1.Pain Management in Cancer Patients: The Effectiveness of Digital Game-based Interventions: A Rapid Literature Review
Behrouz Alizadeh SAVAREH ; Zahra KARANDISH ; Fardis FARHOUDI ; Azadeh BASHIRI
Healthcare Informatics Research 2024;30(4):297-311
Objectives:
Pain is a common side effect of cancer that negatively impacts biopsychosocial well-being and quality of life. There has been increasing interest in using digital game interventions for managing pain in cancer patients. The present study aimed to consolidate and summarize knowledge regarding the role of games in reducing pain among cancer patients and enhancing their overall quality of life.
Methods:
We reviewed studies published between 2000 and April 8, 2023, from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The focus was on determining the impact of health games on pain management in cancer patients.
Results:
An initial search identified 2,544 studies, which were narrowed down to 10 relevant articles after removing duplicates and assessing quality. These studies examined the use of mobile and computer games across various types of cancer, including both pediatric and adult cases. The findings indicate that digital games, particularly those utilizing virtual reality technologies, can diminish pain and anxiety while enhancing treatment outcomes. Overall, the application of these technologies has the potential to improve cancer treatment.
Conclusions
Digital game interventions empower cancer patients by fostering effective communication and patient-centered approaches, which enhance perceptions, outcomes, and overall well-being. These games provide real-time feedback and facilitate interaction with healthcare professionals, which promotes self-management and boosts patient motivation and adherence to treatment protocols. As personalized educational platforms, they increase engagement through educational resources and symptom tracking, while also encouraging physical activity. Furthermore, they act as distraction tools during painful procedures, presenting new research opportunities in pain management and enhancing overall quality of life.
2.In vivo and in vitro sperm production: an overview of the challenges and advances in male fertility restoration
Zahra BASHIRI ; Seyed Jamal HOSSEINI ; Maryam SALEM ; Morteza KORUJI
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2024;51(3):171-180
Male infertility can be caused by genetic anomalies, endocrine disorders, inflammation, and exposure to toxic chemicals or gonadotoxic treatments. Therefore, several recent studies have concentrated on the preservation and restoration of fertility to enhance the quality of life for affected individuals. It is currently recommended to biobank the tissue extracted from testicular biopsies to provide a later source of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Another successful approach has been the in vitro production of haploid male germ cells. The capacity of SSCs to transform into sperm, as in testicular tissue transplantation, SSC therapy, and in vitro or ex vivo spermatogenesis, makes them ideal candidates for in vivo fertility restoration. The transplantation of SSCs or testicular tissue to regenerate spermatogenesis and create embryos has been achieved in nonhuman mammal species. Although the outcomes of human trials have yet to be released, this method may soon be approved for clinical use in humans. Furthermore, regenerative medicine techniques that develop tissue or cells on organic or synthetic scaffolds enriched with bioactive molecules have also gained traction. All of these methods are now in different stages of experimentation and clinical trials. However, thanks to rigorous studies on the safety and effectiveness of SSC-based reproductive treatments, some of these techniques may be clinically available in upcoming decades.
3.Advanced strategies for single embryo selection in assisted human reproduction: A review of clinical practice and research methods
Zahra BASHIRI ; Azita AFZALI ; Morteza KORUJI ; Hossein TORKASHVAND ; Mehrdad GHORBANLOU ; Nadia SHEIBAK ; Zahra ZANDIEH ; Fatemehsadat AMJADI
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2025;52(1):8-29
Among the primary objectives of contemporary assisted reproductive technology research are achieving the births of healthy singletons and improving overall fertility outcomes. Substantial advances have been made in refining the selection of single embryos for transfer, with the aim of maximizing the likelihood of successful implantation. The principal criterion for this selection is embryo morphology. Morphological evaluation systems are based on traditional parameters, including cell count and fragmentation, pronuclear morphology, cleavage rate, blastocyst formation, and various sequential embryonic assessments. To reduce the incidence of multiple pregnancies and to identify the single embryo with the highest potential for growth, invasive techniques such as preimplantation genetic screening are employed in in vitro fertilization clinics. However, new approaches have been suggested for clinical application that do not harm the embryo and that provide consistent, accurate results. Noninvasive technologies, such as time-lapse imaging and omics, leverage morphokinetic parameters and the byproducts of embryo metabolism, respectively, to identify noninvasive prognostic markers for competent single embryo selection. While these technologies have garnered considerable interest in the research community, they are not incorporated into routine clinical practice and still have substantial room for improvement. Currently, the most promising strategies involve integrating multiple methodologies, which together are anticipated to increase the likelihood of successful pregnancy.
4.Advanced strategies for single embryo selection in assisted human reproduction: A review of clinical practice and research methods
Zahra BASHIRI ; Azita AFZALI ; Morteza KORUJI ; Hossein TORKASHVAND ; Mehrdad GHORBANLOU ; Nadia SHEIBAK ; Zahra ZANDIEH ; Fatemehsadat AMJADI
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2025;52(1):8-29
Among the primary objectives of contemporary assisted reproductive technology research are achieving the births of healthy singletons and improving overall fertility outcomes. Substantial advances have been made in refining the selection of single embryos for transfer, with the aim of maximizing the likelihood of successful implantation. The principal criterion for this selection is embryo morphology. Morphological evaluation systems are based on traditional parameters, including cell count and fragmentation, pronuclear morphology, cleavage rate, blastocyst formation, and various sequential embryonic assessments. To reduce the incidence of multiple pregnancies and to identify the single embryo with the highest potential for growth, invasive techniques such as preimplantation genetic screening are employed in in vitro fertilization clinics. However, new approaches have been suggested for clinical application that do not harm the embryo and that provide consistent, accurate results. Noninvasive technologies, such as time-lapse imaging and omics, leverage morphokinetic parameters and the byproducts of embryo metabolism, respectively, to identify noninvasive prognostic markers for competent single embryo selection. While these technologies have garnered considerable interest in the research community, they are not incorporated into routine clinical practice and still have substantial room for improvement. Currently, the most promising strategies involve integrating multiple methodologies, which together are anticipated to increase the likelihood of successful pregnancy.
5.Advanced strategies for single embryo selection in assisted human reproduction: A review of clinical practice and research methods
Zahra BASHIRI ; Azita AFZALI ; Morteza KORUJI ; Hossein TORKASHVAND ; Mehrdad GHORBANLOU ; Nadia SHEIBAK ; Zahra ZANDIEH ; Fatemehsadat AMJADI
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2025;52(1):8-29
Among the primary objectives of contemporary assisted reproductive technology research are achieving the births of healthy singletons and improving overall fertility outcomes. Substantial advances have been made in refining the selection of single embryos for transfer, with the aim of maximizing the likelihood of successful implantation. The principal criterion for this selection is embryo morphology. Morphological evaluation systems are based on traditional parameters, including cell count and fragmentation, pronuclear morphology, cleavage rate, blastocyst formation, and various sequential embryonic assessments. To reduce the incidence of multiple pregnancies and to identify the single embryo with the highest potential for growth, invasive techniques such as preimplantation genetic screening are employed in in vitro fertilization clinics. However, new approaches have been suggested for clinical application that do not harm the embryo and that provide consistent, accurate results. Noninvasive technologies, such as time-lapse imaging and omics, leverage morphokinetic parameters and the byproducts of embryo metabolism, respectively, to identify noninvasive prognostic markers for competent single embryo selection. While these technologies have garnered considerable interest in the research community, they are not incorporated into routine clinical practice and still have substantial room for improvement. Currently, the most promising strategies involve integrating multiple methodologies, which together are anticipated to increase the likelihood of successful pregnancy.