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International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2023sp. are the most commonly associated pathogens in infective endocarditis, especially within high-income nations. This along with the increasing burden of healthcare,... (Review)
Review
sp. are the most commonly associated pathogens in infective endocarditis, especially within high-income nations. This along with the increasing burden of healthcare, aging populations, and the protracted infection courses, contribute to a significant challenge for healthcare systems. A systematic review was conducted using relevant search criteria from PubMed, Ovid's version of MEDLINE, and EMBASE, and data were tabulated from randomized controlled trials (RCT), observational cohort studies, meta-analysis, and basic research articles. The review was registered with the OSF register of systematic reviews and followed the PRISMA reporting guidelines. Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final systematic review. The role of and its interaction with the protective shield and host protection functions was identified and highlighted in several studies. The interaction between infective endocarditis pathogens, vascular endothelium, and blood constituents was also explored, giving rise to the potential use of antiplatelets as preventative and/or curative agents. Several factors allow infections to proliferate within the host with numerous promoting and perpetuating agents. The complex interaction with the hosts' innate immunity also potentiates its virulence. The goal of this study is to attain a better understanding on the molecular pathways involved in infective endocarditis supported by and whether therapeutic avenues for the prevention and treatment of IE can be obtained. The use of antibiotic-treated allogeneic tissues have marked antibacterial action, thereby becoming the ideal substitute in native and prosthetic valvular infections. However, the development of effective vaccines against still requires in-depth studies.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus
PubMed: 37446247
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311068 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jul 2022Vulnerable locations, such as coastlines, are at a high risk of loss and damage. Such places will suffer deleterious impacts as climate change impacts are increasingly... (Review)
Review
Vulnerable locations, such as coastlines, are at a high risk of loss and damage. Such places will suffer deleterious impacts as climate change impacts are increasingly realized. As societies try to adapt to these impacts, managed or planned retreat-aimed at moving people and assets away from vulnerable locations-is gaining increased attention. Despite this increased attention, systematic literature reviews of the retreat literature remain scarce. This paper undertakes such review and uncovers a marked increase in retreat scholarly research papers in the past 5 years. An analysis of 135 managed and planned retreat journal articles is completed. Findings include a strong emphasis on regional or local case studies exploring governance, policy or institutional settings and levers across a range of geographies. Property rights and market interventions, such as compensation schemes, evidence the prevalence of neoliberal predilections. This emphasizes the importance of renewed engagement with political economy scholarship vis-à-vis climate change adaptation, also supported by the sharp increase in the evidenced social and environmental justice impacts. This article is part of the theme issue 'Nurturing resilient marine ecosystems'.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Climate Change; Ecosystem; Humans
PubMed: 35574844
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0129 -
Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie,... Dec 2023Lipoedema is a symmetrically localised, painful hypertrophy of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the extremities with marked disproportion to the trunk, and almost...
BACKGROUND
Lipoedema is a symmetrically localised, painful hypertrophy of subcutaneous adipose tissue in the extremities with marked disproportion to the trunk, and almost exclusively affects females. Despite being first described over 80 years ago, the aetiology and pathogenesis of the disease are largely unknown and are currently the subject of intensive research efforts.
METHODS
To summarise the current evidence-based literature on the cellular pathologies and aetiology of lipoedema, a PRISMA-based systematic review was conducted within the National Library of Medicine and Cochrane databases.
RESULTS
A total of 53 studies were identified and included in this review. The results were classified and summarised into categories.
CONCLUSION
Although there has been a significant increase in research activity and recent publication of extensive studies with a histological and molecular genetic focus, the fundamental aetiology and pathology of lipoedema remains largely unclear. The current data shows discrepancies across studies, particularly with regard to the "oedematous" component of lipoedema. The frequently present comorbidities "lymphoedema" and "obesity", primarily in advanced stages of lipoedema, complicate the diagnostic differentiation and clear definition of study cohorts in scientific research.
Topics: United States; Female; Humans; Lipedema; Lymphedema; Obesity; Extremities; Pain
PubMed: 37984363
DOI: 10.1055/a-2183-7414 -
Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology &... Oct 2016We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between mumps and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Literature searches were conducted using... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between mumps and risk of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Literature searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science including studies published before February 2014. Crude and, where available, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted from the published reports of each included study. Combined OR estimates and tests of heterogeneity were obtained using meta-analysis techniques. The analysis was repeated in subgroups of studies on the basis of quality defined by the score on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). In total, 18 articles met the eligibility criteria, and overall there was some evidence of a weak association between clinically diagnosed mumps and T1DM (OR=1.23, 95% CI 1.00-1.51; p=0.05) but marked heterogeneity between studies (I2=49%; p for heterogeneity=0.01). Restricting analyses to 13 high quality studies, there was little evidence of association between clinically diagnosed mumps and T1DM (OR=1.11, 95% CI 0.91-1.35; p=0.29) and there was much less heterogeneity (I2=26%; p for heterogeneity=0.18). Overall there was little evidence of any strong association between mumps infection and T1DM.
Topics: Child; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Humans; Mumps; Risk Factors
PubMed: 27658134
DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2016-0148 -
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aug 2023Extreme transaminase elevation > 1000 international units per liter (IU/L) is typically caused by hepatocellular injury due to ischemia, drugs, or viral infection.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Extreme transaminase elevation > 1000 international units per liter (IU/L) is typically caused by hepatocellular injury due to ischemia, drugs, or viral infection. Acute choledocholithiasis can also present with marked transaminase elevation mimicking severe hepatocellular injury, contrary to the presumed cholestatic pattern.
METHODS
We searched PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies reporting the proportion of marked elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 1000 IU/L in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones. A proportion meta-analysis with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to pool the proportion of patients with extreme transaminase elevation. I was used to examine heterogeneity. We used CMA software utilizing a random effect model for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
Three studies (n = 1328 patients) were included in our analysis. The reported frequency of ALT or AST > 1000 IU/L in choledocholithiasis patients ranged between 6 and 9.6%, with pooled frequency of 7.8% (95% CI 5.5-10.8%, I 61%). The frequency of patients with ALT or AST > 500 IU/L was higher, ranging between 28 and 47%, with pooled frequency of 33.1% (95% CI 25.3-42%, I 88%).
CONCLUSION
This is the first meta-analysis to study prevalence of severe hepatocellular injury in patients with CBD stones. Results revealed that approximately one-third of patients with choledocholithiasis present with ALT or AST > 500 IU/L. Furthermore, levels > 1000 IU/L are not uncommon. An elaborate work-up for alternative etiologies of severe transaminase elevation is likely unwarranted in cases with clear evidence of choledocholithiasis.
Topics: Humans; Choledocholithiasis; Liver Function Tests; Alanine Transaminase; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Gallstones
PubMed: 37269372
DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-07981-7 -
Sleep Medicine Reviews Feb 2024Insomnia disorder signifies a major public health concern. The development of neuroimaging techniques has permitted to investigate brain mechanisms at a structural and... (Review)
Review
Insomnia disorder signifies a major public health concern. The development of neuroimaging techniques has permitted to investigate brain mechanisms at a structural and functional level. The present systematic review aims at shedding light on functional, structural, and metabolic substrates of insomnia disorder by integrating the available published neuroimaging data. The databases PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched for case-control studies comparing neuroimaging data from insomnia patients and healthy controls. 85 articles were judged as eligible. For every observed finding of each study, the effect size was calculated from standardised mean differences, statistic parameters and figures, showing a marked heterogeneity that precluded a comprehensive quantitative analysis. From a qualitative point of view, considering the findings of significant group differences in the reported regions across the articles, this review highlights the major involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex, thalamus, insula, precuneus and middle frontal gyrus, thus supporting some central themes in the debate on the neurobiology of and offering interesting insights into the psychophysiology of sleep in this disorder.
Topics: Humans; Brain; Gyrus Cinguli; Neuroimaging; Sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
PubMed: 38056381
DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101878 -
Reproductive Biomedicine Online Jan 2017Alcohol consumption is widespread in the Western world. Some studies have suggested a negative association between alcohol intake and semen quality although others have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Alcohol consumption is widespread in the Western world. Some studies have suggested a negative association between alcohol intake and semen quality although others have not confirmed this. MEDLINE and Embase were searched using 'alcohol intake' OR 'alcohol consumption' OR 'alcohol drinking' OR 'lifestyle' combined with 'semen quality' OR 'sperm quality' OR 'sperm volume' OR 'sperm concentration' OR 'sperm motility' for full-length observational articles, published in English. Reference lists of retrieved articles were searched for other pertinent studies. Main outcome measures were sperm parameters, if provided as means (standard deviation or standard error) or as medians (interquartile range). Fifteen cross-sectional studies were included, with 16,395 men enrolled. Main results showed that alcohol intake has a detrimental effect on semen volume (pooled estimate for no/low alcohol consumption 0.25 ml, 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.42) and normal morphology (1.87%, 95% CI, 0.86 to 2.88%). The difference was more marked when comparing occasional versus daily consumers, rather than never versus occasional, suggesting a moderate consumption did not adversely affect semen parameters. Hence, studies evaluating the effect of changes on semen parameters on the reproductive outcomes are needed in advance of providing recommendations regarding alcohol intake other than the advice to avoid heavy alcohol drinking.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infertility, Male; Life Style; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Risk Factors; Semen; Semen Analysis; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 28029592
DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2016.09.012 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021Sleep is a biological process that impacts nearly every domain of a child's life. Sleep-wake regulation influences and it is highly influenced by developmental variables... (Review)
Review
Sleep is a biological process that impacts nearly every domain of a child's life. Sleep-wake regulation influences and it is highly influenced by developmental variables related to parent-child relationships, such as attachment. The main goal of the present systematic review is to analyze and integrate the findings of empirical studies investigating the relations between attachment and sleep in preschool age, a period marked by important developmental changes that challenge both attachment system and sleep-wake regulation. A database search was performed using a combination of relevant keywords, leading to the identification of 524 articles, with 19 manuscripts assessed for eligibility; finally, seven studies (2344 children) were included. Overall, the findings were not consistent, with some studies reporting significant associations between attachment security and sleep quality, as well as between attachment insecurity and sleep problems, whereas others did not find significant associations. The results are discussed in light of the available theoretical models and integrated in the context of measurement approaches to attachment and sleep heterogeneity, aiming to guide future research on the topic.
PubMed: 34682160
DOI: 10.3390/children8100895 -
The Surgeon : Journal of the Royal... Oct 2022The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate rates of ulcer healing following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate rates of ulcer healing following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS).
METHODS
The MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Embase databases were used to search for relevant studies using the terms ' (sclerotherapy AND ulcer) OR (vein AND ulcer) OR (sclerotherapy AND vein)'. Heterogeneity between studies was quantified using the I statistic. A random effects model was used to calculate risk ratios where substantial heterogeneity was found.
RESULTS
The initial search yielded 8266 articles. 8 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and 3 in the meta-analysis. Superior complete ulcer healing rates were noted in patients treated with foam sclerotherapy versus compression therapy alone (pooled OR 6.41, 95% CI = 0.3-148.2, p = 0.246, random effects method). A marked degree of heterogeneity was observed between studies (I = 81%).
CONCLUSION
A prospective, trial is warranted in order to determine the true merits of UGFS in the setting of venous ulceration.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Saphenous Vein; Sclerotherapy; Treatment Outcome; Ulcer; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Varicose Ulcer; Varicose Veins
PubMed: 34629303
DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2021.08.008 -
Pathology, Research and Practice Dec 2022In the last two decades, there has been marked development in virtual slide technology as well as its application in various subspecialties of pathology. In particular,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
In the last two decades, there has been marked development in virtual slide technology as well as its application in various subspecialties of pathology. In particular, there have been several studies examining the utility of whole slide imaging (WSI) in breast and gynecological pathology. The aim of this systematic review is to analyse published evidence regarding validation studies of WSI applied specifically to the female genital tract and breast pathology.
METHODS
A systematic search was carried out in Pubmed and Embase databases and studies dealing with the validation of a WSI system for breast and gynaecological pathology. The topics evaluated concerned expertise of engaged pathologists, varied specimens, scanners, washout period, experience viewing WSI, and diagnostic concordance of WSI to traditional light microscopic diagnoses.
RESULTS
Of 1467 publications retrieved, 23 studies were included. Most of these studies concerned breast pathology. Validation guidelines recommended by the College of American Pathologists pertaining to a dataset of at least 60 cases, washout period, and recording intra-observer variability were followed by most studies. Major challenges encountered with WSI included difficulty identifying high-grade nuclear atypia and mitotic count for borderline ovarian tumors, interpretation of squamous intraepithelial lesions in liquid-based cervical cytology, and grading breast cancer.
DISCUSSION
Published data demonstrates the value of utilizing WSI in breast and gynecological pathology. Key issues reported with WSI systems were problems related to focus, resolution and the contrast and brightness of immunohistochemical staining patterns. Grading breast cancer and mitotic count remained challenging in WSI as in conventional microscopy.
Topics: Humans; Female; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Microscopy; Breast; Observer Variation; Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 36356336
DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154191