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Dehydration associated with exertion is a commonly encountered condition in the first aid setting, particularly at outdoor sporting events. Part I of this systematic review demonstrated that commercial sports drinks can be suggested for effective restoration of fluid balance in dehydrated people. In part II, we perform a systematic review to compare alternative liquids, such as cow's milk, beer, and coconut water, with water for effective oral rehydration after prolonged exercise. Cochrane Library, MEDLINE via the PubMed interface, and Embase databases were searched up until June 1, 2022. Controlled experimental and observational studies involving adults and children were included when dehydration was induced by physical exercise and oral rehydration fluids were administered and compared with regular water. No additional food intake accompanied the rehydration drinks or water. Articles in all languages were included if an English abstract was available. Study design, study population, intervention, outcome measures, and study limitations were extracted from each included article. Of 3485 articles screened, 11 articles in which authors compared skim or low-fat cow's milk, coconut water, or beer (0%–5% alcohol) with water were included. Authors of 4 studies showed that drinking skim or low-fat milk, without additional food intake, led to improved volume/hydration status compared with drinking water. Authors of 3 trials showed no differences at multiple times for outcomes related to volume/hydration status after rehydration with fresh coconut water compared with water. Evidence to recommend beer (0%–5% alcohol) for rehydration is insufficient. Consuming skim or low-fat cow's milk without additional food intake as compared with water appears to improve volume/hydration status in people with exercise-induced dehydration. However, evidence is of very low certainty and should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise-associated dehydration is a common problem, especially at sporting events. Although recommendations have been made to drink a certain volume per kilogram body mass lost after exercise, no clear guidance about the type of rehydration beverage is available. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of carbohydrate-electrolyte (CE) solutions as a rehydration solution for exercise-associated dehydration. MEDLINE (via the PubMed interface), Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched up until June 1, 2022. Controlled trials involving adults and children were included when dehydration was the result of physical exercise and when drinking carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions, of any percentage carbohydrate, was compared with drinking water. All languages were included if an English abstract was available. Data on study design, study population, interventions, outcome measures, and study limitations were extracted from each included article. Certainty was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Of 3485 articles screened, 19 articles in which authors assessed CE solutions (0%–9% carbohydrate) compared with water were included. Although variability was present among the identified studies, drinking 0% to 3.9% and especially 4% to 9% CE solution may be effective for rehydration. A potential beneficial effect of drinking CE drinks compared with water was observed for many of the reviewed outcomes. Commercial CE drinks (ideally 4%–9% CE drinks or alternatively 0%–3.9% CE drinks) could be suggested for rehydration in individuals with exercise-associated dehydration when whole foods are not available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intervention of interest in this review is paper (hard copy) book reading, e-book reading or audiobook listening as a leisure activity ("reading for pleasure" or "recreational reading"). These interventions include lone reading, as well as reading aloud in a one-on-one setting, and being read to in a one-on-one setting. These common leisure activities may promote two aspects of healthy ageing, that is, cognitive functioning and emotional well-being, by providing cognitive stimulation and by helping to relax and take one's mind off the worries of everyday life, respectively. Preparing for the economic and social shifts associated with an ageing population is an essential task for the 21st century policy-maker. Governments should look into innovative but sustainable ways to promote healthy ageing. Reviews that study the effects of common and low-threshold leisure activities, such as book reading, on the cognition and emotional well-being of older adults, may provide useful information in creating these frameworks. In this way, policy-makers can make evidence-based decisions on where to focus their efforts in dealing with global ageing. By systematically searching for individual studies, this review will answer the following research question: What is the effect of book reading on cognitive functioning and emotional well-being in older adults?

Background and Objectives: Blood establishments strive to ensure the safety and comfort of blood donors while minimizing adverse events. This review aims to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of eating and/or drinking interventions before, during and/or after blood donation in reducing vasovagal reactions (VVRs). Materials and Methods: We analysed randomized and non‐randomized controlled trials comparing eating and/or drinking interventions to no intervention, placebo or usual practice on (pre‐)syncopal VVRs and related symptoms. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach was used to assess the risk of bias and overall certainty of the evidence. Results: Pre‐donation water ingestion likely results in reduced on‐site VVRs, compared to no water (2 fewer per 100 donors, moderate‐certainty evidence). A pre‐donation isotonic drink likely results in reduced VVRs, compared to usual practice (2 fewer per 100 donors, moderate‐certainty evidence). Pre‐donation salt‐loaded sweetened lemon water may result in fewer off‐site VVRs, compared to sweetened lemon water only (1 fewer per 100 donors, low‐certainty evidence). Pre‐donation water and a gel cap containing sucrose with 250 mg caffeine may result in fewer blood donor reaction ratings, compared to pre‐donation water only (low‐certainty evidence). Conclusions: Pre‐donation plain water ingestion or isotonic drink probably results in a large reduction in on‐site and off‐site VVRs. Pre‐donation water ingestion with caffeine consumption or salt supplementation may result in a VVR reduction, compared to water ingestion only. Future large trials are required to increase the certainty of the effect of these and other interventions in the prevention of VVRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Although screening of donated blood for syphilis is almost universally applied, its cost‐effectiveness is questioned because of the low prevalence of transfusion‐transmitted syphilis and a widespread belief that the syphilis‐causing bacterium Treponema pallidum is very vulnerable to cold storage. Since the latter claim is not yet supported by a systematic review, we investigated whether syphilis can be transmitted via transfusion following prolonged (cold or room temperature) storage of blood products. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE, PMC and NCBI bookshelf (PubMed interface), Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched up to 17 January 2023. Results: Nine experimental animal studies and one observational human study were included. Meta‐analysis showed that storing artificially infected human (six studies; risk ratio [RR] = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.64, p = 0.0003) or rabbit (two studies; RR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.55, p = 0.01) blood for more than 72 h before intratesticular injection significantly decreased the number of recipient animals that develop syphilis. Nonetheless, the possibility of syphilis transmission remained for up to 7 days. Differences could not be found for rabbit plasma (p = 0.60) or naturally infected rabbit blood (p = 0.28). There was limited evidence from one study in favour of the storage of artificially infected human platelets for over 72 h at cold temperatures (RR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03–0.52, p = 0.004) but not at room temperature (p = 0.12). Conclusion: Even though the infectivity of T. pallidum‐spiked blood may decrease after 72 h of cold storage, the possibility for transfusion‐transmitted syphilis may remain for several days after. The evidence is very uncertain, and conclusions are hindered by a lack of sufficiently powered studies and studies in humans. In addition, T. pallidum concentrations used in animal studies may be unrealistically high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: As part of a large‐scale project to safely increase plasma collection in Europe, the current scoping review identifies the existing evidence (gaps) on adverse events (AEs) and other health effects in plasmapheresis donors, as well as factors that may be associated with such events/effects. Materials and Methods: We searched six databases and three registries. Study characteristics (publication type, language, study design, population, outcomes, associated factors, time of assessment, duration of follow‐up, number and frequency of donations, convalescent plasma [y/n], setting and location) were synthesized narratively and in an interactive evidence gap map (EGM). Results: Ninety‐four research articles and five registrations were identified. Around 90% were observational studies (57 controlled and 33 uncontrolled), and most of them were performed in Europe (55%) or the United States (20%). Factors studied in association with donor health included donor characteristics (e.g., sex, age) (n = 27), cumulative number of donations (n = 21), donation frequency (n = 11), plasma collection device or programme (n = 11), donor status (first time vs. repeat) (n = 10), donation volume per session (n = 8), time in donation programme (n = 3), preventive measures (n = 2) or other (n = 9). Conclusion: The current scoping review provides an accessible tool for researchers and policymakers to identify the available evidence (gaps) concerning plasmapheresis donation safety. Controlled prospective studies with long‐term donor follow‐up are scarce. Furthermore, additional experimental studies comparing the health effects of different donation frequencies are required to inform a safe upper limit for donation frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loneliness and social isolation are currently among the most challenging social issues. Given their detrimental impact on physical and mental health, identifying feasible and sustainable interventions to alleviate them is highly important. Friendly visiting, a befriending intervention whereby older persons are matched with someone who visits them on a regular basis, seems promising. However, it is unclear if face‐to‐face (F2F) friendly visiting by a volunteer (FVV) is effective at reducing loneliness or social isolation, or both. Objectives: To assess the effect of F2F FVV on feelings of loneliness, social isolation (primary outcomes) and wellbeing (i.e., life satisfaction, depressive symptom experiencing and mental health; secondary outcomes) in older adults. Search Methods: We searched six electronic databases up until 11 August 2021. We also consulted 15 other resources, including grey literature sources and websites of organizations devoted to loneliness and ageing, between 25 October and 29 November 2021. Selection Criteria: We included experimental and observational studies that quantitatively measured the effect of F2F FVV, compared to no friendly visiting, on at least one of following outcomes in older adults (≥60 years of age): loneliness, social isolation or wellbeing. Data Collection and Analysis: Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction and synthesis, risk of bias and GRADE assessment. If outcomes were measured multiple times, we extracted data for one short‐term (≤1 month after the intervention had ended), one intermediate‐term (>1 and ≤6 months), and one long‐term time point (>6 months). Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non‐RCTs were presented and synthesized separately. Synthesis was done using vote counting based on the direction of effect. Main Results: Nine RCTs and four non‐RCTs, conducted primarily in the United States and involving a total of 470 older adults (mean or median ages: 72–83 years), were included. All studies were limited in size (20–88 participants each). Programmes lasted 6–12 weeks and mostly involved weekly visits by undergraduate students to community‐dwelling older adults. Visits consisted mainly of casual conversation, but sometimes involved gameplaying and TV‐watching. All studies had major shortcomings in design and execution. The current evidence about the effect of F2F FVV on loneliness in older adults is very uncertain, both in the short (one RCT in 88, and one non‐RCT in 35 participants) and intermediate term (one RCT in 86 participants) (both very low‐certainty evidence). The same goes for the effects on social isolation, again both in the short (one RCT in 88, and two non‐RCTs in 46 participants) and intermediate term (two non‐RCTs in 99 participants) (both very low‐certainty evidence). Similarly, there is a lot of uncertainty about the effect of F2F FVV on outcomes related to wellbeing (all very low‐certainty evidence). Authors' Conclusions: Due to the very low‐certainty evidence, we are unsure about the effectiveness of F2F FVV with regard to improving loneliness, social isolation, or wellbeing in older adults. Decision‐makers considering implementing FVV should take into account this uncertainty. More and larger high‐quality studies that are better designed and executed, and preferably conducted in various settings, are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]