Fertility-preserving treatment for stage IA endometrial cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The increasing use of fertility-preserving treatments in reproductive-aged patients with early-stage endometrial cancer necessitates robust evidence on the effectiveness of oral progestins and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the outcomes following these 2 primary progestin-based therapies in reproductive-aged patients with early-stage endometrial cancer. DATA SOURCES: We conducted a systematic review of observational studies and randomized controlled trials following the Cochrane Handbook guidance. We conducted a literature search of 5 databases and 1 trial registry from inception of the study to April 16, 2024. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies reporting complete response within 1 year in reproductive-aged patients with clinical stage IA endometrioid cancer undergoing progestin therapy treatment were included. We used data from both observational and randomized controlled studies. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: The primary exposure assessed was the type of progestational treatment (oral progestins or LNG-IUD). The primary outcome was the pooled proportion of the best complete response (CR) within 1 year of primary progestational treatment. We performed a proportional meta-analysis to estimate the treatment response. Sensitivity analyses were performed by removing studies with extreme effect sizes or removing grade 2 tumors. The risk of bias was assessed in each study using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. RESULTS: Our analysis involved 754 reproductive-aged patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer, with 490 receiving oral progestin and 264 receiving levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device as their primary progestational treatment. The pooled proportion of the best complete response within 12 months of oral progestin and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device treatment were 66% (95% CI, 55-76) and 86% (95% CI, 69-95), respectively. After removing outlier studies, the pooled proportion was 66% (95% CI, 57-73) for the oral progestin group and 89% (95% CI, 75-96) for the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device group, showing reduced heterogeneity. Specifically, among studies including grade 1 tumors, the pooled proportions were 66% (95% CI, 54-77) for the oral progestin group and 83% (95% CI, 50-96) for the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device group. The pooled pregnancy rate was 58% (95% CI, 37-76) after oral progestin treatment and 44% (95% CI, 6-90) after levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device treatment. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of oral progestins and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device treatment within a 12-month timeframe for patients with early-stage endometrial cancer who desire to preserve fertility. These findings have the potential to assist in personalized treatment decision-making for patients.

A Narrative Review of the Association Between Depression and Heart Disease Among Women: Prevalence, Mechanisms of Action, and Treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sex and gender differences exist with regard to the association between depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This narrative review describes the prevalence, mechanisms of action, and management of depression and CVD among women, with a particular focus on coronary heart disease (CHD). RECENT FINDINGS: Women versus men with incident and established CHD have a greater prevalence of depression. Comorbid depression and CHD in women may be associated with greater mortality, and treatment inertia. Proposed mechanisms unique to the association among women of depression and CHD include psychosocial, cardiometabolic, behavioral, inflammatory, hormonal, and autonomic factors. The literature supports a stronger association between CHD and the prevalence of depression in women compared to men. It remains unclear whether depression treatment influences cardiovascular outcomes, or if treatment effects differ by sex and/or gender. Further research is needed to establish underlying mechanisms as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

A 10-year examination of a one-on-one grant writing partnership for nursing pre- and post-doctoral trainees.

BACKGROUND: The training and mentoring of pre- and post-doctoral trainees in nursing research is essential to feed the pipeline of nurses prepared to launch an independent program of research. PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to describe a one-on-one grant writing Partnership developed in a school of nursing targeting pre- and post-doctoral trainees and quantify its impact on funding rates. METHODS: The Partnership includes four key elements: regular meetings, setting a timeline with milestones, writing and editing support, and attention to administrative documents. Forty grant applications by pre- and post-doctoral trainees were developed and submitted from 2011 to 2020. FINDINGS: Among Partnership participants, 81.0% (17/21) received funding as compared with 42.1% (8/19) who did not participate, p = .02. DISCUSSION: Schools of nursing and other disciplines should consider investing in a Partnership to provide grant writing support their pre- and post-doctoral trainees and increase their overall research capacity.

Acute, isolated and unstable syndesmotic injuries are frequently associated with intra-articular pathologies.

PURPOSE: Although simultaneous arthroscopy for the surgical treatment of acute isolated, unstable syndesmotic injuries has been recommended, little knowledge is present about the actual frequency of intra-articular pathologies for this injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and severity of intra-articular pathologies detected during arthroscopy and their subsequent treatment in acute isolated, unstable syndesmotic injuries. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients treated by arthroscopic-assisted stabilization for acute isolated, syndesmotic instability was performed. The primary outcome parameter was the frequency of intra-articular pathologies. Secondary outcome parameters were the type of syndesmotic lesion (ligamentous/bony), severity of chondral lesions, MRI findings, treatment details, complications and the identification of factors associated with intra-articular pathologies. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients, 19% female, with a mean age of 37 ± 12 years met the inclusion criteria. 70% suffered isolated ligamentous injuries, the remaining suffered avulsion fractures of the syndesmosis. Chondral lesions occurred in 48% (ICRS grade II: 33%; ICRS grade IV 15%) and intra-articular loose bodies in 11% of patients. Overall, arthroscopy revealed intra-articular pathologies necessitating further treatment in 19% of patients. Neither the type of syndesmotic injury (bony vs. ligamentous; ns) nor the degree of ligamentous instability (West Point IIB vs. III; ns) had a significant influence on the occurrence of chondral lesions. One complication (SSI) occurred. Pre-operative MRI revealed a sensitivity/specificity of 100/79% for chondral lesions and 50/93% for loose bodies. CONCLUSION: Intra-articular pathologies in acute isolated, unstable syndesmotic injuries occur in up to 50% of patients, 19% necessitated additional treatment. Simultaneous arthroscopy, independent of the pre-operative MRI findings, appears reasonable in highly active patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Differentiating research and quality improvement activities: A scoping review and implications for clinical scholarship.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating activities that are research or quality improvement (QI) is challenging. PURPOSE: Compare tools that distinguish research from QI and evaluate the utility of tools to determine whether institutional review board (IRB) approval is required for a test-project. METHODS: Scoping review of the literature to identify tools that distinguish QI from research. Two reviewers independently screened records in PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science and Google Scholar and extracted information from tools. Inclusion criteria were English language peer-reviewed publications or publicly available tools with scoring systems to differentiate between research and QI. The reporting of this review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We then applied a test-project to evaluate the utility of the tools. FINDINGS: One-hundred forty sources were reviewed; 13 met inclusion criteria. Tools consistently used project intent/purpose, design and intervention as differentiating criteria; additional criteria varied. Five studies described tool development, and one reported that the tool had been tested. Our application of a test-project proved challenging as tools commonly presented research and QI as discrete activities. DISCUSSION: Based on the core criteria common across tools to distinguish research from QI, we propose a simple four-criteria decision tool for assessing the need for IRB submission.

Professional development outcomes associated with interdisciplinary research: An integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Interdisciplinary research among health care professionals has gained importance over the last 20 years, but little is known about its impact on career development. PURPOSE: This study examined professional development outcomes associated with interdisciplinary research. METHODS: An integrative review was conducted using Whittmore and Knafl's framework. PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched to identify studies. FINDINGS: Thirteen studies were included. The majority used bibliometric analyses, finding that moderate level of interdisciplinary collaboration was associated with a greater amount and higher quality of publications. Interdisciplinary publications allocated more credit (i.e., had more authors). Interdisciplinary research proposals had less funding success than single discipline proposals. Important cultural and personal aspects of interdisciplinary research (e.g., work and communication styles, research goals) have not been assessed to date. DISCUSSION: Rigorous qualitative studies are needed to characterize benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary research to scholars and to institutions.

A Scoping Review of Validated Tools to Measure Incivility in Healthcare Settings.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare validated tools used to assess incivility in healthcare settings. BACKGROUND: Incivility in the workforce is associated with poor quality outcomes, increased employee turnover, and decreased job satisfaction. Validated tools are essential for accurate measurement of incivility. The aim of this study was to compare characteristics of validated tools for use in a busy clinical setting. METHODS: In a scoping review, English language research studies using incivility tools published in PubMed or CINAHL between March 1, 2013, and March 14, 2018, were assessed for sound psychometric properties and feasibility of use (eg, short, easy to administer). RESULTS: After screening 869 articles and full text review of 244, 5 identified tools met the criteria; the Short Negative Acts Questionnaire seemed best suited for use in a busy healthcare setting. CONCLUSION: Adoption of a standardized and validated incivility tool makes it possible to compare across clinical settings and track progress over time.

Electronic Cigarette Use and Academic Performance Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: There are documented links between substance use and poor educational outcomes. However, less is known about electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in relation to academics. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to synthesize associations between e-cigarette use and academic performance among adolescents and young adults. METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched. Original research articles were included if associations between e-cigarette use and academic performance among adolescents and young adults aged 11 to 25 years were examined. Extracted data included study and participant descriptors, measures of e-cigarette use and academic performance, key findings, and study limitations. Measures of academic performance were grouped as academic achievement, academic behaviors, or cognitive attitudes. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies met inclusion criteria. Most were cross-sectional (n = 28). Significant associations to e-cigarette use were identified across all categories: academic achievement (ie, school grades (n = 24)), academic behaviors (ie, school difficulties (n = 1), time spent on homework (n = 1), school suspension (n = 1), and truancy (n = 3)), and cognitive attitudes (ie, school stress (n = 1), school alienation (n = 1), and school engagement (n = 2)). Longitudinal associations were also identified in 5 prospective cohort studies: among adolescents, poor academic grades (n = 4), and truancy (n = 1) predicted future e-cigarette use, and e-cigarette use predicted future lower school grades (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette use during adolescence and young adulthood is associated with poor academic achievement. There is some evidence that academic achievement may predict future e-cigarette use; less evidence supports the opposite direction. Study designs are needed to support a causal connection. Investigators should consider moving from studying associations and instead look for causal evidence.

Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device therapy vs oral progestin treatment for reproductive-aged patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine outcomes of patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia treated with oral progestins or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (IUD). METHODS: We conducted a systematic review across 5 databases to examine outcomes of progestational treatment (oral progestins or levonorgestrel-releasing IUD) for patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. The primary outcome was the best complete response rate within 12 months of primary progestational treatment. Sensitivity analyses were performed by removing studies with extreme effect sizes. Secondary outcomes included the pooled pregnancy rate. RESULTS: We identified 21 eligible studies, including 824 premenopausal patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, for our meta-analysis. Among these, 459 patients received oral progestin, and 365 patients received levonorgestrel-releasing IUD as a primary progestational treatment. The pooled best complete response proportion within 12 months was 82% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 69% to 91%) following oral progestin treatment and 95% (95% CI = 81% to 99%) following levonorgestrel-releasing IUD treatment. After removing outlier studies, the pooled proportion was 86% (95% CI = 75% to 92%) for the oral progestin group and 96% (95% CI = 91% to 99%) for the levonorgestrel-releasing IUD group, with reduced heterogeneity. The pooled pregnancy rate was 50% (95% CI = 35% to 65%) after oral progestin and 35% (95% CI = 23% to 49%) after levonorgestrel-releasing IUD treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides data on the effectiveness of oral progestins and levonorgestrel-releasing IUD treatment within 12 months of treatment among premenopausal patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. Although based on small numbers, the rate of pregnancy after treatment is modest. These data may be beneficial for selecting progestational therapies that allow fertility preservation for patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia.

Post-stroke sleep disturbance and recurrent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite improvements in survival rates, risk of recurrent events following stroke remains high. Identifying intervention targets to reduce secondary cardiovascular risk in stroke survivors is a priority. The relationship between sleep and stroke is complex: sleep disturbances are likely both a contributor to, and consequence of, stroke. The current aim was to examine the association between sleep disturbance and recurrent major acute coronary events or all-cause mortality in the post-stroke population. Thirty-two studies were identified, including 22 observational studies and 10 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Identified studies included the following as predictors of post-stroke recurrent events: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA, n = 15 studies), treatment of OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP, n = 13 studies), sleep quality and/or insomnia (n = 3 studies), sleep duration (n = 1 study), polysomnographic sleep/sleep architecture metrics (n = 1 study), and restless legs syndrome (n = 1 study). A positive relationship of OSA and/or OSA severity with recurrent events/mortality was seen. Findings on PAP treatment for OSA were mixed. Positive findings indicating a benefit of PAP for post-stroke risk came largely from observational studies (pooled RR [95% CI] for association between PAP and recurrent cardiovascular event: 0.37 [0.17-0.79], I2 = 0%). Negative findings came largely from RCTs (RR [95% CI] for association between PAP and recurrent cardiovascular event + death: 0.70 [0.43-1.13], I2 = 30%). From the limited number of studies conducted to date, insomnia symptoms/poor sleep quality and long sleep duration were associated with increased risk. Sleep, a modifiable behavior, may be a secondary prevention target to reduce the risk of recurrent event and death following stroke. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021266558.

Probiotic Use in Children and Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity: A Scoping Review.

Context: Probiotics have been proposed as a prevention or treatment for pediatric overweight and obesity. Objective: Conduct a scoping review on probiotic use in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity and those with weight-related conditions and to identify knowledge gaps and research priorities. Data Sources: Seven databases using keywords and medical subject heading terms for articles reporting probiotic use in children or adolescents with overweight or obesity published from database conception until initiation of the study. Study Selection: Articles reporting primary data on probiotics use in children or adolescents with overweight or obesity. Data Extraction: We utilized the Arksey and O'Malley framework, PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines, followed a predetermined study protocol for level-one abstract and level-two full-text screenings, synthesized information into subject-area domains, and identified research gaps. Limitations: Heterogeneity of probiotic interventions, host factors, and genomics. Results: Database search yielded 1356 unique articles with 19 randomized placebo-controlled studies, 945 participants, duration of interventions from 8 weeks to 9 months. Disease indications included Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, insulin resistance, hypercholesterolemia, Prader-Willi Syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Limited and heterogeneous evidence for probiotic use in children and adolescents with weight-related conditions noted. Heterogeneity among published articles in probiotic strains, doses, design, biomarkers, confirmation, and outcomes observed. Conclusions: Despite complex existing and limited data, studies to date of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity demonstrate potential beneficial treatment effects of probiotics on BMI, adiposity, metabolic parameters, inflammatory markers, fatty liver, transaminase levels, and glucose metabolism. Clinical trials to address heterogeneous results are needed.

Are Cisgender Women and Transgender and Nonbinary People Drinking More During the COVID-19 Pandemic? It Depends.

PURPOSE: This narrative review of research conducted during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic examines whether alcohol use among cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary people increased during the pandemic. The overarching goal of the review is to inform intervention and prevention efforts to halt the narrowing of gender-related differences in alcohol use. SEARCH METHODS: Eight databases (PubMed, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Gender Studies Database, GenderWatch, and Web of Science) were searched for peer-reviewed literature, published between March 2020 and July 2022, that reported gender differences or findings specific to women, transgender or nonbinary people, and alcohol use during the pandemic. The search focused on studies conducted in the United States and excluded qualitative research. SEARCH RESULTS: A total 4,132 records were identified, including 400 duplicates. Of the remaining 3,732 unique records for consideration in the review, 51 were ultimately included. Overall, most studies found increases in alcohol use as well as gender differences in alcohol use, with cisgender women experiencing the most serious consequences. The findings for transgender and nonbinary people were equivocal due to the dearth of research and because many studies aggregated across gender. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use by cisgender women seems to have increased during the pandemic; however, sizable limitations need to be considered, particularly the low number of studies on alcohol use during the pandemic that analyzed gender differences. This is of concern as gender differences in alcohol use had been narrowing before the pandemic; and this review suggests the gap has narrowed even further. Cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary people have experienced sizable stressors during the pandemic; thus, understanding the health and health behavior impacts of these stressors is critical to preventing the worsening of problematic alcohol use.

Mental and Emotional Health of Caregivers of Youth with Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review.

People of African descent and those identifying as Black and/or Latino experience a disproportionate burden of sickle cell disease (SCD), a chronic, serious blood condition. Caregivers of children with chronic medical conditions report worse mental health than others. Disease-associated stressors can affect caregivers of children with SCD. We conducted a systematic review to summarize the prevalence of mental health symptoms in caregivers of children with SCD and to see if symptoms were associated with the child's SCD. This review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase, identifying 1,322 records of which 40 met criteria for inclusion in this review. Findings suggest caregivers experience mental health problems, and poorer mental health was associated with worse child SCD-related outcomes and treatment adherence. Efforts should be made to routinely screen SCD caregiver mental health and to refer accordingly.

A Scoping Review of Integrated Medical Devices and Clinical Decision Support in the Acute Care Setting.

BACKGROUND: Seamless data integration between point-of-care medical devices and the electronic health record (EHR) can be central to clinical decision support systems (CDSS). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review is to (1) examine the existing evidence related to integrated medical devices, primarily medication pump devices, and associated clinical decision support (CDS) in acute care settings and (2) to identify how acute care clinicians may use device CDS in clinical decision-making. The rationale for this review is that integrated devices are ubiquitous in the acute care setting, and they generate data that may help to contribute to the situational awareness of the clinical team necessary to provide individualized patient care. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extensions for Scoping Review guidelines. PubMed, CINAHL, IEEE Xplore, and Scopus databases were searched for scholarly, peer-reviewed journals indexed between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020. A priori inclusion criteria were established. RESULTS: Of the 1,924 articles screened, 18 were ultimately included for synthesis, and primarily included articles on devices such as intravenous medication pumps and vital signs machines. Clinical alarm burden was mentioned in most of the articles, and despite not including the term "medication" there were many articles about smart pumps being integrated with the EHR. The Revised Technology, Nursing & Patient Safety Conceptual Model provided the organizational framework. Ten articles described patient assessment, monitoring, or surveillance use. Three articles described patient protection from harm. Four articles described direct care use scenarios, all of which described insulin administration. One article described a hybrid situation of patient communication and monitoring. Most of the articles described devices and decision support primarily used by registered nurses (RNs). CONCLUSION: The articles in this review discussed devices and the associated CDSS that are used by clinicians, primarily RNs, in the daily provision of care for patients. Integrated device data provide insight into user-device interactions and help to illustrate health care processes, especially the activities when providing direct care to patients in an acute care setting. While there are CDSS designed to support the clinician while working with devices, RNs and providers may disregard this guidance, and defer to their own expertise. Additionally, if clinicians perceive CDSS as intrusive, they are at risk for alarm and alert fatigue if CDSS are not tailored to sync with the workflow of the end-user. Areas for future research include refining inclusion criteria to examine the evidence for devices and their CDS that are most likely used by other groups' health care professionals (i.e., doctors and therapists), using integrated device metadata and deep learning analytics to identify patterns in care delivery, and decision support tools for patients using their own personal data.

Providing Contraceptive Health Services to Adolescents and Young Adults by Telemedicine: A Scoping Review of Patient and Provider Perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this scoping review is to synthesize and identify gaps in existing research on accessibility of telemedicine-delivered contraceptive health services to female adolescents and young adults (AYAs) and acceptability of these services to AYA patients and their medical providers. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CINAHL databases to extract relevant studies on telemedicine and provision of contraceptive services among non-institutionalized, non-chronically ill female AYAs, ages 10 through 24 years. RESULTS: We screened 154 articles, and 6 articles representing 5 studies met the full inclusion criteria. Three studies assessed telemedicine acceptability and accessibility from the perspective of providers, and 3 described patients' perceived accessibility and acceptability of a theoretical telemedicine visit. No studies directly assessed AYA patients' satisfaction with actual telemedicine visits for contraceptive services. Providers viewed telemedicine-delivered sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services as acceptable to themselves and AYA patients. Most AYAs reported that they would use telemedicine for SRH services, although they would prefer in-person care. All articles identified concerns about privacy and confidentiality as a barrier to SRH telemedicine care. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine-delivered contraceptive health services for AYAs were perceived as acceptable and accessible by providers and by most AYA patients, although patients reported a preference for in-person care. However, none of these findings are based on patients' actual experiences with SRH telemedicine. Further research is needed to directly assess the accessibility and acceptability of telemedicine-delivered contraceptive health services for female AYA patients.

Mind-Body Integrative Health (MBIH) Interventions for Sleep among Adolescents: A Scoping Review of Implementation, Participation and Outcomes.

Adolescents get insufficient sleep, adversely affecting health. Mind-body integrative health interventions for adolescents have been shown to reduce stress, a barrier to good sleep. This scoping review aimed to synthesize mind-body integrative health interventions for adolescents, how interventions were implemented, who was reached. A systematic search of four online databases was conducted. Randomized, quasi-experimental, and single-group designs with participants ages 10-24 years were included. Twelve studies covering 10 interventions using mindfulness, qigong, aromatherapy, or yoga were identified. Participants were predominantly female; only one study reported participants' race or ethnicity (81% non-Hispanic white). Most (n=6) interventions were delivered in groups, and half reported significant improvements in subjective sleep quality. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy were the most commonly used modalities, with reported impact on sleep outcomes measured objectively. The two interventions that found statistically significant, moderate improvements in objectively-measured sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency were of higher intensity and used mindfulness. Four interventions were self-directed; participants in these struggled with adherence; significant impacts on sleep were not found. While findings were mixed, stemming in part from the quality of the underlying studies, this review identified several promising features of interventions, including using mindfulness, ensuring sufficient intervention dose, and targeting interventions towards adolescents with poor sleep at baseline (rather than a general population of adolescents). The findings suggests that sleep interventions for adolescents may improve psychological well-being as an intermediate effect, as sleep improvements were observed mostly among participants with poor sleep quality or anxiety symptoms at baseline. This review identified several gaps in the literature. Despite documented racial and ethnic disparities in sleep quality among adolescents, published evidence of mind-body integrative health-based sleep interventions among Black and Latinx adolescents is lacking. None of the studies in this review assessed developmental stage or age differences, despite documented differences in sleep across age groups of adolescents. These two gaps in the evidence should be addressed in future intervention research.

Associations of asthma self-management and mental health in adolescents: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent asthma is highly prevalent and frequently uncontrolled despite control being achievable with good self-management. Anxiety, depression, and stress are associated with worse asthma outcomes, and may impact self-management; no previous review has examined this relationship. AIM: This scoping review assessed the nature of the current literature on mental health and asthma self-management among adolescents ages 11 to 24 and synthesized their relationships. METHODS: Guided by the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched the literature using MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Scopus in September 2020 and updated it in June 2021. Included studies examined associations between anxiety, depression, and/or stress and asthma self-management in adolescents ages 11-24. We did not restrict study design, location, or date. RESULTS: Out of 1559 records identified, 14 met inclusion criteria. Types of self-management included trigger control, healthcare adherence, and overall symptom prevention and management. Anxiety symptoms were associated with poorer asthma self-management in four studies, but better in three. Depressive symptoms were associated with poorer asthma self-management in five studies, but better in two. Stress was associated with poorer self-management in one study. Mental health symptoms were nearly universally associated with poorer trigger control, but associations with healthcare adherence and overall symptom prevention and management varied. CONCLUSION: Mental health symptoms may facilitate or hinder asthma self-management depending on the types of mental health and self-management. Further research is needed to better understand this relationship and inform future interventions. Providers might assess mental health as a potential barrier to adolescent asthma self-management.

Rehabilitation following operative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare re-rupture rates, complication rates, functional outcomes, as well as return to work (RTW)/sport (RTS) among different rehabilitation protocols following operative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing at least two rehabilitation protocols following surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Rehabilitation protocols were classified as a variation of either non-weightbearing (NWB) or weightbearing (WB) and immobilization (IM) or mobilization (M). The data collection consisted of re-ruptures, complications, and RTW/RTS. Results: Out of 2760 studies screened, 20 RCTs with 1007 patients were eligible. Fourteen studies included a group consisting of WB + M (Group 1), 11 of WB + IM (Group 2), 3 of NWB + M (Group 3), and 13 of NWB + IM (Group 4). Outcome parameters available for a meta-analysis were re-ruptures, complications, RTW, and RTS. Re-ruptures overall occurred in 2.7%, with prevalences ranging between 0.04 and 0.08. Major complications occurred in 2.6%, with prevalences ranging between 0.02 and 0.03. Minor complications occurred in 11.8% with prevalances ranging between 0.04 to 0.17. Comparing the odds-ratios between the four different groups revealed no significant differences with overall favourable results for group 1 (WB+M). Conclusion: Early functional rehabilitation protocols with early ankle M and WB following surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures are safe and they apparently allow for a quicker RTW and RTS and seem to lead to favourable results.

Telemedicine interventions for hypertension management in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Hypertension remains the leading cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide and disproportionately impacts patients living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Telemedicine offers a potential solution for improving access to health care for vulnerable patients in LMICs. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the evidence for telemedicine interventions for blood pressure management in LMICs and assess the relationships between the telemedicine intervention characteristics and clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Published studies were identified from the following databases (from their inception to May 2020): PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Search terms related to "Low and Middle Income Countries," "Telemedicine," and "Hypertension" were used, and clinical outcomes were extracted from the screened articles. RESULTS: Our search resulted in 530 unique articles, and 14 studies were included in this review. Five studies assessed telemedicine interventions for patient-provider behavioral counseling, four assessed patient-provider medical management, and five assessed provider-provider consultation technologies. Out of fourteen individual studies, eleven demonstrated a significant improvement in systolic or diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group. Of the eight studies that reported difference-in-differences changes in systolic blood pressure, between-arm differences ranged from 13.2 mmHg to 0.4 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the studies in this review demonstrated a significant reduction in blood pressure with use of the telemedicine intervention, though the magnitude of benefit was not consistently large. Limitations of the studies included small sample sizes, short duration, and intervention heterogeneity. Current evidence suggests that telemedicine may provide a promising approach to increase access to care and improve outcomes for hypertension in LMICs, especially during events that limit access to in-person care, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, high-quality clinical trials of sufficient size and duration are needed to establish the impact and role of telemedicine in hypertension care. The protocol for this review was not registered.

Association between social determinants of health and olfactory function: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDoH) include the socioeconomic, demographic, and social conditions that influence differences in health status among individuals and groups. The impact of these conditions on olfactory function remains poorly understood. In this scoping review, we systematically review the available literature to synthesize the association between SDoH and olfactory function. METHODS: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we performed systematic search queries in PubMed, Embase, and Ovid databases and categorized articles according to themes that emerged regarding SDoH. The primary outcomes included self-reported and objective measurements of smell. RESULTS: We identified 722 unique references that underwent title and abstract review by two independent reviewers, with 70 articles undergoing full-text review and 57 relevant for data extraction. Six themes emerged in our review, under which we categorized the studies and synthesized respective associations with olfactory function. These include studies exploring socioeconomic status (n = 19, 33%), education status (n = 27, 47%), occupational exposures (n = 26, 46%), racial/ethnic disparities (n = 12, 21%), and lifestyle/behavioral factors (n = 33, 58%). CONCLUSIONS: Within the context of this scoping review, olfactory dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in patients with lower socioeconomic status, exposure to environmental and occupational toxins, and of minority race/ethnicity, whereas the associations between olfactory dysfunction and education level and lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking seem to be much more elusive. This review highlights the importance of accounting for SDoH in observational studies examining olfactory outcomes. Given the increased awareness of olfactory loss, special consideration should be given to understanding olfactory dysfunction in the context of these factors.