Search Results for: Screening per la tubercolosi

Objectives
Women with severe mental illness (SMI) face barriers to cervical cancer screening, leading to lower participation and poorer outcomes. This research aimed to develop and test an informed-choice tool to help women with SMI make informed decisions about screening attendance.

Design
The tool was developed using a realist review of physical health interventions and a systematic review of informed-choice tools for people with SMI. A mixed-methods approach informed its development. Usability and acceptability were assessed through semistructured interviews and the think-aloud method with service users (n=18), clinicians (n=16) and key informants. A preliminary proof-of-concept (n=25) evaluated the impact on decisional conflict—the uncertainty around making value-sensitive choices.

Setting and participants
Conducted in two National Health Service (NHS) Mental Health Trusts (urban and rural). Participants included women with SMI accessing secondary mental healthcare, clinicians and service user groups. A key informants’ group guided clinical content.

Intervention
A cervical screening informed-choice leaflet and an accompanying video.

Results
The tool was usable and acceptable, especially for women overdue or never screened. It may reduce decisional conflict and increase screening uptake, potentially improving survival. An National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded feasibility trial (Improving uptake of cervical screening in people with severe mental illness (OPTMISE)) is underway. The current UK government guidance on Support for people who find it hard to attend cervical screening due to having a mental health condition or having experienced trauma or abuse is based on this research.

Conclusions
Future research may involve further assessments of the real-world impact of the tool and its adaptation to other health-related decisions.

Censis, con screening, consegna farmaci, e prenotazioni Cup

Il rapporto del Censis, recapito farmaci e screening in testa

Introduction
Globally, drug shortages affect low-, middle- and high-income countries to different degrees. The challenges associated with drug shortages in health systems, particularly in public health facilities, and the consequent multiple adverse effects on patients and the health systems have led countries to continue to explore and implement different strategies to combat this challenge. Various factors implicated in drug shortages range from manufacturing concerns, demand issues, supply chain disruptions and regulatory issues. The effects of drug shortages in health systems range from poor patient compliance and therapeutic failure to antimicrobial resistance, low morale among healthcare workers and public distrust in government services. Furthermore, the effects of drug shortages in public health facilities include unavailability of drugs to patients, hospitalisation and readmissions, and associated costs that could be avoided, high out-of-pocket expenditures suffered by patients as patients resort to buying drugs from private pharmacies where the prices are usually exorbitant and prohibitive, putting patients at risk of treatment default due to lack of affordability. Successful mitigation strategies deployed to prevent and manage drug shortages in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain unshared despite the potential of these strategies to serve as valuable lessons if the evidence is scientifically synthesised and reported. The scoping review will synthesise evidence to provide policy guidance for better planning of health services and resources, resulting in improved quality of life for citizens, underscoring the importance of functional and responsive health systems.

Methods and analysis
Using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology, a five-stage review is outlined: (1) determining the research question, (2) search strategy, (3) inclusion criteria, (4) data extraction and (5) analysis and presentation of the results. The literature search will use PubMed, SCOPUS and the Elsevier Science Direct search interfaces, reflecting empirical and grey literature. We will focus on literature published between 2000 and 2025. The study start and end dates are 1 September–30 November 2025. A two-stage screening process will be used to determine the eligibility of articles. All articles will be individually assessed for eligibility by two reviewers, while a third reviewer will resolve any disagreements. The data from eligible articles will be extracted and charted using a standardised form. Extracted data will be analysed using narrative and descriptive analyses.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required for this scoping review as it will use only previously published data. It does not require human participation. The results of this search will be disseminated through academic presentations at conferences and peer-reviewed publications.

Background
The gut microbiome and diet are important factors in the pathogenesis and management of Crohn’s disease (CD). However, the role of the gut phageome under dietary influences is unknown.

Objective
We aim to explore the effect of diet on the gut phageome-bacteriome interaction linking to CD protection.

Design
We recruited CD patients and healthy subjects (n=140) and conducted a multiomics investigation, including paired ileal mucosa phageome and bacteriome profiling, dietary survey and phenome interrogation. We screened for the effect of diet on the gut phageome and bacteriome, as well as its epidemiological association with CD risks. The underlying mechanisms were explored in target phage-bacteria monocultures and cocultures in vitro and in two mouse models in vivo.

Results
On dietary screening in humans, whey protein (WP) consumption was found to profoundly impact the gut phageome and bacteriome (more pronounced on the phageome) and was associated with a lower CD risk. Indeed, the WP reshaped gut phageome can causally attenuate intestinal inflammation, as shown by faecal phageome versus bacteriome transplantation from WP-consuming versus WP-non-consuming mice to recipient mice. Mechanistically, WP induced phage (a newly isolated phage AkkZT003P herein) lysis of the mucin-foraging bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, which unleashed the symbiotic bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus to counteract intestinal inflammation.

Conclusion
Our study charted the importance of cross-kingdom interaction between gut phage and bacteria in mediating the dietary effect on CD protection. Importantly, we uncovered a beneficial dietary WP, a keystone phage AkkZT003P, and a probiotic S. thermophilus that can be used in CD management in the future.

Objectives
Cancer patients often experience psychological distress, while optimism has been identified as a protective factor. However, the mental health of postradiotherapy cancer survivors and its association with optimism remain largely unexplored. This study assesses the mental health status and optimism levels of postradiotherapy cancer survivors and evaluates their associations.

Design
Cross-sectional survey study.

Participants
114 Hong Kong cancer survivors who (1) were aged 18 years or above and (2) had received radiotherapy for their cancer treatment and finished the radiotherapy within the previous 3 years (2021–2024).

Outcome measures
Mental health was assessed using the Chinese Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and optimism was measured using the Revised Life Orientation Test. Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the associations between these measures.

Results
Participants reported overall low optimism with mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress. Strong negative correlations were identified between optimism and depression (r=–0.833, p

Introduction
Primary dysmenorrhoea (PD) is the most common gynaecological condition among young women and is associated with significant socioeconomic repercussions. It is unclear which works best for pain relief when pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are compared. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) will aim to compare and rank the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in patients with PD.

Methods and analysis
Randomised controlled trials of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for PD will be identified via a search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus database and Google Scholar search engine until September 2025. The primary outcome will be a change in pain intensity among patients with PD, while the secondary outcomes include health-related quality of life, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and treatment-related adverse events. Two independent reviewers will perform document screening, study selection and data extraction. The methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (V.2). The RevMan, Stata and Aggregate Data Drug Information System software will be used to perform a pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian NMA in a random-effects model. The certainty of the evidence will be rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation System.

Ethics and dissemination
This systematic review protocol is exempt from ethical approval as it involves analysis of previously published data. The findings of this review will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals.

Trial Registration number
CRD42024543573.

Objectives
The aim of this scoping review was to map the nature and extent of the existing literature on mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers in disaster contexts. The study also explored how the interventions were evaluated.

Design
The methodology of this scoping review followed the extended guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews.

Data sources
Five academic bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCOhost and Google Scholar), grey literature websites (Google Scholar, ProQuest, Policy Commons, etc.) and relevant organisational archives were systematically searched for eligible documents.

Eligibility criteria
Both peer-reviewed and grey literature studies on mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers in the context of any type of disaster were eligible for inclusion. Research papers that evaluated any such intervention were also included. Documents that targeted professional humanitarian workers or explored physical health conditions or diseases in disaster contexts, letters to the editor, comments, correspondence and research protocols were excluded. There were no restrictions in terms of the date and language of the documents.

Data extraction and synthesis
A systematic search of the targeted databases was conducted from 12 May 2025 to 20 May 2025. Deduplication, screening and full-text evaluation for the selection of documents were done using the online version of Rayyan. Data were collected and recorded into a structured Microsoft Excel sheet. Two researchers individually conducted the selection of the articles and the extraction of data. A third researcher helped to resolve any discrepancies if required.

Results
A total of 2627 documents were retrieved by searching the targeted databases and websites. After matching them with the eligibility criteria, 20 documents were included in the final list. 14 of them were research papers; the rest was organisational literature. All the papers were from 2006 and later, except one that was from 1998. No documents were found from the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan regions. 10 broad categories of interventions were identified, which were either implemented in the field or suggested in the form of guidelines. Most of the interventions were postexposure and preventive in nature. Psychological first aid was the most widely used intervention in this context, being used by the national societies of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Nine of the documents were research papers evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions using different scales and customised questionnaires. Four of them did not observe any notable effect on the mental health of the participants.

Conclusions
Over the past two decades, the evidence on mental health interventions for humanitarian volunteers has grown. The reviewed literature documented various interventions and guidelines that need further study and testing to both prove and improve their effectiveness. Organisational policies could incorporate and further evaluate these to ensure the psychosocial well-being of volunteers. A review of research papers on intervention effectiveness found heterogeneity in settings, designs, interventions and methods, precluding a systematic review. More research is needed on individual interventions, volunteer perceptions and comparing interventions to identify the most effective ones. Additionally, comparing pre-exposure and postexposure interventions with multimodal systems that support volunteers throughout deployment is recommended.

Objectives
To evaluate the association between left atrial appendage volume (LAAV) and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA) and explore the potential mechanism.

Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources
PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically from inception through 28 September 2024 to identify relevant studies.

Eligibility criteria
Observational studies that estimated the association between LAAV and AF recurrence.

Data extraction and synthesis
Two independent investigators screened studies for inclusion and extracted data. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane Q-test and I², with p 50% indicating significant heterogeneity. This study used a random-effects model to account for potential heterogeneity. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I tool) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Publication bias was examined through funnel plots and Egger’s test.

Result
Seventeen studies (3078 patients) were included. Meta-analysis of 11 studies suggested that LAAV was significantly associated with the risk of AF recurrence in both univariate (HR 1.06, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.08, p

Introduction
There is a need for early, non-invasive and inexpensive biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which could serve as a proxy measure in prevention and intervention trials that might eventually be suitable for mass screening. People with Down syndrome (DS) are the largest patient group whose condition is associated with a genetically determined increased risk of AD. The REVEAL study aims to examine changes in the structure and function of the eye in individuals with DS compared with those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively healthy control (HC) individuals. REVEAL will also explore whether these changes are connected to inflammatory markers previously associated with AD.

Methods and analysis
The protocol describes a cross-sectional, non-interventional, single-centre study recruiting three cohorts, including (1) participants with DS (target n=50; age range, 6–60 years), (2) participants with MCI (target n=50; age range, 50–80 years) and (3) HC participants (target n=50; age range, 50–80 years). The primary research objective is to profile retinal, choroidal and lenticular status using a variety of eye imaging modalities and retinal functional testing to determine potential associations with cognitive status. The REVEAL study will also measure and compare established blood markers for AD and proteomic and transcriptomic marker profiles between DS, MCI and HC groups. Between-group differences will be assessed with an independent sample t-test and 2 tests for normally distributed or binary measures, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis will be used to analyse parameters across all three cohorts. Data collection began in October 2023 and is expected to end in October 2025.

Ethics and dissemination
The study gained a favourable opinion from Health and Social Care Research Ethics Committee A (REC reference 22/NI/0158; approved on 2 December 2022; Amendment 22/0064 Amend 1, 5 April 2023; Amendment 22/0064 Amend 2; 23 May 2024; Amendment 22/0064 Amend 3; 25 June 2024; Amendment 22/0064 Amend 4; 16 January 2025; Amendment 22.0064 Amend 5; 9 May 2025; Amendment 22.0064 Amend 6; 9 June 2025). The study has also been reviewed and approved by the School of Biomedical Sciences Research Ethics Filter Committee within Ulster University. Findings from the REVEAL study will be presented to academic audiences at international conferences and peer-reviewed publications in targeted high-impact journals after data collection and analysis are complete. Dissemination activities will also include presentations at public events.

Objectives
To review the available evidence of screening for atherosclerosis in adults in a primary prevention setting with coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) on the impact on cardiovascular (CV) risk factor control, health behaviour and clinical events.

Design
Systematic review, reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data sources
We searched MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials through 22 January 2025.

Eligibility criteria
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohorts, without language restrictions, comparing adults without cardiovascular diseases undergoing CACS to a control group that either did not undergo CACS or where the participants and physicians were blinded to its result. Outcomes included changes in CV risk factor control, CV therapy, changes in health behaviour at follow-up and clinical events (all-cause and CV mortality and non-fatal CV events).

Data extraction and synthesis
Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Due to substantial heterogeneity among the included studies, a quantitative analysis was not possible.

Results
We identified seven RCTs and one observational study, with participants ranging from 56 to 43 447 with a total of 51 554. Populations were heterogeneous with a mean age range of 42–64 years, % women ranging from 21% to 100% and mean baseline CACS from 1.37 to >100 Agatston units. Interventions following CACS were also heterogeneous, ranging from simply communicating results to participants to initiating statin therapy for detectable CACS. One RCT demonstrated improvement regarding blood pressure (BP) (n=2137; change in systolic BP: CACS: –5 mm Hg; control: –7 mm Hg; p=0.02), several an improvement in blood lipids between groups (five studies, n=3693; eg, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: range –6.0 to –4.9 mg/dL). Results regarding CV medication (seven studies, n=51 104) were more discrepant, with some studies showing a decrease and others an increase in indication for or usage of CV medication. Three trials (n=3338) investigated adherence to CV medication, with only one showing increased adherence to statins (CACS: 63.3%; control: 45.6%; p=0.03). Five trials (n=3692) investigated behavioural changes, with one showing an increased motivation to change lifestyle (CACS: 94%; control: 62.8%; p=0.002) and another a higher adherence in self-reported physical activity (CACS: 96%; control: 59%; p

Introduction
Transporting critically ill patients between medical facilities can be hazardous and costly. Whether by road, fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter, many professional associations have proposed strategies to efficiently and safely transport patients at high risk of instability. Although these strategies have been assessed in some studies, no comprehensive synthesis of their benefits has been conducted to date. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of strategies to improve the safety and costs of interhospital transports for critically ill patients.

Methods and analysis
We will conduct a systematic review according to the Cochrane guidelines. The review will include randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies and case-control studies assessing the effect of interventions to improve interhospital transports of critically ill patients on safety and costs. We will search multiple electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) from inception to 6 months prior to the submission of the final manuscript. Screening by title and abstract, full-text screening, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed by two independent reviewers. We will assess the risk of bias with the Cochrane revised tool for RCTs and with the risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions tool. If possible, we will calculate pooled effect estimates and 95% CIs to assess the effect of the interventions. We will also assess heterogeneity using the I2 index and rate the certainty of evidence with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool and trial sequential analysis.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval is not required for this review. The results of this systematic review will be shared through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, conference presentations and our network of knowledge user collaborators.

PROSPERO registration number
International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024595080).

Una goccia di sangue, raccolta nelle prime 72 ore di vita, può fare la differenza tra una diagnosi precoce e un destino segnato. Lo screening neonatale esteso (Sne), reso obbligatorio…

Introduction
Social accountability is a key value and aspirational goal of many medical institutions. While much has been studied on social accountability in the context of medical education and institutions, less research has examined how social accountability influences research. In light of this absence, the objective of our scoping review is to research the following questions: (1) What characterises socially accountable research (SAR), and how is it expressed and experienced? (2) How do language, positionality, and worldview influence SAR?, and (3) What structures and considerations are necessary to support successful SAR in local and global contexts?

Methods and analysis
To answer the above research questions, the Arksey and O’Malley, Levac et al, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines will be followed. The search strategy was adapted and applied to MEDLINE, Embase, ERIC, and CINAHL databases. A total of n=5289 eligible articles were identified. Articles were excluded if they were published before 1995, were in a language other than English, or were duplicates, leaving n=2840 articles for title/abstract screening.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval is not required to complete this study. We will take an integrated knowledge translation approach. Throughout the project, results will be disseminated to knowledge users (ie, consultations, following Arksey and O’Malley). Our findings will be presented to the larger academic community, policymakers, and healthcare practitioners through presentations, reports, newsletters, and an online repository.

Trial registration number
Open Science Framework 16 July 2024. osf.io/mvhnu.

Verificato in un asilo nido, esami sui bimbi e sugli operatori

Objective
To examine the association between behavioural risk factors and their physiological sequelae among adults aged 40 and above in Bo District, Sierra Leone.

Design
Cross-sectional study.

Setting
Household survey in Bo District, Sierra Leone.

Participants
The study included 1978 randomly sampled adults aged 40 and above (44.4% male and 55.6% female). The majority of participants were aged 40–49 years (34.5%). Data were collected using a household survey based on the validated WHO STEPs questionnaire.

Methods
Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine associations between behavioural risk factors (diet, physical activity and salt intake) and the presence of hypertension, diabetes and/or obesity, adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Primary outcome measure
The primary outcomes were the presence of hypertension, diabetes or overweight/obesity. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 (measured); diabetes as fasting glucose of ≥7.0 mmol/L, random plasma glucose level of ≥11.1 mmol/L or the use of antidiabetic medications (self-reported) and overweight/obesity as having a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m² (measured).

Results
At least one physiological risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, that is, hypertension, obesity or diabetes, was present in 43.5% of participants. Hypertension was associated with urban living (OR=1.46, 95% CI (1.41 to 1.51)), older age (OR for 80+=3.98, 95% CI (3.70 to 4.28)), insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (OR=1.52, 95% CI (1.46 to 1.60)) and low physical activity (OR=1.35, 95% CI (1.27 to 1.43)). Diabetes was associated with urban residence (OR=1.84, 95% CI (1.66 to 2.05)), older age (OR for 70–79=3.82, 95% CI (3.28 to 4.45)), low fruit and vegetable consumption (OR=1.61, 95% CI (1.36 to 1.90)), high salt intake (OR=1.34, 95% CI (1.21 to 1.49)) and low physical activity (OR=1.47, 95% CI (1.26 to 1.71)). Obesity was associated with urban living (OR=1.66, 95% CI (1.59 to 1.72)), high salt intake from two or more sources (OR=1.21, 95% CI (1.17 to 1.25)) and low physical activity (OR=1.30, 95% CI (1.22 to 1.39)). Male sex (OR=0.37, 95% CI (0.36 to 0.38)) and older age (OR for 80+=0.39, 95% CI (0.35 to 0.43)) were protective factors.

Conclusions
In Bo District, nearly half of adults over 40 face hypertension, diabetes or obesity, especially urban dwellers, older age groups and those eating too few fruits and vegetables, consuming excess salt and getting little exercise. Public health efforts should focus on urban-targeted nutrition education, salt-reduction strategies, community exercise programmes and routine blood pressure and glucose screening, working with local leaders to ensure sustainable lifestyle changes and early disease detection.