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Globalization and Health May 2024Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are estimated to be the leading cause of global death. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to public health worldwide. It is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are estimated to be the leading cause of global death. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to public health worldwide. It is considered a potentially modifiable environmental risk factor for CVDs because it can be prevented by adopting the right national and international policies. The present study was conducted to synthesize the results of existing studies on the burden of CVDs attributed to air pollution, namely prevalence, hospitalization, disability, mortality, and cost characteristics.
METHODS
A systematic search was performed in the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases to identify studies, without time limitations, up to June 13, 2023. Exclusion criteria included prenatal exposure, exposure to indoor air pollution, review studies, conferences, books, letters to editors, and animal and laboratory studies. The quality of the articles was evaluated based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Assessment Form, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and Drummond Criteria using a self-established scale. The articles that achieved categories A and B were included in the study.
RESULTS
Of the 566 studies obtained, based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 92 studies were defined as eligible in the present systematic review. The results of these investigations supported that chronic exposure to various concentrations of air pollutants, increased the prevalence, hospitalization, disability, mortality, and costs of CVDs attributed to air pollution, even at relatively low levels. According to the results, the main pollutant investigated closely associated with hypertension was PM. Furthermore, the global DALY related to stroke during 2016-2019 has increased by 1.8 times and hospitalization related to CVDs in 2023 has increased by 8.5 times compared to 2014.
CONCLUSION
Ambient air pollution is an underestimated but significant and modifiable contributor to CVDs burden and public health costs. This should not only be considered an environmental problem but also as an important risk factor for a significant increase in CVD cases and mortality. The findings of the systematic review highlighted the opportunity to apply more preventive measures in the public health sector to reduce the footprint of CVDs in human society.
Topics: Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Air Pollution; Cost of Illness; Environmental Exposure; Hospitalization; Prevalence
PubMed: 38702798
DOI: 10.1186/s12992-024-01040-0 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Sep 2023Mobile health (mHealth) technology has great potential for addressing the epidemic of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) by assisting health providers (HPs) with... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Mobile health (mHealth) technology has great potential for addressing the epidemic of chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) by assisting health providers (HPs) with managing these diseases. However, there is currently limited evidence regarding the acceptance of mHealth among HPs, which is a key prerequisite for harnessing this potential.
OBJECTIVE
This review aimed to investigate the perceptions and experiences of HPs regarding the barriers to and facilitators of mHealth use for CNCDs.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library (via Ovid) for studies that assessed the perceptions and experiences of HPs regarding the barriers to and facilitators of mHealth use for CNCDs. Qualitative studies and mixed methods studies involving qualitative methods published in English were included. Data synthesis and interpretation were performed using a thematic synthesis approach.
RESULTS
A total of 18,242 studies were identified, of which 24 (0.13%) met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 6 themes related to facilitators were identified, namely empowering patient self-management, increasing efficiency, improving access to care, increasing the quality of care, improving satisfaction, and improving the usability of the internet and mobile software. Furthermore, 8 themes related to barriers were identified, namely limitation due to digital literacy, personal habits, or health problems; concern about additional burden; uncertainty around the value of mHealth technology; fear of medicolegal risks; lack of comfortable design and experience; lack of resources and incentives; lack of policy guidance and regulation; and worrisome side effects resulting from the use of mHealth.
CONCLUSIONS
This study contributes to the understanding of the beneficial factors of and obstacles to mHealth adoption by HPs for CNCDs. The findings of this study may provide significant insights for health care workers and policy makers who seek ways to improve the adoption of mHealth by HPs for CNCDs.
Topics: Humans; Noncommunicable Diseases; Administrative Personnel; Biomedical Technology; Chronic Disease; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
PubMed: 37698902
DOI: 10.2196/45437 -
Heliyon Jan 2024This study aimed at determining the effects of technology adoption on farmers' well-being. Specifically, we analysed and extended the current understanding of the topic... (Review)
Review
This study aimed at determining the effects of technology adoption on farmers' well-being. Specifically, we analysed and extended the current understanding of the topic by focusing on the concepts of technology adoption and well-being. The data were sourced from 30 papers that were selected based on specific criteria from the WoS and Scopus databases. They were acquired through a systematic search and quality appraisal process. The adopted technology can be grouped into sustainable agricultural practices and innovations, digital agriculture and information technology, precision farming and resource management, financial inclusion and agricultural transactions, remote sensing and satellite technology, and agricultural programs and initiatives. Most papers indicated that technology adoption improved farmers' well-being which was basically measured using productivity and income. The measure however lacked farmers' value judgments, such as happiness. Agricultural technology could have a mixed effect on farmers' well-being, depending on the type of technology adopted and the compatibility of farmers with technology in their agricultural practices. This study will assist researchers in developing an appropriate framework and strategy to improve farmers' welfare, which can alleviate poverty. These may further help policymakers identify the best technological innovations that can improve farmers' economic and social welfare, thereby facilitating the development of plans to meet farmers' needs and interests. Finally, the study suggested future research directions for researchers and academics.
PubMed: 38312653
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24316 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Nov 2023Chronic diseases are a leading cause of adult mortality, accounting for 41 million deaths globally each year. Low levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior are... (Review)
Review
RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) Evaluation of the Use of Activity Trackers in the Clinical Care of Adults Diagnosed With a Chronic Disease: Integrative Systematic Review.
BACKGROUND
Chronic diseases are a leading cause of adult mortality, accounting for 41 million deaths globally each year. Low levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior are major risk factors for adults to develop a chronic disease. Physical activity interventions can help support patients in clinical care to be more active. Commercial activity trackers that can measure daily steps, physical activity intensity, sedentary behavior, and distance moved are being more frequently used within health-related interventions. The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework is a planning and evaluation approach to explore the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of interventions.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to conduct an integrative systematic review and report the 5 main RE-AIM dimensions in interventions that used activity trackers in clinical care to improve physical activity or reduce sedentary behavior in adults diagnosed with chronic diseases.
METHODS
A search strategy and study protocol were developed and registered on the PROSPERO platform. Inclusion criteria included adults (18 years and older) diagnosed with a chronic disease and have used an activity tracker within their clinical care. Searches of 10 databases and gray literature were conducted, and qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies were included. Screening was undertaken by more than 1 researcher to reduce the risk of bias. After screening, the final studies were analyzed using a RE-AIM framework data extraction evaluation tool. This tool assisted in identifying the 28 RE-AIM indicators within the studies and linked them to the 5 main RE-AIM dimensions.
RESULTS
The initial search identified 4585 potential studies. After a title and abstract review followed by full-text screening, 15 studies were identified for data extraction. The analysis of the extracted data found that the RE-AIM dimensions of adoption (n=1, 7% of studies) and maintenance (n=2, 13% of studies) were underreported. The use of qualitative thematic analysis to understand the individual RE-AIM dimensions was also underreported and only used in 3 of the studies. Two studies used qualitative analysis to explore the effectiveness of the project, while 1 study used thematic analysis to understand the implementation of an intervention.
CONCLUSIONS
Further research is required in the use of activity trackers to support patients to lead a more active lifestyle. Such studies should consider using the RE-AIM framework at the planning stage with a greater focus on the dimensions of adoption and maintenance and using qualitative methods to understand the main RE-AIM dimensions within their design. These results should form the basis for establishing long-term interventions in clinical care.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022319635; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=319635.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Chronic Disease; Databases, Factual; Exercise; Fitness Trackers; Sedentary Behavior
PubMed: 37955960
DOI: 10.2196/44919 -
Journal of Sport and Health Science May 2024The anti-inflammatory effect of exercise may be an underlying factor in improving several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The anti-inflammatory effect of exercise may be an underlying factor in improving several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the evidence on the role of exercise training in mitigating inflammation in adolescents and adults with autoimmune disease.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were systematically reviewed for related studies published between January 1, 2003, and August 31, 2023. All randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of exercise interventions with autoimmune disease study participants that evaluated inflammation-related biomarkers were included. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Tool for the assEssment of Study qualiTy and reporting in EXercise scale and Cochrane bias risk tool.
RESULTS
A total of 14,565 records were identified. After screening the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 87 were eligible for the systematic review. These studies were conducted in 25 different countries and included a total of 2779 participants (patients with autoimmune disease, in exercise or control groups). Overall, the evidence suggests that inflammation-related markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α were reduced by regular exercise interventions. Regular exercise interventions combined with multiple exercise modes were associated with greater benefits.
CONCLUSION
Regular exercise training by patients with autoimmune disease exerts an anti-inflammatory influence. This systematic review provides support for the promotion and development of clinical exercise intervention programs for patients with autoimmune disease. Most patients with autoimmune disease can safely adopt moderate exercise training protocols, but changes in inflammation biomarkers will be modest at best. Acute exercise interventions are ineffective or even modestly but transiently pro-inflammatory.
Topics: Humans; Autoimmune Diseases; Inflammation; Biomarkers; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; C-Reactive Protein; Adolescent; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Adult; Interleukin-6
PubMed: 38341137
DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2024.02.002 -
Fertility and Sterility Aug 2023Noninvasive and minimally invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is a tool that may one day become the gold standard for embryonic chromosomal...
Noninvasive and minimally invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is a tool that may one day become the gold standard for embryonic chromosomal screening. Investigations on this topic have ranged from studying the culture media of embryos to the fluid inside the blastocoel, all in an attempt to find a reliable source of DNA without the need to biopsy the embryo. There is great interest across the board, both from those for and against biopsy, in a reliable test process that would give the patient and provider the same information possible from a biopsy without the risk. We aim to explore the current available research to better understand the utility and accuracy of PGT-A with these new sampling techniques. General concordance rates in comparison with biopsy-based PGT-A are promising, but it is clear that additional research and understanding are needed before adopting noninvasive and minimally invasive PGT-A as a widely used tool with strong clinical utility.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Preimplantation Diagnosis; Genetic Testing; Aneuploidy; Blastocyst; Culture Media; Fertilization in Vitro
PubMed: 37356468
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.06.013 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2023The proposal of the global leadership initiative in malnutrition (GLIM) criteria has received great attention from clinicians. The criteria are mainly used in the...
Prevalence of malnutrition based on global leadership initiative in malnutrition criteria for completeness of diagnosis and future risk of malnutrition based on current malnutrition diagnosis: systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The proposal of the global leadership initiative in malnutrition (GLIM) criteria has received great attention from clinicians. The criteria are mainly used in the research environment and have the potential to be widely used in the clinic in the future. However, the prevalence of malnutrition and risk of future malnutrition based on a current diagnosis of malnutrition are worth exploring.
METHODS
A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was performed from the earliest available date to 1 February 2023. According to the diagnostic criteria of the GLIM, we analysed the prevalence of malnutrition by directly adopting the GLIM criteria for diagnosis without a previous nutritional risk screening (one-step approach) and by adopting the GLIM criteria for diagnosis after a nutritional risk screening (two-step approach). The main outcome was the prevalence of malnutrition based on the one-and two-step approaches. Secondary outcomes were the future risk of malnutrition based on the GLIM diagnosis, including mortality within and beyond 1 year. primary outcomes were pooled using random-effects models, and secondary outcomes are presented as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
A total of 64 articles were included in the study, including a total of 47,654 adult hospitalized patients and 15,089 malnourished patients based on the GLIM criteria. Malnutrition was diagnosed by the one-step approach in 18 studies and by the two-step approach in 46 studies. The prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed by the one-and two-step approaches was 53% (95% CI, 42%-64%) and 39% (95% CI, 0.35%-0.43%), respectively. The prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed by the GLIM criteria after a nutritional risk screening was quite different; the prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed by the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002) GLIM tool was 35% (95% CI, 29%-40%); however, the prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed by the Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA) GLIM tool was 48% (95% CI, 35%-62%). Among the disease types, the prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients was 44% (95% CI, 36%-52%), while that in acute and critically ill patients was 44% (95% CI, 33%-56%). The prevalence in patients in internal medicine wards was 40% (95% CI, 34%-45%), while that in patients in surgical wards was 47% (95% CI, 30%-64%). In addition, the mortality risk within 1 year (HR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.95-3.52; = 77.1%) and beyond 1 year (HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.70-2.45; = 59.9%) of patients diagnosed with malnutrition by the GLIM criteria was double that of patients with normal nutrition.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed by the GLIM criteria after a nutritional risk screening was significantly lower than the prevalence of malnutrition diagnosed directly by the GLIM criteria. In addition, the mortality risk was significantly greater among malnourished patients assessed by the GLIM criteria.: identifier CRD42023398454.
PubMed: 37469547
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1174945 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023This study reviews empirical research literature that deals with existing caring approaches to nurture and educate gifted children in music. The focus on the ethics of...
This study reviews empirical research literature that deals with existing caring approaches to nurture and educate gifted children in music. The focus on the ethics of care stems from the need to expand notions of talent development in music from a purely behaviorist focus often associated with traumatic experiences, toward a perspective that addresses socio-emotional and cultural aspects of human development across the lifespan. We employed the Preferred Reporting Systems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews method to review literature concerning caring approaches to the upbringing and education of children gifted for music. A total of 652 records dating from the 1930s and searched via both digital databases and manually in 41 relevant journals were retrieved from which 506 were examined using our inclusion criteria. A detailed analysis process allowed the authors to include 14 studies that were organized according to sampling location, methodologies, quality appraisal, and criteria-related topics. Eleven of the studies were qualitative with a majority of these employing semi-structured interviews for data collection, while the remaining meta strategy and quantitative studies typically employed questionnaires. Salient topics covered by the selected studies included: addressing inequalities in opportunity to access gifted programs; identifying socio-emotional needs of gifted (and twice-exceptional) students; offering a nurturing environment; focusing on intrinsic motivation; developing coping strategies for overall wellbeing; and cultivating healthy attitudes toward competitions through a spirit of peer collaboration and humility. These aspects were clustered into Francoy Gagné's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent regarding natural abilities, environmental, intrapersonal, and developmental catalysts that are involved in nurturing talents in gifted children. Results suggest that the existing research on caring approaches to musically gifted children's learning and development are scarce and that current knowledge is based mostly on single one-off studies rather than systematic research, and on studies that examine a selection of aspects but not adopting a larger-scale theoretical framework. This review highlights the need for more systematic, multidisciplinary, and empirically robust studies on caring approaches to musically gifted children's learning and development, and for policy developments in educational settings where acceleration programs are offered for young, gifted music learners.
PubMed: 37575454
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1167292 -
Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine 2023Different countries throughout the world have adopted non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce and control SARS - CoV-2. In this systematic approach, the impact of... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Different countries throughout the world have adopted non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce and control SARS - CoV-2. In this systematic approach, the impact of non-pharmacologic interventions in management of COVID-19 pandemic was assessed.
METHODS
Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, systematic search was carried out on the basis of a search strategy on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and WHO databases on COVID-19. The impact of travel ban, personal protective equipment, distancing, contact tracing, school closure, and social distancing and the combined effect of interventions on COVID-19 were assessed.
RESULTS
Of the 14,857 articles found, 44 were relevant. Studies in different countries have shown that various non-pharmacological interventions have been used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The travel ban, either locally or internationally in most of the countries, movement restriction, social distancing, lockdown, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), quarantine, school closure, work place closure, and contact tracing had a significant impact on the reduction of mortality or morbidity of COVID-19.
CONCLUSION
Evidence shows that the implementation of non-pharmacologic interventions (NPIs), for this study suggests that the effectiveness of any NPI alone is probably limited, thus, a combination of various actions, for example, social distancing, isolation, and quarantine, distancing in the workplace and use of personal protective equipment, is more effective in reducing COVID-19.
PubMed: 37671267
DOI: 10.22037/aaem.v11i1.1828 -
Computers in Biology and Medicine Sep 2023Deep learning (DL) has become one of the major approaches in computational dermatopathology, evidenced by a significant increase in this topic in the current literature....
Deep learning (DL) has become one of the major approaches in computational dermatopathology, evidenced by a significant increase in this topic in the current literature. We aim to provide a structured and comprehensive overview of peer-reviewed publications on DL applied to dermatopathology focused on melanoma. In comparison to well-published DL methods on non-medical images (e.g., classification on ImageNet), this field of application comprises a specific set of challenges, such as staining artifacts, large gigapixel images, and various magnification levels. Thus, we are particularly interested in the pathology-specific technical state-of-the-art. We also aim to summarize the best performances achieved thus far with respect to accuracy, along with an overview of self-reported limitations. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed journal and conference articles published between 2012 and 2022 in the databases ACM Digital Library, Embase, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and Scopus, expanded by forward and backward searches to identify 495 potentially eligible studies. After screening for relevance and quality, a total of 54 studies were included. We qualitatively summarized and analyzed these studies from technical, problem-oriented, and task-oriented perspectives. Our findings suggest that the technical aspects of DL for histopathology in melanoma can be further improved. The DL methodology was adopted later in this field, and still lacks the wider adoption of DL methods already shown to be effective for other applications. We also discuss upcoming trends toward ImageNet-based feature extraction and larger models. While DL has achieved human-competitive accuracy in routine pathological tasks, its performance on advanced tasks is still inferior to wet-lab testing (for example). Finally, we discuss the challenges impeding the translation of DL methods to clinical practice and provide insight into future research directions.
Topics: Humans; Deep Learning; Melanoma
PubMed: 37315382
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107083