Distribution, Prevalence, and Causative Agents of Fungal Keratitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (1990 to 2020)

ObjectivesThis study aims to provide an overview of the prevalence, distribution, and causative agents of fungal keratitis.MethodsAll the articles with data on the prevalence of fungal keratitis among various patient groups from January 1, 1990 to May 27, 2020 were retrieved through a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Data were extracted, and the pooled estimated prevalence of fungal keratitis, yeast/mold infection, the spectrum and frequency of various causative agents, and the pooled estimated prevalence of mixed infections were calculated in general and in various countries (wherever possible) using meta-analysis.ResultsFrom 11,235 articles retrieved in the primary search step, 169 met the inclusion criteria. The 169 eligible articles were divided into six groups and analyzed separately. The pooled prevalence of fungal keratitis was variable with values ranging from 0.05% among postkeratoplasty patients to 43.01% among patients with a clinical suspicion of fungal keratitis. There was also a country-dependent variation in the prevalence (Paraguay: 50.1% (95% CI, 35.11, 65.00); Ireland: 1.1% (95% CI, 0.03, 6.04)). Except for postkeratoplasty cases (yeast: 51.80%), in all patient groups, molds were more common than yeasts. Although more than 50 distinct species of fungi have been found to cause fungal keratitis, Fusarium species followed by Aspergillus species were the most common causes of the disease. In general, 9.29% (95% CI, 6.52, 12.38) of fungal keratitis cases were mixed with bacterial agents.ConclusionThe prevalence of fungal keratitis can vary dramatically depending on the patient groups and geographical origin; however, the dominant causative agents are generally similar.

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Distribution, prevalence, and causative agents of fungal keratitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis (1990 to 2020)

10.1101/2021.04.19.440430 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kazem Ahmadikia ◽

Sanaz Aghaei Gharehbolagh ◽

Bahareh Fallah ◽

Mahsa Naeimi ◽

Pooneh Malekifar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Fungal Keratitis ◽

Clinical Suspicion ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Common Causes ◽

Causative Agents ◽

Patient Groups

AbstractFungal keratitis is a sight-threatening infection with global distribution. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we collected all the articles with data on the prevalence of fungal keratitis among various patient groups from January 1, 1990 to May 27, 2020. The 169 eligible articles were divided into 6 groups. The pooled prevalence was variable with values ranging from 0.05% among post-keratoplasty patients to 43.01% among patients with a clinical suspicion of fungal keratitis. Except for post-keratoplasty cases (yeast: 51.80%), in all patient groups moulds were more common than yeasts. Although more than 50 distinct species of fungi have been found to cause fungal keratitis, Fusarium species followed by Aspergillus species were the most common causes of the disease. In general, 9.29% (95% CI 6.52, 12.38) of fungal keratitis cases were mixed with bacterial agents.

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The global prevalence of familial multiple sclerosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-250607/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Naeim Ehtesham ◽

Maryam Zare Rafie ◽

Meysam Mosallaei

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Disease Onset ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Multifactorial Diseases ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors

Abstract Background: Considering that familial multiple sclerosis (FMS) can reveal the extent to which genetic and environmental factors each involve in the etiopathogenesis of the disease, we performed an updated meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of FMS by addition of recent publications. Methods: A search in PubMed, Scopus, the ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to 20 December 2020 was done. The inclusion criteria were based on the CoCoPop approach (condition, context, and population). The qualified studies entered the process of the meta-analysis by using comprehensive meta-analysis ver. 2 software.Results: The pooled prevalence of MS in relatives of 16179 FMS cases was estimated to be 11.8% (95% CI: 10.7-13) based on a random-effects model. The pooled mean age of disease onset in adult probands was calculated to be 28.7 years (95% CI: 27.2± 30.2). In 13 studies that reported the data of FMS in pediatrics (n=6636) and adults (n=877), the FMS prevalence was 10.8% (95% CI: 8.1-14.2) and 15.5% (95% CI: 13.8-17.4), respectively. Considering the data of 9 studies, the prevalence of FMS in males (n=5243) and females (n=11503) patients was calculated to be 13.7% (95% CI: 10.1-18.2) and 15.4% (95% CI: 10.3-22.4), respectively. The odds ratio of male/female in FMS cases was not statistically significant (OR= 0.9; 95% CI: 0.6-1.2, P=0.55). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant difference in the prevalence of FMS between the geographical areas (P= 0.007). The meta-regression model for FMS prevalence was significantly lower in terms of higher latitude (P< 0.001) and increased MS prevalence (P< 0.001). In contrast, meta-regression based on prevalence day was not statistically significant (P=0.29).Conclusions: The prevalence of FMS is more in the pediatric group than that of adults, is distinct between geographical areas, and diminishes with the increment of MS prevalence and latitude. Also, the symptoms initiate relatively at lower ages in FMS cases. By contrast with multifactorial diseases, our analysis unveiled that the prevalence of FMS was not more prevalent in men than women and the risk of MS development in relatives was not more when the affected proband was male.

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Prevalence of Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections among Iranian Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Iranian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.18502/ijph.v50i6.6412 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Arshid Yousefi Avarvand ◽

Mehrdad Halaji ◽

Donya Zare ◽

Meysam Hasannejad-Bibalan ◽

Hadi Sedigh Ebrahim-Saraie

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Single Center ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Iranian Children ◽

The Web

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen of children, mostly in developing countries. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of invasive S. pneumoniae among Iranian children using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search was carried out to identify papers published by Iranian authors in the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar electronic databases from January of 2010 to December of 2017. Then, seven publications that met our inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction and analysis. Results: Totally, one study was multicenter, and six were single-center based studies. Meanwhile, all of the included studied performed among hospitalized patients. Seven studies reported the prevalence of invasive S. pneumoniae isolated from children, of these the pooled prevalence of S. pneumoniae was 2.5% (95% CI: 0.7%-9.1%). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of invasive S. pneumoniae infections among Iranian children is low (2.5%). However, further clinical studies are required to elucidate the burden of infections among Iranian children, especially in eastern regions.

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The global prevalence of familial multiple sclerosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-021-02267-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Naeim Ehtesham ◽

Maryam Zare Rafie ◽

Meysam Mosallaei

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Disease Onset ◽

Random Effects Model ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Isi Web Of Science ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Meta Regression

Abstract Background Considering that many recent studies have reported the prevalence of familial multiple sclerosis (FMS), we performed an updated meta-analysis of the worldwide prevalence of FMS by the addition of recent publications. Methods A search in PubMed, Scopus, the ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar was undertaken up to 20 December 2020. The inclusion criteria were based on the CoCoPop approach (condition, context, and population). Meta-analysis of the qualified studies was conducted by comprehensive meta-analysis ver. 2 software. Results The pooled prevalence of MS in relatives of 16,179 FMS cases was estimated to be 11.8% (95% CI: 10.7–13) based on a random-effects model. The pooled mean age of disease onset in adult probands was calculated to be 28.7 years (95% CI: 27.2 ± 30.2). Regarding 13 studies that reported the data of FMS in pediatrics (n = 877) and adults (n = 6636), the FMS prevalence in pediatrics and adults was 15.5% (95% CI: 13.8–17.4) and 10.8% (95% CI: 8.1–14.2), respectively. The prevalence of FMS in affected males (n = 5243) and females (n = 11,503) was calculated to be 13.7% (95% CI: 10.1–18.2) and 15.4% (95% CI: 10.3–22.4), respectively. The odds ratio of male/female in FMS cases was not statistically significant (OR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.6–1.2, P = 0.55). Subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant difference in the prevalence of FMS between the geographical areas (P = 0.007). The meta-regression model indicated that the prevalence of FMS is lower with higher latitude and higher MS prevalence (P < 0.001). In contrast, meta-regression based on prevalence day was not statistically significant (P = 0.29). Conclusions The prevalence of FMS is higher in the pediatric group than that of adults, distinct between geographical areas, and diminishes with the increment of MS prevalence and latitude. Also, the symptoms initiate relatively at younger ages in the FMS cases. Interestingly, our analysis unveiled that FMS is not more prevalent in men than women and the risk of MS development in relatives is not higher when the affected proband is male.

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Prevalence of Frailty in the Middle East: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare10010108 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 108

Author(s):

Bader A. Alqahtani ◽

Mohammed M. Alshehri ◽

Ragab K. Elnaggar ◽

Saad M. Alsaad ◽

Ahmed A. Alsayer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Publication Bias ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Point Estimate ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

Regression Test ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

(1) We aimed to systematically search available data on the prevalence of frailty among community-dwelling elders in Middle Eastern countries. The results from available studies are cumulated to provide comprehensive evidence for the prevalence of frailty. (2) Methods: A meta-analysis was done. A literature search was carried out using PRISMA guidelines in PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS websites for studies up to 2020. Inclusion criteria entailed all primary studies conducted in Middle Eastern countries on frailty in community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years and older. (3) Results: A total of 10 studies were selected for this study. Random-effects meta-analysis of nine studies indicated there was a pooled prevalence rate of 0.3924 with a standard error of 0.037. This pooled prevalence point estimate of 0.3924 was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The Egger’s regression test and the trim-fill method for detecting publication bias did not detect any evidence of publication bias in the sample of included studies. The Egger’s regression test was not statistically significant. The trim-fill method indicated zero studies were missing on either side; (4) Conclusions: The study’s findings indicate that the prevalence of frailty is higher in Middle Eastern nations. Despite indications that many of these nations’ populations are rapidly ageing, we presently lack information on the incidence of frailty in these populations; this information is essential to health, policymakers, and social care planning.

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Caffeine and Cognitive Functions in Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13030868 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 868

Author(s):

Jorge Lorenzo Calvo ◽

Xueyin Fei ◽

Raúl Domínguez ◽

Helios Pareja-Galeano

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Reaction Time ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Caffeine Intake ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Research Protocols ◽

The Relationship

Cognitive functions are essential in any form of exercise. Recently, interest has mounted in addressing the relationship between caffeine intake and cognitive performance during sports practice. This review examines this relationship through a structured search of the databases Medline/PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published in English from August 1999 to March 2020. The study followed PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were defined according to the PICOS model. The identified records reported on randomized cross-over studies in which caffeine intake (as drinks, capsules, energy bars, or gum) was compared to an identical placebo situation. There were no filters on participants’ training level, gender, or age. For the systematic review, 13 studies examining the impacts of caffeine on objective measures of cognitive performance or self-reported cognitive performance were selected. Five of these studies were also subjected to meta-analysis. After pooling data in the meta-analysis, the significant impacts of caffeine only emerged on attention, accuracy, and speed. The results of the 13 studies, nevertheless, suggest that the intake of a low/moderate dose of caffeine before and/or during exercise can improve self-reported energy, mood, and cognitive functions, such as attention; it may also improve simple reaction time, choice reaction time, memory, or fatigue, however, this may depend on the research protocols.

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Heart rate variability as a strain indicator for psychological stress for emergency physicians during work and alert intervention: a systematic review

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology ◽

10.1186/s12995-021-00313-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Beatrice Thielmann ◽

Robert Pohl ◽

Irina Böckelmann

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Emergency Physicians ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Objective Monitoring ◽

Prisma Statement ◽

Health Studies

Abstract Background The workloads of emergency physicians are severe. The prevalence of burnout among emergency physicians is higher than with other physicians or compared to the general population. The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a valid method for objective monitoring of workload. The aim of this paper is to systematically evaluate the literature on heart rate variability as an objective indicator for mental stress of emergency physicians. Methods A systematic literature review examining heart rate variability of emergency physicians in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement for reporting systematic reviews was performed. PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Libary, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were used. The methodological quality was evaluated by using a modified STARD for HRV. Results Two studies matched the inclusion criteria by using HRV between alert intervention and two other studies were considered that used HRV in other question areas. It showed an adaptation of HRV under stress. The studies were not comparable. Conclusions There is a need for occupational health studies that examine strains and stress of emergency physicians. The well-established parasympathetic mediated HRV parameters seem to be suitable parameters to objectify the stress.

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Glycemic Index of Gluten-Free Bread and Their Main Ingredients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10030506 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 506

Author(s):

Bernardo Romão ◽

Ana Luísa Falcomer ◽

Gabriela Palos ◽

Sandra Cavalcante ◽

Raquel Braz Assunção Botelho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Glycemic Index ◽

Resistant Starch ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Gluten Free ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Glycemic Profile

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the glycemic index (GI) of gluten-free bread (GFB) and its main ingredients. The systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, using seven electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, gray literature research with Google Scholar, and patents with Google Patent tool), from inception to November 2020. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria evaluating 132 GFB samples. Five articles tested GI in vivo, eleven in vitro; and two studies tested both methods. The analysis showed that 60.7% (95% CI: 40.2–78.1%) of the samples presented high glycemic indexes, evidencing a high glycemic profile for GFB. Only 18.2% (95% CI: 11.7–27.2%) of the bread samples presented in the studies were classified as a low GI. Meta-analysis presented moderate/low heterogenicity between studies (I2 = 61% and <1% for both high and low GIs) and reinforced the proportion of high GIs. Lower GIs were found in formulations based on Colocasia esculenta flour or enriched with fiber, yogurt and curd cheese, sourdough, psyllium, hydrocolloids, enzymes, fructans, and resistant starch, highlighting the efficacy of these ingredients to lower GFBs’ GI. GFB tends to present high GI, impacting the development of chronic diseases when consumed.

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Endotoxemia as a Diagnostic Tool for Patients with Suspected Bacteremia Caused by Gram-Negative Organisms: a Meta-Analysis of 4 Decades of Studies

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.03531-14 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 53 (4) ◽

pp. 1183-1191 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

James C. Hurley ◽

Piotr Nowak ◽

Lars Öhrmalm ◽

Charalambos Gogos ◽

Apostolos Armaganidis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Summary Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽

Detection Rates ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Content Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Patient Groups ◽

Gram Negative Organisms

The clinical significance of endotoxin detection in blood has been evaluated for a broad range of patient groups in over 40 studies published over 4 decades. The influences of Gram-negative (GN) bacteremia species type and patient inclusion criteria on endotoxemia detection rates in published studies remain unclear. Studies were identified after a literature search and manual reviews of article bibliographies, together with a direct approach to authors of potentially eligible studies for data clarifications. The concordance between GN bacteremia and endotoxemia expressed as the summary diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) was derived for three GN bacteremia categories across eligible studies by using a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) method. Forty-two studies met broad inclusion criteria, with between 2 and 173 GN bacteremias in each study. Among all 42 studies, the DORs (95% confidence interval) were 3.2 (1.7 to 6.0) and 5.8 (2.4 to 13.7) in association with GN bacteremias withEscherichia coliand those withPseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Among 12 studies of patients with sepsis, the proportion of endotoxemia positivity (95% confidence interval) among patients withP. aeruginosabacteremia (69% [57 to 79%];P= 0.004) or withProteusbacteremia (76% [51 to 91%];P= 0.04) was significantly higher than that among patients without GN bacteremia (49% [33 to 64%]), but this was not so for patients bacteremic withE. coli(57% [40 to 73%];P= 0.55). Among studies of the sepsis patient group, the concordance of endotoxemia with GN bacteremia was surprisingly weak, especially forE. coliGN bacteremia.

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The effect of unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis on Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level after 3 and 6 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes ◽

10.1186/s12955-020-01561-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anisodowleh Nankali ◽

Mohsen Kazeminia ◽

Parnian Kord Jamshidi ◽

Shamarina Shohaimi ◽

Nader Salari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Laparoscopic Surgery ◽

Growth Factors ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Research Work ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Transient Growth ◽

Common Causes ◽

Standardized Mean Difference

Abstract Background Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of infertility. The causes of the disease and its definitive treatments are still unclear. Moreover, Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein dimer that is a member of the transient growth factors family. This research work aimed to identify the effect of unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis on AMH levels after 3 months, and 6 months, using meta-analysis. Methods In this study, the articles published in national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI) were searched to find electronically published studies between 2010 and 2019. The heterogeneous index between studies was determined using the I2 index. Results In this meta-analysis and systematic review, 19 articles were eligible for inclusion in the study. The standardized mean difference was obtained in examining of unilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis (before intervention 2.8 ± 0.11, and after 3 months 2.05 ± 0.13; and before intervention 3.1 ± 0.46 and after 6 months 2.08 ± 0.31), and in examining bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis examination (before intervention 2.0 ± 08.08, and after 3 months 1.1 ± 0.1; and before intervention 2.9 ± 0.23 and after 6 months 1.4 ± 0.19). Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis is effective on AMH levels, and the level decreases in both comparisons.

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