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Nutrients Jan 2023Epidemiological studies suggest that higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with lower risk for several cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung... (Review)
Review
Epidemiological studies suggest that higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with lower risk for several cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers. To mitigate confounding, genetic instrumental variables (IVs) have been used to estimate causal associations between 25-hydroxivtamin D and cancer risk via Mendelian randomization (MR). We provide a systematic review of 31 MR studies concerning 25-hydroxyvitamin D and cancer incidence and mortality identified from biomedical databases. MR analyses were conducted almost exclusively in European-ancestry populations and identified no statistically significant associations between higher genetically predicted 25-hydroxyvitamin D and lower risk for total cancer or colorectal, breast, prostate, lung, or pancreatic cancers. In recent studies including ≥80 genetic IVs for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, null associations were reported for total cancer (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] per 1-standard deviation increase: 0.98 [0.93-1.04]), breast (1.00 [0.98-1.02]), colorectal (0.97 [0.88-1.07]), prostate (0.99 [0.98-1.01]), and lung cancer (1.00 [0.93-1.03]). A protective association was observed for ovarian cancer in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (0.78 [0.63-0.96] per 20 nmol/L increase, -trend = 0.03), but not in the UK Biobank (1.10 [0.80-1.51]). Null associations were reported for other tumor sites (bladder, endometrium, uterus, esophagus, oral cavity and pharynx, kidney, liver, thyroid, or neural cells). An inconsistent protective association for cancer-specific mortality was also observed. Results from MR analyses do not support causal associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk for cancer incidence or mortality. Studies including non-White populations may be valuable to understand low 25-hydroxyvitamin D as a modifiable risk factor in populations with a higher risk of common cancers, including African ancestry individuals.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Vitamin D; Risk Factors; Ovarian Neoplasms; Calcifediol; Lung Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 36678292
DOI: 10.3390/nu15020422 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2020Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a syndrome characterised by episodes of apnoea (complete cessation of breathing) or hypopnoea (insufficient breathing) during sleep.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a syndrome characterised by episodes of apnoea (complete cessation of breathing) or hypopnoea (insufficient breathing) during sleep. Classical symptoms of the disease - such as snoring, unsatisfactory rest and daytime sleepiness - are experienced mainly by men; women report more unspecific symptoms such as low energy or fatigue, tiredness, initial insomnia and morning headaches. OSA is associated with an increased risk of occupational injuries, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, mortality, and being involved in traffic accidents. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - delivered by a machine which uses a hose and mask or nosepiece to deliver constant and steady air pressure- is considered the first treatment option for most people with OSA. However, adherence to treatment is often suboptimal. Myofunctional therapy could be an alternative for many patients. Myofunctional therapy consists of combinations of oropharyngeal exercises - i.e. mouth and throat exercises. These combinations typically include both isotonic and isometric exercises involving several muscles and areas of the mouth, pharynx and upper respiratory tract, to work on functions such as speaking, breathing, blowing, sucking, chewing and swallowing.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the benefits and harms of myofunctional therapy (oropharyngeal exercises) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea.
SEARCH METHODS
We identified randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from the Cochrane Airways Trials Register (date of last search 1 May 2020). We found other trials at web-based clinical trials registers.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included RCTs that recruited adults and children with a diagnosis of OSA.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We assessed our confidence in the evidence by using GRADE recommendations. Primary outcomes were daytime sleepiness, morbidity and mortality.
MAIN RESULTS
We found nine studies eligible for inclusion in this review and nine ongoing studies. The nine included RCTs analysed a total of 347 participants, 69 of them women and 13 children. The adults' mean ages ranged from 46 to 51, daytime sleepiness scores from eight to 14, and severity of the condition from mild to severe OSA. The studies' duration ranged from two to four months. None of the studies assessed accidents, cardiovascular diseases or mortality outcomes. We sought data about adverse events, but none of the included studies reported these. In adults, compared to sham therapy, myofunctional therapy: probably reduces daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), MD (mean difference) -4.52 points, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) -6.67 to -2.36; two studies, 82 participants; moderate-certainty evidence); may increase sleep quality (MD -3.90 points, 95% CI -6.31 to -1.49; one study, 31 participants; low-certainty evidence); may result in a large reduction in Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI, MD -13.20 points, 95% CI -18.48 to -7.93; two studies, 82 participants; low-certainty evidence); may have little to no effect in reduction of snoring frequency but the evidence is very uncertain (Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) -0.53 points, 95% CI -1.03 to -0.03; two studies, 67 participants; very low-certainty evidence); and probably reduces subjective snoring intensity slightly (MD -1.9 points, 95% CI -3.69 to -0.11 one study, 51 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Compared to waiting list, myofunctional therapy may: reduce daytime sleepiness (ESS, change from baseline MD -3.00 points, 95% CI -5.47 to -0.53; one study, 25 participants; low-certainty evidence); result in little to no difference in sleep quality (MD -0.70 points, 95% CI -2.01 to 0.61; one study, 25 participants; low-certainty evidence); and reduce AHI (MD -6.20 points, 95% CI -11.94 to -0.46; one study, 25 participants; low-certainty evidence). Compared to CPAP, myofunctional therapy may result in little to no difference in daytime sleepiness (MD 0.30 points, 95% CI -1.65 to 2.25; one study, 54 participants; low-certainty evidence); and may increase AHI (MD 9.60 points, 95% CI 2.46 to 16.74; one study, 54 participants; low-certainty evidence). Compared to CPAP plus myofunctional therapy, myofunctional therapy alone may result in little to no difference in daytime sleepiness (MD 0.20 points, 95% CI -2.56 to 2.96; one study, 49 participants; low-certainty evidence) and may increase AHI (MD 10.50 points, 95% CI 3.43 to 17.57; one study, 49 participants; low-certainty evidence). Compared to respiratory exercises plus nasal dilator strip, myofunctional therapy may result in little to no difference in daytime sleepiness (MD 0.20 points, 95% CI -2.46 to 2.86; one study, 58 participants; low-certainty evidence); probably increases sleep quality slightly (-1.94 points, 95% CI -3.17 to -0.72; two studies, 97 participants; moderate-certainty evidence); and may result in little to no difference in AHI (MD -3.80 points, 95% CI -9.05 to 1.45; one study, 58 participants; low-certainty evidence). Compared to standard medical treatment, myofunctional therapy may reduce daytime sleepiness (MD -6.40 points, 95% CI -9.82 to -2.98; one study, 26 participants; low-certainty evidence) and may increase sleep quality (MD -3.10 points, 95% CI -5.12 to -1.08; one study, 26 participants; low-certainty evidence). In children, compared to nasal washing alone, myofunctional therapy and nasal washing may result in little to no difference in AHI (MD 3.00, 95% CI -0.26 to 6.26; one study, 13 participants; low-certainty evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Compared to sham therapy, myofunctional therapy probably reduces daytime sleepiness and may increase sleep quality in the short term. The certainty of the evidence for all comparisons ranges from moderate to very low, mainly due to lack of blinding of the assessors of subjective outcomes, incomplete outcome data and imprecision. More studies are needed. In future studies, outcome assessors should be blinded. New trials should recruit more participants, including more women and children, and have longer treatment and follow-up periods.
Topics: Apnea; Child; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence; Exercise; Female; Humans; Isotonic Contraction; Male; Middle Aged; Myofunctional Therapy; Oropharynx; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Snoring; Therapeutic Irrigation; Waiting Lists
PubMed: 33141943
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013449.pub2 -
Dysphagia Feb 2015Texture modification has become one of the most common forms of intervention for dysphagia, and is widely considered important for promoting safe and efficient... (Review)
Review
Texture modification has become one of the most common forms of intervention for dysphagia, and is widely considered important for promoting safe and efficient swallowing. However, to date, there is no single convention with respect to the terminology used to describe levels of liquid thickening or food texture modification for clinical use. As a first step toward building a common taxonomy, a systematic review was undertaken to identify empirical evidence describing the impact of liquid consistency and food texture on swallowing behavior. A multi-engine search yielded 10,147 non-duplicate articles, which were screened for relevance. A team of ten international researchers collaborated to conduct full-text reviews for 488 of these articles, which met the study inclusion criteria. Of these, 36 articles were found to contain specific information comparing oral processing or swallowing behaviors for at least two liquid consistencies or food textures. Qualitative synthesis revealed two key trends with respect to the impact of thickening liquids on swallowing: thicker liquids reduce the risk of penetration-aspiration, but also increase the risk of post-swallow residue in the pharynx. The literature was insufficient to support the delineation of specific viscosity boundaries or other quantifiable material properties related to these clinical outcomes. With respect to food texture, the literature pointed to properties of hardness, cohesiveness, and slipperiness as being relevant both for physiological behaviors and bolus flow patterns. The literature suggests a need to classify food and fluid behavior in the context of the physiological processes involved in oral transport and flow initiation.
Topics: Deglutition; Food; Hardness; Humans; Risk Factors; Viscosity
PubMed: 25343878
DOI: 10.1007/s00455-014-9578-x -
Journal of Scleroderma and Related... Feb 2018Orofacial involvement is common and often understated in the treatment clinical guidelines of systemic sclerosis. It impairs daily life by having repercussions on... (Review)
Review
Orofacial involvement is common and often understated in the treatment clinical guidelines of systemic sclerosis. It impairs daily life by having repercussions on comfort, nutrition, aesthetics and self-confidence. This review aimed at describing exhaustively the different orofacial consequences of systemic sclerosis. A systematic search was conducted using four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source and SCOPUS) up to December 2016 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Grey literature and hand search were also included. To be eligible for the inclusion, studies needed to meet the following criteria: randomised controlled trials, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, pilot studies or cohort studies and full text available in English or French, with abstract. The studies had to concern at least 30 patients suffering from systemic sclerosis and having clinical and radiological oropharyngeal examination. The diagnosis of systemic sclerosis had to be determined according to precise recommendations; the retrieved oropharyngeal manifestations had to affect hard or soft tissues of the mouth and/or pharynx and needed to be evaluated with clinical measures. Study selection, risk bias assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa scale) and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. The retrieved features were microstomia and xerostomia associated with real hyposialia, temporomandibular joint symptoms, high caries experience, periodontal diseases as well as an increased risk of oral cavity and pharynx cancer. Early diagnosis enabling early management, prevention and oral hygiene is the key to avoid complicated and invasive procedures. Studies with higher level of evidence remain necessary to create standardised protocols.
PubMed: 35382129
DOI: 10.1177/2397198317746966 -
Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal Aug 2022This article aimed to collectively present the demographic, clinical, radiographic and histopathological features as well as the treatment performed along with its... (Review)
Review
This article aimed to collectively present the demographic, clinical, radiographic and histopathological features as well as the treatment performed along with its outcome for all the cases of adenoid ameloblastoma with dentinoid (AAD) reported in scientific literature till date. Ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumours are the most common odontogenic neoplasms. However, AAD, a hybrid variant of the two lesions, is found to be extremely rare. The lesion comprises of characteristic histopathological features of ameloblastoma and adenomatoid odontogenic tumour and shares certain clinical characteristics with either of the entities. AAD may be considered to be present at the more aggressive end of spectrum of benign odontogenic neoplasms. Owing to the frequent tendency of the lesions to be underdiagnosed, careful histopathological screening of submitted biopsies is warranted. With the increase in number of reported cases in the recent years, it is likely to be included as a separate entity in the upcoming World Health Organization classification.
Topics: Adenoids; Ameloblastoma; Biopsy; Humans; Odontogenic Tumors
PubMed: 36072074
DOI: 10.18295/squmj.9.2021.127 -
Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology Jul 2023Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a growing disease, affecting more than 700.000 cases per year and ranking as the sixth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide. The... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a growing disease, affecting more than 700.000 cases per year and ranking as the sixth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide. The impossibility of properly entering into apoptosis directly influences uncontrolled growth and consequently tumor development and progression. Bcl-2 emerged as a key regulator in the balance between cell apoptosis and proliferation in apoptosis machinery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review all published studies investigating changes in Bcl-2 protein expression assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and related to prognostic and survival values of patients with HNC. After applying the inclusion and exclusion factors, we reached the number of 20 articles included in the meta-analysis. The random-effect pooled HR (CI95%) value of OS related to Bcl-2 IHC expression in tissues from HNC patients was 1.80 (CI95% 1.21-2.67) (p 0.0001) and DFS was 1.90 (CI95% 1.26-2.86 (p 0.0001). The OS value for the specific oral cavity tumors was 1.89 (1.34-2.67), while in the larynx it was 1.77 (0.62-5.06), and the DFS in the pharynx was 2.02 (1.46-2.79). The univariate and multivariate analyses of OS were respectively 1.43 (1.11-1.86) and 1.88 (1.12-3.16), while in DFS it was 1.70 (0.95-3.03) and 2.08 (1.55-2.80). The OS considering a low cut-off for Bcl-2 positivity was 1.19 (0.60-2.37) and DFS was 1.48 (0.91-2.41), while studies with a high cut-off demonstrated OS of 2.28 (1.47-3.52) and DFS of 2.77 (1.74-4.40). Our meta-analysis demonstrates that Bcl-2 protein overexpression can result in worse LNM, OS, and DFS in patients with HNC, however, it is not a reliable conclusion, due to the wide divergences between the original studies and the fact that many studies have a very high range of confidence and also a high risk of bias.
Topics: Humans; Biomarkers, Tumor; Prognosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms
PubMed: 37210016
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104021 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common type of thyroid disease and can cause many different manifestations. The local symptoms of HT are an under-studied area... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the most common type of thyroid disease and can cause many different manifestations. The local symptoms of HT are an under-studied area of research. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the local symptoms of HT and their prevalence.
METHODS
A systematic review was performed to find articles in PubMed that discuss the local symptoms of HT. Relevant vocabulary terms and key terms included: autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, neck, throat, pharynx, airway, esophagus, breathe, swallow, globus, sleep apnea, symptoms, and quality of life. Two investigators independently screened the eligible studies.
RESULTS
A total of 54 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these, 25 were clinical studies, 24 were case reports, and five were reviews. These clinical studies and case reports included a total of 2660 HT patients. There were eight local symptoms related to HT: neck pain (0.02%~16%), voice changes (7%~30%), throat discomfort (20%~43.7%), shortness of breath (28%~50%), dysphagia (29%), goiter-related symptoms (69.44%), sleep apnea, and generally defined compressive symptoms. Due to the use of different outcome measures among all the studies, a meta-analysis of the data could not be performed.
CONCLUSION
Goiter symptoms, which are an item on the ThyPRO scales, are the most frequent local symptoms in HT patients, and include neck pain, voice changes, throat discomfort, and dysphagia. These local symptoms should be identified in the clinic and included in the early diagnosis and management of HT, as well as evaluated further to understand their relevance in the pathogenesis of HT.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Goiter; Hashimoto Disease; Neck Pain; Quality of Life
PubMed: 36743914
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1076793 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2021Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a condition characterized by swallowing difficulty in the mouth and pharynx, which can be due to various factors. Animal models of... (Review)
Review
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a condition characterized by swallowing difficulty in the mouth and pharynx, which can be due to various factors. Animal models of oropharyngeal dysphagia are essential to confirm the cause-specific symptoms, pathological findings, and the effect of treatment. Recently, various animal models of dysphagia have been reported. The purpose of this review is to organize the rodent models of oropharyngeal dysphagia reported to date. The articles were obtained from Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library, and selected following the PRISMA guideline. The animal models in which oropharyngeal dysphagia was induced in rats or mice were selected and classified based on the diseases causing oropharyngeal dysphagia. The animal used, method of inducing dysphagia, and screening methods and results were collected from the selected 37 articles. Various rodent models of oropharyngeal dysphagia provide distinctive information on atypical swallowing. Applying and analyzing the treatment in rodent models of dysphagia induced from various causes is an essential process to develop symptom-specific treatments. Therefore, the results of this study provide fundamental and important data for selecting appropriate animal models to study dysphagia.
Topics: Animals; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Mice; Mouth; Pharynx; Rats; Rodentia
PubMed: 34067192
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094987 -
Periodontology 2000 Feb 2024Three years into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there are still growing concerns with the emergence of different variants, unknown long- and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Three years into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there are still growing concerns with the emergence of different variants, unknown long- and short-term effects of the virus, and potential biological mechanisms underlying etiopathogenesis and increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The role of the microbiome in human physiology and the initiation and progression of several oral and systemic diseases have been actively studied in the past decade. With the proof of viral transmission, carriage, and a potential role in etiopathogenesis, saliva and the oral environment have been a focus of COVID-19 research beyond diagnostic purposes. The oral environment hosts diverse microbial communities and contributes to human oral and systemic health. Several investigations have identified disruptions in the oral microbiome in COVID-19 patients. However, all these studies are cross-sectional in nature and present heterogeneity in study design, techniques, and analysis. Therefore, in this undertaking, we (a) systematically reviewed the current literature associating COVID-19 with changes in the microbiome; (b) performed a re-analysis of publicly available data as a means to standardize the analysis, and (c) reported alterations in the microbial characteristics in COVID-19 patients compared to negative controls. Overall, we identified that COVID-19 is associated with oral microbial dysbiosis with significant reduction in diversity. However, alterations in specific bacterial members differed across the study. Re-analysis from our pipeline shed light on Neisseria as the potential key microbial member associated with COVID-19.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Dysbiosis; Microbiota; Mouth; Oropharynx; Saliva; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 37277934
DOI: 10.1111/prd.12489 -
Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine 2016The inflammatory diseases of the nose, rhino-pharynx and paranasal sinuses (allergic and non allergic rhinitis, NARES; rhinosinusitis with/without nasal polyposis,... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
The inflammatory diseases of the nose, rhino-pharynx and paranasal sinuses (allergic and non allergic rhinitis, NARES; rhinosinusitis with/without nasal polyposis, adenoidal hypertrophy with/without middle ear involvement) clinically manifest themselves with symptoms and complications severely affecting quality of life and health care expenditure. Intranasal administration of corticosteroids, being fast, simple, and not requiring cooperation, is the preferred way to treat the patients, to optimize their quality of life, at the same time minimizing the risk of exacerbations and complications. Among the different topical steroids available on the market, we performed a comparative analysis in terms of effectiveness and safety between mometasone furoate (MF) and its main competitors. Searching through Pub Med and Google Scholar and using as entries "mometasone furoate", "rhinitis", "sinusitis", "asthma", "polyposis", "otitis media with effusion", and "adenoid hypertrophy" we found 344 articles, 300 of which met the eligibility criteria. Taking into account relevance and date of publication, a sample of 40 articles was considered for the review. MF effectiveness for treatment and/or prophylaxis of nasal symptoms in seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis has been fully established with a level of evidence Ia. Even though it has not been assessed for MF in particular, topical steroids are the most appropriate treatment in mixed rhinitis and NARES. In acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) evidences support their use as mono-therapy or as adjuvant to antibiotics for reducing the recurrence rate, and decrease the usage of related prescriptions and medical consultations. In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with Nasal polyposis, MF reduces polyps size, nasal congestion, improves quality of life and sense of smell and it is also effective in the treatment of daytime cough. The topical use of MF has great efficacy in the management of adenoidal hypertrophy and otitis media of atopic children. As regards the safety, MF has demonstrated an excellent safety profile: pregnant women can safely use it; no systemic effects on growth velocity and adrenal suppression have been shown; no changes in epithelial thickness or atrophy have been observed after long term administration of the drug.
CONCLUSIONS
MF has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of the inflammatory diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses; when compared to its competitors it shows a greater symptom control; it is a reliable treatment in the long term thanks not only to its proven efficacy, but also to its safety being on the market since more than 17 years.
PubMed: 27141307
DOI: 10.1186/s40248-016-0054-3