BackgroundEvidence of an adverse influence of soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections on cognitive function and educational loss is equivocal. Prior meta-analyses have focused on randomized controlled trials only and have not sufficiently explored the potential for disparate influence of STH infection by cognitive domain. We re-examine the hypothesis that STH infection is associated with cognitive deficit and educational loss using data from all primary epidemiologic studies published between 1992 and 2016.MethodsMedline, Biosis and Web of Science were searched for original studies published in the English language. Cognitive function was defined in four domains (learning, memory, reaction time and innate intelligence) and educational loss in two domains (attendance and scholastic achievement). Pooled effect across studies were calculated as standardized mean differences (SMD) to compare cognitive and educational measures for STH infected/non-dewormed children versus STH uninfected /dewormed children using Review Manager 5.3. Sub-group analyses were implemented by study design, risk of bias (ROB) and co-prevalence of Schistosoma species infection. Influential studies were excluded in sensitivity analysis to examine stability of pooled estimates.FindingsWe included 36 studies of 12,920 children. STH infected/non-dewormed children had small to moderate deficits in three domains—learning, memory and intelligence (SMD: -0.44 to -0.27, P<0.01–0.03) compared to STH-uninfected/dewormed children. There were no differences by infection/treatment status for reaction time, school attendance and scholastic achievement (SMD: -0.26 to -0.16, P = 0.06–0.19). Heterogeneity of the pooled effects in all six domains was high (P<0.01; I2 = 66–99%). Application of outlier treatment reduced heterogeneity in learning domain (P = 0.12; I2 = 33%) and strengthened STH-related associations in all domains but intelligence (SMD: -0.20, P = 0.09). Results varied by study design and ROB. Among experimental intervention studies, there was no association between STH treatment and educational loss/performance in tests of memory, reaction time and innate intelligence (SMD: -0.27 to 0.17, P = 0.18–0.69). Infection-related deficits in learning persisted within design/ROB levels (SMD: -0.37 to -52, P<0.01) except for pre-vs post intervention design (n = 3 studies, SMD = -0.43, P = 0.47). Deficits in memory, reaction time and innate intelligence persisted within observational studies (SMD: -0.23 to -0.38, all P<0.01) and high ROB strata (SMD:-0.37 to -0.83, P = 0.07 to <0.01). Further, in Schistosoma infection co-prevalent settings, associations were generally stronger and statistically robust for STH-related deficits in learning, memory and reaction time tests(SMD:-0.36 to -0.55, P = 0.003–0.02). STH-related deficits in school attendance and scholastic achievement was noted in low (SMD:-0.57, P = 0.05) and high ROB strata respectively.InterpretationWe provide evidence of superior performance in five of six educational and cognitive domains assesse...

BackgroundEvery 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 MethodsThe 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.ResultsUsing 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%.ConclusionsSalivary 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.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the association of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) with acute diarrhea in children of South Asian populations. Our meta-analysis included 18 studies published between 1989 and 2011. The odds ratio (OR) was used to evaluate all available observational epidemiology studies. Modifying effects on the overall OR were approached with outlier, subgroup, cumulative, and cumulative recursive analyses. Synthesis of the 18 observational studies revealed an association between EAEC carriage and acute diarrhea, with an overall OR of 1.51, which was significant (p = 0.008), heterogeneous (Pheterogeneity < 0.0001), and unaffected by outlier analysis. This analysis, however, affected the subgroups by eliminating the following: (i) heterogeneity (from Pheterogeneity < 0.0001 to 0.30-0.72) of pooled ORs in the underpowered (OR 1.37, p = 0.15), Indian (OR 1.92, p = 0.09), and hospital-based (OR 1.66, p = 0.06) studies; (ii) non-significance of these three subgroups (OR 1.56-2.01, p < 0.0001-0.003); (iii) significance of the high-powered studies (from OR 1.70, p = 0.02 to OR 1.15, p = 0.28); (iv) heterogeneity (from Pheterogeneity < 0.0001-0.0002 to 0.11-0.15) of pooled ORs in period three (OR 1.85, p = 0.14), population-based (OR 1.36, p = 0.09), and pCVD432 (OR 1.53, p = 0.07) studies. In general, outlier treatment increased precision with the narrowing of confidence intervals, overall, and in the subgroups. Cumulative meta-analysis generally resulted in increases in the frequencies of significant effects and of heterogeneity. This meta-analysis on observational studies suggests that the association between EAEC and acute diarrhea in children is that of increased risk. This effect generally comes from heterogeneous studies of South Asian populations, but is modified with outlier and subgroup treatments.

Background/Aims: Reported associations of reproductive outcomes (RO) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with genotypes of the Ile49Ser and -482A>G polymorphisms in the Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) gene and its type II receptor (AMHRII), respectively, have conflicting results. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases were searched for studies that investigated Ile49Ser and -482A>G in RO and PCOS. Using the metaanalytic approach, we estimated risk (odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidence intervals) using standard genetic models. Results: All calculated summary effects were non-significant. Overall associations of Ile49Ser and -482A>G with RO were absent (OR 0.95-0.99, P = 0.76-0.96) but implied increased risk in PCOS (OR 1.07-1.17, P = 0.49-0.55). Where heterogeneity of the pooled ORs were present, its sources were explored using the Galbraith plot. Detection and omission of the outlying studies in both polymorphisms not only erased heterogeneity of the recalculated pooled outcomes but also changed direction of association, where null effects turned to increased risk (Ile49Ser in RO) and increased risk became reduced risk (-482A>G in PCOS). Implications of the Ile49Ser and -482A>G, effects pointed to protection for Caucasians (OR 0.64-0.89, P = 0.36-0.73) in RO and increased risk in PCOS (OR 1.19-1.45, P = 0.28-0.65). Asian effects in RO and PCOS were variable (OR 0.97-1.24, P = 0.58-0.91). Conclusions: In summary, we found no evidence of significant associations of Ile49Ser and -482A>G with RO and PCOS, although contrasting Ile49Ser effects were implied among Caucasians between RO (up to 0.36% reduced risk) and PCOS (up to 1.5-fold increased risk).

Stability of the reduced risks observed in key subgroups suggests that the protective feature of circumcision status against PCa is best seen in the context of the post-PSA testing and population-based studies as well as in the black race subgroup.