Sexual health is an essential yet often overlooked component of quality of life in oncological care. This study aimed to explore the sexual health experiences of Malaysian patients with advanced cancer, utilizing a culturally adapted and validated tool to guide gender-sensitive, contextually relevant supportive care interventions.

Patients diagnosed with advanced solid-organ cancers were recruited from a quaternary healthcare facility in Malaysia. The study employed the validated EORTC QLQ SH-22 (EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Sexual Health 22), the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6), alongside single-item queries regarding self-esteem and life and relationship satisfaction. Correlational analyses were conducted to investigate the relationships among gender, performance status, and sexual functioning.

Of the 120 participants, the average age was 49.1 years (SD = 11.4); 63.3% were female, and 82.5% had good performance status. 51.6% reported recent sexual activity. Improved sexual functioning was linked to sexual satisfaction, perceived importance of sex, and reduced symptoms such as vaginal dryness (r = -0.43, p < 0.01) in women and erectile confidence in men (r = 0.51, p < 0.01). Male gender was associated with perceived importance of sex (p = 0.005, d = 0.54) and less sexual pain (p < 0.001, d = 0.87). Lower performance status correlated with increased fatigue-related sexual dysfunction (p = 0.010) and concerns about incontinence (p = 0.013).

Sexual health interventions for advanced cancer patients should consider gender-specific and cultural factors. Future research should focus on longitudinal trends and intervention strategies tailored to diverse cultural contexts.

Mothers diagnosed with breast cancer in collectivist, faith-oriented societies face dilemmas regarding the timing, manner, and extent of disclosure of their illness to their children and extended family members. However, evidence addressing this issue within Arab contexts remains limited. This phenomenological qualitative study explored how Omani mothers with breast cancer navigate disclosure, interpret familial and communal responses, and employ coping strategies within sociocultural and religious frameworks.

In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted in Arabic with 18 Omani mothers diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer, parenting at least one child aged 6-18 years. Participants were recruited from a national cancer care center in Muscat. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English, and analyzed using the framework method, supported by NVivo.

Three themes emerged: (1) illness disclosure and communication strategies; (2) family and community responses to the diagnosis; and (3) coping strategies grounded in faith, patience, and behavioral adjustment. Women's experiences were shaped by maternal roles, anticipated stigma, and faith-informed interpretations of illness. Disclosure decisions influenced the mobilization of support within kinship networks. Furthermore, coping mechanisms integrated religious meaning-making with efforts to maintain normalcy.

These findings underscore the need for culturally responsive, family-centered psychosocial care in cancer services.

This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This case-control study included 40 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 40 healthy control women. Serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 and high-sensitive C-reactive protein levels were measured via commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 levels were statistically significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than controls (p<0.001). In the logistic regression analysis, an increase in serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 level demonstrated a significant association with polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis (p=0.011). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 was found to be 0.800 (p<0.001). Setting the cut-off value at 45.22 pg/mL, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 65.0%. In the logistic regression analysis that incorporated homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, anti-müllerian hormone, and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, a 1 pg/mL rise in soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 was associated with a 1.07-fold increase in the odds of polycystic ovary syndrome, a 3.10-fold increase in the odds due to a 1-point rise in homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, and a 3.24-fold increase in the odds for every 1 ng/mL rise in anti-müllerian hormone. The model incorporating anti-müllerian hormone, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 predicted polycystic ovary syndrome with 83.8% accuracy, 90.0% specificity, and 77.5% sensitivity.

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 may serve as an indicator of the chronic inflammatory process in polycystic ovary syndrome and could be a complementary marker rather than a diagnostic marker for polycystic ovary syndrome.

This study was conducted to determine women's awareness levels regarding gynecological cancers and their fatalistic perceptions regarding breast cancer.

This was a descriptive study conducted in a Family Health Centre District between October 2023 and August 2024. The study sample consisted of 333 women. A personal information form, Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale, and breast cancer fatalism scale were used to collect data.

The mean total score on the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale for the women participating in the study was 146.02±21.70, and the mean total score on the Breast Cancer Fatalism Scale was 7.40±2.61. Educational status, social security, obtaining information from healthcare professionals about gynecological cancers, and previous gynecological examination status of the participants explain 18.7% of the variance in the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Scale total score average. Additionally, age and educational status explain 13.6% of the variance in the Breast Cancer Fatalism Scale total score average.

As a result, it can be said that women's awareness levels about gynecological cancers and their perception of breast cancer fatalism are above average. Therefore, education should be provided to increase awareness levels of gynecological cancers and reduce perceptions of breast cancer fatalism.

Fluorescence-guided lymphadenectomy using indocyanine green (ICG) improves intraoperative visualization of gastric lymphatic drainage during gastrectomy. Most reported techniques rely on preoperative endoscopic injection, and standardized intraoperative protocols are limited.

To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and lymph node retrieval of intraoperative subserosal ICG injection for fluorescence-guided D2 lymphadenectomy during laparoscopic gastrectomy.

A prospective descriptive pilot study was conducted at two institutions. Consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma undergoing laparoscopic total or subtotal gastrectomy with curative intent and D2 lymphadenectomy were included. ICG was injected intraoperatively into the anterior gastric wall (two injections of 1.25 mg) after diagnostic exploration. Outcomes included feasibility, safety, fluorescence distribution across D2 stations, and total lymph node retrieval.

Twenty patients were included. The protocol was successfully implemented in all cases without technical difficulties or ICG-related adverse events. Complete D2 lymphadenectomy was achieved in 100% of patients. The median number of retrieved lymph nodes was 39 (range 29-73), with =30 nodes in 95% of cases. Fluorescent nodes were consistently identified in stations 3, 4, 6, and 7, with variable distribution in stations 5, 9, 8a, 11, 1, and 2, and absent in station 12a.

Intraoperative subserosal ICG injection is a feasible, safe, and reproducible technique that enables consistent visualization of major gastric lymphatic basins without requiring preoperative endoscopic injection.

Surgical resection with D2 lymphadenectomy continues to be the cornerstone of curative treatment of gastric cancer. However, the complex and variable vascular and lymphatic anatomy of the stomach makes lymph node dissection a technically demanding component of gastrectomy. Achieving an adequate lymphadenectomy is crucial not only for reducing residual disease, but also for ensuring accurate pathological staging, which directly influences prognosis and the indication for adjuvant therapy. Fluorescence-guided surgery with indocyanine green (ICG) has gained attention as a tool to improve intraoperative visualization of lymphatic drainage pathways. Because it allows real-time visualization of lymphatic flow and nodal stations under near-infrared imaging, this approach may improve the precision, reproducibility, and safety of lymphadenectomy.

This study describes a novel intraoperative ICG injection protocol for fluorescence-guided D2 lymphadenectomy during laparoscopic gastrectomy, and demonstrates its feasibility, safety, and reproducibility in a consecutive cohort. The protocol enabled consistent real-time visualization of major gastric lymphatic basins, and allowed systematic assessment of fluorescence across all D2 lymph node stations without requiring preoperative endoscopic injection. These preliminary findings support the technical applicability of this approach, and should be further evaluated in larger series aimed at validating its clinical utility and exploring its potential role within standardized fluorescence-guided lymphadenectomy workflows.

Primary intracranial tumors are rare neoplasms associated with high morbidity and mortality, whose location, size, and impact on neurological and cognitive status influence treatment and survival.

To characterize prognostic factors using the Functional Oral Intake Scale in patients diagnosed with primary intracranial tumors undergoing surgical treatment and hospitalized in a reference hospital in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study with secondary data collection and analysis of electronic medical records. Medical records of patients admitted to Neurosurgery and undergoing surgical treatment between January 2021 and March 2023 were selected. Based on the information obtained, a correlation was established between the aforementioned scale and age, sex, tumor topography, and classification.

The 68 patients analyzed were a heterogeneous group, showing tumors in various brain locations (left hemisphere, right hemisphere, central regions, and posterior fossa). A higher prevalence was observed in women. The most prevalent tumor was meningioma, with the left cerebral hemisphere being the most affected. Regarding the Functional Oral Intake Scale, the group of patients with posterior fossa tumors showed greater variation when comparing the level at admission to the patient's immediate postoperative level. Two patients presented Level 1 with the use of an alternative feeding route in the immediate postoperative period; these patients were followed up by the speech therapy team, progressing to Levels 5 and 6 at hospital discharge.

It was observed that the highest prevalence of decreased/restricted oral food intake occurred in patients with primary intracranial tumors of the posterior fossa. No other prognostic factors for decreased/restricted oral intake were found in the sample studied, besides tumor location.

To evaluate the association between invasive mechanical ventilation use, functional capacity, and 12-month mortality in critically ill children with cancer after a pediatric intensive care unit stay.

We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of critically ill children with cancer admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from January 2018 to December 2022. We applied the Functional Status Scale to classify functional capacity before pediatric intensive care unit admission and at discharge, and to determine the onset of new morbidities. We assessed the association between invasive mechanical ventilation use and the development of new morbidity (defined as an increase of at least three points in the Functional Status Scale at discharge, and as an increase of at least two points in any domain of Functional Status Scale at discharge), between invasive mechanical ventilation use and 12-month mortality after pediatric intensive care unit discharge, and of the onset of new morbidities and mortality during the same period.

We included 423 patients, of whom 176 (41%) used invasive mechanical ventilation. The frequency of new morbidities was higher in the mechanically ventilated patients (39.2% versus 4.8%; p < 0.001). Invasive mechanical ventilation use was associated with the development of new morbidity (adjusted OR = 13; 95%CI = 6.6 - 27.3; p < 0.001). New morbidity was associated with increased mortality at 12 months after pediatric intensive care unit discharge (adjusted OR = 2.1; 95%CI = 1.2 - 3.7; p = 0.013), but mechanical ventilation was not.

Critically ill children with cancer who required invasive mechanical ventilation during pediatric intensive care unit stay had 13-fold higher odds of developing new morbidities. The onset of new morbidity was associated with doubled odds of death within 12 months after pediatric intensive care unit discharge. However, invasive mechanical ventilation use was not directly associated with 12-month mortality.

To determine the correlation between spiritual self-care practices and mindfulness among cancer patients in southeast Iran.

This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 600 eligible cancer patients. Data were collected using three instruments: a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, the Spiritual Self-Care Practice Scale, and the Relaxation, Meditation, and Mindfulness Trait Tracker (RMMtm 3.1). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multivariate regression analysis.

The mean total score for spiritual self-care practice among cancer patients was 3.17 ± 1.15, which was above the questionnaire's midpoint. Mindful emotion had the highest mean score (3.78 ± 1.67), followed by mindful focus (3.20 ± 1.57) and mindful relaxation (3.14 ± 1.65). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that 63.9% of the variance in spiritual self-care was explained by variables including mindful emotion (β = 0.321, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.122, 0.181]), mindful quiet (β = 0.213, p < 0.001, 95% CI: [0.065, 0.128]), and mindful transcendence (β = 0.163, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.058, 0.139]). Income level, history of underlying disease, and disease stage also showed significant associations.

The study findings indicate a significant relationship between spiritual self-care practice and dimensions of mindfulness. Nurses can address patients' spiritual self-care practice needs by implementing the nursing process and empowering them through interventions that enhance mindfulness.

Despite increasing use of core needle biopsy (CNB) for salivary gland lesions, its clinical utility requires further evaluation. As previous studies have focused mainly on surgically confirmed lesions, this study evaluated the diagnostic utility and reliability of CNB for major salivary gland lesions irrespective of treatment modality.

This retrospective cohort study included 217 patients who underwent major salivary gland CNB at the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS, Helsinki, Finland) between 2020 and 2022. Patients were classified into surgical and follow-up groups, with follow-up data review of patient records for non-operated patients through the end of 2024.

Altogether, 247 CNB samples were obtained from 221 major salivary gland lesions. Ninety-three patients (42%) underwent surgery, and 128 tumors in 124 patients (58%) were followed up only. Based on histologically verified cases, CNB demonstrated 93.8% sensitivity and 98.5% specificity for malignancy, with one false benign and one false malignant result. No malignancies were identified in the follow-up group during a minimum of 2-year follow-up.

CNB is a highly accurate diagnostic tool for salivary gland tumors and may facilitate the identification of lesions that can be safely managed without surgery.

To critically appraise circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in prostate and bladder cancer, and to define what evidence links the two.

Narrative review of search period July-September 2026, supplemented by reference-list and citation screening, covering ctDNA and ecDNA biology, detection and clinical application in prostate and urothelial cancer. The ctDNA-ecDNA interface was appraised using a five-tier evidentiary framework (copy-number gain; structural rearrangement; amplicon-graph reconstruction; phasing/optical mapping; orthogonal validation).

In bladder cancer, the phase 3 IMvigor011 trial validated ctDNA-guided adjuvant atezolizumab (disease-free survival [DFS] HR 0.64; overall survival [OS] HR 0.59), while persistently ctDNA-negative patients had 2-year DFS/OS of 88.4%/97.1% without adjuvant therapy. In prostate cancer, ctDNA positivity and androgen-receptor alterations are strongly prognostic (median OS 29.0 vs. 47.4 months; HR 2.0), but no prospective ctDNA-guided interventional trial exists. ecDNA is present in approximately 36% of urothelial carcinomas and drives oncogene amplification, heterogeneity, immune evasion and resistance. Evidence linking the two is indirect and asymmetric: prostate cancer offers stronger longitudinal ctDNA evidence via plasma AR-ecDNA proxy signatures, whereas bladder cancer shows stronger structural evidence from urinary sediment; no structurally validated blood ecDNA has been reported. This evidence derives predominantly from metastatic cohorts (mCRPC, post-cystectomy bladder cancer), with no established role in earlier-stage or minimal-residual-disease settings.

ctDNA is clinically actionable in bladder cancer and prognostic in advanced prostate cancer, whereas ecDNA remains an investigational driver. Structural confirmation of ecDNA in blood, assay standardisation and prospective biomarker-stratified trials are the priorities for the field.