Open mesh versus non-mesh repair of groin hernia meta-analysis of randomized trials leased on individual patient data

Abstract Background. The EU Hernia Trialists Collaboration was established to provide reliable evaluation of newer methods of groin hernia repair. It involved 70 investigators in 20 countries. Materials and methods. Twenty eligible trials (5016 participants) of open mesh vs. non-mesh groin hernia repair were identified. Meta-analysis was performed using raw individual patient data where possible. Results. Fewer hernia recurrences were reported after mesh repair. There were no clear differences between mesh and non-mesh groups in complications. Overall, those in the mesh groups had a shorter hospital stay, quicker return to usual activities and less frequent persisting pain, but individual trial results varied. Conclusions. The review provides strong evidence that open mesh repair is associated with a reduction in the risk of recurrence of between 50% and 75%. There is also some evidence of quicker recovery and of lower rates of persisting pain following open mesh repair. Electronic Publication     

不同重复经颅磁刺激模式对脑卒中后上肢运动功能障碍干预效果的网状Meta分析

背景 上肢运动功能障碍是脑卒中后常见的后遗症之一,严重影响患者日常生活能力。重复经颅磁刺激（rTMS）作为常见的神经电生理技术对治疗脑卒中后上肢运动功能障碍有较好的疗效,但临床对不同rTMS干预模式的选择仍缺乏循证依据。目的 采用网状Meta分析方法比较rTMS的4种模式对脑卒中后上肢运动功能障碍患者的临床疗效。方法 计算机检索PubMed、Embase、Cochrane Library、Web of Science、中国生物医学文献数据库、中国知网、万方数据知识服务平台、维普网中有关rTMS治疗脑卒中后上肢运动功能障碍的随机对照试验,并通过追溯Meta分析的参考文献作为补充。检索时间均为建库至2022年2月,采用主题词和自由词结合方式进行。2名研究者进行文献筛选、资料提取及质量评价。采用RevMan 5.0软件和Stata 16.0软件进行统计学分析。结果 最终纳入17篇文献,790例患者,共涉及6种干预措施：高频rTMS(HF-rTMS)、低频rTMS(LF-rTMS)、间断性theta节律刺激（iTBS）、连续性theta节律刺激（cTBS）、假刺激、常规疗法。网状Meta分析结...     

Ultrasound-guided embryo transfer improves pregnancy rates and increases the frequency of easy transfers

BACKGROUND: Recent reports have suggested that ultrasound (US) guidance during embryo transfer might improve pregnancy rates. METHODS: A prospective randomized (computer-generated random table) trial was performed to compare embryo transfer under abdominal US guidance (n = 255 women) with clinical touch embryo transfer (n = 260). RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate was 26.3% (67/255) in the US-guided transfer group compared with 18.1% (47/260) in the clinical touch transfer group (P < 0.05). The implantation rate was 11.1% (100/903) in the US group compared with 7.5% (66/884) in the clinical touch group (P < 0.05). US-guided transfer was associated with a decrease in the difficulty of the transfers: 97% of transfers were easy in the US-guided group compared with 81% in the clinical touch group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: US-guided embryo transfer increased pregnancy and implantation rates in IVF cycles, as well as the frequency of easy transfers. It is suggested that the decrease in cervical and uterine trauma can play a role in the increase in pregnancy rates associated with US-guided transfer. It is recommended that embryo transfer should be performed under US guidance.     

食管癌三维适形放射治疗疗效的Meta分析

目的分析三维适形放射治疗技术（3-DCRT）治疗食管癌的疗效和放射毒性反应。方法检索国内有关数据库查找符合条件的临床随机对照试验,采用Meta分析方法,对国内公开发表的有关3-DCRT治疗食管癌的临床随机对照试验研究文献进行综合分析,在RevMan4.2.7软件中统计分析相应的研究指标。结果有8项独立的临床随机对照试验研究进入了本次meta分析。3-DCRT组的近期疗效,1、2、3年局控率及1、2、3年生存率均优于对照组（p〈0.01）。两组毒副反应的差异无统计学显著性意义。结论3-DCRT治疗食管癌的近期疗效优于常规放射治疗方法,远期疗效和毒副反应有待进一步观察随访和研究。     

Current status of intranasal glucocorticosteroids in the management of allergic rhinitis

Glucocorticosteroids are the most effective drugs for controlling inflammation of allergic rhinitis (AR). Because of their strong pharmacological action, which can be a so-called 'double-edged sword', glucocorticosteroids are usually taken intranasally so as to reduce their potential for eliciting adverse effects. Accumulating evidence suggests that intranasal glucocorticosteroids control not only nasal symptoms but also ocular symptoms. In contrast to sedating H₁-receptor antagonists, intranasal glucocorticosteroids can improve impaired performance such as daytime sleepiness associated with AR. In Japanese cedar pollinosis, treatment begun immediately after initiation of pollen release or onset of initial symptoms, known as prophylactic (initial) treatment, is recommended. The current version of the practical guideline for management of allergic rhinitis in Japan recommends the use of chemical mediator release inhibitors, second-generation H₁-receptor antagonists, or leukotriene receptor antagonists for prophylactic treatment. However, recent evidence suggests that intranasal glucocorticosteroids might also be useful as first-line drugs for prophylactic treatment. The molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticosteroids supports this contention. Moreover, a meta-analysis of studies of intranasal glucocorticosteroids given as monotherapy has revealed that these agents are superior to oral H₁-receptor antagonists and leukotriene antagonists for controlling major symptoms of AR. These findings suggest that glucocorticosteroids, especially intranasal glucocorticosteroids, might be positioned as first-line drugs for the treatment of both perennial and seasonal AR.     

Are Compulsive Checkers Impaired in Memory? A Meta‐Analytic Review

Researchers have hypothesized that compulsive checkers suffer from impairment in explicit memory (e.g., Sher, Frost, & Otto, 1983 ), low confidence in explicit memory (e.g., McNally & Kohlbeck, 1993 ), or both. However, empirical findings have been equivocal, possibly due to variability in effect sizes produced by small samples. Combining data across studies may yield more meaningful conclusions than can be surmised from a narrative review. Following a brief review of the literature on checking and memory, we present meta-analytic results suggesting that checkers are impaired on many types of memory tasks (e.g., verbal free recall, verbal cued recall, and recall of actions) and are less confident in recognition than noncheckers. We discuss implications of these findings, suggestions for future research, and limitations of this analysis.     

The Effect of Telephone-Administered Psychotherapy on Symptoms of Depression and Attrition: A Meta-Analysis

Increasingly, the telephone is being used to deliver psychotherapy for depression, in part as a means to reduce barriers to treatment. Twelve trials of telephone-administered psychotherapies, in which depressive symptoms were assessed, were included. There was a significant reduction in depressive symptoms for patients enrolled in telephone-administered psychotherapy as compared to control conditions ( d  = 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.14–0.39, p  < .0001). There was also a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in analyses of pretreatment to posttreatment change ( d  = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.50–1.13, p  < .0001). The mean attrition rate was 7.56% (95% CI = 4.23–10.90). These findings suggest that telephone-administered psychotherapy can produce significant reductions in depressive symptoms. Attrition rates were considerably lower than rates reported in face-to-face psychotherapy.     

Critical analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for recurrent miscarriage

Critical analysis of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for recurrent miscarriage An alloimmune abnormality is believed to be the cause of recurrent miscarriage in couples in whom no other cause can be identified. Because of its immunosuppressive properties, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is used as a treatment for this disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine whether IVIG improves the chance of successful pregnancy in women with recurrent miscarriage by using individual patient data from efficacy trials. Detailed information on each patient enrolled in these trials was obtained to evaluate the efficacy of IVIG and investigate the effect of clinical variability on pregnancy outcome. Data from 125 patients in the IVIG group and 115 patients in the placebo group were available for analysis. Although the number of previous miscarriages and female age were both negative prognostic factors for successful outcome, there was no significant improvement in successful pregnancy or live birth rate with IVIG. Subgroup analyses indicated that timing of IVIG administration may be important. The results of the present study highlight the importance of stratification for known confounders, so that the role of IVIG can be evaluated in more detail. The collective evidence thus far indicates that IVIG does not have a therapeutic effect that is clinically meaningful.     

饮酒与慢性阻塞性肺疾病风险关系的meta分析

目的 探讨饮酒与慢性阻塞性肺疾病风险(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD)的关系。 方法 计算机检索PubMed、Web of Science、Embase、中国知网、万方数据库和维普数据库,搜集各数据库建库至2021年11月公开发表的有关饮酒与COPD风险的观察性研究。由2位研究者根据文献纳入及排除标准独立筛选文献并提取数据。采用Stata 12.0软件进行统计学分析。 结果 共纳入8篇文献(2篇队列研究文献和6篇横断面研究文献),共纳入209 489例研究对象。meta分析结果显示,与最低饮酒量组相比,最高饮酒量组发生COPD的风险无显著变化(RR=0.97, 95%CI:0.87~1.08);与不饮酒组相比,少量或中度饮酒组发生COPD的风险降低(RR=0.87, 95%CI:0.81~0.94);与少量或中度饮酒组相比,过量饮酒组发生COPD的风险无显著变化(RR=1.26, 95%CI:0.98~1.63)。 结论 meta分析结果提示少量或中度饮酒可降低COPD的风险。过量饮酒是否会增加COPD的风险尚需进一步研究。     

膳食维生素C与代谢综合征风险的meta分析

目的用meta分析的方法定量评估膳食维生素C与代谢综合征(metabolic syndrome,MetS)风险的关系,为MetS的预防与治疗提供依据。方法系统检索PubMed、EMBASE、中国知网(CNKI)、万方数据库(WanfangData)以及维普数据库(VIP)中由建库至2021年12月公开发表的关于膳食维生素C与MetS风险关系的流行病学观察性研究。提取数据后,应用Stata 12.0软件进行meta统计分析。结果共纳入7篇文献,总样本量为29363人,包括8300例MetS患者。meta分析结果显示,膳食维生素C摄入量最高组发生MetS的风险较最低组低7%(RR=0.93,95%CI:0.89~0.98)。剂量-反应meta分析结果显示,膳食维生素C与MetS风险之间呈线性关系(非线性P>0.10),摄入量每增加50 mg/d并不能明显降低MetS的发生风险(RR=0.97,95%CI:0.92~1.02)。结论MetS与膳食维生素C摄入量之间存在关联性,高膳食维生素C摄入可降低MetS的风险。