Enhancing access to reports of randomized trials published world-wide – the contribution of EMBASE records to the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library

Background: Non-surgical treatments, including ergonomic positioning or equipment, are sometimes offered to people experiencing mild to moderate symptoms from carpal tunnel syndrome. The effectiveness and duration from ergonomic positioning or equipment interventions for treating carpal tunnel syndrome are unknown. Objectives: To assess the effects of ergonomic positioning compared with no treatment, a placebo or another non-surgical intervention in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register (14 June 2011), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2011, Issue 2, in The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (1966 to June 2011), EMBASE (1980 to June 2011), CINAHL Plus (1937 to June 2011), and AMED (1985 to June 2011). We also reviewed the reference lists of randomized or quasi-randomized trials identified from the electronic search. Selection criteria: Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing ergonomic positioning or equipment with no treatment, placebo or another non-surgical intervention in people with carpal tunnel syndrome. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies. They calculated risk ratios and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals for the primary and secondary outcomes. Results of clinically and statistically homogeneous trials were pooled, where possible, to provide estimates of the effect of ergonomic positioning or equipment.

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Cochrane corner: water for wound cleansing

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) ◽

10.1177/1753193412443640 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 375-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Henton ◽

A. Jain

Keyword(s):

Tap Water ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Healing Process ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Ovid Medline ◽

Central Register ◽

The Cochrane Library

Background: Although various solutions have been recommended for cleansing wounds, normal saline is favoured as it is an isotonic solution and does not interfere with the normal healing process. Tap water is commonly used in the community for cleansing wounds because it is easily accessible, efficient and cost effective; however, there is an unresolved debate about its use. Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of water compared with other solutions for wound cleansing. Search strategy: For this update we searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (Searched 22 February 2010); The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) ( The Cochrane Library, 2010 Issue 1); Ovid MEDLINE – 2007 to February Week 2 2010; Ovid MEDLINE – In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations (Searched19 February 2010); Ovid EMBASE – 2007 to 2010 Week 06; EBSCO CINAHL – 2007 to 22 February 2010. Selection criteria: Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials that compared the use of water with other solutions for wound cleansing were eligible for inclusion. Additional criteria were outcomes that included objective or subjective measures of wound infection or healing. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently carried out trial selection, data extraction and quality assessment. We settled differences in opinion by discussion. We pooled some data using a random-effects model.

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Immediate Effect of Fan Therapy in Terminal Cancer With Dyspnea at Rest: A Meta-Analysis

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® ◽

10.1177/1049909119873626 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 294-299 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jun Kako ◽

Masamitsu Kobayashi ◽

Yasufumi Oosono ◽

Kohei Kajiwara ◽

Mika Miyashita

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Terminal Cancer ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Central Register ◽

Nonmalignant Disease ◽

The Cochrane Library

Background: Dyspnea is a common distressing symptom in patients with malignant and nonmalignant diseases. Fan therapy, which uses a fan to blow air toward the patient’s face, can alleviate dyspnea; however, its efficacy remains unclear. Aim: To examine the immediate efficacy of fan therapy for alleviation of dyspnea at rest. Design: Meta-analysis. Data sources: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE EBSCO, CINAHL EBSCO, and Scopus from January 1, 1987, to August 21, 2018 (PROSPERO-CRD42018108610). In addition, we hand-searched studies and used the similar articles feature on PubMed to search for articles. Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of fan therapy with placebo or other interventions to alleviate dyspnea at rest, in which patients were aged ≥18 years, were eligible for inclusion in the review. We excluded articles on long-term intervention involving fan therapy and complex intervention (including fan therapy). The risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Cochrane tool, and the meta-analysis was performed using RevMan version 5.3. Results: We identified a total of 218 studies; 2 met our criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Fan therapy significantly improved dyspnea at rest in terminally ill patients with cancer compared to control groups (mean difference: −1.31, 95% confidence interval: −1.79 to −0.83, P < .001). There were no studies that met the inclusion criteria regarding fan therapy for patients with nonmalignant disease. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated that fan therapy may be an effective intervention for dyspnea at rest in patients with terminal cancer.

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Serum bilirubin and ischaemic stroke: a review of literature

Stroke and Vascular Neurology ◽

10.1136/svn-2019-000289 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 198-204

Author(s):

Xiao Wang ◽

Danhong Wu ◽

Ping Zhong

Keyword(s):

Ischaemic Stroke ◽

Serum Bilirubin ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Cochrane Database ◽

Central Register ◽

Comprehensive Search ◽

Endogenous Antioxidant ◽

The Cochrane Library

Bilirubin, a product of heme metabolism, is the most potent endogenous antioxidant which increases in many oxidative stress conditions such as stroke. It has been widely known to exert neuroprotective effect on stroke through mechanisms involved in development, therefore, it can influence the occurrence and prognosis of ischaemic stroke (IS). In this review, studies were identified by a comprehensive search of Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Methodology Register) and Web of Science to examine the correlation between serum bilirubin levels and risks of developing IS as well as IS outcomes. Additional studies were identified by reviewing references and contacting authors.

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A különféle trimetazidinkészítmények klinikai hatása stabil anginával járó krónikus koszorúér-szindrómában. Frissített módszeres áttekintés és metaanalízis

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/650.2020.31704 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 161 (16) ◽

pp. 611-622

Author(s):

Viktor L. Nagy ◽

Zoltán Herold

Keyword(s):

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Central Register

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: A trimetazidin olyan metabolikus hatású anyag, amelynek hatékonysága igazolást nyert a stabil koszorúér-szindróma kezelésében. Az ajánlás szerint a trimetazidin második vonalbeli kezelésként megfontolandó az angina gyakoriságának csökkentésére és a terhelési tolerancia javítására azokban a betegekben, akiknek a tünetei nem kontrollálhatók megfelelően béta-blokkolók, kalciumcsatorna-blokkolók és tartós nitrátok adása mellett. Célkitűzés: Jelen vizsgálatunkban a különböző adagolású (3 × 20 mg, 2 × 35 mg, 1 × 80 mg) trimetazidinkészítmények hatékonyságát kívántuk tisztázni stabil angina pectorisban. Az elsődleges klinikai célváltozók a következők voltak: heti anginaszám, valamint a heti rövid hatástartamú sublingualis nitrátfogyasztás. Módszer: Mindketten adatgyűjtést végeztünk a PubMed, a Cochrane Library és a Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials adatbázisokban az 1967-től 2019. szeptember 30-ig terjedő időszakra vonatkozóan. A statisztikai elemzést standard metaanalízis-módszerekkel hajtottuk végre. Eredmények: Összesen 31 randomizált, kontrollált, illetve obszervációs tanulmány került bevonásra. 9856 beteg (átlagéletkor: 59,6 év, férfi: 61,6%) kezelését értékeltük. A trimetazidin a randomizált tanulmányokban a placebóval összehasonlítva csökkentette a heti anginaszámot (átlagos különbség: –1,84, 95% CI: –2,39; –1,30; p<0,0001) és a heti nitroglicerin-fogyasztást (–1,65, 95% CI: –2,17; –1,14; p<0,0001). A trimetazidin a kiinduláshoz képest a kombinációs és az obszervációs vizsgálatokban csökkentette a heti anginaszámot (átlagos különbség: –3,73, 95% CI: –4,53; –2,92; p<0,0001) és a heti nitroglicerin-fogyasztást (–3,23, 95% CI: –4,23; –2,24; p<0,0001). A három kezelési dózis között az anginaszám csökkenésében és a nitroglicerin-fogyasztásban nem lehetett különbséget kimutatni (p = 0,57, illetve p = 0,48). További eredményeink: a két primer változó vizitről vizitre csökkent; nagyobb beválasztási anginaszám a rövidebb időtartamú tanulmányokban és a kisebb adagú trimetazidint kapók között fordult elő gyakrabban, és ezek a betegek a többieknél fiatalabbak voltak. A rövidebb időtartamú tanulmányokban a kezdeti nitroglicerin-igény, illetve a -csökkenés nagyobb volt a hosszabb időtartamúakhoz képest. Következtetések: A trimetazidin kedvező klinikai hatású stabil angina pectorisban, az alkalmazott adagtól függetlenül. Új megállapításunk az, hogy a súlyosabb állapotú, fiatalabb betegek kezelésének klinikai haszna a legnagyobb. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(16): 611–622.

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Over-the-Counter Tooth Whitening Agents: A Review of Literature

Brazilian Dental Journal ◽

10.1590/0103-6440202003227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 221-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arti. S. Naidu ◽

Vincent Bennani ◽

John M. Aarts Paul Brunton ◽

Paul Brunton

Keyword(s):

Cochrane Library ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Short Term ◽

Tooth Whitening ◽

Over The Counter ◽

Assessment Development ◽

Ranking Criteria ◽

Central Register ◽

The Cochrane Library

Abstract There is an increased accessibility of over-the-counter (OTC) whitening agents with very little data in the literature regarding their effectiveness. This review was done to determine their effectiveness of the predominant OTC whitening agents from 2006 until 2018 where a comparison of each agent was made with a placebo, no treatment or with other OTC whitening agents. The major categories of OTC whitening agents such as dentifrices, whitening strips and paint on gels. Dentist prescribed bleaching applied at home and in-office bleaching studies and studies that demonstrated whitening products to participants were excluded. Articles were searched for in the databases of Medline (Ovid), PubMed, the Cochrane Library and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Twenty-four articles were included in the systematic review and the quality of studies was determined by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) ranking criteria. Compared to other OTC, strips are reported to be effective. Two studies determined whitening strips to be effective. Whitening strips have been shown to be effective when compared with placebos and other OTC whitening agents. Dentifrices are effective in changing the shade of the tooth “by removing extrinsic stains” when compared to a placebo and non-whitening dentifrices, but they are not as effective in comparison to whitening strips. There is a lack of evidence with regards to the effectiveness of paint-on gels. While there is some evidence that OTC can alter shade in the short term, there is a need for better-designed studies.

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Efficacy of ondansetron for spinal anesthesia during cesarean section: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/0300060517716502 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 654-662 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Chengmao Zhou ◽

Yu Zhu ◽

Zeqing Bao ◽

Xianxue Wang ◽

Qili Liu

Keyword(s):

Cesarean Section ◽

Spinal Anesthesia ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

The Cochrane Library

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of ondansetron during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Methods We sought randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ondansetron during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section in The Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science from their inception to September 2016. Results Altogether, 21 RCTs were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that the ondansetron group had a lower incidence of nausea/vomiting and bradycardia than the placebo group during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia [relative risk (RR) = 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.36, 0.51) and RR = 0.45, 95% CI (0.26, 0.80), respectively]. There were no significant differences in the incidences of pruritus, hypotension, or shivering during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia [RR = 0.92, 95% CI (0.83, 1.02); RR = 0.72 (0.50, 1.06), 95% CI (0.50, 1.06); and RR = 0.89, 95% CI (0.71, 1.11), respectively]. Conclusion Ondansetron effectively reduces the incidences of nausea/vomiting and bradycardia under spinal anesthesia during cesarean section.

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Comparative Analysis of 9 COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Protocols Registered by Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials

10.32592/ircmj.2020.22.8.47 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Ordinal Scale ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

China National Knowledge Infrastructure ◽

Open Label ◽

Central Register

Context: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has progressed into a public health emergency of international concern. Passive immunotherapy has been successfully used for the treatment of infectious diseases since the 1890s. It is necessary and constructive to compare and analyze COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to help clinicians to have a potential option for COVID-19. Evidence Acquisition: In this study, eight databases were searched on May 1, 2020, such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, with the search fields of "Title Abstract Keyword" of "Convalescent plasma AND COVID-19" or " Convalescent plasma AND SARS-CoV-2". The outcome of interest was clinical RCTs for COVID-19. Results: The search retrieved nine relevant CCP protocols for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). All nine trials were randomized, parallel assignment, interventional, clinical treatment studies with NCT04344535, NCT04345289, and NCT04323800 masking and the rest open-label. The estimated enrollment is within the range of 40-1,500 subjects, and five trials will be finished in 2020 as opposed to two in 2021 and two in 2022. Except for NCT04323800 on the prevention of COVID-19, other eight trials will test and verify the effectiveness and safety of CCP for the treatment of COVID-19. The used dosage of CCP is within the range of 200-600 mL. NCT04344535, NCT04323800, and NCT04346446 use standard donor plasma in controlled groups in comparison to NCT04348656, NCT04342182, NCT04333251, and NCT04345523 without any positive drug in controlled groups. NCT04332835 adds hydroxychloroquine to both groups, and only NCT04345289 is a six-armed placebo-controlled trial. Primary and secondary outcome measures are differently expressed in the nine trials. Nevertheless, they can be summarized as ㈠ changes in time, day, and number of a 7-point ordinal scale. There are ㈡ changes in SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (i.e., viral load), anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers (i.e., immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G), C-reactive protein, lymphocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase, and interleukin 6 on a specified day or during a specific period. Conclusion: The nine well-designed RCT trials will establish the efficacy of CCP for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 from the perspective of evidence-based medicine.

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From the Cochrane library: Ginkgo biloba for intermittent claudication

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000021 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

pp. 153-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nicolaï ◽

Gerardu ◽

Kruidenier ◽

Prins ◽

Teijink

Keyword(s):

Intermittent Claudication ◽

Ginkgo Biloba ◽

Ginkgo Biloba Extract ◽

Walking Distance ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Walking Capacity ◽

The Absolute ◽

The Cochrane Library

Background: Patients with intermittent claudication suffer from pain in the muscles of the legs during exercise that is relieved by a short rest. Ginkgo biloba extract is a vasoactive agent used for symptomatic relief in intermittent claudication. In this article a meta-analysis is discussed that assessed the effect of Ginkgo biloba on walking capacity in patients with intermittent claudication. Patients and methods: The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group searched their Trials Register and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in The Cochrane Library. Furthermore MEDLINE/PUBMED (until May 2008) and EMBASE (until May 2008) were searched and manufacturers of Ginkgo biloba extract were contacted. Randomized controlled trials of Ginkgo biloba extract versus placebo in people with intermittent claudication were included. Two authors independently assessed trials for selection, assessed study quality and extracted data. To standardize walking distance or time, caloric expenditures were used to correct for the different treadmill protocols. Results: Eleven trials involving 477 participants compared Ginkgo biloba with placebo and assessed the absolute claudication distance (maximal walking distance). At the end of the study the absolute claudication distance increased with an overall effect size of 3.57 kilocalories ( p = 0.06), for treatment with Ginkgo biloba, compared to placebo. This translates to an increase of 64.5 meters (confidence interval -1.8 to 130.7) on a flat treadmill with an average speed of 3.2 km/h. Conclusions: There is no evidence that Ginkgo biloba has a clinically significant benefit for patients with intermittent claudication.

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Effects of Intramuscular Midazolam and Lorazepam on Acute Agitation in Non-Elderly Subjects – A Systematic Review

Pharmacopsychiatry ◽

10.1055/s-0043-100766 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 50 (04) ◽

pp. 129-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Sabrina Kousgaard ◽

Rasmus Licht ◽

René Nielsen

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Randomized Trials ◽

Low Dose ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Search Result ◽

Psychiatric Setting ◽

Central Register ◽

Acute Agitation

Abstract Benzodiazepines are commonly used for the treatment of acute agitation in a psychiatric setting.We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for relevant publications. Randomized trials evaluating intramuscular (IM) midazolam or lorazepam given as monotherapy or as add-on treatment, with more than 10 patients aged 18–65 years, conducted in a psychiatric setting, and published between January 1, 1980, and February 3, 2016, were included. 16 studies from a search result of 5 516 studies were included. In total, 577 patients were treated with lorazepam IM 2–4 mg, and 329 patients were treated with midazolam IM 5–15 mg. It is unclear whether lorazepam IM or midazolam IM is as efficacious as an antipsychotic IM. It is a bit more certain that the combination of benzodiazepines IM and a low dose antipsychotic IM is more efficacious than the benzodiazepine and the antipsychotic alone. However, there is no doubt that benzodiazepines are less likely to be associated with treatment emergent side effects, as compared to antipsychotics.

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