-
Globalization and Health Jun 2022Apart from infecting a large number of people around the world and causing the death of many people, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have changed the healthcare processes... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Apart from infecting a large number of people around the world and causing the death of many people, the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have changed the healthcare processes of other diseases by changing the allocation of health resources and changing people's access or intention to healthcare systems.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the incidence of endpoints marking delayed healthcare seeking in medical emergencies, before and during the pandemic.
METHODS
Based on a PICO model, medical emergency conditions that need timely intervention was selected to be evaluated as separate panels. In a systematic literature review, PubMed was quarried for each panel for studies comparing the incidence of various medical emergencies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Markers of failure/disruption of treatment due to delayed referral were included in the meta-analysis for each panel.
RESULT
There was a statistically significant increased pooled median time of symptom onset to admission of the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients; an increased rate of vasospasm of aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage; and perforation rate in acute appendicitis; diabetic ketoacidosis presentation rate among Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients; and rate of orchiectomy among testicular torsion patients in comparison of pre-COVID-19 with COVID-19 cohorts; while there were no significant changes in the event rate of ruptured ectopic pregnancy and median time of symptom onset to admission in the cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients.
CONCLUSIONS
COVID-19 has largely disrupted the referral of patients for emergency medical care and patient-related delayed care should be addressed as a major health threat.
Topics: COVID-19; Delivery of Health Care; Emergencies; Humans; Pandemics; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35676714
DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00836-2 -
Molecular Psychiatry Sep 2022Accurate prognostication of individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) is an essential initial step for effective primary indicated prevention. We aimed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Accurate prognostication of individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) is an essential initial step for effective primary indicated prevention. We aimed to summarise the prognostic accuracy and clinical utility of CHR-P assessments for primary indicated psychosis prevention. Web of Knowledge databases were searched until 1st January 2022 for longitudinal studies following-up individuals undergoing a psychometric or diagnostic CHR-P assessment, reporting transition to psychotic disorders in both those who meet CHR-P criteria (CHR-P + ) or not (CHR-P-). Prognostic accuracy meta-analysis was conducted following relevant guidelines. Primary outcome was prognostic accuracy, indexed by area-under-the-curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity, estimated by the number of true positives, false positives, false negatives and true negatives at the longest available follow-up time. Clinical utility analyses included: likelihood ratios, Fagan's nomogram, and population-level preventive capacity (Population Attributable Fraction, PAF). A total of 22 studies (n = 4 966, 47.5% female, age range 12-40) were included. There were not enough meta-analysable studies on CHR-P diagnostic criteria (DSM-5 Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome) or non-clinical samples. Prognostic accuracy of CHR-P psychometric instruments in clinical samples (individuals referred to CHR-P services or diagnosed with 22q.11.2 deletion syndrome) was excellent: AUC = 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81-0.88) at a mean follow-up time of 34 months. This result was driven by outstanding sensitivity (0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.96) and poor specificity (0.58, 95% CI: 0.50-0.66). Being CHR-P + was associated with a small likelihood ratio LR + (2.17, 95% CI: 1.81-2.60) for developing psychosis. Being CHR-P- was associated with a large LR- (0.11, 95%CI: 0.06-0.21) for developing psychosis. Fagan's nomogram indicated a low positive (0.0017%) and negative (0.0001%) post-test risk in non-clinical general population samples. The PAF of the CHR-P state is 10.9% (95% CI: 4.1-25.5%). These findings consolidate the use of psychometric instruments for CHR-P in clinical samples for primary indicated prevention of psychosis. Future research should improve the ability to rule in psychosis risk.
Topics: Humans; Female; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Male; Psychometrics; Prognosis; Psychotic Disorders; Sensitivity and Specificity; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
PubMed: 35665763
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01611-w -
Annals of Plastic Surgery Oct 2022The transverse upper gracilis (TUG) flap is a reliable alternative to abdominally based breast reconstruction because of its advantageous anatomy. However, the limited... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Bilateral Transverse Upper Gracilis Flaps for Unilateral Breast Reconstruction: A 4-Year Retrospective Study of the "2-in-1" Technique and a Systematic Review With Meta-analysis.
INTRODUCTION
The transverse upper gracilis (TUG) flap is a reliable alternative to abdominally based breast reconstruction because of its advantageous anatomy. However, the limited tissue volume prevents reconstruction of large breasts. The bilateral TUG flaps for unilateral breast reconstruction can overcome this problem.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed regarding unilateral breast reconstruction with bilateral TUGs at the Queen Victoria Hospital from 2015 to 2019. Associations between categorical variables were examined with Fisher exact test, and any differences in continuous variables by complication status were evaluated with Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test for independent samples. A relevant systematic review was conducted with a meta-analysis of proportions using the Freeman-Tukey arcsine transformation for the estimation of the overall survival rates.
RESULTS
Ten cases were identified with 6 having a delayed reconstruction. Median age and body mass index were 50.8 years and 23.9 kg/m 2 , respectively, and average flap weight was 268.3 g. One flap was placed superiorly with its pedicle anastomosed to the retrograde internal mammary vessels, except of half of the cases where a second anterograde vein was used. The mean follow-up was 21.4 months, and all flaps survived. Two patients returned to theater, and 4 experienced donor-site problems. The presence of complications was not associated with age, ever smoking, body mass index, TUG weight, or anastomosis to retrograde internal mammary vein. The systematic review resulted in 8 eligible articles with a total sample of 156 flaps. The overall survival rate was 96.8%. In 6 cases, the indication was Poland syndrome (7.7%), and in 48.7%, axillary vessels were also used as recipient vessels. The estimated overall flap survival rate was 100% (95% confidence interval, 99%-100%), and no significant heterogeneity was noted ( I2 = 0%, P = 0.71).
CONCLUSIONS
The "2-in-1" technique can lead to symmetrical aesthetically pleasant results for both recipient and donor sites. Our case series and the conducted systematic review reiterate the reliability of this approach.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Gracilis Muscle; Humans; Mammaplasty; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Flaps
PubMed: 35502959
DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003219 -
Kidney International Sep 2022Primary Coenzyme Q10 deficiency is a rare mitochondriopathy with a wide spectrum of organ involvement, including steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome mainly associated...
Primary Coenzyme Q10 deficiency is a rare mitochondriopathy with a wide spectrum of organ involvement, including steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome mainly associated with disease-causing variants in the genes COQ2, COQ6 or COQ8B. We performed a systematic literature review, PodoNet, mitoNET, and CCGKDD registries queries and an online survey, collecting comprehensive clinical and genetic data of 251 patients spanning 173 published (47 updated) and 78 new cases. Kidney disease was first diagnosed at median age 1.0, 1.2 and 9.8 years in individuals with disease-causing variants in COQ2, COQ6 and COQ8B, respectively. Isolated kidney involvement at diagnosis occurred in 34% of COQ2, 10.8% of COQ6 and 70.7% of COQ8B variant individuals. Classic infantile multiorgan involvement comprised 22% of the COQ2 variant cohort while 47% of them developed neurological symptoms at median age 2.7 years. The association of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and sensorineural hearing loss was confirmed as the distinctive phenotype of COQ6 variants, with hearing impairment manifesting at average age three years. None of the patients with COQ8B variants, but 50% of patients with COQ2 and COQ6 variants progressed to kidney failure by age five. At adult age, kidney survival was equally poor (20-25%) across all disorders. A number of sequence variants, including putative local founder mutations, had divergent clinical presentations, in terms of onset age, kidney and non-kidney manifestations and kidney survival. Milder kidney phenotype was present in those with biallelic truncating variants within the COQ8B variant cohort. Thus, significant intra- and inter-familial phenotype variability was observed, suggesting both genetic and non-genetic modifiers of disease severity.
Topics: Ataxia; Genetic Association Studies; Humans; Mitochondrial Diseases; Muscle Weakness; Mutation; Nephrotic Syndrome; Steroids; Ubiquinone
PubMed: 35483523
DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2022.02.040 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Apr 2022: The guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommend the use of telematic methods in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, allowing for...
: The guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommend the use of telematic methods in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, allowing for transtelephonic electrocardiography (TTECG) from the emergency scene to centers performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI center). It has been proven that such a procedure has a beneficial effect on the survival of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Fewer data can be found on the correct use of these methods in everyday clinical practice. The aim of this study was to indicate potential indications and contraindications for the use of the TTECG system, and provide recommendations for proper collaboration between emergency medical systems (EMS) teams and PCI centers. : The article is a systematic review of cardiological emergencies, with an assessment of indications for the use of the TTECG system. The authors introduced their own grading of the validity of indications for transmission of the TTECG, similar to those used in the official ESC guidelines.: : The authors described individual cardiological emergencies occurring in the practice of EMS, considering specific indications or contraindications for the transmission of the TTECG. The article also discusses individual practical recommendations for proper cooperation between EMS teams and PCI centers in detail. All of the recommendations are compiled in a handy table to facilitate its use in everyday clinical practice. : The summary presents a comparison of the realities of the functioning of the telematic support system in Poland in the field of STEMI diagnostics, with the model's recommendations. The necessity of further educating the members of individual teams included in the network dealing with STEMI treatment was indicated, as well as the necessity of introducing legal regulations sanctioning the functioning of telematic systems in modern medicine.
Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Electrocardiography; Emergencies; Humans; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Poland; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
PubMed: 35454392
DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040554 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2022Frailty, a "syndrome of loss of reserves," is a decade old concept. Initially it was used mainly in geriatrics but lately its use has been extended into other...
BACKGROUND
Frailty, a "syndrome of loss of reserves," is a decade old concept. Initially it was used mainly in geriatrics but lately its use has been extended into other specialties including surgery. Our main objective was to examine the association between frailty and mortality, between frailty and length of hospital stay (LOS) and frailty and readmission within 30 days in the emergency surgical population.
METHODS
Studies reporting on frailty in the emergency surgical population were eligible. MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched with terms related to acute surgery and frail. We searched for eligible articles without any restrictions on the 2nd of November 2020. Odds ratios (OR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using a random effect model. Risk of bias assessment was performed according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration. As the finally selected studies were either prospective or retrospective cohorts, the "Quality In Prognosis Studies" (QUIPS) tool was used.
RESULTS
At the end of the selection process 21 eligible studies with total 562.070 participants from 8 countries were included in the qualitative and the quantitative synthesis. Patients living with frailty have higher chance of dying within 30 days after an emergency surgical admission (OR: 1.99; CI: 1.76-2.21; < 0.001). We found a tendency of increased LOS with frailty in acute surgical patients (WMD: 4.75 days; CI: 1.79-7.71; = 0.002). Patients living with frailty have increased chance of 30-day readmission after discharge (OR: 1.36; CI: 1.06-1.75; = 0.015).
CONCLUSIONS
Although there is good evidence that living with frailty increases the chance of unfavorable outcomes, further research needs to be done to assess the benefits and costs of frailty screening for emergency surgical patients.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
The review protocol was registered on the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021224689).
PubMed: 35433739
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.811524 -
The Journal of Headache and Pain Mar 2022Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are used to reduce the risk of developing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are used to reduce the risk of developing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite the significant benefits in terms of reduced risk of hospitalization and death, different adverse events may present after vaccination: among them, headache is one of the most common, but nowadays there is no summary presentation of its incidence and no description of its main features.
METHODS
We searched PubMed and EMBASE covering the period between January 1 2020 and August 6, 2021, looking for record in English and with an abstract and using three main search terms (with specific variations): COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination; headache/adverse events. We selected manuscript including information on subjects developing headache after injection, and such information had to be derived from a structured form (i.e. no free reporting). Pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Analyses were carried out by vaccine vs. placebo, by first vs. second dose, and by mRNA-based vs. "traditional" vaccines; finally, we addressed the impact of age and gender on post-vaccine headache onset.
RESULTS
Out of 9338 records, 84 papers were included in the review, accounting for 1.57 million participants, 94% of whom received BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1. Headache was generally the third most common AE: it was detected in 22% (95% CI 18-27%) of subjects after the first dose of vaccine and in 29% (95% CI 23-35%) after the second, with an extreme heterogeneity. Those receiving placebo reported headache in 10-12% of cases. No differences were detected across different vaccines or by mRNA-based vs. "traditional" ones. None of the studies reported information on headache features. A lower prevalence of headache after the first injection of BNT162b2 among older participants was shown.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that vaccines are associated to a two-fold risk of developing headache within 7 days from injection, and the lack of difference between vaccine types enable to hypothesize that headache is secondary to systemic immunological reaction than to a vaccine-type specific reaction. Some descriptions report onset within the first 24 h and that in around one-third of the cases, headache has migraine-like features with pulsating quality, phono and photophobia; in 40-60% of the cases aggravation with activity is observed. The majority of patients used some medication to treat headache, the one perceived as the most effective being acetylsalicylic acid.
Topics: BNT162 Vaccine; COVID-19; Headache; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination
PubMed: 35361131
DOI: 10.1186/s10194-022-01400-4 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022Sarcopenia and psoriasis are different inflammatory diseases that share common comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, obesity, autoimmune... (Review)
Review
Sarcopenia and psoriasis are different inflammatory diseases that share common comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, obesity, autoimmune diseases, depression). Psoriasis is a dermatosis involving the skin, joints, and nails. Its estimated prevalence is 2-4%, and the possibility of progression to psoriatic arthritis reaches 6-42%. Sarcopenia is defined as reduced muscle strength, muscle quantity, and physical performance due to non-ageing related causes. It affects up to 10% of the general population. We conducted a review of the literature to provide up-to-date information about the risk of sarcopenia in psoriasis and to identify risk factors that increase this risk. The search of the literature allowed us to include 51 publications, but only five cross-sectional studies provided quantitative results on the rates of sarcopenia in psoriasis. The prevalence of sarcopenia in psoriasis varied from 9.1% to 61.7%. This wide range was caused by different definitions of sarcopenia and different cut-off values across studies. Prognostic factors include lean mass and fat mass. Further research based on the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People guidelines is required. Such studies should include not only muscle mass and strength but also other factors that may influence the occurrence of sarcopenia and inflammatory markers.
PubMed: 35330186
DOI: 10.3390/life12030435 -
Neurogastroenterology and Motility Oct 2022Evidence for the management of pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) is lacking. The aim of this systematic review was to update evidence on the efficacy...
BACKGROUND
Evidence for the management of pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) is lacking. The aim of this systematic review was to update evidence on the efficacy and safety of implementing low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) dietary restrictions for the management of children with FAPD.
METHODS
The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases were searched up to October 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of a low-FODMAP diet with any comparator in children aged 3-18 years with FAPD. The primary outcome was abdominal pain intensity.
KEY RESULTS
Five RCTs assessing the effects of a low-FODMAP diet were included. An effect of a low-FODMAP diet on abdominal pain intensity was only found in two trials. In one trial, there was a decrease in abdominal pain intensity on a 0-10 point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) between low-FODMAP and gastrointestinal protective diet groups after 2 months (mean difference, MD 1.77, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.23 to 2.31, n = 60). In another trial, there was a difference in abdominal pain intensity during the 3-day intervention between the low-FODMAP and typical Singaporean diet groups (MD -1.36 cm, 95% CI -2.38 to -0.34, n = 10) measured using a 0-10 cm VAS.
CONCLUSIONS & INTERFERENCES
There is insufficient evidence for or against the efficacy and safety of using a low-FODMAP diet for the management of children with FAPD.
Topics: Abdominal Pain; Child; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Disaccharides; Fermentation; Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Monosaccharides; Oligosaccharides
PubMed: 35231146
DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14345 -
Journal of Medical Virology Jul 2022Accumulating evidence shows a progressive decline in the efficacy of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2])... (Review)
Review
Accumulating evidence shows a progressive decline in the efficacy of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines such as Pfizer-BioNTech (mRNA BNT161b2) and Moderna (mRNA-1273) in preventing breakthrough infections due to diminishing humoral immunity over time. Thus, this review characterizes the kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the second dose of a primary cycle of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. A systematic search of the literature was performed and a total of 18 articles (N = 15 980 participants) were identified and reviewed. The percent difference of means of reported antibody titers was then calculated to determine the decline in humoral response after the peak levels postvaccination. Findings revealed that the peak humoral response was reached at 21-28 days after the second dose, after which serum levels progressively diminished at 4-6-month postvaccination. Additionally, results showed that regardless of age, sex, serostatus, and presence of comorbidities, longitudinal data reporting antibody measurement exhibited a decline of both anti-receptor binding domain immunoglobulin G (IgG) and anti-spike IgG, ranging from 94% to 95% at 90-180 days and 55%-85% at 140-160 days, respectively, after the peak antibody response. This suggests that the rate of antibody decline may be independent of patient-related factors and peak antibody titers but mainly a function of time and antibody class/molecular target. Hence, this study highlights the necessity of more efficient vaccination strategies to provide booster administration in attenuating the effects of waning immunity, especially in the appearance of new variants of concerns.
Topics: Antibodies, Viral; BNT162 Vaccine; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Immunoglobulin G; RNA, Messenger; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination; mRNA Vaccines
PubMed: 35229324
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27688