Combining Information from Similar Experiments: II. Quantifying Qualitative Results

Suppose that independent experiments each indicate general qualitative results, such as higher than normal incidence rates of tumors for exposed populations. This paper suggests methods for amalgamating the qualitative results from several such experiments into a more quantitative form, such as a dose-response relationship. The methods are designed to be robust both to systematic bias in one of the experiments and also to procedural variability across experiments. Data from four rodent experiments with tolazamide are used to illustrate the methods.     

Zinc supplementation for prevention and management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a systematic review

BackgroundRecurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a very common oral ulcerative disease with no definitive cure. Growing evidence suggests a significant association between zinc deficiency and RAS.ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of systemic zinc supplementations in the prevention and management of RAS.MethodsFive databases were searched for all English and Chinese studies published up to November 2020. All clinical trials that assessed the efficacy of zinc supplementations in the management and/or prevention of RAS were included.ResultsSeven clinical trials comprising 482 RAS patients (250 in zinc group) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The follow-up period ranged from three months to one year. Five studies showed significantly better efficacy of zinc in reducing the recurrence rates of RAS, whereas two studies did not report any significant differences compared to the controls. Four studies reported on signs/symptoms of RAS, three of which showed superior outcomes in favour of zinc, while one study reported comparable results.ConclusionZinc supplementation seems to be efficacious in the management and prevention of RAS. However, further clinical trials with standardized methodologies and adequate follow-up periods are required to confirm the efficacy of zinc supplementations.     

Non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in prevention of colorectal cancer in people aged 40 or older: A systematic review and meta-analysis

There is still insufficient data about the risk-benefit profile about recommending non-aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NA-NSAIDs) for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention, especially in people aged 40 years or older. This study specifically addressed the association between regular NA-NSAIDs use and CRC risk in the population aged 40 years or older, performing a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of all published studies on this topic until April 2018, by a search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of science databases and clinical trial registries. Two reviewers independently selected studies based on predefined inclusion criteria and assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Otawa scale. The data was combined with the random effects model. Potential heterogeneity was calculated as Q statistic and I² value. A total of 23 studies involving more than 1 million subjects contributed to the analysis. Pooled odds ratio (OR) of NA-NSAIDs effects on CRC risk was 0.74 (0.67-0.81), I² = 75.9%, p < 0.001. Heterogeneity was explained by a number of variables including the quality of the studies. Significant protective effects of NA-NSAIDs use were found for women (risk reduction of 19%), higher doses (risk reduction of 18%), distal colon cancer (risk reduction of 22%) and white people (risk reduction from 31% to 41%). From the results NA-NSAIDs use appears to be CRC chemopreventive for a specific subgroup of the population.     

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Latin America and the Caribbean populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Latin Americaand the Caribbean (LAC), through systematic review and meta-analysis by age groups and gender.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of the population-based observational epidemiological studies carried out in LAC, focused on the prevalence of H. pylori and published until March, 2018. The databases utilized in the search were MEDLINE, SCIELO andPUBMED. The prevalence described in the meta-analysis and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by the random effects model, and weighted by the size of the study.ResultsThe 22 selected studies were carried out in 14 countries of LAC, and included 24,178 individuals. The studies were conducted between 1987 and 2012, and all were representative of at least one city. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 57.57% (CI95%:50.43;64.72) for all ages; in children and adolescents the prevalence was 48.36% (CI95%:38.03;58.70) and in adults 69.26%(CI95%:64.54;76.99). No differences were observed regarding sex.ConclusionPrevalence of H. pylori infection in LAC is high for all age groups. These data reinforce the necessity of actions towards the prevention and treatment of H. pylori infection for all age groups. Treating H pylori infection in young ages probably will reduce gastric cancer incidence in the future.     

A new chinchilloid (Rodentia,Hystricognathi) from the early Miocene of the localities of Bryn Gwyn and Gran Barranca (Patagonia,Argentina)

A new genus and species of chinchilloid rodent is described here. It was found in Colhuehuapian levels (early Miocene) of the localities of Bryn Gwyn and Gran Barranca, Chubut Province, Argentina. The new taxon shows a unique combination of characters (e.g., protohypsodont teeth, upper molars trilophodont, m1 and m2 tri- or tetralophodont with the second crest in position of variable development, and m3 trilophodont, cement absent) that make it different from any other known chinchilloids. We performed a phylogenetic analysis to corroborate the relationships of the new taxon within the Chinchilloidea. Our results indicate that the new taxon is best classified as Chinchilloidea incertae sedis, together with Incamys, Garridomys, and Scotamys. These species form the basal stock that leads to the modern lineage Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas). The presence of the new taxon in these localities increases the diversity of chinchilloids during the early Miocene and reduces the dissimilarity between the faunas found in Bryn Gwyn and Gran Barranca.     

Derivation and validation of clinical phenotypes for COPD: a systematic review

Background

The traditional classification of COPD, which relies solely on spirometry, fails to account for the complexity and heterogeneity of the disease. Phenotyping is a method that attempts to derive a single or combination of disease attributes that are associated with clinically meaningful outcomes. Deriving phenotypes entails the use of cluster analyses, and helps individualize patient management by identifying groups of individuals with similar characteristics. We aimed to systematically review the literature for studies that had derived such phenotypes using unsupervised methods.

Methods

Two independent reviewers systematically searched multiple databases for studies that performed validated statistical analyses, free of definitive pre-determined hypotheses, to derive phenotypes among patients with COPD. Data were extracted independently.

Results

9156 citations were retrieved, of which, 8 studies were included. The number of subjects ranged from 213 to 1543. Most studies appeared to be biased: patients were more likely males, with severe disease, and recruited in tertiary care settings. Statistical methods used to derive phenotypes varied by study. The number of phenotypes identified ranged from 2 to 5. Two phenotypes, with poor longitudinal health outcomes, were common across multiple studies: young patients with severe respiratory disease, few cardiovascular co-morbidities, poor nutritional status and poor health status, and a phenotype of older patients with moderate respiratory disease, obesity, cardiovascular and metabolic co-morbidities.

Conclusions

The recognition that two phenotypes of COPD were often reported may have clinical implications for altering the course of the disease. This review also provided important information on limitations of phenotype studies in COPD and the need for improvement in future studies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-015-0208-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Revision of Launaea Cass. (Compositae) in Egypt with special references to cypselar diversity

A systematic revision for the species of Launaea Cass. in Egypt has revealed the presence of fourteen taxa belonging to 12 species, of which L. acanthodes (Boiss.) Kuntze is a new recorded. One new combination “L. fragilis subsp. tenuiloba (Boiss.) Zareh & Mohamed” is made. Achene diversity of the studied taxa of Launaea was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The taxonomic relationships between the studied taxa were discussed as well as SEM micrographs of achenes are provided. Synonyms and key for the identification of the investigated taxa based on morphological characters as well as notes on distribution are provided.     

骨碎补科植物叶表皮特征及其系统学意义

基于骨碎补科(Davalliaceae)植物属的界定和属下等级的划分一直存在较大争议,本研究首次对骨碎补科6属39种(秦仁昌系统)植物的叶表皮进行了扫描电镜观察。结果显示,骨碎补科有9种类型的角质层,其中,阴石蕨属(Humata)的角质层有密集的孔状凹陷结构;Wibelia条纹突起较厚,排列整齐且细密紧致;广义钻毛蕨属(Davallodes)内存在多种角质层类型,需要在属下进一步细分。本研究还根据角质层特征讨论了骨碎补科与一些近缘种类的关系。角质层特征是骨碎补科内种属分类的重要依据,而保卫细胞形状和气孔密度,均不能用来界定骨碎补科的属和种。本研究按角质层分类的结果与Kato和Tsutsumi的分子系统学分类观点一致。     

假瘤蕨属 (水龙骨科) 植物叶表皮特征的比较研究

在光镜和扫描电镜下观察了假瘤蕨属2系、5亚系的24种植物的叶表皮。结果表明,叶表皮细胞形状不规则,垂周壁波曲状。下生气孔,气孔类型有极细胞型、共环极细胞型、腋下细胞型、聚腋下细胞型和不规则型,常伴生出现。在扫描电镜下,叶表皮气孔器外拱盖内缘为浅波状、少平滑;一些种的保卫细胞两端有“T”型加厚;角质膜波状有条纹,有时附有颗粒。叶表皮的一些特征对该属部分种的区分有一定的参考价值。叶表皮的微形态特征,如气孔器类型和垂周壁类型特征不能用来界定假瘤蕨属的系和亚系。