Objective To evaluate the application value of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods A comprehensive search of both domestic and international databases was conducted to identify clinical studies on the use of OCTA in OSAS, from the establishment of the databases to May 2024. A meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.4 software. Results A total of 134 studies were initially identified, with 14 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, encompassing 999 subjects (739 in the OSAS group and 260 in the healthy group). Meta-analysis results indicated that the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) density in the fovea (MD=–2.05, 95%CI –3.75 to –0.35, P=0.02) and parafovea (MD=–1.56, 95%CI –2.44 to –0.68, P=0.000 5) was significantly lower in the OSAS group compared with the healthy group. In the mild to moderate OSAS group, SCP density was significantly lower in the fovea (MD=–2.41, 95%CI –4.32 to –0.49, P=0.01), parafovea (MD=–1.17, 95%CI –2.01 to –0.32, P=0.007), and perifovea (MD=–1.73, 95%CI –2.69 to –0.77, P=0.000 4) compared with the healthy group. In the severe OSAS group, SCP density in the perifovea (MD=–1.33, 95%CI –2.53 to –0.13, P=0.03) was significantly lower than that of the healthy group. SCP density in the whole area (MD=0.36, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.68, P=0.02) was significantly higher in the mild to moderate OSAS group compared with the severe OSAS group. In the deep capillary plexus (DCP) density, the OSAS group showed significantly lower densities in the whole area (MD=–2.16, 95%CI –3.51 to –0.81, P=0.002), fovea (MD=–2.38, 95%CI –4.38 to –0.37, P=0.02), and parafovea (MD=–2.33, 95%CI –3.93 to –0.73, P=0.004) compared with the healthy group. The mild to moderate OSAS group also showed significantly lower densities in the whole area (MD=–2.02, 95%CI –3.33 to –0.72, P=0.002) and parafovea (MD=–1.65, 95%CI –3.04 to –0.26, P=0.02) compared with the healthy group. The severe OSAS group had significantly lower DCP density in the whole area (MD=–2.26, 95%CI –3.85 to –0.66, P=0.006) and parafovea (MD=–1.47, 95%CI –2.31 to –0.62, P=0.000 7) compared with the healthy group. DCP density in the whole area (MD=0.54, 95%CI 0.02 to 1.07, P=0.04) was significantly higher in the mild to moderate OSAS group compared with the severe OSAS group. Regarding the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, the inferior quadrant (MD=4.01, 95%CI 0.69 to 7.32, P=0.02) and temporal quadrant (MD=4.35, 95%CI 1.88 to 6.82, P=0.000 6) were significantly thicker in the mild to moderate OSAS group compared with the severe OSAS group. In terms of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, the severe OSAS group showed a significantly larger FAZ area (MD=0.06, 95%CI 0.03 to 0.08, P<0.000 01) compared with the healthy group. Conclusion OCTA-related ocular biomarkers may be associated with the occurrence and progression of OSAS and have potential applications in the diagnosis and treatment of OSAS.
ObjectiveTo compare the short- and long-term efficacy of artery-first approach pancreatico-duodenectomy (AF-PD) and standard approach pancreaticoduodenectomy (S-PD).MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CBM, WanFang, and CNKI databases were searched, relevant literatures were included, and relevant data were extracted for meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 30 articles were included, including 2 750 cases underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. The results of meta-analysis showed that in terms of short-term efficacy when compared with S-PD group, the AF-PD group had less intraoperative blood loss (WMD=–175.87, P<0.001), lower intraoperative blood transfusion rate (OR=0.36, P=0.002), higher R0 resection rate (OR=1.83, P<0.001), lower postoperative pancreatic leakage rate (OR=0.71, P=0.005), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (WMD=–2.69, P=0.007). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the operation time and overall postoperative complication rate between the two groups (P>0.05). In terms of long-term efficacy when compared with S-PD group, the AF-PD group had lower tumor local recurrence rate (OR=0.43, P=0.004) and tumor liver metastasis rate (OR=0.60, P=0.010), but had higher 1-year (OR=1.95, P=0.007), 2-year (OR=2.04, P<0.001), 3-year (OR=2.09, P=0.001), and 5-year (OR=2.06, P=0.003) overall survival rates, and there were no significant differences in the rates of lung metastasis and peritoneal metastasis between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionsAF-PD is better than S-PD in some short-term and long-term outcome indicators such as R0 resection rate, pancreatic leakage rate, overall survival rate, and so on. However, due to the limited quality of the included literatures, more high-quality studies are still needed to verify in the future.
Network meta-analyses (NMA) of survival data often rely on the proportional hazards (PH) assumption, however, this assumption fails when survival curves intersect. With the emergence of innovative therapies such as immunotherapy, the importance of NMA based on non-proportional hazards (non-PH) in the current evidence-based medicine evaluation of oncology drugs has become increasingly prominent. Fractional polynomial (FP) models do not rely on the assumption of PH, which can flexibly capture the characteristics of survival curves, and the corresponding fitting effects are better than those of the PH models. This study introduced a complete workflow in R for NMA using FP models with non-PH.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rifampicin plus pyrazinamide versus isoniazid for prevention of tuberculosis among persons with or without HIV-infection respectively. Methord Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials(RCT) and quasi-randomized controlled trials(quasi RCT) that compared rifampicin plus pyrazinamide for 2-3 months with isoniazid for 6-12 months. Endpoints were development of active tuberculosis, severe adverse effects, and death. Treatment effects were summarized as risk difference (RD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Three trials conducted in HIV-infected patients and 3 trials conducted in HIV-uninfected persons were identified. The rates of tuberculosis in the rifampicin plus pyrazinamide group were similar to that in the isoniazid group, whether the subjects were HIV-infected patients or not (for HIV-infected patients: pooled RD= 0%, 95%CI: -1% to 2%, P=0.89; for HIV-uninfected persons: pooled RD=0%, 95%CI: -2% to 1%, P=0.55). There was no difference in mortality between the two treatment groups (for HIV-infected patients: pooled RD=-1%, 95%CI: -4% to 2%, P=0.53; for HIV-uninfected persons: pooled RD=0%, 95%CI: -1% to 1%, P=1.00). However, both subgroup analyses showed that a higher incidence of all severe adverse events was associated with rifampicin plus pyrazinamide than isoniazid among HIV-uninfected persons (one: RD=29%, 95%CI: 13% to 46%; P=0.000 5; another: RD=7%, 95%CI: 4% to 10%; Plt;0.000 1). Conclusion Rifampicin plus pyrazinamide is equivalent to isoniazid in terms of efficacy and mortality in the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. However, this regimen increases risk of severe adverse effects compared with isoniazid in HIV-uninfected persons.
This is the seventh paper in the evidence-based medicine glossary series. In this paper, We mainlyintroduced five terms related to meta-analysis——prospective meta-analysis, individual patient data meta-analysis,cumulative meta-analysis, multiple-treatments meta-analysis and meta regression.We also gave some examples to helpreaders better understand and use them.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the survival results of surgical resection (SR) and CT-guided percutaneous ablation (PA) for stageⅠnon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang databases from inception to June 2021 were searched to collect comparative studies on the survival results between SR and CT-guided PA treatment for stageⅠNSCLC. RevMan 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis of data.ResultsA total of 3 114 patients were included in 11 studies. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with the PA group, the SR group had a higher 2-year postoperative overall survival (OS) rate (OR=1.44, 95%CI 1.00-2.06, P=0.05), 3-year postoperative OS rate (OR=2.37, 95%CI 1.47-3.81, P<0.001), 5-year OS rate (OR=1.64, 95%CI 1.19-2.28, P<0.01), 5-year progression-free survival rate after operation (OR=2.43, 95%CI 1.54-3.82, P<0.001) and lower local recurrence rate (OR=0.26, 95%CI 0.13-0.54, P<0.001). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of 1-year postoperative OS rate, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year tumor-related survival rates, 1-year, 2-year tumor-free survival rates, or distant postoperative recurrence rate (P>0.05).ConclusionFor patients with stageⅠNSCLC with optimal basic conditions, surgery is a more appropriate treatment. For patients who cannot withstand surgical injuries or refuse surgery, CT-guided PA is also a potential alternative treatment. However, this conclusion needs to be verified by prospective controlled trials with larger sample sizes and a more rigorous design.
Objective To systematically review the relationship between preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and prognosis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods Studies on the relationship between preoperative PLR and prognosis of PDAC patients were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP, SinoMed, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, with a search period from databases establishment to December 2023. A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 7 studies were included, including 1273 patients. The meta-analysis results showed that the postoperative overall survival [hazard ratio (HR)=1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.24, 2.30)] and disease-free survival [HR=1.83, 95%CI (1.49, 2.24)] of PDAC patients with high preoperative PLR were shortened (P<0.05). The results of subgroup analysis showed that when the cut off of PLR was<200, preoperative high PLR was associated with shortened overall survival (HR=1.91, P<0.05), but when the cut off of PLR was ≥200, there was no significant correlation between preoperative PLR and overall survival (P>0.05). When followed up for<3 years, preoperative high PLR was associated with shortened overall survival (HR=2.05, P<0.05), but when followed up for ≥3 years, there was no significant correlation between preoperative PLR and overall survival (P>0.05). Conclusion Current evidence suggests that preoperative high PLR may be a risk factor for poor prognosis in PDAC patients.
Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a statistical technique that integrates data from multiple clinical studies and compares the efficacy and safety of multiple interventions, which can provide pro and con ranking results for all intervention options in the evidence network and provide direct evidence support for clinical decision-making. At present, NMA is usually based on the aggregation of the same type of data set, and there are still methodological and software difficulties in achieving cross-study design and cross-data format data set merging. The crossnma package of R programming language is based on Bayesian framework and Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, extending the three-level hierarchical model to the standard NMA data model to achieve differential merging of varied data types. The crossnma package fully considers the impact of risk bias caused by the combination of different types of data on the results by introducing model variables. In addition, the package provides functions such as result output and easy graphing, which makes it possible to combine NMA across study designs and evidence across data formats. In this study, the model based on crossnma package method and software operation will be demonstrated and explained through the examples of four individual participant datasets and two aggregate datasets.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between four classic inflammatory biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), IL (interleukin family), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve replacement (VR) surgeries.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBase, the Cochrane Library, Ovid, Chinese Journal Full-text Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP database and WanFang database from the inception to April 2020. Studies on the relationship between POAF and the above four inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed. Two researchers independently reviewed the literature, extracted data and evaluated the quality of the literature. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 47 articles were included, covering 10 711 patients. The levels of preoperative CRP (SMD=0.38, 95%CI 0.14-0.62, Z=3.12, P=0.002) and postoperative CRP (SMD=0.40, 95%CI 0.06-0.74, Z=2.33, P=0.02), IL-6 (SMD=1.34, 95%CI 0.98-1.70, Z=7.26, P<0.001) and TNF-α (SMD=?0.33, 95%CI ?0.65-?0.01, Z=2.02, P=0.040) were related to POAF, while preoperative IL-8 (SMD=?0.05, 95%CI ?0.28-0.18, Z=0.42, P=0.68) and TNF-α (SMD=?0.43, 95%CI ?1.22-0.36, Z=1.07, P=0.28), postoperative WBC (WMD=1.16, 95%CI ?0.09-2.42, Z=1.82, P=0.07) and IL-10 (SMD=0.21, 95%CI ?0.35-0.77, Z=0.73, P=0.46) were not related to POAF. The relationships between preoperative WBC and IL-10, postoperative IL-8 and POAF were inclusive, which needed further verification. Furthermore, the relationship between postoperative CRP and POAF were not consistent, as they were not significantly correlated in sub-group analysis.ConclusionThe inflammatory substrate before the surgery and inflammatory reaction induced by the operation is related to the occurrence and maintenance of POAF. Compared with preoperative inflammatory status, postoperative inflammatory factors may have a greater predictive value for POAF. Preoperative CRP, postoperative IL-6 and TNF-α levels are reliable biomarkers of POAF.
ObjectiveTo systematically review efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) on patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data, and CNKI were searched online to collect the randomized controlled trials or cohort studies of EUS-BD versus PTBD on the patients with malignant obstructive jaundice from inception to November 30, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened the literatures, extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias of included the studies, then the meta-analysis was performed by using the RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsThree randomized controlled trials and 6 cohort studies involving 496 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: compared with the PTBD, the EUS-BD had the lower occurrence of complications [OR=0.30, 95% CI (0.20, 0.47), P<0.000 01], lower rate of reintervention [OR=0.11, 95% CI (0.06, 0.22), P<0.000 01], shorter hospital stay [MD=–3.42, 95% CI (–6.72, –0.13), P=0.04], and less hospital costs [SMD=–0.83, 95% CI (–1.16, –0.49), P<0.000 01]. There were no significant differences in the technical success rate [OR=0.88, 95% CI (0.20, 3.85), P=0.86] and clinical effective rate [OR=1.73, 95% CI (0.97, 3.11), P=0.06] between the two groups.ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that EUS-BD has some advantages of lower occurrence of complications, lower rate of reintervention, shorter hospital stay, and less hospital costs in treatment of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice as compared with PTBD. There are no significant differences between two groups in technical success rate and clinical effective rate. Due to limited quality and quantity of included studies, more high quality studies required to be verified above conclusions.