systematic review

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

February 4, 2020
Anvari, D., Sharif, M., Sarvi, S., Aghayan, S. A., Gholami, S., Pagheh, A. S., Hosseini, S. A., Saberi, R., Chegeni, T. N., Hosseininejad, Z., Daryani, A.
Microbial Pathogenesis 2019, 129: 30 - 42

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Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a great public health concern in cancer patients, which can induce serious pathological effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the worldwide seroprevalence rate of T. gondii infection among cancer patients. A search was conducted on five electronic databases that reported data on T. gondii seroprevalence in cancer patients. The searching process resulted in the inclusion of 57 studies. The results showed that T. gondii had the pooled prevalence of 30.8% in cancer patients using a random-effect model (95% CI: 26.3-35.6). Cancer patients had a higher overall prevalence of T. gondii infection, compared to those without cancer. Furthermore, the odds ratio of toxoplasmosis in cancer patients was 3.1 times, compared to that of controls (95% CI: 2.5-3.8, P < 0.0001). Toxoplasmosis had a higher prevalence in females (40%) than in males (33%). Furthermore, the age group of upper 40 years had the highest prevalence infection rate (30%). In addition, a significant association was also observed between toxoplasmosis infection and year (P < 0.001), type of cancer (P < 0.001), country (P < 0.001), gender (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.006) and diagnostic method (P < 0.001) in cancer patients. Considering the high prevalence of T. gondii infection in cancer patients and its serious outcomes, the researchers are suggested to carry out further studies to prevent and control toxoplasmosis among this population.

Tagged: antibodies, b1 gene, brain, childern, cncer patients, epidemiologymalignancies, healthy, individuals, liver-disease, meta-analysis, systematic review, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis

Reviews

Is Toxoplasma gondii playing a positive role in multiple sclerosis risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis

August 31, 2018
Saberi, R., Sharif, M., Sarvi, S., Aghayan, S. A., Hosseini, S. A., Anvari, D., Chegeni, T. N., Hosseininejad, Z., Daryani, A.
Journal of Neuroimmunology 2018;322: 57-62

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Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii with a globally widespread distribution. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to characterize the association between T. gondii infection and multiple sclerosis (MS). The data were systematically collected from the English electronic databases up to April 2017. The research process resulted in the identification of five studies related to the subject of interest entailing 669 MS patients and 770 controls. The pooled prevalence rates of T. gondii infection in the MS patients and controls were estimated as 32.4% (95% CI: 27.4-38.6) and 39.1% (95% CI: 29.1-50.5), respectively. By random effect model, the combined odds ratio was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.49-1.06) with P = .0961. Although this meta-analysis study showed a lower seroprevalence of T. gondii in the MS patients as compared with that in the control group, no significant association was found between toxoplasmosis and MS disease. Further investigations are recommended to determine the detailed association between MS patients and T. gondii infection.

Tagged: antibodies, autoimmune, brain-development, diseases, family-members, hygiene hypothesis, infection, meta-analysis, multiple sclerosis, Parasite, responses, Schizophrenia, systematic review, Toxoplasma gondii

Physical health

The potential risk of toxoplasmosis for traffic accidents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

February 12, 2018
Gohardehi, S. , Sharif, M. , Sarvi, S., Moosazadeh, M., Alizadeh-Navaei,R., Hosseini,S. A., Amouei,A. , Pagheh, A. , Sadeghi , M., Daryani, A.
Experimental Parasitology 2018; 191: 19-24

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Toxoplasmosis is a prevalent infectious disease. Although most people infected by Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, evidence has suggested that this disease might affect some aspects of a hoses behavior and associate with schizophrenia, suicide attempt, changes in various aspects of personality, and poor neurocognitive performance. These associations may play roles in increasing the risk of a number of incidents, such as traffic accidents, among infected people. In this regard, this study aimed to provide summary estimates for the available data on the potential risk of toxoplasmosis for traffic accidents. To this end, using a number of search terms, i.e. toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, traffic accident, road accident car accident, crash, and prevalence, literature searches (up to October 1, 2017) were carried out via 6 databases. The meta-analysis was conducted using the StatsDirect statistical software and a P-value less than 0.05 was regarded as significant in all statistical analyses. Out of 1841 identified studies, 9 studies were finally considered eligible for carrying out this systematic review. Reviewing results of these studies indicated that 5 out of 9 studies reported a significant relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and traffic accidents. Additionally, data related to gender showed significant differences between infected and control men and women. Considering age, reviewing the results of these studies revealed a significant difference between the infected people and the Toxoplasma-negative subjects under 45 years of age. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups aged 45 or older. Given these results, it can be concluded that Toxoplasma gondii significantly increases the risk of having traffic accidents.

Tagged: behavior, gondii infection, latent asymptomatic toxoplasmosis, meta-analysis, performance, systematic review, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, traffic accidents, women

Behavior Reviews

Systematic assessment of environmental risk factors for bipolar disorder: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

May 11, 2017
Bortolato, B., Kohler, C.A., Evangelou, E., Leon-Caballero, J., Solmi, M., Stubbs, B., Belbasis, L., Pacchiarotti, I., Kessing, L.V., Berk, M., Vieta, E., Carvalho, A.F.
Bipolar Disorder 2017; 19: 84-96

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ObjectivesThe pathophysiology of bipolar disorder is likely to involve both genetic and environmental risk factors. In our study, we aimed to perform a systematic search of environmental risk factors for BD. In addition, we assessed possible hints of bias in this literature, and identified risk factors supported by high epidemiological credibility. MethodsWe searched the Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycInfo databases up to 7 October 2016 to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies that assessed associations between putative environmental risk factors and BD. For each meta-analysis, we estimated its summary effect size by means of both random- and fixed-effects models, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), the 95% prediction interval, and heterogeneity. Evidence of small-study effects and excess of significance bias was also assessed. ResultsSixteen publications met the inclusion criteria (seven meta-analyses and nine qualitative systematic reviews). Fifty-one unique environmental risk factors for BD were evaluated. Six meta-analyses investigated associations with a risk factor for BD. Only irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) emerged as a risk factor for BD supported by convincing evidence (k=6; odds ratio [OR]=2.48; 95% CI=2.35-2.61; P<.001), and childhood adversity was supported by highly suggestive evidence. Asthma and obesity were risk factors for BD supported by suggestive evidence, and seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii and a history of head injury were supported by weak evidence. ConclusionsNotwithstanding that several environmental risk factors for BD were identified, few meta-analyses of observational studies were available. Therefore, further well-designed and adequately powered studies are necessary to map the environmental risk factors for BD.

Tagged: aetiology, bipolar disorder, depression, mania, meta-analysis, mood disorder, psychiatry, Risk factor, systematic review

Mental health Reviews

Exposure to perinatal infections and bipolar disorder: A systematic review

May 24, 2016
Barichello, T., Badawy, M., Pitcher, M. R., Saigal, P., Generoso, J. S., Goularte, J. A., Simoes, L. R., Quevedo, J., Carvalho, A. F.
Curr Mol Med 2016; 16: 106-118

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Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder and a growing global public health issue. Notwithstanding BD has been conceptualized as a neuroprogressive illness, there are some evidences to suggest a role for neurodevelopmental pathways in the patho-etiology of this disorder. Evidences on the associations between perinatal infections and risk for bipolar disorder have been inconsistent across studies. Here, we performed a systematic review of observational studies on the relationship between exposure to perinatal pathogens and bipolar disorder. A computerized literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and PsyINFO databases till January 31st, 2015 was performed. Twenty-three studies ultimately met inclusion criteria. Studies investigated exposure to several pathogens namely Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), Herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), Toxoplasma gondii, Influenza, and Varicella zoster virus (VZV). Overall, studies provided mixed evidences. Thus, contrary to schizophrenia, the role of perinatal infections as risk factors for BD remain inconclusive. Larger studies with a prospective design would be necessary to elucidate the role of previous exposure to infectious agents as a potential risk factor for BD.

Tagged: antibodies, bipolar disorder, cerebrospinal fluid, cognitive impairment, cytomegalovirus, herpes, herpes-simplex encephalitis, individuals, influenza, maternal infection, metaanalysis, psychiatric patients, Schizophrenia, systematic review, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasma gondii infection

Mental health Reproduction Reviews

Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

systematic review

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Is Toxoplasma gondii playing a positive role in multiple sclerosis risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis

The potential risk of toxoplasmosis for traffic accidents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic assessment of environmental risk factors for bipolar disorder: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Exposure to perinatal infections and bipolar disorder: A systematic review