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The article focuses on perinatal depression in Anhui, China, highlighting the need for a screening and management program to address high rates of depression among women. It commentary discusses the potential of digital health technologies, emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptation in psychological interventions.

Objective: Allostatic load refers to cumulative neuroendocrine burden and has been postulated to mediate and moderate physiological and psychological stress-related responses. This may have important implications for the risk of pretermbirth. This systematic reviewexamines the evidence on the association between prenatal allostatic load and preterm birth. Data sources: A comprehensive search of seven electronic databases was conducted from inception to August 23, 2022 to identify all English-language observational and mixed methods studies examining allostatic load and preterm birth with no year or geographic restrictions. Study eligibility criteria: Studies were included if they measured allostatic load, evaluated as the cumulative effect of any combination of more than one allostatic load biomarker, during pregnancy. Studies must have observed pretermbirth, defined as <37 weeks' gestational age, as a primary or secondary outcome of interest. Study appraisal and synthesismethods: The Quality In Prognosis Studies tool was used to evaluate risk of bias within included studies. A narrative synthesis was conducted to explore potential associations between allostatic load and preterm birth, and sources of heterogeneity. Results: Three prospective cohort studies were identified and revealed mixed evidence for an association between allostatic load and preterm birth. One study reported a statistically significant association while the other two studies reported little to no evidence for an association. Heterogeneity in when and how allostatic load was measured, limitations in study design and cohort socio-demographics may have contributed to the mixed evidence. Conclusions: This review provides insight into key individual-, community-, and study-level characteristics that may influence the association between allostatic load and preterm birth. Knowledge gaps are identified as foci for future research, including heterogeneity in allostatic load biomarkers and allostatic load index algorithms as well as pregnancy-specific considerations for allostatic load measurement. Further investigation of the allostatic load framework in the context of perinatal mental health is needed to advance understandings of maternal, infant, and child health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Worldwide disparities in surgical capacity are a significant contributor to health inequalities. Safe surgery and infection prevention and control depend on effective sterile processing (SP) of surgical instruments; however, little is known about SP in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where surgical site infection is a major cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Aim: To appraise and synthesise available evidence on SP in LMICs. Methods: An integrative review of research literature was conducted on SP in LMICs published between 2010 and 2020. Studies were appraised and synthesised to identify challenges and opportunities in practice and research. Results: Eighteen papers met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. Challenges to advancing SP include limited available evidence, resource constraints and policy-practice gaps. Opportunities for advancing SP include tailored education and mentoring initiatives, emerging partnerships and networks that advance implementation guidelines and promote best practices, identifying innovative approaches to resource constraints, and designing and executing quality assurance and surveillance programmes. Discussion: Research investigating safe surgery, including SP, in LMICs is increasing. Further research and evidence are needed to confirm the generalisability of study findings and effectiveness of strategies to improve SP practice in LMICs. This review will help researchers and stakeholders identify opportunities to contribute. The burdens of unsafe surgery transcend geopolitical borders, and the global surgery and research communities are called upon to negotiate historical and present-day inequities to achieve safe surgery for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]