-
Neuropsychopharmacology : Official... Oct 2021Loneliness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Deeper understanding of neurobiological mechanisms underlying loneliness is needed to identify potential...
Loneliness is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Deeper understanding of neurobiological mechanisms underlying loneliness is needed to identify potential intervention targets. We did not find any systematic review of neurobiology of loneliness. Using MEDLINE and PsycINFO online databases, we conducted a search for peer-reviewed publications examining loneliness and neurobiology. We identified 41 studies (n = 16,771 participants) that had employed various methods including computer tomography (CT), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and post-mortem brain tissue RNA analysis or pathological analysis. Our synthesis of the published findings shows abnormal structure (gray matter volume or white matter integrity) and/or activity (response to pleasant versus stressful images in social versus nonsocial contexts) in the prefrontal cortex (especially medial and dorsolateral), insula (particularly anterior), amygdala, hippocampus, and posterior superior temporal cortex. The findings related to ventral striatum and cerebellum were mixed. fMRI studies reported links between loneliness and differential activation of attentional networks, visual networks, and default mode network. Loneliness was also related to biological markers associated with Alzheimer's disease (e.g., amyloid and tau burden). Although the published investigations have limitations, this review suggests relationships of loneliness with altered structure and function in specific brain regions and networks. We found a notable overlap in the regions involved in loneliness and compassion, the two personality traits that are inversely correlated in previous studies. We have offered recommendations for future research studies of neurobiology of loneliness.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Brain; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Humans; Loneliness; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 34230607
DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01058-7 -
Cancers Nov 2021Primary skull base chondrosarcomas (SBCs) can severely affect patients' quality of life. Surgical-resection and radiotherapy are feasible but may cause debilitating... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Primary skull base chondrosarcomas (SBCs) can severely affect patients' quality of life. Surgical-resection and radiotherapy are feasible but may cause debilitating complications. We systematically reviewed the literature on primary SBCs.
METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web-of-Science, and Cochrane were searched following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies of patients with primary SBCs. Clinical characteristics, management strategies, and treatment outcomes were analyzed.
RESULTS
We included 33 studies comprising 1307 patients. Primary SBCs mostly involved the middle-fossa (72.7%), infiltrating the cavernous-sinus in 42.4% of patients. Cranial-neuropathies were reported in 810 patients (62%). Surgical-resection (93.3%) was preferred over biopsy (6.6%). The most frequent open surgical approaches were frontotemporal-orbitozygomatic (17.6%) and pterional (11.9%), and 111 patients (21.3%) underwent endoscopic-endonasal resection. Post-surgical cerebrospinal-fluid leaks occurred in 36 patients (6.5%). Radiotherapy was delivered in 1018 patients (77.9%): photon-based (41.4%), proton-based (64.2%), and carbon-based (13.1%). Severe post-radiotherapy complications, mostly hypopituitarism (15.4%) and hearing loss (7.1%) were experienced by 251 patients (30.7%). Post-treatment symptom-improvement (46.7%) and reduced/stable tumor volumes (85.4%) showed no differences based on radiotherapy-protocols ( = 0.165; = 0.062). Median follow-up was 67-months (range, 0.1-376). SBCs recurrences were reported in 211 cases (16.1%). The 5-year and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 84.3% and 67.4%, and overall survival rates were 94% and 84%.
CONCLUSION
Surgical-resection and radiotherapy are effective treatments in primary SBCs, with acceptable complication rates and favorable local tumor control.
PubMed: 34885071
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235960 -
Radiation Oncology (London, England) May 2023Particle therapy, mainly including carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT), has dose distribution advantages compared to photon radiotherapy. It has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Particle therapy, mainly including carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT), has dose distribution advantages compared to photon radiotherapy. It has been widely reported as a promising treatment method for early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its application in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) is relatively rare, and its efficacy and safety are inconclusive. This study aimed to provide systematic evidence for evaluating the efficacy and safety of particle therapy for inoperable LA-NSCLC.
METHODS
To retrieve published literature, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library until September 4, 2022. The primary endpoints were local control (LC) rate, overall survival (OS) rate, and progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 2 and 5 years. The secondary endpoint was treatment-related toxicity. The pooled clinical outcomes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by using STATA 15.1.
RESULTS
Nineteen eligible studies with a total sample size of 851 patients were included. The pooled data demonstrated that the OS, PFS, and LC rates at 2 years of LA-NSCLC treated by particle therapy were 61.3% (95% CI = 54.7-68.7%), 37.9% (95% CI = 33.8-42.6%) and 82.2% (95% CI = 78.7-85.9%), respectively. The pooled 5-year OS, PFS, and LC rates were 41.3% (95% CI = 27.1-63.1%), 25.3% (95% CI = 16.3-39.4%), and 61.5% (95% CI = 50.7-74.6%), respectively. Subgroup analysis stratified by treatment type showed that the concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT, PBT combined with concurrent chemotherapy) group had better survival benefits than the PBT and CIRT groups. The incidence rates of grade 3/4 esophagitis, dermatitis, and pneumonia in LA-NSCLC patients after particle therapy were 2.6% (95% CI = 0.4-6.0%), 2.6% (95% CI = 0.5-5.7%) and 3.4% (95% CI = 1.4-6.0%), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Particle therapy demonstrated promising efficacy and acceptable toxicity in LA-NSCLC patients.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Progression-Free Survival; Proton Therapy; Chemoradiotherapy
PubMed: 37217970
DOI: 10.1186/s13014-023-02264-x -
Obesity Surgery Nov 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the short- and medium-term weight loss outcomes and comorbidity resolution following endoscopic sleeve... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the short- and medium-term weight loss outcomes and comorbidity resolution following endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. Our search identified 35 relevant studies containing data from 7525 patients. Overall, pooled short-term (12 months) total weight loss (TWL) was 16.2% (95% CI 13.1-19.4%) in 23 studies (n = 5659). Pooled medium-term TWL was 15.4% (95% CI 13.7-17.2%) in 10 studies (n = 4040). Diabetes resolution was 55.4% (95% CI 46-64%), hypertension resolution was 62.8% (95% CI 43-82%), dyslipidaemia resolution was 56.3% (95% CI 49-63%), and obstructive sleep apnoea resolution was 51.7% (95% CI 16.2-87.3%) in four studies (n = 480). This pooled analysis demonstrates that ESG can induce durable weight loss and resolution of obesity-associated comorbidities in patients with moderate obesity.
Topics: Humans; Gastroplasty; Obesity, Morbid; Obesity; Comorbidity; Weight Loss; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37700147
DOI: 10.1007/s11695-023-06778-x -
Journal of the International Society of... Dec 2023Reference values of body fat for competitive volleyball players are lacking, making it difficult to interpret measurement results. This review systematically summarized... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Reference values of body fat for competitive volleyball players are lacking, making it difficult to interpret measurement results. This review systematically summarized published data on the relative body fat of volleyball players and calculated potential differences between sex, measurement method, and competitive level.
METHODS
The protocol followed the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The literature search was conducted using five electronic databases to retrieve all relevant publications from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2021. The 63 studies including 2607 players that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed using random-effects models. Data were reported as pooled mean body fat with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS
Body fat for males and females was 12.8% (11.9-13.8%) and 22.8% (21.9-23.7%), respectively. Body fat was 18.3% (16.3-20.4%) measured via skinfolds, 18.4% (15.6-21.2%) via bioelectrical impedance analysis, 24.2% (20.4-28.0%) via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and 21.6% (17.4-25.8%) via densitometry. Regional, national, and international-level players had body fat values of 19.5% (17.8-21.2%), 20.3% (18.6-22.0%), and 17.9% (15.7-20.4%), respectively. When the meta-regression was adjusted for the variables sex, measurement method, and competitive level, a significant difference between sex ( < 0.001), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and skinfolds ( = 0.02), and national and international-level players ( = 0.02) was found. However, sensitivity analysis revealed that findings regarding measurement method and competitive level were not robust and should, therefore, be interpreted with caution.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the limitations of published data, this meta-analysis provided pooled values for body fat of male and female volleyball players for different competitive levels and measurement methods.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Volleyball; Body Composition; Anthropometry; Adipose Tissue; Absorptiometry, Photon
PubMed: 37578094
DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2246414 -
Journal of Eating Disorders Nov 2022Lower bone mineral density (BMD) increases the risk of osteoporosis in individuals with eating disorders (EDs), particularly women with anorexia nervosa (AN), making... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lower bone mineral density (BMD) increases the risk of osteoporosis in individuals with eating disorders (EDs), particularly women with anorexia nervosa (AN), making them susceptible to pain and fractures throughout adulthood. In AN, low weight, hypothalamic amenorrhoea, and longer illness duration are established risk factors for low BMD, and in people with other EDs a history of AN seems to be an important risk factor for low BMD.
PURPOSE
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of BMD in individuals with EDs, including AN, bulimia nervosa (BN), binge-eating disorder (BED) and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) compared to healthy controls (HC).
METHODS
Following PRISMA guidelines, electronic databases were reviewed and supplemented with a literature search until 2/2022 of publications measuring BMD (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or dual photon absorptiometry) in females with any current ED diagnosis and a HC group. Primary outcomes were spine, hip, femur and total body BMD. Explanatory variables were fat mass, lean mass and ED clinical characteristics (age, illness duration, body mass index (BMI), amenorrhoea occurrence and duration, and oral contraceptives use).
RESULTS
Forty-three studies were identified (N = 4163 women, mean age 23.4 years, min: 14.0, max: 37.4). No study with individuals with BED met the inclusion criteria. BMD in individuals with AN (total body, spine, hip, and femur), with BN (total body and spine) and with OSFED (spine) was lower than in HC. Meta-regression analyses of women with any ED (AN, BN or OSFED) (N = 2058) showed low BMI, low fat mass, low lean mass and being amenorrhoeic significantly associated with lower total body and spine BMD. In AN, only low fat mass was significantly associated with low total body BMD.
CONCLUSION
Predictors of low BMD were low BMI, low fat mass, low lean mass and amenorrhoea, but not age or illness duration. In people with EDs, body composition measurement and menstrual status, in addition to BMI, are likely to provide a more accurate assessment of individual risk to low BMD and osteoporosis.
PubMed: 36401318
DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00694-8 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2022Central nervous system tumors are now the most common primary neoplasms seen in children, and radiation therapy is a key component in management. Secondary malignant...
BACKGROUND
Central nervous system tumors are now the most common primary neoplasms seen in children, and radiation therapy is a key component in management. Secondary malignant neoplasms (SMNs) are rare, but dreaded complications. Proton beam therapy (PBT) can potentially minimize the risk of SMNs compared to conventional photon radiation therapy (RT), and multiple recent studies with mature data have reported the risk of SMNs after PBT. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize and compare the incidence of SMNs after proton and photon-based radiation for pediatric CNS tumors.
METHODS
A systematic search of literature on electronic (PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Embase) databases was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. We included studies reporting the incidence and nature of SMNs in pediatric patients with primary CNS tumors. The crude incidence of SMNs and all secondary neoplasms were separately extracted, and the random-effects model was used for pooled analysis and subgroup comparison was performed between studies using photons vs. protons.
RESULTS
Twenty-four studies were included for analysis. A total of 418 SMNs were seen in 38,163 patients. The most common SMN were gliomas (40.6%) followed by meningiomas (38.7%), sarcomas (4.8%), and thyroid cancers (4.2%). The median follow-up was 8.8 years [3.3-23.2].The median latency to SMN for photons and protons were 11.9 years [5-23] and 5.9 years [5-6.7], respectively. The pooled incidence of SMNs was 1.8% (95% CI: 1.1%-2.6%, I = 94%) with photons and 1.5% (95% CI: 0%-4.5%, I = 81%) with protons. The pooled incidence of all SNs was not different [photons: 3.6% (95% CI: 2.5%-4.8%, I = 96%) vs. protons: 1.5% (95% CI: 0-4.5%, I = 80%); p = 0.21].
CONCLUSION
We observed similar rates of SMN with PBT at 1.5% compared to 1.8% with photon-based RT for pediatric CNS tumors. We observed a shorter latency to SMN with PBT compared to RT. With increasing use of pencil beam scanning PBT and VMAT, further studies are warranted to evaluate the risk of secondary cancers in patients treated with these newer modalities.
PubMed: 36033525
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.893855 -
Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences 2022In root canal therapy, the cleaning and shaping of canals are routinely applied by clinicians in order to remove microorganisms. Eradicating bacteria from the root... (Review)
Review
In root canal therapy, the cleaning and shaping of canals are routinely applied by clinicians in order to remove microorganisms. Eradicating bacteria from the root canal system plays a crucial role in long-term success; however, it is not always easy to disinfect root canals properly because of their complicated anatomy and bacterial load. Achieving an optimally disinfected root canal environment requires adjunctive antibacterial therapeutic methods. High-power laser utilization as an adjunctive strategy to conventional treatment is a relatively new approach that helps clinicians. This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Online databases, namely Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library, were searched electronically regarding lasers and endodontic treatments. Appropriate studies were included according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Among 504 obtained studies by search, 48 were considered for a detailed analysis. Ten articles performed in vivo evaluation, while nine assessed the effect of lasers on artificial models, and 29 conducted experiments on extracted teeth. When the diode laser, the most frequently used laser, was utilized as an adjunct therapy after NaOCl irrigation, it killed more bacteria than conventional irrigation with NaOCl. Laser-activated irrigation (LAI) with the Er, Cr: YSGG laser and NaOCl disinfects the root canal effectively. Also, photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) with Er: YAG and NaOCl exhibited a high bactericidal effect and deep tubular penetration. High-power laser utilization, considering proper case selection and method, can assist in root canal treatment of infected teeth.
PubMed: 37041778
DOI: 10.34172/jlms.2022.66 -
Journal of Internal Medicine Mar 2022Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy is a rare but fatal microgliopathy. The diagnosis is often delayed due to multifaceted symptoms... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy is a rare but fatal microgliopathy. The diagnosis is often delayed due to multifaceted symptoms that can mimic several other neurological disorders. Imaging provides diagnostic clues that help identify cases. The objective of this study was to integrate the literature on neuroimaging phenotypes of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for neuroimaging findings of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy via PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase on 25 August 2021. The search included cases with confirmed CSF1R mutations reported under the previous terms hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids, pigmentary orthochromatic leukodystrophy, and adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia. In 78 studies providing neuroimaging data, 195 cases were identified carrying CSF1R mutations in 14 exons and five introns. Women had a statistically significant earlier age of onset (p = 0.041, 40 vs 43 years). Mean delay between symptom onset and neuroimaging was 2.3 years. Main magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were frontoparietal white matter lesions, callosal thinning, and foci of restricted diffusion. The hallmark computed tomography (CT) finding was white matter calcifications. Widespread cerebral hypometabolism and hypoperfusion were reported using positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography. In conclusion, CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy is associated with progressive white matter lesions and brain atrophy that can resemble other neurodegenerative/-inflammatory disorders. However, long-lasting diffusion restriction and parenchymal calcifications are more specific findings that can aid the differential diagnosis. Native brain CT and brain MRI (with and without a contrast agent) are recommended with proposed protocols and pictorial examples are provided.
Topics: Brain; Female; Humans; Leukoencephalopathies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mutation; Neuroimaging; Phenotype
PubMed: 34875121
DOI: 10.1111/joim.13420 -
ArXiv Jan 2024Spectral computed tomography (CT) has recently emerged as an advanced version of medical CT and significantly improves conventional (single-energy) CT. Spectral CT has...
Spectral computed tomography (CT) has recently emerged as an advanced version of medical CT and significantly improves conventional (single-energy) CT. Spectral CT has two main forms: dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) and photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT), which offer image improvement, material decomposition, and feature quantification relative to conventional CT. However, the inherent challenges of spectral CT, evidenced by data and image artifacts, remain a bottleneck for clinical applications. To address these problems, machine learning techniques have been widely applied to spectral CT. In this review, we present the state-of-the-art data-driven techniques for spectral CT.
PubMed: 37461421
DOI: No ID Found