blood counts with those in the general population.

Retrospective cohort study.

Nationwide radiation dose registry in Korea, linked with occupational health examination data. Cumulative doses were estimated using annual personal dose equivalent (H_p(10)) records from 1984 onward.

The study included 20 414 radiation workers, comprising 17 651 men (86.5%) and 2763 women (13.5%), with baseline survey data, dosimetry records and at least one complete blood count (CBC) record between 2014 and 2019.

The primary outcome was the continuous haematological parameters, including white blood cell (WBC), platelet (PLT) and haemoglobin (Hb) counts, in relation to cumulative radiation dose. Associations were evaluated using linear mixed-effects models incorporating repeated measurements and adjusting for age, smoking status and body mass index. The secondary outcome was the prevalence of abnormal blood counts among radiation workers.

Most haematological parameters among radiation workers were within normal ranges. In male workers, cumulative radiation dose was associated with increased Hb levels (β=0.5 mg/dL per 1 mSv; 95% CI 0.006 to 0.9) after adjusting for age, smoking status and body mass index. No significant associations were observed between cumulative dose and WBC or PLT counts in either sex. Overall, compared with the general population, radiation workers had significantly lower standardised prevalence ratios for abnormal WBC and PLT counts.

No substantial adverse changes in haematological parameters were found among radiation workers exposed to prolonged low-dose radiation. The findings suggest that cumulative doses at occupational levels may not substantially affect CBC profiles, although continued monitoring and follow-up are warranted.

Accumulating evidence suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists may have therapeutic effects against Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, clinical evidence has not yet been established and remains controversial. This clinical study aims to assess the efficacy, disease-modifying effects, safety and optimal dose of oral semaglutide tablets, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in idiopathic patients with PD.

The MOST-ABLE study is a phase 2, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of oral semaglutide tablets in 99 participants with PD. Patients with PD (Hoehn & Yahr stages 1–2.5) at eight sites in Japan will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups: oral semaglutide tablets (7 mg or 14 mg) or placebo. The study drugs will be administered once daily as an add-on to conventional medical treatment for PD. After 36 weeks of treatment, the participants will be treated without the study drugs for 12 weeks. The efficacy outcomes include Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39, cognitive tests and dopamine transporter imaging. The primary endpoint is the change in the MDS-UPDRS part 3 score in the practically defined off-medication state from baseline at 48 weeks between the treatment allocation groups. The safety and tolerability will also be evaluated.

The study protocol was approved by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency of Japan and the study was approved by the institutional review boards at the University of Osaka Hospital and each study site. All participants are required to provide informed consent. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, presented at scientific meetings and presented to patients in a lay summary format.

jRCT2051230090 (https://jrct.mhlw.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCT2051230090), universal trial number U1111-1271-3794.

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is associated with high mortality and serious neurological sequelae. Although medical alert systems have evolved, the ability of these systems to influence changes in IHCA incidence and aetiology remains limited.

Retrospective observational cohort study.

A single tertiary hospital in South Korea, covering tertiary care levels.

A total of 1994 adult patients (≥18 years) who experienced 2121 episodes of IHCA between January 2011 and December 2019. Patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, those aged ≤18 years and those with do-not-resuscitate orders were excluded. The mean age of patients was 63.0 years (SD, 14.6); 64.1% were male.

Not applicable.

The incidence and temporal trends of IHCA were stratified by aetiology (cardiac vs non-cardiac). Additional analyses examined changes in arrhythmic versus non-arrhythmic causes over time using Poisson regression.

Cardiac arrhythmia was the most common cause of IHCA (314 of 2121, 14.8%; incidence: 0.42/1000 admissions), including ventricular tachycardia (n=86), ventricular fibrillation (n=87) and Torsades de Pointes (n=79). Respiratory failure was the second most common cause (266 of 2121, 12.5%; incidence: 0.36/1000 admissions). The incidence of IHCA due to respiratory failure in 2011 was 0.63/1000 admissions, which decreased to 0.20/1000 admissions by 2019 (β=0.883, 95% CI 0.842 to 0.926, p for trend 0.007; Poisson p

IHCA causes have shown significant temporal shifts. Arrhythmia has become the leading cause of IHCA, with incidences remaining stable, whereas a marked decrease has been observed in respiratory-related IHCA. Therefore, enhanced in-hospital cardiac monitoring systems are required for early detection.

Immigrant populations, particularly undocumented immigrants, are often considered ‘hidden’ or ‘hard to reach’ in research. This invisibilisation—under-representation or exclusion in data collection—leads to data inequities and biased findings that fail to capture their unique experiences. Starfish sampling mitigates selection bias and improves access to invisibilised populations by recruiting ‘seed’ participants at randomly selected times and locations and leveraging their social networks to recruit the next wave of participants. In this protocol paper, we outline the sampling strategy for the BRAVE (Building community, Raising All immigrant Voices for health Equity) study, a multi-site, cross-sectional survey examining the relationship between immigration history and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service utilisation among Asian immigrant women in the USA. This protocol is an adaptation of novel starfish sampling in combination with various data tools and a community-based participatory research approach.

Using data from the American Community Survey and insights from community partners, we will conduct community mapping across four study sites (Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles County and New York City). We will select census tracts that reflect the primary ethnic groups of interest and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. From these selected census tracts, we will construct a venue universe by identifying key activity areas for Asian immigrant women through data scraping from online sources. We will then randomly select venue-date-time combinations and deliberately choose various community engagement events for recruitment. Culturally competent field officers who are fluent in Asian languages will recruit participants at these events. Participants can refer up to three peers from their social networks to take part in the survey. Results will be presented as descriptive statistics and logistic regression models to test the association between immigration history and SRH service utilisation.

The overarching BRAVE study protocol was approved by the University of California Los Angeles Institutional Review Board (IRB) (IRB-22–0493-AM-016). The results will be disseminated through academic journal publications and relevant data will be shared with our community partners.

To explore whether large language models (LLMs), Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)-3, GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 can autonomously manage a virtual fracture clinic (VFC) as a marker of their efficacy in an emergency department and with simple orthopaedic trauma.

Simulated UK VFC workflow.

11 clinical scenarios were generated, and GPT-4, GPT-3.5 and GPT-3 were prompted to write clinic letters and management plans.

The Readable Tool was used to assess the clarity of letters. Six independent orthopaedic surgeons then evaluated the accuracy of letters and management plans.

Readability was compared using the Flesch-Kincaid grade level: GPT-4: 9.11 (SD 0.98); GPT-3.5: 8.77; GPT-3: 8.47, and the Flesch readability ease: GPT-4: 56.3; GPT-3.5: 58.2; GPT-3: 59.3. Surgeon-rated accuracy comparisons indicated that GPT-4 exhibited the highest accuracy for management plans (9.08/10 (95% CI 8.25 to 9.9)). This represents a statistically significant progression in the capacity of a LLM to provide accurate management plans compared with GPT-3 at 6.84 (95% CI 5.41 to 8.27) and GPT-3.5 at 7.63 (95% CI 7.23 to 8.13) (p

LLMs can produce high-quality, readable clinical letters for common VFC presentations, and GPT-4 can generate management plans to aid clinicians in their administration. With clinician oversight, appropriately trained LLMs could meaningfully reduce routine administrative work. However, while the results of this study are promising, further evaluation of LLMs is required before they can be deemed safe for managing simple orthopaedic scenarios.

Middle-aged adults face multifaceted physical and psychosocial challenges that impact their overall wellness. Exercise has become a key component of wellness interventions due to its positive impacts on physical and psychosocial health. However, the understanding of exercise-focused wellness interventions for this age group remains limited. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify and map the existing literature on exercise-focused wellness interventions for middle-aged adults and to summarise their characteristics and reported outcomes.

Scoping review.

Six databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PsycInfo, were initially searched on 29 July 2024, and the search was updated on 12 October 2025, with no restrictions on publication date. The reference lists of articles selected in the database search were also screened for further relevant studies.

We included interventional studies, specifically randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental designs, that examined exercise-focused wellness interventions for middle-aged adults.

Two independent reviewers extracted data on study characteristics and intervention details and outcomes, and assessed the risk of bias. Any discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer.

A total of 15 studies were included in the review, of which 9 were RCTs and 6 were quasi-experimental studies. Most interventions targeted middle-aged women and were implemented in community settings. Exercise was often combined with diet and stress management. The majority of the interventions lasted for 3 months with weekly sessions. Additionally, various delivery modes were employed, including face-to-face, online, individual and group-based approaches. Outcome variables were categorised into exercise and physical activity, dietary intake, anthropometry and body composition, cardiovascular health, biochemical markers, menopausal symptoms, psychosocial health and wellness. Only one study assessed wellness as an outcome of the intervention. Across the included studies, improvements were commonly reported for physical and psychosocial health, whereas changes in biochemical markers were limited.

Exercise-focused wellness interventions for middle-aged adults encompass varied content and outcome variables, contributing to improvements in physical, psychological and social dimensions of health. Delivery modes are diverse, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability for tailored interventions. There is a need to develop a validated, midlife-specific measurement tool that reflects the multidimensional nature of wellness. Moreover, exercise-focused interventions tailored for middle-aged men, particularly in workplace settings, should be developed.

The home-based primary care cohort was set up to identify the characteristics of Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) users across three domains: health-related information, utility of healthcare service and care-related information.

A total of 407 patients enrolled in five HBPC centres were recruited between January 2023 and March 2024. The baseline survey was conducted among 332 participants who provided informed consent for both study participation and home visits. The second wave of data collection is scheduled to take place 6 months after enrolment, while the third wave will be conducted 12 months post-enrolment. During each home visit, trained interviewers administered structured survey questionnaires. On completion of the 12-month follow-up period, the dataset will include survey data, intervention records from the five participating HBPC centres, home mortality status and institutionalisation risk linked to each participant.

This study examines HBPC in Korea, integrating the Widely Integrated Services in Home model with the long-term care insurance system. Among participants, 30.1% lived alone, and 74.1% were homebound, showing similarities to findings from a US HBPC study. Analysing cohort data, this study evaluates the impact of HBPC on healthcare utilisation, aligning with international findings on reduced hospitalisations and costs. As the first HBPC effectiveness study in Korea, it highlights its role in enhancing care for homebound older adults and shaping national health policies.

Data on the number of interventions by profession, institutionalisation and hospitalisation status and duration, and death at home occurrence are being separately collected from five HBPC centres and will be included in the analysis. The analysis will examine associations between these variables to identify risk factors influencing institutionalisation. Additionally, this study plans to link the dataset with the National Health Insurance Service-Senior (NHIS-Senior) customised cohort for further analysis.