Mark MacEachern

Amyloid deposition in Parkinson's disease and cognitive impairment: A systematic review

Varying degrees of cortical amyloid deposition are reported in the setting of Parkinsonism with cognitive impairment. We performed a systematic review to estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD) range cortical amyloid deposition among patients with Parkinsons disease with dementia (PDD), Parkinsons disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD‐MCI) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We included amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies using Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB).

Olfactory Identification Testing as a Predictor of the Development of Alzheimer's Dementia: A Systematic Review

To evaluate the utility of olfactory identification tests as prognostic instruments for Alzheimers dementia (AD).

Reconstructive Procedures for Treating Peri-implantitis A Systematic Review

This review aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of reconstructive procedures for treating peri-implantitis. Searches of electronic databases and cross-referencing were performed for human comparative clinical trials with ≥10 implants for ≥12 months of follow-up, reporting radiographic defect fill and at least one of the following parameters: probing depth reduction, clinical attachment level gain, bleeding on probing reduction, and mucosal recession. The searches retrieved 430 citations. Only 1 randomized controlled trial was identified, which compared reconstructive therapy and open flap debridement. Case series studies were also included to evaluate the overall performance of the reconstructive procedures. Twelve studies were finally included. Meta-analysis revealed that the weighted mean radiographic defect fill was 2.17 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46-2.87 mm), probing depth reduction was 2.97 mm (95% CI: 2.38-3.56 mm), clinical attachment level gain was 1.65 mm (95% CI: 1.17-2.13 mm), and bleeding on probing reduction was 45.8% (95% CI: 38.5%-53.3%). Great variability in reparative outcomes was found, attributed to patient factors, defect morphology, and reconstructive agents used. Currently, there is a lack of evidence for supporting additional benefit of reconstructive procedures to the other treatment modalities for managing peri-implantitis.

Surgical Management of Peri-Implantitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Treatment Outcomes

BACKGROUND This systematic review was requested by the Task Force of the American Academy of Periodontology as a follow-up study of the 2013 report, with an aim to investigate the efficacy of different surgical approaches to treat peri-implantitis. METHODS A search of four electronic databases from January 1990 to May 2013 was performed. Studies included were human clinical trials published in English that applied surgeries for treating peri-implantitis. Parameters evaluated included probing depth (PD) reduction, clinical attachment level gain, bleeding on probing (BOP) reduction, radiographic bone fill (RBF), and mucosal recession. The weighted mean (WM) and the 95% confidence interval of the studied parameters were estimated with the random-effect model. RESULTS A total of 1,306 studies were initially identified, after reviewing titles, abstracts, and full texts, and 21 articles, 12 of which were case series, were finally included. Four treatment groups were identified: 1) access flap and debridement; 2) surgical resection; 3) application of bone grafting materials; and 4) guided bone regeneration. The mean initial PD ranged from 4.8 to 8.8 mm, with initial BOP ranging from 19.7% to 100%. Short-term follow-ups (3 to 63 months) revealed that the available surgical procedures yielded a WM PD reduction of 2.04 (group 2) to 3.16 mm (group 4), or 33.4% to 48.2% of the initial PD. The WM RBF was 2.1 mm for groups 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitation of this systematic review, the application of grafting materials and barrier membranes resulted in greater PD reduction and RBF, but there is a lack of high-quality comparative studies to support this statement. The results might be used to project treatment outcomes after surgical management of peri-implantitis.

Collagen-based wound dressings for the treatment of diabetes-related foot ulcers: a systematic review

Background Diabetic foot ulcers are a major source of morbidity, limb loss, and mortality. A prolonged inflammatory response, extracellular matrix degradation irregularities, and increased bacteria presence have all been hypothesized as major contributing factors in the delayed healing of diabetic wounds. Collagen components such as fibroblast and keratinocytes are fundamental to the process of wound healing and skin formation. Wound dressings that contain collagen products create a biological scaffold matrix that supports the regulation of extracellular components and promotes wound healing. Methods A systematic review of studies reporting collagen wound dressings used in the treatment of Diabetic foot ulcers was conducted. Comprehensive searches were run in Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science to capture citations pertaining to the use of collagen wound dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The searches were limited to human studies reported in English. Results Using our search strategy, 26 papers were discussed, and included 13 randomized designs, twelve prospective cohorts, and one retrospective cohort, representing 2386 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Our design was not a formal meta-analysis. In those studies where complete epithelialization, 58% of collagen-treated wounds completely healed (weighted mean 67%). Only 23% of studies reported control group healing with 29% healing (weighted mean 11%) described for controls. Conclusion Collagen-based wound dressings can be an effective tool in the healing of diabetic foot wounds. The current studies show an overall increase in healing rates despite limitations in study designs. This study suggests that future works focus on biofilms and extracellular regulation, and include high risk patients.

Maternal physiologic parameters in relationship to systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normal maternal range in healthy pregnant women for each component of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria and compare these ranges with existing SIRS criteria. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched to identify studies of healthy parturients from the first trimester through 12 weeks postpartum that reported maternal temperature, respiratory rate, PaCO2, heart rate, white blood cell count data, or a combination of these. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Data were extracted from studies providing maternal values for components of SIRS criteria. The mean, standard deviation, and two standard deviations from the mean for all criteria parameters published in the literature were reported. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Eighty-seven studies met inclusion criteria and included 8,834 patients and 15,237 data points: temperature (10 studies and 2,367 patients), respiratory rate (nine studies and 312 patients), PaCO2 (12 studies and 441 patients), heart rate (39 studies and 1,374 patients), and white blood cell count (23 studies and 4,553 patients). Overlap with SIRS criteria occurred in healthy pregnant women during the second trimester, third trimester, and labor for each of the SIRS criteria except temperature. Every mean value for PaCO2 during pregnancy (and up to 48 hours postpartum) was below 32 mm Hg. Two standard deviations above the mean for temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate were 38.1°C, 25 breaths per minute, and 107 beats per minute, respectively. CONCLUSION: Current SIRS criteria often overlap with normal physiologic parameters during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period; thus, alternative criteria must be developed to diagnose maternal sepsis.

Clinical outcomes of using lasers for peri-implantitis surface detoxification: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

UNLABELLED The aim of this systematic review is to compare the clinical outcomes of lasers with other commonly applied detoxification methods for treating peri-implantitis. An electronic search of four databases and a hand search of peer-reviewed journals for relevant articles were conducted. Comparative human clinical trials and case series with ≥ 6 months of follow-up in ≥ 10 patients with peri-implantitis treated with lasers were included. Additionally, animal studies applying lasers for treating peri-implantitis were also included. The included studies had to report probing depth (PD) reduction after the therapy. RESULTS Seven human prospective clinical trials and two animal studies were included. In four and three human studies, lasers were accompanied with surgical and non-surgical treatments, respectively. The meta-analyses showed an overall weighted mean difference of 0.00 mm (95% confidence interval = -0.18 to 0.19 mm) PD reduction between the laser and conventional treatment groups (P = 0.98) for non-surgical intervention. In animal studies, laser-treated rough-surface implants had a higher percentage of bone-to-implant contact than smooth-surface implants. In a short-term follow-up, lasers resulted in similar PD reduction when compared with conventional implant surface decontamination methods.

Comparative effectiveness studies examining patient-reported outcomes among children with cleft lip and/or palate: a systematic review.

Background: Health care policy makers are increasingly encouraging comparative effectiveness research. Little is known regarding comparative studies among children with cleft lip and/or palate. Cleft lip and/or palate profoundly influences self-perception and social functioning, and patient-reported outcomes provide a unique perspective on the success of reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding patient-reported outcomes among patients with cleft lip and/or palate. Methods: The authors reviewed articles from MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo that examined the use of patient-reported outcome instruments for cleft lip and/or palate. Studies of patients with cleft lip and/or palate across any age that described the use of patient-completed measures in patient and control populations were included. A research librarian confirmed the search, and two independent, blinded reviewers performed full-text review. Results: The authors identified 1979 articles and selected 30 for inclusion. Forty-two different assessment tools were used to analyze factors such as self-esteem, behavior, and social support. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was most commonly used (n = 7), followed by the Childhood Experience Questionnaire (n = 5), and the Satisfaction with Appearance survey (n = 4). Barriers to analysis included lack of standardization of survey administration, effect of publication bias, and variations in patient populations between individual studies. Conclusions: Comparative studies of patient-reported outcomes among patients with cleft lip and/or palate are infrequent. Many instruments exist to measure patient-reported outcomes in this population, but no specific standard exists. Identifying efficient and targeted forms of instrument selection and administration will enhance comparative studies among children with cleft lip and/or palate. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, III.

Updated Clinical Considerations for Dental Implant Therapy in Irradiated Head and Neck Cancer Patients

An increasing number of reports indicate successful use of dental implants (DI) during oral rehabilitation for head and neck cancer patients undergoing tumor surgery and radiation therapy. Implant-supported dentures are a viable option when patients cannot use conventional dentures due to adverse effects of radiation therapy, including oral dryness or fragile mucosa, in addition to compromised anatomy; however, negative effects of radiation, including osteoradionecrosis, are well documented in the literature, and early loss of implants in irradiated bone has been reported. There is currently no consensus concerning DI safety or clinical guidelines for their use in irradiated head and neck cancer patients. It is important for health care professionals to be aware of the multidimensional risk factors for these patients when planning oral rehabilitation with DIs, and to provide optimal treatment options and maximize the overall treatment outcome. This paper reviews and updates the impact of radiotherapy on DI survival and discusses clinical considerations for DI therapy in irradiated head and neck cancer patients.

Influence of study sponsorship on head and neck cancer randomized trial results

The purpose of this study was to identify associations between study sponsorship and the methodological quality and published outcomes of head and neck cancer randomized controlled trials (RCTs).