In addition, the features pertaining to larger datasets are illustrated with a systematic review of mechanically-stimulated ATP release kinetics in mammalian cells. Through the course of the manuscript, a rapid review of intracellular ATP concentrations in osteoblasts is used as an example to demonstrate workflow, intermediate and final outcomes of basic research meta-analyses. We introduce MetaLab, a meta-analytic toolbox developed in MATLAB R2016b which implements the methods described in this methodology and is provided for researchers and statisticians at Git repository ( ). Emphasis is placed on handling heterogeneity that is inherently prevalent in studies that use diverse experimental designs and models. Conventional meta-analytic techniques are extended to accommodate methods and practices found in basic research. The goal of this study is to present a brief theoretical foundation, computational resources and workflow outline along with a working example for performing systematic or rapid reviews of basic research followed by meta-analysis. Unlike clinical research, where consolidation efforts are facilitated by systematic review and meta-analysis, the basic sciences seldom use such rigorous quantitative methods. 2Shriners Hospital for Children-Canada, Montreal, QC, Canadaīasic life science literature is rich with information, however methodically quantitative attempts to organize this information are rare.
1Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.Nicholas Mikolajewicz 1,2 and Svetlana V.