Combined Odds Ratio Research Articles

Migraine and the correlation between stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aims to analyze and evaluate the correlation between migraines and the onset of stroke, and further explore whether migraines increase the risk of stroke. Two researchers independently conducted a comprehensive search of Chinese biomedical literature databases (CBM disc), PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, using a combination of subject terms and free words. Literature that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria was selected, and quality assessment was performed using The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Data necessary for the study were extracted as effect size as needed, and meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 software and Stata 16 software to calculate the combined odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval. The relevant data were analyzed, and publication bias was evaluated. After conducting a meta-analysis of the 9 final included articles, the heterogeneity test showed chi2 = 10.7, df = 8 (P = .22), I2 = 25%. Therefore, a fixed-effect model was used for analysis. The combined odds ratio (OR) for the risk of stroke in migraine patients compared to non-migraine patients was 2.04, with a 95% confidence interval [1.73, 2.4], which was statistically significant. In the analysis of migraine with aura, the respective ORs were 2.32 with a 95% CI of [1.70-3.18] and 1.77 with a 95% CI of [1.34-2.33]. Subgroup analysis of female migraine patients and young migraine patients showed statistically significant results, with ORs of 2.26 (95% CI [1.67-3.05]) and 2.39 (95% CI [1.9-3.01]), respectively. The relevant literature and results were evaluated for publication bias and assessed using the NOS, indicating the reliability of the results. The results of the meta-analysis indicate that there is a certain relationship between migraine and the onset of stroke, and the results are relatively reliable. The analysis of migraine with aura shows that both the presence and absence of aura are associated with an increased risk of stroke. Subgroup analysis based on gender and age shows that the increased risk of stroke is associated with females and young individuals. However, due to the limited data in subgroup analysis, the above conclusions still require further research for validation.

Day Care Attendance and Risk of Type 1 Diabetes

A meta-analysis published in 2001 suggested that exposure to infections measured by day care attendance may be important in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Several new studies on the topic have since been published. To investigate the association between day care attendance and risk of type 1 diabetes and to include all available literature up to March 10, 2024. Data from PubMed and Web of Science were used and supplemented by bibliographies of the retrieved articles and searched for studies assessing the association between day care attendance and risk of type 1 diabetes. Studies that reported a measure of association between day care attendance and risk of type 1 diabetes were included. Details, including exposure and outcome assessment and adjustment for confounders, were extracted from the included studies. The multivariable association with the highest number of covariates, lowest number of covariates, and unadjusted estimates and corresponding 95% CIs were extracted. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects meta-analyses were performed and yielded conservative confidence intervals around relative risks. The principal association measure was day care attendance vs no day care attendance and risk of type 1 diabetes. Seventeen articles including 22 observational studies of 100 575 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Among the participants, 3693 had type 1 diabetes and 96 882 were controls. An inverse association between day care attendance and risk of type 1 diabetes was found (combined odds ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58-0.79; P < .001; adjusted for all available confounders). When the 3 cohort studies included were analyzed separately, the risk of type 1 diabetes was 15% lower in the group attending day care; however, the difference was not statistically significant (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.59-1.12; P = .37). These results demonstrated that day care attendance appears to be associated with a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes. Increased contacts with microbes in children attending day care compared with children who do not attend day care may explain these findings. However, further prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the proposed association.

Potential genetic association between coffee/caffeine consumption and erectile dysfunction: a Mendelian randomization study and meta-analysis.

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage with potential benefits for various chronic diseases. Its effect on reducing erectile dysfunction (ED) risk is unclear. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study investigates the impact of coffee/caffeine consumption on ED. Two sets of coffee consumption-associated genetic variants at the genome-wide significance level were obtained from recent studies of coffee consumption. Taking into account other sources of caffeine, genetic variants associated with caffeine consumption from tea were also obtained. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the primary analysis. Sensitivity analysis methods and meta-analysis methods were performed to confirm the robustness of the results, while the genetic variants associated with confounders, e.g., diabetes and hypertension, were excluded. Genetically predicted coffee/caffeine consumption was unlikely to be associated with the risk of ED in the Bovijn datasets, with similar directional associations observed in the FinnGen datasets. The combined odds ratio for ED was 1.011 (95% CI 0.841-1.216, p=0.906) for coffee consumption from the genome-wide meta-analysis, 1.049 (95% CI 0.487-2.260, p=0.903) for coffee consumption from the genome-wide association study, and 1.061 (95% CI 0.682-1.651, p=0.793) for caffeine from tea. Using genetic data, this study found no association between coffee/caffeine consumption and the risk of ED.

Contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound for differential diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.

Background and study aims To assess the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasound (CE-EUS) for autoimmune pancreatitis and other solid pancreatic masses. Patients and methods A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed from inception to October 2022. We calculated individual and pooled sensitivities and specificities to determine the diagnostic ability of CE-EUS. In addition, we calculated I 2 to test for heterogeneity and explored the source of heterogeneity by meta-regression analysis. Results A total of 472 patients from seven eligible studies were included. The mean sensitivity and specificity of the Bivariate analysis were 0.84 (95% CI 0.71-0.92) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.84-0.99), respectively. The diagnostic advantage ratio was 107.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 22.22-524.13), and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.91 (95% CI 0.88-0.93). The overall heterogeneity of the studies is negligible (I 2 =0, 95% CI 0-100). However, notable heterogeneity was observed in the combined specificity ( P <0.01, I 2 =74.82) and diagnostic odds ratio ( P =0.05, I 2 =51.54). The heterogeneity in these aspects could be elucidated through sensitivity analysis. Conclusions Our analysis showed that CE-EUS is useful in identifying autoimmune pancreatitis. However, further large sample size, multicenter, prospective studies are needed to demonstrate its utility.

Correlation of TNF-α polymorphisms with susceptibility to lung cancer: evidence from a meta-analysis based on 29 studies

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis aims to clarify the association between the TNF-α -308G > A and − 238G > A polymorphisms and lung cancer risk.MethodA comprehensive search was conducted for relevant articles across databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, EMBASE, and CNKI, up to September 25, 2023. Lung cancer risk was assessed by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Z-test was used to determine the significance of combined ORs, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) 2.0 software.ResultsThe analysis included 19 case-control studies with 3,838 cases and 5,306 controls for the TNF-α -308G > A polymorphism, along with 10 studies comprising 2,427 cases and 2,357 controls for the − 238G > A polymorphism. The − 308G > A polymorphism showed no significant overall relationships, though in the Asian subgroup, the A allele was significantly reduced compared to G (OR: 0.831, p = 0.028) and the AA genotype showed significant reductions versus GG (OR: 0.571, p = 0.021), with no significant correlation in Caucasians. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the A allele was associated with increased risk compared to G (OR: 1.131, p = 0.049). For the − 238G > A polymorphism, the AA genotype significantly increased risk compared to GG (OR: 3.171, p = 0.014), while showing a protective effect in Caucasians (OR: 0.120, p = 0.024) and a heightened risk in Asians (OR: 7.990, p = 0.007). In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the A allele conferred protective effects, whereas NSCLC showed increased risk for the AA genotype (OR: 11.375, p = 0.002).ConclusionThe − 308G > A polymorphism has no significant overall relationships but suggests a protective role of the A allele in the Asian subgroup. Conversely, the − 238G > A polymorphism presents a complex risk profile, increasing lung cancer likelihood in Asians while protecting Caucasians. Notably, the AA genotype significantly raises risk for NSCLC, indicating its potential as a risk factor.

Prognostic and clinicopathological value of the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in patients with head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis

BackgroundThe efficiency of controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in detecting the prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients has been investigated in some works, but no consistent findings are obtained. Therefore, this work focused on evaluating the precise prognostic role of CONUT for HNC patients through meta-analysis.MethodsThe effect of CONUT on predicting the prognosis of HNC patients was evaluated through calculating combined hazard ratios (HRs) as well as 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The correlations of CONUT with clinicopathological features of HNC patients were investigated through combined odds ratios (ORs) and 95%CIs. This study used the random-effects model in the case of significant heterogeneity; or else, we selected the fixed-effects model.ResultsThere were eight articles involving 1,478 patients enrolled for the current meta-analysis. We adopted the fixed-effects model for OS and DFS analysis because of the non-significant heterogeneity. As demonstrated by our combined findings, high CONUT score could significantly predict the poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.94, 95%CI = 1.55–2.44, p < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.45–2.56, p < 0.001) of HNC. In addition, higher CONUT score was significantly connected to T3-T4 stage (OR = 3.21, 95%CI = 1.94–5.31, p < 0.001) and N1-N3 stage (OR = 3.10, 95%CI = 1.74–5.53, p < 0.001).ConclusionAccording to findings in the present meta-analysis, high CONUT score significantly predicted the prognosis of OS and DFS for HNC patients. Higher CONUT score was also correlated to larger tumor size and LN metastasis in HNC. Due to it is a cost-effective and easily available parameter, CONUT could serve as promising prognostic biomarker for HNC.

Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis

BackgroundThe fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) has been extensively studied for its role in predicting the prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients; however, existing findings are conflicting. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to identify the significance of FAR in predicting BC prognosis.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases until May 25, 2024. The value of FAR for predicting overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in BC was examined by calculating the combined hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Correlations between FAR and clinicopathological factors were analyzed using combined odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs.ResultsEight studies involving 4094 patients were included in this work. As shown by our combined data, increased FAR significantly predicted poor OS (HR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.83–4.39, p < 0.001) and poor DFS (HR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.66–3.58, p < 0.001) of BC. Moreover, the combined data showed that increased FAR was significantly correlated with age ≥ 50 years (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.37–3.04, p < 0.001), stage III cancer (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.04–2.27, p = 0.033), and the presence of lymph node metastases (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.11–1.61, p = 0.002). Nonetheless, FAR was not significantly associated with tumor size, ER/PR/HER-2 status, or lymphovascular invasion in patients with BC.ConclusionIn this meta-analysis, higher FAR was significantly associated with unfavorable OS and DFS in patients with BC and significantly correlated with several features predictive of cancer development in BC.

Identification of Putative Biomarkers in Cerebral Palsy: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

BackgroundCerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that impairs motor abilities. Identifying maternal biomarker derangements can facilitate further evaluation for early diagnosis, potentially leading to improved clinical outcomes. This study investigates the association between maternal biomarker derangements and CP development during the antenatal period. MethodsA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, following MOOSE guidelines. Data on participants exceeding biomarker thresholds (95th and 5th percentiles) were extracted for combined odds ratio estimation. Geometric mean differences, reported as multiples of the median (MoMs), were used to analyze changes in marker levels. Trimesterwise subgroup analysis and metaregression assessed the impact of variables on outcomes. ResultsFive observational studies (1552 cases, 484,985 controls) revealed lower maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein A levels were associated with CP (pooled odds ratio [OR] = 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22 to 2.09; I = 0%), with a −0.04 MoM geometric mean difference. Lower maternal beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) levels in first and second trimesters indicated a pooled OR = 1.18 (95% CI = 0.85 to 1.63; I = 57%). Sensitivity analysis showed an OR = 1.40 (95% CI = 1.08 to 1.82; I = 0%), with a −0.07 MoM geometric mean difference. Metaregression identified primigravida status as negatively influencing beta-HCG levels. Elevated nuchal translucency values and CP presented a pooled OR = 1.06 (95% CI = 0.77 to 1.44; I = 0%). ConclusionLower maternal pregnancy-associated plasma protein A levels during the first trimester and lower beta-HCG levels in the first and second trimesters are associated with CP development in children. Future research should validate the predictive utility of these biomarkers and explore novel ones through large-scale cohort studies.

Efficacy and safety of robotic surgery versus open surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim is to assess and contrast the effectiveness and safety of employing robotic surgery versus traditional open surgery in managing cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Computer searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database to identify case-control studies comparing robotic surgery with traditional open surgery in the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma from inception until July 2023. References from retrieved articles were reviewed to broaden the search. This review was prospectively registered in the PROSPERO database (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024527511) and reported in line with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and AMSTAR (Assessing the methodological quality of systematic reviews) Guidelines.The primary outcome measures included operation time, intraoperative blood transfusion rate, R0 resection rate, lymph node metastasis rate, incidence of postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stay. Data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software, calculating combined odds ratios (OR), mean differences (MD), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A total of 4 studies encompassing 267 patients diagnosed with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (177 males and 90 females, mean age of (58.8±5.7) years) were included in this analysis. Among these, 165 patients underwent open surgery, while 102 patients underwent robotic surgery. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated comparable outcomes between the two groups. Specifically, the operation time between the robotic surgery and open surgery cohorts did not significantly differ (MD=-103.96, 95% CI: -216.90 to 8.98, P=0.070). Additionally, the intraoperative blood transfusion rate (OR=1.32, 95% CI: 0.43 to 4.07, P=0.630), R0 resection rate (OR=1.41, 95% CI: 0.71 to 2.81, P=0.330), and lymph node metastasis rate (OR=1.62, 95% CI: 0.46 to 5.63, P=0.450) showed no significant differences between the groups. Similarly, there were no statistically significant disparities observed in the incidence of postoperative complications (OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.28 to 1.31, P=0.200) and postoperative hospital stay (MD=2.17, 95% CI: -11.56 to 15.90, P=0.760). In the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, robotic surgery demonstrates comparable safety and feasibility to traditional open surgery. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, these conclusions warrant validation through additional high-quality investigations.

Risk factors of prognosis for spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe most deadly type of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage (SCH). The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate risk factors for prognosis in SCH patients to provide a basis for taking preventive and therapeutic measures.MethodsSeven electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2023 for randomized controlled trial, cohort study, case control study and cross-sectional study on prognosis of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. The quality of the selected studies were assessed by the American Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). To assess the impact of the included risk factors on the prognosis of spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage, combined odds ratios (ORs) with matching 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined.ResultsEight studies were included, including 539 participants. And a total of 31 potentially associated risk factors were identified. Ultimately, 6 risk factors were included in the meta-analysis after assessing. The factors supported by moderate evidence include the hydrocephalus (OR = 4.3, 95% CI: 2.33 to 7.91) and drug-induced coagulopathy (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.23 to 6.09). The factors supported by limited evidence include the intraventricular bleeding(OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.13 to 3.07) and hematoma size>3 cm(OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.87 to 5.39). Meta-analysis revealed no association between hypertension, diabetes mellitus and SCH prognosis.ConclusionThe current meta-analysis revealed obvious risk factors for prognosis in spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage patients, including hydrocephalus, drug-induced coagulopathy, intraventricular bleeding and hematoma size>3 cm.

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among Wives of Men Working or Living Abroad from Sylhet: Exploring Impact on Mental Health

This article finds out the prevalence of anxiety and depression among women whose husbands work abroad and also explores the significance of consequential impact on their mental health imposed by the situation as compared to those who live with their husbands. Based on a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature and empirical studies, the research sheds light on the implied challenges faced by these women, considering factors such as separation, communication barriers, and social support. The results showed significant differences between the study and the control groups. The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the study group was 51.2% and 44.1% and the average anxiety and depression score were 19.82 and 21.24 respectively. The combined odds ratio (OR) for anxiety and/or depression between the study and control groups was 9.87 with a 95% confidence interval of [5.49, 17.86] and a chi-squire test p-value &lt;0.001.The findings are important as they may contribute to a deeper understanding of the mental health implications in this specific demographic, providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and support networks.

Cardiac complications (arrhythmias and heart failure) in patients with ischemic stroke: A meta-analysis.

In patients with ischemic stroke (pwIS), cardiac complications have been observed in observational studies. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the arrhythmias and heart failure in pwIS. Up until September 2023, we searched for case-control, cross-sectional, or cohort studies in 4 databases. For case-control/cross-sectional studies, odds ratios (OR) were determined using a random-effects model meta-analysis, while hazard ratios (HR) were calculated for cohort studies, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled in the meta-analysis. In the meta-analysis, we incorporated 5 studies: 2 cohort studies, 2 case-control studies, and 1 cross-sectional study. In all, 81,181 controls and 25,544 pwIS were included in this investigation. The combined OR for case-control studies of arrhythmias was estimated to be 1.86 (95% CI: 0.70-4.94, P = .21), HR for cohort studies of arrhythmias to be 4.2 (95% CI: 1.49-12.01, P < .05), and for cohort studies of heart failure to be 2.9 (95% CI: 2.65-3.18, P < .05), suggesting that pwIS may be more likely to experience cardiac complications. Our results revealed that there is a comparatively higher risk of cardiac complications in pwIS; however, more research is needed to evaluate the risk of cardiac complications in pwIS.

The Association Between the Location of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and the Occurrence of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a syndrome characterized by transient regional cardiac dysfunction of the left ventricle. The goal of this review is to better understand the relationship between the anatomic locations of subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) and the development of TCM as identified through a review of cohort studies. From inception to December 2023, we systematically explored major electronic medical information sources to identify cases of TCM that developed after SAHs. The six selected studies included in the meta-analysis suggest a modest but statistically significant increase in the odds of the events in the posterior circulation group compared to the anterior circulation group, with a combined odds ratio (OR) estimate of around 1.45-1.46. The fixed effect model gives an overall OR of 1.45 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.01 to 2.10, z = 2.01, p = 0.0442, while the random effects model yields a slightly higher OR of 1.46 with the same 95% CI, z = 2.03, p = 0.0425. There is a tendency for SAH occurrence in the posterior cerebral circulation to cause SAH-related TCM more frequently than in the anterior cerebral circulation.

Synergistic effects of cognitive frailty and comorbidities on disability: a community-based longitudinal study

ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to assess the synergistic effects of cognitive frailty (CF) and comorbidity on disability among older adults.MethodsOut of the 1318 participants from the Malaysian Towards Useful Aging (TUA) study, only 400 were included in the five-year follow-up analysis. A comprehensive interview-based questionnaire covering socio-demographic information, health status, biochemical indices, cognitive and physical function, and psychosocial factors was administered. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the independent and combined odd ratios (ORs). Measures such as the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), the attributable proportion of risk due to the interaction, and the synergy index were used to assess the interaction between CF and comorbidity.ResultsParticipants with CF (24.1%) were more likely to report disability compared to those without CF (10.3%). Synergistic effects impacting disability were observed between CF and osteoarthritis (OA) (OR: 6.675, 95% CI: 1.057–42.158; RERI: 1.501, 95% CI: 1.400–1.570), CF and heart diseases (HD) (OR: 3.480, 95% CI: 1.378–8.786; RERI: 0.875, 95% CI: 0.831–0.919), CF and depressive symptoms (OR: 3.443, 95% CI: 1.065–11.126; RERI: 0.806, 95% CI: 0.753–0.859), and between CF and diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR: 2.904, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.487–5.671; RERI: 0.607, 95% CI: 0.577–0.637).ConclusionThese findings highlight the synergism between the co-existence of CF and comorbidity, including OA, HD, DM, and depressive symptoms, on disability in older adults. Screening, assessing, and managing comorbidities, especially OA, HD, DM and depressive symptoms, when managing older adults with CF are crucial for reducing the risk of or preventing the development of disability.

Correlation of growth differentiation factor-5 + 104T>C polymorphism with the risk of knee, hand, and hip osteoarthritis: a case-control study and meta-analysis based on 47 case-control studies

Osteoarthritis (OA) arises from a intricate interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Numerous studies have explored the link between the growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF-5) +104T>C polymorphism and OA risk, but the findings have been inconclusive. We carried out a case-control study with 704 OA cases and 418 healthy controls. Furthermore, we conducted a meta-analysis by thoroughly searching the literature for relevant studies published until 1 September, 2023. The combined odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the correlation’s strength. A total of 47 independent case-control studies, including 17,602 OA cases and 30,947 controls, were analyzed. Of these, 31 studies (11,176 cases, 16,724 controls) focused on knee OA, 8 studies (3,973 cases, 8,055 controls) examined hip OA, and 6 studies (2244 cases, 5965 controls) investigated hand OA. Overall, our findings suggest that the GDF-5 + 104T>C polymorphism has a protectibe role in development of OA in global scale. Subgroup analyses by ethnicity indicated that this genetic variation provides protection against OA in Caucasian, Asian, and African populations. Further subgroup analysis based on the type of OA showed a decreased risk of knee and hand OA associated with this variation, but not for hip OA. Our combined data indicates that the GDF-5 + 104T>C polymorphism offers protection against the development of OA in general, as well as knee and hand OA. Nevertheless, there was no correlation found between this polymorphism and the development of hip OA.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of high-voltage and standard-voltage pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: A pooled analysis from randomized controlled trials

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most common and serious complications of herpes zoster infection. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) therapy has emerged to be a neuromodulation technique for the treatment of PHN. Two therapeutic options are available for PRF, including high-voltage and standard-voltage PRF. Some studies suggested that the former one had better clinical efficacy than the latter one. For the first time, this pooled analysis compared the efficacy and safety of these two surgeries for the treatment of PHN. Five commonly used databases were applied to identify the eligible studies. This study was registered on the PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023460236), which provided more relevant information. Finally, four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 285 participants were included. The combined odds ratios (OR) showed that high-voltage PRF exhibited a significantly higher treatment efficiency than the standard PRF (OR = 1.4, 95%CI: 1.16 to 1.69, P < 0.001). Additionally, the visual analogue scale (VAS) in the high-voltage PRF group was significantly lower than that of the standard PRF group at one week (SMD = −0.776, 95%CI: −1.408 to −0.145, P = 0.016), one month (SMD = −0.544, 95%CI: −0.907 to −0.180, P = 0.003), and three months (SMD = −1.096, 95%CI: −1.504 to −0.687, P < 0.001) after treatment, particularly at the three months after surgery. However, the VAS was comparable between the two groups (SMD = −0.94, 95%CI: −1.985 to 0.104, P = 0.077). Patients who underwent high-voltage PRF did not have a significantly higher incidence of adverse events than those with standard PRF (OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 0.78 to 3.13, P = 0.208). In summary, the current study revealed that high-voltage PRF is superior to standard-voltage PRF in improving analgesic efficacy in patients with PHN. Additionally, it does not increase the incidence of treatment-related adverse effects. Further studies are still warranted to determine the optimal voltage and duration of PRF treatment for patients with PHN.

The causal association of cheese intake with type 2 diabetes mellitus result from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

IntroductionWorldwide, type 2 diabetes is a major health concern with numerous risk factors. In observational studies, cheese consumption has been linked to type 2 diabetes, however it is still unclear whether these relationships are causal. To ascertain these relationships, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study.Material and methodsA summary of cheese intake statistics from UK Biobank and publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for type 2 diabetes from IEU OpenGWAS, FinnGen Biobank, EBI GWAS, and Biobank Japan, respectivel. The primary method was pooled meta-analysis with the inverse variance weighting method. The sensitivity analyses included MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, and leave-one-out. MR estimations of causation were reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsIn the pooled meta-analysis of the fixed and random effect model, the combined ORs for type 2 diabetes were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.50-0.68, P&lt;0.001) and 0.50 (95%CI: 0.32-0.78, P=0.003) per standard deviation rise in the levels of cheese intake. Sensitivity analysis revealed no horizontal pleiotropy (all P&gt;0.05) but heterogeneity (all P&lt;0.05).ConclusionsWe found that moderate consumption of beneficial cheese may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. These findings suggested that increasing cheese intake appropriate for humans may help prevent and control type 2 diabetes.

High prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men with hyperthyroidism: a meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the association between hyperthyroidism and the risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED).MethodsA comprehensive search of multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science, was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the relationship between hyperthyroidism and ED in men. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle‒Ottawa Quality Rating Scale, and a meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 and RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of four papers encompassing 25,519 study subjects were included in the analysis. Among these, 6,429 individuals had hyperthyroidism, while 19,090 served as controls. The overall prevalence of ED in patients with hyperthyroidism was determined to be 31.1% (95% CI 0.06–0.56). In patients with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism, the incidence of ED was 21.9% (95% CI 0.05–0.38). The combined odds ratio (OR) for the four studies was 1.73 (OR: 1.73; 95% CI [1.46–2.04]; p < .00001).ConclusionOur findings demonstrate a higher incidence of ED in patients with hyperthyroidism. These results provide valuable information for healthcare professionals and can facilitate discussions surrounding appropriate treatment options for ED in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Non-specific protection against severe COVID-19 associated to typhoid fever and DTP vaccination

Trained immunity (TRAIM) or the enhanced non-specific immune response after primary stimulation by infection or vaccination is a recent but well-recognized concept. To verify its predictions, our objective was to determine the effects of two bacterial vaccines, typhoid fever (TFV) and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) on the infection, hospitalization and death frequencies associated to COVID-19 in a retrospective study on subjects vaccinated or not with TFV and DTP in the 4 years prior to the start of COVID-19 pandemia in the Basque Country (Spain). The studied outcome records were split into two periods according to COVID-19 vaccination, the pre-vaccination (ACV) from March to December 2020 and the post-vaccination (PCV) from September 2021 to June 2022). In total, 13,673 subjects were vaccinated against TFV and 42,997 against DTP.A total of 2,005,084 individual records were studied in the ACV period and 1,436,693 in the PCV period. The proportion of infection, hospitalization and death associated to COVID-19 among controls in ACV was 4.97 %, 7.14 % and 3.54 %, respectively vs. 7.20 %, 2.24 % and 0.10 % among TFV subjects. Regarding DTP, the proportions were 4.97 %, 7.12 % and 3.58 % for controls and 5.79 %, 5.79 % and 0.80 % for vaccinees. In the PCV period, the proportion of infection, hospitalization and death among controls was 21.89 %, 2.62 % and 0.92 %, respectively vs. 31.19 %, 0.76 %, 0.00 % among TFV. For DTP, infection, hospitalization and death proportions were 21.89 %, 2.62 % and 0.92 %, respectively, among controls vs. 32.03 %, 1.85 % and 0.24 % among vaccinated subjects. The corresponding combined ACV and PCV odds ratios (OR) for SARS-CoV2 infection were 1.505 (95%CI 1.455–1.558; p < 0.0001; reduction −41.85 %) and 1.633 (95%CI 1.603–1.662; p < 0.0001; reduction −51.74 %), for TFV and DTP, respectively. Regarding COVID-19 associated hospitalization, the OR were 0.295 (95%CI 0.220–0.396; p = 0.0001; reduction 69.74 %) and 0.667 (95%CI 0.601–0.741; p = 0.0001; reduction 32.44 %), for TFV and DTP, respectively). COVID-19 associated death OR were 0.016 (95%CI 0.002–0.113, p < 0.0001; reduction 98.38 %) and 0.212 (95%CI 0.161–0.280; p = 0.0001; reduction 78.52 %), for TFV and DTP, respectively. We conclude that TRAIM effects by TFV and DTP vaccination in the four years prior to the pandemic SARS-CoV2 were supported by slightly increased infection rates, but strongly reduced COVID-19 associated hospitalization and death rates.

Exploring the association between early-life air pollution exposure and autism spectrum disorders in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between air pollution and the vulnerability of children to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A thorough examination and analysis of data obtained from a compilation of 14 studies was undertaken, with a particular emphasis on investigating the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxide of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) on individuals diagnosed with ASD. The findings demonstrate a moderate association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ASD, as indicated by a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) spanning from 0.77 to 1.549. O3 shows a combined odds ratio (OR) of 0.82, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 0.49 to 1.14. NOx shows a moderate level of heterogeneity (I² = 75.9%, p = 0.002), suggesting that the impact of NOx on the risk of ASD. There is a statistically significant relationship between exposure to O3 and ASD, although the strength of this relationship is diminished. The findings demonstrated a noteworthy correlation between exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 and the occurrence of ASD. The study found a significant correlation, in relation to PM2.5, with a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.22 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 1.11 to 1.34. The findings have significant implications for the formulation of programs aimed at reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, especially among vulnerable groups such as children.