Daily News Podcast 2025-07-29

Pope Leo XIV addressed young digital missionaries, emphasizing the critical need for peace amid global conflict and urging them to spread this message widely. He challenged them to seek the "suffering flesh of Christ" in every online interaction and to ensure that technology serves human dignity, promoting "Christian humanism." Rather than just creating content, they should foster genuine encounters and mend broken relationships, creating inclusive spaces where even the weakest voices are heard. The goal is to develop a language of love relevant to our time, working together to connect hearts through a single, divine network. --- ARTICLE TEXT --- Topic: World Title: Pope at Mass: Creators should promote encounters between hearts Source: Vatican News Full_article: At the close of Mass for digital missionaries and Catholic influencers, presided over by Cardinal Tagle, Pope Leo challenges everyone to use social media to promote a human culture. By Kielce Gussie St. Peter’s Basilica was filled with young people coming from across the globe to partake in the Mass as part of the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Section for the First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, the Cardinal reflected on the word “influence” and what exactly it means for Catholics and influencers. What is influence today? In his homily, Cardinal Tagle emphasized that the everyone is an influencer, and at the same time, everyone is influenced “Daily life is a tapestry of crisscrossing influences”, Cardinal Tagle shared, pointing out that we are constantly being influenced by our families, neighborhoods, schools, and other social settings. When these aspects of life are corrupted, they, in turn, impact who we are and what type of society we create. Moreover, the Pro-Prefect continued, “as the earth and the environment affect us, our activity affects the planet as well.” Some 1400 pilgrims participated in the Mass for the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers (@Vatican Media) He insisted that this Jubilee event is an invitation to “scrutinize the intention that fuels the influence our contemporary world wants to effect.” The change we wish to see in the world is directly connected to how we choose to influence others and our motivations behind it. Some use false advertising to sway people; others use blackmail or bribery. Still others resort to war, bombings, forced starvation as a means of influencing those around them. God is our influencer Cardinal Tagle turned to the day’s readings to answer the question: what is influence? Rather than sending us a text or email with an attachment, he pointed out that God sent us His Son. In his homily, Cardinal Tagle stressed that “daily life is a tapestry of crisscrossing influences." (@Vatican Media) The Gospel message encourages us to allow Jesus to influence us with His love, through which we can influence others for good. The Cardinal challenged the pilgrims present to “let the love of God in Jesus and the Holy Spirit prevent various poisonous influences from flowing into human hearts and societies.” Pope Leo’s call for peace At the end of the Mass, Pope Leo XIV addressed the young people present in the Basilica in three languages: Spanish, English, and Italian. In his message, he began by once again calling for an end to violence, emphasizing “how much we need peace in these times torn apart by enmity and war”. He reiterated that proclaiming peace is the mission of both the Church and all those who have gathered in Rome for the Jubilee. “Peace needs to be sought, proclaimed, and shared everywhere; both in the tragic places of war and in the empty hearts of those who have lost the meaning of existence and the taste for interiority, for spiritual life.” Therefore, today, more than ever, Pope Leo stressed, digital missionaries are essential to spreading this message to the ends of the earth. Let our culture remain human A particular challenge facing those who embark on this mission is to always look for the “suffering flesh of Christ” in every person they meet online. As we find ourselves in a technological society and culture, the Pope challenged the influencers: “It is up to us – to each one of you – to ensure that this culture remains human.” Read also 28/07/2025 Catholic Digital Missionaries and Influencers share hope at Jubilee event Hundreds of digital missionaries and Catholic influencers from around the world have gathered in Rome for the first-ever Jubilee for Digital Missionaries and Influencers, a two-day ... Even though science and technology play an essential role in our daily lives, nothing man-made “should be used to undermine the dignity of others.” Being Catholics and influencers and digital missionaries, our mission is to promote “Christian humanism” in our culture. Go mend the nets of friendship Throughout history, there have been many moments of change and, the Pope stressed, the Church has never remained passive. In today’s culture so saturated with technology, the challenge is to “work together to develop a way of thinking and a language of our time, that gives voice to love.” More than simply creating content, Pope Leo urged these digital missionaries to create encounters among hearts. This, he continued, leads to the another call—to mend nets. Nets of relationships, of love, of free exchange, where friendships run deep. Today, more than ever, Pope Leo stressed, digital missionaries are essential to spreading this message to the ends of the earth. (@Vatican Media) The Pope argued we are called to mend the nets that “open space for others more than ourselves, where no ‘filter bubble’ can silence the voice of the weakest.” Through this, we can create a single network of God. Closing, Pope Leo thanked the young people present for all their work and encouraged them on their path to reaching the ends of the earth through digital means. --- END ARTICLE TEXT --- Source: CNBC Procter & Gamble reported better-than-expected Q4 2025 earnings but provided fiscal year 2026 guidance that factors in a $1 billion hit from tariffs. While Q4 earnings per share were $1.48 versus $1.42 expected and revenue was $20.89 billion versus $20.82 billion expected, the company projects fiscal 2026 sales growth between 1% and 5% with earnings per share in the range of $6.83 to $7.09. This guidance includes a 39 cents per share headwind from tariffs, unfavorable commodity costs, higher interest expense, and tax rate, impacting core earnings per share growth by 6%. Shailesh Jejurikar will replace Jon Moeller as CEO on January 1st, with Moeller transitioning to executive chairman. --- ARTICLE TEXT --- Topic: Business Title: Procter & Gamble (PG) Q4 2025 earnings Source: CNBC Full_article: In this photo illustration, Procter and Gamble products Pepto Bismol and Charmin toilet paper are displayed on June 05, 2025 in San Anselmo, California. Procter & Gamble on Tuesday reported quarterly results that beat Wall Street's expectations, but introduced fiscal year 2026 guidance that included a $1 billion hit due to higher costs from tariffs. "We grew sales and profit in fiscal 2025 and returned high levels of cash to shareowners in a dynamic, difficult and volatile environment," said CEO Jon Moeller in a news release. The company's results come just one day after P&G announced Shailesh Jejurikar, its chief operating officer, would replace Moeller as the chief executive, effective Jan. 1. Moeller will transition to the role of executive chairman on that date. The consumer products giant, which owns brands such as Tide and Charmin, expects fiscal year 2026 sales growth of between 1% and 5% and earnings per share in the range of $6.83 to $7.09. The company said that factors in an estimated headwind 39 cents per share for fiscal 2026, or a 6% drag on core earnings per share growth, related to President Donald Trump's tariffs, unfavorable commodity costs, higher net interest expense and its core effective tax rate. Wall Street analysts were expecting 2026 revenue growth of 3.1% and earnings per share of $6.99, according to LSEG. Here's what Procter & Gamble reported for its fiscal fourth quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG: Earnings per share: $1.48 vs. $1.42 expected $1.48 vs. $1.42 expected Revenue: $20.89 billion vs. $20.82 billion expected P&G reported fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $3.62 billion, or $1.48 per share, up from $3.14 billion, or $1.27 per share, a year earlier. Net sales rose 2% to $20.89 billion. Organic sales, which strip out acquisitions, divestitures and foreign currency, also rose 2%. The fiscal 2026 guidance comes after P&G trimmed its outlook in April for the rest of the company's fiscal 2025 year, citing consumer uncertainty and tariffs. Moeller said at the time that price hikes tied to tariffs would occur during the company's fiscal 2026 year, which began this month. CFO Andre Schulten also said in April that tariffs would hurt P&G's growth by a range of $1 billion to $1.5 billion per year. Both JPMorgan and Evercore downgraded PG earlier this month. The former predicted soft organic sales and the latter pointed to share losses within Amazon as a concern amid a growing shift toward online retail. The company's stock is down about 6% year to date. --- END ARTICLE TEXT --- Source: Space Amazon Prime Day offers a $50 discount on Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars, reducing the price to $79. These binoculars, while heavy, are powerful enough for stargazing and can rival some telescopes, particularly in areas with less light pollution. Celestron is a leading brand in optics, and these binoculars, praised for their image quality, are suitable for astronomy, nature watching, and sports events. A tripod is recommended for steady viewing due to the weight. Key features include 15x magnification, 70mm objective lenses, 17 mm eye relief, and water resistance. --- ARTICLE TEXT --- Topic: Technology Title: Act now to save $50 on these powerful stargazing binoculars, perfect for observing August's sturgeon moon Source: Space Full_article: The Celestron Skymaster 15x70 Binoculars are seriously powerful, though a little heavy for prolonged tripod-free use. Want a pair of stargazing binoculars you can take on the go? Thanks to Amazon Prime Day, you can save over $50 on these super-powerful Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars, in time to observe the Sturgeon moon this August 9. You can get the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars on sale right now at Amazon for $79. True, you won't be just slipping these binoculars into your pocket, since they're quite hefty. But there's a reason for that; they're powerful enough to give some telescopes a run for their money and are brilliant for taking to less light-polluted areas. Celestron is one of the leading names in optical technology and its products regularly figure into our guides. We reviewed the pro-version of these binos, awarding them four and a half stars and aside from better glass in the Pro ED version, they're nearly identical. At this reduced price, the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars are a real steal. Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Celestron) These binoculars may not be super lightweight but they offer some amazing views of the night sky. (Image credit: Celestron) (Image credit: Celestron) (Image credit: Celestron) These Celestron 15x70 Skymaster binoculars are a fantastic tool for any astronomer. They're also excellent for nature-watching and viewing sports events, but their huge apertures allow in enough light that they excel at night-time viewing. In our review of the pro version of the Celestron 15x70 Skymaster binoculars, we praised virtually every aspect of these binos, and you'll get the same quality from their near-identical sibling. The only snag is that, as with the pro model, these are quite heavy. So we'd recommend you invest in one of the best tripods if you plan on training them on one target, just to keep them steady. Get the Space.com Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors They're water-resistant, comfortable to carry in the provided bag, and boast superb image quality. At over $50 off, you won't regret picking up these Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars. Key features: 15x magnification, 70mm objective lenses, 17 mm eye relief, 66 degrees apparent field of view, water resistant. Price history: We've seen the price dip briefly below this but this is still a superb price for a great pair of binos. Price comparison: Amazon: $79 | Walmart: $89 | BHPhoto: $89 Reviews consensus: We reviewed the pro version of the Skymaster 15x70 binoculars and were seriously impressed by their performance. The Amazon reviews are similarly positive with a few pointing out, rightly, that they can be tricky to hold still for long periods. ✅ Buy it if: You want a pair of stargazing binoculars that are excellent in the dark and give some telescopes a run for their money. ❌ Don't buy it if: You want a pair you can slip in a pocket, or are buying for children. These binoculars can be heavy to hold for prolonged periods. Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more. --- END ARTICLE TEXT --- Source: Daily Mail Rio Ferdinand suggests Man United should sign Benjamin Sesko to prevent Newcastle from selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool. Ferdinand claims that if Liverpool signs Isak, they will dominate the Premier League. Isak was excluded from Newcastle's tour to the Far East and has requested a move, with Liverpool as the frontrunner. Newcastle is bracing for a £65 million offer from Liverpool, funded by Luis Diaz's potential sale. United is considering Sesko and Ollie Watkins to bolster their striker options. Ferdinand highlights Sesko's potential impact and Watkins' proven Premier League scoring record. --- ARTICLE TEXT --- Topic: Sports Title: Rio Ferdinand reveals his bizarre new transfer conspiracy theory that could stop rivals Liverpool from landing No 1 target Alexander Isak this summer Source: Daily Mail Full_article: Man United legend Rio Ferdinand has revealed his 'conspiracy theory' which he believes could stop Liverpool from signing Alexander Isak as the Newcastle star pushes for a move this summer. Isak was left out of Newcastle's squad for their tour to the Far East, with the forward nursing a thigh injury. Mail Sport then exclusively revealed that Isak had asked to explore a move away, with reigning Premier League champions Liverpool the clear frontrunners for his signature. Newcastle are formally braced for an offer from Liverpool for Isak, with the Reds set to bank £65million from the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich. The Magpies are currently working on deals for more than one striker right now, aware that Isak could go, with Yoane Wissa and Benjamin Sesko are the most active pursuits. Mail Sport reported on Tuesday that RB Leipzig forward Sesko is one of two options, along with Ollie Watkins, being considered by Man United in their search for a striker. Rio Ferdinand revealed his 'conspiracy theory' to stop Liverpool signing Alexander Isak (above) Ferdinand claimed Man United should look to beat Newcastle to the signing of Benjamin Sesko He suggested if Newcastle missed out on Sesko, they would be unable to sell Isak to Liverpool Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former Man United defender put forward a theory as to why the Red Devils should move to sign Sesko, with the 22-year-old understood to be available for £60m plus add-ons to certain clubs. ‘Can I just say why we should buy him,' Ferdinand said. ‘I wanted a striker with experience, so he would not be my first choice obviously, even now. 'But the fact that, this is a bit of a conspiracy theory, if Man United buy him and Newcastle don’t get a No 9, does that mean Isak stays at Newcastle and Liverpool don’t get Isak. ‘Liverpool’s transfer window has been nothing short of exceptional so far, if they get Isak it is lights out for the Premier League.' Ferdinand's suggestion, which may have been tongue in cheek, comes with the number of forward options on the market rapidly dwindling. Liverpool had already beaten Newcastle to the signing of Hugo Ekitike, while Arsenal last week sealed a deal for Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon. Ferdinand's comment also reflected Liverpool's powerful moves in the transfer market this summer, despite finishing 10 points clear last season. Isak has asked to explore a move away from Newcastle with Liverpool the clear frontrunners Ferdinand claimed Liverpool signing Isak would be 'lights out' for the Premier League, with the defending champions having spent heavily this summer on the likes of Hugo Ekitike, right The Reds have already signed Florian Wirtz for £116m and paid £69million plus add-ons to Eintracht Frankfurt for Ekitike. Full backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have also joined for £40m and £29.5m respectively, along with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for £25m. While putting forward his suggestion to pursue Sesko, Ferdinand highlighted the proven Premier League quality of Watkins when considering Man United's interest in the Aston Villa star. 'If you get Watkins you have got a guaranteed 15 to 20 goals, and you have got that with [Matheus] Cunha] and [Bryan] Mbeumo,' he said. 'You have got double figures all the way up front, baring in mind we we 16th in terms of goals scored last season, these would get you a minimum 40 goals next season. 'The uncertainty [with Sesko] is if he can adapt to this league.' --- END ARTICLE TEXT --- Source: AZoNano Researchers have developed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated with trastuzumab to enhance ovarian cancer cell killing, especially in drug-resistant cases. The AuNPs, less than 10 nanometers, were functionalized with thiol groups and loaded with trastuzumab, testing their impact on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells with and without microRNA-200c overexpression. A 1:1 antibody-to-nanoparticle ratio yielded the highest loading efficiency at 41%. The conjugates exhibited controlled antibody release and reduced cell viability, particularly in microRNA-200c-expressing cells, triggering apoptosis and disrupting the HER2-MAPK signaling axis. This system shows promise as a precision therapy for ovarian cancer, pending further in vivo studies. --- ARTICLE TEXT --- Topic: Science Title: Overcoming Ovarian Cancer Resistance with Gold Nanoparticles Source: AZoNano Full_article: Gold nanoparticles linked to a cancer drug have been shown to improve the killing of ovarian cancer cells, especially in drug-resistant cases. Image Credit: AshTproductions/Shutterstock.com A team of researchers has developed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) conjugated with trastuzumab as a possible cancer treatment. Published in Cancer Nanotechnology, the study focused on how these tiny particles interact with SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells, particularly those modified to express microRNA-200c. Gold nanoparticles are widely studied in nanomedicine due to their biocompatibility, stability, and selective binding to biological molecules like antibodies. Their optical properties make them useful not only in drug delivery but also for confirming successful conjugation through shifts in surface plasmon resonance, measured by UV-visible spectroscopy. These engineered nanoparticles are particularly interesting as a strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive ovarian cancer, an area where current treatments often fall short. Optimising Size, Loading, and Release Under 10 nanometres in diameter, the AuNPs were functionalized with thiol groups and loaded with trastuzumab (TZ). The research team then tested their impact on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells, with and without overexpression of microRNA-200c (miR-200c). miR-200c is known for inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); however, its ability to modulate HER2 signalling and improve trastuzumab sensitivity had not previously been studied in this context. The researchers tested two antibody-to-nanoparticle weight ratios (1:2 and 1:1) and found the 1:1 ratio to provide the highest loading efficiency at 41 %. The observed conjugation was likely achieved through noncovalent interactions, supported by the gradual release of antibody observed over time. Characterization using dynamic light scattering showed an increase in hydrodynamic diameter from a few nanometres to over 200 nm, indicating successful binding and possible aggregation. Field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed a mostly well-dispersed population, with some larger clusters attributed to drying effects during sample prep. UV-vis spectroscopy also showed clear spectral shifts after conjugation, reflecting decreased interparticle spacing and further validating successful antibody attachment. Sustained Release and Biological Activity The stability and antibody release profile of the AuNPs were evaluated over 48 hours at 37 °C. Approximately 40 to 60 % of the bound antibody was released during this period, highlighting the potential for a controlled, sustained therapeutic effect in vivo. For biological testing, both parental and microRNA-200c-transfected SKOV3 cells were exposed to the conjugates at 0.1, 0.5, and 1 μg/ml for 24, 48, and 72 hours. MTT assays showed reduced cell viability at higher doses and longer exposure times, with the most potent effects observed in microRNA-200c-expressing cells. Download your PDF copy now! Triggering Apoptosis And Disrupting Signalling Flow cytometry using Annexin V and 7-AAD staining confirmed increased apoptosis in treated cells, particularly at the 1 μg/ml dose. Both early and late apoptotic populations were elevated, indicating that the conjugates effectively triggered programmed cell death. Western blot analysis provided further insight into the mechanism at play. After treatment, levels of phosphorylated HER2, KRAS, and p-MAPK were all reduced, suggesting the conjugates disrupt the HER2-MAPK signalling axis, critical for cancer cell survival and proliferation. Total HER2 levels remained relatively unchanged, pointing to specific inhibition of activation rather than receptor loss. Toward Smarter Delivery Systems This work demonstrates that AuNP-trastuzumab conjugates not only bind and release the antibody in a stable, controlled manner, but also deliver clear biological effects in vitro. By downregulating key oncogenic pathways and enhancing apoptosis in sensitive ovarian cancer cells, they show potential as a precision therapy, especially in cases where microRNA-200c expression is high. Further research is still needed to evaluate in vivo behaviour, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy. Still, these results offer a promising foundation for improving targeted cancer treatment with such nanoparticle-based systems. Journal Reference Salamone T.A., et al. (2025). MiR-200c synergizes with trastuzumab-loaded gold nanoparticles to overcome resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Cancer Nanotechnology 16, 29. DOI: 10.1186/s12645-025-00330-5, https://cancer-nano.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12645-025-00330-5 --- END ARTICLE TEXT --- Source: Dove Medical Press A study compared the hemodynamic effects of different lidocaine doses (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg) combined with propofol-remifentanil during endotracheal intubation in elderly female patients. Results showed that 1.0 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine significantly reduced post-induction hypotension and the need for norepinephrine, compared to 0.5 mg/kg. The higher doses also decreased propofol consumption. While no significant difference was found between 1.0 mg/kg and 1.5 mg/kg, the study suggests 1.0 mg/kg lidocaine is an optimal dose. The study concluded that adding 1.0 mg/kg lidocaine to propofol-remifentanil provides a more stable hemodynamic profile during endotracheal intubation in elderly female patients. --- ARTICLE TEXT --- Topic: Health Title: Comparison of hemodynamic status with three different doses of lidocai Source: Dove Medical Press Full_article: Introduction Intraoperative hypotension is a common and detrimental complication that may increase the risk of postoperative complications and mortality due to reduced organ perfusion.1–3 Approximately one-third of all hypotensive episodes occurring during surgery can be attributed to post-induction hypotension.4 At present, elderly adults represent an increasingly significant proportion of the surgical population and are at higher risk for perioperative complications, particularly hypotension.5 Propofol, a sedative-hypnotic agent widely used as one of the most common intravenous anesthetics for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia, is favored for its rapid onset of action and smooth recovery profile. However, it may be associated with adverse effects such as bradycardia, injection-site discomfort, and hypotension, particularly in elderly patients.6 Lidocaine is a local anesthetic agent with various systemic applications. Studies suggested that lidocaine can exhibit a propofol-sparing effect in clinical sedation.7,8 In addition, lidocaine-based regimens were also reported to reduce the risk of post-propofol-induced hypotension in elderly patients compared to fentanyl-based regimens and to improve the hemodynamic status in elderly patients.9 However, the optimal dose of lidocaine as an adjuvant for propofol-remifentanil in elderly patients during the endotracheal intubation remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine in combination with propofol-remifentanil on the effect of hemodynamic variations, in order to determine the optimal dose of lidocaine. Our hypothesis was that the effect of lidocaine on stabilizing hemodynamic status exhibits a dose-dependent relationship in elderly female patients during endotracheal intubation. Methods This randomized double-blinded study was conducted in Jiaxing University Affiliated Women and Children Hospital after getting the permission of the Ethics Committee in the hospital. The clinical trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on November 27, 2024 (ChiCTR2400092990, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=231367 ). All patients included in this study were fully informed and required to provide written informed consent. We enrolled the first patient in this study on December 1, 2024, marking the initiation of our research protocol. This study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki. Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I to III, aged over 60 years, with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18 to 35 kg/m², and undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia were recruited. Exclusion criteria included heart disease (eg, ejection fraction <50%, conduction block, or arrhythmia), metabolic equivalent <4, uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment with medications such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs, allergy to any study drug, and suspected difficult airway management. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups in a ratio of 1:1:1, each receiving a different dosage of lidocaine: 0.5 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, or 1.5 mg/kg in Group 0.5, Group 1.0, and Group 1.5, respectively. The randomization sequence was generated using computer-generated random numbers in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). An independent research assistant, who was not involved in the clinical care of participants, prepared the randomization assignments and sealed them in opaque, sequentially numbered envelopes prior to the study commencement. These envelopes were opened only upon the enrollment of each participant to maintain allocation concealment. Upon arrival in the operating room, routine monitoring according to the study protocol was initiated, including invasive blood pressure measurement, continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, pulse oximetry, and bispectral index (BIS). An 18-gauge intravenous cannula was inserted into a forearm vein; however, no prehydration protocol was administered to the patient. The baseline data for blood pressure and heart rate were obtained by averaging three consecutive measurements taken at 3-minute intervals after the patient had a short rest period. The LiDCOplus monitor (LiDCO Ltd., Cambridge, UK) was employed, and before the administration of anesthesia, all patients underwent an assessment for fluid responsiveness. This evaluation utilized a stroke volume variability (SVV) threshold of ≥13%.10 During the assessment, patients were instructed to maintain regular, calm respiration at a rate of 8 breath/minute for one minute.11 The fluid-responsive patient was administered a fluid bolus of 8 mL/kg Ringer’s acetate over a 10-minute period, and this intervention was repeated until the SVV decreased to less than 13%. Patients in Group 0.5, Group 1.0, and Group 1.5 received 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg lidocaine solution, respectively. The study solution was prepared in advance by a designated anesthesiologist (LQ. X) under sterile conditions in an identical 20 mL syringe. Although this anesthesiologist was aware of patient allocation, she was not involved in any other aspects of the study. All patients initially received a target effect-site concentration of 2 μg/mL of propofol for inducing loss of consciousness. If necessary, the concentration was increased incrementally 0.25 μg/mL until the desired effect (loss of verbal response, eyelashes reflex and BIS value <60) was achieved. Remifentanil was administered at a target effect-site concentration of 2 ng/mL, and rocuronium at 0.6 mg/kg, immediately following the confirmation of patient loss of consciousness. Following two minutes of mask ventilation, the endotracheal tube was inserted. When performing endotracheal intubation, if the heart rate or invasive blood pressure increased by 20% above the baseline value, an immediate intravenous bolus of propofol 30 mg was administered by an anesthesiologist, repeated if necessary. Patients who experienced difficult intubation, defined as requiring more than one attempt or exceeding a predefined time threshold as assessed by the attending anesthesia specialist, were excluded from the final analysis. The patient’s ventilation mode was configured with a tidal volume of 8 mL/kg and a respiratory rate of 12 breaths/minute. The end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (EtCO2) was maintained at 40 mm Hg through adjustments to the tidal volume and respiratory rate as needed. After the induction of anesthesia, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were monitored and recorded at 1-minute intervals. Any episode of hypotension, defined as a mean arterial pressure <70% of the baseline value and/or <65 mm Hg, was treated with an initial dose of 4 μg of norepinephrine, which could be repeated if hypotension persisted for more than 2 minutes. Severe post-induction hypotension, defined as a mean arterial pressure of 60 mm Hg, was managed with an initial dose of 6 μg of norepinephrine. If the severe hypotension persisted for 1 minute, the same dose was repeated. Bradycardia, defined as an HR <45 beats/minute, was managed by administering a 0.5 mg intravenous bolus of atropine. During the surgical procedure, fluid maintenance was managed through the administration of Ringer’s lactate solution, infused at a rate of 2 mL/kg/h. Ten minutes after general anesthesia induction, the hemodynamic and anesthetic management was managed based on the attending anesthetists’ clinical discretion. When designing the study, we hypothesized that a higher dose of lidocaine might be more effective than a lower dose in stabilizing patients’ hemodynamic status, potentially leading to a reduced incidence of postinduction hypotension. Because the protocol allows anesthesiologists to treat hypotension with norepinephrine actively, we considered that a difference in norepinephrine consumption was likely to be a more sensitive measure of differences between groups. Therefore, the primary outcome was set to be the dose requirement of norepinephrine. Secondary outcomes were as follows: the incidence of hypotension following induction, the number of hypotensive episodes, the frequency of severe hypotension post-induction, hypertension (defined as MAP >120% of the baseline value), bradycardia, and tachycardia (defined as HR >120% of the baseline value) were continuously monitored during the period from anesthesia induction to 10 minutes post-induction. Statistical Analysis The sample size was calculated via PASS Software version 15.0 (NCSS, Kaysville, UT, USA). In a pilot investigation involving 10 patients, the mean norepinephrine dosage administered to individuals who received a combination of 0.5 mg/kg lidocaine and propofol-remifentanil for anesthesia induction was 6 ± 5 μg. To detect a 3 μg difference in the norepinephrine requirement between groups with a significance level (α) of 0.05 and a power of 90%, at least 60 patients are required. To account for potential dropouts, we increased the sample size to 80 participants in each group. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was employed to identify the normality of distribution for continuous variables. Data that followed a normal distribution were expressed as mean (SD) and analyzed using one-way analysis, and pairwise comparisons were conducted using the post-hoc Bonferroni test. In contrast, data that did not follow a normal distribution were represented as median (IQR) and assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, with the post Dunn’s test being applied to analyse pairwise comparisons. Categorical data, including the incidence of hypotension, were analyzed using the Cochran–Armitage trend test. When the overall test suggested significant differences among groups, pairwise comparisons were performed using χ2 tests. Categorical data, such as the incidence of side effects, were analyzed using χ2 tests. For data measured repeatedly over time, a summary measures approach was employed for analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) for values plotted against time was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. P values less than 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance (two-tailed). All statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism version 5.0 (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Results In total, 250 patients scheduled for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery under general anesthesia were recruited and assessed for eligibility. Among them, two patients declined to participate in the clinical trial, eight patients did not meet the inclusion criteria, and the remaining 240 eligible patients were enrolled in the study and randomly allocated to three groups at a ratio of 1:1:1. However, 34 patients were excluded from the final analysis due to unexpected variations in airway conditions and incomplete data (Figure 1). The final analysis was conducted on 206 patients, whose characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The distribution of fluid responders (2, 3, and 2 in Groups 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5, respectively) was similar across the groups, with all responders requiring a single bolus of fluid (Table 1). The consumption of propofol for induction of loss-of-consciousness and during study period in Group 1.0 and Group 1.5 compared to Group 0.5 is presented in Table 1. Table 1 Demographic Data, Baseline Hemodynamic Characteristics, and Perioperative Data Figure 1 CONSORT diagram presenting patient recruitment and flow. Intraoperative hemodynamic outcomes are summarized in Table 2. The incidence of hypotension was 51.4% (37/72), 13.0% (9/69), and 13.8% (9/65) in Groups 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5, respectively. A significant trend was observed in the incidence of hypotension across different lidocaine doses (p = 0.0007). The median (25th and 75th quartiles) consumption of norepinephrine was 4 (0–4) μg, 0 (0–0) μg, and 0 (0–0) μg across the groups, respectively; there was a significant difference among the groups (p = 0.0006). Patients in Group 0.5 required a significantly higher dose of norepinephrine compared to patients in Group 1.0 and Group 1.5, with adjusted p-values of 0.0030 and 0.0028, respectively. The temporal variations in MAP and HR in the first 10 minutes after induction for the three groups are depicted in Figure 2. The analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in MBP across the groups over time (P > 0.005). There