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European Urology Dec 2016Positron emission tomography (PET) of Ga-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen (Ga-PSMA) is an emerging imaging modality introduced to assess the burden of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predictors of Positive Ga-Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography in Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
CONTEXT
Positron emission tomography (PET) of Ga-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen (Ga-PSMA) is an emerging imaging modality introduced to assess the burden of prostate cancer, typically in biochemically recurrent or advanced disease. Ga-PSMA PET provides the ability to selectively identify and localize metastatic prostate cancer cells and subsequently change patient management. Owing to its limited history, robust sensitivity and specificity data are not available for Ga-PSMA PET-positive scans.
OBJECTIVE
A systematic review and meta-analysis of reported predictors of positive Ga-PSMA PET and corresponding sensitivity and specificity profiles.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION
We performed critical reviews of MEDLINE, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases in April 2016 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment if Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. Meta-analysis and meta-regression of proportions were performed using a random-effects model with pre-PET prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels as the dependent variable. Summary sensitivity and specificity values were obtained by fitting bivariate hierarchical regression models.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS
Sixteen articles involving 1309 patients were analysed. The overall percentage of positive Ga-PSMA PET among patients was 40% (95% confidence interval [CI] 19-64%) for primary staging and 76% (95% CI 66-85%) for biochemical recurrence (BCR). Positive Ga-PSMA PET scans for BCR patients increased with pre-PET PSA. For the PSA categories 0-0.2, 0.2-1, 1-2, and >2 ng/ml, 42%, 58%, 76%, and 95% scans, respectively, were positive. Shorter PSA doubling time increased Ga-PSMA PET positivity. On per-patient analysis, the summary sensitivity and specificity were both 86%. On per-lesion analysis, the summary sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 97%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
In the setting of BCR prostate cancer, pre-PET PSA predicts the risk of positive Ga-PSMA PET. Pooled data indicate favourable sensitivity and specificity profiles compared to choline-based PET imaging techniques.
PATIENT SUMMARY
Positron emission tomography using Ga-labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen is an emerging radiological technique developed to improve the characterisation of metastatic prostate cancer. We summarised the data available to date and found that this new test provides excellent rates of detection of cancer spread in late-stage prostate cancer.
Topics: Edetic Acid; Gallium Isotopes; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Male; Oligopeptides; Positron-Emission Tomography; Prostatic Neoplasms; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 27363387
DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2016.06.021 -
Journal of the American Heart... Mar 2022Background EDTA is an intravenous chelating agent with high affinity to divalent cations (lead, cadmium, and calcium) that may be beneficial in the treatment of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Background EDTA is an intravenous chelating agent with high affinity to divalent cations (lead, cadmium, and calcium) that may be beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although a large randomized clinical trial showed benefit, smaller studies were inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review of published studies to examine the effect of repeated EDTA on clinical outcomes in adults with CVD. Methods and Results We searched 3 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane) from database inception to October 2021 to identify all studies involving EDTA treatment in patients with CVD. Predetermined outcomes included mortality, disease severity, plasma biomarkers of disease chronicity, and quality of life. Twenty-four studies (4 randomized clinical trials, 15 prospective before/after studies, and 5 retrospective case series) assessed the use of repeated EDTA chelation treatment in patients with preexistent CVD. Of these, 17 studies (1 randomized clinical trial) found improvement in their respective outcomes following EDTA treatment. The largest improvements were observed in studies with high prevalence of participants with diabetes and/or severe occlusive arterial disease. A meta-analysis conducted with 4 studies reporting ankle-brachial index indicated an improvement of 0.08 (95% CI, 0.06-0.09) from baseline. Conclusions Overall, 17 studies suggested improved outcomes, 5 reported no statistically significant effect of treatment, and 2 reported no qualitative benefit. Repeated EDTA for CVD treatment may provide more benefit to patients with diabetes and severe peripheral arterial disease. Differences across infusion regimens, including dosage, solution components, and number of infusions, limit comparisons across studies. Additional research is necessary to confirm these findings and to evaluate the potential mediating role of metals. Registration URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/; Unique identifier: CRD42020166505.
Topics: Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases; Chelation Therapy; Edetic Acid; Humans; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35229619
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.121.024648 -
Evidence-based Dentistry Dec 2022Design Systematic review of clinical trials.Case selection Clinical trials with adults 60 years of age or older who professionally received fluoride therapy for caries... (Review)
Review
Design Systematic review of clinical trials.Case selection Clinical trials with adults 60 years of age or older who professionally received fluoride therapy for caries prevention or arrest. Controls were adults of the same age group who received another professionally applied fluoride agent, placebo, or nothing.Data analysis The expected outcomes were the mean difference in the number of new caries, caries prevented fraction and caries arrest rate. Independently, two researchers assessed the risk of bias in the included studies.Results Seven studies met the selection criteria where 5% sodium fluoride varnish, 38% sodium diamine fluoride solution and 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel were used with root caries and coronal caries. Given the nature of the studies, the three agents were effective in preventing root caries in older adults. None of the agents were particularly superior to the others.Conclusions Professionally applied fluoride is effective in preventing dental caries in older adults.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Cariostatic Agents; Dental Caries; Dental Caries Susceptibility; Fluorides; Fluorides, Topical; Root Caries; Sodium
PubMed: 36526834
DOI: 10.1038/s41432-022-0841-y -
The Journal of Adhesive Dentistry Mar 2022To evaluate through a systematic review and meta-analysis the bonding performance of adhesive materials to silver diamine fluoride (SDF)-treated dentin. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
To evaluate through a systematic review and meta-analysis the bonding performance of adhesive materials to silver diamine fluoride (SDF)-treated dentin.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Studies located in PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, and Scopus up to September 2020, which compared the bond strength of adhesives (AD) or glass-ionomer cement (GIC) to SDF-treated and untreated (control) dentin were included. Mean differences were estimated separately by material and dentin condition (sound or caries-affected), with a random-effects model, at a 5% significance level.
RESULTS
Twenty-two studies, including 11 new studies not included in our previous systematic review, met the eligibility criteria, and 21 studies were considered in the meta-analyses. SDF dentin pretreatment did not influence the bonding of GIC (Z = 0.53; p = 0.60), independent of dentin condition. SDF treatment significantly impaired the bonding of AD (Z = 2.43; p = 0.01). A rinsing step after SDF eliminated this effect in sound dentin (Z = 1.82; p = 0.07) and increased the bond strength to caries-affected dentin (Z = 2.14; p = 0.03).
CONCLUSION
SDF pretreatment does not influence the bond strength of GIC. A rinsing step after SDF application can improve the bond strength of AD to caries-affected dentin.
Topics: Dental Bonding; Dental Cements; Dentin; Fluorides, Topical; Glass Ionomer Cements; Materials Testing; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Silver Compounds
PubMed: 35227044
DOI: 10.3290/j.jad.b2701679 -
Swiss Dental Journal May 2021This systematic review was undertaken to address the PICO question: Is silver diamine fluoride (SDF) effective in preventing and arresting root caries lesions in (RCLs)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This systematic review was undertaken to address the PICO question: Is silver diamine fluoride (SDF) effective in preventing and arresting root caries lesions in (RCLs) elders? Systematic literature searches were conducted of electronic databases [PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL (Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials)] and hand searches were performed to identify studies reporting on the use of SDF in elders to prevent and arrest root caries. Prospective clinical studies were included. Two independent investigators performed the literature search and data extraction. A total of 277 studies were identified; of those 3 randomized controlled clinical trials were included for data extraction and analysis. A meta-analysis, using a fixed-effects model, was performed on the mean active RCLs present after SDF intervention compared to controls at 24 months (3 studies), and 30-36 months (2 studies) post-intervention. The fixed-effects model revealed a significant decrease in the mean new active RCLs post intervention with SDF compared to controls at both 24 months (95%CI: 0.265 - 0.638; I2=0.0%; Overall: Z=4.749, p<0.001), and at 30-36 months (95%CI: 0.329 - 0.812; I2=0.0%; Overall: Z=4.629, p<0.001). A funnel plot ruled out any publication bias and the risk of bias was judged to be low. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence that the application of silver diamine fluoride prevents and arrests root caries in elders.
Topics: Aged; Cariostatic Agents; Dental Caries; Fluorides, Topical; Humans; Prospective Studies; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Root Caries; Silver Compounds
PubMed: 33515230
DOI: 10.61872/sdj-2021-05-02 -
Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2019Suicide is a public health problem, and the number of paraphenylenediamine (PPD)-containing hair dye poisoning with suicidal intentions is increasing in developing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Suicide is a public health problem, and the number of paraphenylenediamine (PPD)-containing hair dye poisoning with suicidal intentions is increasing in developing countries. In order to better understand this situation, we aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence and complications associated with hair dye poisoning in developing countries.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of epidemiological studies using MeSh terms and text keywords to identify studies from the inception to March 2016 about hair dye poisoning with suicidal intentions in developing countries. A meta-analysis was used to calculate the pooled prevalence proportion of hair dye poisoning and its major complications. Data extraction, data analysis, and risk of bias assessment were performed.
RESULTS
Thirty-two studies were included in the systematic review and 29 of these studies containing 5,559 subjects covering six countries were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence proportion of hair dye poisoning with suicidal intentions was 93.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 91.6-95.4) with a mortality rate of 14.5% (95% CI = 11.1-17.9). Of these, 73.8% were female, and 26.2% were male (sex ratio: 2.7:1). The occurrence of angioneurotic edema in hair poisoning patients was 67.1% (95% CI = 56.6-77.6), and tracheostomy intervention was considered in 47.9% (95% CI = 22.7-73.2) patients with respiratory distress. Acute renal failure was noticed in 54.7% (95% CI = 34.5-74.9) of the pooled samples and mortality rates were 14.5% (95% CI = 11.1-17.9). The pooled rate of the population studied from Asia and Africa showed 94.6% (95% CI = 92.5-96.7) and 82.9% (95% CI = 70.6-95.3), respectively, ingested hair dye with suicidal intentions. Further, studies carried out in Africa showed slightly higher mortality of 15.1% (95% CI = 6.56-23.7) than the Asians 14.3% (95% CI = 10.5-18.1).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis provided clear evidence of the prevalence of hair dye poisoning among individuals with suicidal intentions and had given robust evidence for policy making to curtail emerging PPD-containing hair dye poisoning in developing countries.
Topics: Developing Countries; Female; Hair Dyes; Humans; Male; Phenylenediamines; Prevalence; Suicide, Attempted
PubMed: 31831919
DOI: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_246_17 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Oct 2023Methylxanthines, including caffeine, theophylline, and aminophylline, work as stimulants of the respiratory drive, and decrease apnea of prematurity, a developmental... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Methylxanthines, including caffeine, theophylline, and aminophylline, work as stimulants of the respiratory drive, and decrease apnea of prematurity, a developmental disorder common in preterm infants. In particular, caffeine has been reported to improve important clinical outcomes, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and neurodevelopmental disability. However, there is uncertainty regarding the efficacy of caffeine compared to other methylxanthines.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of caffeine compared to aminophylline or theophylline in preterm infants at risk of apnea, with apnea, or in the peri-extubation phase.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Epistemonikos, the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), and clinicaltrials.gov in February 2023. We also checked the reference lists of relevant articles to identify additional studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Studies: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs Participants: infants born before 34 weeks of gestation for prevention and extubation trials, and infants born before 37 weeks of gestation for treatment trials Intervention and comparison: caffeine versus theophylline or caffeine versus aminophylline. We included all doses and duration of treatment.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We evaluated treatment effects using a fixed-effect model with risk ratio (RR), risk difference (RD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for categorical data, and mean, standard deviation, and mean difference for continuous data. We used the GRADE approach to evaluate the certainty of evidence.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 22 trials enrolling 1776 preterm infants. The indication for treatment was prevention of apnea in three studies, treatment of apnea in 13 studies, and extubation management in three studies. In three studies, there were multiple indications for treatment, and in one study, the indication for treatment was unclear. In 19 included studies, the infants had a mean gestational age between 28 and 32 weeks and a mean birth weight between 1000 g and 1500 g. One study's participants had a mean gestational age of more than 32 weeks, and two studies had participants with a mean birth weight of 1500 g or more. Caffeine administrated for any indication may result in little to no difference in all-cause mortality prior to hospital discharge compared to other methylxanthines (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.84; RD 0.02, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.08; 2 studies, 396 infants; low-certainty evidence). Only one study enrolling 79 infants reported components of the outcome moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disability at 18 to 26 months. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of caffeine on cognitive developmental delay compared to other methylxanthines (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.37; RD -0.12, 95% CI -0.24 to 0.01; 1 study, 79 infants; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of caffeine on language developmental delay compared to other methylxanthines (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.58; RD -0.07, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.12; 1 study, 79 infants; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of caffeine on motor developmental delay compared to other methylxanthines (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.96; RD -0.07, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.07; 1 study, 79 infants; very low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of caffeine on visual and hearing impairment compared to other methylxanthines. At 24 months of age, visual impairment was seen in 8 out of 11 infants and 10 out of 11 infants in the caffeine and other methylxanthines groups, respectively. Hearing impairment was seen in 2 out of 5 infants and 1 out of 1 infant in the caffeine and other methylxanthines groups, respectively. No studies reported the outcomes cerebral palsy, gross motor disability, and mental development. Compared to other methylxanthines, caffeine may result in little to no difference in BPD/chronic lung disease, defined as 28 days of oxygen exposure at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.92 to 2.11; RD 0.04, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.09; 3 studies, 481 infants; low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of caffeine on side effects (tachycardia, agitation, or feed intolerance) leading to a reduction in dose or withholding of methylxanthines compared to other methylxanthines (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.32; RD -0.29, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.02; 1 study, 30 infants; very low-certainty evidence). Caffeine may result in little to no difference in duration of hospital stay compared to other methylxanthines (median (interquartile range): caffeine 43 days (27.5 to 61.5); other methylxanthines 39 days (28 to 55)). No studies reported the outcome seizures.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Although caffeine has been shown to improve important clinical outcomes, in the few studies that compared caffeine to other methylxanthines, there might be little to no difference in mortality, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and duration of hospital stay. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of caffeine compared to other methylxanthines on long-term development and side effects. Although caffeine or other methylxanthines are widely used in preterm infants, there is little direct evidence to support the choice of which methylxanthine to use. More research is needed, especially on extremely preterm infants born before 28 weeks of gestation. Data from four ongoing studies might provide more evidence on the effects of caffeine or other methylxanthines.
Topics: Humans; Infant, Newborn; Aminophylline; Apnea; Birth Weight; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Caffeine; Hearing Loss; Infant, Extremely Premature; Theophylline; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37791592
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015462.pub2 -
BMC Public Health Mar 2015Prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as in vitro resistance to both rifampicin and isoniazid with or without resistance to other TB drugs, in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as in vitro resistance to both rifampicin and isoniazid with or without resistance to other TB drugs, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is reportedly low compared to other regions. These estimates are based on data reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on drug resistance surveys, which may suffer from a reporting bias. We set out to evaluate the variation in prevalence of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and its determinants across SSA countries among new and previously treated TB patients.
METHODS
The aim was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of DR-TB prevalence and associated risk factors in SSA. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and bibliographies of DR-TB studies were searched. Surveys at national or sub-national level, with reported DR-TB prevalence (or sufficient data to calculate a prevalence) to isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), ethambutol (EMB), and streptomycin (SM) conducted in SSA excluding the Republic of South Africa, published between 2003 and 2013 with no language restriction were considered. Two authors searched and reviewed the studies for eligibility and extracted the data in pre-defined forms. Forest plots of all prevalence estimates by resistance outcome were performed. Summary estimates were calculated using random effects models, when appropriate. Associations between any DR-TB and MDR-TB with potential risk factors were examined through subgroup analyses stratified by new and previously treated patients.
RESULTS
A total of 726 studies were identified, of which 27 articles fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Studies reported drug susceptibility testing (DST) results for a total of 13,465 new and 1,776 previously treated TB patients. Pooled estimate of any DR-TB prevalence among the new cases was 12.6% (95% CI 10.6-15.0) while for MDR-TB this was 1.5% (95% CI 1.0-2.3). Among previously treated patients, these were 27.2% (95% CI 21.4-33.8) and 10.3% (95% CI 5.8-17.4%), respectively. DR-TB (any and MDR-TB) did not vary significantly with respect to study characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
The reported prevalence of DR-TB in SSA is low compared to WHO estimates. MDR-TB in this region does not seem to be driven by the high HIV prevalence rates.
Topics: Africa South of the Sahara; Antitubercular Agents; Bacteriological Techniques; Ethambutol; Humans; Isoniazid; Prevalence; Rifampin; Risk Factors; Streptomycin; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant; World Health Organization
PubMed: 25880829
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1614-8 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Jan 2023The diuretic effect of the combined furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline among pediatric patients remains unclear. The primary aim of this systematic review was to... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
The diuretic effect of the combined furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline among pediatric patients remains unclear. The primary aim of this systematic review was to examine the clinical diuretic effects (urine output and fluid balance) of co-administration of furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline as compared to furosemide alone in pediatric population. Ovid MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched from its inception until March 2022 for observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the administration of furosemide versus furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline in pediatric population. Case reports, case series, commentaries, letters to editors, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. Five articles with a total sample population of 187 patients were included in this systematic review. As compared to the furosemide alone, our pooled data demonstrated that co-administration of furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline was associated with higher urine output (mean difference: 2.91 [90% CI 1.54 to 4.27], p < 0.0001, I = 90%) and a more negative fluid balance (mean difference - 28.27 [95% CI: - 46.21 to - 10.33], p = 0.002, I = 56%) than those who received furosemide alone.
CONCLUSION
This is the first paper summarizing the evidence of combined use of furosemide with aminophylline/theophylline in pediatric population. Our systematic review demonstrated that the co-administration of furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline could potentially yield better diuretic effects of urine output and negative fluid balance than furosemide alone in pediatric patients with fluid overload. Given the substantial degree of heterogeneity and low level of evidence, future adequately powered trials are warranted to provide evidence regarding the combined use of aminophylline/theophylline and furosemide as diuretic in the pediatric population.
WHAT IS KNOWN
• Fluid overload is associated with poor prognosis for children in the intensive care unit. • The ineffective result of furosemide alone, even at high dose, as diuretic agent for children with diuretic resistant fluid overload in the intensive care unit.
WHAT IS NEW
• This is the first systematic review that compares furosemide alone and co-administration of furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline. • This paper showed potential benefit of co-administration of furosemide and aminophylline/theophylline promoting urine output and negative fluid balance compared to furosemide alone.
Topics: Child; Humans; Diuretics; Theophylline; Aminophylline; Furosemide
PubMed: 36251063
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04655-w