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The British Journal of Surgery Apr 2024Machine perfusion is an organ preservation strategy used to improve function over simple storage in a cold environment. This article presents an updated systematic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Machine perfusion is an organ preservation strategy used to improve function over simple storage in a cold environment. This article presents an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of machine perfusion in deceased donor kidneys.
METHODS
RCTs from November 2018 to July 2023 comparing machine perfusion versus static cold storage in kidney transplantation were evaluated for systematic review. The primary outcome in meta-analysis was delayed graft function.
RESULTS
A total 19 studies were included, and 16 comparing hypothermic machine perfusion with static cold storage were analysed. The risk of delayed graft function was lower with hypothermic machine perfusion (risk ratio (RR) 0.77, 95% c.i. 0.69 to 0.86), even in kidneys after circulatory death (RR 0.78, 0.68 to 0.90) or brain death (RR 0.73, 0.63 to 0.84). Full hypothermic machine perfusion decreased the risk of delayed graft function (RR 0.69, 0.60 to 0.79), whereas partial hypothermic machine perfusion did not (RR 0.92, 0.69 to 1.22). Normothermic machine perfusion or short-term oxygenated hypothermic machine perfusion preservation after static cold storage was equivalent to static cold storage in terms of delayed graft function and 1-year graft survival.
CONCLUSION
Hypothermic machine perfusion reduces delayed graft function risks and normothermic approaches show promise.
Topics: Humans; Delayed Graft Function; Graft Survival; Kidney; Kidney Transplantation; Organ Preservation; Perfusion; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38637312
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znae102 -
Paediatric Drugs May 2024In adults, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors have revolutionised the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
INTRODUCTION
In adults, sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors have revolutionised the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to review information on compassionate use, clinical pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in children.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of published clinical trials, case reports, and observational studies in Medline, Excerpta Medica, and Web of Science databases from inception to September 2023. For the two randomised controlled trials on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we implemented a meta-analysis on the primary outcome (mean difference in glycosylated haemoglobin [HbA1c] between intervention and placebo groups). Review Manager (RevMan), version 5.4.1, was used for this purpose.
RESULTS
Thirty-five articles (nine case reports, ten case series, one prospective non-controlled trial, four controlled randomised trials, two surveys, six pharmacokinetic studies, and three pharmacovigilance studies) were selected, in which 415 children were exposed to either dapagliflozin or empagliflozin: 189 diabetic patients (mean age 14.7 ± 2.9 years), 32 children with glycogen storage disease type Ib (GSD Ib), glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 3 (G6PC3) deficiency, or severe congenital neutropenia type 4 (8.5 ± 5.1 years), 47 children with kidney disease or heart failure (11.2 ± 6.1 years), 84 patients in pharmacokinetic studies (15.1 ± 2.3 years), and 63 patients in toxicological series. The effect of dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in T2DM was demonstrated by HbA1c reduction in two randomised trials among a total of 177 adolescents, with a mean HbA1c difference of -0.82% (95% confidence interval -1.34 to -0.29) as compared to placebo (no heterogeneity, I = 0%). Dosage ranged between 5 and 20 mg (mean 11.4 ± 3.7) once daily for dapagliflozin and between 5 and 25 mg (mean 15.4 ± 7.4) once daily for empagliflozin. Among the paediatric cases of GSD Ib, empagliflozin 0.1-1.3 mg/kg/day improved neutropenia, infections, and gastrointestinal health. Dapagliflozin (mean dosage 6.9 ± 5.2 mg once daily) was well-tolerated in children with chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Side effects were generally mild, the most frequent being hypoglycaemia in children with GSD Ib (33% of patients) or T2DM (14% of patients) on concomitant hypoglycaemic drugs. Diabetic ketoacidosis is rare in children.
CONCLUSION
Early evidence suggests that dapagliflozin and empagliflozin are well tolerated in children. A clinical pharmacology rationale currently exists only for adolescents with diabetes mellitus.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42023438162.
Topics: Benzhydryl Compounds; Humans; Glucosides; Child; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; Adolescent
PubMed: 38635113
DOI: 10.1007/s40272-024-00623-z -
Ophthalmology. Glaucoma Apr 2024Assessing reporting standards in glaucoma studies utilizing electronic health records (EHR). (Review)
Review
TOPIC
Assessing reporting standards in glaucoma studies utilizing electronic health records (EHR).
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Glaucoma's significance, underscored by its status as a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, necessitates reliable research findings. This study evaluates adherence to the CODE-EHR best-practice framework in glaucoma studies using EHR, aiming to improve clinical care and patient outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42023430025), identified relevant studies (January 2022-May 2023) in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Eligible studies, using EHR data from clinical institutions for glaucoma research, were assessed for study design, participant characteristics, EHR data, and sources. Quality appraisal used the CODE-EHR best-practice framework, focusing on data construction, linkage, fitness for purpose, disease and outcome definitions, analysis, and ethics and governance.
RESULTS
Of 31 identified studies, predominant EHR sources were hospitals and clinical warehouses. Commonly reported elements included age, gender, glaucoma diagnosis, and intraocular pressure. Only 16% fully adhered to CODE-EHR best-practice framework's minimum standards, with none meeting preferred standards. While statistical analysis and ethical considerations were relatively well-addressed, areas such as EHR data management and study design showed room for improvement. Patient and public involvement, and acknowledgment of data linkage processes, data security, and storage reporting were often missed.
CONCLUSION
Adherence to CODE-EHR best-practice framework's standards in EHR-based studies of glaucoma can be improved upon. Standardized reporting of EHR data are essential to ensure the reliability of research, facilitating its translation into clinical practice and improving healthcare decision-making for better patient outcomes.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)
Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
PubMed: 38599318
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogla.2024.04.002 -
Journal of Environmental Management Apr 2024Onsite sanitation systems (OSS) are significant sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) including carbon dioxide (CO), methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO). While a handful of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Onsite sanitation systems (OSS) are significant sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) including carbon dioxide (CO), methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO). While a handful of studies have been conducted on GHG emissions from OSS, systematic evaluation of literature on this subject is limited. Our systematic review and meta-analysis provides state-of-the- art information on GHG emissions from OSS and identifies novel areas for investigation. The paper analyzes GHG emission rates from different OSS, the influence of various design, operational, and environmental factors on emission rates and proffers mitigation measures. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we identified 16 articles which quantified GHG emissions from OSS. Septic tanks emit substantial amounts of CO and CH ranging from 1.74 to 398.30 g CO/cap/day and 0.06-110.13 g CH/cap/day, respectively, but have low NO emissions (0.01-0.06 g N₂O/cap/day). CH emissions from pit latrines range from 0.77 to 20.30 g CH/cap/day NO emissions range from 0.76 to 1.20 gNO/cap/day. We observed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) between temperature, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, storage period, and GHG emissions from OSS. However, no significant correlation (p > 0.05) was observed between soil volumetric water content and CO emissions. CH emissions (expressed as CO equivalents) from OSS estimated following Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines were found to be seven times lower (90.99 g COe/cap/day) than in-situ field emission measurements (704.7 g COe/cap/day), implying that relying solely on IPCC guidelines may lead to underestimation of GHG emission from OSS. Our findings underscore the importance of considering local contexts and environmental factors when estimating GHG emissions from OSS. Plausible mitigation measures for GHG emissions from OSS include converting waste to biogas in anaerobic systems (e.g. biogas), applying biochar, and implementing mitigation policies that equally address inequalities in sanitation service access. Future research on GHG from OSS should focus on in-situ measurements of GHGs from pit latrines and other common OSS in developing countries, understanding the fate and transport of dissolved organics like CH in OSS effluents and impacts of microbial communities in OSS on GHG emissions. Addressing these gaps will enable more holistic and effective management of GHG emissions from OSS.
Topics: Greenhouse Gases; Carbon Dioxide; Biofuels; Sanitation; Soil; Methane; Nitrous Oxide; Greenhouse Effect
PubMed: 38574706
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120736 -
Hospital Pharmacy Dec 2023Simultaneous administration of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam (VPT) poses significant challenges related to physical and chemical compatibility, as well as... (Review)
Review
Simultaneous administration of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam (VPT) poses significant challenges related to physical and chemical compatibility, as well as clinical practice. A systematic review of available literature related to VPT Y-site compatibility was performed. Data was collected from primary and tertiary sources. Seven articles were included in addition to one internal assessment and one review article and information from tertiary drug databases. The literature supports the simultaneous administration via Y-site of piperacillin-tazobactam 33.75 mg/mL in normal saline (NS) and vancomycin 4 to 8 mg/mL in NS. The same drug products at differing concentrations, diluents, storage conditions, or preparations outside of this recommendation should be considered incompatible.
PubMed: 38560538
DOI: 10.1177/00185787231169455 -
Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine... Jul 2024Contamination with heavy metals (HM) has great environmental consequences in the environment due to lack of biodegradation, in addition, accumulation in living beings... (Review)
Review
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Contamination with heavy metals (HM) has great environmental consequences in the environment due to lack of biodegradation, in addition, accumulation in living beings causes defects in tissues and organs, deteriorating their function and inducing a wide spectrum of diseases. Human biomonitoring consists of the periodic measurement of a certain chemical substance or metabolite in a particular population, using matrices that can be acute or chronic. Teeth are chronic matrices that have great characteristics of resistance and chronological storage of information. This review aims to identify the mechanisms, spatial location, and affinity of HM within teeth, along with understanding its applicability as a chronological record matrix in the face of HM contamination.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A systematic search review was performed using the PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus metasearch engines, and the terms "teeth" OR "dental" OR "tooth" AND "heavy metals" were intersected. Complete articles are included in Spanish, English and Portuguese without time restrictions, involving studies in humans or in vitro; Letters to the editor, editorials and those that did not refer to information on the incorporation and relationship of HM with the teeth were excluded.
RESULTS
837 published articles were detected, 91 were adjusted to the search objective, and 6 were manually included. Teeth are structures with a great capacity for information retention in the face of HM contamination due to low physiological turnover and their long processes of marked formations by developmental biorhythm milestones such as the neonatal line (temporal reference indicator). The contamination mechanisms inside the tooth are linked to the affinity of hydroxyapatite for HM; this incorporation can be in the soft matrix during the apposition phase or as part of the chemical exchanges between hydroxyapatite and the elements of the environment.
CONCLUSION
The teeth present unique characteristics of great resistance and affinity for HM, as well as a chronological biomarker for human biomonitoring, so they can be used as means of expertise or evidence to confirm or rule out a fact of environmental characteristics in the legal field.
Topics: Humans; Biomarkers; Metals, Heavy; Tooth, Deciduous; Dentition, Permanent
PubMed: 38547726
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127435 -
Medical Teacher Mar 2024Traditional direct ophthalmoscopy (TDO) is the oldest method of fundus examination; however, it has fallen out of use due to its technical difficulty and limitations to...
PURPOSE
Traditional direct ophthalmoscopy (TDO) is the oldest method of fundus examination; however, it has fallen out of use due to its technical difficulty and limitations to clinical utility, amidst the advent of potentially better options. A spectrum of new technologies may help in addressing the shortcomings of TDO: simulation mannequins with non-tracked TDO, simulation models with tracked TDO, and smartphone ophthalmoscopy (SFO).
METHODOLOGY
A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for all studies evaluating usage of simulation mannequins/models and SFO in ophthalmology education was performed, from inception till April 2023 with no language restriction. We ensured that we included all possible relevant articles by performing backward reference searching of included articles and published review articles.
RESULTS
We reviewed studies on non-tracked TDO ( = 5), tracked TDO ( = 3) and SFO ( = 12). Non-tracked TDO and SFO were superior in training competency relative to control (TDO on real eyes). Intriguingly, tracked TDO was non superior to controls. SFO appears to enhance the learning effectiveness of ophthalmoscopy, due to real-time projection of the retina view, permitting instantaneous and targeted feedback. Learners reported improved ergonomics, including a wider field of view and more comfortable viewing distance. Retention of images and recordings permitted the audit of learning and paves the way for storage of such images in patients' electronic medical record and rapid dissemination for specialist referral.
CONCLUSIONS
Smartphone ophthalmoscopy (SFO) permits integration of both the practice and learning of ophthalmoscopy, and the auditing of both. These advantages over traditional methods (with simulation or otherwise) may lead to a paradigm shift in undergraduate ophthalmology education. However, the nascency of SFO necessitates preservation of traditional techniques to tide through this period of transition.
PubMed: 38536742
DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2024.2326112 -
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical... Mar 2024Despite advanced technologies in breast cancer management, challenges remain in efficiently interpreting vast clinical data for patient-specific insights. We reviewed... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Despite advanced technologies in breast cancer management, challenges remain in efficiently interpreting vast clinical data for patient-specific insights. We reviewed the literature on how large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT might offer solutions in this field.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE for relevant studies published before December 22, 2023. Keywords included: "large language models", "LLM", "GPT", "ChatGPT", "OpenAI", and "breast". The risk bias was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 tool.
RESULTS
Six studies evaluating either ChatGPT-3.5 or GPT-4, met our inclusion criteria. They explored clinical notes analysis, guideline-based question-answering, and patient management recommendations. Accuracy varied between studies, ranging from 50 to 98%. Higher accuracy was seen in structured tasks like information retrieval. Half of the studies used real patient data, adding practical clinical value. Challenges included inconsistent accuracy, dependency on the way questions are posed (prompt-dependency), and in some cases, missing critical clinical information.
CONCLUSION
LLMs hold potential in breast cancer care, especially in textual information extraction and guideline-driven clinical question-answering. Yet, their inconsistent accuracy underscores the need for careful validation of these models, and the importance of ongoing supervision.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Breast; Information Storage and Retrieval; Language
PubMed: 38504034
DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05678-6 -
Toxicology Reports Jun 2024PAE and PC polymers, such as BPA, are utilized to make water bottles. Due to the lack of polymer-chemical interaction, PAE can enter drinking bottles during production,... (Review)
Review
PAE and PC polymers, such as BPA, are utilized to make water bottles. Due to the lack of polymer-chemical interaction, PAE can enter drinking bottles during production, wrapping, and keeping. Phthalates can transfer from the bottle to the water depending on keeping conditions (temperature, time, sunlight intensity), pH, and bottle capacity. Since there haven't been previous studies published on the subject, the aim of this meta-analysis and systematic review research is to determine the level of phthalates in drinking water consumed in Iranian cities. Web of Science, Science of Direct, Scopus, and PubMed, databases have been used in this study. Eight studies were selected from 556 initial publications after screening for duplication and irrelevant information. Articles from January 1, 2000, to February 10, 2024, were found in the mentioned databases. Among the types of phthalates, the concentration of DEHP was reported higher than the others Because its concentration has been reported in seven out of eight studies. The highest concentration of DEHP was reported by Mehraie(2.22 µg/l), Zare Jeddi (0.8 µg/l), Yousefi (0.77 µg/l), Abtahi (0.76 µg/l), Zare Jeddi (0.42 µg/l), Abdolahnejad(0.15 µg/l), and Pourzamani (0.08 µg/l). The highest concentration of DEP, DBP, BBP, and PA was reported by Abtahi (0.77 µg/l) and Esteki (2.25 µg/l), Mehraie(0.93 µg/l), and Pourzamani (0.83 µg/l). The results of this study showed that the most important phthalates measured in drinking water include DEP, DEHP, DBP, BBP, and PA. According to the results of the present studies, the most important factor in the increase of phthalates is the storage conditions of drinking water (temperature, sunlight, and the type of pipe or bottle).
PubMed: 38495472
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.02.009 -
European Journal of Medical Research Mar 2024Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD; OMIM 250100 and 249900) is a rare lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient arylsulfatase A activity, leading to accumulation of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD; OMIM 250100 and 249900) is a rare lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient arylsulfatase A activity, leading to accumulation of sulfatides in the nervous system. This systematic literature review aimed to explore the effect of MLD on the lives of patients.
METHODS
The Ovid platform was used to search Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library for articles related to the natural history, clinical outcomes, and burden of illness of MLD; congress and hand searches were performed using 'metachromatic leukodystrophy' as a keyword. Of the 531 publications identified, 120 were included for data extraction following screening. A subset of findings from studies relating to MLD natural history and burden of illness (n = 108) are presented here.
RESULTS
The mean age at symptom onset was generally 16-18 months for late-infantile MLD and 6-10 years for juvenile MLD. Age at diagnosis and time to diagnosis varied widely. Typically, patients with late-infantile MLD presented predominantly with motor symptoms and developmental delay; patients with juvenile MLD presented with motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms; and patients with adult MLD presented with cognitive symptoms and psychiatric and mood disorders. Patients with late-infantile MLD had more rapid decline of motor function over time and lower survival than patients with juvenile MLD. Commonly reported comorbidities/complications included ataxia, epilepsy, gallbladder abnormalities, incontinence, neuropathy, and seizures.
CONCLUSIONS
Epidemiology of MLD by geographic regions, quantitative cognitive data, data on the differences between early- and late-juvenile MLD, and humanistic or economic outcomes were limited. Further studies on clinical, humanistic (i.e., quality of life), and economic outcomes are needed to help inform healthcare decisions for patients with MLD.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic; Quality of Life; Cost of Illness
PubMed: 38494502
DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01771-1