Peer Review Research Articles

Retraction: Isosorbide mononitrate for cervical ripening in induction of labor for pregnant women with PROM at or post term.

Retraction: Afifi, A. N., Taymour, M. A., El-Khayat, W. M. (2021) Isosorbide mononitrate for cervical ripening in induction of labor for pregnant women with PROM at or post term. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 155: 512-517. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13604 The above article, published online on 18 January 2021 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief, Professor Michael Geary, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Concerns were raised by a third party about inconsistencies in the data of this article and the authors were asked to provide an explanation. The authors responded to the journal's inquiry and provided original data. Following the authors' response, an independent review of the available data concluded that the BMI and gestational age data showed compelling evidence of repetition and that multiple results could not be reproduced. The journal has determined that this evidence fundamentally compromises the conclusions of the article. As such, the journal is issuing this retraction. The authors disagree with this retraction.

Inclusive peer review: Reflections on an adapted citizens' jury with people with learning disabilities

AbstractBackgroundInclusive research is widely accepted as an essential part of the process to democratise knowledge creation and dissemination. However, while peer review is an important part of academic publishing, the potential to include people with learning disabilities in this element of the research process has not previously been explored using a deliberative approach.MethodsAccessibility adaptations were made to the citizens' jury approach enabling people with learning disabilities to participate. Sixteen adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities were recruited to participate in the adapted citizens' jury. Jury members took part in capacity‐building workshops to develop their knowledge of research and research processes. Six expert witnesses presented evidence to the citizens' jury and were questioned on aspects of inclusive research, representation, peer review and academic publishing processes. Facilitators supported citizens' jury members to reflect on the evidence presented and to develop recommendations for inclusive peer review.FindingsThe citizens' jury was an effective inclusive research approach in this case. Jurors made recommendations related to the question of inclusive peer review: inclusive reviews should be done by groups rather than individuals; the research under review must be in accessible formats and on relevant topics; reviewers need sufficient time to conduct reviews; and diverse groups of people with learning disabilities should be involved.ConclusionsPeople with learning disabilities appreciate the importance of peer review but do not necessarily want to participate in it. This jury suggested creative approaches to disseminating, reviewing and engaging with research, including building more opportunities for dialogue between researchers and self‐advocates. The adapted citizens' jury was a novel and effective method of supporting deliberation on this topic but other approaches to including the views and experiences of those with more severe learning disabilities should be explored.

Mr. Thorp goes to Washington

On 2 April, I received an email that changed the course of the next 2 weeks. The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, chaired by United States Congressman Brad Wenstrup, invited me to testify along with my counterparts at Nature and The Lancet . The purpose of the public hearing (Academic Malpractice: Examining the Relationship Between Scientific Journals, the Government, and Peer Review) was to determine whether government officials, specifically former National Institutes of Health leaders Francis Collins and Anthony Fauci, steered journals to publish papers suppressing the idea that COVID-19 may have arisen from a lab accident in Wuhan, China. I was not subpoenaed to appear but made the decision to testify voluntarily. My counterparts, who are based in the United Kingdom, decided not to attend.

Implementation Strategies for Maternal Near-Miss Case Reviews in LICs and LMICs: A scoping review protocol

Background Maternal mortality remains a persistent public health concern despite significant strides in reduction over the past few decades, with a global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 223 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, indicating a 34.3% decline over 20 years, with Low income countries (LICs) and Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) bearing the major burden. Effective implementation of facility-based near-miss case reviews (NMCR), endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), faces challenges hindering progress, making exploring implementation strategies through a scoping review essential. This scoping review aims to identify and characterize implementation strategies employed in Low and Lower Middle- Income Countries to facilitate the implementation of facility-based NMCR. Methods The scoping review will follow Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework, involving five stages: identifying the research question, selecting relevant studies, selecting data, charting, and summarizing the results. Electronic databases like PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCOhost - CINAHL Ultimate, and Ovid MEDLINE will be searched, supplemented by citation tracking. Rayyan will be used to screen and remove duplicates, with data charting conducted using Google Sheets. Two independent reviewers will conduct blinded screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion phases. Reviewers will conduct Systematic data extraction independently using piloted forms, with discrepancies resolved through team discussion and consensus. Results The review will identify and characterize implementation strategies employed to facilitate the implementation of facility-based near-miss case reviews in LICs and LMICs. Conclusions The findings of this review will contribute to the understanding of implementing strategies for facility-based NMCR in LICs and LMICs. The review can help in designing interventions/programs to reduce maternal mortality and knowledge products.

Rate of Benign and Malignant Secondary Tumors Associated With Nevus Sebaceous: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Nevus sebaceous (NS) is a rare congenital skin lesion affecting approximately 0.3% of all newborns. Although benign, NS lesions can harbor malignant secondary tumors. The published rate of development of these malignant tumors varies. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the rate of malignant and benign secondary neoplasms occurring in NS. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to April 2023. Eligible studies reported incidence or risk of secondary neoplasms in patients with NS. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcome was the pooled incidence of secondary neoplasms. Studies with sample sizes greater than 50 patients were eligible for meta-analysis using the random-effects model. Twenty-eight studies were identified, 22 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. The overall rate of secondary neoplasms was 12.8% (95% confidence interval [Cl], 9.2%-17.6%). The rates of development of malignant and benign tumors were 2.4% (95% CI, 1.4%-4.1%) and 10.3% (95% CI, 7.5%-13.9%), respectively. The rate of development of basal cell carcinoma was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.9%-3.2%), whereas the rate of the development of syringocystadenoma papilliferum was 3.6% (95% CI, 2.5%-5.3%) and that if trichoblastoma was 2.6% (95% CI, 1.7%-3.8%). Although the rate of development of malignant tumors within a primary NS lesion is low, it is not negligible. Prophylactic early excision remains a viable approach to prevent secondary malignant neoplasms, address cosmetic and functional complications, and preempt the need for complex reconstruction in the future. We propose that resection of NS lesions in childhood remains a reasonable first-line option in the appropriate patient keeping in mind that it may leave an undesirable scar.

The prognostic value of HEART score in patients with known heart failure evaluated at the emergency department for acute chest pain

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (United States). Background Chest pain is a common and concerning symptom in emergency care, often necessities further risk stratification for adverse cardiovascular events on short-term follow up. Patients with known heart failure (HF) constitutes a unique sub-population that would greatly benefit from short-term risk stratification to guide appropriate clinical interventions and optimize resource allocation. HEART (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors, Troponin) is a well-validated risk score that has been shown to outperform other clinical risk scores in patients with chest pain. It remains unknown if HEART score can be safely used in patients with known HF presenting to the emergency department with chest pain. Purpose We sought to evaluate the prognostic value of HEART score in patients with known HF compared to their counterparts. Method This was a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive adult patients evaluated at the emergency department for non-traumatic chest pain. HEART score was computed from charts by independent physician reviewers. The primary study outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as acute coronary syndrome, invasive revascularization, reinfarction, death, cardiac arrest, ventricular tachyarrhythmia, or acute exacerbation within 30 days of indexed admission. Outcomes were adjudicated by two independent reviewers (Kappa = 0.908). Classification performance between groups was compared using area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and negative predictive value (NPV). Results Our cohort included 4,132 patients (age 59±16, 47% female, 33% Black). Overall, 921 patients (22.3%) experienced 30-day MACE. The classification performance of HEART score in those without HF (n = 3,329, 81%) was AUROC of 0.831 (95% CI 0.813-0.848), compared to only 0.633 (95% CI 0.592-0.673) in those with known HF (n = 803, 19%) (z score = 8.771, p < 0.001, Figure). The sensitivity and NPV of HEART score among those without HF were 87.4% and 95.3%, compared to 81.2% and 73.3%, respectively, among those with known HF. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the prognostic value of HEART score for predicting 30-day MACE is inferior and suboptimal in patients with known HF evaluated for chest pain at the emergency department compared to their counterparts. These findings emphasize the need for more tailored risk assessment and management strategies in this specific patient population. Further research is warranted to better understand the limitations and potential enhancements of the HEART score in patients with HF.Classification Performance of HEART score

Systematic review protocol of aetiology of mechanical bowel obstruction in low-and-middle income countries: Has anything changed in the last two decades?

The aetiology of mechanical bowel obstruction exhibits significant variability based on geographical location and age. In high-income countries, postoperative adhesions and hernias are frequently cited as the primary causes, whereas in low- and middle-income countries (LMCIs), hernias take precedence. Speculation exists within the surgical community regarding whether this trend has evolved in LMCIs. To address this knowledge gap, our study aims to conduct a systematic review of existing literature, focusing on understanding the most prevalent causes of mechanical bowel obstruction in both pediatric and adult populations within LMCIs, providing valuable insights for surgical practice. This protocol was designed and written according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocol 2015 (PRISMA-P 2015) statement. However, the results of the systematic review will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. We will consider studies published in English and French between 2002 and 2022 that reported on the aetiology of mechanical bowel obstruction in any age group in low- and middle-income countries. We will conduct a literature search using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, CINAHL on EBSCO and Web of Science databases employing relevant subject headings, keywords and synonyms, which will be combined using Boolean operators to refine the search results. A hand search of references of retrieved literature will be conducted. The retrieved articles will be imported into Zotero for de-duplication. The resulting set of titles and abstracts will be uploaded to Rayyan (an AI-assisted online systematic review tool), where they will be double-checked to identify articles eligible for inclusion. Two independent reviewers will screen articles to be included and disagreement will be resolved by discussion or by a third reviewer as a tie-breaker. Also, data extraction will be done by one reviewer and confirmed by another. Critical appraisal to assess the quality of the included studies will be carried out by two independent reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. We anticipate that the eligible studies will be quite heterogeneous in terms of their design, outcomes of interest, populations and comorbidities. Therefore, resmay be synthesised descriptively without meta-analysis using charts, graphs and tables. Where possible, we will conduct a sub-analysis using conceptual frameworks based on age, WHO regions and continents.

A Structured Review of Research‐Informed Instructional Strategies to Support CPA Enabling Competencies in Future Accountants*

ABSTRACTCPA enabling competencies underpin the human skills and professional values that all future accountants should possess. Nevertheless, to date, the discourse is limited within the scholarship of teaching and learning on how to best inculcate these competencies in future accountants. This study attempts to spark such a discourse by conducting a structured literature review (SLR) of the research‐informed instructional strategies to foster CPA enabling competencies, skills, and values in future accountants, and outlines future research opportunities. The findings indicate that the CPA competency “acting ethically and demonstrating professional values” can be engrained in future accountants using business cases and targeted courses/lessons in accounting classrooms. “Leading” is best taught through targeted courses/lessons. “Collaboration” can be gained through team‐based learning (group work) and software. “Managing self and others” can be engrained through a strategic course setup. “Adding value” can be achieved by experiential learning. “Solving problems” can be facilitated through in‐class activities that specifically target critical thinking skills. Finally, “communication” is facilitated with writing tasks and software. The top five research‐informed teaching tools that advance CPA enabling competencies are collegial tools (i.e., group work, peer review, and writing prompts), software, business cases, experiential tools, and targeted courses/lessons. In the future, an in‐depth SLR should be conducted on each of the five research‐informed teaching tools for their integration within accounting classrooms.

Occupational therapy assessments and interventions for patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a scoping review protocol.

The proposed scoping review aims to explore the literature on the occupational therapy (OT) scope of practice for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), including assessment methods and intervention approaches used by OT practitioners, areas of impairment addressed, and practice settings where OT practitioners provide services. AS is a type of spondyloarthritis primarily involving inflammation of the spine. Studies have begun to examine the role of OT in addressing pain, function, and disability among AS patients. Given the increased recognition of OT services for this population, a comprehensive understanding of the assessment methods and intervention approaches used by OT practitioners when working with AS would benefit clinicians, providers, and patients and support future research efforts. The review will consider studies that include participants of any age diagnosed with AS and any form of OT assessment and intervention. All relevant published and unpublished studies will be considered, without date or language limitations, including all primary studies, gray literature, text and opinion papers, and clinical guidelines. The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Searches will be conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Scopus (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, SportDiscus (EBSCOhost), OTDBase, OTSeeker, and Google Scholar. Two independent reviewers will extract data from selected papers using a standardized tool modified for the review. The results will be presented using frequency tables and will be accompanied by a narrative summary. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/VPY56.

First-Line Nivolumab and Relatlimab Plus Chemotherapy for Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma: The Phase II RELATIVITY-060 Study

PURPOSE Open-label phase II study (RELATIVITY-060) to investigate the efficacy and safety of first-line nivolumab, a PD-1–blocking antibody, plus relatlimab, a lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3)–blocking antibody, plus chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated advanced gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC). METHODS Patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic GC/GEJC were randomly assigned 1:1 to nivolumab + relatlimab (fixed-dose combination) + chemotherapy or nivolumab + chemotherapy. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR; per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review [BICR]) in patients whose tumors had LAG-3 expression ≥1%. RESULTS Of 274 patients, 138 were randomly assigned to nivolumab + relatlimab + chemotherapy and 136 to nivolumab + chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 11.9 months. In patients with LAG-3 expression ≥1%, BICR-assessed ORR (95% CI) was 48% (38 to 59) in the nivolumab + relatlimab + chemotherapy arm and 61% (51 to 71) in the nivolumab + chemotherapy arm; median progression-free survival (95% CI) by BICR was 7.0 months (5.8 to 8.4) versus 8.3 months (6.9 to 12.1; hazard ratio [HR], 1.41 [95% CI, 0.97 to 2.05]), and median overall survival (95% CI) was 13.5 months (11.9 to 19.1) versus 16.0 months (10.9 to not estimable; HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.70 to 1.54]), respectively. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 69% and 61% of all treated patients, and 42% and 36% of patients discontinued because of any-grade TRAEs in the nivolumab + relatlimab + chemotherapy and nivolumab + chemotherapy arms, respectively. CONCLUSION RELATIVITY-060 did not meet its primary end point of improved ORR in patients with LAG-3 expression ≥1% when relatlimab was added to nivolumab + chemotherapy compared with nivolumab + chemotherapy. Further studies are needed to address whether adding anti–LAG-3 to anti–PD-1 plus chemotherapy can benefit specific GC/GEJC patient subgroups.

Effectiveness of Interventions for Changing More Than One Behavior at a Time to Manage Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Background Health behaviors play a significant role in chronic disease management. Rather than being independent of one another, health behaviors often co-occur, suggesting that targeting more than one health behavior in an intervention has the potential to be more effective in promoting better health outcomes. Purpose We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of interventions that target more than one behavior to examine the effectiveness of multiple health behavior change interventions in patients with chronic conditions. Methods Five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane) were systematically searched in November 2023, and studies included in previous reviews were also consulted. We included randomized trials of interventions aiming to change more than one health behavior in individuals with chronic conditions. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data, and used Cochrane’s Risk of Bias 2 tool. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of interventions on change in health behaviors. Results were presented as Cohen’s d for continuous data, and risk ratio for dichotomous data. Results Sixty-one studies were included spanning a range of chronic diseases: cardiovascular (k = 25), type 2 diabetes (k = 15), hypertension (k = 10), cancer (k = 7), one or more chronic conditions (k = 3), and multiple conditions (k = 1). Most interventions aimed to change more than one behavior simultaneously (rather than in sequence) and most targeted three particular behaviors at once: “physical activity, diet and smoking” (k = 20). Meta-analysis of 43 eligible studies showed for continuous data (k = 29) a small to substantial positive effect on behavior change for all health behaviors (d = 0.081–2.003) except for smoking (d = −0.019). For dichotomous data (k = 23) all analyses showed positive effects of targeting more than one behavior on all behaviors (RR = 1.026–2.247). Conclusions Targeting more than one behavior at a time is effective in chronic disease management and more research should be directed into developing the science of multiple behavior change.

Khat use and related determinants among pregnant women within Haramaya, Ethiopia: a mixed methods study

IntroductionKhat, a green leafy plant grown in East Africa and throughout the Arabian Peninsula, is chewed for its psychoactive and amphetamine-like effects, serving as a significant aspect of culture, economic livelihood, and global trade. Khat consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse effects, including anemia, premature rupture of membranes, and low birth weight, among others.MethodsThis cross-sectional, explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted in the Haramaya District of eastern Ethiopia using a questionnaire and focus group discussions. Questionnaires assessed socio-demographic information, pregnancy history, and diet, including khat use. Data were analyzed using SPSS v28 to include descriptive statistics, proportions, odds ratios, binary logistic regression, and chi-square analysis. FGDs expanded on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of khat in the region, including pregnant or lactating women from two different kebeles. Two independent reviewers conducted a qualitative content analysis to examine the qualitative findings from the FGDs. Transcripts from the focus groups were entered into NVivo 14 to aid in capturing salient themes.ResultsA total of 444 pregnant women with a median age of 25 years completed the questionnaire. Two-thirds of the women, 66.9%, reported currently consuming khat while pregnant, and 72.7% of them reported daily consumption. The FGD analysis resulted in the discovery of five themes: Economic Livelihood, Maternal Significance, Medicinal Implications of Khat, Pesticide Use, and Social and Cultural Applications.DiscussionThis study revealed an alarming high prevalence of khat consumption among pregnant women in the Haramaya District, highlighting the pressing need for long-term studies to assess the health consequences. The role of khat as both an economic staple and an energy source for daily activities underscores the challenges in curbing its use. The documented health risks associated with the chemicals used in khat cultivation, including cancer, call for interventions to enhance safe agricultural practices in households involved in khat farming.

Periodontitis and systemic parameters in chronic kidney disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to assess recent scientific evidence on the association between periodontitis and systemic parameters/conditions in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The search for studies was performed in MedLine/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and BIREME databases. Reference lists of selected articles were also searched. Studies with different epidemiological designs evaluating the influence of exposure to periodontitis on serum markers and mortality in individuals with CKD were eligible for inclusion. Three independent reviewers performed the article selection and data extraction. The assessment of methodological quality used the adapted Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Random effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate association measurements and 95% confidence intervals. In total, 3053 records were identified in the database search, with only 25 studies meeting the eligibility criteria and, of these, 10 studies contributed data for meta-analysis. Using a random-effects model, periodontitis was associated with hypoalbuminemia (PRunadjusted = 2.47; 95%CI:1.43-4.26), with high levels of C-reactive protein (PRunadjusted = 1.35; 95%CI%:1.12-1.64), death from cardiovascular disease (RRunadjusted = 2.29; 95%CI:1.67-3.15) and death from all causes (RRunadjusted = 1.73; 95%CI:1.32-2.27). The findings of this review validated a positive association between periodontitis and serum markers and mortality data in individuals with CKD.

Are open access fees a good use of taxpayers’ money?

Abstract Butler et al. (2023) reported that five large commercial publishers (Elsevier, Sage, Springer-Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley) received $1.06 billion in publication fees between 2015 and 2018. Another three publishers were mentioned (Frontiers, MDPI and PLOS), but were not analyzed. The revenue was underestimated and the number of open access (OA) articles increased over the period of study. The five publishers analyzed charged (on average) $1,989 for gold OA articles and $2,905 for hybrid articles. Peer Review https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway/wos/peer-review/10.1162/qss_c_00305

Factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers: A systematic review.

Workers in the construction industry frequently work in construction sites with numerous areas that can potentially accumulate water, such as tanks, wet cement surfaces, or water puddles. These water collection sites become ideal breeding grounds for mosquito infestation, which leads to a higher prevalence of mosquito-borne diseases, especially malaria and dengue among construction workers. Despite that numerous factors have been identified in controlling vector-borne diseases, the specific factors that influence mosquito control at construction sites have yet to be explored. This systematic review aims to determine the factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers. Primarily, articles related to factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers were collected from two different online databases (ScienceDirect and EBSCOhost). Two independent reviewers were assigned to screen the titles and abstracts of the collected data, stored in Microsoft Excel, against the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Afterwards, the quality of the included articles was critically assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of the 171 articles identified, 4 were included in the final review. Based on the thorough evaluation, mosquito-related knowledge, practical mosquito prevention measures, and Larval Source Management (LSM) were identified as vital factors associated with mosquito control among construction workers. The significant association between mosquito-related knowledge and control practices indicates higher knowledge linked to effective practices, particularly among female workers and those who were recently infected with malaria. Concurrently, there were notable challenges regarding sustainable preventive measures and larval control methods in construction settings. Implementing effective mosquito control, including knowledge and practice on mosquito control together with vector control, is highly required to suppress the expanding mosquito population. It is recommended that employers provide continuous mosquito control education and training to their employees and reward them with incentives, while employees should comply with the guidelines set by their employers to ensure successful mosquito control and reduce the spread of mosquito-borne diseases in the construction industry.

Protocol for a systematic mapping review of surgical and pharmacological interventions for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful neuropathic disorder characterized by sudden electric shock-like pain that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Multiple treatment alternatives are available, including medical and surgical options but establishing the optimal course of action can be challenging. To enhance clinical decision-making for trigeminal neuralgia treatment, it is imperative to organize, describe and map the available systematic reviews and randomized trials. This will help identify the best treatment alternatives supported by evidence and acknowledge potential knowledge gaps where future research is needed. This systematic mapping review aims to provide up-to-date evidence on the different surgical and pharmacological treatment alternatives used for trigeminal neuralgia. A search will be systematically conducted on the Epistemonikos database to identify potentially eligible systematic reviews. Additionally, a search will be made in PubMed, CENTRAL, and EBSCO to identify randomized controlled trials assessing pharmacological and surgical treatment interventions for trigeminal neuralgia. Two independent reviewers will screen and select the studies. Data on the different treatment alternatives and reported outcomes in the included studies will be extracted using standardized forms. Following extraction, descriptive statistical methods will be used to analyze the data. The final output of this study will include an evidence map that will illustrate the connections between different treatments and their respective outcomes, providing a clear depiction of the evidence landscape. This study expects to map, describe and assess the methodological quality of the available systematic reviews and trials on pharmacological interventions and neurosurgical procedures for treating trigeminal neuralgia. It will present the results in an evidence map that organizes the available evidence based on their different interventions and outcomes. This evidence map will serve as a visual tool to assist healthcare professionals and patients to understand evidence-based treatment options and their implications for managing this medical condition. La neuralgia del trigémino es un trastorno neuropático doloroso caracterizado por un dolor súbito y agudo, similar a una descarga eléctrica, que impacta significativamente en la calidad de vida. Dada la variedad de tratamientos disponibles, médicos y quirúrgicos, es crucial organizar y mapear la evidencia proveniente de revisiones sistemáticas y ensayos clínicos para orientar las decisiones clínicas. Esto permite identificar tratamientos respaldados por evidencia y señalar áreas de investigación futura. El propósito de esta revisión sistemática de mapeo es proporcionar una visión actualizada de la evidencia existente en relación con las diversas opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico y farmacológico empleadas en el manejo de la neuralgia del trigémino. Se realizará una búsqueda sistemática en la base de datos Epistemonikos para identificar potenciales revisiones sistemáticas. Adicionalmente, se buscará en PubMed, CENTRAL y EBSCO ensayos clínicos aleatorizados que evalúen intervenciones de tratamiento farmacológico y quirúrgico para la neuralgia del trigémino. Dos revisores independientes cribarán y seleccionarán los estudios. Se extraerán datos sobre las diferentes alternativas de tratamiento y los resultados reportados en los estudios incluidos utilizando formularios estandarizados. Tras la extracción, se utilizarán métodos estadísticos descriptivos para analizar los datos. El producto final de este estudio incluirá un mapa de evidencia que ilustrará las conexiones entre los diferentes tratamientos y sus respectivos resultados, proporcionando una representación clara del panorama de la evidencia. Los resultados que se extraerán de este mapeo sistemático incluyen identificar y describir las diferentes alternativas, tanto farmacológicas como quirúrgicas, que existen para el tratamiento de la neuralgia del trigémino. Además, se planea presentar un mapa de evidencia que se basará en los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y revisiones sistemáticas, el cual mostrará la evidencia de manera organizada entre las diferentes intervenciones y sus desenlaces. Este mapa de evidencia servirá como una herramienta visual que ayudará a los profesionales de la salud y los pacientes a comprender mejor las opciones de tratamiento respaldadas por la evidencia y sus consecuencias en el manejo de esta condición médica.

Critical appraisal of Australian and New Zealand paediatric vision screening clinical practice guidelines using the AGREE II tool

ABSTRACT Clinical Relevance Vision disorders in children impact health-related quality of life, with early detection and intervention improving outcomes and educational performance. Eye health professionals should be aware of paediatric vision screening guidelines and their development to understand the components of local programmes and the differences in sensitivity and specificity between protocols. Background High-quality clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for vision screening enable the early detection of common vision disorders; however, they require rigorous development to ensure optimal accuracy in detecting vision disorders, enabling timely interventions. This study evaluated the quality of available vision screening CPGs on vision screening of children in Australia and New Zealand. Methods A systematic search of academic databases, guideline databases, professional associations and Google search engines was conducted to identify relevant paediatric vision screening CPGs. Four independent reviewers used the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) instrument to assess the quality of individual guidelines and scores were aggregated and reported as the percentage of the total possible score across the six AGREE II domains: scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigour of development, clarity of presentation, applicability, and editorial independence. Results Initial 2,999 items were evaluated, with seven guidelines included. AGREE-II quality score agreement ranged from 43.3% to 95.8%. All guidelines scored >60.0% in the scope and purpose, however, most had poor scores of <26.5% in the rigour of development and <3.3% in editorial independence domains. All guidelines recommended screening using measures of habitual distance vision. Conclusion Of the guidelines developed for use in Australia and New Zealand, most guidelines scored poorly when assessed against the AGREE II tool, because of lack of editorial independence and rigour of development. Paediatric vision screening guidelines should prioritise systematic review of literature to inform practice and include statements regarding competing interests.

Can We Have the Population Statistics We Need Without a Regular Census?

As the New Zealand government is progressing plans for substituting the census as we know it for information held in state agency records, the huge gap between what we need population statistics for, and the scope and quality of existing statistics stays under the radar. The scale and volatility of migration, the impact of increased longevity and the different demographic dynamics of fast-growing ethnic communities must be continually measured in ways we can trust. Confidence that the statistical qualities of the census would be replicated requires transparency, validation and independent peer review if trust is to be maintained.

Radiomics Beyond the Hype: A Critical Evaluation Toward Oncologic Clinical Use.

"Just Accepted" papers have undergone full peer review and have been accepted for publication in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. This article will undergo copyediting, layout, and proof review before it is published in its final version. Please note that during production of the final copyedited article, errors may be discovered which could affect the content. Radiomics is a promising and fast-developing field within oncology that involves the mining of quantitative highdimensional data from medical images. Radiomics has the potential to transform cancer management, whereby radiomics data can be used to aid early tumor characterization, prognosis, risk stratification, treatment planning, treatment response assessment, and surveillance, etc. Nevertheless, certain challenges have delayed the clinical adoption and acceptability of radiomics in routine clinical practice. The objectives of this report are: (a) to provide a perspective on the translational potential and potential impact of radiomics in oncology; (b) to explore frequent challenges and mistakes in its derivation, encompassing study design, technical requirements, standardization, model reproducibility, transparency, data sharing, privacy concerns, quality control, as well as the complexity of multistep processes resulting in less radiologist-friendly interfaces; (c) to discuss strategies to overcome these challenges and mistakes; and (d) to propose measures to increase the clinical use and acceptability of radiomics, taking into account the different perspectives of patients, health care workers, and health care systems. ©RSNA, 2024.

Impact of Transfer Learning Using Local Data on Performance of a Deep Learning Model for Screening Mammography.

"Just Accepted" papers have undergone full peer review and have been accepted for publication in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. This article will undergo copyediting, layout, and proof review before it is published in its final version. Please note that during production of the final copyedited article, errors may be discovered which could affect the content. Purpose To investigate the issues of generalizability and replication of deep learning (DL) models by assessing performance of a screening mammography DL system developed at New York University (NYU) on a local Australian dataset. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, all individuals with biopsy and surgical pathology-proven lesions and age-matched controls were identified from a South Australian public mammography screening program (January 2010 to December 2016). The primary outcome was DL system performance, measured with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), in classifying invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 425) from no malignancy (n = 490) or benign lesions (n = 44) in age-matched controls. The NYU system, including models without (NYU1) and with (NYU2) heatmaps, was tested in its original form, after training from scratch (without transfer learning; TL), after retraining with TL. Results The local test set comprised 959 individuals (mean age, 62.5 years [SD, 8.5]; all female). The original AUCs for the NYU1 and NYU2 models were 0.83 (95%CI = 0.82-0.84) and 0.89 (95%CI = 0.88-0.89), respectively. When applied in their original form to the local test set, the AUCs were 0.76 (95%CI = 0.73-0.79) and 0.84 (95%CI = 0.82-0.87), respectively. After local training without TL, the AUCs were 0.66 (95%CI = 0.62-0.69) and 0.86 (95%CI = 0.84-0.88). After retraining with TL, the AUCs were 0.82 (95%CI = 0.80-0.85) and 0.86 (95%CI = 0.84-0.88). Conclusion A deep learning system developed using a U.S. dataset showed reduced performance when applied 'out of the box' to an Australian dataset. Local retraining with transfer learning using available model weights improved model performance. ©RSNA, 2024.