Brit J Hosp Med
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Meta Analysis
The Effect of Probiotics on Obesity with Comorbid Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Aims/Background Obesity and depression frequently co-occur, and the relationship between them is bidirectional. Being obese or overweight increases the risk of depression, and conversely, depression increases the risk of obesity or overweight. Emerging clinical research has shown that probiotics may be effective in treating obesity and associated depression. ⋯ Conclusion Overall, probiotics did not improve depressive symptoms in obesity. However, beneficial effects were observed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and short-term use of probiotic. Additional rigorous randomized controlled trials are warranted to elucidate the therapeutic potential of probiotics for obesity-related depression.
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Coeliac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that affects nearly 1% of the general population. Current diagnostic strategies involve active case finding, serological tests, and endoscopy with biopsies. However, many patients with coeliac disease remain undiagnosed due to a wide gap between clinical guidelines and real-world practice in the diagnosis of adult coeliac disease. This highlights the need for increased education, training, and targeted quality-improvement interventions to optimise the diagnosis of coeliac disease.
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Spontaneous pneumothorax is an increasingly common clinical presentation, the management of which, until recent years, had remained unchanged for decades. A recent surge in pneumothorax research has produced the largest randomised controlled trials in the field yet and has revolutionised the management of spontaneous pneumothorax. ⋯ In this review, we discuss recent advances in the management of pneumothorax and the evidence underpinning contemporary guidelines. We aim to equip physicians with the knowledge to engage their patients in the decision-making process regarding their pneumothorax, whilst keeping patient safety and patients' own preferences at the centre of their care.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Training for Dental Students: Step-by-Step or All-in-One?
Aims/Background For inexperienced dental students, impacted wisdom tooth extraction is a complex procedure involving a series of intricate steps. This study compared the effectiveness of step-by-step and all-in-one teaching methods for dental students learning impacted wisdom tooth extraction, by evaluating their practical abilities, understanding, and learning satisfaction. Methods Fifty dental students were randomly assigned to either a step-by-step teaching group (Group S) or an all-in-one teaching group (Group A) for impacted wisdom tooth extraction training. ⋯ The results also showed that satisfaction toward hands-on practice and teaching sessions significantly contributed to general satisfaction, while satisfaction with mastery of clinical skills did not. Conclusion The step-by-step teaching method was more effective in improving students' clinical skills and augmenting their satisfaction during impacted wisdom tooth extraction training. Our findings support the use of incremental learning approaches in dental education to enhance both clinical competencies and students' learning experiences.
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Kawasaki disease (KD), which is also known as cutaneous mucosal lymph node syndrome, is an acute, self-limiting, necrotizing vasculitis with unclear cause that primarily affects small- and medium-sized blood vessels and most commonly affects children aged 6 months to 5 years. Currently, diagnosis is based primarily on typical clinical symptoms. ⋯ After a series of clinical laboratory and imaging examinations and marked improvement of symptoms after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), IKD was considered as the diagnosis. When children present with jaundice and fever, physicians should consider KD as a possible diagnosis to ensure early detection and treatment of the disease.