To estimate the pooled attrition rate among HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and identify predictors of attrition in Ethiopia.

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed, HINARI, Web of Science, African Journals Online and Google Scholar were searched up to 20 February 2025.

Cohort studies conducted in Ethiopia that reported attrition from ART and its predictors among children, published as full-length articles in English, were included.

Three independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for cohort studies. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Publication bias was evaluated with funnel plots and Egger’s test. A random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled attrition rate.

Among 1093 studies identified, 14 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The pooled attrition rate among HIV-infected children receiving ART was 6.04 per 100 person-years of observation (95% CI 4.90 to 7.44). Anaemia (HR=3.39; 95% CI 2.40 to 4.78), suboptimal ART adherence (HR=2.33; 95% CI 1.39 to 3.89) and underweight status (HR=3.43; 95% CI 2.04 to 5.78) were significantly associated with higher attrition.

The pooled attrition rate among HIV-infected children receiving ART in Ethiopia is relatively low. Nevertheless, enhanced counselling on ART adherence is crucial to further reduce attrition, and special attention should be given to children with anaemia or underweight status.

CRD420251015059.

Ovarian cancer remains a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and high mortality rate. Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play a critical role in the tumour microenvironment, influencing treatment response and patient survival across various cancer types, including ovarian cancer. A systematic review is warranted to consolidate evidence on TILs as prognostic biomarkers in ovarian cancer, with the goals of integrating them into clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes. This study aims to assess the prognostic significance of TILs in ovarian cancer.

A comprehensive literature search will be conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ScienceDirect and LILACS. No restrictions regarding publication date or language will be applied. Original studies evaluating the role of TILs in women with ovarian cancer will be considered for inclusion. Two independent authors will screen titles and abstracts, and any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion with a third author. The risk of bias in included studies will be assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Data synthesis will be performed using R software (V.4.3.1).

This study reviews the published data; thus, obtaining ethical approval is unnecessary. The findings of this systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

CRD42024543955.

Mobile diagnostic imaging services provided at home increase accessibility and convenience, particularly for older adults, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. These services can reduce the need for patient travel and support the routine monitoring of chronic conditions. However, current guidelines often overlook user acceptance and environmental considerations within the home setting.

To map studies that identify the models, barriers and facilitators for performing home-based diagnostic imaging/graph according to end users.

A scoping review was conducted following the methodological framework of the Joanna Briggs Institute and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist.

Studies that addressed mobile or portable diagnostic imaging or graph examinations conducted in the home for individuals of any age or health status were included. Studies were eligible if they reported on barriers, facilitators or user experiences. Studies that focused on wearable technologies were excluded.

The search strategy was developed using terms related to home-based diagnostic imaging/graph, portability, home setting and user perceptions. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, The ACM Guide to Computing Literature and LILACS, without restrictions on publication date or language. Additional grey literature was identified through Google Scholar.

Two reviewers independently extracted data using a standardised form that captured study characteristics, types of procedures, target populations and reported barriers and facilitators. Quantitative data were summarised using absolute and relative frequencies. Qualitative findings were synthesised through basic content analysis to identify and categorise recurring themes.

Data were charted in tables to organise and visually map study contexts, methodological features and thematic patterns related to implementation and user experience.

Twenty-six studies published between 1998 and 2023 across 15 countries were included. The diagnostic examinations included mostly polysomnography, X-ray imaging and ultrasonography. Seven categories of barriers were identified, such as physical discomfort, equipment-related challenges and procedural limitations. Seven facilitators were also reported, including perceived comfort, patient satisfaction and equipment usability.

This review identifies key factors affecting the delivery and user experience of mobile diagnostic imaging at home, including logistical, technical and environmental aspects. It reveals gaps in the literature and provides a basis for future research to inform more inclusive and effective public health policies and service design.

Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/7UV5D).

Although as many as 92% of survivors of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) report impacts to the head and/or non-fatal strangulation (NFS) that raise clinical suspicion of brain injury (BI), there are no evidence-based methods to document and characterise BI in this vulnerable population, limited clinical practice guidelines and insufficient understanding about long-term risks for conditions including Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). This leaves most survivors of IPV-caused BI (IPV-BI), overwhelmingly women, without adequate access to medical care and support, safe housing, back-to-school/work accommodations or follow-up care for long-term neurocognitive health. Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an established ADRD risk factor, little is known about the attributable risk of ADRD due to IPV-BI, particularly in women.

Our overarching objectives are to (1) use plasma biomarkers as novel tools to assist clinicians to improve diagnosis of IPV-BI at the acute, subacute and chronic stages in a manner sensitive to the needs of this vulnerable population and (2) raise awareness of the importance of considering IPV-BI as a potential ADRD risk factor. A prospective observational study funded by the US Department of Defense (HT9425-24-1-0462), Brain Canada (6200) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (523320-NWT-CAAA-37499) leverages collaborative research at multiple clinical sites in British Columbia to maximise equity, diversity and inclusion among participants, with a target enrolment of n=600 participants.

The Advocates, Academics, Survivors and Clinicians to END Intimate Partner Violence Biomarkers study, which is predicated on pre-specified research questions, represents one of the most significant community-based studies on plasma biomarkers affected by an IPV-BI incident. Of particular significance is the fact our study uses robust biomarker approaches being applied in the TBI and ADRD fields to determine how the biomarker profile after IPV-BI compares to typical TBI and the early stage of neurodegenerative disorders.

This study was approved by the University of British Columbia Clinical Research Ethics Board (H24-01990, H22-02241 and H16-02792) and the Island Health Research Ethics Board (H22-03510). Upon publication of primary papers, de-identified data and biospecimens will be made widely available, including the US Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) federated database. Our data and integrated knowledge translation activities with persons with lived experience of IPV-BI and those working in the healthcare sector will be synthesised into co-designed and implemented knowledge tools to improve outcomes for survivors of IPV-BI.

Self-rated health (SRH) is a well-established predictor of all-cause mortality. However, its predictive value in patients with cancer remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between prediagnostic SRH and mortality among patients with cancer using data from the Norwegian Women and Health (NOWAC) Study.

A prospective cohort study.

This study included 26 405 women from the NOWAC cohort who were diagnosed with cancer between 1992 and 2020. Subgroup analyses focused on the most common cancer types among Norwegian women: breast (n=8299), colorectal (n=3653) and lung and bronchial (n=2428) cancers.

Prediagnostic SRH was assessed using a single-item measure with four response alternatives and categorised into ‘very good’, ‘good’ and ‘poor’ SRH. We used flexible parametric survival analysis and competing risk regression models to evaluate the association between SRH and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality after adjusting for age, physical activity, Body Mass Index, smoking, alcohol consumption and education.

Poor prediagnostic SRH was associated with increased all-cause mortality among long-term cancer survivors. For specific cancer sites, the adjusted HRs and 95% CI for poor versus very good SRH were 1.29 (95% CI: 1.06 to 1.58) for breast cancer and 1.50 (95% CI: 1.20 to 1.88) for colorectal cancer. These associations were more pronounced among long-term survivors than short-term survivors. No association was observed between prediagnostic SRH and mortality for patients with lung cancer. For cancer-specific mortality, prediagnostic SRH predicted mortality from all cancers, as well as from colorectal cancer.

Prediagnostic SRH is a significant predictor of mortality in patients with cancer, particularly among long-term survivors. These findings indicate the potential of SRH as a predictive tool for mortality, underscoring the importance of integrating SRH assessments into identifying individuals at higher risk of mortality and highlighting the potential benefits of public health interventions aimed at improving overall health, but further studies are required to assess the effect of such interventions on SRH.