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Heliyon Sep 2021There is evidence that Nigeria is already experiencing environmental challenges attributed to climate change (CC) and its impacts. This has clearly highlighted the need... (Review)
Review
There is evidence that Nigeria is already experiencing environmental challenges attributed to climate change (CC) and its impacts. This has clearly highlighted the need for knowledge-based strategies to help plan adequate mitigation and adaptation measures for the country. One of the basic requirements to ensure such strategies is the development of a database of national CC research. This will aid in the assessment of past and present scientific publications from which directions for future study can be mapped. The present study used standard, systematic, and bibliographic literature reviews to analyse the trend, focus, spatial variability, and effectiveness of published research on CC impacts in Nigeria. Four thematic areas of CC impact research were defined: Agriculture, Environment, Human and Multi-disciplinary study. A total of 701 articles were found to be relevant and the review shows that CC impacts and adaptations in the literature vary across research categories and locations. The period between 2011 (68 studies) and 2015 (80 studies) showed a tremendous rise in CC impact research with a peak in 2014 (84 studies). Studies in the agriculture category had the highest publications in 23 States of Nigeria. The review revealed three research gaps: (1) lack of research that investigated the magnitude of present and potential future impacts in the aquatic environment (2) little attention on CC impacts and adaptation in the Northern regions of Nigeria (3) absence of study investigating the effects of multiple variables of CC at the same time. The findings suggest that it would be useful to advance CC research in Nigeria beyond perceptive approaches to more quantitative ones. This is particularly important for highly vulnerable animals, crops, locations, and for better planning of adaptation strategies.
PubMed: 34541351
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07941 -
Cureus Oct 2021Our objective is to analyze the risk of particle spread through mastoidectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic with an aim to assess the tools used to mitigate the... (Review)
Review
Our objective is to analyze the risk of particle spread through mastoidectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic with an aim to assess the tools used to mitigate the spread. A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Our search terms included: MASTOIDECTOMY + COVID-19 or MASTOIDECTOMY + SAR- CoV-2 or MASTOIDECTOMY + CORONAVIRUS. Studies consistent with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the review. Of the 20 articles identified in the initial search, six met the inclusion criteria. The included articles were all experimental studies, with five studies using cadaver subjects and one study using live human subjects. Three studies measured droplet spread and three studies measured aerosolized particle spread. The maximum distance of particle spread ranged from 30 cm to 208 cm. Four studies assessed the use of a barrier system, with two using the OtoTent and two using a barrier drape. Two studies defined the microscope alone as a possible mitigatory tool. One study compared burr type and size to determine the effects on particle spread. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, evaluation of tools to mitigate particle spread is imperative for the safety of the surgical team and the healthcare system at large. Barrier drapes, OtoTents and microscopes all have proven to mitigate particle spread; however, further research needs to be performed to compare their efficacy and develop a standard of safety.
PubMed: 34853757
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19040 -
Life Sciences Feb 2024Physical exercise has been widely recognized for its positive effects on health and well-being. Recently, the impact of exercise on the nervous system has gained... (Review)
Review
AIMS
Physical exercise has been widely recognized for its positive effects on health and well-being. Recently, the impact of exercise on the nervous system has gained attention, with evidence indicating improvements in attention, memory, neurogenesis, and the release of "happiness hormones." One potential mediator of these benefits is Irisin, a myokine induced by exercise that can cross the blood-brain barrier, reduce neuroinflammation, and counteract neurodegeneration. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of animal trials to summarize the neuroprotective effects of Irisin injection in mitigating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two independent reviewers screened three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar) in November 2022. Animal studies assessing the neuroprotective effects of Irisin in mitigating neuroinflammation or counteracting neurodegeneration were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using SYRCLE's Risk of Bias tool.
KEY FINDINGS
Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Irisin injection in rodents significantly reduced neuroinflammation, cytokine cascades, and neurodegeneration. It also protected neurons from damage and apoptosis, reduced oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier disruption, and neurobehavioral deficits following disease or injury. Various mechanisms were suggested to be responsible for these neuroprotective effects. Most of the included studies presented a low risk of bias based on SYRCLE's Risk of Bias tool. Irisin injection demonstrated the potential to alleviate neuroinflammation and counteract neurodegeneration in rodent models through multiple pathways. However, further research is needed to fully understand its mechanism of action and its potential applications in clinical practice and drug discovery.
Topics: Animals; Fibronectins; Neuroprotective Agents; Neuroinflammatory Diseases; Exercise; Brain
PubMed: 38176582
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122393 -
Frontiers in Neural Circuits 2023Space Motion Sickness (SMS) is a syndrome that affects around 70% of astronauts and includes symptoms of nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vertigo, headaches, vomiting, and...
INTRODUCTION
Space Motion Sickness (SMS) is a syndrome that affects around 70% of astronauts and includes symptoms of nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vertigo, headaches, vomiting, and cold sweating. Consequences range from discomfort to severe sensorimotor and cognitive incapacitation, which might cause potential problems for mission-critical tasks and astronauts and cosmonauts' well-being. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological countermeasures have been proposed to mitigate SMS. However, their effectiveness has not been systematically evaluated. Here we present the first systematic review of published peer-reviewed research on the effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological countermeasures to SMS.
METHODS
We performed a double-blind title and abstract screening using the online Rayyan collaboration tool for systematic reviews, followed by a full-text screening. Eventually, only 23 peer-reviewed studies underwent data extraction.
RESULTS
Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological countermeasures can help mitigate SMS symptoms.
DISCUSSION
No definitive recommendation can be given regarding the superiority of any particular countermeasure approach. Importantly, there is considerable heterogeneity in the published research methods, lack of a standardized assessment approach, and small sample sizes. To allow for consistent comparisons between SMS countermeasures in the future, standardized testing protocols for spaceflight and ground-based analogs are needed. We believe that the data should be made openly available, given the uniqueness of the environment in which it is collected.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021244131.
Topics: Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Space Flight; Space Motion Sickness; Vestibule, Labyrinth; Weightlessness
PubMed: 37396400
DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1150233 -
Preventive Medicine Reports Jun 2024Sleep apnea, a prevalent global health issue, is characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. This systematic review aggregates global data to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Sleep apnea, a prevalent global health issue, is characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. This systematic review aggregates global data to outline a comprehensive analysis of its associated risk factors.
PURPOSE
The systematic review underscores the global prevalence of sleep apnea and the universal importance of its early detection and management by delineating key risk factors contributing to its development.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We conducted a thorough systematic review of international medical databases up to July 31, 2023, including PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library, to ensure a wide-ranging collection of data reflective of various populations.
RESULTS
The systematic review identifies several risk factors such as obesity, age, gender, neck circumference, family history, smoking, alcohol use, underlying medical conditions, and nasal congestion, highlighting their prevalence across diverse demographics globally.
CONCLUSION
Emphasizing lifestyle modifications and proactive interventions, our findings advocate for global health strategies to mitigate the risk of sleep apnea and enhance sleep health worldwide.
PubMed: 38741931
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102750 -
JMIR Mental Health Oct 2023Evidence suggests that digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for common mental health conditions are effective. However, digital interventions, such as... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for common mental health conditions are effective. However, digital interventions, such as face-to-face therapies, pose risks to patients. A safe intervention is considered one in which the measured benefits outweigh the identified and mitigated risks.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to review the literature to assess how DMHIs assess safety, what risks are reported, and how they are mitigated in both the research and postmarket phases and building on existing recommendations for assessing, reporting, and mitigating safety in the DMHI and standardizing practice.
METHODS
PsycINFO, Embase, and MEDLINE databases were searched for studies that addressed the safety of DMHIs. The inclusion criteria were any study that addressed the safety of a clinical DMHI, even if not as a main outcome, in an adult population, and in English. As the outcome data were mainly qualitative in nature, a meta-analysis was not possible, and qualitative analysis was used to collate the results. Quantitative results were synthesized in the form of tables and percentages. To illustrate the use of a single common safety metric across studies, we calculated odds ratios and CIs, wherever possible.
RESULTS
Overall, 23 studies were included in this review. Although many of the included studies assessed safety by actively collecting adverse event (AE) data, over one-third (8/23, 35%) did not assess or collect any safety data. The methods and frequency of safety data collection varied widely, and very few studies have performed formal statistical analyses. The main treatment-related reported AE was symptom deterioration. The main method used to mitigate risk was exclusion of high-risk groups. A secondary web-based search found that 6 DMHIs were available for users or patients to use (postmarket phase), all of which used indications and contraindications to mitigate risk, although there was no evidence of ongoing safety review.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this review show the need for a standardized classification of AEs, a standardized method for assessing AEs to statically analyze AE data, and evidence-based practices for mitigating risk in DMHIs, both in the research and postmarket phases. This review produced 7 specific, measurable, and achievable recommendations with the potential to have an immediate impact on the field, which were implemented across ongoing and future research. Improving the quality of DMHI safety data will allow meaningful assessment of the safety of DMHIs and confidence in whether the benefits of a new DMHI outweigh its risks.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022333181; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=333181.
PubMed: 37812471
DOI: 10.2196/47433 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery Mar 2022Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is one of the most devastating complications after descending thoracic aortic (DTA) and thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) repairs. Patients who...
OBJECTIVE
Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) is one of the most devastating complications after descending thoracic aortic (DTA) and thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) repairs. Patients who develop SCI have a poor prognosis, with mortality rates reaching 75% within the first year after surgery. Many factors have been shown to increase the risk of this complication, including the extent of TAA repair, length of aortic and collateral network coverage, embolization, and reduced spinal cord perfusion pressure. As a result, a variety of treatment strategies have been developed. We aimed to provide an up-to-date review of SCI rates with associated treatment algorithms from open and endovascular DTA and TAA repair.
METHODS
Using PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines, a literature review with the MeSH (medical subject headings) terms "spinal cord ischemia," "spinal cord ischemia prevention and mitigation strategies," "spinal cord ischemia rates," and "spinal cord infarction" was performed in the Cochrane and PubMed databases to find all peer-reviewed studies of DTA and TAA repair with SCI complications reported. The search was limited to 2012 to 2021 and English-language reports. MeSH subheadings, including diagnosis, complications, physiopathology, surgery, mortality, and therapy, were used to further restrict the included studies. Studies were excluded if they were not of humans, had not pertained to SCI after DTA or TAA operative repair, and if the study had primarily discussed neuromonitoring techniques. Additionally, studies with <40 patients or limited information regarding SCI protection strategies were excluded. Each study was individually reviewed by two of us (S.L. and A.D.) to assess the type and extent of aortic pathology, operative technique, SCI protection or mitigation strategies, rates of overall and permanent SCI symptoms, associations with SCI on multivariate analysis, and mortality.
RESULTS
Of the 450 studies returned by the MeSH search strategy, 41 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. For the endovascular DTA repair patients, the overall SCI rates ranged from 0% to 10.6%, with permanent SCI symptoms ranging from 0% to 5.1%. The rate of overall SCI after endovascular and open TAA repair was 0% to 35%. The permanent SCI symptom rate was reported by only one study of open repair at 1.1%. The permanent SCI symptom rate after endovascular TAA repair was 2% to 20.5%.
CONCLUSIONS
The present review has provided an up-to-date review of the current rates of SCI and the prevention and mitigation strategies used during DTA and TAA repair. We found that a multimodal approach, including a bundled institutional protocol, staging of multiple repairs, preservation of the collateral blood flow network, augmented spinal cord perfusion, selective cerebrospinal fluid drainage, and distal aortic perfusion during open TAA repairs, appears to be important in reducing the risk of SCI.
Topics: Algorithms; Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Diseases; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Decision Support Techniques; Endovascular Procedures; Humans; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Spinal Cord Ischemia; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34740806
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2021.10.039 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Jan 2023As a global industry, sport makes potentially significant contributions to climate change through both carbon emissions and influence over sustainability practices. Yet,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
As a global industry, sport makes potentially significant contributions to climate change through both carbon emissions and influence over sustainability practices. Yet, evidence regarding impacts is uneven and spread across many disciplines. This paper investigates the impacts of sport emissions on climate and identifies knowledge gaps. We undertook a systematic and iterative meta-analysis of relevant literature (1992-2022) on organized and individual sports. Using a defined search protocol, 116 sources were identified that map to four sport-related themes: (1) carbon emissions and their measurement; (2) emissions control and decarbonization; (3) carbon sinks and offsets; and (4) behavior change. We find that mega sport events, elite sport, soccer, skiing, and golf have received most attention, whereas grass-roots and women's sport, activity in Africa and South America, cricket, tennis, and volleyball are understudied. Other knowledge gaps include carbon accounting tools and indicators for smaller sports clubs and active participants; cobenefits and tradeoffs between mitigation-adaptation efforts in sport, such as around logistics, venues, sports equipment, and facilities; geopolitical influence; and scope for climate change litigation against hosts and/or sponsors of carbon-intensive events. Among these, researchers should target cobenefits given their scope to deliver wins for both climate mitigation and risk management of sport.
Topics: Female; Humans; Carbon; Climate Change; Industry; South America
PubMed: 36377356
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14925 -
Preventive Veterinary Medicine Feb 2017Infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) results in major economic losses either directly through decreased productive performance in cattle herds or... (Review)
Review
Infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) results in major economic losses either directly through decreased productive performance in cattle herds or indirectly, such as through expenses for control programs. The aim of this systematic review was to review financial and/or economic assessment studies of prevention and/or mitigation activities of BVDV at national, regional and farm level worldwide. Once all predefined criteria had been met, 35 articles were included for this systematic review. Studies were analyzed with particular focus on the type of financially and/or economically-assessed prevention and/or mitigation activities. Due to the wide range of possible prevention and/or mitigation activities, these activities were grouped into five categories: i) control and/or eradication programs, ii) monitoring or surveillance, iii) prevention, iv) vaccination and v) individual culling, control and testing strategies. Additionally, the studies were analyzed according to economically-related variables such as efficiency, costs or benefits of prevention and/or mitigation activities, the applied financial and/or economic and statistical methods, the payers of prevention and/or mitigation activities, the assessed production systems, and the countries for which such evaluations are available. Financial and/or economic assessments performed in Europe were dominated by those from the United Kingdom, which assessed mostly vaccination strategies, and Norway which primarily carried out assessments in the area of control and eradication programs; whereas among non-European countries the United States carried out the majority of financial and/or economic assessments in the area of individual culling, control and testing. More than half of all studies provided an efficiency calculation of prevention and/or mitigation activities and demonstrated whether the inherent costs of implemented activities were or were not justified. The dairy sector was three times more likely to be assessed by the countries than beef production systems. In addition, the dairy sector was approximately eight times more likely to be assessed economically with respect to prevention and/or mitigation activities than calf and youngstock production systems. Furthermore, the private sector was identified as the primary payer of prevention and/or mitigation activities. This systematic review demonstrated a lack of studies relating to efficiency calculations, in particular at national and regional level, and the specific production systems. Thus, we confirmed the need for more well-designed studies in animal health economics in order to demonstrate that the implementation and inherent costs of BVDV prevention and/or mitigation activities are justified.
Topics: Animals; Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease; Cattle; Costs and Cost Analysis; Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral
PubMed: 28040270
DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.12.014 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2022In an unprecedented fashion, COVID-19 has impacted the work-family interface since March 2020. As one of the COVID-19 pandemic consequences, remote work became widely...
UNLABELLED
In an unprecedented fashion, COVID-19 has impacted the work-family interface since March 2020. As one of the COVID-19 pandemic consequences, remote work became widely adopted. Furthermore, it is expected that other pandemics will occur in the future. Hence, this context represents a chance to gain deeper insight into telecommuters' work and family spheres. Following PRISMA guidelines, the present narrative review aims to synthesise the COVID-19 impact on the work-family interface. Out of 121 screened references, 32 articles that measure at least one of the following variables-work-family conflict (25), work-family enrichment (3), work-family balance (8), and boundary management (21) were included. A thematic analysis using NVIVO12 was conducted, from which eight topics emerged: "paid workload, unpaid workload, and gender"; "well-being and gender"; "job resources, job demands, and gender"; "couples and gender"; "parenting and gender"; "occurrence of work-family enrichment with work-family conflict and gender"; "enforced blurred boundaries, its management, and gender"; "boundary management impact on work-family conflict, work-family enrichment, and work-family balance." Overall, studies point out that COVID-19 had a complex effect on both work-family conflict and work-family balance, making it difficult to state whether these variables were mitigated or augmented. Findings demonstrated that COVID-19 produced little changes in work-family enrichment. As for the COVID-19 impact on work-family boundary management, individuals had to create new tactics to manage them due to the absence of boundaries between both systems. Besides, due to traditional gendered roles, the COVID-19 health crisis seems to have brought additional hurdles to couples and women.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021278254], identifier [CRD42021278254].
PubMed: 35992445
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.914474