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Indian Journal of Ophthalmology Oct 2023A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the success and complications of endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomy (ELDCR) vs. external... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the success and complications of endoscopic laser dacryocystorhinostomy (ELDCR) vs. external dacryocystorhinostomy (ExDCR) in primarily acquired nasal duct obstruction. The search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases revealed 109 studies on ELDCR and ExDCR. Eleven studies were found to be suitable for review. The primary objective was to compare the success rate between ELDCR and ExDCR. The secondary objectives were to analyze the surgical time, overall complications, bleeding, infection, intranasal synechia, and granulation tissue. Pooled analysis of all studies revealed that ELDCR had a significantly lesser success rate compared to ExDCR (80.3% vs. 91.6%; odds ratio [OR] 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.27, 0.62]; P < 00001; I = 13%). However, there were no difference in the overall complication rate (12.0% vs. 13.0%; OR 1.04; 95% CI [0.17, 6.33]; P = 0.97, I = 80%) and intranasal synechiae (9.5% vs. 4.3%; OR 2.22 [1.04, 4.72]; P = 0.04; I = 10%). The ExDCR group had significantly increased risks of bleeding (1.9% vs. 13.0%; OR 0.20; 95% CI [0.09, 0.47]; P = 0.0002; I = 0%) and infection (0.3% vs. 4.6%; OR 0.09; 95%CI [0.02, 0.51]; P = 0.006; I = 0%). Nevertheless, ELDCR needed a shorter surgical time compared to ExDCR (mean difference [MD] -28.35, 95% CI [-35.45, -21.26], P < 0.00001, I = 78%). Although ELDCR is associated with lesser bleeding, lesser infection, and shorter surgical duration, the success rate of ExDCR is higher.
Topics: Humans; Dacryocystorhinostomy; Lasers; Time Factors; Endoscopy; Treatment Outcome; Nasolacrimal Duct; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction
PubMed: 37787224
DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_3334_22 -
Sports Health 2023Many patients with osteoarthritis (OA) develop range of motion (ROM) restrictions in their affected joints (contractures), associated with worse outcomes and rising... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
CONTEXT
Many patients with osteoarthritis (OA) develop range of motion (ROM) restrictions in their affected joints (contractures), associated with worse outcomes and rising healthcare costs. Effective treatment guidance for lost ROM in OA-affected joints is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of stretching and/or bracing protocols on native (nonoperated) joint ROM in the setting of radiographically diagnosed OA.
DATA SOURCES
Seven databases, English-language.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies including participants with radiographically diagnosed OA in any native joint evaluating the effect of stretching or bracing on ROM.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level 2.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two reviewers independently screened articles for inclusion and assessed risk of bias in included trials. Primary outcomes were ROM, pain, and adverse events (AEs).
RESULTS
We identified 6284 articles. A total of 9 randomized controlled trials, all evaluating the knee, met eligibility criteria. For stretching, 3 pooled studies reported total ROM, which improved by mean difference (MD) of 9.3° (95% CI 5.0°,13.5°) versus controls. Two pooled studies showed improved knee flexion ROM (MD 10.8° [7.3°,14.2°]) versus controls. Five studies were pooled for knee extension with mean improvement 9.1° [3.4°,14.8°] versus controls. Seven pooled studies showed reduced pain (standardized MD 1.9 [1.2,2.6]). One study reported improved knee extension of 3.7° [2.9°,4.5°] with use of a device. No studies used orthoses. One study reported on AEs, with none noted. Performance bias was present in all included studies, and only 3 studies clearly reported blinding of outcome assessors. Strength of evidence for primary outcomes was considered moderate.
CONCLUSION
There was moderate-quality evidence that stretching is an effective strategy for improving knee total, flexion and extension ROM, and pain. Our findings suggest that stretching to regain joint ROM in OA is not futile and that stretching appears to be an appropriate conservative intervention to improve patient outcomes as part of a comprehensive knee OA treatment plan before arthroplasty.
Topics: Humans; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Braces; Exercise Therapy; Contracture; Pain
PubMed: 36691685
DOI: 10.1177/19417381221147281 -
Infection Oct 2023Progress of interventional cardiology has boosted the use of newer cardiac devices. These devices are perceived to be less prone to infections compared to traditional... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Progress of interventional cardiology has boosted the use of newer cardiac devices. These devices are perceived to be less prone to infections compared to traditional surgical prostheses, but little data are currently available. In this systematic review (SR), we summarize current literature regarding the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with MitraClip-related infective endocarditis (IE).
METHODS
We conducted a SR of PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Scopus between January 2003 and March 2022. MitraClip-related IE was defined according to 2015 ESC criteria whereas MitraClip involvement as vegetation on the device or on the mitral valve. Risk of bias was assessed through standardized checklist and potential bias of underestimation cannot be excluded. Data regarding clinical presentation, echocardiography, management, and outcome were collected.
RESULTS
Twenty-six cases of MitraClip-related IE were retrieved. The median age of patients was 76 [61-83] years with a median EuroScore of 41%. Fever was present in 65.8% of patients followed by signs and symptoms of heart failure (42.3%). IE occurred early in 20 (76.9%) cases with a median time between MitraClip implantation and IE symptom onset of 5 [2-16] months. Staphylococcus aureus was the major causative microorganism (46%). Surgical mitral valve replacement was needed in 50% of patients. A conservative medical approach was considered in the remainder. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 50% (surgical group: 38.4%; medical group: 58.3%; p = 0.433).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that MitraClip-related IE affects elderly, comorbid patients, is mostly due to Staphylococcus aureus, and has a poor prognosis irrespective of the therapeutic approach. Clinicians must be aware of the features of this new entity among cardiovascular infections.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Middle Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Treatment Outcome; Endocarditis, Bacterial; Endocarditis; Mitral Valve; Mitral Valve Insufficiency
PubMed: 37386329
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02067-y -
Journal of Neuroengineering and... Apr 2024A systematic review was conducted to determine the trends in devices and parameters used for brain photobiomodulation (PBM). The revised studies included clinical and... (Review)
Review
A systematic review was conducted to determine the trends in devices and parameters used for brain photobiomodulation (PBM). The revised studies included clinical and cadaveric approaches, in which light stimuli were applied to the head and/or neck. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were used for the systematic search. A total of 2133 records were screened, from which 97 were included in this review. The parameters that were extracted and analysed in each article were the device design, actuation area, actuation site, wavelength, mode of operation, power density, energy density, power output, energy per session and treatment time. To organize device information, 11 categories of devices were defined, according to their characteristics. The most used category of devices was laser handpieces, which relate to 21% of all devices, while 28% of the devices were not described. Studies for cognitive function and physiological characterisation are the most well defined ones and with more tangible results. There is a lack of consistency when reporting PBM studies, with several articles under defining the stimulation protocol, and a wide variety of parameters used for the same health conditions (e.g., Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease) resulting in positive outcomes. Standardization for the report of these studies is warranted, as well as sham-controlled comparative studies to determine which parameters have the greatest effect on PBM treatments for different neurological conditions.
Topics: Humans; Low-Level Light Therapy; Brain; Cognition; Lasers
PubMed: 38600582
DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01351-8 -
The Journal of Adolescent Health :... Nov 2023This review examined whether there is evidence that brief interventions with condom demonstration lessons have impacts on behavioral and nonbehavioral outcomes for youth... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This review examined whether there is evidence that brief interventions with condom demonstration lessons have impacts on behavioral and nonbehavioral outcomes for youth and young adults.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review using a prespecified search strategy and processes consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We identified a pool of 11 eligible studies that tested the effectiveness of a single-session intervention that was no longer than 60 minutes and included a condom demonstration. We included all outcomes at all time points and organized them into eight domains.
RESULTS
Single-session interventions with condom demonstrations showed favorable short-term and long-term impacts for samples of largely sexually active youth. Studies found statistically significant impacts in 29%-50% of the tests for effects on attitudes toward condoms, knowledge of sexual health and condom use, perceptions of condom use and sexuality, and condoms use intentions.
DISCUSSION
Our review found evidence that brief interventions with condom demonstrations have potential effects on behavioral and nonbehavioral outcomes for vulnerable and transient sexually active youth warranting future studies to assess condom demonstrations in isolation.
Topics: Young Adult; Humans; Adolescent; Condoms; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Crisis Intervention; Sexual Behavior; Sexuality; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
PubMed: 37610388
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.06.020 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The Internet of Things (IoT) has positioned itself globally as a dominant force in the technology sector. IoT, a technology based on interconnected devices, has found... (Review)
Review
The Internet of Things (IoT) has positioned itself globally as a dominant force in the technology sector. IoT, a technology based on interconnected devices, has found applications in various research areas, including healthcare. Embedded devices and wearable technologies powered by IoT have been shown to be effective in patient monitoring and management systems, with a particular focus on pregnant women. This study provides a comprehensive systematic review of the literature on IoT architectures, systems, models and devices used to monitor and manage complications during pregnancy, postpartum and neonatal care. The study identifies emerging research trends and highlights existing research challenges and gaps, offering insights to improve the well-being of pregnant women at a critical moment in their lives. The literature review and discussions presented here serve as valuable resources for stakeholders in this field and pave the way for new and effective paradigms. Additionally, we outline a future research scope discussion for the benefit of researchers and healthcare professionals.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Female; Internet of Things; Delivery of Health Care; Wearable Electronic Devices; Monitoring, Physiologic; Forecasting; Internet
PubMed: 38067740
DOI: 10.3390/s23239367 -
Clinical Oral Implants Research Sep 2023To analyze the effect of implant treatment in edentulous patients rehabilitated with implant-supported fixed complete dentures (IFCDs) or implant overdentures (IODs) on... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To analyze the effect of implant treatment in edentulous patients rehabilitated with implant-supported fixed complete dentures (IFCDs) or implant overdentures (IODs) on dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In January 2022, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed Central, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were screened for prospective clinical studies on completely edentulous patients treated with IFCDs and/or IODs, reporting pre-treatment and follow-up dPROs. Hedges' g effect sizes (ES) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Afterward, meta-analyses were conducted using random effect models.
RESULTS
A total number of 1608 records was initially identified. Of those, 28 studies reporting dPROs from 1457 patients were finally included. The applied dental patient-reported outcome measures (dPROMs) included several versions of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) or specific items assessing satisfaction with Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). The overall ES was large for rehabilitation with IFCDs (1.68 [CI: 1.15, 2.20]) and IODs (1.26 [CI: 0.99, 1.52]) with no significant difference (p = .165) between the two. Denture stability was the only factor rated significantly higher for IFCDs (ES difference: 2.37 [CI: 0.21, 4.54]; p = .032). Subgroup analyses revealed moderately higher ES for IODs on two implants relative to one implant (ES difference: 0.73 [CI: 0.34, 1.12]; p < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
There is a strong positive effect of implant treatment in edentulous patients, independent of the type of prosthetic rehabilitation. In patients seeking high stability, IFCDs may be preferable. In mandibular IODs on a single implant, there was a significantly positive effect of an additional implant on dPROs.
Topics: Humans; Denture, Overlay; Prospective Studies; Dental Implants; Denture, Complete; Mouth, Edentulous; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 37750530
DOI: 10.1111/clr.14065 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Nov 2023Recent studies have linked low heart rate variability (HRV) with COVID-19, indicating that this parameter can be a marker of the onset of the disease and its severity... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have linked low heart rate variability (HRV) with COVID-19, indicating that this parameter can be a marker of the onset of the disease and its severity and a predictor of mortality in infected people. Given the large number of wearable devices that capture physiological signals of the human body easily and noninvasively, several studies have used this equipment to measure the HRV of individuals and related these measures to COVID-19.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the utility of HRV measurements obtained from wearable devices as predictive indicators of COVID-19, as well as the onset and worsening of symptoms in affected individuals.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted searching the following databases up to the end of January 2023: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore. Studies had to include (1) measures of HRV in patients with COVID-19 and (2) measurements involving the use of wearable devices. We also conducted a meta-analysis of these measures to reduce possible biases and increase the statistical power of the primary research.
RESULTS
The main finding was the association between low HRV and the onset and worsening of COVID-19 symptoms. In some cases, it was possible to predict the onset of COVID-19 before a positive clinical test. The meta-analysis of studies reported that a reduction in HRV parameters is associated with COVID-19. Individuals with COVID-19 presented a reduction in the SD of the normal-to-normal interbeat intervals and root mean square of the successive differences compared with healthy individuals. The decrease in the SD of the normal-to-normal interbeat intervals was 3.25 ms (95% CI -5.34 to -1.16 ms), and the decrease in the root mean square of the successive differences was 1.24 ms (95% CI -3.71 to 1.23 ms).
CONCLUSIONS
Wearable devices that measure changes in HRV, such as smartwatches, rings, and bracelets, provide information that allows for the identification of COVID-19 during the presymptomatic period as well as its worsening through an indirect and noninvasive self-diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Heart Rate; COVID-19; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 37820372
DOI: 10.2196/47112 -
Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology... Nov 2023During the last decade, leadless pacemakers (LPMs) have turned into a prevalent alternative to traditional transvenous (TV) pacemakers; however, there is no consolidated... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
During the last decade, leadless pacemakers (LPMs) have turned into a prevalent alternative to traditional transvenous (TV) pacemakers; however, there is no consolidated data on LPM implantation in emergencies.
METHODS
Digital databases were searched for this review and four relevant studies, including 1276 patients were included in this review with procedure duration, fluoroscopic time, major complications, and mortality as primary outcomes and pacing threshold, impedance, sensing of LPM, and hospital stay as secondary outcomes.
RESULTS
Gonzales et al. and Marschall et al. showed the duration of the procedure to be 180 ± 45 versus 324.6 ± 92 and 39.9 ± 8.7 versus 54.9 ± 9.8, respectively. Zhang et al. demonstrated the duration of the procedure and fluoroscopy time to be 36 ± 13.4 and 11.1 ± 3.1, respectively. Similarly, Schiavone et al. exhibited intermediate times of implantation at 60 (45-80) versus 50 (40-65) and fluoroscopic times at 6.5 (5-9.7) versus 5.1 (3.1-9). Hospital stay was more with a temp-perm pacemaker as compared to LPM and pacing parameters were not significantly different in all the studies.
CONCLUSION
For underlying arrhythmias, whenever appropriate, our review shows that LPMs may be a better option than temporary pacemakers, even as an urgent treatment.
Topics: Humans; Treatment Outcome; Electrocardiography; Pacemaker, Artificial; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial
PubMed: 37606307
DOI: 10.1111/anec.13084 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2024to map the existing knowledge on nursing ethical decision making in the physical restraint of hospitalised adults. (1) Background: physical restraint is a technique that... (Review)
Review
to map the existing knowledge on nursing ethical decision making in the physical restraint of hospitalised adults. (1) Background: physical restraint is a technique that conditions the free movement of the body, with risks and benefits. The prevalence of physical restraint in healthcare suffers a wide variation, considering the environment or pathology, and it raises ethical issues that hinders decision making. This article intends to analyse and discuss this problem, starting from a literature review that will provoke a grounded discussion on the ethical and legal aspects. Inclusion criteria are: studies on physical restraint (C) and ethical nursing decision making (C) in hospitalized adults (P); (2) methods: a three-step search strategy was used according to the JBI. The databases consulted were CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE Full Text (EBSCOhost), Nursing and Allied Health Collection: Comprehensive and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (by Cochrane Library, RCAAP and Google Scholar. All articles were analysed by two independent reviewers; (3) results: according to the inclusion criteria, 18 articles were included. The categories that influence ethical decision in nursing are: consequence of the decision, the context, the nature of the decision in terms of its complexity, the principles of the ethical decision in nursing, ethical issues and universal values; (4) conclusions: the findings of this review provide evidence that there is extensive knowledge regarding nursing ethical decision making in adult physical restriction, also, it is considered an ethical issue with many associated assumptions. In this article we aim to confront all these issues from a legal perspective.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Databases, Factual; Decision Making; Durable Medical Equipment; Restraint, Physical; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 38248539
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010075