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Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Nov 2019Ambient air pollution (AAP) is recognized a cardiovascular risk factor and lipid profile dysregulation seems to be one of the potential mediators involved. However,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Ambient air pollution (AAP) is recognized a cardiovascular risk factor and lipid profile dysregulation seems to be one of the potential mediators involved. However, results from epidemiologic research on the association between exposure to AAP and altered lipid profile have been inconsistent. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyse epidemiologic evidence on the association between exposure to ambient air pollutants (particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, back carbon) and lipid profile parameters (Total cholesterol; High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; TG-Triglycerides) or dyslipidaemia. Systematic electronic literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases (last search on 24th May 2019) using keywords related to the exposure (ambient air pollutants) and to the outcomes (lipid profile parameters/dyslipidaemia). Qualitative and quantitative information of the studies were extracted and fixed or random-effects models were used to obtain a pooled effect estimate per each pollutant/outcome combination. 22 studies were qualitatively analysed and, from those, 3 studies were quantitatively analysed. Particulate matters were the most studied pollutants and a considerable heterogeneity in air pollution assessment methods and outcomes definitions was detected. Age, obesity related measures, tobacco consumption, sex and socioeconomic factors were the most frequent considered variables for confounding adjustment in the models. In a long-term exposure scenario, we found a 3.14% (1.36%-4.95%) increase in TG levels per 10 μg/m PM increment and a 4.24% (1.37%-7.19%) increase in TG levels per 10 μg/m NO increment. No significant associations were detected for the remaining pollutant/outcome combinations. Despite the few studies included in the meta-analysis, our study suggests some epidemiologic evidence supporting the association between PM and NO exposures and increased TG levels. Due to the very low level of evidence, more studies are needed to clarify the role of lipid profile dysregulation as a mediator on the AAP adverse cardiovascular effects.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Carbon Monoxide; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants; Female; Humans; Lipids; Male; Nitrogen Oxides; Ozone; Particulate Matter; Socioeconomic Factors; Sulfur Dioxide
PubMed: 31465899
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113036 -
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of... Feb 2023The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the characteristics and consequences of post-processing methods after grinding procedures in YSZ ceramics... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the characteristics and consequences of post-processing methods after grinding procedures in YSZ ceramics on its surface roughness and flexural strength. The protocol of this review was made prospectively and is available online in the PROSPERO database (link). Literature searches on PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Lilacs, Web of Science and Scopus were conducted on December 2022 to select in vitro studies written in English, without publishing-date restrictions, that considered surface characteristics and mechanical properties of YSZ ceramics submitted to grinding and subsequent post-processing surface treatments as an attempt to revert the effect induced by grinding. Two authors independently selected the studies, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias. Mean differences (Rev-Man 5.1, random effects model, α= 0.05) were obtained by comparing flexural strength and surface roughness values of ground surfaces with at least one post-processing surface treatment (global analysis). Subgroup analyses were performed considering the most prevalent categories of post-processing methods. A total of 33 (out of 4032) studies were eligible and included in the analysis. In the global analysis, ground surfaces showed higher flexural strength than when post-processing methodologies were employed (p< 0.0001). The subgroup analysis showed that only polishing was able to enhance the flexural strength after grinding (p= 0.001); however, when other protocols were used, the ground surface was always superior in terms of flexural strength (p< 0.0001). Post-processing techniques in both the global and sub-group analyses were able to reduce the surface roughness after grinding in YSZ ceramics (p< 0.00001). High heterogeneity was found in all the meta-analyses. Concerning the risk of bias analysis, the included studies had mixed scores for the considered factors. In conclusion, in terms of improving flexural strength and restoring surface roughness after grinding, polishing protocols can be considered the best indication as post-processing treatment after YSZ ceramics adjustments/grinding.
Topics: Humans; Materials Testing; Surface Properties; Zirconium; Yttrium; Ceramics; Dental Polishing; Dental Porcelain
PubMed: 36634437
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.105654 -
Journal of Gastroenterology and... Aug 2014Cholangiocarcinomas of different locations differ in growth patterns, symptoms, treatment response, and survival. Still, they are regarded in many studies as a uniform... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Cholangiocarcinomas of different locations differ in growth patterns, symptoms, treatment response, and survival. Still, they are regarded in many studies as a uniform malignancy. Because intra- (iCCA) and extrahepatic (eCCA) cholangiocarcinoma display such differences, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze differences in the immunohistochemical profile of these tumors.
METHODS
In February 2014, we searched the two main medical literature databases MEDLINE and EMBASE. We extracted risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals from the identified studies and performed random-effects model meta-analyses in accordance with PRISMA and REMARK guidelines.
RESULTS
A total of 54 cohort studies, including 4458 patients and studying 102 individual markers met the inclusion criteria. Of the 57 markers that were evaluated in more than 30 iCCA and eCCA patients, 18 showed a statistically significant difference in expression between iCCA and eCCA. Biomarkers expressed differently between iCCA and eCCA included potential targets of therapy: EGFR, c-erbB-2 and VEGF-A. Several markers showed no statistical difference but large 95% confidence intervals, suggesting insufficient sample size.
CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review shows differences in marker expression between iCCA and eCCA. Consequently, patients with iCCA and eCCA may benefit from different treatment strategies.
Topics: Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cholangiocarcinoma; Cohort Studies; Databases, Bibliographic; ErbB Receptors; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Receptor, ErbB-2; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
PubMed: 24787096
DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12620 -
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery Dec 2023Researchers are investigating the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) obtained from exhaled breath and sebum as non-invasive tools for early Parkinson's... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Researchers are investigating the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) obtained from exhaled breath and sebum as non-invasive tools for early Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis. The present study aims to assess the feasibility of using VOC analysis for PD diagnosis and determine the overall diagnostic accuracy of the proposed tests.
METHODS
We performed systematic searches based on the PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant studies on VOCs in PD diagnosis using exhaled breath or sebum samples. The selected articles were described, and meta-analysis was conducted on those that provided the sensitivity and specificity data.
RESULTS
Out of 1268 articles initially identified, 8 met the inclusion criteria and provided specific sensitivity and specificity data for PD, which were included in the current meta-analysis. The pooled analysis of these findings showed a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85, a sensitivity of 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72, 0.88), and a specificity of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.84).
CONCLUSION
The analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath and sebum has shown promise as a new avenue for non-invasive diagnosis of PD. VOCs' ability to distinguish PD from healthy controls suggests their potential clinical application in screening for the disease. Consequently, VOCs hold significant potential as biomarkers for PD diagnosis and offer a promising novel approach to identifying and diagnosing the condition.
Topics: Humans; Volatile Organic Compounds; Parkinson Disease; Biomarkers; Sensitivity and Specificity; ROC Curve
PubMed: 37939618
DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.108022 -
Medicine Aug 2017Although several studies have suggested an association between elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and ovarian cancer risk, others have yielded contradictory results. To... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Although several studies have suggested an association between elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and ovarian cancer risk, others have yielded contradictory results. To address this issue, we conducted a meta-analysis.
METHODS
Studies were identified by searching PubMed and EMBASE up to July 2017 without language restrictions. Six case-control studies and 1 cohort study were included, including 1898 ovarian cancer cases. Pooled risk estimates were generated by using the fixed-effect model or the random-effect model based on the heterogeneity between studies.
RESULTS
As our data shown, the combined ORs were 1.04 (95%CI: 0.90-1.21) and 1.34 (95% CI: 1.06-1.70) for the risk in the second and third tertiles of CRP with those in the bottom tertile, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that with respect to the top tertile of CRP level, the association was significant for studies obtaining CRP from serum (OR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.30-3.07), conducted in the USA (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.15-1.72), using high-sensitivity immunotubidimetric assay (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.14-1.64), using Hs-CRP (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.21-1.75) and with follow-up period longer than 10 years (OR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.18-1.70).
CONCLUSION
Collectively, our findings propose that serum CRP levels may serve as an indicator of ovarian cancer risk. Further studies are needed to definitively identify the role of CRP in the etiology of ovarian cancer.
Topics: C-Reactive Protein; Female; Humans; Ovarian Neoplasms; Risk Factors
PubMed: 28834887
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007822 -
Oral Diseases Oct 2023The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate which salivary biomarkers are altered in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) compared to a control group... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate which salivary biomarkers are altered in patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) compared to a control group (CG). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in four databases. Case-control studies evaluating salivary biomarkers in BMS patients were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool. RevMan was used for meta-analysis. Seventeen studies were selected. The included studies collected 54 different biomarkers. Of these biomarkers, only three (cortisol, α-amylase, and dehydroepiandrosterone) were analyzed in three or more studies. Dehydroepiandrosterone obtained contradictory results among the studies. However, cortisol and α-amylase levels were found to be higher in BMS patients. Cortisol was the only biomarker which could be included for meta-analysis. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the BMS group compared to the CG (Mean Difference = 0.39; 95% CI [0.14-0.65]; p = 0.003). In conclusion, different studies investigated salivary biomarkers in patients with BMS compared to a CG, with controversial results. Meta-analysis, confirmed by trial-sequential analysis, showed how cortisol levels were significantly higher in BMS. Cortisol emerges as an interesting salivary biomarker in BMS, but future properly designed studies are needed to evaluate its role in diagnosis and/or response to treatment.
Topics: Humans; Saliva; Burning Mouth Syndrome; Hydrocortisone; Biomarkers; alpha-Amylases; Dehydroepiandrosterone
PubMed: 36135356
DOI: 10.1111/odi.14390 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jan 2024Infectious diseases are a part of everyday life, and acute respiratory diseases are the most common. Many agents carrying out respiratory infections are transmitted as... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Infectious diseases are a part of everyday life, and acute respiratory diseases are the most common. Many agents carrying out respiratory infections are transmitted as bioaerosols through the air, usually, particulate matter containing living organisms. The purpose of the study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the likelihood that people exposed to bioaerosols may experience severe respiratory diseases. Nine digital databases and bibliographies were assessed for papers conducted between January 1960 and April 2021. A total of 35 health and exposure studies were included from 825 studies for the systematic review, while only 17 contented the meta-inclusion analysis's criteria. This systematic review found higher bacterial bioaerosol concentrations in poultry farms, waste dumpsites, composting plants, and paper industries. The meta-analysis's Standard Mean Difference (SMD) measurement indicates a substantially positive association between bioaerosol exposure and respiratory disease outcomes in targeted populations. The value is 0.955 [95% CI, range 0.673-1.238; p < 0.001]. As per the Risk of Bias (ROB) findings, most of findings (30 out of 35 [85.71%]) were judged to have low ROB. From the random effect probit model, the total relative risk is 1.477 (95% CI, range 0.987-2.211), indicating a higher risk of respiratory diseases from bioaerosol exposure than the control groups. The total risk difference is 0.121 (95% CI, -0.0229 to 0.264), which means intervention groups may have a higher risk of respiratory diseases from continuous bioaerosol exposure than the control groups. The dose-response relationship revealed a strong positive linear coefficient correlation between bacterial & fungal bioaerosol exposure to respiratory health. Based on self-reported outcomes in those studies, The systematic review and meta-analysis stated that bioaerosol exposure had an effect on pulmonary health.
Topics: Humans; Respiratory Aerosols and Droplets; Particulate Matter; Composting; Risk; Respiratory Tract Infections
PubMed: 37984479
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122972 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2015Pre-eclampsia (PE) complicates 2%-8% of all pregnancies and is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In order to reduce these complications... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Pre-eclampsia (PE) complicates 2%-8% of all pregnancies and is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In order to reduce these complications and to develop possible treatment modalities, it is important to identify women at risk of developing PE. The use of biomarkers in early pregnancy would allow appropriate stratification into high and low risk pregnancies for the purpose of defining surveillance in pregnancy and to administer interventions. We used formal methods for a systematic review and meta-analyses to assess the accuracy of all biomarkers that have been evaluated so far during the first and early second trimester of pregnancy to predict PE. We found low predictive values using individual biomarkers which included a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12 (ADAM-12), inhibin-A, pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), placental growth factor (PlGF) and placental protein 13 (PP-13). The pooled sensitivity of all single biomarkers was 0.40 (95% CI 0.39-0.41) at a false positive rate of 10%. The area under the Summary of Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve (SROC) was 0.786 (SE 0.02). When a combination model was used, the predictive value improved to an area under the SROC of 0.893 (SE 0.03). In conclusion, although there are multiple potential biomarkers for PE their efficacy has been inconsistent and comparisons are difficult because of heterogeneity between different studies. Therefore, there is an urgent need for high quality, large-scale multicentre research in biomarkers for PE so that the best predictive marker(s) can be identified in order to improve the management of women destined to develop PE.
Topics: ADAM Proteins; ADAM12 Protein; Biomarkers; Female; Galectins; Humans; Inhibins; Membrane Proteins; Placenta Growth Factor; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Proteins; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A
PubMed: 26404264
DOI: 10.3390/ijms160923035 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... May 2023Promoting renewable energy (RE) is one key strategy to increase energy security and mitigate global warming. What really influences the development of RE has aroused... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Promoting renewable energy (RE) is one key strategy to increase energy security and mitigate global warming. What really influences the development of RE has aroused public attention worldwide. Numerous studies have identified and evaluated the critical influence factors (CIFs) for renewable energy development (RED); however, there seems to be no consensus among the previous studies on these CIFs and their importance level or influence direction. Given that, this study, for the first time, conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis of the CIFs for RED. With evidence from 33,119 observations in 67 studies between 2010 and 2022, 44 CIFs distributed in political, economic, environmental, social, and technological (PEEST) dimensions were selected from an international perspective. Results demonstrate that (i) 27 CIFs with statistical significance and their rank list were identified through meta-analysis. Some of them were mentioned many times in previous studies, but their significance for RED was not very high. (ii) The top three driving factors in CIFs' significance rank list were industrial infrastructure investment, R&D, and financial development, and the top three inhibiting factors were the fossil-based energy consumption structure, policy uncertainty, and population life. (iii) The publication year, country's economy, and links of the RED value chain have a moderating effect on some CIFs' influence mechanisms. This study not only contributes to the existing RED knowledge body but also provides references to policymakers and practitioners in formulating policies and good practices to promote renewable energy.
Topics: Carbon Dioxide; Renewable Energy; Global Warming; Internationality; Economic Development
PubMed: 36935441
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26286-w -
European Journal of Nutrition Oct 2022The associations between blood retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP) concentrations and diabetes mellitus were inconsistent in literature. The objective is to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
The associations between blood retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP) concentrations and diabetes mellitus were inconsistent in literature. The objective is to investigate these associations by a systematic review and meta-analysis and provide basis for clinical intervention.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of science, and Cochrane databases were searched from the beginning to July 1, 2021. A total of 13 studies on retinol and 31 studies on RBP are included in the current meta-analysis.
RESULTS
The blood retinol concentration was significantly lower in the type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) [standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% CI): - 0.59 (- 0.81, - 0.37), P < 0.01] and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients [SMD (95% CI): - 0.54 (- 0.87, - 0.20), P < 0.01] than in the controls. However, the difference was not significant between the type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and the controls. The RBP concentration was significantly higher in the diabetic patients than in the controls [SMD (95% CI): 0.24 (0.12, 0.35), P < 0.01]. Particularly, the RBP concentration was significantly higher in the T2DM and GDM patients.
CONCLUSION
The blood retinol concentration was negatively associated with T1DM and GDM, while the blood RBP concentration was positively associated with T2DM and GDM. Future work should use a more sensitive retinol measurement method like retinol isotope dilution method to confirm whether blood retinol concentration differs between the diabetes patients and the controls.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetes, Gestational; Female; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Pregnancy; Retinol-Binding Proteins; Vitamin A
PubMed: 35318493
DOI: 10.1007/s00394-022-02859-2