Benefits and Harms of Coronary Revascularization in Non-Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease and Ischemic Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Key Points: In people with non–dialysis-dependent CKD, revascularization may lower all-cause mortality and risk of cardiovascular events. Adverse kidney events, which are often cited as a reason to avoid revascularization, were uncommon. Additional research on the effect of revascularization on patient-reported outcomes in people with non–dialysis-dependent CKD is needed.

Current Evidence for Infection Prevention and Control Interventions in Emergency Medical Services: A Scoping Review.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize current evidence from the United States on the effectiveness of practices and interventions for preventing, recognizing, and controlling occupationally acquired infectious diseases in Emergency Medical Service (EMS) clinicians.

Report And Methods: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SCOPUS were searched from January 1, 2006 through March 15, 2022 for studies in the United States that involved EMS clinicians and firefighters, reported on one or more workplace practices or interventions that prevented or controlled infectious diseases, and included outcome measures. Eleven (11) observational studies reported on infection prevention and control (IPC) practices providing evidence that hand hygiene, standard precautions, mandatory vaccine policies, and on-site vaccine clinics are effective.

Active cycle of breathing technique for cystic fibrosis.

Background: People with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience chronic airway infections as a result of mucus buildup within the lungs. Repeated infections often cause lung damage and disease. Airway clearance therapies aim to improve mucus clearance, increase sputum production, and improve airway function.

Diet-Related and Gut-Derived Metabolites and Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review.

We conducted a scoping review to map available evidence about the health impact of gut microbiota-derived metabolites. We searched PubMed and Embase for studies that assessed the health impact of ten metabolites on any health condition: deoxycholate or deoxycholic acid (DCA), lithocholate or lithocholic acid (LCA), glycolithocholate or glycolithocholic acid, glycodeoxycholate or glycodeoxycholic acid, tryptamine, putrescine, d-alanine, urolithins, N-acetylmannosamine, and phenylacetylglutamine. We identified 352 eligible studies with 168,072 participants.

A review of infectious disease epidemiology in emergency medical service clinicians.

Background: The emergency medical service (EMS) workforce is at high risk of occupationally-acquired infections. This review synthesized existing literature on the prevalence, incidence, and severity of infections in the EMS workforce.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SCOPUS from January 1, 2006 to March 15, 2022 for studies in the US that involved EMS clinician or firefighter populations and reported 1 or more health outcomes related to occupationally-acquired infections.

Feasibility of the A-STEP for the assessment of exercise capacity in people with cystic fibrosis.

Objectives: To evaluate feasibility of the Alfred Step Test Exercise Protocol (A-STEP) for the assessment of exercise capacity in adults and children with cystic fibrosis (CF); in adults to test whether demographics and/or lung function correlated with exercise capacity.

Methods: Adults and children with stable CF from two centres completed the A-STEP (a recently developed incremental maximal-effort step test). Feasibility was evaluated by: usefulness for exercise capacity assessment (measures of exercise capacity were: level reached, exercise-induced desaturation, and achievement of at least one maximal effort criteria); safety; operational factors; time to complete; floor and/or ceiling effects.

The AWESCORE, a patient-reported outcome measure: development, feasibility, reliability, validity and responsiveness for adults with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Quality of life has improved dramatically over the past two decades in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Quantification has been enabled by patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs); however, many are lengthy and can be challenging to use in routine clinical practice. We propose a short-form PROM that correlates well with established quality-of-life measures.

Development of the A-STEP: A new incremental maximal exercise capacity step test in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Exercise testing is important in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). The aim was to develop an incremental maximal step test to assess exercise capacity across the range of pwCF, without floor or ceiling effects, within restrictions of space, and infection prevention.

Methods: The step test was developed in adults with stable CF.

The Effect of Lutein/Zeaxanthin Intake on Human Macular Pigment Optical Density: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids found in the human macula and may have a role in visual function. These carotenoids are reported to protect the retina, and thus vision, as antioxidants and by acting as a blue light filter. Our objective was to determine a minimum concentration of lutein/zeaxanthin intake that is associated with a statistically significant and/or clinically important change in macular pigment optical density (MPOD) among adults with healthy eyes.

Effects of antiandrogens on prolactin levels among transgender women on estrogen therapy: A systematic review.

Background: Gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender women includes estrogen and antiandrogens (cyproterone acetate, spironolactone, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists). Both estrogen and antiandrogens are reported to increase prolactin levels. The objective is to systematically review the evidence of the effects of antiandrogens on prolactin levels, hyperprolactinemia, and prolactinomas among transgender women on estrogen therapy.

Antipsychotics for Treating Delirium in Hospitalized Adults: A Systematic Review.

Background: Delirium is common in hospitalized patients and is associated with worse outcomes. Antipsychotics are commonly used; however, the associated benefits and harms are unclear.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review evaluating the benefits and harms of antipsychotics to treat delirium in adults.

Antipsychotics for Preventing Delirium in Hospitalized Adults: A Systematic Review.

Background: Delirium is an acute disorder marked by impairments in attention and cognition, caused by an underlying medical problem. Antipsychotics are used to prevent delirium, but their benefits and harms are unclear.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review evaluating the benefits and harms of antipsychotics for prevention of delirium in adults.

Airway clearance techniques for cystic fibrosis: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting genetic condition in which thick mucus builds up in the lungs, leading to infections, inflammation, and eventually, deterioration in lung function. To clear their lungs of mucus, people with cystic fibrosis perform airway clearance techniques daily. There are various airway clearance techniques, which differ in terms of the need for assistance or equipment, and cost.

The Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative Consensus Conference Methodology.

Objectives: This article describes the methodology used for Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative Consensus Conference.

Design: Consensus conference of international experts in pediatric critical care and transfusion medicine, following standards set by the Institute of Medicine, using the Research and Development/UCLA Appropriateness Method, modeled after the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference. Topics related to RBC transfusion in children with or at risk for critical illness were divided into nine subgroups with a systematic review of the literature.

Does information from ClinicalTrials.gov increase transparency and reduce bias? Results from a five-report case series.

Background: We investigated whether information in ClinicalTrials.gov would impact the conclusions of five ongoing systematic reviews.

Method: We considered five reviews that included 495 studies total.

Searching ClinicalTrials.gov did not change the conclusions of a systematic review.

Objectives: We assessed the effect of searching ClinicalTrials.gov on the conclusions of a systematic review.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted this case study concurrently with a systematic review.