scholarly journals Use of the margin of stability to quantify stability in pathologic gait – a qualitative systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fraje Watson ◽  
Peter C. Fino ◽  
Matthew Thornton ◽  
Constantinos Heracleous ◽  
Rui Loureiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Objective Measure ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Margin Of Stability ◽  
Population Type ◽  
Calculation Methodology ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Background The Margin of Stability (MoS) is a widely used objective measure of dynamic stability during gait. Increasingly, researchers are using the MoS to assess the stability of pathological populations to gauge their stability capabilities and coping strategies, or as an objective marker of outcome, response to treatment or disease progression. The objectives are; to describe the types of pathological gait that are assessed using the MoS, to examine the methods used to assess MoS and to examine the way the MoS data is presented and interpreted. Methods A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Guidelines (PRISMA) in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, UCL Library Explore, Cochrane Library, Scopus. All articles measured the MoS of a pathologically affected adult human population whilst walking in a straight line. Extracted data were collected per a prospectively defined list, which included: population type, method of data analysis and model building, walking tasks undertaken, and interpretation of the MoS. Results Thirty-one studies were included in the final review. More than 15 different clinical populations were studied, most commonly post-stroke and unilateral transtibial amputee populations. Most participants were assessed in a gait laboratory using motion capture technology, whilst 2 studies used instrumented shoes. A variety of centre of mass, base of support and MoS definitions and calculations were described. Conclusions This is the first systematic review to assess use of the MoS and the first to consider its clinical application. Findings suggest the MoS has potential to be a helpful, objective measurement in a variety of clinically affected populations. Unfortunately, the methodology and interpretation varies, which hinders subsequent study comparisons. A lack of baseline results from large studies mean direct comparison between studies is difficult and strong conclusions are hard to make. Further work from the biomechanics community to develop reporting guidelines for MoS calculation methodology and a commitment to larger baseline studies for each pathology is welcomed.

scholarly journals Biomarkers predictive of treatment response in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 1759720X2110140
Author(s):  
Conor Magee ◽  
Hannah Jethwa ◽  
Oliver M. FitzGerald ◽  
Deepak R. Jadon
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Unmet Need ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Psoriatic Disease ◽  
Subsequent Response

Aims: The ability to predict response to treatment remains a key unmet need in psoriatic disease. We conducted a systematic review of studies relating to biomarkers associated with response to treatment in either psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library from their inception to 2 September 2020, and conference proceedings from four major rheumatology conferences. Original research articles studying pre-treatment biomarker levels associated with subsequent response to pharmacologic treatment in either PsV or PsA were included. Results: A total of 765 articles were retrieved and after review, 44 articles (22 relating to PsV and 22 to PsA) met the systematic review’s eligibility criteria. One study examined the response to methotrexate, one the response to tofacitinib and all the other studies to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Whilst several studies examined the HLA-C*06 allele in PsV, the results were conflicting. Interleukin (IL)-12 serum levels and polymorphisms in the IL-12B gene show promise as biomarkers of treatment response in PsV. Most, but not all, studies found that higher baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with a better clinical response to treatment in patients with PsA. Conclusion: Several studies have identified biomarkers associated with subsequent response to treatment in psoriatic disease. However, due to the different types of biomarkers, treatments and outcome measures used, firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Further validation is needed before any of these biomarkers translate to clinical practice.

scholarly journals Is the use of contraceptives associated with periodontal diseases? A systematic review and meta-analyses

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Micaele Maria Lopes Castro ◽  
Maria Karolina Martins Ferreira ◽  
Iasmin Encaua Essashika Prazeres ◽  
Paula Beatriz de Oliveira Nunes ◽  
Marcela Baraúna Magno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Periodontal Diseases ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptive ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptives ◽  
Clinical Parameters ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Previous studies indicated an impact of hormonal contraceptive use on oral health. This systematic review aimed to investigate the evidence supporting the impact of the use of hormonal contraceptives and periodontal diseases. Methods This study is based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and based on the PECO acrostic. Inclusion criteria comprised observational studies including women (P), which evaluated hormonal contraceptive users (E) and hormonal contraceptive non-users (C), to verify the association between this hormonal therapy and the periodontal diseases (O). Searches were performed on 5 databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS and grey literature (OpenGrey and Google Scholar). After the selection process, the included studies were evaluated qualitatively. Moreover, quantitative data were analyzed in two meta-analyses for clinical attachment loss (CAL) and probing depth (PD). Finally, the level of certainty was measured with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) tool between periodontal clinical parameters. Results 18 articles were eligible for the qualitative synthesis and 7 of them were selected for quantitative analysis. Hence, 15 of the eligible articles reported an association between the use of hormonal contraceptives and severity of periodontal disease. However, 6 articles demonstrated high risk of bias and were excluded from quantitative synthesis. The meta-analysis showed a statistically significant difference for CAL (MD 0.24 [0.09, 0.40]; p = 0.002), but in PD (MD 0.05 [− 0.05, 0.15]; p = 0.33) such difference was not identified. A very low level of evidence was found between the clinical parameters. Conclusions The use of hormonal contraceptives may be associated to severity of periodontal diseases. However, the quantitative analysis points to an inconclusive outcome due to the high level of heterogeneity. The association is biologically plausible, however additional studies are warranted to better elucidate the clinical significance of this possible association.

Infrared Thermography for the Evaluation of Inflammatory and Degenerative Joint Diseases: A Systematic Review

Cartilage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1790S-1801S
Author(s):  
Guglielmo Schiavon ◽  
Gianluigi Capone ◽  
Monique Frize ◽  
Stefano Zaffagnini ◽  
Christian Candrian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
English Language ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Joint Diseases ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Post Evaluation

Objective Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic diseases as well as in osteoarthritis. Temperature, which can be quantified using infrared thermography, provides information about the inflammatory component of joint diseases. This systematic review aims at assessing infrared thermography potential and limitations in these pathologies. Design A systematic review was performed on 3 major databases: PubMed, Cochrane library, and Web of Science, on clinical reports of any level of evidence in English language, published from 1990 to May 2021, with infrared thermography used for diagnosis of osteoarthritis and rheumatic diseases, monitoring disease progression, or response to treatment. Relevant data were extracted, collected in a database, and analyzed for the purpose of this systematic review. Results Of 718 screened articles 32 were found to be eligible for inclusion, for a total of 2094 patients. Nine studies reported the application to osteoarthritis, 21 to rheumatic diseases, 2 on both. The publication trend showed an increasing interest in the last decade. Seven studies investigated the correlation of temperature changes with osteoarthritis, 16 with rheumatic diseases, and 2 with both, whereas 2 focused on the pre-post evaluation to investigate treatment results in patients with osteoarthritis and 5 in patients with rheumatic diseases. A correlation was shown between thermal findings and disease presence and stage, as well as the clinical assessment of disease activity and response to treatment, supporting infrared thermography role in the study and management of rheumatic diseases and osteoarthritis. Conclusions The systematic literature review showed an increasing interest in this technology, with several applications in different joints affected by inflammatory and degenerative pathologies. Infrared thermography proved to be a simple, accurate, noninvasive, and radiation-free method, which could be used in addition to the currently available tools for screening, diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression, and response to medical treatment.

scholarly journals Reliability of recommended non-invasive chairside screening tests for diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review with meta-analyses

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e002528
Author(s):  
Ally McIllhatton ◽  
Sean Lanting ◽  
David Lambkin ◽  
Lucy Leigh ◽  
Sarah Casey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Tuning Fork ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Quality Appraisal ◽  
Perception Threshold ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Meta Analyses

The objective is to determine, by systematic review, the reliability of testing methods for diagnosis of diabetes-related peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as recommended by the most recent guidelines from the International Diabetes Foundation, International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot and American Diabetes Association. Electronic searches of Cochrane Library, EBSCO Megafile Ultimate and EMBASE were performed to May 2021. Articles were included if they reported on the reliability of recommended chairside tests in diabetes cohorts. Quality appraisal was performed using a Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies checklist and where possible, meta-analyses, with reliability reported as estimated Cohen’s kappa (95% CI). Seventeen studies were eligible for inclusion. Pooled analysis found acceptable inter-rater reliability of vibration perception threshold (VPT) (κ=0.61 (0.50 to 0.73)) and ankle reflex testing (κ=0.60 (0.55 to 0.64)), but weak inter-rater reliability for pinprick (κ=0.45 (0.22 to 0.69)) and 128 Hz tuning fork (κ=0.42 (0.15 to 0.70)), though intra-rater reliability of the 128 Hz tuning fork was moderate (κ=0.54 (0.37 to 0.73)). Inter-rater reliability of the four-site monofilament was acceptable (κ=0.61 (0.45 to 0.77)). These results support the clinical use of VPT, ankle reflexes and four-site monofilament for screening and ongoing monitoring of DPN as recommended by the latest guidelines. The reliability of temperature perception, pinprick, proprioception, three-site monofilament and Ipswich touch test when performed in people with diabetes remains unclear.

scholarly journals Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Peak Wall Stress and Peak Wall Rupture Index in Ruptured and Asymptomatic Intact Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tejas P. Singh ◽  
Joseph V. Moxon ◽  
T. Christian Gasser ◽  
Jonathan Golledge
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Wall Stress ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Abdominal Aortic ◽  
Standardized Mean Difference ◽  
Peak Wall Stress ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background Prior studies have suggested aortic peak wall stress (PWS) and peak wall rupture index (PWRI) can estimate the rupture risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but whether these measurements have independent predictive ability over assessing AAA diameter alone is unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to compare PWS and PWRI in participants with ruptured and asymptomatic intact AAAs of similar diameter. Methods and Results Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, and The Cochrane Library were systematically searched to identify studies assessing PWS and PWRI in ruptured and asymptomatic intact AAAs of similar diameter. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed using inverse variance‐weighted methods. Leave‐one‐out sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of findings. Risk of bias was assessed using a modification of the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale and standard quality assessment criteria for evaluating primary research papers. Seven case‐control studies involving 309 participants were included. Meta‐analyses suggested that PWRI (standardized mean difference, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.14–0.70; P =0.004) but not PWS (standardized mean difference, 0.13; 95% CI, −0.18 to 0.44; P =0.418) was greater in ruptured than intact AAAs. Sensitivity analyses suggested that the findings were not dependent on the inclusion of any single study. The included studies were assessed to have a medium to high risk of bias. Conclusions Based on limited evidence, this study suggested that PWRI, but not PWS, is greater in ruptured than asymptomatic intact AAAs of similar maximum aortic diameter.

scholarly journals Resistance Training in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Exercise Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6511
Author(s):  
Leidy Sofía Montaño-Rojas ◽  
Ena Monserrat Romero-Pérez ◽  
Carlos Medina-Pérez ◽  
María Mercedes Reguera-García ◽  
José Antonio de Paz
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Evidence Database ◽  
Meta Analyses

The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of resistance training (RT) programs for breast cancer survivors (BCS). A systematic review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, the Cochrane Breast Cancer Specialised Register of the Cochrane Library, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Scopus, with the aim of identifying all published studies on RT and BCS from 1 January 1990 to 6 December 2019, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed using the revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0). Sixteen trials were included for qualitative analysis. More than half of the trials do not adequately report the characteristics that make up the exercise program. The maximal strength was the most frequently monitored manifestation of strength, evaluated mainly as one-repetition maximum (1RM). Resistance training was performed on strength-training machines, twice a week, using a load between 50% and 80% of 1RM. The trials reported significant improvement in muscle strength, fatigue, pain, quality of life, and minor changes in aerobic capacity.

Simultaneous compared to interval administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for medical abortion up to 10+0 weeks' gestation: a systematic review with meta-analyses

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjsrh-2019-200448
Author(s):  
Mia Schmidt-Hansen ◽  
Jonathan Lord ◽  
Elise Hasler ◽  
Sharon Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Medical Abortion ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundMedical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol usually involves an interval of 36–48 hours between administering these drugs; however, it is possible that the clinical efficacy at early gestations may be maintained when the drugs are taken simultaneously. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the safety and effectiveness of simultaneous compared with interval administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for abortion up to 10+0 weeks’ gestation.MethodsWe searched Embase Classic, Embase; Ovid MEDLINE(R) including Daily, and Epub Ahead-of-Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations; and Cochrane Library on 11 December 2019. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), published in English from 1985, comparing simultaneous to interval administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for early abortion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration checklist for RCTs. Meta-analysis of risk ratios (RRs) using the Mantel-Haenszel method were performed. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE.ResultsMeta-analyses of three RCTs (n=1280) showed no differences in ‘ongoing pregnancy’ (RR 1.78, 95% CI 0.38 to 8.36), ‘haemorrhage requiring transfusion or ≥500 mL blood loss’ (RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 2.03) and ‘incomplete abortion with the need for surgical intervention’ (RR 1.30, 95% CI 0.76 to 2.25) between the interventions. Individual study results showed no difference in patient satisfaction, or ‘need for repeat misoprostol’, although ‘time to onset of bleeding or cramping’ was longer after simultaneous than interval administration. The quality of evidence was very low to moderate.ConclusionThe published data support the use of simultaneous mifepristone and misoprostol for medical abortion up to 9+0 weeks in women who prefer this method of administration.

Does an association exist between menstrual cycle length within the normal range and ovarian reserve biomarkers during the reproductive years? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 904-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny S Younis ◽  
Rula Iskander ◽  
Bart C J M Fauser ◽  
Ido Izhaki
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Cycle Length ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Ivf Outcomes ◽  
Menstrual Cycle Length ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Natural Cycles

Abstract BACKGROUND Regular menstrual cycling during the reproductive years is an indicator of spontaneous ovulation but sometimes falsely perceived as an indicator of preserved fertility. In contrast, menstrual cycle shortening, a physiologic occurrence preceding the menopausal transition, is not usually perceived as an indicator of decreased ovarian reserve in the general population. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The individual decrease in menstrual cycle length (MCL) might represent a sensitive biomarker of diminishing ovarian reserve. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the possible association between MCL in regularly cycling women (21–35 days) and ovarian reserve tests (ORT), fecundability in natural cycles and IVF outcomes. SEARCH METHODS An electronic database search employing PubMed, Web of Science, Trip, EBSCO, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Cochrane library was performed to identify research articles, only on human, published between January 1978 and August 2019. Search terms were pregnancy OR fertility OR fecundity OR fecundability, anti-Müllerian hormone OR AMH OR antral follicle count OR AFC OR ovarian reserve OR ovarian reserve test, in vitro fertilization OR ART OR assisted reproductive therapy OR assisted reproductive treatment OR assisted reproductive technology OR IVF OR ICSI, menstrual cycle length OR menstrual cycle characteristics. We combined these terms to complete the search. All prospective and retrospective studies exploring an association between MCL and proxies of ovarian reserve were included. The exclusions included studies of PCOS, ovarian failure, oral contraception treatment, prior chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy or ovarian surgery. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of studies that were eligible for meta-analysis. OUTCOMES Eleven studies were eligible for meta-analysis, including 12 031 women. The included studies had a low risk of bias. Short MCL (21–27 days) was associated with lower ORT values as compared to normal (28–31 days), long (32–35 days) and all other (28–35 days) MCL sets. The estimated weighted mean difference (WMD) of AMH level was −1.3 ng/mL (95% CI: −1.75 to −0.86, P < 0.001) between the short and normal MCL sets. The estimated WMD of AFC values was −5.17 (95% CI: −5.96 to −4.37, P < 0.001) between the short and normal MCL sets. The weighted overall odds ratio (OR) of fecundability in natural cycles between women with short versus normal MCL sets was statistically significant (overall OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.72–0.91, P < 0.001). In the IVF setting, fewer oocytes were retrieved in short MCL in comparison to normal, long and all other MCL sets, with an estimated WMD of −1.8 oocytes (95% CI: −2.5 to −1.1, P < 0.001) in the short versus normal MCL sets. The weighted overall OR of clinical pregnancy rate between women with short versus all other MCL sets was statistically significant (overall OR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.96, P = 0.02). Low levels of heterogeneity were found in most meta-analyses of MCL and qualitative ovarian reserve biomarkers, while heterogeneity was high in meta-analyses performed for quantitative measures. WIDER IMPLICATIONS MCL in regularly cycling women is closely related to ovarian reserve biomarkers during the reproductive years. A short MCL, as compared to normal, is significantly associated with lower ORT values, reduced fecundability and inferior IVF outcomes, independent of age. The results imply that short MCL may be a sign of ovarian aging, combining the quantitative and qualitative facets of ovarian reserve. Educational efforts ought to be designed to guide women with short MCL at a young age, who desire children in the future, to seek professional counselling.

scholarly journals Do Nanofilled/Nanohybrid Composites Allow for Better Clinical Performance of Direct Restorations Than Traditional Microhybrid Composites? A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. E191-E209 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Angerame ◽  
M De Biasi
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Clinical Performance ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Anterior Teeth ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Meta Analyses

SUMMARY This systematic review was carried out to assess the clinical effectiveness of nanofilled and nanohybrid composites used for direct restorations in comparison with microhybrid composites. The guidelines for the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses were followed. A search of articles published from July 1996 to February 2017 was performed in PubMed, SciVerse Scopus, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, the Scientific Electronic Library Online, and the Cochrane Library. The present review selected only randomized controlled trials comparing the clinical performance of a nanofilled or nanohybrid composite for direct restorations with that of a microhybrid composite. The research found 201 studies. Twenty-one articles fulfilled the criteria of the present review. However, the included studies were characterized by great methodological diversities. As a general trend, nanofilled and nanohybrid composites were found to be capable of clinical performance, marginal quality, and resistance to wear similar to that of traditional composites without showing improved surface characteristics. The risk of bias of included studies was judged unclear or high. The clinical performance of nanofilled/nanohybrid composites was found to be comparable to that of traditional composites in the posterior area. The data concerning anterior and cervical restorations were insufficient. With regard to the esthetic properties, there is a compelling need for studies on anterior teeth in which the operators are kept unaware of the restorative material. Nanofilled/nanohybrid composites seem to be a valid alternative to traditional microhybrid composites, and at the moment, there is low-level evidence attesting a lack of their superiority.

Comparative efficacy, effectiveness and harms of second-generation antidepressants in the pharmacologic treatment of adult depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1266-1266
Author(s):  
L. Morgan ◽  
G. Gartlehner
Keyword(s):  
Second Generation ◽  
Healthcare Research ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Comparative Efficacy ◽  
Onset Of Action ◽  
Conflicting Evidence ◽  
Treatment Comparisons ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Cochrane Library

IntroductionSecond-generation antidepressants dominate the medical management of major depressive disorder (MDD). Two published comparative effectiveness reviews (CER) provide conflicting evidence about the comparative efficacy and safety of second-generation antidepressants for treating MDD.ObjectivesTo compare the benefits and harms of bupropion, citalopram, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, and venlafaxine for the treatment of MDD in adults.MethodsWe updated a CER published in 2007 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality searching MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and the International Pharmaceutical Abstracts up to May 2010. Two persons independently reviewed the literature, abstracted data, and rated the risk of bias. If data were sufficient, we conducted meta-analyses of head-to-head trials of the relative benefit of response to treatment. In addition, we conducted mixed treatment comparisons to derive indirect estimates of the comparative efficacy among all second-generation antidepressants.ResultsOverall, no substantial differences in efficacy could be detected among second-generation antidepressants. Statistically significant differences in response rates between some compared drugs are small and likely not clinically relevant. Differences exist in the incidence of specific adverse events and the onset of action. Venlafaxine leads to higher rates of nausea and vomiting, sertraline to higher rates of diarrhea, and mirtazapine to higher rates of weight gain than comparator drugs. Bupropion caused lower rates of sexual dysfunction than other antidepressants.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the existing evidence does not warrant the choice of one second-generation antidepressant over another based on greater efficacy and effectiveness.

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