-
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Apr 2023There is no consensus on the optimal tonsillectomy technique in adult patients. The study aims to identify all studies comparing the outcomes of coblation versus bipolar... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS
There is no consensus on the optimal tonsillectomy technique in adult patients. The study aims to identify all studies comparing the outcomes of coblation versus bipolar diathermy in adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy.
METHODS
A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Primary outcomes were hemorrhage and postoperative pain. Secondary outcome measures included return to theatre, analgesia, intraoperative bleeding, diet, tonsillar healing, and operation time. Fixed-effects modeling was used for the analysis.
RESULTS
Six studies were identified enrolling a total of 1824 patients. There were no significant differences in terms of reactionary hemorrhage (OR = 1.81, = .51), delayed hemorrhage (OR = 0.72, = .20), or postoperative pain (mean difference = -0.15, = .45); however, there is a general trend favuring coblation. For secondary outcomes, no significant differences noted in terms of intraoperative bleeding, diet, and cases returning to theatre. Analgesia administration was either insignificant or higher in the coblation group. The coblation group had longer operation time and greater healing effect on tonsillar tissue.
CONCLUSIONS
There were no significant differences in outcomes for coblation and bipolar diathermy for adult tonsillectomy patients in this systematic review and meta-analysis.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Tonsillectomy; Postoperative Hemorrhage; Palatine Tonsil; Pain, Postoperative; Diathermy
PubMed: 33719616
DOI: 10.1177/0145561321994995 -
Le Infezioni in Medicina Dec 2020To date, research on viral shedding (VS), live virus isolation and infection status remains ongoing as scientists and clinicians attempt to better understand the...
To date, research on viral shedding (VS), live virus isolation and infection status remains ongoing as scientists and clinicians attempt to better understand the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Viral RNA detection at different stages of the disease, quantitative changes and patterns of viral persistence and clearance all provide context for the pathogenesis and transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Given the highly infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on the global population and economy, clinicians continue to seek the best methods for controlling its spread, and data on public health preventative measures continue to emerge. In this paper we review the available evidence on the viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in the URT to determine a timeline for infection based on molecular and viral culture findings and to assess the significance of persistently positive results. Keywords: viral shedding, viral load, viral culture, SARS-CoV-2, upper respiratory tract.
Topics: COVID-19; Female; Humans; Male; Nasopharynx; Nose; Oropharynx; Pandemics; Pharynx; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; Saliva; Sex Distribution; Viral Load; Virus Activation; Virus Cultivation; Virus Replication; Virus Shedding
PubMed: 33257622
DOI: No ID Found -
Annals of Internal Medicine Apr 2021Nasopharyngeal swabs are the primary sampling method used for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but they require a trained... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Nasopharyngeal swabs are the primary sampling method used for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but they require a trained health care professional and extensive personal protective equipment.
PURPOSE
To determine the difference in sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection between nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva and estimate the incremental cost per additional SARS-CoV-2 infection detected with nasopharyngeal swabs.
DATA SOURCES
Embase, Medline, medRxiv, and bioRxiv were searched from 1 January to 1 November 2020. Cost inputs were from nationally representative sources in Canada and were converted to 2020 U.S. dollars.
STUDY SELECTION
Studies including at least 5 paired nasopharyngeal swab and saliva samples and reporting diagnostic accuracy for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data were independently extracted using standardized forms, and study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2).
DATA SYNTHESIS
Thirty-seven studies with 7332 paired samples were included. Against a reference standard of a positive result on either sample, the sensitivity of saliva was 3.4 percentage points lower (95% CI, 9.9 percentage points lower to 3.1 percentage points higher) than that of nasopharyngeal swabs. Among persons with previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, saliva's sensitivity was 1.5 percentage points higher (CI, 7.3 percentage points lower to 10.3 percentage points higher) than that of nasopharyngeal swabs. Among persons without a previous SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, saliva was 7.9 percentage points less (CI, 14.7 percentage points less to 0.8 percentage point more) sensitive. In this subgroup, if testing 100 000 persons with a SARS-CoV-2 prevalence of 1%, nasopharyngeal swabs would detect 79 more (95% uncertainty interval, 5 fewer to 166 more) persons with SARS-CoV-2 than saliva, but with an incremental cost per additional infection detected of $8093.
LIMITATION
The reference standard was imperfect, and saliva collection procedures varied.
CONCLUSION
Saliva sampling seems to be a similarly sensitive and less costly alternative that could replace nasopharyngeal swabs for collection of clinical samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing.
PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE
McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity. (PROSPERO: CRD42020203415).
Topics: Antigens, Viral; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; False Negative Reactions; False Positive Reactions; Humans; Nasopharynx; Point-of-Care Systems; SARS-CoV-2; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 33428446
DOI: 10.7326/M20-6569 -
Nature Communications Feb 2024Chewing tobacco use poses serious health risks; yet it has not received as much attention as other tobacco-related products. This study synthesizes existing evidence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Chewing tobacco use poses serious health risks; yet it has not received as much attention as other tobacco-related products. This study synthesizes existing evidence regarding the health impacts of chewing tobacco while accounting for various sources of uncertainty. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of chewing tobacco and seven health outcomes, drawing on 103 studies published from 1970 to 2023. We use a Burden of Proof meta-analysis to generate conservative risk estimates and find weak-to-moderate evidence that tobacco chewers have an increased risk of stroke, lip and oral cavity cancer, esophageal cancer, nasopharynx cancer, other pharynx cancer, and laryngeal cancer. We additionally find insufficient evidence of an association between chewing tobacco and ischemic heart disease. Our findings highlight a need for policy makers, researchers, and communities at risk to devote greater attention to chewing tobacco by both advancing tobacco control efforts and investing in strengthening the existing evidence base.
Topics: Humans; Tobacco, Smokeless; Mouth Neoplasms; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Esophageal Neoplasms
PubMed: 38316758
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45074-9 -
PloS One 2021Diagnosis of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients and screening of populations for SARS-CoV-2 infection require access to straightforward, low-cost and high-throughput... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of COVID-19 in symptomatic patients and screening of populations for SARS-CoV-2 infection require access to straightforward, low-cost and high-throughput testing. The recommended nasopharyngeal swab tests are limited by the need of trained professionals and specific consumables and this procedure is poorly accepted as a screening method In contrast, saliva sampling can be self-administered.
METHODS
In order to compare saliva and nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal samples for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, we designed a meta-analysis searching in PubMed up to December 29th, 2020 with the key words "(SARS-CoV-2 OR COVID-19 OR COVID19) AND (salivary OR saliva OR oral fluid)) NOT (review[Publication Type]) NOT (PrePrint[Publication Type])" applying the following criteria: records published in peer reviewed scientific journals, in English, with at least 15 nasopharyngeal/orapharyngeal swabs and saliva paired samples tested by RT-PCR, studies with available raw data including numbers of positive and negative tests with the two sampling methods. For all studies, concordance and sensitivity were calculated and then pooled in a random-effects model.
FINDINGS
A total of 377 studies were retrieved, of which 50 were eligible, reporting on 16,473 pairs of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal and saliva samples. Meta-analysis showed high concordance, 92.5% (95%CI: 89.5-94.7), across studies and pooled sensitivities of 86.5% (95%CI: 83.4-89.1) and 92.0% (95%CI: 89.1-94.2) from saliva and nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs respectively. Heterogeneity across studies was 72.0% for saliva and 85.0% for nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs.
INTERPRETATION
Our meta-analysis strongly suggests that saliva could be used for frequent testing of COVID-19 patients and "en masse" screening of populations.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; Humans; Nasopharynx; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 34111196
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253007 -
Cells Sep 2019To review the current knowledge regarding the involvement of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the immune system in the development of head and neck squamous...
OBJECTIVES
To review the current knowledge regarding the involvement of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the immune system in the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
METHODS
An electronic literature search was conducted to identify articles published between 1990 and 2019 pertaining to tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) in HNSCC using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Issues of clinical relevance, including tumor location, the number of tumor samples, the inclusion of additional specimens (dysplastic or normal mucosa), tumor size, methods used for HPV detection, relationship between antigen expression and patient characteristics (age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.), and prognostic data (overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS)) were assessed by four blinded investigators.
RESULTS
The search identified 335 relevant studies, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 7 studies focused on the peripheral blood immune cell concentration in patients with HNSCC according to HPV status, and 36 studies investigated TICs in the intraepithelial and/or stromal compartment(s) according to HPV status. The immune cells studied were CD8+ T cells (N = 19), CD4+ T cells (N = 7), regulatory T cells (Tregs, N = 15), macrophages (N = 13), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs, N = 4), and Langerhans cells (LCs, N = 2).
CONCLUSIONS
Irrespective of tumor location, CD8+ and CD4+ T cells appear to play a key role in the development of HPV-related HNSCC, and their infiltration is likely associated with a significant impact on OS and RFS. To date, the roles and prognostic value of Tregs, macrophages, DCs and MDSCs remain unclear.
Topics: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Langerhans Cells; Macrophages; Male; Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Oropharynx; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
PubMed: 31510065
DOI: 10.3390/cells8091061 -
Iranian Journal of Public Health Jul 2023Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Economic evaluation of cancer treatment to reduce costs can save the health care system millions of dollars... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Economic evaluation of cancer treatment to reduce costs can save the health care system millions of dollars while optimizing care. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to study the economic evaluation of cancer treatment using intermediate intensity radiation therapy (IMRT) compared to conventional 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT).
METHODS
Literatures from PubMed, Embase, Cochran Library, Google scholar, Scopus and Iranian databases were retrieved since Jan 2000 to Apr 2020 for eligible English studies. The quality of the studies was evaluated using Cheers' checklist and then the textual data were analyzed manually by content analysis method.
RESULTS
Overall, 1790 articles were retrieved, of which 12 studies were reviewed. The article quality score ranged from 14.5 to 23 out of a maximum of 24 points. Eleven studies referred to cost-effectiveness analysis and one study referred to cost-utility analysis. Studies have been conducted in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Hungary. IMRT appears to be a cost-effective treatment strategy for rectal cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and localized carcinoma of the pharynx, and for prostate cancer in terms of prolonging survival, but it is a cost-effective treatment strategy for head cancer. In addition, the neck was not in India's cancer control program.
CONCLUSION
The results can help to decide whether to use radiation therapy and radiotherapy in the standard treatment path. Furthermore, they underline that IMRT treatment technique was cost effective for a long-time care service.
PubMed: 37593521
DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v52i7.13237 -
Indian Journal of Dental Research :... 2023To investigate the pharyngeal airway volume in different anteroposterior skeletal malocclusions. This study was prepared according to the Cochrane criteria for creating... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
To investigate the pharyngeal airway volume in different anteroposterior skeletal malocclusions. This study was prepared according to the Cochrane criteria for creating a systematic review and meta-analysis and confirms the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. This search was conducted to answer the patient/population, intervention, comparison and outcomes (PICO) question: To evaluate (outcome) and compare (comparison) whether there is a difference in airway volume in patients (participants) with different skeletal malocclusions diagnosed using 3D data (intervention).The first two authors extracted the data from the included studies and assessed the risk of bias in the individual studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis was done using STATA version 16, which compared various three-dimensional pharyngeal airway parameters in skeletal Class II and skeletal Class III malocclusions with that of skeletal class I malocclusion. Out of 370 articles from the initial search, 17 articles were included in the systematic review. Out of 17 studies, 12 eligible studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. The nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and total airway volume were increased in skeletal Class I malocclusion compared to that of skeletal Class II malocclusion and decreased in comparison to skeletal Class III malocclusion. The moderate quality of evidence indicates the total airway volume, oropharynx, and hypopharynx are largest in skeletal Class III compared to Class I and Class II skeletal malocclusion.
Topics: Humans; Cephalometry; Pharynx; Nasopharynx; Oropharynx; Malocclusion, Angle Class III; Malocclusion; Malocclusion, Angle Class II; Malocclusion, Angle Class I; Mandible; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
PubMed: 37787215
DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_338_22 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2019The gag reflex is an involuntary defence mechanism to protect the pharynx and throat from foreign objects. Gagging is a common problem encountered during dental... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
The gag reflex is an involuntary defence mechanism to protect the pharynx and throat from foreign objects. Gagging is a common problem encountered during dental treatment, making therapeutic procedures distressing and often difficult or even impossible to perform. Various interventions can be used to control the gag reflex: anti-nausea medicines, sedatives, local and general anaesthetics, herbal remedies, behavioural therapies, acupressure, acupuncture, laser, and prosthetic devices. This is an update of the Cochrane Review first published in 2015.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the management of gagging in people undergoing dental treatment.
SEARCH METHODS
Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register (to 18 March 2019), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2019, Issue 2) in the Cochrane Library (searched 18 March 2019), MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 18 March 2019), Embase Ovid (1980 to 18 March 2019), CINAHL EBSCO (1937 to 18 March 2019), AMED Ovid (1985 to 18 March 2019), and the proceedings of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) online (2001 to 18 March 2019). The US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials. We also conducted forwards citation searching on the included studies via Google Scholar. No restrictions were placed on the language or date of publication when searching the electronic databases.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), involving people who were given a pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention to manage gagging that interfered with dental treatment. We excluded quasi-RCTs. We excluded trials with participants who had central or peripheral nervous system disorders, who had oral lesions or were on systemic medications that might affect the gag sensation, or had undergone surgery which might alter anatomy permanently.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We independently selected trials, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. We followed Cochrane's statistical guidelines. We assessed the overall certainty of the evidence using GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We included four trials at unclear risk of bias with 328 participants (263 adults and 65 children who were four years or older), in which one trial compared acupuncture and acupressure (with thumb, device and sea band) at P6 (point located three-finger breadths below the wrist on the inner forearm in between the two tendons) to sham acupuncture and acupressure with and without sedation. One trial compared acupuncture at P6 point to sham acupuncture. These trials reported both completion of dental procedure and reduction in gagging (assessor and patient reported) as their outcomes. One cross-over and one split-mouth trial studied the effect of laser at P6 point compared to control. One trial reported reduction in gagging and another reported presence or absence of gagging during dental procedure. Acupuncture at P6 showed uncertain evidence regarding the successful completion of dental procedure (RR 1.78, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.01; two trials, 59 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and uncertain evidence regarding the reduction in gagging (RR 2.57, 95% CI 1.12 to 5.89; one trial, 26 participants; very low-certainty evidence) in comparison to sham acupuncture. Acupuncture at P6 with sedation did not show any difference when compared to sham acupuncture with sedation (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.28; one trial, 34 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Acupressure using thumb pressure with or without sedation showed no clear difference in completing dental procedure (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.10; one trial, 39 participants; very low-certainty evidence; and RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.46; one trial, 30 participants; very low-certainty evidence; respectively), or reduction in gagging (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.23; one trial, 39 participants; very low-certainty evidence; and RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.41; one trial, 30 participants; very low-certainty evidence; respectively) when compared to sham acupressure with or without sedation. Acupressure at P6 with device showed uncertain evidence regarding the successful completion of dental procedure (RR 2.63, 95% CI 1.33 to 5.18; one trial, 34 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and uncertain evidence regarding the reduction in gagging (RR 3.94, 95% CI 1.63 to 9.53; one trial, 34 participants; very low-certainty evidence) when compared to sham acupressure. However, device combined with sedation showed no difference for either outcome (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.48; one trial, 27 participants; very low-certainty evidence; and RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.69; one trial, 27 participants; very low-certainty evidence; respectively). Acupressure using a sea band with or without sedation showed no clear difference in completing dental procedure (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.17; one trial, 21 participants; very low-certainty evidence; and RR 1.80, 95% CI 0.63 to 5.16; one trial, 19 participants; very low-certainty evidence; respectively), or reduction in gagging (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.17; one trial, 21 participants; very low-certainty evidence; and RR 2.70, 95% CI 0.72 to 10.14; one trial, 19 participants; very low-certainty evidence; respectively) when compared to sham acupressure with or without sedation. Laser at P6 showed a difference in absence of gagging (odds ratio (OR) 86.33, 95% CI 29.41 to 253.45; one trial, 40 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and reduction in gagging (MD 1.80, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.07; one trial, 25 participants; very low-certainty evidence) during dental procedure when compared to dummy laser application. No noteworthy adverse effects were reported. For acupuncture at P6, the trial authors were unsure whether the reported adverse effects were due to participant anxiety or due to the intervention. None of the trials on acupressure or laser reported on this outcome. We did not find trials evaluating any other interventions used to manage gagging in people undergoing dental treatment.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We found very low-certainty evidence from four trials that was insufficient to conclude if there is any benefit of acupuncture, acupressure or laser at P6 point in reducing gagging and allowing successful completion of dental procedures. We did not find any evidence on any other interventions for managing the gag reflex during dental treatment. More well-designed and well-reported trials evaluating different interventions are needed.
Topics: Acupuncture Therapy; Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Care; Female; Gagging; Humans; Male; Oral Health; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Young Adult
PubMed: 31721146
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011116.pub3 -
Medicine Sep 2023Capsule endoscopy is the first-line investigation for small bowel disorders. Capsule retention in the small bowel is the most common adverse event. Retention has also...
Capsule endoscopy is the first-line investigation for small bowel disorders. Capsule retention in the small bowel is the most common adverse event. Retention has also been reported in the upper esophagus; however, guidance for diagnosis and management is lacking. This review aims to summarize the diagnostic workup and management of this complication. We conducted a systematic literature review by searching 5 databases; relevant keywords and MeSH terms were used. Exclusion criteria included publications of non-adult patients in non-English languages. Data from eligible studies were analyzed using IBM SPSS 29. Twelve case reports were found (9 males, median age of 76 years); 10 capsule retentions in Zenker's diverticulum and 2 in the cricopharyngeus. Most patients were asymptomatic before capsule endoscopy. Capsule retention was symptomatic in half of the patients (6/12). A neck X-ray confirmed the diagnosis in all patients. Endoscopic capsule retrieval was achieved by different tools (9/12) (Roth's net was the most used tool, 6 patients); retrieval required rigid endoscopy in a few cases (3/12). Endoscopic capsule re-insertion was successful; using an overtube to bypass the upper esophagus was the safest method. In conclusion, capsule retention in the upper esophagus is uncommon yet exposes patients to the risk of unnecessary procedures. Symptoms of swallowing and medium-to-large size Zenker's diverticulum should be considered contra-indications for capsule endoscopy. Neck and chest X-rays are required for elderly patients who do not pass the capsule 2 weeks after ingestion. Endoscopic retrieval using Roth's net and re-insertion through an overtube should be considered first-line management.
Topics: Aged; Male; Humans; Capsule Endoscopy; Zenker Diverticulum; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper; Databases, Factual; Deglutition
PubMed: 37682178
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035113