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The Laryngoscope Jan 2018To characterize the safety profile and effectiveness of esophageal dilation in head and neck cancer patients. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the safety profile and effectiveness of esophageal dilation in head and neck cancer patients.
METHODS
A systematic review was undertaken for articles reporting outcomes of esophageal dilation in head and neck cancer patients. The Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Complications related to esophageal dilation in head and neck cancer patients was the primary outcome of interest. Success rates, demographic data, cancer staging, and treatment data were assessed secondarily. Statistical analyses included both qualitative and quantitative assessments. A limited meta-analysis and pooling of the data was performed using a random effects model.
RESULTS
Of the collective 8,243 initial candidate articles, 15 retrospective studies containing data for a collective 449 patients were ultimately included in the analysis. There was significant heterogeneity in the outcomes data. With an overall complication rate of 10.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1%,17%) and a pooled success rate of 72.9% (95% CI: 65.7%,80.1%) per patient, the articles generally supported the use of dilation.
CONCLUSION
Head and neck cancer patients experience a higher rate of complications following dilation compared to patients with other causes of benign stricture. Esophageal dilation is effective in improving dysphagia, but these benefits are often transient and thus necessitate repeat interventions. Laryngoscope, 128:111-117, 2018.
Topics: Dilatation; Esophageal Stenosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Risk Assessment; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28498643
DOI: 10.1002/lary.26618 -
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine Nov 2023Lyme carditis is a well-established manifestation of early disseminated Lyme infection, yet the relationship between late disseminated Lyme disease and the development... (Review)
Review
Lyme carditis is a well-established manifestation of early disseminated Lyme infection, yet the relationship between late disseminated Lyme disease and the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unclear. The present systematic review aims to summarize existing literature on the association between late disseminated Lyme disease and DCM. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and MEDLINE databases, after which a total of 11 observational studies (n = 771) were ultimately included for final data extraction. Although most studies (7/11) identified evidence associating Borrelia-infection with DCM, further research is required to isolate late disseminated Borrelia infection as a causative agent of DCM.
Topics: Humans; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated; Lyme Disease
PubMed: 35667636
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2022.05.010 -
Rheumatology (Oxford, England) Dec 2016Cardiopulmonary manifestations have an important impact on the life expectancy of SSc patients. Functional and morphological macrovascular changes may appear early... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Cardiopulmonary manifestations have an important impact on the life expectancy of SSc patients. Functional and morphological macrovascular changes may appear early before the development of ischaemic symptoms. Several non-invasive methods are used in cardiovascular risk assessment. Heterogeneous data are available regarding these in SSc. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize the importance of atherosclerosis in SSc.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed to identify controlled studies on carotid intima-media thickness, flow- or nitrate-induced vasodilatation (flow-mediated dilatation, nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation), pulse wave velocity, augmentation index and ankle-brachial pressure index. Outcomes were pooled with the random-effects model.
RESULTS
Thirty-five studies comprising a total of 1292 SSc patients qualified. Intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity and ankle-augmentation index were higher and flow-mediated dilatation lower in SSc patients [standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.65 (95% CI: 0.29, 1.01), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.35, 0.88), 0.96 (95% CI: 0.45, 1.47) and -0.68 (95% CI: -1.39, -0.34), respectively, P < 0.01 for each]. Nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation and ankle-brachial pressure index were lower, but not significantly [SMD: -0.16 (95% CI: -0.50, 0.18) and -0.39 (95% CI: -0.91, 0.13), respectively]. Data showed high to moderate inconsistency and significant heterogeneity. Meta-regression analysis of the SMD and the disease duration found a regression coefficient of 0.086, P = 0.014, confirming that parameters of the included SSc population may have contributed to the heterogeneity.
CONCLUSION
Meta-analysis of the published observational studies confirms that abnormalities attributable to macrovascular involvement are significantly more prevalent in SSc patients compared with controls. Considering the increasing importance of cardiovascular disease in SSc, a more widespread use of cardiovascular risk assessment is warranted.
Topics: Ankle Brachial Index; Atherosclerosis; Blood Flow Velocity; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Observational Studies as Topic; Pulse Wave Analysis; Risk Assessment; Scleroderma, Systemic; Vascular Stiffness; Vasodilation
PubMed: 27565177
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew236 -
The Laryngoscope Jan 2016Cricopharyngeal dysfunction may lead to severe dysphagia and aspiration. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing studies on the... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Cricopharyngeal dysfunction may lead to severe dysphagia and aspiration. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing studies on the effectiveness of myotomy, dilatation, and botulinum toxin (BoT) injection in the management of cricopharyngeal dysphagia.
METHODS
PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched to identify eligible studies by using the terms "cricopharyngeal dysfunction," "cricopharyngeal myotomy," "cricopharyngeal botox," "cricopharyngeal dilation," and their combinations from 1990 to 2013. This was supplemented by hand-searching relevant articles. Eligible articles were independently assessed for quality by two authors. Statistical analysis was performed.
RESULTS
The database search revealed 567 articles. Thirty-two articles met eligibility criteria and were further evaluated. The reported success rates of BoT injections was between 43% and 100% (mean = 76%), dilation 58% and 100% (mean = 81%), and myotomy 25% and 100% (mean = 75%). In logistic regression analysis of the patient-weighted averages, the 78% success rate with myotomy was significantly higher than the 69% success rate with BoT injections (P = .042), whereas the intermediate success rate of 73% with dilation was not significantly different from that of either myotomy (P = .37) or BoT (P = .42). There was a statistically significant difference between endoscopic and open myotomy success rates (P = .0025). Endoscopic myotomy had a higher success rate, with a 2.2 odds ratio.
CONCLUSIONS
The success rate of myotomy is significantly higher than the success rate of BoT injections in cricopharyngeal dysfunction. Moreover, endoscopic myotomy was found to have a higher success rate compared to open myotomy.
Topics: Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Cricoid Cartilage; Dilatation; Esophageal Motility Disorders; Humans; Laryngoscopy; Neuromuscular Agents; Pharyngeal Muscles
PubMed: 26360122
DOI: 10.1002/lary.25447 -
Documenta Ophthalmologica. Advances in... Dec 2017The aim of the meta-analysis was to derive a range of mean normal clinical electrooculogram (EOG) values from a systematic review of published EOG studies that followed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The aim of the meta-analysis was to derive a range of mean normal clinical electrooculogram (EOG) values from a systematic review of published EOG studies that followed the guidelines of the ISCEV standard for clinical electro-oculography.
METHODS
A systematic literature review was performed using four relevant databases limited to peer-reviewed articles in English between 1967 and February 2017. Studies reporting clinical EOG or FO normal values were included when the report used a standard 30° horizontal saccade, a retinal luminance of between 100 and 250 cd m, and had > 10 subjects in their normative values. The search identified 1145 articles after duplicates were removed with subsequent screening of the abstracts excluding a further 1098, resulting in 47 full-text articles that were then assessed by the author (PC) with a final nine articles meeting the inclusion criteria. An overall effect estimate using inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis was performed to estimate the mean values for the light peak/dark trough ratio (LP:DT ratio) (dilated and undilated), the time to the LP, the amplitude of the LP, dark trough (DT) and the fast oscillation (FO) peak-to-trough ratio from the included studies.
RESULTS
The mean dilated LP:DT ratio was 2.35 (95% CI 2.28-2.42); undilated LP:DT ratio was 2.37 (95% CI 2.28-2.45); LP amplitude was 835 (95% CI 631-1039) µV and the mean time to the LP being 8.2 (95% CI 7.7-8.7) min. The mean DT amplitude was 358 (95% CI 292-424) µV, and the mean FO peak-to-trough ratio was 1.13 (95% CI 1.11-1.16). The results of the LP/DT ratio are drawn from studies with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 34.08 ± 12.93 years for dilated and 33.65 ± 12.28 years for undilated LP/DT ratios.
CONCLUSIONS
The meta-analysis of EOG studies has generated a reference range of normal mean values for clinicians to refer to when using the ISCEV clinical EOG. It provides a potential method to generate similar data sets from published normal values in related visual electrophysiology tests.
Topics: Electrooculography; Humans; Reference Values; Retina; Retinal Pigment Epithelium; Vision Tests; Vision, Ocular
PubMed: 29019002
DOI: 10.1007/s10633-017-9616-8 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery Mar 2023To provide an updated systematic literature review summarizing current evidence on aortic neck dilatation (AND) after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To provide an updated systematic literature review summarizing current evidence on aortic neck dilatation (AND) after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.
METHODS
An extensive electronic search in major electronic databases was conducted between January 2000 and December 2021. Eligible for inclusion were observational studies that followed up with patients (n ≥ 20) undergoing EVAR with self-expanding endografts, for 12 or more months, evaluated AND with computed tomography angiography and provided data on relevant outcomes. The primary end point was the incidence of AND after EVAR, and the secondary end points were the occurrence of type Ia endoleak, stent graft migration, secondary rupture, and reintervention.
RESULTS
We included 34 studies with a total sample of 12,038 patients (10,413 men; median age, 71 years). AND was defined clearly in 18 studies, but significant differences in AND definition were evidenced. The pooled incidence of AND based on quantitative analysis of 16 studies with a total of 9201 patients (7961 men; median age, 72 years) was calculated at 22.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.4-34.4) over a follow-up period ranging from 12 months to 14 years. The risk of a type Ia endoleak was significantly higher in AND patients compared with those without AND (odds ratio, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.10-7.93; P = .030). Similarly, endograft migration was more common in the AND group compared with the non-AND group (odds ratio, 5.95; 95% CI, 1.80-19.69; P = .004). The combined incidence of secondary rupture and reintervention did not differ significantly between the two groups, even though the combined effect was in favor of the non-AND group.
CONCLUSIONS
Proximal AND after EVAR is common and occurs in a large proportion of patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. AND can influence the long-term durability of proximal endograft fixation and is significantly related to adverse outcomes, often leading to reinterventions.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Endoleak; Treatment Outcome; Dilatation; Risk Factors; Endovascular Procedures; Retrospective Studies; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Blood Vessel Prosthesis
PubMed: 35948244
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.07.182 -
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic... Jan 2017A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Can mitomycin facilitate endoscopic... (Review)
Review
A best evidence topic in cardiothoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Can mitomycin facilitate endoscopic dilatation treatment of benign esophageal stricture (mainly including caustic and anastomotic esophageal stricture)?' Altogether, 115 papers were found using the reported search, of which 6 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question, which included 1 randomized controlled trial, 1 systematic review and 4 cohort studies. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Mytomicin was topically applied as an adjunct to endoscopic dilatation with a concentration of 0.1-1 mg/ml in those included studies. Most of the studies reported that topical application of mitomycin could augment the effect of endoscopic dilatation treatment to achieve less dilatation number and significant improvement of dysphagia in patients suffering benign oesophageal stricture, and would not increase the risk of complications. These satisfying adjunct effects were observed in both child patients and adult patients. Therefore, we conclude that mitomycin can serve as a useful adjunct to endoscopic dilatation for benign oesophageal stricture. On the basis of our evidence, we strongly believe that topical application of mitomycin would augment the efficacy of endoscopic dilatation of benign oesophageal stricture.
Topics: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Dilatation; Esophageal Stenosis; Esophagoscopy; Humans; Mitomycin
PubMed: 27664425
DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivw318 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2020Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated cardiac injury has been postulated secondary to several mechanisms. While tissue diagnosis is...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated cardiac injury has been postulated secondary to several mechanisms. While tissue diagnosis is limited during the acute illness, postmortem studies can help boost our understanding and guide management. To report the cardiac tissue autopsy findings in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) decedents. Articles published in PubMed and Embase reporting postmortem cardiac pathology of COVID-19 decedents till September 2020. We included adult studies excluding preprints. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports was used to assess quality. We extracted gross and histology data as well as the incidence of myocarditis, cardiac ischemia, thrombosis, and dilatation. We also looked at the reported cause of death (PROSPERO registration CRD42020190898). Forty-one relevant studies identified including 316 cases. The deceased were mostly male (62%) and elderly (median age, 75; range, 22-97 years). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (48%) and coronary artery disease (33%). Cardiac pathologies contributed to the death of 15 cases. Besides chronic cardiac pathologies, postmortem examination demonstrated cardiac dilatation (20%), acute ischemia (8%), intracardiac thrombi (2.5%), pericardial effusion (2.5%), and myocarditis (1.5%). SARS-CoV-2 was detected within the myocardium of 47% of studied hearts. SARS-CoV-2 can invade the heart, but a minority of cases were found to have myocarditis. Cardiac dilatation, ischemia, mural, and microthrombi were the most frequent findings. The systematic review was limited by the small number of cases and the quality of the studies, and there is a need to standardize the cardiac postmortem protocols.
PubMed: 33585586
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.626975 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are abnormal dilations of the cerebral vessels, which pose a persistent threat of cerebral hemorrhage. Inflammation is known to contribute... (Review)
Review
Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are abnormal dilations of the cerebral vessels, which pose a persistent threat of cerebral hemorrhage. Inflammation is known to contribute to IA development. The nuclear factor "kappa-light-chain-enhancer" of activated B-cells (NF-κB) is the major driver of inflammation. It increases the expression of inflammatory markers and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which contribute heavily to the pathogenesis of IAs. NF-κB activation has been linked to IA rupture and resulting subarachnoid hemorrhage. Moreover, NF-κB activation can result in endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the arterial wall, which subsequently leads to the initiation and progression of IAs and consequently results in rupture. After a systematic search, abstract screening, and full-text screening, 30 research articles were included in the review. In this systematic review, we summarized the scientific literature reporting findings on NF-κB's role in the pathogenesis of IAs. In conclusion, the activation of the NF-κB pathway was associated with IA formation, progression, and rupture.
Topics: Humans; NF-kappa B; Intracranial Aneurysm; Signal Transduction; Arteries; Inflammation
PubMed: 37762520
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814218 -
Journal of Crohn's & Colitis Feb 2018Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis removes the diseased tissue in ulcerative colitis but also allows gastrointestinal continuity and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis removes the diseased tissue in ulcerative colitis but also allows gastrointestinal continuity and stoma-free living. Pouch strictures are a complication with a reported incidence of 5-38%. The three areas where pouch strictures occur are in the pouch inlet, mid-pouch and pouch-anal anastomosis.
AIM
To undertake a systematic review of the literature and to identify management strategies available for pouch-anal, mid-pouch and pre-pouch ileal strictures and their outcomes.
METHODS
A computer-assisted search of the online bibliographic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE limited to 1966 to February 2016 was performed. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, observational studies and case reports were considered. Those where data could not be extracted were excluded.
RESULTS
Twenty-two articles were considered eligible. Pouch-anal strictures have been initially managed using predominately dilators which include bougie and Hegar dilators with various surgical procedures advocated when initial dilatation fails. Mid-pouch strictures are relatively unstudied with both medical, endoscopic and surgical management reported as successful. Pouch inlet strictures can be safely managed using a combined medical and endoscopic approach.
CONCLUSION
The limited evidence available suggests that pouch-anal strictures are best treated in a stepwise fashion with initial treatment to include digital or instrumental dilatation followed by surgical revision or resection. Management of mid-pouch strictures requires a combination of medical, endoscopic and surgical management. Pouch inlet strictures are best managed using a combined medical and endoscopic approach. Future studies should compare different treatment modalities on separate stricture locations to enable an evidenced-based treatment algorithm.
Topics: Colonic Pouches; Constriction, Pathologic; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Dilatation; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Humans; Ileum
PubMed: 29155985
DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjx151