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Respiratory Care Jul 2023COPD exacerbations are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and increased health care expenditures. The recently published Global Initiative for Chronic...
COPD exacerbations are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and increased health care expenditures. The recently published Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommendations have further refined the definition of an exacerbation. A better understanding of the risk factors associated with the development of an exacerbation exists, and improvements are being made in earlier detection approaches. Pharmacologic treatment strategies have been the cornerstone of effective therapy. In addition, both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies have been proven successful in the prevention of future exacerbations. Newer technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence and wearable monitoring devices, are now being used to help in the earlier detection of exacerbations. Such preventive and earlier detection strategies can help to develop a more personalized care model and improve outcomes for patients with COPD.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Disease Progression; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37353338
DOI: 10.4187/respcare.10782 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2023Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that affects millions of people worldwide. The disease course varies greatly... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that affects millions of people worldwide. The disease course varies greatly across individuals and many disease-modifying treatments with different safety and efficacy profiles have been developed recently. Prognostic models evaluated and shown to be valid in different settings have the potential to support people with MS and their physicians during the decision-making process for treatment or disease/life management, allow stratified and more precise interpretation of interventional trials, and provide insights into disease mechanisms. Many researchers have turned to prognostic models to help predict clinical outcomes in people with MS; however, to our knowledge, no widely accepted prognostic model for MS is being used in clinical practice yet.
OBJECTIVES
To identify and summarise multivariable prognostic models, and their validation studies for quantifying the risk of clinical disease progression, worsening, and activity in adults with MS.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from January 1996 until July 2021. We also screened the reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews, and references citing the included studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included all statistically developed multivariable prognostic models aiming to predict clinical disease progression, worsening, and activity, as measured by disability, relapse, conversion to definite MS, conversion to progressive MS, or a composite of these in adult individuals with MS. We also included any studies evaluating the performance of (i.e. validating) these models. There were no restrictions based on language, data source, timing of prognostication, or timing of outcome.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Pairs of review authors independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts, extracted data using a piloted form based on the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS), assessed risk of bias using the Prediction Model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST), and assessed reporting deficiencies based on the checklist items in Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD). The characteristics of the included models and their validations are described narratively. We planned to meta-analyse the discrimination and calibration of models with at least three external validations outside the model development study but no model met this criterion. We summarised between-study heterogeneity narratively but again could not perform the planned meta-regression.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 57 studies, from which we identified 75 model developments, 15 external validations corresponding to only 12 (16%) of the models, and six author-reported validations. Only two models were externally validated multiple times. None of the identified external validations were performed by researchers independent of those that developed the model. The outcome was related to disease progression in 39 (41%), relapses in 8 (8%), conversion to definite MS in 17 (18%), and conversion to progressive MS in 27 (28%) of the 96 models or validations. The disease and treatment-related characteristics of included participants, and definitions of considered predictors and outcome, were highly heterogeneous amongst the studies. Based on the publication year, we observed an increase in the percent of participants on treatment, diversification of the diagnostic criteria used, an increase in consideration of biomarkers or treatment as predictors, and increased use of machine learning methods over time. Usability and reproducibility All identified models contained at least one predictor requiring the skills of a medical specialist for measurement or assessment. Most of the models (44; 59%) contained predictors that require specialist equipment likely to be absent from primary care or standard hospital settings. Over half (52%) of the developed models were not accompanied by model coefficients, tools, or instructions, which hinders their application, independent validation or reproduction. The data used in model developments were made publicly available or reported to be available on request only in a few studies (two and six, respectively). Risk of bias We rated all but one of the model developments or validations as having high overall risk of bias. The main reason for this was the statistical methods used for the development or evaluation of prognostic models; we rated all but two of the included model developments or validations as having high risk of bias in the analysis domain. None of the model developments that were externally validated or these models' external validations had low risk of bias. There were concerns related to applicability of the models to our research question in over one-third (38%) of the models or their validations. Reporting deficiencies Reporting was poor overall and there was no observable increase in the quality of reporting over time. The items that were unclearly reported or not reported at all for most of the included models or validations were related to sample size justification, blinding of outcome assessors, details of the full model or how to obtain predictions from it, amount of missing data, and treatments received by the participants. Reporting of preferred model performance measures of discrimination and calibration was suboptimal.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The current evidence is not sufficient for recommending the use of any of the published prognostic prediction models for people with MS in clinical routine today due to lack of independent external validations. The MS prognostic research community should adhere to the current reporting and methodological guidelines and conduct many more state-of-the-art external validation studies for the existing or newly developed models.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Prognosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Reproducibility of Results; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37681561
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013606.pub2 -
Journal of Infection and Public Health Sep 2023The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global humanitarian crisis. Despite ongoing research, transmission risks and many disease characteristics remained unclear. Most...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global humanitarian crisis. Despite ongoing research, transmission risks and many disease characteristics remained unclear. Most patients have displayed elevated levels of certain inflammatory markers, which we sought to investigate further in relation to disease severity. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between inflammatory markers and the severity of COVID-19 among patients.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study from April to September 2020, involving 143 COVID-19 PCR-positive patients from Ziauddin Hospital. Electronic patient records provided data on demographics, clinical status, and laboratory results.
RESULTS
The majority of PCR-positive patients were elderly males with comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. Almost all patients exhibited increased levels of various inflammatory markers, with procalcitonin (97.2%) being the most common. Statistically significant differences were observed in the levels of TLC (p = 0.005), CRP (p = 0.001), LDH (p = 0.001), Ferritin (p = 0.001), D-dimer (p = 0.001), and procalcitonin (p = 0.028), in relation to COVID-19 severity.
CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest a significant association between levels of inflammatory markers and COVID-19 severity. All markers, except procalcitonin, demonstrated a significant correlation with disease severity. These results could enhance our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis and help predict and manage severe cases.
Topics: Aged; Male; Humans; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Pandemics; Procalcitonin; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37442012
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.06.018 -
International Psychogeriatrics Dec 2023
Topics: Humans; Alzheimer Disease; Biomarkers; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37753728
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610223000868 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathophysiology of both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) but their exact contribution to disease... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathophysiology of both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) but their exact contribution to disease progression remains to be deciphered. Biomarkers are needed to define pathophysiological processes of these disorders, who may increasingly co-exist in the elderly generations of the future, due to the rising prevalence in both and ameliorated treatment options with improved life expectancy in MS. The purpose of this review was to provide a systematic overview of inflammatory biomarkers, as measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), that are associated with clinical disease progression. International peer-reviewed literature was screened using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Disease progression had to be measured using clinically validated tests representing baseline functional and/or cognitive status, the evolution of such clinical scores over time and/or the transitioning from one disease stage to a more severe stage. The quality of included studies was systematically evaluated using a set of questions for clinical, neurochemical and statistical characteristics of the study. A total of 84 papers were included (twenty-five for AD and 59 for MS). Elevated CSF levels of chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) were associated with disease progression in both AD and MS. Osteopontin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were more specifically related to disease progression in AD, whereas the same was true for interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-X-C motif ligand 13, glial fibrillary acidic protein and IgG oligoclonal bands in MS. We observed a broad heterogeneity of studies with varying cohort characterization, non-disclosure of quality measures for neurochemical analyses and a lack of adequate longitudinal designs. Most of the retrieved biomarkers are related to innate immune system activity, which seems to be an important mediator of clinical disease progression in AD and MS. Overall study quality was limited and we have framed some recommendations for future biomarker research in this field.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021264741.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Alzheimer Disease; Biomarkers; Disease Progression; Multiple Sclerosis
PubMed: 37520580
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1162340 -
Dermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany) Mar 2024Juvenile scleroderma, often referred to as juvenile localized scleroderma or "morphea", is a rare inflammatory disease of the skin and skin-related structures,... (Review)
Review
Juvenile scleroderma, often referred to as juvenile localized scleroderma or "morphea", is a rare inflammatory disease of the skin and skin-related structures, accompanied by local sclerosis and tissue fibrosis. Depending on the clinical manifestation, four different subtypes can be defined: limited, generalized, linear, and mixed. To prevent possible sequelae of the disease, the diagnosis should be made as early as possible and therapy should be initiated at specialized centers in multiprofessional pediatric and dermatologic collaboration. In this review, we present the main clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic characteristics of juvenile localized scleroderma and summarize recommendations.
Topics: Humans; Child; Scleroderma, Localized; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin; Fibrosis; Disease Progression
PubMed: 38240812
DOI: 10.1007/s00105-023-05293-5 -
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association... Jul 2023
Topics: Humans; Allopurinol; Disease Progression; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome
PubMed: 37460122
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.221575-f -
Revue Medicale Suisse Oct 2023
Topics: Humans; Disease Progression; Penicillins; Hypersensitivity
PubMed: 37791697
DOI: 10.53738/REVMED.2023.19.844.1810 -
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Nov 2023The management of COVID-19 has evolved through the course of the pandemic to now include options for outpatients, inpatients with life-threatening critical illness, and... (Review)
Review
The management of COVID-19 has evolved through the course of the pandemic to now include options for outpatients, inpatients with life-threatening critical illness, and everyone in between. The goals of therapy include preventing disease progression and preventing worsening disease in those admitted to the hospital, with the hopes of preserving resources and improving patient outcomes. The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the National Institutes of Health have issued guidelines on treating COVID-19, which the authors review here.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Disease Progression; Inpatients
PubMed: 37914200
DOI: 10.3949/ccjm.90a.22102 -
Annals of Clinical and Translational... Oct 2023Our aim was to study the evolution of ataxia and neurological symptoms before and after ataxia onset in the most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), SCA1, SCA2, SCA3...
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to study the evolution of ataxia and neurological symptoms before and after ataxia onset in the most common spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 and SCA6. We therefore jointly analysed the data of the EUROSCA and RISCA studies, which recruited ataxic and non-ataxic mutation carriers.
METHODS
We used mixed effect models to analyse the evolution of Scale for the Rating and Assessment of Ataxia (SARA) scores, SCA Functional Index (SCAFI) and Inventory of Non-Ataxia Signs (INAS) counts. We applied multivariable modelling to identify factors associated with SARA progression. In the time interval 5 years prior to and after ataxia onset, we calculated sensitivity to change ratios (SCS) of SARA, SCAFI and INAS.
RESULTS
2740 visits of 677 participants were analysed. All measures showed non-linear progression that was best fitted by linear mixed models with linear, quadratic and cubic time effects. R values indicating quality of the fit ranged from 0.70 to 0.97. CAG repeat was associated with faster progression in SCA1, SCA2 and SCA3, but not SCA6. 5 years prior to and after ataxia onset, SARA had the highest SCS of all measures with a mean of 1.21 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.21) in SCA1, 0.94 (0.93, 0.94) in SCA2 and 1.23 (1.22, 1.23) in SCA3.
INTERPRETATION
Our data have important implications for the understanding of disease progression in SCA1, SCA2, SCA3 and SCA6 across the lifespan. Furthermore, our study provides information for the design of interventional trials, especially in pre-ataxic mutation carriers close to ataxia onset and patients in early disease stages.
Topics: Humans; Spinocerebellar Ataxias; Seizures; Disease Progression
PubMed: 37592453
DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51875