How to impute study-specific standard deviations in meta-analyses of skewed continuous endpoints?

AIM: To compare four methods to approximate mean and standard deviation (SD) when only medians and interquartile ranges are provided.

METHODS: We performed simulated meta-analyses on six datasets of 15, 30, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 trials, respectively. Subjects were iteratively generated from one of the following seven scenarios: five theoretical continuous distributions [Normal, Normal (0, 1), Gamma, Exponential, and Bimodal] and two real-life distributions of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay. For each simulation, we calculated the pooled estimates assembling the study-specific medians and SD approximations: Conservative SD, less conservative SD, mean SD, or interquartile range. We provided a graphical evaluation of the standardized differences. To show which imputation method produced the best estimate, we ranked those differences and calculated the rate at which each estimate appeared as the best, second-best, third-best, or fourth-best.

RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that the best pooled estimate for the overall mean and SD was provided by the median and interquartile range (mean standardized estimates: 4.5 ± 2.2, P = 0.14) or by the median and the SD conservative estimate (mean standardized estimates: 4.5 ± 3.5, P = 0.13). The less conservative approximation of SD appeared to be the worst method, exhibiting a significant difference from the reference method at the 90% confidence level. The method that ranked first most frequently is the interquartile range method (23/42 = 55%), particularly when data were generated according to the Standard Normal, Gamma, and Exponential distributions. The second-best is the conservative SD method (15/42 = 36%), particularly for data from a bimodal distribution and for the intensive care unit stay variable.

CONCLUSION: Meta-analytic estimates are not significantly affected by approximating the missing values of mean and SD with the correspondent values for median and interquartile range.

Development of the Documentation and Appraisal Review Tool for systematic reviews

AIM: To develop a tool to more explicitly assess and document the quality of systematic reviews.

METHODS: We developed the Documentation and Appraisal Review Tool (DART) using epidemiologic principles of study design and the following resources: the modified Overview Quality Assessment Questionnaire (modified OQAQ), Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR), the Cochrane Handbook, and the standards promoted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Institutes of Medicine (IOM). We designed the DART tool to include the following: more detail to provide guidance and improve standardization of use, an approach to assess quality of systematic reviews addressing a variety of research designs, and additional space for recording notes to facilitate recall. DART underwent multiple rounds of testing with methodologists of varying levels of training and experience. Based on the results of six phases of pilot testing, we revised DART to improve performance, clarity and consistency. Pilot testing also included comparisons between DART, and the two most commonly used tools to evaluate the quality of systematic reviews, the modified OQAQ and AMSTAR.

RESULTS: Compared to AMSTAR and modified OQAQ, DART includes two unique questions and several questions covered by modified OQAQ or AMSTAR but not both. Modified OQAQ and DART had the highest reporting consistency. Four AMSTAR questions were unclear and elicited inconsistent responses. Identifying reviewer rationale was most difficult using the modified OQAQ tool, and easiest using DART. DART allows for documentation of reviewer rationale, facilitating reconciliation between reviewers and documentation for future updates. DART also provides a comprehensive, systematic approach for reviewers with limited experience with systematic review methodology, to critically analyze systematic reviews. In addition, DART is the only one of the three tools to explicitly include quality review for biases specific to observational studies. This is now more widely recognized as important for assessing risk in order to generate recommendations that balance benefit to harm. The tool also includes the assessment of standards recommended by the March 2011 IOM Standards for Systematic Review.

CONCLUSION: This comprehensive tool improves upon existing tools for assessing the quality of systematic reviews and guides reviewers through critically analyzing a systematic review.

Hypertension in Zimbabwe: A meta-analysis to quantify its burden and policy implications

AIM: To estimate the pooled prevalence of hypertension in Zimbabwe and describe its trend since independence in 1980 using secondary source data.

METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases from April 1980 to December 2013 were searched for population and community based studies on the prevalence of hypertension among adults (≥ 18 years) in Zimbabwe. The key words used were “prevalence”, “epidemiologic studies”, “hypertension” or “high blood pressure”, based on the cut-off (≥ 140 mmHg systolic blood pressure and/or ≥ 90 mmHg diastolic blood pressure). We conducted a meta-analysis on the published studies, using the random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence.

RESULTS: The search retrieved 87 publications, of which four studies met the selection criteria. The four studies had a total of 4829 study participants between 1997 and 2010 across 5 provinces in Zimbabwe. Two studies were in urban areas, while the other two had mixed study settings (urban and rural). The overall pooled prevalence of hypertension was 30% (95%CI: 19%, 42%, I²= 98%, χ² = 164.15, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSION: Our results show a high prevalence of hypertension in Zimbabwe, with urban areas having higher prevalence than rural areas.

Preventing pediatric antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections with probiotics: A meta-analysis

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of probiotics for preventing pediatric: (1) antibiotic associated diarrhea and (2) Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections.

METHODS: On June 3, 2013, we searched PubMed (1960-2013), EMBASE (1974-2013), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1990-2013), CINAHL (1981-2013), AMED (1985-2013), and ISI Web of Science (2000-2013). Additionally, we conducted an extensive grey literature search including contact with National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry, abstracts from annual infectious disease and gastroenterology meetings, experts in the field and correspondence with authors. The primary outcomes were the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and C. difficile infections (CDI). Dichotomous outcomes (e.g., incidence of AAD or CDI) were pooled using a random-effects model to calculate the relative risk and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) and weighted on study quality. To explore possible explanations for heterogeneity, a priori subgroup analysis were conducted on probiotic strain type, daily dose, quality of study and safety of probiotics. The overall quality of the evidence supporting each outcome was assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation criteria.

RESULTS: A total of 1329 studies were identified with 22 trials (23 treatment arms and 4155 participants) meeting eligibility requirements for our review of prevention of AAD and 5 trials (1211 participants) for the prevention of CDI. Trials in adult populations, trials of uncertain antibiotic exposure or studies which did not provide incidence of AAD were excluded. We found 12 trials testing a single strain of probiotic and 10 trials testing a mixture of probiotic strains. Probiotics (all strains combined) significantly reduced the incidence of pediatric AAD (pooled RR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.33-0.53) and significantly reduced pediatric CDI (pooled RR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.13-0.92). Of the two strains with multiple trials, both significantly reduced pediatric AAD: Saccharomyces boulardii lyo (pooled RR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.32-0.60) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (pooled RR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.19-0.69). There was no significant effect by type of antibiotic, or by duration or dose of probiotic. No adverse events associated were found in the 22 controlled trials relating to the use of probiotics.

CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis found that probiotics significantly prevented pediatric antibiotic associated diarrhea and pediatric CDI, but the efficacy varies significantly by the strain of the probiotic.

Meta-analysis of single strain probiotics for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and prevention of adverse events

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of single strain probiotics for the: (1) eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori); (2) prevention of adverse events; and (3) prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea associated with eradication therapy.

METHODS: We searched PubMed (1960-2014), EMBASE (1974-2014), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1990-2014), and ISI Web of Science (2000-2014). Additionally, we conducted a grey literature search including contact with National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry, abstracts from annual infectious disease and gastroenterology meetings, experts in the field and correspondence with authors. Randomized controlled trials of H. pylori positive adults or children treated with eradication therapy and assessing the adjunctive therapy with a single strain of probiotics were included. The primary outcomes were the rates of eradication of H. pylori and frequency of patients with adverse events or antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Outcomes were pooled using fixed or random-effects models to calculate the relative risk and corresponding 95%CI and weighted on study size. To explore possible explanations for heterogeneity, a priori subgroup analyses were conducted on daily probiotic dose, study population, and quality of the study. The overall quality of the evidence for each probiotic strain was assessed using the GRADE criteria.

RESULTS: A total of 25 randomized controlled trials (28 treatment arms, with a total of 3769 participants) assessed one of six single probiotic strains as adjunctive treatments to standard eradication therapy. Only one probiotic strain significantly improved H. pylori eradication rates: Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) CNCM I-745 [pooled relative risks (pRR) = 1.11, 95%CI: 1.07-1.16]. Only one probiotic strain (S. boulardii CNCM I-745) significantly prevented any adverse events (pRR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.28-0.62). Both S. boulardii CNCM I-745 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG significantly reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea (pRR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.37-0.60 and pRR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.17-0.48, respectively) associated with H. pylori eradication therapy. Meta-regression of sub-groups did not detect significant differences by dose, adult vs pediatric, symptom status, or study quality, but did find significant differences by the strain of probiotic. Potential mild publication bias was found for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but not for eradication or adverse event outcomes. Analysis of the study quality illuminated areas for improvement in future studies (use of placebos, study size calculations, attrition reasons and discussion of limitations and generalizability).

CONCLUSION: The pooled evidence suggests that the adjunctive use of a few probiotic strains may improve H. pylori eradication rates and prevent the development of adverse events and antibiotic-associated diarrhea in those treated with standard eradication therapies. The type of probiotic strain was the most important factor in predicting efficacy.

Prophylactic tracheal intubation for upper GI bleeding: A meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate usefulness of prophylactically intubating upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) patients.

METHODS: UGIB results in a significant number of hospital admissions annually with endoscopy being the key intervention. In these patients, risks are associated with the bleeding and the procedure, including pulmonary aspiration. However, very little literature is available assessing the use of prophylactic endotracheal intubation on aspiration in these patients. A comprehensive search was performed in May 2014 in Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, PubMed/Medline, Embase, and published abstracts from national gastroenterology meetings in the United States (2004-2014). Included studies examined UGIB patients and compared prophylactic intubation to no intubation before endoscopy. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.2 by Mantel-Haenszel and DerSimonian and Laird models with results presented as odds ratio for aspiration, pneumonia (within 48 h), and mortality. Funnel plots were utilized for publication bias and I² measure of inconsistency for heterogeneity assessments.

RESULTS: Initial search identified 571 articles. Of these articles, 10 relevant peer-reviewed articles in English and two relevant abstracts were selected to review by two independent authors (Almashhrawi AA and Bechtold ML). Of these studies, eight were excluded: Five did not have a control arm, one was a letter the editor, one was a survey study, and one was focused on prevention of UGIB. Therefore, four studies (N = 367) were included. Of the UGIB patients prophylactically intubated before endoscopy, pneumonia (within 48 h) was identified in 20 of 134 (14.9%) patients as compared to 5 of 95 (5.3%) patients that were not intubated prophylactically (P = 0.02). Despite observed trends, no significant differences were found for mortality (P = 0.18) or aspiration (P = 0.11).

CONCLUSION: Pneumonia within 48 h is more likely in UGIB patients who received prophylactic endotracheal intubation prior to endoscopy.

Statin use and risk of cancer: An overview of meta-analyses

AIM

To conduct an overview of meta-analyses to critically appraise the evidence and present a comprehensive evaluation of the association between statin use and risk of site specific cancers.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Web of Science databases were searched from inception until 31^st May 2016. The electronic database search was supplemented by a hand search in PROSPERO and relevant journals which are not indexed in above databases. Meta-analyses that examined the association between statin use and risk of site specific cancers were included. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, abstracted data, and assessed study quality using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool.

RESULTS

Overall, 38 meta-analyses covered 13 site specific cancers were included. More than half (68%) of the meta-analyses were moderate in quality with an AMSTAR score 4-7 out of a possible 11. Based on current evidence from meta-analyses, use of statin decreases the risk of certain cancers, such as colorectal (8%-12%), gastric (27%-44%), hematological (19%), liver (37%-42%), oesophageal (14%-28%), ovarian (21%) and prostate cancer (7%). On the other side, evidence from meta-analyses also suggests that there is no association between statin use and risk of bladder, breast, endometrial, kidney, lung, pancreatic and skin cancers.

CONCLUSION

This overview of meta-analyses with variable quality has been shown that the statins may have a potential role in cancer chemoprevention and reduce the risk of some site specific cancers, but not all.

Different types of mechanical complications after surgical correction of adult spine deformity with osteotomy

AIM

To determine the incidence and risk factors for mechanical complications (MC) after surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD) with osteotomy.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed. Inclusion criteria: Surgical correction of ASD using osteotomy; male or female; > 20 years old; follow-up ≥ 24 mo or revision. The MC of spine and spinal instrumentation were studied separately. Risk analysis included assessment of the association between more than 50 different characteristics (demographic, clinical, radiographic, and instrumentation) with different types of MC.

RESULTS

The medical records of 94 operations in 88 subjects were analyzed: Female (68%), mean age 58.6 (SD, 12.7) years. Cumulative incidence of MC at 2 year follow-up was 43.6%. Of these, 78% required revision (P < 0.001). The following characteristics had significant (P ≤ 0.05) association with MC: (1) Preoperative: osteoporosis, smoking, previous spinal operation, sagittal vertical axis (SVA) > 100 mm, lumbar lordosis (LL) < 34°; (2) postoperative: SVA > 75 mm; operative correction: SVA > 75 mm, LL > 30°, thoracic kyphosis > 25°, and pelvic tilt > 9°; a fall; pseudarthrosis; and (3) device and surgical technique: use of previously implanted instrumentation; use of domino and/or parallel connectors; type of osteotomy (PSO vs SPO) if preoperative SVA < 100 mm; lumbar osteotomy location; in-situ rod contouring > 60°; and fixation to sacrum/pelvis.

CONCLUSION

Risk of MC after surgical correction of ASD is substantial. To decrease this risk over- and/or insufficient correction of the sagittal imbalance should be avoided.

Effect of supervised exercise on aerobic capacity in cancer survivors: Adherence and workload predict variance in effect

AIM: To examine the efficacy of supervised aerobic exercise training on aerobic capacity in survivors of cancer.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic search identifying randomized controlled trials of supervised aerobic exercise interventions among adult cancer survivors with aerobic capacity (VO_2max/peak) as the primary outcome. We calculated pooled effect sizes and performed multiple regression moderator analysis.

RESULTS: We identified 18 studies including 1149 survivors of cancer. Studies included mixed cancer groups (4 studies), breast cancer (10 studies), hematological cancers (2 studies), lung cancer (1 study) and liver cancer (1 study). Survivors of cancer who participated in supervised aerobic exercise training improved aerobic capacity (VO_2peak) more than controls (18 comparisons, 1093 participants; standardized mean effect: 0.74; 95%CI: 0.52, 0.96; P < 0.001). However, there was significant heterogeneity among the included trials (I²: 63%; P < 0.001). Sixty-six percent of the between-study heterogeneity was explained by differences in exercise adherence and total exercise workload among studies (R²: 65.8%; P < 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Supervised aerobic exercise training provides a moderate-to-large beneficial effect on aerobic capacity among survivors of cancer. Aerobic capacity was improved to a greater degree in exercise studies with better participant attendance and higher overall exercise workload.

Prevalence of hypertension in India: A meta-analysis

AIM: To determine the prevalence of hypertension in the urban and rural population of India.

METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through computer based and manual searches using MEDLINE/ PubMed, Google scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and reference lists of prevalence studies from January 2000 to June 2012. A total of 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis of hypertension in urban India and 10 studies in the analysis of hypertension in rural India after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Estimates of prevalence were calculated using the random effect model for meta-analysis.

RESULTS: The electronic search using appropriate keywords identified 177 titles for prevalence of hypertension in urban India, of which 165 were excluded, and 133 titles for prevalence in rural India, of which 123 were excluded after applying the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies including 125333 subjects were analyzed to assess the prevalence of hypertension in the urban Indian population, whereas ten studies including 24800 subjects were analyzed to determine the prevalence of hypertension in the rural Indian population. The prevalence of hypertension in the urban population was estimated to be 40.8% (95%CI: 40.5%-41.0%) and that of hypertension in the rural population was 17.9% (95%CI: 17.5%-18.3%). It is evident that the prevalence of hypertension is significantly higher in the urban population of India compared to the rural.

CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that policies and interventions should be prioritized for reduction of hypertension in the adult Indian population, especially the urban population.

PD-1/PD-L1 antagonists in gastric cancer: Current studies and perspectives

Immune checkpoints release suppressive signals for T cells, which enable the tumors to escape from immune destruction and provide a new concept that uses the capabilities of the immune system as a therapeutic target for tumors. At present, programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) has become the most promising therapeutic target. PD-1/PD-L1 blockades exhibit long-lasting antitumor efficacy and safety in patients with various cancers, such as melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer. Moreover, PD-L1 is highly expressed in the peripheral blood and tumor specimens of patients with cancer, and the expression of PD-L1 is positively correlated with various pathological features and may serve as a predictor of poor prognosis or a diagnostic tool. Clinical trials have verified that PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy benefits patients with advanced gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Furthermore, there are many molecules involved in the regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 expression, and the modification of these molecules via drugs and combinations with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors may further improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for gastric cancer. In this review, the efficacy, safety, and possible combination treatment options of PD-1/PD-L1 in gastric cancer are reviewed in experimental and clinical settings.

Unsaturation index and type 2 diabetes: Unknown, unloved

A useful parameter for interpreting analyses of membrane fatty-acid composition is the unsaturation index (UI), a measure of unsaturation that is calculated as the mean number of cis double bonds per fatty-acid residue multiplied by 100. The UI is a fundamental parameter that contains information about many membrane biophysical properties and behavior. UI is a crucial index for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and other disorders, yet it is not properly considered in the scientific community. The goal of the present editorial is to familiarize the scientific T2D community with the UI. The idea of early systemic cell-membrane disease necessitates new thinking and suggests that UI should feature prominently on the research agenda.

Prevalence of anxiety among gestational diabetes mellitus patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) negatively influences maternal mental health. There is a lack of systematic review and meta-analysis on prevalence of anxiety among GDM women.

AIM

To pool data from existing literature to determine the pooled estimates for the prevalence of anxiety among women diagnosed with GDM.

METHODS

We searched multiple databases including MEDLINE, Cinahl, PubMed and Scopus to identify studies published up to 31 October 2019 with data on the prevalence of anxiety among women diagnosed with GDM. Data were extracted from published reports. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

We reviewed 19 abstracts, retrieved 10 articles and included three studies incorporating 12744 GDM women from three countries. The pooled prevalence of anxiety was 29.5% (95%CI: 6.9, 52.0) among GDM women.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of anxiety among GDM women was high. We suggest that epidemiological studies on anxiety should be conducted urgently as it merits clinical attention. In addition, it is important to identify factors associated with anxiety among women diagnosed with GDM.

Duplicates in systematic reviews: A critical, but often neglected issue

The number of systematic reviews is gradually increasing over time. Also, the methods to perform a systematic review are being improved. However, little attention has been paid for the issue regarding how to find duplicates in systematic reviews. On the basis of the survey and systematic reviews by our team and others, we review the prevalence, significance and classification of duplicates and the method to find duplicates in a systematic review. Notably, although a preliminary method to find duplicates is established, its usefulness and convenience need to be further confirmed.

L-carnitine supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) dominates the landscape of modern hepatology. Affecting 25% of the general population, there is critical unmet need to identify broadly available, safe and cost-effective treatments. Cumulative evidence in animal and human models suggests that intrahepatic and skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation is impaired in NAFLD, such that lipid accretion is not matched by efficient utilisation. L-carnitine is a crucial mediator of fatty acid metabolism in vivo, promoting mitochondrial lipid β-oxidation and enhancing tissue metabolic flexibility. These physiological properties have generated research interest in L-carnitine as a potentially effective adjunctive therapy in NAFLD.

AIM

To systematically review randomised trials reporting effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on liver biochemistry, liver fat and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD.

METHODS

Search strategies, eligibility criteria and analytic methods were specified a priori (PROSPERO reference: CRD42018107063). Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception until April 2019. Outcome measures included serum concentrations of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST), liver fat and insulin sensitivity assessed by the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). A random effects meta-analysis was performed for, ALT, AST and HOMA-IR measures separately. Between-study heterogeneity was measured using I² statistics.

RESULTS

Five eligible randomised trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis (n = 338). All of the 5 included trials assessed the effect of L-carnitine on serum ALT, identified from Italy, South Korea and Iran. Weighted mean difference (WMD) for ALT between L-carnitine and control groups after intervention was -25.34 IU/L [95%CI: -41.74-(-8.94); P = 0.002]. WMD for AST between L-carnitine and control groups was -13.68 IU/L (95%CI: -28.26-0.89; P = 0.066). In three studies (n = 204), HOMA-IR was evaluated. WMD for HOMA-IR between L-carnitine and control groups was -0.74 units [95%CI: -1.02-(-0.46); P < 0.001]. Two studies using validated outcome measures reported a significant reduction in liver fat in L-carnitine vs control groups post-intervention (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Pooled results indicate that L-carnitine supplementation attenuates ALT, liver fat and insulin resistance in NAFLD cohorts, confirming a beneficial effect of L-carnitine for a highly prevalent condition with a growing economic burden.

Ascorbic acid and low-volume polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy: A meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate the benefits of low-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) with ascorbic acid compared to full-dose PEG for colonoscopy preparation.

METHODS: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, PubMed, and recent abstracts from major conferences were searched (January 2012). Only randomized-controlled trials on adult subjects comparing low-volume PEG (2 L) with ascorbic acid vs full-dose PEG (3 or 4 L) were included. Meta-analysis for the efficacy of low-volume PEG with ascorbic acid and full-dose PEG were analyzed by calculating pooled estimates of number of satisfactory bowel preparations as well as adverse patient events (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting). Separate analyses were performed for each main outcome by using OR with fixed and random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed by calculating the I² measure of inconsistency. RevMan 5.1 was utilized for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The initial search identified 242 articles and trials. Nine studies (n = 2911) met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this meta-analysis with mean age range from 53.0 to 59.6 years. All studies were randomized controlled trials on adult patients comparing large-volume PEG solutions (3 or 4 L) with low-volume PEG solutions and ascorbic acid. No statistically significant difference was noted between low-volume PEG with ascorbic acid and full-dose PEG for number of satisfactory bowel preparations (OR 1.07, 95%CI: 0.86-1.33, P = 0.56). No statistically significant difference was noted between low-volume PEG with ascorbic acid and full-dose PEG for abdominal pain (OR 1.09, 95%CI: 0.81-1.48, P = 0.56), nausea (OR 0.70, 95%CI: 0.49-1.00, P = 0.05), or vomiting (OR 0.99, 95%CI: 0.78-1.26, P = 0.95). No publication bias was noted.

CONCLUSION: Low-volume PEG with the addition of ascorbic acid demonstrates no statistically significant difference to full-dose PEG for satisfactory bowel preparation and side-effects.

Subcellular expression of maspin – from normal tissue to tumor cells

Maspin or SerpinB5, a member of the serine protease inhibitor family, was shown to function as a tumor suppressor, especially in carcinomas. It seems to inhibit invasion, tumor cells motility and angiogenesis, and promotes apoptosis. Maspin can also induce epigenetic changes such as cytosine methylation, de-acetylation, chromatin condensation, and histone modulation. In this review, a comprehensive synthesis of the literature was done to present maspin function from normal tissues to pathologic conditions. Data was sourced from MEDLINE and PubMed. Study eligibility criteria included: Published in English, between 1994 and 2019, specific to humans, and with full-text availability. Most of the 118 studies included in the present review focused on maspin immunostaining and mRNA levels. It was shown that maspin function is organ-related and depends on its subcellular localization. In malignant tumors, it might be downregulated or negative (e.g., carcinoma of prostate, stomach, and breast) or upregulated (e.g., colorectal and pancreatic tumors). Its subcellular localization (nuclear vs cytoplasm), which can be proved using immunohistochemical methods, was shown to influence both tumor behavior and response to chemotherapy. Although the number of maspin-related papers increased, the exact role of this protein remains unknown, and its interpretation should be done with extremely high caution.