scholarly journals Potential mechanisms linking probiotics to diabetes: a narrative review of the literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Miraghajani ◽  
Somayeh Shahraki Dehsoukhteh ◽  
Nahid Rafie ◽  
Sahar Golpour Hamedani ◽  
Sima Sabihi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Prevention ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Security Research ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Some studies have suggested a wide range of possible mechanisms through which probiotics may play a role in diabetes prevention and treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We conducted this study to review the potential mechanisms suggested for the effect of probiotics in diabetes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Narrative review conducted at the Food Security Research Center of Isfahan. METHODS: A search in the electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Google scholar was performed up to October 2016. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 1214 reports. After removing duplicates, 704 titles and abstracts were screened. Finally, out of 83 full-text articles that were reviewed for eligibility, 30 articles were included in the final analysis. The anti-diabetic mechanisms for probiotics reported encompass intraluminal and direct effects on the intestinal mucosa and microbiota (n = 13), anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects (n = 10), antioxidative effects (n = 5), effects on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and expression of genes involved in glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance (n = 6), with some studies pointing to more than one mechanism. CONCLUSION: The results may throw some light on the capacity of probiotics as a novel approach towards controlling diabetes. However, further human studies are warranted to elucidate and confirm the potential role of probiotics in diabetes prevention and treatment. Also, it needs to be ascertained whether the effectiveness of probiotics in diabetes prevention and treatment is dependent on the strain of the microorganisms.

Hospital Preparedness Plans for Chemical Incidents and Threats: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-485
Author(s):  
Parisa Moradi Majd ◽  
Hesam Seyedin ◽  
Hasan Bagheri ◽  
Nader Tavakoli
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Job Descriptions ◽  
Preparedness Plan ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hospital Preparedness ◽  
Chemical Incidents

ABSTRACTIn a wide range of events, people may be acutely exposured to chemical substances. Particular hospital preparedness plans and vital resources are essential for appropriate health-care measures. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review to summarize and evaluate the existing evidence on hospital preparedness plans or protocols against chemical incidents and threats. In this aim, through May 15, 2018, 5 electronic databases were searched in MEDLINE (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar) for the following key words: hospital preparedness, plan, protocol, chemical incident, and chemical threat. The final review included 11 peer-reviewed papers that met inclusion criteria. The systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol (PRISMA) (www.prisma-statement.org). Finally, of 16,540 selected papers, 11 papers were included in the final analysis. The thematic analyses revealed 11 major categories of chemical incidents and threats planning, such as planning requirements, planning prerequisites, preparation team member (multidisciplinary team), decontamination, personal protective equipment, education and training, job descriptions and roles, communication, database, staff /volunteer organization, as well as planning barriers and challenges for chemical incidents. Most countries have launched hospital preparedness planning against chemical incidents and threat activities, but the preparedness of hospitals is often less than desirable. Many items, such as databases, hospital preparation team members, communications, etc., are still challenging.

scholarly journals Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics and Clinical Use of Aspirin: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5-s) ◽  
pp. 236-253
Author(s):  
Bamidele Johnson Alegbeleye ◽  
Oke-Oghene Philomena Akpoveso ◽  
Rana Kahdim Mohammed ◽  
Bernard Yeboah-Asiamah Asare
Keyword(s):  
Final Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Low Dose Aspirin ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Literature Search Strategy ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Wonder Drug

Background: Aspirin is one of the most frequently used and cheapest drugs in medicine. Since its first synthesis in 1897, several medicinal roles and mechanisms of action of Aspirin have become apparent, the latest among these being its role in cancer prevention and treatment. Objective: We present a review of Aspirin's biochemistry and pharmacology, as well as the clinical use of Aspirin. The communiqué also suggests possible strategies for maximizing the gain of Aspirin as a wonder-drug of the future. Methods: The  literature  search  strategy  covered  printed  and  online  sources,  including  manual  library search (PubMed), Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Library. For papers written in English and published in the last ten years.  A  systematic  analysis  of  available  data  was  subsequently  performed  based  on  the review questions. An  estimated  155  articles  were  found  online,  and  twenty-eight  articles  utilized  in  the  final analysis. Discussion: Aspirin belongs to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including analgesic, antipyretic, and antiplatelet properties. Discovery of antiplatelet effects led to the increasing use of Aspirin as an anti-thrombotic agent in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases from the 1980s, and firm evidence supporting its usefulness has continued to accumulate. Aspirin irreversibly inhibits platelet function by acetylating cyclooxygenase (COX), which is involved in the production of a potent platelet stimulator, thromboxane A2. The inhibition of COX-2 by Aspirin forms the basis of its anticipated role in preventing colorectal cancer and Alzheimer's disease and the inhibition of the progression of these diseases. It has been pointed out that the incidence of cardiovascular events tends to be high among patients who are Aspirin resistant, but the reason for this increased incidence remains unclear. Conclusion: The emerging future interest is to accrue evidence in favor of Aspirin as the novel therapeutic drug for combating severe acute inflammation and thrombosis associated with the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Notably, a randomized clinical trial, to test a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, includes low-dose Aspirin as anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet treatment. Keywords: Aspirin; Anti-platelet; Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug; Pharmaceutic; Pharmacodynamic; Pharmacokinetic.

scholarly journals Worden’s Task-Based Model for Treating Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder During the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T1) ◽  
pp. 553-559
Author(s):  
Mohsen Khosravi
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Anticipatory Grief ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement ◽  
Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

BACKGROUND: A wide range of studies has shown that the coronavirus disease (COVID)-2019 pandemic could cause many deaths on the global scale by the end of 2020 because of the high speed of transmission and predicted case-fatality rates. AIM: This paper is a narrative review aiming to address the treatment of persistent complex bereavement disorder (PCBD) during the COVID-19 crisis using Worden’s task-based model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Related papers published from 2000 to 2020 were searched in the EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Bereavement, COVID-19, pandemics, and Worden’s task-based model constituted the search terms. A narrative technique was implemented (including reading, writing, thinking, interpreting, arguing, and justifying) for material synthesis and creating a compelling and cohesive story. RESULTS: A few studies have specifically addressed the grief experiences within the COVID-19 crisis. They managed to identify some potential obstacles to grieving during the pandemic, namely, “anticipatory grief” and “multiple losses.” This study tried to use Worden’s task-based model to address the treatment of PCBD during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the paucity of information, Worden’s task-based model seems to have a considerable impact on the reduction of the PCBD symptoms. Nonetheless, further research is needed to perceive the effect of this approach on PCBD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Role of Primary Care Physicians in Providing End-of-Life Care

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Tse Liu ◽  
Iris Kovar-Gough ◽  
Nabila Farabi ◽  
Frank Animikwam ◽  
Sarah Beth Weers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
The United States ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Primary care physicians (PCPs) frequently have long-term relationships with patients as well as their families. As such they are well positioned to care for their patients at the end of their lives. As the number of patients in need of end-of-life care continues to grow, it is critical to understand how PCPs can fulfill that need. The purpose of our study is to perform a narrative review of the literature and develop a theoretical model delineating the overarching roles played by PCPs in caring for patients at the end of life. Methods: For this narrative review, the authors searched Medline (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus up to March 22, 2017. Articles were not limited by geography. Results: Review of existing literature generally supports 4 broad categories as the primary roles for PCP involvement in end of life: pain and symptom management; information management, including transmitting and clarifying information, setting care priorities, and assisting patients with treatment decisions; coordinating care and collaborating with other providers; and addressing patients’ social, emotional, and spiritual needs. Conclusions: Based on the results of this review, PCPs provide a wide range of services to patients at the end of life. Promoting the provision of the full scope of services by PCPs will help ensure improved continuity of care while providing the highest quality of care for patients, both in the United States and around the world.

scholarly journals Problem-solving interventions and depression among adolescents and young adults: A systematic review of the effectiveness of problem-solving interventions in preventing or treating depression among 13-25 year olds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Lewis ◽  
Jade Mitchell ◽  
Sangita Chakraborty ◽  
Bryce D. McLeod ◽  
Kristina L. Metz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Common Element ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Limited Effectiveness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prevention And Treatment

Background: Problem-solving (PS) has been identified as a common element in multiple evidence-based treatments for the prevention and treatment of depression. We undertook a systematic review of evidence for the effectiveness and implementation of PS for the prevention and treatment of depression among 13-25 year olds.Methods: We searched electronic databases (PsycInfo, Medline, and Cochrane Library) for studies published between 2000 and 2020 described by authors as a PS intervention or including PS approaches to treat or prevent depression in 13-25 year olds. Eighteen out of 902 effectiveness studies and 1 out of 480 implementation studies met inclusion criteria. Results: The interventions studied were heterogeneous in population, intervention, modality, comparison condition, study design, and outcome. Eight focused purely on PS; eight used PS as part of a wider intervention. Six studies found positive effects in reducing depression, and two in reducing suicidality. Seven measured effects on PS skills. There was little evidence of change in PS skills, about PS skills as mediator or moderator of effects on depression, or about the fit, feasibility, or acceptability of PS interventions. Discussion: There is mixed evidence about the effectiveness of PS as treatment and prevention of depression among AYAs although our findings suggest it can work in a wide range of contexts and forms. Possible explanations for limited effectiveness are: not all studies included populations where depression was known to be present; variability in quality, dosage and fidelity monitoring; small samples size and short follow-up periods.

Yoga Therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 159-178
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Lafer ◽  
Margaret McCuiston ◽  
Ann Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Physiological State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Yoga Therapy ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Whole Person ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Physiological And Biochemical

This chapter reviews the evidence supporting the efficacy of yoga therapy for wellness, and as an adjunct to standard care for a number of chronic conditions. The underlying mechanisms are explored, including the physiological and biochemical changes that have been observed in yoga practitioners. Yoga has been found to activate the relaxation response—a physiological state which reduces stress on bodily systems. Yoga leads to changes in gene expression, including decreases in the expression of genes involved in stress and inflammation. The positive effects of yoga therapy are interpreted through the lens of the biopsychosocial-spiritual model, which cultivates eudaimonic well-being and salutogenesis. Researchers attribute a wide range of yoga's therapeutic benefits largely to its whole-person approach to well-being.

scholarly journals The Role of Isoflavones in Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Treatment—A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Alina Kuryłowicz
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Diabetes Prevention ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
The Impact

Given the growing number of type 2 diabetic individuals and the substantial social and financial costs associated with diabetes management, every effort should be made to improve its prevention and treatment methods. There is an ongoing search for natural dietary compounds that could be used for this purpose. This narrative review focuses on the therapeutic potential of isoflavones in diabetes prevention and treatment. This review summarizes (i) the molecular mechanisms of isoflavones action that are critical to their anti-diabetic properties; (ii) preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) studies evaluating the influence of isoflavones on the function of key organs involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes; and (iii) epidemiological studies and clinical trials that assessed the effectiveness of isoflavones in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in humans. Apart from discussing the effects of isoflavones on the function of organs “classically” associated with the pathogenesis of diabetes (pancreas, liver, muscles, and adipose tissue), the impact of these compounds on other organs that contribute to the glucose homeostasis (gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and brain) is also reviewed.

Carbon Dots for Bacterial Detection and Antibacterial Applications-A Minireview

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (46) ◽  
pp. 4848-4860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anisha Anand ◽  
Gopinathan Manavalan ◽  
Ranju Prasad Mandal ◽  
Huan-Tsung Chang ◽  
Yi-Ru Chiou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Carbon Dots ◽  
Antibacterial Effect ◽  
Bacterial Detection ◽  
High Brightness ◽  
Photo Catalysis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Conventional Antibiotics

: The prevention and treatment of various infections caused by microbes through antibiotics are becoming less effective due to antimicrobial resistance. Researches are focused on antimicrobial nanomaterials to inhibit bacterial growth and destroy the cells, to replace conventional antibiotics. Recently, carbon dots (C-Dots) become attractive candidates for a wide range of applications, including the detection and treatment of pathogens. In addition to low toxicity, ease of synthesis and functionalization, and high biocompatibility, C-Dots show excellent optical properties such as multi-emission, high brightness, and photostability. C-Dots have shown great potential in various fields, such as biosensing, nanomedicine, photo-catalysis, and bioimaging. This review focuses on the origin and synthesis of various C-Dots with special emphasis on bacterial detection, the antibacterial effect of CDots, and their mechanism.

scholarly journals Responsive and Personalized Web Layouts with Integer Programming

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (EICS) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Markku Laine ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Simo Santala ◽  
Jussi P. P. Jokinen ◽  
Antti Oulasvirta
Keyword(s):  
Integer Programming ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Web Page Design ◽  
Automated Generation ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Responsive Design ◽  
Responsive Web Design ◽  
Page Design

Over the past decade, responsive web design (RWD) has become the de facto standard for adapting web pages to a wide range of devices used for browsing. While RWD has improved the usability of web pages, it is not without drawbacks and limitations: designers and developers must manually design the web layouts for multiple screen sizes and implement associated adaptation rules, and its "one responsive design fits all" approach lacks support for personalization. This paper presents a novel approach for automated generation of responsive and personalized web layouts. Given an existing web page design and preferences related to design objectives, our integer programming -based optimizer generates a consistent set of web designs. Where relevant data is available, these can be further automatically personalized for the user and browsing device. The paper includes presentation of techniques for runtime adaptation of the designs generated into a fully responsive grid layout for web browsing. Results from our ratings-based online studies with end users (N = 86) and designers (N = 64) show that the proposed approach can automatically create high-quality responsive web layouts for a variety of real-world websites.

scholarly journals QALY league table of Iran: a practical method for better resource allocation

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Hashempour ◽  
Behzad Raei ◽  
Majid Safaei Lari ◽  
Nasrin Abolhasanbeigi Gallezan ◽  
Ali AkbariSari
Keyword(s):  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Practical Method ◽  
Cost Utility ◽  
Cost Utility Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Network ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
League Table ◽  
Utility Analysis

Abstract Background The limited health care resources cannot meet all the demands of the society. Thus, decision makers have to choose feasible interventions and reject the others. We aimed to collect and summarize the results of all cost utility analysis studies that were conducted in Iran and develop a Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) league table. Methods A systematic mapping review was conducted to identify all cost utility analysis studies done in Iran and then map them in a table. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, as well as Iranian databases like Iran Medex, SID, Magiran, and Barakat Knowledge Network System were all searched for articles published from the inception of the databases to January 2020. Additionally, Cost per QALY or Incremental Cost Utility Ratio (ICUR) were collected from all studies. The Joanna Briggs checklist was used to assess quality appraisal. Results In total, 51 cost-utility studies were included in the final analysis, out of which 14 studies were on cancer, six studies on coronary heart diseases. Two studies, each on hemophilia, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. The rest were on various other diseases. Markov model was the commonest one which has been applied to in 45% of the reviewed studies. Discount rates ranged from zero to 7.2%. The cost per QALY ranged from $ 0.144 in radiography costs for patients with some orthopedic problems to $ 4,551,521 for immune tolerance induction (ITI) therapy in hemophilia patients. High heterogeneity was revealed; therefore, it would be biased to rank interventions based on reported cost per QALY or ICUR. Conclusions However, it is instructive and informative to collect all economic evaluation studies and summarize them in a table. The information on the table would in turn be used to redirect resources for efficient allocation. in general, it was revealed that preventive programs are cost effective interventions from different perspectives in Iran.

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