67 research outputs found
The intersections of industry with the health research enterprise
No full textThere is increased awareness of the negative impact of large multinational corporations - the 'industry' - on public health. These corporations have established different types of relationships with a number of actors in the field of health research. This Commentary explores the different types of relationships between the industry and the actors of health research, how they intersect with the different research steps, and how these relationships allow the industry to exert influence. The types of relationships discussed consist of funding of research, direct relationships with the actors of research (namely advocacy groups, funding agencies, experts, professional organisations, regulatory agencies and health practitioners), and the influencing research standards. The potentially influenced research steps either precede the research (i.e. the prioritisation of research question), relate to it directly (i.e. its planning, conduct, reporting, dissemination and evaluation), or build on it (i.e. regulatory approval, integration into guidelines and adoption into practice). In conclusion, the industry has successfully fostered relationships with almost every actor of the health research enterprise and is using these relationships to influence the different steps of health research. The degree of influence the industry is having on health research calls for more work on managing the relationships discussed herein. © 2019 The Author(s)
NAT1 genotypic and phenotypic contribution to urinary bladder cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textN-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1), a polymorphic Phase II enzyme, plays an essential role in metabolizing heterocyclic and aromatic amines, which are implicated in urinary bladder cancer (BCa). This systematic review investigates a possible association between the different NAT1 genetic polymorphisms and BCa risk. Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, OpenGrey, and BASE databases were searched to identify eligible studies. The random-effect model was used to calculate pooled effects estimates. Statistical heterogeneity was tested with Chi-square and I2. Twenty case-control studies, including 5606 cases and 6620 controls, met the inclusion criteria. Pooled odds ratios (OR) analyses showed a statistically significant difference in NAT1*10 versus non-NAT1*10 acetylators in the total sample (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.79–0.96) but was borderline among Caucasians (OR: 0.88 with 95% CI: 0.77–1.01). No statistically significant differences in BCa risk were found for: NAT1*10 versus NAT1*4 wild type (OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.78–1.19), NAT1 ‘Fast’ versus ‘Normal’ acetylators (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.84–1.27), and NAT1 ‘Slow’ versus ‘Fast’ (OR: 2.32; 95% CI: 0.93–5.84) or ‘Slow’ versus ‘Normal’ acetylators (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 0.92–3.68). When stratifying by smoking status, no statistically significant differences in BCa risk were found for NAT1*10 versus non-NAT1*10 acetylators among the different subgroups. Our study suggests a modest protective role for NAT1*10 and a possible risk contributory role for slow acetylation genotypes in BCa risk. Further research is recommended to confirm these associations. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Determinants of poor cognitive function using A-IQCODE among Lebanese older adults: a cross-sectional study
No full textIntroduction: Dementia characterized by gradual cognitive decline is an increasing public health problem due to population ageing. This study aims at assessing the prevalence and determinants of cognitive decline among Lebanese older adults. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional sample of 502 elders from two Lebanese governorates was conducted. Cognitive decline was assessed using the Arabic Version of 16-item Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline for the older adults (A-IQCODE 16). A multivariable logistic regression model assessed the associations of socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral factors with the presence of cognitive decline. Results: Almost one of six Lebanese older adults (14.8%) scored below 3.34. Higher odds of cognitive decline were associated with higher age, being female, having heart disease and suffering from depression. Pack-years of cigarette smoking showed a protective effect and this relationship seems to be only statistically significant among older adults aged more than 75 years. Conclusions: Screening programs of cardiovascular risk factors and early detection of depression are ‘best buy’ public health interventions that could prevent cognitive decline among Lebanese older adults. Differential survival bias seems the reasonable explanation for the protective effect of smoking that is not the common finding from the literature. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
AgandCuloadedonTiO2/graphite as a catalyst for �Escherichia coli- contaminated water disinfection
No full textTiO2 film was synthesized by means of the chemical bath deposition (CBD) method from TiCl4
as a precursor and surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a linking and assem-
bling agent of the titanium hydroxide network on a graphite substrate. Ag and Cu were loaded
on the TiO2 film by means of electrodeposition at various applied currents. Photoelectrochemical
testing on the composite of Ag–TiO2/G and Cu–TiO2/G was used to define the composite for
Escherichia coli-contaminated water disinfection. Disinfection efficiency and the rate of disinfection
of E. coli-contaminated water with Ag–TiO2/G as a catalyst was higher than that observed for
Cu–TiO2/G in all disinfection methods including photocatalysis (PC), electrocatalysis (EC), and
photoelectrocatalysis (PEC). The highest rate constant was achieved by the PEC method using
Ag–TiO2/G, k was 6.49 × 10−2
CFU mL−1
min−1
. Effective disinfection times of 24 h (EDT24)
and 48 h (EDT48) were achieved in all methods except the EC method using Cu–TiO2/G.
Keywords: Ag–TiO2/G, Cu–TiO2/G, Escherichia coli, disinfectio
Determinants of poor cognitive function using A-IQCODE among Lebanese older adults: a cross-sectional study
No full textIbrahim Bou-Orm - ORCID: 0000-0003-3563-4014 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3563-4014Item is not available in this repository.Introduction: Dementia characterized by gradual cognitive decline is an increasing public health problem due to population ageing. This study aims at assessing the prevalence and determinants of cognitive decline among Lebanese older adults.
Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional sample of 502 elders from two Lebanese governorates was conducted. Cognitive decline was assessed using the Arabic Version of 16-item Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline for the older adults (A-IQCODE 16). A multivariable logistic regression model assessed the associations of socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral factors with the presence of cognitive decline.
Results: Almost one of six Lebanese older adults (14.8%) scored below 3.34. Higher odds of cognitive decline were associated with higher age, being female, having heart disease and suffering from depression. Pack-years of cigarette smoking showed a protective effect and this relationship seems to be only statistically significant among older adults aged more than 75 years.
Conclusions: Screening programs of cardiovascular risk factors and early detection of depression are ‘best buy’ public health interventions that could prevent cognitive decline among Lebanese older adults. Differential survival bias seems the reasonable explanation for the protective effect of smoking that is not the common finding from the literature.https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2017.130187922pubpub
Authorship in reports of clinical practice guidelines: A systematic cross-sectional analysis
No full textBackground: A transparent and explicit reporting on authors’ contributions to the development of clinical practice guidelines and on panelists’ characteristics is essential for their credibility and trustworthiness. We did not find published studies on authorship or panel involvement in clinical practice guidelines. Objective: To describe the approach to authorship in reports of clinical practice guidelines, and the characteristics of individual authors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of guidelines listed in the National Guideline Clearing House (NGC) in 2016. We abstracted data on the general characteristics of the guidelines, report approach to authorship, and individual authors characteristics. Data abstraction was in duplicate and independent manner using standardised form. Data analyses were both descriptive and regression analyses. Results: Overall, 139 eligible guidelines with published papers were identified. Of these, 48 (35%) included a group authorship statement in the author byline. A third of these guidelines (n = 45; 32%) reported on authors’ contributions, while about half of the guidelines (n = 74; 53%) reported who of the authors served as panel members. Around one-fifth of the guidelines (n = 30; 22%) reported group membership (eg, content expert, patient representative) for at least 1 author. Less than one-seventh of the eligible guidelines indicated who selected the panel members (n = 18; 13%), reported the types of panel members (n = 18; 13%) or the selection criteria (n = 12; 9%). Higher journal impact factor was associated with both “reporting of the author contributions” (OR = 1.07) and “the inclusion of a panel membership section in the guideline report” (OR = 1.21). Conclusion: Low percentages of clinical practice guidelines report information on important aspects of authorship and characteristics of individual authors. Better reporting of some of these criteria was associated with journal impact factor. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Lt
De metamorfose van de Coolsingel, of de weldadige kaalslag van de stad
No full textExplore Lab 7architectureArchitectur
Transvenous versus subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillators for people at risk of sudden cardiac death
No full textObjectives: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:. To evaluate the benefits and harms of using a transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (TV-ICD) compared to a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. Copyright © 2020 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Cochrane corner: implantable cardiac defibrillators for patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy
No full textLong Term Weight Loss Diets and Obesity Indices: Results of a Network Meta-Analysis
No full textBackground: Scientists have been investigating efficient interventions to prevent and manage obesity. This network meta-analysis (NMA) compared the effect of different diets [moderate macronutrients (MMs), low fat/high carbohydrate (LFHC), high fat/low carbohydrate (HFLC), and usual diet (UD)] on weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) changes at ≥12 months. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, PubMed databases, and the Cochrane Library. We systematically assessed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating dietary interventions on adults (mean BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) receiving active dietary counseling for ≥12 months. We pooled the data using a random-effect NMA. We assessed the quality of the included RCTs using the Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) tool. Results: We included 36 trials, 14 of which compared HFLC with MM diets. Compared with UD, all diets were associated with a significant weight loss (WL) at ≥12 months, HFLC [mean difference in kg (95% CI): −5.5 (−7.6; −3.4)], LFHC [−5.0 (−7.1; −2.9)] and MM [−4.7 (−6.8; −2.7)]. HFLC, compared with MM diet, was associated with a slightly higher WL (of −0.77 kg) and drop in BMI (of −0.36 kg/m2), while no significant difference was detected in other dietary comparisons. WC was lower with all diets compared to UD, with no significant difference across specific diets. There was no significant interaction of the results with the pre-specified sub-groups. The ROB was moderate to high, mostly related to unclear allocation concealment, high dropout rate and unclear or lack of blinding of participants, providers, and outcome assessors. Conclusion: Dietary interventions extending over ≥12 months are superior to UD in inducing weight, BMI and WC loss. HFLC might be associated with a slightly higher WL compared with MM diets. Systematic Trial Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=103116, PROSPERO (CRD42018103116). Copyright © 2022 Jabbour, Rihawi, Khamis, Ghamlouche, Tabban, Safadi, Hammad, Hadla, Zeidan, Andari, Azar, Nasser and Chakhtoura
- …
