A Systematic Review and Critical Analysis of the Role of Graphene-Based Nanomaterialsin Cancer Theranostics

Many graphene-based materials (GBNs) applied to therapy and diagnostics (theranostics) in cancer have been developed. Most of them are hybrid combinations of graphene with other components (e.g, drugs or other bioactives, polymers, and nanoparticles) aiming toward a synergic theranostic effect. However, the role of graphene in each of these hybrids is sometimes not clear enough and the synergic graphene effect is not proven. The objective of this review is to elaborate on the role of GBNs in the studies evaluated and to compare the nanoformulations in terms of some of their characteristics, such as therapeutic outcomes and toxicity, which are essential features for their potential use as bionanosystems. A systematic review was carried out using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science (2013–2018). Additional studies were identified manually by consulting the references list of relevant reviews. Only English papers presenting at least one strategy for cancer therapy and one strategy for cancer diagnostics, and that clearly show the role of graphene in theranostics, were included. Data extraction and quality assessment was made by reviewer pairings. Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, but they were too heterogeneous to combine in statistical meta-analysis. Critical analysis and discussion of the selected papers are presented.

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The Progression of Hemophilic Arthropathy: The Role of Biomarkers

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21197292 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (19) ◽

pp. 7292

Author(s):

Gianluigi Pasta ◽

Salvatore Annunziata ◽

Alberto Polizzi ◽

Laura Caliogna ◽

Eugenio Jannelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Practice ◽

English Language ◽

Hemophilia A ◽

Data Extraction ◽

A Priori ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Hemophilic Arthropathy ◽

Study Selection ◽

Potential Use

Background: Hemophilia A and B are X-linked congenital bleeding disorders characterized by recurrent hemarthroses leading to specific changes in the synovium and cartilage, which finally result in the destruction of the joint: this process is called hemophilic arthropathy (HA). This review highlights the most prominent molecular biomarkers found in the literature to discuss their potential use in the clinical practice to monitor bleeding, to assess the progression of the HA and the effectiveness of treatments. Methods: A review of the literature was performed on PubMed and Embase, from 3 to 7 August 2020. Study selection and data extraction were achieved independently by two authors and the following inclusion criteria were determined a priori: English language, available full text and articles published in peer-reviewed journal. In addition, further articles were identified by checking the bibliography of relevant articles and searching for the studies cited in all the articles examined. Results: Eligible studies obtained at the end of the search and screen process were seventy-three (73). Conclusions: Despite the surge of interest in the clinical use of biomarkers, current literature underlines the lack of their standardization and their potential use in the clinical practice preserving the role of physical examination and imaging in early diagnosis.

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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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Prognostic Value of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in DCIS: A Meta-Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-951016/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shuang-Ling Wu ◽

Xinmiao Yu ◽

Xiaoyun Mao ◽

Feng Jin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽

Recurrence Risk ◽

Assessment Method ◽

Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Abstract BackgroundTumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been demonstrated to be associated with the prognosis of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the role of TILs and TIL subsets in predicting the recurrence risk of DCIS.MethodPubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane were searched to identify publications investigating the prognostic role of TILs in DCIS. After study screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between TILs (total TILs, CD4+, CD8+, FOXP3+, PD-L1+ TILs) and the risk of DCIS recurrence.ResultsA pooled analysis indicated that dense stromal TILs in DCIS were associated with a higher recurrence risk (HR 2.11 (95% CI 1.35-3.28)). Subgroup analysis showed that touching TILs (HR 4.73 (95% CI 2.28-9.80)) was more favorable than the TIL ratio (HR 1.49 (95% CI 1.11-1.99)) in estimating DCIS recurrence risk. Moreover, the predictive value of TILs is suitable for patients who are diagnosed with DCIS and then undergo surgery (HR 2.77, (95% CI 1.26-6.07)) or surgery accompanied by radiotherapy (HR 2.26, (95% CI 1.29-3.95)), but not for patients who receive comprehensive adjuvant therapies (HR 1.16, (95% CI 1.35-3.28)). Among subsets of TILs, dense stromal PD-L1+ TILs were valuable in predicting higher recurrence risk of DCIS.ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed the predictive value of TILs and stromal PD-L1+ TILs in DCIS and indicated an appropriate assessment method for TILs and an eligible population.

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Learning to manage depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of skills learned in therapy as a mediator of improved well-being

10.31234/osf.io/3jtsq ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Iris Kucuk ◽

Laura Beddoe ◽

Michael Noetel

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Skill Acquisition ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Mediating Effects ◽

Therapeutic Outcomes ◽

Therapy Clients ◽

Full Text Screening

ObjectiveIn therapy, clients may learn skills to manage depression. Failing to learn such skills would increase the risk of relapse. To assess this hypothesis, we conducted a systematic review of studies that assess the mediating effects of learning skills in treatment for depression.MethodWe searched four databases using 11 keywords to find randomised trials using any intervention and reporting a skill-based outcome. We conducted full-text screening, data- extraction, and risk of bias in duplicate.ResultsSearches retrieved 4,506 unique records. After screening 28 full-texts, 13 met inclusion criteria. Acquisition of skills in psychotherapy was found to be a mechanism through which interventions reduce depression. Skills learned in psychotherapy either have a mediating effect on depression or are associated with positive therapeutic outcomes. Stronger skill-acquisition was also associated with reductions in depressive symptomatology.ConclusionsResults suggest that therapists should not only focus on the content and relationships built in therapy, but also attend to the pedagogy involved in treatment.

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Elevated D-Dimer Levels are Associated with Increased Risk of Mortality in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

10.1101/2020.04.29.20085407 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Siddharth Shah ◽

Kuldeep Shah ◽

Siddharth B Patel ◽

Forum S Patel ◽

Mohammed Osman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Case Fatality ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

D Dimer

AbstractIntroductionThe 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), now declared a pandemic has an overall case fatality of 2–3% but it is as high as 50% in critically ill patients. D-dimer is an important prognostic tool, often elevated in patients with severe COVID-19 infection and in those who suffered death. In this systematic review, we aimed to investigate the prognostic role of D-dimer in COVID-19 infected patients.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Ovid, and Cochrane for studies reporting admission D-dimer levels in COVID-19 patients and its effect on mortality.Results18 studies (16 retrospective and 2 prospective) with a total of 3,682 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled mean difference (MD) suggested significantly elevated D-dimer levels in patients who died versus those survived (MD 6.13 mg/L, 95% CI 4.16 − 8.11, p <0.001). Similarly, the pooled mean D-dimer levels were significantly elevated in patients with severe COVID-19 infection (MD 0.54 mg/L, 95% CI 0.28 − 0.8, p< 0.001). In addition, the risk of mortality was four-fold higher in patients with positive D-dimer vs negative D-dimer (RR 4.11, 95% CI 2.48 − 6.84, p< 0.001) and the risk of developing the severe disease was two-fold higher in patients with positive D-dimer levels vs negative D-dimer (RR 2.04, 95% CI 1.34 − 3.11, p < 0.001).ConclusionOur meta-analysis demonstrates that patients with COVID-19 presenting with elevated D-dimer levels have an increased risk of severe disease and mortality.

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O-195 The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on psychological distress due to the cancellation of ART. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Human Reproduction ◽

10.1093/humrep/deab128.006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Z Donarelli ◽

G Lo Coco ◽

S Gullo ◽

V Oieni ◽

A Volpes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Infertile Couples ◽

The Impact ◽

Infertile Patients

Abstract Study question Is there evidence that infertile patients have been more likely to experience distress during the COVID-19 outbreak with the consequent interruption of treatment plans? Summary answer High levels of psychological distress among infertile patients have been found during the COVID-19 pandemic, greater than that reported in the general population. What is known already Preliminary research on the negative consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health evidenced heightened levels of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress in some clinical populations as well as in community samples. However, little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on psychological distress of infertile patients who have been forced to suspend infertility treatment and postpone parenthood goals during the pandemic. The aim of this meta-analytic review is to summarize extant literature on the prevalence of psychological distress symptoms in infertile patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study design, size, duration A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA guidelines on PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, MedRxiv from March 2020 to mid-December 2020. Study inclusion criteria were specified according to the PICOS guideline. All naturalistic or RCT studies published in 2020 that examined infertility as the primary diagnosis and had a quantitative measurement of distress, were eligible. The primary outcomes were symptoms of psychological distress and secondary outcomes were indicators of psychological health. Participants/materials, setting, methods The database search identified 144 papers. Two reviewers independently screened potential studies by title and abstracts based on the inclusion criteria. The full texts were then screened for eligibility. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to judge the methodological quality of the studies. In order to estimate the pooled prevalence of distress, Odds Ratios with 95% Confidence Interval were calculated as the effect size by using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was tested using I2 statistics. Main results and the role of chance Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were summarized for the systematic review (N = 6473). Only six studies did not include males although, in the surveys, females made up 92% of the total sample. Ten studies adopted a cross-sectional study design. 100% gathered data through an online survey. Nine studies showed a high risk of bias, and five had a moderate risk. Review results showed that 56,4% of patients wished to resume treatment; participants were mostly worried about the delay in treatment because of their age (>35 years) or diminished ovarian reserve, or money constraints and low education level. Only five studies examined the role of protective factors such as social support, coping, optimism trait and intolerance of uncertainty. Nine studies were included for meta-analysis. The prevalence of psychological distress was 0.58 (95% CI 0.32÷0.84). The pooled point estimates of prevalence for anxiety (N = 6) were 0.56 (95% CI 0.24÷0.88), whereas the prevalence for depression (N = 5) was 0.46 (95% CI 0.15÷0.77). There was significant heterogeneity among studies to estimate the prevalence (I² ranging from 99% to 100%). Limitations, reasons for caution Results are preliminary, given the small number of studies and their cross-sectional data. The risk of bias was high or moderate across studies. Wider implications of the findings Infertile couples reported high levels of distress due to cancellation of their diagnostic procedures or treatment; they would benefit from information, appropriate support and advice from healthcare professionals, with an important role in maintaining the wishes of infertile couples to continue their parenthood goals. Trial registration number not applicable

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-workplace interventions to reduce time spent sedentary in adults

10.1101/2021.05.27.21256673 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica Faye Hall ◽

Rekesh Corepal ◽

Thomas Frederick Crocker ◽

Natalie Lam ◽

Louisa-Jane Burton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Adult Population ◽

Mean Difference ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Research Network ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Post Intervention

Background: Sedentary behaviour has been the focus of considerable clinical, policy and research interest due to its detrimental effects on health and wellbeing. This systematic review aims to (1) develop a more precise description of different categories of interventions that aim to reduce sedentary time in adults by identifying specific components that form an intervention; (2) explore the effect of different categories of interventions in reducing time spent sedentary in adults. Methods: Ten electronic databases, websites of relevant organisations (e.g. the Sedentary Behaviour Research Network), and relevant reviews were searched. Inclusion criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), including cluster and randomised cross-over trials, in the adult population (clinical and non-clinical). Any study including a measure of sedentary behaviour was included even if reducing sedentary behaviour was not the primary aim. Exclusion criteria: Interventions delivered in schools, colleges, or workplaces; studies investigating the immediate effects of breaking up sitting time as part of a supervised (usually laboratory-based) intervention. Two review authors conducted data extraction and quality assessment (GRADE approach). Results: Searches identified 39,223 records, of which 85 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Interventions shown to significantly reduce time spent sedentary were those which incorporated the provision of information, education, or support (advice/recommendations), in conjunction with either counselling (mean difference: -52.24 minutes/day; 95% CI: -85.37 to -19.10) or a form of structured/prescribed physical activity (standardised mean difference: -0.15; 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.07). However, this positive effect was not maintained at follow-up. No interventions were shown to break up prolonged sitting. Conclusions: This review presents a novel way of categorising interventions according to the types of components they comprised. There is evidence that interventions might be effective in reducing time spent sedentary immediately post-intervention. There were limited studies measuring sustained behaviour change.

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Protocol: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of fetal and infantile environmental exposure in etiopathogenesis of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0247003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0247003

Author(s):

Ozlem Boybeyi-Turer ◽

Hasan Tolga Çelik ◽

Umut Ece Arslan ◽

Tutku Soyer ◽

Feridun Cahit Tanyel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Statistical Analysis ◽

Pyloric Stenosis ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis ◽

Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Turkish Language

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is one of the hallmark pediatric surgical diseases. However, its etiology remains incompletely understood. By systematically reviewing the literature, we aim to clarify the effect of the effect of occupational and environmental factors and role of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism in the etiopathogenesis of IHPS. The systematic review is drafted with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA) and the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE). Systematic literature search will be performed for the period 2000 (Jan) to 2020 (Dec) in the databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed. The systematic search will cover the literature in English and Turkish language and will be limited to studies on human subjects. Four investigators will independently search the databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed) according to the defined search strategy. The full-text of the selected articles will be screened independently by four reviewers, against the inclusion criteria. Descriptive data will be extracted from each study regarding: study details, methods, participants, outcomes and calculations of association for potential further statistical analysis. If meta-analysis could not be undertaken, systematic approach to analyzing the findings of included multiple studies will be described. Heterogeneity will be assessed by quantifying the inconsistency across studies using I2 statistic. Statistical analysis will be performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.0 software. The p values lower than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant for all analyses.

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Evidence for human-to-human transmission of hantavirus: a systematic review

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiab461 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joao Toledo ◽

Michelle M Haby ◽

Ludovic Reveiz ◽

Leopoldo Sosa Leon ◽

Rodrigo Angerami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Comparative Studies ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Hantavirus Infection ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Interpersonal Contact ◽

Andes Virus

Abstract Background Hantavirus is known to be transmitted from rodents to humans. However, some reports from Argentina and Chile have claimed that the hantavirus strain – Andes virus (ANDV) – can cause human-to-human transmission of the disease. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the evidence for human-to-human transmission of hantavirus. Methods We searched PubMed (inception to 28 February 2021), Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, LILACS and SciELO (inception to 3 July 2020) and other sources. We included studies that assessed whether interpersonal contact with a person with laboratory-confirmed hantavirus infection led to human-to-human transmission. Two reviewers conducted screening, selection, data extraction, and risk of bias (RoB) assessment. Results Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity. With the exception of one prospective cohort study of ANDV in Chile with serious RoB, evidence from comparative studies (strongest level of evidence available) does not support human-to-human transmission of hantavirus infection. Non-comparative studies with a critical RoB suggest that human-to-human transmission of ANDV may be possible. Conclusions The balance of the evidence does not support the claim of human-to-human transmission of ANDV. Well-designed cohort and case-control studies that control for co-exposure to rodents are needed to inform public health recommendations.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Iran: Practical evidences to optimizing local vaccination protocols

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526519666191002142953 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Author(s):

Abdollah Karimi ◽

Seyedeh Mahsan Hoseini-Alfatemi ◽

Sedigheh Rafiei Tabatabaei

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Serotype Distribution ◽

Invasive Diseases ◽

Iranian Patients

Background: Little is known regarding the burden of predominant circulating serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the serotype distribution of pneumococcal diseases in Iran by using a comprehensive systematic review of available articles. Methods: A systematic literature search carried out to identify papers published by Iranian authors in the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google Scholar electronic databases since January of 2000 to December of 2018. Then, eight publications which met our inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction and analysis by Comprehensive MetaAnalysis software. Results: Totally, three studies reported the distribution of S. pneumoniae serotypes among patients, two studies among healthy individuals, and three studies among both groups. Of those studies, serotype 19A/F (17.9%; 95% CI: 13.6-23.0) was the most circulating serotype followed by 23A/F (12.3%; 95% CI: 7.7-19.2), 6A/B (11.0%; 95% CI: 8.0-14.9), and 14 (8.8%; 95% CI: 5.8-13.2). In contrast, the lowest circulating serotype was 60 (0.02%; 95% CI: 0.0-1.2), 29 (0.07%; 95% CI: 0.01-5.0), and 36 (0.09%; 95% CI: 0.04-2.1). Meta-regression results showed that prevalence of serotype 23A/F significantly increased each year about 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1- 0.3, P <0.001, tau2 <0.001). Conclusion: In the present study, it was found that over the last decade, the most prevalent serotypes in Iran were 19, 23, 6, and 14, respectively. These findings provides practical evidences to select effective pneumococcal vaccine candidates in the prevention of invasive diseases in Iranian patients, and also comparing our situation with others.

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