Search

Background: The coexistence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) amplifies the risk of maternal and perinatal mortality and complications, leading to more severe adverse pregnancy outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the double burden of GDM and PIH (GDM/PIH) among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Embase, and Google Scholar, covering studies published up to May 14, 2023. The analysis was carried out using JBI SUMARI and STATA version 17. Subgroup analyses were computed to demonstrate heterogeneity. A sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the impact of a single study on the overall estimate. Publication bias was assessed through inspection of the funnel plot and statistically using Egger's regression test. Result: Of 168 retrieved studies, 15 with a total of 6391 participants were deemed eligible. The pooled prevalence of GDM/PIH co-occurrence among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 3.76% (95% CI; 3.29–4.24). No publication bias was reported, and sensitivity analysis suggested that excluded studies did not significantly alter the pooled prevalence of GDM/PIH co-occurrence. A statistically significant association between GDM and PIH was observed, with pregnant women with GDM being three times more likely to develop PIH compared to those without GDM (OR = 3.44; 95% CI; 2.15–5.53). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed a high dual burden of GDM and PIH among pregnant women in Ethiopia, with a significant association between the two morbidities. These findings emphasize the critical need for comprehensive antenatal care programs in Ethiopia to adequately address and monitor both GDM and PIH for improved maternal and perinatal health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Benzodiazepines reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV); however, conflicting results have been reported regarding the use of remimazolam, a novel benzodiazepine. Objective: This meta-analysis examines whether remimazolam reduces PONV incidence compared with propofol or volatile agents used in general anesthesia. Material and methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science, were searched on 31 July 2023. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV. Secondary outcomes included PONV severity, rescue antiemetic use, amounts of remifentanil used, and participant satisfaction scores. Odds ratios (OR) and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool. Results: A total of 1514 adult patients from 11 randomized controlled trials were included. The incidences of PONV in the remimazolam and control groups were 16.1% and 16.5%, respectively. Remimazolam did not increase the incidence of PONV (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.37–1.04; p = 0.0676; I2 = 48%). Subgroup analysis showed a significant reduction in PONV with remimazolam vs. volatile agents (OR 0.25; 95% CI, 0.13–0.47; P = 0.0000; I2 = 0%) but not vs. propofol (OR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.70–1.56; p = 0.8332; I2 = 0%). More remifentanil was used in the remimazolam group vs. the volatile group, with no significant difference between remimazolam and propofol groups. Participant satisfaction scores were higher with remimazolam. Conclusion: Remimazolam did not increase PONV risk compared to propofol and reduced PONV incidence compared to volatile agents, with higher participant satisfaction. To validate the present findings, further well-planned large clinical trials are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the effects of dyadic intervention on anxiety, depression, care burden and quality of life in informal caregivers of palliative patients with lung cancer. Background: Informal caregivers of palliative lung cancer patients bear a large number of negative emotions during the process of caring for the patients. Dyadic intervention has the potential for improving them but the overall effect is unclear. Design: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Data sources All randomized controlled trials were retrieved from the following databases until 4 May 2023: Web of Science, Embase Ovid, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Controlled Trials, Weipu, Wanfang and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. Review methods: This review was performed by Stata 12.0 and Review Manager 5.3. Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials were in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria (n = 1807). The results revealed that dyadic intervention significantly improved family caregivers' anxiety, depression and caregiver burden of palliative patients with lung cancer. There was no significant difference in quality of life between the dyadic intervention group and family caregivers who did not receive the dyadic intervention. Conclusions: Dyadic intervention positively impacts the experience of family caregivers of palliative patients with lung cancer. Summary statement: What is already known about the topic? Informal caregivers of palliative lung cancer patients bear a large number of negative emotions during the process of caring for the patients.The overall effect of dyadic intervention for informal caregivers of palliative patients with lung cancer is unclear on account of different results reported in existing studies. What this paper adds? Dyadic intervention could improve family caregivers' anxiety, depression and caregiver burden of palliative patients with lung cancer, even though it did not improve quality of life.Dyadic intervention positively impacts the experience of family caregivers of palliative patients with lung cancer. The implications of this paper: Medical personnel can provide personalized dyadic interventions based on the assessment of the palliative patient and their informal caregivers, such as providing illness understanding, symptom management and addressing psychosocial.Findings can be applied as a reference to help informal caregivers prevent potential emotional disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition memory, the ability to recognise previously encountered information, correlates with pupil diameter changes during the recognition period. This physiological response, known as the pupil old/new effect, generally reflects the variation in pupil dilation when encountering previously studied (old) stimuli compared to new stimuli. To develop a more precise understanding of the pupil old/new effect, we conducted a meta-analysis of 17 eye-tracking experiments (across 12 articles spanning from 2008 to 2023) involving 560 healthy adults with a mean age of 22.31 years. Analysis of publication bias showed a rather low risk of bias in the selected articles. The main meta-analysis revealed a significant and large pooled pupil old/new effect (Cohen's dz = 0.73, 95% CI [0.50, 0.95]). Further analysis of moderators showed that the number of participants included in the experiments and the criteria for selecting trials (only correct trials vs. all trials) had a significant impact on the meta-analytic results. In general, the analyses revealed a robust pupil old/new effect across all selected articles. This finding underscores its potential utility as a marker of recognition memory across different stimuli type, and various experimental designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bevacizumab serves as an effective treatment in cervical cancer patients with metastatic, recurrent, or advanced disease. However, gastrointestinal (GI)/genitourinary (GU) toxicities have been observed after bevacizumab treatment. Radiotherapy (RT) is the mainstay of treatment of cervical cancer. Objectives: To investigate the risk of GI/GU toxicities with bevacizumab plus RT compared with RT alone in cervical cancer patients. Search Strategy: In this meta‐analysis, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to September 25, 2022. Selection Criteria: Cohort studies evaluating the association between bevacizumab and GI/GU fistula or perforation in irradiated metastatic, recurrent, or advanced cervical cancer patients. Data Collection and Analysis: Results are expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The inconsistency test (I2) was used to assess heterogeneity. Egger's regression test with a two‐tailed P value was used to evaluate publication bias. Main Results: Four cohort studies met the inclusion criteria with a total of 597 women included. There was a significant association between GI fistula/perforation and GU fistula/perforation in irradiated cervical cancer patients receiving bevacizumab (OR 4.03 [95% CI: 1.76–9.20] and OR 4.71 [95% CI: 1.51–14.70], respectively). Conclusions: The bevacizumab‐containing regimen was associated with an increased risk of GI or GU toxicities in cervical cancer individuals undergoing pelvic RT. These results suggest the bevacizumab‐associated benefits and risk should be better weighted to reach an optimal treatment strategy. Further investigation on optimal dosage and timing of bevacizumab and RT is vital to minimize the adverse events and maximize the benefits. Synopsis: Bevacizumab induces higher risks of gastrointestinal/genitourinary toxicities in irradiated cervical cancer patients. Discussing the pros and cons of bevacizumab with the patient is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood Emotional Maltreatment (CEM) is a significant but under-studied risk factor for impaired mental health, with adolescents being particularly susceptible. This systematic review and meta-analysis, prospectively registered in PROSPERO as CRD42022383005, aims to synthesize the findings of studies investigating the association between CEM and adolescent psychopathology, making it the first attempt to the best of our knowledge. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search (PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Embase, and ProQuest) yielded 12,224 studies, from which 72 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The meta-analysis was conducted on 76 effect sizes (ranging from 0.01 to 0.57) extracted from 56 studies. The assessment of publication bias utilized funnel plots, Egger's regression test, and the trim and fill method, if required. Additionally, a predictor analysis investigated the influence of study-level variables on the CEM-psychopathology association. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between CEM and adolescent psychopathology (Pooled association: 0.24–0.41) Furthermore, assessment of publication bias indicated no significant bias. The predictor analysis suggested minimal influence of study-level variables. The study underscores the urgent need to address CEM as a crucial risk factor for adolescent psychopathology. The significant positive correlation between CEM and psychopathological outcomes highlights the detrimental effects of CEM on adolescents. Awareness, prevention efforts, and targeted interventions are essential to mitigate these effects. Further studies with culturally diverse and larger sample sizes are required, with emphasis on methodological rigor, given that most of the identified studies showed a high risk of bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To systematically review published studies on the prevalence of the thyroid foramen (TF), perform a meta-analysis to generate pooled prevalence estimates, and identify factors associated with its presence. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Journal Storage databases. Studies reporting the prevalence of the thyroid foramen were included without language or date restrictions. Quality assessment was performed using AQUA tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed with subgroup analyses. Heterogeneity was assessed using Higgins' I2 statistics, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test. Results: Out of 271 entries, 38 studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 3,030 subjects from various continents. The overall TF prevalence was 24.5% (95% CI: 19.2-29.8%, I2 = 93.44%), with unilateral TF present in 16.9% and bilateral TF in 6.2%. Prevalence was highest in North America (31.4%,) and lowest in Africa (12.3%). No significant prevalence difference was found between adults and younger populations (p = 0.15). Publication bias, or the small-study effect, was detected (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This meta-analysis reveals a 24.5% overall prevalence of TF, with significant heterogeneity primarily explained by geographical differences. The TF's clinical relevance necessitates awareness among surgeons and radiologists to avoid complications during laryngeal surgeries and prevent misdiagnosis in imaging studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic performance of ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging (UF-DCE MRI) in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions. Materials and methods: A comprehensive search was conducted until September 1, 2023, in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Clinical studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of UF-DCE MRI in breast lesion stratification were screened and included in the meta-analysis. Pooled summary estimates for sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and hierarchic summary operating characteristics (SROC) curves were pooled under the random-effects model. Publication bias and heterogeneity between studies were calculated. Results: A final set of 16 studies analyzing 2090 lesions met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the meta-analysis. Using UF-DCE MRI kinetic parameters, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR, and area under the curve (AUC) for differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions were 83% (95% CI 79–88%), 77% (95% CI 72–83%), 18.9 (95% CI 13.7–26.2), and 0.876 (95% CI 0.83–0.887), respectively. We found no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the two main UF-DCE MRI kinetic parameters, maximum slope (MS) and time to enhancement (TTE). DOR and SROC exhibited low heterogeneity across the included studies. No evidence of publication bias was identified (p = 0.585). Conclusions: UF-DCE MRI as a stand-alone technique has high accuracy in discriminating benign from malignant breast lesions. Clinical relevance statement: UF-DCE MRI has the potential to obtain kinetic information and stratify breast lesions accurately while decreasing scan times, which may offer significant benefit to patients. Key Points: • Ultrafast breast MRI is a novel technique which captures kinetic information with very high temporal resolution. • The kinetic parameters of ultrafast breast MRI demonstrate a high level of accuracy in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. • There is no significant difference in accuracy between maximum slope and time to enhancement kinetic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitroglycerin has been of considerable interest as a treatment for ischaemic stroke. Recent clinical trials with nitroglycerin transdermal patches during the acute phase of stroke failed to improve functional outcomes. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of nitroglycerin in preclinical models of ischaemic stroke has not previously been reported, despite several clinical trials. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical evidence regarding the effect of nitroglycerin on infarct volume in animal models of ischaemic stroke. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023432644). Our search identified 238 publications. Three publications met inclusion criteria (including 10 comparisons of infarct size). Study quality was modest (median 6 out of 9), with no evidence of publication bias. Nitroglycerin did not significantly reduce infarct volume (NMD point estimate 20.2 % reduction, 95 % CI −1.52–52.7 %, p = 0.068). Subgroup analysis suggested greater efficacy of nitroglycerin with direct intracarotid administration to the ischaemic territory at the time of reperfusion. A small number of studies (three) were included in this review. Overall, nitroglycerin did not reduce infarct volume in experimental stroke models. However, nitroglycerin may be of benefit when administered directly into the ischaemic territory. Given nitroglycerin's short half-life, we propose this route may minimise harmful reduction of cerebral perfusion pressure resulting from hypotension following systemic administration. • Three publications met pre-specified inclusion criteria, with no evidence of publication bias. • Nitrolgycerin did not improve stroke outcome. • The route of nitroglycerin administration accounted for a significant amount of variability between studies. • Intra-arterial administration of nitroglycerin at the time of reperfusion improves stroke outcome independent of changes in cerebral blood flow. • Nitroglycerin may be of benefit when administered directly into the ischaemic territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives We conducted a meta-analysis of trials to determine the optimal time to conduct surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in infants, on or after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods We searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant articles published prior to May 2023 in which surgery was performed to treat CDH in infants. Data were collected, and continuous data were represented by the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Dichotomous data were represented by the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Review Manager V.5.4 and Stata were used to synthesize results and to assess publication bias. Results The results showed that infants undergoing surgery after being weaned from ECMO had reduced mortality (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.23–4.69; p = 0.01) and postoperative bleeding rates (OR, 16.20; 95% CI, 5.73–45.76; p < 0.00001) and reduced ECMO duration (MD, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.89–5.05; p < 0.0001) compared with those who underwent surgery while on ECMO. There was no statistically significant difference in hospital duration (MD, 5.48; 95% CI, −8.66 to 19.62; p = 0.45) or ventilator duration (MD, −1.93; 95% CI, −8.55 to 4.68; p = 0.57). Conclusion We recommend weaning patients with CDH from ECMO before performing surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Art therapy (AT) has been widely utilized as a therapeutic approach for clinical nurses. In recent years, more and more researchers have applied art therapy to enhance clinical nurses' mental well‐being. However, many studies conducted in this area have suffered from limited sample sizes and insufficient research evidence. Aim: This study aims to conduct a systematic evaluation of the efficacy of art therapy on the mental health of clinical nurses. Methods: RCTs on art therapy for clinical nurses were searched across databases such as PubMed, Embase, etc., the results were analysed using RevMan 5.3. Results: There were 19 RCTs encompassing 1338 clinical nurses involved in this analysis. The Meta‐analysis revealed that art therapy exhibited a significant reduction in anxiety levels (measured by the SAS) among clinical nurses, as well as depression levels and perceived stress levels (measured by the CPSS). Furthermore, art therapy demonstrated a reduction in negative coping style and an improvement in positive coping style. Discussion: Findings indicate that art therapy can reduce anxiety, depression and stress levels in clinical nurses, while also enhance positive coping styles and promote mental well‐being. Therefore, the widespread implementation of art therapy in this context is highly recommended. Declaration: I hereby declare that my article is directly relevant to the field of mental health nursing. It highlights the critical importance of psychological well‐being and supplements the evidence on The effects of art therapy on the occupational mental health of clinical nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis aims to investigate the effectiveness of educational escape rooms in improving learning outcomes and fostering positive attitudes. Specifically, it seeks to examine their impact on the acquisition of content knowledge and the development of attitudes. Additionally, the study conduct a moderator analysis to explore how variables such as subject matter, types of escape rooms, and participants' age may influence these effects. After systematically screening the literature, 22 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The findings demonstrated a high effect size in knowledge gains and moderate effect size in attitude change, with 0.86 and 0.63, respectively. Interestingly, the moderator analysis did not uncover any statistically significant distinctions in effect sizes based on the three aforementioned moderators. In conclusion, this study affirms the effectiveness of educational escape rooms across a variety of academic disciplines and offers valuable insights for educators and practitioners interested in employing escape rooms as a means of educational innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This systematic literature review aims to evaluate and synthesize the effectiveness of various embedding techniques—word embeddings, contextual word embeddings, and context-aware embeddings—in addressing Meaning Conflation Deficiency (MCD). Using the PRISMA framework, this study assesses the current state of research and provides insights into the impact of these techniques on resolving meaning conflation issues. After a thorough literature search, 403 articles on the subject were found. A thorough screening and selection process resulted in the inclusion of 25 studies in the meta-analysis. The evaluation adhered to the PRISMA principles, guaranteeing a methodical and lucid process. To estimate effect sizes and evaluate heterogeneity and publication bias among the chosen papers, meta-analytic approaches were utilized such as the tau-squared (τ2) which represents a statistical parameter used in random-effects, H-squared (H2) is a statistic used to measure heterogeneity, and I-squared (I2) quantify the degree of heterogeneity. The meta-analysis demonstrated a high degree of variation in effect sizes among the studies, with a τ2 value of 8.8724. The significant degree of heterogeneity was further emphasized by the H2 score of 8.10 and the I2 value of 87.65%. A trim and fill analysis with a beta value of 5.95, a standard error of 4.767, a Z-value (or Z-score) of 1.25 which is a statistical term used to express the number of standard deviations a data point deviates from the established mean, and a p-value (probability value) of 0.2 was performed to account for publication bias which is one statistical tool that can be used to assess the importance of hypothesis test results. The results point to a sizable impact size, but the estimates are highly unclear, as evidenced by the huge standard error and non-significant p-value. The review concludes that although contextually aware embeddings have promise in treating Meaning Conflation Deficiency, there is a great deal of variability and uncertainty in the available data. The varied findings among studies are highlighted by the large τ2, I2, and H2 values, and the trim and fill analysis show that changes in publication bias do not alter the impact size's non-significance. To generate more trustworthy insights, future research should concentrate on enhancing methodological consistency, investigating other embedding strategies, and extending analysis across various languages and contexts. Even though the results demonstrate a significant impact size in addressing MCD through sophisticated word embedding techniques, like context-aware embeddings, there is still a great deal of variability and uncertainty because of various factors, including the different languages studied, the sizes of the corpuses, and the embedding techniques used. These differences show how future research methods must be standardized to guarantee that study results can be compared to one another. The results emphasize how crucial it is to extend the linguistic scope to more morphologically rich and low-resource languages, where MCD is especially difficult. The creation of language-specific models for low-resource languages is one way to increase performance and consistency across Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications in a practical sense. By taking these actions, we can advance our understanding of MCD more thoroughly, which will ultimately improve the performance of NLP systems in a variety of language circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the impact of Metabolic–Bariatric surgery (MBS) on pancreatic cancer (PCa) risk in individuals with obesity based on type 2 diabetes(T2D) status. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42022367749). The primary outcomes were the PCa incidence rates in participants with or without T2D who underwent MBS compared with the control (non‐MBS) group. Subgroup analyses based on the MBS types were performed and a random‐effects model was employed. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by applying the leave‐one‐out meta‐analysis technique and excluding studies with a short follow‐up. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 index and Cochran's Q test. Publication bias was assessed with Egger's test and the risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Risk‐of‐Bias tool. Results: Twelve studies, with 3,711,243 participants, were included. PCa risk was lower in the MBS group for both T2D and the overall population than in the non‐MBS group (RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.30–0.71 and RR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07–0.57, respectively), with consistent findings after excluding studies with < 3‐year follow‐up. A favourable impact was also observed in individuals without T2D (RR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.41–0.78). When comparing the types of MBS versus control, a significant difference was observed for sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (RR = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.12–0.46 for SG and RR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.25–1.09 for Roux‐En‐Y bypass). Egger's test showed no indication of publication bias (p = 0.417). Conclusions: MBS is associated with reduced PCa risk regardless of T2D, with a more pronounced effect in T2D patients. Additional research is needed to investigate the impact of MBS types on PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnostic accuracy for Parkinson's disease (PD), a synucleinopathy, based on diagnostic criteria is suboptimal. A biomarker for synucleinopathies is pivotal both from a clinical and from a research point of view. CSF a-synuclein has been extensively studied over the past two decades as a candidate biomarker of synucleinopathies. Herein, we present data on studies focusing on total, phosphorylated and oligomeric CSF a-synuclein in PD. Methods: Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for studies with >10 PD patients and control subjects, with data (mean, SD) on total, phosphorylated or oligomeric a-synuclein. Cohen's d, as a measure of effect size, was calculated for all a-synuclein forms. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed in an effort to explain between-study heterogeneity. Results: Thirty studies on total, six studies on oligomeric and one study on phosphorylated a-synuclein were included. Total a-synuclein was decreased and oligomeric a-synuclein increased in PD patients vs. controls. The effect size was medium for total and high for oligomeric a-synuclein. A-syn forms provided suboptimal combined sensitivity/specificity for the differentiation of PD from controls. There was significant between-study heterogeneity. The PD cohort characteristics (sex, age, disease duration, UPDRS, H & Y) and study characteristics (study design, healthy vs. neurological controls, control for CSF blood contamination, method of a-syn measurement) could not account for between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was limited. Conclusions: CSF a-synuclein levels lack sufficient accuracy to be used as biomarkers for PD. The standardization of (pre)analytical variables may improve the discriminatory power of a-synuclein forms in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates the effect of financial sponsorship of clinical trials on reported drug efficacy, leveraging the insight that the exact same pairs of drugs are often compared in different trials conducted by parties with different financial interests. I assemble new psychiatric trial data to estimate that a drug appears substantially more effective when the trial is sponsored by that drug's manufacturer, compared with the same drug tested against the same combination of drugs but without sponsorship. This difference is not explained by observable characteristics, but publication bias is important. Preregistration may be effective in overcoming this bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dissemination and outcome reporting biases are a significant problem in clinical research, with far-reaching implications for both scientific understanding and clinical decision-making. This study investigates the prevalence of dissemination- and outcome reporting biases in registered interventional malaria research. Methods: All malaria interventional trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov from 2010 to 2020 were identified. Subsequently, publications that matched the registration were searched. The primary outcome measures were the percentage of registered studies that resulted in subsequent publication of study results, the concordance between registered outcomes, and reported outcomes. Secondary outcomes were compliance with WHO standards for timely publication (issued in 2017) of summary study results in the respective trial registry (within 12 months of study completion) or peer-reviewed publication (within 24 months of study completion) was evaluated. Results: A total of 579 trials were identified on ClinicalTrials.gov, of which 544 met the inclusion criteria. Notably, almost 36.6% of these trials (199/544) were registered retrospectively, with 129 (23.7%) registered after the first patient enrolment and 70 (12.9%) following study completion. Publications were identified for 351 out of 544 registered trials (64.5%), involving 1,526,081 study participants. Conversely, publications were not found for 193 of the 544 registrations (35.5%), which aimed to enrol 417,922 study participants. Among these 544 registrations, 444 (81.6%) did not meet the WHO standard to post summary results within 12 months of primary study completion (the last visit of the last subject for collection of data on the primary outcome), while 386 out of 544 registrations (71.0%) failed to publish their results in a peer-reviewed journal within 24 months of primary study completion. Discrepancies were noted in the reported primary outcomes compared to the registered primary outcomes in 47.6% (222/466) of the published trials, and an even higher discordance rate of 73.2% (341/466 publications) for secondary outcomes. Conclusions: Non-dissemination remains a significant issue in interventional malaria research, with most trials failing to meet WHO standards for timely dissemination of summary results and peer-reviewed journal publications. Additionally, outcome reporting bias is highly prevalent across malaria publications. To address these challenges, it is crucial to implement strategies that enhance the timely reporting of research findings and reduce both non-dissemination and outcome reporting bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC), also known as dental caries, poses a significant challenge to the oral health and overall well-being of young children. This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between the mode of delivery and the odds of ECC. Methods: We conducted a meticulous systematic review and meta-analysis, gathering studies from reputable databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Embase. The selected studies underwent rigorous evaluation for heterogeneity, utilizing statistical tests such as the Chi-square test, I2, meta-regression analysis, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis. We assessed the presence of publication bias using Begg's and Egger's tests, while the quality of the articles was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale checklist. Results: Our analysis included a robust dataset of 24 studies conducted between 1997 and 2024, involving a total of 71,732 participants. The meta-analysis revealed an odds ratio of 1.05 (95% CI: 0.86–1.30; P-value = 0.610) for dental caries in children born via cesarean section. Importantly, we found no evidence of publication bias, as indicated by non-significant results from Begg's test (P-value = 0.568) and Egger's test (P-value = 0.807). Meta-regression analysis did not identify any significant associations between the study variables and the observed heterogeneity (P > 0.10). Sensitivity analysis further confirmed the stability of the study results, with no significant changes detected. Conclusion: In conclusion, our comprehensive meta-analysis provides compelling evidence that there is no significant association between the mode of delivery and the odds of ECC. These findings enhance our understanding of this important topic and have implications for clinical practice and public health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) is increasingly adopted in medical education across various specialties, employing realistic simulations to significantly enhance learning experiences. However, a comprehensive evaluation of its effectiveness specifically in endocrinology has not yet been conducted. The study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of SBL versus Non-Simulation-Based Learning (NSBL) on knowledge acquisition, skills, satisfaction, and interest in learning among endocrinology trainees. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Weipu, and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) until March 2024. We included randomized controlled trials comparing SBL to NSBL in endocrinology education. The quality evaluation relied on the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool. The main results included evaluations from both theoretical and practical assessments. Additional measures consisted of assessing satisfaction and interest in learning. Results: We identified 22 studies suitable for systematic review and 21 for meta-analysis, involving a total of 2517 participants. SBL greatly enhanced theoretical knowledge [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.00, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68–1.32, P < 0.00001, I2 = 89%] and practical skills (SMD = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.11–2.01, P < 0.00001, I2 = 93%) compared to NSBL. Additionally, SBL was associated with higher satisfaction and greater interest in learning. No significant publication bias was detected, and sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of these findings. Conclusions: SBL significantly enhances knowledge, skills, satisfaction, and interest in learning within endocrinology education compared to NSBL. These findings support the integration of high-quality SBL into endocrinology curricula to improve educational outcomes. Future research should explore the lasting effects of SBL on knowledge retention and clinical practice, as well as to evaluate its cost-effectiveness and compatibility with various educational tools in diverse settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many suggestions for dealing with the so-called replication crisis in psychology revolve around the idea that better and more complex statistical-mathematical tools or stricter procedures are required in order to obtain reliable findings and prevent cheating or publication biases. While these aspects may play an exacerbating role, we interpret the replication crisis primarily as an epistemological crisis in psychology caused by an inadequate fit between the ontic nature of the psyche and the quantitative approach. On the basis of the philosophers of science Karl Popper, Thomas Kuhn, and Imre Lakatos we suggest that the replication crisis is therefore a symptom of a fundamental problem in psychology, but at the same time it is also an opportunity to advance psychology as a science. In a first step, against the background of Popper's Critical Rationalism, the replication crisis is interpreted as an opportunity to eliminate inaccurate theories from the pool of theories and to correct problematic developments. Continuing this line of thought, in an interpretation along the lines of Thomas Kuhn, the replication crisis might signify a model drift or even model crisis, thus possibly heralding a new paradigm in psychology. The reasons for this are located in the structure of academic psychology on the basis of Lakatos's assumption about how sciences operate. Accordingly, one hard core that lies at the very basis of psychology may be found in the assumption that the human psyche can and is to be understood in quantitative terms. For this to be possible, the ontic structure of the psyche, i.e., its very nature, must also in some way be quantitatively constituted. Hence, the replication crisis suggests that the ontic structure of the psyche in some way (also) contains a non-quantitative dimension that can only be grasped incompletely or fragmentarily using quantitative research methods. Fluctuating and inconsistent results in psychology could therefore also be the expression of a mismatch between the ontic level of the object of investigation and the epistemic level of the investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking behavior has been well-established to be more prevalent in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder compared to the general population. However, reports about higher suicide attempt prevalence of smoking compared to non-smoking patients suggest that smoking behavior may contribute to identifying at-risk groups of patients in a comparatively easy manner. In the present systematic quantitative review, we provide meta-analytical evidence on the smoking and suicide attempt link in 22 studies (k = 27 independent samples; N = 11,452) of patients with psychosis and bipolar disorder. We observed a small meaningful effect of smoking on suicide attempts (OR = 1.70; 95% CI [1.48; 1.95]), indicating that smokers have 1.70 the odds of having reported a suicide attempt compared to non-smokers. This effect generalized across diagnosis type (i.e., schizophrenia vs. bipolar spectrum disorder), sample type (i.e., invs. outpatients), and participant sex. However, the observed summary effect appeared somewhat inflated due to publication process-related mechanisms, showing some evidence for effect-inflating publication bias and a decline effect. In all, the presently observed smoking and suicide attempt link appears to be small but meaningful and robust, thus suggesting smoking status represents a useful variable for the identification of at-risk populations for suicide attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Vertical femoral neck fractures (VFNFs) in young patients lead to significant biomechanical instability. Multitudinous internal fixation devices have been developed and utilized in clinical interventions. However, there has yet to be a consensus expert opinion regarding the optimal internal fixation configurations. This study aims to conduct a network meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of all currently recognized internal fixation procedures for the treatment of VFNFs in young individuals. Methods: Comprehensive literature searches will be performed in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Wanfang Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, covering the entire database history up until May 21, 2024. Individual papers will be evaluated for possible bias using RoB 2.0, the most recent version of the randomized trial Cochrane risk-of-bias approach. Pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA) will be conducted for data analysis using STATA 15.0 and R 4.1.3. Inconsistency tests, subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and assessments of publication bias will also be performed. Conclusion: The study will provide evidence-based recommendations for the optimal internal fixation methods in treating young patients with VFNFs. Trial registration: INPLASY202460017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented health threat globally, necessitating innovative and efficient diagnostic approaches for timely identification of infected individuals. Despite few emerging reports, the clinical utility of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in early and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 is not well-evidenced. Hence, this meta-analysis aimed to explore the diagnostic potential of circulating miRNAs for COVID-19. The protocol for this study was officially recorded on PROSPERO under registration number CRD42023494959. Methods: Electronic databases including Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and other sources were exhaustively searched to recover studies published until 16th January, 2024. Pooled specificity, sensitivity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic ratio (DOR), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) were computed from the metadata using Stata 14.0 software. Risk of bias appraisal of included articles was carried out using Review Manager (Rev-Man) 5.3 package through the modified QUADAS-2 tool. Subgroup, heterogeneity, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Publication bias and clinical applicability were also evaluated via Deeks' funnel plot and Fagan nomogram (scattergram), respectively. Result: A total of 43 studies from 13 eligible articles, involving 5175 participants (3281 COVID-19 patients and 1894 healthy controls), were analyzed. Our results depicted that miRNAs exhibit enhanced pooled specificity 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88–0.94), sensitivity 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91–0.96), DOR of 159 (95% CI: 87–288), and AUC values of 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.98) with high pooled PPV 96% (95% CI: 94–97%) and NPV 88% (95% CI: 86–90%) values. Additionally, highest diagnostic capacity was observed in studies involving larger sample size (greater than 100) and those involving the African population, demonstrating consistent diagnostic effectiveness across various specimen types. Notably, a total of 12 distinct miRNAs were identified as suitable for both exclusion and confirmation of COVID-19 cases, denoting their potential clinical applicability. Conclusion: Our study depicted that miRNAs show significantly high diagnostic accuracy in differentiating COVID-19 patients from healthy counterparts, suggesting their possible use as viable biomarkers. Nonetheless, thorough and wide-ranging longitudinal researches are necessary to confirm the clinical applicability of miRNAs in diagnosing COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comprehensive details on Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Myanmar are lacking. This study determined the prevalence of HCV antibodies and ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes across different populations in Myanmar from 1990 to 2023. Material and methods: A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and local journals identified studies reporting on HCV antibodies, RNA, and genotypes, excluding clinical research related to liver disease prognosis. Screening and data extraction was done by two authors and study populations were categorized into low-risk, high-risk, liver disease patients, and refugees outside the country. The pooled prevalence was performed by Dersimonian and Laird method using the R program. The publication bias was shown by funnel plot, the Egger test was used to assess the symmetry of the plot, and the heterogeneity was examined by the Cochran Q test and I2 index. Results: Out of 135 reports screened for eligibility, 35 reports comprising 51 studies were included in which 33 studies provided data on HCV seroprevalence in 685,403 individuals, 8 studies reported HCV RNA prevalence in 25,018 individuals, and 10 studies examined HCV genotypes in 1,845 individuals. The pooled seroprevalence of HCV among low-risk, high-risk, liver disease patients and refugees were 2.18%, 37.07%, 33.84%, and 2.52% respectively. HCV RNA-positive rates in these groups were 1.40%, 5.25%, 24.96%, and 0.84% respectively. Seroprevalence studies showed publication bias (Egger test, p = 0.0001), while RNA studies did not (Egger test, p = 0.8392). HCV genotype 3 was predominant in all sub-groups in Myanmar. Conclusion: Our study shows Myanmar has intermediate HCV endemicity with lowest HCV prevalence of 2.18% in low-risk groups and highest prevalence of 37.07% in high- risk groups. However, the findings highlight the need for further epidemiological studies to understand actual disease burden and implement effective countermeasures to achieve the WHO's goal of HCV elimination by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and is the main cause of persistent and acquired disability in adults worldwide. Acupuncture is recommended by the World Health Organization as an alternative and complementary strategy for stroke treatment. However, the mechanism of the neural effects of acupuncture on stroke is still lacking a uniform conclusion. The purpose of this study is to clarify the neural effects of acupuncture for stroke from the perspective of neuroimaging. Methods: Seven databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database, Wan-Fang Data, and Chinese Biomedical Database, will be searched comprehensively according to the search strategy. All of them will be retrieved from the date of database establishment to December 31, 2023. All randomized controlled trials and observational studies will be considered for inclusion. The risk of bias will be assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Functional imaging of the whole brain in the resting functional state will be the primary outcome. A meta-analysis of primary outcome will be performed using Seed-based D Mapping with Permutation of Subject Images software. The data will be synthesized using a random effects model. Meta-analysis of other clinical data will be performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Publication bias will be assessed through funnel plots. Reports will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Conclusion: This study will aggregate the results of independent studies to provide overall evidence for the neural effects of acupuncture for stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review compared the efficacy of personalized psychological interventions to standardized interventions for adolescents. We conducted a scoping review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared personalized interventions with standardized interventions in adolescents. Data was analyzed using Bayesian multilevel random effects meta-analysis. Eligible studies were identified through five databases: Scopus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Moderation analysis was conducted to explain potential sources of effect size heterogeneity. Eight studies across 13 articles (participant N = 2,490) met inclusion criteria for the review with seven studies across 10 articles (N = 1,347) providing sufficient data for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A small but significant effect size favoring personalized interventions was found (d = 0.21, 95% CrI [0.02, 0.39]), indicating that personalized interventions are associated with superior treatment outcomes compared to standardized interventions. Moderate between-study heterogeneity was found (I² = 53.3%). There was no evidence of publication bias. The review also found significant variation in methods of treatment personalization. This review provides evidence that personalization of adolescent psychological interventions is an effective way to improve treatment outcomes. Given the large number of adolescents worldwide who will experience some sort of mental health problem, personalization could have a significantly large impact on global mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a comprehensive summary of the findings regarding the application and diagnostic efficacy of droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in detecting viral and bacterial pathogens in aquaculture. Utilizing a systematic search of four databases up to 6 November 2023, we identified studies where ddPCR was deployed for pathogen detection in aquaculture settings, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy guidelines. From the collected data, 16 studies retrieved, seven were included in a meta‐analysis, encompassing 1121 biological samples from various fish species. The detection limits reported ranged markedly from 0.07 to 34 copies/μL. A direct comparison of the diagnostic performance between ddPCR with quantitative PCR (qPCR) proved challenging due to limited data, thus only a pooled sensitivity analysis was feasible. The results showed a pooled sensitivity of 0.750 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.487–0.944) for ddPCR, compared to 0.461 (95% CI: 0.294–0.632) for qPCR, with no statistically significant difference in sensitivity between the two methods (p = .5884). Notably, significant heterogeneity was observed among the studies (I2 = 93%–97%, p < .01), with the year of publication significantly influencing this heterogeneity (p < .001), but not the country of origin (p = .49). No publication bias was detected, and the studies generally exhibited a low risk of bias according to QUADAS‐C criteria. While ddPCR and qPCR showed comparable sensitivities in pathogen detection, ddPCR's capability to precisely quantify pathogens without the need for standard curves highlights its potential utility. This characteristic could significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of pathogen detection in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) is an innovative modality of cognitive-behavioral intervention that presents a promising therapeutic strategy for individuals diagnosed with binge spectrum eating disorders. This study employed a meta-analysis methodology to assess the clinical effectiveness and acceptability of iCBT. We conducted searches in databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO, collecting literature that met the inclusion criteria until August 5, 2023. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, encompassing a total of 11 randomized controlled studies that satisfied the predetermined criteria for inclusion. The summary results demonstrated that iCBT could significantly improve the pathological features related to eating in patients with binge spectrum eating disorders and also significantly reduce the frequency of binge episodes. Additionally, iCBT could ameliorate the depressive and anxious emotions of patients with binge spectrum eating disorders and boost their self-esteem. Furthermore, a notable disparity in dropout rates was seen in comparison to the control group. Heterogeneity across studies，limitations of self-assessment scales and potential publication bias. iCBT can effectively assist patients with binge spectrum eating disorders in improving clinical symptoms. However, it is important to use caution when interpreting the findings of this study, as there are limitations pertaining to the quantity and quality of the included studies. • Patients with binge spectrum eating disorders face challenges in accessing standardized treatment. • iCBT markedly ameliorated clinical symptoms associated with binge spectrum eating disorders. • Our meta-analysis illustrates the clinical efficacy and acceptability of iCBT for binge spectrum eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-mental health (EMH) interventions gain increasing importance in the treatment of mental health disorders. Their outpatient efficacy is well-established. However, research on EMH in inpatient settings remains sparse and lacks a meta-analytic synthesis. This paper presents a meta-analysis on the efficacy of EMH in inpatient settings. Searching multiple databases (PubMed, ScienceGov, PsycInfo, CENTRAL, references), 26 randomized controlled trial (RCT) EMH inpatient studies (n = 6112) with low or medium assessed risk of bias were included. A small significant total effect of EMH treatment was found (g = 0.3). The effect was significant both for blended interventions (g = 0.42) and post-treatment EMH-based aftercare (g = 0.29). EMH treatment yielded significant effects across different patient groups and types of therapy, and the effects remained stable post-treatment. The results show the efficacy of EMH treatment in inpatient settings. The meta-analysis is limited by the small number of included studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the potential correlation between myosteatosis and the prognosis of patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis by a meta-analysis. Methods: Cohort studies of relevance were acquired through comprehensive searches of the Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases. To account for heterogeneity, a random-effects model was employed to combine the findings. Results: The meta-analysis included 10 retrospective and four prospective cohort studies, encompassing a total of 4287 patients diagnosed with cirrhosis. The pooled findings indicated a notable decline in transplant-free survival (TFS) among individuals with liver cirrhosis and myosteatosis compared to those without this condition (risk ratio: 1.94; 95% confidence interval: 1.61 to 2.34, p < 0.001; I2 = 49%). The predefined subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent findings across various categories, including Asian and non-Asian studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, patients with cirrhosis overall and those who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, studies with different follow-up durations (< or ≥ 24 months), studies employing univariate and multivariate analyses, and studies with and without an adjustment for sarcopenia (p > 0.05 for all subgroup differences). Additionally, Egger's regression test indicated the presence of significant publication bias (p = 0.044). However, trim-and-fill analysis by including three hypothesized studies showed consistent results. Conclusions: The presence of myosteatosis in individuals diagnosed with liver cirrhosis may potentially be linked to a poor TFS prognosis. Further investigations are required to ascertain whether enhancing myosteatosis could potentially yield a survival advantage for this particular patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an ongoing search for novel biomarkers of endothelial damage, active disease, and organ dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated the role of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a candidate biomarker by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining VEGF concentrations in SLE patients and healthy controls. We searched electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from inception to 31 May 2024 (inclusion criteria: VEGF measurement in SLE patients and healthy controls and SLE patients with and without active disease or specific organ dysfunction in case–control studies, recruitment of adult participants, and availability of the full text in the English language; exclusion criteria: non-case–control studies, participants under 18 years, articles reporting duplicate or irrelevant data, and animal studies). We assessed the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist and GRADE, respectively (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024561636). Circulating VEGF concentrations were significantly higher in SLE patients than in controls (22 studies; standardised mean difference, SMD = 0.71, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.98, p < 0.001; low certainty of evidence). In SLE patients, VEGF concentrations were significantly higher in those with active disease (six studies; SMD = 1.10, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.92, p = 0.009; very low certainty of evidence) and lupus nephritis (four studies; SMD = 0.80, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.57, p = 0.042; very low certainty of evidence). Only one study reported VEGF concentrations in SLE patients with and without pulmonary arterial hypertension. The effect size of the differences in VEGF concentrations between SLE patients and controls was not associated with disease duration, use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressors, biological matrix assessed, or analytical method used. However, it was significantly associated with the study's geographical location. The evidence was limited by the high but partially explainable heterogeneity and the presence of publication bias which was addressed with the "trim-and-fill" method (SLE presence), the high but partially explainable heterogeneity and lack of assessment of publication bias because of the limited study number (active disease), and the limited study number preventing the identification of sources of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and assessment of publication bias (lupus nephritis). Our results highlight VEGF's potential role as a SLE biomarker and the need for further research, also given the aforementioned limitations, investigating VEGF concentrations in a wide range of SLE patient subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the G allele variant of TERT-CLPTM1L rs4975616 has been confirmed to be negatively associated to the risk of lung cancer (LC), some other studies haven't found this negative association. The purpose of this study is to clarify the association of the rs4975616 with the risk of developing LC and the differences of this association among patients with different ethnicities (Caucasians and Asians), different subtypes of LC, and different smoking status. Methods: Relevant literatures published before July 20, 2023 in PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, MEDLINE databases were searched through the Internet. Statistical analysis of data was performed in Revman5.3, including drawing forest plots, funnel plots and so on. Sensitivity and publication bias were performed in Stata 14.0. The stability of the results was assessed using Test Sequence Analysis (TSA) software. Registration number: CRD42024568348. Results: The G allele variant of rs4975616 was negatively associated with the risk of LC ([OR] = 0.86, 95%CI [0.84, 0.88]), and that this negative association was present in both Caucasians ([OR] = 0.85, 95%CI [0.83, 0.87]) and Asians ([OR] = 0.91, 95%CI [0.86, 0.95]), and the strength of the negative association was higher in Caucasians than in Asians (subgroup differences: P = 0.02, I2 = 80.3%). Across LC subtypes, rs4975616[G] was negatively associated with the risk of NSCLC (LUAD, LUSC) in both Caucasians and Asians (P<0.05) and the strength of the association with NSCLC (LUAD) was higher in Caucasians than in Asians (Subgroup differences: I2>50%). In Caucasians, rs4975616[G] was negatively associated with the risk of LC in both smokers and non-smokers (P<0.05), and the strength of the association did not differ between smokers and non-smokers (Subgroup differences: P = 0.18, I2 = 45.0%). In Asians, rs4975616[G] was mainly negatively associated with the risk of LC in smokers (P<0.05) but not in non-smokers ([OR] = 0.97, 95%CI [0.78, 1.20]). Comparisons between the two populations showed that the strength of this negative association was higher in Caucasian non-smokers than in Asian non-smokers (Subgroup differences: P = 0.04, I2 = 75.3%), whereas the strength of this negative association was the same for Caucasian smokers as for Asian smokers (Subgroup differences: P = 0.42, I2 = 0%). Among the different LC subtypes, rs4975616[G] was negatively associated with the risk of NSCLC (LUAD) incidence in both Asian smokers and Caucasian non-smokers (P<0.05), whereas it was not associated with the risk of NSCLC development in Asian non-smokers (P>0.05). Comparisons between the two populations showed that the strength of the association was higher in Caucasian non-smokers than in Asian non-smokers (Subgroup differences: I2>50%). Conclusion: The G allele variant of rs4975616 is negatively associated with the risk of LC and NSCLC (LUAD, LUSC). Compared with Asians, Caucasians are more likely to have a higher risk of LC and NSCLC (LUAD) due to the rs4975616 variant. In Caucasians, smoking and other factors like non-smoking contribute to rs4975616 variations leading to LC, and other factors like non-smoking also induce rs4975616 variations leading to NSCLC (LUAD). In Asians, smoking is the major risk factor for the induction of rs4975616 variations leading to LC and NSCLC(LUAD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic value of the electrocardiogram (ECG) method in detecting cardiac amyloidosis (CA) to indicate its clinical application. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, OVID Medline, and Cochrane Library databases for clinical trials assessing the diagnostic performance of ECG in detecting CA. We employed the risk ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) to explicit estimates. QUADAS-2 was applied to evaluate the bias risk and the clinical applicability of the included studies. Reviewer Manager (RevMan) 5.3 and Stata 16.0 were employed to complete all statistical analyses. Results: This meta-analysis included ten studies (N = 6353 patients). Overall, the findings of the study exposed that, for CA patients in whom the ECG method was used, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.49 and 0.91, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio (LR) and negative LR were 5.17 and 0.57, respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and diagnostic score of the ECG in detecting CA were 9.11 and 2.21. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.83(95% CI = 0.79–0.86). The hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve further confirmed the diagnostic accuracy of the ECG, demonstrating a high prediction and confidence interval for the pooled estimate. No significant publication bias was detected, as confirmed by funnel plot analysis. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the pooled estimates for ECG remained stable after the exclusion of individual studies, underscoring the robustness of the findings. The combined DOR and diagnostic score were 9.11 and 2.21, respectively. Conclusions: ECM has low sensitivity and high specificity in the diagnosis of CA. AUC > 0.5, indicating that ECM has accuracy and diagnostic value in the diagnosis of CA to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxygen therapy is a life-saving intervention used in various healthcare settings to maintain adequate tissue oxygenation while minimizing cardiopulmonary work. Its effective and safe administration depends largely on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health professionals. However, there are no pooled studies that examined these skills in the context of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of health professionals' knowledge, attitude, practice, and determinant factors about oxygen therapy in Ethiopia. Methods: The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Hinari, Science Direct, African Journal of Online, and Google Scholar were used to search for published studies; Direct Google searches and institutional repositories were used to search for unpublished studies. Duplicate studies were eliminated with Endnote X8 and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of KAP among health professionals. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics. Publication bias was checked by visual inspection of a funnel plot and Egger's regression test. STATA version 11 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 14 studies with 2,960 participants for knowledge and practice and 9 studies with 1,991 participants for attitude were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of KAP among health professionals. The pooled prevalence of good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice regarding oxygen therapy were 52.13% (95% CI: 43.88, 60.39), 55.08% (95% CI: 50.80, 59.35%), and 48.94% (95% CI: 41.14, 56.74) respectively. Both good knowledge and positive attitude were affected by the availability of oxygen therapy guidelines, with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of 6.11 (95% CI: 2.45, 15.22) and 2.17 (95% CI: 1.39, 3.39) respectively. Additionally, good knowledge (AOR: 4.31, 95% CI: 1.53, 12.11), training (AOR: 4.09, 95% CI: 2.04–8.20), and having an adequate oxygen supply and delivery system (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.92–5.07) were statistically associated with good practice. Conclusion and recommendations: The national pooled prevalence of good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice among health professionals was low. Therefore, thorough monitoring, supervision, and evaluation of their oxygen therapy is highly recommended for all stakeholders. Yet again, we strongly advise that the identified factors be improved by organizing training sessions, making oxygen therapy guidelines available, and maintaining an adequate oxygen supply system. Trial registration: The review protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews with registration number PROSPERO: CRD42023486036. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) face heightened infection susceptibility, particularly severe risks from COVID-19. This study, the first systematic review in its domain, seeks to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on MM patients. Method: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines and PROSPERO registration (ID: CRD42023407784), this study conducted an exhaustive literature search from January 1, 2020, to April 12, 2024, using specified search terms in major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science). Quality assessment utilized the JBI Critical checklist, while publication bias was assessed using Egger's test and funnel plot. The leave-one-out sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results by excluding one study at a time to identify studies with a high risk of bias or those that significantly influenced the overall effect size. Data synthesis involved fitting a random-effects model and estimating meta-regression coefficients. Results: A total of 14 studies, encompassing a sample size of 3214 yielded pooled estimates indicating a hospitalization rate of 53% (95% CI: 40.81, 65.93) with considerable heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 99%). The ICU admission rate was 17% (95% CI: 11.74, 21.37), also with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 94%). The pooled mortality rate was 22% (95% CI: 15.33, 28.93), showing high heterogeneity (I2 = 97%). The pooled survival rate stood at 78% (95% CI: 71.07, 84.67), again exhibiting substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 97%). Subgroup analysis and meta-regression highlighted that study types, demographic factors, and patient comorbidities significantly contributed to the observed outcome heterogeneity, revealing distinct patterns. Mortality rates increased by 15% for participants with a median age above 67 years. ICU admission rates were positively correlated with obesity, with a 20% increase for groups with at least 19% obesity. Mortality rates rose by 33% for the group of patients with at least 19% obesity, while survival rates decreased by 33% in the same group. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis sheds light on diverse COVID-19 outcomes in multiple myeloma. Heterogeneity underscores complexities, and study types, demographics, and co-morbidities significantly influence results, emphasizing the nuanced interplay of factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infectious diseases remain the leading causes of death in low and middle-income countries including Ethiopia. The existence of emerging, re-emerging, and drug-resistant infectious agents maximizes the importance of infection prevention and control. Healthcare workers are the key actors in the prevention and control of infection. As a result assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare workers toward infection prevention and control is very critical in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare providers toward infection prevention in Ethiopia. Method: PubMed, Scopus, SEMANTIC SCHOLAR, Google Scholar, and Addis Ababa University Digital Library were systematically searched for relevant literature until November 18/2023. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute quality appraisal tool. Data were abstracted using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using STATA version 11. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity among reported studies was assessed by Forest plot, Cochran's Q-statistics, and I2 test. Publication bias was checked using funnel plots, and Egger's regression test. In addition, sub-group and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Result: A total of 7,681 articles were retrieved of which 19 studies with 5,650 healthcare workers were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. About 74.5% (95% CI, 65.88, 83.12), 66.71% (95% CI 55.15, 78.28), and 55.2% (95% CI 48.22, 62.18) of healthcare workers were knowledgeable, had positive attitudes, and good standard of practice on infection prevention respectively. Conclusion: Despite acceptable knowledge and attitude, about half of the healthcare workers have unsafe infection prevention and control practices in Ethiopia. Hence, serious attention should be given to healthcare workers' application of infection prevention standards in their working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the rate of taste disturbance following cochlear implantation.The review was designed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Included studies psychophysically measured taste. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were used. An overall mean from studies reporting a single mean of taste strip performance was calculated using inverse variance method for pooling.Of 380 studies identified, 9 were included across which 55 cases of postoperative taste disturbance were reported in 498 patients. Taste was tested at variable timepoints, from <1 week to ≥6 months postoperatively. The overall rate of postoperative taste disturbance was 13.5% (95% CI, 7.6-20.7%) with high heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 62%).13.5% might indicate a higher prevalence of taste disturbance following cochlear implantation compared to the general population. However, the confidence we can assign to our calculated rate is limited by significant heterogeneity and potential publication bias. Studies reporting mean taste strip scores generally found reduced taste function on the side of the tongue ipsilateral to implantation, but this reduction wasn't statistically significant.Further research, employing more robust and standardised methodologies, is necessary to accurately ascertain the rate and nature of taste disturbance following cochlear implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global population aging poses a significant global challenge, necessitating an increased demand for proficient caregivers specialized in elderly care. In our study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to synthesize the evidence concerning nursing students' willingness to participate in caring for older people. Methods: Eligibility criteria focused on cross-sectional studies involving nursing students' willingness to participate in caring for older people and were reported in English or Chinese. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WANFANG databases were searched from inception until July 24, 2022. The methodological quality assessment in the included studies was evaluated using the AHRQ instrument. The pooled effects of the nursing students' willingness to participate in caring for older people were computed using a random-effects model. Funnel plots and Egger's test were employed to evaluate publication bias. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to verify the robustness of the meta-analysis findings. All statistical tests were conducted with Stata 16.0 software. Results: A total of 68 studies of medium or high quality met the eligibility criteria, involving 30,328 nursing students. The rate of nursing students' willingness to participate in caring for older people was 49.0% (95% CI = 46–53%, I2 = 98.1%, P = 0.000). The results of meta-regression analysis showed that the following four predictor variables were significantly associated with nursing students' willingness to participate in caring for older people: experience of living with and caring for older people, nursing as their first choice and their year-level in education, respectively. Subgroup analyses for these four predictor variables revealed the following pooled estimates of nursing students' willingness: having experience of living with older people (0.54, 95% CI = 0.46–0.62) vs. no such experience (0.38, 95% CI = 0.30–0.46), having experience of caring for older people (0.55, 95% CI = 0.48–0.63) vs. no such experience (0.38, 95% CI = 0.30–0.46), nursing as their first choice (0.54, 95% CI = 0.51–0.58) vs. not their first choice (0.44, 95% CI = 0.35–0.53), being in the first year of nursing education (0.44, 95% CI = 0.34–0.55), second year (0.45, 95% CI = 0.34–0.56), and third and fourth year (0.62, 95% CI = 0.53–0.71). Conclusion: The study found that approximately half of the nursing students confirmed their willingness to participate in caring for older people.The present study can serve as a resource for policymakers to increase the willingness of nursing students to participate in caring for older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the reliability of literature reviews and evidence synthesis is crucial for advancing the transformation of agriculture and food (agri-food) systems as well as for informed decisions and policy making. In this perspective, we argue that evidence syntheses in the field of agri-food systems research often suffer from a suite of methodological limitations that substantially increase the risk of bias, i.e., publication and selection bias, resulting in unreliable and potentially flawed conclusions and, consequently, poor decisions (e.g., policy direction, investment, research foci). We assessed 926 articles from the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Database of Evidence Reviews (CEEDER) and recent examples from agri-food systems research to support our reasoning. The analysis of articles from CEEDER (n = 926) specifically indicates poor quality (Red) in measures to minimize subjectivity during critical appraisal (98% of all reviews), application of the eligibility criteria (97%), cross-checking of extracted data by more than one reviewer (97%), critical appraisal of studies (88%), establishment of an a priori method/protocol (86%), and transparent reporting of eligibility decisions (65%). Additionally, deficiencies (Amber) were found in most articles (>50%) regarding the investigation and discussion of variability in study findings (89%), comprehensiveness of the search (78%), definition of eligibility criteria (72%), search approach (64%), reporting of extracted data for each study (59%), consideration and discussion of the limitations of the synthesis (56%), documentation of data extraction (54%) and regarding the statistical approach (52%). To enhance the quality of evidence synthesis in agri-food science, review authors should use tried-and-tested methodologies and publish peer-reviewed a priori protocols. Training in evidence synthesis methods should be scaled, with universities playing a crucial role. It is the shared duty of research authors, training providers, supervisors, reviewers, and editors to ensure that rigorous and robust evidence syntheses are made available to decision-makers. We argue that all these actors should be cognizant of these common mistakes to avoid publishing unreliable syntheses. Only by thinking as a community can we ensure that reliable evidence is provided to support appropriate decisionmaking in agri-food systems science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many adolescents are vulnerable to gender-based violence, and it is a major public health issue. Even though the burden of gender-based violence is still high in Ethiopia, there is a lack of summary information to address the problem. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled magnitude and factors associated with gender-based violence among female students in Ethiopian higher educational institutions. Methods: The primary articles were searched using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and African Journal Online. Articles that assessed the magnitude and factors associated with GBV among female students in Ethiopia were included. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used to extract the data, which was then exported to Stata version 14 for further analysis. The statistical heterogeneity was evaluated using the I² test. Due to heterogeneity, a random effect meta-analysis model was employed. Publication bias was checked through Egger's weighted regression test and funnel plot. Results: This study included twenty-five primary studies with 13,013 participants. The prevalence of lifetime GBV (n = 7), sexual violence (n = 25), and physical violence (n = 7) was found to be 51.42% (42.38, 60.46), 46.53% (39.86, 53.21), and 37.93% (24.68, 51.18), respectively. Witnessing their mother's abuse by their father during childhood, a lack of open discussion in the family about reproductive health and related personal issues, alcohol consumption, and tight family control were some of the factors significantly associated with lifetime gender-based violence. Furthermore, those who had drunken friends, a regular boyfriend, multiple sexual partners, and chat chewing were factors significantly associated with lifetime sexual violence. Conclusions and recommendations: Our findings revealed that half of female students at higher institutions suffered from violence. So it is recommended to provide accessible information about the consequences of GBV and early intervention for students with the above factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of frail older people is increasing worldwide, and all countries will be confronted with their growing needs for healthcare and social support. The aim of this umbrella review was to summarize the evidence on the factors associated with frailty in older people, using a socioecological approach. Methods: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Hinari (research4life), and the Trip database were systematically searched up to April 2023. Systematic reviews of observational studies that explored factors associated with frailty in older adults aged 60 years and over were considered for inclusion. No language, geographical or setting restrictions were applied. However, we excluded systematic reviews that investigated frailty factors in the context of specific diseases. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses and the ROBIS tool were used to assess the quality and risk of bias in the included studies. Results: Forty-four systematic reviews were included, covering 1,150 primary studies with approximately 2,687,911 participants overall. Several risk factors, protective factors and biomarkers were found to be associated with frailty, especially in community-dwelling older people, including 67 significant associations from meta-analyses. The certainty of the evidence was rated as moderate or reached moderate levels for seven factors relevant to older people. These factors include depression (OR 4.66, 95% CI 4.07 to 5.34), loneliness (OR 3.51, 95% CI 2.70 to 4.56), limitations in activities of daily living (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.48), risk of malnutrition (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.96 to 4.17), Dietary Inflammatory Index score (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.33), maximal walking speed (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) -0.97, 95% CI -1.25 to -0.68), and self-reported masticatory dysfunction (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.18). Additionally, only greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet showed a high level of evidence (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.64). Conclusions: This umbrella review will provide guidance for prevention strategies and clinical practice by promoting healthy lifestyles and addressing all modifiable risk factors associated with frailty. Future systematic reviews should consider heterogeneity and publication bias, as these were the main reasons for downgrading the level of evidence in our review. Registration: PROSPERO 2022, CRD42022328902. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nIntroduction: Dental caries with pulp involvement potentially impacts the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate whether clinical consequences of pulp involvement due to dental caries impacts OHRQoL of children and adolescents. Methods: Observational studies evaluating whether children/adolescents (population) with pulp involvement due to caries (exposition) compared with those without it (comparison) have more negative impact on their OHRQoL (outcome) were included. A systematic search was undertaken in August 2022 in seven databases. Alerts were set until August 2023. JBI Critical Appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies was used for methodological quality assessment. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to calculate mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) of impact on OHRQoL. For studies with dichotomous outcome, meta-analysis calculated the odds ratio (OR). Robustness, heterogeneity, certainty of evidence, and publication bias were evaluated. Results: From 29 included studies, 14 assessed preschoolers, nine assessed schoolchildren, four assessed adolescents, and two assessed children/adolescents. PUFA was the main index used to assess the exposure. ECOHIS (preschoolers) and CPQ (children/adolescents) were the main tools used to assess the outcome. Only five articles fully adhered to the quality criteria. The meta-analyses found the following main results: (a) preschoolers: MD −10.79 (−16.50; −5.09); (b) schoolchildren: MD −5.12 (−7.51; −2.72); (c) adolescents: MD −1.86 (−4.59; 0.87); (d) overall impact: SMD −2.18; (CI: −3.21;−1.15) and OR 0.52 (CI: 0.30; 0.90). Conclusion: Pulp involvement impacted OHRQoL of children negatively. In adolescents, this impact was not observed. Results must be interpreted with caution due to very low certainty of evidence. When cavitated caries lesions are not treated, they can worsen, affecting the inner part of the tooth, known as the pulp. This often leads to pain, problems with eating, sleeping, and other issues that can interfere with daily life. This study focused on determining whether children and teenagers with such tooth problems experience a greater negative impact on their quality of life compared to those without these conditions. We searched for and reviewed studies on this subject, examining their findings and the quality of their research. Out of 29 studies reviewed, most had some weaknesses in their research methods. Our review found that children with problems in the pulp of their teeth experience a more significant negative impact on their quality of life than those who do not have these dental issues. Interestingly, this significant impact was not seen in teenagers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined the publication performance of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in the 24 social science categories defined in the Scopus database between 2019 and 2023. Using data from Scopus, SciVal and Scimago, the authors analysed the status of regional journals and publications, the publication backlog in specific subject categories, the internal bias and the excellence of publications. According to this research Poland and the Czech Republic stand out in the region in terms of the number of Scopusindexed journals and published articles, while Hungary and Slovakia lag behind them. In terms of publication performance, this research reveals a significant lag in the number of journals and publications across the subject categories studied in elearning, human factors and ergonomics, life course and career studies and social work. The countries analysed are characterised by a high internal bias rate, especially in Poland and Hungary and a very small proportion of publications meet the criterion of excellence and the proportion of publications by the biggest publishers (Big Five) is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analysis is a powerful tool to synthesize findings from multiple studies. The normal–normal random-effects model is widely used to account for between-study heterogeneity. However, meta-analyses of sparse data, which may arise when the event rate is low for binary or count outcomes, pose a challenge to the normal–normal random-effects model in the accuracy and stability in inference since the normal approximation in the within-study model may not be good. To reduce bias arising from data sparsity, the generalized linear mixed model can be used by replacing the approximate normal within-study model with an exact model. Publication bias is one of the most serious threats in meta-analysis. Several quantitative sensitivity analysis methods for evaluating the potential impacts of selective publication are available for the normal–normal random-effects model. We propose a sensitivity analysis method by extending the likelihood-based sensitivity analysis with the $t$ -statistic selection function of Copas to several generalized linear mixed-effects models. Through applications of our proposed method to several real-world meta-analyses and simulation studies, the proposed method was proven to outperform the likelihood-based sensitivity analysis based on the normal–normal model. The proposed method would give useful guidance to address publication bias in the meta-analysis of sparse data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve has been recommended as one important meta-analytical summary to represent the accuracy of a diagnostic test in the presence of heterogeneous cutoff values. However, selective publication of diagnostic studies for meta-analysis can induce publication bias (PB) on the estimate of the SROC curve. Several sensitivity analysis methods have been developed to quantify PB on the SROC curve, and all these methods utilize parametric selection functions to model the selective publication mechanism. The main contribution of this article is to propose a new sensitivity analysis approach that derives the worst-case bounds for the SROC curve by adopting nonparametric selection functions under minimal assumptions. The estimation procedures of the worst-case bounds use the Monte Carlo method to approximate the bias on the SROC curves along with the corresponding area under the curves, and then the maximum and minimum values of PB under a range of marginal selection probabilities are optimized by nonlinear programming. We apply the proposed method to real-world meta-analyses to show that the worst-case bounds of the SROC curves can provide useful insights for discussing the robustness of meta-analytical findings on diagnostic test accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Women with disabilities are more exposed to violence. The health sector has a key role in all three levels of prevention of violence against women. The objective of this paper was to review the interventions for preventing gender‐based violence and reducing its impact on the mental health of women with any form of disability. Method: Relevant studies were identified through conducting searches in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsyInfo, Social Services Abstracts, and PILOTS. Two reviewers analyzed and selected studies. A qualitative synthesis was made. Results: 3149 references were obtained, among which eight articles describing nine interventions from the USA and the UK. Most were intended for women with mental/intellectual disability and assessed intimate partner or sexual violence. Only one study showed high methodological quality. They were found to be particularly effective as regards improvement of the skills acquired by participants, but the results as regards improved mental health are not consistent. Conclusion: Our review shows very little evidence of effective interventions. Further studies are required with higher internal validity and female sample groups with diverse disabilities. Clinical Relevance: Gender‐based violence is a highly prevalent problem for women with disabilities, and in addition to being a public health challenge is a violation of human rights. Health care systems and policymakers should take a key role in all three levels of prevention of violence against women with disabilities. Interventions with longer follow‐up times are required. It is also important for interventions to be designed in consultation with people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the methodological quality and evidence level of the existing systematic reviews (SRs) on music as an intervention for depression have not been thoroughly evaluated, a systematic evaluation and re‐evaluation (SERE) was conducted. Methods: Multiple databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, SinoMed, Wanfang, and the VIP database were searched for SRs and meta‐analyses (MAs) on the effectiveness of music as an intervention for depression. The literature screening, evaluation of methodological quality, and assessment of evidence level were carried out by a team of researchers. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) scale in accordance with the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria were utilized to assess the level of evidence. Results: A total of 18 SRs were included in the analysis. The 2020 PRISMA guidelines were utilized to evaluate various aspects such as search terms, funding sources, statistical methods for missing values, subgroup and sensitivity analyses, certainty assessment, excluded literature citations, assessment of publication bias, protocol information, conflicts of interest, and data availability, which were rarely reported. The evaluation of the studies using the AMSTAR 2 scale revealed that one article was rated as high quality, six were rated as low quality, and 11 were rated as very low quality. Based on the GRADE criteria evaluation, the quality of the evidence was found to be inconsistent, with reports primarily consisting of medium‐quality evidence. Conclusion: The methodological quality of SRs/MAs of music as an intervention in depression is generally poor, and the level of evidence is generally low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious causes of diarrhea contribute significantly to morbidity in Asia. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the prevalence of infectious etiologies of persistent and chronic diarrhea in Asian adults. Searches were performed on PubMed and Scopus for studies from January 1, 1970, to May 30, 2023. Sixteen studies were identified and included. The meta‐analysis was conducted with the random‐effects method, estimating the pooled prevalence of groups of infectious pathogens as causes of persistent and chronic diarrhea among Asian adults. The findings were highly heterogeneous and indicative of publication bias. The majority of studies were conducted on persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection (PLHIV). The studies were predominantly from low‐income and middle‐income Asian countries. The most common cause was parasitic, with a pooled prevalence of 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.28–0.65, I2 = 99%, Cochran's Q = 1027.44, P < 0.01), followed by bacterial, fungal, and viral causes, which were substantially rarer. Negative microbiological testing was also common, with a pooled prevalence for a negative test being 0.37 (95% confidence interval 0.17–0.52, I2 = 99%, Cochran's Q = 1027.44, P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses of studies conducted among PLHIV, from year 2000 and among those conducted in Southeast Asia showed a similar prevalence of parasitic causes of diarrhea. In conclusion, in Asian adults with persistent and chronic diarrhea, parasitic causes were most prevalent. However, the estimate of true prevalence is limited by significant heterogeneity among the available studies. More study in this field is required, especially examining PLHIV in the post‐antiretroviral therapy era and from high‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social biases may concentrate the attention of researchers on a small number of well-known molecules/mechanisms leaving others underexplored. In accordance with this view, central to mechanistic toxicology is a narrow range of molecular pathways that are assumed to be involved in a significant part of the responses to toxicity. It is unclear, however, if there are other molecular mechanisms which play an important role in toxicity events but are overlooked by toxicology. To identify overlooked genes sensitive to chemical exposures, we used publicly available databases. First, we used data on the published chemical–gene interactions for 17,338 genes to estimate their sensitivity to chemical exposures. Next, we extracted data on publication numbers per gene for 19,243 human genes from the Find My Understudied Genes database. Thresholds were applied to both datasets using our algorithm to identify chemically sensitive and chemically insensitive genes and well-studied and underexplored genes. A total of 1110 underexplored genes highly sensitive to chemical exposures were used in GSEA and Shiny GO analyses to identify enriched biological categories. The metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids, and glucose were identified as underexplored molecular mechanisms sensitive to chemical exposures. These findings suggest that future effort is needed to uncover the role of xenobiotics in the current epidemics of metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]