Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

What is the best prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism in Asians following total knee arthroplasty? A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Knee Surg Relat Res. 2022 Aug 13;34(1):37. doi: 10.1186/s43019-022-00166-y.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Asians have a low venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the best prophylaxis against VTE in Asians following total knee arthroplasty in current literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and CINAHL was conducted in adherence with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Prophylaxis types were separated into low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), novel oral anti-coagulants (NOAC), mechanical-only prophylaxis (MOP) and no prophylaxis (NP). The primary outcome was VTE incidence, grouped according to diagnosis modality (ultrasound, venography, clinical). The secondary outcome was bleeding incidence, grouped into minor and major bleeding.

RESULTS: Fourteen eligible articles, totalling 4259 patients, were pooled with the following significant results: NOACs had lower venography-diagnosed VTE incidence than LMWH (12.77%, p = 0.02) and NP (20.64, p < 0.001). MOP had lower venography-diagnosed VTE incidence than LMWH (23.72%, p < 0.001), NOACs (10.95%, p < 0.001) and NP (31.59%, p < 0.001) but, interestingly, a statistically higher ultrasound-diagnosed VTE incidence than LMWH (6.56%, p = 0.024) and NP (4.88%, p = 0.026). No significant differences were observed between prophylaxis types for symptomatic VTE, pulmonary embolism (PE) or death. LMWH and NOACs had a higher minor bleeding incidence than NP (11.71%, p < 0.001 and 6.33%, p < 0.02, respectively). No significant differences were observed between prophylaxis types for major bleeding incidence.

CONCLUSION: NOACs are a superior form of chemoprophylaxis, compared with LMWH, in reducing venography-diagnosed VTE incidence with no added bleeding incidence. However, routine chemoprophylaxis may not be required as LMWH and NOACs do not appear to reduce symptomatic VTE incidence compared with MOP and NP with an increased minor bleeding incidence. Mechanical prophylaxis in the form of graduated compression stockings or intermittent pneumatic compression should be routinely considered with significantly lower rates of venography-diagnosed VTE compared with NP. On the basis of current evidence, we recommend an individualised approach to select the most appropriate prophylaxis type.

PMID:35964142 | DOI:10.1186/s43019-022-00166-y

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effectiveness and safety of stem cell therapy for diabetic foot: a meta-analysis update

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022 Aug 13;13(1):416. doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-03110-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot (DF) is one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), which brings great psychological and economic pressure to patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of stem cells in the treatment of diabetic foot.

METHODS: All relevant studies in Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases were systematically searched for meta-analysis. The outcomes consisted of ulcer or wound healing rate, amputation rate, new vessels, ankle-brachial index (ABI), transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), pain-free walking distance, and rest pain score. Dichotomous outcomes were described as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), while continuous data were presented as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs. Statistical analysis was performed with RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS: A total of 14 studies with 683 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that stem cell therapy was more effective than conventional therapy in terms of ulcer or wound healing rate [OR = 8.20 (5.33, 12.62)], improvement in lower extremity ischemia(new vessels) [OR = 16.48 (2.88, 94.18)], ABI [MD = 0.13 (0.04, 0.08)], TcO2[MD = 4.23 (1.82, 6.65)], pain-free walking distance [MD = 220.79 (82.10, 359.48)], and rest pain score [MD = – 1.94 (- 2.50, – 1.39)], while the amputation rate was significantly decreased [OR = 0.19 (0.10, 0.36)].

CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis of the current studies has shown that stem cells are significantly more effective than traditional methods in the treatment of diabetic foot and can improve the quality of life of patients after treatment. Future studies should conduct large-scale, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trials with high-quality long-term follow-up to demonstrate the most effective cell types and therapeutic parameters for the treatment of diabetic foot.

PMID:35964145 | DOI:10.1186/s13287-022-03110-9

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Study protocol and methods for Easing Pelvic Pain Interventions Clinical Research Program (EPPIC): a randomized clinical trial of brief, low-intensity, transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral therapy vs education/support for urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS)

Trials. 2022 Aug 13;23(1):651. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06554-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) encompasses several common, costly, diagnoses including interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome that are poorly understood and inadequately treated with conventional medical therapies. Behavioral strategies, recommended as a first-line treatment for managing symptoms, are largely inaccessible, time and labor intensive, and technically complex. The Easing Pelvic Pain Interventions Clinical Research Program (EPPIC) is a clinical trial examining the efficacy of low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy (Minimal Contact CBT or MC-CBT) for UCPPS and its durability 3 and 6 months post treatment. Additional aims include characterizing the operative processes (e.g., cognitive distancing, context sensitivity, coping flexibility, repetitive negative thought) that drive MC-CBT-induced symptom relief and pre-treatment patient variables that moderate differential response.

METHODS: UCPPS patients (240) ages 18-70 years, any gender, ethnicity, and race, will be randomized to 4-session MC-CBT or a credible, non-specific education comparator (EDU) that controls for the generic effects from simply going to treatment. Efficacy assessments will be administered at pre-treatment, 2 weeks, and 3 and 6 months post treatment-week acute phase. A novel statistical approach applied to micro-analytic mediator assessment schedule will permit the specification of the most effective CBT component(s) that drive symptom relief.

DISCUSSION: Empirical validation of a low-intensity self-management therapy transdiagnostic in scope has the potential to improve the health of chronic pelvic pain patients refractory to medical therapies, reduce social and economic costs, conserve health care resources, as well as inform evidence-based practice guidelines. Identification of change mechanisms and moderators of treatment effects can provide proactive patient-treatment matching fundamental to goals of personalized medicine.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05127616. Registered on 9/19/21.

PMID:35964133 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-022-06554-9

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

α2-fraction and haptoglobin as biomarkers for disease activity in oligo- and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2022 Aug 13;20(1):66. doi: 10.1186/s12969-022-00721-7.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Unlike in adult rheumatology, for most forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) no reliable biomarkers currently exist to assess joint and disease activity. However, electrophoresis is frequently found changed in active juvenile arthritis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the α2-fraction of serum electrophoresis and its main components as biomarkers for JIA, categories extended/persistent oligoarthritis and seronegative polyarthritis, in comparison with the conventionally used erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.

METHODS: Serum samples and clinical data from 181 patients with JIA were collected. Serum electrophoresis and α2-fraction and its components were determined using standard methods. Relationship between calculated α2-fraction of serum electrophoresis (CA2F) and its components, acute-phase parameters and cJADAS27 was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression modelling, adjusting for confounding effects. Results were confirmed in a second cohort with 223 serum samples from 37 patients, using a mixed model to account for repeated measures.

RESULTS: Compared to ESR and CRP, CA2F showed higher correlation to cJADAS27, in particular for persistent oligoarthritis. Of the three components of the α2-fraction, haptoglobin showed the highest correlation to cJADAS27. Regression analysis demonstrated higher ability to predict cJADAS27 for CA2F, and especially for haptoglobin as a component thereof, than for CRP and ESR.

CONCLUSION: Compared to conventional methods, α2-fraction of serum electrophoresis and specifically, haptoglobin show higher correlations with disease activity in common subtypes of JIA, representing excellent candidates as biomarkers for disease activity. Further studies are necessary to determine diagnostic value and correlations in other subtypes.

PMID:35964131 | DOI:10.1186/s12969-022-00721-7

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Anatomic, computed tomographic, and ultrasonographic assessment of the lymph nodes in presumed healthy adult cats: the abdomen, pelvis, and hindlimb

Acta Vet Scand. 2022 Aug 13;64(1):18. doi: 10.1186/s13028-022-00638-x.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) features of lymph nodes of the abdomen, pelvis, and hindlimb in healthy cats are poorly described in the current literature. A prospective anatomic and reference interval study was therefore performed. The lymph nodes of six feline cadavers were identified, and dimensions were measured (length, width, and height). The lymph nodes from 30 healthy adult cats were identified and measured using CT (pre- and postcontrast) and US. The identification and dimensions of the separate lymph nodes were compared between imaging techniques and the anatomic study.

RESULTS: The identification of lymph nodes was most frequent in CT, and the dimensions were overall larger than those identified and measured in US and the anatomic study. The caudal epigastric and sacral lymph nodes were not identified in the anatomic study. The ischiatic, lumbar aortic, internal iliac, and caudal epigastric lymph nodes were not visualized in US. The height presented the main statistical differences among techniques. The lymph nodes were mainly homogeneous in pre- and postcontrast CT and US images. Some lymph nodes showed a hyperattenuating periphery with a hypoattenuating center (on pre- and postcontrast images) and a hypo-/isoechoic periphery with a hyperechoic center, representing the hilar fat. The lymph nodes were commonly elongated and rounded except for the jejunal lymph nodes, which had an irregular shape.

CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of most of the abdominal, pelvic, and hindlimb lymph nodes in the cat is feasible using CT and US, with CT performing best. Factors like the amount of adipose tissue and contrast administration subjectively improved the lymph node visualization and assessment. The measurements and features reported are proposed as reference values.

PMID:35964104 | DOI:10.1186/s13028-022-00638-x

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Evaluation of abdominal compression-decompression combined with chest compression CPR performed by a new device: Is the prognosis improved after this combination CPR technique?

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2022 Aug 13;30(1):49. doi: 10.1186/s13049-022-01036-y.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to compare the outcomes of standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (STD-CPR) and combined chest compression and abdominal compression-decompression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CO-CPR) with a new device following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Moreover, we investigated whether patient prognosis improved with this combination treatment.

METHODS: This trial was a single-centre, prospective, randomized trial, and a blinded assessment of the outcomes was performed. A total of 297 consecutive patients with OHCA were initially screened, and 278 were randomized to the STD-CPR group (n = 135) or the CO-CPR group (n = 143). We compared the proportions of patients who achieved a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survived to hospital admission and survived to hospital discharge. In addition, we also performed the Kaplan-Meier analysis with a log-rank test at the end of the follow-up period to compare the survival curves of the two groups.

RESULTS: The differences were not statistically significant in the proportion of patients who achieved ROSC [31/135 (23.0%) versus 35/143 (24.5%)] and survived to hospital admission [28/135 (20.7%) versus 33/143 (23.1%)] between the CO-CPR group and STD-CPR group. However, there was a significant difference in the proportion of patients who survived to hospital discharge [16/135 (11.9%) versus 7/143 (4.9%)] between the two groups. Nine patients (6.7%) in the CO-CPR group and 2 patients (1.4%) in the STD group showed good neurological outcomes according to the cerebral performance category (CPC) scale score, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.003). The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the patients in the CO-CPR group achieved better survival benefits than those in the STD-CPR group at the end of the follow-up period (log-rank P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION: CO-CPR was more beneficial than STD-CPR in terms of survival benefits in patients who have suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, registered number: ChiCTR2100049581 . Registered 30 July 2021- Retrospectively registered. http://www.medresman.org.cn/uc/index.aspx .

PMID:35964100 | DOI:10.1186/s13049-022-01036-y

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Effects of aerobic, resistance, and combined training on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in older adults: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Syst Rev. 2022 Aug 13;11(1):171. doi: 10.1186/s13643-022-02036-w.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Aging is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. It promotes vascular dysfunction which is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Exercise can modulate vascular function parameters, but little is known about the effects of different modalities of training (aerobic, resistance, and combined) on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in older adults.

METHODS: This systematic review study will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) selected from the electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane, LILACS, EMBASE, and Web of Science. We will follow the PRISMA guidelines and PICOS framework. Studies involving both male and female older adults (≥60 years old) with or without comorbidities undergoing aerobic, resistance, and/or combined training compared to a control group (no exercise) will be eligible. We will use the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool to evaluate the quality of individual studies and GRADE to assess the strength of evidence. Statistical analyses will be conducted with RStudio for Windows (v1.3.959) using R package meta.

DISCUSSION: A systematic review and meta-analysis involving data from studies of older adults would deepen our understanding of vascular adaptations to exercise training in this population. It could provide new insights into how health providers can improve patient management and prevention of cardiovascular events in older adults.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 42021275451.

PMID:35964075 | DOI:10.1186/s13643-022-02036-w

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

Family-based improvement for health literacy among the Yi nationality (FAMILY) in Liangshan: protocol of an open cohort stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial

BMC Public Health. 2022 Aug 13;22(1):1543. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13782-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Improvement of health literacy constitutes a cornerstone to improving public health. However, the overall health literacy of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Liangshan Prefecture) in the southwest Sichuan Province of China has kept extremely low for a long time. How to improve health literacy of the Yi nationality residents is key to be urgently solved. Notably, Family Branch System is a distinctive patrilineal bloodline organization of Yi nationality, which plays an important role in the daily life of Yi nationality. Meanwhile, Contracted Family Doctor Services is conducted in Liangshan Prefecture. Therefore, this study proposes an intervention model of health education based on Family Branch System and Contracted Family Doctor Services, which is a Family-based Improvement for Health Literacy among the Yi nationality (FAMILY) in Liangshan, when improving traditional Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions Framework (ICCC) framework.

METHODS: An open cohort stepped wedge cluster randomized trial design is used to implement health literacy education interventions including project preparation, core group building, promotion within family branch and competition between family branches while using Contracted Family Doctor Services as control measure. The study will be conducted among Yi nationality residents in Meigu County and Yanyuan County, with health literacy level of residents as the primary outcome. Finally, mixed-effects model and causal inference method will be used to evaluate intervention effect.

DISCUSSION: This study highlights family, using the unique Family Branch System and Contracted Family Doctor Services in Liangshan Prefecture to design intervention among improved ICCC framework, and combines the mixed-effects model with complier average causal effects (CACE) to estimate the intervention effect under non-compliance for the first time. Besides, other key technologies to be adopted include construction of electronic questionnaire quality control system, with quality control based on artificial intelligence. This trial contributes to exploring an effective way to improve health literacy of Yi nationality residents in Liangshan Prefecture, which will provide reference for other areas, especially poor areas, to improve residents’ health literacy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN11299863 on June 1, 2022; https://www.isrctn.com/ .

PMID:35964063 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-022-13782-w

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

The disruption of the CCDC6 – PP4 axis induces a BRCAness like phenotype and sensitivity to PARP inhibitors in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma

J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Aug 13;41(1):245. doi: 10.1186/s13046-022-02459-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Treatment with PARP inhibitors (PARPi) is primarily effective against high-grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOC) with BRCA1/2 mutations or other deficiencies in homologous recombination (HR) repair mechanisms. However, resistance to PARPi frequently develops, mostly as a result of BRCA1/2 reversion mutations. The tumour suppressor CCDC6 is involved in HR repair by regulating the PP4c phosphatase activity on γH2AX. In this work, we reported that in ovarian cancer cells, a physical or functional loss of CCDC6 results synthetic lethal with the PARP-inhibitors drugs, by affecting the HR repair. We also unravelled a role for CCDC6 as predictive marker of PARPi sensitivity in ovarian cancer, and the impact of CCDC6 downregulation in overcoming PARPi resistance in these tumours.

METHODS: A panel of HGSOC cell lines (either BRCA-wild type or mutant) were treated with PARPi after CCDC6 was attenuated by silencing or by inhibiting USP7, a CCDC6-deubiquitinating enzyme, and the effects on cell survival were assessed. At the cellular and molecular levels, the processes underlying the CCDC6-dependent modification of drugs’ sensitivity were examined. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were immunostained for CCDC6, and the expression of the protein was analysed statistically after digital or visual means.

RESULTS: HGSOC cells acquired PARPi sensitivity after CCDC6 depletion. Notably, CCDC6 downregulation restored the PARPi sensitivity in newly generated or spontaneously resistant cells containing either wild type- or mutant-BRCA2. When in an un-phosphorylated state, the CCDC6 residue threonine 427 is crucial for effective CCDC6-PP4 complex formation and PP4 sequestration, which maintains high γH2AX levels and effective HR. Remarkably, the PP4-dependent control of HR repair is influenced by the CCDC6 constitutively phosphorylated mutant T427D or by the CCDC6 loss, favouring PARPi sensitivity. As a result, the PP4 regulatory component PP4R3α showed to be essential for both the activity of the PP4 complex and the CCDC6 dependent PARPi sensitivity. It’s interesting to note that immunohistochemistry revealed an intense CCDC6 protein staining in olaparib-resistant HGSOC cells and PDXs.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the physical loss or the functional impairment of CCDC6 enhances the PP4c complex activity, which causes BRCAness and PARPi sensitivity in HGSOC cells. Moreover, CCDC6 downregulation might overcome PARPi resistance in HGSOCs, thus supporting the potential of targeting CCDC6 by USP7 inhibitors to tackle PARPi resistance.

PMID:35964058 | DOI:10.1186/s13046-022-02459-2

Categories
Nevin Manimala Statistics

The composition of braconid wasp communities in three forest fragments in a tropical lowland forest of Panama

BMC Ecol Evol. 2022 Aug 13;22(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s12862-022-02051-4.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In the last 171 years, the forests along the eastern bank of the Panama Canal have been pressured by anthropic activities. Studies of the influence of habitat fragmentation on braconid wasp communities in Central America is scarce, showing the existing information gap on these communities required to implement strategic plans for ecosystem sustainability and conservation. This study investigated how fragmentation affects braconid wasp communities in three areas in Panama City: Metropolitan Natural Park, Albrook and Corozal. Two permanent Malaise Traps were installed in the center of each fragment and were reviewed weekly from May 2019 to March 2020. Alpha and beta diversity indices and the similarity index were used to demonstrate the composition of braconid wasp communities in three forest fragments.

RESULTS: A similarity of 94% was estimated for the subfamily composition and 74% was estimated for the morphospecies composition of wasp community in the fragments studied. Wasp subfamily and morphospecies assemblages were more similar between fragments of Albrook and Metropolitan Natural Park. Richness and abundance of braconid wasps observed were statistically different between the fragments studied.

CONCLUSION: Richness, abundance, and composition of braconid wasps differ among habitat fragments with high similarity between subfamilies and morphospecies. Therefore, the fragments studied can be used as stepping stones to maintain remaining populations of braconid wasp communities. Monitoring is recommended to assess the effect of fragmentation on the remaining forests.

PMID:35964010 | DOI:10.1186/s12862-022-02051-4