Mounting evidence suggests that artificial intelligence can support the self-management of chronic diseases, including skin conditions, insulin management, and blood pressure control. This study aimed to investigate the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) in chronic condition management among patients in Saudi Arabia, where the prevalence of such diseases is increasing. Specifically, we assessed AI perception, self-efficacy, and cognitive symptom management; examined their associations with demographic variables, and evaluated the influence of AI perception and self-efficacy on cognitive symptom management.

This study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design. Data were collected at a single time point to characterize the sample and explore relationships among variables. A convenience sample of 163 patients with chronic conditions was recruited. A structured questionnaire was used to assess AI perception, self-efficacy, cognitive symptom management, and demographic characteristics. Data were collected between December 2024 and March 2025 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis, as appropriate.

The findings revealed that sex significantly influenced AI awareness, indicating a need for targeted outreach, particularly for women who demonstrated lower levels of AI awareness. Additionally, self-efficacy was a significant predictor of better cognitive symptom management (p < 0.01), as participants with higher self-efficacy reported significantly better management of cognitive symptoms and greater engagement in health-promoting behaviors compared to those with lower self-efficacy.

Our results highlight that self-efficacy is a key factor in managing cognitive symptoms associated with chronic conditions and underscore the importance of targeted interventions to enhance inclusivity and strengthen individuals' confidence in managing their health. These findings can also inform the development of healthcare programs aimed at empowering patient self-management through AI-based tools.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe neurodevelopmental mental disorder with age-dependent onset, and healthy siblings of SCZ patients are a pivotal cohort for exploring genetic susceptibility. This study aimed to characterize age-differentiated gray matter volume (GMV) patterns in high-risk and non-high-risk age siblings of SCZ patients via structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and clarify the regulatory role of age in neurostructural correlates of genetic susceptibility. A total of 31 SCZ patients, 62 healthy siblings (divided into age-sensitive window siblings [ASW-SIB, 18-35 years, n=31] and post-age-sensitive window siblings [PASW-SIB, 36-45 years, n=31]), and 31 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ, n=31) and healthy controls (HCs, n=31) were age-matched to the sibling cohort (overall mean age: 30.55 ± 7.84 years) but not further stratified by age, as the core aim was to compare age-specific sibling subgroups with non-stratified reference groups, however, post-hoc pairwise comparisons (Bonferroni-corrected) showed that PASW-SIB were significantly older than both SCZ (p < 0.001) and HCs (p < 0.001). sMRI data were processed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM8), and inter-group GMV comparisons were performed with one-way ANOVA and two-sample t-tests. Results showed no significant differences in demographic characteristics among the three groups (all p>0.05). One-way ANOVA revealed significant main effects of group on GMV in brain regions including the caudate nucleus, pallidum, insula, parahippocampal gyrus, and precuneus (F = 1.28-1.96, all p<0.01). Pairwise comparisons indicated that compared with HCs, PASW-SIB exhibited significantly increased GMV in the caudate nucleus, pallidum, and insula (all p<0.05, FDR-corrected), while ASW-SIB only showed reduced GMV in the parahippocampal gyrus and precuneus (all p<0.05, FDR-corrected). In contrast, SCZ patients exhibited reduced GMV in multiple regions (inferior temporal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and insula) compared to HCs (all p < 0.05, FDR-corrected). No significant correlations were found between GMV and clinical symptoms (PANSS scores) or disease duration in SCZ patients (all p>0.05). These findings suggest age-associated GMV differences in healthy siblings of SCZ patients: PASW-SIB show widespread GMV alterations in the basal ganglia and insula, while ASW-SIB exhibit localized GMV differences in the default mode network. The age-specific neurostructural patterns are consistent with potential risk-related brain phenotypes for SCZ, which may provide imaging targets for future studies of early risk stratification and intervention in high-risk populations.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms are frequently reported among incarcerated populations and have been associated with impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and adverse mental health outcomes. Despite growing international evidence, no previous studies have examined screening-positive ADHD symptoms among prisoners in Paraguay or evaluated Spanish-language screening tools in correctional settings.

To estimate the prevalence of screening-positive ADHD symptoms among incarcerated men and women in Paraguay, examine selected psychological and criminological variables, and assess the reliability and factorial structure of the Spanish version of the Symptom Check List-ADHD (SCL-ADHD).

This cross-sectional study included 836 inmates (621 men, 215 women) recruited through probabilistic sampling in three Paraguayan prisons. Screening-positive ADHD status was defined as a score ≥ 12 on the nine-item SCL-ADHD derived from the SCL-90-R. Psychiatric symptoms, suicide risk, and substance-related problems were assessed using validated measures. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent correlates of screening-positive ADHD status.

Screening-positive ADHD status was observed in 33.4% of participants, with higher prevalence among women than men (39.1% vs. 31.4%; OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.02-1.93, p = 0.04). Screening-positive ADHD was independently associated with suicide risk (OR = 3.85, p < 0.001) and elevated SCL-90-R dimensions of hostility, anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Sensitivity analyses using continuous symptom scores showed associations with hostility, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms remained, whereas association with depression attenuated. No significant independent associations were observed with criminological variables. The Spanish SCL-ADHD demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.76) and a coherent symptom structure.

Screening-positive ADHD symptoms were common among incarcerated individuals in Paraguay, particularly women, and were associated with concurrent emotional dysregulation and suicidality. These findings reflect screening-based symptom burden rather than confirmed adult ADHD diagnoses and highlight the potential utility of systematic ADHD screening within correctional mental health services.

Emerging evidence suggests a possible link between anorexia nervosa (AN) and alterations in the gut microbiota. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota profile in a cohort of Chinese female patients with AN.

A comparative analysis of the gut microbiota was conducted between 30 female patients with AN and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. All participants were assessed using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Bioinformatics analysis was performed using QIIME2, and statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS 26.0 and R software. Correlations between microbiota differences and body mass index (BMI), EDI, and CTQ were further investigated.

The analysis revealed differences in beta diversity and the abundances of specific microbial taxa between the two groups; however, no significant differences were observed in alpha diversity nor in the associations between gut microbiota and BMI, disease severity, or childhood trauma.

This study identified limited differences in the gut microbiota composition between patients with AN and HCs. Critically, no robust associations between gut microbiota and clinical features were found after rigorous multiple comparison correction. While nominal (uncorrected) correlations were observed between the specific microbiota and psychological traits, these results are exploratory and should be considered hypothesis-generating. They highlight a potential avenue for future research but require validation in larger, longitudinal cohorts to determine their reproducibility and biological significance.

This study aimed to investigate the preoperative psychological status of adult patients with equinocavovarus foot deformity and to examine the association between preoperative anxiety/depressive symptoms and the clinical outcomes of corrective surgery in this population.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 103 adult patients who underwent corrective surgery for equinocavovarus foot at Xi'an Honghui Hospital between March 2014 and July 2023. Baseline data were collected. Patient psychological status, ankle-hindfoot function, pain, and quality of life were assessed preoperatively and at the final follow-up using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Based on preoperative HADS scores, patients were categorized into an anxiety/depression group (Group A) and a non-anxiety/depression group (Group B). The two groups were compared with respect to baseline characteristics (gender, age, disease duration, BMI, follow-up duration), clinical outcomes, and the degree of improvement in all assessment metrics.

A total of 83 patients completed the follow-up, among whom 38 (45.78%) exhibited preoperative anxiety/depression symptoms. No significant differences were found in baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P > 0.05). At the final follow-up, both groups showed significant improvement in VAS, AOFAS, SF-36 (PCS/MCS), and HADS (A/D) scores compared to their preoperative baselines (all P < 0.001). Intergroup comparisons revealed that Group A had significantly lower AOFAS and SF-36 (PCS/MCS) scores, and significantly higher VAS and HADS (A/D) scores than Group B, both preoperatively and at the final follow-up (all P < 0.001). Regarding the degree of improvement, Group A demonstrated a smaller magnitude of improvement in VAS (P < 0.01), AOFAS (P < 0.01), and SF-36 PCS (P < 0.001) compared to Group B. Conversely, Group A showed a greater improvement in SF-36 MCS and HADS (A/D) scores (all P < 0.001).

While surgery improved all outcomes, patients with preoperative anxiety/depression exhibited persistently worse clinical scores. Their improvement profile was distinct: smaller gains in pain and physical function but greater mental health improvement. Addressing preoperative psychological status may optimize comprehensive outcomes.

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has achieved transformative success in hematological malignancies; however, its translation to solid tumors remains severely limited by tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and safety concerns such as on-target/off-tumor toxicity. A major contributor to these challenges is the lack of preclinical models capable of faithfully recapitulating human tumor architecture and tumor-immune interactions. Conventional two-dimensional cell cultures and animal models frequently fail to predict CAR-T efficacy, resistance, and toxicity observed in patients. Organoid technology, particularly patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and immune-integrated organoid systems, has emerged as a next-generation platform that bridges this translational gap. By preserving patient-specific genetic, phenotypic, and spatial heterogeneity, organoids provide a physiologically relevant and scalable system for interrogating CAR-T cell behavior in human-like tumor contexts. Recent advances in tumor-immune co-culture, vascularized organoids, and microfluidic organoid-on-a-chip platforms have further expanded their utility for dynamic assessment of CAR-T infiltration, cytotoxicity, cytokine release, and adaptive resistance mechanisms. In this review, we comprehensively examine how organoid-based models are reshaping the CAR-T development pipeline, spanning target discovery and validation, functional efficacy assessment, safety profiling, and optimization of combination therapies. We further discuss emerging applications of organoids as patient-specific "avatars" for personalized CAR-T selection and response prediction. Finally, we highlight current technical limitations and future bioengineering directions required to enable clinical translation. Collectively, organoid platforms represent a transformative tool for accelerating precision development of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies and advancing human-relevant immuno-oncology research.

To address clinical bottlenecks of traditional antipsychotic drugs, including delayed onset of action, significant peripheral side effects, and poor patient compliance, nanodelivery systems offer a feasible approach through their unique physicochemical properties to improve drug solubility, optimize in vivo transport, and enhance blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration efficiency. This review focuses on the application potential and translational value of nanodelivery systems in psychiatric disorders. We systematically summarize recent advances in the construction strategies of mainstream nanocarriers, including lipid‑based, polymer‑based, inorganic nanomaterials, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), as well as commonly used nanoparticle preparation and characterization techniques. We briefly discuss key challenges facing nanoformulations, such as long‑term safety, large‑scale production, and batch‑to‑batch consistency, and highlight future directions driven by artificial intelligence and precision medicine. This review aims to provide insights for the rational design of nanodelivery systems for psychiatric disorders and to advance the development of precision psychiatry.