Riedel DJ, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF, Zhao XF, Redfi eld RR, Gilliam BL. Plasmablastic lymphoma of the oral cavity: a rapidly progressive lymphoma associated with HIV infection. Lancet Infect Dis 2008; 8: 261–67. In this Grand Round, the references for the sentence “Occasionally, CD138-negative plasmablastic lymphoma cases (such as this case) have been reported” (page 265) should be 32, 34, and 38. Book Systematic reviews: CRD’s guidance for undertaking reviews in health care

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Systematic reviews: CRD's guidance for undertaking reviews in health care

Risk factors of critical & mortal COVID-19 cases: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Purpose To update the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) 2005 recommendations on geriatric assessment (GA) in older patients with cancer. Methods SIOG composed a panel with expertise in geriatric oncology to develop consensus statements after literature review of key evidence on the following topics: rationale for performing GA; findings from a GA performed in geriatric oncology patients; ability of GA to predict oncology treatment–related complications; association between GA findings and overall survival (OS); impact of GA findings on oncology treatment decisions; composition of a GA, including domains and tools; and methods for implementing GA in clinical care. Results GA can be valuable in oncology practice for following reasons: detection of impairment not identified in routine history or physical examination, ability to predict severe treatment-related toxicity, ability to predict OS in a variety of tumors and treatment settings, and ability to influence treatment choice and intensit...

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International Society of Geriatric Oncology Consensus on Geriatric Assessment in Older Patients With Cancer

Objective
To systematically review the methodological assessment tools for pre-clinical and clinical studies, systematic review and meta-analysis, and clinical practice guideline.

Methods
We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Reviewers Manual, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) up to May 20th, 2014. Two authors selected studies and extracted data; quantitative analysis was performed to summarize the characteristics of included tools.

Results
We included a total of 21 assessment tools for analysis. A number of tools were developed by academic organizations, and some were developed by only a small group of researchers. The JBI developed the highest number of methodological assessment tools, with CASP coming second. Tools for assessing the methodological quality of randomized controlled studies were most abundant. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias is the best available tool for assessing RCTs. For cohort and case-control studies, we recommend the use of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) is an excellent tool for assessing non-randomized interventional studies, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ARHQ) methodology checklist is applicable for cross-sectional studies. For diagnostic accuracy test studies, the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool is recommended; the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool is available for assessing animal studies; Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) is a measurement tool for systematic reviews/meta-analyses; an 18-item tool has been developed for appraising case series studies, and the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE)-II instrument is widely used to evaluate clinical practice guidelines.

Conclusions
We have successfully identified a variety of methodological assessment tools for different types of study design. However, further efforts in the development of critical appraisal tools are warranted since there is currently a lack of such tools for other fields, e.g. genetic studies, and some existing tools (nested case-control studies and case reports, for example) are in need of updating to be in line with current research practice and rigor. In addition, it is very important that all critical appraisal tools remain subjective and performance bias is effectively avoided.

The methodological quality assessment tools for preclinical and clinical studies, systematic review and meta‐analysis, and clinical practice guideline: a systematic review

The use of laparoscopy for liver surgery is increasing rapidly. The Second International Consensus Conference on Laparoscopic Liver Resections (LLR) was held in Morioka, Japan, from October 4 to 6, 2014 to evaluate the current status of laparoscopic liver surgery and to provide recommendations to aid its future development. Seventeen questions were addressed. The first 7 questions focused on outcomes that reflect the benefits and risks of LLR. These questions were addressed using the Zurich-Danish consensus conference model in which the literature and expert opinion were weighed by a 9-member jury, who evaluated LLR outcomes using GRADE and a list of comparators. The jury also graded LLRs by the Balliol Classification of IDEAL. The jury concluded that MINOR LLRs had become standard practice (IDEAL 3) and that MAJOR liver resections were still innovative procedures in the exploration phase (IDEAL 2b). Continued cautious introduction of MAJOR LLRs was recommended. All of the evidence available for scrutiny was of LOW quality by GRADE, which prompted the recommendation for higher quality evaluative studies. The last 10 questions focused on technical questions and the recommendations were based on literature review and expert panel opinion. Recommendations were made regarding preoperative evaluation, bleeding controls, transection methods, anatomic approaches, and equipment. Both experts and jury recognized the need for a formal structure of education for those interested in performing major laparoscopic LLR because of the steep learning curve.

Recommendations for laparoscopic liver resection: a report from the second international consensus conference held in Morioka

Background:  Because of specific methodological difficulties in conducting randomized trials, surgical research remains dependent predominantly on observational or non-randomized studies. Few validated instruments are available to determine the methodological quality of such studies either from the reader's perspective or for the purpose of meta-analysis. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate such an instrument.

Methods:  After an initial conceptualization phase of a methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS), a list of 12 potential items was sent to 100 experts from different surgical specialities for evaluation and was also assessed by 10 clinical methodologists. Subsequent testing involved the assessment of inter-reviewer agreement, test-retest reliability at 2 months, internal consistency reliability and external validity.

Results:  The final version of MINORS contained 12 items, the first eight being specifically for non-comparative studies. Reliability was established on the basis of good inter-reviewer agreement, high test-retest reliability by the κ-coefficient and good internal consistency by a high Cronbach's α-coefficient. External validity was established in terms of the ability of MINORS to identify excellent trials.

Conclusions:  MINORS is a valid instrument designed to assess the methodological quality of non-randomized surgical studies, whether comparative or non-comparative. The next step will be to determine its external validity when used in a large number of studies and to compare it with other existing instruments.

Methodological index for non-randomized studies (minors): development and validation of a new instrument.

To evaluate the magnitude of the morbidity related to the system used for gastric banding Methods Between January 1997 and December 2004, 286 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB) in one center. We used 4 models of LapBand® 9.75, 10, 11 and Vanguard with pars flacida route. Recalibration of band was performed in our consultation unit without systematic radiologic control. We considered four kinds of complication: port displacement, port rupture, band rupture and others problems. The mean follow up was 3.3±2.8 years with a median 2.9 years. Complications occurred within a mean time of 2.2±1.9 years. For the models vanguard and size 11, there were no rupture and 15 (27.7%) displacements whereas for size 9.75 and 10 there were 39 ruptures (14.7%) and 15 (5.6%) displacements. Types of complications were related to the bands used i.e. more port displacements for the models vanguard and size 11and more band and port ruptures for the models size 9.75 and 10. But when we considered the respective follow up according to the type of band these differences were no longer significant. Moreover rupture rate was significantly high but decreased after March 2002 because of changing of junction between port and catheter. Mean excess weight loss (35.2±27.7%) was not different in group whether the patients were reoperated or not. Band and port related morbidity is an important aspect of bariatric surgery. We have to pay attention to material evolution and to our follow up for calibration. Some new recent technical advancement could improve the management of these patients.

Band and port-related morbidity after bariatric surgery: an underestimated problem.

La chirurgie de l'obesite connait une veritable revolution depuis l'avenement de la cœlioscopie Le but de cette revue de la litterature est de faire une evaluation factuelle des techniques et resultats de la chirurgie cœlioscopique Les indications et les contre-indications de la chirurgie font actuellement l'objet d'un large consensus Nous discutons dans cet article la faisabilite des differentes interventions cœlioscopiques en insistant sur l'anneau gastrique La faisabilite de l'anneau gastrique (technique la plus diffusee en France) est demontree avec un meilleur niveau de preuves que pour les autres techniques plus complexes Les complications postoperatoires de l'anneau gastrique (essentiellement la dilatation de la poche gastrique) sont detaillees selon les resultats de toutes les series publiees Enfin, l'efficacite de la chirurgie cœlioscopique (perte de poids et qualite de vie) est evaluee a court terme du fait de l'absence de recul suffisant dans la majorite des etudes publiees

La chirurgie cœlioscopique de l'obésité

The need for a modified BAROS for gastric banding.

Resume Introduction Depuis une dizaine d’annees, on assiste a un essor de la chirurgie de l’obesite morbide par gastroplastie per-coelioscopique. Il existe cependant peu de publications decrivant les complications, notamment la survenue d’une necrose gastrique. Observation Deux ans apres la realisation d’une gastroplastie par pose d’un anneau, ce qui semblait etre une gastroenterite aigue chez une patiente de 45 ans s’est revele etre une necrose gastrique. Commentaires Peu connue, cette complication se revele en pratique par des signes cliniques peu specifiques devant lesquels seule la realisation, en urgence, d’un transit oeso-gastro-duodenal permet d’orienter le diagnostic. Le diagnostic precoce peu permettre un traitement conservateur avant constitution de la necrose. Conclusion La diffusion de la chirurgie de l’obesite doit nous pousser a la prudence quant a son innocuite et nous faire reagir face a des symptomes d’apparence anodins.

Emile Nini

Papers

Methodological index for non-randomized studies (minors): development and validation of a new instrument.

Band and port-related morbidity after bariatric surgery: an underestimated problem.

La chirurgie cœlioscopique de l'obésité

The need for a modified BAROS for gastric banding.

Nécrose gastrique après gastroplastie