Examining Bias in Published Surgical Glaucoma Clinical Trials.

Prcis: Our results demonstrate that, among randomized clinical trials examining the use of surgical treatments for glaucoma, the majority were not registered. Publication bias (PB) was less likely. More than a third of registered trials presented outcome reporting bias (ORB).

Association between alcohol consumption and DNA methylation in blood: a systematic review of observational studies.

We systematically reviewed and evaluated current literature on alcohol consumption and DNA methylation (DNAm) at the genome-wide and probe-wise level in blood of adults. Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycInfo) were searched until 20 December 2020. Studies assessing the effect of alcohol dependence on DNAm were not eligible.

Anxiety disorders in patients with noncardiac chest pain: association with health-related quality of life and chest pain severity.

Background: Patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) report more severe symptoms and lowered health-related quality of life when they present with comorbid panic disorder (PD). Although generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the second most common psychiatric disorder in these patients, its impact on NCCP and health-related quality of life remains understudied. This study describes and prospectively compares patients with NCCP with or without PD or GAD in terms of (1) NCCP severity; and (2) the physical and mental components of health-related quality of life.

Job strain and effort-reward imbalance as risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the available data on prospective associations between work-related stressors and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adult workers, according to the demand-control-support (DCS) and the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) models.

Method: We searched for prospective studies in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, CINHAL and PsychInfo. After screening and extraction, quality of evidence was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool adapted for observational studies.

Effect of laser pulse shaping on photoacoustic dosimetry in retinal models.

Photoacoustic sensing can be a powerful technique to obtain real-time feedback of laser energy dose in treatments of biological tissue. However, when laser therapy uses pulses with microsecond duration, they are not optimal for photoacoustic pressure wave generation. This study examines a programmable fiber laser technique using pulse modulation in order to optimize the photoacoustic feedback signal to noise ratio (SNR) in a context where longer laser pulses are employed, such as in selective retinal therapy.

Epigenome-wide DNA methylation and risk of breast cancer: a systematic review.

Background: DNA methylation is a potential biomarker for early detection of breast cancer. However, robust evidence of a prospective relationship between DNA methylation patterns and breast cancer risk is still lacking. The objective of this study is to provide a systematic analysis of the findings of epigenome-wide DNA methylation studies on breast cancer risk, in light of their methodological strengths and weaknesses.

Association Between BMI and DNA Methylation in Blood or Normal Adult Breast Tissue: A Systematic Review.

Background/aim: Several studies have investigated the influence of obesity on DNA methylation (DNAm) to find biomarkers associated with the detection of chronic diseases, including breast cancer. The aim of the study was to systematically review studies examining the association of body mass index (BMI) and DNAm in blood or normal breast tissue.

Materials And Methods: Three scientific literature databases (PubMed, Embase and Web of Science) were screened until May 2018.

Wage losses among spouses of women with nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the wage losses incurred by spouses of women with nonmetastatic breast cancer in the 6 months after the diagnosis.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of spouses of women diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer who were recruited in 8 hospitals in the province of Quebec (Canada) was performed. Information for estimating wage losses was collected by telephone interviews conducted 1 and 6 months after the diagnosis.

Effect of personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) on older adults' health and social participation: study protocol for a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Introduction: The challenges of global ageing and the growing burden of chronic diseases require innovative interventions acting on health determinants like social participation. Many older adults do not have equitable opportunities to achieve full social participation, and interventions might underempower their personal and environmental resources and only reach a minority. To optimise current practices, the (APIC), an intervention demonstrated as being feasible and having positive impacts, needs further evaluation.

Effect of interrupting free healthcare for children: Drawing lessons at the critical moment of national scale-up in Burkina Faso.

With solid evidence that free healthcare increases the utilization of health services, Burkina Faso recently exempted all children under five and pregnant women from direct payment at health facilities. However, there is little insight into the capacity to maintain the gains attributable to free healthcare under routine conditions of implementation at the national scale. In particular, the repercussions of its interruption are unknown.

Concordance of HER2 Immunohistochemistry and Fluorescence Hybridization Using Tissue Microarray in Breast Cancer.

Aim: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are common methods for assessment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: In a cohort of 498 consecutive patients with breast cancer, we examined concordance between IHC and FISH for HER2 on tissue microarray (TMA) sections. In a subset of 116 specimens, we examined HER2 concordance from the block used for diagnostics and a randomly-chosen additional block (a proxy of the core biopsy).

Psychosocial work factors and social inequalities in psychological distress: a population-based study.

Background: Mental health problems (MHP) are the leading cause of disability worldwide. The inverse association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and MHP has been well documented. There is prospective evidence that factors from the work environment, including adverse psychosocial work factors, could contribute to the development of MHP including psychological distress.

Tissue Microarray Is a Reliable Tool for the Evaluation of HER2 Amplification in Breast Cancer.

Aim: We examined an economical method for evaluating the amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene in breast cancer specimens.

Materials And Methods: We compared HER2 amplification determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on whole-tissue (WT) blocks used for diagnostic and on tissue microarray (TMA) sections for a cohort of 521 consecutive patients with breast cancer. In a subset of 116 patients, we examined HER2 concordance from the WT section and a TMA section from a randomly chosen additional block (a proxy of the core biopsy).

Adiposity, breast density, and breast cancer risk: epidemiological and biological considerations.

Excess total body fat and abdominal adipose tissue are recognized risk factors for metabolic diseases but also for some types of cancers, including breast cancer. Several biological mechanisms in connection with local and systemic effects of adiposity are believed to be implicated in breast cancer development, and may involve breast fat. Breast adipose tissue can be studied through mammography by looking at breast density features such as the nondense area mainly composed of fat, or the percent breast density, which is the proportion of fibroglandular tissue in relation to fat.

Validation of EP1 Antibody Clone for Estrogen Receptor Immunohistochemistry for Breast Cancer.

Background: SP1 Rabbit monoclonal antibody to estrogen receptor (ER) has long been the standard for determination of ER status in breast cancer but has been replaced by the rabbit EP1 clone.

Aim: To validate the EP1 antibody clone for use in determination of breast cancer ER status in a large clinical population against the previous standard SP1.

Materials And Methods: ER immunohistochemistry was assessed in 523 consecutive cases from a clinical setting using tissue microarrays.

Anthropometric factors, adult weight gain, and mammographic features.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between anthropometric factors, weight gain during adulthood, and mammographic features among 1,435 women recruited at screening mammography.

Methods: Spearman's partial coefficients were used to evaluate the correlation of anthropometric factors with mammographic features (percent density, absolute dense area, and non-dense area). Multivariate generalized linear models were used to evaluate the associations between weight change categories and mammographic features.

Domestic Larval Control Practices and Malaria Prevalence among Under-Five Children in Burkina Faso.

Introduction: Larval source management has contributed to malaria decline over the past years. However, little is known about the impact of larval control practices undertaken at the household level on malaria transmission.

Methods: The study was conducted in Kaya health district after the 2010 mass distribution of insecticide treated-nets and the initiation of malaria awareness campaigns in Burkina Faso.

Abolishing Fees at Health Centers in the Context of Community Case Management of Malaria: What Effects on Treatment-Seeking Practices for Febrile Children in Rural Burkina Faso?

Introduction: Burkina Faso started nationwide community case management of malaria (CCMm) in 2010. In 2011, health center user fees for children under five were abolished in some districts.

Objective: To assess the effects of concurrent implementation of CCMm and user fees abolition on treatment-seeking practices for febrile children.

Utilization of community health workers for malaria treatment: results from a three-year panel study in the districts of Kaya and Zorgho, Burkina Faso.

Background: Malaria is holo-endemic in Burkina Faso and causes approximately 40,000 deaths every year. In 2010, health authorities scaled up community case management of malaria with artemisinin-based combination therapy. Previous trials and pilot project evaluations have shown that this strategy may be feasible, acceptable, and effective under controlled implementation conditions.

Feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of decision boxes on shared decision-making processes.

Background: Decision boxes (DBoxes) are two-page evidence summaries to prepare clinicians for shared decision making (SDM). We sought to assess the feasibility of a clustered Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to evaluate their impact.

Methods: A convenience sample of clinicians (nurses, physicians and residents) from six primary healthcare clinics who received eight DBoxes and rated their interest in the topic and satisfaction.

Retinal neurons curb inflammation and enhance revascularization in ischemic retinopathies via proteinase-activated receptor-2.

Ischemic retinopathies are characterized by sequential vaso-obliteration followed by abnormal intravitreal neovascularization predisposing patients to retinal detachment and blindness. Ischemic retinopathies are associated with robust inflammation that leads to generation of IL-1β, which causes vascular degeneration and impairs retinal revascularization in part through the liberation of repulsive guidance cue semaphorin 3A (Sema3A). However, retinal revascularization begins as inflammation culminates in ischemic retinopathies.

Retinal function assessment of trypan blue versus indocyanine green assisted internal limiting membrane peeling during macular hole surgery.

Objective: To compare multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) retinal function and the anatomical and visual outcomes of macular hole surgery performed with indocyanine green (ICG) or trypan blue (TB).

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Participants: Twenty-five eyes of 24 patients.

Bevacizumab and ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a treatment approach based on individual patient needs.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab and ranibizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration using an as-needed treatment regimen.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Participants: One hundred and ninety two eyes of 184 patients.

Transconjunctival suturing of the scleral flap for overfiltration with hypotony maculopathy after trabeculectomy.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of transconjunctival suturing of the scleral flap in improving hypotony maculopathy resulting from overfiltration after trabeculectomy.

Design: Retrospective review.

Participants: 35 eyes of 33 patients.