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The Extraction and Application of Functional Components in Algae
Pharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Potential of Honey Bee Products
Exclusive Papers of the Editorial Board Members of the Organic Chemistry Section of Molecules
The Reprint brings together fourteen invited contributions from members of the Editorial Board of the Organic Chemistry Section of Molecules, showcasing the scientific depth, creativity, and methodological diversity that define contemporary organic chemistry. Each manuscript was selected to highlight a frontier of the field-spanning natural product chemistry, synthetic methodology, heterocyclic innovation, photochemical reactivity, reagent design, and biologically active small molecules-and together they form a unified representation of the Section's scientific leadership.
Pharmacology - I
Dive into the intricate world of pharmaceuticals with "Pharmacology - I," a comprehensive guide that bridges the gap between fundamental knowledge and clinical application. With 29 detailed chapters covering everything from drug mechanisms to therapeutic uses, this book is a must-have for pharmacy, medical, and dental students. Filled with diagrams, tables, and the latest advancements in the field, "Pharmacology - I" ensures a captivating and informative read. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned professional, this textbook promise to enhance your understanding of pharmacological principles and rational drug use. Get ready to expand your knowledge and embark on a journey through the cutting-edge realm of pharmacology.
Influence of Natural and/or Vaccine Immunity on the Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2
Pediatric Intensive Care
Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) are highly specialized medical facilities dedicated to managing both conditions that are unique to children and others that are also encountered in adults but require a distinct, age-related therapeutic approach. This reprint originates from a comprehensive call for contributions on "Pediatric Intensive Care-Practice and Research". The result is a robust collection of papers reflecting the specialty's entire professional and scientific scope, including resuscitation, congenital malformations, acquired infections, and long-term psychological outcomes. By addressing emerging infections, the implications of the global pandemic, and advanced organ replacement therapies, it powerfully highlights contemporary challenges in a field that has long since outgrown its own "infancy".
Synthetic Studies of Marine Bioactive Natural Products and Analogs to Develop Novel Drug Leads
Marine natural products are considered promising sources of drug candidates, especially in the field of anticancer drugs or antibiotics. However, the scarce supply of compounds from natural sources often limits further drug development, and consequently, efficient total synthesis of marine natural products and their derivatives can overcome this drawback. In addition, the synthesis of truncated analogs based on structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies would facilitate the discovery of more accessible drug lead compounds with improved bioactive specificity or ADMET profiles. This Special Issue gathers eight publications, including two reviews and six research articles, focusing on the synthetic study of bioactive marine natural products and their truncated analogs. We hope that many readers will find interest in the contents of this Special Issue, and that it will offer some perspectives for the future development of novel marine-natural-product-derived drug leads for intractable diseases.
Urologic Cancer
Recent advances in robot-assisted urologic surgery have significantly improved the quality of life for patients with prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers by enabling less-invasive procedures, reducing blood loss, and preserving functional outcomes. These developments may also influence diagnostic value; however, their overall impact remains insufficiently evaluated due to limited data and short follow-up periods. This Special Issue features state-of-the-art studies not only on robot-assisted urologic surgery but also on laparoscopic and transurethral approaches. It will undoubtedly be of great interest to all urologists.
Recent Advances in Microneedle-Mediated Drug Delivery
This Special Issue, titled "Recent Advances in Microneedle-Mediated Drug Delivery," published in Pharmaceutics, presents state-of-the-art research focused on novel developments and biomedical applications of microneedle technologies. The collection highlights innovative approaches across various microneedle types, including dissolving, solid, hollow, and coated microneedles. The key advancements explored in this issue include breakthroughs in microneedle fabrication techniques, materials science, drug encapsulation methods, and controlled release systems. Significant emphasis is placed on demonstrating improved therapeutic outcomes, enhanced bioavailability, and reduced side effects via minimally invasive transdermal delivery. Additionally, applications covering vaccine delivery, biologics administration, and precision medicine illustrate the broad therapeutic scope and clinical relevance of microneedle platforms. Overall, this compilation provides comprehensive insights into recent scientific progress, emphasizes critical future directions, and reinforces microneedle-mediated drug delivery as a transformative approach in pharmaceutical sciences and healthcare innovation.
Recent Advances in Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent form of diabetes associated with obesity, remains one of the leading global causes of mortality and disability. Type 2 diabetes is usually clustered with other risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The central pathophysiological condition connecting these diseases is insulin resistance associated with visceral obesity. Insulin resistance alters systemic lipid metabolism and leads to the development of a characteristic form of dyslipidemia, with high levels of plasma triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein, and predominance of small, dense low-density lipoprotein. Hypertension is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, affecting more than one billion adults and representing a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, many individuals with hypertension remain undiagnosed, untreated, or inadequately controlled. Strict management of blood pressure, along with optimization of serum lipid levels, body weight, and lifestyle factors such as smoking cessation, is crucial for controlling the global burden of cardiovascular disease and reducing the risk of premature mortality. Although recent trends indicate a decline in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, the risk remains high, particularly among patients with diabetes. In this context, this Special Issue brings together the latest research and advancements contributing to the understanding and management of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and type 2 diabetes.
Socio-Demographic Factors and Cancer Research
It is well established that socioeconomic factors influence cancer treatment outcomes, even when optimal therapies are employed. These contributors are often modifiable and community/culture-dependent, warranting focused research.This Reprint aims to address the specific socioeconomic factors that influence the care of individuals with a broad spectrum of cancers, with a focus on both global and region-specific factors. It also seeks to further understand the application of unique analysis technologies such as AI to identify and manage the influence that these socioeconomic factors have on the provision and outcomes of cancer care.
Cardiac Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation of Different Arrhythmias
The scope of this Special Issue focuses on cardiac arrhythmias management, including diagnosis, intracardiac mapping, and catheter ablation. Original and review articles addressing novel ablation technologies or energies, state-of-the-art reviews, gaps in the current knowledge, and challenging arrhythmic conditions are included.
Recent Research in Restorative Dental Materials
The Recent Research in Restorative Dental Materials Reprint presents a comprehensive collection of high-quality research focused on the latest advances in materials science applied to restorative dentistry. This curated body of work highlights the transformative developments in dental materials that have emerged in recent years, including innovations in composite resins, glass-ionomer cements, hybrid ceramics, zirconia, and other restorative substrates. Contributors explore how modern material compositions and advanced manufacturing techniques influence mechanical performance, clinical outcomes, and long-term durability in the oral environment. The Reprint also encompasses studies on cutting-edge application methods, such as digital workflows incorporating CAD/CAM systems, minimally invasive restorative approaches, novel polymerization protocols, and the role of environmental and biological factors affecting material longevity. In vitro and in vivo research, clinical investigations, communications, and reviews are represented, offering a multidisciplinary perspective on current challenges and opportunities in restorative dental materials. This Reprint is an essential resource for researchers, clinicians, and material scientists dedicated to advancing the science and practice of restorative dentistry.
Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Genitourinary Cancers
Genitourinary cancers are diseases affecting an increasing number of people, the diagnosis and treatment of which are currently undergoing fast and sometimes dramatic changes due to the current landscape of suboptimal management of these diseases. A characteristic feature of urological cancer treatment is the significant heterogeneity of patients (including different stages of local advancement, different locations of metastases, the heterogeneity of pathological findings, etc.). Therefore, in modern urologic oncology, there remains the unmet need of predicting the response to modern treatments, and new diagnostic methods, including but not limited to point-of-care diagnostics, represent a challenge to current guidelines and require verification. Additionally, further development awaits as far as sufficient neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment in the perioperative setting are concerned. However, recent advancements in systematic treatment, i.e., immunotherapy, have shed light on new treatment paradigms to be implemented in various clinical scenarios, including localized disease, and recent progress in minimally invasive surgical techniques has lead to revisions to the treatment of many urological tumors.
Pediatric Headaches
The Special Issue "Pediatric Headaches: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues" includes a series of articles written by authors across the world, aiming to update our knowledge on headaches in children and adolescents. The included articles address different clinical and research aspects of pediatric headaches. The first section deals with some basic issues, such as the study of sensory phenomena in primary headaches, the involvement of different specialists in pediatric headaches, and the investigations issues in some clinical scenarios. Following this, the second section addresses some treatment issues, including the role of neuromodulation in pediatric migraine treatment and the management of headache related to shunt over-drainage in pediatric patients surgically treated for hydrocephalus. We hope that this Issue is of relevance to a wide variety of clinicians involved in the management of pediatric headaches (pediatricians, neurologists, child neuropsychiatrists, neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists and other healthcare specialists), as well as trainees (students, residents, and fellows).
Targeted Diagnosis and Treatment of Shoulder and Elbow Disease
The shoulder is a complex system of functionally interconnected and coordinated joints. Together with the elbow joint and the hand, it guides and stabilizes the reaching movement of the upper limb. The functional role of the shoulder and elbow is twofold: to provide stability to the joint complex and to allow for a wide range of motion in the shoulder girdle; and, through the elbow joint, to allow for quick and precise movements. These qualities -stability, freedom of movement, and speed-are impacted if any of the numerous anatomical components are damaged by trauma, inflammation, or the peripheral or central nervous system. Rotator cuff injuries, whether traumatic or due to functional overload; arthrosis; and heterotopic ossification are the most common pathologies of the shoulder complex, while specific tendinopathies, with or without heterotopic ossification, are conditions that specifically affect the elbow. From these premises, the idea of promoting a Special Issue dedicated to "Diagnosis and Treatment of Shoulder and Elbow Disease" was born, which led to interesting reflections in light of the new diagnostic, surgical, and rehabilitative treatment proposals on this topic. The authors and the different scientific works included address the issue of patient care in shoulder and elbow complex diseases, both in terms of diagnosis, surgical and rehabilitative treatment, and also in light of the new opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.
Advances in Regional Anaesthesia and Acute Pain Management
Regional anaesthesia (RA) and acute pain medicine have advanced markedly over recent decades, reshaping modern patient care. Ultrasound-guided RA has become the standard of practice, offering improved efficacy, safety, and ease of performance and driving wider clinical adoption. Its integration with acute pain management strategies has significantly enhanced patient outcomes, reducing opioid requirements and supporting faster recovery. Despite this progress, the field continues to evolve. Novel nerve blocks and contemporary pain management approaches require ongoing evaluation and refinement. This Special Issue aims to present current evidence, address key themes, and explore future directions in RA and acute pain medicine. The journal and the Guest Editor invite readers to engage with the impactful contributions featured in this collection.
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, emerges from intersecting genetic risk, environmental exposures, microbiota shifts, and mucosal immune dysregulation. This Reprint, "Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches (2nd Edition)," integrates 18 peer reviewed articles that connect mechanisms to practice. Mechanism guided targets include epithelial barrier injury, innate immune and pyroptosis pathways, bile acid signaling, and candidate genes such as SLC26A2 with diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. Microbiome aware care spans mucosa associated dysbiosis, oral fungi and herpesviruses as extra intestinal reservoirs, dietary signals such as coffee consumption, and emerging interventions from refined fecal microbiota transplantation to next generation probiotics. Model informed therapeutics evaluate route and dose optimization with physiologically based pharmacokinetics for infliximab, external validation of vedolizumab population pharmacokinetic models, pharmacogenetic markers of biologic response, and comparative effectiveness of subcutaneous versus intravenous IL 12/23 blockade. Patient centered outcomes and complications are addressed through evidence on postoperative recurrence in Crohn's disease, extraintestinal manifestations including ocular involvement, and the role of acceptance and perceived control in health experience. A genetics study links IBD to related immune mediated diseases and identifies novel loci, sharpening paths to precision care.
Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities
Nature has long been recognised as a crucial source for developing pharmaceutical agents, with many modern drug discoveries originating from naturally occurring substances. Over two-thirds of all anticancer drugs today are derived directly from unaltered natural compounds or are inspired by natural product pharmacophores. Natural products derived from plants, marine organisms, fungi, and other sources often exhibit diverse biological activities that are essential to drug discovery and development. This Reprint is a collection of articles showcasing current research and comprehensive reviews that explore natural compounds from diverse biological sources, including 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate derived from plants in the ginger family, a natural flavonoid isolated from the calyces and flowers of Roselle, a dichloromethane extract from Salvia guevarae plants of South America, and many more. Sustainability and circular use of resources are also emerging themes in natural product research, with articles in this Reprint showcasing promising pharmaceutical candidates from bio-waste. Beyond conventional plant-based sources, novel natural sources derived from bacteria and organic gemstones were also explored for their pharmaceutical activities. Collectively, these works demonstrate the growing integration of sustainability, innovation, and multidisciplinary approaches in natural product research.
Cutting-Edge Concepts in Knee Surgery
This Reprint brings together selected research articles from the Special Issue "Cutting-Edge Concepts in Knee Surgery" published in Medicina. It covers a broad range of contemporary topics in knee surgery, including joint preservation, ligament reconstruction, meniscal repair, and arthroplasty. The contributions address both technical and clinical dimensions of knee surgery, integrating biomechanical principles with patient-related factors and clinical outcomes. By presenting these perspectives together, the Reprint provides a balanced and clinically relevant overview of current approaches to knee interventions. This volume is intended as a practical reference for orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists seeking evidence-based insights into modern knee surgery.
Recent Advances in Spine Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment
This Special Issue highlights clinically impactful progress in the diagnosis and management of spinal tumors. The collected articles span the full spectrum of contemporary care, from optimal treatment strategies for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression to local control and vertebral fracture risk after stereotactic body radiotherapy. Several studies investigate predictors of surgical outcomes, including nutritional status, cervical instability scoring, instrumentation-related complications, and bone quality metrics such as Hounsfield unit measurements. In parallel, two systematic reviews demonstrate the emerging role played by artificial intelligence in prognosis prediction and imaging analysis, reflecting the next advancement in personalized cancer care. Unique case-based insights, including BioGlue(R)-related complications, further enrich practical understanding. Together, these contributions underscore the importance of multidisciplinary decision-making, outcome optimization, and innovation in surgical, radiotherapeutic, and technological approaches. This Special Issue provides a timely resource for clinicians seeking evidence-based guidance to improve patient survival, function, and quality of life.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases of the Facial Skeleton, Oral Cavity, and Paranasal Sinuses
The scope of diseases of the sinuses and adjacent bones, teeth, and close anatomical sites requires good diagnostics with CT, MR, SPECT, and other imaging methods to ensure the best treatment plan possible. Excluding any primary, secondary or metastatic tumors improves patient outcomes. Various odontogenic, non-odontogenic lesions in jaw bones might be treated with vast possibilities and scope of approaches. Modern dentistry and improved endodontics can easily help in treating odontogenic sinus infections and lesions, while the scope of endoscopic FESS procedures performed by otorhinolaryngologists grants good and accurate treatment for most diseases.In some cases, when endoscopic or conservative methods of treatment are not sufficient, some standard open surgical approach is needed to remove a cyst, tumor, or another lesion within the sinus walls, antrum, maxillary jaw bones, eye socket, and surrounding craniofacial area. Typical bone related diseases and lesions like dysplasia, fibrous, or fibro-osseous bone lesions might require some osteoplasty approaches, bone modeling or even decompression approaches. Since the scope of cranio-facial diseases is quite enormous, it is important to use adequate radiological and histopathological diagnostics before proceeding further with the scheduled treatment plan.
Killed by Fragrance
Killed by FragranceWhat if the scent in the air is not harmless but biologically active?Fragrance is everywhere. It is in perfumes, air fresheners, laundry detergents, cleaning sprays, candles, personal care products, and even medical settings. Marketed as clean, fresh, and safe, synthetic fragrance has become a normal part of daily life. Yet growing scientific research tells a more complex story.In Killed by Fragrance, Dr. Joseph Jacobs, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Advanced Clinical Nutritionist, examines the evidence linking synthetic fragrance exposure to inflammation, hormone disruption, neurological symptoms, immune activation, and respiratory distress.Many fragranced products contain mixtures of volatile organic compounds, endocrine disruptors, and neuroactive chemicals. Because "fragrance" can legally represent dozens or even hundreds of undisclosed ingredients, consumers often have no way of knowing what they are inhaling.Fragrance is not just scent. It is chemistry. Chemistry interacts with the body.This book explains: - How fragrance chemicals can activate the limbic system and alter the stress response- Why some people develop migraines, fatigue, brain fog, asthma-like symptoms, or skin reactions after exposure- How endocrine disrupting chemicals may interfere with thyroid, estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol signaling- Why fragrance reactions often do not appear on standard allergy testing- How cumulative indoor air exposure may contribute to chronic inflammationFor individuals struggling with unexplained symptoms, chemical sensitivity, fragrance sensitivity, migraines, autoimmune conditions, hormone imbalance, or chronic fatigue, this book offers clarity grounded in scientific research.If you have ever felt sick in a scented environment and were told it was "all in your head," this book changes the conversation.Killed by Fragrance moves beyond opinion and into toxicology, neurology, environmental health, and regulatory science. It examines labeling laws, indoor air quality, and the normalization of involuntary chemical exposure in shared spaces.Most importantly, it provides practical strategies to reduce toxic exposure, improve indoor air quality, protect children and vulnerable individuals, and support the body's natural healing processes.In an age of rising chronic illness and environmental toxic load, understanding the health effects of synthetic fragrance is essential.The air you breathe matters.
Advancements in Heart Failure Research
This Reprint presents a curated collection of peer-reviewed articles from the Special Issue "Advancements in Heart Failure Research: 2nd Edition", published in Life. Highlighting recent progress in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of heart failure, with a focus on molecular mechanisms, pharmacological interventions, and translational strategies, the Reprint aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and students engaged in cardiovascular science and therapeutic innovation.
Minimal Access Cardiac Surgery
As with all areas of surgical practice, there has been a move in recent years towards minimally invasive approaches to many operations. For example, VATS lobectomy is becoming the standard of care. In cardiac surgery, I think it is fair to term these approaches as minimal access, rather than minimally invasive, since the invasiveness of the surgery, in terms of cardiopulmonary bypass, cardioplegic arrest, the opening of cardiac chambers, and other aspects, is much the same. There is an increasing number of centres offering minimal-access cardiac surgery, and the range of procedures offered is expanding. Patients like the idea of minimal-access procedures for a range of reasons: improved cosmesis, the perception of faster recovery, and reduced pain. Interestingly, though, there remains some scepticism among the cardiac surgical community as to the true benefit of minimal-access cardiac surgery. Indeed, very few randomised controlled trials that compare outcomes to standard cardiac surgery remain.In some ways, it is this scepticism that prompts this timely Special Issue Reprint, where the current status of minimal-access cardiac surgery has been explored, together with consideration of future advances and directions, in order to provide the cardiac surgical community with a robust contemporary review of the current literature.
Addressing Challenges in Child Mental Health
This Reprint addresses the urgent need to study and promote child mental health from a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective. Childhood and adolescence are critical stages for cognitive, emotional, and social development, yet in recent years, mental health disorders in this population have significantly increased worldwide. Issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder have a profound impact on children's quality of life and long-term outcomes. This Reprint compiles recent research exploring risk and protective factors, effective interventions, and public health strategies aimed at promoting psychological well-being in young people. It highlights the importance of understanding current challenges-including stigma, limited access to services, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic-and the need for innovative strategies involving health professionals, educators, families, and communities.
Research on Chemical Composition and Activity of Natural Products
Nature is an inexhaustible source of biologically active substances, and interest in their research will always be relevant, regardless of whether new molecules will be discovered or new activities of already known compounds will be proven. For centuries, people have used the bounty of nature in the areas they inhabited, both for food and medicine. Today, the borders have taken on another dimension, and the accumulated knowledge about the benefits of natural products is becoming available to many more people around the world. From an ecological point of view, it is extremely important to recover waste from agriculture and the food sector, which is a potential source of biologically important molecules. Modern science allows studying the metabolism of compounds of natural origin at the cellular level, modifying natural molecules in order to obtain derivatives with better activity or lower toxicity, and conducting in-depth research on a wide range of pharmacological effects.Therefore, this Special Issue of Molecules presents the latest advances in the isolation, identification of new molecules from natural sources, biological effects of plant extracts and essential oils, and utilization of waste products.
Botulinum Toxin for Urinary Tract Disease
Botulinum toxin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 for neurogenic bladder and in 2013 for idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). In this Special Issue, we address the question of where we stand with this therapy a decade later. Has it prevailed and been proven useful? Which techniques have become established, and how were they optimized? Are more practical ways of distribution on the way? What acceptance problems or obstacles to long-term use might exist among patients or doctors? What are the risks? Has the therapy gained a foothold in the outpatient sector?
Interventional Radiology
The Reprint "Interventional Radiology towards Personalized Medicine" brings together a collection of articles highlighting how image-guided procedures are increasingly integrated into precision-based clinical pathways. The Reprint explores the evolving role of interventional radiology in tailoring treatments to individual patient characteristics, improving therapeutic efficacy, limiting complications, and expanding minimally invasive options across a wide range of conditions. The contributions illustrate advances in imaging-based decision making, technological innovation, patient selection, and outcome prediction, offering a comprehensive and current overview of the field. This Reprint provides clinicians, researchers, and trainees with an updated perspective on how interventional radiology contributes to personalized care and how emerging tools such as radiomics and artificial intelligence are shaping future practice.
Natural Products in Photodynamic Therapy
This Reprint presents an integrated and contemporary overview of natural photosensitizers and their applications in photodynamic therapy. It brings together experimental, mechanistic, and translational studies that demonstrate how plant-derived and microbial chromophores can be harnessed to produce cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects upon controlled light activation. This Reprint highlights advances in molecular photobiology, photophysical characterization, and cellular responses, as well as innovations in nanoformulations that improve solubility, stability, and therapeutic selectivity. Particular attention is given to antimicrobial resistance, oncologic applications, and neglected diseases in which photodynamic therapy offers accessible and minimally invasive alternatives. By combining fundamental science with clinically relevant perspectives, this Reprint provides a comprehensive synthesis of current progress and emerging directions in the development of natural photosensitizers for modern photodynamic therapy.
The Role of Telemedicine in Transforming Healthcare Delivery
Telemedicine is vital for enhancing healthcare access, convenience, and efficiency. It overcomes traditional barriers by enabling people in remote or underserved areas to receive care without extensive travel, addressing provider shortages in isolated regions. It also supports vulnerable populations (those who are elderly or have a disability or chronic conditions) who find in-person visits difficult. Telemedicine facilitates follow-up care and chronic disease management using mobile apps and wearable devices for obtaining real-time patient data. This remote monitoring improves outcomes and reduces hospital readmissions. Implementation Challenges and Key Focus Areas: Effective implementation requires addressing healthcare disparities, reimbursement policies, and patient access to technology and training. Despite these hurdles, telemedicine is an essential tool globally.This Special Issue focuses on the following topics: Patient Education: Informing patients about benefits and availability; Provider Training: Equipping staff for virtual exams, platform use, and privacy; Remote Monitoring: Using devices to collect data for chronic condition management; Workflow Optimization: Streamlining scheduling for efficient appointments; Telemedicine Apps: Developing user-friendly apps for scheduling, reminders, and records; Emergency Protocols: Establishing clear procedures for virtual appointment emergencies.
Future Challenges for the Diagnosis and Management of Affective Disorders
This Special Issue presents preclinical and clinical research aimed at reframing the diagnosis and treatment of affective disorders beyond classical neurobiological models. It includes a meta-analysis comparing single- versus two-dose psilocybin administration in major depressive disorder, clarifying its efficacy and dose-dependency. Another study uses network analysis of exposome scores to link environmental exposure with multidimensional psychopathology in non-clinical samples, while the effects of light pollution on affective health highlight chronobiological disruption in mood disorder etiology.Diagnostic and clinical dimensions are explored through research on polarity at bipolar disorder onset, mapping temperamental correlates and long-term trajectories. Biomarker studies report elevated mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels associated with suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder and evaluate BDNF's validity in bipolar disorder. Perinatal and familial aspects are explored in a structural equation modeling study showing how attachment-related coping mediates postpartum depressive symptoms and which develops a protocol for a randomized clinical trial for a psychoeducational family intervention in major depressive disorder. Together, these contributions outline a multidimensional landscape integrating environmental, temperamental, biological, and psychosocial determinants.
Current Progress and Future Directions of Spine Surgery
This Special Issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state and future of spine surgery. Featured in this Reprint are original and review articles on recent developments and advancements in surgical techniques, as well as novel technologies for spine surgery, that have markedly improved clinical outcomes in patients with spinal diseases and deformities. These articles cover a vast array of emerging surgical technologies, including robotic-assisted spine surgery, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and artificial intelligence. Examining current progress and anticipating the future direction of spine surgery through these innovative articles will expand our horizons and deepen our understanding of this challenging field.The Reprint categorizes articles by subject in the following order: 1) machine learning and artificial intelligence; 2) recent advancements in deformity surgery; 3) osteo-biology; and 4) minimally invasive surgery.
Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a major global public health problem and a leading driver of healthcare use and its associated costs. Clinical management remains challenging because chronic pain is multidimensional and requires a patient-centred approach that is consistent with the current biopsychosocial paradigm. Importantly, more than 85% of presentations are labelled "non-specific", highlighting the limited diagnostic yield of conventional imaging for identifying a single pathoanatomical cause. Pain chronification arises from interacting mechanisms spanning molecular, psychological, and social levels, creating an urgent need for high-quality research that refines diagnostic strategies, improves patient stratification, and enables more targeted care.This Special Issue includes the following topics: imaging and neuroimaging; somatosensory profiling (e.g., quantitative sensory testing); clinical prediction and risk models; biomarkers and digital phenotyping; new proposals for clinically meaningful phenotypes or endotypes; evaluations of diagnostic pathways; and demonstrations of how improved classification informs treatment selection, prognosis, and patient-relevant outcomes. The overarching aim is to move beyond the broad-and often unhelpful-category of "non-specific" chronic pain.
