531 COVID-19 and Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: Are the Risk Higher? A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction We aimed to determine if patients with CHD are at a higher risk of poor outcomes if they have COVID-19, compared to those without CHD. Method A systematic review was executed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. To identify articles related to COVID-19 and CHD, an extensive literature search was performed on EMBASE, Medline, Scopus and Global Health databases using keywords and MeSH terms. Results 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included for analysis in this systematic review. Two themes were identified for data extraction: [1] evidence supporting higher risks in CHD patients and [2] evidence against higher risks in CHD patients. After combining the data, there were 99 patients with CHDs out of which 12 required admission to ICU. Conclusions This systematic review suggests that CHD may increase the risk of poor outcomes for those with COVID-19, but also highlights the necessity for more research with larger sample sizes in order to make a more justified conclusion, as the majority of papers that were analysed were case series and case reports. Future research should aim to quantify the risks if possible while accounting for various confounding factors such as age and treatment history.

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COVID-19 and congenital heart disease: an insight of pathophysiology and associated risks

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951120003741 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Ana Alina Haiduc ◽

Michael Ogunjimi ◽

Rohma Shammus ◽

Saira Mahmood ◽

Ramesh Kutty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Congenital Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Future Research ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Mesh Terms ◽

Poor Outcomes

Abstract Objective: We aimed to examine the literature to determine if both paediatric and adult patients diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at a higher risk of poor outcomes if they have the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), compared to those without CHD. Methods: A systematic review was executed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. To identify articles related to COVID-19 and CHD, an extensive literature search was performed on EMBASE, Medline, Scopus, and Global Health databases using keywords and MeSH terms. Results: A total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included for analysis in this systematic review. Two themes were identified for data extraction: evidence supporting higher risks in CHD patients and evidence against higher risks in CHD patients. After combining the data, there were 99 patients with CHDs out of which 12 required admissions to ICU. Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that CHD may increase the risk of poor outcomes for those with COVID-19, but also highlights the necessity for more research with larger sample sizes in order to make a more justified conclusion, as the majority of papers that were analysed were case series and case reports. Future research should aim to quantify the risks if possible whilst accounting for various confounding factors such as age and treatment history.

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Proton pump inhibitors do not increase the risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies

Diseases of the Esophagus ◽

10.1093/dote/doaa041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Madhav Desai ◽

Venkat Nutalapati ◽

Sachin Srinivasan ◽

Jihan Fathallah ◽

Chandra Dasari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Proton Pump ◽

Prospective Studies ◽

Case Reports ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Meta Regression

SUMMARY Published studies have reported variable results on the association between duration of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and the risk of dementia. An extensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane for studies examining the risk of cognitive decline and dementia among PPI users versus non-PPI users in prospective studies. Retrospective database linkage studies, case reports, case series, editorials, uncontrolled cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and review articles were excluded. Primary outcome was pooled hazard rate (HR) of any dementia among PPI users compared with non-PPI users. Secondary outcomes were pooled HR of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and risk with long-term PPI follow-up (more than 5 years) studies. Meta-analysis outcomes, heterogeneity (I2), and meta-regression (for the effect of covariates) were derived by statistical software R and Open meta-analyst. A total of six studies (one RCT and five prospective) with 308249 subjects, average age of 75.8 ± 5.2 years, and follow-up of 5 (range 1.5–11) years were included in the analysis. Pooled HR of any dementia was 1.16 (n = 6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.86–1.47). Results remained unchanged when only studies with long-term PPI use (more than 5 years) were analyzed (n = 4, pooled HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.66–1.53). Finally, the pooled HR for AD was 1.06 (n = 3, 95% CI 0.70–1.41). There was substantial heterogeneity among inclusion studies (I2 = 93%). Meta-regression did not demonstrate a significant role of age at study start (P = 0.1) or duration of PPI use (P = 0.62) to incident dementia. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis do not show a significant relationship between PPI use and dementia in prospective studies with at least a 5-year follow-up.

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Fronto-orbito-ethmoidal intradiploic meningiomas: A case study with systematic review

Surgical Neurology International ◽

10.25259/sni_386_2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 485

Author(s):

Antonio Crea ◽

Gianluca Grimod ◽

Gianluca Scalia ◽

Mariarosaria Verlotta ◽

Lucio Mazzeo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Case Reports ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Complex Case ◽

Subtotal Resection ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Orbital Roof ◽

Mesh Terms ◽

Almost All

Background: Primary intradiploic meningiomas, extra-axial tumors arising primarily in the skull, are rare. The authors reported a complex case of intradiploic intraosseous metaplastic meningioma of the left medial wall and orbital roof with the left frontal sinus invasion and left ethmoidal body bone substitution. The authors also conducted a systematic review concerning diagnosis and management of patients affected by purely calvarial intradiploic meningiomas along with a focus on fronto-orbito-ethmoidal ones. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis statement and with the following Mesh terms: Intradiploic, intraosseous, calvarial, and meningioma. Eligibility criteria were limited by the nature of existing literature on intradiploic meningiomas, consisting of only case series, and case reports. Results: A total of 128 published studies were identified through our search. 41 studies were included in this systematic review, 59 patients with a female/male ratio of 1.2/1. The mean age of the patients is of 47.69 years (range 3–84 years). Only seven out of 59 patients (11.9%) presented a complex intradiploic meningioma located in fronto-orbito-ethmoidal region like our case. In almost all patients, a gross-total resection was performed (96.6%) and only in two patients (3.4%) a subtotal resection was achieved. Conclusion: The authors shared this successfully treated case to add to the overall clinical experience in the management of this rare subtype tumor, with the hope that more studies are conducted to further address the mechanism of intradiploic meningiomas development.

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Influence of Chronic Exposure to Exercise on Heart Rate Variability in Children and Adolescents Affected by Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182111065 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (21) ◽

pp. 11065

Author(s):

Rodrigo M. Dias ◽

Íbis A. P. Moraes ◽

Maria T. A. P. Dantas ◽

Deborah C. G. L. Fernani ◽

Anne M. G. G. Fontes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Case Reports ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Mesh Terms

Background: Sedentary lifestyles are increasingly common amongst children, and insufficient physical activity is a global epidemic estimated to contribute to future incapacities and potential deaths. Objective: We aimed to increase the amount of evidence concerning the effect of chronic exposure to exercise on heart rate variability in children and adolescents affected by obesity. Methods: A systematic review commenced following the PRISMA guidelines developed by Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid, Medline Complete, and Scopus using keywords obtained from the Descriptors in Health Sciences and Medical Subject Headlines (MeSH) terms. We considered (1) Population: Pediatric individuals affected by obesity; (2) Intervention: Exercise; (3) Control: Pre-intervention and sedentary; (4) Outcomes: Clearly presented primary parameters; and (5) Studies: Clinical trials, case controls, case reports, and case series. Results: 11 articles were involved and predominantly included procedures observed during approximately 12 weeks with a distribution of three sessions per week, each session being 30–60 min of aerobic exercise; additionally, the exercise grades were typically completed at a percentage of subjects’ maximum heart rates. The meta-analyses displayed a significant effect on the domains of time (R-R interval, SDNN, rMSSD), frequency (HF ms2, HF (n.u.), LF/HF), and the non-linear index (SD1). Conclusion: Chronic exposure to exercise influences heart rate variability in children and adolescents affected by obesity by elevating the variability and parasympathetic activity and improving the sympathetic-vagal balance. Exercises should be recommended for the improvement of cardiac autonomic modulation to prevent the likelihood of further chronic diseases.

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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.

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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.

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Risk of colectomy after conservative treatment of diverticulitis of the left hemicolon complicated by abdominal or pelvic abscess: protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042350 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e042350

Author(s):

Maximilian Sohn ◽

Ayman Agha ◽

Igors Iesalnieks ◽

Anna Tiefes ◽

Alfred Hochrein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Emergency Surgery ◽

Case Reports ◽

Acute Diverticulitis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Pelvic Abscess ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Review Manager

IntroductionAcute diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon is increasingly treated by a non-operative approach. The need for colectomy after recovery from a flare of acute diverticulitis of the left colon, complicated diverticular abscess is still controversial. The primary aim of this study is to assess the risk of interval emergency surgery by systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods and analysisThe systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols statement. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE will be screened for the predefined searching term: (Diverticulitis OR Diverticulum) AND (Abscess OR pelvic abscess OR pericolic abscess OR intraabdominal abscess) AND (surgery OR operation OR sigmoidectomy OR drainage OR percutaneous drainage OR conservative therapy OR watchful waiting). All studies published in an English or German-speaking peer-reviewed journal will be suitable for this analysis. Case reports, case series of less than five patients, studies without follow-up information, systematic and non-systematic reviews and meta-analyses will be excluded. Primary endpoint is the rate of interval emergency surgery. Using the Review Manager Software (Review Manager/RevMan, V.5.3, Copenhagen, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2012) meta-analysis will be pooled using the Mantel-Haenszel method for random effects. The Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool will be used to assess methodological quality of non-randomised studies. Risk of bias in randomised studies will be assessed using the Cochrane developed RoB 2-tool.Ethics and disseminationAs no new data are being collected, ethical approval is exempt for this study. This systematic review is to provide a new insight on the need for surgical treatment after a first attack of acute diverticulitis, complicated by intra-abdominal or pelvic abscesses. The results of this study will be presented at national and international meetings and published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020164813.

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COVID-19 and Influenza Co-infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.681469 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Masoud Dadashi ◽

Saeedeh Khaleghnejad ◽

Parisa Abedi Elkhichi ◽

Mehdi Goudarzi ◽

Hossein Goudarzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Case Reports ◽

Influenza Infection ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Case Series ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Original Research ◽

Respiratory Pathogens ◽

Prevalence Studies

Background and Aim: Co-infection of COVID-19 with other respiratory pathogens which may complicate the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19 emerge new concern. The overlap of COVID-19 and influenza, as two epidemics at the same time can occur in the cold months of the year. The aim of current study was to evaluate the rate of such co-infection as a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on September 28, 2019 for original research articles published in Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases from December 2019 to September 2020 using relevant keywords. Patients of all ages with simultaneous COVID-19 and influenza were included. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14 software.Results: Eleven prevalence studies with total of 3,070 patients with COVID-19, and 79 patients with concurrent COVID-19 and influenza were selected for final evaluation. The prevalence of influenza infection was 0.8% in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The frequency of influenza virus co-infection among patients with COVID-19 was 4.5% in Asia and 0.4% in the America. Four prevalence studies reported the sex of patients, which were 30 men and 31 women. Prevalence of co-infection with influenza in men and women with COVID-19 was 5.3 and 9.1%, respectively. Eight case reports and 7 case series with a total of 123 patients with COVID-19 were selected, 29 of them (16 men, 13 women) with mean age of 48 years had concurrent infection with influenza viruses A/B. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath were the most common clinical manifestations. Two of 29 patients died (6.9%), and 17 out of 29 patients recovered (58.6%). Oseltamivir and hydroxychloroquine were the most widely used drugs used for 41.4, and 31% of patients, respectively.Conclusion: Although a low proportion of COVID-19 patients have influenza co-infection, however, the importance of such co-infection, especially in high-risk individuals and the elderly, cannot be ignored. We were unable to report the exact rate of simultaneous influenza in COVID-19 patients worldwide due to a lack of data from several countries. Obviously, more studies are needed to evaluate the exact effect of the COVID-19 and influenza co-infection in clinical outcomes.

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Rituximab for Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: a Systematic Review of Observational Studies

Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/rheumatology/keab046 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vincenzo G Menditto ◽

Giulia Rossetti ◽

Diletta Olivari ◽

Alessia Angeletti ◽

Marco Rocchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Biologic Agents ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis

Abstract Objective to analyze the available evidence about the use of rituximab (RTX) and other biologic agents in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) patients and to provide useful findings to inform the design of future, reliable clinical trials. Methods A systematic review was performed. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane library databases and an extensive literature search on other biologic agents. Results 45 papers pertinent to our questions were found: 16 retrospective cohort studies, 8 case series, 3 prospective cohort studies and 18 single case reports, for a total of 368 EGPA patients. More than 80% of evaluable patients achieved complete or partial remission with a tendency towards a higher rate of complete response in pANCA positive subgroup. Conclusion Although the majority of the evaluable EGPA patients treated with RTX appears to achieve complete remission, we strongly believe that a number of sources of heterogeneity impairs a clear interpretation of results and limits their transferability in clinical practice. Differences in design, enrollment criteria, outcome definition and measurement make a comparison among data obtained from studies on RTX and other biologic agents unreliable.

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Timely Revisit of Proprioceptive Deficits in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1177/21925682211066824 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 219256822110668

Author(s):

Kenney K. L. Lau ◽

Karlen K. P. Law ◽

Kenny Y. H. Kwan ◽

Jason P. Y. Cheung ◽

Kenneth M. C. Cheung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis ◽

Idiopathic Scoliosis ◽

Case Reports ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Detection Threshold ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Meta Analyses

Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis Objectives The present review aimed to summarize the evidence regarding differences in proprioception between children with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to April 10, 2021. Articles were included if they involved: (1) AIS patients aged between 10 and 18 years, (2) measurements of proprioceptive abilities, and (3) comparisons with non-AIS controls. Animal studies, case reports, commentaries, conference proceedings, research protocols, and reviews were excluded. Two reviewers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, risks of bias assessments, and quality of evidence evaluations. Relevant information was pooled for meta-analyses. Results From 432 identified citations, 11 case-control studies comprising 1121 participants were included. The meta-analyses showed that AIS participants displayed proprioceptive deficits as compared to non-AIS controls. Moderate evidence supported that AIS participants showed significantly larger repositioning errors than healthy controls (pooled mean difference = 1.27 degrees, P < .01). Low evidence substantiated that AIS participants had significantly greater motion detection threshold (pooled mean difference = 1.60 degrees, P < .01) and abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (pooled mean difference = .36 milliseconds, P = .01) than non-AIS counterparts. Conclusions Consistent findings revealed that proprioceptive deficits occurred in AIS patients. Further investigations on the causal relationship between AIS and proprioception, and the identification of the subgroup of AIS patients with proprioceptive deficit are needed.

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