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Nutrients Sep 2023To summarize available evidence in the literature on the impacts of CoQ supplementation on metabolic, biochemical, and performance outcomes in athletes. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
To summarize available evidence in the literature on the impacts of CoQ supplementation on metabolic, biochemical, and performance outcomes in athletes.
METHODS
Six databases, Cochrane Library (33 articles), PubMed (90 articles), Scopus (55 articles), Embase (60 articles), SPORTDiscus (1056 articles), and Science Direct (165 articles), were researched. After applying the eligibility criteria, articles were selected for peer review independently as they were identified by June 2022. The protocol for this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022357750).
RESULTS
Of the 1409 articles found, 16 were selected for this systematic review. After CoQ supplementation, a decrease in oxidative stress markers was observed, followed by higher antioxidant activity. On the other hand, lower levels of liver damage markers (ALT); Aspartate aminotransferase (AST); and Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT) were identified. Finally, we found a reduction in fatigue indicators such as Creatine Kinase (CK) and an increase in anaerobic performance.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review concludes that supplementation with orally administered CoQ (30-300 mg) was able to potentiate plasma antioxidant activity and anaerobic performance, reducing markers linked to oxidative stress and liver damage in athletes from different modalities aged 17 years old and older.
PubMed: 37764774
DOI: 10.3390/nu15183990 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2021The prevalence of mental health disorders and suicide amongst agricultural producers is a global problem. Community leaders, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of mental health disorders and suicide amongst agricultural producers is a global problem. Community leaders, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians have mobilized to develop programs to address this issue. This study reviewed a wide range of mental health interventions targeting farmer mental health spanning over 50 years and examined their reported effectiveness and constraints. A total of ninety-two articles on farmer mental health were included in a final systematic review. Most articles were written concerning mental health literacy and peer and paraprofessional support interventions in the United States and Australia. Among the 56 studies reporting empirical evaluative data, 21 were mixed-method, 20 quantitative, 11 qualitative, and 5 literature synthesis. Non-experimental, self-reported, and qualitative data suggest efficacy of mental health literacy programs, peer and paraprofessional support, and community-based and agroecological interventions. However, most interventions were not subject to rigorous evaluation and only one intervention was evaluated using a control condition. The heterogeneity of existing studies and paucity of rigorous evaluation proscribes firm conclusions related to program-type efficacy. This review demonstrates that there is still a need for a stronger and broader evidence base in the field of farmer mental health interventions, which should focus on both holistic, multi-component programs and targeted approaches.
Topics: Agriculture; Farmers; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Suicide
PubMed: 35010504
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010244 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Novel biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress might enhance the early recognition, management, and clinical outcomes of patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs).... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Novel biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress might enhance the early recognition, management, and clinical outcomes of patients with rheumatic diseases (RDs). We assessed the available evidence regarding the pathophysiological role of neopterin, the oxidation product of 7,8-dihydroneopterin, a pteridine generated in macrophages activated by interferon-γ, by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting its concentrations in biological fluids in RD patients and healthy controls.
METHODS
We searched electronic databases for relevant articles published between inception and 31 August 2023. The risk of bias and the certainty of evidence were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group system, respectively.
RESULTS
In 37 studies, when compared to healthy controls, RD patients had significantly higher concentrations of neopterin both in plasma or serum (standard mean difference, SMD=1.31, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.61; p<0.001; moderate certainty of evidence) and in the urine (SMD=1.65, 95% CI 0.86 to 2.43, p<0.001; I = 94.2%, p<0.001; low certainty of evidence). The results were stable in sensitivity analysis. There were non-significant associations in meta-regression and subgroup analysis between the effect size and age, male to female ratio, year of publication, sample size, RD duration, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, specific type of RD, presence of connective tissue disease, analytical method used, or biological matrix investigated (plasma . serum). By contrast, the effect size was significantly associated with the geographical area in studies assessing serum or plasma and with the type of RD in studies assessing urine.
DISCUSSION
Pending additional studies that also focus on early forms of disease, our systematic review and meta-analysis supports the proposition that neopterin, a biomarker of inflammation and oxidative stress, can be useful for the identification of RDs. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023450209).
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023450209.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Neopterin; Inflammation; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Rheumatic Diseases; Biomarkers
PubMed: 37799718
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1271383 -
International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2022The effectiveness of peer support in improving mental health and well-being has been well documented for vulnerable populations. However, how peer support is delivered... (Review)
Review
The effectiveness of peer support in improving mental health and well-being has been well documented for vulnerable populations. However, how peer support is delivered to migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to support their mental health is still unknown. This scoping review aimed to synthesize evidence on existing peer support services for improving mental health among MDWs. We systematically searched eight electronic databases, as well as grey literature. Two reviewers independently performed title/abstract and full-text screening, and data extraction. Twelve articles were finally included. Two types of peer support were identified from the included studies, i.e., mutual aid and para-professional trained peer support. MDWs mainly seek support from peers through mutual aid for emotional comfort. The study's findings suggest that the para-professional peer support training program was highly feasible and culturally appropriate for MDWs. However, several barriers were identified to affect the successful implementation of peer support, such as concerns about emotion contagion among peers, worries about disclosure of personal information, and lack of support from health professionals. Culture-specific peer support programs should be developed in the future to overcome these barriers to promote more effective mental health practices.
Topics: Counseling; Health Personnel; Humans; Mental Health; Peer Group; Transients and Migrants
PubMed: 35805278
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137617 -
BMC Medical Education Jul 2022There is significant variability in the performance and outcomes of invasive medical procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention, endoscopy, and bronchoscopy....
BACKGROUND
There is significant variability in the performance and outcomes of invasive medical procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention, endoscopy, and bronchoscopy. Peer evaluation is a common mechanism for assessment of clinician performance and care quality, and may be ideally suited for the evaluation of medical procedures. We therefore sought to perform a systematic review to identify and characterize peer evaluation tools for practicing clinicians, assess evidence supporting the validity of peer evaluation, and describe best practices of peer evaluation programs across multiple invasive medical procedures.
METHODS
A systematic search of Medline and Embase (through September 7, 2021) was conducted to identify studies of peer evaluation and feedback relating to procedures in the field of internal medicine and related subspecialties. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed. Data were extracted on peer evaluation methods, feedback structures, and the validity and reproducibility of peer evaluations, including inter-observer agreement and associations with other quality measures when available.
RESULTS
Of 2,135 retrieved references, 32 studies met inclusion criteria. Of these, 21 were from the field of gastroenterology, 5 from cardiology, 3 from pulmonology, and 3 from interventional radiology. Overall, 22 studies described the development or testing of peer scoring systems and 18 reported inter-observer agreement, which was good or excellent in all but 2 studies. Only 4 studies, all from gastroenterology, tested the association of scoring systems with other quality measures, and no studies tested the impact of peer evaluation on patient outcomes. Best practices included standardized scoring systems, prospective criteria for case selection, and collaborative and non-judgmental review.
CONCLUSIONS
Peer evaluation of invasive medical procedures is feasible and generally demonstrates good or excellent inter-observer agreement when performed with structured tools. Our review identifies common elements of successful interventions across specialties. However, there is limited evidence that peer-evaluated performance is linked to other quality measures or that feedback to clinicians improves patient care or outcomes. Additional research is needed to develop and test peer evaluation and feedback interventions.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Endoscopy; Feedback; Humans; Peer Review, Health Care; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Surgical Procedures, Operative
PubMed: 35906652
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03652-9 -
Journal of the American Board of Family... 2022There is considerable interest in the association between food insecurity (FIS) and various cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia. Although the association... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
There is considerable interest in the association between food insecurity (FIS) and various cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia. Although the association between FIS and dyslipidemia has been studied across various methodologies and populations, there is no comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of these data.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted. Cross-sectional peer-review studies assessing the association between FIS and dyslipidemia were identified. Data extracted included population characteristics, study sizes, covariates explored, and laboratory assessments of dyslipidemia. Effect sizes were extracted or calculated, then synthesized across studies using a random effect model, and the heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup dependence for each meta-analysis were assessed.
RESULTS
For adults, meta-analysis demonstrated no significantly elevated odds for FIS individuals to have a concomitant abnormal lipid measurement. Covariate-unadjusted analysis of standardized mean differences showed no significant differences in lipid measurements between food-insecure and food-secure individuals. In contrast to quantitative laboratory results, food-insecure patients were more likely to self-report previous diagnoses of dyslipidemia.
CONCLUSIONS
Although current data do not suggest an association between FIS and dyslipidemia, more longitudinal studies and studies targeting women, children, the elderly, and patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes are needed to further address this issue.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Dyslipidemias; Female; Food Insecurity; Humans; Lipids
PubMed: 35896471
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.04.210413 -
Canadian Medical Education Journal Dec 2020Medical residents may experience burnout during their training, and a lack of social support. This can impact their overall wellbeing and ability to master key... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Medical residents may experience burnout during their training, and a lack of social support. This can impact their overall wellbeing and ability to master key professional competencies. We explored, in this study, the extent to which peer mentorship promotes psychosocial wellbeing and the development of professional competencies in medical residency education.
METHODS
We searched six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Academic Research Complete, ERIC, Education Research Complete) for studies on peer mentoring relationships in medical residency. We selected any study where authors reported on outcomes associated with peer mentoring relationships among medical residents. We applied no date, language, or study design limits to this review.
RESULTS
We included nine studies in this systematic review. We found that medical residents received essential psychosocial supports from peers, and motivation to develop academic and career competencies. Medical residents in peer-mentoring relationships also reported increased overall satisfaction with their residency training programs.
CONCLUSIONS
Peer-mentoring relationships can enhance the development of key professional competencies and coping mechanisms in medical residency education. Further rigorous research is needed to examine the comparative benefits of informal and formal peer mentoring, and identify best practices with respect to effective design of peer-mentorship programs.
PubMed: 33349761
DOI: 10.36834/cmej.68751 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the ingestion of toothpaste and its sequelae. The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the ingestion of toothpaste and its sequelae. The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across multiple databases, resulting in the inclusion of 18 relevant publications. Eligible studies encompassed various designs and included both children and adults as the study population. Data extraction was carried out systematically, and relevant information on study characteristics, interventions, and outcomes were collected. The assessment of bias was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's Critical Appraisal Tools showing variations of bias among the included studies. The overall risk of systemic toxicity was found to be low, and no severe or life-threatening events were reported in the included studies. Furthermore, some toothpaste formulations containing higher concentrations of fluoride were associated with an increased risk of dental fluorosis. These findings have several implications for practice and policy. Healthcare providers and dental professionals should emphasize the importance of promoting safe toothpaste use, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children who are more prone to accidental ingestion. Public health campaigns and educational initiatives should aim to raise awareness about appropriate toothpaste usage and the potential risks. In addition, toothpaste manufacturers and regulatory bodies should consider revising guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety of oral care products, including the appropriate concentration of active ingredients. Future research should focus on investigating the long-term effects of toothpaste ingestion, exploring potential interactions between different active ingredients, and evaluating the efficacy of current preventive measures.
Topics: Child; Adult; Humans; Child, Preschool; Toothpastes; Fluorides; Health Promotion; Health Personnel; Eating
PubMed: 37927882
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1279915 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2019Autonomic dysfunctions may precede the development of cognitive impairment, but the connection between these dimensions is unclear. This systematic review aims to... (Review)
Review
Autonomic dysfunctions may precede the development of cognitive impairment, but the connection between these dimensions is unclear. This systematic review aims to analyze the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and cognitive functions. The review process was conducted according to the PRISMA-Statement. Restrictions were made, selecting the studies in English and published in peer-review journals, including at least one cognitive measure and presenting the measurement of HRV. Studies that included participants with medical conditions, dementia, psychiatric disorders, strokes, and traumatic brain injury were excluded. Twenty studies were selected, with a total of 19,431 participants. The results were divided into different cognitive domains determined : global cognitive functioning, attention, processing speed, executive functions, memory, language and visuospatial skills. Both increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity seem to be associated with a worse performance in the cognitive domains considered, in the absence of dementia and severe cardiovascular diseases or other medical and psychiatric diseases. The results highlight the influence of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in cognitive functioning. However, the marked interest facing toward a specific domain, i.e., the executive functions, and the relatively small number of the studies on this topic do not allow understanding better this relationship. Despite these limits, HRV could be considered a promising early biomarker of cognitive impairment in populations without dementia or stroke. This index should be evaluated within a preventative perspective to minimize the risk of developing cognitive impairment.
PubMed: 31354419
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00710 -
Cureus Oct 2023Peer support, which is given by people with similar life experiences and experiential knowledge, has been shown to be effective for patients with diabetes and mental... (Review)
Review
Peer support, which is given by people with similar life experiences and experiential knowledge, has been shown to be effective for patients with diabetes and mental illness. However, the impact of such peer support on patients coping with heart failure remains indeterminate. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to scrutinize the potential benefits of peer support for patients with heart failure. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of peer support for patients with heart failure in contrast to those without peer support. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov until October 2022. We pooled the data on mortality, readmission rate, and quality of life (QoL) as primary outcomes. The certainty of evidence was evaluated by the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) approach. We included three studies with 390 patients with heart failure. Peer support may have resulted in a slight increase in mortality (risk ratio (RR)=1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.61-2.21; low certainty of the evidence) and in a reduction in the readmission rate (RR=0.93, 95% CI=0.74-1.17; low certainty of the evidence). The evidence was very uncertain about the effect of peer support on QoL (standardized mean difference 2.03 higher in the intervention group, 95% CI=1.79 lower to 5.84 higher; very low certainty of the evidence). Despite that the certainty is low or very low, the extant data available evidence suggests that peer support may not yield substantial improvements in critical outcomes for patients with heart failure. Consequently, endorsing peer support for patients with heart failure currently seems unjustifiable.
PubMed: 38021950
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46751