High Yield Medical Reviews

Management of Pediatrics Hydrocephalus: A Systematic review and metanalysis; on Endoscopic third Ventriculostomy (ETV), vs. ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), Treatments and Postoperative Outcomes

2026-02-16T00:52:05+00:00

Introduction: Inadequate passage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the points of production, such as the choroid plexus, absorption, and drainage into the dural venous sinus, causes hydrocephalus, which is characterized by a failure in CSF homeostasis and progressive active distension of the cerebral ventricles and the cerebral ventricular system.

Methods: Using the PRISMA standards, R software, and Excel, we searched a number of databases, including ScienceDirect and PubMed/MEDLINE. Pediatric hydrocephalus, particular surgical methods, survival and fatality rates, as well as its physiology, pathology, and development, were among the search phrases used. Only research that was released in English between March 2000 and September 2025

Results: We distributed the N=3,119 pediatric hydrocephalus patients that we identified in our systematic evaluation in Table 1. N = 1728 patients (55%) and N = 948 (30%) underwent endoscopic procedures. VP-shunt N = 765 (24%). In contrast, Table 2 shows N=1391 patients (44%). ETV/VP shunt; N = 474 (15%). ETV/CPC; N = 766 (24%). In conclusion:

Conclusion: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) are combined operations used to treat hydrocephalus in children. These treatments range from straightforward Kocher point stenting to intricate shunt systems. The normal head circumference can be controlled to some extent by using a single decision to regulate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Barriers and facilitators to the use of diagnostic tests in antimicrobial prescribing among medical interns in public hospitals in Uganda.

2026-03-15T23:05:14+00:00

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health threat globally with a disproportionate burden in low and middle-income countries, including Uganda. Inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing, particularly empirical treatment without confirmatory diagnostic testing, contributes significantly to resistance. Medical interns constitute a substantial proportion of frontline prescribers in public hospitals, yet evidence regarding factors influencing their use of diagnostic tests remains scarce. This study synthesized evidence on barriers and facilitators to the use of diagnostic tests in antimicrobial prescribing among medical interns in public hospitals in Uganda. A systematic review was conducted using PubMed to identify relevant studies published between 2016 and 2026. Eligibility was determined using the PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome) framework. Studies examining barriers and/or facilitators to diagnostic test utilization in antimicrobial prescribing among health professionals in public hospitals in Uganda and comparable low and middle-income countries were included. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies were considered. Data were extracted using a standardized excel form, and methodological quality was appraised with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Findings were synthesized narratively and thematically, of 430 records identified, 15 primary empirical studies were included. None focused exclusively on medical interns. Barriers were categorized as individual, institutional and health system level. Facilitators included structured training and supervision, awareness of AMR, improved availability of RDTs, integrated fever management programs, adherence monitoring and strengthened TB and HIV diagnostic programs. Diagnostic test use remains suboptimal, with barriers at multiple levels. Strengthening diagnostic stewardship within internship programs may enhance rational antimicrobial use and mitigate AMR in Uganda.

The State of the Art and the Future of Precision Medicine: A Comprehensive Literature Review

2026-05-06T11:27:51+00:00

Precision medicine is a new discipline of medicine that attempts to deliver individualized therapy and prevention based on each individual's clinical, genetic, genomic, and environmental data. Precision medicine treats each patient as an individual rather than as a general case of a disease. By offering the appropriate medication to the right patient at the right time, precision medicine has the potential to enhance health outcomes and quality of life. However, there are certain problems and limits to precision medicine, such as high prices, privacy concerns, ethical concerns, and impediments to integration into clinical practice. The text examines precision medicine's history, applications, technology, and future possibilities. It recounts the history of precision medicine from ancient times to the present, emphasizing some of the field's milestones and successes. It examines genetics, molecular diagnostics, environmental exposures, lifestyle habits, societal influences, and microbiome composition, among other elements and areas of precision medicine. It also investigates the role of precision medicine in the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the obstacles and prospects for continued precision medicine research and application in health systems. It finishes by identifying potential future research and innovation paths in the realm of precision medicine.

Gene Therapy As A Treatment Modality For Severe Combined Immunodeficiency : A Narrative Review

2026-05-26T11:39:13+00:00

Introduction: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a life-threatening genetic disorder marked by severe T-cell defects and often B-cell and NK-cell dysfunction, leading to an increased risk of infections. Treated via gene therapy which is the introduction of modified therapeutic genes either ex vivo or in vivo as a DNA segments.

Methods: A Narrative review was conducted followed. Literature was searched on MidLine, pubmed central (PMC), Web of science, Elcevier, Scopus using the following keywords: Severe combined immunodeficiency(SCID), gene therapy and genetic disorders between 2015 and 2024. The included papers were case reports and series, cohort studies, case control and randomized controlled trials.

Results: The reviewed literature illustrate that gene therapy has reached significant progress in treating (SCID), particularly X-linked SCID (SCID-X1) and ADA-SCID. Viral vectors especially retroviral, lentiviral, and adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have been successfully used to recover T-cell immunity and correct genetic defects, with ADA-SCID patients showing stable immune function and reduced adoption on enzyme replacement therapy. The Protection of lentivirus and foamy virus vectors have been improved, reducing dangers like insertional mutagenesis. Despite their biosafety enhancement, non-viral delivery methods are still limited by their lower transfection efficiency.

Conclusion: gene therapy has the ability to treat numerous different primary immunodeficiency (PIDs). There are some limits. Important elements to consider are vector and envelope type, transduction technique, cell dose, delivery modality, conditioning regimen, and illness features. Further research is needed.

Systematic Review Management Platforms Powered by Artificial Intelligence: A Narrative Review

2026-05-26T07:47:05+00:00

Systematic reviews are essential for evidence-based clinical decision-making and identification of research gaps. However, conducting a systematic review is often time-consuming and requires careful coordination. In response to these challenges, several digital platforms have been developed to improve efficiency, transparency, and collaboration throughout the review workflow. This narrative review provides an overview and comparison of three systematic-review management platforms: Rayyan, Covidence, and AIPRA. Rayyan is a widely used platform that supports reference import, deduplication, blinded screening, conflict resolution, full-text management, data extraction, and AI-assisted prioritization. Covidence offers a highly structured workflow for screening, full-text review, extraction, quality assessment, and PRISMA documentation, with strong support for team-based systematic reviews. AIPRA is an AI-augmented platform designed to support a broader review process, including question formulation, search organization, screening, extraction, evidence synthesis planning, and manuscript drafting. Overall, systematic-review platforms should be viewed as supportive tools that enhance workflow efficiency, documentation, and consistency while maintaining the central role of human oversight in evidence synthesis.