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Neurobiology of Stress Nov 2020Since its development in 1993, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) has been used widely as a psychosocial stress paradigm to activate the sympathetic nervous system and... (Review)
Review
Since its development in 1993, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) has been used widely as a psychosocial stress paradigm to activate the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) stress systems, stimulating physiological functions (e.g. heart rate) and cortisol secretion. Several methodological variations introduced over the years have led the scientific community to question replication between studies. In this systematic review, we used the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) to synthesize procedure-related data available about the TSST protocol to highlight commonalities and differences across studies. We noted significant discrepancies across studies in how researchers applied the TSST protocol. In particular, we highlight variations in testing procedures (e.g., number of judges, initial number in the arithmetic task, time of the collected saliva samples for cortisol) and discuss possible misinterpretation in comparing findings from studies failing to control for variables or using a modified version from the original protocol. Further, we recommend that researchers use a standardized background questionnaire when using the TSST to identify factors that may influence physiological measurements in tandem with a summary of this review as a protocol guide. More systematic implementation and detailed reporting of TSST methodology will promote study replication, optimize comparison of findings, and foster an informed understanding of factors affecting responses to social stressors in healthy people and those with pathological conditions.
PubMed: 33344691
DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100235 -
Journal of Public Health Management and...Continuous quality improvement (CQI) has become prominent in public health settings; yet, little consolidated guidance exists for building CQI capacity of...
CONTEXT
Continuous quality improvement (CQI) has become prominent in public health settings; yet, little consolidated guidance exists for building CQI capacity of community-based organizations.
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize relevant literature to identify guiding principles and core components critical to building the capacity of organizations to adopt and use CQI.
DESIGN
We employed a systematic review approach to assess guiding principles and core components for CQI capacity-building as outlined in the literature.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Studies meeting the following criteria were eligible for review: (1) empirical, peer-reviewed journal article, evaluation study, review, or systematic review; (2) published in 2010 or later; and (3) capacity-building activities were described in enough detail to be replicable. Studies not including human subjects, published in a language other than English, or for which full text was not available were excluded.
STUDY SELECTION
The initial return of records included 6557 articles, of which 1455 were duplicates. The research team single-screened titles and abstracts of 5102 studies, resulting in the exclusion of 4842 studies. Two hundred sixty-two studies were double-screened during full-text review, yielding a final sample of 61 studies from which data were extracted.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Outcome measures of interest were operationalized descriptions of guiding principles and core components of the CQI capacity-building approach.
RESULTS
Results yielded articles from medical education, health care, and public health settings. Findings included guiding principles and core components of CQI capacity-building identified in current practice, as well as infrastructural and contextual elements needed to build CQI capacity.
CONCLUSIONS
This consolidation of guiding principles and core components for CQI capacity-building is valuable for public health and related workforces. Despite the uneven distribution of articles from health care, medical education, and public health settings, our findings can be used to guide public health organizations in building CQI capacity in a well-informed, systematic manner.
Topics: Capacity Building; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Public Health; Quality Improvement
PubMed: 34520447
DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001412 -
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry Jan 2023Faecal Immunochemical tests (FITs) in the assessment of patients presenting with symptoms have generally used a single sample. Little evidence pertains to the use of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Faecal Immunochemical tests (FITs) in the assessment of patients presenting with symptoms have generally used a single sample. Little evidence pertains to the use of replicate, where a number of tests are done prior to decision-making or repeat FIT, where additional FIT are performed following clinical decision-making. Overwhelmingly, research has focussed on FIT to help identify colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this review is to assess the available literature concerning replicate and repeat FIT in symptomatic patients to help generate consensus and guide future research.
METHODS
The terms 'faecal immunochemical test' or 'FIT' were combined with 'multiple' or 'repeat'. EMBASE, Medline and PubMed database and other searches were conducted. All papers published in English were included with no exclusion date limits until November 2021.
RESULTS
Of the 161 initial papers screened, seven were included for review. Qualitative and quantitative FIT outcomes were assessed in the studies. The primary aims of most related to whether replicate FIT increased diagnostic yield of CRC, with colonoscopy used as the reference standard. One publication assessed the impact of a new COVID-adapted pathway on CRC detection. No consensus on replicate FIT was apparent. Some concluded that FITs may help minimise missed CRC diagnoses: others showed no increase in diagnostic yield of CRC.
CONCLUSIONS
Current evidence on replicate and repeat FIT is both minimal and conflicting. FIT is a superb clinical tool, but significant gaps surrounding application remain. Further studies relating to replicate and repeat FIT are required.
Topics: Humans; Sensitivity and Specificity; Colorectal Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; COVID-19; Colonoscopy; Occult Blood; Feces; Hemoglobins
PubMed: 35394384
DOI: 10.1177/00045632221096036 -
Reviews in Medical Virology Jul 2021The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has been rapidly spreading worldwide, causing serious global concern. The role that...
The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has been rapidly spreading worldwide, causing serious global concern. The role that animal hosts play in disease transmission is still understudied and researchers wish to find suitable animal models for fundamental research and drug discovery. In this systematic review, we aimed to compile and discuss all articles that describe experimental or natural infections with SARS-CoV-2, from the initial discovery of the virus in December 2019 through to October 2020. We systematically searched four databases (Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science). The following data were extracted from the included studies: type of infection (natural or experimental), age, sample numbers, dose, route of inoculation, viral replication, detection method, clinical symptoms and transmission. Fifty-four studies were included, of which 34 were conducted on animal reservoirs (naturally or experimentally infected), and 20 involved models for testing vaccines and therapeutics. Our search revealed that Rousettus aegyptiacus (fruit bats), pangolins, felines, mink, ferrets and rabbits were all susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, while dogs were weakly susceptible and pigs, poultry, and tree shrews were not. In addition, virus replication in mice, mink, hamsters and ferrets resembled subclinical human infection, so these animals might serve as useful models for future studies to evaluate vaccines or antiviral agents and to study host-pathogen interactions. Our review comprehensively summarized current evidence on SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and their usefulness as models for studying vaccines and antiviral drugs. Our findings may direct future studies for vaccine development, antiviral drugs and therapeutic agents to manage SARS-CoV-2-caused diseases.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; COVID-19; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Susceptibility; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
PubMed: 33206434
DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2196 -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Jul 2021To assess the appropriateness of the use and interpretation of subgroup analysis in haematology randomized clinical trials (RCTs). (Review)
Review
AIMS
To assess the appropriateness of the use and interpretation of subgroup analysis in haematology randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
METHOD
A systematic review of Medline, including haematology phase III RCTs published between January 2013 and October 2019, was carried out to identify reported subgroup analysis. Information related to trial characteristics, subgroup analysis and claims of subgroup difference were collected.
RESULTS
The initial search identified 1622 studies. A total of 98 studies reporting subgroup analyses were identified. Of those, 24 RCT reported 46 claims of subgroup difference. Among them, 44 were claims for the primary outcome, of which 25 were considered strong claims and 17 were considered suggestions of a possible effect. Authors included subgroup variables for the primary outcome measured at baseline for 38 claims (n = 86.36%), used a subgroup variable as a stratification factor at randomization for 15 (34.09%), clearly prespecified their hypothesis for 11 (25%), the subgroup effect was one of a small number of hypothesised effects tested (≤ 5) for 17 (38.64%), carried out a test of interaction that provide statistically significant for 18 (40.91%), documented replication of a subgroup effect with previously related studies for 11 (25%), identified the consistency of a subgroup effect across related outcome for 10 (22.72%) and provided a biological rationale for the effect for 8 (18.18%). Of the 44 claims for the primary outcome, 34 (77.27%) met four or fewer of the 10 credibility criteria.
CONCLUSION
The subgroup claims reported in haematology RCTs lack credibility, even when the claims are strong. Information about subgroup difference should be interpreted cautiously.
Topics: Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans
PubMed: 33270263
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14689 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Although exercise guidelines now recommend exercise for patients with MCI, the long-term effects of exercise in patients with MCI has not been reviewed systematically.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Although exercise guidelines now recommend exercise for patients with MCI, the long-term effects of exercise in patients with MCI has not been reviewed systematically. The aim was to assess (1) the effectiveness of exercise and physical activity (EXPA) interventions in improving long-term patient-relevant cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes in people with mild cognitive impairment, (2) how well the included trials reported details of the intervention, and (3) the extent to which reported endpoints were in line with patient preferences that were assessed in patient workshops. Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis including randomized controlled trials. A total of ten studies were included after searching in six electronic sources from 1995 onwards. There is a trend that 6 + -month EXPA interventions improve global cognition 12 months after initiation. Evidence on long-term effects of EXPA interventions on non-cognitive health outcomes could not be meaningfully pooled and the individual studies reported mixed results. Workshop participants considered freedom from pain and stress, mood, motivation and self-efficacy to be important, but these outcomes were rarely addressed. Too little information is available on intervention details for EXPA programs to be replicated and confidently recommended for patients with MCI. PROSPERO registration in December, 2021 (CRD42021287166).
Topics: Humans; Cognitive Dysfunction; Cognition; Exercise; Exercise Therapy
PubMed: 37872230
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44771-7 -
European Journal of Cancer Care May 2022This study aimed to summarise research findings on dysphagia prehabilitation initiated before chemoradiation therapy (C)RT in head and neck cancer (HNC) including its... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to summarise research findings on dysphagia prehabilitation initiated before chemoradiation therapy (C)RT in head and neck cancer (HNC) including its impact on three swallow-related outcomes at distinct time points.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was completed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL. Inclusion criteria were studies of adults with HNC with an exercise-based prehabilitation programme beginning before (C)RT. Methodological quality was rated using the Downs and Black checklist. The Template for Intervention Descriptions and Replication (TIDieR) checklist was used to evaluate how well studies were reported.
RESULTS
Eight studies (three randomised control trials) involving 295 adults with HNC were included. The largest participant group (63%) were Stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Prehabilitation was completed independently at home (100%) and typically began 2 weeks before CRT (75%). Studies evaluated the impact of dysphagia prehabilitation across functional (n = 6), quality of life (n = 5) and physiological (n = 4) domains. Prehabilitation significantly altered physiological (25%), functional (66%) and quality of life (50%) outcomes. Fifty per cent of studies included long-term (>1 year) outcomes. Quality of included studies ranged from poor (25%) to good (38%). Six (75%) studies reported sufficient details of exercise programmes.
CONCLUSION
Limited evidence supports exercise-based dysphagia prehabilitation before (C)RT to improve swallow-related outcomes, and long-term benefits remain unclear. Further high-quality research using core outcome sets is required.
Topics: Adult; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Preoperative Exercise; Quality of Life
PubMed: 34964185
DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13549 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024The is a family of icosahedral viruses with single-stranded, highly diverse positive-sense RNA genomes. Virions consist of a capsid, without envelope, surrounding a...
The is a family of icosahedral viruses with single-stranded, highly diverse positive-sense RNA genomes. Virions consist of a capsid, without envelope, surrounding a core of RNA genome. A typical genome of picornavirus harbors a well-conserved and highly structured RNA element known as the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), functionally essential for viral replication and protein translation. Based on differences in their structures and mechanisms of action, picornaviral IRESs have been categorized into five types: type I, II, III, IV, and V. Compared with the type IV IRES, the others not only are structurally complicated, but also involve multiple initiation factors for triggering protein translation. The type IV IRES, often referred to as hepatitis C virus (HCV)-like IRES due to its structural resemblance to the HCV IRES, exhibits a simpler and more compact structure than those of the other four. The increasing identification of picornaviruses with the type IV IRES suggests that this IRES type seems to reveal strong retention and adaptation in terms of viral evolution. Here, we systematically reviewed structural features and biological functions of the type IV IRES in picornaviruses. A comprehensive understanding of the roles of type IV IRESs will contribute to elucidating the replication mechanism and pathogenesis of picornaviruses.
PubMed: 38855772
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1415698 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin Oct 2021The nature of the relationship between cognition and brain morphology in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) and bipolar disorder (BD) is uncertain. This review aimed...
The nature of the relationship between cognition and brain morphology in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) and bipolar disorder (BD) is uncertain. This review aimed to address this, by providing a comprehensive systematic investigation of links between several cognitive domains and brain volume, cortical thickness, and cortical surface area in SSD and BD patients across early and established illness stages. An initial search of PubMed and Scopus databases resulted in 1486 articles, of which 124 met inclusion criteria and were reviewed in detail. The majority of studies focused on SSD, while those of BD were scarce. Replicated evidence for specific regions associated with indices of cognition was minimal, however for several cognitive domains, the frontal and temporal regions were broadly implicated across both recent-onset and established SSD, and to a lesser extent BD. Collectively, the findings of this review emphasize the significance of both frontal and temporal regions for some domains of cognition in SSD, while highlighting the need for future BD-related studies on this topic.
Topics: Bipolar Disorder; Cerebral Cortex; Cognitive Dysfunction; Humans; Neuroimaging; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 34097043
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab054 -
Current Psychiatry Reports Apr 2024Web-based programs to prevent sexual offense perpetration could provide an opportunity that avoids many of the barriers associated with in-person treatment. The aim of... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Web-based programs to prevent sexual offense perpetration could provide an opportunity that avoids many of the barriers associated with in-person treatment. The aim of this systematic review is to give an overview of the literature on web-based initiatives aimed at sexual offense perpetration prevention published during the last 10 years (2013-2023) and to report data on the efficacy as well as issues of the discussed initiatives.
RECENT FINDINGS
We included 18 empirical studies discussing web-based perpetration prevention initiatives, of which six are randomized controlled trials. Among the articles, four cover programs focusing on prevention of sexual reoffending and 14 discuss programs aimed at preventing initial sexual offenses. Evaluations and observations of web-based initiatives aimed at preventing sexual offense perpetration show overall promising results and are well-appreciated. However, evaluation studies are scarce and more randomized controlled trials replicating this effect are warranted.
Topics: Humans; Sex Offenses; Sexual Behavior; Internet
PubMed: 38509408
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01489-1