382,560 papers found

BACKGROUND: Advances in early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has seen marked improvements in recent years. However, it is still the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although there are studies reporting the significance of miRNAs in stage II colorectal cancer, there is no known…

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has developed rapidly and a variety of feasible technical methods have been formed. VATS is the main way of lung cancer resection nowadays with minor surgical incision and less bleeding. Robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is a revolution in surgical procedures…

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of women undergo breast augmentation at their reproductive age. The most existing evidence focuses on the impact of breast implant on the index women's health and breastfeeding after they give birth to a child. No previous systematic review has investigated the association between breas…

BACKGROUND: The widespread implementation of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has broadened the reconstructive repertoire for alloplastic breast reconstruction. ADM's role in the context of postoperative radiation therapy remains unclear. The present review will evaluate whether ADM reduces complication rates in patients…

BACKGROUND: Essential hypertension is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, as well as a leading risk factor for cardiocerebrovascular diseases. Zhengan Xifeng Decoction (ZGXFD) has been widely used to treat essential hypertension, but there is no systematic review by assessing efficacy and safety of ZGXFD…

BACKGROUND: Ventilator has been reported to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, its efficacy is still inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aims to evaluate its efficacy and safety for the treatment of patients with ARDS. METHODS: The electronic databases of Cochrane centr…

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia is one of the most common metabolic diseases worldwide, as well as a leading risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Banxia Baizhu Tianma decoction (BBTD) is widely used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in China, however, systematic review and meta-analysis regarding its efficacy…

The use of individual patient data (IPD) in network meta-analysis (NMA) is becoming increasingly popular. However, as most studies do not report IPD, most NMAs are performed using aggregate data for at least some, if not all, of the studies. We investigate the benefits of including varying proportions of IPD studies in…

Economic analysts are increasingly likely to rely on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of health state utility values to inform the parameter inputs of decision-analytic modelling-based economic evaluations. Beyond the context of economic evaluation, evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of health state…

BACKGROUND: Conflict findings of the impact of inhalational anesthetics on postoperative cognitive function are reported. No systematic review has been performed to solve the problem. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of different inhalational anesthetics on postoperative cognitive function in a network met…

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most common joint replacement surgeries in the United States. Postoperative pain is still a major complication after TKA. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been commonly used in clinical practice for pain after TKA, but its effects and safety remain uncertain. This prot…

Meta-analysis is becoming increasingly popular in the field of ecology and environmental management. It increases the effective power of analyses relative to single studies, and allows researchers to investigate effect modifiers and sources of heterogeneity that could not be easily examined within single studies. Many…

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is one of the worst malignant digestive neoplasms with poor treatment outcomes. Esophagectomy plays an important role and offers a potential curable chance to these patients. However, esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy is known as one of the most invasive digestive surgeries which…

BACKGROUND: Evidence has shown that people living with nonpsychotic mental disorders experience difficulties in maintaining their daily living, consequently impacting on psychological well-being. However, the role of daily life experience remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the a…

BACKGROUND: Evidence highlights a high prevalence of common mental health disorders in armed forces veterans and their families, with depression, anxiety, alcohol misuse and anger being more common than PTSD. This paper presents a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify existing randomised contro…

INTRODUCTION: The existing medications approved for treatment of primary osteoporosis can be divided into antiresorptive drugs and anabolic drugs. According to the mechanisms of action, the combined therapy may produce a synergistic effect on bone mineral density (BMD) compared with monotherapy, and thus improves the e…

INTRODUCTION: Obesity and overweight are an emerging problem in Africa. Obese children are at increased risk of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, orthopaedic problems and type 2 diabetes as well as increased risk of adult obesity. Prevention of childhood overweight and obesity therefore needs high priority. Th…

BACKGROUND: Although the results of a recent meta-analysis using the traditional random effects model yielded a statistically significant standardized mean difference (SMD) reduction in cancer-related fatigue (CRF) as a result of aerobic exercise, a recently developed inverse heterogeneity (IVhet) model has been shown…

AIM: To identify, critically appraise and synthesize the best current evidence on the use of vaginal cones or balls to improve pelvic floor muscle performance and urinary continence in women post partum. BACKGROUND: The vaginal use of cones or balls is a pelvic floor muscle training method that aims to enhance muscle…