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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected all aspects of the patient's pathway to cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Our main objective was to evaluate the status of cancer trials in Ukraine as of September 2022. Methods: Initially, we examined with a narrative review the state of breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer population-based screening. Subsequently, we assessed each trial status for the years 2021 and 2022. Results: Estimates of participation in breast and cervical cancer screening are different from region to region. Moreover, regarding cervical cancer screening, extremely different participation estimates were reported: 73% in 2003 vs. <10% 2020. Our data show that from 2014 to 2020, despite the pandemic, cancer trials in Ukraine significantly increased from 27 to 44. In 2021 no trials were completed; in fact, we observed that out of 41 trials, 8 were active not recruiting, 33 were recruiting, and 0 were completed or terminated. In 2022 in Ukraine, for oncological pathologies, only 3 trials were registered, while in 2021, 41 trials were registered. The suspension of trials regarded above all concern hematological tissue (66.7%) and the genitourinary tract (60%). Conclusions: Our work has highlighted how the areas most affected by the conflict present criticalities in oncological care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Practical Oncology Journal is the property of Journal of Practical Oncology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

* Context.--A prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), a vital screening test for coagulation, can be due to deficiencies in coagulation factors and the existence of factor inhibitors or antiphospholipid antibodies. APTT mixing studies are being optimized to help find the cause. Objective.--To optimize APTT mixing studies, we evaluated existing standards and explored when and how to combine 1:1 and 4:1 mixing. Design.--Patients with a prolonged APTT but otherwise normal prothrombin time and thrombin time were enrolled in our hospital from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019. All samples were subjected to 1:1 mixing studies, while 134 were subjected to 4:1. Results.--A total of 251 samples were involved, including 116 with factor deficiencies, 75 with FVIII inhibitors, and 60 with antiphospholipid antibodies. A Rosner index less than 11% or an extended incubation time of more than 3 seconds was better than other existing standards in differentiating factor deficiencies from inhibitors and in differentiating time-dependent inhibitors from time-independent inhibitors, but the approach presented here improves upon those. For the best diagnostic accuracy, samples with a Rosner index between 5.0%and 9.1%need a 4:1 mixing study, while others need 1:1. A combination of Rosner index and percent-extended incubation time-P seemed to offer objective and effective criteria for interpreting the results. Conclusions.--APTT mixing studies had overall good sensitivity and specificity in differentiating factor deficiencies from inhibitors, or time-dependent from time-independent inhibitors. The combination of 1:1 and 4:1 mixing studies can improve the diagnostic ability compared with 1:1 alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature mortality is defined as death that occurs before the average age of death for a particular population. Although premature mortality is a public health problem globally, the literature indicates no bibliometric studies that have made a holistic evaluation of the publications on this issue. This study aims to explore the characteristics of the publications on premature mortality in terms of the number of publications, citations, countries, collaboration, and the author's productivity and to further identify the trending keyword and relevant research topics. All the articles related to premature mortality data were retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database using the search terms "premature death," "premature mortality," or "years of life loss." The retrieved articles were downloaded in a BibTeX format file. A Bibliometrix package from R software was used to perform bibliometric analyses. A total of 1060 original research articles and reviews have been published since 1971, with a total of 5499 contributing authors. The number of publications has increased substantially in the past decade. The annual percentage growth rate of publications is 5.08%. The United States is the leading country in this area of research with the highest number of publications (n = 280), the highest total citation (17,378), and the most activity in collaboration. Our thematic map suggests that the cluster for cardiovascular disease became the main research domain in this field, while the cluster for air pollution is an important topic for future research. Additionally, neurodegeneration is another cluster of research that should be developed further and connected with premature mortality. These bibliometric findings hopefully will help scholars better understand the global overview of premature mortality and provide information for potential collaborators, with the information promising attractive areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Practical Oncology Journal is the property of Journal of Practical Oncology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Active research in arthroscopy in all its domains has been transcending into evidence-backed clinical practice over years. A look-back at the research developments in arthroscopy using scientometry for the past thirty years will help the researchers identify what has been investigated so far, and what needs to be done in the future. Methods: We used the Web of Science—core collection database as the source for data retrieval. We used CiteSpace (5.7.R1) for scientometric and visualization analysis Visualization of the structure, regularity, and distribution of research domains in the arthroscopy was done with the analysis of the article co-citation data to mine the knowledge clustering and citation space distribution. We also analyzed the co-occurrence between the additional research units such as cooperation among authors, institutions, and countries in the field of arthroscopy. Results: We recovered 383 RCTs and 11,853 non-RCT articles in the field of arthroscopy from the global literature of 15,766 arthroscopy-related publications from 1990 to 2019. Research co-operation group with the top contribution to the arthroscopic literature was from BG Domb, MJ Philippon, and SJ Nho for non-RCT articles and Casati A, Pluta A, and Lund B for RCTs. Weaker collaboration exists among the institutions globally, but the network of domestic institutions seemed stronger in co-institution analysis. USA and England have been the pioneers in research particularly the RCTs. The current hotspots were around the outcome analysis, particularly in the knee and shoulder pathologies. In the hip the main area of focus was the Femoro-Acetabular Impingement (FAI). The other areas of arthroscopy remain relatively less explored. Conclusions: Research in arthroscopy is rapidly progressing. Poor international collaboration, the concentration of research only in certain areas of arthroscopy, and conduction of most RCTs only by certain institutes seem to be gross problems in arthroscopic research. Setting up of an International authoritative body for arthroscopic research is the way forward for arthroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The global burden of maternal mortality remains high and inequitably distributed between countries. Antenatal care (ANC) was identified as critical component in achieving the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health. This scoping review aimed to summarize trends and critically explore research about ANC attendance for East African women conducted during the Millennium Development Goals initiative, with a specific focus on barriers to ANC access. Methods: Using a scoping review methodology, aggregator databases were searched for relevant articles. Articles were screened by independent reviewers using a priori inclusion criteria. Eligible articles were retained for data charting and analysis. Results: Following screening, 211 articles were analyzed. The number of relevant articles increased over time; utilized primarily quantitative methods; and involved authors with affiliations from various African countries. Many interrelated physical, social, and cultural factors influenced women's seeking, reaching, and receiving of quality ANC. The extent of studies identified suggest that ANC is a priority research area, yet key gaps in the literature exist. Limited qualitative research, and few articles examining ANC experiences of women from vulnerable groups (e.g. adolescents, women with a disability, and Indigenous women) were identified. Discussion: These context-specific findings are important considering the Sustainable Development Goals aim to nearly triple the maternal mortality reductions by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, interventions should focus on improving the quality of ANC care and patient–provider interactions. Furthermore, additional qualitative research examining vulnerable populations of women and exploring the inclusion of men in ANC would help inform interventions intended to improve ANC attendance in East Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the intellectual landscape and emerging research trends of Chinese medicine (CM) in the management of pediatric asthma through a scientometric study. Methods: Publications related to CM in the management of pediatric asthma were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection using relevant keywords. A scientometric study was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Results: A total of 1,673 original articles and reviews from 1991 to 2019 were included in the analysis. The amount of annual publications had a gradual increase with time. USA was the major contributor both in country and institution analyses. Based on the co-citation, the published journals were grouped into 4 clusters. Keyword analysis indicated that the main hotspots were: (1) comprehensive management; (2) risk factors, mechanism, and prevalence; (3) prevention and treatment; (4) inflammation; and (5) environmental research. Lastly, we predicted that three emerging trends were quality of life promotion, immune response, and combination therapy. Conclusions: CM research in the management of pediatric asthma will maintain the current trend of steady growth. This scientometric analysis may help scientists to identify the areas of interests and future directions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hearing loss is a global public health problem with high prevalence and profound impacts on health. Cochlear implantation (CI) is a well-established evidence-based treatment for hearing loss; however, there are significant disparities in utilization, access, and clinical outcomes among different populations. While variations in CI outcomes are influenced by innate biological differences, a wide array of social, environmental, and economic factors significantly impact optimal outcomes. These differences in hearing health are rooted in inequities of health-related socioeconomic resources. To define disparities and advance equity in CI, there is a pressing need to understand and target these social factors that influence equitable outcomes, access, and utilization. These factors can be categorized according to the widely accepted framework of social determinants of health, which include the following domains: healthcare access/quality, education access/quality, social and community context, economic stability, and neighborhood and physical environment. This article defines these domains in the context of CI and examines the published research and the gaps in research of each of these domains. Further consideration is given to how these factors can influence equity in CI and how to incorporate this information in the evaluation and management of patients receiving cochlear implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2015, the National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), has experienced significant increases in funding for Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD). This analysis assesses the impact of these funds on expanding the AD/ADRD workforce. NIA administered 860 awards to 695 AD/ADRD R01 awardees during fiscal year 2015–2018. Twenty-nine percent of awardees were new or early-stage investigators, while 38% were new to the AD/ADRD research field (NTF). Among these NTFs, 59% were established investigators, that is, experts with NIH funding in another discipline but new to AD/ADRD research. Awards were further analyzed to determine the focus of their research based on International Alzheimer's Disease Research Portfolio (IADRP) categories. Forty-six percent were focused on Molecular Pathogenesis and Physiology. Other IADRP categories, including Diagnosis, Assessment, and Disease Monitoring and Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, represented 5%–15% of awards. Significantly, NTF investigators received 50%, 42%, and 70% of the total grants awarded in Population Studies, Dementia Care, and Brain Aging, respectively, suggesting that NTF investigators are filling research gaps. While these results suggest that enhanced funding is associated with recruitment of new talent, opportunities for further growth remain, particularly related to care, caregiving, and health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics of the 100 top-cited articles on scrub typhus (ST), and to assess the present research landscape and future research directions using bibliometric analysis. Methods: Web of Science was used to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the 100 top-cited articles on ST. The articles were analyzed by publication year, number of citations, document type, journals, keywords, institutions, country of origin, and authorship. Results: The top 100 articles on ST were published between 1945 to 2017. The number of citations ranges from 39 to 227 and the interquartile range was 35.5. The United States published the highest number (n = 21) of articles. Mahidol University was the most prolific institution in terms of articles (n =14). The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was the journal with the most articles (n =14), and Paris DH was the most productive author in terms of the Hirsh-index, which was 10 for that author. The study revealed a significant correlation between the total number of citations and the number of authors (r=0.668, p <0.001), number of institutions (r=0.692, p <0.001), number of years since publication (r=0.869, p <0.001), and number of countries involved (r=0.963, p <0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study provide landmarks in the publication and citation frequency of the most influential articles on ST. In addition, this study provides useful information for readers and health policy-makers in evaluating the literature on ST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bibliometric analyses are commonly used to measure the productivity of researchers or institutions but rarely used to assess the scientific contribution of national surveys/datasets. We applied bibliometric methods to quantify the contributions of the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) to the body of pediatric health-related research. We also examined dissemination to nonresearch audiences by analyzing media coverage of statistics and research produced from the surveys. We conducted a search of the Web of Science database to identify peer-reviewed articles related to the NSCH and NS-CSHCN published between 2002 and 2019. We summarized information about citation counts, publishing journals, key research areas, and institutions using the surveys. We used the Lexis Advance database Nexis to assess media coverage. The publication set included 716 NSCH/NS-CSHCN journal articles published between 2002 and June 2019. These publications have in turn been cited 22,449 times, including in 1614 review articles. Over 180 journals have published NSCH/NS-CSHCN articles, and the most commonly covered research areas are in pediatrics; public, environmental and occupational health; psychology; and health care sciences and services. Over 500 institutions have used NSCH/NS-CSHCN data to publish journal articles, and over 950 news media articles have cited statistics or research produced by the surveys. NSCH/NS-CSHCN data are widely used by government, academic, and media institutions. Bibliometric methods provide a systematic approach to quantify and describe the contributions to the scientific literature made possible with these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this review is to critically assess three decades (1989 to 2019) of breast cancer research in Yemen and to identify the gaps in, and need for, breast cancer research in Yemen. Methodology: A search was performed in Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar and Ovid to identify articles on breast cancer research in Yemen that were published in the last three decades. The articles were selected and reviewed by experts in this field, based on clinical relevance and future research implications. Results: This review comprised 19,031 participants, extracted from 27 articles that were included and analyzed. Breast cancer patients in Yemen were commonly diagnosed at an early age of 50 years or younger. Overall, awareness of breast cancer among Yemeni women was very poor. Some studies reported that a low rate of only 11%-17.4% of Yemeni women practiced breast screen examination. Only 1.6% of the Yemeni women had been screened by a mammogram test. The highest performed surgery was a modified radical mastectomy (N=211). The highest cases of breast cancer were reported in Hadramout (N=956) and the most common histological subtype was invasive ductal carcinoma (N=2695). Conclusions: Yemen is characterised by three decades of scattered, fragmented and poor quality breast cancer research. Therefore, there is a need to establish a breast cancer research center in Yemen to research all aspects of breast cancer in Yemen, and to build bridges for collaborations in breast cancer research globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is a life-threatening and highly heterogeneous malignancy. In the past decade, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been suggested to play a critical role in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer. In particular, as the "seed" of the cancer metastasis cascade, CTCs determine numerous biological behaviors, such as tumor invasion into adjacent tissues and migration to distant organs. Many studies have shown that CTCs are necessary in the processes of tumor progression, including tumorigenesis, invasion, metastasis, and colonization. Furthermore, CTCs express various biomarkers relevant to prostate cancer and thus can be applied clinically in noninvasive tests. Moreover, CTCs can serve as potential prognostic targets in prostate cancer due to their roles in regulating many processes associated with cancer metastasis. In this review, we discuss the isolation and detection of CTCs as predictive markers of prostate cancer, and we discuss their clinical application in the diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer and in monitoring the response to treatment and the prediction of metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 18 in every 100 000 people have experienced a ruptured Achilles tendon. Despite the prevalence of this condition, treatment options remain contested. Hypothesis/purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of spi-reporting practices that may exaggerate benefit or minimize harm--in abstracts of systematic reviews related to Achilles tendon repair. We also evaluated whether particular study characteristics were associated with spin. Study design: Cross-sectional. Methods: We developed a search strategy for Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid Embase for systematic reviews focused on Achilles tendon treatment. Following title and abstract screening of these search returns, these reviews were evaluated for spin (according to a previously developed classification scheme) and received AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews-2) appraisals by 2 investigators in a masked, duplicate manner. Study characteristics for each review were also extracted in duplicate. Results: Our systematic search returned 251 articles of which 43 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were eligible for data extraction. We found that 65.1% of included studies contained spin (28/43). Spin type 3 was the most common type, occurring in 53.5% (23/43) of abstracts. Spin types 5, 6, 1, and 4 occurred in 16.3% (7/43), 9.3% (4/43), 7% (3/43), and 5.3% (1/43), respectively. Spin types 2, 7, 8, and 9 did not occur. AMSTAR-2 appraised 32.6% (14/43) of the studies as "moderate" quality, 32.6% (14/43) as "low" quality, and 34.9% (15/43) as "critically low" quality. No systematic reviews were rated as "high" quality. There was no significant association between the presence of spin and the following study characteristics: intervention type, article discussing Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) adherence, journal recommending PRISMA adherence, funding sources, journal 5-year impact factor, year the review was received for publication, or AMSTAR-2 critical appraisals. Conclusion: Spin was present in abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses--covering Achilles tendon tear treatment. Steps should be taken to improve the reporting quality of abstracts on Achilles tendon treatment as well as other common orthopedic conditions. Clinical relevance: In order to avoid negative patient outcomes, articles should be free of spin within the abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a tissue-engineered surgical technique initially developed for articular cartilage repair of isolated chondral lesions of the knee. Third-generation techniques (ACI3) are now available that deliver autologous cultured chondrocytes into the defect using cell scaffolds. The successful outcomes of these techniques have some dependency on presurgical and postsurgical patient rehabilitation. Objectives: To determine if the standard of reporting for rehabilitation has improved in ACI3 studies; previous reviews in this field recommended describing the detail of this rehabilitation and patient compliance as integral elements. Evidence Acquisition: A computerized search was performed in March 2013. Criteria for inclusion were any studies that evaluated or described the process of ACI3 in the knee and subsequent rehabilitation. The modified Coleman Methodology Score (CMS) was used to rate the standard of reporting of rehabilitation and surgical procedures; review articles were also evaluated for quality using the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT). Mean scores, odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and Mann-Whitney U statistics were calculated. Evidence Synthesis: An improvement in mean CMS was seen compared with previous reviews, but rehabilitation reporting scores were lower than their surgical equivalent; significant association was seen between studies with rehabilitator involvement and high scores in the individual CMS rehabilitation element. Predominant SORT scores of 2A indicated medium strength of recommendation. Conclusions: The CMS provides a general overview of methodological quality, but a more specialized tool to report on the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the rehabilitation process would help raise the standards. It is recommended that rehabilitation therapists be included as key members of research teams and be involved in the design, implementation, and reporting of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of forensic DNA testing has led to the discovery of hundreds of cases of mistaken eyewitness identification in which innocent people were convicted. Although these discoveries of wrongful convictions from mistaken identification based on DNA testing have been a surprise and shock to the legal system and the public, psychological scientists have been less surprised. This is because psychological scientists were "blowing the whistle" on the eyewitness identification problem for decades prior to forensic DNA testing. Today, most law enforcement agencies in the United States have adopted reformed policies and procedures on eyewitness identification that are based on research by experimental social and cognitive psychologists. This article describes core aspects of this research and how the research has managed to have this impact on the U.S. legal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability and validity of clinical tests used to assess cervical function, muscle strength and endurance in adults with neck pain and its associated disorders (NAD). Systematic review and update of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000–2010 Task Force on NAD. We systematically searched five electronic databases. Eligible reliability and validity studies were critically appraised using the QAREL and QUADAS-2 tools, respectively. Validity studies were ranked according to the Sackett and Haynes classification to determine clinical utility. Early studies of novel tests provide preliminary evidence, and phase III/IV studies are necessary to confirm the validity of tests in clinical practice. We conducted a best evidence synthesis. We screened 7846 citations and critically appraised 28 articles. Eighteen low risk of bias articles provide preliminary evidence of reliability and validity (phase I/II) for the cranio-cervical flexion test and deep cervical extensor (DCE) test in patients with NAD. Only two clinical tests were found to be reliable and valid. Cranio-cervical flexion test and DCE test could assess cervical muscle strength in adults with NAD. However, the evidence is supported by only phase I and II validity studies from the Sackett and Haynes classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alcohol industry actors are known to be involved in scientific research. Despite concerns regarding bias, the extent of involvement and coverage of this research are unknown. Methods We aimed to investigate the extent and type of scientific research 1918–2019 which was supported by the alcohol industry, including alcohol companies themselves and other organizations, such as trade associations. We identified bibliographic records from the Web of Science suite of databases which have named alcohol companies or organizations in the fields relating to author affiliations and support declarations. We then ascertained trends in publications over time, type of support, funding, outlets (such as journal titles), subject areas covered (such as health) and named companies (such as Carlsberg) and organizations (such as Drinkaware). Results The analysis included 13 481 unique records, 11 014 (82%) were authored or funded by alcohol companies and 2488 (18%) were authored or funded by other organizations. The majority of the records (90%, 12 157/13 481) were journal publications. The most common subject areas covered by the publications were biology (5415/13 481, 40%), chemistry (3937/13 481, 29%) and health (3707/13 481, 27%). In line with general publishing trends, there has been an overall increase in research funded or supported by alcohol companies and organizations since records began. The main exception is the steady decline in company author affiliations, particularly in health-related topics since the mid-1990s. Conclusions Alcohol companies and related organizations are extensively involved in or supporting scientific research according to data in Web of Science. This does not, however, necessarily reflect the totality of scientific research produced by alcohol companies and related organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study space analysis of 44 published research studies examining the use of multiple interviews with child victims/witnesses. Study space analysis is a method of detecting gaps in the existing literature and thus determining whether ecologically valid situations that arise in practice have actually been addressed and studied. The use of this methodology is particularly useful for techniques which are being considered for changes in policy or practice, ensuring that the literature is sufficient to warrant change. Multiple or repeated interviewing has been argued by some authors to be ready for change. However, in the present study space analysis, it is concluded that despite a growing literature, there are still some key variables which require research examination prior to policy change. In particular, research is needed involving samples of children between 11 and 18 years old, participants with multiple needs and interviews regarding repeated events. Findings from the online supplementary material also identify the need for studies with longer delays between the event and the initial interview, more than two interviews of a child, phased multiple interviews and interviews conducted by professional interviewers. 'This article presents a study space analysis of 44 published research studies examining the use of multiple interviews with child victims/witnesses' Key Practitioner Messages: Some researchers suggest that interviewing a child more than once about an event can be beneficial for police investigations as it leads to additional accurate details.This study concludes that there are key variables yet to be studied under controlled conditions and thus more research is required before comprehensive policy change is recommended.Future research is required with adolescent participants, children with multiple needs and interviews about repeated events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the literature available in the past several years, this article presents recently reported associations between oral and systemic health, as well as mechanisms recently uncovered through which oral bacteria influences systemic conditions. Most studies on the oral-systemic connection focus on periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatuni, and Treponema denticola, being associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases. certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and respiratory diseases. A higher risk of mortality also is associated with periodontal disease. This article describes the mechanism of inflammation autoimmune triggers. A common thread among most of the studies reviewed is an oral or gut dysbiosis. Understanding the oral microbiome in health and disease and how to change its composition will become increasingly important in future therapies. Early detection of oral microbes can be achieved easily and accurately in the dental office through the use of salivary diagnostic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The rise of zoonotic diseases has become a global health issue around the world. The present study is aimed at assessing the global status and the trends in scrub typhus (ST) research. Methods. Publications related to ST studies from 1945 to 21st July 2020 were retrieved from the Scopus database. The search for the ST literature was conducted using the entry terms of the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) database. Full research articles and reviews were included in the analysis, and no limitation to the language was specified. Key bibliometric indicator analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, Bibliometrix (an R package), GraphPad Prism 5, and VOSviewer (version 1.6.6). Results. A total of 1567 publications were retrieved. The results revealed a significant increase in the number of ST publications over time. The documents received an average of 11.22 citations per document. Mahidol University in Thailand (258, 16.46%) was the most productive institution, while the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene published the most ST articles (88, 5.62%). Korea (195, 12.44%) was the most productive country, followed by India (178, 11.36%) and China (106, 6.76%). Richards AL was the most productive author with 36 articles. Conclusions. The study findings provide useful insights into the global efforts and works related to the progress of ST research, which can be used to identify future research areas, such as vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To sort out the literature related to conjunctival bacteria and summarize research hotspots and trends of this field. Materials and Methods. The relevant literature data from 1900 to 2019 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. After manual selection, each document record includes title, author, keywords, abstract, year, organization, and citation. We imported the downloaded data into CiteSpace V (version 5.5R2) to draw the knowledge map and conduct cooperative network analysis, discipline and journal analysis, cluster analysis, and burst keyword analysis. Results. After manual screening, there were 285 relevant papers published in the last 28 years (from 1991 to 2019), and the number is increasing year by year. The publications of conjunctival bacteria were dedicated by 1381 authors of 451 institutions in 56 countries/regions. The United States dominates this field (82 literatures), followed by Germany (23 literatures) and Japan (23 literatures). Overall, most cited papers were published with a focus on molecular biology, genetics, nursing, and toxicology. Most papers fall into the category of ophthalmology, veterinary sciences, and pharmacology and pharmacy. The only organized cluster is the "postantibiotic effect," and the top 5 keywords with the strongest citation bursts include "postoperative endophthalmiti(s)," "infectious keratoconjunctiviti(s)," "conjunctiviti(s)," "resistance," and "diversity". Conclusion. The global field of conjunctival bacteria has expanded in the last 28 years. The United States contributes most. However, there are little cooperation among authors and institutions. Overall, this bibliometric study organized one cluster, "postantibiotic effect", and identified the top 5 hotspots in conjunctival bacteria research: "postoperative endophthalmiti(s)," "infectious keratoconjunctiviti(s)," "conjunctiviti(s)," "resistance," and "diversity". Thus, further research focuses on these topics that may be more helpful to prevent ocular infection and improve prophylaxis strategies to bring a benefit to patients in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed methods research (MMR) has been adopted in a variety of disciplines, including health science, social studies, psychology, early childhood, and business. More recently, higher education researchers adopted this methodology, but with limited evaluation on the quality of published mixed methods research. To enhance researchers' understanding of using MMR, we developed a 4-dimension codebook and reviewed 14 recently published mixed methods research articles that were published in 3 top journals in higher education. We found that researchers used 3 effective strategies to approach integration: (a) using a mixed methods research question to guide the mixed methods (MM) design, (b) using effective mixed methods sampling strategies to collect different types of data for the purpose of integration, and (c) using mixing techniques to interpret results for optimal maximum integration. Apart from the 3 effective integration strategies, a few insufficiencies have been singled out: (a) infrequent use of MM terminologies in the article title, (b) limited familiarity with MM data mixing strategies, and (c) non-optimal reporting of MM results. At the end, we synthesized the useful integration strategies and developed a checklist for higher education researchers to design high-quality mixed methods research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The concept of health literacy is often used as "health competence", "health ability. It involves the skills and motivation of people to obtain and understand health information. To improve health understanding and assessment of health literacy, many instruments have been developed to measure health competences in different populations. Among them there is the multidimensional, comprehensive questionnaire HLS-EU-Q16, developed by the Consortium of European Countries. Aim. Review of health literacy studies using the European Health Competence Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16) based on literature analysis. Method. Thematic review, unsystematic literature covering the years 2010-2018. The number of 17 source items was analyzed by the authors. Results. The overall level of health literacy was higher in European research than in non-European research. Low levels of health literacy were found in the elderly and chronically ill, immigrants and prisoners, as well as people with low education. The analysis of the research shows that the limited health skills of the respondents are related to the deterioration of the functional state and cognitive skills in the elderly. The decisive determinant of the low level of health literacy among immigrants and prisoners is unemployment and low level of education. Adequate health education plays a key role in improving the social level of health awareness and contributes to the long-term health of the entire population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the research interest, capacity and culture in individuals, teams and health organisations across south‐western Victoria. Design: Cross‐sectional survey. Setting: Eight public health services in the south‐western region of Victoria. Participants: All staff were invited to participate. Intervention: Hospital staff survey. Main outcome measure: The Research Capacity and Culture tool. Results: The survey was completed by 776 staff including nurses, allied health staff and doctors. Half of the respondents were currently involved in research, while most wanted to be more involved. Respondents reported having moderate research skills and success at individual, team and organisation levels. Women and nurses reported having lower skills than comparable groups. Motivators for undertaking research were skill development (increased job satisfaction and brain stimulation) while the most commonly selected barriers were lack of time, other work taking priority and lack of funding. Conclusion: Health organisations in regional and rural Victoria could harness opportunities to enable staff participation in research by supporting identified strengths, addressing barriers and providing "permission" for staff to get involved in research. Efforts to improve research capacity among women and nurses could lead to the greatest overall improvement in organisations' research capacity and output—and translation of evidence into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposal of this paperwork is to analyze previous studies that associate the percutaneous induction of collagen in the treatment of stretch marks, as well as its methodology and efficiency. Through literature review we demonstrated several treatments currently used for stretch marks, their benefits and disadvantages. For this, the following data were considered into the paperwork: type of research, sample, age, needle size, interval between sessions, number of sessions, associations, percutaneous collagen induction instrument, stretch marks type and region, anesthetic use, type of stretch marks (based on color), intercurrences, phototype, ethnicity, gender, causes of stretch marks and conclusion. Percutaneous induction of collagen has been shown to be a promising technique for the treatment of white and red striations, since the studies reviewed showed an improvement in the quality and appearance of the skin after treatment. However, it has been noted that there is no consensus on the most effective and safe protocol. The information presented by the articles presented deficits and a low sample number. Some do not quote in their methodology all the parameters surveyed. Further research, with standardization of protocols need to be performed to potentiate the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) used as root-end filling with other materials in endodontic surgery to determine which modality offers more favorable outcomes. Method and Materials: A computerized literature search was performed in the Cochrane Library (1993-2009), MEDLINE (1993-2009), EMBASE (1993-2009), Science Citation Index (SCI) (1993-2009), Chinese Biomedicine Database (1993-2009), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (1993-2009) to collect randomized controlled trials and quasi-controlled trials comparing MTA with other materials or placebo. The Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan5 software was used for data analysis. Results: Five studies involving MTA and three other materials were included. No statistically significant difference was found in the clinical effectiveness of MTA and intermediate restorative material (IRM), with relative risk (RR) 0.62 and 95% CI 0.34 to 1.16. A statistically significant difference exists between MTA and amalgam in terms of outcome, with RR 0.35 and 95% CI 0.13 to 0.94. The difference between the gutta-percha and the MTA groups was statistically significant, with RR 0.08 and 95% CI 0.01 to 0.57. Conclusion: MTA as root-end filling is better than amalgam and purely gutta-percha but similar to IRM. There is a limited number of well-designed clinical trials within this research area. Further highquality, large-scale, and long-term follow-up randomized controlled trials are still required to confirm the long-term outcomes of MTA as root-end filling in endodontic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate concussion injury rates, the likelihood of sustaining concussion relative to the number of rugby union matches and the risk of subsequent injury following concussion.Methods: A four-season (2012/2013-2015/2016) prospective cohort study of injuries in professional level (club and international) rugby union. Incidence (injuries/1000 player-match-hours), severity (days lost per injury) and number of professional matches conferring a large risk of concussion were determined. The risk of injury following concussion was assessed using a survival model.Results: Concussion incidence increased from 7.9 (95% CI 5.1 to 11.7) to 21.5 injuries/1000 player-match-hours (95% CI 16.4 to 27.6) over the four seasons for combined club and international rugby union. Concussion severity was unchanged over time (median: 9 days). Players were at a greater risk of sustaining a concussion than not after an exposure of 25 matches (95% CI 19 to 32). Injury risk (any injury) was 38% greater (HR 1.38; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.56) following concussion than after a non-concussive injury. Injuries to the head and neck (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.70), upper limb (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.19 to 2.12), pelvic region (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.18 to 3.65) and the lower limb (HR 1.60; 95% CI 1.21 to 2.10) were more likely following concussion than after a non-concussive injury.Conclusion: Concussion incidence increased, while severity remained unchanged, during the 4 years of this study. Playing more than 25 matches in the 2015/2016 season meant that sustaining concussion was more likely than not sustaining concussion. The 38% greater injury risk after concussive injury (compared with non-concussive injury) suggests return to play protocols warrant investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health disparity populations are socially disadvantaged, and the multiple levels of discrimination they often experience mean that their characteristics and attributes differ from those of the mainstream. Programs and policies targeted at reducing health disparities or improving minority health must consider these differences. Despite the importance of evaluating health disparities research to produce high-quality data that can guide decision-making, it is not yet a customary practice. Although health disparities evaluations incorporate the same scientific methods as all evaluations, they have unique components such as population characteristics, sociocultural context, and the lack of health disparity common indicators and metrics that must be considered in every phase of the research. This article describes evaluation strategies grouped into 3 components: formative (needs assessments and process), design and methodology (multilevel designs used in real-world settings), and summative (outcomes, impacts, and cost). Each section will describe the standards for each component, discuss the unique health disparity aspects, and provide strategies from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Metrics and Measures Visioning Workshop (April 2016) to advance the evaluation of health disparities research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes information on the rate of injury among adolescents who participate in specific sports or recreational activities. Injury-related mortality is high among adolescents, accounting for over 75% of the deaths occurring among those between 15 and 19 years of age, with about 5% of these deaths attributed to sports injuries. Several difficulties were encountered in conducting this review. There was no standard definition for injury, resulting in widely diverse operational definitions. The underlying denominator and time period used to obtain rates also varied widely. In spite of these difficulties, several sports were identified as particularly dangerous due to the nature of the injury: football for males and gymnastics for females. Consistent injury definitions and larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these rates and to identify risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the potential of biomedical researches in Israel. The author reflects that output of scientific researches are mainly the results of resources and the scientific training or scientific tradition in the country. He outlines distinction between basic, applied, industrial and developmental research and sources of funds and grants. He mentions achievements of biomedical researches in Israel in the field of radiobiology. He suggests that scientists in a small country like Israel should engage in new fields in which the country has pioneered rather than join other prevailing and more popular fields of research.

Pairwise and network meta-analysis (NMA) are traditionally used retrospectively to assess existing evidence. However, the current evidence often undergoes several updates as new studies become available. In each update recommendations about the conclusiveness of the evidence and the need of future studies need to be made. In the context of prospective meta-analysis future studies are planned as part of the accumulation of the evidence. In this setting, multiple testing issues need to be taken into account when the meta-analysis results are interpreted. We extend ideas of sequential monitoring of meta-analysis to provide a methodological framework for updating NMAs. Based on the z-score for each network estimate (the ratio of effect size to its standard error) and the respective information gained after each study enters NMA we construct efficacy and futility stopping boundaries. A NMA treatment effect is considered conclusive when it crosses an appended stopping boundary. The methods are illustrated using a recently published NMA where we show that evidence about a particular comparison can become conclusive via indirect evidence even if no further trials address this comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities routinely employ research impact assessment mechanisms and tools for grant proposals, resource allocation decisions, and funding budget requests. These impact metrics are often displayed in interactive visualizations and dashboard displays. There is a growing trend for libraries to be cooperatively involved in the gathering and provision of research intelligence and impact data. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library has developed a system for generating research impact visualizations for research groups within the newly established Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Using the Elsevier Scopus database Applications Programming Interface, we have created a series of scripts to extract article, conference paper, and book chapter metadata and build supporting database tables. From the database, a dashboard visualization of scaled and clickable display bubbles and publication number labels is generated for each individual researcher. The interactive visualization can retrieve articles and papers published over the last five years, citation information (as cited by number) for each researcher, National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health grant matches, and a visualization of the coauthored papers for each author within the cohort. These activities enhance the role of the library in supporting knowledge management and scholarly communication and in fostering campus partnerships and collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methods to improve care, trust and communication are important in acute hospitals. Complex interventions aimed at improving care of patients approaching the end of life are increasingly common. While evaluating outcomes of complex interventions is essential, exploring healthcare professionals' perceptions is also required to understand how they are interpreted; this can inform training, education and implementation strategies to ensure fidelity and consistency in use. Aim: To explore healthcare professionals' perceptions of using a complex intervention (AMBER care bundle) to improve care for people approaching the end of life and their understandings of its purpose within clinical practice. Design: Qualitative study of healthcare professionals. Analysis informed by Medical Research Council guidance for process evaluations. Setting/participants: A total of 20 healthcare professionals (12 nursing and 8 medical) interviewed from three London tertiary National Health Service hospitals. Healthcare professionals recruited from palliative care, oncology, stroke, health and ageing, medicine, neurology and renal/endocrine services. Results: Three views emerged regarding the purpose of a complex intervention towards the end of life: labelling/categorising patients, tool to change care delivery and serving symbolic purpose indirectly affecting behaviours of individuals and teams. All impact upon potential utility of the intervention. Participants described the importance of training and education alongside implementation of the intervention. However, adequate exposure to the intervention was essential to witness its potential added value or embed it into practice. Conclusion: Understanding differing interpretations of complex interventions is essential. Consideration of ward composition, casemix and potential exposure to the intervention is critical for their successful implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of new global priorities, there is a growing need for high-quality evaluations of gender-integrated health programmes. This systematic review examined 99 peer-reviewed articles on evaluations of gender-integrated (accommodating and transformative) health programmes with regard to their theory of change (ToC), study design, gender integration in data collection, analysis, and gender measures used. Half of the evaluations explicitly described a ToC or conceptual framework (n = 50) that guided strategies for their interventions. Over half (61%) of the evaluations used quantitative methods exclusively; 11% used qualitative methods exclusively; and 28% used mixed methods. Qualitative methods were not commonly detailed. Evaluations of transformative interventions were less likely than those of accommodating interventions to employ randomised control trials. Two-thirds of the reviewed evaluations reported including at least one specific gender-related outcome (n = 18 accommodating,n = 44 transformative). To strengthen evaluations of gender-integrated programmes, we recommend use of ToCs, explicitly including gender in the ToC, use of gender-sensitive measures, mixed-method designs, in-depth descriptions of qualitative methods, and attention to gender-related factors in data collection logistics. We also recommend further research to develop valid and reliable gender measures that are globally relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Research evaluation is a systematic and objective process to measure relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of research activities, and peer review is one of the most important tools for assessing quality of research. The aim of this study was introducing research evaluation indicators based on peer reviewing. Methods: This study was implemented in 4 stages. A list of objective-oriented evaluation indicators were designed in 4 axes, including; governance and leadership, structure, knowledge production and research impact. Results: The top 10% medical sciences research centers (RCs) were evaluated based on peer review. Adequate equipment and laboratory instruments, high quality research publication and national or international cooperation were the main strengths in medical sciences RCs and the most important weaknesses included failure to adhere to strategic plans, parallel actions in similar fields, problems in manpower recruitment, knowledge translation & exchange (KTE) in service providers and policy makers' levels. Conclusion: Peer review evaluation can improve the quality of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of gastric injections of botulinum toxin-A (BTA) as primary treatment for obesity is not well known since results in literature are discrepant. Hence, we aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the available data to assess the real effect of BTA therapy. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, SCOPUS, EBSCO, LILACS, and BVS. We considered eligible only randomized controlled trials enrolling obese patients comparing BTA versus saline injections. Our initial search identified 8811 records. Six studies fulfilled eligibility criteria. After critical appraisal, two articles were excluded and we meta-analyzed the remainder. The mean difference for absolute weight loss and BMI reduction were 0.12 [CI 95%, − 1.14, 1.38] and − 0.06 [95% CI, − 0.92, 0.81], respectively. Therefore, we concluded that treatment of obesity with BTA is not effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) offer the potential to improve long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention after their complete bioresorption. Randomised trials have shown non-inferiority between BVS and metallic drug-eluting stents at 1 year in composite safety and effectiveness outcomes, although some increases in rates of target vessel-related myocardial infarction and device thrombosis were identified. Outcomes of BVS following the first year after implantation are unknown. We sought to ascertain whether BVS are as safe and effective as drug-eluting stents within 2 years after implantation and between 1 and 2 years.Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials in which patients were randomly assigned to everolimus-eluting Absorb BVS or metallic everolimus-eluting stents (EES) and followed up for at least 2 years. We searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane database, TCTMD, ClinicalTrials.gov, Clinical Trial Results, CardioSource, and abstracts and presentations from major cardiovascular meetings up to April 1, 2017, to identify relevant studies. The primary efficacy outcome measure was the device-oriented composite endpoint (cardiac mortality, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, or ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation) and the primary safety outcome measure was definite or probable device thrombosis. Individual patient data from the four ABSORB trials were used for landmark and subgroup analysis and multivariable modelling.Findings: We identified seven randomised trials in which 5583 patients were randomly assigned to Absorb BVS (n=3261) or metallic EES (n=2322) and followed up for 2 years. BVS had higher 2-year relative risks of the device-oriented composite endpoint than did EES (9·4% [304 of 3217] vs 7·4% [169 of 2299]; relative risk [RR] 1·29 [95% CI 1·08-1·56], p=0·0059). These differences were driven by increased rates of target vessel-related myocardial infarction (5·8% [187 of 3218] vs 3·2% [74 of 2299]; RR 1·68 [95% CI 1·29-2·19], p=0·0003) and ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation (5·3% [169 of 3217] vs 3·9% [90 of 2300]; 1·40 [1·09-1·80], p=0·0090) with BVS, with non-significant differences in cardiac mortality. The cumulative 2-year incidence of device thrombosis was higher with BVS than with EES (2·3% [73 of 3187] vs 0·7% [16 of 2281]; RR 3·35 [95% CI 1·96-5·72], p<0·0001). Landmark analysis between 1 and 2 years also showed higher rates of the device-oriented composite endpoint (3·3% [69 of 2100] vs 1·9% [23 of 1193]; RR 1·64 [95% CI 1·03-2·61], p=0·0376) and device thrombosis (0·5% [11 of 2085] vs none [0 of 1183], p<0·0001) in BVS-treated patients than in EES-treated patients.Interpretation: BVS was associated with increased rates of composite device-oriented adverse events and device thrombosis cumulatively at 2 years and between 1 and 2 years of follow-up compared with EES.Funding: Abbott Vascular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article evaluates the meaning of a summary estimate in a meta-analysis. Topics discussed include an example of a meta-analysis which compared the benefits and dangers of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in a clinical research and the need for readers to note whether and how researchers considered the design and validity of individual studies.

Background: In order to achieve success in future goals and activities, health research centers are required to identify their key success factors. Objective: This study aimed to extract and rank the factors affecting the success of research centers at one of the medical universities in Iran. Methods: This study is a mixed method (qualitative-quantitative) study, which was conducted between May to October in 2016. The study setting was 22 health research centers. In qualitative phase, we extracted the factors affecting the success in research centers through purposeful interviews with 10 experts of centers, and classified them into themes and sub-themes. In the quantitative phase, we prepared a questionnaire and scored and ranked the factors recognized by 54 of the study samples by Friedman test. Results: Nine themes and 42 sub-themes were identified. Themes included: strategic orientation, management, human capital, support, projects, infrastructure, communications and collaboration, paradigm and innovation and they were rated respectively as components of success in research centers. Among the 42 identified factors, 10 factors were ranked respectively as the key factors of success, and included: science and technology road map, strategic plan, evaluation indexes, committed human resources, scientific evaluation of members and centers, innovation in research and implementation, financial support, capable researchers, equipment infrastructure and teamwork. Conclusion: According to the results, the strategic orientation was the most important component in the success of research centers. Therefore, managers and authorities of research centers should pay more attention to strategic areas in future planning, including the science and technology road map and strategic plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Controversies persist regarding the effect of prokinetics for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). This study aimed to assess the comparative efficacy of prokinetic agents for the treatment of FD.Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of prokinetics for the treatment of FD were identified from core databases. Symptom response rates were extracted and analyzed using odds ratios (ORs). A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method in WinBUGS and NetMetaXL.Results: In total, 25 RCTs, which included 4473 patients with FD who were treated with 6 different prokinetics or placebo, were identified and analyzed. Metoclopramide showed the best surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probability (92.5%), followed by trimebutine (74.5%) and mosapride (63.3%). However, the therapeutic efficacy of metoclopramide was not significantly different from that of trimebutine (OR:1.32, 95% credible interval: 0.27-6.06), mosapride (OR: 1.99, 95% credible interval: 0.87-4.72), or domperidone (OR: 2.04, 95% credible interval: 0.92-4.60). Metoclopramide showed better efficacy than itopride (OR: 2.79, 95% credible interval: 1.29-6.21) and acotiamide (OR: 3.07, 95% credible interval: 1.43-6.75). Domperidone (SUCRA probability 62.9%) showed better efficacy than itopride (OR: 1.37, 95% credible interval: 1.07-1.77) and acotiamide (OR: 1.51, 95% credible interval: 1.04-2.18).Conclusions: Metoclopramide, trimebutine, mosapride, and domperidone showed better efficacy for the treatment of FD than itopride or acotiamide. Considering the adverse events related to metoclopramide or domperidone, the short-term use of these agents or the alternative use of trimebutine or mosapride could be recommended for the symptomatic relief of FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies demonstrating the negative impact of paediatric psoriasis on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are accumulating, but little is known about moderators of HRQOL. The objectives of this review were to summarize studies on HRQOL in paediatric psoriasis and to explore the potential moderating influences of demographic and clinical variables. Searches were conducted by 2 independent researchers in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus for papers published between 1995 (the date the first dermatology-specific HRQOL-instrument for children was introduced) and 2016. Eligible studies were required to report HRQOL data for children and/or adolescents with psoriasis (4-18 years) using validated HRQOL questionnaires. Seventeen eligible studies (number of patients = 1,185) were identified. Moderation analyses revealed that study samples with a higher percentage of girls were associated with better HRQOL (β = 0.19), while a higher mean age of onset (β = 0.83) and study quality (β = 0.28) were associated with lower HRQOL (all p<0.05). Several papers did not provide the information necessary for exploring between-study differences, thus the moderation analysis results should be interpreted with caution. In conclusion, children and adolescents with psoriasis experience moderate impairment of HRQOL. Certain demographic characteristics (e.g. sex) and clinical characteristics (e.g. age at onset) appear to moderate this impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficiency and safety of ureteroscopy lithotripsy (URSL) with holmium laser technology and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on ureteral calculi using systematic reviews. Methods: Randomized controlled trials and prospective controlled trials accorded with inclusion among PubMed Database, EmBase Database, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were collected. Review Manager 5.0 was adopted to estimate the effects of the results among selected articles. Forest plots, sensitivity analysis and bias analysis for the articles included were also conducted. Pooled estimate of risk ratios and standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% CIs were used as measures of effect sizes. Results: Finally 1,770 patients were included in the 14 studies, which eventually satisfied the eligibility criteria. The number of patients in URSL group and ESWL group were 885 and 885, respectively. The results of heterogeneity test suggested that complication events (RR 1.12 (95% CI 0.63-2.00), p = 0.70), hospital days (SMD = -0.08 (95% CI -1.14 to 0.98), p = 0.88) and efficiency quotient (RR 1.31 (95% CI 0.96-1.80), p = 0.09) were insignificantly different, while the stone-free rate (RR 1.15 (95% CI 1.06-1.26), p = 0.002) and operation time (SMD = -2.27 (95% CI -3.42 to -1.11), p = 0.0001) between ESWL and URSL were significantly different. Conclusion: Although both URSL and ESWL have its own advantages and drawbacks, URSL is relatively a more efficient and safe method to treat ureteric stones, since it has shorter operation time and a better stone-free rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early diagnosis and effective management are pivotal steps in preventing the transition from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease. Previous investigations indicated that some event-related potential (ERP) components in MCI are sensitive to cognitive decline. However, several comparative analyses of these components in MCI and healthy controls (HC) yielded inconsistent results.Objective: The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of ERP studies on MCI patients.Methods: We systematically searched on PubMed and Web of Science for MCI-related ERP studies published from April 1986 to August 2016. Standard mean difference estimates of all components were compared between MCI and HC.Results: Our study showed increased P50 amplitude at the Cz site; reduced N2pc amplitude and delayed P200 latency at the Cz site; N200 latency at the Cz and Pz sites, and P300 latency at the Cz and Pz sites in MCI patients compared to HC.Conclusions: In summary, our study indicated that some ERP components, such as P50 and N2pc amplitude, P200, N200, and P300 latency might be potential electrophysiological biomarkers for MCI diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Increased dietary potassium intake is thought to be associated with low blood pressure (BP). Whether potassium supplementation may be used as an antihypertensive agent is a question that should be answered. Objective: To assess the effect of oral potassium supplementation on blood pressure in patients with primary hypertension. Search methods: We searched Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials until October 2016. We also screened reference lists of articles and previous reviews. We applied no language restrictions. Selection criteria: We included randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials addressing the effect of potassium supplementation on primary hypertension for a minimum of 4 weeks. Data collection and analysis: We extracted data on systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) at the final follow-up. We explored the heterogeneity across studies using Cochran's test and I2 statistic and assessed the probability of publication bias using Begg's and Egger's tests. We reported the mean difference (MD) of SBP and DBP in a random-effects model. Results: We found a total of 9059 articles and included 23 trials with 1213 participants. Compared to placebo, potassium supplementation resulted in modest but significant reductions in both SBP (MD -4.25 mmHg; 95% CI: -5.96 to -2.53; I2 = 41%) and DBP (MD -2.53 mmHg; 95% CI: -4.05 to -1.02; I2 = 65%). According to the change-score analysis, based on 8 out of 23 trials, compared to baseline, the mean changes in SBP (MD -8.89 mmHg; 95% CI: -13.67 to -4.11) and DBP (MD -6.42 mmHg; 95% CI: -10.99 to -1.84) was significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that potassium supplementation is a safe medication with no important adverse effects that has a modest but significant impact BP and may be recommended as an adjuvant antihypertensive agent for patients with essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to clarify the association of IL-1RN variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and H. pylori infection. We performed a meta-analysis of studies retrieved by systematic searches of Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Data were analyzed with STATA 13.1 using pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 18 studies were included in our meta-analysis, and IL-1RN VNTR was found to be significantly associated with H. pylori infection in the comparisons of 22+2L vs. LL (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.02–1.33) and 2 allele vs. L allele (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.00–1.40). Stratified analyses on study designs and ethnicities were also conducted. IL-1RN VNTR was positively correlated with H. pylori infection in Asian subgroup and Hospital-Based subgroup (i.e., study samples obtained from hospital inpatients). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism might increase the risk of H. pylori infection, especially in Asians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews studies of the validity of commercially available business (CAB) data on food establishments (“the foodscape”), offering a meta-analysis of characteristics associated with CAB quality and a case study evaluating the performance of commonly-used validity indicators describing the foodscape. Existing validation studies report a broad range in CAB data quality, although most studies conclude that CAB quality is “moderate” to “substantial”. We conclude that current studies may underestimate the quality of CAB data. We recommend that future validation studies use density-adjusted and exposure measures to offer a more meaningful characterization of the relationship of data error with spatial exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two thousand fifteen has been a winning year for Drug Eluting Stents (DES). Increase in the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases treated by Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) has resulted to a high demand for second generation DES. This current analysis aimed to compare the different types of Stent Thrombosis (ST) associated with Zotarolimus Eluting Stents (ZES) versus Everolimus Eluting Stents (EES) at 1 year follow up.Methods: Electronic databases were searched for studies comparing ZES with EES. Different types of ST reported at 1 year follow up were considered as the primary endpoints in this analysis. Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were used as the statistical parameters and the pooled analyses were carried out by the RevMan 5 · 3 software.Results: A total number of 10,512 patients were included in this analysis. No significant difference in any definite ST, acute definite ST, subacute definite ST, and late definite ST were observed between ZES and EES, at 1 year follow up with OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 0.92 - 3.16; P = 0.09, OR: 3.44, 95% CI: 0.82 - 14.43; P = 0.09, OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.43 - 2.95; P = 0.80 and OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 0.83 - 6.85; P = 0.11 respectively. Moreover, any definite or probable ST and definite/probable/possible ST were also not significantly different with OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.89 - 2.17; P = 0.15 and OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.84 - 1.70; P = 0.33 respectively. In addition, any probable ST, acute probable ST, late probable ST and possible ST were also not significantly different at 1 year follow up with OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.60 - 2.05; P = 0.75, OR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.12 - 2.40; P = 0.41, OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 0.35 - 7.86; P = 0.52 and OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.64 - 1.82; P = 0.78 respectively.Conclusion: At 1 year follow up, ZES were not associated with significantly lower or higher definite and probable ST compared to EES. In addition, no significant difference was observed in acute, subacute and late definite or probable ST. However, further trials are recommended to assess the effects of these second-generation DES during the long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]