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Cancers Mar 2021To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the outcome of surgical treatment for isolated local recurrence of pancreatic cancer. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the outcome of surgical treatment for isolated local recurrence of pancreatic cancer.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
RESULTS
Six studies concerning 431 patients with recurrent pancreatic cancer met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis: 176 underwent redo surgery, and 255 received non-surgical treatments. Overall survival and post-recurrence survival were significantly longer in the re-resected group (ratio of means (ROM) 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54-2.56, = 75.89%, = 0.006, and ROM = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.48-2.83, = 76.39%, = 0.002, respectively) with a median overall survival benefit of 28.7 months (mean difference (MD) 28.7; 95% CI, 10.3-47.0, = 89.27%, < 0.001) and median survival benefit of 15.2 months after re-resection (MD 15.2; 95% CI, 8.6-21.8, = 58.22%, = 0.048).
CONCLUSION
Resection of isolated pancreatic cancer recurrences is safe and feasible and may offer a survival benefit. Selection of patients and assessment of time and site of recurrence are mandatory.
PubMed: 33805716
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061277 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2022To perform a systematic review to describe the available findings on clinical outcomes in HIV-1 and HTLV-1/HTLV-2 co-infected individuals since 1995.
AIM
To perform a systematic review to describe the available findings on clinical outcomes in HIV-1 and HTLV-1/HTLV-2 co-infected individuals since 1995.
DESIGN
This Systematic Review used PECO criteria follow by PRISMA reporting guidelines and registered as CRD42021279062 (Prospero database). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale assessed the methodological quality of included studies.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
A systematical search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Sciences databases for cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort studies design to identify clinical and laboratorial outcomes related to HIV-1 and HTLV-1/2 coinfection. Search strategy: [("HIV-1" AND "HTLV-1" OR "HTLV-2") AND ("Coinfection") AND (1990/01/01:2021/12/31[Date- Publication])].
RESULTS
A total of 15 articles were included on this systematic review describing data of 2,566 mono and coinfected patients, 58% male, with mean age was 35.7 ± 5.7 years. HIV-1 and HTLV-1 coinfected patients were more likely to had shorter survival and faster progression to death or mortality than monoinfected ones. Coinfected had higher CD4 cell counts and less likelihood of ART use. In addition, higher frequency of diseases like ichthyosis (22.2 vs. 6.8%), scabies (18.6 vs. 0%), candidiasis (42 vs. 12%), Strongyloidiasis (15.4 vs. 2%) and neurological manifestations like encephalopathy, peripheral neuropathy and HAM/TSP were more frequently reported in coinfected patients.
CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 and HTLV-1 coinfection and HIV-1 and HTLV-1 /2 triple coinfection were related to shorter survival, higher mortality rate, and faster progression to death, while coinfection by HIV-1/HTLV-2 seems to have neutral association with longer survival, slower AIDS progression, and lower mortality rate. The available evidence indicates an urgent need for prevention and control measures, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV-1 and HTLV-1/2 coinfected patients. Test-and-treat strategy for patients living with HIV in areas endemic for HTLV infection is mandatory, to avoid the risks of delayed therapy and death for coinfected patients.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021279062.
Topics: Adult; Coinfection; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; HTLV-I Infections; HTLV-II Infections; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Human T-lymphotropic virus 2; Humans; Male
PubMed: 35359787
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.820727 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2019To perform a systematic review (SR) of existing literature and a patent landscape report (PLR) regarding the potential applications of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) in... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To perform a systematic review (SR) of existing literature and a patent landscape report (PLR) regarding the potential applications of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) in dentistry.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Clinical and Biomedical online databases (Pubmed, Medline via Embase, Scopus, LILACS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library), Materials Science and Engineering databases (IEEE Explore, Compendex, Proquest), Material Science and Chemical database (Reaxys) so as Patents databases (Questel-Orbit, Espacenet, Patentscope) were consulted as recently as January 2019 to identify all papers and patents potentially relevant to the review. The reference lists of all eligible studies were hand searched for additional published work.
RESULTS
After duplicate selection and extraction procedures, 6 relevant full-text articles from the initial 302 and 45 relevant patents from 497 were selected. A modified Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) checklist of 14 items for reporting pre-clinical in-vitro studies was used to rate the methodological quality of the selected papers. The overall quality was judged low.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the great potential and versatility of SMPs, it was not possible to draw evidence-based conclusions supporting their immediate employment in clinical dentistry. This was due to the weak design and a limited number of studies included within this review and reflects the fact that additional research is mandatory to determine whether or not the use of SMPs in dentistry could be effective. Nevertheless, the qualitative analysis of selected papers and patents indicate that SMPs are promising materials in dentistry because of their programmable physical properties. These findings suggest the importance of furtherly pursuing this line of research.
PubMed: 31295822
DOI: 10.3390/ma12142216 -
Journal of the Peripheral Nervous... Sep 2023Several widely used medications, with a relevant efficacy profile, are toxic to the peripheral nervous system and an even larger number of agents are suspected to be... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Several widely used medications, with a relevant efficacy profile, are toxic to the peripheral nervous system and an even larger number of agents are suspected to be neurotoxic. There are concerns about the use of these drugs in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. This review provides evidence-based updated recommendations on this clinically relevant topic.
METHODS
A systematic review of the available studies/reports written in English was performed from July to September 2022 including in the search string all reported putative neurotoxic drugs.
RESULTS
The results of our systematic review provide evidence-based support for the statement that use of vincristine, and possibly paclitaxel, can occasionally induce an atypical, and more severe, course of drug-related peripheral neurotoxicity in CMT patients. It is therefore reasonable to recommend caution in the use of these compounds in CMT patients. However, no convincing evidence for a similar recommendation could be found for all other drugs.
INTERPRETATION
It is important that patients with CMT are not denied effective treatments that may prolong life expectancy for cancer or improve their health status if affected by non-oncological diseases. Accurate monitoring of peripheral nerve function in CMT patients treated with any neurotoxic agent remains mandatory to detect the earliest signs of neuropathy worsening and atypical clinical courses. Neurologists monitoring CMT patients as part of their normal care package or for natural history studies should keep detailed records of exposures to neurotoxic medications and support reporting of accelerated neuropathy progression if observed.
Topics: Humans; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease; Hereditary Sensory and Motor Neuropathy; Neoplasms; Neurotoxicity Syndromes
PubMed: 37249082
DOI: 10.1111/jns.12566 -
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Sep 2022With the advent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a wide range of life-threatening maxillofacial fungal coinfections have also been observed in patients. We... (Review)
Review
With the advent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a wide range of life-threatening maxillofacial fungal coinfections have also been observed in patients. We conducted this systematic review to collate and evaluate the data to enable clinicians to understand the disease pattern and types of mycosis and provide meticulous management of these infections in COVID-19 patients. The review was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines. A systematic electronic literature search was conducted on major databases using keywords in combination with Boolean Operators. Manuscripts discussing cases of maxillofacial fungal infections in COVID-19 patients were included. A total of 11 studies were systematically reviewed to assess the fungal coinfections in COVID-19 patients. Twenty-one cases of mucormycosis, 58 of candidiasis, and 1 each of aspergillosis and mixed infection were observed in the region of head and neck. Significant increase in invasive fungal infection is evident in patients suffering from COVID-19 which could be due to immunosuppression and other pre-existing comorbidities. Early diagnosis and intervention like systemic antifungals or surgical debridement is mandatory to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Topics: COVID-19; Coinfection; Humans; Mycoses; Pandemics
PubMed: 34622312
DOI: 10.1007/s10006-021-01010-5 -
Hernia : the Journal of Hernias and... Feb 2022Bochdalek hernia is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The incidence in adults is estimated around 0.17%. Right-sided hernias are much more seldom than left-sided ones... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Bochdalek hernia is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The incidence in adults is estimated around 0.17%. Right-sided hernias are much more seldom than left-sided ones because of faster closure of the right pleuroperitoneal canal and the protective effect of the liver. Due to its rarity, there have been no large prospective or retrospective studies following great need for evidence-based diagnostics and treatment strategies. In this systematic review, we evaluated the current evidence of diagnostics, treatment, and follow-up of adult right-sided Bochdalek hernias.
METHODS
According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines a systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane library from 2004 to January 2021. The literature search included all studies with non-traumatic right-sided Bochdalek hernias. Literature on left- or both-sided, pregnancy-associated, pediatric, and other types of hernias were explicitly excluded. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed.
RESULTS
Database search identified 401 records. After eligibility screening 41 studies describing 44 cases of right-sided non-traumatic Bochdalek hernias in adulthood were included for final analysis. Based upon the systematic literature review, the current diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up management pathway for this rare surgical emergency is presented.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review underlined that most studies investigating management of adult non-traumatic right-sided Bochdalek hernias are of moderate to low methodological quality. Hernias tend to occur more frequently in middle-aged and older women presenting with abdominal pain and dyspnea. A rapid and accurate diagnosis following surgical repair and regular follow-up is mandatory. High-quality studies focusing on the management of this rare entity are urgently needed.
Topics: Abdomen; Adult; Aged; Child; Female; Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; Herniorrhaphy; Humans; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34216313
DOI: 10.1007/s10029-021-02445-1 -
Rheumatology International Sep 2023The current systematic review aimed to document published cases of femoral head avascular necrosis (FHAVN) post-COVID-19, to report the COVID-19 disease characteristics...
The current systematic review aimed to document published cases of femoral head avascular necrosis (FHAVN) post-COVID-19, to report the COVID-19 disease characteristics and management patients received, and to evaluate how the FHAVN were diagnosed and treated among various reports. A systematic literature review was performed per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines through a comprehensive English literature search on January 2023 through four databases (Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus), including studies reporting on FHAVN post-COVID-19. Fourteen articles were included, ten (71.4%) were case reports, and four (28.6%) case series reported on 104 patients having a mean age of 42.2 ± 11.7 (14:74) years, in which 182 hip joints were affected. In 13 reports, corticosteroids were used during the COVID-19 management plan for a mean of 24.8 ± 11 (7:42) days, with a mean prednisolone equivalent dose of 1238.5 ± 492.8 (100:3520) mg. A mean of 142.1 ± 107.6 (7:459) days passed between COVID-19 diagnosis and FHAVN detection, and most of the hips were stage II (70.1%), and concomitant septic arthritis was present in eight (4.4%) hips. Most hips (147, 80.8%) were treated non-surgically, of which 143 (78.6%) hips received medical treatment, while 35 (19.2%) hips were surgically managed, 16 (8.8%) core decompression, 13 (7.1%) primary THA, five (2.7%) staged THA and three (1.6%) had first stage THA (debridement and application of antibiotic-loaded cement spacer). The outcomes were acceptable as regards hip function and pain relief. Femoral head avascular necrosis post-COVID-19 infection is a real concern, primarily attributed to corticosteroid usage, besides other factors. Early suspicion and detection are mandatory, as conservative management lines are effective during early stages with acceptable outcomes. However, surgical intervention was required for progressive collapse or patients presented in the late stage.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Femur Head; COVID-19 Testing; COVID-19; Femur Head Necrosis; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Decompression, Surgical
PubMed: 37338665
DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05373-8 -
Autoimmunity Reviews Dec 2021Many therapies have been investigated for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), including immunosuppressive therapies, antifibrotic agents,... (Review)
Review
Many therapies have been investigated for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), including immunosuppressive therapies, antifibrotic agents, immunomodulators and monoclonal antibodies. There is a high unmet medical need to better understand the current evidence for treatment efficacy and safety. This systematic review aims to present the existing literature on different drug treatments investigated for SSc-ILD and to critically assess the level of evidence for these drugs. A systematic review was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A structured literature search was performed for clinical trials and observational studies on the treatment of SSc-ILD with pharmaceutical interventions from 1 January 1990 to 15 December 2020. The quality of each reference was assessed using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. A total of 77 references were reviewed and 13 different treatments were identified. We found high-quality evidence for the use of cyclophosphamide, nintedanib, mycophenolate and tocilizumab. Therefore, we would posit that the clinical community has four valid options for treatment of SSc-ILD. Further research is mandatory to provide more evidence for the optimal treatment strategy in SSc-ILD, including the optimal time to initiate treatment, selection of patients for treatment and upfront combination therapy.
Topics: Antifibrotic Agents; Cyclophosphamide; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Scleroderma, Systemic
PubMed: 34718159
DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102978 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Sep 2020Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle strength associated to increased adverse events, such as falls and hip fractures. The aim of this... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Sarcopenia is defined as a progressive loss of muscle mass and muscle strength associated to increased adverse events, such as falls and hip fractures. The aim of this systematic review is to analyse diagnosis methods of sarcopenia in patients with hip fracture and evaluate prevention and treatment strategies described in literature.
METHODS
Three independent authors performed a systematic review of two electronic medical databases using the following inclusion criteria: Sarcopenia, hip fractures, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention with a minimum average of 6-months follow-up. Any evidence-level studies reporting clinical data and dealing with sarcopenia diagnosis, or the treatment and prevention in hip fracture-affected patients, were considered.
RESULTS
A total of 32 articles were found. After the first screening, we selected 19 articles eligible for full-text reading. Ultimately, following full-text reading, and checking of the reference list, seven articles were included.
CONCLUSIONS
Sarcopenia diagnosis is challenging, as no standardized diagnostic and therapeutic protocols are present. The development of medical management programs is mandatory for good prevention. To ensure adequate resource provision, care models should be reviewed, and new welfare policies should be adopted in the future.
PubMed: 32957453
DOI: 10.3390/jcm9092997 -
BJS Open Apr 2020Standardized reporting methods facilitate comparisons between studies. Reporting of data on benefits and harms of treatments in surgical RCTs should support clinical...
BACKGROUND
Standardized reporting methods facilitate comparisons between studies. Reporting of data on benefits and harms of treatments in surgical RCTs should support clinical decision-making. Correct and complete reporting of the outcomes of clinical trials is mandatory to appreciate available evidence and to inform patients properly before asking informed consent.
METHODS
RCTs published between January 2005 and January 2017 in 15 leading journals comparing a surgical treatment with any other treatment were reviewed systematically. The CONSORT checklist, including the extension for harms, was used to appraise the publications. Beneficial and harmful treatment outcomes, their definitions and their precision measures were extracted.
RESULTS
Of 1200 RCTs screened, 88 trials were included. For the differences in effect size of beneficial outcomes, 68 per cent of the trials reported a P value only but not a 95 per cent confidence interval. For harmful effects, this was 67 per cent. Only five of the 88 trials (6 per cent) reported a number needed to treat, and no study a number needed to harm. Only 61 per cent of the trials reported on both the beneficial and harmful outcomes of the intervention studied in the same paper.
CONCLUSION
Despite CONSORT guidelines, current reporting of benefits and harms in surgical trials does not facilitate clear communication of treatment outcomes with patients. Researchers, reviewers and journal editors should ensure proper reporting of treatment benefits and harms in trials.
Topics: Checklist; Humans; Periodicals as Topic; Publishing; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Surgical Procedures, Operative
PubMed: 32207574
DOI: 10.1002/bjs5.50240