Laminin is a basement membrane glycoprotein whose peri-tumoural deposition reflects extracellular matrix remodelling and may have prognostic value in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Sixty-six nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were included. Tissue laminin expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and serum laminin levels were measured longitudinally. Associations with clinical outcomes were analysed using survival and regression models.

Laminin-positive tumours were associated with improved overall survival (log-rank p = 0.001). Tissue laminin positivity remained associated with lower mortality after adjustment for age and sex (hazard ratio = 0.27, p = 0.002). Serum laminin levels decreased after treatment but increased before recurrence. Elevated pre-treatment serum laminin was associated with poor survival (p < 0.001), with high apparent discrimination in this cohort (area under the curve = 0.896).

Tissue laminin positivity was associated with favourable prognosis, whereas serum laminin decreased after treatment and rose before recurrence. Combined assessment suggested prognostic complementarity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Gross tumour volume has been proposed as a complementary prognostic marker in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the prognostic value of pre-treatment gross tumour volume.

MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus were systematically searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies reporting pre-treatment gross tumour volume and survival outcomes in laryngeal cancer were included. The primary outcome was overall survival, and the secondary outcome was disease-free survival. Hazard ratios were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool, and certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Eight retrospective studies including 1351 patients were included. Increasing gross tumour volume was significantly associated with worse overall survival (pooled hazard ratio per 1 cm3 increase: 1.03; 95 per cent confidence interval: 1.02–1.05), with a similar association observed for disease-free survival. Overall risk of bias was moderate.

Higher gross tumour volume is independently associated with poorer survival in laryngeal cancer and may provide prognostic information beyond tumour-node-metastasis staging.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are complex illnesses influenced by genetic, biological and psycho-social factors, necessitating large clinical deep-phenotyped cohorts. Here, we describe the Region Midt Schizophrenia (RMS) Cohort, which aims to establish such a large, representative cohort with long-term follow-up, enabling large-scale studies on SSD aetiology and prognosis.

The RMS cohort includes patients aged ≥15 years diagnosed with a first-episode SSD recruiting at 6 Danish psychiatric hospitals. Baseline and follow-up assessments at 1, 2, 3 and 12 months and 2, 3, 5 and 10 years cover sociodemographic measures, psychotic and negative symptoms, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), level of functioning, sleep, actigraphy, cognition, side effects and medication adherence. Blood is collected at baseline and months 3 and 12 and at years 2, 3, 5 and 10 enabling comprehensive molecular analyses, for example, genetics and omics. Age-and sex-matched healthy controls will complete a baseline assessment including blood draw. Participants give informed consent for linkage with Danish nationwide register-based data.

By February 23rd, 2026, a total of 131 participants with SSD have been recruited (109 with schizophrenia, median age 25 years (IQR 8), 54% females). Retention rates at 1, 2, 3 and 12 months are 86%, 80%, 78% and 75%, respectively. Our vision is continuous recruitment of 100 participants/year, establishing a large, deep-phenotyped and representative clinical cohort with long-term follow-up. The RMS cohort will serve as the basis for several studies on aetiological and prognostic factors and is designed to match with similar international cohorts enabling further collaborations.

To determine whether sex independently predicts survival in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and whether human papillomavirus status mediates apparent sex-related survival differences at the population level.

Population-based cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (17 Registries, 2018–2021). Multivariable Cox regression and a formal sex–human papillomavirus interaction test (likelihood ratio test) were performed in 19,716 patients with known p16/HPV status.

p16-positive disease was more prevalent in males (73.6 per cent vs. 56.2 per cent; p < 0.001). Within human papillomavirus subgroups, survival did not differ significantly between sexes (all p > 0.30). After full adjustment, female sex was not independently associated with overall survival (hazard ratio 0.98; 95 per cent confidence interval 0.91–1.05; p = 0.52) or disease-specific survival (hazard ratio 1.01; p = 0.80). The sex–human papillomavirus interaction was non-significant (hazard ratio 1.057; p = 0.459), confirming human papillomavirus status fully mediates the apparent female survival disadvantage.

Sex is not an independent prognostic variable in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. HPV/p16-based stratification remains the primary prognostic framework.

Formal thought disorder (FTD) is a highly disabling transdiagnostic feature that impedes communication and social ties. Progress in understanding and treating FTD has been hampered by the uncertainties in its assessment.

We examined if a short 3–5min assessment of transcribed speech can capture the latent dimensions and network structure of FTD and predict functional outcomes.

In a transdiagnostic sample (N = 666) with a single longitudinal follow-up over 3–12 months (n = 244), we administered the short form of the Thought and Language Index to measure eight individual features of FTD. We determined the baseline factor structure of FTD, its temporal invariance at follow-up, and the predictive validity of FTD dimensions on the global single-item Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale scores at baseline and follow-up. We identified the most influential and putative primary phenomena within the FTD syndrome, using network analysis.

Factor analyses revealed a stable three-factor model of FTD: impoverishment (poverty of speech, weakening of goal), loosening (looseness, illogicality) and peculiarities (peculiar words, peculiar sentences), with excellent fit (Comparative Fit Index: 0.997, root mean square error of approximation: 0.040) and metric invariance over time. Impoverishment and peculiarities predicted functioning at baseline and 3–12 months later (cross-sectional: β = –0.196, p < 0.001 and β = –0.298, p = 0.001, respectively; longitudinal: β = –0.201, p = 0.037 and β = –0.336, p = 0.042, respectively). Looseness and poverty of speech were putative primary features influencing other FTD phenomena. Weakening of goal and peculiar sentences were the most connected phenomena.

By integrating latent variable and network approaches, we provide a unified, empirically grounded framework to interpret FTD assessed using a brief speech task. We report a replicable three-dimensional structure, identify central symptoms that may maintain the FTD syndrome, and the specific dimensions that influence functional disability. These findings clarify the prognostically valuable features of FTD for future mechanistic and interventional research.

To analyse the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of minor salivary gland tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract.

A retrospective study was conducted of patients treated for minor salivary gland tumours between 1988 and 2020. Clinical, pathological and treatment variables were analysed. Survival outcomes were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Seventy-three patients were included, of which 64 (87.7 per cent) had malignant tumours. The most common histological type was adenoid cystic carcinoma (46.9 per cent), followed by mucoepidermoid carcinoma (32.8 per cent). The oropharynx was the most frequent tumour site. Treatment consisted mainly of surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. During follow up, 28.1 per cent of patients developed local recurrence and 32.8 per cent developed distant metastases. Five- and 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 77.0 and 50.8 per cent, respectively. Advanced stage, tumour location and histological grade were associated with survival.

Minor salivary gland tumours are predominantly malignant and show heterogeneous behaviour. Prognosis is mainly determined by tumour stage, location and histological grade, supporting the need for long-term follow up.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) exhibits a favourable prognosis compared to non-HPV OPCSCC. Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) may predict better survival outcomes for patients with HPV+OPSCC.

A retrospective review of patients treated for HPV+OPSCC between 2003-2018. TIL density scores for each patient’s tumour specimen were determined. Patients were categorised as TIL-Hi or TIL-Lo. Survival outcomes for the two TIL groups were compared.

Fifty-seven patients, 33 in the TIL-Hi group, were included. 5-year overall survival was 81.8% in the TIL-Hi and 75% in the TIL-Lo groups. 5-year disease specific survival was 87.9% and 87.5%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in survival outcomes between TIL-Hi and TIL-Lo.

TIL density in HPV+OPSCC has been reported to predict survival outcomes. This is not supported by the findings of this study. Further prospective evaluation with a standardised scoring technique may fully elicit the prognostic value of TILs in HPV+OPSCC.

In-hospital strokes comprise a small but high-risk subgroup of patients and are associated with worse outcomes compared to community-onset strokes. We compared clinical characteristics, workflow metrics and clinical outcomes of adult patients with in-hospital strokes and those with community-onset strokes in Alberta.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study (INPATIENTS: IN-hosPitAl sTrokes InAlbErta iNcidence and ouTcomeS) from Jan 1, 2018–Dec 31, 2022 using provincial administrative data and chart review to compare in-hospital and community-onset acute ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine the association of stroke onset location (in-hospital vs community-onset) with the following outcomes: in-hospital mortality, prolonged hospital stay and in-hospital complications. Negative binomial regression was conducted to compare workflow metrics between cohorts. All models were adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, facility type and admission year.

Among 24,039 stroke admissions, 2,545 (10.6%) were in-hospital strokes and 20,895 (86.9%) were ischemic. In-hospital strokes had higher rates of comorbidities and were associated with higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR [aOR] 3.09; 95% CI 2.80–3.41), prolonged hospital stays (aOR 5.47; 95% CI 4.89–6.112) and increased in-hospital complications. In-hospital ischemic stroke patients receiving thrombectomy showed lower odds of in-hospital mortality (aOR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28–0.75) and pneumonia (aOR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.71) compared to non-treated patients. Workflow times were significantly longer in in-hospital ischemic strokes compared to community-onset strokes.

Patients with in-hospital stroke experience higher rates of mortality, poorer clinical outcomes and significant delays in management. Targeted quality improvement efforts are needed to address care gaps and improve outcomes in this population.

The impact of arch anatomy on the prognosis of aortic coarctation of the aorta (COA) is not well established. We aim to assess the relationship between arch anatomy and the short- and long-term prognosis after surgical repair.

Patients with COA operated on the period between 11/2007 and 03/2016 were retrospectively recruited. Anatomical analysis of the aortic arch was done using Multidetector CT with measurement of the inter-branch distances between left common carotid artery, innominate artery, and left subclavian. We classified patients into group I, whose distance ratio (LCCA- IA)/(LSCA-IA) is short and less than 50%, and group II with such ratio ≥ 50%.

Seventy-three patients were recruited. The distance (LCCA-IA) had a range of Zero (common origin) to 22.3 mm. The distance ratio (LCCA-IA)/(LSCA-IA) ranged between Zero and 89%. Group I had a significantly higher incidence of adverse outcomes, including recoarctation, re-elevation of blood pressure, and re-elevation of pressure gradient, compared to Group II (p = 0.0001, 0.011, and 0.014, respectively). A positive correlation exists between the distance ratio and the residual SPG across the repaired segment (P = 0.0001). Only the anatomical distance ratio (LCCA-IA)/(LSCA-IA) can independently predict recoarctation in the long term.

There is a strong association between the anatomical distance LCCA-IA and recoarctation. This novel parameter is the only anatomical independent predictor of recoarctation.

Clinical trials provide valuable treatment insights but often fail to represent real-world outcomes. This is particularly true for advanced laryngeal cancer patients, who face significant co-morbidities and socioeconomic challenges. This study evaluates whether outcomes from research datasets in The Cancer Imaging Archive reflect real-world survival in a regional cohort from North-East England.

This retrospective analysis compares outcomes between The Cancer Imaging Archive (n = 198) and North-East England (n = 222) cohorts. Demographics, treatment modalities and five-year disease-specific survival were assessed via Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression.

North-East England had a lower five-year disease-specific survival (59.2 per cent vs. 76.9 per cent; p = 0.0018) and was characterised by greater co-morbidity burden and upfront surgery with adjuvant therapy (51 per cent), whereas The Cancer Imaging Archive patients received upfront chemoradiotherapy (53 per cent) or radiotherapy alone (41 per cent).

The poorer real-world outcomes reflect the challenges of generalising research data to heterogeneous populations. Bridging the gap between research efficacy and real-world effectiveness is critical to delivering equitable care for advanced laryngeal cancer.