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Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Dec 2021It has been documented that individuals who hear auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) exhibit diminished capabilities in processing external speech. While functional...
It has been documented that individuals who hear auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) exhibit diminished capabilities in processing external speech. While functional neuroimaging studies have attempted to characterise the cortical regions and networks facilitating these deficits in a bid to understand AVH, considerable methodological heterogeneity has prevented a consensus being reached. The current systematic review investigated the neurobiological underpinnings of external speech processing deficits in voice-hearers in 38 studies published between January 1990 to June 2020. AVH-specific deviations in the activity and lateralisation of the temporal auditory regions were apparent when processing speech sounds, words and sentences. During active or affective listening tasks, functional connectivity changes arose within the language, limbic and default mode networks. However, poor study quality and lack of replicable results plague the field. A detailed list of recommendations has been provided to improve the quality of future research on this topic.
Topics: Auditory Perception; Functional Neuroimaging; Hallucinations; Humans; Language; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Speech
PubMed: 34517037
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.006 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023To prevent and/or control infectious diseases in animal and human health, an appropriate surveillance system based on suitable up-to-date epidemiological data is... (Review)
Review
To prevent and/or control infectious diseases in animal and human health, an appropriate surveillance system based on suitable up-to-date epidemiological data is required. The systematic review protocol was designed according to the PRISMA statement to look at the available data on infectious diseases of livestock in Cameroon from 2000-2020. Data were searched through online databases. Grey literature was comprised of dissertations and theses from veterinary higher education institutions in Cameroon. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. Based on disease prevalence, major infectious diseases of livestock in Cameroon were gastrointestinal parasitosis (57.4% in cattle, 67.2% in poultry, 88% in pigs), hemoparasites (21.6% in small ruminants, 19.7% in cattle), bovine pasteurellosis (55.5%), fowl salmonellosis (48.2%), small ruminant plague (39.7%), foot-and-mouth disease (34.5% in cattle), and African swine fever (18.9%). Furthermore, other important endemic zoonoses in the country included: Rift Valley fever (10.9% in cattle, 3.7% in small ruminants), brucellosis (7% in cattle, 8% in pigs), bovine tuberculosis (4.7% in cattle), hepatitis E virus (8.4% in pigs) and bovine leptospirosis (2.5%). Most of the retrieved research were carried out in the Adamawa, Northwest, and West regions of Cameroon. The evaluation of existing data as evidence, albeit publication-specific, is an important step towards the process of prioritizing animal diseases, including zoonoses.
PubMed: 37764884
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091076 -
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal 2016This systematic review was performed as a feasibility study for revamping the triage service of an emergency department (ED) in a district hospital. In view of the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
This systematic review was performed as a feasibility study for revamping the triage service of an emergency department (ED) in a district hospital. In view of the overcrowding problem that plagues EDs worldwide, we reviewed evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine whether ED team triage improves patient flow in comparison with single-nurse triage. We measured improvement in patient flow in terms of the reduction in length of stay (LOS) or wait time (WT) for all ED patients. Adopting the Cochrane methodology, we searched and evaluated data sources for RCTs comparing patients assessed by an ED triage team, with patients receiving single-nurse triage at the same site. The data extracted were independently reviewed by 2 authors for inclusion and quality assessment. As for risk of bias across studies, there was an overall assessment of every outcome across the included studies according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) criteria for RCTs. In total, 2,164 studies were identified and 2,106 were excluded on the basis of title/abstract, leaving 58 articles for full assessment. Four trials (all cluster RCTs) involving 14,772 patients (165 clusters) met the inclusion criteria. On the basis of our analysis, there was no statistically significant or clinically relevant reduction of LOS and WT for all patients in these studies. One study reported death as an outcome: Relative risk was 0.34 (95% CI [0.01, 8.24]), which suggested that team triage might reduce mortality. Overall, although we have found no conclusive evidence from RCTs to support the use of team triage for improving patient flow in the ED, the results need not deter nursing managers intending to introduce team triage for improving the morale of the triage nurse. However, they may need to consider economic and organizational factors, such as resource reallocation and staff receptiveness, in implementing the new practice.
Topics: Crowding; Emergency Nursing; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Patient Care Team; Triage
PubMed: 27482995
DOI: 10.1097/TME.0000000000000113 -
Journal of Transcultural Nursing :... Mar 2022The World Health Organization states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youngs, and racism has been proven to have detrimental effects on both...
INTRODUCTION
The World Health Organization states that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youngs, and racism has been proven to have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. These two plagues represent a public health priority, especially for susceptible minorities.
METHOD
This systematic review analyzed 23 studies from multiple database searches, to understand the relationship between racism and suicidality in young minority groups.
RESULTS
The review demonstrated the correlation between racism and suicidality with the consequent development of mental disorders. There is strong evidence that the main suicide risk factor is acculturation, interpreted as the assimilation of the dominant culture with the loss of values from one's cultural background.
DISCUSSION
Health care professionals should not underestimate the risk of suicidality associated with racism. Prevention is crucial and it should be implemented from a young age, in schools, through a joint intervention with children and their families, aiming toward integration without acculturation.
Topics: Acculturation; Child; Humans; Minority Groups; Racism; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide
PubMed: 34551644
DOI: 10.1177/10436596211046983 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Sep 2020Tick-borne diseases (TBDs), in particular Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), have been found to be expanding beyond their...
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs), in particular Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), have been found to be expanding beyond their traditional geographic locations in Kazakhstan, which led to increased awareness and concern against TBDs in recent years. The tick fauna of Kazakhstan includes more than 30 species of human-biting ixodid ticks, recognized as carriers of a number of dangerous infectious pathogens that cause CCHF, TBE, tularemia, tick-borne rickettsioses and Lyme borreliosis. This paper presents the current knowledge of the main vectors of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) occurring in Kazakhstan, as well as a review of recent studies of ticks performed with the use of molecular methods being currently developed and widely utilized by Kazakh epidemiologists.
Topics: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Biodiversity; Incidence; Ixodidae; Kazakhstan; Prevalence; Tick-Borne Diseases
PubMed: 32723625
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101498 -
PloS One 2020As the global epidemic continues to spread, countries have tapped effective drugs to treat new coronavirus pneumonia. The therapeutic effect of the traditional Chinese... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
As the global epidemic continues to spread, countries have tapped effective drugs to treat new coronavirus pneumonia. The therapeutic effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in this new coronary pneumonia epidemic has attracted attention from all walks of life, and relevant research reports continue to appear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of the clinical efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) (referred to as "new coronary pneumonia"), and evaluated the overall level of research quality.
METHODS
We searched seven databases and retrieved the Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CNKI), Vip Database (VIP), China Biomedicine (SinoMed), Wanfang Database and PubMed, Cochrane Central, EMBASE from October 2019 to May 2020 Literature references. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that tested the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine lotus clearing plague in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia. The authors extracted data and independently assessed quality. We used Stata15.1 software to analyze the data of randomized trials.
RESULTS
A total of 2 articles were identified, including 154 patients. All the participating patients were diagnosed with new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). The meta-analysis results showed that the disappearance rate of the main clinical symptoms of Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia was significantly higher than that of the control group [OR = 3.34, 95% CI (2.06, 5.44), P <0.001]; the disappearance rate of other clinical secondary symptoms is significantly higher than the control group [OR = 6.54, 95% CI (3.59, 11.90), P <0.001]. The duration of fever was significantly lower than that of the control group [OR = -1.04, 95% CI (-1.60, -0.49), P <0.001]. It is confirmed that the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen treatment improves the clinical effectiveness, and also has certain advantages in relieving cough and fever.
CONCLUSION
The treatment of new pneumonia with traditional Chinese medicine lotus clearing plague can be used as an effective therapy to improve the clinical symptoms of new coronary pneumonia. More rigorous design, multi-center, and prospective RCTs are necessary to further determine the effectiveness and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine lotus decoction in the treatment of new pneumonia.
Topics: COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Humans; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 32915877
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238828 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases May 2024Francisella tularensis, the bacterium that causes tularemia, has been a persistent and widespread pathogen in various regions of the world for centuries. Francisella... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Francisella tularensis, the bacterium that causes tularemia, has been a persistent and widespread pathogen in various regions of the world for centuries. Francisella tularensis can affect humans and various domestic and wild animals. The current study aimed to determine the epidemiological status of tularemia in countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
All included studies were identified through a systematic search of online databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE, through July 26, 2022, using keywords and suitable combinations. We focused on cross-sectional studies investigating the prevalence of F. tularensis. The weighted pooled prevalence was calculated using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
A total of 206 studies were identified, of which 20 were finally included in the analysis. The human seroprevalence of tularemia in WHO-EMRO countries was 6.2% (95% CI, 4.2 9.2). In the subgroup analysis, anti-F. tularensis antibodies were found in 6.92% and 5.5% of the high-risk individuals and Iran, respectively. The pooled prevalence of F. tularensis in environmental samples (water and soil) from the WHO-EMRO countries was 5.8% (9.4% by PCR and 0.5% by culture). In addition, 2.5% (95% CI, 0.2 0.22.7) of ticks in WHO-EMRO countries were positive for F. tularensis. The pooled prevalence of F. tularensis in rodents is 2.0% (1.1% by PCR and 3.7% by serology). In addition, 0.6% of domestic ruminants (0.4% by PCR and 2.4% by serology) were positive for F. tularensis in WHO-EMRO countries.
CONCLUSION
According to the results of the present study, tularemia is an endemic but neglected disease in the WHO-EMRO region. However, most studies on tularemia are limited to a few countries in this region. Studies on tularemia in human populations, reservoirs, and vectors have been conducted in all countries in the WHO-EMRO region to obtain more detailed information about the epidemiology of tularemia in these regions.
Topics: Tularemia; Humans; Animals; Francisella tularensis; Mediterranean Region; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; World Health Organization; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ticks
PubMed: 38728365
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012141 -
West African Journal of Medicine Mar 2024According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent global pandemic that plagues everyone. It makes therapy of infectious diseases...
INTRODUCTION
According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent global pandemic that plagues everyone. It makes therapy of infectious diseases more difficult and eventually increases morbidity and mortality.
AIM
The purpose of this work is to examine existing data on plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR), to assess the prevalence of PMQR genes in Enterobacterales, and to determine any knowledge gaps from sub-Saharan Africa.
METHODOLOGY
The Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) standard was followed when conducting this systematic review. The main internet databases examined for pertinent publications were PubMed, Google Scholar, and Ajol. A set of qualifying criteria were used to evaluate the qualified articles. Using the eligibility criteria, 56 full-text articles were chosen for screening.
RESULT
Thirty-two (32) articles with the majority originating from West and North Africa and only one article reporting a study carried out in Central Africa were selected for this review. Escherichia coli and Ciprofloxacin were the most reported Enterobacterales and Quinolone respectively. The PMQR genes include qnr (qnrA,qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, and qnrS), aac (6') Ib, aac (6') Ib-cr, oqxAB and qepA gene. The most prevalent PMQR gene is the aac (6') Ib-cr gene (32%) followed by qnrS (26%).
CONCLUSION
This study highlighted the requirement for an efficient antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in the continent and revealed a significant incidence of PMQR genes.
Topics: Humans; Fluoroquinolones; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Plasmids; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Africa
PubMed: 38788127
DOI: No ID Found -
Microbial Pathogenesis Jan 2023
PubMed: 36529587
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105949 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Sep 2020Mixed tumors of the colon and rectum, composed of a combination of epithelial and endocrine elements of benign and malignant potential are rare neoplasms. These can...
BACKGROUND
Mixed tumors of the colon and rectum, composed of a combination of epithelial and endocrine elements of benign and malignant potential are rare neoplasms. These can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract and are often diagnosed incidentally. Though they have been a well-documented entity in the pancreas, where the exocrine-endocrine mixed tumors have been known for a while, recognition and accurate diagnosis of these tumors in the colon and rectum, to date, remains a challenge. This is further compounded by the different terminologies that have been attributed to these lesions over the years adding to increased confusion and misclassification. Therefore, dedicated literature reviews of these lesions in the colon and rectum are inconsistent and are predominantly limited to case reports and case series of limited case numbers. Though, most of these tumors are high grade and of advanced stage, intermediate and low grade lesions of these mixed tumors are also increasingly been reported. There are no established independent consensus based guidelines for the therapeutic patient management of these unique lesions.
AIM
To provide a comprehensive targeted literature review of these complex mixed tumors in the colon and rectum that chronicles the evolution over time with summarization of historical perspectives of terminology and to further our understanding regarding their pathogenesis including genomic landscape, clinicoradiological features, pathology, treatment, prognosis, the current status of the management of the primary lesions, their recurrences and metastases.
METHODS
A comprehensive review of the published English literature was conducted using the search engines PubMed, MEDLINE and GOOGLE scholar. The following search terms ["mixed tumors colon" OR mixed endocrine/neuroendocrine tumor/neoplasm/lesion colon OR adenocarcinoma and endocrine/neuroendocrine tumor colon OR mixed adenocarcinoma and endocrine/neuroendocrine carcinoma colon OR Amphicrine tumors OR Collision tumors] were used. Eligibility criteria were defined and all potential relevant items, including full articles and/or abstracts were independently reviewed, assessed and agreed upon items were selected for in-depth analysis.
RESULTS
In total 237 full articles/abstracts documents were considered for eligibility of which 45 articles were illegible resulting in a total of 192 articles that were assessed for eligibility of which 139 have been selected for reference in this current review. This seminal manuscript is a one stop article that provides a detailed outlook on the evolution over time with summarization of historical perspectives, nomenclature, clinicoradiological features, pathology, treatment, prognosis and the current status of the management of both the primary lesions, their recurrences and metastases. Gaps in knowledge have also been identified and discussed. An important outcome of this manuscript is the justified proposal for a new, simple, clinically relevant, non-ambiguous terminology for these lesions to be referred to as mixed epithelial endocrine neoplasms (MEENs).
CONCLUSION
MEEN of the colon and rectum are poorly understood rare entities that encompass an extensive range of heterogeneous tumors with a wide variety of combinations leading to tumors of high, intermediate or low grade malignant potential. This proposed new revised terminology of MEEN will solve the biggest hurdle of confusion and misclassification that plagues these rare unique colorectal neoplasms thus facilitating the future design of multi institutional prospective randomized controlled clinical trials to develop and evaluate newer therapeutic strategies that are recommended for continued improved understanding and personal optimization of clinical management of these unique colorectal neoplasms.
Topics: Colon; Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Rectum
PubMed: 32982118
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i34.5181