Our objective is to elucidate the reciprocal association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by prespecified subgroups and determine potential modified factors.

Adhering to PRISMA 2020, we conducted a comprehensive database search up until March 11, 2024. Observational studies reporting on AD and ADHD as either exposure or outcome variables were included. A random-effects model meta-analysis was conducted to calculate pooled estimates. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were undertaken to explore heterogeneity. Publication bias was investigated via funnel plots and Egger's test.

Overall, 49 studies were determined to meet the inclusion criteria after rigorous screening. Patients with AD were more likely to have ADHD (ORs = 1.34, 95% CI 1.25-1.44, p < 0.01; HRs = 1.42, 95% CI 1.20-1.68, p < 0.01), while patients with ADHD also had an increased risk of developing AD (ORs = 1.45, 95% CI 1.21-1.73, p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses indicated that the associations were particularly pronounced among studies that assessed patients with severe AD (ORs = 2.62, 95% CI 1.76-3.92, p < 0.01), suffered from multiple allergic conditions (ORs = 2.89, 95% CI 1.18-7.10, p < 0.01) and sleep disturbances (ORs = 2.43, 95% CI 2.14-2.76, p < 0.01) simultaneously.

This review substantiates the significant bidirectional association between AD and ADHD, indicating that they serve as mutually independent risk factors and may either exacerbate each other. These findings underscore the necessity for heightened awareness and early targeted interventions, especially in individuals with severe AD manifestations, sleep problems, and multiple allergic diseases.

Through violence socialization processes, exposure to higher rates of violence in the macro context may spill over to family violence, including caregivers' use of physical child abuse.

This study examined the associations of violence occurring in macro contexts with parental physical abuse, after accounting for norms justifying women's exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and parental physical punishment against children.

We used data from 435,131 households with a reference child aged 1 to 17 years across 43 countries from rounds 4 and 5 of the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. We employed multilevel logistic regression to estimate the extent to which country-level violence-measured by rates of terrorism and political conflict, homicide, and women's exposure to IPV-was associated with the use of severe and moderate physical abuse. The models controlled for norms justifying IPV and physical punishment, as well as socio-demographic factors.

Results indicated that greater endorsement of IPV (OR = 1.024, p < .001) and attitudes supporting the use of physical punishment with children (OR = 1.016, p < .05) were both associated with higher odds of severe physical abuse after controlling for covariates. The association of terrorism and political violence with severe physical abuse was mediated by norms that legitimize IPV (indirect b = 0.027, p < .01).

Interventions aimed at reducing abusive parenting practices in LMICs may benefit from efforts to reduce social norms that support IPV and physical punishment of children. These interventions should incorporate trauma-informed approaches that recognize the effects of macro-level violence.

Unsuccessful treatment outcomes significantly impact tuberculosis control efforts globally particularly among individuals co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This study aimed to assess the prevalence, trends, and associated factors of unsuccessful Tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among persons with TB/HIV co-infection at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana over a 10-year period.

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital between January 2012 and December 2022. A total of 1,242 persons with TB/HIV co-infection were included in the study. Unsuccessful treatment outcomes were defined as death, treatment failure, or default. Modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors was performed using Stata version 17.0 to identify predictors of unsuccessful outcomes. Crude and adjusted relative risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The prevalence of unsuccessful treatment outcomes for the 10-year period was 24.6% (95% CI: 22.3-27.1). The analysis revealed a decreasing trend of unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes from 47.6% in 2012 to 7.79 in 2022. In the multivariable analysis, older age (≥ 65 years) was associated with a higher risk of unsuccessful outcomes (ARR: 5.6, 95% CI: 2.8-11.1). Conversely, pretreatment weights of 40-54 kg (ARR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.7), 55-69 kg (ARR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3-0.6), and ≥ 74 kg (ARR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7) were associated with reduced risk. The presence of a treatment supporter also lowered the risk of unsuccessful outcomes (ARR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9).

The high prevalence of unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes among persons with TB/HIV co-infection within the 10-year period highlights the need for targeted interventions. Prioritizing care for older patients, improving nutritional support, and promoting treatment supporter involvement will enhance treatment success in Ghana.

Not applicable.

Although previous studies suggest a link between workplace bullying and presenteeism, uncertainties persist regarding the direction, strength, and influencing factors. Understanding the potential mediators and moderators is crucial to addressing these issues in workplace settings.

This study aims to clarify the bidirectional relationship between workplace bullying and presenteeism, assess the strength and direction of this association, and identify individual and work-related factors that mediate or moderate these interactions.

A systematic search of nine databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, WANFANG, and Chinese Biomedical) was conducted from inception through March 30, 2023, with an update on September 8, 2024. Independent reviewers screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Exposure tool. Odds ratios, relative risks, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess effect sizes.

After adjusting for confounders, workers exposed to workplace bullying had 1.74 times higher odds of reporting presenteeism compared to non-exposed individuals (95% CI [1.02, 2.46]). Workers reporting presenteeism also had increased odds of later workplace bullying exposure (OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.23, 3.36]). Various individual and work-related factors were identified as potential mediators and moderators influencing these associations.

This study establishes a bidirectional relationship between workplace bullying and presenteeism. Both individual and work-related factors play a critical role as mediators and moderators, potentially mitigating or amplifying the workplace bullying-presenteeism cycle. Future interventions should target these factors to disrupt this harmful dynamic and improve employee well-being.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) prognosis is affected by unique factors to each individual and studies have indicated that dysregulated expression of circRNAs may serve as prognostic biomarkers for AML. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the prognostic value of circRNAs expression and it's correlation with clinicopathological features. Comprehensive search was conducted in WOS, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and grey literature. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the modified GRADE approach for prognostic and clinicopathological meta-analysis. The hazard ratio (HR) was employed to assess the prognostic value of dysregulated expression of circRNAs in patient survival, while the risk ratio (RR) was utilized to analyze the correlation between circRNAs and clinicopathological features. Our results demonstrated that dysregulation of circRNAs expression was associated with poor prognosis related to overall survival (OS) indicator (HR:2.05; 95%CI: 1.75-2.40) and also related to non-OS indicators such as (EFS, LFS, RFS, and DFS) (HR:2.09, 95%CI: 1.47-2.97). Priori and post-hoc subgroup analysis was conducted to describe variables that potentially affected heterogeneity and effect size. We also evaluated the association between dysregulated expression of circRNAs and 19 clinicopathological parameters. Our results show that there is significant relationship between the dysregulated expression of circRNAs and the mentioned parameters: type M6 vs. other types (RR:1.51, 95% CI:1.12-2.03), FLT3-ITD mutation (RR:1.17, 95%CI: 1.00-1.36), and risk status (RR:1.35, 95% CI: 1.13-1.60). This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that the investigation of circRNAs expression changes can serve as valuable biomarkers for the assessment of prognosis in AML patients.

The association of telomere length (TL) and coronary heart disease (CHD) is still debated, and there is a lack of dose-response meta-analyses on this issue. The aim is therefore to integrate existing evidence on the association between TL and CHD risk and explore the dose-response relationship between them.

PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies up to September 2024. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model, with data presented as RRs and 95 % CIs. Restricted cubic splines were used to assess linear and nonlinear associations. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity. Fourteen articles (8 prospective cohort studies, 2 case-cohort studies, 2 case-control studies, and 2 cross-sectional studies) were finally included in the meta-analysis, with a total sample size of 199,562 participants and 25,752 cases. For CHD, the total RR for the highest TL group compared to the lowest TL group was 0.69 (95 % CI: 0.61, 0.78, I2 = 64.5 %). For every 1 kilobase pair (kbp) increase in TL, the CHD risk decreased by 23 % (RR = 0.77, 95 % CI: 0.69, 0.87, I2 = 89.0 %). The nonlinearity test indicated a linear association between TL and CHD risk (Pnon-linearity = 0.930). Sensitivity analyses indicated that the results were robust.

The meta-analysis showed a linear relationship between TL and CHD. People with low TL may be more likely to develop CHD than those with high TL. The association between the two did not change in a wide range of populations.

Recently, some studies have noted a negative cognitive impact on individuals in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters; however, the causal relationship between disasters and cognitive/neurodegenerative effects remains widely unexplored. This review analyzes the impact of natural disasters on the development of cognitive decline (CD), all-cause dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in disaster-affected individuals. Studies reported from their inception to August 2023 were obtained via public online databases. All data presented in this review was derived from precalculated study results, data presented within/alongside articles, or statistics calculated using data obtained by contacting the articles' authors for ancillary information. Data from 28 studies, representing 4,606,561 individuals, 158,994 CD events, 179,694 dementia events, and 47,193 AD events was included for analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) estimates showed that natural disasters significantly increased the risk of CD (OR: 1.25, CI: 1.20-1.30), all-cause dementia (OR: 1.07, CI: 1.05-1.08), and AD (OR: 1.07, CI: 1.05-1.10) in disaster victims as opposed to less- or non-impacted individuals. The greatest effects were noted following hurricanes, earthquakes with tsunamis, and heat waves. The findings from this meta-analysis indicate that natural disasters are significantly associated with the development of CD, all-cause dementia, and AD.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between vaccinations and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), specifically addressing concerns about a potential increased risk among vaccinated individuals.

A systematic search for cohort studies and case-control studies examining the association between vaccinations and RA was conducted using Medical Subject Headings and relevant keywords across PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to September 2024. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was employed to evaluate the overall certainty of evidence. Statistical analyses, i.e., pooling of relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), were performed using a random-effects model on STATA software (version 14.0). Due to the I² value exceeding 50%, we did not perform an asymmetry test to assess publication bias.

This meta-analysis included 16 observational studies conducted between 2008 and 2024 and involving a total of 25,949,597 participants. The follow-up duration ranged from 0.03 to 9 years, while the data collection period varied from 2.75 to 9.5 years. The analysis found no significant association between vaccination exposure and RA [RR = 1.03, 95% CI (0.95-1.11), I²=93.4%, P = 0.456, low level of evidence]. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of this result. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant risk of RA associated with HPV vaccination [RR = 1.27 95% CI (0.78-2.08), I²=81.4%, P = 0.339], influenza vaccination [RR = 1.10, 95% CI (0.98-1.23), I²=52.4%, P = 0.112], Anthrax vaccination [RR = 2.21, 95% CI (0.75-6.52)], Herpes Zoster vaccination [RR = 2.70, 95% CI (1.70-4.29)], or COVID-19 vaccination [RR = 0.94, 95% CI (0.82-1.07), I²=97.4%, P = 0.340]. However, the subgroup with a follow-up duration varying between 0.5 and 1.8 years showed that (HPV & COVID-19) vaccination had a significant protective effect on RA [RR = 0.92, 95% CI (0.87-0.98), I²=95.3%, P = 0.005].

The evidence for the association between vaccination and RA risk is insufficient, and vaccination may serve as a protective factor for RA over a less than one year follow-up duration.

The etiology of endometriosis is poorly known; established risk factors are limited and few environmental risk factors have been identified. We aimed to explore the associations between several perinatal and childhood environmental exposures and the risk of endometriosis/adenomyosis in women.

This study was based on NutriNet-Santé, an ongoing web-based prospective cohort following-up several tens of thousands of French adults since 2009. The analysis included 25,251 women with health data available who completed a self-administered questionnaire on perinatal and childhood exposures in 2019. Associations with self-reported endometriosis/adenomyosis were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders identified through direct acyclic graphs.

Among women, 1126 (4.5 %) self-reported a diagnosis of endometriosis/adenomyosis. Endometriosis/adenomyosis was positively associated with a low birth weight (<2500 g vs. ≥2500 g: adjusted odds-ratio (aOR) = 1.43, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) = 1.03-2.00), exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy (aOR = 1.86, 95 % CI = 1.33-2.61), daycare attendance (aOR = 1.61, 95 % CI = 1.11-2.33), exposure to pets in childhood (both cat and dog vs. no animals: aOR = 1.23, 95 % CI = 1.08-1.41), and mold exposure in housing during childhood (aOR = 1.42, 95 % CI = 1.15-1.74). Conversely, living on a farm during childhood (aOR = 0.77, 95 % CI = 0.62-0.97) and having farmer parents (aOR = 0.72, 95 % CI = 0.54-0.97) were inversely associated with endometriosis. Maternal age at birth, birth length, prematurity, mode of delivery, or exposure to breastfeeding was not associated with endometriosis/adenomyosis.

Findings from this large population-based study among French adult women suggest associations between several perinatal and childhood exposures and endometriosis/adenomyosis. Research on early-life and childhood environments with endometriosis/adenomyosis might have important implications for the primary prevention of endometriosis and adenomyosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of margin width and boost radiotherapy on the local recurrence risk of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

This is a prospectively registered systematic review and meta-analysis reporting relative risk (RR), OR and HR margin width outcomes. Eligible studies included prospective and retrospective case series with defining margin widths and 48 months of minimum follow-up. All patients (100%) received adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT).

A total of 40 265 patients with pure DCIS in 31 studies were included. ORs and RR were calculated from 15 studies in 12 519 patients, and HRs were calculated from 12 studies in 12 946 patients. Local recurrence was significantly greater with narrower 'close' margins; 0.1-1 mm versus >1 mm in RR (2.88, 95% CI 1.86 to 3.90; p<0.05), OR (4.82, 95% CI 2.45 to 9.48; p<0.05) and HR analysis (1.34, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.67; p<0.05). Compared with margins >2 mm, significantly greater local recurrence was observed in margins 0.1-2 mm in RR (1.72, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.35; p<0.05) and OR (4.43, 95% CI 3.02 to 6.50; p<0.05). Comparing 0.1-1 mm versus >1 mm and 0.1-2 mm versus >2 mm, differences in local recurrence were not statistically significant, once adjusted for boost radiotherapy.

In pure DCIS with WBRT, the local recurrence risk reduces as margin width increases up to 2 mm. The strength of the recommendation for a minimum clear margin of 2 mm is limited by a lack of data comparing 1.1-2 mm with >2 mm. The association between recurrence and close margins is not significant following boost radiotherapy, suggesting a possible alternative to re-excision in patients with close margins <2 mm.

CRD42022308524.

Compared with other solid organ transplantation, the morbidity rate of acute kidney injury is higher in lung transplantation. Our research was designed to examine the occurrence rate and risk factors for acute kidney injury after lung transplantation through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a database search for case-control studies and cohort studies on the occurrence rate and risk factors for acute kidney injury after lung transplantation up to August 19, 2023. Stata 15.0 was used for data analysis.

Nineteen case-control or cohort studies were included, involving 1,755 cases of acute kidney injury after lung transplantation and 1,404 cases of non-acute kidney injury after lung transplantation. Based on the meta-analysis, the risk factors for acute kidney injury after lung transplantation included pulmonary fibrosis (OR, 1.34; CI [1.09-1.65]), hypertension (OR, 1.30; CI [1.07-1.58]), pre-op mechanical ventilation (OR, 3.30; CI [1.84-5.90]), pre-op extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR, 3.70; CI [2.51-5.45]), double lung transplantation (OR, 1.91; CI [1.45-2.53]), cardiopulmonary bypass support (OR, 1.82; CI [1.38-2.40]), cardiovascular events (OR, 1.50; CI [1.15-1.96]), intra-op hypotension (OR, 2.70; CI [1.42-5.14]), post-op extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR, 1.90; CI [1.20-3.01]), sepsis (OR, 3.20; CI [2.16-4.73]), dialysis (OR, 12.79; CI [6.11-26.8]).

Based on the existing evidence, clinical professionals can implement early detection, diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute kidney injury after lung transplantation, to improve the quality of life of these patients.

Risk factors for the placental disorders of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and stillbirth) are complex, frequently involving the interplay between clinical factors and wider social and environmental determinants of health. Biomarkers modulate the maternal and fetal responses to biological processes that underlie the development of placental disorders.

To develop a standardised methodology to assess the importance of, and inter-relationships between, candidate risk factors for the various placental disorders.

Systematic searches were conducted using Medline, Embase, Health Technology Assessments, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Library databases, Google Scholar, and reference lists of retrieved papers.

We deployed a hierarchy of reviews, systematic reviews, and cohort studies with at least 1000 participants (100 for biomarker studies), published in the prior decade.

We assessed the strengths of association and quality of evidence linking risk factors with individual placental outcomes.

We have developed a standardised approach to assess the importance and inter-relatedness of putative risk factors for the placental disorders of pregnancy.

We evaluated the effectiveness of text message reminders on the timely administration of birth dose vaccines among newborns in Viwandani urban informal settlement in Nairobi County, Kenya.

In a pilot stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial, we sequentially randomized pregnant women to receive text message reminders or routine care. Three standardized text messages were sent notifying pregnant women to take their newborn for vaccination at birth during the intervention period. No text messages were sent during the control period but vaccinations were provided as standard practice in Kenya. The primary outcome was timely administration of birth dose vaccines-oral polio vaccine (OPV 0) and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) administered at birth or within 2 weeks of birth.

Among 491 newborns (355 intervention period versus 136 control period), timely administration of birth dose vaccines during the respective intervention and control periods were as follows: OPV 0 only (93.0% vs. 80.9%), BCG only (92.7% vs. 81.6%), and OPV 0 or BCG (92.1% vs. 77.9%). Timeliness of birth dose vaccine administration showed a borderline improvement in the intervention period than the control period: OPV 0 only (adjusted RR [aRR] 1.16, 95% CI: 1.00-1.35), BCG only (aRR 1.14, 95% CI: 0.98-1.33), and both OPV 0 and BCG (aRR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00-1.43).

This trial showed that text message reminders can improve the timely administration of birth dose vaccines among newborns in an urban informal settlement and can be used as an additional tool for improving the timeliness of administering vaccines in such settings.

Inferential statistics enable researchers to make predictions about a population based on sample data. This involves hypothesis testing where the null hypothesis assumes no effect, and the alternative hypothesis suggests a significant effect. Testing requires assumptions like normality and independence to be validated using tests like Shapiro-Wilk or Levene's for normality and variance. Significant findings are determined by p-values, with values under 0.05 typically indicating non-random effects. Choosing between parametric and non-parametric tests depends on data normality and variance homogeneity. Tools such as t-tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and their non-parametric counterparts like Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis are used based on these criteria, ensuring appropriate conclusions about clinical effects and interventions.

Frailty is a risk factor for adverse events in older individuals; however, it has not been fully verified in patients undergoing dialysis. Our aim was to verify the association between frailty and adverse outcomes consisting of mortality, falls and hospitalisation among patients undergoing dialysis by a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Multiple internet databases, were searched from the establishment of each database to April 2022, including the PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane, CNKI, WanFang and China Science and Technology Journal (VIP) databases. Cohort studies exploring the association between frailty and adverse outcomes among patients undergoing dialysis were analysed. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. A random effects model was used to pool the effect size, and comprehensive analyses consisting of subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were assessed.

The search initially identified 2744 studies from six databases. After the screening, 26 studies including 14,089 patients with dialysis aged 44.95-78.10 years were included in the final analysis, all of which were observational cohort studies. The pooled results showed that frailty was a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes (mortality, falls and hospitalisation) among the patients. Therefore, dialysis patients should be screened for early frailty and appropriate interventions should be implemented to improve adverse outcomes.

After a decade of implementation in the US, PrEP uptake remains underutilized by communities that would greatly benefit from it. Event-Driven (ED) PrEP is a potential avenue to increase uptake, however very little is known about its use in the US. We analyzed data derived from Together 5000, an internet-based U.S. national cohort of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) individuals aged 16-49 years and at risk for HIV. First, we looked at predictors of ED PrEP use using a framework based on current US-based PrEP implementation-related variables. Then, we explored whether experiencing certain types of barriers were associated with choice of ED PrEP over daily PrEP using logistic regression analysis. Our findings showed that variables related to education and sexual behaviors were associated with ED PrEP choice, while experiencing barriers to daily PrEP had no effect. We found a gradient effect with education, where individuals who reported having some college had 3 times the odds of taking ED PrEP, those reporting a bachelor's degree had 3.25 times the odds, and those with graduate school education had 7.56 times the odds of choosing ED PrEP compared to those with a high school diploma or less. Individuals who reported having 2 or more hours of lead time for sex had 3.35 times the odds of using ED PrEP (aOR = 3.35, 95% CI 2.23-5.47). Participants who reported having an STI within the last 6 months had 60% lower odds of using ED PrEP (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.72). The use of ED PrEP is a promising pathway for expanding PrEP due to its success and protection levels. Our studies indicated that educational background and behavior influence PrEP choice. Ensuring PrEP candidates and users have access to information about new PrEP types may increase uptake and support implementation efforts.

Cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) after treatment with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in patients with melanoma remain incompletely characterized. To determine the association of BRAF and MEK inhibitor treatment with CAEs in patients with melanoma compared with BRAF inhibitor alone.

PubMed, Cochrane, Embase and Web of Science were systematically searched for BRAF and MEK inhibitors from database inception through 10 May 2024. Randomized clinical trials reporting on CAEs in patients with melanoma being treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors compared with patients with melanoma being treated with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy were selected. Pooled Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs were determined using random-effects analyses. The selected end points were alopecia, cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, hyperkeratosis, keratoacanthoma, palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome, palmoplantar keratoderma, rash, photosensitivity reaction, and skin papilloma. All-grade and high-grade (≥3) CAEs were recorded.

Comparing with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, treatment with BRAF inhibitors alone was associated with an increased risk of rash (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54-0.99; p = 0.039; I2 = 88%), alopecia (RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.20-0.41; P < 0.001; I2 = 76%), hyperkeratosis (RR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22-0.41; P < 0.001; I2 = 56%), palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (RR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.47; P < 0.001; I2 = 81%), palmoplantar keratoderma (RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.26-0.57; P < 0.001; I2 = 29%), Skin papilloma (RR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.52; P < 0.001; I2 = 77%), cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (RR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11-0.42; P < 0.001; I2 = 50%), and keratoacanthoma (RR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12-0.40; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%).

Therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of CAEs, especially rash, alopecia, hyperkeratosis, palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome, palmoplantar keratoderma, skin papilloma, cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, and keratoacanthoma, compared with BRAF inhibitor alone. The risks of photosensitivity reaction was similar between the assessed groups. The findings may help to balance between beneficial melanoma treatment and cutaneous morbidity and mortality.

UMEC/VI administered via a combination inhaler is associated with a clinically significant improvement in lung function and health-related quality of life in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD. However, their efficacy compared to other bronchodilator mono or dual therapies still remains unclear.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of UMEC/VI dual and UMEC/VI/FF triple therapies versus alternative bronchodilator regimens in COPD patients.

A systematic search was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) to select publications published in peer-reviewed journals written in English. The odds ratio (OR) and risk ratio (RR) was calculated, along with their 95% confidence intervals. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochrane Q and I [2] statistics and the appropriate p-value. The analysis used RevMan 5.4.

The current meta-analysis includes 31,814 COPD patients from 17 RCTs. The meta-analysis results demonstrate that the combination of LABA and LAMA provides additive bronchodilation and improved lung function in COPD patients. We found that UMEC/VI dual therapy significantly improved FEV1 (OR 1.98 [95% CI 1.70-2.30]), TDI values (OR 1.97 [95% CI 1.72-2.26]), and reduced SGRQ total scores (OR 1.99 [95% CI 1.71-2.32]), with fewer drug-related adverse events (RR 0.58 [95% CI 0.53-0.64]). Similarly, UMEC/VI/FF triple therapy also showed similar benefits, with significant improvements in FEV1 (OR 1.93 [95% CI 1.73-2.15]), TDI values (OR 2.37 [95% CI 2.15-2.61]), and reduced SGRQ total scores (OR 1.83 [95% CI 1.63-2.05]), and fewer drug-related adverse events (RR 0.53 [95% CI 0.49-0.58]).

This systematic review and meta-analysis concludes that UMEC and VI combinations are an efficacious treatment option for symptomatic COPD patients.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most widespread and fatal pulmonary complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Existing knowledge on the prevalence and risk factors of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is inconclusive. Therefore, we designed this review to address this gap.

To find relevant observational studies discussing the prevalence and/or risk factors of RA-ILD, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were explored. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) / hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with a fixed/ random effects model. While subgroup analysis, meta-regression analysis and sensitivity analysis were carried out to determine the sources of heterogeneity, the I2 statistic was utilized to assess between-studies heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger's test were employed to assess publication bias. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, our review was conducted.

A total of 56 studies with 11,851 RA-ILD patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of RA-ILD was 18.7% (95% CI 15.8-21.6) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 96.4%). The prevalence of RA-ILD was found to be more likely as a result of several identified factors, including male sex (ORs = 1.92 95% CI 1.70-2.16), older age (WMDs = 6.89, 95% CI 3.10-10.67), having a smoking history (ORs =1.91, 95% CI 1.48-2.47), pulmonary comorbidities predicted (HRs = 2.08, 95% CI 1.89-2.30), longer RA duration (ORs = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05), older age of RA onset (WMDs =4.46, 95% CI 0.63-8.29), positive RF (HRs = 1.15, 95%CI 0.75-1.77; ORs = 2.11, 95%CI 1.65-2.68), positive ACPA (ORs = 2.11, 95%CI 1.65-2.68), higher ESR (ORs = 1.008, 95%CI 1.002-1.014), moderate and high DAS28 (≥3.2) (ORs = 1.87, 95%CI 1.36-2.58), rheumatoid nodules (ORs = 1.87, 95% CI 1.18-2.98), LEF use (ORs = 1.42, 95%CI 1.08-1.87) and steroid use (HRs= 1.70, 1.13-2.55). The use of biological agents was a protective factor (HRs = 0.77, 95% CI 0.69-0.87).

The pooled prevalence of RA-ILD in our study was approximately 18.7%. Furthermore, we identified 13 risk factors for RA-ILD, including male sex, older age, having a smoking history, pulmonary comorbidities, older age of RA onset, longer RA duration, positive RF, positive ACPA, higher ESR, moderate and high DAS28 (≥3.2), rheumatoid nodules, LEF use and steroid use. Additionally, biological agents use was a protective factor.

To investigate (1) the association between maternal dietary choices during the first and second trimesters and the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), (2) the association between a GDM diagnosis and dietary choices during pregnancy, and (3) the differences in pregnancy outcomes between individuals with and without GDM.

A prospective cohort study. Pregnant individuals with singleton pregnancy aged 19 ∼ 44 years, without severe pregnancy complications were enrolled in the study. Dietary data were collected at three time points during routine antenatal appointments: 8 ∼ 12 weeks gestation(n = 993), 20 ∼ 24 weeks gestation(n = 732), and 32 ∼ 36 weeks gestation(n = 536). GDM diagnosis and pregnancy outcomes were collected during follow-up from the electronic medical record (EMR).

A total of 93 participants (12.9%) were diagnosed with GDM. Livestock and poultry meat intake during the second trimester were associated with an increased risk of developing GDM (aOR 1.371, 95%CI 1.070-1.756, P = 0.013), and a GDM diagnosis may lead to decreased intake of cereals and its products (P = 0.001), potatoes and its products (P < 0.001), and fruit (P = 0.002) and increased intake of fish, shrimp and shellfish (P = 0.001), eggs (P = 0.015), and milk and milk products (P = 0.011) in the third trimester. Individuals with GDM related to lower risk of excessive gestational weight gain (aOR 0.384, 95%CI 0.188-0.646, P = 0.001) but may increase the risk of fetal macrosomia (aOR 3.873, 95%CI 1.364-10.996, P = 0.011).

Understanding maternal dietary choices around GDM diagnosis is crucial for accurate nutritional assessment and effective education programs. While our findings suggest dietary changes may occur post-diagnosis, further research is needed to confirm these patterns and the potential benefits of early dietary counseling for individuals with GDM.

To assess the association between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) variability and risk of renal function decline in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

A comprehensive search was carried out in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library (until 12 March 2024). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines were followed for this meta-analysis. HbA1c variability was presented as indices of the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), HbA1c variability score (HVS) and haemoglobin glycation index (HGI). This meta-analysis was performed using random-effect models.

Eighteen studies met the objectives of this meta-analysis. The analyses showed positive associations between HbA1c variability and kidney function decline, with hazard ratio (HR) 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.38) for high versus low SD groups, HR 1.47 (95% CI 1.30-1.65) for CV groups, HR 1.32 (95% CI 1.10-1.57) for HVS groups and HR 1.53 (95% CI 1.05-2.23) for HGI groups. In addition, each 1% increase in SD and CV was linked to kidney function decline, with HR 1.26 (95% CI 1.17-1.35), and 1.13 (95% CI 1.03-1.23), respectively. Also, each 1-SD increase in SD of HbA1c was associated with deterioration in renal function, with HR 1.17 (95% CI 1.07-1.29).

The four HbA1c variability indicators were all positively associated with renal function decline progression; therefore, HbA1c variability might play an important and promising role in guiding glycaemic control targets and predicting kidney function decline progression in T2DM.

Although recreational cannabis use and abuse are expressive worldwide, the comparison of worldwide used psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy, with contingency management in the treatment of cannabis use disorder remains inconclusive.

We screened all articles published on MEDLINE (via PubMed) published until October 2023 and conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Sixteen studies were included, and contingency management intervention likely promotes abstinence outcomes and more negative urinalyses for adults or adolescents with cannabis use disorder.

This review provides moderate- to high-quality evidence that contingency management can be used to treat cannabis use disorder. However, further trials need to be developed to analyze the quantity of substance use, personal achievements, and operational improvements after treatment.

To systematically review and synthesis the evidence of vaccine effectiveness (VE) and impact (VI) of meningococcal vaccines in preventing gonorrhoea.

We systematically evaluated studies. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Google Scholar, clinical trial registries, and major health and immunisation conferences. Meta-analysis was performed with the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model to estimate the pooled VE.

Twelve studies met the criteria for inclusion. VE of meningococcal B (MenB) outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines was evaluated in nine studies, with one study evaluating a non-OMV vaccine, MenB-FHbp. The majority of studies targeted individuals aged 15-30 years. Adjusted VE for OMV vaccines against gonorrhoea ranged from 22% to 46%. MenB-FHbp did not show protection against gonorrhoea. The pooled VE estimates of OMV vaccines against any gonorrhoea infection following the full vaccine series were 33-34%. VI was assessed for 4CMenB in Canada and Australia, for VA-MENGOC-BC in Cuba; and for MenBvac in Norway. VI ranged from a 30% to 59% reduction in gonorrhoea incidence.

4CMenB and other MenB-OMV vaccines show moderate effectiveness against gonorrhoea. Further research is required to explore the factors associated with vaccine protection, informing more effective vaccination strategies for the management of gonococcal infections.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV). TB preventive treatment (TPT) can prevent active TB infection in PLHIV for several years after it is completed. During 2019-2021, the six-month course of TPT (using isoniazid) was the most readily available in Uganda; however, program data indicated a TPT program loss to follow-up (LTFU) rate of 12 % during this period. We evaluated factors associated with TPT LTFU among PLHIV in four regional referral hospitals (RRHs) in Uganda from 2019 to 2021.

We abstracted program data from TPT registers on patient LTFU at Masaka, Mbale, Mubende, and Jinja RRHs. Additional data collected included client demographics, duration on HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART), year of TPT initiation, adherence, and point of entry. LTFU was defined as the failure to finish six consecutive months of isoniazid without stopping for more than two months at a time. We conducted bivariate analysis using the chi-square test for independence. Variables with p < 0.05 in bivariate analysis were included in a logistic regression model to establish independent factors associated with LTFU.

Overall, 24,206 clients were started on TPT in the four RRHs. Their median age was 40 years (range, 1-90 years), and 15,962 (66 %) were female. A total of 22,260 (92 %) had TPT adherence >95 %. Independent factors associated with LTFU included being on ART for <3 months (AOR: 3.1, 95 % CI: 2.1-4.5) and 20-24 years (AOR: 4.7, 95 % CI: 1.9-12) or 25-29 years (AOR: 3.3, 95 % CI: 1.3-8.2) compared to 15-19 years.

PLHIV just starting ART and young adults had higher odds of being LTFU from TPT during 2019-2021 in the four RRHs. Close follow-up of PLHIV aged 20-29 years and those newly initiated on ART could improve TPT completion.

Uric acid, as an important antioxidant substance in human body, has attracted much attention in relation to the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the causal relationship between them is still controversial. We perform a meta-analysis to summarize the available evidence from cohort studies on the association between high uric acid and the risk of PD.

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, and Embase to obtain the Odds Ratio (OR) of high uric acid and PD and pooled the data using RevMan software (v5.4; Cochrane library).

A total of 18 studies involving more than 840,774 participants were included. Overall, we found a significant association (OR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77-0.91) between high uric acid and PD. Subgroup analysis was stratified by gender, indicating more statistically significant protective effects of serum urate in men (OR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.54-0.81) than that of in women (OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76-0.98). People under the age of 60 (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33-0.86) are more likely to benefit from high uric acid than people over age of 60 (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.63-0.86). The resistance of high uric acid to PD in LRRK2 mutation carriers (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.45) is stronger than that in non-manifesting LRRK2 mutation carriers (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16-0.85). In addition, a dose-response trend of serum urate to reduce PD risk was also observed (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.48-0.93).

Our study confirms a significant association between high uric acid and the risk of PD, especially in men under 60 years old, and a dose-response trend of uric acid to reduce PD risk was also observed. Furthermore, LRRK2 mutation carriers are more likely to benefit from high uric acid than non-manifesting LRRK2 mutation carriers.

Islets of Langerhans beta cells diminish in autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Teplizumab, a humanized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, may help T1DM. Its long-term implications on clinical T1DM development, safety, and efficacy are unknown.

To assess the effectiveness and safety of teplizumab as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with T1DM.

A systematic search was conducted using four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) to select publications published in peer-reviewed journals written in English. The odds ratio (OR) and risk ratio (RR) were calculated, along with their 95%CI. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochrane Q and I 2 statistics and the appropriate P value.

There were 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the current meta-analysis with a total of 1908 T1DM patients from diverse age cohorts, with 1361 patients receiving Teplizumab and 547 patients receiving a placebo. Teplizumab was found to have a substantial link with a decrease in insulin consumption, with an OR of 4.13 (95%CI: 1.72 to 9.90). Teplizumab is associated with an improved C-peptide response (OR 2.49; 95%CI: 1.62 to 3.81) and a significant change in Glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in people with type 1 diabetes [OR 1.75 (95%CI: 1.03 to 2.98)], and it has a RR of 0.71 (95%CI: 0.53 to 0.95).

In type 1 diabetics, teplizumab decreased insulin consumption, improved C-peptide response, and significantly changed HbA1c levels with negligible side effects. Teplizumab appears to improve glycaemic control and diabetes management with good safety and efficacy.

Frailty is a significant public health issue facing aging societies and can be reduced by physical activity (PA), but the dose-response relationship between PA and frailty is not clear. This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis aimed to assess the effect of PA on frailty in adults by aggregating data from observational studies.

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, SAGE Reference Online, SinoMed, CINAHL and CNKI were retrieved for articles published before May 2024. After quality evaluation, data on PA and the risk of frailty were extracted. Stata/MP 17.0 was used for dose-response meta-analysis.

A total of 15 articles were included, involving 34,754 participants, including 4250 subjects with frailty or pre-frailty. The consequence of the dose-response meta-analysis revealed that compared with those who were not active at all, a 22 % (95 % CI, 16 %-28 %) reduction in the risk of frailty in individuals with 11.25 MET h/week of cumulative activity and a 55 % (95 % CI, 44 %-63 %) reduction in the risk of frailty in those with 22.5 MET h/week of cumulative activity; for higher activity levels (36.75 MET h/week), the risk of frailty was reduced by 68 % (95 % CI, 58 %-76 %) and continued to be reduced as PA volum increased.

There is a non-linear dose-response relationship between PA and frailty risk. Even small amounts of PA could reduce the risk of frailty. Meeting the minimum recommended PA target could reduce some risks, and doubling the recommended PA volumes could reduce most risks, which continue to increase as the volum of PA accumulates.

Epidemiological studies are essential in medicine and public health as they help identify risk factors and causes of diseases. Additionally, they are key to planning, implementing, and evaluating health interventions aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of diseases. Among these studies, analytical observational studies, such as cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies, are the most used. The validity of their results largely depends on the robustness of the design, execution, and statistical analysis. Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the most common errors in the selection of methodological design and statistical tests in analytical observational studies and to provide recommendations to correct them. Methodology: A comprehensive review of the available literature on methodology in epidemiological observational studies was conducted, focusing on cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. Common errors in the selection of designs and statistical tests were identified and analyzed. Results and Conclusions: Errors in the selection of methodological design and statistical tests are common in epidemiological observational studies. Based on the identified errors, a series of recommendations is provided to improve the selection of methodological design and statistical tests, thereby increasing the reliability of the results in cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies.

The influence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on postpartum cardiometabolic indicators is primarily restricted to glucose and lipid metabolism, however the indicators for liver and kidney function have been rarely explored, and the role of the third-trimester inflammatory factors in these associations has never been investigated.

Based on the Ma'anshan birth cohort (MABC), women with or without GDM history were selected and invited to participate in a 6-year postpartum follow-up. The fasting blood samples were collected to measure 16 comprehensive metabolic indicators during a 6-year postpartum follow-up: fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR), etc. Seven inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, and IL-17 A, were measured with serum samples collected during the third trimester of pregnancy. Linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between GDM and 6-year postpartum metabolic indicators, GDM and third-trimester inflammatory factors, and the third-trimester inflammatory factors and 6-year postpartum metabolic indicators. Mediating and moderating effect analyses were further performed to explore if the third-trimester inflammatory factors mediate or modify the association between GDM and postpartum cardiometabolic indicators.

From July 2021 to August 2022, 307 participants have been followed up, with 99 women with a prior GDM history. Compared with those without GDM, individuals with a prior history of GDM had significantly elevated levels of FPG (β = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.62, PFDR < 0.001), HbA1c (β = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.34, PFDR = 0.009), TyG (β = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.37, PFDR = 0.024) at 6 years postpartum, and the association between GDM and SCR (β = 2.43, 95% CI: 0.02 to 4.85, PFDR = 0.144) reached nominal significance level. GDM history was associated with a decreased level of third-trimester IL-17 A (β = -0.58, 95% CI: -0.99 to -0.18, PFDR = 0.035). No significant association between third-trimester inflammatory factors and 6-year postpartum metabolic indicators was observed. And no mediating or moderating effect of third-trimester inflammatory factors was observed in those associations.

A prior history of GDM was significantly associated with elevated FPG, HbA1c, and TyG in women at 6 years postpartum, whereas third-trimester inflammatory factors had no role in mediating or moderating these associations.

We aimed to determine the association between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and cervical incompetence (CI). We hypothesise that insulin resistance induces a glucose metabolism disorder that could potentially cause cervical incompetence, resulting in an adverse outcome.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to summarise the evidence regarding the strength of the association of occurrence of CI in a PCOS pregnant woman compared to a non-PCOS pregnant woman. We defined PCOS as the presence of two of the three Rotterdam criteria, and a combination of clinical symptoms and ultrasound findings were used to diagnose CI.

This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) reporting standards and the PROSPERO registration. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases to identify observational studies up to December 2022. We included studies in English which compared the PCOS and non-PCOS pregnant women who were diagnosed using Rotterdam criteria and subsequently developed CI in the same pregnancy. We excluded the studies which did not report CI as an outcome. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias (JBI critical appraisal tools). In the meta-analysis, effect estimates were pooled using the random effects model, and heterogeneity was measured using I2 statistics.

We identified 23 articles, of which 19 were screened, and three studies were included in the meta-analysis. Three observational studies reported the data of 3845 pregnant women with PCOS and 9449 pregnant women without PCOS. One hundred and forty-one (3.7 %) pregnant women with PCOS developed CI compared to 58 (0.6 %) non-PCOS pregnant women [Risk ratio: 5.3; 95 % confidence interval: 1.9-14.6; I2: 89 %]. Of the three studies included, two had a low risk of bias, and one had a moderate risk of bias.

The findings of the review suggested higher risk of CI in a pregnant woman with PCOS compared to pregnant women without PCOS. These findings highlight the necessity of establishing guidelines for early identification of CI in PCOS pregnant mothers to prevent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes following preterm labour.

Hearing loss is increasingly prevalent among younger adults, impacting health and health care use. Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) women have a higher risk of chronic diseases, pregnancy complications, and adverse birth outcomes compared with hearing women. Health care utilization patterns during the perinatal period remain not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine differences in antenatal emergency department and inpatient utilization among DHH and non-DHH women.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study design to analyze 2002 to 2013 Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data to compare antenatal inpatient and emergency department use between DHH (N = 925) and hearing (N = 2,895) women with singleton deliveries. Matching was done based on delivery year, age at delivery, and birth parity in 1:3 case-control ratio. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and hospital characteristics were first compared for DHH mothers and the matched control group using chi-squared tests and t-tests. Multivariable models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Among DHH women (N = 925), 49% had at least one emergency department visit, 19% had an observational stay, and 14% had a nondelivery hospital stay compared with 26, 14, and 6%, respectively, among hearing women (N = 28,95) during the antenatal period (all ps < 0.001). The risk of nondelivery emergency department visits (risk ratio [RR] 1.58; p < 0.001) and inpatient stays (RR = 1.89; p < 0.001) remained higher among DHH women compared with hearing women even after adjustment. Having four or more antenatal emergency department visits (7 vs. 2%) and two or more nondelivery hospital stays (4 vs. 0.4%) were more common among pregnant DHH women compared with their controls (all p-values < 0.001).

The findings demonstrate that DHH women use emergency departments and inpatient services at a significantly higher rate than their hearing controls during the antenatal period. A systematic investigation of the mechanisms for these findings are needed.

· Antenatal emergency department use is significantly higher among deaf and hard of hearing women.. · Antenatal hospitalizations are significantly higher among deaf and hard of hearing women.. · Hearing loss screening may identify those at risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes..

The prognosis of AIDS after active antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH) are both affected by non-AIDS-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the specific risk ratios between PLWH and individuals negative for HIV are poorly understood. We aimed to systematically review and investigate the CVD risk factors associated with HIV.

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases between 1 January 2015, and 12 May 2023 for articles reported the prevalence and risk factors of CVD such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, coronary artery disease (CAD), and myocardial infarction (MI). Due to the high heterogeneity, we used a random-effects model to analyse the data. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata/MP 17.0 with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

We analysed 31 eligible studies including 312 913 PLWH. People living with HIV had higher risks of dyslipidaemia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.29, 1.82), CAD (HR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.24, 1.51), and MI (HR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.28, 1.68) compared to individuals without HIV. However, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of hypertension between groups (HR = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.97, 1.41). Subgroup analysis revealed that men with HIV, PLWH who smoked and the elderly PLWH had a high prevalence of CVD. Moreover, the disease prevalence patterns varied among regions. In the USA and Europe, for instance, some HRs for CVD were higher than in other regions. Active ART initiation after 2015 appears to have a lower risk of CVD (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, CAD). All outcomes under analysis showed significant heterogeneity (I2>70%, P < 0.001), which the available study-level variables could only partially account for.

People living with HIV had a higher CVD risk than the general population; thus, CVD prevention in PLWH requires further attention. Rapid initiation of ART may reduce the incidence of CVD in PLWH. For timely screening of CVD high-risk individuals and thorough disease management to prevent CVD, further studies are required to evaluate the risk factors for CVD among PLWH, such as age, region, etc.

PROSPERO (CRD42021255508).

While previous reviews found a positive association between pre-existing cancer diagnosis and COVID-19-related death, most early studies did not distinguish long-term cancer survivors from those recently diagnosed/treated, nor adjust for important confounders including age. We aimed to consolidate higher-quality evidence on risk of COVID-19-related death for people with recent/active cancer (compared to people without) in the pre-COVID-19-vaccination period. We searched the WHO COVID-19 Global Research Database (20 December 2021), and Medline and Embase (10 May 2023). We included studies adjusting for age and sex, and providing details of cancer status. Risk-of-bias assessment was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled adjusted odds or risk ratios (aORs, aRRs) or hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using generic inverse-variance random-effects models. Random-effects meta-regressions were used to assess associations between effect estimates and time since cancer diagnosis/treatment. Of 23 773 unique title/abstract records, 39 studies were eligible for inclusion (2 low, 17 moderate, 20 high risk of bias). Risk of COVID-19-related death was higher for people with active or recently diagnosed/treated cancer (general population: aOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.36-1.61, I2  = 0; people with COVID-19: aOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41-1.77, I2  = 0.58; inpatients with COVID-19: aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.34-2.06, I2  = 0.98). Risks were more elevated for lung (general population: aOR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.4-4.7) and hematological cancers (general population: aOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.68-2.68, I2  = 0.43), and for metastatic cancers. Meta-regression suggested risk of COVID-19-related death decreased with time since diagnosis/treatment, for example, for any/solid cancers, fitted aOR = 1.55 (95% CI: 1.37-1.75) at 1 year and aOR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80-1.20) at 5 years post-cancer diagnosis/treatment. In conclusion, before COVID-19-vaccination, risk of COVID-19-related death was higher for people with recent cancer, with risk depending on cancer type and time since diagnosis/treatment.

Oral lesions received increased attention as likely new signs or secondary manifestations of COVID-19. Therefore, we clinically examined oral cavity of patients with COVID-19 and investigated oral lesions and patient comorbidities as possible risk factors of COVID-19 disease outcome.

From January to March 2022, a prospective study was conducted by recruiting all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and Respiratory Intensive Care Unit of Maxi-Emergencies Hospital in Bari, Italy.

From the enrolled 103 COVID-19 patients, 46.6% were females and 53.4% were males. Findings show that risk of presenting with severe COVID-19 disease was higher in patients who developed oral lesions related to COVID-19 than those with no oral lesions (RR = 7.998, p = .002). Next, patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases were at higher risk of a negative COVID-19 disease outcome than those without comorbidities (OR = 8.838, p = .026).

COVID-19-related lesions of oral mucosa should not be ignored as they can be early and easily detectable signs of severe COVID-19 disease condition, thus, serving as a prevention measure for any potential unfortunate event. Findings of this study, without implying causation, offer a direction for future investigations that aim to confirm the presence of specific oral lesions in COVID-19 patients as signs of severe disease progression.

It is plausible that exposure to cannabis in-utero could be associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during childhood and adolescence; however, mixed results have been reported. This study investigated whether there is an association between prenatal cannabis use and ADHD symptoms and ASD in offspring using a systematic review and meta-analysis methodology.

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Psych-Info, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies. The study protocol has been preregistered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42022345001), and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) was used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. An inverse variance weighted random effect meta-analysis was conducted to pool the overall effect estimates from the included studies.

Fourteen primary studies, consisting of ten on ADHD and four on ASD, with a total of 203,783 participants, were included in this study. Our meta-analysis underscores an increased risk of ADHD symptoms and/or disorder [β = 0.39: 95 % CI (0.20-0.58), I2 = 66.85 %, P = 0.001)] and ASD [RR = 1.30: 95 % CI (1.03-1.64), I2 = 45.5 %, P = 0.14] associated with in-utero cannabis exposure in offspring compared to their non-exposed counterparts. Additionally, our stratified analysis highlighted an elevated risk of ADHD symptoms [β = 0.54: 95 % CI (0.26-0.82)] and a marginally significant increase in the risk of diagnostic ADHD among exposed offspring compared to non-exposed counterparts [RR = 1.13, 95 % CI (1.01, 1.26)].

This study indicated that maternal prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with a higher risk of ADHD symptoms and ASD in offspring.

To examine the association between prenatal cannabis use and structural birth defects in exposed offspring.

In line with the preregistered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42022368623), we systematically searched PubMed/Medline, CINHAL, EMBASE, Web of Science, ProQuest, Psych-Info, and Google Scholar for published articles until 25 January 2024. The methodological quality of the included studies was appraised by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). A meta-analysis was carried out to report the pooled effect estimates from the included studies. We further performed subgroup, leave-one-out sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses, which increased the robustness of our findings.

In this cumulative meta-analysis, thirty-six observational studies, consisting of 18 case-control and 18 cohort studies, with 230, 816 cases of birth defects and 18,049,013 controls (healthy babies) were included in the final analysis. We found that offspring exposed to maternal prenatal cannabis are at greater risks of a wide range of structural birth defects: cardiovascular/heart [OR = 2.35: 95 % CI 1.63 - 3.39], gastrointestinal [OR = 2.42: 95 % CI 1.61 - 3.64], central nervous system [OR = 2.87: 95 % CI 1.51 - 5.46], genitourinary [OR = 2.39: 95 % CI 1.11 - 5.17], and any (unclassified) birth defects [OR = 1.25: 95 % CI 1.12 - 1.41].

The findings from the current study suggest that maternal prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with a higher risk of different forms of structural birth defects in offspring. The findings underscore the significance of implementing preventive strategies, including enhanced preconception counselling, to address cannabis use during pregnancy and mitigate the risk of birth defects in offspring.