• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.447-455
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of reading development program on reading comprehension using meta-analysis method. The authors synthesized 70 studies regarding reading comprehension conducted during 2001 through 2011. The analyses revealed that 1) the average effect size of the reading development program yielded.763, which is regarded considerably large, 2) the effect size of elementary school group was the biggest, 1.030. There were statistically significant differences amongst school levels, 3) the average effect size of published journal articles was 1.250, which is statistically significantly larger than that of dissertation's.700, 4) regarding the methods to measure the effect of reading comprehension, the effect size of reading method was larger, and 5) the effect size of Korean reading development program was statistically larger than that of English reading development program. This study has limitation as it didn't include unpublished manuscripts, conference presentations, and the like, however this study is meaningful in terms that it tried to draw integrated conclusion about the effect of reading development programs using meta-analysis.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.23-36
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• 2020

Objective: This study was aimed to report the therapeutic effects of herbal medicine on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: The prior studies were searched from the databases included PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKi, CiNii, KISS, NDSL, KMBASE, and OASIS until September 2020. The main search keywords were chemotherapy, peripheral neuropathy, and herbal medicine, and only randomized controlled trials that analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine were included. The Cochrane's Risk of Bias was used for assessment of the risk of bias and the Review Manager 5.3 program was used for meta-analysis. Meta-analyses were grouped by the administration routes of herbal medicines (oral administration or topical use). Results: Nine studies with a total of 563 participants were included. Compared with usual care, the effective rate was higher in oral administrated herbal medicine (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.23; p<0.001, I2=31%). In addition, topical herbal medicine showed an significantly higher effective rate than placebo (RR 2.20, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.18; p<0.001, I2=0%) and usual care (RR 2.24, 95% CI 1.74 to 2.89; p<0.001, I2=66%). There was no severe adverse effect in all participants. Conclusions: Herbal medicine appears to improve neuropathy caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients more than conventional therapy of CIPN. However, as there is heterogeneity between the included studies and a lack of blinding, further well-designed researches are more needed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.285-298
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• 2020

This study aimed to review clinical studies about Acupotomy used for Knee Osteoarthritis. We searched the following 12 online databases (KISS, NDSL, RISS, OASIS, Earticle, Kmbase, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Cochrane library, Ebscohost, Ovid, CNKI, Wanfang), to find randomized controlled trials that used Acupotomy for knee osteoarthritis. The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials were assessed by using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and meta-analyses were performed. 16 randomized controlled trials were included. Total number of patients was 1169. The average duration of treatment was 3.14 weeks and most of the patients were treated once a week. The major treatment sites were ligaments, muscles, and tender nodules and the most used evaluation tool was the efficiency. We selected 4 studies and meta-analyzed them. All of the studies performed Acupotomy+sodium hyaluronate injection as a treatment group, and sodium hyaluronate injection as a control group. Meta-analysis showed positive results for Acupotomy+sodium hyaluronate injection in terms of efficiency rate compared to sodium hyaluronate injection. Also Meta-analysis showed positive results for Acupotomy+sodium hyaluronate injection in terms of WOMAC (pain, stiffness, function) compared to sodium hyaluronate injection. In this study, we reviewed studies about Acupotomy used for knee osteoarthritis. The studies showed that Acupotomy can significantly effective on knee osteoarthritis. But according to Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) evaluation method, most of the study's risk of bias was unclear. Threrefore, more high-quality studies will be needed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2022

Background: To analyze the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of 2 reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods: Three keywords, "gastric neoplasm," "distal gastrectomy," and "reconstruction," were used to search PubMed. We selected only randomized controlled trial that compared the anastomosis methods. A total of 11 papers and 8 studies were included in this meta-analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using the R software. Results: Among short-term clinical outcomes, a shorter operation time, reduced morbidity, and shorter hospital stay were found for Billroth type I (B-I) than for Roux-en-Y (RNY) reconstruction in the meta-analysis (P<0.001, P=0.048, P<0.001, respectively). When comparing Billroth type II (B-II) to RNY, the operation time was shorter for B-II than for RNY (P<0.019), but there were no differences in morbidity or length of hospital stay (P=0.500, P=0.259, respectively).Regarding long-term clinical outcomes related to reflux, there were significantly fewer incidents of reflux esophagitis, reflux gastritis, and bile reflux (P=0.035, P<0.001, P=0.019, respectively) for RNY than for B-I in the meta-analysis, but there was no difference between the 2 methods in residual food (P=0.545). When comparing B-II to RNY, there were significantly fewer incidents of reflux gastritis (P<0.001) for RNY than for B-II, but the amount of residual food and patient weight gain showed no difference. Conclusion: B-I had the most favorable short-term outcomes, but RNY was more advantageous for long-term outcomes than for other methods. Surgeons should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of anastomosis and select the appropriate method.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.340-355
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of non-pharmacological sleep intervention programs in improving sleep quality among older adults in long-term care facilities. Methods: A literature search and selection was performed on nine different databases using the guidelines of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Overall, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and were systematically reviewed. For the meta-analysis, the effect size was estimated using the random-effects model in Review Manager (RevMan) desktop version 5.4 of the Cochrane Library. Results: The meta-analysis of overall non-pharmacological interventions obtained a total effect size of 1.0 (standardized mean difference [SMD]=1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64~1.35), which was statistically significant (Z=5.55, p<.001). The most frequently studied non-pharmacological intervention was aroma therapy, with an effect size of 0.61 (SMD=0.61, 95% CI: 0.14~1.08), which was statistically significant (Z=2.55, p=.010). In the subgroup analysis, group-based interventions, interventions for >4 weeks, and untreated control studies were more effective. Conclusion: This study confirms that non-pharmacological interventions are effective in improving sleep quality among older adults in long-term care facilities. However, the sample size was small and the risk of bias in assessing the interventions of individual studies was unclear or high, thereby limiting the generalizability of the results. Further reviews that evaluate randomized control trials, evidence-based interventions that consider older adult participants' physical activity levels, different intervention methods and durations, and different control group intervention types are needed to obtain more conclusive evidence.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.420-431
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• 2022

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate periodontal parameters in orthodontically tractioned teeth compared with the respective non-tractioned contralateral teeth. Methods: Search strategies were developed for six electronic databases and gray literature. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for the outcomes of interest. Furthermore, the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) tool. Results: Overall, 2,082 articles were identified, of which 24 were selected for the qualitative synthesis. A significant difference was observed between the impacted and contralateral teeth (mean difference [MD] = 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.10-0.40; I² = 0%) when the gingival index was evaluated. Additionally, impacted teeth showed a greater probing depth, with a significant mean difference between the groups (MD = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.07-0.20; I² = 6%). Most studies had a low risk of bias; however, the certainty of the evidence was very low owing to the design of existing studies. Conclusions: The evidence in the literature indicated that tractioned teeth might show worsening of periodontal parameters related to the gingival index and probing depth; however, the evidence remains uncertain about this outcome. Furthermore, probing depth should be considered regarding its clinical significance because of the small effect size observed.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.282-304
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of carotenoid supplementation on the performance, egg quality, and immunity of laying hens using a meta-analysis approach. The database was searched using Google Scholar and Scopus, from 2012 to 2022. The literature was published in English. 47 Articles were selected for meta-analysis. Analyses were performed using the Open Meta-analyst for Ecology and Evolution (OpenMEE) software. The heterogeneity and data validation against publication bias were analyzed using JASP 0.16.2 software. Overall, the results showed that carotenoid supplementation improved feed intake by 0.32 g/day/hen [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.02 to 0.61], final body weight by 0.33 g/hen (95% CI=0.05 to 0.60), egg production by 0.38% (95% CI=0.14 to 0.63), egg weight by 0.29 g (95% CI=0.09 to 0.5), yolk colour by 2.11 (95% CI=1.71 to 2.51), Haugh unit (HU) by 0.26 (95% CI=0.11 to 0.42), yolk carotenoids by 1.17 ㎍/kg (95% CI=0.59 to 1.75), immunoglobulin A (IgA) by 0.74 mg/L (95% CI=0.18 to 1.29), and lower yolk cholesterol by -0.38 mg/g (95% CI=-0.59 to -0.16). Feed conversion ratio (FCR), eggshell thickness, and white blood cells were unaffected by the application of carotenoids. The heterogeneity analysis showed variability in all studies (<0.05). In conclusion, carotenoid supplementation can elevate productivity, enhance egg quality, and improve immunity. However, based on Kendall's test, there was a publication bias in several parameters, namely FCR, egg weight, HU, yolk carotenoids, and IgA.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.425-440
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• 2023

Background: Muscimol's quick onset and GABAergic properties make it a promising candidate for the treatment of pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies aimed at summarizing the evidence regarding the efficacy of muscimol administration in the amelioration of nerve injury-related neuropathic pain. Methods: Two independent researchers performed the screening process in Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science extracting data were extracted into a checklist designed according to the PRISMA guideline. A standardized mean difference (SMD [95% confidence interval]) was calculated for each. To assess the heterogeneity between studies, ² and chi-square tests were utilized. In the case of heterogeneity, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to identify the potential source. Results: Twenty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Pooled data analysis showed that the administration of muscimol during the peak effect causes a significant reduction in mechanical allodynia (SMD = 1.78 [1.45-2.11]; P < 0.0001; I² = 72.70%), mechanical hyperalgesia (SMD = 1.62 [1.28-1.96]; P < 0.0001; I² = 40.66%), and thermal hyperalgesia (SMD = 2.59 [1.79-3.39]; P < 0.0001; I² = 80.33%). This significant amendment of pain was observed at a declining rate from 15 minutes to at least 180 minutes post-treatment in mechanical allodynia and mechanical hyperalgesia, and up to 30 minutes in thermal hyperalgesia (P < 0 .0001). Conclusions: Muscimol is effective in the amelioration of mechanical allodynia, mechanical hyperalgesia, and thermal hyperalgesia, exerting its analgesic effects 15 minutes after administration for up to at least 3 hours.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1034-1043
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the pooled agreements of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) severities assessed by electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated and non-ECG-gated CT and evaluate the impact of the scan parameters. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched. A modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Meta-analytic methods were utilized to determine the pooled weighted bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and the correlation coefficient of the CAC scores or the weighted kappa for the categorization of the CAC severities detected by the two modalities. The heterogeneity among the studies was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed based on factors that could affect the measurement of the CAC score and severity: slice thickness, reconstruction kernel, and radiation dose for non-ECG-gated CT. Results: A total of 4000 patients from 16 studies were included. The pooled bias was 62.60, 95% LOA were -36.19 to 161.40, and the pooled correlation coefficient was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89-0.97) for the CAC score. The pooled weighted kappa of the CAC severity was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.79-0.91). Heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I² > 50%, p < 0.1). In the subgroup analysis, the agreement between the CAC categorizations was better when the two CT examinations had reconstructions based on the same slice thickness and kernel. Conclusion: The pooled agreement of the CAC severities assessed by the ECG-gated and non-ECG-gated CT was excellent; however, it was significantly affected by scan parameters, such as slice thickness and the reconstruction kernel.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.450-461
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• 2020

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the agreement of cardiac computed tomography (CT) with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in the assessment of right ventricle (RV) volume and functional parameters. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library were systematically searched for studies that compared CT with CMRI as the reference standard for measurement of the following RV parameters: end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), or ejection fraction (EF). Meta-analytic methods were utilized to determine the pooled weighted bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and correlation coefficient (r) between CT and CMRI. Heterogeneity was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the probable factors affecting measurement of RV volume: CT contrast protocol, number of CT slices, CT reconstruction interval, CT volumetry, and segmentation methods. Results: A total of 766 patients from 20 studies were included. Pooled bias and LOA were 3.1 mL (-5.7 to 11.8 mL), 3.6 mL (-4.0 to 11.2 mL), -0.4 mL (5.7 to 5.0 mL), and -1.8% (-5.7 to 2.2%) for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF, respectively. Pooled correlation coefficients were very strong for the RV parameters (r = 0.87-0.93). Heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I² > 50%, p < 0.1). In the subgroup analysis, an RV-dedicated contrast protocol, ≥ 64 CT slices, CT volumetry with the Simpson's method, and inclusion of the papillary muscle and trabeculation had a lower pooled bias and narrower LOA. Conclusion: Cardiac CT accurately measures RV volume and function, with an acceptable range of bias and LOA and strong correlation with CMRI findings. The RV-dedicated CT contrast protocol, ≥ 64 CT slices, and use of the same CT volumetry method as CMRI can improve agreement with CMRI.