Otolaryngology (ENT)

Protocol: AI-assisted education after head and neck cancer surgery in older adults

This single-center randomized trial will test 12 months of AI-personalized health education versus standardized SMS in postoperative HNC patients aged ≥60. One hundred participants will be randomized 1:1 and followed at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months for stress, QoL, mood, sleep, function, and nutritional outcomes. Primary analysis uses intention-to-treat and linear mixed models to handle repeated measures and missing data. Results will inform whether AI education improves mental health, social support, and quality of life but generalizability is limited by single-center design and self-reported endpoints. 1

Systematic review: Intranasal stem cells—feasible but biased and inconclusive

Nineteen studies (104 enrolled, 98 analyzed in published reports) evaluated intranasal MSCs/NSCs or derivatives for neurologic and respiratory disorders. Across studies no trial achieved low risk of bias and structural publication bias and heterogeneity were pervasive. Authors conclude intranasal delivery appears feasible with preliminary safety signals but efficacy evidence is unreliable due to small, biased studies. Recommendation: await adequately powered, blinded, placebo-controlled RCTs before clinical translation. 2

ALLEVIATE-HF: ICM-based alerts with nurse-managed diuretics—safe but neutral for 60-day outcomes

In 711 randomized HF patients, ICM high-risk alerts triggering centralized, protocolized nurse-led diuretic adjustments produced a neutral primary 60-day composite (win ratio 0.79; P=0.06). Intervention-related serious adverse events were rare (0.32%), and mean follow-up was 17.3 months. Cumulative cardiovascular death and HF events were numerically higher in the intervention group (HR 1.43; P=0.091), a signal requiring cautious interpretation. An exploratory adjustment for baseline symptom imbalance rendered the primary result null, suggesting implementation and baseline differences influenced outcomes. 3