Risk Of Bias Analysis Research Articles

Associação entre iniquidades raciais e condição de saúde bucal: revisão sistemática

Abstract The present study aimed to investigate the association between racial iniquities and oral health status. This is a systematic review with a protocol registered on the Prospero Platform (CRD42021228417), with searches carried out in electronic databases and in gray literature. Our study identified 3,028 publications. After applying the eligibility criteria and risk of bias analysis, 18 studies were selected. The results indicate that individuals of black/brown race/skin color have unfavorable oral health conditions, mainly represented by self-rated oral health, tooth loss, caries, and periodontitis. The results showed racial iniquities in oral health in different countries, for all analyzed indicators, with a greater vulnerability of the black population.

Qualidade da atenção primária à saúde da pessoa idosa durante a pandemia da covid-19: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objective To evaluate the quality of primary healthcare services for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic through studies evaluating health services. Method A systematic literature review was conducted. The search for articles covered the databases Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Medline/Pubmed. Original scientific articles with a case-control or cross-sectional design, involving populations that included older adults, focusing on primary healthcare, and assessing the quality of health services were included. Exclusion criteria were studies without specific analysis for older adults, studies evaluating health access or economic evaluation of health. The risk of bias analysis was conducted according to JBI protocols, and data synthesis was performed using SWiM guidelines. Results Seven studies were included in the review. The primary care services evaluated were mostly outpatient, with diverse quality assessment parameters related to individual care. The evaluation of quality identified a decrease in in-person consultations and visits, and an increase in the use of telehealth, with good satisfaction ratings among older adults. Conclusion The studies highlighted the difficulties maintaining and accessing in-person services during the COVID-19 pandemic, which directly contributed to a reduction in consultations and exams, usage of and access to health services, and the quality of primary healthcare.

Use of splinting in traumatized primary teeth: A systematic review of case reports

The aim of this study was to explore the use of splinting in the management of traumatized primary dentition in case reports published in the literature. Systematic searches were performed in the main health databases to identify case reports (a) with children presenting trauma in primary teeth, and (b) those that described any outcomes related to the use of splints in the management of traumatized primary teeth. The stages of study selection, data extraction and risk of bias analysis were performed. Descriptive data analysis was described. The reporting of information from this review was based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Of the total number of studies initially found (n=246), eight were case reports. Outcomes of splint immobilization in primary teeth with luxation (intrusion, extrusion, and lateral displacement), intra-alveolar root fracture and/or alveolar fracture were reported. All case reports described splinting as a viable technique for immobilizing traumatized primary teeth, regardless of the type of traumatic dental injury (TDIs) and splinting technique used. Only case report verified the effectiveness of the splinting in the management of dentoalveolar trauma and demonstrated the clinical effectiveness of the contentive approach. Based on low evidence studies with a moderate risk of bias, it was observed that the use of splints for the management of alveolar bone fractures and intrusive root fractures, and in specific cases of teeth with lateral luxation, can bring additional benefits to the dento-alveolar health of traumatized primary teeth.

Cranial MRI beyond the Neonatal Period and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Neonatal Encephalopathy Due to Perinatal Asphyxia: A Systematic Review.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion-weighted imaging within seven days after birth is widely used to obtain prognostic information in neonatal encephalopathy (NE) following perinatal asphyxia. Later MRI could be useful for infants without a neonatal MRI or in the case of clinical concerns during follow-up. Therefore, this review evaluates the association between cranial MRI beyond the neonatal period and neurodevelopmental outcomes following NE. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Embase on cranial MRI between 2 and 24 months after birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes following NE due to perinatal asphyxia. Two independent researchers performed the study selection and risk of bias analysis. Results were separately described for MRI before and after 18 months. Twelve studies were included (high-quality n = 2, moderate-quality n = 6, low-quality n = 4). All reported on MRI at 2-18 months: seven studies demonstrated a significant association between the pattern and/or severity of injury and overall neurodevelopmental outcomes and three showed a significant association with motor outcome. There were insufficient data on non-motor outcomes and the association between MRI at 18-24 months and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Cranial MRI performed between 2 and 18 months after birth is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in NE following perinatal asphyxia. However, more data on the association with non-motor outcomes are needed.

Nabiximols is Efficient as Add-On Treatment for Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Refractory to Standard Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials.

Spasticity affects 54% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients at disease onset, but this rate gradually increases with disease progression. Spasticity does not fully respond to standard treatment in one-third of the patients. Our systematic review and meta-analysis assessed whether add-on nabiximols, can improve MS-associated refractory spasticity. The systematic literature search was performed in Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Embase, on 15/10/2021, without restrictions. We included in the review blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of nabiximols in adult MS patients with refractory spasticity, by comparison with placebo. The primary outcome was responder rate by spasticity numerical rating scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes were spasticity-related parameters. We used random effect models to calculate odds ratios (OR) or mean differences and the corresponding 95% CI. Bias-factors were assessed with Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB2). (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021282177). We identified 9 eligible articles, of which 7 (1128 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. The spasticity numerical rating scale (NRS) was significantly higher in the nabiximols group than in the placebo group (OR 2.41 (95% CI 1.39; 4.18)). Secondary outcomes were in accordance with our primary results. At least some concerns were detected in the risk of bias analysis. Our results indicate that nabiximols is efficient in MS associated spasticity, refractory to standard treatment and it may be considered as add-on symptomatic therapy. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to establish the optimal treatment protocol - dose, duration, moment of initiation, disease type.

Accuracy of machine learning models using ultrasound images in prostate cancer diagnosis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND In prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, many developed machine learning (ML) models using ultrasound images show good accuracy. This study aimed to analyze the accuracy of neural network ML models in PCa diagnosis using ultrasound images.
 METHODS The protocol was registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42021277309. Three reviewers independently conducted a literature search in 5 online databases (PubMed, EBSCO, Proquest, ScienceDirect, and Scopus). We included all cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies in English, that used neural networks ML models for PCa diagnosis in humans. Conference/review articles and studies with combination examination with magnetic resonance imaging or had no diagnostic parameters were excluded.
 RESULTS Of 391 titles and abstracts screened, 9 articles relevant to the study were included. Risk of bias analysis was conducted using the QUADAS-2 tool. Of the 9 articles, 5 used artificial neural networks, 1 used deep learning, 1 used recurrent neural networks, and 2 used convolutional neural networks. The included articles showed a varied area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76–0.98. Factors affecting the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) were the AI model, mode and type of transrectal sonography, Gleason grading, and prostate-specific antigen level.
 CONCLUSIONS The accuracy of neural network ML models in PCa diagnosis using ultrasound images was relatively high, with an AUC value above 0.7. Thus, this modality is promising for PCa diagnosis that can provide instant information for further workup and help doctors decide whether to perform a prostate biopsy.

Factors influencing the impact of randomized clinical trials on dental implants: A bibliometric analysis.

To analyze bibliometrics, characteristics, and the risk of bias of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on dental implants published in six high-impact factor journals and to identify factors contributing to citation number. A systematic electronic search was conducted in four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) to identify RCTs on dental implants published in six dental journals between 2016 and 2017. Twenty-five bibliometric variables and paper characteristics were extracted to evaluate their contribution to the citation count. Risk of bias analysis was performed using the RoB2 tool. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the effects of predictor variables on the Citation count. Significance level was set to 5%. A total of 150 RCTs included received a cumulative citation count of 3452 until July 2022. In the negative binomial regression analysis, open-access RCTs exhibited 60% more citations, and RCTs that presented statistical significance received 46% more citations. Conversely, first author affiliations from Africa, Asia and Oceania continents showed 49% fewer citations than publications from Europe. Regarding the risk of bias, 73.3% of the RCTs had some concerns, while 26% were deemed to have a high risk of bias. Only one RCT (0.07%) showed a low risk of bias. Within the limitation of the study, factors such as open access, statistically significant results, and country influence the number of citations received by the RCTs on dental implants.

Assessment of cardiovascular risk in male patients with Chronic Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: a systematic review

Introduction: Many studies demonstrate an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease in people with hypothyroidism. Conditions such as hypertension or dyslipidemia associated with patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis make this risk even greater. Objective: This review aimed to assess the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis regardless of thyroid hormone changes in males. Methods: Selection of studies in the databases in pairs with another reviewer, using inclusion and exclusion criteria for the selected articles. After this process, the articles underwent data synthesis, data extraction and risk of bias analysis. Results: Some studies demonstrate a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases in patients with thyroiditis, regardless of the presence or absence of other comorbidities. It is believed that part of this association is related to the deregulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines associated with changes in the lipid profile, leading to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. But it seems that this association is more important among female patients. Conclusion: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an uncommon disease in men, with few studies evaluating its association with cardiovascular diseases.

The prevalence of prostate cancer in Pakistan: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundProstate cancer is a significant public health issue, ranking as the second most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. In Pakistan, the prevalence of prostate cancer varies significantly across published articles. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of prostate cancer and its associated risk factors in Pakistan. MethodsMEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Google Scholar, and local databases were searched from inception until March 2023, using key search terms related to the prevalence of prostate cancer. We considered a random-effects meta-analysis to derive the pooled prevalence and relative risks with 95% CIs. Two investigators independently screened articles and performed data extraction and risk of bias analysis. We also conducted meta-regression analysis and stratification to investigate heterogeneity. This study protocol was registered at PROSPERO, number CRD42022376061. ResultsOur meta-analysis incorporated 11 articles with a total sample size of 184,384. The overall pooled prevalence of prostate cancer was 5.20% (95% CI: 3.72–6.90%), with substantial heterogeneity among estimates (I2 = 98.5%). The 95% prediction interval of prostate cancer was ranged from 1.74%–10.35%. Subgroup meta-analysis revealed that the highest pooled prevalence of prostate cancer was in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (8.29%; 95% CI: 6.13–10.74%, n = 1), followed by Punjab (8.09%; 95% CI:7.36–8.86%, n = 3), while the lowest was found in Sindh (3.30%; 95% CI: 2.37–4.38%, n = 5). From 2000 to 2010 to 2011–2023, the prevalence of prostate cancer increased significantly from 3.88% (95% CI: 2.72–5.23%) to 5.80% (95% CI: 3.76–8.24%). ConclusionsOur meta-analysis provides essential insights into the prevalence of prostate cancer in Pakistan, highlighting the need for continued research and interventions to address this pressing health issue.

The global prevalence of oral leukoplakia: a systematic review and meta-analysis from 1996 to 2022

BackgroundOral leukoplakia(OLK) is a common oral potentially malignant disorder. The global prevalence of solely OLK was published in 2003, while the prevalence varied among different studies. In recent years, large-scale summary and definition-related analyses obtain insufficient attention. This study aimed to perform a systematic review of prevalence studies of oral leukoplakia and assess predisposing factors of its occurrence.MethodsThe search terms ("Oral leukoplakia" OR OLK OR leukoplakia) AND (prevalence OR incidence OR epidemiology) were searched in databases (Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) for OLK studies published from January 1996 until December 2022. The estimated prevalence calculation and risk of bias analysis used STATA 16.0.ResultsWe obtained 69 studies, including 1,263,028 participants, from 28 countries, and 6 continents. The prevalence was 1.39%, varying from 0.12 to 33.33%. The overall pooled estimated prevalence of OLK was 2.23% for population-based studies, 1.36% for clinic-based population studies, and 9.10% for specific populations. The pooled prevalence in different continents ranged from 0.33 to 11.74% with a statistical difference in the population-based calculation. The estimated prevalence of OLK was higher in males than in females. Those who smoked and consumed alcohol had a higher prevalence than those who did not.ConclusionCombining data from 69 published studies, the prevalence of OLK was determined as 1.39% and the pooling estimated global prevalence was 3.41%. The prevalence was relatively consistent and stable across different continents and different definitions. A higher pooled estimated prevalence was found among males, those aged over 60 years old, smokers, and alcohol consumers. The results from the included studies in this systematic review revealed that the prevalence was relatively consistent and stable across various definitions and continents, which may help in developing global treatment and prevention strategies for oral leukoplakia.

Influence of dental implant/mini-implant design on stress distribution in overdentures: a systematic review.

Critically evaluate the existing literature and answer the question, "Does the dental implant/mini-implant design influence the stress distribution in prosthetic overdentures according to finite element analysis?". This systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework (osf.io/2bquj) and followed the PRISMA protocols. The custom search strategy was applied to 4 databases. In vitro experimental studies that evaluated the influence of dental implant/mini-implant design on stress distribution in overdentures by FEM, without time and language restrictions, were included. The selection process was carried out in two stages by two reviewers independently. Risk of bias analysis was performed by a checklist of important parameters. Sixty articles were evaluated by their title and abstract, four were selected for full reading, three were relevant, and nine were included by additional search. The 12 studies have a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of the data (implant type, design variation, load intensity, and direction). It can be inferred from the evaluated literature that design modifications influence the stress distribution, but as the FEM presents limitations inherent to the in vitro study, clinical trials are necessary to infer the effectiveness of the modifications. It should be noted that there is no consensus on which is the best thread design and that implants with a very narrow diameter are subject to the highest stress concentration.

Deep Learning Methodologies Applied to Digital Pathology in Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Deep learning (DL), often called artificial intelligence (AI), has been increasingly used in Pathology thanks to the use of scanners to digitize slides which allow us to visualize them on monitors and process them with AI algorithms. Many articles have focused on DL applied to prostate cancer (PCa). This systematic review explains the DL applications and their performances for PCa in digital pathology. Article research was performed using PubMed and Embase to collect relevant articles. A Risk of Bias (RoB) was assessed with an adaptation of the QUADAS-2 tool. Out of the 77 included studies, eight focused on pre-processing tasks such as quality assessment or staining normalization. Most articles (n = 53) focused on diagnosis tasks like cancer detection or Gleason grading. Fifteen articles focused on prediction tasks, such as recurrence prediction or genomic correlations. Best performances were reached for cancer detection with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) up to 0.99 with algorithms already available for routine diagnosis. A few biases outlined by the RoB analysis are often found in these articles, such as the lack of external validation. This review was registered on PROSPERO under CRD42023418661.

Therapeutic effects of laser on psoriasis plaques: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Given the relevance of laser application, the objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review to verify the therapeutic effects of laser application on psoriasis plaques. The databases used were PubMED, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and in the gray literature: Google Scholar, Open Grey and LIVIVO. A total of 1,227 records were found, after removal of duplicates 851 studies remained for Phase 1 (reading titles and abstracts) and 31 for Phase 2 (reading the full studies) and finally 9 studies remained for this review, 7 randomized and 2 non-randomized. The risk of bias analysis had two studies with moderate risk and seven with high risk. The present study presented evidence that laser application has positive effects such as reduction of psoriasis plaques. However, due to the high risk of bias, there is a need for further studies.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in African populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Several studies have found MS to be prevalent in various African regions. However, no specific estimates of MS prevalence in African populations exist. The aim of this study was to estimate the overall prevalence of MS in the African populations. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Africa Index Medicus, and African Journal Online Scopus to find studies published up to the 15th of August 2022. Pooled prevalence was calculated based on six diagnostic methods. The pooled prevalence of MS was estimated using a random-effects model. Our risk of bias analysis was based on the Hoy et al. tool. A Heterogeneity (I2) assessment was performed, as well as an Egger test for publication bias. PROSPERO number CRD42021275176 was assigned to this study. In total, 297 studies corresponding to 345 prevalence data from 29 African countries and involving 156 464 participants were included. The overall prevalence of MS in Africa was 32.4% (95% CI: 30.2-34.7) with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 98.9%; P<0.001). We obtained prevalence rates of 44.8% (95% CI: 24.8-65.7), 39.7% (95% CI: 31.7-48.1), 33.1% (95% CI: 28.5-37.8), 31.6% (95% CI: 27.8-35.6) and 29.3% (95% CI: 25.7-33) using the WHO, revised NCEP-ATP III, JIS, NCEP/ATP III and IDF definition criteria, respectively. The prevalence of MS was significantly higher in adults >18 years with 33.1% (95%CI: 30.8-35.5) compared to children <18 years with 13.3% (95%CI: 7.3-20.6) (P<0.001). MS prevalence was significantly higher in females with 36.9% (95%CI: 33.2-40.7) compared to males with 26.7% (95%CI: 23.1-30.5) (P<0.001). The prevalence of MS was highest among Type 2 diabetes patients with 66.9% (95%CI: 60.3-73.1), followed by patients with coronary artery disease with 55.2% (95%CI: 50.8-59.6) and cardiovascular diseases with 48.3% (95%CI: 33.5-63.3) (P<0.001). With 33.6% (95% CI: 28.3-39.1), the southern African region was the most affected, followed by upper-middle income economies with 35% (95% CI: 29.5-40.6). This study, regardless of the definition used, reveals a high prevalence of MS in Africa, confirming the ongoing epidemiological transition in African countries. Early prevention and treatment strategies are urgently needed to reverse this trend.

Review on the effect of systemic melatonin in periodontal disease.

It is of interest to determine the efficacy of adjunctive systemically administered (via oral route) melatonin compared to a placebo, on changes in clinical parameters in patients with periodontitis undergoing periodontal therapy. Literature search was performed systematically after searching with 4 electronic databases until December 2022. Primary outcome measures were changes in Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP%). Secondary outcome measures taken were Clinical attachment Level (CAL) gain and level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α). Risk of bias analysis was done for all the studies. With the adjunctive use of melatonin, improved probing depth reduction and gain in clinical attachment levels was observed in all four studies and was found to be statistically significant compared to the placebo group, suggesting that melatonin administered systemically was able to exert a positive effect at diseased sites. Melatonin drug administered at 10 mg dosage for 2 months showed a significant decrease in TNF-α levels; but showed no significant difference between TNF-α levels in the test and control group at 6 mg administration for 2 months. Systemically administered melatonin as an adjunct in treating periodontal disease could potentially be used due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and bone remodelling properties from increasing evidence. However, a lack of proper guidelines, side effects, standardization of dosage for treating periodontitis and its long-term effect on various other systems in the body, patient related outcome factors and the effect of increased dietary melatonin efficacy have yet to be taken into consideration. Due to the lack of homogeneity, differences in dosage uniformity, and varying follow up intervals, more randomized controlled trial protocols are required to fill the lacunae and better improve our understanding.

Postoperative pain after root canal filling with bioceramic sealers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis (SRM) was to assess postoperative pain (PP) after endodontic treatment with bioceramic root canal sealer compared to AH Plus® sealer. This SRM was carried out in accordance with the items on the PRISMA 2020 checklist and Cochrane guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021259283). Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. Meta-analysis was conducted using R software, the standardized means difference (SMD) measure of effect was calculated for quantitative variables, and the odds ratio (OR) for binary variables. The Cochrane tool (RoB 2.0) was used to assess the risk of bias, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the quality of evidence. Qualitative and quantitative analysis included 18 and 17 studies, respectively. For quantitative variables, the bioceramic root canal sealer presented less occurrence of postoperative pain than the AH Plus® sealer in 24h (SMD -0.17 [-0.34; -0.01], p = 0.0340). For binary variables, there was no difference observed between the sealers evaluated, except for sealer extrusion where the bioceramic group had lower post-filling material extrusion (OR 0.52 [0.32; 0.84], p = 0.007). Regarding the risk of bias analysis, low risk was observed for most domains, except allocation that was considered unclear, while the certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to low. The results showed that bioceramics sealers reduced postoperative endodontic pain only after 24h and showed less sealer extrusion compared to the AH Plus® sealer. However, more robust and standardized clinical trials are needed to confirm the results with less heterogeneity and higher quality of evidence.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Variants and Their Implication in Surgery and Neck Pathologies, Using the Anatomical Quality Assurance (AQUA) Checklist.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is the structure responsible for sensory and motor innervation of the larynx, and it has been shown that its lesion due to a lack of surgical rigor led to alterations such as respiratory obstruction due to vocal cords paralysis and permanent phonation impairment. The objectives of this review were to know the variants of the RLN and its clinical relevance in the neck region. This review considered specific scientific articles that were written in Spanish or English and published between 1960 and 2022. A systematic search was carried out in the electronic databases MEDLINE, WOS, CINAHL, SCOPUS, SCIELO, and Latin American and Caribbean Center for Information on Health Sciences to compile the available literature on the subject to be treated and was enrolled in PROSPERO. The included articles were studies that had a sample of RLN dissections or imaging, intervention group to look for RLN variants, or the comparison of the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) variants, and finally, its clinical correlations. Review articles and letters to the editor were excluded. All included articles were evaluated through quality assessment and risk of bias analysis using the methodological quality assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA). The extracted data in the meta-analysis were interpreted to calculate the prevalence of the RLN variants and their comparison and the relationship between the RLN and NRLN. The heterogeneity degree between included studies was assessed. The included studies that showed variants of the RLN included in this review were 41, a total of 29,218. For the statistical analysis of the prevalence of the RLN variant, a forest plot was performed with 15 studies that met the condition of having a prevalence of less than 100%. As a result, the prevalence was shown to be 12% (95% CI, SD 0.11 to 0.14). Limitations that were present in this review were the publication bias of the included studies, the probability of not having carried out the most sensitive and specific search, and finally, the authors' personal inclinations in selecting the articles. This meta-analysis can be considered based on an update of the prevalence of RLN variants, in addition to considering that the results show some clinical correlations such as intra-surgical complications and with some pathologies and aspects function of the vocal cords, which could be a guideline in management prior to surgery or of interest for the diagnostic.

Effectiveness of Vitamin C Administration on Outcome in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Numerous studies on the effectiveness of vitamin C against the COVID-19 infection have been widely carried out recently. However, the differences in dosage ranges and therapeutic efficacy in previous studies have prompted a systematic literature review on the effectiveness of vitamin C on outcomes in COVID-19 patients. In addition, this study aimed to determine the appropriate therapeutic dose of vitamin C for COVID-19 patients, either alone or in combination with other supplements, and to determine the side effects.Methods: Gleaned from the search on Pubmed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases up to April 25, 2022, fourteen studies were relevant, namely five studies using vitamin C orally and nine studies administered intravenously. We assessed multiple outcomes, including mortality, hospitalization, and symptoms. The quality and risk of bias analyses were performed using JBI critical appraisal tools.Results: The oral administration of vitamin C resulted in a significant difference in the mortality of COVID-19 patients (OR=0.66; 95% CI=0.45–0.97; P=0.04; I2=0%) and a non-significant difference in the outcome. Duration of hospitalization (OR = -0.21; 95% CI = -2.70-2.28; P=0.87; I2=94%). Regarding the cost-effectiveness and side effects manifested in digestive disorders such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, vitamin C with a dose of 500-1000 mg could be given orally.Conclusion: Oral administration of vitamin C showed a reduction in the mortality of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients with moderate symptoms.

Association between thyroid dysfunction and venous thromboembolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Thyroid dysfunction plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease. However, its relationship with venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of published cohort and case-control studies to investigate the association between thyroid dysfunction and VTE comprehensively. Three reviewers independently searched EMbase, PubMed, China national knowledge infrastructure, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant articles from the time of database establishment to 01 October 2022 and identified all studies on thyroid dysfunction and VTE as studies of interest. Of the 2418 publications retrieved, we identified 10 articles with 15 studies that met our selection criteria. Pooled ORs and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using fixed- or random-effect models. We pooled 8 studies by a fixed-effect model, which suggested an increased risk of VTE in patients with (subclinical) hyperthyroidism (OR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.29-1.38). In the other 7 studies on patients with (subclinical) hypothyroidism, the risk was similarly increased when pooled by a random-effect model (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.23-1.89). After sensitivity analysis and risk of bias analysis, the risk of VTE was still increased in both (subclinical) hyperthyroidism (OR 1.322, 95% CI: 1.278-1.368) and (subclinical) hypothyroidism (OR 1.74, 95% CI: 1.41-2.16). Patients with thyroid dysfunction have an increased risk of VTE. Therefore, it is recommended to perform thyroid function screening routinely in patients at high risk of VTE.

Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Waterpipe on Oral Health Status: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the cytotoxic and genotoxic impacts of waterpipe smoking on oral health. The databases MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Dimensions were searched to find studies evaluating whether waterpipe smokers exhibited any cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on their oral cells compared to non-smokers, with regard to mouth neoplasms. Particularly, changes in DNA methylation and p53 expression were assessed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were adopted for the systematic review. Review Manager was utilised for statistical analysis with a significance level at P <0.05. To assess the grades of the included articles, a risk of bias analysis was summarised. A forest plot, including some of the included articles included, was created regarding the different grades. A total of 20 studies were included in this review. The results showed that waterpipe smoking has cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on oral cells, with a risk difference of 0.16. Although the published articles are few in number, all confirm the devastating effects of waterpipe smoking related to the carcinogenicity. Waterpipe smoking is harmful to oral health. It causes a series of detrimental cellular and genetic modifications such as acanthosis, epithelial dysplasia and hyperparakeratosis. In addition, waterpipe smoke contains several carcinogenic compounds. As it releases many harmful organic compounds, waterpipe smoking increases the incidence of oral cancer.