Method’s corner: Allergist’s guide to network meta-analysis

Network meta-analyses (NMAs) simultaneously estimate the effects of multiple possible treatment options for a given clinical presentation. For allergists to benefit optimally from NMAs, they must understand the process and be able to interpret the results. Through a worked example published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, we summarize how to identify credible NMAs and interpret them with a focus on recent innovations in the GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). NMAs build on traditional systematic reviews and meta-analyses that consider only direct paired comparisons by including indirect evidence, thus allowing the simultaneous assessment of the relative effect of all pairs of competing alternatives. Our framework informs clinicians of how to identify credible NMAs and address the certainty of the evidence. Trustworthy NMAs fill a critical gap in providing key inferences using direct and indirect evidence to inform clinical decision making when faced with more than two competing courses of treatment options. This document will help allergists to identify trustworthy NMAs to enhance patient care.     

子宫肌瘤微创手术中右美托咪定给药方式对比

目的探究右美托咪定不同给药方式在子宫肌瘤微创手术患者中的应用效果对比。方法选取于本院诊治的子宫肌瘤并进行微创手术的患者,分为两组,每组30例。第一组,单次注射组(SI组);第二组,持续注射组(CI组)。SI组和CI组患者在一般资料上差异无统计学意义。通过分析SI组和CI组患者心率、平均动脉压、应激反应相关指标、继发效应的差异性来探究右美托咪定不同给药方式在子宫肌瘤微创手术患者中的应用效果对比。结果在T0时间点,SI组和CI组患者心率、平均动脉压指标数据相近(P>0.05),在T1、T2时间点,SI组患者平均动脉压、心率等指标比CI组优良(P<0.05)。麻醉前,SI组和CI组患者应激反应相关指标数值相差较小(P>0.05),术后,SI组患者应激反应相关指标比CI组优良(P<0.05)。两组患者继发效应发生情况差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论右美托咪定在手术过程中麻醉效果显著,但单次注射的方法对患者的麻醉效果更佳,继发效应更少。     

Comparison of thromboelastometry by ROTEM® Delta and ROTEM® Sigma in women with postpartum haemorrhage

Haemostatic treatment in women experiencing postpartum haemorrhage is increasingly based on point-of-care devices such as ROTEM^® thromboelastometry. Recently, a fully automated successor of the ROTEM^® Delta device, the ROTEM^® Sigma was introduced. To determine whether these devices provide similar results, we compared ROTEM^® parameters using the ROTEM^® Delta and Sigma devices in women experiencing postpartum haemorrhage. Prospective observational cohort study of 23 women experiencing postpartum haemorrhage. ROTEM^® INTEM, EXTEM, FIBTEM and APTEM measurements handled by the ROTEM^® Delta and Sigma devices were compared. ROTEM^® FIBTEM values were also related to Clauss fibrinogen values. A correlation of Spearman’s r (r_s) varying between 0.76 and 0.95 was displayed between clot firmness measured in millimeters at 5 (A5), 10 (A10) and 20 (A20) minutes after start of clot formation measured by EXTEM, INTEM and APTEM assays executed on both devices; A5, A10 and A20 of FIBTEM correlated less well (r_S between 0.71 and 0.74), especially after five and ten minutes. Correlation between both devices regarding clotting time (CT) was poor. The observed correlation between levels of Clauss fibrinogen and FIBTEM A5 was r_s = 0.70, (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38 to 0.87) for Delta and r_s = 0.85, (CI 0.65 to 0.94) for Sigma. A5, A10 and A20 measured in EXTEM, INTEM and APTEM obtained from ROTEM^® Delta and Sigma devices were similar. EXTEM, FIBTEM and APTEM CT values from both devices showed no correlation. Substantial variation was found between FIBTEM assays of the devices. Consequently, results of FIBTEM assays should always be interpreted in the context of device-specific reference values. Correlation with Clauss fibrinogen was better in the ROTEM^® Sigma device.     

Enzalutamida y apalutamida en el tratamiento del cáncer de próstata no metastásico resistente a la castración: comparación indirecta de la eficacia

ObjectivesTo perform an adjusted indirect comparison of the efficacy of enzalutamide and apalutamide in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) with a high risk of progression to metastatic disease.Material and methodsAfter carrying out a literature search, we performed an adjusted indirect comparison (Bucher et al.) of the relative efficacy of enzalutamide and apalutamide in patients with nmCRPC with a high risk of progression to metastatic disease. The outcomes included were metastasis-free survival (MFS) and PSA response rate (PSARR).ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between enzalutamide and apalutamide regarding the analysed outcomes. For the comparison enzalutamide + ADT vs. apalutamide + ADT: MFS a HR (95% CI) = 1,036 (0.781-1.373) was obtained. For PSARR, a RR (95% CI) = 0.81 (0.339-1.938) was obtained.ConclusionsThe adjusted indirect comparison performed in this study shows that there are no statistically significant differences in terms of efficacy regarding MFS and PSARR between enzalutamide + ADT and apalutamide + ADT in patients with nmCRPC with a high risk of progression to metastatic disease. However, in order to confirm these results, an independent trial with direct comparison between both drugs would be required.     

Prognosis and complications of mature teeth after lateral luxation: A systematic review

BackgroundDental trauma injuries are frequent in children and adolescents and can result in a sequela of future complications. Lateral luxation injuries are diagnosed when a tooth becomes displaced in a position other than axial and is often associated with alveolar bone fracture. Although the tooth is not immediately lost, pulp canal obliteration or pulpal necrosis can occur. The objective of this systematic review was to gather existing data on lateral luxation injuries to mature teeth to evaluate their overall prognosis and reported complications.Types of Studies ReviewedThe authors conducted a systematic search of the literature using MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases in February 2019. They hand searched reference lists to identify additional literature. The authors included prospective and retrospective observational studies in the search. They screened a total of 291 articles, downloaded 28 articles, and included 4 articles in the study.ResultsThe most frequent complication reported for mature teeth with lateral luxation was pulpal necrosis (44.2%). Less frequent findings included surface resorption (14.0%), inflammatory resorption (8.5%), pulp canal obliteration (8.1%), and replacement resorption (0.9%). The included studies were cohort studies, which resulted in great heterogeneity, and the authors could not attempt a meta-analysis.Conclusions and Practical ImplicationsA large number of permanent teeth that experience lateral luxation are at risk of developing pulpal necrosis and other complications. Careful follow-up is required for these patients to treat complications as early as possible. Furthermore, the authors of this systematic review emphasize the importance of consistent reporting of dental trauma outcomes.     

Seven Hormonal Biomarkers for Diagnosing Endometriosis: Meta-Analysis and Adjusted Indirect Comparison of Diagnostic Test Accuracy

ObjectiveTo compare the diagnostic accuracy of different hormonal biomarkers and to find the most effective hormonal biomarker for the diagnosis of endometriosis.Data SourcesWe conducted a systematic search using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and China Biomedical Literature to identify relevant studies from the first day of databases to August 2018.Methods of Study SelectionTwo independent reviewers screened for study eligibility and extracted data. Random controlled trials, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, and cohort studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of hormonal markers for endometriosis were included.Tabulation, Integration, and ResultsWe included 17 studies that involved 1279 participants and evaluated 7 hormonal biomarkers. The pooled sensitivity and specificity in endometriosis were .79 (.71, .86) and .89 (.82, .94) for aromatase, .30 (.18, .46) and .80 (.65, .90) for human chorionic gonadotropin/luteinizing hormone receptor, .75 (.66, .83) and .47 (.34, .60) for estrogen receptor (ER)-α, .65 (.56, .74) and .68 (.55, .80) for ER-β, .45 (.38–.52) and .92 (.85–.97) for serum prolactin, .69 (.51, .83) and .30 (.16, .49) for estrogen sulfotransferase, and .73 (.60–.84) and .48 (.33–.63) for 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (17βHSD2). Compared with human chorionic gonadotropin/luteinizing hormone receptor, ER-α, ER-β, estrogen sulfotransferase, and 17βHSD2, aromatase had a higher sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio. The specificities of aromatase and serum prolactin were comparable, but the sensitivity, positive likelihood ratio, and positive likelihood ratio of serum prolactin were much lower than that of aromatase.ConclusionAromatase may be an excellent diagnostic test for endometriosis. However, because of the moderate quality of the included studies and the limited sample size, this result requires more research to validate. (PROSPERO registration number: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018105126.)     

Evaluation of dental trials comparing baseline differences using p values

Introduction: Significance testing for comparison of the baseline differences between the intervention arms has received a strong condemnation. The goal of this study was to assess the prevalence of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the baseline characteristics between intervention groups using significance tests in top ten impact factor dental journals.

Materials and methods: RCTs published in 10 high impact factor dental journals were searched in PubMed database. Literature search was limited to time duration of 5 years from September 2012 to August 2017.

Results: We analysed 521 RCTs after excluding 47 non-RCT articles from the total of 568 articles. Baseline demographic characteristics table was not reported in 45.9% of the RCTs and 26.2% of the RCTs did not report table of baseline clinical characteristics. In 38.9% of the studies, significance testing was employed to compare baseline differences between the intervention arms.

Conclusions: Many trials published in the reputed dental journals failed to follow the recommendations of CONSORT statement regarding reporting of baseline tables and avoiding comparison of baseline differences with significance test.     

基于微信平台的医学检验教学的应用

目的通过研究基于微信平台的教学模式来提升医学检验专业学生们的学习能力。方法对某高校医学检验专业学生2014-2016三级学生共170人进行对照实验分析,对照组83人,实验组87人。对照组使用传统教学方式教授医学检验专业,实验组使用基于微信平台的课堂教学方式,教授医学检验专业。教学后,比较两组学生的学习状况和学习成绩。结果实验组在应试结果、课堂参与积极性、课堂学习兴趣、课前是否预习、课后是否复习等指标上分数明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。且实验组成绩明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论设置医学检验专业的高校应积极寻找医学检验课程教学改革的方向和切入点,以微信平台为落脚点的互联网教学模式可以被广泛应用到现在医学检验专业课程教学过程中。     

French version of the Mini BESTest: A translation and transcultural adaptation study incorporating a reliability analysis for individuals with sensorimotor impairments undergoing functional rehabilitation

The Mini BESTest has been developed to comprehensively examine postural control in individuals with various pathologies treated by rehabilitation professionals. However, no formal French version of the Mini BESTest is available. This study aimed to translate and transculturally adapt the Mini BESTest to French and verify its intra- and inter-rater reliability. Translation and transcultural adaptation was performed in accordance with established guidelines, which included 2 initial translations and transcultural adaptations of the Mini BESTest to French that were then merged, a backward English translation, a subsequent adapted French version resolving discrepancies between the English versions, and pilot testing the final version by French-speaking physical therapists. In total, 20 participants with sensorimotor impairments with various etiologies and able to stand for at least 30 sec without human or technical assistance were video-recorded during evaluation with the Mini BESTest. From this video-recording, we calculated inter-rater and intrarater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.974–0.988), internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.895–0.929), standard error of measurement (1.05 and 1.63), and minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence interval (2.91 and 4.51). All values were comparable to those previously reported for the original version of the Mini BESTest. Furthermore, no significant ceiling or floor effect was detected. Therefore, the translated and transculturally adapted version of the Mini BESTest in French compares well to the original version and can be used by French-speaking rehabilitation professionals to examine postural control.     

早期非小细胞肺癌治疗计划中IMRT与VMAT单双拉弧的剂量学对比

目的:研究容积旋转调强治疗的单双照射技术与静态固定野调强技术在早期非小细胞肺癌治疗计划的剂量学比较。方法:随机选取14例早期非小细胞肺癌患者，分别设计IMRT、双弧（Plan-d）和单弧（Plan-s）三种放疗计划，在靶区95%的体积达到处方剂量的条件下，反复优化并对比分析三种计划的同侧肺、对侧肺、心脏和脊髓的剂量学分布，以及治疗时间的长短等。结果:靶区适形度指数（CI）和不均匀性指数（HI）Plan-d要优于IMRT（P＜0.05），而Plan-s与IMRT并没有太大差异（P＞0.05）；Plan-d对同侧肺V20、V10和对侧肺V30、V20、V5的保护均优于IMRT有统计学差异（P＜0.05），而Plan-s与IMRT并没有太大差异（P＞0.05）；对于食管和心脏的保护，三种治疗技术并没有太大差异，但对脊髓的保护Plan-d和Plan-s却要优于IMRT；治疗总跳数（MU）和治疗时间（T）Plan-d和Plan-s也要少于IMRT（P＜0.05）。结论:早期非小细胞肺癌患者的治疗，VMAT的Plan-d技术较IMRT无论是靶区剂量分布、OAR的保护还是治疗时间（T）都有着明显的优势，采用Plan-d能够极大的提高放疗增益比；若是由于其他原因没法用Plan-d技术，Plan-s和IMRT技术也是完全能够满足临床要求的。