Quality Of Studies Research Articles

Theoretical models applied to understand infection prevention and control practices of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

Background Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) practices among healthcare workers are crucial to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections in healthcare settings. Aim To synthesise evidence on behaviour change theories, models, or frameworks applied to understand healthcare workers’ IPC practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods PubMed, EBSCOhost interface, ProQuest interface, MEDLINE (Ovid), and grey literature were searched for primary studies published between December 2019 and May 2023. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool evaluated the methodological quality of the studies. Two reviewers independently completed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Results The search yielded 2110 studies, of which 19 were included. Seven behaviour change theories, models, and frameworks were identified, with the Health Belief Model and Theoretical Domains Framework being the most employed. Based on these theories, models, and frameworks, the included studies identified cognitive, environmental, and social factors influencing healthcare workers’ compliance with COVID-19 IPC practices. Discussion This review offers insights into the critical role of behavioural change theories, models, or frameworks in understanding the factors influencing healthcare workers’ compliance with IPC practices during COVID-19. It also highlights the potential of these theories in guiding the development of evidence-based interventions to improve healthcare workers’ compliance with IPC practices.

App-based interventions to improve cancer outcomes rely on informational support from professionals: a systematic review.

The importance of social support for cancer patients is well-established, and mobile applications hold promise for implementation. This systematic review examines app-based interventions with social support components for cancer patients, investigating the use of different support functions from different sources and the impact on cancer-related symptoms and psychological outcomes. A systematic search across five databases (EMBASE, Scopus, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science) yielded 449 records, of which 17 studies (12 controlled designs) were included. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality, revealing a high risk of bias across studies. Social support was implemented through different app functions, including contact/chat functions (n = 9), automatic alerts based on app input (n = 6) and discussion forums (n = 5). Social support predominantly focused on informational support (n = 17), mostly from healthcare professionals. Emotional support was less common (n = 7). Results indicated some promising intervention effects for pain, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, insomnia, constipation and overall symptom distress, but heterogeneous effects for health-related quality of life. Overall, results were mixed, but indicate that mobile apps incorporating social support may hold promise for cancer patients. However, future studies should focus on measuring and reporting social support as an intervention mechanism to systematically investigate its specific impact and improve effectiveness.HighlightsApps for cancer patients predominantly include informational social supportEmotional social support is substantially less frequently includedApps focus on formal support sources like healthcare professionalsFirst results are somewhat promising for improving cancer-related symptoms.

Cardiovascular health and cancer risk associated with plant based diets: An umbrella review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer are the two main leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Suboptimal diet, poor in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grain, and rich in processed and red meat, refined grains, and added sugars, is a primary modifiable risk factor. Based on health, economic and ethical concerns, plant-based diets have progressively widespread worldwide. This umbrella review aims at assessing the impact of animal-free and animal-products-free diets (A/APFDs) on the risk factors associated with the development of cardiometabolic diseases, cancer and their related mortalities. PubMed and Scopus were searched for reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published from 1st January 2000 to 31st June 2023, written in English and involving human subjects of all ages. Primary studies and reviews/meta-analyses based on interventional trials which used A/APFDs as a therapy for people with metabolic diseases were excluded. The umbrella review approach was applied for data extraction and analysis. The revised AMSTAR-R 11-item tool was applied to assess the quality of reviews/meta-analyses. Overall, vegetarian and vegan diets are significantly associated with better lipid profile, glycemic control, body weight/BMI, inflammation, and lower risk of ischemic heart disease and cancer. Vegetarian diet is also associated with lower mortality from CVDs. On the other hand, no difference in the risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension were reported in pregnant women following vegetarian diets. Study quality was average. A key limitation is represented by the high heterogeneity of the study population in terms of sample size, demography, geographical origin, dietary patterns, and other lifestyle confounders. Plant-based diets appear beneficial in reducing cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as CVDs, cancer risk and mortality. However, caution should be paid before broadly suggesting the adoption of A/AFPDs since the strength-of-evidence of study results is significantly limited by the large study heterogeneity alongside the potential risks associated with potentially restrictive regimens.

Role of radiomics as a predictor of disease recurrence in ovarian cancer: a systematic review.

Ovarian cancer is associated with high cancer-related mortality rate attributed to late-stage diagnosis, limited treatment options, and frequent disease recurrence. As a result, careful patient selection is important especially in setting of radical surgery. Radiomics is an emerging field in medical imaging, which may help provide vital prognostic evaluation and help patient selection for radical treatment strategies. This systematic review aims to assess the role of radiomics as a predictor of disease recurrence in ovarian cancer. A systematic search was conducted in Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. Studies meeting inclusion criteria investigating the use of radiomics to predict post-operative recurrence in ovarian cancer were included in our qualitative analysis. Study quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 and Radiomics Quality Score tools. Six retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 952 participants. Radiomic-based signatures demonstrated consistent performance in predicting disease recurrence, as evidenced by satisfactory area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values (AUC range 0.77-0.89). Radiomic-based signatures appear to good prognosticators of disease recurrence in ovarian cancer as estimated by AUC. The reviewed studies consistently reported the potential of radiomic features to enhance risk stratification and personalise treatment decisions in this complex cohort of patients. Further research is warranted to address limitations related to feature reliability, workflow heterogeneity, and the need for prospective validation studies.

Comparison of short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery, robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, and open surgery for lateral lymph-node dissection for rectal cancer: a network meta-analysis.

This study attempted to compare short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery (LS), robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RS), and open surgery (OS) for lateral lymph-node dissection (LLND) in treatment of rectal cancer through network meta-analysis.Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and The Cochrane Library databases were searched to collect cohort studies on outcomes of LS, RS, and OS for LLND for rectal cancer. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was utilized to evaluate the quality of cohort studies. Primary outcomes should at least include one of the following clinical outcome measures: operative time, blood loss, total lymph-node harvest, positive resection margin rate, postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stay. A network meta-analysis was conducted using STATA software.Fourteen cohort studies including 8612 patients were eligible for inclusion. The network meta-analysis results showed that, in terms of intraoperative outcomes, the RS group had the longest operative time, while the OS group had the shortest; the LS and RS groups had significantly less blood loss than the OS group. In terms of histological outcomes, there were no significant differences in the total number of lymph nodes harvested and the positive margin rate among the LS, RS, and OS groups (P > 0.05). Regarding postoperative outcomes, the OS group had the highest probability of postoperative complications and the longest hospital stay, followed by the LS group, with the RS group being the lowest.RS was the best method in blood loss, postoperative complication rate, and postoperative hospital stay, followed by LS. OS had the shortest operative time and the highest blood loss.

Is There Variation in the Morphology of the Frontal Sinus in Individuals with Different Craniofacial Patterns? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

To evaluate differences in the morphology of the frontal sinus in adolescents and adults with different craniofacial patterns, searches up to April 2024 were conducted in six databases and other information sources to identify observational studies. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment using the NOS scale were performed independently by two reviewers. Random effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the difference in frontal sinus measurements between different craniofacial skeletal patterns (α = 0.05). The certainty of the evidence was evaluated according to GRADE. Fourteen studies were included in the review. All studies had methodological limitations that affected their quality. The syntheses showed that skeletal Class II subjects presented a significantly smaller width of the frontal sinus than skeletal Class I subjects (MD = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.74; p < 0.0001; I2 = 3%). Skeletal Class III subjects showed a frontal sinus width (MD = -0.91; 95% CI: -1.35, -0.47; p < 0.0001; I2 = 36%) and area (MD = -28.13; 95% CI: -49.03, -7.23; p = 0.0084; I2 = 66%) significantly larger than those of the skeletal Class I subjects. The available evidence suggests a positive relationship between mandibular and frontal sinus size. There is limited evidence to make reliable estimates of the association of other craniofacial patterns and frontal sinus characteristics. These reported results are not conclusive and should be evaluated carefully due to the very low certainty of the evidence. The current evidence is scarce and consists of studies with methodological limitations; the results of the studies are often inconsistent, and the pooled estimates are imprecise. New high-quality research is still necessary.

The Use of Generative AI for Scientific Literature Searches for Systematic Reviews: ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing AI Performance Evaluation.

A large language model is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) model that opens up great possibilities for health care practice, research, and education, although scholars have emphasized the need to proactively address the issue of unvalidated and inaccurate information regarding its use. One of the best-known large language models is ChatGPT (OpenAI). It is believed to be of great help to medical research, as it facilitates more efficient data set analysis, code generation, and literature review, allowing researchers to focus on experimental design as well as drug discovery and development. This study aims to explore the potential of ChatGPT as a real-time literature search tool for systematic reviews and clinical decision support systems, to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in health care settings. The search results of a published systematic review by human experts on the treatment of Peyronie disease were selected as a benchmark, and the literature search formula of the study was applied to ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing AI as a comparison to human researchers. Peyronie disease typically presents with discomfort, curvature, or deformity of the penis in association with palpable plaques and erectile dysfunction. To evaluate the quality of individual studies derived from AI answers, we created a structured rating system based on bibliographic information related to the publications. We classified its answers into 4 grades if the title existed: A, B, C, and F. No grade was given for a fake title or no answer. From ChatGPT, 7 (0.5%) out of 1287 identified studies were directly relevant, whereas Bing AI resulted in 19 (40%) relevant studies out of 48, compared to the human benchmark of 24 studies. In the qualitative evaluation, ChatGPT had 7 grade A, 18 grade B, 167 grade C, and 211 grade F studies, and Bing AI had 19 grade A and 28 grade C studies. This is the first study to compare AI and conventional human systematic review methods as a real-time literature collection tool for evidence-based medicine. The results suggest that the use of ChatGPT as a tool for real-time evidence generation is not yet accurate and feasible. Therefore, researchers should be cautious about using such AI. The limitations of this study using the generative pre-trained transformer model are that the search for research topics was not diverse and that it did not prevent the hallucination of generative AI. However, this study will serve as a standard for future studies by providing an index to verify the reliability and consistency of generative AI from a user's point of view. If the reliability and consistency of AI literature search services are verified, then the use of these technologies will help medical research greatly.

Impact of Early Personal Resources on Long-Term Psychosocial Outcomes After Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.

To investigate the relationship between preinjury or early personal resources and long-term psychosocial outcomes following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and examine evidence for the stability of personal resources over time. The review protocol was registered with the International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, Registration No. CRD4202341056). A search of PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from inception to February 23, 2023, for longitudinal studies involving adults with moderate-to-severe TBI that examined: (1) the relationship between preinjury or early personal resources (measured ≤6months postinjury) and later psychosocial outcomes or (2) stability of personal resources over time with a minimum reassessment interval of 3months. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility and rated methodological quality of studies using a checklist informed by Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. A narrative synthesis was conducted on 14 eligible articles summarizing 12 studies (N=826). Nine studies examined the impact of preinjury or early personal resources on long-term psychosocial outcomes, most typically at 12months postdischarge. Out of 9 studies 7 indicated that self-reported preinjury or early personal resources, including productive coping, higher self-esteem and resilience, and lower neuroticism, were associated with better psychosocial outcomes. Evidence from 7 studies examining the stability of personal resources over time was generally mixed, with personality changes (eg, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and extraversion) more evident from informant ratings than self-ratings. Preinjury or early personal resources may influence later psychosocial outcomes after TBI. Further research is needed to investigate the stability of personal resources and factors mediating or moderating change across the adjustment trajectory.

Periodontitis and the risk of oral cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

The current studies have yielded inconclusive findings regarding the connection between periodontitis and oral cancer (OC). Therefore, our goal is to elucidate this relationship. We conducted a thorough search of electronic databases (EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) up to September 2023. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was applied to assess study quality. To evaluate potential publication bias, both a funnel plot and Egger's test were employed. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to explore the source of heterogeneity when the I2 statistic exceeded 50%. This systematic review encompassed 16 studies, involving a total of 6,032 OC patients and 7,432 healthy controls. Our meta-analysis, incorporating data from nine studies, revealed a significant correlation between periodontitis and the risk of OC (OR [odds ratio] = 2.94, 95% CI [confidence interval] (2.13, 4.07); five studies, 6,927 participants; low certainty of evidence). Findings also suggested that individuals with more than 15 missing teeth may have a heightened risk of OC (OR = 1.91, 95% CI (1.01, 3.62)). Furthermore, clinical attachment loss (CAL) and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) in OC patients were more pronounced compared to the control group (CAL, SMD = 1.94, 95% CI (0.22, 3.66); DMFT, SMD= 0.65, 95% CI (0.12, 1.18)). Periodontitis may serve as a potential risk factor for OC. However, caution is warranted in interpreting these findings due to the substantial level of heterogeneity.

Learner corpus research: a critical appraisal and roadmap for contributing (more) to SLA research agendas

Abstract Over the past decade, learner corpora have gained recognition as valuable data sources in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research. This development can be attributed to significant progress in Learner Corpus Research (LCR). However, there is still substantial work to be done. This article highlights key issues essential for sustaining the relevance of learner corpora in SLA. More particularly, I focus on the need for more diverse types of learner corpora, stress the importance of detailed metadata, and advocate for multifactorial study designs. I then revisit ongoing debates regarding the role of the native speaker in LCR and propose a practical solution to address this thorny issue. Finally, I also readdress the need for improvement in the quantitative methods and statistics, arguing that the importance of robust quantitative analysis cannot be overstated. In conclusion, I envision an ambitious learner corpus compilation project that adheres to the FAIR principles, with the goal of further elevating study quality in LCR.

Determinants of psychological injury among health and social care workers in community settings: A systematic review.

Health and Social Care (HSC) workers face psychological health risks in the workplace. While many studies have described psychological injuries in HSC workers, few have examined the determinants. Previous research has primarily focused on hospitals, lacking systematic reviews of community-based settings. To systematically identify and appraise current evidence on the determinants of psychological injuries among HSC workers in community settings. Searches were conducted in three bibliographic databases, supplemented by citation searches. Included studies focused on community-based HSC workers, reporting statistical associations between psychological injury and personal, health, occupational, or organizational factors. Quantitative studies published in English between January 1, 2000 and August 15, 2023 were included. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the JBI critical appraisal checklist. Sixty-six studies were included. Study quality was highly variable, and all studies were cross-sectional. Twenty-three studies linked psychological injury with occupational factors (e.g. low job control, high job demands and low job satisfaction). Thirteen studies observed an association between work environment and psychological injury, and a further eleven between workplace social support and psychological injury. Fewer studies have examined the relationship between psychological injury and personal/individual factors. Occupational and organisational factors are significantly associated with psychological health among HSA workers, in community settings. These aspects of job design, work environment and workplace relationships are modifiable, suggesting an opportunity for work design interventions to improve workers' psychological health and reduce the prevalence of psychological injury in this sector.

Autistic Women’s Experiences of the Perinatal Period: A Systematic Mixed Methods Review

AbstractThe perinatal period has challenges for autistic women. This review synthesises evidence on the experiences of autistic women during the perinatal period. This mixed methods evidence synthesis followed JBI guidance for mixed methods systematic reviews. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool assessed study quality. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise findings. Thirteen studies were included. Themes identified included sensory demands of the perinatal period are frequently overwhelming; experiencing healthcare as an autistic person is challenging; parenting as an autistic mother has difficulties but also rewards; predictability and control are important in labour and birth. Individualised care with reasonable adjustments can make a difference to the perinatal experiences of autistic women. Despite challenges, autistic women also have many strengths as mothers.

Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Peruvian patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundChronic Kidney Disease (CKD) represents a major challenge for public health, with hypertension and diabetes being the main causes of its occurrence. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in Peruvian patients with CKD.MethodsA systematic search for studies about CKD in Peru was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and Scielo from 2011 to December 2023. The protocol of this research was registered in the international registry of systematic reviews, the Prospective International Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42023425118. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed independently by two authors. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Statistical Meta-Analysis Assessment and Review Instrument. A random-effects model with inverse variance weighting was used to estimate the combined prevalence of HTN and DM in Peruvian patients with CKD. To analyze data heterogeneity, the I2 statistical test was used. Statistical analysis was performed with R version 4.2.3.ResultsA total of 1425 studies were retrieved, of which 23 were included in the final meta-analysis. A total of 43,321 patients with CKD were evaluated, of whom 52.22% were male and 47.78% were female. The combined prevalence of HTN in Peruvian patients with CKD was 38% (95% CI: 30–46%; 41,131 participants; 21 studies, I2 = 99%, p = 0), while the combined prevalence of DM in Peruvian patients with CKD was 33% (95% CI: 26–40%; 43,321 participants; 23 studies, I2 = 99%, p = 0).ConclusionApproximately one-third of Peruvian patients with CKD have HTN and DM. These findings highlight the importance of implementing prevention and control measures for these chronic noncommunicable diseases in the Peruvian population, such as promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging early detection and proper management of hypertension and diabetes, and improving access to medical care and health services.

Treatment Outcomes of Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth with Irreversible Pulpitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the success rates of pulpotomy treatment for irreversible pulpitis in primary teeth. This study was registered and conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. Relevant studies published between January 1980 and April 2023 were identified across eight online databases and two paediatric dentistry textbooks. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted by multiple investigators independently. Data analysis involved single-arm and two-arm meta-analyses, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and assessment of publication bias. The risks of bias were evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's assessment tools. The levels of evidence were determined using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) tool. Five primary studies were included. The weighted mean overall success rates at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups were 97.2% and 94.4%, respectively. Two-arm meta-analysis revealed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and non-MTA bioceramic-based materials as pulpotomy medicaments. The sample size of each study did not affect the degree of data heterogeneity. Egger's test revealed no significant publication bias. Pulpotomy may be regarded as an alternative modality for treating primary teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Nevertheless, future well-designed trials and extended follow-up periods are warranted.

Long-term safety and efficacy of Glycopyrronium tosylate in patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating, affects ≈ 4.8% of the US population. (1) Glycopyrronium tosylate (GT) is a topical anticholinergic drug approved for primary axillary hyperhidrosis (PAH) treatment. (2) However, no meta-analysis exists on GT’s long-term safety and efficacy. Aim: To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of GT as a treatment for PAH. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction followed the eligibility criteria. The primary endpoints were changes in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Axillary Sweating Daily Diary (ASDD) or Axillary Sweating Daily Diary – Change (ASDD-C). Safety endpoints included mydriasis, dry mouth, urinary hesitation, and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1. Results: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that topical GT is clinically effective in treating PAH. GT significantly improves the quality of life of patients, as measured by the DLQI (MD = -2.81, 95% CI = [-4.04, -1.59],P = 0.001), HDSS (OR = 3.72, 95% CI = [2.92, 4.74], P = 0.001), and ASDD/ASDD-C (OR = 4.91, 95%CI = [3.75, 6.44], P = 0.001). Adverse effects such as mydriasis, dry mouth, and urinary hesitation were observed; however, no difference was found between GT and control groups in serious TEAEs, deaths, and severe TEAEs. Conclusion: Topical GT is effective with minimal side effects, providing a valuable option for patients unresponsive to or experiencing significant side effects from other treatments.

The Top Ranked 101 Articles in Pediatric Surgical Journals from an Altmetric Perspective.

In the era of scientific digitalization, online media platforms gain increasing popularity to accomplish research output awareness. The Altmetric Attention Score AAS weights these online mentions based on a privy algorithm. We aimed to characterize the top 100 articles with the highest (AAS) published in pediatric surgery journals. Publications from six core pediatric surgery journals were retrieved from www.altmetric.com in January 2023 and ranked by their AAS. The top 101 publications were analyzed for their bibliometric measures, study design, and quality as well as online media mentions. The top 101 AAS articles were published between 1974 and 2022, preferentially from the United States (64%) and mainly in Journal of Pediatric Surgery (73%), followed by Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports, Pediatric Surgery International, Seminars in Pediatric Surgery, and European Journal of Pediatric Surgery. Their AAS ranged between 21 and 389 (median: 33), with Twitter/X being mostly responsible for online mentions (n = 2,189; 75%). The number of citations in peer-reviewed journals ranged between 0 and 358 (median: 16) and did not correlate to AAS. Retrospective study design (33%) with low evidence level IV (43%) dominated. The Journal of Pediatric Surgery is the main source of high-profile AAS publications in pediatric surgery. The altmetric popularity of articles is predominantly achieved by their propagation via X, irrespective of the study quality and recognition in the scientific community. Thus, active "twitterism" may play the key role to reach high AAS scores.

The nutritional support to prevent sarcopenia in the elderly.

Sarcopenia has been described as a muscle disease, with multiple adverse consequences on human health. Recommendations aimed at supporting awareness, prevention, early detection and treatment of this disease are needed. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and early detection of elderly sarcopenia. As far as treatment is concerned, physical activity and nutritional support are specifically evaluated. An individually tailored resistance exercise training program appears to be crucial for a positive outcome of the sarcopenia prevention and treatment. The nutritional intervention is mostly based on the supplementation with high-quality proteins (i.e., whey protein) in order to increase the intake of essential amino acids and in particular of leucine. In addition, of relevant importance appears to be the supplementation with vitamin D, with omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics. This review evaluates the results of the most qualified studies on the nutritional supplementation of sarcopenic elderly subjects and shows that promising results have been achieved in community elderly subjects, or subjects followed in rehabilitation centers and in nursing homes, with additional resistance exercise programs.

Cultural food practices and sources of nutrition information among pregnant and postpartum migrant women from low- and middle-income countries residing in high income countries: A systematic review.

Women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may engage in a range of cultural food practices during pregnancy, including restricting or avoiding foods high in protein and iron, and foods rich in vitamins and minerals. While research has explored the cultural food practices of pregnant women in LMICs, there is less understanding of the continued cultural food practices of women who migrate to high-income countries and then become pregnant. This systematic review explores the existing research on cultural food practices and sources of nutrition information among pregnant and postpartum migrant women from LMICs, residing in high-income countries. A systematic search was conducted in April 2024 across Global Health, CINAHL, and MEDLINE, published in English, with no date restrictions. Eligible studies included those focused on pregnant and postpartum women who had migrated from LMICs to high-income countries. Studies were excluded if they comprised of non-immigrant women or did not involve LMIC participants. Screened were studies for eligibility, data were extracted, and study quality was assessed. In total, 17 studies comprising qualitative (n = 10) and quantitative (n = 7) approaches were included. In 14 studies participants adhered to cultural food practices, wherein certain nutritious foods were restricted during pregnancy or the postpartum period; three studies noted limited adherence due to support, acculturation, and access to traditional foods. Most studies (n = 10) reported traditional "hot" and "cold" food beliefs during pregnancy and postpartum, aiming to maintain humoral balance for maternal and child health and to prevent miscarriage. Nutrition advice was sought from family members, friends, relatives, healthcare providers, and media sources, with a preference for advice from family members in their home countries. There is a need for culturally appropriate nutrition education resources to guide pregnant migrants through healthy and harmful cultural food practices and overall nutrition during this crucial period. (PROSPERO Registration: CRD42023409990).

Supportive and palliative care needs in advanced non-malignant liver disease: systematic review

Advanced cirrhosis confers a significant symptom burden and has a 50% 2-year mortality rate in those with decompensated disease. There is increasing demand for supportive and palliative care (SAPC) for...

Application and Quality of Model-Based Meta-Analysis in Pharmaceutical Research: A Systematic Cross-Sectional Analysis and Practical Considerations.

Model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) can be used in assisting drug development and optimizing treatment in clinical practice, potentially reducing costs and accelerating drug approval. We aimed to assess the application and quality of MBMA studies. We searched multiple databases to identify MBMA in pharmaceutical research. Eligible MBMA should incorporate pharmacological concepts to construct mathematical models and quantitatively examine and/or predict drug effects. Relevant information was summarized to provide an overview of the application of MBMA. We used AMSTAR-2 and PRISMA 2020 checklists to evaluate the methodological and reporting quality of included MBMA, respectively. A total of 143 MBMA studies were identified. MBMA was increasingly used over time for one or more areas: drug discovery and translational research (n = 8, 5.6%), drug development decision making (n = 42, 29.4%), optimization of clinical trial design (n = 46, 32.2%), medication in special populations (n = 15, 10.5%), and rationality and safety of drug use (n = 71, 49.7%). The included MBMA covered 17 disease areas, with the top three being nervous system diseases (n = 19, 13.2%), endocrine/nutritional/metabolic diseases (n = 17, 11.8%), and neoplasms (n = 16, 11.1%). Of these MBMA studies, 138 (96.5%) were rated as very low quality. The average rate of compliance with PRISMA was only 51.4%. Our findings suggested that MBMA was mainly used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of drugs, with a focus on chronic diseases. The methodological and reporting quality of MBMA should be further improved. Given AMSTAR-2 and PRISMA checklists were not specifically designed for MBMA, adapted assessment checklists for MBMA should be warranted.