Time to abandon ampicillin plus gentamicin in favour of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone in Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis? A meta-analysis of comparative trials

Background Current guidelines recommend either ampicillin plus ceftriaxone (AC) or amoxicillin/ampicillin plus gentamicin (AG) with an equivalent class IB recommendation in Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis. However, previous observational studies suggest that AC might be favourable in terms of adverse events. Objectives To investigate whether AC is non-inferior to AG, and if it is associated with less adverse events. Methods In June 2021, a systematic literature search using the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, CDSR, CENTRAL, CCAs, EBM Reviews, Web of Science and LILACS was conducted by two independent reviewers. Studies were considered eligible if (P) patients included were ≥ 18 years of age and had IE with E. faecalis, (I) treatment with AC was compared to (C) treatment with AG and (O) outcomes on in-hospital mortality, nephrotoxicity and adverse events requiring drug withdrawal were reported. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random-effects models with the Mantel–Haenszel method, the Sidik–Jonkman estimator for τ2 and the Hartung–Knapp adjustment. Results Treatment with AC was non-inferior to AG, as depicted by no significant differences in-hospital mortality, 3-month mortality, relapses or treatment failure. Furthermore, AC was associated with a lower prevalence of nephrotoxicity (OR 0.45 [0.26–0.77], p = 0.0182) and drug withdrawal due to adverse events (OR 0.11 [0.03–0.46], p = 0.0160) than AG. Conclusions Treatment with AC was non-inferior to treatment with AG, and it was associated with a reduced prevalence of nephrotoxicity and drug withdrawal due to adverse events. Thus, combination therapy with AC appears favourable over AG in patients with E. faecalis IE. Graphical abstract

The Fragility of Statistical Significance in Patellofemoral Instability Research: A Systematic Review

Background: Fragility analysis is increasingly utilized to evaluate the robustness of results within the orthopaedic literature and has frequently revealed instability of reported outcomes. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this investigation was to utilize a fragility analysis to evaluate the stability of reported results in the patellofemoral instability (PFI) literature. We hypothesized the demonstration of significant fragility in patellofemoral research to be similar to that identified throughout other areas of the orthopaedic literature. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The PubMed database was queried from January 1, 2000, to October 10, 2020 for comparative trials in 10 prominent orthopaedic journals that reported dichotomous outcomes related to the management of PFI. The fragility index (FI) and the fragility quotient (FQ) were calculated for each individual outcome event, and the overall FI and FQ were determined for all included studies. Results: A total of 22 comparative studies comprising 11 randomized controlled trials and 11 nonrandomized trials were included for the analysis. A total of 75 outcome events underwent a fragility analysis and revealed a median FI and FQ of 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-5) and 0.043 (IQR, 0.018-0.081), respectively. Also 27% of included studies reported loss to follow-up greater than the overall FI, therefore suggesting the maintenance of the follow-up may have resulted in the reversal of significance. Conclusion: The result of the comprehensive fragility analysis demonstrated a lack of robustness in PFI research with the alteration of only a few outcome events required to reverse statistical significance. We therefore recommend the triple reporting of the P value, the FI, and the FQ to aid in the interpretation of the statistical integrity of future comparative trials in the PFI literature.

A careful reassessment of anthracycline use in curable breast cancer

It has been over three decades since anthracyclines took their place as the standard chemotherapy backbone for breast cancer in the curative setting. Though the efficacy of anthracycline chemotherapy is not debatable, potentially life-threatening and long-term risks accompany this class of agents, leading some to question their widespread use, especially when newer agents with improved therapeutic indices have become available. Critically assessing when to incorporate an anthracycline is made more relevant in an era where molecular classification is enabling not only the development of biologically targeted therapeutics but also is improving the ability to better select those who would benefit from cytotoxic agents. This comprehensive analysis will present the problem of overtreatment in early-stage breast cancer, review evidence supporting the use of anthracyclines in the pre-taxane era, analyze comparative trials evaluating taxanes with or without anthracyclines in biologically unselected and selected patient populations, and explore published work aimed at defining anthracycline-sensitive tumor types.

622 CORRELATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN MAJOR FOOD GROUPS' CONSUMPTION AND THE RESULTS OF 24-HOURS OESOPHAGEAL PH-IMPEDANCE STUDIES

Aim To evaluate association of number of gastroesophageal refluxes detected with oesophageal pH-impedance study with dietary patterns. Methods Food frequency questionnaire (Nutrilogic, Russia) was used to assess diet of subjects enrolled in the study in terms of nutrients consumption and food groups' structure. Dietary patterns were calculated according to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), for the following major groups of foods: grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats, fats and confectioneries. The results are shown as a quotient of a division of actual values by the recommended. Oesophageal 24-hours pH-impedance (Ohmega, Laborie, the Netherlands) parameters were analysed. Spearman rank R was used to reveal correlation between number and type of gastroesophageal refluxes (GER) and the dietary patterns assessment. Results Forty consecutive patients (12 with gastroesophageal reflux disease, 28 females, age: 52.2 ± 12.9 y.o.) were enrolled. Mean energy value of the ration was 2302 ± 1391 kcal/day. Pattern of major food groups consumption was as follows: grains 1.4 ± 0.7, vegetables 1.1 ± 0.7, fruits 0.8 ± 0.9, dairy products 0.6 ± 0.6, meats 1.7 ± 1.0, fats 0.6 ± 0.8, confectioneries 0.3 ± 0.5. Mean number of GERs was 43.8 ± 24.4, acid GERs—26.2 ± 20.5 a day. Pattern of dairies consumption correlated with total number of GERs (Spearman R = 0.47, p < 0.05), weak-acid GERs (R = 0.49, p < 0.05), and non-acid GERs (R = 0.62, p < 0.05). Consumption of confectioneries correlated with high (at 17 cm above LES) GERs: R = 0.47, p < 0.05. Conclusion Type and number of gastroesophageal refluxes correlate with major food groups consumption. This preliminary results may serve as a basis for further research in larger comparative trials and may be considered when diet modification is planned for patients with GERD.

Methodological Quality Assessment with the AGREE II Scale and A Comparison of European and American Guidelines for the Treatment of Lyme Borreliosis: A Systematic Review

Background: Most European and American countries recently updated their guidelines on Lyme borreliosis (LB). The aim of this study was to provide a comparative overview of existing guidelines on the treatment of LB in Europe and America and to assess the methodological quality of their elaboration. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the national databases of scientific societies from 2014 to 2020. Quality was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool. Results: Twelve guidelines were included. The scores for the AGREE II domains (median ± IQR) were: overall assessment 100 ± 22, scope and purpose 85 ± 46, stakeholder involvement 88 ± 48, rigour of development 67 ± 35, clarity of presentation 81 ± 36, applicability 73 ± 52 and editorial independence 79% ± 54%. Cohen’s weighted kappa showed a high agreement (K = 0.90, 95%CI 0.84–0.96). Guidelines were quite homogeneous regarding the recommended molecules (mostly doxycycline in the first intention and ceftriaxone in the second intention), their duration (10 to 28 days), and their dosage. The differences were due to the lack of well-conducted comparative trials. The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) guidelines were the only ones to suggest longer antibiotics based on an expert consensus. Conclusion: European and American guidelines for the treatment of LB were quite homogeneous but based on moderate- to low-evidence studies. Well-conducted comparative trials are needed to assess the best molecules, the optimal duration and the most effective doses.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in fresh and frozen cycles using blastocysts derived from ovarian stimulation with follitropin delta

Purpose To describe the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes using fresh and vitrified/warmed blastocysts obtained from ovarian stimulation with follitropin delta in controlled trials versus follitropin alfa. Methods This investigation evaluated the outcome from 2719 fresh and frozen cycles performed in 1326 IVF/ICSI patients who could start up to three ovarian stimulations in the ESTHER-1 (NCT01956110) and ESTHER-2 (NCT01956123) trials, covering 1012 fresh cycles and 341 frozen cycles with follitropin delta and 1015 fresh cycles and 351 frozen cycles with follitropin alfa. Of the 1326 first cycle patients, 513 continued to cycle 2 and 188 to cycle 3, and 441 patients started frozen cycles after the fresh cycles. Pregnancy follow-up was continued until 4 weeks after birth. Results The overall cumulative take-home baby rate after up to three stimulation cycles was 60.3% with follitropin delta and 60.7% with follitropin alfa (−0.2% [95% CI: −5.4%; 5.0%]), of which the relative contribution was 72.8% from fresh cycles and 27.2% from frozen cycles in each treatment group. Across the fresh cycles, the ongoing implantation rate was 32.1% for follitropin delta and 32.1% for follitropin alfa, while it was 27.6% and 27.8%, respectively, for the frozen cycles. Major congenital anomalies among the live-born neonates up until 4 weeks were reported at an incidence of 1.6% with follitropin delta and 1.8% with follitropin alfa (−0.2% [95% CI: −1.9%; 1.5%]). Conclusions Based on comparative trials, the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes from fresh and frozen cycles provide reassuring data on the efficacy and safety of follitropin delta. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01956110 registered on 8 October 2013; NCT01956123 registered on 8 October 2013.