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Acta Neurologica Scandinavica Feb 2019Hereditary transthyretin(TTR)-related amyloidosis (ATTRm amyloidosis) is an endemic/non-endemic, autosomal-dominant, early- and late-onset, rare, progressive disorder,...
Hereditary transthyretin(TTR)-related amyloidosis (ATTRm amyloidosis) is an endemic/non-endemic, autosomal-dominant, early- and late-onset, rare, progressive disorder, predominantly manifesting as length-dependent, small fiber dominant, axonal polyneuropathy and frequently associated with cardiac disorders and other multisystem diseases. ATTRm amyloidosis is due to variants in the TTR gene, with the substitution Val30Met as the most frequent mutation. TTR mutations lead to destabilization and dissociation of TTR tetramers into variant TTR monomers, and formation of amyloid fibrils, which are consecutively deposited extracellularly in various tissues, such as nerves, heart, brain, eyes, intestines, kidneys, or the skin. Neuropathy may not only include large nerve fibers but also small fibers, and not only sensory and motor fibers but also autonomic fibers. Types of TTR variants, age at onset, penetrance, and clinical presentation vary between geographical areas. Suggestive of a ATTRm amyloidosis are a sensorimotor polyneuropathy, positive family history, autonomic dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, unexplained weight loss, and resistance to immunotherapy. If only sensory A-delta or C fibers are affected, small fiber neuropathy ensues. Diagnostic tests for small fiber neuropathy include determination of intraepidermal nerve fiber density, laser-evoked potentials, heat- and cold-detection thresholds, and measurement of the electrochemical skin conductance. Therapy currently relies on liver transplantation and TTR-stabilizers (tafamidis, diflunisal).
Topics: Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Humans; Mutation; Prealbumin
PubMed: 30295933
DOI: 10.1111/ane.13035 -
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine... Dec 2023Transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive protein misfolding disease with frequent cardiac involvement. This review aims to determine the value of PET in... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis is a progressive protein misfolding disease with frequent cardiac involvement. This review aims to determine the value of PET in diagnosis, assessment of disease progression or treatment response and its relation to clinical outcome in follow-up of ATTR amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) patients.
METHODS
Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched, from the earliest date available until December 2022, for studies investigating the use of PET in ATTR-CM patients. Studies containing original data were included, except for case reports. Risk of bias was assessed by QUADAS-2.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies were included in this systematic review, investigating five different tracers: carbon-11 Pittsburgh compound B ([C]PIB), fluorine-18 Florbetaben ([F]FBB), fluorine-18 Florbetapir ([F]FBP), fluorine-18 Flutemetamol ([F]FMM) and fluorine-18 Sodium Fluoride (Na[F]F). In total 211 ATTR amyloidosis patients were included. A majority of studies concluded that [C]PIB, [F]FBP and Na[F]F can distinguish ATTR amyloidosis patients from controls, and that [C]PIB and Na[F]F, but not [F]FBP, can distinguish ATTR-CM patients from patients with cardiac light chain amyloidosis. Evidence on the performance of [F]FBB and [F]FMM was contradictory. No studies on the use of PET in follow-up were found.
CONCLUSION
[C]PIB, Na[F]F and [F]FBP can be used to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis, although [F]FBP may not be suitable for the distinction of different types of amyloid cardiomyopathy. No studies on PET in the follow-up of ATTR amyloidosis patients were found. Future research should focus on the use of these PET tracers in the follow-up of ATTR amyloidosis patients.
Topics: Humans; Prealbumin; Follow-Up Studies; Amyloidosis; Positron-Emission Tomography; Cardiomyopathies
PubMed: 37561144
DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06381-3 -
Journal of Nuclear Cardiology :... Dec 2023Bone scintigraphy imaging is frequently used to investigate patients with suspected transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM). However, the reported accuracy for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Bone scintigraphy imaging is frequently used to investigate patients with suspected transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM). However, the reported accuracy for interpretation approaches has changed over time. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic accuracy of visual planar grading, heart-to-contralateral (HCL) ratio, and quantitative analysis of SPECT imaging and evaluate reasons for shifts in reported accuracy.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review to identify studies of the diagnostic accuracy of bone scintigraphy for ATTR-CM from 1990 until February 2023 using PUBMED and EMBASE. Studies were reviewed separately by two authors for inclusion and for risk of bias assessment. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves and operating points were determined with hierarchical modeling.
RESULTS
Out of a total of 428 identified studies, 119 were reviewed in detail and 23 were included in the final analysis. The studies included a total of 3954 patients, with ATTR-CM diagnosed in 1337 (39.6%) patients and prevalence ranging from 21 to 73%. Visual planar grading and quantitative analysis had higher diagnostic accuracy (.99) than HCL ratio (.96). Quantitative analysis of SPECT imaging had the highest specificity (97%) followed by planar visual grade (96%) and HCL ratio (93%). ATTR-CM prevalence accounted for some of the observed between study heterogeneity.
CONCLUSIONS
Bone scintigraphy imaging is highly accurate for identifying patients with ATTR-CM, with between study heterogeneity in part explained by differences in disease prevalence. We identified small differences in specificity, which may have important clinical implications when applied to low-risk screening populations.
Topics: Humans; Prealbumin; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Radionuclide Imaging; Cardiomyopathies
PubMed: 37226006
DOI: 10.1007/s12350-023-03297-1 -
International Journal of Nursing Studies Feb 2022Early oral feeding has been shown to be safe and effective for most surgeries, while surgeons and nurses are still hesitant to implement it in gastric cancer patients... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Early oral feeding has been shown to be safe and effective for most surgeries, while surgeons and nurses are still hesitant to implement it in gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy.
OBJECTIVES
This review aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of early versus delayed oral feeding in gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy.
DESIGN
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
DATA SOURCES
The literature search was performed in 7 databases from inception to March 7, 2021.
REVIEW METHODS
Randomized controlled trials that compared the effects of early oral feeding and delayed oral feeding in gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy were included. The primary outcome was hospital days, and secondary outcomes included hospital costs, postoperative complication rates, feeding intolerance rates, annal exhaust time, albumin levels and prealbumin levels. According to the presence of heterogeneity, fixed or random effect meta-analysis was applied.
RESULTS
Nine trials involving 1087 gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy were pooled in this systemic review and meta-analysis. The results showed that early oral feeding significantly decreased hospital days (mean difference = -1.50, 95% confidence interval = -1.91 to -1.10, P < 0.001) and hospital costs (mean difference = -4.21, 95% confidence interval = -5.00 to -3.42, P < 0.001) compared to delayed oral feeding, while the incidences of postoperative complications (risk ratio = 0.96, 95% confidence interval = 0.72 to 1.26, P = 0.76) and feeding intolerance (risk ratio = 0.95, 95% confidence interval = 0.79 to 1.15, P = 0.62) were comparable between the two groups. In comparison to delayed oral feeding, early oral feeding was associated with shorter annal exhaust time (mean difference = -0.61, 95% confidence interval = -0.81 to -0.40, P < 0.001) and higher levels of albumin (mean difference = 3.77, 95% confidence interval = 2.42 to 5.12, P < 0.001) and prealbumin (mean difference = 18.11, 95% confidence interval = 15.33 to 20.88, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the results of distal gastrectomy subgroup analysis indicated that hospital days were shorter in the early oral feeding group than in the delayed oral feeding group.
CONCLUSIONS
For gastric cancer patients who undergo gastrectomy, early oral feeding was associated with shorter hospital days and lower hospital costs, but early oral feeding did not increase the incidences of postoperative complications or feeding intolerance. Moreover, early oral feeding also decreased the annal exhaust time but increased the levels of albumin and prealbumin.
Topics: Gastrectomy; Humans; Laparoscopy; Postoperative Complications; Stomach Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34910976
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104120 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2021Prealbumin is a sensitive indicator of liver function and nutritional status.
BACKGROUND
Prealbumin is a sensitive indicator of liver function and nutritional status.
OBJECTIVES
This meta-analysis aimed to examine the association of the serum prealbumin level with the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing hepatectomy.
METHODS
We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Embase, Wanfang, China Academic Journals (CNKI), and SinoMed databases up to September 1, 2021. Eligible studies should report the association of the serum prealbumin level with prognosis and provide the multivariable-adjusted risk estimates of the outcomes of interest in HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy.
RESULTS
A total of 11 studies with 7,442 HCC patients were identified and analyzed. Meta-analysis of a fixed effects model showed that a low serum prealbumin level was associated with poor overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.42-1.68], recurrence-free survival (HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.17-1.52), and a higher risk of postoperative hepatic insufficiency (HR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.36-3.60) in HCC patients. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses confirmed the robustness of low serum prealbumin in predicting poor overall survival.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis indicated that a low preoperative serum prealbumin level was significantly associated with adverse prognosis in HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy.
PubMed: 34746015
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.775425 -
Medicine Oct 2018The increased mortality rate and other poor prognosis make malnutrition a serious issue for adult critically ill patients in intensive care unit care. This study was to... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The increased mortality rate and other poor prognosis make malnutrition a serious issue for adult critically ill patients in intensive care unit care. This study was to compare outcomes between combined parenteral and enteral nutrition and enteral nutrition alone for adult critically ill patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The PubMed (June 30, 2018), EMBASE (June 30, 2018), and Cochrane library databases (June 30, 2018) were searched systematically. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of comparing combined PN and EN with EN alone were eligible. Relative risks (RRs), mean differences (MDs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for dichotomous and continuous outcomes.
RESULTS
Eight RCTs involving 5360 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared with combined PN and EN, fewer respiratory infections (RR, 1.13 [95% CI 1.01-1.25]) and shorter length of days at hospital (MD, 1.83 [95% CI 1.05-2.62]) were observed in EN alone group. And no significant differences were found on hospital mortality (RR, 0.91 [95% CI 0.74-1.12]), length of days in ICU (MD, -0.23 [95% CI -1.79 to 1.32]), duration of ventilatory support (MD, -1.10 [95% CI -3.15 to 0.94]), albumin (MD, -0.04 [95% CI, -0.12 to 0.21]), or prealbumin (MD, -0.77 [95% CI -0.22 to 1.75]) between theses 2 groups.
CONCLUSION
Receiving EN alone decreased the respiratory infections and length of days at hospital for critically ill patients. Combined PN and EN did not add up the potential risk from PN and EN on hospital mortality, length of days in ICU, duration of ventilatory support, albumin, and prealbumin.
Topics: Combined Modality Therapy; Critical Illness; Enteral Nutrition; Humans; Malnutrition; Models, Statistical; Parenteral Nutrition; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30313021
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000011874 -
Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology... Nov 2021Bone tracers have been validated for many years in detecting transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR-CA). However, several new studies suggest conflicting results. Our... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Bone tracers have been validated for many years in detecting transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (TTR-CA). However, several new studies suggest conflicting results. Our study aimed to systematically evaluate the accuracy of bone radiotracers for diagnosis and differentiation of TTR-CA via a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
We retrieved articles assessing the performance of bone tracer in diagnosing and differentiating TTR-CA from PubMed, the Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and DOAJ databases, dating up to 10 July 2020. The meta-analysis was conducted through Stata 16 software, and the risk of bias for the included studies was assessed by the QUADAS-2 tool. Moreover, we made a comprehensive review.
RESULTS
Fourteen articles were included in the systematic review, and 9 in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 0.97 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.85-0.99) with heterogeneity (I2=73.5, 95% CI 55.6-91.2), and the specificity was 0.92 (95% CI 0.82-0.96) with heterogeneity (I2=42.0, 95% CI 0.0-86.9). The pooled positive and negative likelihood ratios were 11.49 (95% CI 5.07-26.0) and 0.03 (95% CI 0.01-0.18), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 341 (95% CI 53-2194), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.96 (95% CI 0.94-0.97).
CONCLUSION
The findings evidence that the bone radiotracer is a valuable noninvasive approach that provides high accuracy for diagnosing TTR-CA and plays a modest role in differentiating TTR-CA from immunoglobulin amyloid light-chain cardiac amyloidosis. 99mTc-HMDP may be more accurate than 99mTc-PYP, 99mTc-DPD, and 18F-NaF in the TTR-CA detecting process, and 18F-NaF is a promising bone tracer to diagnose and differentiate TTR-CA.
Topics: Amyloidosis; Bone and Bones; Heart; Humans; Prealbumin; Radionuclide Imaging
PubMed: 34792038
DOI: 10.5152/dir.2021.20662 -
Nutrients Mar 2013Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in children. Probiotics, due to their beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract... (Review)
Review
Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in children. Probiotics, due to their beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., improving gut barrier function, motility, facilitation of intestinal adaptation and decreasing pathogen load and inflammation) may have a therapeutic role in the management of SBS. To conduct a systematic review of the current evidence for the effects of probiotic supplementation in children with SBS, the standard Cochrane methodology for systematic reviews was used. The databases, Pubmed, Embase, ACTR, CENTRAL, and the international trial registry, and reference lists of articles were searched for randomised (RCT) or quasi-randomised controlled trials reporting on the use of probiotics in SBS. Our search revealed no RCTs on the use of probiotics in children with SBS. We found one small cross-over RCT (placebo controlled crossover clinical trial), one case control study and nine case reports on the use of probiotics in children with SBS. In the crossover RCT, there was no consistent effect on intestinal permeability (primary outcome) after supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) in nine children with SBS. The case control study (four cases: four controls) reported a trend for increase in height and weight velocity and improvement in non-clinical outcomes, such as gut flora, lymphocyte count and serum prealbumin. Five of the nine case reports showed that children (n = 12) with SBS were benefited (e.g., cessation of diarrhoea, improved faecal flora, weight gain and weaning from parenteral nutrition) by probiotic supplementation. The remaining four reported on the adverse effects, such as Lactobacillus sepsis (n = 3) and d-lactic acidosis (n = 2). There is insufficient evidence on the effects of probiotics in children with SBS. The safety and efficacy of probiotic supplementation in this high-risk cohort needs to be evaluated in large definitive trials.
Topics: Child; Humans; Infant; Intestine, Small; Probiotics; Short Bowel Syndrome
PubMed: 23462584
DOI: 10.3390/nu5030679 -
Hellenic Journal of Cardiology : HJC =... 2019Light-chain amyloidosis and transthyretin-related amyloidosis (wild-type and mutated) are three main types of systemic amyloidosis associated with a clinically relevant... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Light-chain amyloidosis and transthyretin-related amyloidosis (wild-type and mutated) are three main types of systemic amyloidosis associated with a clinically relevant cardiac involvement. In this study, we compared prognosis in patients with different categories of cardiac amyloidosis using meta-analysis and present a systematic review.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed through Jan 1, 2018, and two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. We extracted MACE and death endpoint events and hazard ratios from regression models and performed a meta-analysis of the multiple prognosis association studies.
RESULTS
We observed that there were significant MACE differences between patients diagnosed with transthyretin amyloidosis and light-chain amyloidosis (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.06-4.12; P = 0.03), and the same is true in the sub-comparison between AL and mATTR or wtATTR (AL vs. mATTR: OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.06-2.82; P = 0.03; AL vs. wtATTR: OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 0.85-2.58; P = 0.17). However, no significant difference was observed between two transthyretin types (P = 0.17). Overall death rate evaluated showed that compared with transthyretin-related amyloidosis, light-chain type showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The prognostic analysis showed that types of amyloidosis, LVEF, NYHA, restrictive filling pattern, E-wave deceleration time, E/E' ratio, and low QRS voltage were predictors of cardiac-related mortality.
CONCLUSION
Patients diagnosed with light-chain amyloidosis has a poor prognosis compared with transthyretin-related amyloidosis, while no difference was proved in prognostic analysis between wild-type and mutated TTR amyloidosis. Some clinical factors related to the death prognosis, such as the LVEF, restrictive filling pattern, E-wave deceleration time, and E/E' ratio are important prognostic factors.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Cardiomyopathies; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis; Male; Middle Aged; Prealbumin; Prognosis; Ventricular Function, Left
PubMed: 30742933
DOI: 10.1016/j.hjc.2019.01.015 -
Clinical Nutrition ESPEN Oct 2023Postoperative complications of spinal surgery are a common clinical problem, which impose significant economic and clinical burdens on patients and medical staff.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Postoperative complications of spinal surgery are a common clinical problem, which impose significant economic and clinical burdens on patients and medical staff. Previous studies have suggested a close relationship between low-protein malnutrition and postoperative complications of surgery. However, the relationship between preoperative malnutrition and various orthopedic postoperative complications remains unclear.
PURPOSE
To investigate the association between protein malnutrition and postoperative complications and outcomes.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases for published research articles between the database inception and February 28th, 2023, that evaluated the association between malnutrition and the risk of postoperative complications and death in spinal surgery patients. Malnutrition was defined as low pre-albumin and albumin levels before surgery. Two evaluators independently extracted study data and assessed the risk of bias in each study. Fixed- or random-effect models were used to calculate the pooled effect estimates. Funnel plots and Egger's tests were used to detect publication bias, and the Trim-and -Fill method was conducted to evaluate the impact of publication bias on the results.
RESULTS
A total of 26 studies were included in this meta-analysis, comprising 17 retrospective cohort studies and 9 case-control studies. The study included more than 86,000 participants. Analysis of postoperative complications revealed that the overall incidence of malnutrition-related complications after surgery was 3.17 times higher (OR = 3.17, 95% CI 2.69-3.75, z = 13.57, P < 0.05). The incidence of surgical site infections was 2.08 times higher (OR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.66-2.62, z = 6.307, P < 0.05), and the incidence of postoperative urinary tract infections was 2.55 times higher (OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.80-3.60, z = 5.30, P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative sepsis was 3.31 times higher (OR = 3.31, 95% CI 2.31-4.75, z = 6.51, P < 0.05), and the incidence of postoperative pneumonia was 3.02 times higher (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.331-6.857, z = 2.64, P = 0.008 < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative cardiac complications was 4.24 times higher (OR = 4.24, 95% CI 2.45-7.35, z = 5.15, P < 0.05), and the incidence of postoperative renal complications was 4.04 times higher (OR = 4.04, 95% CI 2.06-7.93, z = 4.05, P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was 2.38 times higher (OR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.46-3.87, z = 6.98, P < 0.05), while the incidence of postoperative thrombotic complications was 2.76 times higher (OR = 2.76, 95% CI 1.756-4.345, z = 4.40, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of transfusion during and after surgery was 1.33 times higher (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.13-1.56, z = 3.40, P = 0.001 < 0.05), the incidence of postoperative readmission was 1.67 times higher (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.24-2.27, z = 3.33, P = 0.001 < 0.05), and the risk of postoperative death was 6.01 times higher (OR = 6.01, 95% CI 4.51-8.01, z = 12.27, P < 0.05). After conducting a publication bias test and Trim-and -Fill method analysis, we found no evidence of publication bias, and the results remained stable.
CONCLUSION
Preoperative low protein malnutrition is closely related to the incidence of postoperative complications and postoperative status. More prospective multicenter studies should be conducted to validate this conclusion. Furthermore, more effective assessment and intervention of preoperative nutritional status should be carried out to prevent the occurrence of postoperative complications and mortality risk.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Malnutrition; Surgical Wound Infection; Disease Progression; Albumins
PubMed: 37739691
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.07.083