Keratoconus in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence, associated conditions, diagnostic and treatment modalities, and provider education regarding the diagnosis and management of keratoconus (KCN) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) based on the currently available body of literature.

Methods: Peer-reviewed publications from any year and any language were included. The databases included Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, and Ovid.

A Systematic Review Supporting the Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Preexisting Diabetes and Pregnancy.

Context: Women with preexisting diabetes mellitus (PDM) are at increased risk of pregnancy-related complications.

Objective: To summarize the available supporting evidence for the Endocrine Society guidelines about management of PDM in pregnancy.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and other sources through February 2025.

A systematic review supporting the development of the Society for Vascular Surgery Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of blunt thoracic aortic injury.

Background: The writing committee from the Society for Vascular Surgery has commissioned this systematic review to support the development of clinical practice guidelines on the management of patients with blunt thoracic aortic injury.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus. Pairs of independent reviewers selected and appraised studies addressing seven key questions identified by the Society for Vascular Surgery committee regarding the evaluation and management of patients with blunt thoracic aortic injury.

Effects of buprenorphine on pain perception in healthy adults: a meta-narrative systematic review.

The availability of knowledge about the effects of buprenorphine on pain perception in healthy adults could help investigators select experimental tests with evidence of responsiveness to buprenorphine in nondiseased states. The purpose of this meta-narrative systematic review is to summarize the effects of buprenorphine on pain perception in healthy adults. Comprehensive database searches were conducted from inception dates through July 16, 2024.

The Methodological Quality of Case Series Published Early vs. Late in the Course of a Pandemic: A Meta-Epidemiologic Study.

 Case reports and series are critical to guide initial decision-making in a pandemic, but may have lower rigor because of the need to publish them quickly. This meta-epidemiologic study compares the methodological quality of case series that described the acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 versus those that described long-haul cases.  We conducted a systematic review in multiple databases for long-haul case series and reports.

Prediction of intradialytic hypotension by machine learning: A systematic review.

Background: Intradialytic hypotension is associated with increased morbidity, and mortality. Several machine learning (ML) algorithms have been recently developed to predict intradialytic hypotension. We systematically reviewed ML models employed to predict intradialytic hypotension, their performance, methodological integrity, and clinical applicability.

A systematic review supporting the Society for Vascular Surgery guideline update on the management of intermittent claudication.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the current evidence on the management of intermittent claudication (IC), a prevalent manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: We conducted comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus. We addressed six questions developed by a guideline committee from the Society for Vascular Surgery, addressing pharmacological treatments, exercise regimens, endovascular interventions, and predictors of major adverse cardiovascular, limb-related events, and mortality.

The effectiveness of balloon kyphoplasty compared to conservative treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are a common and often debilitating condition that significantly impacts quality of life and healthcare costs. While conservative treatment is often pursued initially after fracture, some patients experience severe pain refractory to conservative treatment. In these cases, minimally invasive vertebral augmentation procedures like balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) offer an alternative, but the benefits of BKP compared to conservative treatment remain unclear.

Prognostic value of baseline RV dysfunction using TAPSE and TAPSE to PASP ratio in patients undergoing mitra-clip: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mitra-clip is an established therapy for high-risk surgical candidates who are refractory to optimal medical treatment. Reports have shown that right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Our goal of this systematic review/meta-analysis is to assess the prognosis of baseline RV function markers including TAPSE (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion) and TAPSE:PASP (pulmonary artery systolic pressure) ratio after Mitra-clip.

The association between chronic pain and metabolic syndrome: A scoping review.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent comorbidity in patients with chronic pain conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that the relationship between MetS and chronic pain is bidirectional. This interplay involves complex mechanisms, including proinflammatory mediators in nociceptive modulation and pain-induced lifestyle changes affecting metabolic function.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the response to placebo in clinical trials of inclusion body myositis.

Objectives: IBM is characterized by slowly progressive muscle weakness making it challenging to detect significant changes in weakness during a clinical trial. Trial participants receiving placebo may behave differently from in natural history studies. We aimed to quantify the change in muscle strength and IBM Functional Rating Scale (IBMFRS) of IBM patients receiving placebo during clinical trials.

Determining Patient Panel Size in Primary Care: A Meta-Narrative Review.

The optimal patient panel size (PPS) in primary care and the factors determining it remain unclear. We conducted a meta-narrative review of the literature to evaluate factors influencing PPS and assess its association with patient outcomes. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was performed from inception through December 2023, focusing on original studies reporting factors used to determine PPS and related outcomes (eg, clinical outcomes, process measures, and resource utilization).

Hyponatremia Correction and Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Rationale & Objective: Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a rare but severe condition often attributed to the rate of sodium collection. We evaluated the association between the overly rapid sodium correction in adult hospitalized patients with ODS.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Global Burden of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in At-Risk Populations: Estimates of Prevalence From 35 Countries Between 1993 and 2023.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating and painful condition accompanied by sensory, autonomic, trophic, and/or motor abnormalities. Although CRPS is rare in the general population, the prevalence among individuals at higher risk, particularly posttraumatic and postsurgical patients, remains unknown. This study aims to provide a benchmark that quantifies CRPS prevalence in high-risk groups, and offers insights on potential predictors of developing CRPS.

Global estimates of prevalence of chronic painful neuropathy among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 28 countries, 2000-24.

Introduction: Although the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has been reported, the proportion of patients with CIPN who report chronic painful neuropathy remains poorly understood, despite its significant impact on patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of chronic (≥3 months) painful CIPN among patients diagnosed with CIPN.

Contemporary Cementless Patellar Implant Survivorship: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 3,005 Patellae.

Historically, cementless patellar implants were fraught with issues of fixation and polyethylene wear. However, contemporary cementless patellar implants incorporate modern technologies for implant design and offer the potential for improved biological fixation and longevity. As such, an evaluation of the performance of modern cementless patellae is needed.

Interventional pain management of CRPS in the pediatric population: A literature review.

Background: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that causes persistent and debilitating pain. It is often associated with physical injury but can also occur without identifiable trauma or ongoing injury. There are no published guidelines for CRPS treatment in the pediatric population, but interdisciplinary care, medication, and physical therapy are common approaches.

Instruments evaluating the duration and pace of clinical encounters: A scoping review.

Objective: Hurried encounters in clinical settings contribute to dissatisfaction among both patients and clinicians and may indicate and contribute to low-quality care. We sought to identify patient- or clinician-reported instruments concerning this experience of time in clinical encounters.

Methods: We searched multiple databases from inception through July 2023.

Preventative care in student-run free clinics: a narrative review on feasibility, ethics, and recommendations.

Background: Student-run free clinics are critical for medical education and medical care of underserved populations. This paper explores the feasibility of establishing ethical preventative health services at student-run free clinics such as the Rochester Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH) Clinic, affiliated with the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Our analysis discusses the challenges and ethical considerations of providing preventative healthcare in student-run clinics.