scholarly journals Prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of esophageal candidiasis in cirrhosis: an observational study with systematic review and meta-analysis (CANDID-VIEW)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nipun Verma ◽  
Saurabh Mishra ◽  
Shreya Singh ◽  
Arka De ◽  
Madhumita Premkumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Esophageal Candidiasis

scholarly journals Should home-based ovulation predictor kits be offered as an additional approach for fertility management for women and couples desiring pregnancy? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e001403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Teresa Yeh ◽  
Caitlin E Kennedy ◽  
Sheryl Van der Poel ◽  
Thabo Matsaseng ◽  
Laura Bernard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Time To Pregnancy ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Registration Number

IntroductionTo inform the WHO Guideline on self-care interventions, we conducted a systematic review of the impact of ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) on time-to-pregnancy, pregnancy, live birth, stress/anxiety, social harms/adverse events and values/preferences.MethodsIncluded studies had to compare women desiring pregnancy who managed their fertility with and without OPKs, measure an outcome of interest and be published in a peer-reviewed journal. We searched for studies on PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS and EMBASE through November 2018. We assessed risk of bias assessed using the Cochrane tool for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and the Evidence Project tool for observational studies, and conducted meta-analysis using random effects models to generate pooled estimates of relative risk (RR).ResultsFour studies (three RCTs and one observational study) including 1487 participants, all in high-income countries, were included. Quality of evidence was low. Two RCTs found no difference in time-to-pregnancy. All studies reported pregnancy rate, with mixed results: one RCT from the 1990s among couples with unexplained or male-factor infertility found no difference in clinical pregnancy rate (RR: 1.09, 95% CI 0.51 to 2.32); two more recent RCTs found higher self-reported pregnancy rates among OPK users (pooled RR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.80). A small observational study found higher rates of pregnancy with lab testing versus OPKs among women using donor insemination services. One RCT found no increase in stress/anxiety after two menstrual cycles using OPKs, besides a decline in positive affect. No studies measured live birth or social harms/adverse events. Six studies presented end-users’ values/preferences, with almost all women reporting feeling satisfied, comfortable and confident using OPKs.ConclusionA small evidence base, from high-income countries and with high risk of bias, suggests that home-based use of OPKs may improve fertility management when attempting to become pregnant with no meaningful increase in stress/anxiety and with high user acceptability.Systematic review registration numberPROSPERO registration number CRD42019119402.

scholarly journals Increased risk for posterior circulation ischaemia in patients with vertebral artery hypoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-177
Author(s):  
Aristeidis H Katsanos ◽  
Sotirios Giannopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Vertebral Artery ◽  
Risk Ratio ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Posterior Circulation ◽  
Anterior Circulation ◽  
Study Protocols ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Vertebral Artery Hypoplasia

Introduction Although several study protocols reported that vertebral artery hypoplasia can predispose to posterior circulation ischaemia, the role of vertebral artery hypoplasia in the risk of posterior circulation ischaemia still remains controversial. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to investigate the association of vertebral artery hypoplasia and posterior circulation ischaemia. Patients and methods We performed a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis of all eligible observational study protocols reporting prevalence rates of vertebral artery hypoplasia in patients with anterior circulation ischaemia and posterior circulation ischaemia. Results We identified eight study protocols including a total of 3875 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age: 64.2 years, 61.3% males) and reporting a pooled prevalence of vertebral artery hypoplasia 18.6% (95%CI: 10.8–30.0%). In the overall analysis, a significantly higher probability of vertebral artery hypoplasia presence was found in posterior circulation ischaemia patients compared to patients with anterior circulation ischaemia (risk ratio = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.60–2.82, p < 0.001). In the subsequent sensitivity analysis, vertebral artery hypoplasia was again found to be significantly more prevalent in patients with posterior circulation ischaemia compared to anterior circulation ischaemia (risk ratio = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.58–2.06, p < 0.001), with no evidence of heterogeneity (I2 = 0%, p for Cochran Q = 0.55) between included studies. Discussion The present report is a meta-analysis of retrospective observational study protocols, with all the inherent limitations of included studies. The heterogeneity on the reported rates of vertebral artery hypoplasia could be attributed to differences in population age, sex, race, imaging protocols and vertebral artery hypoplasia definition between included studies. Conclusion Our meta-analysis provides further evidence for a possible causal relationship between vertebral artery hypoplasia and cryptogenic posterior circulation ischaemia, an association which undoubtedly deserves further investigation in future prospective study protocols.

scholarly journals Cryoglobulins, Cryofibrinogens, and Cold Agglutinins in Cold Urticaria: Literature Review, Retrospective Patient Analysis, and Observational Study in 49 Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Ginter ◽  
Dalia Melina Ahsan ◽  
Mojca Bizjak ◽  
Karoline Krause ◽  
Marcus Maurer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Cold Urticaria ◽  
Cold Agglutinins ◽  
Critical Appraisal Tool ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Appraisal Tool

IntroductionCryoproteins, such as cryoglobulins, cryofibrinogens and cold agglutinins, precipitate at low temperatures or agglutinate erythrocytes and dissolve again when warmed. Their pathogenetic and diagnostic importance in cold urticaria (ColdU) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to characterize the prevalence of cryoproteins in patients with ColdU.MethodsWe conducted 3 analyses: i) a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data using an adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal tool for case series, ii) a retrospective analysis of 293 ColdU patients treated at our Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) from 2014 to 2019, and iii) a prospective observational study, from July 2019 to July 2020, with 49 ColdU patients as defined by the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/UNEV consensus recommendations.ResultsOur systematic review identified 14 relevant studies with a total of 1151 ColdU patients. The meta-analyses showed that 3.0% (19/628), 1.1% (4/357) and 0.7% (2/283) of patients had elevated levels of cryoglobulins, cryofibrinogens and cold agglutinins, respectively. Our retrospective analyses showed that cryoproteins were assessed in 4.1% (12/293) of ColdU patients. None of 9 ColdU patients had cryoglobulins, and one of 5 had cold agglutinins. In our prospective study, none of our patients had detectable cryoglobulins (0/48) or cryofibrinogens (0/48), but 4.3% (2/46) of patients had cold agglutinins (without any known underlying autoimmune or hematological disorder).ConclusionOur investigation suggests that only very few ColdU patients exhibit cryoproteins and that the pathogenesis of ColdU is driven by other mechanisms, which remain to be identified and characterized in detail.

scholarly journals Systematic review with a meta-analysis: clinical effects of statins on the reduction of portal hypertension and variceal haemorrhage in cirrhotic patients

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e030038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sizhe Wan ◽  
Chenkai Huang ◽  
Xuan Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Beta Blockers ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Variceal Haemorrhage ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BackgroundStatins may improve outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of statins on patients with cirrhosis and related complications, especially portal hypertension and variceal haemorrhage.MethodsStudies were searched in the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library databases up to February 2019. The outcomes of interest were associations between statin use and improvement in portal hypertension (reduction >20% of baseline or <12 mm Hg) and the risk of variceal haemorrhage. The relative risk (RR) with a 95% CI was pooled and calculated using a random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the characteristics of the studies.ResultsEight studies (seven randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and one observational study) with 3195 patients were included. The pooled RR for reduction in portal hypertension was 1.91 (95% CI, 1.04 to 3.52; I2=63%) in six RCTs. On subgroup analysis of studies that used statin for 1 month, the RR was 2.01 (95% CI, 1.31 to 3.10; I2=0%); the pooled RR for studies that used statins for 3 months was 3.76 (95% CI, 0.36 to 39.77; I2=75%); the pooled RR for studies that used non-selective beta-blockers in the control group was 1.42 (95% CI, 0.82 to 2.45; I2=64%); the pooled RR for studies that used a drug that was not reported in the control group was 4.21 (95% CI, 1.52 to 11.70; I2=0%); the pooled RR for studies that used simvastatin was 2.20 (95% CI, 0.92 to 5.29; I2=69%); RR for study using atorvastatin was 1.82 (95% CI, 1.00 to 3.30). For the risk of a variceal haemorrhage, the RR based on an observational study was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.23 to 0.94); in two RCTs, the pooled RR was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.52 to 1.50; I2=0%). Overall, the summed RR was 0.64 (95% CI, 0.42 to 0.99; I2=6%).ConclusionStatins may improve hypertension and decrease the risk of variceal haemorrhage according to our assessment. However, further and larger RCTs are needed to confirm this conclusion.

The effects of low-ratio n-6/n-3 PUFA on biomarkers of inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yali Wei ◽  
Yan Meng ◽  
Na Li ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Liyong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid ◽  
Inflammation Markers ◽  
Pufa Supplementation ◽  
Long Chain

The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine if low-ratio n-6/n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation affects serum inflammation markers based on current studies.

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