scholarly journals MicroRNAs as Useful Tools to Estimate Time Since Death. A Systematic Review of Current Literature

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Aniello Maiese ◽  
Andrea Scatena ◽  
Andrea Costantino ◽  
Marco Di Paolo ◽  
Raffaele La Russa ◽  
...  

Estimating the time of death remains the most challenging question in forensic medicine, because post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation can be a remarkably difficult goal to achieve. The aim of this review is to analyze the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) to evaluate PMI. MiRNAs have been studied as hallmarks and biomarkers in several pathologies and have also showed interesting applications in forensic science, such as high sensible biomarkers in body fluid and tissue, for wound age determination and PMI evaluation due to their low molecular weight and tissue-specific expression. The present systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) standards. We performed an electronic search of PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) from the inception of these databases to 12 August 2020. The search terms were (“PMI miRNA” or “PMI micro RNA”) and (“miRNA” and “time of death”) in the title, abstract and keywords. Through analysis of scientific literature regarding forensic uses of miRNAs, has emerged that the intrinsic characteristics of such molecules, and their subsequent resistance to degradation, make them suitable as endogenous markers in order to determine PMI. However, further and larger studies with human samples and standardized protocols are still needed.

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania De Simone ◽  
Elena Giacani ◽  
Maria Antonella Bosco ◽  
Simona Vittorio ◽  
Michela Ferrara ◽  
...  

Background:The timing of wounds production is a significant issue in forensic pathology. Although various methods have been evaluated, obtaining an accurate dating of lesions is still a challenge. The pathologist uses many parameters to value wound age, such as histological and immunohistochemical. In recent years, there have been many studies regarding the use of miRNAs in wound-age estimation; indeed, miRNAs have multiple potential uses in forensic pathology.Scope:This review aims to verify the efficacy and feasibility of miRNAs as a tool for determining the timing of lesions.Materials and Methods:The authors conducted the systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed was used as a search engine to find articles published between January, 1st 2016 and October, 1st 2021, to evaluate the current state of the art regarding wound-age estimation.Results:A total of 256 articles were collected; after screening according to PRISMA guidelines, the systematic review included 8 articles. The studies included in this review were all Original articles evaluating the use of biomarkers for wound-age determination.Discussion and Conclusion:The literature review showed that analysis of miRNA is an innovative field of study with significant potentiality in forensic pathology. There are few studies, and almost all of them are at an early stage. The challenge is to understand how to standardize the samples' selection to obtain reliable experimental data. This observation represents a necessary prerequisite to planning further clinical trials.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nita Novita ◽  
Hasrayati Agustina ◽  
Bethy S. Hernowo ◽  
Abdul H. Hassan

Wound examination is indispensable in forensic practice. The scientific field of wound age determination has advanced progressively during recent years.The purpose of this study was to determine the differences of fibronectin and TGF-β1 expression in both antemortem and postmortem wounds. This study was an experimental with completely randomized design.  The skin wounds (vital and postmortem) were taken from fourty Wistar rats and divided into 10 groups of rats. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the differences between antemortem and postmortem wounds. The result showed that in 30 minutes after antemortem wound infliction, all of samples showed weak reactivity for fibronectin and TGF-β1 (100%).  In first hour after wound infliction, 3 samples (75%) showed weakly positive and 1 sample (25%) strongly positive for fibronectin and TGF-β1.  In 2 hour after wound infliction, 1 sample (25%) showed weakly positive and 3 sample (75%) strongly positive for fibronectin and TGF-β1.  In 3 and 4 hour after wound infliction, all of samples strongly positive for fibronectin and TGF-β1.  In postmortem wound, all of samples showed negativity for fibronectin and TGF-β1. In conclusion, fibronectin and TGF-β1 may be useful in the determination of wound vitality. Keywords: wound, fibronectin, TGF-β1, vitality


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 520-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Guimarães Barbosa ◽  
Giulia Campos Ferreira ◽  
Diomildo Ferreira Andrade Júnior ◽  
Cássio Rocha Januário ◽  
André Rolim Belisário ◽  
...  

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a chronic a multifactorial psychiatric illness that affects mood, cognition, and functioning. BD is associated with several psychiatric conditions as well clinical comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular diseases. The neurobiology of BD is complex and multifactorial and several systems have been implicated. Considering that the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases and that recently evidence has suggested its role in psychiatric disorders, the aim of the present study is to summarize and to discuss recent findings related to the modulation of RAS components in BD. A systematic search of the literature using the electronic databases MEDLINE and LILACS was conducted through March 2019. The search terms were: “Bipolar Disorder”; “Renin Angiotensin System”; “Angiotensin 2”; “Angiotensin receptors”; “Angiotensin 1-7”; “ACE”; “ACE2”; “Mas Receptor”. We included original studies assessing RAS in BD patients. Two hundred twenty-two citations were initially retrieved. Eleven studies were included in our systematic review. In the majority of studies (6 of 8), the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism did not differ between BD patients and controls. BD patients presented higher plasma renin activity in comparison with controls. The studies evaluating the RAS molecules in BD are very scarce and heterogeneous. The literature suggests a potential role of RAS in BD. Further studies are necessary to investigate this relationship.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles James ◽  
Catherine Walshe ◽  
Katherine Froggatt

Abstract Background The knowledge about the experience of informal caregivers who provide care to people with moderate to advanced dementia in a domestic home setting is limited. A consequence of long hours of caregiving in addition to dealing with normal challenges of daily living is their experience of a poor quality of life. Some of their experiences may be described in terms of a feeling of powerlessness to make changes during care provision. This feeling may also suggest an experience of moral distress. The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise qualitative evidence relating to these experiences. Methods This review adopts a narrative synthesis approach. A search will be conducted for studies written in the English language in the bibliographic databases MEDLINE Complete, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Academic Search Complete covering periods from 1984 to present. Included studies will be qualitative or mixed-methods designs. The search terms will be related to dementia and caregivers, and the process will be focused on dementia at the moderate to the advanced stages within the domestic home setting. Reference lists of included papers will also be searched for additional relevant citations. Search terms and strategies will be checked by two independent reviewers. The identification of abstracts and full texts of studies will be done by the author, while the quality and the risk of bias will also be checked by the two independent reviewers. Discussion Psychological distress is cited as an experience reported within informal caregiving. For the caregiver, it is associated with a negative impact on general health. To date, no synthesis exists on the specific experience of informal caregiving for people with moderate to advanced dementia within the domestic home setting. This review considers that variation of accounts contributes to how the informal caregivers’ general experience is explored in future research. This may enable gaps in current knowledge to be highlighted within the wider context of caregiving in the domestic home setting. Systematic review registration This review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020183649).


2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482110593
Author(s):  
Cindy Jones ◽  
Meiling Qi ◽  
Zihui Xie ◽  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Benjamin Weeks ◽  
...  

This study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the health effects of Baduanjin exercise on adults aged 65 years and older. Chinese and English databases were electronically searched using search terms related to the PICO model from inception through June 2021. The study quality assessment and meta-analysis were conducted using the PEDro scale and RevMan 5.4 software. Eleven included Chinese studies, published between 2015 and 2021, recruited participants from the mainland of China. The aggregated results showed significant benefits of Baduanjin on physical function, walking ability, balance, and anxiety. A long-term Baduanjin intervention could also improve quality of life and reduce falls and pain. Baduanjin appears to have the potential to improve the health of older adults, but conclusions are limited due to the lack of rigorous and robust studies within and outside of mainland China. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Jackson ◽  
Lauren McTier ◽  
Laura A Brooks ◽  
Rochelle Wynne

Abstract Background: Although simulation-based education (SBE) has become increasingly popular as a mode of teaching in undergraduate nursing courses its effect on associated student learning outcomes remains ambiguous. Educational outcomes are influenced by SBE quality that is governed by technology, training, resources and SBE design elements. This paper reports the protocol for a systematic review to identify, appraise and synthesise the best available evidence regarding the impact of SBE on undergraduate nurses’ learning outcomes. Methods: Databases to be searched from 1st of January 1990 include the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), American Psychological Association (APA) PsycInfo and the Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) via the EBSCO host platform. The Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) will be searched via the OVID platform. We will review the reference lists of relevant articles for additional citations. A combination of search terms including ‘nursing students’, ‘simulation training, ‘patient simulation’, and ‘immersive simulation’ with common Boolean operators will be used. Specific search terms will be combined with either MeSH or Emtree terms and appropriate permutations for each database. Search findings will be imported into reference management software (Endnote© Version.X9) then uploaded into Covidence where two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and retrieved full text. A third reviewer will be available to resolve conflicts and moderate consensus discussions. Quantitative primary research studies evaluating the effect of SBE on undergraduate nursing students’ educational outcomes will be included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) will be used for quality assessment of core criteria, in addition to the Cochrane RoB 2 and ROBINS-I to assess risk of bias for randomised and non-randomised studies, respectively. Primary outcomes are any measure of knowledge, skills, or attitude. Discussion: SBE has been widely adopted by healthcare disciplines in tertiary teaching settings. This systematic review will reveal (i) the effect of SBE on learning outcomes, (ii) SBE element variability, and (iii) interplay between SBE elements and learning outcome. Findings will specify SBE design elements to inform the design and implementation of future strategies for simulation-based undergraduate nursing education.Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021244530


2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (spe) ◽  
pp. 178-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia de Freitas ◽  
Silvia Rezende Marques ◽  
Taisy Bezerra Alves ◽  
Juliana Takahashi ◽  
Amélia Fumiko Kimura

Objective To verify the effect of bathing on the body temperature of preterm infants (PTI). Method Systematic review conducted in the following bibliographic electronic sources: Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde/Lilacs (BVS), Cumulated Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science, using a combination of search terms, keywords and free terms. The review question was adjusted to the PICO acronym (Patient/population, Intervention, Control/comparative intervention, Outcome). The selected publications were evaluated according to levels of evidence and grades of recommendation for efficacy/effectiveness studies, as established by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Results Eight hundred and twenty four (824) publications were identified and four studies met the inclusion criteria, of which three analyzed the effect of sponge baths and the effect of immersion baths. Conclusion Sponge baths showed a statistically significant drop in body temperature, while in immersion baths the body temperature remained stable, although they studied late preterm infants.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-321
Author(s):  
Eduardo Moreira de Oliveira ◽  
Priscilla Tiemi Kissaki ◽  
Tiago Nascimento Ordonez ◽  
Thaís Bento Lima-Silva

Abstract A systematic review of the neuroanatomical literature was performed to determine the neuropharmacological aspects most relevant to the study of memory processes. Articles were retrieved using the search terms "biology of memory", "memory and aging", "memory impairment", "elderly and memory," and their equivalents in Portuguese. Of the studies surveyed, five studies dealt with epidemiological and demographic issues, 12 were clinical trials i.e. were based on testing and implementation of instruments in human subjects, 33 studies were basic research involving studies of mice, rats and non-human primates, and biochemical and in vitro trials and finally, 52 studies were literature reviews or book chapters which in our view, fell into this category. Conclusions: The work sought to highlight which neural networks are most involved in processing information, as well as their location within brain regions and the way in which neurotransmitters interact with each other for the formation of these memories. Moreover, it was shown how memory changes during the normal human aging process, both positively and negatively, by analyzing the morphological alterations that occur in the brain of aging individuals.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
HEG Wolfenden ◽  
M Angioi

BACKGROUND: The circus arts involve a high degree of acrobatic, athletic, and aesthetic ability with extreme physical demands placed on performers. An understanding of the injury profile is required to guide prevention. AIM: To provide the first systematic review to enhance understanding of circus-related injuries and to provide a foundation for future preventative intervention. METHODS: MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from conception to March 2016 using key search terms relating to circus artists and injury. Studies were limited to English-language human studies and included all levels and ages of circus artists. Risk of bias was assessed using a novel seven-item checklist based on the STROBE statement. RESULTS: Eight studies of varying design, populations, outcomes, and quality were analysed. Results suggest that the injury rate is relatively low among professional circus artists at 7.37 to 9.27/1,000 artist exposures. The spine and ankle are frequently injured, and most injuries are to soft tissue structures. In the professional setting, injuries appear minor, resulting in few treatments, few missed or altered performances, and a low risk of re-injury. CONCLUSIONS: The spine and ankle should be targeted for preventative interventions in circus artists due to their high frequency of injury. The heterogeneity of studies included in this review highlights the need for consistency within future research, particularly in terms of injury definition and outcome measurements.


2020 ◽  
pp. 152483802095380
Author(s):  
Laurie M. Graham ◽  
Rebecca J. Macy ◽  
Cynthia F. Rizo ◽  
Sandra L. Martin

Theories play an important role in guiding intimate partner homicide (IPH) prevention research and practice. This study is the first systematic review of theories employed to explain why someone might kill their intimate partner. This review used rigorous methods to locate and synthesize literature that described explanatory theories of IPH perpetration. Using set search terms, we systematically searched 15 databases and repositories for theory-focused documents (i.e., theory papers or analyses) published in English from 2003 to 2018. Eighteen documents met these inclusion criteria and identified 22 individual theories that seek to explain why people might kill their intimate partners. These theories fell within four broader theoretical perspectives: feminist, evolutionary, sociological/criminological, and combined. Key tenets and focal populations of these 22 theories were identified and organized into a compendium of explanatory theories of IPH perpetration. Potential strengths and limitations of each of the four perspectives were described. Review findings underscored the likely importance of addressing gender as well as risk and protective factors at all levels of the social ecological model in efforts to understand IPH perpetration. The review findings highlighted the need for both integrated theories and a broader conceptual organizing framework to guide work aimed at IPH perpetration prevention to leverage the strengths of disparate theoretical perspectives. With the goal of informing future research, a preliminary iteration of such a framework is presented.


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