Inappropriate Evaluation of Effect Modifications Based on Categorical Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Our meta-epidemiological study aimed to describe the prevalence of reporting effect modification only on relative scale outcomes and inappropriate interpretations of the coefficient of interaction terms in nonlinear models on categorical outcomes. Our study targeted articles published in the top 10 high-impact-factor journals between 1 January and 31 December 2021. We included two-arm, parallel-group, interventional superiority randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of modifications on categorical outcomes.

Efficacy of Telemedicine Using Videoconferencing Systems in Outpatient Care for Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of telemedicine (TM) using videoconferencing systems in outpatient care for patients with cancer.

Methods: We searched six electronic databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov) through June 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of TM using videoconferencing systems compared with usual face-to-face care in outpatient care for patients with cancer.

Early corticosteroid dose tapering in patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Although corticosteroid therapy with dose tapering is the most commonly used treatment for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF), there is no consensus on the tapering regimen. This study aimed to investigate the association between early corticosteroid dose tapering and in-hospital mortality in patients with AE-IPF.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the data of a cohort from eight Japanese tertiary care hospitals and routinely collected administrative data from a cohort from 185 Japanese hospitals.

Lack of clinical evidence of antiviral therapy for human monkeypox: A scoping review.

Since May 2022, many human monkeypox cases have been reported from non-endemic countries. This systematic review aimed to evaluate and summarize the existing research on the efficacy and safety of tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir for patients with monkeypox. We searched studies that reported the efficacy and adverse events of tecovirimat, brincidofovir, or cidofovir for patients with human monkeypox in several databases including preprint servers.

Unclear Insomnia Concept in Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Reviews: A Meta-Epidemiological Study.

There are two possible ways to conceptualize the term "insomnia": insomnia disorder and insomnia symptoms, which are often poorly reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the proportion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) that mention insomnia in their abstracts and cannot distinguish between insomnia disorder and insomnia symptoms from the abstract. We included RCT and SR articles that included the word "insomnia" in the methods or results sections of their structured abstracts, published after 2010.

Medical student medium-term skill retention following cardiac point-of-care ultrasound training based on the American Society of Echocardiography curriculum framework.

Background: No studies have demonstrated medium- or long-term skill retention of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum for medical student. Based on the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) curriculum framework, we developed a blended-learning cardiac POCUS curriculum with competency evaluation. The objective of this study was to investigate the curriculum impact on image acquisition skill retention 8 weeks after initial training.

Electromagnetic-guided versus endoscopic-guided postpyloric placement of nasoenteral feeding tubes.

Background: For people who are malnourished and unable to consume food by mouth, nasoenteral feeding tubes are commonly used for the administration of liquid food and drugs. Postpyloric placement is when the tip of the feeding tube is placed beyond the pylorus, in the small intestine.  Endoscopic-guided placement of postpyloric feeding tubes is the most common approach.

Proposed clinical phases for the improvement of personalized treatment of checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis.

Background: Checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP) is a lethal immune-related adverse event. However, the development process of CIP, which may provide insight into more effective management, has not been extensively examined.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of 56 patients who developed CIP.

Comparative efficacy of sedation or analgesia methods for reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous sedation (IVS), intraarticular anesthetic injection (IAA), and peripheral nerve block (PNB) as sedation or analgesia methods for the reduction of anterior shoulder dislocation.

Methods: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing different sedation or analgesia methods for anterior shoulder dislocation reduction. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.

Effectiveness of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in preventing pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to re-evaluate the effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) in the reduction of pneumonia risk. We searched relevant publications in five databases. All studies included patients older than 18 years, who had used ACE-I as an intervention, and had assessed pneumonia.

Development and external validation of a deep learning-based computed tomography classification system for COVID-19.

Background: We aimed to develop and externally validate a novel machine learning model that can classify CT image findings as positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Methods: We used 2,928 images from a wide variety of case-control type data sources for the development and internal validation of the machine learning model. A total of 633 COVID-19 cases and 2,295 non-COVID-19 cases were included in the study.

Inadequate reporting of adjudicators in open-label trials of anticancer drugs between 2017 and 2021: a methodological review.

Objectives: In open-label trials, the details of the adjudicators are essential to evaluate the risk of detection bias. We aimed to describe how the adjudicators of progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) have been reported in open-label trials of anticancer drugs.

Study Design And Setting: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE via PubMed.

Retracted randomized controlled trials were cited and not corrected in systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines.

Background And Objectives: To investigate whether and when the correction is done in Systematic Reviews (SRs) and Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) when included Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) have been retracted.

Methods: In this meta-epidemiological study, we included SRs and CPGs citing the retracted RCTs from the Retraction Watch Database. We investigated how often the retracted RCTs were cited in SRs and CPGs.

Prognostic value of serum high mobility group box 1 protein and histone H3 levels in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: We compared the prognostic value of serum high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and histone H3 levels with the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) scores for 28-day in-hospital mortality in patients with DIC caused by various underlying diseases.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study including two hematology departments, four emergency departments, and one general medicine department in Japan, between August 2017 and July 2021. We included patients diagnosed with DIC by the ISTH DIC scoring system.

Doppler trans-thoracic echocardiography for detection of pulmonary hypertension in adults.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, which leads to a substantial loss of exercise capacity. PH ultimately leads to right ventricular overload and subsequent heart failure and early death. Although early detection and treatment of PH are recommended, due to the limited responsiveness to therapy at late disease stages, many patients are diagnosed at a later stage of the disease because symptoms and signs of PH are nonspecific at earlier stages.

Influence of social isolation and loneliness on the prognosis of advanced lung cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of social isolation and loneliness on the overall survival and death at home in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a Japanese tertiary hospital. The enrollment period was from April 2018 to March 2020.

Integrated model for COVID-19 diagnosis based on computed tomography artificial intelligence, and clinical features: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: We developed and validated a machine learning diagnostic model for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, integrating artificial-intelligence-based computed tomography (CT) imaging and clinical features.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 11 Japanese tertiary care facilities that treated COVID-19 patients. Participants were tested using both real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and chest CTs between January 1 and May 30, 2020.

Efficacy of a meal sequence in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: This systematic review investigated the efficacy of a meal sequence, the carbohydrate-later meal pattern (CL), on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Research Design And Methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov until April 2020 to perform meta-analyses using random-effects models.

Most families tend to realize progress of Alzheimer's disease when behavioural and psychological symptoms are obvious.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common cognitive disease that can progress at an accelerating rate. Even with early diagnosis, the families might not recognize AD progressing unless behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) develop. In many cases, discrepancies could exist between family-assessed AD stage and diagnosed AD stage.