Can a dementia medicine (memantine) help people with autism spectrum disorder? Background Autism spectrum disorder (autism) is a condition that begins in childhood. Core symptoms include persistent difficulties with social communication (e.g. difficulties with back-and-forth conversations, communication without words, and in developing and maintaining relationships), and repetitive and restricted interests and behaviours (e.g. repetitive mannerisms, restricted interests and behaviours, resistance to change and sensory sensitivities). Around 1% to 2% of children have autism. Autistic people...

Acupuncture for insomnia in people with cancer This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of acupuncture therapy for insomnia in people with cancer, during and after active anti-cancer treatment. We will evaluate the effects at different periods of treatment in relation to cancer treatment (before, during, or after treatment), and analyse the effects of acupuncture on quality of life. This is a protocol....

Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for neuraxial anaesthesia in adults This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound guidance compared with anatomical landmarks for neuraxial anaesthesia in adults. This is a protocol....

What is the effectiveness and safety of luteal support in infertile women trying to conceive by intrauterine insemination (IUI) or by sexual intercourse? Background Luteal phase is part of the menstrual cycle. It is the time between the release of an egg (ovulation) and before the start of menstruation, and when the body produces progesterone (a hormone released by the ovaries) and prepares for a possible pregnancy. Ovarian stimulation (use of fertility medicines) might affect progesterone production during the luteal phase. Low levels of progesterone in the luteal phase are associated with...

School feeding programs for improving the physical and psychological health of school children experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effectiveness of school feeding programs for improving the physical and psychological health of children experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage across the world. To compare the effectiveness of school feeding programs for children experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage and those experiencing socioeconomic advantage. This includes subgroups by income and...

Liver and spleen stiffness as assessed by vibration controlled transient elastography for diagnosing clinically significant portal hypertension in comparison with other elastography-based techniques in adults with chronic liver disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of liver stiffness and spleen stiffness, as well as their combination, as measured by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) in the detection of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in adults with chronic liver...

Mistletoe extracts for cancer treatment This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of mistletoe extracts (Viscum album, European mistletoe) as antitumour treatment and for supportive/palliative care in adults with cancer. We will assess whether mistletoe extracts administered alone or in combination with tumour-specific therapies prolong progression free-intervals (PFI) and/or overall survival (OS); enhance tumour response; alleviate treatment-related adverse effects from conventional cancer treatment e.g. chemo‐ or...

Does use of mouth rinse before a dental procedure reduce the risk of infection transmission from patient to health professional? Why is this question important? Many dental procedures generate droplets that settle on a surface quickly. If high-speed instruments, such as a drill, are used, aerosols are generated, which consist of tiny particles that remain suspended in the air and that can be inhaled or that settle farther away on surfaces. These aerosols contain a variety of micro-organisms and may transmit infections either through direct contact or indirectly through the contaminated...

Running shoes for preventing lower-limb running injuries in adults Title Do different types of running shoes change the risk of developing a lower-limb injury? Key messages Neutral/cushioned shoes may make little or no difference to the number of runners sustaining injuries or footwear satisfaction compared with minimalist shoes. It is uncertain if motion control shoes reduce the number of runners sustaining injuries compared with neutral/ cushioned shoes. Soft midsole shoes may make little or no difference to the number of runners sustaining injuries compared with hard midsole shoes. It is...

Interventions to improve psychosexual function in women treated for gynaecological cancers This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the effectiveness and safety of interventions to improve psychosexual function in women treated for gynaecological cancers. This is a protocol....

The impact of cumulative medications with anticholinergic effects on future adverse clinical outcomes in people with dementia Key messages Anticholinergic medicines may increase the risk of death in older adults who have dementia. However, the evidence is low certainty, and we cannot say for certain if the anticholinergic medicines cause death, or if they are simply more likely to be used by people who are already at an increased risk of dying due to ongoing health problems. We cannot draw firm conclusions for the risk that anticholinergic medicines pose to the development of other...

What are the benefits of supervised programmes of exercise and education (known as pulmonary rehabilitation) compared with usual care for adults with asthma? Key messages - We found that people with asthma who take part in supervised programmes of exercise and education (known as pulmonary rehabilitation) are likely to get fitter (can walk further) and have better wellbeing immediately after completing these programmes compared to those who receive usual care. However, we are not certain if these benefits persist up to one year later. - Due to a lack of evidence, the effects of pulmonary...

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in people with cancer This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia in people with cancer. We will evaluate the effects at different periods of the cancer treatment (before, during, or after treatment), and analyse the effects of CBT on quality of life. This is a protocol....

What are the benefits and risks of psychological therapies for adults and young people over 12 years old with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)? Key messages The overall results are mixed, but indicate that psychological therapies may be a useful approach for painful TMD as there is some limited evidence that they can reduce the pain. Our review suggests that they may do this at least as well as other available treatments. Any negative effects of psychological therapies are unclear, and more research is needed before we can know whether they provide a noticeable benefit while...

Pharmacological interventions for depression in adults with chronic hepatitis B or C This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological interventions for depression in adults with chronic hepatitis B or C. This is a protocol....

Are medicines that delay the start of labour (tocolytics) effective for delaying preterm birth? Key messages • All tocolytics (medicines that delay labour) that we assessed (betamimetics, calcium channel blockers, magnesium sulphate, oxytocin receptor antagonists, nitric oxide donors) and their combinations were probably or possibly effective in delaying preterm birth for 48 hours and for 7 days compared with placebo (a dummy treatment) or no tocolytic treatment, • Tocolytics cause a wide range of unwanted effects (from minor to potentially severe) compared with placebo or no tocolytic...

Does using low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) instead of regular salt reduce blood pressure and heart disease risks, and is it safe? Key messages • In adults, using LSSS instead of regular salt in food probably lowers blood pressure slightly. Adults using LSSS instead of regular salt probably have a slightly lower risk of non-fatal heart conditions, such as stroke or a sudden reduced blood flow to the heart, and death from heart disease. • Using LSSS instead of regular salt probably also slightly increases the level of blood potassium (a mineral that keeps your heart beating at the right...

Behavioural family interventions versus structural family interventions for people with schizophrenia This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To examine the comparative efficacy and safety of behavioural versus structural family interventions for people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. This is a protocol....

Head impulse, nystagmus, and test of skew examination for diagnosing central causes of acute vestibular syndrome This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: The primary aim of this review will be to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the HINTS examination for identifying a central etiology for AVS. Secondary objectives Secondary objectives include assessing the diagnostic accuracy of HINTS amongst the following subgroups: specific providers (e.g. physicians, non-physicians) time from symptom onset to presentation (e.g. less than 24 hours, greater than...

Interventions for treating urinary incontinence in older women: a network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the different treatments (conservative, pharmacological, and surgical) in terms of cure or cure and improvement of urinary incontinence, and adverse events, in women aged 60 and over through a network meta-analysis, and ranking the numerous interventions within one treatment network. This is a protocol....