Reveal, Don’t Conceal

Reports highlighting the problems with the standard practice of using bar graphs to show continuous data have prompted many journals to adopt new visualization policies. These policies encourage authors to avoid bar graphs and use graphics that show the data distribution; however, they provide little guidance on how to effectively display data. We conducted a systematic review of studies published in top peripheral vascular disease journals to determine what types of figures are used, and to assess the prevalence of suboptimal data visualization practices. Among papers with data figures, 47.7% of papers used bar graphs to present continuous data. This primer provides a detailed overview of strategies for addressing this issue by (1) outlining strategies for selecting the correct type of figure depending on the study design, sample size, and the type of variable; (2) examining techniques for making effective dot plots, box plots, and violin plots; and (3) illustrating how to avoid sending mixed messages by aligning the figure structure with the study design and statistical analysis. We also present solutions to other common problems identified in the systematic review. Resources include a list of free tools and templates that authors can use to create more informative figures and an online simulator that illustrates why summary statistics are meaningful only when there are enough data to summarize. Last, we consider steps that investigators can take to improve figures in the scientific literature.

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O42: THE ROLE OF TOURNIQUETS IN TRANSTIBIAL AMPUTATION FOR PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW & META-ANALYSIS

British Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1093/bjs/znab117.042 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

D Cagney ◽

J Byrne ◽

GJ Fulton ◽

BJ Manning ◽

HP Redmond

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Blood Loss ◽

Vascular Disease ◽

Peripheral Vascular Disease ◽

Revision Surgery ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Peripheral Vascular ◽

Operative Blood Loss ◽

Transfusion Requirements

Abstract Introduction The use of lower limb tourniquets is traditionally discouraged in severe atherosclerotic disease. However, blood loss and increased transfusion requirements are associated with post-operative morbidity in patients undergoing major lower limb amputation. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise and pool the available data to determine the impact of tourniquet application when performing trans-tibial amputation for peripheral vascular disease. Method This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search of Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library was undertaken for articles which compared the use of a tourniquet versus no tourniquet in patients undergoing trans-tibial amputation for peripheral vascular disease. The main outcomes included intra-operative blood loss, post-operative transfusion requirement, need for revision surgery and 30-day mortality. Result Four studies met the inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis with a total of 267 patients. A tourniquet was used in 130 patients. Both groups were matched for age, gender, co-morbidities and pre-operative haemoglobin. In patients undergoing trans-tibial amputation, tourniquets were associated with significantly lower intra-operative blood loss (Mean difference= -147.6mls; P=0.03) and lower transfusion requirements (pooled odds ratio (OR), 0.12, p=0.03). The need for stump revision (OR, 0.7; p=0.48), proceeding to transfemoral amputation within 30 days (OR, 0.67; p=0.25) and 30-day mortality (OR, 0.65; p=0.41) all favoured tourniquet use but the differences were not found to be significant. Conclusion Tourniquets can reduce intra-operative blood loss and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing trans-tibial amputation without increasing ischaemic complications and need for revision surgery. Take-home message Tourniquets are safe to use in trans-tibial amputation for severe peripheral vascular disease and can reduce intra-operative blood loss without increasing ischaemic complications.

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Effect of routinely assessing and addressing depression and diabetes distress using patient-reported outcome measures in improving outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044888 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e044888

Author(s):

Rita McMorrow ◽

Barbara Hunter ◽

Christel Hendrieckx ◽

Dominika Kwasnicka ◽

Leanne Cussen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Study Design ◽

Patient Reported Outcome Measures ◽

Patient Reported Outcome ◽

Diabetes Distress ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Patient Reported

IntroductionType 2 diabetes is a global health priority. People with diabetes are more likely to experience mental health problems relative to people without diabetes. Diabetes guidelines recommend assessment of depression and diabetes distress during diabetes care. This systematic review will examine the effect of routinely assessing and addressing depression and diabetes distress using patient-reported outcome measures in improving outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes.Methods and analysisMEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Complete, PsycInfo, The Cochrane Library and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched using a prespecified strategy using a prespecified Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Setting and study design strategy. The date range of the search of all databases will be from inception to 3 August 2020. Randomised controlled trials, interrupted time-series studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case–control studies and analytical cross-sectional studies published in peer-reviewed journals in the English language will be included. Two review authors will independently screen abstracts and full texts with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer, if required, using Covidence software. Two reviewers will undertake risk of bias assessment using checklists appropriate to study design. Data will be extracted using prespecified template. A narrative synthesis will be conducted, with a meta-analysis, if appropriate.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is not required for this review of published studies. Presentation of results will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020200246.

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Cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance during normotensive and hypertensive pregnancy – a systematic review and meta‐analysis

BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology ◽

10.1111/1471-0528.16678 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Eva G. Mulder ◽

Sander De Haas ◽

Zenab Mohseni ◽

Niklas Schartmann ◽

Fatimah Abo Hasson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cardiac Output ◽

Vascular Resistance ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Peripheral Vascular Resistance ◽

Peripheral Vascular ◽

Hypertensive Pregnancy

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SARS-CoV-2 genome and antibodies in breastmilk: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2020-321074 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. fetalneonatal-2020-321074

Author(s):

Faith Zhu ◽

Carlos Zozaya ◽

Qi Zhou ◽

Charmaine De Castro ◽

Prakesh S Shah

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Study Design ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Respiratory Support ◽

Common Finding ◽

Rt Pcr

ObjectiveTo systematically review and meta-analyse the rate of SARS-CoV-2 genome identification and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breastmilk of mothers with COVID-19.DesignA systematic review of studies published between January 2019 and October 2020 without study design or language restrictions.SettingData sourced from Ovid Embase Classic+Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, relevant bibliographies and the John Hopkins University COVID-19 database.PatientsMothers with confirmed COVID-19 and breastmilk tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR or for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.Main outcome measuresPresence of SARS-CoV-2 genome and antibodies in breastmilk.ResultsWe included 50 articles. Twelve out of 183 women from 48 studies were positive for SARS-CoV-2 genome in their breastmilk (pooled proportion 5% (95% CI 2% to 15%; I2=48%)). Six infants (50%) of these 12 mothers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with one requiring respiratory support. Sixty-one out of 89 women from 10 studies had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody in their breastmilk (pooled proportion 83% (95% CI 32% to 98%; I2=88%)). The predominant antibody detected was IgA.ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 genome presence in breastmilk is uncommon and is associated with mild symptoms in infants. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may be a more common finding. Considering the low proportion of SARS-CoV-2 genome detected in breastmilk and its lower virulence, mothers with COVID-19 should be supported to breastfeed.

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Blockchain Applications in Agribusiness: A Systematic Review

Future Internet ◽

10.3390/fi13040095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 95

Author(s):

Geneci da Silva Ribeiro Rocha ◽

Letícia de Oliveira ◽

Edson Talamini

Keyword(s):

Complex System ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Early Stage ◽

Technological Development ◽

Economic Sectors ◽

Future Studies ◽

Blockchain Technology ◽

Near Future

Blockchain is a technology that can be applied in different sectors to solve various problems. As a complex system, agribusiness presents many possibilities to take advantage of blockchain technology. The main goal of this paper is to identify the purposes for which blockchain has been applied in the agribusiness sector, for which a PRISMA-based systematic review was carried out. The scientific literature corpus was accessed and selected from Elsevier’s Scopus and ISI of Knowledge’s Web of Science (WoS) platforms, using the PRISMA protocol procedures. Seventy-one articles were selected for analysis. Blockchain application in agribusiness is a novel topic, with the first publication dating from 2016. The technological development prevails more than blockchain applications since it has been addressed mainly in the Computer Sciences and Engineering. Blockchain applications for agribusiness management of financial, energy, logistical, environmental, agricultural, livestock, and industrial purposes have been reported in the literature. The findings suggest that blockchain brings many benefits when used in agribusiness supply chains. We concluded that the research on blockchain applications in agribusiness is only at an early stage, as many prototypes are being developed and tested in the laboratory. In the near future, blockchain will be increasingly applied across all economic sectors, including agribusiness, promoting greater reliability and agility in information with a reduced cost. Several gaps for future studies were observed, with significant value for science, industry, and society.

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