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Indian Journal of Endocrinology and... 2022The topic of maternal Chromium (Cr) levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has remained controversial; some studies have found lower levels of Cr in GDM... (Review)
Review
The topic of maternal Chromium (Cr) levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has remained controversial; some studies have found lower levels of Cr in GDM population, whereas others found no significant changes in Cr status in GDM. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed at qualitatively and quantitatively synthesizing past studies to find the relationship of maternal Cr levels with GDM. The study protocol was registered at International prospective register for systematic reviews (PROSPERO) (ID CRD42021272979). Strict adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-analysis checklist, 2009 was followed during the entire study. Random-effect model for calculation of distribution of true effect sizes was used for the meta-analysis with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. The pooled Standard Mean Difference of control and GDM groups were compared using Z statistics with a value of <.05 as significant. Six studies were included for the systematic review and four studies entered meta-analysis. The test of overall effect revealed that the pooled Cr values did not differ significantly between controls and GDM group (Z = 1.52, =0.13). Heterogeneity between the studies was high (I = 97%). A subgroup analysis revealed that results varied as per place of study, trimester of pregnancy, and Cr estimation technique. Results from meta regression analysis revealed that sample size of individual studies (Q = 0.003, =0.67) and year of publication of studies (Q = 0.22, =.48) had no significant effect on the overall Standard Mean Difference. Factors such as ethnicity, lack of history of infection, and diet history can influence the results of this study.
PubMed: 36618526
DOI: 10.4103/ijem.ijem_219_22 -
Medicine Aug 2022Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed promising therapeutic efficacy on melanoma. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Prognostic value of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase in melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showed promising therapeutic efficacy on melanoma. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed predictive values on prognosis of various tumors, but not on melanoma yet. This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the prognostic role of NLR and LDH levels in melanoma treated with ICIs.
METHODS
A search was conducted for all reports published till March 2020 in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). Studies were included if they investigated the association between pretreatment NLR/LDH and prognosis in melanoma patients treated with ICIs. Subgroup analysis, publication bias, and meta-regression were conducted to investigate heterogeneity.
RESULTS
A total of 6817 melanoma patients were included. Overall, high pretreatment NLR and LDH were associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P < .001) and PFS (P < .001). Subgroup analyses revealed that elevated NLR and LDH levels were associated with poor OS and PFS in patients treated with anti-CTLA-4 or anti-PD-1/PD-L1 alone. NLR level was superior in predicting OS if compared with LDH level in patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 + anti-CTLA-4. In subgroup analysis stratified by cutoff value, high NLR level was associated with poor OS and PFS regardless of cutoff value, but LDH works when cutoff value = upper normal limit (UNL). The predictive value of NLR and LDH levels on OS and PFS was partially compromised in the Asian populations, compared with the Western countries.
CONCLUSION
Blood NLR and LDH levels showed great potential to be used as early prognostic biomarkers in melanoma patients treated with ICIs.
Topics: B7-H1 Antigen; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Lymphocytes; Melanoma; Neutrophils; Prognosis
PubMed: 35960066
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029536 -
International Journal of Colorectal... Jul 2015Infectious complications occur frequently after major abdominal surgery and have a major influence on patient outcome and hospital costs. A marker that can rule out... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Infectious complications occur frequently after major abdominal surgery and have a major influence on patient outcome and hospital costs. A marker that can rule out postoperative infectious complications (PICs) could aid patient selection for safe and early hospital discharge. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely available, fast, and cheap marker that might be of value in detecting PIC. Present meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic value of CRP to rule out PIC following major abdominal surgery, aiding patient selection for early discharge.
METHODS
A systematic literature search of Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane was performed identifying all prospective studies evaluating the diagnostic value of CRP after abdominal surgery. Meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA statement.
RESULTS
Twenty-two studies were included for qualitative analysis of which 16 studies were eligible for meta-analysis, representing 2215 patients. Most studies analyzed the value of CRP in colorectal surgery (eight studies). The pooled negative predictive value (NPV) improved each day after surgery up to 90% at postoperative day (POD) 3 for a pooled CRP cutoff of 159 mg/L (range 92-200). Maximum predictive values for PICs were reached on POD 5 for a pooled CRP cutoff of 114 mg/L (range 48-150): a pooled sensitivity of 86% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79-91%), specificity of 86% (95% CI 75-92%), and a positive predictive value of 64% (95% CI 49-77%). The pooled sensitivity and specificity were significantly higher on POD 5 than on other PODs (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Infectious complications after major abdominal surgery are very unlikely in patients with a CRP below 159 mg/L on POD 3. This can aid patient selection for safe and early hospital discharge and prevent overuse of imaging.
Topics: Abdomen; C-Reactive Protein; Digestive System Surgical Procedures; Humans; Postoperative Complications; Predictive Value of Tests; Publication Bias
PubMed: 25935447
DOI: 10.1007/s00384-015-2205-y -
Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine 2023A comprehensive conclusion has yet to be made about the predictive value of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for stroke/systemic embolic events... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
A comprehensive conclusion has yet to be made about the predictive value of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for stroke/systemic embolic events (SEE) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aims to review the evidence for evaluating the value of NT-proBNP in predicting the risk of stroke/SEE in patients with AF through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHOD
Two independent reviewers screened all relevant studies that were retrieved from the database of Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 7th, 2021. The predictive value of NT-proBNP in the prediction of stroke/SEE was recorded as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
RESULTS
Nine articles (38,093 patients, 3.10% stroke/SEE) were included in our analysis. There was no publication bias in these studies (P=0.320). Our analysis showed that NT-proBNP can be a good predictor of stroke/SEE risk in AF patients, even at different cut-off values (HR=1.76; 95% CI: 1.51, 2.02; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that diabetes could have a possible effect on the predictive value of NT-proBNP (meta-regression coefficient = 0.042; P = 0.037).
CONCLUSION
Measurement of NT-proBNP during the first admission could be used to assess the short- or long-term risk of stroke/SEE in patients with AF. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible applicability of serum NT-proBNP measurement in the settings in which stroke is the sole outcome of the investigation.
PubMed: 36620735
DOI: 10.22037/aaem.v11i1.1808 -
Current Rheumatology Reviews 2022Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker for many inflammatory diseases. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is among these inflammatory diseases, and many studies have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a marker for many inflammatory diseases. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is among these inflammatory diseases, and many studies have compared the NLR ratio between patients with AS and healthy controls.
AIM
This study aims to systematically review and analyze the available evidence about the significance of NLR values in AS.
METHOD
Based on Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines, we searched Embase, Pubmed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus databases from inception to August 2020 using ("Ankylosing spondyl* " OR "Bechterew Disease" OR "Rheumatoid Spondylitis") AND ((neutrophil* AND lymphocyte*) OR NLR) as key terms of the search strategy. Data selection and extraction were conducted separately by two authors. We appraised the included articles according to the Joanna Briggs checklist. Comprehensive Meta-analysis Version 2 was used for analysis and assessment of publication bias. I2 > 75% and p-value < 0.05 were considered significant.
RESULT
In total, 182 studies resulted from a search in all databases. Duplicate removal, title, abstract, and full-text screening yielded 12 related studies, with 11 included in the meta-analysis. Quality assessment was satisfying in all studies. Pooled difference in NLR means value between patients and controls was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.24-0.52, p-value <0.0001). An I2 of 51% and a Cochran Q test p-value of <0.05 indicated moderate heterogeneity; thus, subgroup analysis had no indication. Publication bias was not significant (Funnel plot with an Egger's intercept of -0.07; p-value=0.95).
CONCLUSION
Significant higher amounts of NLR may be strongly indicative of underlying inflammation in AS.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Biomarkers; Humans; Lymphocytes; Neutrophils; Spondylitis, Ankylosing
PubMed: 34548002
DOI: 10.2174/1573397117666210921114431 -
Research in Veterinary Science Nov 2021This systematic review and meta-analysis summarize the available information on Hepatitis E virus (HEV) -specific antibody seroprevalence and HEV RNA prevalence in wild... (Review)
Review
This systematic review and meta-analysis summarize the available information on Hepatitis E virus (HEV) -specific antibody seroprevalence and HEV RNA prevalence in wild boar, one of the most abundant game species worldwide. A literature search (CAB Abstracts, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus) was performed to find relevant peer-reviewed works published during the period 1990-2020. A random-effect model was carried out to calculate the pooled HEV-specific antibody seroprevalence and HEV RNA prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals, and I statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity of the data. Values by subgroups were compared according to the geographical area, age class (≤ 12 months old and > 12 months old), and sample type (bile, faeces, liver, meat/muscle, serum). Sixty-nine publications were selected, with the majority of the studies from Southern Europe (n = 27). The pooled HEV-specific antibody seroprevalence in wild boar was 28% (CI 23-34) and the HEV RNA prevalence 8% (CI 6-10). The analysis highlighted a significant heterogeneity among the estimates from the included studies (I = 98% and I = 95% for HEV-specific antibody seroprevalence and viral prevalence respectively). The moderator analysis indicated a statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.03) for the HEV RNA prevalence according to the sample type, with the highest value in bile (17%, CI 9-27), followed by liver (10%, CI 7-14), serum (7%, CI 4-10), faeces (5%, CI 2-9), and meat/muscle (3%, CI 0.04-10). Finally, the HEV RNA prevalence in Europe (8.7, CI 6.7-11) was significantly (p-value = 0.04) higher than in Asia (4, CI 0.6-8). The analysis highlights the important role of wild boar in the epidemiology of HEV.
PubMed: 34864434
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.11.015 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Research Aug 2020During the initial phases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, there was an unfounded fervor surrounding the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ); however,...
BACKGROUND
During the initial phases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, there was an unfounded fervor surrounding the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ); however, recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended against routine use of HCQ outside of study protocols citing possible adverse outcomes.
METHODS
Multiple databases were searched to identify articles on COVID-19. An unadjusted odds ratio (OR) was used to calculate the safety and efficacy of HCQ on a random effect model.
RESULTS
Twelve studies comprising 3,912 patients (HCQ 2,512 and control 1400) were included. The odds of all-cause mortality (OR: 2.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.58 - 3.13, P value < 0.00001) were significantly higher in patients on HCQ compared to patients on control agent. The response to therapy assessed by negative repeat polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 0.50 - 6.75, P = 0.36), radiological resolution (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 0.47 - 8.36, P value = 0.36) and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 0.34 - 4.33, P value = 0.76) were identical between the two groups. Overall, four times higher odds of net adverse events (NAEs) were observed in the HCQ group (OR: 4.59, 95% CI 1.73 - 12.20, P value = 0.02). The measures for individual safety endpoints were also numerically lower in the control arm; however, none of these values reached the level of statistical significance.
CONCLUSIONS
HCQ might offer no benefits in terms of decreasing the viral load and radiological improvement in patients with COVID-19. HCQ appears to be associated with higher odds of all-cause mortality and NAEs.
PubMed: 32849936
DOI: 10.14740/jocmr4233 -
Cancer Imaging : the Official... Feb 2022Elastography is an addition to grey-scale ultrasonic examination that has gained substantial traction within the last decade. Strain ratio (SR) has been incorporated as... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Elastography is an addition to grey-scale ultrasonic examination that has gained substantial traction within the last decade. Strain ratio (SR) has been incorporated as a semiquantitative measure within strain elastography, thus a potential imaging biomarker. The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) published guidelines in 2015 for breast elastography. These guidelines acknowledge the marked variance in SR cut-off values used in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. The objective of this review was to include more recent evidence and seek to determine the optimal strain ratio cut off value for differentiating between benign and malignant breast lesions.
METHODS
Comprehensive search of MEDLINE and Web of Science electronic databases with additional searches via Google Scholar and handsearching set from January 2000 to May 2020 was carried out. For retrieved studies, screening for eligibility, data extraction and analysis was done as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Diagnostic Test Accuracy (PRISMA-DTA) Statement guidelines of 2018. Quality and risk of bias assessment of the studies were performed using the revised Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool.
RESULTS
A total of 424 articles, 412 from electronic database and 12 additional searches were retrieved and 65 studies were included in the narrative synthesis and subgroup analysis. The overall threshold effect indicated significant heterogeneity among the studies with Spearman correlation coefficient of Logit (TPR) vs Logit (FPR) at - 0.301, p-value = 0.015. A subgroup under machine model consisting seven studies with 783 patients and 844 lesions showed a favourable threshold, Spearman's correlation coefficient,0.786 (p = 0.036).
CONCLUSION
From our review, currently the optimal breast SR cut-off point or value remains unresolved despite the WFUMB guidelines of 2015. Machine model as a possible contributor to cut-off value determination was suggested from this review which can be subjected to more industry and multi-center research determination.
Topics: Biomarkers; Breast; Diagnosis, Differential; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Humans
PubMed: 35151365
DOI: 10.1186/s40644-022-00447-5 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2021A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the value of the volume parameters based on somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positron emission tomography (PET) in predicting...
A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the value of the volume parameters based on somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positron emission tomography (PET) in predicting the prognosis in patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Web of Knowledge were searched from January 1990 to May 2021 for studies evaluating prognostic value of volume-based parameters of SSTR PET/CT in NETs. The terms used were "volume," "positron emission tomography," "neuroendocrine tumors," and "somatostatin receptor." Pooled hazard ratio (HR) values were calculated to assess the correlations between volumetric parameters, including total tumor volume (TTV) and total-lesion SSTR expression (TL-SSTR), with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Heterogeneity and subgroup analysis were performed. Funnel plots, Begg's and Egger's test were used to assess possible underlying publication bias. Eight eligible studies involving 593 patients were included in the meta-analysis. In TTV, the pooled HRs of its prognostic value of PFS and OS were 2.24 (95% CI: 1.73-2.89; < 0.00001) and 3.54 (95% CI, 1.77-7.09; = 0.0004), respectively. In TL-SSTR, the pooled HR of the predictive value was 1.61 (95% CI, 0.48-5.44, = 0.44) for PFS. High TTV was associated with a worse prognosis for PFS and OS in with patients NETs. The TTV of SSTR PET is a potential objective prognosis predictor.
PubMed: 34901087
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.771912 -
Neurosurgical Review Jun 2022Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) with reduced cerebral perfusion pressure is a well-known cause of secondary brain injury. Previously, there have been some reports... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) with reduced cerebral perfusion pressure is a well-known cause of secondary brain injury. Previously, there have been some reports describing different supra- and infratentorial ICP measurements depending on the location of the mass effect. Therefore, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the issue of optimal ICP monitoring in the infratentorial mass lesion. A literature search of electronic databases (PUBMED, EMBASE) was performed from January 1969 until February 2021 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Two assessors are independently screened for eligible studies reporting the use of simultaneous ICP monitoring in the supra- and infratentorial compartments. For quality assessment of those studies, the New Castle Ottawa Scale was used. The primary outcome was to evaluate the value of supra- and infratentorial ICP measurement, and the secondary outcome was to determine the time threshold until equalization of both values. Current evidence surrounding infratentorial ICP measurement was found to be low to very low quality according to New Castle Ottawa Scale. Eight studies were included in the systematic review, four of them containing human subjects encompassing 27 patients with infratentorial pathology. The pooled data demonstrated significantly higher infratentorial ICP values than supratentorial ICP values 12 h after onset (p < 0.05, 95% CI 3.82-5.38) up to 24 h after onset (p < 0.05; CI 1.14-3.98). After 48-72 h, both ICP measurements equilibrated showing no significant difference. Further, four studies containing 26 pigs and eight dogs showed a simultaneous increase of supra- and infratentorial ICP value according to the increase of supratentorial mass volume; however, there was a significant difference towards lower ICP in the infratentorial compartment compared to the supratentorial compartment. The transtentorial gradient leads to a significant discrepancy between supra- and infratentorial ICP monitoring. Therefore, infratentorial ICP monitoring is warranted in case of posterior fossa lesions for at least 48 h.
Topics: Animals; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Dogs; Humans; Intracranial Hypertension; Intracranial Pressure; Monitoring, Physiologic; Skull; Swine
PubMed: 35118578
DOI: 10.1007/s10143-022-01746-y