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Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics Sep 2020Fibula hemimelia is the most common congenital deficiency of long bones. Primary treatment options include amputation with prosthetic fitting or limb reconstruction. The... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Fibula hemimelia is the most common congenital deficiency of long bones. Primary treatment options include amputation with prosthetic fitting or limb reconstruction. The aim of our study was to conduct a systematic review comparing amputation with limb reconstruction for fibula hemimelia.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Elsevier Scopus, and the Cochrane Registry of Clinical Trials were searched from 1951 to 2019 for studies that evaluated amputation versus limb reconstruction for fibula hemimelia. Random effect models were utilized for the meta-analytic comparisons of amputation versus limb reconstruction for patient satisfaction and surgical complications. Descriptive, quantitative, and qualitative data were extracted.
RESULTS
Seven retrospective cohort studies were eligible for the meta-analysis, with a total of 169 fibula hemimelia cases. Amputation resulted in an odds ratio of 6.8 (95% confidence interval: 2.4, 19.2) when compared with limb reconstruction in terms of patient satisfaction. Furthermore, limb reconstruction was found to have an odds ratio of 28 (95% confidence interval: 7.8, 100.3) for complications. The total surgical complication rates in the amputation and limb reconstruction groups were 0.2 and 1.2 complications per limb. The rate of surgical procedures per patient was 1.5 and 4.2 for amputation and limb reconstruction, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The cumulative evidence at present indicates better patient satisfaction with less surgical complications and less number of procedures with amputation for fibula hemimelia when compared with limb reconstruction. Absence of uniform protocols make it difficult to compare results accurately.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level III-therapeutic.
Topics: Amputation, Surgical; Ectromelia; Fibula; Humans; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Patient Satisfaction; Postoperative Complications; Plastic Surgery Procedures
PubMed: 31972725
DOI: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001510 -
Journal of Anxiety Disorders Jun 2022Very little is known about the course of anxiety disorders when they go untreated, despite the significant theoretical and practical value of this information, such as... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Very little is known about the course of anxiety disorders when they go untreated, despite the significant theoretical and practical value of this information, such as for treatment planning and benchmarking purposes. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the course of anxiety disorders in treatment-seeking samples using the control groups of treatment studies for anxiety disorders.
METHODS
Following pre-registration, we systematically searched the literature for RCTs of treatment for anxiety disorders. Studies were included if they randomised participants to a control arm, where treatment was not received (i.e. waitlist control or no-treatment control). Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the magnitude of symptom change over the control period (Hedges' g), and rate of response (pooled prevalence). Effects were compared between anxiety disorders, alongside other potential moderators.
RESULTS
Following search and screening, 173 RCTs met criteria (n = 15,250) for data extraction. Overall, untreated participants demonstrated significant, but small improvements to anxiety symptoms (g = 0.17, 95% CI 0.14, 0.21). Significant differences were observed between anxiety disorders, and according to other methodological features of the included trials.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that anxiety disorders are unlikely to remit without treatment, with some disorders remitting to a lesser extent than others. While this review is limited to a treatment-seeking sample, results provide theoretical and practical value for researchers and treatment providers.
Topics: Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Humans; Waiting Lists
PubMed: 35689850
DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102590 -
Nutrition, Metabolism, and... Aug 2021a) To analyze the relationship of known and emerging biomarkers/indicators for early risk identification of cardiometabolic health risk; b) to identify early risk...
AIMS
a) To analyze the relationship of known and emerging biomarkers/indicators for early risk identification of cardiometabolic health risk; b) to identify early risk markers to be used in both clinical and nonclinical settings; and c) to propose a definition of early risk identification in terms of pre-metabolic syndrome (PreMetSyn).
DATA SYNTHESIS
Pubmed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis. Selected studies were evaluated, and relevant data were extracted and synthesized.
CONCLUSIONS
Serum uric acid is a good predictive biomarker of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and has been associated with non-alcoholic liver fat disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD emerges as an early risk indicator of PreMetSyn by itself. Muscle strength should also be included as an early risk marker of cardiometabolic health. High serum triglycerides and waist circumference confirm their predictive value regarding MetSyn. Indicators related to an inflammatory/pro-inflammatory status usually linked to MetSyn showed limited evidence as robust biomarkers for PreMetSyn. Authors suggest defining PreMetSyn related to cardiometabolic risk. It is also necessary to determine how close people are to the cut-off point of MetSyn components, including emerging indicators proposed by our review. Some biomarkers could be used as indicators of PreMetSyn, before any of the MetSyn components appear, allowing early health interventions to prevent its development. Defining a PreMetSyn status might consider both emerging indicators and those variables already included in the definition of MetSyn. New indicators should be considered to create a new risk score specifically meant for PreMetSyn.
Topics: Biomarkers; Cardiometabolic Risk Factors; Early Diagnosis; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Metabolic Syndrome; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 34244048
DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.05.022 -
Neuropsychology Review Mar 2020Pseudobulbar affect is a debilitating condition that significantly reduces quality of life for many individuals following traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is...
Pseudobulbar affect is a debilitating condition that significantly reduces quality of life for many individuals following traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is characterized by embarrassing and often uncontrollable episodes of crying or laughter. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy as compared to all other comparators for the management of pseudobulbar affect in adults who have sustained TBI. Six databases were searched, with additional hand searching of journals, clinical trials registries and international drug regulators to identify published and unpublished studies in English up to June 2018. Studies were eligible for this review if they included adults who had sustained a medically confirmed TBI and presented with pseudobulbar affect. All pharmacotherapy and comparator interventions were considered for inclusion, and study design was not limited to randomised controlled trials. Evidence quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Instruments. Two quasi-experimental studies examining the effectiveness of dextrometamorphan/quinidine (DM/Q) were identified. These studies reported that DM/Q was effective in reducing symptoms of pseudobulbar affect and had a positive safety profile, over follow-up periods of 3 months (n = 87) and 12 months (n = 23). However, both studies were limited by lack of a control group and a high dropout rate. The findings of twelve case reports examining the effectiveness of DM/Q (n = 6) and anti-depressants (n = 6) are also discussed. Further research is required to determine which pharmacological interventions provide the best outcomes for individuals with pseudobulbar affect following TBI, with consideration given to side effect profiles and financial costs.
Topics: Affective Symptoms; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Dextromethorphan; Drug Combinations; Humans; Neurotransmitter Agents; Quinidine
PubMed: 31942705
DOI: 10.1007/s11065-020-09427-7 -
Tzu Chi Medical Journal 2024Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic and degenerative disease of the retina that leads to irreversible blindness. There is no proven effective treatment...
OBJECTIVES
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic and degenerative disease of the retina that leads to irreversible blindness. There is no proven effective treatment for early AMD and advanced AMD. Mediterranean diet (MD) has been linked to reducing the risk or delaying the progression of AMD. Therefore, in this study, we aim to investigate the potential of MD as a modifiable risk factor for AMD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic search was performed in three databases: PubMed, EBSCO host, and Proquest. We search for studies that determine the association of MD in AMD. Then, we pooled the data for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Eight studies were included in our systematic review. Seven studies were included for meta-analysis. Subjects with medium-high (hazard ratio [HR] 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-0.90) adherence to the MD showed a reduced risk of developing AMD. Moreover, medium adherence AMD shows a significant and inverse relationship with the progression to advanced AMD (HR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.81-0.93). Although it is still inconsistent, the reduction appears stronger for geographic atrophy than for neovascular AMD.
CONCLUSION
Adhering to the MD, particularly at a medium to high level, appears to confer a protective effect against AMD. The sub-analysis demonstrates even that there is a protective effect associated with moderate adherence against advanced AMD. The presence of considerable heterogeneity within the results warrants cautious interpretation. Further research is needed to enhance our understanding.
PubMed: 38645781
DOI: 10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_153_23