-
BMJ Clinical Evidence May 2007Obesity is the result of long-term energy imbalances, where daily energy intake exceeds daily energy expenditure. Along with long-term health problems, obesity in... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is the result of long-term energy imbalances, where daily energy intake exceeds daily energy expenditure. Along with long-term health problems, obesity in children is associated with short-term psychosocial problems, including social marginalisation, low self-esteem, and impaired quality of life. Most obese adolescents stay obese as adults. Obesity is increasing among children and adolescents, with 14% of boys and 17% of girls in the UK aged 2-15 years obese in 2004.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of lifestyle interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and other important databases up to August 2006 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 10 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: behavioural interventions, diet, multifactorial interventions, and physical activity.
Topics: Behavior Therapy; Body Mass Index; Child; Energy Intake; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Incidence; Life Style; Pediatric Obesity; Quality of Life
PubMed: 19454076
DOI: No ID Found -
BMJ Open Aug 2023To compare teledermatology and face-to-face (F2F) agreement in primary diagnoses of dermatological conditions. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To compare teledermatology and face-to-face (F2F) agreement in primary diagnoses of dermatological conditions.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library (Wiley), CINAHL and medRxiv were searched between January 2010 and May 2022. Observational studies and randomised clinical trials that reported percentage agreement or kappa concordance for primary diagnoses between teledermatology and F2F physicians were included. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles were screened in duplicate. From 7173 citations, 44 articles were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate pooled estimates. Primary outcome measures were mean percentage and kappa concordance for assessing diagnostic matches between teledermatology and F2F physicians. Secondary outcome measures included the agreement between teledermatologists, F2F dermatologists, and teledermatology and histopathology results.
RESULTS
44 studies were extracted and reviewed. The pooled agreement rate was 68.9%, and kappa concordance was 0.67. When dermatologists conducted F2F and teledermatology consults, the overall diagnostic agreement was significantly higher at 71% compared with 44% for non-specialists. Kappa concordance was 0.69 for teledermatologist versus specialist and 0.52 for non-specialists. Higher diagnostic agreements were also noted with image acquisition training and digital photography. The agreement rate was 76.4% between teledermatologists, 82.4% between F2F physicians and 55.7% between teledermatology and histopathology.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Teledermatology can be an attractive option particularly in resource-poor settings. Future efforts should be placed on incorporating image acquisition training and access to high-quality imaging technologies.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
10.17605/OSF.IO/FJDVG.
Topics: Humans; Dermatology; Telemedicine; Reproducibility of Results; Referral and Consultation; Physicians; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 37567745
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068207 -
Deutsches Arzteblatt International Sep 2017There are conflicting interpretations of the evidence regarding the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids in pain management and palliative medicine. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There are conflicting interpretations of the evidence regarding the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabinoids in pain management and palliative medicine.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review (SR) of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCT) and prospective long-term observational studies of the use of cannabinoids in pain management and palliative medicine. Pertinent publications from January 2009 to January 2017 were retrieved by a selective search in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and Medline. The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed with the AMSTAR instrument, and the clinical relevance of quantitative data syntheses was assessed according to the standards of the Cochrane Collaboration.
RESULTS
Of the 750 publications identified, 11 SRs met the inclusion criteria; 3 of them were of high and 8 of moderate methodological quality. 2 prospective long-term observational studies with medical cannabis and 1 with tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol spray (THC/CBD spray) were also analyzed. There is limited evidence for a benefit of THC/CBD spray in the treatment of neuropathic pain. There is inadequate evidence for any benefit of cannabinoids (dronabinol, nabilone, medical cannabis, or THC/CBD spray) to treat cancer pain, pain of rheumatic or gastrointestinal origin, or anorexia in cancer or AIDS. Treatment with cannabis-based medicines is associated with central nervous and psychiatric side effects.
CONCLUSION
The public perception of the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabis-based medicines in pain management and palliative medicine conflicts with the findings of systematic reviews and prospective observational studies conducted according to the standards of evidence-based medicine.
Topics: Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Pain Management; Palliative Medicine; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 29017688
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0627 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Dec 2013About 10% of seizures in children with epilepsy are typical absence seizures. Absence seizures have a significant impact on quality of life. (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
About 10% of seizures in children with epilepsy are typical absence seizures. Absence seizures have a significant impact on quality of life.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of treatments for typical absence seizures in children? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to July 2013 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up to date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 18 RCTs or systematic reviews of RCTs that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: clonazepam, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lamotrigine, and valproate.
Topics: Acute Disease; Anticonvulsants; Child; Epilepsy, Absence; Ethosuximide; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Quality of Life; Seizures; Treatment Outcome; Valproic Acid
PubMed: 24351614
DOI: No ID Found -
The American Journal of Tropical... Jun 2021Poor-quality medicines are the cause of many public health and socioeconomic problems. We conducted a review to acquire an overview of the situation concerning such... (Review)
Review
Poor-quality medicines are the cause of many public health and socioeconomic problems. We conducted a review to acquire an overview of the situation concerning such medicines in Cameroon. Different searches were performed on databases from several websites of the WHO, the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, the Anti-Counterfeit Medicine Research Institute, the Global Pharma Health Fund, and the Infectious Disease Data Observatory. We identified 92 publications comprised of 19 peer-reviewed studies and 73 alerts. Based on studies completed, 1,664 samples were analyzed, and the prevalence of substandard and falsified (SF) medicines could be estimated for 1,440 samples. A total of 67.5% of these samples were collected from the informal sector, 20.9% from the formal sector, and 11.6% from both sectors. We found a prevalence of SF medicines across the peer-reviewed studies of 26.9%, whereas most of the SF medicines belonged to the anti-infective class. The problem of SF medicines is not studied sufficiently in Cameroon; therefore, efforts should be made to conduct adequate studies in terms of representativity and methodology.
Topics: Cameroon; Communicable Diseases; Counterfeit Drugs; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Prevalence; Public Health
PubMed: 34125703
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1346 -
Mapping the value for money of precision medicine: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in Public Health 2023This study aimed to quantify heterogeneity in the value for money of precision medicine (PM) by application types across contexts and conditions and to quantify sources... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to quantify heterogeneity in the value for money of precision medicine (PM) by application types across contexts and conditions and to quantify sources of heterogeneity to areas of particular promises or concerns as the field of PM moves forward.
METHODS
A systemic search was performed in Embase, Medline, EconLit, and CRD databases for studies published between 2011 and 2021 on cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of PM interventions. Based on a willingness-to-pay threshold of one-time GDP of each study country, the net monetary benefit (NMB) of PM was pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Sources of heterogeneity and study biases were examined using random-effects meta-regressions, jackknife sensitivity analysis, and the biases in economic studies checklist.
RESULTS
Among the 275 unique CEAs of PM, publicly sponsored studies found neither genetic testing nor gene therapy cost-effective in general, which was contradictory to studies funded by commercial entities and early stage evaluations. Evidence of PM being cost-effective was concentrated in a genetic test for screening, diagnosis, or as companion diagnostics (pooled NMBs, $48,152, $8,869, $5,693, < 0.001), in the form of multigene panel testing (pooled NMBs = $31,026, < 0.001), which only applied to a few disease areas such as cancer and high-income countries. Incremental effectiveness was an essential value driver for varied genetic tests but not gene therapy.
CONCLUSION
Precision medicine's value for money across application types and contexts was difficult to conclude from published studies, which might be subject to systematic bias. The conducting and reporting of CEA of PM should be locally based and standardized for meaningful comparisons.
Topics: Precision Medicine; Cost-Benefit Analysis
PubMed: 38074712
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1151504 -
Arthritis Care & Research Oct 2017To identify and summarize the published and gray literature on the use of telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory and/or autoimmune rheumatic... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To identify and summarize the published and gray literature on the use of telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory and/or autoimmune rheumatic disease.
METHODS
We performed a registered systematic search (CRD42015025382) for studies using MEDLINE (1946 to July 2015), Embase (1974 to July 2015), Web of Science (1900 to July 2015), and Scopus (1946 to July 2015) databases. We included studies that demonstrated the use of telemedicine for diagnosis and/or management of inflammatory/autoimmune rheumatic disease. Following data extraction, we performed a descriptive analysis.
RESULTS
Our literature search identified 1,468 potentially eligible studies. Of these studies, 20 were ultimately included in this review. Studies varied significantly in publication type, quality of evidence, and the reporting of methods. Most demonstrated a high risk of bias. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most commonly studied rheumatic disease (42% of patients). Studies demonstrated conflicting results regarding the effectiveness of telemedicine (18 found it effective, 1 found it effective but possibly harmful, and 1 found it ineffective). A limited number of studies included some component of a cost analysis (n = 6; 16% of patients); all of these found telemedicine to be cost-effective.
CONCLUSION
Studies identified by this systematic review generally found telemedicine to be effective for the diagnosis and management of autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic disease; however, there is limited evidence to support this conclusion. Further studies are needed to determine the best uses of telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of these conditions.
Topics: Autoimmune Diseases; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Evidence-Based Medicine; Health Care Costs; Humans; Rheumatic Diseases; Rheumatology; Telemedicine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 27863164
DOI: 10.1002/acr.23153 -
Journal of General Internal Medicine Aug 2021Gender disparities exist in the careers of women in medicine. This review explores the qualitative literature to understand how gender influences professional... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Gender disparities exist in the careers of women in medicine. This review explores the qualitative literature to understand how gender influences professional trajectories, and identify opportunities for intervention.
METHODS
A systematic review and thematic synthesis included articles obtained from PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), APA PsycInfo (Ovid), and GenderWatch (ProQuest) on June 26 2020, updated on September 10, 2020. Included studies explored specialty choice, leadership roles, practice setting, burnout, promotion, stigma, mentoring, and organizational culture. Studies taking place outside of the USA, using only quantitative data, conducted prior to 2000, or focused on other health professions were excluded. Data were extracted using a standardized extraction tool and assessed for rigor and quality using a 9-item appraisal tool. A three-step process for thematic synthesis was used to generate analytic themes and construct a conceptual model. The study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020199999).
FINDINGS
Among 1524 studies identified, 64 were eligible for analysis. Five themes contributed to a conceptual model for the influence of gender on women's careers in medicine that resembles a developmental socio-ecological model. Gender influences career development externally through culture which valorizes masculine stereotypes and internally shapes women's integration of personal and professional values.
CONCLUSION
Medical culture and structures are implicitly biased against women. Equitable environments in education, mentoring, hiring, promotion, compensation, and support for work-life integration are needed to address gender disparities in medicine. Explicit efforts to create inclusive institutional cultures and policies are essential to support a diverse workforce.
Topics: Female; Humans; Leadership; Medicine; Mentoring; Mentors; Organizational Culture
PubMed: 33948802
DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-06836-z -
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care Jan 2024The utilisation of palliative sedation is often favoured by patients approaching end of life due to the presence of multiple difficult-to-manage symptoms during the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The utilisation of palliative sedation is often favoured by patients approaching end of life due to the presence of multiple difficult-to-manage symptoms during the terminal stage. This study aimed to identify the determinants of the use of palliative sedation.
METHODS
To identify pertinent observational studies, a comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO databases from their inception until March 2022. The methodological quality of the chosen prospective and retrospective cohort studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale, while the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the selected cross-sectional studies. For each potential determinant of interest, the collected data were synthesised and analysed, and in cases where data could not be combined, a narrative synthesis approach was adopted.
RESULTS
A total of 21 studies were analysed in this research, consisting of 4 prospective cohort studies, 7 retrospective cohort studies, and 10 cross-sectional studies. The findings indicated that several determinants were significantly associated with palliative sedation. These determinants included younger age, male gender, presence of tumours, dyspnoea, pain, delirium, making advanced medical end-of-life decisions, and dying in a hospital setting.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of our review could help physicians identify patients who may need palliative sedation in advance and implement targeted interventions to reverse refractory symptoms, develop personalized palliative sedation programs, and ultimately improve the quality of palliative care services.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration number CRD42022324720.
Topics: Humans; Death; Palliative Care; Palliative Medicine; Terminal Care; Deep Sedation
PubMed: 37553203
DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2022-004085 -
Journal of Digital Imaging Jun 2023Artificial neural networks (ANN) are artificial intelligence (AI) techniques used in the automated recognition and classification of pathological changes from clinical... (Review)
Review
Use of Deep Neural Networks in the Detection and Automated Classification of Lesions Using Clinical Images in Ophthalmology, Dermatology, and Oral Medicine-A Systematic Review.
Artificial neural networks (ANN) are artificial intelligence (AI) techniques used in the automated recognition and classification of pathological changes from clinical images in areas such as ophthalmology, dermatology, and oral medicine. The combination of enterprise imaging and AI is gaining notoriety for its potential benefits in healthcare areas such as cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, pathology, physiatry, radiation oncology, radiology, and endoscopic. The present study aimed to analyze, through a systematic literature review, the application of performance of ANN and deep learning in the recognition and automated classification of lesions from clinical images, when comparing to the human performance. The PRISMA 2020 approach (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) was used by searching four databases of studies that reference the use of IA to define the diagnosis of lesions in ophthalmology, dermatology, and oral medicine areas. A quantitative and qualitative analyses of the articles that met the inclusion criteria were performed. The search yielded the inclusion of 60 studies. It was found that the interest in the topic has increased, especially in the last 3 years. We observed that the performance of IA models is promising, with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, most of them had outcomes equivalent to human comparators. The reproducibility of the performance of models in real-life practice has been reported as a critical point. Study designs and results have been progressively improved. IA resources have the potential to contribute to several areas of health. In the coming years, it is likely to be incorporated into everyday life, contributing to the precision and reducing the time required by the diagnostic process.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Reproducibility of Results; Ophthalmology; Dermatology; Neural Networks, Computer
PubMed: 36650299
DOI: 10.1007/s10278-023-00775-3