scholarly journals Sella Turcica Morphology in Patients With Genetic Syndromes: Protocol for a Systematic Review (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imaan Amina Roomaney ◽  
Manogari Chetty
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pathological Condition ◽  
Sella Turcica ◽  
Open Access Journal ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Biomedical Science ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Genetic Syndromes ◽  
Craniofacial Complex

BACKGROUND The sella turcica is an important anatomical reference used in orthodontics and the evaluation of craniofacial growth. Studies have found an association between variations in sella turcica morphology in patients with certain syndromes affecting the craniofacial complex. It is hypothesized that each related syndrome or pathological condition is associated with a specific pattern of malformation of the sella turcica. OBJECTIVE This study outlines the protocol for a systematic review that aims to determine if genetic syndromes involving the craniofacial complex are associated with abnormal radiographic sella turcica morphology and if there is a pattern of malformation that is consistent with each syndrome. METHODS An electronic database search was conducted using a planned search strategy to identify relevant studies. We included primary studies evaluating the morphology of the sella turcica based on imaging from a lateral view. Specifically, only studies with postnatal human participants with genetic syndromes involving the craniofacial complex were included in this review. We placed no restrictions on the language or time frame of these studies. Based on the search findings, studies were further screened for relevance and eligibility by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted from the selected studies. We assessed the selected studies for risk of bias and quality by using risk of bias tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. We will provide a narrative synthesis of our findings and a structured summary based on prespecified themes. RESULTS The protocol is registered with PROSPERO (#CRD42019148060) and approved by the University of Western Cape Biomedical Science Research Ethics Committee (BM205/3). The literature search was conducted in September 2019 and updated in July 2020. The study was completed in August 2020, and the findings will be published in an open-access journal. CONCLUSIONS The results of this systematic review are expected to provide a comprehensive list of morphological variations of the sella turcica, which will aid in the identification of syndromes associated with the craniofacial complex. We also expect to identify patterns of sella turcica morphology that highlight genotype-phenotype correlations, thus adding to the body of evidence relating to genetics and craniofacial malformations. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019148060; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=148060 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR1-10.2196/16633

scholarly journals Sella Turcica Morphology in Patients With Genetic Syndromes: Protocol for a Systematic Review

10.2196/16633 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e16633
Author(s):  
Imaan Amina Roomaney ◽  
Manogari Chetty
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pathological Condition ◽  
Sella Turcica ◽  
Open Access Journal ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Biomedical Science ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Genetic Syndromes ◽  
Craniofacial Complex

Background The sella turcica is an important anatomical reference used in orthodontics and the evaluation of craniofacial growth. Studies have found an association between variations in sella turcica morphology in patients with certain syndromes affecting the craniofacial complex. It is hypothesized that each related syndrome or pathological condition is associated with a specific pattern of malformation of the sella turcica. Objective This study outlines the protocol for a systematic review that aims to determine if genetic syndromes involving the craniofacial complex are associated with abnormal radiographic sella turcica morphology and if there is a pattern of malformation that is consistent with each syndrome. Methods An electronic database search was conducted using a planned search strategy to identify relevant studies. We included primary studies evaluating the morphology of the sella turcica based on imaging from a lateral view. Specifically, only studies with postnatal human participants with genetic syndromes involving the craniofacial complex were included in this review. We placed no restrictions on the language or time frame of these studies. Based on the search findings, studies were further screened for relevance and eligibility by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted from the selected studies. We assessed the selected studies for risk of bias and quality by using risk of bias tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. We will provide a narrative synthesis of our findings and a structured summary based on prespecified themes. Results The protocol is registered with PROSPERO (#CRD42019148060) and approved by the University of Western Cape Biomedical Science Research Ethics Committee (BM205/3). The literature search was conducted in September 2019 and updated in July 2020. The study was completed in August 2020, and the findings will be published in an open-access journal. Conclusions The results of this systematic review are expected to provide a comprehensive list of morphological variations of the sella turcica, which will aid in the identification of syndromes associated with the craniofacial complex. We also expect to identify patterns of sella turcica morphology that highlight genotype-phenotype correlations, thus adding to the body of evidence relating to genetics and craniofacial malformations. Trial Registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019148060; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=148060 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR1-10.2196/16633

Association between muscle strength and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago R. de Lima ◽  
Priscila C. Martins ◽  
Giuseppe L. Torre ◽  
Alice Mannocci ◽  
Kelly S. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reference List

AbstractThe aim of this systematic review was to identify and summarize evidence for the association between muscle strength (MS) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), and MS and combinations of risk factors for MetS in children and adolescents. Five databases (Medline/PubMed, EBSCO, Scielo, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge) were searched up to November 2019 with complementary reference list searches. Inclusion criteria were studies that investigated the relationship between MS and MetS or MS and combinations of risk factors for MetS in children and adolescents (≤19 years of age). Risk of bias was assessed using standard procedures. From the total of 15,599 articles initially identified, 13 articles were included, representing 11,641 children and adolescents. Higher MS values were associated with lower risk for MetS or combinations of risk factors for MetS (n=11/13 studies). Of the total of included studies, about 23.1% (03/13) were longitudinal and all included studies were classified as having a moderate risk of bias. This review provides preliminary evidence for a beneficial relationship between MS and MetS among children and adolescents. Additionally, although the body of evidence points to the beneficial relationship between higher MS and lower risk for combination of factors for MetS in children and adolescents, this relationship is inconclusive.

Neurodevelopmental Treatment (Bobath) for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 679-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Márcia Andréa Zanon ◽  
Rafael Leite Pacheco ◽  
Carolina de Oliveira Cruz Latorraca ◽  
Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco ◽  
Daniela Vianna Pachito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Protocol Registration

Aim: To assess the effects of neurodevelopmental treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Methods: We conducted a systematic review following the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and reported in accordance to PRISMA Statement. Through a comprehensive literature search we considered all randomized clinical trials that compared neurodevelopmental treatment with conventional physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Table to assess the risk of bias of the included randomized clinical trial, and the GRADE approach to evaluate the certainty of the body of the evidence. Results: We found 3 randomized clinical trials (2 published and 1 ongoing) comprising 66 children. Published randomized clinical trials presented methodological and reporting limitations and only 1 provided data for outcomes of interest. No difference between neurodevelopmental treatment and conventional physical therapy was found for gross motor function (mean difference 1.40; 95% confidence interval –5.47 to 8.27, low certainty evidence). Conclusion: This review found that the effects of neurodevelopmental treatment for children with cerebral palsy are still uncertain. Further studies are required to assess the efficacy and safety of neurodevelopmental treatment for this purpose and until there, current evidence do not support its routinely use in practice. Number of protocol registration in PROSPERO database: CRD42017082817 (available from https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=82817 ).

scholarly journals Electronic Health Records, Interoperability and Patient Safety in Health Systems of High-income Countries: A Systematic Review Protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e044941
Author(s):  
Edmond Li ◽  
Jonathan Clarke ◽  
Ana Luisa Neves ◽  
Hutan Ashrafian ◽  
Ara Darzi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
High Income ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionThe availability and routine use of electronic health records (EHRs) have become commonplace in healthcare systems of many high-income countries. While there is an ever-growing body of literature pertaining to their use, evidence surrounding the importance of EHR interoperability and its impact on patient safety remains less clear. There is, therefore, a need and opportunity to evaluate the evidence available regarding this relationship so as to better inform health informatics development and policies in the years to come. This systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of EHR interoperability on patient safety in health systems of high-income countries.Methods and analysisA systematic literature review will be conducted via a computerised search through four databases: PubMed, Embase, Health Management Information Consortium and PsycInfo for relevant articles published between 2010 and 2020. Outcomes of interest will include impact on patient safety and the broader effects on health systems. Quality of the randomised quantitative studies will be assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Non-randomised papers will be evaluated with the Risk of Bias In Non-Randomised Studies—of Interventions tool. Drummond’s Checklist will be used for publications pertaining to economic evaluation. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality appraisal checklist will be used to assess qualitative studies. A narrative synthesis will be conducted for included studies, and the body of evidence will be summarised in a summary of findings table.Ethics and disseminationThis review will summarise published studies with non-identifiable data and, thus, does not require ethical approval. Findings will be disseminated through preprints, open access peer-reviewed publications, and conference presentations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020209285.

scholarly journals Assessing risk of bias in human environmental epidemiology studies using three tools: different conclusions from different tools

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Eick ◽  
Dana E. Goin ◽  
Nicholas Chartres ◽  
Juleen Lam ◽  
Tracey J. Woodruff
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Systematic reviews are increasingly prevalent in environmental health due to their ability to synthesize evidence while reducing bias. Different systematic review methods have been developed by the US National Toxicology Program’s Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT), the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), and by the US EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including the approach to assess risk of bias (ROB), one of the most vital steps which is used to evaluate internal validity of the studies. Our objective was to compare the performance of three tools (OHAT, IRIS, TSCA) in assessing ROB. Methods We selected a systematic review on polybrominated diphenyl ethers and intelligence quotient and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder because it had been endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences. Two reviewers followed verbatim instructions from the tools and independently applied each tool to assess ROB in 15 studies previously identified. We documented the time to apply each tool and the impact the ROB ratings for each tool had on the final rating of the quality of the overall body of evidence. Results The time to complete the ROB assessments varied widely (mean = 20, 32, and 40 min per study for the OHAT, IRIS, and TSCA tools, respectively). All studies were rated overall “low” or “uninformative” using IRIS, due to “deficient” or “critically deficient” ratings in one or two domains. Similarly, all studies were rated “unacceptable” using the TSCA tool because of one “unacceptable” rating in a metric related to statistical power. Approximately half of the studies had “low” or “probably low ROB” ratings across all domains with the OHAT and Navigation Guide tools. Conclusions Tools that use overall ROB or study quality ratings, such as IRIS and TSCA, may reduce the available evidence to assess the harms of environmental exposures by erroneously excluding studies, which leads to inaccurate conclusions about the quality of the body of evidence. We recommend using ROB tools that circumvents these issues, such as OHAT and Navigation Guide. Systematic review registration This review has not been registered as it is not a systematic review.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of prehabilitation for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e031119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuj Punnoose ◽  
Ori Weiss ◽  
Vikas Khanduja ◽  
Alison B Rushton
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Orthopaedic Surgery ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Major Surgery ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Science System

IntroductionUndergoing major surgery can induce physical and functional decline. Prehabilitation programmes aim to improve physical fitness and function preoperatively and could enhance postoperative recovery and outcomes. Prehabilitation interventions have been utilised across a range of orthopaedic populations of all ages and can be multimodal in nature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of prehabilitation for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery including day surgery procedures. It will also investigate the components of prehabilitation to understand optimum duration and frequency of programmes.Methods/designSystematic review and meta-analysis designed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. A comprehensive electronic search will be performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, Embase, PEDro and Cochrane CENTRAL databases in order to identify randomised control trials published between January 2000 to 25 March 2019. ISI Web of Science, System for information on grey literature and the European Union clinical trials registry will identify studies that are underway or unpublished. Two independent reviewers will carry out the searches, study selection (title and abstract and full text stages), data extraction, risk of bias assessment (Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0) and evaluation of overall strength of evidence. Meta-analyses will be used for data which demonstrates homogeneity, otherwise a narrative synthesis will be performed for groups of studies of high heterogeneity (I2 >50%). The overall strength of the body of evidence will be assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.Ethics and disseminationThis study raises no ethical issues. This study aims to identify the effectiveness of prehabilitation interventions and may assist clinicians in determining which components, duration, frequency and the method of delivery would form the most effective prehabilitation intervention for patients undergoing an orthopaedic surgical procedure. The findings will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019123268.

scholarly journals Prevalence of multimorbidity in South Africa: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e042889
Author(s):  
Rifqah A Roomaney ◽  
Brian van Wyk ◽  
Eunice Bolanle Turawa ◽  
Victoria Pillay-van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Journal Article ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Biomedical Science ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Prevalence Studies

IntroductionMultimorbidity has increased globally over the past two decades, due to ageing populations and increased burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In a country like South Africa, with a growing burden of NCDs and a high prevalence of HIV, information on multimorbidity can improve planning for healthcare delivery and utilisation, and reduce costs in the context of constrained health resources. This review aims to synthesise prevalence studies on multimorbidity, and identify dominant clusters and trends of multimorbidity in South Africa.Methods and analysisWe will search electronic bibliographic databases (PubMed, Scopus, JSTOR, POPLINE, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and CINAHL), and the reference lists of included articles. Two researchers will independently screen title and abstracts, and then full text to identify studies published before and in 2020 that report on prevalence of multimorbidity in South Africa. Risk of bias assessments will be done for each study. Information on the prevalence of multimorbidity and disease clusters will be extracted from each study. Where possible, prevalence of specific clusters of multimorbidity will be pooled using a random effects meta-analysis to account for variability between studies. The I2 statistic will be used to establish the extent of heterogeneity due to variation in prevalence estimates rather than due to chance. The systematic review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses.Ethics and disseminationOnly published journal articles will be included in the systematic review. This review received ethics approval as part of a larger project by the University of the Western Cape Biomedical Science Research Ethics Committee (BM20/5/8). The findings from this research will be used to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity in South Africa and will contribute to the design of future research projects. The findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal article.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020196895.

scholarly journals Imaging tests for the detection of osteomyelitis: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (61) ◽  
pp. 1-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Llewellyn ◽  
Julie Jones-Diette ◽  
Jeannette Kraft ◽  
Colin Holton ◽  
Melissa Harden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
The Body ◽  
Emission Computed Tomography ◽  
Rater Reliability

Background Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. Medical imaging tests, such as radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), are often used to diagnose osteomyelitis. Objectives To systematically review the evidence on the diagnostic accuracy, inter-rater reliability and implementation of imaging tests to diagnose osteomyelitis. Data sources We conducted a systematic review of imaging tests to diagnose osteomyelitis. We searched MEDLINE and other databases from inception to July 2018. Review methods Risk of bias was assessed with QUADAS-2 [quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (version 2)]. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed using bivariate regression models. Imaging tests were compared. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the location and nature of the suspected osteomyelitis. Studies of children, inter-rater reliability and implementation outcomes were synthesised narratively. Results Eighty-one studies were included (diagnostic accuracy: 77 studies; inter-rater reliability: 11 studies; implementation: one study; some studies were included in two reviews). One-quarter of diagnostic accuracy studies were rated as being at a high risk of bias. In adults, MRI had high diagnostic accuracy [95.6% sensitivity, 95% confidence interval (CI) 92.4% to 97.5%; 80.7% specificity, 95% CI 70.8% to 87.8%]. PET also had high accuracy (85.1% sensitivity, 95% CI 71.5% to 92.9%; 92.8% specificity, 95% CI 83.0% to 97.1%), as did SPECT (95.1% sensitivity, 95% CI 87.8% to 98.1%; 82.0% specificity, 95% CI 61.5% to 92.8%). There was similar diagnostic performance with MRI, PET and SPECT. Scintigraphy (83.6% sensitivity, 95% CI 71.8% to 91.1%; 70.6% specificity, 57.7% to 80.8%), computed tomography (69.7% sensitivity, 95% CI 40.1% to 88.7%; 90.2% specificity, 95% CI 57.6% to 98.4%) and radiography (70.4% sensitivity, 95% CI 61.6% to 77.8%; 81.5% specificity, 95% CI 69.6% to 89.5%) all had generally inferior diagnostic accuracy. Technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime white blood cell scintigraphy (87.3% sensitivity, 95% CI 75.1% to 94.0%; 94.7% specificity, 95% CI 84.9% to 98.3%) had higher diagnostic accuracy, similar to that of PET or MRI. There was no evidence that diagnostic accuracy varied by scan location or cause of osteomyelitis, although data on many scan locations were limited. Diagnostic accuracy in diabetic foot patients was similar to the overall results. Only three studies in children were identified; results were too limited to draw any conclusions. Eleven studies evaluated inter-rater reliability. MRI had acceptable inter-rater reliability. We found only one study on test implementation and no evidence on patient preferences or cost-effectiveness of imaging tests for osteomyelitis. Limitations Most studies included < 50 participants and were poorly reported. There was limited evidence for children, ultrasonography and on clinical factors other than diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions Osteomyelitis is reliably diagnosed by MRI, PET and SPECT. No clear reason to prefer one test over the other in terms of diagnostic accuracy was identified. The wider availability of MRI machines, and the fact that MRI does not expose patients to harmful ionising radiation, may mean that MRI is preferable in most cases. Diagnostic accuracy does not appear to vary with the potential cause of osteomyelitis or with the body part scanned. Considerable uncertainty remains over the diagnostic accuracy of imaging tests in children. Studies of diagnostic accuracy in children, particularly using MRI and ultrasound, are needed. Study registration This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017068511. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 61. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

scholarly journals The impact of eHealth group interventions on the mental, behavioural, and physical health of adults: A systematic review protocol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L Currie ◽  
Richard Larouche ◽  
M. L. Voss ◽  
Erin K. Higa ◽  
Rae Spiwak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: COVID-19 has resulted in an increased demand for eHealth services globally. There is emerging evidence for the efficacy for group eHealth interventions that support population-based mental health and wellbeing, but a systematic review is lacking. The primary objective of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence for eHealth group counselling and coaching programs for adults. A second objective is to assess, within studies selected for our primary objective, the impact of programs that encourage PA on outcomes compared to those that do not.Methods: Randomized controlled trials that assess the impact of eHealth group counselling or coaching programs on mental health, health behaviour, or physical health activity among community dwelling adults will be included. We will search the following electronic databases (from January 2005 onwards): MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, and the Central Register of Controlled Trials. The primary outcomes will be changes in mental health conditions (e.g. depression, anxiety, stress, quality-of life), behavioural health conditions (e.g. substance use, smoking, sexual behaviour, eating behaviour, medication adherence), and physical health conditions (e.g. coping with cancer, menopausal symptoms, arthritis pain). Secondary outcomes will be changes in physical activity. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis will be conducted. The strength of the body of evidence will be assessed using GRADE. The risk of bias in individual studies will be appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Potential sources of gender bias in included studies will be considered at all stages of the planned review.Discussion: This review will contribute to the literature by providing evidence on the effectiveness of eHealth counselling and coaching programs delivered to adults in a group format. Systematic review registration: The protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO: CRD42020187551).

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