scholarly journals Effects of thymectomy on late-onset non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis: systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinwei Zhang ◽  
Yuan Chen ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Zhaoyu Yang ◽  
Peng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Conservative Treatment ◽  
Myasthenia Gravis ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Study Objective

Abstract Background The effects of thymectomy on late-onset non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (NTMG) remain controversial. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review in order to answer two questions pertinent to late-onset NTMG: (1) do patients with late-onset NTMG experience the same effects from thymectomy as their early-onset counterparts? (2) Compared with conservative treatment, does thymectomy have any benefits for late-onset NTMG patients? Methods We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for studies published from January 1, 1950 to March 10, 2021. Outcomes were measured via clinical stable remission/pharmacological remission (CSR/PR) and improvement rates. We used Stata software to analyze the data. Results We ultimately included a total of 12 observational articles representing the best evidence answering the questions of our study objective. Of these, nine studies, which included 896 patients overall (766 early-onset and 230 late-onset), compared postoperative outcomes between early- and late-onset NTMG. The remaining three articles, which included 216 patients (75 in the thymectomy group and 141 in the conservative-treatment group), compared thymectomy with conservative treatment for late-onset NTMG. The early- versus late-onset NTMG studies demonstrated that patients in the former category were 1.95× likelier than their late-onset counterparts to achieve clinical remission (odds ratio [OR] 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–2.73; I2 = 0%). No difference was seen in improvement or remission + improvement rates between these two groups. When comparing thymectomy with conservative treatments in late-onset NTMG patients, neither did we observe any difference in CSR/PR. Conclusion We found that late-onset NTMG patients had a lower chance of achieving CSR after thymectomy than early-onset patients. Thymectomy in late-onset NTMG also yielded no benefit to CSR or PR compared with conservative treatments. In late-onset NTMG patients, thymectomy should therefore be performed with caution, and the appropriate cutoff between early- and late-onset MG should be further explored in order to tailor and execute the proper therapeutic strategies.

Post-thymectomy myasthenia gravis: a case report and systematic review of literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e246005
Author(s):  
Louise Gurowich ◽  
Gabriel Yiin ◽  
Adam Maxwell ◽  
Alexandra Rice
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Myasthenia Gravis ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Prompt Treatment ◽  
Autoimmune Condition ◽  
Anti Acetylcholine

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune condition affecting the neuromuscular junction characterised by weakness and fatiguability, carrying a high morbidity if treatment is delayed. A clear association with thymoma has led to management with thymectomy as a common practice, but MG presenting post-thymectomy has rarely been reported. We present a case of an 82- year-old woman developing fatigue, ptosis and dysarthria 3 months after thymectomy. After a clinical diagnosis of MG was made, she responded well to prompt treatment with prednisolone and pyridostigmine. Her anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (anti-AChR) subsequently came back positive. Our systematic review reveals that post-thymectomy MG can be categorised as early-onset or late-onset form with differing aetiology, and demonstrated correlation between preoperative anti-AChR titres and post-thymectomy MG. The postulated mechanisms for post-thymectomy MG centre around long-lasting peripheral autoantibodies. Clinicians should actively look for MG symptoms in thymoma patients and measure anti-AChR preoperatively to aid prognostication.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Transparent vs. Pressure Dressing in Prevention of Post-Cardiac Catheterization Pain, Discomfort and Hematoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of RCTs

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
Suresh K Sharma ◽  
Kalpana Thakur ◽  
Shiv K Mudgal ◽  
Barun Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Cardiac Catheterization ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
English Language ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Pressure Dressing

ABSTRACT Introduction: There is lack consensus on superiority of transparent vs. pressure dressing for prevention of post-cardiac catheterization pain, discomfort and hematoma. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis of available RCTs on this subject. Methods: We performed a systematic search of RCTs published between in 2000-2019 in English language using databases including PubMed Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ERMED Journals, Clinical trials database, DELNET, Google Scholar and Discovery Search. Studies conducted on adult patients with femoral dressing after cardiac catheterization measuring pain, discomfort, hematoma as intended outcomes have been included. Data extraction, critical appraisal, assessment of risk bias was done and decisions on quality were made on mutual consensus. Mantel-Haenszel (MH) and odds ratio for dichotomous variables was calculated by Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: Out of all identified studies, only 5 studies comprising 664 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and met the quality assessment. Incidence of discomfort (25, 333) were significantly less in transparent dressing group as compared to pressure dressing group (149, 331); odds ratio 0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06-0.15; I2 = 0%, P= 0.00. Four studies reported significantly lower number of pain cases in transparent dressing (17, 203) as compared to pressure dressing (57, 201); odds ratio 0.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.59; I2 = 47%, P= 0.01). However, incidence of hematoma did not reveal any significant difference between two groups. Conclusion: Transparent dressing is a better option in patients with femoral/groin dressing after cardiac catheterization as it is more effective in prevention of pain and discomfort.

scholarly journals Association of UGT1A1*6 polymorphism with irinotecan-based chemotherapy reaction in colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and a meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyun Zhu ◽  
Ruchao Ma ◽  
Xin Ma ◽  
Gang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
The World ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Patients ◽  
Allele Model

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths across the world. Irinotecan (IRI) is commonly used to treat CRC, and IRI-based chemotherapy is linked with adverse reaction and the efficacy of the treatment regimen. The gene UGT1A1 plays a central role in the IRI metabolic pathway. A polymorphism UGT1A1*6 has been widely researched which may be related to response of IRI-based chemotherapy in CRC. All relevant studies were strictly searched from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases to explore the associations between UGT1A1*6 and response of IRI-based chemotherapy with CRC. Nine articles comprising 1652 patients were included in the final combination. Meta-analysis showed G allele or GG had a lower risk of severe late-onset diarrhea compared with A/AA in allele model and homozygote model (G vs. A: OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.28–0.99, P=0.05; GG vs. AA: OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.23–0.99, P=0.05), no significant association was observed in other models. In addition, a significant association between UGT1A1*6 and neutropenia was observed in all models (G vs. A: OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.46–0.71, P=0.00; GG vs. AA: OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.17–0.45, P=0.01; GA vs. AA: OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.26–0.70, P=0.00; GG+GA vs. AA: OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.20–0.52, P=0.00; GG vs. AA+GA: OR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22–0.71, P=0.00), whereas, no relationship was found between UGT1A1*6 and clinical response among the different genotypes. UGT1A1*6 may be considered as a biomarker for IRI-based chemotherapy in CRC.

scholarly journals The magnitude of adherence to option B plus program and associated factors among women in eastern African countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reta Tsegaye ◽  
Werku Etafa ◽  
Bizuneh Wakuma ◽  
Getu Mosisa ◽  
Diriba Mulisa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Early Treatment ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Treatment Initiation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Counseling Services ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background Despite coverage and benefits associated with the prevention of mothers to child transmission (PMTCT) services, mothers’ adherence to option B plus is still a challenge. Though few primary studies are available on the magnitude of adherence to option B plus and factors associated in Eastern African countries, they do not provide strong evidence in helping policymakers to address suboptimal adherence to option B plus. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was intended to estimate the pooled magnitude of adherence to option B plus program and associated factors among women in Eastern African countries. Methods PubMed, Medline, HINARI, Cochrane library, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for studies reported on the magnitude of adherence to option B plus among women in Eastern African countries. The search terms used were “option B plus”, “magnitude”, “prevalence”, “PMTCT”, “ART adherence”, “associated factors”, “all lists of Eastern African countries” and their combination by Boolean operators. The effect sizes of the meta-analysis were the magnitude of adherence to option B plus and the odds ratio of the associated factors. STATA/SE V14 was used for statistical analysis, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger’s test. Results Fourteen studies having total participants of 4883 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Using the random effect model, the pooled prevalence of adherence to option B plus was 71.88% (95% CI: 58.54–85.23%). The factors associated with good adherence to option B plus PMTCT program were partner support (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.13; 95% CI: 2.78–6.15), received counseling services (AOR = 4.12, 95% CI: 2.81–6.02), disclosure of HIV status to partner (AOR = 4.38; 95% CI: 1.79–10.70), and clinical stage of HIV/AIDS I/II (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.53–4.46). Conclusion The level of adherence to option B plus program in Eastern African countries was generally sub-optimal. Thus, a coordinated effort is needed to raise the number of mothers to be tested, and early treatment initiation for HIV positive mothers before the disease advances. Furthermore, counseling services for couples on the importance of early treatment initiation and adherence to medications must be given due attention.

scholarly journals Accuracy of Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Pneumothorax: A Comparison between Neonates and Adults—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Dahmarde ◽  
Fateme Parooie ◽  
Morteza Salarzaei
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
English Language ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Diagnostic Odds Ratio ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Chest Ultrasonography ◽  
Link Type

Objective. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in neonates and adults. Method. The searches were conducted by two independent researchers (MS and HD) to find the relevant studies published from 01/01/2009 until the end of 01/01/2019. We searched for published literature in the English language in MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase™ via ovid, the Cochrane Library, and Trip database. For literature published in other languages, we searched national databases (Magiran and SID), KoreaMed, and LILACS, and we searched OpenGrey (http://www.opengrey.eu/) and the World Health Organization Clinical Trials Registry (http://who.int/ictrp) for unpublished literature and ongoing studies. The keywords used in the search strategy were pneumothorax or ultrasound or chest ultrasonography or neonate or adult or aerothorax or sensitivity or specificity or diagnostic accuracy. The list of previous study resources and systematic reviews was also searched for identifying the published studies (MS and HD). Analyses were performed using Meta-Disc 1.4. Results. In total, 1,565 patients (255 neonates, 1212 adults, and 101 pediatrics suspected of pneumothorax) were investigated in 10 studies. The overall specificity of chest ultrasound in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in both populations of adults and neonates was 85.1% at the confidence interval of 95 percent (95% CI 81.1%–88.5%). At the confidence interval of 95 percent, the sensitivity was 98.6% (95% CI 97.7%–99.2%). The diagnostic odds ratio was 387.72 (95% CI 76.204–1972.7). For the diagnosis of pneumothorax in neonates, the ultrasound sensitivity was 96.7% at the confidence interval of 95 percent (95% CI 88.3%–99.6%). At the confidence interval of 95 percent, the specificity was 100% (95% CI 97.7%–100%). For the diagnosis of pneumothorax in adults, the ultrasound sensitivity was 82.9% at the confidence interval of 95 percent (95% CI 78.3–86.9%). At the confidence interval of 95 percent, the specificity was 98.2% (95% CI 97.0%–99.0%). The diagnostic odds ratio was 423.13 (95% CI 45.222–3959.1). Analyzing studies indicated that the sensitivity of “absence lung sliding” sign for the diagnosis of pneumothorax was 87.2% (95% CI 77.7–93.7), and specificity was 99.4% (95% CI 96.5%–100%). DOR was 556.74 (95% CI 100.03–3098.7). The sensitivity of “lung point” sign for the diagnosis of pneumothorax was 82.1% (95% CI 71.7%–89.8%), and the specificity was 100% (at the confidence interval of 95% CI 97.6%–100%). DOR was 298.0 (95% CI 58.893–1507.8). Conclusion. The diagnosis of pneumothorax using ultrasound is accurate and reliable; additionally, it can result in timely diagnoses specifically in neonatal pneumothorax. Using this method facilitates the therapy process; lack of ionizing radiation and easy operation are benefits of this imaging technique.

scholarly journals The diagnostic accuracy of B-mode ultrasound in detecting meniscal tears: a systematic review and pooled meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fajin Dong ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Shuxia Wang ◽  
Duo Dong ◽  
Jinfeng Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Diagnostic Odds Ratio ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Meniscal Tears ◽  
Linear Probe ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of meniscal tears using B-mode ultrasound and high-frequency linear probe by conducting a systematic review and pooled meta-analysis. Material and methods: The Cochrane library, Embase, and Pubmed were searched for relevant studies up to 29 July 2017. The arthroscopy was used as the reference standard. The results were estimated by pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, likelihood ratio, and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC). Results: Seven prospective studies met the selection criteria, comprising 321meniscal tears from 472 patients. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the SROC curve were 88.80% (95%CI: 82.83-92.87), 84.66% (95%CI: 75.89-90.64), 5.79(95%CI: 3.66-9.15), 0.13 (95%CI: 0.09-0.20), and 43.74 (95%CI: 24.01-79.68), respectively. The area under the SROC curve was 93% (95%CI: 91-95). Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates that 2-dimensional ultrasound is useful, and could be routinely used for estimating meniscal injuries in the human knee joint

scholarly journals Effectiveness and Safety of Rituximab for Refractory Myasthenia Gravis: A Systematic Review and Single-Arm Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Zhao ◽  
Meng Pu ◽  
Dawei Chen ◽  
Jin Shi ◽  
Zhuyi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Myasthenia Gravis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Immunosuppressive Agents ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Score Change ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Mean

Background and Objective: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease. Nearly 10–30% of patients with MG are refractory to conventional therapy. Rituximab (RTX), a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20, is increasingly used in autoimmune disorders. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of RTX for refractory MG.Methods: Studies published between January 1, 2000 and January 17, 2021 were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClincalTrails.gov. Primary outcomes included proportion of patients achieving minimal manifestation status (MMS) or better and quantitative MG (QMG) score change from baseline. Secondary outcomes were glucocorticoids (GC) doses change from baseline and proportion of patients discontinuing oral immunosuppressants.Results: A total of 24 studies involving 417 patients were included in the meta-analysis. An overall 64% (95% confidence interval, 49–77%) of patients achieved MMS or better. The estimated reduction of QMG score was 1.55 (95% confidence interval, 0.88–2.22). The mean reduction of GC doses was 1.46 (95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.82). The proportion of patients discontinuing oral immunosuppressants was 81% (95% confidence interval, 66–93%). Subgroup analyses showed that the proportion of patients achieving MMS or better and discontinuing oral immunosuppressants was higher in MuSK-MG group than those in AChR-MG group. Improvement was more pronounced in patients with mild to moderate MG compared to those with severe MG. Moreover, the efficacy appeared to be independent of the dose of RTX. 19.6% of patients experienced adverse events, most of which were mild to moderate. Only one patient developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.Conclusions: RTX can alleviate the symptom of weakness, decrease QMG score and reduce the doses of steroids and non-steroid immunosuppressive agents in refractory MG. It is well-tolerated with few severe adverse events. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to study the efficacy of RTX in treating refractory MG and to identify the characteristics of patients who might respond well to RTX.

Testosterone Therapy for Late-Onset Hypogonadism Improves Erectile Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Hisanori Taniguchi ◽  
Seiji Shimada ◽  
Hidefumi Kinoshita
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Erectile Function ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Testosterone Therapy ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Testosterone Gel ◽  
Function Domain ◽  
Late Onset Hypogonadism

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of testosterone therapy (TTh) for late-onset hypogonadism are systematically reviewed and a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of TTh in improving erectile function is performed. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify RCTs published from 2007. RCTs that assessed erectile function using the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EFD) were included in the meta-analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The systematic review included 18 RCTs and the meta-analysis included 6 studies that enrolled a total of 1,458 patients. The overall meta-analysis revealed that the IIEF-EFD score was significantly improved in the TTh group compared with the placebo group (mean difference 1.86; 95% confidence interval 1.01–2.72; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001). Compared with patients receiving placebo, there was a significant improvement in the IIEF-EFD of patients who received TTh using testosterone gel, those who received TTh for over 30 weeks, and those without diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> TTh achieved a significant improvement in the IIEF-EFD score of hypogonadal men compared with placebo, especially in those who received testosterone gel, were treated for over 30 weeks, and had no comorbidities.

scholarly journals Predictive Performance of Placental Protein 13 for Screening Preeclampsia in the First Trimester: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Wu ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Yiling Ding
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Diagnostic Odds Ratio ◽  
Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽  
Specific Syndrome ◽  
Placental Protein

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome that affects maternal and neonatal mortality. Several serum biomarkers can be used to predict preeclampsia. Among these proteins, placental protein 13 (PP13) has received progressively more interest in recent studies. The decrease in PP13 expression is one of the earliest signs for the development of preeclampsia and has shown its predictive performance for preeclampsia. In this meta-analysis, we collected 17 observational studies with 40,474 pregnant women. The overall sensitivity of PP13 to predict preeclampsia was 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49–0.74], the specificity was 0.84 (95%CI = 0.81–0.86), and the diagnostic odds ratio was nine (95%CI = 5–15). The area under the curve for summary receiver operating characteristic was 0.84. We then chose the early-onset preeclampsia as a subgroup. The sensitivity of early-onset subgroup was 0.63 (95%CI = 0.58–0.76), the specificity was 0.85 (95%CI = 0.82–0.88), and the diagnostic odds ratio was 10 (95%CI = 6–18). The findings of our meta-analysis indicate that PP13 may be an effective serum biomarker for the predictive screening of preeclampsia. Nonetheless, large prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are expected to uncover its application in clinical practice. The heterogeneity of the original trials may limit the clinical application of PP13.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=188948 The meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020188948).

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