Relationship between polydipsia and antipsychotics: A systematic review of clinical studies and case reports

OBJECTIVE Cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment modality for single-level cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy. Its advantages over an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) include motion preservation and decreased reoperations at the index and adjacent segments up to 7 years postoperatively. Considering the fact that many patients have multilevel cervical disc degeneration (CDD), the authors performed a systematic review of the clinical studies evaluating patients who underwent multilevel CDA (2 or more levels). METHODS A systematic review in the MEDLINE database was performed. Clinical studies including patients who had multilevel CDA were selected and included. Case reports and literature reviews were excluded. Articles were then grouped according to their main study objective: 1) studies comparing multilevel CDA versus ACDF; 2) studies comparing single-level CDA versus multilevel CDA; and 3) multilevel CDA after a previous cervical spine surgery. RESULTS Fourteen articles met all inclusion criteria. The general conclusions were that multilevel CDA was at least as safe and effective as ACDF, with preservation of cervical motion when compared with ACDF and potentially with fewer reoperations expected in most of the studies. Multilevel CDAs are clinically effective as single-level surgeries, with good clinical and radiological outcomes. Some studies reported a higher incidence of heterotopic ossification in multilevel CDA when compared with single-level procedures, but without clinical relevance during the follow-up period. A CDA may be indicated even after a previous cervical surgery in selected cases. CONCLUSIONS The current literature supports the use of multilevel CDA. Caution is necessary regarding the more restrictive indications for CDA when compared with ACDF. Further prospective, controlled, multicenter, and randomized studies not sponsored by the device manufactures are desirable to prove the superiority of CDA surgery over ACDF as the treatment of choice for CDD in selected cases.

Download Full-text

Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9101102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1102

Author(s):

Meng Lv ◽

Xufei Luo ◽

Quan Shen ◽

Ruobing Lei ◽

Xiao Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Immune Response ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Protective Efficacy ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Protective Effects ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽

Clinical Trials Registry

Aim: To identify the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of published studies and ongoing clinical studies related to the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine in children or adolescents (aged < 18 years). Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, WHO COVID-19 database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched on 23 July 2021. International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) was also searched to identify ongoing studies. Results: Eight published studies with a total of 2852 children and adolescents and 28 ongoing clinical studies were included. Of the eight published studies, two were RCTs, two case series, and four case reports. The investigated COVID-19 vaccines had good safety profiles in children and adolescents. Injection site pain, fatigue, headache, and chest pain were the most common adverse events. A limited number of cases of myocarditis and pericarditis were reported. The RCTs showed that the immune response to BNT162b2 in adolescents aged 12–15 years was non-inferior to that in young people aged 16–25 years, while with 3 μg CoronaVac injection the immune response was stronger than with 1.5 μg. The efficacy of BNT162b2 was 100% (95% CI: 75.3 to 100), based on one RCT. Of the 28 ongoing clinical studies, twenty-three were interventional studies. The interventional studies were being conducted in fifteen countries, among them, China (10, 43.5%) and United States(9, 39.1%) had the highest number of ongoing trials. BNT162b2 was the most commonly studied vaccine in the ongoing trials. Conclusion: Two COVID-19 vaccines have potential protective effects in children and adolescents, but awareness is needed to monitor possible adverse effects after injection. Clinical studies of the COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents with longer follow-up time, larger sample size, and a greater variety of vaccines are still urgently needed.

Download Full-text

Convalescent Plasma for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25500 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Henry Peng

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Case Reports ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Future Research ◽

In Vitro Testing ◽

Screening Process ◽

Prevention And Treatment

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus termed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread quickly worldwide. Currently, no vaccine or specific therapeutics are available to prevent and/or treat COVID-19. Convalescent plasma (CP) obtained from patients following resolution of COVID-19 infection and development of antibodies against the virus is an attractive option for either prophylactic or therapeutic treatment, since antibodies may have direct or indirect antiviral activities and immunotherapy has proven effective in principle, and in many clinical reports. OBJECTIVE We sought to characterize the latest advances and evidence in the use of CP for COVID-19 through a systematic review and quantitatively analysis, identify knowledge gaps in this setting, and offer recommendations and directives for future research. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science and Embase were continuously searched for studies assessing the use of CP for COVID-19 including clinical studies, commentaries, reviews, guidelines/protocols and in vitro testing of CP antibodies. Screening process and data extraction were performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Quality appraisal of all clinical studies was conducted using an universal tool independent on study designs. Meta-analysis of case-controlled and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using a random-effects model. RESULTS Substantial literature has been published covering various aspects of CP therapy for COVID-19. Of the references included in this review, a total of 243 eligible studies including 64 clinical studies, 79 commentary articles, 46 reviews, 19 guidance and protocols, 35 in vitro testing of CP antibodies, matched the criteria. Positive results have been mostly observed so far when utilising CP for the treatment of COVID-19. There are remarkable heterogeneities in the CP therapy with respect to patient demographics, donor antibody titers, time and dose of CP administration. The studies assessing the safety of CP treatment reported low incidence of adverse events. Most clinical studies in particular case reports and case series had poor quality. Only one RCT was of high quality. Randomized and non-randomized data were found in two and 11 studies, respectively and included for meta-analysis suggesting that CP could reduce mortality and increase viral clearance. Despite promising pilot studies, the benefits of CP treatment can only be clearly established through carefully designed RCTs. CONCLUSIONS There is developing support for CP therapy particularly for patients who are critically ill or mechanically ventilated and resistant to antivirals and supportive care. These studies provide important lessons that should inform the planning of well-designed RCTs to generate more robust knowledge for the efficacy of CP in COVID-19 patients. Future research is necessary to fill the knowledge gap regarding prevention and treatment of COVID-19 patients with CP while vaccines and other treatment are being developed.

Download Full-text

Malaria and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2817 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

A Holm ◽

L.C Gomes ◽

T Biering-Soerensen ◽

O Silvestre ◽

P Brainin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiac Disease ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Case Reports ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Cardiac Biomarkers ◽

Left Ventricular Ejection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cross Sectional Studies

Abstract Background Myocardial tissue appears to be a favored site for the malaria parasite, and several studies have suggested that malaria may lead to myocardial dysfunction. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of clinical studies reporting on malaria and cardiac disease. Methods We searched PubMed and Embase through January 2020. We applied strict inclusion criteria (Figure 1A) and assessed studies reporting on verified cardiac disease by paraclinical tests, ECG, cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic findings. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data and assessed the PRISMA guidelines. Results Twenty-eight articles were identified (published 1954–2020; n=19 case-reports, n=5 cohort studies, n=4 cross-sectional studies; Figure 1B), of which most were conducted in India (n=11) and Germany (n=4). The studies included a total of 2,221 malaria cases (mean age 42 years; 67% men; 41% complicated infection) and the distribution of species were: Plasmodium falciparum (n=15), vivax (n=12) and knowlesi (n=1). The most commonly reported cardiac diagnoses in case-reports were myocarditis (n=9), pericarditis (n=3) and acute myocardial infarction (n=4). Although the cohort and cross-sectional studies reported on different cardiac parameters (Figure 1C), a majority showed that malaria cases more often had elevated levels of cardiac biomarkers, ECG alterations and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction when compared to controls (P<0.05 for all). Conclusion Studies reporting on malaria and cardiovascular disease display considerable heterogeneity in terms of study design, severity and outcome measurements. Despite this, the included studies demonstrate a potential link between malaria and cardiac disease. This should be explored in future and larger hypothesis generating clinical studies. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Download Full-text

Cannabis-associated arteritis

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000004 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 43-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Grotenhermen

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

Causative Factor ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Thromboangiitis Obliterans ◽

Pathological Features ◽

Scientific Support ◽

Clinical And Pathological Features

Background: To investigate the hypothesis that cases of arteritis similar to thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) and associated with the use of cannabis were caused by cannabis or THC (dronabinol), or that cannabis use is a co-factor of TAO. Patients and methods: A systematic review on case reports and the literature on so-called cannabis arteritis, TAO, and cardiovascular effects of cannabinoids was conducted. Results: Fifteen reports with 57 cases of an arteritis associated with the use of cannabis and two additional case series of TAO, in which some patients also used cannabis, were identified. Clinical and pathological features of cannabis-associated arteritis do not differ from TAO and the major risk factor of TAO, tobacco use, was present in most, if not in all of these cases. The proposed pathophysiological mechanisms for the development of an arteritis by cannabis use are not substantiated. Conclusions: The hypothesis of cannabis being a causative factor or co-factor of TAO or an arteritis similar to TAO is not supported by the available evidence. The use of the term cannabis arteritis should be avoided until or unless more convincing scientific support is forthcoming.

Download Full-text

Capecitabine Induced Hand-Foot Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences ◽

10.33808/clinexphealthsci.469538 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Elif ARAS ◽

Kamer Tecen YÜCEL ◽

Aygin Bayraktar EKİNCİOĞLU ◽

İbrahim GÜLLÜ

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Case Reports ◽

Hand Foot Syndrome

Download Full-text

Mechanical thrombectomy in pediatric stroke: systematic review, individual patient data meta-analysis, and case series

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2019.5.peds19126 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 558-571 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kartik Bhatia ◽

Hans Kortman ◽

Christopher Blair ◽

Geoffrey Parker ◽

David Brunacci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Case Reports ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Neurological Outcomes

OBJECTIVEThe role of mechanical thrombectomy in pediatric acute ischemic stroke is uncertain, despite extensive evidence of benefit in adults. The existing literature consists of several recent small single-arm cohort studies, as well as multiple prior small case series and case reports. Published reports of pediatric cases have increased markedly since 2015, after the publication of the positive trials in adults. The recent AHA/ASA Scientific Statement on this issue was informed predominantly by pre-2015 case reports and identified several knowledge gaps, including how young a child may undergo thrombectomy. A repeat systematic review and meta-analysis is warranted to help guide therapeutic decisions and address gaps in knowledge.METHODSUsing PRISMA-IPD guidelines, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to April 2019 and individual patient data meta-analysis, with 2 independent reviewers. An additional series of 3 cases in adolescent males from one of the authors’ centers was also included. The primary outcomes were the rate of good long-term (mRS score 0–2 at final follow-up) and short-term (reduction in NIHSS score by ≥ 8 points or NIHSS score 0–1 at up to 24 hours post-thrombectomy) neurological outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in patients < 18 years of age. The secondary outcome was the rate of successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3).RESULTSThe authors’ review yielded 113 cases of mechanical thrombectomy in 110 pediatric patients. Although complete follow-up data are not available for all patients, 87 of 96 (90.6%) had good long-term neurological outcomes (mRS score 0–2), 55 of 79 (69.6%) had good short-term neurological outcomes, and 86 of 98 (87.8%) had successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3). Death occurred in 2 patients and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in 1 patient. Sixteen published thrombectomy cases were identified in children < 5 years of age.CONCLUSIONSMechanical thrombectomy may be considered for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (ICA terminus, M1, basilar artery) in patients aged 1–18 years (Level C evidence; Class IIb recommendation). The existing evidence base is likely affected by selection and publication bias. A prospective multinational registry is recommended as the next investigative step.

Download Full-text