Aromatherapy for Symptom Relief in Patients with Burn: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives: This review aimed to provide an updated review of evidence regarding the effects of aromatherapy in relieving symptoms of burn injuries, focusing on pain and physiological distress. Materials and Methods: Fifteen databases (including five English databases, four Korean medical databases, and four Iranian databases) and trial registries were searched for studies published between their dates of inception and July 2021. Two review authors individually performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, and any discrepancies were solved by a third review author. Results: Eight RCTs met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this updated systematic review. Our meta-analyses revealed that inhaled aromatherapy plus routine care showed beneficial effects in relieving pain after dressing, as compared to placebo plus routine care (p < 0.00001) and routine care alone (p = 0.02). Additionally, inhaled aromatherapy plus routine care (p < 0.00001) and aromatherapy massage plus routine care (p < 0.0001) also showed superior effects in calming anxiety, as compared to routine care alone. None of the included studies reported on AEs. Overall, the risk of bias across the studies was concerning. Conclusions: This updated review and synthesis of the studies had brought a more detailed understanding of the potential application of aromatherapy for easing the pain and anxiety of burn patients.

Exploring the Moderating Role of Readers’ Perspective in Evaluations of Online Consumer Reviews

Drawing upon the heuristic–systematic model (HSM) and considering the readers’ perspective, this study predicts that readers’ involvement and homophily between the reader and the review author (source) moderate the relationships between the credibility perception of online reviews and its antecedent factors. To test our hypotheses, we performed a user study on the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform. The results show that reader’s involvement moderates source credibility, internal consistency, review objectivity, and review sidedness on review credibility. In addition, homophily between the reader and the source also moderates the relationship between review credibility and its source. Our study contributes to information processing literature, especially in the context of online reviews, and suggests a better classification of the attributes related to online reviews using the HSM. Besides, it helps e-commerce platforms to customize online reviews for each reader to satisfy their information need and help them to make a better purchasing decision.

Publishers as Partners

Open Science is integral to the Royal Society of Chemistry’s organisational mission: to support the chemical science community to make the world a better place. It is essential to address global issues (such as current and future pandemics, and climate change) at a quicker pace than ever before, and in fundamentally more collaborative ways. We believe that science which is carried out in a more open and transparent manner has the promise to increase the quality, robustness, longevity, trustworthiness and global impact of the work and its outcomes. We recognise that publishers have not always been considered fellow-travellers in the Open movement, but as a not-for-profit publisher we believe we have an important role to play, learning from all of the stakeholders in the scientific ecosystem, from researchers to librarians and research funders, and providing leadership among our fellow publishers, large and small. As we seek to continually increase the proportion of our articles that are published as Open Access, we face a number of challenges, not least of which are the need for Open Science to be properly funded, with clear, common codes of practice and globally suitable solutions that go beyond equality to a position of international equity. In this talk we will present the thinking and rationale around our recent and forthcoming developments, including the introduction of Data Availability Statements, transparent peer review, author contribution statements (following the CRediT taxonomy), Open Access books, and our support for engendering a more Open research culture across our community. We want this to be the beginning of a genuinely collaborative and open conversation about the concrete actions that publishers such as ourselves can perform or support in order to further our shared goals.

Surgical modalities for the treatment of recto-vaginal deep infiltrating endometriosis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Deeply infiltrating endometriosis is a distinct type of endometriosis that is characterized by presence of endometrial nodes that penetrates &gt;5 mm under the peritoneal surface. Surgery is the main method for relief of its associated pain and for improvement of quality of life. Objectives To assess effectiveness and safety of different laparoscopic surgical techniques in the treatment of deeply infiltrating endometriosis. Search methods We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, other data bases, and trial registries from inception till May 2020. The search strategy was developed by the review team. Some of the studies' authors were contacted for more clarification of information but we didn't get response. Selection criteria We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare between the effectiveness and safety of different surgical techniques used in laparoscopic surgery to improve quality of life, treat pain, and improve sexual function in patients diagnosed with deeply infiltrating endometriosis Data collection and analysis Study selection, assessment of risk of bias of the included studies, and data collection were independently done by two of the review authors (Salama, M. and Ibrahim, N.). Any disagreement was resolved by discussion with the third review author (Nabhan, A.). We contacted investigators of some studies for more clarification of information and getting the primary data but we didn't get response. The quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADE methods. Results One RCT was included in the review. The study randomized 52 patients experiencing different types of pain and digestive symptoms, bad quality of life resulting from deeply infiltrating endometriosis. It compared laparoscopic versus open surgery in colorectal resection. The main limitations were unclear statement of allocation concealment, and lack of clearly described blinding beside the small number of participants. The study reported that there is no difference between the two approaches as regards to pain and symptomatic relief besides improving quality of life, but data are represented in median and range. The method of data presentation and absence of more studies in this comparison lead to the impossibility of doing meta-analysis. As for the other three comparisons we also found no studies that compared the surgical techniques together. Authors' conclusions There was insufficient evidence to conclude which surgical technique used during laparoscopy is the best regarding the relief of different types of pain associated with deeply infiltrating endometriosis and the improvement of quality of life of patients with such condition with the least adverse events. More research is needed in this field with very thorough consideration to the ethical dimensions of such trials in helping patients to get the best possible care according to their individual cases together with good design of the trial to enable the investigators to compare between different techniques.

Conflicts of Interest Among Authors of Systematic Reviews Regarding the Management of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain with Opioids Analgesics

Objective We sought to determine whether author conflict of interest (disclosed or undisclosed) or industry sponsorship influenced the favorability of reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the use of opioid analgesics for the management of chronic non-cancer pain. Methods Our search included the MEDLINE (Ovid) and Embase (Ovid) databases. Study sponsorship was determined using the funding statement provided in each systematic review. Author COI information was extracted from the COI disclosure statement. This information was cross-referenced with information available on the CMS Open Payments Database, Dollars for Profs, Google Patents, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and previously published COI disclosures. Results Eight systematic reviews authored by 83 authors were included. Of these authors, 19 (23.0%) were found to have a COI, of which the majority (17/19; 89.5%) had at least one undisclosed COI. Despite nearly one-quarter of authors having a COI, we found no association between the presence of a COI and the favorability of results (P = 0.64) or conclusions (P = 0.07). Conclusions COI are common and frequently undisclosed among systematic review authors investigating opioid analgesics for the management of chronic non-cancer pain. Despite a high prevalence of COI, we did not find that these author-industry relationships had a significant influence on the favorability of results and conclusions; however, our findings should be considered a lower bound estimate of the true influence author COI have on outcomes of pain medicine systematic reviews secondary to the low sample size included in the present study.

Book Review: Author: Al Khanif; Title: Religious Minorities, Islam, and The Law: International Human Rights and Islamic Law in Indonesia; Publisher: Routledge, 2021

This book examines religious minority rights in Islam in Indonesia from the international and local human rights perspectives. Its main contribution lies in the effort to find Indonesia's uniqueness in managing minority rights in religion. This study leads the author to a rich discussion of how international human rights through its activists spread the need for freedom of every citizen and how advocates of religious orthodoxy ​​respond to it. In contrast to analysts who use the dichotomous view of the acceptance or rejection of international human rights values, the author sees complexity in the process of spreading these values. It can be said that there is a process of modifying the values ​​of secularism in human rights and localization to make these values ​​an integral part of society. In this line of view, the author calls the Indonesian state a quasi-theistic secular state which means that Indonesia is a secular country but friendly and tries to guarantee freedom of religion and worship. In the case of minority rights in Islam, the state prioritizes harmony in society and supports the orthodox views of the majority. The minority view must be assimilated with the orthodox teachings of Islam to get a place to live. The quasi-theistic secular state continues to experience contestation and has undergone a long construction process based on the narration of the peaceful entry of Islam and the relatively moderate character of Indonesian Islam. At a certain level, this state concept has developed to be an identity and norms that become a reference for how to treat religious minorities. The author thus succeeded in showing that Indonesia is an example of a country that can develop its own identity and norms of religious life that are different from that of the Western secular state system.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nutrition standards for school food: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol

Background: The importance of nutrition during childhood and the high prevalence of child and adolescent obesity has resulted in several countries implementing nutritional standards for school food as a way of providing healthy school food environments. Yet, there has been less focus on the barriers and facilitators influencing the process of implementing school food standards. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to address this evidence gap by synthesising the empirical evidence on the factors that may influence the implementation of school food standards. Methods: This mixed-methods systematic review will use qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence from peer-reviewed publications retrieved from the following databases; PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Grey literature will be accessed through Google Scholar, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, OpenGrey, RIAN, EThOS, ProQuest, WorldCat, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and public health organisation websites will also be accessed. Screening reference lists and citation chaining of all included studies will also be undertaken. No restrictions on publication date or language will be applied, however, only primary research studies relevant to supply-side stakeholders will be eligible for inclusion. Study quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Study titles and abstracts will be screened to decide whether the full-text manuscript should be retrieved. For screening reliability, a second review author will assess a random sample of 20%. Kappa statistics will be used to assess inter-rater reliability, with values of 0.75 and higher representing high agreement. Two authors will independently extract data and factors reported to influence implementation. This will be synthesized using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Discussion: A comprehensive understanding of these factors can provide guidance to relevant stakeholders to enhance the adoption, implementation and sustainability of nutrition standards for school meals. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019117904

Virtual reality in medical students’ education: a scoping review protocol

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) is a technology that produces a virtual manifestation of the real world. In recent years, VR has been increasingly used as a tool in medical education. The use of VR in medical education has large potential, as it allows for distance learning and training which may be challenging to deliver in real life. VR encompasses different tools and applications. There is a need to explore how VR has been employed in medical education to date.ObjectiveThe objective of this scoping review is to conceptualise the VR tools available and the applications of VR in undergraduate medical education as reported in the literature. This scoping review will identify any gaps in this field and provide suggestions for future research.Methods and analysisThe relevant studies will be examined using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework for scoping studies. A comprehensive search from a total of six electronic databases and grey literature sources will be performed. The reference list of included studies will be screened for additional studies. The screening and data extraction will be done in parallel and independently by two review authors. Any discrepancies will be resolved through consensus or discussion with a third review author. A data extraction form has been developed using key themes from the research questions. The extracted data will be qualitatively analysed and presented in a diagrammatic or tabular form, alongside a narrative summary, in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis: extension for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines.Ethics and disseminationAll data will be collected from published and grey literature. Ethics approval is therefore not a requirement. We will present our findings at relevant conferences and submit them for publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Nanomaterials for UV protective textiles

Harmful portion of ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one of the significant physical carcinogen in our natural environment. The damage caused by UV exposure to our body is cumulative and builds up over the years. UV protective textiles have been used to protect the wearer from harmful UV radiation. UV blocking effect of textile depends on various parameters viz. fiber type, yarn structure, weave, fabric construction factor, finishes, dyes etc. Further, UV protective property of textiles can be improved by incorporating UV blocking agent in the textile matrix. Several nanomaterial possesses excellent UV blocking effect and these could be incorporated into the textile matrix to improve the UV blocking properties of textiles. In this review, author discuss the various conventional ways to impart UV blocking property to the textile materials. Author also survey the current state-of-the-art of nanomaterials based UV protective textiles, mechanism of UV blocking properties of various nanomaterials, provide an overview of UV protective fabric manufacturing techniques and also discuss the durability of nanomaterials treated UV protective textiles. Finally, the manuscript has been concluded with few major challenges for the development of UV protective textiles by using nanomaterials.

The clinical efficacy of continuous renal replacement in the treatment of acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract：Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT) on patients with acute pancreatitis(AP). Methods: A comprehensive search of seven databases without language restrictions includes PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) and Wan fang database. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the treatment of acute pancreatitis with CRRT were searched. All the included literatures were published before December 2020. Two review authors independently selected the study and extracted the data according to the inclusion criteria. A third review author will and discuss with the first two review authors and resolve the differences. Weighted mean difference(WMD), risk ratio (RR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for estimating the clinical efficacy of AP in CRRT and control treatment. Results: Fifty-three RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were used in the meta-analysis, with a total of 3,382 effective samples. A comprehensive review of the system shows that the mortality rate of the CRRT group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(RR=0.44,95%CI0.34 to 0.57,P< 0.000001), the patients using CRRT had lower APACHE Ⅱ scores level(WMD=-3.78, 95%CI-4.66 to -2.90,P<0.00001),higher CRP, PCT,TNF-αand IL-6 clearance effect. According to liver function, the patients using CRRT had lower ALT and AST levels. In the same way, according to renal function, the patients using CRRT had lower SCr (WMD=-94.28, 95%CI-125.47 to -63.10, P<0.00001). The patients using CRRT also had higher ALB levels(WMD=2.32, 95%CI-1.05 to 3.59 ,P=0.0003). Moreover, Results shown no statistical difference in Serum potassium level (WMD=-0.00, 95%CI-0.31 to 0.31,P=1.00)between the two groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that treatment with CRRT for acute pancreatitis may be more beneficial than conventional treatment. However, high-quality studies with a larger sample size are still needed to confirm our results.