The effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy: A systematic review of experimental studies

Abstract Obesity has been shown to intensify the decline of physical function and lead to frailty. Nutrition is an important method in managing obesity and frailty, while seldom reviews have ever explored the effects of nutritional education interventions. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42019142403) to explore the effectiveness of nutritional education interventions in managing body composition and physio-psychosocial parameters related to frailty. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were searched in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed and Scopus from 2001 to 2019. Hand search for the reference lists of included papers was conducted as well. We assessed the quality of included studies by Cochrane risk of bias tool. Meta-analyses and narrative synthesis were used to analyse the data. Two studies with low risk of bias were screened from 180 articles, which involved 177 older people with an average age of 69.69±4.08 years old. The results showed that nutritional education was significantly effective in reducing body weight and fat mass than exercises, and it was beneficial to enhancing physical function and psychosocial well-being. But the effects of nutritional education in increasing muscle strength were not better than exercises. The combined effects of nutritional education and exercises were superior than either exercises or nutritional education interventions solely in preventing the loss of lean mass and bone marrow density, and in improving physical function. Due to limited numbers of relevant studies, the strong evidence of effectiveness of nutritional education interventions on reversing frailty is still lacking.

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A preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback on heart rate variability and respiration of athletes

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1515/jcim-2020-0528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey Cayaban Pagaduan ◽

Yung-Sheng Chen ◽

James William Fell ◽

Sam Shi Xuan Wu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Academic Research ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Quantitative Review ◽

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback ◽

Randomized Control

Abstract To date, there is no quantitative review examining the influence of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BFB) on the athlete population. Such an undertaking may provide valuable information on the autonomic and respiration responses of athletes when performing HRV BFB. Thus, purpose of this preliminary systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of HRV BFB on HRV and respiration of athletes. Searches of Springerlink, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PROQUEST Academic Research Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were conducted for studies that met the following criteria: (1) experimental studies involving athletes that underwent randomized control trial; (2) availability of HRV BFB as a treatment compared with a control (CON)/placebo (PLA); (3) any pre and post HRV variable and/or breathing frequency as dependent variable/s; and, (4) peer-reviewed articles written in English. Four out of 660 studies involving 115 athletes (25 females and 90 males) ages 16–30 years old were assessed in this review. Preliminary findings suggest the promising ability of HRV BFB to improve respiratory mechanics in athlete population. More work is needed to determine the autonomic modulatory effect of HRV BFB in athletes.

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Between Level Up and Game Over: A Systematic Literature Review of Gamification in Education

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13042247 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 2247 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ana Manzano-León ◽

Pablo Camacho-Lazarraga ◽

Miguel A. Guerrero ◽

Laura Guerrero-Puerta ◽

José M. Aguilar-Parra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Academic Performance ◽

Game Design ◽

Learning Strategy ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Current Lines ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Game Elements ◽

The Impact

Educational gamification consists of the use of game elements and game design techniques in the educational context. The objective of this study is to examine the existing evidence on the impact of educational gamification on student motivation and academic performance in the last five years in order to analyze its distribution over time, educational level, variables, and most used game elements, and know the advantages of its implementation in the classroom. For this, a systematic review is proposed through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology in three multidisciplinary databases, through an exhaustive search with inclusion and exclusion criteria on quantitative experimental studies that explore gamification in educational centers, which provide information about the most current lines of research. Fourteen studies were included in this review. These used experimental or quasi-experimental designs. Most of them report gamification as a valid learning strategy. The results support the conclusion that educational gamification has a potential impact on the academic performance, commitment, and motivation of students. Therefore, this study implies the need to expand research on the needs and challenges of students when learning with gamified techniques.

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Implementation Intentions to Reduce Smoking: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa235 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Charlotte J Hagerman ◽

Rebecca K Hoffman ◽

Sruthi Vaylay ◽

Tonya Dodge

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Implementation Intentions ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Implementation Intention ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Current Systematic Review ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Positive Effect

Abstract Implementation intentions are a goal-setting technique in which an individual commits to perform a particular behavior when a specific context arises. Recently, researchers have begun studying how implementation intention (II) interventions can facilitate antismoking efforts. The current systematic review synthesized results of experimental studies that tested the effect of an II intervention on smoking cognitions and behavior. Of 29 reviewed articles, 11 studies met inclusion criteria. Nine studies (81.8%) tested an II intervention as a cessation tool for current smokers, whereas two tested II interventions as a tool to prevent smoking among predominantly nonsmoking adolescents. A majority of the studies (66.7%) testing II interventions as a cessation tool reported a positive effect on cessation at long-term follow-up. Of the two studies testing II interventions as a tool for prevention, one study found a positive effect on long-term follow-up. Methodology varied between the studies, highlighting the discrepancies between what researchers consider “implementation intentions” to be. II interventions are a promising tool for antismoking efforts, but more research is necessary to determine the best methodology and the populations for whom this intervention will be most effective. Implications Brief, free, and easily scalable, II interventions to prevent smoking are highly attractive for antismoking efforts. This review outlines the circumstances under which II interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in helping people resist smoking cigarettes. We illuminate gaps in the existing literature, limitations, methodological discrepancies between studies, and areas for future study.

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The Nephroprotective Properties of Extracellular Vesicles in Experimental Models of Chronic Kidney Disease: a Systematic Review

Stem Cell Reviews and Reports ◽

10.1007/s12015-021-10189-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Natalia Nowak ◽

Masayuki Yamanouchi ◽

Eiichiro Satake

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Interstitial Fibrosis ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Extracellular Vesicle ◽

Experimental Models ◽

Preclinical Research

AbstractExtracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapy was hypothesized as a promising regenerative approach which has led to intensive research of EVs in various pathologies. In this study, we performed a comprehensive systematic review of the current experimental evidence regarding the protective properties of EVs in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated the EV-based experiments, EV characteristics, and effector molecules with their involvement in CKD pathways. Including all animal records with available creatinine or urea data, we performed a stratified univariable meta-analysis to assess the determinants of EV-based therapy effectiveness. We identified 35 interventional studies that assessed nephroprotective role of EVs and catalogued them according to their involvement in CKD mechanism. Systematic assessment of these studies suggested that EVs had consistently improved glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and cell damage, among different CKD models. Moreover, EV-based therapy reduced the progression of renal decline in CKD. The stratified analyses showed that the disease model, administered dose, and time of therapeutic intervention were potential predictors of therapeutic efficacy. Together, EV therapy is a promising approach for CKD progression in experimental studies. Further standardisation of EV-methods, continuous improvement of the study quality, and better understanding of the determinants of EV effectiveness will facilitate preclinical research, and may help development of clinical trials in people with CKD. Graphical Abstract

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Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pesticides: A Systematic Review of Human and Preclinical Models

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105190 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5190

Author(s):

Judit Biosca-Brull ◽

Cristian Pérez-Fernández ◽

Santiago Mora ◽

Beatriz Carrillo ◽

Helena Pinos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Preclinical Studies ◽

Preclinical Models ◽

Gestational Exposure

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurodevelopmental pathologies characterized by impoverished social and communicative abilities and stereotyped behaviors. Although its genetic basis is unquestionable, the involvement of environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides has also been proposed. Despite the systematic analyses of this relationship in humans, there are no specific reviews including both human and preclinical models. The present systematic review summarizes, analyzes, and discusses recent advances in preclinical and epidemiological studies. We included 45 human and 16 preclinical studies. These studies focused on Organophosphates (OP), Organochlorine (OC), Pyrethroid (PT), Neonicotinoid (NN), Carbamate (CM), and mixed exposures. Preclinical studies, where the OP Chlorpyrifos (CPF) compound is the one most studied, pointed to an association between gestational exposure and increased ASD-like behaviors, although the data are inconclusive with regard to other ages or pesticides. Studies in humans focused on prenatal exposure to OP and OC agents, and report cognitive and behavioral alterations related to ASD symptomatology. The results of both suggest that gestational exposure to certain OP agents could be linked to the clinical signs of ASD. Future experimental studies should focus on extending the analysis of ASD-like behaviors in preclinical models and include exposure patterns similar to those observed in human studies.

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The effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review

Translational Neurodegeneration ◽

10.1186/s40035-021-00245-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fateme Pol ◽

Mohammad Ali Salehinejad ◽

Hamzeh Baharlouei ◽

Michael A. Nitsche

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Cortical Excitability ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Gait Rehabilitation ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

Abstract Background Gait problems are an important symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory intervention that can modulate cortical excitability of the gait-related regions. Despite an increasing number of gait-related tDCS studies in PD, the efficacy of this technique for improving gait has not been systematically investigated yet. Here, we aimed to systematically explore the effects of tDCS on gait in PD, based on available experimental studies. Methods Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PEDro databases were searched for randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of tDCS on gait in patients with PD. Results Eighteen studies were included in this systematic review. Overall, tDCS targeting the motor cortex and supplementary motor area bilaterally seems to be promising for gait rehabilitation in PD. Studies of tDCS targeting the dorosolateral prefrontal cortex or cerebellum showed more heterogeneous results. More studies are needed to systematically compare the efficacy of different tDCS protocols, including protocols applying tDCS alone and/or in combination with conventional gait rehabilitation treatment in PD. Conclusions tDCS is a promising intervention approach to improving gait in PD. Anodal tDCS over the motor areas has shown a positive effect on gait, but stimulation of other areas is less promising. However, the heterogeneities of methods and results have made it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Therefore, systematic explorations of tDCS protocols are required to optimize the efficacy.

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Influence of Coronal Preflaring on the Accuracy of Electronic Working Length Determination: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132760 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2760

Author(s):

María León-López ◽

Daniel Cabanillas-Balsera ◽

Victoria Areal-Quecuty ◽

Jenifer Martín-González ◽

María C. Jiménez-Sánchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Science Studies ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Permanent Teeth ◽

Total Risk ◽

Human Teeth ◽

Working Length ◽

Meta Analyses

Aim. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis according to the following PICO question: in extracted human permanent teeth, does preflaring, compared with unflared canals, influence the accuracy of WL determination with EAL? Material and Methods. A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA checklist, using the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies related to WL determination using EAL both in preflared and unflared root canals of extracted human teeth were included. The outcome of interest was the accuracy of the electronic WL determination. A quality assessment of the included studies was performed, determining the risk of bias. The meta-analyses were calculated with the 5.4 RevMan software using the inverse variance method with random effects. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021243412. Results. Ten experimental studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and most of them found that preflaring increases the accuracy of the EALs in WL determination. The calculated OR was 1.98 (95% CI = 1.65–2.37; p < 0.00001; I2 = 10%), indicating that the determination of WL by EALs is almost twice as accurate in preflared canals. The accuracy of Root ZX in WL determination increases more than three times (OR = 3.25; p < 0.00001). Preflaring with Protaper files significantly increases the accuracy of EALs (OR = 1.76; p < 0.00001). The total risk of bias of the included studies was low. No obvious publication bias was observed. Conclusions. The results indicate a significant increase in the accuracy of WL determination with EAL after preflaring, doubling the percentage of exact measurements. Preflaring should be recommended as an important step during mechanical enlargement of the root canal, not only because it improves the access of the files to the canal, but also because it allows one to obtain more accurate electronic determinations of WL.

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The Impact of Classroom Chatter Noise on Comprehension: A Systematic Review

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/00315125211005935 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003151252110059

Author(s):

Anne-Sophie Lamotte ◽

Aziz Essadek ◽

Gérard Shadili ◽

Jean-Michel Perez ◽

Julien Raft

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Literature Review ◽

Teaching Methods ◽

Classroom Environment ◽

Field Survey ◽

Human Life ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Noisy Environment ◽

Student Comprehension ◽

The Impact

Communication through discussion and conversations is fundamental to human life; but when such discourse escapes the control of a teacher in the classroom, it becomes little more than chatter. This noise challenges teaching methods and the teaching stance with students. Yet, its impact on comprehension has rarely been studied. The aim of this literature review was to examine the research on the impact of classroom noise generated by chatter on students’ comprehension performance. We adopted the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis) guidelines to examine this literature. This review covered a 10-year period (papers written between 2009 and 2019), with nine experimental studies selected from the 2,954 papers screened. In 89% of these nine studies, there were significant comprehension differences on all tests, revealed when comprehension took place in a noisy environment due to chatter. This review indicated an essential need for a field survey to better understand the impact of chatter on comprehension. Other studies are recommended to highlight any correlation between measured chatter and student comprehension in a real classroom environment.

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