Evaluating the impact of testosterone replacement therapy on carotid atherosclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: This meta-analysis investigates the association between testosterone replacement therapy [TRT] and carotid artery atherosclerosis. Methods: 3 databases were searched for studies up to June 2023 per the PRISMA guidelines. The eligibility criteria comprised RCTs and observational studies involving hypogonadal males receiving exogenous testosterone, in which CIMT was assessed. CAA was the primary outcome, whereas secondary outcomes included HDL, LDL, CRP, total cholesterol and total testosterone. The statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager. Results: Statistical analysis revealed no association between TRT and assessed outcomes. There was a significant increase in total testosterone levels, depicting indirect anti-atherosclerotic effects of TRT. Conclusion: Meta-analysis shows no relation between TRT and CIMT or other markers, allowing its safe usage for hypogonadal males.

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Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. It is associated with adverse outcomes after several orthopaedic procedures. However, its role in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is not fully explored. Therefore, we wanted to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to answer the following questions: (1) What is the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing TJA?; (2) What factors are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients undergoing TJA?; What is the impact of sarcopenia on medical outcomes following TJA?; and (4) What is the impact of sarcopenia on surgical outcomes following TJA? METHODS: Electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched. The data were pooled using the random-effects model and graphically represented by a forest plot. We included a total of 13 studies, evaluating 399,097 patients. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia was 20.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.6 to 28.8%; P < .00001; I2 = 94.7%) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and 5.2% (95% CI 0.1 to 69.7%; P = .128; I2 = 99.6%) in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Meta-regression found no links between age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, obesity, arthroplasty type, and sarcopenia prevalence in TJA. Sarcopenia increased risk of blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR] 4.68 [95% CI 3.51 to 6.25]; P < .00001), pneumonia (OR 1.94 [95% CI 1.14 to 3.30]; P = .01), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.31 to 2.05]; P < .001), prosthetic fracture (OR 2.12 [95% CI 1.51 to 2.98]; P < .0001), prosthetic dislocation (OR 1.99 [95% CI 1.62 to 2.44]; P < .00001), and mechanical loosening (OR 1.78 [95% CI 1.43 to 2.22]; P < .00001) in TKA. Sarcopenic patients were at an increased risk of UTI (OR 1.79 [95% CI 1.32 to 2.43]; P = .0002) and prosthetic loosening (OR 1.97 [95% CI 1.10 to 3.53]; P = .02) post-THA. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline sarcopenia was prevalent in patients undergoing TJA. It was associated with an increased risk of UTI and prosthetic loosening following TKA and THA. Increased risk of blood transfusion, pneumonia, prosthetic fractures, and mechanical loosening following TKA.

Evaluation of antihypertensives for post partum management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of evidence that directly shows the best antihypertensive treatment options for post partum management of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Our objective was to analyze the safest and most effective antihypertensive drugs post partum for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, and MEDLINE were searched to find relevant articles published from inception to Feb 2024. We included randomized control trials, in English, featuring a population of postnatal women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or postpartum women with de novo hypertension with a follow-up of up to 6 months in which any antihypertensive medication was compared with Placebo or a comparison between different doses of antihypertensives was done. The statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager with a random-effects model. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that almost all antihypertensives are effective in treating postpartum hypertension. However, some medications had alternating roles in controlling specific outcomes. Using calcium channel blockers resulted in a faster time to sustain BP control than the control (SMD: -0.37; 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.01; P = 0.04). In contrast, using ACE inhibitors or ARBs demanded the use of other antihypertensives in contrast to all other drugs assessed (RR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.07 to 4.07; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Timely management of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy postpartum is life-saving. All the traditional antihypertensives we assessed effectively manage hypertension postpartum, thus allowing the physician to tailor the particular drug regimen according to the patient's needs and comorbidities without any hindrance.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) as a predictor of coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A converging epidemic of Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is observed over past two decades. LTBI is a state of persistent immune stimulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis but with no active clinical manifestation. Also, there has been as increasing trend for incidence of cardiovascular problems in patients suffering from latent TB infection. Reportedly, the risk of coronary artery disease spikes up to 1.52 times in patient with latent TB infection. Considering the fact that cardiovascular diseases account to be leading cause of death globally, we found a dire need to investigate the role of Latent TB infection in producing coronary artery disease and unveil this unconventional relationship. Purpose: We aim to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate Latent TB infection as a predictor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: A systemic search was conducted on electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar) from inception to 24th June 2022. Studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria underwent statistical analysis on Review Manager 5.4.1. We calculated odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and graphically represented it through fixed-effect forest plot. Heterogeneity of I2>75% and p-value of p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Pooled analysis of four selected studies showed that patient with Latent TB infection significantly developed Coronary Artery Disease (OR = 2.15 [1.48, 3.12]; p < 0.0001; I 2  = 0%). Conclusions: Latent TB infection can be a potential useful predictor for Coronary Artery Disease. However, there is need for further investigation on a greater number of studies before this can truly become clear.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in neonates (MIS-N) associated with SARS-CoV2 infection: a case series.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in neonates (MIS-N) is hypothesised to be caused either following transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV2 antibodies or antibodies developed in the neonate after infection with SARS-CoV-2. In this paper, we aim to discuss the clinical manifestations, laboratory features, and management of neonates diagnosed with MIS-N. We collated information from five participating hospitals in western India. A cohort of newborn infants presenting with multi-system involvement, along with the presence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies, was identified. Current proposed international diagnostic criteria for MIS-N were used to group the cases into three categories of Most likely, Possible, and Unlikely MIS-N. A total of 20 cases were reported with a diagnosis of MIS-N, all having high titres of SARS CoV2 IgG antibodies and negative for SARS CoV2 antigens. Most likely MIS (n = 5) cases presented with respiratory distress (4/5), hypotension and shock (4/5), and encephalopathy (2/5). Inflammatory markers like CRP (1/5), Procalcitonin (1/5), Ferritin (3/5), D-dimer (4/5), and LDH (2/5) were found to be elevated, and four of them had significantly high levels of proBNP. The majority of them (4/5) responded to immunomodulators, three neonates were discharged home, and two died. Possible MIS infants (n = 9) presented with fever (7/9), respiratory distress (4/9), refusal to feed (6/9), lethargy (5/9), and tachycardia (3/9). ProBNP as a marker of cardiac dysfunction was noted to be elevated in four (4/9) infants, correlating with abnormal echocardiography findings in two. In the Unlikely MIS (n = 6) category, three (3/6) infants presented with respiratory distress, one (1/6) with shock and cardiac dysfunction, and only one (1/6) with fever. All of them had elevated inflammatory markers. However, there were other potential diagnoses that could have been responsible for the clinical scenarios in these six cases.   Conclusion: MIS-N requires a high index of suspicion and should be considered in a neonate presenting with two or more systems involvement, in the presence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies, along with elevated inflammatory markers, once other common neonatal conditions have been ruled out. What is Known: • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is  widely reported in paediatric population, however only few reports of newborn affection. • MIS-C is known to cause by virus-induced post-infective antibody mediated immune dysregulation with severe multi-system affection. What is New: • MIS-N may present with varied clinical manifestations with multi-system involvement of variable severity with milder disease in term and severe disease with cardiac dysfunction in preterm newborns. • Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in newborns (MIS-N) is postulated to occur following immune dysregulation associated with transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV2 antibodies or antibodies developed in the neonate after infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Intrapartum antibiotics and risk factors for early onset sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the independent risk factors for early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS) in a setting where the policy is to use intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) for known risk factors. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Level III neonatal unit in a developing country. PATIENTS: Consecutive mother-infant dyads (gestation < or =34 weeks) with no major neonatal malformations. INTERVENTIONS: Thirteen putative maternal and neonatal risk factors and use of IAP were assessed. Neonates were followed until 72 h of life for signs of EONS. Blood cultures were drawn on clinical suspicion of EONS and/or prior to starting prophylactic antibiotics for high risk asymptomatic neonates. MAIN OUTCOME: Culture-proven EONS (onset at <72 h). RESULTS: 601 mother-infant dyads were enrolled (mean (SD) gestation=31.8 (2) weeks; mean (SD) birth weight 1559.4 (452) g). The best fitted multivariable logistic regression model had six independent risk factors (adjusted OR (95% CI)): vaginal examinations > or =3 (9.5 (3 to 31)), clinical chorioamnionitis (8.8 (2 to 43)), birth weight <1500 g (2.8 (2 to 5)), male sex (2.7 (2 to 5)), gestation <30 weeks (2 (1 to 4)) and no IAP (2 (1.04 to 4)). Regression coefficients were converted into scores of 6, 6, 3, 3, 2 and 2, respectively. Internal prediction accuracy was 86.5% and c statistic was 0.75 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.81, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal examinations > or =3, clinical chorioamnionitis, birth weight <1500 g, male sex, gestation <30 weeks and no intrapartum antibiotics were independent risk factors for EONS among preterm infants of < or =34 weeks' gestation.