Sensitivity and specificity of alternative screening methods for systematic reviews using text mining tools.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of text mining (TM) on the sensitivity and specificity of title and abstract screening strategies for systematic reviews (SRs). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Twenty reviewers each evaluated a 500-citation set. We compared five screening methods: conventional double screen (CDS), single screen, double screen with TM, combined double screen and single screen with TM, and single screen with TM. Rayyan, Abstrackr, and SWIFT-Review were used for each TM method. The results of a published SR were used as the reference standard. RESULTS: The mean sensitivity and specificity achieved by CDS were 97.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 94.7, 99.3) and 95.0% (95% CI: 93.0, 97.1). When compared with single screen, CDS provided a greater sensitivity without a decrease in specificity. Rayyan, Abstrackr, and SWIFT-Review identified all relevant studies. Specificity was often higher for TM-assisted methods than that for CDS, although with mean differences of only one-to-two percentage points. For every 500 citations not requiring manual screening, 216 minutes (95% CI: 169, 264) could be saved. CONCLUSION: TM-assisted screening methods resulted in similar sensitivity and modestly improved specificity as compared to CDS. The time saved with TM makes this a promising new tool for SR.

Acute phase response and inflammation following pulmonary exposure to low doses of zinc oxide nanoparticles in mice.

Inhalation of nanosized zinc oxide (ZnO) induces metal fume fever and systemic acute phase response in humans. Acute phase response activation is a cardiovascular risk factor; we investigated whether pulmonary exposure of mice can be used to assess ZnO-induced acute phase response as well as inflammation and genotoxicity. Uncoated (NM-110) and triethoxycaprylylsilane-coated (NM-111) ZnO nanoparticles were intratracheally instilled once at 0.2, 0.7 or 2 µg/mouse (11, 33 and 100 µg/kg body weight). Serum amyloid A3 mRNA level in lung tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cellularity, and levels of DNA strand breaks in BAL fluid cells, lung and liver tissue were assessed 1, 3 and 28 days post-exposure. Global transcription patterns were assessed in lung tissue using microarrays. The acute-phase response serum amyloid A3 mRNA levels were increased on day 1; for uncoated ZnO nanoparticles at the highest dose and for coated ZnO nanoparticles at medium and highest dose. Neutrophils were increased in BAL fluid only after exposure to coated ZnO nanoparticles. Genotoxicity was observed only in single dose groups, with no dose-response relationship. Most changes in global transcriptional response were observed after exposure to uncoated ZnO nanoparticles and involved cell cycle G2 to M phase DNA damage checkpoint regulation. Although, uncoated and coated ZnO nanoparticles qualitatively exerted similar effects, observed differences are likely explained by differences in solubility kinetics. The finding of serum amyloid A3 induction at low exposure suggests that mouse models can be used to assess the nanoparticle-mediated induction of acute phase responses in humans.

Large d-d luminescence energy variations in square-planar bis(dithiocarbamate) platinum(ii) and palladium(ii) complexes with near-identical MS4 motifs: a variable-pressure study.

We present the variable-pressure luminescence spectra of crystals of isostructural palladium(ii) and platinum(ii) complexes with bis-N-benzyl-N'-3-methylpyridyldithiocarbamate (bmpDTC) ligands. The d-d luminescence band maxima Emax for these complexes are compared to others with different peripheral substituents on the dithiocarbamate ligands in the solid state. The comparison reveals significant variations of Emax despite very similar metal coordination geometries. Emax varies by 3000 cm-1 and 1300 cm-1 among four dithiocarbamate complexes of platinum(ii) and palladium(ii), respectively. Variations of Emax with pressure reveal the effects of intermolecular MH-C interactions on several complexes. ΔEmax/ΔP values are negative for the bmpDTC complexes, unprecedented in the dithiocarbamate family. Static orientation and pressure-induced movement of the C-H bonds involved in intermolecular interactions have a significant effect on Emax and ΔEmax/ΔP, with a stronger impact on platinum(ii) complexes than on their palladium(ii) analogs.