Studies Of High Methodological Quality Research Articles

Can resistance training improve throwing performance in handball players? A Systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThrowing is one of the most important movement in handball. Throwing performance is crucial for success in handball.ObjectiveΤo investigate the level of evidence for the effect of resistance training (RT) on throwing performance in handball players.MethodsSystematic searches of Pubmed, Medline complete, Cinahl, Sport Discus and Scopus were undertaken for peer reviewed articles published between 18 March 1995 to 18 March 2023. Randomized, controlled, clinical studies, written in English, aiming to investigate the effect at least one modality of RT on throwing performance (velocity or/and accuracy) in handball players were considered for inclusion in the study. The eligible studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Physical Therapy Evidence Database (PEDRO) scale. The Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) approach was used for synthesizing and reporting the results. Furthermore, the random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis and the Q-statistic was used to test the null hypothesis that all studies in the analysis share a common effect size.ResultsOne hundred ninety-eight studies were identified, of which 30 were included. A total of 727 handball players (males = 388, females = 292) were included. 28 of the 30 studies were rated as high methodological quality studies (PEDRO score > 70%) while the rest of the studies were rated as moderate methodological quality studies (PEDRO score ≤ 60%). The mean effect size for the effectiveness of resistance training (RT) in improving jumping throw, running throw, and standing throw velocity were 1.128 (95% CI 0.457 – 1.798), 1.756 (95% CI 1.111 – 2.400), and 1.098 (95% CI 0.689 – 1.507) correspondingly. Traditional weight training using barbells in mostly compound lifts yielded the most significant and robust results. Other RT modalities such as elastic bands, medicine balls, core training and ballistic training showed no significant results or positive effects due to the limited number of the studies.ConclusionStrong evidence exists only for the effectiveness of RT using barbells in increasing throwing velocity. In contrast, the remaining RT modalities, while yielding positive results, have limited support due to limited number of studies and the high heterogeneity between studies. Furthermore, there is insufficient evidence to support various forms of RT in increasing throw distance. Finally, medicine ball training and elastic band training demonstrated no benefits in improving throwing accuracy.Trial registrationPROSPERO ID: CRD42023393574.

Conservative non-pharmacological treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies in women treated for breast cancer: a systematic review.

Over the last few decades, the use of neo/adjuvant therapies has significantly increased the number of breast cancer survivors who experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). To date, few, low-efficacy, pharmacological remedies exist to manage this side effect. For this reason, alternative treatments are increasingly being investigated as possible strategies to prevent or promote faster recovery from CIPN. In this review we aimed to provide an overview of the literature evidence regarding all the non-pharmacological and rehabilitative interventions for patients affected by CIPN secondary to breast cancer care. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science and included a total of 1895 patients (1528 with breast cancer) with a wide range of CIPN (motor, sensory and autonomic neuropathies) and chemotherapy treatments (e.g., Taxanes, Platins, Vinca alkaloids or monoclonal antibody drugs). Of the initial 1108 hits, only 25 studies - describing different treatment modalities for peripheral neuropathies - were finally included in the qualitative synthesis. Most studies focused on acupuncture, physiotherapy, cryotherapy, and yoga. There is still controversial evidence on conservative non-pharmacological interventions for the management of CIPN symptoms. We believe however that moderate exercise, as well as all types of stress reducing activities like sport, yoga and mindfulness, should be encouraged in cancer patients for their positive effect on global physical and psychological health. Further studies of higher methodological quality are needed to determine the best conservative approach to CIPN.

Sensorimotor Uncertainty of Immersive Virtual Reality Environments for People in Pain: Scoping Review.

Decision making and action execution both rely on sensory information, and their primary objective is to minimise uncertainty. Virtual reality (VR) introduces uncertainty due to the imprecision of perceptual information. The concept of "sensorimotor uncertainty" is a pivotal element in the interplay between perception and action within the VR environment. The role of immersive VR in the four stages of motor behaviour decision making in people with pain has been previously discussed. These four processing levels are the basis to understand the uncertainty that a patient experiences when using VR: sensory information, current state, transition rules, and the outcome obtained. This review examines the different types of uncertainty that a patient may experience when they are immersed in a virtual reality environment in a context of pain. Randomised clinical trials, a secondary analysis of randomised clinical trials, and pilot randomised clinical trials related to the scope of Sensorimotor Uncertainty in Immersive Virtual Reality were included after searching. Fifty studies were included in this review. They were divided into four categories regarding the type of uncertainty the intervention created and the stage of the decision-making model. Immersive virtual reality makes it possible to alter sensorimotor uncertainty, but studies of higher methodological quality are needed on this topic, as well as an exploration into the patient profile for pain management using immersive VR.

Measurement properties of performance-based instruments for assessing mental function during activity and participation in persons with stroke: A systematic review.

Various performance-based instruments exist to assess mental function after stroke and users have to select one for research or clinical practice. To evaluate the measurement properties of performance-based instruments to assess (any aspect of) mental function during activity and participation in persons after stroke. We searched in five electronic databases. COSMIN methodology was used to conduct the review. The strength of evidence was assessed using a modified GRADE approach. Fifty articles were included reporting on 20 instruments assessing (1) multiple mental functions including ≥ four subdomains (2) attention, memory and executive functions, or single subdomains (3) executive functions, (4) perception, and (5) mental function of language. Highest quality evidence for sufficient results was found for some measurement properties in seven instruments. These instruments included: FIM + FAM, MPAI-4 and EFPT, MET, CBS/KF-NAP, BIT and the Scenario Test. Further studies of high methodological quality are needed that evaluate the measurement properties of instruments to allow clinicians and researchers to select the most suitable performance-based measures for purpose. Results may be used to select the most suitable performance-based instrument to measure mental function during activity and participation in persons with stroke. PROSPERO CRD42018086744.

Microvessel density in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are considered the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Microvessel density (MVD) constitutes a direct method of vascularity quantification and has been associated with survival rates in multiple malignancies. To appraise the effect of MVD on the survival of patients with GIST. This study adhered to Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Electronic scholar databases and grey literature repositories were systematically screened. The Fixed Effects or Random Effects models were used according to the Cochran Q test. In total, 6 eligible studies were identified. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for disease free survival (DFS) was 8.52 (95%CI: 1.69-42.84, P = 0.009). The odds ratios of disease-free survival between high and low MVD groups at 12 and 60 mo did not reach statistical significance. Significant superiority of the low MVD group in terms of DFS was documented at 36 and 120 mo (OR: 8.46, P < 0.0001 and OR: 22.71, P = 0.0003, respectively) as well as at metastases rate (OR: 0.11, P = 0.0003). MVD significantly correlates with the HR of DFS and overall survival rates at 36 and 120 mo. Further prospective studies of higher methodological quality are required.

Risk factors for shoulder injuries in handball: systematic review

BackgroundHandball is a sport with a high number of severe injuries. The shoulder is one of the most commonly injured joints, with an average prevalence of 17–41%.ObjectiveThe primary aim is to identify the most significant risk factors related to shoulder injuries in handball. The secondary aim is to propose recommendations based on the available evidence concerning potential injury prevention strategies.MethodsSystematic searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Proquest, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Scopus were undertaken for peer reviewed articles published between 15 July 1995 and 15 July 2019. The same search strategy was repeated on 24 April 2022. Prospective cohort studies, written in English and published in a journal with a peer-review process aiming to investigate at least one modifiable or/and a non-modifiable potential risk factor for shoulder injuries, specifically in handball players, were included. Only papers published after 1995 were included. The methodological quality of the eligible studies was assessed using the modified version of the Downs and Black Checklist. The Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) approach was used for synthesizing and reporting the results.Results1849 studies were identified, of which 8 were included. A total of 2536 (males = 1354, females = 1182) participants of which 2522 were handball athletes, were included. Four of the eight studies were rated as high methodological quality studies (> 85%) while the rest were rated as medium (50–85%). The risk factors for shoulder injuries in handball identified in the studies were strength imbalances (n = 6), glenohumeral range of motion (ROM) imbalances (n = 5), scapular dyskinesis (n = 5), incorrect dosage of training load (n = 2), previous injury (n = 1), sex (n = 2), player’s position, school grade, playing level (n = 1), altered shoulder joint position sense (n = 1).ConclusionOverall, from all the risk factors evaluated, there was strong evidence that the weakness of the shoulder external rotator muscles and the female sex increase the probability of shoulder injury in handball athletes. Nevertheless, the evidence for the other risk factors was moderate due to the methodological quality and the limited number of studies.Protocol registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42020138233.

NCOG-31. ROLE OF AGE IN CSF LEAK FOLLOWING TRANSSPHENOIDAL RESECTION OF CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA: ANALYSIS OF OUTCOMES IN PEDIATRIC VERSUS ADULT POPULATION

Abstract Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a serious complication after surgical treatment of craniopharyngioma. The objective of this study is to analyze postoperative CSF leak rates following transsphenoidal resection of craniopharyngioma in adult versus pediatric patient populations. PRISMA guidelines were used to query the Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases for studies of craniopharyngioma resection in adult or pediatric patients from the past three decades. The following search terms, ("craniopharyngioma") AND ("cerebrospinal fluid" OR "CSF") AND ("leak" OR "rhinorrhea") AND ("resection" OR "surgery") AND ("transsphenoidal" OR "endonasal"), were used. The primary outcome variable collected was presence of postoperative CSF leak. Pooled analyses were performed to determine the rates of CSF leak in adult and pediatric cases. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed to compare the rates of CSF leak in the adult versus pediatric cohort. Of the 21 included studies, 8 studies reported adult cases, 9 studies reported pediatric cases, and 4 studies reported both adult and pediatric cases, for a total of 468 cases. The majority of studies were level 4 evidence (90.5%, 19/21), while two studies were level 3 evidence (9.5%, 2/21). Analysis of postoperative CSF leak in adult and pediatric cases revealed rates of 29% (95% CI: 21%-39%) and 13% (95% CI: 9%-19%), respectively. Using a random-effects meta-analysis model, we found that there was no significant difference between the two cohorts (RR: 1.56; 95% CI = 0.52-4.71; P = 0.43). The present study is the first to analyze postoperative CSF leak rates in adult and pediatric patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of craniopharyngiomas. While we found that there is no significant difference in CSF leak rates between adult and pediatric patients, further studies of higher methodological quality are warranted to provide a better understanding of complication profiles following resection of adult and pediatric craniopharyngiomas.

Creativity training programs in primary education: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of the systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of creativity training programs, interventions, or practices on creativity or divergent thinking in typical developing primary education pupils. A systematic review protocol was designed and implemented, and a systematic literature search was conducted across diverse electronic platforms and databases, as well as other resources. The final sample of high methodological quality studies reviewed was 6. A narrative content analysis approach was adopted, and a random effects analysis with restricted maximum likelihood was used to conduct the meta-analysis. The meta-analytic estimate of the overall effect size of the combined studies shows moderate effect across all studies. The results suggest that some programs, interventions, or practices exist that can effectively help teachers, practitioners, and policy makers to promote creativity or divergent thinking in school-aged children.

Foam Rolling Acute Effects on Myofascial Tissue Stiffness and Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Glänzel, MH, Rodrigues, DR, Petter, GN, Pozzobon, D, Vaz, MA, and Geremia, JM. Foam rolling acute effects on myofascial tissue stiffness and muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 37(4): 951-968, 2023-Foam rolling (FR) is widely used in rehabilitation and physical training. However, the effects of FR on myofascial tissue stiffness and muscle strength remain unclear. This study aimed to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of trials that tested the FR acute effects during warm-up on the myofascial tissue stiffness and muscle strength in healthy adults or athletes. This systematic review (CRD42021227048) was performed according to Cochrane's recommendations, with searches performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PEDro databases. Syntheses of included studies' data were performed, and the PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach. Twenty included studies assessed trunk and thigh fascial tissue stiffness, and thigh and calf muscle stiffness, whereas muscle strength was assessed in the knee extensors and flexors, and plantar flexors muscles. Qualitative analysis showed decreases in fascial ( n = 2) and muscle ( n = 5) stiffness after FR. However, the meta-analysis showed no effects of FR on myofascial tissue stiffness. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses showed no effects of FR on isometric muscle strength, eccentric torque, and rate of force development. However, the knee extensor concentric torque increased after FR. Foam rolling increases the knee extensor concentric torque, but it does not acutely change the myofascial tissue stiffness and isometric muscle strength. However, evidence of these studies provides low certainty to state that FR does not change these parameters. Therefore, high methodological quality studies should be performed to better ascertain the effects of FR on the myofascial tissue stiffness and muscle strength.

Epidemiology of Medical Errors and Incidents in Emergency Medicine

Relevancethe issues of patient care and quality management have acquired particular relevance in modern healthcare. Improvement in the clinical performance of medical technologies has led to a significant reduction in deaths and complications associated with the disease and side effects of interventions. As a result, the share of additional harm related to the process of providing medical services has become more noticeable. Accurate data regarding the type, frequency and severity of active threats and incidents they cause are needed to reduce the likelihood and severity of additional harm. In this respect, emergency medical care is the subject of special attention and is characterized by the greatest difficulty in terms of obtaining valid and relevant information about deviations associated with health worker performance, equipment operation and patient behavior.The aim of the studywas to explore the main epidemiological characteristics of medical errors and incidents associated with the provision of emergency medical care.Material and methodsWe present a literature review followed by an analytical study of the epidemiology of incidents and active threats (including medical errors) that precede those incidents in various areas of emergency medical care. By an incident, the authors understood an event with a patient that was more related to the process of providing medical care than to the course of the disease or comorbid conditions which led or could lead to causing additional harm. Active threats included events that subsequently became the direct cause of the incident (medical errors and malpractice, mistakes and deviations in patient behavior, emergency situations in the physical environment). By the “mortality from adverse events”, the authors understood the proportion of deaths from adverse events among all hospitalized patients. By the concept of “lethality associated with adverse events”, the authors denoted the proportion of deaths from adverse events among all the patients affected by adverse events. The search for information was carried out for the period of 1995–2021 using the following medical databases: medline; cochrane collaboration; embase; scopus; isi web of science. For analysis, we used prospective and retrospective observational studies of high methodological quality, meta-analyses and systematic reviews. For the statistical evaluation of frequency characteristics, indicators of incidence, prevalence, and incidence density were used. The calculation of generalized frequency indicators for large samples was carried out with a 95% confidence interval.Results The epidemiology of medical errors and incidents depends on the area in which emergency care is provided. For prehospital emergency medical care, there are 12.45 medical errors and 4.50 incidents with consequences for every 100 visits. In emergency departments, one in fourteen patients suffers additional harm which in 10.14% of cases has severe consequences, and in 3.18% of cases leads to unexpected death. In intensive care units, incidents related to the provision of medical care are recorded in every third patient in the amount of 1.55 per 1 patient. Of these, 58.67% of incidents are accompanied by harm, but the fatality associated with the incidents is only 0.77%. The prevalence of patients affected by incidents during the provision of anesthesia for children is almost 2 times higher than for adults (4.79% vs. 2.03%). At the same time, mortality due to anesthesia-related incidents in children is 11 times lower than in adults (0.27% versus 3.09%). The author draws attention to a number of factors contributing to the development of incidents during the provision of emergency medical care. These include environmental complexity, suboptimal configuration of the workspace, technological interface complexity, the effects of acute stress on performers, and organizational vulnerabilities. A special role was assigned to environmental complexity which was studied in detail both in terms of the complexity of the tasks being solved, and in connection with obstacles to solving problems. It was shown that the intensity of the influence of various components of environmental complexity is not the same in different departments providing emergency care. Particular attention was paid to the fact that organizational vulnerabilities reduce the effectiveness of protective mechanisms during the interaction of the human factor with a complex environment.ConclusionThe study showed that the provision of emergency medical care is associated with moderately high risks of incidents, including severe and critical consequences for patients. The main factor contributing to the development of incidents is environmental complexity which becomes much harder to counter under the influence of organizational vulnerabilities. Identification and registration of errors and incidents in units providing medical care is difficult due to the short time of contact with patients, the high speed of situation update, and the constant impact of chronic and acute stressors on staff. In this connection, the optimization and improvement of the efficiency of the system for recording errors and incidents in departments providing emergency medical care remains an area for improvement.

Efeitos da vibração do tendão muscular no equilíbrio após acidente vascular cerebral: revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT After cerebrovascular accident (CVA), people have complex combinations of sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional deficits, which can affect static and dynamic balance. This study aimed to compile and summarize the main features and findings of protocols used in research that investigated the effects of muscle tendon vibration on static and dynamic balance in adults with stroke. This is a systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022303874), in which searches were performed in the databases PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, Science Direct, and PEDro, during the month of January 2022, using the combination of keywords related to “stroke,” “balance,” “muscle tendon vibration,” “randomized controlled trial.” Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. A total of 1,560 studies were identified, 11 of which were included, between the years 1994 to 2020, involving 242 post-stroke adults. Only five studies used vibration as an intervention and found an improvement in static and dynamic balance. Six studies analyzed the interference of vibration on postural control, showing that balance was affected during the application of vibration and that individuals needed more time to recover or did not experience significant differences. We found that the effects of muscle tendon vibration may be able to improve balance in people with stroke and influence postural control by proprioceptive mechanisms of vibration. However, more studies of high methodological quality are needed to reach a consensus regarding muscle tendon vibration treatment protocols and their recommendation in clinical practice.

Sedentary Behaviors and Health Outcomes among Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.

Objective: This study aimed to review and provide an informative synthesis of the findings from longitudinal studies that describe the relationship between sedentary behavior and various health outcomes among young adults. Methods: A literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles that examined the association between sedentary behavior and health outcomes among young adults aged 18–34 years. Two reviewers independently examined the articles and performed data extraction and quality assessment. The level of evidence was determined using the best-evidence synthesis. Results: A total of 34 studies were included in the analysis, 18 of which were high-quality studies. On the basis of inconsistency in the findings among studies, insufficient evidence was concluded for sedentary behavior and adiposity indicators, physical fitness, metabolic syndrome/cardiovascular disease risk factors, cognitive function, and mood disorders. Based on one high-quality study, moderate evidence for a negative relationship between sedentary behavior and physical fitness was observed. Conclusions: Given the trend toward increased time in sedentary behaviors and the inconsistent current findings, additional longitudinal studies of high methodologic quality are recommended to clarify the relationships between sedentary behavior and health outcomes among young adults.

High Concentrations of Uranium, Barium, and Lead in Cancer Patients and Healthy Controls in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India

Abstract Background: Anthropogenic risk factors contribute worldwide to an unfavorable environmental situation, which in the population can lead to cancer and other environmental-related diseases. Heavy metals accumulate in tissues and affect human health. Objectives: This review evaluates data for the possible role of uranium (U), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in the cancer development in people living in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India. Methods: A literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Publications in English were included. Preference was given to studies of high methodological quality (systematic reviews and surveys of studies of various designs). The results of cross-sectional studies were taken into account. Discussion: A study has shown that cancer patients in the Malwa region of Punjab, India have unexpectedly high concentrations of U, Ba, and Pb in hair. We hypothesize that higher hair concentrations of U and other bone-seeking elements in hair of cancer patients may be due to the release of these elements from the skeleton, partly because of the patients age (following the menopause in women) and partly due to disease factors such as bed rest, bone metastases, and enhanced glucocorticoid secretion. Conclusions: Further research is needed to distinguish the effect of age on bone-seeking elements from real disease associations, regardless of the relationship with the pathology is a causal one or not.

Water proton NMR relaxation revisited: Ultrahighly diluted aqueous solutions beyond Avogadro’s limit prepared by iterative centesimal dilution under shaking cannot be considered as pure solvent

• Ultramolecular dilutions prepared according to homeopathic pharmacopoeia differ from solvent and from simply diluted samples. • Evidence for an unexpected gradual increase of correlation times of water with dilution in ultrahighly diluted solutions. • Evidence for solute-induced nanostructures in aqueous high dilutions growing with dilution. • Nanostructures result from nucleation between the solute, nanobubbles and elements coming from the medium during preparation. • Nanostructures in ultrahigh dilutions, even ultramolecular, enhance leaching processes in glass containers. The biological activity of ultrahigh dilutions (HDs) as used in homeopathy, especially those beyond Avogadro's limit, is still controversial and an intriguing problem for scientists. Homeopathic remedies are mostly prepared by iterative centesimal dilution under vigorous shaking, called dynamization. Cn corresponds to a dilution factor of 10 -2n , and C12 (10 -24 ) to the theoretical limit of molecular presence. Since the 1990 s, NMR relaxation of water protons has emerged as a potent tool for investigating HDs. This article reviews studies of high methodological quality by five independent teams over more than two decades. They demonstrate an increase in T1 and T1/T2, with a decrease in T2, although less constant, in dynamized aqueous HDs. No variation was observed in the similarly treated solvent controls. The phenomenon seems to be common, regardless of solute, dissolved oxygen, material used (glass or plastic), method of shaking, frequency from 0.02 to 600 MHz. Strikingly, the changes in relaxation times increased gradually with dilution, even in the C12-C30 ultramolecular range and they totally vanished after a heating–cooling cycle directly applied on the sealed NMR tubes. The results were interpreted in terms of increasing correlation times of water, greater than 10 −8 s, resulting from the formation of growing solute-induced nanostructures involving nanobubbles and various elements coming from the medium, the atmosphere and the container. Another unexpected result was that HDs were able to enhance some leaching processes in glass containers.

Are psychological debriefing groups after a potential traumatic event suitable to prevent the symptoms of PTSD?

Psychological debriefing is a psychotherapeutic approach developed for early intervention in civilians and professionals who have to cope with a potential traumatic event (PTE). Although initial works claimed that this approach may decrease symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), some studies have concluded that the clinical benefits of psychological debriefing were limited. Several methodological variations could explain the discrepancies observed among studies. Among these variations, how the approach is administered to participants should have importance, and clinical evidence suggests that debriefing groups instead of individuals could have a beneficial clinical effect. We conducted a systematic search of the literature investigating the clinical effects of psychological debriefing groups on PTSD symptoms after a PTE according to the PRISMA guidelines. Among the 790 articles found, 11 met our inclusion criteria. Most of these articles did not support any beneficial effect of psychological debriefing groups on PTSD symptoms. A large number of methodological variations that may influence the outcomes of these studies were observed. Psychological debriefing groups did not seem efficient in alleviating PTSD symptoms. Further studies of high methodological quality are needed to elucidate the effect of psychological debriefing groups on specific PTSD symptoms and on nonspecific symptoms.

Early psychological interventions for prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress symptoms in post-partum women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pre-term or full-term childbirth can be experienced as physically or psychologically traumatic. Cumulative and trans-generational effects of traumatic stress on both psychological and physical health indicate the ethical requirement to investigate appropriate preventative treatment for stress symptoms in women following a routine traumatic experience such as childbirth. The objective of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of early psychological interventions in reducing or preventing post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder in post-partum women within twelve weeks of a traumatic birth. Randomised controlled trials and pilot studies of psychological interventions preventing or reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms or PTSD, that included women who had experienced a traumatic birth, were identified in a search of Cochrane Central Register of Randomised Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, Psychinfo, PILOTS, CINAHL and Proquest Dissertations databases. One author performed database searches, verified results with a subject librarian, extracted study details and data. Five authors appraised extracted data and agreed upon risk of bias. Analysis was completed with Rev Man 5 software and quality of findings were rated according to Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Eleven studies were identified that evaluated the effectiveness of a range of early psychological interventions. There was firm evidence to suggest that midwifery or clinician led early psychological interventions administered within 72 hours following traumatic childbirth are more effective than usual care in reducing traumatic stress symptoms in women at 4-6 weeks. Further studies of high methodological quality that include longer follow up of 6-12 months are required in order to substantiate the evidence of the effectiveness of specific face to face and online early psychological intervention modalities in preventing the effects of stress symptoms and PTSD in women following a traumatic birth before introduction to routine care and practice. CRD42020202576, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=202576.

Effects of Dynamic Suit Orthoses on the Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameters in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review.

Dynamic suit orthoses (DSO) are currently used as a complementary treatment method in children with Cerebral Palsy (cwCP). The aim of this review was to assess the effects of interventions with DSO on the altered spatio-temporal gait parameters (STGPs) in cwCP. An electronic search was conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE/PubMed, and CINAHL databases up to July 2021. We included a total of 12 studies, which showed great heterogeneity in terms of design type, sample size, and intervention performed (two employed a Therasuit, three employed the Adeli suit, three employed Theratogs, one employed elastomeric tissue dynamic orthosis, one employed a full-body suit, one employed external belt orthosis, and one employed dynamic orthosis composed of trousers and T-shirt). The Cochrane collaboration’s tool and the Checklist for Measuring Study Quality were used to assess the risk of bias and the methodological quality of the studies. It was variable according to the Checklist for Measuring Study Quality, and it oscillated between eight and 23. The studies of higher methodological quality showed significant post-intervention changes in walking speed (which is the most widely evaluated parameter), cadence, stride length, and step length symmetry. Although the evidence is limited, the intervention with DSO combined with a programme of training/physical therapy seems to have positive effects on the STGPs in cwCP, with the functional improvements that it entails. Despite the immediate effect after one session, a number of sessions between 18 and 60 is recommended to obtain optimum results. Future studies should measure all STGPs, and not only the main ones, such as gait speed, in order to draw more accurate conclusions on the functional improvement of gait after the use of this type of intervention.

Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress (PMTS) following Surgery in Childhood and Adolescence: a Systematic Review

The purpose of the present review was to systematically review, synthesize and quantify prevalence rates of subclinical and clinical psychological symptoms in children and adolescents who have undergone surgery. Systematic literature searches were conducted twofold in April 8, 2020 and March 7, 2021 in PsycInfo and PubMed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Manuscripts were screened against eligibility criteria and were included if they investigated psychological symptoms in children or adolescents (age between 1 to 21 years at the time of study) who were hospitalized for pediatric surgery. Means and standard deviations weighted by sample size were calculated. Eleven articles met inclusion criteria. The review revealed that a small but substantial number of children and adolescents are at an elevated risk for postoperative psychological symptoms and disorders. Up to 13% had symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of a posttraumatic stress disorder, 6% to 8% exhibited elevated symptoms of depression or anxiety, and about 25% showed internalizing and externalizing symptoms. This review provides preliminary evidence that children and adolescents experience significant psychological distress and posttraumatic stress symptoms after pediatric surgery. Apart from better training of clinicians, prevention, early psychological screening and psychosocial care in surgical wards of hospitals are recommended. Well-designed studies of high methodological quality are necessary to replicate existing findings and provide a broader base of evidence.

Adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension dietary pattern and rheumatoid arthritis in Iranian adults.

To examine the hypothesis that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are less likely than healthy individuals to adhere to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern. A multi-centre cross-sectional study involving a total of 300 eligible Iranian adults (aged >19 years; 93·0 % female) recruited during 2019-2020. Participants' actual dietary intakes were measured via self-administered 3-d dietary records. The DASH score was computed based on the energy-adjusted intakes of eight major dietary components usually emphasised (i.e. fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, low-fat dairy products and whole grains) or minimised (i.e. sweets, red or processed meats and sodium) in the DASH diet. The higher the DASH score of subjects, the greater their adherence to the DASH pattern. The outpatient clinics of major general hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. 100 incident cases with definite RA according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Classification Criteria for RA and 200 apparently healthy controls frequency-matched by gender and age. After adjusting for several potential covariates in the binary logistic regression analysis, RA cases were less likely than controls to have high adherence to the DASH pattern (OR = 0·08; 95 % CI 0·03, 0·20; P = 0·001). Our findings in a sample of Iranian adults revealed that RA patients are less likely than healthy individuals to adhere to the DASH dietary pattern. However, the potential causal association of greater adherence to the DASH pattern and lower risk of RA needs to be confirmed by prospective studies of high methodological quality.

Effect of using knee valgus brace on pain and activity level over different time intervals among patients with medial knee OA: systematic review

BackgroundThe Knee valgus brace is one of the accepted conservative interventions for patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis to correct the knee varus and increase functional activity level. Nevertheless, comprehensive overview of the effects of using this brace on self-reported pain activity level over time is not available. Thus, this study aimed to systematically review the effect of using this brace on pain and activity levels in the last 20 years in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.MethodsFive databases were searched to find articles from the year 2000 to the end of November 2020: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Two reviewers independently evaluated the available articles for eligibility and assessed quality. The risk of bias in each study was assessed by two reviewers independently according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology tool (STROBE) for the non-randomized controlled studies and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for the randomized controlled studies.ResultsSeven randomized controlled studies and 17 cohort studies (in total 579 participants) were included in the systematic review. Most of these studies found using a knee valgus brace effective in reducing pain and improving activity level over different time intervals. The majority of the included studies (14 studies) evaluated the impact of the brace for a considerably short-term (less than 6 months). Thus, limited evidence is available on the long-term use of the knee valgus brace and its associated complications.ConclusionThe knee valgus brace is an effective conservative intervention to improve the quality of life and reduce pain during daily activities for some patients. However, the long term of using this brace is still not very convenient, and the patients who benefit most from using the brace should be identified with high methodological quality studies.