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BMJ Clinical Evidence Jan 2008One in three women carry group B streptococci vaginally, which can infect the amniotic fluid even if the membranes are intact, or can infect the baby during delivery,... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
One in three women carry group B streptococci vaginally, which can infect the amniotic fluid even if the membranes are intact, or can infect the baby during delivery, causing sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis. Very-low-birthweight infants are at much higher risk of infection or mortality, with up to 3% infected, and mortality rates of up to 30% even with immediate antibiotic treatment. Late-onset group B streptococcal infection begins after 7-9 days, and usually causes fever or meningitis, but is less often fatal compared with early infection.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical question: What are the effects of prophylactic treatment of asymptomatic neonates less than 7 days old with known risk factors for group B streptococcal infection? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and other important databases up to March 2007 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found twelve systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: different antibiotics, monitoring and selective treatment, and routine antibiotic prophylaxis.
Topics: Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Communicable Diseases; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Incidence; Risk Factors; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae
PubMed: 19450341
DOI: No ID Found -
Microorganisms Jul 2023Higher valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) have been developed to address the disease burden of current non-vaccine serotypes. This review... (Review)
Review
Systematic Literature Review of the Epidemiological Characteristics of Pneumococcal Disease Caused by the Additional Serotypes Covered by the 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine.
Higher valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV15 and PCV20) have been developed to address the disease burden of current non-vaccine serotypes. This review describes the epidemiological characteristics of serotypes beyond PCV13 (serotypes 8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B/C, 22F, and 33F; PCV20nonPCV13 serotypes). Peer-reviewed studies published between 1 January 2010 (the year PCV13 became available) and 18 August 2020 were systematically reviewed (PROSPERO number: CRD42021212875). Data describing serotype-specific outcomes on disease proportions, incidence, severity, and antimicrobial non-susceptibility were summarized for individual and aggregate PCV20nonPCV13 serotypes by age group and by type and duration of pediatric PCV immunization program. Of 1168 studies, 127 (11%) were included in the analysis. PCV20nonPCV13 serotypes accounted for 28% of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), although the most frequent serotypes differed between children (10A, 15B/C) and adults (8, 12F, 22F). In children, serotype 15B/C tended to be more frequently associated with pneumococcal meningitis and acute otitis media; in adults, serotype 8 was more frequently associated with pneumonia and serotype 12F with meningitis. Serotypes 10A and 15B/C in children and 11A and 15B/C in adults were often associated with severe IPD. Serotype 15B/C was also among the most frequently identified penicillin/macrolide non-susceptible PCV20nonPCV13 serotypes. These results could inform decision making about higher valency PCV choice and use.
PubMed: 37512988
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071816 -
Revista Brasileira de Anestesiologia 2010Due to the discomfort caused to patients, failure of subarachnoid blocks that happen occasionally even when properly conducted be the most capable professionals have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Due to the discomfort caused to patients, failure of subarachnoid blocks that happen occasionally even when properly conducted be the most capable professionals have been described since Bier. However, the concept of failure and especially identification of the causes vary. The objective of this report was to identify the causes of this discomfort through a systematic review of publications with a significant number of patients.
CONTENTS
The analysis was divided in three topics: anatomy and its variations; anesthetic agent, focusing on drug selection, its solutions, and additions to achieve the most appropriate result of the proposed surgery; and the dose, discussing concentration, volume, or gravimetric dose, to obtain the most adequate result regarding the intensity of the blockade and its duration.
CONCLUSIONS
Failures are more commonly secondary to technical factors: adequate anatomic assessment, judicious choice of the needle and puncture site, care when storing the drugs, dose adequacy, and baricity, besides proper patient positioning during and after the puncture, and they all should be adequate for the surgical objective.
Topics: Anesthesia, Spinal; Humans; Subarachnoid Space; Treatment Failure
PubMed: 20169268
DOI: 10.1016/s0034-7094(10)70011-8 -
Journal of Neuroinflammation Sep 2015Research focus in neuro-oncology has shifted in the last decades towards the exploration of tumor infiltration by a variety of immune cells and their products. T cells,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Research focus in neuro-oncology has shifted in the last decades towards the exploration of tumor infiltration by a variety of immune cells and their products. T cells, macrophages, B cells, and mast cells (MCs) have been identified.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Turning Research into Practice (TRIP) for the presence of MCs in meningiomas using the terms meningioma, inflammation and mast cells.
RESULTS
MCs have been detected in various tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), such as gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme, hemangioblastomas, and meningiomas as well as metastatic brain tumors. MCs were present in as many as 90 % of all high-grade meningiomas mainly found in the perivascular areas of the tumor. A correlation between peritumoral edema and MCs was found.
INTERPRETATION
Accumulation of MCs in meningiomas could contribute to the aggressiveness of tumors and to brain inflammation that may be involved in the pathogenesis of additional disorders.
Topics: Animals; Databases, Bibliographic; Encephalitis; Humans; Mast Cells; Meningeal Neoplasms; Meningioma
PubMed: 26377554
DOI: 10.1186/s12974-015-0388-3 -
Brain & Spine 2023Hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy has been employed in the management of catastrophic epilepsy. However, initial reports on the associated mortality and morbidity raised... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy has been employed in the management of catastrophic epilepsy. However, initial reports on the associated mortality and morbidity raised several concerns regarding the technique's safety. Their actual, current incidence needs to be systematically examined to redefine hemispherotomy's exact role.
RESEARCH QUESTION
Our current study examined their incidence and evaluated the association of the various hemispherotomy surgical techniques with the reported complications.
MATERIAL & METHODS
A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 2022. Fixed- and random-effects models were employed. Egger's regression test was used for estimating the publication bias, while subgroup analysis was utilized for defining the role of the different hemispherotomy techniques.
RESULTS
We retrieved a total of 37 studies. The overall procedure mortality was 5%, with a reported mortality of 7% for hemispherectomy and 3% for hemispherotomy. The reported mortality has decreased over the last 30 years from 32% to 2%. Among the observed post-operative complications aseptic meningitis and/or fever occurred in 33%. Hydrocephalus requiring a shunt insertion occurred in 16%. Hematoma evacuation was necessary in 8%, while subgaleal effusion in another 8%. Infections occurred in 11%. A novel post-operative cranial nerve deficit occurred in 11%, while blood transfusion was necessary in 28% of the cases.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Our current analysis demonstrated that the evolution from hemispherectomy to hemispherotomy along with neuroanesthesia advances, had a tremendous impact on the associated mortality and morbidity. Hemispherotomy constitutes a safe surgical procedure in the management of catastrophic epilepsies.
PubMed: 38021002
DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2023.101766 -
Cancers Jan 2023The safety and efficacy of various pharmacotherapeutic regimens on refractory meningiomas have been the focus of investigations. We present a comprehensive review of the... (Review)
Review
The safety and efficacy of various pharmacotherapeutic regimens on refractory meningiomas have been the focus of investigations. We present a comprehensive review of the previous efforts and the current state of ongoing clinical trials. A PRISMA-compliant review of the MEDLINE and ClinicalTrial.gov databases of the National Library of Medicine were performed. The primary outcomes of interest for included articles were radiographic response, overall survival, progression-free survival, six-month progression-free survival, and adverse events. Overall, 34 completed trials and 27 ongoing clinical trials were eligible. Six-month progression-free survival was reported in 6-100% of patients in the completed studies. Hematological disorders were the most common adverse events. Of the ongoing clinical trials identified, nine studies are phase I clinical trials, eleven are phase II trials, two are phase I and II trials, one is phase II and III, and two trials do not have a designated phase. Currently, there is no effective chemotherapy for refractory or recurrent meningiomas. Several promising targeted agents have been developed and are currently being investigated in the hope of identifying novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of this pathology.
PubMed: 36672431
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020483 -
Neuro-oncology Jun 2023Quantitative imaging analysis through radiomics is a powerful technology to non-invasively assess molecular correlates and guide clinical decision-making. There has been...
BACKGROUND
Quantitative imaging analysis through radiomics is a powerful technology to non-invasively assess molecular correlates and guide clinical decision-making. There has been growing interest in image-based phenotyping for meningiomas given the complexities in management.
METHODS
We systematically reviewed meningioma radiomics analyses published in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until December 20, 2021. We compiled performance data and assessed publication quality using the radiomics quality score (RQS).
RESULTS
A total of 170 publications were grouped into 5 categories of radiomics applications to meningiomas: Tumor detection and segmentation (21%), classification across neurologic diseases (54%), grading (14%), feature correlation (3%), and prognostication (8%). A majority focused on technical model development (73%) versus clinical applications (27%), with increasing adoption of deep learning. Studies utilized either private institutional (50%) or public (49%) datasets, with only 68% using a validation dataset. For detection and segmentation, radiomic models had a mean accuracy of 93.1 ± 8.1% and a dice coefficient of 88.8 ± 7.9%. Meningioma classification had a mean accuracy of 95.2 ± 4.0%. Tumor grading had a mean area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.85 ± 0.08. Correlation with meningioma biological features had a mean AUC of 0.89 ± 0.07. Prognostication of the clinical course had a mean AUC of 0.83 ± 0.08. While clinical studies had a higher mean RQS compared to technical studies, quality was low overall with a mean RQS of 6.7 ± 5.9 (possible range -8 to 36).
CONCLUSIONS
There has been global growth in meningioma radiomics, driven by data accessibility and novel computational methodology. Translatability toward complex tasks such as prognostication requires studies that improve quality, develop comprehensive patient datasets, and engage in prospective trials.
Topics: Humans; Meningioma; Prospective Studies; Neoplasm Grading; Meningeal Neoplasms
PubMed: 36723606
DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad028 -
PloS One 2017Bacterial meningitis persists in being a substantial cause of high mortality and severe neurological morbidity, despite the advances in antimicrobial therapy. Accurate... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Bacterial meningitis persists in being a substantial cause of high mortality and severe neurological morbidity, despite the advances in antimicrobial therapy. Accurate data has not been available regarding the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis particularly in developing countries, yet. Indeed, the present systematic review provides a comprehensive data analysis on the prevalence and epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Iran.
METHODS
We systematically reviewed articles from 1994 to 2015. The reports which contained the prevalence and etiology of acute bacterial meningitis by valid clinical and laboratory diagnosis were comprised in the present study.
RESULTS
Our analysis indicated that Streptococcus pneumoniae (30% [I2 = 56% p < 0.01]), Haemophilus influenza type b (15% [I2 = 82.75% p < 0.001]), coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) (14% [I2 = 60.5% p < 0.06]), and Neisseria meningitidis (13% [I2 = 74.16% p < 0.001]) were the most common cause of acute bacterial meningitis among meningitis cases in Iran. Notably, high frequency rates of nosocomial meningitis pathogens were detected in the present analysis.
CONCLUSIONS
It was magnificently attained that the majority of cases for bacterial meningitis in Iran could be avertable by public immunization schemes and by preventive care to inhibit the broadening of hospital acquired pathogens.
Topics: Biomarkers; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Iran; Meningitis, Bacterial; Phenotype; Population Surveillance; Prevalence
PubMed: 28170400
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169617 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Dec 2022Rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and -2 (HSV1/2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for patient management. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Rapid and accurate diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and -2 (HSV1/2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for patient management.
OBJECTIVES
Summarize the diagnostic accuracy of commercial rapid sample-to-answer PCR assays (results in <90 minutes, without a separate nucleic acid extraction step) for HSV1/2 detection in CSF.
DATA SOURCES
Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CENTRAL) and five conference abstract datasets from January 2012 to March 2022.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Eligible diagnostic accuracy studies provided sufficient data for the construction of a standard diagnostic accuracy two-by-two table.
PARTICIPANTS
Patients with suspected meningitis and/or encephalitis.
TESTS
FilmArray Meningitis-Encephalitis Panel and Simplexa HSV 1&2 Direct Kit PCR.
REFERENCE STANDARD
Real-time PCR assay.
ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF BIAS
Two investigators independently extracted data, rated risk of bias, and assessed quality using QUADAS-2. METHODS OF DATA SYNTHESIS: Accuracy estimates were pooled using Bayesian random effects models.
RESULTS
Thirty-one studies were included (27 FilmArray; 4 Simplexa), comprising 9924 samples, with 95 HSV-1 and 247 HSV-2 infections. Pooled FilmArray sensitivities were 84.3% (95% credible interval, 72.3-93.0) and 92.9% (95% credible interval (CrI), 82.0-98.5) for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively; specificities were 99.8% (95% CrI, 99.6-99.9) and 99.9% (95% CrI, 99.9-100). Pooled Simplexa sensitivities were 97.1% (95% CrI, 88.1-99.6) and 97.9% (95% CrI, 89.6-99.9), respectively; specificities were 98.9% (95% CrI, 96.8-99.7) and 98.9% (95% CrI, 97.1-99.7). Pooled FilmArray sensitivities favoured industry-sponsored studies by 10.0 and 13.0 percentage points for HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Incomplete reporting frequently led to unclear risk of bias. Several FilmArray studies did not fully report true negative data leading to their exclusion.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest Simplexa is accurate for HSV1/2 detection in CSF. Moderate FilmArray sensitivity for HSV-1 suggests additional testing and/or repeat CSF sampling is required for suspected HSV encephalitis when the HSV-1 result is negative. Low prevalence of HSV-1 infections limited summary estimates' precision. Underreporting of covariates limited exploration of heterogeneity.
Topics: Humans; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Bayes Theorem; Sensitivity and Specificity; Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Meningitis; Cerebrospinal Fluid
PubMed: 35718347
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.06.004 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2015Streptococcus suis is the most common cause of meningitis in pork consuming and pig rearing countries in South-East Asia. We performed a systematic review of studies on... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Streptococcus suis is the most common cause of meningitis in pork consuming and pig rearing countries in South-East Asia. We performed a systematic review of studies on S. suis meningitis to define the clinical characteristics, predisposing factors and outcome.
METHODOLOGY
Studies published between January 1, 1980 and August 1, 2015 were identified from main literature databases and reference lists. Studies were included if they were written in West-European languages and described at least 5 adult patients with S. suis meningitis in whom at least one clinical characteristic was described.
FINDINGS
We identified 913 patients with S. suis meningitis included in 24 studies between 1980 and 2015. The mean age was 49 years and 581 of 711 patients were male (82%). Exposure to pigs or pork was present in 395 of 648 patients (61%) while other predisposing factors were less common. 514 of 528 patients presented with fever (97%), 429 of 451 with headache (95%), 462 of 496 with neck stiffness (93%) and 78 of 384 patients (20%) had a skin injury in the presence of pig/pork contact. The case fatality rate was 2.9% and hearing loss was a common sequel occurring in 259 of 489 patients (53%). Treatment included dexamethasone in 157 of 300 (52%) of patients and was associated with reduced hearing loss in S. suis meningitis patients included in a randomized controlled trial.
CONCLUSION
S. suis meningitis has a clear association with pig and pork contact. Mortality is low, but hearing loss occurs frequently. Dexamethasone was shown to reduce hearing loss.
Topics: Age Distribution; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asia, Southeastern; Dexamethasone; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Meningitis, Bacterial; Mortality; Occupational Exposure; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus suis; Swine
PubMed: 26505485
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004191