Comparative Study of Different Imaging Modalities for Diagnosis of Bone Metastases of Prostate Cancer: A Bayesian Network Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performances of 8 different imaging modalities for preoperative detection of bone metastases in prostate cancer patients by performing a network meta-analysis using direct comparison studies with 2 or more imaging techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies evaluating the performances of 8 different imaging modalities for the preoperative detection of bone metastases in prostate cancer patients. The network meta-analysis was performed in patient-based analysis. The consistency was evaluated by examining the agreement between direct and indirect treatment effects, and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values were obtained to calculate the probability of each imaging modality being the most effective diagnostic method. RESULTS: A total of 999 patients from 13 direct comparison studies using 8 different imaging modalities for preoperative detection or follow-up of bone metastases in prostate cancer patients were included. For the detection of bone metastases of prostate cancer, 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT showed the highest SUCRA values of sensitivity, positive predictive value, accuracy, and diagnostic odds ratio. In addition, 18 F-NaF PET/CT and SPECT/CT showed high SUCRA values. CONCLUSIONS: 68 Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT showed the highest SUCRA values. Other imaging modalities showed complementary diagnostic roles for preoperative detection of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer, except bone scintigraphy and MRI.

Autoimmune and auto-inflammatory adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination in the United States.

We identified 3620 autoimmune-related adverse events among 223.2 million US residents using Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System and the COVID-19 Data Tracker. This study is the first to quantify the cumulative incidence of autoimmune and auto-inflammatory adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination. We reported autoimmune and auto-inflammatory adverse events across 6 major classes of medical conditions and stratified by age, sex, and manufacturer.

Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential and Healthcare Applications of Marine Therapy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression.

This study was conducted to estimate the effectiveness of marine-derived resources for treating specific diseases, as well as identify the most effective methods for applying such resources in therapeutic applications. Bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane) were searched from their inception until May 2023 using Medical Subject Headings terms and text keywords related to seawater, mineral water, or ocean therapy. Fifteen eligible studies were included, involving 1325 participants aged 42.7-63.0 years. In the subgroup analysis based on treatment type, the mean difference was -1.581 (95% CI: -1.889, -1.274) for seawater with sun exposure and -1.210 (95% CI: -1.417, -1.002) for seawater with sun exposure, mud pack application, and sulfur pool therapy. The pooled standardized mean difference was calculated for different outcomes; the results were -1.110 (95% CI: -3.028, 0.806) for osteoarthritis severity, -0.795 (95% CI: -0.982, -0.607) for arthritis pain, -1.623 (95% CI: -2.036, -1.209) for fibromyalgia pain, and -1.498 (95% CI: -1.888, -1.108) for quality of life. Marine therapy is, therefore, promising for treating chronic skin issues, easing musculoskeletal discomfort, and enhancing the quality of life among patients with musculoskeletal pain.