Physician's Weekly

Pathogen virulence, not presenting visual acuity (VA), was the strongest predictor of visual and anatomic outcomes in postprocedural acute endophthalmitis, according to findings from a large multicenter retrospective study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Patients infected with virulent, nonsurface commensal organisms such as Streptococcus and Enterococcus species showed markedly worse final VA and higher rates of retinal detachment, phthisis, and globe loss.

An online, team-based connected health (TCH) model of care resulted in equivalent improvements in atopic dermatitis (AD) outcomes compared to in-person care, according to findings published in JAMA Dermatology. “Accessible and effective management of across geographic boundaries is important. Scalable, collaborative care models that integrate patients, primary care practitioners, and specialists remain an unmet need,” wrote lead author April W. Armstrong, MD, MPH, of UCLA Health, and colleagues.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have altered cancer care, yet many patients experience limited or short-lived responses. A new comparative effectiveness study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that adding a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) may improve outcomes in selected patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as semaglutide, tirzepatide, and the investigational retatrutide have revolutionized obesity and diabetes care. However, questions about the long-term effects of these drugs persist, as do questions about health equity and future applications. A new review published in The New England Journal of Medicine discusses GLP-1 receptor agonists in detail, from their origins to their future.

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases have long been known to cause fibrosis. Systemic sclerosis (SSc), which carries the highest case-specific mortality rate of any autoimmune rheumatic disease, especially affects the skin, heart, kidneys, lungs, and intestinal tract. Eventually, fibrosis in these areas may lead to organ failure.

Psychiatrists shared insight into how they treat patients with both major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), advocating for safe and appropriate use of antidepressants.

Antigen-presenting machinery (APM) plays a central role in enabling immune recognition of tumors, primarily through the expression and function of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules. In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), however, suppression of APM contributes to immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy, despite the disease’s characteristically high tumor mutational burden (TMB), explained study author Triparna Sen, PhD, and colleagues at ASCO 2026.

Weight loss is difficult for many people, which is why medical intervention has become an attractive option for people who struggle with their weight. For a long time, bariatric surgery was the main treatment for this population but that is shifting. Since the introduction of medications as a weight loss solution, many more people are opting for medication.

Catherine Rinaldi, PharmD Despite frequent use in practice, continuing checkpoint inhibitors beyond progression seems to provide no additional clinical benefit in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), according to a study presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. Using the Flatiron Health database, researchers analyzed the treatment patterns and outcomes of 5,126 patients, of whom 17% had platinum sensitivity.

Newborns exposed to opioids antenatally showed region-specific impairments in cerebral cortical folding compared with nonexposed newborns, according to findings from a cohort study published in JAMA Network Open.