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Background Considering the adverse consequences of respiratory insufficiency in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients, this study aimed to assess the pharyngeal airway dimensions in 9–12-year-old patients with unilateral CLP. This historical cohort evaluated the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 30 patients with non-syndromic unilateral CLP between 9 and 12 years and 30 age- and sex-matched non-cleft controls. Three-dimensional (3D) images were reconstructed by the Mimics software, and the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and total airway volumes, as well as the minimal cross-sectional area of the airway (minAx), and posterior airway length (PAL) were all measured in the sagittal plane. Data were analyzed by the Student’s t test. Results The oropharyngeal and the total airway volumes, as well as the minAx and PAL in CLP patients, were significantly smaller than the corresponding values in the control group (P P > 0.05). Conclusions Nine- to twelve-year-old non-syndromic unilateral CLP patients have smaller pharyngeal airway dimensions than non-cleft controls, and are therefore at higher risk of respiratory insufficiency.

The evidence provided by meta-analyses on the beneficial impacts of cinnamon supplementation on anthropometric indices are still conflicting. Present study's aim was to evaluate the effects of cinnamon on obesity indices by an umbrella meta-analysis. The electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus were systematically searched up to March 2021. Data for the effects of cinnamon on anthropometric indices were collected from the meta-analyses. An umbrella meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effects model. The pooled effects of 7 meta-analyses showed that cinnamon supplementation significantly reduced body weight (ES: -0.67 kg; 95% CI: -0.99, -0.35, p ˂ .001), body mass index (ES: -0.45 kg/m

Several meta-analyses have revealed that probiotics could lower blood pressure (BP), but the findings were inconsistent. In this regard, an umbrella meta-analysis was carried out to provide a more accurate estimate of the overall impacts of probiotics supplementation on BP.We searched the following international databases till November 2021: PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. A random-effects model was applied to evaluate the effects of probiotics on BP. Sensitivity analysis was performed by using the leave-one-out method. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Pooled effect size of 14 meta-analyses with 15,494 participants indicated significant decreases in both systolic (Weighted mean difference (WMD) = -1.96 mmHg; 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.78, -1.14, p 0.001, and standardized mean difference (SMD) = -2.62; 95% CI: -4.96, -0.28, p 0.001) and diastolic BP (WMD = -1.28 mmHg; 95% CI: -1.76, -0.79, p 0.001, and SMD = -0.60 mmHg; 95% CI: -1.08, -0.12, p = 0.014) following probiotics supplementation. Greater effects on SBP were revealed in trials with a mean age of50 years and the duration of intervention ≤10 weeks. DBP was also more reduced in studies with a dosage of ≥10The present umbrella meta-analysis suggests probiotics supplementation to improve BP and claims that probiotics could be used as a complementary therapy for controlling high BP.CRD42022306560.

Various studies have proven that phytosterols and phytostanols (PS) are lipid-lowering agents. These compounds play a role in regulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) metabolism. Although various drugs are available and are currently used to treat dyslipidemia, the management of lipid abnormalities during the postmenopausal period remains a challenge. Thus, scientists are trying to develop new strategies to reduce serum lipids concentrations using natural products. However, the impact of PS administration on serum lipids in postmenopausal women remains unclear. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of PS supplementation on the lipid profile in postmenopausal women based on a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were searched to identify suitable papers published until January 18, 2022. We combined the effect sizes with the DerSimonian and Laird method using a random effects model. PS supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in TC (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -16.73 mg/dl) and LDL-C (WMD: -10.06 mg/dl) levels. No effect of PS supplementation on TG (WMD: -1.14 mg/dl) or HDL-C (WMD: -0.29 mg/dl) concentrations was detected. In the stratified analysis, there was a notable reduction in TC and LDL-C levels when the PS dose was ≥2 g/day (TC: -22.22 mg/dl and LDL-C: -10.14 mg/dl) and when PS were administered to participants with a body mass index ≥25 kg/m

The impact of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate administration on serum lipids in women is controversial as previously published studies have produced conflicting results. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effects of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate therapy on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in females.We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases for relevant trials published in English until 15 July 2021. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model (the DerSimonian and Laird methods).A total of 32 RCTs were included in the final analysis. Treatment with 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate significantly decreased LDL-C (WMD: -13.49 mg/dL, 95% CI: -16.46 to -10.52; P 0.001), HDL-C (WMD: -3.57 mg/dL, 95% CI: -5.56 to -1.58; P 0.001), TC (WMD: -19.33 mg/dL, 95% CI: -24.14 to -14.52; P 0.001), and TG (WMD: -10.86 mg/dL, 95% CI: -16.06 to -5.13; P 0.001) levels in females. The non-linear dose-response meta-analysis revealed a negative correlation between HDL-C levels and increased treatment periods (P ˂ 0.001).Evidence to date suggests that the administration of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate in females reduces LDL-C, HDL-C, TC, and TG concentrations. Future investigations should clarify whether the reduction in HDL-C following the administration of 17β-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate is clinically significant and poses any risks to the subjects who receive this treatment.

Abstract. Background: Studies have shown that vitamin E as an antioxidant protects omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) from oxidation. Several studies have evaluated the effect of omega-3 FAs and vitamin E co-supplementation on obesity indices; however, the results are inconsistent. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to address the role of omega-3 FAs plus vitamin E on obesity indices. Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched up to February 2022. Among all of the qualified studies, 10 articles were selected. The effect size was presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Fixed-effects model was employed to perform meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and publication bias assessment were carried out. Results: Ten eligible randomized controlled trials comprising 558 participants were included. The average dose of omega-3 FAs and vitamin E co-supplementation in studies was 1000–4000 mg/day and 400 IU, respectively. Intervention duration varied from 6 to 16 weeks. There was no significant effect of omega-3 and vitamin E co-supplementation on body weight (BW) (WMD=0.14 kg; 95% CI: −0.13 to 0.42; p=0.297), and body mass index (BMI) (WMD=0.08, 95% CI: −0.01 to 0.16, p=0.073). However, subgroup analysis showed that it might increase BMI in women over 50 years and if the intervention lasted more than 8 weeks. Conclusion: There was no significant impact of combined omega-3 FAs and vitamin E supplementation on BW and BMI; however, it should be noted that the intervention has an increasing impact when supplementation duration was >8 weeks and in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, >50 years old, and BMI>25.

Although several studies have indicated that consumption of probiotics is effective in the treatment of obesity, the results in this regard have yielded controversial findings. The current umbrella meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of probiotics supplementation on obesity indices in adults. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies published till November 2021. Meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effects model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed. In total, 29 meta-analyses with 14,366 participants, including 112, 78, and 38 unique trials for body mass index (BMI), body weight (BW), and waist circumference (WC), were included in the study, respectively. The findings demonstrated that the probiotics supplementation was significantly effective on decreasing of BMI (ES = -0.21; 95% CI: -0.30, -0.13, p 0.001; I

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is one of the antioxidant supplements which is thought to improve recovery. Existing studies regarding NAC and recovery presented conflicting results. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the existing trials and determined the efficacy of acute and chronic NAC administration on recovery biomarkers. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to July 2021. The random effects or fixed effects model was applied in the meta-analysis. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed. In case of the presence of publication bias, standard methods were applied. The meta-analysis comprised 37 papers (1,388 participants). All included studies were in English language. Acute NAC administration indicated no significant effects on lactate, pH, VO

The aims of this study were to compare the effect of 4 bracket systems including Alexander, Roth, MBT, and Gianelly on upper anterior retraction and to quantify the amount of torque loss ratio in sliding mechanics by help of a 3-dimensional (3D) finite element method. 3D FEM models were constructed in order to simulate anterior incisor retraction in first premolar extraction case. Displacement, stress, and strain on the incisal edge and apex of maxillary central incisor were calculated when 1-, 2-, and 3-N retraction forces were applied. Torque loss ratio was calculated by measuring the displacement of the teeth at crown tip and root apex in all 4 bracket systems on upper central incisor. Uncontrolled lingual crown tipping of the incisor was observed in all bracket systems. The crown moved lingually by 9.5 μm and the root labially by 4.5 μm in MBT system with 3-N retraction force. The amount of crown movement was 8 μm and the root displacement was 4 μm in Gianelly system with the same retraction force. Torque loss ratio was 1.46 in Alexander and Gianelly with 3-N retraction force. However, the amount of torque loss ratio was 1.47 in MBT and Roth with the same retraction force. Uncontrolled tipping was the least in Gianelly and was the highest in MBT. The amount of torque loss ratio was the lowest in Gianelly and Alexander systems and the amount of torque loss ratio was the highest in MBT system.