ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of exercise therapy for patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) by network meta-analysis (NMA).MethodsThe PubMed, EBSCO, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) on exercise for patients with CLBP from inception to May, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies. Then, NMA was performed by Stata 15.1 software.ResultsA total of 79 RCTs involving 5 782 CLBP patients were included. The effect of exercise therapy on pain in patients with CLBP were in the following rankings: yoga (SMD=?1.25, 95%CI ?1.87 to ?0.64, P<0.000 1), health Qigong/Taichi (SMD=?1.12, 95%CI ?1.87 to ?0.64, P=0.002), sling exercise (SMD=?1.07, 95%CI ?1.64 to ?0.50, P<0.000 1), Mackenzie therapy (SMD=?1.05, 95%CI ?1.68 to ?0.42, P=0.001), pilates (SMD=?0.96, 95%CI ?1.74 to ?1.78, P=0.016), multimodal training (SMD=?0.80, 95%CI ?1.33 to ?0.27, P=0.003) and stabilisation/motor control (SMD=?0.62, 95%CI ?1.03 to ?0.21, P=0.003). The effect of exercise therapy on function in patients with CLBP were in the following rankings: Mackenzie therapy (SMD=?0.62, 95%CI ?1.03 to ?0.21, P=0.003), and yoga (SMD=?0.88, 95%CI ?1.51 to ?0.25, P=0.007). Clusterank results showed that Mackenzie therapy, yoga, pilates, sling exercise and multimodal training were similar in improving pain and physical function in patients with CLBP.ConclusionsThe current study shows that yoga, Mackenzie therapy, pilates, sling exercise and multimodal training constitute the optimal group for improving CLBP symptoms. Health Qigong/Taichi is second only to yoga in improving pain in patients with CLBP, which has great promotional value.
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.
The primary advantage of network meta-analysis is the capability to quantify and compare different interventions for the same diseases and rank their benefits or harms according to a certain health outcome. The inclusion of a variety of interventions has increased the complexity of the conclusions drawing from a network meta-analysis, and based on the ranking results alone may lead to misleading conclusions. At present, there are no accepted standards for the conclusion drawing from a network meta-analysis. In November 2020, based on the evidence certainty results of network meta-analysis, the GRADE (Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) working group proposed two approaches to draw conclusions from a network meta-analysis: the partially contextualised framework and the minimally contextualised framework. This paper aimed to introduce principles and procedures of the minimal contextualised framework through a specific example to provide guidance for the network meta-analysis authors in China to present and interpret the results using minimally contextualised framework.
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.
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 three transcranial direct current stimulation protocols (anodal stimulation, cathodal stimulation, and bipolar stimulation) on upper extremity function interventions in stroke patients. MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of three transcranial direct current stimulation protocols on upper extremity function interventions in stroke patients from inception to April 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies; then, the network meta-analysis was performed by using R software and ADDIS software. ResultsA total of 64 RCTs involving 3 968 patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that, the probability order of the three stimulation methods on FMA-U, MBI, NIHSS score was: anode>bipolar>cathode>control. In addition, the probability order on ARAT and BBT score was: anode>cathode>bipolar>control. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that the intervention effect of anodic stimulation on upper limb function of stroke patients may be better. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.
ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of non-drug interventions on improving sleep quality in ICU patients by network meta-analysis.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on non-drug interventions on improving sleep quality in ICU patients from inception to December, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, network meta-analysis was performed by using the Stata 13.0 software.ResultsA total of 12 RCTs, involving 1 223 patients and 9 non-pharmacological interventions (music therapy, comprehensive nursing intervention, TCM emotions, music therapy+TCM emotions, Chinese medicine pillow therapy, ear acupressure, eye mask+earplugs+music, eye mask+earplugs, regular care) were included. The results of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) showed that eye mask+earplugs, eye masks, and comprehensive nursing interventions were superior to conventional care in improving sleep quality in ICU patients, and the rankings were: eye mask+earplugs>eye mask>comprehensive nursing intervention, music therapy+TCM emotional>Chinese medicine emotional>music therapy>general care. The results of Richards-Campbell sleep scale (RCSQ) showed that eye mask+earplugs+music, Chinese medicine pillow therapy, and auricular pressure beans were superior to conventional care, and the rankings were: eye mask+earplugs+music>Chinese medicine pillow therapy>music therapy>ear acupressure beans>general care.ConclusionsThe evidence shows that in improving the sleep quality of ICU patients, eye mask + earplug, eye mask, comprehensive nursing intervention, music therapy + TCM emotional characteristics may all be effective intervention methods. It is suggested that more non-drug interventions should be carried out in the future for enhancing the sleep quality of ICU patients.
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 systematically evaluate the effects of nine different dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot (DF). MethodsDatabases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2016), Web of Science, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and WanFang Data were searched to collect randomized control trials (RCTs) about the effects of dressings for the DF from inception to April 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then network meta-analysis was performed using WinBugs 1.4.3 and Stata 13.0 softwares. ResultsA total of 29 RCTs involving 2 393 patients were included. The network meta-analysis showed that silver ion was superior to alginate, hydrogel, honey, sterile gauze and povidone-iodine gauze; Alginate was superior to sterile gauze and povidone-iodine gauze; Hydrogel was superior to povidone-iodine gauze; Honey was superior to sterile gauze and povidone-iodine gauze; Foam was superior to silver ion, alginate, hydrogel, honey, sterile gauze, povidone-iodine gauze and antibacterials gauze; Chitosan was superior to hydrogel, sterile gauze and povidone-iodine gauze; Antibacterials gauze was superior to sterile gauze and povidone-iodine gauze. All of the differences were statistically significant. Probability ranking according to SUCRA showed that there was a great possibility for foam and chitosan in the treatment of DF. ConclusionBased on the results of network meta-analysis and rank, foam dressing and chitosan dressing are superior to other dressings in the treatment of DF. More attentions should be made regarding comparisons directly of different dressing and reporting of cost-effective analysis.
SAS Software is a powerful and internationally-recognized programming statistical software, which can implement all kinds of meta-analysis, including network meta-analysis. Bayesian statistics is an important statistical method, which uses MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) arithmetic to conduct various statistical inference. With this idea, we implement network meta-analysis thorough PROC MCMC process and introduce this process in this article based on an example.