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Journal of Medical Internet Research Jan 2022The number of people with chronic diseases and the subsequent pressure on health care is increasing. eHealth technology for diagnostic testing can contribute to more... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The number of people with chronic diseases and the subsequent pressure on health care is increasing. eHealth technology for diagnostic testing can contribute to more efficient health care and lower workload.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review examines the available methods for direct web-based access for patients to diagnostic testing and results in the absence of a health care professional in primary care.
METHODS
We searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, Emcare, and Academic Search Premier databases in August 2019 and updated in July 2021. The included studies focused on direct patient access to web-based triage leading to diagnostic testing, self-sampling or testing, or web-based communication of test results. A total of 45 studies were included. The quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
RESULTS
Most studies had a quantitative descriptive design and discussed a combination of services. Diagnostic test services mainly focused on sexually transmitted infections. Overall, the use was high for web-based triage (3046/5000, >50%, who used a triage booked a test), for self-sampling or self-testing kits (83%), and the result service (85%). The acceptability of the test services was high, with 81% preferring home-based testing over clinic-based testing. There was a high rate of follow-up testing or treatment after a positive test (93%).
CONCLUSIONS
The results show that direct access to testing and result services had high use rates, was positively evaluated, and led to high rates of follow-up treatment. More research on cost-effectiveness is needed to determine the potential for other diseases. Direct access to diagnostic testing can lower the threshold for testing in users, potentially increase efficiency, and lower the workload in primary care.
Topics: Delivery of Health Care; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Primary Health Care; Telemedicine
PubMed: 35019848
DOI: 10.2196/29303 -
Biomedicines Oct 2022Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer type worldwide. Cystoscopy represents the gold standard for bladder cancer diagnosis, but this procedure is invasive and... (Review)
Review
Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer type worldwide. Cystoscopy represents the gold standard for bladder cancer diagnosis, but this procedure is invasive and painful, hence the need to identify new biomarkers through noninvasive procedures. microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to be promising diagnostic molecules, because they are very stable in biological fluids (including urine) and easily detectable. This systematic review analyses the power of urine miRNAs as bladder cancer diagnostic markers. We conducted this systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A total of 293 records related to miRNAs and their diagnostic significance in BC were retrieved from the PubMed and Embase databases. A systematic search of the literature was performed, and a total of 25 articles (N = 4054 participants) were identified and reviewed. Although many of the selected studies were of high scientific quality, the results proved to be quite heterogeneous, because we did not identify a univocal consensus for a specific miRNA signature but only isolated the signatures. We did not identify a univocal consensus for a specific diagnostic miRNA signature but only isolated the signatures, some of them with better diagnostic power compared to the others.
PubMed: 36359288
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112766 -
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology :... Dec 2024The diagnosis of endometriomas in patients with endometriosis is of primary importance because it influences the management and prognosis of infertility and pain.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
The diagnosis of endometriomas in patients with endometriosis is of primary importance because it influences the management and prognosis of infertility and pain. Imaging techniques are evolving constantly. This study aimed to systematically assess the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting endometrioma using the surgical visualisation of lesions with or without histopathological confirmation as reference standards in patients of reproductive age with suspected endometriosis.
METHODS
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from their inception to 12 October 2022, using a manual search for additional articles. Two authors independently performed title, abstract and full-text screening of the identified records, extracted study details and quantitative data and assessed the quality of the studies using the 'Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Study 2' tool. Bivariate random-effects models were used to determine the pooled sensitivity and specificity, compare the two imaging modalities and evaluate the sources of heterogeneity.
RESULTS
Sixteen prospective studies (10 assessing TVUS, 4 assessing MRI and 2 assessing both TVUS and MRI) were included, representing 1976 participants. Pooled TVUS and MRI sensitivities for endometrioma were 0.89 (95% confidence interval 'CI', 0.86-0.92) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.74-0.99), respectively (indirect comparison -value of 0.47). Pooled TVUS and MRI specificities for endometrioma were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.97) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-0.97), respectively (indirect comparison p-value of 0.51). These studies had a high or unclear risk of bias. A direct comparison (all participants undergoing TVUS and MRI) of the modalities was available in only two studies.
CONCLUSION
TVUS and MRI have high accuracy for diagnosing endometriomas; however, high-quality studies comparing the two modalities are lacking.
Topics: Female; Humans; Endometriosis; Prospective Studies; Ultrasonography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Sensitivity and Specificity; Diagnostic Tests, Routine
PubMed: 38348799
DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2024.2311664 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Jan 2022The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that lack HRP2/3 proteins and the resulting decreased utility of HRP2-based malaria rapid diagnostic tests...
BACKGROUND
The emergence and spread of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that lack HRP2/3 proteins and the resulting decreased utility of HRP2-based malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) prompted the World Health Organization and other global health stakeholders to prioritize the discovery of novel diagnostic biomarkers for malaria.
METHODS
To address this pressing need, we adopted a dual, systematic approach by conducting a systematic review of the literature for publications on diagnostic biomarkers for uncomplicated malaria and a systematic in silico analysis of P. falciparum proteomics data for Plasmodium proteins with favorable diagnostic features.
RESULTS
Our complementary analyses led us to 2 novel malaria diagnostic biomarkers compatible for use in an RDT format: glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, our results pave the way for the development of next-generation malaria RDTs based on new antigens by identifying 2 lead candidates with favorable diagnostic features and partially de-risked product development prospects.
Topics: Antigens, Protozoan; Biomarkers; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Protozoan Proteins; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 34718455
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab251 -
Emergency (Tehran, Iran) 2016Hemothorax is one of the most prevalent injuries caused by thoracic traumas. Early detection and treatment of this injury is of utmost importance in prognosis of the... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Hemothorax is one of the most prevalent injuries caused by thoracic traumas. Early detection and treatment of this injury is of utmost importance in prognosis of the patient, but there are still controversial debates on the diagnostic value of imaging techniques in detection of hemothorax. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of chest ultrasonography and radiography in detection of hemothorax through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
Two independent reviewers performed an extended systematic search in databases of Medline, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest. Data were extract and quality of the relevant studies were assessed. The number of true positive, false positive, true negative and false negative cases were extracted and screening performance characteristics of two imaging techniques were calculated using a mixed-effects binary regression model.
RESULTS
Data from 12 studies were extracted and included in the meta-analysis (7361 patients, 77.1% male). Pooled sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in detection of hemothorax were 0.67 (95% CI: 0.41-0.86; I2= 68.38, p<0.001) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.95-1.0; I2= 88.16, p<0.001), respectively. These measures for radiography were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.33-0.75; I2= 92.85, p<0.001) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.94-1.0; I2= 99.22, p<0.001), respectively. Subgroup analysis found operator of the ultrasonography device, frequency of the transducer and sample size to be important sources of heterogeneity of included studies.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study showed that although the sensitivity of ultrasonography in detection of hemothorax is relatively higher than radiography, but it is still at a moderate level (0.67%). The specificity of both imaging modalities were found to be at an excellent level in this regard. The screening characteristics of ultrasonography was found to be influenced of the operator and frequency of transducer.
PubMed: 27299139
DOI: No ID Found -
Malaria Journal Apr 2023Health facilities' availability of malaria diagnostic tests and anti-malarial drugs (AMDs), and the correctness of treatment are critical for the appropriate case... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Health facilities' availability of malaria diagnostic tests and anti-malarial drugs (AMDs), and the correctness of treatment are critical for the appropriate case management, and malaria surveillance programs. It is also reliable evidence for malaria elimination certification in low-transmission settings. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate summary proportions for the availability of malaria diagnostic tests, AMDs, and the correctness of treatment.
METHODS
The Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, Embase, and Malaria Journal were systematically searched up to 30th January 2023. The study searched any records reporting the availability of diagnostic tests and AMDs and the correctness of malaria treatment. Eligibility and risk of bias assessment of studies were conducted independently in a blinded way by two reviewers. For the pooling of studies, meta-analysis using random effects model were carried out to estimate summary proportions of the availability of diagnostic tests, AMDs, and correctness of malaria treatment.
RESULTS
A total of 18 studies, incorporating 7,429 health facilities, 9,745 health workers, 41,856 febrile patients, and 15,398 malaria patients, and no study in low malaria transmission areas, were identified. The pooled proportion of the availability of malaria diagnostic tests, and the first-line AMDs in health facilities was 76% (95% CI 67-84); and 83% (95% CI 79-87), respectively. A pooled meta-analysis using random effects indicates the overall proportion of the correctness of malaria treatment 62% (95% CI 54-69). The appropriate malaria treatment was improved over time from 2009 to 2023. In the sub-group analysis, the correctness of treatment proportion was 53% (95% CI 50-63) for non-physicians health workers and 69% (95% CI 55-84) for physicians.
CONCLUSION
Findings of this review indicated that the correctness of malaria treatment and the availability of AMDs and diagnostic tests need improving to progress the malaria elimination stage.
Topics: Humans; Antimalarials; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Malaria; Case Management; Health Personnel
PubMed: 37072759
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04555-w -
Bulletin of the World Health... Jul 2022To evaluate the clinical accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of Ebola virus. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of Ebola virus.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE®, Embase® and Web of Science for articles published between 1976 and October 2021 reporting on clinical studies assessing the performance of Ebola virus rapid diagnostic tests compared with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We assessed study quality using the QUADAS-2 criteria. To estimate the pooled sensitivity and specificity of these rapid diagnostic tests, we used a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis.
FINDINGS
Our search identified 113 unique studies, of which nine met the inclusion criteria. The studies were conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and they evaluated 12 rapid diagnostic tests. We included eight studies in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the rapid tests were 86% (95% confidence interval, CI: 80-91) and 95% (95% CI: 91-97), respectively. However, pooled sensitivity decreased to 83% (95% CI: 77-88) after removing outliers. Pooled sensitivity increased to 90% (95% CI: 82-94) when analysis was restricted to studies using the RT-PCR from altona Diagnostics as gold standard. Pooled sensitivity increased to 99% (95% CI: 67-100) when the analysis was restricted to studies using whole or capillary blood specimens.
CONCLUSION
The included rapid diagnostic tests did not detect all the Ebola virus disease cases. While the sensitivity and specificity of these tests are moderate, they are still valuable tools, especially useful for triage and detecting Ebola virus in remote areas.
Topics: Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Ebolavirus; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola; Humans; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 35813519
DOI: 10.2471/BLT.21.287496 -
Academic Radiology Nov 2021To perform a meta-analysis to compare the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of deep learning (DL) in detecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to investigate how... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE
To perform a meta-analysis to compare the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of deep learning (DL) in detecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to investigate how network architecture and type of datasets affect DL performance.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Inspec from January 1, 2020, to December 3, 2020, for retrospective and prospective studies on deep learning detection with at least reported sensitivity and specificity. Pooled DTA was obtained using random-effect models. Sub-group analysis between studies was also carried out for data source and network architectures.
RESULTS
The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 91% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88%, 93%; I = 69%) and 92% (95% CI: 88%, 94%; I = 88%), respectively for 19 studies. The pooled AUC and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.92) and 112.5 (95% CI: 57.7, 219.3; I = 90%) respectively. The overall accuracy, recall, F1-score, LR and LR are 89.5%, 89.5%, 89.7%, 23.13 and 0.13. Sub-group analysis shows that the sensitivity and DOR significantly vary with the type of network architectures and sources of data with low heterogeneity are (I = 0%) and (I = 18%) for ResNet architecture and single-source datasets, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The diagnosis of COVID-19 via deep learning has achieved incredible performance, and the source of datasets, as well as network architectures, strongly affect DL performance.
Topics: COVID-19; Deep Learning; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34649779
DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2021.08.008 -
Translational Andrology and Urology Mar 2022There are differences in specificity and sensitivity of different routine urine tests for urinary tract infection, so meta-analysis was used to compare the diagnostic...
BACKGROUND
There are differences in specificity and sensitivity of different routine urine tests for urinary tract infection, so meta-analysis was used to compare the diagnostic value of various urine analysis and detection methods in urinary tract infection, including bacterial culture, urine sediment microscopy, automated urinalysis, and routine urine dry chemical methods.
METHODS
The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SpringerLink, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched from inception to December 2021. Two system assessors independently screened the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RevMan version 5.3 (the Cochrane Collaboration) and Meta-DiSc were used to calculate the combined sensitivity (Sen), specificity (Spe), positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-), and diagnostic ratio (DOR) of the diagnostic tests and draw summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves.
RESULTS
A total of 14 documents were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. There was a significant statistical difference between the urine sediment microscopy group and the urine normalization group in urine leucocyte detection (OR =2.15, 95% CI: 1.29-3.56, P=0.003, I=19%, Z=2.95), urine erythrocyte test (OR =1.87, 95% CI: 1.13-3.09, P=0.01, I=0%, Z=2.45), quantitative determination of urinary protein composition (OR =2.32, 95% CI: 1.27-4.23, P=0.006, I30%, Z=2.73), and determination of urinary enzymes (OR =1.67, 95% CI: 1.03-2.72, P=0.04, I0%, Z=2.07).
DISCUSSION
When examining red and white blood cells in urinary tract infection diagnosis, urine dry chemistry is superior to automated urinalysis in terms of area under the curve (AUC), Sen, Spe, etc. When examining urine bacteria, urine dry chemistry can be recommended for urine bacteria screening, with bacterial culture required for confirmation.
PubMed: 35402195
DOI: 10.21037/tau-22-65 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Dec 2021Interpretation of capsule endoscopy images or movies is operator-dependent and time-consuming. As a result, computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) has been applied to enhance... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Interpretation of capsule endoscopy images or movies is operator-dependent and time-consuming. As a result, computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) has been applied to enhance the efficacy and accuracy of the review process. Two previous meta-analyses reported the diagnostic performance of CAD models for gastrointestinal ulcers or hemorrhage in capsule endoscopy. However, insufficient systematic reviews have been conducted, which cannot determine the real diagnostic validity of CAD models.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnostic test accuracy of CAD models for gastrointestinal ulcers or hemorrhage using wireless capsule endoscopic images.
METHODS
We conducted core databases searching for studies based on CAD models for the diagnosis of ulcers or hemorrhage using capsule endoscopy and presenting data on diagnostic performance. Systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis were performed.
RESULTS
Overall, 39 studies were included. The pooled area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of CAD models for the diagnosis of ulcers (or erosions) were .97 (95% confidence interval, .95-.98), .93 (.89-.95), .92 (.89-.94), and 138 (79-243), respectively. The pooled area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of CAD models for the diagnosis of hemorrhage (or angioectasia) were .99 (.98-.99), .96 (.94-0.97), .97 (.95-.99), and 888 (343-2303), respectively. Subgroup analyses showed robust results. Meta-regression showed that published year, number of training images, and target disease (ulcers vs erosions, hemorrhage vs angioectasia) was found to be the source of heterogeneity. No publication bias was detected.
CONCLUSIONS
CAD models showed high performance for the optical diagnosis of gastrointestinal ulcer and hemorrhage in wireless capsule endoscopy.
Topics: Capsule Endoscopy; Computers; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Hemorrhage; Humans; Ulcer
PubMed: 34904949
DOI: 10.2196/33267