Blood-Based FTIR Spectroscopy as a Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Method for Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to pool the results of existing studies to obtain more precise estimates on the diagnostic efficiency of the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in detecting CRC using blood-based samples. METHODS: A comprehensive database search identified 4,931 studies that were screened for eligibility. Relevant data were then extracted and collated and analyzed using Meta-DiSc 1.4 to measure the pooled diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio and presented in forest plots. RESULTS: The pooled sensitivity across all six data entries was 86.10% (p = 0.20), and the specificity was 91.2% (p < 0.001). The pooled positive likelihood ratio was 9.84 (p < 0.001), indicating a strongly moderate diagnostic value, while the negative likelihood ratio was 0.16 (0.12), suggesting moderately decreased efficacy of FTIR spectroscopy in ruling out the disease. The pooled AUC was found to be at 0.94 which indicate excellent discriminating potential of FTIR of the method. CONCLUSION: Overall, the study suggests that FTIR spectroscopy has potential as minimally invasive diagnostic method for CRC using plasma samples.

Ile105Val polymorphism in the GSTP1 gene is associated with susceptibility to acute myeloid leukemia: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Several genetic variations are associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) susceptibility, including the GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism. Even with the existing meta-analysis conducted on the topic, no consensus has been reached since none of the studies available performed in-depth data analysis. Hence, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis in this paper to obtain more precise estimates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched various databases and calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to examine whether the GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism is associated with AML susceptibility. Further statistical analysis was also done to obtain more accurate and reliable findings. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies are included in the systematic review, but only 9 were included in the meta-analysis due to the studies deviating from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The analysis showed significantly increased susceptibility to AML in the allelic, co-dominant, and recessive models. Furthermore, subgroup analysis noted increased AML susceptibility in the non-Asian population. Comparing the proportions of the genotypes and alleles showed a significantly higher proportion of the Val/Val genotype and Val allele in the non-Asian cohort. CONCLUSION: The GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism is significantly associated with AML susceptibility, especially among non-Asians. Further investigation should be performed to strengthen the current results.

Association of the rs3856806 Polymorphism in the PPARG Gene with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of 11,811 Individuals.

This study investigated the role of the rs3856806 single nucleotide variant (SNV) on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by conducting a meta-analysis. Relevant studies were searched in PubMed and were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and subjected to analysis using Review Manager 5.4.1. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed to measure the association of the SNV with T2DM development. Nine studies published in English were retrieved up to October 1, 2021. Homogeneity (I2 = 3%, P = .41) was achieved for the allelic model with significant outcomes (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.76-0.89; P < .00001). Genotypic models also yielded significant associations for the co-dominant, dominant, and recessive models. All genotypic analysis showed homogeneity (I2 = 0-31%, P = .17-0.76) of the pooled outcomes. Our findings suggest that carrying the T allele of the rs3856806 SNV significantly decreases the risk of acquiring T2DM. However, further studies are necessary to support our claims.

A Meta-Analysis on the Association of Colibactin-Producing pks+ Escherichia coli with the Development of Colorectal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies on the association between pks+Escherichia coli and colorectal cancer (CRC) demonstrated conflicting results. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to obtain more precise estimates. METHODS: Related literature was obtained from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library. Data were then extracted, summarized, and subjected to analysis using Review Manager 5.4 by computing for the pooled odds ratios at the 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Overall analysis showed that individuals carrying pks+E coli had a greater risk of developing CRC. Subgroup analysis further showed that individuals from Western countries carrying pks+E coli and individuals with pks+E coli in their tissue samples had increased risk of developing CRC. CONCLUSION: Results of this meta-analysis suggest that individuals with pks+E coli have a greater risk of developing CRC. However, more studies are needed to confirm our claims.

Diagnostic Efficiency of Serum-Based Infrared Spectroscopy in Detecting Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The advancement of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a potential diagnostic tool in the clinical setting has been studied over the years, particularly its application in cancer diagnostics. OBJECTIVE: To summarize previous research on FTIR spectroscopy in detecting breast cancer using serum specimens. METHODS: Related literature was searched and screened from various databases. Relevant data were then extracted, tabulated, and analyzed using Meta-DiSc 1.4 software. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity rates were 90% to 100% and 80% to 95%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was at 0.9729, indicating that serum analysis via FTIR spectroscopy can accurately discriminate between healthy individuals and patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Overall, FTIR spectroscopy for breast cancer diagnosis using serum specimens shows promising results. However, further studies are still needed to validate these claims.

Understanding COVID-19 preventive behavior: An application of the health belief model in the Philippine setting.

BACKGROUND: With the Philippines emerging as the hotspot in the Western Pacific Region for the COVID-19 cases, the study aimed to understand the COVID-19 preventive behavior of Filipinos using the health belief model (HBM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 304 respondents recruited for the whole month of July 2020 through various social media platforms. Participants were requested to answer an online questionnaire, and results were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The majority of respondents were female (71.1%), with an average age of 29, college graduate (57.6%), and living in an area where modified general community quarantine is implemented (63.2%). Good preventive behavior was noted among the participants, and not shaking of hands with others and refraining from touching of surfaces were reported as the most practiced behavior. Spearman's correlation and Pearson's Chi-square showed that age and sex are significant predictors for the HBM constructs and preventive behavior. Furthermore, results showed that cues to action, self-efficacy, and perceived barrier have a significant association with COVID-19 preventive behavior. CONCLUSION: Findings prove that HBM is useful in understanding preventive behaviors in times of coronavirus pandemic. Strategies that promote a supportive environment and help overcome the perceived barriers can guide Filipinos to adopt the desired health behavior. Interventions to promote preventive behaviors should be focused on males and younger individuals.

Across Generations: Defining Pedagogical Characteristics of Generation X, Y, and Z Allied Health Teachers Using Q-Methodology.

The present study identified the characteristics of allied health teachers across three generations. Using Q-methodology, a tripartite of characteristics as reflected by the three domains of learning emerged, namely, "the competence-centered teacher," "the empathetic teacher," and "the innovative teacher." Teachers across the three generations were described to be "competence-centered" since all believe to be well-qualified at their jobs. On the other hand, Generation Y teachers were described to be "empathetic" that show tough love to their students, whereas Generation Z teachers were branded as "innovative" due to their efficiency in using technology and their effective teaching strategies. Lastly, Generation X teachers were described to be the flexible generation being able to manifest all three characteristics of allied health teachers.

The role of the TNF-α gene -308 G/A polymorphism in the development of diabetic nephropathy: An updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several studies have tried to link the relationship of tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) -308 G/A polymorphism with the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, these studies failed to reach a consensus due to conflicting results. This meta-analysis was done to thoroughly investigate the correlation between the polymorphism and DN development. METHODS: To carry out the objective, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were used as controls, while patients who developed DN were utilized as cases. Eight studies (i.e., published between 2007 and 2018) were included in the present meta-analysis. Review Manager 5.3 was used to compute for the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the overall and post-outlier outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, an association between DN development and the -308 G/A polymorphism was observed. However, Galbraith's plot analysis (as analyzed using Meta-Essentials) led to the removal of two studies, which significantly reduced heterogeneity. Post-outlier outcomes show significant results in the allelic (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01-1.50; p = 0.04) and co-dominant (OR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.02-2.51; p = 0.04) models. CONCLUSION: T2DM individuals with the -308 G/A polymorphism in the TNF-α gene are more likely to develop DN.

Achieving accurate laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever: a review and meta-analysis of TUBEX® TF clinical performance.

This review discusses currently available serological diagnostic methods for typhoid fever with a focus on the clinical utility of TUBEX® TF as an alternative to the Widal or Typhidot test. A literature search was conducted in PubMed for related publications written in English. A qualitative analysis was done to determine various serological tests used for typhoid fever diagnosis with emphasis on TUBEX® TF in comparison to the Widal of Typhidot test. Further, a meta-analysis was performed to obtain a pooled estimate of diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) using different analysis models. A total of sixteen studies was included in the qualitative analysis. Further screening of these studies yielded ten studies that were used for the meta-analysis. The sensitivity/specificity range of different commonly used serological tests in typhoid patients is between 55-100%/58-100% for TUBEX® TF, 54-67%/54-95% for Typhidot, and 32-95%/4-98% for the Widal test. As for the pooled meta-analysis estimates, the TUBEX® TF showed superior results when differentiating individuals with febrile illness of unknown origin from those with typhoid fever. Overall, the results of this review and meta-analysis suggest that the TUBEX® TF is more advantageous to use as a serological test for typhoid fever diagnosis due its accuracy and simplicity. However, further studies are still needed to validate our results.

Serum cystatin C as an early marker of nephropathy among type 2 diabetics: A meta-analysis.

AIM: The varying views as to the usefulness of serum cystatin C (CysC) as an early marker of diabetic nephropathy (DN) prompted us to investigate existing literature to determine whether serum CysC can be used as an early marker of DN using a meta-analysis approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve studies written in English were retrieved from PubMed using various key search terms. Data were extracted from the included studies by two of the authors and was subjected to statistical analysis using Review Manager 5.3 and Meta-Essentials. Levels of serum CysC were compared between the study groups using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Overall outcomes indicate that serum CysC levels are higher among those with microalbuminuria (MI) and macroalbuminuria (MA) than those in the control group (CN) and those with normoalbuminuria (NO). However, these findings were heterogeneous, which warranted an investigation using the Galbraith plot. Heterogeneity was either reduced or lost in the post-outlier outcomes indicating combinability of the studies. CONCLUSION: Serum CysC is shown to be a superior biomarker in the early diagnosis of DN. However, further studies are still needed to verify our claims.

Reducing the incidence of pregnancy-related urinary tract infection by improving the knowledge and preventive practices of pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy-related urinary tract infections (UTI) is the leading cause of obstetrical ward admissions and is responsible for poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to reduce the incidence of UTI by improving the knowledge and preventive practices of pregnant women through the implementation of a health education package. STUDY DESIGN: A health education package consisting of a seminar, sending of weekly text messages, and distribution of educational leaflets on UTI awareness and prevention was implemented in various rural health units in Pampanga, Philippines. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the pre- and post-intervention knowledge and preventive practices of pregnant women. Whereas, urinalysis results from the various rural health units were used to assess the incidence of UTI among the respondents. RESULTS: Significant improvement (p <  0.001) was observed regarding the participant's knowledge and water intake after the intervention. Although there was no significant change (p =  0.16) in their hygiene statistically, all participants had improvements in hygiene practices after the intervention. The number of pregnant women who were positive for UTI also decreased significantly (p <  0.001) following the intervention. CONCLUSION: The implemented health education package was able to reduce the incidence of pregnancy-related UTI by improving the knowledge and preventive practices of pregnant women.

Estimation of salivary glucose, amylase, calcium, and phosphorus among non-diabetics and diabetics: Potential identification of non-invasive diagnostic markers.

AIMS: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) continues to burden millions of people worldwide. Early detection and effective diagnosis of DM are essential key strategies to reduce the impeding incidence of the disease and its complications. Thus, this study determined the potential utility of salivary glucose, amylase, calcium, and phosphorus as non-invasive diagnostic markers of DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 participants were recruited and divided into two groups (non-diabetics and diabetics). Fasting blood samples and unstimulated saliva samples were collected and tested for glucose, amylase, calcium, and phosphorus. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney U test shows that salivary glucose and salivary amylase were significantly higher among diabetics than non-diabetics. In addition to this, the receiver operations characteristics (ROC) curve showed that salivary glucose (AUC = 0.811, p < 0.001) and amylase (AUC = 0.649, p = 0.03) has significant association with DM. CONCLUSION: Overall, only salivary glucose and amylase showed good potential in discriminating patients with diabetes from those without.

Serum ferritin as a candidate diagnostic biomarker of polycystic ovarian syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Objective: In this study, we investigated about the potential of serum ferritin as a complementary diagnostic biomarker of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by performing a meta-analysis of existing literature. Materials and methods: Eleven studies written in English were retrieved up to 30 June 2018. Data were extracted from the selected studies by two of the authors and was subjected to statistical analysis. Levels of serum ferritin were compared between women with PCOS and controls using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis was also performed and stratified by ethnicity (Asians versus Caucasians). Results: Overall post-outlier outcomes indicated that elevated serum ferritin is strongly associated with PCOS (SMD: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.40-0.64; PA = 10-5). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed no significant difference between Asian and Caucasian population. Post-outlier receiving operations characteristics curve were plotted and showed that values for serum ferritin showed good potential in discriminating patients with and without PCOS (AUC = 0.827, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that high serum ferritin level is significantly associated with PCOS and its potential as a biomarker is evident in its high diagnostic accuracy. However, additional studies are needed to confirm our claims.

G276T polymorphism in the ADIPOQ gene is associated with a reduced risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome: A meta-analysis of Asian population.

OBJECTIVE: The etiology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has not yet been fully explained. Several studies suggested an association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (T45G and G276T) of the ADIPOQ gene that encodes for the hormone adiponectin and PCOS susceptibility. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship of the two further. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature search was conducted in PubMed up to June 22, 2018, for related publications written in English. Selected data were extracted from the included studies and was subjected to analysis using Review Manager 5.3. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed and pooled from the resulting studies. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity was also performed. RESULTS: Overall analysis showed that women with the G276T polymorphism have reduced susceptibility to PCOS (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.60-0.78; PA < 0.001). While no significant association was observed for the T45G polymorphism (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.93-1.24; PA = 0.34). Subgroup analysis, on the other hand, showed significant associations among East Asians (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.57-0.82; PA < 0.001) for the G276T association. CONCLUSION: Results of this meta-analysis suggests that women with the G276T polymorphism are less likely to develop PCOS. However, more studies are needed to confirm the claims of this meta-analysis.

Association of maternal iron deficiency anemia with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to conduct a meta-analysis investigating the association of maternal iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: Literature search was conducted in various database websites such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to 17 June 2018 for related publications written in English. Selected data were extracted from the included studies and were subjected to statistical analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed, pooled, and interpreted. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity (Asians vs. Caucasians) was also performed. RESULTS: Six studies with a total sample size of 15,157 from various countries were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled ORs of all publications included show that pregnant women with IDA have a reduced risk of developing GDM (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.47-0.80; PA = 0.0003). Subgroup analysis, on the other hand, showed significant associations among Asians (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.45-0.79; PA = 0.0003) than Caucasians (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.32-1.76; PA = 0.52). CONCLUSION: Results of this meta-analysis suggests that pregnant women with IDA are 39% less likely to develop GDM. However, more studies are needed to confirm the claims of our results.

Association and biomarker potential of elevated serum adiponectin with nephropathy among type 1 and type 2 diabetics: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Managing nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus warrant investigation of relevant biomarkers in predicting this condition. Adiponectin (ADP) may hold promise as a biomarker for diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we examine associations of ADP with DN by meta-analyzing relevant literature. We also examined the predictive potential of ADP and estimate progression of DN. METHODS: Multi-database literature searches and serial omissions of articles yielded 13 studies for inclusion in the meta-analysis. We compared ADP levels between controls/ normoalbuminuria and cases with micro- and macroalbuminuria (MI and MA, respectively) as well as MI versus MA using standardized mean differences (SMD). Associations of ADP with DN were indicated with the P-value considered significant at ≤ 0.05. Subgrouping was based on diabetes type (1 and 2). Predictive potential of ADP was explored with AUC (area under the curve) derived from Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At high P-values of <10-5, overall and subgroup outcomes indicated ADP associations with DN (up to SMD = 1.89-2.26, respectively). However, heterogeneity of the initial SMD effects (up to I2 = 99%) warranted examination of their sources which with the Galbraith plot method, either eliminated or reduced their heterogeneity, signifying combinability of the studies. This feature along with consistency of significant associations, robust outcomes and significant AUC values provide good evidence of the associative and predictive roles of ADP in DN.

Salivary glucose as a non-invasive biomarker of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with Diabetes mellitus (DM) and the number of new and undiagnosed cases continue to rise. Diagnosis of diabetes is usually performed by blood glucose analysis after fasting for a certain period. However, this method uses an invasive technique that can cause discomfort and even trauma to some patients which could eventually lead to behavioral changes such as avoidance of healthcare and laboratory testing. Studies that explore the diagnostic value of salivary glucose are promising due to the non-invasiveness of the test procedures and its potential correlation with blood results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study conducted aimed to determine if salivary glucose can be utilized as an alternative to blood glucose in the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 75 participants were recruited and equally divided into 3 groups (normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose, and provisional DM) based on their fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. Blood and unstimulated saliva were collected from each participant and were subjected to glucose analysis using the routine glucose oxidase-peroxidase method. RESULTS: Using Pearson's correlation and linear regression, a high degree and significant correlation was observed between blood and salivary glucose (r = 0.715, p<0.001). Further analysis showed that salivary glucose is 88.5% sensitive and 61.5% specific with a positive predictive value of 45.8%, and a negative predictive value of 97.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary glucose is comparable to blood glucose in diagnosing and monitoring T2DM and is considered more advantageous than blood due to its non-invasive nature. Key words:Saliva, glucose, non-invasive, diabetes.