Tag: pubmed

Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023 Oct 3;12(10):9. doi: 10.1167/tvst.12.10.9.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Low- to middle-income nations contain more than 80% of the world’s population; however, only 4% of articles in ophthalmology journals belong to these countries. We aim to analyze the global diversity of the editorial boards of ophthalmology journals.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study, including all journals in the Ophthalmology section of the SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR). Journals were classified according to the country of origin, SJR interquartile range (Q1-Q4), impact factor, and open-access policy. Global diversity among journals was determined by the country of affiliation of editors-in-chief and editorial board members. Nations were classified by income according to the World Bank’s 2022 system. The association between editorial diversity and the journal’s metrics and country of origin was analyzed using the χ2 test and the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS: A total of 116 journals were included and 83.6% belonged to high-income nations. Only 18 (13.3%) editors-in-chief and 582 (13.5%) board members were affiliated with middle-income nations. The most prevalent middle-income countries in editorial boards were Brazil (n = 184, 4.26%), India (n = 150, 3.47%), Turkey (n = 42, 0.97%), and Iran (n = 36, 0.83%). Only 40 (1.07%) editorial board members of Q1 journals were affiliated with non-high-income nations, most belonging to India (n = 28, 70%). Journals from middle-income nations had a statistically significant lower prevalence in the first- and second-quartile ranking (P < 0.001) and a higher proportion of open-access policies (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS: A clear underrepresentation of low- to middle-income nations was observed in ophthalmology journals. Promoting editorial diversity and minimizing the possibility of editorial bias could lead to greater exposure to real-world data from resource-constrained settings.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The documented underrepresentation of low- to middle-income nations in ophthalmology journals highlights the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion.

PMID:37831444 | DOI:10.1167/tvst.12.10.9

Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Oct 13:e0176823. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.01768-23. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The continuous genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 resulting in the immune escape variant of concern (VoC) Omicron poses a challenge to rapid and accurate diagnosis of infection, especially in high-risk groups such as healthcare workers. We performed a clinical study to determine the diagnostic accuracy and robustness of a second-generation rapid antigen test compared to a first-generation rapid antigen test with an RT-qPCR-based assay as gold standard, for early detection of infections with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VoC. A total of 428 healthcare workers with COVID-19-associated symptoms or during routine testing participated in the study and completed a questionnaire on infection-associated symptoms, previous SARS-CoV-2 infections, and vaccination status. All participants performed a second- and first-generation rapid antigen test on the day of presentation and repeated the test 2 days later, and a diagnostic SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR assay was performed. qPCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections (n = 104) with Omicron VoC (BA.2, BA.4, BA.5) were detected by the first-generation rapid antigen test with a sensitivity of 83.7% (95% CI 75.12%-90.18%), whereas the second-generation rapid antigen test performed with a sensitivity of 89.4% (95% CI 81.9%-94.6%). Increased sensitivity of the second-generation rapid antigen test led to earlier detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while lower test sensitivity of the first-generation rapid antigen test was compensated by repeated testing 2 days later. Moreover, direct in vitro comparison revealed a lower limit of detection for the second-generation rapid antigen test for isolates of currently circulating Omicron sub-lineages BA.5.2, BQ.1, and XBB.1. IMPORTANCE The results from this study demonstrate the usefulness of a second-generation rapid antigen test for early detection of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VoC) and reveal a higher sensitivity to detect immune escape Omicron VoCs compared to a first-generation rapid antigen test (89.4% vs 83.7%) in the high-risk group of healthcare workers.

PMID:37831440 | DOI:10.1128/spectrum.01768-23

J Neurooncol. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s11060-023-04473-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The treatment response of primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) is mainly evaluated using postcontrast T1-weighted imaging (T1WI). Because poorly enhanced lesions may contain residual tumors, the combination of evaluation methods will potentially improve the accuracy of determining treatment effectiveness. In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting recurrence among patients with PCNSL who achieved complete response (CR)/unconfirmed CR (CRu).

METHODS: Fifty-four patients newly diagnosed with PCNSL who were treated at our institution and achieved CR/CRu at the end of treatment were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of residual DWI hyperintense signal at the tumor site at the end of treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to analyze the median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS: The mean age of the 54 patients was 66.4 ± 13.3 years. The induction therapies were HD-MTX in 20 patients, R-MPV in 29 patients, and other chemotherapies in five patients. Radiotherapy was performed in 35 patients, high-dose cytarabine therapy in 14 patients, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in one patient, and of the 54 patients, 10 had no consolidation therapy. The residual DWI hyperintense signal sign was observed in 18 patients. The R-MPV regimen was statistically associated with a lower rate of residual DWI hyperintense signal (p = 0.0453). The median PFS was statistically shorter in the residual DWI hyperintense signal group than in the non-residual DWI hyperintense signal group (14.0 months vs. 85.1 months) (p < 0.0001, log-rank test).

CONCLUSION: A residual DWI hyperintense signal at the end of treatment was statistically associated with shorter PFS. Among patients who achieved CR/CRu evaluated based on postcontrast T1WI, DWI could be a valuable additional sequence to predict the early recurrence of PCNSL.

PMID:37831389 | DOI:10.1007/s11060-023-04473-6

Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s40801-023-00392-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: There are only limited data on drug utilization patterns in pediatric inpatients, especially on general wards. The aim of the study was to describe prescribing patterns and their associations with prescribing errors in a university children’s hospital in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

METHOD: This was a subanalysis of a retrospective single-center observational study. Patient characteristics and drug use of 489 patients with 2693 drug prescriptions were associated with prescribing errors. Drugs were categorized by the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC), patients were categorized by age group according to European Medicines Agency guidelines, and prescribing errors were analyzed by type [Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) classification] and severity of error [adapted National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting (NCC MERP) index].

RESULTS: The most frequently prescribed ATC classes were nervous system (N) (42.6%), alimentary system (A) (15.6%), and anti-infective drugs (J) (10.7%). Eighty-two percent of patients were prescribed an analgesic. Most drugs were prescribed for oral (47%) or intravenous (32%) administration, but the rectal route was also frequent (10%). The most frequently prescribed drugs were paracetamol, metamizole, and ibuprofen. The high number of metamizole prescriptions (37% of patients were prescribed metamizole) is typical for German-speaking countries. Older pediatric patients were prescribed more drugs than younger patients. A statistically significant difference was found in the rate of potentially harmful errors across age groups and for gender; children between 2 and 11 years had a higher rate of potentially harmful errors than infants under 2 years (p = 0.029) and female patients had a higher rate of potentially harmful errors than male patients (p = 0.023). Recurring errors were encountered with certain drugs (nalbuphine, cefazolin).

CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides insight into prescribing patterns on pediatric general wards in a university children’s hospital in Switzerland and highlights some areas for future research. Especially, the higher risk for prescribing errors among female pediatric patients needs further investigation.

PMID:37831373 | DOI:10.1007/s40801-023-00392-0

Reprod Sci. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s43032-023-01376-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Previous studies have suggested that metabolites may play a pivotal mediating role in the progression of phenotypic variations. Although several metabolites had been identified as potential markers for PCOS, the relationship between blood metabolites and PCOS was not comprehensively explored. Previously, Pickrell et al. designed a robust approach to infer evidence of a causal relationship between different phenotypes using independently putative causal SNPs. Our previous paper extended this approach to make it more suitable for cases where only a few independently putative causal SNPs were identified to be significantly associated with the phenotypes (i.e., metabolites). When the most significant SNPs in each independent locus (the independent lead SNPs) with p-values of < 1 × 10^-5 were used, 3 metabolites (2-tetradecenoyl carnitine, threitol, 1-docosahexaenoylglycerophosphocholine) causally influencing PCOS and 2 metabolites (asparagine and phenyllactate) influenced by PCOS were identified, (relative likelihood r < 0.01). Under a less stringent threshold of r < 0.05, 7 metabolites (trans-4-hydroxyproline, glutaroyl carnitine, stachydrine, undecanoate, 7-Hoca, N-acetylalanine and 2-hydroxyisobutyrate) were identified. Taken together, this study can provide novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PCOS; whether these metabolites can serve as biomarkers to predict PCOS in clinical practice warrants further investigations.

PMID:37831368 | DOI:10.1007/s43032-023-01376-9

Clin Rheumatol. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s10067-023-06787-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Comparisons of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with inadequate response to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs are lacking. We assessed the relative efficacy and safety of four JAKi (tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, and filgotinib) in this context.

METHOD: We performed an adjusted indirect comparison (IC) of randomized clinical trials using Bucher’s method with an IC and mixed calculator. Endpoints were Disease Activity Score C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP) and American College of Rheumatology-20 (ACR20). Equivalence was assessed using the equivalent therapeutic alternatives (ETA) guidelines.

RESULTS: We included four of 133 potentially relevant studies. IC showed no statistically significant differences between the four JAKi regarding DAS28-CRP < 3.2. Results were similar in terms of ACR20 except for tofacitinib showing lower efficacy than upadacitinib (RAR -18.4% [IC95% -33.4 to -3.5], p=0.0157). Statistically significant differences were related to the relevant difference for tofacitinib in both endpoints. Despite no statistical differences for baricitinib, we observed a probably clinically relevant difference regarding DAS28-CRP. Probably clinically relevant differences were found for tofacitinib vs. upadacitinib in both endpoints, and for baricitinib vs. upadacitinib in DAS28-CRP. Safety, drug-drug interactions, and convenience considerations did not modify the result of therapeutic equivalence assessment based on efficacy data.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results show that filgotinib and upadacitinib are ETA. Baricitinib and upadacitinib are also ETA due to a lack of clear differences and for showing superiority over placebo. The results for tofacitinib and upadacitinib show some inconsistency and more data are needed. Key Points • To date, neither a head-to-head comparison nor an indirect comparison between the Janus kinase inhibitors has been performed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and an inadequate response to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. • We performed an adjusted indirect comparison that included randomized clinical trials of tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib, and filgotinib to assess their equivalence in this scenario. • Our results show that baricitinib and filgotinib are equivalent therapeutic alternatives compared to upadacitinib. However, there is some inconsistency in the results of tofacitinib in front of upadacitinib.

PMID:37831336 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-023-06787-2

Updates Surg. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s13304-023-01666-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Seroma formation is one of the important postoperative problems in inguinal hernia surgery, especially after scrotal hernia surgery. The present study aimed to present primarily the incidence of seroma after reduction and transection of the hernia sac in endo-laparoscopic scrotal hernia repair, and secondarily the results of early postoperative complications. Patients were divided into two groups TAPP and TEP. These groups were also divided into transection and reduction subgroups. In the reduction group, the hernia sac was completely dissected and pulled to the peritoneal area, while in the transection group, the neck of the hernia sac was cut by ligating, and its distal part was fixed to the posterior abdominal wall. The groups were compared, and data were analyzed. The reduction was performed in 13 (43.33%) of the 30 patients included in the study, and transection in 17 (56.67%). Seroma developed in 2 (15.38%) of the reduction group and 7 (41.18%) of the transection group. There was no statistical difference between the groups (p = 0.229). Cord and testicular complications were seen in 6 (20%) patients, 5 (38.46%) in the reduction group, and 1 (5.88%) in the transection group. No statistical difference was detected between the groups (p = 0.061). Although not statistically significant, seroma was more common in transection, while cord and testicular complications were more common in reduction. If dissection of the hernia sac is difficult, the complete reduction should not be insisted on, and the neck of the sac should be transection by ligating, and its distal part should be fixed to the posterior abdominal wall.

PMID:37831327 | DOI:10.1007/s13304-023-01666-6

Brain Topogr. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s10548-023-01013-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We applied diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) including measurements of fractional anisotropy (FA), a parameter of neuronal fiber integrity, mean diffusivity (MD), a parameter of brain tissue integrity, as well as voxel-based morphometry (VBM), a measure of gray and white matter volume, to provide a basis to improve our understanding of the neurobiological basis of dependent personality disorder (DPD). DTI was performed on young girls with DPD (N = 17) and young female healthy controls (N = 17). Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) were used to examine microstructural characteristics. Gray matter volume differences between the two groups were investigated using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). The Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between distinct brain areas of white matter and gray matter and the Dy score on the MMPI. The DPD had significantly higher fractional anisotropy (FA) values than the HC group in the right retrolenticular part of the internal capsule, right external capsule, the corpus callosum, right posterior thalamic radiation (include optic radiation), right cerebral peduncle (p < 0.05), which was strongly positively correlated with the Dy score of MMPI. The volume of gray matter in the right postcentral gyrus and left cuneus in DPD was significantly increased (p < 0.05), which was strongly positively correlated with the Dy score of MMPI (r_1,2= 0.467,0.353; p_1,2 = 0.005,0.04). Our results provide new insights into the changes in the brain structure in DPD, which suggests that alterations in the brain structure might implicate the pathophysiology of DPD. Possible visual and somatosensory association with motor nerve circuits in DPD.

PMID:37831323 | DOI:10.1007/s10548-023-01013-3

Eur J Health Econ. 2023 Oct 13. doi: 10.1007/s10198-023-01630-6. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A Pay-for-Performance (P4P) programme, known as Prescribed Specialised Services Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (PSS CQUIN), was introduced for specialised services in the English NHS in 2013/2014. These services treat patients with rare and complex conditions. We evaluate the implementation of PSS CQUIN contracts between 2016/2017 and 2018/2019.

METHODS: We used a mixed methods evaluative approach. In the quantitative analysis, we used a difference-in-differences design to evaluate the effectiveness of ten PSS CQUIN schemes across a range of targeted outcomes. Potential selection bias was addressed using propensity score matching. We also estimated impacts on costs by scheme and financial year. In the qualitative analysis, we conducted semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to gain insights into the complexities of contract design and programme implementation. Qualitative data analysis was based on the constant comparative method, inductively generating themes.

RESULTS: The ten PSS CQUIN schemes had limited impact on the targeted outcomes. A statistically significant improvement was found for only one scheme: in the clinical area of trauma, the incentive scheme increased the probability of being discharged from Adult Critical Care within four hours of being clinically ready by 7%. The limited impact may be due to the size of the incentive payments, the complexity of the schemes’ design, and issues around ownership, contracting and flexibility.

CONCLUSION: The PSS CQUIN schemes had little or no impact on quality improvements in specialised services. Future P4P programmes in healthcare could benefit from lessons learnt from this study on incentive design and programme implementation.

PMID:37831298 | DOI:10.1007/s10198-023-01630-6

Neurosurg Rev. 2023 Oct 13;46(1):268. doi: 10.1007/s10143-023-02178-y.

ABSTRACT

Following meningioma removal, there are numerous methods available for reconstructing the orbital wall. This systematic review seeks to summarize the published data on the surgical treatment of cranioorbital meningiomas, and to analyze the effectiveness and safety of various techniques and materials used for the reconstruction of bony orbital walls. We conducted a search of the two databases and included original articles with a series of 10 or more cases. Descriptive statistics and meta-analysis of individual patient date were performed. The analysis included a total of 858 patients from 29 sources. No reconstruction of the orbital walls was performed in 525 patients (61.2%), while 333 observations (38.8%) involved resection followed by reconstruction. A relative improvement in eye position was achieved in 94.4% of cases with a 95% CI of (88.92%; 97.25%). However, normalization of eye position, regardless of reconstruction technique, was only present in 6.22% of cases with a 95% CI of (1.24%; 25.9%). The best results were observed with the use of autologous bone implants (64%, 95% CI [33.35%; 86.33%]) and titanium implants (55.78%, 95% CI [2.86%; 98.18%]). In cases of endoscopic resection and microsurgical resection without reconstruction, symmetrical eye position accounted for only 1.94% (95% CI [0%; 96.71%]) and 2.35% (95% CI [0.13%; 31.23%]), respectively. The frequency of normalization of eye position differed significantly (p < 0.01) among the subgroups. A total of 49 postoperative complications were registered, with wound infection (1.52%, 95% CI [0.86%; 2.65%]) and wound cerebrospinal fluid leak (1.32%, 95% CI [0.6%; 2.91%]) being the most frequent. No significant differences were found in the rates of complications among the different subgroups. One of the primary objectives of cranioorbital meningioma surgery is to correct the position of the eye. Simultaneous reconstruction of the bony orbital leads to better cosmetic outcomes. Postoperative complications did not depend on the reconstructive technique or the materials.

PMID:37831295 | DOI:10.1007/s10143-023-02178-y