The effect of curcumin supplementation on functional strength outcomes and markers of exercise-induced muscle damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the Curcuma longa L (turmeric) plant and has gained attention through its perceived anti-inflammatory characteristics. The potential interaction with exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) has led to investigation of curcumin as a post-exercise strategy that may have the potential to lessen acute reductions in functional strength (FS) following physical activity. Aim: The purpose of this review is to assess the evidence examining curcumin in relation to four outcome measures: FS, EIMD, DOMS and inflammation. Methods: A Medline, SPORTDiscus and CINAHL database search was undertaken with no publication date limit. Sixteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Three meta-analyses were completed for EIMD, DOMS and inflammation, respectively, with FS being excluded due to limited research. Results: Effect sizes were as follows: EIMD (0.15, -0.12, -0.04, -0.2 and -0.61 corresponding to 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post-exercise, respectively), DOMS (-0.64, -0.33, 0.06, -0.53 and -1.16 corresponding to 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h post-exercise, respectively) and inflammation (-0.10, 0.26, 0.15 and 0.26 corresponding to 0, 24, 48 and 72 h post-exercise, respectively). A 96 h post-exercise inflammation meta-analysis was not conducted due to limited data. Conclusion: No effect sizes were statistically significant for EIMD (p = 0.644, 0.739, 0.893, 0.601 and 0.134), DOMS (p = 0.054, 0.092, 0.908, 0.119 and 0.074) and inflammation (p = 0.729, 0.603, 0.611 and 0.396). Further research is needed to thoroughly examine whether an effect exists.

Impact of computerised provider order entry on the quality and quantity of clinical information included with investigation requests: an interrupted time series analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Relevant clinical information is vital to inform the analytical and interpretative phases of most investigations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of implementation of computerised provider order entry (CPOE), featuring order-specific electronic order entry forms (eOEFs), on the quality and quantity of clinical information included with investigation requests. METHODS: The CPOE module of a commercially available electronic health record (Cerner Millennium) was implemented at a large, tertiary care centre. The laboratory information management system was interrogated to collect data on specimens sent for microbiological culture 1 year before implementation of CPOE (2018), immediately post implementation (2019) and 6 months post implementation (2020). An interrupted time series analysis was performed, using text mining, to evaluate the quality and quantity of free-text clinical information. RESULTS: In total, 39 919 specimens were collected from 16 458 patients. eOEFs were used to place 10 071 out of 13 735 orders in 2019 (73.3%), and 9155 out of 12 229 orders in 2020 (74.9%). No clinical details were included with 653 out of 39 919 specimens (1.6%), of which 22 (3.4%) were ordered using eOEFs. The median character count increased from 14 in 2018, to 41 in 2019, and 38 in 2020. An anti-infective agent was specified in 581 out of 13 955 requests (4.2%) in 2018; 5545 out of 13 735 requests (40.4%) in 2019; and 5215 out of 12 229 requests (42.6%) in 2020. Ciprofloxacin or piperacillin-tazobactam (Tazocin) were mentioned in the clinical details included with 421 out of 15 335 urine culture requests (2.7%), of which 406 (96.3%) were ordered using eOEFs. Subsequent detection of in vitro non-susceptibility led to a change in anti-infective therapy for five patients. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of CPOE, featuring order-specific eOEFs, significantly and sustainably improves the quality and quantity of clinical information included with investigation requests, resulting in changes to patient management that would not otherwise have occurred.