Full-text Analysis Research Articles

An Overview of the Methods Used to Measure the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Sleep-Related Outcomes.

Introduction Systematic reviews and metanalyses have shown that mindfulness-based interventions can have positive effects on health, such as reducing anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. However, their effect on sleep-related outcomes is not yet well established. Sleep can be assessed subjectively (questionnaires, sleep logs, self-reporting) and/or objectively (actigraphy, polysomnography, biological markers), and outcomes may differ depending on which type of assessment is used. Objective In this study, we present a literature overview on mindfulness and sleep, innovatively presenting and discussing studies that address sleep subjectively and objectively. Methods The search was undertaken using four databases (Pubmed Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Psychinfo) in September 2019, and repeated in May 2021. Studies were analyzed through a two-step process: (1) reading titles and abstracts, and (2) full text analysis that met the review's eligibility criteria, with the final sample comprising 193 articles. We observed a growth in the number of studies published, particularly since 2005. However, this was mostly due to an increase in studies based on subjective research. There is a moderate to nonexistent agreement between objective and subjective sleep measures, with results of subjective measures having higher variability and uncertainty.We identified 151 articles (78%) using an exclusively subjective sleep evaluation, which can cause a misperception about mindfulness effects on sleep. Conclusion Future studies should place greater emphasis on objective measurements to accurately investigate the effects of mindfulness practices on sleep, although subjective measures also have a role to play in respect of some aspects of this relationship.

Efficacy, Safety, And Public Attitude Towards Covid 19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted various aspects of human life worldwide, causing economic and social hardships, and claiming millions of lives. To combat the virus, several efforts have been made to develop and distribute effective vaccines. This paper examines some of the literature on the performance and safety of different COVID-19 vaccines, the views and opinions of people about the vaccines, and the factors that influence such views and behaviors. Methods: Two major databases (PubMed and Epistemonikos) were checked using search expansion mechanisms and several search strings. After the title, abstract, and full-text analysis, 19 studies were selected for review. Results: The seven different vaccines studied all have supporting data on their efficacy in the reduction of COVID-19 cases, prevention of hospitalization after infection, and reduction in the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients. There was high hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine, and the perceived efficacy and safety of the vaccines are less than recorded in clinical data. Distrust of the vaccines, their manufacturers and different institutions and governments, personal beliefs and feelings, age, gender, education, and socioeconomic status was identified factors affecting behaviors towards the COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion: Several articles support the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, but general awareness and conception about them vary, including hesitancy, distrust, and some acceptance. Many factors affected the perception and attitude of people toward these vaccines. More clinical data on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines should be generated to help boost confidence among users.

A Scoping Review of Educator Proficiency Interventions in Pharmacy Education Illustrated by an Interdisciplinary Model Integrating Pedagogical Theories into Practice.

Pharmacy schools recognize the need for flexibility and comprehensive curricular transformation with a competency-based focus to effectively prepare for the evolving practitioner competencies and challenges of the pharmacy profession. The curricular implementation of evidence-based teaching and learning theories and practices demands educator proficiency through skills development with indispensable faculty leadership support. Our scoping review of online databases and pharmacy education-related journals aims to identify faculty development interventions or teaching proficiency programs that integrate educational and pedagogical theories. Original studies and reviews published between 2010 and 2022 were screened based on four inclusion criteria. Thirty-four manuscripts were eligible for full-text analysis, of which seven results referenced target faculty pedagogy knowledge development. Nine key messages, as Results Statements, synthesize and provide a framework for our results analysis. An ongoing Hungarian intervention model of comprehensive faculty development with strong interdisciplinary cooperation is discussed in our study to illustrate the applicability of the Results Statements through each stage of the process. Educator motivation and relatedness to students or awareness of the educator roles are intrinsic factors, which may not be easily detectable yet significantly impact teaching proficiency and student learning outcomes. The integration of evidence-based pedagogical knowledge and training in educator proficiency development contributes to the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of faculty interventions.

Quasi-experimental evaluations of health-related policies in Europe: a scoping review

Abstract Background Quasi-experimental methods (QEM) are study designs increasingly used in public health to evaluate the impact of health-focused policies. We sought to examine the scope, methodological characteristics as well as health equity considerations of policy evaluations using QEM that assess health and social outcomes in Europe. Methods We conducted a scoping review as outlined in our pre-registered protocol (https://osf.io/n5rvg). We searched Medline, EMBASE, and EconLit databases in December 2022 and included studies labelled as interrupted time series, difference-in-difference (DID), controlled before and after, regression discontinuity, and synthetic control studies; that focused on policies implemented at regional, national, and supranational level in the WHO European region. Among all identified records, we drew a random sample of 350 records for title and abstract screening and subsequent full-text screening, data extraction and analysis. Results Database searches rendered 2102 records. Of the random sample of 350 records, we identified 59 records as eligible for inclusion. Most studies evaluated health and social policies implemented on a national level in EU member states and the UK. Common policy topics were related to tobacco control, healthcare co-payments, and employment. DID was the most common study design label. Few studies were based on pre-registered protocols. There was substantial variability in the number and types of additional analyses conducted to assess the appropriateness of assumptions and the robustness of results. With respect to health equity (HE), 16 included studies had a strong HE focus by examining disadvantaged populations, and in 23 and 18 studies, respectively, HE was discussed and HE-related recommendations were made. Discussion QEM were frequently used to undertake policy evaluations and studies showed great diversity in scope and methodology. Health equity was considered in a surprisingly low number of studies. Key messages • We identified a large number of policy evaluations employing quasi-experimental methods. • Studies were heterogeneous in scope and methodological rigour and few considered health equity.

Impact of psychotropic medications on cognition among older adults: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review is to examine the cognitive impact of psychotropic medications including benzodiazepines, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, or a combination of these drugs on older adults. Systematic review. We searched Medline, PsycINFO, and Embase through the Ovid platform, CINAHL through EBSCO, and Web of Science. Randomized control trials (RCTs) and cohort studies that used a validated scale to measure cognition with a follow-up period of at least six months were included. The primary outcome of interest was cognitive change associated with psychotropic medication use. A total of 7551 articles were identified from the primary electronic literature search across the five databases after eliminating duplicates. Based on full-text analysis, 27 articles (two RCTs, 25 cohorts) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, nine each examined the impact of benzodiazepines and antidepressants, five examined psychotropic combinations, three on antipsychotic drugs, and one on the effects of mood stabilizers. This is the first systematic review to examine the cognitive impact of multiple psychotropic drug classes in older adults over an extended follow-up period (six months or more) using robust sample sizes, drug-free control groups, and validated cognitive instruments. We found evidence to indicate cognitive decline with the cumulative use of benzodiazepines and the use of antidepressants, especially those with anticholinergic properties among older adults without cognitive impairment at baseline. Further, the use of antipsychotics and psychotropic combinations is also associated with cognitive decline in older adults.

Terapia fotodinâmica como coadjuvante ao tratamento endodôntico: revisão de literatura

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has been growing in endodontics due to the excellent potential for in vivo root canal decontamination. This literature review aims to discuss the effectiveness of PDT in assisting as an adjuvant to endodontic treatment and the different clinical applications and their results. Thorough research was performed between March and May 2020, using the “Terapia fotodinâmica” and “Endodontia” descriptors indexed in the Descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCs) and the “Photodynamic therapy” and “Endodontics” descriptors indexed in the Medical Subject Heading Terms (MeshTerms –MeSH). The databases searched were SciELO, Pubmed, and LILACS, for publications between 2013 and 2020. In this bibliographic survey, it was selected 28 articles for a full-text analysis and used as references. The bibliographic survey showed that PDT effectively assists the endodontic treatment, offers a high potential for eliminating bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis, and is little invasive and risk-free for patients. It was concluded that PDT is clearly effective, but its clinical applicability is still subject to different protocols, which requires developing a protocol for common use.

Use of Broadband Personality Tests in Bariatric Surgery: A Scoping Review

IntroductionStudies have reported significant associations between personality scales of broadband psychometric testing to bariatric surgical outcomes; however, the literature falls short in outlining how these instruments can be best utilized to optimize weight loss milestones after surgery. The purpose of this scoping review is to analyze the literature utilizing broadband personality tests in the bariatric surgical population with relation to weight loss outcomes to identify gaps in research and summarize results to guide American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery practices and future research. MethodsSix databases were searched for broadband personality assessments, bariatric surgery, and weight loss outcomes terms. Studies included were peer-reviewed, published in English, and compared psychological assessments and weight loss outcomes. ResultsFive hundred nineteen studies were reviewed, with 20 included in the full-text analysis. Studies used at least one of six defined broadband personality assessments. Elevated scores for depression were associated with lower weight loss with three of the assessments. Anxiety was inconsistently associated with postoperative weight loss, but this may be dependent on follow-up time ConclusionsPreoperative broadband personality assessments may support identifying behaviors that help patients reach their postoperative weight loss goals. Inconsistencies in the reporting of weight loss outcome measures across the literature make it difficult to draw significant conclusions. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recommends standardization of outcome reporting, further highlighting a need in research to identify scales that are consistent predictors of weight loss outcomes.

Digital literacy as a new determinant of health: A scoping review.

Harnessing new digital technologies can improve access to health care but can also widen the health divide for those with poor digital literacy. This scoping review aims to assess the current situation of low digital health literacy in terms of its definition, reach, impact on health and interventions for its mitigation. A comprehensive literature search strategy was composed by a qualified medical librarian. Literature databases [Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and Google Scholar] were queried using appropriate natural language and controlled vocabulary terms along with hand-searching and citation chaining. We focused on recent and highly cited references published in English. Reviews were excluded. This scoping review was conducted following the methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley. A total of 268 articles were identified (263 from the initial search and 5 more added from the references of the original papers), 53 of which were finally selected for full text analysis. Digital health literacy is the most frequently used descriptor to refer to the ability to find and use health information with the goal of addressing or solving a health problem using technology. The most utilized tool to assess digital health literacy is the eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS), a self-reported measurement tool that evaluates six core dimensions and is available in various languages. Individuals with higher digital health literacy scores have better self-management and participation in their own medical decisions, mental and psychological state and quality of life. Effective interventions addressing poor digital health literacy included education/training and social support. Although there is interest in the study and impact of poor digital health literacy, there is still a long way to go to improve measurement tools and find effective interventions to reduce the digital health divide.

Quantum Combinatorial Optimization in the NISQ Era: A Systematic Mapping Study

The application of quantum computing to combinatorial optimization problems is attracting increasing research interest, resulting in diverse approaches and research streams. This study aims at identifying, classifying, and understanding existing solution approaches as well as typical use cases in the field. The obtained classification schemes are based on a full-text analysis of 156 included papers. Our results can be used by researchers and practitioners to (i) better understand adaptations to and utilizations of existing gate-based and quantum annealing approaches and (ii) identify typical use cases for quantum computing in areas such as graph optimization, routing, and scheduling.

Systematic Review of the Frequency of Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist Intervention in the Primary Care Setting for Diabetes Self-Management Education for Patients with Type II Diabetes.

The purpose of this systematic review is to discuss the ideal frequency of Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) contact required to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes in the primary care setting. Researchers completed a literature search between April 1 and June 30, 2020. Researchers identified 184 studies and included seven studies for full-text analysis. Eligible studies were required to occur in a primary care setting, use A1C as an outcome measure, and use some form of education or contact with an RDN. Study quality was assessed using the NIH Study Quality Assessment Tool. Compared to the usual care group of each study, increased contact with an RDN improved A1C lowering regardless of frequency (round-the-clock, monthly, biannually). The largest decreases occurred in the round-the-clockand quarterly touch groups. Studies varied in modality (inperson, telehealth, etc.) and type of intervention. The participants had A1Cs between 8.07% and 10.25% before intervention. With RDN contact of any frequency between provider visits and participants saw A1Cs decreased between 0.66% and 2.2%. Greater glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes in the primary care environment is linked to more frequent RDN contact than that advised by the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care.

Less marginal bone loss around bone-level implants restored with long abutments: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological outcomes of bone-level implants restored with long vs. short abutments, with regard to the 'one abutment at one time' protocol. The systematic search was performed in five databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials up to January 14, 2023. Data were collected for marginal bone loss, bleeding on probing, and probing pocket depth by two reviewers. As effect size measure, mean difference (MD), and risk ratio (RR) were used for continuous and categorical outcomes, R-statistics software was used for conducting statistical analyses. For quality and certainty assessment, Risk of Bias Tool 2, ROBINS-I, and GRADE approach were used. The search resulted in 4055 records without any duplicates. After title, abstract, and full-text analysis, eight articles were found eligible for inclusion. Bone-level and platform-switched implants presented less marginal bone loss after 6 months and 1 year as well, when long abutments were used (MD 0.63, 95% CI: [-0.16; 1.42]) and (MD 0.26, 95% CI: [-0.02; 0.53]). However, subgroup analysis revealed no difference in marginal bone loss when applying 'one abutment at one time' protocol (p = 0.973). Bleeding on probing and probing pocket depth presented similarly good results in both groups without almost any differences (RR 0.97, 95% CI: [0.76; 1.23]) and (MD -0.05, 95% CI: [-1.11; 1.01]). Longer abutments on bone-level implants seem to be a favorable choice for decreasing early marginal bone loss, irrespective of connection timing.

Indices of textual cohesion by lexical repetition based on semantic networks of cliques

Cohesion is one of the main defining characteristics of textuality. There is a lack of approaches to textual cohesion benefiting from both high computational implementability, and compatibility with established theories of text organization and comprehension. The main goal of this study was to define indices of textual cohesion based on lexical repetition and semantic networks of cliques that can measure cohesion while being compatible with the aforementioned theories. As specific goals, the study aimed to develop an improved taxonomy for lexical repetition and to analyze the behavior of the proposed indices with a sample of texts from different genres. Six indices were proposed, and 60 texts from six different genres were analyzed. The results showed that the indices can capture different patterns of lexical cohesion that can be explored, for example, in classification tasks applied to texts, in summarization tasks, and in the adaptation of reading material to improve the readability and comprehensibility of texts by less proficient readers. Additionally, the patterns observed within the analysis of full texts were also observed in the analysis of the first 10 to 60 sentences of texts, depending on the index considered, suggesting that the first 10 to 60 sentences of a text are enough to analyze its lexical cohesion

Flow Diverters versus Clipping in the Management of Blister Like Intracranial Aneurysms

Background Blister like aneurysms (BLA) are a rare form of aneurysms contributing to around 0.3 to 1% of all intracranial aneurysms. They are small, broad-based aneurysms usually less than 3 mm in diameter with very thin walls. They are most commonly found along the non-branching points of the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery. It appears as thorn-like protrusions on angiography such as Computed Tomography angiography (CTA) and Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) the latter having a higher sensitivity than the former for BLAs albeit more invasive. BLAs may show early aneurysm growth within days to weeks after diagnosis. They have a slight female preponderance and are associated with atherosclerosis although their actual pathophysiology remains elusive. Aim of the Work To compare the degree of occlusion on conventional angiography in BLA patients treated with flow diverters with those treated by microsurgical clipping within one year of intervention. Patients and Methods Most BLAs are diagnosed after an episode of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and present clinically with a high WFNS score (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons) while the rest of BLAs are diagnosed incidentally on imaging. Due to their unique histology, BLAs are associated with higher rates of rebleed and intraoperative and post-operative rupture. Due to their small size, thin walls and tendency to re-bleed BLA are considered a challenge to both neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists. Results Our search strategy using previously mentioned key wards identified a total of 67 citations. Search was done for studies conducted or published within 2010 to 2020 duration. After removal of duplicate studies, eligibility criteria were applied to the titles of 43 articles with exclusion of non-human population and non-appropriate study design. This yielded 23 studies that underwent full-text analysis, of which 17 did not meet the inclusion criteria of having and lacking of quantitative comparison data. Six studies were included in our systematic review for analysis of population demographics and management outcome with attention to the clinical and radiological outcomes of both microsurgical clipping and flow diversion for treatment of BBAs. Conclusion In our mid-term follow-up study, we saw high occlusion and low retreatment/rerupture rates with good clinical outcomes in the majority of cases. However, dual antiplatelet therapy in the acute ruptured setting can be challenging, and requires special considerations.

Contemporary Global Coastal Management Strategies and Coastal Infrastructure and Their Application in Ghana: A Systematic Literature Review

Systematic literature reviews provide the foundation for evidence-based research in a particular field of study. In this regard, the systematic review of the relationship between coastal management strategies and coastal infrastructure typologies provides an opportunity to benchmark local coastal adaptation policies against contemporary global practices, technologies, and sustainability. However, systematic reviews of coastal infrastructure in Ghana and West Africa at large are limited. To close this research gap, we conducted a systematic literature review of the global implementation of coastal management strategies and coastal infrastructure and provided a synopsis of coastal management in Ghana. To achieve this, we searched the Scopus Database for literature on coastal management approaches and infrastructure typologies. Forty-eight peer-reviewed publications met the inclusion criteria for full-text analysis. The results indicate a significant global shift from purely grey infrastructure toward integrating green and grey infrastructure. However, despite contemporary global advances, coastal infrastructure in developing contexts—particularly in Ghana—remains mostly static, using reactive, hold the line strategies, and grey infrastructure. As sea-level rise continues to intensify coastal hazards globally, increasing the demand for coastal protection, researching coastal management policies and coastal infrastructure is essential to support the hybridization of grey and green infrastructure and encourage transitions to adaptive coastal management instead of continuous coastal hardening using grey infrastructure.

Decrypting Skin Microbiome in Psoriasis: Current Status.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune, chronic, inflammatory skin condition of multifactorial etiology. Recent studies in human skin microbiome research have revealed the dysbiosis in lesional skin of psoriatic patients, as well as have established the association of dysbiosis in the elicitation of inflammatory response of psoriatic skin. The present review aimed to recapitulate the insights of psoriasis lesional skin microbiome studies published in the last 2 decades, and to determine the most important bacterial genera that can be deployed as psoriatic skin microbial signature for therapeutic intervention. To achieve the stated objectives, full-text analysis of literature selected through systematic search of digital literature databases has been carried out following PRISMA guidelines. Literature analysis suggests differential abundance of specific bacterial genera in the lesional psoriatic skin (LPS) compared to normal skin (NS) of psoriasis patients and skin from healthy subjects. These bacterial genera collectively can be utilized as potential biomarker for constructing lesional psoriatic skin specific microbial signature, and to explore the role of bacterial species in maintaining the skin homeostasis. The analysis further revealed that multiple bacterial species instead of a single bacterial species is important for understanding the psoriasis etiogenesis. Furthermore, decreased microbiome stability and increased diversity might have role in the exacerbation of lesions on skin of psoriatic patients. Considering the importance of human skin microbiome dysbiosis in psoriasis, research efforts should be carried out to develop new therapeutic measures in addition to current therapies by exploiting the human and host-skin-associated microbial genomic and metabolomic knowledge.

Amniotic Sludge and Prematurity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes of women with singleton pregnancies, after spontaneous conception, and with the diagnosis of amniotic sludge before 37 weeks of gestational age. We conducted a search on the PubMed, Cochrane, Bireme, and Theses databases until June 2022. Using the keywords intra-amniotic sludge or fluid sludge or echogenic particles, we found 263 articles, 132 of which were duplicates, and 70 were discarded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. The articles retrieved were analyzed by 2 reviewers; 61 were selected for full-text analysis, 18 were included for a qualitative analysis, and 14, for a quantitative analysis. Among the maternal outcomes analyzed, there was an increased risk of preterm labor (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.45-2.03), premature rupture of ovular membranes (95%CI: 1.99-3.79), and clinical (95%CI: 1.41-6.19) and histological chorioamnionitis (95%CI: 1.75-3.12). Regarding the fetal outcomes, there was a significant increase in the risk of morbidity (95%CI: 1.80-3.17), mortality (95%CI: 1.14-18.57), admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU; 95%CI: 1.17-1.95), and neonatal sepsis (95%CI: 2.29-7.55). The results of the present study indicate that the presence of amniotic sludge is a risk marker for preterm delivery. Despite the heterogeneity of the studies analyzed, even in patients with other risk factors for prematurity, such as short cervix and previous preterm delivery, the presence of amniotic sludge increases the risk of premature labor. Moreover, antibiotic therapy seems to be a treatment for amniotic sludge, and it may prolong pregnancy.

Microbiota associated with peri-implantitis-A systematic review with meta-analyses.

To answer the following PECO question: "In systemically healthy human subjects (P), which are the differences between peri-implantitis (E) and peri-implant health/mucositis (C) in terms of bacterial presence/count (O)?" Cross-sectional studies fulfilling specific inclusion criteria established to answer the PECO question were included. Two review authors independently searched for studies, screened the titles and abstracts, did full-text analysis, extracted the data from the included reports, and performed the risk of bias assessment through an adaptation of the Newcastle/Ottawa tool for cross-sectional studies and of the JBI critical appraisal checklist. In case of disagreement, a third reviewer author took the final decision. Study results were summarized using random effects meta-analyses. A total of 12 studies were included, involving 1233 participants and 1513 implants. Peri-implantitis was associated with the presence of S. epidermidis (Odds ratio, OR = 10.28 [95% Confidence interval, CI: 1.26-83.98]), F. nucleatum (OR = 7.83 [95% CI: 2.24-27.36]), T. denticola (OR = 6.11 [95% CI: 2.72-13.76]), T. forsythia (OR = 4.25 [95% CI: 1.71-10.57]), P. intermedia (OR = 3.79 [95% CI: 1.07-13.35]), and P. gingivalis (OR = 2.46 [95% CI: 1.21-5.00]). Conversely, the presence of A. actinomycetemcomitans (OR = 3.82 [95% CI: 0.59-24.68]), S. aureus (OR = 1.05 [95% CI: 0.06-17.08]), and C. rectus (OR = 1.48 [95% CI: 0.69-3.17]) was not associated with peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is associated with the presence of S. epidermidis and specific periodontopathogens (P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola, F. nucleatum, and P. intermedia). (CRD42021254589).

Technologies in home-based Digital Rehabilitation: A scoping review.

Due to growing pressure on the healthcare system, a shift in rehabilitation to the home setting is essential. However, efficient support in home-based rehabilitation is still lacking. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these challenges, and affected individuals and healthcare professionals during rehabilitation. Digital rehabilitation (DR) could support home-based rehabilitation. To develop and implement DR solutions that meet the clients' needs and ease the growing pressure on the healthcare system it is necessary to give an overview of existing, relevant and future solutions shaping the constantly evolving market of technologies for home-based DR. This scoping review identifies digital technologies for home-based DR, predicts new/emerging DR trends and reports the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on Digital Rehabilitation. The scoping review followed the framework of Arksey and O'Malley with the improvements of Levac et al. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane library. The search spanned from January 2015 to January 2022. A bibliometric analysis was performed to give an overview of the included references and a co-occurrence analysis identified the technologies for home-based DR. A full-text-analysis of all included reviews filtered the trends for home-based DR. A grey literature search supplemented the results of the review analysis and revealed the influences of the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the development of DR. 2.437 records were included in the bibliometric analysis, 95 for full-text-analysis and 40 as a result of the grey literature search. Sensors, robotic devices, gamification, virtual and augmented reality, and digital/mobile applications are already used in home-based DR, but AI/machine learning, exoskeletons, and digital/mobile applications represent new/emerging trends. Advantages and disadvantages were displayed for all technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased use of digital technologies as remote approaches, but has not led to the development of new technologies. Multiple tools are available and implemented for home-based DR, but some technologies face limitations in the application of home-based rehabilitation. However, AI and machine learning could be instrumental in redesigning rehabilitation and addressing future challenges of the healthcare system, and the rehabilitation sector in particular. The results show the need for feasible and effective approaches to implement DR that meet clients' needs and adhere to framework conditions even regardless of exceptional situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Histamine and Its Receptors in the Mammalian Inner Ear: A Scoping Review.

Histamine is a widely distributed biogenic amine with multiple biological functions mediated by specific receptors that determine the local effects of histamine. This review aims to summarize the published findings on the expression and functional roles of histamine receptors in the inner ear and to identify potential research hotspots and gaps. A search of the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and OVID EMBASE was performed using the keywords histamine, cochlea*, and inner ear. Of the 181 studies identified, 18 eligible publications were included in the full-text analysis. All four types of histamine receptors were identified in the mammalian inner ear. The functional studies of histamine in the inner ear were mainly in vitro. Clinical evidence suggests that histamine and its receptors may play a role in Ménière's disease, but the exact mechanism is not fully understood. The effects of histamine on hearing development remain unclear. Existing studies have successfully determined the expression of all four histamine receptors in the mammalian inner ear. However, further functional studies are needed to explore the potential of histamine receptors as targets for the treatment of hearing and balance disorders.

ON THE ISSUE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLEANING REMOVABLE DENTURES

ABSTRACT
 Background: Most older patients use removable dentures and every year the need for this type of dentures increases. Improving the level of oral hygiene and denture hygiene is necessary from 42 to 76% of cases. Maintaining good oral hygiene is prevention of various dental diseases and the long-term preservation of the results of dental treatment.
 Aims: to examine the status of the issue on methods of disinfection of removable dentures (partial and complete) at home.
 Materials and methods: a literature search was conducted on methods of disinfection of complete and partial removable dentures on the following scientific platforms: Scopus, Pubmed, Web of science, Elibrary, disserCat.
 Search criteria: review articles, scientific articles and patents (in Russian or English), publications no later than 2013 by keywords: removable dentures, oral microbiota of patients with removable dentures, hygiene of removable dentures, denture stomatitis, methods of hygienic treatment of dentures. High-quality disinfection and treatment of partial and complete removable dentures necessary for maintaining their functionality. There are various methods and preparations for disinfection of removable dentures.
 Results:
 Totally 218 articles were studied. After a full-text analysis, 30 studies were selected that met the search criteria.
 In 12% of scientific works (n=5), the use of toothpastes for cleaning dentures has been studied. In 58% (n=16) of the articles, the use of special disinfectant solutions was studied. Approximately 20% (n=6) of the studied literature describes methods of using special devices for disinfection of dentures. In 10% (n=3) of the works were described methods of covering dentures with protective varnish.
 Conclusion:
 Currently existing methods for home care of dentures show a significant range of effectiveness, often with contradictory data. The selection of adequate methods of hygiene of dentures at home is an important issue that requires further study.
 KEY WORDS:
 Removable dentures, oral microbiota of patients with removable dentures, hygiene of removable dentures, denture stomatitis, methods of hygienic treatment of dentures.