Objective To systematically review the effect of different nutrient interventions on the physical function of elderly people with frailty through network meta-analysis. Methods The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase and Web of Science were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials of different nutrient interventions on physical function of the elderly with frailty, from database inception to June 30, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed using ADDIS 1.16.8, GeMTC 14.3, and Stata 15.0 software. Results A total of 13 studies involving 1 144 patients were included. There was no statistically significant difference in handgrip strength, time up to go test, gait speed, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) among different nutrient interventions. Significant differences were not found in vitamin D+ whey protein (VDWP) vs. placebo and Leu vs. placebo in handgrip strength, or VDWP vs. placebo in SPPB. The probability ranking diagram showed that the most effective of handgrip strength, time up to go test, gait speed, and SPPB were milk protein concentrate (MPC80), L-carnitime (L-Car), leucine (Leu), and MPC80, respectively. Conclusion The current evidence suggests that nutritional intervention did not significantly improve physical function in the frail elderly. MPC80, Leu, L-Car, and VDVEWP may play a role in improving the physical function of frail elderly people. Nutritional support programs that increase the above nutrients, combined with exercise training may become a better way to improve the physical function of frail elderly.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of 10 commonly used intrauterine devices (IUD) by network meta-analysis.MethodsPubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, POPLINE, CNKI, WanFang Data, SinoMed, CMCI, ChiCTR databases and websites were electronically searched to collect randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on efficacy of 10 IUDs from inception to December 31st, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies; then, network meta-analysis was performed by using WinBUGS 1.4.3 software and Stata 13.0 software.ResultsA total of 67 RCTs involving 59 991 IUD users were included. The results of network meta-analysis indicated that after 1 year of use, GyneFix had a lower pregnancy rate than those of TCu220C, TCu380A, YCu300, OCu165 and MLCu375, and its effectiveness ranked second out of ten IUDs (SUCRA=77.1%). YCu200 had a lower pregnancy rate than that of TCu220C, which ranked third (SUCRA=71.5%). After 2 years of use, GyneFix had a lower pregnancy rate than those of TCu220C, TCu380A and OCu165, which had the highest probability to be the most effective intervention (SUCRA=92.1%). YCu200 had a lower pregnancy rate than those of TCu220C, TCu380A, YCu300, OCu165, GCu200, GammaCu and MLCu375, and its effectiveness ranked second (SUCRA=81.2%).ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that the risk of pregnancy of GyneFix and YCu200 are lower at 1 and 2 years of use, which suggests they possess superior short-term effectiveness. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high quality studies are required to verify above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of 12 antimicrobial drug regimens for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial (MDR-GNB) infections. MethodsThe PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Clinical Trials, CNKI, WanFang Data, and Chinese Medical Journal Full-text Database were electronically searched to collect studies related to objectives form inception to February 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. Stata software was then used to perform a network meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 64 articles were included. The network meta-analysis results indicated that combination regimens based on carbapenems, β-lactam/combination agents, or tigecycline showed higher clinical antibacterial effectiveness and bacterial clearance rates for resistant bacterial infections. Among all regimens, tigecycline + β-lactam/combination agent, polymyxin + β-lactam/combination agent, and triple-therapy regimens exhibited superior antibacterial effects. Moreover, most combination regimens containing carbapenems had lower mortality risks, with carbapenems combined with aminoglycosides, β-lactam/combination agents, or polymyxins ranking high in clinical or bacteriological efficacy. ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that combination regimens based on β-lactam/combination agents, carbapenems, and tigecycline may be beneficial for improving the clinical and bacteriological efficacy of treating resistant bacterial infections. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
With the rapidly growing literature across the surgical disciplines, there is a corresponding need to critically appraise and summarize the currently available evidence so they can be applied appropriately to patient care. The interpretation of systematic reviews is particularly challenging in cases where few robust clinical trials have been performed to address a particular question. However, risk of bias can be minimized and potentially useful conclusions can be drawn if strict review methodology is adhered to, including an exhaustive literature search, quality appraisal of primary studies, appropriate statistical methodology, assessment of confidence in estimates and risk of bias. Therefore, the following article aims to: (Ⅰ) summarize to the important features of a thorough and rigorous systematic review or meta-analysis for the surgical literature; (Ⅱ) highlight several underused statistical approaches which may yield further interesting insights compared to conventional pair-wise data synthesis techniques; and (Ⅲ) propose a guide for thorough analysis and presentation of results.
ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy and safety of various treatment strategies for patients with refractory/recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r-DLBCL) by network meta-analysis. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane Library databases were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials related to the objectives of the study from inception to November 16th, 2022. After two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies, a network meta-analysis was performed using R 4.2.2 software. ResultsA total of 8 RCTs and 11 non-randomized controlled trials were included, involving 2 559 cases. The treatment regimen included chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, chemotherapy combined with ADC, immunochemotherapy combined with ADC, ASCT based regimen, CAR-T based regimen, ASCT combined with CAR-T, immunomodulators, small molecule inhibitors, and rituximab combined with small molecule inhibitors. The ranking probability results showed that the top three complete remission (CR) rates among all schemes were ASCT combined with CAR-T, chemotherapy combined with ADC, and immune modulators; The top three overall response rates (ORR) were chemotherapy combined with ADC, ASCT combined with CAR-T, and ASCT. The CAR-T regimen had a higher rate of severe neutropenia; The severe thrombocytopenia rate of ASCT regimen was relatively high; There was no significant difference in the incidence of SAEs among the other options. ConclusionASCT combined with CAR-T and chemotherapy combined with ADC have the best therapeutic effects on r/r-DLBCL. However, the specific protocol to be adopted requires clinical doctors to combine actual conditions, comprehensively consider the efficacy and side effects, and develop personalized treatment strategies for r/r-DLBCL patients.
ObjectivesThe present network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential efficacy and safety of various surgical approaches in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with enlarged prostate.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov and CNKI databases were electronically searched to identify eligible studies. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated risk of bias and the ADDIS 1.16.8 software was used to conduct meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 23 studies involving 2 849 patients with 5 approaches including open prostatectomy (OP), holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), plasmakinetic/bipolar plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PK/BPEP), transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP), and laparoscopic prostatectomy (LSP) were included. HoLEP, PK/BPEP and OP were superior to the other methods in improving the objective indicators and subjective feelings of patients during both short and medium-term follow-up. However, compared with OP, HoLEP and PK/BPEP were observed to result in a significantly lower hemoglobin level (MD=1.65, 95%CI 0.35 to 4.41; MD=2.62, 95%CI 0.64 to 2.90), longer postoperative irrigation time (MD=4.67, 95%CI 1.29 to 10.66; MD=2.67, 95%CI 1.32 to 6.63), as well as indwelling catheter after operation (MD=1.64, 95%CI 0.48 to 4.15; MD=2.52, 95%CI 0.60 to 3.78). In terms of short-term complications, PK/BPEP (RR=0.45, 95%CI 0.13 to 1.29) was found to be significantly lower than that of OP.ConclusionsHoLEP and PK/BPEP can be probably used as a superior treatment option for large volume benign prostatic hyperplasia because of its better curative effect, higher safety and quick postoperative recovery.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of different exercises on inflammatory cytokines in individuals with overweight or obesity. Methods The CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of exercise on inflammatory cytokines in individuals with overweight or obesity from January, 2000 to April, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. The network meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 16.0 software. Results A total of 63 RCTs were included, 49 of which reported the changes in IL-6, 47 of which reported the changes in TNF-α, and 16 of which reported the changes in IL-10. The results of the network meta-analysis found that compared with those in the control group, aerobic exercise (AE) (SMD=−0.9, 95%CI −1.4 to −0.5, P<0.01) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (SMD=−1.3, 95%CI −2.3 to −0.3, P=0.011) significantly reduced IL-6. AE (SMD=−1.3, 95%CI −1.7 to −0.9, P<0.01), combined exercise (COM) (SMD=−0.7, 95%CI −1.3 to −0.1, P=0.02), and HIIT (SMD=−1.8, 95%CI −2.6 to −0.9, P<0.01) significantly reduced TNF-α; AE (SMD=0.8, 95%CI 0.1 to 1.5, P=0.03) significantly increased IL-10. The cumulative probability ranking results showed that HIIT was the most effective in reducing IL-6 and TNF-α and increasing IL-10, followed by AE and COM, and resistance training (RT) was the least effective. Conclusion Different exercise types have different effects on improving inflammation in individuals with overweight or obesity. HIIT can be suggested as the best exercise program to improve chronic inflammation in individuals with overweight or obesity. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a method that can compare and rank the effects of different interventions, which plays an important role in evidence translation and evidence-based decision-making. In 2014, the GRADE working group first introduced the GRADE method for NMA evidence certainty grading. Since then, its method system has been gradually supplemented and improved. In recent years, the GRADE working group has further improved the methods for evaluating intransitivity and imprecision in NMA, and has made recommendations for the presentation and interpretation of NMA results, forming a complete methodological chain of NMA evidence certainty grading and result interpretation consisting of 6 steps. Our team updated the method system of GRADE applied in NMA with specific cases to provide references for relevant researchers.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce fear of childbirth. MethodsThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce fear of childbirth from inception to December 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies; then, a network meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 software. ResultsA total of 19 RCTs involving 3 409 patients were included. Ten non-pharmacological interventions (prenatal education, scenario-based health education, psychological guidance, yoga training, hypnosis, mobile learning education, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical relaxation guidance, breathing guidance, and usual care) were included. The results of the reticulated meta-analysis of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ-A) showed that the rankings of the interventions were as follows: prenatal education > yoga training > cognitive behavioral therapy > situational simulation health education > psychological guidance > physical relaxation guidance > conventional care. The results of the Wijma Experience of Childbirth Questionnaire (W-DEQ-B) mesh meta-analysis showed that the rankings of the interventions were as follows: mobile learning education > prenatal education > scenario-based health education > cognitive behavioral therapy > breathing instruction > hypnosis > psychological instruction > physical relaxation instruction > usual care. ConclusionThe current evidence suggests that prenatal education, mobile learning education, situational simulation health education, and yoga training may be effective interventions in improving maternal fear of childbirth. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid and antiviral agents for idiopathic facial nerve paralysis (IFNP) by network meta-analysis.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, WangFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of corticosteroid and antiviral agents for IFNP from inception to January 31th, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. The meta-analysis was performed by R 3.3.3 and Stata 13.0 software.ResultsA total of 16 RCTs involving 3 061 patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that: for the facial function recovery rates, corticosteroid plus antiviral agents was superior to placebo and antiviral agents alone at 3-month follow-up. Corticosteroid plus antiviral agents was superior to placebo, antiviral agents or corticosteroid alone at 6-month follow-up (if the satisfactory recovery was defined as a House-Brackmann grade class Ⅱ or below). When the follow-up exceeded 6 months, corticosteroid alone was superior to placebo and antiviral agents alone, corticosteroid plus antiviral agents was superior to placebo and antiviral agents alone. All of the differences above were statistically significant. For the sequelae, corticosteroid plus antiviral agents and corticosteroid alone were superior to placebo and antiviral agents alone. Corticosteroid plus antiviral agents was superior to corticosteroid alone. The differences were statistically significant. For the adverse events, there were no significant differences between any other pairwise comparisons of these different interventions.ConclusionConsidering the efficacy and safety, patients with IFNP treated corticosteroid plus antiviral agents are more likely to have a better recovery of facial function and less likely to develop sequelae, followed by corticosteroid alone. More high-quality, large scaled and multicenter RCTs are required to verify the conclusions above, and focus on the treatment of children and patients with severe facial paralysis.