scholarly journals Diabetic macular thickness diagnostic guideded by optical coherence tomography using artificial intelligence methods: a scoping review protocol

Author(s):  
Fabiana Brasileiro ◽  
Frederico M. Bublitz

ABSTRACTIntroductiondiabetic retinopathy remains the mainly cause of blindness worldwide and its diagnoses and assessment is poorer as the countryside the patient is. To minimize de boundaries of health care and improve the accuracy how the treatment is stablished, the artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been studied years ago using fundus phothographies for instance. This scoping review aims to study these AI techniques applied in Opctical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images.MethodsThis scoping review will follow the methodology framework defined in “Scoping studies: advancing the methodology”. In this methodological framework, six stages are proposed for scoping reviewStudiesidentifying the research question; identifying relevant studies; study selection; charting the data; collating, summarizing, and reporting the results; and consultation. The research questions aim to investigate what are the methods, and techniques used in artificial intelligence due to perfmorm a clinical diagnostic using OCT scanners. The team will focus on the Scopus Document Search e PubMed (Medline). The search query is a combination of terms related to Diabetic Retinopathy AND Artificial Intelligence.Ethics and DisseminationThis is a scoping review study and there is no requirement for ethical approval, as primary data will not be collected. The results from this scoping review will be published in a peer reviewed journal and reported at scientific meetings. We intend to share the results with the Ophthalmologists.ARTICLE SUMMARYStrengths and Limitations of this studyThis protocol uses a comprehensive approach, relating one research question, that will enable the identification of the main gaps and opportunities in the area; Due to the comprehensiveness of this review protocol, it can serve as the basis for future works, with more specific scope, and the proposal of standards;The investigation of who are the mainly artificial intelligence skills will allow other researchs in this area;The inclusion of aspects of data governance in the protocol will serve as the basis for establishing an assessment model of artificial intelligence and diabetic macular thickness;One weakness of this review protocol was the number of the studies including glaucoma in their criterias.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e033758
Author(s):  
Frederico Bublitz ◽  
Naman K Sahota ◽  
Arlene Oetomo ◽  
Laura Fadrique ◽  
Plinio P Morita

IntroductionFor the first time in human history, the number of older people will be higher than the number of children. The prevalence of chronic diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental disorders in older adults is high. Given that, it is essential to make usage of related technology to provide improved health conditions and reduce the costs for promoting ageing in place, and that is precisely the aim of Ambient Assisted Living technology. Considering that these systems provide significant benefit to a vast number of stakeholders, can be applied to the functional diversity of application domains and have high economic and social impacts, it is essential to create reusable and interoperable platforms and standards that are able to deal with the heterogeneity of applications and domains. In this sense, reference architectures have been proposed and evaluated. A comprehensive scoping review concerning the reference architectures must clarify specific aspects, such as what the main domains are and how the solutions effectively deal with them.MethodsThis scoping review will follow the methodology framework defined in ‘Scoping studies: advancing the methodology’. In this methodological framework, six stages are proposed for scoping review studies: identifying the research question; identifying relevant studies; study selection; charting the data; collating, summarising and reporting the results; and consultation. The research questions aim to investigate what are the motivations, stakeholders, benefits, domains, approaches, architectural components and governance aspects of the proposed reference architectures and models. The team will focus on the Scopus Document Search, PubMed (MEDLINE), IEEE Xplore Digital Library, ACM Digital Library and Science Direct electronic research databases. The search query is a combination of terms related to Ambient Assisted Living AND Reference Architecture.Ethics and disseminationThis is a scoping review study and there is no requirement for ethical approval, as primary data will not be collected. The results from this scoping review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and reported at scientific meetings. We intend to share the results with the International Standards and Conformity Assessment - SyC AAL from Canada to use the review as a basis for establishing an assessment model of reference architectures.



2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Patricia Ayala ◽  
Lindsey Sikora ◽  
Shona Kirtley ◽  
Patrick R. Labelle ◽  
Erica Lenton

An increasing number of systematic reviews (SysRev) are being published in health sciences and medicine; however, many are poorly conducted or reported.Strategies are needed to help reduce this avoidable waste in research . Systematic reviews can help decision makers interpret the deluge of published biomedical literature. However, a SysRev or scoping review may be of limited use if the methods used to conduct them are flawed, or if reporting is incomplete.At each stage during the systematic or scoping review cycle, different challenges can arise, especially for a novice researcher. All knowledge syntheses, once past the stage of question formulation, begin with the literature search. Librarians are in a strategic position to uncover issues regarding a researcher’slevel of preparedness in conducting these types of studies. From this vantage point, librarians can have a significant impact by teaching researchers about practices to properly report findings, as well as by raising awareness about which methodology might be more appropriate for their research question. Research waste is a growing concern, and librariansare part of the answer in the role they play as advocates for research integrity and transparency. This scoping review would be the first to cover this topic in a comprehensive, structured and methodologically rigorous way. Results would be of interest to librarians, researchers, educators and the wider research community in health sciences and medicine.



2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Röscher ◽  
Jacqueline M. van Wyk

Abstract Background Interventions to treat early prostate cancer (PCa) can leave men with debilitating sexual side effects. The cluster of side effects referred to as the neglected sexual side effects (NSSE) may remain permanent, undiagnosed and untreated because men are hesitant to disclose them. Questionnaires offer a discreet way into the discussion, subsequent diagnosis and possible treatment of the NSSE. This study will be conducted to map the evidence about the prevalence of the neglected sexual side effects (NSSE) after PCa treatment, and use of questionnaires in its diagnosis and screening. Methods This systematic scoping review will involve searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar. Following title searching, two-independent reviewers will conduct screening of abstracts and full articles. Eligibility criteria will guide the screenings. Data will be extracted from the included studies, and the emerging themes will be analysed. The review team will analyse the implications of the findings concerning the research question and aim of the study. The mixed method appraisal tool (MMAT) will be employed for quality appraisal of included studies. Discussion We anticipate finding a number of studies that describe the prevalence of NSSE after early PCa treatment and that report on using questionnaires to screen for the presence of symptoms including orgasm-associated incontinence, urinary incontinence during sexual stimulation, altered perceptions of orgasm, orgasm associated pain, penile shortening and penile deformity. The study findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, peer presentations and presentations at relevant conferences.



BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e036884
Author(s):  
Joseph K Nuamah ◽  
Karthik Adapa ◽  
Lukasz Mazur

IntroductionEffective electronic health record (EHR)-based training interventions facilitate improved EHR use for healthcare providers. One such training intervention is simulation-based training that emphasises learning actual tasks through experimentation in a risk-free environment without negative patient outcomes. EHR-specific simulation-based training can be employed to improve EHR use, thereby enhancing healthcare providers’ skills and behaviours. Despite the potential advantages of this type of training, no study has identified and mapped the available evidence. To fill that gap, this scoping review will synthesise the current state of literature on EHR simulation-based training.Methods and analysisThe Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework will be employed. Three databases (PubMed, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) will be searched for published articles. ProQuest and Google Scholar will be searched to identify unpublished articles. Databases will be searched from inception to 29 January 2020. Only articles written in English, randomised control trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies and case-control studies will be considered for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, they will review full texts to determine articles for final inclusion. Citation chaining will be conducted to manually screen references of all included studies to identify additional studies not found by the search. A data abstraction form with relevant characteristics will be developed to help address the research question. Descriptive numerical analysis will be used to describe characteristics of included studies. Based on the extracted data, research evidence of EHR simulation-based training will be synthesised.Ethics and disseminationSince no primary data will be collected, there will be no formal ethical review. Research findings will be disseminated through publications, presentations and meetings with relevant stakeholders.



2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Patricia Hall ◽  
Thilo Kroll ◽  
Julianne Hickey ◽  
Diarmuid Stokes ◽  
Olive Lennon

Background: Growing consensus supports public and patient involvement (PPI) in research as the lived experience of patients, family carers and users of health and social care services bring unique insights to healthcare research. The impact and burden of stroke present ongoing challenges for those living with its consequences and could potentially limit PPI activity. This review aims to explore PPI in published stroke research to identify and describe the extent, nature and design of PPI activities, the type/s of studies involved and the profile of PPI participants engaged in stroke research. Methods: This systematic scoping review, guided by the Arksey & O’Malley five step framework, will be reported according to the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. PPI is embedded at each stage of this proposed scoping review from conceptualisation, participation, contribution and collaboration. The Population, Concept, Context (PCC) structure defines the research question which asks - How is PPI in stroke research currently being conducted and how do the study authors report their PPI activities and its impact? A comprehensive range of electronic databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews will generate a broad range of studies. Grey literature (e.g. OpenGrey, Leanus) and internationally recognised stroke organisation websites will be searched for additional research reports. Data extraction will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, with results collated and mapped to the research cycle stage/s. Conclusions: The outlined scoping review protocol will comprehensively identify and map the existing scientific literature that reports PPI in stroke research. Findings will be presented in relation to PPI conceptualisation, participant profiles and activities in stroke research, volume, type and range of approaches. Knowledge gaps and future priorities for PPI in stroke research will be identified.



BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e034667
Author(s):  
Hiago Pereira Barbosa ◽  
Anne Roué-Le Gall ◽  
Clément Deloly ◽  
Jean-Philippe Regnaux ◽  
Marie-Florence Thomas

IntroductionScientists from a wide variety of fields of knowledge are increasingly interested in climate change issues. The importance given to the phenomenon is explained by the uncertainties surrounding it and its consequences not yet fully known. However, there is wide agreement that human activities are modifying the Earth’s climate beyond the natural cyclical changes and that these changes impact human health. This scoping review aimed to understand how research on the links between climate change and human health in urban areas is conducted and how this research is approached holistically or not.Methods and analysisThis scoping review is mainly guided by the Arskey and O’Malley scoping review framework. A broad range of databases will be used, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science Core Collection, GreenFILE and Information Science & Technology Abstracts. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used, with a focus on climate change and human health outcome studies published between January 1990 and July 2019. An interdisciplinary team has formulated search strategies and the reviewers will independently screen eligible studies for final study selection. We will apply a thematic analysis to evaluate and categorise the study findings. We expect to map the research according to the scientific research methods, the scientific fields and the determinants of health studied. Along these lines, we will be able to understand how holistic the research is.Ethics and disseminationNo primary data will be collected since all data presented in this review are based on published articles and publicly available documents. Therefore, ethics committee approval is not a requirement. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, presentations at conferences relevant to the field of this research, as well as presentations to relevant stakeholders.



BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e028811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Choon Han Tan ◽  
Willie-Henri Quah ◽  
Colin S H Tan ◽  
Helen Smith ◽  
Lorainne Tudor Car

IntroductionDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus and the leading cause of impaired vision in adults worldwide. Early detection and treatment for DR could improve patient outcomes. Traditional methods of detecting DR include the gold standard Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study seven standard fields fundus photography, ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp biomicroscopy. These modalities can be expensive, difficult to access and require involvement of specialised healthcare professionals. With the development of mobile phone technology, there is a growing interest in their use for DR identification as this approach is potentially more affordable, accessible and easier to use. Smartphones can be employed in a variety of ways for ophthalmoscopy including the use of smartphone camera, various attachments and artificial intelligence for obtaining and grading of retinal images. The aim of this scoping review is to determine the diagnostic test accuracy of various smartphone ophthalmoscopy approaches for detecting DR in diabetic patients.Methods and analysisWe will perform an electronic search of MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library for literature published from 2000 onwards. Two reviewers will independently analyse studies for eligibility and assess study quality using the QUADAS-2 tool. Data for a 2⨉2 contingency table will be extracted. If possible, we will pool sensitivity and specificity data using the random-effects model and construct a summary receiver operating characteristic curve. In case of high heterogeneity, we will present the findings narratively. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis will be performed where appropriate.Ethics and disseminationThis scoping review aims to provide an overview of smartphone ophthalmoscopy in DR identification. It will present findings on the accuracy of smartphone ophthalmoscopy in detecting DR, identify gaps in the literature and provide recommendations for future research. This review does not require ethical approval as we will not collect primary data.



Author(s):  
Anne Rix ◽  
Renée Girbig ◽  
Céline Porte ◽  
Wiltrud Lederle ◽  
Cathalijn Leenaars ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Publication numbers reporting that ultrasound can stimulate immune reactions in tumors steadily increase. However, the presented data are partially conflicting, and mechanisms are difficult to identify from single publications. These shortcomings can be addressed by a systematic review and meta-analysis of current literature. As a first step, we here present the methodology and protocol for a systematic review to answer the following research question: Does ultrasound alter the immune reaction of peripheral solid tumors in humans and animals compared to control conditions without ultrasound? Procedures We designed a protocol to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. The suitability of the protocol to detect and sort relevant literature was tested using a subset of publications. We extracted study characteristics, ultrasound parameters, and study outcomes to pre-evaluate the differences between publications and present the data as a scoping review. Results From 6532 publications detected by our preliminary literature search, 320 were selected for testing our systematic review protocol. Of the latter, 15 publications were eligible for data extraction. There, we found large differences between study characteristics (e.g., tumor type, age) and ultrasound settings (e.g., wavelength 0.5–9.5 MHz, acoustic pressure 0.0001–15,000 W/cm2). Finally, study outcomes included reports on cells of the innate (e.g., dendritic cells, macrophages) and adaptive immune system (e.g., CD8-/CD4-positive T cells). Conclusion We designed a protocol to identify relevant literature and perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. The differences between extracted features between publications show the necessity for a comprehensive search and selection strategy in the systematic review to get a complete overview of the literature. Meta-analyses of the extracted outcomes can then enable evidence-based conclusions.



2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Scheibner ◽  
Anna Jobin ◽  
Effy Vayena

Digital innovation is ever more present and increasingly integrated into citizen science research. However, smartphones and other connected devices come with specific features and characteristics and, in consequence, raise particular ethical issues. This article addresses this important intersection of citizen science and the Internet of Things by focusing on how such ethical issues are communicated in scholarly literature. To answer this research question, this article presents a scoping review of published scientific studies or case studies of scientific studies that utilize both citizen scientists and Internet of Things devices. Specifically, this scoping review protocol retrieved studies where the authors had included at least a short discussion of the ethical issues encountered during the research process. A full text analysis of relevant articles conducted inductively and deductively identified three main categories of ethical issues being communicated: autonomy and data privacy, data quality, and intellectual property. Based on these categories, this review offers an overview of the legal and social innovation implications raised. This review also provides recommendations for researchers who wish to innovatively integrate citizen scientists and Internet of Things devices into their research based on the strategies researchers took to resolve these ethical issues.



2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Breda Moloney ◽  
Thilo Kroll ◽  
Attracta Lafferty

Background: Young carers are individuals under 18 years who care for a relative with an illness, disability, a mental health issue or addiction. Across the world, it is challenging to calculate the exact numbers due to the invisible nature of their role that can exist due to stigmatisation and fear of authoritative intrusion. As young carers reach 16 years and over, future career prospects become more significant. Young carers are more likely than their peers not to be in education, employment, or training and are more likely to do poorly at school or college than their non-caregiving peers due to the demands of caring. Recognising that positive engagement at school is a vital correlate of positive employment outcomes, young carers are at risk as their caring role can limit the range of employment opportunities open to them. This paper outlines the protocol for a robust synthesis of the literature surrounding young carers and their career perceptions. The scoping review will address the research question ‘What is known from the literature about young carers in school and their career perceptions?’ The overall aim of this paper is to present a protocol for the scoping review to map the key concepts, types of evidence, and gaps in research related to young carers in school and their future careers. Methods: The review will follow Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and Levac et al.’s, (2010) Scoping Review Framework. The steps involved include: (1) research question identification; (2) relevant studies identification; (3) selection of studies; (4) data charting; (5) collating, summarising and reporting the results; and (6) stakeholders consultation. Conclusions: The scoping review is an appropriate first step to employ in presenting the literature to inform a larger research study on young carers’ experiences in school and their perceptions regarding their future careers.



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