Medicine and Pharmacology

Abstract: Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between fundamental metabolic markers—specifically fasting glucose and total cholesterol—and cognitive performance in a primary care population, continuing previous analyses focused on subclinical vascular parameters. Methods: The study included 137 primary care patients who completed neuropsychological assessments (Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III/ACE-III and Mini-Mental State Examination/MMSE) and a clinical interview. Fasting glucose and total cholesterol levels were extracted from their medical records. Results: Based on the MMSE, 26 participants (19.0%) had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 8 (5.8%) had neurocognitive disorders. Fasting glucose showed a significant negative correlation with the total ACE-III score, indicating poorer global cognition. Conversely, total cholesterol exhibited a weak positive correlation with the ACE-III score, a paradox likely reflecting the frequent use of lipid-lowering therapies in this group. Standard MMSE scores did not correlate significantly with any evaluated metabolic parameters. Conclusions: Elevated fasting glucose is associated with early cognitive decline, suggesting its utility in routine primary care screening for MCI risk. Furthermore, more comprehensive tools like the ACE-III are essential, as the standard MMSE fails to capture these subtle metabolic-related cognitive deficits.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the guidelines for the use of GenAI tools available on the websites of the world's top 200 universities. We collected all publicly available guidelines from the websites of the top 200 universities listed in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. These guidelines were evaluated using the same 24-item checklist developed for our 2024 survey of the top 50 universities worldwide. The assessment revealed that 180 institutions have publicly available guidelines. All universities permit the use of GenAI tools under specific conditions. These policies are primarily established by academic bodies that focus on teaching, learning, and innovation. Most guidelines emphasize using university-licensed options to enhance data security. The most cited GenAI tools included ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini (formerly Bard). More than 80% of the guidelines covered academic integrity, the limitations of GenAI tools, data privacy, the integration of GenAI in teaching and assessment, and the need to acknowledge its use. However, the operation of AI algorithms, reporting mechanisms for non-permitted use, documentation of prompts, and adoption of outputs were addressed in fewer than 40% of the guidelines. A comparison with our 2024 data for the subset of 50 universities re-evaluated in 2026 shows significant progress in guidelines coverage, reflecting institutions’ rapid responses to the evolving AI landscape.

Abstract: Background: Hematologic abnormalities are common in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and may reflect underlying infectious, neoplastic, or inflammatory processes involving the bone marrow. In patients with advanced HIV infection, these abnormalities frequently prompt bone marrow evaluation, particularly in the presence of fever of unknown origin or unexplained cytopenias. However, data describing the etiologic spectrum of bone marrow disease in resource-limited settings remain limited. In Latin America, where approximately 2.5 million people are living with HIV [1], late diagnosis and limited access to diagnostic infrastructure remain significant barriers. Yet, contemporary data on the etiologic spectrum of bone marrow involvement in this region are scarce. Aim: To describe the etiologic distribution, histopathological findings, and clinical characteristics of infiltrative bone marrow disease among adults living with HIV who underwent bone marrow evaluation at a tertiary referral center in Venezuela. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective and prospective case inclusion among adults with confirmed HIV infection who underwent bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy for suspected infiltrative disease between January 2019 and April 2024. Clinical, laboratory, histopathological, microbiological, and molecular data were collected. Descriptive analyses and exploratory comparisons were performed. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Results: A total of 42 patients were included; 60% were male, and the median age was 39 years (IQR: 31.75–50.0). At presentation, 67% were newly diagnosed with HIV, and 79% were antiretroviral therapy naïve. Severe immunosuppression was common, with a median CD4+ T-cell count of 98.5 cells/mm³. Bone marrow histopathology most frequently demonstrated granulomatous inflammation and hypocellularity (each 38%). Infectious etiologies were identified in 85% of cases, with Histoplasma capsulatum (49%) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (39%) being the most common pathogens among those tested. Malignancies accounted for 16% of evaluable biopsies. Denominators varied across analyses because not all patients had complete microbiological or histopathological data available. This study provides one of the few contemporary datasets on bone marrow pathology in HIV in Latin America. Conclusions: In this biopsy-selected cohort of adults with advanced HIV infection, infectious etiologies, particularly histoplasmosis and tuberculosis, were the predominant causes of infiltrative bone marrow disease. Bone marrow evaluation provided clinically relevant diagnostic information in patients with fevers of unknown origin and cytopenias when noninvasive investigations were inconclusive. These findings highlight the need for earlier HIV diagnosis, timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and improved access to microbiological and molecular diagnostic tools in resource-limited settings. Evidence contributes to the limited body of evidence on bone marrow pathology in people living with HIV in Latin America. It may inform diagnostic and public health strategies in similar resource-limited settings.

Abstract: This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of using ChatGPT-4 for automated preliminary clinical reporting in myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS), a key non-invasive imaging modality for assessing myocardial ischemia and infarction. A comparative analysis was conducted using 30 consecutive de-identified MPS cases spanning a broad spectrum of clinical scenarios, where structured clinical data were used to generate AI-based reports, which were then compared with reports prepared by experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Reports were evaluated using four criteria: clinical accuracy, report structure, terminological appropriateness, and overall comprehensibility, scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Results demonstrated that ChatGPT-4 performed strongly in report structure, terminological appropriateness, and overall comprehensibility, consistently producing well-organized and coherent reports. However, it showed lower performance in clinical accuracy, particularly in complex cases requiring advanced interpretation, where outputs were occasionally superficial or lacked specificity. Statistical analysis indicated a significant difference in clinical accuracy compared to physician reports (p = 0.002, exploratory analysis, n=30). Inter-observer agreement between evaluating physicians was substantial (Cohen's κ = 0.78). In conclusion, ChatGPT-4 shows promise as a supportive tool for preliminary reporting and medical education, but its limitations in higher-order clinical reasoning necessitate careful human oversight in clinical practice. These findings should be considered preliminary and require validation in adequately powered studies before any clinical implementation.

Abstract: The sustained growth of international maritime tourism and the expansion of the cruise industry have increased the importance of emerging zoonotic diseases as a significant challenge to global public health. Cruise ships constitute complex epidemiological settings characterized by high population density, rapid international mobility, and constant interaction between humans, animals, and coastal environments, factors that favor the introduction and spread of emerging infectious agents. Among the main threats are hantaviruses and other zoonotic viruses, such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever, and avian influenza, which are associated with animal reservoirs and vectors present in ports, tourist destinations, and tropical ecosystems. This review examines the ecology of animal reservoirs of hantaviruses and other zoonotic pathogens relevant to maritime tourism, including peri-urban rodents, bats, migratory birds, and other mammals. It discusses the impact of climate change, coastal urbanization, and environmental change on viral transmission dynamics. Epidemiological risks linked to international cruises are highlighted, particularly exposure during ecotourism excursions, pathogen introduction, and challenges for maritime surveillance. The review also addresses travel medicine, biosecurity, and infection control, emphasizing a One Health approach. Strengthening integrated surveillance and prevention systems is essential to ensure safer, more sustainable, and resilient maritime tourism in the 21st century.

Abstract: A costly process runs to a planned horizon and may be abandoned early by a rule acting on an accruing statistic. Any decision to stop is followed by a fixed operational lag before the stop takes effect. We show that the calendar time recovered by such a rule is a linear functional of its first-passage law against a recoverable-time kernel g(s) = (t_end − d − s)⁺, which is convex, non-increasing and identically zero beyond a horizon set by the lag. This yields an exact factorisation of savings into a detection ratio and a timing ratio, and identifies a dead zone in which monitoring is provably worthless. We use it to price the restriction to a single interim look. A single look must trade recoverable time against reliability at a fixed false-stop budget, and cannot do better than the interior optimum of that trade; continuous monitoring is not so constrained. We also show that the reliability-optimal futility boundary is the one-sided sequential probability ratio boundary of Wald, recovered here from a time-recovery objective rather than an error-rate one. In a worked example calibrated to non-oncology phase III trials, continuous monitoring averts 55% of a doomed trial's duration against 43% for the best single look at matched budget (a factor of 1.28) and 37% for the deployed conditional-power convention at the conventional midpoint (a factor of 1.50). Computing the probability of stopping a trial that would in fact have succeeded as a joint rather than a product measure — the two events are strongly negatively dependent — we find continuous monitoring also incurs less such regret than either single look at every effect size examined, so the comparison is not a trade but a dominance on both axes. The advantage is stable in the lag, and we are explicit about which claims are structural and which are numerical.

Abstract: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a halophilic, Gram-negative bacterium widely distributed in marine and estuarine environments and recognized as a leading cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis worldwide. In recent decades, its global emergence has been driven by environmental changes, particularly ocean warming, as well as the intensification of aquaculture and the globalization of seafood trade. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance, and One Health dimensions of V. parahaemolyticus. The pathogen’s ability to cause disease in humans is largely determined by key virulence determinants, including thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), TDH-related hemolysin (TRH), and secretion systems that facilitate host colonization and cytotoxicity. From a One Health perspective, V. parahaemolyticus represents a critical interface among environmental, animal, and human health, and also causes severe diseases in aquaculture, including acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and translucent postlarval disease (TPD) in shrimp, as well as vibriosis in bivalve mollusks such as oysters, where infection may result in tissue damage and substantial larval and juvenile mortality, with important economic consequences. The increasing emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains further complicates clinical management and highlights the role of environmental reservoirs and aquaculture practices in the dissemination of resistance. Additionally, climate-driven changes in temperature, salinity, and marine ecosystems are expanding the geographic distribution and seasonal dynamics of this pathogen. Strengthening integrated surveillance systems, improving food safety practices, and promoting interdisciplinary research, including studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions between the epigenome and V. parahaemolyticus, are essential to mitigate the growing risks associated with V. parahaemolyticus. A comprehensive One Health approach is critical to address its evolving impact on global public health and food security.

Abstract: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential methods for synthesising evidence, informing clinical decisions and defining research priorities. This manuscript updates and expands a previous teaching approach to the structure of a systematic review. Since that publication, reporting guidelines, risk-of-bias assessment, protocol management, digital tools and expectations regarding reproducibility have evolved substantially. This update is therefore not limited to adding recent references; it transforms an introductory teaching resource into an academic methodological document for researchers and authors of systematic reviews. The main improvements are the replacement of the PRISMA 2009 framework with PRISMA 2020 and its extensions, the incorporation of PRISMA-S and PRISMA-DTA where applicable, prospective protocol registration, the distinction between risk of bias and certainty of evidence, the use of design-specific appraisal tools, the transition from RevMan 5 to RevMan Web, the integration of GRADEpro GDT, and transparent documentation of artificial intelligence use. The organising axis is a four-stage mnemonic system: S0 identification, S1 screening, S2 eligibility and S3 final inclusion. Each stage is defined by its inputs, processes, decisions, traceable CSV files and deliverables. In this document, CSV refers to the structured management of bibliographic citation files exported in comma-separated value format, which can be used in spreadsheets and processed by bibliographic managers, statistical software or supervised AI agents to identify duplicates, classify records, prioritise full-text retrieval, document decisions and generate counts for the PRISMA flow diagram. CSV files are complementary to and interoperable with bibliographic formats such as RIS or BibTeX, commonly used in Zotero, EndNote, Mendeley and other reference managers. This enables reviewers to move from reference management to the tabular documentation of decisions throughout the review process. Figures 1-7 illustrate the S0-S3 flow as a reproducible and auditable working architecture.

Abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is sustained by a network of sterile inflammation, oxidative and metabolic stress, uremic toxin retention, gut barrier dysfunction, and maladaptive immune activation. These processes contribute to tubulointerstitial fibrosis and loss of kidney function, endothelial dysfunction, vascular calcification, wasting, and excess cardiovascular mortality. Yet inflammation in CKD is biologically heterogeneous, and association does not establish that suppressing a biomarker will improve outcomes. This narrative review critically appraises mechanistic and therapeutic evidence through an explicit translational hierarchy. Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, finerenone, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists improve cardiorenal outcomes and have plausible anti-inflammatory actions, although inflammation has not been established as the principal mediator of benefit. Interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 inhibition provide human proof of target engagement; the biomarker reductions achieved with ziltivekimab and clazakizumab have moved the field into cardiovascular outcome testing. By contrast, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors, senescence-directed approaches, and microbiota-based interventions remain predominantly preclinical or supported by small heterogeneous trials. We propose that future progress requires inflammatory endotyping, repeated biomarker assessment, mechanistically aligned outcomes, and rigorous infection surveillance. Targeting inflammation may become a clinically relevant component of CKD care, but only if pathway suppression delivers benefits beyond contemporary standard therapy.

Abstract: Static stretching is one of the most widely prescribed interventions in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and exercise science for improving joint range of motion (ROM) and flexibility. Despite decades of research, however, the biological mechanisms underlying its effects remain incompletely understood. Traditional explanations have primarily focused on muscle extensibility and passive tissue stiffness, whereas emerging evidence suggests that stretching induces coordinated adaptations across multiple mechanically interconnected biological systems. This integrative narrative review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the biological mechanisms underlying static stretching and to propose a conceptual framework explaining how externally applied mechanical loading is translated into coordinated biological adaptation. Current evidence from biomechanics, fascial biology, mechanotransduction, connective tissue biology, vascular physiology, and neuroscience was critically integrated to develop a unified mechanobiological framework describing the biological responses to static stretching. The available evidence indicates that static stretching should no longer be interpreted solely as a muscle-centered flexibility intervention. Instead, externally applied mechanical loading is transmitted throughout the myofascial continuum, where it is detected by mechanosensitive cellular structures and converted into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction. These signaling pathways regulate extracellular matrix remodeling, vascular adaptation, inflammatory modulation, and neural regulation, thereby generating coordinated biological adaptations. This framework provides a biologically plausible explanation for the heterogeneous findings reported in the stretching literature and the substantial inter-individual variability observed following identical stretching interventions. The proposed mechanobiological framework redefines static stretching as a biologically active mechanical stimulus coordinating adaptive responses across multiple levels of biological organization. By integrating evidence from previously independent biological systems, this conceptual model advances the current understanding of static stretching and provides a theoretical foundation for future mechanobiological research in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and exercise science.

Abstract: Nanocarrier medicine has entered a paradox. The chemistry to make targeted, multi-functional carriers is now routine, and the clinical need - most sharply in cancers such as colorectal carcinoma - is unambiguous, yet fewer than one in ten preclinical candidates reaches patients, and the fraction of an injected dose that reaches a solid tumour remains small. The bottleneck is not synthetic capacity but interpretation: nanocarrier physicochemistry, in vitro biological behaviour and patient-level clinical variability are measured in disconnected assays, and no single framework couples them into an actionable prediction for a specific patient. We propose that this coupling is best cast as a three-layer virtual twin. Layer 1 is the nanocarrier physicochemical feature space (size, shape, coating, corona, payload). Layer 3 is the patient biological profile drawn from routine clinical-laboratory data (molecular status, tumour markers, systemic-inflammation indices). Between them sits Layer 2, an intermediate integrating layer of multi-modal AI/ML biosensing. We formalise the concept, show how each layer is populated with concrete quantitative examples (drawn from a validated microfluidic biosensing platform and from published colorectal-cancer laboratory data), and argue that a personalised, safety-gated decision index emerges naturally from the fusion. We conclude with a maturation trajectory that turns this concept into a practical instrument for personalised nanomedicine.

Abstract: Background and Objectives: The anatomical relationship between nasal cavity dimensions and the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) in simple snoring remains poorly defined. We investigated the association between nasal cavity dimensions and the PAS in adults with simple snoring using computed tomography (CT), focusing on anatomical correlations. Methods: This study included 83 adults with habitual snoring and nasal obstruction, with a confirmed apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) < 2. Polysomnography and CT were performed to measure nasal and pharyngeal airway dimensions. The minimum cross-sectional areas (mCSAs) of three nasal cavity segments and pharyngeal airway dimensions were measured using awake CT images. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between the nasal and pharyngeal parameters. Results: The smallest nasal cavity mCSA was positively associated with PAS in the overall cohort (β = 0.369, P = 0.001), with a significant association observed in males (β = 0.499, P = 0.001), but not in females. Sex-related differences were also observed in the PAS dimensions, including anteroposterior length and pharyngeal depth. Conclusions: In individuals with simple snoring, smaller nasal cavity dimensions were associated with a narrower PAS on static CT imaging, particularly in males. These findings reflect the anatomical associations and should not be interpreted as evidence of functional airway collapse or disease progression.

Abstract: Background: Radiography integrates scientific knowledge and technical skill with effective patient interaction and sound ethical judgment to provide quality patient care. Sustained ethical conduct is central to safe, trustworthy radiographic service delivery. However, the extent to which radiographers uphold these standards in Nigerian settings, including Kano metropolis remain in deficit. Objective: This study evaluated adherence to ethics of patient care, professional responsibilities, and continuous professional development among practicing radiographers in Kano metropolis. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among practicing radiographers in Kano metropolis between April and October 2019 using a validated, structured, self-administered questionnaire. It was distributed to 35 consented radiographers selected by non-probability sampling. Only 27 responded, with a response rate of 77.1%. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Most respondents always adhered to core patient care ethics: accurate patient identification (100%), respect for patient rights and dignity (92.6%), justification of medical exposure (88.9%), and confidentiality (85.2%). Only 29.6% always implemented equipment quality assurance programmes, with 40.7% doing so only sometimes and 7.4% never. Adherence to professional responsibilities and continuous professional development was similarly high (77.8%). Conclusion: Radiographers in Kano metropolis showed strong ethical commitment to patient care and professional responsibility. However, equipment quality assurance implementation was inadequate. Strengthening institutional quality assurance and regulatory oversight is recommended.

Abstract: Jeffreys‑rule Bayesian inference for the Poisson mean was retrospectively applied to cytokinesis‑block micronucleus (CBMN) data from four studies conducted in a single laboratory (2001–2026), covering ionising‑radiation exposures in human lymphocytes and an ¹³¹I biodosimetry study (29 experimental groups). The CBMN assay is widely used for cytogenetic biodosimetry and for evaluating radioprotective agents, but classical analysis of net micronucleus (MN) yield becomes unreliable when effective radioprotectors reduce MN frequencies towards background, leading to near‑zero or negative net counts with poorly characterised uncertainty. In our reanalysis, the Bayesian correction systematically modified magnitude-of-protection and dose-reduction estimates in low-count, high‑protection conditions in comparison with the classical approach. Using Bayesian net counts to recalculate standard radioprotective metrics revealed that, while the overall ranking of radioprotective potency was preserved, Bayesian magnitudes of protection and dose reduction factors were consistently lower than their classical counterparts for the most effective radioprotectors administered before irradiation, providing more conservative efficacy estimates with quantified uncertainty. In the ¹³¹I biodosimetry cohort and in patients undergoing diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures, post‑exposure MN yields remained within the spontaneous background variability of the assay, and the Bayesian framework is fully compatible with the practical absence of detectable chromosomal damage at the doses used in routine clinical practice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Jeffreys‑rule Bayesian inference provides a statistically coherent and practically feasible framework for CBMN analysis in the low‑count regime, stabilising net MN estimates, avoiding artefactual negative values and supplying confidence intervals for radioprotective efficacy metrics. As a concrete methodological recommendation, Bayesian analysis should be adopted as the default approach whenever post‑exposure MN counts are within approximately a factor of two of background, with classical methods remaining adequate at higher count levels.

Abstract: Purpose: Artificial intelligence is increasingly developed and deployed to support radiological image interpretation, triage, segmentation and workflow prioritisation. However, high performance reported in retrospective studies does not necessarily translate into safe and useful deployment in routine practice. This narrative review examines why this translational gap persists and what radiology departments, researchers and developers should address before clinical implementation. Methods: We synthesised methodological, empirical and regulatory literature on the development, validation, deployment and governance of radiology AI. Radiology was used as the primary setting, with adjacent imaging fields discussed only where they illustrate broader mechanisms relevant to medical image analysis. Results: Recurrent barriers include limited data quality and representativeness, scanner- and protocol-related domain shift, shortcut learning, hidden stratification, insufficient external and prospective validation, poor calibration, over-reliance on global metrics and weak workflow integration. Model performance can be shaped by scanner protocols, reconstruction methods, local reporting practices, patient selection and institutional workflows beyond the underlying pathology. In Europe, GDPR-based data governance, the Medical Device Regulation, the AI Act and the European Health Data Space further shape clinical deployment. Conclusions: Emerging approaches, including foundation models, generative AI, multimodal systems, federated learning and local adaptation, may address selected technical constraints, but they introduce new uncertainties and do not replace independent validation in the intended clinical setting. Radiology AI should be evaluated not only as an algorithmic model, but as a clinical decision-support component embedded in radiology practice, requiring external and preferably prospective validation, subgroup analysis, calibration assessment, human oversight, workflow integration and post-deployment monitoring.

Abstract: Fibromyalgia and diffuse pain disorders have been the subject of thousands of specialised publications and more than 56,000,000 references suggested by public search engines. Nevertheless, the aetiology of diffuse pain syndrome remains poorly understood, though it accounts for nearly 20% of rheumatology consultations. Treatment is not very systematised, and the results of treatment procedures remain of limited efficacy in terms of work capacity. The socio-economic consequences for patients with fibromyalgia are on the same level as those seen in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. It would appear desirable to review the aetiological approach to be able to treat diffuse pain disorders more effectively. The association between violence experienced during childhood and the onset of fibromyalgia has been previously suggested without being considered a necessary and sufficient cause. However, thanks to the development of medical brain imaging techniques and the knowledge of epigenetic mechanisms, it seems that a previous history of sexual abuse and physical violence experienced during childhood could effectively be one of/or the cause of the onset of fibromyalgia.

Abstract: Background: Computed tomography (CT) is essential for diagnosis, but its use of ionising radiation requires clear patient communication and informed consent. This study assessed knowledge, perception and communication needs regarding CT imaging among adult patients at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, Tanzania. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted among inpatients and outpatients attending CT services. Quantitative data were collected from 224 patients using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and qualitative data were obtained through 18 semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics, association tests, regression analysis and thematic analysis were used. Findings were integrated through triangulation. Results: Overall, 43.8% of participants had low CT knowledge, 37.9% had moderate knowledge and 18.3% had high knowledge. Although 65.6% knew that CT produces cross-sectional images, only 40.6% identified CT as ionising radiation and 30.4% knew that CT usually delivers more radiation than a plain chest X-ray. Trust in healthcare providers was high, while pre-scan anxiety was moderate. Adequate knowledge was associated with receiving an explanation before CT, higher education and previous CT experience. High anxiety was more common among female and first-time CT patients, but was lower among those who received explanations. Conclusion: Patients accepted CT mainly through professional trust, but radiation knowledge and interactive communication were limited. Standard pre-CT explanations, simple information materials and targeted support for first-time patients may strengthen informed consent and reduce avoidable anxiety. The findings highlight a practical patient-education gap within routine Tanzanian tertiary imaging services.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly introduced into clinical trial operations, but operational usefulness does not imply regulatory or site-level readiness. This review synthesizes evidence on AI applications across clinical trial operations and proposes a site-level governance model for responsible implementation in healthcare organizations. Methods: We conducted a structured narrative review with evidence mapping of peer-reviewed literature, regulatory documents and contextual sources (2020–2026). AI use cases were mapped by trial lifecycle stage, evidence maturity, autonomy level, trial impact and governance implications using a transparent 0–8 evidence-maturity score. Results: The strongest evidence concerns patient–trial matching and eligibility assessment, which nonetheless reached only moderate maturity because the systems were evaluated retrospectively or in simulated screening rather than inside a live trial; no use case reached the highest band. Other applications remain less mature or context-dependent. Recurrent risks include hallucination, automation bias, weak local validation, limited auditability, model drift and unclear accountability. We propose a site-level readiness and deployment-decision model linking evidence maturity, AI autonomy, trial impact and site implementation capacity. Conclusions: AI readiness in clinical trial operations should be assessed at the level of the AI-enabled workflow rather than the model alone. Safe adoption requires context-specific validation, human accountability, auditability, lifecycle monitoring and alignment with Good Clinical Practice.

Abstract: Background: Radiography is a health profession that employs ionizing and non-ionizing radiations for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Students from other health professional courses share institutional and clinical environments with radiography students throughout their training, making mutual understanding of the profession professionally important. No study had previously assessed this relationship at Bayero University Kano. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and perception of students from other health professional courses in Bayero University Kano with respect to radiography profession. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among other health professional departments. Stratified random sampling with proportionate allocation was used to select 322 respondents. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, applying descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and independent samples t-tests. Results: Of 322 questionnaires distributed, 306 (95.0%) were returned and fully completed (response rate of 95%). Medical Laboratory Sciences students recorded the highest knowledge score (87.5%) while Physiotherapy students recorded the lowest (48.1%). Optometry students held the most favorable perception of the profession (96.2%) while Physiotherapy students were the least favorable (66.7%). Strong positive correlations between knowledge and perception were found in MBBS (r = 0.737, p < 0.001), Physiotherapy (r = 0.681, p < 0.001), and Dentistry students (r = 0.658, p < 0.001). Conclusions: With the exception of Physiotherapy students, participants from other health professional courses at Bayero University Kano demonstrated satisfactory knowledge and generally favorable perception of radiography. Interprofessional educational initiatives are recommended to address the gaps identified.

Abstract: Background: The domain of microencapsulation technology is considered to be at the level of an advanced scientific discipline that includes the fields of materials science, pharmaceutical technology, and food technology in the formulation of very specific matrices of polymeric or lipid nature. Method: In this review, a comprehensive analysis of sixteen different techniques of microparticles preparation has been presented: Solvent Evaporation, Solvent Extraction, Coacervation, Spray Drying, Spray Congealing, Ionic Gelation, Interfacial Polymerization, Air Suspension, Pan Coating, In-situ Polymerization, Supercritical Fluid Technology, Electrospraying, Microfluidics, Sol-Gel Process, Hot Melt Encapsulation, and Salting Out. Each technique has been explained by describing the basic physical and chemical phenomena that govern the process of microparticles formation. Results: The review has been presented with a critical analysis of the operating parameters, along with the core and shell material, as well as the applications of the technique, which are of interest in the field of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and medicine. Conclusion: The types of drugs that are best suited for the particular technique, as per their physical and chemical properties, i.e., solubility in water, lipid solubility, acid–base properties, as well as their thermoreactive properties, have been discussed in the review. The possibility of scaling up the technique from the laboratory scale to the industrial scale has been evaluated by searching the patent database, as well as the grant status of the patents, presented in the review. The prospective industrial applications of the technique, as well as the current limitations that restrict the scaling up of the laboratory-scale protocol, have been discussed in the review.