Comprehensive Literature Review Research Articles

Traumatic cavernosal artery pseudoaneurysm: a rare cause of erectile dysfunction following pelvic trauma: a case report and comprehensive literature review

Traumatic cavernosal artery pseudoaneurysm: a rare cause of erectile dysfunction following pelvic trauma: a case report and comprehensive literature review

Anticoagulant therapy in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves: Italian FCSA Position Paper.

The management of anticoagulant therapy in pregnant women with mechanical heart valves (MHVs) is difficult and often challenging even for clinicians experienced in the field. These pregnancies, indeed, are burdened with higher rates of complications for both the mother and the fetus, compared to those in women without MHVs. The maternal need for an optimal anticoagulation as provided by vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is counterbalanced by their teratogen effect on the product of conception. On the other hand, several concerns have been raised about the efficacy of heparins in pregnant women with MHVs, considering the high risk of thrombotic complications in these patients. Therefore, numerous clinical issues about the management of pregnant women with MHVs remain unanswered such as the selection of the best anticoagulant agent, the optimal anticoagulation levels to be achieved and maintained, and the evaluation of long-term effects for both the mother and the fetus. Based on a comprehensive review of the current literature, the Italian Federation of the Centers for the Diagnosis and the Surveillance of the Antithrombotic Therapies (FCSA) proposes experienced-based suggestions and expert opinions. Particularly, this consensus document aims at providing practical guidance for clinicians dealing with pregnant women with MHVs, to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes while guaranteeing adequate anticoagulation. Finally, FCSA highlights the need for the creation of multidisciplinary teams experienced in the management of pregnant women with MHVs during pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum, in order to better deal with such complex clinical issues and provide a comprehensive counseling to these patients.

Gut microbiota and psychobiotics: a novel approach in anxiety management - a comprehensive literature review

Gut microbiota and psychobiotics: a novel approach in anxiety management - a comprehensive literature review

Australian consensus: Treatment goals for moderate to severe psoriasis in the era of targeted therapies - Considerations for paediatric patients.

Treatment goals have been established in Australia to facilitate the management of adults with moderate to severe psoriasis. The Australasian College of Dermatologists sought to determine if and how these adult treatment goals could be modified to accommodate the needs of paediatric and adolescent patients. A modified Delphi approach was used. Comprehensive literature review and guideline evaluation resulted in the development of statements and other questions to establish current clinical practices. Two rounds of anonymous voting were undertaken, with a collaborative meeting held in between to discuss areas of discordance. Overall, consensus was defined as achievement of ≥75% agreement in the range 7-9 on a 9-point scale (1 strongly disagree; 9 strongly agree). Consensus was achieved on 23/29 statements in round 1 and 17/18 statements in round 2. There was a high level of concordance with treatment criteria in the adult setting. The limitations of applying assessment tools developed for use in adult patients to the paediatric setting were highlighted. Treatment targets in the paediatric setting should include objective metrics for disease severity and psychological impact on the patients and their family, and be based on validated, age-appropriate tools. While the assessment, classification and management of moderate to severe psoriasis in paediatric patients aligns with metrics established for adults, it is vital that nuances in the transition from childhood to adolescence be taken into account. Future research should focus on psoriasis severity assessment scales specific to the paediatric setting.

Addressing the Housing Crisis: Insights from a Study on University Students in Turkey

Housing stands as a fundamental human right, acknowledged by numerous international bodies and statutes. Despite this recognition, only a handful of nations ensure adequate housing for their populace. This research endeavors to forge a connection between housing rights and social policy through a comprehensive literature review. Drawing from data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the study addresses the escalating housing concerns among university students in Turkey. With an increasing student population and insufficient accommodation facilities, the issue has reached a critical juncture. Most students are compelled to reside in state dormitories, which lack the capacity to meet demand. Moreover, economic hardships and a dearth of financial aid exacerbate the housing crisis. The findings underscore the urgent need for the development of policies and solutions tailored to address the housing predicament faced by university students in Turkey.

Temporal arteritis presenting as third nerve palsy - a case report and review of literature.

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), also known as Temporal Arteritis, is a type of large vessel vasculitis primarily affecting the elderly population. It typically manifests with headaches, visual impairment, and jaw claudication. Although third nerve palsy as the primary presentation of GCA is rare, it has been reported in previous instances. In this report, we describe the case of a patient presenting with pupil-sparing third nerve palsy, ultimately diagnosed with GCA, and successfully managed with steroids and tocilizumab. A lady in her 80s with past medical history of well-controlled hypertension, bladder cancer in remission, a twenty-pack year smoking history, cervical and lumbar spine stenosis, and recent immunizations presented with acute onset of right-sided pupil-sparing third nerve palsy. Labs were pertinent for an elevated ESR and CRP. Brain imaging was without acute abnormalities. A temporal artery biopsy established evidence of healed arteritis and a diagnosis of GCA was made. The patient was treated with pulse-dose steroids followed by an oral steroid taper and tocilizumab. At one month follow-up, there was partial resolution in her ophthalmoplegia. We underscore the importance of considering temporal arteritis as a potential cause of third nerve palsy in the elderly before attributing it solely to microvascular ischemia, particularly in patients with constitutional features. Additionally, in our comprehensive literature review, we aim to consolidate the existing data from similar presentations, shedding light on the clinical manifestation and disease trajectory.

The Protective Effects of Taurine, a Non-essential Amino Acid, Against Metals Toxicities: A Review Article.

Taurine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid derived from cysteine. It is involved in several phenomena such as the regulation of growth and differentiation, osmoregulation, neurohormonal modulation, and lipid metabolism. Taurine is important because of its high levels in several tissues such as the central nervous system (CNS), heart, skeletal muscles, retinal membranes, and platelets. In this report, we present the functional properties of taurine indicating that it has potential effects on various metal toxicities. Therefore, a comprehensive literature review was performed using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. According to the search keywords, 61 articles were included in the study. The results indicate that taurine protects tissues against metal toxicity through enhancement of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity, modulation of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, involvement in different molecular pathways, and interference with the activity of various enzymes. Taken together, taurine is a natural supplement that presents antitoxic effects against many types of compounds, especially metals, suggesting public consumption of this amino acid as a prophylactic agent against the incidence of metal toxicity.

Atrial Arrhythmias Following Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy: A Comprehensive Review Of Current Literature.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) presents as a progressive vascular condition arising from previous episodes of acute pulmonary embolism, contributing to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the gold-standard surgical treatment for CTEPH; however, it may be associated with postoperative sequelae, including atrial arrhythmias (AAs). This comprehensive literature review explores the potential mechanisms for PTE-induced AAs with emphasis on the role of PH-related atrial remodelling and the predisposing factors. The identified preoperative predictors for AAs include advanced age, male gender, elevated resting heart rate, previous AAs, and baseline elevated right atrial pressure. Furthermore, we explore the available data on the association between post-PTE pericardial effusions and the development of AAs. Lastly, we briefly discuss the emerging role of radiomic analysis of epicardial adipose tissue as an imaging biomarker for predicting AAs.

Impact of Lean Manufacturing Practices on Waiting Time of Patients in Outpatient Department (OPD): A Study in the Sri Lankan Public Healthcare Industry.

This study aims to explain the impact of lean manufacturing practices on waiting time of patients at the outpatient department (OPD) in the Public hospitals. Cross-sectional data using a survey sample of 384 patients in the Kandy public hospitals with a satisfied random sampling were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. This study covers the four independent variables of lean manufacturing practices namely: 5S, visual management, kaizen, and Just in Time. The dependent variable is waiting time. The measurement instrument for lean manufacturing practices and waiting time was developed from comprehensive literature reviews. Results indicate that there is a negative significant impact of lean manufacturing practices on waiting time of patients in outpatient department (Beta = -0.626 & p=0.000). Therefore, these findings suggest that the theories of lean manufacturing and the knowledge-based view providing implementation of lean manufacturing practices can reduce waiting time for patients in outpatient department.

Effects of Postoperative Gum Chewing on Recovery of Gastrointestinal Function Following Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Chewing gum, considered a form of sham feeding, has been shown to improve intestinal motor and secretory function in various types of abdominal surgery. We conducted this systematic review to evaluate the effects of postoperative gum chewing on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature review of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Embase, and a reference list of relevant studies from the inception to 11 March 2024, comparing postoperative gum chewing versus no gum chewing following laparoscopic gynecologic surgery regardless of indications and setting without language restriction. The primary outcome was the time to the presence of bowel sounds and the time to the first passage of flatus. Cochrane’s risk of bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias in included studies. Results: Nine RCTs with a total of 1011 patients were included. Overall, three studies were categorized as having a low risk of bias, three had some concerns, and three exhibited a high risk of bias. The time to the presence of bowel sounds (mean difference [MD] −2.66 h, 95% confidence interval [CI] −3.68 to −1.64, p < 0.00001) and time to the first passage of flatus (MD −4.20 h, 95% CI −5.79 to −2.61, p < 0.00001) was significantly shorter in the gum-chewing group. There was no statistical difference between the two groups with regard to the time to the first defecation (MD −6.52 h, 95% CI −15.70 to 2.66, p = 0.16), time to the first postoperative mobilization (MD 24.05 min, 95% CI −38.16 to 86.26, p = 0.45), postoperative ileus (MD 0.68, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.19, p = 0.17), and length of hospital stay (MD −0.05 day, 95% CI −0.14 to 0.04, p = 0.28). Conclusions: Gum chewing following laparoscopic gynecologic surgery appears to promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function, as evidenced by a reduced time to the presence of bowel sounds and the first passage of flatus.

EFFECTIVENESS OF CBT BASED RELAPSE PREVENTION THERAPY IN REDUCING RELAPSE RISK AND CRAVING AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER

Present study explored the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Relapse Prevention Techniques (CBT-BRPT) in reducing relapse risk and craving among individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). Drawing from a comprehensive literature review, the study addressed the pressing need for evidence-based interventions to combat SUD and its associated challenges. Present study employed a Pre-Experimental Research Design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach, utilized the purposive sampling to recruit a sample of 50 male participants seeking treatment for SUD. The instruments utilized include the Stimulant Relapse Risk Scale (SRRS), the Brief Substance Craving Scale (BSCS), and a Demographic Information Form. Results demonstrated significant reductions in both craving and relapse risk among participants who received CBT-BRPT intervention. These findings underscore the importance of CBT-BRPT as a viable treatment option for individuals with SUD, offering promising implications for clinical practice and substance abuse treatment programs. Despite limitations such as sample size and absence of a control group, the study's findings advocate for the integration of CBT approaches into existing treatment modalities and call for further research to validate the efficacy of CBT interventions in addressing substance use disorders comprehensively.

Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in a Young Patient: A Comprehensive Case Report and Literature Review

Spontaneous Splenic Rupture in a Young Patient: A Comprehensive Case Report and Literature Review

Biodiesel supply chain network design: a comprehensive review with qualitative and quantitative insights.

The global community is actively pursuing alternative energy sources to mitigate environmental concerns and decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Biodiesel, recognized as a clean and eco-friendly fuel with advantages over petroleum-based alternatives, has been identified as a viable substitute. However, its commercialization encounters challenges due to costly production processes. Establishing a more efficient supply chain for mass production and distribution could surmount these obstacles, rendering biodiesel a cost-effective solution. Despite numerous review articles across various renewable energy supply chain domains, there remains a gap in the literature specifically addressing the biodiesel supply chain network design. This research entails a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) focusing on the design of biodiesel supply chain networks. The primary objective is to formulate an economically, environmentally, and socially optimized supply chain framework. The review also seeks to offer a holistic overview of pertinent technical terms and key activities involved in these supply chains. Through this SLR, a thorough examination and synthesis of existing literature will yield valuable insights into the design and optimization of biodiesel supply chains. Additionally, it will identify critical research gaps in the field, proposing the exploration of fourth-generation feedstocks, integration of multi-channel chains, and the incorporation of sustainability and resilience aspects into the supply chain network design. These proposed areas aim to address existing knowledge gaps and enhance the overall effectiveness of biodiesel supply chain networks.

Prevalence and trends of hepatitis B and C virus biomarkers in Zimbabwe: comparative analyses of a nation’s blood-donor surveillance data and meta-analyses of population studies

Background The disproportionate burden of viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) is experienced by people living in low-resourced sub-Saharan Africa, where the estimated prevalence is 3–7 times the global average. Therefore to inform policy, we describe the seroprevalence and trends of hepatitis C (HCV) and HBV biomarkers: anti-HCV antibody and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), respectively, in Zimbabwe. Methods We analysed data from 181,248 consecutive blood-donors, examined between January 2015 through December 2018. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive literature review using PubMed and African Journals Online databases, meta-analysing selected papers from Zimbabwe, published between 1970 and 2020, that met specific criteria. Results Overall age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) for anti-HCV was 8.67 (95%CI, 0.25–17.09) per 100,000, while that for HBsAg was 2.26 (95%, 1.89–2.63) per 1000 blood-donors, per year. Meta-analysis of 9 studies comprising 220,127 persons tested for anti-HCV revealed ASPR of 0.05% (95% 0%–0.19%) in blood-donors and 1.78% (95%CI, 0.01%–5.55%) in the general population, for an overall pooled ASPR of 0.44 (95%CI, 0.19%–0.76%). 21 studies comprising 291,784 persons tested for HBsAg revealed ASPR of 0.65% (95%CI, 0.31%–1.00%) in blood-donors and 4.31% (95%CI, 1.77%–6.50%) in the general population for an overall pooled ASPR of 4.02% (95%CI, 3.55%–4.48%), after HBV vaccine introduction. HBsAg prevalence was significantly higher before HBV vaccine introductions. Conclusions The prevalence of HBV is decreasing, consistent with the introduction of HBV vaccination, while HCV prevalence is increasing in Zimbabwe. This highlights the need for Improved blood-donor screening and more informative biomarker studies, particularly among repeat donors and children.

An In-Depth Exploration of the Impact of COVID-19 on Hospitality Interns' Career Choices and Experiences: Insights for Educators, Industry Professionals, and Policymakers

Purpose of the study: The study explores how COVID-19 impacts hospitality interns' career choices and experience. Through a comprehensive literature review, key findings emerge regarding the effects of the pandemic on internship programs, the challenges interns face, and the factors influencing their post-pandemic career decisions. Methodology: The first step of the study is a comprehensive literature review, which establishes a qualitative approach to gathering information from existing research, articles, and publications. Principal Findings: COVID-19 has heavily affected hospitality internships, resulting in cancellations and remote work. However, interns have shown resilience by adapting to new learning methods and career exploration. Employers in the hospitality industry are hopeful about interns' job prospects after the pandemic, emphasizing the need to support students and address their career concerns for industry recovery. Applications of the study: This study offers valuable insights that empower educators, industry professionals, and policymakers to adapt internship programs, support intern resilience, and understand evolving career preferences in hospitality. By understanding COVID-19's impact on interns, stakeholders can make informed decisions to aid industry recovery. Novelty/Originality of the study: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on hospitality internships, emphasizing both challenges and intern resilience. It offers insights for interns, industry recovery, and guidance to educators, professionals, and policymakers.

A STUDY ON IMPACT OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN BRAND AWARENESS

This study investigates the influence of digital marketing strategies on brand awareness among consumers. Through a comprehensive review of literature and empirical analysis, the study reveals the significant role played by various digital marketing channels such as social media, search engine optimization, and content marketing in enhancing brand visibility and recognition. The findings suggest that companies leveraging digital marketing effectively experience higher levels of brand awareness compared to those relying solely on traditional marketing approaches.

Implementing Lean 4.0: a review of case studies in pharmaceutical industry transformation

PurposeThe purpose of this systematic review is to critically analyze pharmaceutical industry case studies on the implementation of Lean 4.0 methodologies to synthesize key lessons, benefits and best practices. The goal is to inform decisions and guide investments in related technologies for enhancing quality, compliance, efficiency and responsiveness across production and supply chain processes.Design/methodology/approachThe article utilized a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology following five phases: formulating research questions, locating relevant articles, selecting and evaluating articles, analyzing and synthesizing findings and reporting results. The SLR aimed to critically analyze pharmaceutical industry case studies on Lean 4.0 implementation to synthesize key lessons, benefits and best practices.FindingsKey findings reveal recurrent efficiency gains, obstacles around legacy system integration and data governance as well as necessary operator training investments alongside technological upgrades. On average, quality assurance reliability improved by over 50%, while inventory waste declined by 57% based on quantified metrics across documented initiatives synthesizing robotics, sensors and analytics.Research limitations/implicationsAs a comprehensive literature review, findings depend on available documented implementations within the search period rather than direct case evaluations. Reporting bias may also skew toward more successful accounts.Practical implicationsSynthesized implementation patterns, performance outcomes and concealed pitfalls provide pharmaceutical leaders with an evidence-based reference guide aiding adoption strategy development, resource planning and workforce transitioning crucial for Lean 4.0 assimilation.Originality/valueThis systematic assessment of pharmaceutical Lean 4.0 adoption offers an unprecedented perspective into the real-world issues, dependencies and modifications necessary for successful integration, absent from conceptual projections or isolated case studies alone until now.

Artificial intelligence as a new answer to old challenges in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics.

Following the latest trends in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), the possibility of processing an immense amount of data has created a breakthrough in the medical field. Practitioners can now utilize AI tools to advance diagnostic protocols and improve patient care. The aim of this article is to present the importance and modalities of AI in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics and its usefulness in daily clinical work and decision-making process. A comprehensive literature review was performed by searching PubMed for articles published from inception up until August 2023, including the search terms "artificial intelligence in obstetrics", "maternal-fetal medicine", and "machine learning" combined through Boolean operators. In addition, references lists of identified articles were further reviewed for inclusion. According to recent research, AI has demonstrated remarkable potential in improving the accuracy and timeliness of diagnoses in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics, e.g., advancing perinatal ultrasound technique, monitoring fetal heart rate during labor, or predicting mode of delivery. The combination of AI and obstetric ultrasound can help optimize fetal ultrasound assessment by reducing examination time and improving diagnostic accuracy while reducing physician workload. The integration of AI in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes, enhance healthcare efficiency, and individualized care plans. As technology evolves, AI algorithms are likely to become even more sophisticated. However, the successful implementation of AI in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics needs to address challenges related to interpretability and reliability.

New Thoughts on Research Framework for Integrating Leader Voice-Taking Behavior: A Literature Review Based Study

Objective: The purpose of this study is to conduct a relatively comprehensive literature review with leader voice-taking behavior as the core dimension in order to construct a logical quantitative research framework for studying organizational innovation in the hospitality industry. Theoretical Framework: The framework can be used to guide the optimization of management processes in Chinese hospitality industry, especially in response to corporate innovation problems caused by leaders who do not pay attention to the voices of their front-line employees (FLEs). Method: This study used a theoretical integration of a conventional review of literature textual research, drawing on persuasion theory, social information processing theory, and affective event theory to explain a model of leader voice-taking behavior. Results and Discussion: The findings of this paper more systematically integrates the logical relationships between the dimensions related to leader voice-taking behavior, including message factors (promotive voice, prohibitive voice, issue importance, voice directness), source factors (employee’s voice efficacy, value congruence, employee loyalty, employee expertise) and context factors (diversity, LMX) as predictable antecedents of leader voice-taking behavior. On the other hand, FOCC and affective factors (positive emotions, relational energy) are potentially mediating the relationship between leader discourse behavior and service innovation in FLEs. Research Implications: This study provides theoretical support for leadership-employee related behavioral theories, emphasizes the role of voice-taking behavior in corporate innovation, and is instructive for quantitative analysis of Chinese hospitality industry related to this type of research. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature review by leader voice-taking behavior. This is academically capable of guiding other related research and has a strong academic value.

Multiple sarcomatoid carcinomas in the small intestine with perforation: A case report and literature review.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine is an exceedingly rare and aggressive malignancy, often diagnosed at advanced stages with a poor prognosis. This study documents a detailed case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and treatment approaches, underscored by a comprehensive review of related literature. Given the rarity of this condition, our report aims to enrich the existing diagnostic and treatment frameworks for this malignancy, emphasizing the necessity for early detection and intervention strategies. By presenting this case in conjunction with a literature review, we seek to shed light on the elusive nature of sarcomatoid carcinoma in the small intestine and propose avenues for improving patient outcomes. Case presentation A 61-year-old male patient initially presented with recurrent abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms. Initial abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans and gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed only inflammatory and hyperplastic changes in the duodenum and jejunum, with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Two years later, due to gastrointestinal perforation, the patient was hospitalized again. CT scans and other examinations revealed small intestinal lesions. Four small intestinal lesions were surgically removed, and pathology and immunohistochemistry confirmed sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine. A short time later, enhanced CT scans revealed metastatic lesions in the hepatic portal and adrenal glands. After surgery, the gastrointestinal function gradually recovered, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on a semiliquid diet. No further treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy was administered postoperatively. Five months after the surgery, the patient died due to brain metastasis. The study outcomes reveal the aggressive nature of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the small intestine, characterized by rapid progression and poor prognosis despite surgical interventions. The patient condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to metastasis and death within 5 months postsurgery. These findings underscore the critical need for early detection and possibly innovative treatment approaches to improve survival rates. This case also highlights the potential for gastrointestinal sarcomatoid carcinoma to metastasize to distant organs, including the brain, suggesting a propensity for hematogenous spread.