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Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B Jun 2024Pathogenesis of epilepsy involves dysregulation of the neurotransmitter system contributing to hyper-excitability of neuronal cells. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pathogenesis of epilepsy involves dysregulation of the neurotransmitter system contributing to hyper-excitability of neuronal cells. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs known to play a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
METHODS
The present review was prepared following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, employing a comprehensive search strategy to identify and extract data from published research articles. Keywords suchas epilepsy, micro RNA (micro RNAs, miRNA, miRNAs, miR), neurotransmitters (specific names), and neurotransmitter receptors (specific names) were used to construct the query.
RESULTS
A total of 724 articles were identified using the keywords epilepsy, microRNA along with select neurotransmitter and neurotransmitter receptor names. After exclusions, the final selection consisted of 17 studies, most of which centered on glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. Singular studies also investigated miRNAs affecting cholinergic, purinergic, and glycine receptors.
CONCLUSION
This review offers a concise overview of the current knowledge on miRNA-mediated regulation of neurotransmitter receptors in epilepsy and highlights their potential for future clinical application.
PubMed: 38924965
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109912 -
Journal of Clinical and Experimental... Apr 2024Semantic verbal fluency (SVF) is a widely used measure of frontal executive function and access to semantic memory. SVF scoring metrics include the number of unique... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Semantic verbal fluency (SVF) is a widely used measure of frontal executive function and access to semantic memory. SVF scoring metrics include the number of unique words generated, perseverations, intrusions, semantic cluster size and switching between clusters, and scores vary depending on the language the test is administered in. In this paper, we review the existing normative data for Turkish, the main metrics used for scoring SVF data in Turkish, and the most frequently used categories.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed papers using Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and two Turkish databases, TR-Dizin and Yok-Tez. Included papers contained data on the SVF performance of healthy adult native speakers of Turkish, and reported the categories used. Versions of the SVF that required participants to alternate categories were excluded. We extracted and tabulated demographics, descriptions of groups, metrics used, categories used, and sources of normative data. Studies were assessed for level of detail in reporting findings.
RESULTS
1400 studies were retrieved. After deduplication, abstract, full text screening, and merging of theses with their published versions, 121 studies were included. 114 studies used the semantic category "animal", followed by first names ( = 14, 12%). All studies reported word count. More complex measures were rare (perseverations: = 12, 10%, clustering and switching: = 5, 4%). Four of seven normative studies reported only word count, two also measured perseverations, and one reported category violations and perseverations. Two normative studies were published in English.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of normative Turkish SVF data with more complex metrics, such as clustering and switching, and a lack of normative data published in English. Given the size of the Turkish diaspora, normative SVF data should include monolingual and bilingual speakers. Limitations include a restriction to key English and Turkish databases.
Topics: Humans; Semantics; Turkey; Neuropsychological Tests; Verbal Behavior; Reference Values; Adult; Female; Male; Executive Function
PubMed: 38904178
DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2024.2331827 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models to generate individualised risk assessments and predict patient outcomes post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve...
OBJECTIVES
In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models to generate individualised risk assessments and predict patient outcomes post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has been a topic of increasing relevance in literature. This study aims to evaluate the predictive accuracy of AI algorithms in forecasting post-TAVI mortality as compared to traditional risk scores.
METHODS
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) standard, a systematic review was carried out. We searched four databases in total-PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane-from 19 June 2023-24 June, 2023.
RESULTS
From 2,239 identified records, 1,504 duplicates were removed, 735 manuscripts were screened, and 10 studies were included in our review. Our pooled analysis of 5 studies and 9,398 patients revealed a significantly higher mean area under curve (AUC) associated with AI mortality predictions than traditional score predictions (MD: -0.16, CI: -0.22 to -0.10, < 0.00001). Subgroup analyses of 30-day mortality (MD: -0.08, CI: -0.13 to -0.03, = 0.001) and 1-year mortality (MD: -0.18, CI: -0.27 to -0.10, < 0.0001) also showed significantly higher mean AUC with AI predictions than traditional score predictions. Pooled mean AUC of all 10 studies and 22,933 patients was 0.79 [0.73, 0.85].
CONCLUSION
AI models have a higher predictive accuracy as compared to traditional risk scores in predicting post-TAVI mortality. Overall, this review demonstrates the potential of AI in achieving personalised risk assessment in TAVI patients.
REGISTRATION AND PROTOCOL
This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered under the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), under the registration name "All-Cause Mortality in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Assessed by Artificial Intelligence" and registration number CRD42023437705. A review protocol was not prepared. There were no amendments to the information provided at registration.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, PROSPERO (CRD42023437705).
PubMed: 38883982
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1343210 -
Heliyon May 2024The global concern regarding protection against the COVID-19 variants through pre-existing antibodies from vaccination or previous infection is evident. Reports from...
BACKGROUND
The global concern regarding protection against the COVID-19 variants through pre-existing antibodies from vaccination or previous infection is evident. Reports from around the world indicate that a considerable number of healthcare professionals/individuals experience re-infection despite being vaccinated. Moreover, several studies have highlighted cases of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 re-infection, specifically among individuals who have been vaccinated. Understanding the factors that contribute to these re-infections is crucial for implementing effective public health measures and enhancing vaccination strategies.
METHOD
A comprehensive search was conducted between January 1, 2021, and February 14, 2024, using various reputable sources such as PubMed, Google scholar, Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and others. The search aimed to retrieve relevant research on topics related to "world nations" and phrases like "COVID-19 vaccination breakthrough infection," "SARS re-infection after COVID-19 vaccination," "COVID-19 vaccine complication," "post COVID-19 vaccination symptoms," and specific nation names. The data obtained from the databases underwent extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Data analysis was performed using STATAMP software, and measures such as the I test statistic and Egger's test were used to assess heterogeneity and publication bias. The findings were presented using forest plots, displaying the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI).
RESULT
This review and meta-analysis comprised a total of 15 articles, or a total sample size of 342,598. The pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination of COVID-19 was 9 % (95CI 7%-11 %) of population globally. This implied that reduced the overall attack rate of COVID-19 by 91 % after vaccination. The highest pooled estimated of SARS-CoV-2 infection after COVID -19 Vaccinations was seen among developing nations, 20 % (95 % CI: 5%-36 %).The pooled odds ratio showed that a significant association was found between SARS-CoV-2 infection after COVID-19 vaccination and older age (OR = 2.04; 95%CI: 1.10-2.98) and comorbidity (OR = 3.25; 95%CI: 1.04-5.47).
CONCLUSION
It is important for policymakers to prioritize continuous monitoring and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among vaccinated individuals globally, as there is a significant estimate of the combined prevalence of post-COVID-19 vaccine SARS-CoV-2 infections.
PubMed: 38737290
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30609 -
Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi [Chinese... May 2024To summarize and elucidate the impact of ambient air pollution on biological aging among middle-aged and older adults. "Air pollution""Biological age""Epigenetic...
To summarize and elucidate the impact of ambient air pollution on biological aging among middle-aged and older adults. "Air pollution""Biological age""Epigenetic age""Biological aging"and"Epigenetic aging", as well as specific names of air pollutants and biological age were used as search keywords. This study searched the databases of PubMed and Web of Science for eligible English articles and CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, CBM, CSTP and other Chinese databases for eligible Chinese articles from inception until June 30, 2023. The language was limited to Chinese and English. Among the 14 included articles, five studies investigated the impact of air pollution on DNA methylation age using different algorithms, while six studies explored the relationship between air pollutants and telomere length. Six studies focused on frailty as an outcome, and an additional study revealed the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM) and its components with composite indicator age (KDM age). The results indicated that, although different forms of biological ages were susceptible to different ambient air pollutants at different degrees, previous studies had consistently found that the increased levels of PM and one of its major components, black carbon (BC), could significantly accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults. Similar trends were observed with nitrogen oxides (NO) and ozone (O) but with relatively limited evidence. Major air pollutants could accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults.
Topics: Humans; Air Pollution; Air Pollutants; Particulate Matter; Aging; Middle Aged; Aged; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Environmental Exposure
PubMed: 38715498
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112150-20231009-00247 -
Primary Care Diabetes Jun 2024This study will explore the effectiveness of fish skin grafts (FSG) in ulcer healing in diabetic foot disease compared to standard of care (SOC). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
This study will explore the effectiveness of fish skin grafts (FSG) in ulcer healing in diabetic foot disease compared to standard of care (SOC).
METHODS
The systematic review and meta-analysis were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standard. The electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science (WoS) internet were searched for the outcome rate of complete ulcer healing. The risk of bias assessment was conducted using the tool recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Statistical analysis included the individual and combined result of the studies, heterogeneity test, the effect size, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias tests.
RESULTS
Five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 411 patients were included in this study. This meta-analysis showed a higher rate of complete ulcer healing in groups receiving fish skin grafts (OR = 3.34, 95% CI 2.14-5.20, p < 0.01, I = 0%) compared to control groups.
CONCLUSION
Fish skin grafts have been shown to be more effective for achieving complete ulcer healing compared to current conventional treatments in diabetic foot disease.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Chronic Disease; Diabetic Foot; Fishes; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Skin Transplantation; Standard of Care; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing
PubMed: 38644082
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2024.03.008 -
BMJ Open Apr 2024The mental health of veterinary and other animal health professionals is significantly impacted by the psychological stressors they encounter, such as euthanasia,...
OBJECTIVES
The mental health of veterinary and other animal health professionals is significantly impacted by the psychological stressors they encounter, such as euthanasia, witnessing animal suffering and moral distress. Moral distress, initially identified in nursing, arises when individuals are aware of the right action but are hindered by institutional constraints. We aimed to review existing research on moral distress scales among animal care workers by focusing on the identification and psychometric validity of its measurement.
DESIGN
Two-step systematic review. First, we identified all moral distress scales used in animal care research in the eligible original studies. Second, we evaluated their psychometric validity, emphasising content validity, which is a critical aspect of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This evaluation adhered to the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). The results were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, EMBASE and PsycINFO to search for eligible studies published between January 1984 and April 2023.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES
We included original (primary) studies that (1) were conducted in animal care workers; (2) describing either the development of a moral distress scale, or validation of a moral distress scale in its original or modified version, to assess at least one of the psychometric properties mentioned in COSMIN guidelines.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. We considered the following information relevant for extraction: study reference, name and reference of the moral distress scale used, psychometric properties assessed and methods and results of their assessments. The collected information was then summarised in a narrative synthesis.
RESULTS
The review identified only one PROM specifically adapted for veterinary contexts: the Measure of Moral Distress for Animal Professionals (MMD-AP), derived from the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP). Both MMD-HP and MMD-AP were evaluated for the quality of development and content validity. The development quality of both measures was deemed doubtful. According to COSMIN, MMD-HP's content validity was rated as sufficient, whereas MMD-AP's was inconsistent. However, the evidence quality for both PROMs was rated low.
CONCLUSION
This is the first systematic review focused on moral distress measurement in animal care workers. It shows that moral distress is rarely measured using standardised and evidence-based methods and that such methods should be developed and validated in the context of animal care.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42023422259.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Health Personnel; Mental Health; Consensus; Stress, Psychological; Morals; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Patient Reported Outcome Measures
PubMed: 38643012
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082235 -
Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine May 2024Intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs) are vascular lesions with a high bleeding rate. At present, the debate regarding their treatment is still ongoing. The present...
Intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs) are vascular lesions with a high bleeding rate. At present, the debate regarding their treatment is still ongoing. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the safety of surgery or radiosurgery (SRS) for the management of CMs and to determine their potential outcomes compared with conservative treatment. The present systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the relative articles involving the management of intracranial CMs, namely their natural history (conservative treatment) vs. surgical/SRS treatment through electronic databases until June, 2023. The collected variables included the first author's name, the study period covered, the year of publication, the total number of patients examined and their age, and the number of males. In total, six articles met the eligibility criteria. The total number of patients was 399 (157 in the surgery/SRS group and 242 in the conservative treatment group). The results revealed that surgical or SRS management is a safe procedure for CMs compared with conservative treatment. Notably, the use of hemosiderin in the pre-MRI, the free of seizures parameter and the neurological deficit parameters were associated with improved outcomes in the surgical or SRS group of patients.
PubMed: 38590573
DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12503 -
Digestive and Liver Disease : Official... Apr 2024Celiac disease (CeD) is an immune-mediated disorder affecting the small bowel, associated with genetic factors and increasing global prevalence. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Celiac disease (CeD) is an immune-mediated disorder affecting the small bowel, associated with genetic factors and increasing global prevalence.
AIM
This study explores the association between CeD, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS), and Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Searches across multiple databases yielded 2728 articles, with 15 studies selected. Data extraction included study characteristics, prevalence of CeD and CeD antibodies in SLE, pSS, and SSc. Quality assessment utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS
The meta-analysis revealed a pooled prevalence of biopsy-proven CeD in SLE, pSS, and SSc of approximately 3%. Seroprevalence of any CeD antibody in SLE, pSS, and SSc ranged from 3% to 10%. Notably, pSS exhibited the highest prevalence at 5.59%. High heterogeneity was observed in seroprevalence across autoimmune conditions. Quality assessment indicated robust methodological quality in the selected studies.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights a significantly higher prevalence of CeD, especially pSS, compared to the general population. The findings underscore the importance of recognizing elevated CeD antibodies in patients with SLE, pSS and SSc emphasizing the need for early detection and comprehensive care for gastrointestinal symptoms in these conditions.
PubMed: 38584032
DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2024.03.015 -
Cancer Medicine Mar 2024Due to encouraging pre-clinical data and supportive observational studies, there has been growing interest in applying cardiovascular drugs (including aspirin,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Due to encouraging pre-clinical data and supportive observational studies, there has been growing interest in applying cardiovascular drugs (including aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, statins, and metformin) approved to treat diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus to the field of oncology. Moreover, given growing costs with cancer care, these medications have offered a potentially more affordable avenue to treat or prevent recurrence of cancer. We sought to investigate the anti-cancer effects of drugs repurposed from cardiology or anti-inflammatories to treat cancer. We specifically evaluated the following drug classes: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, aspirin, metformin, and both angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. We also included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) because they exert a similar mechanism to aspirin by blocking prostaglandins and reducing inflammation that is thought to promote the development of cancer.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature review using PubMed and Web of Science with search terms including "aspirin," "NSAID," "statin" (including specific statin drug names), "metformin," "ACE inhibitors," and "ARBs" (including specific anti-hypertensive drug names) in combination with "cancer." Searches were limited to human studies published between 2000 and 2023.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The number and percentage of studies reported positive results and pooled estimates of overall survival, progression-free survival, response, and disease-free survival.
RESULTS
We reviewed 3094 titles and included 67 randomized clinical trials. The most common drugs that were tested were metformin (n = 21; 30.9%), celecoxib (n = 20; 29.4%), and simvastatin (n = 8; 11.8%). There was only one study that tested cardiac glycosides and none that studied ACE inhibitors. The most common tumor types were non-small-cell lung cancer (n = 19; 27.9%); breast (n = 8; 20.6%), colorectal (n = 7; 10.3%), and hepatocellular (n = 6; 8.8%). Most studies were conducted in a phase II trial (n = 38; 55.9%). Most studies were tested in metastatic cancers (n = 49; 72.1%) and in the first-line setting (n = 36; 521.9%). Four studies (5.9%) were stopped early because of difficulty with accrual. The majority of studies did not demonstrate an improvement in either progression-free survival (86.1% of studies testing progression-free survival) or in overall survival (94.3% of studies testing overall survival). Progression-free survival was improved in five studies (7.4%), and overall survival was improved in three studies (4.4%). Overall survival was significantly worse in two studies (3.8% of studies testing overall survival), and progression-free survival was worse in one study (2.8% of studies testing progression-free survival).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Despite promising pre-clinical and population-based data, cardiovascular drugs and anti-inflammatory medications have overall not demonstrated benefit in the treatment or preventing recurrence of cancer. These findings may help guide future potential clinical trials involving these medications when applied in oncology.
Topics: Humans; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Lung Neoplasms; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Aspirin; Antihypertensive Agents; Metformin
PubMed: 38491813
DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7049