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American Journal of Audiology Dec 2012The purpose of this evidence-based systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of digital noise reduction and directional microphones for outcome measures of... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
The purpose of this evidence-based systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of digital noise reduction and directional microphones for outcome measures of audibility, speech recognition, speech and language, and self- or parent-report in pediatric hearing aid users.
METHOD
The authors searched 26 databases for experimental studies published after 1980 addressing one or more clinical questions and meeting all inclusion criteria. The authors evaluated studies for methodological quality and reported or calculated p values and effect sizes when possible.
RESULTS
A systematic search of the literature resulted in the inclusion of 4 digital noise reduction and 7 directional microphone studies (in 9 journal articles) that addressed speech recognition, speech and language, and/or self- or parent-report outcomes. No digital noise reduction or directional microphone studies addressed audibility outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of a moderate level of evidence, digital noise reduction was not found to improve or degrade speech understanding. Additional research is needed before conclusions can be drawn regarding the impact of digital noise reduction on important speech, language, hearing, and satisfaction outcomes. Moderate evidence also indicates that directional microphones resulted in improved speech recognition in controlled optimal settings; however, additional research is needed to determine the effectiveness of directional microphones in actual everyday listening environments.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Equipment Design; Hearing Aids; Hearing Loss; Humans; Noise; Speech Perception; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 22858614
DOI: 10.1044/1059-0889(2012/12-0014) -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The aim of this systematic review is to explore the pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic basis of Primary Failure of Eruption (PFE) in the field of pediatric... (Review)
Review
AIM
The aim of this systematic review is to explore the pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and genetic basis of Primary Failure of Eruption (PFE) in the field of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for this review. The databases PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from 1 July 2013 to 1 July 2023, using keywords "primary failure of tooth eruption" OR "primary failure of eruption" OR "tooth eruption failure" OR "PFE" AND "orthodontics". The study selection process involved screening articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
RESULTS
A total of 1151 results were obtained from the database search, with 14 papers meeting the inclusion criteria. The review covers various aspects of PFE, including its clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options, and genetic associations with mutations in the PTH1R gene. Differentiation between PFE and Mechanical Failure of Eruption (MFE) is crucial for accurate treatment planning. Orthodontic and surgical interventions, along with multidisciplinary approaches, have been employed to manage PFE cases. Genetic testing for PTH1R mutations plays a significant role in confirming the diagnosis and guiding treatment decisions, although some cases may not be linked to this mutation.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review provides valuable insights into the diagnosis, treatment, and genetic basis of PFE. Early diagnosis and personalized treatment planning are crucial for successful management. Genetic testing for PTH1R mutations aids in accurate diagnosis and may influence treatment decisions. However, further research is needed to explore the complex genetic basis of PFE fully and improve treatment outcomes for affected individuals.
PubMed: 38002872
DOI: 10.3390/children10111781 -
AIDS (London, England) Sep 2015As antiretroviral therapy (ART) expands for HIV-infected children, it is important to determine its impact on growth. We quantified growth and its determinants following... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
As antiretroviral therapy (ART) expands for HIV-infected children, it is important to determine its impact on growth. We quantified growth and its determinants following ART in resource-limited (RLS) and developed settings.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
We searched publications reporting growth [weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ) z scores] in HIV-infected children following ART through August 2014. Inclusion criteria were as follows: younger than 18 years; ART; at least 20 patients; growth at ART; and post-ART growth. Standardized and overall weighted mean differences were calculated using random-effects models.
RESULTS
A total of 67 articles were eligible (RLS = 54; developed settings = 13). Mean age was 5.8 years, and comparable between settings (P = 0.90). Baseline growth was substantially lower in RLS vs. developed settings (WAZ -2.1 vs. -0.5; HAZ -2.2 vs. -0.9; both P < 0.01). Rate of weight but not height reconstitution during 12 and 24 months was higher in RLS (12-month WAZ change 0.84 vs. 0.17, P < 0.01). Growth deficits persisted in RLS after 2 years ART (P = 0.04). Younger cohort age was associated with greater growth reconstitution. Protease inhibitor and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimens yielded comparable growth. Adjusting for age and setting, cohorts with nutritional supplements had greater growth gains (24-month rate difference: WAZ 0.55, P = 0.03; HAZ 0.60, P = 0.007). Supplement benefits were attenuated after adjusting for baseline cohort growth.
CONCLUSION
RLS children had substantial growth deficits compared with developed settings counterparts at ART; growth shortfalls in RLS persisted despite reconstitution. Earlier age and nutritional supplementation at ART may improve growth outcomes. Scant data on supplementation limit evaluation of impact and underscores need for systematic data collection regarding supplementation in pediatric ART programmes/cohorts.
Topics: Adolescent; Anthropology; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Biostatistics; Child; Child Development; Child, Preschool; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Dietary Supplements; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male
PubMed: 26355573
DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000783 -
Journal of the International AIDS... Feb 2023Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is approved for paediatric use in fixed-dose combination tablets, but efficacy and safety data in children are limited. We conducted a... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is approved for paediatric use in fixed-dose combination tablets, but efficacy and safety data in children are limited. We conducted a systematic review on the efficacy/effectiveness and safety of TAF in infants, children and adolescents living with HIV.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, clinical trial registries, reference lists and relevant conferences to identify literature published January 2009-March 2021. We included clinical trials and observational studies assessing the efficacy/effectiveness or safety of TAF through ≥6 months of treatment in participants aged 0-19 years.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Overall 3626 abstracts and 371 full papers were screened. Four single-arm, innovator-funded trials (341 participants) and a pooled analysis of those trials were identified. All four trials included treatment-experienced and virally suppressed children or adolescents. One trial also included treatment-naïve adolescents with baseline viral load >1000 copies/ml. The risk of bias was rated as low in one study and unclear in the other three owing to missing data on study design (all conference presentations). At 48 weeks, 92% (46/50) of treatment-naïve participants were virally suppressed (one trial). Among treatment-experienced participants with viral load at 48 weeks, 214 of 224 participants were virally suppressed. Across the studies, one grade 3/4 adverse event was considered drug-related (intermediate uveitis). There were three discontinuations for adverse events (grade 2 anxiety and insomnia, grade 1 iridocyclitis [drug-related] and grade 1 pulmonary tuberculosis [unrelated to treatment]). One accidental death occurred across the four studies. In the pooled analysis of 223 participants, the median change in bone mineral density z-score (height- and age-adjusted) from baseline to 48 weeks was -0.12 (interquartile range [IQR] -0.46, 0.17) to 0.05 (IQR not reported) for spine, and -0.09 (IQR -0.33, 0.07) to 0.09 (IQR not reported) for total body less head. Weight-for-age z-scores increased by 0.25 from baseline to 48 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS
Four single-arm trials were identified in this systematic review, with initial evidence suggesting good viral suppression and no obvious safety concerns in children and adolescents on TAF-containing regimens over 24-48 weeks. However, further comparative and longer-term safety data are needed in children and adolescents, including on weight and metabolic changes.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Tenofovir; HIV Infections; Anti-HIV Agents; HIV-1; Adenine; Emtricitabine
PubMed: 36823283
DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26037 -
The Lancet. Global Health Dec 2017Shigella infections are a leading cause of diarrhoeal death among children in low-income and middle-income countries. WHO guidelines reserve antibiotics for treating... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Shigella infections are a leading cause of diarrhoeal death among children in low-income and middle-income countries. WHO guidelines reserve antibiotics for treating children with dysentery. Reliance on dysentery for identification and management of Shigella infection might miss an opportunity to reduce Shigella-associated morbidity and mortality. We aimed to systematically review and evaluate Shigella-associated and dysentery-associated mortality, the diagnostic value of dysentery for the identification of Shigella infection, and the efficacy of antibiotics for children with Shigella or dysentery, or both.
METHODS
We did three systematic reviews (for mortality, diagnostic value, and antibiotic treatment of Shigella and dysentery), and meta-analyses where appropriate, of studies in resource-limited settings. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS database for studies published before Jan 1, 2017, in English, French, and Spanish. We included studies of human beings with diarrhoea and accepted all study-specific definitions of dysentery. For the mortality and diagnostic value searches, we excluded studies that did not include an effect estimate or data necessary to calculate this estimate. The search for treatment included only randomised controlled trials that were done after Jan 1, 1980, and assessed antibiotics in children (aged <18 years) with dysentery or laboratory-confirmed Shigella. We extracted or calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for relative mortality and did random-effects meta-analysis to arrive at pooled ORs. We calculated 95% CIs assuming a binomial distribution and did random-effects meta-regression of log-transformed sensitivity and specificity estimates for diagnostic value. We assessed the heterogeneity of papers included in these meta-analyses using the I statistic and evaluated publication bias using funnel plots. This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017063896).
FINDINGS
3649 papers were identified and 60 studies were included for analyses: 13 for mortality, 27 for diagnostic value, and 20 for treatment. Shigella infection was associated with mortality (pooled OR 2·8, 95% CI 1·6-4·8; p=0·000) whereas dysentery was not associated with mortality (1·3, 0·7-2·3; p=0·37). Between 1977 and 2016, dysentery identified 1·9-85·9% of confirmed Shigella infections, with sensitivity decreasing over time (p=0·04). Ten (50%) of 20 included antibiotic trials were among children with dysentery, none were placebo-controlled, and two (10%) evaluated antibiotics no longer recommended for acute infectious diarrhoea. Ciprofloxacin showed superior microbiological, but not clinical, effectiveness compared with pivmecillinam, and no superior microbiological and clinical effectiveness compared with gatifloxacin. Substantial heterogeneity was reported for meta-analyses of the Shigella-associated mortality studies (I=78·3%) and dysentery-associated mortality studies (I=73·2%). Too few mortality studies were identified to meaningfully test for publication bias. No evidence of publication bias was found in this analysis of studies of diagnostic value.
INTERPRETATION
Current WHO guidelines appear to manage dysentery effectively, but might miss opportunities to reduce mortality among children infected with Shigella who present without bloody stool. Further studies should quantify potential decreases in mortality and morbidity associated with antibiotic therapy for children with non-dysenteric Shigella infection.
FUNDING
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Center for AIDS Research International Core.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Diarrhea; Dysentery, Bacillary; Fluoroquinolones; Gatifloxacin; Guideline Adherence; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Shigella; World Health Organization
PubMed: 29132613
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(17)30392-3 -
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal Oct 2020The accuracy of symptom screening to identify children eligible for further HIV testing in generalized epidemics has been examined in several studies. We performed a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The accuracy of symptom screening to identify children eligible for further HIV testing in generalized epidemics has been examined in several studies. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of these studies.
METHODS
We screened 5 databases and abstracts from 4 HIV/AIDS conferences. Studies were included if they were performed in clinical settings, included children of 0-15 years old, and used a signs/symptoms screen to determine eligibility for HIV testing. The primary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity of the screening tools. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the utility of a screening tool in the outpatient setting.
RESULTS
Our search returned 5529 database results and approximately 6700 conference abstracts, of which 36 articles were reviewed and 7 met criteria for inclusion. All were prospective or cross-sectional studies that developed and/or validated a screening tool to identify children at higher risk for being HIV infected. Sensitivity of the screening tools ranged from 71% to 96%, whereas specificity ranged from 25% to 99%. Meta-analysis of studies evaluating outpatient screening tools revealed a sensitivity of 81.4%, with a specificity of 69.4% for detecting HIV infection.
CONCLUSIONS
Few studies have evaluated the use of screening tools for HIV diagnosis in children. Screening tools that exist showed only moderate sensitivity and specificity and missed a substantial number of HIV-infected children in high-prevalence areas. In outpatient settings, the use of a screening tool may help reduce the number of HIV tests needed to identify an HIV-infected child, but at the cost of missed diagnoses. Further studies are needed to determine whether this represents a resource-saving mechanism.
Topics: Adolescent; Algorithms; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; HIV Infections; HIV Testing; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Mass Screening; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 32453192
DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002715 -
Journal of Comparative Effectiveness... Oct 2020Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer among women. Because guidelines on screening for breast cancer for certain ages are controversial, many experts advocate the...
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer among women. Because guidelines on screening for breast cancer for certain ages are controversial, many experts advocate the use of shared decision making (SDM) using validated decision aids (DAs). Recent studies have concluded that DAs are beneficial; however, the results have great heterogeneity. Therefore, further studies are needed to improve understanding of these tools. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of using web-based DAs in women aged 50 years and below facing the decision to be screened for breast cancer in comparison with usual care. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched up to February 2020 for studies assessing web-based DAs for women making a breast cancer screening decision and reported quality of decision-making outcomes. Using a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model, meta-analyses were conducted pooling results using mean differences (MD), standardized mean differences (SMD) and relative risks (RR). Of 1097 unique citations, three randomized controlled trials and two before-after studies met the study eligibility criteria. Compared with usual care, web-based DAs increased knowledge (SMD = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.57-0.80; p < 0.00001), reduced decision conflict and increased the proportion of women who made an informed choice (RR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.38 to 2.50; p < 0.0001), but did not change the intention of women deciding to be screened or affect decision regret. This analysis showed the positive effect of web-based DAs on patient-centered outcomes in breast cancer screening. In the future, more internet devices and free or larger discount WI-FI should be established to ensure more women can benefit from this effective tool.
Topics: Adult; Breast Neoplasms; Decision Making; Decision Support Techniques; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Internet; Mammography; Mass Screening; Middle Aged; Patient Education as Topic; Patient Participation
PubMed: 33025800
DOI: 10.2217/cer-2020-0052 -
BMC Public Health Feb 2019Despite substantial improvements in accessibility of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), death of children on ART remains a prevailing challenge in sub-Saharan African... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Despite substantial improvements in accessibility of Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), death of children on ART remains a prevailing challenge in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. However, the pooled magnitude of mortality at different ART follow-up periods remains unknown for the region. We estimated the pooled proportion of all-cause mortality for pediatric patients receiving first-line ART at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months follow-up period in SSA.
METHODS
We searched for relevant articles published between January 2014 and June 2018 on PubMed, Hinari and Google scholar databases. We searched for additional articles from reference lists and 2014-2018 abstracts archived by the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) and the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS).
RESULTS
We reviewed 29 articles reporting mortality among pediatric ART patients at different follow-up periods in countries from 2001 to 2016. Among the 51,619 pediatric ART patients in these cohorts, studies reported 4061 (7.9%) all-cause cumulative death. The cumulative pooled proportion of mortality at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of ART were 3% (95% CI: 3.0-4.0), 5% (95% CI: 4.0-6.0), 6% (95% CI: 5.0-7.0) and 7% (95% CI: 6.0-8.0), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
In SSA, significant proportion of mortality among children occurs in the first 3-6 months of ART initiation. Western Africa has a little higher estimate of mortality among pediatric ART patients at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Strategies to prevent early mortality including thorough screening and management of opportunistic infections before ART initiation are needed.
Topics: Africa South of the Sahara; Anti-HIV Agents; Child; Child Mortality; HIV Infections; Humans
PubMed: 30717720
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6482-1 -
JAMA Pediatrics Feb 2014Pediatric hearing impairment is a chronic handicap that can potentially lead to the development of psychopathology. Yet, for hearing-impaired children and adolescents,... (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
Pediatric hearing impairment is a chronic handicap that can potentially lead to the development of psychopathology. Yet, for hearing-impaired children and adolescents, the exact occurrence of various forms of psychopathology and its causes are unclear, while this knowledge is essential to enable targeted screenings and interventions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the level of psychopathological symptoms in hearing-impaired children and adolescents as compared with normally hearing peers. Second, the influence of type of hearing device and possible risk and protective factors on psychopathology were examined.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
A systematic literature search was performed covering relevant databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Two independent researchers identified the relevant articles. The final search was performed on May 2, 2013, and resulted in a total of 35 articles.
FINDINGS
Literature consistently demonstrated that hearing-impaired children and adolescents were more prone to developing depression, aggression, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and psychopathy than their normally hearing peers. Levels of anxiety, somatization, and delinquency were elevated in some, but not all, hearing-impaired participants, for reasons related to sex, age, and type of school. Divergent results were obtained for the level of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the influence of type of hearing device on psychopathology. Possible risk and protective factors were identified, including age at detection and intervention of hearing loss, additional disabilities, communication skills, intelligence, type of school, and number of siblings.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Literature on psychopathology in hearing-impaired children and adolescents is scarce and sometimes inconsistent. To define a more precise occurrence of psychopathology, more studies are needed. These studies should have a longitudinal design to draw firmer conclusions on causality. Hopefully, this will lead to more knowledge in the future to help and support each hearing-impaired individual.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Female; Hearing Aids; Hearing Loss, Bilateral; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders; Pediatrics; Psychopathology; Risk Factors
PubMed: 24296921
DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.3974 -
Internal and Emergency Medicine Oct 2022Different cognitive aids have been recently developed to support the management of cardiac arrest, however, their effectiveness remains barely investigated. We aimed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Different cognitive aids have been recently developed to support the management of cardiac arrest, however, their effectiveness remains barely investigated. We aimed to assess whether clinicians using any cognitive aids compared to no or alternative cognitive aids for in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) scenarios achieve improved resuscitation performance. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched to identify studies comparing the management of adult/paediatric IHCA simulated scenarios by health professionals using different or no cognitive aids. Our primary outcomes were adherence to guideline recommendations (overall team performance) and time to critical resuscitation actions. Random-effects model meta-analyses were performed. Of the 4.830 screened studies, 16 (14 adult, 2 paediatric) met inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses of eight eligible adult studies indicated that the use of electronic/paper-based cognitive aids, in comparison with no aid, was significantly associated with better overall resuscitation performance [standard mean difference (SMD) 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64; 1.69; I = 79%]. Meta-analyses of the two paediatric studies, showed non-significant improvement of critical actions for resuscitation (adherence to guideline recommended sequence of actions, time to defibrillation, rate of errors in defibrillation, time to start chest compressions), except for significant shorter time to amiodarone administration (SMD - 0.78; 95% CI - 1.39; - 0.18; I = 0). To conclude, the use of cognitive aids appears to have benefits in improving the management of simulated adult IHCA scenarios, with potential positive impact on clinical practice. Further paediatric studies are necessary to better assess the impact of cognitive aids on the management of IHCA scenarios.
Topics: Adult; Amiodarone; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Child; Heart Arrest; Hospitals; Humans; Thorax
PubMed: 36031672
DOI: 10.1007/s11739-022-03041-6