Extraction Form Research Articles

Intracranial aneurysm coexisting with pituitary adenoma: A systematic review

Introduction: The simultaneous occurrence of intracranial aneurysms (IA) and primary brain tumors (BT) is frequently reported, with an estimated incidence of 0.5% to 7.4%. Among the tumor types associated with IA, pituitary adenomas (PA) are the most prevalent. Methods: We selected articles, published from 1960 to December 2023, on the Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. The extraction form contains information specific to the aneurysm and tumor, rupture of the aneurysm, treatment proposal for both and order of treatment and outcome. Results: The study evaluated 118 patients from 25 articles. The most frequent types of tumors were Non-Functioning Hormone (NFA) producers, present in 45.8% (n=54) of the cases, and Growth Hormone (GH) secretors, which represent 23.0% (n=27) of the cases. The main treatment used was surgery, with Subtotal Resection (STR) performed in 4.2% (n=5) of cases, Gross Total Resection (GTR) in 3.4% (n=4), and Transsphenoidal Resection (TSR) in 7.6% (n=9). 16.0% (n=19) of patients had two or more aneurysms concomitant with the adenoma. IA treatment was performed before PA surgery in 25 patients (21.2%) and 15 patients received simultaneous treatment to IA and PA (12.7%). Conclusion: Patients with PAs have a considerable prevalence of IAs. Hormonal imbalances and mechanical changes induced by tumor growth, particularly influenced by GH and IGF-1, contribute to this coexistence. Surgical intervention is common, requiring meticulous precautions to avoid complications. More longitudinal studies including close follow-up with a description of outcomes are necessary to guide treatment protocols for this condition.

Use and impact of clinical pathways across various healthcare settings: A protocol for an umbrella review of global evidence.

The proposed umbrella review aims to assess the use and impact of clinical pathways on professional practice, patient outcomes, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, patient satisfaction, and hospital staff satisfaction through a synthesis of existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Following PRIOR guidelines, a systematic search will be conducted in MEDLINE, Epistemonikos, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses, from inception till March 2024. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts, with a third resolving any disagreements. Full-text articles considered potentially relevant will be assessed for eligibility by the same process. The data extraction form will cover information about the review methods, characteristics of the included primary studies, the types of interventions evaluated, and the reported outcomes. This standardized data extraction form will be piloted by the review team on five to ten articles to ensure all relevant information is recorded. The quality of included systematic reviews and meta-analyses will be evaluated using AMSTAR 2. PROSPERO registration number is CRD42024529371. The study will present a narrative synthesis of the findings, addressing the clinical and methodological heterogeneity and assessing the impact of clinical pathways on various healthcare outcomes. This umbrella review will provide evidence-based insights into the effectiveness, challenges, and best practices of clinical pathways, guiding healthcare decision-making and identifying areas for future research. Results will be disseminated widely to inform policy and improve healthcare service delivery. No patient or public contribution, as this paper is a protocol of an umbrella review.

Complication rate across the minimally invasive surgical treatments (MISTs): where do we stand? A systematic review of the literature.

Over the past decade, the range of surgical options to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) has expanded significantly with the advent of minimally invasive surgical therapies (MISTs). Nevertheless, the available evidence in the field is heterogeneous. Efficacy and safety thresholds are yet to be determined. To evaluate perioperative and long-term complications after MISTs - including Aquablation, steam injection (Rezūm), Transperineal laser ablation of the prostate (TPLA), implantation of a prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and temporary implantable nitinol device (iTIND) - in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPO. A systematic literature search was conducted in January 2024 using Medline (via PubMed), Embase (via Ovid), Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy used PICO criteria (Patients, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes) [1], focusing specifically on patients with BPH-associated LUTS who underwent MIST or other comparative treatments, aiming to assess both perioperative and long-term safety outcomes. Article selection was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The risk of bias and the quality of the articles included were assessed. A dedicated data extraction form was used to collect the data of interest. The initial electronic search identified 3660 records, of which 24 ultimately met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Overall, Aquablation was associated with a higher major complications rate of 14% (IQR 6-22), particularly in the case of patients with prostates <70 ml. PUL showed a higher early postoperative acute urinary retention rate (10.9%, IQR 9.2-12.3%), while 1.4% of patients treated with iTIND experienced major perioperative complications. Urinary tract infections were mostly reported in series assessing TPLA and Rezūm. The adoption of MISTs for LUTS due to BPH is associated with a varied spectrum of perioperative and long-term complications. Our findings showed an acceptable safety profile with specific complications dependent on the type of MIST performed, highlighting the importance of individualized patient selection and procedure-specific considerations.

Adherence to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine five-dose policy among pregnant women in an urban slum in Ghana: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundMalaria in pregnancy (MiP) is a public health concern especially for pregnant women living in slums. The World Health Organization recommends at least three doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) to prevent MiP. In Ghana, it is recommended that pregnant women receive a minimum of five doses of the medication. This study sought to determine the level of adherence to IPT5 policy and factors associated with adherence among pregnant women in a slum community in Ghana.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study involving 232 nursing mothers and four healthcare workers at the St. Martin’s Memorial Hospital, Sukura, Ghana. Sociodemographic characteristics of nursing mothers were obtained using an interview-administered questionnaire. Data on the number of SP doses and other obstetrics characteristics were collected by reviewing the antenatal record books. To obtain information about healthcare and health system factors associated with adherence to the five-dose policy, four healthcare providers were interviewed. A data extraction form was used to obtain information about the availability of SP at the facility.ResultsThe level of adherence to IPT5 was 8.6% (20/232) (95% CI 5.0–12.3) among the participants. Only 8.4% of the participants received their first dose at 16 weeks. Respondents who began ANC in the second trimester were 81% less likely to adhere to IPT5 than those who began in the first trimester (aOR = 0.19, 95% CI 90.01–0.65, p < 0.008). Healthcare provider and health system factors that influence IPT5 uptake include healthcare providers’ knowledge of IPTp-SP guidelines, the practice of Directly Observed Therapy, education of pregnant women, training of healthcare providers, and availability of water. SP was available at the facility during the period of review.ConclusionAdherence to the IPTp-SP five-dose policy was suboptimal. Pregnant women who started ANC early were more likely to adhere to the policy. Provider knowledge, DOT practice, training, education of pregnant women and water availability were also found to influence adherence. Encouraging early ANC visits and providing healthcare workers with necessary training can substantially improve adherence in slum areas.

Effect of telomere shortening on disease progression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains a major public health challenge worldwide. In recent years, it has been discovered that a link between telomere shortening and disease progression in IBD patients has been present. However, there is controversy as to whether telomere shortening precipitates disease progression or disease progression causes telomere shortening. There is also a shortage of systematic reviews and data synthesis to explain the association between telomere shortening and disease progression in individuals with IBD. We aimed to systematically review the association between telomere shortening and disease advancement in individuals with IBD to inform future studies. We will undertake a thorough search of the electronic database from the beginning until December 31, 2023. We will search the databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, Wanfang Database (Wanfang), CMB, Cochrane Library, Cochran Clinical Trials Registry, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Two reviewers will assess the discovered citations for eligibility based on the title and abstract before proceeding to the full-text and data extraction phases. These reviewers will debate and settle any conflicts that arise during the inclusion process; a third reviewer will settle any issues that remain. The validated data extraction form will be used to collect data for eligible research. The included studies will undergo a quality and bias check and will proceed meta-analysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis will reveal a positive correlation between illness progression and telomere shortening in individuals with IBD, perhaps demonstrating three causal links between them. This study will conduct the first systematic review and meta-analysis examining the correlation between telomere shortening and illness advancement in individuals with IBD. Exploring the connection between these two situations can enhance the comprehension of the development and advancement of IBD. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024501171.

Effectiveness of Video-Observed Therapy in Tuberculosis Management: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to assess the association between video-observed therapy (VOT) and treatment adherence among TB patients and the benefits and limitations of this treatment modality. The systematic review used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow guideline. Multiple databases including Cochrane, Lilacs, PubMed, Scopus, Lancet, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Directory of Open Access Journal (DOAJ), and BMC were employed to identify relevant articles published between 2012 and 2024. All data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form and both narrative and quantitative approaches were used to present the review outcomes and available evidence. Twenty-nine articles were included in the final analysis, with most using a prospective cohort (n = 10) research design. Treatment adherence rates were relatively higher in TB patients managed using VOT relative to those subjected to direct-observed therapies (DOTs). Likewise, using the VOT approach in most interventional studies lacking a control group depicted higher treatment adherence rates post-intervention. Although asynchronous VOT was used in most studies compared to the synchronous approach, the treatment adherence level was not significantly different between the two methods of VOT delivery. The predominant benefits of VOT include time-saving, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and fewer self-reported side effects, whereas the main limitation was the privacy of patients' data and information. Video-directly observed therapy (VDOT) is a promising approach for TB treatment with the capacity to improve adherence to medication regimes and reduce the cost of treatment, stigmatization, and burden on healthcare providers.

Teaching and learning clinical reasoning skill in undergraduate medical students: A scoping review.

Clinical reasoning involves the application of knowledge and skills to collect and integrate information, typically to arrive at a diagnosis, implement appropriate interventions, solve clinical problems, and improve the quality of health care and patient outcomes. It is a vital competency that medical students must acquire, as it is considered the heart of medicine. This scoping review aimed to identify and summarize the existing literature on learning and teaching strategies for improving clinical reasoning skill in undergraduate medical education. We conducted electronic searches in Scopus, PubMed/Medline (NLM), Web of Science (WOS), and ERIC to retrieve articles published between January 1, 2010, and March 23, 2024. We also performed hand searches by scanning the reference lists of included studies and similar reviews and searching three key journals. After removing duplicates, two reviewers independently extracted data from primary articles using a standard data extraction form. The authors used Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Among the 46581 retrieved records, 54 full-text articles were included in the present review. We categorized the educational strategies based on their aspects, focus, and purpose. Included studies used various educational strategies for improving clinical reasoning skill in undergraduate medical education by serial cue or whole clinical cases that presented as process-oriented or knowledge-oriented. This scoping review investigated various dimensions of educational intervention for improving clinical reasoning skill in undergraduate medical education. There is a need for more precision studies with larger sample sizes, designing studies according to randomized controlled trials standards, determining MCID, or performing meta-analyses to acquire robust and conclusive results.

Systematic Review of Ex Vivo and In Vivo Pharmacokinetic Studies of Drugs Commonly Used During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving treatment for critically ill patients in cardiac or respiratory failure refractory to conventional treatment. Patients on an ECMO circuit (pump, oxygenator, tubing) require numerous medications including sedatives, analgesics, cardioactive medications, and anticonvulsants. Currently, there are few dosing guidelines to optimize pharmacotherapy in this situation. A systematic review was conducted to describe pharmacokinetics (PK) of medications commonly used during ECMO. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, BIOSIS, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched. All articles presenting ex vivo, animal, and human data on the PK of the subject medications in the ECMO circuit were included. Three authors independently examined citation titles and abstracts. Four authors extracted relevant details from included studies into standardized data extraction forms. Methodological quality was assessed using the ClinPK guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. Forty-four studies examining 30 medications were included, 26 ex vivo studies (mostly adult circuits) and 18 observational studies (mainly neonatal patients). Pharmacokinetics varied depending on the medication’s characteristics, study type, and population. Study quality was variable, limiting the possibility of deriving hard dosing guidelines from this available literature. Further population PK studies are needed to adequately determine dosing guidelines in adults and children requiring ECMO.

Biochar captures ammonium and nitrate in easily extractable and strongly retained form without stimulating greenhouse gas emissions during composting.

During composting of organic waste, nitrogen is lost through gaseous forms and ion leaching. Biochar has been shown to capture mineral nitrogen (Nmin: NH4 + and NO3 -) from compost, which we hypothesize reduces N2O formation. However, associating Nmin captured by biochar with the dynamics of N2O and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during composting remains unstudied and was the aim of this work. We composted (outdoor for 148 days) together kitchen scraps (43.3% dw, where dw is dry weight), horse manure (40.9% dw), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L) straw (15.8% dw) without (Control) or with biochar (Bc, 15% compost dw). The biochar consisted of hardwood and softwood pieces pyrolyzed at 680°C and exhibited 60% of particles with 4-8mm. We monitored compost GHG (CO2, CH4, N2O) emissions, Nmin content in compost and biochar particles (sequential extractions), and biochar surface transformations (SEM-EDX and 13C-NMR spectroscopy) along composting. Biochar did not significantly reduce or increase GHG emissions and Nmin content (mg kg-1) in compost. However, the final NO3 - amount (g compost pile-1) in the Bc treatment was significantly higher (54%) compared to the Control, indicating lower NO3 - losses. Despite the high aromaticity and minimal contribution of carboxyl C to the biochar structure, biochar retained NH4 +, mainly in easily extractable form (55%), in the first 2 weeks of composting and mainly in strongly retained form (75%) in the final compost. The NO3 - content in biochar increased continuously during composting. In the final compost, the NO3 - content extracted from biochar was 164 (37%, easily extractable), 80 (19%, moderately extractable), and 194mg NO3 --N kg-1 (44%, strongly retained). Although Nmin retention in biochar was not accompanied by lower N2O emissions, contradicting our hypothesis, we demonstrated the efficacy of biochar to recover Nmin from organic waste without stimulating GHG emissions.

Innovative COVID-19 Point-of-Care Diagnostics Suitable for Tuberculosis Diagnosis: A Scoping Review.

Rapid and accurate point-of-care (POC) tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics are crucial to bridge the TB diagnostic gap. Leveraging recent advancements in COVID-19 diagnostics, we explored adapting commercially available POC SARS-CoV-2 tests for TB diagnosis in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) target product profiles (TPPs). A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines to systematically map POC antigen and molecular SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests potentially meeting the TPPs for TB diagnostic tests for peripheral settings. Data were gathered from PubMed/MEDLINE, bioRxiv, medRxiv, publicly accessible in vitro diagnostic test databases, and developer websites up to 23 November 2022. Data on developer attributes, operational characteristics, pricing, clinical performance, and regulatory status were charted using standardized data extraction forms and evaluated with a standardized scorecard. A narrative synthesis of the data is presented. Our search yielded 2003 reports, with 408 meeting eligibility criteria. Among these, we identified 66 commercialized devices: 22 near-POC antigen tests, 1 POC molecular test, 31 near-POC molecular tests, and 12 low-complexity molecular tests potentially adaptable for TB. The highest-scoring SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests were the near-POC antigen platform LumiraDx (Roche, Basel, Switzerland), the POC molecular test Lucira Check-It (Pfizer, New York, NY, USA), the near-POC molecular test Visby (Visby, San Jose, CA, USA), and the low-complexity molecular platform Idylla (Biocartis, Lausanne, Switzerland). We highlight a diverse landscape of commercially available diagnostic tests suitable for potential adaptation to peripheral TB testing. This work aims to bolster global TB initiatives by fostering stakeholder collaboration, leveraging SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic technologies for TB, and uncovering new commercial avenues to tackle longstanding challenges in TB diagnosis.

Investigating soil physicochemical factors influencing trace element contamination at the semi-urban-rural home gardening interfaces on the Fiji Islands

Due to its ecological and public health implications, home gardening soil pollution is challenging. However, the physicochemical factors of trace element pollution in semi-urban-rural home gardening soil interfaces in Fiji are unclear. Self-organizing map (SOM), chemometrics, compositional data analysis (CDA), and soil quality indices were used to evaluate spatial patterns, contamination characteristics, sources, and factors affecting trace element contamination in 55 soil samples from semi-urban and rural Fiji. The average contents of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable forms of trace element levels (mg/kg) increased in rural areas as Fe (55.7) > Mn (40.4) > Zn (9.4) > Cu (5.9) and semi-urban areas as Fe (55.2) > Zn (35.9) > Mn (37.1) > Cu (16.1). Rural soils have less ecological risks to home gardening than semi-urban soils. SOM and CDA analysis showed four spatial clusters: clusters 1 and 3 are natural geogenic in rural regions while clusters 2 and 4 are human-induced non-point sources in semi-urban areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that semi-urban Cu-Zn was more affected by manufacturing emissions or fertilization, whereas rural Fe-Mn was more likely to be lithogenic. The research found that pH and organic matter significantly affect Cu and Zn pollution in semi-urban soils (p < 0.05). For rural and semi-urban soils, trace element subsets explained 44 %–87 % of soil contamination changes using the stepwise regression model. These findings aid to establishing a primary database of eco-environmental risks and facilitate comprehensive strategies for assessing soil contamination and potential threats to food safety.

Efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant in transverse abdominal plane blocks for cesarean section pain management: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Postoperative pain management is a key component of care for women undergoing cesarean section. Although the use of dexmedetomidine (DMD) as an adjuvant to local anesthetics in transverse abdominal plane (TAP) blocks has been investigated, its conclusive evidence on its efficacy and safety remains unclear. A standardized data extraction form, under the guidance of the PRISMA protocol, was devised for selecting relevant studies across eight databases, without restrictions on the publication period. In most of the eight studies reviewed, the group receiving DMD demonstrated a significant extension of the duration of analgesia compared to the control group [mean difference (MD) = -3.37 hours, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -6.10 to -0.65 hours, Z = 2.43, P = 0.02]. The DMD group also showed a significant decrease in Visual Analogue Scale pain scores (MD = -1.38, 95% CI = -2.52 to -0.24, Z = 2.37, P = 0.02) in comparison to the control group. Nevertheless, significant heterogeneity was observed across the studies, potentially due to differences in study design, patient demographics, and dosing protocols, among other factors. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that DMD could be an effective adjuvant to local anesthetics in TAP blocks, potentially improving postoperative pain management and decreasing the need for additional analgesia. Nevertheless, the considerable heterogeneity among the studies warrants cautious interpretation of these results.

Association between domestic animal exposure and diarrhea prevalence in under- five children in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundDiarrheal disease is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children, despite significant progress in diarrhea interventions. Zoonotic transmission is the main cause of the emergence and re-emergence of diseases. Domestic animals are often close to humans, particularly in resource-poor countries. Despite evidence of environmental contamination, there have been limited studies conducted to examine the association between domestic animal exposure and diarrheal disease in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis examines the association between domestic animal exposure and diarrheal disease in children under five years of age in LMIC.MethodsThe search strategy followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews. All appropriate databases were searched to find relevant articles. Research studies were selected for review if they reported an outcome variable that measured diarrhea and exposure variables of any domestic animals. A data extraction form was used to extract information from each study. The quality of the individual articles was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI’s) critical appraisal tools. Publication bias was checked using a funnel plot, Egger’s regression test, and Begg’s test. The heterogeneity of studies was checked using the Galbraith plot and the I-squared test. A sensitivity analysis was conducted, and a meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17.ResultsAfter reviewing 113 articles, 11 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria hence considered for meta-analysis. The finding of these 11 studies revealed that study participants who had animal exposure had 1.95 higher odds of diarrhea as compared to participants who hadn’t animal exposure (OR: 1.95, 95%CI: 1.25, 2.66).Conclusions and recommendationsThis study reported that diarrheal disease was associated with study subjects who had domestic animal exposure. Therefore, more comprehensive research is needed on specific behaviors and interventions surrounding animal husbandry that may affect the transmission of pathogens between animals and humans; this would facilitate the design and implementation of measures to reduce animal exposure in the domestic environment.

Food and fluid intake during labor in maternity wards: A scoping review protocol.

During the 1940s, aspiration of stomach contents was recognized as a serious problem during labor, which is why fluid and food restriction was adopted for women who would undergo general anesthesia. Currently, the practice of generalized food restriction is a routine that is being discontinued. This review aims to map the evidence on the effects of the intake of foods, supplements and drinks in women on labor outcomes. To that end, documents investigating this topic in pregnant women admitted for uncomplicated deliveries in maternity wards, published from 2013 onwards, will be assessed. This interval was defined based on the publication by Singata et al., who carried out a systematic review on the benefits and harms of oral fluid intake or food restriction during labor. The scoping review methods of the JBI and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA) were followed. Firstly, a preliminary search was carried out to identify the existence of similar scoping reviews or protocols, as well as the keywords and MeSH descriptors in the titles and abstracts, with a view to developing a complete search strategy. Subsequently, a search will be carried out in the Cochrane Library, Medline/PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases. The search strategy will be adapted for each of these databases. Finally, a reverse search will be carried out using the references of the included studies. The obtained documents will be imported into Rayyan for duplicate detection and removal. Two independent reviewers will read the titles and abstracts, observing the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data extraction from each included study will be carried out independently by two reviewers, using the extraction form created for this purpose. In order to report results, we will follow the PRISMA checklist and report descriptive statistics and a narrative summary.

Return on investment of tobacco control measures: a systematic review protocol.

The objective of this systematic review will be to estimate the return on investment (ROI) and social return on investment (SROI) on tobacco control measures. Tobacco consumption has been proven to be associated with a huge epidemiological, humanistic, and economic burden. National and international organizations are making concerted efforts to control tobacco use. However, currently, there are no conclusive estimates of the ROI and SROI of such programs and policies. This review will include all studies that evaluate the ROI or SROI on tobacco control programs and policies on tobacco users and probable tobacco users globally. This review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of economic evidence. Databases to be searched will include Embase (Ovid), MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Health Economic Evaluation Database (HEED), National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), CEA Registry, LILACS, Science Direct, Web of Science, EconLit, and Google Advanced Search. Gray literature will also be searched for in non-academic databases, including the websites of various civil societies and non-governmental organizations involved in tobacco control. Two independent reviewers will screen titles/abstracts, and later full-text studies. Critical appraisal will be conducted using the JBI checklist for economic evaluations and the SROI Quality Framework. Data will be extracted and synthesized using JBI data extraction forms and synthesis tools. The MPOWER framework will be considered for data synthesis across all selected studies using narrative synthesis, tables, and figures. PROSPERO CRD42023391591.

The Efficacy of Manual Therapy on Musculoskeletal Pain in Menopause: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of manual therapy for musculoskeletal pain in menopausal women. (2) Methods: A comprehensive search of manuscripts published from inception until 29 February 2024 was conducted on PubMed, EBSCO Information Services (EBSCOhost), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (Pedro), Web of Science, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials, and Scopus using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free terms. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating the effects of manual therapy for musculoskeletal pain in postmenopausal women were included. Articles published in non-English or non-Portuguese languages, case reports, expert opinions, dissertations, conference papers, and gray literature were excluded. Studies were screened for population, musculoskeletal pain, intervention, and pain outcome by two independent reviewers using an ad hoc data extraction form. (3) Results: A total of 5 RCTs (4 with high risk of bias and 1 with low risk of bias) were included (total sample = 245), addressing thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis, thoracic kyphosis, chronic neck and backache, knee osteoarthritis, and sternocostal joint pain. The combined results of these studies showed improved musculoskeletal pain in menopausal women; duration of the follow-up was between 4 weeks to 6 months. Conclusions: The majority of studies included in this systematic review were effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain in menopausal women. These results come mainly from studies with a high risk of bias with small sample sizes, and the most representative follow-up period was short-term. Therefore, the results of this systematic review should be interpreted with caution.

Guideline concordant screening and monitoring of extrapyramidal symptoms in patients prescribed antipsychotic medication: a protocol for a systematic literature review and narrative synthesis

IntroductionGiven the increasing rates of antipsychotic use in multiple psychiatric conditions, greater attention to the assessment, monitoring and documentation of their side effects is warranted. While a significant degree of...

Impact of Social Wellbeing on Tooth Loss and Cognition: A Scoping Review.

The proposed explanations for the association between tooth loss and cognitive function have largely focused on systemic inflammation, mechanoreceptor feedback, and nutritive deficiencies. However, the role of social wellbeing in this relationship remains unknown. The aim of this scoping review is to explore the pathways linking different aspects of social function, collectively grouped under the umbrella of social wellbeing, to tooth loss and cognitive impairment. An electronic database search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Reference lists of relevant articles were also searched. Data on the associations between social wellbeing, cognitive function and tooth loss was charted in an extraction form and summarised qualitatively. From the initial search of 3293 records, 71 studies were included in the present review. Forty-seven studies investigated the relationship between social wellbeing and cognition, 21 studies investigated the relationship between social wellbeing and tooth loss, and only 3 studies investigated all three variables. This review demonstrates the need for further research on tooth loss, cognition and social wellbeing in tandem and describes potential psychological, biological, cognitive, and behavioural mechanisms interlinking these factors. While substantial evidence was found for the association between social relationships and cognition, fewer studies explored the potentially bidirectional relationship of social wellbeing and tooth loss. The implications of this review may guide clinicians to focus on the social consequences of tooth loss, which may have broader repercussions on cognitive health. The role of social support in helping older people cope with oral disease and the benefits of fostering positive lifestyle habits should not be underestimated.

Political economy analysis of health: a scoping review protocol.

The objective of this scoping review is to identify and map the literature on concepts, definitions, frameworks, outcomes, and applications of political economic analysis of health. The political economy of health approach seeks to understand how political and economic domains interact and shape individual and population health outcomes. A political economic analysis can provide insights into health problems and inequalities; however, there needs to be more clarity on how the political economy framework is defined and the methods adopted for conducting political economy analysis concerning health. Studies focusing on the political economy analysis addressing specific health problems will be included. The study population is not limited to any sociodemographic characteristics, and there will be no restrictions on language or the source of evidence (primary studies or secondary data studies). Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies will included, but narrative and systematic reviews will be excluded, as will conference abstracts and editorials. Studies involving sector- or country-level analysis will be included. The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched include MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest, DynaMed, and gray literature via Google Scholar and OAIster. Two reviewers will perform study screening and data extraction using a customized data extraction form. The concepts, definitions, frameworks, outcomes, and applications of the political economy of health will be summarized and discussed. The health problems addressed using political economy analysis will be enumerated. Stakeholder engagement will guide all steps of the study. Results will be presented in tabular and graphical formats accompanied by a narrative summary. Open Science Framework https://osf.io/4qaxr/.

Cost and cost-effectiveness of treatments for rheumatic heart disease in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol.

This review will synthesize studies on costs, the impact of these costs, and the cost-effectiveness of treatments for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in low- and middle-income countries. RHD incurs high costs owing to its clinical complexity, surgical treatments, and prolonged hospital stays. Thus, the disease has a substantial economic impact on the health system, patients, and their families. No systematic review on economic evidence of treatments for RHD has been published to date. This review will consider all cost and cost-effectiveness studies on RHD treatments for children and young adults (5─30 years) residing in low- and middle-income countries. The review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of economic evaluation evidence. The search strategy will locate published and unpublished studies in English. Systematic searches will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), National Health Service Economic Evaluation Databases, Pediatric Economic Database Evaluation, and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text review based on the inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted using a modified JBI data extraction form for economic evaluations. JBI's Dominance Ranking Matrix for economic evaluations will be used to summarize and compare the results of cost and cost-effectiveness studies. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to assess the certainty of economic evidence for outcomes related to resource use. PROSPERO CRD42023425850.