Outcomes of Different Perioperative Management Strategies of Patients on Chronic Anticoagulation in Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
Different anticoagulation-related perioperative management strategies achieve different outcomes following elective arthroplasty in patients with therapeutic chronic anticoagulation. There is contradictory evidence regarding the need for the discontinuation of therapeutic warfarin. Retrospective data showed that individual risk stratification with multi-modal prophylaxis resulted in minimal complications.
KEY FINDINGS: Different anticoagulation-related perioperative management strategies achieve different outcomes following elective arthroplasty in patients with therapeutic chronic anticoagulation. There is contradictory evidence regarding the need for the discontinuation of therapeutic warfarin. Retrospective data showed that individual risk stratification with multi-modal prophylaxis resulted in minimal complications.
BACKGROUND: There are currently different management guidelines for patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) that are on long-term anticoagulation. The timing of discontinuation and restarting the anticoagulation is challenging during the postoperative care, which often involves general practitioners and physiotherapists.
DETAILS: The systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and included 3 databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science Core Collection. The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) criteria. Six retrospective studies involving 727 patients with therapeutic anticoagulation (1,540 controls) for elective THA, TKA and revision arthroplasty have been included. The follow-up ranged from 30 days to 1 year postoperatively. All studies evaluated outcomes of warfarin therapeutic anticoagulation versus prophylactic dosages of one or more of the following: warfarin, aspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated low-dose heparin (UFH). One study did not discontinue therapeutic anticoagulation. Two studies reported no significant differences in complications between groups, whilst 3 studies had significantly higher rates of superficial wound infections, revision surgeries, postoperative haematomas, and prosthetic joint infections (PJI).
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Source: Andronic, D., Andronic, O., Ammann, E., et al. (2024). Outcomes of Different Perioperative Management Strategies of Patients on Chronic Anticoagulation in Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. Family Practice. 2024; 41(5): 629–637. Published: October, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmae020.
Optical Feedback for Safe Automatic Laser Lithotripsy
The developed optical guidance system provides real-time feedback during laser lithotripsy, improving safety and precision by reducing the risk of accidental tissue damage. The proposed technology is expected to enhance outcomes in minimally invasive urological laser procedures.
Summary
Tissue Sensor Implementation in a Clinical System
[Posted 20/Jan/2026]
AUDIENCE: General Surgery, Nephrology, Internal Medicine
KEY FINDINGS: The developed optical guidance system provides real-time feedback during laser lithotripsy, improving safety and precision by reducing the risk of accidental tissue damage. The proposed technology is expected to enhance outcomes in minimally invasive urological laser procedures.
BACKGROUND: Purpose of this study is to develop an optical feedback system compatible with a commercial surgical laser for automatically distinguishing between urinary stones and soft tissues during laser lithotripsy, thereby enhancing procedural safety.
DETAILS: The system, based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), was implemented in an engineered clinical theranostic platform. In vivo experiments were conducted to collect and analyze DRS spectra of tissues during laser lithotripsy. Illumination was performed via the endoscope, and detection was performed via the treatment fiber. Classification of urinary stones and soft tissues was performed using machine learning methods, i.e., Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The system demonstrated high diagnostic performance, with 93% sensitivity for soft tissue identification and 93% specificity for stone detection evaluated by the LDA method. This real-time differentiation effectively minimized unintended laser exposure to non-target tissues.
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Source: Korneva, N., Budylin, G., Tseregorodtseva, P., et al. Optical Feedback for Safe Automatic Laser Lithotripsy: Tissue Sensor Implementation in a Clinical System. Lasers Surg. Med.. 2026; 58(1): 38-48. Published: January, 2026. DOI: 10.1002/lsm.70081.
Hypopigmentation Following Picosecond Laser Treatment for Melasma
While hypopigmentation is rare with PSL treatment, it can occur even with conservative low-fluence settings and adequate intervals between sessions. One possible mechanism is thermal beam- stacking, where slow hand movement during treatment may lead to repeated pulses on the same area. This can result in localised thermal accumulation, potentially causing subcellular disruption of melanosomes without overt melanocyte loss.
Summary
A Case Series
[Posted 13/Jan/2026]
AUDIENCE: General Surgery, Dermmatology, Internal Medicine
KEY FINDINGS: While hypopigmentation is rare with PSL treatment, it can occur even with conservative low-fluence settings and adequate intervals between sessions. One possible mechanism is thermal beam- stacking, where slow hand movement during treatment may lead to repeated pulses on the same area. This can result in localised thermal accumulation, potentially causing subcellular disruption of melanosomes without overt melanocyte loss. These findings suggest the need for clinician vigilance in monitoring for hypopigmentation, as re-pigmentation may not be achievable. Larger, controlled studies are needed to clarify risk factors and guide safer practice.
BACKGROUND: Picosecond lasers (PSL) are increasingly used for treating melasma, with fewer adverse effects reported compared to Q-switched lasers (QSL). However, the incidence of hypopigmentation following PSL treatment remains unexplored in detail. This case series aims to explore outcomes of hypopigmentation following PSL therapy in patients with melasma, and explore potential contributing factors.
DETAILS: A retrospective chart review identified four patients with hypopigmentation following PSL treatment for melasma, including one referral from another clinic. Across the cohort, 796 patients underwent 3096 sessions between 2021 and 2025. Treatments used 755 and/or 1064-nm wavelengths at low fluences, with intervals of 4–12 weeks. Three in-clinic patients (0.38%, 95% CI 0.13%–1.10%) and one referral developed hypopigmentation. Changes occurred across both wavelengths and beam profiles. Histology demonstrated preserved melanocyte density with reduced melanin pigment and melanosome content. None of the cases showed meaningful re-pigmentation at 6-month follow-up. No cases of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) were observed.
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What Is the Diagnostic Capacity of Existing Severity Scoring Tools for Nail Psoriasis?
Both N-NAIL and NAPSI provide accurate cutoff values in a psoriasis population. Therefore, these scoring tools may not only be used to assess severity but also in clinical trials for the inclusion of NP patients in a psoriasis population to create homogeneity between studies.
KEY FINDINGS: Both N-NAIL and NAPSI provide accurate cutoff values in a psoriasis population. Therefore, these scoring tools may not only be used to assess severity but also in clinical trials for the inclusion of NP patients in a psoriasis population to create homogeneity between studies. Authors prefer using the N-NAIL, with a cutoff value of 2, because it showed better accuracy compared to the NAPSI.
BACKGROUND: It is challenging to distinguish nail psoriasis (NP) from nonspecific nail changes, contributing to heterogeneity in clinical trials. Existing scoring tools for NP are currently used to assess severity after diagnosis is established. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of two of these severity scoring tools.
DETAILS: A cohort study was conducted with psoriasis patients and matched controls. Fingernails were scored using the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and the Nijmegen-Nail Psoriasis Activity Index Tool (N-NAIL). To determine their diagnostic properties, cutoff values were established. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated for various cutoff points. The best cutoff value was chosen based on the Youden Index and clinical reasoning. In total, 104 psoriasis patients were included, of which 68 were clinically diagnosed with NP. For the N-NAIL, a cutoff value of 2 showed the best accuracy in the psoriasis population (sensitivity = 83.8% and specificity = 83.3%) and the general population (sensitivity = 83.8% and specificity = 67.3%). For the NAPSI, a cutoff value of 7 showed the best accuracy in the psoriasis population (sensitivity = 80.9% and specificity = 69.4%), while a cutoff value of 10 was optimal in the general population (sensitivity = 72.1% and specificity = 70.2%).
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Source: Rikken, E. C. C., van Hal, T. W., van den Reek, J. M. P. A., et al. What Is the Diagnostic Capacity of Existing Severity Scoring Tools for Nail Psoriasis? International Journal of Dermatology. 2026; 65(1): 86-92. Published: January, 2026. DOI: 10.1111/ijd.70024.
Re-envisioning the Lifespan Approach to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Treatment in Women
The anticipated life course of women supports a broadening focus on CVD toward that of lifelong care and emphasize key transitional stages for women - early risk factor onset, pregnancy, menopausal transition, and so on. This review is a call to action to re-envision a health system approach for lifespan prevention, detection, and treatment pathways to reduce CVD risk in women.
KEY FINDINGS:
- Mortality: CVD deaths in women exceed combined deaths from breast and lung diseases.
- Gap in Care: Insufficient sex-specific evidence continues to hinder lifesaving care.
- Call to Action: Transition from episodic care to a lifelong cardiovascular health system for women.
BACKGROUND: Despite the common misconception that respiratory or oncological diseases pose the greatest threat to women, Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) accounts for more female deaths than breast cancer, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease combined, with a comparable mortality to that of men. Historically, both the public and the medical community have underestimated CVD risks in women, leading to diagnostic delays and a scarcity of sex-specific evidence to guide clinical interventions. While advances have been made in the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of CVD in women, there often remains insufficient evidence to guide effective, lifesaving care of women.
DETAILS: This review of sex-specific and traditional CVD risk and risk-enhancing factors in women identifies areas of knowledge gaps to consider for investigation. A focus on the coronary vasculature reveals physiological differences of clinical relevance which can be interrogated. Inspection of and addressing disadvantage and gender bias in both the medical and lay communities should continue to be addressed. As CVD results from traditional risk factors and emerging risk-enhancing factors, a focus on the detection of preclinical cardiovascular disease may be of particular importance for women. Unique risk markers originate early in pre-menopausal women, as this is considered a healthy period of life. Awareness and implementation of the existing knowledge of sex-specific risk factors and sex-specific thresholds to educate women and physicians are needed. The anticipated life course of women supports a broadening focus on CVD toward that of lifelong care and emphasize key transitional stages for women-early risk factor onset, pregnancy, menopausal transition, and so on. This review is a call to action to re-envision a health system approach for lifespan prevention, detection, and treatment pathways to reduce CVD risk in women.
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Hemochromatosis Proteins Hemojuvelin and Homeostatic Iron Regulator in Bone Morphogenetic Protein-Mediated Hepcidin Regulation and Iron Homeostasis
The findings suggest a model whereby BMP2 and BMP6 can signal to hepcidin induction independently of HJV and HFE and vice versa. In contrast, BMP5, HJV, and HFE are all required for iron-mediated hepcidin regulation in the absence of BMP2 and BMP6.
KEY FINDINGS: Together with other published data, these findings suggest a model whereby BMP2 and BMP6 can signal to hepcidin induction independently of HJV and HFE and vice versa. In contrast, BMP5, HJV, and HFE are all required for iron-mediated hepcidin regulation in the absence of BMP2 and BMP6.
BACKGROUND: The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-SMAD signaling pathway is central to regulating hepcidin, the master regulator of systemic iron homeostasis. Authors have previously demonstrated that BMP6, BMP2, and, to a lesser extent, BMP5 are the major ligands contributing to hepcidin and iron homeostasis regulation in vivo.
DETAILS: Hemojuvelin (HJV) and homeostatic iron regulator (HFE) are hepcidin modulators that are mutated in hereditary hemochromatosis. Although both HJV and HFE regulate hepcidin, at least partly, by functionally interacting with the BMP–SMAD pathway, the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Notably, both HJV and HFE can regulate hepcidin in a BMP6-independent manner. To understand whether HJV and HFE influence hepcidin regulation by BMP2 and/or BMP5, authors investigated the iron phenotype of mice with combined mutations in endothelial Bmp2/Hjv and Bmp5/Hfe. Authors found that endothelial Bmp2/Hjv double knockout (KO) mice exhibit more severe hepcidin deficiency and iron overload than single endothelial Bmp2 or Hjv KO mice, similar to previous findings in mice with double endothelial Bmp2/Hfe KO and Bmp6/Hjv KO, or a functional loss of both Bmp6 and Hfe. Moreover, authors found that iron completely fails to induce hepcidin in both endothelial Bmp2/Hjv and Bmp2/Hfe double KO mice. In contrast, a functional loss of BMP5 does not worsen hemochromatosis in Hfe KO mice.
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Source: Xiao, X., Moschetta, G. A., Chowdhury, S. B., et al. Hemochromatosis Proteins Hemojuvelin and Homeostatic Iron Regulator in Bone Morphogenetic Protein-Mediated Hepcidin Regulation and Iron Homeostasis. American Journal of Hematology. 2025; 100(12): 2175-2184. Published: December, 2025. DOI: 10.1002/ajh.70055.
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