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Transfusion Medicine Reviews Jul 2021Septic reactions from platelet transfusions are one of the leading causes of transfusion-associated mortality. The FDA guidance for platelet bacterial risk control... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Septic reactions from platelet transfusions are one of the leading causes of transfusion-associated mortality. The FDA guidance for platelet bacterial risk control includes bacterial culture using both aerobic and anaerobic bottles. Several studies have reported false positive rates (FPR) of culture, but these data have not been summarized or influencing factors analyzed. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to published guidelines to assess the false positive rate and influencing factors. Eighteen studies were included for analysis. The combined aerobic/anaerobic FPR was 2.4 events per thousand (EPT) with a prediction interval of 0.5 to 5.7, while the aerobic FPR rate was 1.0 EPT (prediction interval: 0.2-2.2) and the anaerobic rate was 1.8 EPT. Estimates were based on a total of almost 5 million units tested. The rate of false positives due to instrument error was between 0.5-1.7 EPT, while it was between 0.3-1.0 EPT for sampling contamination based on whether only aerobic, anaerobic, or aerobic/anaerobic cultures were performed. The FPR is approximately 2 to 5 times higher than the literature reported true positive rate of 0.5 EPT.
Topics: Anaerobiosis; Bacteria; Blood Platelets; Humans; Platelet Transfusion; Quality Control
PubMed: 34158212
DOI: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2021.05.001 -
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology &... 2021() is proved to be the main pathogenic agent of various diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. In addition, chronic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
() is proved to be the main pathogenic agent of various diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and gastric cancer. In addition, chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are common worldwide, which are supposed to increase the total mortality of patients. Epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between infection of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis still remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of overall studies to investigate the relationship between infection of the gallbladder and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis. Two researchers searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to obtain all related and eligible studies published before July 2020. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the random-effects model. Subgroup analysis, heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. Twenty studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1735 participants and 1197 patients with chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis. species infection of the gallbladder was positively correlated with increased risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis, especially (OR = 3.05; 95% CI, 1.81-5.14; = 23.5%). Besides, country-based subgroup analysis also showed a positive correlation between the gallbladder positivity and chronic cholecystitis/cholelithiasis risk. For Asian and non-Asian country studies, the ORs were 4.30 (95% CI, 1.76-10.50; = 37.4%) and 2.13 (95% CI, 1.23-3.70; = 0.0%), respectively. The association was more obvious using the bile sample and urease gene primer. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provided evidence that there is a positive correlation between infection in the gallbladder and increased risk of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.
Topics: Cholecystitis; Cholelithiasis; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans
PubMed: 33505946
DOI: 10.1155/2021/8886085 -
International Journal of Infectious... Sep 2023To assess the evidence on the presence of antibodies cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens in prepandemic samples from African populations. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To assess the evidence on the presence of antibodies cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens in prepandemic samples from African populations.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating prepandemic African samples using pre-set assay-specific thresholds for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity.
RESULTS
In total, 26 articles with 156 datasets were eligible, including 3437 positives among 29,923 measurements (11.5%) with large between-dataset heterogeneity. Positivity was similar for anti-nucleocapsid (14%) and anti-spike antibodies (11%), higher for anti-spike1 (23%), and lower for anti-receptor-binding domain antibodies (7%). Positivity was similar, on average, for immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G. Positivity was seen prominently in countries where malaria transmission occurs throughout and in datasets enriched in malaria cases (14%, 95% confidence interval, 12-15% vs 2%, 95% confidence interval 1-2% in other datasets). Substantial SARS-CoV-2 reactivity was seen in high malaria burden with or without high dengue burden (14% and 12%, respectively), and not without high malaria burden (2% and 0%, respectively). Lower SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactivity was seen in settings of high HIV seroprevalence. More sparse individual-level data showed associations of higher SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactivity with Plasmodium parasitemia and lower SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactivity with HIV seropositivity.
CONCLUSION
Prepandemic samples from Africa show high levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. At the country level, cross-reactivity tracks especially with malaria prevalence.
Topics: Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Seroepidemiologic Studies; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Africa; Immunoglobulin G; Antibodies, Viral
PubMed: 37327857
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.06.009 -
Thyroid : Official Journal of the... Nov 2023Thyroid autoimmunity is the most prevalent autoimmune disorder among women of reproductive age and has been suggested as a risk factor in recurrent pregnancy loss... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Thyroid autoimmunity is the most prevalent autoimmune disorder among women of reproductive age and has been suggested as a risk factor in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)-a condition in which couples suffer several consecutive pregnancy losses, but where a cause can be identified in less than half of the cases. Most studies have focused on thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs), not considering the presence of thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs). The aim of this study was to systematically assess the prevalence of TgAb positivity in women with RPL, and whether TgAb positivity was associated with the outcome of the next pregnancy. A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase (from inception to April 29, 2023) was performed for studies reporting on TgAbs in women with RPL. The primary outcome was TgAb positivity in women with RPL compared with women without RPL, with a secondary outcome of association between TgAb positivity and the outcome of the next pregnancy. Pooled effect estimates were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals [CI] using a random-effects model. The study was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42022310232) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 770 studies were screened, 28 of which could be included reporting data from a total of 6868 women. The prevalence of TgAb positivity in women with RPL ranged from 3.6% to 28% compared with 2.4% to 29% in women without RPL. The OR for TgAb positivity was 1.93 ([CI 1.27-2.92]; = 63%) compared with women without RPL, and for TgAbs and/or TPOAbs 2.66 ([CI 1.75-4.05]; = 69%). Four studies reported on the outcome of the next pregnancy after antibody measurement with highly heterogeneous results (OR for pregnancy loss ranging from 0.99 in one study to 10.0 in the other study, and two studies reported no data eligible for meta-analysis). Consequently, a meta-analysis could not be performed. Women with RPL were significantly more often TgAb-positive than women without RPL. Although there was a lack of studies reporting prospective outcomes, the findings of this study support the significance of awareness about the strong association between RPL and thyroid autoimmunity.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Thyroglobulin; Prospective Studies; Thyroid Gland; Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Abortion, Habitual
PubMed: 37725583
DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0292 -
JMIR Mental Health Jul 2023A large body of research has documented the efficacy of psychological interventions integrated with virtual reality (VR) therapies in treating psychiatric disorders.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
A large body of research has documented the efficacy of psychological interventions integrated with virtual reality (VR) therapies in treating psychiatric disorders. However, the concept of positive mental health calls for a 2-fold approach in which both symptoms and positive functioning should be addressed by modern interventions.
OBJECTIVE
This review aimed to summarize studies that applied VR therapies by embracing the positive mental health perspective.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted by entering the following keywords-"virtual reality" AND "intervention" OR "treatment" OR "therapy" AND "mental health" NOT "systematic review or meta-analysis"-and limiting it to "journal article" and the English language. To be included in this review, articles had to present at least one quantitative measure of positive functioning and one quantitative measure of symptoms or distress and had to investigate adult populations, including populations with psychiatric disorders.
RESULTS
A total of 20 articles were included. They described various VR protocols that were applied for the treatment of anxiety disorders (5/20, 25%), depression (2/20, 10%), posttraumatic stress disorder (3/20, 15%), psychosis (3/20, 15%), and stress (7/20, 35%). Most of the studies (13/20, 65%) showed the beneficial effects of VR therapies in improving stress and negative symptoms. However, 35% (7/20) of the studies showed no or a small effect on the various dimensions of positivity, particularly in clinical samples.
CONCLUSIONS
VR interventions might be cost-effective and largely scalable, but further research is needed to develop existing VR software and treatments according to the modern positive mental health approach.
PubMed: 37410520
DOI: 10.2196/44998 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Mar 2022To assess the rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the timing of mother-to-child transmission and perinatal outcomes, and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To assess the rates of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the timing of mother-to-child transmission and perinatal outcomes, and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 status in offspring.
DESIGN
Living systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
Major databases between 1 December 2019 and 3 August 2021.
STUDY SELECTION
Cohort studies of pregnant and recently pregnant women (including after abortion or miscarriage) who sought hospital care for any reason and had a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and also provided data on offspring SARS-CoV-2 status and risk factors for positivity. Case series and case reports were also included to assess the timing and likelihood of mother-to-child transmission in SARS-CoV-2 positive babies.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed study quality. A random effects model was used to synthesise data for rates, with associations reported using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Narrative syntheses were performed when meta-analysis was inappropriate. The World Health Organization classification was used to categorise the timing of mother-to-child transmission (in utero, intrapartum, early postnatal).
RESULTS
472 studies (206 cohort studies, 266 case series and case reports; 28 952 mothers, 18 237 babies) were included. Overall, 1.8% (95% confidence interval 1.2% to 2.5%; 140 studies) of the 14 271 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection tested positive for the virus with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Of the 592 SARS-CoV-2 positive babies with data on the timing of exposure and type and timing of tests, 14 had confirmed mother-to-child transmission: seven in utero (448 assessed), two intrapartum (18 assessed), and five during the early postnatal period (70 assessed). Of the 800 SARS-CoV-2 positive babies with outcome data, 20 were stillbirths, 23 were neonatal deaths, and eight were early pregnancy losses; 749 babies were alive at the end of follow-up. Severe maternal covid-19 (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 4.4), maternal death (14.1, 4.1 to 48.0), maternal admission to an intensive care unit (3.5, 1.7 to 6.9), and maternal postnatal infection (5.0, 1.2 to 20.1) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring. Positivity rates using RT-PCR varied between regions, ranging from 0.1% (95% confidence interval 0.0% to 0.3%) in studies from North America to 5.7% (3.2% to 8.7%) in studies from Latin America and the Caribbean.
CONCLUSION
SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates were found to be low in babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evidence suggests confirmed vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, although this is likely to be rare. Severity of maternal covid-19 appears to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity in offspring.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42020178076.
READERS' NOTE
This article is a living systematic review that will be updated to reflect emerging evidence. Updates may occur for up to two years from the date of original publication.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; COVID-19 Testing; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Outcome; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35296519
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-067696 -
Medicine May 2015Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is found in a subset of gastric cancers. Previous reviews have exclusively focused on EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) positivity in... (Review)
Review
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is found in a subset of gastric cancers. Previous reviews have exclusively focused on EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) positivity in gastric cancer tissues, but a comprehensive evaluation of other type of studies is lacking.We searched the PubMed database up to September, 2014, and performed a systematic review.We considered studies comparing EBV nucleic acids positivity in gastric cancer tissue with positivity in either adjacent non-tumor tissue of cancer patients or non-tumor mucosa from healthy individuals, patients with benign gastric diseases, or deceased individuals. We also considered studies comparing EBV antibodies in serum from cancer patients and healthy controls.Selection of potentially eligible studies and data extraction were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Due to the heterogeneity of studies, we did not perform formal meta-analysis.Forty-seven studies (8069 cases and 1840 controls) were identified. EBER positivity determined by in situ hybridization (ISH) was significantly higher in cancer tissues (range 5.0%-17.9%) than in adjacent mucosa from the same patients or biopsies from all control groups (almost 0%). High EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) positivity by PCR was found in gastric cancer tissues, but most were not validated by ISH or adjusted for inflammatory severity and lymphocyte infiltration. Only 4 studies tested for EBV antibodies, with large variation in the seropositivities of different antibodies in both cases and controls, and did not find an association between EBV seropositivity and gastric cancer.In summary, tissue-based ISH methods strongly suggest an association between EBV infection and gastric cancer, but PCR method alone is invalid to confirm such association. Very limited evidence from serological studies and the lack of novel antibodies warrant further investigations to identify potential risk factors of EBV for gastric cancer.
Topics: Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Stomach; Stomach Neoplasms
PubMed: 25997049
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000792 -
Gut Microbes 2021Several studies reported a potential role of methane producing archaea in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Several studies reported a potential role of methane producing archaea in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of methane positive small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in IBS and IBD compared with controls. MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase electronic databases were searched from inception until March 2021 for case-control and prevalence studies reporting SIBO in IBS and IBD. We extracted data from published studies and calculated pooled prevalence of SIBO in IBS or IBD, odds ratios (OR), and 95% CIs, utilizing a random effects model. The final dataset included 17 independent studies assessing the prevalence of methane positive SIBO in 1,653 IBS-patients and 713 controls, and 7 studies assessing the prevalence of methane positive SIBO in 626 IBD-patients and 497 controls, all utilizing breath test for SIBO diagnosis. Prevalence of methane positive SIBO in IBS and IBD was 25.0% (95% CI 18.8-32.4) and 5.6% (95% CI 2.6-11.8), respectively. Methane positive SIBO in IBS was not increased compared to controls (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.8-1.7, = .37) but was significantly more prevalent in IBS-C as compared to IBS-D (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.7-5.6, = .0001). The prevalence of methane-positive SIBO in patients with IBD was 3-fold lower at 7.4% (95% CI 5.4-9.8) compared to 23.5% (95% CI 19.8-27.5) in controls. The prevalence of methane positive SIBO was significantly lower in Crohn's disease as compared to ulcerative colitis, (5.3%, 95% CI 3.0-8.5 vs. 20.2%, 95% CI 12.8-29.4). This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests methane positivity on breath testing is positively associated with IBS-C and inversely with IBD. However, the quality of evidence is low largely due to clinical heterogeneity of the studies. Thus, causality is uncertain and further studies are required.
Topics: Bacteria; Breath Tests; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestine, Small; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Male; Methane
PubMed: 34190027
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2021.1933313 -
BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2020To review and critically appraise the ocular manifestation and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 through PCR positivity from ocular samples in COVID-19-related patients....
OBJECTIVE
To review and critically appraise the ocular manifestation and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 through PCR positivity from ocular samples in COVID-19-related patients. Moreover, to evaluate the time and severity association of ocular manifestation to systemic disease of COVID-19.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
A systematic literature search from PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases was performed using standardised Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. Selected keywords were related to COVID-19, ocular manifestation and PCR testing of SARS-CoV-2. Studies were assessed for their validity, and the data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Observational, case series and case report studies were included if they met the selection criteria. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled prevalence of ocular manifestations and PCR positivity from tears.
RESULTS
Thirty-one articles were qualitatively reviewed, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of ocular manifestation among COVID-19-related patients was 0.05 (95% CI 0.02% to 0.08). The overall PCR from tears samples positivity rate from COVID-19-related patients presenting with ocular manifestation was 0.38 (95% CI 0.14% to 0.65). Ocular manifestation could precede systemic manifestation in about 0.28 (95% CI 0.05% to 0.58) of COVID-19-related patients with ocular manifestations. Besides, ocular manifestation was not associated with a severe form of COVID-19.
CONCLUSION
Although the overall number of ocular manifestation and SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate from ocular samples was very low, around a quarter of COVID-19-related patients with ocular manifestation presented their ocular manifestation earlier than the systemic manifestation regardless of the severity. Interestingly, SARS-CoV-2 PCR was positive from one-third of ocular samples, which could potentially be the source of infection to the respiratory tract and the environment, although the infectivity is yet to be determined.
PubMed: 34192152
DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2020-000563 -
Discover Oncology Mar 2022The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to the summarize the evidence on programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) in Epstein-Barr virus associated... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to the summarize the evidence on programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) in Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) and to estimate the expression rate of PD-L1 among this subtype of Gastric Cancer (GC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For this study, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published until 1st November 2021. A total of 43 eligible publications with a total of 11,327 patients were included analysis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 41 publications present data for proportion estimation and 33 for comparison of PD-L1 between EBV positive and negative GC. DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model was used for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
The analysis showed that in EBVaGC the pooled positivity rate for PD-L1 was 54.6% (p < 0.001), with a high heterogeneity between the included studies, which was associated with variation on positivity criteria for PD-L1 expression. Overall, the study reveals an increased association between PD-L1 and EBVaGC (OR = 6.36, 95% CI 3.91-10.3, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study revealed that GC with lymphoid stroma (GCLS) is highly associated with EBV (OR = 17.4, 95% CI 6.83-44.1, p < 0.001), with a pooled EBV positivity rate of 52.9% (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with EBVaGC tend to show higher PD-L1 expression, which enhances EBV positivity as a promising marker for patient selection for immunotherapy targeted agents. A uniform criteria for PD-L1 positivity in tumor cells is needed, as well as further prospective studies to validate our findings and their prognostic significance.
PubMed: 35318527
DOI: 10.1007/s12672-022-00479-0