PP133 Developing A Novel Multifaceted Graphical Visualization For Treatment Ranking Within An Interactive Network Meta-Analysis Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (S1) ◽  
pp. 21-21
Author(s):  
Clareece Nevill ◽  
Nicola Cooper ◽  
Alex Sutton

IntroductionNetwork meta-analysis (NMA) is a key methodology for comparing the effectiveness of multiple interventions or treatments simultaneously. This project aimed to ascertain current methods and visualizations for treatment ranking within an NMA framework and to subsequently develop a novel graphic within MetaInsight (an interactive NMA web application), to aid clinicians and stakeholders when making decisions regarding the “best” intervention(s) for their patient(s).MethodsCurrent literature on the methodology or visualization of treatment ranking published in the last 10 years was collated and studied. Based on the literature, a novel graphical visualization was developed using RShiny (RStudio, PBC) and integrated within MetaInsight, which is currently hosted on shinyapps.io.ResultsBayesian analyses produce rank probabilities from which mean or median rank and surface under the cumulative ranking curve can be calculated. For frequentist analyses the p-value is available. The simpler methods may be easier to interpret, but they are often more unstable and do not encompass the whole analysis (and vice versa). To aid interpretation and facilitate sensitivity analysis, an interactive graphic was developed that presents rankings alongside treatment effect and study quality results.ConclusionsTreatment ranking is useful, but the results should be interpreted cautiously, and the visualization should be transparent and all-encompassing. A ‘living’ version of MetaInsight, with treatment ranking, would allow interested parties to follow the evidence base as it grows.

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeline Jeyakumar ◽  
Vidhya Shinde ◽  
Reshma Ravindran

Abstract Background Vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women is a public health concern globally. In India, individual studies report high prevalence. However, lack of national data masks the true burden. This work determined the pooled prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in India through a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis. Methods Three different search engines yielded 15 eligible articles. Study quality was assessed by 10 different criteria and summary of study quality was categorized as per Cochrane standards. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among healthy pregnant women and heterogeneity among selected studies. A sample of n = 4088 was used to study the pooled prevalence among pregnant women. Results The random effects combined estimate was 32.35% (95% CI, (12.58–117.48). High heterogeneity (tau2 = 0.39, I2 = 100%) and high risk of bias was observed among the selected studies. The test for overall effect was observed to be z = 2.54(P = 0.01). Conclusion Pooled estimate > 30% emphasizes the need for screening through antenatal care services and initiate preventive measures to address the deficiency.


Author(s):  
Beatrice Heim ◽  
Florian Krismer ◽  
Klaus Seppi

AbstractDifferential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes is considered one of the most challenging in neurology. Quantitative MR planimetric measurements were reported to discriminate between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and non-PSP-parkinsonism. Several studies have used midbrain to pons ratio (M/P) and the Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index (MRPI) in distinguishing PSP patients from those with Parkinson's disease. The current meta-analysis aimed to compare the performance of these measures in discriminating PSP from multiple system atrophy (MSA). A systematic MEDLINE review identified 59 out of 2984 studies allowing a calculation of sensitivity and specificity using the MRPI or M/P. Meta-analyses of results were carried out using random effects modelling. To assess study quality and risk of bias, the QUADAS-2 tool was used. Eight studies were suitable for analysis. The meta‐analysis showed a pooled sensitivity and specificity for the MRPI of PSP versus MSA of 79.2% (95% CI 72.7–84.4%) and 91.2% (95% CI 79.5–96.5%), and 84.1% (95% CI 77.2–89.2%) and 89.2% (95% CI 81.8–93.8%), respectively, for the M/P. The QUADAS-2 toolbox revealed a high risk of bias regarding the methodological quality of patient selection and index test, as all patients were seen in a specialized outpatient department without avoiding case control design and no predefined threshold was given regarding MRPI or M/P cut-offs. Planimetric brainstem measurements, in special the MRPI and M/P, yield high diagnostic accuracy for the discrimination of PSP from MSA. However, there is an urgent need for well-designed, prospective validation studies to ameliorate the concerns regarding the risk of bias.


Author(s):  
Manuel Chavarrias ◽  
Santos Villafaina ◽  
Ana Myriam Lavín-Pérez ◽  
Jorge Carlos-Vivas ◽  
Eugenio Merellano-Navarro ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Obesity or overweight is associated with many health risk factors and preventable mortality. Even people with normal weight and without history of obesity or overweight should avoid weight gain to reduce health risks factors. In this regard Latin aerobic dances involved in Zumba® practice make this modality motivating for people. Apart from weight loss and VO2peak benefits, Zumba practice is also interesting by the increase in adherence which can also avoid weight regain. The aim was to systematically review the scientific literature about the effects of any randomized intervention of Zumba® practice on total fat mass (%) and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2peak), besides establishing directions for the clinical practice. Evidence acquisition: Two systematic searches were conducted in two electronic databases following the PRISMA guidelines. The eligibility criteria were (a) outcomes: body mass or VO2peak data including mean and standard deviation (SD) before and after Zumba® intervention, (b) study design: randomized controlled trial (RCT) and (c) language: English. GRADE guidelines were used to assess the quality of evidence. A meta-analysis was performed to determine mean differences. Nine and four studies were selected for fat mass percentage and VO2peak in the systematic review, respectively. However, only eight studies for fat mass percentage and three for VO2peak could be included in the meta-analysis. Evidence synthesis: The overall standardized mean difference for fat mass was −0.25 with a 95% CI from −0.67 to 0.16 with a p-value of 0.69, with large heterogeneity. On the other hand, the overall effect size for VO2peak was 0.53 (95% CI from 0.04 to 1.02 with a p-value of 0.03) with large heterogeneity. Conclusions: Based on the evidence, we cannot conclude that Zumba® is effective at reducing body mass but it may improve VO2peak. However, the limited number of studies that met the inclusion criteria makes it too early to reach a definite conclusion, so more research is needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Kanters ◽  
Mohammad Ehsanul Karim ◽  
Kristian Thorlund ◽  
Aslam H. Anis ◽  
Michael Zoratti ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The 2018 World Health Organization HIV guidelines were based on the results of a network meta-analysis (NMA) of published trials. This study employed individual patient-level data (IPD) and aggregate data (AgD) and meta-regression methods to assess the evidence supporting the WHO recommendations and whether they needed any refinements. Methods Access to IPD from three trials was granted through ClinicalStudyDataRequest.com (CSDR). Seven modelling approaches were applied and compared: 1) Unadjusted AgD network meta-analysis (NMA) – the original analysis; 2) AgD-NMA with meta-regression; 3) Two-stage IPD-AgD NMA; 4) Unadjusted one-stage IPD-AgD NMA; 5) One-stage IPD-AgD NMA with meta-regression (one-stage approach); 6) Two-stage IPD-AgD NMA with empirical-priors (empirical-priors approach); 7) Hierarchical meta-regression IPD-AgD NMA (HMR approach). The first two were the models used previously. Models were compared with respect to effect estimates, changes in the effect estimates, coefficient estimates, DIC and model fit, rankings and between-study heterogeneity. Results IPD were available for 2160 patients, representing 6.5% of the evidence base and 3 of 24 edges. The aspect of the model affected by the choice of modeling appeared to differ across outcomes. HMR consistently generated larger intervals, often with credible intervals (CrI) containing the null value. Discontinuations due to adverse events and viral suppression at 96 weeks were the only two outcomes for which the unadjusted AgD NMA would not be selected. For the first, the selected model shifted the principal comparison of interest from an odds ratio of 0.28 (95% CrI: 10.17, 0.44) to 0.37 (95% CrI: 0.23, 0.58). Throughout all outcomes, the regression estimates differed substantially between AgD and IPD methods, with the latter being more often larger in magnitude and statistically significant. Conclusions Overall, the use of IPD often impacted the coefficient estimates, but not sufficiently as to necessitate altering the final recommendations of the 2018 WHO Guidelines. Future work should examine the features of a network where adjustments will have an impact, such as how much IPD is required in a given size of network.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1559
Author(s):  
Mario Dioguardi ◽  
Enrica Laneve ◽  
Michele Di Cosola ◽  
Angela Pia Cazzolla ◽  
Diego Sovereto ◽  
...  

Sterilization processes guarantee the sterility of dental instruments but can negatively affect instrument features by altering their physical and mechanical properties. The endodontic instrumentation can undergo a series of alterations, ranging from corrosion to variation in the cutting angle and then changes in the torsional properties and torsional fatigue resistance. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aims to investigate alterations to the cutting efficiency of endodontic instruments that are induced by procedures for their disinfection and sterilization. Methodologies adopted for this investigation follow the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. The following were used as search terms on PubMed and Scopus: “endodontic sterilization”, “endodontic autoclave”, “cyclic fatigue”, “torsional”, “cutting efficiency”, “sterilization”, “surface characteristics”, and “corrosion”. At the end of the selection process, 36 articles were identified, and seven of them are included in this systematic review. The results of a meta-analysis conducted for the use of 10 autoclaving cycles shows a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.80 with a p-value equal to 0.04 with respect to effect on cutting efficiency. The network meta-analysis, through direct and indirect comparison between the different autoclave cycles (0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 cycles), revealed that treatment involving 15 autoclave cycles produced the most robust results in terms of having the greatest effects in terms of altered cutting efficiency with a probability of 57.7% and a SUCRA (surface under the cumulative ranking) of 80%. The alterations in the effects on cutting efficiency appear to be triggered after five cycles of sterilization by heat (autoclave). In conclusion, the meta-analysis of the data indicates that the autoclave sterilization protocol must not be repeated more than five times to preserve cutting efficiency. Within the limitations of this review, we can therefore establish that sterilization by autoclaving alone results in steel and NiTi instruments becoming less efficient in cutting after five cycles, as measured by a reduction in cutting efficiency.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie E Westwood ◽  
Penny F Whiting ◽  
Jos Kleijnen
Keyword(s):  

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. van Straten ◽  
J. Hill ◽  
D. A. Richards ◽  
P. Cuijpers

BackgroundIn stepped care models patients typically start with a low-intensity evidence-based treatment. Progress is monitored systematically and those patients who do not respond adequately step up to a subsequent treatment of higher intensity. Despite the fact that many guidelines have endorsed this stepped care principle it is not clear if stepped care really delivers similar or better patient outcomes against lower costs compared with other systems. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized trials on stepped care for depression.MethodWe carried out a comprehensive literature search. Selection of studies, evaluation of study quality and extraction of data were performed independently by two authors.ResultsA total of 14 studies were included and 10 were used in the meta-analyses (4580 patients). All studies used screening to identify possible patients and care as usual as a comparator. Study quality was relatively high. Stepped care had a moderate effect on depression (pooled 6-month between-group effect size Cohen'sdwas 0.34; 95% confidence interval 0.20–0.48). The stepped care interventions varied greatly in number and duration of treatment steps, treatments offered, professionals involved, and criteria to step up.ConclusionsThere is currently only limited evidence to suggest that stepped care should be the dominant model of treatment organization. Evidence on (cost-) effectiveness compared with high-intensity psychological therapy alone, as well as with matched care, is required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 468-469
Author(s):  
Shane Gadberry ◽  
David Lalman ◽  
Frank White ◽  
Sara Linneen ◽  
Paul A Beck

Abstract This meta-analysis investigated the impacts of monensin on performance of stocker cattle on high-forage diets. The stocker performance analysis resulted from 38 experiments with 73 mean comparisons; bloat analysis was conducted with 12 experiments with 23 mean comparisons. The metaphor package (version 2.4-0) for R (version 4.0.3; www.r-project.org) was used to determine the overall effect size of monensin compared to a negative control. Each study’s n, means, and SEM or P-value was used to calculate the mean difference and estimate of within study variance for responses of interest. Moderators of monensin response considered in the analysis were delivery method, dose, study duration, initial calf BW, diet ME and CP, and forage category. Initial BW and basal ADG averaged 236 ± 45.9 kg and 0.72 ± 0.28 kg/day, respectively. In the ADG analysis the only significant moderator of those considered was length of the study (P < 0.01), as duration of the study increased the ADG response to monensin decreased by 0.0007 kg/day. For the average 112-day length of study, the average monensin response is estimated to be 0.0784 kg/day increase in average daily gain. Sufficient information was presented in only 18 citations representing 40 mean comparisons for determining the effect of monensin on BW at the end of the experiment, estimated by (P < 0.01) monensin response (increased ending BW, kg) = 22.3 – 0.05 (initial calf BW, kg). Thus, for the average initial BW of 235 kg the average monensin response is estimated to be 10.6 kg increase in average ending BW. The incidence (-20%) and severity (-0.7 bloat scores) of bloat was found to be reduced in bloat prone pastures. There is ample evidence that monensin increases performance of growing calves on high forage diets along with reducing the incidence and severity of bloat.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Akçay ◽  
Nuray Barış

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of interventions focused on reducing screen time in children. Design/methodology/approach Studies that aim to investigate the effects of interventions aimed at reducing the time spent in front of the screen (i.e. screen time). A Random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled standard mean differences. The outcome was to evaluate the screen time in children in the 0–18 age range. A subgroup analysis was performed to reveal the extent to which the overall effect size varied by subgroups (participant age, duration of intervention and follow). Findings For the outcome, the meta-analysis included 21 studies, and the standard difference in mean change in screen time in the intervention group compared with the control group was −0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.21 to −0.12) (p < 0.001). The effect size was found to be higher in long-term (=7 months) interventions and follow-ups (p < 0.05). Originality/value Subgroup analysis showed that a significant effect of screen time reduction was observed in studies in which the duration of intervention and follow-up was =7 months. As the evidence base grows, future researchers can contribute to these findings by conducting a more comprehensive analysis of effect modifiers and optimizing interventions to reduce screen time.


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