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Background: Urinary Incontinence (UI) is a global health issue that mainly affects the female population worldwide. Different approaches have been sought for the management of UI including Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) using Virtual Reality (VR) gaming. We conducted this study to evaluate the effectiveness of VR gaming for rehabilitation of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and improving urinary symptoms in patients with UI. Method: We've included studies that contain any type of VR in all geographic locations and settings with no restrictions on the date of publication, age, or gender. Our exclusion criteria include reviews, case series, case reports, unextractable data, unavailable full text, abstract only articles, and studies don't show the effects of VR as a treatment for UI. A pre‐specified search term was used and modified according to the requirements of each of the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Google scholar, and ScienceDirect. For risk of bias assessment, two assessment tools have been used: ROB 2.0 for RCTs and NIH for single arm studies. Results: Of 915 papers identified from 6 databases, 341 papers were assigned for screening after removing duplicates, 11 papers were eligible for full text screening, and 4 papers were finally included. The qualitative analysis of the results identifies six outcomes grouped into three primary categories: PFM, urinary symptoms, and quality of life. Only urinary loss outcome was eligible for meta‐analysis. The net effect between Game therapy + PFMT and PFMT reached MD = −5.49, 95% CI [−12.36:1.38] (heterogeneity; I2 = 95%, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our research underscores the potential of VR gaming as a valuable adjunctive therapy for pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation in patients with UI. However, further studies are needed to explore its long‐term effectiveness, optimal therapy parameters, and cost‐effectiveness. Registration: Our protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022384500). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It gives me great pleasure to explore and synthesize the unique and synergistic contributions of 14 articles for this important special issue, as well as to set future directions for the field of engineering education. Given that evidence‐based syntheses help shape key research advances in the medical, psychological, and educational fields, we sought papers that used state‐of‐the‐art methods for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses to explore fundamental topics in engineering education. We received many excellent manuscripts, and eventually accepted 14 for this special issue. They cover a range of topics, including reading and writing in engineering, the use of concept maps for assessment in engineering, and other key topics. Most papers used systematic review methods, while three used scoping reviews and bibliometric methods. However, none used meta‐analysis. Although this is surprising, it presents an opportunity to call for more rigorous experimental and quantitative research on key topics in engineering education. Experimental studies can uncover cause and effect relationships and enable researchers to draw inferences more easily. While I advocate for all traditions of rigorous research, the collection of reviews in this special issue points to a pressing need for more experimental studies in the field of engineering education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systematic review or systematic literature review (SLR) methodologies are a powerful tool for evidence‐based decision making. The method originated in the medical sciences but has since been adopted by other disciplines, including engineering education (EE). Purpose: We aimed to answer two research questions: (i) To what extent is the SLR research method being applied in EE? (ii) How closely are SLRs published in EE following established reporting guidelines for the methodology? Scope/Method: We searched Inspec, Compendex, and ERIC for engineering‐related SLRs and meta‐analyses (MAs). We included English language papers that contained an explicit SLR search, or where it appeared the methodology was intended by the author(s). We completed a data extraction process for 21 descriptive and quality‐related items, including engineering discipline, which allowed us to identify the EE studies analyzed in this article. Results: This sub‐analysis presents the results of 276 EE‐related reviews. We found the use of SLR/MA methods is growing in EE, with 93% of papers published during 2015–2022. However, we found that authors are not generally following established guidelines for reporting their methods and findings. Conclusions: Not following the best practices for conducting and reporting SLRs can result in the presentation of incorrect summaries and analyses due to missed evidence. Including search experts (e.g., librarians) trained in conducting SLRs can improve review quality. There is also an opportunity for EE‐related publishers to recruit experts trained in conducting SLRs as peer reviewers to participate in evaluating submitted reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The relationship between heart failure (HF) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women remains unclear. This paper aimed to elucidate the association between HRT and HF outcomes in postmenopausal women by scrutinizing evidence from clinical trials and observational studies. Methods: The meta‐analysis was systematically executed following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies identified from the electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, ICTRP, and NIH clinical trials. The primary endpoint of the effect comprised risk ratios (RR) for HF incidence and mortality, attended by 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk of bias was assessed employing the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool for clinical trials and the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies. Results: The search yielded a total of eight reports, originating from six individual studies, for inclusion in the current study, and 25 047 participants were included. The meta‐analysis demonstrated no remarkable association between HRT and the incidence of HF in postmenopausal women (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.91–1.25, p = 0.37). However, a significant reduction in all‐cause mortality was observed among post‐menopausal HF patients who received HRT (RR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.87, p = 0.003). In age‐related subgroup analyses, no significant change in the risk of HF was noticed among participants on HRT. Conclusions: The findings of this paper demonstrate that HRT use is not associated with a significant increase in the risk of incident HF. This meta‐analysis also suggests a benefit in all‐cause mortality when HRT is administered to postmenopausal women with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive review of research literature in accordance with the implementations of the accident causation models enables knowledge incomes for the contributing authors towards the advancement of the accident causation methodologies for administering the accidents' causal factors. For obtaining this objective, the systematic literature review meta‐analysis are developed by evaluating the parameter indicator linked to the most utilized causation methods in addressing the contributing factors in process industries. The methodological review process called preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (PRISMA) is implemented in this paper due to its capability to integrate both systematic reviews and meta‐analysis. This systematic literature review deeply investigates 149 papers by a thorough reading from the filtered 387 manuscripts published in the academic SCOPUS databases during 1980–2020. Additionally, the statistical analysis t test is performed to identify the homogeneity of literature papers resulting from research conclusions. The suggested future improvement in the domain of accident causation models is the advancement of administering the accident causal factors' values of correlations and interdependencies. While particularly for quantified accident causation models, the adoption of uncertainty analysis needs to further developed as a research suggestion in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Kidney dysfunction is a highly significant disease, both in the United Kingdom and globally. Many previous studies have reported associations between human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and renal function; this systematic review attempts to identify, summarize and appraise all published studies of these associations. Methods: A literature search was performed using Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify papers whose keywords included each of the following concepts: HLA, renal failure and genetic association. A total of 245 papers were identified and assessed for eligibility; 35 of these were included in the final study. Results: A total of 95 HLA types and 14 three‐locus haplotypes were reported to be associated with either increased or decreased renal function. A number of these findings were replicated by independent studies that reported 16 types were protective against renal dysfunction and 15 types were associated with reduced renal function. A total of 20 HLA types were associated with both increased risk of renal disease and decreased risk by independent studies. Discussion: There is very little consensus on which HLA types have a protective or deleterious effect on renal function. Ethnicity may play a role, with HLA types possibly having different effects among different populations, and it is possible that the different primary diseases that lead to ESRD may have different HLA associations. Some of the studies may contain type I and type II errors caused by insufficient sample sizes, cohort selection and statistical methods. Although we have compiled a comprehensive list of published associations between renal function and HLA, in many cases, it is unclear which associations are reliable. Further studies are required to confirm or refute these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the literature on local government efficiency by meta‐reviewing 360 observations retrieved from 54 papers published from 1993 to 2016. The meta‐regression is based on a random‐effects model estimated with the two‐step random‐effects maximum likelihood (REML) technique proposed by Gallet and Doucouliagos. Results indicate that the study design matters when estimating a frontier in local government. We find that studies focusing on technical efficiency provide higher efficiency scores than works evaluating cost efficiency. The same applies when using panel data instead of cross‐section data. Interestingly, studies that use the Free Disposal Hull (FDH) approach yield, on average, higher efficiency scores than papers employing the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method, thereby suggesting that in this literature the convexity hypothesis of the production set is a matter. Finally, the efficiency of local government increases with the level of development of the analysed countries and is positively related to the national integrity of the legal system. The opposite holds when considering the corruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to compare the methodological quality and input paper characteristics of systematic reviews and meta-analyses reported in the medical and surgical literature by performing a systematic 'overview of reviews'. Ulcerative colitis ( UC) and Crohn's disease ( CD) were used as the framework for this comparison as they are relatively common serious conditions, with both medical and surgical options for therapy. Method Medline, Embase, CINHAL and the Cochrane Database were searched to November 2013. Eligible papers were systematic reviews or meta-analyses that considered a question of therapy in CD or UC. Two independent reviewers selected the papers, extracted the data and scored their methodology using the AMSTAR scoring system. The papers were categorized into medical therapy (M), surgical therapy (S) or medical and surgical therapy ( MS) groups. Following retrieval of the sample of meta-evidence papers, the original input studies used in their creation were identified and a search of Medline, Embase, CINHAL and the Cochrane Database was performed. A team of researchers then examined the collection of papers for bibliographic and financial information. Results Five hundred papers were identified in the meta-evidence search, of which 118 were deemed eligible. There was a difference in the AMSTAR-rated average quality of the papers between the S and M group (S 7.36 vs M 8.75, P = 0.01). On average S papers were published in journals with a lower impact factor (S 3.26, M 5.04, MS 5.30, P < 0.001). S papers also showed more heterogeneity ( I2; S 37%, M 24%, MS 10%, P < 0.001). Some 25% of S meta-analyses used data-sets with significant heterogeneity ( I2 > 75%), compared with 8% of M meta-analyses and 3% of the MS meta-analyses. Some 5% of S papers were done on data sets that had I2 values > 90%. There was no difference in the average number of papers assessed in each group, the average number of patients per meta-paper, the average time covered by the reviews, the average number of papers considered within each meta-analysis, or the average number of patients considered within each meta-analysis. Considering the conclusions of each meta-analysis, S meta-evidence was 50% more likely than M meta-evidence to be unable to make recommendations for practice. A total of 1499 original input papers were identified, of which 283 were used in more than one review. Within the non-repeated papers ( n = 1023) the average impact factor within the S group was lower than that of the M and the MS groups (3.720 vs 11.230 vs 7.563, respectively; ANOVA P < 0.001). M papers had higher rates of pharmaceutical sponsorship than S papers (M 56% vs S 1%) and twice the level of government support (M 16% vs S 8%). Of note, 21% of M papers had corporate sponsorship but did not list any conflict of interest. Conclusion Compared with M meta-analyses, S meta-analyses in the UC and CD domain are more likely to be of poorer methodological quality, are of a greater degree of heterogeneity and less often offer a positive conclusion. The papers used to generate meta-evidence in M papers have a greater degree of corporate and government sponsorship, and are more likely to come from journals with higher impact factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, systematic review and meta‐analysis were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of physical activity intervention on core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Physical activity intervention for core symptoms of ASD were retrieved by computer from the PubMed Cochrane Library, Web of Science, APA PsycNet, and CNKI database during December 1, 2022. Two researchers evaluated the quality of the included literature and extracted the data. Sixteen studies were eventually included, with a total of 587 patients with ASD. Meta‐analysis showed that the core symptoms of ASD patients decreased after physical activity intervention, ES(g) = 0.681(95% CI: 0.380–0.982, p = 0.000), specifically, physical activity improved the reduction of social disorder ES(g) = 0.749(95% CI: 0.524–0.973) and repeated rigid behavior ES(g) = 0.553 (95% CI: −0.079 to 1.186). Subgroup analysis showed that preschool children with ASD who were 3–6 years old, exercised for more than 12 weeks, more than 3 times a week, and exercised for more than 90 min per session had better improvement in core symptoms after participating in physical activity. The conclusion of this paper is that physical activity intervention can improve the core symptoms of ASD, especially the reduction of social disorders and repetitive behaviors. Lay Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious life‐long psycho‐neurodevelopmental disorder occurring in early childhood, with core symptoms of social communication disorders and repetitive and stereotypical behaviors. Numerous studies have shown that the core symptoms of ASD can be improved by physical activity. However, the effectiveness and effect of specific improvement are still unclear, and even the results of research are inconsistent. In view of this situation, the meta‐analysis method was used in this study to conduct a comprehensive and systematic quality evaluation on the results of the experimental study, so as to verify the effectiveness of physical activity intervention in the core symptoms of ASD, and explore what intervention dose is needed to improve the core symptoms. The results show that physical activity can effectively help reduce the core symptoms of ASD. The results of this study can provide effective evidence for the formulation of rehabilitation prescriptions for the core symptoms of ASD in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, only vertebrates were thought capable of acquired immune responses, such as the ability to transfer immunological experience vertically to their offspring (known as trans‐generational immune priming, TGIP). Increasing evidence challenges this belief and it is now clear that invertebrates also have the ability to exhibit functionally equivalent TGIP. This has led to a surge in papers exploring invertebrate TGIP, with most focusing on the costs, benefits or factors that affect the evolution of this trait. Whilst many studies have found support for the phenomenon, not all studies do, and there is considerable variation in the strength of positive results. To address this, we conducted a meta‐analysis to answer the question: what is the overall effect of TGIP in invertebrates? Then, to understand the specific factors that affect its presence and intensity, we conducted a moderator analysis. Our results corroborate that TGIP occurs in invertebrates (demonstrated by a large, positive effect size). The strength of the positive effect was related to if and how offspring were immune challenged (i.e. whether they were challenged with the same or different insult as their parents or not challenged at all). Interestingly, there was no effect of the ecology or life history of the species or the sex of the parent or the offspring primed, and responses were comparable across different immune elicitors. Our publication bias testing suggests that the literature may suffer from some level of positive‐result bias. However, even after accounting for potential bias, our effect size remains positive. Publication bias testing can be influenced by diversity in the data set, which was considerable in our data, even after moderator analysis. It is therefore conceivable that differences among studies could be caused by other moderators that were unable to be included in our meta‐analysis. Nonetheless, our results suggest that TGIP does occur in invertebrates, whilst providing some potential avenues to examine the factors that account for variation in effect sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online peer assessment (OPA) has been increasingly adopted to develop students' higher‐order thinking (HOT). However, there has not been a synthesis of research findings on its effects. To fill this gap, 17 papers (published from 2000 to 2022) that reported either a comparison between a group using OPA (n = 7; k = 22) and a control group or a pre–post comparison (n = 10; k = 17) were reviewed in this meta‐analysis. The overall effect of OPA on HOT was significant (g = 0.76). Furthermore, OPA exerted more significant effects on convergent HOT (eg, critical thinking, reasoning and reflective thinking; g = 0.97) than on divergent HOT (eg, creativity and problem‐solving; g = 0.38). Reciprocal roles and anonymity were found to positively moderate the impacts of OPA on HOT, although their moderating effects were not statistically significant because of small sample size of studies in the analysis. The results of the meta‐analysis reinforce the arguments for regarding OPA as a powerful learning tool to facilitate students' HOT development and reveal important factors that should be considered when adopting OPA to enhance students' HOT. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topicOnline peer assessment (OPA) has significant positive impacts on learning achievement.OPA has been regarded as a potential approach to cultivating students' higher‐order thinking (HOT) but has not been proved by meta‐analysis.OPA should be carefully designed to maximise its effectiveness on learning.What this paper addsOPA has been proved to significantly positively influence students' HOT via meta‐analysis.OPA exerted more significant effects on convergent HOT than on divergent HOT.The potential of reciprocal roles and anonymity for moderating the impacts of OPA on HOT should not be underestimated.Implications for practice and/or policyOPA could be a wise choice for practitioners when they help students to achieve a balanced development of HOT dispositions and skills.Students' divergent HOT can be encouraged in their uptake of peer feedback and by allowing them autonomy in deciding assessment criteria.OPA with design elements of reciprocal roles and anonymity has great potential to promote students' HOT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We systematically reviewed the literature to investigate when refraction is stable following routine cataract surgery implanting monofocal intraocular lenses. Current advice recommends obtaining new spectacles 4–6 weeks following surgery. Due to advancements in surgical techniques, we hypothesised that refractive stability would be achieved earlier, which could have major short‐term improvements in quality of life for patients. Methods: Medline, CINAHL, AMED, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched with key words chosen to find articles, which assessed refraction following uncomplicated cataract surgery. Citation chains and the reference lists of all included papers were searched. Unpublished literature was identified using OpenGrey (www.opengrey.eu). The review considered studies that measured refraction at regular intervals following surgery until stability was achieved. Results: The search identified 6,680 papers. Two reviewers independently screened the abstracts and nine papers were found to fit the criteria, of which five were included in the meta‐analysis. The quality of the papers was evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non‐Randomised Studies (MINORS) instrument. Meta‐analysis of 301 patients' data of spherical, cylindrical and spherical equivalent correction were performed using Review Manager 5 (RevMan 5.3) (https://revman.cochrane.org/). Refraction at 1‐week versus the gold standard of 4‐weeks showed no significant difference for sphere data (effect size and 95% confidence interval of; ES = 0.00, 95% CI: −0.17, 0.17; p = 1.00), cylindrical data (ES = +0.06; 95% CI: −0.05, 0.17; p = 0.31), and spherical equivalent (ES = −0.01; 95% CI: −0.12, 0.10; p = 0.90). Heterogeneity was non‐significant (I2 < 25%) for all refractive elements. Data were similar for 2‐ versus 4‐weeks post‐surgery. Acquired data from one study highlighted a small number of patients with very unstable cylindrical corrections at 1‐week post‐operatively. Conclusions: No statistical difference was found when comparing sphere, cylindrical and spherical equivalent values at 1‐ and 4‐weeks post cataract surgery. This suggests that new glasses could be provided 1‐week after surgery. However, from a clinical perspective, a small number of patients (~7%) from an acquired dataset (N = 72) showed very unstable cylindrical corrections at 1‐week. Further work is needed to determine why this is the case and how these patients can be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues: Event-level alcohol research can inform prevention efforts by determining whether drinking contexts-such as people or places-are associated with harmful outcomes. This review synthesises evidence on associations between characteristics of adults' drinking occasions and acute alcohol-related harm.Approach: We systematically searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid PsycInfo and the Web of Science Social Sciences Citation Index. Eligible papers used quantitative designs and event-level data collection methods. They linked one or more drinking contexts to acute alcohol-related harm. Following extraction of study characteristics, methods and findings, we assessed study quality and narratively synthesised the findings.Prospero Id: CRD42018119701.Key Findings: Searches identified 95 eligible papers, 65 (68%) of which study young adults and 62 (65%) of which are set in the United States, which limits generalisability to other populations. These papers studied a range of harms from assault to drink driving. Study quality is good overall although measures often lack validation. We found substantial evidence for direct effects of drinking context on harms. All of the contextual characteristics types studied (e.g. people, place, timing, psychological states, drink type) were consistently associated with harms. Certain contexts were frequently studied and associated with harms, in particular, weekend drinking, drinking in licensed premises and concurrent illicit drug use.Implications: The findings of our review indicate target drinking contexts for prevention efforts that are consistently associated with increased acute alcohol-related harm.Conclusion: A large range of contextual characteristics of drinking occasions are directly associated with acute alcohol-related harm, over and above levels of consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: People following a vegetarian diet could be more prone to oral health problems than people following a nonvegetarian diet. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the possible impacts of following a vegetarian diet on dental hard tissues, focusing on caries development, dental erosion and number of natural teeth. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched systematically up until 17 April 2019. Original studies comparing dental health (exclusively focusing on dental hard tissues) in vegetarians and nonvegetarians were selected. Study characteristics and outcome data were extracted, and the quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. When a dental health characteristic was reported in three or more papers in a comparable way, a meta‐analysis was performed. Results: Twenty‐one papers reporting on 18 studies were included in this review. In meta‐analyses, the vegetarian diet was associated with a higher risk for dental erosion (odds ratio: 2.40 [95% confidence interval: 1.24, 4.66]; P =.009) and a lower decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) score (mean difference: −0.15 [95% confidence interval: −0.29, −0.02]; P =.023), although the quality of most included studies was poor and the findings for DMFT score became insignificant when only studies on adults were included in the meta‐analysis. A meta‐analysis for the other dental characteristics was not possible due to the limited number of eligible studies. There was inconsistent evidence for a link between following a vegetarian diet and dental caries or the number of natural teeth. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, the findings suggest that following a vegetarian diet may be associated with a greater risk of dental erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevalence and Patterns of Epilepsy in India.Purpose:To estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in India by meta-analysis of previously published and unpublished studies and determine the pattern of epilepsy by using community-based studies.Methods:As many as possible previously published and unpublished studies were identified on the prevalence of epilepsy from various parts of India by using multiple search strategies. The studies were assessed regarding the methods and definitions (population structure, method of case ascertainment, sensitivity and specificity of screening instrument, whether validation resurvey was done, definitions of epilepsy and active epilepsy, and inclusion of febrile fits/single seizures). The prevalence rates for rural and urban populations, as well as male and female ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The studies, which provided details on the age structure, age-specific rates, and patterns of epilepsy, were chosen for meta-analysis. The crude and age-standardized prevalence rates after accounting for heterogeneity, as well as pooled estimates of standardized prevalence, were calculated. Theχ2 test was used for homogeneity testing. Heterogeneity correction was done by using a simple random-effects model.Results:We identified 21 studies conducted over the last 38 years (10 on urban and 14 on rural populations covering 11 states and two union territories) involving a population sample of 837,039, among whom 4,220 had epilepsy, giving a crude prevalence of 5.04/1,000. The nonstandardized crude prevalence per thousand (95% confidence interval) after correction for heterogeneity was 5.44 (3.79–7.09). Age-standardized rates (seven studies from seven states involving a population sample of 448,109), after correction for the variability in estimates of heterogeneity, revealed that the prevalence rate per 1,000 (95% confidence interval) was overall, 5.39 (3.78–7.01); males, 5.76 (4.23–7.28); females, 4.68 (2.94–6.42); urban, 6.02 (3.98–8.05); and rural, 4.77 (2.36–7.18). Although urban male and female subjects had higher prevalence compared with rural male and female subjects, the difference was not statistically significant. Age-specific prevalence rates were higher in the younger age group. The onset of epilepsy was mostly in the first three decades. The treatment gap was>70% in the rural areas. Generalized seizures constituted 45.45–86%, and partial seizures, 11.45–54.54%; 5.2–24.4% had a family history of epilepsy. The frequency of mental retardation ranged from 4.4 to 22.9%.Conclusions:The heterogeneity found among the various studies may be partly due to methodologic differences referred to earlier. The heterogeneity also may be due to prevalence of local types of epilepsy (hot-water epilepsy); differences in prevalence of cysticercosis, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and head injuries; or due to denial of epilepsy on account of social stigma. The prevalence rates (crude and age-standardized) found in this meta-analysis are comparable to those in the Western countries and China. The estimated number of persons with epilepsy in India as per the census population for 2001 (1,025 million) would be 5.5 million. Because the rural population constitutes 72% of the Indian population, the number of persons with epilepsy in rural areas will be∼3.6 million, among whom three fourths will not be receiving any specific treatment as per the present standards. The model used in this study is useful for estimating disease burden in large countries. Epilepsy in an Indigenous Population: Experiences of Epilepsy Reported by New Zealand Maori.Purpose:To explore New Zealand Maori (14% of population) understanding of the causes, nature, effects, and treatment of epilepsy. Maori are highly westernized, owning their own homes, with 83% urban, and of all socioeconomic status (SES) levels. Their collectivist society has been remarkably revitalized since 1970, with 3% of schools teaching in Maori, 17% of children studying Maori, and 20% of Maori-fluent speakers. A life expectancy of 69 years and median age of 22 years (cf. 78 and 37 for non-Maori) suggest a higher epilepsy prevalence. Their health concept includes self, spiritual, family, and environmental aspects, with epilepsy traditionally seen as demonic possession resulting from breaking of sacred laws. New Zealand epilepsy treatment is by general practitioner after referral to a neurologist; no epilepsy centers or specialists exist. Drugs are heavily subsidized. Information and support is provided by Epilepsy New Zealand Field Officers, who report disproportionately few Maori clients, whereas hospitals report excessive Maori hospitalizations for seizures. Hills and Simonsen (1999: Epilepsy in an Indigenous Community. Poster paper at the Annual Conference of the American Epilepsy Society, Orlando, FL, U.S.A.) found some belief in supernatural causes, that epilepsy reduced personal and family status, poor compliance, alternative medicine use, and poor access to informed support.Methods:A Maori interviewer (L.E.M.) administered a structured interview in their own homes to 16 adult Maori with either tonic–clonic or complex partial epilepsy and thematically analyzed responses.Results:Perceived causes of epilepsy included heredity, injury, puberty, spiritual experience, and medical misadventure. Supernatural causes cited included a devil inside, a curse, being God-given, and stigma carried from ancestral sacred law breaking. Many were ignorant of seizure type. Most families reacted with acceptance and support, explanation in terms of spiritual beliefs, some victim-blaming, and little desire to know more. Reported were childhood teasing, shame and feeling outcast, with adults feeling unloved and restricted and wanting to know more. Coping strategies included calm acceptance, music, art, education, weather-watching, prayer, and herbal alternative medication. Collectivist Maori society emphasizes familial world-view and decision-making influence. Familial shame about epilepsy triggers sheltering and secrecy. However, the extended family, assisted by friends, social workers, and Maori Health Provider organizations provides psychological support, assisting with medication compliance and societal reactions. Treatment must involve the family and may include externally applied herbal medicine, head-to-toe massage, and developing a positive attitude by using art, music, etc. Maori regarded epilepsy with tolerance, humor, and little desire to know more, although friends might fear epilepsy as insanity. Costs described included deteriorating friendships and marital relations. Important socialization difficulties included not being able to drive a car or drink alcohol, and acquaintance avoidance. The financial costs of medication, doctors' fees, and travel to a clinic for small-town dwellers and nondrivers were cited, as were employment and education difficulties. Doctors were described as providing little information or discussion, using incomprehensible jargon, and being ignorant of cultural specifics. Participants wanted Maori-oriented health workers and field officers to advocate with medical experts and provide culturally sensitive information and support, information on state financial support, contact with other Maori with epilepsy, and education of their extended family about epilepsy. Alternative treatments should be recognized as effective and in harmony with the body, nature, and the spiritual world.Conclusions:Maori people with epilepsy demonstrated ignorance of medical explanations of the cause, nature, and treatment of epilepsy; belief in supernatural and ancestral causes; and emphasis on the family role, acceptance and resignation, a need for culturally sensitive treatment, advice and support, and a holistic approach to health.Acknowledgment:New Zealand Health Research Council, Waikato University Maori and Psychology Research Unit and Psychology Department, participants and their families. A Demonstration Project of the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy in the People's Republic of China.Purpose:A Global Campaign Against Epilepsy project has begun in the People's Republic of China among a population of∼2.5 million. The project included three parts: (a) epidemiologic survey to estimate the prevalence of active epilepsy and the treatment gap in seven counties of five provinces in China; (b) treatment of convulsive forms of epilepsy at a primary care level; and (c) education, social, and community interventions to reduce stigmatization of people with epilepsy. The main results of epidemiologic survey are reported here.Methods:A door-to-door epidemiologic survey was carried out in demonstration areas. The total number of people who could have been included in this survey was 58,806. The screening questionnaires were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) screening questionnaires previously used in China and on the ICBERG screening instrument and were validated at the Beijing Neurosurgical Institute for specificity (78.5%) and sensitivity (100%). Participating physicians and health workers were trained to use the questionnaire and to use a standardized technique so that the same questions could be asked in the same manner. After physicians had completed the questionnaire, any question that elicited a positive response led to a neurologist visiting that person to determine whether he or she actually had epilepsy.Results:The 55,616 (94.6%) people were interviewed in the five study areas. In total, 869 (1.6%) persons screened positive and identified as possible cases. After the review process by neurologists, however, only 387 (0.7%) persons were confirmed as having a definitive history of epilepsy. This gives a minimum lifetime prevalence rate of 7/1,000. The number of people with active epilepsy in the last year was 257, an active epilepsy prevalence of 4.6/1,000. It is estimated that nearly 9 million people have epilepsy and∼6 million people have active epilepsy in China. Of the 387 people identified with epilepsy, 157 (41%) were found not to have received any treatment; 35% had received irregular treatment, and only 96 (25%) had received antiepileptic drug treatment in the week before the survey; 257 patients had active epilepsy, 161 (63%) of whom did not receive any treatment in the week before the survey.Conclusions:This study is important for several reasons. It has provided baseline data for the demonstration project. Not only does this mean that the project's future effectiveness can be measured, but it also should lead to a better targeting of resources within the project. At a national level, the data provide further weight to the argument that epilepsy should have a higher priority in the PRC. Both the higher numbers of people with epilepsy and the higher percentage of untreated epilepsy should encourage policy makers to push epilepsy higher up the health agenda and confirm the Global Campaign's message that epilepsy must be“brought out of the shadows.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐port laparoscopy (SPL) has existed for several years. This meta‐analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of SPL compared with conventional laparoscopy (CL) in the treatment of benign gynecologic adnexal lesions. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to evaluate the superiority of SPL versus CL in the treatment of post‐operative wound pain. The study looked for English‐language publications from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and the Web of Science until June 2023. The main result was the visual analogue scale (VAS) after 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after operation. The paper contains 10 related papers by means of e‐search. Of these, 4 were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while 6 were non‐RCTs. The results indicated that SPL and CL were significantly different after 2, 24 and 48 h after operation. SPL had lower post‐operative pain after 2 h compared with CL (MD, −0.6; 95% CI, −0.98, −0.21; p = 0.002). After the operation, SPL also had a lower incidence of post‐operative pain after 24 h compared with CL (MD, −0.59; 95% CI, −1.12, −0.06; p = 0.03). And the difference in pain was at 48 h after the most significant (MD, −0.49; 95% CI, −0.75, −0.23; p = 0.0002). But after 6, 8 and 12 h after operation, there was no significant difference in the degree of pain. Thus, SPL operations may result in a lower degree of pain than CL in both the post‐operative and far post‐operative phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The link between mental health difficulties and terrorist behaviour has been the subject of debate for the last 50 years. Studies that report prevalence rates of mental health difficulties in terrorist samples or compare rates for those involved and not involved in terrorism, can inform this debate and the work of those responsible for countering violent extremism. Objectives: To synthesise the prevalence rates of mental health difficulties in terrorist samples (Objective 1—Prevalence) and prevalence of mental health disorders pre‐dating involvement in terrorism (Objective 2—Temporality). The review also synthesises the extent to which mental health difficulties are associated with terrorist involvement compared to non‐terrorist samples (Objective 3—Risk Factor). Search Methods: Searches were conducted between April and June 2022, capturing research until December 2021. We contacted expert networks, hand‐searched specialist journals, harvested records from published reviews, and examined references lists for included papers to identify additional studies. Selection Criteria: Studies needed to empirically examine mental health difficulties and terrorism. To be included under Objective 1 (Prevalence) and Objective 2 (Temporality), studies had to adopt cross‐sectional, cohort, or case‐control design and report prevalence rates of mental health difficulties in terrorist samples, with studies under Objective 2 also needing to report prevalence of difficulties before detection or involvement in terrorism. For Objective 3 (Risk Factor) studies where there was variability in terrorist behaviour (involved vs. not involved) were included. Data Collection and Analysis: Captured records were screened in DisillterSR by two authors. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists, and random‐effects meta‐analysis conducted in Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis software. Results: Fifty‐six papers reporting on 73 different terrorist samples (i.e., studies) (n = 13,648) were identified. All were eligible for Objective 1. Of the 73 studies, 10 were eligible for Objective 2 (Temporality) and nine were eligible for Objective 3 (Risk Factor). For Objective 1, the life‐time prevalence rate of diagnosed mental disorder in terrorist samples (k = 18) was 17.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 11.1%–26.3%]. When collapsing all studies reporting psychological problems, disorder, and suspected disorder into one meta‐analyses (k = 37), the pooled prevalence rate was 25.5% (95% CI = 20.2%–31.6%). When isolating studies reporting data for any mental health difficulty that emerged before either engagement in terrorism or detection for terrorist offences (Objective 2: Temporality), the life‐time prevalence rate was 27.8% (95% CI = 20.9%–35.9%). For Objective 3 (Risk Factor), it was not appropriate to calculate a pooled effect size due the differences in comparison samples. Odds ratios for these studies ranged from 0.68 (95% CI = 0.38–1.22) to 3.13 (95% CI = 1.87–5.23). All studies were assessed as having high‐risk of bias which, in part, reflects challenges conducting terrorism research. Author's Conclusions: This review does not support the assertion that terrorist samples are characterised by higher rates of mental health difficulties than would be expected in the general population. Findings have implications for future research in terms of design and reporting. There are also implications for practice with regards the inclusion of mental health difficulties as indicators of risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific research on how children learn to tell lies has existed for more than a century. Earlier studies mainly focused on moral, social, and situational factors contributing to the development of lying. Researchers have only begun to explore the cognitive correlations of children's lying in the last two decades. Cognitive theories suggest that theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF) should be closely related to the development of lying since lying is, in essence, ToM and EF in action. Yet, findings from empirical studies are mixed. To address this issue, the current meta‐analysis reviewed all prior literature that examined the relations between children's lying and ToM and/or between children's lying and EF. In total, 47 papers consisting of 5099 participants between 2 and 19 years of age were included, which yielded 74 effect sizes for ToM and 94 effect sizes for EF. Statistically significant but relatively small effects were found between children's lying and ToM (r =.17) and between lying and EF (r =.13). Furthermore, EF's correlation with children's initial lies was significantly smaller than its correlation with children's ability to maintain lies. This comprehensive meta‐analysis provides a clear picture of the associations between children's ToM/EF and their lying behavior and confirms that ToM and EF indeed play a positive role in children's lying and its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders (ED) has the highest mortality rate of psychiatric disorders and a high incidence of comorbidity. Because of the average age of onset, care typically befalls family members. However, despite the severity of the disorder and the burden placed on the family, research into the caregiving experience is still developing. Studies have shown caregivers of individuals with ED to experience high levels of distress, burden and expressed emotion. Recent theoretical models have underscored the importance of caregivers' responses as a maintenance factor for the ED, and family therapy has proved efficacious. However, the literature pertaining to the experience of family members living with or caring for an individual with an ED has not been systematically reviewed. This review aimed to synthesize qualitative studies relating to the caring experience and its impact, thereby gaining an understanding from the perspective of the individuals themselves. Relevant search terms were utilized to systematically search key databases. Twenty studies, with a total sample of 239 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Nine core themes emerged from the synthesis, forming the basis of an explanatory theory. The ED was found to have a pervasive impact upon family members, mediated by a number of factors. Cognitive appraisals affected the caregiving experience and responses to the individual. The experience of caregiving was continually reappraised leading to a process of adaptation. The majority of studies identified unmet carer needs. The implications of the findings are discussed with reference to existing theoretical models and in terms of clinical practice. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages Carers experience a significant amount of guilt and distress once they have found out about their loved one's eating disorder., Across the studies, there were many themes of unmet need for carers., Siblings have often been overlooked by both clinicians and researchers., Interventions for people with eating disorders should also acknowledge carers and close family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To appraise the literature on the prevalence of the JP2 clone of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) and on its association with presence and progression of periodontitis in different populations. A systematic search of the literature was conducted in Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library for studies reporting data on detection of the JP2 clone of A.a. A total of 56 papers were included in the review, from an initial search of 685 titles. Studies were carried out in populations with a mean age of 26.34 years (range 6.24–53.85 years). Just over 16% of the overall population assessed (n = 13 751) had the JP2 clone detected. Meta‐analyses included 16 studies and 1775 patients, and revealed an association between detection of the JP2 clone and diagnosis of periodontitis (RR = 1.86, 95% 1.43–2.42) from saliva and plaque, with high heterogeneity (I2 = 85%, p <.00001). Meta‐analyses included 5 studies and 616 patients, and revealed an association between baseline detection of the JP2 clone and onset of periodontitis over 2 to 5 years (RR = 4.12, 95% 2.42–7.00), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 81%, p <.0003). From the overall risk of bias score, 29 papers were judged as low risk of bias, whilst the remaining papers were judged to have an overall medium or high risk of bias. Detection of the JP2 clone of A.a. in subgingival plaque and saliva samples is associated with increased odds of diagnosis of periodontitis and may be able to predict onset of periodontitis. This systematic review provides clear evidence that in certain populations, the JP2 clone of A.a. is associated with early‐onset periodontitis. Furthermore, detection of this bacterium seems to be predictive of disease onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Steroids comprise the mainstay of treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Since steroidal treatment was integrated to clinical practice guidelines, newly published no‐treatment or placebo arms in clinical trials are scarce. To evaluate the effectiveness of steroidal treatment ± hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the data should be compared to spontaneous recovery. The aim of this paper is to find the most accurate spontaneous recovery rate, in the light of which, other treatment modalities should be judged. Materials and Methods: Eligible studies published until July 2021 were identified through systematic searches of 'PubMed', 'Web of Science' and 'Google Scholar'. Retrospective studies and randomised/non‐randomised control trials involving only adult participants (≥18 years) with ISSNHL, and placebo/no treatment were included. Only articles that used the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery's diagnostic criteria for ISSNHL were included. Results: 942 records initially identified, 166 duplicates and 753 articles were excluded based on article subject, title, and abstract. The full texts of 13 articles were reviewed. Seven studies were included for qualitative synthesis, five papers included in quantitative synthesis. 180 ears were included in pooled statistics. The pooled spontaneous recovery was 60.28% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 38.88%–79.94%) with a heterogeneity of 86.0% (95% CI = 69.4%–93.6%). Conclusions: Spontaneous recovery of ISSNHL should not be over‐looked, as it may be close to 60%. This may have both clinical and research implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study reviews the empirical literature on banking efficiency by conducting a meta‐regression analysis. The meta‐dataset consists of 1661 observations retrieved from 120 papers published over the period 2000–2014. While the role of study design and method‐specific characteristics of primary studies is evaluated, the focus concerns regulation in banking. The results are fourfold. First, parametric methods always yield lower levels of banking efficiency than non‐parametric studies. Second, banking efficiency is higher in studies using the value‐added approach rather than the intermediation method. Third, efficiency scores also depend on the journal's ranking and on the number of observations and variables used in the primary papers. Finally, regulation matters: primary papers focusing on countries with a liberalized banking industry provide higher values for efficiency scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to comprehensively evaluate the latest evidences and summarise the impact of HIV on PCI outcomes. A PRISMA guided literature search was conducted on 14 February 2024 in Web of Science, PubMed, Virtual Health Library, Google Scholar and Scopus. We searched with the term '("percutaneous coronary intervention" OR "PCI") AND ("human immunodeficiency virus" OR "HIV" OR "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" OR "AIDS")' after selecting the keywords from randomly chosen included papers. We included 8 papers of 781 screened records. HIV (+) patients had significant in‐hospital, 1‐year and overall (event at the last follow up point) all‐cause mortality compared to HIV (−) group (OR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.57–1.90, p < 0.01), (OR: 1.39, 95%CI: 1.07–1.81, p = 0.01) and (OR: 1.69, 95%CI: 1.55–1.85, p < 0.01), respectively. HIV (+) patients had significantly higher odds of developing MACE (OR: 1.35, 95%CI: 1.12–1.62, p = 0.001) compared to the HIV (−) group. No differences between both groups were detected regarding in‐hospital and overall CV mortality, TVR, TLR, post‐PCI TIMI grade 3 flow, cerebrovascular accidents and recurrent coronary events (p > 0.05). Our study revealed that people with HIV who underwent PCI in this modern era may have worse short and long‐term PCI outcomes. This finding highlights the need for specialised cardiovascular care protocols for the HIV population. However, enhanced clinical management and preventative measures are imperative to improve PCI success rates in patients with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review and meta‐analysis aimed to describe the current rugby‐7s injury epidemiological literature by examining injury data from both sexes, all levels of play, and their associated risk factors. Studies published up until March 2024 were included. These studies were retrieved from six databases using search terms related to rugby‐7s or sevens, tackle, collision, collision sport, injury, athlete, incidence rate, mechanism, and risk factor. Only peer‐reviewed original studies using prospective or retrospective cohort designs with a clearly defined rugby‐7s sample were considered. Included studies needed to report one injury outcome variable. Non‐English and qualitative studies; reviews, conference papers, and abstracts were excluded. Twenty studies were included. The meta‐analysis used the DerSimonian–Laird continuous random‐effects method to calculate the pooled estimated means and 95% confidence interval. The estimated mean injury incidence rate for men was 108.5/1000 player‐hours (95% CI: 85.9–131.0) and 76.1/1000 player‐hours (95% CI: 48.7–103.5) for women. The estimated mean severity for men was 33.9 days (95% CI: 20.7–47.0) and 44.2 days (95% CI: 32.1–56.3) for women. Significantly more match injuries occurred in the second half of matches, were acute, located at the lower limb, diagnosed as joint/ligament, and resulted from being tackled. Fatigue, player fitness, and previous injuries were associated with an increased risk of injury. There were no statistically significant differences between women's and men's injury profiles. However, the inherent cultural and gendered factors which divide the two sports should not be ignored. The findings from this review will help pave the way forward beyond the foundational stages of injury prevention research in rugby‐7s. Highlights: Rugby‐7s injury prevention research has not moved past the early stages of injury prevention research frameworks, such as the TRIPP model, because the injury epidemiological profile has not been comprehensively summarised.Significantly, more match injuries occurred in the second half, were acute, located at the lower limb, diagnosed as joint/ligament and resulted from being tackled. Fatigue, player fitness, and previous injuries were associated with an increased risk of injury. However, there were no differences across sex.These findings will help pave the way forward beyond the foundational stages of injury prevention research in rugby‐7s and will form the basis from which future injury prevention strategies can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic, caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, has resulted in illness, deaths and societal disruption on a global scale. Societies have implemented various control measures to reduce transmission of the virus and mitigate its impact. Individual behavioural changes are crucial to the successful implementation of these measures. One commonly recommended measure to limit risk of infection is face covering. It is important to identify those factors that can predict the uptake and maintenance of face covering. Objectives: We aimed to identify and synthesise the evidence on malleable psychological and psychosocial factors that determine uptake and adherence to face covering aimed at reducing the risk of infection or transmission of COVID‐19. Search Methods: We searched various literature sources including electronic databases (Medline ALL, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, ERIC, PsycInfo, CINAHL & Web of Science), web searches, conference proceedings, government reports, other repositories of literature and grey literature. The search strategy was built around three concepts of interest including (1) context (terms relating to COVID19), (2) behaviour of interest and (3) terms related to psychological and psychosocial determinants of COVID Health‐Related Behaviours and adherence or compliance with face covering, to capture malleable determines. Searches capture studies up until October 2021. Selection Criteria: Eligibility criteria included observational studies (both retrospective and prospective) and experimental studies that measure and report malleable psychological and psychosocial determinants and handwashing at an individual level, amongst the general public. Screening was supported by the Cochrane Crowd. Studies titles and abstracts were screened against the eligibility criteria by three independent screeners. Following this, all potentially relevant studies were screened at full‐text level by the research team. All conflicts between screeners were resolved by discussion between the core research team. Data Collection and Analysis: All data extraction was managed in EPPI‐Reviewer software. All eligible studies, identified through full‐text screening were extracted by one author. We extracted data on study information, population, determinant, behaviour and effects. A second author checked data extraction on 20% of all included papers. All conflicts were discussed by the two authors until consensus was reached. We assessed methodological quality of all included studies using an adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality appraisal tool for cross‐sectional studies. Main Results: Our initial searches yielded 23,587 results, of which 23 were included in this review. The included studies were cross‐sectional in design, came from nine countries and had a combined sample of 54,401 participants. The vast majority of studies had samples from the general public, with five of the studies focusing on specific samples. All included studies considered people over the age of 18. The quality of 10 of the studies was rated as unclear, 10 were rated as low, and 3 rated high risk of bias, predominately due to lack of reporting of recruitment, sample characteristics and methodology. Ten studies were included in the meta‐analysis and 16 in the narrative synthesis. Findings from the meta‐analysis indicated that knowledge of COVID‐19 (0.341, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06, 0.530, I2 = 100%) was the malleable determinant most associated with face covering behaviour. Perceived susceptibility of COVID‐19 (r = 0.088, 95% CI = −0.004, 0.180, I2 = 80%) and COVID‐related worry and anxiety (r = 0.064, 95% CI = −0.066, 0.191, I2 = 93% had little to no effect on face covering behaviour. In the narrative synthesis, the strongest association was found between perceived benefits and effectiveness of behaviours and mask wearing behaviour. Authors' Conclusions: Understanding the effects of various malleable determinants on COVID‐related face covering can aid in the development and implementation of interventions and public health campaigns to promote face covering behaviour in potential new waves of COVID‐19 or other respiratory infections. Knowledge of COVID and perceived benefits of face coverings warrant further consideration in future research and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "Screen inferiority" refers to a well‐established phenomenon observed among adults and teenagers, wherein they demonstrate higher reading comprehension when reading from paper compared to screens. However, there is limited research focusing on readers in the initial stages of reading development. The current study aims to investigate reading comprehension in both screen and paper settings, as well as modality preferences, among young typical and struggling readers in the second and third grades. Methods: The study included 342 second graders and 284 third‐grade Hebrew readers. Their reading comprehension performance in both modalities and their preferences for a particular modality were assessed. Results: The results suggested no differences in reading comprehension between the two modalities in the second and third grades. The only group that showed numerically higher performance on paper over computer was struggling readers in the second grade. The numeric proportion of modality preferences was higher on the computer rather than on paper. Conclusions: The current study did not find an effect of modality on reading comprehension in the second and third grades. We did find that children in these grades prefer to read on screens. It is essential to examine the specific characteristics of the digital task to determine when it benefits young readers and when it may be detrimental to them. Highlights: What is already known about this topicAdults and teenagers show screen inferiority effect.Elementary school children in fourth to sixth grades also present lower reading comprehension on digital reading compared to paper reading.Less is known about first‐ to third‐grade readers in the initial steps of reading acquisition. What this paper addsSecond and third graders achieve similar reading comprehension in computer screen reading and paper reading.Second‐ and third‐grade readers show a greater preference for reading texts from screens rather than paper.Struggling readers in the second grade achieved numerically higher reading comprehension in reading from paper compared to screens. Implications for theory, policy or practiceScreen reading, with minimal differences in task characteristics compared to paper, does not impede developing readers' reading comprehension.These young readers prefer to read on screens.Designing digital reading tasks should be research‐based and refer to the specific characteristics of the readers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The discoid meniscus (DM) is distinguished by its thickened, disc‐shaped formation, which extends over the tibial plateau. The likelihood of developing osteoarthritis escalates if a DM tear remains undiagnosed and untreated. While DM tears can be diagnosed through arthroscopy, the high cost, invasive nature and limited availability of this procedure highlight the need for a better diagnostic modality. This study aims to determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing DM tears. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to gather articles with at least 10 cases on the comparison of MRI and arthroscopy as the gold standard for DM tear diagnosis. Stata and MetaDisc were used to conduct the statistical analysis. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies‐2 tool. Results: Five diagnostic performance studies, derived from four original research papers involving 305 patients, were evaluated. Based on the pooled data, the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, positive limit of detection and negative limit of detection were found to be 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82–0.91) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.75–0.90), 32.88 (95% CI, 5.81–186.02), 5.22 (95% CI, 1.71–15.92) and 0.18 (95% CI, 0.09–0.38), respectively. A hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve with an area under the curve of 0.92 was generated. Conclusion: This meta‐analysis demonstrates that MRI has excellent sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing DM tears. Despite its lower accuracy compared to arthroscopy, MRI can be used in symptomatic patients as a viable alternative to arthroscopy due to its inherent advantages. Level of Evidence: Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined analysis of past evolutionary trajectories of channel morphology and temporal patterns of driving factors is fundamental to understanding present river conditions, supporting river management and evaluating future changes. Rivers in Europe underwent important channel changes during the Anthropocene in response to changing natural drivers and anthropogenic pressures. A considerable number of papers have been published on this topic, in the last decades. In this study, a comprehensive meta‐analysis on channel changes during the last 200 years in Europe was performed, aiming to provide quantitative information on the intensity of changes, to highlight regional scale similarities and dissimilarities in evolutionary morphological trajectories and to discuss the main causes of such changes. Based on a review, 102 papers were selected, addressing 145 channel reaches flowing through five main mountain ranges (Iberians, Alps, Apennines, Balkans and Carpathians) in the southern and eastern parts of Europe. The results show that active channel narrowing (between 26% and 36% on average) and incision (between 1 and 2 m) prevailed in most rivers between the 1800s and the 1950s, although widening was documented in some rivers of the Alps and the Apennines. Most multi‐thread reaches maintained their pattern until the mid‐20th century. Active channel changes accelerated during the 1950s–1990s (or 2000s) period, with channel narrowing up to 60% and channel incision up to 14 m. Multi‐thread patterns strongly decreased in frequency, with anabranching channels disappearing and single‐thread patterns becoming predominant. The cumulative effect of multiple and concomitant human pressures (gravel mining, channelisation and damming) was identified as the main driving factor for these accelerated changes. These findings must feed the public debate about preventing alterations of river ecosystems—exerted by anthropic disturbances—in a context of rapid economic development, especially in river systems still poorly altered and thus preserving wide, active and heterogeneous fluvial corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Fever phobia describes exaggerated concerns about the consequences of childhood fever and broader awareness is needed in everyday clinical practice. We investigated the factors associated with fever phobia in caregivers and healthcare providers and the geographical distribution of the issue.Methods: The National Library of Medicine, Excerpta Medica and Google Scholar databases were searched.Results: We retrieved 76 papers, published in English from 1985 to 2018, which covered wide areas of Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Australia. The occurrence of fever phobia was confirmed in 65 papers covering 26 521 caregivers. A number of factors were significantly associated with fever phobia, including low educational or socioeconomic levels, a history of febrile seizures in the child and young maternal age. Fever phobia was also more common in Bedouins and in people from Latin America, Southern Italy and Turkey. There were also 15 papers that addressed fever phobia among 4566 healthcare providers. All the reports suggested that a fear of fever and a tendency to over treat was common among physicians and nurses.Conclusion: Fever phobia was a common world phenomena that affected caregivers and healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta‐analysis studies the literature reporting estimates of one parameter, which at present is assumed positive. The purpose of the analysis is to find the best meta‐average, which corrects the mean of the estimates for bias. The two main biases are: (i) Publication bias, where the correction nearly always makes the average smaller. (ii) Omitted variable bias, where the correction typically makes the average larger. Consequently, the bias is likely to increase if the correction is for the wrong bias. This allows a game of meta‐mining to be played. A case study demonstrates the scope for meta‐mining, and that it has been done. The game of meta‐mining is surely against the purpose of meta‐analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The views of the children and young people experiencing Extended School Non‐Attendance difficulties are scarcely represented in the literature. This systematic literature review provides a much needed overview of the existing research evidence through a detailed synthesis of the lived experiences of persistently non‐attending young people, using a meta‐ethnographic approach. Ten qualitative, UK‐based papers were selected and analysed, each of which focused specifically on the direct views of school non‐attenders. Using Noblit and Hare's seven‐step approach, the analysis generated seven themes: (1) difficult relationships with peer group; (2) inconsistent relationships with and support from adults; (3) negative experiences of school transition; (4) negative experiences of learning in school; (5) emotional wellbeing and mental health needs; (6) others' negative perceptions of the individual's needs; (7) personal beliefs about attendance. Through reciprocal translation of these themes, the overarching higher‐order concept was developed relating to the impact of a sense of school belonging. The implications of this review include an enhanced emphasis on the need to gather young people's views early and to use their preferred terminology when discussing their difficulties. While outside the scope of this paper, further research should look to the translation into policy and practice in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical studies traditionally describe insect diversity variation throughout the year. The temporally structured responses of insect assemblages to climate seasonality vary across ecosystems due to gradients of resource availability and limiting ecological factors. These idiosyncratic responses might be particularly true across the vast geographical range of the Brazilian territory, including various environments that harbor one of the most diverse ant faunas worldwide. This study addressed the relationship between ant diversity and climatic seasonality, performing a quantitative review of the published data on ant diversity collected in Brazil. We investigated the seasonality effect on ant abundance and richness described in the literature in 47 papers published between 2000 and 2018. These studies were developed mainly in the Atlantic Forest biome and collected ants with pitfall traps on the soil/litter stratum. We initially carried out a vote-counting procedure by comparing the number of significant results describing seasonal differences in the ant assemblage. We found that most papers described a similar pattern of ant abundance, richness, and species composition between seasons. However, when we performed a meta-analysis, we observed a clear pattern of higher ant abundance and richness in the wet/summer season compared with the dry/winter season. Our meta-analysis reveals that the ant diversity decreases in the dry season, strongly in the Cerrado biome. Additionally, we point out differences in the sampling effort across biomes, indicating the need for further investments in studies focused on temporal diversity patterns, including seasonal effects, on the insect assemblage in biomes less investigated so far. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively and critically summarize and synthesize the risk of losing teeth among with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to those without DM, as established in observational studies. Materials and methods: MEDLINE‐PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched through a period from their inception through October 2020 to identify eligible studies. Papers that primarily evaluate the number of teeth in DM patients compared to non‐DM individuals were included. A descriptive analysis of the selected studies was conducted, and when feasible, a meta‐analysis was performed. The quality of the studies was assessed. Results: A total of 1087 references were generated, and screening of the papers resulted in 10 eligible publications. A descriptive analysis demonstrated that six of these studies indicate a significantly higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients. This was confirmed by the meta‐analysis risk ratio of 1.63 95% CI (1.33; 2.00, p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis illustrates that this is irrespective of the risk‐of‐bias assessment. The higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients was also higher when only DM type II patients or studies with a cross‐sectional design were considered. Patients with a poor DM control status presented a significantly increased risk of tooth loss. When the data were separated by the world continent where the study was performed, Asia and South America had numerically higher risks and a 95% CI that did not overlap with Europe and North America. Conclusion: There is moderate certainty for a small but significantly higher risk of tooth loss in DM patients as compared to those without DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic review of the literature from 1993 to 2011 was undertaken examining frequency data of the most common odontogenic cysts and tumors. Seven inclusion criteria were met for the paper to be incorporated. In the preliminary search 5231 papers were identified, of these 26 papers met the inclusion criteria. There were 18 297 odontogenic cysts reported. Of these there were 9982 (54.6%) radicular cysts, 3772 (20.6%) dentigerous cysts and 2145 (11.7%) keratocystic odontogenic tumors. With the reclassification of keratocystic odontogenic tumor in 2005 as an odontogenic tumor, there were 8129 odontogenic tumors reported with 3001 (36.9%) ameloblastomas, 1163 (14.3%) keratocystic odontogenic tumors, 533 (6.5%) odontogenic myxomas, 337 (4.1%) adenomatoid odontogenic tumors and 127 (1.6%) ameloblastic fibromas. This systematic review found that odontogenic cysts are 2.25 times more frequent than odontogenic tumors. The most frequent odontogenic cyst and tumor were the radicular cyst and ameloblastoma respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cesarean birth (CB) rates have increased over recent years with concerns over differences between these rates in migrant communities compared with the rates among women in their receiving country. This review aimed at summarizing the available literature regarding the incidence of CB among migrants in Europe. Methods: A systematic search of four electronic databases was carried out, including CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Maternity and Infant Care. Identified studies were screened and their quality assessed. Meta‐analysis was undertaken using Rev Man 5.4 where sufficient data were available. Otherwise, data were synthesized narratively. Results: From the 435 records identified in searches, 21 papers were included. Analysis shows that overall CB rates were significantly lower for Syrian refugee women compared with women in their receiving country (Turkey) and higher for Iranian migrants than women in their host country. Emergency CB rates were significantly higher for migrant women from "Sub Saharan Africa" and the "South East Asia, Asia and Pacific" region than rates in the receiving country. Statistical significance was not found between other populations. Conclusions: This review highlights differences between CB rates in certain migrant groups in comparison with women native to their host country, which merits further investigation for potential explanations. We also identified a need to standardize definitions and population groupings to enable more meaningful analysis. This review also highlights a substantial lack of data on CB rates between different population groups that could negatively impact the provision of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracting data from studies is the norm in meta‐analyses, enabling researchers to generate effect sizes when raw data are otherwise not available. While there has been a general push for increased reproducibility in meta‐analysis, the transparency and reproducibility of the data extraction phase is still lagging behind. Unfortunately, there is little guidance of how to make this process more transparent and shareable. To address this, we provide several steps to help increase the reproducibility of data extraction in meta‐analysis. We also provide suggestions of R software that can further help with reproducible data policies: the shinyDigitise and juicr packages. Adopting the guiding principles listed here and using the appropriate software will provide a more transparent form of data extraction in meta‐analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of circular economy is increasingly receiving attention in different domains, including strategic management, operations management, and technology management. It requires companies to design their business model (i.e., the value network, the relationships with the supply chain partners, and the value propositions towards customers) around a new concept of sustainable development that reduces consumption of natural resources and preserves the environment. However, extant research falls short in terms of explaining how companies design their business model according to the circular economy principles. Starting from this premise, the present paper provides a systematic review of the literature on the design of business models in the context of circular economy, aiming to offer an overview of the state of research and outline a promising research agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Primer identifies key ecosystem attributes for evaluating restoration outcome. Broad attribute categories could be necessary due to the large variety of restoration projects, but could make overall evaluations and assessments challenging and might hamper the development of sound and successful restoration. In this study we carry out a systematic review of scientific papers addressing evaluation of restoration outcome. We include 104 studies published after 2010 from Europe or North America, representing different types of restoration projects in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. We explore the main ecological and socioeconomic attributes used to evaluate restoration outcome, and related indicators and specific methods applied to measure this, in relation to ecosystem and type of restoration project. We identify a wide range of indicators within each attribute, and show that very different methods are employed to measure them. This complexity reduces the opportunity for meaningful comparison and standardization of evaluation of restoration outcome, within and between ecosystems. Socioeconomic indicators are rarely used to evaluate restoration outcome, and studies including both ecological and socioeconomic indicators are nearly absent. Based on our findings we discuss whether standardization and streamlining of indicators is useful to improve the evaluation of "on the ground" restoration, or if this is not appropriate given the diversity of goals and ecosystems involved. Species‐specific traits are used in many projects and should be considered as an addition to the original SER attributes. Furthermore, we discuss the potential for restoration evaluation that encompasses not only assessment of ecological but also socioeconomic indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Early adulthood is a time when individuals go through important life transitions, such as moving from high school into higher education or employment, but the impact of these life transitions on changes in body weight, diet, and physical activity is not known. We searched six electronic databases to July 2019 for longitudinal observational studies providing data on adiposity, diet, and/or physical activity across education or employment transitions in young people aged between 15 and 35 years. We found 19 studies, of which 17 assessed changes in physical activity, three body weight, and five diet or eating behaviours. Meta‐analysis (n=9) found that leaving high school was associated with a decrease of −7.04 (95% CI, −11.26, −2.82) min/day of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity. Three studies reported increases in body weight on leaving high school. A small number of studies suggested decreases in diet quality on leaving high school (n=2/4 papers) and leaving university (n=1) but not on starting employment (n=1). Studies suggested no change in physical activity on leaving university (n=4) but decreases in physical activity on starting employment (n=2/3). The transition of leaving high school is an important time to support individuals to prevent decreases in physical activity and gains in body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Multitasking while reading is a commonplace activity. Many studies have been conducted examining the effect of multitasking on reading comprehension and times. The purpose of this meta‐analysis is to consolidate the empirical findings on reading comprehension and times in order to understand the overall effect of multitasking on reading. Characteristics of the reading situation, comprehension assessment and the secondary task were examined to determine if they varied the effect of multitasking. Methods: A systematic search of studies on multitasking and reading was conducted. Only studies that used random assignment and had participants reading independently were included. This screening yielded 22 independent studies (20 reports) that met inclusion criteria, with 20 studies on reading comprehension and 9 studies on reading times. Most of the studies involved adults reading expository texts. Results: Based on robust variance estimation analyses, multitasking had a negative effect on reading comprehension (g = −0.28, p =.002). The effect was similar after outliers were removed (g = −0.26, p =.001). Based on moderator analyses, this negative effect may only occur when time was limited because the reading pace was controlled by the experimenter (g = −0.54, p <.001) as there was not a reliable effect when reading was self‐paced (g = −0.14, p =.10). Multitasking during reading lead to longer reading times (g = 0.52, p <.001). Conclusions: Multitasking during reading is detrimental to reading comprehension when time is limited. When readers control their own pace of reading, multitasking lengthens the time for the reading task. Therefore, multitasking while reading is less efficient than focusing attention on the primary task of reading. Highlights: What is already known about this topicMultitasking during reading is commonplace.Human cognitive resources are limited.Many studies exist on reading while multitasking. What this paper addsOverall effect for multitasking on reading comprehension is negative.Multitasking when reading time is limited is detrimental to comprehension.Multitasking has a greater negative effect when reading from paper than screens.Self‐paced reading times are longer when multitasking. Implications for theory, policy or practiceMultitasking while reading is an inefficient practice.Students should be encouraged to focus on reading a text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogen‐mediated selection and sexual selection are important drivers of evolution. Both processes are known to target genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a gene family encoding cell‐surface proteins that display pathogen peptides to the immune system. The MHC is also a model for understanding processes such as gene duplication and trans‐species allele sharing. The class II MHC protein is a heterodimer whose peptide‐binding groove is encoded by an MHC‐IIA gene and an MHC‐IIB gene. However, our literature review found that class II MHC papers on infectious disease or sexual selection included IIA data only 18% and 9% of the time, respectively. To assess whether greater emphasis on MHC‐IIA is warranted, we analysed MHC‐IIA sequence data from 50 species of vertebrates (fish, amphibians, birds, mammals) to test for polymorphism and positive selection. We found that the number of MHC‐IIA alleles within a species was often high, and covaried with sample size and number of MHC‐IIA genes assayed. While MHC‐IIA variability tended to be lower than that of MHC‐IIB, the difference was only ~25%, with ~3 fewer IIA alleles than IIB. Furthermore, the unexpectedly high MHC‐IIA variability showed clear signatures of positive selection in most species, and positive selection on MHC‐IIA was stronger in fish than in other surveyed vertebrate groups. Our findings underscore that MHC‐IIA can be an important target of selection. Future studies should therefore expand the characterization of MHC‐IIA at both allelic and genomic scales, and incorporate MHC‐IIA into models of fitness consequences of MHC variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obesity is a global problem for which sustainable solutions are yet to be realized. Community‐based interventions have improved obesity‐related behaviours and obesity in the short term. Few papers have explored how to make the interventions and their intended outcomes sustainable. The aim of this paper is to identify factors that contribute to the sustainability of community‐based obesity prevention interventions and their intended outcomes. A systematic narrative synthesis review was conducted of published community‐based obesity prevention interventions to identify factors contributing to intervention sustainability. Data extracted were included study authors' perspectives of intervention success and sustainability. Eighty‐one papers met the inclusion criteria, and from these we identified ten factors that contribute to sustainability: resourcing, leadership, workforce development, community engagement, partnerships, policy, communications, adaptability, evaluation and governance. This review of community‐based obesity prevention interventions gives rise to optimism that sustainable change is possible. We propose a framework to help practitioners build sustainability into their interventions and report on them so that others can also benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify whether compassion‐focused therapy (CFT) or compassion‐based interventions are effective in improving self‐esteem. Methods: Databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) were searched, along with OpenGrey literature. Experts were also contacted and handsearching of reference lists and citing articles undertaken. To be eligible, papers had to include an intervention identified as being compassion‐based and mention 'self‐esteem' as a variable or outcome. Papers were quality appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data were analysed using a random‐effects meta‐analysis model, with sensitivity analysis conducted in relation to the quality of studies. Results: Ten eligible papers were identified. Within‐group analysis of data from eight studies demonstrated a medium, significant overall effect size (g = 0.56, 95% CI [0.19–0.93], z = 3.54, p <.001), which increased slightly and remained significant (g = 0.61, 95% CI [0.05–1.17], z = 2.82, p =.005) when the lowest quality studies were removed. Conclusions: Compassion‐focused therapy or compassion‐based interventions may be effective in improving self‐esteem. However, there is large clinical and methodological heterogeneity amongst studies making further conclusions difficult. Practitioner points: CFT/compassion‐based interventions appear to be effective in improving self‐esteem.Transdiagnostic concepts (such as low self‐esteem and compassion‐focused therapy) should be considered in supporting people with their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well‐conducted systematic reviews are invaluable for synthesising research findings. The conclusions of a review depend on how the research question was formulated, how relevant studies were found and how studies were selected for synthesis.Here, we present a practical guide for ecologists and evolutionary biologists on formulating a question for a systematic review, and finding a representative sample of research findings.We explain the steps involved using a worked example and practical training exercises. Throughout this guide we share tricks of the trade, included rules of thumb and software that we have found useful.We hope our paper helps demystify the systematic search process and encourages more researchers to adopt a systematic and reproducible approach when searching the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess all published studies which describe what happens to the delivery of pressure ulcer/injury (PI/PU) care pathways as a result of detecting raised sub‐epidermal moisture (SEM) delta (∆ ≥ 0.6). We undertook a systematic review of the literature, and included original research studies using either a prospective or retrospective study design that report the impact that assessment using SEM assessments have on healthcare practitioners' delivery of PI/PU care pathways in adults at risk of developing PI/PUs. The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023416975). A literature search was conducted in May 2023, using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, EMBASE, Web of Science and Science Direct databases. Data were extracted using a data extraction tool including elements such as country, setting, sample size, intervention, control and quality appraisal was undertaken using the Evidence‐based Librarianship. We identified nine papers published between 2017 and 2022. The majority of these studies were conducted in England (n = 6; 67%). The systematic review included studies conducted across multiple care settings including acute care, medical‐surgical units, and palliative care, highlighting the importance of PI/PU prevention and management across diverse patient populations. The PI/PU care pathways implemented in the studies varied, but commonly included elements such as the application or increased use of pressure‐redistributing mattresses/cushions, implementation of repositioning plans, management of incontinence and moisture, regular skin inspection, and assessment of patient mobility. Out of the nine studies identified, seven reported PI/PU incidence. A meta‐analysis of seven studies (N = 18 451) demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in visual PI/PU development in favour of SEM‐guided care pathways compared to usual care (the odds ratio = 0.36 [95% confidence interval: 0.24–0.53, p < 0.00001]). This systematic review provides evidence that implementing SEM assessments in patients at risk of developing PI/PUs prompts anatomy‐specific clinical actions. The subsequent implementation of enhanced and targeted skin care interventions leads to consistent and sustained reductions in hospital‐acquired PU incidence. The findings emphasise the importance of incorporating SEM assessments as part of comprehensive PI/PU prevention strategies in all care settings and patient populations. This systematic review is limited by the predominance of observational studies and variable study quality. Future research should focus on randomised trials in different care settings that monitor the efficacy of preventive interventions and their impact in reducing PI/PU incidence when implemented based on SEM assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An umbrella review is a systematic review of systematic reviews, which provides a tertiary level of evidence. This umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta‐analysis (SR‐MA) aimed to determine the proportion of oral cancer (OC) development in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) patients. Materials and Methods: We searched electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane and grey literature. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts and assessed for eligible papers. The methodological quality of SR‐MA was evaluated using AMSTAR2, and we also checked the quality of evidence of the included papers. Results: Out of 454 papers identified in the primary search, 105 underwent eligibility screening. Inclusion criteria were met by four SR‐MA. OC ratios ranged between 4.2% and 6% for OSF. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for this outcome in all four MA (I2 = 71.31% to 86.37%). None of the SRs assessed the quality of evidence, and half of them were judged to be of critically low methodological quality. Conclusion: There is lack of quality of evidences and critically low methodological quality among SRs and MA leading to substantial heterogeneity. However, due to potentially malignant nature, OSF patients should be monitored carefully for early detection of OC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Humans often use co‐speech gestures to promote effective communication. Attention has been paid to the cortical areas engaged in the processing of co‐speech gestures. Aims: To investigate the neural network underpinned in the processing of co‐speech gestures and to observe whether there is a relationship between areas involved in language and gesture processing. Methods & Procedures: We planned to include studies with neurotypical and/or stroke participants who underwent a bimodal task (i.e., processing of co‐speech gestures with relative speech) and a unimodal task (i.e., speech or gesture alone) during a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session. After a database search, abstract and full‐text screening were conducted. Qualitative and quantitative data were extracted, and a meta‐analysis was performed with the software GingerALE 3.0.2, performing contrast analyses of uni‐ and bimodal tasks. Main Contribution: The database search produced 1024 records. After the screening process, 27 studies were included in the review. Data from 15 studies were quantitatively analysed through meta‐analysis. Meta‐analysis found three clusters with a significant activation of the left middle frontal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus, and bilateral middle occipital gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus. Conclusions: There is a close link at the neural level for the semantic processing of auditory and visual information during communication. These findings encourage the integration of the use of co‐speech gestures during aphasia treatment as a strategy to foster the possibility to communicate effectively for people with aphasia. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on this subject: Gestures are an integral part of human communication, and they may have a relationship at neural level with speech processing. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge: During processing of bi‐ and unimodal communication, areas related to semantic processing and multimodal processing are activated, suggesting that there is a close link between co‐speech gestures and spoken language at a neural level. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Knowledge of the functions related to gesture and speech processing neural networks will allow for the adoption of model‐based neurorehabilitation programs to foster recovery from aphasia by strengthening the specific functions of these brain networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritoneal dialysis(PD) is one of the most efficient methods in end‐stage kidney disease, and it is very important for PD to perform well. No research has been conducted to evaluate the effect of various types of PD catheters on the prognosis of post‐operative wound complications. While recent meta‐analyses are in favour of straight tubing, there is still uncertainty as to whether direct or coiled PD is beneficial. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to compare the efficacy of direct and coiled PD catheters on the incidence of post‐operative wound infection, bleeding and peritonitis. A comprehensive search was carried out on three databases, including PubMed and Embase, and a manual search was carried out on the links in the paper. The results showed that the incidence rate of bleeding after operation and the degree of infection among the straight and coiled pipes were compared. The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of post‐operative wound infection among straight PD patients with coiled PD (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.58–1.08 p = 0.13). No statistical significance was found in the case of PD with coiled tubing compared with that of straight PD group in wound leakage (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.71–1.93 p = 0.55). No statistically significantly different rates of post‐operative peritonitis were observed for coiled tubing compared with straight ones in PD patients (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.78–1.45 p = 0.7). There is no statistical significance on the rate of wound infection, wound leakage and peritonitis among coiled and straight tube in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trabeculectomy is the main surgical treatment for glaucoma, but scar formation during wound healing may lead to surgical failure. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‐VEGF) and mitomycin C (MMC) on wound healing after glaucoma surgery. We have been looking for Pubmed, Embase and other databases. The last time we looked at an electronic database was August 2023. A case control study was conducted to compare the use of anti‐VEGF and mitomycin C for the treatment of glaucoma. We used the Cochrane standard methodology for collecting and analysing the data. Based on the criteria of inclusion, we have determined 369 related papers and selected seven eligible trials for data analysis. Three hundred and twenty‐six cases were treated with trabeculectomy, of which 166 were injected with anti‐VEGF and 160 were given MMC for trabeculectomy. In six trials, anti‐VEGF and MMC were not found to have any statistical significance on postoperative wound leakage after surgery (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.71, 3.35 p = 0.27). The three trials showed that anti‐VEGF and MMC did not differ in terms of reducing postoperative wound hypotony after surgery (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.20, 3.11 p = 0.73). Five trials demonstrated that anti‐VEGF and MMC were not associated with a lower incidence of shallow anterior chamber (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.5, 2.76 p = 0.71). There is no significant difference in the effect of anti‐VEGF and MMC on wound healing after glaucoma surgery. A multicentre randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size is needed to confirm this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]