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Schizophrenia Research Jul 2024There is a general consensus that schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by major changes in the sense of self. Phenomenological studies suggest that these changes in the... (Review)
Review
There is a general consensus that schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by major changes in the sense of self. Phenomenological studies suggest that these changes in the sense of self stem from a basic disturbance, hence the term 'basic self-disturbance'. While imaging studies demonstrate changes in various regions during self-focused tasks, the exact neural correlates of such basic self-disturbances remain unclear. If the self-disturbance is indeed basic and thereby underlies all other symptoms, one would expect it to be related to more global rather than local changes in the brain. Testing this hypothesis, we conducted a systematic review of fMRI studies on self in SZ. Our main findings are 1. Abnormal activity related to the self can be observed in a variety of different regions ranging from higher-order transmodal to lower-order unimodal regions, 2. These findings hold true across different tasks including self-reflection, self-referentiality, and self-agency, and 3. The global neural abnormalities related to the self in SZ correspond to all layers of the self, predominantly the mental and exteroceptive self. Such global neural disturbance of self converges well with the basic self-disturbance as described in phenomenology.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Self Concept; Brain; Ego; Schizophrenic Psychology
PubMed: 38820980
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.05.015 -
Breast Disease 2024Breast self-examination (BSE) is a screening method that can help empower, raise awareness, and detect breast abnormalities in women. The use of smartphone applications...
INTRODUCTION
Breast self-examination (BSE) is a screening method that can help empower, raise awareness, and detect breast abnormalities in women. The use of smartphone applications for breast cancer early detection is able to overcome some of these barriers. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of the effect of using smartphone application-based technology on breast cancer.
METHODS
Google Scholar, PubMed, Proquest, and ScienceDirect were searched for "breast self-examination" and "smartphone application" literature. This literature's study designs were quasi-experimental, prospective cohort, qualitative, and systematic review. The study contained five unique research projects with 828 varied participants.
RESULTS
The use of smartphones was seen to have advantages in terms of increased knowledge, perceived vulnerability, barriers to breast self-examination (BSE), self-efficacy, health motivation, and BSE practices.
CONCLUSIONS
The utilization of smartphone apps related to BSE is shown through the availability, accessibility, and focus of information and is in line with the Health Belief Model (HBM).
Topics: Humans; Breast Self-Examination; Smartphone; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Mobile Applications; Early Detection of Cancer; Self Efficacy; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
PubMed: 38820009
DOI: 10.3233/BD-249004 -
Gynecological Endocrinology : the... Dec 2024To analyze differences in the menstrual pattern, age at menarche, and body mass index (BMI) in adolescents with Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis immaturity and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To analyze differences in the menstrual pattern, age at menarche, and body mass index (BMI) in adolescents with Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian (HPO) axis immaturity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, Scopus databases were searched using combinations of descriptors. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. For data analysis, the results were grouped into PCOS group and NPCOS group (HPO axis immaturity). We performed a meta-analysis of raw data and the inverse variance method, employing the standardized mean difference, of the age at menarche and BMI of adolescents.
RESULTS
Participants totaled 1,718 from nine selected studies. The meta-analysis showed that the PCOS group had a higher BMI than the NPCOS group (SMD 0.334; CI95% 0.073 - 0.595; = .012). The degree of heterogeneity of the studies was approximately 40%. No significant difference in age at menarche (SMD - 0.027; CI95% -0.227 - 0.172; = 0.790) and menstrual patterns was found, but amenorrhea was described only in adolescents with PCOS.
CONCLUSIONS
The main characteristic in menstrual pattern that differentiated PCOS patients from girls with HPO axis immaturity was amenorrhea. Also, the BMI of PCOS patients was nearly one third higher than that of adolescents with HPO axis immaturity.
Topics: Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Female; Adolescent; Menarche; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Body Mass Index; Ovary; Menstrual Cycle
PubMed: 38818646
DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2024.2360077 -
The Australian and New Zealand Journal... May 2024Studies using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveal substantial inconsistencies in the levels of brain glutamate, glutamine and glutamate + glutamine across... (Review)
Review
Glutamatergic neurotransmission in schizophrenia: A systematic review and quantitative synthesis of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies across schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Studies using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveal substantial inconsistencies in the levels of brain glutamate, glutamine and glutamate + glutamine across schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This systematic review employs qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse the patterns and relationships between glutamatergic metabolites, schizophrenia spectrum disorders and brain regions.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted using various databases with keywords including glutamate, glutamine, schizophrenia, psychosis and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Inclusion criteria were limited to case-control studies that reported glutamatergic metabolite levels in adult patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder diagnosis - i.e. first-episode psychosis, schizophrenia, treatment-resistant schizophrenia and/or ultra-treatment-resistant schizophrenia - using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T or above. Pooled study data were synthesized and analysed.
RESULTS
A total of 92 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 2721 healthy controls and 2822 schizophrenia spectrum disorder participants. Glu levels were higher in the basal ganglia, frontal cortex and medial prefrontal of first-episode psychosis participants, contrasting overall lower levels in schizophrenia participants. For Gln, strong differences in metabolite levels were evident in the basal ganglia, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontal cortex, with first-episode psychosis showing significantly higher levels in the basal ganglia. In glutamate + glutamine, higher metabolite levels were found across schizophrenia spectrum disorder groups, particularly in the basal ganglia and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of treatment-resistant schizophrenia participants. Significant relationships were found between metabolite levels and medication status, clinical measures and methodological variables.
CONCLUSION
The review highlights abnormal glutamatergic metabolite levels throughout schizophrenia spectrum disorders and in specific brain regions. The review underscores the importance of standardized future research assessing glutamatergic metabolites using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy due to considerable literature heterogeneity.
PubMed: 38812258
DOI: 10.1177/00048674241254216 -
BMJ Open May 2024First-generation and second-generation endometrial ablation (EA) techniques, along with medical treatment and invasive surgery, are considered successful lines of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
First-generation and second-generation endometrial ablation (EA) techniques, along with medical treatment and invasive surgery, are considered successful lines of management for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). We set out to determine the efficacy of first and second-generation ablation techniques compared with medical treatment, invasive surgery and different modalities of the EA techniques themselves.
DESIGN
Systematic review and network meta-analysis using a frequentist network.
DATA SOURCES
We searched Medline (Ovid), PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, EBSCO and Scopus for all published studies up to 1 March 2021 using relevant keywords.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We included all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared premenopausal women with AUB receiving the intervention of second-generation EA techniques.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
49 high-quality RCTs with 8038 women were included. We extracted and pooled the data and then analysed to estimate the network meta-analysis models within a frequentist framework. We used the random-effects model of the netmeta package in R (V.3.6.1) and the 'Meta-Insight' website.
RESULTS
Our network meta-analysis showed many varying results according to specific outcomes. The uterine balloon ablation had significantly higher amenorrhoea rates than other techniques in both short (hydrothermal ablation (risk ratio (RR)=0.51, 95% CI 0.37; 0.72), microwave ablation (RR=0.43, 95% CI 0.31; 0.59), first-generation techniques (RR=0.44, 95% CI 0.33; 0.59), endometrial laser intrauterine therapy (RR=0.18, 95% CI 0.10; 0.32) and bipolar radio frequency treatments (RR=0.22, 95% CI 0.15; 0.31)) and long-term follow-up (microwave ablation (RR=0.11, 95% CI 0.01; 0.86), bipolar radio frequency ablation (RR=0.12, 95% CI 0.02; 0.90), first generation (RR=0.12, 95% CI 0.02; 0.90) and endometrial laser intrauterine thermal therapy (RR=0.04, 95% CI 0.01; 0.36)). When calculating efficacy based only on calculated bleeding scores, the highest scores were achieved by cryoablation systems (p-score=0.98).
CONCLUSION
Most second-generation EA systems were superior to first-generation systems, and statistical superiority between devices depended on which characteristic was measured (secondary amenorrhoea rate, treatment of AUB, patient satisfaction or treatment of dysmenorrhoea). Although our study was limited by a paucity of data comparing large numbers of devices, we conclude that there is no evidence at this time that any one of the examined second-generation systems is clearly superior to all others.
Topics: Humans; Female; Endometrial Ablation Techniques; Network Meta-Analysis; Uterine Hemorrhage; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38806429
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065966 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1348066.].
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1348066.].
PubMed: 38803688
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1418734 -
BMC Women's Health May 2024To demonstrate and analyze the F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) findings in this rare nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS).
BACKGROUND
To demonstrate and analyze the F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) findings in this rare nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS).
CASE PRESENTATION
A 71-year-old woman with the left invasive breast cancer was treated with hormone therapy for six months and underwent the F-FDG PET/CT examination for efficacy evaluation. F-FDG PET/CT revealed the improvement after treatment and other unexpected findings, including multiple nodules on the skin with F-FDG uptake, bone expansion of cystic lesions in the bilateral ribs, ectopic calcifications and dilated right ureter. She had no known family history. Then, the patient underwent surgical excision of the all skin nodules and the postoperative pathology were multiple basal cell carcinomas. Finally, the comprehensive diagnosis of NBCCS was made. The patient was still in follow-up. Additionally, we have summarized the reported cases (n = 3) with F-FDG PET/CT from the literature.
CONCLUSIONS
It is important to recognize this syndrome on F-FDG PET/CT because of different diagnoses and therapeutic consequences.
Topics: Humans; Female; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Aged; Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome; Breast Neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 38802808
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03145-5 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Newly identified as a radiological concept, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) is emerging as a prognostic factor for lung cancer. Yet, debates persist regarding the...
BACKGROUND
Newly identified as a radiological concept, interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) is emerging as a prognostic factor for lung cancer. Yet, debates persist regarding the prognostic significance of ILA in lung cancer. Our inaugural meta-analysis aimed to investigate the correlation between ILA and lung cancer outcomes, offering additional insights for clinicians in predicting patient prognosis.
METHODS
Articles meeting the criteria were found through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science by February 29, 2024. The outcomes evaluated were the survival rates such as overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS).
RESULTS
A total of 12 articles with 4416 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that lung cancer patients with interstitial lung abnormalities had an inferior OS (n=11; HR=2.22; 95% CI=1.68-2.95; P<0.001; I = 72.0%; Ph<0.001), PFS (n=3; HR=1.59; 95% CI=1.08-2.32; P=0.017; I = 0%; Ph=0.772), and CSS (n=2; HR=4.00; 95% CI=1.94-8.25; P<0.001; I = 0%; Ph=0.594) than those without, however, the ILA was not significantly associated with the DFS (n=2; HR=2.07; 95% CI=0.94-7.02; P=0.066; I = 90.4%; Ph=0.001). Moreover, lung cancer patients with ILA were significantly correlated with male (OR=2.43; 95% CI=1.48-3.98; P<0.001), smoking history (OR=2.11; 95% CI=1.37-3.25; P<0.001), advanced age (OR=2.50; 95% CI=1.56-4.03; P<0.001), squamous carcinoma (OR=0.42; 95% CI=0.24-0.71; P=0.01), and EGFR mutation (OR=0.50; 95% CI=0.32-0.78; P=0.002). The correlation between ILA and race, stage, ALK, however, was not significant.
CONCLUSION
ILA was a availability factors of prognosis in patients with lung cancers. These findings highlight the importance of early pulmonary fibrosis, namely ILA for prognosis in patients with lung cancer, and provide a partial rationale for future clinical work.
PubMed: 38800393
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1397246 -
Epilepsia Open May 2024To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with epilepsy (CWE). (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with epilepsy (CWE).
METHODS
We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and Embase for the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of ADHD was calculated using a random-effects model; subgroup analyses were performed to explore heterogeneity. We collected raw data from articles reporting potential risk factors, which were included in the subsequent risk factor analysis.
RESULTS
Forty-six articles met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, which showed a pooled ADHD prevalence of 30.7% in CWE, with a predominance of the inattentive subtype of ADHD; the heterogeneity of prevalence was related to population source/study setting (clinic based, community based, or database based) and method of ADHD diagnosis (with or without clinical review). Risk factors for ADHD in epilepsy included younger age, intellectual/developmental disabilities, a family history of epilepsy, earlier epilepsy onset, absence epilepsy, more frequent seizures, and polytherapy; In contrast, risk factors such as sex, generalized epilepsy or seizures, epilepsy etiology, and electroencephalogram abnormalities were not significantly associated with the occurrence of ADHD.
SIGNIFICANCE
The prevalence of ADHD in CWE is high and several potential risk factors are associated with it. This study contributes to a better understanding of ADHD in epilepsy for screening and treatment.
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
This systematic review summarizes the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) occurring in children with epilepsy and analyses the risk factors for comorbid ADHD in epilepsy. By reviewing 46 articles, we concluded that the overall prevalence of ADHD in children with epilepsy was 30.7% and that intellectual/developmental disabilities were the most significant risk factor for combined ADHD in children with epilepsy. This study provides a wealth of information on comorbid ADHD in epilepsy, which will help clinicians identify and treat potential ADHD in children with epilepsy in a timely manner.
PubMed: 38798030
DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12939 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Apr 2024: The pancreas, ensconced within the abdominal cavity, requires a plethora of sophisticated imaging modalities for its comprehensive evaluation, with ultrasonography... (Review)
Review
: The pancreas, ensconced within the abdominal cavity, requires a plethora of sophisticated imaging modalities for its comprehensive evaluation, with ultrasonography serving as a primary investigative technique. A myriad of pancreatic pathologies, encompassing pancreatic neoplasia and a spectrum of inflammatory diseases, are detectable through these imaging strategies. Nevertheless, the intricate anatomical confluence and the pancreas's deep-seated topography render the visualization and accurate diagnosis of its pathologies a formidable endeavor. The objective of our paper is to review the best diagnostic imagistic tools for the pancreas. : we have gathered several articles using Prisma guidelines to determine the best imagistic methods. The imperative of pancreatic scanning transcends its diagnostic utility, proving to be a pivotal element in a multitude of clinical specialties, notably surgical oncology. Within this domain, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the pancreas holds the distinction of being the paramount imaging modality, endorsed for its unrivaled capacity to delineate the staging and progression of pancreatic carcinoma. In synergy with MDCT, there has been a notable advent of avant-garde imaging techniques in recent years. These advanced methodologies, including ultrasonography, endoscopic ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conjoined with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), have broadened the horizon of tumor characterization, offering unparalleled depth and precision in oncological assessment. Other emerging diagnostic techniques, such as elastography, also hold a lot of potential and promise for the future of pancreatic imaging. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a quick, minimally invasive procedure to evaluate lumps using a thin needle to extract tissue for analysis. It is less invasive than surgical biopsies and usually performed as an outpatient with quick recovery. Its accuracy depends on sample quality, and the risks include minimal bleeding or discomfort. Results, guiding further treatment, are typically available within a week. Elastography is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that maps the elastic properties and stiffness of soft tissue. This method, often used in conjunction with ultrasound or MRI, helps differentiate between hard and soft areas in tissue, providing valuable diagnostic information. It is particularly useful for assessing liver fibrosis, thyroid nodules, breast lumps, and musculoskeletal conditions. The technique is painless and involves applying gentle pressure to the area being examined. The resulting images show tissue stiffness, indicating potential abnormalities. Elastography is advantageous for its ability to detect diseases in early stages and monitor treatment effectiveness. The procedure is quick, safe, and requires no special preparation, with results typically available immediately. : The assembled and gathered data shows the efficacy of various techniques in discerning the nature and extent of neoplastic lesions within the pancreas. : The most common imaging modalities currently used in diagnosing pancreatic neoplasms are multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), alongside new technologies, such as elastography.
Topics: Humans; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Ultrasonography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Pancreas
PubMed: 38792878
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60050695