scholarly journals Medication in AN: A Multidisciplinary Overview of Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinne Blanchet ◽  
Sébastien Guillaume ◽  
Flora Bat-Pitault ◽  
Marie-Emilie Carles ◽  
Julia Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Nutritional Complications

Drugs are widely prescribed for anorexia nervosa in the nutritional, somatic, and psychiatric fields. There is no systematic overview in the literature, which simultaneously covers all these types of medication. The main aims of this paper are (1) to offer clinicians an overview of the evidence-based data in the literature concerning the medication (psychotropic drugs and medication for somatic and nutritional complications) in the field of anorexia nervosa since the 1960s, (2) to draw practical conclusions for everyday practise and future research. Searches were performed on three online databases, namely MEDLINE, Epistemonikos and Web of Science. Papers published between September 2011 and January 2019 were considered. Evidence-based data were identified from meta-analyses, if there were none, from systematic reviews, and otherwise from trials (randomized or if not open-label studies). Evidence-based results are scarce. No psychotropic medication has proved efficacious in terms of weight gain, and there is only weak data suggesting it can alleviate certain psychiatric symptoms. Concerning nutritional and somatic conditions, while there is no specific, approved medication, it seems essential not to neglect the interest of innovative therapeutic strategies to treat multi-organic comorbidities. In the final section we discuss how to use these medications in the overall approach to the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

An Evidence-Based Review of Antitussive Herbs Containing Essential Oils in Traditional Persian Medicine

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayda Hosseinkhani ◽  
Bijan Ziaeian ◽  
Kamran Hessami ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Zarshenas ◽  
Ali Kashkooe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Persian Medicine ◽  
Troublesome Symptom ◽  
Traditional Persian Medicine

Background: Cough is one of the most common medical symptoms for which medical advice is sought. Although cough is a protective reflex responsible for clearing the airways from secretions and foreign bodies, it can be a troublesome symptom that causes discomfort to patients. Due to the increasing interest in herbal remedies in the both developed and developing countries, in the current study, we aimed to overview medicinal herbs containing essential oils used as antitussive agents according to the Traditional Persian Medicine [TPM] textbooks. We summarized the relevant scientific evidence on their possible pharmacological actions. Methods: To collect the evidence for treatment of cough or “seaal” [cough in ancient books] from TPM sources, five main medicinal Persian manuscripts were studied. The antitussive herbs were listed and their scientific names were identified and authenticated in accordance with botanical reference books. ScienceDirect and PubMed online databases were searched for related mechanisms of action of the reported medicinal plants. Results: The number of 49 herbs containing essential oils were recommended in TPM for the treatment of cough; 21 of them had at least one known mechanism of action for cough suppression in the scientific literature. According to this review, most of the cited medicinal plants were assessed for either nitric oxide inhibitory or antitussive/expectorant activities. Conclusion: In addition to advantageous effects of antitussive herbs noted by TPM, the present review highlighted some recent evidence-based data on these promising candidates that could be used as an outline for future research on their medicinal use.

scholarly journals Comparative Effectiveness Research: Using Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses to Synthesize Empirical Evidence

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria C. Katapodi ◽  
Laurel L. Northouse
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Comparative Effectiveness Research ◽  
Comparative Effectiveness ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Effectiveness Research ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Research Studies

The increased demand for evidence-based health care practices calls for comparative effectiveness research (CER), namely the generation and synthesis of research evidence to compare the benefits and harms of alternative methods of care. A significant contribution of CER is the systematic identification and synthesis of available research studies on a specific topic. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of methodological issues pertaining to systematic reviews and meta-analyses to be used by investigators with the purpose of conducting CER. A systematic review or meta-analysis is guided by a research protocol, which includes (a) the research question, (b) inclusion and exclusion criteria with respect to the target population and studies, © guidelines for obtaining relevant studies, (d) methods for data extraction and coding, (e) methods for data synthesis, and (f ) guidelines for reporting results and assessing for bias. This article presents an algorithm for generating evidence-based knowledge by systematically identifying, retrieving, and synthesizing large bodies of research studies. Recommendations for evaluating the strength of evidence, interpreting findings, and discussing clinical applicability are offered.

scholarly journals Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Mahbub Hossain ◽  
Neetu Purohit ◽  
Abida Sultana ◽  
Ping Ma ◽  
E. Lisako J. McKyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Meta Analyses

Objectives: Mental disorders are highly prevalent in eight South Asian countries, yet there is a gap of a synthesized overview of the prevalence of mental disorders in this region. This umbrella review aims to summarize the prevalence of mental disorders from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of South Asian studies.Materials and methods: A systematic search of 11 major databases and additional sources was conducted until December 11, 2019. Articles were included if they were systematic reviews or meta-analyses, reported the prevalence of mental disorders, and reported primary studies conducted in South Asian countries only. Results: Among 2591 citations, a total of 23 reviews met all the criteria of this umbrella review. The synthesized findings from those reviews suggest high prevalence rates for mental disorders, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, suicidal behavior and self-harm, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, dementia, and other mental health problems. Also, findings suggest a high burden of maternal depression, psychiatric comorbidities in chronic physical illnesses, and various mental disorders among children, elderly adults, refugees, and other vulnerable populations. Most studies were from India whereas evidence from Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Maldives was limited.Conclusion: The findings of this review are constrained with heterogeneity in prevalence estimations, methodologies, sampling issues, and limitations in the existing literature, which should be addressed in future research. The evidence synthesized in this review provides national and regional overview of the prevalence of mental disorders, which may inform better policymaking and practice advancing mental health in South Asia.

scholarly journals Nutritional interventions to improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older people: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien Gielen ◽  
David Beckwée ◽  
Andreas Delaere ◽  
Sandra De Breucker ◽  
Maurits Vandewoude ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Belgian Society ◽  
Nutritional Interventions ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Context Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes such as falls, disability, and death. The Belgian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics has developed evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. This umbrella review presents the results of the Working Group on Nutritional Interventions. Objective The aim of this umbrella review was to provide an evidence-based overview of nutritional interventions targeting sarcopenia or at least 1 of the 3 sarcopenia criteria (ie, muscle mass, muscle strength, or physical performance) in persons aged ≥ 65 years. Data sources Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, the PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses reporting the effect of nutritional supplementation on sarcopenia or muscle mass, strength, or physical performance. Data extraction Two authors extracted data on the key characteristics of the reviews, including participants, treatment, and outcomes. Methodological quality of the reviews was assessed using the product A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews. Three authors synthesized the extracted data and generated recommendations on the basis of an overall synthesis of the effects of each intervention. Quality of evidence was rated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Data analysis A total of 15 systematic reviews were included. The following supplements were examined: proteins, essential amino acids, leucine, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate, creatine, and multinutrient supplementation (with or without physical exercise). Because of both the low amount and the low to moderate quality of the reviews, the level of evidence supporting most recommendations was low to moderate. Conclusions Best evidence is available to recommend leucine, because it has a significant effect on muscle mass in elderly people with sarcopenia. Protein supplementation on top of resistance training is recommended to increase muscle mass and strength, in particular for obese persons and for ≥ 24 weeks. Effects on sarcopenia as a construct were not reported in the included reviews.

scholarly journals Pearls for Interpreting Neurosurgical Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: Lessons From a Collaborative Effort

Neurosurgery ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor M Lu ◽  
Christopher S Graffeo ◽  
Avital Perry ◽  
Michael J Link ◽  
Fredric B Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Evidence Based Medicine ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Cranial Neuralgia ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the neurosurgical literature have surged in popularity over the last decade. It is our concern that, without a renewed effort to critically interpret and appraise these studies as high or low quality, we run the risk of the quality and value of evidence-based medicine in neurosurgery being misinterpreted. Correspondingly, we have outlined 4 major domains to target in interpreting neurosurgical systematic reviews and meta-analyses based on the lessons learned by a collaboration of clinicians and academics summarized as 4 pearls. The domains of (1) heterogeneity, (2) modeling, (3) certainty, and (4) bias in neurosurgical systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified as aspects in which the authors’ approaches have changed over time to improve robustness and transparency. Examples of how and why these pearls were adapted were provided in areas of cranial neuralgia, spine, pediatric, and neuro-oncology to demonstrate how neurosurgical readers and writers may improve their interpretation of these domains. The incorporation of these pearls into practice will empower neurosurgical academics to effectively interpret systematic reviews and meta-analyses, enhancing the quality of our evidence-based medicine literature while maintaining a critical focus on the needs of the individual patients in neurosurgery.

scholarly journals The Evidence-Based Practice Silent Enemy: Retracted Articles and Their Use in Systematic Reviews

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Ivan Herrera-Peco ◽  
Azucena Santillán-García ◽  
José María Morán ◽  
Jessica Marian Goodman-Casanova ◽  
Daniel Cuesta-Lozano
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Current Issue ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Evidence Based Nursing ◽  
Improve Health

Today, evidence-based nursing practice strives to improve health care, ensure adherence to treatment, improve health outcomes, and guarantee patient safety. The main scientific documents that nurses should consult, to obtain the best possible evidence, are systematic reviews and meta-analyses. However, this type of scientific document has a major issue if it uses retracted articles that could directly affect the consistency of the results shown in the reviews. The aim of this commentary is to present the current issue represented by the use of retracted articles in meta-analyses of systematic reviews and how researchers could detect them, through the use of different instruments, avoiding them, and providing a reliable SR or meta-analysis that could be useful for day-to-day clinical and research activities.

scholarly journals Pedestrian–Vehicle Interaction at Unsignalized Crosswalks: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harley Amado ◽  
Sara Ferreira ◽  
José Pedro Tavares ◽  
Paulo Ribeiro ◽  
Elisabete Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Cellular Automata ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cellular Automata Model ◽  
Micro Simulation ◽  
Field Information ◽  
Meta Analyses

A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), to generate a document that supports the development of future research, compiling the various studies focused on the analysis of the pedestrian-vehicle interaction at unsignalized crosswalks. Firstly, 381 studies were identified by applying the search protocol in the database sources; however, only nine studies were included in this review because most of the studies are not focused on this type of crosswalks or have not considered the micro-simulation perspective. For each study, an analysis of the used methodology for data collection was carried out, in addition to what type of model it was applied, including the variables that represent the PVI (Pedestrian-Vehicle Interaction). The outcomes obtained by this systematic review show that although the video camera observation technique is the most used, it is possible to complement them with other tools to add specific field information. Additionally, variables such as the adjacent yields, speed variables vehicles, pedestrian attitude, and the number of pedestrians waiting at the crossing were those most used in the cellular automata model or micro-simulation, which are the commonly developed models to simulate this interaction.

Mapping evidence from systematic reviews regarding adult attachment and mental health difficulties: a scoping review

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-229
Author(s):  
G. Mullen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Interpersonal Processes ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Meta Analyses

ObjectiveThe aim of this scoping review was to map evidence gathered through systematic reviews regarding adult attachment and mental health difficulties. This review highlights established, emerging, and inconsistent findings, suggesting areas for future research, and implications for theory and practice.MethodsA systematic search for meta-analyses and systematic reviews measuring adult attachment and concerning mental health difficulties was conducted. In total, 17 studies met the selection criteria.ResultsFindings were presented according to four identified themes, (1) measurement of attachment; (2) measurement of mental health difficulty; (3) intrapersonal processes related to attachment and mental health difficulties; and (4) interpersonal processes related to attachment and mental health difficulties.ConclusionsThis review highlights the connection between attachment style and mental health difficulties, and suggests that relationships can facilitate both mental health and illheath. However, the mechanisms through which insecure attachment confers risk for mental health difficulties require further research.

scholarly journals Life cycle assessment of bioenergy production from macroalgae : A review

2021 ◽  
Vol 924 (1) ◽  
pp. 012070
Author(s):  
M B Pangestuti ◽  
S Suhartini ◽  
N Hidayat
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Marine Biomass ◽  
Renewable Raw Material ◽  
Online Library ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract The sustainability integration to achieve circular economy pressures the development of renewable raw material and bioenergy sources, including marine biomass such as macroalgae. The consideration of sustainable conversion technology for bioenergy from macroalgae is critically highlighted. Various studies have been emphasized that life cycle assessment (LCA) can be applied to assess the efficacy and environmental aspects of bioenergy production from cradle-to-grave. This systematic review attempts to critically evaluate the development of LCA studies on macroalgae valorisation for bioenergy. Several online databases (i.e., Science Direct, Wiley Online Library, Springer, DOAJ, and MDPI) were used to collect the relevant articles. Then, PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) method has been selected to screen the most recent research articles (from January 2011 to June 2021) published in peer-reviewed international journals. The studies presented the development, opportunities, challenges, and future research for the commercialization of macroalgae as a sustainable feedstock for bioenergy.

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