Search

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics of the 100 top-cited articles on scrub typhus (ST), and to assess the present research landscape and future research directions using bibliometric analysis. Methods: Web of Science was used to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the 100 top-cited articles on ST. The articles were analyzed by publication year, number of citations, document type, journals, keywords, institutions, country of origin, and authorship. Results: The top 100 articles on ST were published between 1945 to 2017. The number of citations ranges from 39 to 227 and the interquartile range was 35.5. The United States published the highest number (n = 21) of articles. Mahidol University was the most prolific institution in terms of articles (n =14). The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene was the journal with the most articles (n =14), and Paris DH was the most productive author in terms of the Hirsh-index, which was 10 for that author. The study revealed a significant correlation between the total number of citations and the number of authors (r=0.668, p <0.001), number of institutions (r=0.692, p <0.001), number of years since publication (r=0.869, p <0.001), and number of countries involved (r=0.963, p <0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study provide landmarks in the publication and citation frequency of the most influential articles on ST. In addition, this study provides useful information for readers and health policy-makers in evaluating the literature on ST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bibliometric analyses are commonly used to measure the productivity of researchers or institutions but rarely used to assess the scientific contribution of national surveys/datasets. We applied bibliometric methods to quantify the contributions of the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) to the body of pediatric health-related research. We also examined dissemination to nonresearch audiences by analyzing media coverage of statistics and research produced from the surveys. We conducted a search of the Web of Science database to identify peer-reviewed articles related to the NSCH and NS-CSHCN published between 2002 and 2019. We summarized information about citation counts, publishing journals, key research areas, and institutions using the surveys. We used the Lexis Advance database Nexis to assess media coverage. The publication set included 716 NSCH/NS-CSHCN journal articles published between 2002 and June 2019. These publications have in turn been cited 22,449 times, including in 1614 review articles. Over 180 journals have published NSCH/NS-CSHCN articles, and the most commonly covered research areas are in pediatrics; public, environmental and occupational health; psychology; and health care sciences and services. Over 500 institutions have used NSCH/NS-CSHCN data to publish journal articles, and over 950 news media articles have cited statistics or research produced by the surveys. NSCH/NS-CSHCN data are widely used by government, academic, and media institutions. Bibliometric methods provide a systematic approach to quantify and describe the contributions to the scientific literature made possible with these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the literature available in the past several years, this article presents recently reported associations between oral and systemic health, as well as mechanisms recently uncovered through which oral bacteria influences systemic conditions. Most studies on the oral-systemic connection focus on periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatuni, and Treponema denticola, being associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative conditions, autoimmune diseases. certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and respiratory diseases. A higher risk of mortality also is associated with periodontal disease. This article describes the mechanism of inflammation autoimmune triggers. A common thread among most of the studies reviewed is an oral or gut dysbiosis. Understanding the oral microbiome in health and disease and how to change its composition will become increasingly important in future therapies. Early detection of oral microbes can be achieved easily and accurately in the dental office through the use of salivary diagnostic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term clinical outcomes of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) comparing with laparoscopy total mesorectal excision (LapTME) for mid and low rectal cancer. Methods Relevant studies were searched from the databases of Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. The qualities of all of the included studies were evaluated using Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). The synthesized outcomes were pooled using fixed-effects models or random-effects models, which weighted the odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A funnel plot was used to evaluate the publication bias. Results Seven original studies including 209 TaTME patients and 257 LapTME patients with rectal cancer met the inclusion criteria in this meta-analysis. Compared with LapTME, TaTME showed a longer CRM, lower rate of positive CRM, complete TME rate, and less operative time. There were no significant differences in the outcomes of the harvested lymph nodes, distal margin distance, hospital stay, intraoperative complications, anastomotic leakage, postoperative complications, reoperation, readmission, or conversion between the TaTME group and the LapTME group. Conclusions Compared with LapTME, TaTME is a feasible and safe approach for patients with mid and low rectal cancer. In addition, TaTME showed a better short-term clinical outcomes, such as a longer CRM, lower risk of positive CRM, higher complete quality of TME rate, and shorter operative duration. Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap and the anterolateral thigh flap are among the most popular free flaps used for reconstruction of oral soft tissue. However, there is controversy about their efficacy after reconstruction of tongue defects because of their respective intrinsic properties, so we have compared them in reconstruction of tongue defects using meta-analysis. We conducted a search in Pubmed, EMBASE, OVID, Science Direct, the Cochrane Library, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, which covered all papers published before January 2015. Twelve clinical papers, that included 366 patients with 198 radial forearm flaps and 168 anterolateral flaps, met the criteria. Relevant data were extracted and analysed using systematic meta-analyses. The results showed that the incidence of localised numbness at the donor site of the radial forearm flap postoperatively was significantly higher and satisfaction with the appearance of the donor site significantly lower than in the anterolateral thigh group. There were no differences in flap survival, incidence of vascular crises in the flap, complications, satisfaction with the appearance of the tongue, or the postoperative clarity of speech and swallowing ability. Results suggested that the anterolateral thigh flap is the ideal soft tissue flap for reconstructing defects in the tongue, as there was minimal numbness at the donor site and patients were much more satisfied. Further research is needed to address details of the site and the extent of surgical defects as well as the relations between dissection of the radial flap and repair of the skin graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The $90 billion Indian pharma industry has been unable to develop a new drug for the US market despite spending millions in research, even though Indian generics constitutes 40 per cent of US generic drug imports. Ranbaxy and Zydus have been able to launch indigenously developed new drugs in domestic market, but none of the Indian pharmaceutical companies have launched a new drug approved by USFDA. Until a few years ago (2005–2012), Para IV filing opportunities in the US had engaged the Indian firms quiet significantly. Today, that option is no longer is attractive due to limited Para IV opportunities being targeted by numerous firms. Of late, super generics have emerged as the industry’s hope for the future. They have caught the attention of branded players as some categories enjoy a measure of patent protection (3–5 years) in US under Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). This article is aimed at studying the concept of incremental research in pharmaceutical industry, development cycle and regulatory pathway for super generics, profitability estimates and possibilities in future for Indian firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed at appraising the practice of bio-medical research amongst doctors working at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Barriers to health research were also identified. Methods: This study was conducted over a period of six months between June and November 2012 among different cadres of medical practitioners working at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. One hundred respondents selected by simple random sampling technique were interviewed with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire. Informed consent was obtained from each of the respondents. The information obtained included their bio-data, previous research training experience, and publication. Views of respondents on bio-medical research and barriers to health research were also sought. The data obtained with the aid of the questionnaire were collated and analysed with SPSS 15.0.1 statistical software version. Results: A total of 85 out of the 100 medical practitioners that collected the questionnaire returned their filled questionnaire. The age range of the respondents is 25-59 years with a mean age of 36.55 years ± 8.4 years. The median age was 34 years, and the mode was 34 years. There were 71 males and 14 females. Most respondents (61; 71.8%) had training in research while the remaining 24 (28.2%) did not. Most respondents (66; 77.6%) had participated in research and few, 19 (22.4%), had not participated in research. Less than half of the respondents (41; 48.8%) had had previous research published, and more than half (43; 51.2%) had not had research published. Most respondents (79; 92.9%) believed that research helped in promoting medical practice. Lack of research funding was a major barrier to research (75; 88.2%). Conclusion: Most respondents had participated in research. The majority of the study participants had training in bio-medical research prior to this study. There is a need for regular training of doctors in bio-medical research, and adequate funding should be provided for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with portal-superior mesenteric vein synchronous resection for cancer remains a hot debate topic. The present study used meta-analytical technique to provide update information and an evidence-based evaluation on both the perioperative benefit and long-term survival. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate studies comparing venous resection (VR) versus without venous resection (WVR) groups. 22 retrospective studies including 2890 patients were eligible for an analysis of perioperative morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was made according to histopathology and resection margin status respectively for the purpose of survival assessment. Results: There was no difference in perioperative morbidity, mortality and 1-year, 3-year survival between two groups, but showed differences in median tumor size (P < 0.001), R0 resection rate (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.03), pancreatic fistula (P = 0.01), and 5-year survival (P = 0.03). In subgroup analysis, patients in venous resection group received R0 resection had a significantly better survival comparing with who received R1 resection both at 2-year (P < 0.001) and 5-year (P = 0.00002). In histopathology subgroup, patients in venous resection groups who had true tumor infiltration had a significantly bad survival comparing with whom only with inflammation pathology. Conclusion: Pancreaticoduodenectomy combined with venous resection can achieve equal perioperative morbidity and mortality as standard resection. However, in order to obtain an optimal survival outcome, surgeons should make an R0 resection as far as possible, especially in cases need synchronous venous resection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer worldwide. Epidemiologic studies have examined the possible association between tomato products consumption and gastric cancer, but the relationship between tomato products and the risk of gastric cancer is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of cohort and case–control studies to analyze this association. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE and contacted authors to identify potential studies published from January 1966 to June 2012. We pooled the relative risks from individual studies using a random-effects model and performed heterogeneity and publication bias analyses. Results: Twenty-one studies were eligible for our inclusion criteria, in a pooled analysis of all studies, consumption of large amounts of tomato products (in a comparison of the highest and lowest consumption groups) reduced the risk for gastric cancer (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.60–0.90). The pooled OR of lycopene consumption and serum lycopene was 0.88 (95% CI=0.67–1.16) and 0.79 (95% CI=0.59–1.07), respectively. Conclusions: Consumption of large amounts of tomato products is associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer. However, because of potential confounding factors and exposure misclassification, further studies are required to establish these findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a meta-analysis of the interval between tobacco use initiation and first-episode psychosis, the prevalence and course of tobacco use during early psychosis. Data including the age at tobacco use initiation, psychosis onset, and the proportion of the general population that used tobacco are cited to have been extracted from several studies. First-episode psychosis patients are described to have been found to have smoked for years prior to onset of psychosis.

Abstract: Objective: To determine the accuracy of telomerase activity in predicting a higher risk for breast cancer. Study design: A quantitative systematic review was performed. Studies that detected telomerase activities in breast tissue were included. Results: Twenty-five primary studies were analyzed, which included 2395 breast lesions. The proportion of breast cancer was 60.8%. Eighty-two percent (1193/1455) of breast cancer cases and 18% (169/940) of benign lesions cases were positive for telomerase activity. For breast cancer vs benign or normal breast tissue, the pooled likelihood ratio for the presence of telomerase activity was 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1–6.5) and the post-test probability was 88% (95% CI, 83–91). For breast cancer vs benign or normal tissue, the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.89 with the Q* point value of 0.82. Conclusion: Our systematic review showed that telomerase activity was significantly present in breast cancer when compared with normal breast tissue or benign breast lesions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to critically appraise the evidence concerning the use of cholinesterase inhibitors compared to no treatment to prevent the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer disease. The objective was addressed through the development of a structured, critically appraised topic (CAT). This evidence-based methodology incorporated a clinical scenario, background information, structured question, literature search strategy, results, critical appraisal, commentary, and clinical bottom line. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Well-designed, well-conducted and well-reported randomised clinical trials (RCTs) can significantly impact medical care, by contributing to a strong evidence base from which clinical guidelines can be derived. In a previous study, we assessed the quality of reports of RCTs in plastic surgery published from 1966 to 2003. The aim of the present study was to verify what have changed over the last years. RCTs in plastic surgery published from 2004 to 2008 were identified through electronic searches, and classified according to their allocation concealment. Trials with allocation concealment appropriately described were evaluated as to their quality. Two independent reviewers performed the evaluations, using two tools: the Delphi List and the Jadad’s quality scale. From 3840 identified studies, 96 were selected for classification according to allocation concealment; 28 (29%) of them appropriately described allocation concealment. From 1966 to 2003, 34 (17%) RCTs appropriately described allocation concealment (χ 2 = 22.98, p < 0.000). In the evaluation of the 28 RCTs by the Delphi List, the agreement coefficient between raters (kw) was 0.46 (z = 7.24, p < 0.000). Groups were similar at baseline in 96.4% of these trials, and this was the only item of the Delphi List, which significantly improved when compared with the period from 1966 to 2003 (χ 2 = 18.53, p < 0.000). When evaluated by Jadad’s criteria, 14% of the RCTs were scored two points or less and thus considered of low quality (kw = 0.72, z = 8.57, p < 0.001). From 1966 to 2003, 59% of RCTs were scored two points or less (χ 2 = 17.07, p < 0.004). We concluded that the quality of reports of RCTs in plastic surgery (as measured by the Jadad’s criteria and only one component of the nine components of the Delphi List) significantly increased over the last years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the research literature for the emerging field of Integrative Medicine/Integrative Health Care (IM) using the methods of systematic review. Methods: We conducted an electronic literature search using PubMed, Allied and Complementary Medicine, BIOSIS Previews, EMBASE, the entire Cochrane Library, MANTIS, Social SciSearch, SciSearch Cited Ref Sci, PsychInfo, CINAHL, and NCCAM grantee publications listings from database inception to May 2009, as well as searches of the gray literature. Available studies published in English language were included. Three independent reviewers rated each article and assessed the methodological quality of studies using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Results: Our initial search yielded 11 591 citations. Of these, only 660 were judged to be relevant to the purpose of our search. Most articles deal with implementing and implemented programs. They focus on practice models, strategies for integrative health, the business case, and descriptive studies. This is followed in terms of numbers by conceptual/philosophical writings. These in turn are followed by research articles including randomized controlled trials, program evaluations, and cost-effectiveness studies. The literature reflects an emerging field in that it is focused more on how to create IM than on researching outcomes. However, the lack of definition and clarity about the term integrative medicine (also known as integrative health care) and the absence of taxonomy for models of IM make it very difficult to efficiently conduct systematic reviews of this field at the moment. Conclusion: Our review revealed that most articles focused on describing practice models and conceptual/philosophical models, whereas there are fewer randomized controlled trials and observation studies. The lack of consensus on a clear definition and taxonomy for integrative health care represents a major methodological barrier on conducting systematic literature reviews and meta-analysis in this emerging field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: It is widely believed that psychological treatment has little effect on more severely depressed patients. This study assessed whether pretreatment severity moderates psychological treatment outcome relative to controls by means of meta-analyses. Method: We included 132 studies (10,134 participants) from a database of studies (www.evidencebasedpsychotherapies.org) in which the effects of psychological treatment on adult outpatients with a depressive disorder or an elevated level of depressive symptoms were compared with a control condition in a randomized controlled trial. Two raters independently extracted outcome data and rated study characteristics. We conducted metaregression analyses assessing whether mean pretreatment depression scores predicted psychological treatment versus control condition posttreatment effect size and subgroup analyses summarizing the results of studies reporting within-study analyses of depression severity and psychological treatment outcome. Results: Psychological treatment was found to be consistently superior to control conditions (d = 0.40-0.88). We found no indication that pretreatment mean depression scores predicted psychological treatment versus control condition posttreatment effect size, even after adjusting for relevant study characteristics. However, among the smaller subset of studies that reported within-study severity analyses, posttreatment effect sizes were higher for high-severity patients (d = 0.63) than for low-severity patients (d = 0.22) when psychological treatment was efficacious relative to a more stringent control. Conclusion: Contrary to conventional wisdom, our findings suggest that when compared with control conditions, psychological treatment might be more efficacious for high-severity than for low-severity patients. Because the number of studies reporting within-study severity analyses is small, we recommend that future studies routinely report tests for Severity × Treatment interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatria is the property of Asociacion Colombiana de Psiquiatria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The author comments on a study published within the issue which subjected 29 meta-analyses on cotreatment strategies added to antipsychotic monotherapy in schizophrenia to a meta-meta-analysis. Topics covered include the study's novel approach and the value of meta-analyses and how it affect precision and confidence, discrepant meta-analyses concerning the efficacy of clozapine in treating schizophrenia, and the uncertainties of the study which could be a potential source of confusion.

The author looks at the importance of informative meta-analysis for systematic review in clinical research. Focus is given to ways to synthesize, informative and appropriate methodology for reviewing different studies, need of trials for lowering of risk bias for meta-analysis, and random-effect analysis of lower incisor inclination change.

Abstract: Publication bias is a major problem in evidence based medicine. As well as positive outcome studies being preferentially published or followed by full text publication authors are also more likely to publish positive results in English-language journals. This unequal distribution of trials leads to a selection bias in evidence l level studies, like systematic reviews, meta-analysis or health technology assessments followed by a systematic failure of interpretation and in clinical decisions. Publication bias in a systematic review occurs mostly during the selection process and a transparent selection process is necessary to avoid such bias. For systematic reviews/meta-analysis the PRISMA-statement (formerly known as QUOROM) is recommended, as it gives the reader for a better understanding of the selection process. In the future the use of trial registration for minimizing publication bias, mechanisms to allow easier access to the scientific literature and improvement in the peer review process are recommended to overcome publication bias. The use of checklists like PRISMA is likely to improve the reporting quality of a systematic review and provides substantial transparency in the selection process of papers in a systematic review. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]