scholarly journals IL-17A in COVID-19: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukayna Fadlallah ◽  
Marcel Shams Eddin ◽  
Elias Rahal

Abstract Numerous reviews, commentaries and opinion pieces have suggested targeting IL-17A as part of managing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the notorious pandemic caused by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine attributed with homeostatic roles but that is also involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis. While some studies have reported an increase in IL-17A in subjects affected by COVID-19, no significant associations were found by others. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to examine whether serum IL-17A increases in COVID-19 patients. Multiple databases were systematically reviewed for literature published on the topic from January 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. A random effects model was used to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) as well as the 𝜏2 and 𝐼2 statistics for heterogeneity analysis. We report that IL-17A increases in COVID-19 subjects irrespective of disease severity compared to controls [WMD=2.51 pg/ml (95% CI 1.73-3.28), p<0.00001]. It is also higher in patients with moderate disease compared to controls [WMD=2.41 pg/ml (95% CI:1.40-3.43), p<0.00001] as well as higher in patients with severe COVID-19 [WMD=4.13 pg/ml (95% CI:1.65-6.60), p=0.001]. While the increase in serum levels in subjects with severe disease over those with moderate disease was statistically significant, the association was not as robust as the other comparisons [WMD= 2.07 pg/ml (95% CI:0.20-3.95), p=0.03]. Variable heterogeneity was observed in the various analyses with no significant publication bias detected. Hence, IL-17A may be of relevance when considering management approaches to COVID-19.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukayna Fadlallah ◽  
Marcel Shams Eddin ◽  
Elias Rahal

Abstract IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine attributed with homeostatic roles but that is also involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis. While some studies have reported an increase in IL-17A in subjects affected by COVID-19, no significant associations were found by others. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to examine whether serum IL-17A increases in COVID-19 patients. We report here that IL-17A increases in COVID-19 subjects irrespective of disease severity. It is also higher in patients with moderate disease compared to controls as well as higher in patients with severe COVID-19. While the increase in serum levels in subjects with severe disease over those with moderate disease was statistically significant, the association was not as robust as the other comparisons. Hence, IL-17A may be of relevance when considering management approaches to COVID-19; however, therapeutic approaches that target IL-17A should consider whether alleviation of inflammation outweighs eliminating the possible anti-viral roles of this cytokine.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Varikasuvu Seshadri Reddy ◽  
Suman Bukke ◽  
Khageshwar Mahato ◽  
Vinod Kumar ◽  
Netala Vasudeva Reddy ◽  
...  

Serum levels of ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA) have been studied as a novel and simple measure of oxidative stress (OXS) in different thyroid pathologies. However, results of available studies in the literature were not consistent. This meta-analysis was attempted to quantify the overall effect size for serum IMA levels in human hypothyroidism (HT) and hyperthyroidism (HYT) and to study its associations with the thyroid profile. Databases of PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Science Direct were searched for articles. Data on serum IMA levels in HT, HYT patients and euthyroid controls were extracted to compute standardized mean differences (SMD) by the random-effects model. The associations between IMA and thyroid profile were computed by the meta-analysis of correlation coefficients. IMA levels in HT patients (SMD=1.12; Z=2.76; P=0.006) and HYT patients (SMD=1.64; Z=2.57; P=0.01) were significantly higher than in euthyroid controls and the thyroid treatment showed a favourble effect on serum IMA levels. There were strong and significant correlations between IMA and hormonal status in HT and HYT groups. This meta-analysis showing increased IMA level in both HT and HYT patients and its association with thyroid profile suggests that serum IMA could be used as a simple measure of increased OXS in thyroid dysfunction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1630-1639
Author(s):  
Sukayna Fadlallah ◽  
Marcel S Sham Eddin ◽  
Elias A Rahal

Introduction: Numerous reviews, commentaries and opinion pieces have suggested targeting IL-17A as part of managing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the notorious pandemic caused by the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine attributed with homeostatic roles but that is also involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis. While some studies have reported an increase in IL-17A in COVID-19 cases, no significant associations were found by others. Hence, we undertook this meta-analysis to study serum IL-17A levels in COVID-19 patients in relation to disease severity. Methodology: Multiple databases were systematically reviewed for literature published on the topic from January 1, 2019 to April 30, 2021. A random effects model was used to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) as well as the


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Mingyue Qu ◽  
Hanxu Shi ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Xinggang Wang ◽  
Nan Yu ◽  
...  

Background: Multiple lines of evidence indicate protective effects of carotenoids in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, previous epidemiological studies reported inconsistent results regarding the associations between carotenoids levels and the risk of AD. Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the associations of six major members of carotenoids with the occurrence of AD by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Ebsco, and PsycINFO databases was conducted, and the quality of each included studies was evaluated by a validated scoring systems. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95%confidence intervals (CI) were determined by using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 statistics. Publication bias was detected using funnel plots and Egger’s test. Results: Sixteen studies, with 10,633 participants were included. Pooled analysis showed significantly lower plasma/serum levels of lutein (SMD = –0.86, 95%CI: –1.67 to –0.05, p = 0.04) and zeaxanthin (SMD = –0.59; 95%CI: –1.12 to –0.06, p = 0.03) in patients with AD versus cognitively intact controls, while α-carotene (SMD = 0.21, 95%CI: –0.68 to 0.26, p = 0.39), β-carotene (SMD = 0.04, 95%CI: –0.57 to 0.65, p = 0.9), lycopene (SMD = –0.12, 95%CI: –0.96 to 0.72, p = 0.78), and β-cryptoxanthin (SMD = –0.09, 95%CI: –0.83 to 0.65, p = 0.81) did not achieve significant differences. Conclusion: Of six major members of carotenoids, only lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in plasma/serum were inversely related to the risk of AD. More high-quality longitudinal studies are needed to verify these findings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Domínguez-Rodríguez ◽  
Pedro Abreu-González ◽  
Néstor Báez-Ferrer ◽  
Russel J. Reiter ◽  
Pablo Avanzas ◽  
...  

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury represents a critical problem associated with interventional approaches for coronary reperfusion. Pharmacological cardioprotective interventions are advocated to ameliorate IR injury. Melatonin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent with a wide range of therapeutic properties that may contribute to its cardioprotective effects. No systematic review or meta-analysis has compared melatonin vs. placebo as a cardioprotective agent in humans. The present study, based on a systematic review and meta-analysis, was carried out to assess melatonin's efficacy as a cardioprotective treatment. We performed a systematic review of the available literature. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified and information was extracted using predefined data extraction forms. The primary outcomes were (a) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and (b) blood troponin levels in patients who underwent myocardial revascularization and were randomized to melatonin or placebo. The inverse-variance random-effects method was used to pool the estimates. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Weighted mean differences or standardized mean differences were calculated. A total of 283 records were screened and seven RCTs met all the inclusion criteria. After the pooled analysis, the results on LVEF were consistent across all studies, and a significant heterogeneity was found in the results on troponin levels. The melatonin-treated patients had on average higher LVEF than the placebo-treated individuals with a weighted mean difference = 3.1% (95% CI 0.6–5.5, p = 0.01). Five works compared the levels of troponin after melatonin or placebo treatment. The melatonin-treated patients had lower levels of troponin with a standardized mean difference = −1.76 (95% CI −2.85 to −0.67, p = 0.002). The findings of this meta-analysis revealed that melatonin administration in humans as a cardioprotective agent attenuated heart dysfunction with a favorable effect on the LVEF.


Author(s):  
Ting Li ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Hongbin Cheng

Aim: To assess the immunogenicity and safety of rabies vaccination under the Zagreb and Essen regimens by performing a meta-analysis. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for eligible studies. Risk ratios and weighted mean differences with 95% CIs were used to calculate estimates. Results: A total of 18 studies were included. Rabies virus neutralizing antibody concentration was comparable between the two regimens at D7 and 14. No significant differences were observed in seroconversion rates from D14 and 42. Incidence of fever was higher in Zagreb group (risk ratio: 1.55 [1.37–1.76]); but no significant differences were present for other common adverse events. Conclusion: Rabies vaccination under the Zagreb regimen was noninferior to the Essen regimen in immunogenicity and had an acceptable safety profile.


2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-600
Author(s):  
Somayeh Tajik ◽  
Kevan Jacobson ◽  
Sam Talaei ◽  
Hamed Kord-Varkaneh ◽  
Zeinab Noormohammadi ◽  
...  

Purpose The results of human studies evaluating the efficacy of plant Phytosterols on liver function were inconsistent. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to eliminate these controversies about the Phytosterols consumption on liver serum biochemistry in adult subjects. Design/methodology/approach The literatures systematically searched throughout PubMed and Scopus databases up to June 2018; it was conducted by using related keywords. Estimates of effect sizes were expressed based on weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% CI from the random-effects model (erSimonian and Laird method). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed by using I2 index. Eighteen studies reported the effects of Phytosterols (PS) supplementation on liver serum biochemistry. Findings The current meta-analysis did not show a significant effect on ALT (MD: 0.165 U/L, 95% CI: −1.25, 1.58, p = 0.820), AST (MD: −0.375 IU/Liter, 95% CI: −1.362, 0.612, p = 0.457), ALP (MD: 0.804 cm, 95% CI: −1.757, 3.366, p = 0.538), GGT (MD: 0.431 U/L, 95% CI: −1.803, 2.665, p = 0.706) and LDH (MD: 0.619 U/L, 95% CI: −4.040, 5.277, p = 0.795) following PS consumption. Originality/value The authors found that no protective or toxic effects occur after the consumption of Phytosterols on liver enzymes including ALT, AST, ALP, LDH and GGT.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Dong ◽  
Qi-Long Chen ◽  
Shi-Bing Su

The Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) formula is being used in antiliver fibrosis treatment in China. For systemic evaluation of the curative effects of FZHY on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis progress, a total of 1392 subjects (714 cases and 678 controls) were found to be eligible for meta-analysis in this study. Standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for changes between FZHY groups and controls by employing fixed effects or random effects model. In the overall analysis, alanine transaminase (ALT) (P=0.003, SMD = −0.87, 95% CI: −1.46 to −0.29), total bilirubin (TBil) (P=0.001, SMD = −1.30, 95% CI: −2.10 to −0.50), hyaluronic acid (HA) (P=0.000, SMD = −0.94, 95% CI: −1.30 to −0.58), laminin (LN) (P=0.000, SMD = −0.80, 95% CI: −1.20 to −0.41), type III procollagen (PC-III) (P=0.000, SMD = −1.27, 95% CI: −1.93 to −0.60), and type IV procollagen (IV-C) (P=0.000, SMD = −0.78, 95% CI: −1.05 to −0.51) were decreased after FZHY treatment; however, albumin (ALB) was increased (P=0.037, SMD = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.07 to 2.12) significantly. Furthermore, the Child-Pugh score was reduced significantly and the life quality was improved after FZHY treatment in cirrhosis patients. The results of this meta-analysis indicated that FZHY effectively improves the liver function, alleviates hepatic fibrosis, decreases Child-Pugh score, and relieves TCM symptoms caused by liver dysfunction, indicating that FZHY may contribute to the alleviation of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.


Author(s):  
Denis M. Pelletier ◽  
Guillaume Lacerte ◽  
Eric D.B. Goulet

Lately, the effect of quercetin supplementation (QS) on endurance performance (EP) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) has been receiving much scientific and media attention. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to determine QS’s ergogenic value on these variables. Studies were located with database searches (PubMed and SPORTDiscus) and cross-referencing. Outcomes represent mean percentage changes in EP (measured via power output) and VO2max between QS and placebo. Random-effects model meta-regression, mixed-effects model analog to the ANOVA, random-effects weighted mean effect summary, and magnitudebased inferences analyses were used to delineate the effects of QS. Seven research articles (representing 288 subjects) were included, producing 4 VO2max and 10 EP effect estimates. Mean QS daily intake and duration were, respectively, 960 ± 127 mg and 26 ± 24 d for the EP outcome and 1,000 ± 0 mg and 8 ± 23 d for the VO2max outcome. EP was assessed during exercise with a mean duration of 79 ± 82 min. Overall, QS improved EP by 0.74% (95% CI: 0.10–1.39, p = .02) compared with placebo. However, only in untrained individuals (0.83% ± 0.78%, p = .02) did QS significantly improve EP (trained individuals: 0.09% ± 2.15%, p = .92). There was no relationship between QS duration and EP (p = .69). Overall, QS increased VO2max by 1.94% (95% CI: 0.30–3.59, p = .02). Magnitude-based inferences suggest that the effect of QS on EP and VO2max is likely to be trivial for both trained and untrained individuals. In conclusion, this meta-analysis indicates that QS is unlikely to prove ergogenic for aerobic-oriented exercises in trained and untrained individuals.


1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Freemantle ◽  
James Mason ◽  
Martin Eccles

Meta-analysis is commonly used in reviews of the effectiveness of medical technologies, but this approach has not been used in direct support of guidelines development groups. This paper describes the approach of the North of England Guidelines Development Project in describing the evidence using meta-analyses that were conducted explicitly to address questions on the choice of therapy raised by the guidelines development groups. Particular emphasis is placed on the context within which the contributing trials were conducted and the extent to which systematic differences between trials (heterogeneity) was observed, described, and explained. There is a trade-off between internal and external validity for different metrics when presenting the results of trials. More interpretable metrics, such as risk differences or weighted mean differences, are confounded by study design issues and strong assumptions. More robust measures such as odds ratios or standardized weighted mean differences are difficult to interpret physically. Individual patient data may prove particularly helpful in addressing pivotal questions on the magnitude of effects of interventions, though accessing and reanalyzing these data requires a substantial investment in time and other resources.


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