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Brain Research Bulletin Jun 2024The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) causes serious interpersonal problems from childhood to adulthood, one of them being problematic social functioning.... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) causes serious interpersonal problems from childhood to adulthood, one of them being problematic social functioning. This phenomenon in ADHD should be associated with impairments in the Theory of Mind (ToM). Therefore, understanding the neural correlates of the ToM could be crucial for helping individuals with ADHD with their social functioning. Thus, we aimed to review published literature concerning neuroanatomical and functional correlates of ToM deficits in children and adolescents with ADHD.
METHODS
We reviewed studies published between 1970 and 2023. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, after data from three databases were collected, two authors (LN and PM) independently screened all relevant records (n=638) and consequently, both authors did the data extraction. The quality of the included studies (n=5) was measured by a modified version of The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and by measures specific for our study. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020139847).
RESULTS
Results indicated that impairments in performing of the ToM tasks were negatively associated with the grey matter volume in the bilateral amygdala and hippocampus in both, ADHD and control group. In EEG studies, a significantly greater electrophysiological activity during ToM tasks was observed in the, frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes in participants with ADHD as compared to healthy subjects.
CONCLUSION
More research is needed to explore the ToM deficits in children with ADHD. Future research might focus on the neural circuits associated with attention and inhibition, which deficits seems to contribute to the ToM deficits in children and adolescents with ADHD.
PubMed: 38906229
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.111011 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Schizophrenia is characterized by psychiatric symptoms and emotional issues. While pharmacological treatments have limitations, non-pharmacological interventions are... (Review)
Review
Schizophrenia is characterized by psychiatric symptoms and emotional issues. While pharmacological treatments have limitations, non-pharmacological interventions are essential. Art therapy has the potential to enhance emotional expression, communication, and health; however, the effectiveness of visual art therapy remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of visual art therapy on positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and emotions in patients with schizophrenia. This study reviews RCTs published prior to February, 2024. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CEPS, CNKI, Wanfang, and Yiigle databases were searched, and three independent researchers screened the studies. In this meta-analysis, standardized mean difference (SMD) was employed as a measure to calculate effect sizes for continuous variables using a random effects model, while the meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed with patient and intervention characteristics. A total of 31 studies revealed visual art therapy had a significant small-to-moderate effect on positive symptoms (SMD = 0.407, 95% CI 0.233 to 0.581), a moderate effect on negative symptoms (SMD = 0.697, 95% CI 0.514 to 0.880), a moderate effect on depression (SMD = 0.610, 95% CI 0.398 to 0.821), and a large effect on anxiety (SMD = 0.909, 95% CI 0.386 to 1.433). The subgroup analysis revealed painting and handcrafts had significant effects on positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and emotions. Combined Chinese calligraphy and painting had significant effects on positive symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Better improvement was noted among the Asian population, and a longer weekly treatment duration was associated with better improvement in positive symptoms. Female participants tended to have more improvements in negative symptoms and anxiety through visual art therapy. The results indicate that visual art therapy has positive effects on the psychiatric symptoms and emotions of individuals with schizophrenia. We recommend future research further investigate art therapy modalities and durations.
PubMed: 38891231
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111156 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024According to the World Health Organization, social isolation, particularly of older adults, is a public health issue endangering the well-being of individuals,... (Review)
Review
According to the World Health Organization, social isolation, particularly of older adults, is a public health issue endangering the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Social isolation affects health through biological, behavioral, and psychological pathways and is associated with physical and psychological/emotional well-being, increases morbidity and mortality rates, and lowers quality of life. This systematic review examined the relationship between social isolation and physical health, including subjective and objective dimensions, and factors that influence this relationship in adults. : This systematic review examined six electronic databases covering the field of health and human services and included results from 1 January 2017 to 10 March 2023 with key terms including adult social connection or social isolation coupled with health, physical, psychological, emotional, mental, or behavioral. The initial search yielded 925 research articles across all databases and was narrowed to 710 when the decision was made to focus on social isolation and physical health. Covidence was used throughout the retrieval and appraisal process, as provided in a PRISMA flow diagram. Twenty-four studies that scored 90 or above in the appraisal process were included in the systematic review. : The studies represented included seven studies conducted in the United States and seventeen studies conducted internationally. Regarding study design, twenty-three studies were quantitative, one was qualitative, and one was mixed methods. The majority of quantitative studies were correlational in design with nine being longitudinal. The majority of studies were based on large national data sets representing in total 298,653 participants aged 50 and older. The results indicate that social isolation is related to increases in inflammatory biomarkers associated with diseases, all-cause mortality, lower expectations of longevity, and frailty. In addition, social isolation was associated with cognitive decline and disruptions in sleep. Poor oral health increased social isolation. The results further indicated that decreased physical performance/function and a decline in physical activity were associated with social isolation, as well as decreased overall physical health, poor health behaviors, and self-care, and decreased health-related quality of life. Further research is warranted to examine the possible bidirectionality of these relationships and possible mediating, moderating, or confounding variables. : Future research is needed to explore the biological and behavioral pathways in which social isolation negatively impacts physical health. Going forward, studies are needed that move beyond descriptive, exploratory methods and integrate data from qualitative and mixed-method designs that will inform the development and testing of a conceptual framework related to social isolation and health. By advancing the science behind social isolation, comprehensive interventions can be identified and tested with implications at the individual, family, community, and societal levels to reduce social isolation, particularly among adults, and improve health and quality of life.
PubMed: 38891210
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12111135 -
Translational Oncology Jun 2024Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers encompassing malignancies of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and bile ducts pose a significant health burden in Africa. While the...
INTRODUCTION
Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers encompassing malignancies of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and bile ducts pose a significant health burden in Africa. While the association of certain occupational carcinogens in cancer is well established globally, their potential role in HPB cancers remains understudied, especially in an African context.
AIM
This systematic review delves into the association between occupational carcinogens and HPB cancer in Africa. It examines the current state of research on occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, identifying key challenges and knowledge gaps.
METHODS
This systematic review examined publications (published between 01 January 2012 and 31 May 2023) that highlight occupational carcinogens and HBP cancers in Africa. The search was conducted on electronic databases namely PubMed, Web of Science, and Africa Wide Information.
RESULT
Due to the lack of information on the association between occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, as a result of the paucity of published studies, only four articles were included in this study. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was the predominant cancer associated with the occupational carcinogen, aflatoxin. Agricultural workers, especially those involved in the production and processing of maize and peanuts, appear to be the most exposed to aflatoxin.
CONCLUSION
Despite the sample size limitations due to the paucity of research studies on occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, this study provides a reasonable tool for subsequent epidemiological studies. There is a need for more research on the association of occupational carcinogens and HPB cancers in Africa, especially with the growing industrialization.
PubMed: 38878612
DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102036 -
Systematic Reviews Jun 2024Despite growing interest in workplace mental health interventions, evidence of their effectiveness is mixed. Implementation science offers a valuable lens to investigate... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Despite growing interest in workplace mental health interventions, evidence of their effectiveness is mixed. Implementation science offers a valuable lens to investigate the factors influencing successful implementation. However, evidence synthesis is lacking, especially for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and for specific work sectors. The objectives of this review are to establish the scope of research with explicit analysis of implementation aspects of workplace mental health interventions and to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation in general and within SMEs and selected sectors.
METHODS
A systematic scoping review and meta-synthesis of mixed methods process evaluation research from 11 databases, with the evaluation of methodological quality (MMAT) and confidence in findings (CERQual), was conducted. We selected information-rich studies and synthesised them using domains within the Nielsen and Randall implementation framework: context, intervention activities, implementation; and mental models.
RESULTS
We included 43 studies published between 2009 and 2022, of which 22 were rated as information-rich to be analysed for barriers and facilitators. Most studies were conducted in healthcare. Facilitators reflecting 'high confidence' included: relevant and tailored content, continuous and pro-active leadership buy-in and support, internal or external change agents/champions, assistance from managers and peers, resources, and senior-level experience and awareness of mental health issues. Healthcare sector-specific facilitators included: easy accessibility with time provided, fostering relationships, clear communication, and perceptions of the intervention. Stigma and confidentiality issues were reported as barriers overall. Due to the small number of studies within SMEs reported findings did not reach 'high confidence'. A lack of studies in construction and Information and Communication Technology meant separate analyses were not possible.
CONCLUSIONS
There is dependable evidence of key factors for the implementation of workplace mental health interventions which should be used to improve implementation. However, there is a lack of studies in SMEs and in a larger variety of sectors.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
Research Registry ( reviewregistry897 ).
Topics: Humans; Workplace; Mental Health; Health Promotion; Qualitative Research; Leadership; Occupational Health
PubMed: 38849924
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-024-02569-2 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Heart failure (HF) poses a significant challenge, often leading to frequent hospitalizations and compromised quality of life. Continuous pulmonary artery pressure (PAP)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Heart failure (HF) poses a significant challenge, often leading to frequent hospitalizations and compromised quality of life. Continuous pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) monitoring offers a surrogate for congestion status in ambulatory HF care. This meta-analysis examines the efficacy of PAP monitoring devices (CardioMEMS and Chronicle) in preventing adverse outcomes in HF patients, addressing gaps in prior randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Five RCTs (2572 participants) were systematically reviewed. PAP monitoring significantly reduced HF-related hospitalizations (RR 0.72 [95% CI 0.6-0.87], p = 0.0006) and HF events (RR 0.86 [95% CI 0.75-0.99], p = 0.03), with no impact on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. Subgroup analyses highlighted the significance of CardioMEMS and blinded studies. Meta-regression indicated a correlation between prolonged follow-up and increased reduction in HF hospitalizations. The risk of bias was generally high, with evidence certainty ranging from low to moderate. PAP monitoring devices exhibit promise in diminishing HF hospitalizations and events, especially in CardioMEMS and blinded studies. However, their influence on mortality remains inconclusive. Further research, considering diverse patient populations and intervention strategies with extended follow-up, is crucial for elucidating the optimal role of PAP monitoring in HF management.
Topics: Humans; Heart Failure; Pulmonary Artery; Hospitalization; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38839890
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63742-0 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Accurate prognostic tools for mortality in patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) are needed to provide appropriate medical care, but the efficacy for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Accurate prognostic tools for mortality in patients with healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) are needed to provide appropriate medical care, but the efficacy for mortality prediction of tools like PSI, A-DROP, I-ROAD, and CURB-65, widely used for predicting mortality in community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia cases, remains controversial. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using PubMed, Cochrane Library (trials), and Ichushi web database (accessed on August 22, 2022). We identified articles evaluating either PSI, A-DROP, I-ROAD, or CURB-65 and the mortality outcome in patients with HCAP, and calculated the pooled sensitivities, specificities, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the summary area under the curves (AUCs) for mortality prediction. Additionally, the differences in predicting prognosis among these four assessment tools were evaluated using overall AUCs pooled from AUC values reported in included studies. Eventually, 21 articles were included and these quality assessments were evaluated by QUADAS-2. Using a cut-off value of moderate in patients with HCAP, the range of pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were found to be 0.91-0.97, 0.15-0.44, 1.14-1.66, 0.18-0.33, and 3.86-9.32, respectively. Upon using a cut-off value of severe in those patients, the range of pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR were 0.63-0.70, 0.54-0.66, 1.50-2.03, 0.47-0.58, and 2.66-4.32, respectively. Overall AUCs were 0.70 (0.68-0.72), 0.70 (0.63-0.76), 0.68 (0.64-0.73), and 0.67 (0.63-0.71), respectively, for PSI, A-DROP, I-ROAD, and CURB-65 (p = 0.66). In conclusion, these severity assessment tools do not have enough ability to predict mortality in HCAP patients. Furthermore, there are no significant differences in predictive performance among these four severity assessment tools.
Topics: Humans; Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia; Severity of Illness Index; Prognosis; Area Under Curve
PubMed: 38839837
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63618-3 -
Clinical Rehabilitation Jun 2024The aim of this systematic review is to identify currently available tele-assessments for motor impairments of the upper extremity in adults after a stroke and to assess...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review is to identify currently available tele-assessments for motor impairments of the upper extremity in adults after a stroke and to assess their psychometric properties and clinical utility.
DATA SOURCES
We searched for studies describing the psychometric properties of tele-assessments for the motor function of the upper extremity. A systematic search was conducted in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline via OVID, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Xplore from inception until 30 April 2024.
REVIEW METHODS
The quality assessment for the included studies and the rating of the psychometric properties were performed using the COSMIN Risk of Bias Checklist for systematic reviews of patient-reported outcome measures.
RESULTS
A total of 12 studies (N = 3912) describing 11 tele-assessments met the predefined inclusion criteria. The included assessments were heterogeneous in terms of quality and psychometric properties and risk of bias. None of the tele-assessments currently meets the criteria of clinical utility to be recommended for clinical practice without restriction.
CONCLUSION
The quality and clinical utility of tele-assessments varied widely, suggesting a cautious consideration for immediate clinical practice application. There is potential for tele-assessments in clinical practice, but the clinical benefits need to be improved by simplifying the complexity of tele-assessments.
REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022335035.
PubMed: 38839104
DOI: 10.1177/02692155241258867 -
Vaccines May 2024COVID-19 vaccines represent effective public health measures in contrasting the pandemic worldwide. However, protection at the individual-level, which is of crucial... (Review)
Review
COVID-19 vaccines represent effective public health measures in contrasting the pandemic worldwide. However, protection at the individual-level, which is of crucial importance from an occupational health perspective, is commonly assessed by a serological correlate of protection (CoP) for SARS-CoV-2, which has not yet been determined. The emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) that have shown high rates of breakthrough infections has further complicated the understanding of immune protection against infection. To define a potential serological correlate of protection induced by the COVID-19 vaccination, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to summarize the evidence concerning the binding antibody concentration corresponding to a protective effect. Eighteen and four studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative analyses, respectively. The protection against infection was shown for anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) titers ranging from 154 to 168.2 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL during the pre-Omicron period, while ranging from 1235 to 3035 BAU/mL in the Omicron period. Pooling the results from the studies concerning anti-RBD and anti-Spike antibody titer, we found a mean of 1341.5 BAU/mL and 1400.1 BAU/mL, respectively. These findings suggest that although a fixed serological threshold corresponding to protection against different SARS-CoV-2 variants is not yet definable, higher binding antibody concentrations are associated with increased protective effects.
PubMed: 38793745
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050494 -
Cancers May 2024This study aimed to systematically review case reports documenting rare adverse events in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) following the administration of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to systematically review case reports documenting rare adverse events in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) following the administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted to identify case reports detailing previously unreported adverse drug reactions to ICIs in patients with SCLC. The scope of the literature reviewed was restricted to case studies on SCLC published up to 31 December 2023.
RESULTS
We analyzed twenty-four studies on ICI use for patients with SCLC. There were six reports on atezolizumab, four on durvalumab, and three on adverse events from monotherapy with nivolumab. Reports involving combination treatments were the most frequent, with a total of six, predominantly involving using nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab. Additionally, there was one report each on using pembrolizumab, nofazinilimab, sintilimab, tislelizumab, and toripalimab. We collected detailed information on the clinical course, including patient and disease characteristics, symptoms, treatment for each adverse event, and recovery status. Among the patients included in the case reports, 21 out of 24 (87.5%) had extensive-stage SCLC when initiating ICI therapy, with only 1 patient diagnosed with limited-stage SCLC. Respiratory system adverse events were most common, with seven cases, followed by neurological, endocrinological, and gastroenterological events. Three case reports documented adverse events across multiple systems in a single patient. In most cases, patients showed symptom improvement; however, four studies reported cases where patients either expired without symptom improvement or experienced sequelae.
CONCLUSIONS
Efforts to develop reliable biomarkers for predicting irAEs continue, with ongoing research to enhance predictive precision. Immunotherapy presents diverse and unpredictable adverse events, underscoring the need for advanced diagnostic tools and a multidisciplinary approach to improve patient management.
PubMed: 38791974
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101896