Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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Review Meta Analysis
Ghrelin and ghrelin/total cholesterol ratio as independent predictors for coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The present meta-analysis aimed to summarize the available data regarding the circulating levels of ghrelin in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). A comprehensive search was performed in electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to January 20, 2021. Since the circulating levels of ghrelin were measured in different units across the included studies, they were expressed as the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI (summary effect size). ⋯ However, no significant differences were found in the SMD of the ghrelin/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, ghrelin/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, and ghrelin/triglyceride (TG) ratio in cases with CVDs compared with the control group. Ghrelin was associated with CAD; therefore, it may be considered a biomarker for distinguishing between patients with and without CAD. Furthermore, the ghrelin/TC ratio could be proposed as a diagnostic marker for CVD.
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Review Meta Analysis
Serum cortisol concentration and COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The novel COVID-19 outbreak is a major health threat to human beings with multiorgan injuries. However, its endocrine system manifestations are much less studied. In this study, we aimed to reassess the available findings on the association between cortisol level and severity of COVID-19 infection. ⋯ Meta-regression illustrated a significant correlation between cortisol levels with sex. The serum cortisol level seems to be higher in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. This finding could be helpful to detect patients with poor prognosis at early stages of the disease, although age and sex may modify this level.
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Review Meta Analysis
Serum cortisol concentration and COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The novel COVID-19 outbreak is a major health threat to human beings with multiorgan injuries. However, its endocrine system manifestations are much less studied. In this study, we aimed to reassess the available findings on the association between cortisol level and severity of COVID-19 infection. ⋯ Meta-regression illustrated a significant correlation between cortisol levels with sex. The serum cortisol level seems to be higher in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. This finding could be helpful to detect patients with poor prognosis at early stages of the disease, although age and sex may modify this level.
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Meta Analysis
Hepatitis E virus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Although most patients with hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, its infection is generally underdiagnosed and overlooked. In immunocompromised patients, HEV infection can lead to acute liver failure and death. However, the clinical evidence of HEV infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients is scarce; thus, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of HEV infection in this population. ⋯ Age and male gender were not associated with HEV-RNA or HEV-IgG positivity in the meta-regression analysis. In conclusion, the prevalence of HEV-IgG in HSCT recipients was about 10%, while the prevalence of HEV-RNA was only 3%. However, further studies that focus on the clinical outcomes in this population are warranted.
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HIV infections are prevalent among adolescents and young adults, of whom 44% remain unaware of their diagnosis. HIV screening presents numerous challenges including stigma, fear, and concerns about confidentiality, which may influence young people's acceptance of HIV screening and linkage to care differently from individuals in other age groups. It is imperative to understand which care delivery models are most effective in facilitating these services for youth. ⋯ A significant difference in acceptance of HIV testing was found between care models, with high rates of test acceptance in the ED setting in North America and primary care/hospital setting in the rest of the world. Similarly, linkage to care differed by model of care, with EDs having high rates of linkages to HIV care in North America. Future studies are needed to test mechanisms for optimizing outcomes for each care delivery model in addressing the unique challenges faced by adolescents and young adults.