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Scientific Reports Dec 2023Trait-based approaches are a powerful tool, as they not only improve understanding of ecological complexity and functioning but also allow comparison across different...
Trait-based approaches are a powerful tool, as they not only improve understanding of ecological complexity and functioning but also allow comparison across different ecosystems and biogeographical regions. They may be used to unveil ecosystem processes and assess community structures, but their great potential becomes limited when dealing with scattered trait data and historically unstandardised trait nomenclature. The lack of standardisation allows authors to use the terminology of their preference, which inevitably leads to ambiguous misunderstandings and limits comparison between different studies. There have been some attempts to organise the trait vocabulary, but even these are mostly created from the perspective of a single ecosystem, which limits their applicability. In this work, we conducted a systematic literature review that identified and compiled 1127 traits across 37 datasets of fishes, invertebrates and zooplankton from freshwater, marine and transitional ecosystems. This dataset was then used to build on the Marine Species Traits Wiki and to propose a new, unified approach to a trait vocabulary based directly on readily available trait data. We propose a single standardised designation for all the different traits identified and provide a list of all the different synonyms commonly used for these traits. A roadmap to help the trait selection process is also provided, offering a guide through four main steps and important questions for choosing an adequate set of traits at the beginning of any study, which constitutes one of the main challenges in functional ecology research. Overall, this proposal will provide a solid baseline for tackling gaps in trait nomenclature and ensuring a clearer future for functional ecology studies.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Invertebrates; Zooplankton; Fishes; Phenotype
PubMed: 38135700
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50146-9 -
Medicine Dec 2023This study aimed to explore the value of tumor-infiltrating Forkhead box P3(FoxP3+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in evaluating the prognosis of biliary tract cancer. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to explore the value of tumor-infiltrating Forkhead box P3(FoxP3+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in evaluating the prognosis of biliary tract cancer.
METHODS
Four electronic databases were searched using 2 computers: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The vocabulary and syntax were adapted according to the database. Two researchers independently selected the studies, collected information, and assessed the risk of bias. The Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 17.0, and HR and its corresponding 95% CI were used to evaluate the correlation between FoxP3+ Tregs and the overall survival of patients with biliary tract cancer. In addition, the quality of the included studies was evaluated.
RESULTS
Ten articles were included in this study. The results of the meta-analysis showed that patients with high FoxP3+ Tregs infiltration had worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.34,95% CI 1.16 to 1.71; P < .001). Subgroup analysis of gallbladder carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma showed that the high infiltration of FoxP3+ Tregs was significantly correlated with the OS of the former (HR = 1.55,95% CI 1.11 to 2.00; P < .001), but not with the OS of the latter (HR = 1.00,95% CI 0.62 to 1.38; P > .05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our meta-analysis reveals that high infiltration of FoxP3 + Tregs is significantly associated with reduced overall survival in gallbladder carcinoma, endorsing their use as a prognostic biomarker for this subtype. In contrast, no significant prognostic correlation was identified for FoxP3+ Tregs in cholangiocarcinoma, indicating the need for subtype-specific evaluation of their prognostic relevance in biliary tract cancers.
Topics: Humans; Prognosis; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Biliary Tract Neoplasms; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Cholangiocarcinoma; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
PubMed: 38115302
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036608 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023The bioinformatics analysis on glioma has been a hot point recently. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the research in this field using a...
BACKGROUND
The bioinformatics analysis on glioma has been a hot point recently. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the research in this field using a bibliometric method.
METHODS
The Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database was used to search for literature related to the bioinformatics analysis of gliomas. Countries, institutions, authors, references, and keywords were analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Microsoft Excel software.
RESULT
China was the most productive country, while the USA was the most cited. Capital Medical University had the largest number of publications and citations. Institutions tend to collaborate more with other institutions in their countries rather than foreign ones. The most productive and most cited author was Jiang Tao. Two citation paths were identified, with literature in basic research journals often cited in clinical journals. Immune-related vocabularies appeared frequently in recent studies.
CONCLUSION
Glioma bioinformatics analyses spanned a wide range of fields. The international communication in this field urgently needs to be strengthened. Glioma bioinformatics approaches are developing from basic research to clinical applications. Recently, immune-related research has become a focus.
PubMed: 38045000
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1222797 -
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The integration of physical movements, such as gestures, into learning holds potential for enhancing foreign language (L2) education. Uncovering whether actively... (Review)
Review
The integration of physical movements, such as gestures, into learning holds potential for enhancing foreign language (L2) education. Uncovering whether actively performing gestures during L2 learning is more, or equally, effective compared to simply observing such movements is central to deepening our understanding of the efficacy of movement-based learning strategies. Here, we present a meta-analysis of seven studies containing 309 participants that compares the effects of gesture self-enactment and observation on L2 vocabulary learning. The results showed that gesture observation was just as effective for L2 learning as gesture enactment, based on free recall, cued L2 recognition, and cued native language recognition performance, with a large dispersion of true effect across studies. Gesture observation may be sufficient for inducing embodied L2 learning benefits, in support of theories positing shared mechanisms underlying enactment and observation. Future studies should examine the effects of gesture-based learning over longer time periods with larger sample sizes and more diverse word classes.
PubMed: 37998667
DOI: 10.3390/bs13110920 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Oct 2023: This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing the effects of corticotomy and flapless piezocision on accelerated tooth movement. : A comprehensive search using... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
: This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis comparing the effects of corticotomy and flapless piezocision on accelerated tooth movement. : A comprehensive search using a combination of controlled vocabulary (MeSH) and free-text terms was undertaken by two reviewers to identify published systematic reviews. Three major electronic databases (Medline via PubMed, Cochrane Database, and Embase) were searched up to 2 June 2023. : The results of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled standardized mean difference values of accumulative movement distances for flapless piezocision were 1.43 (95% CI, 0.38 to 2.48; < 0.01), 1.09 (95% CI, -0.08 to 2.26; = 0.07), and 0.73 (95% CI, -0.58 to 4.02; = 0.14). The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the pooled SMD values of accumulative movement distances for the corticotomy were 2.76 (95% CI, 0.18 to 5.34; = 0.04), 1.43 (95% CI, -1.10 to 3.96; = 0.27), and 4.78 (95% CI, -4.54 to 14.10; = 0.32). Although the test for overall effectiveness was significant for piezocision and corticotomy, there were no significant differences between piezocision and corticotomy. : The study determined that both conventional corticotomy and flapless piezosurgery are effective as adjuncts to orthodontic treatment. Moreover, no significant difference was observed in the short-term effectiveness of canine retraction acceleration between conventional corticotomy and flapless piezocision. While piezocision may be a favorable option for orthodontic treatment, corticotomy can be considered in cases requiring additional procedures such as bone grafting.
Topics: Humans; Tooth Movement Techniques; Dental Care; Piezosurgery; Bone Transplantation; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 37893522
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101804 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Dengue and chikungunya viruses are frequent causes of malarial-like febrile illness in children. The rapid increase in virus transmission by mosquitoes is a global... (Review)
Review
Dengue and chikungunya viruses are frequent causes of malarial-like febrile illness in children. The rapid increase in virus transmission by mosquitoes is a global health concern. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the childhood prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and Cochrane Library (Wiley) databases was conducted on 28 June 2019, and updated on 12 February 2022. The search strategy was designed to retrieve all articles pertaining to arboviruses in SSA children using both controlled vocabulary and keywords. The pooled (weighted) proportion of dengue and chikungunya was estimated using a random effect model. The overall pooled prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in SSA children was estimated to be 16% and 7%, respectively. Prevalence was slightly lower during the period 2010-2020 compared to 2000-2009. The study design varied depending on the healthcare facility reporting the disease outbreak. Importantly, laboratory methods used to detect arbovirus infections differed. The present review documents the prevalence of dengue and chikungunya in pediatric patients throughout SSA. The results provide unprecedented insight into the transmission of dengue and chikungunya viruses among these children and highlight the need for enhanced surveillance and controlled methodology.
PubMed: 37892325
DOI: 10.3390/children10101662 -
Urology Research & Practice Sep 2023Physiotherapy is the most commonly used treatment for stress urinary incontinence including pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, and electrical stimulation. This...
Physiotherapy is the most commonly used treatment for stress urinary incontinence including pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, and electrical stimulation. This systematic review evaluated the effects of physiotherapy in patients with stress urinary incontinence compared with no treatment, placebo, sham, surgery, or other inactive control treatments. MEDLINE (via PubMed), The Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, and Trip Database were explored using applicable vocabularies for all English and Persian language investigations released from inception to January 2021. On one side, trials including physiotherapy of pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback, and electrical stimulation and on the other, either no treatment, placebo, sham, surgery, or other inactive control treatments were included. Studies were assessed for appropriateness and methodological excellence. Two authors extracted data. Disagreements were resolved by a third opinion. Data were processed as described in the Joanna Briggs Institute Handbook. Twenty-nine trials with 2601 participants were found, but only 16 were included because of data heterogeneity. The results showed that physiotherapy interventions are better than no treatment in terms of urine leakage, but no difference was found for urinary incontinence severity. Also, physiotherapy showed favorable results over comparison groups for International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, pad test, pelvic floor muscle function, and improvement outcomes. This systematic review supports the widespread use of pelvic physiotherapy as the first-line treatment for adult patients with stress urinary incontinence.
PubMed: 37877877
DOI: 10.5152/tud.2023.23018 -
Does the duration of ambulatory consultations affect the quality of healthcare? A systematic review.BMJ Open Quality Oct 2023The objective is to examine and synthesise the best available experimental evidence about the effect of ambulatory consultation duration on quality of healthcare.
BACKGROUND
The objective is to examine and synthesise the best available experimental evidence about the effect of ambulatory consultation duration on quality of healthcare.
METHODS
We included experimental studies manipulating the length of outpatient clinical encounters between adult patients and clinicians (ie, therapists, pharmacists, nurses, physicians) to determine their effect on quality of care (ie, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, safety, equity, patient-centredness and patient satisfaction).
INFORMATION SOURCES
Using controlled vocabulary and keywords, without restriction by language or year of publication, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews and Scopus from inception until 15 May 2023.
RISK OF BIAS
Cochrane Risk of Bias instrument.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
11 publications of 10 studies explored the relationship between encounter duration and quality. Most took place in the UK's general practice over two decades ago. Study findings based on very sparse and outdated evidence-which suggested that longer consultations improved indicators of patient-centred care, education about prevention and clinical referrals; and that consultation duration was inconsistently related to patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes-warrant low confidence due to limited protections against bias and indirect applicability to current practice.
CONCLUSION
Experimental evidence for a minimal or optimal duration of an outpatient consultation is sparse and outdated. To develop evidence-based policies and practices about encounter length, randomised trials of different consultation lengths-in person and virtually, and with electronic health records-are needed.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
OSF Registration DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/EUDK8.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Family Practice; Health Facilities; Quality of Health Care; Referral and Consultation
PubMed: 37875307
DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002311 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023To systematically review the existing literature that examines the relationship between cognition, hearing, and language in children using cochlear implants and hearing...
PURPOSE
To systematically review the existing literature that examines the relationship between cognition, hearing, and language in children using cochlear implants and hearing aids.
METHOD
The review has been registered in Prospero (Registration: CRD 42020203974). The review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis and examined the scientific literature in VHL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, WOS, and Embase. It included original observational studies in children using hearing aids and/or cochlear implants who underwent cognitive and auditory and/or language tests. Data were extracted from the studies and their level of evidence was graded with the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine: Levels of Evidence. Meta-analysis could not be performed due to data heterogeneity. Outcomes are described in narrative and tables synthesis.
RESULTS
The systematic search and subsequent full-text evaluation identified 21 studies, conducted in 10 different countries. Altogether, their samples comprised 1,098 individuals, aged 0.16-12.6 years. The studies assessed the following cognitive domains: memory, nonverbal cognition, reasoning, attention, executive functions, language, perceptual-motor function, visuoconstructive ability, processing speed, and phonological processing/phonological memory. Children with hearing loss using cochlear implants and hearing aids scored significantly lower in many cognitive functions than normal hearing (NH) children. Neurocognitive functions were correlated with hearing and language outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Many cognitive tools were used to assess cognitive function in children with hearing devices. Results suggest that children with cochlear implants and hearing aids have cognitive deficits; these outcomes are mainly correlated with vocabulary. This study highlights the need to understand children's cognitive function and increase the knowledge of the relationship between cognition, language, and hearing in children using cochlear implants and hearing aids.
PubMed: 37859761
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1242949 -
Cureus Sep 2023The increasing prevalence of smart media usage among children has raised concerns about its potential impact on various aspects of child development. One such area of... (Review)
Review
The increasing prevalence of smart media usage among children has raised concerns about its potential impact on various aspects of child development. One such area of worry is speech delay, as early language acquisition is critical for cognitive, social, and educational development. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate and synthesize available research data in order to determine the association between speech delay and the usage of smart media in children. To perform this systematic review, a thorough literature search was conducted using relevant keywords in electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase. We included studies published during the last 10 years investigating the impact of smart media on children's speech delay using various research designs. The findings showed that extended exposure to electronic media for children was negatively associated with expressive vocabulary and language skills in children, in addition to decreased language scores and speech delays. Educational apps and shared media engagement with parents correlated with stronger language skills. The introduction of smart devices at a later stage of development (24 months of age and older) was associated with positive language development, whereas early introduction was associated with speech delay. However, six-month abstinence from devices led to speech improvement in the affected children. These findings highlight the need to balance interactive screen time and other forms of interaction to enhance speech development.
PubMed: 37854747
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45396