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Cureus Mar 2022During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, India accounted for 10-50% of cases reported across the world. Perinatal care from a developing country during this period has its own... (Review)
Review
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, India accounted for 10-50% of cases reported across the world. Perinatal care from a developing country during this period has its own importance. This study was conducted to evaluate the health outcome of neonates born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers in India from the published literature by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Articles reporting neonates born from SARS-CoV-2 confirmed mothers in India, published in PubMed, Scopus®, and Embase® databases, were analyzed. After registration with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), the study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcomes were the mode of delivery, perinatal asphyxia, preterm birth, breastfeeding, neonatal mortality, SARS-CoV-2 infectivity among neonates of SARS-CoV-2 mothers. The pooled rate was expressed with a 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity and study level effect size were assessed using I² statistics and DerSimonian and Laird random effect method of meta-analysis. Data analysis was made by Stata 15.1 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas, USA). Total 3,551 neonates born from 3,542 SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers were included from 14 studies (four prospective and 10 retrospective studies). The pooled rates of premature birth, Caesarean delivery, breastfeeding, and neonatal mortality were 18.89%, 55.89%, 67.79%, respectively, with 12.64/1000 live births. SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 5.28%; 11.76% were symptomatic, and five (1.7%) died from 281 SARS-CoV-2 positive neonates. There was an increase in the number of Caesarean delivery, premature birth, and lower mortality among neonates born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers compared to the Indian neonatal database. Around five percent of neonates delivered to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers were infected, and the majority of them had good clinical outcomes.
PubMed: 35411267
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.22958 -
Critical Care (London, England) May 2021Mortality and other clinical outcomes between culture-negative and culture-positive septic patients have been documented inconsistently and are very controversial. A... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Mortality and other clinical outcomes between culture-negative and culture-positive septic patients have been documented inconsistently and are very controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compare the clinical outcomes of culture-negative and culture-positive sepsis or septic shock.
METHODS
We searched the PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases for studies from inception to the 1st of January 2021. We included studies involving patients with sepsis or septic shock. All authors reported our primary outcome of all-cause mortality and clearly compared culture-negative versus culture-positive patients with clinically relevant secondary outcomes (ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, mechanical ventilation requirements, mechanical ventilation duration and renal replacement requirements). Results were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with accompanying 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
Seven studies including 22,655 patients were included. The primary outcome of this meta-analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the all-cause mortality between two groups (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.01; P = 0.12; Chi- = 30.71; I = 80%). Secondary outcomes demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference in the ICU length of stay (MD = - 0.19;95% CI, - 0.42 to 0.04; P = 0.10;Chi- = 5.73; I = 48%), mechanical ventilation requirements (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.11; P = 0.61; Chi = 6.32; I = 53%) and renal replacement requirements (OR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.01; P = 0.06; Chi- = 1.21; I = 0%) between two groups. The hospital length of stay of culture-positive group was longer than that of the culture-negative group (MD = - 3.48;95% CI, - 4.34 to - 2.63; P < 0.00001;Chi- = 1.03; I = 0%). The mechanical ventilation duration of culture-positive group was longer than that of the culture-negative group (MD = - 0.64;95% CI, - 0.88 to - 0.4; P < 0.00001;Chi- = 4.86; I = 38%).
CONCLUSIONS
Culture positivity or negativity was not associated with mortality of sepsis or septic shock patients. Furthermore, culture-positive septic patients had similar ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilation requirements and renal replacement requirements as those culture-negative patients. The hospital length of stay and mechanical ventilation duration of culture-positive septic patients were both longer than that of the culture-negative patients. Further large-scale studies are still required to confirm these results.
Topics: Blood Culture; Humans; Sepsis
PubMed: 33964934
DOI: 10.1186/s13054-021-03592-8 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2023In recent years, the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased significantly, causing great concern, and wheat, as one of the top 8 food allergens, is a common... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
In recent years, the prevalence of allergic diseases has increased significantly, causing great concern, and wheat, as one of the top 8 food allergens, is a common allergy trigger. Nevertheless, reliable estimates of the positivity rate of wheat allergens in the allergic population in China are still lacking. The systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the positive detection rate of wheat allergens in the Chinese allergic population and further provide a reference for the prevention of allergy. CNKI, CQVIP, WAN-FANG DATA, Sino Med, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were retrieved. Related research and case reports about the positive rate of wheat allergen in the Chinese allergic population published from inception to June 30, 2022, were searched, and meta-analysis was performed using Stata software. The pooled positive rate of wheat allergens and 95% confidence interval were calculated by random effect models, and the publication bias was evaluated using Egger's test. A total of 13 articles were included for the final meta-analysis, in which wheat allergen detection methods involved only serum sIgE testing and SPT assessment. The results showed that the wheat allergen positivity detection rate in Chinese allergic patients was 7.30% (95% CI 5.68-8.92%). Subgroup analysis showed that the positivity rate of wheat allergens was influenced by region, but hardly by age and assessment method. The positive rates of wheat allergy in the population with allergic diseases were 2.74% (95% CI 0.90-4.58%) and 11.47% (95% CI 7.08-15.87%) in southern and northern China, respectively. In particular, the positive rates of wheat allergens were greater than 10% in Shaanxi, Henan and Nei Mongol, all of which belong to the northern region. These results suggest that wheat allergens are an important cause of sensitization in allergic populations from northern China, and therefore attention should be paid to early prevention in high-risk populations.
Topics: Humans; Allergens; Asian People; East Asian People; Ethnicity; Hypersensitivity; Triticum; China
PubMed: 37386279
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37648-2 -
Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology Sep 2023Our study aims to evaluate programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and its prognostic significance in cervical cancer (CC), endometrial cancer (EC) and ovarian... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Our study aims to evaluate programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression and its prognostic significance in cervical cancer (CC), endometrial cancer (EC) and ovarian cancer (OC).
METHODS
Several electronic databases were searched. Fixed effects models or random effects models were employed to calculate the pooled prevalence of PD-L1 positivity and pooled hazard ratios (HRs) as appropriate. Heterogeneity and publication bias were also assessed.
RESULTS
The pooled prevalence of PD-L1 positivity was 58.1%, 33.8% and 37.5% for CC, EC and OC patients, respectively. There were significant differences in the pooled estimates after stratification by PD-L1-positive assessment criteria and antibody clones. PD-L1 positivity was associated with worse OS in CC and EC patients and poorer progression-free survival (PFS) in CC patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PD-L1-positive expression was considerably high in CC and modestly high in EC and OC patients. PD-L1 expression has the potential to be a prognostic biomarker for predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with CC and EC but not OC.
Topics: Female; Humans; Prognosis; B7-H1 Antigen; Prevalence; Ovarian Neoplasms; Proportional Hazards Models; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Endometrial Neoplasms
PubMed: 37536446
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104084 -
Mindfulness 2018Interest in the influence of dispositional mindfulness (DM) on psychological health has been gathering pace over recent years. Despite this, a systematic review of this... (Review)
Review
Interest in the influence of dispositional mindfulness (DM) on psychological health has been gathering pace over recent years. Despite this, a systematic review of this topic has not been conducted. A systematic review can benefit the field by identifying the terminology and measures used by researchers and by highlighting methodological weaknesses and empirical gaps. We systematically reviewed non-interventional, quantitative papers on DM and psychological health in non-clinical samples published in English up to June 2016, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMED, Medline and Embase, and 93 papers met the inclusion criteria. Within these, three main themes emerged, depicting the relationship between DM and psychological health: (1) DM appears to be inversely related to psychopathological symptoms such as depressive symptoms, (2) DM is positively linked to adaptive cognitive processes such as less rumination and pain catastrophizing and (3) DM appears to be associated with better emotional processing and regulation. These themes informed the creation of a taxonomy. We conclude that research has consistently shown a positive relationship between DM and psychological health. Suggestions for future research and conceptual and methodological limitations within the field are discussed.
PubMed: 29387263
DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0762-6 -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2016Non-native tree plantations represent 7% of the world's forests and 1.24% of the Brazilian vegetation. Planted areas are expected to increase in the near future; thus,... (Review)
Review
Non-native tree plantations represent 7% of the world's forests and 1.24% of the Brazilian vegetation. Planted areas are expected to increase in the near future; thus, it is important to systematize existing knowledge on the ecological effects of plantations to aid forest management and biodiversity conservation. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the ecological literature associated with planted Pinus and Eucalyptus species in Brazil. We compared publication metrics with geographical distribution of species, ecosystems, biomes, studied taxa, and ecological impacts. We found 152 publications from 1992 to 2012. Number of publications positively correlated with area planted, number of plantations with forest certification, number of researchers, and richness of studied kingdoms. Most studies were in terrestrial ecosystems (92.1%), the Atlantic Forest biome (55.3%), and the kingdom Animalia (68.2%). Most impacts of non-native tree plantations were negative (55.9%), followed by positive (27%), and mixed (17.1%). Negative impacts were declines in species richness and abundance, seed bank diversity, and natural regeneration. Positive impacts were increase or mainteinance of seed bank diversity and natural regeneration. Mixed impacts were increases in abundance of native tree plantation pests. Taken together, results suggest forest management can help maintain biodiversity if it considers previous environmental conditions and integrates plantations with surrounding habitats.
Topics: Brazil; Ecological Parameter Monitoring; Eucalyptus; Forestry; Forests; Introduced Species; Pinus; Trees
PubMed: 27737335
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201620150575 -
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance Jun 2023Population-based esophageal cancer (EC) screening trials and programs have been conducted in China for decades; however, screening strategies have been adopted in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Population-based esophageal cancer (EC) screening trials and programs have been conducted in China for decades; however, screening strategies have been adopted in different regions and screening profiles are unclear.
OBJECTIVE
We performed a meta-analysis to profile EC screening in China by positivity rate, compliance rate, and endoscopy findings, aiming to provide explicit evidence and recommendations for EC screening programs.
METHODS
English (PubMed, Embase) and Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang) language databases were systematically searched for population-based EC screening studies in the Chinese population until December 31, 2022. A meta-analysis was performed by standard methodology using a random-effects model. Pooled prevalence rates were calculated for three groups: high-risk areas with a universal endoscopy strategy, rural China with a risk-stratified endoscopic screening (RSES) strategy, and urban China with an RSES strategy. Positive cases included lesions of severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, intramucosal carcinoma, submucosal carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma.
RESULTS
The pooled positivity rate of the high-risk population was higher in rural China (44.12%) than in urban China (23.11%). The compliance rate of endoscopic examinations was the highest in rural China (52.40%), followed by high-risk areas (50.11%), and was the lowest in urban China (23.67%). The pooled detection rate of positive cases decreased from 1.03% (95% CI 0.82%-1.30%) in high-risk areas to 0.48% (95% CI 0.25%-0.93%) in rural China and 0.12% (95% CI 0.07%-0.21%) in urban China. The pooled detection rate of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) was also in the same order, being the highest in high-risk areas (3.99%, 95% CI 2.78%-5.69%), followed by rural China (2.55%, 95% CI 1.03%-6.19%) and urban China (0.34%, 95% CI 0.14%-0.81%). Higher detection rates of positive cases and LGIN were observed among males than among females and at older ages. The pooled early detection rate was 81.90% (95% CI 75.58%-86.88%), which was similar to the rates in high-risk areas (82.09%), in rural China (80.76%), and in urban China (80.08%).
CONCLUSIONS
Under the current screening framework, a higher screening benefit was observed in high-risk areas than in other regions. To promote EC screening and reduce the current inequality of screening in China, more focus should be given to optimizing strategies of high-risk individual assessment and surveillance management to improve compliance with endoscopic examination.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42022375720; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=375720.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Early Detection of Cancer; Endoscopy; Esophageal Neoplasms; Rural Population; Carcinoma
PubMed: 37261899
DOI: 10.2196/45360 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2012Previous reports have shown that ion content in the air may have an effect on respiratory function. Results from studies which test the efficacy of air ionisers to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Previous reports have shown that ion content in the air may have an effect on respiratory function. Results from studies which test the efficacy of air ionisers to reduce asthma symptoms are often inconclusive and their use as a treatment for asthma remains debatable.
OBJECTIVES
We conducted a systematic review of the available evidence to determine the effectiveness of positive and negative ion generators in people with asthma.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) as well as the alternative medicine database AMED. Searches were current as of June 2012.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (parallel or crossover design studies) comparing ionisers with dummy ionisers (being negative or positive ion emitters), in children or adults with chronic asthma.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers independently assessed titles and abstracts of studies and assessed trial quality. Study quality was determined using two methods:The Cochrane approach to allocation concealment and the five point Jadad scale.
MAIN RESULTS
Six studies were selected for inclusion (106 participants). No results were combined as the studies were all of a crossover design.EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE ION GENERATORS (five studies) No study reported a significant difference in lung function between ionised and control air (morning Peak expiratory flow (PEF) - three studies; forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV1) - one study). There were no significant differences in symptoms or beta-2 agonist usage between ionised and control air in three studies.EFFECTS OF POSITIVE ION GENERATORS (one study) This study demonstrated that although positively ionised air was associated with a larger fall in FEV1 with exercise, this did not reach statistical significance. Baseline FEV1 was not demonstrated to be significantly different between treatment groups.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Based on the evidence currently available from randomised controlled trials, a recommendation cannot be given for the use of room air ionisers to reduce symptoms in patients with chronic asthma.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Air Ionization; Anions; Asthma; Cations; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Over Studies; Humans; Infant; Ions; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Young Adult
PubMed: 22972060
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002986.pub2 -
Medical Journal, Armed Forces India Jul 2021The systematic review was conducted to summarize and synthesize evidence from all available case series and case reports published on re-positive COVID-19 cases.
BACKGROUND
The systematic review was conducted to summarize and synthesize evidence from all available case series and case reports published on re-positive COVID-19 cases.
METHODS
The systematic review was registered with Prospero (CRD42020210446). PRISMA guidelines were followed for conducting the systematic review. Inclusion criteria for studies included case reports and case series which have documented cases of positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after a period of clinical improvement or a negative RT-PCR report. Reviews, opinions, and animal studies were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the modified Murad scale.
RESULTS
A total of 30 case reports/case series were included in the study, wherein a total of 219 cases were included. In re-positive cases, the age range varied from 10 months to 91 years. The pooled proportion of positive cases after follow-up using random-effects was 12% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 09%-15%). Among the re-positives, a total of 57 cases (26%) had comorbidities. A total of 51 (23.3%) and 17 (7.8%) re-positive cases had been treated with antivirals and corticosteroids, respectively. Only a few studies have confirmed the presence of antibodies after the first episode. Studies that included contact tracing of re-positives did not find any positive cases among close contacts of re-positive cases.
CONCLUSION
The systemic review found that reinfection is a possibility within 123 days of a negative RT-PCR test in a small number of cases of COVID-19. This has wider ramifications in framing clinical, preventive, and public health policy guidelines.
PubMed: 34334911
DOI: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2021.05.025 -
Contraception and Reproductive Medicine Jul 2021Dual contraceptive is the use of a barrier like condom along with any modern contraceptive methods which has double significance for the prevention STI including HIV and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Dual contraceptive is the use of a barrier like condom along with any modern contraceptive methods which has double significance for the prevention STI including HIV and unintended pregnancy. The prevalence and determinants of dual contraceptive utilization described by different studies were highly inconsistent in Ethiopia. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and determinants of dual contraceptive utilization among HIV positive women in Ethiopia.
METHODS
International database mainly Pub Med, Google scholar, HINARI, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, AJOL was applied to identify original studies. STATA software version 14 was applied to analyze the pooled prevalence of dual contraceptive. I test statistics was computed to check the presence of heterogeneity across the studies and eggers test was used to identify publication bias. The pooled prevalence of dual contraceptive utilization was estimated by using a random effects model. The associations between determinants and dual contraceptive utilization were evaluated by using both random and fixed effect models.
RESULT
A total 9 studies with 9168 HIV positive women were enrolled in this study. The pooled prevalence of dual contraceptive utilization among HIV positive women in Ethiopia was 26.14% (95% CI 21.20-31.08). Disclosure of HIV status (OR = 4.18,95%CI:2.26-7.72), partner involvement in post-test counselling (OR = 2.31,95%CI:1.63-3.25), open discussion about dual contraceptive with partner (OR = 4.27 95% CI:1.69-10.77), provision of counselling on dual contraceptives by health care provider (OR = 4.47,95% CI:3.81-5.24) and CD4 count > 350 cells/ mm (OR = 3.87,95%CI:3.53-4.23) were among the significant factors associated with dual contraceptive utilization.
CONCLUSION
The overall prevalence of dual contraceptive utilization among HIV positive women was significantly low. Disclosure of HIV status, partner involvement in post-test counselling, open discussion about dual contraceptive with partner, counselling on dual contraceptive by health care provider and CD4 count > 350 cells/ mm were positively affect dual contraceptive utilization. This study implies the need to develop plans and policies to improve partner involvement posttest counseling, integrate the counseling and provision of dual contraceptive at ART clinic at each level of health system.
PubMed: 34193304
DOI: 10.1186/s40834-021-00161-w