Intermittent phototherapy versus continuous phototherapy for neonatal jaundice Review question In jaundiced newborn infants, is intermittent phototherapy compared with continuous phototherapy effective in reducing bilirubin levels. Background Neonatal jaundice is a yellowish discolouration of the of the newborn infant's skin due to high bilirubin (a yellow compound that occurs naturally in the blood) levels. Phototherapy (light therapy) is widely accepted as an effective treatment for jaundiced newborn infants. Phototherapy is usually used continuously but intermittent phototherapy has some...

What are the benefits and risks of corticosteroids given directly to the ear in Ménière's disease? Key messages Due to a lack of robust evidence, it is not clear whether corticosteroids given into the ear (intratympanic corticosteroids) work to improve symptoms for people with Ménière's disease. It is also not clear whether there are any risks associated with treatment. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed in order to identify whether this treatment may be effective, and to assess whether there are any harmful effects. Further work also needs to be done to find out how best to...

Entecavir for children and adults with chronic hepatitis B This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of entecavir versus no treatment or placebo for chronic hepatitis B infection in children and adults with chronic hepatitis B infection, who are either HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative. This is a protocol....

Overall prognosis of acute and chronic musculoskeletal, widespread, and neuropathic pain in children and adolescents This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (prognosis). The objectives are as follows: We aim to describe the overall prognosis (focusing on the pain course) and the negative impact(s) of acute and chronic musculoskeletal, widespread, and neuropathic pain in children (aged six to 12 years) and adolescents (aged 13 to 18 years) by evaluating: incidence of pain recovery at three and 12 months after reporting acute or chronic pain; change in pain severity at three and 12 months...

Medicines for central sleep apnoea in adults Key messages Studies in this area are small and we were unable to conclude whether any of the medicines studied helped people with central sleep apnoea (CSA) compared with dummy treatment. What is central sleep apnoea and how is it treated? CSA is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep because the brain does not send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. CSA mainly affects men and people with heart disease. The condition is different from and less common than obstructive sleep apnoea, where breathing...

Plastic stents versus fully covered self-expandable metallic stents for biliary tract strictures in adults with non-cancerous bile duct lesions This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of fully covered self-expandable metallic stents for the treatment of biliary tract strictures in adults with non-cancerous bile duct lesions comparted to plastic stents. This is a protocol....

Progestin intrauterine devices versus copper intrauterine devices for emergency contraception Why is this review important? This review is important as there are few available choices for emergency contraception (EC). Copper intrauterine devices (Cu‐IUDs) are the most effective method for EC currently available, but their use and uptake is low. We examined the literature to see if the levonorgestrel IUD (LNG‐IUD) was as effective as other methods for EC. If it were found to be as effective, it would increase the range of options available to women seeking EC. How did we identify and evaluate...

What are the benefits and risks of different lifestyle and dietary changes for Ménière's disease? Key messages Due to a lack of robust evidence, it is not clear whether any lifestyle or dietary changes used to treat Ménière's disease work to improve people's symptoms, despite their routine use in clinical practice. We also do not know if there are any risks associated with these interventions. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed in order to identify whether any lifestyle or dietary changes may be effective, and assess whether they have any harmful effects. Further work also needs...

What are the benefits and risks of gentamicin given directly to the ear in Ménière's disease? Key messages Due to a lack of robust evidence, it is not clear whether gentamicin - an antibiotic given into the ear (intratympanic gentamicin) works to improve symptoms for people with Ménière's disease. It is also not clear whether there are any risks associated with treatment. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed to identify whether this treatment may be effective, and to assess whether there are any harmful effects. Further work also needs to be done to find out how best to measure the...

Vaccines for the prevention of infections in adults with haematological malignancies This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and adverse effects of vaccines for the prevention of infections in adults with haematological malignancies. This is a protocol....

What are the benefits and risks of different types of surgery for Ménière's disease? Key messages Due to a lack of robust evidence, it is not clear whether any types of surgery used to treat Ménière's disease work to improve people's symptoms. There was no information regarding the potential for serious risks from these treatments. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed in order to identify whether surgery may be effective, and assess whether there are any harmful effects of treatment. Further work also needs to be done to find out how best to measure the symptoms of people with...

Simvastatin for lowering lipids This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of different doses of simvastatin on lipid parameters and withdrawals due to adverse effects (WDAEs) in people of any age compared to placebo. This is a protocol....

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced pancreatic cancer This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as monotherapy or in combination (with chemotherapy or targeted therapy), for people with advanced pancreatic cancer compared with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or placebo. This is a protocol....

What are the benefits and risks of different medications for Ménière's disease? Key messages Due to a lack of robust evidence, it is not clear whether any oral medicines (tablets) used to treat Ménière's disease work to improve people's symptoms, despite their routine use in clinical practice. When used for other conditions, these medications may cause side effects. However, there was too little information from the studies in Ménière’s disease for us to know if there are serious risks from these treatments. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed in order to identify whether some...

What are the benefits and risks of positive pressure therapy for Ménière's disease? Key messages Due to a lack of robust evidence, it is not clear whether positive pressure therapy works to improve the symptoms of people with Ménière's disease. We did not find any information on whether this treatment may cause any harm. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed in order to identify whether positive pressure therapy may be effective, and make sure that there are no harmful effects of treatment. Further work also needs to be done to find out how best to measure the symptoms of people...

Ketamine and other NMDA receptor antagonists for chronic pain This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of ketamine and other NDMA receptor antagonists compared to placebo, usual care, or other medicines for adults with chronic non-cancer pain. This is a protocol....

Risk factors for the development and progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (a diabetes complication affecting eyes) Review question We wanted to find out which factors may increase or reduce the chance that people with diabetes develop proliferative diabetic retinopathy and high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy, both sight-threatening complications of diabetes. Background In diabetes, over time, raised blood sugar levels damage fine blood vessels in the retina, the layer at the back of the eye that gives people sight. This is called ‘diabetic retinopathy’. In some people...

Methods for informing people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease of their diagnosis Review question We planned to assess the evidence about communicating the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or motor neuron disease (MND). Background ALS, which is also known as MND, is an illness affecting the nerves that control movement. It causes increasing disability, including limb weakness, difficulty with breathing, and speech and swallowing problems. Most importantly, people with ALS/MND have to cope with the fact that ALS/MND usually leads to death within three to...

Catheter insertion techniques for improving catheter function and clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis patients What is the issue? Peritoneal dialysis (PD) relies on the insertion of a flexible plastic catheter, which is passed into the peritoneal cavity (space around the abdominal organs) to provide dialysis treatment. This tube must be able to allow the circulation of sterile fluid in and out of the peritoneal cavity several times each day (or overnight) to provide optimum clearance of waste products and water. The technique used to initially place the PD catheter into the peritoneal...

Does tranexamic acid (a medicine used to improve blood clotting) reduce bleeding during endoscopic surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis? What is chronic rhinosinusitis? Chronic rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that has lasted for at least 12 weeks. People with chronic rhinosinusitis can experience symptoms such as a blocked or runny nose, a feeling of facial pain or pressure, or a reduction or loss of the sense of smell. Some people may also have polyps in their nose, which can worsen the symptoms. How is chronic rhinosinusitis treated? Chronic rhinosinusitis is usually treated...