41,016 papers found

BACKGROUND: Pain sensitization, defined as an increased responsiveness of nociceptive neurons to normal input, is detected in several musculoskeletal diseases, but there are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses about pain sensitization in shoulder pain. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to document pain sensitiza…

INTRODUCTION: Research has advanced our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cerebral edema and has propelled the development of novel antiedema therapeutics. Current evidence supports aberrant neuro-glial ion transport as a central mechanism that underlies pathological fluid accumulation after cen…

A number of meta-analyses have compared clinical outcomes following plate vs. intramedullary fixation for midshaft clavicle fractures (MSCF), but with conflicting results. There is a requirement for updated level-1 evidence to guide clinicians managing MSCF. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis wa…

OBJECTIVES: To compare progestin ovarian stimulation protocols with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (agonists and antagonists) protocols on newborn outcomes. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and BioMed Central databases were searched for studies comparing progestin p…

The prevalence of neuropathic pain is estimated to be between 7 and 10% in the general population. The efficacy of intravenous (IV) lidocaine has been studied by numerous clinical trials on patients with neuropathic pain. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of IV lidocaine c…

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant vitamins, including vitamins E and C, on patients with diabetes and albuminuria by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. DESIGN: The PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials at the Cochrane Lib…

INTRODUCTION: A number of studies in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) have reported varying prevalence of suicide among medical professionals with low rates. This may be because of the methods used in suicide assessment and the stigma associated with it. For this study, the prevalence of suicidal ideation, attempt a…

BACKGROUND: A few randomized clinical trials (RCT) and their meta-analyses have found patent foramen ovale closure (PFOC) to be beneficial in prevention of stroke compared to medical therapy. Whether the benefit is extended across all groups of patients remains unclear. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of PFOC…

Chronic breathlessness is a common and distressing symptom of advanced disease with few effective treatments. Central nervous system mechanisms are important in respiratory sensation and control. Consequently, drugs which may modify processing and perception of afferent information in the brain may have a role. Antidep…

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of intravenous acetaminophen in multimodal pain management in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of intravenous acetaminophen versus placebo in TKA. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or re…

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation is a routine intervention for the critically ill but patients' experiences of this intervention are largely hidden from clinicians. A comprehensive understanding of Intensive Care Units survivors' accounts is required to provide health professionals with evidence about the patients' e…

BACKGROUND: B cell function and antibody production are crucial factors in host protection during inflammation. We aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the association between the reduction of circulating B cells and plasma immunoglobulin (IgM) levels and decreased survival during sepsis. METHODS: We performe…

BACKGROUND: Muslims comprise 4.8% of the national population in the UK and also form a significant proportion of its ethnic minority population, with trends set to continue for the foreseeable future. With ethnic minority health inequalities deepening further, there is an apparent lack of strategies to effectively tack…

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of sham surgery in orthopedics by conducting a systematic review of literature. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted on Biomed Central, BMJ.com, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, NLM Central Gateway, OVID, ProQuest (Digital Dissertations), PsycInfo, PubMed/M…

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors (TNFi) are the most widely used systemic treatments for patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. There currently exists a U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning label on all TNFi for "rare cases of new onset or exacerbation of central nervous system…

BACKGROUND: Care bundles have proven to be effective in improving clinical outcomes. It is not known which strategies are the most effective to implement care bundles. A systematic review was conducted to determine the strategies used to implement care bundles in adult intensive care units and to assess the effects of…

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical trials have demonstrated the impact of blocking upstream renin-angiotensin-axis with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) on arterial stiffness as evaluated by pulse-wave velocity (PWV). We ran a meta-analysis to evaluate the anti-stiffness effect of powerful downstream angiote…

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to systematically compare the efficacy and safety of unilateral fixation to bilateral fixation for the lumbar degenerative disease. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched databases including PubMed Central, MEDLINE (from 1966), EMBASE (from 198…

BACKGROUND: The use of titanium during maxillofacial fixation is limited due to its palpability, mutagenic effects and interference with imaging, which lead to the requirement for subsequent removal. The use of a biologically absorbable fixation material will potentially eliminate these limitations. In this meta-analys…

The authors systematically reviewed evidence on iron status, as well as studies of iron supplementation, in individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). PubMed, Ovid, EMBASE and Web of Knowledge were searched on 4 July 2012. Quantitative appraisal of trials was performed using Jadad's score. Most (…