Background: Women report higher rates of trauma-related disorders compared to men. With women being disproportionately impacted by the consequences of natural hazards, this gender disparity may increase in their aftermath.Objective: This meta-analysis aimed at quantifying gender gaps in mental disorder prevalence following natural hazards, considering both the recent and long-term aftermath of natural hazards, the developmental status of affected countries, and type of hazard.Method: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science in February 2024. Random effects models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) based on point prevalences. OR adjusted for covariates were also descriptively reported.Results: In total, 141 reports (N = 3,726,153 independent participants) were included. The prevalence for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression (MD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) within the first year after the hazard were 24.95%, 8.11%, and 14.24%, respectively. More than one-year post-natural hazard the prevalence for PTSD and MD were 22.89% and 13.51%, respectively. Women had significantly higher odds for PTSD (OR = 1.85) and MD (OR = 1.52) within the first year after the hazard, as well as in later assessments (OR = 1.83 for PTSD, OR = 1.41 for MD). Only four studies reported on GAD gender differences in the recent aftermath of natural hazards, resulting in a non-significant OR of 1.85. Subgroup analyses indicated no differences between developmental status of affected countries and adjusted OR showed no systematic variations upon the inclusion of covariates. Gender differences were larger in the aftermath of earthquakes.Conclusions: Significant gender differences for mental disorders following natural hazards exist, although these differences appear similar to other contexts. Gender-sensitive disaster response plans for mental health are essential.

Background: As the number of older adults increases worldwide, understanding their mental health is crucial, including the impact of traumatic experiences that can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, validated screening and diagnostic instruments for PTSD in older adults are limited.Objective: We sought to provide a comprehensive summary of the diagnostic accuracy of PTSD screening and diagnostic instruments used in older adults (Mage ≥ 60 years).Method: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science databases was conducted for January 1980 through 10 January 2025. Studies that focused on the psychometric properties of PTSD instruments in older adults were included.Results: Out of 21,197 publications screened, only 40 studies including 24 instruments met the eligibility criteria. Only seven were conducted with participants from the general population or primary care patient samples. There were 14 relevant studies in the last ten years, with only six based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria. Validation studies conducted in non-Western and/or non-English speaking older adult samples are rare.Conclusions: There is a shortage of validation studies of PTSD screening and diagnostic tools in the general older adult population. We recommend using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 in clinical practice. It is the gold standard for assessing current and lifetime PTSD in the general population. Further research is required to establish evidence-based clinical cut-off scores and cross-cultural validity for PTSD screening in different populations of older adults. Future studies should also assess measures that consider the multimorbidity in this population (e.g. cognitive impairment and other psychiatric or medical disorders) and are easy to administer in clinical practice.

ABSTRACTBackground: Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in refugees is higher compared to the general population, and barriers in accessing mental health care are often experienced. With staggering numbers of people seeking refuge around the world, and 40% being 18 years or younger, effective trauma-focused therapies for refugee children with PTSD are highly needed.Objective: A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to provide an overview of, and to analyse, intervention studies using PTSD measures in young refugees, assessing treatment effectiveness and addressing efforts to mitigate barriers to mental health care.Method: Eleven databases were searched for studies evaluating trauma-focused treatments (TFT) for refugee children (0-18). Meta-analyses were conducted for all included studies grouped together; and second, per intervention type, using posttreatment measures and follow-up measures. Pooled between-group effect sizes (ESs) and pre-post ESs, using a random-effects model were calculated.Results: A total of 47 studies was retrieved, with 32 included in the meta-analyses. The narrative review highlighted positive outcomes in reducing posttraumatic stress symptoms for CBT-based interventions, EMDR therapy, KIDNET, and other treatments such as art therapy. Meta-analyses revealed medium pooled pre-post ESs for CBT-based interventions (ES = -.55) and large for EMDR therapy (ES = -1.63). RCT and CT studies using follow-up measures showed promising outcomes for KIDNET (ES = -.49). High heterogeneity of the included studies limited interpretation of several other combined effects. Results should be interpreted with caution due to the generally low quality of the included studies. All studies addressed efforts to minimize treatment barriers.Conclusion: More high-quality studies are urgently needed to inform treatment recommendations. Evidence-based therapies, such as CBT-based interventions, EMDR therapy, and KIDNET, demonstrate promising findings but need further replication. Strategies to overcome barriers to treatment may be necessary to reach this population.

This study aims to identify and summarize existing qualitative empirical research on children's experiences of living with their mental ill-health.

A scoping review with a systematic search of the databases PubMed, CINAHL, and PsychINFO was conducted. The search generated 9,864 studies, which were screened by title, abstract, and full text.

Forty articles were included comprising 826 children aged 8-19 years. The key findings were described in four themes: Identifying oneself with mental ill-health, Managing suffering and daily challenges, Seeking supportive and caring relationships and Navigating a complex school environment. Being identified with mental ill-health brought challenges for children's everyday struggles. Their own coping strategies as well as supportive relationships with friends and adults were important. However, the balance between support and stress was complex.

Children have a desire to manage and comprehend their complex everyday lives of living with mental ill-health and wish for supported yet independent decision-making. Attitudes of friends, adults and professionals are important in providing understanding and non-judgemental support, valuable for children's well-being. Open conversations about mental health and providing accessible, child-centred interventions based on the needs expressed by children are necessary. This study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the central role of children's voices in matters of mental ill-health.

Haemophilia is a rare genetic disease that hinders blood clotting. We aimed to review model-based cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) of haemophilia treatments, describe the sources of clinical evidence used by these CEAs, summarize the reported cost-effectiveness of different treatment strategies, and assess the quality and risk of bias.

We conducted a systematic literature review of model-based CEAs of haemophilia treatments by searching databases, the Tufts Medical Center CEA registry, and grey literature. We summarized and qualitatively synthesized the approaches and results of the included CEAs, without a meta-analysis due the diversity of the studies.

32 eligible studies were performed in 12 countries and reported 53 pairwise comparisons. Most studies analysed patients with haemophilia A rather than haemophilia B. Comparisons of prophylactic versus on-demand treatment indicated that prophylaxis may not be cost-effective, but there was no clear consensus. Emicizumab was generally cost-effective compared with clotting factor treatments and was always dominant for patients with inhibitors. Immune tolerance induction following a Malmö protocol was found to be cost-effective compared to bypassing agents, while there was no consensus for the other protocols. Gene therapies as well as treatment with extended half-life coagulation factors were always cost-effective over their comparators. Studies were highly heterogenous regarding their time horizons, model structures, the inclusion of bleeding-related mortality and quality-of-life impacts. This heterogeneity limited the comparability of the studies. 19 of the 32 included studies received industry funding, which may have biased their results.

It was not possible to perform a quantitative synthesis of the results due to the heterogeneity of the underlying studies.

Differences in results between previous CEAs may have been driven by heterogeneity in modelling approaches, clinical input data, and potential funding biases. A more consistent evidence base and modelling approach would enhance the comparability between CEAs.

Job satisfaction among healthcare workers is essential for maintaining high-quality care. Previous research has shown different levels of job satisfaction, but there is no comprehensive list of determinants of job satisfaction among healthcare workers. This study aims to provide a comprehensive list of determinants of job satisfaction in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar). A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across five databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and review using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) quality assessment checklist. The review was undertaken between 1 January 2012 and 4 November 2022. Five hundred titles and abstracts were screened, yielding 73 eligible studies for inclusion in this review. Of the included studies, 60 were carried out in Saudi Arabia (82.2%), six in Oman (8.2%), three in Qatar (4.1%), two in the United Arab Emirates (2.7%), one in Kuwait (1.4%), and one in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (1.4%). The analysis identified 14 key determinants of job satisfaction among healthcare workers in GCC: pay, promotion, co-workers, supervision, fringe benefits, contingent rewards, operating conditions, nature of work, communication, workload, leadership style, relation with patients, demographic variables, and others, such as hospital type. Thus, our study expands on Spector's nine determinants model of job satisfaction, hence providing a wider and more detail insight into job satisfaction in workplace.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intra-articular vancomycin powder in reducing prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in primary hip and knee arthroplasty through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

A research in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases was performed to identify randomized clinical trials comparing intra-articular vancomycin use to conventional antibiotic prophylaxis in total hip or knee arthroplasty patients, assessing postoperative infection rates, adverse drug reactions, and venous thrombotic events. Statistical analysis was performed using R (RStudio 2024.04.2), and heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 test.

A total of 1485 patients from five randomized clinical trials were included, with 737 receiving intra-articular vancomycin. The infection rate was 0.54 % in the intervention group and 1.73 % in the control group (RR 0.37; 95 % CI 0.02-8.95; p = 0.369; I2 = 49 %), showing no statistically significant difference between the groups. Adverse reactions to the glycopeptide were reported in six cases (0.8 %) in the intervention group compared to four cases (0.5 %) in the control group (RR 1.50; 95 % CI 1.50-150; p = 0.001; I2 = 0 %). Regarding thrombotic events, there was one case in 647 patients in the intervention group and three cases in 660 patients in the control group (RR 0.45; 95 % CI 0.03-7.02; p = 0.169; I2 = 0 %).

Although no significant difference was found, the intervention group showed a trend toward lower infection rates. Additional RCTs with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

The prospective registration of the meta-analysis was conducted on PROSPERO in July 2024 with the protocol number 565988.

Maternal health disparities are recognized as a significant public health challenge, with pronounced disparities evident across racial, socioeconomic, and geographic dimensions. Although healthcare technologies have advanced, these disparities remain primarily unaddressed, indicating that enhanced analytical approaches are needed.

This review aims to evaluate the impact of machine learning (ML) and statistical methods on identifying and addressing maternal health disparities and to outline future research directions for enhancing these methodologies.

Following the PRISMA guidelines, the review of studies employing ML and statistical methods to analyze maternal health disparities within the United States was conducted. Publications between January 1, 2012, and February 2024 were systematically searched through PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Inclusion criteria targeted studies conducted within the U.S., peer-reviewed articles published during the period, research covering the postpartum period up to one year post-delivery, and studies incorporating both maternal and infant health data with a focus primarily on maternal outcomes.

A total of 147 studies met the inclusion criteria for this analysis. Among these, 129 (88 %) utilized statistical methods in health sciences to analyze correlations, treatment effects, and public health initiatives, thus providing vital, actionable insights for policy and clinical decisions. Meanwhile, 18 articles (12 %) applied ML techniques to explore complex, nonlinear relationships in data. The findings indicate that while ML and statistical methods offer valuable insights into the factors contributing to health disparities, there are limitations regarding dataset diversity and methodological precision. Most studies concentrate on racial and socioeconomic inequalities, with fewer addressing the geographical aspects of maternal health. This review emphasizes the necessity for broader dataset utilization and methodology improvements to enhance the findings' predictive accuracy and applicability.

ML and statistical methods show great potential to transform maternal healthcare by identifying and addressing disparities. Future research should focus on broadening dataset diversity, improving methodological precision, and enhancing interdisciplinary efforts.

To identify studies that explored pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes regarding Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Scopus, Medline (via Pubmed), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), and PsycINFO databases until July 2024. Cross-sectional studies that measured pharmacists' knowledge and attitudes toward AD using structure instruments were included. Two reviewers independently performed the selection of studies, data extraction, and methodological assessment.

Ten studies published between 2016 and 2024, involving 7810 participants, were included. Most studies were conducted in Asia (n = 5), in community pharmacies (n = 8), and used the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (n = 8). The response rate varied from 8 % to 100 %, while the percentage of correct responses about AD ranged from 50.1 % to 85.3 %. A knowledge gap was identified in areas such as recognizing symptoms, understanding risk factors for AD development, and providing effective patient care. Pharmacists demonstrated greater expertise in the pharmacological management of AD.

The findings suggest the need for training programs and interventions targeting pharmacists working in services that care for patients with AD.

Sarcopenia and intrinsic capacity are closely linked factors that impact the health and functional aging of older adults.

This systematic review aims to investigate the associations between the domains of IC and sarcopenia in older adults.

The study follows PRISMA guidelines and is registered on PROSPERO. The review included original studies (cohort, cross-sectional, or randomized controlled trials) with participants aged 60+ diagnosed with sarcopenia (based on EWGSOP or other recognized definitions). Intrinsic capacity (IC) was assessed based on the five domains defined within the IC framework-cognition, locomotion, sensory, psychological, and vitality. The Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) approach developed by the World Health Organization supports the optimization of IC and functional ability through person-centred and coordinated care. Exclusion criteria included studies with insufficient data on sarcopenia prevalence and IC scores, as well as reviews or studies unrelated to sarcopenia or IC.

A total of 397 articles were identified, with 5 meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies, involving 6651 participants aged 60 to 82 years (54.8 % male, 45.2 % female), examined the association between sarcopenia and intrinsic capacity in older adults, using the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia proposed by the EWGSOP and assessing IC based on its key components. Despite the limited number of studies, the findings suggest a significant link between declining intrinsic capacity and sarcopenia.

These results underscore the importance of a multifactorial approach in assessing and managing sarcopenia, which may improve early detection and support healthy aging.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) represents a growing health concern worldwide. Among the pursuit of therapeutic interventions, interest in natural bioactive compounds has intensified because of their potential hepatoprotective effects. This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of plant-derived hydrolysates and peptides on MAFLD through the current literatures, encompassing their mechanisms of action. Key outcomes evaluated included changes in liver enzymes, liver lipid content, inflammation markers, and histopathological improvements. Preliminary findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of plant-derived hydrolysates and peptides on the improvement of MAFLD-related parameters, with mechanisms implicating antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering properties. This review highlights emerging evidence supporting the potential therapeutic role of plant-derived hydrolysates and peptides in the management of MAFLD. However, more well-designed clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations are warranted to elucidate their efficacy, optimal dose, and long-term safety.

Menopause, a crucial transitioning stage for women, can significantly impact mood and wellbeing. We aimed to systematically examine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on health outcomes, including menopausal symptoms, quality of life (QOL), sleep quality, anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, mindfulness levels, and female sexual function index.

Eight databases were searched from inception to November 4, 2024 for randomized controlled trials. Two researchers independently selected, extracted, and appraised trials using the Cochrane Collaboration's 'risk of bias' tool. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression were performed using Stata 18.0. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of evidence.

A total of 19 studies (1670 participants) published between 2011 and 2024 were identified. Of these, 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with control group, The pooled analysis demonstrated that MBIs had statistically significant effects on menopausal symptoms (SMD, -2.10; 95 % CI, -3.49 to -0.70), QOL (SMD, -0.88; 95 % CI, -1.67 to -0.09), sleep quality (SMD, -0.92; 95 % CI, -1.65 to -0.20), anxiety (SMD, -1.03; 95 % CI, -1.42 to -0.66), depressive symptoms (SMD, -0.91; 95 % CI, -1.30 to -0.53), stress (SMD, -0.85; 95 % CI, -1.55 to -0.15), and mindfulness levels (SMD, 1.19; 95 % CI, 0.35 to 2.02). The overall quality of evidence for all pooled estimates were graded as low and moderate due to methodological limitations and small sample size. The low attrition rate (6 %) and relatively high adherence rate (79 %) highlight the acceptability of MBIs.

This systematic review and meta-analysis support using of MBIs to improve health outcomes in menopausal women. Rigorous randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up are needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking MBIs to menopausal health and strengthen evidence for clinical application.

The potential introduction of cultivated meat products to the market, framed as sustainable alternative to conventional animal-source foods, underscores the need to examine psychological barriers and predisposing factors influencing consumer acceptance. Familiarity is often considered a facilitating factor, based on the premise that higher familiarity with cultivated meat is associated with greater acceptance. However, evidence remains contradictory and poorly integrated. This review examines and organizes the literature on familiarity with cultivated meat and its influence on consumer acceptance. A scoping review of peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted on June 7, 2024, following PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Comprehensive searches across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo included no restrictions on participant type, geographic location, social and cultural contexts, language, or publication time. 63 articles were analyzed to examine (i) definitions of familiarity, (ii) methodologies measuring familiarity with cultivated meat, and (iii) evidence regarding its influence on consumer acceptance of cultivated meat. Results indicate that current research on familiarity is largely based on non-representative samples, with data recency limitations, and inconsistent operationalization. Familiarity is often conflated with the related yet distinct constructs of awareness and knowledge, revealing a lack of clarity in literature. The review also identified various approaches for assessing familiarity, all lacking psychometric rigor, hindering replicability and comparability of findings. This review highlights the need for further research to clarify the theoretical and operational definition of familiarity and its role in consumer acceptance of cultivated meat.

Aerobic exercise improves cognitive functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), while dance, combining music and synchronized movement, offers additional cognitive benefits. Despite music's potential role in enhancing cognitive outcomes, most research on aerobic exercise has not considered the impact of accompanying music. This review compared the effectiveness of aerobic exercise with music, aerobic exercise without music, and dance on cognitive function in adults with MCI. A total of 38 papers from 25 randomized controlled trials (N = 2048) were synthesized. The multilevel meta-analyses showed that compared to the control group, global cognition was improved by aerobic exercise with music (g = 1.2 [0.47, 1.94]), aerobic exercise without music (g = 0.48 [0.18, 0.79]), and dance (g = 0.55 [0.13, 0.96]). Dance also enhanced short-term memory (g = 0.41 [0.24, 0.59]), learning efficiency (g = 0.39 [0.14, 0.65]), and retrieval fluency (g = 0.7 [0.19, 1.22]). Bayesian network meta-analyses indicated that aerobic exercise with music had the highest probability of being the most effective for improving global cognition, executive function, and processing speed. Dance was likely to be the most beneficial for enhancing short-term memory, learning efficiency, and retrieval fluency. This study supports that incorporating music in exercise amplifies the cognitive benefits beyond exercise alone for individuals with MCI. The "Music Exercise Synergy Model" is proposed to explain the cognitive benefits of combining music with exercise. Dance strategically uses music for coordination, offering psychological, social, cognitive, and neurobiological benefits and contributing to the observed enhancements in memory functions.

This study assessed the impact of radiotherapy (RT) techniques on chronic skin reactions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer patients, comparing conventional RT with modern techniques such as intensity-modulated RT (IMRT).

A comprehensive search was conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception to April 26, 2024. Conventional RT, which uses 2D or 3D imaging to shape radiation beams without dynamic intensity modulation, was compared with alternate RT techniques for adjuvant breast cancer treatment. Primary outcomes included chronic grade ≥ 2 skin toxicities (hyperpigmentation, breast fibrosis, telangiectasia, edema, and atrophy/retraction) and HRQoL, assessed mainly with EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 modules. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model.

From 1305 screened studies, nine articles representing seven studies (2418 patients), including three randomized controlled trials, met inclusion criteria. Most studies used conventional fractionation (45-50 Gray in 25 fractions). IMRT was associated with a lower incidence of chronic grade ≥ 2 hyperpigmentation (RR: 0.39, 95%CI: 0.17-0.89, I2 = 0%) compared to conventional RT. No significant differences were found for grade ≥ 2 breast fibrosis, telangiectasia, edema, and atrophy/retraction. Cosmetic outcomes from IMRT were favorable in the short term, with no long-term differences. Three studies reported no significant HRQoL differences between IMRT and conventional RT.

IMRT may reduce certain chronic skin toxicities compared to conventional RT. However, consistent long-term differences in cosmetic outcomes or HRQoL were not observed. These findings are limited by the small number of studies and variability in reporting standards.

The production of chemical pesticides poses a critical threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide, with sub-lethal impacts evident at even relatively low concentrations. Historically, ecotoxicologists have ignored an organism's social context when investigating the effects of pesticide exposure and, instead, have tended to focus on individual-level impacts. Recently, however, there has been a growing interest in understanding the impacts of pesticide exposure on social behaviour. Despite this shift, a holistic understanding of how pesticides impact conspecific interactions (i.e., social behaviour towards individuals of the same species) is lacking due to the multitude of behaviours, pesticides and species currently investigated. In this meta-analysis, we examine the effects of pesticide exposure on conspecific interactions in fish by using data collected from 37 studies on 31 pesticides and 11 species. Our results indicate that pesticide exposure generally reduces the expression of conspecific interactions, but it does not affect the variability of responses between individuals. Courtship behaviour was the most impaired, suggesting that pesticide exposure could weaken how matings are partitioned among individuals in a population. Triazoles and organochlorines were the most impactful pesticide classes for mean differences in behaviour, while triazoles and organophosphates had the greatest effects on response variability. These findings indicate that endocrine-disrupting and neurotoxic pesticides can impact fish conspecific interactions, regardless of their chemical class. Unfortunately, there is a large taxonomic bias in the literature, with most studies using zebrafish as a model, which, in turn, provides scope for studies using a broader range of fish species. We found little statistical evidence of publication biases in our dataset and our results were validated by sensitivity analyses. Overall, our synthesis suggests that pesticides broadly reduce the expression of social behaviours, though effects vary across behaviours, pesticide types, and fish species.

This bibliometric analysis aims to explore scientific data on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Head and Neck Cancer (HNC).

AI-related HNC articles from the Web of Science Core Collection were searched. VosViewer and Biblioshiny/Bibiometrix for R Studio were used for data synthesis. This analysis covered key characteristics such as sources, authors, affiliations, countries, citations and top cited articles, keyword analysis, and trending topics.

A total of 1,019 papers from 1995 to 2024 were included. Among them, 71.6% were original research articles, 7.6% were reviews, and 20.8% took other forms. The fifty most cited documents highlighted radiology as the most explored specialty, with an emphasis on deep learning models for segmentation. The publications have been increasing, with an annual growth rate of 94.4% after 2016. Among the 20 most productive countries, 14 are high-income economies. The keywords of strong citation revealed 2 main clusters: radiomics and radiotherapy. The most frequently keywords include machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, and head and neck cancer, with recent emphasis on diagnosis, survival prediction, and histopathology.

There has been an increase in the use of AI in HNC research since 2016 and indicated a notable disparity in publication quantity between high-income and low/middle-income countries. Future research should prioritize clinical validation and standardization to facilitate the integration of AI in HNC management, particularly in underrepresented regions.

Sleep disturbances are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly impacting quality of life. Melatonin may help, but evidence regarding dosage, formulation, and treatment duration remains inconclusive.

To quantitatively analyze the effect of melatonin on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in patients with PD.

We comprehensively searched multiple databases up to February 2025, selecting relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RevMan software was used for analysis. Subgroup analyses included treatment duration (4 weeks vs. 8-12 weeks), dose (≤4 mg vs. >4 mg), and formulation (immediate-release vs. prolonged-release).

Five RCTs (206 patients) were included. Doses ≤4 mg showed no significant improvement in total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (MD = -1.26, 95 % CI: -2.72 to 0.20). Doses >4 mg demonstrated a stronger effect (MD = -2.90, 95 % CI: -4.02 to -1.78). Short-term use (4 weeks) significantly improved PSQI scores (MD = -2.43, 95 % CI: -3.98 to -0.88), whereas longer treatment (8-12 weeks) showed a non-significant effect (MD = -1.24, 95 % CI: -3.15 to 0.67). Immediate-release formulations significantly improved PSQI scores (MD = -2.20, 95 % CI: -3.32 to -1.08), while prolonged-release formulations showed no significant effect (MD = -0.61, 95 % CI: -4.15 to 2.93). Melatonin modestly reduced excessive daytime sleepiness measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (MD: -0.97, 95 % CI: -1.81, -0.14).

Melatonin may improve sleep quality and reduce daytime sleepiness in PD patients, particularly with short-term use of immediate-release formulations.

This review aimed to analyze and present information on the color of natural teeth and its distribution based on color measurement methods, types of studies, and research areas. Additionally, it identified knowledge gaps in dental color science and suggested areas for future research.

This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist.

An electronic search was conducted in Medline/Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science - all databases using the keywords: human, tooth, color, color difference, spectrophotometer, colorimeter, spectroradiometer. The review included exclusively English-written research articles published after 1979, focusing on those in-vivo protocols that instrumentally evaluated the color of natural human teeth and provided CIEL*a*b*, CIEL*C*h° color coordinates, and/or shade guide designation.

The initial database search yielded 2501 results: Medline/Pubmed: n = 482; Scopus: n = 334; and Web of Science All databases: n = 1685. After selection, 53 research articles were included in the review.

Dental color is a complex phenomenon to objectively record, communicate, and reproduce. Although studies have reported color coordinates based on age, gender, ethnicity, and tooth type, there is no consensus within the scientific community. Most studies are cross-sectional, limiting the understanding of tooth color changes over time. Longitudinal studies involving diverse cultures with adequate sample sizes and consistent methodologies are necessary for objective color recording.

Studies assessing the color of in-vivo natural teeth show a high level of heterogeneity due to the diversity in the type of measurement devices used, experimental conditions, illuminant, number of teeth used, area of measurement, and color coordinates reported. Future research must consider more extensive and representative population samples, with standardized reporting of demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity), and more detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria. It is crucial to prioritize the standardization of measurement conditions, using a non-contact instrument, calibration, and detailed reporting of color.

Subanesthetic-dose ketamine has recently been reported to improve hedonic pleasures associated with social interactions and altruism in individuals with treatment-resistant depression. However, whether ketamine-among other glutamate receptor modulators-also improves empathy and/or prosocial behavior in humans remains unknown. Under a framework grounded in neurobiology that proposes that prosocial behavior is preceded by empathy, this systematic review sought to: (1) explore the entactogenic effects of glutamate receptor modulators observed in clinical trials (as either primary or secondary outcomes), and (2) synthesize the findings regarding which glutamate receptor modulators produce entactogenic effects. Thirty studies that included self-reported ratings, neuroimaging, and/or behavioral task outcomes met inclusion criteria suggesting potential entactogenic effects associated with ketamine and, to less convincing extent, d-cycloserine (DCS). The findings suggest that ketamine and DCS may modulate self- and other-perception, involving changes in activity in brain regions involved in empathetic concerns and mentalizing, the ability to understand one's own and others' thoughts and feelings. These findings may guide potential therapeutic interventions for neuropsychiatric conditions associated with impaired empathy and prosocial behavior, including mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders.

Head nurses face challenging job content while executing their roles as nurses, managers and leaders. However, no European compilation for portraying head nurses' job content within a hospital setting is available.

This study aimed to develop and validate a compilation that portrays the job content of head nurses employed in European hospitals.

A scoping review was conducted according to Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) five-stage framework. Articles focusing on the job content of head nurses with 24-h first-line organizational and hierarchical responsibility for one or two units in a hospital setting were included. An electronic search was performed via PubMed, CINAHL and Embase. The Journal of Nursing Administration, Journal of Nursing Management, Journal of Healthcare Management and Nursing Management were screened manually to identify additional articles. Subsequently, a two-round multinational Delphi study following the methodology of Yussof (2019) was carried out. Eligible opinion leaders originated from Europe and included head nurses, as well as second-line nurse managers and hospital executives with head nurse experience. Twenty-three opinion leaders participated in the first round of the Delphi study, and 16 opinion leaders from the initial round subsequently participated in the second round. The item-level content validity index and scale-level content validity index based on the average method were calculated.

The scoping review included 90 articles published between 1934 and 2024. In total, 64 terms were found to name the head nurse position. Job content could be categorized according to four main themes: operational management, patient care, human resources management and unit-level policy development. Fifteen subthemes were determined, namely quality and safety management, staff planning, administrative and financial management, resource and technology management, care planning, direct and indirect patient care, individual and general staff management, learning opportunities, strategic management, creative thinking, and change management. After two Delphi rounds, the final compilation comprises four main themes, 10 subthemes and 53 task descriptions, excluding staff planning, care planning, direct patient care, administrative management and financial management.

Head nurses' job content mapped by international evidence differs from the job content considered relevant by European opinion leaders. Fragmentation in what European opinion leaders considered relevant within the head nurses' job content became apparent. The compilation can be tailored to different countries or types of hospitals and serve as a guide for second-line nurse managers and hospital executives to determine the key job content based on the priorities and strategic direction of the hospital.

Medical imaging is a vital diagnostic tool that provides detailed insights into human anatomy but faces challenges affecting its accuracy and efficiency. Advanced generative AI models offer promising solutions. Unlike previous reviews with a narrow focus, a comprehensive evaluation across techniques and modalities is necessary.

This systematic review integrates the three state-of-the-art leading approaches, GANs, Diffusion Models, and Transformers, examining their applicability, methodologies, and clinical implications in improving medical image quality.

Using the PRISMA framework, 63 studies from 989 were selected via Google Scholar and PubMed, focusing on GANs, Transformers, and Diffusion Models. Articles from ACM, IEEE Xplore, and Springer were analyzed.

Generative AI techniques show promise in improving image resolution, reducing noise, and enhancing fidelity. GANs generate high-quality images, Transformers utilize global context, and Diffusion Models are effective in denoising and reconstruction. Challenges include high computational costs, limited dataset diversity, and issues with generalizability, with a focus on quantitative metrics over clinical applicability.

This review highlights the transformative impact of GANs, Transformers, and Diffusion Models in advancing medical imaging. Future research must address computational and generalization challenges, emphasize open science, and validate these techniques in diverse clinical settings to unlock their full potential. These efforts could enhance diagnostic accuracy, lower costs, and improve patient outcome.

Rhythm control strategies are a key component of atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy, with recent reports suggesting racial and ethnic disparities in their utilization. We aimed to determine differences in the utilization of catheter ablation (CA), direct current cardioversion (DCCV), and anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) among different racial and ethnic groups. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (from inception to January 31st, 2024) for studies including adults with AF and reporting CA, DCCV, or AAD utilization rates in at least 2 racial and ethnic groups. Our primary outcome was the likelihood of Black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals undergoing each rhythm control strategy compared to White patients. Pooled estimates were calculated with a random-effects model and were reported as odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Nineteen studies were included comprising 12,598,109 patients. The pooled ORs (95% CI) of undergoing CA for Black individuals was 0.68 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.83), for Hispanic individuals was 0.72 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.82), and for Asian individuals was 0.64 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.86), compared to White individuals. The likelihood of undergoing DCCV (OR [95% CI]) was lower in Black (0.69 [95% CI 0.57 to 0.82]), Hispanic (0.67 [95% CI 0.57 to 0.80]), Asian (0.68 [95% CI 0.64 to 0.72]) patients compared to White patients. Our results identified that racial and ethnic minoritized groups with AF are significantly less likely to undergo treatment with a rhythm control strategy. In conclusion, these findings highlight a significant gap in healthcare delivery that stakeholders, healthcare systems, and clinicians should address.

The aim of this review was to summarize the effectiveness of respiratory muscle training (RMT) in athletes in muscle strength, lung function and performance of athletes. Searches without date limits or language restrictions, in the databases: Medline via PubMed, Lilacs via Virtual Health Library, CENTRAL through the Cochrane Library, PEDro, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, reference lists of retrieved articles and gray literature. The selection of studies and data extraction was performed in duplicate by two independent reviewers. Twenty-five articles (involving 522 athletes) provided sufficient information to be included in the meta-analyzes. Most studies included swimmers and soccer players. The RMT was most commonly performed between 30 and 90% of MIP and/or MEP. Furthermore, in a meta-analysis involving 18 studies (different sports), RMT was favorable to increase MIP values (DM = 27.90cmH2O 95% CI: 16.18cmH2O to 39.62cmH2O, p = 0.00001) and in the meta-analysis involving soccer players, MEP values increased significantly (MD = 31.77cmH2O 95% CI: 22.49cmH2O to 41.05cmH2O, p = 0.00001). We conclude that the TMR favors the improvement of pulmonary function: MIP, FEV1, FVC, Tiffenau Index in athletes, mainly soccer players, who also improved their physical performance. However, these results are based on very low to low quality evidence.

People with bipolar disorder (BD) may experience impairing cognitive deficits, even in remission. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures can depict neurophysiological activity with high temporal resolution. They could therefore be an adequate method to pinpoint the cognitive impairments in BD, facilitating understanding of when exactly the cognitive processing is disrupted and what neurophysiological systems are involved. In the absence of a previous literature examination, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence of associations between EEG and cognitive measures to identify electrophysiological markers of cognitive performance in BD.

A systematic search across PubMed, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo and Cochrane Library until November 2023 was undertaken to identify studies in which a direct correlation between any continuous EEG measure and any continuous cognitive measure in participants with BD was reported. A narrative synthesis approach was used to present the identified correlations, across five cognitive (attention and processing speed, working memory, episodic memory, executive function, and intellectual capacity) and four EEG domains (event-related potentials (ERP), spectral, connectivity and other measures).

A total of 16 articles describing 15 studies were included in the review. Six studies identified significant correlations. Most significant correlations were reported between ERP measures and attention and processing speed performance, several between ERP measures and executive functioning and one within the working memory and the intellectual capacity domain respectively. However, most of the identified significant correlations were conflicting within (different measures or mood states) and across studies with no consistent significant correlation across studies. The majority of identified correlations were non-significant.

As yet no robust EEG markers of cognitive performance in people with BD are known. This review highlights the heterogeneity in measures and participant characteristics between studies and the need for standardization. Further studies with homogeneous methods and participant groups may help to establish consistent associations.

Goal-oriented practices involve practitioners working collaboratively with clients to identify, develop and focus on objectives for the therapeutic work. It has been suggested that the key mechanism underpinning goal-oriented practices with young people is the development of epistemic trust via the foundation of open communication, along with shared decision-making: including young people in decisions about their care. However, goal-oriented work in practice is variable in scope and content, with no research consensus on what it entails, the mechanisms of change and reported outcomes.

This research aims to map the extent, range and nature of the evidence-base for goal-oriented practices, including gaps, through a synthesis of the available empirical evidence from the past 20 years. A scoping review of 9783 studies published from 2003 onwards was conducted.

In total, 116 studies were identified for inclusion in the review, focusing on goal-oriented practices specifically related to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 0-18 (including caregivers as relevant). Alongside presentation of the key elements of the included studies, three themes were developed relating to the features of mental health and wellbeing goal-oriented practice in the contexts of the studies: Conceptual and Empirical Constructs of Goal-Oriented Practices, Quality and Making 'Good' Goals, and The Socio-Cultural Contexts of Goal-Oriented Practice.

Several areas for future research are identified that will build on this evidence, and further understanding in this area. Work towards the development of best practice principles will move practice towards transparency in the understanding and delivery of goal-oriented practices.

It has been questioned whether Streptococcus mutans can still be considered the major etiological agent for caries. The main argument is that most evidence has been based on single-species identification. The composition of the oral microbiome was not analyzed. This systemic review aims to assess the prevalence and abundance of S. mutans in caries-active (CA) and caries-free (CF) subjects based on clinical studies in which the microbiome was investigated. Three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase) were searched until May 22, 2023, for eligible publications that included CA and CF subjects and reported the detection of both S. mutans and the oral microbial community, using DNA-based methods. The clinical and microbial outcomes were summarized and further analyzed using a random-effects model. Of 22 eligible studies, 3 were excluded due to the high risk of bias. In the remaining 19 studies, 16 reported the prevalence of S. mutans, 11 reported its relative abundance, and 8 reported both parameters. The prevalence of S. mutans in CA was either similar to (n = 4) or higher than (n = 12) the CF group. The reported relative abundance in CA was higher than CF in all 11 studies, although the values varied from 0.001% to 5%. Meta-analysis confirmed the significance of these findings. The summary of microbial community data did not reveal other caries-associated bacterial genera/species than S. mutans. In conclusion, the collected evidence based on microbiome studies suggests a strong association between the prevalence and abundance of S. mutans and caries experience. While the cariogenic role of S. mutans in the oral ecosystem should be recognized, its actual function warrants further exploration.

Given the well-established link between maladaptive parenting behaviors (e.g., control, accommodation) and the development and maintenance of child anxiety, it is important to understand parental cognitions that may underlie these parenting behaviors. The goal of this systematic review was to examine the extent to which parental cognitions are associated with child anxiety. A systematic electronic database search of PubMed, PsycINFO, ProQuest Psychology, and EBSCO Child Development and Adolescent Studies was conducted in February 2024. In total, 31 studies met inclusion criteria from 9867 abstracts initially identified. The review revealed that a large number of studies have consistently found associations between child anxiety and two types of parental cognitions, negative beliefs about child anxiety and negative expectations of the child's anxiety. In contrast, studies investigating parental worries about threats to their child and cognitions about parenting are more limited and have produced mixed findings and smaller effects. Future research should examine the directionality and mechanisms of relations between parental cognitions and child anxiety using longitudinal designs, as well as explore the role of cultural factors. Findings suggest that parental cognitions may be an important factor in understanding child anxiety and a potential target for prevention and early intervention.

Occurrence of cervicogenic headache (CeH), mostly expressed by estimates of the prevalence, ranges between 0.4% and 42%. However, transparency on such estimates is lacking, which hinders generalizing results.

Mapping the occurrence (expressed by incidence/prevalence) of CeH.

Mapping review.

A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus databases (last search update January 28th, 2025). The search query comprised terminology relating to "CeH", "prevalence", "incidence".

Thirty-four publications were included (prevalence n = 32, incidence n = 2). The prevalence of CeH varied depending on the geographical location (Norway: 0.17% - USA: 69%), population (age: 0.17%-56.7%, chronic headache: 0.17% - computer users: 64.5%), setting (inpatient: 13.8%-69%, outpatient: 0.38%-10%), diagnostic criteria (International Headache Society: 0.38%-40%, Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group: 0.17%-64.5%), and diagnostic process (questionnaires: 5.3%-64.5%, clinical examination: 0.17%-56.7%, diagnostic block: 0.17%-16.1%).

Most publications were retrieved from Europe, Asia, and the United States. One multicentre study provided results for the African continent. No conclusion could be drawn on the incidence of CeH. The populations studied (e.g., general, age-stratified, specific), settings (e.g., hospital, private practice, clinics, emergency services), diagnostic criteria (e.g., International Headache Society or Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group) and processes (e.g., questionnaires, clinical examination) were heterogeneous. Four publications required a diagnostic block in the diagnostic process. A standardized methodology, especially regarding the diagnostic criteria and process, is needed to compare studies, guarantee quality, and provide estimates to inform policy makers.

Social network analysis is the study of the structure of relationships between social entities. Access to health care administrative datasets has facilitated use of "patient-sharing networks" to infer relationships between health care providers based on the extent to which they have encounters with common patients. The structure and nature of patient-sharing relationships can reflect observed or latent aspects of health care delivery systems, such as collaboration and influence. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed studies that derived patient-sharing network measure(s) in the analyses. There were 134 papers included in the full-text review. We identified and created a centralized resource of 118 measures and uncovered three major themes captured by them: Influential and Key Players, Care Coordination and Teamwork, and Network Structure and Access to Care. Researchers may use this review to inform their use of patient-sharing network measures and to guide the development of novel measures.

Family-focused diabetes management research has typically followed a linear model, viewing parental cognition about diabetes as the main factor shaping a child's adjustment and metabolic control. This scoping review synthesized the research examining the influence of parental cognition factors on preventive behaviors toward diabetic children. A comprehensive search of PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost databases between 2013 and 2023 yielded 1225 articles on parental factors covering knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, and understanding. After de-duplication and independent screening of titles and abstracts per predefined eligibility criteria, seven studies (six quantitative, one qualitative) were included in the analysis. Narrative synthesis showed that facilitating factors for prevention included knowledgeable parents with positive risk perceptions, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. Hindering barriers were deficiencies in parental diabetes understanding, socioeconomic disadvantages, and lack of targeted family interventions. In-depth literature analysis identified parental education level, and comprehension of diabetes risk, alongside financial constraints, as significant predictors of suboptimal management practices. Hence, this scoping review suggests developing evidence-based, multi-stakeholder initiatives optimizing identified cognitive barriers while empowering families through culturally sensitive education and sources of support for curtailing escalating children's diabetes trends.

Early Warning Scores (EWS) have been developed to identify patients at risk of deterioration. Although the application of EWS has become increasingly established in the prehospital setting, their use remains contentious. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the most recent evidence on the predictive accuracy of the EWS for short-term mortality in adults in the prehospital setting. A systematic search was conducted using the Medline, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. Studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the prehospital Modified Early Warning Score, National Early Warning Score or National Early Warning Score 2 in predicting mortality were included. Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission and hospital admission. The review included 16 studies published between 2012 and 2023, with the number of patients totalling 311 932. The literature indicated that prehospital EWS demonstrated a moderate to good diagnostic performance in predicting short-term mortality with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve ranging from 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64-0.73) to 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82-0.97). Overall, diagnostic performance was higher for predicting mortality in short time frames (up to 48 h). The need to use relatively high cut-off points to identify at-risk patients may limit its use for the unselected patient populations found in the prehospital setting. The potential for under-triage and over-triage limits their use further. EWS should not replace structured clinical evaluation and judgement but may be useful as complementary and objective tools to aid the identification of patients at risk.

To investigate: (a) language difficulties in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and (b) motor difficulties in children with developmental language disorder (DLD).

In this systematic review, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Embase were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies. Two researchers independently identified, screened and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). For objective (a), we combined the terms: "developmental coordination disorder" AND "language skills" AND "children". For objective (b) we combined the terms: "developmental language disorder" AND "motor skills" AND "children".

Ten studies on language skills in children with DCD and 34 studies on motor skills in children with DLD are included, most with relatively good methodological quality. The results for language comprehension and production in children with DCD are contradictory, but there is evidence that children with DCD have communication and phonological problems. Evidence for general motor problems in children with DLD is consistent. Studies report problems in balance, locomotor, and fine motor skills in children with DLD. Evidence for aiming and catching skills is inconsistent.

The findings of this systematic review highlight the co-occurrence of language impairments in children with DCD and motor impairments in children with DLD. Healthcare professionals involved in the assessment and diagnosis of children with DCD or DLD should be attentive to this co-occurrence. In doing so, children with DCD and DLD can receive optimal interventions to minimize problems in their daily life.

This study conducted a systematic review of the systematic reviews of readability assessment studies to contribute to future readability research and practice by providing a comprehensive overview of information readability for patients.

We searched multiple databases. We included systematic reviews of studies that quantitatively assessed the readability of health information.

This study included 24 systematic reviews, which assessed the readability of 29,424 materials across 438 studies from 1990 to 2022. All systematic reviews reported that the readability of most materials exceeded the recommended sixth to eight-grade reading level. The readability level did not improve between 2001 and 2022, when the included systematic reviews were published.

We found that the required reading level of information was too high for patients in all clinical areas included in this systematic review. We also identified gaps in readability assessment research in clinical areas and across media types and languages, which should be addressed by future studies.

Health professionals should use available guidelines to make existing patient information easy to read and to write easy-to-read patient information, thereby improving readability. Such efforts are needed regardless of the organizations these professionals work at.

To determine the effects of core stability training on the specific performance of swimmers.

A systematic search of trials up to August 2024 was performed in PubMed, Bireme, Scopus and WOS, following the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA statements. Two reviewers independently selected studies, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB2 scale, and publication bias was addressed using funnel plots and Egger regression. In addition, study quality was assessed with checklists (SIGN/CONSORT). Data were analyzed in RevMan-Web using fixed-effects meta-analysis, assessing heterogeneity with I2, χ2 tests and Galbraith plots. Finally, the certainty of evidence was determined employing the GRADE approach.

Out of 2328 records identified, 11 studies involving 218 swimmers (11-20 years) were selected. Core stability training improved performance in the 50-m freestyle with a decrease of -1.06 s (95% CI = -1.48, -0.63). However, the effect in the 100-m freestyle was inconclusive with a difference of -2.26 s (95% CI = -4.85, 0.33). The certainty of the evidence for the 50-m freestyle was classified as moderate, whereas for the 100-m freestyle it was considered low.

Sport scientists may consider implementing core stability training to optimize specific performance in the 50-m freestyle. However, its effect on the 100-m freestyle and other swimming distances and strokes is still unknown, which highlights the need for further research in these areas.

CRD42024579857.

Medical education is considered psychologically challenging, and medical students often report higher levels of psychological distress compared to non-medical students and the general population. This scoping review aims to identify and map the available scientific evidence on social skills and emotional regulation in medical students, characterize existing studies, identify knowledge gaps, and provide a synthesis of evidence to inform educational practice and curriculum development. This scoping review will follow the methodological frameworks proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Relevant studies will be searched in electronic databases (EMBASE, ERIC, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science) and gray literature sources. The search strategy will use descriptors in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, combined with Boolean operators. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full-texts for inclusion. Data will be extracted using a standardized form and synthesized narratively. Qualitative and quantitative analyses, including thematic analysis and meta-analysis analysis (if appropriate), will be employed to provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence. The review will provide a comprehensive overview of the available scientific evidence on social skills and emotional regulation in medical students, identifying study characteristics, knowledge gaps, and areas for future research. The findings of this scoping review may inform educational practice and guide the development of strategies to promote the well-being and performance of medical students by addressing social skills and emotional regulation in medical curricula. The review protocol will be registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF).

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects up to 80% of patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy. This painful condition significantly impairs quality of life and often necessitates dose reduction or discontinuation of chemotherapy, negatively impacting overall survival. Currently, duloxetine is the only pharmacological treatment recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of various pharmacological interventions in CIPN treatment, providing substantial evidence for clinical practice and future research.

This systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for CIPN.

Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Herbal and phytotherapeutic treatments were excluded. Two independent reviewers performed the study selection, with a third reviewer resolving disagreements. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the COCHRANE's RoB 2 tool.

Out of 860 screened articles, 17 RCTs met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 15 different pharmacological agents. Duloxetine, pregabalin, and amitriptyline were the most studied. Thirteen studies utilized a placebo as a control. Investigated medications exhibited varied outcomes, with some showing significant benefits in reducing neuropathic pain while others did not demonstrate statistically significant efficacy.

Duloxetine is an effective and well-tolerated option, while pregabalin shows promising results but requires further investigation. Other agents, such as venlafaxine and tapentadol, lack strong supporting evidence. Treatments like acetyl-l-carnitine, monosialotetrahexo-sylganglioside 1, and tetrodoxine yield inconsistent results, highlighting the need for additional research. Larger RCTs are recommended for comprehensive evaluation. Nurses are essential in CIPN care by monitoring symptoms, educating patients, and collaborating with the team.

Gambling disorder (GD) is associated with deficits in various cognitive functions. Specifically for executive function (EF), previous findings are inconsistent, despite deficits being reported for shifting, inhibition, planning, and working memory domains. Although a worse performance in EF measures related to GD severity is often reported, there is a need to clarify current evidence. This study aims to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis to clarify the association between EF deficits and GD. The current study followed the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses protocols. The meta-analysis used a random effects model and robust variance estimation to analyze the data, using Hedge's g to report effect sizes. A total of 21 studies were systematically reviewed, of which 17 were included for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was performed for shifting, inhibition, planning, and verbal fluency. Due to a lower number of studies, working memory data was systematically reviewed, but no meta-analysis was performed. Significant effect sizes were found for shifting and inhibition, indicative of deficits in participants with GD. No significant deficits were found for the other EF domains. Working memory results revealed inconsistent evidence, even when divided into verbal and visuospatial modalities. There is enough evidence of deficits in shifting and inhibition in participants with GD. However, better sample characterization should be considered in future studies to better understand the sources of potential heterogeneity. Consideration of gambling severity as a continuous variable could allow for a more detailed analysis of EF alterations across the various degrees of GD.

A recent systematic review reported very high pooled estimates of blood lead levels (BLLs) for Indian children. Current study aimed at systematically pooling the BLLs of Indian children (aged ≤ 14 years). Further, explore the time trend of BLLs with respect to implementing the ban on the use of Pb-petrol (i.e.2000) and a decade later (2010). Observational studies documenting the BLL in Indian children (aged ≤ 14 years) from PubMed-Medline, Scopus, and Embase digital databases from inception to August 2024 were systematically reviewed. Detailed protocol is available at PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022382835). Pooled mean BLL was estimated using the random-effects model and conventional-I 2 statistics to assess the heterogeneity, while the Newcastle Ottawa Scale for bias assessment. Sub-group, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were performed where data permitted. Observations from 65 reports (51 original studies) revealed pooled BLL of 10.4 (95 % CI: 9.55-11.2) µg/dL with a trend of gradual reduction during the last 3 decades. Subgroup analysis revealed the high risk (with known Pb exposure) children had BLL of 14.3 (12.3-16.2) µg/dL, while that of the low risk (no known Pb exposure) is 8.71 (7.71-9.71) µg/dL. Only the low risk group exhibited a time trend of a gradual reduction in BLL. Notably, the review observed high heterogeneity. A progressive decline in Pb burden with respect to the national ban on leaded petrol was observed. However, present observations emphasize remedial actions toward non-occupational Pb exposure particularly among high risk Pb group, such as periodic BLL surveys.

Dementia is a complex medical condition that poses significant challenges to healthcare systems and support services. People living with dementia (PLWD) often face complex needs, exacerbated by social isolation and difficulty accessing support. Social prescribing (SP) has been increasingly integrated into the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) as a means to connect individuals with non-clinical services to address these challenges. However, current research provides limited detail on specific SP interventions tailored to dementia care, leaving gaps in understanding the targeted needs, participation drivers, effectiveness and potential benefits for PLWD.

A complex intervention systematic review of SP in dementia care was performed in the United Kingdom using an iterative logic model approach. Six databases and grey literature were searched, supplemented by hand searching for reference lists of included studies. Results were screened in a two-step process, followed by data extraction. Risk of bias was assessed using Gough's Evidence of Framework. Reporting was informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-CI) extension statement and checklist.

Forty-nine studies, reporting on PLWD, met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that SP for PLWD in the United Kingdom is varied and lacks focus, reflecting the diverse demographics involved. Interventions encompass cognitive, educational, psychosocial, physical, community and complementary therapies, of inconsistent classification, with some being umbrella interventions and others standalone services. Provided by the NHS, charities and integrated services, SP involves a range of referrers and connectors. Finally, individual outcomes show benefits such as increased independence and improved mood, but challenges pertaining to suitability and logistical issues, whereas systemic outcomes include cost savings and better service delivery, despite high implementation costs.

SP pathways for PLWD are varied, with success relying heavily on adequately resourced and trained connectors. While benefits extend beyond health improvements, further research is needed to assess long-term impacts, refine mechanisms and standardise evaluation metrics for SP effectiveness in dementia care.

A PPI advisory group, consisting of a person living with dementia and a caregiver, was actively involved throughout the review process, providing insights into the review questions, the logic model, emerging findings and interpretation of results.