J Natl Med Assoc
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Obesity-associated chronic conditions (OCC) are prevalent in medically underserved areas of the Southern US. Continuity of care with a primary care provider is associated with reduced preventable healthcare utilization, yet little is known regarding the impact of continuity of care among populations with OCC. This study aimed to examine whether continuity of care protects patients living with OCC and the subgroup with type 2 diabetes (OCC+T2D) from emergency department (ED) and hospitalizations, and whether these effects are modified by race and patient residence in health professional shortage areas (HPSA) METHODS: We conducted a retrospective federated cohort meta-analysis of 2015-2018 data from four large practice-based research networks in the Southern U. ⋯ Continuity of care was assessed at the clinic-level using the Bice-Boxerman Continuity of Care Index RESULTS: A total of 111,437 patients with OCC and 47,071 patients with OCC+T2D from the four large practice-based research networks in the South were included in the meta-analysis. Continuity of Care index varied among sites from a mean (SD) of 0.6 (0.4) to 0.9 (0.2). Meta-analysis demonstrated that, regardless of race or residence in HPSA, continuity of care significantly protected OCC patients from preventable ED visits (IRR:0.95; CI:0.92-0.98) and protected OCC+T2D patients from overall ED visits (IRR:0.92; CI:0.85-0.99), preventable ED visits (IRR:0.95; CI:0.91-0.99), and overall hospitalizations (IRR:0.96; CI:0.93-0.98) CONCLUSION: Improving continuity of care may reduce ED and hospital use for patients with OCC and particularly those with OCC+T2D.
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Meta Analysis
Aberrant Expression of Gastric Carcinoma High Expressed Transcript 1 is a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Human Cancer.
Gastric carcinoma high expressed transcript 1 (GHET1), a long noncoding RNA (LncRNA), has been reported to be involved in tumor genesis and cancer progression. High GHET1 expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in cancer. In this meta-analysis, we investigated the association between GHET1 and lymph node metastasis, differentiation, vascular invasion and so on in human cancer. ⋯ GHET1 may serve as a potential clinical biomarker and poor survival and high-risk recurrence in cancers.
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Meta Analysis
Mindfulness Ased Stress Reduction Interventions for Cancer Related Fatigue: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.
This meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the evidence for mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in cancer related fatigue (CRF). ⋯ This research has used evidence-based medicine to evaluate whether MBSR can alleviate CRF in cancer patients and provide evidence for the comprehensive intervention program for patients with cancer-related fatigue.
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Review Meta Analysis
The Effect of Flavonoids on Chronic Prostatitis: A Meta-analysis of Published Randomized Controlled Trials.
To assess the effect of flavonoids on chronic prostatitis, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed. ⋯ This meta-analysis indicates that the flavonoids may be clinically beneficial through significantly improving the response rate and NIH-CPSI in chronic prostatitis patients and short-lasting antibiotics therapy in association with the flavonoids could be a better choose for CBP. Moreover, the flavonoids therapy has an excellent safety profile with minor adverse effects.
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Meta Analysis
Racial Disparities in Arterial Stiffness Between Healthy Whites and African Americans in the United States: A Meta-analysis.
African Americans (AAs) present with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors at younger ages than whites. Consequently, CVD and stroke occur at a higher incidence and at earlier decades in life in AA populations. Arterial stiffness is a predictor of CVD outcomes and partially explains the CVD risk experienced by racial minorities. We evaluated the differences in arterial stiffness observed in AAs and whites through a systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ Racial disparities in arterial stiffness persist among African American racial groups in the United States. The lack of homogeneity in studies capturing racial disparities in cfPWV suggest that additional studies are needed to understand the magnitude of racial differences in African Americans and whites that might be clinically relevant.