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Cancers Jun 2023Intensified systemic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has led to improved patient outcomes. Patients commonly require local control of one or a few... (Review)
Review
Intensified systemic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has led to improved patient outcomes. Patients commonly require local control of one or a few metastases. The aim was to evaluate metastasis-directed ablative therapies in extracranial mRCC. Two databases and one registry were searched, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, for all prospective and matched-pair case-control mRCC studies of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryotherapy, microwave ablation (MWA), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Eighteen studies were identified. Fourteen investigated SBRT in 424 patients. Four thermal ablation studies were identified: two cryotherapy (56 patients) and two RFA studies (90 patients). The median participant number was 30 (range 12-69). The combined median follow-up was 17.3 months (range 8-52). Four SBRT studies reported local control (LC) at 12 months, median 84.4% (range 82.5-93). Seven studies (six SBRT and one cryotherapy) reported an LC rate of median 87% (79-100%). Median overall survival (OS) was reported in eight studies (five SBRT, two cryotherapy, and one RFA) with a median of 22.7 months (range 6.7-not reached). Median progression-free survival was reported in seven studies (five SBRT, one cryotherapy, and one RFA); the median was 9.3 months (range 3.0-22.7 months). Grade ≥ 3 toxicity ranged from 1.7% to 10%. SBRT has excellent local control outcomes and acceptable toxicity. Only four eligible thermal ablative studies were identified and could not be compared with SBRT. Translationally rich definitive studies are warranted.
PubMed: 37444565
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133455 -
Traffic Injury Prevention 2022Road traffic crashes involving vertical curbs are commonly reported to occur on highways and expressways in India. We found a gap in terms of systematically assessing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Road traffic crashes involving vertical curbs are commonly reported to occur on highways and expressways in India. We found a gap in terms of systematically assessing the evidence of the impact of curbs on road safety outcomes in the real world.
METHOD
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of curbs on the risk of road traffic injuries. We used keywords in a database of records prepared by an earlier evidence gap map (EGM). The EGM used a comprehensive search strategy including 6 academic database, 17 organizational websites, hand searching, contacting experts and back referencing.
RESULTS
We found 4 studies that evaluated impact of a curbed median or a curbed shoulder. We found that the presence of a curb on a median increases the risk for all crashes, all single-vehicle crashes, all median-related crashes and median-related injury crashes. The data also indicate that the severity of accidents reduces for curbs on median while it increases for curbs on shoulder, though the latter effect is not statistically significant. All the epidemiological studies were conducted on rural highways and did not report effects for different traffic speeds or vehicle types. However, our review of crash tests and simulation studies indicates that the impact of a curb design may be highly sensitive to speed and vehicle types.
CONCLUSIONS
The safety impacts of a curb depend on the context of the road. In an urban road, a curb should ensure safety of pedestrians from an errant vehicle. On high-speed rural roads, curbs should be avoided and treatments should facilitate safe departure of the vehicle from the roadway.
Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Computer Simulation; Databases, Factual; Humans; Rural Population; Safety; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 35420974
DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2022.2055005 -
HPB : the Official Journal of the... Jan 2016To review the evidence on the safety and efficacy of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for biliary and gallbladder cancers. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To review the evidence on the safety and efficacy of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for biliary and gallbladder cancers.
METHODS
Medline and EMBASE were systematically searched for papers of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy in patients with biliary and gallbladder cancers.
RESULTS
Eighteen studies involving 397 patients were reviewed. Major hepatectomy was undertaken in 81.3% of the 397 patients and the R0 resection rate was 71.3%. The morbidity and mortality rates were 78.9% and 10.3%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate ranged from 3% to 50% (median = 31%). The 5-year survival rate in patients who underwent curative resection was 18-68.8% (median = 51.3%), and 0% in patients who received non-curative resection.
CONCLUSIONS
Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy is a challenging procedure with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, this procedure can provide a chance of long-term survival in patients in whom curative resection is feasible.
Topics: Aged; Biliary Tract Neoplasms; Female; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Hepatectomy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreaticoduodenectomy; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26776844
DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2015.07.008 -
Clinical Rheumatology Jul 2022Identification of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) remains challenging, frequently resulting in a diagnostic delay for patients. Current benchmarks of delay are usually... (Review)
Review
Identification of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) remains challenging, frequently resulting in a diagnostic delay for patients. Current benchmarks of delay are usually reported as mean data, which are typically skewed and therefore may be overestimating delay. Our aim was to determine the extent of median delay patients' experience in receiving a diagnosis of axSpA and examine whether specific factors are associated with the presence of such delay. We conducted a systematic review across five literature databases (from inception to November 2021), with studies reporting the average time period of diagnostic delay in patients with axSpA being included. Any additional information examining associations between specific factors and delay were also extracted. A narrative synthesis was used to report the median range of diagnostic delay experienced by patients with axSpA and summarise which factors have a role in the delay. From an initial 11,995 articles, 69 reported an average time period of diagnostic delay, with 25 of these providing a median delay from symptom onset to diagnosis. Across these studies, delay ranged from 0.67 to 8 years, with over three-quarters reporting a median of between 2 years and 6 years. A third of all studies reported median delay data ranging from just 2 to 2.3 years. Of seven variables reported with sufficient frequency to evaluate, only 'gender' and 'family history of axSpA' had sufficient concordant data to draw any conclusion on their role, neither influenced the extent of the delay. Despite improvements in recent decades, patients with axSpA frequently experience years of diagnostic delay and this remains an extensive worldwide problem. This is further compounded by a mixed picture of the disease, patient and healthcare-related factors influencing delay. Key points • Despite improvements in recent decades, patients with axSpA frequently experience years of diagnostic delay. • Median diagnostic delay typically ranges from 2 to 6 years globally. • Neither 'gender' nor 'family history of axSpA' influenced the extent of diagnostic delay experienced. • Diagnostic delay based on mean, rather than median, data influences the interpretation of the delay time period and consistently reports a longer delay period.
Topics: Axial Spondyloarthritis; Databases, Factual; Delayed Diagnosis; Humans; Spondylarthritis; Spondylitis, Ankylosing
PubMed: 35182270
DOI: 10.1007/s10067-022-06100-7 -
Reproductive Biomedicine Online Jan 2017Alcohol consumption is widespread in the Western world. Some studies have suggested a negative association between alcohol intake and semen quality although others have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Alcohol consumption is widespread in the Western world. Some studies have suggested a negative association between alcohol intake and semen quality although others have not confirmed this. MEDLINE and Embase were searched using 'alcohol intake' OR 'alcohol consumption' OR 'alcohol drinking' OR 'lifestyle' combined with 'semen quality' OR 'sperm quality' OR 'sperm volume' OR 'sperm concentration' OR 'sperm motility' for full-length observational articles, published in English. Reference lists of retrieved articles were searched for other pertinent studies. Main outcome measures were sperm parameters, if provided as means (standard deviation or standard error) or as medians (interquartile range). Fifteen cross-sectional studies were included, with 16,395 men enrolled. Main results showed that alcohol intake has a detrimental effect on semen volume (pooled estimate for no/low alcohol consumption 0.25 ml, 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.42) and normal morphology (1.87%, 95% CI, 0.86 to 2.88%). The difference was more marked when comparing occasional versus daily consumers, rather than never versus occasional, suggesting a moderate consumption did not adversely affect semen parameters. Hence, studies evaluating the effect of changes on semen parameters on the reproductive outcomes are needed in advance of providing recommendations regarding alcohol intake other than the advice to avoid heavy alcohol drinking.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Infertility, Male; Life Style; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Risk Factors; Semen; Semen Analysis; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 28029592
DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2016.09.012 -
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Dec 2022To synthesise competition and training injury data in amateur boxing. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
To synthesise competition and training injury data in amateur boxing.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis. Pooled estimates of competition injury incidence rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (IIR) and per 1000 min of exposure (IIR), and training injury incidence rates per 1000 h of exposure (IIR) were obtained by fitting random-effects models.
METHODS
MEDLINE, Embase, AMED, AUSPORT, and SPORTDiscus databases were searched from inception to 27 May 2022. Cohort studies with prospectively collected injury and exposure data from amateur boxing competition or training published in peer-reviewed journals were eligible for inclusion.
RESULTS
Seventeen studies were eligible for inclusion. The competition IIR and IIR summary estimates were 54.7 (95 % CI 33.8-88.4) and 6.8 (95 % CI 4.2-10.9), respectively. The training IIR summary estimate was 1.3 (95 % CI 0.2-7.0). The most commonly injured body regions in the competition and training settings were the head and neck (median: 72 %; range: 46 % to 100 %) and upper limb (median: 49 %; range: 40 % to 53 %), respectively. The predominant types of injury were contusions (median: 35 %; range: 5 % to 100 %) and lacerations and abrasions (median: 20 %; range: 0 % to 69 %) in the competition setting, and sprains and strains (median: 60 %; range: 50 % to 81 %) in the training setting.
CONCLUSIONS
Amateur boxing athletes sustain, on average, 1 injury every 2.5 h of competition and every 772 h of training. There is a need for identifying injury mechanisms and modifiable risk factors that can be targeted by preventive measures to reduce the burden of injury in amateur boxing.
Topics: Humans; Boxing; Athletic Injuries; Prospective Studies; Athletes; Craniocerebral Trauma; Incidence
PubMed: 36195527
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2022.09.165 -
The Journal of Antimicrobial... Jan 2016The objective of this study was to systematically review quantitative and qualitative studies on the public's knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic resistance. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to systematically review quantitative and qualitative studies on the public's knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic resistance.
METHODS
We searched four databases to July 2014, with no language or study design restrictions. Two reviewers independently extracted data. We calculated the median (IQR) of the proportion of participants who agreed with each statement and synthesized qualitative data by identifying emergent themes.
RESULTS
Of 3537 articles screened, 54 studies (41 quantitative, 3 mixed methods and 10 qualitative) were included (55 225 participants). Most studied adults (50; 93% studies) and were conducted in Europe (23; 43%), Asia (14; 26%) or North America (12; 22%). Some participants [median 70% (IQR 50%-84%); n = 8 studies] had heard of antibiotic resistance, but most [median 88% (IQR 86%-89%); n = 2 studies] believed it referred to changes in the human body. Many believed excessive antibiotic use [median 70% (IQR 59%-77%); n = 11 studies] and not completing antibiotic courses [median 62% (IQR 47%-77%); n = 8 studies] caused resistance. Most participants nominated reducing antibiotic use [median 74% (IQR 72%-85%); n = 4 studies] and discussing antibiotic resistance with their clinician (84%, n = 1 study) as strategies to reduce resistance. Qualitative data supported these findings and additionally identified that: participants believed they were at low risk from antibiotic resistance participants; largely attributed its development to the actions of others; and strategies to minimize resistance should be primarily aimed at clinicians.
CONCLUSIONS
The public have an incomplete understanding of antibiotic resistance and misperceptions about it and its causes and do not believe they contribute to its development. These data can be used to inform interventions to change the public's beliefs about how they can contribute to tackling this global issue.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Asia; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Drug Utilization; Europe; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; North America
PubMed: 26459555
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkv310 -
The International Journal of... May 2024The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve in Parkinson's disease remains unclear. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve in Parkinson's disease remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES
This meta-analysis assesses median nerve CSA changes in Parkinson's using ultrasonography.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO were selectively searched for literature on Parkinson's disease, Median nerve, and ultrasonography. Following full-text screening, three studies were included in this meta-analysis with 144 Parkinson's disease patients and 127 controls. The primary outcome was the cross-sectional area of the median nerve; other motor parameters were also evaluated.
RESULTS
The cross-sectional area of the median nerve was significantly increased in Parkinson's patients compared to controls (); the standardized mean difference was 0.79 [95% CI (0.21 - 1.37)]. The standardized mean difference of the motor parameters of the median nerve, amplitude, and latency was -0.04 [95% CI (-0.85 to 0.77)] and 0.30 [95% CI (-0.04 to 0.64)], respectively, with statistically insignificant (All > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis concluded that the cross-sectional area of the median nerve is increased in Parkinson's disease patients. The increase in the CSA of the median nerve might explain the higher prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in Parkinson's disease. Further studies are needed to quantify carpal tunnel syndrome prevalence accurately in Parkinson's.
LIMITATIONS
Heterogeneity exists due to non-standardized CSA calculation methods and varied disease stages. Finger movement during ultrasound may introduce artifacts, compromising CSA measurement accuracy. Establishing a definitive CSA cut-off for carpal tunnel syndrome in Parkinson's requires further investigation.
PubMed: 38497467
DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2024.2327407 -
Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics Sep 2023Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes have high rates of associated exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). This review evaluated the current evidence on prevalence and... (Review)
Review
Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes have high rates of associated exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). This review evaluated the current evidence on prevalence and treatment of EPI in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and compared general population prevalence rates of EPI and prevalence of other common gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease and gastroparesis based on within-diabetes rates of common gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. Prevalence of EPI in type 1 diabetes ranges from 14% to 77.5% (median 33%), while EPI in type 2 diabetes ranges from 16.8% to 49.2% (median 29%), and where type of diabetes is not specified in studies, ranges from 5.4% to 77%. In studies with control groups of the general population, prevalence of EPI overall in those without diabetes ranged from 4.4% to 18%, median 13%, which is comparable with other estimated general population prevalence rates of EPI (10%-20%). Cumulatively, this suggests there may be significant numbers of people with diabetes with EPI who are undiagnosed. People with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) who present with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as steatorrhea or changes in stool, bloating, and/or abdominal pain, should be screened for EPI. Both diabetes specialists and gastroenterologists and primary care providers should be aware of the high rates of prevalence of diabetes and EPI and recommend fecal elastase-1 screening for people with diabetes and GI symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Prevalence; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency; Gastroparesis
PubMed: 37440180
DOI: 10.1089/dia.2023.0157 -
Respiratory Care Sep 2016Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) is an uncommon complication that results after tracheal intubation. Herein, we perform a systematic review of the... (Review)
Review
Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) is an uncommon complication that results after tracheal intubation. Herein, we perform a systematic review of the PubMed and EmBase databases for all the cases describing OFTP. The systematic search yielded 28 citations describing 53 subjects with OFTP. The study population (61.1% females) comprised of both adults and pediatric subjects with a median (IQR) age of 40.5 (14.8-60.5) years. The median (IQR) size of endotracheal tube was 7.5 (6-9.3) mm with a median (IQR) duration of intubation of 36 (14-96) hours. The median (IQR) time to onset of symptoms after extubation was 24 (6-96) hours. Stridor was the most common symptom. The average delay in correctly identifying the OFTP was 26 hours. The diagnosis of tracheal pseudomembrane was confirmed by flexible bronchoscopy in 38 (70.4%) instances while rigid bronchoscopy was used in 46.3% subjects for removing the pseudomembrane. There were two deaths, one each in an adult and a pediatric subject. OFTP is a complication of tracheal intubation and presents with respiratory failure. The diagnosis can be confirmed by flexible bronchoscopy. Treatment involves removal of the obstructing membrane with either flexible or rigid bronchoscopy.
Topics: Airway Extubation; Airway Obstruction; Bronchoscopy; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Respiratory Sounds; Tracheal Diseases
PubMed: 27247431
DOI: 10.4187/respcare.04662