-
Hand Therapy Dec 2022The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence regarding prognostic factors for persistent pain, including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), after... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence regarding prognostic factors for persistent pain, including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), after a distal radius fracture (DRF), a common condition after which persistent pain can develop.
METHODS
Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Psychinfo, CINAHL, BNI, AMED and the Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials were searched from inception to May 2021 for prospective longitudinal prognostic factor studies investigating persistent pain in adults who had sustained a DRF. The Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework were used to assess the strength of evidence.
RESULTS
A search yielded 440 studies of which 7 studies met full eligibility criteria. From five studies we found low evidence for high baseline pain or an ulnar styloid fracture as prognostic factors for persistent pain, and very low evidence for diabetes or older age. From two studies, investigating an outcome of CRPS, there was low evidence for high baseline pain, slow reaction time, dysynchiria, swelling and catastrophising as prognostic factors, and very low evidence for depression. Sex was found not to be a prognostic factor for CRPS or persistent pain.
CONCLUSIONS
The associations between prognostic factors and persistent pain following a DRF are unclear. The small number of factors investigated in more than one study, along with poor reporting and methodological limitations contributed to an assessment of low to very low strength of evidence. Further prospective studies, investigating psychosocial factors as candidate predictors of multidimensional pain outcomes are recommended.
PubMed: 37904895
DOI: 10.1177/17589983221124973 -
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and... Dec 2023Sarcopenia has been considered an adverse prognostic factor in cancer patients. Intramuscular adipose tissue content, as a new marker of sarcopenia, can effectively... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Sarcopenia has been considered an adverse prognostic factor in cancer patients. Intramuscular adipose tissue content, as a new marker of sarcopenia, can effectively reflect skeletal muscle quality. The aim of this study was performed to evaluate the association between high intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) and survival outcomes and postoperative complications in cancer patients. Specific databases, including the Web of Science, Embase and Web of Science, were systematically searched to identify relevant articles evaluating the prognostic value of IMAC in cancer patients. Hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized for comprehensive analysis. All data analyses were performed using STATA 12.0 software. A total of 25 studies from 24 articles including 5663 patients were enrolled in the study. Meta-analysis showed that high IMAC was associated with unfavourable overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.21, 95% CI: 1.70-2.86, P < 0.001), relapse-free survival (RFS) (HR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.30-1.75, P < 0.001) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.19-2.28, P = 0.003). Subgroup analysis revealed that high IMAC remained an adverse prognostic factor when stratified by different country, treatment methods, cancer type or analysis type. High IMAC had better predictive value for gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) (HR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.98-6.17, P < 0.001), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (HR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.45-2.33, P < 0.001), pancreatic cancer (PC) (HR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.67-2.66, P < 0.001) and colorectal cancer (CRC) (HR: 2.54, 95% CI: 1.27-5.10, P = 0.009). High IMAC was also identified as a significant risk factor for postoperative complications (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.22-3.46, P = 0.007). High IMAC was associated with an adverse prognosis and an increased risk of postoperative complications in cancer patients. IMAC may be a good indicator of sarcopenia.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Sarcopenia; Liver Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Prognosis; Adipose Tissue; Postoperative Complications
PubMed: 37990969
DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13371 -
Archives of Physical Medicine and... May 2016To summarize the available evidence regarding the course of symptoms and prognostic factors in patients with diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who are treated... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the available evidence regarding the course of symptoms and prognostic factors in patients with diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who are treated conservatively.
DATA SOURCES
Computerized databases, reference checking, and experts in the field were used to identify studies for inclusion in the review.
STUDY SELECTION
Multiple reviewers were used to identify studies which included adults (aged ≥18y) diagnosed with CTS in either a clinical setting or population setting. The study must have observed the course of CTS over at least a 6-week period in patients receiving no treatment or usual care that included conservative (nonsurgical) treatments. The design was of a longitudinal cohort study with either prospective or retrospective data collection. There were no language restrictions, and none of the research identified was only reported in abstract form.
DATA EXTRACTION
Methodological bias was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool. A high risk of bias (predominantly relating to study attrition, confounding, and/or statistical analysis and reporting) was judged to be present in 8 studies. Designs showed wide variability with respect to characteristics of the included population, definition of CTS, assessment of prognostic factors, types of interventions provided, and types of outcome measures applied. This prevented pooled estimates from being produced.
DATA SYNTHESIS
A negative outcome at 3 years' follow-up of conservatively treated participants ranged from 23% to 89%. Four included studies observed the rate of surgical intervention after initial conservative management and found this to be 57% to 66%. Evidence regarding factors predicting the negative outcome of no treatment or conservative treatment was graded, taking into account the number of studies evaluating the factor, the methodological quality of these studies, and the consistency of the available evidence. There was 100% agreement in at least 3 cohorts with a medium or high risk of bias that symptom duration, a positive Phalen's test, and thenar wasting were associated with a negative outcome of conservative management; however, not all results were statistically significant, and hence the overall judgment remained inconclusive.
CONCLUSIONS
Results of this review should be treated with caution because of the heterogeneity of studies and the risks of bias identified. However, the course of CTS appears variable, and poor prognosis may be predicted by a longer symptom duration, a positive Phalen's test, and thenar wasting.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Conservative Treatment; Female; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26440776
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.09.013 -
British Journal of Cancer Nov 2018Cancer prognostic biomarkers have shown disappointing clinical applicability. The objective of this study was to classify and estimate how study results are...
BACKGROUND
Cancer prognostic biomarkers have shown disappointing clinical applicability. The objective of this study was to classify and estimate how study results are overinterpreted and misreported in prognostic factor studies in oncology.
METHODS
This systematic review focused on 17 oncology journals with an impact factor above 7. PubMed was searched for primary clinical studies published in 2015, evaluating prognostic factors. We developed a classification system, focusing on three domains: misleading reporting (selective, incomplete reporting, misreporting), misleading interpretation (unreliable statistical analysis, spin) and misleading extrapolation of the results (claiming irrelevant clinical applicability, ignoring uncertainty).
RESULTS
Our search identified 10,844 articles. The 98 studies included investigated a median of two prognostic factors (Q1-Q3, 1-7). The prognostic factors' effects were selectively and incompletely reported in 35/98 and 24/98 full texts, respectively. Twenty-nine articles used linguistic spin in the form of strong statements. Linguistic spin rejecting non-significant results was found in 34 full-text results and 15 abstract results sections. One in five articles had discussion and/or abstract conclusions that were inconsistent with the study findings. Sixteen reports had discrepancies between their full-text and abstract conclusions.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides evidence of frequent overinterpretation of findings of prognostic factor assessment in high-impact medical oncology journals.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Humans; Medical Oncology; Neoplasms; Prognosis
PubMed: 30353050
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0305-5 -
Systematic Reviews Dec 2014Prognostic factors are associated with the risk of future health outcomes in individuals with a particular health condition. The prognostic ability of such factors is... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Prognostic factors are associated with the risk of future health outcomes in individuals with a particular health condition. The prognostic ability of such factors is increasingly being assessed in both primary research and systematic reviews. Systematic review methodology in this area is continuing to evolve, reflected in variable approaches to key methodological aspects. The aim of this article was to (i) explore and compare the methodology of systematic reviews of prognostic factors undertaken for the same clinical question, (ii) to discuss implications for review findings, and (iii) to present recommendations on what might be considered to be 'good practice' approaches.
METHODS
The sample was comprised of eight systematic reviews addressing the same clinical question, namely whether 'aspirin resistance' (a potential prognostic factor) has prognostic utility relative to future vascular events in patients on aspirin therapy for secondary prevention. A detailed comparison of methods around study identification, study selection, quality assessment, approaches to analysis, and reporting of findings was undertaken and the implications discussed. These were summarised into key considerations that may be transferable to future systematic reviews of prognostic factors.
RESULTS
Across systematic reviews addressing the same clinical question, there were considerable differences in the numbers of studies identified and overlap between included studies, which could only partially be explained by different study eligibility criteria. Incomplete reporting and differences in terminology within primary studies hampered study identification and selection process across reviews. Quality assessment was highly variable and only one systematic review considered a checklist for studies of prognostic questions. There was inconsistency between reviews in approaches towards analysis, synthesis, addressing heterogeneity and reporting of results.
CONCLUSIONS
Different methodological approaches may ultimately affect the findings and interpretation of systematic reviews of prognostic research, with implications for clinical decision-making.
Topics: Aspirin; Cardiovascular Diseases; Drug Resistance; Humans; Prognosis; Review Literature as Topic
PubMed: 25466903
DOI: 10.1186/2046-4053-3-140 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Chemokines orchestrate many aspects of tumorigenic processes such as angiogenesis, apoptosis and metastatic spread, and related receptors are expressed on tumor cells as... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Chemokines orchestrate many aspects of tumorigenic processes such as angiogenesis, apoptosis and metastatic spread, and related receptors are expressed on tumor cells as well as on inflammatory cells (e.g., tumor-infiltrating T cells, TILs) in the tumor microenvironment. Expressional changes of chemokines and their receptors in solid cancers are common and well known, especially in affecting colorectal cancer patient outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this current systematic review and meta-analysis was to classify chemokines as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer patients. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CENTRAL and Web of Science. Information on the chemokine expression of 25 chemokines in colorectal cancer tissue and survival data of the patients were investigated. The hazard ratio of overall survival and disease-free survival with chemokine expression was examined. The risk of bias was analyzed using Quality in Prognosis Studies. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to determine the impact on overall respectively disease survival. For this purpose, the pooled hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for calculation. Twenty-five chemokines were included, and the search revealed 5556 publications. A total of thirty-one publications were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Overexpression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 was associated with both a significantly reduced overall survival (HR = 2.70, 95%-CI: 1.57 to 4.66, = 0.0003) as well as disease-free survival (HR = 2.68, 95%-CI: 1.41 to 5.08, = 0.0026). All other chemokines showed either heterogeneous results or few studies were available. The overall risk of bias for CXCR4 was rated low. At the current level of evidence, this study demonstrates that CXCR4 overexpression in patients with colorectal cancer is associated with a significantly diminished overall as well as disease-free survival. Summed up, this systematic review and meta-analysis reveals CXCR4 as a promising prognostic biomarker. Nevertheless, more evidence is needed to evaluate CXCR4 and its antagonists serving as new therapeutic targets.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Prognosis; Biomarkers, Tumor; Chemokines; Receptors, CXCR4; Disease-Free Survival
PubMed: 38791414
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105374 -
Frontiers in Oral Health 2023Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a complex disease with a high potential for lymph node metastasis and poor survival rates. Accurate nodal staging is crucial for... (Review)
Review
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a complex disease with a high potential for lymph node metastasis and poor survival rates. Accurate nodal staging is crucial for prognostic assessment and treatment planning in OSCC. Recent research has suggested that nodal tumor volume (NTV) may be a more accurate indicator of nodal disease burden than traditional staging methods. However, the prognostic significance of NTV in OSCC remains unclear. This systematic review aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the relationship between NTV and prognosis in OSCC. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted, and studies meeting inclusion criteria were critically appraised and synthesized. Our review identified 23 studies that investigated the prognostic significance of NTV in OSCC. The majority of studies reported that larger NTV was associated with poorer survival outcomes, although the strength of the association varied. The review also identified several areas for future research, including the standardization of NTV measurement and the integration of NTV into the broader landscape of OSCC management. In conclusion, our review suggests that NTV holds promise as a novel prognostic factor in OSCC, but more research is needed to fully elucidate its potential and inform clinical decision-making.
PubMed: 37654649
DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1229931 -
Cureus Oct 2021The prognosis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) is based on the histological characteristics of the primary tumor, such as Breslow depth, ulceration, and mitotic rate. The... (Review)
Review
The prognosis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) is based on the histological characteristics of the primary tumor, such as Breslow depth, ulceration, and mitotic rate. The lymph node ratio (LNR) is the ratio of the involved lymph nodes (LNs) divided by the total number of LNs removed during regional LN dissection. LNR is a prognostic factor for many solid tumors; however, controversies exist regarding CM. This study sought to analyze the role of LNR as a prognostic factor in CM. An extensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials from January 1966 to July 2015. The keywords included in the search were CM and inclusion of the ratio of positive to the total number of LNs as a prognostic factor. The outcomes analyzed included the number of patients with positive LNs, type of survival analysis, and results from the multivariate analysis. A total of 11 studies involving 12,011 patients with positive LNs were evaluated. No previous randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, or systematic reviews were identified in the Cochrane database on the prognostic value of LNR in CM. The primary electronic database search resulted in 333 full-text articles. The LN location examined was the cervical, axillary, and inguinal regions in all studies except for one that examined only the inguinal region. All studies except three studied the prognostic value of the LNR as a categorical variable rather than a continuous variable. LNR was categorized as A (≤0.1), B (0.11-0.25), and C (>0.25). All studies identified LNR as an independent predictor of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), or disease-specific survival (DSS). The hazard ratio (HR) and confidence interval (CI) associated with either DFS or OS were available only in a few studies. Moreover, pooled HR for OS was 2.08 (95% CI: 1.48 2.92), for DFS was 1.364 (95% CI: 0.92-2.02), and for DSS was 1.643 (95% CI: 0.89-3.0). The LNR provides superior prognostic stratification among patients with CM. Additional adequately powered prospective studies are needed to further define the role of LNR and be included in the staging system of CM and direct adjuvant therapy.
PubMed: 34868763
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19117 -
World Journal of Surgical Oncology Feb 2024Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung (IMA) is a unique and rare subtype of lung adenocarcinoma with poorly defined prognostic factors and highly controversial... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung (IMA) is a unique and rare subtype of lung adenocarcinoma with poorly defined prognostic factors and highly controversial studies. Hence, this study aimed to comprehensively identify and summarize the prognostic factors associated with IMA.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of relevant literature was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases from their inception until June 2023. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of overall survival (OS) and/or disease-free survival (DFS) were obtained to evaluate potential prognostic factors.
RESULTS
A total of 1062 patients from 11 studies were included. In univariate analysis, we found that gender, age, TNM stage, smoking history, lymph node metastasis, pleural metastasis, spread through air spaces (STAS), tumor size, pathological grade, computed tomography (CT) findings of consolidative-type morphology, pneumonia type, and well-defined heterogeneous ground-glass opacity (GGO) were risk factors for IMA, and spiculated margin sign was a protective factor. In multivariate analysis, smoking history, lymph node metastasis, pathological grade, STAS, tumor size, and pneumonia type sign were found to be risk factors. There was not enough evidence that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutations, CT signs of lobulated margin, and air bronchogram were related to the prognosis for IMA.
CONCLUSION
In this study, we comprehensively analyzed prognostic factors for invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung in univariate and multivariate analyses of OS and/or DFS. Finally, 12 risk factors and 1 protective factor were identified. These findings may help guide the clinical management of patients with invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Topics: Humans; Adenocarcinoma of Lung; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphatic Metastasis; Neoplasm Staging; Pneumonia; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Male; Female
PubMed: 38303008
DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03326-4 -
Asian Journal of Surgery Dec 2022The association between NSM and prognosis of esophageal cancer remains controversial, though several studies have been conducted drawing their own conclusion. Therefore,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The association between NSM and prognosis of esophageal cancer remains controversial, though several studies have been conducted drawing their own conclusion. Therefore, we firstly carried out this meta-analysis aiming to explore the association. We performed a comprehensive literature search online, including PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. We selected deaths at 5 years and hazard ratio (HR) with 95% (CI) to perform the meta-analysis with Review Manager 5.3, predicting value of clinic-pathological features in NSM also been analyzed. A total of 7 studies were finally enrolled in this study. NSM, defined by either JSED criterion or anatomical compartment criterion, neither showed significant prognostic value on OS of esophageal cancer (P = 0.64), (P = 0.24). Subgroup analysis of JSED criterion, NSM was not a prognostic factor in solitary node metastasis patients (P = 0.39), whereas NSM demonstrated a poor prognostic factor (P = 0.01) for ESCC. Subgroup analysis according to anatomical criterion, NSM was a favorable factor for OS in middle thoracic ESCC (P = 0.003). Pathological N1 status was found to be a risk factor for NSM (P < 0.00001) according to JSED criterion and middle thoracic ESCC was identified as a predictor for NSM (P = 0.0003) according to anatomical compartment criterion. According to JSED criterion, NSM demonstrated poor prognosis on ESCC and N1 status was a risk factor for NSM. Concerning the anatomical compartment criterion, a favorable prognosis of NSM was found in middle thoracic ESCC and NSM was prone to occur in middle thoracic ESCC. CRD42021219333.
Topics: Humans; Prognosis; Esophageal Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Risk Factors; Proportional Hazards Models
PubMed: 35221181
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2021.12.071