DATA/SOURCES: A search was conducted for meta-analyses of observational studies investigating the association between any risk factor and peri‑implantitis in PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Epistemonikos, from inception until October 2023 (PROSPERO: CRD42024512408).

STUDY SELECTION: From a total of 5002 publications, 51 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility, and 12 articles that described 41 unique meta-analyses evaluating the association between risk factors and periimplantitis were selected. Among 41 associations, 24 associations were significant. None of the associations were graded as convincing evidence. Two associations, presence of periodontitis (OR = 3.84 [95 % CI 2.58,5.72]) and cigarette smoking (RR=2.07 [95 % CI 1.41,3.04]) were graded as highly suggestive. Eight associations, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycaemia, lack of prophylaxis, history of chronic periodontal disease, ongoing or history of periodontal disease, implants located in the anterior region of the jaw (maxillary and mandibular), osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms, and lack of keratinized mucosal width were graded as suggestive evidence.

CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis and cigarette smoking are highly suggestive risk factors for peri‑implantitis. The remaining risk factors which are suggestive require more high-quality studies to be performed to upgrade the level of evidence.

OBJECTIVES: This review investigates the effects of TDM-guided piperacillin dosing on pharmacokinetic target attainment and clinical outcomes in CRRT patients, analyses correlations with clinical outcomes, provides optimal dosing strategies for piperacillin and identifies future research areas.

METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted until December 2023, identifying studies on piperacillin pharmacokinetics and clinical outcomes in adult CRRT patients. Data on study characteristics, piperacillin exposures, TDM use, target attainment rates, mortality and length of stay were extracted. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS: Eleven observational studies were included. High pharmacokinetic variability was evident, with piperacillin target non-attainment in up to 74% of cases without TDM. Two studies with routine TDM showed increased target attainment rates of 80%-100%. Mortality ranged from 17% to 56%, with supratherapeutic concentrations (≥100 mg/L) associated with higher mortality. The impact of optimized piperacillin exposures on outcomes was inconclusive. Most studies demonstrated a low risk of bias.

METHODS: A detailed search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and CINAHL Plus databases, was conducted, encompassing observational studies published from 1991 to 2023. Original studies examining the relationship between increasing temperature and allergic rhinitis were assessed for eligibility followed by a risk of bias assessment. Random effects meta-analysis was utilized to measure the association between a 1 °C increase in temperature and allergic rhinitis-related outcomes.

RESULTS: 20 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, with nine of them subsequently selected for the quantitative synthesis. 20 included studies were rated as Level 4 evidence according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and the majority of these reported good-quality evidence based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Rating Scale. Using the Risk of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies of Exposure tool, the majority of studies exhibit a high risk of bias. Every 1 °C increase in temperature significantly raised the risk of allergic rhinitis-related outcomes by 29 % (RR = 1.26, 95 % CI: 1.11 to 1.50). Conversely, every 1 °C rise in temperature showed no significant increase in the odds of allergic rhinitis-related outcomes by 7 % (OR = 1.07, 95 % CI: 0.95 to 1.21). Subsequent subgroup analysis identified climate zone as an influential factor influencing this association.

METHODS: All randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies were systematically searched in the databases of CENTRAL, EMBASE and PubMed from their inception until January 2018. Case reports, case series and non-systematic reviews were excluded.

METHODS: This meta-analysis was performed based on the PRISMA recommendations. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched for all published observational studies that reported the risk of UTI based on BMI categories up to March 2020.

RESULTS: Fourteen (n = 14) articles comprising 19 studies in different populations met our inclusion criteria. The overall analysis showed a significant increased risk of UTI in subjects affected by obesity vs. individuals without obesity (RR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.28 - 1.63; I2 = 94%), and a non-significant increased risk of UTI in subjects who were overweight (RR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.98 - 1.10; I2 = 49.6%) and underweight (RR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.81 - 21; I2 = 0.0%) when compared to subjects who had normal weight. In the stratified analysis, we showed that obesity increased the risk of UTI in females (RR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.38 - 1.93) and in subjects below 60 years old (RR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.33 - 1.75).

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

METHOD: PubMed and Scopus were searched for eligible articles published in English from inception till November 2018. The quality of studies was assessed by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the risk of periodontitis associated with highest versus lowest/non-alcohol in a random effects meta-analysis model. Heterogeneity and sensitivity were investigated in meta regression analysis. A funnel plot was used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine observational studies were included. One study with two separate datasets was considered as two separate studies for analysis. Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with the presence of periodontitis (OR = 1.26, 95% CI= 1.11-1.41). Significant heterogeneity (I2=71%) was present in the overall analysis, primarily attributable to sampling cross-sectional studies (I2=76.6%). A funnel plot and Egger tests (p=0.0001) suggested the presence of publication bias.

METHODS: We searched relevant studies in electronic databases. When two or more observational studies reported the same outcome measures, we performed pooled analysis. All the analyses were performed on PBL using PCR. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the strength of association.

RESULTS: Seven studies (with 8 datasets) were included in this meta-analysis; 3 prospective studies, 3 retrospective studies and 1 study with a separate prospective and retrospective designs. The pooled analysis of 4 prospective studies (summary OR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.77-1.34, I (2):30%) and 4 retrospective studies (summary OR 1.65, 95% CI: 0.96-2.83, I (2):96%) showed no relationship between PBL telomere length and the CRC risk. A subgroup analysis of 2 prospective studies exclusively on females also showed no association between PBL telomere length and the CRC risk (summary OR, 1.17, 95% CI:0.72-1.91, I (2):57%).

METHODS: A literature search of four electronic databases identified epidemiological studies published on tinnitus and different exposures. Independent raters screened all studies, extracted data, and evaluated study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Reported relative risks (RR), hazard ratios (HR), odds ratios (OR), and prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to compute crude estimates of RR for tinnitus risk factors.

RESULTS: From 2389 records identified, a total of 374 articles were read as full text (24 reviews, 301 cross-sectional studies, 42 cohort studies, and 7 case-control studies). However, from 49 case-control and cohort studies, only 25 adequately reported risk ratios. Using the findings from these studies, positive causal associations were found for various hearing-related factors (i.e., unspecified hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, occupational noise exposure, ototoxic platinum therapy, and otitis media). Evidence was also found for a number of non-otological risk factors including temporo-mandibular joint disorder, depression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hyperlipidemia. Negative associations indicating preventative effects were found for diabetes and high alcohol consumption. No associations were found for low alcohol consumption, body mass index, head injury, heart failure, hypertension, leisure noise exposure, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, sex, smoking, stroke, and whiplash. However, with the exception of unspecified hearing loss, these findings resulted from pooling no more than 4 studies, illustrating that the vast majority of the associations still remain inconclusive.

METHODS: ARCHERY is a non-randomised prospective study to evaluate the quality and economic impact of AI-based automated radiotherapy treatment planning for cervical, head and neck, and prostate cancers, which are endemic in LMICs, and for which radiotherapy is the primary curative treatment modality. The sample size of 990 patients (330 for each cancer type) has been calculated based on an estimated 95% treatment plan acceptability rate. Time and cost savings will be analysed as secondary outcome measures using the time-driven activity-based costing model. The 48-month study will take place in six public sector cancer hospitals in India (n=2), Jordan (n=1), Malaysia (n=1) and South Africa (n=2) to support implementation of the software in LMICs.

METHODS: We searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and EMBASE for studies from December 31, 2019, to December 15, 2020, enrolling consecutive patients with COVID-19 presenting with neurologic manifestations. Risk of bias was examined with the Joanna Briggs Institute scale. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed, and pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for neurologic manifestations. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated to determine the association of neurologic manifestations with disease severity and mortality. Presence of heterogeneity was assessed with I 2, meta-regression, and subgroup analyses. Statistical analyses were conducted in R version 3.6.2.

RESULTS: Of 2,455 citations, 350 studies were included in this review, providing data on 145,721 patients with COVID-19, 89% of whom were hospitalized. Forty-one neurologic manifestations (24 symptoms and 17 diagnoses) were identified. Pooled prevalence of the most common neurologic symptoms included fatigue (32%), myalgia (20%), taste impairment (21%), smell impairment (19%), and headache (13%). A low risk of bias was observed in 85% of studies; studies with higher risk of bias yielded higher prevalence estimates. Stroke was the most common neurologic diagnosis (pooled prevalence 2%). In patients with COVID-19 ≥60 years of age, the pooled prevalence of acute confusion/delirium was 34%, and the presence of any neurologic manifestations in this age group was associated with mortality (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11-2.91).

DISCUSSION: Up to one-third of patients with COVID-19 analyzed in this review experienced at least 1 neurologic manifestation. One in 50 patients experienced stroke. In those >60 years of age, more than one-third had acute confusion/delirium; the presence of neurologic manifestations in this group was associated with nearly a doubling of mortality. Results must be interpreted with the limitations of observational studies and associated bias in mind.

METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase electronic databases from inception until March 1, 2022, for original articles and conference abstracts of observational cross-sectional, case-controlled, or cohort design studies that reported the prevalence of DGBI overlap in adult participants (aged ≥18 years). We included only those studies where the diagnosis of DGBI was based on clinical assessment, questionnaire data, or specific symptom-based criteria. Studies were excluded if reporting on mixed populations of DGBI and organic diseases. Aggregate patient data were extracted from eligible published studies. The prevalence of DGBI overlap in all studies was pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model, and further analysis stratified by subgroups (care setting, diagnostic criteria, geographic region, and gross domestic product per capita). We also assessed the relationship between DGBI overlap with anxiety, depression, and quality of life symptom scores. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022311101).

FINDINGS: 46 of 1268 screened studies, reporting on 75 682 adult DGBI participants, were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Overall, 24 424 (pooled prevalence 36·5% [95% CI 30·7 to 42·6]) participants had a DGBI overlap, with considerable between-study heterogeneity (I2=99·51, p=0·0001). In the tertiary health-care setting, overlap among participants with DGBI was more prevalent (8373 of 22 617, pooled prevalence 47·3% [95% CI 33·2 to 61·7]) compared with population-based cohorts (11 332 of 39 749, pooled prevalence 26·5% [95% CI 20·5 to 33·4]; odds ratio 2·50 [95% CI 1·28 to 4·87]; p=0·0084). Quality of life physical component scores were significantly lower in participants with DGBI overlap compared with participants without overlap (standardised mean difference -0·47 [95% CI -0·80 to -0·14]; p=0·025). Participants with DGBI overlap had both increased symptom scores for anxiety (0·39 [95% CI 0·24 to 0·54]; p=0·0001) and depression (0·41 [0·30 to 0·51]; p=0·0001).

INTERPRETATION: Overlap of DGBI subtypes is frequent, and is more prevalent in tertiary care settings and associated with more severe symptom manifestations or psychological comorbidities. Despite the large sample size, the comparative analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity, and the results should be interpreted with caution.

METHODS: We searched five databases for the period April 2009 to December 2019: China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, PubMed and Embase. Three types of observational studies on correlation between constitution types and diseases were included: cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies. Descriptive statistical methods were employed for data analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 1639 clinical studies were identified: 1452 (88.59%) cross-sectional studies, 115 (7.02%) case-control studies and 72 (4.39%) cohort studies covering 30 regions of China and five other countries (Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and France). The collection of studies comprised 19 disease categories and 333 different diseases. The 10 most commonly studied diseases were hypertension, diabetes, stroke, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD), sleep disorders, neoplasm of the breast, dysmenorrhea, fatty liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis B and dyslipidemia. We found high distributions for each biased constitution type in different patient populations as follows: Qi-deficiency constitution in stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and hypertension; Yang-deficiency constitution in female infertility, osteoporosis, irritable bowel syndrome, gonarthrosis and dysmenorrhea; Yin-deficiency constitution in hypertension, diabetes, constipation, female climacteric states and osteoporosis; phlegm- dampness constitution in hypertension, stroke, fatty liver disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome; damp-heat constitution in acne, chronic gastritis, chronic viral hepatitis B, human papillomavirus infection and hyperuricemia; blood-stasis constitution in CAHD, endometriosis and stroke; Qi-stagnation constitution in hyperplasia and neoplasms of the breast, insomnia, depression and thyroid nodules; and inherited-special constitution in asthma and allergic rhinitis.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The PUTRA-Adol is a prospective follow-up study that builds up from 933 Malaysian adolescents who were initially recruited from three southern states in Peninsular Malaysia in 2016 (aged 13 years then). Two sessions are planned; the first session will involve the collection of socio-economy, physical activity, dietary intakes, mental well-being, body image, risk taking behaviour, sun exposure, family functioning and menstrual (in women) information. The second session of data collection will be focused on direct assessments such as venesection for blood biochemistry, anthropometry and ultrasonography imaging of liver and bilateral carotid arteries. Z-scores for an empirical DP will be identified at 16 years using reduced rank regression. Multilevel modelling will be conducted to assess the tracking of DP and prospective analysis between the DP, cardiometabolic health, NAFLD, CIMT and mental well-being.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for the conduct of this follow-up study was obtained from the Universiti Putra Malaysia's Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects (JKEUPM) (Reference number: JKEUPM-2019-267). The findings from this study will be disseminated in conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: PRoVENT-iMIC (study of PRactice of VENTilation in Middle-Income Countries) is an international multicentre observational study to be undertaken in approximately 60 ICUs in 11 Asian countries. Consecutive patients aged 18 years or older who are receiving invasive ventilation in participating ICUs during a predefined 28-day period are to be enrolled, with a daily follow-up of 7 days. The primary outcome is ventilatory management (including tidal volume expressed as mL/kg predicted body weight and positive end-expiratory pressure expressed as cm H2O) during the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation-compared between patients at no risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), patients at risk for ARDS and in patients with ARDS (in case the diagnosis of ARDS can be made on admission). Secondary outcomes include occurrence of pulmonary complications and all-cause ICU mortality.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: PRoVENT-iMIC will be the first international study that prospectively assesses ventilation practices, outcomes and epidemiology of invasively ventilated patients in ICUs in Asia. The results of this large study, to be disseminated through conference presentations and publications in international peer-reviewed journals, are of ultimate importance when designing trials of invasive ventilation in resource-limited ICUs. Access to source data will be made available through national or international anonymised datasets on request and after agreement of the PRoVENT-iMIC steering committee.