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Frontiers in Nutrition 2022The dietary supplement industry offers many oral cosmetics that purportedly assist in skin moisturization often with unclear evidence supporting efficacy and safety. To...
BACKGROUND
The dietary supplement industry offers many oral cosmetics that purportedly assist in skin moisturization often with unclear evidence supporting efficacy and safety. To update the accessible proofs pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of oral dietary supplements to facilitate skin moisturizing via an all-around review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Three on-line databases [Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL)] were retrieved from January 2000 to November 2021. An overall 66 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of skin care were recognized. Meta-analysis was performed for dietary supplements with four or more available research.
RESULTS
Oral collagen or ceramide resulted in a statistically significant increase in skin hydration and a decrease in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) compared to placebo. No benefits regarding the improvement of skin conditions in terms of water content and TEWL were observed for lactic acid bacteria or Lactobacillus fermented foods. A statistically significant and positive effect on skin hydration was observed for both hyaluronan and procyanidin, with an unknown effect on TEWL due to insufficient RCTs. There was a non-significant improvement in the water content of stratum corneum for astaxanthin based on subgroup analyses. Among the dietary supplements trialed in ≤ 3 RCTs, the judgment regarding their effects on skin moisturizing was prevented by inconsistent conclusions as well as insufficient research. All food supplements were safe throughout the research (normally ≤ 24 weeks).
CONCLUSION
Oral dietary supplements, including collagen, ceramides, hyaluronan, and procyanidin, were proven to be effective for skin moisturization. At present, for skin moisturization, the proofs supporting the recommendation of other dietary supplements, such as lactic acid bacteria and astaxanthin, are insufficient.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ identifier CRD42021290818.
PubMed: 35719159
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.895192 -
Journal of Visceral Surgery Dec 2010Transferring results of research into clinical practice and their effective use for decisions in health care have become a major concern and are pivotal to quality... (Review)
Review
Transferring results of research into clinical practice and their effective use for decisions in health care have become a major concern and are pivotal to quality improvement. Among the tools that have been developed are clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Developing reliable and valid recommendations requires a rigorous methodological approach that combines a systematic review of the results of clinical research with expert, pondered and explicit judgment. Guaranteeing applicability and implementation of these recommendations implies asking the question of how acceptable the recommendations are for the patient, the availability of the procedure and the expertise necessary in the specific context as well as identification of the organizational impact when put into action. CPG are a source of information not only for physicians but also for policy makers, insurance institutions, continued education programs and production of information for high quality decision making for patients.
Topics: Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 21093403
DOI: 10.1016/j.jviscsurg.2010.10.010 -
EXCLI Journal 2023Classic decision theory requires that rational agents show description invariance: which description is chosen should not matter for judgments, preferences, or choices... (Review)
Review
Classic decision theory requires that rational agents show description invariance: which description is chosen should not matter for judgments, preferences, or choices given the descriptions are co-extensive. Framing research has amply demonstrated a failure of description invariance by showing that the choice of the description has a systematic effect on judgments, preferences, and choices. Specifically, framing research has shown that linguistically different descriptions of seemingly equivalent options frequently lead to preference reversals. I summarize the research on framing in situations entailing risk. This includes the characterization of different research designs used, the size and robustness of the framing effects reported for those designs, and the theoretical accounts put forward to explain framing effects. The theoretical accounts are evaluated with respect to their merits, empirically and theoretically. I end by providing the implications of framing research. My central point is that the existence of framing effects points to the adaptiveness of the processes underlying human judgment and choice rather than simply showing human irrationality.
PubMed: 37927347
DOI: 10.17179/excli2023-6169 -
Cognition Aug 2024Absolute pitch is the name given to the rare ability to identify a musical note in an automatic and effortless manner without the need for a reference tone. Those... (Review)
Review
Absolute pitch is the name given to the rare ability to identify a musical note in an automatic and effortless manner without the need for a reference tone. Those individuals with absolute pitch can, for example, name the note they hear, identify all of the tones of a given chord, and/or name the pitches of everyday sounds, such as car horns or sirens. Hence, absolute pitch can be seen as providing a rare example of absolute sensory judgment in audition. Surprisingly, however, the intriguing question of whether such an ability presents unique features in the domain of sensory perception, or whether instead similar perceptual skills also exist in other sensory domains, has not been explicitly addressed previously. In this paper, this question is addressed by systematically reviewing research on absolute pitch using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method. Thereafter, we compare absolute pitch with two rare types of sensory experience, namely synaesthesia and eidetic memory, to understand if and how these phenomena exhibit similar features to absolute pitch. Furthermore, a common absolute perceptual ability that has been often compared to absolute pitch, namely colour perception, is also discussed. Arguments are provided supporting the notion that none of the examined abilities can be considered like absolute pitch. Therefore, we conclude by suggesting that absolute pitch does indeed appear to constitute a unique kind of absolute sensory judgment in humans, and we discuss some open issues and novel directions for future research in absolute pitch.
Topics: Humans; Pitch Perception; Judgment; Synesthesia; Color Perception; Music
PubMed: 38761646
DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105805 -
Nursing Ethics Feb 2017Despite the growing body of knowledge about surrogate decision making, we know very little about the use of ethical frameworks (including ethical theories, principles,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Despite the growing body of knowledge about surrogate decision making, we know very little about the use of ethical frameworks (including ethical theories, principles, and concepts) to understand surrogates' day-to-day experiences in end-of-life care planning for incapacitated adults.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS
This qualitative systematic review was conducted to identify the types of ethical frameworks used to address surrogates' experiences in end-of-life care planning for incapacitated adults as well as the most common themes or patterns found in surrogate decision-making research.
FINDINGS
Seven research papers explicitly identified ethical theories, principles, or concepts, such as autonomy, substituted judgment, and best interest standards as guidelines for the research. Surrogate decision making themes included the responsibilities and goals of being a surrogate, factors influencing surrogates' decision making, outcomes for surrogates, and an overarching theme of "wanting to do the right thing" for their loved one and/or themselves.
DISCUSSION
Understanding the complexity of surrogates' experiences of end-of-life care planning is beyond the scope of conventional ethical frameworks.
CONCLUSION
Ethical frameworks that address individuality and contextual variations related to decision making may more appropriately guide surrogate decision-making research that explores surrogates' end-of-life care planning experiences.
Topics: Decision Making; Ethics, Nursing; Family; Humans; Terminal Care
PubMed: 27005954
DOI: 10.1177/0969733016638145 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2023This systematic review aimed to analyze the characteristics of different diagnostic techniques for micrognathia, summarize the consistent diagnostic criteria of each... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This systematic review aimed to analyze the characteristics of different diagnostic techniques for micrognathia, summarize the consistent diagnostic criteria of each technique, and provide a simple and convenient prenatal diagnosis strategy for micrognathia.
METHODS
In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the search was undertaken in three international databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). The three reviewers assessed all papers and extracted the following variables: author's name and year of publication, country, study design, number of participants, gestational age, equipment for prenatal examination, biometric parameters related to micrognathia, main results.
RESULTS
A total of 25 articles included in the analysis. Nineteen articles described cross-sectional studies (76 percent), 4 (16 percent) were case-control studies, and 2 (8 percent) were cohort studies. Fifteen studies (60 percent) had a prospective design, 9 (36 percent) had a retrospective design, and one (4 percent) had both prospective and retrospective design. Thirty-two percent of the studies ( = 8) were performed in USA, and the remaining studies were performed in China ( = 4), Israel ( = 3), Netherlands ( = 3), UK ( = 1), France ( = 1), Italy ( = 1), Belgium( = 1), Germany ( = 1), Spain ( = 1), and Austria ( = 1). The prenatal diagnosis of micrognathia can be performed as early as possible in the first trimester, while the second and third trimester of pregnancy were the main prenatal diagnosis period. The articles that were included in the qualitative synthesis describe 30 biometric parameters related to the mandible.
CONCLUSION
Of the 30 biometric parameters related to the mandible, 15 can obtain the simple and convenient diagnostic criteria or warning value for micrognathia. Based on these diagnostic criteria or warning value, clinicians can quickly make a preliminary judgment on facial deformities, to carry out cytologic examination to further clarify the diagnosis of micrognathia.
PubMed: 37124181
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1161421 -
Epidemiology and Health 2023Cancer is a major health burden in Korea, and dietary factors have been suggested as putative risk factors for cancer development at various sites. This study... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Cancer is a major health burden in Korea, and dietary factors have been suggested as putative risk factors for cancer development at various sites. This study systematically reviewed the published literature investigating the associations between dietary factors and cancer incidence among Korean adults, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses guidelines. We focused on the 5 most studied cancer sites (stomach, colorectum, breast, thyroid, and cervix) as outcomes and dietary exposures with evidence levels greater than limited-suggestive according to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) panel's judgment for any of the cancer sites. This resulted in the inclusion of 72 studies. Pooled estimates of the impact of dietary factors on cancer risk suggested protective associations of fruits and vegetables with risks for gastric cancer (GC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and breast cancer (BC) and dietary vitamin C with the risk of GC, as well as a harmful association between fermented soy products and the risk of GC. Despite the limited number of studies, we observed consistent protective associations of dietary fiber with GC and dietary fiber, coffee, and calcium with CRC. These findings are largely consistent with the WCRF/AICR expert report. However, pooled estimates for the associations of other salt-preserved foods with GC, meat with CRC, and dietary carotenoids and dairy products with BC did not reach statistical significance. Further studies with prospective designs, larger sample sizes, and diverse types of dietary factors and cancer sites are necessary.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Diet; Dietary Fiber; Eating; Incidence; Neoplasms; Republic of Korea; Risk Factors; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 38037322
DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2023102 -
Journal of Palliative Medicine Sep 2016Evidence supports palliative care effectiveness. Given workforce constraints and the costs of new services, payers and providers need help to prioritize their... (Review)
Review
IMPORTANCE
Evidence supports palliative care effectiveness. Given workforce constraints and the costs of new services, payers and providers need help to prioritize their investments. They need to know which patients to target, which personnel to hire, and which services best improve outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To inform how payers and providers should identify patients with "advanced illness" and the specific interventions they should implement, we reviewed the evidence to identify (1) individuals appropriate for palliative care and (2) elements of health service interventions (personnel involved, use of multidisciplinary teams, and settings of care) effective in achieving better outcomes for patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system.
EVIDENCE REVIEW
Systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews databases (1/1/2001-1/8/2015).
RESULTS
Randomized controlled trials (124) met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies in cancer (49%, 38 of 77 studies) demonstrated statistically significant patient or caregiver outcomes (e.g., p < 0.05), as did those in congestive heart failure (CHF) (62%, 13 of 21), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; 58%, 11 of 19), and dementia (60%, 15 of 25). Most prognostic criteria used clinicians' judgment (73%, 22 of 30). Most interventions included a nurse (70%, 69 of 98), and many were nurse-only (39%, 27 of 69). Social workers were well represented, and home-based approaches were common (56%, 70 of 124). Home interventions with visits were more effective than those without (64%, 28 of 44; vs. 46%, 12 of 26). Interventions improved communication and care planning (70%, 12 of 18), psychosocial health (36%, 12 of 33, for depressive symptoms; 41%, 9 of 22, for anxiety), and patient (40%, 8 of 20) and caregiver experiences (63%, 5 of 8). Many interventions reduced hospital use (65%, 11 of 17), but most other economic outcomes, including costs, were poorly characterized. Palliative care teams did not reliably lower healthcare costs (20%, 2 of 10).
CONCLUSIONS
Palliative care improves cancer, CHF, COPD, and dementia outcomes. Effective models include nurses, social workers, and home-based components, and a focus on communication, psychosocial support, and the patient or caregiver experience. High-quality research on intervention costs and cost outcomes in palliative care is limited.
Topics: Caregivers; Dementia; Health Care Costs; Humans; Palliative Care; Terminal Care
PubMed: 27533892
DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2015.0367 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... May 2013Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy characterized by an acquired loss of retinal ganglion cells at levels beyond normal age-related loss and corresponding... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is a multifactorial optic neuropathy characterized by an acquired loss of retinal ganglion cells at levels beyond normal age-related loss and corresponding atrophy of the optic nerve. Although many treatments are available to manage glaucoma, glaucoma is a chronic condition. Some patients may seek complementary or alternative medicine approaches such as acupuncture to supplement their regular treatment. The underlying plausibility of acupuncture is that disorders related to the flow of Chi (the traditional Chinese concept translated as vital force or energy) can be prevented or treated by stimulating relevant points on the body surface.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in people with glaucoma.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (The Cochrane Library 2012, Issue 12), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to January 2013), EMBASE (January 1980 to January 2013), Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS) (January 1982 to January 2013), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) (January 1937 to January 2013), ZETOC (January 1993 to January 2013), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) (January 1985 to January 2013), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine web site (NCCAM) (http://nccam.nih.gov). We did not use any language or date restrictions in the search for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 8 January 2013 with the exception of NCCAM which was last searched on 14 July 2010. We also handsearched Chinese medical journals at Peking Union Medical College Library in April 2007.We searched the Chinese Acupuncture Trials Register, the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS), and the Chinese Biological Database (CBM) for the original review; we did not search these databases for the 2013 review update.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which one arm of the study involved acupuncture treatment.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently evaluated the search results and then full text articles against the eligibility criteria. We resolved discrepancies by discussion.
MAIN RESULTS
We included one completed and one ongoing trial, and recorded seven trials awaiting assessment for eligibility. These seven trials were written in Chinese and were identified from a systematic review on the same topic published in a Chinese journal. The completed trial compared auricular acupressure-a nonstandard acupuncture technique-with the sham procedure for glaucoma. This trial is rated at high risk of bias for masking of outcome assessors, unclear risk of bias for selective outcome reporting, and low risk of bias for other domains. The difference in intraocular pressure (measured in mm Hg) in the acupressure group was significantly less than that in the sham group at four weeks (-3.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.11 to -0.29 for the right eye; -4.90, 95% CI -8.08 to -1.72 for the left eye), but was not statistically different at any other follow-up time points, including the longest follow-up time at eight weeks. No statistically significant difference in visual acuity was noted at any follow-up time points. The ongoing trial was registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) of the World Health Organization. To date this trial has not recruited any participants.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
At this time, it is impossible to draw reliable conclusions from available data to support the use of acupuncture for the treatment of glaucoma. Because of ethical considerations, RCTs comparing acupuncture alone with standard glaucoma treatment or placebo are unlikely to be justified in countries where the standard of care has already been established. Because most glaucoma patients currently cared for by ophthalmologists do not use nontraditional therapy, clinical practice decisions will have to be based on physician judgments and patient preferences, given this lack of data in the literature. Inclusion of the seven Chinese trials in future updates of this review may change our conclusions.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Acupuncture, Ear; Glaucoma; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 23728656
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006030.pub3 -
International Wound Journal Feb 2017Diabetic foot ulcerations may determine minor or major amputation, with a high impact on patients' life expectation and quality of life and on economic burden. Among... (Review)
Review
Diabetic foot ulcerations may determine minor or major amputation, with a high impact on patients' life expectation and quality of life and on economic burden. Among minor amputations, transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) appears to be the most effective in terms of limb salvage rates and in maintaining foot and ankle biomechanics. In spite of this, TMA needs particular pre- and postoperative management in order to avoid the frequent failure rates. A systematic review was undertaken of studies concerning TMA and its care in diabetic foot gangrene. Studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE, Scopus and Science Direct databases until 13 January 2016. All studies were assessed using the Downs and Black quality checklist. Of the 348 records found, 86 matched our inclusion criteria. After reading the full-text articles, we decided to exclude 35 manuscripts because of the following reasons: (1) no innovative or important content, (2) no multivariable analysis, (3) insufficient data, (4) no clear potential biases or strategies to solve them, (5) no clear endpoints and (6) inconsistent or arbitrary conclusions. The final set included 51 articles. In the current literature, there are less data about TMA, indication for the selection of patients, outcomes and complications. Generally, the judgment of an experienced physician is one of the best indicators of subsequent healing. Ankle brachial indices, toe pressures, laser Doppler skin perfusion pressures, angiography and Doppler assessment of foot vasculature may help physicians in this decision. In any case, despite the presumed lower healing rate, it is reasonable to pursue a TMA in a patient with a higher likelihood of continued ambulation. Furthermore, tailored wound closure, adjuvant local treatments and the choice of the most appropriate antibiotic therapy, when infection occurs, are pivotal elements for the success of TMA procedures. TMA is a valuable option for diabetic foot gangrene that can prevent major limb loss and minimise loss of function, thus improving the quality of life for diabetic patients.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amputation, Surgical; Diabetic Foot; Female; Gangrene; Humans; Male; Metatarsal Bones; Middle Aged
PubMed: 27696694
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12682