The cause of dysphagia in patients with esophageal atresia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Dysphagia is the most common symptom in patients with esophageal atresia (EA) of all ages. There is no study addressing the direct relation between dysphagia and surgical results. Therefore, a systematic review was performed to define the relationship between surgical complications and dysphagia in patients with EA.

METHODS

The systematic review was drafted under PRISMA guidelines. Systematic literature search was performed for the period 2000 (Jan) to 2019 (Dec)-20 years-in the databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed. Statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.0 software.

RESULTS

Among 767 articles, 486 abstracts were screened for the inclusion criteria. The full-texts of 64 articles were assessed for eligibility. The sub-group analysis could be performed in 4 articles for anastomotic strictures. Heterogeneity was calculated by I² statistic as 18,487 and pooled odds ratio was measured under the fixed effect model (Q = 3.68; P = 0.298, I² = 18,487). There was no significant relationship with an odds ratio of 1.37 between anastomotic stricture (AS) and dysphagia (95% CI 0.631-2.973, p = 0.426). There was no publication bias for the data (Begg's test, p = 0.496; Egger's tests, p = 0.335).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis did not reveal a significant relationship between AS and dysphagia in children with EA. Since many other factors contribute to dysphagia, comprehensive variable information such as detailed standardized registry systems for rare diseases for pooling analysis is needed regarding other potential factors including surgical complications.

Knowledge and awareness of optimal use of reporting guidelines in paediatricians: A cross-sectional study

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate pediatricians' ideas and awareness of reporting guidelines of scientific researches, as well as the use of these guidelines in routine practice.

Material and Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted among pediatricians working at two of the largest pediatric hospitals in Ankara. The pediatricians were asked to complete a 13-item questionnaire in Turkish about reporting guidelines and the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research internet network, and their level of knowledge, awareness, and use of these guidelines were investigated.

Results

A total of 224 physicians from both centers agreed to participate in the study (56.4% of the target population). The average age of the participants was 34±9.24 years, their median age was 31 (min-max: 24-63) years, and 71.4% were female physicians. The participants' median duration in their careers was 6 (min-max: 1-39) years and 63.8% had participated in a scientific study as a researcher. Forty-five (20%) of the participants had known about the reporting guidelines before and reported that they had most frequently heard about them via journals, congresses, and seminars. Twenty (26.6%) of these physicians had used the guidelines. Sixty-five (29%) of the participants had served as a reviewer for a scientific article, but only three (4.6%) stated that they had made use of the guidelines while reviewing the articles. Some 83.5% of the participants reported that they would like to be informed about reporting guidelines. Both centers had similar knowledge levels about the use of the guidelines.

Conclusion

The awareness and use of reporting guidelines of scientific researches by pediatricians is insufficient.

[A Population-Based Study for the Standardization of the Turkish Version of the Modified Mini Mental State Examination (3MS) and Assessment of Certain Environmental Risk Factors for Dementia: Methodology and Sample Characteristics]

OBJECTIVE

Objective assessment of the cognitive status and activities of daily living are required for the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders. No cognitive screening test with normative values exist in Turkey. This study aims to standardize a widely applicable cognitive screening test, determine the activities of daily living in a population-based sample as well as identifying certain individual and environmental risk factors for cognitive disorders.

METHOD

Since Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) is widely used in primary and secondary care and a version for the uneducated exists, an expanded and modified version of MMSE, Modified Mini Mental Test (3MS) was selected for standardization. After the adaptation and pre-testing processes, a population-based study including the individuals over the age of 55 was planned to determine the normative values using the primary health care system in Ankara, Turkey, An age-based stratification procedure was applied. Data were collected through a survey form that was developed to identify certain healthrelated, occupational and environmental risk factors associated with cognitive disorders among with the cognitive evaluation. The study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Grant No: 214S048.

RESULTS

The population-based study was conducted between January and June 2016. The data of a total of 2158 participants were analyzed. The geographic distribution of the final sample was representative of the total population in Ankara. Of the study sample, 51,3%were female, and 60% had over 5 years of education. Approximately 25% of all participants were 'screening-positive' for neurocognitive impairment and age was inversely related with daily functioning.

CONCLUSION

We were able to reach a population-based sample to determine the normative values of a widely applicable cognitive screening test and the activities of daily living as well as evaluate dementia-related risk factors in Turkey. The findings of the study indicated that 3MS-Turkish form is a cognitive secreening test, which can be widely used in Turkey.

Prevalence of major obstructive sleep apnea syndrome symptoms in coal miners and healthy adults

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with symptoms including habitual snoring, witness apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness. Also obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is related to some occupations which are needed attention for work accident. We aimed to determine the prevalence of snoring, witnessed apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness in coal workers and healthy adults in Zonguldak city center, and also evaluate the differences between these groups. This study consisted of 423 underground coal workers and 355 individuals living in centre of Zonguldak. Study and comparison group were chosen by nonstratified randomized sampling method. Data were collected by a questionnaire that included information regarding snoring, witnessed apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness. Mean age was 43.3 ± 6.05 years in miners and 44.3 ± 11.8 years in comparison group. In miners, snoring frequency was determined as 42.6%, witnessed apneas were 4.0%, and daytime sleepiness were 4.7%. In comparison group, these symptoms were 38.6%, 4.8% and 2.8% respectively. There were no statistical differences between coal workers and comparison group in these symptoms. Also snoring prevalence was higher in smoker miners. We found that major symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in coal workers are similar to general population in Zonguldak. Further studies that constucted higher populations and with polysomnography are needed to evaluate these findings.