Systematic Review Of Evidence Research Articles

Corticosteroid injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis present a wide spectrum of effects ranging from detrimental to disease-modifying: A systematic review of preclinical evidence by the ESSKA Orthobiologic Initiative.

Aim of this systematic review of preclinical evidence was to determine the effects of intra-articular corticosteroid (CS) injections in joints affected by osteoarthritis (OA). A systematic review was performed on animal studies evaluating intra-articular CS injections for OA joints. The search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases. A synthesis of the results was performed investigating CS effects by evaluating studies comparing CS with control groups. Morphological, histological, immunohistochemistry evaluations, clinical outcomes, biomarkers and imaging results were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed according to the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation's tool. Thirty-two articles analysing CS effects in OA animal models were included (1079 joints), 18 studies on small and 14 on large animals. CS injections showed overall positive effects in at least one of the outcomes in 68% of the studies, while 16% reported a deleterious effect. CS improved cartilage and synovial outcomes in 68% and 60% of the studies, but detrimental effects were documented in 11% and 20% of the studies, respectively. Clinical parameters evaluated in terms of pain, lameness or joint swelling improved in 63% of the studies but deteriorated in 13%. Evidence is limited on imaging and biomarkers results, as well as on the best CS type, dose, formulation and injection protocol. The risk of bias assessment revealed a 28% low and an 18% high risk of bias. Intra-articular CS injections induced a wide range of results on OA joints in experimental animal models, from disease-modifying and positive effects on pain and joint function at short-term evaluation to the lack of benefit or even negative effects. This underlines the need to identify more specific indications and treatment modalities to avoid possible detrimental effects while maximising the anti-inflammatory properties and the benefits of intra-articular CS in OA joints. Level II.

Changes in the Gastrointestinal Microbiota Induced by Proton Pump Inhibitors-A Review of Findings from Experimental Trials.

The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has increased considerably in many Western countries, and there is concern that numerous conditions and diseases associated with PPI use may be adverse events. The main function of gastric acid is to defend the organism against orally ingested microorganisms, and there is also concern that alterations not only in the gastric microbiome but also the downstream intestinal microbiome may increase the risk of disease or alter the course of preexisting disease. The current study is a systematic review of the available evidence from experimental trials investigating the effects of PPIs on the gastrointestinal microbiota by next-generation sequencing. Thirteen studies were identified. The effects of PPIs were seen on alterations in diversity and richness in some of the studies, while a larger proportion of the studies detected alterations at various taxonomic levels. The general finding was that PPI use caused an increase in bacteria normally found in the oral microbiota in both the upper and lower GI tract. The most consistent taxonomic alterations seemed to be increases in oral flora along the axis Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus at genus level and various Streptococcus spp., as well as Veillonellaceae, Veillonella and Haemophilus.

Is the Hedgehog Pathway Involved in the Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia? A Systematic Review of Current Evidence of Neural Molecular Correlates and Perspectives on Drug Development.

Among the pathophysiological correlates of schizophrenia, recent research suggests a potential role for the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway, which has been traditionally studied in embryonic development and oncology. Its dysregulation may impact brain homeostasis, neuroplasticity, and potential involvement in neural processes. This systematic review provides an overview of the involvement of Hh signalling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and antipsychotic responses. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify peer-reviewed scientific studies focusing on Hh and schizophrenia, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, finally including eight studies, including three articles focused on patients with schizophrenia, two animal models of schizophrenia, two animal embryo studies, and one cellular differentiation study. The Hh pathway is crucial in the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, neuroplasticity mechanisms, regulating astrocyte phenotype and function, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, brain glutamatergic neural transmission, and responses to antipsychotics. Overall, results indicate an involvement of Hh in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and antipsychotic responses, although an exiguity of studies characterises the literature. The heterogeneity between animal and human studies is another main limitation. Further research can lead to better comprehension and the development of novel personalised drug treatments and therapeutic interventions.

Correction to: Impact of immersive realities and metaverse in the university training for health professions and medicine: a systematic review of preliminary evidence

Correction to: Impact of immersive realities and metaverse in the university training for health professions and medicine: a systematic review of preliminary evidence

Climate change impacts on child and adolescent health and well-being: A narrative review.

Worldwide, the climate is changing and affecting the health and well-being of children in many ways. In this review, we provided an overview of how climate change-related events may affect child and adolescent health and well-being, including children's mental and physical health, nutrition, safety and security, learning opportunities, and family caregiving and connectedness. In this narrative review, we highlighted and discussed peer-reviewed evidence from 2012-23, primarily from meta-analyses and systematic reviews. The search strategy used a large and varied number of search terms across three academic databases to identify relevant literature. There was consistent evidence across systematic reviews of impact on four themes. Climate-related events are associated with a) increases in posttraumatic stress and other mental health disorders in children and adolescents, b) increases in asthma, respiratory illnesses, diarrheal diseases and vector-borne diseases, c) increases in malnutrition and reduced growth and d) disruptions to responsive caregiving and family functioning, which can be linked to poor caregiver mental health, stress and loss of resources. Evidence of violence against children in climate-related disaster contexts is inconclusive. There is a lack of systematic review evidence on the associations between climate change and children's learning outcomes. Systematic review evidence consistently points to negative associations between climate change and children's physical and mental health, well-being, and family functioning. Yet, much remains unknown about the causal pathways linking climate-change-related events and mental and physical health, responsive relationships and connectedness, nutrition, and learning in children and adolescents. This evidence is urgently needed so that adverse health and other impacts from climate change can be prevented or minimised through well-timed and appropriate action.

#2454 Meeting guideline goals at hemodialysis patients impact their survival?

Abstract Background and Aims The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines clinical practice guidelines as "statements that include recommendations, intended to optimize patient care, that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options". First publication of Clinical Guidelines by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), addressing good clinical practice in hemodialysis, was published in 1998. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of adherence to current guidelines of Mineral and Bone Disorders, Anemia and Adequacy of Dialysis, on their survival in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Method This is a single center retrospective study of 113 chronic hemodialysis patients (79 males and 34 females), with median age 70 years (56, 78), median duration on hemodialysis 52 months (21, 95). Based on whether or not they met the KDIGO guidelines’ targets for anemia, bone disease, dialysis adequacy, and the targets of all three guidelines during the last three years, patients were divided in two groups: group A with the patients who met the goals of the guidelines and group B with the patients who did not meet the goals. Clinical and biochemical parameters were compared among the groups of patients as well as hemodialysis adequacy (Kt/V). The survival analysis of the patients was calculated by Kaplan-Meier, while the possible effect of any parameter on survival was also evaluated with Cox-Regression. Results There was significant difference between the two groups in age, phosphorous (P), PTH, Kt/V, URR and Alb. There was no significant difference between the two groups in sex, duration of HD, Hemoglobin (Hg), Calcium (Ca++), Hypertension and Diabetes (Table). In Cox analyses, patient survival was associated with delivered dialysis dose (single pool Kt/V, p=0.044). There was no significant difference between the two groups when we compare the adherence to guidelines for MBD (p=0.507) and anemia (p=0.394). There was no statistical difference when we compare the achievement of targets of all three guidelines (p=0.796). We identified as an independent risk factor for patient survival the serum albumin (p<0.001). Patient survival was better with higher dialysis dose and adequate serum albumin level. Conclusion Clinical guidelines are useful tools for good clinical practice for hemodialysis patients. Adherence to clinical guidelines regarding dialysis adequacy is an independent risk factor for better survival of patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Injuries and /or trauma due to sexual gender-based violence among survivors in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review of research evidence

BackgroundSexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a prevalent issue in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), causing injuries and trauma with severe consequences for survivors. This scoping review aimed to explore the range of research evidence on injuries and trauma resulting from SGBV among survivors in SSA and identify research gaps.MethodsThe review employed the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, conducting extensive literature searches across multiple electronic databases using keywords, Boolean operators, medical subject heading terms and manual searches of reference lists. It included studies focusing on injuries and trauma from SGBV, regardless of gender or age, published between 2012 and 2023, and involved an SSA countries. Two authors independently screened articles, performed data extraction and quality appraisal, with discrepancies resolved through discussions or a third author. Descriptive analysis and narrative synthesis were used to report the findings.ResultsAfter screening 569 potentially eligible articles, 20 studies were included for data extraction and analysis. Of the 20 included studies, most were cross-sectional studies (n = 15; 75%) from South Africa (n = 11; 55%), and involved women (n = 15; 75%). The included studies reported significant burden of injuries and trauma resulting from SGBV, affecting various populations, including sexually abused children, married women, visually impaired women, refugees, and female students. Factors associated with injuries and trauma included the duration of abuse, severity of injuries sustained, marital status, family dynamics, and timing of incidents. SGBV had a significant impact on mental health, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations, and psychological trauma. Survivors faced challenges in accessing healthcare and support services, particularly in rural areas, with traditional healers sometimes providing the only mental health care available. Disparities were observed between urban and rural areas in the prevalence and patterns of SGBV, with rural women experiencing more repeated sexual assaults and non-genital injuries.ConclusionThis scoping review highlights the need for targeted interventions to address SGBV and its consequences, improve access to healthcare and support services, and enhance mental health support for survivors. Further research is required to fill existing gaps and develop evidence-based strategies to mitigate the impact of SGBV on survivors in SSA.

The Use of Minimally Invasive Surgery in the Treatment of Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review of Evidence

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a groundbreaking approach for treating Crohn's disease (CD), affecting approximately 100-300 per 100,000 people. In 2015, an estimated 3.1 million people were diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Our research aims to consolidate previous evidence on MIS techniques, including laparoscopic techniques and robotic-assisted surgery, and compare them to traditional surgical techniques in managing CD. The practical benefits of MIS are evident in comparative studies, which consistently show that laparoscopic approaches result in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than open surgery. MIS also demonstrates significant long-term benefits, particularly in reducing the mortality rate. Even pediatric CD patients have shown improved outcomes with laparoscopic-assisted surgery, experiencing fewer postoperative complications and better recovery. MIS applications include Laparoscopic ileocolic resections, a key MIS technique, offer comparable outcomes to other therapies like open ileocolic resection but with the added advantages of lower costs and long-term disease control. This cost-effectiveness of MIS techniques is a significant advantage. Techniques like intracorporeal anastomosis and trans colonic specimen removal have further improved postoperative recovery and cosmesis. Strictureplasty is another MIS technique, is particularly beneficial for CD patients with strictures due to its ability to preserve intestinal length and function. Lastly, laparoscopic robotic-assisted surgery is a game-changer, offering a significant reduction in postoperative pain and faster recovery compared to manual surgeries.

People's experiences of their involvement in nursing care: a systematic review protocol.

People's involvement and participation are the essential basis of nursing care. This phenomenon can be characterised as an approach based on the integration of the person's values, beliefs, and preferences during nursing care. This process contributes to improve the quality of care, satisfaction levels, and a better experience for people. To promote the person's participation in nursing care, it is necessary to better understand their experiences about this topic. To synthesise the available evidence on people's experiences of their involvement and participation in nursing care in a hospital setting. A systematic review that will be conducted according to the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. The study selection, critical appraisal, and data extraction will be conducted by two independent reviewers. This review will consider studies with a qualitative approach, published and unpublished, in Portuguese, English and Spanish with no temporal limit, that include adults, aged 18 years or older, who have experienced an admission in a hospital; that explore people's experiences of their involvement and participation in nursing care in hospital wards settings. Findings will be presented using meta-aggregation approach and narrative format, and the final synthesised findings will be graded according to the ConQual approach. It is expected that this qualitative synthesis will inform people, health professionals and policymakers, allowing them to develop recommendations to promote the person's participation in nursing care.

Safety and Efficacy of Bone-Marrow Aspirate Concentrate in Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Current Clinical Evidence.

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of disability and morbidity worldwide. It is estimated to affect 9.2% individuals globally with age over 45years. Conventional treatment modalities have limitations and side-effects. To overcome these limitations, over the last decade, there has been an increased interest in the use of orthobiologics derived from autologous sources including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone-marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and adipose tissue derived formulations. This review qualitatively presents the in-vitro, pre-clinical, clinical and on-going clinical studies exploring the safety and efficacy of BMAC for management of hip OA. The electronic database search was done through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest and Google Scholar till February 2024. The search terms used were "osteoarthritis" OR "hip osteoarthritis" OR "orthobiologics" OR "efficacy or use of orthobiologic treatment" OR "bone-marrow concentrate" OR "bone-marrow aspirate concentrate", AND "BMAC". The inclusion criteria were clinical studies of any level of evidence written in the English language, published till February 2024, evaluating the safety and efficacy of intra-articular administration of BMAC for the management of hip OA. A total of 5 studies were included in this review for qualitative data synthesis. The total number of patients who participated in the study was 182, ranging from 4 to 112 in a single study. No adverse events were reported throughout the duration of the study. In addition, intra-articular administration of BMAC led to reduced pain, and improved function and overall quality of life (QoL). The results from this review demonstrated that administration of BMAC is safe and potentially efficacious in terms of reducing pain, improving function and overall QoL of patients with hip OA in short- and mid-term average follow-up based on the included studies. Nonetheless, more adequately powered, multi-center, prospective, double-blind, non-randomized and randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are warranted to establish long-term safety and efficacy of BMAC for management of hip OA and justify its routine clinical use.

Healthcare providers' attitudes and associated factors on palliative care referral: A qualitative systematic review and meta-aggregation.

Early referral to palliative care has been viewed as providing opportunity for accomplishing end-of-life care goals of life closure, comfortable dying and effective grieving. However, previous studies have shown that palliative care referrals are being made too late. Healthcare providers play important role in helping terminally ill patients to early access and being referred to palliative care. It is necessary to understand healthcare providers' attitudes on palliative care referral and associated factors regarding referrals. This review aimed to identify and synthesise healthcare providers' attitudes and associated factors on palliative care referrals systematically. A systematic review of qualitative evidence and meta-aggregation was conducted and guided according to PRISMA guideline. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane databases from inception to 24 October 2022. Database searches yielded 5856 references. Twenty-two studies met eligibility criteria and of moderate to high methodological quality were included. Studies occurred in USA, UK, Australia and France with 716 healthcare providers participants were included. A total of 378 codings were finally extracted and integrated into 41 categories, forming three synthesised findings: (1) Healthcare providers' attitudes towards palliative care referrals, (2) the influence of subjective norms on palliative care referral behaviour and (3) perceived behavioural control on palliative care referral behaviour. This review demonstrates a series of factors that affect the palliative care referrals, including the attitudes of healthcare providers, the participation of patients and families, the support of colleagues and supervisors, inter-professional collaboration, the availability of hospice resource, disease trajectory and socio-economic factors. Further research that addresses these factors and design relevant trainings on improving healthcare providers' attitudes, enhancing patient and family engagement, strengthening support networks and optimising resource allocation may aid to meet increasing demands of patients. This review not only guides healthcare providers in making better decisions about patient referrals by identifying and addressing barriers but also aids in the development of effective interventions that facilitate the early initiation of referrals. No patient or public contribution.

Paradox of Voting: Extra-Urban Voters in the Late Roman Republic

Summary It is almost universally supposed on general principles that Roman citizens who did not live near the city of Rome were effectively disenfranchised by the logistical difficulty of traveling to the capital to vote, and thus that citizen participation in state decision-making was derisively small; this poses a difficulty for the ‘popular’ model of the functioning of the Roman Republic that has won considerable adherence in recent years. However, a systematic review of evidence for voting by citizens who lived around the peninsula and even for non-citizens’ travel to Rome before 90 BC to apply direct pressure on major votes, shows that distance did not present an insurmountable obstacle to meaningful participation in Roman political life by Italians and extra-urban citizens. It also demonstrates the great importance citizens attached to the vote (suffragium) – a guarantee of their freedom, and the key mechanism by which they influenced their political leaders. This in turn helps to clarify why many Italians, including those of modest means, would have desired Roman citizenship in the run-up to the ‘Social War.’

Molnupiravir Use Among Patients with COVID-19 in Real-World Settings: A Systematic Literature Review.

Molnupiravir (MOV) is an oral antiviral for the treatment of individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and at high risk of progression to severe disease. Our objective was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) of evidence on the effectiveness of MOV in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes in real-world outpatient settings. The SLR was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and using pre-determined population, intervention, comparison, outcome, time, and study design inclusion criteria. Eligible studies were published between January 1, 2021, and March 10, 2023, and evaluated the real-world effectiveness of MOV compared to no treatment in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes among outpatients ≥ 18years of age with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nine studies from five countries were included in the review. The size of the MOV-treated group ranged from 359 to 7818 individuals. Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 were dominant in all study periods. Most studies noted differences in the baseline characteristics of the MOV-treated and untreated control groups, with the treated groups generally being older and with more comorbidities. Eight studies reported that treatment with MOV was associated with a significantly reduced risk of at least one severe COVID-19 outcome in at least one age group, with greater benefits consistently observed among older age groups. In this SLR study, treatment with MOV was effective in reducing the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 caused by Omicron variants, especially for older individuals. Differences in the ages and baseline comorbidities of the MOV-treated and control groups may have led to underestimation of the effectiveness of MOV in many observational studies. Real-world studies published to date thus provide additional evidence supporting the continued benefits of MOV in non-hospitalized adults with COVID-19.

As time goes by: Treatment challenges in elderly people with multiple sclerosis

A demographic shift in multiple sclerosis (MS) is leading to an increased number of elderly people with MS (pwMS) and a rise in late-onset MS (LOMS) cases. This shift adds complexity to the treatment management of these patients, due to enhanced treatment-associated risks and the possible interplay between immunosenescence and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).In the present paper, we performed a systematic review of the current evidence concerning the relationship between aging and treatment management in elderly pwMS. Our literature search identified 35 original studies relevant to this topic.The gathered evidence consistently indicates a diminished efficacy of DMTs in older pwMS, particularly in preventing disability accrual. Against this background, high-efficacy therapies (HETs) appear to show less benefit over moderate-low-efficacy DMTs in older patients. These data mainly derive from observational retrospective studies or meta-analyses conducted on randomized clinical trials (RCTs). RCTs, however, exclude pwMS older than 55 years, limiting our ability to acquire robust evidence regarding this patient group.Regarding treatment discontinuation in elderly pwMS with stable disease, the available data, which mainly focuses on older injectable DMTs, suggests that their suspension appears to be relatively safe in terms of disease activity. Nevertheless, the first RCT specifically targeting treatment discontinuation recently failed to demonstrate the non-inferiority of treatment discontinuation over continuation, in terms of MRI activity. On the other hand, the evidence on the impact of discontinuation on disease progression is more conflicting and less robust. Furthermore, there is an important lack of studies concerning sequestering DMTs and virtually no data on the discontinuation of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.De-escalation strategy is gaining attention as a de-risking approach alternative to complete treatment discontinuation. It may be defined as the decision to shift from HETs to less potent DMTs in elderly pwMS who have a stable disease. This strategy could reduce treatment-related risks, while minimizing the risk of disease activity and progression potentially associated with treatment discontinuation. This approach, however, remains unexplored due to a lack of studies.Given these findings, the present scenario underlines the urgent need for more comprehensive and robust studies to develop optimized, data-driven treatment strategies for elderly pwMS and LOMS, addressing the unique challenges of MS treatment and aging.

What is the volume, quality and characteristics of evidence relating to the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multi-disciplinary occupational health interventions aiming to improve work-related outcomes for employed adults? An evidence and gap map of systematic reviews.

What is the volume, quality and characteristics of evidence relating to the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multi-disciplinary occupational health interventions aiming to improve work-related outcomes for employed adults? An evidence and gap map of systematic reviews.

Defining high bleeding risk in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a VARC-HBR consensus document.

<span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">The identification and management of patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) are of major importance, but the lack of standardised definitions is challenging for trial design, data interpretation, and clinical decision-making. The Valve Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (VARC-HBR) is a collaboration among leading research organisations, regulatory authorities, and physician-scientists from Europe, the USA, and Asia, with a major focus on TAVI-related bleeding. VARC-HBR is an initiative of the CERC (Cardiovascular European Research Center), aiming to develop a consensus definition of TAVI patients at HBR, based on a systematic review of the available evidence, to provide consistency for future clinical trials, clinical decision-making, and regulatory review. This document represents the first pragmatic approach to a consistent definition of HBR evaluating the safety and effectiveness of procedures, devices and drug regimens for patients undergoing TAVI.</span></span>.

Efficacy and safety of crizotinib in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with ROS1 gene fusion: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of real-world evidence

BackgroundCrizotinib was approved to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) with ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene fusion in 2016. We conducted a systematic literature review to identify real-world evidence (RWE) studies and estimated the efficacy and safety of crizotinib using meta–analyses (MA) for objective response rate (ORR), real-world progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). MethodsWe searched MEDLINE®, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL from January 2016 to March 2023 using Ovid® for published single-arm or comparative RWE studies evaluating patients (N ≥ 20) receiving crizotinib monotherapy for aNSCLC with ROS1 gene fusion. Pooled estimates for ORR and grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were derived using the metafor package in R while pooled estimates for median real-world PFS (rwPFS) and OS were derived using reconstructed individual patient data from published Kaplan-Meier curves. The primary analysis included all studies regardless of crizotinib line of therapy; a subgroup analysis (SA) was conducted using studies evaluating patients receiving first-line crizotinib. ResultsFourteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were considered feasible for MA. For the primary analysis, the pooled ORR (N = 9 studies) was 70.6 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 57.0, 81.3), median rwPFS was 14.5 months (N = 11 studies), and OS was 40.2 months (N = 9 studies). In the SA, the pooled ORR (N = 4 studies) was 81.1 % (95 % CI: 76.1, 85.2) and the median rwPFS (N = 4 studies) and OS (N = 2 studies) were 18.1 and 60 months, respectively. All MAs were associated with significant heterogeneity (I2 > 25 %). Grade 3/4 AEs occurred in 18.7 % of patients (pooled estimate). ConclusionThe results from this study are consistent with clinical trial data and, taken collectively, supports crizotinib as a safe and effective treatment across different lines of therapy in patients with ROS1 aNSCLC in the real-world setting.

Chinese expert consensus on the surgical treatment of neuropathic pain by the spinal cord dorsal root entry zone

In order to promote the standardization of the treatment of neuropathic pain by spinal dorsal root entry surgery, alleviate the pain of certain specific neuropathic pain patients, and improve their quality of life and survival, experts with experience in neuropathic pain and spinal dorsal root entry surgery were organized by Functional Neurosurgery Group of the Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Functional Neurosurgery Expert Committee of Chinese Congress of Neurological Surgeons to write this consensus. Based on a systematic review and summary of literature and clinical evidence at home and abroad, this consensus discusses the diagnosis and drug treatment of neuropathic pain, clinical application of, spinal dorsal root entry surgery the selection of patients receiving surgery of dorsal root entry zone, preoperative examination, surgical procedures, postoperative management, and the prevention and management of postoperative complications, and forms 12 recommended recommendations, providing reference and guidance for clinical work on the treatment of neuropathic pain through spinal dorsal root entry surgery.

What makes public transit demand management programmes successful? A systematic review of ex-post evidence

ABSTRACT Transit crowding results in negative experiences and mode change for transit riders and operational challenges for operators. The COVID-19 pandemic initiated an ongoing transformation of how, when, and where people travel, yet the challenge of balancing demand and supply in transportation remained topical. The pandemic has also exposed the traditional approach of infrastructure expansion for being too slow to respond to the challenges of crowding in a timely manner. As such, this paper provides a systematic literature review of the ex-post studies that evaluated the impact of transit demand management strategies. The paper synthesises the findings from 13 different programmes analysed in 20 studies. It is concluded that at least within the scope of the limited number of identified ex-post studies, the practice of alternative work schedules that allow employees greater freedom when to travel is the demand management approach that can bring the most significant crowding reduction. Once that flexibility is expanded, other strategies that appeal to riders’ preferences might have a larger effect as well. The findings of this review aim to encourage transit agencies to develop collaborations with large employers that can introduce alternative work schedules.

Digital storytelling as a strategy for developing 21st-century skills: a systematic review of qualitative evidence

ABSTRACT Digital storytelling (DST) is an educational strategy that has been shown to be capable of developing a wide range of skills. The focus of this review is to examine the relationship between this strategy and the development of 21st-century skills, a highly relevant notion in today’s educational systems. The findings combine qualitative evidence regarding DST and its influence on developing 21st-century skills. A meta-aggregative approach was utilised to analyse the results of 18 selected studies. The results suggest that 1) no matter the characteristics of the DST activity, there will always be 21st-century skills at play when creating a digital story; 2) the relationship between DST and 21st-century skills is solid and clear; and 3) there is a notable influence on critical thinking, creativity and collaboration skills. Finally, design principles and recommendations for practitioners are proposed.