Plos One
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Multicenter Study
Association between different indexations of extravascular lung water (EVLW) and PaO2/FiO2: a two-center study in 231 patients.
Variability of body weight (BW) and height calls for indexation of volumetric hemodynamic parameters. Extravascular lung water (EVLW) has formerly been indexed to actual BW (BW(act)) termed EVLW-index (EVLWI). In overweight patients indexation to BW(act) might inappropriately lower indexed EVLWI(act). Several studies suggest indexation of EVLWI to predicted BW (EVLWI(pred)). However, data regarding association of EVLWI(act) and EVLW(pred) to mortality and PaO2/FiO2 are inconsistent. Two recent studies based on biometric database-analyses suggest indexation of EVLWI to height (EVLWI(height)). Therefore, our study compared the association of un-indexed EVLW, EVLWI(height), EVLW(pred) and EVLWI(act) to PaO2/FiO2 and Oxygenation index (OI = mean airway pressure*FiO2*/PaO2). ⋯ Indexation of EVLW to height (EVLWI(height)) improves the association of EVLW(I) to PaO2/FiO2 and OI compared to all other indexations including EVLWI(pred) and EVLWI(act). Also considering two recent biometric database analyses, EVLWI should be indexed to height.
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Review Meta Analysis
The reporting of observational clinical functional magnetic resonance imaging studies: a systematic review.
Complete reporting assists readers in confirming the methodological rigor and validity of findings and allows replication. The reporting quality of observational functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies involving clinical participants is unclear. ⋯ This study indicates that substantial improvement in the reporting of observational clinical fMRI studies is required. Poldrack et al.'s guidelines provide a means of improving overall reporting quality. Nonetheless, these guidelines are lengthy and may be at odds with strict word limits for publication; creation of a shortened-version of Poldrack's checklist that contains the most relevant items may be useful in this regard.
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Meta Analysis
Terlipressin versus norepinephrine in the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a severe and progressive functional renal failure occurring in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Terlipressin is recognized as an effective treatment of HRS, but it is expensive and not widely available. Norepinephrine could be an effective alternative. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of norepinephrine compared to terlipressin in the management of HRS. ⋯ Norepinephrine seems to be an attractive alternative to terlipressin in the treatment of HRS and is associated with less adverse events. However, these findings are based on data extracted from only four small studies.
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Review Meta Analysis
Is anterior cervical discectomy and fusion superior to corpectomy and fusion for treatment of multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy? A systemic review and meta-analysis.
Both anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) and anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACCF) are used to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), however, there is considerable controversy as to whether ACDF or ACCF is the optimal treatment for this condition. To compare the clinical outcomes, complications, and surgical trauma between ACDF and ACCF for the treatment of CSM, we conducted a meta-analysis. ⋯ Based on this meta-analysis, although complications and increased lordosis are significantly better in the ACDF group, there is no strong evidence to support the routine use of ACDF over ACCF in CSM.
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Review Meta Analysis
The influence of the patient-clinician relationship on healthcare outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
To determine whether the patient-clinician relationship has a beneficial effect on either objective or validated subjective healthcare outcomes. ⋯ This systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs suggests that the patient-clinician relationship has a small, but statistically significant effect on healthcare outcomes. Given that relatively few RCTs met our eligibility criteria, and that the majority of these trials were not specifically designed to test the effect of the patient-clinician relationship on healthcare outcomes, we conclude with a call for more research on this important topic.