scholarly journals Epidemiology of Neuromyelitis Optica in the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoud Etemadifar ◽  
Zahra Nasr ◽  
Behrang Khalili ◽  
Maryam Taherioun ◽  
Reza Vosoughi

Background.Neuromyelitis optica (Devic’s disease) is a severe autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. Epidemiological aspects of NMO have not been systemically reviewed. In this study we systematically reviewed and assessed the quality of studies reporting the incidence and/or prevalence of NMO across the world.Methods.A comprehensive literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for the terms “Neuromyelitis optica,” “devic disease,” “incidence,” “prevalence,” and “epidemiology” was conducted on January 31, 2015. Study quality was assessed using an assessment tool based on recognized guidelines and designed specifically for this study.Results.A total of 216 studies were initially identified, with only 9 meeting the inclusion criteria. High level of heterogeneity amongst studies precluded a firm conclusion. Incidence data were found in four studies and ranged from 0.053 per 100,000 per year in Cuba to 0.4 in Southern Denmark. Prevalence was reported in all studies and ranged from 0.51 per 100,000 in Cuba to 4.4 in Southern Denmark.Conclusion.This review reveals the gaps that still exist in the epidemiological knowledge of NMO in the world. Published studies have different qualities and methodology precluding a robust conclusion. Future researches focusing on epidemiological features of NMO in different nations and different ethnic groups are needed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-172
Author(s):  
Eda Vrtačnik Bokal ◽  
Urban Vrtačnik

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system. It is common in the reproductive period and can lead to infertility and significant disability. The treatment on multiple sclerosis is recently more successful and enables better quality of life, therefore rising hope and desire for future parents, also in terms of successful infertility treatments. In this context, the couples should be managed concerning the detrimental effect of the disease itself on fertility, detrimental effect of the drugs used for treatment on gonads and in terms of the implementation of drugs used for ovarian stimulation and their impact on the basic disease (MS). The article finds solutions on the legal outcomes in situations where infertility treatments may negatively impact the progress of MS, as well as the solutions on how to (successfully) provide infertility treatments to the patients with MS. It proposes interdisciplinary approach between gynaecologists and neurologists to perform required weighing of benefits and risks (burdens), deriving from specific action or treatment, whereas for the patients who shall not undergo infertility treatments due to their medical status, related to MS, it proposes storage of gametes under conditions, set by the law.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Menglin Li ◽  
Yunyun Liu ◽  
Haoran Wang ◽  
Shuzhen Zheng ◽  
Yinhe Deng ◽  
...  

Objective. To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and hopefully provide reliable guidance for clinicians and patients. Methods. Through searching domestic and foreign medical journals, the literature of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for RIF undergoing IVF-ET was collected. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis and Cochrane’s risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Results. Seven documents meeting the criteria were finally included. The results showed that the intervention group contributes more in outcomes including clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.90, 95% CI (1.51, 2.40), P < 0.05 ), biochemical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.59, 95% CI (1.27, 1.99), P < 0.05 ), embryo implantation rate (RR = 1.89, 95% CI (1.47, 2.45), P < 0.05 ), and endometrial thickness (MD = 1.11, 95% CI (0.59, 1.63), P < 0.05 ) when compared with the control group, and the difference is statistically significant. In terms of the number of embryo transfers and the type of endometrium, the difference between the acupuncture group and the control group was not statistically significant. Conclusion. Acupuncture therapy on patients with RIF can improve the pregnancy outcome of patients. It is a relatively effective treatment with satisfactory safety and suitable for clinical application. However, as the quality of the included studies is not good enough, the conclusion of this meta-analysis should be treated with caution. More double-blind RCTs equipped with high quality and large samples are expected for the improvement of the level of evidence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 40-49
Author(s):  
Petar Vušković

AbstractThe ISO 9001:2015 certificate of quality is nowadays the most renowned quality standard in the world. Standardised quality has become an imperative competitive advantage on the market for all serious business organisations. The fluctuation of the number of certificates of quality indicates to what extent companies are willing to ensure the quality of their products and services to customers and clients, and how fast the domestic market is standardised and integrated into the global economy. This paper presents the results of two empirical studies. The first one focused on the analysis of the fluctuation in the number of ISO 9001:2015 certificates in the period from 2008 to 2018, while the second aimed to determine the satisfaction of leadership with the certificate. The study has shown that, during the observed period, the number of certificates of quality in Croatia fluctuated between – 18% and +22% annually. At the annual level, a certain number of companies lose their certificates or opt for decertification. For that reason, a study of the leadership’s level of satisfaction with the ISO 9001:2015 certificate was conducted using a sample of 296 certified business organisations. The study has proven that the leadership showed a high level of satisfaction with the certificate of quality and that they appreciate business organisations with certificates of quality. It demonstrates that the quality management certification has a bright future regardless of the annual fluctuation of the number of certificates.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajan Chamlagain ◽  
Sangam shah ◽  
Suman Gaire ◽  
Anuj Krishna Paudel ◽  
Krishna Dahal ◽  
...  

Neuromyelitis optica is rare, autoimmune-mediated inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system with a prevalence of 1-2 persons per 100,000 populations. We aim to generate a head-to-head comparison of these drugs with appropriate evidence to guide future trials and treatment guidelines in a patient with recurrent attacks of NMO. We searched the databases like PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Embase for studies published prior to April 2021 using the keywords. Over all 929 patients from 11 different publications were included in the study. Five studies were included for quantitative synthesis. Pooling of studies showed significant mean reduction of ARR in the monoclonal antibody group (-0.26 [-0.35, -0.17], P <0.00001, I2=0%) and the mean difference in EDSS score from baseline in monoclonal antibodies was -0.23(95% CI [-0.43, -0.03], P=0.02, I2=0%). There was no significant difference in frequency of total reported adverse events between monoclonal antibody and the comparator arm (RR: 1.01 [0.95, 1.07], P=0.74, I2=14%). Our findings, particularly seen from the context of a few RCTs, support the pursuit of larger, multi-center RCTs that evaluate the effectiveness of each of the currently available monoclonal antibodies and better describe their adverse risk profile.


Author(s):  
Omar Alejandro LÓPEZ-ANZUREZ ◽  
Hortensia ELISEO-DANTÉS ◽  
Leticia LÓPEZ-VALDIVIESO ◽  
Gerardo Ernesto PÉREZ-GÓMEZ

Productivity is the result that all organizations seek, but every day it is more difficult to achieve it and especially in the current context such as the pandemic generated by the Covid-19 virus, this need for transformation has provided new areas of opportunity throughout the world. world, generating new techniques, jobs and knowledge. This is the case of the present investigation that focuses on the realization of a technical report in the citrus exporting companies of the southeast of the area, taking as a reference the company GM citrus This report is carried out through a systemic approach and comprehensive, considering the use of the Comprehensive Technical Productivity Assessment tool (TIEP) that integrates within its application the evaluation of 10 priority elements to achieve productivity and therefore the quality of organizations. It should be noted that the information that integrates the tool and the elements is taken directly from the experts linked in the context of the study. It is of great importance to mention the participation of the personnel who collaborated to compile the information, as well as the experts who advised to be able to integrate a comprehensive scheme of the organizational scenario.


Case reports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18
Author(s):  
Jhon Camacho ◽  
Sebastian Zuleta ◽  
Maria Paula Alba ◽  
Andrea Hernandez ◽  
Carlos Navas

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system that accounts for 5% of demyelinating diseases in pediatrics. Its clinical presentation is variable and associated to the involved area of the central nervous system.Case presentation: This is the case of a 15-year-old patient who consulted several times for nonspecific neurological symptoms. During his last visit to the Clínica Universitaria Colombia in Bogotá, he presented with bilateral optic neuritis, associated with frontal and parietal headache. Immunophenotyping studies were carried out, reporting positive IgG anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies (anti-AQP4 antibody), thus leading to a diagnosis of seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Management with methylprednisolone pulses was initiated with subsequent outpatient management with rituximab that allowed stabilizing the disease.Discussion: This is an interesting case due to its insidious and uncertain onset in a pediatric patient. It was possible to evaluate clinical and diagnostic differences in relation to its presentation in adults. NMOSD mediated by anti-AQP4 is rare; brain and bone marrow MRI are essential for diagnosis. The treatment of choice for acute conditions consists of high doses of methylprednisolone.Conclusion: This disorder may result in irreversible neurological damage; for this reason, high suspicion is required for early diagnosis and timely treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Danopoulos ◽  
Lauren Jenner ◽  
Maureen Twiddy ◽  
Jeanette M. Rotchell

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging contaminant ubiquitous in the environment. There is growing concern regarding potential human health effects, a major human exposure route being dietary uptake. We have undertaken a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to identify all relevant research on MP contamination of salt intended for human consumption. Three thousand nine hundred and nineteen papers were identified, with ten fitting the inclusion criteria. A search of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, from launch date to September 2020, was conducted. MP contamination of salt varied significantly between four origins, sea salt 0–1674 MPs/kg, lake salt 8–462 MPs/kg, rock and well salt 0–204 MPs/kg. The majority of samples were found to be contaminated by MPs. Corresponding potential human exposures are estimated to be 0–6110 MPs per year (for all origins), confirming salt as a carrier of MPs. A bespoke risk of bias (RoB) assessment tool was used to appraise the quality of the studies, with studies demonstrating moderate to low RoB. These results suggest that a series of recurring issues need to be addressed in future research regarding sampling, analysis and reporting to improve confidence in research findings.


Author(s):  
Teri L. Schreiner ◽  
Jeffrey L. Bennett

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), or Devic’s disease is an inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system that preferentially affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. Initially considered a variant of multiple sclerosis (MS), NMO is now clearly recognized to have distinct clinical, radiographic, and pathologic characteristics. Historically, the diagnosis of NMO required bilateral optic neuritis and transverse myelitis; however, the identification of a specific biomarker, NMO-IgG, an autoantibody against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel, has broadened NMO spectrum disease to include patients with diverse clinical and radiographic presentations. This chapter addresses the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of the disease.


2020 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001012
Author(s):  
Mary Clare McKenna ◽  
Nuala McNicholas ◽  
Conor Fearon ◽  
David Bradley

Background:Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system1. Pathogenic aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibodies are present in 65-88% of cases1. The majority of cases follow a relapsing course preferentially involving the optic nerves, spinal cord, brainstem, diencephalon or cerebral regions1, 2. Within the acute diencephalic clinical presentations, symptomatic hypothalamic lesions may have a diverse range of clinical manifestations including homeostatic dysfunction of neuroendocrine systems2-4. We report a case of recurrent hypothalamic dysfunction secondary to NMO manifesting as syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), thermal dysregulation, dysautonomia and disorder of alertness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brice Batomen ◽  
Lynne Moore ◽  
Mabel Carabali ◽  
Pier-Alexandre Tardif ◽  
Howard Champion ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The implementation of trauma systems in many high-income countries over the last 50 years has led to important reductions in injury mortality and disability in many healthcare jurisdictions. Injury organizations including the American College of Surgeons and the Trauma Association of Canada as well as the World Health Organization provide consensus-based recommendations on resources and processes for optimal injury care. Many hospitals treating trauma patients seek verification to demonstrate that they meet these recommendations. This process may be labeled differently across jurisdictions. In Canada for example, it is called accreditation, but it has the same objective and very similar modalities. The objective of the study described in this protocol is to systematically review evidence on the effectiveness of trauma center verification for improving clinical processes and patient outcomes in injury care. Methods We will perform a systematic review of studies evaluating the association between trauma center verification and hospital mortality (primary outcome), as well as morbidity, resource utilization, and processes of care (secondary outcomes). We will search CINAHL, EMBASE, HealthStar, MEDLINE, and ProQuest databases, as well as key injury organization websites for gray literature. We will assess the methodological quality of studies using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies – of Interventions (ROBINS-I) assessment tool. We are planning to conduct a meta-analysis if feasible based on the number of included studies and their heterogeneity. We will evaluate the quality of cumulative evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group methodology. Discussion This review will provide a synthesis of the body of evidence on trauma center verification effectiveness. Results could reinforce current verification modalities and may suggest ways to optimize them. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at an international clinical conference. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42018107083.


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