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Kidney360 Aug 2023The Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy defined five features scored subjectively in renal biopsies, identified by the initials MESTC. Two large studies with...
KEY POINTS
The Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy defined five features scored subjectively in renal biopsies, identified by the initials MESTC. Two large studies with independent observers showed reproducibility was moderate for T, moderate or poor for M and S, and poor for E and C. In multivariate analyses including clinical features, T was related to 58% of outcomes, with no correlation of MESTC with 24% of outcomes.
BACKGROUND
The Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy defined five prognostic features scored subjectively in renal biopsies: mesangial cellularity (M), endocapillary hypercellularity (E), segmental sclerosis (S), interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (T), and (fibro)cellular crescents (C). Pathological scoring systems should be reproducible and have prognostic value independently of clinical features. Reproducibility of the classification was not previously investigated in a systematic review, and the most recent systematic reviews of prognostic value were in 2017.
METHODS
This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. MEDLINE, PUBMED, and EMBASE databases were searched using the terms “IgA nephropathy” and “Oxford.” Eligible papers applied the classification and mentioned statistical analysis of interobserver reproducibility and/or included multivariate analysis of outcomes related to individual Oxford scores and clinical features, including treatment with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.
RESULTS
There were 99 suitable papers before September 23, 2022. Of 12 papers that mentioned reproducibility, only six reported statistics for MEST/MESTC scoring. Four of these were small studies and/or had observers at the same institution. These were considered less representative of application of the classification than two large studies with independent observers, in which agreement was moderate for T, either moderate or poor for M and S, and poor for E and C. In 92 papers with 125 multivariate analyses of various outcomes, the commonest Oxford element associated with outcomes was T (73 of 125, 58%), with no correlation of any element with outcomes in 30 analyses (24%). Treatment with immunosuppression was often related to scores, particularly C and E, without consistent relations between Oxford scores and outcomes in immunosuppressed patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review showed limitations of the Oxford classification in practice, particularly the moderate or poor reproducibility of scores. T was the Oxford score most often related to clinical outcomes, but even this was not consistently reliable as a prognostic indicator.
Topics: Humans; Glomerulonephritis, IGA; Prognosis; Reproducibility of Results; Kidney; Glomerular Filtration Rate
PubMed: 37357346
DOI: 10.34067/KID.0000000000000195 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2023Vitiligo is a multifaceted autoimmune depigmenting disorder affecting around 0.5 to 2.0% of individuals globally. Standardizing diagnosis and therapy tracking can be...
UNLABELLED
Vitiligo is a multifaceted autoimmune depigmenting disorder affecting around 0.5 to 2.0% of individuals globally. Standardizing diagnosis and therapy tracking can be arduous, as numerous clinical evaluation methods are subject to interobserver variability and may not be validated. Therefore, there is a need for diagnostic tools that are objective, dependable, and preferably non-invasive.
AIMS
This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the non-invasive objective skin measurement methods that are currently used to evaluate the diagnosis, severity, and progression of vitiligo, as well as the advantages and limitations of each technique.
METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist was used for the systematic review. Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched for non-invasive imaging and biophysical skin measuring methods to diagnose, evaluate the severity of, or monitor the effects of vitiligo treatment. The risk of bias in included articles was assessed using the QUADAS-2 quality assessment scale.
RESULTS
An extensive literature search resulted in 64 studies for analysis, describing eight imaging techniques (reflectance confocal microscopy, computer-aided imaging analysis, optical coherence tomography, infrared photography, third-harmonic generation microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, ultraviolet light photography, and visible light/digital photograph), and three biophysical approaches (dermoscopy, colorimetry, spectrometry) used in diagnosing and assessing vitiligo. Pertinent information about functionality, mechanisms of action, sensitivity, and specificity was obtained for all studies, and insights into the strengths and limitations of each diagnostic technique were addressed. Methodological study quality was adequate; however, statistical analysis was not achievable because of the variety of methods evaluated and the non-standardized reporting of diagnostic accuracy results.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this systematic review can enhance clinical practice and research by providing a comprehensive overview of the spectrum of non-invasive imaging and biophysical techniques in vitiligo assessment. Studies with larger sample sizes and sound methodology are required to develop verified methods for use in future practice and research.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
(PROSPERO) database, (CRD42023395996).
PubMed: 37575985
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1200963 -
Child's Nervous System : ChNS :... Aug 2023A delay in obtaining a diagnosis has been associated with inferior outcomes across several cancer types, including paediatric brain tumours. However, no clear evidence... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
A delay in obtaining a diagnosis has been associated with inferior outcomes across several cancer types, including paediatric brain tumours. However, no clear evidence exists in this population. We aimed to quantify the reported pre-diagnostic symptom interval (PSI) as the time from onset of first symptoms to diagnosis in the literature, in addition to evaluating the relationship between delay and outcomes, including survival.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. MEDLINE, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science and EMBASE databases were searched. We considered all sources published between 1st January 2010 and 5th November 2022. Children and adolescents aged under 21 years, with new symptomatic primary brain tumour diagnoses, were included.
RESULTS
Of 3123 studies identified, 11 were included for analysis. Owing to study heterogeneity, a quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible; however, a narrative synthesis was performed. The median reported PSI varied widely, ranging between 28 and 760.8 days. We failed to identify a significant association between prolonged PSI and inferior overall survival. Few factors were consistently associated with prolonged PSI, amongst them only tumour grade and patient age.
CONCLUSION
Delayed diagnosis of paediatric brain tumours was not associated with inferior survival within this review. This 'waiting time' paradox appears to result from several confounding factors including tumour biology, patient population and key systematic factors that were inconsistently reported. Diagnostic interval clearly presents a complex variable, reflected further by disparity in the reporting of delay within the literature. Ultimately diagnostic interval is unlikely to provide a meaningful representation for all tumour types and should not detract from sharp clinical acumen and prompt diagnosis.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Brain Neoplasms; Delayed Diagnosis
PubMed: 37336792
DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-06022-y -
European Archives of... Oct 2023Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an increasing health problem in children. The "gold standard" for OSA diagnosis at the moment is overnight polysomnography (PSG). Some... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an increasing health problem in children. The "gold standard" for OSA diagnosis at the moment is overnight polysomnography (PSG). Some researchers think portable monitors (PMs) are promising methods for diagnosing OSA, which make children more comfortable and lower costs. Compared with PSG, our comprehensively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of PMs for diagnosing OSA in pediatrics.
RESEARCH QUESTION
This study aims to determine whether PMs can replace PSG in pediatric OSA diagnosis.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
The PubMed, Embase, Medline databases Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically for studies published up to December 2022, evaluating the ability of PMs to diagnose OSA in children. For estimating the pooled sensitivity and specificity of the PMs in the included studies, we used a random-effects bivariate model. Studies included in this meta-analysis were evaluated systematically according to QUADAS-2 guidelines for assessing diagnostic accuracy studies. Two independent investigators conducted each stage of the review independently.
RESULTS
A total of 396 abstracts and 31 full-text articles were screened, and 41 full-text articles were chosen for final review. There were 707 pediatric patients enrolled in these twelve studies, and 9 PMs were evaluated. There was a wide range of diagnostic sensitivity and specificity among PM systems as compared to AHI measured by PSG. The pooled sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing pediatric OSA were, respectively, 0.91 [0.86, 0.94] and 0.76 [0.58, 0.88] for PMs. According to the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve, the AUC of PMs in diagnosing OSA in pediatric population was 0.93 [0.90, 0.95].
INTERPRETATION
PMs were more sensitive but slightly less specific for pediatric OSA. The combination of PMs and questionnaires appeared to be a reliable tool for the diagnosis of pediatric OSA. This test may be used for screening subjects or populations at high risk of OSA when there is a high demand for PSG, but the quantity is limited. No clinical trial was involved in the current study.
Topics: Humans; Child; Polysomnography; Sleep; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Sensitivity and Specificity; ROC Curve
PubMed: 37405453
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08095-6 -
Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular... Oct 2023The recommended cardiac rhythm evaluation to determine the etiology of ischemic stroke (IS) is similar in all patients regardless of their age and includes an... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The recommended cardiac rhythm evaluation to determine the etiology of ischemic stroke (IS) is similar in all patients regardless of their age and includes an electrocardiogram and at least a 24-hour heart rhythm monitoring. However, it is known that the main causes of IS vary according to patients' age. There is a higher preponderance of arterial dissections and patent foramen ovale in younger patients, while atrial fibrillation (AF) is more common in older patients.
AIMS
To determine the proportion of AF in young IS reported in the literature and determine if young IS patients found to have AF had known structural cardiac pathology.
METHODS
Systematic review of the literature searching PubMed and Embase for articles published since their inception to August 2020. Inclusion criteria were studies including at least 10 patients, aged 14-50 years-old, clinical or radiological diagnosis of IS and quantification of patients found to have AF. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model and calculated pooled proportions with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS
8331 articles were screened, 154 were selected for full-text review. 43 studies were included in our final analysis (902800 patients). The proportion of AF in young IS overall was 3.1% [95%CI 2.4-3.7], I 93.88%. Sub-analysis revealed a proportion of AF of 3.8% [95% CI 0.3-7.3] in lower-middle-income economies, versus 5.4% [95% CI 3-7.9] in upper-middle-income economies, and 2.2% [95% CI 1.6-2.8] in high-income economies. Only 3 studies mentioned the proportion of patients with AF that had structural cardiac pathology.
CONCLUSION
The proportion of AF in young IS was low. More studies are needed to better understand if young IS patients diagnosed with AF had a priori known structural cardiac pathology that could increase the probability of finding AF. This could lead to a reevaluation of the need for 24 hours cardiac rhythm evaluation in young patients without cardiac pathology.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Atrial Fibrillation; Ischemic Stroke; Heart; Electrocardiography; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial
PubMed: 37657400
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2023.107299 -
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Apr 2024Stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) occurs most commonly in the terminal ileum and poses a clinical problem. Cross-sectional imaging modalities such as intestinal... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) occurs most commonly in the terminal ileum and poses a clinical problem. Cross-sectional imaging modalities such as intestinal ultrasound (IUS), computed tomography enterography (CTE), and magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) allow for assessment of the entire bowel wall and associated peri-enteric findings. Radiologic definitions of strictures have been developed for CTE and MRE; their reliability and responsiveness are being evaluated in index development programs. A comprehensive assessment strategy for strictures using IUS is needed.
AIMS
To provide a detailed summary of definitions, diagnosis and monitoring of strictures on IUS as well as technical aspects of image acquisition.
METHODS
We searched four databases up to 6 January 2024. Two-stage screening was done in duplicate. We assessed risk of bias using QUADAS-2.
RESULTS
There were 56 studies eligible for inclusion. Definitions for strictures on IUS are heterogeneous, but the overall accuracy for diagnosis of strictures is high. The capability of IUS for characterising inflammation versus fibrosis in strictures is not accurate enough to be used in clinical practice or trials. We summarise definitions for improvement of strictures on IUS, and discuss parameters for image acquisition and standardisation.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review is the first step for a structured program to develop a stricture IUS index for CD.
Topics: Humans; Crohn Disease; Constriction, Pathologic; Reproducibility of Results; Intestines; Intestinal Obstruction; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38436124
DOI: 10.1111/apt.17918 -
Cureus Aug 2023Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers and has a high mortality rate due to high invasiveness and rapid progression. Microribonucleic acid (microRNA)... (Review)
Review
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers and has a high mortality rate due to high invasiveness and rapid progression. Microribonucleic acid (microRNA) plays an essential role in diagnosing PC in the early stages, which improves the five-year survival rate. This systematic review aims to highlight the different subtypes of serum and plasma microRNAs and panel-based assays of microRNAs and how they play a crucial role in the diagnosis and prognosis of PC as a high-sensitive and specific novel biomarker. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, an in-depth search was performed by using regular keywords and major Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) keywords in PubMed (MEDLINE), PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library for articles related to this topic and published between 2013 and 2023, up to April 18, 2023. Further eligibility criteria and quality assessment tools were employed to assess the risk of bias, and 13 articles were finalized to be used in this review. The chosen articles included five cross-sectional studies, six systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and two literature reviews. This review provides strong evidence of the usage of microRNA for early diagnosis. It can also be used to exclude differential diagnoses of other diseases, and its prognostic value for determining metastasis and therapeutic efficacy in PC patients. Also, combining microRNA panels with carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19-9) improves the sensitivity and specificity of microRNA as a biomarker.
PubMed: 37746488
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43931 -
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Aug 2023Spontaneous iliac vein rupture is a rare, but frequently lethal condition. It is important to timely recognize its clinical features and immediately start adequate... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Spontaneous iliac vein rupture is a rare, but frequently lethal condition. It is important to timely recognize its clinical features and immediately start adequate treatment. We aimed to increase awareness to clinical features, specific diagnostics, and treatment strategies of spontaneous iliac vein rupture by evaluating the current literature.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted in EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception until January 23, 2023, without any restrictions. Two reviewers independently screened for eligibility and selected studies describing a spontaneous iliac vein rupture. Patient characteristics, clinical features, diagnostics, treatment strategies, and survival outcomes were collected from included studies.
RESULTS
We included 76 cases (64 studies) from the literature, mostly presenting with left-sided spontaneous iliac vein rupture (96.1%). Patients were predominantly female (84.2%), had a mean age of 61 years, and frequently presented with a concomitant deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (84.2%). After various follow-up times, 77.6% of the patients survived, either after conservative, endovascular, or open treatment. Endovenous or hybrid procedures were frequently performed if the diagnose was made before treatment, and almost all survived. Open treatment was common if the venous rupture was missed, for some cases leading to death.
CONCLUSION
Spontaneous iliac vein rupture is rare and easily missed. The diagnose should at least be considered for middle-aged and elderly females presenting with hemorrhagic shock and concomitant left-sided DVT. There are various treatment strategies for spontaneous iliac vein rupture. An early diagnose brings options for endovenous treatment, which seems to have good survival outcomes based on previously described cases.
Topics: Middle Aged; Aged; Humans; Female; Male; Venous Thrombosis; Iliac Vein; Treatment Outcome; Rupture, Spontaneous; Shock, Hemorrhagic; May-Thurner Syndrome
PubMed: 36913198
DOI: 10.1177/15385744231163707 -
Human Reproduction Update Jan 2024Polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) on ultrasonography is considered as a cardinal feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Its relevance as a diagnostic criterion... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM) on ultrasonography is considered as a cardinal feature of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Its relevance as a diagnostic criterion for PCOS was reaffirmed in the most recent International Evidence-Based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS. However, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the best practices and specific ultrasonographic markers to define PCOM.
OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE
The aim of this systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of various ultrasonographic features of ovarian morphology in the diagnosis of PCOS.
SEARCH METHODS
Relevant studies published from 1 January 1990 to 12 June 2023 were identified by a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and CENTRAL. Studies that generated diagnostic accuracy measures (e.g. proposed thresholds, sensitivity, specificity) for PCOS using the following ultrasonographic markers met criteria for inclusion: follicle number per ovary (FNPO) or per single cross-section (FNPS), ovarian volume (OV), and stromal features. Studies on pregnant or post-menopausal women were excluded. Risk of bias and applicability assessment for diagnostic test accuracy studies were determined using the QUADAS-2 and QUADAS-C tool for a single index test or between multiple index tests, respectively. Diagnostic meta-analysis was conducted using a bivariate model of pooled sensitivity and specificity, and visualized using forest plots and summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curves.
OUTCOMES
From a total of 2197 records initially identified, 31 studies were included. Data from five and two studies were excluded from the meta-analysis due to duplicate study populations or limited data for the index test, leaving 24 studies. Pooled results of 20 adult studies consisted of 3883 control participants and 3859 individuals with PCOS. FNPO was the most accurate diagnostic marker (sensitivity: 84%, CI: 81-87%; specificity: 91%, CI: 86-94%; AUC: 0.905) in adult women. OV and FNPS had similar pooled sensitivities (OV: 81%, CI: 76-86%; FNPS: 81%, CI: 70-89%) but inferior pooled specificities (OV: 81%, CI: 75-86%; FNPS: 83%, CI: 75-88%) and AUCs (OV: 0.856; FNPS: 0.870) compared to FNPO. Pooled results from four adolescent studies consisting of 210 control participants and 268 girls with PCOS suggested that OV may be a robust ultrasonographic marker for PCOS diagnosis albeit the current evidence remains limited. The majority of the studies had high risk of bias for the patient selection (e.g. lack of randomized/consecutive patient selection) and index test (e.g. lack of pre-proposed thresholds for comparison) domains across all ultrasonographic markers. As such, diagnostic meta-analysis was unable to determine the most accurate cutoff for ultrasonographic markers to diagnose PCOS. Subgroup analysis suggested that stratification based on previously proposed diagnostic thresholds, age, BMI, or technology did not account for the heterogeneity in diagnostic accuracy observed across the studies. Studies that diagnosed PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria had improved sensitivity for FNPO. Studies from North America had lower diagnostic accuracy when compared to Asian studies (FNPO: sensitivity) and European studies (OV: specificity, diagnostic odds ratio and positive likelihood ratio). Geographic differences in diagnostic accuracy may potentially be due to differences in age, BMI, and diagnostic criteria of the PCOS group across regions.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS
This diagnostic meta-analysis supports the use of FNPO as the gold standard in the ultrasonographic diagnosis of PCOS in adult women. OV and FNPS provide alternatives if total antral follicle counts cannot be accurately obtained. Our findings support the potential for ultrasonographic evidence of PCOM in adolescents as more data becomes available. Subgroup analysis suggests the need to investigate any relative contributions of geographical differences on PCOS phenotypes. These findings may provide the basis for the development of strategies and best practices toward a standardized definition of PCOM and a more accurate ultrasonographic evaluation of PCOS.
Topics: Adult; Adolescent; Female; Humans; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Ovarian Follicle; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 37804097
DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad027 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Aug 2023Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) can significantly impact maternal, neonatal, and fetal health. For controlling these disorders, frequent blood pressure... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
An evaluation of the efficacy and the safety of home blood pressure monitoring in the control of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in both pre and postpartum periods: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) can significantly impact maternal, neonatal, and fetal health. For controlling these disorders, frequent blood pressure measurements are required. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is a suggested alternative to conventional office monitoring that requires frequent visits. This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HBPM in the control of HDP.
METHODS
We systematically conducted databases search for relevant studies in June 2022. The relevant studies were identified, and qualitative synthesis was performed. An inverse variance quantitative synthesis was conducted using RevMan software. Continuous outcome data were pooled as means differences, whereas dichotomous ones were summarized as risk ratios. The 95% confidence interval was the measure of variance.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies were included in our review (n = 5335). Our analysis revealed a superiority of HBPM in reducing the risk of induction of labor, and postpartum readmission (P = 0.02, and 0.01 respectively). Moreover, the comparison of birth weights showed a significant variation in favor of HBPM (P = 0.02). In the analysis of other outcomes, HBPM was equally effective as office monitoring. Furthermore, HBPM did not result in an elevated risk of maternal, neonatal, and fetal adverse outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Home monitoring of blood pressure showed superiority over office monitoring in some outcomes and equal efficacy in other outcomes.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Hypertension; Pre-Eclampsia; Blood Pressure; Postpartum Period
PubMed: 37528352
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05663-w