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Reviews on Environmental Health Sep 2023Despite in recent decades, several studies on the concentration of aflatoxins M1(AFM1) in various milks have been studied, as we know, no systematic review,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
REVIEWS
Despite in recent decades, several studies on the concentration of aflatoxins M1(AFM1) in various milks have been studied, as we know, no systematic review, meta-analysis and carcinogenic risk assessment study was conducted in Iran till now.
OBJECTIVES
In this study, a systematic review was conducted to collect, meta-analysis and carcinogenic risk assessment of the quantitative data regarding the prevalence and concentration of AFM1 in several types of milk produced in Iran.
CONTENT
In our study, the concentration and prevalence of AFM1 in different types of milk (Raw, pasteurized, and UHT) from 113 original articles in Iran using searching the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar (in Persian and English) databases from 2002 to august 2021 were collected. The concentration of AFM1 was meta-analyzed using the random effect model (REM) based on type of milk (raw, pasteurized and UHT) subgroups and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) approach was used to assess safety risks and investigate carcinogenic effects of AFM1 using Crystal-Ball software (Version 11.1.3, Oracle, Inc., USA).
SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
The 113 original article (In English and Persian) were included in this review. Meta-analysis indicated lower and upper of AFM1 in subgroups of raw, pasteurized and UHT milk in Iran was 9, 720, 2.7, 230.2, 19.23, and 221.6 ng/kg respectively. The Point estimate for carcinogenic risk of AFM1 showed as result of age increasing, the carcinogenic risk of Aflatoxin M 1 decreases and concentration of Aflatoxin M1 (ng/liter), plays the most effective role in carcinogenic risk of AFM1.
CONCLUSION
The presence of AFM1 in milk and its products due to its high toxicity and carcinogenic properties is a public health concern that the results show that the risk of carcinogenesis is higher at younger ages (less than 20 years). As a result, there is a strong association between consumption of raw milk, pasteurized milk and UHT and the risk of cancer in children and adults in Iran.
Topics: Adult; Child; Humans; Animals; Milk; Iran; Aflatoxin M1; Carcinogens; Food Contamination; Risk Assessment; Carcinogenesis
PubMed: 35749130
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0050 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Sep 2021This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between air pollution and DNA methylation in adults from published observational studies.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between air pollution and DNA methylation in adults from published observational studies. PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases were systematically searched for available studies on the association between air pollution and DNA methylation published up to March 9, 2021. Three DNA methylation approaches were considered: global methylation, candidate-gene, and epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS). Meta-analysis was used to summarize the combined estimates for the association between air pollutants and global DNA methylation levels. Heterogeneity was assessed with the Cochran Q test and quantified with the I statistic. In total, 38 articles were included in this study: 16 using global methylation, 18 using candidate genes, and 11 using EWAS, with 7 studies using more than one approach. Meta-analysis revealed an imprecise but inverse association between exposure to PM and global DNA methylation (for each 10-μg/m PM, combined estimate: 0.39; 95% confidence interval: 0.97 - 0.19). The candidate-gene results were consistent for the ERCC3 and SOX2 genes, suggesting hypermethylation in ERCC3 associated with benzene and that in SOX2 associated with PM exposure. EWAS identified 201 CpG sites and 148 differentially methylated regions that showed differential methylation associated with air pollution. Among the 307 genes investigated in 11 EWAS, a locus in nucleoredoxin gene was found to be positively associated with PM in two studies. Current meta-analysis indicates that PM is imprecisely and inversely associated with DNA methylation. The candidate-gene results consistently suggest hypermethylation in ERCC3 associated with benzene exposure and that in SOX2 associated with PM exposure. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) network analyses revealed that these genes were associated with African trypanosomiasis, Malaria, Antifolate resistance, Graft-versus-host disease, and so on. More evidence is needed to clarify the association between air pollution and DNA methylation.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; DNA Methylation; Environmental Exposure; Observational Studies as Topic; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 33895575
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117152 -
Molecular Psychiatry Jul 2021The innate immune system is dysregulated in depression; however, less is known about the longitudinal associations of depression and inflammatory biomarkers. We... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The innate immune system is dysregulated in depression; however, less is known about the longitudinal associations of depression and inflammatory biomarkers. We investigated the prospective associations of depression and inflammatory biomarkers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP)] in community samples, both unadjusted and adjusted for covariates. The review, registered with PROSPERO, searched for published and unpublished studies via MEDLINE/PsycINFO/PsycARTICLES/EMBASE/Proquest Dissertation. Standardized Fisher transformations of the correlation/beta coefficients, both unadjusted and adjusted for covariates, were extracted from studies examining the prospective associations of depression and inflammatory biomarkers. Systematic review conducted in January, 2019 included 38 studies representing 58,256 participants, with up to 27 studies included in random-effects meta-analysis. Higher CRP/IL-6 were associated with future depressive symptoms, and higher depressive symptoms were associated with higher future CRP/IL-6 in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses - this is the first meta-analysis reporting an adjusted association of IL-6 with future depression. The adjusted prospective associations of depression with CRP/CRP with depression were substantially attenuated and small in magnitude. No significant associations were observed for TNF-α. No conclusive results were observed in studies of clinical depression. Meta-regression indicated that the association of CRP and future depression was larger in older samples and in studies not controlling for possible infection. Small, prospective associations of depression and inflammatory biomarkers are observed in both directions, particularly for IL-6; however, the strength and importance of this relationship is likely obscured by the heterogeneity in depression and profound study/methodological differences. Implications for future studies are discussed.
Topics: Aged; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Depression; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 32807846
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00867-4 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Nov 2020With the high production and consumption of antibiotics in recent years due to increasing economic development and improving population health, China is facing serious...
With the high production and consumption of antibiotics in recent years due to increasing economic development and improving population health, China is facing serious antibiotic pollution in the environment, and it is becoming a significant threat to ecology and human health. This study explores the spatial distribution patterns of 65 antibiotics in soil, surface water and coastal water based on a systematic review. Potential emission sources of antibiotics are also analyzed using data extracted from the reviewed literature. The results suggest that China has very high antibiotic detection rates of 100%, 98.0% and 96.4% for soil, surface water and coastal water, respectively. Regions with high antibiotic levels are mainly located in Bohai Bay, including the Beijing‒Tianjin‒Hebei region, Liaoning and Shandong Provinces, and Yangtze River. Tetracyclines (TCs) and quinolones (QNs) are the dominant antibiotics observed in soil and are mainly attributed to the use of manure as fertilizer and the reuse of domestic wastewater. Sulfonamides (SAs), macrolides (MLs), TCs and QNs are the dominant antibiotics observed in surface water and are mainly attributed to aquaculture and the emission of domestic sewage. QNs are the dominant antibiotics observed in coastal water and are mainly attributed to marine cultivation. The detection frequencies and concentrations of TCs, QNs, SAs and MLs in both soil and water are much higher than those in other developed countries. Suggestions including restricting antibiotic usages in livestock farming and aquaculture, innovation of wastewater treatment technology to improve antibiotic removal rate, and establishing guidelines on antibiotic concentration for wastewater discharge and organic fertilizer are provided.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; China; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Rivers; Soil; Soil Pollutants; Wastewater; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 32673932
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115147 -
Indoor Air Nov 2022Many working activities are carried out in office buildings that are located in urban areas. Several studies have shown that these workplaces are likely to present poor... (Review)
Review
Many working activities are carried out in office buildings that are located in urban areas. Several studies have shown that these workplaces are likely to present poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) due to inadequate ventilation rates, compromised thermal comfort conditions, and/or high concentration of air pollutants, such as particulate matter. This study aimed to review ventilation conditions, based on carbon dioxide (CO ) concentrations, and indoor airborne particulate matter (PM and PM ) levels assessed in offices worldwide. The approach carried out in this work followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Inspec, Science Direct, and Dimensions) were used to search for peer-reviewed articles on the subject of IEQ, in particular, those reporting data for the levels of CO and particulate matter in offices, published during the last decade. Firstly, 394 records were identified, resulting in 23 articles included in the review after the screening process and the implementation of eligibility criteria. Based on the results and considering the mean concentration reported, office environments present, in general, acceptable ventilation conditions (mean: 665 ppm). However, the few cases of studies that reported CO values exceeding 1000 ppm identified situations of high occupancy density and inadequate operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as the unequivocal causative factors. In turn, PM and PM seemed to be IEQ parameters that are even more critical to be tackled in offices, with the reported overall mean values (36 and 63 μg/m ) exceeding the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (15 and 45 μg/m ). The highest aerosol concentrations were typically found in naturally ventilated buildings and were mostly associated with the influence of high levels of particles introduced indoors through the outdoor air. Overall, measures for improving IEQ in offices toward promoting healthy and safe environments for workers include strategies to periodically control IEQ, ensure the adequate percentage of fresh air and maintenance of the mechanical ventilation systems (operation, maintenance, and air filtration efficiency), and adjust occupancy to the room dimensions and ventilation conditions.
Topics: Humans; Particulate Matter; Air Pollution, Indoor; Carbon Dioxide; Ventilation; Air Pollutants
PubMed: 36437647
DOI: 10.1111/ina.13148 -
Journal of Internal Medicine Jul 2023To systematically assess test performance of patient-adapted D-dimer cut-offs for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
To systematically assess test performance of patient-adapted D-dimer cut-offs for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
METHODS
Systematic review and analysis of articles published in PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library databases. Investigations assessing patient-adjusted D-dimer thresholds for the exclusion of VTE were included. A hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model was used to assess diagnostic accuracy. Risk of bias was assessed by Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 score.
RESULTS
A total of 68 studies involving 141,880 patients met the inclusion criteria. The standard cut-off revealed a sensitivity of 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.98-0.99) and specificity of 0.23 (95% CI 0.16-0.31). Sensitivity was comparable to the standard cut-off for age-adjustment (0.97 [95% CI 0.96-0.98]) and YEARS algorithm (0.98 [95% CI 0.91-1.00]) but lower for pretest probability (PTP)-adjusted (0.95 [95% CI 0.89-0.98) and COVID-19-adapted thresholds (0.93 [95% CI 0.82-0.98]). Specificity was significantly higher across all adjustment strategies (age: 0.43 [95% CI 0.36-0.50]; PTP: 0.63 [95% CI 0.51-0.73]; YEARS algorithm: 0.65 [95% CI 0.39-0.84]; and COVID-19: 0.51 [95% CI 0.40-0.63]). The YEARS algorithm provided the best negative likelihood ratio (0.03 [95% CI 0.01-0.15]), followed by age-adjusted (both 0.07 [95% CI 0.05-0.09]), PTP (0.08 [95% CI 0.04-0.17), and COVID-19-adjusted thresholds (0.13 [95% CI 0.05-0.32]).
CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that adjustment of D-dimer thresholds to patient-specific factors is safe and embodies considerable potential for reduction of imaging. However, robustness, safety, and efficiency vary considerably among different adjustment strategies with a high degree of heterogeneity.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Venous Thromboembolism; COVID-19; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; ROC Curve; COVID-19 Testing
PubMed: 37143392
DOI: 10.1111/joim.13650 -
Sleep Health Apr 2023Findings of previous investigations that evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and sugar or sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake have been inconsistent.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Findings of previous investigations that evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and sugar or sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake have been inconsistent. We aimed to summarize extant research that assessed the relation between short sleep duration and sugar and SSB intake.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed, ISI Web of Sciences, Scopus, Science Direct, Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted. All observational studies that reported sleep duration as the exposure and intake of sugar or sugary drinks as the outcome were included. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The body of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Random and fixed effects models were used to estimate pooled OR and 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS
Twenty-two studies in children and twelve in adults were included in the systematic review. Only 10 studies in children and 3 investigations in adults provided odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for this association and could be included in the meta-analysis. All studies had a cross-sectional design and found a negative association between sleep duration and sugar in children, but not in adults. SSB intake was lower in those with sufficient sleep in all populations. Compared with those with sufficient sleep, children with short sleep duration had 16% (significant) higher odds of consuming sugar (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.21), 21% higher odds of soda intake (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.26), and 92% higher odds of consuming energy drink intake (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.66, 2.22). However, sleep duration was not significantly associated with soft drink intake in children (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.48). In adults, the odds of drinking soda in those with short sleep duration was 1.2 times more than in those with sufficient sleep (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.28). Also, low vs. optimal sleep duration in adults was associated with a 58% increased intake of energy drinks (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.31, 1.90). Of note, these findings in the adult population resulted from only 2 included investigations, due to the limited number of studies.
CONCLUSION
The evidence reviewed supports a significant association between shorter sleep duration and higher SSBs intake in both children and adults, while such association with higher total sugar intake was significant in children but not in adults. Further research with more accurate measurements, sex-specific, and prospective designs should be carried out to clarify the causality and underlying mechanisms.
Topics: Adult; Male; Child; Female; Humans; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages; Beverages; Sugars; Cross-Sectional Studies; Sleep
PubMed: 36424247
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2022.07.006 -
Annals of Palliative Medicine Nov 2021Diabetes is a common metabolic disease with an increasing incidence in middle-aged and elderly people in recent years. Chronic hyperglycemia is the basic feature of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Diabetes is a common metabolic disease with an increasing incidence in middle-aged and elderly people in recent years. Chronic hyperglycemia is the basic feature of diabetes, which can cause long-term damage to eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels, resulting in functional decline or even failure. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) can be used as an indicator of an individual's blood sugar status over the past 3 months; however, it is slightly affected by ischemic anemia.
METHODS
The data retrieval was performed in the databases of PubMed, Embase, and Ovid-Medline from their inception to April 2021, including keywords such as iron deficiency anemia (IDA), diabetes, HbA1c, immunoassay, and ion-exchange chromatography. After passing of sensitivity and heterogeneity analysis, Review Manager 5.3 was employed for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 6 studies were included in this paper. The analysis results showed that IDA could be considered to have an impact on HbA1c outcomes in non-diabetic populations. In people with diabetes, IDA is not thought to have an impact on HbA1c outcomes.
DISCUSSION
A total of 6 articles were included to discuss the effects of IDA on blood HbA1c in diabetic patients. The study found that when patients with diabetes were tested for blood sugar, the HbA1c did not accurately reflect their blood sugar control over the past 3 months.
Topics: Aged; Anemia; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency; Diabetes Mellitus; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Iron Deficiencies; Middle Aged
PubMed: 34872295
DOI: 10.21037/apm-21-2944 -
Food and Chemical Toxicology : An... Mar 2019Quercetin is a plant polyphenol with biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective and anti-allergic. The objective of this... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Quercetin is a plant polyphenol with biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective and anti-allergic. The objective of this review is to provide a systematic evaluation of the evidence and a meta-analysis of data from previously published researches on the antidiabetic action of quercetin. A comprehensive literature search was conducted between July 2018 and August 2018 on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Sciences and Scopus databases. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled effect size and studies were weighted according to an estimate of the mean difference. The heterogeneity between studies was assessed using a Higgins' I2 test with corresponding p values. Overall 13 eligible articles with appropriate data on serum glucose were included in the statistical analysis. The meta-analysis for serum glucose level (mg/dL) showed that at doses of 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg there was a significant difference between the means. Therefore, the results of the meta-analysis support the hypothesis that quercetin lowers serum glucose level, at doses of 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg.
Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hypoglycemic Agents; Quercetin
PubMed: 30735748
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.01.037 -
Indoor Air Jan 2022Interventions to reduce household air pollution (HAP) are key to reducing associated morbidity and mortality in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs); especially... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Effectiveness of interventions to reduce household air pollution from solid biomass fuels and improve maternal and child health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Interventions to reduce household air pollution (HAP) are key to reducing associated morbidity and mortality in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs); especially among pregnant women and young children. This systematic review aims to determine the effectiveness of interventions aimed to reduce HAP exposure associated with domestic solid biomass fuel combustion, compared to usual cooking practices, for improving health outcomes in pregnant women and children under five in LMIC settings. A systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken with searches undertaken in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, GIM, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Greenfile in August 2020. Inclusion criteria were experimental, non-experimental, or quasi-experimental studies investigating the impact of interventions to reduce HAP exposure and improve associated health outcomes among pregnant women or children under 5 years. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool were undertaken independently by two reviewers. Seventeen out of 7293 retrieved articles (seven pregnancy, nine child health outcome; 13 studies) met the inclusion criteria. These assessed improved cookstoves (ICS; n = 10 studies), ethanol stoves (n = 1 study), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG; n = 2 studies) stoves interventions. Meta-analysis showed no significant effect of ICS interventions compared to traditional cooking for risk of preterm birth (n = 2 studies), small for gestational age (n = 2 studies), and incidence of acute respiratory infections (n = 6 studies). Although an observed increase in mean birthweight was observed, this was not statistically significant (n = 4). However, ICS interventions reduced the incidence of childhood burns (n = 3; observations = 41 723; Rate Ratio: 0.66 [95% CI: 0.45-0.96]; I : 46.7%) and risk of low birth weight (LBW; n = 4; observations = 3456; Odds Ratio: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.61-0.87]; I : 21.1%). Although few studies reported health outcomes, the data indicate that ICS interventions were associated with reduced risk of childhood burns and LBW. The data highlight the need for the development and implementation of robust, well-reported and monitored, community-driven intervention trials with longer-term participant follow-up.
Topics: Air Pollution; Air Pollution, Indoor; Biomass; Child; Child, Preschool; Cooking; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Pregnancy; Premature Birth
PubMed: 34989443
DOI: 10.1111/ina.12958