Background: Virtual reality (VR) is used as a distraction measure during painful clinical procedures associated with the use of needles. These procedures include vaccinations, blood draws, or the administration of medications, which can cause children to feel increased levels of pain and fear. Objective: The objective of this study was to collect and analyze the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of VR as a tool to distract children from pain and fear during needle procedures as compared to that of standard techniques. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs with participants younger than 21 years who underwent needle procedures in which the main distraction measure used was VR and where the main outcome measure was pain. The databases searched included the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane libraries. In this systematic review, the studies were analyzed by applying the Critical Appraisal Skills Program guide in Spanish and the Jadad scale. In the meta-analysis, the effect size of the studies was analyzed based on the results for pain and fear in children. Results: From 665 unique search results, 21 studies were included in this systematic review, most of which reported low methodological quality. The study sample cohorts ranged from a minimum of 15 participants to a maximum of 220 participants. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. The global effect of using VR as a distraction measure was a significant reduction in pain (inverse variance [IV] –2.37, 95% CI –3.20 to –1.54; Z=5.58; P<.001) and fear (IV –1.26, 95% CI –1.89 to –0.63; Z=3.92; P<.001) in children in the experimental groups. Conclusions: The quality of the studies was mostly low. The main limitations were the impossibility of blinding the participants and health care personnel to the VR intervention. Nonetheless, the use of VR as a distraction measure was effective in reducing pain and fear in children during procedures involving needles.

Introduction. Breast cancer is the world’s most prevalent malignancy, with an increasing incidence and a predisposition for postpubertal females from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. More recently, oral Fusobacterium nucleatum species have been observed in cancerous human breast tissue, drawing attention to the role of microbes in cancer pathogenesis. Objectives. Investigating oral Fusobacterium nucleatum species as potential biomarkers for female‐specific breast cancer. Methods. A systematic search in The Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, EBSCO, NCBI, and MEDLINE databases was undertaken from the 1^st January, 1983–31^st March, 2022. Articles included were in English and based on women between the ages of 18–96 years with confirmed gingivitis/periodontal disease and breast cancer diagnoses from registered specialists. Authors extracted data independently, and a meta‐analysis of risk estimations measuring associations between oral Fusobacterium nucleatum species and female‐specific breast cancer was elucidated via calculated relative risks and 95% confidence intervals. Results. AXIS tool analysis revealed 78.70% of articles with a positive correlation between oral Fusobacterium nucleatum and female‐specific breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer development increased with significant levels of oral Fusobacterium nucleatum due to gingivitis/periodontitis (relative risk = 1.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.63–1.91). Low‐moderate statistical heterogeneity was found (I² = 41.39%; P = 0.02), and the importance of periodontal status on breast cancer pathogenesis was determined (relative risk = 1.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.30). Conclusions. Oral Fusobacterium nucleatum species are a risk factor for breast cancer development, thus elevating their biomarker potentiality.

‘Living Better’, a self-administered web-based intervention, designed to facilitate lifestyle changes, has already shown positive short- and medium-term health benefits in patients with an obesity–hypertension phenotype. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the long-term (3-year) evolution of a group of hypertensive overweight or obese patients who had already followed the ‘Living Better’ program; (2) to analyze the effects of completing this program a second time (reintervention) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quasi-experimental design was used. We recruited 29 individuals from the 105 who had participated in our first study. We assessed and compared their systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), body mass index (BMI), eating behavior, and physical activity (PA) level (reported as METs-min/week), at Time 0 (first intervention follow-up), Time 1 (before the reintervention), and Time 2 (post-reintervention). Our results showed significant improvements between Time 1 and Time 2 in SBP (−4.7 (−8.7 to −0.7); p = 0.017), DBP (−3.5 (−6.2 to −0.8); p = 0.009), BMI (−0.7 (−1.0 to −0.4); p < 0.001), emotional eating (−2.8 (−5.1 to −0.5); p = 0.012), external eating (−1.1 (−2.1 to −0.1); p = 0.039), and PA (Time 1: 2308 ± 2266; Time 2: 3203 ± 3314; p = 0.030, Z = −2.17). Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in SPB, DBP, BMI, and eating behavior between Time 0 and Time 1 (p > 0.24). Implementation of the ‘Living Better’ program maintained positive long-term (3-year) health benefits in patients with an obesity–hypertension phenotype. Moreover, a reintervention with this program during the COVID-19 pandemic produced significant improvements in blood pressure, BMI, eating behavior, and PA.

(1) Background: The ‘Living Better’ web-based programme has shown short- and long-term benefits for body composition and psychological variables in obese patients with hypertension by promoting a healthier lifestyle. To further explore the potential of this programme, in this work we aimed to explore the possible effect of the patient’s ‘own doctor’ appearing in the video content of the Living Better intervention. (2) Methods: A total of 132 patients were randomly assigned either to the experimental (EG, n = 70) or control (CG, n = 62) group (with a doctor the patient knew as ‘their own’ or an ‘unknown doctor’, respectively). The body mass index (BMI), motivation towards physical activity (PA), PA levels, motivation to change one’s eating habits, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and eating behaviour were all assessed and compared at baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks). (3) Results: The results of this study confirmed the positive effects of the Living Better programme on BMI and external eating style, with significant improvements in these variables in both groups. In addition, in the EG there was higher intrinsic motivation to change eating behaviour (mean difference of 0.9, 95% CI [0.1, 1.6], p = 0.032) and lower amotivation (mean difference of −0.6, 95% CI [−1.2, −0.1], p = 0.027) compared to the CG. (4) Conclusions: This study suggests that the presence of the patients’ own doctor in the audiovisual content of the Living Better intervention did not have significant additional benefits in terms of BMI or external eating style. However, their presence did improve intrinsic motivation and amotivation related to eating habits.

Background: Natural disasters, particularly floods, represent a growing threat to health, with severe physical, emotional, and social consequences; however, evidence in Spanish populations remains scarce. This study aimed to compare the psychological symptoms among direct victims, indirect victims, and volunteers following the October 2024 DANA floods in Valencia and to examine factors associated with these symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study was conducted from 9 January 2025 to 13 April 2025. Participants completed the Global Post-Traumatic Stress Scale (EGEP), the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and an ad hoc questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, flood exposure, and mental health history. Between-group comparisons and multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Among the 313 participants, 43.13% reported symptoms compatible with DSM-5 PTSD. Proportions differed significantly across exposure groups: 53.6% among direct victims, 37.7% among indirect victims, and 17.6% among volunteers. Direct victims also exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, and somatisation compared to volunteers. Perceived life threat and secondary stressors were associated with psychological distress among direct victims. Conclusions: Substantial psychological symptoms were reported among study participants following the DANA floods. The findings support early detection, psychological follow-up, and post-disaster interventions that address both the initial trauma and secondary stressors.