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Frontiers in Public Health 2024Due to hazardous working conditions, welders are more likely to be exposed to mild to severe eye issues during the welding process. Globally, this issue is a major... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Due to hazardous working conditions, welders are more likely to be exposed to mild to severe eye issues during the welding process. Globally, this issue is a major contributor to vision loss and blindness. One of the most frequent causes of unilateral blindness in the globe is ocular injury.
OBJECTIVE
This review aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of ocular protection practice and associated factors among welders in sub-Saharan Africa.
METHODS
Databases including PubMed, Scopus, web of Science, Google Scholar, and the African Journals Online were systematically searched for relevant literature. The statistical analysis was performed using STATA data analysis software version 14, while Microsoft Excel was used for data abstraction. We checked publication bias using a funnel plot and Egger and Begg regression tests. A -value < 0.05 was considered significant, suggesting the presence of presence publication bias. The I statistics were used to assess heterogeneity between studies. The study's overall effect was evaluated using the random effects model.
RESULTS
From retrieved 2,326 original studies, 17 studies were included in the final pooled prevalence analysis. The overall prevalence of ocular protection practice among small-scale welders in sub-Saharan Africa was 53.71% (95% CI: 42.54, 64.88). Having pre and in-service training [AOR: 4.97, 95% CI: (2.64, 9.36)], having work experience as a welder [AOR: 4.94, 95% CI: (3.24, 7.54)], and having a history of ocular injury [AOR: 2.99, 95% CI: (1.58, 5.66)] were significantly associated with the ocular protection practices.
CONCLUSIONS
In sub-Saharan African countries, the ocular protection practices among small-scale welders were low. Furthermore, the current meta-analysis found ocular protection practice to be significantly associated with on-the-job training, work experience of welders, and a history of ocular injury in the past year of small-scale welders in sub-Saharan Africa. This review will serve as baseline data for further studies to generate inputs for eye care providers and policymakers to improve good practice levels about ocular protection. Policies should be put in place to ensure all welders use proper personal-protective equipment, and receive regular health training.
Topics: Humans; Africa South of the Sahara; Prevalence; Eye Injuries; Welding; Eye Protective Devices
PubMed: 38952737
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1397578 -
Myopia Prevalence in Latin American Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cureus Jun 2024Although myopia is a growing global concern, comprehensive studies on its prevalence among Latin American (LATAM) children and adolescents are still lacking. Thus, we... (Review)
Review
Although myopia is a growing global concern, comprehensive studies on its prevalence among Latin American (LATAM) children and adolescents are still lacking. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of myopia in LATAM children and adolescents aged three to 20. The study conducted a thorough literature search from January 1, 1975, to February 28, 2023, identifying 24 studies on the prevalence of myopia in LATAM that met the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment and standardized data collection were performed. The meta-analysis used a random-effects model due to heterogeneity and calculated prevalence rates. Finally, the analysis of data from 24 eligible studies revealed a myopia prevalence of 8.61% (range 0.80-47.36%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.22-13.87%, p < 0.05) among 165,721 LATAM children and adolescents. No significant age-based associations or temporal trends were observed in this study. Studies with non-cycloplegic or objective assessment exhibited a numerically higher, although statistically non-significant, myopia prevalence (10.62%, 95% CI: 4.9-21.6%) compared to studies using cycloplegia (7.17%, 95% CI: 3.40-14.50%). In conclusion, myopia affects approximately one in 11 LATAM children and adolescents. Given the increasing exposure of LATAM youth to known myopia risk factors, such as extensive near-work, online learning, and limited outdoor activities, it is crucial to monitor myopia trends in this region. Further research is imperative to address and prevent myopia in LATAM.
PubMed: 38952594
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.63482 -
BMC Ophthalmology Jun 2024The purpose of this review was to examine if dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) use affects the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this review was to examine if dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) use affects the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
METHODS
Cohort studies published up to 20th July 2023 in the databases of PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. The adjusted effect size was pooled to calculate the odds ratio (OR).
RESULTS
Seven studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that the use of DPP4i was not associated with any significant change in the risk of DR (OR: 0.86 95% CI: 0.70, 1.06 I = 78%). The pooled analysis also found that DPP4i use was not associated with any significant risk of progression of DR (OR: 0.87 95% CI: 0.47, 1.59 I = 86%). The results did not change during sensitivity analysis.
CONCLUSION
Present evidence from a limited number of real-world studies shows that DPP4i may not affect the incidence and progression of DR. There is a need for further studies from different countries using accurate definitions of DR and its progression to validate the current results.
Topics: Humans; Diabetic Retinopathy; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; Incidence; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Risk Factors; Disease Progression
PubMed: 38943083
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03535-1 -
Survey of Ophthalmology Jun 2024Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a sight-threatening condition often associated with inflammatory and diabetic diseases. Early detection is crucial to prevent irreversible... (Review)
Review
Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a sight-threatening condition often associated with inflammatory and diabetic diseases. Early detection is crucial to prevent irreversible vision loss. Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown promise in automating CME diagnosis through optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, but its utility needs critical evaluation. This systematic review assesses the application of AI to diagnosis CME, specifically focusing on disorders like postoperative CME (Irvine Gass syndrome) and retinitis pigmentosa without obvious vasculopathy, using OCT imaging. A comprehensive search was conducted across 6 databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wiley, ScienceDirect, and IEEE) from 2018 to November, 2023. Twenty-three articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for in-depth analysis. We evaluate AI's role in CME diagnosis and its performance in "detection", "classification" and "segmentation" of OCT retinal images. We found that convolutional neural network (CNN)-based methods consistently outperformed other machine learning techniques, achieving an average accuracy of over 96% in detecting and identifying CME from OCT images. Despite certain limitations such as dataset size and ethical concerns, the synergy between AI and OCT, particularly through CNNs, holds promise for significantly advancing CME diagnostics.
PubMed: 38942125
DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2024.06.005 -
Health Care Science Feb 2024Remarkable progress has been made in infection prevention and control (IPC) in many countries, but some gaps emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019... (Review)
Review
Remarkable progress has been made in infection prevention and control (IPC) in many countries, but some gaps emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Core capabilities such as standard clinical precautions and tracing the source of infection were the focus of IPC in medical institutions during the pandemic. Therefore, the core competences of IPC professionals during the pandemic, and how these contributed to successful prevention and control of the epidemic, should be studied. To investigate, using a systematic review and cluster analysis, fundamental improvements in the competences of infection control and prevention professionals that may be emphasized in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and CBM databases for original articles exploring core competencies of IPC professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 1, 2020 to February 7, 2023). Weiciyun software was used for data extraction and the Donohue formula was followed to distinguish high-frequency technical terms. Cluster analysis was performed using the within-group linkage method and squared Euclidean distance as the metric to determine the priority competencies for development. We identified 46 studies with 29 high-frequency technical terms. The most common term was "infection prevention and control training" (184 times, 17.3%), followed by "hand hygiene" (172 times, 16.2%). "Infection prevention and control in clinical practice" was the most-reported core competency (367 times, 34.5%), followed by "microbiology and surveillance" (292 times, 27.5%). Cluster analysis showed two key areas of competence: Category 1 (program management and leadership, patient safety and occupational health, education and microbiology and surveillance) and Category 2 (IPC in clinical practice). During the COVID-19 pandemic, IPC program management and leadership, microbiology and surveillance, education, patient safety, and occupational health were the most important focus of development and should be given due consideration by IPC professionals.
PubMed: 38939168
DOI: 10.1002/hcs2.81 -
Thrombosis Journal Jun 2024In recent years, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly used in critically ill patients with respiratory or cardiac failure. Heparin is usually...
BACKGROUND
In recent years, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly used in critically ill patients with respiratory or cardiac failure. Heparin is usually used as anticoagulation therapy during ECMO support. However, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in ECMO-supported patients, which results in considerable morbidity and mortality, has not yet been well described. This meta-analysis and systematic review aimed to thoroughly report the incidence of HIT on ECMO, as well as the characteristics and outcomes of HIT patients.
METHODS
We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases for studies investigating HIT in adult patients supported by ECMO. All studies conforming to the inclusion criteria were screened from 1975 to August 2023. Nineteen studies from a total of 1,625 abstracts were selected. The primary outcomes were the incidence of HIT and suspected HIT.
RESULTS
The pooled incidence of HIT in ECMO-supported patients was 4.2% (95% CI: 2.7-5.6; 18 studies). A total of 15.9% (95% CI: 9.0-22.8; 12 studies) of patients on ECMO were suspected of having HIT. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most commonly used immunoassay. The median optical density (OD) of the ELISA in HIT-confirmed patients ranged from 1.08 to 2.10. In most studies, the serotonin release assay (SRA) was performed as a HIT-confirming test. According to the subgroup analysis, the pooled incidence of HIT in ECMO patients was 2.7% in studies whose diagnostic mode was functional assays, which is significantly lower than the incidence in studies in which the patients were diagnosed by immunoassay (14.5%). Argatroban was most commonly used as an alternative anticoagulation agent after the withdrawal of heparin. Among confirmed HIT patients, 45.5% (95% CI: 28.8-62.6) experienced thrombotic events, while 50.1% (95% CI: 24.9-75.4) experienced bleeding events. Overall, 46.6% (95% CI: 30.4-63.1) of patients on ECMO with HIT died.
CONCLUSION
According to our study, the pooled incidence of HIT in ECMO-supported patients is 4.2%, and it contributes to adverse outcomes. Inappropriate diagnostic methods can easily lead to misdiagnosis of HIT. Further research and development of diagnostic algorithms and laboratory assays are warranted.
PubMed: 38937784
DOI: 10.1186/s12959-024-00624-5 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jun 2024The prenatal and neonatal periods are two of the most important developmental stages of the human brain. It is therefore crucial to understand normal brain development... (Review)
Review
The prenatal and neonatal periods are two of the most important developmental stages of the human brain. It is therefore crucial to understand normal brain development and how early connections are established during these periods, in order to advance the state of knowledge on altered brain development and eventually identify early brain markers of neurodevelopmental disorders and diseases. In this systematic review (Prospero ID: CRD42024511365), we compiled resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in healthy fetuses and neonates, in order to outline the main characteristics of typical development of the functional brain connectivity during the prenatal and neonatal periods. A systematic search of five databases identified a total of 12 573 articles. Of those, 28 articles met pre-established selection criteria based determined by the authors after surveying and compiling the major limitations reported within the literature. Inclusion criteria were: (1) resting state studies; (2) presentation of original results; (3) use of fMRI with minimum one Tesla; (4) a population ranging from 20 weeks of GA to term birth (around 37-42 weeks of PMA); (5) singleton pregnancy with normal development (absence of any complications known to alter brain development). Exclusion criteria were: (1) preterm studies; (2) post-mortem studies; (3) clinical or pathological studies; (4) twin studies; (5) papers with a sole focus on methodology (i.e. focused on tool and analysis development); (6) volumetric studies; (7) activation map studies; (8) cortical analysis studies; (9) conference papers. A risk of bias assessment was also done to evaluate each article's methodological rigor. 1877 participants were included across all the reviewed articles. Results consistently revealed a developmental gradient of increasing functional brain connectivity from posterior to anterior regions and from proximal-to-distal regions. A decrease in local small-world organization shortly after birth was also observed; small-world characteristics were present in fetuses and newborns, but appeared weaker in the latter group. Also, the posterior-to-anterior gradient could be associated with earlier development of the sensorimotor networks in the posterior regions while more complex higher-order networks (e.g. attention-related) mature later in the anterior regions. The main limitations of this systematic review stem from the inherent limitations of functional imaging in fetuses, mainly: unevenly distributed populations and limited sample sizes; fetal movements in the womb and other imaging obstacles; and a large voxel resolution when imaging a small brain. Another limitation specific to this review is the relatively small number of included articles compared to very a large search result, which may have led to relevant articles having been overlooked.
PubMed: 38936564
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105778 -
Journal of Nursing Care Quality Jun 2024Nurse-led interventions in ophthalmology care can enhance the overall patient experience while optimizing health care system efficiency.
BACKGROUND
Nurse-led interventions in ophthalmology care can enhance the overall patient experience while optimizing health care system efficiency.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of nurse-led interventions in ophthalmology care.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases for articles published from 2000 to 2023. Randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and observational studies were included. Quality assessments were performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool or Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, based on study design.
RESULTS
Nineteen studies were included. Nurse-led interventions positively impacted patient outcomes, improved efficiency and resource utilization, enhanced patient satisfaction and adherence, maintained safety and efficacy, and demonstrated notable diagnostic accuracy. Included studies originated from different countries and employed diverse methodologies, offering a global perspective on nurse-led interventions in ophthalmology care.
CONCLUSION
The findings advocate for the integration of nurse-led strategies in routine practice to realize equitable, efficient, and patient-centered eye care.
PubMed: 38936403
DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000788 -
Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology :... Jul 2024Although the role of sleep in modulating epileptic activity is well established, many epileptologists overlook the significance of considering sleep during presurgical...
Although the role of sleep in modulating epileptic activity is well established, many epileptologists overlook the significance of considering sleep during presurgical epilepsy evaluations in cases of drug-resistant epilepsy. Here, we conducted a comprehensive literature review from January 2000 to May 2023 using the PubMed electronic database and compiled evidence to highlight the need to revise the current clinical approach. All articles were assessed for eligibility by two independent reviewers. Our aim was to shed light on the clinical value of incorporating sleep monitoring into presurgical evaluations with stereo-electroencephalography. We present the latest developments on the important bidirectional interactions between sleep and various forms of epileptic activity observed in stereo-electroencephalography recordings. Specifically, epileptic activity is modulated by different sleep stages, peaking in non-rapid eye movement sleep, while being suppressed in rapid eye movement sleep. However, this modulation can vary across different brain regions, underlining the need to account for sleep to accurately pinpoint the epileptogenic zone during presurgical assessments. Finally, we offer practical solutions, such as automated sleep scoring algorithms using stereo-electroencephalography data alone, to seamlessly integrate sleep monitoring into routine clinical practice. It is hoped that this review will provide clinicians with a readily accessible roadmap to the latest evidence concerning the clinical utility of sleep monitoring in the context of stereo-electroencephalography and aid the development of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies to improve patient surgical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Electroencephalography; Preoperative Care; Sleep; Drug Resistant Epilepsy; Stereotaxic Techniques
PubMed: 38935657
DOI: 10.1097/WNP.0000000000001057 -
Psychological Trauma : Theory,... Jun 2024Several primary studies examined the effectiveness of various psychotherapies in treating earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Variations in methods,...
Systematic review of psychotherapies and meta-analysis of cognitive behavior therapy and narrative exposure therapy for treating earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Several primary studies examined the effectiveness of various psychotherapies in treating earthquake-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Variations in methods, employed psychotherapy approaches, and differences across studies warrant a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHOD
In this study, first, a systematic review of experimental studies aiming to reduce the symptoms of PTSD in the aftermath of an earthquake was carried out. Second, a meta-analysis of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and narrative exposure therapy (NET) was conducted.
RESULTS
Several psychological treatments were used for treating earthquake-related PTSD. However, only CBT and NET were tested in multiple studies. Meta-analysis results suggested that CBT and NET significantly reduce earthquake-related PTSD symptoms compared to control groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that CBT and NET are promising psychological treatment options. Further research on NET and other major PTSD interventions (e.g., prolonged exposure, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, cognitive processing therapy) is needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
PubMed: 38934933
DOI: 10.1037/tra0001743