• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3253-3258
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• 2012

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) plus chemotherapy versus WBRT alone for treating brain metastases (BM) from lung cancer by performing a meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: The PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, ASCO, ESMO, CBM, CNKI, and VIP databases were searched for relevant RCTs performed between January 2000 and March 2012. After quality assessment and data extraction, the meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.1 software, with funnel plot evaluation of publication bias. Results: 19 RCTs involving 1,343 patients were included. The meta-analyses demonstrated that compared to WBRT alone, WBRT plus chemotherapy was more effective with regard to the objective response rate (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.79 - 2.98; P < 0.001); however, the incidences of gastrointestinal reactions (RR = 3.82, 95% CI = 2.33 - 6.28, P <0.001), bone marrow suppression (RR = 5.49, 95% CI = 3.65 - 8.25, P < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (RR = 5.83, 95% CI = 0.39 - 86.59; P = 0.20), leukopenia (RR = 3.13, 95% CI = 1.77 - 5.51; P < 0.001), and neutropenia (RR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.61 - 4.68; P < 0.001) in patients treated with WBRT plus chemotherapy were higher than with WBRT alone. There was no obvious publication bias detected. Conclusion: WBRT plus chemotherapy can obviously improve total efficacy rate, butalso increases the incidence of adverse reactions compared to WBRT alone. From the limitations of this study, more large-scale, high-quality RCTs are suggested for further verification.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3233-3239
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• 2015

Background: Whether depression causes increased risk of the development of breast cancer has long been debated. We conducted an updated meta-analysis of cohort studies to assess the association between depression and risk of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Relevant literature was searched from Medline, Embase, Web of Science (up to April 2014) as well as manual searches of reference lists of selected publications. Cohort studies on the association between depression and breast cancer were included. Data abstraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by two authors. Random-effect model was used to compute the pooled risk estimate. Visual inspection of a funnel plot, Begg rank correlation test and Egger linear regression test were used to evaluate the publication bias. Results: We identified eleven cohort studies (182,241 participants, 2,353 cases) with a follow-up duration ranging from 5 to 38 years. The pooled adjusted RR was 1.13(95% CI: 0.94 to 1.36; $I^2=67.2%$, p=0.001). The association between the risk of breast cancer and depression was consistent across subgroups. Visual inspection of funnel plot and Begg's and Egger's tests indicated no evidence of publication bias. Regarding limitations, a one-time assessment of depression with no measure of duration weakens the test of hypothesis. In addition, 8 different scales were used for the measurement of depression, potentially adding to the multiple conceptual problems concerned with the definition of depression. Conclusions: Available epidemiological evidence is insufficient to support a positive association between depression and breast cancer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2013

Objectives: We investigated the association between particulate matter less than $10{\mu}m$ in aerodynamic diameter ($PM_{10}$) exposure and non-accidental mortality in Asian populations by meta-analysis, using both time-series and case-crossover analysis. Methods: Among the 819 published studies searched from PubMed and EMBASE using key words related to $PM_{10}$ exposure and non-accidental mortality in Asian countries, 8 time-series and 4 case-crossover studies were selected for meta-analysis after exclusion by selection criteria. We obtained the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of non-accidental mortality per $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increase of daily $PM_{10}$ from each study. We used Q statistics to test the heterogeneity of the results among the different studies and evaluated for publication bias using Begg funnel plot and Egger test. Results: Testing for heterogeneity showed significance (p<0.001); thus, we applied a random-effects model. RR (95% CI) per $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increase of daily $PM_{10}$ for both the time-series and case-crossover studies combined, time-series studies relative risk only, and case-crossover studies only, were 1.0047 (1.0033 to 1.0062), 1.0057 (1.0029 to 1.0086), and 1.0027 (1.0010 to 1.0043), respectively. The non-significant Egger test suggested that this analysis was not likely to have a publication bias. Conclusions: We found a significant positive association between $PM_{10}$ exposure and non-accidental mortality among Asian populations. Continued investigations are encouraged to contribute to the health impact assessment and public health management of air pollution in Asian countries.

• Stress
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2017

The present study investigated the effect of music intervention on the anxiety of children and adolescents using meta-analysis, and the specific research purposes were as follows. The targets of the present study were previous studies analyzed the effect of music intervention on anxiety collected the final 28 theses for academic degrees and five scholarly journal articles were used in the analysis. To examine the publication bias of the studies used in the analysis, funnel plot and fail-safe N were verified, and found the publication bias was not significant enough to influence the present study. The homogeneity test showed that the effect size was heterogeneous, and accordingly, a random effect model analysis was carried out and the overall effect size was found to be -1.034. The analysis on the difference in the effect showed that the effect size varied according to subject classification and intervention location for categorical variables and size for continuous variables.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.49-60
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to research current trends of acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc using the PubMed database. Methods We set up the search strategy and investigated clinical trials on acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc through PubMed search. This study analyzed previous researched papers published from January 1st, 2000 to April 30th, 2014, and classified them by publication year, journal names, types of literature, treatment methods and evaluation scales. To assess the quality of the reviewed literature, randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were assessed by Cochrane's risk of bias (ROB) tool and non-RCT studies were assessed by risk of bias for non-randomized studies (RoBANS). Results We found 35 studies on the acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc. Papers on this topic have been published, on average, three to four times annually in 9 journals since the mid-2000's. The journal with the largest number of publications was Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, and most of articles were classified as RCT. Acupuncture treatment was performed individually or together with other treatments. The most frequently used pain evaluation index was visual analogue scale (VAS). The index of effective rate was used frequently but there was a lack of objectivity. In regards to the quality of the studies, outcome assessment in RCT showed that random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and the blinding of participants and personnel increase potential of risk of bias. For non-RCT assessment, outcome showed that confounding variable, measurement of intervention were at high risk of bias. Conclusions In order to obtain objective clinical evidence of acupuncture treatment of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc, further clinical studies should be designed to minimize the risk of bias, using STRICTA with larger sample sizes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.203-217
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the high-level evidence of the effects of manual therapy on musculoskeletal diseases. Methods: Domestic databases were searched for studies that conducted clinical trials associated with manual therapy on chronic musculoskeletal diseases. A total of 591 studies published between 2005 and 2018 were identified, with 18 studies satisfying the inclusion data. The studies were classified according to patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO). The search outcomes were items associated with pain and physical function. The 18 studies included in the study were evaluated by using the R meta-analysis (version 4.0). The quality of 18 randomized control trials was evaluated by using the Cochrane risk of bias (ROB). The effect sizes were computed as the corrected standardized mean difference (SMD). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were also used. Egger's regression test was carried out in order to analyze the publication bias. Cumulative meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis were also conducted in order to analyze the data error. Results: The following factors showed the large effect size of manual therapy on chronic musculoskeletal diseases: pain (Hedges's g = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.47 ~ 3.85), and physical function (Hedges's g = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.22 ~ 3.08). The subgroup analysis only showed a statistical difference in the type of manual therapy (pain) and outcome (physical function). No statistically significant difference was found in the meta-regression analysis. Publication bias was found in the data, but the results of the trim-and-fill method showed that such bias did not largely affect the obtained data. Furthermore, there were no data errors in the cumulative meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of manual therapy on chronic musculoskeletal diseases in pain and physical function. Subgroup analysis suggests that only the type of manual therapy for pain and the type of outcome for physical function differed in effect size.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.399-414
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review and identify factors relevant to workplace bullying in nursing. Methods: Twenty-three studies that met the criteria were selected from a sample of twenty-six studies. These articles were retrieved from a central literature databases (N=13,241). The total correlational effect size (ESr) for each related factor was calculated from Fisher's Zr. A funnel plot inspection (similar to scatter plot) with a trim-and-fill method was used to assess the publication bias of the meta-analyzed studies. Results: From the systematic review, fifty-one factors were identified as having an influencing effect. Fourteen factors (five individual and nine organizational factors) were eligible for meta-analysis. The individual factors included, self-esteem (ESr=-.31), psychological capital (ESr=-.26), and marital status (ESr=-.06) which were significantly correlated with workplace bullying. Organizational factors included, organizational tolerance (ESr=.48), supervisor incivility (ESr=.47), job stress (ESr=.46), group morale (ESr=-.36), group support (ESr=-.35), supervisor leadership (ESr=-.35), group identity (ESr=-.33), and structural empowerment (ESr=-.27). These factors were significantly correlated with workplace bullying. There were no publication biases except for both individual and organizational factors. Conclusion: Organizational factors have more of an greater impact than individual factors on workplace bullying. The results of this study support the need for intervention at the organizational level.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.448-464
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• 2012

Objectives : This study reviews the latest articles in Korea and other countries that studied oriental medicine treatment on poststroke depression. Methods : Korean articles were retrieved from the 9 major Korean web article search engines. Foreign articles were retrieved from PubMed. Article published date was from 2000 up to September 2012. There were no restrictions on the types of publication, but articles not available in full text were excluded. The methodological quality was assessed according to Cochrane's assessment of risk of bias and Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Results : Twenty-two articles were included in this study. Eleven articles were published in Korea, the rest were published in China. Nine articles were randomized controlled trials (RCT), one article was a non-randomized study (NRS), four articles were case reports, three articles were cross-sectional studies, two articles were comparative studies. In RCT articles, risk of selection bias and performance bias were generally high, risk of detection bias was unclear. The NRS article took four stars in Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment. Comparison Hamilton rating scale for depression score between oriental medicine treated group and western medicine treated group revealed that there was no remarkable difference in mean score changes after treatment on PSD. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that oriental medicine treatment is as effective as western medicine treatment for PSD. In the future, more rigorous oriental medicine treatment studies should be conducted.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.937-949
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• 2008

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the anti-hepatotoxic effect of ginseng in rats induced with CC14 or TCDD, the toxicities that cause liver damages. Primary studies were collected from the ScienceDirect database, the DBpia, and the KISS. The data on the effect factors in plasma and in enzyme are listed as many as possible: The effect factors were alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST), liver aminopyrine N-demethylase(AD), liver aniline hydroxylase(AH), liver 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine(liver MDA), cytochrome P450(P450), serum alkaline phosphatase(ALP), serum lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), cytochrome b5(Cyto b5), glutathione reductase (GR), Liver glutathione S-transferase(GST), liver glutamyltransferase (GT), Liver($\gamma$-GCS), serum liver 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine(serum MDA), serum sorbitol dehydrogenase(SDH), serum total protein(TP), and serum $\gamma$-glutamyltransferase($\gamma$-GT). In order to investigate the effect of ginseng, the standard mean difference(HG) between the group of rats induced with toxicity(RH) and the group of rats induced with ginseng(RHG) were combined, and the significance of HGs were tested. The combined HGs checked the biases caused by heterogeneity among studies and the publication biases. Then they were adjusted by using the random effect model and trim and fill method. Although the publication biases were assumed, among all plasma factors the HGs of ALT, AST, serum MDA, SDH, TP, and $\gamma$-GT were significant, and among all enzyme factors the HGs of liver MDA, Cyto b5, GR, GST, and GT were significant. The treatment with ginseng significantly affected the plasma and enzyme levels in rats induced with toxicity.