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PloS One 2024This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of preventive home visits (PHVs) in enhancing resilience and health-related outcomes among older adults living in the...
BACKGROUND
This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of preventive home visits (PHVs) in enhancing resilience and health-related outcomes among older adults living in the community.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in nine databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Emcare, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library. The search was undertaken between March 15 and 31, 2022 with subsequent updates performed on October 15, 2023 and April 10, 2024. This review also included grey literature sourced via Google, Google Scholar and backward citation searches.
RESULTS
Out of 5,621 records, 20 articles were found to meet the inclusion criteria with a total of 8,035 participants involved and the mean age ranged from 74.0 to 84.4 years. Using McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies, we ascertained that the studies included in our analysis had moderate to high levels of quality. In addition to health-related outcomes, PHV interventions were also conducted to evaluate psychological effects (16 studies) and social outcomes (seven studies). Five studies conducted financial assessment to evaluate the costs of health and social care utilisation during PHV interventions. Regarding the results of the review, seven studies showed favourable outcomes, five indicated no effect and eight had equivocal findings. Only one study assessed resilience and determined that PHV had no effect on the resilience of the subjects.
CONCLUSION
This review found that the effectiveness of PHV interventions was uncertain and inconclusive. PHV interventions often prioritise health-related objectives. The incorporation of a holistic approach involving psychosocial health into PHV interventions is relatively uncommon. Due to the paucity of research on resilience as PHV outcome, we are unable to draw a conclusion on the effectiveness of PHV on resilience. Resilience should be prioritised as a psychological assessment in the future development of comprehensive PHV interventions, as it enables older adults to adapt, manage, and respond positively to adversities that may arise with age. Performing financial analysis such as costs and benefits analysis to incorporate the return on investment of PHV interventions is an added value for future research on this topic.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022296919.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Independent Living; Resilience, Psychological; House Calls; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Male
PubMed: 38950029
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306188 -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Jun 2024To compare the efficacy of tocotrienol and tocopherol in the management of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of tocotrienol and tocopherol in the management of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
METHODS
The systematic review was conducted in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses guidelines 2020, and comprised literature search from 2002 till January 5, 2023, on PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Google, Wiley-Inter Science Library, Medline, SpringerLink, Taylor and Francis databases. The search was conducted using key words, such as: "tocopherol", "tocotrienol", "vitamin E", "dyslipidaemia", "cardiovascular diseases" "cardioprotective", "hypercholesterolemia" and "atherosclerosis" along with Boolean operators. Human clinical studies regarding the use of tocotrienol or tocopherol or comparison of its efficacy in patients having atherosclerosis, dyslipidaemia leading to cardiovascular diseases, and studies including details of efficacy of any of the four alpha, beta, gamma, delta isomers of tocopherol or tocotrienol were included. Pertinent data from the eligible studies was retrieved and reviewed.
RESULTS
Of the 516 articles identified, 26 (5%) articles met eligibility criteria. Of them 5(19%) were subjected to detailed analysis. Tocotrienol showed significant anti-oxidant efficacy at (250 mg/d) by decreasing cholesterol and serum inflammatory biomarkers i.e C-reactive protein (40%), malondialdehyde (34%), gamma-glutamyl transferase (22%) (p<0.001). Total anti-oxidant status (TAS) levels raised 22% (p<0.001) and Inflammatory cytokines i.e resistin, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-12, Interferon-gamma were decreased 15-17% (p<0.05-0.01) respectively by tocotrienol. Several microRNA (miRNA-133a, miRNA-223, miRNA-214, miRNA-155) were modulated by δ-tocotrienol. Whereas, tocopherol showed heterogeneity of results by either decreasing or increasing the risk of mortality in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
CONCLUSION
Compared to tocopherol, tocotrienol was found to be safe and potential candidate for improving cardiovascular health in the management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Topics: Humans; Tocotrienols; Atherosclerosis; Tocopherols; Antioxidants; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dyslipidemias; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38948984
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.9227 -
Indian Journal of Orthopaedics Jul 2024Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disorder of the synovial joints and is usually an age-related disease that occurs due to continuous wear and tear of the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disorder of the synovial joints and is usually an age-related disease that occurs due to continuous wear and tear of the cartilage in the joints. Presently, there is no proven medical management to halt the progression of the disease in the early stages. The purpose of our systematic review is to analyze the possible metabolites and metabolic pathways that are specifically involved in OA pathogenesis and early treatment of the disease.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The articles were collected from PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, Embase, and Scopus databases. "Knee", "Osteoarthritis", "Proteomics", "Lipidomics", "Metabolomics", "Metabolic Methods", and metabolic* were employed for finding the articles. Only original articles with human or animal OA models with healthy controls were included.
RESULTS
From the initial screening, a total of 458 articles were identified from the 5 research databases. From these, 297 articles were selected in the end for screening, of which 53 papers were selected for full-text screening. Finally, 50 articles were taken for the review based on body fluid: 6 urine studies, 15 plasma studies, 16 synovial fluid studies, 11 serum studies, 4 joint tissue studies, and 1 fecal study. Many metabolites were found to be elevated in OA. Some of these metabolites can be used to stage the OA Three pathways that were found to be commonly involved are the TCA cycle, the glycolytic pathway, and the lipid metabolism.
CONCLUSION
All these studies showed a vast array of metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with OA. Metabolites like lysophospholipids, phospholipids, arginine, BCCA, and histidine were identified as potential biomarkers of OA but a definite association was not identified, Three pathways (glycolytic pathway, TCA cycle, and lipid metabolic pathways) have been found as highly significant in OA pathogenesis. These metabolic pathways could provide novel therapeutic targets for the prevention and progression of the disease.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-024-01169-5.
PubMed: 38948380
DOI: 10.1007/s43465-024-01169-5 -
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2024This review article assesses the effectiveness and limitations of strategies to reduce falls among hospitalized older adults with frailty and dementia. It explores the...
This review article assesses the effectiveness and limitations of strategies to reduce falls among hospitalized older adults with frailty and dementia. It explores the efficacy of existing fall prevention strategies for a cohort that is acutely susceptible to falls and fall-related consequences. A systematic literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, employing Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to identify studies on fall prevention strategies in hospitalized older adults with both dementia and frailty published from 2013 to 2023. The initial 643 records were distilled to eight articles, with Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) emerging as a notable intervention. SIBR demonstrated a reduction in falls by fostering improved interdisciplinary communication and care planning. However, a decline in family engagement during consecutive sessions suggests a need for strategies to sustain familial involvement. The findings advocate for patient-centered interventions that address the cognitive and functional challenges faced by this cohort of older adults. This review advocates for comprehensive and inclusive research in hospital environments to improve fall prevention strategies for frail older adults with dementia.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Accidental Falls; Dementia; Frail Elderly; Hospitalization
PubMed: 38948169
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S400582 -
Cureus May 2024Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia associated with an increased risk of stroke and systemic embolism (SE). Anticoagulation therapy, particularly... (Review)
Review
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia associated with an increased risk of stroke and systemic embolism (SE). Anticoagulation therapy, particularly with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) or novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), is essential for stroke prevention in patients with AF. However, the comparative effectiveness of NOACs and warfarin remains debatable. Of the 34 studies included, 14 studies involving 166,845 patients were included in the meta-analysis and 20 studies were included in the systematic review. Our findings indicate that NOACs were associated with a significantly lesser risk of stroke/SE with a relative risk (RR) of 0.84 and p=0.0005, and all-cause mortality RR=0.88 and p=0.006. There were no significant differences between major bleeding events with an RR of 0.87 and p=0.22, and serious adverse events (SAE) with RR=1.01 and p=0.35, compared to warfarin in patients with AF. Our meta-analysis demonstrates strong evidence for the superiority in reducing stroke/SE and all-cause mortality of NOACs compared to warfarin. However, no significant differences were identified in the bleeding outcomes or SAEs between the two groups.
PubMed: 38947715
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61374 -
Cureus May 2024Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a global health challenge, with modifiable risk factors, notably alcohol consumption, impacting its onset and progression. This review... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a global health challenge, with modifiable risk factors, notably alcohol consumption, impacting its onset and progression. This review synthesizes evidence on the types and effectiveness of community-based interventions (CBIs) aimed at reducing alcohol consumption for CVD prevention. Electronic databases were systematically searched until October 31, 2019, with updates until February 28, 2023. Given the heterogeneity in outcome measures, we narratively synthesized the effectiveness of CBIs, adhering to the synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines for transparent reporting. For selected homogenous studies, a random-effects meta-analysis was utilized to estimate the effects of CBIs on alcohol consumption. Twenty-two eligible studies were included, with 16 demonstrating that CBIs reduced alcohol consumption compared to controls. Meta-analysis findings revealed reductions in above moderate-level alcohol consumption (pooled odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37, 0.68), number of alcohol drinks per week (standardized mean difference=-0.08, 95% CI: -0.14, -0.03), and increased odds of low-risk drinking (pooled OR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.81) compared to the control groups. Multi-component interventions (particularly those combining health education, awareness, and promotion activities) and those interventions with a duration of 12 months or more were notably effective. The beneficial effects of CBIs focusing on achieving a reduction in alcohol consumption showed promising outcomes. Implementing such interventions, especially multicomponent interventions, could play a significant role in mitigating the increasing burden of CVDs. Future studies should also consider employing standardized and validated tools to measure alcohol consumption outcomes to enhance the consistency and comparability of findings.
PubMed: 38947657
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61323 -
Cureus Jun 2024Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting the skin, nails, and/or joints. It is associated with systemic inflammation and may also be linked to an... (Review)
Review
Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease affecting the skin, nails, and/or joints. It is associated with systemic inflammation and may also be linked to an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The objectives of this study were to determine the overall risk of ASCVD in patients with psoriasis and to evaluate the risk according to ASCVD type and the severity of psoriasis. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting the association between psoriasis and one or more of the clinical types of ASCVD. We searched Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) via PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Scopus, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (BASE), and Google Scholar for relevant studies in the English language from the beginning of their records to July 2023. Study selection and data extraction were conducted by four independent reviewers. A total of 21 observational studies (three cross-sectional, one case-control, and 17 cohort) were included in this review, representing a total of 778,049 patients with psoriasis and 16,881,765 control subjects without psoriasis. The included studies had varying degrees of covariate adjustment, and thus, their findings may have been subject to residual confounding. All the meta-analyses used the adjusted effect sizes and were based on the random-effects model. However, the cohort studies were analysed separately from the non-cohort studies (the case-control and cross-sectional studies). There was a significant association between psoriasis and ASCVD (cohort studies: hazard ratio (HR), 1.21; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14 to 1.28; I = 63%; p < 0.001; non-cohort studies: odds ratio (OR), 1.60; 95% CI, 1.34 to 1.92; I = 31%; p = 0.23). Psoriasis was also significantly associated with myocardial infarction (cohort studies: HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.31; I = 60%; p < 0.001; non-cohort studies: OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.15; I = 74%; p = 0.05), coronary artery disease (cohort studies: HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.28; I = 67%; p < 0.001; non-cohort studies: OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.34 to 1.92; I = 31%; p = 0.23), aortic aneurysm (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.02; I = 67%; p = 0.08) but not with ischaemic stroke (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.36; I = 44%; p = 0.17). Pooled analysis in terms of the severity of psoriasis showed that both mild (cohort studies: HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.26; I = 74%; p < 0.001; non-cohort studies: OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.90; I = 0%; p = 0.50) and severe (cohort studies: HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.65; I = 65%; p < 0.001; non-cohort studies: OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.12; I = 25%; p = 0.26) psoriasis were significantly associated with ASCVD. Psoriasis (including mild and severe disease) is associated with an increased risk of ASCVD, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic aneurysm (AA). ASCVD risk assessment and prevention should be prioritised in all adult psoriasis patients. Future observational studies investigating the association between psoriasis and ASCVD should conduct a more comprehensive adjustment of covariates.
PubMed: 38947134
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.63379 -
European Journal of Public Health Jul 2024Contact tracing is a public health intervention implemented in synergy with other preventive measures to curb epidemics, like the coronavirus pandemic. The development...
BACKGROUND
Contact tracing is a public health intervention implemented in synergy with other preventive measures to curb epidemics, like the coronavirus pandemic. The development and use of digital devices have increased worldwide to enhance the contact tracing process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of tracking coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using digital solutions.
METHODS
Observational studies on digital contact tracing (DCT), published 2020-21, in English were identified through a systematic literature review performed on nine online databases. An ad hoc form was used for data extraction of relevant information. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed with validated tools. A qualitative synthesis of the findings is reported.
RESULTS
Over 8000 records were identified and 37 were included in the study: 24 modelling and 13 population-based studies. DCT improved the identification of close contacts of COVID-19 cases and reduced the effective reproduction number of COVID-19-related infections and deaths by over 60%. It impacted positively on societal and economic costs, in terms of lockdowns and use of resources, including staffing. Privacy and security issues were reported in 27 studies.
CONCLUSIONS
DCT contributed to curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with the high uptake rate of the devices and in combination with other public health measures, especially conventional contact tracing. The main barriers to the implementation of the devices are uptake rate, security and privacy issues. Public health digitalization and contact tracing are the keys to countries' emergency preparedness for future health crises.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Contact Tracing; SARS-CoV-2; Pandemics; Digital Technology; Public Health
PubMed: 38946444
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae039 -
European Review For Medical and... Jun 2024The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widespread infection that affects women's reproductive system. HPV is a...
OBJECTIVE
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most widespread infection that affects women's reproductive system. HPV is a serious concern to women's health, as it has a negative impact on women's quality of life. Approximately 70% of all occurrences of cervical cancer globally are caused by HPV strains 16 and 18. A few studies have found that HPV vaccinations play a significant role in protecting women against HPV infections. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine and to examine the influence of this vaccine on women's health.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
EBSCO, PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and ProQuest were selected as electronic databases for systematic research. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies published in English from January 2019 to August 2023, evaluating the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in women aged 18-76 years globally. This review included different types of studies, including cross-sectional, retrospective cohort, original randomized controlled trials, and prospective studies. Moreover, the included studies were evaluated using the Jonna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological quality checklist tool. Two reviewers assessed the methodological quality of all studies using JBI guidelines.
RESULTS
The search identified 11,095 articles, 19 of which were included in this review. Significant findings were found regarding the relationship between HPV vaccines and women's health.
CONCLUSIONS
This review highlights the importance of the HPV vaccine and its administration among women to promote their health and prevent future infections.
Topics: Humans; Female; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Papillomavirus Infections; Women's Health; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Adolescent; Adult; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Young Adult; Aged
PubMed: 38946386
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202406_36464 -
Birth Defects Research Jul 2024Gastroschisis is a congenital anomaly of the umbilical ring with increasing prevalence, especially amongst younger mothers. There is increasing evidence that exposure to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Gastroschisis is a congenital anomaly of the umbilical ring with increasing prevalence, especially amongst younger mothers. There is increasing evidence that exposure to genitourinary infections (GUTI) may play an important role in the etiology of gastroschisis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify, appraise, and summarize the literature on exposure to GUTI and gastroschisis.
METHODS
Six electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library electronic databases, and Prospero) were searched using a comprehensive search strategy. Citations and cited articles for all included studies were searched. Peer-reviewed, quantitative studies reporting an association of urinary tract infections (UTI) and/or sexually transmitted infections (STI) with gastroschisis were included. Prospero registration CRD42022377420.
RESULTS
A total of 2392 papers were identified via the searches of which 15 met our inclusion criteria and were included after title and abstract and full text screening. The study period for included studies ranged from 1995 to 2016, most were from the USA. Four studies considering exposure to STIs and five to UTIs were eligible to progress to meta-analysis. Meta-analysis identified a significantly increased risk of gastroschisis in association with periconceptional exposure to UTI [OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.29, 1.8)], STI [OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.01, 1.79)].
CONCLUSIONS
Periconceptional exposure to GUTI is associated with an increased risk of gastroschisis. The prevention and timely treatment of GUTI amongst women of childbearing age may help to reduce the occurrence of gastroschisis.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Gastroschisis; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Urinary Tract Infections
PubMed: 38946111
DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2377