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International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2022Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by clinical heterogeneity and irregularities in its course. The etiology and... (Review)
Review
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by clinical heterogeneity and irregularities in its course. The etiology and pathogenesis of this pathology are not well-understood, so there is difficulty in establishing a diagnosis and treatment plan with certainty. The aim of this systematic review is to present a qualitative synthesis of studies referring to the oral manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guideline. On this basis, a search for articles was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases on 19 November 2021 and updated on 15 February 2022. We chose articles published between 2012 and 2022 that analyzed the oral manifestations of SLE patients. The quality of all these studies was analyzed following the STROBE scale. A total of 15 articles were included in this study after selection. The selected articles were cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. The most frequently associated oral manifestations with SLE were oral ulcers, hyposalivation, pigmentations, glossodynia, cleft tongue, cheilitis, arthritis, and secondary Sjögren's syndrome. However, despite the importance of the perception of these oral manifestations in the early diagnosis of SLE, there are still not enough studies about them.
Topics: Arthritis; Autoimmune Diseases; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Sjogren's Syndrome; Xerostomia
PubMed: 36231212
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911910 -
Journal of General Internal Medicine Nov 2021Professional identity formation (PIF) in medical students is a multifactorial phenomenon, shaped by ways that clinical and non-clinical experiences, expectations and...
BACKGROUND
Professional identity formation (PIF) in medical students is a multifactorial phenomenon, shaped by ways that clinical and non-clinical experiences, expectations and environmental factors merge with individual values, beliefs and obligations. The relationship between students' evolving professional identity and self-identity or personhood remains ill-defined, making it challenging for medical schools to support PIF systematically and strategically. Primarily, to capture prevailing literature on PIF in medical school education, and secondarily, to ascertain how PIF influences on medical students may be viewed through the lens of the ring theory of personhood (RToP) and to identify ways that medical schools support PIF.
METHODS
A systematic scoping review was conducted using the systematic evidence-based approach. Articles published between 1 January 2000 and 1 July 2020 related to PIF in medical students were searched using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC and Scopus. Articles of all study designs (quantitative and qualitative), published or translated into English, were included. Concurrent thematic and directed content analyses were used to evaluate the data.
RESULTS
A total of 10443 abstracts were identified, 272 full-text articles evaluated, and 76 articles included. Thematic and directed content analyses revealed similar themes and categories as follows: characteristics of PIF in relation to professionalism, role of socialization in PIF, PIF enablers and barriers, and medical school approaches to supporting PIF.
DISCUSSION
PIF involves iterative construction, deconstruction and inculcation of professional beliefs, values and behaviours into a pre-existent identity. Through the lens of RToP, factors were elucidated that promote or hinder students' identity development on individual, relational or societal levels. If inadequately or inappropriately supported, enabling factors become barriers to PIF. Medical schools employ an all-encompassing approach to support PIF, illuminating the need for distinct and deliberate longitudinal monitoring and mentoring to foster students' balanced integration of personal and professional identities over time.
Topics: Education, Medical; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Humans; Professionalism; Schools, Medical; Social Identification; Students, Medical
PubMed: 34406582
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-07024-9 -
Surgical Endoscopy Mar 2023In recent years, the use of Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence-guided surgery during open and laparoscopic procedures has exponentially expanded across various...
BACKGROUND
In recent years, the use of Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence-guided surgery during open and laparoscopic procedures has exponentially expanded across various clinical settings. The European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) initiated a consensus development conference on this topic with the aim of creating evidence-based statements and recommendations for the surgical community.
METHODS
An expert panel of surgeons has been selected and invited to participate to this project. Systematic reviews of the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane libraries were performed to identify evidence on potential benefits of ICG fluorescence-guided surgery on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Statements and recommendations were prepared and unanimously agreed by the panel; they were then submitted to all EAES members through a two-rounds online survey and results presented at the EAES annual congress, Barcelona, November 2021.
RESULTS
A total of 18,273 abstracts were screened with 117 articles included. 22 statements and 16 recommendations were generated and approved. In some areas, such as the use of ICG fluorescence-guided surgery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the perfusion assessment in colorectal surgery and the search for the sentinel lymph nodes in gynaecological malignancies, the large number of evidences in literature has allowed us to strongly recommend the use of ICG for a better anatomical definition and a reduction in post-operative complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, from the systematic literature review performed by the experts panel and the survey extended to all EAES members, ICG fluorescence-guided surgery could be considered a safe and effective technology. Future robust clinical research is required to specifically validate multiple organ-specific applications and the potential benefits of this technique on clinical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Indocyanine Green; Consensus; Fluorescence; Laparoscopy; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic
PubMed: 36781468
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-09928-5 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2022Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, together with the availability of big data in society, creates uncertainties about how these developments will...
BACKGROUND
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, together with the availability of big data in society, creates uncertainties about how these developments will affect healthcare systems worldwide. Compassion is essential for high-quality healthcare and research shows how prosocial caring behaviors benefit human health and societies. However, the possible association between AI technologies and compassion is under conceptualized and underexplored.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this scoping review is to provide a comprehensive depth and a balanced perspective of the emerging topic of AI technologies and compassion, to inform future research and practice. The review questions were: How is compassion discussed in relation to AI technologies in healthcare? How are AI technologies being used to enhance compassion in healthcare? What are the gaps in current knowledge and unexplored potential? What are the key areas where AI technologies could support compassion in healthcare?
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic scoping review following five steps of Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Presentation of the scoping review conforms with PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). Eligibility criteria were defined according to 3 concept constructs (AI technologies, compassion, healthcare) developed from the literature and informed by medical subject headings (MeSH) and key words for the electronic searches. Sources of evidence were Web of Science and PubMed databases, articles published in English language 2011-2022. Articles were screened by title/abstract using inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data extracted (author, date of publication, type of article, aim/context of healthcare, key relevant findings, country) was charted using data tables. Thematic analysis used an inductive-deductive approach to generate code categories from the review questions and the data. A multidisciplinary team assessed themes for resonance and relevance to research and practice.
RESULTS
Searches identified 3,124 articles. A total of 197 were included after screening. The number of articles has increased over 10 years (2011, = 1 to 2021, = 47 and from Jan-Aug 2022 = 35 articles). Overarching themes related to the review questions were: (1) (7 themes) Concerns about AI ethics, healthcare jobs, and loss of empathy; Human-centered design of AI technologies for healthcare; Optimistic speculation AI technologies will address care gaps; Interrogation of what it means to be human and to care; Recognition of future potential for patient monitoring, virtual proximity, and access to healthcare; Calls for curricula development and healthcare professional education; Implementation of AI applications to enhance health and wellbeing of the healthcare workforce. (2) (10 themes) Empathetic awareness; Empathetic response and relational behavior; Communication skills; Health coaching; Therapeutic interventions; Moral development learning; Clinical knowledge and clinical assessment; Healthcare quality assessment; Therapeutic bond and therapeutic alliance; Providing health information and advice. (3) (4 themes) Educational effectiveness of AI-assisted learning; Patient diversity and AI technologies; Implementation of AI technologies in education and practice settings; Safety and clinical effectiveness of AI technologies. (4) (3 themes) Enriching education, learning and clinical practice; Extending healing spaces; Enhancing healing relationships.
CONCLUSION
There is an association between AI technologies and compassion in healthcare and interest in this association has grown internationally over the last decade. In a range of healthcare contexts, AI technologies are being used to enhance empathetic awareness; empathetic response and relational behavior; communication skills; health coaching; therapeutic interventions; moral development learning; clinical knowledge and clinical assessment; healthcare quality assessment; therapeutic bond and therapeutic alliance; and to provide health information and advice. The findings inform a reconceptualization of compassion as a comprising six elements: (1) Awareness of suffering (e.g., pain, distress, risk, disadvantage); (2) Understanding the suffering (significance, context, rights, responsibilities etc.); (3) Connecting with the suffering (e.g., verbal, physical, signs and symbols); (4) Making a judgment about the suffering (the need to act); (5) Responding with an intention to alleviate the suffering; (6) Attention to the effect and outcomes of the response. These elements can operate at an individual (human or machine) and collective systems level (healthcare organizations or systems) as a cyclical system to alleviate different types of suffering. New and novel approaches to human-AI intelligent caring could enrich education, learning, and clinical practice; extend healing spaces; and enhance healing relationships.
IMPLICATIONS
In a complex adaptive system such as healthcare, human-AI intelligent caring will need to be implemented, not as an ideology, but through strategic choices, incentives, regulation, professional education, and training, as well as through joined up thinking about human-AI intelligent caring. Research funders can encourage research and development into the topic of AI technologies and compassion as a system of human-AI intelligent caring. Educators, technologists, and health professionals can inform themselves about the system of human-AI intelligent caring.
PubMed: 36733854
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.971044 -
The Lancet. Healthy Longevity Jun 2023Physical exercise is effective at attenuating ageing-related physical decline in general, but evidence of its benefits for older adults in residential care, who often... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Physical exercise is effective at attenuating ageing-related physical decline in general, but evidence of its benefits for older adults in residential care, who often have functional dependency, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy, is inconclusive. We aimed to establish the effects of exercise interventions on the physical function of this population.
METHODS
For this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Source, and SPORTDiscus to identify randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of exercise interventions (vs usual care) on physical function (ie, functional independence, physical performance, and other related measures, such as muscle strength, balance, or flexibility) in adults aged 60 years or older living in residential care. Relevant studies published in English or Spanish up to Jan 12, 2023, were included in the systematic review. The quality of studies was assessed using the Tool for the Assessment of Study Quality and Reporting in Exercise (TESTEX) score. A network meta-analysis was performed for physical function-related outcomes reported in at least ten studies, with subanalyses for specific intervention (ie, exercise type, training volume, and study duration) and participant (eg, having cognitive impairment or dementia, pre-frail or frail status, and being functionally dependent) characteristics. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021247809).
FINDINGS
147 studies (11 609 participants, with mean ages ranging from 67 years [SD 9] to 92 years [2]) were included in the systematic review, and were rated as having overall good quality (median TESTEX score 9 [range 3-14]). In the meta-analysis (including 105 studies, n=7759 participants), exercise interventions were associated with significantly improved overall physical function, with a standardised mean difference [SMD] of 0·13 (95% credible interval [CrI] 0·04-0·21), which was confirmed in all analysed subpopulations. The strongest association was observed with 110-225 min per week of exercise, and the greatest improvements were observed with 170 min per week (SMD 0·36 [95% CrI 0·20-0·52]). No significant differences were found between exercise types. Subanalyses showed significant improvements for almost all analysed physical function-related outcomes (Barthel index, five-times sit-to-stand test, 30-s sit-to-stand test, knee extension, hand grip strength, bicep curl strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, 6-min walking test, walking speed, Berg balance scale, and sit-and-reach test). Large heterogeneity was found between and within studies in terms of population and intervention characteristics.
INTERPRETATION
Exercise interventions are associated with improved physical function in older adults in residential care, and should, therefore, be routinely promoted in long-term care facilities.
FUNDING
None.
TRANSLATION
For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Exercise; Exercise Therapy; Hand Strength; Muscle Strength; Network Meta-Analysis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 37182530
DOI: 10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00057-0 -
The British Journal of Surgery Jun 2023Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the...
BACKGROUND
Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres.
METHODS
This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low-middle-income countries.
RESULTS
In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of 'single-use' consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low-middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia.
CONCLUSION
This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high- and low-middle-income countries.
Topics: Humans; Developing Countries; Delivery of Health Care; Health Personnel; Environment
PubMed: 37079880
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad092 -
Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer... Jan 2023Tooth whitening is currently one of the most requested treatments to change the color of teeth. There are different types of whitening in the dental office and at home....
INTRODUCTION
Tooth whitening is currently one of the most requested treatments to change the color of teeth. There are different types of whitening in the dental office and at home. There are also many whitening agents on the market. Nowadays, the public has shown great interest in a new natural compound: activated charcoal. It has an abrasive effect and it is included in toothpastes to whiten teeth quickly and easily.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the systematic review is to perform a qualitative synthesis of the available literature on the use of activated charcoal-based toothpaste for tooth whitening.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
An electronic search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The search included the terms (charcoal-based OR activated charcoal OR charcoal OR soot) AND (toothpaste OR dentifrices OR bleaching OR oral hygiene OR enamel OR teeth). Inclusion criteria were articles that were published in English, that included activated charcoal toothpastes, that assessed the efficacy of activated charcoal bleaching and/or the safety of using activated charcoal toothpastes, that were conducted on humans or extracted teeth regardless of their origin and the year of publication.
RESULTS
Out of 208 articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria, the Risk of Bias of the selected studies was determined as medium-high. Regarding the whitening effect, there is a variety of results depending on the study: in some there are no significant differences between the proposed treatments and in others activated charcoal is not the most whitening agent. Regarding the abrasive effect, most studies agree that activated charcoal toothpaste has a higher abrasive potential.
CONCLUSION
Toothpastes based on activated charcoal possess a lower whitening effect than other alternatives and can be considered as less safe due to its high abrasive potential.
Topics: Humans; Toothpastes; Bleaching Agents; Charcoal; Tooth Bleaching; Tooth
PubMed: 36183933
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151998 -
Journal of Psychosomatic Research Jun 2022In psychiatric literature, few original studies exist on the topic of demoralization in suicide. In this review, we aim to identify original studies on suicidal ideation... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
In psychiatric literature, few original studies exist on the topic of demoralization in suicide. In this review, we aim to identify original studies on suicidal ideation (SI)/suicidal behavior (SB) and demoralization in populations of community-dwellers and patients with somatic or psychiatric disorders.
METHODS
We employed a systematic approach that followed PRISMA guidelines, searching through four major electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Direct, and PsychINFO) for relevant titles/abstracts published from January 1980-June 2021. We included original studies that explicitly mentioned the investigation of a potential association between SI/SB and demoralization.
RESULTS
A total of 18 studies met our inclusion criteria. Their synthesis revealed that demoralization can be associated with SI/SB in a wide range of populations (community dwellers, patients with somatic or psychiatric disorders) and lead to significantly higher suicide risk (odds ratios of >6 were encountered in community dwellers experiencing financial hardship or isolation). Moreover, demoralization alone (about half the patients who were demoralized did not meet the criteria for an affective disorder nor were they clinically depressed) or together with depression has been identified as a major risk factor for SI/SB. Regarding the crucial issue of progression from SI to SA, in the context of the "ideation-to-action" frame, some authors found that the interaction of demoralization and over-arousal could be a useful predictor for this progression, while others found that depression alone was sufficient to differentiate attempters from non-attempters or the interaction with shutdown (helplessness and low positive emotions).
CONCLUSION
These results emphasize the possibility to identify demoralization as an independent risk factor for suicide. In patients with psychiatric disorders, the association between demoralization and SI/SB may be transnosographic. Overall, from the clinical implications perspective, our findings highlight that: i. Assessment of demoralization may contribute to a more comprehensive suicide risk detection. This appears particularly relevant in Emergency Departments (EDs) where heterogeneous population typologies are usually admitted and a clinical diagnosis of depression is often difficult to be defined. ii. Additionally, since meaninglessness is considered one of the demoralization subcomponents, meaning-centered psychotherapeutic approaches prove to be indicated and they can be initiated already at the EDs upon first contact with the patient. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Topics: Demoralization; Humans; Mood Disorders; Risk Factors; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide
PubMed: 35334350
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110788 -
Advances in Clinical and Experimental... Nov 2019Down syndrome (DS) is the most often diagnosed chromosomal disorder in newborns. The incidence is 1:792 live births. The article describes the irregularities and...
Down syndrome (DS) is the most often diagnosed chromosomal disorder in newborns. The incidence is 1:792 live births. The article describes the irregularities and characteristics found in trisomy 21, which greatly affect the functioning of the stomatognathic system. The most significant disorders include the following: false macroglossia, muscular hypotonia and gothic palate. These abnormalities affect articulation, breathing, food intake, and swallowing. We analyzed the morphological characteristics of the craniofacial region in children with DS based on the current literature review. The following databases were used for the analysis: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Infona, and Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source. In the course of the study, 199 pieces of literature were analyzed; the analysis also included 18 articles on children and adults with DS. It also took into account the structure of the palate, dental and skeletal defects, size of the tongue, muscular hypotonia, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Down syndrome is still a current subject of research. Although macroglossia, hypotonia, malocclusion, and temporomandibular joint abnormalities are not features exclusive to DS, numerous dysfunctions and parafunctions as well as retarded psychomotor development greatly complicate the treatment. Therefore, interdisciplinary treatment of patients with trisomy 21 and early treatment in the first months of life with the use of the Castillo-Morales plate are very important, as they ensure better adaptation to the subsequently used apparatus and reduce the risk of disorders of the stomatognathic system.
Topics: Down Syndrome; Facial Muscles; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Macroglossia; Muscle Hypotonia; Tongue; Trisomy
PubMed: 31778604
DOI: 10.17219/acem/112785 -
The Lancet. Healthy Longevity Aug 2021People with dementia die prematurely. Identifying differences in mortality rates between different types of dementia might aid in the development of preventive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
People with dementia die prematurely. Identifying differences in mortality rates between different types of dementia might aid in the development of preventive interventions for the most vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was to compare the difference in mortality rates between individuals without dementia and individuals with various types of dementia.
METHODS
For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we did a systematic search of MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to July 11, 2020, for cross-sectional or cohort studies that assessed mortality and survival-related outcomes among people with different types of dementia compared with people without dementia. Single-arm studies without comparison groups and autopsy studies or family studies that used a selected sample were excluded. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used by two authors (D-JL and C-SC) independently to measure the methodological quality of included studies, and two authors (F-CY and P-TT) independently extracted data. We assessed differences in all-cause mortality rate and survival time from dementia diagnosis between individuals without dementia, individuals with Alzheimer's disease, and individuals with non-Alzheimer's disease dementias. The secondary outcomes were age at death and survival time from disease onset. Random-effects meta-analyses were done. Effect sizes included hazard ratios (HRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% CIs. Potential moderators, including age-associated moderators, were identified through meta-regression and subgroup analyses. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020198786.
FINDINGS
Our database search identified 11 973 records, and we included 78 eligible studies in our analyses, encompassing 63 125 individuals with dementia and 152 353 controls. Individuals with any type of dementia had a higher mortality rate than individuals without dementia (HR 5·90, 95% CI 3·53 to 9·86), and the HR for all-cause mortality was highest for Lewy body dementia (17·88, 5·87 to 54·46). After diagnosis, the mean survival time for people with Alzheimer's disease was 5·8 years (SD 2·0). Compared with people with Alzheimer's disease, a diagnosis of any non-Alzheimer's disease dementia was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1·33, 1·21 to 1·46), a shorter survival time from diagnosis (MD -1·12 years, 95% CI -1·52 to -0·72), and a younger age at death (-1·76 years, -2·66 to -0·85). Survival time from disease onset was also shorter in people with non-Alzheimer's dementia, across types, compared with people with Alzheimer's disease, but the subgroup analysis revealed that this difference was only significant for vascular dementia (MD -1·27 years, -1·90 to -0·65) and dementia with Lewy bodies (MD -1·06 years, -1·68 to -0·44). The interactions between age and several survival-related outcomes were significant. 39 (50%) of the 78 included studies were rated as good quality, and large heterogeneity (I>75%) was observed for most of the study outcomes.
INTERPRETATION
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia and one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. However, the findings from the current study suggest that non-Alzheimer's disease dementias were associated with higher morality rates and shorter life expectancy than Alzheimer's disease. Developing tailored treatment and rehabilitation programmes for different types of dementia is important for mental health providers, patients, and their families.
FUNDING
None.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia; Dementia, Vascular; Humans; Lewy Body Disease
PubMed: 36097997
DOI: 10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00140-9