Acupuncture Combined with Three-Step Analgesic Drug Therapy for Treatment of Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials

Objective. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with the WHO three-step analgesic drug ladder for cancer pain. Methods. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and CNKI Database of Systematic Reviews were searched. Using the Cochrane Register for Randomized Controlled Trials, the quality of the included literature was evaluated, and the meta-analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3 software. Results. Compared with three-step analgesia alone, acupuncture combined with three-step analgesia for cancer pain increased pain relief response rates (RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.08∼1.17, P < 0.00001 ), reduced NRS score (SMD = −1.10, 95% CI: −1.86∼−0.35, P = 0.004 ), reduced the rate of side effects (RR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.38∼0.53, P < 0.00001 ), including nausea ( P < 0.00001 ), vomiting ( P = 0.008 ), constipation ( P < 0.00001 ), and dizziness ( P = 0.010 ), reduced the burst pain rate (SMD = −1.38; 95% CI: −2.44∼−0.32, P = 0.01 ), shortened analgesia effect onset time ( P = 0.004 ), and extended the duration of response ( P < 0.0001 ). Conclusion. For the treatment of cancer pain, acupuncture combined with three-step analgesic drugs is better than using only three-step analgesic drugs.

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Lumbar Roll Usage While Sitting Reduces the Forward Head Posture in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5171

Author(s):

Yusuke Handa ◽

Kenya Okada ◽

Hiroshi Takasaki

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grade System ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Forward Head Posture ◽

Quality Of Evidence ◽

Head Posture ◽

Head Extension ◽

The Cochrane Library

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether the use of a lumbar roll reduced forward head posture (FHP) while sitting among individuals with or without musculoskeletal disorders. EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched from their inception to August 2020. The quality of evidence for variables used in the meta-analysis was determined using the GRADE system. Five studies satisfied the criteria for data analysis. All studies included individuals without any spinal symptoms. Data from five studies on neck angle showed a statistically significant (p = 0.02) overall effect (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.77), indicating a lesser neck flexion angle while sitting with a lumbar roll than without it. Data from two studies on head angle showed a statistically significant (p = 0.04) overall effect (SMD = 0.47), indicating a lesser head extension angle while sitting with a lumbar roll than without it. In each meta-analysis, the quality of evidence was very low in the GRADE system. The use of a lumbar roll while sitting reduced FHP among individuals without spinal symptoms.

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Traditional Chinese Herb Combined with Surgery versus Surgery for Varicocele Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/689056 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rong-liang Dun ◽

Min Yao ◽

Long Yang ◽

Xue-jun Cui ◽

Jian-min Mao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Chinese Herb ◽

Chinese Herbs ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Dichotomous Data ◽

Surgery Group ◽

Traditional Chinese Herb ◽

The Cochrane Library

Objective. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese herb combined with surgery for male varicocele infertility compared to surgery.Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) data of traditional Chinese herbs combined with surgery for male varicocele fertility versus surgery were collected by searching the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Chinese databases. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane Handbook. Study outcomes were presented as risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous data.Results. Seventeen of 72 potentially relevant trials met the inclusion criteria. The methodological qualities of the RCTs were low. Compared with the surgery group, the traditional Chinese herb combined with surgery group had superiority in pregnancy rate at 3-month (RR=1.76, andP=0.008), 6-month (RR=1.58, andP=0.0005), and 2-year (RR=1.58, andP=0.0005) follow-ups. No RCT was found to describe the side effects.Conclusion. On considering the low methodological quality of RCTs, there was no enough evidence on traditional Chinese herb with surgery for male varicocele infertility, and more high-quality RCTs of large sample sizes are required.

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Outcomes of digital biomarker-based interventions: protocol for a systematic review of systematic reviews (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28204 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hossein Motahari-Nezhad ◽

Márta Péntek ◽

László Gulácsi ◽

Zsombor Zrubka

Keyword(s):

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Clinical Benefits ◽

The Cochrane Library ◽

The Impact ◽

Digital Biomarkers

BACKGROUND Digital biomarkers are defined as objective, quantifiable physiological and behavioral data that are collected and measured by means of digital devices such as portables, wearables, implantables or digestibles. For their widespread adoption in publicly financed healthcare systems, it is important to understand how their benefits translate into improved patient outcomes, which is essential for demonstrating their value. OBJECTIVE To assess the quality and strength of evidence of the impact of digital biomarkers on clinical outcomes compared to interventions without digital biomarkers, reported in systematic reviews. METHODS A comprehensive search for 2019-2020 will be conducted in the PubMed and the Cochrane Library using keywords related to digital biomarkers and a filter for systematic reviews. Original full-text English publications of systematic reviews comparing clinical outcomes of interventions with and without digital biomarkers via meta-analysis will be included. The AMSTAR-2 tool will be used to assess the methodological quality of reviews. To assess the quality of evidence, we will evaluate systematic reviews using the GRADE tool. To detect the possible presence of reporting bias, we will record whether the protocol of the systematic reviews was published before the start of the study. A qualitative summary of results by digital biomarker technology and outcome will be provided. RESULTS This protocol was submitted before data collection. The next steps in this review will be initiated after the protocol is accepted for publication. CONCLUSIONS Our study will provide a comprehensive summary of the highest level of evidence available on digital biomarker interventions. Our results will help identify clinical areas where the use of digital biomarkers leads to favorable clinical outcomes. In addition, our findings will highlight areas of evidence gaps where the clinical benefits of digital biomarkers have not yet been demonstrated.

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Risk Factors of Invasive Fungal Infection in Recipients After Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.687028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Min Liu ◽

Zhijun Zhu ◽

Liying Sun

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Liver Transplantation ◽

Fungal Infection ◽

Invasive Fungal Infection ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Fungal Colonization ◽

Newcastle Ottawa Scale ◽

The Cochrane Library

Objectives: Invasive fungal infection (IFI) remains an important cause of mortality in liver transplantation (LT). The objective of this meta-analysis was to identify the risk factors for IFI after LT.Methods: We searched for relevant studies published up to June 2020 from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% CIs were used to identify significant differences in the risk factors. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated by the I2 test, and potential publication bias was assessed with Egger's test. The quality of included studies was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).Results: A total of 14 studies enrolling 4,284 recipients were included in the meta-analysis. Reoperation (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.61–2.94), posttransplantation dialysis (OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.52–2.72), bacterial infection (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.33–2.46), live donor (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.20–2.63), retransplantation (OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.54–3.89), and fungal colonization (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.99–3.42) were associated with the risk factors of IFI after LT.Conclusions: Despite some risk factors that have been identified as significant factors for IFI post-LT, which may inform prevention recommendations, rigorous and well-designed studies with adequate sample sizes should be conducted to solve the limitations of this study.

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The use of non-pharmacological adjuvant therapies for cancer pain: a narrative review in the context of dance

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v11i1.24771 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e30411124771

Author(s):

Elaine Izabel da Silva Cruz ◽

Aline Helena da Silva Cruz ◽

Rômulo Alberto Silva Marques ◽

Rodrigo da Silva Santos ◽

Angela Adamski da Silva Reis

Keyword(s):

Cancer Pain ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Life Quality ◽

Pharmacological Therapy ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Number Of Publications ◽

The Cochrane Library ◽

The Relationship

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the globe, with more than half of patients reporting pain as a result of the disease. By reducing cancer-related pain, dance has the potential to redefine the life of patients independently of their cure prognosis. This review investigated the benefits of dance as adjuvant, non-pharmacological therapy for cancer treatment. To identify studies related to this topic, we searched the Cochrane Library, PUBMED, Scielo, BVS, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. However, we found few published systematic reports investigating the effects of dance in cancer treatment. The numbers are even smaller when we considered the relationship between dance and cancer pain. Although there is a small number of publications on this theme, we reviewed studies that indicate that there is a positive relationship between dance practice and cancer pain management. Moreover, we found that the decline of pain contributed to the better life quality of patients with cancer. We concluded that dance is a physical practice that may improve patients’ quality of life. Regarding the estimations of cancer diagnosis and pain during disease development and therapy, it is fundamental new studies and clinical trials that integrate dance as adjuvant therapy for improving cancer pain and patient’s life quality.

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The Value of Pepsinogen in GC Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Gastroenterology Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2019/7087232 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ling Liu ◽

Junjie Lang ◽

Yuelong Jin ◽

Yan Chen ◽

Weiwei Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Barium Meal ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Likelihood Ratios ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

High Quality Research ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Cochrane Library

Background. The current gold standard for gastric cancer (GC) screening is pathology or a barium meal followed by X-ray. This is not applicable to a wide range of screening capabilities due to the lack of operability. This article used a meta-analysis to evaluate the value of pepsinogen (PG) screening for GC.Methods. PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and CBM databases were systematically searched for published studies that used serum PG to diagnose GC. Articles were searched from January 2003 to January 2018. Two reviewers independently screened the literature according to specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were extracted and evaluated, and the quality of the methodologies evaluated using the QUADAS entry. The meta-analysis (MA) was performed using Meta-DiSc 1.4 software. Stata 12.0 software was used to assess publication bias.Results. A total of 19 studies were finally included from a total of 169,009 cases. The MA showed a combined sensitivity and specificity of 0.56 (95% CI (0.53–0.59),P<0.01) and 0.71 (95% CI (0.70-0.71),P<0.01), respectively. The combined likelihood ratios were +LR = 2.82 (95% CI (2.06–3.86),P<0.01) and −LR = 0.56 (95% CI (0.45–0.68),P<0.01). The combined DOR was 5.41 (95% CI (3.64~ 8.06),P<0.01), and the area under the SROC curve was 0.7468.Conclusions. Serum PG provides medium levels of sensitivity and specificity for GC assessment. To be used in a clinical setting, further high-quality research must be performed and verified.

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Diagnosis Value of the Serum Amyloid A Test in Neonatal Sepsis: A Meta-Analysis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2013/520294 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Haining Yuan ◽

Jie Huang ◽

Bokun Lv ◽

Wenying Yan ◽

Guang Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neonatal Sepsis ◽

Serum Amyloid A ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Serum Amyloid ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Amyloid A ◽

Public Health Challenge ◽

The Cochrane Library

Neonatal sepsis (NS), a common disorder for humans, is recognized as a leading global public health challenge. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of the serum amyloid A (SAA) test for diagnosing NS. The studies that evaluated the SAA test as a diagnotic marker were searched in Pubmed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Network between January 1996 and June 2013. A total of nine studies including 823 neonates were included in our meta-analysis. Quality of each study was evaluated by the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies tool (QUADAS). The SAA test showed moderate accuracy in the diagnosis of NS both at the first suspicion of sepsis and 8–96 h after the sepsis onset, both withQ*=0.91, which is similar to the PCT and CRP tests for the diagnosis of NS in the same period. Heterogeneity between studies was also explained by cut-off point, SAA assay, and age of included neonates. On the basis of our meta-analysis, therefore, SAA could be promising and meaningful in the diagnosis of NS.

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Dydrogesterone in the treatment of endometriosis: evidence mapping and meta-analysis

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1007/s00404-020-05900-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Chao Peng ◽

Yan Huang ◽

Yingfang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Pregnancy Rate ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Evidence Mapping ◽

Clinical Control ◽

Gynecological Disease ◽

The Cochrane Library ◽

Rate Frequency

Abstract Purpose Endometriosis is a common, chronic gynecological disease that affects women’s fertility potential. Dydrogesterone is an effective and safe drug that is under-utilized due to limited clinical research. The purpose of this evidence mapping is to identify, describe, and analyze the current available evidence regarding dydrogesterone for the treatment of endometriosis. Materials and methods We performed a search in electronic databases: Medline, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and CBM. We also hand-searched google for relevant studies. Our primary outcomes included changes in pain relief including pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia. Secondary outcomes included pregnancy rate, frequency of analgesic use, and other reported outcomes according to specific settings in the studies. Results Of 377 references screened, 19 studies were included in the data synthesis involving 1709 female participants. Nearly three-quarters were either randomized control trials or clinical control trials. Compared with gestrinone, dydrogesterone relieved dysmenorrhea, increased the pregnancy rate, and reduced the risk of certain adverse events. Compared with GnRH-a, dydrogesterone also lowered the risk of endometriosis recurrence and elevated transaminase levels. Whether there was any difference in efficacy between dydrogesterone and leuprolide acetate, letrozole or traditional Chinese medicine remains unclear due to insufficient data. Conclusions The amount and quality of evidence evaluating the effects of dydrogesterone for the treatment of endometriosis is generally very low. Limited evidence suggests that dydrogesterone may have some advantages over gestrinone, GnRH agonists, and other therapeutic interventions in treating endometriosis. However, this conclusion should be interpreted with caution.

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Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of Midkine and AFP for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20192424 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Qingqing Lu ◽

Jie Li ◽

Hui Cao ◽

Chenlu Lv ◽

Xiaolin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Diagnostic Accuracy ◽

Hepatitis Virus ◽

Early Stage ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

The Cochrane Library

Abstract Objective: Midkine (MDK) has been proposed as one of the most promising markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the diagnostic accuracy of MDK and α-fetoprotein (AFP) for HCC. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid/EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for all relevant studies up to 18 May 2019. The Revised Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy tool (QUADAS-2) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. The sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the curve (AUC) of MDK and AFP for detecting HCC were pooled using random-effects model. Results: Seventeen studies from five articles with a total of 1122 HCC patients and 2483 controls were included. The summary estimates using MDK and AFP for detecting HCC were as follows: sensitivity, 85 vs 52%, specificity, 82 vs 94%, and AUC, 0.90 vs 0.83. The summary estimates using MDK and AFP for detecting hepatitis virus-related HCC as follows: sensitivity, 93 vs 74%, specificity, 85 vs 97%, and AUC, 0.95 vs 0.97. The summary estimates using MDK and AFP for detecting early-stage HCC were as follows: sensitivity, 83.5 vs 44.4%, specificity, 81.7 vs 84.8%, and AUC, 0.87 vs 0.52. The summary estimates using MDK for detecting AFP-negative HCC as follows: sensitivity, 88.5%, specificity, 83.9%, and AUC, 0.91. Conclusion: MDK is more accurate than AFP in diagnosing HCC, especially for early-stage HCC and AFP-negative HCC. Both MDK and AFP had excellent diagnostic performance for hepatitis virus-related HCC.

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Adverse Events Associated With Anti-IL-23 Agents: Clinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.670398 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yi Ru ◽

Xiaojie Ding ◽

Ying Luo ◽

Hongjin Li ◽

Xiaoying Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Adverse Event ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

The Cochrane Library ◽

Specific Symptoms

BackgroundAnti-interleukin (IL)-23 agents are widely used for autoimmune disease treatment; however, the safety and risks of specific symptoms have not been systematically assessed.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to summarize the characteristics and mechanisms of occurrence of five immunological and non-immunological adverse events caused by different anti-IL-23 agents.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for eligible randomized clinical trials published from inception through May 1, 2020. Randomized clinical trials that reported at least one type of adverse event after treatment were included, regardless of sex, age, ethnicity, and diagnosis. Two investigators independently screened and extracted the characteristics of the studies, participants, drugs, and adverse event types. The Cochrane Handbook was used to assess the methodological quality of the included randomized clinical trials. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Meta-regression was applied to determine the sources of heterogeneity, and subgroup analysis was used to identify the factors contributing to adverse events.ResultsForty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 25,624 patients treated with anti-IL-23 agents. Serious immunological or non-immunological adverse events were rare. Anti-IL-12/23-p40 agents appeared to cause adverse events more easily than anti-IL-23-p19 agents. The incidence of cancer did not appear to be related to anti-IL-23 agent treatment, and long-term medication could lead to mental diseases. The prevention of complications should be carefully monitored when administered for over approximately 40 weeks to avoid further adverse reactions, and the incidence of infection was the highest among general immunological adverse events.ConclusionsThe application of anti-IL-23 agents induced a series of immunological and non-immunological adverse events, but these agents tend to be well-tolerated with good safety profiles.

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