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Journal of Dentistry Mar 2024To assess the clinical evidence for silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to reduce dentine hypersensitivity in adults. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical evidence for silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to reduce dentine hypersensitivity in adults.
METHODS
Two independent researchers searched the English literature in five databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library) up to 15th July 2023 for clinical trials investigating the desensitising effect of professionally applied SDF to manage dentine hypersensitivity in adults aged 18 or above at any follow-up period. The primary outcome was the change in dentine hypersensitivity between baseline and follow-up visits after SDF application regarding any validated pain outcome measures. The Cochrane guidelines were used for the risk of bias assessment.
RESULTS
Three hundred and thirty-one studies were identified, and four of them were finally included. Three of the included studies were rated as having a 'low risk' of bias. The SDF solution reduced dentine hypersensitivity in adults. The percentage reduction in dentine hypersensitivity ranged from 23 % to 56 % after a single application of SDF solution. Moreover, the SDF solution was more effective than potassium nitrate, potassium oxalate and glutaraldehyde plus hydroxyethyl methacrylate in reducing dentine hypersensitivity. Meta-analysis indicated a more significant reduction in visual analogue scales (1-10) by 1.35 (95 % CI:0.9-1.8; p<0.00001) after receiving the SDF application than controls.
CONCLUSION
The included clinical trials showed that SDF solution reduced dentine hypersensitivity in adults. However, clinical trials are few, and their protocol varied from one another. Further well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to provide more evidence on its use to manage dentine hypersensitivity.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
SDF is cleared as desensitizing agents by the US Food and Drug Administration to manage dentine hypersensitivity, which induces pain, limits food choice, and impacts the quality of life. Evidence from this systematic review informs clinicians and provides researchers insight for future research on SDF use for dentine hypersensitivity. THE INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTIVE REGISTER OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS (PROSPERO) REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023462613.
Topics: Humans; Cariostatic Agents; Dental Caries; Dentin Sensitivity; Fluorides, Topical; Pain; Quality of Life; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Silver Compounds
PubMed: 38301767
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.104868 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... 2001International guidelines currently recommend the use of methyl-xanthines for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients who have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
International guidelines currently recommend the use of methyl-xanthines for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients who have incomplete responses to bronchodilators. However, available clinical trials are small and underpowered to evaluate the benefits and risks of methyl-xanthines in this acute setting.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the benefit of methyl-xanthines compared to standard care for COPD exacerbations.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from the Cochrane Airways Review Group COPD Register which is a compilation of systematic searches of CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE and CENTRAL and hand searching of 20 respiratory journals. In addition, primary authors and content experts were contacted to identify eligible studies. Bibliographies from included studies, known reviews and texts were also searched.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Only RCTs were eligible for inclusion. Studies were included if patients presented with acute COPD exacerbations and were treated with either methyl-xanthines (oral or intravenous) or placebo (with or without standard care) early in the acute treatment. Studies also needed to report either pulmonary function or admission results. Two reviewers independently selected potentially relevant articles and selected articles for inclusion. Methodological quality was independently assessed by two reviewers.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Data were extracted independently by two reviewers if the authors were unable to verify the validity of information. Missing data were obtained from authors or calculated from other data presented in the paper. The data were analysed using the Cochrane Review Manager 4.0.4 Studies were pooled to yield weighted mean differences (WMD) or odds ratios (OR) and reported using 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).
MAIN RESULTS
From 28 identified references, 4 RCTs met inclusion criteria (172 patients). Mean change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at 2 hours was similar in methyl-xanthine and placebo groups (FEV1 WMD: -8 ml; 95% CI: -85 to 69 ml). The only study to report hospitalization rates showed a non-significant reduction with methyl-xanthines (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1 to 1.8) among 39 patients. Patients receiving methyl-xanthines had similar improvements in symptom scores, but reported more gastrointestinal side effects (OR: 5.3; 95% CI: 1.3 to 21.0) than patients receiving placebo.
REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence to support the routine use of methyl-xanthines for COPD exacerbations. Methyl-xanthines do not appreciably improve FEV1 during COPD exacerbations and cause adverse effects; evidence of their effect on admissions is limited.
Topics: Aminophylline; Bronchodilator Agents; Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Theophylline
PubMed: 11279755
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002168 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Aug 2014Ethambutol (EMB) is a first-line antituberculosis drug; however, drug resistance to EMB has been increasing. Molecular drug susceptibility testing (DST), based on the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Ethambutol (EMB) is a first-line antituberculosis drug; however, drug resistance to EMB has been increasing. Molecular drug susceptibility testing (DST), based on the embB gene, has recently been used for rapid identification of EMB resistance. The aim of this meta-analysis was to establish the accuracy of molecular assay for detecting drug resistance to EMB. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched according to a written protocol and explicit study selection criteria. Measures of diagnostic accuracy were pooled using a random effects model. A total of 34 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The respective pooled sensitivities and specificities were 0.57 and 0.93 for PCR-DNA sequencing that targeted the embB 306 codon, 0.76 and 0.89 for PCR-DNA sequencing that targeted the embB 306, 406, and 497 codons, 0.64 and 0.70 for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates, 0.55 and 0.78 for detecting M. tuberculosis sputum specimens using the GenoType MTBDRsl test, 0.57 and 0.87 for pyrosequencing, and 0.35 and 0.98 for PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The respective pooled sensitivities and specificities were 0.55 and 0.92 when using a lower EMB concentration as the reference standard, 0.67 and 0.73 when using a higher EMB concentration as the reference standard, and 0.60 and 1.0 when using multiple reference standards. PCR-DNA sequencing using multiple sites of the embB gene as detection targets, including embB 306, 406, and 497, can be a rapid method for preliminarily screening for EMB resistance, but it does not fully replace phenotypic DST. Of the reference DST methods examined, the agreement rates were the best using MGIT 960 for molecular DST and using the proportion method on Middlebrook 7H10 media.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Ethambutol; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Pentosyltransferases; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 24899018
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00560-14 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... 2004Theophylline causes potent cerebral vasoconstriction which decreases blood flow in the non-ischaemic areas of the brain and increases collateral blood flow surrounding... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Theophylline causes potent cerebral vasoconstriction which decreases blood flow in the non-ischaemic areas of the brain and increases collateral blood flow surrounding the ischaemic region. NOTE: This review covers an area where no active research is taking place. It will be updated if relevant information becomes available, e.g. on completion of an appropriate study.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this review was to assess the effect of theophylline and its analogues, aminophylline and caffeine, in people with confirmed or presumed acute ischaemic stroke.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched November 2003). For the first version, we also searched EMBASE (1980 to 1999), MEDLINE (1966 to 1999) and Science Citation Index (1981 to 1999). We also contacted the principal investigators of the identified trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised trials of theophylline or an analogue compound compared with placebo or control in people with confirmed or presumed acute ischaemic stroke. Trials were included if treatment was started within one week of stroke onset.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Three reviewers applied the inclusion criteria, assessed trial quality and extracted data for the first version. The review was updated by one reviewer.
MAIN RESULTS
Two trials involving just 119 patients were included; 6 studies were excluded. Trial quality was good. Both of the trials tested aminophylline. Analysis was by intention-to-treat where possible. No significant difference was shown in early case fatality (within four weeks) between aminophylline and placebo although the confidence intervals were wide (odds ratio [OR] 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49 to 2.56). There was no significant difference for early death and deterioration (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.88). Death or disability was not significantly reduced by treatment based on 73 patients in one trial (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.68). Data for late death and disability were not in a form suitable for analysis. No data on quality of life were available.
REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS
There is not enough evidence to assess whether theophylline or its analogues, e.g. aminophylline, are safe and improve outcome in people with acute ischaemic stroke.
Topics: Aminophylline; Brain Ischemia; Caffeine; Humans; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke; Theophylline; Vasodilator Agents
PubMed: 15266427
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000211.pub2 -
International Braz J Urol : Official... 2022To explore the feasibility of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in diagnosing primary prostate cancer. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Performance of 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen ligand positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the diagnosis of primary prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in diagnosing primary prostate cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Embase, PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies published before July 2020. The studies that used 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for detecting primary prostate cancer, and pathological biopsy as the reference standard were included. The selecting process used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The quality of enrolled studies was assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool.
RESULTS
According to our search strategy, 9 studies were included for analysis. A total of 547 patients with primary prostate cancer and 443 lesion segments that underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT scans were included and their pathological biopsies were compared. The results of these studies showed some differences. For instance, the lowest sensitivity of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in diagnosing primary prostate cancer was 67%, while the highest sensitivity recorded was 97%.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with conventional imaging examinations, 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT had higher sensitivity and specificity in detecting primary prostate cancer. At present, most of the studies that used 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT for detecting prostate cancer are retrospective studies. Based on its advantage of high detection rate, the use of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the detection of primary prostate cancer is worthy of promotion.
Topics: Edetic Acid; Gallium Isotopes; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Ligands; Male; Oligopeptides; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Prostate; Prostatic Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 34003611
DOI: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2020.0986 -
Annals of Work Exposures and Health Jul 2020Diisocyanates are a group of chemicals that are widely used in occupational settings. They are known to induce various health effects, including skin- and respiratory...
Diisocyanates are a group of chemicals that are widely used in occupational settings. They are known to induce various health effects, including skin- and respiratory tract sensitization resulting in allergic dermatitis and asthma. Exposure to diisocyanates has been studied in the past decades by using different types of biomonitoring markers and matrices. The aim of this review as part of the HBM4EU project was to assess: (i) which biomarkers and matrices have been used for biomonitoring diisocyanates and what are their strengths and limitations; (ii) what are (current) biomonitoring levels of the major diisocyanates (and metabolites) in workers; and (iii) to characterize potential research gaps. For this purpose we conducted a systematic literature search for the time period 2000-end 2018, thereby focussing on three types of diisocyanates which account for the vast majority of the total isocyanate market volume: hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and 4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). A total of 28 publications were identified which fulfilled the review inclusion criteria. The majority of these studies (93%) investigated the corresponding diamines in either urine or plasma, but adducts have also been investigated by several research groups. Studies on HDI were mostly in the motor vehicle repair industry [with urinary hexamethylene diamine result ranging from 0.03 to 146.5 µmol mol-1 creatinine]. For TDI, there is mostly data on foam production [results for urinary toluene diamine ranging from ~0.01 to 97 µmol mol-1 creatinine] whereas the available MDI data are mainly from the polyurethane industry (results for methylenediphenyl diamine range from 0.01 to 32.7 µmol mol-1 creatinine). About half of the studies published were prior to 2010 hence might not reflect current workplace exposure. There is large variability within and between studies and across sectors which could be potentially explained by several factors including worker or workplace variability, short half-lives of biomarkers, and differences in sampling strategies and analytical techniques. We identified several research gaps which could further be taken into account when studying diisocyanates biomonitoring levels: (i) the development of specific biomarkers is promising (e.g. to study oligomers of HDI which have been largely neglected to date) but needs more research before they can be widely applied, (ii) since analytical methods differ between studies a more uniform approach would make comparisons between studies easier, and (iii) dermal absorption seems a possible exposure route and needs to be further investigated. The use of MDI, TDI, and HDI has been recently proposed to be restricted in the European Union unless specific conditions for workers' training and risk management measures apply. This review has highlighted the need for a harmonized approach to establishing a baseline against which the success of the restriction can be evaluated.
Topics: Biological Monitoring; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Polyurethanes; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate; Workplace
PubMed: 32313948
DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa038 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Jun 2017Evidence-based recommendations for treating persons having presumed latent tuberculosis (LTBI) after contact to infectious multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND.
Evidence-based recommendations for treating persons having presumed latent tuberculosis (LTBI) after contact to infectious multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) are lacking because published data consist of small observational studies. Tuberculosis incidence in persons treated for latent MDR -TB infection is unknown.
METHODS.
We conducted a systematic review of studies published 1 January 1994-31 December 2014 to analyze TB incidence, treatment completion and discontinuation, and cost-effectiveness. We considered contacts with LTBI effectively treated if they were on ≥1 medication to which their MDR-TB strain was likely susceptible. We selected studies that compared treatment vs nontreatment outcomes and performed a meta-analysis to estimate the relative risk of TB incidence and its 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS.
We abstracted data from 21 articles that met inclusion criteria. Six articles presented outcomes for contacts who were treated compared with those not treated for MDR-LTBI; 10 presented outcomes only for treated contacts, and 5 presented outcomes only for untreated contacts. The estimated MDR-TB incidence reduction was 90% (9%-99%) using data from 5 comparison studies. We also found high treatment discontinuation rates due to adverse effects in persons taking pyrazinamide-containing regimens. Cost-effectiveness was greatest using a fluoroquinolone/ethambutol combination regimen.
CONCLUSIONS.
Few studies met inclusion criteria, therefore results should be cautiously interpreted. We found a reduced risk of TB incidence with treatment for MDR-LTBI, suggesting effectiveness in prevention of progression to MDR-TB, and confirmed cost-effectiveness. However, we found that pyrazinamide-containing MDR-LTBI regimens often resulted in treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Disease Progression; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Ethambutol; Fluoroquinolones; Humans; Latent Tuberculosis; Pyrazinamide; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant
PubMed: 28329197
DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix208 -
The American Journal of Clinical... Jun 2009The assessment of dietary adequacy of copper is constrained by the absence of recognized copper status biomarkers. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The assessment of dietary adequacy of copper is constrained by the absence of recognized copper status biomarkers.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives were to systematically review the usefulness of copper status biomarkers and identify those that reflected changes in status over > or =4 wk.
DESIGN
The methods included a structured search on Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE (Ovid), and Cochrane databases to October 2007, followed by the use of formal inclusion/exclusion criteria, data extraction, validity assessment, and meta-analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 16 studies (288 participants) were included in the review, with data on 16 possible copper biomarkers. All of the included studies were small and at high risk of bias. Data for serum copper suggested its value as a biomarker, reflecting changes in status in both depleted and replete individuals, although these changes were smaller in the latter. Total ceruloplasmin protein is related to copper status but reflects changes in highly depleted individuals only. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and urinary deoxypyridinoline are not useful biomarkers, but there were insufficient data to draw firm conclusions about plasma, erythrocyte, and platelet copper; leukocyte superoxide dismutase; erythrocyte, platelet, and plasma glutathione peroxidase; platelet and leukocyte cytochrome-c oxidase; total glutathione; diamine oxidase; and urinary pyridinoline. The paucity of data prevented detailed subgroup analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite limited data, serum copper appears to be a useful biomarker of copper status at the population level. Further large studies with low risk of bias are needed to explore the effectiveness of other biomarkers of copper status and the relation between biomarker responsiveness, dose, and period of supplementation.
Topics: Biomarkers; Copper; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Methods; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status; Trace Elements
PubMed: 19420093
DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27230E -
PloS One 2013There are urgent needs for rapid and accurate drug susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis. GenoType MTBDRsl is a new molecular kit designed for rapid identification... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
There are urgent needs for rapid and accurate drug susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis. GenoType MTBDRsl is a new molecular kit designed for rapid identification of the resistance to the second-line antituberculosis drugs with a single strip. In recent years, it has been evaluated in many settings, but with varied results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize the latest data on the diagnostic accuracy of GenoType MTBDRsl in detecting drug resistance to fluoroquinolones, amikacin, capreomycin, kanamycin and ethambutol, in comparison with the phenotypic drug susceptibility test.
METHODS
This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The search terms of "MTBDRsl" and "tuberculosis" were used on PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. QUADAS-2 was used to assess the quality of included studies. Data were analyzed by Meta-Disc 1.4. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for each study. From these calculations, forest plots and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were produced.
RESULTS
Patient selection bias as well as flow and timing bias were observed in most studies. The summarized sensitivity (95% CI) was 0.874(0.845-0.899), 0.826(0.777-0.869), 0.820(0.772-0.862), 0.444(0.396-0.492), and 0.679(0.652-0.706) for fluoroquinolones, amikacin, capreomycin, kanamycin, and ethambutol, respectively. The specificity (95% CI) was 0.971(0.961-0.980), 0.995(0.987-0.998), 0.973(0.963-0.981), 0.993(0.985-0.997), and 0.799(0.773-0.823), respectively. The AUC (standard error) were 0.9754(0.0203), 0.9300(0.0598), 0.9885(0.0038), 0.9689(0.0359), and 0.6846(0.0550), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Genotype MTBDRsl showed good accuracy for detecting drug resistance to fluoroquinolones, amikacin and capreomycin, but it may not be an appropriate choice for kanamycin and ethambutol. The lack of data did not allow for proper evaluation of the test on clinical specimens. Further systematic assessment of diagnostic performance should be carried out on direct clinical samples.
Topics: Amikacin; Antitubercular Agents; Area Under Curve; Capreomycin; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Ethambutol; Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis; Fluoroquinolones; Genotype; Humans; Kanamycin; Likelihood Functions; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Odds Ratio; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 23383320
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055292 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... Mar 2020Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been extensively researched and proven effective for caries prevention and arrest in children. Limited studies support its... (Review)
Review
Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been extensively researched and proven effective for caries prevention and arrest in children. Limited studies support its effectiveness in primary dentition at 38%. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of 38% silver diamine fluoride on control of dental caries in primary dentition. Multiple search engines and databases were searched in accordance with predefined inclusion-exclusion criteria. Quality assessment was done using Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine worksheets. Scientific works of literature were searched in October 2019 for articles. Four studies were identified that addressed the effectiveness of 38% SDF on deciduous dentition in children. All the four studies selected were controlled clinical trials. The cumulative results of the studies showed that 38% SDF application is efficacious and safe for the control of dental caries in primary teeth. Its advantages over different other techniques or placebo have been demonstrated. Based on this systematic review, 38% SDF is one of the best treatment approaches in control of dental caries in primary dentition.
PubMed: 32509608
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1017_19