Publication In Peer-reviewed Journals Research Articles

Protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled feasibility study of MS WorkSmart: an online intervention for Australians with MS who are employed

IntroductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) causes a wide variety of symptoms. Loss of income due to sickness and early retirement comprise one-third of the total cost of MS in Australia. An intervention...

Definition and Key Attributes of Impact Investments as an Object of Management

Since the introduction of the term “impact investments” into active use in 2007, the debate about their content and distinctive characteristics in comparison with other classes of investments remain open. To date, there are many different, and in some cases incompatible, points of view in interpreting their definition. This complicates the effective management of impact investments and hinders the pace of industry scaling. The purpose of the paper is to analyze and systematize theoretical and practical approaches to defining the concept of impact investments, as well as to identify their inherent demarcation features that determine the management features and peculiarities. The research methodology includes the analysis of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, comparison of the content of reports and reports of international organizations and institutions, as well as quantitative and qualitative content analysis of media materials relevant to this topic. The results obtained indicate the validity of accepting impact investments as an independent conceptual category and the expediency of their allocation and separation into an independent class of investments; their key attributes are established; the principles and features of the management approach applied to them are revealed. The paper has practical significance for actors and participants of the investment sphere as well as researchers and practitioners interested in innovative approaches to investing in social and environmental well-being.

Interdisciplinary research approach based on a mixed-methods design to explore patient altruism at the end of life: a study protocol

IntroductionIn the end of life context, patients are often seen as somewhat passive recipients of care provided by health professionals and relatives, with little opportunity to be perceived as autonomous...

Understanding Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Iran: a systematic review of case reports.

To systematically review the reported cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in Iran. A comprehensive literature review of CJD cases in Iran was undertaken using the PubMed®, Scopus® and Google Scholar databases. In addition, the Iranian database MagIran was searched for Persian language reports. Case selection used the following criteria: (i) patients of Iranian origin; (ii) publication in peer-reviewed journals or reputable medical databases; (iii) a definitive diagnosis of CJD based on established diagnostic criteria. Thirteen cases from twelve reports were included in this systematic review. The majority of the cases were female (11 of 13; 84.6%). The mean ± SD age of patients at hospital admission was 59.38 ± 7.44 years. The findings of the case review suggested that the prevalence of CJD in Iran is not fully established. CJD may be misdiagnosed alongside other clinical signs. The most prevalent early indications of the disease were psychiatric and neurological in nature. A considerable delay in diagnosis was observed in some cases and there was a shortage of brain autopsy records. Efforts to improve diagnostic capabilities, promote awareness and establish monitoring systems are necessary for managing the challenges of providing an early diagnosis of CJD in Iran.

Standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation versus chest compressions only after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionThe 2020 American Heart Association guidelines encourage lay rescuers to provide chest compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation to simplify the process and encourage cardiopulmonary resuscitation initiation. However, recent clinical trials had contradictory...

Neurosurgical Practice, Training, and Research Capacity Assessment in Nigeria: A Methodological Approach

There has been a progressive growth of neurosurgery in Nigeria over the past 6 nulldecades. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the state of neurosurgical practice, training, and research in the country. We used a mixed-methods approach that combined a survey of neurosurgery providers and a systematic review of the neurosurgical literature in Nigeria. The 83-question online survey had 3 core sections for assessing capacity, training, and gender issues. The systematic review involved a search of 4 global databases and gray literature over a 60-year period. One hundred and forty-nine respondents (95% male) completed the survey (65.4%). Their age ranged from 20 to 68years, with a mean of 41.8 (±6.9) years. Majority were from institutions in the nation's South-West region; 82 (55.0%) had completed neurosurgery residency training, with 76 (51%) employed as consultants; 64 (43%) identified as residents in training, 56 (37.6%) being senior residents, and 15 (10.1%) each held academic appointments as lecturers or senior lecturers. The literature review involved 1,023 peer-reviewed journal publications: 254 articles yielding data on 45,763 neurotrauma patients, 196 on 12,295 pediatric neurosurgery patients, and 127 on 8,425 spinal neurosurgery patients. Additionally, 147 papers provided data on 5,760 neuro-oncology patients, and 56 on 3,203 patients with neuro-vascular lesions. Our mixed-methods approach provided significant insights into the historical, contemporary, and future trends of neurosurgery in Nigeria. The results could form the foundation for policy improvement; health-system strengthening; better resource-planning, prioritization, and allocation; and more purposive collaborative engagement in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries.

Evaluating the effect of a mobile-based symptom monitoring system for improving physical function in patients with cancer during chemotherapy: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

IntroductionSymptoms due to chemotherapy are common in patients with cancer. Cancer-related symptoms are closely associated with the deterioration of physical function which can be associated with decreased quality of life...

A Review of Trends in Scandinavian Early Childhood Education and Care Research from 2006 to 2021

A Review of Trends in Scandinavian Early Childhood Education and Care Research from 2006 to 2021

Defining predictors of responsiveness to advanced therapies in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: protocol for the IBD-RESPONSE and nested CD-metaRESPONSE prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study in precision medicine

IntroductionCharacterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fatigue can significantly impact patient’s quality of life. Therapeutic developments in the...

Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on poststroke cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

IntroductionPoststroke cognitive impairment is a common complication in stroke survivors, seriously affecting their quality of life. Therefore, it is crucial to improve cognitive function of patients who had a stroke....

Undiagnosed and uncontrolled hypertension in rural African adults: a scoping review protocol of primary health care interventions

IntroductionNon-communicable diseases cause 74% of global deaths, with cardiovascular diseases as the major contributor. Hypertension, a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent in Africa. Diagnosis, treatment and...

Perioperative mental health intervention for depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults study protocol: design and methods for three linked randomised controlled trials

IntroductionPreoperative anxiety and depression symptoms among older surgical patients are associated with poor postoperative outcomes, yet evidence-based interventions for anxiety and depression have not been applied within this setting. We...

Comparing the effectiveness of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) of insoles manufactured from foam box cast versus direct scans on patient-reported outcome measures: a protocol for a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial

IntroductionCustom insoles are a routine treatment for many foot pathologies, and the use of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is well established within clinical practice in the UK. The...

Facilitators of and barriers to healthcare providers’ adoption of harm reduction in cannabis use: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe high prevalence of cannabis use and the potential for negative effects indicate the need for effective prevention strategies and treatment of people who use cannabis. Studies show that harm...

Feasibility study of rehabilitation for cardiac patients aided by an artificial intelligence web-based programme: a randomised controlled trial (RECAP trial)—a study protocol

IntroductionCardiac rehabilitation (CR) delivered by rehabilitation specialists in a healthcare setting is effective in improving functional capacity and reducing readmission rates after cardiac surgery. It is also associated with a...

Protocol for an independent patient data meta-analysis of prophylactic mesh placement for incisional hernia prevention after abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery: a collaborative European Hernia Society project (I-PREVENT-AAA)

IntroductionIncisional hernia (IH) is a prevalent and potentially dangerous complication of abdominal surgery, especially in high-risk groups. Mesh reinforcement of the abdominal wall has been studied as a potential intervention...

Collaborative design of a health research training programme for nurses and midwives in Tshwane district, South Africa: a study protocol

IntroductionNurses are essential for implementing evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes. Unfortunately, nurses lack knowledge about research and do not always understand research terminology. This study aims to develop an...

Community-based interventions targeting multiple forms of malnutrition among adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries: protocol for a scoping review

BackgroundAdolescent malnutrition is a significant public health challenge in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), with long-term consequences for health and development. Community-based interventions have the potential to address multiple forms...

What Is Hot and New in Basic and Translational Science in Liver Transplantation in 2023? Report of the Basic and Translational Research Committee of the International Liver Transplantation Society.

The 2023 Joint Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society, European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association, and Liver Intensive Care Group of Europe were held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from May 3 to 6, 2023. This year, all speakers were invited to attend the Congress in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. The congress was attended by 1159 registered delegates from 54 countries representing 5 continents, with the 10 countries comprising the bulk of the delegates. Of the 647 abstracts initially submitted, 542 were eventually presented at the meeting, coming from 38 countries (mainly North America, Europe, and Asia) and 85% of them (462 abstracts) came from only 10 countries. Fifty-three (9.8%) abstracts, originated from 17 countries, were submitted under the Basic/Translational Scientific Research category, a similar percentage as in 2022. Abstracts presented at the meeting were classified as (1) ischemia and reperfusion injury, (2) machine perfusion, (3) bioengineering and liver regeneration, (4) transplant oncology, (5) novel biomarkers in liver transplantation, (6) liver immunology (rejection and tolerance), and (7) artificial intelligence and machine learning. Finally, we evaluated the number of abstracts commented in the Basic and Translational Research Committee-International Liver Transplantation Society annual reports over the past 5 y that resulted in publications in peer-reviewed journals to measure their scientific impact in the field of liver transplantation.

The Interplay between Gut Microbiota and Cognitive Functioning in the Healthy Aging Population: A Systematic Review.

The gut microbiota in healthy older individuals typically show a decrease in beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, alongside an increase in pro-inflammatory microbes such as Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridia. These changes contrast with younger and middle-aged individuals and appear to correlate with cognitive status. Although there is extensive research on gut microbiota and cognitive functions in cognitively impaired elderly individuals, its impact on cognitively healthy elderly populations has not been extensively studied. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases to identify studies exploring the relationship between gut microbiota composition and cognitive functioning in healthy older adults. During the literature screening process, each record was initially assessed by its title, abstract, and keywords to exclude articles that did not align with the scope of this review. Three authors independently screened and retrieved the records. The inclusion criteria included: (1) publication in peer-reviewed journals; (2) studies involving neurologically, cognitively, and medically healthy populations; (3) participants identified as older adults, defined for this review as individuals aged 45 years and older due to the limited number of records; (4) analysis of gut microbiota; and (5) assessment of cognitive function. Subsequently, full texts were analyzed to determine eligibility. The exclusion criteria encompassed: (1) incorrect publication type; (2) inappropriate sample population; (3) unsuitable study design; (4) absence of one or more inclusion criteria; and (5) studies based on animal research. A risk of bias assessment was performed for each included study using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist, ensuring all selected studies met established quality standards. A total of 6 eligible research articles from a possible 1752 published until March 2024 were identified and included. We categorized the included studies into two groups based on their focus: the taxonomic composition of gut microbiota and the alpha diversity, which is the variety of organisms within a sample. Additionally, two methods were identified for assessing cognition: neuropsychological tests and physiological measurements, notably electroencephalography (EEG). The studies show varying results regarding the abundance of specific bacterial taxa and their cognitive associations. Notably, the relationship between certain bacteria and cognition may vary when analyzed at different taxonomic levels, such as phylum versus family. Changes in gut microbiota composition in the elderly, even without a cognitive impairment diagnosis, could potentially serve as early biological markers for Alzheimer's disease or other dementias before mild cognitive impairment appears.