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PloS One 2024A wealth of research has investigated the associations between bilingualism and cognition, especially in regards to executive function. Some developmental studies reveal... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
A wealth of research has investigated the associations between bilingualism and cognition, especially in regards to executive function. Some developmental studies reveal different cognitive profiles between monolinguals and bilinguals in visual or audio-visual attention tasks, which might stem from their attention allocation differences. Yet, whether such distinction exists in the auditory domain alone is unknown. In this study, we compared differences in auditory attention, measured by standardized tests, between monolingual and bilingual children. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in three electronic databases: OVID Medline, OVID PsycInfo, and EBSCO CINAHL. Twenty studies using standardized tests to assess auditory attention in monolingual and bilingual participants aged less than 18 years were identified. We assessed the quality of these studies using a scoring tool for evaluating primary research. For statistical analysis, we pooled the effect size in a random-effects meta-analytic model, where between-study heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. No substantial publication bias was observed based on the funnel plot. Further, meta-regression modelling suggests that test measure (accuracy vs. response times) significantly affected the studies' effect sizes whereas other factors (e.g., participant age, stimulus type) did not. Specifically, studies reporting accuracy observed marginally greater accuracy in bilinguals (g = 0.10), whereas those reporting response times indicated faster latency in monolinguals (g = -0.34). There was little difference between monolingual and bilingual children's performance on standardized auditory attention tests. We also found that studies tend to include a wide variety of bilingual children but report limited language background information of the participants. This, unfortunately, limits the potential theoretical contributions of the reviewed studies. Recommendations to improve the quality of future research are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Multilingualism; Attention; Child; Auditory Perception; Adolescent; Cognition
PubMed: 38691540
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299393 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jul 2024Several recent studies have explored the relationships between mindfulness and time perception, an area of research that has become increasingly popular in the last... (Review)
Review
Several recent studies have explored the relationships between mindfulness and time perception, an area of research that has become increasingly popular in the last 10-15 years. In this article, we present a systematic integrative review of the evidence on this subject. We also integrate the field's findings into a conceptual framework which considers the multifaceted nature of both mindfulness, and time perception research. To identify the relevant literature, we searched the following databases using relevant keywords: PsycINFO; Medline; EBSCO Host Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; and Web of Science. These searches were last performed on the 4th of May 2022, and additional hand searches were also conducted. To be included, articles had to be in English and contain original data about the potential relationship(s) between mindfulness and time perception. Articles which did not present usable data about the relationship(s) between the variables of interest were excluded. In total, 47 research articles were included in the review (combined sample size of ∼5800 participants). Risks of bias in the selected studies were evaluated using two separate assessment tools designed for this purpose. Through an integrative narrative synthesis, this article reviews how mindfulness may relate to time perception for various reference frames, and for various time perception measures and methods. It also provides new insights by exploring how a wide range of findings can be integrated into a coherent whole, in light of some relevant time perception models and mindfulness theories. Altogether, the reviewed data suggest the existence of complex and multifaceted relationships between mindfulness and time perception, highlighting the importance of considering many factors when planning research or interpreting data in this field. Limitations of the current review include the scarceness of data for certain categories of findings, and the relatively low prevalence of studies with a randomized controlled design in the source literature. This research was partly funded by a grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Topics: Humans; Mindfulness; Time Perception
PubMed: 38583653
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105657 -
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Apr 2024Self-medication practice among pregnant women is a global concern. However, its understanding in the Indian context is limited due to a lack of comprehensive studies. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Self-medication practice among pregnant women is a global concern. However, its understanding in the Indian context is limited due to a lack of comprehensive studies.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence of self-medication, the medications used for self-medication, diseases/conditions associated with self-medication, and the reasons for self-medication among Indian pregnant women.
METHODS
This study was carried out following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A thorough search was done in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar to find articles that were published up until May 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies reporting self-medication prevalence among pregnant women in India. Data were extracted using a standardized sheet, and a random-effects model was applied to determine the overall prevalence of self-medication using R software. The I statistic was employed to assess the heterogeneity among the studies.
RESULTS
This study analyzed eight studies with a collective sample size of 2208 pregnant women. The pooled prevalence of self-medication among pregnant Indian women was 19.3% (95% CI: 7.5%-41.3%; I = 99%; p < 0.01). Common self-treated conditions were cold, cough, fever, headache, and stomach disorders. Antipyretics, analgesics, antihistamines, and antacids were frequently used for self-medication. The perception of mild ailment, immediate alleviation, convenience, time savings, and advice from family, friends, or the media were all reasons for self-medication. Local pharmacies were the most usual source for obtaining drugs, and pharmacists, family, friends, and past prescriptions were common sources of medicine information.
CONCLUSIONS
A low yet substantial number of pregnant women in India are engaged in self-medication practices. Appropriate strategies need to be planned to reduce self-medication practices to attain sustainable developmental goals for maternal health in India.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Pregnant Women; Prevalence; Self Medication; Headache; India
PubMed: 38565527
DOI: 10.1002/pds.5791 -
Nutrition Reviews Mar 2024It has been suggested that thylakoid supplementation could be associated with favorable changes in appetite. However, the present trials are inconsistent.
CONTEXT
It has been suggested that thylakoid supplementation could be associated with favorable changes in appetite. However, the present trials are inconsistent.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether thylakoid supplementation is effective in hunger/fullness changes.
DATA SOURCES
A comprehensive literature search was performed before conducting a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Sciences databases up to May 2023.
DATA EXTRACTION
Of the 262 articles found, 5 articles that measured hunger fullness expressed as ratings on the visual analog scale (VAS) for appetite analyses were selected and thoroughly examined. Relevant information, such as the authors' names, year of publication, country of origin, study design, number and status of participants, intervention dosage and type, study duration, assay used, and key findings, was extracted from these articles. The Jadad scale was used to evaluate the quality of studies.
DATA ANALYSIS
The data were obtained using STATA version 13 (StataCorp). Effect sizes were reported as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed to estimate whether the effects of thylakoid supplementation on hunger and fullness varied according to dose, intervention duration, baseline population age and body mass index, baseline hunger and fullness, total sample size, and study quality. Fractional polynomial modeling was carried out to estimate time- and dose-response meta-analysis of the association between thylakoid and satiety and fullness. The meta-analysis also suggests a significant association between the combination of thylakoids with meals and reduced hunger (WMD: -2.415 mm; 95% CI: -3.544, -1.287; P < 0.001) and increased fullness (WMD: +4.602 mm; 95% CI: 2.356, 6.848; P < 0.001). Further analysis showed that thylakoid supplementation with 2 doses of 5 g/day (P = 0.002) and 7.4 g/day (P = 0.021) is more effective in reducing the feeling of hunger during an intervention of less than 56 days (P < 0.001) and with a lower level of hunger (VAS <45 mm, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant increase in the perception of fullness was found at a duration of less than 84 days (P < 0.001) and baseline fullness of more than 45 mm (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Supplementation with thylakoid shows favorable effects on reducing hunger and increasing fullness during a shorter intervention duration. Further trials are required to shed light on this relationship.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023432429.
PubMed: 38518202
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuae012 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Online food-safety educational programs are increasingly important to educate different populations as technology and culture shift to using more technology. However,... (Review)
Review
Online food-safety educational programs are increasingly important to educate different populations as technology and culture shift to using more technology. However, the broad effectiveness of these programs has yet to be examined. A systematic review, random-effects meta-analysis, and thematic synthesis are conducted to identify the effect size of online food-safety educational programs on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of consumers, food workers, and students and their respective barriers and recommendations. Online food-safety education was found to be of moderate and low effectiveness, with attitudes being the lowest in all populations. Consumers struggled with staying focused, and it was found that messaging should focus on risk communication. Students struggled with social isolation and a lack of time, and it was recommended that videos be used. Food workers struggled with a lack of time for training and difficulty understanding the material, and future programs are recommended to implement shorter but more frequent trainings with simple language. Future online food-safety educational programs should focus on incorporating social elements, as they can remain a huge barrier to learning. They should also focus on changing the participant's attitude to risk perception and beliefs in the importance of food safety.
PubMed: 38472907
DOI: 10.3390/foods13050794 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of artificial intelligence chatbot interventions on health outcomes in women. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of artificial intelligence chatbot interventions on health outcomes in women.
METHODS
Ten relevant studies published between 2019 and 2023 were extracted from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, and RISS databases in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. This review focused on experimental studies concerning chatbot interventions in women's health. The literature was assessed using the ROB 2 quality appraisal checklist, and the results were visualized with a risk-of-bias visualization program.
RESULTS
This review encompassed seven randomized controlled trials and three single-group experimental studies. Chatbots were effective in addressing anxiety, depression, distress, healthy relationships, cancer self-care behavior, preconception intentions, risk perception in eating disorders, and gender attitudes. Chatbot users experienced benefits in terms of internalization, acceptability, feasibility, and interaction. A meta-analysis of three studies revealed significant effects in reducing anxiety (I = 0%, Q = 8.10, < 0.017), with an effect size of -0.30 (95% CI, -0.42 to -0.18).
CONCLUSIONS
Artificial intelligence chatbot interventions had positive effects on physical, physiological, and cognitive health outcomes. Using chatbots may represent pivotal nursing interventions for female populations to improve health status and support women socially as a form of digital therapy.
PubMed: 38470645
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12050534 -
International Journal of Obesity (2005) Jun 2024Legislation aimed at reducing sugar intake assumes that sweet-liking drives overconsumption. However, evidence that a greater liking for sweet taste is associated with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Legislation aimed at reducing sugar intake assumes that sweet-liking drives overconsumption. However, evidence that a greater liking for sweet taste is associated with unhealthier body size is mixed and complicated by relatively small samples, an overreliance on body mass index (BMI) and lack of classification using sweet-liking phenotypes.
METHODS
We first examined body size data in two larger samples with sweet-liking phenotyping: extreme sweet-likers, moderate sweet-likers and sweet-dislikers. Adults (18-34yrs), attended a two-session lab-based experiment involving phenotyping for sweet-liking status and a bioelectrical impedance body composition measurement (Experiment One: N = 200; Experiment Two: N = 314). Secondly, we conducted an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis: systematic searches across four databases identified 5736 potential articles. Of these, 53 papers met our search criteria: a taste assessment that measured liking using sucrose (>13.7% w/v), which allowed sweet-liking phenotyping and included either BMI, body fat percentage (BF%), fat-free mass (FFM) or waist-circumference.
RESULTS
A significant effect of sweet-liking phenotype on FFM was found in both Experiment One and Two, with extreme sweet-likers having significantly higher FFM than sweet-dislikers. In Experiment One, sweet-dislikers had a significantly higher BF% than extreme sweet-likers and moderate sweet-likers. However, as these data are from one research group in a young, predominantly westernised population, and the results did not perfectly replicate, we conducted the IPD meta-analyses to further clarify the findings. Robust one-stage IPD meta-analyses of 15 studies controlling for sex revealed no significant differences in BF% (n = 1836) or waist-circumference (n = 706). For BMI (n = 2368), moderate sweet-likers had slightly lower BMI than extreme sweet-likers, who had the highest overall BMI. Most interestingly, for FFM (n = 768), moderate sweet-likers and sweet-dislikers showed significantly lower FFM than extreme sweet-likers.
CONCLUSION
The higher BMI often seen in sweet-likers may be due to a larger FFM and questions the simple model where sweet liking alone is a risk factor for obesity.
Topics: Humans; Body Composition; Phenotype; Adult; Male; Female; Food Preferences; Taste; Body Mass Index; Young Adult; Adolescent
PubMed: 38467727
DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01494-7 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Feb 2024Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a pathology that changes the three-dimensional shape of the spine and trunk. While AIS can progress during growth and cause... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a pathology that changes the three-dimensional shape of the spine and trunk. While AIS can progress during growth and cause cosmetic issues, it is usually asymptomatic. However, a final spinal curvature above the critical threshold of 30° increases the risk of health problems and curve progression in adulthood. The use of therapeutic exercises (TEs) to reduce the progression of AIS and delay or avoid other, more invasive treatments is still controversial.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effectiveness of TE, including generic therapeutic exercises (GTE) and physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) in treating AIS, compared to no treatment, other non-surgical treatments, or between treatments.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, four other databases, and two clinical trials registers to 17 November 2022. We also screened reference lists of articles.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TE with no treatment, other non-surgical treatments (braces, electrical stimulation, manual therapy), and different types of exercises. In the previous version of the review, we also included observational studies. We did not include observational studies in this update since we found sufficient RCTs to address our study aims.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard Cochrane methodology. Our major outcomes were progression of scoliosis (measured by Cobb angle, trunk rotation, progression, bracing, surgery), cosmetic issues (measured by surface measurements and perception), and quality of life (QoL). Our minor outcomes were back pain, mental health, and adverse effects.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 13 RCTs (583 participants). The percentage of females ranged from 50% to 100%; mean age ranged from 12 to 15 years. Studies included participants with Cobb angles from low to severe. We judged 61% of the studies at low risk for random sequence generation and 46% at low risk for allocation concealment. None of the studies could blind participants and personnel. We judged the subjective outcomes at high risk of performance and detection bias, and the objective outcomes at high risk of detection bias in six studies and at low risk of bias in the other six studies. One study did not assess any objective outcomes. Comparing TE versus no treatment, we are very uncertain whether TE reduces the Cobb angle (mean difference (MD) -3.6°, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.6 to -1.7; 2 studies, 52 participants). Low-certainty evidence indicates PSSE makes little or no difference in the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) (MD -0.8°, 95% CI -3.8 to 2.1; 1 study, 45 participants), may reduce the waist asymmetry slightly (MD -0.5 cm, 95% CI -0.8 to -0.3; 1 study, 45 participants), and may result in little to no difference in the score of cosmetic issues measured by the Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (SAQ) General (MD 0.7 points, 95% CI -0.1 to 1.4; 1 study, 16 participants). PSSE may result in little to no difference in self-image measured by the Scoliosis Research Society - 22 Patient Questionnaire (SRS-22) (MD 0.3 points, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.9; 1 study, 16 participants) and improve QoL slightly measured by SRS-22 Total score (MD 0.3 points, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.4; 2 studies, 61 participants). Only Cobb angle results were clinically meaningful. Comparing PSSE plus bracing versus bracing, low-certainty evidence indicates PSSE plus bracing may reduce Cobb angle (-2.2°, 95% CI -3.8 to -0.7; 2 studies, 84 participants). Comparing GTE plus other non-surgical interventions versus other non-surgical interventions, low-certainty evidence indicates GTE plus other non-surgical interventions may reduce Cobb angle (MD -8.0°, 95% CI -11.5 to -4.5; 1 study, 80 participants). We are uncertain whether PSSE plus other non-surgical interventions versus other non-surgical interventions reduces Cobb angle (MD -7.8°, 95% CI -12.5 to -3.1; 1 study, 18 participants) and ATR (MD -8.0°, 95% CI -12.7 to -3.3; 1 study, 18 participants). PSSE plus bracing versus bracing alone may make little to no difference in subjective measurement of cosmetic issues as measured by SAQ General (-0.2 points, 95% CI -0.9 to 0.5; 1 study, 34 participants), self-image score as measured by SRS-22 Self-Image (MD 0.1 points, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.5; 1 study, 34 participants), and QoL measured by SRS-22 Total score (MD 0.2 points, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.5; 1 study, 34 participants). None of these results were clinically meaningful. Comparing TE versus bracing, we are very uncertain whether PSSE allows progression of Cobb angle (MD 2.7°, 95% CI 0.3 to 5.0; 1 study, 60 participants), changes self-image measured by SRS-22 Self-Image (MD 0.1 points, 95% CI -1.0 to 1.1; 1 study, 60 participants), and QoL measured by SRS-22 Total score (MD 3.2 points, 95% CI 2.1 to 4.2; 1 study, 60 participants). None of these results were clinically meaningful. Comparing PSSE with GTE, we are uncertain whether PSSE makes little or no difference in Cobb angle (MD -3.0°, 95% CI -8.2 to 2.1; 4 studies, 192 participants; very low-certainty evidence). PSSE probably reduces ATR (clinically meaningful) (MD -3.0°, 95% CI -3.4 to -2.5; 2 studies, 138 participants). We are uncertain about the effect of PSSE on QoL measured by SRS-22 Total score (MD 0.26 points, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.62; 3 studies, 168 participants) and on self-image measured by SRS-22 Self-Image and Walter Reed Visual Assessment Scale (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.77, 95% CI -0.61 to 2.14; 3 studies, 168 participants). Further, low-certainty evidence indicates that 38/100 people receiving GTE may progress more than 5° Cobb versus 7/100 receiving PSSE (risk ratio (RR) 0.19, 95% CI -0.67 to 0.52; 1 study, 110 participants). None of the included studies assessed adverse effects.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The evidence on the efficacy of TE is currently sparse due to heterogeneity, small sample size, and many different comparisons. We found only one study following participants to the end of growth showing the efficacy of PSSE over TE. This result was weakened by adding studies with short-term results and unclear preparation of treating physiotherapists. More RCTs are needed to strengthen the current evidence and study other highly clinically relevant outcomes such as QoL, psychological and cosmetic issues, and back pain.
Topics: Female; Adolescent; Humans; Child; Scoliosis; Exercise Therapy; Exercise; Behavior Therapy; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Back Pain; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 38415871
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007837.pub3 -
Journal of Robotic Surgery Feb 2024Robotic surgery, also known as robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), involves a camera and a small surgical instrument attached to a robotic arm. A trained surgeon operates... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Robotic surgery, also known as robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), involves a camera and a small surgical instrument attached to a robotic arm. A trained surgeon operates the robot from a viewing screen while being in the same room.
METHODOLOGY
This review was prepared following Cochrane collaboration guidelines and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Two authors independently searched and appraised the studies published in PubMed, cumulative index to nursing and allied health literature (CINAHL), Embase, Clinical Key, and Google Scholar. Pooled data analyzed and reported in RevMan software version-5.4.
RESULTS
This systematic review and meta-analysis comprised 1400 medical students, from 8 studies. The participants' age ranged from 23 to 49 years. Similarly, the sample size ranged from 25 and 300. The pooled prevalence of the existing studies revealed that 29.8% of medical students, were favorable towards RAS. Effect size (ES), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and heterogeneity (I) [ES = 29.8, 95% CI 16.4-43.2, I = 95.1%, P < 0.00]. About 40% of Australian medical students' positive opinion on RAS [ES = 40.4, 95% CI 25.7-55.2]. Similarly, 34.2% of students from Saudi Arabia [ES = 29.8, 95% CI 22.4-90.8, I = 99.3%, P < 0.00], 27.8% students from Canada [ES = 27.8, 95% CI 15.9-39.6], 24.8% from USA [ES = 24.8, 95% CI 6.9-42.7, I = 77.3%, P < 0.00] and 24% [ES = 24, 95% CI 18-30] from India favorable towards RAS.
DISCUSSION
Medical students from developed nations display favorable attitudes towards RAS. However, implementing of revised curriculum at the beginning of the graduation level sparks medical students' attitude towards robotic surgery.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Australia; Curriculum; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Students, Medical
PubMed: 38413513
DOI: 10.1007/s11701-024-01847-4 -
PloS One 2024This systematic review aimed to establish the extent to which each Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptom criterion is being assessed without being...
This systematic review aimed to establish the extent to which each Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptom criterion is being assessed without being influenced (biased) by factors such as informant, sex/gender, and age. Measurement invariance (MI) testing using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is the prime statistical method to ascertain how these factors may affect the measurement and colour the perception or interpretation of symptom criteria. Such effects (non-invariance) can be operationalised in the form of altered association of a symptom criterion with the measured trait (expressed via variations in CFA loadings which represent the weight of each symptom criterion) due to the factor(s) and/or artificially alter the probability of endorsement of a particular symptom criterion (expressed via variations in the CFA threshold(s) representing how mild or severe a given symptom is). Based on a pre-registered protocol (CRD42022276105), we searched PubMed, Global Health, Embase and PsycInfo up to 21-02-23 for studies that included MI assessments on specific ADHD symptom criteria in individuals aged 0-18 years old, using parental and/or teacher report. Self-reports were excluded, given the poor reliability of self-report in ADHD. All included studies met specific COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) criteria. Results were synthesised in tabular form, grouping results by factors (e.g. informant) from 44 studies retained. Most comparisons indicated both metric (same loadings) and scalar invariance (same thresholds) with regard to informant, gender, age, temporal (repeated assessments) and co-morbidity. Therefore, the available evidence supports the current diagnostic criteria. However, findings could have been improved by systematic reporting of the direction of bias and its effect size. There appears to be a bias towards reporting MI instead of non-invariance. More studies in the literature are needed where the amalgamation of information provided by different informs and the association of specific symptoms with comorbidity are analysed.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Child, Preschool; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Reproducibility of Results; Parents; Educational Personnel
PubMed: 38394179
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293677