Utilization of the evidence from studies with no events in meta-analyses of adverse events: An empirical investigation (Chinese translation) / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    Zero-events studies frequently occur in systematic reviews of adverse events, which consist of an important source of evidence. We aimed to examine how evidence of zero-events studies was utilized in the meta-analyses of systematic reviews of adverse events. Methods    We conducted a survey of systematic reviews published in two periods: January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2008, to April 25, 2011. Databases were searched for systematic reviews that conducted at least one meta-analysis of any healthcare intervention and used adverse events as the exclusive outcome. An adverse event was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a patient or subject in healthcare practice. We summarized the frequency of occurrence of zero-events studies in eligible systematic reviews and how these studies were dealt with in the meta-analyses of these systematic reviews. Results    We included 640 eligible systematic reviews. There were 406 (63.45%) systematic reviews involving zero-events studies in their meta-analyses, among which 389 (95.11%) involved single-arm-zero-events studies and 223 (54.93%) involved double-arm-zero-events studies. The majority (98.71%) of these systematic reviews incorporated single-arm-zero-events studies into the meta-analyses. On the other hand, the majority (76.23%) of them excluded double-arm-zero-events studies from the meta-analyses, of which the majority (87.06%) did not discuss the potential impact of excluding such studies. Systematic reviews published at present (2015-2020) tended to incorporate zero-events studies in meta-analyses than those published in the past (2008-2011), but the difference was not significant [proportion difference=–0.09, 95%CI (–0.21, 0.03), P=0.12]. Conclusion    Systematic review authors routinely treated studies with zero-events in both arms as "non-informative" carriers and excluded them from their reviews. Whether studies with no events are "informative" or not, largely depends on the methods and assumptions applied, thus sensitivity analyses using different methods should be considered in future meta-analyses.

Some clinical and biochemical studies on blood and urine of buffaloes in some diseased conditions accompanied with haemoglobinuria

A total number of 25 male and female buffalos were included in this study, from which 15 buffalos showing signs of hemoglobinuria and voiding colored urine, while the rest of the animals were clinically healthy and served as control. Clinical signs and laboratory examinations were conducted on blood, serum and urine samples collected from normal and affected buffalos to detect the possible causes. The study revealed that, hypophosphatemia and babesiasis were the main causes of hemoglobinuria in buffalos at Sharqia Governorate. Serum analysis indicated that, cases of hypophosphatemia was accompanied by significant decrease in the levels of inorganic phosphorus, potassium, total protein, albumin and alkaline phosphatase while the levels of serum calcium, sodium, chlorides and creatinine remained normal. In babesiasis, the levels of serum inorganic phosphorus, calcium, total protein and albumin showed significant decrease, while the levels of serum potassium, serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and urea nitrogen were significantly increased. Urine changes were also discussed in affected buffalos in both cases

diagnostic value of serum enzymes and serum proteins in cases of traumatic reticulo peritonitis and pericarditis in buffaloes

Serum samples from 10 clinically normal as well as from another 15 diseased buffalos from which 10 buffalos affected with traumatic reticuloperitonitis, while the remain confirmed to be affected with traumatic pericarditis were subjected for determination of serum transaminases, lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, serum proteins and minerals. The results revealed that serum glutamic oxal- acetic transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, total serum protein and albumin showed significant changes in all diseased conditions which either due to traumatic reticuloperitonitis or traumatic pericarditis. On the other h and, insignificant changes in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and inorganic phosphorus were observed in both affected conditions. This investigation denoted the importance of serum glutamic oxal-acetic transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, and serum proteins in diagnosis suspected cases of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and pericarditis besides to clinical symptoms and other diagnostic methods

Changes in certain blood components of buffaloes naturally infected with foot and mouth diseases

The changes in certain blood components of buffalos, naturally infected with foot and mouth disease, were studied. Hematological studies revealed the presence of hemoconcentration, represented by significant increase in hemoglobin percentage and hematocrit values. Leucopenia, neutrophilia together with lymphopenia and eosinopenia were also observed in infected buffalos. Biochemically, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and hypoalbuminemia were the prominent features in affected animals, while the changes in serum calcium and total protein were insignificant. From this study, it appears that the importance of administration of fluid therapy and balanced electrolytes to the affected animals during the course of the disease beside the symptomatic treatment to correct blood abnormality and prevent circulatory failure resulting from hemoconcentration and dehydration