Meta-DiSc 2.0: a web application for meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy data.

Background: Diagnostic evidence of the accuracy of a test for identifying a target condition of interest can be estimated using systematic approaches following standardized methodologies. Statistical methods for the meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies are relatively complex, presenting a challenge for reviewers without extensive statistical expertise. In 2006, we developed Meta-DiSc, a free user-friendly software to perform test accuracy meta-analysis.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction Persists in the First Week after Re-Warming following Therapeutic Hypothermia for Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess serial myocardial function in newborn infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia (TH) as treatment for moderate to severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Methods: Serial echocardiography was performed in 20 term infants receiving TH on days 1-3 and again after re-warming. Left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening, LV cardiac output, and tissue Doppler imaging-derived myocardial velocities and myocardial performance index were measured.

A Predictive Model and Risk Factors for Case Fatality of COVID-19.

This study aimed to create an individualized analysis model of the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients as a tool for the rapid clinical management of hospitalized patients in order to achieve a resilience of medical resources. This is an observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up. Data were collected from the medical records of 3489 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using RT-qPCR in the period of highest community transmission recorded in Europe to date: February-June 2020.

New measures improved the reporting of heterogeneity in diagnostic test accuracy reviews: a metaepidemiological study.

Objectives: To describe the methods used to quantify heterogeneity and to propose alternative measures to improve reporting of heterogeneity in Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) reviews.

Study Design And Setting: Our metaepidemiological study included all DTA reviews in the Cochrane Library up to October 6th, 2019. We summarized reviews' characteristics focusing on heterogeneity analysis.

Female under-representation in sepsis studies: a bibliometric analysis of systematic reviews and guidelines.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess female representation in primary studies underpinning recommendations from clinical guidelines and systematic reviews for sepsis treatment in adults.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted a bibliometric study. We removed studies pertaining to sex-specific diseases and included quasirandomized, randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and observational studies.

Does low-dose aspirin initiated before 11 weeks' gestation reduce the rate of preeclampsia?

Objective Data: Preconception or early administration of low-dose aspirin might improve endometrial growth, placental vascularization, and organogenesis. Most studies have evaluated the potential benefit of preconception or early administration of low-dose aspirin in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss, women who have undergone in vitro fertilization, or women with thrombophilia or antiphospholipid syndrome. These women are at an increased risk of placenta-associated complications of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and fetal growth restriction.

Buffered solutions versus 0.9% saline for resuscitation in critically ill adults and children.

Background: Fluid therapy is one of the main interventions provided for critically ill patients, although there is no general consensus regarding the type of solution. Among crystalloid solutions, 0.9% saline is the most commonly administered.

Correction: The Use of International Classification of Diseases Codes to Identify Patients with Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies.

The original version of this Article presented incorrect information for citation 50. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article. Petrov, M.

The Use of International Classification of Diseases Codes to Identify Patients with Pancreatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies.

Background: Hospital discharge codes are increasingly used in gastroenterology research, but their accuracy in the setting of acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), one of the most frequent digestive diseases, has never been assessed systematically. The aim was to conduct a systematic literature review and determine accuracy of diagnostic codes for AP and CP, as well as the effect of covariates.

Methods: Three databases (Pubmed, EMBASE and Scopus) were searched by two independent reviewers for relevant studies that used International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes.

Pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart defects.

Background: Health outcomes are improved when newborn babies with critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) are detected before acute cardiovascular collapse. The main screening tests used to identify these babies include prenatal ultrasonography and postnatal clinical examination; however, even though both of these methods are available, a significant proportion of babies are still missed. Routine pulse oximetry has been reported as an additional screening test that can potentially improve detection of CCHD.

Chronotherapy versus conventional statins therapy for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia.

Background: Elevated levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein play an important role in the development of atheromas and, therefore, in cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol biosynthesis follows a circadian rhythm and is principally produced at night (between 12:00 am and 6:00 am). The adjustment of hypolipaemic therapy to biologic rhythms is known as chronotherapy.

Buffered Solutions Versus Isotonic Saline for Resuscitation in Nonsurgical Critically Ill: Protocol for Cochrane Review.

Fluid resuscitation is one of the most prevalent treatment in critical care. There is not definitive evidence about the best fluid for resuscitation. The aim of this review will be to asses the efficacy and safety of buffered solution versus saline.

Variation in outcome reporting in endometriosis trials: a systematic review.

Objective: We reviewed the outcomes and outcome measures reported in randomized controlled trials and their relationship with methodological quality, year of publication, commercial funding, and journal impact factor.

Data Sources: We searched the following sources: (1) Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, (2) Embase, and (3) MEDLINE from inception to November 2014.

Study Eligibility: We included all randomized controlled trials evaluating a surgical intervention with or without a medical adjuvant therapy for the treatment of endometriosis symptoms.

Ivermectin versus albendazole or thiabendazole for Strongyloides stercoralis infection.

Background: Strongyloidiasis is a gut infection with Strongyloides stercoralis which is common world wide. Chronic infection usually causes a skin rash, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, and respiratory problems, and it can be fatal in people with immune deficiency. It may be treated with ivermectin or albendazole or thiabendazole.

Reporting quality of survival analyses in medical journals still needs improvement. A minimal requirements proposal.

Objectives: We reviewed publications with two main objectives: to describe how survival analyses are reported across medical journal specialties and to evaluate changes in reporting across periods and journal specialties.

Study Design And Setting: Systematic review of clinical research articles published in 1991 and 2007, in 13 high-impact medical journals.

Results: The number of articles performing survival analysis published in 1991 (104) and 2007 (240) doubled (17% vs.

Utility of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody measurement in identifying patients with dermatomyositis and a high risk for developing rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease: a review of the literature and a meta-analysis.

Objective: To assess the utility of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) antibody measurement for predicting a risk for developing rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM).

Methods: A single-center cohort of 64 consecutive Chinese patients with PM/DM was examined. Serum anti-MDA5 antibody was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Very late initiation of HAART impairs treatment response at 48 and 96 weeks: results from a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with low CD4 lymphocyte counts is associated with AIDS-related and non-AIDS-related events and increased mortality. However, no clear association has been found with an increased rate of treatment failure.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis including randomized clinical trials of currently recommended HAART in naive patients to evaluate treatment response in very late starters (VLSs).

Magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative assessment of patients with primary breast cancer: systematic review of diagnostic accuracy and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting additional lesions and contralateral cancer not identified using conventional imaging in primary breast cancer.

Methods: We have conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses to estimate diagnostic accuracy indices and the impact of MRI on surgical management.

Results: Fifty articles were included (n = 10,811 women).

Dermoscopic features of skin lesions in patients with mastocytosis.

Objectives: To evaluate dermoscopic features in a group of 127 patients with mastocytosis in the skin and to investigate the relationship between different dermoscopic patterns and other clinical and biological characteristics of the disease.

Design: Clinical and laboratory data were compared among patients with mastocytosis grouped according to the different dermoscopic patterns.

Setting: Patients were selected from the Instituto de Estudios de Mastocitosis de Castilla La Mancha and the Department of Dermatology of Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal from April 1 through September 30, 2009.

Abdominal palpation to determine fetal position at labor onset: a test accuracy study.

Objective: To examine the accuracy of abdominal palpation for identifying left-occipito-anterior (LOA) fetal position using abdominal ultrasound as the reference standard.

Design: Classical test accuracy study undertaken in 2005-2007.

Setting: Birmingham Women's Foundation NHS Trust serving a large, socio-economically and ethnically varied population.

Catastrophizing, state anxiety, anger, and depressive symptoms do not correlate with disability when variations of trait anxiety are taken into account. a study of chronic low back pain patients treated in Spanish pain units [NCT00360802].

Objectives: To assess the influence of pain severity, catastrophizing, anger, anxiety, and depression on nonspecific low back pain (LBP)-related disability in Spanish patients with chronic LBP. Study Design.  Cross-sectional correlation between psychological variables and disability.