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Journal of Ethnopharmacology Apr 2024Lupus Nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the treatment of lupus nephritis using traditional Chinese medicine... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Lupus Nephritis (LN) is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the treatment of lupus nephritis using traditional Chinese medicine remains controversial.
AIM OF THE STUDY
To assess the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Dihuang decoction in the treatment of LN and review the clinical guidelines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, PubMed, China Biology Medicine, the Cochrane Library, and Embase) were searched from their inception to September 10, 2022, for randomized controlled trials on the treatment of lupus nephritis using Shenqi Dihuang decoction. We conducted a meta-analysis of random effects using Review Manager 5.4 and assessed the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
RESULTS
A total of 15,790 citations were identified, from which 14 eligible randomized controlled trials that enrolled 1002 participants were selected for this systematic review. Low-to-moderate certainty of evidence indicated that when compared with Western medicine, Shenqi Dihuang decoction combined with Western medicine was associated with favorable effects on clinical efficacy (risk ratio (RR) = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-1.37), vascular endothelial growth factor (mean difference (MD) = -30.90, 95% CI: -40.18 to -21.63), serum level (MD = -4.81 μmol L, 95% CI: -17.14 to 7.53), complement C3 (MD = -0.14 g L, 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.04), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (MD = -11.87 mm h, 95% CI: -22.01 to -1.73), and SLE disease activity score (MD = -3.38, 95% CI: -4.15 to -2.61), and exhibited a lower risk of infection (RR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.05-0.90), gastrointestinal reaction (RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.17-1.28), and insomnia (RR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.92).
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review provides a potential reference for understanding the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Dihuang decoction combined with Western medicine for treating patients with lupus nephritis. However, owing to the limited quality of the studies included in this review, lack of mycophenolate mofetil control, and high heterogeneity among the included studies, the current findings should be interpreted with caution. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Dihuang decoction in patients with PN still require further verification through future high-quality clinical studies.
Topics: Humans; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lupus Nephritis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
PubMed: 38158100
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117602 -
Journal of Global Health Dec 2023Evidence on the effectiveness of youth-led interventions for improving maternal-neonatal health and well-being of women and gender diverse childbearing people in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Evidence on the effectiveness of youth-led interventions for improving maternal-neonatal health and well-being of women and gender diverse childbearing people in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is incomplete. We aimed to summarise the evidence on whether community level youth-led interventions can improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in LMICs.
METHODS
We included experimental studies of youth-led interventions versus no intervention, standard care, or another intervention. Participants were women and gender diverse childbearing people during antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum periods. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, and grey literature were searched to January 2023. All interventions addressing and targeting maternal-neonatal health and well-being that were youth-led and community level were included. Primary outcomes of interest were maternal death and neonatal death. We excluded based on population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) and design. Two reviewers independently extracted key information from each included study and assessed risk of bias. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed where there were sufficient data. The certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). A narrative synthesis was done for results that could not be pooled.
RESULTS
Of the 8054 records retrieved, four trials (21 813 enrolled participants) met the inclusion criteria. The Cooperative for Assistance and Relieve Everywhere, Inc. (CARE) Community Score Card intervention compared to standard reproductive health services control did not significantly improve Antenatal Care coverage (difference-in-differences estimate β = 0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.11, 0.18, P = 0.610; one study, low certainty of evidence). The multi-component social mobilisation interventions compared to standard of care had no effect on adolescent/youth pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio estimate = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.87, 1.33; three studies; low certainty of evidence).
CONCLUSIONS
Youth-led interventions in LMICs did not show a significant improvement in maternal outcomes. More studies are required to make more precise conclusions.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO: CRD42021288798.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Female; Pregnancy; Adolescent; Humans; Male; Developing Countries; Prenatal Care; Perinatal Death; Postpartum Period; Family; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38146820
DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04168 -
BMJ Open Dec 2023Daily calcium supplements are recommended for pregnant women from 20 weeks' gestation to prevent pre-eclampsia in populations with low dietary calcium intake. We aimed...
OBJECTIVES
Daily calcium supplements are recommended for pregnant women from 20 weeks' gestation to prevent pre-eclampsia in populations with low dietary calcium intake. We aimed to improve understanding of barriers and facilitators for calcium supplement intake during pregnancy to prevent pre-eclampsia.
DESIGN
Mixed-method systematic review, with confidence assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research approach.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE and EMBASE (via Ovid), CINAHL and Global Health (via EBSCO) and grey literature databases were searched up to 17 September 2022.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We included primary qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies reporting implementation or use of calcium supplements during pregnancy, excluding calcium fortification and non-primary studies. No restrictions were imposed on settings, language or publication date.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We analysed the qualitative data using thematic synthesis, and quantitative findings were thematically mapped to qualitative findings. We then mapped the results to behavioural change frameworks to identify barriers and facilitators.
RESULTS
Eighteen reports from nine studies were included in this review. Women reported barriers to consuming calcium supplements included limited knowledge about calcium supplements and pre-eclampsia, fears and experiences of side effects, varying preferences for tablets, dosing, working schedules, being away from home and taking other supplements. Receiving information regarding pre-eclampsia and safety of calcium supplement use from reliable sources, alternative dosing options, supplement reminders, early antenatal care, free supplements and support from families and communities were reported as facilitators. Healthcare providers felt that consistent messaging about benefits and risks of calcium, training, and ensuring adequate staffing and calcium supply is available would be able to help them in promoting calcium.
CONCLUSION
Relevant stakeholders should consider the identified barriers and facilitators when formulating interventions and policies on calcium supplement use. These review findings can inform implementation to ensure effective and equitable provision and scale-up of calcium interventions.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42021239143.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Pre-Eclampsia; Calcium; Dietary Supplements; Calcium, Dietary; Prenatal Care
PubMed: 38135336
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070677 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Mar 2024To identify the social-structural determinants of health risk factors associated with maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States during the prenatal and...
OBJECTIVE
To identify the social-structural determinants of health risk factors associated with maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States during the prenatal and postpartum periods.
DATA SOURCES
We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Social Sciences Citation Index through November 2022 for eligible studies that examined exposures related to social and structural determinants of health and at least one health or health care-related outcome for pregnant and birthing people.
METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION
After screening 8,378 unique references, 118 studies met inclusion criteria.
TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS
We grouped studies by social and structural determinants of health domains and maternal outcomes. We used alluvial graphs to summarize results and provide additional descriptions of direction of association between potential risk exposures and outcomes. Studies broadly covered risk factors including identity and discrimination, socioeconomic, violence, trauma, psychological stress, structural or institutional, rural or urban, environment, comorbidities, hospital, and health care use. However, these risk factors represent only a subset of potential social and structural determinants of interest. We found an unexpectedly large volume of research on violence and trauma relative to other potential exposures of interest. Outcome domains included maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, cardiac and metabolic disorders, weathering depression, other mental health or substance use disorders, and cost per health care use outcomes. Patterns between risk factors and outcomes were highly mixed. Depression and other mental health outcomes represented a large proportion of medical outcomes. Risk of bias was high, and rarely did studies report the excess risk attributable to a specific exposure.
CONCLUSION
Limited depth and quality of available research within each risk factor hindered our ability to understand underlying pathways, including risk factor interdependence. Although recently published literature showed a definite trend toward improved rigor, future research should emphasize techniques that improve the ability to estimate causal effects. In the longer term, the field could advance through data sets designed to fully ascertain data required to robustly examine racism and other social and structural determinants of health, their intersections, and feedback loops with other biological and medical risk factors.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, CRD42022300617.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Diabetes, Gestational; Mental Health; Postpartum Period; Maternal Mortality; Violence
PubMed: 38128105
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005489 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Dec 2023Social media platforms are increasingly being used to disseminate messages about prenatal health. However, to date, we lack a systematic assessment of how to evaluate... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Social media platforms are increasingly being used to disseminate messages about prenatal health. However, to date, we lack a systematic assessment of how to evaluate the impact of official prenatal health messaging and campaigns using social media data.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to review both the published and gray literature on how official prenatal health messaging and campaigns have been evaluated to date in terms of impact, acceptability, effectiveness, and unintended consequences, using social media data.
METHODS
A total of 6 electronic databases were searched and supplemented with the hand-searching of reference lists. Both published and gray literature were eligible for review. Data were analyzed using content analysis for descriptive data and a thematic synthesis approach to summarize qualitative evidence. A quality appraisal tool, designed especially for use with social media data, was used to assess the quality of the included articles.
RESULTS
A total of 11 studies were eligible for the review. The results showed that the most common prenatal health behavior targeted was alcohol consumption, and Facebook was the most commonly used source of social media data. The majority (n=6) of articles used social media data for descriptive purposes only. The results also showed that there was a lack of evaluation of the effectiveness, acceptability, and unintended consequences of the prenatal health message or campaign.
CONCLUSIONS
Social media is a widely used and potentially valuable resource for communicating and evaluating prenatal health messaging. However, this review suggests that there is a need to develop and adopt sound methodology on how to evaluate prenatal health messaging using social media data, for the benefit of future research and to inform public health practice.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Social Media; Alcohol Drinking; Databases, Factual; Dietary Supplements; Health Behavior; Vitamins
PubMed: 38117557
DOI: 10.2196/44912 -
Birth Defects Research Jan 2024Congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is a life-threatening neurological condition that results from an imbalance in production, flow, or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is a life-threatening neurological condition that results from an imbalance in production, flow, or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. Predicted outcomes from in utero diagnosis are frequently unclear. Moreover, conventional treatments consisting primarily of antenatal and postnatal surgeries are often unsuccessful, leading to high mortality rates. Causes of CH can range from secondary insults to germline pathogenic variants, complicating diagnostic processes and treatment outcomes. Currently, an updated summary of CH genetic etiologies in conjunction with clinical testing methodologies is lacking. This review addresses this need by generating a centralized survey of known genetic causes and available molecular tests for CH.
METHODS
The scoping review protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework and followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was utilized to define search guidelines and screening criteria.
RESULTS
Our survey revealed a high number of genetic etiologies associated with CH, ranging from single gene variants to multifactorial birth defects, and additionally uncovered diagnostic challenges that are further complicated by changes in testing approaches over the years. Furthermore, we discovered that most of the existing literature consists of case reports, underscoring the need for studies that utilize CH patient research cohorts as well as more mechanistic studies.
CONCLUSIONS
The pursuit of such studies will facilitate novel gene discovery while recognizing phenotypic complexity. Addressing these research gaps could ultimately inform evidence-based diagnostic guidelines to improve patient care.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Germ-Line Mutation; Prenatal Diagnosis
PubMed: 38116905
DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2287 -
BJPsych Open Dec 2023Psychoeducation is a common element in psychological interventions for youth depression and anxiety, but evidence about its use with youth perinatally is limited. (Review)
Review
Psychoeducation as an active ingredient for interventions for perinatal depression and anxiety in youth: a mixed-method systematic literature review and lived experience synthesis.
BACKGROUND
Psychoeducation is a common element in psychological interventions for youth depression and anxiety, but evidence about its use with youth perinatally is limited.
AIMS
This review aims to understand outcomes and mechanisms of psychoeducation for the indicated prevention and treatment of perinatal depression and anxiety in youth.
METHOD
For this review, we synthesised published quantitative and qualitative evidence. Seven databases (ASSIA, Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched for studies published before 10 August 2021. We also had consultations with a youth advisory group ( = 12).
RESULTS
In total, 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven quantitative studies examined multicomponent interventions that included psychoeducation, and one study evaluated psychoeducation as a standalone intervention for postnatal depression. Multicomponent interventions showed significant effects on postnatal depression in two out of six studies, as well as being effective at reducing prenatal anxiety in one study. Standalone psychoeducation for postnatal depression was also effective in one study. Evidence from 12 qualitative studies, corroborated by commentaries from the youth advisory group, suggested that psychoeducation could increase knowledge about symptoms, generate awareness of relevant services and enhance coping.
CONCLUSIONS
Psychoeducation may be an important foundational ingredient of interventions for perinatal depression and, potentially, anxiety in adolescents and young adults through stimulating help-seeking and self-care.
PubMed: 38088162
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.614 -
American Journal of Obstetrics &... Jan 2024Fetal growth restriction is an independent risk factor for fetal death and adverse neonatal outcomes. The main aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Diagnostic performance of 32 vs 36 weeks ultrasound in predicting late-onset fetal growth restriction and small-for-gestational-age neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Fetal growth restriction is an independent risk factor for fetal death and adverse neonatal outcomes. The main aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of 32 vs 36 weeks ultrasound of fetal biometry in detecting late-onset fetal growth restriction and predicting small-for-gestational-age neonates.
DATA SOURCES
A systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies published until June 2022, using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Cohort studies in low-risk or unselected singleton pregnancies with screening ultrasound performed at ≥32 weeks of gestation were used.
METHODS
The estimated fetal weight and abdominal circumference were assessed as index tests for the prediction of small for gestational age (birthweight of <10th percentile) and detecting fetal growth restriction (estimated fetal weight of <10th percentile and/or abdominal circumference of <10th percentile). The quality of the included studies was independently assessed by 2 reviewers using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. For the meta-analysis, hierarchical summary area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed, and quantitative data synthesis was performed using random-effects models.
RESULTS
The analysis included 25 studies encompassing 73,981 low-risk pregnancies undergoing third-trimester ultrasound assessment for growth, of which 5380 neonates (7.3%) were small for gestational age at birth. The pooled sensitivities for estimated fetal weight of <10th percentile and abdominal circumference of <10th percentile in predicting small for gestational age were 36% (95% confidence interval, 27%-46%) and 37% (95% confidence interval, 19%-60%), respectively, at 32 weeks ultrasound and 48% (95% confidence interval, 41%-56%) and 50% (95% confidence interval, 25%-74%), respectively, at 36 weeks ultrasound. The pooled specificities for estimated fetal weight of <10th percentile and abdominal circumference of <10th percentile in detecting small for gestational age were 93% (95% confidence interval, 91%-95%) and 95% (95% confidence interval, 85%-98%), respectively, at 32 weeks ultrasound and 93% (95% confidence interval, 91%-95%) and 97% (95% confidence interval, 85%-98%), respectively, at 36 weeks ultrasound. The observed diagnostic odds ratios for an estimated fetal weight of <10th percentile and an abdominal circumference of <10th percentile in detecting small for gestational age were 8.8 (95% confidence interval, 5.4-14.4) and 11.6 (95% confidence interval, 6.2-21.6), respectively, at 32 weeks ultrasound and 13.3 (95% confidence interval, 10.4-16.9) and 36.0 (95% confidence interval, 4.9-260.0), respectively, at 36 weeks ultrasound. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio in predicting fetal growth restriction were 71% (95% confidence interval, 52%-85%), 90% (95% confidence interval, 79%-95%), and 25.8 (95% confidence interval, 14.5-45.8), respectively, at 32 weeks ultrasound and 48% (95% confidence interval, 41%-55%), 94% (95% confidence interval, 93%-96%), and 16.9 (95% confidence interval, 10.8-26.6), respectively, at 36 weeks ultrasound. Abdominal circumference of <10th percentile seemed to have comparable sensitivity to estimated fetal weight of <10th percentile in predicting small-for-gestational-age neonates.
CONCLUSION
An ultrasound assessment of the fetal biometry at 36 weeks of gestation seemed to have better predictive accuracy for small-for-gestational-age neonates than an ultrasound assessment at 32 weeks of gestation. However, an opposite trend was noted when the outcome was fetal growth restriction. Fetal abdominal circumference had a similar predictive accuracy to that of estimated fetal weight in detecting small-for-gestational-age neonates.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetal Weight; Gestational Age; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Ultrasonography, Prenatal
PubMed: 38072237
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101246 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023The Internet of Things (IoT) has positioned itself globally as a dominant force in the technology sector. IoT, a technology based on interconnected devices, has found... (Review)
Review
The Internet of Things (IoT) has positioned itself globally as a dominant force in the technology sector. IoT, a technology based on interconnected devices, has found applications in various research areas, including healthcare. Embedded devices and wearable technologies powered by IoT have been shown to be effective in patient monitoring and management systems, with a particular focus on pregnant women. This study provides a comprehensive systematic review of the literature on IoT architectures, systems, models and devices used to monitor and manage complications during pregnancy, postpartum and neonatal care. The study identifies emerging research trends and highlights existing research challenges and gaps, offering insights to improve the well-being of pregnant women at a critical moment in their lives. The literature review and discussions presented here serve as valuable resources for stakeholders in this field and pave the way for new and effective paradigms. Additionally, we outline a future research scope discussion for the benefit of researchers and healthcare professionals.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Female; Internet of Things; Delivery of Health Care; Wearable Electronic Devices; Monitoring, Physiologic; Forecasting; Internet
PubMed: 38067740
DOI: 10.3390/s23239367 -
Prenatal Diagnosis Feb 2024Determine the incremental yield of prenatal exome sequencing (PES) over chromosome microarray (CMA) and/or karyotype for urinary tract malformations (UTMs). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Determine the incremental yield of prenatal exome sequencing (PES) over chromosome microarray (CMA) and/or karyotype for urinary tract malformations (UTMs).
METHOD
A prospective cohort study encompassing data from the English Genomic Medicine Service North Thames Laboratory Hub for fetuses with bilateral echogenic kidneys (BEKs) was combined with data from a systematic review. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, MedRxiv and GreyLit were searched from 01/2010-02/2023 for studies reporting on the yield of PES over CMA or karyotype in fetuses with UTMs. Pooled incremental yield was determined using a random effects model. PROSPERO CRD42023364544.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies (410 cases) were included. The incremental yield for multisystem UTMs, any isolated UTMs, and BEKs was 31% [95% CI, 18%-46%; I = 78%], 16% [95% CI, 6%-26%; I = 80%] and 51% [95% CI, 27%-75%; I = 34%]. The most common clinical diseases and syndromes identified, based on the variant genes detected, were Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS genes), dominant and recessive polycystic kidney diseases (PKD1, PKD2 and PKHD1) and renal cysts and diabetes syndrome (HNF1B).
CONCLUSION
There was a notable incremental genetic diagnostic yield when PES was applied to multisystem UTMs and BEKs. There was a modest incremental yield when this technique was used for UTMs other than BEKs.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Cohort Studies; Prospective Studies; Karyotyping; Kidney; Polycystic Kidney Diseases
PubMed: 38056891
DOI: 10.1002/pd.6479