"Still work?" Design and effect of interventions used to modify feeding problems in children with autism: A systematic review of studies employing group designs.

BACKGROUND: Feeding problems in children with autism jeopardize the well-being of both children with autism and their families. Mixed findings were reported from previous interventions, which were mostly evaluated by single subject research design (SSRD) studies. Moreover, feasibility assessment and social validity measurement were unaddressed by these SSRD studies. To fill this substantial knowledge gap, the present review systematically summarized and evaluated feeding interventions implemented in children with autism, which were assessed by studies employing group designs. METHOD: An extensive literature search in eight established online databases was conducted, and a total of 17 eligible studies published in 2009-2021 were included for further analysis. A descriptive account of the features of the investigations is provided, including assessment of study quality. RESULTS: A total of 449 children with autism and 203 parents/caregivers participated in the included studies. The multiple use of five strategic intervention components were highlighted in this review, including nutrition education/consultations, environmental modifications, sensory exposure, cognitive components, and behaviour interventions. The reviewed interventions showed a preliminarily positive effect for modifying feeding problems in children with autism. Furthermore, the evaluation based on the RE-AIM framework (reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance) demonstrated that an interdisciplinary multi-component intervention strategy may achieve high effectiveness and feasibility in improving feeding problems in a wide range of children with autism. CONCLUSIONS: This review found that interventions achieved and maintained a positive effect on modification of feeding problems in groups of children with autism. Information and gaps identified and summarized in the implementation process may assist both researchers and stakeholders to further support these vulnerable children.

Deep learning-based image quality assessment for optical coherence tomography macular scans: a multicentre study.

AIMS: To develop and externally test deep learning (DL) models for assessing the image quality of three-dimensional (3D) macular scans from Cirrus and Spectralis optical coherence tomography devices. METHODS: We retrospectively collected two data sets including 2277 Cirrus 3D scans and 1557 Spectralis 3D scans, respectively, for training (70%), fine-tuning (10%) and internal validation (20%) from electronic medical and research records at The Chinese University of Hong Kong Eye Centre and the Hong Kong Eye Hospital. Scans with various eye diseases (eg, diabetic macular oedema, age-related macular degeneration, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and pathological myopia), and scans of normal eyes from adults and children were included. Two graders labelled each 3D scan as gradable or ungradable, according to standardised criteria. We used a 3D version of the residual network (ResNet)-18 for Cirrus 3D scans and a multiple-instance learning pipline with ResNet-18 for Spectralis 3D scans. Two deep learning (DL) models were further tested via three unseen Cirrus data sets from Singapore and five unseen Spectralis data sets from India, Australia and Hong Kong, respectively. RESULTS: In the internal validation, the models achieved the area under curves (AUCs) of 0.930 (0.885-0.976) and 0.906 (0.863-0.948) for assessing the Cirrus 3D scans and Spectralis 3D scans, respectively. In the external testing, the models showed robust performance with AUCs ranging from 0.832 (0.730-0.934) to 0.930 (0.906-0.953) and 0.891 (0.836-0.945) to 0.962 (0.918-1.000), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our models could be used for filtering out ungradable 3D scans and further incorporated with a disease-detection DL model, allowing a fully automated eye disease detection workflow.

A multimodal cancer rehabilitation programme promoting sense of coherence for women treated for female reproductive cancers: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a theory-driven multimodal cancer rehabilitation intervention (MCRI) programme among Hong Kong Chinese women treated for female reproductive cancers (FRC). METHODS: A single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted in two regional hospitals in Hong Kong involving 35 women treated for FRC. The intervention group (n = 18) received a 12-week MCRI which included 30 modules of app-based health education and three nurse-led individual counselling sessions. The control group (n = 17) received attention from the research nurse through telephone calls. Sense of coherence, health-related quality of life, and cancer-specific distress were measured at baseline (T0), immediately after completion of the intervention (T1) and 12 weeks post-intervention (T2). Twelve intervention completers were interviewed to explore the acceptability of the programme. RESULTS: Recruitment, consent, and retention rates, counselling session attendance rate, and app usage were satisfactory. The intervention participants reported to have significant improvement in physical well-being at T1 (Cohen's d effect size (d) = 1.04, 95% CI 0.24, 1.83), sense of coherence (d = 0.76, 95% CI - 0.03, 1.54), and cancer-specific distress (d = 1.03, 95% CI - 1.83, - 0.21) at T2. Interviewed participants acknowledged the benefits of the programme and provided comments for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The MCRI is found to be feasible and acceptable and may improve their sense of coherence, distress, and physical health. A full-scale trial using a larger and more representative sample is warranted to confirm the effects of the programme. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Women treated for FRC may be benefited from the MCRI in improving sense of coherence, physical well-being, and distress. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on ISRCTN registry with ID ISRCTN73177277.

Photokeratitis in Outdoor Event Participants Exposed to UV Radiation Display.

Importance: While UV radiation displays may be used for recreational purposes at outdoor events, unprotected eyes have been reported to have symptoms consistent with photokeratitis. Such symptoms warrant documentation and evaluation in ophthalmic peer reviewed literature. Objective: To describe a case series of photokeratitis associated with a single ultraviolet radiation display at an outdoor event. Design, Setting, and Participants: This case series involved a retrospective record review of 8 patients who presented in public and private health sectors in November 2023 after developing photokeratitis following UV radiation exposure at an outdoor event in Hong Kong on the night of November 4, 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Clinical symptoms, signs, and clinical course of patients who were diagnosed acute photokeratitis following exposure to UV radiation. Results: The mean time of UV display exposure for the 8 patients (mean [SD] age, 33.12 [5.19] years; 4 [50%] female) was 3.00 (1.41) hours, and symptoms presented at a mean (SD) 8.88 (8.24) hours after the exposure. None of the patients were wearing spectacles during the exposed period. All patients were affected bilaterally. All patients experienced eye pain, 6 experienced red eye, and 5 experienced tearing and photophobia. Mean (SD) presenting visual acuity was logMAR 0.10 (0.14) (approximate Snellen equivalent, 20/25) for right eyes and 0.06 (0.89) (approximate Snellen equivalent, 20/25) for left eyes. On examination, there were findings of cornea and conjunctival involvement with punctate epithelial erosions and ciliary vasodilation, but none of the patients presented with anterior chamber reaction. Corticosteroids, lubricants, and antibiotics, all provided topically, were prescribed. Five patients were not scheduled for a review, and 3 had follow-up visits, with the length of follow-up ranging from 7 to 10 days. All patients had undergone a complete recovery. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings provide evidence of an association between UV radiation used for recreational purposes and photokeratitis, which may help guide evaluation and management of future cases.

Genetic association of TIE2 with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations of the TIE2 gene with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This study included a Chinese cohort of 285 non-proliferative DR patients and 433 healthy controls. The DR patients were classified further into those with or without DME. Thirty haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TIE2 were genotyped using TaqMan technology. Associations of DR and subtypes were analyzed by logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Stratification association analysis by sex was performed. RESULTS: TIE2 rs625767 showed a nominal but consistent association with DR [odds ratio (OR) = 0.71, P = 0.005] and subtypes (DR without DME: OR = 0.69, P = 0.016; DME: OR = 0.73, P = 0.045). SNP rs652010 was consistently associated with overall DR (OR = 0.74, P = 0.011) and DR without DME (OR = 0.70, P = 0.016), but not with DME. Moreover, SNPs rs669441, rs10967760, rs549099 and rs639225 showed associations with overall DR, whilst rs17761403, rs664461 and rs1413825 with DR without DME. In stratification analysis, three SNPs, rs625767 (OR = 0.62, P = 0.005), rs669441 (OR = 0.63, P = 0.006) and rs652010 (OR = 0.64, P = 0.007), were associated with DR in females, but not in males. Moreover, one haplotype T-T defined by rs625767 and rs669441 was significantly associated with DR in females only. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed TIE2 as a susceptibility gene for DR and DME in Chinese, with a sex-specific association in females. Further validation should be warranted.

Effect of simulation-based zoom learning on clinical decision-making among undergraduate nursing students and experiences of students and instructors: A mixed methods study.

Aim: To determine the effect of simulation-based Zoom learning (SBZL) on perceived capabilities and clinical decision-making skills among undergraduate nursing students and to explore experiences of the instructors and students participating in SBZL. Background: Nursing is a practice profession and students acquire clinical decision-making skills in clinical settings. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted conventional clinical learning activities. In this study, the outcomes of implementing SBZL in an undergraduate programme to support students' clinical learning were examined. Design: A mixed methods design was employed. Methods: This study recruited 195 final-year students to participate in the SBZL programme, which was developed based on the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory to guide its design, implementation and evaluation. Case scenarios were developed and simulated through Zoom. Students' perceived capabilities, perceptions of the learning environment and clinical decision-making skills were assessed before and after SBZL. A historical control group of 226 previous final year students who had received a clinical practicum was included for comparison. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 instructors and 19 students to explore their experiences of participating in SBZL. Results: A total of 102 students completed the post-SBZL questionnaire. An increase in perceived creative thinking (mean difference = 0.24, p < 0.001) was observed post-SBZL. After SBZL, the perceptions of the learning environment were significantly improved. However, the SBZL group demonstrated lower perceived problem-solving capability than the control group (mean difference = 0.14, p = 0.007). Clinical decision-making was significantly improved in the SBZL group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Both the instructors and students reported positive experiences with SBZL, and highlighted challenges and factors for improving its implementation. Conclusions: SBZL showed improvement in perceived creative thinking, perceptions of the learning environment and clinical decision-making. This innovative teaching and learning method can be valuable for nursing education in various regions to prepare students for real-life roles. Tweetable abstract: Simulation-based Zoom learning is better than traditional teaching in improving clinical decision-making skills among undergraduate nursing students.

Effects of motor imagery training on gait performance in individuals after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This review systematically explores and summarise the effects of motor imagery training (MIT) compared to conventional therapy on gait performance in individuals after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched in five electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, OVID Nursing and CINAHL) from inception to 30 December 2022. Studies investigating MITs, targeted at individuals after stroke were eligible. Data were extracted related to study and intervention characteristics. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Compared with 'routine methods of treatment or training', the meta-analyses showed that MIT was more effective in improving cadence immediately post intervention (SMD: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.59, 1.85, p = 0.0001, I2 = 25%) and at 1- or 2-months post intervention (SMD: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.20, p = 0.0004, I2 = 46%). The results also showed that MIT improves the step length of the affected side and the unaffected side at 1- or 2-months post intervention. Separate meta-analyses were also conducted on different tests of walking endurance (assessed by the 6-Minute Walk Test) and functional mobility (assessed by the Timed-Up-and-Go test). CONCLUSIONS: MIT effectively improved gait performance. The findings in individuals after stroke remain inconclusive due to significant heterogeneity in included studies.

Restoring gait performance and daily functional abilities is an important goal of post-stroke rehabilitation.Motor imagery training (MIT) may be a promising method to improve gait restoration and is expected to provide another option for the effective rehabilitation of stroke patients.This review highlights the limited research on MIT and thus the limited evidence to guide clinical rehabilitation.In the stroke rehabilitation, clinical specialists may consider incorporating MIT into the treatment programme to improve patients' gait performance and ensure effective early lower limb rehabilitation.

Group-based instrumental musical training to enhance resilience among school-aged children from low-income families: A pilot randomised waitlist controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and potential effectiveness of a group-based instrumental musical training programme in improving resilience, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and quality of life among school-aged children from low-income families. DESIGN: Assessor-blinded pilot randomised waitlist controlled trial with process evaluation. METHODS: This study was conducted in the community from January 2022 to July 2023. Sixty-four children from low-income families (aged 8-12 years) were randomised (1:1) to intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group (n = 32) received weekly 1-hour instrumental musical training for 6 months in groups of four to five from professionally qualified musicians at a music centre. The participants in the waitlist control group (n = 32) received the same intervention as the participants in the intervention group after the completion of all outcome assessments. The primary outcome was the children's levels of resilience, measured using the Resilience Scale for Children - 10. The secondary outcomes were depressive symptoms, self-esteem and quality of life. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and immediately post-intervention (T1). An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: The 64 participants had a mean (SD) age of 9.5 (1.44) years, and 37 (57.8%) were boys. Compared with the waitlist control group, participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in resilience levels from baseline to T0 (group-by-time interaction coefficient ß = 4.41; 95% CI, 1.82-6.99; p = 0.001), depressive symptoms (ß = -6.42; 95% CI, -11.12 to -1.71; p = 0.008), self-esteem (ß = -2.60; 95% CI, 0.28-4.92; p = 0.028) and quality of life (ß = 6.69; 95% CI, 0.18-13.2; p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: The group-based instrumental musical training programme was feasible and acceptable for school-aged underprivileged children and showed the potential to improve the resilience and quality of life of this vulnerable population.

Social capital for carers of patients with advanced organ failure: a qualitative exploration of stakeholders' perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Carers of patients with advanced organ failure (AOF) experience a tremendous caregiving burden. Social capital utilizes the internal strength of a community to support its members and may provide carers with comprehensive support. This study aimed to identify the different sources of social capital that can support carers of patients with AOF from the perspectives of stakeholders. METHOD: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in community settings from April 2021 to May 2022. Stakeholders from medical social work departments, self-help groups, and non-governmental organizations were recruited, while some community members were invited through online media platforms. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative description approach. In total, 98 stakeholders, including 25 carers, 25 patients, 24 professionals, and 24 community members, were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. RESULTS: Six categories about social capital for carers emerged, namely, carer attributes, the community, social care services, healthcare services, information, and policies. While the attributes of carers and their relationships with care recipients had a significant influence on caregiving, support from different groups in the community, such as neighbors and employers, was valued. Good communication of information about caregiving and social services was emphasized as being helpful by carers and other stakeholders. While carers presented a need for various healthcare and social care services, several features of these services, including their person-centeredness and proactive reach, were deemed useful. At the societal level, policies and research on comprehensive supportive services are warranted. The different sources of social capital constitute a multi-layer support system in the community. CONCLUSION: Carers can utilize personal attributes, interpersonal relationships, community resources, and societal contexts to enhance their caregiving. While this system can serve as a framework for building carer-friendly communities, interventions may be required to strengthen some aspects of social capital.

Effects of immersive virtual reality for alleviating anxiety, nausea and vomiting among patients with paediatric cancer receiving their first chemotherapy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety, nausea and vomiting are common side effects suffered by paediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. Emerging evidence supports the efficacy of immersive virtual reality (IVR) on improving anxiety and distress symptoms including nausea and vomiting in this vulnerable group. This trial aims to evaluate the effects of IVR intervention on anxiety, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and anticipatory nausea and vomiting in patients with paediatric cancer receiving first chemotherapy. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: An assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial with a mixed methods evaluation approach. On the basis of our pilot results, 128 chemotherapy-naive patients with paediatric cancer scheduled to receive their first intravenous chemotherapy will be recruited from a public hospital and randomly allocated to intervention (n=64) or control groups (n=64). The intervention group will receive the IVR intervention for three sessions: 2 hours before the first chemotherapy, 5 min before and during their first chemotherapy and 5 min before and during their second chemotherapy, respectively. The control group will receive standard care only. A subsample of 30 participants in the intervention group will be invited for a qualitative interview. Study instruments are: (1) short form of the Chinese version of the State Anxiety Scale for Children, (2) visual analogue scale for anticipatory nausea and vomiting, (3) Chinese version of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Antiemesis Tool and (4) individual face-to-face semistructured interviews to explore intervention participants' perceptions of the IVR intervention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Hong Kong Children's Hospital Research Ethics Committee (HKCH-REC-2021-009). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and through local or interventional conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2100048732.

A scoping review of physical activity-based interventions for obesity management in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overweight and obesity have emerged as global health issues among children and adolescents. Restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have aggravated the threat of paediatric obesity due to the prevalent reduction in physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents. However, this has also created an opportunity for healthcare professionals to explore new strategies to address this persistent problem. A systematically conducted scoping review was performed on 15 online databases to summarise and analyse the design, efficacy, and feasibility of PA-based weight management interventions for children and adolescents during the pandemic. Finally, we reviewed 23 eligible studies that were published between 2021 and 2023. The included interventions were presented to 1938 children and adolescents and 355 parents using a virtual or virtually blended face-to-face approach during the pandemic. The intervention design included a basic PA programme with three optional components (nutritional education, sociopsychological counselling, and medication consultations). Implementation generally resulted in favourable changes in body mass index (BMI) and/or body size or composition (primary outcomes), as well as health behaviours, physical health or fitness, and individual well-being (secondary outcomes). A longer duration of exposure to the intervention, female sex, and older age were associated with a higher efficacy of the included interventions. Moreover, the interventions showed high feasibility, with medium-high participant attendance, high acceptance/satisfaction in both children and adolescents and their parents and teachers, and strong participant engagement. This may be related to the high accessibility of health information, timely social support, and enhanced self-efficacy. In conclusion, both the virtual and blended delivery of well-planned weight management interventions during the pandemic show promise for the treatment and control of paediatric obesity. The lessons learned from the pandemic may help improve the design of future interventions and inform the proper integration of new technologies that have emerged in the post-pandemic world.

Structured physical exercise interventions and children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of structured physical exercise (SPE) has been examined in empirical studies to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This review aimed (i) to systematically review and quantify the effects of SPE on ADHD symptomology and executive function (primary outcomes) and on physical health, physical fitness and mental health issues (secondary outcomes) in children/adolescents with ADHD; (ii) to evaluate the study quality and explore moderation of the effects of SPE; and (iii) to summarize the design of SPE interventions. METHODS: An extensive literature search in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science and EBSCOhost was conducted to identify eligible intervention studies for meta-analysis. A descriptive account of the features of the studies is provided, including assessment of risk/quality (ROB-2/ROBINS-I). Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with random effects models to compare post-intervention effects. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included in the review. The majority of the studies examined the effects of SPE lasting for 3-12 weeks. Assessment of bias/quality indicated half of the included studies as high quality. The meta-analysis (pooled n = 627) revealed that SPE had a positive effect on primary and secondary outcomes, that is, inattention (SMD = -1.79), executive function (SMD = 2.19), physical fitness (SMD = 1.39) and mental health issues (SMD = -0.89). Subgroup analysis showed that long-term practice of SPE, featured/tailored SPE, non-Chinese participants, taking methylphenidate and study with low quality had larger effects. CONCLUSIONS: There is emerging evidence that SPE is a promising option to enhance symptom management and physical/mental health in children/adolescents with ADHD.

Interdisciplinary collaboration in critical care alarm research: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Alarm fatigue in nurses is a major patient safety concern in the intensive care unit. This is caused by exposure to high rates of false and non-actionable alarms. Despite decades of research, the problem persists, leading to stress, burnout, and patient harm resulting from true missed events. While engineering approaches to reduce false alarms have spurred hope, they appear to lack collaboration between nurses and engineers to produce real-world solutions. The aim of this bibliometric analysis was to examine the relevant literature to quantify the level of authorial collaboration between nurses, physicians, and engineers. METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric analysis of articles on alarm fatigue and false alarm reduction strategies in critical care published between 2010 and 2022. Data were extracted at the article and author level. The percentages of author disciplines per publication were calculated by study design, journal subject area, and other article-level factors. RESULTS: A total of 155 articles with 583 unique authors were identified. While 31.73 % (n = 185) of the unique authors had a nursing background, publications using an engineering study design (n = 46), e.g., model development, had a very low involvement of nursing authors (mean proportion at 1.09 %). Observational studies (n = 58) and interventional studies (n = 33) had a higher mean involvement of 52.27 % and 47.75 %, respectively. Articles published in nursing journals (n = 32) had the highest mean proportion of nursing authors (80.32 %), while those published in engineering journals (n = 46) had the lowest (9.00 %), with 6 (13.04 %) articles having one or more nurses as co-authors. CONCLUSION: Minimal involvement of nursing expertise in alarm research utilizing engineering methodologies may be one reason for the lack of successful, real-world solutions to ameliorate alarm fatigue. Fostering a collaborative, interdisciplinary research culture can promote a common publication culture across fields and may yield sustainable implementation of technological solutions in healthcare.

Systemic Involvement in Immunoglobulin G4-Related Ophthalmic Disease.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) poses clinical challenges due to its heterogeneous ocular and systemic manifestations. We aim to report the systemic involvement and the clinical, serological and radiological associations of a cohort of Chinese patients. METHODS: A territory-wide, biopsy-proven, Chinese cohort. A retrospective, masked chart review of medical records, orbital images, and histopathology reports. RESULTS: A total of 122 (65 male) patients with a follow-up of 81 ± 49 (24 to 84) months were reviewed. Ninety (74%) patients presented bilaterally. Subacute upper eyelid swelling was the commonest presentation (82/122, 67%). During follow-up, 91/122 patients (75%) underwent extra-orbital imaging including computer tomography (692 films), ultrasonography (182 films), magnetic resonance imaging (76 films) and whole body FDG-PET scan (33 films). Eighty-six (95%) of these 91 patients had extra-orbital involvement radiologically (2.7 ± 1.6 regions, range: 0 to 9). Lymph node was the most prevalent (N = 60,66%), followed by salivary gland (N = 51,56%), lung (N = 49,54%), kidney (N = 22, 24%), hepatobiliary tree (N = 18, 20%) and pancreas (N = 17, 19%). Other organs include thyroid, aorta, meninges/brain and skin. Twenty-eight (23%) patients had allergic diseases (19 asthma, 16 allergic rhinitis, and 6 eczemas). Fifty-seven (48%) patients had paranasal sinusitis. Serum eosinophilia was associated with a higher number (3.24 versus 2.52, P = 0.0304) of organ involvement. Patients with deep organ involvement was associated with a higher age of IgG4-ROD onset (70 ± 12 versus 56 ± 13, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: 95% of the patients who underwent systemic imaging in our cohort had systemic organ involvement. An early physicians' assessment and radiological imaging are recommended after the diagnosis of IgG4-ROD.

Update on coronavirus disease 2019: Ophthalmic Manifestations and Adverse Reactions to Vaccination.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was one of the most devastating public health issues in recent decades. The ophthalmology community is as concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic as the global public health community is, as COVID-19 was recognized to affect multiple organs in the human body, including the eyes, early in the course of the outbreak. Ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19 are highly variable and could range from mild ocular surface abnormalities to potentially sight and life-threatening orbital and neuro-ophthalmic diseases. Furthermore, ophthalmic manifestations may also be the presenting or the only findings in COVID-19 infections. Meanwhile, global vaccination campaigns to attain herd immunity in different populations are the major strategy to mitigate the pandemic. As novel vaccinations against COVID-19 emerged, so were reports on adverse ophthalmic reactions potentially related to such. As the world enters a post-pandemic state where COVID-19 continues to exist and evolve as an endemic globally, the ophthalmology community ought to be aware of and keep abreast of the latest knowledge of ophthalmic associations with COVID-19 and its vaccinations. This review is a summary of the latest literature on the ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19 and the adverse ophthalmic reactions related to its vaccinations.

Effects of music intervention combined with progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety, depression, stress and quality of life among women with cancer receiving chemotherapy: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Beneficial effects of music intervention and progressive muscle relaxation alone on psychological issues were reported, however, studies evaluating their combined effects are limited. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of music intervention combined with progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety, depression, stress, and quality of life among breast and gynaecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: The study was carried out from March to May 2022 in an oncology hospital in Vietnam. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted among 24 women with breast and gynaecological cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The intervention group (n = 12) received a face-to-face training program about music listening and progressive muscle relaxation skills. They then performed the self-practice daily at home for three weeks. The control group (n = 12) received standard care, including health assessment, regular health advice and nutrition consultation. Ten participants in the intervention group were interviewed with open-ended questions to explore the acceptability of the intervention. Anxiety, depression and stress were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, while The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General was used to evaluate the quality of life. The outcome measurements were collected at baseline (T0), post-intervention (3rd week, T1) and follow-up (6th week, T2). Appropriate descriptive statistics were used to depict the outcome measures across study time points. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients were eligible to join, and 20 of them completed the study. Greater reductions in anxiety, depression and stress were observed in the intervention group than in the control group at T1 and T2. Greater improvements on quality of life were found in the intervention group than control group at T1 and T2 with respect to T0. The content analysis supported the acceptable intervention of participants through two themes, perceived beneficial effects on psychological and physical health and willingness to keep practising in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing music intervention combined with progressive muscle relaxation is feasible and had a trend in reducing anxiety, depression and stress levels. A larger scale randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm the effect of the intervention on outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with ID: NCT05262621.

Effectiveness of a nurse-led decision counselling programme on hepatocellular carcinoma screening uptake among patients with hepatitis B: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The globally endemic hepatocellular carcinoma induced by hepatitis B highlights the need for an ultrasonography-based screening strategy to reduce the tumour burden. However, patient non-adherence due to unawareness and complex decisions in weighting uncertainties of hepatocellular carcinoma screening has continuously challenged its continuum. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness and process of a nurse-led decision counselling programme for improving hepatocellular carcinoma screening among patients with hepatitis B. DESIGN: Single-blind randomised controlled trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Between 12 March and 19 July 2021, 178 patients with hepatitis B were recruited from six inpatient wards of a university-affiliated hospital in northern China. METHODS: Participants were randomly allocated to receive usual care (n = 89) or usual care plus a nurse-led decision counselling programme (n = 89). Underpinned by the preventive health model, the programme consisted of health education, tailored information, and values clarification exercises to elicit informed and value-based preferences for hepatocellular carcinoma screening. Screening barriers were explored and addressed through procedural problem-solving. Hepatocellular carcinoma screening rate at six months post-baseline was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes (knowledge, perceptions, and decision conflicts regarding hepatocellular carcinoma screening) were measured at baseline (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and the six-month follow-up (T2). A Medical Research Council framework-guided process evaluation was conducted by drawing on data from intervention documentation, WeChat discussions, and interviews with stakeholders (n = 13). RESULTS: With a mean age of 47.32 (8.78) years, participants mostly occupied rural residences (63.5 %). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly higher hepatocellular carcinoma screening rates (75.6 % vs. 42.1 %, p < 0.001) and displayed greater improvements in the scores of hepatocellular carcinoma screening knowledge (ß = 3.643, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 3.030, 4.255), salience and coherence (ß = 0.410, 95 % CI = 0.234, 0.586), response efficacy (ß = 0.327, 95 % CI = 0.181, 0.473), and perceived susceptibility (ß = 0.214, 95 % CI = 0.040, 0.388) at T1. Improvement in perceived susceptibility was not maintained, whereas a higher decrease of the decision conflict score was found at T2 (ß = -4.156, 95 % CI = -7.851, -0.461). The process evaluation revealed potential intervention mechanisms and contextual factors affecting intervention effectiveness, such as living status and natural disasters. CONCLUSION: The programme was effective in improving hepatocellular carcinoma screening and showed that nurses could play a decision counselling role in optimising the screening among patients with hepatitis B. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT04659005. Registration date: 9 December, 2020. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Nurse-led decision counselling improves hepatocellular carcinoma screening in patients with hepatitis B.

Dual Role of Caspase 8 in Adipocyte Apoptosis and Metabolic Inflammation.

Caspases are cysteine-aspartic proteases that were initially discovered to play a role in apoptosis. However, caspase 8, in particular, also has additional nonapoptotic roles, such as in inflammation. Adipocyte cell death and inflammation are hypothesized to be initiating pathogenic factors in type 2 diabetes. Here, we examined the pleiotropic role of caspase 8 in adipocytes and obesity-associated insulin resistance. Caspase 8 expression was increased in adipocytes from mice and humans with obesity and insulin resistance. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with caspase 8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK decreased both death receptor-mediated signaling and targets of nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB) signaling. We generated novel adipose tissue and adipocyte-specific caspase 8 knockout mice (aP2Casp8-/- and adipoqCasp8-/-). Both males and females had improved glucose tolerance in the setting of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Knockout mice also gained less weight on HFD, with decreased adiposity, adipocyte size, and hepatic steatosis. These mice had decreased adipose tissue inflammation and decreased activation of canonical and noncanonical NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, they demonstrated increased energy expenditure, core body temperature, and UCP1 expression. Adipocyte-specific activation of Ikbkb or housing mice at thermoneutrality attenuated improvements in glucose tolerance. These data demonstrate an important role for caspase 8 in mediating adipocyte cell death and inflammation to regulate glucose and energy homeostasis. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: Caspase 8 is increased in adipocytes from mice and humans with obesity and insulin resistance. Knockdown of caspase 8 in adipocytes protects mice from glucose intolerance and weight gain on a high-fat diet. Knockdown of caspase 8 decreases Fas signaling, as well as canonical and noncanonical nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB) signaling in adipose tissue. Improved glucose tolerance occurs via reduced activation of NF-κB signaling and via induction of UCP1 in adipocytes.

The moderating effects of nurses' background characteristics on the relationship between family-centred care perception and practice for hospitalized children and their families in Malawi.

PURPOSE: Globally, limited information is available on the relationship between the perception and practice of family-centered care (FCC), and the moderating effects of nurses' background characteristics on this relationship. This study investigated the relationship between FCC perception and FCC practice and the moderating effects of the nurses' background characteristics on this relationship. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a two-stage stratified sampling method. Data were collected from 444 nurses using the Family Centered Care Questionnaire-Revised and analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 25. The Hayes PROCESS macro model, version 3, was integrated into SPSS to examine the moderating effects at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: The response rate was 98%, and a statistically significant positive association was found between FCC perception and FCC practice (r = 0.353, p < .001). Gender of a nurse (ΔR2 = 0.0206, p < .002), having children (ΔR2 = 0.0231, p < .001), experience (ΔR2 = 0.0107, p = .028), and working in a medical-surgical ward (ΔR2 = 0.0208, p = .008) had a statistically significant moderating effect on the relationship between FCC perception and FCC practice. CONCLUSION: These findings provide minimal evidence of the existence of non-modifiable moderators of FCC. Future studies with modifiable moderators are therefore needed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Understanding the moderating effects of nurses' background characteristics on the relationship between FCC perception and FCC practice may facilitate the development of FCC interventions that favor these background characteristics and facilitate the integration of FCC into routine policies and practices.

Guidelines of the International Headache Society for Controlled Clinical Trials in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

The quality of clinical trials is essential to advance treatment, inform regulatory decisions and meta-analysis. With the increased incidence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and the emergence of clinical trials for novel therapies in this condition, the International Headache Society Guidelines for Controlled Clinical Trials in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension aims to establish guidelines for designing state-of-the-art controlled clinical trials for idiopathic intracranial hypertension.