Latest Biochemistry (medical) research

Top 10 this week

Week of 20 September 2026

1. 1

   Efficacy of efruxifermin in improving liver fibrosis in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 5 August 2026

2. 2

   Physical exercise and circulating α-Klotho in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis with emphasis on older adults

   Frontiers in sports and active living · Q2 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 3 September 2026

3. 3

   Effect of branched-chain amino acid on depression: a systematic review

   Nutritional neuroscience · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   Systematic review of BCAA effects on depression via neurotransmission

4. 4

   Efficacy and neural mechanisms of transcranial direct current stimulation for social function in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

   Journal of psychiatric research · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 12 September 2026

   A meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials (357 participants aged 4-21) found that left-dorsolateral prefrontal tDCS improved social functioning by roughly half a standard deviation, while also producing large changes in brain activity measured by fNIRS and EEG. However, behavioral gains did not correlate with neurophysiological changes, and the evidence remains limited, underscoring the need for larger, standardized trials.

5. 5

   Circulating Tumor DNA and Circulating Tumor Cells in Liquid Biopsy as Post-Treatment Prognostic Biomarkers in Early Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

   International journal of molecular sciences · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 28 August 2026

   ctDNA vs CTCs prognostic in early breast cancer

6. 6

   CRD-guided step-up care for pediatric dust mite allergy: A systematic review of evidence gaps and global disparities (2014-2025)

   The World Allergy Organization journal · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 10 September 2026

   A meta-analysis of 17 trials found that sublingual immunotherapy for pediatric house-dust-mite allergy had local reactions in under 10% of children and markedly fewer systemic reactions than subcutaneous shots, while injections achieved slightly better symptom remission in polysensitized kids. The review proposes a component-resolved diagnosis-guided stepped-care model, but the framework is still theoretical and needs prospective testing across diverse settings.

7. 7

   Longitudinal Multimodal Brain Mapping and Post-Stroke Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Combined Neuroimaging and Molecular Biomarker Evidence

   Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 18 September 2026

   Brain mapping and acupuncture in stroke

8. 8

   Effects of gut microbiota-targeted interventions on pain, physical function, and inflammatory biomarkers in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

   Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 4 September 2026

   Gut‑targeted interventions in OA, not core metabolic assay focus

9. 9

   Accuracy of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers to diagnose asthma in adults and children: a meta-analysis of 30 studies with prospective validation in an adult primary care cohort

   The Lancet. Respiratory medicine · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 15 September 2026

   A meta-analysis of 30 studies and a prospective primary-care cohort showed that an exhaled nitric-oxide level at least 65 ppb correctly ruled in asthma in roughly four-fifths of adults with suspected disease, while a level <20 ppb ruled out asthma with 93% negative predictive value. Blood eosinophil counts added no diagnostic benefit, and recent inhaled-corticosteroid use reduced FeNO accuracy. Further work is needed to confirm pediatric thresholds.

10. 10

    Efficacy of house dust mite allergen immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis: a network meta-analysis based on component-resolved classification

    Frontiers in immunology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 3 September 2026

    In a network meta-analysis of 16 double-blind trials (7,329 patients), comprehensive-component subcutaneous immunotherapy lowered allergy symptom scores about 0.4 standard deviations more than placebo and outperformed major-component tablets, which showed a 0.3-SD benefit. Medication use also fell modestly, but indirect comparisons left uncertainty about the exact ranking of products, highlighting the need for head-to-head trials.

Paper of the day, last two weeks

• Comparative effects of ketogenic diets and mediterranean diets on obesity and metabolic outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 21 September 2026

  Systematic review comparing ketogenic vs Mediterranean diets

• Dietary Interventions and Vitamin D3 Replacement in Pituitary Tumors: a Systematic Review

  European journal of endocrinology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 20 September 2026

  A systematic review of eight studies (355 patients) found that an isocaloric very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet reduced IGF-I concentrations in people with acromegaly, while similar low-carb or calorie-restricted diets improved weight and metabolic markers in Cushing's disease, prolactinomas, and hypopituitarism. Vitamin D3 supplementation also cut vertebral fracture risk in acromegaly, but overall evidence remains limited and larger trials are needed.

• Validation and refinement of a biomarker panel for frailty assessment and prediction of muscle weakness in older adults

  npj aging · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 17 September 2026

  Validated frailty biomarkers SMI apelin GDF15

• Whole-blood point-of-care glial fibrillary acidic protein and ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 biomarkers after traumatic brain injury in the US: a prospective diagnostic prediction of intracranial injury on head CT

  Lancet regional health. Americas · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 20 July 2026

  Whole-blood point-of-care GFAP/UCH‑L1 assay for TBI

• In-electrode faraday cage-type biosensors: Enclosing biorecognition for ultra-sensitive electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence detection

  Biosensors & bioelectronics · Q1 journal · Review / opinion · Evidence level 5 (Expert Opinion) · 10 September 2026

  In‑electrode biosensor platforms, assay development relevance

• In-electrode faraday cage-type biosensors: Enclosing biorecognition for ultra-sensitive electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence detection

  Biosensors & bioelectronics · Q1 journal · Review / opinion · Evidence level 5 (Expert Opinion) · 10 September 2026

  In‑electrode biosensor platforms, assay development relevance

• Rapid myocardial infarction rule-out: A single high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and T threshold strategy for the Chinese emergency department

  Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry · Q1 journal · Prospective cohort · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 12 September 2026

  High-sensitivity troponin assay validation for rapid MI rule-out

• Routine Hematologic Indices as Scalable Biomarkers for Frailty: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · Q1 journal · SR of cohorts · Evidence level 2 (Moderate) · 9 September 2026

  Albumin-based biomarkers, metabolic relevance to clinical outcomes

• Endocrine Biomarker Changes in a Randomised Low-Dose Tamoxifen Trial for Breast Cancer Prevention

  Journal of the National Cancer Institute · Q1 journal · RCT · Evidence level 1 (High) · 10 September 2026

  In the KARISMA trial of 1,055 healthy women, six months of tamoxifen at 1 to 20 mg daily increased sex-hormone-binding globulin, with higher doses giving larger rises and modest effects on cortisol and hydroxyprogesterone. These endocrine shifts suggest low-dose regimens have measurable biological activity, but clinical relevance for breast-cancer prevention remains to be defined.

• Mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis: nutritional strategies for restoring bioenergetic homeostasis

  Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 26 August 2026

  Mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis, nutritional metabolic strategies

• Exercise modalities for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity: comparative effects on visceral fat, metabolism, and inflammatory markers from a network meta-analysis

  Frontiers in immunology · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 25 August 2026

  Network meta‑analysis of exercise on metabolic outcomes in T2DM

• Can Non-Invasive Test Dynamics Serve as Surrogate Endpoints for Histological Improvement in MASH? A Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis

  Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association · Q1 journal · SR/MA of RCTs · Evidence level 1 (High) · 8 September 2026

  A Bayesian meta-analysis of 35 randomized trials found that each 30% reduction in liver stiffness measurement was linked to about a 2.5-fold higher chance of histologic fibrosis improvement, while MRI-derived liver fat showed only moderate correlation with overall disease resolution. The results suggest that non-invasive test changes may reflect response in specific contexts, but they do not yet serve as reliable universal surrogate endpoints.