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Journal of Liver Cancer Apr 2024To systematically evaluate inter-reader agreement in the assessment of individual Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category M (LR-M) imaging features in...
BACKGROUNDS/AIMS
To systematically evaluate inter-reader agreement in the assessment of individual Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category M (LR-M) imaging features in computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI) LI-RADS v2018, and to explore the causes of poor agreement in LR-M assignment.
METHODS
Original studies reporting inter-reader agreement for LR-M features on multiphasic CT or MRI were identified using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. The pooled kappa coefficient (κ) was calculated using the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics. Subgroup meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore the study heterogeneity.
RESULTS
In total, 24 eligible studies with 5,163 hepatic observations were included. The pooled κ values were 0.72 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.78) for rim arterial phase hyperenhancement, 0.52 (0.39-0.65) for peripheral washout, 0.60 (0.50-0.70) for delayed central enhancement, 0.68 (0.57-0.78) for targetoid restriction, 0.74 (0.65-0.83) for targetoid transitional phase/hepatobiliary phase appearance, 0.64 (0.49-0.78) for infiltrative appearance, 0.49 (0.30-0.68) for marked diffusion restriction, and 0.61 (0.48-0.73) for necrosis or severe ischemia. Substantial study heterogeneity was observed for all LR-M features (Cochran's Q test: p < 0.01; I2 ≥ 89.2%). Studies with a mean observation size of <3 cm, those performed using 1.5-T MRI, and those with multiple image readers, were significantly associated with poor agreement of LR-M features.
CONCLUSIONS
The agreement for peripheral washout and marked diffusion restriction was limited. The LI-RADS should focus on improving the agreement of LR-M features.
PubMed: 38616543
DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2024.04.05 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024Peripheral and autonomic neuropathy are common disease manifestations in systemic amyloidosis. The neurofilament light chain (NfL), a neuron-specific biomarker, is... (Review)
Review
Peripheral and autonomic neuropathy are common disease manifestations in systemic amyloidosis. The neurofilament light chain (NfL), a neuron-specific biomarker, is released into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid after neuronal damage. There is a need for an early and sensitive blood biomarker for polyneuropathy, and this systematic review provides an overview on the value of NfL in the early detection of neuropathy, central nervous system involvement, the monitoring of neuropathy progression, and treatment effects in systemic amyloidosis. A literature search in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed on 14 February 2024 for studies investigating NfL levels in patients with systemic amyloidosis and transthyretin gene-variant (v) carriers. Only studies containing original data were included. Included were thirteen full-text articles and five abstracts describing 1604 participants: 298 controls and 1306 v carriers or patients with or without polyneuropathy. Patients with polyneuropathy demonstrated higher NfL levels compared to healthy controls and asymptomatic carriers. Disease onset was marked by rising NfL levels. Following the initiation of transthyretin gene-silencer treatment, NfL levels decreased and remained stable over an extended period. NfL is not an outcome biomarker, but an early and sensitive disease-process biomarker for neuropathy in systemic amyloidosis. Therefore, NfL has the potential to be used for the early detection of neuropathy, monitoring treatment effects, and monitoring disease progression in patients with systemic amyloidosis.
Topics: Humans; Prealbumin; Intermediate Filaments; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis; Amyloidosis; Polyneuropathies; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38612579
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073770 -
Cancers Mar 2024SAVI SCOUT or radar reflector localisation (RRL) has proven accurate in localising non-palpable breast and axillary lesions, with minimal interference with MRI. Targeted... (Review)
Review
Evaluating Radar Reflector Localisation in Targeted Axillary Dissection in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy for Node-Positive Early Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.
SAVI SCOUT or radar reflector localisation (RRL) has proven accurate in localising non-palpable breast and axillary lesions, with minimal interference with MRI. Targeted axillary dissection (TAD), combining marked lymph node biopsy (MLNB) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), is becoming a standard post-neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) for node-positive early breast cancer. Compared to SLNB alone, TAD reduces the false negative rate (FNR) to below 6%, enabling safer axillary surgery de-escalation. This systematic review evaluates RRL's performance during TAD, assessing localisation and retrieval rates, the concordance between MLNB and SLNB, and the pathological complete response (pCR) in clinically node-positive patients post-NST. Four studies (252 TAD procedures) met the inclusion criteria, with a 99.6% (95% confidence [CI]: 98.9-100) successful localisation rate, 100% retrieval rate, and 81% (95% CI: 76-86) concordance rate between SLNB and MLNB. The average duration from RRL deployment to surgery was 52 days (range:1-202). pCR was observed in 42% (95% CI: 36-48) of cases, with no significant migration or complications reported. Omitting MLNB or SLNB would have under-staged the axilla in 9.7% or 3.4% ( = 0.03) of cases, respectively, underscoring the importance of incorporating MLNB in axillary staging post-NST in initially node-positive patients in line with the updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. These findings underscore the excellent efficacy of RRL in TAD for NST-treated patients with positive nodes, aiding in accurate axillary pCR identification and the safe omission of axillary dissection in strong responders.
PubMed: 38611023
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071345 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2024: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Recent research has... (Review)
Review
: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Recent research has increasingly focused on the genetic underpinnings of ASD, with the Neurexin 1 () gene emerging as a key player. This comprehensive systematic review elucidates the contribution of gene variants in the pathophysiology of ASD. : The protocol for this systematic review was designed a priori and was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023450418). A risk of bias analysis was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. We examined various studies that link gene disruptions with ASD, discussing both the genotypic variability and the resulting phenotypic expressions. : Within this review, there was marked heterogeneity observed in ASD genotypic and phenotypic manifestations among individuals with mutations. The presence of mutations in this population emphasizes the gene's role in synaptic function and neural connectivity. : This review not only highlights the role of in the pathophysiology of ASD but also highlights the need for further research to unravel the complex genetic underpinnings of the disorder. A better knowledge about the multifaceted role of in ASD can provide crucial insights into the neurobiological foundations of autism and pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies.
PubMed: 38610832
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13072067 -
Cureus Mar 2024Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is marked by inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and mucosal lining of the nose. CRS can be classified as CRS with nasal polyps or CRS... (Review)
Review
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is marked by inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and mucosal lining of the nose. CRS can be classified as CRS with nasal polyps or CRS without polyps. In recent years, there has been increased attention on the immunological role of vitamin D in treating CRS, coupled with the observation of vitamin D deficiency among CRS patients. Vitamin D is acknowledged for its immunomodulatory properties, especially in allergic conditions. Recent studies suggest that individuals with CRS, especially those with CRS with nasal polyps, frequently demonstrate lower than normal levels of vitamin D. We conducted searches across various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library, both electronically and manually, to identify pertinent studies. Studies from 2003 to 2023 were included. Deficiency of vitamin D was considered with levels of vitamin D less than 30 ng/mL, and only original studies were included. Studies including patients taking vitamin D supplementation previously and patients with chronic kidney and liver diseases were excluded. We included nine studies that recruited 1,042 patients in total. More than half of the studies reported the presence of nasal polyps in CRS, and participants from four studies had CRS without nasal polyps. All of the included studies reported a negative correlation between levels of vitamin D and CRS. The majority of the studies depicted quite low levels of vitamin D among CRS patients. The degree of CRS severity as measured by endoscopic and radiological scores is moderately inversely correlated with vitamin D intake. Therefore, it is recommended that the relationship between various serum vitamin D concentrations and the severity of CRS be investigated in detail, along with an understanding of the cellular effects of vitamin D levels on the nasal mucosa.
PubMed: 38601384
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55955 -
Journal of Dental Research, Dental... 2023Posterior intrusion with skeletal anchorage is one of the effective methods in the treatment of anterior open bite. Knowing the effects of posterior intrusion, the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Posterior intrusion with skeletal anchorage is one of the effective methods in the treatment of anterior open bite. Knowing the effects of posterior intrusion, the amount of possible molar intrusion using skeletal anchorage, and its impact on clinical and cephalometric indicators can help the clinician choose the optimal treatment method, especially in borderline surgical cases.
METHODS
In this systematic review, a series of articles were collected through a systematic search in databases, and the titles and summaries of all these articles were reviewed. After removing the irrelevant articles, the full texts of the related articles were read carefully, and their validity was evaluated. Only RCTs and observational studies that complied with PICO questions were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 (RoB 2), ROBINS-I, and GRADE were used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. The relevant information on selected articles was extracted, and a meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.4 software.
RESULTS
The meta-analysis revealed a significant average molar intrusion of 2.89 mm using temporary anchorage devices (TADs). A subgroup analysis showed that miniplates achieved greater intrusion (3.29 mm) compared to miniscrews (2.25 mm) (=0.03). The level of applied force did not significantly affect the degree of intrusion. Dental parameters such as overbite and overjet were notably altered, with overbite increasing by 4.81 mm and overjet decreasing by 2.06 mm on average. As for the skeletal cephalometric characteristics, SNB, ANB, and SN-Pog increased while mandibular plane angle and lower anterior facial height (LAFH) decreased, and these changes were significant. Meanwhile, SNA and palatal angle changes were not significant.
CONCLUSION
TADs have proved effective in achieving significant intrusion of maxillary molars, leading to marked improvements in dental and skeletal characteristics in patients with open bite malocclusion. Miniplates proved more effective in achieving greater intrusion.
PubMed: 38584993
DOI: 10.34172/joddd.2023.40754 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Apr 2024There is considerable interest in the use of doxycycline post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). An... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
There is considerable interest in the use of doxycycline post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to reduce the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). An important concern is that this could select for tetracycline resistance in these STIs and other species. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar, (1948-2023) for randomized controlled trials comparing tetracycline PEP with non-tetracycline controls. The primary outcome was antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to tetracyclines in all bacterial species with available data. Our search yielded 140 studies, of which three met the inclusion criteria. Tetracycline PEP was associated with an increasedprevalence of tetracycline resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, but this effect was not statistically significant (Pooled OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.9-3.4). PEP had a marked effect on the N. gonorrhoeae tetracycline MIC distribution in the one study where this was assessed. Prophylactic efficacy was 100% at low MICs and 0% at high MICs. In the one study where this was assessed, PEP resulted in a significant increase in tetracycline resistance in commensal Neisseria species compared to the control group (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.5) but no significant effect on the prevalence of tetracycline resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. The available evidence suggests that PEP with tetracyclines could be associated with selecting tetracycline resistance in N. gonorrhoeae and commensal Neisseria species.
Topics: Humans; Tetracycline; Tetracycline Resistance; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Tetracyclines; Mitomycin; Gonorrhea
PubMed: 38575877
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09275-3 -
Cureus Mar 2024Acute pancreatitis, marked by sudden inflammation of the pancreas, presents a complex spectrum of causative factors including gallstone obstruction, alcohol abuse, and... (Review)
Review
Acute pancreatitis, marked by sudden inflammation of the pancreas, presents a complex spectrum of causative factors including gallstone obstruction, alcohol abuse, and viral infections. Recent studies have illuminated the emergence of vaccine-induced acute pancreatitis, notably associated with COVID-19 vaccinations, presenting diverse mechanisms ranging from direct viral-mediated injury to autoimmune reactions. Understanding this link is pivotal for public health, yet challenges persist in identifying and managing cases post-vaccination. Comprehensive literature reviews employing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement outline the potential pathways and mechanisms leading to vaccine-induced pancreatitis, emphasizing the need for deeper investigations into underlying health conditions and modifications to vaccine components. Notably, the rare occurrences of vaccine-induced pancreatitis extend beyond COVID-19 vaccines, with reports also documenting associations with measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), human papillomavirus (HPV), and other viral vaccinations. Mechanistically, hypotheses such as molecular mimicry and immunologic injury have been proposed, necessitating ongoing vigilance and exploration. Regulatory agencies play a crucial role in monitoring and communicating vaccine safety concerns, emphasizing transparency to address potential risks and maintain public trust. Understanding and communicating these rare adverse events with transparency remain integral for informed vaccination policies and to allay concerns surrounding vaccine safety.
PubMed: 38571842
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55426 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Sarcopenia, marked by a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and function, is a condition that can manifest in elderly patients with cancer and has been recognized as a...
BACKGROUND
Sarcopenia, marked by a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and function, is a condition that can manifest in elderly patients with cancer and has been recognized as a possible adverse factor affecting the survival of individuals diagnosed with malignant tumors. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the prevalence of sarcopenia in individuals with cholangiocarcinoma while concurrently investigating the potential correlations between the presence of sarcopenia and various critical factors, including survival outcomes and postoperative complications.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CNKI, employing keywords such as sarcopenia, cholangiocarcinoma, and prognosis. This research explored the prognostic value of sarcopenia on the survival of cholangiocarcinoma. The findings of this meta-analysis were presented using forest plots and a summarized effects model. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was employed to evaluate the quality of the studies included in the analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 33 articles from five databases were in in the quantitative analysis. A comprehensive meta-analysis revealed that the overall prevalence of sarcopenia among individuals diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma was43%. Moreover, the analysis revealed a significant and noteworthy correlation between sarcopenia and key clinical parameters such as overall survival (OS), Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS), and Disease-Free Survival (DFS) in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Subgroup analysis revealed that, when categorized by various ethnicities, diagnostic techniques, and tumor locations, sarcopenia consistently retained its status as a negative predictive factor. Furthermore, sarcopenia has emerged as a risk factor for postoperative complications. All included studies had an NOS score greater than 5, indicating a high quality of evidence.
CONCLUSION
The results suggest that sarcopenia is significantly related to survival outcomes and postoperative complications in cholangiocarcinoma. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia should be implemented to improve the prognosis of individuals with cholangiocarcinoma.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023479866, identifier CRD42023479866.
PubMed: 38571501
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1363843 -
Ultrasonography (Seoul, Korea) May 2024Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is an emerging non-invasive imaging technique for peripheral nerve evaluation. Shear wave velocity (SWV), a surrogate measure of...
Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is an emerging non-invasive imaging technique for peripheral nerve evaluation. Shear wave velocity (SWV), a surrogate measure of stiffness, holds promise as a biomarker for various peripheral nerve disorders. However, to maximize its clinical and biomechanical value, it is important to fully understand the factors that influence nerve SWV measurements. This systematic review aimed to identify the normal range of SWV for healthy sciatic and tibial nerves and to reveal the factors potentially affecting nerve SWV. An electronic search yielded 17 studies eligible for inclusion, involving 548 healthy individuals (age range, 17 to 72 years). Despite very good reliability metrics, the reported SWV values differed considerably across studies for the sciatic (1.9-9.9 m/s) and tibial (2.3-9.1 m/s) nerves. Factors such as measurement proximity to joint regions, limb postures inducing nerve axial stretching, and transducer alignment with nerve fiber orientation were associated with increased SWV. These findings suggest regional-specific nerve mechanical properties, non-linear elastic behaviour, and marked mechanical anisotropy. The impact of age and sex remains unclear and warrants further investigation. These results emphasize the importance of considering these factors when assessing and interpreting nerve SWE. While increased SWV has been linked to pathological changes affecting nerve tissue mechanics, the significant variability observed in healthy nerves highlights the need for standardized SWE assessment protocols. Developing guidelines for enhanced clinical utility and achieving a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence nerve SWE assessments are critical in advancing the field.
PubMed: 38544459
DOI: 10.14366/usg.23211