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Biomedicines Aug 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis examines how pulmonary rehabilitation impacts in patients suffering from subacute and long COVID-19 infections, gauging... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines how pulmonary rehabilitation impacts in patients suffering from subacute and long COVID-19 infections, gauging enhancements in of dyspnea, physical function, quality of life, psychological state (anxiety and depression), and fatigue.
METHODS
Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were systematically searched for full-text articles published from inception to January 2023. Randomized, quasi-experimental, and observational studies were included, with adults diagnosed with subacute or long COVID-19 who received pulmonary rehabilitation as intervention. Outcomes related to dyspnea, physical function, quality of life, fatigue, and psychological status were included. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Controlled Trials and Risk of bias in non-randomized studies of intervention. The review was registered before starting in PROSPERO (CRD: 42022373075).
RESULTS
Thirty-four studies were included, involving 1970 patients with subacute and long COVID-19. The meta-analysis demonstrated moderate to large effects on dyspnea, physical function, quality of life, and depressive symptoms compared to usual care intervention. No significant differences were found in fatigue compared to usual care, nor in anxiety levels after pulmonary rehabilitation intervention.
CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary rehabilitation has the potential to improve health outcomes in patients with subacute and long COVID-19. However, due to the high risk of bias of included studies, conclusions should be taken with caution.
PubMed: 37626710
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082213 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023The aim of this systematic review is to assess the relationship between patient empowerment and other empowerment-related constructs, and affective symptoms and quality... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The relationship between patient empowerment and related constructs, affective symptoms and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this systematic review is to assess the relationship between patient empowerment and other empowerment-related constructs, and affective symptoms and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was conducted, according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies addressing adult patients with type 2 diabetes and reporting the association between empowerment-related constructs and subjective measures of anxiety, depression and distress, as well as self-reported quality of life were included. The following electronic databases were consulted from inception to July 2022: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. The methodological quality of the included studies was analyzed using validated tools adapted to each study design. Meta-analyses of correlations were performed using an inverse variance restricted maximum likelihood random-effects.
RESULTS
The initial search yielded 2463 references and seventy-one studies were finally included. We found a weak-to-moderate inverse association between patient empowerment-related constructs and both anxiety ( = -0.22) and depression ( = -0.29). Moreover, empowerment-related constructs were moderately negatively correlated with distress ( = -0.31) and moderately positively correlated with general quality of life ( = 0.32). Small associations between empowerment-related constructs and both mental ( = 0.23) and physical quality of life ( = 0.13) were also reported.
DISCUSSION
This evidence is mostly from cross-sectional studies. High-quality prospective studies are needed not only to better understand the role of patient empowerment but to assess causal associations. The results of the study highlight the importance of patient empowerment and other empowerment-related constructs such as self-efficacy or perceived control in diabetes care. Thus, they should be considered in the design, development and implementation of effective interventions and policies aimed at improving psychosocial outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020192429, identifier CRD42020192429.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Quality of Life; Affective Symptoms; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Patient Participation; Cross-Sectional Studies
PubMed: 37139389
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1118324 -
Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal... Aug 2023Midlife obesity and late-life weight loss confer a greater risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Midlife obesity and late-life weight loss confer a greater risk for developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are currently unknown. The answer could lie on the involvement of gastrointestinal factors, such as adipokines (e.g., leptin, adiponectin, and resistin) and ghrelin. In this context, we conducted a pre-registered systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 cross-sectional and 13 longitudinal studies targeting the associations between leptin, adiponectin, resistin, and ghrelin and the prevalence of general dementia, AD, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We also examined the relationship between the four gastrointestinal factors and neurocognitive outcomes and AD-related cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. Patients with AD had lower blood leptin and higher resistin levels than cognitively normal participants. Lower leptin and higher resistin were associated with higher degree of cognitive impairment. Additionally, lower late-life leptin levels might be associated with higher prospective risk of dementia and AD, although more studies are needed to corroborate this. Results in ghrelin and adiponectin were not conclusive, with age, sex distribution, obesity, and severity of dementia seemingly acting as moderators across several analyses. Our work might contribute to the identification of new preclinical blood markers of MCI and AD.
Topics: Humans; Adipokines; Alzheimer Disease; Leptin; Resistin; Adiponectin; Ghrelin; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prospective Studies; Cognitive Dysfunction; Biomarkers; Obesity
PubMed: 37165483
DOI: 10.1111/obr.13573 -
Addiction Biology Nov 2022Classic psychedelics refer to substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, which induce altered states of consciousness by...
Classic psychedelics refer to substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, which induce altered states of consciousness by acting mainly on 5-HT receptors. Recently, the interest of psychedelics as pharmacological treatment for psychiatric disorders has increased significantly, including their use on problematic use of alcohol. This systematic review is aimed to analyse the last two decades of studies examining the relationship between classic psychedelics and alcohol consumption. We searched PubMed and PsycInfo for human and preclinical studies published between January 2000 to December 2021. The search identified 639 publications. After selection, 27 studies were included. Human studies (n = 20) generally show promising data and seem to indicate that classic psychedelics could help reduce alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, some of these studies present methodological concerns such as low number of participants, lack of control group or difficulty in determining the effect of classic psychedelics in isolation. On the other hand, preclinical studies (n = 7) investigating the effect of these compounds on voluntary alcohol consumption are scarce and show some conflicting data. Among these compounds, psilocybin seems to show the most consistent data indicating that this compound could be a potential candidate to treat alcohol use disorders. In the absence of understanding the biological and/or psychological mechanisms, more studies including methodological quality parameters are needed to finally determine the effects of classic psychedelics on alcohol consumption.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Hallucinogens; Psilocybin; Alcoholism; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Mescaline
PubMed: 36301215
DOI: 10.1111/adb.13229 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2021The aim of the study is to determine the association between Behavioral Lifestyles (regular physical activity, healthy diet, sleeping, and weight control) and longevity...
The aim of the study is to determine the association between Behavioral Lifestyles (regular physical activity, healthy diet, sleeping, and weight control) and longevity in the elderly. A search strategy was conducted in the PsycInfo, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus databases. The primary outcome was mortality/survival. Four variables (mean of participant's age at the baseline of the study, follow-up years of the study, gender, and year of publication) were analyzed to evaluate the role of potential moderators. Ninety-three articles, totaling more than 2,800,000 people, were included in the meta-analysis. We found that the lifestyles analyzed predict greater survival. Specifically, doing regular physical activity, engaging in leisure activities, sleeping 7-8 h a day, and staying outside the BMI ranges considered as underweight or obesity are habits that each separately has a greater probability associated with survival after a period of several years.
PubMed: 35185686
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.786491 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2021Smoking cessation interventions are effective, but they are not easily accessible for all treatment-seeking smokers. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have been used in... (Review)
Review
Smoking cessation interventions are effective, but they are not easily accessible for all treatment-seeking smokers. Mobile health (mHealth) apps have been used in recent years to overcome some of these limitations. Smoking cessation apps can be used in combination with a face-to-face intervention (FFSC-Apps), or alone as general apps (GSC-Apps). The aims of this review were (1) to examine the effects of FFSC-Apps and GSC-Apps on abstinence, tobacco use, and relapse rates; and (2) to describe their features. A systematic review was conducted following the internationally Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Of the total 6016 studies screened, 24 were included, of which nine used GSC-Apps and 15 FFSC-Apps. Eight studies reported significant differences between conditions in smoking cessation outcomes, with three of them being in favor of the use of apps, and two between different point-assessments. Concerning Apps features, most GSC-Apps included self-tracking and setting a quit plan, whereas most of the FFSC-Apps included self-tracking and carbon monoxide (CO) measures. Smartphone apps for smoking cessation could be promising tools. However, more research with an adequate methodological quality is needed to determine its effect. Nevertheless, smartphone apps' high availability and attractiveness represent a great opportunity to reach large populations.
Topics: Humans; Mobile Applications; Smokers; Smoking Cessation; Tobacco Use
PubMed: 34770178
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111664 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022Risk and loss aversion are phenomena with an important influence on decision-making, especially in economic contexts. At present, it remains unclear whether both are... (Review)
Review
Risk and loss aversion are phenomena with an important influence on decision-making, especially in economic contexts. At present, it remains unclear whether both are related, as well as whether they could have an emotional origin. The objective of this review, following the PRISMA statements, is to find consistencies in the genetic bases of risk and loss aversion with the aim of understanding their nature and shedding light on the above issues. A total of 23 empirical research met the inclusion criteria and were included from PubMed and ScienceDirect. All of them reported genetic measures from human samples and studied risk and loss aversion within an economic framework. The results for risk aversion, although with many limitations, attributed mainly to their heterogeneity and the lack of control in the studies, point to the implication of multiple polymorphisms related to the regulation of the serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways. In general, studies found the highest levels of risk aversion were associated with alleles that are linked to lower (higher) sensitivity or levels of dopamine (serotonin). For loss aversion, the scarcity of results prevents us from drawing clear conclusions, although the limited evidence seems to point in the same direction as for risk aversion. Therefore, it seems that risk aversion could have a stable genetical base which, in turn, is closely linked to emotions, but more research is needed to answer whether this phenomenon is related to loss aversion, as well as if the latter could also have an emotional origin. We also provide recommendations for future studies on genetics and economic behavior.
Topics: Humans; Affect; Emotions; Polymorphism, Genetic; Dopamine; Alleles; Decision Making
PubMed: 36361187
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114307 -
Sleep Medicine Reviews Aug 2021Twin studies have consistently found that genetic factors explain a substantial proportion of the variance for insomnia. However, studies vary widely in their... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Twin studies have consistently found that genetic factors explain a substantial proportion of the variance for insomnia. However, studies vary widely in their heritability estimates. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to: 1) Estimate the mean heritability of insomnia; 2) Assess heterogeneity among twin studies of insomnia; and 3) Search and analyse characteristics of the studies (moderator variables) that may explain heterogeneity among estimates. For this purpose, separate meta-analyses were carried out for MZ and DZ correlations and for heritability estimates by assuming random-effects models. Thirteen independent samples were included in this meta-analysis. The heterogeneity index for heritability estimates was significant in both best fitting models (I = 98.77, P < .0001) and full models (I = 97.80, P < .0001). MZ correlations were higher (0.37; 95%CI: 0.31,.43) than DZ correlations (0.15; 95%CI: 0.12,.18). A mean heritability of 0.39 (95%CI: 0.32,.44) was found for insomnia. These results highlight the role of genetic factors in explaining differences among the population on insomnia and Emphasize heterogeneity among studies. Further research is needed to identify variables that could explain this heterogeneity.
Topics: Humans; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Twins, Dizygotic; Twins, Monozygotic
PubMed: 33556853
DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101437 -
Psychological Medicine Jun 2023Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is a well-established first-line intervention for anxiety-related disorders, including specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is a well-established first-line intervention for anxiety-related disorders, including specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder/agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Several neural predictors of CBT outcome for anxiety-related disorders have been proposed, but previous results are inconsistent.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies investigating whole-brain predictors of CBT outcome in anxiety-related disorders (17 studies, = 442).
RESULTS
Across different tasks, we observed that brain response in a network of regions involved in salience and interoception processing, encompassing fronto-insular (the right inferior frontal gyrus-anterior insular cortex) and fronto-limbic (the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) cortices was strongly associated with a positive CBT outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that there are robust neural predictors of CBT outcome in anxiety-related disorders that may eventually lead (probably in combination with other data) to develop personalized approaches for the treatment of these mental disorders.
Topics: Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Anxiety Disorders; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Anxiety; Cognition
PubMed: 35916600
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721005444 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2021Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurodevelopmental pathologies characterized by impoverished social and communicative abilities and stereotyped... (Review)
Review
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurodevelopmental pathologies characterized by impoverished social and communicative abilities and stereotyped behaviors. Although its genetic basis is unquestionable, the involvement of environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides has also been proposed. Despite the systematic analyses of this relationship in humans, there are no specific reviews including both human and preclinical models. The present systematic review summarizes, analyzes, and discusses recent advances in preclinical and epidemiological studies. We included 45 human and 16 preclinical studies. These studies focused on Organophosphates (OP), Organochlorine (OC), Pyrethroid (PT), Neonicotinoid (NN), Carbamate (CM), and mixed exposures. Preclinical studies, where the OP Chlorpyrifos (CPF) compound is the one most studied, pointed to an association between gestational exposure and increased ASD-like behaviors, although the data are inconclusive with regard to other ages or pesticides. Studies in humans focused on prenatal exposure to OP and OC agents, and report cognitive and behavioral alterations related to ASD symptomatology. The results of both suggest that gestational exposure to certain OP agents could be linked to the clinical signs of ASD. Future experimental studies should focus on extending the analysis of ASD-like behaviors in preclinical models and include exposure patterns similar to those observed in human studies.
Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Chlorpyrifos; Female; Humans; Pesticides; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Pyrethrins
PubMed: 34068255
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105190