Discrepancies in the results reported for multiple sclerosis clinical trials: A comparison between ClinicalTrials.gov and peer-reviewed journals.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the results of phase III and IV clinical trials examining drugs to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) registered at ClinicalTrials.gov to those published in peer-reviewed journals. METHODS: After identifying trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, consecutive searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar for matching publications. Information regarding participants and efficacy and safety results was extracted and compared. The degree of consistency was classified as 'concordant', 'discrepant' or 'not comparable'. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to model time to reporting. RESULTS: In total, 65 trials were appraised. The median time from completion to reporting was shorter for ClinicalTrials.gov (16.4 vs 27.3 months; p = 0.010). Information availability was generally higher in journals except for serious adverse events (SAEs) (86.2% vs 100.0%, p = 0.029) and their description (78.2% vs 100.0%, p < 0.001). However, 45 trials had at least one reporting discrepancy (69.2%). Three studies omitted one or more primary outcomes in the matching journal publication. Regarding safety results, the lowest consistencies were found for causes of death (60.0%) and description of SAEs (27.9%). CONCLUSION: Consulting both ClinicalTrials.gov and journals increases the accessibility to MS clinical trial results. Some data were frequently missing or disagreed between sources, raising concerns about transparency and generalizability of results.

[Perception of cannabis use in the adolescent population: metasynthesis of qualitative studies]. / Percepción del consumo de cannabis en población adolescente: metasíntesis de estudios cualitativos.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceptions and beliefs of adolescents about cannabis consumption, studying the incentive and disincentive factors for consumption. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature was carried out following the PRISMA guidelines. MedLine, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane and Web of Science were searched using controlled vocabulary and free terms. We included qualitative studies published between 2000 and 2024 that assessed the perceptions of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years on the use, effects, risks of using cannabis or cannabis with other legal drugs. The quality of the studies was assessed using the CASP tool. RESULTS: Of the 3665 articles identified in the initial search, 22 complied with elegibility criteria. Data extraction yielded a series of three lines of argument linked to cannabis use: reasons for use, reasons for not using and perceived effects. The most common discourse among adolescents was related to the feeling of social and emotional well-being, fewer adverse effects than drugs, and the influence of peers on consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The review preformed reports on the reasons that adolescents allege for cannabis use and reasons for abstention with a view of the preponderance of benefits over harms. It is considered that this information may be necessary for the development of prevention programmes with the dissemination of information on the effects of consumption.

Evolution and characteristics of studies estimating attributable mortality to second-hand smoke: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have estimated the impact of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure on mortality in the population of different countries. This study aimed to identify and describe studies that have estimated the attributable mortality (AM) associated with SHS exposure in the adult population. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases up to January 2023. Studies that estimated the AM associated with SHS exposure in the adult population and used a prevalence-dependent method were included. The main characteristics of the studies and their results were described. RESULTS: Fifty-three studies were included. Most of them were conducted in North America (n = 13), Europe (n = 14) and China (n = 6) and included lung cancer (n = 46) or ischaemic heart disease (n = 22) as causes of death. There was considerable variety in the population under study regarding the relationship with tobacco: non-smokers (n = 30); never-smokers (n = 9); both non and never-smokers (n = 2); the whole population (n = 1) and not known (n = 11). The age at which AM was estimated also varied between studies, ranging from 15 to 40 years and older. CONCLUSIONS: Studies estimating AM associated with SHS exposure are heterogeneous in terms of the causes of death studied, the age at which mortality is attributed, or the population to which mortality referred: consensus should be reached. Despite their importance, studies assessing AM to SHS are infrequent in low- and middle-income countries.

Wood dust exposure and small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational exposure role on small cell lung cancer (SCLC) onset has been little studied. Wood dust has been recognized as a human carcinogen, and many occupations have high wood-dust exposure. The aim of this study was therefore to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the scientific literature to summarize and analyse the risks of wood dust-related occupations on development of SCLC, taking tobacco use into account. METHODS: We conducted a literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane using a predefined strategy and including case-control and cohort studies assessing occupational exposure to wood dust or wood dust-related occupations. To perform the meta-analysis, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of each of the studies were extracted. A random-effects model was fitted using the DerSimonian Laird method. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were performed. Quality was assessed using the Office and Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) for human and animal studies instrument. RESULTS: Eleven studies with a total of 2,368 SCLC cases and 357,179 controls were included. Overall, exposure to wood dust significantly increases risk of SCLC (RR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.80), with low heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 40%). The association was maintained in studies conducted on males (RR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.12-1.78) but not in those conducted on females/both sexes (RR = 1.37, 95% CI 0.35-3.44). Sensitivity analysis showed that none of the studies significantly modified the results. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that exposure to wood-dust can increase the risk of SCLC. Although the level of evidence is low, there are strong arguments to recommend the implementation of effective control measures to reduce exposure in occupational settings, as a means of preventing SCLC. IMPACT STATEMENT: The results of this study support that exposure to wood-dust can increase the risk of developing small cell lung cancer. Determining the impact of occupational exposure on workers is essential to improve their individual protection and prevention. There is a strong case for recommending the implementation of control measures to reduce occupational exposure to wood dust, specifically for highly exposed occupations such as carpenters and sawmills, in order to prevent small cell lung cancer.