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Fluoride exposure and cognitive neurodevelopment: Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.Environmental Research Mar 2023Many uncertainties still surround the possible harmful effect of fluoride exposure on cognitive neurodevelopment in children. The aim of this systematic review and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Many uncertainties still surround the possible harmful effect of fluoride exposure on cognitive neurodevelopment in children. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to characterize this relation through a dose-response approach, by comparing the intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in the highest versus the lowest fluoride exposure category with a random-effects model, within a one-stage dose-response meta-analysis based on a cubic spline random-effects model. Out of 1996 potentially relevant literature records, 33 studies were eligible for this review, 30 of which were also suitable for meta-analysis. The summary mean difference of IQ score, comparing highest versus lowest fluoride categories and considering all types of exposure, was -4.68 (95% confidence interval-CI -6.45; -2.92), with a value of -5.60 (95% CI -7.76; -3.44) for drinking water fluoride and -3.84 (95% CI -7.93; 0.24) for urinary fluoride. Dose-response analysis showed a substantially linear IQ decrease for increasing water fluoride above 1 mg/L, with -3.05 (95% CI -4.06; -2.04) IQ points per 1 mg/L up to 2 mg/L, becoming steeper above such level. A weaker and substantially linear decrease of -2.15 (95% CI -4.48; 0.18) IQ points with increasing urinary fluoride emerged above 0.28 mg/L (approximately reflecting a water fluoride content of 0.7 mg/L). The inverse association between fluoride exposure and IQ was particularly strong in the studies at high risk of bias, while no adverse effect emerged in the only study judged at low risk of bias. Overall, most studies suggested an adverse effect of fluoride exposure on children's IQ, starting at low levels of exposure. However, a major role of residual confounding could not be ruled out, thus indicating the need of additional prospective studies at low risk of bias to conclusively assess the relation between fluoride exposure and cognitive neurodevelopment.
Topics: Child; Humans; Fluorides; Intelligence; Prospective Studies; Drinking Water; Cognition
PubMed: 36639015
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115239 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Feb 2023Sex steroid hormones play an important role in fetal development, brain functioning and neuronal protection. Growing evidence highlights the positive effects of these... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Sex steroid hormones play an important role in fetal development, brain functioning and neuronal protection. Growing evidence highlights the positive effects of these hormones against brain damage induced by neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). This systematic review with meta-analysis aims to verify the efficacy of sex steroid hormones in preventing HI-induced brain damage in rodent models. The protocol was registered at PROSPERO and a total of 22 articles were included. Moderate to large effects were observed in HI animals treated with sex steroid hormones in reducing cerebral infarction size and cell death, increasing neuronal survival, and mitigating neuroinflammatory responses and astrocyte reactivity. A small effect was evidenced for cognitive function, but no significant effect for motor function; moreover, a high degree of heterogeneity was observed. In summary, data suggest that sex steroid hormones, such as progesterone and 17β estradiol, improve morphological and cellular outcomes following neonatal HI. Further research is paramount to examine neurological function during HI recovery and standardization of methodological aspects is imperative to reduce the risk of spurious findings.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Brain; Estradiol; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain; Ischemia; Progesterone
PubMed: 36572200
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105018 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2022Plants are exposed to increasingly severe drought events and roots play vital roles in maintaining plant survival, growth, and reproduction. A large body of literature...
Plants are exposed to increasingly severe drought events and roots play vital roles in maintaining plant survival, growth, and reproduction. A large body of literature has investigated the adaptive responses of root traits in various plants to water stress and these studies have been reviewed in certain groups of plant species at a certain scale. Nevertheless, these responses have not been synthesized at multiple levels. This paper screened over 2000 literatures for studies of typical root traits including root growth angle, root depth, root length, root diameter, root dry weight, root-to-shoot ratio, root hair length and density and integrates their drought responses at genetic and morphological scales. The genes, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and hormones that are involved in the regulation of drought response of the root traits were summarized. We then statistically analyzed the drought responses of root traits and discussed the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, we highlighted the drought response of 1-D and 2-D root length density (RLD) distribution in the soil profile. This paper will provide a framework for an integrated understanding of root adaptive responses to water deficit at multiple scales and such insights may provide a basis for selection and breeding of drought tolerant crop lines.
PubMed: 36570905
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1085409 -
Adverse effects of orthodontic forces on dental pulp. Appearance and character. A systematic review.Acta Odontologica Scandinavica May 2023To comprehensively assess recent data on the effects of orthodontic forces on the dental pulp and to critically evaluate, whether any of the changes are permanent.
OBJECTIVE
To comprehensively assess recent data on the effects of orthodontic forces on the dental pulp and to critically evaluate, whether any of the changes are permanent.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Articles published between 2/2009 and 2/2022 were searched electronically on the PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS databases. The initial search retrieved 780 publications and, applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 33 relevant articles were identified. Twenty articles fulfilled the requirements for high ( = 1) or moderate ( = 19) methodological quality and were included. All assessments were made independently by three researchers.
RESULTS
Orthodontic forces appeared to cause a reduction in pulpal blood flow and a reduction in tooth sensibility, as indicated by increased response thresholds and increased amounts of negative responses to tooth sensibility tests. In addition, there were increases in the expression or activity levels of enzymes and neuropeptides associated with hypoxia and inflammation. Fibrotic tissue formation in the pulp was also reported.
CONCLUSIONS
Except for some histological and morphological alterations, the observed pulpal changes were in most cases only temporary, appearing within days of initiating the treatment and usually lasting for weeks. There were no clear signs of permanent damage.
Topics: Humans; Dental Pulp; Bite Force
PubMed: 36436210
DOI: 10.1080/00016357.2022.2137232 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Jan 2023Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma tissue outside the uterus. Gestrinone is an effective... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Endometriosis is a common chronic gynecological disease defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma tissue outside the uterus. Gestrinone is an effective antiestrogen that induces endometrial atrophy and/or amenorrhea. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an evaluation of safety and effectiveness of gestrinone for the treatment of endometriosis.
METHODS
We performed a search in six electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE (ovid), Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL (clinical trials), Web of Science and Scopus. Our selected primary outcomes were the changes in dysmenorrhea, pain relief including pelvic pain and dyspareunia. The secondary outcomes embrace hormones parameters, pregnancy rate and adverse events.
RESULTS
Of 3269 references screened, 16 studies were included involving 1286 women. All studies compared gestrinone with other drugs treatments (placebo, Danazol, Mifepristone tablets, Leuprolide acetate, Quyu Jiedu Recipe) during 6 months. When compared with other drugs treatments, gestrinone relieved dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and morphologic response in the ovary. There was an increase on the pregnancy rate. Regarding the side effects observed, gestrinone showed the same adverse events and increased the risk of acne and seborrhea when compared to other treatments. Even if there was any difference in efficacy between gestrinone, danazol, leuprolide acetate, or Quyu Jiedu Recipe Chinese Medicine, it remains unclear due to insufficient data.
CONCLUSION
Based limited evidence available suggests that gestrinone appeared to be safe and may have some efficacy advantages over danazol, as well as other therapeutic interventions for treating endometriosis. However, this conclusion should be interpreted with caution, due the quality of the evidence provided is generally very low or unclear.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
CRD42021284148.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Endometriosis; Gestrinone; Danazol; Leuprolide; Dysmenorrhea; Pelvic Pain
PubMed: 36434439
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06846-0 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022Although learning disorders (LD) and developmental language disorder (DLD) can be linked to overlapping psychological and behavioral deficits, such as phonological,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Although learning disorders (LD) and developmental language disorder (DLD) can be linked to overlapping psychological and behavioral deficits, such as phonological, morphological, orthographic, semantic, and syntactic deficits, as well as academic (e.g., reading) difficulties, they are currently separate diagnoses in the DSM-5 with explicit phenotypic differences. At a neural level, it is yet to be determined to what extent they have overlapping or distinct signatures. The identification of such neural markers/endophenotypes could be important for the development of physiological diagnostic tools, as well as an understanding of disorders across different dimensions, as recommended by the Research Domain Criteria Initiative (RDoC). The current systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether the two disorders can be differentiated based on the auditory brainstem response (ABR). Even though both diagnoses require hearing problems to be ruled out, a number of articles have demonstrated associations of these disorders with the auditory brainstem response. We demonstrated that both LD and DLD are associated with longer latencies in ABR Waves III, V, and A, as well as reduced amplitude in Waves V and A. However, multilevel subgroup analyses revealed that LD and DLD do not significantly differ for any of these ABR waves. Results suggest that less efficient early auditory processing is a shared mechanism underlying both LD and DLD.
Topics: Humans; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; Learning Disabilities; Auditory Perception; Deafness; Language Development Disorders
PubMed: 36418364
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20438-7 -
Brain Imaging and Behavior Dec 2022Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive that can lead to high copper concentrations and copper accumulation in bodily organs, specifically the liver, nervous... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive that can lead to high copper concentrations and copper accumulation in bodily organs, specifically the liver, nervous system, and cornea of the eye. Previous meta-analysis studies have evaluated literature reports of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize brain microstructural abnormalities in specific neurological diseases, but there have been no systematic reviews of DTI findings in Wilson's disease (WD). Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review studies reporting DTI findings in patients with WD.
METHODS
This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were searched on May 6, 2021. We then performed a two-step screening process comprising title/abstract and full-text screening phases. Data from the included studies were then extracted.
RESULTS
We found 10 eligible studies. Most of the included studies identified altered DTI metrics. Affected brain regions included the basal ganglia, thalamus, brainstem, cerebellum, corpus callosum, projection and association fibers. DTI alterations were also observed in patients clinically presenting with hepatic-only WD without neurological symptoms. DTI alterations preceded structural magnetic resonance imaging findings in studies of the thalamus and frontal and occipital lobe white matter changes. The extent of DTI alterations correlated with disease severity and clinical disability, cognitive memory declines, and asymmetry in motor symptoms in several studies.
CONCLUSIONS
DTI allows early detection of brain abnormalities associated with WD, prior to the occurrence of morphological brain changes by MRI. Correlations with treatment outcomes and clinical severity may provide objective and quantitative assessment of early and ongoing treatment response. Future studies are required to elucidate the role of DTI in WD clinical practice and find the most consistent DTI markers that may improve clinical outcome.
Topics: Humans; Hepatolenticular Degeneration; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Copper; Brain
PubMed: 36327021
DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00733-7 -
Environmental Research Jan 2023Foraminifera are considered good bioindicators of environmental stress based on morphological abnormalities, but physiological responses occur far earlier and have not... (Review)
Review
Foraminifera are considered good bioindicators of environmental stress based on morphological abnormalities, but physiological responses occur far earlier and have not been evaluated as pollution markers. The aim of this review was to collate all published articles reporting physiological changes in foraminifera after environmental and anthropogenic stressors, to evaluate their reliability as early markers of environmental stress. We reviewed 70 studies, meeting the inclusion criteria, reporting 13 physiological effects classes after exposure to 17 different stressors. Immune functions, bleaching and lifecycle disruptions, were the most reported. Amphistegina and Ammonia showed high proportion of effects with lead and mercury, with a significant relationship between these heavy metals and the number of physiological effects classes in Ammonia, and between bleaching in Amphistegina gibbosa and Amphistegina lobifera with solar light and temperature. This suggests physiological responses are potentially reliable early indicators of environmental stress. It is necessary to increase quantitative physiological measures and standard exposure protocols in order to properly evaluate these organisms as pollution bioindicators.
Topics: Foraminifera; Environmental Biomarkers; Ammonia; Reproducibility of Results; Metals, Heavy; Environmental Monitoring; Geologic Sediments; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36270533
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114515 -
Leukemia Dec 2022Measurable residual disease (MRD) is associated with relapse and survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to quantify the impact of MRD on outcomes across... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Association of hematologic response and assay sensitivity on the prognostic impact of measurable residual disease in acute myeloid leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Measurable residual disease (MRD) is associated with relapse and survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We aimed to quantify the impact of MRD on outcomes across clinical contexts, including its association with hematologic response and MRD assay sensitivity. We performed systematic literature review and meta-analysis of 48 studies that reported the association between MRD and overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) in AML and provided information on the MRD threshold used and the hematologic response of the study population. Among studies limited to patients in complete remission (CR), the estimated 5-year OS for the MRD-negative and MRD-positive groups was 67% (95% Bayesian credible interval [CrI], 53-77%) and 31% (95% CrI, 18-44%), respectively. Achievement of an MRD-negative response was associated with superior DFS and OS, regardless of MRD threshold or analytic sensitivity. Among patients in CR, the benefit of MRD negativity was highest in studies using an MRD cutoff less than 0.1%. The beneficial impact of MRD negativity was observed across MRD assays and timing of MRD assessment. In patients with AML in morphological remission, achievement of MRD negativity is associated with superior DFS and OS, irrespective of hematologic response or the MRD threshold used.
Topics: Humans; Prognosis; Bayes Theorem; Neoplasm, Residual; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Remission Induction; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
PubMed: 36261575
DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01692-0 -
Molecular Mechanisms of ZIKV-Induced Teratogenesis: A Systematic Review of Studies in Animal Models.Molecular Neurobiology Jan 2023Zika virus (ZIKV) is a teratogen that causes congenital anomalies, being linked to microcephaly in children exposed during pregnancy. Animal studies have been conducted... (Review)
Review
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a teratogen that causes congenital anomalies, being linked to microcephaly in children exposed during pregnancy. Animal studies have been conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms related to ZIKV teratogenesis. Although animal models can mimic the effects of ZIKV in human embryo development, few in vivo studies have addressed molecular changes following ZIKV infection in embryos. Moreover, few literature reviews have been conducted with these studies. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of ZIKV teratogenesis determined from studies in animal models. PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus as well as grey literature were searched for studies that evaluated molecular alterations related to ZIKV teratogenesis which occurred during embryonic development. Nine studies were included: six with mice, one with mice and guinea pigs, one with pigs and one with chickens. In general, studies presented an unclear or high risk of bias for methodological criteria. Most of studies reported embryos exposed to ZIKV presenting microcephaly, reduced cortex thickness, and growth restriction. Different techniques were used to evaluated molecular changes in the animals following ZIKV infection: RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, and in situ hybridization. It was found that common pathways are changed in most studies, being pathways related to immune response upregulated and those involved to neurodevelopment downregulated.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Child; Female; Animals; Mice; Guinea Pigs; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection; Microcephaly; Teratogenesis; Chickens; Nervous System Malformations; Models, Animal
PubMed: 36215025
DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03046-4