scholarly journals Meta-assessment of bias in science

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (14) ◽  
pp. 3714-3719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Fanelli ◽  
Rodrigo Costas ◽  
John P. A. Ioannidis
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Scientific Misconduct ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Large Random Sample ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Highly Cited

Numerous biases are believed to affect the scientific literature, but their actual prevalence across disciplines is unknown. To gain a comprehensive picture of the potential imprint of bias in science, we probed for the most commonly postulated bias-related patterns and risk factors, in a large random sample of meta-analyses taken from all disciplines. The magnitude of these biases varied widely across fields and was overall relatively small. However, we consistently observed a significant risk of small, early, and highly cited studies to overestimate effects and of studies not published in peer-reviewed journals to underestimate them. We also found at least partial confirmation of previous evidence suggesting that US studies and early studies might report more extreme effects, although these effects were smaller and more heterogeneously distributed across meta-analyses and disciplines. Authors publishing at high rates and receiving many citations were, overall, not at greater risk of bias. However, effect sizes were likely to be overestimated by early-career researchers, those working in small or long-distance collaborations, and those responsible for scientific misconduct, supporting hypotheses that connect bias to situational factors, lack of mutual control, and individual integrity. Some of these patterns and risk factors might have modestly increased in intensity over time, particularly in the social sciences. Our findings suggest that, besides one being routinely cautious that published small, highly-cited, and earlier studies may yield inflated results, the feasibility and costs of interventions to attenuate biases in the literature might need to be discussed on a discipline-specific and topic-specific basis.

scholarly journals Risk factors for infectiousness of patients with tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.A. Melsew ◽  
T.N. Doan ◽  
M. Gambhir ◽  
A.C. Cheng ◽  
E. McBryde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Sputum Smear ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Cavitary Disease ◽  
Meta Analyses

AbstractWe performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of studies assessing tuberculosis (TB) patient-related risk factors for transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Meta-analyses were conducted for sputum smear-positivity, lung cavitation and HIV seropositivity of index patients with both crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) pooled using random effect models. Thirty-seven studies were included in the review. We found that demographic characteristics such as age and sex were not significant risk factors, while behaviours such as smoking and alcohol intake were associated with infectiousness although inconsistently. Treatment delay of >28 days was a significant predictor of greater infectiousness. Contacts of sputum smear-positive index patients were found to be more likely to be infected than contacts of sputum smear-negative patients, with a pooled AOR of 2.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47–3.17, I2 = 38%). Similarly, contacts of patients with the cavitary disease were around twice as likely to be infected as contacts of patients without cavitation (pooled AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.26–2.84, I2 = 63%). In contrast, HIV seropositive patients were associated with few contact infections than HIV seronegative patients (AOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26–0.80, I2 = 52%). In conclusion, behavioural and clinical characteristics of TB patients can be used to identify highly infectious patients for targeted interventions.

Abstract 15723: Risk Factors of Fluoropyrimidine Induced Cardiotoxicity Among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Li ◽  
Kaniz A Tanni ◽  
Surachat Ngorsuraches ◽  
Chiahung Chou ◽  
Li Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cardiac Disease ◽  
Prediction Interval ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Smoking Habit ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Meta Analyses

Introduction: Cancer patients are at increased risk of experiencing cardiotoxicity during their fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. However, risk factors for fluoropyrimidine-induced cardiotoxicity (FIC) are not entirely understood. Methods: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, IPA, CINAHL, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies published between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2019, examining risk factors for cardiotoxicity induced by 5-fluorouracil, capecitabine or floxuridine. Two reviewers independently assessed publication quality and extracted study-level data into standardized evidence tables. Review Manager 5 software was used to convert data to risk ratios (RRs) and calculate pooled RRs for meta-analyses using a random-effects method. We conducted a Cochran’s Q test and obtained I 2 index to quantify study heterogeneity in each meta-analysis, with prediction interval (PI) to show the expected range of true effects in future similar studies. Results: Of 690 publications identified for abstract and title screening, 22 unique studies were included in the final review, and 20 of them had sufficient data for meta-analyses. Results indicated that patients undergoing capecitabine-based combination therapy had a higher risk of FIC than those with capecitabine monotherapy (pooled RR=1.61, 95% CI=1.01-2.55, I 2 =0%, 95% PI=0.08-31.71). Also, patients with pre-existing cardiac disease (pooled RR=3.01, 95% CI=2.02-4.49, I 2 =42%, 95% PI=1.03-8.78), hypertension (pooled RR=1.52, 95% CI=1.20-1.93, I 2 =0%, 95% PI=1.08-2.13) or smoking habit (pooled RR=2.22, 95% CI=1.03-4.78, I 2 =39%, 95% PI=0.15-32.46) had a significantly higher risk of FIC than their counterparts, while gender and comorbidities including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity were not significant risk factors of FIC. Conclusions: Cancer patients with pre-existing cardiac disease, hypertension, and smoking behavior had a higher risk of FIC when they are undergoing fluoropyrimidine-based treatments. Further research is needed to develop risk assessment tools for a risk prediction of FIC among cancer patients, which could advance risk stratification strategies and improve patient outcomes during the application of fluoropyrimidine-based treatments.

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Malaysia : A scoping review protocol (Preprint)

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD HISHAM ◽  
Fazila Haryati Ahmag ◽  
Hasmah Mohamed Haris ◽  
Noor Aliza Lodz ◽  
Norzawati Yoep ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Data Extraction Form ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
The Government ◽  
Meta Analyses

BACKGROUND Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is one of the 13 notable Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) according to the CDC and WHO. In 2010, it is estimated that 1.73 billion people are infected with STH globally of which 70% of cases occur in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of published literature on the prevalence of STH infection throughout Malaysia. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study are to review research activity on STH infection in Malaysia, to estimate the prevalence of STH infection among Malaysian, and to identify significant risk factors associated with the infection. METHODS We will conduct a scoping review based on the 6-stages structured framework of Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodology. A comprehensive search strategy focusing on STH infection will be executed using electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE). A systematic approach to searching, screening, reviewing and data extraction will be applied based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). Mendeley software and Microsoft Excel programmes will be used to manage the references and to remove duplicates. Relevant data from selected articles will be extracted using a standardized data extraction form using the Google Form application. Results will be summarized descriptively in tabular form including types of interventions, study design, settings, tools used, and the outcomes of each study. RESULTS We would like to provide further evidence on the prevalence of STH in terms of parasite species that predominately cause the infection and the intensity of the infection. Finally, we will present the significant risk factors that contribute to STH infection and discuss prevention taken by considering the government or private sectors involvement towards curbing this issue. CONCLUSIONS We hope that the findings of this scoping review will provide information for policymakers and strengthen policy guidelines to eradicate STH infection, and for researchers to further study and investigate any STH-related issue in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Risk factors for all-cause hospital readmission following exacerbation of COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (156) ◽  
pp. 190166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaber S. Alqahtani ◽  
Chidiamara M. Njoku ◽  
Bonnie Bereznicki ◽  
Barbara C. Wimmer ◽  
Gregory M. Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Copd Exacerbations ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽  
Exacerbation Of Copd ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundReadmission rates following hospitalisation for COPD exacerbations are unacceptably high, and the contributing factors are poorly understood. Our objective was to summarise and evaluate the factors associated with 30- and 90-day all-cause readmission following hospitalisation for an exacerbation of COPD.MethodsWe systematically searched electronic databases from inception to 5 November 2019. Data were extracted by two independent authors in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Study quality was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. We synthesised a narrative from eligible studies and conducted a meta-analysis where this was possible using a random-effects model.ResultsIn total, 3533 abstracts were screened and 208 full-text manuscripts were reviewed. A total of 32 papers met the inclusion criteria, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The readmission rate ranged from 8.8–26.0% at 30 days and from 17.5–39.0% at 90 days. Our narrative synthesis showed that comorbidities, previous exacerbations and hospitalisations, and increased length of initial hospital stay were the major risk factors for readmission at 30 and 90 days. Pooled adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) revealed that heart failure (1.29 (1.22–1.37)), renal failure (1.26 (1.19–1.33)), depression (1.19 (1.05–1.34)) and alcohol use (1.11 (1.07–1.16)) were all associated with an increased risk of 30-day all-cause readmission, whereas being female was a protective factor (0.91 (0.88–0.94)).ConclusionsComorbidities, previous exacerbations and hospitalisation, and increased length of stay were significant risk factors for 30- and 90-day all-cause readmission after an index hospitalisation with an exacerbation of COPD.

scholarly journals Environmental risk factors for gastric cancer: a protocol for umbrella review of meta-analyses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Seo Kim ◽  
Seungwon Kim ◽  
Sungsoo Park
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Topic Area ◽  
Cancer Risk Factors ◽  
Meta Analyses

Gastric cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, accounting for 5.7% of the new cancer cases in 2018[1]. Gastric cancer remains an important global concern because it is the third leading cause of cancer death[1] and its increasing incidence[2]. Therefore, it is crucial to develop prevention strategies for gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection, a WHO class I carcinogen, is a significant risk factor of gastric cancer; however, only 0.5% of infected individuals would develop gastric cancer[3]. This data suggests that there are other additional risk factors for gastric cancer. A large body of research has been performed to investigate the association between various environmental factors and gastric cancer, including dietary factors, tobacco smoking, and alcohol drinking. However, the precision and strength of these existing studies need to be clarified. Umbrella review is one of the most useful tools for a clear understanding of a broad topic area. It provides a comprehensive overall picture of findings for specific questions based on high-level evidence of published systemic reviews and meta-analyses[4]. Thus, this study aimed to conduct an umbrella review of systemic reviews and meta-analyses that investigated gastric cancer risk factors.

Popliteal entrapment syndrome and age

VASA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Schweizer ◽  
Hügli ◽  
Koella ◽  
Jeanneret
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Leg Pain ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Entrapment Syndrome ◽  
Long Distance Running ◽  
Popliteal Entrapment ◽  
Popliteal Entrapment Syndrome ◽  
Atherosclerotic Risk Factors

On the occasion of diagnosing a popliteal entrapment syndrome in a 59-year old man with no cardiovascular risk factors, who developed acute ischemic leg pain during long distance running, we give an overview on this entity with emphasis on patients’age. The different types of the popliteal artery compression syndrome are summarized. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are discussed. The most important clinical sign of a popliteal entrapment syndrome is the lack of atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with limited walking distance. Not only in young athletes but also in patients more than 50 years old the popliteal entrapment syndrome has to be taken into account.

Venous Thromboembolism and High Grade Gliomas

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (03) ◽  
pp. 393-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandeep S Dhami ◽  
Robert D Bona ◽  
John A Calogero ◽  
Richard M Hellman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Bleeding Complications ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
High Grade Gliomas

SummaryA retrospective study was done to determine the incidence of and the risk factors predisposing to clinical venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients treated for high grade gliomas. Medical records of 68 consecutive patients diagnosed and treated at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center from January 1986 to June 1991 were reviewed. The follow up was to time of death or at least 6 months (up to December 1991). All clinically suspected episodes of VTE were confirmed by objective tests. Sixteen episodes of VTE were detected in 13 patients for an overall episode rate of 23.5%. Administration of chemotherapy (p = 0.027, two tailed Fisher exact test) and presence of paresis (p = 0.031, two tailed Fisher exact test) were statistically significant risk factors for the development of VTE. Thrombotic events were more likely to occur in the paretic limb and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.00049, chi square test, with Yates correction). No major bleeding complications were seen in the nine episodes treated with long term anticoagulation.We conclude that venous thromboembolic complications are frequently encountered in patients being treated for high grade gliomas and the presence of paresis and the administration of chemotherapy increases the risk of such complications.

MEASLES OUTBREAK IN A RURAL AREA OF A DEVELOPING COUNTRY: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-201
Author(s):  
Mir M Hassan Bullo ◽  
Mirza Amir Baig ◽  
Jawad Faisal Malik ◽  
Ejaz Ahmad Khan ◽  
Muazam Abbas Ranjha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Maculopapular Rash ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
District Health ◽  
Active Case

Background: Measles is highly contagious vaccine preventable disease (VPD), and a major public health problem considered as leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Pakistan. An outbreak of measles was reported in Sharifabad Islamabad on 15th of April 2017, and an investigation was launched to assess the magnitude of outbreak, evaluate risk factors and recommend control measures. Methods: A comprehensive house to house active case search along with vaccine coverage survey was conducted from April 19-22, 2017. A case was defined as "onset of maculopapular rash with fever in a resident of Sharifabad with at least one of the following signs/ symptoms, Coryza, Conjunctivitis, Cough, Otitis media or Pneumonia present in between 19 March to 22nd April 2017". Four age & sex matched controls were selected from the neighborhood. Data was collected through interview method using structured questionnaire and vaccination coverage was determined by using Epi survey form. Blood samples were sent for laboratory confirmation. Results: A total of eight cases were identified through active case finding while three were reported by local practitioner. Mean age of cases were 20 months (range 8-36 months). Severely affected age-group was 1-2 years with attack rate of 46%. Around two-third (64%) of cases and a few (16%) of controls were unvaccinated against measles. Contact with measles patient [OR 25.2, CI 3.9-160.1, P=0.00], unvaccinated children [OR 9.2 CI 2.12-40.4, P=0.000], social misconception regarding vaccination [OR 7.8 CI 1.42-42.6, P=0.00], and distance from healthcare facility [OR 5.7 CI 1.15-28.35, P=0.02] were significant risk factors. Vaccine efficacy was 90%. Conclusion: Main reasons of the outbreak were contact with the cases, and low vaccination status. We recommended comprehensive measles vaccination and community awareness sessions. On our recommendations district health authority Islamabad carried out mop up of whole area.

Renal Failure after Coronary Bypass Surgery and the Associated Risk Factors

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 006
Author(s):  
Hasan Reyhanoglu ◽  
Kaan Ozcan ◽  
Murat Erturk ◽  
Fatih İslamoglu ◽  
İsa Durmaz
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Renal Failure ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Artery Bypass ◽  
Bypass Surgery ◽  
Artery Bypass ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Factors Associated

<strong>Objective:</strong> We aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with acute renal failure in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> One hundred and six patients who developed renal failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) constituted the study group (RF group), while 110 patients who did not develop renal failure served as a control group <br />(C group). In addition, the RF group was divided into two subgroups: patients that were treated with conservative methods without the need for hemodialysis (NH group) and patients that required hemodialysis (HR group). Risk factors associated with renal failure were investigated.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> Among the 106 patients that developed renal failure (RF), 80 patients were treated with conservative methods without any need for hemodialysis (NH group); while <br />26 patients required hemodialysis in the postoperative period (HR group). The multivariate analysis showed that diabetes mellitus and the postoperative use of positive inotropes and adrenaline were significant risk factors associated with development of renal failure. In addition, carotid stenosis and postoperative use of adrenaline were found to be significant risk factors associated with hemodialysis-dependent renal failure (P &lt; .05). The mortality in the RF group was determined as 13.2%, while the mortality rate in patients who did not require hemodialysis and those who required hemodialysis was 6.2% and 34%, respectively.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Renal failure requiring hemodialysis after CABG often results in high morbidity and mortality. Factors affecting microcirculation and atherosclerosis, like diabetes mellitus, carotid artery stenosis, and postoperative vasopressor use remain the major risk factors for the development of renal failure.<br /><br />

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