Sputum Colour as a Marker for Bacteria in Acute Exacerbations of COPD: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of years of life lost globally. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) drive disease progression, reduce quality of life and are a source of mortality in COPD. Approximately 50% of AECOPD are due to bacterial infections. Diagnosing bacterial infection as the aetiology of AECOPD however remains challenging as investigations are limited by practicality, accuracy and expense. Clinicians have traditionally used sputum colour as a marker of bacterial infection in AECOPD, despite the lack of high-quality evidence for this practice. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of sputum colour in the diagnosis of bacterial causes of AECOPD. MethodsArticles will be searched for in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa-Wide, CINAHL and Health Source Nursing Academy) and we will conduct a review of citation indexes and the grey literature. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, against pre-defined eligibility criteria, data extraction and quality assessment of included articles using the QUADAS-2 tool. We will perform a meta‐analysis using a bivariate logistic regression model with random effects. We will explore heterogeneity through the visual examination of the forest plots of sensitivities and specificities and through the inclusion of possible sources of heterogeneity as covariates in a meta-regression model if sufficient studies are included in the analysis. We also perform a sensitivity analysis to explore the effect of study quality on our findings. The results of this review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement and will be submitted for peer-review and publication.DiscussionThe findings of this review will assist clinicians in diagnosing the aetiology of AECOPD and may have important implications for decision making in resource-limited settings, as well as for antimicrobial stewardship.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019141498

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Sputum colour as a marker for bacteria in acute exacerbations of COPD: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-021-01767-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ruan Spies ◽

Matthew Potter ◽

Ruan Hollamby ◽

Stefan van der Walt ◽

Ameer Hohlfeld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Bacterial Infection ◽

Regression Model ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Years Of Life Lost ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Acute Exacerbations

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of years of life lost globally. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) drive disease progression, reduce quality of life and are a source of mortality in COPD. Approximately 50% of AECOPD are due to bacterial infections. Diagnosing bacterial infection as the aetiology of AECOPD however remains challenging as investigations are limited by practicality, accuracy and expense. Clinicians have traditionally used sputum colour as a marker of bacterial infection in AECOPD, despite the lack of high-quality evidence for this practice. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of sputum colour in the diagnosis of bacterial causes of AECOPD. Methods Articles will be searched for in electronic databases (MEDLINE, Google Scholar Scopus, Web of Science, Africa-Wide, CINAHL and Health Source Nursing Academy) and we will conduct a review of citation indexes and the grey literature. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, against pre-defined eligibility criteria, data extraction and quality assessment of included articles using the QUADAS-2 tool. We will perform a meta‐analysis using a bivariate logistic regression model with random effects. We will explore heterogeneity through the visual examination of the forest plots of sensitivities and specificities and through the inclusion of possible sources of heterogeneity as covariates in a meta-regression model if sufficient studies are included in the analysis. We also perform a sensitivity analysis to explore the effect of study quality on our findings. The results of this review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement and will be submitted for peer-review and publication. Discussion The findings of this review will assist clinicians in diagnosing the aetiology of AECOPD and may have important implications for decision making in resource-limited settings, as well as for antimicrobial stewardship. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42019141498

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Hyaluronic acid for tissue and bone regeneration after tooth extraction. Systematic review and meta-analysis

10.1101/2020.06.02.20120733 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shuheng Lai ◽

Francisco Novillo ◽

Geovanna Cárdenas ◽

Francisca Verdugo ◽

Gabriel Rada

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Bone Regeneration ◽

Tooth Extraction ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Eligibility Criteria

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness and safety of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) on tissue and bone regeneration after tooth extraction.Data SourcesWe will conduct a comprehensive search in Epistemonikos, PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), LILACS, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov, US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and grey literature, to identify all relevant randomized controlled trials regardless of language or publication status (published, unpublished, in press and in progress).Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies and MethodsWe will include randomized trials evaluating the effect of HA on tissue and bone regeneration after tooth extraction. Two reviewers will independently screen each study for eligibility, data extraction, and assess the risk of bias. We will pool the results using meta-analysis and will apply the GRADE system to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome.Ethics and DisseminationNo ethics approval is considered necessary. The results of this review will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, social networks, and traditional media.PROSPERO Registration IDCRD42020150285

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Oxymetazoline for the treatment of rosacea-associated persistent facial erythema. Systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

10.1101/2020.05.25.20111344 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Geovanna Cárdenas ◽

Francisco Novillo ◽

Shuheng Lai ◽

Héctor Fuenzalida ◽

Francisca Verdugo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Facial Erythema ◽

Central Register ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe objective of this systematic review is to assess the impact of oxymetazoline in patients with moderate to severe rosacea.Data SourcesWe will conduct a comprehensive search in PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Lilacs, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov, US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and grey literature, to identify all relevant randomized controlled trials regardless of language or publication status (published, unpublished, in press and in progress).Eligibility criteria for selecting studies and methodsWe will include randomized trials evaluating the effect of oxymetazoline in patients with moderate to severe rosacea. Two reviewers will independently screen each study for eligibility, data extraction, and assess the risk of bias. We will pool the results using meta-analysis and will apply the GRADE [1] system to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome.Ethics and DisseminationNo ethics approval is considered necessary. The results of this review will be widely disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, social networks and traditional media.Protocol and RegistrationThis protocol was adapted to the specificities of the question assessed in this review and registered to PROSPERO with the ID CRD42020150262.

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Is the introduction of violence and injury observatories associated with a reduction in violence-related injury in adult populations? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027977 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. e027977 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ardil Jabar ◽

Francisco Fong ◽

Monica Chavira ◽

Maria Teresa Cerqueira ◽

Dylan Barth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Cochrane Collaboration ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Injury Surveillance System ◽

Cross Sectional

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to summarise the results from existing studies reporting on the effectiveness of the introduction of violence and injury observatories (VIOs).DesignThis is a systematic review and meta-analysis study.Data sourcesWe searched multiple electronic databases including but not limited to PubMed, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Cochrane Collaboration, Campbell Collaboration and Web of Knowledge.Eligibility criteriaWe included non-randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, controlled before-and-after studies and cross-sectional studies. We sought to include studies performed in any country and published in any language. The primary outcome was homicide, while the secondary outcome was assault.Data extraction and synthesisWe searched a number of databases, supplemented by searches in grey literature including technical reports. Searches comprised studies from January 1990 to October 2018.ResultsOf 3105 potentially relevant unique citations from all literature searches, 3 empirical studies and 4 technical reports met our inclusion criteria. Studies were conducted in the UK (n=3), Colombia (n=2), Brazil (n=1) and Uruguay (n=1). Subgroup analyses according to the two types of models implemented, the VIO and the injury surveillance system (ISS), provided evidence for an association between implementing the VIO model and a reduction in homicide count in high-violence settings (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=0.06; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.19; four studies), while the introduction of ISS showed significant results in reducing assault (IRR=0.80; 95% CI 0.71 to 0.91; three studies).ConclusionThis systematic review provides the best evidence available for the effectiveness of the introduction of VIOs and ISSs in reducing violence outcomes in adults in high-violence settings. The implementation of VIOs should be considered in high-violence communities where reduction in homicide rates is desired.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42014009818.

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Deprescribing fall-risk increasing drugs (FRIDs) for the prevention of falls and fall-related complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035978 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e035978

Author(s):

Justin Lee ◽

Ahmed Negm ◽

Ryan Peters ◽

Eric K C Wong ◽

Anne Holbrook

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Financial Burden ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesPrevention of falls and fall-related injuries is a priority due to the substantial health and financial burden of falls on patients and healthcare systems. Deprescribing medications known as ‘fall-risk increasing drugs’ (FRIDs) is a common strategy to prevent falls. We conducted a systematic review to determine its efficacy for the prevention of falls and fall-related complications.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL and grey literature from inception to 1 August 2020.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesRandomised controlled trials of FRID withdrawal compared with usual care evaluating the rate of falls, incidence of falls, fall-related injuries, fall-related fractures, fall-related hospitalisations or adverse effects related to the intervention in adults aged ≥65 years.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers independently performed citation screening, data abstraction, risk of bias assessment and certainty of evidence grading. Random-effects models were used for meta-analyses.ResultsFive trials involving 1305 participants met eligibility criteria. Deprescribing FRIDs did not change the rate of falls (rate ratio (RaR) 0.98, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.51), the incidence of falls (risk difference 0.01, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.09; relative risk 1.04, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.26) or rate of fall-related injuries (RaR 0.89, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.39) over a follow-up period of 6–12 months. No trials evaluated the impact of deprescribing FRIDs on fall-related fractures or hospitalisations.ConclusionThere is a paucity of robust high-quality evidence to support or refute that a FRID deprescribing strategy alone is effective at preventing falls or fall-related injury in older adults. Although there may be other reasons to deprescribe FRIDs, our systematic review found that it may result in little to no difference in the rate or risk of falls as a sole falls reduction strategy.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42016040203.

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Misuse of medication in adult substance misuse services: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047283 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. e047283

Author(s):

Rosalind Gittins ◽

Louise Missen ◽

Ian Maidment

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Substance Misuse ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Opioid Analgesics ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Qualitative Synthesis ◽

Treatment Services ◽

The Impact

IntroductionThere is a growing concern about the misuse of over the counter (OTC) and prescription only medication (POM) because of the impact on physical and mental health, drug interactions, overdoses and drug-related deaths. These medicines include opioid analgesics, anxiolytics such as pregabalin and diazepam and antidepressants. This protocol outlines how a systematic review will be undertaken (during June 2021), which aims to examine the literature on the pattern of OTC and POM misuse among adults who are accessing substance misuse treatment services. It will include the types of medication being taken, prevalence and demographic characteristics of people who access treatment services.Methods and analysisAn electronic search will be conducted on the Cochrane, OVID Medline, Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases as well as grey literature. Two independent reviewers will conduct the initial title and abstract screenings, using predetermined criteria for inclusion and exclusion. If selected for inclusion, full-text data extraction will be conducted using a pilot-tested data extraction form. A third reviewer will resolve disagreements if consensus cannot be reached. Quality and risk of bias assessment will be conducted for all included studies. A qualitative synthesis and summary of the data will be provided. If possible, a meta-analysis with heterogeneity calculation will be conducted; otherwise, Synthesis Without Meta-analysis will be undertaken for quantitative data. The reporting of this protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required. Findings will be peer reviewed, published and shared verbally, electronically and in print, with interested clinicians and policymakers.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020135216.

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Contrast extravasation and outcome of endovascular therapy in acute ischaemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044917 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e044917

Author(s):

Tao Xu ◽

You Wang ◽

Jinxian Yuan ◽

Yangmei Chen ◽

Haiyan Luo

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Ischaemic Stroke ◽

Functional Outcome ◽

Endovascular Therapy ◽

Acute Ischaemic Stroke ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Poor Functional Outcome ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Contrast Extravasation

ObjectiveContrast extravasation (CE) after endovascular therapy (EVT) is commonly present in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients. Substantial uncertainties remain about the relationship between CE and the outcomes of EVT in patients with AIS. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate this association.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies were performed.Data sourceWe systematically searched the Medline and Embase databases for relevant clinical studies. The last literature search in databases was performed in June 2020.Eligibility criteria for study selectionWe included studies exploring the associations between CE and the outcomes of EVT in patients with AIS undergoing EVT.Data extraction and synthesisTwo reviewers extracted relevant information and data from each article independently. We pooled ORs with CIs using a random-effects meta-analysis to calculate the associations between CE and outcomes of EVT. The magnitude of heterogeneity between estimates was quantified with the I2 statistic with 95% CIs.ResultsFifteen observational studies that enrolled 1897 patients were included. Patients with CE had higher risks of poor functional outcome at discharge (2.38, 95% CI 1.45 to 3.89 p=0.001; n=545) and poor functional outcome at 90 days (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.90; n=1194). We found no association between CE and in-hospital mortality (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.30; n=376) or 90-day mortality (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.36; n=697) after EVT. Moreover, CE was associated with higher risks of post-EVT intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) (OR 6.68, 95% CI 3.51 to 12.70; n=1721) and symptomatic ICH (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.97 to 5.40; n=1092).ConclusionsThis systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that in patients with AIS undergoing EVT, CE is associated with higher risks of unfavourable functional outcomes and ICH. Thus, we should pay more attention to CE in patients with AIS undergoing EVT.

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Effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for induction of labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022499 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. e022499 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Collins Zamawe ◽

Carina King ◽

Hannah Maria Jennings ◽

Chrispin Mandiwa ◽

Edward Fottrell

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Induction Of Labour ◽

Quality Data ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Significant Difference

ObjectiveThe use of herbal medicines for induction of labour (IOL) is common globally and yet its effects are not well understood. We assessed the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for IOL.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of published literature.Data sourcesWe searched in MEDLINE, AMED and CINAHL in April 2017, updated in June 2018.Eligibility criteriaWe considered experimental and non-experimental studies that compared relevant pregnancy outcomes between users and non-user of herbal medicines for IOL.Data extraction and synthesisData were extracted by two reviewers using a standardised form. A random-effects model was used to synthesise effects sizes and heterogeneity was explored through I2statistic. The risk of bias was assessed using ‘John Hopkins Nursing School Critical Appraisal Tool’ and ‘Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool’.ResultsA total of 1421 papers were identified through the searches, but only 10 were retained after eligibility and risk of bias assessments. The users of herbal medicine for IOL were significantly more likely to give birth within 24 hours than non-users (Risk Ratio (RR) 4.48; 95% CI 1.75 to 11.44). No significant difference in the incidence of caesarean section (RR 1.19; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.86), assisted vaginal delivery (RR 0.73; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14), haemorrhage (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.60), meconium-stained liquor (RR 1.20; 95% CI 0.65 to 2.23) and admission to nursery (RR 1.08; 95% CI 0.49 to 2.38) was found between users and non-users of herbal medicines for IOL.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that herbal medicines for IOL are effective, but there is inconclusive evidence of safety due to lack of good quality data. Thus, the use of herbal medicines for IOL should be avoided until safety issues are clarified. More studies are recommended to establish the safety of herbal medicines.

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Protocol for a systematic review of research on HPV and cervical cancer in Ghana, up until the year 2017: informing research and policy direction on cervical cancer prevention in Ghana

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020183 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. e020183

Author(s):

Adolf Kofi Awua ◽

Edna Dzifa Doe

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cervical Cancer ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Cervical Cancer Prevention ◽

Specific Information ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Digital Collections ◽

The Status

IntroductionFor a country that lacks a national cervical cancer screening/prevention programme, there is the need to assess the volume of country-specific information, and the status of research on HPV and cervical cancer, in order to provide evidence that will inform policy and further research. The aim of this protocol is to plan an intended systematic review, which is to identify research gaps, prevent unnecessary duplication of work and enable collaboration.Methods and analysisThis protocol, developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols statement and registered by PROSPERO (CRD42017075583), will apply a 13-point eligibility criteria to screening and selecting peer-reviewed research articles and grey literature. These will be obtained from searches in databases, including, among others, those of the National Centre for Biotechnology Information, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar and the digital collections database of research publications of Universities in Ghana. Collected data will be aggregated and summarised according to emerging themes and simple descriptive statistics.Ethics and disseminationThe study will use publicly available data and will not identify authors of the publication by name. In light of these and as has been indicted, research ethics clearance is not required for evidence syntheses in such reviews. The review will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at local and internal conferences as the opportunity becomes available.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017075583.

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Association between active tobacco use during pregnancy and infant respiratory health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037819 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e037819

Author(s):

Ediane De Queiroz Andrade ◽

Carla Rebeca Da Silva Sena ◽

Adam Collison ◽

Vanessa E Murphy ◽

Gillian Sandra Gould ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Lung Function ◽

Tobacco Use ◽

Smokeless Tobacco ◽

Respiratory Health ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Maximum Flow ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Residual Capacity

ObjectiveTo evaluate what is known about active tobacco use during pregnancy and the association with infant respiratory health.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Data sourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Maternity and Infant Care were searched thoroughly until June 2020.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesWe included case–control and cohort studies estimating the association between active tobacco use during pregnancy and infant respiratory health (wheezing and apnoea) and lung function parameters in the first 12 months of life.Data extraction and synthesisExtraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted by two independent reviewers. The odds ratio, relative risk and mean differences were pooled with a 95% CI using the generic inverse variance method. Heterogeneity was assessed and expressed by percentage using I2.ResultsWe identified 4423 abstracts, and 21 publications met the eligibility criteria. Pooled OR showed an increase in wheezing episodes in infants born to mothers who were active tobacco users during pregnancy (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.77, p<0.01). Mixed results were found on lung function parameters, and a meta-analysis including two studies with comparable methodology showed a trend towards reduced maximum flow rate at functional residual capacity of −34.59 mL/s (95% CI −72.81 to 3.63, p=0.08) in 1-month-old infants born to women who smoked during pregnancy. A higher risk of apnoea was described for infants born to mothers who used smokeless tobacco during pregnancy, while the results in infants born to women who actively smoked tobacco during pregnancy were non-conclusive.ConclusionInfants born to mothers who actively smoked during pregnancy are at higher odds of having wheeze and may have lower lung function. Smokeless tobacco use in pregnancy may increase the risk of apnoea in infancy.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018083936.

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