Meta-analysis Of Experimental Studies Research Articles

Vibration therapy for patients with hard-to-heal wounds: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies.

Hard-to-heal wounds lead to functional loss, decreased quality of life, and prolonged hospitalization due to delayed healing. The healthcare costs of managing such wounds are substantial. Vibration therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment for hard-to-heal wounds but no comprehensive reviews have quantitatively analyzed its efficacy. Six databases were systematically searched for relevant articles on August 1, 2024. The methodologies of the studies included in the analysis were assessed using Version 2 of the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials and ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. A random-effects model was applied to aggregate the pooled effect size. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2. A forest plot was generated for meta-analysis. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. Vibration therapy significantly reduced neuropathy (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD]=-0.79; 95% CI=-1.51 to -0.07; p=0.03; I2=61.40%) and enhanced the ulcer healing area (pooled SMD=0.92; 95% CI=0.60 to 1.23; p<0.001; I2=0.00%) of patients with hard-to-heal wounds. However, the intervention did not significantly alleviate pain (pooled SMD=-0.51; 95% CI=-1.38 to 0.36; p=0.25; I2=74.15%). Significant heterogeneity was identified in the pooled result for pain and neuropathy. Vibration therapy appears to enhance ulcer healing and reduce neuropathy. These results may help researchers and healthcare providers to further develop vibration therapy to address the underlying requirements for bridging the evidence-practice gap in wound care. Future studies should consider the safety and potential adverse outcomes of vibration therapy to ensure its appropriate application for treating hard-to-heal wounds.

The time-stamped effects of screen exposure on food intake in adults: A meta-analysis of experimental studies.

The purpose of this study was to examine time-stamped impacts of screen exposure on food intake among healthy adults. Four electronic databases were searched up to August 31, 2024, including ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. A meta-analysis of inverse variance was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) in food intake between watching and not watching screen groups, and groups with different screen contents (e.g., food cues). 23 experimental studies with 1894 participants were included. Watching screen (vs. not watching group, SMD: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.26; I2=42%; p0.01) significantly increased food intake, while the impact of the contents, including food cues, weight control cues and TV conditions, displayed on screens on food intake was not significantly different. Subgroup analysis revealed that food intake increased significantly with exposure to screens in females (SMD: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.35; I2=25%; p = 0.01). Adults especially females eat more while watching screen, whatever the screen content displayed on the screen. Given the influence of study designs, more within-subject studies with high quality were required to understand the intricate relationship between screen exposure and food intake, ultimately managing promoting healthier dietary habits.

Does ChatGPT enhance student learning? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

Does ChatGPT enhance student learning? A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

How effective are eHealth literacy interventions? A meta-analysis of experimental studies

Abstract The rapid evolution of digital health emphasises the need for effective eHealth literacy (eHL) to ensure equitable access to health information and improve patient outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the effectiveness of eHL interventions, addressing the significant gap in knowledge about which strategies are most beneficial. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we systematically retrieved, quantitatively pooled and critically appraised available experimental evidence on the effectiveness of eHL interventions across different populations. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for studies reporting original quantitative outcomes of eHL, assessed by the eHealth Literacy Scale or other validated scales. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, with critical appraisal of the included studies. From the 504 records screened, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. They encompass interventions targeting adults with chronic diseases (6 studies), older adults (5), and young people (4) and examine either individualistic or collaborative approaches (respectively, 9 and 5 studies, and 1 assessing both). The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in eHL, both pre- vs post-intervention (UMD 5.81, 95%CI 3.38-8.26, N = 1,025) and experimental vs control groups (OR 3.65, 95%CI 2.06-6.46, N = 1,258). Meta-regression showed a significant correlation between pre/post-intervention outcomes and baseline eHL levels (slope=-0.91, p-value=0.009). Our findings support the effectiveness of tailored interventions in significantly enhancing eHL, providing key insights (role of baseline eHL levels and intervention approach) for intervention design and implementation that are adaptable to various demographic contexts. This research was supported by the National Plan for Complementary Investments to the NRRP Hub Life Science-Digital Health (PNC-E3-2022-23683267, DHEAL-COM).

The Impact of Numeracy on Early Childhood Development: A Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies

This study employs a meta-analytic approach to assess the impact of numeracy on early childhood development. Analyzing 41 experimental studies, the research aggregates data to provide a precise estimate of numeracy's effect size, enhancing the generalizability of findings. A random-effects model was utilized due to the high heterogeneity among studies (I² = 91.32%), indicating significant variability across different geographical regions, sample sizes, and intervention durations. The results demonstrate a statistically significant positive effect of numeracy on early childhood abilities, with a coefficient estimate of 0.56834 (p &lt; 0.001). Despite the strong evidence supporting early numeracy interventions, the study highlights the need for context-specific approaches to maximize effectiveness. The analysis also reveals the presence of publication bias, as indicated by funnel plot symmetry and a fail-safe N of 7,159, suggesting robust findings. Future research should address the observed variability and further explore the contextual factors influencing the success of early numeracy programs.

Divergent effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in sepsis: a meta-analysis of experimental studies

IntroductionExperimental studies in animals have yielded conflicting results on the role of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in sepsis and endotoxemia, with some reporting adaptive and others inappropriate effects. A meta-analysis of the available literature was performed to determine the factors explaining this discrepancy.MethodsThe study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020167384) prior to data collection. PubMed and Embase were the databases queried. Risk of bias was evaluated using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias Tool. All animal studies investigating sepsis-related mortality and modified TNF signaling were considered eligible. The exclusion criteria were: lack of mortality data, 7-day mortality rates below 10% in both wild type and TNF-altered pathway animals, and absence of an English abstract. To determine the role of TNF according to the experimental protocol, three approaches were used: first an approach based on the statistical significance of each experiment, then the pooled mortality was calculated, and finally the weighted risk ratio for mortality was assessed.ResultsA total of 175 studies were included in the analysis, comprising a total of 760 experiments and involving 19,899 animals. The main species used were mice (77%) and rats (21%). The most common method of TNF pathway modulation was TNF pathway inactivation that was primarily associated with an inappropriate secretion of TNF. At the opposite, TNF injection was associated with an adaptive role of TNF. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection was the most used stimulus to establish an infectious model (42%) and was strongly associated with an inappropriate role of TNF. Conversely, live bacterial models, especially the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model, pneumonia, meningitis, and gastrointestinal infection, were associated with an adaptive role. This was particularly evident for Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae.ConclusionThe role of TNF during infection varies depending on the experimental model used. Models that mimic clinical conditions, based on virulent bacteria that cause high mortality even at low inocula, demonstrated an adaptive role of TNF. Conversely, models based on LPS or low-pathogenic live bacteria, administered at doses well above physiological thresholds and combined with early antibiotic therapy, were associated with an inappropriate role.Graphical abstract

The Effects of IRL-1620 in Post-ischemic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Experimental Studies.

Sovateltide (IRL-1620), an endothelin B receptor agonist, has previously demonstrated neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects in animal models of acute ischemic stroke. Recently, clinical trials indicated that it could also be effective in humans with stroke. Here, we systematically investigate whether IRL-1620 may be used for the treatment of ischemia-induced brain injury. A systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus databases were searched for eligible studies up to December 2022. The databases ClinicalTrials.gov and Pharmazz Inc. were screened for unpublished or ongoing trials. Only studies in English were evaluated for eligibility. Meta-analysis of the included studies was also conducted. Finally, seven studies were included in the review, all in animal rat models because of scarcity of clinical trials. Six studies, all in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models, were selected for meta-analysis. In the two studies assessing mortality, no deaths were reported in the IRL-1620 group 24h after MCAO, whereas the vehicle group had almost a five times higher mortality risk (risk ratio 5.3, 95% confidence interval 0.7-40.1, I2 = 0%). In all five studies evaluating outcome on day 7 after MCAO, IRL-1620 was associated with statistically significantly lower neurological deficit and improved motor performance compared with the vehicle. Infract volume, differentiation potential of neuronal progenitor cells, and mitochondrial fate also improved with IRL-1620 administration. According to the above, in animal MCAO models, IRL-1620 enhanced neurogenesis and neuroprotection and improved outcome. Future studies are needed to expand our understanding of its effects in human study participants with acute ischemic stroke as well as in other common causes of cerebral ischemia including cardiac arrest.

The Impact of Machine Authorship on News Audience Perceptions: A Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies

The growing adoption of artificial intelligence in journalism has dramatically changed the way news is produced. Despite the recent proliferation of research on automated journalism, debate continues about how audiences perceive and evaluate news purportedly written by machines compared to the work of human authors. Based on a review of 30 experimental studies, this meta-analysis shows that machine authorship had a negative, albeit small, effect on credibility perceptions. Furthermore, machine authorship had a null effect on news evaluations, although this effect was significant and stronger (more negative) when (a) the news covered socio-political topics (vs. environmental topics) and (b) the actual source of the news articles was a machine (vs. a human). These findings are discussed in light of theoretical accounts of human–machine communication and practical implications for news media.

Synergies of interventions to promote pro-environmental behaviors – A meta-analysis of experimental studies

Addressing the threat of climate change requires effective environmental regulation to induce pro-environmental behavior. While various policy interventions already exist, combining different policies may offer greater effectiveness in dealing with market failures, multiple environmental objectives, and mitigating the regressive effects of single policies. In this meta-study, we investigate the potential synergies between policy interventions by rigorously assessing their comparative effectiveness when used individually versus in combination. We focus on experimental studies providing comparable findings from controlled settings to facilitate an empirically grounded understanding of climate policy synergies. Our analysis reveals negative synergy effects, indicating that, on average, the analyzed policy mixes are less effective than the sum of their individual intervention effects. However, we also find that policy mixes can offset the negative effects of single policies. Notably, combinations involving nudges and monetary incentives prove particularly effective in promoting pro-environmental behavior. Lastly, behavioral changes induced by policy mixes tend to wane faster compared to single interventions once the policies are removed. Our study provides important scientific and policy-relevant insights regarding the performance of policy mixes.

Compensatory enhancement of paternal care in maternally neglected mice family

ABSTRACT Parental care strategies, ranging from biparental to uniparental, evolve based on factors affecting sexual conflict over care. Plasticity in how parents respond to reduction in each other’s care effort is thus proposed to be important in the evolution of parental care behaviors. Models predict that ‘obligate’ biparental care is stable when a parent responds to reduced partner effort with ‘partial’ compensation, trading-off current and future reproduction. A meta-analysis of experimental studies on biparental birds also revealed partial compensation, supporting coevolution of parental care type and plasticity pattern. However, few studies have addressed this issue across different taxa and different parental care types. In laboratory mice, a female-biased ‘facultative’ biparental species, fathers paired with a competent mother rarely provide care. We show that, when mated with a pup-neglecting mutant mother, fathers increased care effort to ‘fully’ compensate for the lost maternal care in both pup survival rate and total care amount. Pup retrieval latency was significantly shorter, and neural activity in relevant brain regions twice as high, suggesting enhanced motivation. This study with mice not only opens a road to explore the neural correlates of paternal plasticity but will also help understand how behavioral plasticity contributes to adaptive evolution of parental care behaviors.

Are CBT-based interventions effective for pathologic technology use? A meta-analysis of experimental studies

Are CBT-based interventions effective for pathologic technology use? A meta-analysis of experimental studies

Dynamic Navigation System vs. Free-Hand Approach in Microsurgical and Non-Surgical Endodontics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies.

(1) Background: A Dynamic Navigation System (DNS) is an innovative tool that facilitates the management of complex endodontic cases. Despite the number of advantages and limitations of this approach, there is no evidence-based information about its efficiency in comparison with that of the traditional method in endodontics. (2) Objectives: We aimed to explore any beneficial effects of the DNS and compare the outcomes of DNS vs. free-hand (FH) approaches for non-surgical and microsurgical endodontics. (3) Methods: A literature search was conducted in August 2023 to identify randomized, experimental, non-surgical, and microsurgical endodontic studies that compared the DNS with FH approaches. The procedural time (ΔT, s), substance loss (ΔV, mm3), angular deviation (ΔAD, °), coronal/platform linear deviation (ΔLD_C, mm), and apical linear deviation (ΔLD_A, mm) were recorded and analyzed. Quality and risk of bias assessments were conducted according to the Quality Assessment Tool For In Vitro Studies. A meta-analysis was performed using mean difference and standard deviation for each outcome, and heterogeneity (I2) was estimated. p < 0.05 was considered significant. (4) Results: One-hundred and forty-six studies were identified following duplicate removal, and nine were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall risk of bias was classified as low. The DNS was found to be more accurate and efficient than the FH approach was, resulting in a significantly shorter operation time (p < 0.00001) and less angular (p ≤ 0.0001) and linear deviation (p ≤ 0.01). For substance loss, the advantage of the DNS was significant only for microsurgery (p = 0.65, and p < 0.005, for non-surgical and microsurgical procedures, respectively). A reduced risk of iatrogenic failure using the DNS was observed for both expert and novice operators. (5) Conclusions: The DNS appears beneficial for non-surgical and microsurgical endodontics, regardless of the operator's experience. However, appropriate training and experience are necessary to access the full advantages offered by the DNS.

Leading-by-example: a meta-analysis

AbstractWe provide a parsimonious model of leadership in social dilemma situations and test it with a meta-analysis of experimental studies. We focus on studies with treatments that allow for sequential contributions to a public good [as in Güth et al. (J Public Econ 91:1023–1042, 2007)]. The group members observe the contribution of a leader before contributing themselves. We compare the results with simultaneous contribution treatments from the same studies. Our results confirm that the establishment of a leader indeed leads to persistently higher and more coordinated contributions. As predicted, the aggregate effect remains stable over time and increases in group size even though leaders and followers have more divergent contribution patterns in larger groups. We also find empirical support for an explanation of the observed ‘leader’s curse’.

Treatment efficacy of vitamin C or ascorbate given as co-intervention with iron for anemia – A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the leading causes of anemia, globally. Oral vitamin C enhances iron absorption and is commonly prescribed with iron for anemia patients. Considering the lack of evidence to support this practice, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the treatment efficacy of experimental studies where oral vitamin C or ascorbate was given as co-intervention with iron compared to providing only iron among participants with anemia of all ages. A comprehensive strategy was used to search literature from PubMed, Cochrane and Google Scholar. Experimental studies conducted among participants with lab-confirmed anemia at baseline, with "oral ascorbic acid or vitamin C given as co-intervention with iron" as intervention and "only oral iron" as the comparator, and reported the outcomes hemoglobin or ferritin, were selected. Random-effects model was used to estimate standardized mean differences or odds ratio of outcomes, and sensitivity analyses were done. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the reasons for heterogeneity (PROSPERO number: CRD42022306612). Of the total nine studies included in the review, seven studies with 905 participants were included for meta-analysis. The pooled estimate for standardized mean difference (SMD) of hemoglobin (g/dL) and Serum Ferritin (mcg/L) for intervention-type ferrous ascorbate were 0.44 (95% C.I.:-0.30, 1.26) and 0.03 (95% C.I.:-0.68, 0.73) respectively, and were not statistically significant. The pooled estimate for SMD of hemoglobin (g/dL) and Serum Ferritin (mcg/L) for intervention type 'oral iron and vitamin C' was 0.11 (95% C.I.:-0.05, 0.28) and-0.90 (95% C.I.:-1.09,-0.72) respectively, and were not statistically significant. The SMD of hemoglobin or serum ferritin between the intervention group were not significantly favouring the intervention when the intervention group was ferrous ascorbate or oral iron and vitamin C, and the methodological quality of evidence of these effect measures was very low. This necessitates studying the treatment efficacy of oral vitamin C or ascorbate when given with oral iron for participants with anemia in future clinical trials.

Experimental studies of paranoid thinking in clinical and nonclinical populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Paranoia is common in clinical and nonclinical populations, consistent with continuum models of psychosis. A number of experimental studies have been conducted that attempt to induce, manipulate or measure paranoid thinking in both clinical and nonclinical populations, which is important to understand causal mechanisms and advance psychological interventions. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies (non-sleep, non-drug paradigms) on psychometrically assessed paranoia in clinical and nonclinical populations. The review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Six databases (PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Medline and AMED) were searched for peer-reviewed experimental studies using within and between-subject designs to investigate paranoia in clinical and nonclinical populations. Effect sizes for each study were calculated using Hedge's g and were integrated using a random effect meta-analysis model. Thirty studies were included in the review (total n = 3898), which used 13 experimental paradigms to induce paranoia; 10 studies set out to explicitly induce paranoia, and 20 studies induced a range of other states. Effect sizes for individual studies ranged from 0.03 to 1.55. Meta-analysis found a significant summary effect of 0.51 [95% confidence interval 0.37-0.66, p < 0.001], indicating a medium effect of experimental paradigms on paranoia. Paranoia can be induced and investigated using a wide range of experimental paradigms, which can inform decision-making about which paradigms to use in future studies, and is consistent with cognitive, continuum and evolutionary models of paranoia.

Climate warming interacts with other global change drivers to influence plant phenology: A meta-analysis of experimental studies.

Shifts in plant phenology influence ecosystem structures and functions, yet how multiple global change drivers interact to affect phenology remains elusive. We conducted a meta-analysis of 242 published articles to assess interactions between warming (W) and other global change drivers including nitrogen addition (N), increased precipitation (IP), decreased precipitation (DP) and elevated CO2 (eCO2 ) on multiple phenophases in experimental studies. We show that leaf out and first flowering were most strongly affected by warming, while warming and decreased precipitation were the most pronounced drivers for leaf colouring. Moreover, interactions between warming and other global change drivers were common and both synergistic and antagonistic interactions were observed: interactions W + IP and W + eCO2 were frequently synergistic, whereas interactions W + N and W + DP were mostly antagonistic. These findings demonstrate that global change drivers often affect plant phenology interactively. Incorporating the multitude of interactions into models is crucial for accurately predicting plant responses to global changes.

Effects of man-made electromagnetic fields on heart rate variability parameters of general public: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies.

The effects of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the cardiovascular system have been investigated in many studies. In this regard, the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity due to EMFs exposure, assessed by heart rate variability (HRV), was targeted in some studies. The studies investigating the relationship between EMFs and HRV have yielded conflicting results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the data's consistency and identify the association between EMFs and HRV measures. Published literature from four electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane, were retrieved and screened. Initially, 1601 articles were retrieved. After the screening, 15 original studies were eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. The studies evaluated the association between EMFs and SDNN (standard deviation of NN intervals), SDANN (Standard deviation of the average NN intervals for each 5 min segment of a 24 h HRV recording), and PNN50 (percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 ms). There was a decrease in SDNN (ES=-0.227 [-0.389,-0.065], p=0.006), SDANN (ES=-0.526 [-1.001,-0.05], p=0.03) and PNN50 (ES=-0.287 [-0.549,-0.024]). However, there was no significant difference in LF (ES=0.061 (-0.267, 0.39), p=0.714) and HF (ES=-0.134 (0.581, 0.312), p=0.556). In addition, a significant difference was not observed in LF/HF (ES=0.079 (-0.191, 0.348), p=0.566). Our meta-analysis suggests that exposure to the environmental artificial EMFs could significantly correlate with SDNN, SDANN, and PNN50 indices. Therefore, lifestyle modification is essential in using the devices that emit EMs, such as cell phones, to decrease some signs and symptoms due to EMFs' effect on HRV.

Treatment efficacy of vitamin C or ascorbate given as co-intervention with iron for anemia - A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

Treatment efficacy of vitamin C or ascorbate given as co-intervention with iron for anemia - A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies

Open-label placebos—a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies with non-clinical samples

The use of open-label placebos (OLPs) has shown to be effective in clinical trials. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether OLPs are effective in experimental studies with non-clinical populations. We searched five databases on April 15, 2021. We conducted separate analyses for self-reported and objective outcomes and examined whether the level of suggestiveness of the instructions influenced the efficacy of OLPs. Of the 3573 identified records, 20 studies comprising 1201 participants were included, of which 17 studies were eligible for meta-analysis. The studies investigated the effect of OLPs on well-being, pain, stress, arousal, wound healing, sadness, itchiness, test anxiety, and physiological recovery. We found a significant effect of OLPs for self-reported outcomes (k = 13; standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.28, 0.58; I2 = 7.2%), but not for objective outcomes (k = 8; SMD = − 0.02; 95% CI = − 0.25, 0.21; I2 = 43.6%). The level of suggestiveness of the instructions influenced the efficacy of OLPs for objective outcomes (p = 0.02), but not for self-reported outcomes. The risk of bias was moderate for most studies, and the overall quality of the evidence was rated low to very low. In conclusion, OLPs appear to be effective when examined in experimental studies. However, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying OLPs.

Effectiveness of using high-fidelity simulation on learning outcomes in undergraduate nursing education: systematic review and meta-analysis.

High-fidelity simulation-based learning, which mimics situation, environmental, and psychological exposure in the clinical setting, potentially helps nursing students acquire knowledge, confidence, and skills in learning clinical skills during the transition from pre-clinical to clinical practice. However, inconsistent evidence on its effect on learning outcomes was presented across the studies. The aim of our study was to review and analyze the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation on learning outcomes in undergraduate nursing education. This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. A literature search was conducted in four databases (CINAHL, SocINDEX, PubMed, and Web of Science) until July 2021. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to appraise the studies' quality. The random-effect model was used to conduct a meta-analysis. Fourteen studies were eligible for quantitative synthesis. The pooled effect indicated high-fidelity simulation-based learning significantly increased nursing students' knowledge acquisition (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 1.73, p < 0.001), self-confidence (SMD: 0.56, p= 0.019) and skills performance (SMD: 1.71, p= 0.006). Stakeholders within the academic institution may consider enculturating the involvement of high-fidelity simulation as part of an innovative teaching strategy in nursing curricula. Therefore, when graduates enter the workforce, they can function quickly and practice confidently in clinical settings without bringing potential harm.