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Following the introduction and application of pesticides in human life, they have always been along with health concerns both in acute poisoning and chronic toxicities. Neurotoxicity of pesticides in chronic exposures has been known as one of the most important human health problems, as most of these chemicals act through interacting with some elements of nervous system. Pesticide-induced neurotoxicity can be defined in different categories of neurological disorders including neurodegenerative (Alzheimer, Parkinson, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis), neurodevelopmental (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, and intellectual disability), neurobehavioral and neuropsychiatric (depression/suicide attempt, anxiety/insomnia, and cognitive impairment) disorders some of which are among the most debilitating human health problems. In this review, neurotoxicity of pesticides in the mentioned categories and sub-categories of neurological diseases have been systematically presented in relation to different route of exposures including general, occupational, environmental, prenatal, postnatal, and paternal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To review the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists in managing post-TBI cognitive deficits. A search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane was conducted on Jan 12, 2021 without publication date or language restriction. Forty-seven studies were included, involving 20 (42.6%) randomized controlled trials. Four (8.5%) studies had a low risk of bias (RoB), while 34 (72.3%) had unclear and nine (19.2%) had high RoB. Six NMDAR antagonists had been investigated: amantadine (n = 32), memantine (n = 4), magnesium (n = 4), traxoprodil (n = 3), selfotel (n = 2), and dextromethorphan (n = 2). Although some benefits were observed, there are still some concerns regarding the efficacy and safety of NMDAR antagonists in improving post-TBI cognitive deficits. Further research is required to examine whether (i) these agents, notably amantadine, could accelerate cognitive improvement and shorten the hospital stay, (ii) these agents affect different cognitive domains/subdomains in the same direction, (iii) an optimal therapeutic time window exists, (iv) a member of this drug class can be proved to be effective without interfering in non-excitotoxic actions of glutamate, (v) they can be more effective as part of combination therapies or in particular subgroups of patients with TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in Iran. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and PsycINFO by the end of 2017. The prevalence was calculated based on the percentage or the amount reported in the studies. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 statistic, and the data were combined using random effects model. The results were reported as the pooled estimates and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017070744). Results: A total of 16 studies involving 6,461 participants aged 60 years and over were included. The pooled prevalence for overall elder abuse was 45.7% (95% CI: 27.3-64.1, p < .001). Discussion: The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect is substantial in the Iranian population aged 60 years and over. More research is needed to investigate the actual prevalence of elder abuse at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used to evaluate hand function in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A decision will always need to be made about which appropriate PROMs to use. The present review therefore aims to describe the available hand function PROMs for use in people with RA by appraising their methodological quality and psychometric properties using a contemporaneous method. Methods/design: The proposed systematic review will include published studies written in English, which report evidence for psychometric properties and/or practical properties of hand function PROMs in RA. Four major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) will be searched from inception to May 2019. A three-staged search strategy will be applied: (1) electronic bibliographic databases for published studies, (2) 'named measures' searching approach, and (3) reference lists of studies with included PROMs. The proposed systematic review will be conducted in compliance with the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) guideline for systematic review of PROMs. Accordingly, the methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed against the updated COSMIN risk of bias checklist, and each study's results will be assessed for their psychometric quality. Conclusion: The proposed systematic review seeks to provide rigour, and transparent evaluation of PROMs used to evaluate hand function in the RA population. The findings will provide clarity for healthcare professionals and researchers on the appropriate PROMs for hand function assessment. It will also provide a summary of hand function PROM recommendations for RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Syrian conflict has resulted in major humanitarian crises. The risk is particularly high amongst female children who face additional gendered risks, such as harassment and sexual violence, including a rise in prevalence of child marriage. Despite the importance of this topic, current literature remains relatively scarce. Objectives: This study aims to explore the social and healthcare repercussions of Syrian refugee child marriages in Jordan and Lebanon. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was carried out to gather evidence, from a total of eight articles. Data analysis was conducted using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme check tool to systematically assess the trustworthiness, relevance and results of the included papers. Results: The findings of this research identify tradition, honour, economics, fear, and protection-related factors as drivers of child marriage of refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. These motives overlap with findings regarding access to reproductive health and reproductive rights. The lack of autonomy of the child to give informed consent is augmented in the context of protracted violence and displacement. Conclusion: There is a need for a holistic approach to provide safe spaces, education, and protection to young girls and their families to reduce their acceptance of child marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:To evaluate the methods and major outcomes of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with virtual reality (VR) therapy in randomized controlled trials. Method:A systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science and CAPES periodic databases, with no time restriction. The studies were screened for the following inclusion criteria: human subjects, combination of VR and tDCS methods, and randomized controlled study design. All potentially relevant articles were independently reviewed by two researchers, who reached a consensus on which articles met the inclusion criteria. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the studies. Results:Eleven studies were included, all of which utilized a variety of tDCS and VR application methods. The main outcomes were found to be beneficial in intervention groups of different populations, including improvements in body sway, gait, stroke recovery, pain management and vegetative reactions. Conclusions:The use of tDCS combined with VR showed positive results in both healthy and impaired patients. Future studies with larger sample sizes and homogeneous participants are required to confirm the benefits of tDCS and VR.Implications for RehabilitationtDCS with VR intervention can be an alternative to traditional rehabilitation programs.tDCS with VR is a promising type of intervention with a variety of positive effects.Application of tDCS with VR is appropriated to both healthy and impaired patients.There is no consensus of tDCS with VR application. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]