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Globalization and Health Jan 2021The public health community has become increasingly critical of the role that powerful corporations play in driving unhealthy diets, one of the leading contributors to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The public health community has become increasingly critical of the role that powerful corporations play in driving unhealthy diets, one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease. While a substantial amount of work has examined the political strategies used by dominant processed food manufacturers that undermine public health, less attention has been paid to their use of market strategies to build and consolidate power. In this light, this paper aimed to systematically review and synthesise the market strategies deployed by dominant processed food manufacturers to increase and consolidate their power.
METHODS
A systematic review and document analysis of public health, business, legal and media content databases (Scopus, Medline, ABI Inform, Business Source Complete, Thomas Reuters Westlaw, Lexis Advance, Factiva, NewsBank), and grey literature were conducted. Data extracted were analysed thematically using an approach informed by Porter's 'Five Forces' framework.
RESULTS
213 documents met inclusion criteria. The market strategies (n=21) and related practices of dominant processed food manufacturers identified in the documents were categorised into a typological framework consisting of six interconnected strategic objectives: i) reduce intense competition with equivalent sized rivals and maintaining dominance over smaller rivals; ii) raise barriers to market entry by new competitors; iii) counter the threat of market disruptors and drive dietary displacement in favour of their products; iv) increase firm buyer power over suppliers; v) increase firm seller power over retailers and distributors; and vi) leverage informational power asymmetries in relations with consumers.
CONCLUSIONS
The typological framework is well-placed to inform general and jurisdiction-specific market strategy analyses of dominant processed food manufacturers, and has the potential to assist in identifying countervailing public policies, such as those related to merger control, unfair trading practices, and public procurement, that could be used to address market-power imbalances as part of efforts to improve population diets.
Topics: Commerce; Diet; Fast Foods; Humans; Public Health
PubMed: 33499883
DOI: 10.1186/s12992-021-00667-7 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems are considered critically important antimicrobials in human medicine. Food animals such as swine can act as reservoirs of... (Review)
Review
Global Distribution of Extended Spectrum Cephalosporin and Carbapenem Resistance and Associated Resistance Markers in of Swine Origin - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems are considered critically important antimicrobials in human medicine. Food animals such as swine can act as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes/bacteria resistant to these antimicrobial classes, and potential dissemination of AMR genes or resistant bacteria from pigs to humans is an ongoing public health threat. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to: (1) estimate global proportion and animal-level prevalence of swine phenotypically resistant to third generation cephalosporins (3GCs) and carbapenems at a country level; and (2) measure abundances and global distribution of the genetic mechanisms that confer resistance to these antimicrobial classes in these isolates. Articles from four databases (CAB Abstracts, PubMed/MEDLINE, PubAg, and Web of Science) were screened to extract relevant data. Overall, proportion of resistant to 3GCs was lower in Australia, Europe, and North America compared to Asian countries. Globally, <5% of all were carbapenem-resistant. Fecal carriage rates (animal-level prevalence) were consistently manifold higher as compared to pooled proportion of resistance in isolates. were the most common 3GC resistance genes globally, with the exception of North America where were the predominant 3GC resistance genes. There was not a single dominant gene subtype globally and several subtypes were dominant depending on the continent. A wide variety of carbapenem-resistance genes ( , ) were identified to be circulating in pig populations globally, albeit at very-low frequencies. However, great statistical heterogeneity and a critical lack of metadata hinders the true estimation of prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic resistance to these antimicrobials. Comparatively frequent occurrence of 3GC resistance and emergence of carbapenem resistance in certain countries underline the urgent need for improved AMR surveillance in swine production systems in these countries.
PubMed: 35620091
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.853810 -
Iranian Journal of Microbiology Jun 2021Classical (CKp) and hypervirulent (hvKp) are two different circulating pathotypes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, epidemiology and molecular... (Review)
Review
Classical (CKp) and hypervirulent (hvKp) are two different circulating pathotypes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, epidemiology and molecular relatedness of hvKps using a systemic review and meta-analysis. The data extracted from Medline, Embase, and Web of Science and finally 14 studies met the eligible criteria. To combine prevalence proportions of all studies, we performed the metaprop command embedded in the Meta package software. Totally, of 1814 isolates, 21.7% (394/1814) were hvKp. The molecular typing showed that all hvKp isolates were grouped into 50 different sequence types (STs) of them ST23, ST11, ST65 and ST86 were common. K1, K2 and K64 were dominant capsule serotypes that strongly related to ST23, ST65 and ST11, respectively. It seems that clonal group 23 (CG23) is associated with liver abscess and CG11 related to various clinical sources.
PubMed: 34540163
DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v13i3.6384 -
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2020Social dominance status (e.g., dominant or subordinate) is often associated with individual differences in behavior and physiology but is largely neglected in...
Social dominance status (e.g., dominant or subordinate) is often associated with individual differences in behavior and physiology but is largely neglected in experimental designs and statistical analysis plans in biomedical animal research. In fact, the extent to which social dominance status affects common experimental outcomes is virtually unknown. Given the pervasive use of laboratory mice and culminating evidence of issues with reproducibility, understanding the role of social dominance status on common behavioral measures used in research may be of paramount importance. To determine whether social dominance status-one facet of the social environment-contributes in a systematic way to standard measures of behavior in biomedical science, we conducted a systematic review of the existing literature searching the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Experiments were divided into several domains of behavior: exploration, anxiety, learned helplessness, cognition, social, and sensory behavior. Meta-analyses between experiments were conducted for the open field, elevated plus-maze, and Porsolt forced swim test. Of the 696 publications identified, a total of 55 experiments from 20 published studies met our pre-specified criteria. Study characteristics and reported results were highly heterogeneous across studies. A systematic review and meta-analyses, where possible, with these studies revealed little evidence for systematic phenotypic differences between dominant and subordinate male mice. This finding contradicts the notion that social dominance status impacts behavior in significant ways, although the lack of an observed relationship may be attributable to study heterogeneity concerning strain, group-size, age, housing and husbandry conditions, and dominance assessment method. Therefore, further research considering these secondary sources of variation may be necessary to determine if social dominance generally impacts treatment effects in substantive ways.
PubMed: 33551768
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.624036 -
Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic &... Nov 2023The autonomic nervous system interacts with the immune system via the inflammatory response. Heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic activity, is associated... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The autonomic nervous system interacts with the immune system via the inflammatory response. Heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic activity, is associated with inflammation, and nosocomial infections/sepsis, and has clinical implications for the monitoring of at-risk patients. Due to the vagal tone's influence on anti-inflammatory immune response, this association may predominately be reflected by vagally-mediated HRV indices. However, HRV's predictive significance on inflammation/infection remains unclear.
METHODS
843 studies examining the associations/prognostic value of HRV indices on inflammation, and nosocomial infection/sepsis were screened in this systematic review. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 68 associative studies and 14 prediction studies were included.
RESULTS
HRV and pro-inflammatory state were consistently associated in healthy subjects and patient groups. Pro-inflammatory state was related to reduced total power HRV including vagally- and non-vagally-mediated HRV indices. Similar, compared to controls, HRV reductions were observed during nosocomial infections/sepsis. Only limited evidence supports the predictive value of HRV in the development of nosocomial infections/sepsis. Reduced very low frequency power HRV showed the highest predictive value in adults, even with different clinical conditions. In neonates, an increased heart rate characteristic score, combining reduced total power HRV, decreased complexity, and vagally-dominated asymmetry, predicted sepsis.
CONCLUSIONS
Pro-inflammatory state is related to an overall reduction in HRV rather than a singular reduction in vagally-mediated HRV indices, reflecting the complex autonomic-regulatory changes occurring during inflammation. The potential benefit of using continuous HRV monitoring for detecting nosocomial infection-related states, and the implications for clinical outcome, need further clarification.
PubMed: 37651781
DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2023.103116 -
Neurology India 2022Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment. One of the most devastating complications is complex regional pain syndrome. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment. One of the most devastating complications is complex regional pain syndrome.
OBJECTIVITIES
The aim of this study was to systematically analyze available evidence about complex regional pain syndrome after carpal tunnel syndrome surgery (CTSS), its risks, associated factors, and treatments.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Research conducted from 1962 through December 31, 2018, in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The quality assessment of the methodology followed the definitions by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence. The GRADE system (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was applied to evaluate the efficacy of the stellate ganglion block, one of the most cited and recurrent treatments.
RESULTS
Of the 246 studies retrieved, 44 articles were included. Concerning patients' gender, we identified a ratio of 5 females: 3 males. The mean age for women was 57.79, a standard deviation of 14.96, and for men 60.75, a standard deviation of 9.4. Considering the total of primary publications of CTSS outcomes, the accumulated incidence reached the maximum of 0.15 CRPS after CTSS patients/CTSS patients. The known risk factors for CRPS after CTSS: female gender, from the fifth decade of life, tourniquet time, immobilization and surgery on dominant hand.
CONCLUSION
CRPS affects 2-5% of people undergoing CTSS. Its diagnosis is still a challenge and its risk factors are unclear, although it seems more likely to affect women, in the dominant hand. The most used treatments include physiotherapy and stellate ganglion block. Most patients show improvement of symptoms within one year. Further clinical trials comparing treatment modalities are required.
Topics: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Complex Regional Pain Syndromes; Female; Humans; Male; Physical Therapy Modalities
PubMed: 35532609
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.344616 -
Heliyon Jan 2024Microbial structural changes and dysfunction play an important role in the development of cerebral ischemia. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane... (Review)
Review
Microbial structural changes and dysfunction play an important role in the development of cerebral ischemia. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library and conducted a systematic review to assess the relationship between the human microbiome and ischemic stroke. A total of 24 studies were included, and the intestinal bacterial communities detected in both stroke and healthy people were dominated by 4 main phyla, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Significant diversity (alpha and beta) in patients with ischemic versus nonischemic stroke was observed in nine out of 18 studies, and 3 studies showed that the severity of ischemic stroke affected microbial diversity. The imbalance of bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) changes the bacterial metabolic pathway, and disorders in the level of bacterial metabolites (trimethylamine N-oxide TMAO) lead to significant changes in intestinal flora function, which may aggravate the severity of stroke and affect its prognosis. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between the microbiome and ischemic stroke.
PubMed: 38192800
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23743 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) interfere with the function of certain genes and thus may influence the probability of skin cancer. The correlation between SNPs...
BACKGROUND
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) interfere with the function of certain genes and thus may influence the probability of skin cancer. The correlation between SNPs and skin cancer (SC) lacks statistical power, however. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the gene polymorphisms involved in skin cancer susceptibility using network meta-analysis and to determine the relationship between SNPs and SC risk.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for articles including "SNP" and different types of SC as keywords between January 2005 and May 2022. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess bias judgments. The odds ratio (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals () were determined to estimate heterogeneity within and between studies. Meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were carried out to identify the SNPs associated with SC. The -score of each SNP was compared to obtain the rank of probability. Subgroup analyses were performed by cancer type.
RESULTS
A total of 275 SNPs from 59 studies were included in the study. Two subgroup SNP networks using the allele model and dominant model were analyzed. The alternative alleles of rs2228570 (FokI) and rs13181 (ERCC2) were the first-ranking SNPs in both subgroups one and two of the allele model, respectively. The homozygous dominant genotype and heterozygous genotype of rs475007 in subgroup one and the homozygous recessive genotype of rs238406 in subgroup two were most likely to be associated with skin cancer based on the dominant model.
CONCLUSIONS
According to the allele model, SNPs FokI rs2228570 and ERCC2 rs13181 and, according to the dominant model, SNPs MMP1 rs475007 and ERCC2 rs238406 are closely linked to SC risk.
PubMed: 36874118
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1094309 -
Scandinavian Journal of Work,... Nov 2022Working in high-stress and male-dominated occupations is associated with an elevated risk of suicide. The current study sought to conduct the first systematic literature... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Working in high-stress and male-dominated occupations is associated with an elevated risk of suicide. The current study sought to conduct the first systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed at determining suicide risk across the diverse, high pressure and male-dominated transport industry (commercial aviation, merchant seafaring, transit/driving) as compared to the general/employed population.
METHODS
Searches of PubMed/Medline, Scopus and PsycINFO databases were conducted without date restriction until March 2021. Studies were included if they were written in English, were peer reviewed, and presented primary observational research data. Studies referring exclusively to suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, self-harm, and/or accidents were excluded.
RESULTS
Following deletion of duplicates and non-English titles, a total of 4201 titles/abstracts were screened and 92 full-texts were read against inclusion/exclusion criteria. The final included sample consisted of 23 articles (16 used for meta-analysis). Results from the meta-analysis indicated that transport workers had a significantly elevated risk for suicide as compared to the general/employed population. Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses, and there was some variation across subgroup analyses.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, we found transport workers had a significantly higher risk for suicide than the general/employed population, and this appeared to be driven by the association for those working in merchant seafaring/maritime occupations. The findings are discussed in relation to an identified need for the development, implementation, and evaluation of tailored workplace suicide prevention strategies for transport industry workers.
Topics: Male; Humans; Suicide, Attempted; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide
PubMed: 36153776
DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4059 -
Laryngoscope Investigative... Aug 2023This study aimed to systematically review the associations between motor clinical phenotypes in Parkinson's disease (PD) and laryngeal disease symptoms. Laryngeal... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to systematically review the associations between motor clinical phenotypes in Parkinson's disease (PD) and laryngeal disease symptoms. Laryngeal dysfunctions such as dysphonia and dysphagia are ubiquitous in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Similar to other disease symptoms, they manifest variably across PwPD. Some of the variability within PD has been explained by clinical phenotypes. However, it is unclear how laryngeal symptoms of PD express themselves across these phenotypes.
METHODS
Five databases were searched (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus) in May 2022. After the removal of duplicates, all retrieved records were screened. Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in English discussing laryngeal symptoms and clinical PD phenotypes were included. Data were extracted, tabulated, and assessed using Moola et al.'s (2021) appraisal tool for systematic reviews of risk and etiology.
RESULTS
The search retrieved 2370 records, representing 540 PwPD. After the removal of duplicates and screening, eight articles were included for review. The most common phenotype categories were tremor-dominant and postural-instability gait disordered (PIGD). Five studies addressed vocal characteristics, while four considered swallowing. Differences and lack of rigor in methodology across studies complicated conclusions, but a tendency for tremor-dominant phenotypes to present with less severe laryngeal symptoms was found.
CONCLUSION
Some minor differences in laryngeal function were found between tremor-dominant and PIGD phenotypes in PD. However, there is a need for more standardized and high-quality studies when comparing motor phenotypes for laryngeal function.
PubMed: 37621279
DOI: 10.1002/lio2.1112