Combination Therapy Versus Monotherapy In The Treatment Of Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia Infections: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multidrug-resistant bacteria that is difficult to treat in hospitals around the world. It has become a public health issue, as well as being linked to a high mortality rate. Several studies have shown a variety of treatment and clinical outcomes; however, the efficacy of combination therapy remains limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of monotherapy and combination therapy for S. maltophilia infections on mortality outcome.Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of combination therapy versus monotherapy in the treatment of S. maltophilia infections on mortality as a clinical outcome. Electronic databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, and OpenGrey, were systematically searched from the inception of the database until September 3, 2021. Results: Of which 6,524 articles identified, a total of 13 studies and 2 cohort studies were included for systematic review of combination therapy and meta-analysis, respectively. The systematic review of combination antimicrobial therapy had been showed clinically desirable outcome on mortality in S. maltopholia infection, especially in complex or severe infection. In the fixed-effects meta-analysis of the cohort study, monotherapy was surprisingly shown to have statistically significant effects on the decreased risk of mortality (hazard ratio 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.94). Conclusions: Our results found that the combination antimicrobial therapy had been showed clinically desirable outcome on mortality in S. maltopholia infection and monotherapy has a trend toward improved better outcome than combination therapy on mortality for the treatment of S. maltophilia infections. A longitudinal study that further explores this association is warranted. Trial registration: This study was registered with the trial registration number ID: 210843 under the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO: www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).

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Nervous and Muscular Adverse Events after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9080939 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 939

Author(s):

Jiaxin Chen ◽

Yuangui Cai ◽

Yicong Chen ◽

Anthony P. Williams ◽

Yifang Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Categorical Variables ◽

Control Group ◽

Open Label

Background: Nervous and muscular adverse events (NMAEs) have garnered considerable attention after the vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, the incidences of NMAEs remain unclear. We aimed to calculate the pooled event rate of NMAEs after COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on the incidences of NMAEs after COVID-19 vaccination was conducted. The PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched from inception to 2 June 2021. Two independent reviewers selected the study and extracted the data. Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated and generated with random or fixed effects models. The protocol of the present study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021240450). Results: In 15 phase 1/2 trials, NMAEs occurred in 29.2% vs. 21.6% (p < 0.001) vaccinated participants and controls. Headache and myalgia accounted for 98.2% and 97.7%, and their incidences were 16.4% vs. 13.9% (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.28–3.06, p = 0.002) and 16.0% vs. 7.9% (OR = 3.31, 95% CI = 2.05–5.35, p < 0.001) in the vaccine and control groups, respectively. Headache and myalgia were more frequent in the newly licensed vaccines (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.28–3.06, p = 0.02 and OR = 3.31, 95% CI = 2.05–5.35, p < 0.001) and younger adults (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.12–1.75, p = 0.003 and OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.20–1.96, p < 0.001). In four open-label trials, the incidences of headache, myalgia, and unsolicited NMAEs were 38.7%, 27.4%, and 1.5%. Following vaccination in phase 3 trials, headache and myalgia were still common with a rate of 29.5% and 19.2%, although the unsolicited NMAEs with incidence rates of ≤ 0.7% were not different from the control group in each study. Conclusions: Following the vaccination, NMAEs are common of which headache and myalgia comprised a considerable measure, although life-threatening unsolicited events are rare. NMAEs should be continuously monitored during the ongoing global COVID-19 vaccination program.

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Methotrexate for the Treatment of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ◽

10.1093/ibd/izy078 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (10) ◽

pp. 2135-2141 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ruben J Colman ◽

Rachel C Lawton ◽

Marla C Dubinsky ◽

David T Rubin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Combination Therapy ◽

Treatment Efficacy ◽

Clinical Remission ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Free Text ◽

Pediatric Ibd

Abstract Background Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunomodulator used for the treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). There are currently no RCTs that assess the treatment efficacy of methotrexate within the pediatric IBD patient population. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the efficacy of MTX therapy among the existing pediatric literature. Methods A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE and the Cochrane library from inception until March 2016. Synonyms for ‘pediatric’, ‘methotrexate’ and ‘IBD’ were utilized as both free text and MESH search terms. The studies included contained clinical remission (CR) rates for MTX treatment of pediatric IBD patients 18 yrs old, as mono- or combination therapy. Case studies with <10 patients were excluded. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis calculated pooled CR rates. A random-effects meta-analysis with forest plots was performed using R. Results Fourteen (11 monotherapy, 1 combination therapy, 2 both; n = 886 patients) observational studies were eligible out of 202 studies. No interventional studies were identified. The pooled achieved CR rate for pediatric CD patients on monotherapy within 3-6 months was 57.7% (95% CI 48.2-66.6%), (P =0.22; I2 = 29.8%). The CR was 37.1% (95% CI 29.5-45.5%), (P = 0.20; I2 = 37.4%) for maintenance therapy at 12 months. Sub-analysis could not identify CR differences between MTX administration types, thiopurine exposure. Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrated that, over 50% of pediatric Crohn’s disease patients induced with methotrexate achieved clinical remission, while 12-month remission rate was only 37%. Prospective controlled interventional trials should assess treatment efficacy among patient subgroups.

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The Effect of Celiac Neurolysis and Splanchnicectomy on Survival in Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Digestive Surgery ◽

10.1159/000520456 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Linhan Ye ◽

Stephan Schorn ◽

Ilaria Pergolini ◽

Okan Safak ◽

Elke Demir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Relevant Effect ◽

The Impact

Background: Intractable pancreatic pain is one of the most common symptoms of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Celiac neurolysis (CN) and splanchnicectomy were already described as effective methods to manage abdominal pain in unresectable PDAC, but their impact on overall survival (OS) has not yet been established. Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of CN and splanchnicectomy on the survival of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Methods: A systematic review of PubMed and Cochrane Library according to predefined searching terms was conducted in March 2020. Hazard ratios (HR) of OS data were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel model for random effects or fixed effects. Result: Four randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and 2 non-RCTs with a total of 2,507 patients were identified. The overall pooled HR did not reveal any relevant effect of CN and splanchnicectomy on OS (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.81–1.32), which was also underlined by the sensitivity analysis of RCTs (HR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.72–1.39) and non-RCTs (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.71–1.63). However, subgroup analyses depending on tumor stage revealed that CN or splanchnicectomy was associated with a worsened OS in AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) stage III patients with unresectable PDAC (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.03–1.45), but nor for AJCC stage IV patients (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 0.9–1.80). Conclusion: Although only few data are currently available, this systematic review with meta-analysis showed that in unresectable PDAC, CN or splanchnicectomy is associated with a worsened survival in stage III PDAC patients, with no effect on stage IV PDAC patients. These data call for caution in the usage of CN or splanchnicectomy in stage III PDAC and for further studies addressing this observation.

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Effectiveness of diluted povidone-iodine lavage for preventing periprosthetic joint infection: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research ◽

10.1186/s13018-021-02703-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Naomi Kobayashi ◽

Emi Kamono ◽

Kento Maeda ◽

Toshihiro Misumi ◽

Yohei Yukizawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Periprosthetic Joint Infection ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Povidone Iodine ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Joint Infection ◽

Assessment Process ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Saline Control ◽

Control Group

Abstract Background Of the several methods used to prevent surgical site infection (SSI), diluted povidone-iodine (PI) lavage is used widely. However, the clinical utility of PI for preventing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the utility of dilute PI lavage for preventing PJI in primary and revision surgery. Methods This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. The results are summarized qualitatively and as a meta-analysis of pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Heterogeneity of treatment effects among studies was classified as low, moderate, or high, corresponding to I2 values of < 25%, 25–50%, and > 50%. A random effects model was applied in cases of high heterogeneity; otherwise, the fixed effects model was applied. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. Results After the screening and eligibility assessment process, eight studies were finally extracted for analysis. Overall, the results showed that PI had no significant effect on PJI with ununified control group. However, subgroup analysis of studies with a saline control group revealed an odds ratio of 0.33 (95% CI, 0.16–0.71) for the PI group, suggesting a significant effect for preventing PJI. Conclusion The systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature demonstrates that diluted PI lavage is significantly better than saline solution lavage for preventing PJI. Level of evidence Level I, Systematic review and meta-analysis.

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Effect of Cashew Nut on Lipid Profile: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Complementary Medicine Research ◽

10.1159/000506348 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 348-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mojgan Morvaridzadeh ◽

Mahdi Sepidarkish ◽

Farnaz Farsi ◽

Abolfazl Akbari ◽

Roghayeh Mostafai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Analysis Model ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Cashew Nut

Introduction: Nuts are one of the dietary components which appear to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease biomarkers. Studies demonstrate beneficial effects of cashews on serum lipids concentration, but results in the literature remain inconclusive. We conducted a review to examine the effects of cashew nut supplementation on serum lipid profile. Methods: Two reviewers independently searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EMBASE electronic databases from inception until June 2019 without language limitation. Random- and fixed-effects models were used to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI) for studies. Results: Six randomized clinical trials comprising 531 participants were included in this systematic review. Three studies were included in the meta-analysis model. There were no significant changes for total cholesterol (TC) (standardized mean difference [SMD]: –0.02, 95% CI: –0.32, 0.28), triglycerides (TG) (SMD: –0.01, 95% CI: –0.22, 0.20), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (SMD: 0.09, 95% CI: –0.16, 0.34), or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (SMD: –0.18, 95% CI: –0.75, 0.39). Conclusion: The results of this analysis demonstrate that treatment with cashew nut supplementation alone did not significantly change serum levels of LDL, HDL, TC, or TG.

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Acupuncture for neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038455 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e038455

Author(s):

Zhen Gao ◽

Gao-Feng Liu ◽

Jing Zhang ◽

Lai-Xi Ji

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Cervical Spondylosis ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽

Random Effects Models

IntroductionNeck pain causes serious social and economic burden. Research on the use of acupuncture for managing cervical spondylosis has increased over time, with the quality of studies showing an improved trend. The present study seeks to use a systematic review approach to understand efficacy and safety of acupuncture for treatment of neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis.Methods and analysisWe will search PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese BioMedical Literature, Wanfang database and VIP databases, from their inception to July 2020, to identify and retrieve all randomised controlled trials, describing the use of acupuncture for treatment of cervical spondylosis. Thereafter, two reviewers will independently select the studies, extract data and assess the risk of bias. Any disagreements, between them, will be resolved through a discussion with a third reviewer. Data synthesis and statistical analyses will be performed using the Revman V.5.3 software. Specifically, data will be synthesised by either fixed-effects (heterogeneity less than 50%) or random-effects models, following a heterogeneity test, with outcome measures focusing on pain intensity, functional disability, psychological improvements and adverse events. In cases where no considerable heterogeneity is detected, a meta-analysis will be conducted.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval will be required for this study, since it does not infringe on anyone’s interests. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated through conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020152379.

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Direct and Indirect Therapeutic Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine as an Add-on for Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-51831/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xuedong an ◽

de jin ◽

liyun duan ◽

shenghui zhao ◽

rongrong zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Random Effect Model ◽

Small Sample ◽

Cochrane Library

Abstract Background：Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in many countries. The current treatment for non-proliferative DR (NPDR) using Western medicine (WM) alone is insufficient. At present, the combination of NPDR treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and WM is universally applied. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TCM as an add-on for NPDR using a systematic review and meta-analysis.Method: Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM for NPDR treatment along with WM before July 6, 2019, were collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Database, Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Relevant data were extracted by two reviewers. I2 statistics was adopted to appraise heterogeneity. If I2<50% the fixed-effects model was employed, otherwise a random-effect model was employed. (PROSPERO: CRD42019134947)Result: Eighteen RCTs (1522 patients) were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results showed that compared with WM alone, TCM (including Compound Xueshuantong Capsule, Qiming Granule, and others) combined with WM for NPDR could improve the overall effiicacy [n=1686，RR1.24(1.18,1.30), P<0.00001, I2=0%], and reduce the influence of risk factors related to NPDR, such as glycated hemoglobin level [n=360, MD -0.85(-1.28, -0.41), P=0.0001, I2=72%], triglyceride (P<0.00001), and total cholesterol (P=0.0008). Moreover, no serious adverse events were reported.Conclusion: Compared with WM alone, TCM+WM could significantly improve NPDR and also reduce the correlation levels of risk factors, such as hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia. However, the small sample included in the study might lead to a publication bias, and therefore, our results should be treated with caution.

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Cannabis Smoking And Risk Of Lung Cancer - A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Medicine and Surgery ◽

10.15342/ijms.v1i2.57 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 31-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Khalid Bouti ◽

Rajae Borki ◽

Hicham Fenane ◽

Laila Harrak

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Control ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Open Access Journals ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Cannabis Smoking

Background: Cannabis is the illicit psychoactive substance the most consumed in the world. Little is known about the association between the use of cannabis and the risk of lung cancer. Objective:The objective of this meta-analysis is to determine whether use of cannabis is a risk factor for lung cancer. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses of all languages articles using relevant computerised databases. MEDLINE (online PubMed), Web of knowledge, Embase, EBSCO CINAHL, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Directory of Open Access Journals were searched to September 2014 for cohorts and case-control studies that assessed the risk of lung cancer associated with cannabis smoking. The literature search was performed with a combination of medical subject headings terms, "cannabis" and "lung neoplasms". Data extraction: Two investigators independently analysed and extracted results from eligible studies. Our study's registration number on PROSPERO is CRD42014008872. Results: The search strategy identified 2476 citations. 13 studies were eligible for inclusion: 2 pooled analysis of 9 case-control studies, one case-control study and 3 cohorts. The cumulative analysis for all the studies under a fixed-effects model showed that cannabis smoking determined an increased risk of developing lung cancer in the future (relative risk 1.22, 95% confidence interval 0.999–1.5; p=0.051), with no evidence of heterogeneity across the studies (I2: 34%; p¼0.01). Conclusions: The use of cannabis with or without tobacco smoking is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer

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Ear mould for congenital auricular deformities: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-40986/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jincheng Huang ◽

Kun Zou ◽

Ping Yuan ◽

Longhao Zhang ◽

Min Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Random Effects ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Small Sample ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Random Effects Model ◽

High Quality ◽

Effectiveness Rate

Abstract Background: Congenital auricle deformities (CADs) not only affect the appearance, but may also result in social inferiority or difficulties, influence the hearing and mental health of the children. Although some studies have pointed out CADs have a natural improvement trend, there is still a lack of high-quality research to demonstrate the degree of that. Therefore, related studies agree that early treatment are necessary. Ear mold correction is currently main non-surgical treatment for CADs, but the existing research often involves a small sample size, and the research conclusions are inconsistent. More importantly, there is still no systematic review on ear mold correction for CADs. This study aims to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ear mold correction for CADs, so as to provide an evidence base for further research.Methods: The study has been designed according to the Preferred Reporting program for Systems Evaluation and Meta-analysis Protocol (PRISMA-P). We will search electronic literature databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of science, CBM, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP from their initiative to 1 June 2020 for interventional studies on ear mould for children with CADs. The study selection, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed by two authors. Meta-analysis will be conducted on primary outcome effectiveness rate of physician assessment and secondary outcomes of effectiveness rate of parents’ assessment, effectiveness score, hearing assessment, and adverse reactions using relative ratio or mean difference and their 95% confidence intervals. The heterogeneity of the included studies will be tested using Chi square test and I2, and random-effects model will be used when significant heterogeneity was found, otherwise, fixed-effects model will be used. Sensitivity analysis will be performed using trials with high quality and using alternative [1]models (fixed-effects or random effects model). Publication bias will be tested using funnel plot and Egger’s test. Discussion: This study will be the first to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ear mold correction for CADs, to provide evidence base for clinical guideline making, clinical decision and future research. Systematic review registration : CRD42020190982.

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Hospital Disaster Preparedness in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Iranian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.18502/ijph.v49i5.3201 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jafar BAZYAR ◽

Negar POURVAKHSHOORI ◽

Hamid SAFARPOUR ◽

Mehrdad FARROKHI ◽

Hamid Reza KHANKEH ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Emergency Services ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Library Science ◽

Structural Safety ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Fixed Effects Model ◽

Hospital Preparedness

Background: Disasters are increasing all over the world. Iran, is one of the high-risk countries in this regard; so it is unavoidable to prepare hospitals as vital centers when disasters happen. This study aimed to evaluation the hospital preparedness based on previous studies in Iran. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis by browsing through all articles published since 2006 to 2017, in English and Persian both languages were designed. Databases that we searched to, include Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Medlib, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Internationally and SID, Irandoc and Magiran, domestically. Two expert researchers investigated separately. Researchers used random and fixed effect models in the meta-analysis. Moreover, random and fixed effects model and meta-regression tests were applied by using STATA ver. 11. The P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Twenty-five studies with a sample size of 181 hospitals were introduced to the process of metaanalysis. Iranian hospital preparedness is 53%, totally, that is moderate. Preparedness in different categories is as follows: emergency services 62%, communication 57%, security 54%, education 57%, logistic 65%, human resources 52%, Management and command 64%, reception 43%, transfer and evacuation 44%, traffic 47%, non-structural safety 57%, and structural safety 49%. Conclusion: Hospital preparedness is moderate in Iran. Optimal management of existing resources and the use of Update technologies in the field of hospital services be directed towards improving the preparedness of hospitals for disasters.

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