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Clinical and Experimental Dermatology May 2022Chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood (CBDC) is a rare autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease, which can develop following vaccination or medication, or with an...
BACKGROUND
Chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood (CBDC) is a rare autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease, which can develop following vaccination or medication, or with an autoimmune condition or illness, among other causes.
AIM
To identify and better understand the clinical features of CBDC by performing a systematic review, in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.
METHODS
Eligible studies included publication since 1980, CBDC diagnosis, case studies, subjects aged < 18 years, clinical features and no language restriction. A database search was conducted including Embase, MEDLINE and Scopus on 14 July 2021 (see Appendix for search terms). Data were assessed for risk of bias. Jamovi was used for statistical analysis. Age and sex were compared with mucocutaneous involvement, cutaneous involvement, other symptoms, human leucocyte antigen type and lesion descriptions.
RESULTS
After removing duplicate references using Endnote, 351 papers were identified, of which 91 met the inclusion criteria. These papers included 130 cases of CBDC: 110 children and 20 neonates. The ratio of male : female patients was 19 : 1 for neonates and 74:55 for children. χ² analysis with 1 degree of freedom showed that CBDC in neonates was associated with facial (χ² = 9.67, P < 0.01), mouth (χ² = 31.0, P < 0.001), upper airway (χ² = 52.7, P < 0.001), oesophageal (χ² = 34.6, P < 0.001), ophthalmic (χ² = 6.27, P = 0.01) involvement and with respiratory distress (χ² = 22.7 P < 0.001). CBDC in children was associated with genital (χ² = 3.96, P < 0.05), arm (χ² = 6.99, P < 0.01) and leg (χ² = 7.03, P < 0.01) involvement. CBDC in male patients was associated with facial (χ² = 7.01, P < 0.01), scalp (χ² = 5.96, P < 0.02) and perianal (χ² = 7.22, P < 0.01) involvement.
CONCLUSION
Neonates with CBDC are more likely to have a mucocutaneous distribution of lesions, whereas children are more likely to have cutaneous lesions. The limitations of this study include selection bias, and the small neonate sample size makes the study unrepresentative of the population. The review highlights the need for further research into the clinical features of CBDC in neonates.
Topics: Autoimmune Diseases; Child; Chronic Disease; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Infant, Newborn; Male; Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous
PubMed: 34919291
DOI: 10.1111/ced.15059 -
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Sep 2022Superspreading, or overdispersion in transmission, is a feature of SARS-CoV-2 transmission which results in surging epidemics and large clusters of infection. The... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Superspreading, or overdispersion in transmission, is a feature of SARS-CoV-2 transmission which results in surging epidemics and large clusters of infection. The dispersion parameter is a statistical parameter used to characterize and quantify heterogeneity. In the context of measuring transmissibility, it is analogous to measures of superspreading potential among populations by assuming that collective offspring distribution follows a negative-binomial distribution. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on globally reported dispersion parameters of SARS-CoV-2 infection. All searches were carried out on 10 September 2021 in PubMed for articles published from 1 January 2020 to 10 September 2021. Multiple estimates of the dispersion parameter have been published for 17 studies, which could be related to where and when the data were obtained, in 8 countries (e.g. China, the United States, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore). High heterogeneity was reported among the included studies. The mean estimates of dispersion parameters range from 0.06 to 2.97 over eight countries, the pooled estimate was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.79), with changing means over countries and decreasing slightly with the increasing reproduction number. The expected proportion of cases accounting for 80% of all transmissions is 19% (95% CrI: 7, 34) globally. The study location and method were found to be important drivers for diversity in estimates of dispersion parameters. While under high potential of superspreading, larger outbreaks could still occur with the import of the COVID-19 virus by traveling even when an epidemic seems to be under control.
Topics: Animals; COVID-19; China; Epidemics; India; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35799321
DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14655 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022Toxocariasis, a neglected parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution, has been reportedly associated to different risk factors in several epidemiological and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Toxocariasis, a neglected parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution, has been reportedly associated to different risk factors in several epidemiological and meta-analysis studies. However, dog and cat contact (environmental and animal exposure) as isolated associated risk factor for children and adults remains to be fully established. Accordingly, the present meta-analysis has aimed to directly assess dog and cat contact for toxocariasis seropositivity in under-18 and adult persons, using a survey strategy of PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus and Scielo Databases, from January 2009 to December 2021. A meta-analysis model of random effects was applied to estimate (OR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). The statistical heterogeneity was evaluated by the Cochran Q-Test and values. A total of 41 transversal studies ( = 20.515 individuals) from different geographic regions (classified by the World Health Organization) were included herein. In overall, 1,882/13,496 (13.95%; 95% IC = 13.4-14.5) youngers and 513/7.019 (7.3%; 95% CI = 6.7-7.9) adults in contact with dogs or cats were serologically reagent for anti- antibodies. Association of dog and cat contact was observed only in youngers, with both dogs (OR = 1.53; < 0.0001) and cats (OR = 1.64; = 0.0001). In addition, association of dog and contact and serology was statistically significant in populations of Americas (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.1-1.7), Middle East (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.6-5.1) and West Pacific (OR = 1.6; 95% IC = 1.3-1.9). In conclusion, contact with dogs and cats, particularly by younger individuals and in regions such as Americas, Middle East, and West Pacific, should be always a public health concern for toxocariasis. Moreover, dogs and cats should be periodically dewormed, washed and hair cleaned prior to contact with youngers. Finally, robust statistical results herein may serve as basis for future strategies and preventive measures for safer dog and cat contact.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Child; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Humans; Risk Factors; Toxocara; Toxocariasis; United States
PubMed: 35836995
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.854468 -
Journal of Global Antimicrobial... Sep 2023Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia), an opportunistic pathogen, causes infection in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, mechanical ventilation, or... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia), an opportunistic pathogen, causes infection in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, mechanical ventilation, or catheters and in long-term hospitalized patients. Due to its extensive resistance to various antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, S. maltophilia is challenging to treat. Using case reports, case series, and prevalence studies, the current study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of antibiotic resistance profiles across clinical isolates of S. maltophilia.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed for original research articles published in Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases from 2000 to 2022. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14 software to report antibiotic resistance of S. maltophilia clinical isolates worldwide.
RESULTS
223 studies (39 case reports/case series and 184 prevalence studies) were collected for analysis. A meta-analysis of prevalence studies demonstrated that the most antibiotic resistance worldwide was to levofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), and minocycline (14.4%, 9.2%, and 1.4%, respectively). Resistance to TMP/SMX (36.84%), levofloxacin (19.29%), and minocycline (1.75%) were the most prevalent antibiotic resistance types found in evaluated case reports/case series studies. The highest resistance rate to TMP/SMX was reported in Asia (19.29%), Europe (10.52%), and America (7.01%), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Considering the high resistance to TMP/SMX, more attention should be paid to patients' drug regimens to prevent the emergence of multidrug-resistant S. maltophilia isolates.
Topics: Humans; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Levofloxacin; Minocycline; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; Prevalence; Drug Resistance, Bacterial
PubMed: 36906172
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.02.018 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023This study aimed to systematically review research on cinacalcet and secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) using machine learning-based statistical analyses. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to systematically review research on cinacalcet and secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) using machine learning-based statistical analyses.
METHODS
Publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection database on Cinacalcet and SHPT published between 2000 and 2022 were retrieved. The R package "Bibliometrix," VOSviewer, CiteSpace, meta, and latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) in Python were used to generate bibliometric and meta-analytical results.
RESULTS
A total of 959 articles were included in our bibliometric analysis. In total, 3753 scholars from 54 countries contributed to this field of research. The United States, Japan, and China were found to be among the three most productive countries worldwide. Three Japanese institutions (Showa University, Tokai University, and Kobe University) published the most articles on Cinacalcet and SHPT. Fukagawa, M.; Chertow, G.M.; Goodman W.G. were the three authors who published the most articles in this field. Most articles were published in , , and . Research on Cinacalcet and SHPT has mainly included three topics: 1) comparative effects of various treatments, 2) the safety and efficacy of cinacalcet, and 3) fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23). Integrated treatments, cinacalcet use in pediatric chronic kidney disease, and new therapeutic targets are emerging research hotspots. Through a meta-analysis, we confirmed the effects of Cinacalcet on reducing serum PTH ( = -0.56, 95% = -0.76 to -0.37, = 0.001) and calcium ( = -0.93, 95% = -1.21to -0.64, = 0.001) and improving phosphate ( = 0.17, 95% = -0.33 to -0.01, = 0.033) and calcium-phosphate product levels ( = -0.49, 95% = -0.71 to -0.28, = 0.001); we found no difference in all-cause mortality ( = 0.97, 95% = 0.90 to 1.05, = 0.47), cardiovascular mortality ( = 0.69, 95% = 0.36 to 1.31, = 0.25), and parathyroidectomy ( = 0.36, 95% = 0.09 to 1.35, = 0.13) between the Cinacalcet and non-Cinacalcet users. Moreover, Cinacalcet was associated with an increased risk of nausea ( = 2.29, 95% = 1.73 to 3.05, = 0.001), hypocalcemia ( = 4.05, 95% = 2.33 to 7.04, = 0.001), and vomiting ( = 1.90, 95% = 1.70 to 2.11, = 0.001).
DISCUSSION
The number of publications indexed to Cinacalcet and SHPT has increased rapidly over the past 22 years. Literature distribution, research topics, and emerging trends in publications on Cinacalcet and SHPT were analyzed using a machine learning-based bibliometric review. The findings of this meta-analysis provide valuable insights into the efficacy and safety of cinacalcet for the treatment of SHPT, which will be of interest to both clinical and researchers.
Topics: Child; Humans; Calcimimetic Agents; Calcium; Cinacalcet; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary; Phosphates; United States; Machine Learning
PubMed: 37538795
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1146955 -
PharmacoEconomics - Open Sep 2021The type of methods used in economic evaluations of health technology can lead to results that may influence decisions. Despite the potential impact on decision making,...
INTRODUCTION
The type of methods used in economic evaluations of health technology can lead to results that may influence decisions. Despite the potential impact on decision making, there is very little documentation of methods used in economic evaluation in oncology pertaining to key assumptions and extrapolation methods of survival benefits, especially in terms of survival analysis techniques and methods for extrapolation.
OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of this study were to identify, examine, and describe the methods used in economic evaluations in oncology over a 10-year period, while secondary objectives included examining the use of identified methods across different geographic regions.
METHODS
A systematic search of the published oncology literature was conducted to identify economic evaluations of advanced or metastatic cancers published between 2010 and 2019 using the PUBMED, Ovid MEDLINE, and EMBASE databases. A random sample was taken, and information on type of study, data source, modeling techniques, and survival analysis methods were abstracted and descriptively summarized.
RESULTS
A total of 8481 abstracts were identified and 76 economic evaluations were abstracted and assessed. Most identified studies were from North America (38%), East Asia (21%), continental Europe (18%), or the UK (16%), and most commonly focused on lung cancer (18%), colorectal cancer (16%), or breast cancer (13%). A large majority of studies were based on data from randomized controlled trials (82%), utilized a cost-utility approach (82%), and took a public healthcare system perspective (83%). Common model structures included Markov (49%) and partitioned survival (17%). Fitted parametric curves were the most commonly used extrapolation method (89%) for overall survival and most often utilized the Weibull distribution (64%). Secondary assessments showed modest regional variation in the use of identified methods, including the use of fitted parametric curves, testing of the proportional hazards assumption, and validation of results.
CONCLUSION
A majority of papers in the study sample reported basic characteristics of study type, data source used, modeling techniques, and utilization of survival analysis methods. However, greater detail in reporting extrapolation methods, statistical analyses, and validation of results could be potential improvements, especially across regions, in order to support greater consistency in decision making. Future research could document the diffusion of novel modeling techniques into economic evaluation.
PubMed: 33893974
DOI: 10.1007/s41669-021-00263-w -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022A limited number of studies investigated the association between the ABO blood groups and the incidence of venous thromboembolism in individuals with Factor V Leiden;... (Review)
Review
A limited number of studies investigated the association between the ABO blood groups and the incidence of venous thromboembolism in individuals with Factor V Leiden; however, discordant findings were reported. Consequently, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the existing evidence on the susceptibility of the ABO blood group to venous thromboembolism in individuals with Factor V Leiden. All English-published articles on the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were comprehensively and systematically searched by the author without a time or region limit. Four studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis after the removal of studies that were not eligible. According to the analyses of the fixed and random effects, the point estimates of the effect size and the 95% confidence interval were 0.416 (95% CI: 0.397−0.435) and 0.392 (95% CI: 0.288−0.507), respectively. In contrast, the homogeneity test (Q value) reveals that blood group data distributions have a heterogenous structure (Q = 432.187; p-value < 0.001). The pooled event rates and the 95% CIs for the A, AB, B, and O-blood groups were 0.518 (95% CI: 0.411−0.622), 0.592 (95% CI: 0.495−0.683), 0.205 (95% CI: 0.041−0.612), and 0.283 (95% CI: 0.247−0.322), respectively. According to the findings, people with Factor V Leiden with blood group AB are more likely to develop venous thromboembolism than those with blood groups A, O, and B. The overall statistical significance of the ABO blood group’s susceptibility to venous thromboembolism in individuals with Factor V Leiden was <0.001 (pooled p-value). In conclusion, the current meta-analysis provides an additional indication that blood group AB individuals with Factor V Leiden are at higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism, and blood type B is connected to a lower risk of developing venous thromboembolism.
PubMed: 36010287
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12081936 -
Brain & Spine 2022Pediatric Brain Tumors (PBT) are a common cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Contrary to high-income countries (HIC), survival rates in low-and-middle income... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Pediatric Brain Tumors (PBT) are a common cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Contrary to high-income countries (HIC), survival rates in low-and-middle income countries (LMIC) remains low despite advances in neurosurgical care and diagnostics over the past decades. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the surgical outcomes for PBT in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the distribution of PBT types.
METHODS
A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, for all available literature on the surgical outcomes of PBT in Sub-Saharan Africa, published before May 3, 2022. Two reviewers performed abstract, full text screening and data collection independently, resolving any conflicts by consensus.
RESULTS
The search yielded 256 studies, of which 22 met the inclusion criteria, amounting to a total of 243 patients. Nigeria was the country with most data. Only subgroups of patients could be extracted from 12 studies, and variables of interest in 6 studies had inconsistent sample sizes. The age centered around 9 years, and there were approximately equal number of girls and boys. The most common tumor was medulloblastoma, followed by craniopharyngioma and astrocytoma. There was large heterogeneity in the reporting of outcomes, and a trend was difficult to discern, considering the large number of different tumor types and different extents of resection.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Data is insufficient and inconsistent, precluding statistical conclusions. There is a need for more studies in the field.
PubMed: 36248098
DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2022.100912 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022Third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems are considered critically important antimicrobials in human medicine. Food animals such as swine can act as reservoirs of... (Review)
Review
Global Distribution of Extended Spectrum Cephalosporin and Carbapenem Resistance and Associated Resistance Markers in of Swine Origin - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems are considered critically important antimicrobials in human medicine. Food animals such as swine can act as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes/bacteria resistant to these antimicrobial classes, and potential dissemination of AMR genes or resistant bacteria from pigs to humans is an ongoing public health threat. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to: (1) estimate global proportion and animal-level prevalence of swine phenotypically resistant to third generation cephalosporins (3GCs) and carbapenems at a country level; and (2) measure abundances and global distribution of the genetic mechanisms that confer resistance to these antimicrobial classes in these isolates. Articles from four databases (CAB Abstracts, PubMed/MEDLINE, PubAg, and Web of Science) were screened to extract relevant data. Overall, proportion of resistant to 3GCs was lower in Australia, Europe, and North America compared to Asian countries. Globally, <5% of all were carbapenem-resistant. Fecal carriage rates (animal-level prevalence) were consistently manifold higher as compared to pooled proportion of resistance in isolates. were the most common 3GC resistance genes globally, with the exception of North America where were the predominant 3GC resistance genes. There was not a single dominant gene subtype globally and several subtypes were dominant depending on the continent. A wide variety of carbapenem-resistance genes ( , ) were identified to be circulating in pig populations globally, albeit at very-low frequencies. However, great statistical heterogeneity and a critical lack of metadata hinders the true estimation of prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic resistance to these antimicrobials. Comparatively frequent occurrence of 3GC resistance and emergence of carbapenem resistance in certain countries underline the urgent need for improved AMR surveillance in swine production systems in these countries.
PubMed: 35620091
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.853810 -
Clinical Proteomics 2020During the last two decades, over 100 proteomics studies have identified a variety of potential biomarkers in CSF of Alzheimer's (AD) patients. Although several reviews... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
During the last two decades, over 100 proteomics studies have identified a variety of potential biomarkers in CSF of Alzheimer's (AD) patients. Although several reviews have proposed specific biomarkers, to date, the statistical relevance of these proteins has not been investigated and no peptidomic analyses have been generated on the basis of specific up- or down- regulation. Herein, we perform an analysis of all unbiased explorative proteomics studies of CSF biomarkers in AD to critically evaluate whether proteins and peptides identified in each study are consistent in distribution; direction change; and significance, which would strengthen their potential use in studies of AD pathology and progression.
METHODS
We generated a database containing all CSF proteins whose levels are known to be significantly altered in human AD from 47 independent, validated, proteomics studies. Using this database, which contains 2022 AD and 2562 control human samples, we examined whether each protein is consistently present on the basis of reliable statistical studies; and if so, whether it is over- or under-represented in AD. Additionally, we performed a direct analysis of available mass spectrometric data of these proteins to generate an AD CSF peptide database with 3221 peptides for further analysis.
RESULTS
Of the 162 proteins that were identified in 2 or more studies, we investigated their enrichment or depletion in AD CSF. This allowed us to identify 23 proteins which were increased and 50 proteins which were decreased in AD, some of which have never been revealed as consistent AD biomarkers (i.e. SPRC or MUC18). Regarding the analysis of the tryptic peptide database, we identified 87 peptides corresponding to 13 proteins as the most highly consistently altered peptides in AD. Analysis of tryptic peptide fingerprinting revealed specific peptides encoded by CH3L1, VGF, SCG2, PCSK1N, FBLN3 and APOC2 with the highest probability of detection in AD.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study reveals a panel of 27 proteins and 21 peptides highly altered in AD with consistent statistical significance; this panel constitutes a potent tool for the classification and diagnosis of AD.
PubMed: 32518535
DOI: 10.1186/s12014-020-09276-9