METHODS: A systematic search up to July 30, 2023 was completed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases, to identify eligible RCTs. Heterogeneity tests of the selected studies were performed using the I2. Random effects models were assessed and pooled data were determined as standardized mean differences (SMD) with a 95% CI.
RESULTS: The meta-analysis of 23 trials, involving 1,523 patients, demonstrated a significant decrease in TNF-α (SMD: -1.62, 95% CI: -2.89 to -0.35, P= 0.013) and increase in TAC (SMD: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.52, P = 0.002) following ω-3 fatty acids administration. Meanwhile, supplementation did not have beneficial effects on malondialdehyde, C-reactive protein (CRP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and interlukin-6 levels. The subgroup analysis revealed a significant decrease in CRP levels and an increase in SOD levels in studies with durations of less than 12 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: We found that ω-3 fatty acid intake can significantly decrease TNF-α and increase TAC levels, but this effect was not observed on other markers. Nevertheless, future well-designed with large sample size and long duration RCT studies with precise ω-3 fatty acids dose and ingredients are required to understand better the effects of these compounds and their constituents on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in T2DM patients.
METHODS: 35 maxillary incisors were endodontically prepared. A dimensionally stable silicone material was injected into the root canal space and scanned with CBCT. The root canal volume was measured using Romexis 3.0.1 R software. Replicas were carefully removed from the teeth and scanned using an extraoral laser scanner. These images were exported to the Rhinoceros software for volume measurement. The volume of each replica was also assessed using the gravimetric method. To determine the accuracy, the volume obtained from both devices was compared with the gravimetric method. Statistical analysis was done using a paired t-test. The reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.
RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the mean volume of CBCT 27.04 ± 7.25 mm³ and the mean volume of the gravimetric method 27.87 ± 7.17 mm³ (P< 0.05). A statistically significant difference was seen with the laser scanner at 25.31 ± 6.89 mm³ and the gravimetric method at 27.87 ± 7.17 mm³ (P< 0.05). CBCT showed a good degree of agreement (ICC 0.899), while the laser scanner showed a moderate degree of agreement (ICC 0.644) with the gravimetric method. CBCT proved accurate and reliable in measuring minor volumes like the root canal space, ideally in the range of 20-25 mm³. The laser scanner presented acceptable reliability.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The laboratory data showed satisfactory outcomes, providing an evidence-based approach and potentially motivating clinicians to integrate cone-beam computed tomography for volume analysis into clinical practice. The accuracy and reliability of laser scanners for small-volume analysis have not previously been evaluated. Consequently, the findings from this study warrant further clinical investigations.
METHOD: A predictive, cross-sectional, multi-country online questionnaire was administered with a convenience sample of 6,073 parents (Australia, 2,734; Iran, 2,447; China, 523; Turkey, 369). Participants completed the Parent Attitude About Child Vaccines (PACV), the Child Vulnerability Scale (CVS), a Financial Well-being (FWB) measure, and Parental Vaccine Hesitancy (PVH) questionnaire.
RESULTS: The current study revealed that perceived financial well-being had significant and negative associations with parents' attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines and child vulnerability among the Australian sample. Contrary to the Australian findings, results from Chinese participants indicated that financial well-being had significant and positive predictive effects on parent attitudes toward vaccines, child vulnerability, and parental vaccine hesitancy. The results of the Iranian sample revealed that parents' attitudes toward vaccines and child vulnerability significantly and negatively predicted parental vaccine hesitancy.
CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that a parents' perceived financial well-being had a significant and negative relationship with parental attitudes about vaccines and child vulnerability; however, it did not significantly predict parental vaccine hesitancy among Turkish parents as it did for parents in Australia, Iran, and China. Findings of the study have policy implications for how certain countries may tailor their vaccine-related health messages to parents with low financial wellbeing and parents with vulnerable children.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.
METHOD: In total, 6,073 parent participants completed the web-based survey between 8 August 2021 and 1 October 2021. The content and construct validity of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was assessed. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were used to assess the scale's internal consistency, composite reliability (C.R.) and maximal reliability (MaxR) were used to assess the construct reliability. Multiple linear regression was used to predict parental vaccine hesitancy from gender, social media activity, and perceived financial well-being.
RESULTS: The results found that the VHS had a two-factor structure (i.e., lack of confidence and risk) and a total of 9 items. The measure showed metric invariance across four very different countries/cultures, showed evidence of good reliability, and showed evidence of validity. As expected, analyses indicated that parental vaccine hesitancy was higher in people who identify as female, more affluent, and more active on social media.
CONCLUSIONS: The present research marks one of the first studies to evaluate vaccine hesitancy in multiple countries that demonstrated VHS validity and reliability. Findings from this study have implications for future research examining vaccine hesitancy and vaccine-preventable diseases and community health nurses.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the total and risk-attributable burden of lip and oral cavity cancer (LOC) and other pharyngeal cancer (OPC) for 204 countries and territories and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) using 2019 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study estimates.
EVIDENCE REVIEW: The incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to LOC and OPC from 1990 to 2019 were estimated using GBD 2019 methods. The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate the proportion of deaths and DALYs for LOC and OPC attributable to smoking, tobacco, and alcohol consumption in 2019.
FINDINGS: In 2019, 370 000 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 338 000-401 000) cases and 199 000 (95% UI, 181 000-217 000) deaths for LOC and 167 000 (95% UI, 153 000-180 000) cases and 114 000 (95% UI, 103 000-126 000) deaths for OPC were estimated to occur globally, contributing 5.5 million (95% UI, 5.0-6.0 million) and 3.2 million (95% UI, 2.9-3.6 million) DALYs, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, low-middle and low SDI regions consistently showed the highest age-standardized mortality rates due to LOC and OPC, while the high SDI strata exhibited age-standardized incidence rates decreasing for LOC and increasing for OPC. Globally in 2019, smoking had the greatest contribution to risk-attributable OPC deaths for both sexes (55.8% [95% UI, 49.2%-62.0%] of all OPC deaths in male individuals and 17.4% [95% UI, 13.8%-21.2%] of all OPC deaths in female individuals). Smoking and alcohol both contributed to substantial LOC deaths globally among male individuals (42.3% [95% UI, 35.2%-48.6%] and 40.2% [95% UI, 33.3%-46.8%] of all risk-attributable cancer deaths, respectively), while chewing tobacco contributed to the greatest attributable LOC deaths among female individuals (27.6% [95% UI, 21.5%-33.8%]), driven by high risk-attributable burden in South and Southeast Asia.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this systematic analysis, disparities in LOC and OPC burden existed across the SDI spectrum, and a considerable percentage of burden was attributable to tobacco and alcohol use. These estimates can contribute to an understanding of the distribution and disparities in LOC and OPC burden globally and support cancer control planning efforts.