scholarly journals The Biomechanics of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Conder ◽  
Reza Zamani ◽  
Mohammad Akrami
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Spinal Curvature ◽  
Gait Velocity ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Meta Analyses

During pregnancy, a number of biomechanical and hormonal changes occur that can alter spinal curvature, balance, and gait patterns by affecting key areas of the human body. This can greatly impact quality of life (QOL) by increasing back pain and the risk of falls. These effects are likely to be the ultimate result of a number of hormonal and biomechanical changes that occur during pregnancy. Research Question and Methodology: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this systematic review sets out to analyse all available literature relating to the biomechanics factors caused by pregnancy and assess how this might reduce QOL. Fifty papers were deemed eligible for inclusion in this review based on the PUBMED and SCOPUS databases. Results: Angles of lordosis and kyphosis of the spine are significantly increased by pregnancy, but not consistently across all studies. Back pain is significantly increased in pregnant women, although this is not significantly correlated with spinal changes. Increased movements of centre of pressure (COP) and increased stability indexes indicate postural control is reduced in pregnancy. Trunk range of motion, hip flexion, and extension are reduced, as well as decreased stride length, decreased gait velocity, and increased step width; again, not consistently. It is likely that each woman adopts unique techniques to minimise the effects, for example increasing step width to improve balance. Further research should focus on how altered limb kinematics during gait might affect QOL by influencing the human body, as well as assessing parameters in all planes to develop a wider understanding of pregnant biomechanical alterations.

scholarly journals How Effective Is Auditory–Verbal Therapy (AVT) for Building Language Development of Children with Cochlear Implants? A Systematic Review

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Paris Binos ◽  
Elina Nirgianaki ◽  
George Psillas
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Receptive Vocabulary ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Mainstream Society ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Auditory Verbal Therapy

This systematic review sheds light on the effectiveness of auditory–verbal therapy (AVT) outcomes in children with cochlear implants (CIs). The presented outcome is based on research findings from the last 10 years. The systematic review was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Critical Appraisal of Treatment Evidence (CATE) checklist. Specific keywords were chosen based on the research question and searched on the PubMed database. All searched papers were analysed based on specific exclusion criteria and classified into four evidence levels. The results revealed that children who participated in AV therapy can achieve linguistic skills at the same level as their hearing peers. Voice quality seemed positively affected, placing young children with CIs in the normal range for receptive vocabulary development. In contrast, reading skills seemed less benefited. AV therapy seems to contribute to integration into mainstream society. Despite the recorded speech and language improvements of young children with CIs, the aim of AV therapy is still not fulfilled. AV therapy can be seen as the best clinical practice for young children with CIs till now, but the lack of well-controlled studies is undermining.

Authors’ Reply to Kahlaee et al: “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of the Association Between Anti-hypertensive Classes and the Risk of Falls Among Older Adults”

Drugs & Aging ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Ka Keat Lim ◽  
Hui Ting Ang ◽  
Yu Heng Kwan ◽  
Chuen Seng Tan ◽  
Truls Ostbye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Meta Analyses

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of the Association Between Anti-Hypertensive Classes and the Risk of Falls Among Older Adults

Drugs & Aging ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 625-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Ting Ang ◽  
Ka Keat Lim ◽  
Yu Heng Kwan ◽  
Pui San Tan ◽  
Kai Zhen Yap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Meta Analyses

scholarly journals Instrumented Analysis of the Sit-to-Stand Movement for Geriatric Screening: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Brajesh Shukla ◽  
Jennifer Bassement ◽  
Vivek Vijay ◽  
Sandeep Yadav ◽  
David Hewson
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Older People ◽  
Search Strategy ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Geriatric Screening ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Future Work

The Sit-to-Stand (STS) is a widely used test of physical function to screen older people at risk of falls and frailty and is also one of the most important components of standard screening for sarcopenia. There have been many recent studies in which instrumented versions of the STS (iSTS) have been developed to provide additional parameters that could improve the accuracy of the STS test. This systematic review aimed to identify whether an iSTS is a viable alternative to a standard STS to identify older people at risk of falling, frailty, and sarcopenia. A total of 856 articles were found using the search strategy developed, with 12 articles retained in the review after screening based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six studies evaluated the iSTS in fallers, five studies in frailty and only one study in both fallers and frailty. The results showed that power and velocity parameters extracted from an iSTS have the potential to improve the accuracy of screening when compared to a standard STS. Future work should focus on standardizing the segmentation of the STS into phases to enable comparison between studies and to develop devices integrated into the chair used for the test to improve usability.

How to Write a Systematic Review of the Literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debajyoti Pati ◽  
Lesa N. Lorusso
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Methodological Rigor ◽  
Prisma Statement ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Cochrane Collaboration

This article provides a step-by-step approach to conducting and reporting systematic literature reviews (SLRs) in the domain of healthcare design and discusses some of the key quality issues associated with SLRs. SLR, as the name implies, is a systematic way of collecting, critically evaluating, integrating, and presenting findings from across multiple research studies on a research question or topic of interest. SLR provides a way to assess the quality level and magnitude of existing evidence on a question or topic of interest. It offers a broader and more accurate level of understanding than a traditional literature review. A systematic review adheres to standardized methodologies/guidelines in systematic searching, filtering, reviewing, critiquing, interpreting, synthesizing, and reporting of findings from multiple publications on a topic/domain of interest. The Cochrane Collaboration is the most well-known and widely respected global organization producing SLRs within the healthcare field and a standard to follow for any researcher seeking to write a transparent and methodologically sound SLR. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), like the Cochrane Collaboration, was created by an international network of health-based collaborators and provides the framework for SLR to ensure methodological rigor and quality. The PRISMA statement is an evidence-based guide consisting of a checklist and flowchart intended to be used as tools for authors seeking to write SLR and meta-analyses.

scholarly journals Influence of Work on Andropause and Menopause: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10074
Author(s):  
Margherita Martelli ◽  
Laura Zingaretti ◽  
Gianmaria Salvio ◽  
Massimo Bracci ◽  
Lory Santarelli
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pesticide Exposure ◽  
Job Strain ◽  
Menopausal Symptoms ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Age At Menopause ◽  
Work Related ◽  
As Stress ◽  
Meta Analyses

Aging is associated with gender-specific hormonal changes that progressively lead to gonadal insufficiency, a condition which characterizes a minority of men and all women. Work-related factors, such as stress and pollutant exposure, affect gonadal function and can interfere with reproduction in both genders. A systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases was conducted, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to investigate the effect of occupational factors on andropause and menopause. A total of 26 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: 9 studies evaluated the effects of work on andropause symptoms, 8 studies examined its effects on age at menopause onset, and 9 studies addressed its effects on menopausal symptoms. Work-related factors, such as psychological stress, physical effort, and sleep disorders, showed a significant correlation with andropause manifestations, whereas age at menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms were both influenced by factors such as pesticide exposure, high job strain, and repetitive work. Since work accompanies men and women for most of their lives, it is essential to identify and prevent the risk factors that may affect reproductive health.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Collective Evidences Investigating the Effect of Diabetes Monitoring Systems and Their Application in Health Care

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kamusheva ◽  
Konstantin Tachkov ◽  
Maria Dimitrova ◽  
Zornitsa Mitkova ◽  
Gema García-Sáez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
Regular Control ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Diabetes Monitoring

IntroductionDiabetes monitoring systems (DMS) are a possible approach for regular control of glucose levels in patients with Type 1 or 2 diabetes in order to improve therapeutic outcomes or to identify and modify inappropriate patient behaviors in a timely manner. Despite the significant number of studies observing the DMS, no collective evidence is available about the effect of all devices.GoalTo review and consolidate evidences from multiple systematic reviews on the diabetes monitoring systems and the outcomes achieved.Materials and methodsInternet-based search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane was performed to identify all studies relevant to the research question. The data regarding type of intervention, type of diabetes mellitus, type of study, change in clinical parameter(s), or another relevant outcome were extracted and summarized.ResultsThirty-three out of 1,495 initially identified studies, involving more than 44,100 patients with Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes for real-time or retrospective Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGMS), Sensor Augmented Pump Therapy (SAPT), Self-monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG), Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM), Closed-loop systems and telemonitoring, were included. Most of the studies observed small nominal effectiveness of DMS. In total 11 systematic reviews and 15 meta-analyses, with most focusing on patients with Type 1 diabetes (10 and 6, respectively), reported a reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from 0.17 to 0.70% after use of DMS.ConclusionCurrent systematic review of already published systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggests that no statistically significant difference exists between the values of HbA1c as a result of application of any type of DMS. The changes in HbA1c values, number and frequency of hypoglycemic episodes, and time in glucose range are the most valuable for assessing the appropriateness and effectiveness of DMS. Future more comprehensive studies assessing the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and comparative effectiveness of DMS are needed to stratify them for the most suitable diabetes patients’ subgroups.

scholarly journals Racial and Ethnic Differences in Falls Among Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Wehner-Hewson ◽  
Paul Watts ◽  
Richard Buscombe ◽  
Nicholas Bourne ◽  
David Hewson
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
English Language ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Racial And Ethnic Differences ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Language Studies ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine whether differences in reported fall rates exist between different ethnic groups. Searches were carried out on four databases: Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, and Web of Science. Only English language studies with community-dwelling participants aged 60 + years were included. Studies also needed to compare fall prevalence for at least two or more ethnic groups. Two reviewers independently screened all articles and evaluated study quality. Twenty-three articles were included for systematic review, and meta-analyses were carried out on the 16 retrospective studies that reported falls in the previous 12 months. The Asian group demonstrated significantly lower fall prevalence than all other ethnic groups at 13.89% (10.87, 16.91). The Hispanic group had a fall prevalence of 18.54% (12.95, 24.13), closely followed by the Black group at 18.60% (13.27, 23.93). The White group had the highest prevalence at 23.77% (18.66, 28.88). Some studies provided adjusted estimates of effect statistics for the odds/risk of falls, which showed that differences still existed between some ethnic groups even after adjusting for other risk factors. Overall, differences in fall prevalence do appear to exist between different ethnic groups, although the reasons for these differences currently remain undetermined and require further investigation. These findings highlight the need to provide more ethnically tailored responses to public health challenges, which could potentially increase the adherence to prevention interventions, and allow for a more targeted use of resources.

What are the implications of standards to ensure safe use of dermatological health apps? (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chae Im ◽  
Edward Meinert
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Research Question ◽  
The Public ◽  
Medical Apps ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Standards And Guidelines ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Mobile Medical Apps

BACKGROUND Dermatological health applications can address a range of pathologies from melanoma to eczema and have the potential to significantly impact the health of the user. This paper details a systematic review of standards addressing dermatological health apps and their implication on the safe use of such apps. OBJECTIVE To survey the literature to ascertain the state of evidence to address this review’s primary research question: “What are the implications of standards to ensure safe use of dermatological health apps?” METHODS Six databases were systematically searched for records relevant to the questions using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) checklist was used to analyse records when applicable, and when not a standardised checklist was used. Database searches identified 2193 records, of which 67 records were ultimately included for analysis. RESULTS A total of 67 records were identified, and these could be organised into 6 themes. These 6 themes included studies investigating the accuracy of apps, general standards, articles, reviews of current dermatological apps, recommendations and reviews of mobile medical apps and standards. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review showed that there is a large variance in the quality of dermatological apps available to the public and the standards and guidelines currently in place are insufficient in eliminating all inaccuracies. Standards and guidelines surrounding the algorithms often used in dermatological apps as well as guidance on effective use of existing apps could potentially allow for more effective dermatological health apps. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022969

scholarly journals Motor performance and back pain in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matias Noll ◽  
Niels Wedderkopp ◽  
Carolina Rodrigues Mendonça ◽  
Per Kjaer
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
The Body ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assessment Development ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Background The relationship between motor performance and back pain in children and adolescents remains unclear. This article describes the protocol for a systematic review to summarize the knowledge about the association between motor performance, such as agility, flexibility, balance, strength, muscle endurance, and cardiorespiratory fitness, and back pain. Thus, our aim is to identify the influence of motor performance on back pain among children and adolescents. Methods Two independent researchers will search MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL databases, with no period or language restrictions. We will include cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, and controlled clinical trial studies based on the following criteria: (a) participants from 6 to 19 years of age, (b) assessment of motor performance, (c) assessment of back pain, and (d) report measures of associations between motor performance and back pain. Study quality and risk of bias will be assessed using an adapted version of the Downs and Black instrument. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations will be used to assess the strength of the body of evidence. Meta-analyses of association measures will be performed for each type of motor performance, separately for different study types. The results will be reported using forest to show the pooled effect of findings and funnel plots to assess precision of the data. If studies are not homogeneous, results from the meta-analyses will not be reported. Associations will then be synthesized descriptively using a pragmatic approach. Discussion This systematic review will provide critical insights into the association between motor performance and back pain among children and adolescents; this information may help support clinical practice guidelines as well as public health programs. Ethics and dissemination Protocol was written according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020178496

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