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Journal of Ethnopharmacology Dec 2023Cerebral ischemia is a common disease that seriously threatens the health of human beings. Tanshinone IIA (TSA) is a fat-soluble compound isolated from the traditional... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Cerebral ischemia is a common disease that seriously threatens the health of human beings. Tanshinone IIA (TSA) is a fat-soluble compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Danshen. Recent studies have shown that TSA plays a significant protective role in the animal models of cerebral ischemic injury.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The meta-analysis was to evaluate the protective effect of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) extract (TSA) in cerebral ischemic injury, aiming at providing scientific evidence for clinical application of TSA in the treatment of cerebral ischemia in patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All relevant studies published in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP) and Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM) before Jan 2023 were systematically retrieved. The methodological quality was assessed by SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for the animal studies. Data was analyzed using Rev Man 5.3 software.
RESULTS
A total of 13 studies were included. Compared with the control group, TSA significantly reduced the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (mean difference [MD], -1.78; 95% CI, [-2.13, -1.44]; P < 0.00001) and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) (MD, -0.69; 95% CI, [-0.87, -0.52]; P < 0.00001). TSA also inhibited the activation of brain nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) (MD, - 0.36; 95% CI, [-0.41, -0.32]; P < 0.00001), malondialdehyde (MDA) (MD, -0.90; 95% CI, [-1.66, -0.13]; P = 0.02), cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3) (MD, -1.39; 95% CI, [-1.98, -0.81]; P < 0.00001), and reduced cerebral infarction volume(MD, -16.26; 95% CI, [-20.76, -11.77]; P < 0.00001), brain water content (MD, -4.89; 95% CI, [-7.06, -2.71]; P < 0.0001) and neurological deficit scores (MD, -1.19; 95% CI, [-1.48, -0.89]; P < 0.00001). Additionally, TSA increased the brain content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (MD, 68.31; 95% CI, [10.41, 126.22]; P = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
The result of this study showed that TSA had a protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury in animal models, and the mechanism is associated with the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress, and the inhibition of cell apoptosis. However, the quality of included studies may affect the accuracy of positive results. Therefore, more high-quality randomized controlled animal experiments are need for meta-analysis in the future.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Brain Ischemia; Cerebral Infarction; Brain; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Brain Injuries
PubMed: 37400004
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116772 -
Infectious Diseases of Poverty Jan 2024Brucellosis is a zoonotic affliction instigated by bacteria belonging to the genus Brucella and is characterized by a diverse range of pervasiveness, multiple... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Brucellosis is a zoonotic affliction instigated by bacteria belonging to the genus Brucella and is characterized by a diverse range of pervasiveness, multiple transmission routes, and serious hazards. It is imperative to amalgamate the current knowledge and identify gaps pertaining to the role of ticks in brucellosis transmission.
METHODS
We systematically searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, Google Scholar, and PubMed on the topic published until April 23, 2022. The procedure was performed in accordance with the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The selected articles were categorized across three major topic areas, and the potential data was extracted to describe evidence-practice gaps by two reviewers.
RESULTS
The search identified 83 eligible studies for the final analyses. The results highlighted the potential capacity of ticks in brucellosis transmission as evidenced by the detection of Brucella in 16 different tick species. The pooled overall prevalence of Brucella in ticks was 33.87% (range: 0.00-87.80%). The review also revealed the capability of Brucella to circulate in parasitic ticks' different developmental stages, thus posing a potential threat to animal and human health. Empirical evidence from in vitro rodent infection experiments has revealed that ticks possess the capability to transmit Brucella to uninfected animals (range: 45.00-80.00%). Moreover, significant epidemiological associations have been found between the occurrence of brucellosis in animals and tick control in rangelands, which further suggests that ticks may serve as potential vectors for brucellosis transmission in ruminants. Notably, a mere three cases of human brucellosis resulting from potential tick bites were identified in search of global clinical case reports from 1963 to 2019.
CONCLUSIONS
It is imperative to improve the techniques used to identify Brucella in ticks, particularly by developing a novel, efficient, precise approach that can be applied in a field setting. Furthermore, due to the lack of adequate evidence of tick-borne brucellosis, it is essential to integrate various disciplines, including experimental animal science, epidemiology, molecular genetics, and others, to better understand the efficacy of tick-borne brucellosis. By amalgamating multiple disciplines, we can enhance our comprehension and proficiency in tackling tick-borne brucellosis.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ticks; Professional Practice Gaps; Brucellosis; Brucella; China
PubMed: 38191468
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01170-4 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Oct 2023, a plant in the Orchidaceae family, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Sweet and slightly cold in nature, it can invigorate the... (Review)
Review
, a plant in the Orchidaceae family, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Sweet and slightly cold in nature, it can invigorate the stomach, promote fluid production, nourish Yin, and dissipate heat. Over the past decade, more than 60 compounds have been derived from , including flavonoids, bibenzyl, and phenanthrene. Various studies have explored the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of these compounds, which have shown antitumor, hypoglycemic, hypertensive, gastrointestinal-regulatory, visceral organ protection, antiaging, and neurorestorative effects. This paper presents a systematic review of the structural classification, biological activity, and pharmacological mechanisms of different chemical components obtained from over the past decade. This review aims to provide a reference for future study and establish a foundation for clinical applications. Furthermore, this review identifies potential shortcomings in current research as well as potential directions and methodologies in future plant research.
Topics: Dendrobium; Medicine, Chinese Traditional
PubMed: 37800982
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c04154 -
Pharmaceutical Biology Dec 2023glycosides (TG), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat chronic urticaria (CU) in China, and the evidence of TG for CU needs to be updated thoroughly. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
glycosides (TG), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat chronic urticaria (CU) in China, and the evidence of TG for CU needs to be updated thoroughly.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of TG combined with H1-antihistamine (H1-AH) in adults with CU.
METHODS
Eligible randomized controlled trials were searched in eight databases until May 31, 2022, including CNKI, WanFang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science. The search terms included urticaria, , Lei Gong Teng, and Leigongteng. Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 12.0 were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 27 studies with 2788 patients were included. The pooled results showed that TG plus H1-AH was superior to H1-AH alone in cure rate (RR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.63, = 0.0003), total efficacy rate (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.30 to 1.50, < 0.00001), pruritus (MD = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.54 to -0.11, = 0.003), wheal number (MD = -0.31, 95% CI = -0.55 to -0.07, = 0.01), wheal size (MD = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.46 to -0.19, < 0.00001), and the serum level of immunoglobulin E (SMD = -1.39, 95% CI = -2.42 to -0.36, = 0.008). Moreover, adverse events between two groups were mild, and their incidences were not significantly different.
CONCLUSIONS
The combination of TG and H1-AH is a promising and safe treatment for adults with refractory CU. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm the evidence.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Tripterygium; Glycosides; Chronic Urticaria; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Drugs, Chinese Herbal
PubMed: 36694954
DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2169468 -
Health Policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Nov 2023Conspiracy theories have been widespread in public discourses about COVID-19. Belief in conspiracy theories has negative effects on COVID-19 protective and preventive... (Review)
Review
Conspiracy theories have been widespread in public discourses about COVID-19. Belief in conspiracy theories has negative effects on COVID-19 protective and preventive behaviour. However, evidence on the prevalence of belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, remains fragmented. We conducted a systematic review on the adult general population prevalence of belief in different COVID-19 conspiracy theories at country and regional level around the globe. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases (end of search: March 22, 2022). We followed guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We identified 1637 potentially relevant titles in our search and included 33 studies in our review, reflecting conspiracy theory endorsement between March 2020 and August 2021. We found high belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories in most studies: 29 studies measured at least one conspiracy theory belief prevalence ≥20%. For several conspiracy theories, e.g. "Lab origin" or "Destabilization and power gain", prevalence was often between 20 and 50%. Our findings call for increased awareness about COVID-19 conspiracy theories and the need for tailored, context specific conspiracy theory preparedness, prevention and control. Development and integration of a public health oriented communication and infodemic management strategy, alongside the implementation of conspiracy theory endorsement risk assessments are essential for supporting public health policy in future health emergencies.
Topics: Adult; Humans; COVID-19; Public Health; Communication; Culture
PubMed: 37688953
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104903 -
Pain Practice : the Official Journal of... Jan 2024Individuals recovering from acute COVID-19 episodes may continue to suffer from various ongoing symptoms, collectively referred to as Long-COVID. Long-term pain symptoms... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Individuals recovering from acute COVID-19 episodes may continue to suffer from various ongoing symptoms, collectively referred to as Long-COVID. Long-term pain symptoms are amongst the most common and clinically significant symptoms to be reported for this post-COVID-19 syndrome.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the proportions of persisting pain symptoms experienced by individuals past the acute phase of COVID-19 and to identify their associated functional consequences and inflammatory correlates.
METHODS
Two online databases were systematically searched from their inception until 31 March 2022. We searched primary research articles in English, which evaluated individuals after laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 acute phase resolution and specifically reported on pain symptoms and their inflammatory and/or functional outcomes.
RESULTS
Of the 611 identified articles, 26 were included, used for data extraction, and assessed for their methodological quality and risk of bias by two independent reviewers. Pain symptoms were grouped under one of six major pain domains, serving as our primary co-outcomes. Proportional meta-analyses of pooled logit-transformed values of single proportions were performed using the random-effects-restricted maximum-likelihood model. An estimated 8%, 6%, 18%, 18%, 17%, and 12% of individuals continued to report the persistence of chest, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal joint, musculoskeletal muscle, general body, and nervous system-related pain symptoms, respectively, for up to one year after acute phase resolution of COVID-19. Considerable levels of heterogeneity were demonstrated across all results. Functional and quality-of-life impairments and some inflammatory biomarker elevations were associated with the persistence of long-COVID pain symptoms.
CONCLUSION
This study's findings suggest that although not well characterized, long-COVID pain symptoms are being experienced by non-negligible proportions of those recovering from acute COVID-19 episodes, thus highlighting the importance of future research efforts to focus on this aspect.
Topics: Humans; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; COVID-19; Pain; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 37475709
DOI: 10.1111/papr.13277 -
International Journal For Equity in... Jul 2023Gender-transformative health interventions that involve men and boys are gaining global reach, adaptability to specific geographical, population and epidemiological...
Gender-transformative health interventions that involve men and boys are gaining global reach, adaptability to specific geographical, population and epidemiological contexts, public endorsement, and conceptual sophistication. However, the ways in which masculinities are conceptualised and operationalised in theory and practice across these interventions remains unclear. The purpose of this scoping review is to map intervention studies that conceptually grapple with masculinities and analyse: a) how the concept of masculinities is adapted and operationalised in gender-transformative interventions, with respect to intervention population and context, b) what the relationship between the concept of masculinities and its wider theoretical embedding is, and c) on which levels transformation can be observed when working with 'masculinities'.We conducted a search in APA Psych Articles, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL via EBSCO, MedLine, PubMed, and Web of Sciences (December 2021) looking for peer-reviewed studies on gender-transformative health interventions which engaged with masculinities conceptually. There were no restrictions regarding language, publication date, or geography. Forty-two articles were included in this review. Our abductive analysis finds that 'hegemonic masculinities' is a central concept in almost all included studies. This shows how the concept is adaptable to a range of different intervention contexts. The review further identifies five theoretical approaches, that help operationalise masculinities on an analytical level: feminist framework, affect theory, critical pedagogy, theories of social change, and ecological approaches. Lastly, this review draws out six levels on which transformation can be observed in the intervention outcomes: relational level, symbolic level, material level, affective level, cognitive-behavioural level, and community-structural level. The discussion underlines that processes and practices of (gender) transformation also require engagement with theories of transformation more widely and advocates for theoretical pluralism. Lastly, implications for practice, including preventative, ecological and community-based care models, are drawn out.
Topics: Male; Humans; Masculinity; Men; Social Change
PubMed: 37501204
DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01955-x -
Translational Behavioral Medicine Feb 2024A growing number of organizations are prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and antiracism in the workplace, including investing resources in DEI or...
A growing number of organizations are prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and antiracism in the workplace, including investing resources in DEI or antiracism training. However, such trainings vary widely in curriculum, objectives, delivery, and evaluation, with little known about the efficacy of existing trainings. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate training characteristics, measures, and results of peer-reviewed studies (published between 2000 and 2022) testing DEI or antiracism trainings. Studies were identified using Google Scholar, JSTOR, and a university library database. Key search terms included "diversity, equity, and inclusion training"; "antiracism training"; and "effect," "impact," "outcome," or "evaluation." The search yielded N = 15 DEI training studies and N = 8 antiracism training studies. The majority of studies (75% of antiracism training; 66.6% of DEI training) utilized a one-time training session. Content, objectives, measures, and impact varied widely across studies. Randomized designs were uncommon (13%), and over 70% of studies had majority female participants. Findings highlight several strategies to advance the field of DEI and antiracism training, such as shifting curriculum from targeting individual knowledge to supporting behavioral and organizational change, providing longitudinal training, standardizing outcomes of interest, and implementing rigorous evaluation methods.
Topics: Female; Humans; Antiracism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; Curriculum; Knowledge; Universities
PubMed: 37857367
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibad061 -
Journal of Clinical Nursing Sep 2023Some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based integrated health interventions have been used for depression, but pooled efficacy remains unknown. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Some traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based integrated health interventions have been used for depression, but pooled efficacy remains unknown.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of TCM-based integrated health interventions for relieving depression.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted on 17 databases from inception up to June 2022. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined an integrated health intervention based on TCM theory for depression were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the second version of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials, and the quality of evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.
RESULTS
Eighteen RCTs with a total of 1448 depressed participants were included. Health care providers, mainly nurses (14 studies), implemented TCM-based integrated health interventions. The pooled results showed that TCM-based integrated health interventions had larger effects on reducing depressive symptoms (15 studies; standardised mean difference = -2.05; 95% CI: -2.74, -1.37; p < .00001) compared with usual care at posttreatment but showed no significant difference contrasted to cognitive behavioural therapy (two studies, p = .31). However, the overall evidence was low.
CONCLUSIONS
The meta-analysis results indicated that TCM-based integrated health interventions were effective in reducing depression. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the low quality of the included studies. Future RCTs with rigorous designs should be conducted to provide robust evidence of the efficacy of TCM-based integrated health interventions in treating depression.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
TCM-based integrated health interventions might be a potentially effective alternative for depression. Nurses could play an important role in designing and providing TCM-based integrated nursing interventions for patients with depression.
NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on data from previous studies.
Topics: Humans; Psychotherapy; Depression; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
PubMed: 36946424
DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16666 -
PloS One 2023Menopause and the changes it brings to a woman's life necessitate a comprehensive approach to face and experience the transition. This paper aims at synthesizing results...
OBJECTIVE
Menopause and the changes it brings to a woman's life necessitate a comprehensive approach to face and experience the transition. This paper aims at synthesizing results from qualitative studies of menopausal experiences among Chinese and other women of similar ethnicity and culture.
DESIGN AND METHOD
A comprehensive search strategy of multiple databases along with bibliographic hand searches was employed to identify qualitative studies published in English peer-reviewed journals between 2008 and 2022 focused on the menopausal experiences (peri and post-menopause) of Chinese and other women of similar ethnic backgrounds. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The final sample consisted of 238 women aged between 40 to 60 years who had experienced menopausal symptoms. This qualitative systematic literature review adopted Noblit and Hare's seven-stage theoretical meta-ethnographic approach to construct an inductive and interpretive form of synthesis and subsequent analysis.
SYNTHESES OF FINDINGS
The synthesis of primary data identified four key concepts that entitle women's menopausal experiences: being menopausal, ramifications on well-being, family and social support around menopause, and healthcare throughout menopause. The subsequent second-order interpretation revealed that women accepted the inevitability of the natural aging process in the decline of sexual drive, reinvented relationships with partners, and expressed the significance of a supportive environment in order to successfully navigate the transition. Third-order interpretations sought to establish a link between physiological complications, loss of femininity, patriarchal-dominated societal norms, and a support system that spans the entire menopause experience. Healthcare's contribution has also been deemed to be insufficient due to a lack of information and empathy from health experts. Negligence or reluctance to seek healthcare and skepticism toward hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had also been a source of concern, as they have had the potential to exacerbate medical difficulties and emotional turmoil.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
A comprehensive approach that considers women's physiological and psychological well-being and major attempts to change cultural beliefs and norms about women's sexual health may be effective in aiding menopausal women during their transition. Additionally, appropriate guidelines and management should be in place to enable women to address menopause difficulties effectively with the assistance of healthcare experts and the support of their families and community.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Anthropology, Cultural; East Asian People; Menopause
PubMed: 37703245
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289322