scholarly journals Benefits of Life Skill Based Education for Neurodiverse Adults: An Integrative Review and Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. p21
Author(s):  
Niruruthi Ravichandren ◽  
Autumn Niruruthi O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Life Skill ◽  
Adults With Autism ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Teaching Life ◽  
Ebsco Host

An integrative review and analysis was conducted to assess the benefits of teaching Life Skill-Based Education (LSBE) to Neuro Divergent Ddults (ND) (i.e., adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or specific learning difficulties (SLD)). A systematic search of Google, Google Scholar, EBSCO host, and Cochrane Library databases were utilized with date ranging from 2000-2020. A total of 659 hits were obtained before duplicates were removed and inclusion/exclusion criteria, as well as conceptual perspective applied. In summation, 16 articles were thoroughly analysed to evaluate the efficacy of LSBE programs on improving the Quality of Life (QoL) of ND adults. Specifically, ones that cater to the Executive Functioning (EF) challenges often seen in this population, whilst using inclusive approaches. The findings did reveal high potential of LSBE programs to benefit ND adults, where general services currently lack. However, issues such a small sample size and lack of sample diversity limit generalizability of program benefits. Recommendations are to tackle global problems around inclusion and education, for ND adults, at its roots. Greater awareness of LSBE program should be emphasized worldwide, as benefits will likely ensue for all kinds of individuals/neurotypes. Overall, implications target change on a micro, meso and macro level.

scholarly journals Treatment strategies for cerebrospinal shunt infections: a systematic review of observational studies

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e038978
Author(s):  
Joan L Robinson ◽  
Dolores Freire ◽  
Liza Bialy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Csf Shunt ◽  
Entry Site ◽  
Recurrence Rates ◽  
Ovid Medline ◽  
Shunt Infections

ObjectiveA systematic review was conducted of studies comparing time to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sterilisation or rate of recurrence with different treatment strategies for CSF shunt infections.MethodsA librarian-directed search was conducted of Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid Medline Daily and Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Wiley Cochrane Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text via EBSCOhost, Scopus Advanced Search, and Web of Science Core Collection from 1990 to May 2019. Studies of any design that compared outcomes in groups of any age with different management strategies were included. Studies that compared complete versus incomplete shunt removal were excluded. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.ResultsThe search identified 2208 records, of which 8 met the inclusion criteria. All were cohort studies of moderate quality. Four studies compared the duration of antibiotics; none demonstrates that a longer course prevented recurrences. Two studies analysed addition of rifampin, with one showing a decrease in recurrences while the other had a small sample size. No studies analysed the addition of intraventricular antibiotics, but one showed equally good results with once versus twice daily administration. One study reported no difference in recurrences with placement of antibiotic-impregnated catheters. Recurrence rates did not differ with shunt replacement minimum of 7 days vs less than 7 days after CSF became sterile. There were no recurrences in either group when shunt replacement was performed after sterile CSF cultures were obtained at 24 vs 48 hours after antibiotics were discontinued. A new shunt entry site did not decrease recurrences.DiscussionThe main limitations are the lack of high-quality studies, the small sample sizes and the heterogeneity which precluded meta-analysis. Addition of rifampin for staphylococcal infections may decrease relapse but requires further study.

Improvement of facial affect recognition in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder under methylphenidate

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Beyer von Morgenstern ◽  
Ingrid Becker ◽  
Judith Sinzig
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Facial Affect ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Aetiological Factor ◽  
Affect Recognition ◽  
Facial Affect Recognition ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Oppositional Defiant

Introduction and HypothesisSome authors draw a connection between the dopaminergic pathways and emotional perception. The present study is based on that association and addresses the question whether methylphenidate and the resulting amelioration of the disturbed dopamine metabolism lead to an improvement of the facial affect recognition abilities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).MethodsA computer test was conducted on 21 participants, aged 7–14 years and with a diagnosis of ADHD – some with comorbid oppositional defiant disorder – conducted the FEFA (Frankfurt Test and Training of Facial Affect), a computer test to examine their facial affect recognition abilities. It consists of two subtests, one with faces and one with eye pairs. All participants were tested in a double-blind cross-over study, once under placebo and once under methylphenidate.Results and DiscussionThe collected data showed that methylphenidate leads to amelioration of facial affect recognition abilities, but not on a significant level. Reasons for missing significance may be the small sample size or the fact that there exists some overlapping in cerebral connections and metabolic pathways of the site of action of methylphenidate and the affected dopaminergic areas in ADHD. However, consistent with the endophenotype concept, certain gene locations of the dopaminergic metabolism as both an aetiological factor for ADHD and the deficient facial affect recognition abilities with these individuals were considered. Consulting current literature they were found to be not concordant. Therefore, we conclude that the lacking significance of the methylphenidate affect on facial affect recognition is based on this fact.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of the Nickel Content of the Normal Human Prostate Gland

2021 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Zaichick
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Nickel Content ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Prostatic Tissue ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
High Data ◽  
Ni Content

Introduction: The prostate gland is subject to various disorders. The etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases remain not well understood. Moreover, despite technological advancements, the differential diagnosis of prostate disorders has become progressively more complex and controversial. It was suggested that the nickel (Ni) level in prostatic tissue plays an important role in prostatic carcinogenesis and its measurement may be useful as a cancer biomarker. These suggestions promoted more detailed studies of the Ni content in the prostatic tissue of healthy subjects. Materials and methods: The present study evaluated by systematic analysis the published data for Ni content analyzed in prostatic tissue of “normal” glands. This evaluation reviewed 1889 studies, all of which were published in the years from 1921 to 2020 and were located by searching the databases Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, ELSEVIER-EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. The articles were analyzed and “Median of Means” and “Range of Means” were used to examine heterogeneity of the measured Ni content in prostates of apparently healthy men. Results: The objective analysis was performed on data from the 20 studies, which included 743 subjects. It was found that the range of means of prostatic Ni content reported in the literature for “normal” gland varies widely from 0.030 mg/kg to 4.50 mg/kg with median of means 0.625 mg/kg on a wet mass basis. Conclusion: Because of small sample size and high data heterogeneity, we recommend other primary studies be performed.

scholarly journals Visual attention and inhibitory control in children, teenagers and adults with autism without intellectual disability: results of oculomotor tasks from a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study (InFoR)

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouck Amestoy ◽  
Etienne Guillaud ◽  
Giulia Bucchioni ◽  
Tiziana Zalla ◽  
Daniel Umbricht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Attention Switching ◽  
Follow Up Study

Abstract Background Inhibitory control and attention processing atypicalities are implicated in various diseases, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These cognitive functions can be tested by using visually guided saccade-based paradigms in children, adolescents and adults to determine the time course of such disorders. Methods In this study, using Gap, Step, Overlap and Antisaccade tasks, we analyzed the oculomotor behavior of 82 children, teenagers and adults with high functioning ASD and their peer typically developing (TD) controls in a two-year follow-up study under the auspices of the InFoR-Autism project. Analysis of correlations between oculomotors task measurements and diagnostic assessment of attentional (ADHD-RS and ADHD comorbidity indices) and executive functioning (BRIEF scales) were conducted in order to evaluate their relationship with the oculomotor performance of participants with ASD. Results As indicated by the presence of a Gap and Overlap effects in all age groups, the oculomotor performances of ASD participants showed a preserved capability in overt attention switching. In contrast, the difference in performances of ASD participants in the Antisaccade task, compared to their TD peers, indicated an atypical development of inhibition and executive functions. From correlation analysis between our oculomotor data and ADHD comorbidity index, and scores of attention and executive function difficulties, our findings support the hypothesis that a specific dysfunction of inhibition skills occurs in ASD participants that is independent of the presence of ADHD comorbidity. Limitations These include the relatively small sample size of the ASD group over the study’s two-year period, the absence of an ADHD-only control group and the evaluation of a TD control group solely at the study’s inception. Conclusions Children and teenagers with ASD have greater difficulty in attention switching and inhibiting prepotent stimuli. Adults with ASD can overcome these difficulties, but, similar to teenagers and children with ASD, they make more erroneous and anticipatory saccades and display a greater trial-to-trial variability in all oculomotor tasks compared to their peers. Our results are indicative of a developmental delay in the maturation of executive and attentional functioning in ASD and of a specific impairment in inhibitory control.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Equine-Based Therapy in the Treatment of Social and Behavioural Aspects of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Wiese ◽  
Rebecca Simpson ◽  
Saravana Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Behavioural Aspects

Introduction: Individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with impairments in social interactions, communication, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. Equine-based therapy is used as a treatment with children with disabilities. There have been no systematic reviews conducted on the effectiveness of equine-based therapy in children with ASD. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of equine-based therapy on behavioural and social interactions in the treatment of children with ASD. Methods: A systematic search of Cochrane, OT Seeker, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Informit health databases and Proquest central were conducted. Studies of participants, aged 4-16 years, with professional diagnosed ASDs were included if they utilised outcome measures assessing behaviours and social interactions through questionnaire or observation. A critical appraisal, using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies, was performed to assess methodological quality. NHMRC body of evidence framework was used to provide the study with an overall grade of recommendation in assessing quality of evidence. Results: Eight studies of varying research designs and methodological quality met the inclusion criteria. The participants in these studies were aged between 4-16 years of age. The duration of the inventions ranged from 6-12 weeks, and each study used varied measures of outcome. Overall, studies showed some improvements in behaviours and social interactions following an equine-based therapy intervention. Conclusions: Few studies have investigated the effect of equine therapy on behaviour and social interactions of children with ASD. The current body of evidence is constrained by small sample size, lack of comparator, crude sampling methods, and the lack of standardised outcome measures. Equine-based therapy shows potential as a treatment method for behaviours and social interactions in children with ASD.

scholarly journals Increased risk of liver-related outcomes in chronic hepatitis B patients with metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khin Naing Thin ◽  
Andrew Tran ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Eunice Yewon Lee ◽  
Hongli Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) may present increased risk of liver-related outcomes (LROs) but prior studies were limited by small sample size and/or conflicting results. Using a systematic review and meta-analytic approach, we aimed to determine the association between MetS and LROs in CHB. Methods: Two researchers independently screened studies from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to January 21, 2020 and extracted the data. Estimates were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: We screened 2,228 articles and included 10 eligible studies (18,360 CHB patients, 2,557 with MetS). MetS was significantly associated with LROs overall (OR=2.45, 95%CI=1.39-4.32) but not the individual LRO components but subgroup analyses were limited by small study numbers. Discussion/Conclusion: MetS is associated with almost 3 folds higher risk of LROs in CHB and should be considered in management decisions. However, additional studies are needed.

scholarly journals Herbal Medicine Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miran Bang ◽  
Sun Haeng Lee ◽  
Seung-Hun Cho ◽  
Sun-Ae Yu ◽  
Kibong Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Effective Rate ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis

Objective. To summarize and evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Methods. Thirteen electronic databases were searched from their inception to November 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of herbal medicines alone or in combination with other Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments for ASD in children were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used and other data analyses were performed using RevMan (Version 5.3). Results. Ten RCTs involving 567 patients with ASD were included for qualitative synthesis. In conjunction with conventional therapy, herbal medicines significantly improved the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score, but the results of effects on total effective rate (TER) were different between the included studies. The use of herbal medicines with integrative therapy improved the CARS score and TER. In the studies that documented adverse events, no serious events were associated with herbal medicines. Conclusions. The efficacy of herbal medicines for the treatment of ASD appears to be encouraging but was inconclusive owing to low methodological quality, herbal medicine diversity, and small sample size of the examined studies.

scholarly journals Effect of vitamins C and E supplementation onHelicobacter pylorieradication: a meta-analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 1632-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guogang Li ◽  
Lan Li ◽  
Chaohui Yu ◽  
Li Chen
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Eradication Rate ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
H Pylori ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Vitamins C and E can act as potent antioxidants to reduce the damage caused by reactive oxygen species in gastric mucosa. Whether vitamin supplements forHelicobacter pylorieradication regimen could improve the rate of eradication remains uncertain. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of vitamins C and E supplementation for the eradication ofH. pylori. Searches were conducted in the databases PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and addressed the clinical questions of this analysis were further assessed. Of the six RCT included, five had a low methodological quality. Of the six RCT, three compared the efficacy of the eradication regimenv.eradication regimen plus vitamins C and E. The result of the meta-analysis showed a non-significant difference in the eradication rate ofH. pyloribetween the two groups (risk ratio (RR) 0·93,P = 0·76). Another three RCT compared the eradication regimenv.eradication regimen plus vitamin C only, and there too there was no significant difference in the eradication rate (RR 0·83,P = 0·32). In conclusion, vitamins C and/or E supplements to theH. pylorieradication regimen could not improve the eradication rate. However, currently available data do not draw a definitive conclusion about the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamins onH. pylorieradication, owing to the small sample size and low-to-moderate methodological quality.

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