Low FODMAP diet for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of the low FODMAP diet on global symptoms (defined by the overall IBS Symptom Severity Score) in adults with IBS. Secondary objectives include assessing the impact of the low FODMAP diet on individual symptoms (including pain, bloating, and bowel habit dissatisfaction) and overall quality of life, as well as assessing potential adverse effects. This is a protocol....

Breastfeeding in infants diagnosed with phenylketonuria This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of breastfeeding (exclusive or partial) compared to low-Phe formula feeding in the first six months after birth in infants diagnosed with PKU. This is a protocol....

Immunity in vulnerable groups after COVID-19 vaccination What did we want to find out? We wanted to find out which studies on the most commonly used COVID-19 vaccines in vulnerable subgroups have been published, and which outcomes were reported (e.g. effectiveness outcomes, safety, or immune response), to decide on the most relevant questions and answer these in further effectiveness systematic reviews (syntheses of the medical literature). What did we do? We searched medical databases and trial registries for studies on COVID-19 vaccines that were authorised for use in the European Union...

Does stopping smoking make people with heart disease less likely to have another heart attack? Key messages • People with heart disease who stop smoking are likely to experience a decreased risk in future heart attacks or other events linked to the heart or blood vessels, such as stroke. • People with heart disease who stop smoking are unlikely to have worse quality of life. Smoking and heart disease Smoking increases the chances that a person will have a heart attack, however there is less information on whether stopping smoking can reduce the risk of having a second heart attack. Why we...

Minimally invasive treatments to dissolve blood clots in the lungs (acute pulmonary embolism) Background What is acute pulmonary embolism? Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a major cause of death and illness in people in hospital. APE occurs when a piece of blood clot (the embolus) breaks off from a blood clot elsewhere in the body (deep vein thrombosis) and travels in the blood to the lungs. The embolus gets stuck in the lung blood vessel(s), and the consequences range from no symptoms to sudden death. The risk of dying from APE can be classified by clinical assessment, along with...

Molnupiravir for treating COVID-19 This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of molnupiravir in people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild-to-moderate symptoms, with or without risk factors for severe disease. This is a protocol....

Hydrogel dressings for venous leg ulcers Key messages We cannot be certain whether hydrogel dressings are any more effective for healing of venous leg ulcers than other types of dressing such as gauze and saline, alginate, manuka honey or hydrocolloid. There was not enough information to be sure how hydrogel dressings compare with other dressings in terms of potential side effects. What are venous leg ulcers? Venous leg ulcers are wounds or sores on the leg caused by alterations in the circulation of blood in the veins. They are hard-to-heal wounds. Venous leg ulcers may cause pain, itching...

Interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake Background Vaccines are effective in preventing death or severe illness from COVID-19, a disease for which few treatments are available. Widespread vaccination against COVID-19 may help protect those not yet able to get vaccinated. However, many people do not want to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This can put them at increased risk of severe disease and death. What was our aim? We wanted to find out which interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake have been or are currently evaluated. Methods We searched medical databases and trial...

Impact of computed tomography (CT) on lung cancer screening Background Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lung cancer survival is significantly dependent on when a person is diagnosed with the disease. It is essential to detect the disease as early as possible by radiography (chest x-ray) or by computed tomography (CT) scan, which is a more detailed type of radiography where multiple images of the lung are taken. The aim of this review was to gather information on the use of CT scan to detect lung cancer earlier and to find out if early detection of lung...

Stem cell transplantation for the treatment of systemic sclerosis We conducted a review of the medical literature in February 2022to study the benefits and harms of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in people with systemic sclerosis (SSc). What is systemic sclerosis and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation? SSc is an autoimmune disease (where the body's natural defense system attacks normal cells) that affects the skin and internal organs (lungs, digestive system, etc.). Symptoms associated with SSc include thickening of the skin, shortness of breath, digestive symptoms, and...

Liver support systems for adults with acute liver failure This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of liver support systems for adults with acute liver failure. This is a protocol....

Topical anti-inflammatory treatments for eczema: network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the efficacy and safety of topical anti-inflammatory treatments for reducing eczema symptoms or signs or improving eczema-related quality of life in children and adults with eczema, by undertaking a network meta-analysis. To provide a clinically useful ranking of these treatments according to their efficacy and safety. This is a protocol....

What is the accuracy of different combinations of ultrasound imaging and blood tests to diagnose ovarian cancer in women before and after the menopause? Why is improving the diagnosis of ovarian cancer important? Many women diagnosed with ovarian cancer (OC) die from the disease, because it has usually spread outside the tubes/ovaries at the time of diagnosis. Missing OC (a false-negative result) may need major surgery and a lower chance of survival. An incorrect diagnosis of OC (a false-positive result) may result in anxiety, unnecessary further tests and surgery. What did we aim to do? We...

Corticosteroids for treatment of leptospirosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of corticosteroids for treatment of people with leptospirosis. This is a protocol....

Aspirin and similar drugs for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) Key messages - When used after standard initial treatment with anticoagulants, aspirin and similar drugs (antiplatelet agents) in addition to best medical practice (BMP), may reduce recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), i.e. deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), when compared to BMP plus placebo in a chronic DVT setting. There is no clear difference in side effects, major bleeding or PE with the use of antiplatelet agents. - Studies of high methodological quality that are large and long enough to...

Mucolytics for children with chronic suppurative lung disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of mucolytics for reducing exacerbations and improving quality of life in children with CSLD (including PBB and bronchiectasis), and to assess the risk of harm due to adverse events. This is a protocol....

Predictive factors for BK polyomavirus infection in solid organ transplant recipients This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (prognosis). The objectives are as follows: To (a) define the prognostic factors that predict the development of BKPyV infections in kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients, and (b) explore sources of heterogeneity. This is a protocol....

Are there good ways to find out if people living with HIV are taking their medicines every day? The issue For people with HIV, taking their HIV medicines every day (adherence), is vital to keep HIV under control. The best way to measure peoples’ adherence to HIV medicines is with ‘viral load testing’, which tells us how much virus there is in the blood. Viral load testing is not available everywhere, such as in places where there is lack of funds. If we could measure adherence with a more readily available measure, this might help detect people who need more help with taking their medicines....

Treatment of sudden hearing loss with corticosteroids applied into the middle ear What is sudden hearing loss? Sudden hearing loss is a condition characterised by the sudden onset (usually within 72 hours) of reduced or absent hearing. How is it treated? People have often used corticosteroids – a type of anti-inflammatory medicine - to treat the condition. These medicines are usually taken by mouth or injected into the body (known as systemic corticosteroids), but can also be given as an injection directly into the middle ear, through the eardrum (known as intratympanic corticosteroids)....

Non-pharmacological interventions for the prevention of hospitalisations in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: component network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: We aim to assess, via component based network meta-analysis, the effects of non-pharmacological intervention components, and their combinations, in people with COPD. Specific objectives are to: estimate the relative effects of components of non-pharmacological interventions, and their combinations for prevention of hospital admissions; estimate the...