scholarly journals Protective Effect of Melatonin Administration against SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-45
Author(s):  
Antonio Molina-Carballo ◽  
Rafael Palacios-López ◽  
Antonio Jerez-Calero ◽  
María Carmen Augustín-Morales ◽  
Ahmed Agil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Medical Database ◽  
Specific Protocol ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Introduction: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for an increasing number of cases and deaths. From a preventive and therapeutic point of view, there are two concerns that affect institutions and healthcare professionals: global immunization (which is still far from being achieved) and the availability of drugs capable of preventing its consequences in the infected patient. In this sense, the role that melatonin can play is has been assessed in the recent literature. Justification and Objectives: the serious health, social and economic consequences of COVID-19 have forced an urgent search for preventive methods, such as vaccines, among others, and therapeutic methods that could be alternatives to the drugs currently used. In this sense, it must be accepted that one of the most recommended has been the administration of melatonin. The present study proposes to carry out a systematic review of its possible role in the treatment and/or prevention of COVID-19. Material and methods: a systematic review of the literature related to the prevention of COVID-19 through the administration of melatonin was carried out, following the sequence proposed by the Prisma Declaration regarding the identification and selection of documents, using the specialized health databases Trip Medical Database, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline Plus, BVS, Cuiden and generic databases such as Dialnet, Web of Science and Google Scholar for their retrieval. Appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria are described for the articles assessed. The main limitation of the study has been the scarcity of works and the lack of defining a specific protocol in terms of dosage and administration schedule. Results: once the selection process was completed, and after an in-depth critical analysis, 197 papers were selected, and 40 of them were finally used. The most relevant results were: (1) melatonin prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection, (2) although much remains to be clarified, at high doses, it seems to have a coadjuvant therapeutic effect in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and (3) melatonin is effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Discussion: until group immunization is achieved in the population, it seems clear that we must continue to treat patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and, in the absence of a specific and effective antiviral therapy, it is advisable to continue researching and providing drugs that demonstrate validity based on the scientific evidence. In this regard, we believe that the available studies recommend the administration of melatonin for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, sleep-inducing, CD147, Mpro, p65 and MMP9 protein suppressing, nephrotoxicity-reducing and highly effective and safe effects. Conclusions: (1) melatonin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and Mpro and MMP9 protein-inhibitory activity. (2) It has been shown to have a wide margin of safety. (3) The contributions reviewed make it an effective therapeutic alternative in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. (4) Further clinical trials are recommended to clearly define the administration protocol.

scholarly journals Quality of life and social distancing: systematic review of literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e318985885
Author(s):  
Ana Karoline Brito de Oliveira ◽  
Matheus Sodré de Araújo ◽  
Samuel Filipe Lopes Alves ◽  
Letícia de Barros Rocha ◽  
Marianne Lucena Da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Health Organization

The city of Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei province, was the scene of an outbreak of a new coronavirus called the SARS-CoV-2 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Gradually, several countries developed strategies to reduce community contamination, including social isolation and lockdown. The purpose of this study is carry out a systematic review of studies that assessed quality of life in social distance during pandemics. A high sensitivity search was carried out in the main scientific databases associated with quality of life (MEDLINE via PUBMED, Embase, Lilacs, Scielo, PsycoInfo, Pepsic, Scopus e Cochrane Library).  The full-text versions were analyzed for methodological quality by two researchers independently and disagreement between reviewers was resolved by discussion or arbitration by the other researcher. Only cross-sectional studies that assessed health-related quality of life during SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks were included. Editorial, letter to the editor, point of view, case presentation or brief communication were excluded. 1072 studies were identified, of which 1067 were excluded following the PRISMA protocol, with 5 articles remaining at the end. Patients affected by SARS, MERS and COVID-19 had reduced quality of life and social distancing make it worse.

scholarly journals Misinformation, chiropractic, and the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iben Axén ◽  
Cecilia Bergström ◽  
Marc Bronson ◽  
Pierre Côté ◽  
Casper Glissmann Nim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chiropractic Treatment ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In March 2020, the World Health Organization elevated the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic to a pandemic and called for urgent and aggressive action worldwide. Public health experts have communicated clear and emphatic strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hygiene rules and social distancing practices have been implemented by entire populations, including ‘stay-at-home’ orders in many countries. The long-term health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet known. Main text During this time of crisis, some chiropractors made claims on social media that chiropractic treatment can prevent or impact COVID-19. The rationale for these claims is that spinal manipulation can impact the nervous system and thus improve immunity. These beliefs often stem from nineteenth-century chiropractic concepts. We are aware of no clinically relevant scientific evidence to support such statements. We explored the internet and social media to collect examples of misinformation from Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand regarding the impact of chiropractic treatment on immune function. We discuss the potential harm resulting from these claims and explore the role of chiropractors, teaching institutions, accrediting agencies, and legislative bodies. Conclusions Members of the chiropractic profession share a collective responsibility to act in the best interests of patients and public health. We hope that all chiropractic stakeholders will view the COVID-19 pandemic as a call to action to eliminate the unethical and potentially dangerous claims made by chiropractors who practise outside the boundaries of scientific evidence.

scholarly journals Metamizole/dipyrone for the relief of cancer pain: A systematic review and evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Gaertner ◽  
Ulrike M Stamer ◽  
Constanze Remi ◽  
Raymond Voltz ◽  
Claudia Bausewein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Oral Morphine ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Low Doses ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Background: Dipyrone (metamizole) is one of the most widely used non-opioid analgesics for the treatment of cancer pain. Aim: Because evidence-based recommendations are not yet available, a systematic review was conducted for the German Guideline Program in Oncology to provide recommendations for the use of dipyrone in cancer pain. Design: First, a systematic review for clinical trials assessing dipyrone in adult patients with cancer pain was conducted. Endpoints were pain intensity, opioid-sparing effects, safety, and quality of life. Data sources: The search was performed in MedLine, Embase (via Ovid), and the Cochrane Library (1948–2013) and additional hand search was conducted. Finally, recommendations were developed and agreed in a formal structured consensus process by 53 representatives of scientific medical societies and 49 experts. Results: Of 177 retrieved studies, 4 could be included (3 randomized controlled trials and 1 cohort study, n = 252 patients): dipyrone significantly decreased pain intensity compared to placebo, even if low doses (1.5–2 g/day) were used. Higher doses (3 × 2 g/day) were more effective than low doses (3 × 1 g/day), but equally effective as 60 mg oral morphine/day. Pain reduction of dipyrone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs did not differ significantly. Compared to placebo, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and morphine, the incidence of adverse effects was not increased. Conclusion: Dipyrone can be recommended for the treatment of cancer pain as an alternative to other non-opioids either alone or in combination with opioids. It can be preferred over non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs due to the presumably favorable side effect profile in long-term use, but comparative studies are not available for long-term use.

scholarly journals Dance as treatment therapy in breast cancer patients – a systematic review

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonessa Boing ◽  
Aline Dandara Rafael ◽  
Helena de Oliveira Braga ◽  
Alan de Jesus Pires De Moraes ◽  
Fabiana Flores Sperandio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Dance Therapy ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Classical Ballet

This systematic review aimed to identify and analyse articles which investigated the influence of dance as adjuvant therapy in breast cancer. The selected databases were PsycInfo, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect and the Virtual Health Library (VHL). The following descriptors were considered for the selection of articles: [dance therapy] OR [movement therapy] OR [complementary therapies] AND [breast cancer] OR [cancer neoplasms] OR [breast tumor] OR [breast carcinoma] present in the titles or abstracts of the articles. The quality of the data was evaluated by means of the methodological criteria proposed by Downs and Black. Eleven articles were found. The approach followed in methodologies were dance therapy movement, Greek dance, Sacred dance, ballroom dance, classical ballet and jazz. Favorable results were found for self-image, femininity, mood, self-esteem, physical well-being, perceived stress, pain, consciousness, depression, couples trust, anxiety and fear. It was observed better range of motion and strength in upper limp, and also improvement in functional capacity. The authors pointed dance as an effective alternative adjuvant treatment in breast cancer. Dance promotes psychological benefits in women in breast cancer, as well as improvements in upper limbs. Future studies are recommended with best scientific evidence, in order to investigate interventions with dance during other treatment and disease stage and with other forms of dance.

scholarly journals The Role of Physiotherapy in Pediatric Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1043
Author(s):  
Silvia Ortiz-Campoy ◽  
Cristina Lirio-Romero ◽  
Helena Romay-Barrero ◽  
David Martín-Caro Álvarez ◽  
Purificación López-Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Pediatric Palliative Care ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Respiratory Physiotherapy

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is a set of actions aimed at children who suffer from a severe or life-threatening disease to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and improve the quality of life of both the child and his/her family. One of the tools used to control symptoms is physiotherapy; however, its application in the child population has not been thoroughly studied. The main objective of this study was to gather, analyze, and critically evaluate the available scientific evidence on physiotherapy in children who require palliative care through a systematic review of the studies published in the last 10 years in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL, and Scopus. Of a total of 622 studies, the inclusion criteria were only met by seven articles, which were focused on the relationship between physiotherapy and PPC. This study analyzed: (1) the main pathologies treated, with a predominance of cerebral palsy and cancer; (2) the interventions applied, such as respiratory physiotherapy, neurological physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, and virtual reality; (3) the effects achieved in the child and his/her family, highlighting the control of symptoms and the improvement of the quality of life; and (4) the knowledge of the physiotherapists on PPC, observing that most of the professionals had not received training in this scope. The findings of this review indicate a lack of an adequate evidence foundation for physiotherapy in PPC.

scholarly journals Mobile apps for detecting falsified and substandard drugs: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246061
Author(s):  
Agustín Ciapponi ◽  
Manuel Donato ◽  
A. Metin Gülmezoglu ◽  
Tomás Alconada ◽  
Ariel Bardach
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Medical Database ◽  
Bar Code ◽  
Medical Databases

The use of substandard and counterfeit medicines (SCM) leads to significant health and economic consequences, like treatment failure, rise of antimicrobial resistance, extra expenditures of individuals or households and serious adverse drug reactions including death. Our objective was to systematically search, identify and compare relevant available mobile applications (apps) for smartphones and tablets, which use could potentially affect clinical and public health outcomes. We carried out a systematic review of the literature in January 2020, including major medical databases, and app stores. We used the validated Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) to assess the quality of apps, (1 worst score, 3 acceptable score, and 5 best score). We planned to evaluate the accuracy of the mobile apps to detect SCM. We retrieved 335 references through medical databases and 42 from Apple, Google stores and Google Scholar. We finally included two studies of the medical database, 25 apps (eight from the App Store, eight from Google Play, eight from both stores, and one from Google Scholar), and 16 websites. We only found one report on the accuracy of a mobile apps detecting SCMs. Most apps use the imprint, color or shape for pill identification, and only a few offer pill detection through photographs or bar code. The MARS mean score for the apps was 3.17 (acceptable), with a maximum of 4.9 and a minimum of 1.1. The ‘functionality’ dimension resulted in the highest mean score (3.4), while the ‘engagement’ and ‘information’ dimensions showed the lowest one (3.0). In conclusion, we found a remarkable evidence gap about the accuracy of mobile apps in detecting SCMs. However, mobile apps could potentially be useful to screen for SCM by assessing the physical characteristics of pills, although this should still be assessed in properly designed research studies.

scholarly journals Anti-rheumatic drugs as potential anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory agents against COVID-19: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Sinaei ◽  
Sara Pezeshki ◽  
Ali Asadipour ◽  
Reza Shiari ◽  
Roya Sinaei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Janus Kinase ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Cytokine Storm ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Background: The effective responses of both innate and adaptive immunity are crucial in combating Novel-Coronavirus-2 infection. An excessive response may lead to cytokine storm, which is a challenging problem in therapeutic strategies. Methods: A systematic review was carried out by searching OVID MEDLINE, PUBMED, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library databases from inception until August 2, 2020, for anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Results: The results of the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine are just like a sinusoidal diagram and in a state of ambiguity. Thalidomide was effective in some cases but has not yet been proven. Low-dose Corticosteroids may be effective in the early stages of the illness as a bridge. There is no evidence of benefits or adverse outcomes for the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Cyclosporine-A. In some critically ill patients, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1 blockers and to some extent Tumor-Necrosis-Factor-α and Janus-Kinase inhibitors are useful. Finally, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin reversed the deterioration of patients in most trials. Conclusion: One strategy behind the treatments for COVID-19 is based on breaking the cytokine storm. Although avoiding the suppression of anti-viral immunity is crucial by choosing the weaker and more selective anti-inflammatories, some strategies are kept for hyper-inflammatory situations. Scheduling of treatment is also important. Although low-dose steroids may be effective in the early stages of the illness, "Tocilizumab" is more effective in severe situations, when the IL-6 level is high and other drugs are ineffective. Therefore, consideration should be given to each patient separately.

scholarly journals Evidence Based Dentistry among Dentists in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-136
Author(s):  
Irene Kida Minja ◽  
Edda Tandi Lwoga
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Hand Search ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Evidence Based Dentistry ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Purpose of this systematic review was to bring together studies of evidence-based practice among dentists in low- and middle-income countries, where its use has been reported to be limited. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Methodology: We searched the evidence (in English only) from medical databases including PubMed, EBSCO, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, HINARI summon, and SCOPUS and Web of Science via Research4Life, grey literature, hand search from relevant articles, and augmented results on Google scholar.Published reports were retrieved from relevant websites and organizations. Studies included those that looked at key factors that facilitate or hinder Evidence Based Dentistry (EBD), as well as outcomes in terms of: knowledge, attitudes and skills of EB practice among dentists; and the methodology used and their relevance in future EBD strategies.Main focus was on dentists, as practitioners and faculty members. Studies on students and non-dental personnel were excluded.Findings:A total of 4568 records were retrieved and five potentially relevant articles were selected after title/abstract screening. Two articles were excluded after full text screening, and therefore Three papers were included in this review. The studies report limited knowledge,unsatisfactory attitude towards EBD and lowpractice of EBD and use of scientific evidence databases. None of the studies reported implementation of EBD nor evaluation thereof. The main barriers that constrained application of EBD ranged from lack of interest to infrastructural limitations. Originality: The current review showed that there is a need to strategised implementation of EBD in this region.

scholarly journals Telemedicine Use Among Caregivers of Cancer Patients: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Marzorati ◽  
Chiara Renzi ◽  
Samuel William Russell-Edu ◽  
Gabriella Pravettoni
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Web Based

BACKGROUND The number of published studies and systematic reviews examining different telehealth interventions targeting patients and their effects on patients’ well-being and quality of life have grown in recent decades. However, the use of telemedicine tools aimed at the family members and caregivers of adult cancer patients is less defined. OBJECTIVE We aimed to conduct a systematic review to provide a more complete picture regarding telemedicine tools for informal caregivers (usually family members or close friends) implemented in all phases of cancer care. More specifically, the review aimed to better describe the study samples’ characteristics, to analyze measured outcomes and the specific questionnaires used to assess them, and to describe in depth the implemented interventions and their formats. Finally, we examined the role of telehealth, and usability and feasibility trends in supporting patients’ caregivers. METHODS We systematically searched the literature in the following databases: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO. Inclusion criteria were being written in English, published in peer-reviewed journals, describing a telehealth-implemented intervention, and focusing on caregivers of adult cancer patients at any stage of the disease. We selected studies published up to November 2017. We critically appraised included articles using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and graded the quality of evidence by outcome using the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine framework. RESULTS We included 24 studies in the final selection. In 21 of the 24 studies, the patient-caregiver dyad was analyzed, and the study population dealt with different types of cancer at different stages. Included studies considered the caregiver’s condition from both an individual and a relational point of view. Along with psychosocial variables, some studies monitored engagement and user satisfaction regarding Web-based platforms or telehealth interventions. All studies reported significant improvements in some of the investigated areas, but they often showed small effect sizes. Two types of telehealth intervention formats were used: Web-based platforms and telephone calls. Some of the included studies referred to the same project, but on study samples with different cancer diagnoses or with new versions of previously developed interventions. CONCLUSIONS Reported outcomes seem to suggest that we are in an exploratory phase. More detailed and targeted research hypotheses are still needed. Clarifying caregivers’ needs related to telehealth tools and better defining outcome measures may yield more significant results.

scholarly journals Acupuncture for patients with chronic pruritus: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e034784
Author(s):  
Leixiao Zhang ◽  
Yanli Deng ◽  
Junpeng Yao ◽  
Xianjun Xiao ◽  
Siyi Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Biomedical Literature ◽  
World Health ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale ◽  
Chronic Pruritus

IntroductionChronic pruritus (CP) frequently occurs in many skin and systemic diseases, and adversely affects quality of life. This systematic review aims to evaluate treatment effects of acupuncture on CP.Methods and analysisAn electronic and manual search will be conducted for all acupuncture treatments for CP, from the inception date of predefined database up to 28 February 2020. Databases include PubMed, Embase, Springer, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Registration Platform, the Chinese Medicine Database, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, the China Science Journal Database and the Wanfang Database. Other sources, including existing systematic reviews, conference proceedings and reference lists of identified publications will also be searched. Additionally, any clinical randomised controlled trials related to acupuncture treatment for CP, regardless of the publication status and language limitations, will be included. Study selection, data extraction and research quality assessments will be conducted independently by two researchers. The primary outcome measures include the Visual Analogue Scale, Urdu 5D-Itch Scale or other validated scales implemented after at least 2 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes include the effective rate, Quality of Life Scale (eg, the EQ-5D third level, the Dermatology Life Quality Index, etc.), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, recurrence rate during the follow-up period and adverse events. If possible, meta-analyses will be performed using RevMan V.5.3 statistical software; otherwise, a descriptive analysis or subgroup analysis will be conducted. The results will be presented as the risk ratio of the binary data and the mean difference (MD) or standardised MD of the continuous data.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review protocol does not require formal ethical approval because the data are not personalised. It will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international academic conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019136727.

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