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Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology Dec 2023To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the power of salivary electrolytes for the diagnosis of Sjögren's disease (SjD). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the power of salivary electrolytes for the diagnosis of Sjögren's disease (SjD).
METHODS
A literature search was conducted (last search March 2023) using PubMed and Web of Science and completed with a manual search. Articles were screened for reports of human salivary ion concentrations, comparing SjD patients with healthy controls and/or sicca patients. Articles not using the SjD classification criteria or performing the classification as part of the experimental design were excluded. Forest plots were used to present the meta-analyses results for each ion, distinguishing between salivary type (unstimulated and stimulated whole saliva, submandibular/sublingual and parotid saliva).
RESULTS
A total of 21 out of 722 articles were eligible for inclusion. For SjD patients a significant increase in salivary ion concentration was observed for sodium, chloride and calcium when comparing to healthy controls. Significant differences between SjD and sicca patients were noted for sodium, chloride, phosphate, calcium, phosphate, nitrite and nitrate. Stimulated whole saliva showed larger variability in results between studies in comparison to other types of saliva (unstimulated whole saliva, submandibular/sublingual saliva and parotid saliva).
CONCLUSIONS
Despite differences in saliva type, salivary ion levels could be utilised for the screening for SjD. Making use of chloride in combination with sodium would be most promising for distinguishing SjD patients from healthy controls and adding phosphate to potentially make a distinguishment with sicca patients. Unstimulated whole saliva should be the first choice when testing salivary ion concentrations.
Topics: Humans; Calcium; Chlorides; Sjogren's Syndrome; Saliva; Electrolytes; Sodium; Phosphates
PubMed: 38079344
DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/648k4u -
Carcinogenesis Feb 2024Solute carrier organic anion (SLCO) transporters (OATP transporters) are involved in cellular uptake of drugs and hormones. Germline variants in SLCO1B3 and SLCO2B1 have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Solute carrier organic anion (SLCO) transporters (OATP transporters) are involved in cellular uptake of drugs and hormones. Germline variants in SLCO1B3 and SLCO2B1 have been implicated in prostate cancer progression and therapy response, including to androgen deprivation and statin medications, but results have appeared heterogeneous. We conducted a cohort study of five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SLCO1B3 and SLCO2B1 with prior evidence among 3208 men with prostate cancer who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study or the Physicians' Health Study, following participants prospectively after diagnosis over 32 years (median, 14 years) for development of metastases and cancer-specific death (lethal disease, 382 events). Results were suggestive of, but not conclusive for, associations between some SNPs and lethal disease and differences by androgen deprivation and statin use. All candidate SNPs were associated with SLCO mRNA expression in tumor-adjacent prostate tissue. We also conducted a systematic review and harmonized estimates for a dose-response meta-analysis of all available data, including 9 further studies, for a total of 5598 patients and 1473 clinical events. The A allele of the exonic SNP rs12422149 (14% prevalence), which leads to lower cellular testosterone precursor uptake via SLCO2B1, was associated with lower rates of prostate cancer progression (hazard ratio per A allele, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.93), with little heterogeneity between studies (I2, 0.27). Collectively, the totality of evidence suggests a strong association between inherited genetic variation in SLCO2B1 and prostate cancer prognosis, with potential clinical use in risk stratification related to androgen deprivation therapy.
Topics: Male; Humans; Prostatic Neoplasms; Androgen Antagonists; Androgens; Follow-Up Studies; Cohort Studies; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Prospective Studies; Genotype; Organic Anion Transporters; Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1B3
PubMed: 37856781
DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgad075 -
Nitric Oxide : Biology and Chemistry Apr 2024Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and immune-mediated disease of unknown etiology and leading to a physical and cognitive disability. Different studies suggest that... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and immune-mediated disease of unknown etiology and leading to a physical and cognitive disability. Different studies suggest that nitrosative stress may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis and disability in MS. Besides, reports evaluated NO and their metabolites, expressed by nitrite and nitrate (NOx) levels of MS patients compared with other pathologies, but did not evaluate disability and relapse/remission phases.
OBJECTIVE
Thus, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of NOx levels in MS patients in relapse/remission phases and its involvement in patient disability.
METHODS
The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022327161). We used GRADE to estimate the articles' quality and evaluated the publication bias using Egger's and Begg's tests.
RESULTS
Here, through a search in the Pubmed, Scopus, and EMBASE databases, 5.276 studies were found, and after the selection process, 20 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The studies included data from 1.474 MS patients and 1.717 healthy controls, 1.010 RRMS and 221 primary progressive MS (PPMS).
CONCLUSION
NOx levels are increased in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in the relapse phase. Also, NOx levels were increased in MS patients with higher disability. However, further studies are still needed to control lifestyle habits, pain, and MS treatment effects in biased NOx levels.
Topics: Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Nitric Oxide; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Nitrates; Recurrence
PubMed: 38331311
DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2024.01.006 -
Critical Reviews in Toxicology Jan 2024Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that is also added to drinking water, dental hygiene products, and food supplements for preventing dental caries. Concerns... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that is also added to drinking water, dental hygiene products, and food supplements for preventing dental caries. Concerns have been raised about several other potential health risks of fluoride.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a robust synthesis of evidence regarding human health risks due to exposure to fluoride in drinking water, and to develop a point of departure (POD) for setting a health-based value (HBV) for fluoride in drinking water.
METHODS
A systematic review of evidence published since recent reviews of human, animal, and data was carried out. Bradford Hill considerations were used to weigh the evidence for causality. Several key studies were considered for deriving PODs.
RESULTS
The current review identified 89 human studies, 199 animal studies, and 10 major reviews. The weight of evidence on 39 health endpoints was presented. In addition to dental fluorosis, evidence was considered strong for reduction in IQ scores in children, moderate for thyroid dysfunction, weak for kidney dysfunction, and limited for sex hormone disruptions.
CONCLUSION
The current review identified moderate dental fluorosis and reduction in IQ scores in children as the most relevant endpoints for establishing an HBV for fluoride in drinking water. PODs were derived for these two endpoints, although there is still some uncertainty in the causal weight of evidence for causality for reducing IQ scores in children and considerable uncertainty in the derivation of its POD. Given our evaluation of the overall weight of evidence, moderate dental fluorosis is suggested as the key endpoint until more evidence is accumulated on possible reduction of IQ scores effects. A POD of 1.56 mg fluoride/L for moderate dental fluorosis may be preferred as a starting point for setting an HBV for fluoride in drinking water to protect against moderate and severe dental fluorosis. Although outside the scope of the current review, precautionary concerns for potential neurodevelopmental cognitive effects may warrant special consideration in the derivation of the HBV for fluoride in drinking water.
Topics: Child; Animals; Humans; Fluorides; Fluorosis, Dental; Drinking Water; Dental Caries; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 38318766
DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2023.2295338 -
Gerodontology Dec 2023The objective of this scoping review was to map evidence of electrolysed oxidising water (EOW) as a biocide for dental applications of relevance to older people and... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this scoping review was to map evidence of electrolysed oxidising water (EOW) as a biocide for dental applications of relevance to older people and identify research gaps.
BACKGROUND
EOW is an emerging, "green," and cost-effective biocide. There are no reviews on the landscape of EOW research as either an antiseptic or disinfectant in dental healthcare or its suitability for the oral healthcare of older people.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The review follows the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Database searches (Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, Scopus and Science Direct) were undertaken using MESH terms and Boolean operators with no date restrictions, to identify full-text, original reports published in English-language peer-reviewed journals.
RESULTS
The search yielded 114 papers that met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Dental applications of EOW include its use as an endodontic irrigant (39%); mouth rinse/surgical irrigant (21%); disinfectant for dental unit water lines (19%) and dental biomaterials (17%); and for antimicrobial efficacy, effects on oral tissues and on dental material properties. Most studies (83%) evaluated a single EOW formulation (acidic, moderately acidic or neutral) that was either generated at 'point-of-use' (POU; 72%), bottled ('ready-to-use', RTU; 24%) or from unspecified (3%) sources. Six reports evaluated storage-related parameters and 25 evaluated clinical applications; 89 were in vitro studies and one investigated the cost-effectiveness of POU EOW.
CONCLUSIONS
Neutral-pH, EOW is effective as an antimicrobial agent without deleterious effects on oral tissues. However, research on the impact of storage conditions, anti-Candida biofilm efficacy and mechanism of action against yeasts, long-term effects on denture materials and cost-effectiveness is required to establish the suitability of EOW as a multipurpose biocide for dental healthcare, including infection-control requirements relating to older people.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Disinfectants; Water; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Delivery of Health Care
PubMed: 37694292
DOI: 10.1111/ger.12712 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2023Ageing is an irreversible and inevitable biological process and a significant risk factor for the development of various diseases, also affecting the musculoskeletal... (Review)
Review
Ageing is an irreversible and inevitable biological process and a significant risk factor for the development of various diseases, also affecting the musculoskeletal system, resulting from the accumulation of cell senescence. The aim of this systematic review was to collect the in vitro studies conducted over the past decade in which cell senescence was induced through various methods, with the purpose of evaluating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying senescence and to identify treatments capable of delaying senescence. Through three electronic databases, 22 in vitro studies were identified and included in this systematic review. Disc, cartilage, or muscle cells or tissues and mesenchymal stem cells were employed to set-up in vitro models of senescence. The most common technique used to induce cell senescence was the addition to the culture medium of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α and/or interleukin (IL)1β, followed by irradiation, compression, hydrogen peroxide (HO), microgravity, in vitro expansion up to passage 10, and cells harvested from damaged areas of explants. Few studies evaluated possible treatments to anti-senescence effects. The included studies used in vitro models of senescence in musculoskeletal tissues, providing powerful tools to evaluate age-related changes and pathologies, also contributing to the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Topics: Cells, Cultured; Cellular Senescence; Hydrogen Peroxide
PubMed: 37958603
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115617 -
Current Urology Reports Aug 2023We wanted to analyse the outcomes of surgical (SWL, URS, PCNL) and medical management of cystine stones in the paediatric population in terms of stone-free status and... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
We wanted to analyse the outcomes of surgical (SWL, URS, PCNL) and medical management of cystine stones in the paediatric population in terms of stone-free status and complication rates, based on all the available literature evidence.
RECENT FINDINGS
A systematic review of literature was performed for all studies with paediatric cystine stone management. Twelve studies met the eligibility criteria, of which 4 analysed outcomes of SWL, 2 of URS and 3 of PCNL and 3 focused on the effect of either alkalising agents (potassium citrate, citric acid) or cysteine-binding thiol (CBT) agents (tiopronin, penicillamine). The reported SFR in studies ranged from 50 to 83%, 59 to 100% and 63 to 80.6%, with a complication rate of 2.8-51%, 14-27% and 12.9-15.4% with SWL, URS and PCNL, respectively. Paediatric cystine stones treatment should aim at complete stone clearance, preservation of renal function and prevention of further recurrences. SWL achieves inferior results in case of cystine stones. URS and PCNL are safe and effective procedures in the paediatric population, with a low rate of major complications. Adherence to medical prevention therapies may prolong recurrence-free periods.
Topics: Humans; Child; Kidney Calculi; Cystine; Lithotripsy; Ureteroscopy; Ureteral Calculi; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37079195
DOI: 10.1007/s11934-023-01162-9 -
The Science of the Total Environment Dec 2023Water and food security are constantly on the sustainable development agenda since they are interrelated with anthropogenic and ecosystemic issues present in the... (Review)
Review
Water and food security are constantly on the sustainable development agenda since they are interrelated with anthropogenic and ecosystemic issues present in the economic, environmental, and social spheres. The non-integrative management of these issues points to unsustainable futures. In this context, nexus approaches deserve considerable attention in the search for integrative management solutions capable of contributing to leveraging synergies that increase agricultural productivity, while simultaneously reducing environmental impacts, including water resources. This systematic literature review article aims to analyze the integration factors from the perspective of the water - food - environment nexus in the context of water and agricultural sustainability. The systematic methodology, including a content analysis, allowed the identification of analytical categories composed of the most present integrating factors and discussed in the scientific scope and how they are correlated from the perspective of the nexus. Among the extensive number of factors, the systemic management inserted in the integrated management of watersheds, the sustainable intensification from the perspective of food security and the demand for water resources, categorized in water security, presented higher frequency of occurrence when compared with the other factors. It is proposed that these factors can be considered as indicators of sustainability in the context of integrated water resources management and agricultural food production, since their synergistic effects have consequences in the water, agricultural and environmental management sectors. Thus, this study stands out for identifying trends and gaps in the water - food - environment nexus that can contribute to the development of innovative decision-making tools, in order to assist in the management of the watershed, where agriculture plays a key role in socio-environmental issues.
Topics: Water Supply; Food; Sustainable Development; Agriculture; Food Supply; Water
PubMed: 37678519
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166866 -
Integrated Environmental Assessment and... Nov 2023Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that are ubiquitous in the environment, and may be a potential threat to human health. This review describes the MP exposure... (Review)
Review
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants that are ubiquitous in the environment, and may be a potential threat to human health. This review describes the MP exposure sources and pathways through drinking water, food intake, and air inhalation. The unregulated discharge of MPs in water sources and the absence of required MP filter technology in water treatment plants are important routes of MP exposure through drinking water. The presence of MPs in food may lead to the accumulation of MPs in the body. Exposure to MPs can occur through airborne fallout and dust inhalation in both indoor and outdoor environments. This review summarizes the MP exposure sources and possible pathways in the human body, and illustrates that the intake of drinking water, food consumption, and air inhalation should be assessed in during routine activities. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1422-1432. © 2023 SETAC.
Topics: Humans; Microplastics; Plastics; Drinking Water; Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36661032
DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4742 -
Journal of Global Health Jun 2024Diarrhoeal disease disproportionately affects children <5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pathogens responsible for diarrhoea are commonly... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Lifestraw Family water filters in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis to define longer-term public health impact against childhood diarrhoea and inform scale-up.
BACKGROUND
Diarrhoeal disease disproportionately affects children <5 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The pathogens responsible for diarrhoea are commonly transmitted through faecally-contaminated drinking water. Lifestraw Family point-of-use water filters have been the subject of intervention studies for over a decade and were the first filters evaluated by the World Health Organization in its water treatment evaluation scheme to provide comprehensive protection against many diarrhoea-causing pathogens. This systematic review aimed to: 1) report on aspects related to physical environment and implementation and 2) conduct an updated meta-analysis on Lifestraw Family filter effectiveness against childhood diarrhoea based on studies with ≥12 months of follow-up.
METHODS
We conducted a literature search in November 2022 using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL databases. Inclusion criteria were: 1) RCTs, cluster-RCTs, quasi-experimental, or matched cohort studies on 2) Lifestraw Family 1.0 or 2.0 filters 3) conducted in LMICs 4) that evaluated filter effectiveness against diarrhoea in children <5 and 5) analysed ≥12 months of follow-up data on clinical effectiveness against diarrhoea and were 6) published from 2010 with 7) full-text availability in English. A modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and analysed using a random-effects meta-analysis.
RESULTS
We included 6 studies in LMICs involving 4740 children <5. Of the four clinically-effective interventions, common characteristics were access to improved water sources (75%), the 2.0 version of the filter or the 1.0 version with additional water storage (100%), use of behaviour change theory, community engagement, and health messaging (75%), local filter repair-and-replace mechanisms (75%), and specially-trained local interventionists (100%). The meta-analysis showed a 30% reduction in diarrhoea risk in the intervention group (RR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.52-0.91, P = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Lifestraw Family water filters can be effective interventions to reduce diarrhoea in vulnerable paediatric populations for at least one year, though certain aspects related to physical environment and implementation may increase their public health impact. The findings of this study suggest considerations for scale-up that can be applied in settings in need of longer-term interim solutions until universal access to safe drinking water is achieved.
Topics: Humans; Diarrhea; Developing Countries; Water Purification; Public Health; Filtration; Child, Preschool; Drinking Water; Infant
PubMed: 38939952
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04018