Impact of Vibration on the Levels of Biomarkers: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The objective of this systematic review is to assess the effect of vibrational force on biomarkers for orthodontic tooth movement. Methods: An electronic search was conducted for relevant studies (up to December 31, 2020) on the following databases: Pubmed, Google scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wiley Library, and ProQuest Dissertation Abstracts and Thesis database. Hand searching of selected orthodontic journals was also undertaken. The selected studies were assessed for the risk of bias in Cochrane collaboration risk of bias tool. The “traffic plot” and “weighted plot” risk of bias distribution are designed in the RoB 2 tool. The 2 authors extracted the data and analyzed it. Results: Six studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The risks of biases were high for 4, low and some concern for other 2 studies. The biomarkers, medium, device, frequency and duration of device, as well as other data were extracted. The outcomes of the studies were found to be heterogenous. Conclusion: One study showed highly statistically significant levels of IL-1 beta with <.001. Rate of tooth movement was correlated with levels of released biomarkers under the influence of vibrational force in 3 studies, but it was found to be significant only in 1 study. It was further observed that vibration does not have any significant reduction in pain and discomfort.

Library stories: a systematic review of narrative aspects within and around libraries

PurposeLibraries are increasingly trying to communicate the library's contributions and telling the library stories. Stories can be a component of impact assessment and thus add nuance to an assessment. Evaluations of libraries can include collecting and presenting stories of change, which can serve as evidence in impact assessments. The narrative field allows for many different approaches to a narrative perspective in the study of libraries, but the existing literature provides little overview of these studies. The purpose of this study is to introduce the narrative field and present a systematic review of the existing studies of libraries that use narrative approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe methods in this study comprise of a systematic review of publications reporting narrative approaches to studying libraries. To retrieve the relevant studies, Library and Information Science Abstracts, Scopus, Web of Science and Proquest Dissertation were searched. Furthermore, the authors examined reference lists and performed citation searches. Study selection was performed by two reviewers independently. Using designed templates, data from the included studies were extracted by one author and confirmed by another.FindingsThe database searches retrieved 2,096 records across the four databases which were screened in two steps, resulting in 35 included studies. The authors identify studies that introduce narrative enquiries in library studies as well as studies using narrative approaches to the study of libraries.Originality/valueExploring narratives and stories for understanding and evaluating the library's worth is a promising field. More work is needed, though, to develop theoretical and methodological frameworks. Several of the included studies can serve as examples of the potential of a narrative perspective in the study of libraries.

Understanding on the association between informal caregiver characteristics and cognitive function of adults with cancer: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionAdults with cancer frequently report symptoms such as decline in cognitive function throughout the trajectory of illness. Patients with cognitive deficits need support and assistance from their informal caregivers and often rely on them to manage their symptoms based on their degree of deficits. Patients spend a significant amount of time with their informal caregivers and become interdependent with each other. In spite of their interdependence, it is unclear whether patients’ cognitive outcomes (ie, cognitive function) are associated with their informal caregivers. Therefore, the body of literature related to the association between caregiver characteristics and cognitive function of adults with cancer needs to be fully mapped with assessment for knowledge gaps.Methods and analysisMethods for this scoping review was informed by the framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. Seven electronic databases will be searched: (1) PubMed (MEDLINE), (2) CINAHL, (3) Embase, (4) PsycINFO, (5) Scopus, (6) Sociological Abstracts and (7) ProQuest dissertation abstracts. In addition, the search for grey literature will include the conference abstracts available through Embase, Scopus and Sociological abstracts as well as dissertations available in ProQuest dissertations. All retrieved citations will be independently screened by two authors and eligibility will be determined based on inclusion and exclusion criteria at title and abstract level. Studies meeting inclusion criteria, will be screened at full text level by two reviewers followed by abstraction of included studies. Eligible studies will be collated, summarised and reported using the data charting form that research team developed.Ethics and disseminationThis scoping review does not require ethics approval. Results of this scoping review will be disseminated via conference presentation and/or publication in a scientific journal.

Human Suffering

Introduction: Suffering is a universal multifaceted phenomenon hard to define and often connected to pain. Suffering is not a homogeneous concept. Instead, suffering is a diffused term that includes innumerable ways of dealing with depression, pain, loss, and adversity. Suffering is described as a response or behavior recognized by introspection or observation of the behavior of the person and his/her environment. Objective: The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the advanced nurse practitioners when dealing with the construct of suffering and to present a review of literature related to the human suffering experience. Methods: The CINAHL Complete, PubMed, One Search, MEDLINE, PsychInfo, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global databases were search using the keywords suffering, experiences, meanings and perceptions of suffering. Search limits included peer-reviewed articles published in the English language from 1980 to 2016. Results: A total of nine qualitative and five quantitative studies were reviewed. Three major themes were identified: the dimensions of suffering (physical, psychological, social, existential and ethical), enduring suffering and measuring human suffering, and perceiving another’s suffering by using reliable and valid instruments.

Single-Case Research Design: An Alternative Strategy for Evidence-Based Practice

Objective The trend of utilizing evidence-based practice (EBP) in athletic training is now requiring clinicians, researchers, educators, and students to be equipped to both engage in and make judgments about research evidence. Single-case design (SCD) research may provide an alternative approach to develop such skills and inform clinical and pedagogical practices. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature related to SCD and its potential contributions to EBP in athletic training. Data Source(s) We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Proquest Dissertation and Theses, and Google Scholar using terms “single case design”, “single subject design”, “within subjects”, and combined search terms of “single case design AND athletic training, AND allied health, AND medicine, AND nursing”. Data Synthesis Textual support for the use of SCD in athletic training and a brief review of literature pertaining to: general features, strengths, limitations, and design options commonly associated with the use of SCD. Conclusions Use of SCD in allied health professions is limited, with fewer studies in athletic training settings. Low awareness and misinterpretation of SCD may be contributing to the low use of SCD in athletic training research. The key characteristics of SCD make it appropriate for use in clinical and educational settings and may provide clinicians, educators, and researchers an alternative tool for the development of evidence necessary to engage in evidence-based practice.

Smoking and Outcomes After Knee and Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

Objective.Studies have suggested higher rates of perioperative and postoperative complications in smokers compared to nonsmokers. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the association of smoking and postoperative outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods.A search of 6 databases (The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Proquest Dissertation abstracts, CINAHL, Ovid Medline, and Embase) was performed by a Cochrane librarian. All titles and abstracts were screened by 2 independent reviewers with expertise in performing systematic reviews. Studies were included if they were fully published reports that included smoking and any perioperative or postoperative clinical outcome in patients with TKA or THA.Results.A total of 21 studies were included for the review, of which 6 provided multivariable-adjusted analyses, 14 univariate analyses, and one statistical modeling. For most outcomes, results from 1–2 studies could be pooled. Current smokers were significantly more likely to have any postoperative complication (risk ratio 1.24, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.54) and death (risk ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.51) compared to nonsmokers. Former smokers were significantly more likely to have any post-operative complication (risk ratio 1.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.66) and death (risk ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.64) compared to nonsmokers.Conclusion.This systematic review found that smoking is associated with significantly higher risk of postoperative complication and mortality following TKA or THA. Studies examining longterm consequences of smoking on implant survival and complications are needed. Smoking cessation may improve outcomes after THA or TKA.

Theory-Based Research of High Fidelity Simulation Use in Nursing Education: A Review of the Literature

In this article, we explore the extent to which theory-based research is informing our understanding of high-fidelity simulation use in nursing education. We reviewed the primary literature archived in the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Applied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Proquest Dissertation and Theses for empirical reports using the key terms high-fidelity simulation and nursing from the years 1989 to 2009. Of the articles that matched our inclusion criteria: 45% made no use of theory; 45% made minimal use; and 10% made adequate use. We argue that theory-based research could bring coherence and external validity to this domain.

A Synthesis of the Literature on Asian Nurses’ Work Experiences in the United States

Nursing shortages in the United States have underscored the need for foreign nurse recruitment. The major population of foreign nurse recruits has long been Asian. When employing foreign nurses, fair employment practices and quality of care must be ensured; however, few empirical studies were found on this topic. Thus, the purpose of this article is to synthesize the extant literature about Asian nurses’ work experiences in and adaptation to the U.S. health care system. The author searched four major bibliographic databases, as well as the ProQuest Dissertation and Thesis Database and analyzed eight empirical studies based on four predetermined inclusion criteria. The major themes identified in the selected scholarly works were: (a) overcoming language barriers, (b) dealing with discrimination, (c) adopting U.S. nursing practices, (d) adjusting to U.S. social customs, (e) becoming accustomed to U.S. culture, and (f) reconciling work ethics. Additional research studies, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, are necessary to gain in-depth knowledge related to this phenomenon.