Comparative efficacy of methods for surfactant administration: a network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare surfactant administration via thin catheters, laryngeal mask, nebulisation, pharyngeal instillation, intubation and surfactant administration followed by immediate extubation (InSurE) and no surfactant administration. DESIGN: Network meta-analysis. SETTING: Medline, Scopus, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Google-scholar and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were systematically searched from inception to 15 February 2020. PATIENTS: Preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Less invasive surfactant administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were mortality, mechanical ventilation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. RESULTS: Overall, 16 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 20 observational studies were included (N=13 234). For the InSurE group, the median risk of mortality, mechanical ventilation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were 7.8%, 42.1% and 10%, respectively. Compared with InSurE, administration via thin catheter was associated with significantly lower rates of mortality (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.54 to 0.76), mechanical ventilation (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.63), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.73), periventricular leukomalacia (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.82) with moderate quality of evidence and necrotising enterocolitis (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.9, low quality of evidence). No significant differences were observed by comparing InSurE with administration via laryngeal mask, nebulisation or pharyngeal instillation. In RCTs, thin catheter administration lowered the rates of mechanical ventilation (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.60) but not the incidence of the remaining outcomes. CONCLUSION: Among preterm infants, surfactant administration via thin catheters was associated with lower likelihood of mortality, need for mechanical ventilation and bronchopulmonary dysplasia compared with InSurE. Further research is needed to reach firm conclusions about the efficacy of alternative minimally invasive techniques of surfactant administration.

Serum cystatin-c as predictive factor of preeclampsia: A meta-analysis of 27 observational studies.

OBJECTIVE: Serum cystatin-c is a protein that is filtered freely through the glomerulus and reabsorbed and degraded by proximal tubular cells and can be used as a biomarker of renal function. Its levels rise during the third trimester and decrease in the postpartum period. The purpose of the present meta-analysis is to assess the performance of serum cystatin-c for the prediction of preeclampsia. DESIGN AND METHODS: We used the Medline, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL and Google Scholar. We selected all observational studies (both prospective and retrospective) that investigated the accuracy of cystatin-c in predicting preeclampsia. Statistical meta-analysis was performed with the RevMan 5.3 and Stata/IC 13.0 software, using hierarchical models to develop the SROC curve. RESULTS: The quantitative synthesis was based in 27 studies with a total number of 2,320 women. Serum cystatin-c levels were higher in preeclamptic women compared to healthy pregnant controls (MD: 0.40 mg/l, 95% CI [0.33, 0.46]). The pooled sensitivity of serum cystatin-c for the prediction of preeclampsia was 0.85 (95% CI [0.79-0.89]) and the pooled specificity 0.84 (95% CI [0.77-0.90]. Fagan's nomogram indicated that the post-test probability increased to 14% (positive test) and decreased to 1% (negative test), when the pre-test probability was set at 3%. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of our study serum cystatin-c seems to be a promising biomarker for the detection of preeclampsia during the third trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, its implementation in future predictive models in the field is recommended.

Random urine uric acid to creatinine and prediction of perinatal asphyxia: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of the present review is to evaluate whether urine uric acid to creatinine ratio is increased in perinatal asphyxia and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), as well as to assess its predictive accuracy in the disease. Methods: We used the Medline (1966-2017), Scopus (2004-2017), Clinicaltrials.gov (2008-2017), Embase (1980-2017), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL (1999-2017), and Google Scholar (2004-2017) databases in our primary search along with the reference lists of electronically retrieved full-text papers. The hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model was used for the meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy. Results: Fourteen studies were finally included in the present review, that investigated 1226 neonates. Urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio was significantly higher in neonates with perinatal asphyxia than in healthy controls (mean differences (MD): 1.43 95%CI [1.17, 1.69]). Specifically, the mean difference for Sarnat stage 1 was 0.70 (95%CI [0.28, 1.13]), for stage 2 1.41 (95%CI [0.99, 1.84]), and for stage 3 2.71 (95%CI [2.08, 3.35]). The estimated sensitivity for the summary point was 0.90 (95%CI (0.82-0.95)), the specificity was 0.88 (95%CI (0.73-0.95)) and the diagnostic odds ratio was calculated at 63.62 (95%CI (17.08-236.96)). Conclusions: Urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio is a rapid and an easily detected biomarker that may help physicians identify neonates at risk of developing perinatal asphyxia and HIE. However, large-scale prospective studies are still needed to determine its value in predicting mortality, as well as short- and long-term adverse neurological outcomes.

Mean platelet volume values in preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been explored in several observational studies in the field of preeclampsia and current evidence seem to be conflicting. The purpose of the present meta-analysis is to evaluate the reported MPV differences in patients that develop preeclampsia and to compare them to those of otherwise healthy women. DESIGN AND METHODS: We searched the international literature using the Medline (1966-2018), Scopus (2004-2018), EMBASE (1947-2018) and Clinicaltrials.gov (2008-2018) databases. Statistical meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: The meta-analysis was based on outcomes reported from 50 studies that included 14,614 women. MPV was significantly higher in preeclamptic than healthy pregnant women (7905 women, MD: 1.04 fl, 95% CI [0.76, 1.32]). The mean difference was less evident among women with mild preeclampsia (6604 women, MD: 0.65 fl, 95% CI [0.19, 1.11]), compared to the severe ones (6119 women, MD: 1.28 fl, 95% CI [0.75, 1.80]). The results of the univariate meta-regression analysis showed that region, sample size, time to analysis, anticoagulant, platelet count and NOS score did not affect the outcomes of the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our meta-analysis suggest that mean platelet volume represents a promising biomarker for the detection and follow-up of patients that develop preeclampsia. However, given that the available evidence is drawn from case-control studies, future cohorts are needed in this field to accurately determine optimal timing and cut-off values that may be used in the clinical setting.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as predictor of acute kidney injury in neonates with perinatal asphyxia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There is growing evidence that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a promising biomarker of acute kidney injury. The objective of this meta-analysis is to determine the accuracy of serum and urinary NGAL in the detection of acute kidney injury in neonates with perinatal asphyxia. Medline (1966-2018), Scopus (2004-2018), EMBASE (1980-2018), Clinicaltrials.gov (2008-2018), and Google Scholar (2004-2018) databases, along with the reference lists of the electronically retrieved articles, were systematically searched. Eleven studies were included, with a total number of 652 neonates. The summary sensitivity of serum NGAL was 0.818 (95% CI [0.668, 0.909]), the specificity 0.870 (95% CI [0.754, 0.936]), and the area under the curve 0.912. Regarding urinary NGAL, pooled sensitivity was calculated at 0.897 (95% CI [0.829, 0.940]), specificity at 0.729 (95% CI [0.561, 0.850]), and area under the curve at 0.899. CONCLUSION: Serum and urinary NGAL represent candidate biomarkers with high performance in the prediction of acute kidney injury in newborns with perinatal asphyxia. Before NGAL can be widely used in clinical practice, future large prospective studies are needed to define the optimal cutoffs and accurately determine which levels are suggestive of post-asphyxial acute kidney injury. What is Known: • Acute kidney injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in perinatal asphyxia. • Current markers are insufficient in predicting post-asphyxial acute kidney injury. What is New: • Area under the curve for serum and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is 0.818 and 0.899, respectively. • Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a useful marker for detecting asphyxiated neonates at risk of developing acute kidney injury.

Soluble TREM-1 as a predictive factor of neonatal sepsis: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (TREM-1) in detecting sepsis in adults has already been proven. To date, however, consensus in the field of neonatal sepsis is lacking. The purpose of the present systematic review is to accumulate current evidence in this field. SEARCH STRATEGY: We systematically searched Medline (1966-2017), Scopus (2004-2017), Clinicaltrials.gov (2008-2017), EMBASE (1980-2017), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL (1999-2017) and Google Scholar (2004-2017) along with reference lists from included studies. MAIN RESULTS: Eight studies were finally included in the present analysis, with a total number of 667 neonates. The estimated sensitivity for the summary point was 0.95 [95% CI (0.81-0.99)] and the specificity was 0.87 [95% CI (0.56-0.97)]. The diagnostic odds ratio was calculated at 132.49 [95% CI (6.85-2560.70)]. Fagan's nomogram demonstrated that the post-test probability increased to 71% and decreased to 2%, when the pre-test probability was set at 25%. However, significant discrepancy was observed in terms of the used cut-offs; therefore, the sensitivity and specificity presented in our meta-analysis should be reviewed with caution, as they may present an overestimation of the actual predictive efficacy of this protein. CONCLUSION: Current evidence suggests that sTREM-1 may become a useful biomarker for the prediction of neonatal sepsis. However, the small number of studies and the variation of the threshold values limit its implementation in clinical practice. Future large-scale studies are needed to determine the optimal cut-off value that may discriminate normal levels from those suggestive of the presence of neonatal sepsis.

The diagnostic accuracy of presepsin in neonatal sepsis: a meta-analysis.

There is growing evidence that presepsin is a promising biomarker in the diagnosis of sepsis in adults. The objective of our study is to investigate current evidence related to the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin in neonatal sepsis. To accomplish this, we searched the Medline (1966-2017), Scopus (2004-2017), Clinicaltrials.gov (2008-2017), EMBASE (1980-2017), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL (1999-2017), and Google Scholar (2004-2017) databases. Eleven studies were included in the present meta-analysis, with a total number of 783 neonates. The pooled sensitivity of serum presepsin for the prediction of neonatal sepsis was 0.91 (95% CI [0.87-0.93]) and the pooled specificity was 0.91 (95% CI [0.88-0.94]). The diagnostic odds ratio was 170.28 (95% CI [51.13-567.11]) and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.9751 (SE 0.0117). Head-to-head comparison with AUC values of C-reactive protein (0.9748 vs. 0.8580) and procalcitonin (0.9596 vs. 0.7831) revealed that presepsin was more sensitive in detecting neonatal sepsis. CONCLUSION: Current evidence support the use of presepsin in the early neonatal period in high-risk populations as its diagnostic accuracy seems to be high in detecting neonatal sepsis. What is known: • Neonatal sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. • Current laboratory tests cannot accurately discriminate endangered neonates. What is new: • The diagnostic odds ratio of presepsin is 170.28 and the area under the curve is 0.9751. • According to our meta-analysis, presepsin is a useful protein that may help clinicians identify neonates at risk.