Cureus

A new review in Cureus examines how microplastics and wear particles from joint implants may act through similar biological mechanisms, driving inflammation and implant failure. The paper discusses clinical relevance and calls for future biomaterials that reduce particle generation in hip and knee arthroplasty.

Doctors have reported the case of an elderly woman whose facial abscess led to a subdural empyema, a serious brain infection, which initially mimicked a stroke. The report, published in Cureus, highlights how the presentation caused diagnostic confusion and underscores the importance of considering infection in elderly patients showing stroke-like neurological symptoms.

A new study published in Cureus examines childhood obesity trajectories in Brazil from 2008 to 2025, finding that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted established trends and produced growing divergence between the country's regions. The research suggests pandemic-era disruptions to schooling, diet and physical activity affected children unevenly, with regional differences shaping obesity outcomes across Brazil.

A quality improvement project published in Cureus examines how targeted staff education can improve the safe administration of oxygen therapy. The project assessed whether structured training reduces errors in oxygen prescribing and delivery, a common safety gap in hospitals. Its findings suggest education-based interventions can meaningfully improve patient safety practices around supplemental oxygen use.

A systematic review published in Cureus examines the integration of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy in restoring hearing. The review assesses current research on whether stem cell-based approaches can repair damaged inner ear structures and recover hearing function, summarising available evidence on progress and remaining limitations in this emerging field of treatment.