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BMC Cardiovascular Disorders May 2024Optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to improve procedural outcomes. However, evidence supporting its... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to improve procedural outcomes. However, evidence supporting its superiority over angiography-guided PCI in terms of clinical outcomes is still emerging and limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of OCT-guided PCI versus angiography-guided PCI in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
METHODS
A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical outcomes of OCT-guided and angiography-guided PCI in patients with CAD. Clinical endpoints including all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), target lesion revascularization (TLR), stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed.
RESULTS
Eleven RCTs, comprising 2,699 patients in the OCT-guided group and 2,968 patients in the angiography-guided group met inclusion criteria. OCT-guided PCI was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiovascular death(RR 0.56; 95%CI: 0.32-0.98; p = 0.04; I = 0%), stent thrombosis(RR 0.56; 95%CI: 0.33-0.95; p = 0.03; I = 0%), and MACE (RR 0.79; 95%CI: 0.66-0.95; p = 0.01; I = 5%). The incidence of all-cause death (RR 0.71; 95%CI: 0.49-1.02; p = 0.06; I = 0%), myocardial infarction (RR 0.86; 95%CI: 0.67-1.10; p = 0.22; I = 0%) and TLR (RR 0.98; 95%CI: 0.73-1.33; p = 0.91; I = 0%) was non-significantly lower in the OCT-guided group.
CONCLUSIONS
Among patients undergoing PCI, OCT-guided PCI was associated with lower incidences of cardiovascular death, stent thrombosis and MACE compared to angiography-guided PCI.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023484342.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Coronary Angiography; Coronary Artery Disease; Treatment Outcome; Risk Factors; Predictive Value of Tests; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Aged; Coronary Vessels; Coronary Thrombosis
PubMed: 38769510
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03930-y -
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) May 2024There are a wide variety of intraoperative techniques available in breast surgery to achieve low rates for positive margins of excision. The objective of this systematic... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
There are a wide variety of intraoperative techniques available in breast surgery to achieve low rates for positive margins of excision. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the pooled diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative breast margin assessment techniques that have been evaluated in clinical practice.
METHODS
This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative margin assessment techniques. Only clinical studies with raw diagnostic accuracy data as compared with final permanent section histopathology were included in the meta-analysis. A bivariate model for diagnostic meta-analysis was used to determine overall pooled sensitivity and specificity.
RESULTS
Sixty-one studies were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Cytology demonstrated the best diagnostic accuracy, with pooled sensitivity of 0.92 (95 % CI 0.77-0.98) and a pooled specificity of 0.95 (95 % CI 0.90-0.97). The findings also indicate good diagnostic accuracy for optical spectroscopy, with a pooled sensitivity of 0.86 (95 % CI 0.76-0.93) and a pooled specificity of 0.92 (95 % CI 0.82-0.97).
CONCLUSION
Pooled data indicate that optical spectroscopy, cytology and frozen section have the greatest diagnostic accuracy of currently available intraoperative margin assessment techniques. However, long turnaround time for results and their resource intensive nature has prevented widespread adoption of these methods. The aim of emerging technologies is to compete with the diagnostic accuracy of these established techniques, while improving speed and usability.
PubMed: 38759577
DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2024.103749 -
Ophthalmic Research 2024Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have a variable effect on patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that has been attributed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Association of the Complement Factor H Y402H Polymorphism and Response to Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Updated Meta-Analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents have a variable effect on patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that has been attributed to several causes, including genetic factors. We evaluated the effects of Complement Factor H (CFH) rs1061170/Y402H polymorphism on the response to anti-VEGF therapy among AMD patients.
METHODS
PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used for a literature search. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the effects of CFH Y402H polymorphism on the response to anti-VEGF therapy in AMD. I2 was used to present the amount of heterogeneity. We used STATA version 14.0 software.
RESULTS
Twenty-five papers reporting data for 4,681 patients were included in this study. Better response to anti-VEGF therapy was seen in T over C (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.04-1.50), TT over CC (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.06-2.4), and TT + TC over CC (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.23-2.28) genotypes. There was no significant difference in the three other genetic models (TT vs. TC, TT vs. TC + CC, TC vs. TT + CC). In Asians, no significant difference was observed in all six genetic models. Ranibizumab and bevacizumab had similar efficacy; however, conbercept was more effective in homozygous genotypes. The literature indicated that TT and TC genotypes and T allele were associated with a better functional response, while the CC genotype and C alleles had a better anatomical response. The combination of risk alleles in ARMS2 A69S (rs10490924), VEGF-A (rs699947), and VEGF-A (rs833069) with Y420H is a predictor of non-respondents.
CONCLUSION
In patients with AMD, the CFH Y402H is a predictor of the response to anti-VEGF agents and should be considered in the treatment plan.
Topics: Humans; Complement Factor H; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Macular Degeneration; Genotype
PubMed: 38754401
DOI: 10.1159/000539377 -
European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2024Literature points towards the potential benefits of the application of Eye Movement and Desensitization Processing (EMDR)-therapy for patients in the medical setting,... (Review)
Review
Literature points towards the potential benefits of the application of Eye Movement and Desensitization Processing (EMDR)-therapy for patients in the medical setting, with cancer and pain being among the domains it is applied to. The field of applying EMDR-therapy for patients treated in the medical setting has evolved to such an extent that it may be challenging to get a comprehensive overview. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate the use and effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in patients treated in the medical setting. We performed a literature search following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if the effectiveness of EMDR-therapy was assessed in adult patients treated in a medical setting. Excluded were patients exclusively suffering from a mental health disorder, without somatic comorbidity. A risk of bias analysis was performed. This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022325238). Eighty-seven studies, of which 26 (pilot)-RCTs were included and categorized in 14 medical domains. Additionally, three studies focusing on persistent physical complaints were included. Most evidence exists for its application in the fields of oncology, pain, and neurology. The overall appraisal of these studies showed at least moderate to high risks of bias. EMDR demonstrated effectiveness in reducing symptoms in 85 out of 87 studies. Notably, the occurrence of adverse events was rarely mentioned. Overall, outcomes seem to show beneficial effects of EMDR on reducing psychological and physical symptoms in patients treated in a medical setting. Due to the heterogeneity of reported outcomes, effect sizes could not be pooled. Due to the high risk of bias of the included studies, our results should be interpreted with caution and further controlled high-quality research is needed.
Topics: Humans; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38747113
DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2341577 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024The diagnostic performance and clinical validity of automatic intracoronary imaging (ICI) tools for atherosclerotic plaque assessment have not been systematically...
BACKGROUND
The diagnostic performance and clinical validity of automatic intracoronary imaging (ICI) tools for atherosclerotic plaque assessment have not been systematically investigated so far.
METHODS
We performed a scoping review including studies on automatic tools for automatic plaque components assessment by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) or intravascular imaging (IVUS). We summarized study characteristics and reported the specifics and diagnostic performance of developed tools.
RESULTS
Overall, 42 OCT and 26 IVUS studies fulfilling the eligibility criteria were found, with the majority published in the last 5 years (86% of the OCT and 73% of the IVUS studies). A convolutional neural network deep-learning method was applied in 71% of OCT- and 34% of IVUS-studies. Calcium was the most frequent plaque feature analyzed (26/42 of OCT and 12/26 of IVUS studies), and both modalities showed high discriminatory performance in testing sets [range of area under the curve (AUC): 0.91-0.99 for OCT and 0.89-0.98 for IVUS]. Lipid component was investigated only in OCT studies ( = 26, AUC: 0.82-0.86). Fibrous cap thickness or thin-cap fibroatheroma were mainly investigated in OCT studies ( = 8, AUC: 0.82-0.94). Plaque burden was mainly assessed in IVUS studies ( = 15, testing set AUC reported in one study: 0.70).
CONCLUSION
A limited number of automatic machine learning-derived tools for ICI analysis is currently available. The majority have been developed for calcium detection for either OCT or IVUS images. The reporting of the development and validation process of automated intracoronary imaging analyses is heterogeneous and lacks critical information.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
Open Science Framework (OSF), https://osf.io/nps2b/.Graphical AbstractCentral Illustration.
PubMed: 38742173
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1332925 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jul 2024Microplastics are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and have emerged as a significant environmental issue due to their potential impacts on human health and the... (Review)
Review
Microplastics are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and have emerged as a significant environmental issue due to their potential impacts on human health and the ecosystem. Current laboratory-based microplastic detection methods suffer from various drawbacks, including a lack of standardisation, limited spatial and temporal coverage, high costs, and time-consuming procedures. Consequently, there is a need for the development of in-situ techniques to detect and monitor microplastics to effectively identify and understand their sources, pathways, and behaviours. Herein, we adopt a systematic literature review method to assess the development and application of experimental and field technologies designed for the in-situ detection and monitoring of aquatic microplastics, without the need for sample preparation. Four scientific databases were searched in March 2023, resulting in a review of 62 relevant studies. These studies were classified into seven sensor categories and their working principles were discussed. The sensor classes include optical devices, digital holography, Raman spectroscopy, other spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging, remote sensing, and other methods. We also looked at how data from these technologies are integrated with machine learning models to develop classifiers capable of accurately characterising the physical and chemical properties of microplastics and discriminating them from other particles. This review concluded that in-situ detection of microplastics in aquatic environments is feasible and can be achieved with high accuracy, even though the methods are still in the early stages of development. Nonetheless, further research is still needed to enhance the in-situ detection of microplastics. This includes exploring the possibility of combining various detection methods and developing robust machine-learning classifiers. Additionally, there is a recommendation for in-situ implementation of the reviewed methods to assess their effectiveness in detecting microplastics and identify their limitations.
Topics: Microplastics; Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 38740219
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173111 -
Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements... 2024Opsoclonus is a rare disorder characterized by conjugate multidirectional, horizontal, vertical, and torsional saccadic oscillations, without intersaccadic interval,...
BACKGROUND
Opsoclonus is a rare disorder characterized by conjugate multidirectional, horizontal, vertical, and torsional saccadic oscillations, without intersaccadic interval, resulting from dysfunction within complex neuronal pathways in the brainstem and cerebellum. While most cases of opsoclonus are associated with autoimmune or paraneoplastic disorders, infectious agents, trauma, or remain idiopathic, opsoclonus can also be caused by medications affecting neurotransmission. This review was prompted by a case of opsoclonus occurring in a patient with Multiple System Atrophy, where amantadine, an NMDA-receptor antagonist, appeared to induce opsoclonus.
METHODS
Case report of a single patient and systematized review of toxic/drug-induced opsoclonus, selecting articles based on predefined criteria and assessing the quality of included studies.
RESULTS
The review included 30 articles encompassing 158 cases of toxic/drug-induced opsoclonus. 74% of cases were attributed to bark scorpion poisoning, followed by 9% of cases associated with chlordecone intoxication. The remaining cases were due to various toxics/drugs, highlighting the involvement of various neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, dopamine, glycine, and sodium channels, in the development of opsoclonus.
CONCLUSION
Toxic/drug-induced opsoclonus is very rare. The diversity of toxics/drugs impacting different neurotransmitter systems makes it challenging to define a unifying mechanism, given the intricate neuronal pathways underlying eye movement physiology and opsoclonus pathophysiology.
Topics: Humans; Male; Amantadine; Multiple System Atrophy; Ocular Motility Disorders; Aged
PubMed: 38737300
DOI: 10.5334/tohm.832 -
Brain : a Journal of Neurology Jun 2024Biallelic pathogenic variants in the PNPLA6 gene cause a broad spectrum of disorders leading to gait disturbance, visual impairment, anterior hypopituitarism and hair...
Biallelic pathogenic variants in the PNPLA6 gene cause a broad spectrum of disorders leading to gait disturbance, visual impairment, anterior hypopituitarism and hair anomalies. PNPLA6 encodes neuropathy target esterase (NTE), yet the role of NTE dysfunction on affected tissues in the large spectrum of associated disease remains unclear. We present a systematic evidence-based review of a novel cohort of 23 new patients along with 95 reported individuals with PNPLA6 variants that implicate missense variants as a driver of disease pathogenesis. Measuring esterase activity of 46 disease-associated and 20 common variants observed across PNPLA6-associated clinical diagnoses unambiguously reclassified 36 variants as pathogenic and 10 variants as likely pathogenic, establishing a robust functional assay for classifying PNPLA6 variants of unknown significance. Estimating the overall NTE activity of affected individuals revealed a striking inverse relationship between NTE activity and the presence of retinopathy and endocrinopathy. This phenomenon was recaptured in vivo in an allelic mouse series, where a similar NTE threshold for retinopathy exists. Thus, PNPLA6 disorders, previously considered allelic, are a continuous spectrum of pleiotropic phenotypes defined by an NTE genotype:activity:phenotype relationship. This relationship, and the generation of a preclinical animal model, pave the way for therapeutic trials, using NTE as a biomarker.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Mice; Acyltransferases; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; Mutation, Missense; Phenotype; Phospholipases; Retinal Diseases
PubMed: 38735647
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae055 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024In brain tumor surgery, maximal tumor resection is typically desired. This is complicated by infiltrative tumor cells which cannot be visually distinguished from... (Review)
Review
In brain tumor surgery, maximal tumor resection is typically desired. This is complicated by infiltrative tumor cells which cannot be visually distinguished from healthy brain tissue. Optical methods are an emerging field that can potentially revolutionize brain tumor surgery through intraoperative differentiation between healthy and tumor tissues. This study aimed to systematically explore and summarize the existing literature on the use of Raman Spectroscopy (RS), Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) for brain tumor detection. MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies evaluating the accuracy of these systems for brain tumor detection. Outcome measures included accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. In total, 44 studies were included, covering a range of tumor types and technologies. Accuracy metrics in the studies ranged between 54 and 100% for RS, 69 and 99% for HSI, 82 and 99% for OCT, and 42 and 100% for DRS. This review provides insightful evidence on the use of optical methods in distinguishing tumor from healthy brain tissue.
PubMed: 38731204
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092676 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2024The use of electronic cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, the impact that electronic cigarettes have on the ocular surface is not well... (Review)
Review
The use of electronic cigarettes has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, the impact that electronic cigarettes have on the ocular surface is not well known. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore the current literature on the acute and chronic sequelae of electronic cigarettes on the ocular surface. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken by keyword searching on the Embase, Medline, and Web of Science databases. Articles identified through the search underwent title/abstract screening, full-text screening, and data extraction. A total of 18 studies were included in this review. Non-intended ocular surface exposures and intended exposures on the ocular surface were found to be associated with the use of electronic cigarettes. The impact of vaping on the ocular surface is not benign. There are significant risks that vaping can pose to the ocular surface. Hence, it is necessary to develop appropriate risk communication tools given the increasing popularity of this activity. Additionally, future long-term studies are needed to better understand the long-term impacts of vaping on the ocular surface given the lack of current data.
PubMed: 38731149
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092619