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.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of oral drugs for treating women with uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection.MethodsPubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of oral drugs for treating females with uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection from inception to November, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, network meta-analysis was performed by using " gemtc” packages in R 3.5.1 software.ResultsA total of 38 RCTs were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that: quinolones (RR=1.24, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.37), furantoin (RR=1.21, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.37), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) (RR=1.20, 95%CI 1.06 to 1.35), fosfomycin (RR=1.17, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.31) and penicillin (RR=1.18, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.33) were superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in clinical cure. Quinolones were better than fosfomycin (RR=1.07, 95%CI 1.03 to 1.12), penicillin (RR=1.18, 95%CI 1.13 to 1.23) and cephalosporin (RR=1.13, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.19); furantoin was better than penicillin (RR=1.15, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.21) and cephalosporin (RR=1.10, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.17); TMP-SMZ was better than penicillin (RR=1.15, 95%CI 1.09 to 1.21) and cephalosporin (RR=1.11, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.16); fosfomycin was better than penicillin (RR=1.10, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.16) in bacteriological cure. The adverse effect rates of quinolones were lower than furantoin (RR=0.83, 95%CI 0.70 to 0.98), TMP-SMZ (RR=0.88, 95%CI 0.78 to 0.99) and fosfomycin (RR=0.74, 95%CI 0.59 to 0.93), and which of fosfomycin was higher than penicillin (RR=1.33, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.74) and NSAIDS (RR=1.46, 95%CI 1.11 to 1.92). All differences were statistically significant.ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection should be recommended to therapy containing quinolones. Due to limited quality and quantity of included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo compare the characteristics and functions of the network meta-analysis software and for providing references for users. MethodsPubMed, CNKI, official website of Stata and R, and Google were searched to collect the software and packages that can perform network meta-analysis up to July 2014. After downloading the software, packages, and their user guides, we used the software and packages to calculate a typical example. The characteristics, functions, and computed results were compared and analyzed. ResultsFinally, 11 types of software were included, including programming and non-programming software. They were developed mainly based on Bayesian or Frequentist. Most types of software have the characteristics of easy to operate, easy to master, exactitude calculation, or good graphing; however, there is no software that has the exactitude calculation and good graphing at the same time, which needs two or more kinds of software combined to achieve. ConclusionWe suggest the user to choose the software at least according to personal programming basis and custom; and the user can consider to choose two or more kinds of software combined to finish the objective network meta-analysis. We also suggest to develop a kind of software which is characterized of fully function, easy operation, and free.
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 five types of rehabilitation exercises, including Baduanjin, aquatic exercise, Taijiquan, somatosensory exercise and whole body vibration training for the intervention of motor function in stroke patients. MethodsWeb of Science, PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, CSJD and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of rehabilitation exercise interventions for motor function in stroke patients from inception to October 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies; then, network meta-analysis was performed by using R and ADDIS software. ResultsA total of 50 RCTs involving 1 838 patients were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that all five types of rehabilitation exercises were superior to conventional rehabilitation group in terms of balance in stroke patients (P<0.05), with the best ranking occupied by Baduanjin. In terms of lower limb strength, only the aquatic exercise was superior to conventional rehabilitation (P<0.05). In terms of walking function, somatic training and aquatic exercise were superior to conventional rehabilitation (P<0.05), with somatic exercises ranking first. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that Baduanjin has an advantage in improving the balance, somatosensory interactive game exercise has an advantage in improving the walking capability and aquatic exercise has an advantage in improving the lower limb strength of stroke patients. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the safety and effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE), surgery and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of uterine fibroids.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect relevant studies on comparing the safety and effectiveness of UAE, surgery and HIFU in the treatment of uterine fibroids from January 2000 to August 2019. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies, network meta-analysis was performed by ADDIS 1.16.8 software and Stata 14.0 software.ResultsA total of 11 trials (22 references) involving 3469 patients were included. Compared with surgery, UAE and HIFU patients had higher quality of life (1-year follow-up) improvement, and UAE was higher than HIFU. Network meta-analysis showed that patients treated with HIFU had the lowest incidence of major complications within 1 year, followed by UAE, and surgery. Patients treated with HIFU and UAE had shorter hospitalization and quicker recovery time than surgery. The rate of further intervention after surgery treatment might be lower than that of UAE and HIFU.ConclusionsUAE has the highest quality of life improvement (1-year follow-up) for uterine fibroids. HIFU and UAE are safer with shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery time compared with surgery. However, both UAE and HIFU have the risk of re-treatment. However, limited by the number and quality of included studies, the above conclusions are needed to be verified by more high-quality studies.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of oxygen therapy for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the efficacy of different oxygen therapies for DFUs from inception to April 1, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Statistical analysis was performed using R software, and GraphPad Prism was used for graphical representations. ResultsA total of 61 RCTs involving 4 306 DFUs cases were included in the analysis. The oxygen therapies examined primarily included hyperbaric oxygen, topical oxygen, and ozone therapy. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) indicated that hyperbaric oxygen therapy ranked highest for healing rate, area reduction rate, and healing time (SUCRA values were 0.957, 0.868, and 0.869, respectively). However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy also ranked higher for amputation rate and adverse events (SUCRA values were 0.616 and 0.718, respectively). Further subgroup analysis revealed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy maintained the highest ranking in area reduction rate across subgroups defined by publication language and treatment duration. ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen therapy has advantages in terms of healing rate, area reduction rate, and healing time for DFUs, but it is also associated with higher amputation rates and adverse events. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective The aim of this study is to construct reporting standards for acupuncture network meta-analysis, providing guidance to enhance the quality of evidence reported in acupuncture therapy research. Methods A Delphi questionnaire was developed based on the preliminary research and literature findings, 20 experts were selected for correspondence to determine the final checklists of items, and then finalized the list of report items. Results A total of two rounds of Delphi questionnaires were made. The expert positivity coefficient (100%), the expert familiarity (0.80) and the expert authority (0.83) were the same in both rounds, the Kendall's coordination coefficients were 0.117 (P<0.001) and 0.332 (P<0.001), respectively, which ultimately led to the formation of the 7 fields of title, abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion and other, including 23 specific items of the acupuncture-related therapies NMA standards. Conclusion The PRINMA-A statement will help to improve the reporting quality of evidence on acupuncture-related therapies, promote the dissemination and translation of evidence on acupuncture-related therapies.
It is a challenge for clinicians and diagnostic systematic reviewers to determine the best test in clinical diagnosis and screening. Meanwhile, it also becomes the new chance and challenge for diagnostic test meta-analysis. Network meta-analysis has been commonly used in intervention systematic reviews, which can compare the effect size of all available interventions and to choose the best intervention. Network meta-analysis of diagnostic test can be defined as comparing all available diagnostic technologies in the same conditions based on the common reference tests. In order to provide the guide for diagnostic systematic reviewers, we aims to introduce four methods of conducting diagnostic test accuracy network meta-analysis, and to explore two ranking methods of network meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effect of different psychological intervention methods on depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on psychological interventions on depression of patients with inflammatory bowel disease from inception to January 12, 2023. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then conducted by using software Stata and GeMTC. ResultsA total of 18 articles, 1 567 patients and 6 psychological intervention methods were included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that, compared with conventional nursing, music therapy, mindfulness therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy had statistically significant differences in the intervention effect of depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (P<0.05); Among the six psychological intervention methods included, there was a statistically significant difference in relaxation therapy compared with music therapy, writing expression and mindfulness therapy (P<0.05); The difference between cognitive behavioral therapy and music therapy and mindfulness therapy was statistically significant (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in other interventions (P>0.05). The SUCRA ranking probability chart showed that music therapy was the best intervention method for depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, followed by mindfulness therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. ConclusionThe current evidence suggests that music therapy has an advantage in relieving depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, followed by mindfulness therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.