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International Dental Journal Jun 2024Mucormycosis is a rare human infection associated with Mucorales, a group of filamentous moulds found in different environmental niches. Its oral manifestations may...
AIM
Mucormycosis is a rare human infection associated with Mucorales, a group of filamentous moulds found in different environmental niches. Its oral manifestations may occur in the mandible and tongue despite being rare. We aimed to systematically review the data on clinical manifestations, risk factors, diagnostic approaches, treatment options, and outcomes of mandibular and tongue mucormycosis.
METHODS
An electronic search of articles published between January 1975 and November 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases was performed. A total of 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and reported 27 cases of oral mucormycosis in total.
RESULTS
Fourteen patients had mandibular mucormycosis signs unrelated to COVID-19 infection, 6 had SARS-CoV-2-related mandibular mucormycosis, and 6 had manifestations in the tongue. All published case reports during the COVID-19 pandemic were from India. Patient ages ranged from 4 months old to 82 years, and most patients had important comorbidities, such as blood dyscrasias related to immune deficiency and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. The signs and symptoms of mandibular and tongue mucormycosis varied from dental pain, loose teeth, and nonhealing sockets to dysphagia and paraesthesia of the lip. Some patients also reported trismus, draining sinus tract, and facial pain. The diagnosis of oral mucormycosis was based on a combination of clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic findings by demonstrating fungal hyphae in tissue specimens. In most cases, mucormycosis was managed with systemic amphotericin B, strict glycaemic control, and aggressive surgical debridement of infected tissue, minimising the progression of the fungal infection and thus improving the survival rate. In some cases, combined antifungal therapy, antibiotic therapy, and chlorhexidine mouthwashes were used successfully.
CONCLUSIONS
Recognition of the signs and symptoms by oral care providers is pertinent for the early diagnosis and treatment of tongue and mandibular mucormycosis, and providers should be aware of the possibility of this opportunistic fungal infection in patients with COVID-19. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended for the management of this lethal infection.
Topics: Humans; Mucormycosis; Tongue Diseases; COVID-19; Antifungal Agents; Mandibular Diseases; Aged; Middle Aged; Mandible; Risk Factors; Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Adolescent
PubMed: 38143163
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.11.011 -
Women and Birth : Journal of the... Mar 2024Just over 300,000 women give birth in Australia each year. It is important for health care providers, managers, and policy makers know what women want from their care so...
BACKGROUND
Just over 300,000 women give birth in Australia each year. It is important for health care providers, managers, and policy makers know what women want from their care so services can be provided appropriately. This review is a part of the Midwifery Futures Project, which aims to prepare the midwifery workforce to best address the needs of women. The aim of this review was to describe and analyse current literature on the maternity care needs of women in Australia.
METHODS
A scoping review methodology was used, guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. A systematic search of the literature identified 9023 studies, and 59 met inclusion criteria: being peer-reviewed research focusing on maternity care needs, conducted in Australian populations, from 2012 to 2023. The studies were analysed using inductive content analysis.
RESULTS
Four themes were developed: Continuity of care, being seen and heard, being safe, and being enabled. Continuity of care, especially a desire for midwifery continuity of care, was the central theme, as it was a tool supporting women to be seen and heard, safe, and enabled.
CONCLUSION
This review highlights that women in Australia consistently want access to midwifery continuity of care as an enabler for addressing their maternity care needs. Transforming Australian maternity care policy and service provision towards continuity would better meet women's needs.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Australia; Maternal Health Services; Midwifery; Obstetrics
PubMed: 38142159
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.12.003 -
Population Health Management Feb 2024Out-of-pocket (OOP) health care expenditures in the United States have increased significantly in the past 5 decades. Most research on OOP costs focuses on expenditures... (Review)
Review
Out-of-pocket (OOP) health care expenditures in the United States have increased significantly in the past 5 decades. Most research on OOP costs focuses on expenditures related to insurance and cost-sharing payments or on costs related to specific conditions or settings, and does not capture the full picture of the financial burden on patients and unpaid caregivers. The aim for this systematic literature review was to identify and categorize the multitude of OOP costs to patients and unpaid caregivers, aid in the development of a more comprehensive catalog of OOP costs, and highlight potential gaps in the literature. The authors found that OOP costs are multifarious and underestimated. Across 817 included articles, the authors identified 31 subcategories of OOP costs related to direct medical (eg, insurance premiums), direct nonmedical (eg, transportation), and indirect spending (eg, absenteeism). In addition, 42% of articles studied an expenditure that the authors did not label as "OOP." A holistic and comprehensive catalog of OOP costs can inform future research, interventions, and policies related to financial barriers to health care in the United States to ensure the full range of costs for patients and unpaid caregivers are acknowledged and addressed.
Topics: Humans; United States; Caregivers; Health Expenditures; Delivery of Health Care; Cost Sharing
PubMed: 38099925
DOI: 10.1089/pop.2023.0238 -
JTO Clinical and Research Reports Dec 2023The implementation of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) has been found to be effective for improving outcomes in oncology. Nevertheless, there is still a dearth of robust... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The implementation of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) has been found to be effective for improving outcomes in oncology. Nevertheless, there is still a dearth of robust literature on patients with NSCLC. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review regarding the impact of MDTs on patient with NSCLC outcomes.
METHODS
Databases were systematically searched up to February 2023. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and data extraction. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa and certainty of evidence by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Overall survival was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included mortality, length of survival, progression-free survival, time from diagnosis to treatment, complete staging, treatment received, and adherence to guidelines. A meta-analysis with a random-effect model was performed. Statistical analysis was performed with the R 3.6.2 package.
RESULTS
A total of 22 studies were included in the systematic review. Ten outcomes were identified, favoring the MDT group over the non-MDT group. Pooled analysis revealed that patients managed by MDTs had better overall survival (three studies; 38,037 participants; hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.75, I = 78%), shorter treatment time compared with patients in the non-MDT group (six studies; 15,235 participants; mean difference = 12.20 d, 95% CI: 10.76-13.63, I = 63%), and higher proportion of complete staging (four studies; 14,925 participants; risk ratio = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.17-1.57, I = 89%).
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis revealed that MDT-based patient care was associated with longer overall survival and better quality-of-care-related outcomes.
PubMed: 38046377
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2023.100580 -
International Journal of... 2022While the efficacy of telehealth in musculoskeletal physiotherapy has been supported, its cost effectiveness has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
While the efficacy of telehealth in musculoskeletal physiotherapy has been supported, its cost effectiveness has not been established. Therefore, the objective of this review was to ascertain the health economic impact of outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy delivered by telehealth and describe methodology utilized to date.
METHODS
Electronic searching of PubMed, CINHAL, PEDro, and Web of Science databases was undertaken alongside handsearching for publications comprising: population: adults with musculoskeletal disorders managed in any type of outpatient ambulatory setting; intervention: physiotherapy delivered by telehealth comparison: traditional in-person physiotherapy; and, outcomes: economic analyses reporting costs and consequences. Appraisal was undertaken with the Downs and Black Questionnaire and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards Checklist.
RESULTS
Eleven studies of mixed methodological quality were included. Most were conducted in the public sector, from the economic perspective of the health service funder. Telehealth consistently produced health outcomes akin to in-person care. In all but one, telehealth was less costly, with savings achieved by reducing in-person consultations and travel costs.
CONCLUSION
Telehealth is as effective and cheaper than in-person physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders in public hospital outpatients. Further health economic research is needed to clarify the economic impact of telehealth upon non-government providers of musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
PubMed: 38026565
DOI: 10.5195/ijt.2023.6524 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Feb 2024The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant disruptions to health care services and health impacts on patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and/or...
BACKGROUND
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant disruptions to health care services and health impacts on patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and/or food allergy (FA).
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and disease on AD/FA patients.
METHODS
A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted from December 2019 to 2022. Screening and data extraction were done following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, or MMAT, was used to assess risk of bias.
RESULTS
In total, 159 studies were included. Five of 7 studies reported no significant changes in overall incidence or prevalence of AD during the pandemic, although some studies noted an increase in the elderly and infants. Telehealth served as an effective alternative to face-to-face consultations, with mixed levels of patient and provider satisfaction. Dissatisfaction was most marked in patients with more severe disease, who thought that their disease was inadequately managed through telemedicine. Higher levels of general anxiety were recorded in both AD/FA patients and caregivers, and it was more pronounced in patients with severe disease. Most studies reported no significant differences in postvaccination adverse effects in AD patients; however, results were more varied in FA patients.
CONCLUSION
Our review identified the impact of COVID-19 pandemic- and disease-driven changes on AD/FA patients. Telemedicine is uniquely suited to manage atopic diseases, and hybrid care may be a suitable approach even in the postpandemic era. COVID-19 vaccines and biologics can be safely administered to patients with atopic diseases, with appropriate patient education to ensure continued care for high-risk patients.
PubMed: 38026506
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100181 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2023Routine anticoagulation therapy in acute pancreatitis (AP) is not recommended by the guidelines in the field, although it is frequently used in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Routine anticoagulation therapy in acute pancreatitis (AP) is not recommended by the guidelines in the field, although it is frequently used in clinical practice.
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of adding anticoagulants therapy to AP management.
METHODS
The systematic search was performed in three databases on the 14th of October 2022 without restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that reported the differences in the outcomes of AP for patients receiving anticoagulants (intervention group) in addition to the standard of care (SOC), compared to patients managed by SOC alone (control group), were eligible. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with the corresponding 95%-confidence intervals (CI). We performed subgroup analysis for study design and disease severity, among other criteria.
RESULTS
Of the 8,223 screened records, we included eight in the meta-analysis. Except one, all studies reported on low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Both RCTs and observational studies reported results in favor of the LMWH group. Subgroup RCTs' analysis revealed significantly decreased odds of mortality [OR 0.24; 95%CI 0.17-0.34] and multiple organ failure [OR 0.32; 95%CI 0.17-0.62] in the intervention group. Moreover, the need for endoscopic or surgical interventions [OR 0.41; 95%CI 0.28-0.61] were significantly reduced by LMWH. The subgroup analyzes for moderate and severe cases, respectively, yielded similar results. Due to limited data, we could no perform subgroup analysis for mild cases.
CONCLUSION
LMWH therapy reduces major complication rates in moderate and severe AP. Across all identified RCTs, LMWH were initiated early after AP diagnosis and improved its prognosis.
PubMed: 38020092
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1241301 -
Surgical Endoscopy Jan 2024Postoperative pancreatic fluid collections (POPFCs) are common adverse events (AEs) after pancreatic surgery and may need interventions. Endoscopic ultrasound... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Postoperative pancreatic fluid collections (POPFCs) are common adverse events (AEs) after pancreatic surgery and may need interventions. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage for POPFCs is increasingly reported, but its appropriate timing has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate treatment outcomes of POPFCs according to the timing of EUS-guided drainage.
METHODS
Using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database, we identified clinical studies published until December 2022 with data comparing outcomes of early and delayed EUS-guided drainage for POPFCs. We pooled data on AEs, mortality, and technical and clinical success rates, using the random-effects model.
RESULTS
From 1415 papers identified in the initial literature search, we identified 6 retrospective studies, including 128 and 107 patients undergoing early and delayed EUS-guided drainage for POPFCs. The threshold of early and delayed drainage ranged from 14 to 30 days. Distal pancreatectomy was the major cause of POPFCs, ranging from 44 to 100%. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for AEs was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-1.64, P = 0.55) comparing early to delayed drainage. There was no procedure-related mortality. Technical success was achieved in all cases and a pooled OR of clinical success was 0.60 (95% CI 0.20-1.83, P = 0.37).
CONCLUSION
POPFCs can be managed by early EUS-guided drainage without an increase in AEs.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Endosonography; Pancreatic Diseases; Pancreatectomy; Drainage; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38017158
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-10568-y -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Nov 2023Liver cirrhosis, which is considered one of the leading causes of death in the world, can lead to severe complications, and is often followed by a liver transplantation.... (Review)
Review
Liver cirrhosis, which is considered one of the leading causes of death in the world, can lead to severe complications, and is often followed by a liver transplantation. These patients take an average of nine medications daily. If not managed adequately, it can be accompanied by serious drug-related problems. To reduce this risk, a clinical pharmacist may be included as part of the healthcare team to optimize medication therapy in this population. This study aimed to systematically identify the pharmaceutical interventions which reduced drug-related problems and improved medication therapy for adult hospitalized liver cirrhotic and liver transplant patients when compared to standard care. Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL) were systematically searched from the inception of each database to 25 October 2023, and interventional studies in the English language were included. The risk of bias was assessed according to RoB-I for the UBA study and RoB2 for the identified RCT. The detected interventions to reduce drug-related problems in liver cirrhotic and liver transplant patients were extracted and classified according to a "Hierarchy of Controls" model. Two studies from Germany and the USA met our inclusion criteria, respectively. In these studies, we identified two interventions that included education, expert consultation, and the monitoring of the immunosuppressive medications serum level. The main objective of the two included studies was improving patients' compliance through adherence. These pharmaceutical interventions identified were classified as administrative controls, which is one of the lowest levels in the "Hierarchy of Controls" with which to address a potential risk. Pharmaceutical interventions to optimize medication therapy were found to be rare in the examined population, and were limited to "administrative controls". These interventions were limited to transplant patients' education and the monitoring of the immunosuppressive medication serum levels. No interventional studies were found to have investigated pharmaceutical interventions in patients with liver cirrhosis. Especially regarding this patient group, future studies to reduce DRPs using pharmaceutical interventions are needed. This study received no external funding and its PROSPERO registration number is CRD42022309122.
PubMed: 38002644
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227030 -
International Dental Journal Apr 2024Root canal re-treatment (RCR) cases are considered some of the most challenging cases in the field of endodontics, as they are mostly associated with various iatrogenic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Root canal re-treatment (RCR) cases are considered some of the most challenging cases in the field of endodontics, as they are mostly associated with various iatrogenic errors such as ledge formation, incomplete biomechanical preparation, file separation, and incomplete obturation. These iatrogenic errors lead to defective niches within root canals that may act as reservoirs for various viable microorganisms. Such residual microbial niches may cause postoperative pain even after thorough debridement and reshaping the canals, ultimately leading to a poor prognosis for the tooth. Nowadays, prevention of postoperative pain in re-treatment cases and prognosis are effectively managed by photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT).
METHOD
Relevant studies in the English language published before November 2022 were identified using electronic databases like PubMed, SCOPUS, and EBSCO to conduct bibliographic research. This systematic review is based on 3 studies that were found eligible as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This systematic review is in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
The systematic review indicated a positive impact by significantly decreasing postoperative pain in RCR cases when treated with PBMT. The variation was statistically significant at 24 hours (P = .0002), 48 hours (P = .03), and 72 hours (P = .02). The mean difference at 24 hours was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.32-0.99), at 48 hours was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.05-0.87), and at 72 hours was 0.40 (95% CI, 0.07-0.74). There was no statistical heterogenicity at 24 hours (P > .05), but a medium heterogenicity was observed at 48 hours and 72 hours.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATION
PBMT or low-level laser therapy has shown superior results as compared to the conventional pharmacologic approach in postoperative pain management in RCR cases.
Topics: Humans; Low-Level Light Therapy; Root Canal Therapy; Pain, Postoperative; Dental Care; Iatrogenic Disease
PubMed: 37985344
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2023.10.012