Nonrandomized Clinical Studies Research Articles

Treatment of Posttraumatic Zygomatic Coronoid Ankylosis. Systematic Review.

Facial trauma is mostly associated with traffic accidents, fights, and sports accidents. The mandible, midface, and temporomandibular joint are usually the region's most frequently affected. Coronoid process fractures are rare, representing ∼2% of facial fractures in the literature, usually being the result of direct trauma to the zygomatic region. Due to the anatomical relationship of the coronoid process, it may be associated with other facial fractures, such as fractures of the zygomatic bone. Zygomatic-coronoid ankylosis is a rare clinical entity with variable etiology. It is most commonly associated with trauma (13%-100%), local or systemic infection (0%-53%), or systemic diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis. The aim of this research is to evaluate the different treatments for ankylosis from the coronoid process to the zygoma after trauma, allowing to determine the treatment to obtain the best results. A systematic review was carried out following PRISMA "preferred reports for systematic reviews and meta-analyses" search matrix, based on a PICO question; was used PubMed, Embase, Sciencedirect, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and manual search in high-impact journals between 1946 and 2023 publications in English or Spanish, including randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, series, and case reports. A total of 1993 articles were obtained from the 4 databases. After corroborating duplicate articles, 847 articles were excluded. Another 1112 articles were excluded in the title evaluation, and an additional 1093 after the abstract review; a total of 19 articles eligible for full-text evaluation were established and 1 article was added as a result of the manual search. After the full-text review, it was decided to include 16 articles in the study that met the objectives of the systematic review. After evaluating the different treatments described in the literature, the authors can determine that coronoidectomy through an intraoral approach is the most appropriate treatment for zygomatic coronoid ankylosis, accompanied by postoperative physiotherapy to achieve greater oral opening without recurrences.

Exploring the Influence of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Implementation in Palliative Care Patients: A Systematic Review.

One of the most essential elements of providing high-quality palliative care is good symptom control, which is guided through an assessment of the evolution of the patient's level of distress over time. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was created to measure diverse symptoms in palliative care patients. It is a user-friendly, validated, and reliable multi-item instrument. Globally, ESAS is extensively used to direct dailyclinical careand foster communication across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring coordinated patient management, facilitating referrals to specialized programs, and evaluating the quality of care. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the influence of using ESAS on symptom assessment and control among palliative care patients and settings. We have employed both manual and electronic search strategies among databases to determine relevant studies. This systematic review included original studies published between 2013 and 2023 that implemented theESASas part of palliative care for adult patients with terminal illness or advanced disease. Studies recruiting pediatric patients, case reports with limited sample sizes and no descriptive statistics, and nonhuman or laboratory studies were excluded.The ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions) tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, which assessed the methodological quality and potential risk of bias in non-randomized clinical studies. We included eight studies that recruited a total of 3184 patients. Fatigue followed by pain were the symptoms with the highest score on ESAS among all the studies, while the lowest score was recorded for nausea and dyspnea in most of the studies. ESAS scores showed improvement in the follow-up visits. Two of the included studies reported satisfaction with the utilization of the ESAS tool. As stated in our results, it can improvethe overall quality of life for patients receiving palliative care by assisting healthcare professionals, family members, and caregivers in methodically assessing and treating symptoms over time. By fostering better communication among care teams and involving caregivers in the process, the use of ESAS promotes a morepatient-centered approach to care, ensuring that both the patient's needs and the perspectives of their loved ones are considered.

Does orthodontic treatment using fixed appliances cause initial caries lesions?

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs), non-randomized studies of intervention (NRSIs), cohort and cross-sectional studies. The systematic review was registered in advance on PROSPERO, and was conducted following the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions and PRISMA checklist. An electronic search in three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Embase) was conducted by two authors to evaluate studies published from 1990 until May 2023. The review question was defined in PICOS format as follows: Population (P), subjects with permanent dentition who having/had orthodontic therapy; Exposure (E), orthodontic therapy with fixed orthodontic appliance; Comparison/Control (C), no orthodontic treatment or intervention; Outcome (O), assessing incidence and/or prevalence of initial caries lesions (ICLs) at subject and teeth levels was the primary outcome, whereas evaluating the influence of demographics and treatment-related variables were secondary outcomes; studies (S), randomized clinical trials, non-randomized clinical studies, cohort and cross-sectional studies. Meta-analysis was conducted of three or more included studies had comparable findings. The following factors were calculated for each study; sample size, number of patients with ICLs, number of teeth with ICLs, number of teeth affected per patient, and number of surfaces affected. Statistical heterogeneity of effects among studies was assessed by means of the Cochran's test was used to evaluate the statistical heterogeneity of effects in the included studies. Funnel plot approach was used to assess publication bias, whereas Begg's and Egger's correlation test were used to identify asymmetry. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model owing to high methodological and clinical heterogeneity. A descriptive analysis was presented when the meta-analyses appeared inappropriate. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05 for all statistical analyses. 21 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis (systematic review); 11 RCTs; 7 NRSIs, and 3 observation studies. Of the included studies, 19 studies were analyzed in the quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). In regard to the prevalence rate of ICLs; 57% of patients had ICLs, with a mean of 2.24 lesions per patient and 22% of surfaces were affected. In regard to the incidence rate; 48% of patients developed new ICLs, with a mean of 2.29 new lesions per patient, and 15% of surfaces became affected. Both prevalence and incidence rates were positively associated with the duration of the orthodontic therapy (P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively), illustrating an elevation in the ICLs numbers as the treatment duration (number of months) increases. There was no association between patients' age and ICLs numbers. Orthodontic therapy using fixed appliances can increase the risk of accumulating plaque and developing caries lesion. However, other risk factors may play a role in developing ICLs; thus, controlling for these factors is paramount to better evaluate the true influence of orthodontic therapy on the ICLs development. Implementing caries preventive measures during orthodontic treatment may be needed to minimize the potential risks.

An Analysis of Scientific Research Trends in Oral Implantology Between 2016 and 2022.

The present study aims to evaluate the trends of oral implant-related research in design and topics between the range of 2016 to the end of 2022. The electronic search was conducted in MEDLINE via Pubmed. Papers published in Clinical Oral Implant Research, Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research, and International Journal of Oral Implantology as well as previously European Journal of Oral Implantology, International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants, and Journal of Oral Implantology between January 1, 2016, and December 30, 2022, were retrieved. Articles were classified according to their study design and major subjects. The Joinpoint regression model was used to determine changes in the trends of study designs and topics. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value <.05. A total of 3382 articles were analyzed in this study. In the specified period, in vivo, prospective cohort, retrospective case control, randomized clinical studies in the design and prosthetic complications, peri-implant hard tissue studies in the topic experienced a significant decreasing pattern in the number of published articles as well as the total number of articles. Case reports and series, retrospective cohort, nonrandomized clinical studies in the design and outcomes of implant-related treatment plans, immediate implant placement, and peri-implantitis in the topic experienced a significant decreasing pattern followed by a significant increasing pattern with a turning point between 2017 and 2020. Considering the limitations of this scientific topical trend analysis, it can be concluded that the recent pandemic affected the research path in oral implantology in many ways.

Surgical treatment of right colon cancer

The study aimed to perform a systematic review of the literature on surgical treatment for right colon cancer (RCC) with complete mesocolic excision (CME) and D2/D3 lymph node dissection (LND). Material and Methods. A literature review was performed for studies published between 2013 and 2023 by the online resources from the official Web sites of the societies/panels and PubMed database. Sources included guidelines, meta-analyses, randomized and nonrandomized clinical studies, guidelines by European Society of Medical Oncology, the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Russian clinical guidelines. Results. CME significantly improved both immediate and long-term treatment results, which was confirmed by numerous meta-analyses. The extent of LND remains one of the most controversial issues in RCC. For many Asian surgeons, D3 LND is the standard procedure for the treatment of RCC, whereas the European approach is more conservative and apical lymph node dissection is not mandatory. There are also large differences in understanding the extent of D3 LND in RCC. Most surgeons understand this term as dissection of adipose tissue along the anterior and lateral surface of the superior mesenteric vein, however, there are authors who perform circular dissection along the superior mesenteric vessels, considering this extent of surgery to be the most radical. Conclusion. It is necessary to standardize methods and effective criteria for quality control of CME for RCC and LND. In this case, external independent assessment of the quality of surgical intervention is important. There is also currently a growing number of studies in which intraoperative fluorescence imaging makes it possible to better visualize the location of the apical lymph nodes and individualize LND.

Management of Massive Irreparable Posterosuperior Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review for Clinical &amp; Functional &amp; Radiological Outcomes

Abstract Background The management of massive irreparable cuff tears (MIRCT) remains a highly controversial subject with many possible surgical and non-surgical interventions and no clear evidence regarding the most effective and beneficial intervention. Different management options include: conservative management, partial repair, tendon transfer, superior capsular reconstruction, subacromial spacer insertion, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Aim of the Work The aim of this systematic review is to compare the various methods of management of posterosuperior cuff tears without arthropathy to reach the most effective and sustainable mode of management. Patients and Methods A randomized controlled trial, non-randomized clinical trials, prospective and retrospective comparative cohort studies and case series. We will exclude cross-sectional studies, case reports and literature not in English. Results There is no high quality evidence on management of MIRCT. There was no Level I or II evidence. We included 69 papers that studied different modalities of management of MIRCT, 31 of level III and the remaining were of level IV evidence. Consequently, it’s still difficult to recommend one method of management over the other regarding the management of irreparable cuff tears. Patient age, demands, expectations, thorough clinical examination, surgeon experience and preference are still a major deciding factor when choosing and appropriate method. Conclusion Due to the unavailability of high-quality clinical studies available for guiding management of irreparable MRCT, it is consequently not possible to recommend for or against any specific treatment strategy. Rather, clinical experience, patient factors, patient expectations, and rotator cuff tear characteristics should guide clinical decision-making. Physical therapy compared to surgical treatments may have inferior outcomes. Standardized data collection, reporting and terminology are key to enhancing the quality of evidence-based medicine.

Antiepileptic Drugs as Prophylaxis for Seizures after Excision of Brain Tumors

Abstract Background Seizures are the most common &amp; most serious side effect of cranial surgery. The latter condition requires chronic treatment with Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and comes with relevant socioeconomic sequelae. The routine prophylactic use of AEDs for people undergoing tumor resection has remained controversial due to the risk of postoperative seizures. Some Neurosurgeons are advocates to the use of AEDs to reduce the risk of these seizures. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic AEDs routinely in brain tumor patients without previous history of seizures. Primary objective has been to identify the efficacy of AEDs in perioperative seizure prophylaxis. Secondary objective has been to highlight the most common type of post-operative AEDs. Methods All available studies from 2000-2021 including randomized or non-randomized clinical trials, prospective or retrospective observational cohort studies, and case series of six or more cases that address these criteria have been collected. Results Our search concluded that the most common type of post-operative seizure is the Early seizure which is of total 87 patients representing 12.3% of seizure reported patients, yet when comparing the P-value between the Early &amp; late seizure it has a P-value of 0.415 which is nonsignificant rendering the comparison redundant. The Most common types of AED used are Phenytoin (PHT) 89 (71.8%) &amp; Levetiracetam (LEV) 109 (81.8%). To measure the efficacy of AEDs two groups of patients with no history of AED administration or seizures preoperatively were created, one the control group of 268 participants were not administered AEDs postoperatively only 32 (11.94%) of them suffered from seizures postoperatively. The other group of 171 participants were administered the AEDs postoperatively only 25 (14.62%) of these participants suffered from postoperative seizure. Comparing both of these results statistically it had a P-value of 0.416 which is non-Significant statistically. On interpreting these results was that the AED have no influence in controlling the seizures. Conclusion Postoperative seizures are one of the main complications of brain tumor surgery. Neurosurgeons have a strong belief more of tradition that preventing seizures with Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) as a sort of seizure prophylaxis is not only effective but also necessary. Finally, there is not enough evidence of sufficient quality available to suggest that antiepileptic drugs AEDs treatment can or cannot be recommended to reduce Post-craniotomy seizures.

The Effects of Presurgical Orthodontic Treatment on the Outcome of Secondary Bone Graft for Individuals With Cleft Lip and Palate

Background/Objective: Alveolar bone graft (ABG) or repair has become a routine part of treatment protocols for individuals with cleft lip and/or palate. However, the necessity and potential benefits of presurgical orthodontic treatment in influencing the outcomes of secondary alveolar bone grafting remain inconclusive. This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of presurgical orthodontics on preparing patients for secondary alveolar bone grafts. Study Design: The authors systematically searched for relevant articles in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases spanning the period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023, using keywords related to alveolar bone grafting and orthodontic treatment for patients with cleft lip and/or palate. The review encompassed various study designs, including prospective and retrospective studies, observational studies, cross-sectional studies, randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies. The review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and the risk of bias was evaluated in studies selected for full-text review. Results: The search strategy identified 809 publications. After initial screening and application of exclusion criteria, 11 studies were included for final review. Three were prospective studies, 8 were retrospective studies, and 3 were cross-sectional cohort studies. On the basis of ROBINS-I and RoB 2 risk assessment, 9 studies were found to be of moderate risk of bias, one study was categorized as of high risk of bias, and 1 study was categorized as low risk of bias. Conclusions: Drawing from the latest and most reliable studies, 7 out of 11 included studies provided compelling evidence that presurgical orthodontics preceding alveolar bone grafting (ABG) leads to significantly improved outcomes compared with cases without presurgical orthodontic intervention. Notably, individuals with specific conditions, such as severely collapsed upper arch and mispositioned upper incisors, appear to derive the greatest benefits from presurgical orthodontic treatment. However, a call for additional studies characterized by high methodological quality and with longer follow-up periods is emphasized to enhance the safety considerations for both practitioners and patients concerning the utilization of presurgical orthodontics in the treatment of individuals with cleft lip and palate.

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) Effectiveness for Bacterial Decontamination in The Hospital Setting: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Bacteria are the most common agent reported to cause hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and nurses play a key role in achieving optimal decontamination. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) is a promising candidate to reduce the bacteria infection burden. Therefore, this review aims to explore the UV-C application and its effectiveness in reducing bacteria contamination on various objects that can act as sources of HAI transmission. Methods: Searches were conducted on the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. The inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials, and non-randomized clinical intervention studies, written in English and published between January 2018 and March 2023. The search strategy used a population (P), intervention (I), comparator (C), and outcome (O) approach. Results: A total of 21 eligible studies were included in this review with four being related to decontaminating medical devices, two to personal equipment, nine to communication devices, and the remaining six to the environment. The exposure to UV-C radiation varies ranging from 24 s to 24 h (continuously) and it reduced the level of bacteria even up to 100%. Meanwhile, previously the objects were detected to be contaminated with pathogenic and resistant bacteria. Conclusion: UV-C exposure can be effectively used to decontaminate various objects in hospitals. However, special consideration should be given to semi-critical devices due to contact with mucosal tissue. Further studies are needed regarding the application of doses and duration of UV-C exposure to eliminate bacteria completely.

Open reduction versus close treatment in management of children mandibular fracture: A systematic review

Mandibular fractures in children are the most common facial bone injury, which is 39% of all fractures. Adequate treatment of mandible fractures was still debated to restore the best physiological and aesthetic outcome. This systematic review aims to compare open reduction and closed treatment outcomes in children with mandibular fractures based on evidence from the current study. Four electronic databases were used: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and Google Scholar. Studies included were randomized and non-randomized clinical studies written in English and published in the last 10 years (2014). Children patients under 18 years of age, of any sex, with any mandible fracture treated with any functional appliance. Data was collected using a standard form agreed upon by two independent reviewers. The risk of bias and quality were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). Ten studies were selected for this systematic review, including 554 patients. Half of studies chosen had a high risk of bias, 4 were deemed to have a moderate risk of bias, and one had a low risk of bias. Comparing ORIF and close treatment, we get the incidence of complications versus cases respectively, 9/182 versus 5/372. The data collected, although there is still a lot of bias in this review. We support close treatment as the first line treatment for children’s mandible fractures because the minimal number of possible complications.

Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation versus Other Fertility Techniques for Chemoradiation-Induced Premature Ovarian Insufficiency in Women: A Systematic Review and Future Directions.

Current advances in cancer therapy have increased survival, emphasizing the need for life quality improvement. Fertility loss is common post-chemotherapy. Current guidelines establish embryo and oocyte cryopreservation to address premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has also recently become an acceptable option for fertility preservation, particularly as it is the only option for pre-pubertal patients. Few definitions for optimum fertility outcomes, and few systematic reviews comparing embryo, oocyte, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation as a means of fertility preservation (FP) in pre- and post-pubertal female cancer patients exist. This systematic review aims to improve understanding of gonadotoxic effects of chemoradiation therapy in cancer patients, to analyze the different fertility preservation techniques and procedures available to women with chemoradiation induced ovarian insufficiency, and to compare and recognize the benefits of each technique in restoring fertility, sexual hormone function, and quality of life. Searches were conducted electronically on PubMed, Cochrane, and EBSCOHost, including clinical trials, prospective, and retrospective studies of female cancer patients undergoing anti-cancer therapy, with predefined MeSH terminology. Data were collected, analyzed, and compared. Non-randomized clinical studies were evaluated for risk bias through the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. In total, 23 studies were included. From there, 647 patients opted for oocyte cryopreservation, 267 for embryo cryopreservation, and 1382 for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). A total of 175, 18, and 121 live births resulted respectively from oocyte, embryo, and OTC, respectively. Studies without live births discussed other fertility markers as indicators of improvement in sexual hormone function and fertility. The gonadotoxic effects of chemotherapy call for FP intervention. Oocyte and embryo cryopreservation/implantation are well-established procedures. With changing trends and life quality consideration, OTC is a promising interventional method for pre-pubertal patients facing the prospect of fertility loss.

Severity of Complications after Locking Plate Osteosynthesis in Distal Femur Fractures.

Background: Locked plating for distal femur fractures is widely recommended and used. We systematically reviewed clinical studies assessing the benefits and harms of fracture fixation with locked plates in AO/OTA Type 32 and 33 femur fractures. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database was performed. The studies included randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and case series involving patients with distal femur fractures. Studies of other fracture patterns, studies conducted on children, pathological fractures, cadaveric studies, animal models, and those with non-clinical study designs were excluded. Results: 53 studies with 1788 patients were found to satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common harms were nonunion (14.8%), malunion (13%), fixation failure (5.3%), infection (3.7%), and symptomatic implant (3.1%). Time to full weight-bearing ranged from 5 to 24 weeks, averaging 12.3 weeks. The average duration of follow-up was 18.18 months, ranging from 0.5 to 108 months. Surgical time ranged between 40 and 540 min, with an average of 141 min. The length of stay in days was 12.7, ranging from 1 to 61. The average plate length was ten holes, ranging from 5 to 20 holes. Conclusion: This review aimed to systematically synthesize the available evidence on the risk associated with locked plating osteosynthesis in distal femur fractures. Nonunion is the most common harm and is the primary cause of reoperation. The overall combined risk of a major and critical complication (i.e., requiring reoperation) is approximately 20%.

Effect of Over-the-counter Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash in Orthodontics: A Literature Review.

To summarize and analyze all the available literature on the use of over-the-counter toothpaste and mouthwashes with whitening agents and their possible effects on orthodontic treatment. Tooth color change frequently occurs during orthodontic treatment and represents a self-perceived need. According to the patient's perspective, there is a preference for the use of toothpaste and mouthwashes with some whitening effect. An electronic bibliographic search in English was carried out until June 2022, in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials and experimental laboratory studies were included. A total of 57 papers were obtained from an electronic search and 11 studies were included in the review. Outcomes such as strength force elastomeric, color stability, frictional resistance, ion release, shear bond strength (SBS), and adhesive remnant index (ARI) were evaluated. Toothpaste and mouthwashes with whitening action did not have a favorable effect on most of the outcomes evaluated. In some cases regular toothpaste showed a better effect and in other cases, there were no differences with the control group. Only in the outcome release of ions from wires to whitening effect in teeth with or without attached brackets, they have a better performance. Due to the unfavorable effects of over-the-counter whitening toothpaste and mouthwashes on orthodontic materials and appliances, their use should be justified during treatment. Chinchay-Ruesta S, Ortiz-Pizarro M, Rodríguez-Díaz DR, et al. Effect of Over-the-counter Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash in Orthodontics: A Literature Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(S-3):S311-S316.

Conscious prone positioning in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis.

To systematically review the effect of the prone position on endotracheal intubation and mortality in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. We registered the protocol (CRD42021286711) and searched for four databases and gray literature from inception to December 31, 2022. We included observational studies and clinical trials. There was no limit by date or the language of publication. We excluded case reports, case series, studies not available in full text, and those studies that included children < 18-years-old. We included ten observational studies, eight clinical trials, 3,969 patients, 1,120 endotracheal intubation events, and 843 deaths. All of the studies had a low risk of bias (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Risk of Bias 2 tools). We found that the conscious prone position decreased the odds of endotracheal intubation by 44% (OR 0.56; 95%CI 0.40 - 0.78) and mortality by 43% (OR 0.57; 95%CI 0.39 - 0.84) in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This protective effect on endotracheal intubation and mortality was more robust in those who spent > 8 hours/day in the conscious prone position (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.26 - 0.72 and OR 0.38; 95%CI 0.24 - 0.60, respectively). The certainty of the evidence according to the GRADE criteria was moderate. The conscious prone position decreased the odds of endotracheal intubation and mortality, especially when patients spent over 8 hours/day in the conscious prone position and treatment in the intensive care unit. However, our results should be cautiously interpreted due to limitations in evaluating randomized clinical trials, nonrandomized clinical trials and observational studies. However, despite systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials, we must keep in mind that these studies remain heterogeneous from a clinical and methodological point of view.

A systematic review of the efficacy, safety and satisfaction of regenerative medicine treatments, including platelet-rich plasma, stromal vascular fraction and stem cell-conditioned medium for hypertrophic scars and keloids.

The primary objective of this study is to examine the efficiency of various regenerative medicine approaches, such as platelet-rich plasma, cell therapy, stromal vascular fraction, exosomes and stem cell-conditioned medium, in the process of healing hypertrophic and keloid scars. Major databases including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched, and based on the content of the articles and the inclusion and exclusion criteria, eight articles were selected. Out of these eight articles, there were two non-randomized clinical trial studies (25%), one randomized, single-blinded comparative study (12.5%), one retrospective clinical observational study (12.5%) and four randomized clinical trial studies (50%). We employed EndNote X8 and Google Sheets to conduct article reviews and extract relevant data. Following the review phase, the studies underwent analysis and categorization. In all eight reviewed studies, the effectiveness of regenerative medicine in treating hypertrophic scars and keloids has been proven. Out of these studies, five (62.5%) focused on the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma, two study (25%) examined the effectiveness of stromal vascular fraction and one study (12.5%) explored the efficacy of stem cell-conditioned medium. In two studies (25%), the treatment methods were added to standard treatment, while in six studies (75%), regenerative medicine was used as the sole treatment method and compared with standard treatment. The use of these treatment methods did not result in any serious side effects for the patients. Regenerative medicine is an effective method with minimal side effects for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. It can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatment methods. However, further studies are needed to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of all sub-branches of this method.

Evolution of appraisal tool usage preferences in PROSPERO records: a study of non-Cochrane systematic reviews

ObjectivesThis research-on-research substudy uses a data-driven approach to investigate the range of appraisal tools in non-Cochrane systematic reviews and meta-analyses registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO).Study design and settingA comprehensive web scraping of all completed non-Cochrane registrations in PROSPERO from February 2011 to December 2017 was performed. The focus was classifying the appraisal tools based on study type, assessment aspects, and research topics.ResultsAfter analyzing 17,708 complete records, we found a predominant use of methodological quality assessment tools compared to those for reporting quality or risk of bias (RoB). This indicates a greater emphasis on methodological rigor in the studied protocols. Various tools for assessing methodological quality were observed, reflecting the complexity of such evaluations. Instruments designed for evaluating methodological or reporting quality were mainly intended for non-randomized clinical trials or observational studies, unlike RoB tools more commonly used in randomized clinical trials. No distinct trends in tool usage were observed in specific research conditions or domains, suggesting that tool choice is influenced more by study design than research topic.ConclusionThis study provides insights into the preferential use of various assessment tools in conducting non-Cochrane systematic reviews, as evidenced in PROSPERO records. The findings reveal various methodological assessment tools, underscoring their versatility across different study designs and research areas.

Intraoral Scan Accuracy and Time Efficiency in Implant-Supported Fixed Partial Dentures: A Systematic Review.

The digital implant impression technique (DIT) and conventional implant impression technique (CIT) workflows in implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) have not been extensively compared in prior studies. Moreover, there is no agreement on the more accurate method that entails less time in the laboratory and during the clinical phases of fabrication and delivery of the prosthesis, respectively. This review aimed to assess the precision of the imaging procedure and overall fabrication time of the DIT and CIT for the implant-supported FPDs. An electronic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Oral Health Group, and Dentistry and Oral Science Source databases through EBSCO for relevant studies from January 2014 to April 2023. Following the preliminary screening, the studies that met the inclusion criteria underwent full-text review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias appraisal tool and Newcastle-Ottawa scale were applied to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized prospective clinical studies, respectively. The initial search yielded 332 studies, and after excluding duplicates, 241 papers were available for screening. Titles and abstracts were reviewed, and 97 articles were chosen for full-text review by two authors independently. Furthermore, 89 articles were excluded in compliance with the PICOS question, and eight studies were chosen for qualitative analysis. Hence, the review comprised two RCTs and six prospective clinical studies. The time efficiency of the implant-supported FPDs was examined in four investigations, three of which used the Trios 3 scanner and one used the Intero scanner. The three-dimensional accuracy of DIT and CIT was compared in six clinical comparative studies. One of the RCTs was rated to have a high risk of bias and the other with a moderate quality of evidence. The six prospective studies were rated to have high-quality of evidence. The findings of this review indicate the prospective applicability of future intraoral scanning systems. The DIT was reported to be outstanding in terms of patient preferences and total fabrication time efficiency. Additional in vivo studies are needed to establish the therapeutic usefulness and time efficiency of integrating DIT in more comprehensive settings.

Age and Sex Differences in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Introduction. The increasing burden of morbidity from heart failure, which is determined to be an age-related disease, new information about sex differences of this pathology determines the need of reviewing existing data on this problem particularly in older patients. The objective is to systematize data on gender differences in heart failure among older patients.Materials and methods. A search of literature for 2011–2023 was conducted in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar databases, eLibrary. Data on sex and age differences of heart failure was included. The preferred languages were Russian and English. During the initial search, 4,228 sources were found. Full-text peer reviewed journal publications with the results of randomized and non-randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and observational studies were selected.Results and discussion. Gender differences in risk factors, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, treatment of heart failure (HF), particularly in older and oldest-old patients were characterized. Presented information proves the need for a differentiated approach for managing patients of both sex with HF in advanced age.Conclusion. It is necessary to develop new scientific programs and clinical recommendations for the differentiated management of patients with HF, including older and oldest-old patients in order to improve the prognosis and quality of life.

Pediatric Tui Na for Feeding Intolerance in Premature Infants: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Feeding intolerance (FI), frequently resulting from gastrointestinal immaturity, is prevalent among premature infants. Current practices are gradually prioritizing nonpharmacological treatments, such as massage or "Tui na," considering the potential side effects of prolonged medication use. Pediatric Tui na, a specialized massage therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely studied for treating FI in premature infants. However, to our knowledge, no systematic review specifically focusing on the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine-based pediatric Tui na for FI in premature infants has been published yet. This study aims to develop a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis for evaluating the safety and efficacy of pediatric Tui na for premature infants with FI. We will perform a comprehensive search in the following databases: Springer, Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, Clarivate Analytics, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and Chinese biomedical databases (Wanfang database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases), limited to studies published in Chinese and English languages between January 2000 and January 2023. The search strategy will use MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and database-specific keywords. A total of 2 independent reviewers will initially screen the studies based on titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text evaluation of the eligible studies. Studies will include any nonrandomized controlled trials, nonrandomized clinical studies, randomized controlled trials, and quasi-experimental studies wherein the treatment group involves premature infants with FI given pediatric Tui na. Primary outcomes will be necrotizing enterocolitis, gastric residual volume, emesis, and stool blood. Secondary outcomes will be abdominal distension weight gain, time to achieve full enteral feeding, any adverse effects associated with pediatric Tui na, and length of hospital stay. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool will be used to assess the risk of bias and methodological quality. Funnel plots will be used for evaluating publication bias. Meta-analysis will be conducted using the Review Manager software (version 5.4; Cochrane Collaboration). Subgroup analyses will be considered according to treatment received, country or setting, sex, and birth weight of premature infants (if heterogeneity is high, I2≥50%). This is a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol, so the results are not yet available. The protocol has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023390021). We are currently in the study selection phase. Results are expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Following this protocol, a comprehensive and rigorous literature synthesis will be developed to assess the impact of pediatric Tui na treatment on premature infants with FI, enabling the determination of its efficacy and safety. PROSPERO CRD42023390021; https://tinyurl.com/bdf4kn23. PRR1-10.2196/46375.

Influence of intracanal medicaments on the periodontal and periapical healing in concurrent endodontic-periodontal lesions with/without communication: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this review is to determine the effectiveness of intracanal medicament (ICM) on periodontal and periapical healing (PH) of concurrent endodontic-periodontal lesions with/without communication in permanent teeth. The pre-defined protocol was registered in PROSPERO, and a literature search using keywords was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase electronic databases, and Gray literature and was hand-searched until August 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the title and abstracts using the inclusion criteria. Randomized or non-randomized clinical trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies were included in the review. The same reviewers extracted the study-level data and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) independently. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence. Random effects meta-analysis was performed on eligible studies using Revman software. A total of 598 records were identified from the database search; seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Four randomized clinical trials, two prospective cohorts, and one retrospective case-control study with 362 patients were included. Calcium hydroxide (CH) was the most commonly used ICM, followed by using chlorhexidine gel in four studies. Periodontal therapy was performed as initial scaling and root planning (SRP) in all studies, along with open flap debridement (OFD) in three randomized clinical trials. The time lapse between two treatment protocols was variable (ranging from 1 week to 3 months). All studies exhibited a decrease in probing depth (PD) and an increase in clinical attachment level (CAL) after the treatment. Meta-analysis showed insignificant differences between different ICM materials, and the certainty of evidence was low. In patients with/without concurrent endodontic-periodontal lesions, intracanal medication improved clinical periodontal parameters following endodontic therapy. In terms of influence on periapical healing, the results were inconclusive. Two-visit RCT may be considered since it allows for the placement of an ICM in endodontic-periodontal lesions with/without communication. Sufficient time should be allowed after endodontic therapy for any potential periodontal regeneration to occur.