The COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying infection control measures introduced significant disruptions to the routines of many higher education students around the world. It also deprived them of in-person counselling services and social support. These changes have put students at a greater risk of developing mental illness. The objective of this review is to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances in higher education students during the pandemic. A systematic search of English and Chinese databases was conducted current to January 1st, 2021. The quality of included studies was evaluated using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Eighty-nine studies (n=1,441,828) were included. The pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and sleep disturbances was 34%, 32% and 33%, respectively. The prevalence values differ based on geographical regions, diagnostic criteria, education level, undergraduate year of study, financial situation, living arrangements and gender. Overall, the prevalence of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms synthesized in this study was higher compared to pre-pandemic prevalence in similar populations. Evidently, mental health screening and intervention should be a top priority for universities and colleges during the pandemic.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbance in higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Nanotechnology has been actively integrated as drug carriers over the last few years to treat various cancers. The main hurdle in the clinical management of cancer is the development of multidrug resistance against chemotherapeutic agents. To overcome the limitations of chemotherapy, the researchers have been developing technological advances for significant progress in the oncotherapy by enabling the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents at increased drug content levels to the targeted spots. Several nano-drug delivery systems designed for tumor-targeting are evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials and showed promising outcomes in cancerous tumors' clinical management. This review describes nanocarrier's importance in managing different types of cancers and emphasizing nanocarriers for drug delivery and cancer nanotherapeutics. It also highlights the recent advances in nanocarriers-based delivery systems, including polymeric nanocarriers, micelles, nanotubes, dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and quantum dots (QDs). The nanocarrier-based composites are discussed in terms of their structure, characteristics, and therapeutic applications in oncology. To conclude, the challenges and future exploration opportunities of nanocarriers in chemotherapeutics are also presented.

/pdf/nanocarriers-mediated-drug-delivery-systems-for-anticancer-1t6u71gmfh.pdf

Nanocarriers-Mediated Drug Delivery Systems for Anticancer Agents: An Overview and Perspectives.

Few studies on gynaecological problems of young females in Arab countries were published. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and predictors of its pain among university students in Palestine. A cross – sectional study was carried out on a randomly selected sample of An-Najah National University female students. A pre-designed questionnaire, which included questions regarding menstrual cycle, pain during menstruation, life style, nutritional habits, and symptoms associated with menstrual pain, was used. Pain intensity was measured using visual analogue scale. A total of 956 female students were involved in the study. Of the total study sample, 846 (85.1%) reported having pain during menstruation; i.e. dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea was significantly [(p = 0.027); OR = 1.5, 95% CI (1.05–2.19)] associated with age at menarche. The mean score of pain among dysmenorrhic females was 6.79 ± 2.64. The majority (654; 80.34%) of dysmenorrhic females reported having moderate/ severe pain. Univariate analysis using Chi-square test for factors associated with moderate/severe pain among dysmenorrhic females were irregular cycle [(p = 0.015); OR = 1.57, 95% CI = (1.09–2.30)], skipping breakfast [(p < 0.001); OR = 1.93, 95% CI = (1.33–2.79)], academic specialization [(p = 0.03; OR = 2.2, 95% CI = (1.21–3.98)] for medical specialization with reference to students in humanities), high stress level [(p = 0.036; OR = 1.53, 95% CI = (1.03–2.28)], and living in dormitories [(p = 0.034); OR = 1.72, 95% CI = (1.04–2.86)]. Multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression enter method showed that medical specialization [(p = 0.045); OR = 1.92, 95% CI = (1.02–3.64)] for medical students with reference to students in humanities), skipping breakfast [(p = 0.001); OR = 1.96, 95% CI = (1.35–2.86)], and irregular cycle [(p = 0.022); OR = 1.56, 95% CI = (1.07–2.29)] were the only significant predictors of moderate/severe dysmenorrhic pain. There is a high proportion of dysmenorrhea among Palestinian female university students. Skipping breakfast was the strongest predictor for moderate/severe dysmenorrhea. Increased awareness regarding factors that might influence the intensity of dysmenorrhic pain is needed.

/pdf/prevalence-of-dysmenorrhea-and-predictors-of-its-pain-2upgtuym2f.pdf

Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and predictors of its pain intensity among Palestinian female university students

BACKGROUND
Infant massage is increasingly being used in the community with babies and their primary caregivers. Anecdotal reports suggest benefits for sleep, respiration and elimination, the reduction of colic and wind, and improved growth. Infant massage is also thought to reduce infant stress and promote positive parent-infant interaction.


OBJECTIVES
The aim of this review was to assess whether infant massage is effective in promoting infant physical and mental health in low-risk, population samples.


SEARCH METHODS
Relevant studies were identified by searching the following electronic databases up to June 2011: CENTRAL; MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; PsycINFO; Maternity and Infant Care; LILACS; WorldCat (dissertations); ClinicalTrials.gov; China Masters' Theses; China Academic Journals; China Doctoral Dissertations; China Proceedings of Conference. We also searched the reference lists of relevant studies and reviews.


SELECTION CRITERIA
We included studies that randomised healthy parent-infant dyads (where the infant was under the age of six months) to an infant massage group or a 'no-treatment' control group. Studies had to have used a standardised outcome measure of infant mental or physical development.


DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Mean differences (MD) and standardised mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are presented. Where appropriate, the results have been combined in a meta-analysis using a random-effects model.


MAIN RESULTS
We included 34 studies, which includes one that was a follow-up study and 20 that were rated as being at high risk of bias.We conducted 14 meta-analyses assessing physical outcomes post-intervention. Nine meta-analyses showed significant findings favouring the intervention group for weight (MD -965.25 g; 95% CI -1360.52 to -569.98), length (MD -1.30 cm; 95% CI -1.60 to -1.00), head circumference (MD -0.81 cm; 95% CI -1.18 to -0.45), arm circumference (MD -0.47 cm; 95% CI -0.80 to -0.13), leg circumference (MD -0.31 cm; 95% CI -0.49 to -0.13), 24-hour sleep duration (MD -0.91 hr; 95% CI -1.51 to -0.30), time spent crying/fussing (MD -0.36; 95% CI -0.52 to -0.19), deceased levels of blood bilirubin (MD -38.11 mmol/L; 95% CI -50.61 to -25.61), and there were fewer cases of diarrhoea, RR 0.39; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.76). Non-significant results were obtained for cortisol levels, mean increase in duration of night sleep, mean increase in 24-hour sleep and for number of cases of upper respiratory tract disease and anaemia.Sensitivity analyses were conducted for weight, length and head circumference, and only the finding for length remained significant following removal of studies judged to be at high risk of bias. These three outcomes were the only ones that could also be meta-analysed at follow-up; although both weight and head circumference continued to be significant at 6-month follow-up, these findings were obtained from studies conducted in Eastern countries only. No sensitivity analyses were possible.We conducted 18 meta-analyses measuring aspects of mental health and development. A significant effect favouring the intervention group was found for gross motor skills (SMD -0.44; 95% CI -0.70 to -0.18), fine motor skills (SMD -0.61; 95% CI -0.87 to -0.35), personal and social behaviour (SMD -0.90; 95% CI -1.61 to -0.18) and psychomotor development (SMD -0.35; 95% CI -0.54 to -0.15); although the first three findings were obtained from only two studies, one of which was rated as being at high risk of bias, and the finding for psychomotor development was not maintained following following removal of studies judged to be at high risk of bias in a sensitivity analysis. No significant differences were found for a range of aspects of infant temperament, parent-infant interaction and mental development. Only parent-infant interaction could be meta-analysed at follow-up, and the result was again not significant.


AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not currently support the use of infant massage with low-risk groups of parents and infants. Available evidence is of poor quality, and many studies do not address the biological plausibility of the outcomes being measured, or the mechanisms by which change might be achieved. Future research should focus on the impact of infant massage in higher-risk groups (for example, demographically and socially deprived parent-infant dyads), where there may be more potential for change.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Protocols) || Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months

This narrative review on pediatric massage literature from the last decade suggests that massage therapy has positive effects on several pediatric conditions. These include preterm infant growth, psychological problems including aggression, gastrointestinal problems including constipation and diarrhea, painful conditions including burns and sickle cell, muscle tone disorders including cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, and chronic illnesses including diabetes, asthma cancer, and HIV. Potential underlying mechanisms for the massage therapy effects include increased vagal activity and decreased stress hormones. Limitations of the literature include the need for more randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and underlying mechanism studies.

Pediatric Massage Therapy Research: A Narrative Review

Estimates of the depression prevalence among Chinese university students vary considerably across studies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively analyze the depression prevalence among Chinese university students. We searched four electronic databases with the search terms of depression, China, university student, and questionnaire. Studies reporting depression among Chinese university students were included in the analysis. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the qualities of the studies. The package of “meta” in R Foundation for Statistical Computing was used to calculate an overall proportion in a random-effects model with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analysis was conducted to analyze the influencing factors on the depression prevalence. Any conflict in the data analysis was discussed by all the reviewers. A total of 113 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of depression among Chinese university students was shown to be 28.4% (n = 185,787), with 95%CI from 25.7 to 31.2%. The overall depression prevalence among Chinese university students was still relatively high. More efforts need to be done to provide better mental healthcare to university students in China.

/pdf/prevalence-of-depression-among-chinese-university-students-a-3d69hs6kgh.pdf

Prevalence of depression among Chinese university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Wenjing decoction is a well-accepted traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in East Asia, but its clinical effectiveness and risk have not been adequately assessed. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of Wenjing decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Eight databases were used in our research: the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and the Wan-fang Database. The following search terms were used: (Wenjing decoction OR Wenjing formula OR Wenjing tang) AND (primary dysmenorrhea OR dysmenorrhea OR painful menstruation) AND (randomized controlled trial). No language limitation was used. A total of 18 studies, including 1736 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Wenjing decoction was shown to be significantly better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the improvement of primary dysmenorrhea according to the clinical effective rate (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.24–1.61), the visual analogue scale (MD −1.77, 95% CI −2.69 to −0.84), and the pain scale for dysmenorrhea (MD −1.81, 95% CI −2.41 to −1.22). The results supported the clinical use of Wenjing decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. However, the quality of the evidence for this finding was low due to a high risk of bias in the included studies. Therefore, well-designed randomized controlled trials are still needed to further evaluate the efficacy of Wenjing decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.

Wenjing Decoction (Herbal Medicine) for the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Buyang Huanwu decoction (BHD) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine for the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients in China, but its clinical efficacy and safety have not been adequately assessed. In this paper, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BHD. We searched seven electronic databases from inception to 31 March 2019. The language was limited to Chinese and English. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of BHD for the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients were included in the meta-analysis. Reviewers independently performed the screening, data extraction, bias assessment, and data analysis. The treatment efficacy was pooled in a meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software with a random-effect model. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion among all reviewers. The PRISMA statement was used in the review process. A total of 11 studies with 1084 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The results suggested that BHD was superior to other treatments in terms of clinical efficacy in symptoms and daily activities (n = 684, RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.99 to 1.27), clinical efficacy in TCM symptoms (n = 280, RR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.03), National Institute of Health stroke scale (n = 192, MD = 1.66, 95% CI: -1.08 to 4.40), and activities of daily living (n = 200, MD = 8.20, 95% CI: -3.95 to 20.35). The results supported the clinical use of BHD for the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients. However, the methodological qualities of the included studies were relatively low, and there were limited reports on adverse events. The clinical efficacy and safety of BHD need to be further confirmed by more well-designed and high-quality randomized controlled trials to warrant the clinical recommendation of BHD for the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients.

/pdf/effect-of-buyang-huanwu-decoction-for-the-rehabilitation-of-2ff91wuwc3.pdf

Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction for the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: Anorexia is the long-term decreased sensation of appetite. Besides the pharmacotherapy, in China, massage therapy is also used by many traditional Chinese medicine physicians to treat anorexia in children. This paper conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of massage therapy for the treatment of anorexia in children. Methods: Seven databases were used in our research as follows: Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and the Wan-fang Database. Search terms were as follows: (Massage OR tuina OR manipulation) AND (infant OR baby OR child OR pediatrics) AND (anorexia OR anorexias OR anorexia nervosas) AND (randomized controlled trial [RCTs]). Results: A total of 30 studies, including 2991 patients (1545 in the intervention group and 1446 in the control group), were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the relative risk was 1.31 regarding clinical effective rate with 95% confidence intervals from 1.24 to 1.38. Conclusions: Massage therapy was significantly better than pharmacotherapy in treating anorexia in children. However, the quality of evidence for this finding was low due to high risk of bias of the included studies. Thus, well-designed RCTs are still needed to further evaluate the efficacy of massage therapy.

Pediatric massage for the treatment of anorexia in children: A meta-analysis

Massage therapy has been used by many traditional Chinese medicine physicians to treat acute diarrhoea in children Since no relevant systematic reviews assessed the clinical effectiveness or the risk of massage therapy, in this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of paediatric massage for the treatment of acute diarrhoea in children In this meta-analysis, paediatric patients who were diagnosed with acute diarrhoea were included Interventions using massage therapy alone or combined with other non-pharmacological approaches were included, while in the control groups, patients received pharmacotherapy The primary outcome was clinical effective rate Seven databases were used in our research, and the following search terms were used: (massage OR tui na OR manipulation OR acupressure) AND (infant OR child OR baby OR paediatrics) AND (diarrhoea OR diarrhoea) AND (randomized controlled trial) The search date was up to April 30, 2018 A total of 26 studies encompassing 2644 patients were included in this meta-analysis It was shown that paediatric massage was significantly better than pharmacotherapy in treating acute diarrhoea in children in terms of clinical effective rate (n = 2213, RR = 120, 95% CI: 114 to 127), clinical cure rate (n = 345, RR = 137, 95% CI: 119 to 157), and cure time (n = 513, MD = − 077, 95% CI: -089 to − 064) However, the quality of evidence for this finding was low due to high risk of bias of the included studies The present work supported paediatric massage in treating acute diarrhoea in children More well-designed randomized controlled trials are still needed to further evaluate the efficacy of paediatric massage

/pdf/paediatric-massage-for-treatment-of-acute-diarrhoea-in-5aejk5owqn.pdf

Li Gao

Papers

Prevalence of depression among Chinese university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Wenjing Decoction (Herbal Medicine) for the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction for the rehabilitation of ischemic stroke patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Pediatric massage for the treatment of anorexia in children: A meta-analysis

Paediatric massage for treatment of acute diarrhoea in children: a meta-analysis