The impact of continuity correction methods in Cochrane reviews with single-zero trials with rare events: A meta-epidemiological study.

Meta-analyses examining dichotomous outcomes often include single-zero studies, where no events occur in intervention or control groups. These pose challenges, and several methods have been proposed to address them. A fixed continuity correction method has been shown to bias estimates, but it is frequently used because sometimes software (e.g., RevMan software in Cochrane reviews) uses it as a default. We aimed to empirically compare results using the continuity correction with those using alternative models that do not require correction. To this aim, we reanalyzed the original data from 885 meta-analyses in Cochrane reviews using the following methods: (i) Mantel-Haenszel model with a fixed continuity correction, (ii) random effects inverse variance model with a fixed continuity correction, (iii) Peto method (the three models available in RevMan), (iv) random effects inverse variance model with the treatment arm continuity correction, (v) Mantel-Haenszel model without correction, (vi) logistic regression, and (vii) a Bayesian random effects model with binominal likelihood. For each meta-analysis we calculated ratios of odds ratios between all methods, to assess how the choice of method may impact results. Ratios of odds ratios <0.8 or <1.25 were seen in ~30% of the existing meta-analyses when comparing results between Mantel-Haenszel model with a fixed continuity correction and either Mantel-Haenszel model without correction or logistic regression. We concluded that injudicious use of the fixed continuity correction in existing Cochrane reviews may have substantially influenced effect estimates in some cases. Future updates of RevMan should incorporate less biased statistical methods

"Risk of overestimating treatment effects and generalizability of computer-based tailored dietary counseling".

Letter to the Edito

Disseminated varicella-zoster virus infection with abdominal pain possibly caused by pirfenidone: A case report

We report a case of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis treated with pirfenidone in a 76-year-old woman who complained of acute-onset abdominal pain and rashes. The patient was diagnosed with disseminated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, and pirfenidone was discontinued. Her condition improved in one month. Pirfenidone may induce disseminated VZV infection. Keywords: Herpes zoster, Disseminated VZV infection, Varicella-zoster virus, Pirfenidon

Refractory diffuse alveolar hemorrhage caused by eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis in the absence of elevated biomarkers treated successfully by rituximab and mepolizumab: A case report

Here we report on a 61-year-old man with refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) who presented with dyspnea. Despite treatment with glucocorticoids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange, his symptoms worsened despite his eosinophil count and myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody titer trending downwards. EGPA with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was diagnosed on analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The patient was treated with rituximab and methylprednisolone pulse therapy and a remission was achieved. He has been receiving mepolizumab since then and remains in remission. It should be recognized that refractory diffuse alveolar hemorrhage can occur in patients with EGPA without elevation of biomarkers if they are receiving systemic corticosteroids. Keywords: Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Rituximab, Mepolizuma

Systemic steroid therapy for pneumonic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: A retrospective cohort study.

The effectiveness of systemic steroid therapy on mortality in patients with pneumonic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is unclear. We evaluated the association between systemic steroid therapy and 30-day mortality after adjusting for known confounders, using data from the Health, Clinic, and Education Information Evaluation Institute in Japan, which longitudinally followed up patients in the same hospital. We selected patients aged ≥40 years admitted for pneumonic COPD exacerbation. The exclusion criteria were censoring within 24 h, comorbidity with other respiratory diseases, and daily steroid use. Systemic steroid therapy was defined as oral/parenteral steroid therapy initiated within two days of admission. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality rate. To account for known confounders, each patient was assigned an inverse probability of treatment weighting. The outcome was evaluated using logistic regression. Among 3,662 patients showing pneumonic COPD exacerbation, 30-day mortality in the steroid therapy and non-steroid therapy groups was 27.6% (169/612) and 21.9% (668/3,050), respectively. Systemic steroid therapy indicated a slightly higher estimated probability of 30-day mortality (difference in the estimated probabilities, 2.65%; 95% confidence interval, -1.23 to 6.54%, p-value = 0.181). Systemic steroid therapy within two days of admission was associated with higher 30-day mortality rates in pneumonic COPD exacerbation. Further validation studies based on chart reviews will be needed to cope with residual confounders