Evidence synthesis is the process of systematically gathering, analyzing, and integrating available research evidence. The quality of evidence synthesis depends on the quality of the original studies included. Validity assessment, also known as risk of bias assessment, is an essential method for assessing the quality of these original studies. Currently, there are numerous validity assessment tools available, but some of them lack a rigorous development process and evaluation. The application of inappropriate validity assessment tools to assessing the quality of the original studies during the evidence synthesis process may compromise the accuracy of study conclusions and mislead the clinical practice. To address this dilemma, the LATITUDES Network, a one-stop resource website for validity assessment tools, was established in September 2023, led by academics at the University of Bristol, U.K. This Network is dedicated to collecting, sorting and promoting validity assessment tools to improve the accuracy of original study validity assessments and increase the robustness and reliability of the results of evidence synthesis. This study introduces the background of the establishment of the LATITUDES Network, the included validity assessment tools, and the training resources for the use of validity assessment tools, in order to provide a reference for domestic scholars to learn more about the LATITUDES Network, to better use the appropriate validity assessment tools to conduct study quality assessments, and to provide references for the development of validity assessment tools.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of different SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure. Methods The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed and EMbase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure from inception to July 2, 2021. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 16.0 software. Results A total of 16 randomized controlled trials, including 15 312 patients, involving 5 interventions, namely dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, sotagliflozin and ertugliflozin were included. Results of network meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the compound outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, all-cause mortality, risk of cardiovascular mortality and serious adverse reactions among patients with heart failure among 5 different SGLT2 inhibitors (P>0.05). Compared with placebo, both selective and non-selective SGLT2 inhibitors improved the risk of hospitalization for heart failure, hospitalization for heart failure, or compound cardiovascular mortality (P<0.05), while only selective SGLT2 inhibitors improved the risk of cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, and serious adverse events (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05). The area under the cumulative ordering probability curve of selective and non-selective SGLT2 inhibitors ranked first and second, except for the combined outcome of heart failure or cardiovascular death. Conclusion The current evidence indicates that there is no significant difference in the efficacy and safety of the 5 different SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure, and there is no significant difference between selective SGLT2 inhibitors and non-selective SGLT2 inhibitors. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of Chinese medicine injection (CMI) for treating heart failure (HF).MethodsCNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMbase databases were electronically searched from inception to January 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CMI for treating HF. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by RevMan 5.2 software and Stata 16.0 software.ResultsA total of 47 studies were included involving 4 902 patients and 5 types of CMIs, including Shenmai, Shenfu, Yiqi Fumai (lyophilized), Shengmai, and Danhong injections. The results of network meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of combined CMIs was superior to conventional Western medicine alone. For the main efficacy, Shenmai, Shengmai, and Shenfu injections had significant advantages in improving the total clinical effectiveness. Shengmai, Shenmai, and Yiqi Fumai (lyophilized) injections were significantly more effective for reducing NT pro-BNP levels than other injections. Shenfu and Shengmai injections were significantly more effective for reducing BNP levels than other injections. Shenmai, Danhong and Shengmai injections were significantly more effective for improving the left ventricular ejection fraction than the other injections. These CMIs showed similar advantages for secondary efficacy indicators as for main efficacy indicators.ConclusionsThe combined 5 types of CMIs for treating HF can improve the clinical efficacy when compared with conventional Western medicine treatment. Shenmai injection, Yiqi Fumai injection (lyophilized), and Shengmai injection, which is part of Sheng Mai San, have clear advantages in terms of the overall curative effect or on individual indices.
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 different stimulation modalities of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with SSRI in improving depressed mood after stroke using network meta-analysis. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, CBM and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the objectives from inception to October 1, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by using R 4.2.1software. ResultsA total of 25 RCTs involving 2 152 patients were included. Four types of rTMS stimulation combined with SSRIs were included: high-frequency stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal (l-DLPFC), low-frequency stimulation of l-DLPFC, low-frequency stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal (r-DLPFC), and low-frequency stimulation of the bilateral DLPFC. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that the effect of combining four stimulation methods with SSRI in treating depression was better than that of SSRI alone (P<0.05). Probability sorting results showed that low-frequency stimulated bilateral DLPFC (88.9%) > low-frequency stimulated l-DLPFC (63.1%) > high-frequency stimulation l-DLPFC (57.1%) > low-frequency stimulation r-DLPFC (40.4%). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the four stimulation methods combined with SSRI and the use of SSRI alone (P>0.05). Conclusion rTMS combined with SSRIs is better than SSRIs alone in improving depressed mood after stroke. Low-frequency rTMS stimulation of bilateral DLPFC may be the best. Meanwhile, the safety of different stimulation methods is good.
Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common type of epilepsy in clinic. In recent years, many studies have found that patients with temporal lobe epilepsy have different degrees of influence in executive function related fields. This influence may not only exist in a certain field of executive function, but may be affected in several fields, and may be related to the origin site of seizures. However, up to now, there is no unified standard for the composition of executive function, and it is widely accepted that the three core components of executive function are working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility/switching. In addition, the International League Against Epilepsy proposed a new definition in 2010, and epilepsy is a brain network disease. There is a close relationship between brain neural network and cognitive impairment. According to the cognitive field, the brain neural network can be divided into six types: default mode network, salience network, executive control network, dorsal attention network, somatic motor network and visual network. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that four related internal brain networks are series in a range of cognitive processes. The executive dysfunction of temporal lobe epilepsy may be related to the changes of functional connectivity of neural network, and may be related to the left uncinate fasciculus. This article reviews the research progress related to executive function in temporal lobe epilepsy from working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, and discusses the correlation between the changes of temporal lobe epilepsy neural network and executive function research.
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.
Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a statistical technique that integrates data from multiple clinical studies and compares the efficacy and safety of multiple interventions, which can provide pro and con ranking results for all intervention options in the evidence network and provide direct evidence support for clinical decision-making. At present, NMA is usually based on the aggregation of the same type of data set, and there are still methodological and software difficulties in achieving cross-study design and cross-data format data set merging. The crossnma package of R programming language is based on Bayesian framework and Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, extending the three-level hierarchical model to the standard NMA data model to achieve differential merging of varied data types. The crossnma package fully considers the impact of risk bias caused by the combination of different types of data on the results by introducing model variables. In addition, the package provides functions such as result output and easy graphing, which makes it possible to combine NMA across study designs and evidence across data formats. In this study, the model based on crossnma package method and software operation will be demonstrated and explained through the examples of four individual participant datasets and two aggregate datasets.
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.