392,549 papers found

BACKGROUND: A metaanalysis is often performed if risk assessment with available epidemiological data is not sensible. The results of these analyses serve mainly to quantify the risk of weak associations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this paper we describe methodologic issues of this approach with emphasis on the differenc…

In decision making, it is often necessary to select between different strategies, and the best decision relies heavily on precise quantitative estimates of risks and benefits of the different strategies. To make such estimates, large samples are needed, but large studies are very expensive and difficult to conduct, esp…

Nutrition science frequently produces conclusions that appear inconsistent or context dependent, contributing to uncertainty in dietary recommendations. Many debates framed around questions such as whether a specific food is "healthy" implicitly assume that foods exert intrinsic effects independent of dietary context.…

The presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in complicated skin and soft structure infections (cSSSI) is associated with greater health risks and economic costs to patients. There is concern that MRSA is becoming resistant to other "gold standard" treatments such as vancomycin, and there is disag…

Several meta-analyses investigating the efficacy of-3 PUFA in alleviating depression symptoms have reported conflicting findings. In the present study, we aimed to perform an umbrella meta-analysis to provide a definite conclusion. A comprehensive systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane…

OBJECTIVES: The massive growth in the publication of meta-analyses may cause redundancy and wasted efforts. We performed a metaepidemiologic study to evaluate the extent of potential redundancy in published meta-analyses in genetic epidemiology. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Using a sample of 38 index meta-analyses of gen…

In health technology assessment (HTA), beside network meta-analysis (NMA), indirect comparisons (IC) have become an important tool used to provide evidence between two treatments when no head-to-head data are available. Researchers may use the adjusted indirect comparison based on the Bucher method (AIC) or the matchin…

BACKGROUND: With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, many datasets on the same biological subject are generated. A meta-analysis is an approach that combines results from different studies on the same topic. The random-effects model in a meta-analysis enables the modeling of differences be…

Methods for meta-analyzing single-case designs (SCDs) are needed to inform evidence-based practice in clinical and school settings and to draw broader and more defensible generalizations in areas where SCDs comprise a large part of the research base. The most widely used outcomes in single-case research are measures of…

Systematic reviews (SRs) of anatomical studies may include a meta-analysis (MA) that provides weighted averages as pooled estimates of prevalence. The relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) to the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) or its branches has been assessed in two published SRs, one without MA of 32 stu…

The era of big data is coming, and evidence-based medicine is attracting increasing attention to improve decision making in medical practice via integrating evidence from well designed and conducted clinical research. Meta-analysis is a statistical technique widely used in evidence-based medicine for analytically combi…

The objective of diagnostic studies or prognostic studies is to evaluate and compare predictive capacities of biomarkers. Suppose we are interested in evaluation and comparison of predictive capacities of continuous biomarkers for a binary outcome based on research synthesis. In analysis of each study, subjects are oft…

BACKGROUND: We attempted to clarify the association between dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) 48-bp variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism and Tourette's syndrome. METHODS: The DRD4 48-bp VNTR polymorphism was genotyped in 291 Tourette's syndrome patients (including 218 trios) and 405 controls. Chi-square and…

A systematic review with meta-analysis (SRMA) represents the pinnacle of evidence, but its validity depends on methodological rigor. This narrative review synthesizes recommendations from major reporting frameworks- Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analyses 2020 (PRISMA‑2020), Met…

Porto et al.'s systematic review and meta-analysis of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) outcomes across different regions reveals significant improvements in IPSS, Qmax, and postvoid residual (PVR) volume. However, the study is limited by high heterogeneity in PVR outcomes, with substantial variability in…

INTRODUCTION: Moyamoya disease (MMD) commonly presents with cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. Revascularization surgery, including direct, indirect, and combined bypasses, remains the mainstay of MMD treatment aiming to reduce stroke recurrence. However, the long-term outcomes of these interventions are still controvers…