Evidence syntheses to support decision-making related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic generated a large volume of scientific productions with different quality levels. The speed with which knowledge was produced and shared worldwide imposed on health management the challenge of seeking ways to identify the best available evidence to support its decisions. In response to this challenge, the Department of Science and Technology of the Brazilian Ministry of Health started offering a service to produce and provide scientific knowledge addressing priority public health issues in the pandemic scenario.

Aerosol generated by dental procedures: A scoping review.

Background: The current pandemic has raised awareness of aerosol dispersion in dental offices. This scoping review was conducted to assess the amount and spread of aerosol generated by dental procedures.

Methods: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR protocol and was conducted by searching multiple databases adopting a core search structure for each database.

Worldwide prevalence of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway mutations in head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the prevalence of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway mutations in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Overall, 105 studies comprising 8630 patients and 1306 mutations were selected. The estimated mutations prevalence was 13 % for PIK3CA (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 11-14; I = 82 %; p < 0.

Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy as a Therapeutic Strategy for Patients With Tinnitus: A Systematic Review.

Purpose This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the severity of tinnitus when compared to no therapy or other modalities of therapies. Method A systematic review protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the Registration Number CRD42019119376. A search was performed in each of the following databases: EMBASE, LILACS, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest.

Effectiveness of the use of non-woven face mask to prevent coronavirus infections in the general population: a rapid systematic review.

Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of non-woven face masks for the prevention of respiratory infections (MERS CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2) in the population.

Methods: search in Medline, Embase, Cinahl, The Cochrane Library, Trip databases. Google Scholar, Rayyan and medRxiv were also consulted for complementary results.

Immunotherapy improves efficacy and safety of patients with HPV positive and negative head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Despite multiple modalities used to management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), disease control remains unsatisfactory. Immunotherapy is emerging as a novel therapeutic approach. This systematic review assesses clinical data regarding immunotherapy efficacy and safety.

Salivary metabolites to detect patients with cancer: a systematic review.

Novel adjunctive screening aids are needed to reduce the morbidity and mortality related to cancer, and every effort should be made for early diagnosis. This systematic review aimed to evaluate salivary metabolites and their diagnostic value in patients with cancer.The systematic review was performed in two phases and included studies that focused on the diagnostic value of salivary metabolites in humans with solid malignant neoplasms.

Laser therapy for recurrent aphthous stomatitis: an overview.

Objectives: To evaluate therapeutic effects of laser therapy on patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis assessing evidences from previously published systematic reviews.

Materials And Methods: An overview of systematic reviews was conducted based on PRISMA checklist. Search strategies were developed and adapted for six different electronic databases and a gray literature search was also performed.

Deglutition disorders as a consequence of head and neck cancer therapies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to estimate the frequency of deglutition disorders in patients pre- and post-treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: Search strategies were developed for the following databases: LILACS, PubMed, SpeechBITE, LIVIVO, Web of Science, and Scopus. Additionally, the gray literature was searched using Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest.

Effects of oral supplementation in the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of oral supplementation on the management of oral mucositis in patients with cancer undergoing chemo and/or radiation therapy.

Method: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The search was performed at 6 databases, and in the gray literature.

Relative Energy Expenditure Decreases during the First Year after Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The effect of bariatric surgery on resting energy expenditure (REE) remains unclear, particularly in terms of the REE/fat-free mass (FFM) ratio. We performed a systematic review with a meta-analysis on Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) studies to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on the REE/FFM ratio 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Five of the 13 records of 6-month data (n = 406) showed a reduction in the REE/FFM ratio without significant summary effects.

Mutations in Central Precocious Puberty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

mutations represent the most common genetic cause of central precocious puberty (CPP) but associations between genotype and clinical features have not been extensively explored. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated genotype-phenotype associations and prevalence of mutations in CPP. The search was conducted in seven electronic databases (Cochrane, EMBASE, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) for articles published until 4 September 2018.

Early clinical performance of resin cements in glass-ceramic posterior restorations in adult vital teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Statement Of Problem: Dentists must regularly determine the best adhesive cementation protocol for glass-ceramic restorations on posterior teeth. The authors are aware of few in vivo follow-up studies and no meta-analyses, including clinical trials, regarding this clinically relevant topic, which merits further investigation.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to statistically analyze the clinical performance of glass-ceramic posterior restorations by using a descriptive synthesis based on the integrity of the tooth and restoration under different cementation protocols for self-adhesive or conventional resin cements.

Effects of turmeric and curcumin on oral mucositis: A systematic review.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of turmeric and curcumin in the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing chemo and/or radiotherapy. The systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. The search was performed in the following database: Cochrane Library, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Prevalence of degenerative joint disease of the temporomandibular joint: a systematic review.

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate evidence about the prevalence of degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ).

Materials And Methods: We performed search on electronic databases and gray literature from their inception to January 2018. Studies reporting prevalence data of DJD on TMJ were included.

In vitro tooth reattachment techniques: A systematic review.

Background/aims: Fragment reattachment is a procedure that offers advantages, such as preservation of tooth structure and maintenance of color, shape, and translucency of the original tooth. The aim of this study was to analyze the reattachment techniques used to restore anterior teeth fractured by trauma.

Materials And Methods: The PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched in October 2016, and the search was updated in February 2017.

Potential genetic markers for nonsyndromic oral clefts in the Brazilian population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although various genes and genomic regions were described as of susceptibility for nonsyndromic oral clefts (NOC), recent reports have demonstrated significant interethnic variations in the genetic predisposition, a situation that affects the Brazilian population, one of the most admixed populations in the world. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to describe the available information on genetic risk markers for NOC in the Brazilian population.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature was performed using LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and studies that investigated genetic susceptibility markers for NOC in the Brazilian population were retrieved.

Biomarkers in the assessment of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of biomarkers to predict the risk of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients, as well as to assess the correlation between these biomarkers and the severity of mucositis.

Methods: The search was performed at LILACS, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. A search of the gray literature was performed on Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest.

Association between sleep bruxism and alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and drug abuse: A systematic review.

Background: The aim of this systematic review was to answer the focused question, "In adults, is there any association between sleep bruxism (SB) and alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, or drug abuse?"

Types Of Studies Reviewed: This systematic review included studies in which the investigators assessed SB diagnosis by using questionnaires, clinical assessment, or polysomnography and evaluated its association with alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, or drug abuse. The authors graded SB as possible, probable, or definitive. The authors developed specific search strategies for Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science.

Prevalence of otologic signs and symptoms in adult patients with temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of otologic signs and symptoms in adult patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Material And Methods: Search strategies were developed for each of the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, Proquest, LIVIVO, and Google Scholar and OpenGrey was used to assess the grey literature. It was included in this review only observational studies using either research diagnostic criteria (RDC)/TMD or DC/TMD indexes were selected.

Prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia: A systematic review.

Background: The aim of this systematic review was to answer the focused question, "What are the prevalence and the epidemiological characteristics of trigeminal neuralgia in the general population?"

Types Of Studies Reviewed: This systematic review included observational population-based studies reporting the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The authors developed specific search strategies for LILACS, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The authors evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies using criteria from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.