scholarly journals Recommendations for diagnosing STIC: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joep M. A. Bogaerts ◽  
Miranda P. Steenbeek ◽  
Majke H. D. van Bommel ◽  
Johan Bulten ◽  
Jeroen A. W. M. van der Laak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Precursor Lesions ◽  
Nuclear Pleomorphism ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Absolute Requirement ◽  
Morphological Criteria ◽  
Intraepithelial Carcinoma ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Risk Reducing

AbstractOur understanding of the oncogenesis of high-grade serous cancer of the ovary and its precursor lesions, such as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), has significantly increased over the last decades. Adequate and reproducible diagnosis of these precursor lesions is important. Diagnosing STIC can have prognostic consequences and is an absolute requirement for safely offering alternative risk reducing strategies, such as risk reducing salpingectomy with delayed oophorectomy. However, diagnosing STIC is a challenging task, possessing only moderate reproducibility. In this review and meta-analysis, we look at how pathologists come to a diagnosis of STIC. We performed a literature search identifying 39 studies on risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in women with a known BRCA1/2 PV, collectively reporting on 6833 patients. We found a pooled estimated proportion of STIC of 2.8% (95% CI, 2.0–3.7). We focused on reported grossing protocols, morphological criteria, level of pathologist training, and the use of immunohistochemistry. The most commonly mentioned morphological characteristics of STIC are (1) loss of cell polarity, (2) nuclear pleomorphism, (3) high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, (4) mitotic activity, (5) pseudostratification, and (6) prominent nucleoli. The difference in reported incidence of STIC between studies who totally embedded all specimens and those who did not was 3.2% (95% CI, 2.3–4.2) versus 1.7% (95% CI, 0.0–6.2) (p 0.24). We provide an overview of diagnostic features and present a framework for arriving at an adequate diagnosis, consisting of the use of the SEE-FIM grossing protocol, evaluation by a subspecialized gynecopathologist, rational use of immunohistochemical staining, and obtaining a second opinion from a colleague.

Relationship between total plasma homocysteine and the risk of aneurysms – a meta-analysis

VASA ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Hanji Zhang ◽  
Dexin Yin ◽  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Yezhou Li ◽  
Dejiang Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Total Plasma ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Healthy Participants

Summary: Our meta-analysis focused on the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) level and the incidence of aneurysms and looked at the relationship between smoking, hypertension and aneurysms. A systematic literature search of Pubmed, Web of Science, and Embase databases (up to March 31, 2020) resulted in the identification of 19 studies, including 2,629 aneurysm patients and 6,497 healthy participants. Combined analysis of the included studies showed that number of smoking, hypertension and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) in aneurysm patients was higher than that in the control groups, and the total plasma Hcy level in aneurysm patients was also higher. These findings suggest that smoking, hypertension and HHcy may be risk factors for the development and progression of aneurysms. Although the heterogeneity of meta-analysis was significant, it was found that the heterogeneity might come from the difference between race and disease species through subgroup analysis. Large-scale randomized controlled studies of single species and single disease species are needed in the future to supplement the accuracy of the results.

Age Differences in Eye Movements During Reading: Degenerative Problems or Compensatory Strategy?

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-311
Author(s):  
José David Moreno ◽  
José A. León ◽  
Lorena A. M. Arnal ◽  
Juan Botella
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Sentence Reading ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Eye Movements During Reading

Abstract. We report the results of a meta-analysis of 22 experiments comparing the eye movement data obtained from young ( Mage = 21 years) and old ( Mage = 73 years) readers. The data included six eye movement measures (mean gaze duration, mean fixation duration, total sentence reading time, mean number of fixations, mean number of regressions, and mean length of progressive saccade eye movements). Estimates were obtained of the typified mean difference, d, between the age groups in all six measures. The results showed positive combined effect size estimates in favor of the young adult group (between 0.54 and 3.66 in all measures), although the difference for the mean number of fixations was not significant. Young adults make in a systematic way, shorter gazes, fewer regressions, and shorter saccadic movements during reading than older adults, and they also read faster. The meta-analysis results confirm statistically the most common patterns observed in previous research; therefore, eye movements seem to be a useful tool to measure behavioral changes due to the aging process. Moreover, these results do not allow us to discard either of the two main hypotheses assessed for explaining the observed aging effects, namely neural degenerative problems and the adoption of compensatory strategies.

Inheritance of Some Morphological Characteristics of Parental Lines in Mustard-Rape Hybrid

2020 ◽  
pp. 23-30
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Hybrid Plant ◽  
Distant Hybridization ◽  
Degree Of Dominance ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Row Width ◽  
The Difference

Distant hybridization is known to play an important role in expanding the gene pool of any crop. It is believed that the combination of different genomes in one nucleus, as a rule, is accompanied by the phenomenon of “genomic shock”, resulting in a variety of genetic and epigenetic changes. This provides a wealth of material for the selection of genotypes adapted to different environmental conditions. Interspecific hybrids in different combinations were obtained in the genus Brassica, however, until now, interest in distant hybridization in this genus has not died out, since such important crops as rapeseed and mustard demand an improvement of many important agronomic traits. The aim of this work was to study the degree of manifestation of morphological characters of a leaf, flower, and plant as a whole in the hybrid obtained by crossing of brown mustard of the variety Slavyanka and a collection specimen of spring rape. Seeds were sown in the spring of 2019 in a field with 30 cm row width. During the flowering period a number of morphological characters of a flower, leaf, and the whole plant were analyzed. Each parameter was evaluated with 10 plants. The degree of dominance in first-generation hybrid was calculated by the formula of Beil, Atkins (1965). The dominance coefficients were not determined in the case when the difference between the parental samples was insignificant. Differences between parental samples were determined by Student t-test. The level of heterosis was calculated according to the formula of Rasul et al (2002). In a mustard-rapeseed hybrid, the size of the leaves of the lower row was inherited by the type of rapeseed, which had larger leaves than mustard. The height of the hybrid plant was inherited by the type of mustard (hp = 1.32, Ht = 4.89%), and intermediate inheritance was observed for the length of the internodes (hp = -0.48). The size of the flower petals and sepals was inherited by the type of rapeseed, and significant heterosis was observed for the length of the pistil (Ht = 33.57%). The data obtained are of interest for understanding the interaction of genes of different genomes in the genus Brassica.

scholarly journals Regional differences in mortality rates during the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Danila Azzolina ◽  
Giulia Lorenzoni ◽  
Luciano Silvestri ◽  
Ilaria Prosepe ◽  
Paola Berchialla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Differences ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Disease Diffusion

Abstract Objective The COVID-19 outbreak started in Italy on February 20th, 2020, and has resulted in many deaths and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. This study aimed to illustrate the epidemic COVID-19 growth pattern in Italy by considering the regional differences in disease diffusion during the first three months of the epidemic. Study design and methods Official COVID-19 data were obtained from the Italian Civil Protection Department of the Council of Ministers Presidency. The mortality and ICU admission rates per 100 000 inhabitants were calculated at the regional level and summarized via a Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis. Data were retrieved until April 21st, 2020. Results The highest cumulative mortality rates per 100 000 inhabitants were observed in northern Italy, particularly in Lombardia (85.3, 95% credibility intervals [CI] 75.7–94.7). The difference in the mortality rates between northern and southern Italy increased over time, reaching a difference of 67.72 (95% CI = 66–67) cases on April 2nd. Conclusions Northern Italy showed higher and increasing mortality rates during the first three months of the epidemic. The uncontrolled virus circulation preceding the infection spreading in southern Italy had a considerable impact on system burnout. This experience demonstrates that preparedness against the pandemic is of crucial importance to contain its disruptive effects.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism and venous thromboembolism: A meta-analysis of 9 studies involving 3993 subjects

2021 ◽  
pp. 026835552110166
Author(s):  
Guangbin Huang ◽  
Xuejun Deng ◽  
Yanan Xu ◽  
Pan Wang ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Enos Polymorphism ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide ◽  
Intron 4

Background Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphism may influence the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, data from published studies with low statistical power are inconclusive. The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between eNOS polymorphism and the risk of VTE. Method Case-control studies evaluating the association between the eNOS polymorphism and VTE were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Wanfang, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). Results A total of 1588 cases and 2405 controls from 9 studies were included in the analysis. The results showed that eNOS G894T polymorphism was related to VTE susceptibility and the difference was statistically significant [T vs G: OR = 1.41, 95% CI (1.13, 1.75), P = 0.002; TT + GG vs TG: OR = 0.71, 95% CI (0.60, 0.84), P = 0.000; TT + TG vs GG: OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.23, 1.70), P = 0.000]. Additionally, eNOS Intron 4 VNTR polymorphism was related to VTE susceptibility and the difference was statistically significant [4b4b vs 4a4a + 4a4b: OR = 2.77, 95% CI (1.01, 7.61), P = 0.048]. Conclusion ENOS G894T and eNOS Intron 4 VNTR polymorphisms were associated with VTE susceptibility, especially in Asian populations. However, multicenter studies with larger samples should be conducted to further clarify this association and verify our findings.

scholarly journals Effects of Dexmedetomidine as an Analgesic Adjuvant for Surgery of Femur Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pharmacology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Shan Deng ◽  
Yonghao Yu
Keyword(s):  
Femur Fracture ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sensory Block ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Rescue Analgesia ◽  
Block Level ◽  
Block Time ◽  
Sedation Scores ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Cochrane Library

Patients who undergo surgery of femur fracture suffer the excruciating pain. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is a unique α2-adrenergic receptor agonist with sedative and analgesic properties, whose efficacy and safety are still unclear for surgery of femur fracture. Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of addition of DEX to general or local anesthesia in surgery of femur fracture were searched from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database. Patients who received DEX infusion had a significant longer time to rescue analgesia compared with those without DEX coadministration. DEX treatment seemed to reduce the visual analog score; however, the significance did not reach any statistical difference. DEX as an analgesic adjuvant did not reduce the onset of sensory block time, shorten the time to achieve maximum sensory block level, and provide a longer duration of sensory block. The difference in mean sedation scores between 2 groups was not statistically significant. As for adverse effects, DEX therapy significantly increased the rate of hypotension. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine as a local anesthetic adjuvant in femur fracture surgery had a longer duration of rescue analgesia. However, the incidence of hypotension was markedly increased in these patients. It was worth noting that the evidence was of low to moderate quality.

scholarly journals Differences in coagulopathy indices in patients with severe versus non-severe COVID-19: a meta-analysis of 35 studies and 6427 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Polimeni ◽  
Isabella Leo ◽  
Carmen Spaccarotella ◽  
Annalisa Mongiardo ◽  
Sabato Sorrentino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Coagulation Factors ◽  
Primary Analysis ◽  
Severe Group ◽  
Intravascular Coagulopathy ◽  
The Difference ◽  
D Dimer

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease that appeared in China in December 2019 and spread rapidly around the world. Several patients with severe COVID-19 infection can develop a coagulopathy according to the ISTH criteria for disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) with fulminant activation of coagulation, resulting in widespread microvascular thrombosis and consumption of coagulation factors. We conducted a meta-analysis in order to explore differences in coagulopathy indices in patients with severe and non-severe COVID-19. An electronic search was performed within PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus electronic databases between December 2019 (first confirmed Covid-19 case) up to April 6th, 2020. The primary endpoint was the difference of D-dimer values between Non-Severe vs Severe disease and Survivors vs Non-Survivors. Furthermore, results on additional coagulation parameters (platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time) were also analyzed. The primary analysis showed that mean d-dimer was significantly lower in COVID-19 patients with non-severe disease than in those with severe (SMD − 2.15 [− 2.73 to − 1.56], I2 98%, P < 0.0001). Similarly, we found a lower mean d-dimer in Survivors compared to Non-Survivors (SMD − 2.91 [− 3.87 to − 1.96], I2 98%, P < 0.0001). Additional analysis of platelet count showed higher levels of mean PLT in Non-Severe patients than those observed in the Severe group (SMD 0.77 [0.32 to 1.22], I2 96%, P < 0.001). Of note, a similar result was observed even when Survivors were compared to Non-Survivors (SMD 1.84 [1.16 to 2.53], I2 97%, P < 0.0001). Interestingly, shorter mean PT was found in both Non-Severe (SMD − 1.34 [− 2.06 to − 0.62], I2 98%, P < 0.0002) and Survivors groups (SMD − 1.61 [− 2.69 to − 0.54], I2 98%, P < 0.003) compared to Severe and Non-Survivor patients. In conclusion, the results of the present meta-analysis demonstrate that Severe COVID-19 infection is associated with higher D-dimer values, lower platelet count and prolonged PT. This data suggests a possible role of disseminated intravascular coagulation in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease complications.

scholarly journals The diagnostic value of EBV-DNA and EBV-related antibodies detection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weixing Liu ◽  
Gui Chen ◽  
Xin Gong ◽  
Yingqi Wang ◽  
Yaoming Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽  
Ebv Dna ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background Numerous individual studies have investigated the diagnostic value of EBV-DNA, EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG detection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but the conclusions remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the value of EBV-DNA, EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG detection in the diagnosis of NPC. Methods PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019145532. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese data libraries (Wanfang, CNKI, and CBM) were searched up to January 2019. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood, negative likelihood, and diagnostic odds ratios were conducted in this meta-analysis. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves evaluated the test-performance global summary. Publication bias was examined by Deek’s funnel plot asymmetry test. Results Forty-seven studies with 8382 NPC patients (NPC group) and 15,089 individuals without NPC (Control group) were included in this meta-analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood (+ LR), negative likelihood (-LR), DOR and AUC of EBV-DNA in diagnosis of NPC were: 0.76 (95% CI 0.73–0.77), 0.96 (95% CI 0.95–0.97), 14.66 (95% CI 9.97–21.55), 0.19 (95% CI 0.13–0.28), 84 (95% CI 50.45–139.88), 0.96 (SE: 0.001), and 0.55 (95% CI 0.54–0.57), 0.96 (95% CI 0.96–0.97), 12.91 (95% CI 9.55–17.45), 0.35 (95% CI 0.29–0.43), 39.57 (95% CI 26.44–59.23), 0.94 (SE: 0.002) for the EA-IgA, and 0.85 (95% CI 0.84–0.85), 0.89 (95% CI 0.88–0.89), 6.73 (95% CI5.38–8.43), 0.17 (95% CI 0.12–0.23), 43.03 (95% CI 31.51–58.76), 0.93 (SE: 0.007) for the VCA-IgA, and 0.86 (95% CI 0.85–0.88), 0.87 (95% CI 0.88–0.90), 7.55 (95% CI 5.79–9.87), 0.16 (95% CI 0.13–0.19), 50.95 (95% CI 34.35–75.57), 0.94 (SE: 0.008) for the EBNA1-IgA, and 0.70 (95% CI 0.69–0.71), 0.94 (95% CI 0.94–0.95), 9.84 (95% CI 8.40–11.54), 0.25 (95% CI 0.21–0.31), 40.59 (95% CI 32.09–51.35), 0.95 (SE: 0.005) for the Rta-IgG. The EBV-DNA had larger AUC compared with other EBV-based antibodies (P < 0.05), while the difference between EA-IgA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions EBV-DNA, VCA-IgA, EBNA1-IgA and Rta-IgG detection have high accuracy in early diagnosis NPC. In addition, EBV-DNA detection has the higher diagnosis accuracy in NPC. On the other hand, EA-IgA is suitable for the diagnosis but not NPC screening.

scholarly journals Testosterone in Female Depression: A Meta-Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Study

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 409
Author(s):  
Dhruba Tara Maharjan ◽  
Ali Alamdar Shah Syed ◽  
Guan Ning Lin ◽  
Weihai Ying
Keyword(s):  
Mendelian Randomization ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Menopausal Status ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
Mendelian Randomization Analysis ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Diagnostic Capabilities ◽  
Randomization Analysis

Testosterone’s role in female depression is not well understood, with studies reporting conflicting results. Here, we use meta-analytical and Mendelian randomization techniques to determine whether serum testosterone levels differ between depressed and healthy women and whether such a relationship is casual. Our meta-analysis shows a significant association between absolute serum testosterone levels and female depression, which remains true for the premenopausal group while achieving borderline significance in the postmenopausal group. The results from our Mendelian randomization analysis failed to show any causal relationship between testosterone and depression. Our results show that women with depression do indeed display significantly different serum levels of testosterone. However, the directions of the effect of this relationship are conflicting and may be due to menopausal status. Since our Mendelian randomization analysis was insignificant, the difference in testosterone levels between healthy and depressed women is most likely a manifestation of the disease itself. Further studies could be carried out to leverage this newfound insight into better diagnostic capabilities culminating in early intervention in female depression.

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