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PloS One 2023Streptoccocal A (Strep A, GAS) infections in Australia are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality through both invasive (iGAS) and post-streptococcal...
BACKGROUND
Streptoccocal A (Strep A, GAS) infections in Australia are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality through both invasive (iGAS) and post-streptococcal (postGAS) diseases as well as preceding superficial (sGAS) skin and throat infection. The burden of iGAS and postGAS are addressed in some jurisdictions by mandatory notification systems; in contrast, the burden of preceding sGAS has no reporting structure, and is less well defined. This review provides valuable, contemporaneous evidence on the epidemiology of sGAS presentations in Australia, informing preventative health projects such as a Streptococcal A vaccine and standardisation of primary care notification.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health, Cochrane, CINAHL databases and the grey literature were searched for studies from an Australian setting relating to the epidemiology of sGAS infections between 1970 and 2020 inclusive. Extracted data were pooled for relevant population and subgroup analysis. From 5157 titles in the databases combined with 186 grey literature reports and following removal of duplicates, 4889 articles underwent preliminary title screening. The abstract of 519 articles were reviewed with 162 articles identified for full text review, and 38 articles identified for inclusion. The majority of data was collected for impetigo in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, remote communities, and in the Northern Territory, Australia. A paucity of data was noted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in urban centres or with pharyngitis. Prevalence estimates have not significantly changed over time. Community estimates of impetigo point prevalence ranged from 5.5-66.1%, with a pooled prevalence of 27.9% [95% CI: 20.0-36.5%]. All studies excepting one included >80% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all excepting two were in remote or very remote settings. Observed prevalence of impetigo as diagnosed in healthcare encounters was lower, with a pooled estimate of 10.6% [95% CI: 3.1-21.8%], and a range of 0.1-50.0%. Community prevalence estimates for pharyngitis ranged from 0.2-39.4%, with a pooled estimate of 12.5% [95% CI: 3.5-25.9%], higher than the prevalence of pharyngitis in healthcare encounters; ranging from 1.0-5.0%, and a pooled estimate of 2.0% [95% CI: 1.3-2.8%]. The review was limited by heterogeneity in study design and lack of comparator studies for some populations.
CONCLUSIONS
Superficial Streptococcal A infections contribute to an inequitable burden of disease in Australia and persists despite public health interventions. The burden in community studies is generally higher than in health-services settings, suggesting under-recognition, possible normalisation and missed opportunities for treatment to prevent postGAS. The available, reported epidemiology is heterogeneous. Standardised nation-wide notification for sGAS disease surveillance must be considered in combination with the development of a Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA) Series of National Guideline (SoNG), to accurately define and address disease burden across populations in Australia.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
This review is registered with PROSPERO. Registration number: CRD42019140440.
Topics: Humans; Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples; Health Services, Indigenous; Impetigo; Northern Territory; Pharyngitis; Streptococcus
PubMed: 38033025
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288016 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023The safety results of different recommended doses of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
Comparative safety of different recommended doses of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
The safety results of different recommended doses of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain uncertain. This study aims to comprehensively estimate and rank the relative safety outcomes with different doses of SGLT-2i for T2DM.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang database, and SinoMed database were searched from the inception to 31 May 2023. We included double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SGLT-2i with placebo or another antihyperglycemic as oral monotherapy in the adults with a diagnosis of T2DM.
RESULTS
Twenty-five RCTs with 12,990 patients randomly assigned to 10 pharmacological interventions and placebo were included. Regarding genital infections (GI), all SGLT-2i, except for ertugliflozin and ipragliflozin, were associated with a higher risk of GI compared to placebo. Empagliflozin 10mg/d (88.2%, odds ratio [OR] 7.90, 95% credible interval [CrI] 3.39 to 22.08) may be the riskiest, followed by empagliflozin 25mg/d (83.4%, OR 7.22, 95%CrI 3.11 to 20.04)) and canagliflozin 300mg/d (70.8%, OR 5.33, 95%CrI 2.25 to 13.83) based on probability rankings. Additionally, dapagliflozin 10mg/d ranked highest for urinary tract infections (UTI, OR 2.11, 95%CrI 1.20 to 3.79, 87.2%), renal impairment (80.7%), and nasopharyngitis (81.6%) when compared to placebo and other treatments. No increased risk of harm was observed with different doses of SGLT-2i regarding hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, diabetic ketoacidosis, or fracture. Further subgroup analysis by gender revealed no significantly increased risk of UTI. Dapagliflozin 10mg/d (91.9%) and canagliflozin 300mg/d (88.8%) ranked first in the female and male subgroups, respectively, according to the probability rankings for GI.
CONCLUSION
Current evidence indicated that SGLT-2i did not significantly increase the risk of harm when comparing different doses, except for dapagliflozin 10mg/d, which showed an increased risk of UTI and may be associated with a higher risk of renal impairment and nasopharyngitis. Additionally, compared with placebo and metformin, the risk of GI was notably elevated for empagliflozin 10mg/d, canagliflozin 300mg/d, and dapagliflozin 10mg/d. However, it is important to note that further well-designed RCTs with larger sample sizes are necessary to verify and optimize the current body of evidence.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023396023.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Canagliflozin; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Glucose; Nasopharyngitis; Network Meta-Analysis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sodium; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors
PubMed: 38027214
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256548 -
EBioMedicine Dec 2023Antibiotic consumption can lead to antimicrobial resistance and microbiome imbalance. We sought to estimate global antibiotic consumption for sore throat, and the...
BACKGROUND
Antibiotic consumption can lead to antimicrobial resistance and microbiome imbalance. We sought to estimate global antibiotic consumption for sore throat, and the potential reduction in consumption due to effective vaccination against group A Streptococcus (Strep A).
METHODS
We reviewed and analysed articles published between January 2000 and February 2022, identified though Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science search platform, with reference to antibiotic prescribing or consumption, sore throat, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis. We then used those analyses, combined with assumptions for the effectiveness, duration of protection, and coverage of a vaccine, to calculate the estimated reduction in antibiotic prescribing due to the introduction of Strep A vaccines.
FINDINGS
We identified 101 studies covering 38 countries. The mean prescribing rate for sore throat was approximately 5 courses per 100 population per year, accounting for approximately 5% of all antibiotic consumption. Based on 2020 population estimates for countries with empiric prescribing rates, antibiotic consumption for sore throat was estimated to exceed 37 million courses annually, of which half could be attributable to treatment for Strep A. A vaccine that reduces rates of Strep A infection by 80%, with 80% coverage and 10 year's duration of protection, could avert 2.8 million courses of antibiotics prescribed for sore throat treatment among 5-14 year-olds in countries with observed prescribing rates, increasing to an estimated 7.5 million averted if an effective vaccination program also reduced precautionary prescribing.
INTERPRETATION
A vaccine that prevents Strep A throat infections in children may reduce antibiotic prescribing for sore throat by 32-87% depending on changes to prescribing and consumption behaviours.
FUNDING
The Wellcome Trust, grant agreement number 215490/Z/19/Z.
Topics: Child; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Pharyngitis; Streptococcus pyogenes; Streptococcal Infections; Vaccines
PubMed: 37950997
DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104864 -
Medicine Oct 2023To systematically evaluate the curative effect of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation at different frequencies on swallowing disorders after stroke. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To systematically evaluate the curative effect of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation at different frequencies on swallowing disorders after stroke.
METHODS
A search was conducted for randomized controlled trials of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation for stroke patients in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, ProQuest, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until December 2022. The 2 researchers strictly screened and checked the included documents, extracted relevant data, assessed the risk quality of the literature using the Cochrane manual, and conducted a network meta-analysis of the data using State16.0.
RESULTS
Eighteen studies included 680 participants. The results of the reticular meta-analysis showed that in the leakage-aspiration scale (PAS) indicators, 1 Hz, 3 Hz, 5 Hz, and 10 Hz were all better treatment effects compared with the control group, and there was a statistically significant difference (P < .05). In the standard swallowing function assessment (SSA) index, 3 Hz, 5 Hz, and 10 Hz compared with the control group were statistically significant (P < .05); there was no difference between 1 Hz and the control group (P > .05). The cumulative probability ranking results showed that the intervention effect of 3 Hz was the best in the PAS index, much greater than that of other frequencies, and the intervention effects of 10 Hz and 5 Hz were similar. For the SSA index, the intervention effect was optimal at 10 Hz, followed by 5 Hz. Note that the treatment effect of 1 Hz ranked last, even lower than that of the control group. The results of the 5 Hz treatment site grouping analysis showed that the affected side was > bilateral > healthy in PAS and > bilateral > healthy in SSA.
CONCLUSION SUBSECTIONS
Based on the current study, the optimal frequency and site selection results of the 2 evaluation indicators are not uniform, but from the combination of the 2 evaluation indicators, the treatment effect of 10H is good, and the effect of bilateral stimulation for the selection of stimulation sites is good. The above conclusions need to be verified in high-quality studies.
Topics: Humans; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Deglutition Disorders; Stroke; Deglutition; Health Status
PubMed: 37904364
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035504 -
Biomedical Papers of the Medical... Dec 2023HPV16 status in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is an important prognostic factor. Its determination, based on immunistochemical analysis of p16 oncoprotein requires an... (Review)
Review
HPV16 status in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is an important prognostic factor. Its determination, based on immunistochemical analysis of p16 oncoprotein requires an invasive biopsy. Thus, alternative methods are being sought. Determining oral HPV16 status appears to be a promising alternative. However, it is not used routinely. This prompted us to perform a systematic literature review enabling us to evaluate the diagnostic and predictive ability of this approach. Thirty-four relevant studies were finally selected. For determination of HPV status in OPC, the calculated average sensitivity and specificity for oral sampling was 74% and 91%, respectively, with p16 tumour tissue marker being the gold standard. The method appears to be valuable in monitoring treatment response as well as the biological activity of the tumour, enabling early detection of persistent or relapsing carcinoma sufficiently long before its clinical and/or radiological manifestation. It can also contribute to identification of the primary tumour in cases of metastases of unknown origin. Last but not least, the screening HPV oral testing would help to identify individuals with persistent HPV oral infection who are at increased risk of development of OPC.
Topics: Humans; Papillomavirus Infections; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Sensitivity and Specificity; Biomarkers, Tumor
PubMed: 37901925
DOI: 10.5507/bp.2023.040 -
BMC Neuroscience Oct 2023Increasingly, non-pharmacological interventions are being identified and applied to post-stroke dysphagia. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence to assess which... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Increasingly, non-pharmacological interventions are being identified and applied to post-stroke dysphagia. Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence to assess which type of interventions are more effective. In this study, the randomized controlled trials of non-pharmacological interventions on post-stroke dysphagia were retrieved from the relevant databases. Including 96 studies and 12 non-drug treatments. Then, and the network meta-analysis is carried out by statistical software. The results show: In the aspects of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), swallowing-quality of life (SWAL-QOL), Water swallow test (WST); Acupuncture + electrotherapy + rehabilitation training, acupuncture + rehabilitation training + massage, electrotherapy + rehabilitation training, acupuncture + electrotherapy + rehabilitation training, electrotherapy, acupuncture + rehabilitation training + acupoints sticking application have significant effects in post-stroke dysphagia. Compared with other interventions, they have more advantages in improving the above indicators. A substantial number of high-quality randomized clinical trials are still necessary in the prospective to validate the therapeutic effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in post-stroke dysphagia and the results of this Bayesian network meta-analysis.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Quality of Life; Prospective Studies; Bayes Theorem; Network Meta-Analysis; Treatment Outcome; Stroke; Acupuncture Therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37845642
DOI: 10.1186/s12868-023-00825-0 -
Radiotherapy and Oncology : Journal of... Dec 2023Given the central role that radiation has in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary origin, it is imperative to review how treatment...
PURPOSE
Given the central role that radiation has in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary origin, it is imperative to review how treatment paradigms have been refined and continue to evolve in the modern era.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
This study was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. A literature search of peer-reviewed publications was undertaken to identify works pertaining to the use of radiation for squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary origin presenting as cervical lymph node metastases. Articles published from January 2002 to January 2023 with full text available on PubMed and restricted to the English language and human subjects were included. The full bibliographies of identified articles were reviewed and irrelevant studies were removed.
RESULTS
While such breakthroughs as intensity-modulated radiotherapy, positron emission tomography, biomarker testing with immune-histochemistry, and minimally invasive surgical techniques such as transoral robotic surgery have fundamentally changed the approach to this disease in recent decades, controversies still exist with respect to the manner in which radiation is delivered. Although the incidence of head and neck unknown primary cancer is relatively low, questions regarding the necessity of comprehensive radiation using the age-old standard method of targeting the bilateral necks and entire pharyngeal axis to encompass all putative sites of mucosal disease persist.
CONCLUSIONS
Prospective evidence is lacking, and the available studies have been complicated by such factors as the relatively limited sample sizes, as well as the variability in work-up, treatment, inclusion criteria, and follow-up. Regardless, advances in science and technology have ushered in more precise approaches with a high degree of customization, particularly given the increased proportion of patients presenting with human papillomavirus-related disease.
Topics: Humans; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Human Papillomavirus Viruses; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary; Papillomavirus Infections; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 37844736
DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.109952 -
European Archives of... Mar 2024To determine the clinical efficacy of different respiratory training interventions on swallowing function in patients with swallowing disorders through the systematic... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
To determine the clinical efficacy of different respiratory training interventions on swallowing function in patients with swallowing disorders through the systematic review.
METHODS
We reviewed the literature regarding the application of respiratory training therapy in patients with swallowing disorders, followed by a PRISMA search of published literature in five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL and EMBASE) in December 2022. Two reviewers performed study selection, quality evaluation, and risk of bias, followed by data extraction and detailed analysis.
RESULTS
A total of six randomized controlled studies with a total sample size of 193 cases were included. Respiratory training improved swallowing safety (PAS (n = 151, SMD = 0.69, 95% CI - 1.11 to - 0.26, I = 36, p < 0.001)) and swallowing efficiency [residual (n = 63, SMD = 1.67, 95% CI - 2.26 to - 1.09, I = 23%, p < 0.001)] compared to control groups. The results of the qualitative analysis conducted in this study revealed that respiratory training enhanced hyoid bone movement but had no effect on swallowing quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory training interventions may improve swallowing safety and efficiency in patients with dysphagia. However, the level of evidence is low, and there is a limited amount of research on the effectiveness and physiology of this intervention to improve swallowing function. In the future, there is a need to expand clinical studies, standardize measurement tools, and improve study protocols.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Deglutition; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37843618
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-023-08280-7 -
BMC Palliative Care Oct 2023Although oncological palliative care is increasingly being offered by multidisciplinary teams, there is still a lack of data about some symptoms handled by these teams,...
BACKGROUND
Although oncological palliative care is increasingly being offered by multidisciplinary teams, there is still a lack of data about some symptoms handled by these teams, such as dysphagia, in patients with advanced cancer outside swallow regions. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of dysphagia in prognosis studies of adults with advanced cancer outside the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract, and to determine if there is an association with mortality.
METHODS
A systematic review of studies that evaluated dysphagia and mortality was conducted (PROSPERO: CRD42021257172).
DATA SOURCES
BVS, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data between 2011 and 2023 were selected.
RESULTS
Among the 608 articles screened, only 14 were included, which covered different types of cancer, primarily Lung, and Genitourinary, Skin, Hematological, and Central Nervous System as well. Dysphagia demonstrated a variable frequency, and almost half of the studies found a percentage of dysphagia above 60%, appearing most as a symptom that affects health-related quality of life and prove to be a toxicity of treatment. The association between dysphagia and mortality was only evaluated in three articles that studied advanced lung cancer, in which, after controlling for covariates, swallowing disorders were associated with worse survival, with prevalences of dysphagia and hazard ratios of 78.5% (1.12 [1.04-1.20]), 4% (1.34 [1.28-1.35]), and 3% (1.40 [1.07-1.81]), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of dysphagia in advanced cancer outside the head, neck, and upper GI tract is common, and there seems to be an association with significantly decreased survival in patients with advanced lung cancer.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Deglutition Disorders; Deglutition; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Lung Neoplasms; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract
PubMed: 37798715
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01268-4 -
BMJ Open Sep 2023To investigate how oropharyngeal muscle strength training affected the safety and performance of swallowing in patients with poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To investigate how oropharyngeal muscle strength training affected the safety and performance of swallowing in patients with poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
DATA SOURCES
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled of Trials, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase databases and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched, for publications in English, from database inception to December 2022.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Studies comparing the effect of oropharyngeal muscle strength training with conventional dysphagia therapy in patients with poststroke. Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) were assessed as the main outcomes.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data and evaluated the quality of the included studies, with disagreements resolved by another researcher. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Review Manager V.5.3 was employed for the meta-analysis. Random effect models were used for meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Seven studies with 259 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that oropharyngeal muscle strength training could reduce PAS score compared with conventional dysphagia therapy (mean difference=-0.98, 95% CI -1.34 to -0.62, p<0.0001, I=28%). The results also showed that oropharyngeal muscle strength training could increase FOIS score (mean difference=1.04, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.54, p<0.0001, I=0%) and the vertical displacement of the hyoid bone (mean difference=0.20, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.38, p=0.04, I=0%) compared with conventional dysphagia therapy.
CONCLUSION
In patients with poststroke oropharyngeal dysphagia, oropharyngeal muscle strength training can improve swallowing safety and performance.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42022302471.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Resistance Training; Muscles; Deglutition; Databases, Factual
PubMed: 37758672
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072638