Acupuncture for the Postcholecystectomy Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) has become a common postoperative syndrome that requires systematic and comprehensive therapy to achieve adequate clinical control. Acupuncture and related therapies have shown clinical effects for PCS in many studies. However, systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) for them are lacking. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of PCS using randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods. Potentially eligible studies were searched in the following electronic databases up to 1 February 2020: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science (WoS), Chinese databases (Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Database (WF), and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP)), and other sources (WHO ICTRP, ChiCTR, Clinical Trials, and Grey Literature Database). The RevMan 5.3 was employed for analyses. The Cochrane Collaboration’ risk of bias tool was used to assess the risk of bias (ROB). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the quality of the evidence. Results. A total of 14 RCTs with 1593 participants were included in this SR. MA showed that acupuncture in combination with conventional medicine (CM) did not show statistical differences in reduction in pain. However, acupuncture in combination with CM significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (RR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55–0.92) and improved gastrointestinal function recovery compared to the CM group. Acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine and CM, and acupuncture as monotherapy may improve gastrointestinal function recovery with acceptable adverse events. Conclusion. Acupuncture may be an effective and safe treatment for PCS. However, this study lacks conclusive evidence due to poor quality evidence, limited data, and clinical heterogeneity of acupuncture methods in the included studies.

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An overview of systematic reviews of complementary and alternative therapies for infantile colic

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-019-1191-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rachel Perry ◽

Verity Leach ◽

Chris Penfold ◽

Philippa Davies

Keyword(s):

Systematic Reviews ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Research Literature ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Infantile Colic ◽

Breastfed Infants ◽

Randomised Controlled ◽

Complementary And Alternative

Abstract Background Infantile colic is a distressing condition characterised by excessive crying in the first few months of life. The aim of this research was to update the synthesis of evidence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research literature on infantile colic and establish what evidence is currently available. Methods Medline, Embase and AMED (via Ovid), Web of Science and Central via Cochrane library were searched from their inception to September 2018. Google Scholar and OpenGrey were searched for grey literature and PROSPERO for ongoing reviews. Published systematic reviews that included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of infants aged up to 1 year, diagnosed with infantile colic using standard diagnostic criteria, were eligible. Reviews of RCTs that assessed the effectiveness of any individual CAM therapy were included. Three reviewers were involved in data extraction and quality assessment using the AMSTAR-2 scale and risk of bias using the ROBIS tool. Results Sixteen systematic reviews were identified. Probiotics, fennel extract and spinal manipulation show promise to alleviate symptoms of colic, although some concerns remain. Acupuncture and soy are currently not recommended. The majority of the reviews were assessed as having high or unclear risk of bias and low confidence in the findings. Conclusion There is clearly a need for larger and more methodologically sound RCTs to be conducted on the effectiveness of some CAM therapies for IC. Particular focus on probiotics in non-breastfed infants is pertinent. Systematic review registration PROSPERO: CRD42018092966.

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Safety and efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil in treating neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040371 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. e040371

Author(s):

Mengyu Han ◽

Luqi Nong ◽

Ziqiang Liu ◽

You Chen ◽

Yang Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Mycophenolate Mofetil ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders ◽

Spectrum Disorders

IntroductionNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is an inflammatory and heterogeneous astrocyte disorder of the central nervous system with the characteristic of higher incidence in women and Asian people. Most patients with NMOSD have a course of recurrence and remission that is prone to cause paralysis and blindness. Several studies have confirmed the efficacy and promising prospect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the treatment of NMOSD. Yet its therapeutic effect and safety are controversial. Although there has been two published literature that is relevant to the topic of this study, both of them have certain defects, and they can only provide answers about the efficacy or safety of MMF in the treatment of NMOSD from partial perspectives or conclusions. This research aims to perform a direct and comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate MMF’s effectiveness and safety in treating NMOSD.Methods and analysisThis systematic review will cover all comparative researches, from randomised controlled trials to cohort studies, and case–control study. A relevant literature search will be conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database from their inception to 31 June 2020. We will also search registers of clinical trials, potential grey literature and abstracts from conferences. There are no limits on language and publication status. The reporting quality and risk of bias will be assessed by two researchers independently. Expanded Disability Status Scales and annualised relapse rate will be evaluated as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes will consist of the frequency and severity of adverse events, best-corrected visual acuity, relapse-free rate and time to the next attack. A meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan V.5.3 software provided by the Cochrane Collaboration and Stata V.12.0.Ethics and disseminationBecause the data used for this systematic review will be exclusively extracted from published studies, ethical approval and informed consent of patients will not be required. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences and will be shared on social media platforms.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020164179.

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Does the Use of Reservoirs Have Any Impact on the Efficacy of At-Home Bleaching? A Systematic Review

Brazilian Dental Journal ◽

10.1590/0103-6440201902422 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 285-294 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eveline Claudia Martini ◽

Sibelli Olivieri Parreiras ◽

Eric Dario Acuña ◽

Alessandro Dourado Loguercio ◽

Alessandra Reis

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Latin American ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Color Change ◽

Research Question ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Tooth Sensitivity ◽

At Home

Abstract To answer the following focused question through a systematic review: “Are the risk and intensity of tooth sensitivity (TS) and bleaching efficacy different between adult patients who undergo at-home bleaching using trays with reservoirs and those who use trays without reservoirs?”. A comprehensive search was performed in the MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database, Brazilian Library in Dentistry, Cochrane Library, and grey literature without restrictions. Abstracts from conferences; unpublished and ongoing trial registries, dissertations and theses (ProQuest Dissertations and Periódicos Capes Theses databases) were searched. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included. We used the Risk of Bias tool (RoB) from the Cochrane Collaboration for quality assessment. After the removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening and full-text examination, nine RCTs remained for qualitative analyses. The great majority of the studies did not report the method of randomization, allocation concealment, and examiner blinding during color assessment. From the nine studies, eight were at unclear risk of bias. In regard to color change, four studies reported no change and two reported improved color change with reservoirs. Only four studies recorded tooth sensitivity and they reported no significant differences. Only one study reported greater gingival irritation with reservoirs. Lack of data reporting prevented us from running a meta-analysis. Further well-designed RCT should be conducted to answer this research question. So far there is not evidence to support that reservoirs in bleaching trays improve color change. PROSPERO - CRD42016037628

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Silver Diamine Fluoride Has Efficacy in Controlling Caries Progression in Primary Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Caries Research ◽

10.1159/000478668 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 527-541 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Ana Cláudia Chibinski ◽

Letícia Maíra Wambier ◽

Juliana Feltrin ◽

Alessandro Dourado Loguercio ◽

Denise Stadler Wambier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Active Material ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Silver Diamine Fluoride ◽

Caries Progression

A systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in controlling caries progression in children when compared with active treatments or placebos. A search for randomized clinical trials that evaluate the effectiveness of SDF for caries control in children compared to active treatments or placebos with follow-ups longer than 6 months was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, BBO, Cochrane Library, and grey literature. The risk of bias tool from the Cochrane Collaboration was used for quality assessment of the studies. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Meta-analysis was performed on studies considered at low risk of bias. A total of 5,980 articles were identified. Eleven remained in the qualitative synthesis. Five studies were at “low,” 2 at “unclear,” and 4 studies at “high” risk of bias in the key domains. The studies from which the information could be extracted were included for meta-analysis. The arrestment of caries at 12 months promoted by SDF was 66% higher (95% CI 41-91%; p < 0.00001) than by other active material, but it was 154% higher (95% CI 67-85%; p < 0.00001) than by placebos. Overall, the caries arrestment was 89% higher (95% CI 49-138%; p < 0.00001) than using active materials/placebo. No heterogeneity was detected. The evidence was graded as high quality. The use of SDF is 89% more effective in controlling/arresting caries than other treatments or placebos. The quality of the evidence was graded as high.

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Effectiveness of interventions for the prevention of occupational violence against professionals in health services: a protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036558 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e036558

Author(s):

Caroline Vieira Cláudio Okubo ◽

Renata Cristina Campos Pereira Silveira ◽

Maria José Quina Galdino ◽

Daiane Rubinato Fernandes ◽

Aline Aparecida Oliveira Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Cochrane Review ◽

Health Sector ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Occupational Violence

IntroductionOccupational violence affects several categories of workers; however, the health sector category has been considered at a high risk, exposing workers to physical and psychological abuse. Thus, occupational violence has decreased the quality of care in health service. This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for the prevention and reduction of occupational violence against health professionals.Methods and analysisThis protocol is consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and LIVIVO along with a comprehensive review of grey literature. The search will be conducted on August 1 st 2020, without language and time restrictions. Following the eligibility criteria, two independent reviewers will select the titles and abstracts and subsequently screen the full articles. If necessary, a third reviewer will assess any disagreements. All references will be imported into EndNote, and any duplicates will be removed. The data will be extracted using an extraction-based form from Cochrane. Statistical analyses will be performed using the software Cochrane Review Manager, and a meta-analysis will be performed if possible for the statistical combination of at least two studies. The risk of bias of the randomised clinical trials will be evaluated by the Risk of Bias tool from Cochrane, and the risk of bias of the non-randomised intervention studies will be evaluated using the Downs and Black scale. The quality of the evidence and strength of the classification recommendations will be assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation.Ethics and disseminationThis review will not evaluate individual patient information and therefore does not require ethical approval. The results will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at conferences and the doctoral thesis of the leading author.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018111383.

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Associations and effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cognitive function and mood in healthy adults: a protocol for a systematic review of observational and interventional studies

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027167 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e027167 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fiona O' Donovan ◽

Síle Carney ◽

Jean Kennedy ◽

Heather Hayes ◽

Niall Pender ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Neuronal Membranes

IntroductionThe association between long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), brain health, cognitive function and mood has been the subject of intensive research. Marine-derived omega-3 PUFAs, such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, are highly concentrated in neuronal membranes and affect brain function. Many studies have found that consumption of omega-3 PUFAs is associated with lower risk of cognitive or mood dysfunction. However, other studies have demonstrated no beneficial effects. There appears to be inconsistent findings from both epidemiological and randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies. The aim of this review is to compile the previous literature and establish the efficacy of omega-3 PUFAs in enhancing cognitive performance and mood in healthy adults.Methods and analysisProspective cohort studies, RCTs, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies, interrupted time series with a minimum of 3 months duration will be eligible for inclusion. Studies on healthy adults over the age of 18, where the intervention/exposure of interest is omega-3 PUFAs will be included. The outcomes of interest are cognition and mood. Studies will be eligible for inclusion if they measure changes in cognitive function or mood, or the risk of developing cognitive or mood disorders using validated tools and assessments. Relevant search terms and keywords will be used to generate a systematic search in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Scopus and the grey literature. Two independent reviewers will screen studies for eligibility. Risk of bias in cohort and non-randomised studies will be assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials will be used for RCTs. If there are sufficient data, a meta-analysis will be conducted.Ethics and disseminationThis systematic review does not involve primary data collection and therefore formal ethical approval is not required. Results will be disseminated through peer reviewed publications, conference presentations and the popular press.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018080800.

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Pulpotomy versus pulpectomy in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.16142.3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 1560 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lamia Gadallah ◽

Mahmoud Hamdy ◽

Adel El Bardissy ◽

Mohamed Abou El Yazeed

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Tooth Pulp ◽

Clinical Failure ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pulp Exposure

Background: Early childhood caries is a serious public health problem. When caries extend to involve the pulp, various forms of pulp treatment are tried to stimulate tooth repair. Although pulpotomy is the treatment of choice for vital primary tooth pulp exposure but there is a trend among many dentists to perform pulpectomies in vital primary incisors. This study aimed to assess the effect of pulpotomy and pulpecomy in treatment of carious vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. Methods: We searched Pubmed and Cochrane library databases up to March, 2018, OpenGrey for grey literature and ClinicalTrials.gov for ongoing trials. Randomized controlled trials were included and assessed with Cochrane risk of bias tool . Primary outcomes were clinical failure and radiological failure. The effect sizes were calculated as risk ratios with 95%CI using the Mantel-Haenszel method. Results: Four trials were identified for qualitative assessment, only three trials were included in meta-analysis after exclusion of one trial due to its high risk of bias. The pooled results of the longest follow up period for clinical failure showed no statistically significant difference between pulpotomy and pulpectomy. The relative risk (RR) was e 2.69, 95% CI 0.76 to 9.58 for clinical failure. For radiographic failure, the sensitivity analysis showed RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.83 with a higher risk for radiographic failure in pulpectomy. The evidence was limited by the small number of trials included in the meta-analysis. Conclusions: Both pulpotomy and pulpectomy can be used successfully in the treatment of vital pulp exposure in primary incisors. Further high quality studies comparing between pulpotomy and pulpectomy in primary incisors with longer follow up period till exfoliation time are needed.

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Effectiveness of personal letters to healthcare professionals in changing professional behaviours: a systematic review protocol

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-021-01650-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aikaterini Grimani ◽

Louis Goffe ◽

Mei Yee Tang ◽

Fiona Beyer ◽

Falko F. Sniehotta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Randomised Controlled Trials ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Behaviour Change Techniques ◽

Randomised Controlled

Abstract Background Letters are regularly sent by healthcare organisations to healthcare professionals to encourage them to take action, change practice or implement guidance. However, whether letters are an effective tool in delivering a change in healthcare professional behaviour is currently uncertain. In addition, there are currently no evidence-based guidelines to support health providers and authorities with advice on how to formulate the communication, what information and behaviour change techniques to include in order to optimise the potential effect on the behaviour of the receivers. To address this research gap, we seek to inform such guidance through this systematic review, which aims to provide comprehensive evidence of the effectiveness of personal letters to healthcare professionals in changing their professional behaviours. Methods/design A comprehensive literature search of published and unpublished studies (the grey literature) in electronic databases will be conducted to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that meet our inclusion criteria. We will include RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of personal letters to healthcare professionals in changing professional behaviours. The primary outcome will be behavioural change. The search will be conducted in five electronic databases (from their inception onwards): MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library and CINAHL. We will also conduct supplementary searches in Google Scholar, hand search relevant journals, and conduct backward and forward citation searching for included studies and relevant reviews. A systematic approach to searching, screening, reviewing and data extraction will be applied in accordance with the process recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Two researchers will examine titles, abstracts, full-texts for eligibility independently. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for randomised controlled trials. Disagreements will be resolved by a consensus procedure. Discussion Health policy makers across government are expected to benefit from being able to increase compliance in clinical settings by applying theories of behaviour to design of policy communications. The synthesised findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020167674

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Efficacy and Safety of ACEIs/ARBs in Patients with COVID-19 Combined with Chronic Kidney Disease: a Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-924058/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jing Xie ◽

Xueying Li ◽

Nan Mao ◽

Sichong Ren ◽

junming Fan

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Control Measure ◽

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ◽

Meta Analyses

Abstract Background: Despite the control measure taken against the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) at global level, the pandemic has started to rebound and transmitted rapidly worldwide due to the delta strain. This strain is more virulent than the original severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus. The approved vaccines or drugs can reduce mortality; still various efforts are being made to seek a complete cure. Currently, it remains controversial whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEIs/ARBs) are useful in managing COVID-19 patients having comorbidities like chronic kidney disease(CKD). Evidence concerning the application of ACEIs/ARBs needs to be established through advanced meta-analyses and systematic reviews.Methods/design:This study is designed following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The studies published from December 1, 2019, to August 31, 2021 will be considered. The primary databases such as Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database will be included, and meeting records and grey literature databases will be retrieved to compare at least two terminations or discontinued ACEIs or ARBs in clinical intervention studies. The primary results will include kidney function biomarkers, blood pressure, and long-term mortality or hospital admission severity. Pairwise random effects and meta-analyses will be performed for the selected literature using RevMan (V.5.3). The bias risk evaluation, heterogeneity, consistency, transitivity, and evidence quality will be followed as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions suggestions.Discussion: This review will use a structured and effective method to analyze the effectiveness and security of ACEIs and ARBs in treating COVID-19 patients with CKD. Research results can present valuable evidence for patients, clinicians, researchers, or decision-makers.Systerm review: PROSPERO registration number CRD42021268701.

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Efficacy and Safety of Keluoxin Capsule in the Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1111126/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jingxin Zhou ◽

Wenhua Zhang ◽

Jie Yang ◽

Qiaoqiao Liu ◽

Yizhen Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Diabetic Kidney Disease ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Risk Of Bias ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Diabetic Kidney

Abstract Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which is a serious complication of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, becomes a major health concern worldwide. Keluoxin capsule, a Chinese patent medicine used for DKD, has been widely used in diabetic kidney disease, but its efficacy and safety have not yet been clarified. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the efficacy and safety of Keluoxin capsule in the treatment of DKD. Methods: A systematic literature search will be conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG database, VIP, SinoMED, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) to ensure all possible randomized controlled trials (RCT) studies on K eluoxin capsule to November 1, 2021. The primary outcome to be assessed will include the change in albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), while secondary outcomes will be serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, etc and adverse events. The quality of the included studies and the risk of bias will be independently assessed by two reviewers using the risk of bias assessment tool from Cochrane Handbook. We will conduct random-effects model meta-analysis using Review Manager software (Revman5.3). Discussion: This systematic review and meta-analysis will objectively evaluate the effect of Keluoxin capsule for DKD, and provide evidence for Keluoxin capsule in the treatment of DKD. Ethics and dissemination : Ethics approval is not required for this study. We aim to publish the results of this systematic review in a peer-reviewed journal. INPLASY registration number: INPLASY 2021110067.

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