Preclinical Experiments for Hypospadias Surgery: Systematic Review and Quality Assessment

Background: There is a steadily growing number of different reconstructive surgical procedures for hypospadias that were tested on animal models prior to their human application. However, the clinical translatability and reproducibility of the results encountered in preclinical urethral reconstruction experiments is considered poor, with significant factors contributing to the poor design and reporting of animal experiments. Our objective was to evaluate the quality of the design and reporting in published articles of urethral reconstructive preclinical studies.Methods: Both PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for animal urethral repair experiments between January 2014 and September 2019. Internal quality (bias) was evaluated through several signaling questions arising from the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE), while the quality of reporting was assessed by the Animal Research: Reporting of In vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines by scoring of a 20-item checklist.Results: A total of 638 articles were initially screened after the literature search. Employing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 studies were chosen for full-text screening and 21 studies were considered eligible for the quality assessment. The mean score of the checklist was 66%. The elements that accomplished the highest grades included the number of animals utilized, the number in each investigational and control group, and the delineation of investigational conclusions. The items that were least commonly stated comprised information about the experimental method, housing and husbandry, rationalization of the number of animals, and reporting of adverse events. No paper stated the sample size estimation.Conclusion: We found that several critical experiment design principles were poorly reported, which hinders a rigorous appraisal of the scientific quality and reproducibility of the experiments. A comprehensive implementation of the ARRIVE guidelines in animal studies exploring urethral repair is necessary to facilitate the effective translation of preclinical research findings into clinical therapies.

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Quality of Reporting in Preclinical Urethral Tissue Engineering Studies: A Systematic Review to Assess Adherence to the ARRIVE Guidelines

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11082456 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2456

Author(s):

Tariq O. Abbas ◽

Abubakr Elawad ◽

Abdul Kareem Pullattayil S. ◽

Cristian Pablo Pennisi

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Tissue Engineering ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Ethical Guidelines ◽

Preclinical Research ◽

Quality Of Reporting

Preclinical research within the area of urethral tissue engineering has not yet been successfully translated into an efficient therapeutic option for patients. This gap could be attributed, in part, to inadequate design and reporting of the studies employing laboratory animals. In this study, a systematic review was conducted to investigate the quality of reporting in preclinical studies utilizing tissue engineering approaches for urethral repair. The scope was on studies performed in rabbits, published between January 2014 and March 2020. Quality assessment of the data was conducted according to the Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines by the scoring of a 38-item checklist in different categories. A total of 28 articles that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the study. The range of ARRIVE score was from 0 to 100, taking into consideration having reported the item in question or not. The mean checklist score was 53%. The items that attained the highest scores included the number of animals utilized, the size of control and experimental groups, and the definition of experimental outcomes. The least frequently reported items included the data regarding the experimental procedure, housing and husbandry, determination and justification of the number of animals, and reporting of adverse events. Surprisingly, full disclosure about ethical guidelines and animal protocol approval was missing in 54% of the studies. No paper stated the sample size estimation. Overall, our study found that a large number of studies display inadequate reporting of fundamental information and that the quality of reporting improved marginally over the study period. We encourage a comprehensive implementation of the ARRIVE guidelines in animal studies exploring tissue engineering for urethral repair, not only to facilitate effective translation of preclinical research findings into clinical therapies, but also to ensure compliance with ethical principles and to minimize unnecessary animal studies.

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Molecular mechanisms of Zika virus teratogenesis from animal studies: a systematic review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-021-01713-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gabriela Elis Wachholz ◽

Julia do Amaral Gomes ◽

Juliano André Boquett ◽

Fernanda Sales Luiz Vianna ◽

Lavínia Schuler-Faccini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Animal Models ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Standard Form ◽

Teratogenic Effect ◽

Control Group

Abstract Background Due to the diversity of studies in animal models reporting that molecular mechanisms are involved in the teratogenic effect of the Zika virus (ZIKV), the objective of the present study is to evaluate the methodological quality of these studies, as well as to demonstrate which genes and which molecular pathways are affected by ZIKV in different animal models. Methods This search will be performed in four databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus, as well as in the grey literature. The studies selection process will be reported through the PRISMA Statement diagram model. All studies describing the molecular mechanisms possibly involved in the development of malformations caused by embryonic/fetal ZIKV exposure in animal models with an appropriate control group and methodology will be included (including, for instance, randomized and non-randomized studies). All animals used as experimental models for ZIKV teratogenesis may be included as long as exposure to the virus occurred during the embryonic/fetal period. From the selected studies, data will be extracted using a previously prepared standard form. Bias risk evaluation will be conducted following the SYRCLE’s Risk of Bias tool. All data obtained will be tabulated and organized by outcomes (morphological and molecular). Discussion With the proposed systematic review, we expect to present results about the methodological quality of the published studies with animal models that investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the teratogenic effect of ZIKV, as well as to show the studies with greater reliability. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42019157316

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A systematic review of the quality of conduct and reporting of survival analyses of tuberculosis outcomes in Africa

BMC Medical Research Methodology ◽

10.1186/s12874-021-01280-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Moses M. Ngari ◽

Susanne Schmitz ◽

Christopher Maronga ◽

Lazarus K. Mramba ◽

Michel Vaillant

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sample Size ◽

Survival Function ◽

Sample Size Estimation ◽

Size Estimation ◽

Survival Curves ◽

Survival Analyses ◽

Survival Regression

Abstract Background Survival analyses methods (SAMs) are central to analysing time-to-event outcomes. Appropriate application and reporting of such methods are important to ensure correct interpretation of the data. In this study, we systematically review the application and reporting of SAMs in studies of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Africa. It is the first review to assess the application and reporting of SAMs in this context. Methods Systematic review of studies involving TB patients from Africa published between January 2010 and April 2020 in English language. Studies were eligible if they reported use of SAMs. Application and reporting of SAMs were evaluated based on seven author-defined criteria. Results Seventy-six studies were included with patient numbers ranging from 56 to 182,890. Forty-three (57%) studies involved a statistician/epidemiologist. The number of published papers per year applying SAMs increased from two in 2010 to 18 in 2019 (P = 0.004). Sample size estimation was not reported by 67 (88%) studies. A total of 22 (29%) studies did not report summary follow-up time. The survival function was commonly presented using Kaplan-Meier survival curves (n = 51, (67%) studies) and group comparisons were performed using log-rank tests (n = 44, (58%) studies). Sixty seven (91%), 3 (4.1%) and 4 (5.4%) studies reported Cox proportional hazard, competing risk and parametric survival regression models, respectively. A total of 37 (49%) studies had hierarchical clustering, of which 28 (76%) did not adjust for the clustering in the analysis. Reporting was adequate among 4.0, 1.3 and 6.6% studies for sample size estimation, plotting of survival curves and test of survival regression underlying assumptions, respectively. Forty-five (59%), 52 (68%) and 73 (96%) studies adequately reported comparison of survival curves, follow-up time and measures of effect, respectively. Conclusion The quality of reporting survival analyses remains inadequate despite its increasing application. Because similar reporting deficiencies may be common in other diseases in low- and middle-income countries, reporting guidelines, additional training, and more capacity building are needed along with more vigilance by reviewers and journal editors.

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Postoperative Prophylactic Antibiotics Reduce Surgical Site Infection Rates after Ventral Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review

The American Surgeon ◽

10.1177/000313481908501128 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 (11) ◽

pp. 1228-1233

Author(s):

Pablo A. Baltodano ◽

Anmol Chattha ◽

Philip K. Johnson ◽

Justin Kittredge ◽

Joseph A. Ricci ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Hernia Repair ◽

Ventral Hernia ◽

Ventral Hernia Repair ◽

Prophylactic Antibiotics ◽

Control Group ◽

Infection Rates ◽

The Impact ◽

Independent Assessment

SSIs after ventral hernia repair (VHR) represent a significant complication. The impact of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics on the SSI rates after VHRs is unclear. A systematic review of PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception through March 2016 investigating the effect of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics after VHRs was performed. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were implemented, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. After systematic independent assessment of 216 citations, four studies, involving 344 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Among the included studies, 164 patients received >24 hours of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics, whereas 180 patients were controls. The overall incidence of SSI among patients receiving postoperative antibiotics was 14.6 per cent (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.9 to 20.9) which compares favorably with the control group: 35.5 per cent (95% CI, 28.9 to 42.7) (odds ratio: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.5, P < 0.01). Among patient's receiving postoperative antibiotics, the pooled average duration of postoperative antibiotic treatment was 6.2 ± 0.4 days. Based on the available evidence, the use of postoperative prophylactic antibiotics seems to be associated with lower SSI rates after VHRs. Future prospective randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further confirm the efficacy of this prophylactic intervention.

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A Critical Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses on Acupuncture for Poststroke Insomnia

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/2032575 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Jinke Huang ◽

Manli Wu ◽

Simin Liang ◽

Xiaohui Qin ◽

Min Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Assessment ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Acupuncture Treatment ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Evidence Quality ◽

Meta Analyses ◽

Quality Evidence

Objectives. Acupuncture has increasingly been used for insomnia relief after stroke. We aimed to evaluate the methodological quality and summarize the evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for poststroke insomnia (PSI) from systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs). Methods. Eight databases were searched from inception through August 23, 2020. SRs/MAs on acupuncture treatment for PSI were included. Methodological quality assessment was performed using Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), and evidence quality assessment was performed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Results. Six SRs/MAs on acupuncture treatment for PSI were included. The AMSTAR-2 showed that the methodological quality of all included SRs/MAs was rated as critically low. According to the evaluation results of GRADE, 38.9% (7/18) of outcomes were rated as very low-quality evidence, 22.2% (4/18) were low-quality evidence, and 8.9% (7/18) were moderate-quality evidence. Descriptive analysis results showed that acupuncture was an effective treatment modality for PSI. Conclusions. All included reviews indicated that acupuncture was more effective than the control group for the treatment of PSI, but the credibility of the results is limited owing to the generally low methodological and evidence quality of the included SRs/MAs. More high-quality evidence is needed to determine whether acupuncture is more effective than other treatments.

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Non-Parametrical Canonical Analysis of Quality-Related Characteristics of Eggs of Different Varieties of Native Hens Compared to Laying Lineage

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9040153 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 153 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Antonio González Ariza ◽

Francisco Navas González ◽

Ander Arando Arbulu ◽

José León Jurado ◽

Cecilio Barba Capote ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Egg Quality ◽

Age Groups ◽

Individual Identification ◽

Internal Quality ◽

Control Group ◽

External Quality ◽

Shell Weight ◽

Almost All ◽

Different Levels

The aim of the present study is to characterize the productive capability of Utrerana and to compare the relationships among parameters determining the internal and external quality of the egg, through canonical correlation analysis. A flock of 68 Utrerana hens and a control group of Leghorn hens (n = 17) were housed individually to allow individual identification of eggs and for the assessment of egg quality characteristics. Almost all variables showed differences when both breeds were compared, except for white height, yolk diameter, yolkL* and yolk pH (p > 0.05). Only minor diameter, white height, yolkL*, yolka*, and shell weight reported significant differences between laying age groups. White height, yolk color, and almost all yolk color coordinates were significantly different (p < 0.05) for period and month. Egg and white weight reached highest significantly different levels for the fourth and fifth time that the hens laid an egg. External quality-related traits are better predictors of internal quality-related traits than vice versa, enabling the implementation of an effective noninvasive method for internal quality determination and egg classification aimed at suiting the needs of consumers.

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A TRANSITION IN MONITORING OF EDUCATION IN LITHUANIA: BETWEEN VISION AND REALITY

SOCIETY INTEGRATION EDUCATION Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference ◽

10.17770/sie2019vol1.3712 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

Jelizaveta Tumlovskaja ◽

Dalia Survutaitė

Keyword(s):

Education Reform ◽

Quality Assessment ◽

The State ◽

Internal Quality ◽

Quality Of Education ◽

Continuous Control ◽

National School ◽

State Education ◽

The Republic

The authors of the presentation aim to reveal the context of education monitoring in Lithuania. The system of education monitoring is firstly analysed on the basis of the content analysis of regulatory documents highlighting the provisions available in the society and educational system. The transitions in the system of education monitoring are disclosed in a chronological way: from the establishment of the national school (1989) to the construction of a better school (2015). At the end of the 20th century the Reform Movement of Lithuania was established in the Republic of Lithuania. The general meeting held on 3 June 1988 approved a steering committee, whose members mobilised their efforts to reform education. Dr. M. Lukšienė, one of the initiators, rallied like-minded people and put forward the framework of the national school, i.e. “The Concept of the National School” (1989). The vision of education constructed on the eve of independence was grounded on humanist philosophy. After the restoration of Independence on 11 March 1990, the need emerged to revise the vision of education. In 1992 the concept of Lithuanian education was adopted, which continued and enriched the principles of humanism in the paradigm of liberal education. Following the practice that prevailed prior the restoration of independence, the function of supervision of education was assigned to inspectorate. The quality assessment in education was carried out considering the conception of old supervision and traditional methods of activities (Ugdomasis inspektavimas, 1997). The approach that better education is predetermined by continuous control of education providers prevailed. In 1998 the Ministry of Education and Science declared the quality of education one of the priorities of education reform (Prakapas, 2010). While integrating into the European space through the system of education, the dimension of quality acquired high importance. The supervision and inspection of education consistently transformed into dual (external and internal) quality assessment. Implementing the EU and national documents (The Long-Term Development Strategy of the State, 2002; The State Education Strategy, 2003; The Programme of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, 2009; The Procedure of Education Monitoring, 2005), the models of quality management of education services were introduced and the culture of self-assessment and assessment was nurtured in Lithuania seen as an equivalent country in terms of education reform. Monitoring of education in the national documents is treated as one of the most important factors ensuring the quality of education. However, the system of education supervision (2012) functions as a hierarchical structure, which generates a conflict in itself. The remains of soviet ideology impose additional barriers on the real changes in the principles of educational reforms. Moreover, reforming the actions of society in the reality the prevailing neoliberal ideology and solutions based on this ideology are revealed. Thus, over the last three decades the reality of education monitoring has been drifting away from the projected vision. The implementation of education monitoring has been revised. The presenters raise the problematic issues that are important for a change in the system of education monitoring as quality assurance in schools of general education in Lithuania.

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The Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Dysphagia after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/8837625 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Lida Zhong ◽

Jing Wang ◽

Fang Li ◽

Xiao Bao ◽

Huiyu Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

Test Results ◽

Evaluation Standards ◽

Bias Risk ◽

Swallowing Assessment ◽

Better Than

Objectives. This study reviewed and evaluated existing evidence of the efficacy of acupuncture as a clinical treatment for dysphagia after stroke. Methods. Five English and four Chinese databases were searched from inception to March 2020. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) incorporating acupuncture or acupuncture combined with other interventions for the treatment of dysphagia after stroke were enrolled. All data were independently assessed and extracted by two authors. The bias risk assessment recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the quality of the selected studies. This meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.3. Pooled analyses were calculated by the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 test. Results. Thirty-five studies involving 3024 patients were analyzed. The meta-analysis showed that the therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture combined with other interventions was better than that of the control group for the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA) score (MD = −3.78, 95% CI: −4.64 to −2.91, P < 0.00001 ), Ichiro Fujishima rating scale (IFRS) score (MD = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.20, P < 0.00001 ), videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) score (MD = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.77 to 2.74, P < 0.00001 ), and water swallowing test (WST) score (MD = −1.21, 95% CI: −1.85 to −0.57, P = 0.0002 ). In studies reporting adverse effects, no serious outcome from an adverse event was confirmed. Conclusion. This systematic review indicated that acupuncture could be an effective therapy for treating dysphagia after stroke although stricter evaluation standards and rigorously designed RCTs are needed.

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pcr: an R package for quality assessment, analysis and testing of qPCR data

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3477 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Mahmoud Ahmed ◽

Deok Ryong Kim

Keyword(s):

Quality Assessment ◽

Target Genes ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

R Package ◽

Statistical Testing ◽

Control Group ◽

Amplification Efficiency ◽

Relative Expression ◽

Qpcr Data

Background. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is a broadly used technique in the biomedical research. Currently, few different analysis models are used to determine the quality of data and to quantify the mRNA level across the experimental conditions. Methods. We developed an R package to implement methods for quality assessment, analysis and testing qPCR data for statistical significance. Double Delta CT and standard curve models were implemented to quantify the relative expression of target genes from CT in standard qPCR control-group experiments. In addition, calculation of amplification efficiency and curves from serial dilution qPCR experiments are used to assess the quality of the data. Finally, two-group testing and linear models were used to test for significance of the difference in expression control groups and conditions of interest.Results. Using two datasets from qPCR experiments, we applied different quality assessment, analysis and statistical testing in the pcr package and compared the results to the original published articles. The final relative expression values from the different models, as well as the intermediary outputs, were checked against the expected results in the original papers and were found to be accurate and reliable.Conclusion. The pcr package provides an intuitive and unified interface for its main functions to allow biologist to perform all necessary steps of qPCR analysis and produce graphs in a uniform way.

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The relationship between delivery mode and postpartum depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-30402/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yu-Xin Chen ◽

Pei Zhao ◽

ZhuLiduzi Jiesisibieke ◽

Pei-En Chen ◽

Tao-Hsin Tung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Postpartum Depression ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Control Group ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Delivery Mode ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background: To assess the relationship between delivery mode and postpartum depression and to examine whether cesarean section (CS) has a higher risk of postpartum depression than vaginal delivery (VD). Methods: We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE from inception to 30 April 2019 without language limitations. Two authors independently selected studies, assessed the quality of included studies, and extracted data. Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third author. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and GRADE methods to assess the quality of the included studies and evidences. This study had four included cohort studies data and carried out fixed-effect model meta-analysis. Results: The findings demonstrated a significant difference in the risk of postpartum depression between CS and VD. Compared with the control group, the CS group was associated with a higher prevalence of postpartum depression symptoms (Risk Ratio =1.29; 95% CI: 1.11-1.51). Conclusions: The findings supported a relationship between delivery mode and postpartum depression. Particularly, we found that CS is associated with a higher risk of postpartum depression. Therefore, we ought to encourage pregnant women who are without medical indication of CS to select VD.r Trial registration: The protocol of this systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO under the number CRD42019148154.

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