Clinical Impact of Pretreatment Human Immunodeficiency Virus Drug Resistance in People Initiating Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Increased access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in rising levels of pretreatment human immunodeficiency virus drug resistance (PDR). This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of PDR on treatment outcomes among people initiating nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based ART, including the combination of efavirenz (EFV), tenofovir (TDF), and lamivudine or emtricitabine (XTC).

Methods: We systematically reviewed studies and conference proceedings comparing treatment outcomes in populations initiating NNRTI-based ART with and without PDR.

Flexible piecewise linear model for investigating dose-response relationship in meta-analysis: Methodology, examples, and comparison.

Objectives: Dose-response meta-analysis (DRMA) is widely employed in establishing the potential dose-response relationship between continuous exposures and disease outcomes. However, there is no valid DRMA method readily for discrete exposures, especially when the possible dose-response trend not likely to be linear. We proposed a piecewise linear DRMA model as a solution to this issue.

A cluster randomised trial of a classroom communication resource program to change peer attitudes towards children who stutter among grade 7 students.

Background: Classroom-based stuttering intervention addressing negative peer attitudes, perceptions, teasing and bullying of children who stutter (CWS) is required as part of holistic stuttering management because of its occurrence in primary school. This study was conducted in 2017, in 10 primary schools in the Western Cape, South Africa within lower (second and third) and higher (fourth and fifth) quintiles.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine treatment effect at six months after intervention of grade 7 participants (Classroom Communication Resource [CCR] intervention versus no CCR) using global Stuttering Resource Outcomes Measure (SROM) scores in school clusters.

The methodological quality of dose-response meta-analyses needed substantial improvement: a cross-sectional survey and proposed recommendations.

Objectives: To investigate methodological quality of published dose-response meta-analysis (DRMA) and explore study characteristics associated with the quality.

Study Design And Setting: We searched three databases for published DRMAs and used a modified AMSTAR (15 items) checklist to assess the methodological quality. We summarized the compliance of those DRMAs to the AMSTAR items and used multivariable regression analysis to explore the association between prespecified study characteristics with the overall methodological quality.

A pilot study to determine the feasibility of a cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention to change peer attitudes towards children who stutter.

 While randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard of research, prior study is needed to determine the feasibility of a future large-scale RCT study. Objectives: This pilot study, therefore, aimed to determine feasibility of an RCT by exploring: (1) procedural issues and (2) treatment effect of the Classroom Communication Resource (CCR), an intervention for changing peer attitudes towards children who stutter. Method: A pilot cluster stratified RCT design was employed whereby the recruitment took place first at school-level and then at individual level.

Effects of dance on cognitive function among older adults: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cognitive impairment is characterized by problems in thinking, memory, language, and judgment that are greater than cognitive changes in normal aging. Considering the unprecedented growth of the older adult population and the projected increase in the prevalence of cognitive impairment, it is imperative to find effective strategies to improve or maintain cognitive function in older adults. The objective of this review is to summarize the effects of dance versus any other control group on cognitive function, physical function, adverse events, and quality of life in older adults.

Early Exercise in Critically Ill Youth and Children, a Preliminary Evaluation: The wEECYCLE Pilot Trial.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full trial evaluating the efficacy of early mobilization using in-bed cycling as an adjunct to physiotherapy, on functional outcomes in critically ill children.

Design: Single center, pilot, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Twelve-bed tertiary care, medical-surgical PICU at McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Hemosiderin in sputum macrophages may predict infective exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Infective exacerbations of COPD are common and are accompanied by neutrophilic bronchitis in sputum. Increased respiratory iron content has been associated with respiratory tract infection, though it is unclear if this represents a predisposing factor for infection or the sequelae of inflammation. Iron overload, as assessed in the airways, may be an important biomarker for recurrent infective exacerbations of COPD.

Cyclic hypoxia does not alter RAD51 expression or PARP inhibitor cell kill in tumor cells.

Solid tumors contain regions of chronic and cyclic hypoxia. Chronic hypoxia can downregulate RAD51 and sensitize cells to PARP inhibition. Herein, we show that RAD51 expression, cell survival and toxicity to PARP inhibition is not affected under cyclic hypoxic conditions.