Vitamin D as a Biomarker of Ill Health among the Over-50s: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies

Background: The association between circulating levels of vitamin D and the incidence of chronic diseases is known. The identification of vitamin D as a biomarker of physiological/pathological ageing could contribute to expanding current knowledge of its involvement in healthy ageing. Methods: According to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted on cohorts studying the role of 25OH-Vitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25(OH)2-Vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] concentrations as biomarkers of healthy ageing. We consulted MedLine, Scopus, and Web of Science to search for studies on the association between vitamin D status in populations of originally healthy adults, and outcomes of longevity, illness, and physical and cognitive functionality. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Results: Twenty cohorts from 24 articles were selected for this review. Inverse associations were found between low 25(OH)D levels and all-cause mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular events, as well as markers relating to hip and non-vertebral fractures. Associations between 1,25(OH)2D and healthy ageing outcomes gave similar results, although of lower clinical significance. Conclusions: This systematic review pinpoints peculiar aspects of vitamin D as a multidimensional predictor of ill health in the ageing process. Further well-designed controlled trials to investigate whether vitamin D supplement results in superior outcomes are warranted in the future.

Download Full-text

Depression, anthropometric parameters, and body image in adults: a systematic review

Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira ◽

10.1590/1806-9282.65.5.731 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (5) ◽

pp. 731-738 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Daniela Silva ◽

Lara Ferriani ◽

Maria Carmen Viana

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Body Image ◽

Anthropometric Parameters ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Employed Women ◽

Language Restriction ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

The Relationship ◽

Ottawa Scale

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between depression, anthropometric parameters and body image in adults through a systematic review of the literature. METHOD: Medline, Lilacs and PsycInfo databases were searched by two independent reviewers up to August 2018, without language restriction, including cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies in adults (18-65 years), of both genders. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale instrument. The PRISMA standards were adopted for the conduct of this review, whose protocol is registered in PROSPERO, number CRD42018105248. RESULTS: The search resulted in 1,770 articles; however, a total of 5 articles were included in this review, whose designs were transversal. Quality scores ranged from 8 to 9 points. The association between depression, anthropometric parameters, and body image was found in all included studies, regardless of the different statistical methods employed. Women perceived their body larger than it really was by idealizing a lean body, whereas in men the perception of being underweight or dissatisfaction was observed by idealizing a larger body, both conditions were associated with the presence of depression or depressive symptoms and body mass index in the same time. CONCLUSION: Depression, anthropometric parameters and body image were associated. It is necessary to conduct other studies, especially longitudinal studies to elucidate the relationship among depression, weight, body image, and other associated factors.

Download Full-text

Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in the management of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

10.1101/2021.01.27.21250599 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gollapalle L Viswanatha ◽

CH K V L S N Anjana Male ◽

Hanumanthappa Shylaja

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Soc Control ◽

Ottawa Scale

AbstractBackgroundThis systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab (TCZ) in treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsThe electronic search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Google scholar to identify the retrospective observational reports. The studies published from 01 January 2020 to 30th September 2020. Participants were hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Interventions included tocilizumab versus placebo/standard of care. The comparison will be between TCZ versus standard of care (SOC)/placebo. Inconsistency between the studies was evaluated with I2 and quality of the evidences were evaluated by Newcastle-Ottawa scale.ResultsBased on the inclusion criteria there were 24 retrospective studies involving 5686 subjects were included. The outcomes of the meta-analysis have revealed that the TCZ has reduced the mortality (M-H,RE-OR −0.11(−0.18 to −0.04) 95% CI, p =0.001, I2 =88%) and increased the incidences of super-infections (M-H, RE-OR 1.49(1.13 to 1.96) 95% CI, p=0.004, I2=47%). However, there is no significant difference in ICU admissions rate (M-H, RE-OR −0.06(−0.23 to 0.12), I2=93%), need of MV (M-H, RE-OR of 0.00(−0.06 to 0.07), I = 74%), LOS (IV −2.86(−0.91 to 3.38), I2=100%), LOS-ICU (IV: −3.93(−12.35 to 4.48), I2=100%), and incidences of pulmonary thrombosis (M-H, RE-OR 1.01 (0.45 to 2.26), I2=0%) compared to SOC/control.ConclusionBased on cumulative low to moderate certainty evidence shows that TCZ could reduce the risk of mortality in hospitalized patients. However, there is no statistically significant difference observed between the TCZ and SOC/control groups in other parameters.

Download Full-text

Efficiency and Quality of Data Collection Among Public Mental Health Surveys Conducted During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/25118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. e25118

Author(s):

Yu-Hsuan Lin ◽

Chung-Yen Chen ◽

Shiow-Ing Wu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Data Collection ◽

Health Surveys ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

World Health ◽

Quality Of Data ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Ottawa Scale

Background The World Health Organization has recognized the importance of assessing population-level mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a global crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a timely surveillance method is urgently needed to track the impact on public mental health. Objective This brief systematic review focused on the efficiency and quality of data collection of studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We searched the PubMed database using the following search strings: ((COVID-19) OR (SARS-CoV-2)) AND ((Mental health) OR (psychological) OR (psychiatry)). We screened the titles, abstracts, and texts of the published papers to exclude irrelevant studies. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to evaluate the quality of each research paper. Results Our search yielded 37 relevant mental health surveys of the general public that were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, as of July 10, 2020. All these public mental health surveys were cross-sectional in design, and the journals efficiently made these articles available online in an average of 18.7 (range 1-64) days from the date they were received. The average duration of recruitment periods was 9.2 (range 2-35) days, and the average sample size was 5137 (range 100-56,679). However, 73% (27/37) of the selected studies had Newcastle-Ottawa Scale scores of <3 points, which suggests that these studies are of very low quality for inclusion in a meta-analysis. Conclusions The studies examined in this systematic review used an efficient data collection method, but there was a high risk of bias, in general, among the existing public mental health surveys. Therefore, following recommendations to avoid selection bias, or employing novel methodologies considering both a longitudinal design and high temporal resolution, would help provide a strong basis for the formation of national mental health policies.

Download Full-text

Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

10.1101/2020.07.04.20146381 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arunmozhimaran Elavarasi ◽

Manya Prasad ◽

Tulika Seth ◽

Ranjit Kumar Sahoo ◽

Karan Madan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Quality Of Evidence ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Ecg Abnormalities ◽

Ottawa Scale

Background: There is no effective therapy for COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) have been used for its treatment but their safety and efficacy remain uncertain. Objective: We performed a systematic review to synthesize the available data on the efficacy and safety of CQ and HCQ for the treatment of COVID-19. Methods: Two reviewers searched for published and pre-published relevant articles between December 2019 to 8th June 2020. The data from the selected studies were abstracted and analyzed for efficacy and safety outcomes. Critical appraisal of the evidence was done by Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle Ottawa scale. The quality of evidence was graded as per the GRADE approach. Results: We reviewed 12 observational and 3 randomized trials which included 10659 patients of whom 5713 received CQ/HCQ and 4966 received only standard of care. The efficacy of CQ/HCQ for COVID-19 was inconsistent across the studies. Meta-analysis of included studies revealed no significant reduction in mortality with HCQ use [RR 0.98 95% CI 0.66-1.46] , time to fever resolution [mean difference -0.54 days (-1.19-011)] or clinical deterioration/development of ARDS with HCQ [RR 0.90 95% CI 0.47-1.71]. There was a higher risk of ECG abnormalities/arrhythmia with HCQ/CQ [RR 1.46 95% CI 1.04 to 2.06]. The quality of evidence was graded as very low for these outcomes. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that CQ or HCQ does not improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19. Well-designed randomized trials are required for assessing the efficacy and safety of HCQ and CQ for COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Vertigo and Balance Disorders – The Role of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: A Systematic Review

Complementary Medicine Research ◽

10.1159/000512673 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Marco Tramontano ◽

Giacomo Consorti ◽

Giovanni Morone ◽

Christian Lunghi

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Conventional Medicine ◽

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment ◽

Specialist Care ◽

Balance Disorders ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Consultation And Referral ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale

Background: Balance disorders are among the most frequent reasons for consultation and referral to specialist care. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) can influence the proprioceptive system by inducing alterations in the proprioceptive stimuli, hence affecting postural control. Objective: The present systematic review aimed to explore the effects of OMT in managing patients with vertigo and balance disorders. Methods: MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched. Clinical trials and prospective observational studies were considered. Only studies that considered OMT as the main intervention, provided alone or combined with other interventions, were included. The methodological quality of the evidence was assessed with a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Five studies that enrolled a total of 114 subjects met our inclusion criteria. Overall, it has been observed that there is a positive effect on balance disorders through different outcomes in all of the included studies. Only two studies (9 subjects) mentioned low to moderate adverse events after OMT. Conclusions: OMT showed weak positive effects on balance function, encouraging the connection of conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary medicine for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional work. However, full-sized adequately powered randomized trials are required to determine the effectiveness of OMT for vertigo and balance disorders.

Download Full-text

Surgical Treatment for the Ankle and Foot in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9010042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 42

Author(s):

Ana Belen Ortega-Avila ◽

Antonio Moreno-Velasco ◽

Pablo Cervera-Garvi ◽

Magdalena Martinez-Rico ◽

Esther Chicharro-Luna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Surgical Treatment ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Total Population ◽

Short Term ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Surgical Treatments ◽

Ottawa Scale

The aim was to identify effective surgical treatments for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the foot and/or ankle. A systematic review of the literature was conducted via a data search of the PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PROSPERO databases, from their inception until June 2019. Only non-randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were included in this review. Two of the present authors independently assessed the quality of each study and extracted the relevant data. A quality assessment of all articles was performed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies criteria. In addition, the Newcastle Ottawa scale was used for cohort studies. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria (five cohort studies and eight NRCTs). The total population considered was 923 patients (570 patients had RA), with a mean age of 58.8 years. Regarding the risk of bias, both the NRCTs and the cohort studies had a moderate level of quality. Despite the relatively low quality of these studies, surgical treatment for the foot and/or ankle is shown to reduce pain and improve functionality in patients with RA, in the short term (6–12 months).

Download Full-text

Skeletal Maturation in Patients With Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Systematic Review

The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal ◽

10.1177/10556656211007680 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105566562110076

Author(s):

Xiaoyi Wu ◽

Wenying Kuang ◽

Jie Zheng ◽

Zhengkun Yang ◽

Meiqing Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cohort Studies ◽

Cleft Lip ◽

Skeletal Maturation ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Normal Children ◽

Retrospective Cohort Studies ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Ottawa Scale

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence regarding skeletal maturation in patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and to investigate whether the skeletal maturation is delayed in these patients. Design: Systematic review. Methods: Electronic and manual searches of scientific literature were conducted in 4 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science). Cohort studies that compared the skeletal maturation of patients with CL/P with that of children without CL/P were eligible for inclusion. The quality of included cohort studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Patients and Participants: Patients of any sex and ethnicity with CL/P and children without CL/P were included in this systematic review. Main Outcome Measures: Difference in skeletal maturation between patients with CL/P and patients without CL/P. Results: Thirteen retrospective cohort studies were included in this systematic review. Ten studies were considered of high quality and 3 were considered of general quality. The results of the included studies comparing skeletal maturation of patients with CL/P and children without CL/P were heterogeneous. Conclusion: Heterogeneity of skeletal maturation assessment methods, chronological age, sex, cleft type, and race may influence the final results of clinical studies on skeletal maturation in patients with CL/P. Overall, there is limited evidence to determine whether the skeletal maturation level of patients with CL/P is delayed compared to that of normal children. Further studies are needed to determine the skeletal maturation patterns in patients with CL/P.

Download Full-text

Are Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Obesity at a Higher Risk of Hospital and Intensive Care Unit Admissions? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3889/oamjms.2021.6585 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (F) ◽

pp. 410-419

Author(s):

Anggi Lukman Wicaksana ◽

Nuzul Sri Hertanti ◽

Raden Bowo Pramono ◽

Yu-Yun Hsu

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Severe Obesity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Effect Measure ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Ottawa Scale

BACKGROUND: Obesity, common condition among patients with COVID-19, contributes to illness severity during hospitalization. To date, knowledge on the prevalence, risk of hospital and intensive care units (ICU) admissions and mortality is limited. Therefore, systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using a PRISMA guideline. PURPOSE: The study aimed to address the prevalence, risk of hospital and ICU admissions and mortality among patients with COVID-19 and obesity. METHODS: The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of a study. Primary outcomes were the prevalence and risk of hospitalization, and secondary outcomes were the risk of ICU admissions and mortality risk. Mantel–Haenszel with random effects was applied, and the effect measure was odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Nine studies were included in the systematic review, and only four studies for meta-analysis. Among 29,776 patients with COVID-19, obesity was identified as the second-highest comorbidity. The prevalence rates of obesity and severe obesity among patients with COVID-19 were 26.1% and 15.5%, respectively. Obesity resulted in significantly increased risk of hospital admission (OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.12–3.53, p = 0.02) and ICU admission (OR = 1.77, 95% = CI 1.52–2.06, p < 0.00001). Severe obesity had a significantly increased risk of ICU admission (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.42–2.25, p < 0.00001). The mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 and obesity was about 30.5% (438/1,434), and 19.7% (2,777/14,095) of them recovered from COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Obesity poses as nearly twice the risk of hospital and ICU admissions, and severe obesity contributes to almost twice the risk of ICU admissions.

Download Full-text

A systematic review on the implication of Candida in peri-implantitis

International Journal of Implant Dentistry ◽

10.1186/s40729-021-00338-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Irene Lafuente-Ibáñez de Mendoza ◽

Amaia Cayero-Garay ◽

Guillermo Quindós-Andrés ◽

José Manuel Aguirre-Urizar

Keyword(s):

Dental Implants ◽

Potential Role ◽

Candida Parapsilosis ◽

Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna ◽

Microbiological Profile ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Ottawa Scale ◽

Isolated Species

Abstract Background Candida is a heterogeneous fungal genus. Subgingival sulcus is a refuge for Candida, which has already been related to the pathogenic inflammation of periodontitis. This work aims to review the presence of Candida in the sulcular fluid surrounding dental implants and discuss its potential role in peri-implantitis. Results A bibliographical research was performed in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases, with the keywords candida, peri-implantitis, periimplantitis, “dental implant” and implant. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. At the end, nine observational studies were included, which analysed 400 dental implants with PI and 337 without peri-implantitis. Presence of Candida was assessed by traditional microbiological culture in blood agar or/and CHROMagar, though identification was also detected by quantitative real-time PCR, random amplified polymorphic DNA or ATB ID 32C. Dentate individuals and implants with peri-implantitis (range, 3–76.7%) had a bigger presence of Candida. C. albicans was the most isolated species, followed by Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and Candida dubliniensis. Conclusion Candida is part of the microbiological profile of the peri-implant sulcular fluid. More studies are needed to compare the link between Candida and other microorganisms and to discover the true role of these fungi in peri-implantitis.

Download Full-text

Serology for the diagnosis of human hepatic cystic echinococcosis and its relation with cyst staging: A systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009370 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. e0009370

Author(s):

Francesca Tamarozzi ◽

Ronaldo Silva ◽

Veronica Andrea Fittipaldo ◽

Dora Buonfrate ◽

Bruno Gottstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cystic Echinococcosis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Consistent Finding ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

Scale Data ◽

Ottawa Scale

Background The diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) is primarily based on imaging, while serology should be applied when imaging is inconclusive. CE cyst stage has been reported among the most important factors influencing the outcome of serodiagnosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relation between cyst stage of hepatic CE and diagnostic sensitivity of serological tests, to evaluate whether their relation is a consistent finding and provide guidance for the interpretation of results of serological tests. Methodology/Principal findings MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Lilacs databases were searched on December 1st 2019. Original studies published after 2003 (year of publication of the CE cyst classification), reporting sensitivity of serological tests applied to the diagnosis of human hepatic CE, as diagnosed and staged by imaging, were included. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data from 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Summary estimates of sensitivities and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using random effects meta-analysis. Overall, test sensitivity was highest in the presence of CE2 and CE3 (CE3a and/or CE3b), and lowest in the presence of CE5 and CE4 cysts. ELISA, ICT and WB showed the highest sensitivities, while IHA performed worst. Conclusions/Significance The results of our study confirm the presence of a clear and consistent relation between cyst stage and serological tests results. Limitations of evidence included the heterogeneity of the antigenic preparations used, which prevented to determine whether the relation between cyst stage and sensitivity was influenced by the type of antigenic preparation, the paucity of studies testing the same panel of sera with different assays, and the lack of studies assessing the performance of the same assay in both field and hospital-based settings. Our results indicate the absolute need to consider cyst staging when evaluating serological results of patients with hepatic CE.

Download Full-text