The Research of Standardized Protocols for Dog Involvement in Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Systematic Review

Dogs are considered the most important species involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and the scientific literature focuses on the benefits linked to the involvement of dogs in various therapeutic areas. In this study, we carried out a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, exploring the scientific literature from the last 5 years (2016–2021) on three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to highlight the characteristics of the dogs involved in AATs. Based on the scientific literature relevant to such dogs, we considered different parameters (i.e., number, age, sex, breed, temperament, methods of choice and training, health status, research goals, and activities with dogs) to include studies in our paper. After screening 4331 papers identified on the searched databases, we selected 38 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included articles showed that the characteristics of the dogs were neglected. Our findings indicated a lack of information about the dogs, as well as the absence of standardized and univocal criteria for dog selection, training programs, and health protocols.

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Impact of Non-Confinement Accommodation on Farrowing Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Farrowing Crates Versus Pens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9110957 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 957 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dannielle Glencorse ◽

Kate Plush ◽

Susan Hazel ◽

Darryl D’Souza ◽

Michelle Hebart

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Relative Risk ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Literature Searches ◽

Piglet Mortality ◽

Partial Confinement ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Piglet Survival

There are conflicting reports regarding the effect of farrowing house accommodation on piglet performance. The aim of this investigation was to use a systematic review and meta-analyses to summarise the results of publications that focused on direct comparisons between full confinement conventional crates and various designs of loose-housed farrowing pens from loading until weaning. Literature searches in Scopus, BIOSIS Previews, Cab Abstracts, and Web of Science identified 6695 articles. Twenty-two publications were retained for the systematic review and individual meta-analyses after screening for inclusion criteria. The random effects meta-analyses were performed on crate versus pen for number of piglets born alive, number of stillborn piglets, pre-weaning mortality, and number of piglets weaned. Additionally, the modifiers of confinement length (no confinement from loading until weaning or partial confinement for shorter periods of time in the early stages post parturition), enrichment (no enrichment or enrichment provided), and pen size (small, medium, or large) were examined. There was a 14% increase in the relative risk of piglet mortality in farrowing pens when they were compared with crates (p = 0.0015). The number of stillborns per litter was not different between the pen and crate. However, when providing enrichment in the pens, there was an increase in stillborns within farrowing crates versus pens (p = 0.009). There was no overall effect on piglets that were born alive or number weaned. As there is no difference between piglets born alive and mortality is significantly higher in farrowing pens, a reduction in the number of piglets weaned was expected but not observed, which was possibly due to the lack of weaning details provided in the publications. This was the first systematic review and meta-analysis conducted on the performance of farrowing accommodation and identified that farrowing pens do compromise post-natal piglet survival. Future efforts should focus on improving sow comfort in the farrowing crate to maximize both piglet and sow welfare.

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Assessment of the Range of Movement of the Lower Limb in Sport: Advantages of the ROM-SPORT I Battery

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17207606 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 7606

Author(s):

Antonio Cejudo ◽

Pilar Sainz de Baranda ◽

Francisco Ayala ◽

Mark De Ste Croix ◽

Fernando Santonja-Medina

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Limb Movements ◽

Range Of Movement ◽

Technical Performance ◽

Meta Analyses

Range of movement (ROM) assessment is an important strategy to increase physical-technical performance and minimize the risk of sports-related injuries. Currently, there is no consensus regarding which ROM assessment method is the most appropriate. The main objective of this study was to perform a systematic review of the test batteries available for the assessment of lower limb ROM; additionally, we compare the ROM-SPORT I battery with those previously reported in the literature. The systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The identification of publications was made by using the databases SciELO, Medline, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Based on the inclusion criteria, sixteen publications were selected and analyzed. The ROM-SPORT I battery is the most valid of the analyzed methods. This battery evaluates the ROM of eleven lower limb movements. The inclinometer with a telescopic arm and a box is a simpler, more comfortable, and faster procedure than others. The Lumbosant support and use of two examiners are essential to avoid compensatory movements to obtain reliable measurements during ROM assessment. The ROM-SPORT I is a field-based battery of tests that may be used by sports professionals, clinics, and researchers in applied settings to accurately assess and monitor lower extremity ROM.

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The health workforce demand: a systematic literature review

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva ◽

10.1590/1413-81232021266.1.40842020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. 2431-2448

Author(s):

Diana Fernandes Lopes ◽

Ana Luísa Ramos ◽

Eduardo Anselmo de Castro

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Literature Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Accurate Data ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Demand Modeling ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Key Questions

Abstract Understanding imbalances between the supply and demand of the human resour- ces for health (HRH) is essential for enhancing health outcomes. Addressing the HRH demand is particularly challenging, especially given the deficit of accurate data and surplus of unresolved methodological flaws. This study presents a systematic review of the literature surrounding HRH demand and answers the following key questions: How has HRH demand been addressed? What are the harms and barriers that accompany HRH demand modeling? This systematic review was performed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) statement. Relevant keywords were used in a thorough search of the PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases. A total of 2,599 papers were retrieved and evaluated according to their title and abstract. Of these, the full-text of 400 papers was analyzed, 53 of which successfully met the inclusion criteria in our study. While the topic’s relevance is widespread, it still lacks a validated approach to model HRH demand adequately. The main characteristics of the applied methods are presented, such as their application complexity by health policymakers. Opportunities and orientations for further research are also highlighted.

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Adverse Effects of Natural Products: A Brief Pre-Systematic Review

Current Nutraceuticals ◽

10.2174/2665978601999200702163914 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 01 ◽

Author(s):

Carla Pires ◽

Ana Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Adverse Event ◽

Natural Products ◽

Adverse Events ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Google Scholar ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Meta Analyses

Background: Natural products are commonly used for treating health problems. These products may be associated with adverse events, which are defined as "noxious and unintended response to a medicinal product" by the European Medicine Agency. Objectives: To identify studies describing at least one adverse event (or with potential to promote an adverse event) related to the use of natural products, as well as to describe the involved product(s) and adverse event(s). Methods: A pre-systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. Keywords: "natural product(s)" and ["adverse drug reaction(s)" or "adverse effect(s)"]. Screened databases: PubMed, SciELO, DOAJ and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria: papers describing at least one adverse event associated with the use of natural products and published between 2017 and 2019. Exclusion criteria: Repeated studies, reviews and papers written in other languages than English, Portuguese, French or Spanish. Results: 104 studies were identified (20 PubMed; 0 SciELO; 2 DOAJ; 82 Google Scholar), but only 10 were selected (4 PubMed and 6 Google Scholar): 1 in-vitro study; 2 non-clinical studies, 1 study reporting in-vitro and clinical data and 5 studies were cases reports. Globally, 997 reports of adverse drug reactions with natural products were identified, mainly non-severe cases. Conclusion: Since a limited number of studies was found, we conclude that adverse events due to natural products may be underreported, or natural products may have a good safety profile. This review contributes for assuring the safety of natural products consumers, by evaluating the knowledge/information on the potential adverse events and interactions of these products.

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Impact of Vibration on the Levels of Biomarkers: A Systematic Review

The Journal of Indian Orthodontic Society ◽

10.1177/03015742211019520 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 030157422110195

Author(s):

Ashish Agrawal ◽

TM Chou

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Tooth Movement ◽

Orthodontic Tooth Movement ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Electronic Search ◽

Proquest Dissertation

Introduction: The objective of this systematic review is to assess the effect of vibrational force on biomarkers for orthodontic tooth movement. Methods: An electronic search was conducted for relevant studies (up to December 31, 2020) on the following databases: Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wiley Library, and ProQuest Dissertation Abstracts and Thesis database. Hand searching of selected orthodontic journals was also undertaken. The selected studies were assessed for the risk of bias in Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool. The “traffic plot” and “weighted plot” risk of bias distribution are designed in the RoB 2 tool. The 2 authors extracted the data and analyzed it. Results: Six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The risks of biases were high for 4, low and some concern for other 2 studies. The biomarkers, medium, device, frequency and duration of device, as well as other data were extracted. The outcomes of the studies were found to be heterogenous. Conclusion: One study showed highly statistically significant levels of IL-1 beta with <.001. Rate of tooth movement was correlated with levels of released biomarkers under the influence of vibrational force in 3 studies, but it was found to be significant only in 1 study. It was further observed that vibration does not have any significant reduction in pain and discomfort.

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Impact of Educational Technology on Teacher Stress and Anxiety: A Literature Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020548 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 548

Author(s):

José-María Fernández-Batanero ◽

Pedro Román-Graván ◽

Miguel-María Reyes-Rebollo ◽

Marta Montenegro-Rueda

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Educational Technology ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Teaching Practice ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Teacher Stress ◽

Bibliographic Databases ◽

Technology In The Classroom ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Meta Analyses

Educational technology has become an increasingly important element for improving the teaching and learning process of students. To achieve these goals, it is essential that teachers have the skills they need to be able to introduce technology into their teaching practice. However, this is often overwhelming and stressful for many of them. The aim of this review was to find out how research on teacher stress and anxiety associated with the use of educational technology was proceeding. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines through the following bibliographic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Sixteen articles were found from the review. The main findings show that teachers present high levels of anxiety or stress due to their use of educational technology in the classroom. Among the conclusions, the need for research on different strategies to prevent the emergence of these anxiety and stress symptoms in teachers stands out.

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Caffeine and Cognitive Functions in Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13030868 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 868

Author(s):

Jorge Lorenzo Calvo ◽

Xueyin Fei ◽

Raúl Domínguez ◽

Helios Pareja-Galeano

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Reaction Time ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Caffeine Intake ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Research Protocols ◽

The Relationship

Cognitive functions are essential in any form of exercise. Recently, interest has mounted in addressing the relationship between caffeine intake and cognitive performance during sports practice. This review examines this relationship through a structured search of the databases Medline/PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published in English from August 1999 to March 2020. The study followed PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were defined according to the PICOS model. The identified records reported on randomized cross-over studies in which caffeine intake (as drinks, capsules, energy bars, or gum) was compared to an identical placebo situation. There were no filters on participants’ training level, gender, or age. For the systematic review, 13 studies examining the impacts of caffeine on objective measures of cognitive performance or self-reported cognitive performance were selected. Five of these studies were also subjected to meta-analysis. After pooling data in the meta-analysis, the significant impacts of caffeine only emerged on attention, accuracy, and speed. The results of the 13 studies, nevertheless, suggest that the intake of a low/moderate dose of caffeine before and/or during exercise can improve self-reported energy, mood, and cognitive functions, such as attention; it may also improve simple reaction time, choice reaction time, memory, or fatigue, however, this may depend on the research protocols.

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Blockchain Applications in Agribusiness: A Systematic Review

Future Internet ◽

10.3390/fi13040095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 95

Author(s):

Geneci da Silva Ribeiro Rocha ◽

Letícia de Oliveira ◽

Edson Talamini

Keyword(s):

Complex System ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Early Stage ◽

Technological Development ◽

Economic Sectors ◽

Future Studies ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

Near Future

Blockchain is a technology that can be applied in different sectors to solve various problems. As a complex system, agribusiness presents many possibilities to take advantage of blockchain technology. The main goal of this paper is to identify the purposes for which blockchain has been applied in the agribusiness sector, for which a PRISMA-based systematic review was carried out. The scientific literature corpus was accessed and selected from Elsevier’s Scopus and ISI of Knowledge’s Web of Science (WoS) platforms, using the PRISMA protocol procedures. Seventy-one articles were selected for analysis. Blockchain application in agribusiness is a novel topic, with the first publication dating from 2016. The technological development prevails more than blockchain applications since it has been addressed mainly in the Computer Sciences and Engineering. Blockchain applications for agribusiness management of financial, energy, logistical, environmental, agricultural, livestock, and industrial purposes have been reported in the literature. The findings suggest that blockchain brings many benefits when used in agribusiness supply chains. We concluded that the research on blockchain applications in agribusiness is only at an early stage, as many prototypes are being developed and tested in the laboratory. In the near future, blockchain will be increasingly applied across all economic sectors, including agribusiness, promoting greater reliability and agility in information with a reduced cost. Several gaps for future studies were observed, with significant value for science, industry, and society.

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Viral hepatitis associated hepatocellular carcinoma on the African continent, the past, present, and future: a systematic review

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-08426-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ottovon Bismark Dakurah ◽

Cynthia Raissa Tchuem Tamandjou ◽

Moleen Zunza ◽

Wolfgang Preiser ◽

Tongai Gibson Maponga

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Viral Hepatitis ◽

Web Of Science ◽

African Continent ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Hepatitis D ◽

The Past ◽

B Virus

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Africa. In Africa, the major causes of HCC include chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Knowledge of the changes in the incidence of viral hepatitis-associated HCC over time and the factors responsible for such changes is key in informing policies for the prevention of viral hepatitis-associated HCC in Africa. Aim The study aimed to systematically summarize the changes in the prevalence of viral hepatitis among HCC patients and the overall effect of the prevalence of viral hepatitis on the incidence of HCC over the past four decades in Africa (1980–2019). Methods A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and African wide web for articles published on viral hepatitis-associated HCC in Africa from 1980 to 2019. The abstracts of the articles were screened for eligibility and those meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved and reviewed. Results A total of 272 studies were included in the analysis. Viral hepatitis-related HCC incidence changed by 1.17% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63–1.71, p < 0.001), 0.82% (95% CI: 0.45–1.18, p < 0.001), and 3.34% (95% CI: 2.44–4.25, p < 0.001) for every 1% change in the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and hepatitis D virus (HDV) respectively, per decade. The incidence of HBV-related HCC decreased by − 0.50% (95% CI: − 0.74 – − 0.25, p < 0.001) over the last 40 years, while HCV-related HCC increased. Conclusion Overall, the incidence of viral hepatitis-associated HCC has not declined, mainly due to no decline in the prevalence of HCV, HDV, and the high number of chronic hepatitis B carriers on the African continent. There is an urgent need for the allocation of resources for the implementation of treatment and preventive programs for HBV, HCV, HDV, and HCC in Africa. This systematic review is registered with PROSPERO®, number CRD42020169723.

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Emotion Recognition in Adults With a History of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review

Trauma Violence & Abuse ◽

10.1177/15248380211029403 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 152483802110294

Author(s):

Annie Bérubé ◽

Jessica Turgeon ◽

Caroline Blais ◽

Daniel Fiset

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Emotion Recognition ◽

Childhood Maltreatment ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

History Of Childhood ◽

History Of ◽

Effects On Children ◽

Meta Analyses

Child maltreatment has many well-documented lasting effects on children. Among its consequences, it affects children’s recognition of emotions. More and more studies are recognizing the lasting effect that a history of maltreatment can have on emotion recognition. A systematic literature review was conducted to better understand this relationship. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was used and four databases were searched, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and FRANCIS, using three cross-referenced key words: child abuse, emotion recognition, and adults. The search process identified 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The review highlights the wide variety of measures used to assess child maltreatment as well as the different protocols used to measure emotion recognition. The results indicate that adults with a history of childhood maltreatment show a differentiated reaction to happiness, anger, and fear. Happiness is less detected, whereas negative emotions are recognized more rapidly and at a lower intensity compared to adults not exposed to such traumatic events. Emotion recognition is also related to greater brain activation for the maltreated group. However, the results are less consistent for adults who also have a diagnosis of mental health problems. The systematic review found that maltreatment affects the perception of emotions expressed on both adult and child faces. However, more research is needed to better understand how a history of maltreatment is related to adults’ perception of children’s emotions.

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