MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of the Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted using a specific query string to identify studies examining the impact of VR on ART outcomes, including fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live-birth rate, until October 2023. Outcomes were analyzed based on the type of ART. Studies on VR in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia and those who underwent ART only due to female factor infertility were excluded from the study.
RESULTS: Out of 1,554 articles reviewed, only 9 met the inclusion criteria for the study. All the included articles were observational studies. The variability in study quality in the included literature resulted in a moderate overall risk of bias. Data analysis showed that for intrauterine insemination, there was no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (odds ratio [OR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42, 2.45; p=0.97). However, for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), men with VR showed a significant improvement in fertilization rate (mean difference 10.9, 95% CI: 5.94, 15.89; p<0.01), clinical pregnancy rate (OR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.78; p=0.01) and live-birth rate (OR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.97; p<0.01), compared to men who did not undergo VR.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that VR has a positive impact on pregnancy and live birth rates after ICSI. However, biases like small sample sizes and heterogeneous populations highlight the need for larger, well-designed prospective studies to validate these findings.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) that evaluated the efficacy of pentoxifylline as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of MDD. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data were pooled using a random effects meta-analysis model due to the expected heterogeneity among studies.
RESULTS: Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. The included studies comprised a total of 292 participants diagnosed with MDD. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 65 years, and all had a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score of at least 18. The pooled analysis showed a significant improvement in response rates for the pentoxifylline group compared to the control group (pooled odds ratio [OR] 6.85, 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.42, 13.73), indicating a much higher likelihood of treatment response. Remission rates favored the pentoxifylline group, with a pooled OR of 6.09 (95% CI: 3.11, 11.91), suggesting a significantly higher likelihood of achieving remission with pentoxifylline.
CONCLUSION: Our findings support the potential of pentoxifylline as an effective treatment for MDD; however, further research is needed to fully establish its efficacy across different patient populations.
METHODS: Ninety participants aged 18-40 years with at least one year of night driving experience were recruited. Tear film stability was assessed using non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT), while dry eye symptoms were measured with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Night driving vision difficulties were evaluated using the Vision and Night Driving Questionnaire (VND-Q).
RESULTS: Participants with shorter NIBUT (mean = 3.95 ± 1.32 s; median = 3.97 s, IQR: 2.87-5.03 s) reported significantly greater difficulties in night driving compared to those with normal NIBUT (mean = 9.80 ± 3.86 s; median = 8.23 s, IQR: 6.90-11.70 s) (p
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the correlation between social media and eHealth literacy in older individuals and answer four research questions: (1) What are the specific social media behaviors (including general use behaviors and health behaviors) of older adults on social media? (2) How do these behaviors impact their eHealth literacy? (3) How does eHealth literacy influence older adults' social media behaviors? and (4) What factors influence older adults' use of social media for health-related purposes?
METHODS: Using predetermined keywords and inclusion criteria, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases for English-language journal articles published from 2000 to 2024, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) principles. The initial search identified 1591 publications, and after removing duplicates, 48.21% (767/1591) of publications remained. Ultimately, 1% (16/1591) of studies met the inclusion criteria. A research question-driven manual qualitative thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the categorization of social media use behaviors, the definition of eHealth literacy, and the social-ecological model to provide direction for coding and thematic analysis. In addition, attention was given to identifying unanticipated behaviors or phenomena during the coding process, and these were subsequently incorporated into the analytical framework.
RESULTS: The results indicated that older adults' general social media use behaviors are primarily characterized by social media preferences, with 2 subthemes identified. Their social media health behaviors revealed 5 main themes and 14 subthemes. Among the primary themes, health information behavior appeared most frequently (12/16, 75%), followed by self-management (8/16, 50%). Other themes included health decision-making (4/16, 25%), telemedicine (3/16, 19%), and health interventions (2/16, 13%). Cross-thematic analysis confirmed that older adults' social media use behaviors and their eHealth literacy had a reciprocal relationship. Finally, the study revealed that the use of social media to improve eHealth literacy among older adults was influenced by individual, interpersonal, institutional or organizational, and social factors.
CONCLUSIONS: The reciprocal relationship between older adults' social media use and eHealth literacy highlights the importance of establishing a long-term positive mechanism that mutually reinforces social media health practices and eHealth literacy. Based on the findings, this review proposes key directions for efforts to achieve this goal: (1) leveraging postpandemic momentum to enhance eHealth literacy among older adults through social media, (2) reconsidering the dimensions of eHealth literacy among older adults in the context of Web 2.0, (3) actively developing age-friendly integrated social media health service platforms, (4) optimizing social media for engaging and reliable health information for older adults, and (5) integrating social support systems to foster lifelong eHealth learning for older adults.
OBJECTIVE: The study explores gender differences in prevalence, risk factors, and clinical aspects of Internet addiction among Iranian youth, highlighting cultural and societal influences.
METHODS: A nationwide sample of 3149 individuals aged 18 to 24 was categorized into two groups: those with Internet addiction (n = 1040) and those without (n = 2109). Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-28, Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Data analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 26, with a significance level set at <0.05.
RESULTS: Overall prevalence of Internet addiction was found to be 33 %, with a higher incidence in males (63.3 %) compared to females (36.7 %) (χ2 = 13.28, p = 0.001). In men, the severity of Internet addiction was significantly linked to emotional abuse (β = 0.20, p˂0.001), DES (β = 0.39, p˂0.001), and DERS (β = 0.16, p˂0.001) (F(3, 654) = 89.85, p˂0.001, R2 = 0.29); while in women, it was associated with emotional abuse (β = 0.18, p˂0.001) and dissociative experiences (β = 0.16, p˂0.001) (F(2, 379) = 13.70, p˂0.001, R2 = 0.06). The DES partially mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and IAT scores in both genders, whereas DERS only did so in males.
CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests Internet addiction as a maladaptive coping mechanism for early emotional abuse, highlighting the need for prevention programs and emotion regulation interventions. Future research should consider longitudinal effects and cultural influences.
METHODS: A retrospective study on reconstruction methods and outcomes for a series of patients with DFSP post-resection was conducted in the Plastic and Reconstructive Unit, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, from 2013 to 2023.
RESULTS: A total of 7 patients were identified during this retrospective study, which consisted of 3 female and 4 male patients. Six patients with head and neck lesions post-excision with a median margin of 3.5 cm underwent immediate soft tissue reconstruction with a free flap (either the anterolateral thigh or latissimus dorsi), and 1 patient with a lesion over the upper extremities underwent immediate soft tissue reconstruction with a pedicled flap following wide resection of the lesion. Only 1 developed a flap-related complication. The overall functional and cosmetic assessments of the reconstructed part were good. Four patients underwent adjuvant radiation therapy, and none of the patients developed local recurrence during follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Post-resection soft tissue reconstruction of huge defects with free flaps has shown good functional and aesthetic outcomes.
METHODS: A multivariable logistic regression model was applied to the prospective Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) dataset. The main exposure was country income status (defined by the World Bank), and the main outcome was neurological outcomes (measured by cerebral performance category score). Sensitivity analyses were run to evaluate the robustness of our findings.
RESULTS: Out of a total of 207,450 PAROS cases between 2009-2018, 168,967 OHCA cases were included in the study. 165,404 cases were from high-income countries and 3,563 cases were from middle-income countries. All pediatric, pronounced dead at scene, unknown on-scene survival status, no resuscitation attempted, and traumatic cases were excluded from the analysis. A larger proportion of OHCA patients in high-income countries survived with favorable neurological outcomes (3.65%) compared to middle-income countries (0.75%). High-income countries were associated with better neurological outcomes (AOR 9.05; 95% CI 6.27 to 13.72). Results remained consistent throughout sensitivity analyses.
CONCLUSION: In the PAROS cohort, high-income countries outperform middle income countries in post-OHCA neurological outcomes. Further research is needed to obtain better quality data in middle-income countries and expand reach into low-income countries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children aged less than 18 years treated for DIPG/DMG with initial fractionated photon radiotherapy (RT1) and had subsequent recurrence were retrospectively reviewed. Patients treated with or without RT2 were compared. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) from time of recurrence after RT1, and from start of RT2 (for the RT2 group).
RESULTS: A total of 118 children were included, 39 of whom received RT2. Children treated with RT2 had superior OS, with 6-month OS of 66 % vs 22 % in those who did not undergo RT2 (p