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Relative Age Effects Across and Within Female Sport Contexts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) Jun 2018Subtle differences in chronological age within sport (bi-) annual-age groupings can contribute to immediate participation and long-term attainment discrepancies; known... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Subtle differences in chronological age within sport (bi-) annual-age groupings can contribute to immediate participation and long-term attainment discrepancies; known as the relative age effect. Voluminous studies have examined relative age effects in male sport; however, their prevalence and context-specific magnitude in female sport remain undetermined.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and magnitude of relative age effects in female sport via examination of published data spanning 1984-2016.
METHODS
Registered with PROSPERO (No. 42016053497) and using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis systematic search guidelines, 57 studies were identified, containing 308 independent samples across 25 sports. Distribution data were synthesised using odds ratio meta-analyses, applying an invariance random-effects model. Follow-up subgroup category analyses examined whether relative age effect magnitudes were moderated by age group, competition level, sport type, sport context and study quality.
RESULTS
When comparing the relatively oldest (quartile 1) vs. youngest (quartile 4) individuals across all female sport contexts, the overall pooled estimate identified a significant but small relative age effect (odds ratio = 1.25; 95% confidence interval 1.21-1.30; p = 0.01; odds ratio adjusted = 1.21). Subgroup analyses revealed the relative age effect magnitude was higher in pre-adolescent (≤ 11 years) and adolescent (12-14 years) age groups and at higher competition levels. Relative age effect magnitudes were higher in team-based and individual sport contexts associated with high physiological demands.
CONCLUSION
The findings highlight relative age effects are prevalent across the female sport contexts examined. Relative age effect magnitude is moderated by interactions between developmental stages, competition level and sport context demands. Modifications to sport policy, organisational and athlete development system structure, as well as practitioner intervention are recommended to prevent relative age effect-related participation and longer term attainment inequalities.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Age Factors; Australia; Exercise; Female; Humans; Male; Physical Education and Training; Sports
PubMed: 29536262
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-018-0890-8 -
Nutrients Dec 2023In recent years, orthodontics, a specialized branch of dentistry, has evolved considerably in terms of both techniques and materials used. Aimed at correcting dental... (Review)
Review
In recent years, orthodontics, a specialized branch of dentistry, has evolved considerably in terms of both techniques and materials used. Aimed at correcting dental malocclusions and craniofacial anomalies, it improves the functionality and aesthetics of the face and oral cavity. However, orthodontic treatment, in its developmental stages, may induce oxidative stress (O.S.) phenomena, with an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), damaging the dental and periodontal tissues involved, affecting the short-, medium- and long-term results. Studies on the antioxidant effects of natural products (e.g., resveratrol, green tea, turmeric, etc.) in the medical field have aroused considerable interest in recent years. A systematic literature review was conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using natural products (N.P.s), O.S., and orthodontic as keywords. The study aims to consider the determinants of the increase in ROS occurring during orthodontic treatment and the possibility of natural products being able to control and neutralize biochemical phenomena by restoring the physiological process in which the balance between the production of ROS and the ability of the body's antioxidant system to neutralize them is in favor of the latter.
Topics: Reactive Oxygen Species; Biological Products; Oxidative Stress; Antioxidants; Curcuma
PubMed: 38201943
DOI: 10.3390/nu16010113 -
Human Reproduction Open 2023What is the existing empirical literature on the psychosocial health and wellbeing of the parents and offspring born at an advanced parental age (APA), defined as... (Review)
Review
STUDY QUESTION
What is the existing empirical literature on the psychosocial health and wellbeing of the parents and offspring born at an advanced parental age (APA), defined as 40 years onwards?
SUMMARY ANSWER
Although the studies show discrepancies in defining who is an APA parent and an imbalance in the empirical evidence for offspring, mothers, and fathers, there is a drive towards finding psychotic disorders and (neuro-)developmental disorders among the offspring; overall, the observed advantages and disadvantages are difficult to compare.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY
In many societies, children are born to parents at advanced ages and there is rising attention in the literature towards the consequences of this trend.
STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION
The systematic search was conducted in six electronic databases (PubMed including Medline, Embase, Scopus, PsycInfo, CINAHL, and SocINDEX) and was limited to papers published between 2000 and 2021 and to English-language articles. Search terms used across all six electronic databases were: ('advanced parental age' OR 'advanced maternal age' OR 'advanced paternal age' OR 'advanced reproductive age' OR 'late parent*' OR 'late motherhood' OR 'late fatherhood') AND ('IVF' OR 'in vitro fertilization' OR 'in-vitro-fertilization' OR 'fertilization in vitro' OR 'ICSI' OR 'intracytoplasmic sperm injection' OR 'reproductive techn*' OR 'assisted reproductive technolog*' OR 'assisted reproduction' OR 'assisted conception' OR 'reproduction' OR 'conception' OR 'birth*' OR 'pregnan*') AND ('wellbeing' OR 'well-being' OR 'psycho-social' OR 'social' OR 'ethical' OR 'right to reproduce' OR 'justice' OR 'family functioning' OR 'parental competenc*' OR 'ageism' OR 'reproductive autonomy' OR 'outcome' OR 'risk*' OR 'benefit*').
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS
The included papers were empirical studies in English published between 2000 and 2021, where the study either examined the wellbeing and psychosocial health of parents and/or their children, or focused on parental competences of APA parents or on the functioning of families with APA parents. A quality assessment of the identified studies was performed with the QATSDD tool. Additionally, 20% of studies were double-checked at the data extraction and quality assessment stage to avoid bias. The variables sought were: the geographical location, the year of publication, the methodological approach, the definitions of APA used, what study group was at the centre of the research, what research topic was studied, and what advantages and disadvantages of APA were found.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE
A total number of 5403 articles were identified, leading to 2543 articles being included for title and abstract screening after removal of duplicates. This resulted in 98 articles included for a full-text reading by four researchers. Ultimately, 69 studies were included in the final sample. The key results concerned four aspects relevant to the research goals. (i) The studies showed discrepancies in defining who is an APA parent. (ii) There was an imbalance in the empirical evidence produced for different participant groups (mothers, fathers, and offspring), with offspring being the most studied study subjects. (iii) The research topics studied underlined the increased risks of neuro-developmental and psychotic disorders among offspring. (iv) The observed advantages and disadvantages were varied and could not be compared, especially for the offspring of APA parents.
LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION
Only English-language studies, published between 2000 and 2021, found in the above-mentioned databases were considered for this review.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS
More research is necessary to understand the risks and benefits of building a family at an APA for the offspring when they reach adulthood. Furthermore, studies that explore the perspective of older fathers and older parents from non-Western societies would be highly informative.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS
The writing of this manuscript was permitted by financial support provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Weave/Lead Agency funding program, grant number 10001AL_197415/1, project title 'Family Building at Advanced Parental Age: An Interdisciplinary Approach'). The funder had no role in the drafting of this manuscript and the views expressed therein are those of the authors. The authors have no conflicts of interest.
REGISTRATION NUMBER
This systematic review is registered in Prospero: CRD42022304564.
PubMed: 38045093
DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoad042 -
Critical Reviews in Eukaryotic Gene... 2022the aim of the study was to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive and non-pharmacological techniques on labor first-stage pain intensity.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
the aim of the study was to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive and non-pharmacological techniques on labor first-stage pain intensity. Literature databases were searched from inception to May 2021, and research was expanded through the screening of previous systematic reviews. Inclusion criteria were: (1) population: women in first stage of labor; (2) intervention: non-pharmacological, non-invasive, or minimally invasive intrapartum analgesic techniques alternative and/or complementary to pharmacological analgesia; (3) comparison: routine intrapartum care or placebos; (4) outcomes: subjective pain intensity; and (5) study design: randomized controlled trial. Risk of bias of included studies was investigated, data analysis was performed using R version 3.5.1. Effect size was calculated as difference between the control and experimental groups at posttreatment in terms of mean pain score. A total of 63 studies were included, for a total of 6146 patients (3468 in the experimental groups and 2678 in the control groups). Techniques included were massage (n = 11), birth balls (n = 5) mind-body interventions (n = 8), heat application (n = 12), music therapy (n = 9), dance therapy (n = 2), acupressure (n = 16), and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) (n = 8). The present review found significant evidence in support of the use of complementary and alternative medicine for labor analgesia, and different methods showed different impact. However, more high-quality trials are needed.
Topics: Analgesics; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Pain Management; Pregnancy; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
PubMed: 35381132
DOI: 10.1615/CritRevEukaryotGeneExpr.2021039986 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2022Evidence indicates shared physiopathological mechanisms between autism and psychosis. In this regard, the endocannabinoid system has been suggested to modulate neural... (Review)
Review
Evidence indicates shared physiopathological mechanisms between autism and psychosis. In this regard, the endocannabinoid system has been suggested to modulate neural circuits during the early stage of neurodevelopment, with implications for both autism and psychosis. Nevertheless, such potential common markers of disease have been investigated in both autism and psychosis spectrum disorders, without considering the conundrum of differentiating the two groups of conditions in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Here, we systematically review all human and animal studies examining the endocannabinoid system and its biobehavioral correlates in the association between autism and psychosis. Studies indicate overlapping biobehavioral aberrancies between autism and schizophrenia, subject to correction by modulation of the endocannabinoid system. In addition, common cannabinoid-based pharmacological strategies have been identified, exerting epigenetic effects across genes controlling neural mechanisms shared between autism and schizophrenia. Interestingly, a developmental and transgenerational trajectory between autism and schizophrenia is supported by evidence that exogenous alteration of the endocannabinoid system promotes progression to inheritable psychosis phenotypes in the context of biobehavioral autism vulnerability. However, evidence for a diametral association between autism and psychosis is scant. Several clinical implications follow from evidence of a developmental continuum between autism and psychosis as a function of the endocannabinoid system dysregulation.
Topics: Animals; Autistic Disorder; Cannabinoids; Endocannabinoids; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia
PubMed: 35565034
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095616 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Jan 2022Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was originally described in the context of sexual differentiation in the male fetus but has gained prominence now as a marker of ovarian...
CONTEXT
Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) was originally described in the context of sexual differentiation in the male fetus but has gained prominence now as a marker of ovarian reserve and fertility in females. In this mini-review, we offer an updated synopsis on AMH and its clinical utility in pediatric patients.
DESIGN AND RESULTS
A systematic search was undertaken for studies related to the physiology of AMH, normative data, and clinical role in pediatrics. In males, AMH, secreted by Sertoli cells, is found at high levels prenatally and throughout childhood and declines with progression through puberty to overlap with levels in females. Thus, serum AMH has clinical utility as a marker of testicular tissue in males with differences in sexual development and cryptorchidism and in the evaluation of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome. In females, serum AMH has been used as a predictive marker of ovarian reserve and fertility, but prepubertal and adolescent AMH assessments need to be interpreted cautiously. AMH is also a marker of tumor burden, progression, and recurrence in germ cell tumors of the ovary.
CONCLUSIONS
AMH has widespread clinical diagnostic utility in pediatrics but interpretation is often challenging and should be undertaken in the context of not only age and sex but also developmental and pubertal stage of the child. Nonstandardized assays necessitate the need for assay-specific normative data. The recognition of the role of AMH beyond gonadal development and maturation may usher in novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications that would further expand its utility in pediatric care.
Topics: Anti-Mullerian Hormone; Child; Child Development; Cryptorchidism; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY; Female; Gonads; Humans; Male; Ovarian Reserve; Sexual Maturation
PubMed: 34537849
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab687 -
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience 2021Graph theoretical studies have been designed to investigate network topologies during life. Network science and graph theory methods may contribute to a better... (Review)
Review
Graph theoretical studies have been designed to investigate network topologies during life. Network science and graph theory methods may contribute to a better understanding of brain function, both normal and abnormal, throughout developmental stages. The degree to which childhood epilepsies exert a significant effect on brain network organisation and cognition remains unclear. The hypothesis suggests that the formation of abnormal networks associated with epileptogenesis early in life causes a disruption in normal brain network development and cognition, reflecting abnormalities in later life. Neurological diseases with onset during critical stages of brain maturation, including childhood epilepsy, may threaten this orderly neurodevelopmental process. According to the hypothesis that the formation of abnormal networks associated with epileptogenesis in early life causes a disruption in normal brain network development, it is then mandatory to perform a proper examination of children with new-onset epilepsy early in the disease course and a deep study of their brain network organisation over time. In regards, graph theoretical analysis could add more information. In order to facilitate further development of graph theory in childhood, we performed a systematic review to describe its application in functional dynamic connectivity using electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis, focussing on paediatric epilepsy.
Topics: Brain; Brain Mapping; Child; Cognition; Electroencephalography; Epilepsy; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Nerve Net; Neurodevelopmental Disorders
PubMed: 35860177
DOI: 10.1080/19585969.2022.2043128 -
Psychological Medicine May 2022Psychomotor slowing is a key feature of depressive disorders. Despite its great clinical importance, the pathophysiology and prevalence across different diagnoses and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Psychomotor slowing is a key feature of depressive disorders. Despite its great clinical importance, the pathophysiology and prevalence across different diagnoses and mood states are still poorly understood. Actigraphy allows unbiased, objective, and naturalistic assessment of physical activity as a marker of psychomotor slowing. Yet, the true effect-sizes remain unclear as recent, large systematic reviews are missing. We conducted a novel meta-analysis on actigraphically measured slowing in depression with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for diagnosis ascertainment and sample duplications. Medline/PubMed and Web-of-Science were searched with terms combining mood-keywords and actigraphy-keywords until September 2021. Original research measuring actigraphy for ⩾24 h in at least two groups of depressed, remitted, or healthy participants and applying operationalized diagnosis was included. Studies in somatically ill patients, N < 10 participants/group, and studies using consumer-devices were excluded. Activity-levels between groups were compared using random-effects models with standardized-mean-differences and several moderators were examined. In total, 34 studies (n = 1804 patients) were included. Patients had lower activity than controls [standardized mean difference (s.m.d.) = -0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.99 to -0.57]. Compared to controls, patients with unipolar and bipolar disorder had lower activity than controls whether in depressed (unipolar: s.m.d. = -0.82, 95% CI -1.07 to -0.56; bipolar: s.m.d. = -0.94, 95% CI -1.41 to -0.46), or remitted/euthymic mood (unipolar: s.m.d. = -0.28, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.0; bipolar: s.m.d. = -0.92, 95% CI -1.36 to -0.47). None of the examined moderators had any significant effect. To date, this is the largest meta-analysis on actigraphically measured slowing in mood disorders. They are associated with lower activity, even in the remitted/euthymic mood-state. Studying objective motor behavior via actigraphy holds promise for informing screening and staging of affective disorders.
Topics: Actigraphy; Bipolar Disorder; Depression; Humans; Mood Disorders
PubMed: 35550677
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291722000903 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Feb 2022To investigate associations between major life events and prognosis independent of treatment type: (1) after adjusting for clinical prognostic factors and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To investigate associations between major life events and prognosis independent of treatment type: (1) after adjusting for clinical prognostic factors and socio-demographics; (2) amongst patients with depressive episodes at least six-months long; and (3) patients with a first life-time depressive episode.
METHODS
Six RCTs of adults seeking treatment for depression in primary care met eligibility criteria, individual patient data (IPD) were collated from all six (n = 2858). Participants were randomized to any treatment and completed the same baseline assessment of life events, demographics and clinical prognostic factors. Two-stage random effects meta-analyses were conducted.
RESULTS
Reporting any major life events was associated with poorer prognosis regardless of treatment type. Controlling for baseline clinical factors, socio-demographics and social support resulted in minimal residual evidence of associations between life events and treatment prognosis. However, removing factors that might mediate the relationships between life events and outcomes reporting: arguments/disputes, problem debt, violent crime, losing one's job, and three or more life events were associated with considerably worse prognoses (percentage difference in 3-4 months depressive symptoms compared to no reported life events =30.3%(95%CI: 18.4-43.3)).
CONCLUSIONS
Assessing for clinical prognostic factors, social support, and socio-demographics is likely to be more informative for prognosis than assessing self-reported recent major life events. However, clinicians might find it useful to ask about such events, and if they are still affecting the patient, consider interventions to tackle problems related to those events (e.g. employment support, mediation, or debt advice). Further investigations of the efficacy of such interventions will be important.
Topics: Depression; Humans; Primary Health Care; Prognosis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Social Support
PubMed: 34920035
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.030