Cureus Journal of Medical Science

10/14/2026

AI can speed up screening thousands of articles and pulling data out of them. So why can’t it run a literature review on its own?

Our latest blog post looks at where AI helps with evidence synthesis, from screening to summarizing, and where researchers still have to step in.
It also lays out four practices for keeping an AI-assisted review accurate and reproducible.

Read the post: https://hubs.la/Q04B3Vrm0

See how AI speeds up screening and data extraction in literature reviews and evidence synthesis, where it falls short, and where researchers must step in.

10/14/2026

Could HPV be linked to some cases of primary lung cancer?

A study from Eastern India examined 95 primary lung cancer tissue samples for high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. HPV-16 DNA was detected in 29 cases (30.5%), while HPV-18 was not detected in any sample. HPV-16 positivity was higher in squamous cell carcinoma than adenocarcinoma, although the difference was not statistically significant.

The study also found a significant association between HPV positivity and smoking. However, the authors note that the role of HPV in lung cancer remains controversial and requires further investigation.

Takeaway: HPV-16 was detected in nearly one-third of lung cancer samples in this cohort, highlighting a possible association that warrants further study.

Read the full study:
https://hubs.la/Q04zPrWk0

10/13/2026

It looked like Crohn’s disease. Then corticosteroids were started — and the patient deteriorated.

A 28-year-old man from Brazil presented with abdominal pain, weight loss and extensive lymphadenopathy. Colonoscopy showed deep, serpiginous ulcers in the terminal ileum and right colon, while biopsies revealed non-caseating granulomas. The findings initially pointed toward inflammatory bowel disease.

But worsening fever, pneumonia, pleural effusion, enlarging lymph nodes and new skin lesions prompted another biopsy. This time, Gomori-Grocott staining revealed the classic “ship’s pilot wheel” appearance of Paracoccidioides. When the original samples were re-stained, the fungal forms had been there all along.

This case highlights why endemic fungal infections should remain in the differential when granulomatous ileocolitis does not fully fit Crohn’s disease.

Read the full case here:
https://hubs.la/Q04B205M0

10/13/2026

A rare complication can develop rapidly even after apparently successful lung cancer surgery.

This case report describes a 72-year-old man with large cell lung carcinoma who developed acute respiratory failure two months after curative-intent lobectomy. He rapidly progressed to multiorgan failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation and died within hours. Autopsy revealed pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM), with widespread tumor emboli obstructing small pulmonary arteries and arterioles.

Takeaway: PTTM can cause fulminant cardiorespiratory deterioration even shortly after cancer surgery, making early recognition especially challenging.

Read the full case:
https://hubs.ly/Q04zPp-R0

10/13/2026

Can a jawline treatment also improve the appearance of the neck?

In the latest Cureus Video Abstract Series, Dr. Monica Espinosa, DDS, discusses her case report, “Unexpected Botulinum Toxin Effect on Neck Rejuvenation After a Jawline Lifting Procedure.”

The study examines an unexpected finding in a 51-year-old patient who received botulinum toxin injections along the mandibular and submandibular regions.

Using three-dimensional imaging, Dr. Espinosa documented improvements in jawline definition and a visible reduction in platysmal bands just 15 days after treatment.

These observations suggest a potential secondary effect of lower-face botulinum toxin treatment on neck appearance, although further research is needed to establish its clinical significance.

Watch Dr. Espinosa explain the case, its findings and implications for aesthetic medicine.

Read the full case report: https://hubs.la/Q04z-ths0

10/12/2026

A sudden change in the tongue can sometimes be linked to a recent medication change.

A 56-year-old woman with schizophrenia developed painless, light-brown, hair-like projections over the dorsal tongue just four days after olanzapine was increased to 20 mg/day. The lateral tongue was spared, oral hygiene was poor, and the finding did not respond to nystatin.

Takeaway: The timing, characteristic appearance, and lack of response to antifungal treatment point toward hairy tongue, a benign condition associated with elongation and discoloration of the filiform papillae.

What is your diagnosis?
https://hubs.ly/Q04zPmmd0

10/11/2026

Can mesenchymal stem cells help shift an overactive immune response toward a more regulated state?

A new Cureus review explores how mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their extracellular vesicles may influence both innate and adaptive immunity through effects on T cells, B cells, macrophages, natural killer cells and dendritic cells.

The review examines potential applications across multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Preclinical and early clinical studies have reported signals of reduced inflammation and improvements in selected disease-related outcomes.

But the evidence is not yet definitive. Clinical studies remain heterogeneous, many are small or uncontrolled, and long-term safety and efficacy still require larger, standardized trials.

Swipe through the mechanisms, evidence and translational challenges.

Read the full case here: https://hubs.la/Q04zNcbG0

10/11/2026

The first hour of a newborn’s life can be critical, requiring healthcare providers to respond quickly and consistently.

A neonatal golden hour management workshop at Latifa Women and Children Hospital in Dubai assessed 150 healthcare providers using pre- and post-tests. After the workshop, good knowledge increased from 12% to 76%, while 20% reached the very good level and 4% reached excellent knowledge. The improvement was statistically significant (p

10/10/2026

Rhythm Review: What conduction abnormality does this ECG show?

As you review this tracing, consider:
- What is the QRS morphology in the right precordial leads, particularly V1?
- How does the terminal portion of the QRS appear in leads I and V6?
- Does the pattern favor a bundle branch block, ventricular pre-excitation or a nonspecific conduction delay?

Choose your answer, then share the ECG finding that most strongly supports your interpretation.

This content is intended for medical education and professional discussion.

Read the full case here: https://hubs.la/Q04zM7--0

10/10/2026

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists are used to raise platelet counts, but could that increase the risk of thrombosis?

This review examines the complex relationship between thrombopoietin receptor agonists and thrombotic events. While these medications can help manage thrombocytopenia, the review explores how increasing platelet production may intersect with other factors involved in clot formation.

The authors discuss available evidence surrounding thrombotic risk and the importance of considering individual patient factors when using these therapies.

Takeaway: Raising platelet counts can be clinically useful, but platelet production and thrombosis are closely connected, making the balance an important consideration in treatment.

Read the full review: https://hubs.la/Q04zNFzB0