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- Sergentanis, Theodoros N, et al.
(author)
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Risk for childhood leukemia associated with maternal and paternal age
- 2015
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In: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 30:12, s. 1229-1261
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The role of reproductive factors, such as parental age, in the pathogenesis of childhood leukemias is being intensively examined; the results of individual studies are controversial. This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively synthesize the published data on the association between parental age and risk of two major distinct childhood leukemia types in the offspring. Eligible studies were identified and pooled relative risk (RR) estimates were calculated using random-effects models, separately for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Subgroup analyses were performed by study design, geographical region, adjustment factors; sensitivity analyses and meta-regression analyses were also undertaken. 77 studies (69 case-control and eight cohort) were deemed eligible. Older maternal and paternal age were associated with increased risk for childhood ALL (pooled RR = 1.05, 95 % CI 1.01-1.10; pooled RR = 1.04, 95 % CI 1.00-1.08, per 5 year increments, respectively). The association between maternal age and risk of childhood AML showed a U-shaped pattern, with symmetrically associated increased risk in the oldest (pooled RR = 1.23, 95 % CI 1.06-1.43) and the youngest (pooled RR = 1.23, 95 % CI 1.07-1.40) extremes. Lastly, only younger fathers were at increased risk of having a child with AML (pooled RR = 1.28, 95 % CI 1.04-1.59). In conclusion, maternal and paternal age represents a meaningful risk factor for childhood leukemia, albeit of different effect size by leukemia subtype. Genetic and socio-economic factors may underlie the observed associations. Well-adjusted studies, scheduled by large consortia, are anticipated to satisfactorily address methodological issues, whereas the potential underlying genetic mechanisms should be elucidated by basic research studies.
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- Papathoma, PE, et al.
(author)
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A replication study, systematic review and meta-analysis of automated image-based diagnosis in parkinsonism
- 2022
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In: Scientific reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 12:1, s. 2763-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Differential diagnosis of parkinsonism early upon symptom onset is often challenging for clinicians and stressful for patients. Several neuroimaging methods have been previously evaluated; however specific routines remain to be established. The aim of this study was to systematically assess the diagnostic accuracy of a previously developed 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) based automated algorithm in the diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes, including unpublished data from a prospective cohort. A series of 35 patients prospectively recruited in a movement disorder clinic in Stockholm were assessed, followed by systematic literature review and meta-analysis. In our cohort, automated image-based classification method showed excellent sensitivity and specificity for Parkinson Disease (PD) vs. atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS), in line with the results of the meta-analysis (pooled sensitivity and specificity 0.84; 95% CI 0.79–0.88 and 0.96; 95% CI 0.91 –0.98, respectively). In conclusion, FDG-PET automated analysis has an excellent potential to distinguish between PD and APS early in the disease course and may be a valuable tool in clinical routine as well as in research applications.
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- Petridou, E T, et al.
(author)
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Socioeconomic disparities in survival from childhood leukemia in the United States and globally : a meta-analysis
- 2015
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In: Annals of Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0923-7534 .- 1569-8041. ; 26:3, s. 589-597
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Despite advancements in the treatment of childhood leukemia, socioeconomic status (SES) may potentially affect disease prognosis. This study aims to evaluate whether SES is associated with survival from childhood leukemia.METHODS: The US National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) 1973-2010 data were analyzed; thereafter, results were meta-analyzed along with those from survival (cohort) studies examining the association between SES indices and survival from childhood leukemia (end-of-search date: 31 March 2014). Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect estimates (relative risks, RRs); meta-regression was also used.RESULTS: We included 29 studies yielding 28 804 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 3208 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 27 650 'any' leukemia (denoting joint reporting of all subtypes) cases. According to individual-level composite SES indices, children from low SES suffered from nearly twofold higher death rates from ALL (pooled RR: 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.00-3.34, based on four study arms); likewise, death RRs derived from an array of lower area-level SES indices ranged between 1.17 and 1.33 (based on 11 study arms). Importantly, the survival gap between higher and lower SES seemed wider in the United States, with considerably (by 20%-82%) increased RRs for death from ALL in lower SES. Regarding AML, poorer survival was evident only when area-level SES indices were used. Lastly, remoteness indices were not associated with survival from childhood leukemia.CONCLUSION: Children with lower SES suffering childhood leukemia do not seem to equally enjoy the impressive recent survival gains. Special health policy strategies and increased awareness of health providers might minimize the effects of socioeconomic disparities.
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