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Stem Cells and Development Sep 2018Tendons and ligaments are connective tissues that have been comparatively less studied than muscle and cartilage/bone, even though they are crucial for proper function...
Tendons and ligaments are connective tissues that have been comparatively less studied than muscle and cartilage/bone, even though they are crucial for proper function of the musculoskeletal system. In tendon biology, considerable progress has been made in identifying tendon-specific genes (Scleraxis, Mohawk, and Tenomodulin) in the past decade. However, besides tendon function and the knowledge of a small number of important players in tendon biology, neither the ontogeny of the tenogenic lineage nor signaling cascades have been fully understood. This results in major drawbacks in treatment and repair options following tendon degeneration. In this review, we have systematically evaluated publications describing tendon-related genes, which were studied in depth and characterized by using knockout technologies and the subsequently generated transgenic mouse models (Tg) (knockout mice, KO). We report in a tabular manner, that from a total of 24 tendon-related genes, in 22 of the respective knockout mouse models, phenotypic changes were detected. Additionally, in some of the models it was described at which developmental stages these changes appeared and progressed. To summarize, only loss of Scleraxis and TGFβ signaling led to severe tendon developmental phenotypes, while mice deficient for various proteoglycans, Mohawk, EGR1 and 2, and Tenomodulin presented mild phenotypes. These data suggest that the tendon developmental system is well organized, orchestrated, and backed up; this is even more evident among the members of the proteoglycan family, where the compensatory effects are much clearer. In future, it will be of great importance to discover additional master tendon transcription factors and the genes that play crucial roles in tendon development. This would improve our understanding of the genetic makeup of tendons, and will increase the chances of generating tendon-specific drugs to advance overall treatment strategies.
Topics: Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genetic Association Studies; Homeodomain Proteins; Ligaments; Membrane Proteins; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Transgenic; Signal Transduction; Tendons
PubMed: 29978741
DOI: 10.1089/scd.2018.0121 -
BMC Pediatrics Apr 2024Recently, studies on behavioral interventions for autism have gained popularity. Naturalistic Developmental Behavior Interventions (NDBIs) are among the most effective,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Recently, studies on behavioral interventions for autism have gained popularity. Naturalistic Developmental Behavior Interventions (NDBIs) are among the most effective, evidence-based, and widely used behavior interventions for autism. However, no research has been conducted on which of the several NDBI methods is most effective for parents and children with autism spectrum disorders. Therefore, we conducted a network meta-analysis to compare the specific effects of each type of parental-mediated NDBI on children's developmental skills and parent fidelity.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), CINAHL, and Wanfang databases were searched from inception to August 30, 2023. A total of 32 randomized controlled trial studies that examined the efficacy of different NDBIs were included.
RESULTS
Parents of children with ASD who received Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) reported significant improvements in their children's social skills (SUCRA, 74.1%), language skills (SUCRA, 88.3%), and parenting fidelity (SUCRA, 99.5%). Moreover, parents who received Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) reported significant improvements in their children's language (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.79) and motor skills (SMD = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.79). In terms of the efficacy of improving parent fidelity, the results showed that the Improving Parents as Communication Teachers (ImPACT) intervention significantly improved parent fidelity when compared with the treatment-as-usual group (TAU) (SMD = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.39, 1.42) and the parental education intervention (PEI) (SMD = 1.10, 95% CI:0.28, 1.91).There was a difference in parent fidelity among parents who received PRT(SMD = 3.53, 95% CI: 2.26, 4.79) or ESDM(SMD = 1.42, 95% CI: 0.76, 2.09) training compared with PEI.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this study revealed that parents can achieve high fidelity with the ImPACT intervention, and it can serve as an early first step for children newly diagnosed with ASD. It also showed that parent-mediated ESDM is effective in improving language and motor skills for children with ASD and can be used as part of the second stage of parent training. Parent-mediated PRT can also be used as a third stage of parent training with sufficient training intensity to further improve language, social, and motor skills.
Topics: Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Parents; Network Meta-Analysis; Child; Behavior Therapy; Social Skills; Child Development; Parenting; Child, Preschool; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38664754
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04752-9 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2019Eating disorders (EDs) during the transition to adulthood can derail social, psychological, and vocational development. Effective treatment is of paramount importance,...
Eating disorders (EDs) during the transition to adulthood can derail social, psychological, and vocational development. Effective treatment is of paramount importance, yet young adults' treatment needs are typically less well met than those of adolescents. In recent years, there has been a considerable shift in how developmental psychologists understand the transition to adulthood, with this life-phase reconceptualized as "emerging adulthood" (EA) (~18-25 years). Engagement with burgeoning developmental research is likely key to providing more effective care for young people experiencing EDs. To review ED research which has utilized the concept of EA, and to assess the usefulness of this concept for ED research and practice. A systematic scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews. Three databases (Psychinfo, PubMed, Embase) were searched for papers which explicitly focused on EDs during EA. No restrictions as to publication type, language, study design, or participants were applied. Included studies were assessed for developmental "informedness," and findings were qualitatively synthesized. Thirty-six studies ( = 25,475) were included in the review. Most studies used quantitative methodologies, were cross-sectional in design and focused on identifying psychological and social factors which contribute to etiology of EDs. Many studies ( = 22) used well-defined samples of emerging adults (EAs); few studies ( = 8) included developmental measures relevant to EAs. Findings indicate that whilst factors implicated in EDs in adolescence and adulthood are relevant to EAs, EA-specific factors (e.g., identity exploration) may also contribute. Conventional ED services and treatments present difficulties for EAs, whilst those adapted to EAs' needs are feasible, acceptable, and more effective than treatment-as-usual. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed. Existing research indicates that the EA concept is relevant for understanding EDs during the transition to adulthood, and ED services should implement adaptations which exploit the opportunities and overcome the challenges of this developmental stage. EA is currently an underused concept in ED research, and future engagement with the developmental literature by both researchers and clinicians may be key to understanding and treating EDs during transition to adulthood.
PubMed: 32082210
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03062 -
Public Health Nutrition Dec 2023Aligning with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, amplification of children's voice in food practice research aims to inform initiatives that cater... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Aligning with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, amplification of children's voice in food practice research aims to inform initiatives that cater to children's needs and thus improve nutritional outcomes. The aim of this study was to describe children's (aged 6-11 years) involvement across qualitative research investigating their food practice perspectives.
DESIGN
A scoping review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Six electronic databases were searched up until March 2023 (Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, ERIC, Medline and PsychInfo). The Wellcome Framework for young people's involvement in health research guided data extraction. Data were described according to inclusiveness, geography, food-related study topic, research stage and method, and child involvement.
RESULTS
The search identified 120 peer-reviewed studies (134 papers). Active participation was only seen within research implementation stages (i.e. data collection ( 134), analysis ( 31), dissemination ( 9) and re-design ( 7)). More passive forms of participation were identified in research design stages (i.e. agenda setting, resourcing and design). Studies that utilised participatory research methodologies and developmentally appropriate and engaging methods (e.g. PhotoVoice) saw more active participation by children.
CONCLUSION
This review identified a lack of opportunities for children's active participation in all stages of food practice research. Without a radical shift towards providing these opportunities, food and nutrition initiatives, policies or further research that do not meet the needs of children's food-related worlds will continue to be developed. Instead, researchers and their institutions need to advocate for and, where possible, provide voluntary opportunities for children to actively participate in food practice research.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Food; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 37746758
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980023001891 -
BMJ Open Mar 2021To identify patterns of age disparities in cancer survival, using colon and lung cancer as exemplars. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To identify patterns of age disparities in cancer survival, using colon and lung cancer as exemplars.
DESIGN
Systematic review of the literature.
DATA SOURCES
We searched Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science through 18 December 2020.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
We retained all original articles published in English including patients with colon or lung cancer. Eligible studies were required to be population-based, report survival across several age groups (of which at least one was over the age of 65) and at least one other characteristic (eg, sex, treatment).
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies against selected evaluation domains from the QUIPS tool, and items concerning statistical reporting. We evaluated age disparities using the absolute difference in survival or mortality rates between the middle-aged group and the oldest age group, or by describing survival curves.
RESULTS
Out of 3047 references, we retained 59 studies (20 for colon, 34 for lung and 5 for both sites). Regardless of the cancer site, the included studies were highly heterogeneous and often of poor quality. The magnitude of age disparities in survival varied greatly by sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, stage at diagnosis, cancer site, and morphology, the number of nodes examined and treatment strategy. Although results were inconsistent for most characteristics, we consistently observed greater age disparities for women with lung cancer compared with men. Also, age disparities increased with more advanced stages for colon cancer and decreased with more advanced stages for lung cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
Although age is one of the most important prognostic factors in cancer survival, age disparities in colon and lung cancer survival have so far been understudied in population-based research. Further studies are needed to better understand age disparities in colon and lung cancer survival.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42020151402.
Topics: Colonic Neoplasms; Ethnicity; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Social Class
PubMed: 33692182
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044239 -
JAMA Psychiatry Aug 2023Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be adequately treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there is a large gap in knowledge on factors associated with... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Baseline Severity as a Moderator of the Waiting List-Controlled Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Symptom Change in Social Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis.
IMPORTANCE
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) can be adequately treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there is a large gap in knowledge on factors associated with prognosis, and it is unclear whether symptom severity predicts response to CBT for SAD.
OBJECTIVE
To examine baseline SAD symptom severity as a moderator of the association between CBT and symptom change in patients with SAD.
DATA SOURCES
For this systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis (IPDMA), PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 1990, to January 13, 2023. Primary search topics were social anxiety disorder, cognitive behavior therapy, and randomized controlled trial.
STUDY SELECTION
Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials comparing CBT with being on a waiting list and using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) in adults with a primary clinical diagnosis of SAD.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Authors of included studies were approached to provide individual-level data. Data were extracted by pairs of authors following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. An IPDMA was conducted using a 2-stage approach for the association of CBT with change in LSAS scores from baseline to posttreatment and for the interaction effect of baseline LSAS score by condition using random-effects models.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The main outcome was the baseline to posttreatment change in symptom severity measured by the LSAS.
RESULTS
A total of 12 studies including 1246 patients with SAD (mean [SD] age, 35.3 [10.9] years; 738 [59.2%] female) were included in the meta-analysis. A waiting list-controlled association between CBT and pretreatment to posttreatment LSAS change was found (b = -20.3; 95% CI, -24.9 to -15.6; P < .001; Cohen d = -0.95; 95% CI, -1.16 to -0.73). Baseline LSAS scores moderated the differences between CBT and waiting list with respect to pretreatment to posttreatment symptom reductions (b = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.39 to -0.06; P = .009), indicating that individuals with severe symptoms had larger waiting list-controlled symptom reductions after CBT (Cohen d = -1.13 [95% CI, -1.39 to -0.88] for patients with very severe SAD; Cohen d = -0.54 [95% CI, -0.80 to -0.29] for patients with mild SAD).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
In this systematic review and IPDMA, higher baseline SAD symptom severity was associated with greater (absolute but not relative) symptom reductions after CBT in patients with SAD. The findings contribute to personalized care by suggesting that clinicians can confidently offer CBT to individuals with severe SAD symptoms.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Female; Male; Phobia, Social; Waiting Lists; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37256597
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1291 -
Cancer Treatment Reviews Jul 2023In unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the standard of care for most fit patients is concurrent chemotherapy with normofractionated radiotherapy... (Review)
Review
In unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the standard of care for most fit patients is concurrent chemotherapy with normofractionated radiotherapy (NFRT), followed by durvalumab consolidation. Nevertheless, almost half of patients will present locoregional or metastatic intrathoracic relapse. Improving locoregional control thus remains an important objective. For this purpose, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may be a relevant treatment modality. We performed a systematic review of the literature that evaluate the efficacy and safety of SBRT in this situation, either instead of or in addition to NFRT. Among 1788 unique reports, 18 met the inclusion criteria. They included 447 patients and were mainly prospective (n = 10, including 5 phase 2 trials). In none, maintenance durvalumab was administered. Most reported SBRT boost after NFRT (n = 8), or definitive tumor and nodal SBRT (n = 7). Median OS varied from 10 to 52 months, due to the heterogeneity of the included populations and according to treatment regimen. The rate of severe side effects was low, with <5 % grade 5 toxicity, and mainly observed when mediastinal SBRT was performed without dose constraints to the proximal bronchovascular tree. It was suggested that a biologically effective dose higher than 112.3 Gy may increase locoregional control. SBRT for selected stage III NSCLC bears potential to improve loco-regional tumor control, but at present, this should only be done in prospective clinical trials.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Radiosurgery; Lung Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
PubMed: 37210766
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2023.102573 -
The International Journal of Behavioral... Feb 2022Accurate proxy-report questionnaires, adapted to the child's developmental stage, are required to monitor 24-h movement behaviors in young children, especially for large... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Accurate proxy-report questionnaires, adapted to the child's developmental stage, are required to monitor 24-h movement behaviors in young children, especially for large samples and low-resource settings.
OBJECTIVES
This review aimed to summarize available studies evaluating measurement properties of proxy-report questionnaires assessing physical activity, sedentary behavior and/or sleep in children aged 0-5 years.
METHODS
Systematic literature searches were carried out in the PubMed, Embase and SPORTDiscus databases, up to January 2021. For physical activity and sedentary behavior questionnaires this is a review update, whereas for sleep questionnaires we included all relevant studies published up to now. Studies had to evaluate at least one of the measurement properties of a proxy-report questionnaire assessing at least duration and/or frequency of physical activity, sedentary behavior and/or sleep in 0- to 5-year-old children. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guideline was used to evaluate the quality of evidence.
RESULTS
Thirty-three studies were included, examining a total of 37 questionnaires. Ten questionnaires were designed for infants, two for toddlers, 11 for preschoolers, and 14 for a broader age range targeting multiple of these age groups. Twenty questionnaires assessed constructs of sleep, four assessed constructs of physical activity, two assessed screen behavior, five assessed constructs of both physical activity and sedentary behavior, and six assessed constructs of all 24-h movement behaviors. Content validity was evaluated for six questionnaires, structural validity for two, internal consistency for three, test-retest reliability for 16, measurement error for one, criterion validity for one, and construct validity for 26 questionnaires. None of the questionnaires were considered sufficiently valid and/or reliable for assessing one or more movement behaviors in 0- to 5-year-old children, and the quality of evidence was mostly low or very low.
CONCLUSIONS
Valid and/or reliable questionnaires assessing 24-h movement behaviors in 0- to 5-year-olds are lacking. High-quality studies are therefore required, to develop proxy-report questionnaires and evaluate their measurement properties.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42020169268.
Topics: Child, Preschool; Exercise; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Reproducibility of Results; Sedentary Behavior; Sleep; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 35164783
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-022-01251-x -
European Urology Oncology Apr 2021The 5-yr survival of early-stage renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is approximately 93%, but once metastasised, the 5-yr survival plummets to 12%, indicating that early RCC... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
The 5-yr survival of early-stage renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is approximately 93%, but once metastasised, the 5-yr survival plummets to 12%, indicating that early RCC detection is crucial to improvement in survival. DNA methylation biomarkers have been suggested to be of potential diagnostic value; however, their current state of clinical translation is unclear and a comprehensive overview is lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review and summarise all literature regarding diagnostic DNA methylation biomarkers for RCC.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
We performed a systematic literature review of PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and Google Scholar up to January 2019, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies (PRISMA-DTA) guidelines. Included studies were scored according to the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (STARD) criteria. Forest plots were generated to summarise diagnostic performance of all biomarkers. Level of evidence (LoE) and potential risk of bias were determined for all included studies.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
After selection, 19 articles reporting on 44 diagnostic DNA methylation biomarkers and 11 multimarker panels were included; however, only 15 biomarkers were independently validated. STARD scores varied from 4 to 13 out of 23 points, with a median of 10 points. Large variation in subgroups, methods, and primer locations was observed. None of the reported biomarkers exceeded LoE III, and the majority of studies reported inadequately.
CONCLUSIONS
None of the reported biomarkers exceeded LoE III, indicating their limited clinical utility. Moreover, study reproducibility and further development of these RCC biomarkers are greatly hampered by inadequate reporting.
PATIENT SUMMARY
In this report, we reviewed whether specific biomarkers could be used to diagnose the most common form of kidney cancer. We conclude that due to limited evidence and reporting inconsistencies, none of these biomarkers can be used in clinical practice, and further development towards clinical use is hindered.
Topics: Biomarkers; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; DNA Methylation; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 31402218
DOI: 10.1016/j.euo.2019.07.011