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PloS One 2016Sperm DNA fragmentation has been associated with reduced fertilization rates, embryo quality, pregnancy rates and increased miscarriage rates. Various methods exist to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Sperm DNA fragmentation has been associated with reduced fertilization rates, embryo quality, pregnancy rates and increased miscarriage rates. Various methods exist to test sperm DNA fragmentation such as the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the value of measuring sperm DNA fragmentation in predicting chance of ongoing pregnancy with IVF or ICSI. Out of 658 unique studies, 30 had extractable data and were thus included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the sperm DNA fragmentation tests had a reasonable to good sensitivity. A wide variety of other factors may also affect the IVF/ICSI outcome, reflected by limited to very low specificity. The constructed hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve indicated a fair discriminatory capacity of the TUNEL assay (area under the curve (AUC) of 0.71; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.74) and Comet assay (AUC of 0.73; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.97). The SCSA and the SCD test had poor predictive capacity. Importantly, for the TUNEL assay, SCD test and Comet assay, meta-regression showed no differences in predictive value between IVF and ICSI. For the SCSA meta-regression indicated the predictive values for IVF and ICSI were different. The present review suggests that current sperm DNA fragmentation tests have limited capacity to predict the chance of pregnancy in the context of MAR. Furthermore, sperm DNA fragmentation tests have little or no difference in predictive value between IVF and ICSI. At this moment, there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of sperm DNA fragmentation tests in couples undergoing MAR both for the prediction of pregnancy and for the choice of treatment. Given the significant limitations of the evidence and the methodological weakness and design of the included studies, we do urge for further research on the predictive value of sperm DNA fragmentation for the chance of pregnancy after MAR, also in comparison with other predictors of pregnancy after MAR.
Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Chromatin; Comet Assay; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Semen Analysis; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 27832085
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165125 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Oct 2009Liver metastases are often the dominant site of metastatic disease in colorectal cancer. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) involves embolising radiolabeled... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Liver metastases are often the dominant site of metastatic disease in colorectal cancer. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) involves embolising radiolabeled spheres (SIR-Spheres) into the arterial supply of the liver with the aim of improving the control of liver metastases.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effectiveness and toxicity of SIRT in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer liver metastasis when given alone or with systemic or regional hepatic artery chemotherapy.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane library 2008 issue 2, MEDLINE (1966 to October 2008), EMBASE (1980 to October 2008), and Pubmed (October 2008). The proceedings of ASCO (1985 to 2008) and ASCO GI (2004 to 2008) were also searched. The manufacturers of SIR-Spheres were contacted and asked whether they were aware of any other unpublished studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials comparing SIRT and chemotherapy (systemic and/or regional) with chemotherapy alone, or comparing SIRT alone with best supportive care in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors (AT/TP) extracted data and assessed the trial quality. The study authors were contacted and individual patient data was obtained. Results were analysed separately for patients with and without extra-hepatic disease.
MAIN RESULTS
A single study of 21 patients compared SIRT and systemic chemotherapy (fluorouracil and leucovorin) with chemotherapy alone. There was a significant improvement in progression free survival and median survival associated with SIRT, both for the total studied population and for those disease limited to the liver. There was an increase in toxicity with the use of SIRT. A second study of 63 eligible patients compared SIRT and regional chemotherapy (floxuridine) with regional chemotherapy alone. There was no significant difference in progression free survival and median survival seen with SIRT, in either the total patient group or in the 22 patients with disease limited to the liver. There was no significant increase in toxicity with the addition of SIRT to regional chemotherapy. There were no randomised studies comparing SIRT with best supportive care in patients with refractory disease, and no randomised studies assessing the effect of SIRT in patients with resectable liver metastases.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for well designed, adequately powered phase III trials assessing the effect of SIRT when used with modern combination chemotherapy regimens. Further studies are also needed for patients with refractory disease with a particular focus on the impact on quality of life.
Topics: Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Colorectal Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Floxuridine; Fluorouracil; Humans; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Leucovorin; Liver Neoplasms; Microspheres; Radiotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Yttrium Radioisotopes
PubMed: 19821394
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007045.pub2 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jul 2017Patients prefer oral to intravenous (IV) palliative chemotherapy, provided that oral therapy is not less effective. We compared the efficacy and safety of oral and IV... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Patients prefer oral to intravenous (IV) palliative chemotherapy, provided that oral therapy is not less effective. We compared the efficacy and safety of oral and IV fluoropyrimidines for treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effects of oral and IV fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy in patients treated with curative or palliative intent for CRC.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2016, Issue 5), along with OVID MEDLINE, OVID Embase, and Web of Science databases, in June 2016. We also searched five clinical trials registers, several conference proceedings, and reference lists from study reports and systematic reviews. We contacted pharmaceutical companies to identify additional studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oral and IV fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy in patients treated with curative or palliative intent for CRC.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Three review authors extracted data and assessed risk of bias independently. We assessed the seven domains in the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool and three additional domains: schedules of outcome assessment and/or follow-up; use of intention-to-treat analysis; and baseline comparability of treatment arms.
MAIN RESULTS
We included nine RCTs (total of 10,918 participants) that examined treatment with curative intent for CRC with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. We included 35 RCTs (total of 12,592 participants) that examined treatment with palliative intent for inoperable advanced or metastatic CRC with chemotherapy (31 first-line studies, two second-line studies, and two studies of first- or second-line chemotherapy). All studies included male and female participants, and no studies included participants younger than 18 years of age. Patients treated with curative intent for CRC with neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy • Disease-free survival (DFS): DFS did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87 to 1.00; seven studies, 8903 participants; moderate-quality evidence).• Overall survival (OS): OS did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.00; seven studies, 8902 participants analysed; high-quality evidence).• Grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs): Participants treated with oral fluoropyrimidines experienced less grade ≥ 3 neutropenia/granulocytopenia (odds ratio (OR) 0.14, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.16; seven studies, 8087 participants; moderate-quality evidence), stomatitis (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.30; five studies, 4212 participants; low-quality evidence), and any grade ≥ 3 AEs (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.90; five studies, 7741 participants; low-quality evidence). There was more grade ≥ 3 hand foot syndrome (OR 4.59, 95% CI 2.97 to 7.10; five studies, 5731 participants; low-quality evidence) in patients treated with oral fluoropyrimidines. There were no differences between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines in occurrence of grade ≥ 3 diarrhoea (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.25; nine studies, 9551 participants; very low-quality evidence), febrile neutropenia (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.90; four studies, 2925 participants; low-quality evidence), vomiting (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.34; eight studies, 9385 participants; low-quality evidence), nausea (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.51; seven studies, 9233 participants; low-quality evidence), mucositis (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.62; four studies, 2233 participants; very low-quality evidence), and hyperbilirubinaemia (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.52 to 5.38; three studies, 2757 participants; very low-quality evidence). Patients treated with palliative intent for inoperable advanced or metastatic CRC with chemotherapy • Progression-free survival (PFS): Overall, PFS was inferior in participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11; 23 studies, 9927 participants; moderate-quality evidence). Whilst PFS was worse in participants treated with oral compared with IV fluoropyrimidines when UFT/Ftorafur or eniluracil with oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was used, PFS did not differ between individuals treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines when capecitabine, doxifluridine, or S-1 was used.• OS: Overall, OS did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.05; 29 studies, 12,079 participants; high-quality evidence). OS was inferior in participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines when eniluracil with oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was used.• Time to progression (TTP): TTP was inferior in participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14; six studies, 1970 participants; moderate-quality evidence).• Objective response rate (ORR): ORR did not differ between participants treated with oral versus IV fluoropyrimidines (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.06; 32 studies, 11,115 participants; moderate-quality evidence).• Grade ≥ 3 AEs: Participants treated with oral fluoropyrimidines experienced less grade ≥ 3 neutropenia/granulocytopenia (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.18; 29 studies, 11,794 participants; low-quality evidence), febrile neutropenia (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.36; 19 studies, 9407 participants; moderate-quality evidence), stomatitis (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.33; 21 studies, 8718 participants; low-quality evidence), mucositis (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.24; 12 studies, 4962 participants; low-quality evidence), and any grade ≥ 3 AEs (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.94; 14 studies, 5436 participants; low-quality evidence). There was more grade ≥ 3 diarrhoea (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.50 to 1.84; 30 studies, 11,997 participants; low-quality evidence) and hand foot syndrome (OR 3.92, 95% CI 2.84 to 5.43; 18 studies, 6481 participants; moderate-quality evidence) in the oral fluoropyrimidine arm. There were no differences between oral and IV fluoropyrimidine arms in terms of grade ≥ 3 vomiting (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.40; 23 studies, 9528 participants; low-quality evidence), nausea (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.36; 25 studies, 9796 participants; low-quality evidence), and hyperbilirubinaemia (OR 1.62, 95% CI 0.99 to 2.64; nine studies, 2699 participants; low-quality evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Results of this review should provide confidence that treatment for CRC with most of the oral fluoropyrimidines commonly used in current clinical practice is similarly efficacious to treatment with IV fluoropyrimidines. Treatment with eniluracil with oral 5-FU was associated with inferior PFS and OS among participants treated with palliative intent for CRC, and eniluracil is no longer being developed. Oral and IV fluoropyrimidines have different patterns of side effects; future research may focus on determining the basis for these differences.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Camptothecin; Capecitabine; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Colorectal Neoplasms; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Floxuridine; Fluorouracil; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Irinotecan; Male; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Organoplatinum Compounds; Palliative Care; Pyridines; Pyrimidines; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tegafur; Uracil
PubMed: 28752564
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008398.pub2 -
Annals of Surgical Oncology Sep 2022Patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) have poor survival. This systematic review describes the survival outcomes of hepatic arterial infusion... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) have poor survival. This systematic review describes the survival outcomes of hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP) chemotherapy with floxuridine for patients with unresectable iCCA.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed, Medline (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane to find studies that reported data on the survival of patients with unresectable iCCA treated with HAIP chemotherapy using floxuridine. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment Scale (NOS). Overall survival (OS) was the primary outcome measure, and progression-free survival (PFS), response rates, resection rates, and toxicity were defined as secondary outcome measures.
RESULTS
After removing duplicates, 661 publications were assessed, of which nine studies, representing a total of 478 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Three out of nine studies were phase II clinical trials, one study was a prospective dose-escalation study, and the remaining five studies were retrospective cohort studies. After accounting for overlapping cohorts, 154 unique patients were included for pooled analysis. The weighted median OS of patients with unresectable iCCA treated with HAIP chemotherapy with floxuridine was 29.0 months (range 25.0-39 months). The pooled 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 86.4, 55.5, 39.5, and 9.7%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
HAIP chemotherapy with floxuridine for patients with unresectable iCCA was associated with a 3-year OS of 39.5%, which is favorable compared with systemic chemotherapy for which no 3-year survivors were reported in the Advanced Biliary Cancer (ABC) trials.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Cholangiocarcinoma; Floxuridine; Humans; Infusion Pumps; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Liver Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35294656
DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-11439-x -
International Journal of Cancer Nov 2012Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an important enzyme involved in folate metabolism and catalyzes methylation of deoxyuridine monophosphate to deoxythymidine monophosphate,... (Review)
Review
Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an important enzyme involved in folate metabolism and catalyzes methylation of deoxyuridine monophosphate to deoxythymidine monophosphate, which is essential for DNA replication. Thymidylate synthase enhancer region (TSER) and TS1494del6, two functionally important and ethnically diverse polymorphisms mapping to its gene region, are the most extensively studied. Considering the potential influence of altering TS activity, it is plausible that TS polymorphisms might play a role in the development of cancer. Although the effects of TS polymorphisms on susceptibility to human cancer have been investigated in many studies, the results remain conflicting rather than conclusive. To resolve these conflicts, we performed a quantitative synthesis of the evidence on the association between these two polymorphisms and cancer risk, including 63 studies (19,707 cases and 27,398 controls) for TSER polymorphism and 39 studies (13,489 cases and 16,297 controls) for TS1494del6 polymorphism. Our meta-analysis suggested that these two polymorphisms are not associated with cancer risk when all studies were pooled together. In the stratified analyses, we found that individuals with 2R/2R genotype had a significantly higher cancer risks among Asians (2R/2R vs. 3R/3R: odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.05-1.45; recessive model: OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.05-1.44). Further analyses revealed that 2R/2R genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of gastroesophageal cancer among Asians, whereas it might provide protecting effects against colorectal cancer risk in a dominant genetic model for Caucasians. Additionally, TS1494del6 polymorphism may contribute to genetic susceptibility of breast cancer among Asians.
Topics: Asian People; Breast Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Enhancer Elements, Genetic; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Neoplasms; Odds Ratio; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk Factors; Sequence Deletion; Stomach Neoplasms; Thymidylate Synthase; Untranslated Regions; White People
PubMed: 22307944
DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27465 -
BMC Ophthalmology Apr 2015This objective of the review and analysis is to demonstrate that acyclovir (ACV) 3% ophthalmic ointment is superior to idoxuridine (IDU) in treating herpetic keratitis... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
This objective of the review and analysis is to demonstrate that acyclovir (ACV) 3% ophthalmic ointment is superior to idoxuridine (IDU) in treating herpetic keratitis (HK) presenting as dendritic and geographic ulcer sub-types.
DATA SOURCES
Publications in human subjects were identified by searching the Ovid MEDLINE database through April 2011, combining medical subject headings (MESH) "Keratitis, Herpetic/" AND "Acyclovir/" limiting by the key words "topical" OR "ointment" and also restricted to MESH "Administration, Topical/" OR "Ointments/". The results were cross checked with the references used in the Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 1:1-134, 2009 and GlaxoSmithKline clinical documents related to acyclovir.
STUDY SELECTION
Randomized, double-masked studies in subjects diagnosed with HK with head to head comparator arms of ACV ophthalmic ointment and topical IDU that had actual or calculable healing rates at Day seven.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data independently extracted from identified articles by two authors of this manuscript.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Data from seven randomized, controlled trials (RCT) evaluating 432 subjects that met inclusion criteria (214 were treated with ACV and 218 were treated with IDU) and had Day seven healing rates calculable. All sub-classified lesions were identified as either dendritic ulcers (n = 185) or geographic ulcers (n = 35). The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) method in Biometrics 10:417-51, 1954 and JNCI 22:719-48, 1959, controlling for study, was performed as the primary analysis using SAS v9. Homogeneity was assessed using Breslow-Day-Tarone (BDT) test in IARC 1:1-32, 1980 and Biometrika 72:91-5, 1985. The analysis was performed with outliers removed to assess their impact.
RESULTS
ACV showed statistically significant greater odds of healing HK at Day seven in all subjects (Odds Ratio 3.95, 95% CI2.60, 6.00, p < 0.0001), in dendritic ulcers (Odds Ratio 4.22, 95% CI: 2.14, 8.32; p < 0.0001) and geographic ulcers (Odds Ratio 5.31, 95% CI: 1.09, 25.93; p = 0.0244).
CONCLUSION
ACV 3% ophthalmic ointment is a valuable intervention for dendritic and geographic corneal ulcers. ACV and IDU were generally well tolerated in the studies reviewed.
Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Idoxuridine; Keratitis, Herpetic; Ointments; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 25928630
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-015-0022-2 -
Fertility and Sterility Apr 2008To evaluate the predictive value of sperm DNA integrity tests for pregnancy from in vitro fertilization treatment. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the predictive value of sperm DNA integrity tests for pregnancy from in vitro fertilization treatment.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
SETTING
Studies from infertility centers.
PATIENT(S)
Infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.
INTERVENTION(S)
Sperm DNA integrity tests before IVF and ICSI cycles.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Diagnostic test properties for sperm DNA integrity tests with reference to pregnancy after IVF or ICSI treatment.
RESULT(S)
Among 22 relevant studies, 2 x 2 tables were constructed from 13 studies involving 18 estimates of the diagnostic test properties of sperm DNA integrity tests in 2162 cycles of treatment. The sum of sensitivity and specificity ranged from 0.83 to 1.59. In six of 18 estimates abnormal DNA integrity was associated with a higher than expected pregnancy rate. The summary diagnostic odds ratio was 1.44 (95% CI, 1.03, 2.03), but the summary likelihood ratios (LR) were not predictive of pregnancy outcome (LR+ = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.98, 1.54; LR- = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67, 0.98). Neither sperm chromatin structure assay nor terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling assay tests were more predictive of pregnancy outcome after IVF/ICSI, and DNA integrity testing was not more predictive for IVF than ICSI.
CONCLUSION(S)
The small but statistically significant association between sperm DNA integrity test results and pregnancy in IVF and ICSI cycles is not strong enough to provide a clinical indication for routine use of these tests in infertility evaluation of men. It is possible that yet to be determined subgroups of infertile couples may benefit from sperm DNA integrity testing.
Topics: Chromatin; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Infertility; Likelihood Functions; Male; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Molecular Structure; Odds Ratio; Patient Selection; Predictive Value of Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Spermatozoa; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 17644094
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.04.055 -
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment Dec 2024Brivudine has been used in herpes zoster (HZ) treatment for years, but the safety and efficacy of brivudine are inconclusive. Here we perform a meta-analysis to assess... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Brivudine has been used in herpes zoster (HZ) treatment for years, but the safety and efficacy of brivudine are inconclusive. Here we perform a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy, safety, incidence of postherpetic neuralgia of brivudine.
METHODS
Data of randomized controlled Trials (RCTS) were obtained from the databases of both English (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) and Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science Journal Database, and WanFang Database) literatures from inception to 12 September 2022. Meta-analyses of efficacy and safety of Brivudine for the treatment of herpes zoster for RCTS were conducted.
RESULTS
The analyses included seven RCTS (2095 patients in experimental group and 2076 patients in control group) in the treatment of HZ with brivudine. It suggested that the brivudine group was superior to the control group in terms of efficacy ( = .0002) and incidence of postherpetic neuralgia ( = .04). But the incidence of adverse reactions has no significant difference between the brivudine and the control groups ( = .22). In addition, subgroup analysis of adverse events also showed that brivudine was about the same safety as other modalities in the treatment of HZ ( > .05).
CONCLUSIONS
Brivudine is effective for HZ. However, the evidence on the safety of brivudine is insufficient.
Topics: Humans; Herpes Zoster; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Antiviral Agents; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Incidence; Bromodeoxyuridine
PubMed: 38811010
DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2024.2355256 -
Arab Journal of Urology Mar 2018To review sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing as an important sperm function test in addition to conventional semen analysis. High SDF is negatively associated with...
OBJECTIVE
To review sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing as an important sperm function test in addition to conventional semen analysis. High SDF is negatively associated with semen quality, the fertilisation process, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcome. Over recent decades, different SDF assays have been developed and reviewed extensively to assess their applicability and accuracy as advanced sperm function tests. Amongst them, the standardisation of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferased UTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay with a bench top flow cytometer in clinical practice deserves special mention with a threshold value of 16.8% to differentiate infertile men with DNA damage from fertile men.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed through the PubMed, Medline, and ScienceDirect databases using the keywords 'sperm DNA fragmentation' and 'laboratory assessment'. Non-English articles were excluded and studies related to humans were only included.
RESULTS
Of the 618 identified, 87 studies (original research and reviews) and in addition eight book chapters meeting the selection criteria were included in this review. In all, 366 articles were rejected in the preliminary screening and a further 165 articles related to non-human subjects were excluded.
CONCLUSION
There are pros and cons to all the available SDF assays. TUNEL is a reliable technique with greater accuracy and as an additional diagnostic test in Andrology laboratories along with basic semen analysis can predict fertility outcome, and thus direct the choice of an assisted reproductive technology procedure for infertile couples. Also, the TUNEL assay can be used as a prognostic test and results are beneficial in deciding personalised treatment for infertile men.
PubMed: 29713537
DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.12.001 -
Journal of Evidence-based Integrative... 2021Moleac (MLC) 901 is a traditional Chinese medication approved by the Sino Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for treating stroke. This study aims to analyze the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Moleac (MLC) 901 is a traditional Chinese medication approved by the Sino Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for treating stroke. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of MLC901 in animal stroke models after medial cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
METHODS
Literature selection was performed according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) 2015. Inclusion criteria for the experimental studies were the use of animal models, publication in English between 1990 and 2020, information regarding the intervention technique used, and outcomes regarding the efficacy of MLC901 administration.
RESULTS
MLC901 administration resulted in significantly less infarction volume by a mean difference of 17.17 compared to the control group (p < .00001). The MLC901 group resulted in significant improvement in 5-bromo-20-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells expression by a mean difference of 662.79 (p < .00001) and neurological function, which was indicated by a mean difference in the Bederson Neurological Outcome Score of 1.40 (p < .00001).
CONCLUSIONS
MLC901 administration in an animal stroke model resulted in a better reduction in infarction volume and improvement in BrdU expression and neurologic function. These data could help in further determining the efficacy of MLC901 for acute ischemic brain injury in humans.
Topics: Animals; Brain Injuries; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ischemic Stroke; Middle Cerebral Artery
PubMed: 34387107
DOI: 10.1177/2515690X211039219