Bmc Med
-
Meta Analysis
The normality assumption on between-study random effects was questionable in a considerable number of Cochrane meta-analyses.
Studies included in a meta-analysis are often heterogeneous. The traditional random-effects models assume their true effects to follow a normal distribution, while it is unclear if this critical assumption is practical. Violations of this between-study normality assumption could lead to problematic meta-analytical conclusions. We aimed to empirically examine if this assumption is valid in published meta-analyses. ⋯ The between-study normality assumption is commonly violated in Cochrane meta-analyses. This assumption should be routinely assessed when performing a meta-analysis. When it may not hold, alternative meta-analysis methods that do not make this assumption should be considered.
-
Emerging data suggests the neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of glucosamine. We aimed to examine the association between regular glucosamine use and risk of incident dementia, including dementia subtypes. ⋯ The findings of this large-scale cohort and MR analysis provide evidence for potential causal associations between the glucosamine use and lower risk for dementia. These findings require further validation through randomized controlled trials.
-
Previous studies have suggested that gestational weight gain (GWG) outside an optimal range increases the risks of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The sequential development of the fetal brain suggests that its vulnerability may vary depending on the timing of exposure. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations of not only gestational age-standardized total GWG (GWG z-scores) but also the rate of GWG (RGWG) in the second and third trimesters with risks of NDDs in offspring. ⋯ The relationship between maternal weight gain and children's risk of NDDs varied according to timing in pregnancy, with the greatest risks associated with slow weight gain in the second trimester and rapid weight gain in the third trimester.
-
With today's pace of rapid technological advancement, many patient issues in modern medicine are increasingly solvable by mobile app solutions, which also have the potential to transform how clinical research is conducted. However, many critical challenges in the app development process impede bringing these translational technologies to patients, caused in large part by the lack of knowledge among clinicians and biomedical researchers of "what it takes" to design, develop, and maintain a successful medical app. ⋯ In this report, we discuss major misconceptions clinicians and biomedical researchers often hold regarding medical app development, the steps we took to establish this unit to address these issues and the best practices and lessons learned from successfully ideating, developing, and launching medical apps. Overall, this report will serve as a blueprint for clinicians and biomedical researchers looking to better benefit their patients or colleagues via medical mobile apps.