Lymphocyte and Platelet Counts, as well as Interleukin-6 Levels, Predict Mortality of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective. To systematically evaluate the value of lymphocytes, platelets, and interleukin-6 in predicting the mortality of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to provide medical evidence for the long-term prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Methods. The latest studies published until July 1, 2021, were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to analyze the ability of lymphocyte and platelet counts as well as interleukin-6 levels to predict mortality in patients with COVID-19. Two reviewers independently screened the literature and extracted data, then evaluated the risk of bias of included studies using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), and used Stata 15.0 software for meta-analysis. Results. A total of nine studies were included, involving 4340 patients. There were 1330 patients in the death group and 3010 patients in the survival group. Meta-analysis showed that, compared with the survival group, lymphocyte counts in the death group were significantly lower (SMD = −0.64, 95% CI: −0.86–−0.43, p < 0.01 ), platelet counts were significantly lower (SMD = −0.47, 95% CI: −0.67–−0.27, p < 0.01 ), and interleukin-6 levels were significantly higher (SMD = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.62–1.53, p < 0.01 ). Conclusion. Lymphocyte and platelet counts, as well as interleukin-6 levels, can help predict the mortality of patients with COVID-19. Due to the limitation of the number and quality of the included studies, these conclusions need to be validated by additional high-quality studies.

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Association of dyslipidemia with the severity and mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a meta-analysis

Virology Journal ◽

10.1186/s12985-021-01604-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yanli Liu ◽

Yilong Pan ◽

Yuyao Yin ◽

Wenhao Chen ◽

Xiaodong Li

Keyword(s):

Fixed Effects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Potential Association ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Language Restriction ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale

Abstract Background The numbers of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and COVID-19 related deaths are still increasing, so it is very important to determine the risk factors of COVID-19. Dyslipidemia is a common complication in patients with COVID-19, but the association of dyslipidemia with the severity and mortality of COVID-19 is still unclear. The aim of this study is to analyze the potential association of dyslipidemia with the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Methods We searched the PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases for all relevant studies up to August 24, 2020. All the articles published were retrieved without language restriction. All analysis was performed using Stata 13.1 software and Mantel–Haenszel formula with fixed effects models was used to compare the differences between studies. The Newcastle Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results Twenty-eight studies involving 12,995 COVID-19 patients were included in the meta-analysis, which was consisted of 26 cohort studies and 2 case–control studies. Dyslipidemia was associated with the severity of COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.44, P = 0.038, I2 = 39.8%). Further, patients with dyslipidemia had a 2.13-fold increased risk of death compared to patients without dyslipidemia (95% CI 1.84–2.47, P = 0.001, I2 = 66.4%). Conclusions The results proved that dyslipidemia is associated with increased severity and mortality of COVID-19. Therefore, we should monitor blood lipids and administer active treatments in COVID-19 patients with dyslipidemia to reduce the severity and mortality.

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The Prognostic Value of Autophagy-Related Markers Bclin-1 and LC-3 in Colorectal Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/8475840 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Jin-xiao Li ◽

Qian Yan ◽

Na Liu ◽

Wen-jiang Zheng ◽

Man Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Prognostic Significance ◽

Beclin 1 ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Comprehensive Treatment ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Related Proteins ◽

The Relationship

Objective. At present, the relationship between autophagosomes and the prognosis of various cancers has become a subject of active investigation. A series of studies have demonstrated the correlation between autophagy microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC-3), Beclin-1, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Since autophagy has dual regulatory roles in tumors, the results of this correlation are also uncertain. Hence, we summarized the relationship between Beclin-1, LC-3, and CRC using systematic reviews and meta-analysis to clarify their prognostic significance in it. Methods. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched online up to April 1, 2019. The quality of the involving studies was assessed against the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a fixed or random effects model were used to assess the strength of correlation between Beclin-1, LC-3, and CRC. Results. A total of 9 articles were collected, involving 2,297 patients. Most literatures scored more than 6 points, suggesting that the quality of our including research was acceptable. Our finding suggested that the expression of Beclin-1 was not associated with overall survival (HR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.31–1.52), P=0.351). Nonetheless, LC-3 expression exerted significant impact on OS (HR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.35–0.74), P<0.05). Subgroup analysis exhibited that Beclin-1 expression was associated with OS at TNM stage III (HR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02–0.08, P<0.05), surgical treatment (HR = 1.53, 95% CI (1.15–2.02), P=0.003), and comprehensive treatment (HR = 0.27 95% CI (0.08–0.92), P=0.036), respectively. Similarly, the results showed the increased LC-3 expression in CRC was related to OS in multivariate analyses (HR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.34–0.57), P<0.05), stages (HR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.35–0.74), P<0.05), and comprehensive treatment (HR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.34–0.57), P<0.05). Conclusions. Autophagy-related proteins of LC-3 might be an important marker of CRC progression. However, since the number of the original studies was limited, more well-designed, large-scale, high-quality studies are warranted to provide more convincing and reliable information.

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Risk Factors of Invasive Fungal Infection in Recipients After Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.687028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Min Liu ◽

Zhijun Zhu ◽

Liying Sun

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Liver Transplantation ◽

Fungal Infection ◽

Invasive Fungal Infection ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Fungal Colonization ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

The Cochrane Library

Objectives: Invasive fungal infection (IFI) remains an important cause of mortality in liver transplantation (LT). The objective of this meta-analysis was to identify the risk factors for IFI after LT.Methods: We searched for relevant studies published up to June 2020 from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% CIs were used to identify significant differences in the risk factors. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated by the I2 test, and potential publication bias was assessed with Egger's test. The quality of included studies was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).Results: A total of 14 studies enrolling 4,284 recipients were included in the meta-analysis. Reoperation (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.61–2.94), posttransplantation dialysis (OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.52–2.72), bacterial infection (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.33–2.46), live donor (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.20–2.63), retransplantation (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.54–3.89), and fungal colonization (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.99–3.42) were associated with the risk factors of IFI after LT.Conclusions: Despite some risk factors that have been identified as significant factors for IFI post-LT, which may inform prevention recommendations, rigorous and well-designed studies with adequate sample sizes should be conducted to solve the limitations of this study.

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Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Improving Long-Term Survival of Patients With Resectable Rectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-146988/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xinlong Li ◽

Xiangyuan Li ◽

Rongrong Fu ◽

Derry Minyao Ng ◽

Tong Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rectal Cancer ◽

Neoadjuvant Therapy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Rectal Cancer ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Term Survival ◽

Resectable Rectal Cancer ◽

Long Term Prognosis ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on the long-term prognosis of patients with resectable rectal cancer is controversial. This study aimed to explore the effect of neoadjuvant therapy on the long-term prognosis of patients with resectable rectal cancer. Methods: Four major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library) were searched to find relevant articles published between January 2000 and July 2020. The main outcome indicators were the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Compared with upfront surgery, our meta-analysis showed that 5-year OS (HR: 0.84, 95% Cl: 0.78-0.91) and DFS (HR: 0.91, 95% Cl: 0.87-0.95) were prolonged for patients with resectable rectal cancer after receiving neoadjuvant therapy. The results of subgroup analysis suggested that both neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) could improve the 5-year OS and DFS. The 5-year OS and DFS of patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ rectal cancer increased significantly and the improvement of 5-year OS and DFS could also be observed in mid/low rectal cancer.Conclusion: Neoadjuvant therapy could improve the long-term survival of patients with mid/low rectal cancer in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ. For the treatment, neoadjuvant SCRT and neoadjuvant CRT were recommended.

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Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Improving Long-Term Survival of Patients with Resectable Rectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1871520621666210726134809 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 ◽

Author(s):

Xinlong Li ◽

Xiangyuan Li ◽

Rongrong Fu ◽

Derry Ng ◽

Tong Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rectal Cancer ◽

Neoadjuvant Therapy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Rectal Cancer ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Term Survival ◽

Long Term Survival ◽

Resectable Rectal Cancer ◽

Long Term Prognosis

Background: The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on long-term prognosis of patients with resectable rectal cancer is currently unknown. Objective: This study aimed to explore the long-term prognosis of patients with resectable rectal cancer following treatment with neoadjuvant therapy. Methods: Four major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane library) were searched to identify relevant articles published between January 2000 and July 2020. The main outcome indicators were the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results: The meta-analysis revealed that 5-year OS (HR: 0.88, 95% Cl: 0.83-0.93) and DFS (HR: 0.95, 95% Cl: 0.91-0.98) were higher in patients with resectable rectal cancer after receiving neoadjuvant therapy than those treated with upfront surgery. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the long-term survival of patients in Asia and Europe could benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. The neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) improved the 5-year OS and DFS of patients with stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ rectal cancer and mid/low rectal cancer. Further research found that patients with stage Ⅱ only had an increase in OS, while patients with stage Ⅲ have improved 5-year OS and DFS. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant therapy improved the long-term survival of patients with mid/low rectal cancer in stage Ⅱ-Ⅲ (especially stage Ⅲ). Additionally, patients in Asia and Europe seemed to be more likely to benefit from neoadjuvant therapy. For the treatment, we recommend neoadjuvant SCRT and neoadjuvant CRT for resectable rectal cancer.

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Adverse Events Associated With Anti-IL-23 Agents: Clinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.670398 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yi Ru ◽

Xiaojie Ding ◽

Ying Luo ◽

Hongjin Li ◽

Xiaoying Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Adverse Event ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

The Cochrane Library ◽

Specific Symptoms

BackgroundAnti-interleukin (IL)-23 agents are widely used for autoimmune disease treatment; however, the safety and risks of specific symptoms have not been systematically assessed.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to summarize the characteristics and mechanisms of occurrence of five immunological and non-immunological adverse events caused by different anti-IL-23 agents.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for eligible randomized clinical trials published from inception through May 1, 2020. Randomized clinical trials that reported at least one type of adverse event after treatment were included, regardless of sex, age, ethnicity, and diagnosis. Two investigators independently screened and extracted the characteristics of the studies, participants, drugs, and adverse event types. The Cochrane Handbook was used to assess the methodological quality of the included randomized clinical trials. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Meta-regression was applied to determine the sources of heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis was used to identify the factors contributing to adverse events.ResultsForty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 25,624 patients treated with anti-IL-23 agents. Serious immunological or non-immunological adverse events were rare. Anti-IL-12/23-p40 agents appeared to cause adverse events more easily than anti-IL-23-p19 agents. The incidence of cancer did not appear to be related to anti-IL-23 agent treatment, and long-term medication could lead to mental diseases. The prevention of complications should be carefully monitored when administered for over approximately 40 weeks to avoid further adverse reactions, and the incidence of infection was the highest among general immunological adverse events.ConclusionsThe application of anti-IL-23 agents induced a series of immunological and non-immunological adverse events, but these agents tend to be well-tolerated with good safety profiles.

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Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Improving Long-Term Survival of Patients with Resectable Rectal Cancer: a Meta-Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-154109/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xinlong Li ◽

Xiangyuan Li ◽

Rongrong Fu ◽

Derry Minyao Ng ◽

Tong Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rectal Cancer ◽

Neoadjuvant Therapy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Low Rectal Cancer ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Term Survival ◽

Resectable Rectal Cancer ◽

Long Term Prognosis ◽

The Impact

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Impact of Muscle Mass on Survival in Patients with Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1159/000519642 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Jiajie Zhang ◽

Yicheng Huang ◽

Yingsha Chen ◽

Xiaomin Shen ◽

Hongying Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Mass ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Psoas Muscle ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Conference Abstract ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Included Article ◽

Ottawa Scale

Introduction: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between loss of muscle mass and prognosis of sepsis. Methods: Six databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and Ovid, were searched by the deadline of August 18, 2020. A meta-analysis was conducted on the collected data by means of a random-effects model. The quality of each included article was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Out of 1,819 references, 6 articles and 1 conference abstract were included. Sepsis patients with a loss of muscle mass or sarcopenia had higher mortality (risk ratio [RR]: 1.94, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.59–2.37; I-squared = 18.7%, p < 0.001). The RR of mortality within 30 days (RR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.78–2.99, p < 0.001) was higher than that of mortality over 30 days. Loss of psoas muscle mass, as evaluated by CT, showed the highest RR of sepsis mortality. In addition, based on data on overall survival retrieved from 4 trials, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) for patients with a loss of muscle mass or sarcopenia was 3.04. Subgroup analysis showed that survival time was the main source of heterogeneity for the overall HR. Furthermore, the scanning areas of muscle mass in survival patients were 0.33 cm2/m2 higher than those measured in deceased patients. Conclusion: A loss of muscle mass, as evaluated by CT scan, was associated with a poor outcome in sepsis.

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A Comprehensive Comparison of LRYGB and LSG in Obese Patients Including the Effects on QoL, Comorbidities, Weight Loss, and Complications: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Obesity Surgery ◽

10.1007/s11695-019-04306-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 819-827 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Zhihao Hu ◽

Junfeng Sun ◽

Ruixin Li ◽

Zhuoyin Wang ◽

Hengxuan Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Late Complications ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Obese Patients ◽

Short Term

Abstract Purpose To systematically and comprehensively evaluate the differences between laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) versus sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in obese patients. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception to December 2018. The meta-analysis was performed by the RevMan 5.3 software. Results Twenty-three articles with 7443 patients were included. In short term (< 3 years), LRYGB was superior to LSG in terms of improving comorbidities (T2D, odds ratio (OR) 1.93, 1.06–3.52, P < 0.05, hypertension, OR 1.59, 1.08–2.34, P < 0.05, dyslipidemia, OR 1.61, 1.05–2.46, P < 0.05), but there were no differences in the midterm and long term. Quality of life (QoL) after bariatric surgery was included, but no differences were observed in the QoL after LRYGB or LSG (gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) and Moorehead–Ardelt quality of life questionnaire (M-A-Q), P > 0.05). LRYGB achieved a higher EWL% than LSG (after 3 years, WMD 5.48, 0.13–10.84. P < 0.05; after 5 years, WMD 4.55, 1.04–8.05, P < 0.05) in long term, but no significant differences were found during 0.25- to 2.0-year follow-up. The rate of early and late complications was much higher in LRYGB than in LSG (early complications, OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.53–2.91, P < 0.001; late complications, OR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.93–3.49, P < 0.001). Conclusions This meta-analysis showed that LRYGB was more effective than LSG in comorbidities’ resolution or improvement in short term. For weight loss, LRYGB had better long-term effects than LSG. In addition, no differences were observed in the quality of life after LRYGB or LSG. LRYGB was associated with more complications than LSG.

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Long-Term Prognosis of Suspected Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy Associated with Viral Infection of the Myocardial Tissue: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Cardiovascular Therapeutics ◽

10.1155/2019/9342792 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wen-Hao Chen ◽

You-Sheng Guo ◽

Dong-Hui Zhang ◽

Huan-Ji Zhang

Keyword(s):

Cohort Studies ◽

Viral Infection ◽

Right Ventricular ◽

Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Myocardial Tissue ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Long Term Prognosis

Aim. Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy impose a substantial economic burden on society. Many studies have examined the effects of various predictors on the prognosis of these diseases, such as the left ventricular systolic function, the New York Heart Association glomerular filtration rate, the QT interval, and the presence of viruses. In the present study, we conducted a meta-analysis of cohort studies to investigate the significance of the presence of viruses in the myocardial tissue on the prognosis of these diseases. Methods. The Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane library databases were searched for relevant literature that had been published between January 1, 1964 and August 14, 2018. The inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years of age, suspected myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy, accepted myocardial biopsy, and the detection of virus in the myocardial tissue. Results. In total, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies included 1006 patients with suspected myocarditis or idiopathic heart disease for whom the primary endpoint was all-cause death, heart transplant, or re-hospitalization due to fatal arrhythmia and heart failure. There was no significant difference in the prognosis of virus-positive and virus-negative patients with myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy confirmed by endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.93–2.12, P=0.11]. However, virus-negative patients had a better prognosis following nonspecific treatment (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06–1.86, P=0.02) and right ventricular biopsy (HR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.07–4.04, P=0.03). Conclusions. The presence of a virus did not worsen the long-term prognosis of patients with suspected myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy. However, virus-positive patients who did not undergo specific treatment or who underwent right ventricular biopsy did have a worse prognosis. Thus, the early diagnosis of the presence of viral infection in the myocardium will improve the prognosis of patients.

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