Meta-analysis studies

Two recent meta-analysis studies (Toth and Pavia 2007, and Chap. 3) have aided in clarifying patterns of induced defenses in macroalgae. These studies determined factors that do not play a role in inducing herbivore response (i.e., type of elicitor, artificial vs. natural food), highlighted factors that are important (i.e., size of the herbivore used and the timescale of the experiment), and illustrated distinct differences between algal groups in their ability to induce responses as observed through herbivore reactions (Toth and Pavia 2007, Chaps. 3 and 7). 

However, another large meta-analysis study found no difference between different viability testing methods for predicting survival after revascularization, suggesting that decisions driven by viability studies are clinically equivalent and have similar outcomes, irrespective of the technique used [88]. While improved LV function is a major factor affecting... 

The issue of time-dependent decreases or increases in sperm counts had been frequently raised prior to the report by Carlsen and coworkers on their meta-analysis of 61 selected sperm count studies.16 Their work was highly provocative, and the results of their meta-analysis study have been hotly debated by academic and nonacademic scientists, and the difficulties in obtaining consistent sperm count/quality data have also been documented. 

The specific immunosensitizing therapy for the treatment of allergic diseases is the main etiological therapeutic tool, as demonstrated by many doubleblind placebo-controlled clinical studies, recently reviewed by Abramson et al. [5] in a meta-analysis study. The efficacy of the treatment requires certain patient selection criteria, preparation and administration of hyposensitizing extracts. Its efficacy has been confirmed by double-blind clinical trials, reported in a World Health Organization Position Paper [6]. 

In a recent meta-analysis study on European men and women (25), high plasma concentrations of a- and /3-carotene were associated both with lower mortality from all causes and cancer, For cardiovascular mortality the inverse association was confined to the elderly with body mass index <25. 

Onnie CM, Fisher SA, Pattni R, et al. Associations of allelic variants of the multidrug resistance gene (ABCB1 or MDR1) and inflammatory bowel disease and their effects on disease behavior a case-control and meta-analysis study. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2006 12(4) 263-271. 

A meta-analysis study by Whittington et al. (2004) in The Lancet found that the combination of published and unpublished studies led to the conclusion that with the possible exception of Prozac, there was no indication of efficacy for the antidepressant treatment of children. In addition, not noted in the article is the fact that the two key studies in favor of Prozac were supported by Eli Lilly, one directly and the other indirectly through funds funneled through NIMH,1 and that the lead author in both was Graham Emslie (Emslie et al., 2002, 1997). Emslie was task force cochair and second author of the ACNP s infamous defense of antidepressants. Emslie s industry affiliations included Grants/Research Support Eli Lilly, Novartis,... 

Marino P, Preatoni A, Cantoni A, et al. Single-agent chemotherapy versus combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer A quality and meta-analysis study. Lung Cancer 1995 13 1-12. 

Hoaglin, D.G., N. Hawkins, J.R Jansen et al. 2011. Gonducting indirect-treatment-comparison and network-meta-analysis studies report of the ISPOR task force on indirect treatment comparisons good research practices Part 2. Value in Health 14 429-437. 

In order to study the possible association antidepressant drugs and adverse suicidal events in adult patients, FDA planned and conducted a meta-analysis study of randomized trials of antidepressants. The meta-analysis had several key features that supported its quality and utility for regulatory actions (1) hypotheses generated from previous and independent evidence provided the meta-analysis objectives (2) the meta-analysis was based on well-defined inclusion criteria and an exhaustive set of trials with patient-level data available (3) the meta-analysis employed rigorous and consistent outcome definitions across trials and patients and (4) the meta-analysis was based on prespecified statistical analysis plan. 

EMLA has been used in practice for many years. It has been studied and used for venipuncture, intravenous cannulation, needle immunizations, subcutaneous port access, subcutaneous reservoir access, circumcision, chest tube removal, lumbar puncture, bone marrow aspiration, and laser treatment of port-wine stains. Significant treatment effect has been demonstrated in individual as well as meta-analysis study of EMLA. Initially, a 30 min application time was recommended. However, 60 minutes will ensure significantly more anesthesia and even longer dimation (90 min) and produce improved pain relief [1,3]. 

Pooled Analysis and Meta-Analysis Studies of Cross-Sectional and Prospective Child Cohorts... 

Several pooled analysis and meta-analysis studies for multiple cross-sectional (meta-analysis) and prospective (pooled analysis) cohort evaluations have been published. Lanphear et al. (2005) reported on a pooled analysis of seven of eight longitudinal studies in the hterature that followed children until at least 5 years of age. Various criteria were employed for inclusion, such as complete analyses for covariates. The final sample size was more than 1,300 children drawn from the following cohorts Boston, MA Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Rochester, NY Mexico City, Mexico Port Pirie, Australia and Kosovo, former Yugoslavia. Various forms of the exposure measure were included concurrent, maximum, hfetime average, and early childhood PbB. The psychometric outcome was full scale IQ. Within the combined data points for exposures, a subset of 103 children had maximum PbB < 7.5 jig/dl. 

Upper Respiratory Tract A Cochrane meta-analysis studied the effect of intranasal ipratropium versus placebo on the severity of rhinorrhea and nasal congestion in children and adults with the common cold [45 ]. Seven trials, studying 2144 patients were included in the study. Safety assessment showed an association of ipratropium with nasal dryness (OR = 2.55, 95% Cl = 1.50, 4.33), mouth dryness (OR = 3.59, 95% Cl = 1.38, 9.38) and epistaxis (OR = 3.21,95% Cl - 1.68,6.13). 

A Cochrane meta-analysis studied the efficacy and safety of mucolytic agents in COPD patients. The meta-analysis included 30 trials and 7436 patients [93 ]. Mucolytics appeared to have a safe profile, without any effect on mortality (OR = 0.75, 95% Cl = 0.35,1.64) or the frequency of adverse effects. 

Liang J, Jiang MJ, Deng X, Xiao Zhou X. Efficacy and safety of telbivudine compared to Entecavir among HBeAg+ chronic hepatitis B patients a meta-analysis study. Hepat Mon 2013 13(6) e7862. 

Table 3 Meta-analysis, studies of the lead—IQ relationship... 

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