scholarly journals Are we overestimating the utility of hair glucocorticoids? A systematic review exploring the empirical evidence supporting hair glucocorticoids as a measure of stress

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto Kalliokoski ◽  
Finn K. Jellestad ◽  
Robert Murison
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Popular Method ◽  
Effect Relationship ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Hair Sampling ◽  
Clear Link

AbstractQuantitating glucocorticoids (GCs) in hairs is a popular method for assessing chronic stress in studies of humans and animals alike. The cause-and-effect relationship between stress and elevated GC levels in hairs, sampled weeks later, is however hard to prove. This systematic review evaluated the evidence supporting hair glucocorticoids (hGCs) as a biomarker of stress.Only a relatively small number of controlled studies employing hGC analyses have been published, and the quality of the evidence is compromised by unchecked sources of bias. Subjects exposed to stress mostly demonstrate elevated levels of hGCs, and these concentrations correlate significantly with GC concentrations in serum, saliva and feces. This supports hGCs as a biomarker of stress, but the dataset provided no evidence that hGCs are a marker of historical stress. Only in cases where the stressor persisted at the time of hair sampling could a clear link between stress and hGCs be established.

scholarly journals Systemic constellations applied in organisations: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salome Scholtens ◽  
Carla Petroll ◽  
Carlos Rivas ◽  
Joke Fleer ◽  
Barna Konkolÿ Thege
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Team Coaching ◽  
Effectiveness Studies ◽  
Multiple Languages ◽  
Transformation Processes

AbstractThis article—published in the Journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation.— presents a systematic overview of the current empirical evidence of the effectiveness of the systemic constellation method when applied in organisations.Although the systemic constellation method is increasingly used for team coaching, organisational development and transformation processes, among others, scientific evidence on the effectiveness and quality of this method is still scarce. This may hamper the broader implementation of a potentially useful approach. Altogether, ten electronic databases were searched up to January, 2020. Multiple languages, qualitative and quantitative designs, and academic and grey literature were included. The search resulted in the identification of 79 potentially relevant publications, seven of which were prospective and 13 were retrospective effectiveness studies in terms of organisational outcomes. Only two of the seven prospective studies used a controlled design. This review concludes that the empirical evidence on the systemic organisational constellation method points toward a potentially effective intervention in the organisational context. However, it is too early to make firm conclusions as the number of studies was small and quality of the studies was low in general.The present systematic review summarises the literature on the systemic constellation method applied in organisations. It offers coaches and consultants insights into the method from a scientific perspective and describes potential mechanisms of action regarding the intervention. The results of the review provide a solid basis for future research and give directions for new studies to support quality improvement and help us better understand the factors influencing effectiveness.

OT Interventions to Promote and Support Client Self-Advocacy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512505105p1-7512505105p1
Author(s):  
Laura Vanpuymbrouck ◽  
Kimberly Lieberman ◽  
Abraham Kim ◽  
Erin Thrasher ◽  
Theresa Guzaldo
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Self Advocacy ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Successful Outcomes ◽  
Primary Author

Abstract Date Presented 04/13/21 This literature review examined the evidence within the scope of OT practice addressing client development of self-advocacy and synthesizing the content of effective OT interventions addressing client development of self-advocacy to identify common features vital to successful outcomes. Additionally, this study aims to determine the quality of available empirical evidence of OT interventions designed to promote and support client self-advocacy. Primary Author and Speaker: Laura Vanpuymbrouck Additional Authors and Speakers: Olivia Easterbrooks-Dick Contributing Authors: Alison Teasdale

Assessing the Quality of Randomized Controlled Trials: Current Issues and Future Directions

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Moher ◽  
Alejandro R. Jadad ◽  
Peter Tugwell
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trials ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Study Quality ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Randomized Controlled

AbstractAssessing the quality of randomized controlled trials is a relatively new and important development. Three approaches have been developed: component, checklist, and scale assessment. Component approaches evaluate selected aspects of trials, such as masking. Checklists and scales involve lists of items thought to be integral to study quality. Scales, unlike the other methods, provide a summary numeric score of quality, which can be formally incorporated into a systematic review. Most scales to date have not been developed with sufficient rigor, however. Empirical evidence indicates that differences in scale development can lead to important differences in quality assessment. Several methods for including quality scores in systematic reviews have been proposed, but since little empirical evidence supports any given method, results must be interpreted cautiously. Future efforts may be best focused on gathering more empirical evidence to identify trial characteristics directly related to bias in the estimates of intervention effects and on improving the way in which trials are reported.

The Problem Of Adverse Selection In Business Education

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zafar Yaqub ◽  
Muhammad Suhail Nazar ◽  
Rana Muhammad Shahid Yaqub
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Adverse Selection ◽  
Business Education ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Admission Policy ◽  
Effect Relationship ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Truth Value ◽  
Substantial Extent

The quality of output from a process, to a substantial extent, depends upon quality of the input. The performance of an educational institution badly suffers when it faces a ‘wear out’ in the quality of its in-take. Sometimes it is a deficient induction criterion due to which inappropriate elements hold majority in admitted population of an institution. In this paper, the case of a business education institute, which has been facing a similar problem, is discussed. The authors construct various propositions concerning the relevant ‘concepts of interest’ and then gauge their truth value through a survey of archival records of admitted students with an intent of establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between admission policy and the students’ academic performance.

Characteristics of the Frequency-Following Response to Speech in Neonates and Potential Applicability in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1618-1635
Author(s):  
Céline Richard ◽  
Mary Lauren Neel ◽  
Arnaud Jeanvoine ◽  
Sharon Mc Connell ◽  
Alison Gehred ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes ◽  
Frequency Following Response ◽  
Ovid Medline ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Mesh Terms ◽  
Potential Applicability ◽  
Clinical Potential

Purpose We sought to critically analyze and evaluate published evidence regarding feasibility and clinical potential for predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes of the frequency-following responses (FFRs) to speech recordings in neonates (birth to 28 days). Method A systematic search of MeSH terms in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied HealthLiterature, Embase, Google Scholar, Ovid Medline (R) and E-Pub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily, Web of Science, SCOPUS, COCHRANE Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed. Manual review of all items identified in the search was performed by two independent reviewers. Articles were evaluated based on the level of methodological quality and evidence according to the RTI item bank. Results Seven articles met inclusion criteria. None of the included studies reported neurodevelopmental outcomes past 3 months of age. Quality of the evidence ranged from moderate to high. Protocol variations were frequent. Conclusions Based on this systematic review, the FFR to speech can capture both temporal and spectral acoustic features in neonates. It can accurately be recorded in a fast and easy manner at the infant's bedside. However, at this time, further studies are needed to identify and validate which FFR features could be incorporated as an addition to standard evaluation of infant sound processing evaluation in subcortico-cortical networks. This review identifies the need for further research focused on identifying specific features of the neonatal FFRs, those with predictive value for early childhood outcomes to help guide targeted early speech and hearing interventions.

Psychological and Cognitive Aspects of Borderline Intellectual Functioning

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastianina Contena ◽  
Stefano Taddei
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Intellectual Functioning ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Borderline Intellectual Functioning ◽  
General Quality ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Over Time

Abstract. Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF) refers to a global IQ ranging from 71 to 84, and it represents a condition of clinical attention for its association with other disorders and its influence on the outcomes of treatments and, in general, quality of life and adaptation. Furthermore, its definition has changed over time causing a relevant clinical impact. For this reason, a systematic review of the literature on this topic can promote an understanding of what has been studied, and can differentiate what is currently attributable to BIF from that which cannot be associated with this kind of intellectual functioning. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria, we have conducted a review of the literature about BIF. The results suggest that this condition is still associated with mental retardation, and only a few studies have focused specifically on this condition.

Effect of networks on product innovation: empirical evidence from Indonesian SMEs

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Indarti ◽  
Theo Postma
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Dynamic Effects ◽  
Depth Of Knowledge ◽  
External Knowledge ◽  
Software Firms ◽  
Using Data

Innovative companies generally establish linkages with other actors and access external knowledge in order to benefit from the dynamic effects of interactive processes. Using data from 198 furniture and software firms in Indonesia, this study shows that the quality of interaction (i.e. multiplexity) as indicated by the depth of knowledge absorbed from various external parties and intensity of interaction (i.e., tie intensity) are better predictors of product innovation than the diversity of interaction.

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