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The International Journal of... Jun 2024Central nervous system involvement by Brucella species is the most morbid form of brucellosis disease. Studies on neurobrucellosis are scarce and limited to case reports... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Central nervous system involvement by Brucella species is the most morbid form of brucellosis disease. Studies on neurobrucellosis are scarce and limited to case reports and series. Brucella is unable to infect or harm neurons without the assistance of monocytes. This raises the question of whether ceftriaxone-based regimens are effective.
METHODS
The primary aim of this study was to identify, evaluate, and summarize the findings of all relevant individual studies in the past 30 years to help better understand the disease. To achieve this, a broad systematic search was undertaken to identify all relevant records. Epidemiological and clinical features of the disease were assessed by the pooled analysis of descriptive studies. Through a meta-analysis, the treatment period duration was compared between the ceftriaxone-based and oral regimens using Standardized mean differences to measure effect size.
RESULTS
448 patients were included in the Meta-analyses from 5 studies. A moderate positive effect was found for ceftriaxone-based regimens over oral treatments, and there was a significant difference between these two groups (SMD 0.428, 95% CI -0.63 to -0.22, I 2 = 37.64). Neurobrucellosis has a different clinical picture in pediatric patients. The disease is less chronic in children. Fever, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and abdominal pain were significantly more prevalent symptoms in children, and Convulsions, ascites, sensorineural hearing loss, and papilledema were significantly more prevalent signs in children than adults.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended to initiate the treatment of neurobrucellosis with IV ceftriaxone therapy in combination with oral therapy.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Child; Ceftriaxone; Administration, Oral; Brucella; Brucellosis; Fatigue
PubMed: 35930502
DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2100776 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Nov 2023The clinical features and predictors of Clostridioides difficile infection overlap with many conditions. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The clinical features and predictors of Clostridioides difficile infection overlap with many conditions.
OBJECTIVES
We performed a systematic review to evaluate the diagnostic utility of clinical features (clinical examination, risk factors, laboratory tests, and radiographic findings) associated with C. difficile.
METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic features for C. difficile.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched up to September 2021.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Studies that reported clinical features of C. difficile, a valid reference standard test for confirming diagnosis of C. difficile, and a comparison among patients with a positive and negative test result.
PARTICIPANTS
Adult and paediatric patients across diverse clinical settings.
OUTCOMES
Sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios.
REFERENCE STANDARD
Stool nucleic acid amplification tests, enzyme immunoassays, cell cytotoxicity assay, and stool toxigenic culture.
ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF BIAS
Rational Clinical Examination Series and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2.
METHODS OF DATA SYNTHESIS
Univariate and bivariate analyses.
RESULTS
We screened 11 231 articles of which 40 were included, enabling the evaluation of 66 features for their diagnostic utility for C. difficile (10 clinical examination findings, 4 laboratory tests, 10 radiographic findings, prior exposure to 13 antibiotic types, and 29 clinical risk factors). Of the ten features identified on clinical examination, none were significantly clinically associated with increased likelihood of C. difficile infection. Some features that increased likelihood of C. difficile infection were stool leukocytes (LR+ 5.31, 95% CI 3.29-8.56) and hospital admission in the prior 3 months (LR+ 2.14, 95% CI 1.48-3.11). Several radiographic findings also strongly increased the likelihood of C. difficile infection like ascites (LR+ 2.91, 95% CI 1.89-4.49).
DISCUSSION
There is limited utility of bedside clinical examination alone in detecting C. difficile infection. Accurate diagnosis of C. difficile infection requires thoughtful clinical assessment for interpretation of microbiologic testing in all suspected cases.
Topics: Humans; Clostridium Infections; Clostridioides difficile; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Feces; Adult; Child
PubMed: 37327874
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2023.06.010 -
Medicine Sep 2023Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can be an effective treatment for cirrhotic patients who develop variceal bleeding and ascites. However, TIPS... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can be an effective treatment for cirrhotic patients who develop variceal bleeding and ascites. However, TIPS placement is associated with an increased risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Recently, there have been efforts to use the typical medical therapies prophylactically in patients undergoing TIPS placement to prevent post-TIPS HE.
METHODS
We conducted literature searches in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane to examine studies that use prophylactic medical therapy for preventing post-TIPS HE. A narrative synthesis and grading of recommendations assessment assessment were done for all studies. Meta-analysis was performed for eligible studies using the Mantel-Haenszel method random-effects model. Nine hundred twenty-one articles were screened and 5 studies were included in the study after 2 levels of screening. The medications studied were rifaximin, lactulose, lactitol, L-Ornithine-L-aspartate (LOLA), albumin, and combination therapies.
RESULTS
Narrative results showed that lactulose, lactitol, LOLA and albumin prophylaxis were not associated with reduction in HE occurrence or mortality. A combination of rifaximin and lactulose was found to be associated with lower occurrence of HE, and the results were not different when LOLA was added. Meta-analysis (n = 3) showed that rifaximin treatment was not associated with changes in HE occurrences.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, a vast majority of medications were not found to be effective post-TIPS HE prophylaxis when used alone. A rifaximin and lactulose combination therapy may be beneficial. Overall, there is significant limitation in the current data and more studies are needed to yield more robust meta-analysis results in the future.
Topics: Humans; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Lactulose; Rifaximin; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Albumins; Primary Prevention
PubMed: 37746955
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035266 -
United European Gastroenterology Journal Oct 2023Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may improve access to curative therapies, treat portal hypertension...
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may improve access to curative therapies, treat portal hypertension (PH)-related complications without worsening liver function, and increase overall survival. Data on the efficacy and safety of TIPS to treat PH complications in HCC patients, as well as the HCC treatment response, were evaluated.
METHODS
Studies reporting efficacy in controlling bleeding/ascites or response to HCC therapy, safety, and survival in patients with HCC and TIPS were searched systematically on PubMed and Embase. An extraction of articles using predefined data fields and quality indicators was used.
RESULTS
We selected 19 studies and found 937 patients treated for ascites/bleeding and 177 evaluating HCC treatment response. Over half were under 5 cm and solitary lesions, and most studies included tumours with portal vein thrombosis. Regarding PH studies, TIPS resolved bleeding/ascites in >60% of patients, more effective for bleeding. There were no lethal complications reported and procedural bleeding occurred in <5%. Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 15%-30% within three months. In the HCC treatment-response studies, major complication rates were low with no mortality. In the studies that evaluated the response to transarterial chemoembolization, complete response rate of patients with TIPS varied from 16% to 75%. Liver transplantation rate varied from 8% to 80%, with >40% rate in half of the studies.
CONCLUSIONS
In the published studies, TIPS is effective in treating PH complications in patients with HCC. Prospective studies on TIPS placement in patients with HCC are urgently needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TIPS in this setting.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic; Liver Neoplasms; Ascites; Prospective Studies; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Treatment Outcome; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; Hypertension, Portal
PubMed: 37736854
DOI: 10.1002/ueg2.12454 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Jan 2024Sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. However, the prevalence of and associated factors for developing sarcopenia in this population... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. However, the prevalence of and associated factors for developing sarcopenia in this population remain to be determined.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to summarize the prevalence, characteristics, and associated factors of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.
METHODS
Electronic searches were performed from inception to June 9, 2022 to identify the eligible studies. We meta-analyzed the prevalence of sarcopenia in overall patients with cirrhosis and subgroups. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using the random effects model.
RESULTS
A total of 55 studies involving 13,158 patients from 17 countries were included. The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 40.1 % (95 % CI 35.4%-44.9 %) in patients with cirrhosis. The pooled prevalence was higher in males, Child-Pugh class C cirrhosis, decompensated stage, ascites, subjective global assessment class C cirrhosis, and when sarcopenia was defined by L3-SMI (third lumbar-skeletal muscle index) at a higher cutoff. In multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted OR 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00-1.07), male (adjusted OR 4.75, 95 % CI 2.72-8.28), lower body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.73-0.83), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (adjusted OR 1.43, 95 % CI 1.19-1.72), but not ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, were significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.
CONCLUSION
Sarcopenia is a prevalent complication, and older age, male patients, lower BMI, and patients with ALD are associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Sarcopenia; Prevalence; Liver Cirrhosis; Muscle, Skeletal; Fibrosis; Ascites
PubMed: 38016243
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2023.11.008 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The early management of neonates with meconium ileus (MI) and cystic fibrosis (CF) is highly variable across countries and is not standardized. We conducted a systematic... (Review)
Review
The early management of neonates with meconium ileus (MI) and cystic fibrosis (CF) is highly variable across countries and is not standardized. We conducted a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024522838). Studies from three providers of academic search engines were checked for inclusion criteria, using the following search terms: meconium ileus AND cystic fibrosis OR mucoviscidosis. Regarding the patient population studied, the inclusion criteria were defined using our predefined PICOT framework: studies on neonates with simple or complicated meconium which were confirmed to have cystic fibrosis and were conservatively managed or surgically treated. Results: A total of 566 publications from the last 10 years were verified by the authors of this review to find the most recent and relevant data, and only 8 met the inclusion criteria. Prenatally diagnosed meconium pseudocysts, bowel dilation, and ascites on ultrasound are predictors of neonatal surgery and risk factor for negative 12-month clinical outcomes in MI-CF newborns. For simple MI, conservative treatment with hypertonic solutions enemas can be effective in more than 25% of cases. If repeated enemas fail to disimpact the bowels, the Bishop-Koop stoma is a safe option. No comprehensive research has been conducted so far to determine the ideal surgical protocol for complicated MI. We only found three studies that reported the types of stomas performed and another study comparing the outcomes of patients depending on the surgical management; the conclusions are contradictory especially since the number of cases analyzed in each study was small. Between 18% and 38% of patients with complicated MI will require reoperation for various complications and the mortality rate varies between 0% and 8%. Conclusion: This study reveals a lack of strong data to support management decisions, unequivocally shows that the care of infants with MI is not standardized, and suggests a great need for international collaborative studies.
PubMed: 38893705
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14111179 -
Annals of Medicine Dec 2024Non-selective β blockers (NSBBs) may negatively influence renal function through decreasing heart rate and cardiac output. This study aimed to systematically... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Non-selective β blockers (NSBBs) may negatively influence renal function through decreasing heart rate and cardiac output. This study aimed to systematically investigate their association.
METHODS
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases were searched to identify all relevant studies evaluating the association of NSBBs with renal dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. Unadjusted and adjusted data were separately extracted. Odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled. Subgroup meta-analyses were performed according to the proportions of ascites and Child-Pugh class B/C and the mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework.
RESULTS
Fourteen studies were finally included. Based on unadjusted data, NSBBs significantly increased the risk of developing renal dysfunction (OR = 1.49; = 0.03), and this association remained significant in subgroup analyses of studies where the proportions of ascites was >70% and Child-Pugh class B/C was 100%. Based on adjusted data with propensity score matching (adjusted OR = 0.61; = 0.08) and multivariable regression modelling (adjusted HR = 0.86; = 0.713), NSBBs did not increase the risk of developing renal dysfunction, and this association remained not significant in subgroup analyses of studies where the proportions of ascites was >70% and <70%, the proportion of Child-Pugh class B/C was <100%, and the mean MELD score was <15. The quality of evidence was very low for all meta-analyses.
CONCLUSIONS
NSBBs may not be associated with the development of renal dysfunction in liver cirrhosis. However, more evidence is required to clarify their association in specific populations.
Topics: Humans; Ascites; End Stage Liver Disease; Severity of Illness Index; Liver Cirrhosis; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Kidney Diseases
PubMed: 38271554
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2305935 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Nov 2023To assess whether endometriosis (EMs) was related to systematic and/or local deviations of cluster of differentiation (CD)4 + T cells. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether endometriosis (EMs) was related to systematic and/or local deviations of cluster of differentiation (CD)4 + T cells.
METHODS
Until November 2022, we enrolled a total of 1363 EMs and 1564 healthy women from 32 studies who met the inclusion criteria.
RESULTS
After systematically retrieving the literature, we identified 1086 citations and 32 case-control studies were enrolled. Cumulative results suggested that there were insignificant deviations of CD4 + T cells during peripheral blood (PB) between EMs and healthy women (RR: - 0.83, I = 99%, p = 0.65), also no statistically significant difference was found between mild and severe EMs (RR: 3.19, I = 94%, p = 0.19). We also found insignificant deviations of CD4 + /CD8 + during PB between EMs and healthy women (RR: 0.09, I = 99%, p = 0.39), and between mild and severe EMs (RR: - 0.16, I = 99%, p = 0.29). The results might suggest that there was no significant correlation between EMs and systematic deviations of CD4 + T cells. When it came to local deviation during peritoneal fluid (PF), the polled results suggested that the frequency of CD4 + T cells during EMs was significantly lower than healthy women (RR: - 5.38, I = 93%, p = 0.01), and the ratio of CD4 + /CD8 + during EMs was significantly lower than healthy women (RR: - 0.13, I = 0%, p < 0.0001). However, there were insignificant deviations of CD4 + during PF between mild and severe EMs (RR: 1.65, I = 53%, p = 0.15), also there was an insignificant difference of CD4 + /CD8 + between mild and severe EMs (RR: - 0.09, I = 14%, p = 0.19). EMs might be closely related to local deviations of CD4 + T cells.
CONCLUSION
There was no obvious correlation between EMs and systematic deviations of CD4 + T cells, EMs might be closely related to local deviations of CD4 + T cells. Further study on the functional deviations and subpopulation distribution of CD4 + T cells is urgently needed.
Topics: Female; Humans; Ascitic Fluid; Endometriosis; Lymphocyte Count; T-Lymphocytes; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 36840769
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-06964-3 -
European Journal of Clinical... Feb 2024Calprotectin is a calcium-binding-S100-protein synthetized mainly in neutrophils which has been demonstrated to be an accurate biomarker of the presence of these cells.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Calprotectin is a calcium-binding-S100-protein synthetized mainly in neutrophils which has been demonstrated to be an accurate biomarker of the presence of these cells. Gut barrier dysfunction in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), in addition to the lack of noninvasive tools for diagnosis and prognosis of cirrhosis decompensations, has raised interest in this biomarker.
AIMS
Our aim is to summarize the current evidence regarding the role of calprotectin in terms of its diagnostic and prognostic utility in ACLD.
METHODS
We performed a systematic search (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023389069) of original articles published without any restrictions on the publication date until January 2023 providing information about calprotectin for the prognosis or diagnosis of ACLD and its decompensations in adult patients.
RESULTS
A total 227 articles were identified, and 26 observational studies finally met the inclusion criteria. In 14 studies, calprotectin was measured in ascitic fluid, all of which reported higher calprotectin values in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, while cut-off points for its diagnosis were proposed in nine studies. Three studies reported higher faecal calprotectin levels in patients with hepatic encephalopathy and portal hypertension. Four studies evaluated faecal calprotectin and one plasma calprotectin as biomarkers for gut barrier integrity and bacterial translocation.
CONCLUSIONS
Calprotectin is emerging as a promising biomarker in ACLD, particularly for the management of bacterial infections and alcohol-related liver disease. Further research with better study designs should help to determine the feasibility of calprotectin measurement in routine clinical practice.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Biomarkers; Hypertension, Portal; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Liver Cirrhosis; Prognosis
PubMed: 37849372
DOI: 10.1111/eci.14111 -
International Journal of Surgery... Nov 2023Staging laparoscopy for gastric cancer is recommended to assess the tumor's locoregional extension and exclude peritoneal disease. As there is no consensus on optimizing...
BACKGROUND
Staging laparoscopy for gastric cancer is recommended to assess the tumor's locoregional extension and exclude peritoneal disease. As there is no consensus on optimizing the procedure's diagnostic accuracy, we aimed to systematically review the literature on operative techniques, followed by peritoneal lavage fluid assessment in gastric cancer patients. Specifically, we sought to indicate the most common characteristics of the procedure and cytological evaluation.
METHODS
This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The protocol for this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO database (CRD: 42022306746). On September 2022, a search was carried out using Embase, Medline ALL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science Core Collection.
RESULTS
The search identified 1632 studies on staging laparoscopy and 2190 studies on peritoneal fluid assessment. Some 212 studies were included. Open Hasson was the method of choice in accessing the peritoneal cavity in 65% of the studies, followed by establishing a pneumoperitoneum at 10-12 mmHg in 52% of reports. Most frequently, the patient was positioned supine (70%), while a 30° scope and three ports were used to assess the peritoneal cavity clockwise (72%, 77%, and 85%, respectively). Right and left upper abdomen quadrants were the predominant area of laparoscopic exploration (both 65%), followed by the primary tumor region (54%), liver and pelvis (both 30%), and small bowel and spleen (19% and 17%, respectively). Regions of peritoneal lavage and aspiration were limited to the pelvis (50%), followed by right and left upper abdomen quadrants (37.5% and 50%, respectively). No studies compared different methods of operative techniques or analysis of ascites/fluid.
CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates a high heterogeneity in the technique of staging laparoscopy and peritoneal fluid assessment in gastric cancer patients. Further research and initiatives to reach a consensus on the standardization of the procedure are warranted.
Topics: Humans; Stomach Neoplasms; Ascitic Fluid; Neoplasm Staging; Laparoscopy; Peritoneal Lavage
PubMed: 37581636
DOI: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000000632