Four decades after the 1986 nuclear disaster, researchers at Leibniz University Hannover and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) examined six tiny, highly radioactive fragments that were released from the destroyed reactor in Ukraine in the wake of the incident. Analyses show that these “hot particles” are far more stable than had previously been assumed. The findings could allow for more precise assessments of the health risks posed by such radioactive particles (DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141533).

Surgical telemedicine includes proactive, data-driven preoperative screening and risk stratification beyond traditional reactive consultation; intraoperative telepresence enhanced by robotics that enables collaboration to meet established technical thresholds; and postoperative pathways that clearly distinguish safety-oriented surveillance from function-oriented tele-rehabilitation.

It mitigates regional imbalances in medical resources, overcomes geographical limitations, and forms a health-centered, workflow-oriented full-cycle paradigm.

Its large-scale application is constrained by technical, economic, regulatory and ethical barriers.

This review integrates the heterogeneous mechanisms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) into a three-stage framework: metabolic dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and overt neuronal damage. Within this framework, six representative DPN subtypes are mapped to disease progression and linked through redox disequilibrium as a central mechanistic hub. The review further summarizes genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic risk factors, evaluates current stage-aligned therapeutic strategies, and discusses cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as an emerging redox-modulating intervention that warrants further preclinical and clinical evaluation.

Skin cancer is a global health challenge, with nearly 1.5 million new cases diagnosed in 2024 according to World Health Organization (WHO) data. In response, the University of Alicante (UA) and the Sant Joan d’Alacant University Hospital have collaborated to launch MEL-IA (MobilE skin Lesion dIAgnosis), an artificial intelligence system designed to automate the classification of skin lesions. The MEL-IA system achieves an overall accuracy of 86 %.

In 287 Han Chinese adults with HIV-1, UGT1A1*6 was significantly associated with higher dolutegravir (DTG) trough concentrations, with homozygous carriers showing the strongest effect. Compound UGT1A1*6/*60 and UGT1A1*6/*28/*60 genotypes and low body weight were independent risk factors for elevated DTG levels. No significant associations were found between DTG trough concentrations and viral suppression or adverse effects. 

Gait is a fundamental activity of daily living that reflects physical and cognitive function. Researchers studied 421 older individuals and found that mild cognitive impairment was associated with slower gait speed during both comfortable and fast walking, even after accounting for frailty. The findings add evidence that gait speed, already used to assess physical function, may also help assess cognitive function and support future cognitive screening in daily life.

We present the Chinese Multi-omics Advances In Sepsis (CMAISE) cohort, a prospective, multicenter initiative integrating high-resolution multi-omics (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, scRNA-seq) with deep clinical phenotyping.

Cervical cancer remains a major health challenge in Africa, where progress toward the WHO’s 90–70–90 elimination targets has been hindered by health system inequalities and gaps in prevention. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, this study found rising trends in cervical cancer across the African Union from 1990 to 2023. Incidence increased from 17.41 to 23.53 per 100,000, and DALYs rose from 368.58 to 430.7 per 100,000. The highest burden was seen in Southern, Central, and Eastern Africa, with women aged 40–54 being the most affected. Projections to 2038 suggest further increases in burden, with rates remaining above the WHO elimination threshold. Structural health system limitations, insufficient HPV vaccination, and low screening rates are key drivers. Urgent, region-specific interventions are needed to reverse these trends.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in Africa, where progress toward WHO’s 90–70–90 elimination targets has been limited by structural health inequalities and gaps in prevention services.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of cervical cancer burden across the African Union from 1990 to 2023, using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. Four key indicators—incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)—were extracted and stratified by region and age group. Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) was calculated to assess long-term trends, while age-specific and regional disparities were evaluated. Future burden was projected to 2038 using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model.

Results: While global cervical cancer rates have declined modestly since 1990, Africa has experienced rising trends across all indicators. From 1990 to 2023, the age-standardised incidence rate in the African Union rose from 17.41 to 23.53 per 100,000 population (EAPC = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48–0.87), and DALYs increased from 368.58 to 430.7 per 100,000 (EAPC = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07–0.41). Central, Southern, and Eastern Africa showed the highest burden, with Southern Africa recording the most rapid increase in incidence (EAPC = 1.54). Age-specific analysis revealed a concentrated burden among women aged 40–54, with absolute case numbers nearly doubling in this group since 1990. Projections suggest a substantial increase in incidence, prevalence, deaths and DALYs by 2038, and the gap between Africa and the global average is expected to widen further, with incidence rates remaining significantly above the WHO elimination threshold of <4/100,000.

Conclusion: Africa’s cervical cancer burden is increasing and diverging from global progress. Structural health system limitations, insufficient HPV vaccination coverage, and low screening uptake are key contributors. Urgent, region-specific interventions—integrating prevention, screening, and treatment—are essential to reverse current trends and achieve WHO elimination goals.