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Critical Reviews in Toxicology Mar 2024An association between exposure to arsenic (As) and neurologic and behavioral effects has been reported in some studies, but no systematic review is available of the... (Review)
Review
An association between exposure to arsenic (As) and neurologic and behavioral effects has been reported in some studies, but no systematic review is available of the evidence linking As in drinking water and neurobehavioral effects after consideration of study quality and potential confounding, with focus on low-level circumstances of exposure. We conducted a systematic review and reported it in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, through a search of the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. We included in the review the studies reporting results based on exposure from drinking water in humans. Endpoints were heterogeneous across studies, so we classified them into eight broad domains and developed an ad-hoc system to evaluate their methodological quality, based on three tiers. It was not possible to conduct meta-analysis because of the heterogeneity in exposure assessment and in the definition and assessment of outcomes. The search identified 18,518 articles. After elimination of duplicates and irrelevant articles, we retained 106 articles which reported results on As exposure and neurobehavioral effects, of which 22 reported risk estimates from exposure in drinking water (six among adults and 16 among children). None of the studies was conducted blindly. Among the studies in adults, two, which were conducted in highly exposed populations, were classified as high quality. These two studies were broadly consistent in reporting an association between exposure to As and decline in cognitive function; however, they provide no evidence of an association for exposure below 75 μg/L. The four lower-quality studies were based on populations with low exposure; these studies reported associations with inconsistent outcomes, few of which remained statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Among the five high-quality studies of children, one reported an association between As in drinking water and intellectual function, whereas none of the other studies reported an association with different neurobehavioral indicators, after adjusting for potential confounders and multiple comparisons. Out of seven intermediate-quality studies, three reported an association with cognitive function or other outcomes; but sources of bias were not adequately controlled. The remaining studies were negative. The four low-quality studies did not contribute to the overall evidence because of methodological limitations. Our assessment of the available literature showed a lack of evidence for a causal association between exposure to As in drinking water and neurobehavioral effects. To clarify whether such an association exists, further studies prospectively evaluating changes in both the concentration of As in drinking water during the life course, and neurobehavioral outcomes, as well as appropriately controlling for potential confounders, are needed.
Topics: Child; Adult; Humans; Arsenic; Drinking Water; Cognition
PubMed: 38533692
DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2023.2297751 -
Journal of the American Heart... Nov 2023Background Rapidly consuming water may offer practical orthostatic hypotension therapy. However, its efficacy across disorders remains uncertain. This study aims to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Background Rapidly consuming water may offer practical orthostatic hypotension therapy. However, its efficacy across disorders remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the impact of rapid 350- to 500-mL water intake on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods and Results We systematically reviewed MEDLINE and Embase up to June 2023, including randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies. Using random-effects meta-analysis, we calculated pooled mean differences (MDs) for maximum hemodynamic effects of rapid 350- to 500-mL water bolus consumption. Participants with orthostatic hypotension experienced increased systolic BP (MD, 24.18 [95% CI, 15.48-32.88]) and diastolic BP (MD, 11.98 [95% CI, 8.87-15.09]) with decreased HR (MD, -3.46 [95% CI, -5.21 to -1.71]). Similar results were observed in multiple system atrophy and pure autonomic failure subgroup analysis. Healthy participants showed modest increases in systolic BP (MD, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.02-3.64]) and diastolic BP (MD, 2.73 [95% CI, 1.15-4.30]), but HR changes were not significant (MD, -2.06 [95% CI, -5.25 to 1.13]). Water had no significant hemodynamic effects in patients with seated or supine postural tachycardia syndrome, although standing effects were unassessed. Our data do not exclude water's potential standing effect in postural tachycardia syndrome. Conclusions In patients with orthostatic hypotension, rapid water intake elevated short-term systolic BP and diastolic BP, with mild HR reduction when seated or supine. Healthy participants exhibited similar but milder effects. However, patients with postural tachycardia syndrome did not experience these changes in seated or supine positions. Further research is needed to evaluate the promising impact of rapid water ingestion on patients with postural tachycardia syndrome in a standing position, which was not addressed in our study.
Topics: Humans; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome; Prospective Studies; Hemodynamics; Blood Pressure; Water
PubMed: 37929748
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.029645 -
World Journal of Urology Nov 2023To perform a systematic review of case reports and case series to investigate risk factors, treatment modalities, and the outcome of penile calciphylaxis.
PURPOSE
To perform a systematic review of case reports and case series to investigate risk factors, treatment modalities, and the outcome of penile calciphylaxis.
METHOD
We performed a systematic search of the MEDLINE and Scopus databases to identify case reports or case series of penile calciphylaxis. The patient characteristics, laboratory investigations, diagnostic modalities, treatment modalities, and outcomes were extracted. We compared clinical characteristics and treatment between patients who survived or demised and between patients with clinical improvement and those without to identify the poor prognostic risk factors.
RESULTS
Ninety-four articles were included from 86 case reports and 8 case series with 121 patients. Most of the patients were on hemodialysis (78.9%). The median time since starting dialysis was 48 months (24-96 months). Sodium thiosulfate was used to treat penile calciphylaxis in 23.6%. For surgical management, partial or total penectomy was performed in 45.5% of the patients. There was no association between sodium thiosulfate use, partial or total penectomy, and improvement in clinical outcomes. The mortality rate in patients with penile calciphylaxis was 47.8% and the median time to death was 3 months (0.75-9 months). The presence of extragenital involvement was significantly related to mortality (p = 0.03).
CONCLUSION
A calcified penile artery results in penile calciphylaxis, a rare vascular phenomenon associated with high morbidity and mortality. Management of penile calciphylaxis includes the medical management of risk factors, surgical debridement, or penectomy. Therefore, early prevention and diagnosis as well as immediate appropriate treatment are needed.
Topics: Humans; Male; Calciphylaxis; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Penis; Risk Factors; Thiosulfates; Case Reports as Topic
PubMed: 37782324
DOI: 10.1007/s00345-023-04611-9 -
The Journal of Contemporary Dental... Aug 2023The present systematic review aimed to report the studies concerning the primers in improving bond strength and identifying pertinent primers for a particular dental... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIM
The present systematic review aimed to report the studies concerning the primers in improving bond strength and identifying pertinent primers for a particular dental alloy by adhering to PRISMA precepts.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
PubMed and Semantic Scholar databases were scoured for articles using 10 search terms. studies satisfying the inclusion criteria were probed which were meticulously screened and scrutinized for eligibility adhering to the 11 exclusion criteria. The quality assessment tool for studies (QUIN Tool) containing 12 criteria was employed to assess the risk of bias (RoB).
RESULTS
A total of 48 studies assessing shear bond strength (SBS) and 15 studies evaluating tensile bond strength (TBS) were included in the qualitative synthesis. Concerning SBS, 33.4% moderate and 66.6% high RoB was observed. Concerning TBS, 26.8% moderate and 73.2% high RoB was discerned. Seventeen and two studies assessing SBS and TBS, respectively, were included in meta-analyses.
CONCLUSIONS
Shear bond strength and TBS increased for the primed alloys. Cyclic disulfide primer is best-suited for noble alloys when compared with thiol/thione primers. Phosphoric acid- and phosphonic acid ester-based primers are opportune for base alloys.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The alloy-resin interface (ARI) would fail if an inappropriate primer was selected. Therefore, the selection of an appropriate alloy adhesive primer for an alloy plays a crucial role in prosthetic success. This systematic review would help in the identification and selection of a congruous primer for a selected alloy.
Topics: Databases, Factual; Dental Alloys; Disulfides; Thiones; Dental Cements
PubMed: 38193174
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3514 -
Cureus Sep 2023Kidney stone formation is an intricate process that involves a disruption in the interplay of the multiple organs and systems involved in regulating the concentration of... (Review)
Review
Kidney stone formation is an intricate process that involves a disruption in the interplay of the multiple organs and systems involved in regulating the concentration of specific ions in the body. Women who have gone through menopause are susceptible to kidney stone disease. This systematic review aims to investigate the potential influence of estrogen on kidney function and oxalate homeostasis, notably through the anion transporter SLC26A6 (also known as putative anion transporter 1 or PAT1) in females. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 checklist, a systematic search of online databases included Pubmed, ScienceDirect Journals, and Ingenta Connect Journals. Predetermined criteria to include and exclude papers, gathering articles published between 2012 and 2022, were determined. After a thorough analysis, eight articles (three cohorts, one case-control, one in vivo, one in vitro, and two cross-sectional studies) were identified for the final quality assessment review. The eight selected and quality-assessed articles provided evidence of a directly proportional connection between estrogen and kidney function. A correlation between serum estrogen levels and the development of kidney stone disease was confirmed. Administration of β-estradiol was shown to effectively inhibit the function of the anion transporter PAT1 in a tissue-specific manner. In the case of the kidney, estrogen was observed to down-regulate PAT1, which led to a reduction in oxalate transporting activity and, consequently, a decrease in kidney stone formation. Consensus suggests that serum estrogen levels and optimal kidney functioning are interrelated. Furthermore, analysis of the quality-assessed articles and a comprehensive literature review revealed estrogen's tissue-specific regulation of the PAT1 anion transporter aids in maintaining kidney function and anion homeostasis. Additional research is needed to solidify estrogen's role in kidney stone disease to determine its therapeutic value in clinical practice.
PubMed: 37881392
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45839 -
Nutrients Jun 2024This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the independent or combined use of nutritional ergogenic aids belonging to Group A of the ABCD... (Review)
Review
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the independent or combined use of nutritional ergogenic aids belonging to Group A of the ABCD classification by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in the context of cycling (caffeine, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine, nitrates, and glycerol). A comprehensive search was carried out using three databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. All the databases were searched for Randomized Controlled Trials or crossover design studies assessing the effects of supplementation on cycling performance in comparison with placebos in healthy adults. The methodological quality of each study was evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Thirty-six articles involving 701 participants were included in this review, examining supplementation with caffeine (n = 5), creatine (n = 2), sodium bicarbonate (n = 6), beta-alanine (n = 3), and nitrates (n = 8). Additionally, supplemental combinations of caffeine and creatine (n = 3), caffeine and sodium bicarbonate (n = 3), caffeine and nitrates (n = 1), creatine and sodium bicarbonate (n = 1), and sodium bicarbonate and beta-alanine (n = 4) were analyzed. A benefit for cyclists' athletic performnce was found when consuming a caffeine supplement, and a potential positive effect was noted after the consumption of sodium bicarbonate, as well as after the combination of caffeine and creatine. However, no statistically significant effects were identified for the remaining supplements, whether administered individually or in combination.
Topics: Humans; Dietary Supplements; Bicycling; Athletic Performance; Nitrates; Performance-Enhancing Substances; Caffeine; Creatine; Sodium Bicarbonate; beta-Alanine; Adult; Male; Female; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38892701
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111768 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024Adenoviruses (AdVs) have a significant impact in both medical and environmental contexts. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AdV in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Adenoviruses (AdVs) have a significant impact in both medical and environmental contexts. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AdV in different water types, such as untreated and treated wastewater, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, and other water matrices. A total of 239 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Adenoviruses were detected in various waters worldwide. The overall prevalence in water was found to be 59.2%, with the highest prevalence in untreated wastewater (83.1%) and treated wastewater (75.3%), followed by "other water matrices" (53.4%), surface water (49.5%) drinking water (22.7%), and groundwater (18.5%). Most of the studies did not assess the viability of the viruses, leading to weak links between water contamination and risk. Both human and animal AdV were found in water environments. The findings suggest that water, including drinking water, could be a significant route of AdV transmission in both developed and developing economies.
Topics: Adenoviridae; Drinking Water; Water Microbiology; Wastewater; Humans; Groundwater; Animals; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 37678554
DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2255559 -
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Apr 2024Recent studies have found arsenic contamination of drinking water in some parts of Iran, as in many other countries. Thus, a comprehensive systematic review is necessary... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Recent studies have found arsenic contamination of drinking water in some parts of Iran, as in many other countries. Thus, a comprehensive systematic review is necessary to assess the distribution and concentration of arsenic in drinking water sources. For this purpose, articles published from the first identification until December 2023, were retrieved from various national and international databases. Of all the studies examined (11,726), 137 articles were selected for review based on their conceptual relationship to this survey. A review of the extracted studies presented that ICP methods (ICP-MS, ICP-OES, 56%) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS, 34.1%) were the two most commonly used techniques for the analysis of arsenic in water samples. The order of arsenic content in the defined study areas is descending, as follows: northwest ˃ southeast ˃ southwest ˃ northeast. A review of studies performed in Iran depicted that provinces such as Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, and Kerman have the highest arsenic concentrations in water resources. Accordingly, the maximum concentration of arsenic was reported in Rayen, Kerman, and ranged from < 0.5-25,000 µg/L. The primary cause of elevated arsenic levels in water resources appears to be geologic structure, including volcanic activity, biogeochemical processes, sulfur-bearing volcanic rocks, Jurassic shale, the spatial coincidence of arsenic anomalies in tube wells and springs, and, to some extent, mining activities. The findings of the presented survey indicate that it is essential to take serious measures at the national level to minimize the health risks of arsenic contamination from drinking water consumption.
Topics: Drinking Water; Iran; Arsenic; Databases, Factual; Geology
PubMed: 38592550
DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-01943-2 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Mar 2024Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, lymphoma, and gastric cancer in humans. The prevalence and factors associated with H. pylori... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, lymphoma, and gastric cancer in humans. The prevalence and factors associated with H. pylori infection are varied across countries. Thus, a comprehensive review has not been done on prevalence and associated factors in East Africa. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify factors associated with H. pylori infection in East Africa.
METHODS
Articles written in English language were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct. Relevant articles were selected and screened using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Publication bias was assessed qualitatively and qualitatively using funnel plot symmetry and Egger's test, respectively. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I measure. Data were analyzed using Stata software, version 14, and the "metan" command.
RESULTS
A total of 231 articles were retrieved from nineteen countries in East Africa. Of these, 70 articles were eligible for the review. The pooled prevalence of H. pylori in East Africa was 50.98% (95% CI: 45.05-56.90). The prevalence of H. pylori infection ranged from 7.7 to 94.5% in East African countries. The highest pooled prevalence was from Sudan (61.3%, 95% CI: 52.6-69.9), and the lowest prevalence was reported from Uganda (40.7%, 95% CI: 33-48.3). Persons with no formal education (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.22-2.83), lack of hand washing habit after toilet (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.45-3.02), having a history of dyspepsia (OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.31-3.18), living in rural areas (OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 0.38-3.23), and having unclean water source (OR = 1.5; 95% CI:0.45-3.45) were all associated with higher risk for H. pylori infection.
CONCLUSION
More than half of the populations of East African countries were positive for H. pylori infection. Rural residence, source of water, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with H. pylori infection. Therefore, healthcare workers could provide health education on the aforementioned risk factors, and the government and other stakeholders could improve the source of drinking water in East Africa.
Topics: Humans; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter Infections; Prevalence; Africa, Eastern; Risk Factors; Water
PubMed: 38040991
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01190-0 -
Surgery For Obesity and Related... Oct 2023Obesity is considered one of the independent risk factors for atherosclerosis and is strongly correlated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Previous studies... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Obesity is considered one of the independent risk factors for atherosclerosis and is strongly correlated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Previous studies showed carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and nitrite-mediated dilatation (NMD) are reliable non-invasive markers of arterial damage and dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on CIMT, FMD, and NMD markers in patients with obesity. A systematic search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until May 2022. All the English-published studies on the effect of bariatric surgery on CIMT, FMD, and NMD were included. A quantitative meta-analysis was performed, as well as subgroup analyses for the type of procedure and duration of follow-up. Meta-analysis of 41 studies with 1639 patients showed CIMT was significantly reduced by .11 mm after bariatric surgery (95% CI, -.14 to -.08; P < .001; mean follow-up = 10.8 mo). The pooled analysis of 23 studies with 1106 patients showed an increase of FMD by 4.57% after bariatric surgery (95% CI, 2.69-6.44; P < .001; mean follow-up = 11.5 mo). The results of a pooled analysis of 12 studies with 346 patients showed a significant increase of NMD by 2.46% after bariatric surgery (95% CI, .99-3.94; P < .001; mean follow-up = 11.4 mo). The random effect meta-regression demonstrated that baseline CIMT and FMD significantly affect the changes in CIMT and FMD. This meta-analysis showed bariatric surgery can improve CIMT, FMD, and NMD markers in patients with obesity. These improvements show the known effect of metabolic surgery in decreasing cardiovascular risk.
Topics: Humans; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Dilatation; Nitrites; Bariatric Surgery; Obesity; Dilatation, Pathologic; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37429755
DOI: 10.1016/j.soard.2023.05.010