-
PloS One 2015Diagnostic clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are developed to improve diagnosis or decrease diagnostic testing. Whether, and in what situations diagnostic CPRs improve... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Diagnostic clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are developed to improve diagnosis or decrease diagnostic testing. Whether, and in what situations diagnostic CPRs improve upon clinical judgment is unclear.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL, with supplementary citation and reference checking for studies comparing CPRs and clinical judgment against a current objective reference standard. We report 1) the proportion of study participants classified as not having disease who hence may avoid further testing and or treatment and 2) the proportion, among those classified as not having disease, who do (missed diagnoses) by both approaches. 31 studies of 13 medical conditions were included, with 46 comparisons between CPRs and clinical judgment. In 2 comparisons (4%), CPRs reduced the proportion of missed diagnoses, but this was offset by classifying a larger proportion of study participants as having disease (more false positives). In 36 comparisons (78%) the proportion of diagnoses missed by CPRs and clinical judgment was similar, and in 9 of these, the CPRs classified a larger proportion of participants as not having disease (fewer false positives). In 8 comparisons (17%) the proportion of diagnoses missed by the CPRs was greater. This was offset by classifying a smaller proportion of participants as having the disease (fewer false positives) in 2 comparisons. There were no comparisons where the CPR missed a smaller proportion of diagnoses than clinical judgment and classified more participants as not having the disease. The design of the included studies allows evaluation of CPRs when their results are applied independently of clinical judgment. The performance of CPRs, when implemented by clinicians as a support to their judgment may be different.
CONCLUSIONS
In the limited studies to date, CPRs are rarely superior to clinical judgment and there is generally a trade-off between the proportion classified as not having disease and the proportion of missed diagnoses. Differences between the two methods of judgment are likely the result of different diagnostic thresholds for positivity. Which is the preferred judgment method for a particular clinical condition depends on the relative benefits and harms of true positive and false positive diagnoses.
Topics: Bias; Decision Support Techniques; Disease; Humans; Judgment; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26039538
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128233 -
Neuropsychology Review Dec 2023Although attention and early associative learning in preverbal children is predominantly driven by rapid eye-movements in response to moving visual stimuli and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Although attention and early associative learning in preverbal children is predominantly driven by rapid eye-movements in response to moving visual stimuli and sounds/words (e.g., associating the word "bottle" with the object), the literature examining the role of visual attention and memory in ongoing vocabulary development across childhood is limited. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis examined the association between visual memory and vocabulary development, including moderators such as age and task selection, in neurotypical children aged 2-to-12 years, from the brain-based perspective of cognitive neuroscience. Visual memory tasks were classified according to the visual characteristics of the stimuli and the neural networks known to preferentially process such information, including consideration of the distinction between the ventral visual stream (processing more static visuo-perceptual details, such as form or colour) and the more dynamic dorsal visual stream (processing spatial temporal action-driven information). Final classifications included spatio-temporal span tasks, visuo-perceptual or spatial concurrent array tasks, and executive judgment tasks. Visuo-perceptual concurrent array tasks, reliant on ventral stream processing, were moderately associated with vocabulary, while tasks measuring spatio-temporal spans, associated with dorsal stream processing, and executive judgment tasks (central executive), showed only weak correlations with vocabulary. These findings have important implications for health professionals and researchers interested in language, as they advocate for the development of more targeted language learning interventions that include specific and relevant aspects of visual processing and memory, such as ventral stream visuo-perceptual details (i.e., shape or colour).
Topics: Child; Humans; Vocabulary; Memory; Visual Perception; Brain; Language
PubMed: 36136174
DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09561-4 -
Asian Journal of Psychiatry Feb 2023Despite common, serious, costly, and often fatal conditions affecting up to 50 % of older patients, delirium is often unrecognized and overlooked. We examine the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Despite common, serious, costly, and often fatal conditions affecting up to 50 % of older patients, delirium is often unrecognized and overlooked. We examine the accuracy of the 4AT for detecting older patients with delirium.
METHODS
We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases from inception to April 2020 and updated to January 2022. Four independently reviewers extracted study data and assessed the methodological quality using the revised quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies tool (QUADAS-2). Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity were generated using a bivariate random effects model. All statistical analyses were performed with STATA version 15.1 and Meta-DiSc version 1.4 software.
RESULTS
Eleven studies with 2789 participants were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.81-0.91) and 0.87 (95 % CI: 0.79-0.92), respectively, and the positive and negative likelihood ratios were 6.66 (95 % CI: 4.12-10.74) and 0.15 (95 % CI: 0.10-0.23), respectively. Deeks' test indicated no significant publication bias (t = 0.83, P = 0.43). Univariable meta-regression showed that patient selection and flow and timing significantly influenced the pooled sensitivity (P < 0.05), settings significantly influenced the pooled specificity (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our meta-analysis demonstrates that 4AT is a sensitive and specific screening tool for delirium in older patients. Its brevity and simplicity support its use in routine clinical practice, particularly in time-poor settings. Clinicians should come to a conclusion based largely on the 4AT findings in conjunction with clinical judgment.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Delirium
PubMed: 36584541
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103374 -
International Journal of Clinical... 2022This study aimed at systematically reviewing the clinical success of repaired iatrogenic perforations using different materials in primary teeth. (Review)
Review
AIM
This study aimed at systematically reviewing the clinical success of repaired iatrogenic perforations using different materials in primary teeth.
OBJECTIVES
To compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with other biomaterials for the repair of iatrogenic perforations in primary molars during endodontic procedures.
SEARCH METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted by using three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) to identify articles that evaluated the different intervention materials for the repair of iatrogenic perforation in primary molars. Selection criteria: The articles reporting perforation repair in primary molars having clinical and radiographic success, as their outcome measures with a follow-up period of at least 1 year were included in this review. Studies and case reports with insufficient or unstated follow-up periods, in vitro, and animal studies were excluded.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers (SM, LM) independently screened all titles and abstracts according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Full texts of the selected studies were obtained for the second stage screening. The consensus was achieved by discussion with the third reviewer (AJ). Data extraction included study design, sample size, age of the patient, year of the study, follow-up period, outcome assessment criteria, material for repair, and success and failure.
REVIEW RESULTS
A total of seven publications were included in this review. Of which, one was case series, three were case reports, and three were interventional studies. The combined success rate of MTA (80.55%) was inferior to other materials-premixed bioceramics, Atelocollagen, and calcium-enriched mixture (96.07%); the same being statistically significant ( = 0.011).
CONCLUSION
Within the limitations of our study, it can be concluded that newer biomimetic materials are superior to MTA for iatrogenic perforation repair in primary molars in terms of clinical success.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
This paper is a first-of-its-kind investigation comparing different materials used in the repair of perforations in primary molars. It can be a foundation for further research on the topic. In absence of any available guidelines, the above study can be applied in clinical situations with appropriate judgment and caution.
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
Mungekar-Markandey S, Mistry L, Jawdekar A. Clinical Success of Iatrogenic Perforation Repair Using Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Other Materials in Primary Molars: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(5):610-616.
PubMed: 36865717
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2038 -
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Sep 2019About 21% of adults with osteoarthritis (OA) are diagnosed with concomitant depression in addition to chronic pain. Duloxetine, an anti-depressant medication, has been... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
About 21% of adults with osteoarthritis (OA) are diagnosed with concomitant depression in addition to chronic pain. Duloxetine, an anti-depressant medication, has been recently approved for managing Knee OA. We performed a systematic review to ascertain the efficacy and safety of duloxetine for OA. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Database from inception to December 2018. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy and/or safety of duloxetine versus placebo in OA patients were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were undertaken by two independent reviewers. Seven RCTs (n = 2,102 participants) met our inclusion criteria, and five RCTs (n = 1,713) were eligible for meta-analysis. The results of our analyses indicate that duloxetine has statistically significant, moderate benefits on pain, function, and quality of life in knee OA patients for up to 13 weeks. Reported incidences of gastrointestinal adverse events were three to four times higher in participants who received duloxetine versus placebo. Duloxetine may be an effective treatment option for individuals with knee OA, but use of the drug is associated with a significantly higher risk of adverse events. Patient preferences and clinicians' judgment must be considered before the initiation of duloxetine.
Topics: Aged; Antirheumatic Agents; Duloxetine Hydrochloride; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Quality of Life; Remission Induction; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30871298
DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2018.460 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in various sectors, including medicine and healthcare. Large language models like ChatGPT showcase... (Review)
Review
Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in various sectors, including medicine and healthcare. Large language models like ChatGPT showcase AI's potential by generating human-like text through prompts. ChatGPT's adaptability holds promise for reshaping medical practices, improving patient care, and enhancing interactions among healthcare professionals, patients, and data. In pandemic management, ChatGPT rapidly disseminates vital information. It serves as a virtual assistant in surgical consultations, aids dental practices, simplifies medical education, and aids in disease diagnosis. A total of 82 papers were categorised into eight major areas, which are G1: treatment and medicine, G2: buildings and equipment, G3: parts of the human body and areas of the disease, G4: patients, G5: citizens, G6: cellular imaging, radiology, pulse and medical images, G7: doctors and nurses, and G8: tools, devices and administration. Balancing AI's role with human judgment remains a challenge. A systematic literature review using the PRISMA approach explored AI's transformative potential in healthcare, highlighting ChatGPT's versatile applications, limitations, motivation, and challenges. In conclusion, ChatGPT's diverse medical applications demonstrate its potential for innovation, serving as a valuable resource for students, academics, and researchers in healthcare. Additionally, this study serves as a guide, assisting students, academics, and researchers in the field of medicine and healthcare alike.
PubMed: 38201418
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14010109 -
Academic Pediatrics 2022Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) provide a framework to make judgments of trainees' abilities in several settings including postgraduate medical education. No... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) provide a framework to make judgments of trainees' abilities in several settings including postgraduate medical education. No systematic review of the role of EPAs in pediatrics has yet been performed.
OBJECTIVES
In our systematic review, we sought to determine the use of EPAs in pediatrics to identify research gaps, summarize and discuss evidence relating to the development, implementation, and assessment.
DATA SOURCES
Medline, Scopus, PsycINFO, MedEdPortal, and Web of Science.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Two independent reviewers used a structured screening protocol in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Association for Medical Education in Europe's guide for systematic reviews to include all articles reporting on EPAs in postgraduate medical education and pediatrics in particular. There were no restrictions due to language, study design, or participants.
STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS
Data on development, implementation, feasibility, acceptance, and assessment of EPAs were extracted and analyzed by the 2 independent researchers.
RESULTS
Twenty-eight articles published between 2014 and 2020 were included in the review. We found an increase in publications and a notable shift from descriptions of development processes toward aspects beyond development, ie, implementation, feasibility, acceptance/perception, and assessment.
LIMITATIONS
Studies from non-English-speaking countries are scarce which might lead to an inaccurate representation of actual international practice.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS
We provide a comprehensive overview of EPAs in pediatrics to guide future curriculum developers in collaborative development, implementation and assessment of EPAs in pediatric postgraduate medical education.
Topics: Child; Clinical Competence; Competency-Based Education; Education, Medical; Humans; Internship and Residency; Pediatrics
PubMed: 34256178
DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2021.07.007 -
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Sep 2022Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disorder commonly seen in young female adults. Cognitive impairment is one of the widespread symptoms of MS. In recent... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disorder commonly seen in young female adults. Cognitive impairment is one of the widespread symptoms of MS. In recent years multiple studies sought the possible risk factors for MS-related cognitive deficit. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype is one of the genetic factors which correlated significantly with cognitive status and it is a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we collected the current evidence to evaluate the association between the ApoE genotype and the cognitive outcomes in patients with MS.
METHOD
Results of searches through Medline via PubMed, Scopus, and ISI web of science, as well as hand searching, were screened in the title/abstract and full-text stages. English observational studies in which the association between ApoE and cognitive outcomes, in patients with MS were included in this systematic review. Animal studies, conference abstracts, reviews, clinical trials, case reports, letters and withdrawn studies, were not included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools and the meta-analysis was conducted with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA.2) software. The numbers of patients with impairment in both ApoE4+ and ApoE4- groups were utilized for the calculation of the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and a 0.05 level of significance for p-value.
RESULT
Out of 224 results of searching, 13 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in our systematic review, and 5 of them were included in the quantitative synthesis. Eleven studies assessed the cognitive status of patients with MS in two groups of ApoE4+ and ApoE4- while 2 rests, reported the rate of ApoE4+ patients in cognitively impaired and non-impaired groups. The phenotype of MS was only Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 3 studies and in the other 10 studies, it was a mixture of RRMS, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and progressive MS. Most of the reports did not find a significant association between ApoE genotype and cognitive outcomes in patients with MS. Contrary to the expectations, patients in ApoE4- group were more likely to have impairment in Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO) (OR: 0.405; 95% CI: 0.173 to 0.949, p-value:0.038), while ApoE4+ patients had more rate of impairment in SRT (OR:1.901; 95%CI: 1.237 to 2.920; p-value:0.003). Appropriate identifying and dealing with cofounding factors were the most common source of bias in our included studies.
CONCLUSION
ApoE may have a domain-specific association with cognitive impairment in MS patients. ApoE4 patients had more delayed responses to stimuli, but the rate of impaired visuospatial perception is lower in these patients. Based on the current evidence, there is a doubt about the clinical significance of this association.
Topics: Apolipoprotein E4; Apolipoproteins E; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Female; Genotype; Humans; Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting
PubMed: 35803087
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104011 -
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation Jul 2022The evidence on the relationship between anxiety and depression and patients with distinct subtypes of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is uncertain, so a thorough... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The evidence on the relationship between anxiety and depression and patients with distinct subtypes of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is uncertain, so a thorough review study on the topic is still missing.
OBJECTIVES
This systematic review investigated the distribution and severity of anxiety and depression in patients diagnosed with different subtypes of TMD.
METHODS
The study is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020150562) and it followed the PRISMA 2020 Statement. We searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO databases (last search: 12 March 2021) and the reference list from the included studies. Study eligibility criteria consisted of: (i) patients diagnosed with TMD using the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC/TMD) or Diagnostic Criteria (DC/TMD) instruments; (ii) assessment of anxiety and/or depression with validated psychological instruments and (iii) allocation of patients into a minimum of two distinct TMD subtypes with at least one group having myofascial pain (comparison group). Analyses were carried out using RevMan 5.3.5 statistical package and random- or fixed-effects models (α = 0.05). The quality of evidence was assessed based on review authors' judgment derived from a 10-item appraisal tool for prevalence studies and with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.
RESULTS
Of the 4086 records identified in total, 24 were eligible for inclusion; meta-analyses were conducted with 20 studies. In total, 3678 subjects were included in the review. Most of the studies found that patients with myofascial pain showed similar occurrence and severity of anxiety/depression as compared to other subtypes of TMD, although the average prevalence seemed to be higher among the diagnoses consisting of myofascial pain (muscular TMD). Despite the moderate-to-high heterogeneity, anxiety and depression were more frequently distributed within patients with myofascial pain (p = .001). TMD patients without myofascial pain presented less severe levels of anxiety and depression than patients with only myofascial pain (p ≤ .01). The type of psychological instrument seems to affect the assessment of both anxiety and depression emotional states.
CONCLUSION
The findings of this review suggest that patients with myofascial pain are more anxious and more depressed than patients with other subtypes of TMD.
IMPLICATIONS
Considering that anxiety and depression are differently distributed within the TMD population, a proper assessment of the psychological state of patients seems essential to offer an adequate treatment and management of each specific subtype of TMD.
Topics: Anxiety; Depression; Humans; Myofascial Pain Syndromes; Pain; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
PubMed: 35398904
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13331 -
International Wound Journal Feb 2017Diabetic foot ulcerations may determine minor or major amputation, with a high impact on patients' life expectation and quality of life and on economic burden. Among... (Review)
Review
Diabetic foot ulcerations may determine minor or major amputation, with a high impact on patients' life expectation and quality of life and on economic burden. Among minor amputations, transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) appears to be the most effective in terms of limb salvage rates and in maintaining foot and ankle biomechanics. In spite of this, TMA needs particular pre- and postoperative management in order to avoid the frequent failure rates. A systematic review was undertaken of studies concerning TMA and its care in diabetic foot gangrene. Studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE, Scopus and Science Direct databases until 13 January 2016. All studies were assessed using the Downs and Black quality checklist. Of the 348 records found, 86 matched our inclusion criteria. After reading the full-text articles, we decided to exclude 35 manuscripts because of the following reasons: (1) no innovative or important content, (2) no multivariable analysis, (3) insufficient data, (4) no clear potential biases or strategies to solve them, (5) no clear endpoints and (6) inconsistent or arbitrary conclusions. The final set included 51 articles. In the current literature, there are less data about TMA, indication for the selection of patients, outcomes and complications. Generally, the judgment of an experienced physician is one of the best indicators of subsequent healing. Ankle brachial indices, toe pressures, laser Doppler skin perfusion pressures, angiography and Doppler assessment of foot vasculature may help physicians in this decision. In any case, despite the presumed lower healing rate, it is reasonable to pursue a TMA in a patient with a higher likelihood of continued ambulation. Furthermore, tailored wound closure, adjuvant local treatments and the choice of the most appropriate antibiotic therapy, when infection occurs, are pivotal elements for the success of TMA procedures. TMA is a valuable option for diabetic foot gangrene that can prevent major limb loss and minimise loss of function, thus improving the quality of life for diabetic patients.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amputation, Surgical; Diabetic Foot; Female; Gangrene; Humans; Male; Metatarsal Bones; Middle Aged
PubMed: 27696694
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12682