scholarly journals Blastocystis hominis: A Pathogenic Parasite

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Badparva ◽  
Farnaz Kheirandish

Background: Blastocystis hominis is recognized as a common intestinal parasite. Some studies have reported the effect of phenotypic, serologic, and biochemical indices on the parasites’ pathogenic characteristics. Objectives: This study aimed to introduce B. hominis as a pathogen, trying to change views about this parasite and introduce it as a parasite important in medical sciences. Methods: An open-ended, language-restricted (English) search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases (from 1990 to 2018) using specific search criteria to identify Blastocystis spp. Results: The search of the literature retrieved 158 published articles on Blastocystis spp. Among these articles, the ones related to the pathogenicity of B. hominis were selected for further investigations. Results obtained in this study showed that the number of articles within five-year periods had an increasing trend. Also, studies of B. hominis have mainly investigated its pathogenic characteristics, accounting for 37.34% of the studies. Conclusions: This study showed comprehensive reasons for proving the pathogenesis of the parasite. It is hoped that further studies would fill the existing gaps regarding this parasite and identify its true identity as a medically important parasite.

VASA ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakob Martin Burgstaller ◽  
Johann Steurer ◽  
Ulrike Held ◽  
Beatrice Amann-Vesti

Abstract. Background: Here, we update an earlier systematic review on the preventive efficacy of active compression stockings in patients with diagnosed proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT) by including the results of recently published trials. The aims are to synthesize the results of the original studies, and to identify details to explain heterogeneous results. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Medline for original studies that compared the preventive efficacy of active compression stockings with placebo or no compression stockings in patients with diagnosed proximal DVT. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Results: Five eligible RCTs with a total of 1393 patients (sample sizes ranged from 47 to 803 patients) were included. In three RCTs, patients started to wear compression stockings, placebo stockings or no stockings within the first three weeks after the diagnosis of DVT. The results of two RCTs indicate a statistically significant reduction in post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) of 50% or more after two or more years. The result of one RCT shows no preventive effect of compression stockings at all. Due to the heterogeneity of the study results, we refrained from pooling the results of the RCTs. In a further RCT, randomization to groups with and without compression stockings took place six months after the diagnosis of DVT, and in another RCT, only patients with the absence of PTS one year after the diagnosis of DVT were analyzed. One RCT revealed a significant reduction in symptoms, whereas another RCT failed to show any benefit of using compression stockings. Conclusions: At this time, it does not seem to be justifiable to entirely abandon the recommendations regarding compression stockings to prevent PTS in patients with DVT. There is evidence favoring compression stockings, but there is also evidence showing no benefit of compression stockings.


Swiss Surgery ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 183-185
Author(s):  
Bleuer

Die mit dem Aufkommen der elektronischen Medien einhergehende Informationsflut hat die Erwartungen an den Dokumentationsdienst (DOKDI) der Schweizerischen Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften verändert: Insbesondere Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) verlangt nicht nur die Beschaffung von Information, sondern auch eine Selektion hinsichtlich Qualität und Relevanz: Die sich aus der klinischen Situation ergebende Frage fordert eine Antwort, die inhaltlich richtig ist und in der konkreten Situation auch weiterhilft. Dem Ideal, sich durch kritische Lektüre der Originalarbeiten ein Bild über die vorhandene Evidenz für die Richtigkeit eines bestimmten Prozederes zu verschaffen, stehen in der Praxis meist Zeitmangel und methodische Schwierigkeiten im Weg; man wird sich deshalb oft auf die durch andere erarbeitete Evidenz abstützen müssen und z.B. die Cochrane Library konsultieren. Der DOKDI engagiert sich sowohl bei der Erarbeitung von systematischen Übersichtsarbeiten als auch bei der Dissemination der gefundenen Evidenz, indem er seine Erfahrung in der Dokumentation mit elektronischen Medien und die entsprechende Infrastruktur zur Verfügung stellt. Als Ergänzung zu diesen Aktivitäten hat die Akademie einen Grant zur Ausbildung von EBM-Tutoren gesprochen. In einem einwöchigen Kurs in Oxford werden Kliniker zu EBM-Tutoren ausgebildet: Dies wird zukünftig ermöglichen, vermehrt EBM-Workshops in der Schweiz durchzuführen.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-154
Author(s):  
Katja Koelkebeck ◽  
Maja Pantovic Stefanovic ◽  
Dorota Frydecka ◽  
Claudia Palumbo ◽  
Olivier Andlauer ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesTo understand and identify factors that promote and prevent research participation among early career psychiatrists (ECPs), in order to understand what would encourage more ECPs to pursue a research career.MethodsWe conducted an electronic search of databases (PubMed and the Cochrane library) using the keywords ‘doctors’, ‘trainees’, ‘residents’, ‘physicians’ and ‘psychiatric trainees’ as well as ‘research’ (MeSH) and ‘publishing’ (MeSH). This search was complemented by a secondary hand search.ResultsWe identified 524 articles, of which 16 fulfilled inclusion criteria for this review. The main barriers included lack of dedicated time for research, lack of mentoring and lack of funding. The main facilitators were opportunities to receive mentorship and access to research funding.ConclusionsAction is needed to counteract the lack of ECPs interested in a career in research. Specific programs encouraging ECPs to pursue research careers and having access to mentors could help increase the current numbers of researching clinicians in the field.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-161
Author(s):  
Henry Cuevas Casa ◽  
Gabriela Aguinaga Romero ◽  
Fabricio González-Andrade

Objetivos: se propone identificar y revisar aquellas estrategias potenciales que incluyan un enfoque multifacético a la hora de hacer frente a la obesidad en niños escolarizados. De acuerdo a la evidencia más reciente, las intervenciones más efectivas para combatir la obesidad infantil son aquellas que involucranactividad física, educación nutricional y entornos de apoyo. Así, en esta revisión nos centramos en buscar dichas intervenciones, que además incluyan seguimientos a medio y largo plazo, monitoreo y evaluación, que son críticos para mantener una acción efectiva.Material y métodos: se incluyó una revisión de artículos científicos publicados en bases de datos especializadas como Pubmed (Medline), the Cochrane Library, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR), ScienceDirect, Scielo, La Biblioteca Cochrane Plus y la página web de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (http://www.who.int).Resultados: de 199 artículos potenciales, sólo 8 fueron incluidos en esta revisión. Los resultados mostraron que aquellas intervenciones multi-componente y de largo plazo tienen beneficios sobre IMC, actividad física y elecciones alimentarias. Sin embargo, pocos estudios mostraron cambios significativos sobrelos hábitos alimentarios generales y sobre la prevalencia de la obesidad. También, se observó que las intervenciones multicomponente que se llevaron a cabo tanto en países en desarrollo de Latinoamérica, como en países desarrollados tuvieron resultados similares.Conclusión: esta revisión demuestra que pueden ocurrir cambios sobre las medidas antropométricas, la actividad física y las elecciones alimentarias cuando se llevan a cabo intervenciones multicomponente en ambientes a nivel de la educación académica primaria, sin importar la localización geográfica, peromanteniendo similar metodología y materiales


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 664-671
Author(s):  
Ilya Pyatnitskiy ◽  
O. Puchkova ◽  
Viktor Gombolevskiy ◽  
Lyudmila Nizovtsova ◽  
Natalya Vetsheva ◽  
...  

The article presents a literature review of the PubMed database and the Cochrane library, aimed at analyzing the current situation and problems in the field of breast cancer screening in the world and Russia to form an idea of the key elements in organizing an effective screening program in the Russian healthcare system, as well as the possibilities of using new technologies when organizing such programs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 472-486
Author(s):  
Lucy Beishon ◽  
Kannakorn Intharakham ◽  
David Swienton ◽  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
Thompson G. Robinson ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive Training (CT) has demonstrated some benefits to cognitive and psychosocial function in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early dementia, but the certainty related to those findings remains unclear. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which CT improves cognitive functioning may help to understand the relationships between CT and cognitive function. The purpose of this review was to identify the evidence for neuroimaging outcomes in studies of CT in MCI and early Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Methods: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were searched with a predefined search strategy, which yielded 1778 articles. Studies were suitable for inclusion where a CT program was used in patients with MCI or AD, with a structural or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) outcome. Studies were assessed for quality using the Downs and Black criteria. Results: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were searched with a predefined search strategy, which yielded 1778 articles. Studies were suitable for inclusion where a CT program was used in patients with MCI or AD, with a structural or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) outcome. Studies were assessed for quality using the Downs and Black criteria. Conclusions: CT resulted in variable functional and structural changes in dementia, and conclusions are limited by heterogeneity and study quality. Larger, more robust studies are required to correlate these findings with clinical benefits from CT.


Author(s):  
Hamish Farquhar ◽  
Ana B Vargas-Santos ◽  
Huai Leng Pisaniello ◽  
Mark Fisher ◽  
Catherine Hill ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the efficacy, defined as achieving target serum urate <6.0 mg/dl, and safety of urate-lowering therapies (ULT) for people with gout and CKD stages 3–5. Methods PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and EMBASE, were searched from 1 January 1959 to 31 January 2018 for studies that enrolled people with gout, who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or creatinine clearance (CrCl) of < 60 mL/min, and exposure to allopurinol, febuxostat, probenecid, benzbromarone, lesinurad or pegloticase. All study designs other than case reports were included, except for people on dialysis, for which we did include case reports. Results There were 36 reports with an analysis of efficacy and/or safety based upon renal function – allopurinol (n = 12), febuxostat (n = 10), probenecid (n = 3), benzbromarone (n = 5), lesinurad (n = 5), and pegloticase (n = 1). There were 108 reports that involved people with gout and renal impairment but did not contain any analysis on efficacy and/or safety based upon renal function – allopurinol (n = 84), febuxostat (n = 14), benzbromarone (n = 1), lesinurad (n = 3), and pegloticase (n = 6). Most studies excluded people with more severe degrees of renal impairment (eGFR or CrCl of < 30mL/min). For allopurinol in particular, there was significant variability in the dose of drug used, and efficacy in terms of urate lowering, across all levels of renal impairment. Conclusion There is a lack of evidence regarding efficacy and/or safety of currently used ULT according to different levels of renal function. Future studies should include patients with CKD and should report study outcomes stratified by renal function.


Pharmacology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Shan Deng ◽  
Yonghao Yu

Patients who undergo surgery of femur fracture suffer the excruciating pain. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a unique α2-adrenergic receptor agonist with sedative and analgesic properties, whose efficacy and safety are still unclear for surgery of femur fracture. Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of addition of DEX to general or local anesthesia in surgery of femur fracture were searched from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database. Patients who received DEX infusion had a significant longer time to rescue analgesia compared with those without DEX coadministration. DEX treatment seemed to reduce the visual analog score; however, the significance did not reach any statistical difference. DEX as an analgesic adjuvant did not reduce the onset of sensory block time, shorten the time to achieve maximum sensory block level, and provide a longer duration of sensory block. The difference in mean sedation scores between 2 groups was not statistically significant. As for adverse effects, DEX therapy significantly increased the rate of hypotension. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine as a local anesthetic adjuvant in femur fracture surgery had a longer duration of rescue analgesia. However, the incidence of hypotension was markedly increased in these patients. It was worth noting that the evidence was of low to moderate quality.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174749302110042
Author(s):  
Grace Mary Turner ◽  
Christel McMullan ◽  
Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi ◽  
Danai Bem ◽  
Tom Marshall ◽  
...  

Aims To investigate the association between TBI and stroke risk. Summary of review We undertook a systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library from inception to 4th December 2020. We used random-effects meta-analysis to pool hazard ratios (HR) for studies which reported stroke risk post-TBI compared to controls. Searches identified 10,501 records; 58 full texts were assessed for eligibility and 18 met the inclusion criteria. The review included a large sample size of 2,606,379 participants from four countries. Six studies included a non-TBI control group, all found TBI patients had significantly increased risk of stroke compared to controls (pooled HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.46-2.37). Findings suggest stroke risk may be highest in the first four months post-TBI, but remains significant up to five years post-TBI. TBI appears to be associated with increased stroke risk regardless of severity or subtype of TBI. There was some evidence to suggest an association between reduced stroke risk post-TBI and Vitamin K antagonists and statins, but increased stroke risk with certain classes of antidepressants. Conclusion TBI is an independent risk factor for stroke, regardless of TBI severity or type. Post-TBI review and management of risk factors for stroke may be warranted.


Author(s):  
Jae Young Moon ◽  
Min Ro Lee ◽  
Gi Won Ha

Abstract Background Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) appears to have favorable surgical and pathological outcomes. However, the evidence on survival outcomes remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to compare long-term oncologic outcomes of TaTME with transabdominal TME for rectal cancer. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched. Data were pooled, and overall effect size was calculated using random-effects models. Outcome measures were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local and distant recurrence. Results We included 11 nonrandomized studies that examined 2,143 patients for the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between the two groups in OS, DFS, and local and distant recurrence with a RR of 0.65 (95% CI 0.39–1.09, I2 = 0%), 0.79 (95% CI 0.57–1.10, I2 = 0%), 1.14 (95% CI 0.44–2.91, I2 = 66%), and 0.75 (95% CI 0.40–1.41, I2 = 0%), respectively. Conclusion In terms of long-term oncologic outcomes, TaTME may be an alternative to transabdominal TME in patients with rectal cancer. Well-designed randomized trials are warranted to further verify these results.


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