Good news for busy healthcare professionals: MedShorts 360 brings the month's most useful medical developments together in one place. Read new evidence on medicines available in India, highlights from every major specialty, India's pharma news, results from the world's leading conferences and the stories that matter to patients. Every update is short and clear.
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New evidence on medicines your patients can get in India, across the major specialties.
DiabetologyIn a 536-patient open-label Indian phase 3 trial, a twice-daily dapagliflozin, glimepiride and metformin fixed-dose tablet cut HbA1c by 2.17 to 2.25 percentage points at 16 weeks, versus 1.64 to 1.72 points with glimepiride plus metformin.
PulmonologyIn a 48-week single-centre phase II study of 39 patients with RA-associated ILD, tofacitinib 5 mg twice daily modestly lowered serum KL-6, with an FVC change of -72 mL and 51% reaching low RA disease activity.
CardiologyIn a Canadian cluster-crossover trial of 11,619 elective PCI patients, 70 U/kg and 100 U/kg unfractionated heparin gave similar 30-day rates of death, MI or revascularisation and of major bleeding, although the trial was underpowered.
NephrologyIn 78,656 hospitalised adults, ibuprofen for acute pain was associated with 22% higher AKI rates than oxycodone, with excess risk concentrated in postoperative and critically ill patients. Low-risk patients showed no excess.
DermatologyIn a 43-patient sub-study of a randomised trial, 12 weeks of abrocitinib 100 mg or 200 mg was associated with dose-dependent falls in skin S. aureus and a shift towards a healthier skin microbiome compared with placebo.
GastroenterologyA post hoc analysis of the ATLANTIS trial grouped 401 IBS patients by gut and psychological symptoms; those with mainly psychological symptoms gained most from low-dose amitriptyline, while the most severe group stopped treatment more often.
PsychiatryA secondary analysis of a 68-patient trial found that adding two ketamine-assisted sessions to mindfulness therapy in people on buprenorphine increased self-reported body awareness, which tracked with lower opioid craving later.
DermatologyIn the LIBERTY AD PED open-label extension, 121 children aged 6 months to 5 years with severe atopic dermatitis on monthly weight-based dupilumab had sustained skin and quality-of-life gains for up to two years, with no new safety signals.
NeurologyIn 160 stroke survivors with uncontrolled hypertension, a spironolactone-based strategy lowered home systolic pressure by about 8 mm Hg versus usual care at 3 months, with more hypotension and hyperkalaemia. Results are preliminary.
CardiologyIn 3,048 Korean ASCVD patients managed to an LDL-C goal, beginning with rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe gave similar 3-year cardiovascular outcomes to starting a statin alone and adding ezetimibe when needed.
PulmonologyIn a 1,695-patient pragmatic trial, metoprolol added to standard care in COPD patients without cardiovascular disease did not significantly reduce exacerbations, cardiovascular events or death over one year.
OphthalmologyIn a US cohort of 2,327 adults starting tamoxifen, only 7% had any eye-care visit and 1.7% had retinal OCT or fundus photography in the following 12 months, highlighting low ophthalmic follow-up for a drug with known retinal effects.
PaediatricsA US analysis of over 5.2 million term and near-term births found that infants who did not get vitamin K at birth had about 1.5 times the risk of any bleeding by 6 months and more than twice the risk of intracranial bleeding.
UrologyIn the randomised phase 2 ARACOG trial of 111 men with advanced prostate cancer, objectively measured cognition declined less on darolutamide than on enzalutamide at 48 weeks; patient-reported differences were not statistically significant.
CardiologyA registry-based randomised trial found default prasugrel did not cut death, MI or stroke at one year versus ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing PCI.
Infectious DiseasesA JAMA synopsis of the IDSA guideline backs 5-7 day courses for non-bacteraemic cUTI, 7 days for Gram-negative bacteraemia, and advises against nitrofurantoin for complicated infection.
SurgeryA review of 16 studies presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 linked perioperative melatonin to over 30% less opioid use in some abdominal surgery, and zolpidem to less pain.
DiabetesThe REMODEL MRI trial missed its main imaging endpoints, but semaglutide lowered renal resistive index, albuminuria and kidney fat in people with type 2 diabetes and CKD.
SurgeryIn over two million US surgical patients, GLP-1 drug users had 11% lower odds of major cardiovascular complications and 8% lower odds of postoperative infection.
GastroenterologyIn over 2,400 propensity-matched US adults with difficult asthma, long-term proton pump inhibitor use was tied to more exacerbations, rescue steroids and respiratory infections.
GynaecologyIn a US cohort of more than 300 pregnancies, higher stress went with lower vitamin C intake and fussier babies, and supplemental vitamin C appeared to mediate part of that link.
CardiologyIn the COHERENT trial, colchicine 0.5 mg daily cut hsCRP by about 40% over six months, yet pulse wave velocity did not change and office systolic pressure fell less than with placebo.
Critical CareIn a Canadian trial of 780 ventilated adults with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure, isoflurane-based inhaled sedation gave hospital mortality similar to IV sedation (42.5% vs 43.8%) and did not increase ventilator-free days.
DiabetologyIndia's drug regulator has approved Sun Pharma's once-daily generic oral semaglutide in 3, 7 and 14 mg strengths for adults with type 2 diabetes, adding to generic tablets already sold by Torrent and Dr Reddy's.
OncologyASCO's 2026 update ties adjuvant abemaciclib or ribociclib to estimated 10-year breast cancer mortality, and prefers abemaciclib when a patient qualifies for both.
GynaecologyAn Australian population study of 177,409 children found antenatal metformin exposure was not associated with developmental vulnerability at school entry after adjustment.
Infectious DiseasesIn a Swedish birth cohort of 2,853 people, antibiotic use from age 9 was linked to higher odds of IBS at 24, rising with the number of courses, especially for cephalosporins.
PsychiatryAcross 19 observational studies with nearly 16 million people, ADHD was associated with 70% higher all-cause mortality, and medication use with about 25% lower risk.
OrthopaedicsA three-arm randomised trial in Radiology found ultrasound-guided saline hydrodissection kept improving symptoms at six months, while steroid-only patients relapsed.
NeurologyUS records of 21,923 people with epilepsy showed 32.6% had at least two weeks of overlap between a contraceptive and an antiseizure drug, a combination that can reduce contraceptive effect.
DermatologyAcross 50 studies with 4,403 patients, antiepileptics caused about 23% of SJS/TEN cases, led by carbamazepine, with a higher share in children.
OrthopaedicsIn 20 patients followed for 30 months, polidocanol plus autologous marrow cut pain scores from 6.2 to 0.3 and cyst volume from about 80 mL to 2 mL, with 5% recurrence.
GastroenterologyIn a matched retrospective cohort, ulcerative colitis patients on liraglutide or semaglutide had 12-week symptomatic remission of 66.7% versus 25.3% in non-users, independent of weight loss.
DermatologyEris Lifesciences has launched DCGI-approved tapinarof 1% cream, a once-daily aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, citing phase 3 PSOARING data on clearance and itch.
DiabetesPooling 85 double-blind trials with over 70,000 adults, SGLT2 inhibitors raised haemoglobin by 0.6 g/dL and haematocrit by 2.4 percentage points, with a small rise in erythropoietin.
DiabetesA once-daily pill combining sitagliptin 50 mg, metformin 1000 mg and glimepiride 1 mg lowered HbA1c by 1.79% at 16 weeks, versus 1.27% with free metformin and glimepiride.
NeurologyIn the ClearMEMory trial, two-thirds of SLE patients on memantine improved by at least 8 points on a cognition battery over 12 weeks, versus 36% on placebo.
OrthopaedicsAmong 228 patients, beginning a biologic within two years of diagnosis gave the same short-term DAPSA response as starting later, leaving long-term joint protection unanswered.
Infectious DiseasesIn a randomised cancer-centre trial presented at IDWeek 2026, stopping empirical antibiotics before count recovery did not raise death, septic shock or ICU transfer, and nearly tripled antibiotic-free days.
DermatologyIn an Italian retrospective series of 26 women, 0.25% topical finasteride for a year raised hair density, shaft thickness and terminal-to-vellus ratio, with no reported side effects.
NeurologyA BRIDGE-TNK analysis at the World Stroke Congress found cardioembolic strokes benefited from tenecteplase before thrombectomy, but large-artery atherosclerotic strokes did not.
CardiologyLight transmission aggregometry at AIIMS New Delhi showed aspirin resistance in 30.5% and clopidogrel resistance in 36.8% of 151 patients with stable coronary artery disease.
PsychiatryPharmacovigilance and Japanese claims data suggest aripiprazole carries lower hyponatraemia risk than olanzapine, with brexpiprazole and lurasidone also reporting fewer cases.
SurgeryA PGIMER Chandigarh randomised trial found faster extubation, higher peak flow and a smaller FEV1 drop with sugammadex 2 mg/kg than with neostigmine-glycopyrrolate.
PsychiatryA regional analysis presented at ECNP 2026 found opposite associations between folic acid dispensing and suicide-related deaths in men aged 20-24 and 25-29, and none in women.
OncologyIn 1,249 Chinese patients with diabetes who had liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma, starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist was linked to 42% lower mortality than starting a DPP-4 inhibitor.
GastroenterologyPooling 30 randomised trials, fibre supplements raised the chance of clinical response in IBS by 21%, and psyllium by about 53%, while wheat bran gave no benefit.
OncologyA prospective Indian otolaryngology study found 65 of 90 cisplatin-treated patients developed irreversible bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and urged routine audiometry.
GynaecologyAmong 624,713 first births in Sweden, women vaccinated against HPV before pregnancy had lower odds of preterm birth, PPROM and severely small babies, especially if vaccinated before 17.
A key development from each specialty, from hepatology to palliative care.
General MedicineA 12-year review at a Nagpur government STI clinic found 296 syphilis cases, most diagnosed in 2022–2024; latent syphilis made up 45.6%, and many patients were young men.
GynaecologyIn a retrospective Indian tertiary-centre series of 650 women with ectopic pregnancy, laparoscopy had higher success than methotrexate, while medical treatment meant shorter stays and fewer transfusions.
CardiologyIn a 10-patient phase 1b study presented at AHA 2026, a single infusion of the gene-editing therapy CTX310 lowered median triglycerides by about 63% at 30 days, with no serious treatment-related adverse events.
NephrologyIn 6,220 Australian adults followed for 12 years, each additional hour of daily TV viewing was associated with a 2–3% faster yearly fall in eGFR, with a stronger signal in people with type 2 diabetes.
OphthalmologyA Japanese records study (2012 to 2023) of 154 eyes with stable, medically treated open-angle glaucoma found lower air temperature was independently linked to higher intraocular pressure, mainly in severe disease or patients on several drops.
Critical CareA systematic review in the Indian Journal of Anaesthesia pooled five observational studies of 252 adults and found real-time right supraclavicular ultrasound achieved correct central venous catheter tip placement in 99.16%, with most malpositions corrected at the bedside.
UrologyIn a UK phase 2 trial analysis of 77 men with castration-resistant prostate cancer and up to two progressing metastases, those with detectable ctDNA before SBRT had median progression-free survival of 3.0 versus 7.8 months.
PsychiatryA network meta-analysis of 115 randomised trials with over 30,000 participants found escitalopram, agomelatine and duloxetine more effective than fluoxetine at keeping patients with major depression well over the long term.
Critical CareA multinational study of nearly 29,000 ICU patients found that going without pharmacist medication management for at least one day raised the odds of in-hospital death by 20%, and higher pharmacist workloads also raised risk.
OphthalmologyAn IRIS Registry study of 80,106 eyes with early or intermediate dry AMD found a modestly higher six-year conversion rate to neovascular AMD after cataract surgery, with the excess risk concentrated in the first years.
GynaecologyA meta-analysis of 13 studies (4,057 women under 20 weeks) found emergency physician-performed ultrasound cut ED stay by about an hour without a significant rise in missed ectopic pregnancies.
PaediatricsIn a 166-family US trial, adolescents given emotion-regulation training alongside family-based behavioural treatment lost similar weight but regained less and ate less emotionally at 12-month follow-up.
SurgeryIn a placebo-controlled trial of 2,012 older adults with hypertension, skipping the surgery-day ACE inhibitor or ARB dose lowered intraoperative hypotension from 45.5% to 31.2%, with no difference in 30-day complications or death.
PsychiatryAn open-label Indian randomised trial in 139 healthy adults found that 45 days of the Common Yoga Protocol improved positive and negative affect, sleep quality and some short-term memory measures compared with a waitlist control.
PsychiatryA network meta-analysis of six trials in adults with ADHD and co-occurring stimulant use disorder found that higher-dose methylphenidate and mixed amphetamine salts outperformed placebo on ADHD symptoms and on drug-use measures.
GastroenterologyInterim results of a European randomised trial in 10,799 patients show that first surveillance colonoscopy at 5 years after removal of high-risk adenomas gave colorectal cancer incidence similar to surveillance at 3 years (0.77% vs 0.82%).
Critical CareIn a single-centre US cohort of 50,667 adult ICU patients, those with preexisting atrial fibrillation spent a larger share of ICU days delirious, an association that persisted after adjustment for baseline risk.
ENTIn a prospective study of 62 adults with nasal polyposis undergoing Draf I to III frontal sinus surgery, CT, symptom and quality-of-life scores improved markedly by six months with all four approaches.
DermatologyA Journal of Experimental Medicine study linked psoriasis to a Vanin enzyme pathway in dendritic cells; in a 24-patient pilot, adding oral pantethine to topical treatment gave greater improvement over 12 weeks.
SurgeryA Korean target trial emulation of 802 asymptomatic patients found early surgery associated with 31% lower all-cause mortality than watchful waiting over a mean of about seven years.
OrthopaedicsIn 3,552 adults followed for about 5.7 years, hand synovitis on ultrasound was tied to a 26% higher adjusted risk of death, with stronger links when bilateral or affecting several joints.
PulmonologyA meta-analysis of 30 studies with prospective validation found FeNO predicted airway hyper-responsiveness in suspected asthma far better than blood eosinophils (adult AUC 0.80 vs 0.65); eosinophils added nothing when combined with FeNO.
PaediatricsScreen-capture data from 1,011 US youth aged 8 to 17 suggested a median of about 3,900 food marketing exposures a year, mostly on social media; over 90% of packaged products shown failed a nutrient standard.
DiabetologyThe FDA now requires a warning on non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy for all GLP-1 receptor agonists. Absolute risk is low, but patients should report sudden painless vision loss in one eye and be referred promptly.
PaediatricsIn a South African study of 634 infants scanned in 3D at one month and one year, babies exposed to both alcohol and tobacco throughout pregnancy showed more facial differences than those exposed to either substance alone.
OrthopaedicsA narrative review in the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics recommends early tranexamic acid, immediate pelvic binders, preperitoneal packing and angioembolisation within standard institutional protocols for haemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures.
SurgeryIn a JAMA Network Open trial of 100 patients with noninfected Wagner grade 1 diabetic foot ulcers, adding shallow punch incisions to standard care raised 20-week closure from 27.5% to 49.0%, a low-cost adjunct needing confirmation.
DermatologyA meta-analysis of 52 observational studies found that higher NO2, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 levels were probably linked to higher atopic dermatitis prevalence and more outpatient visits in children, while evidence on new cases and severity was mixed.
OrthopaedicsIn a Canadian cohort of 1,296 patients who had walking difficulty before total knee arthroplasty, 60.6% had none a year later. Depression and low back pain lowered the odds of recovery, while self-efficacy and social support raised them.
GynaecologyWomen with familial hypercholesterolaemia reported pre-eclampsia more often than matched controls (11% vs 7%), while other reproductive and pregnancy outcomes were similar, a Dutch-Norwegian study found.
SurgeryA survey of 468 head and neck surgeons in 46 countries found routine antibiotics in clean thyroid surgery and prolonged courses after clean-contaminated cancer surgery were common, and having a guideline did not mean shorter courses.
NeurologyPooling 162 studies with 316,131 people, unruptured intracranial aneurysm prevalence was 3.9% in a reference population, up to 12.8% in ADPKD, and rose over two decades in healthy people scanned by angiography.
General MedicineIn a stepped-wedge trial in six Australian hospitals involving 4,827 inpatients aged 65 or older, adding stewardship pharmacists raised deprescribing of sedative and anticholinergic drugs by 5.3 percentage points, but the gain faded once they were withdrawn.
GynaecologyIn a double-blind trial of 60 women having elective caesarean delivery, 100 µg intrathecal morphine gave lower pain scores over 24 hours, a longer wait before rescue analgesia and higher satisfaction than bilateral quadratus lumborum block.
ENTThe FDA has approved subcutaneous amivantamab for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after platinum chemotherapy and immunotherapy, based on a 42% response rate in a 102-patient trial.
NeurologyThe FDA has approved oral asundexian 50 mg with antiplatelet therapy after non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke or high-risk TIA. In OCEANIC-STROKE it cut ischaemic stroke by 26% without a significant rise in major bleeding.
NeurologyThe US FDA is investigating postmarketing reports of insertional oncogenesis involving the GLI1 gene after onasemnogene abeparvovec gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, and advises monitoring treated patients for tumours.
UrologyAn updated ASTRO guideline, developed with ASCO, AUA, ESTRO and SUO, recommends moderate hypofractionation over conventional fractionation for localised prostate cancer and supports five-fraction ultrahypofractionation for selected low- and intermediate-risk patients.
CardiologyIn a US JAMA trial of 1,857 AF patients after successful left atrial appendage closure, aspirin alone or a 3-month reduced-dose NOAC was noninferior to 6 months of DAPT at 6 months, with less bleeding.
NeurologyIn a 380-patient phase 3 trial in drug-resistant focal epilepsy, once-daily azetukalner 15 mg or 25 mg, started without titration, reduced monthly seizures more than placebo, with dizziness the main side effect.
PaediatricsIn 435 children at a Taiwanese hospital, a continuous 7-day Holter detected major arrhythmias in 6.2% versus 2.3% with a 24-hour Holter or event recorder, and changed management more often (7.1% vs 1.6–2.8%).
UrologyIn a retrospective Japanese study of 61 men with lower urinary tract symptoms, including chronic pelvic pain, six weekly sessions of low-intensity shock wave therapy lowered IPSS from 11.1 to 7.3 and NIH-CPSI from 11.8 to 7.0 at one month.
General MedicineIn a JAMA cluster randomised trial of 1,706 adults with uncontrolled hypertension in Colombia and Jamaica, single-pill combinations delivered through team-based care cut systolic BP by 10 mm Hg more than standard care at 18 months.
DiabetologyIn a US randomised trial of more than 150 adults with prediabetes, a month of real versus sham bedroom air filtration cut fine particles by 36% and was linked to lower post-breakfast glucose peaks on continuous monitoring.
PulmonologyAn ICMR-NIE and Tamil Nadu State TB Cell evaluation in BMJ Global Health reports that triaging adults with drug-sensitive TB using five bedside parameters was followed by TB death rates falling from 6.3% to between 3.9% and 2.8%.
DiabetologyA large US health-record analysis presented at AHA 2026 found GLP-1 receptor agonist users with prediabetes and obesity progressed to type 2 diabetes less often than metformin users. The study is observational and not peer reviewed.
NephrologyIn 6,376 patients with atherosclerotic disease, CKD and raised hs-CRP, monthly ziltivekimab lowered inflammatory markers but did not reduce heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death, nor kidney outcomes, versus placebo.
CardiologyIn a 16-centre Indian trial of 3,492 adults with HFrEF, yoga-based cardiac rehabilitation did not reduce death, hospitalisation or stroke, but improved quality of life and six-minute walk distance at three months.
DiabetologyIn a Brazilian NEJM trial of 9,476 adults with type 2 diabetes, aiming for systolic BP below 120 vs below 140 mm Hg did not significantly reduce major cardiovascular events, while kidney function declines were more frequent.
NeurologyIn a Brazilian NEJM trial of 4,368 patients with prior ischaemic stroke or TIA, a systolic target below 120 mm Hg lowered major cardiovascular events (HR 0.79) and recurrent stroke versus below 140 mm Hg.
ENTA cross-sectional UK Biobank analysis found that worse speech-in-noise hearing was associated with modestly thinner macular and inner retinal layers. The differences were very small and the design cannot show cause or direction.
General MedicineLong-term follow-up of 5,179 ISCHEMIA patients with stable coronary disease found similar 11-year all-cause mortality with routine invasive or initial conservative management (25.8% vs 26.9%).
DiabetologyAmong 1.46 million Swedish children followed for a median 15 years, a mother or father with autoimmune disease was linked to about 50-57% higher risk of type 1 diabetes, pointing largely to shared familial susceptibility.
GastroenterologyThe FDA has approved bepirovirsen, added to existing antivirals, for adults with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis and low HBsAg; in two trials 19% kept the virus controlled 24 weeks after stopping all treatment.
CardiologyIn 8,323 patients with established cardiovascular disease and high Lp(a), monthly pelacarsen lowered Lp(a) sharply but MACE rates were the same as placebo (HR 1.02). Experts say Lp(a) testing remains useful for risk assessment.
SurgeryIn a 179-patient pancreaticoduodenectomy series in the Indian Journal of Surgery, serum amylase above 100 U/L on days 1 and 2 was linked to more pancreatic fistulas and higher 30-day mortality.
GastroenterologyA JAMA Internal Medicine meta-analysis of 21 studies (19,613 patients) found colonoscopy completion after an abnormal FIT/FOBT was 47.8% without support versus 69.1% with navigation, reminders or automated referral.
DermatologyA JEADV network meta-analysis of 16 randomised trials (10,266 patients) ranked ixekizumab and brodalumab highest for scalp clearance at 12-16 weeks, with etanercept and apremilast lowest; no agent raised serious adverse events.
General MedicineA Neurology study of about 4 million UK adults found no difference in 60-day peripheral neuropathy risk between systemic fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, while the expected excess of tendon rupture was confirmed.
PaediatricsA review by Delhi paediatric haemato-oncologists says risk stratification, MRD monitoring and immunotherapy have lifted childhood ALL survival above 90% in specialised centres, while cost still limits access in India.
GastroenterologyA meta-analysis of 12 studies found anti-TL1A antibodies gave pooled clinical response of 67% in ulcerative colitis and 58% in Crohn's disease, with higher remission odds than controls; serious adverse events were about 4-5%.
SurgeryIn 1,113 appendicitis patients, laparoscopic removal had about 3.6 times the odds of a compromised specimen versus open surgery, with perforation, larger appendix diameter and older age as added risks; retrieval bags did not prevent it.
General MedicineIn 1,019 US adults with likely long COVID followed from one year after infection, 36.2% had sustained improvement by two years and 50.1% by three years, while about 26.9% had complete remission at three years.
GastroenterologyA new AASLD Expert-Based Practice Opinion in Hepatology advises one-time HDV antibody testing for everyone who is HBsAg positive, RNA confirmation, elastography, six-monthly liver cancer surveillance and consideration of antiviral therapy.
UrologyAmong 830,393 adults newly treated for overactive bladder, those started on anticholinergics did not have higher dementia rates than those started on mirabegron or vibegron; residual confounding may explain small differences.
GynaecologyIn a UK trial of 268 pregnant women with high worry levels, a 4-week self-led online programme added to routine antenatal care modestly lowered anxiety, depression and worry scores, with some benefit persisting after birth.
Critical CareIn the Lancet PROSpect trial of 424 children with moderate-to-severe paediatric ARDS, neither early prone positioning nor high-frequency oscillatory ventilation increased ventilator-free days, and both carried added safety risks.
PulmonologyPreviewing the 2027 GOLD report at the GOLD COPD conference, leaders said a long-acting muscarinic antagonist will be the initial choice for group A, alongside revised definitions, an expanded CT section and stronger emphasis on rehabilitation.
CardiologyThe 2026 SCAI SHOCK expert consensus update asks clinicians to grade shock by hypoperfusion rather than blood pressure alone, to name the shock phenotype, and to restage patients at set intervals.
General MedicineIn a BMJ target trial emulation of 75,455 adults on metformin, adding an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 receptor agonist cut 5-year kidney deterioration by about 40% versus DPP-4 inhibitors in those with albuminuria, with no clear difference in those without.
OrthopaedicsA Danish registry study of 76,126 primary total hip arthroplasties found 90-day periprosthetic joint infection rates of 0.98% with one preoperative dose versus 0.94% with multiple doses, meeting noninferiority.
NeurologyIn 1,298 cognitively normal older adults followed with repeat MRI for nearly three years, those with type 2 diabetes showed faster cortical thinning in seven brain regions, which partly explained their faster decline in processing speed.
OrthopaedicsA single-centre retrospective study of 195 trauma patients found that rotational/distraction cervicothoracic fractures on CT were more strongly associated with cord compression, oedema and haemorrhage on MRI than compression or burst fractures.
PulmonologyIn 152 children with asthma at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, 57.9% were atopic on skin prick testing, with cockroach and house dust mites the leading sensitisers and almost half of atopic children sensitised to several allergens.
DermatologyIn a 77-patient US cohort with multisite mucous membrane pemphigoid, 83% achieved remission at one or more sites but only 45% achieved simultaneous remission at all sites; persistent oral and eye disease were the main barriers.
UrologyAn updated meta-analysis of 29 studies (5,604 patients) found suction ureteral access sheaths roughly halved residual fragments, fever and sepsis versus traditional sheaths in RIRS, though most evidence is observational.
GynaecologyIn a 20-year Thai series of 18 pregnant women with symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis, percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy succeeded in 94%, raising valve area from 0.98 to 1.5 cm² without maternal deaths or strokes.
NephrologyIn 205 maintenance haemodialysis patients followed for a mean of 61 months, a higher aortic arch calcification score measured on non-gated chest CT independently predicted cardiovascular and all-cause death, a BMC Nephrology study reports.
Sleep MedicineIn an NYU randomised trial of 196 short sleepers with prediabetes, each hour of earlier sleep onset was associated with about 0.6 kg more weight loss over eight weeks.
OrthopaedicsA BMJ network meta-analysis of 189 trials in nearly 13,000 adults with frozen shoulder found moderate-certainty evidence that shockwave therapy eases short-term pain and manipulation under anaesthesia improves flexion. Evidence beyond three months is weak.
ENTA US case-control study of 3,600 sinonasal cancer cases and 17,695 controls found that each SD rise in regional PM2.5 was linked to 25% to 36% higher odds of diagnosis, with stronger links for longer exposure windows.
OphthalmologyA GWAS meta-analysis of 2,584 CSC cases and over 1 million controls found 10 risk loci, 3 of them new, with risk concentrated in scleral fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, supporting CSC as a primary sclerovascular disorder.
ENTA US claims-based case-control study of 21,295 people found each standard-deviation rise in regional fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was associated with 25–36% higher odds of a first sinonasal malignancy, with stronger links over longer exposure windows.
OphthalmologyIn a UCLA pragmatic trial covering 1,045 preoperative cataract surgery visits, electronic alerts did not significantly reduce routine test orders overall, though a nudge stressing patient anxiety reduced blood count and ECG orders.
ENTA JAMA Otolaryngology study of 284 children referred for snoring found prefrontal activation on fNIRS tracked apnoea severity and modified its link with cognition, which may help explain why some children are affected more than others.
PaediatricsA 16-year review of 20 children with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in Manila found clustering after a 2018–19 measles outbreak; half were infected before 9 months of age and most had received only one vaccine dose.
OrthopaedicsIn an Australian trial of 192 adults with midportion Achilles tendinopathy, high-volume injections with or without corticosteroid gave no clear benefit over sham at 12 months when added to exercise; steroid gave only a short-term gain.
OphthalmologyIn 1,093 patients at rural Tamil Nadu eye camps, remote ophthalmologists reviewing smartphone images captured by briefly trained health workers agreed with in-person referral decisions in 96 of every 100 cases.
SurgeryHospitals that adopted the American College of Surgeons emergency general surgery verification standards saw shorter stays, less acute kidney injury and lower 30-day mortality than comparison hospitals in a US registry study.
NephrologyIn over 416,000 UK Biobank adults followed for 12.9 years, vegetarians had a 19% lower risk of incident CKD than high meat eaters after adjustment for lifestyle and metabolic factors; the design cannot prove causation.
OphthalmologyJAMA Ophthalmology has named the Diabetes Endothelial Keratoplasty Study its first Clinical Trial of the Year. The trial found one-year DMEK graft success was about 96% to 97% whether or not the corneal donor had diabetes.
PsychiatryIn a 120-person phase 2b randomised trial, a standardised kudzu extract taken before expected heavy drinking reduced weekly binge-drinking days from 2.15 to 1.42, versus 2.15 to 2.06 with placebo, over 12 weeks.
PsychiatryIn 409 people who inject drugs with opioid use disorder, a mobile unit offering buprenorphine and PrEP plus peer navigation did not improve 26-week MOUD or PrEP use over peer navigation alone; fewer deaths at 52 weeks is a preliminary signal.
GynaecologyIn a JAMA Network Open study of nearly 142,000 births in China, both low and high maternal haemoglobin were linked to preterm birth, with risk windows and cut-offs that varied by gestational age and altitude.
DermatologyA French cohort of 107 partial responders to anti-TNF or anti-IL-17 biologics used the presence of an end-of-dose flare to choose between dose intensification and adding long-term antibiotics; about half achieved an IHS4 response at 3–5 months.
Geriatric MedicineThe eSTEPS cluster-randomised trial in 22 US practices cut fall rates by 9% using electronic alerts that prompted personalised home balance and strength programmes.
GastroenterologyIn a Dutch stepped-wedge trial of 2,267 patients in Barrett's surveillance, adding acetic acid chromoendoscopy flagged more suspicious areas but did not improve detection of dysplasia or cancer (7.4% vs 7.1%).
NephrologyIn a UK randomised trial of 445 older, multimorbid people with advanced CKD, preparing for dialysis did not improve combined length and quality of life compared with preparing for responsive conservative management.
PsychiatryIn a follow-up of a randomised trial, infants of depressed mothers given interpersonal psychotherapy in pregnancy had a smaller right hippocampus and lower negative emotionality at six months than infants in the usual-care arm.
Clinical ImmunologyA French double-blind trial of 98 patients found similar remission duration with six-monthly rituximab or daily azathioprine, but twice the rate of severe infections with rituximab.
NephrologyIn a Canadian matched cohort, pregnancies after living kidney donation had 11.9% versus 8.3% hospitalisation with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (risk ratio 1.51), and more small-for-gestational-age babies.
Critical CareAn Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine review reports global ECPR survival of 30% in adults and 42% in neonates and proposes a four-phase Indian roadmap starting with in-hospital arrests at urban hub centres.
Critical CareThe VASSPR cluster crossover trial found 28-day mortality of 31.8% with an early vasopressin threshold versus 33.0% with a later one.
ENTA multicohort JAMA Cardiology analysis found transient hearing dips at peak loop diuretic levels that mostly resolved within hours, and no rise in diagnosed ototoxicity with high doses across 22,656 heart failure admissions.
Critical CareIn over 11,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest ICU admissions across 10 US health systems, admission rates rose with outdoor heat, roughly doubling at 98°F, with more treatment for low blood pressure and dialysis; survival did not differ. Conference data, not yet peer reviewed.
UrologyA Chinese Medical Association consensus gives 34 recommendations on surgery for unilateral Wilms tumour, from upfront nephrectomy and biopsy criteria to lymph node sampling of 6 to 10 nodes and selective minimally invasive surgery.
EndocrinologyAmong 90 patients at a New Delhi tertiary centre, 35.6% had asymptomatic disease, surgery cured all operated patients, and cinacalcet normalised calcium in 90%.
PulmonologyIn 100 patients with asthma at a western Indian tertiary centre, impulse oscillometry found abnormalities in 61.7% of those with normal spirometry, and resistance at 5 Hz was higher in uncontrolled asthma.
HepatologyStudies in The Lancet and Nature Medicine found SOMAscan, MR elastography and FibroScan-based scores most accurate for advanced fibrosis, and GGT better than FIB-4 as a first screen.
Infectious DiseasesSequencing saliva and sputum from 771 UK patients six months after hospital discharge showed microbiome differences in those with the most severe long COVID.
Preventive and Lifestyle MedicineIn a 16-week single-arm trial, eating a low-fat plant-based diet without calorie counting reduced weight by 6 kg, liver fat by 33% and HbA1c by 1 percentage point.
Emergency MedicineIn 75 stable PSVT patients at AIIMS New Delhi, the modified Valsalva restored sinus rhythm in 26.3% at one minute versus 16.2% with the standard manoeuvre, a difference that was not significant.
PulmonologyA North Indian prospective study of 50 AECOPD admissions found steroid duration was the only independent predictor of a stay over nine days.
DiabetologyIn a placebo-controlled trial in North Indian adults with prediabetes, metformin 500 mg twice daily for 24 weeks lengthened telomeres and raised telomerase and SIRT1 activity.
Tropical MedicineThe price cut is expected to save about $50 million from 2027 to 2029 and allow up to one million more children to receive the full four-dose course.
Allergy and AsthmaBelgian real-world data on more than 280,000 patients linked short-acting bronchodilator use to higher mortality, especially three or more inhalers a year.
RheumatologyIn the Chinese TACTIC trial of 116 patients, leflunomide 20 mg plus prednisone gave 81.5% remission at 24 weeks versus 78.9% with placebo plus prednisone.
Pain MedicineIn 194 patients treated in Berlin, median knee pain fell from 7 to 3 on a 10-point scale and stayed there at 12 months after embolisation with resorbable microspheres.
Medical OncologyIn 303 patients from seven US and Australian centres, 48% developed chronic immune-related adverse events, and 34% still had them at last follow-up.
Palliative MedicineThe EQUAL ACP trial in 791 seriously ill older adults found no significant difference in planning completion between facilitated and self-guided approaches within Black or White participants.
HaematologyA Swedish prospective study found M protein in one in four adults hospitalised with invasive pneumococcal disease, and new blood cancers or precursor conditions in 19 of 156.
Nuclear MedicineIn the Italian FUPERMAN study, PSMA PET/CT-targeted biopsy detected clinically significant cancer in 37% of men with negative or equivocal MRI, versus 21% with systematic biopsy.
Approvals, pricing, policy and business news from India's pharmaceutical sector.
BusinessThe contract research and manufacturing company reported Q2 FY27 revenue of Rs 833 crore and a profit of Rs 32 crore, after a loss in Q1.
ExportsThe generic of Pfizer's Depo-Medrol in single- and multi-dose vials addresses a US market of about $214 million a year.
PricingA 2 November order under DPCO 2013 sets retail prices for cardiovascular, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-infective, GI and analgesic formulations from companies including Sun, Cipla, Mankind and Dr Reddy's.
HIV preventionDr Reddy's is the first of six Gilead licensees to get tentative approval for the twice-yearly HIV prevention injection, at an expected price of about $40 a year.
LegalThe court told NPPA not to take coercive steps until 11 January 2027 over alleged overcharging on Symbicort Turbuhaler 160/4.5 under DPCO 2013.
BusinessRevenue reached Rs 969 crore and profit Rs 73 crore. Zaynich, approved in the US and India for complicated UTI, is in the pre-launch phase.
BusinessThe CDMO reported Q2 FY27 revenue of Rs 1,342 crore and profit of Rs 115 crore, and is entering colour cosmetics manufacturing through a Rs 56 crore acquisition.
ExportsLupin's amifampridine 10 mg tablets, a generic of Catalyst's Firdapse used in Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, qualify for shared first-to-file exclusivity in the US.
PolicyPrivate hospitals are challenging a state circular requiring itemised bills to show procurement cost, MRP and the amount charged for medicines and consumables from 1 November.
Oncology approvalsThe anti-PD-1 antibody, combined with cisplatin and paclitaxel, is approved first-line without PD-L1 testing, citing a median overall survival of 17.7 versus 12.9 months in JUPITER-06.
ExportsThe generic of Climara Pro, made at Zydus's Moraiya plant near Ahmedabad, is a Competitive Generic Therapy eligible for 180-day exclusivity.
RegulatoryReviewing Novo Nordisk's application for oral semaglutide 1.5-25 mg for weight management, the committee asked for Indian bioequivalence data and justification of absorption-enhancer levels.
BusinessThe two-tranche issue, with coupons of 8.05% and 8.20%, will replace a dollar bridge loan taken for the Organon deal, Reuters reported.
RegulatoryThe oncology expert committee recommended the new presentation for preventing skeletal events in bone metastases, subject to post-marketing surveillance and a PKU label warning.
OncologyNCCN has listed UNLOXCYT as a Category 2A preferred option for locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma when curative surgery or radiation is not possible, Sun Pharma says.
PolicyThe 6 October guidelines allow only factual, verifiable information and bar fake reviews, paid rankings, guaranteed outcomes and AI-generated testimonials.
Late-breaking results from major international meetings.
TCT 2026, San DiegoThe VERITAS study of 458 patients reported 99.3% implant success, 96.3% complete closure and 1.8% stroke or systemic embolism at one year.
TCT 2026, San DiegoIn the SIRONA trial, freedom from repeat target-lesion procedures was 88.2% with the MagicTouch sirolimus balloon versus 80.2% with paclitaxel balloons.
TCT 2026, San DiegoPascal T-TEER beat medical therapy on a six-month win ratio driven by health status, with 80% of patients at moderate or less regurgitation at one year.
Kidney Week 2026, DenverIn 4,633 adults with chronic kidney disease, aspirin did not significantly reduce major vascular events and caused more major bleeding.
Kidney Week 2026, DenverPovetacicept, atacicept and sibeprenlimab, which all target the APRIL/BAFF pathway, sharply reduced proteinuria or preserved eGFR in late-breaking trials.
IDWeek 2026, Washington DCIDWeek data included oral olorofim matching AmBisome in aspergillosis, aztreonam-avibactam staying active against rising MBL-producing bacteria, and five days of oseltamivir prophylaxis matching ten.
ESMO 2026, MadridDeLLphi-305 showed median overall survival of 21.1 versus 12.7 months when the DLL3-targeted T-cell engager was added to first-line maintenance.
ESMO 2026, MadridThe SAFFRON trial extended progression-free survival to 7.6 versus 5.4 months, and overall survival to 17.8 versus 12.9 months, in EGFR-mutant lung cancer with MET overexpression or amplification.
ESMO 2026, MadridIn the Chinese HARMONi-GI1 trial, the PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody improved median overall survival to 14.9 versus 12.1 months.
ESMO 2026, MadridIn the VOLGA trial, the perioperative doublet cut the risk of events by 49% and death by 42%, with a pathological complete response of 45% versus 10%.
ESMO 2026, MadridINTerpath-001 showed 24-month recurrence-free survival of 82.2% with the individualised neoantigen therapy plus pembrolizumab, versus 70.0% with pembrolizumab alone.
ESMO 2026, MadridIn the phase 3 DASL-HiCaP trial of 1,106 men, four-year metastasis-free survival was 95% with darolutamide versus 88% with placebo.
HFSA 2026, PhoenixIn 2,684 matched US patients, acoramidis was linked to an 18% lower risk of a composite of death, hospitalisation, new AF or diuretic intensification.
CHEST 2026, PhoenixPooled phase 3 OBERON and TITANIA data showed 30% fewer moderate or severe exacerbations and 27% fewer severe ones, with benefits across eosinophil levels.
Health news from India that affects patients and their care.
Patient safetyA 15-day statewide operation by health and police teams inspected clinics across districts, with most cases in Rajkot and Surat.
Maternal healthMysuru's C-section share rose from 43.7% to 47.4% between survey rounds, with the increase mainly at public facilities.
Patient safetyRejecting a police closure report, the court asked a Crime Branch SIT to investigate complications after multiple procedures at a facility registered only as a day-care centre.
Patient safetyThe cell, set up after a Gauhati High Court PIL, registered 115 FIRs, including cases of forged credentials used inside hospitals.
Health workforceThe state is verifying the status of 695 government doctors appointed since 1988, as vacant posts leave rural patients without care.
Addiction careUnion Health Minister JP Nadda launched capacity building for doctors, nurses, counsellors and community health workers, coordinated by NDDTC, AIIMS New Delhi.
Digital healthNine servers at Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital were encrypted, delaying medicines, claims and government scheme benefits, and an FIR has been filed.
Medicine accessA health department circular requires stock lists for OPD doctors, generic prescribing and fortnightly reagent reports to avoid treatment disruptions.
Hospital costsIn an affidavit, the Centre acknowledged mark-ups on medicines and consumables from 100% to over 1,000%, but said it lacks the data to regulate hospital margins.
International health news that matters to patients.
Global healthWHO's mid-term review of the 2021-2030 NTD road map finds 36% fewer people needing interventions than in 2010, but most targets off track as external funding shrinks.
Food safetyWHO's updated estimates covering 42 hazards in 194 countries show children under five bear a disproportionate share, mostly from diarrhoeal disease.
FertilityIn an NEJM trial of 737 couples, one IVF cycle gave a 55% live birth rate versus 31% with up to four IUI cycles, though long-term success was similar.
OutbreaksOver 10,000 confirmed cases have been reported in DR Congo, with spread to Kenya and Nigeria, and the US will bar recent DRC travellers from boarding flights from 3 November.
Child dental healthIn a US phase 3 trial of 830 children under six, twice-yearly SDF application stopped decay in more than half of affected baby teeth, without drilling or injections.
HypertensionAn analysis of nine trials with 91,339 patients found those who took at least 80% of doses had 11% fewer major cardiovascular events, while poor adherers had no significant benefit.
Drug safetyAn AI analysis of about 150,000 Reddit posts found users of gray-market retatrutide often reported increased appetite, sleep problems and a racing heart, unlike in clinical trials.
Weight-loss drugsAn EADV 2026 study across four countries found nail detachment in 39% of GLP-1 users versus 9% of comparable non-users, and more hair thinning.
Rare diseaseThe FDA has approved Zanvastro, an antisense therapy that lowers the toxic GFAP protein, after a 54-patient trial showed faster walking and stabilised motor function.
MedShorts 360 summaries are written by the MedShorts editorial team from the cited sources, for registered healthcare professionals. They are not medical advice. Please read the original source before applying findings in practice.
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