Comparison of the immunogenicity of a monovalent influenza A/H1N1 2009 vaccine between healthy individuals, patients with chronic renal failure, and immunocompromised populations.

Background: Data on the immunogenicity (IG) of the influenza vaccine among patients at high risk of influenza-related complication are limited.

Methods: We studied the antibody titer following a single dose of monovalent 2009 influenza A (H1N1) vaccine between groups of adult patients who were healthy, those with chronic renal failure (CRF), kidney transplant (KT) recipients, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The IG (primary endpoints) was accessed at 4 weeks after vaccination.

Risk prediction score for death of traumatised and injured children.

Background: Injury prediction scores facilitate the development of clinical management protocols to decrease mortality. However, most of the previously developed scores are limited in scope and are non-specific for use in children. We aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model of death for injured and Traumatised Thai children.

Causal relationship between the AHSG gene and BMD through fetuin-A and BMI: multiple mediation analysis.

Unlabelled: Using mediation analysis, a causal relationship between the AHSG gene and bone mineral density (BMD) through fetuin-A and body mass index (BMI) mediators was suggested.

Introduction: Fetuin-A, a multifunctional protein of hepatic origin, is associated with bone mineral density. It is unclear if this association is causal.

Maggot therapy for chronic ulcer: a retrospective cohort and a meta-analysis.

Background/objective: Maggot wound therapy (MWT) has been used in various wounds including diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, and acute surgical wounds. However, the efficacy of MWT therapy has been controversial. We therefore conducted a cohort study and a meta-analysis to assess MWT effects.

Comparison of superficial surgical site infection between delayed primary and primary wound closures in ruptured appendicitis.

Background: Delayed primary (DPC) and primary (PC) wound closures have been applied in ruptured appendicitis, but results were controversial. This study aims at comparing the rate of superficial surgical site infection (SSI) in ruptured appendicitis between DPC and PC.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of ruptured appendicitis was conducted between October 2006 and November 2009.

Disparity in motorcycle helmet use in Thailand.

The dispersion of motorcycle related injuries and deaths might be a result of disparity in motorcycle helmet use. This study uses national roadside survey data, injury sentinel surveillance data and other national data sets in 2010 of Thailand, a country with high mortality related to motorcycle injuries, to explore the disparity in helmet use, explanatory factors of the disparity. It also assessed potential agreement and correlation between helmet use rate reported by the roadside survey and the injury sentinel surveillance.

Meta-analysis of cytokine gene polymorphisms and outcome of heart transplantation.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with the aim of assessing the association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and graft rejection in heart transplantation. We identified relevant studies from Medline and Embase using PubMed and Ovid search engines, respectively. Allele frequencies and allele and genotypic effects were pooled.

Hemoglobin concentration and pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of hemoglobin effect on the pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and SCOPUS from January 1, 1990 to April 10, 2011. Observational studies addressing association between hemoglobin and adverse pregnancy outcomes were selected.

Meta-analysis of hypercoagulability genetic polymorphisms in Perthes disease.

Perthes disease is an osteonecrosis of the femoral epiphysis with unclear etiology. This study aimed to systematically review the association between genetic determinants of hypercoagulability (Factor V Leiden, prothrombin II, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; MTHFR) and Perthes disease. PubMed and Scopus searched from inception to January 2012, data extraction and quality assessment were performed.

Causal relationship between body mass index and fetuin-A level in the asian population: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: Fetuin-A is associated with body mass index (BMI) as well as components of the metabolic syndrome. However, it is unclear if fetuin-A affects BMI or the other way around. We therefore assessed the causal association between fetuin-A and BMI or vice versa, utilizing a bidirectional Mendelian randomization approach.

Efficacy of intravesical chondroitin sulphate in treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS): Individual patient data (IPD) meta-analytical approach.

Background: Raw data from 3 similar clinical trials were analyzed in this individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis to define any possible efficacy of intravesical 2% chondroitin sulphate in IC/BPS.

Methods: We pooled IPD from an open label and 2 small randomized placebo controlled trials assessing chondroitin sulphate in IC/BPS (similar inclusion/exclusion criteria, treatment, outcome assessment). Our primary objective was to compare rates of global response assessment (GRA) responsiveness between chondroitin sulphate and vehicle control.

Risk factors of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The etiology of breast cancer might be explained by 2 mechanisms, namely, differentiation and proliferation of breast epithelial cells mediated by hormonal factors. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to update effects of risk factors for both mechanisms. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to January 2011.

The efficacy of calcium supplementation alone in elderly Thai women over a 2-year period: a randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: Supplementation with elemental calcium 500 mg/day alone for 2 years is able to decrease bone turnover and is effective in retarding bone loss at lumbar spine and slowing bone loss at femoral neck in elderly Thai women who had low dietary calcium intake.

Introduction: Most elderly Thais have a total dietary calcium intake of less than the recommended amount. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density and biochemical indices of bone remodeling in Thai postmenopausal women.

Efficacy of Mitomycin C for postoperative endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Mitomycin C has recently been used to prevent nasal synechiae and sinus ostium stenosis after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objective Of Review: To compare nasal synechiae rate between topical Mitomycin C and saline or no treatment.

Type Of Review: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Survival advantage of kidney transplantation over dialysis in patients with hepatitis C: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The clinical outcomes of hepatitis C infection in kidney transplantation and maintenance dialysis patients remain controversial. Here, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed at comparing 5-year mortality rates between waiting list and kidney transplantation patients with hepatitis C infections.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, and Scopus databases published since inception to June 2011 and found nine studies with 1734 patients who were eligible for pooling.

Prognostic factors of all-cause mortalities in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: a cohort study.

Background: The role of small solute clearance on mortalities in patients with CAPD has been controversial. We therefore conducted a study with 3 years' follow up in adult patients who participated in the CAPD-first policy.

Methods: There were 11,523 patients with end-stage renal disease who participated in the CAPD-first policy between 2008 and 2011.

The association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and graft rejection in liver transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We investigated the contribution of polymorphisms in cytokine genes (TNFa-308, IL10-1082 and -592, TGFb1-c10 and c25, and IFNg+874) on the risk of graft rejection in liver transplantation. We performed a systematic review by identifying relevant studies and applied meta-analysis to pool gene effects. In total, 12 studies were eligible and included in the study.

Serum oncofetal fibronectin (onfFN) mRNA in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC): large overlap between disease-free and metastatic patients.

Aim: This study assessed if onfFN mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DTC can identify individuals with metastatic disease.

Methods: Comparison of onfFN mRNA was made among 3 groups: disease-free, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis using real-time RT-PCR on 5 ml blood samples from each DTC patient.

Results: Fifty-one patients were included: 30 (59%) were disease-free; 7 (13.

Causal inference of the effect of adiposity on bone mineral density in adults.

Objective: The causal effect of adipose tissue on bone mass and the direction of its net influence have not been directly assessed in adult humans. Using the Mendelian randomization analysis, we assessed the causality of adiposity in measurements of bone mass in adult males and females.

Design And Methods: Subjects consisted of 2154 adults aged 25-54 years from a cross-sectional cohort of the employees of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of safety of laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis in pregnancy.

Background: Laparoscopic appendicectomy has gained wide acceptance as an alternative to open appendicectomy during pregnancy. However, data regarding the safety and optimal surgical approach to appendicitis in pregnancy are still controversial.

Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing laparoscopic and open appendicectomy in pregnancy identified using PubMed and Scopus search engines from January 1990 to July 2011.

Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and low bone mineral density in elderly Thai nursing home residents.

Background: Numerous emerging data from research on osteoporosis among Asians found differences from Caucasians. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and osteoporosis in elderly participants from two nursing homes in Thailand, a country located near the equator.

Methods: The subjects of this cross-sectional study comprised 93 elderly Thai women who were living in institutional long-term nursing homes for the aged.

The association between complement component 2/complement factor B polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration: a HuGE review and meta-analysis.

The authors performed a systematic review of the association of complement component 2(C2)/complement factor B (CFB) gene polymorphisms with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In total, data from 19 studies published between 2006 and 2011 were pooled for 4 polymorphisms: rs9332739 and rs547154 in the C2 gene and rs4151667 and rs641153 in the CFB gene. Data extraction and assessments for risk of bias were independently performed by 2 reviewers.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing endovenous ablation and surgical intervention in patients with varicose vein.

Objectives And Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to compare clinical outcomes between endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) and surgery.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and Scopus from 2000 to August 2011 to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing EVLA, RFA, UGFS, and surgery or combinations of these for treatment of varicoses. Differences in clinical outcomes were expressed as pooled risk ratio and unstandardised mean difference for dichotomous and continuous outcomes, respectively.

α-blockers, antibiotics and anti-inflammatories have a role in the management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Unlabelled: Study Type - Therapy (systematic review) Level of Evidence 1a. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Individual clinical trials evaluating antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and α-blockers for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome have shown only modest or even no benefits for patients compared with placebo, yet we continue to use these agents in selected patients with some success in clinical practice. This network meta-analysis of current evidence from all available randomized placebo-controlled trials with similar inclusion criteria and outcome measures shows that these '3-As' of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome treatment (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and α-blockers) do offer benefits to some patients, particularly if we use them strategically in selected individuals.