Autoimmune retinopathy with associated anti-retinal antibodies as a potential immune-related adverse event associated with immunotherapy in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma: case series and systematic review

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the spectrum of autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) associated with immunotherapy for advanced cutaneous melanoma.Methods and analysisRetrospective chart review on patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma who developed AIR after initiating immunotherapy. Complete ophthalmic examination and relevant ancillary testing were performed on each patient. The presence of AIR-associated anti-retinal antibodies was confirmed by western blot and/or immunohistochemical staining. Ophthalmic and systemic outcomes after treatment for AIR were followed over time. A systematic review of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.ResultsCase 1 developed photopsia and nyctalopia with electroretinographic findings characteristic for melanoma-associated retinopathy 1 week after initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 2 experienced new severe bilateral visual field loss associated with anti-retinal and anti-optic nerve antibodies while on maintenance nivolumab immunotherapy. Case 3 developed decreased visual acuity due to acute exudative polymorphous vitelliform maculopathy within 2 weeks of initiating ipilimumab/nivolumab immunotherapy. All patients had concurrent extraocular immune-related adverse events in addition to the presence of anti-retinal antibodies on serological testing. 14 published cases of AIR associated with immunotherapy for cutaneous or non-ocular mucosal melanoma were identified and reviewed.ConclusionsImmune checkpoint inhibition can trigger the development of AIR with varied clinical manifestations in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma. This study highlights the need for close monitoring in cutaneous melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy who develop new visual symptoms with or without funduscopic changes, as well as the potential role for screening of patients prior to initiating immunotherapy.

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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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Mucosal melanoma of the upper airways tract mucosal melanoma: A systematic review with meta-analyses of treatment

Head & Neck ◽

10.1002/hed.24652 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 819-825 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

David Jarrom ◽

Vinidh Paleri ◽

Cyrus Kerawala ◽

Thomas Roques ◽

Shreerang Bhide ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mucosal Melanoma ◽

Upper Airways ◽

Meta Analyses

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Seizures in supratentorial meningioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2015.4.jns142742 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 124 (6) ◽

pp. 1552-1561 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Dario J. Englot ◽

Stephen T. Magill ◽

Seunggu J. Han ◽

Edward F. Chang ◽

Mitchel S. Berger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Seizure Freedom ◽

Peritumoral Edema ◽

Treatment And Prevention ◽

Male Sex ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Tumor Types

OBJECT Meningioma is the most common benign intracranial tumor, and patients with supratentorial meningioma frequently suffer from seizures. The rates and predictors of seizures in patients with meningioma have been significantly under-studied, even in comparison with other brain tumor types. Improved strategies for the prediction, treatment, and prevention of seizures in patients with meningioma is an important goal, because tumor-related epilepsy significantly impacts patient quality of life. METHODS The authors performed a systematic review of PubMed for manuscripts published between January 1980 and September 2014, examining rates of pre- and postoperative seizures in supratentorial meningioma, and evaluating potential predictors of seizures with separate meta-analyses. RESULTS The authors identified 39 observational case series for inclusion in the study, but no controlled trials. Preoperative seizures were observed in 29.2% of 4709 patients with supratentorial meningioma, and were significantly predicted by male sex (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.30–2.34); an absence of headache (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.04–3.25); peritumoral edema (OR 7.48, 95% CI 6.13–9.47); and non–skull base location (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.04–3.25). After surgery, seizure freedom was achieved in 69.3% of 703 patients with preoperative epilepsy, and was more than twice as likely in those without peritumoral edema, although an insufficient number of studies were available for formal meta-analysis of this association. Of 1085 individuals without preoperative epilepsy who underwent resection, new postoperative seizures were seen in 12.3% of patients. No difference in the rate of new postoperative seizures was observed with or without perioperative prophylactic anticonvulsants. CONCLUSIONS Seizures are common in supratentorial meningioma, particularly in tumors associated with brain edema, and seizure freedom is a critical treatment goal. Favorable seizure control can be achieved with resection, but evidence does not support routine use of prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients without seizures. Limitations associated with systematic review and meta-analysis should be considered when interpreting these results.

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LO075: Clinical exam for acute aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2016.112 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (S1) ◽

pp. S56-S56

Author(s):

R. Ohle ◽

H. Kareemi ◽

J.J. Perry

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Aortic Dissection ◽

Neurological Deficit ◽

Acute Aortic Dissection ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

Clinical Suspicion ◽

Clinical Exam ◽

Meta Analyses

Introduction: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is difficult to diagnose and if missed carries a significant mortality rate. Our aim was to assess the accuracy of history, physical exam and plain radiographs compared to advanced imaging in the diagnosis of AAD in adults presenting to the ED with a clinical suspicion of AAD. Methods: We conducted a librarian assisted systematic review. Databases searched: Pubmed, Medline, Embase and the Cochrane database from 1968 to January 2016. No restrictions for language were imposed. Studies were reviewed and data extracted by two independent reviewers. AAD was defined by CTA, MRI or TEE Prospective and retrospective studies of patients presenting with a clinical suspicion of AAD were included. Case series were excluded. Studies were combined if low clinical and statistical heterogeonity (I2<30%). Study quality was assessed using the QUADAS tool. Bivariate random effects meta analyses using Revman 5 and SAS 9.3 was performed. Results: We identified 792 records: 61 selected for full text review, 13 included and a further 7 from reference searches. 20 studies with 4721 participants were included (mean QUADAS score 12/14 SD 1.2, Kappa 0.8). Prevalence of AAD ranged from 9.6-76.1% (mean 39.1% SD 17.1%). Mean diagnosis in those without AAD varied between studies with ACS (30.3% SD 30.1%), Anuerysm(12.4% SD 9.8%), Chest wall pain(18.1% SD 13.3%) and PE(7.9% SD 7.85%) being the most common. The clinical findings most suggestive of AAD were, neurological deficit (specificity 94% LR 4.1 [95% CI, 3.1-5.2], I2 0%, n=9), hypotension(specificity 94% LR 2.6 [95% CI 1.6-4.2], I2 0%, n=8), pulse deficit (specificity 92% LR 3.4 [95% CI 1.8-6.4], I2 0%, n=9) and syncope (specificity 92% LR 1.4 [95% CI 1.1-1.8], I2 10%, n=6). The most useful for identifying patients less likely to have AAD were an absence of a widened mediastinum (sensitivity 80% LR 0.3 [95% CI 0.2-0.5], I2 20%, n=13) and an AHA Aortic dissection risk score <1 (n=2 sensitivity 91%,99% LR 0.02,0.22, [95% CI 0.003-0.128, 95%CI 0.2-0.3]). Conclusion: Suspicion for AAD should be raised with syncope, hypotension and pulse or neurological deficit in the appropriate clinical setting. Conversely the absence of a widened mediastinum and a low ADD score decreases likelihood. Clinical exam alone cannot rule out acute aortic dissection but it can help risk stratify for further testing.

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Vasculitis induced by biological agents used in rheumatology practice: A systematic review

Archives of Rheumatology ◽

10.46497/archrheumatol.2022.9049 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Camila da Silva Cendon Duran ◽

Adriane Souza da Paz ◽

Mittermayer Barreto Santiago

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Infusion Reaction ◽

Biological Agents ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

Meta Analyses

Objectives: Biological medications have been used with an increasing frequency to treat rheumatological diseases. Autoimmune events can be induced by these drugs, such as psoriasiform lesions, alopecia, lupus and, vasculitis, which more often affects the skin (small-sized vessels) and eventually other organs. In this review, we describe the clinical profile of patients with vasculitis induced by the main biological agents used in rheumatology. Patients and methods: We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The PubMed database was used for searching eligible articles. We included case reports, case series, and letter to the editor of patients on anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-a) molecules, as well as tocilizumab, ustekinumab, secukinumab, rituximab, and abatacept, who had vasculitis induced by these agents. Results: Eighty-one articles were included for final analysis (n=89). Twenty-seven patients were using infliximab, 20 adalimumab, 18 etanercept, seven secukinumab, four certolizumab, four rituximab, three golimumab, three ustekinumab, two abatacept, and one tocilizumab. Unspecific leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) was the most common type of vasculitis (n=37), followed by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)- associated vasculitis (n=16). The medication was replaced with another biological molecule in 23 cases, with only four relapses. In six cases, the biological was maintained, but vasculitis worsened/persisted in one case, being necessary drug removal. Conclusion: Infections, infusion reaction, cancer, and autoimmune events are well-known side effects of biological therapy. This review demonstrates that vasculitis is another adverse effect of this type of therapy, particularly the anti-TNF-a molecules, and LCV the most reported type of vasculitis.

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Efficacy and harms of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.1101/2020.05.26.20109595 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alejandro Piscoya ◽

Luis Fernando Ng-Sueng ◽

Angela Parra del Riego ◽

Renato Cerna-Viacava ◽

Vinay Pasupuleti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Clinical Improvement ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Length Of Hospital Stay ◽

Invasive Ventilation ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Meta Analyses

AbstractBackgroundWe evaluated the efficacy and safety of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19.MethodsSystematic review in five engines, pre-print webpages and RCT registries until May 22, 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating remdesivir on confirmed, COVID-19 adults with pneumonia and/or respiratory insufficiency. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, clinical improvement or recovery, need for invasive ventilation, and serious adverse events (SAE). Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, progression of pneumonia, and adverse events (AE). Inverse variance random effects meta-analyses were performed.ResultsTwo placebo-controlled RCTs (n=1300) and two case series (n=88) were included. All studies used remdesivir 200mg IV the first day and 100mg IV for 9 more days, and followed up until 28 days. Wang et al. RCT was stopped early due to AEs; ACTT-1 was preliminary reported at 15-day follow up. Time to clinical improvement was not decreased in Wang et al. RCT, but median time to recovery was decreased by 4 days in ACTT-1. Remdesivir did not decrease all-cause mortality (RR 0.71, 95%CI 0.39 to 1.28) and need for invasive ventilation at 14 days (RR 0.57, 95%CI 0.23 to 1.42), but had fewer SAEs (RR 0.77, 95%CI 0.63 to 0.94). AEs were similar between remdesivir and placebo arms. Risk of bias ranged from some concerns to high risk in RCTs.InterpretationThere is paucity of adequately powered and fully reported RCTs evaluating effects of remdesivir in adult, hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir should not be recommended for the treatment of severe COVID-19.

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Wunder-women: Systematic review of causes, treatment and outcomes of Wunderlich syndrome during pregnancy

Journal of Clinical Urology ◽

10.1177/2051415818759367 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 134-144

Author(s):

Thomas Ahn ◽

Matthew J Roberts ◽

Anojan Navaratnam ◽

Eric Chung ◽

Simon T Wood

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Case Reports ◽

Contemporary Literature ◽

Case Series ◽

Artery Aneurysm ◽

Well Being ◽

Renal Neoplasm ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Meta Analyses

Objective: The objective of this article is to conduct a contemporary literature review on Wunderlich syndrome, or spontaneous renal haemorrhage (SRH), among pregnant women to describe contemporary aetiology, investigations and management patterns. Methods: A systematic review of MEDLINE and CENTRAL in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was performed. All articles, including case reports and case series on SRH published from 2000 to 2016, were included. Full-text manuscripts describing SRH among pregnant women were reviewed for clinical parameters, which were collated and analysed. Results: Twenty cases of SRH in pregnant women were identified. The median age and gestation were 32.1 years and 26.5 weeks, respectively, with SRH most commonly occurring in the third trimester (nine patients; 45%) and due to renal neoplasm, specifically angiomyolipoma (AML; 12 patients; 60%), followed by renal artery aneurysm (RAA; five patients; 25%). Surgical intervention (55%) was most commonly used for acute SRH. Foetal demise was not uncommon (15%). Conclusions: SRH in pregnant women is an uncommon but complex urological and obstetric emergency with potentially catastrophic consequences. A multidisciplinary approach is key to timely diagnosis and appropriate management considering the well-being both of mother and foetus. Pre-emptive diagnosis and intervention may reduce complications. Level of evidence: 4

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Is resistance training intensity adequately prescribed to meet the demands of returning to sport following anterior cruciate ligament repair? A systematic review

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001144 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. e001144

Author(s):

Zackary William Nichols ◽

Daniel O'Brien ◽

Steven Gordon White

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Cruciate Ligament ◽

Case Series ◽

Return To Sport ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Meta Analyses

ObjectiveTo identify, critique and synthesise the research findings that evaluate the use of resistance training (RT) programmes on return to sport outcome measures for people following ACL repair (ACLR).Design and data sourcesThis systematic review included a comprehensive search of electronic databases (EBSCO health databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus), Scopus and Pedro) performed in June 2020 and was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Studies were appraised using the Downs and Black checklist.Eligibility criteriaRandomised and non-randomised controlled trials, longitudinal cohort studies and case series were considered for inclusion where an adequate description of the RT intervention was provided as a part of the study’s ACLR rehabilitation protocol. Articles that did not include outcome measures related to return to sport criteria were excluded.ResultsEleven articles met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to appraisal and data extraction. Study quality ranged from poor to excellent. RT intensity varied considerably among studies (between 5% and >80% of one repetition maximum). Only one identified study specifically investigated the effect of a low-intensity versus high-intensity RT protocol. The majority of studies reported participant outcomes that would not meet commonly used return to sport criteria.ConclusionThere appears to be considerable variation in the intensity of RT prescribed in research for people following ACLR. Furthermore, in most of the identified studies, RT protocols promoted muscle endurance and hypertrophy without progressing to strength or power-based RT. The findings of this review provide insight into potential factors limiting returning to sport and contributing to reinjury for people following ACLR.

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The mystery of COVID-19 reinfections: A global systematic review and meta-analysis of 577 cases

10.1101/2021.07.22.21260972 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rubaid Azhar Dhillon ◽

Mohammad Aadil Qamar ◽

Omar Irfan ◽

Jaleed Ahmed Gilani ◽

Usama Waqar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Series ◽

Admission Rate ◽

Global Scale ◽

Common Symptom ◽

Time Duration ◽

Disease Spectrum ◽

Meta Analyses

Background As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, reports on disparities in vaccine roll out alongside reinfection and reactivation from previously recovered cases have been emerging. With newer waves and variants of COVID-19, we conducted a systematic review to assess the determinants and disease spectrum of COVID-19 reinfection. Methods A comprehensive search covering relevant databases was conducted for observational studies reporting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) confirmed infection and reinfection cases. Quality assessment tool developed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for assessment of case series was used. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3 for pooled proportions of findings in first infection and reinfection with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Eighty-one studies reporting 577 cases were included from 22 countries. The mean age of patients was 46.2±18.9 years with males accounting for 45.8% of the study population while 179 (31.0%) cases of comorbidities were reported. The average time duration between first infection and reinfection was 63.6±48.9 days. During first infection and reinfection, fever was the most common symptom (41.4% and 36.4%,respectively) whilst anti-viral therapy was the most common treatment regimen administered (44.5% and 43.0%, respectively). Overall, comparable odds of symptomatic presentation and management were reported in the two infections. However, a higher Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission rate was observed in reinfection compared to first infection (10 vs 3). Ten deaths were reported with 565 patients fully recovering. Respiratory failure was the most common cause of death (7/10 deaths). Seventy-two studies were determined to be of good quality whilst nine studies were of fair quality. Conclusion As the first global-scale systematic review of its kind, our findings support immunization practices given increased ICU admissions and mortality in reinfections. Our cohort serves as a guide for clinicians and authorities for devising an optimal strategy for controlling the pandemic.

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Εndovascular Repair of Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms: A Systematic Review

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery ◽

10.1177/1538574419895383 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 254-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Stefanos Giannopoulos ◽

Evan Trinidad ◽

Herbert Aronow ◽

Peter Soukas ◽

Ehrin J. Armstrong

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Carotid Artery ◽

Endovascular Repair ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Extracranial Carotid Artery ◽

Ischemic Attack ◽

Meta Analyses

Objective: Both true and false extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (ECAA) are a potential source of morbidity and mortality. While ECAA have historically been treated surgically, endovascular reconstruction with stenting is an emerging treatment option. The aim of our study was to report clinical/radiologic outcomes following endovascular repair of ECAAs. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Results: A total of 68 case reports and case series, comprising 162 patients, were included. Most patients presented with at least one symptom or sign related to the ECAA (89.5%; N = 145/162). In 42.6% (N = 69/162) and 46.3% (N = 75/162) of the cases polytetrafluoroethylene covered and uncovered stents were deployed respectively. Immediate post-procedural imaging demonstrated complete aneurysm exclusion in 86.4% (N = 140/162) of the cases and minimal filling of the aneurysm sack in 10.5% (N = 17/162) of all cases. Perioperative adverse event rates were 3.1% for stroke, 1.2% for transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 4.3% for mortality. During a mean follow-up of 21.8months, there were additionally observed one stroke, two TIAs and three deaths. Overall 88.6 % of the patients (N = 117/132) remained asymptomatic, partially recovered or at least did not suffer from new neurologic deficits during follow up, with no signs of stenosis or occlusion of the carotid artery. Conclusions: Endovascular stenting for the treatment of ECAAs is feasible with acceptable short- and long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes. Prospective real-world studies are needed to further validate the safety and the long-term patency of endovascular repair.

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