Meta-analysis Of Case-control Studies Research Articles

Pregnancy outcomes following maternal macrolide use: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To determine whether gestational use of all or specific macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin or erythromycin) lead to an increase in rates of overall major congenital malformations, organ-specific malformations, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes in infants. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Reprotox® databases were searched. Dichotomous outcomes or calculated log odds ratios and standard errors from observational studies are combined using the random-effects method in Review Manager 5.3. No significant increased risks for major congenital malformation (OR 1.06 [95% CI 0.99, 1.13]) and congenital heart defect (OR 1.05 [95% CI 0.92, 1.19]) following all macrolides use during the first trimester were detected. Prenatal azithromycin use was associated with a significantly increased risk of major congenital malformations in the analysis of cohort studies (OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.08–1.36]). This significance was also present in the sensitivity analysis. There were no statistically significant associations between the risk of organ specific malformations and all or specific macrolide exposures except for the decreased risk in hypospadias following erythromycin use in the meta-analysis of case-control studies (OR 0.38 [95% CI 0.18, 0.81]. Also, a significant 1.5-fold increased risk for spontaneous abortion following macrolide use was detected. A slight yet significantly increased rate of major congenital malformation with azithromycin exposure during pregnancy may be associated with maternal confounders. Nevertheless, level II ultrasound can be suggested following maternal azithromycin use during the first trimester. Future studies should take into account the inclusion of a disease-matched control group and accurate classification of the malformations.

Diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and hyperlipidemia as risk factors for spontaneous cervical artery dissection: Meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Background: Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD) is an important cause of ischemic stroke in the young population and has a different cardiovascular risk profile from other causes of ischemic stroke. No study provided a comprehensive evidence for cardiovascular risk factors of sCeAD. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase without date or language restrictions for relevant studies. Bibliographies of included studies were also searched. We included case-control studies where patients with sCeAD were on one arm, and controls were on the other arm. The investigated risk factors were diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and hyperlipidemia. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Seventeen qualifying case-control studies were identified, comparing 2185 patients with sCeAD and 3185 healthy control subjects. Heterogeneity was low for diabetes, moderate for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and high for smoking. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between hypertension and sCeAD [pooled odds ratio (OR) = 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-2.07, P < 0.001]. There was no association between sCeAD and diabetes (pooled OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50-1.01, P = 0.060) or smoking (pooled OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.68-1.20, P = 0.480). Hyperlipidemia was negatively-associated with sCeAD (OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.89, P = 0.007), but with sensitivity analysis, there was no association (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.44-1.19, P = 0.200). Conclusion: The meta-analysis reveals that sCeAD has a significant association with hypertension and no association with smoking, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia. These results should direct future research towards exploring biological mechanism of hypertension-induced arterial dissection.

Association of vaspin rs2236242 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Elevated circulating vaspin levels is linked with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. The genetic basis of the association between vaspin rs2236242 and T2DM and obesity is still being investigated. We executed a meta-analysis to evaluate the magnitude of effect caused by vaspin rs2236242 on T2DM and obesity. We searched Pubmed, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for relevant articles published up to 19 February 2022. Data were extracted and summary estimates of the association between vaspin rs2236242 and T2DM and obesity were assessed. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the effect. This meta-analysis included 2206 cases and 2715 controls in the T2DM cohort, meanwhile 271 cases and 444 controls in the obesity cohort. The pooled estimates revealed no link between vaspin rs2236242 and T2DM, but allele-A was significantly higher in the controls of the obesity cohort, showing that this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has a reduced obesity risk effect. Sensitivity analysis revealed no studies that would modify the estimates or the heterogeneity. Begg and Mazumdar's and Egger's tests indicated no substantial publication bias. Our meta-analysis provides evidence of significant association between vaspin rs2236242 and reduced risk of obesity but not T2DM. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-01119-8.

Effect of Dietary Salt Intake on Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Aim: The effect of dietary salt intake on the risk of gastric cancer is not clear. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the association between dietary salt intake and the risk of gastric cancer. Methods: Three major databases were searched to retrieve case-control studies published in English before 1 July 2022. Random effects model analysis was used to obtain the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the association between dietary salt intake and risk of gastric cancer. Subgroup analyses were used to identify possible sources of heterogeneity. Results: Thirty-eight case-control studies were included in this meta-analysis (total population: n = 37,225). The pooled ORs showed a significantly positive association between high salt intake and gastric cancer compared with low salt intake (OR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.45, 1.64); p < 0.001). In subgroup meta-analysis for geographic region, estimation method for dietary salt intake and the source of controls, this association was not changed. Conclusion: Higher dietary salt intake increased the risk of gastric cancer. This study has implications for the prevention of gastric cancer.

Is Smoking Associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? A Meta-Analysis.

To date, the role of smoking in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the association between smoking and CTS. The literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, from inception until October 2021. Three reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and full-text articles and evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. A random-effects meta-analysis was used, and heterogeneity across studies was examined using I2 statistic. A total of 31 (13 cross-sectional, 10 case-control, and 8 cohort) studies were qualified for meta-analysis. In a meta-analysis of cohort studies, the risk of CTS did not differ between current and never smokers (pooled hazard ratio (HR) 1.09, 95% CI 0.84–1.43), current and past/never smokers (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.94–1.23), and past and never smokers (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.83–1.49). Furthermore, a meta-analysis of case control studies found no difference in the risk of CTS between current and never smokers (pooled odds ratio (OR) 0.92, 95% CI 0.56–1.53), current and past/never smokers (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.51–2.36), and past and never smokers (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.59–1.39). However, a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies showed the associations of ever (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08–1.72) and current smoking (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.11–2.09) with CTS. However, the association between ever smoking and CTS disappeared after limiting the meta-analysis to higher quality studies or after adjusting for publication bias. The association between current smoking and CTS also attenuated after limiting the meta-analysis to studies that confirmed CTS by a nerve conduction study or studies with low attrition bias. This meta-analysis does not support an association between smoking and CTS. The association between smoking and CTS observed in cross-sectional studies could be due to biases and/or confounding factors.

Oral Contraceptive Use and Breast Cancer Risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Simple SummaryThe aim of the present work was to systematically review and meta-analysis the available evidence regarding the effects of oral contraceptives using on breast cancer risk in BRCA germline mutations. The included studies were published between 2002 and 2021. Data were pooled from nine case–control studies, comprising a total of 33,162 woman. The association between oral contraceptive use and risk of breast cancer may differ in breast cancer defined by BRCA mutation status. This meta-analysis showed a diverse effect of oral contraceptive use against breast cancer in BRCA carrier mutations. However, futher case control studies are necessary to examine breast cancer risk.Oral contraceptive use is one of the major modifiable risk factors for breast cancer. To investigate the effect of oral contraceptive taking on breast cancer risk by BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 mutation status, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-controlled studies. Therefore, English language articles were retrieved by searching MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library up to August 2021. Data were pooled from none case–control studies, comprising a total of 33,162 subjects, including 23,453 who had never used oral contraceptives. Overall meta-analysis indicated a statistically insignificant risk reduction: OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.06, p = 0.1594. However, increased breast cancer risk was associated with age at first use of OCs ≥20 years: OR = 1.21, 95% CI:1.07 to 1.36, p = 0.002. Multivariable meta-regression with covariates of age of first OC use (β = 0.21, 95% CI: −0.25 to 0.67, p = 0.3767), duration of OC use (β = −0.08, 95% CI; −0.51 to 0.34, p = 0.7093), and time since last OC use (β = 0.32, 95% CI: −0.22 to 0.85, p = 0.2461) did not have a significant effect on the breast cancer risk. This meta-analysis suggests a diverse effect of oral contraceptive use against breast cancer in BRCA carrier mutation. The association between OC use and breast and ovarian cancers needs more investigation.

The etiologic role of Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus infections in breast cancer development: a meta-analysis of case-control studies

IntroductionThe implication of viral infection in alterations of vital cellular pathways and genomic integration and thus, human carcinogenesis is well documented in molecular epidemiology studies. EBV and CMV are two of the most studied human viruses for potential association with cancer risk, progression, and outcome. The contradicting reports as for the etiologic role of these viruses in breast cancer entailed the conduction of the current meta-analysisMaterial and methodsA thorough comprehensive electronic search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for relevant publications until February 28, 2021 based on predefined eligibility criteria. Extracted data from eligible studies were used to calculate the pooled effect size, heterogeneity, publication bias, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses for both viruses independently. Meta-analyses were performed using Prometa 3 software.ResultsFor EBV, a total of 19 studies were included, while 8 studies were included for CMV. A significantly high risk of breast cancer with EBV infection (OR = 5.04, 95%CI: 3.44 – 7.39, P &lt; 0.05), a similar, though smaller risk with CMV (OR = 4.53, 95%CI: 2.04 – 10.03, P &lt; 0.05). EBV studies in which viral genetic material was detected in fresh breast cancer tissue showed higher risk compared to studies relied upon FFPE specimen. Conversely, for CMV, the FFPE studies showed a higher risk compared to studies relying upon fresh breast cancer tissues.ConclusionsIt can be inferred that infection with either of the two viruses increases the risk of breast cancer, suggesting an etiologic role of these viruses in breast carcinogenesis.

Association between hair dye use and cancer in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies.

The use of hair dye for cosmetic purposes appears to be increasing worldwide. As 50-80% of women use hair dye throughout their lifetimes, the possible association between hair dye use and cancer is a public health concern. This systematic review was performed by retrieving studies from PubMed, Scopus, WOS, and ProQuest databases. The inclusion criteria were case-control studies evaluating the association between hair dye use and cancer in women. Women with cancer who have used any hair dye were the focus of our study. The present study combined 28 studies, to assess the association between hair dye use and cancer. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of hematopoietic system cancers among those who have generally ever used any type of hair dyes was 1.10 (95% CI:1.01-1.20) in 17 studies. In 11 studies investigating hair dye made before and after 1980 as a risk factor for cancer, the pooled OR for cancer was 1.31(95% CI:1.08-1.59). Likewise, in the 13 studies that evaluated the association of light and dark hair dye with cancer, the risk among those using dark hair dye increased by 9%, compared to non-users (OR=1.09; 95% CI:0.95-1.25). The present study suggests that, although the use of hair dye may increase the risk of cancer among users, a more detailed evaluation is required to assess the type of hair dye use in terms of guidelines and metrics.

Characterizing Interoceptive Differences in Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies.

Interoception, the body's perception of its own internal states, is thought to be altered in autism, though results of empirical studies have been inconsistent. The current study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the extant literature comparing interoceptive outcomes between autistic (AUT) and neurotypical (NT) individuals, determining which domains of interoception demonstrate robust between-group differences. A three-level Bayesian meta-analysis compared heartbeat counting performance, heartbeat discrimination performance, heartbeat counting confidence ratings, and self-reported interoceptive attention between AUT and NT groups (15 studies; nAUT = 467, nNT = 478). Autistic participants showed significantly reduced heartbeat counting performance [g = -0.333, CrI95% (-0.535, -0.138)] and higher confidence in their heartbeat counting abilities [g = 0.430, CrI95% (0.123, 0.750)], but groups were equivalent on other meta-analyzed outcomes. Implications for future interoception research in autism are discussed.

Association between MTR A2756G polymorphism and susceptibility to congenital heart disease: A meta-analysis.

The association between methionine synthase (MTR) A2756G (rs1805087) polymorphism and the susceptibility to congenital heart disease (CHD) has not been fully determined. A meta-analysis of case-control studies was performed to systematically evaluate the above association. Studies were identified by searching the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang databases from inception to June 20, 2021. Two authors independently performed literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment. Predefined subgroup analyses were carried out to evaluate the impact of the population ethnicity, source of healthy controls (community or hospital-based), and methods used for genotyping on the outcomes. A random-effects model was used to combine the results, and 12 studies were included. Results showed that MTR A2756G polymorphism was not associated with CHD susceptibility under the allele model (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86 to 1.07, P = 0.43, I2 = 4%), heterozygote model (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.07, P = 0.41, I2 = 0%), homozygote model (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.55, P = 0.99, I2 = 17%), dominant genetic model (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.07, P = 0.41, I2 = 0%), or recessive genetic model (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.43, P = 0.32, I2 = 13%). Consistent results were found in subgroup analyses between Asian and Caucasian populations in studies with community and hospital-derived controls as well as in studies with PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing (all P values for subgroup differences > 0.05). In conclusion, current evidence does not support an association between MTR A2756G polymorphism and CHD susceptibility.

Association of TLR3 gene 1377C/T (rs3775290) and TLR7 gene C/G (rs3853839) polymorphism with hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by human enterovirus 71 infection susceptibility and severity in the Chinese Han population: A meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Background:Several case-control studies have been conducted on the relationship between rs3775290 C/T and rs3853839 C/G single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) gene and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) susceptibility and severity. This meta-analysis aimed to offer a systemic review of HFMD susceptibility and severity among the Chinese Han population associated with the C/T (rs3775290) polymorphism of the TLR3 gene or C/G (rs3853839) polymorphism of the TLR7 gene.Methods:A computer search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and WanFang databases. The time ranges were from database establishment to 30/7/2021. Articles selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent data extraction and methodological quality evaluation. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16.0 were adopted for meta-analysis, and the incorporated odds ratio (OR) values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Sensitivity and publication bias assessments were performed.Results:8 articles with 9 studies were selected. Among them, there were 858 cases and 577 controls in TLR3 rs3775290 studies as well as 2151 cases and 1554 controls in TLR7 rs3853839 studies. Regarding rs3775290 of TLR3, susceptibilities of the severe type of T-possessing individuals were larger than those of C-possessing individuals [OR = 1.34, 95%CI (1.10, 1.64), P = .004]. The susceptibility of individuals with the severe TT genotype was 1.61 times that of individuals with the CC genotype [95%CI (1.07, 2.43), P=0.02], while susceptibility to HFMD was not influenced by the genotype. In terms of the rs3853839 of the TLR7 gene, C allele carriers have a higher risk of developing HFMD than G allele carriers. The susceptibility to HFMD in CC+CG individuals was 1.24 times than that in GG individuals [95%CI (1.07, 1.43), P = .004]. However, no relationship was found between this polymorphism and severity of the severe type. No significant publication bias was observed in this study.Conclusions:rs3775290 (C/T) of TLR3 is associated with susceptibility to the severe type, whereas rs3853839 (C/G) of TLR7 is associated with susceptibility to HFMD. However, owing to the limited quantity and quality of the research, the aforementioned conclusions are yet to be justified by more high-quality research.

Meta-analysis of case-control studies on obesity risk factors in children aged 3-6 years in China

To explore the risk factors of obesity in children aged 3-6 years in China. Using search terms, preschooler, obesity, risk factors/influence factors, case-control studies, and language limited to Chinese and English, search databases(CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Web of science, Embase, The Cochrane library). To collect domestic and foreign literature on the case-control study design of obesity risk factors in preschool children in China published from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2021. Stata 14.0 software was used for Meta-analysis of the included literature, and publication bias test and sensitivity analysis were performed. A total of 11 770 people were included in 12 papers, including 4092 in the case group and 7678 in the control group. Meta analysis shows: birth weight ≥4000 g OR=2.176, 95% CI 1.507-3.143; strong appetite OR=3.860, 95%CI 2.991-4.980; fast eating OR=2.836, 95%CI 2.552-3.152; mother overweight and obesity OR=1.903, 95%CI 1.213-2.986; mother&apos;s low level of education OR=1.744, 95%CI 1.100-2.766; Physical inactivity OR=1.488, 95%CI 1.267-1.748. Birth weight ≥ 4000 g, fast eating speed, strong appetite, mother overweight and obesity, mother&apos;s low level of education, and physical inactivity are risk factors for obesity in children aged 3-6 years.

Is there a difference in the oral health status of healthy patients and those with inherited bleeding disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies was to identify the differences in oral health status between inherited bleeding disorders (IBDs) and healthy patients. Only case-control studies were included in this review. The risk of bias was assessed using the NOS tool. The random-effects meta-analysis was performed for DMFT and Oral Health Index outcomes. Online databases were searched to identify studies reporting a comparison between IBDs oral health conditions (DMFT, Oral Health Index) and healthy patients. Eight case-control studies were included. The majority of the included studies presented a high degree of methodological quality, while one presented a high risk of bias. A meta-analysis regarding the mean DMFT between IBDs and healthy patients reported that children and teenagers ( p = 0.52; I² = 73%) or adult patients ( p = 0.96, I²= 0) did not present statistically significant differences compared to control groups. The overall DMFT mean difference between IBDs and healthy patients was -0.18 ( p = 0.64, I²=0). There are no differences considering the caries experience of inherited bleeding disorders compared to healthy patients. The available evidence indicates that patients with inherited bleeding disorders present similar caries experience with healthy subjects.

Associations Between Wearing Masks and Respiratory Viral Infections: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

BackgroundRespiratory viral infections (RVIs) are a major health concern, and some previous studies have shown that wearing masks was effective in preventing RVIs, while others failed to show such effect. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of wearing masks.MethodsPubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database) were searched for studies evaluating the effectiveness of wearing masks. The risk ratio (RR) was used to measure the effectiveness of wearing masks in preventing RVIs for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies, and the odds ratio (OR) was used for case-control studies. Forest plots were used to visually assess pooled estimates and corresponding 95% CIs. The I2 test was used to examine the heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis was used to explore the possible explanations for heterogeneity or compare the results between subgroups. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess robustness of the synthesized results. Begg's test and Egger's test were used to assess the publications bias.ResultsThirty-one studies (13,329 participants) were eligible for meta-analyses. Overall, the results showed that wearing masks was effective in preventing RVIs. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results of those meta-analyses were robust and reliable. There was no significant publication bias in meta-analysis of case-control studies and most subgroup analyses.ConclusionsWearing masks might be effective in preventing RVIs. To reduce their RVI risk, people should wear masks when they go out in public.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42021296092.

Leukocyte telomere length in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

Telomere length may serve as a biomarker of cellular aging. The literature assessing telomere length in schizophrenia contains conflicting results. To assess differences in leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in peripheral blood in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders and healthy controls and to explore the effect of potential confounding variables. A search of Ovid MEDLINE, and Proquest databases was conducted to identify appropriate studies published from database inception through December 2020. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO-ID: CRD42021233280. The initial literature search yielded 192 studies. After study selection in 3 phases, we included 29 samples from 22 studies in the meta-analysis database. We used random effects and meta-regression models to derive Cohen d values with pooled 95% confidence intervals (CI) as estimates of effect size (ES) and to test effects of potential moderators. The overall meta-analysis included 4145 patients with schizophrenia and related disorders and 4184 healthy controls and showed that LTL was significantly shorter in patients, with a small to medium effect size (ES, -0.388; 95% CI, -0.492 to -0.283; p < 0.001). Subgroup meta-analyses did not find a significant effect of age or illness duration on differences in LTL in patients with psychosis relative to controls. Meta-regression analyses showed that none of the putative moderators had a significant effect on effect size estimates. This meta-analysis find further support for the hypothesis of accelerated cellular aging in schizophrenia and related disorders and highlights the need for large longitudinal studies with repeated LTL measurements over time and appropriate assessments of associated factors.

Association between Interleukin-4-590C>T Polymorphism and the Susceptibility to Asthma: A Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Study.

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the interleukin-4-590C > T gene polymorphism and the susceptibility to asthma by meta-analysis. To explore the underlying relationship between the polymorphism of IL-4-590C > T and the susceptibility to asthma, this study systematically retrieved the literature including cohort studies and case-control studies published before June 2019 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Data on the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the literature were included in the relative studies. Subsequently, the included data were weighted by an inverse variance and then analyzed by the fixed or random effects model. Overall, 818 asthma patients and 831 healthy individuals participated in the 8 independent case-control studies in the current meta-analysis. There was no correlation between IL-4-590C > T TT genotype and the increased susceptibility to asthma (dominant model: OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.68–2.53). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed no significant results in the Asians (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.24–6.80); however, IL-4-590C > T TT genotype significantly elevated the susceptibility to asthma in the Caucasians (OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.03–1.98). Meanwhile, subgroup analysis was performed by source of control. A statistically significant result was found in the population-based control group (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01–1.76), but not in the hospital-based control group (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.27–5.46). The results demonstrated that IL-4-590C > T TT genotype could significantly enhance the susceptibility to asthma in Caucasians without increasing that in Asian populations. However, it still required a large sample of high-quality studies in multicentral hospital to further confirm its reliability.

Hydrochlorothiazide use is associated with the risk of cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) use and the risk of cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma development. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and LILACS. This study was registered in PROSPERO under protocol CRD42019129710. The meta-analysis was performed using the software Stata (version 12.0). A total of 2181 published studies referring to the theme were identified, from which six were included in this systematic review. Men were more frequently affected by cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma than women, with a 1.42:1 ratio. The mean age for cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma development was 73.7 years. This meta-analysis demonstrated a chance of developing cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma in any region of the body in hydrochlorothiazide users of 1.76-fold higher than in non-users. In addition, a risk factor of 1.80 higher (CI 95% = 1.71-1.89) of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region was observed in HCTZ users. Moreover, in the analysis of the dose used, the chance of developing squamous cell carcinoma was 3.37-fold lower when the concentration of HCTZ used was less than 50,000 mg. Our results confirm the association between the use of hydrochlorothiazide and the cutaneous and lip squamous cell carcinoma development.

Oral Contraceptive Use and Breast Cancer Risk According to Molecular Subtypes Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies.

Simple SummaryBreast cancer (BrCa) is a heterogeneous disease with multiple intrinsic tumor subtypes evidenced by the joint expression of molecular tumor markers. Data from epidemiologic studies provide evidence supporting differential effects of oral contraceptives on risk of developing the distinct subtypes of breast cancer; while some studies suggest increased risk, others show its lack. Toward this objective, we conducted meta-analysis of case-control trials devoted to this topic. The results of our study suggest that the oral contraceptive use has different effects on the risk of developing the various molecular breast cancer subtypes.We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on risk of breast cancer (BrCa) by status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). We searched the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase and the Cochrane Library database and bibliographies of pertinent articles published up to 2020. Therein, we identified nineteen eligible case-control studies which provided data by breast cancer subtypes: ER-positive (ER+), ER-negative (ER−), HER2-positive (HER2+) and Triplet-negative (TN). Summary risk estimates (pooled OR [pOR]) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed/random effects models. The summary meta-analysis showed that over-use of OCs led to significant increased risk of TNBrCa (OR = 1.37, 95% CI; 1.13 to 1.67, p = 0.002), as well as of ER−BrCa (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.40, p = 0.019). There was also a significant reduction in the risk of ER+BrCa (OR = O.92, 95% CI: 0.86 to 0.99, p = 0.026,) and a slight reduction in the risk of HER2+BrCa (OR = 0.95, 95% CI; 0.79 to 1.14, p = 0.561) after taking OCs. Meta-analysis indicated that OC use has different impacts on risk of breast cancer subtypes defined by receptor status. The identified differences between individual subtypes of breast cancer may reflect different mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

DHEA and polycystic ovarian syndrome: Meta-analysis of case-control studies.

BackgroundPolycystic ovarian syndrome is a heterogenous endocrine disorder characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, hirsuitism and polycystic ovaries. It is further complicated by metabolic syndrome, infertility and psychological stress. Although the etiopathogenesis is unclear, many studies have pointed out the role of stress in this syndrome. DHEA, being a stress marker is being used by scientists to compare the stress levels between polycystic ovarian cases and healthy controls. However, the results obtained from previous studies are equivocal.ObjectiveTo perform meta-analysis and find the association between stress and the syndrome.Data sourcesRelevant data till January 2021 were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Web of Science using MeSH terms.Study selectionCase-control studies having PCOS subjects as cases and healthy women as controls were selected provided; their basal DHEA levels were mentioned in the published articles.Data extractionTwo authors independently extracted the articles and qualified the final studies.Data synthesiPooled meta-analysis was done using random effect model and showed level of DHEA statistically significant in PCOS compared to healthy controls (SMD = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.59–1.71).Heterogeneity was statistically significant as well (I2 = 95%).ConclusionThismeta-analysis on DHEA and PCOS has helped in generating evidence regarding the involvement of stress in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Pharmacogenetic testing for adverse drug reaction prevention: systematic review of economic evaluations and the appraisal of quality matters for clinical practice and implementation

BackgroundGenetic testing has potential roles in identifying whether an individual would have risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from a particular medicine. Robust cost-effectiveness results on genetic testing would be useful for clinical practice and policy decision-making on allocating resources effectively. This study aimed to update a systematic review on economic evaluations of pharmacogenetic testing to prevent ADRs and critically appraise the quality of reporting and sources of evidence for model input parameters.MethodsWe searched studies through Medline via PubMed, Scopus and CRD’s NHS Economic Evaluation up to October 2019. Studies investigating polymorphism-based pharmacogenetic testing, which guided drug therapies to prevent ADRs, using economic evaluation methods were included. Two reviewers independently performed data extraction and assessed the quality of reporting using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) guidelines and the quality of data sources using the hierarchy of evidence developed by Cooper et al.ResultsFifty-nine economic evaluations of pharmacogenetic testing to avoid drug-induced ADRs were found between 2002 and 2018. Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analyses were the most common methods of economic evaluation of pharmacogenetic testing. Most studies complied with the CHEERS checklist, except for single study-based economic evaluations which did not report uncertainty analysis (78%). There was a lack of high-quality evidence not only for estimating the clinical effectiveness of pharmacogenetic testing, but also baseline clinical data. About 14% of the studies obtained clinical effectiveness data of testing from a meta-analysis of case-control studies with direct comparison, which was not listed in the hierarchy of evidence used.ConclusionsOur review suggested that future single study-based economic evaluations of pharmacogenetic testing should report uncertainty analysis, as this could significantly affect the robustness of economic evaluation results. A specific ranking system for the quality of evidence is needed for the economic evaluation of pharmacogenetic testing of ADRs. Differences in parameters, methods and outcomes across studies, as well as population-level and system-level differences, may lead to the difficulty of comparing cost-effectiveness results across countries.