Minimally invasive approaches versus conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement in patients with aortic valve disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 269 patients.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a common procedure for aortic valve pathologies, particularly in the elderly. While traditional open AVR is established, minimally invasive techniques aim to reduce morbidity and enhance treatment outcomes. The authors' meta-analysis compares these approaches with conventional sternotomy, offering insights into short and long-term mortality and postoperative results. This study provides valuable evidence for informed decision-making between conventional and minimally invasive approaches for AVR. Materials and methods: Till August 2023, PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) and propensity score matched (PSM) studies comparing minimally invasive approaches [mini-sternotomy (MS) and right mini-thoracotomy (RMT)] with full sternotomy (FS) for AVR. Various outcomes were analyzed, including mortality rates, bypass and clamp times, length of hospital stay, and complications. Risk ratios (RR) and the weighted mean differences (WMD) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated using Review Manager. Results: Forty-eight studies were included having 17 269 patients in total. When compared to FS, there was no statistically significant difference in in-hospital mortality in MS (RR:0.80; 95% CI:0.50-1.27; I2=1%; P=0.42) and RMT (RR:0.70; 95% CI:0.36-1.35; I2=0%; P=0.29). FS was also linked with considerably longer cardiopulmonary bypass duration than MS (MD:8.68; 95% CI:5.81-11.56; I2=92%; P=0.00001). The hospital length of stay was determined to be shorter in MS (MD:-0.58; 95% CI:-1.08 to -0.09; I2=89%; P=0.02) with no statistically significant difference in RMT (MD:-0.67; 95% CI:-1.42 to 0.08; I2=84%; P=0.08) when compared to FS. Conclusions: While mortality rates were comparable in minimally invasive approaches and FS, analysis shows that MS, due to fewer respiratory and renal insufficiencies, as well as shorter hospital and ICU stay, may be a safer approach than both RMT and FS.

Adverse events associated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in ophthalmology: a narrative review.

Chimeric antigen receptors are synthetically produced receptors engineered to engage with target cells with high specificity. These cells are created by inserting an artificial T-cell receptor into an immunoglobulin's antigen-binding region, allowing the cells to combine and target specific antigens. The use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been a remarkable achievement in the field of immunotherapy, particularly in the treatment of ophthalmic tumors like retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma. However, there are some documented side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immunological effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Additionally, ocular side effects such as blurred vision, vision impairment, and intraocular infections are also concerning and require further evaluation. This review highlights the advances made in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapy, including its structure and manufacture, as well as relevant clinical discoveries and associated adverse effects. By identifying the gaps in current research, this analysis provides insights into potential strategies and solutions for addressing some of the most severe side effects.

Application of tele-neuropsychology and tele-mental health before and during COVID-19 era: a bibliometric analysis.

Background: Telehealth use was previously limited by strict regulations and financial constraints. However, the pandemic prompted some countries to ease their telehealth laws. Thus, we conducted a bibliometric analysis and network visualization to gauge changes in tele-neuropsychology (Tele-NP) and tele-mental Health (Tele-MH) trends with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: The authors conducted a literature search on SCOPUS and included relevant articles pertaining to Tele-NP and Tele-MH, which were published before the COVID-19 pandemic (2017-2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). The authors presented publication patterns on psychiatric disorders, mode of administration, journals, active countries, authors, affiliations, funding sponsors, keywords, publication, and citation output. Results: Three hundred forty-one articles were included in our study with 80 articles before the pandemic and 261 during the pandemic. Our analysis revealed the greatest increase in publications and citations output was from the year 2020 to 2021. A greater number of journals published tele-NP and tele-MH-related research, with higher frequency, during the COVID-19 pandemic with Telemedicine and E-health leading the way. WHO regional analysis revealed that the Region of the Americas (AMRO) was the leading contributor in terms of publications. Harvard Medical Center remained the number one contributor both before and during the COVID-19- pandemic. Publications by funding sponsors, particularly by those that were US-based, increased twice as much during the pandemic. Conclusion: The increase in research output following the COVID-19 outbreak reflects the growing interest and relevance of telemedicine for the delivery of mental health services.

Association of bilateral oophorectomy with incidence of Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Current evidence in the literature is inconclusive due to conflicting results with regards to an association between B/L (B/L) oophorectomy and Parkinson's disease (PD). We included large, powered studies to assess the association of PD in women who have undergone B/L oophorectomy. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search across three databases from inception to October 2022 for observational studies including pre-menopausal or post-menopausal women undergoing B/L oophorectomy. Primary outcome of interest was incidence of PD or parkinsonism. The results for these associations were presented as Risk Ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), which were pooled using a generic invariance weighted random effects model using Review Manager (RevMan). RESULTS: Data was included from a total of 4 studies. No significant association was found between B/L oophorectomy and PD (RR: 1.38; 95% CI: 0.76 to 2.49; I2:89 %) in contrast significant association was found with parkinsonism (RR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.29 to 2.52). Age at surgery didn't significantly affect Parkinsonism incidence (RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.3). No significant association was found between ovarian indication and Parkinsonism (RR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.68). B/L oophorectomy with hysterectomy was associated with higher Parkinson's risk compared to without hysterectomy (RR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.74). Lastly, there was no significant association between Post Menopausal Hormonal (PMH) use and Parkinson's disease (RR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.26). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that B/L oophorectomy is significantly associated with the incidence of Parkinsonism. Further research is needed to understand the potential relationship between oophorectomy and Parkinson's disease.

Comparative effectiveness of intra-articular therapies in knee osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis comparing platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with other treatment modalities.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a progressive joint disease commonly treated with intra-articular injections, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), or corticosteroids (CS). This updated meta-analysis aims to enhance the statistical power of the results and provide comprehensive clinical evidence that reflects the most current research. By doing so, the authors aim to suggest a reliable estimate for the development of guidelines, addressing the pressing need for effective and minimally invasive treatment options. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Central were searched until March 2023, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of intra-articular injectable therapies, including PRP, HA, CS, and placebo, in KOA. Data extraction involved baseline characteristics and outcome measures [Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, KOOS, and IKDC scores] at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Statistical analysis, including subgroup analysis, assessment of heterogeneity, and publication bias, was conducted using Review Manager. Results: Our meta-analysis of 42 studies involving 3696 patients demonstrated that PRP treatment resulted in significant pain relief compared to HA injections, as evidenced by improved WOMAC pain (MD: -0.74; 95% CI: -1.02 to -0.46; P≤0.00001; I 2=94%) and VAS pain (MD: -0.65; 95% CI: -1.24 to -0.06; P=0.03; I2=97%) outcomes. Similarly, PRP showed greater efficacy in reducing WOMAC pain (MD: -8.06; 95% CI: -13.62 to -2.51: P=0.004; I 2=96%) and VAS pain (MD: -1.11; 95% CI: -1.64 to -0.59; P≤0.0001; I 2=68%) compared to CS injections, with the most significant improvement observed at 6 months. Conclusions: PRP is an effective treatment for KOA. It provides symptomatic relief, has the potential to reduce disease progression, and has sustained effects up to 12 months. PRP offers superior pain relief and functional enhancement compared to CS and HA injections.