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Scientific Reports Jun 2024Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is often managed surgically. Enzymatic chemonucleolysis emerged as a non-surgical alternative. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is often managed surgically. Enzymatic chemonucleolysis emerged as a non-surgical alternative. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy and safety of chemonucleolytic enzymes for LDH. The primary objective is to evaluate efficacy through "treatment success" (i.e., pain reduction) and severe adverse events (SAEs) rates. Additionally, differences in efficacy and safety trends among chemonucleolytic enzymes are explored. Following our PROSPERO registered protocol (CRD42023451546) and PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted up to July 18, 2023. Inclusion criteria involved human LDH treatment with enzymatic chemonucleolysis reagents, assessing pain alleviation, imaging changes, and reporting on SAEs, with focus on allergic reactions. Quality assessment employed the Cochrane Source of Bias and MINORS tools. Meta-analysis utilized odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Among 62 included studies (12,368 patients), chemonucleolysis demonstrated an 79% treatment success rate and significantly outperformed placebo controls (OR 3.35, 95% CI 2.41-4.65) and scored similar to surgical interventions (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.20-2.10). SAEs occurred in 1.4% of cases, with slightly higher rates in chymopapain cohorts. No significant differences in "proceeding to surgery" rates were observed between chemonucleolysis and control cohorts. Limitations include dated and heterogeneous studies, emphasizing the need for higher-quality trials. Further optimization through careful patient selection and advances in therapy implementation may further enhance outcomes. The observed benefits call for wider clinical exploration and adoption. No funding was received for this review.
Topics: Humans; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Lumbar Vertebrae; Treatment Outcome; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis
PubMed: 38834631
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62792-8 -
Cureus May 2024Novel hybrid approaches for chest wall irradiation show promising outcomes regarding target coverage and sparing organs at risk (OARs). In this systematic review, we... (Review)
Review
Hybrid Treatment Planning for Chest Wall Irradiation Utilizing Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy (3DCRT), Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT): A Systematic Review.
Novel hybrid approaches for chest wall irradiation show promising outcomes regarding target coverage and sparing organs at risk (OARs). In this systematic review, we compared hybrid volumetric modulated arc therapy (H-VMAT) or hybrid intensity-modulated radiotherapy (H-IMRT) techniques with non-hybrid techniques, such as three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), field-in-field (FIF), intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), for breast cancer patients with mastectomy. Our focus was the plan quality and dose distribution to the OARs. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist, we performed a systematic review and quality appraisal of primary studies evaluating hybrid therapy to the chest wall and the OARs. An extensive online search of PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted using appropriate keywords. The dose to the OARs (lung, heart, and contralateral breast), planning target volume (PTV), homogeneity index (HI), and conformity index (CI) were extracted. The data were then tabulated and compared for the outcomes between modalities among the studies. Nine studies that met the search criteria were selected to evaluate the PTV coverage and dosimetric results of hybrid and non-hybrid techniques. In terms of 95% PTV coverage, among nine reviewed studies, the largest difference between the two techniques was between VMAT (47.6 Gy) and H-VMAT (48.4 Gy); for the conformity index, the largest difference was noted between 3DCRT (0.58) and H-VMAT (0.79). In both cases, differences were statistically significant ( < 0.005). Two studies showed dose homogeneity improvement within the treatment target in H-VMAT (0.15 and 0.07) compared with 3DCRT (0.41 and 0.12), with a value of <0.001. Two studies did not report on the homogeneity index, and three others observed no statistical difference. Regarding OARs, in the comparison of H-VMAT and VMAT, the largest significant change was in the volume receiving 5 Gy (V) of the ipsilateral lung and the V of the contralateral lung. For the ipsilateral lung, V was 90.7% with VMAT versus 51.45% with H-VMAT. For the contralateral lung, V was 54.9% with VMAT versus 50.5% with H-VMAT. In six studies, the mean dose of the contralateral breast was lower in hybrid techniques than in single modalities: VMAT (4.2%, 6.0%, 1.9%, 7.1%, 4.57%) versus H-VMAT (1.4%, 3.4%, 1.8%, 3.5%, 2.34%) and IMRT (9.1%) versus H-IMRT (4.69%). Although most studies did not report on monitor units and treatment time, those that included them showed that hybrids had lower monitor units and shorter treatment times. Hybrid techniques in radiotherapy, such as combining two modalities, can indeed facilitate lower doses to OARs for patients with a high risk of toxicities. Prospective clinical studies are needed to determine the outcomes of breast cancer treated with hybrid techniques.
PubMed: 38832195
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59583 -
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2024Muscle ultrasound has emerged as a promising method in the diagnostic work-up of sarcopenia. The objective of this scoping review was to explore the validity of muscle... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Muscle ultrasound has emerged as a promising method in the diagnostic work-up of sarcopenia. The objective of this scoping review was to explore the validity of muscle ultrasound against the latest sarcopenia definitions among older adults.
METHODS
We adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. A systematic search of databases was performed by two independent reviewers. All articles comparing the performance of ultrasound to an internationally acknowledged sarcopenia definition among older adults (≥60 years) and published between 2019/01/01 (the year updated sarcopenia definitions were introduced) and 2023/11/15 were included. Data were extracted and collated by muscle and muscle parameters.
RESULTS
Out of 2290 articles screened, six studies comprising 24 validity tests among a total of 1619 older adults (mean age 74.1 years, 52.2% female) were included. The validity tests investigated the rectus femoris (n = 7), biceps brachii (n = 5), gastrocnemius medialis (n = 4), tibialis anterior (n = 4), soleus (n = 3), and rectus abdominis (n = 1). The parameter muscle thickness (MT) (n = 14) was most commonly measured. The latest European and Asian sarcopenia definitions (EWGSOP2, AWGS2) were applied as reference standards in four validity tests each. None of the studies used the Sarcopenia Definition and Outcome Consortium (SDOC) criteria. The highest area under the curve AUC (0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.94) was found for the muscle thickness of the rectus femoris muscle. Due to substantial heterogeneity among the studies, pooling of data using a meta-analytic approach was not feasible.
CONCLUSION
Limited number of studies have examined the validity of muscle ultrasound for diagnosing sarcopenia based on recent definitions among older adults. Thereby, muscle thickness of the rectus femoris showed promising results regarding validity. Further studies are needed to investigate the validity of key muscles and to validate muscle ultrasound among older hospitalized patients.
Topics: Humans; Sarcopenia; Ultrasonography; Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Female; Male; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 38831963
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S463917 -
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Jun 2024This study presents a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of pseudarthrosis risk factors following lumbar fusion procedures. The odds ratio (OR) and 95%... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
This study presents a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of pseudarthrosis risk factors following lumbar fusion procedures. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used for outcome measurements. The objective of this study was to identify the independent risk factors for pseudarthrosis after lumbar spinal fusion, which is crucial for mitigating morbidity and reoperation. Systematic searches in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus (1990-July 2021) were conducted using specific terms. The inclusion criteria included prospective and retrospective cohorts and case‒control series reporting ORs with 95% CIs from multivariate analysis. The quality assessment utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis, employing OR and 95% CI, assessed pseudarthrosis risk factors in lumbar fusion surgery, depicted in a forest plot. Of the 568 abstracts identified, 12 met the inclusion criteria (9 retrospective, 2006-2021). The 17 risk factors were categorized into clinical, radiographic, surgical, and bone turnover marker factors. The meta-analysis highlighted two significant clinical risk factors: age (95% CI 1.02-1.11; p = 0.005) and smoking (95% CI 1.68-5.44; p = 0.0002). The sole significant surgical risk factor was the number of fused levels (pooled OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.17-1.55; p < 0.0001). This study identified 17 risk factors for pseudarthrosis after lumbar fusion surgery, emphasizing age, smoking status, and the number of fusion levels. Prospective studies are warranted to explore additional risk factors and assess the impact of surgery and graft type.
Topics: Humans; Spinal Fusion; Pseudarthrosis; Lumbar Vertebrae; Risk Factors; Age Factors; Smoking
PubMed: 38831392
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07531-w -
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery Jun 2024Computer-assisted navigation surgery (CAS) during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may help improve outcomes for patients with extra-articular deformity (EAD);... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Computer-Assisted Navigation in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty for Patients with Extra-articular Deformity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
BACKGROUND
Computer-assisted navigation surgery (CAS) during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may help improve outcomes for patients with extra-articular deformity (EAD); however, this has not been extensively studied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes following primary TKA using CAS in patients with EAD.
METHODS
We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to March 3, 2023 for studies investigating surgical outcomes of using the navigation system for TKA to treat patients with EAD. From 14 studies, 539 knees with EAD that underwent navigation TKA were enrolled. We investigated the knee range of motion (ROM), outcome scores at final follow-up (Knee Society Score [KSS] and Knee Functional Score [KFS]), and pre- and postoperative mechanical hip-knee-ankle (mHKA) angle using lower extremity scanogram. The meta-analysis was based on the single-arm method, and all data were pooled using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
Following our meta-analyses, the mean knee ROM changed from 87.0° (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.9°-98.1°) preoperatively to 109.4° (95% CI, 97.9°-120.8°) postoperatively. The adjusted KSS was 93.45 points (95% CI, 88.36-98.54 points), and the adjusted KFS was 91.57 points (95% CI, 86.80-96.33 points) in knees with EAD that underwent CAS-TKA. As a radiological outcome, the mHKA angle changed from 169.53° (95% CI, 166.90°-172.16°) preoperatively to 178.81° (95% CI, 178.31°-179.30°) postoperatively.
CONCLUSIONS
CAS-TKA yielded positive clinical results and demonstrated a satisfactory alignment of the lower limb's mechanical axis. CAS-TKA showed promise for primary TKA procedures, demonstrating favorable clinical and radiological outcomes even in complex cases involving EAD.
Topics: Humans; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Range of Motion, Articular; Knee Joint
PubMed: 38827763
DOI: 10.4055/cios23261 -
Cureus May 2024Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) poses a complex neurological challenge characterized by sudden, severe headaches and multifocal cerebral... (Review)
Review
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) poses a complex neurological challenge characterized by sudden, severe headaches and multifocal cerebral vasoconstriction. While our understanding of its clinical aspects and underlying mechanisms has advanced, the focus of investigation remains on radiological manifestations. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze the existing literature on radiological findings in RCVS, synthesizing evidence from diverse imaging modalities to enhance the understanding of imaging features associated with the syndrome. Accurate diagnosis based on radiological findings is pivotal for initiating appropriate management and preventing complications. Specific markers may facilitate the differentiation of RCVS from other conditions, thereby enhancing patient care. This review explores a wide range of radiological presentations, from vasoconstriction to infarctions and hemorrhages, thereby refining diagnostic criteria and guiding clinical practice. By consolidating current knowledge, the review sheds light on areas of consensus, controversies, and gaps, with the aim of serving as a comprehensive resource for evidence-based decision-making.
PubMed: 38827002
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59595 -
Translational Psychiatry Jun 2024Mapping brain-behaviour associations is paramount to understand and treat psychiatric disorders. Standard approaches involve investigating the association between one... (Review)
Review
Mapping brain-behaviour associations is paramount to understand and treat psychiatric disorders. Standard approaches involve investigating the association between one brain and one behavioural variable (univariate) or multiple variables against one brain/behaviour feature ('single' multivariate). Recently, large multimodal datasets have propelled a new wave of studies that leverage on 'doubly' multivariate approaches capable of parsing the multifaceted nature of both brain and behaviour simultaneously. Within this movement, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and partial least squares (PLS) emerge as the most popular techniques. Both seek to capture shared information between brain and behaviour in the form of latent variables. We provide an overview of these methods, review the literature in psychiatric disorders, and discuss the main challenges from a predictive modelling perspective. We identified 39 studies across four diagnostic groups: attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD, k = 4, N = 569), autism spectrum disorders (ASD, k = 6, N = 1731), major depressive disorder (MDD, k = 5, N = 938), psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD, k = 13, N = 1150) and one transdiagnostic group (TD, k = 11, N = 5731). Most studies (67%) used CCA and focused on the association between either brain morphology, resting-state functional connectivity or fractional anisotropy against symptoms and/or cognition. There were three main findings. First, most diagnoses shared a link between clinical/cognitive symptoms and two brain measures, namely frontal morphology/brain activity and white matter association fibres (tracts between cortical areas in the same hemisphere). Second, typically less investigated behavioural variables in multivariate models such as physical health (e.g., BMI, drug use) and clinical history (e.g., childhood trauma) were identified as important features. Finally, most studies were at risk of bias due to low sample size/feature ratio and/or in-sample testing only. We highlight the importance of carefully mitigating these sources of bias with an exemplar application of CCA.
Topics: Humans; Brain; Mental Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Depressive Disorder, Major; Canonical Correlation Analysis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Least-Squares Analysis
PubMed: 38824172
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02954-4 -
Journal of Endodontics May 2024Automated segmentation of 3-dimensional pulp space on cone-beam computed tomography images presents a significant opportunity for enhancing diagnosis, treatment... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Automated segmentation of 3-dimensional pulp space on cone-beam computed tomography images presents a significant opportunity for enhancing diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical education in endodontics. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the performance of artificial intelligence-driven automated pulp space segmentation on cone-beam computed tomography images.
METHODS
A comprehensive electronic search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases, up until February 2024. Two independent reviewers participated in the selection of studies, data extraction, and evaluation of the included studies. Any disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies that met the eligibility criteria were included. Most studies demonstrated high accuracy in their respective segmentation methods, although there was some variation across different structures (pulp chamber, root canal) and tooth types (single-rooted, multirooted). Automated segmentation showed slightly superior performance for segmenting the pulp chamber compared to the root canal and single-rooted teeth compared to multi-rooted ones. Furthermore, the second mesiobuccal (MB2) canalsegmentation also demonstrated high performance. In terms of time efficiency, the minimum time required for segmentation was 13 seconds.
CONCLUSION
Artificial intelligence-driven models demonstrated outstanding performance in pulp space segmentation. Nevertheless, these findings warrant careful interpretation, and their generalizability is limited due to the potential risk and low evidence level arising from inadequately detailed methodologies and inconsistent assessment techniques. In addition, there is room for further improvement, specifically for root canal segmentation and testing of artificial intelligence performance in artifact-induced images.
PubMed: 38821262
DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2024.05.012 -
Schizophrenia Research Jul 2024There is a general consensus that schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by major changes in the sense of self. Phenomenological studies suggest that these changes in the... (Review)
Review
There is a general consensus that schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by major changes in the sense of self. Phenomenological studies suggest that these changes in the sense of self stem from a basic disturbance, hence the term 'basic self-disturbance'. While imaging studies demonstrate changes in various regions during self-focused tasks, the exact neural correlates of such basic self-disturbances remain unclear. If the self-disturbance is indeed basic and thereby underlies all other symptoms, one would expect it to be related to more global rather than local changes in the brain. Testing this hypothesis, we conducted a systematic review of fMRI studies on self in SZ. Our main findings are 1. Abnormal activity related to the self can be observed in a variety of different regions ranging from higher-order transmodal to lower-order unimodal regions, 2. These findings hold true across different tasks including self-reflection, self-referentiality, and self-agency, and 3. The global neural abnormalities related to the self in SZ correspond to all layers of the self, predominantly the mental and exteroceptive self. Such global neural disturbance of self converges well with the basic self-disturbance as described in phenomenology.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Self Concept; Brain; Ego; Schizophrenic Psychology
PubMed: 38820980
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.05.015 -
PloS One 2024Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment rely heavily on molecular markers such as HER2, Ki67, PR, and ER. Currently, these markers are identified by invasive methods. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment rely heavily on molecular markers such as HER2, Ki67, PR, and ER. Currently, these markers are identified by invasive methods.
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis investigates the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-based radiomics as a novel approach to predicting these markers.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify studies evaluating ultrasound-based radiomics in BC. Inclusion criteria encompassed research on HER2, Ki67, PR, and ER as key molecular markers. Quality assessment using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) and Radiomics Quality Score (RQS) was performed. The data extraction step was performed systematically.
RESULTS
Our meta-analysis quantifies the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-based radiomics with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.76 and 0.78 for predicting HER2, 0.80, and 0.76 for Ki67 biomarkers. Studies did not provide sufficient data for quantitative PR and ER prediction analysis. The overall quality of studies based on the RQS tool was moderate. The QUADAS-2 evaluation showed that the studies had an unclear risk of bias regarding the flow and timing domain.
CONCLUSION
Our analysis indicated that AI models have a promising accuracy for predicting key molecular biomarkers' status in BC patients. We performed the quantitative analysis for HER2 and Ki67 biomarkers which yielded a moderate to high accuracy. However, studies did not provide adequate data for meta-analysis of ER and PR prediction accuracy of developed models. The overall quality of the studies was acceptable. In future research, studies need to report the results thoroughly. Also, we suggest more prospective studies from different centers.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Biomarkers, Tumor; Artificial Intelligence; Receptor, ErbB-2; Ki-67 Antigen; Ultrasonography; Receptors, Estrogen; Receptors, Progesterone
PubMed: 38820391
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303669