-
BMC Oral Health Apr 2024Pulpotomy procedures aiming to preserve and regenerate the dentin-pulp complex have recently increased exponentially due to developments in the field of biomaterials and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pulpotomy procedures aiming to preserve and regenerate the dentin-pulp complex have recently increased exponentially due to developments in the field of biomaterials and tissue engineering in primary and permanent teeth. Although the number of studies in this domain has increased, there is still scarcity of evidence in the current literature.
OBJECTIVES
(1) Report the methods of outcome assessment of pulpotomy clinical trials in both primary and permanent teeth; (2) Identify the various bioactive agents and biodegradable scaffolds used in pulpotomy clinical trials in both primary and permanent teeth.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A scoping review of the literature was performed, including a search of primary studies on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest and Clinicaltrials.gov. A search for controlled trials or randomized controlled trials published between 2012 and 2023 involving primary or permanent teeth receiving partial or full pulpotomy procedures using bioactive/regenerative capping materials was performed.
RESULTS
127 studies out of 1038 articles fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and were included in the current scoping review. More than 90% of the studies assessed clinical and radiographic outcomes. Histological, microbiological, or inflammatory outcomes were measured in only 9.4% of all included studies. Majority of the studies (67.7%) involved primary teeth. 119 studies used non-degradable bioactive cements, while biodegradable scaffolds were used by 32 studies, natural derivates and plant extracts studies were used in only 7 studies. Between 2012 (4 studies) and 2023 (11 studies), there was a general increase in the number of articles published. India, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran were found to have the highest total number of articles published (28, 28,16 and 10 respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Pulpotomy studies in both primary and permanent teeth relied mainly on subjective clinical and radiographic outcome assessment methods and seldom analyzed pulpal inflammatory status objectively. The use of biodegradable scaffolds for pulpotomy treatments has been increasing with an apparent global distribution of most of these studies in low- to middle-income countries. However, the development of a set of predictable outcome measures as well as long-term evidence from well conducted clinical trials for novel pulpotomy dressing materials are still required.
Topics: Humans; Pulpotomy; Tooth, Deciduous; Biocompatible Materials; Dentition, Permanent; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; Tissue Scaffolds
PubMed: 38678210
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04221-w -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024In recent years, the swine industry has witnessed the withdrawal of antibiotics and continuous regulation of zinc and copper oxides in the early-life nutrition of... (Review)
Review
In recent years, the swine industry has witnessed the withdrawal of antibiotics and continuous regulation of zinc and copper oxides in the early-life nutrition of piglets. Due to this development, alternative additives from plant sources have been extensively explored. Therefore, this study's objective was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with tannins on weaned piglets' growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and serum immune status using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. A total of 16 studies with parameters of interest were deemed eligible after a two-step screening process following a comprehensive literature search in the scientific databases of Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were mainly (1) studies involving basal diet supplemented with tannins and (2) studies with the quantification of tannin doses, while the exclusion criteria were (1) studies with pre- and post-weaning pigs and (2) challenged studies. Applying the random-effects models, Hedges' g effect size of supplementation with tannins was calculated using R software to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD) at a 95% confidence interval. Sub-group analysis and meta-regression further explored heterogeneity (P < 0.05, > 50%, ≥ 10). Supplementation with tannins reduced the feed conversion ratio ( < 0.01) but increased the final body weight ( < 0.01) of weaned piglets. Chestnut and grape seed proanthocyanidin tannin sources yielded higher effects on growth performance. In addition, meta-regression models indicated that tannin dosage and supplementation duration were directly associated with tannins' effectiveness on productive performance. In the serum, the concentration of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were elevated ( < 0.01) in response to tannin supplementation, whereas malondialdehydes was reduced ( < 0.01). Likewise, increased immunoglobin M and G levels ( < 0.01) were detected. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with tannins, particularly with chestnut and grape seed proanthocyanidins, increases the productivity of weaned piglets. At the same time, it is a possible nutritional strategy to mitigate oxidative stress and stimulate gut health. Thus, supplementing chestnut and grape seed proanthocyanidin tannins in the early phase of swine production could be used to alleviate the incidence of diarrhea.
PubMed: 38397834
DOI: 10.3390/antiox13020236 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023The Family of pathogenesis-related proteins 10 (PR-10) is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. PR-10 are multifunctional proteins, constitutively expressed in all...
INTRODUCTION
The Family of pathogenesis-related proteins 10 (PR-10) is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. PR-10 are multifunctional proteins, constitutively expressed in all plant tissues, playing a role in growth and development or being induced in stress situations. Several studies have investigated the preponderant role of PR-10 in plant defense against biotic stresses; however, little is known about the mechanisms of action of these proteins. This is the first systematic review conducted to gather information on the subject and to reveal the possible mechanisms of action that PR-10 perform.
METHODS
Therefore, three databases were used for the article search: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. To avoid bias, a protocol with inclusion and exclusion criteria was prepared. In total, 216 articles related to the proposed objective of this study were selected.
RESULTS
The participation of PR-10 was revealed in the plant's defense against several stressor agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, nematodes and insects, and studies involving fungi and bacteria were predominant in the selected articles. Studies with combined techniques showed a compilation of relevant information about PR-10 in biotic stress that collaborate with the understanding of the mechanisms of action of these molecules. The up-regulation of PR-10 was predominant under different conditions of biotic stress, in addition to being more expressive in resistant varieties both at the transcriptional and translational level.
DISCUSSION
Biological models that have been proposed reveal an intrinsic network of molecular interactions involving the modes of action of PR-10. These include hormonal pathways, transcription factors, physical interactions with effector proteins or pattern recognition receptors and other molecules involved with the plant's defense system.
CONCLUSION
The molecular networks involving PR-10 reveal how the plant's defense response is mediated, either to trigger susceptibility or, based on data systematized in this review, more frequently, to have plant resistance to the disease.
PubMed: 37469770
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1193873 -
BMC Oral Health Apr 2024Oral health impacts systemic health, individual well-being, and quality of life. It is important to identify conditions that may exacerbate oral disease to aid public...
BACKGROUND
Oral health impacts systemic health, individual well-being, and quality of life. It is important to identify conditions that may exacerbate oral disease to aid public health and policy development and promote targeted patient treatment strategies. Developmental defects can increase an individual's risk of dental caries, hypersensitivity, premature tooth wear, erosion, and poor aesthetics. As part of an ongoing study assessing oral health in adults with cystic fibrosis at Cork University Dental School and Hospital, a systematic review of available literature was conducted to assess the prevalence of enamel defects in people with cystic fibrosis.
AIMS
To critically evaluate the literature to determine if the prevalence of developmental defects of enamel is higher in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF).
METHODS
Data Sources: Three online databases were searched Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. Studies that examined an association between cystic fibrosis and developmental defects of enamel were included in this systematic review.
RESULTS
The initial search identified 116 publications from the following databases Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus. Eleven studies were included for qualitative analysis. Nine studies concluded that PwCF had a higher prevalence of enamel defects than control people and one study found no difference in cystic fibrosis (CF) status. All studies had a risk of bias that may influence study results and their interpretation.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of the systematic review show a consistent pattern that PwCF have a higher prevalence of DDE than people without CF. Genetic dysfunction, chronic systemic infections, and long-term antibiotic use are possible aetiological causes. This review highlights the need for future studies to investigate if DDEs are caused by the underlying CFTR mutation or as a consequence of disease manifestations and/or management.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Prevalence; Cystic Fibrosis; Dental Caries; Quality of Life; Dental Enamel; Developmental Defects of Enamel
PubMed: 38609911
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04227-4 -
BMJ Global Health Mar 2024Lack of transparent communication between patients and physicians regarding the use of herbal medicine (HM) presents a major public health challenge, as inappropriate HM... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Lack of transparent communication between patients and physicians regarding the use of herbal medicine (HM) presents a major public health challenge, as inappropriate HM use poses health risks. Considering the widespread use of HM and the risk of adverse events, it is crucial for pregnant women to openly discuss their HM use with healthcare providers. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of pregnant women's HM use and disclosure to healthcare providers and to examine the relationship between HM disclosure and various maternal and child health (MCH) measures.
METHODS
A systematic search of five databases was conducted for cross-sectional studies on HM use during pregnancy published from 2000 to 2023. Data extraction followed a standardised approach, and Stata V.16.0 was used for data analysis. Also, Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated to examine the association between use and disclosure of HM and various MCH indicators.
RESULTS
This review included 111 studies across 51 countries on the use of HM among pregnant women. Our findings showed that 34.4% of women used HM during pregnancy, driven by the perception that HM is presumably safer and more natural than conventional medical therapies. However, only 27.9% of the HM users disclosed their use to healthcare providers because they considered HM as harmless and were not prompted by the healthcare providers to discuss their self-care practices. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between HM disclosure and improved MCH outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Inadequate communication between pregnant women and physicians on HM use highlights a deficiency in the quality of care that may be associated with unfavourable maternal outcomes. Thus, physician engagement in effective and unbiased communication about HM during antenatal care, along with evidence-based guidance on HM use, can help mitigate the potential risks associated with inappropriate HM use.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Communication; Cross-Sectional Studies; Physician-Patient Relations; Physicians; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38448037
DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013412 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jan 2024Detecting pathogens in pediatric central nervous system infection (CNSI) is still a major challenge in medicine. In addition to conventional diagnostic patterns,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Diagnostic performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the detection of pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid in pediatric patients with central nervous system infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Detecting pathogens in pediatric central nervous system infection (CNSI) is still a major challenge in medicine. In addition to conventional diagnostic patterns, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) shows great potential in pathogen detection. Therefore, we systematically evaluated the diagnostic performance of mNGS in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pediatric patients with CNSI.
METHODS
Related literature was searched in the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. We screened the literature and extracted the data according to the selection criteria. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool and the certainty of the evidence was measured by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) score system. Then, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odd's ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC) were estimated in Stata Software and MetaDisc. Subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the potential factors that influence the diagnostic performance.
RESULTS
A total of 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The combined sensitivity was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59 to 0.76, I = 66.77%, p < 0.001), and the combined specificity was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.95, I = 83.37%, p < 0.001). The AUC of sROC was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.87). The quality level of evidence elevated by the GRADE score system was low.
CONCLUSIONS
Current evidence shows that mNGS presents a good diagnostic performance in pediatric CNSI. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Topics: Humans; Child; ROC Curve; Central Nervous System Infections; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
PubMed: 38238719
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09010-y -
Complementary Therapies in Medicine Aug 2024Herbal decoctions (HDs) are the oldest and most common herbal medicine formulations. Different HDs exist, and some consumers are concerned that they may become... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Herbal decoctions (HDs) are the oldest and most common herbal medicine formulations. Different HDs exist, and some consumers are concerned that they may become contaminated during manufacturing. Therefore, the need for a safety assessment of HDs has been raised. This study aimed to investigate the adverse events (AEs) associated with HDs by comprehensively analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles published up to November 2022. The included RCTs compared HDs with other treatments published between 2013 and 2022, and the risk of bias was assessed using RevMan 5.4. Meta-analyses of the number of AEs associated with HDs reported in the included RCTs were also performed.
RESULTS
The systematic review included 26 RCTs, and the meta-analysis included 17 RCTs that reported AEs. The meta-analysis comparing HDs with active controls showed that both the number of AEs (14 studies; risk ratio (RR)= 0.50 cases, 95 % confidence interval (CI) [0.29, 0.88]; I = 42 %) and the number of patients who complained of AEs (seven studies; RR=0.51 patients, 95 % CI [0.28, 0.94]; I =9 %) were fewer in the HDs group than in the active control groups.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that HDs are safer than other conventional medications based on the results of qualitative and quantitative syntheses of RCTs.
Topics: Humans; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38830449
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103057 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide that presents a substantial peril to human health. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a... (Review)
Review
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide that presents a substantial peril to human health. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a main subtype of lung cancer with heightened metastasis and invasion ability. The predominant treatment approaches currently comprise surgical interventions, chemotherapy regimens, and radiotherapeutic procedures. However, it poses significant clinical challenges due to its tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance, resulting in diminished patient survival rates. Therefore, the development of novel treatment strategies for NSCLC is necessary. Ferroptosis was characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative damage of cells and eventually cell death. An increasing number of studies have found that exploiting the induction of ferroptosis may be a potential therapeutic approach in NSCLC. Recent investigations have underscored the remarkable potential of natural products in the cancer treatment, owing to their potent activity and high safety profiles. Notably, accumulating evidences have shown that targeting ferroptosis through natural compounds as a novel strategy for combating NSCLC holds considerable promise. Nevertheless, the existing literature on comprehensive reviews elucidating the role of natural products inducing the ferroptosis for NSCLC therapy remains relatively sparse. In order to furnish a valuable reference and support for the identification of natural products inducing ferroptosis in anti-NSCLC therapeutics, this article provided a comprehensive review explaining the mechanisms by which natural products selectively target ferroptosis and modulate the pathogenesis of NSCLC.
PubMed: 38751790
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1385565 -
PloS One 2023Parasitic contamination in vegetables is a reality in several countries and a challenge for food safety. The risk of consumption usually raw, associated with failures in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Parasitic contamination in vegetables is a reality in several countries and a challenge for food safety. The risk of consumption usually raw, associated with failures in good practices of production, transportation, and preparation further increase the possibility of ingesting contaminated food. Given this, a systematic review was carried out to scientifically demonstrate the effectiveness of sanitization protocols in the parasitic decontamination of plants.
METHODS
This review was conducted following the guidelines of the Cochrane Manual, being registered in the PROSPERO protocol base (CRD42020206929) and reported according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. The review evaluated studies published in the MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, FSTA, LILACS, and AGRIS databases, as well as manual searches of related articles, references, and theses and dissertations directories. The meta-analysis was performed using the Revman 5 software program, the bias assessment used the Robins I Tools with some adaptations, and the quality of the evidence was evaluated using GRADE.
DISCUSSION
The review included a total of 31 studies, most of which were carried out in countries with a high incidence of plant parasites, such as Brazil and Iran. Interventions combined with 200ppm chlorination preceded by brushing, rinsing, or immersion in detergent showed the greatest efficiency in parasitic decontamination. Despite the high heterogeneity and risk of bias in the primary studies, this review can inspire the planning of new studies which observe the critical and methodological evaluation for research in the field of food safety.
Topics: Animals; Acclimatization; Brazil; Databases, Factual; Parasites; Vegetables
PubMed: 37656694
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290447 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024L. (Lamiaceae), known in English as 'wild thyme', is primarily found in the Palearctic realm (Eurasia, North Africa) and has been utilized traditionally for culinary,...
L. (Lamiaceae), known in English as 'wild thyme', is primarily found in the Palearctic realm (Eurasia, North Africa) and has been utilized traditionally for culinary, nutritional, medicinal, and aromatic purposes. The essential oil extracted from wild thyme is particularly noteworthy, being used extensively in the food industry as a flavoring agent and preservative. The plant's aerial parts are commonly employed as an element of the diet (e.g., tea)/for culinary uses and in local/traditional medicine (primarily for managing respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions), similar to the use of common thyme. There is practically no information available on the species' nutritional benefits. Pharmacological studies, including and research, alongside a limited number of clinical trials, have investigated extracts of , although these extracts are often phytochemically poorly characterized in different experimental protocols and models. These studies have demonstrated a range of therapeutic effects, such as antimicrobial (notably the essential oil) and anti-inflammatory, as well as its preventative health benefits and nutritional value of wild thyme. Preclinical studies have corroborated the plant's anti-inflammatory potential, particularly in conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and irritable bowel syndromes (IBS). Additionally, evidence of hepatoprotective activities and benefits in managing metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular health issues, such as lipid metabolism regulation, cholesterol reduction, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects, have been observed predominantly in rodent models. Phytochemical analysis of wild thyme reveals an essential oil fraction below 1%, along with non-volatile compounds predominantly comprising phenolic acids (such as rosmarinic, salvianolic, and caffeic acids) and flavonoids (mainly glucosides of luteolin, apigenin, and their derivatives). These components are believed to contribute significantly to the plant's medicinal, nutritional, and preventive health properties. Despite promising findings, there is a need for more rigorously designed controlled clinical trials using phytochemically characterized wild thyme. The plant has an excellent safety and tolerability record. This review at the interface of nutritional/preventive health properties and as pharmacological activities highlights the current role of wild thyme in nutrition and general healthcare as well as its future potential, and also points to important gaps in the literature.
PubMed: 38846542
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1380962