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PloS One 2023Studies that examined the effect of amphetamine or caffeine on spatial working memory (SWM) and verbal working memory (VWM) have used various tasks. However, there are... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
UNLABELLED
Studies that examined the effect of amphetamine or caffeine on spatial working memory (SWM) and verbal working memory (VWM) have used various tasks. However, there are no studies that have used spatial span tasks (SSTs) to assess the SWM effect of amphetamine and caffeine, although some studies have used digit span tasks (DST) to assess VWM. Previous reports also showed that increasing dopamine increases psychosis-like experiences (PLE, or schizotypy) scores which are in turn negatively associated with WM performance in people with high schizotypy and people with schizophrenia. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the influence of d-amphetamine (0.45 mg/kg, PO), a dopamine releasing stimulant, on SST, DST, and on PLE in healthy volunteers. In a separate study, we examined the effect of caffeine, a nonspecific adenosine receptor antagonist with stimulant properties, on similar tasks.
METHODS
Healthy participants (N = 40) took part in two randomized, double-blind, counter-balanced placebo-controlled cross-over pilot studies: The first group (N = 20) with d-amphetamine (0.45 mg/kg, PO) and the second group (N = 20) with caffeine (200 mg, PO). Spatial span and digit span were examined under four delay conditions (0, 2, 4, 8 s). PLE were assessed using several scales measuring various aspects of psychosis and schizotypy.
RESULTS
We failed to find an effect of d-amphetamine or caffeine on SWM or VWM, relative to placebo. However, d-amphetamine increased a composite score of psychosis-like experiences (p = 0.0005), specifically: Scores on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Perceptual Aberrations Scale, and Magical Ideation Scale were increased following d-amphetamine. The degree of change in PLE following d-amphetamine negatively and significantly correlated with changes in SWM, mainly at the longest delay condition of 8 s (r = -0.58, p = 0.006).
CONCLUSION
The present results showed that moderate-high dose of d-amphetamine and moderate dose of caffeine do not directly affect performances on DST or SST. However, the results indicate that d-amphetamine indirectly influences SWM, through its effect on psychosis-like experiences.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
CT-2018-CTN-02561 (Therapeutic Goods Administration Clinical Trial Registry) and ACTRN12618001292268 (The Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry) for caffeine study, and ACTRN12608000610336 for d-amphetamine study.
Topics: Humans; Dextroamphetamine; Caffeine; Healthy Volunteers; Dopamine; Australia; Amphetamine; Double-Blind Method
PubMed: 37440493
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287538 -
Multimedia Manual of Cardiothoracic... Nov 2023Although during recent decades the prompt clinical management of myocardial infarction has significantly reduced the incidence of mechanical complications,...
Although during recent decades the prompt clinical management of myocardial infarction has significantly reduced the incidence of mechanical complications, post-infarction heart failure is still an open issue. The surgical ventricular reconstruction technique, also called the "Dor procedure", was introduced as a surgical strategy to reduce left ventricular volume and restore its shape and function by performing an endoventricular circular patch plasty. Although its use was not clearly beneficial, there is growing evidence from specialized centres suggesting its safety and efficacy, thus bringing this technique back to a leading role in the surgical armamentarium to treat patients with heart failure. The objective of this work was to present a step-by-step explanation of the Dor procedure as a landmark for all surgeons who want to perform it.
Topics: Humans; Heart Aneurysm; Myocardial Infarction; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Heart Ventricles; Heart Failure
PubMed: 37995108
DOI: 10.1510/mmcts.2023.040 -
BMJ Open Jan 2024Chronic constipation (CC) is a highly prevalent health challenge that is particularly challenging to treat in elderly patients. Although lifestyle guidance and laxative...
INTRODUCTION
Chronic constipation (CC) is a highly prevalent health challenge that is particularly challenging to treat in elderly patients. Although lifestyle guidance and laxative therapy often yield positive outcomes, patients occasionally struggle with maintaining dietary control. Therefore, identifying an economical and safe alternative therapy to the existing treatment methods documented in the international literature is necessary. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of abdominal massage in elderly patients with CC to provide a basis for future mechanistic research.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
Electronic searches will be conducted to identify clinical randomised controlled trials in various databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Embase, Airiti Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wan Fang Database. Relevant data will be extracted, and a meta-analysis will be conducted using Reviewer Manager V.5.4. Quality and risk assessments of the included studies will be performed, and the outcome indicators of the trials will be observed. This review will evaluate abdominal massage as a treatment option for relieving symptoms and improving quality of life in elderly patients with CC. Moreover, it will provide additional insights for clinical treatment and mechanistic studies. The search will be performed following the publication of this protocol (estimated to occur on 30 December 2023).
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
As this is a literature review, ethics approval will not be required. We will disseminate the findings of this study to publications in peer-reviewed journals as well as presentations at relevant national and international conferences.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42023408629.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Constipation; Massage; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Quality of Life; Review Literature as Topic; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 38262653
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074780 -
JMIR Research Protocols May 2024Heart failure (HF) is a significant health problem that is often associated with major morbidity and mortality. Metabolic abnormalities occur in HF and may be used to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Heart failure (HF) is a significant health problem that is often associated with major morbidity and mortality. Metabolic abnormalities occur in HF and may be used to identify individuals at risk of developing the condition. Furthermore, these metabolic changes may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of HF. Despite this knowledge, the utility of metabolic changes in diagnosis, management, prognosis, and therapy for patients with chronic HF has not been systematically reviewed.
OBJECTIVE
This scoping review aims to systematically appraise the literature on metabolic changes in patients with HF, describe the role of these changes in pathogenesis, progression, and care, and identify knowledge gaps to inform future research.
METHODS
This review will be conducted using a strategy based on previous reports, the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A comprehensive search of electronic databases (Medline, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Web of Science) will be conducted using keywords related to HF, myocardial failure, metabolomes, metabonomics, and analytical chemistry techniques. The search will include original peer-reviewed research papers (clinical studies conducted on humans and systematic reviews with or without a meta-analysis) published between January 2010 and September 2023. Studies that include patients with HF younger than 18 years or those not published in English will be excluded. Two authors (UGA and MB) will screen the titles and abstracts independently and perform a full-text screen of the relevant and eligible papers. Relevant data will be extracted and synthesized, and a third author or group will be consulted to resolve discrepancies.
RESULTS
This scoping review will span from January 2010 to September 2023, and the results will be published in a peer-reviewed, open-access journal as a scoping review in 2024. The presentation of the findings will use the PRISMA-ScR flow diagram and descriptive and narrative formats, including tables and graphical displays, to provide a comprehensive overview of the extracted data.
CONCLUSIONS
This review aims to collect and analyze the available evidence on metabolic changes in patients with HF, aiming to enhance our current understanding of this topic. Additionally, this review will identify the most commonly used and suitable sample, analytical method, and specific metabolomes to facilitate standardization, reproducibility of results, and application in the diagnosis, treatment, and risk stratification of patients with HF. Finally, it is hoped that this review's outcomes will inspire further research into the metabolomes of patients with HF in low- and middle-income countries.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Open Science Framework; https://osf.io/sp6xj.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)
DERR1-10.2196/53905.
Topics: Humans; Heart Failure; Metabolome; Risk Assessment; Metabolomics; Research Design
PubMed: 38781584
DOI: 10.2196/53905 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023The performance in evaluating thyroid nodules on ultrasound varies across different risk stratification systems, leading to inconsistency and uncertainty regarding... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The performance in evaluating thyroid nodules on ultrasound varies across different risk stratification systems, leading to inconsistency and uncertainty regarding diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
OBJECTIVE
Comparing diagnostic performance of detecting thyroid cancer among distinct ultrasound risk stratification systems proposed in the last five years.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
Systematic search was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to find relevant research up to December 8, 2022, whose study contents contained elucidation of diagnostic performance of any one of the above ultrasound risk stratification systems (European Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System[Eu-TIRADS]; American College of Radiology TIRADS [ACR TIRADS]; Chinese version of TIRADS [C-TIRADS]; Computer-aided diagnosis system based on deep learning [S-Detect]). Based on golden diagnostic standard in histopathology and cytology, single meta-analysis was performed to obtain the optimal cut-off value for each system, and then network meta-analysis was conducted on the best risk stratification category in each system.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
This network meta-analysis included 88 studies with a total of 59,304 nodules. The most accurate risk category thresholds were TR5 for Eu-TIRADS, TR5 for ACR TIRADS, TR4b and above for C-TIRADS, and possible malignancy for S-Detect. At the best thresholds, sensitivity of these systems ranged from 68% to 82% and specificity ranged from 71% to 81%. It identified the highest sensitivity for C-TIRADS TR4b and the highest specificity for ACR TIRADS TR5. However, sensitivity for ACR TIRADS TR5 was the lowest. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and area under curve (AUC) were ranked first in C-TIRADS.
CONCLUSION
Among four ultrasound risk stratification options, this systemic review preliminarily proved that C-TIRADS possessed favorable diagnostic performance for thyroid nodules.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, CRD42022382818.
Topics: Humans; Thyroid Nodule; Network Meta-Analysis; Thyroid Neoplasms; Area Under Curve
PubMed: 37720531
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1227339 -
NeuroImage Aug 2023Cognitive neuroscientists have been grappling with two related experimental design problems. First, the complexity of neuroimaging data (e.g. often hundreds of thousands...
Cognitive neuroscientists have been grappling with two related experimental design problems. First, the complexity of neuroimaging data (e.g. often hundreds of thousands of correlated measurements) and analysis pipelines demands bespoke, non-parametric statistical tests for valid inference, and these tests often lack an agreed-upon method for performing a priori power analyses. Thus, sample size determination for neuroimaging studies is often arbitrary or inferred from other putatively but questionably similar studies, which can result in underpowered designs - undermining the efficacy of neuroimaging research. Second, when meta-analyses estimate the sample sizes required to obtain reasonable statistical power, estimated sample sizes can be prohibitively large given the resource constraints of many labs. We propose the use of sequential analyses to partially address both of these problems. Sequential study designs - in which the data is analyzed at interim points during data collection and data collection can be stopped if the planned test statistic satisfies a stopping rule specified a priori - are common in the clinical trial literature, due to the efficiency gains they afford over fixed-sample designs. However, the corrections used to control false positive rates in existing approaches to sequential testing rely on parametric assumptions that are often violated in neuroimaging settings. We introduce a general permutation scheme that allows sequential designs to be used with arbitrary test statistics. By simulation, we show that this scheme controls the false positive rate across multiple interim analyses. Then, performing power analyses for seven evoked response effects seen in the EEG literature, we show that this sequential analysis approach can substantially outperform fixed-sample approaches (i.e. require fewer subjects, on average, to detect a true effect) when study designs are sufficiently well-powered. To facilitate the adoption of this methodology, we provide a Python package "niseq" with sequential implementations of common tests used for neuroimaging: cluster-based permutation tests, threshold-free cluster enhancement, t-max, F-max, and the network-based statistic with tutorial examples using EEG and fMRI data.
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Neuroscience; Research Design; Sample Size; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neuroimaging
PubMed: 37348624
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120232 -
BMJ Open Jul 2023Treatment strategies for primary aldosteronism (PA) include unilateral adrenalectomy and medical treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists. Whether...
INTRODUCTION
Treatment strategies for primary aldosteronism (PA) include unilateral adrenalectomy and medical treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists. Whether these two different treatment strategies are comparable in mitigating the detrimental effect of PA on outcomes is still debated.
OBJECTIVES
The primary aim of this systematic review is to identify, appraise and synthesise existing literature comparing clinical outcomes after treatment in patients with PA.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
A systematic and comprehensive search will be performed using PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE, for studies published until December 2022. Observational and interventional studies will be eligible for inclusion. The quality of observational studies will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, while interventional studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Effective Practice Organization of Care tool. The collected evidence will be narratively synthesised. We will perform meta-analysis to pool estimates from studies considered to be homogeneous. Reporting of the systematic review and meta-analysis will be in accordance with the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
As this study is based solely on the published literature, no ethics approval is required. This review will aim to provide some estimates on outcomes, including survival, rates of clinical and biochemical control, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, as well as data on quality of life and renal function, in patients with PA treated surgically or with MR antagonists. The study findings will be presented at scientific meetings and will be published in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022362506.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Hyperaldosteronism; Research Design; Review Literature as Topic
PubMed: 37518075
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072585 -
BMJ Open Oct 2023Human actions have influenced climate changes around the globe, causing extreme weather phenomena and impacting communities worldwide. Climate change has caused,...
INTRODUCTION
Human actions have influenced climate changes around the globe, causing extreme weather phenomena and impacting communities worldwide. Climate change has caused, directly or indirectly, health effects such as injury and physical injuries, which impact morbidity and mortality. Similarly, there is evidence that exposure to climatic catastrophes has serious repercussions on psychological well-being, and rising temperatures and drought have detrimental effects on mental health.Despite the recent effort of researchers to develop specific instruments to assess the effects of climate change on mental health, the evidence on measures of its impact is still scarce, and the constructs are heterogeneous. The aim of this scoping review is to describe the instruments developed and validated to assess the impact of mental health related to climate change.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
This review is registered at Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/zdmbk). This scoping review will follow the reporting elements chosen for systematic review and meta-analysis (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). We proposed a PO question, as it places no restrictions on the participants (P), and the outcome (O) are measurement instruments on mental health related to climate change. A search will be conducted in different databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO). We will use an open-source artificial intelligence screening tool (ASReview LAB) for the title and abstract review. The full-text review will be performed by three researchers. If there is a disagreement between two independent reviewers, a third reviewer will take the final decision. We will use the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments tool to assess the risk of bias for each included study. The review will be conducted starting in September 2023.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The planned scoping review does not require ethical approval since it will not involve an ethical risk to the participants. The results obtained from this study will be presented at conferences, congresses and scientific publications.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Climate Change; Consensus; Mental Health; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Psychological Well-Being; Research Design; Review Literature as Topic; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Internationality
PubMed: 37821142
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071073 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery May 2024Simulated self-practice using simulation models could improve fine motor skills and self confidence in surgical trainees. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Simulated self-practice using simulation models could improve fine motor skills and self confidence in surgical trainees.
AIMS
The purpose of this study is to evaluate on self-reported confidence level in cardiothoracic surgical trainees by using surgical simulation models.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study on all surgeons (n=10) involved in MIS simulation training. All surgeons are required to perform on three minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures (Mitral Valve Repair, Mitral Valve Replacement and Aortic Valve Replacement). A questionnaire was designed based on two existing scales related to self-confidence, the surgical self-efficacy scale [SSES] and the perceived competency scale [PCS]. We assessed their self-confidence (before and after training) in the use of simulation in MIS procedures using rating scales 1-5. The mean score was calculated for each domain and used as the predictor variable. We also developed six questions (PCS) using Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSAT) related to each domain and asked participants how confident they were after performing each MICS procedure.
RESULTS
The mean score was 4.7 for all assessed domains, except "knowledge" (3.8). Surgeons who had performed one or more MIS procedures had higher scores (P<0.05). There was no correlation between the number of MIS procedures performed and self-confidence scores.
CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the cardiac surgery training based on MIS simulation improves trainees and consultants in terms of the level of self-confidence. Although surgeons generally have high levels of self-confidence after simulation training in MIS cardiac procedures, there is still room for improvement with respect to technical skills related to the procedure itself and its results.
Topics: Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; Clinical Competence; Self Report; Simulation Training; Male; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Female; Thoracic Surgery; Self Efficacy; Adult; Surveys and Questionnaires; Surgeons; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 38760859
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02647-5 -
BMC Pediatrics Aug 2023The significant prevalence of children with high intellectual potential (HIP) in the school-age population and the high rate of comorbidity with learning disabilities...
Effects of a developmental dyslexia remediation protocol based on the training of audio-phonological cognitive processes in dyslexic children with high intellectual potential: study protocol for a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design.
BACKGROUND
The significant prevalence of children with high intellectual potential (HIP) in the school-age population and the high rate of comorbidity with learning disabilities such as dyslexia has increased the demand for speech and language therapy and made it more complex. However, the management of dyslexic patients with high intellectual potential (HIP-DD) is poorly referenced in the literature. A large majority of studies on HIP-DD children focus on the screening and diagnosis of developmental dyslexia, but only a few address remediation. Developmental dyslexia is a severe and persistent disorder that affects the acquisition of reading and implies the impairment of several underlying cognitive processes. These include deficits in Categorical Perception, Rapid Automatized Naming, and phonological awareness, particularly phonemic awareness. Some authors claim that HIP-DD children's underlying deficits mainly concern rapid automatized naming and phonological awareness. Thus, the purpose of this study is to present a remediation protocol for developmental dyslexia in HIP-DD children. This protocol proposes to compare the effects on reading skills of an intensive intervention targeting categorical perception, rapid automatized naming, and phonemic analysis versus standard speech therapy remediation in HIP-DD children.
METHODS
A multiple-baseline single-case experimental design (ABCA) will be proposed to 4 French HIP-DD patients for a period of 30 weeks. Intervention phases B and C correspond to categorical perception training and rapid automatized naming training. During phases B and C, each training session will be associated with phonemic analysis training and a reading and writing task. At inclusion, a speech and language, psychological, and neuropsychological assessment will be performed to define the four patients' profiles. Patients will be assigned to the different baseline lengths using a simple computerized randomization procedure. The duration of the phases will be counterbalanced. The study will be double blinded. A weekly measurement of phonological and reading skills will be performed for the full duration of the study.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this protocol is to observe the evolution of reading skills with each type of intervention. From this observation, hypotheses concerning the remediation of developmental dyslexia in HIP-DD children can be tested. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04028310 . Registered on July 18, 2019. Version identifier is no. ID RCB 2019-A01453-54, 19-HPNCL-02, 07/18/2019.
Topics: Child; Humans; Cognition; Dyslexia; Language; Learning Disabilities; Research Design; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37592217
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04189-6