Self-sampling for HPV testing in cervical cancer screening: A scoping review.

Cervical cancer is the third most common gynecological cancer worldwide. Its origin is linked to intraepithelial lesions caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types, detected in 99.7% of cases. Early screening is essential to prevent cancer development from these lesions. Molecular methods are more specific and offer the possibility of being performed through a self-collected sample by the patient, thus contributing to increasing screening coverage for this pathology. This study aim was to map the medical-scientific literature on existing protocols for self-sampling for HPV testing in cervical cancer screening. A search strategy was developed using the following keywords and their synonyms: "self-sampling," "professional sampling," and "HPV", on the databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library - BVS, Scopus, National Institute for Health Research NHS EED, Web of Science, and EMBASE. The search strategy was formulated to identify relevant studies and describe their main characteristics, such as patient acceptance of self-sampling, cost differences between the tests used, and the accuracy of self-sampling compared to the gold standard test. A total of 876 studies were found, and 33 of those studies were included in this review. Out of these, 10 studies were domized clinical trials involving 46,751 patients, and 23 observational studies included 142,795 patients. Regarding acceptance, most studies reported a preference for self-sampling. Sensitivity analyses from various studies also showed that the low cost of self-sampling kits generally increased cost-effectiveness. The study concluded that using HPV testing on self-collected samples is a viable strategy for monitoring women with HPV.

The effects of academic unprofessional behaviour on disciplinary action by medical boards: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of disciplinary actions by regulatory councils and unprofessional behaviour during medical graduation. METHODS: A search strategy was developed using the terms: 'physicians', 'disciplinary action', 'education', 'medical', 'undergraduate' and their synonyms, subsequently applied to the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, LILACs and grey literature, with searches up to November 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan software. RESULTS: A total of 400 studies were found in the databases, and 15 studies were selected for full-texting reading. Four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included, bringing together a total of 3341 evaluated physicians. Three studies were included in the meta-analysis, showing a greater chance of disciplinary actions among physicians who exhibited unprofessional behaviour during medical graduation (OR: 2.54; 95%CI: 1.87-3.44; I2 : 0%; P < 0.0001; 3077 participants; physicians with disciplinary action: 107/323; control physicians: 222/2754). CONCLUSIONS: There is a statistically significant association between unprofessional behaviour during medical undergraduate study and subsequent disciplinary actions by Medical Councils. The tools for periodic assessments of student behaviour during undergraduate studies can be a perspective for future studies aimed at reducing disciplinary actions among physicians.

External Validation of the Discriminative Validity of the ReSVinet Score and Development of Simplified ReSVinet Scores in Secondary Care.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on how to best quantify disease severity in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and/or bronchiolitis; this lack of a sufficiently validated score complicates the provision of clinical care and, the evaluation of trials of therapeutics and vaccines. The ReSVinet score appears to be one of the most promising; however, it is too time consuming to be incorporated into routine clinical care. We aimed to develop and externally validate simplified versions of this score. METHODS: Data from a multinational (the Netherlands, Spain, and United Kingdom) multicenter case-control study of infants with RSV were used to develop simplified versions of the ReSVinet score by conducting a grid search to determine the best combination of equally weighted parameters to maximize for the discriminative ability (measured by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC]) across a range of outcomes (hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, ventilation requirement). Subsequently discriminative validity of the score for a range of secondary care outcomes was externally validated by secondary analysis of datasets from Rwanda and Colombia. RESULTS: Three candidate simplified scores were identified using the development dataset; they were excellent (AUROC >0.9) at discriminating for a range of outcomes, and their performance was not significantly different from the original ReSVinet score despite having fewer parameters. In the external validation datasets, the simplified scores were moderate to excellent (AUROC, 0.7-1) across a range of outcomes. In all outcomes, except in a single dataset for predicting admission to the high-dependency unit, they performed at least as well as the original ReSVinet score. CONCLUSIONS: The candidate simplified scores developed require further external validation in larger datasets, ideally from resource-limited settings before any recommendation regarding their use.

Role of vulvovaginal candidiasis infection in infertility: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between fungal infection in the female genital tract and infertility. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was carried out, and the search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases until August 2022. The search strategy used standardized keywords such as "candidiasis" and "infertility," combined with their respective synonyms. The search was limited to human studies, with no language restrictions. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Primary articles that evaluated women of reproductive age with and without infertility and related to the presence or absence of candidiasis were included. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: For the analyses, the odds ratio association measure was used with a confidence interval of 95% using RevMan software (version 5.4). RESULTS: Eight studies, published between 1995 and 2021 in different countries around the world, were included in this systematic review. Two studies were excluded after sensitivity analysis. A total of 909 participants were included in the group of infertile women and 2363 women in the control group. The age of the evaluated women varied between 18 and 50 years. The random effect model was used and showed no significant difference when comparing candidiasis between fertile and infertile women (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval 0.86, 2.41 p= 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between candidiasis and female sterility.

University indigenous students' perspectives on climate change and survival of indigenous peoples in Brazil: a concept mapping study.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify what indigenous university students in Brazil perceived to be important and feasible actions to protect the survival of indigenous peoples from climate change-related impacts. Methods: Concept mapping, which is a participatory mixed methodology, was conducted virtually with 20 indigenous students at two universities in Brazil. A focus prompt was developed from consultations with indigenous stakeholders and read "To protect the survival of the Indigenous Peoples from climate change, it is necessary to…". Students brainstormed 46 statements, which they then sorted into clusters based on conceptual similarity. They rated each statement for importance and feasibility. Quantitative multivariate analyses of clusters and ratings were conducted to produce multiple visual maps of perceived actionable priorities. These analyses used the Group Wisdom TM software. Results: Students agreed on 8 clusters that reflect the factors that influence the survival of indigenous peoples-preservation of lands 0.16 (SD 0.13), protection of demarcated lands 0.31 (SD 0.10), indigenous health and wellbeing 0.35 (SD 0.14), ancestral customs 0.46 (SD 0.04), global and national actions 0.61 (SD 0.13), indigenous rights 0.64 (SD 0.23), collective living 0.71 (SD 0.21), and respect 0.75 (SD 0.14). Discussion: The most actionable priorities are related to the respect for their lands and customs, educational initiatives in schools about the importance of indigenous peoples to society, guarantees for basic health rights, and culturally appropriate provision of care, with specific mention of mental healthcare. The findings aligned closely with the concept of indigenous self-determination, which is rooted in autonomy and respect for cultural diversity, and the right to make decisions that impact their lives, land, and resources.

Climate change and mental health of Indigenous peoples living in their territory: a concept mapping study.

Background: The alarming increase in annual deforestation rates has had devastating consequences in climate change, and it is affecting Indigenous people, who depend entirely on the land for survival and has also weakened the rainforest's crucial role in stabilizing the global climate. Recognizing and respecting Indigenous people's needs and social, economic, and historical conditions influence health and healthcare. This study aimed to conduct online concept mapping workshops with university students to identify perceived important and feasible actions for improving the mental health of Indigenous people living in their territory in association with climate change. Methods: Concept mapping, a participatory mixed methodology, was conducted virtually with 20 Indigenous students at two universities in Brazil. A focus prompt was developed from consultations with Indigenous stakeholders and read-"To improve the mental health of Indigenous peoples in their territory during climate change crises, it is necessary to…." Results: University students organized 42 unique statements in 6 clusters that cover a wide range of topics: family support, 0.68 (SD 0.19); respect and understanding, 0.37 (SD 0.08); improvement actions, 0.52 (SD 0.07); public policies in favor of Indigenous people's mental health, 0.24 (0.09); health actions, 0.15 (SD 0.08); Indigenous training in health and its importance in improving mental health 0.32 (SD 0.07). Conclusion: These clusters range from community initiatives, public policies, health actions, and strengthening professional services in Indigenous communities. These all provide numerous concrete ideas for developing interventions designed to address mental health challenges associated with climate change.

The role of intestinal microbiota on pre-eclampsia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To investigate differences between gut microbiota diversity and composition of healthy pregnant women and women with pre-eclampsia (PE). METHODS AND RESULTS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, in which the terms "pre-eclampsia", "gastrointestinal microbiome" and "pregnant women" were used to search MEDLINE (PubMed), BVS (LILACS and others), Embase (Elsevier) and Cochrane Library, including observational studies and case-control that investigated changes in the gut microbiota during pregnancy. Six studies were included, with 479 pregnant women. A significantly lower gut microbiota alpha diversity measured as the Shannon index was found in pregnant women with PE in comparison with healthy controls (SMD: -0.47; 95 %IC: -0.77 to -0.18; P = 0.02; I2 = 0 %; three studies, 179 participants), while no significant differences were found in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria, despite significant differences reported in the individual studies. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with PE have lower gut microbiome diversity, however, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether there are changes in gut microbiota composition. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The gut microbiota can be a new treatment target to try to prevent changes in maternal bacterial proportions, aiming to reduce complications during pregnancy.

Effects of COVID-19 or vaccines for SARS-COV-2 on sperm parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of SARS-Cov-2 and mRNA vaccines on male reproduction. We conducted a comprehensive search using terms such as "COVID-19," "vaccine," and "sperm parameters" on various electronic databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), BVS (LILACS and others), Embase (Elsevier), and Cochrane Library. We included observational studies, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. Of the 2054 records initially identified, we carefully examined 47 full-text articles and excluded 26 articles for specific reasons, ultimately including 21 studies for our analysis. Among these, 16 studies focused on assessing seminal parameters in patients with COVID-19, while five studies investigated the effects of COVID vaccines on seminal parameters. A meta-analysis of seminal parameters in men before and after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant differences in seminal concentration, progressive motility, total motility, and normal morphology. These findings indicate a positive impact of the analyzed parameters before the onset of COVID-19. However, the quality of the evidence was considered low. In contrast, a meta-analysis of five studies evaluating seminal parameters before and after the SARS-Cov-2 vaccine did not show any significant differences in total motility. This analysis, involving 256 men from four studies, provided low-quality evidence, suggesting that mRNA vaccines do not affect male reproduction. Overall, our findings suggest that seminal parameters exhibit considerable variability depending on specific outcomes and the study design. However, based on available evidence, it appears that mRNA vaccines do not have detrimental effects on male reproductive function.

DNA high-risk HPV, mRNA HPV and P16 tests for diagnosis of anal cancer and precursor lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Anal cancer prevention has two critical points: the incidence rate is several fold higher for some groups, such as people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and men who have sex with men (MSM), and there is not a well-defined guideline for its screening. This systematic review evaluates the accuracy of DNA HRHPV (high-risk human papillomavirus), mRNA HPV, DNA HPV16 isolated and p16 staining biomarkers in anal canal smears for identifying anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) 2 or 3, summarised as anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (aHSIL), and cancer. Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Embase electronic databases as well as Grey literature to identify eligible papers published up to 31st July 2022. This systematic review and meta-analysis included observational studies comparing biomarker tests to histopathology after HRA (High-resolution Anoscopy) as a reference standard. We (ACM, TF) analysed studies in which patients of both sexes were screened for anal cancer using DNA HRHPV, mRNA HPV, DNA HPV16 and/or p16 biomarkers. The analysis was performed in pairs, for instance AIN2 or worse (AIN2+) vs. AIN1, HPV infection and normal (AIN1-). PROSPERO CRD42015024201. Findings: We included 21 studies with 7445 patients. DNA HR HPV showed a higher sensitivity 92.4% (95% CI 84.2-96.5), specificity 41.7% (95% CI 33.9-44.9) and AUC 0.67, followed by the mRNA HPV test, with a sensitivity 77.3% (95% CI 73.2%-80.9%), specificity 61.9% (95% CI 56.6-66.9) and AUC 0.78. DNA HPV16 showed higher specificity 71.7% (95% CI 55.3-83.8), followed by p16 test, 64.1% (95% CI 51.0-75.4); Sensitivity of DNA HPV16 was 53.3% (95% CI 35.4-70.3) and AUC 0.69, while p16 had a sensitivity of 68.8% (95% CI 47.9-84.1) and AUC 0.74. Subgroup analysis of MSM with HIV, with 13 studies and 5123 patients, showed similar accuracy, with a bit higher sensitivities and lower specificities. Considering the measure of the total between-study variability, mRNA HPV tests showed the smallest area of the 95% prediction ellipse, 6.0%, influenced by the low logit sensitivity, 0.011. All other groups of tests exceed 50% prediction ellipse area, which represent a high heterogeneity. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that DNA HR HPV can be a useful tool for screening for aHSIL and anal cancer if followed by biomarker with a higher specificity. As an isolated test, mRNA HPV had better performance. Funding: There was no funding source for this study.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone levels after metformin treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate whether treatment with metformin would reduce Anti-Müllerian Hormone levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. A search was performed in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases and grey literature (Google Scholar). The following keywords were used in the search strategy: "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome", "Anti-Mullerian Hormone", "Metformin". The search was limited to human studies, with no language restriction. 328 studies were found, 45 studies were selected for full-text reading and 16 of those studies, six randomized controlled trial and 10 non-randomized studies were included. The synthesis of randomized controlled trials, metformin showed a reduction in serum levels of Anti-Müllerian Hormone compared to control groups (SMD - 0.53, 95 %CI - 0.84 to - 0.22, p < 0.001, I2 = 0 %, four studies, 171 participants, high quality of evidence). Six non-randomized studies evaluated data before and after the metformin intervention. The synthesis showed that using metformin reduced serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone values (SMD - 0.79, 95 %CI - 1.03 to - 0.56, p < 0.001, I2 = 0 %, six studies, 299 participants, low quality of evidence). Metformin administration in women with polycystic ovary syndrome is associated significantly with reduced Anti-Müllerian Hormone serum levels.

Omega-3 as an adjuvant in the treatment eating and psychological symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to assess the effects of omega-3 supplementation as an adjunct treatment for eating and psychological symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature using the terms 'anorexia nervosa' AND 'Fatty Acids, Omega-3'. Five randomised controlled trials with a total of 144 participants, published between 2003 and 2022, were included. RESULTS: The effects of supplementation of omega-3 on anxiety were standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.08 to 1.66; p = 0.08; I² = 3%; two studies, 33 participants; moderate quality of evidence. For depression, the supplementation of omega-3 was SMD: 0.22, 95% CI: -0.50 to 0.93; p = 0.18; I² = 45%; two studies, 33 participants; moderate quality of evidence. For obsessive-compulsive disorder, the supplementation of omega-3 was SMD: -0.22, 95% CI: -0.70 to 2.25; p = 0.36; I² = 0%; three studies, 32 participants; low quality of evidence. CONCLUSION: This research showed that regardless of dose, time or, if associated with other components, the use of omega-3 supplementations as an adjuvant treatment showed no evidence of effect in eating and psychological symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Community Gardening Interventions for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases among Indigenous Populations: A Scoping Review.

Compared with non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous populations experience worse health across many outcomes, including non-communicable diseases, and they are three times more likely to live in extreme poverty. The objectives were to identify (1) the content, implementation, and duration of the intervention; (2) the evaluation designs used; (3) the outcomes reported; and (4) the enablers and the challenges. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a search of research databases and grey literature was conducted. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Papers reported on acceptability, nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable intake, self-efficacy, motivation, and preference concerning fruit and vegetable, diet, and gardening. No study measured all outcomes. All papers reported on acceptability, whether implicitly or explicitly. The evaluation used mostly pre- and post-intervention assessments. The effect of gardening on nutrition and gardening knowledge and fruit and vegetable intake was inconclusive, and was related to a general lack of robust evaluations. Applying the He Pikinga Waiora Framework, however, revealed strong evidence for community engagement, cultural centeredness, integrated knowledge translation and systems thinking in increasing the acceptability and feasibility of gardening in Indigenous communities. Despite environmental challenges, the evidence signaled that gardening was an acceptable intervention for the Indigenous communities.

Whey protein and vitamin D supplementation in institutionalized older adults: A randomized trial.

Background: The increase in life expectancy and in the number of individuals over 60 years old brings new demands to health professionals and services based on the physiological changes that occur in this population. The aging process results in changes in body composition, increasing body fat and reducing muscle mass, in addition to a reduction in bone mass. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of whey protein and vitamin D supplementation on body composition and skeletal muscle in older adults living in long-term care facilities. Methods: This study is a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Thirty older adults (>60 years old) were randomized and allocated in three groups: group receiving resistance training and supplementation receiving resistance training, whey protein and vitamin D; group received resistance and placebo training receiving resistance training and placebo, and control group without any intervention. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Results: The mean age was 74.87 (± 8.14) years. A significant difference (p = 0.042) was observed between the group receiving resistance training and supplementation and control groups in relation to lean mass increase (kg) at 24 weeks. After 24 weeks of intervention, there was a significant increase in Relative index of muscle mass for the two groups that underwent resistance training, group received resistance and placebo training (p = 0.042) and group receiving resistance training and supplementation (p = 0.045), in relation to the control. Conclusion: Combined supplementation of whey protein and vitamin D with resistance training can significantly improve lean mass, total mass, and relative index of muscle mass in institutionalized older adults.

Association of Ambient Air Pollution with Blood Pressure in Adolescence: A Systematic-review and Meta-analysis.

We systematically reviewed the association of ambient air pollution with blood pressure (BP) as a primary outcome in adolescents (10-19 years). Five databases (Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and LILACS) were searched for relevant articles published up to August 2022. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA v17 (Protocol - OSF Registries https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/96G5Q). Eight studies (5 cohort, 3 cross-sectional) with approximately 15,000 adolescents were included. Data from 6 studies were suitable for inclusion in the meta-analyses. In sub-group analyses, non-significant positive associations were observed for cohort studies assessing long-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 on systolic and diastolic BP. At age 12 years old (3702 adolescents), we found significant positive associations for long-term exposure to PM2.5(ß=5.33 (1.56, 9.09) mmHg) and PM10 (ß=2.47 (0.10, 4.85) mmHg) on diastolic BP. Significant positive associations were observed (3,592 adolescents) for long-term exposure to PM10(ß=0.34 (0.19, 0.50) mmHg) and NO2 on diastolic BP (ß=0.40 (0.09, 0.71) mmHg), and PM10 on systolic BP (ß=0.48 (0.19, 0.77) mmHg). The overall quality of evidence analysed was graded as "low/very low." Insufficient data for short-term exposures to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO on BP led to their exclusion from the meta-analysis. Inconsistent associations were reported for gender-stratified results. The evidence, though of low-quality and limited, indicated that ambient air pollution was positively associated with adolescent BP. Future studies need improved measures of air pollutant exposures, consideration of gender and socio-economic circumstances on the observed pollution effects, as well as adjustment for other potential confounding factors.

A systematic review of evidence-based interventions for child and adolescent mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Treatments for mental health problems in childhood and adolescence have advanced in the last 15 years. Despite advances in research, most of the evidence on effective interventions comes from high-income countries, while evidence is scarce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 90% of world's children and adolescents live. The aim of this review was to identify evidence-based interventions tested in LMICs to treat or prevent child and adolescent mental health problems. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of seven major electronic databases, from January 2007 to July 2019. We included randomised or non-randomised clinical trials that evaluated interventions for children or adolescents aged 6 to 18 years living in LMICs and who had, or were at risk of developing, one or more mental health problems. Results were grouped according to the studied conditions. Due to the heterogeneity of conditions, interventions and outcomes, we performed a narrative synthesis. The review was registered at PROSPERO under the number CRD42019129376. FINDINGS: Of 127,466 references found through our search strategy, 107 studies were included in narrative synthesis after the eligibility verification processes. Nineteen different conditions and nine types of interventions were addressed by studies included in the review. Over 1/3 of studied interventions were superior to comparators, with psychoeducation and psychotherapy having the highest proportion of positive results. One-third of studies were classified as presenting low risk of bias. INTERPRETATION: This review shows that different interventions have been effective in LMICs and have the potential to close the mental health care gap among children and adolescents in low-resource settings.

Gut and Vaginal Microbiota in the Endometriosis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Endometriosis is a clinical condition associated with genetic, endocrine, and immunological factors, present in 6 to 10% of women of reproductive age. Currently, the human microbiota has been studied and associated with the evolution of diseases due to its influence on pathogenesis, indicating that changes in the colonization of microorganisms in the genitourinary and gastrointestinal systems can promote physiological changes that can trigger inflammatory and immunological processes and hormonal dysregulation, which can be linked to endometriosis. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated microbiota changes in women with endometriosis. Methods: The following electronic databases were searched up to April 2022: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and gray literature (Google Scholar), using the keywords "dysbiosis", "microbiome" and "endometriosis", combined with their synonyms. The observational studies conducted with women diagnosed with endometriosis and women without endometriosis as controls were included. For the analyses, a standard mean difference with a 95% confidence interval was used using RevMan software (version 5.4), and for methodological quality assessment, the Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used. Results: A total of 16 studies were found in the literature assessing the composition of the microbiota in women with endometriosis, and no significant difference were found for changes in alpha diversity analysis in gut microbiota (SMD = -0.28; 95% CI = -0.70 to 0.14; P = 0.19; I2 = 52%; four studies, 357 participants) or vaginal microbiota (SMD = -0.68; 95% CI = -1.72 to 0.35; P = 0.19; I2 = 66%; two studies, 49 participants). Conclusion: In intestinal and vaginal samples from women with endometriosis, alpha-diversity did not present a significant difference when compared to the control population. However, each study individually showed a possible relationship between the female microbiota and endometriosis. This trial is registered with CRD42021260972.

Assessment of the strength of recommendation and quality of evidence: GRADE checklist. A descriptive study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) is a tool for assessing evidence produced in synthesis reports. OBJECTIVES: To present the translation into Portuguese of the GRADE checklist, whose original version is in English, and to describe and explain each topic, in order to provide examples to researchers and professionals who will use the tool. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study developed at Centro Universitário Tiradentes, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. METHODS: This was a translation of the GRADE checklist, with the addition of the Risk Of Bias In Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool in the checklist, with examples of its use. RESULTS: Situations of practical use of the tool were presented in order to facilitate and expand the use of assessment of the quality and strength of evidence among Portuguese speakers. CONCLUSIONS: The GRADE checklist is valuable in helping to assess the strength and quality of evidence for synthesis reports for healthcare decision-making.

Assessment of the strength of recommendation and quality of evidence: GRADE checklist. A descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) is a tool for assessing evidence produced in synthesis reports. OBJECTIVES: To present the translation into Portuguese of the GRADE checklist, whose original version is in English, and to describe and explain each topic, in order to provide examples to researchers and professionals who will use the tool. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study developed at Centro Universitário Tiradentes, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. METHODS: This was a translation of the GRADE checklist, with the addition of the Risk Of Bias In Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool in the checklist, with examples of its use. RESULTS: Situations of practical use of the tool were presented in order to facilitate and expand the use of assessment of the quality and strength of evidence among Portuguese speakers. CONCLUSIONS: The GRADE checklist is valuable in helping to assess the strength and quality of evidence for synthesis reports for healthcare decision-making.

Correspondence: semen parameters in men who recovered from covid-19 - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A recent systematic review with meta-analysis performed by Tiwari et al. (Middle East Fertil Soc J 26:44, 2021) suggested that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects both semen parameters and sexual hormones. However, we have observed a few inconsistencies in their systematic review methods and their synthesis of results (meta-analysis), which would have impacted their results.