Bmc Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Individualised computerised cognitive training (iCCT) for community-dwelling people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI): results on cognition in the 6-month intervention period of a randomised controlled trial (MCI-CCT study).
Computerised cognitive training (CCT) can improve the cognitive abilities of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially when the CCT contains a learning system, which is a type of machine learning (ML) that automatically selects exercises at a difficulty that corresponds to the person's peak performance and thus enables individualised training. ⋯ By using a multi-tasking CCT three times a week for 30 min, people with MCI living at home can significantly improve their cognitive abilities within 6 months. The use of ML significantly increases the effectiveness of cognitive training and improves user satisfaction.
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Meta Analysis
The associations of post-stroke delirium with outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Published data on whether post-stroke delirium (PSD) is an independent predictor of outcomes in patients with acute stroke are inconsistent and have not yet been synthesized and quantified via meta-analyses. ⋯ This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence that PSD was independently associated with mortality and poor neurological function after controlling for pre-specified confounders. The prevention of PSD remains a high clinical and research priority.
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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant public health concern, yet there is no internationally agreed set of diagnostic criteria or summary of underlying evidence to inform diagnostic decision-making. This systematic review assesses associations of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and outcomes of diagnostic assessments, providing an evidence base for the improvement of FASD diagnostic criteria. ⋯ PROSPERO: CRD42021230522.
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Drug target Mendelian randomization describes the use of genetic variants as instrumental variables for studying the effects of pharmacological agents. The paradigm can be used to inform on all aspects of drug development and has become increasingly popular over the last decade, particularly given the time- and cost-efficiency with which it can be performed even before commencing clinical studies. ⋯ Drug target Mendelian randomization is nuanced and requires a combination of biological, statistical, genetic, epidemiological, clinical, and pharmaceutical expertise to be utilized to its full potential. Unfortunately, these skillsets are relatively infrequently combined in any given study.
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Understanding the frequency of violence experienced by female sex workers (FSWs) and how violence contributes to HIV transmission can help improve HIV programs. ⋯ FSWs in Mombasa experience violence frequently. In this population, we find that addressing sexual violence, including mitigating the effects of past violence, is potentially important in reducing HIV transmission in this population. However, the wide uncertainty range shows longitudinal studies are needed to strengthen the evidence of the influence of violence on HIV risk behavior. We find that the recommendations for modelling structural factors provide a useful framework for describing the model.