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.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of eight time-restricted eating strategies on overweight/obese adults using network meta-analysis. MethodsThe Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the intervention effects of eight time-restricted eating strategies on overweight/obese adults from inception to September 18, 2024. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was performed using ADDIS 1.16.8 and Stata 18.0 software. ResultsA total of 23 RCTs involving 1 306 overweight/obese adults were included. The network meta-analysis revealed that compared with standard diets, the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with a low-carbohydrate diet (MD=−4.01, 95%CI −5.95 to −2.08, P<0.05) showed better weight reduction effects. Compared with standard diets, the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with a low-carbohydrate diet (MD=−3.54, 95%CI −5.44 to −1.63, P<0.05) and the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with a low-sugar diet (MD=−4.19, 95%CI −8.33 to −0.05, P<0.05) significantly improved overall fat mass. Compared with standard diets, the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with a low-sugar diet (MD=−15.42, 95%CI −29.12 to −1.72, P<0.05) had a better effect on fasting blood glucose control. The 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with high-intensity interval training (MD=−3.68, 95%CI −6.57 to −0.79, P<0.05) showed better results in reducing waist circumference. No statistical significance was found in direct comparisons regarding bone mineral content. The efficacy ranking showed that the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with a low-carbohydrate diet was most effective for weight reduction; the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with a low-sugar diet was more effective in reducing overall fat mass and controlling fasting blood glucose; the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with calorie restriction had significant effects on waist circumference improvement; and the 8-hour time-restricted eating combined with high-intensity interval training was more effective for increasing bone mineral content. ConclusionBased on the results of the network meta-analysis and ranking, different time-restricted eating strategies have specific advantages for the intervention of overweight or obese individuals. The choice of the appropriate strategy should consider individual dietary habits and health conditions. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
It is a challenge for clinicians and diagnostic systematic reviewers to determine the best test in clinical diagnosis and screening. Meanwhile, it also becomes the new chance and challenge for diagnostic test meta-analysis. Network meta-analysis has been commonly used in intervention systematic reviews, which can compare the effect size of all available interventions and to choose the best intervention. Network meta-analysis of diagnostic test can be defined as comparing all available diagnostic technologies in the same conditions based on the common reference tests. In order to provide the guide for diagnostic systematic reviewers, we aims to introduce four methods of conducting diagnostic test accuracy network meta-analysis, and to explore two ranking methods of network meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of different screening tools for sarcopenia in the community for the elderly with sarcopenia, and to provide evidence-based support for the accurate screening of elderly patients with sarcopenia. MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, VIP, CBM, and WanFang Data databases were searched by computer, and the relevant research on the diagnosis of sarcopenia in the elderly by publicly published risk screening tools was found. The retrieval time was from inception to June 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies, and then data analysis was performed by using Stata 15.1 and Meta Disc 1.4 software. ResultsA total of 24 studies were included, including 10 961 patients, involving 8 risk screening tools for sarcopenia in the elderly: leg circumference, MSRA-5, MSRA-7, upper arm circumference, ring test, Ishii score, SARC-CalF and SARC-F. Meta-analysis showed that the combined sensitivities of eight screening tools were 0.84 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.15), 0.82 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.38), 0.80 (95% CI 0.47 to 1.36) and 0.72 (95%CI 0.33 to 1.55), 0.67 (95%CI 0.37 to 1.21), 0.63 (95%CI 0.33 to 1.19), 0.49 (95%CI 0.38 to 0.63), 0.24 (95%CI 0.18 to 0.30), and the combined specificities were 0.39 (95%CI 0.18 to 0.82)、0.52 (95%CI 0.29 to 0.93)、0.54 (95%CI 0.29 to 1.03)、0.62 (95%CI 0.49 to 0.79)、0.63 (95%CI 0.50 to 0.78).The results of reticular meta-analysis showed that the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) of the eight screening tools ranked from high to low according to the cumulative sensitivity: calf circumference (67.4%) > MSRA-5 (65.3%) > MSRA-7 (64.1%) > upper arm circumference (54.5%) > ring test (46.5%) > Ishii score. The values of specificity SUCRA from highest to lowest were as follows: SARC-F (72.2%) > SARC-CALF (71.3%) > Ishii score (60.2%) > ring test (57.1%) > upper arm circumference (40.1%) > lower leg circumference (36.2%) > MSRA-5. ConclusionThe simple screening tool for common sarcopenia has high sensitivity and high specificity, so medical staff can give priority to the combination of the two screening tools, namely SARC-CalF. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effect of different psychological intervention methods on depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on psychological interventions on depression of patients with inflammatory bowel disease from inception to January 12, 2023. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then conducted by using software Stata and GeMTC. ResultsA total of 18 articles, 1 567 patients and 6 psychological intervention methods were included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that, compared with conventional nursing, music therapy, mindfulness therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy had statistically significant differences in the intervention effect of depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (P<0.05); Among the six psychological intervention methods included, there was a statistically significant difference in relaxation therapy compared with music therapy, writing expression and mindfulness therapy (P<0.05); The difference between cognitive behavioral therapy and music therapy and mindfulness therapy was statistically significant (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in other interventions (P>0.05). The SUCRA ranking probability chart showed that music therapy was the best intervention method for depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, followed by mindfulness therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. ConclusionThe current evidence suggests that music therapy has an advantage in relieving depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, followed by mindfulness therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
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.
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 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.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of different nucleosides (acids) in preventing hepatitis B virus reactivation after chemotherapy in cancer patients. MethodsThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different nucleosides (acids) to prevent HBV reactivation after chemotherapy in cancer patients from inception to June 7th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by using Stata 16.0 software. ResultsA total of 43 RCTs involving 3 269 patients were included. There were 7 interventions, namely entecavir (ETV), lamivudine (LAM), adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), telbivudine (LdT), tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF), lamivudine combined with entecavir (LAM+ETV), and lamivudine combined with adefovir dipivoxil (LAM+ADV). The results of network meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of reducing the reactivation rate of ETV, LAM, ADV, LdT, TDF, LAM+ETV, LAM+ADV were superior than the control group. The ETV, LAM and ADV were not as effective as LAM+ETV. The leading drug combinations were LAM+ETV (94.8%), LdT (81.5%) and LA+ADV (58.0%). ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that LAM+ETV, LdT, and LA+ADV are more effective in preventing hepatitis B virus reactivation after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusions.
Network meta-analyses (NMA) of survival data often rely on the proportional hazards (PH) assumption, however, this assumption fails when survival curves intersect. With the emergence of innovative therapies such as immunotherapy, the importance of NMA based on non-proportional hazards (non-PH) in the current evidence-based medicine evaluation of oncology drugs has become increasingly prominent. Fractional polynomial (FP) models do not rely on the assumption of PH, which can flexibly capture the characteristics of survival curves, and the corresponding fitting effects are better than those of the PH models. This study introduced a complete workflow in R for NMA using FP models with non-PH.