METHODS: A detailed search was performed in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases. All published English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that employed dupilumab to treat CRSwNP in adult patients (≥18 years old) were considered.
RESULTS: Three RCTs and 25 studies with 784 individuals were included. The use of dupilumab revealed improvement in polyp size (MD -1.80; 95% CI -2.25 to -1.36), Lund-Mackay score (MD -7.01, 95% CI -9.64 to -4.38), congestion (MD -0.86, 95% CI -0.99 to -0.73), smell (MD 10.83, 95% CI 9.59 to 12.08) and health-related quality of life (MD -19.61, 95% CI -22.53 to -16.69). Systemic corticosteroid use (RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.20-0.39) and revision surgery (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05-0.52) were reduced. Serious adverse events were reduced in dupilumab group (RR 0.47; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.76) with no change in risk of adverse events (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.11).
CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab is effective with minimal adverse events.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero identifier is CRD42023413004.
METHODS: Cellular assays tested six different concentrations (up to 5%) of the PE for cell viability levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of human immortalised epidermal cells (HaCaTs). The identified non-cytotoxic concentration (0.5% PE) was then tested by gene assays. A commercial foundation containing 0.5% PE (PEF0.5) was tested for safety, skin protective effectiveness, and user satisfaction.
RESULTS: Compared to the control groups, 0.5% PE had a significant inhibitory effect on the expression level of MMP-1 but promoted the expression of COL1A1, COL3A1, ELN, and AQP3. PEF0.5 significantly (p 0.05) differences were detected in the foundation's effectiveness and usability.
CONCLUSION: Applying PEF0.5 for 28 days may improve the skin barrier function, as indicated by skin TEWL, hydration, wrinkle, elasticity, and sebum content, without any adverse effects.
METHODS: A network of ICRP mentees from 23 countries were surveyed for available dosimetry equipment. Standardised measurements on CBCT linac imaging systems were conducted using a cone beam dose index (CBDI) devised as a straightforward measurement for wide beam doses. Measurements were made with (a) 100 mm ionisation chambers or (b) 0.6 cc Farmer ionisation chambers and cylindrical CT PMMA phantoms, and (c) an alternative setup of Farmer chambers and cubical phantoms comprised of slabs of water equivalent material readily available in radiotherapy centres. The measurements were compared with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations.
RESULTS: The survey showed limited availability for the reference setup using 100 mm chambers and CT phantoms. Correction factors were derived to convert normalised CBDI from alternative setups to the reference setup and are on average within 2% of MC simulations.
CONCLUSION: The slab phantom in combination with a Farmer chamber provides an alternative to quantify CBCT radiation dose indices from linac-based image-guided radiotherapy using materials accessible in most centres worldwide. A method is presented to use correction factors for Varian Truebeam linacs if traditional 100 mm chambers and cylindrical CT phantoms are not available. This will enable most radiotherapy centres across the world to engage in meaningful imaging dose measurement and optimisation.
DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science, identifying studies published through October 5, 2024. Studies involving adult patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and reporting diagnostic metrics such as sensitivity and specificity were included. The primary outcomes were pooled sensitivity and specificity of IDX-DR. A bivariate random-effects model was used for meta-analysis, and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were generated to assess diagnostic performance. Statistical analyses were performed using MetaDisc software version 2.0.
RESULTS: Thirteen studies involving 13,233 participants met the inclusion criteria. IDX-DR's pooled sensitivity was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.82-0.99), and its pooled specificity was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.84-0.95). The SROC curve confirmed IDX-DR's high diagnostic accuracy in detecting diabetic retinopathy across various clinical environments. The AUC value of 0.95 demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, indicating a robust diagnostic performance for IDX-DR in detecting diabetic retinopathy.
CONCLUSION: IDX-DR is a highly effective diagnostic tool for diabetic retinopathy screening, with robust sensitivity and good specificity. Its integration into clinical practice, especially in resource-limited settings, can potentially improve early detection and reduce vision loss. However, careful implementation is needed to address challenges such as over-diagnosis and ensure the tool complements clinical judgment. Future studies should explore the long-term impacts of AI-based screening and address ethical considerations surrounding its use.
METHODS: Studies published between January 2014 and March 2024 were searched across four databases: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EBSCO. Data extraction involved gathering details on the study design, participant demographics, methods for assessing cognitive function and salt perception, considering confounding factors, and synthesizing the primary outcomes.
RESULTS: Six studies were included in the analysis, five cross-sectional studies and a longitudinal study. These studies revealed various associations between salt perception and cognitive impairment. Specifically, findings from a three-year longitudinal study suggested that lower salt sensitivity was associated with poorer cognitive scores, which is consistent with the results of two other studies. However, the remaining three studies did not find significant differences (p > 0.05) in salt taste perception related to cognitive status. Furthermore, a study identified executive function as another significant factor influencing salt taste perception.
CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the link between cognitive decline in salt perception, which provide an indication of salt intake and related health risks. There is a need to explore the mechanisms of salt taste sensitivity and its impact on cognitive health should be encouraged.
METHODS: A comprehensive search of various databases was performed to identify relevant RCTs published up to September 2024. A random-effects model was employed for the meta-analysis, which included 27 RCTs with 1,685 participants.
RESULTS: The findings indicated that PBE supplementation significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (weighted mean difference (WMD): -2.26 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.73, -0.79; P = 0.003), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD: -2.62 mmHg, 95% CI: -3.71, -1.53; P
METHOD: A wide literature search was made using online search engines on published articles using keywords including thyroid hormone, hypothyroidism, leptin hormone, hyperleptinemia, obesity, the relationship between thyroid and leptin hormones and male reproduction, and hypothyroidism, obesity, and male reproduction.
RESULTS: All information pertaining thyroid and leptin hormone effects on male reproduction, hypothyroidism, hyperleptinemia, and obesity effect on male fertility as well as the related molecular mechanisms are obtained.
CONCLUSION: Thyroid and leptin hormones individually play a significant role in male reproduction. Alterations of these hormones' levels could adversely affect the male reproductive functions. PI3K/AKT signaling was found to be the major signaling pathway involved in mediating the effect of both hormones on male reproduction. Impaired crosstalk between the two hormones may occur in hypothyroidism with obesity which would contribute towards male reproductive dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE: First, we aimed to measure whether there was an expansion or contraction of the pandemic in East Asia and the Pacific region when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency of international concern on May 5, 2023. Second, we used dynamic and genomic surveillance methods to describe the dynamic history of the pandemic in the region and situate the window of the WHO declaration within the broader history. Finally, we aimed to provide historical context for the course of the pandemic in East Asia and the Pacific region.
METHODS: In addition to updates of traditional surveillance data and dynamic panel estimates from the original study, this study used data on sequenced SARS-CoV-2 variants from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data to identify the appearance and duration of variants of concern. We used Nextclade nomenclature to collect clade designations from sequences and Pangolin nomenclature for lineage designations of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we conducted a 1-sided t test to determine whether the regional weekly speed was greater than an outbreak threshold of 10. We ran the test iteratively with 6 months of data across the sample period.
RESULTS: Several countries in East Asia and the Pacific region had COVID-19 transmission rates above an outbreak threshold at the point of the WHO declaration (Brunei, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea). However, the regional transmission rate had remained below the outbreak threshold for 4 months. In the rolling 6-month window t test for regional outbreak status, the final P value ≤.10 implies a rejection of the null hypothesis (at the α=.10 level) that the region as a whole was not in an outbreak for the period from November 5, 2022, to May 5, 2023. From January 2022 onward, nearly every sequenced SARS-CoV-2 specimen in the region was identified as the Omicron variant.
CONCLUSIONS: While COVID-19 continued to circulate in East Asia and the Pacific region, transmission rates had fallen below outbreak status by the time of the WHO declaration. Compared to other global regions, East Asia and the Pacific region had the latest outbreaks driven by the Omicron variant. COVID-19 appears to be endemic in the region, no longer reaching the threshold for a pandemic definition. However, the late outbreaks raise uncertainty about whether the pandemic was truly over in the region at the time of the WHO declaration.
METHOD: In this single-blind, quasi-experimental study, thirty undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either six online therapist-led Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) sessions (n = 15) or six online therapist-led Motivational Interviewing (MI) sessions (n = 15). The Tuckman Procrastination Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Psy-Flex were administered at baseline, the end of session 3, session 6, and one-month follow-up.
RESULTS: Participants in both groups showed significant improvement in academic procrastination, sleep disturbances, and psychological flexibility(p