Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Congenital Toxoplasmosis Diagnosis: Advances and Challenges.

Objective: To understand how congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) diagnosis has evolved over the years, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the kind of analysis that has been employed for CT diagnosis. Methods: PubMed and Lilacs databases were used in order to access the kind of analysis that has been employed for CT diagnosis in several samples. Our search combined the following combining terms: "congenital toxoplasmosis" or "gestational toxoplasmosis" and "diagnosis" and "blood," "serum," "amniotic fluid," "placenta," or "colostrum." We extracted data on true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative to generate pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Random-effects models using MetaDTA were used for analysis. Results: Sixty-five articles were included in the study aiming for comparisons (75.4%), diagnosis performance (52.3%), diagnosis improvement (32.3%), or to distinguish acute/chronic infection phases (36.9%). Amniotic fluid (AF) and placenta were used in 36.9% and 10.8% of articles, respectively, targeting parasites and/or T. gondii DNA. Blood was used in 86% of articles for enzymatic assays. Colostrum was used in one article to search for antibodies. In meta-analysis, PCR in AF showed the best performance for CT diagnosis based on the highest summary sensitivity (85.1%) and specificity (99.7%) added to lower magnitude heterogeneity. Conclusion: Most of the assays being researched to diagnose CT are basically the same traditional approaches available for clinical purposes. The range in diagnostic performance and the challenges imposed by CT diagnosis indicate the need to better explore pregnancy samples in search of new possibilities for diagnostic tools. Exploring immunological markers and using bioinformatics tools and T. gondii recombinant antigens should address the research needed for a new generation of diagnostic tools to face these challenges.

Performance of ophthalmic artery Doppler velocimetry in the complementary diagnosis of preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To calculate the accuracy (A) and establish the best cutoff value for ophthalmic artery (OA) Doppler velocimetry indexes in patients diagnosed with preeclampsia (PE), compared with healthy pregnant women. METHODS: This prospective experimental study enrolled 268 women: 133 with PE and 135 healthy pregnant women. All patients were evaluated by OA Doppler sonography, bilaterally, to assess their pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), peak systolic velocity (PVS), second peak systolic velocity (P2), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and peak ratio (PR). Means were compared using Student's T-test. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to establish the cutoff value and estimate the sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp), accuracy (A) of all variables, and a significance of 95% was adopted. RESULTS: ROC curve analysis showed that P2 and PR were superior to the other parameters for PE diagnosis. We tested two cutoff values: (1) using PR ≥0.70, obtained A: 88.72%, S: 81.95%, and Sp: 95.48% and (2) using PR ≥0.75, and A: 86.24%, S: 74.43%, and Sp: 99.24%. By adopting P2 ≥ 21.5 cm/s, we obtained A: 87.59%, S: 84.96%, and Sp: 90.22% and when the cutoff point was P2 ≥ 22 cm/s, there was a slight decrease in A to 86.46% and S to 81.20%, with Sp: 91.89.3%. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmic artery Doppler demonstrated to be an effective and high-performance imaging method for the diagnosis of PE and the indexes P2 and PR demonstrated superior accuracy to the other Doppler parameters assessed. Higher performance occurred when the cutoff values with greater specificity were adopted, PR ≥ 0.75 and P2 ≥ 22 cm/s, considering that the proposed OA Doppler is to be a complementary method for preeclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia: Universal Screening or Universal Prevention for Low and Middle-Income Settings?

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a severe disorder that affects up to 8% of all pregnancies and represents an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The screening of the disease is a subject of studies, but the complexity and uncertainties regarding its etiology make this objective a difficult task. In addition, the costs related to screening protocols, the heterogeneity of the most affected populations and the lack of highly effective prevention methods reduce the potential of current available algorithms for screening. Thus, the National Specialized Commission of Hypertension in Pregnancy of the Brazilian Association of Gynecology and Obstetrics Federation (Febrasgo, in the Portuguese acronym) (NSC Hypertension in Pregnancy of the Febrasgo) considers that there are no screening algorithms to be implemented in the country to date and advocates that Aspirin and calcium should be widely used.

A Pré-eclâmpsia (PE) é uma doença grave que acomete ∼ 8% das gestações e representa importante causa de morbimortalidade, tanto materna quanto perinatal. O rastreamento da doença é motivo de estudos, porém a complexidade e as incertezas quanto a sua etiologia tornam esse objetivo bastante difícil. Além disso, os custos relacionados com o rastreamento, a heterogeneidade das populações mais afetadas e ainda a falta de métodos de prevenção de grande eficácia reduzem o potencial dos algoritmos de rastreamento. Assim, a Comissão Nacional Especializada sobre Hipertensão na Gravidez da Federação Brasileira das Associações de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia (CNE Hipertensão na Gravidez da FEBRASGO) considera que não há algoritmos de rastreamento que possam ser aplicados no país nesse momento e defende a utilização dos métodos de prevenção como ácido acetilsalicílico e cálcio de maneira ampla.

Doppler Indices of the Ophthalmic Artery in Pregnant Women With Pregestational Diabetes Mellitus With and Without Retinopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate ophthalmic Doppler velocimetry patterns in pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus with and without retinopathy in comparison to pregnant women without gestational intercurrences. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study analyzed Doppler indices of the ophthalmic arteries, including the resistive index (RI), pulsatility index, peak systolic velocity, second peak systolic velocity, peak ratio, and end-diastolic velocity (EDV), in 3 groups of pregnant women: diabetic with retinopathy (n = 12); diabetic without retinopathy (n = 85); and nondiabetic controls (n = 122). The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for the statistical analysis with a probability of 95%. RESULTS: The mean gestational ages ± SDs of pregnant women with and without retinopathy and nondiabetic controls were 29.1 ± 2.2, 29.7 ± 2.7, and 31 ± 1.0 weeks, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups (P > .099). The mean RI in the group with retinopathy was significantly higher (P = .030) than in the control group, but it did not significantly differ compared to the group without retinopathy (P = .204). The RI in the control group did not differ from that in the group without retinopathy (P = .079). The EDV was significantly lower in the group with retinopathy (P = .015) in relation to the control group, but there were no differences compared to the group without retinopathy (P = .217). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus and retinopathy had increased vascular impedance in the ophthalmic artery together with a reduction in the EDV, which was probably related to ischemia, thrombosis, and neovascularization of retinal vessels.

Analyzing Preeclampsia as the Tip of the Iceberg Represented by Women with Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease, Atherosclerosis, and Inflammation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cardiovascular and endothelial dysfunction is recognized nowadays as an important etiological factor contributing to the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. RECENT FINDINGS: Preeclampsia is considered a specific disease of pregnancy, but recent theories suggest that women suffering from the condition have greater propensity to develop atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke over the years. It is possible that transient but severe endothelial dysfunction observed in preeclampsia potentiates a cascade of events that progresses to atherosclerosis. Preeclampsia offers a unique window of opportunity to identify maternal endothelial dysfunction and pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The placenta is closely involved in the onset of preeclampsia, but endothelial and cardiac vascular factors also play important causal roles in the development of hypertension during pregnancy. According to the data presented, it is clear that preeclampsia selects a group at high risk of development of atherosclerosis and at increased cardiovascular risk, as well as of stroke, in the decades following childbirth.

Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a multifactorial and multisystemic disease specific to gestation. It is classically diagnosed by the presence of hypertension associated with proteinuria manifested in a previously normotensive pregnant woman after the 20th week of gestation. Pre-eclampsia is also considered in the absence of proteinuria if there is target organ damage. The present review takes a general approach focused on aspects of practical interest in the clinical and obstetric care of these women. Thus, it explores the still unknown etiology, current aspects of pathophysiology and of the diagnosis, the approach to disease prediction, its adverse outcomes and prevention. Management is based on general principles, on nonpharmacological and on pharmacological clinical treatment of severe or nonsevere situations with emphasis on the hypertensive crisis and eclampsia. Obstetric management is based on preeclampsia without or with signs of clinical and/or laboratory deterioration, stratification of gestational age in < 24 weeks, between 24 and less than 34 weeks, and ≥ 34 weeks of gestation, and guidance on route of delivery. An immediate puerperium approach and repercussions in the future life of pregnant women who develop preeclampsia is also presented.

A pré-eclâmpsia é uma doença multifatorial e multissistêmica específica da gestação. É classicamente diagnosticada pela presença de hipertensão arterial associada à proteinúria em gestante previamente normotensa após a 20a semana de gestação. A pré-eclâmpsia também é considerada na ausência de proteinúria se houver lesão de órgão-alvo. A presente revisão tem uma abordagem geral focada em aspectos de interesse prático na assistência clínica e obstétrica dessas mulheres. Assim, explora a etiologia ainda desconhecida, aspectos atuais da fisiopatologia e do diagnóstico e diagnóstico diferencial de convulsões, a abordagem da predição da doença, seus resultados adversos e prevenção. A conduta baseia-se em princípios gerais, tratamento clínico não farmacológico e farmacológico de situações graves ou não graves, com ênfase na crise hipertensiva e eclâmpsia. O controle obstétrico se fundamenta na pré-eclâmpsia sem ou com sinais de deterioração clínica e/ou laboratorial, estratificação da idade gestacional abaixo de 24 semanas, entre 24 e menos de 34 semanas e 34 ou mais semanas de gestação e orientação na via de parto. Uma abordagem imediata do puerpério e repercussões na vida futura de gestantes que desenvolvem pré-eclâmpsia também foram apresentadas.

Pré-eclâmpsia/eclâmpsia / Pre-Eclampsia/Eclampsia

A pré-eclâmpsia é uma doença multifatorial e multissistêmica específica da gestação. É classicamente diagnosticada pela presença de hipertensão arterial associada à proteinúria em gestante previamente normotensa após a 20a semana de gestação. A pré-eclâmpsia também é considerada na ausência de proteinúria se houver lesão de órgão-alvo. A presente revisão tem uma abordagem geral focada em aspectos de interesse prático na assistência clínica e obstétrica dessas mulheres. Assim, explora a etiologia ainda desconhecida, aspectos atuais da fisiopatologia e do diagnóstico e diagnóstico diferencial de convulsões, a abordagem da predição da doença, seus resultados adversos e prevenção. A conduta baseia-se em princípios gerais, tratamento clínico não farmacológico e farmacológico de situações graves ou não graves, com ênfase na crise hipertensiva e eclâmpsia. O controle obstétrico se fundamenta na pré-eclâmpsia sem ou com sinais de deterioração clínica e/ou laboratorial, estratificação da idade gestacional abaixo de 24 semanas, entre 24 e menos de 34 semanas e 34 ou mais semanas de gestação e orientação na via de parto. Uma abordagem imediata do puerpério e repercussões na vida futura de gestantes que desenvolvem pré-eclâmpsia também foram apresentadas.(AU)

Pre-eclampsia is a multifactorial and multisystemic disease specific to gestation. It is classically diagnosed by the presence of hypertension associated with proteinuria manifested in a previously normotensive pregnant woman after the 20th week of gestation. Pre-eclampsia is also considered in the absence of proteinuria if there is target organ damage. The present review takes a general approach focused on aspects of practical interest in the clinical and obstetric care of these women. Thus, it explores the still unknown etiology, current aspects of pathophysiology and of the diagnosis, the approach to disease prediction, its adverse outcomes and prevention. Management is based on general principles, on nonpharmacological and on pharmacological clinical treatment of severe or nonsevere situations with emphasis on the hypertensive crisis and eclampsia. Obstetric management is based on preeclampsia without or with signs of clinical and/or laboratory deterioration, stratification of gestational age in < 24 weeks, between 24 and less than 34 weeks, and ≥ 34 weeks of gestation, and guidance on route of delivery. An immediate puerperium approach and repercussions in the future life of pregnant women who develop preeclampsia is also presented.(AU)

The role of the erythrocyte in the outcome of pregnancy with preeclampsia.

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationships of osmotic and mechanical stability of erythrocytes with anthropometric, biochemical, hematologic and hemodynamic variables in pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE). The studied population consisted of 20 normotensive patients and 16 patients with PE. Patients with PE presented worse gestational outcome, greater hematologic impairment, erythrocytes osmotically more stable in vitro, but in conditions of isotonicity with the in vivo medium, in addition to hyperflow in orbital territory, when compared to normotensive patients. The correlation analysis between anthropometric, hematologic and hemodynamic variables in patients with PE indicated that erythrocytes with lower volumes and lower levels of hemoglobin favor the occurrence of a better gestational outcome, because they are more stable and because they are associated with a decrease in the hemodynamic changes present in the disease. This should mean that the tendency to microcytosis, probably due to a mechanism of compensatory mechanical selection, is a desirable characteristic in the disease.

High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol functionality and metabolic syndrome: Protocol for review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MetS-related stroke is set to increase dramatically in coming decades. MetS is a complex disease that includes endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, ectopic obesity, and dyslipidaemia and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. One function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C) is the cholesterol-efflux pathway, which is the pathway where cholesterol is removed from macrophages within the arterial walls back into the bloodstream and out to the liver. As one of the key functions of HDL, their hypothesis was that if they could measure HDL-C-efflux capacity, they would have a better handle on the role of HDL in atherosclerosis. However, there are no systematic analyses or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between HDL-C functionality and MetS. The aim of this study is to examine this association of HDL-C functionality with MetS in different ages and sex. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The update systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar). Studies that examined the association between HDL-C functionality and MetS; focused on cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies; were conducted among in adults aged 40 to 70 years; provided sufficient data for calculating odds ratio or relative risk with a 95% confidence interval; were published as original articles written in English or other languages; and have been published until January 2018 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO (CRD42018083465).

High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol functionality and metabolic syndrome: Protocol for review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MetS-related stroke is set to increase dramatically in coming decades. MetS is a complex disease that includes endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, ectopic obesity, and dyslipidaemia and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. One function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C) is the cholesterol-efflux pathway, which is the pathway where cholesterol is removed from macrophages within the arterial walls back into the bloodstream and out to the liver. As one of the key functions of HDL, their hypothesis was that if they could measure HDL-C-efflux capacity, they would have a better handle on the role of HDL in atherosclerosis. However, there are no systematic analyses or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between HDL-C functionality and MetS. The aim of this study is to examine this association of HDL-C functionality with MetS in different ages and sex. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The update systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar). Studies that examined the association between HDL-C functionality and MetS; focused on cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies; were conducted among in adults aged 40 to 70 years; provided sufficient data for calculating odds ratio or relative risk with a 95% confidence interval; were published as original articles written in English or other languages; and have been published until January 2018 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of stroke: Protocol for an update systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The metabolic syndrome is composed of several cardiovascular risk factors and has a high prevalence throughout the world. However, there are no systematic analyses or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and stroke. The aim of this study is to examine this association of metabolic syndrome with stroke in different ages and sex. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The update systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies that examined the association between metabolic syndrome and stroke, had a longitudinal or prospective cohort design, were conducted among in adults aged 40 to 70 years, provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with a 95% CI, were published as original articles written in English or other languages, and have been published until December 2017 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. The findings from this study could be useful for assessing metabolic syndrome risk factors in stroke, and determining approaches for prevention of stroke in the future.

Epicardial adipose tissue and carotid artery disease: Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is now widely recognized as a multifactorial disease with outcomes that arise from complex factors such as plaque components, blood flow, and inflammation. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active fat depot, abundant in proinflammatory cytokines, and has been correlated with the extent and severity of carotid artery disease (CD). The locations most frequently affected by carotid atherosclerosis are the proximal internal carotid artery (ie, the origin) and the common carotid artery bifurcation. Progression of atheromatous plaque at the carotid bifurcation results in luminal narrowing, often accompanied by ulceration. However, there are no systematic analyses or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between EAT and CD. The aim of this study is to examine this association of EAT with CD in different ages and sex. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (ie, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies that (1) examined the association between EAT and CD, (2) focus on cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies, (3) will conducted among in adults aged 40 to 70 years, (4) provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with a 95% CI, (5) will published as original articles written in English or other languages, and (6) have been published until January 2018 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators. RESULTS: We propose the current protocol to evaluate the evaluation of EAT with ED. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will not need ethical approval, because it does not involve human beings. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO (CRD42018083458).

Epicardial adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome: An update protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MetS-related stroke is set to increase dramatically in coming decades. MetS is a complex disease that includes endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, ectopic obesity, and dyslipidaemia, and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, there are no systematic analyses, or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and (MetS). The aim of this study is to examine this association of EAT with MetS in different ages and sex. METHODS: The update systematic review, and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (ie, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies that firstly, examined the association between EAT and MetS, secondly, focus on cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies, thirdly, were conducted among in adults aged between 40 and 70 years, fourth, provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with a 95% CI, fifth, were published as original articles written in English or other languages, and sixth, have been published until January year 2018 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators. RESULTS: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. This study will provide a high quality synthesis on the association of EAT and MetS. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will provide evidence to assess whether there is a strong association of EAT and MetS, and its components.

Statins in adult patients with HIV: Protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with HIV have been found to suffer from lipid abnormalities, including elevated levels of total and LDL-cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels. Abnormal lipid levels are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which are significant causes of mortality among the general population. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to conduct a systematic review with network meta-analysis to compare the effects of statins classes on HIV patients. METHODS: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies published in English up to 31 December 2017, and which include direct and/or indirect evidence, will be included. Studies will be retrieved by searching four electronic databases and cross-referencing. Dual selection and abstraction of data will occur. The primary outcome will all-cause mortality, new event of acute myocardial infarction, stroke (hemorrhagic and ischemic), hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome and urgent revascularization procedures and cardiovascular mortality. Secondary outcomes will be assessment of the differences in change of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment instrument for RCTs and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology instrument for observational studies. Network meta-analysis will be performed using multivariate random-effects meta-regression models. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve will be used to provide a hierarchy of statins that reduce cardiovascular mortality in HIV patients. A revised version of the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) will be used to assess the risk of bias in eligible RCTs. Results will be synthesized and analyzed using network meta-analysis (NMA). Overall strength of the evidence and publication bias will be evaluated. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis will also be performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. The evidence will determine which combination of interventions are most promising for current practice and further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO (CRD42017072996).

Epicardial adipose tissue and metabolic syndrome An update protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MetS-related stroke is set to increase dramatically in coming decades. MetS is a complex disease that includes endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance, diabetes, hypertension, ectopic obesity, and dyslipidaemia, and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, there are no systematic analyses, or well conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and (MetS). The aim of this study is to examine this association of EAT with MetS in different ages and sex. METHODS: The update systematic review, and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (ie, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies that firstly, examined the association between EAT and MetS, secondly, focus on cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies, thirdly, were conducted among in adults aged between 40 and 70 years, fourth, provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with a 95% CI, fifth, were published as original articles written in English or other languages, and sixth, have been published until January year 2018 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators. RESULTS: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. This study will provide a high quality synthesis on the association of EAT and MetS. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will provide evidence to assess whether there is a strong association of EAT and MetS, and its components.

Statins in adult patients with HIV Protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Patients with HIV have been found to suffer from lipid abnormalities, including elevated levels of total and LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels. Abnormal lipid levels are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which are significant causes of mortality among the general population. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to conduct a systematic review with network meta-analysis to compare the effects of statins classes on HIV patients. METHODS: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies published in English up to 31 December 2017, and which include direct and/or indirect evidence, will be included. Studies will be retrieved by searching four electronic databases and cross referencing. Dual selection and abstraction of data will occur. The primary outcome will all-cause mortality, new event of acute myocardial infarction, stroke (hemorrhagic and ischemic), hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome and urgent revascularization procedures and cardiovascular mortality. Secondary outcomes will be assessment of the differences in change of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment instrument for RCTs and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology instrument for observational studies. Network meta-analysis will be performed using multivariate random-effects meta-regression models. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve will be used to provide a hierarchy of statins that reduce cardiovascular mortality in HIV patients. A revised version of the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) will be used to assess the risk of bias in eligible RCTs. Results will be synthesized and analyzed using network meta-analysis (NMA). Overall strength of the evidence and publication bias will be evaluated. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis will also be performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Ethics approval was not required for this study because it was based on published studies. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. The evidence will determine which combination of interventions are most promising for current practice and further investigation.

Epicardial adipose tissue and carotid artery disease Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is now widely recognized as a multifactorial disease with outcomes that arise from complex factors such as plaque components, blood flow, and inflammation. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active fat depot, abundant in proinflammatory cytokines, and has been correlated with the extent and severity of carotid artery disease (CD). The locations most frequently affected by carotid atherosclerosis are the proximal internal carotid artery (ie, the origin) and the common carotid artery bifurcation. Progression of atheromatous plaque at the carotid bifurcation results in luminal narrowing, often accompanied by ulceration. However, there are no systematic analyses or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between EAT and CD. The aim of this study is to examine this association of EAT with CD in different ages and sex. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (ie, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies that (1) examined the association between EAT and CD, (2) focus on cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies, (3) will conducted among in adults aged 40 to 70 years, (4) provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with a 95% CI, (5) will published as original articles written in English or other languages, and (6) have been published until January 2018 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators. Results: We propose the current protocol to evaluate the evaluation of EAT with ED. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will not need ethical approval, because it does not involve human beings. The results and findings of this study will be submitted and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of stroke Protocol for an update systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: The metabolic syndrome is composed of several cardiovascular risk factors and has a high prevalence throughout the world. However, there are no systematic analyses or well-conducted meta-analyses to evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and stroke. The aim of this study is to examine this association of metabolic syndrome with stroke in different ages and sex. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The update systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted using published studies that will be identified from electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies that examined the association between metabolic syndrome and stroke, had a longitudinal or prospective cohort design, were conducted among in adults aged 40 to 70 years, provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with a 95% CI, were published as original articles written in English or other languages, and have been published until December 2017 will be included. Study selection, data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted based on discussions among investigators.