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International Journal of Developmental... Jan 2019The purpose of this study was to carry out a systematic review of literature of effective reading intervention for students with - intellectual disabilities (ID),...
The purpose of this study was to carry out a systematic review of literature of effective reading intervention for students with - intellectual disabilities (ID), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and multiple disabilities (MD). Findings and recommendations for future research are discussed. For students with ID, IDD, and MD ability to read can lead to a better quality of life and better integration into the mainstream society. Several studies have expressed a concern over more emphasis placed on social, personal, and vocational skills for individuals with ID, IDD, and MD than on reading and literacy learning. Having a repertoire of effective interventions carried out with this population will help teachers, teacher educators, and anyone else working with the individuals. This study synthesized findings from previous research with 167 students with ID, IDD, and/or MD to assess effectiveness of instruction for key elements of effective reading instruction such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The review made it explicit that literature reviewed conforms to standards and quality indicators for experimental and quasi-experimental studies. The 12 studies identified and included in this review collectively provided evidence-based strategies for developing components of effective reading at elementary grades and sustaining effective reading at secondary levels. Four tables included describe details of participants, setting, strategies, and evidence of effectiveness. : Recommendations offered included carrying out more studies using qualitative and/or mixed-method approaches to further study use of these strategies in different classrooms and at different grade levels. An exclusive and systematic review of studies that used technology and assistive technology to teach reading could also be carried out.
PubMed: 34141371
DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2018.1489994 -
Behavior Modification Jan 2023The current article presents the findings from a systematic review of the available reliability and validity evidence supporting the use of criterion-referenced... (Review)
Review
The current article presents the findings from a systematic review of the available reliability and validity evidence supporting the use of criterion-referenced assessments based on the applied behavior analysis framework. We identified 46 studies that reported reliability and/or validity evidence for six assessments, 37 of which presented reliability evidence and 43 presented validity evidence. Additionally, we extracted and summarized information related to participant characteristics (e.g., age, sex, diagnosis), geographic location, and research setting (e.g., residential facility, home). Overall, we found conflicting support for the use of the assessments. When coupled with the reported usage by behavior analysis professionals, our findings suggest a misalignment between the reportedly used assessments and the number of published studies providing validity and/or reliability evidence. We found inconsistent use of measurement-related vocabulary and that many studies could have been strengthened by conducting different statistical analyses. We provide a summary of studies, findings, and offer recommendations for clinical practice and future measurement research.
Topics: Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Research Design
PubMed: 35792495
DOI: 10.1177/01454455221098151 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Aug 2022This study systematically reviewed the literature on reading interventions for autistic children. Peer-reviewed articles that reported behavioral and/or neurobiological... (Review)
Review
This study systematically reviewed the literature on reading interventions for autistic children. Peer-reviewed articles that reported behavioral and/or neurobiological effects of reading intervention were identified in five online databases. After screening, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. These studies focus on interventions targeted towards improving specific reading skills: comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and phonological awareness. Studied interventions included interactive and shared reading, visualization strategies, vocabulary and main idea instruction, video modeling, and interventions supported by tablet-based technology. Overall, the studies identified in this review reported improvements to each of the targeted reading skills and changes to neural activation and connectivity. In addition, changes at the brain level were associated with improvements in reading. Specifically, frontal, temporal, and occipital regions associated with visual and language processing showed increased activation and functional connectivity following intervention. This review provides important insights into the landscape of reading intervention studies in autism and into the neurobiological underpinnings of reading skills and how interventions affect those processes.
Topics: Autistic Disorder; Child; Comprehension; Humans; Language; Reading; Vocabulary
PubMed: 35728668
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104748 -
Endocrine Practice : Official Journal... Oct 2023Behavioral therapy, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and surgery are all components of a successful gender transition, but due to a historical lack of access,...
OBJECTIVE
Behavioral therapy, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and surgery are all components of a successful gender transition, but due to a historical lack of access, there is paucity of long-term data in this population. We sought to better characterize the risk of hepatobiliary neoplasms in transgender males undergoing GAHT with testosterone.
METHODS
In addition to the 2 case reports, a systematic literature review of hepatobiliary neoplasms in the setting of testosterone administration or endogenous overproduction across indications was conducted. The medical librarian created search strategies using keywords and controlled vocabulary in Ovid Medline, Embase.com, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and clinicaltrials.gov. A total of 1273 unique citations were included in the project library. All unique abstracts were reviewed, and abstracts were selected for complete review. Inclusion criteria were articles reporting cases of hepatobiliary neoplasm development in patients with exogenous testosterone administration or endogenous overproduction. Non-English language articles were excluded. Cases were collated into tables based on indication.
RESULTS
Forty-nine papers had cases of hepatocellular adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, or other biliary neoplasm in the setting of testosterone administration or endogenous overproduction. These 49 papers yielded 62 unique cases.
CONCLUSION
Results of this review are not sufficient to conclude that there is an association between GAHT and hepatobiliary neoplasms. This supports current evaluation and screening guidelines for initiation and continuation of GAHT in transgender men. The heterogeneity of testosterone formulations limits the translation of risks of hepatobiliary neoplasms in other indications to GAHT.
Topics: Humans; Male; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Liver Neoplasms; Testosterone; Transgender Persons
PubMed: 37286102
DOI: 10.1016/j.eprac.2023.05.011 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) constitute an increasing global burden and can significantly impair an individual's mobility, physical activity (PA), and... (Review)
Review
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) constitute an increasing global burden and can significantly impair an individual's mobility, physical activity (PA), and independence. Remote monitoring has been difficult without relying on diaries/questionnaires which are more challenging for people with dementia to complete. Wearable global positioning system (GPS) sensors and accelerometers present a cost-effective and noninvasive way to passively monitor mobility and PA. In addition, changes in sensor-derived outcomes (such as walking behaviour, sedentary, and active activity) may serve as potential biomarkers of disease onset, progression, and response to treatment. We performed a systematic search across four databases to identify papers published within the past 5 years, in which wearable GPS or accelerometers were used to monitor mobility or PA in patients with common NDDs (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, motor neuron diseases/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, vascular parkinsonism, and vascular dementia). Disease and technology-specific vocabulary were searched singly, and then in combination, identifying 4985 papers. Following deduplication, we screened 3115 papers and retained 28 studies following a full text review. One study used wearable GPS and accelerometers, while 27 studies used solely accelerometers in NDDs. GPS-derived measures had been validated against current gold standard measures in one Parkinson's cohort, suggesting that the technology may be applicable to other NDDs. In contrast, accelerometers are widely utilised in NDDs and have been operationalised in well-designed clinical trials.
Topics: Accelerometry; Exercise; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Technology; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 34960353
DOI: 10.3390/s21248261 -
Hemodialysis International.... Jan 2023Few studies have reported hepatic and cardiac iron overload in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and the current evidence regarding the prevalence is still... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Few studies have reported hepatic and cardiac iron overload in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and the current evidence regarding the prevalence is still scarce.
AIM
This review aims to estimate the prevalence of hepatic and/or cardiac iron overload quantified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ESRD who receive hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), or have undergone a kidney transplant.
METHODS
A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted and reported in line with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. MEDLINE and Embase bibliographic databases were searched using a comprehensive list of controlled vocabulary and keywords to identify relevant studies. All studies reporting the prevalence of hepatic and/or cardiac iron overload quantified by MRI in ESRD patients were considered. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. To investigate the heterogeneity between studies, random-effect meta-analyses for proportions were used.
RESULTS
The review comprised seven studies that included 339 patients. Using meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of severe and mild to moderate hepatic iron overload quantified by MRI was 0.23 [95% CI: 0.08-0.43] and 0.52 [95% CI: 0.47-0.57], respectively. Only three studies included cardiac iron quantification, and none reported iron overload.
CONCLUSIONS
This review has revealed a high prevalence of severe hepatic iron overload in patients with ESRD treated by HD. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to determine the impact of iron overload on vital organs in patients with ESRD and guide future research in this understudied field. Proper use of iron chelation and continuous monitoring will help in the early detection of unsolicited complications; however, the low renal clearance of most iron chelators limits the options for treating iron excess in patients with ESRD.
Topics: Humans; Renal Dialysis; Iron Overload; Iron; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Kidney Failure, Chronic
PubMed: 36397717
DOI: 10.1111/hdi.13054 -
Respiratory Research Mar 2024The prognostic and theragnostic role of histopathological subsets in systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) have been largely neglected due to the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prognostic and theragnostic role of histopathological subsets in systemic sclerosis interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) have been largely neglected due to the paucity of treatment options and the risks associated with surgical lung biopsy. The novel drugs for the treatment of ILDs and the availability of transbronchial cryobiopsy provide a new clinical scenario making lung biopsy more feasible and a pivotal guide for treatment. The aim of our study was to investigate the usefulness of lung biopsy in SSc ILD with a systematic literature review (SLR).
METHODS
PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched up to June 30, 2023. Search terms included both database-specific controlled vocabulary terms and free-text terms relating to lung biopsy and SSc-ILD diagnostic and prognosis. The SLR was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). Studies were selected according to the PEO (population, exposure, and outcomes) framework and Quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) were reported.
RESULTS
We selected 14 articles (comprising 364 SSc-ILD patients). The paucity and heterogeneity of the studies prevented a systematic analysis. Diffuse cutaneous SSc was present in 30-100% of cases. Female predominance was observed in all studies (ranging from 64 to 100%). Mean age ranged from 42 to 64 years. Mean FVC was 73.98 (+/-17.3), mean DLCO was 59.49 (+/-16.1). Anti-Scl70 antibodies positivity was detected in 33% of cases (range: 0-69.6). All patients underwent surgical lung biopsies, and multiple lobes were biopsied in a minority of studies (4/14). Poor HRCT-pathologic correlation was reported with HRCT-NSIP showing histopathologic UIP in up to 1/3 of cases. Limited data suggest that SSc-UIP patients may have a worse prognosis and response to immunosuppressive treatment compared to other histopathologic patterns.
CONCLUSIONS
The data from this SLR clearly show the paucity and heterogeneity of the studies reporting lung biopsy in SSc ILD. Moreover, they highlight the need for further research to address whether the lung biopsy can be helpful to refine prognostic prediction and guide therapeutic choices.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Middle Aged; Male; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Lung; Scleroderma, Systemic; Biopsy; Prognosis
PubMed: 38521926
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02725-1 -
Annals of Emergency Medicine Aug 2014To present a review of out-of-hospital identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients transported by emergency medical services with 12-lead ECG... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
STUDY OBJECTIVE
To present a review of out-of-hospital identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients transported by emergency medical services with 12-lead ECG and advance notification versus standard or no cardiac monitoring.
METHODS
EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched, using controlled vocabulary and keywords. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies were included. Outcomes included short-term mortality (≤30 days), door-to-balloon/needle time and/or first medical contact-to-balloon/needle time. Pooled estimates were determined, where appropriate. Results were stratified by percutaneous coronary intervention or fibrinolysis.
RESULTS
The search yielded 1,857 citations, of which 68 full-texts were reviewed and 16 studies met the final criteria: 15 included data on percutaneous coronary intervention and 3 on fibrinolysis (2 included both). Where percutaneous coronary intervention was performed, out-of-hospital 12-lead ECG and advance notification was associated with a 39% reduction in short-term mortality (8 studies; n=6,339; risk ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval 0.42 to 0.89; P=.01; I(2)=30%) compared with standard or no cardiac monitoring. Where fibrinolysis was performed, out-of-hospital 12-lead ECG and advance notification was associated with a 29% reduction in short-term mortality (1 study; n=17,026; risk ratio 0.71; 95% confidence interval 0.54 to 0.93; P=.01). First medical contact-to-balloon, door-to-balloon, and door-to-needle times were consistently reduced, though large heterogeneity generally precluded pooling.
CONCLUSION
The present study adds to previous reviews by identifying and appraising the strength and quality of a larger body of evidence. Out-of-hospital identification with 12-lead ECG and aadvance notification was found to be associated with reductions in short-term mortality and first medical contact-to-balloon, door-to-balloon, and door-to-needle time.
Topics: Electrocardiography; Emergency Medical Services; Humans; Myocardial Infarction; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Time Factors
PubMed: 24368054
DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2013.11.016 -
Autism : the International Journal of... Aug 2023Both parents and service providers have voiced concerns about the potential negative impact of exposure to multiple languages on the language and communication skills of... (Review)
Review
Both parents and service providers have voiced concerns about the potential negative impact of exposure to multiple languages on the language and communication skills of autistic children. The current literature review summarized research that assessed the language and communication skills of multilingual autistic children in comparison with their autistic and nonautistic peers. After a comprehensive search, 22 relevant publications were identified that met the inclusion criteria of the current review. Thirteen studies used both direct (directly administered screening/diagnostic tools) and indirect language assessments (e.g. parent questionnaires). Receptive and expressive vocabulary was the most frequently assessed language skill. Available research does not support the assumption that bilingualism has negative effects on the language and communication skills of autistic children. The language and communication skills of multilingual autistic children frequently resembled their monolingual autistic peers in both strengths and areas of growth. Preliminary findings indicate that multilingual autistic children may share some advantages of multilingualism with their multilingual nonautistic peers. Studies often excluded participants with intellectual disabilities or complex communication needs, which means that a large population of autistic children is not yet represented in research about the effects of multilingualism.
Topics: Humans; Child; Multilingualism; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Language; Communication
PubMed: 36629040
DOI: 10.1177/13623613221147780 -
Global Health Action Dec 2024The use of Emergency Departments (EDs) for non-urgent medical conditions is a global public health concern. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The use of Emergency Departments (EDs) for non-urgent medical conditions is a global public health concern.
OBJECTIVES
A systematic review, guided by a registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42023398674), was conducted to interpret the association between distance as a measure of healthcare access and the utilization of EDs for non-urgent care in high- and middle-income countries.
METHODS
The search was conducted on 22 August 2023 across five databases using controlled vocabulary and natural language keywords. Eligibility criteria included studies that examined non-urgent care, and featured concepts of emergency departments, non-urgent health services and distance, reported in English. Articles and abstracts where patients were transported by ambulance/paramedic services, referred/transferred from another hospital to an ED, or those that measured distance to an ED from another health facility were excluded. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework informed the quality of evidence.
RESULTS
Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. All studies demonstrated satisfactory quality with regard to study design, conduct, analysis and presentation of results. Eight (53.3%) of the studies (1 paediatric, 4 all ages/adult, 3 ecological) found a moderate level of evidence of an inverse association between distance and ED visit volume or utilization for non-urgent medical conditions, while the remaining studies reported very low or low evidence.
CONCLUSIONS
Half of the studies reported non-urgent ED use to be associated with shortest distance traveled or transportation time. This finding bears implications for healthcare policies aiming to reduce ED use for non-urgent care.
Topics: Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Health Services Accessibility; Patient Acceptance of Health Care
PubMed: 38828477
DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2353994