| 1. |
- Bridel, Claire, et al.
(author)
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Diagnostic Value of Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilament Light Protein in Neurology : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- 2019
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In: JAMA Neurology. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 2168-6149 .- 2168-6157. ; 76:9, s. 1035-1048
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Importance Neurofilament light protein (NfL) is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a number of neurological conditions compared with healthy controls (HC) and is a candidate biomarker for neuroaxonal damage. The influence of age and sex is largely unknown, and levels across neurological disorders have not been compared systematically to date.Objectives To assess the associations of age, sex, and diagnosis with NfL in CSF (cNfL) and to evaluate its potential in discriminating clinically similar conditions.Data Sources PubMed was searched for studies published between January 1, 2006, and January 1, 2016, reporting cNfL levels (using the search terms neurofilament light and cerebrospinal fluid) in neurological or psychiatric conditions and/or in HC.Study Selection Studies reporting NfL levels measured in lumbar CSF using a commercially available immunoassay, as well as age and sex.Data Extraction and Synthesis Individual-level data were requested from study authors. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the fixed effects of age, sex, and diagnosis on log-transformed NfL levels, with cohort of origin modeled as a random intercept.Main Outcome and Measure The cNfL levels adjusted for age and sex across diagnoses.Results Data were collected for 10 059 individuals (mean [SD] age, 59.7 [18.8] years; 54.1% female). Thirty-five diagnoses were identified, including inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (n = 2795), dementias and predementia stages (n = 4284), parkinsonian disorders (n = 984), and HC (n = 1332). The cNfL was elevated compared with HC in a majority of neurological conditions studied. Highest levels were observed in cognitively impaired HIV-positive individuals (iHIV), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Huntington disease. In 33.3% of diagnoses, including HC, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer disease (AD), and Parkinson disease (PD), cNfL was higher in men than women. The cNfL increased with age in HC and a majority of neurological conditions, although the association was strongest in HC. The cNfL overlapped in most clinically similar diagnoses except for FTD and iHIV, which segregated from other dementias, and PD, which segregated from atypical parkinsonian syndromes.Conclusions and Relevance These data support the use of cNfL as a biomarker of neuroaxonal damage and indicate that age-specific and sex-specific (and in some cases disease-specific) reference values may be needed. The cNfL has potential to assist the differentiation of FTD from AD and PD from atypical parkinsonian syndromes.
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| 2. |
- Gaines, Hans, et al.
(author)
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Six-week follow-up after HIV-1 exposure: a position statement from the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy
- 2016
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In: Infectious Diseases. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2374-4235 .- 2374-4243. ; 48:2, s. 93-98
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2014 the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the Swedish Reference Group for Antiviral Therapy (RAV) conducted a review and analysis of the state of knowledge on the duration of follow-up after exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Up until then a follow-up of 12 weeks after exposure had been recommended, but improved tests and new information on early diagnosis motivated a re-evaluation of the national recommendations by experts representing infectious diseases and microbiology, county medical officers, the RAV, the Public Health Agency, and other national authorities. Based on the current state of knowledge the Public Health Agency of Sweden and the RAV recommend, starting in April 2015, a follow-up period of 6 weeks after possible HIV-1 exposure, if HIV testing is performed using laboratory-based combination tests detecting both HIV antibody and antigen. If point-of-care rapid HIV tests are used, a follow-up period of 8 weeks is recommended, because currently available rapid tests have insufficient sensitivity for detection of HIV-1 antigen. A follow-up period of 12 weeks is recommended after a possible exposure for HIV-2, since presently used assays do not include HIV-2 antigens and only limited information is available on the development of HIV antibodies during early HIV-2 infection. If pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis is administered, the follow-up period is recommended to begin after completion of prophylaxis. Even if infection cannot be reliably excluded before the end of the recommended follow-up period, HIV testing should be performed at first contact for persons who seek such testing.
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| 3. |
- Axelsson, Susanna, et al.
(author)
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Effect of combined caries-preventive methods: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials.
- 2004
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In: Acta odontologica Scandinavica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0001-6357 .- 1502-3850. ; 62:3, s. 163-9
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the caries-preventive effect of combined caries-preventive methods, defined as two or more different interventions in combination, each expected to prevent dental caries. The Medline database was searched for articles published in the period January 1966 to June 2003. Twenty-four controlled studies met the inclusion criteria, and their value as evidence was assessed according to predetermined criteria. The level of evidence for the overall conclusion regarding each method was graded according to the protocol of the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. The scientific evidence for the combination of treatments involving fluoride that had a preventive effect on caries in children and adolescents was graded as moderate. However, for elderly patients the scientific evidence for the caries-preventive effect of different combinations of treatments was found to be incomplete. No conclusion could be drawn regarding the evidence for combinations of treatments being effective for groups at high caries risk, as the results from the identified clinical studies were conflicting.
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| 4. |
- Evans Axelsson, Susan, et al.
(author)
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Radioimmunotherapy for Prostate Cancer-Current Status and Future Possibilities.
- 2016
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In: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0001-2998. ; 46:2, s. 165-179
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the USA. In the United States, it is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer after skin cancer, and in Europe it is number one. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 221,000 men in the United States would be diagnosed with PCa during 2015, and approximately 28,000 would die of the disease. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, approximately 345,000 men were diagnosed with PCa in Europe during 2012, and despite more emphasis placed on early detection through routine screening, 72,000 men died of the disease. Hence, the need for improved therapy modalities is of utmost importance. And targeted therapies based on radiolabeled specific antibodies or peptides are a very interesting and promising alternative to increase the therapeutic efficacy and overall chance of survival of these patients. There are currently several preclinical and some clinical studies that have been conducted, or are ongoing, to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) against PCa. One thing that is lacking in a lot of these published studies is the dosimetry data, which are needed to compare results between the studies and the study locations. Given the complicated tumor microenvironment and overall complexity of RIT to PCa, old and new targets and targeting strategies like combination RIT and pretargeting RIT are being improved and assessed along with various therapeutic radionuclides candidates. Given alone or in combination with other therapies, these new and improved strategies and RIT tools further enhance the clinical response to RIT drugs in PCa, making RIT for PCa an increasingly practical clinical tool.
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| 5. |
- Källestål, Carina, et al.
(author)
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Economic evaluation of dental caries prevention : a systematic review
- 2003
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In: Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0001-6357 .- 1502-3850. ; 61:6, s. 341-346
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Research review (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of economic evaluations of caries prevention. A search in Medline from 1966 until May 2003 and a manual search in a number of journals identified 154 references, 74 of which were included. There were 17 original studies including an economic evaluation, and these form the basis of the present article. The rest were reviews, model studies and reports concerning economic practice in dentistry. The results show that the reviewed original studies on economic evaluation of caries prevention do not provide support for the economic value of caries prevention. The scarcity of well-conducted studies, as well as contra-dictory evidence in the reviewed articles, makes it difficult to judge the health-economic effect of the studied caries-prevention methods.
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| 6. |
- Lawlor, Ailbhe, et al.
(author)
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Predictive Models for Assessing Patients’ Response to Treatment in Metastatic Prostate Cancer : A Systematic Review
- 2024
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In: European Urology Open Science. - 2666-1691. ; 63, s. 126-135
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objective: The treatment landscape of metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) has evolved significantly over the past two decades. Despite this, the optimal therapy for patients with mPCa has not been determined. This systematic review identifies available predictive models that assess mPCa patients’ response to treatment. Methods: We critically reviewed MEDLINE and CENTRAL in December 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. Only quantitative studies in English were included with no time restrictions. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the PROBAST tool. Data were extracted following the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews criteria. Key findings and limitations: The search identified 616 citations, of which 15 studies were included in our review. Nine of the included studies were validated internally or externally. Only one study had a low risk of bias and a low risk concerning applicability. Many studies failed to detail model performance adequately, resulting in a high risk of bias. Where reported, the models indicated good or excellent performance. Conclusions and clinical implications: Most of the identified predictive models require additional evaluation and validation in properly designed studies before these can be implemented in clinical practice to assist with treatment decision-making for men with mPCa. Patient summary: In this review, we evaluate studies that predict which treatments will work best for which metastatic prostate cancer patients. We found that existing studies need further improvement before these can be used by health care professionals.
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| 7. |
- Lingström, Peter, et al.
(author)
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Dietary factors in the prevention of dental caries : a systematic review
- 2003
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In: Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0001-6357 .- 1502-3850. ; 61:6, s. 331-340
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Research review (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of this study was, systematically, to evaluate the effect of die-tary changes in the prevention of dental caries. A search and analysis strategy was followed, as suggested by the Swedish Council on Tech-nology Assessment in Health Care (SBU). The search strategy for arti-cles published in 1966-2003 was performed using electronic databases and reference lists of articles and selected textbooks. Out of 714 arti-cles originally identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria for a random-ized or controlled clinical trial--at least 2 years’ follow-up and caries increment as a primary endpoint. This included the total or partial substitution of sucrose with sugar substitutes or the addition of pro-tective foods to chewing gum. No study was found evaluating the ef-fect of information designed to reduce sugar intake/frequency as a sin-gle preventive measure. It is suggested that the evidence for the use of sorbitol or xylitol in chewing gum, or for the use of invert sugar, is in-conclusive. No caries-preventive effect was found from adding calcium phosphate or dicalcium phosphate dihydrate to chewing gums. The review clearly demonstrates the need for well-designed randomized clinical studies with adequate control groups and high compliance.
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| 8. |
- Mejàre, Ingegerd, et al.
(author)
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Caries-preventive effect of fissure sealants : a systematic review
- 2003
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In: Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0001-6357 .- 1502-3850. ; 61:6, s. 321-330
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Research review (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The objectives of this study were to evaluate systematically the evi-dence of the caries-preventive effect of fissure sealing of occlusal tooth surfaces and to examine factors potentially modifying the effect. The search strategies included electronic databases, reference lists of arti-cles, and selected textbooks. Inclusion criteria were randomized or quasi-randomized clinical trials or controlled clinical trials comparing fissure sealing with no treatment or another preventive treatment in children up to 14 years of age at the start; the outcome measure was caries increment; the diagnostic criteria had been described; and the follow-up time was at least 2 years. Inclusion decisions were taken and grading of the studies was done independently by two of the authors. The main measure of effect was relative risk reduction. Thirteen stud-ies using resin-based or glass ionomer sealant materials were included in the final analysis. The results showed that most studies were per-formed during the 1970s and a single application had been utilized. The relative caries risk reduction pooled estimate of resin-based seal-ants on permanent 1st molars was 33% (relative risk = 0.67; CI = 0.55-0.83). The effect depended on retention of the sealant. In conclu-sion, the review suggests limited evidence that fissure sealing of 1st permanent molars with resin-based materials has a caries-preventive effect. The evidence is incomplete for permanent 2nd molars, premo-lars and primary molars and for glass ionomer cements. Overall, there remains a need for further trials of high quality, particularly in child populations with a low and a high caries risk, respectively.
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| 9. |
- Petersson, Lars G, et al.
(author)
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Professional fluoride varnish treatment for caries control: a systematic review of clinical trials.
- 2004
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In: Acta odontologica Scandinavica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0001-6357 .- 1502-3850. ; 62:3, s. 170-6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this paper was systematically to evaluate the caries-preventive effect of professional fluoride varnish treatments. A search of the literature for articles published between 1966 and August 2003 was carried out in electronic databases, reference lists of articles, and selected textbooks in accordance with the strategy of the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. Out of 302 identified papers, 24 randomized and controlled clinical trials comparing fluoride varnish with placebo, no active treatment or other fluoride preventive regimens of at least 2 years' study duration were included. The trials that met the inclusion criteria were assessed independently and systematically by at least two reviewers and scored from A to C according to predetermined criteria for methodology and performance. The main outcome measure was the preventive fraction expressed as a percentage. The results displayed limited evidence (evidence level 3) for the caries preventive effect of topical applications of fluoride varnishes in permanent teeth. The average prevented fraction was 30% (0-69%) when compared with untreated controls. Inconclusive evidence (evidence level 4) was found for fluoride varnish treatment in the primary dentition and in adults. This systematic review reinforces the need for future dinical research of high quality, incorporating modern concepts of dinical performance and evaluation to assess dental caries control using professional fluoride varnish.
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| 10. |
- Thelin, Martin, et al.
(author)
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Biological Functions of Iduronic Acid in Chondroitin/Dermatan Sulfate.
- 2013
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In: The FEBS Journal. - : Wiley. - 1742-464X .- 1742-4658. ; 280:10, s. 2431-2446
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The presence of iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate changes the properties of the polysaccharides, as it generates a more flexible chain with increased binding potentials. Iduronic acid in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate influences multiple cellular properties such as migration, proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and regulation of cytokine/growth factor activities. During pathological conditions such as wound healing, inflammation and cancer iduronic acid has diverse regulatory functions. Iduronic acid is formed by the two epimerases DS-epimerase 1 and DS-epimerase 2 which have different tissue distribution and properties. The role of IdoA in chondroitin/dermatan sulfate is underlined by the vast changes of connective tissue features in patients with a new type of Ehler-Danlos syndrome, adducted thumb-clubfoot syndrome. Future direction of research is to understand the roles of the two epimerases and their interplay with sulfotransferases involved in CS/DS biosynthesis. Further, a better definition of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate functions using different knock-out models is needed. In this review, we focus on the two enzymes responsible for iduronic acid formation and the role of iduronic acid in health and disease. © 2013 The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 FEBS.
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