Is 'TENS' (electrical nerve stimulation through the skin) an effective treatment for period pain and does it cause unwanted effects? Key messages • Overall, both high-frequency and low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) may reduce pain compared with placebo (dummy treatment) or no treatment. • We are uncertain about the effects of high-frequency TENS compared with low-frequency TENS, the effects of both high- and low-frequency TENS compared with other treatments (acupressure, acetaminophen, interferential current therapy), and unwanted effects. • Future...

Treatment of liver cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease) Key messages – We do not know if standard catheterization plus albendazole is more effective or safer compared to puncture, aspiration, injection and re-aspiration (PAIR) plus albendazole for treating cystic echinococcosis at specific cyst stages (CE1 and CE3a). – People undergoing laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery plus albendazole may have slightly fewer minor complications and shorter hospital stay than people who receive open surgery plus albendazole. We do not know if laparoscopic surgery plus albendazole may lead to fewer cases of...

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an addition to standard treatment for gum disease around natural teeth or dental implants Key messages We are very unsure whether adding antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to standard treatment has any important benefits for adults with gum disease when compared to usual treatment alone. What is gum disease around natural teeth and around dental implants? Symptoms of gum (periodontal) disease include bleeding gums, swollen gums and bad breath. The infection can damage the soft tissues around the teeth, and in some cases people may lose their...

Shorter versus longer duration antibiotic regimens for treatment of culture-positive neonatal sepsis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the safety and effectiveness of shorter versus longer duration antibiotic regimens for the treatment of culture-positive neonatal sepsis with or without meningitis. This is a protocol....

Multisensory stimulation for promoting development and preventing morbidity in preterm infants This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of multisensory stimulation compared to any single sensory intervention or standard care for physical and neurological development in preterm infants. This is a protocol....

Trifocal compared with extended depth of focus intraocular lenses for people having cataract surgery What is the aim of this review? This Cochrane review aimed to assess the effects of artificial lenses placed in the eye after the removal of cataracts. In particular, we wanted to compare the outcomes of trifocal versus extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses. Key messages People who have trifocal or EDOF (TECNIS Symfony) lenses implanted following the removal of their cataracts may experience similar levels of distance vision. People receiving trifocal lenses may have better near...

Do bone-modifying medicines help reduce bone loss in women with early or locally advanced breast cancer? Key messages • Giving medicines that slow down bone breakdown (bone-modifying medicines) likely helps make bones stronger and lowers the chance of fractures, but it might also lead to more unwanted effects. • Because each treatment has its own benefits and drawbacks, it is difficult to determine which medicine is the best option. • We need more studies where these medicines are compared directly to each other. What is bone loss and why do people with cancer develop it? Bone loss means...

Lumbar braces and other assistive devices for treatment of chronic low back pain This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of assistive technologies (i.e. non-rigid and rigid lumbar braces, belts, supports, and devices to assist mobility and gait) for improving pain and function (and consequently reducing disability) in adults with chronic low back pain. This is a protocol....

Cognitive behavioural therapy and third-wave approaches for anxiety and related disorders in older people Does cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) work better than minimal management or other psychological therapies for older adults with anxiety disorders? Key messages • Evidence suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may reduce anxiety severity right after treatment compared to minimal management. However, the lessening in anxiety severity may not be sustained and, at six months, there may be no difference between treatments. • Due to a lack of evidence, we do not know if CBT is...

Carotid revascularisation versus medical treatment for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the safety and efficacy of carotid revascularisation plus best medical treatment with best medical treatment alone in people with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. This is a protocol....

Does treating the coronary arteries of the heart help prevent heart attacks during major blood vessels surgeries? Key messages - We do not know if treating the coronary arteries (blood vessels of the heart) prior to major vascular surgery (surgery to the blood vessels) has an effect on preventing acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and death (mortality) during surgery. Acute myocardial infarction may be reduced in the long term, but the evidence is very uncertain, and length of hospital stay may be reduced slightly. - In order to determine the effect of treating the coronary arteries...

Haloperidol compared to olanzapine for people with schizophrenia Key messages We are very uncertain whether there is a difference between the two medications in terms of benefits. Olanzapine may have slight advantages in terms of improving general state of mind (behaviour, mood, thoughts, perceptions, etc.) and may have some advantages in terms of quality of life. People are more likely to gain weight with olanzapine and more likely to develop movement problems with haloperidol. People on haloperidol are more likely to stop taking their medication. When choosing between haloperidol and...

What are the benefits and risks of catheter material and design innovations (thin plastic tubes that deliver blood and medicine to the veins) to reduce complications and infections that lead to premature catheter failure? Key messages Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are associated with serious complications, a high failure rate, and negative aftereffects for patients and healthcare systems. There is a lack of strong evidence to evaluate the benefits and risks of PICC design and material (e.g. silicone versus polyurethane) to prevent catheter complications, infection, and...

Cytoreductive surgery plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of secondary CRS and chemotherapy in comparison to chemotherapy alone for women with platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. This is a protocol....

Peritoneal dialysis versus haemodialysis for people starting long-term dialysis Key messages - The existing research does not provide sufficient evidence to draw confident conclusions regarding the relative effects of peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis on health outcomes for people with kidney failure. - As most results came from observational rather than randomised studies, it remains uncertain what are the relative benefits and harms of peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis. - The results are limited in generalisability due to very diverse clinical practice patterns, eligibility...

Using evidence from civil society in national and subnational health policy processes: a qualitative evidence synthesis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (qualitative). The objectives are as follows: To explore the use of evidence from civil society in national and subnational health policy processes. The specific research questions will include the following. How is evidence from civil society incorporated into health policy processes and what types of evidence are (or are not) incorporated? How do civil society actors perceive and experience the use of their evidence in health...

Ultrasound and blind endometrial sampling for detection of endometrial cancer in women with postmenopausal bleeding This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial sampling with histology in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer in women with postmenopausal bleeding and thickened endometrium on ultrasound. Diagnosis will be verified by the reference standards, hysteroscopy with histology, obtained by targeted (such as grasp biopsy of the endometrium or resection of focal pathology) or global sampling (with...

Management of intractable constipation in children Key messages • There may be little to no difference between lubiprostone and placebo (dummy treatment) in achieving treatment success in children with intractable constipation. We also found that lubiprostone is probably as safe as placebo. • There is probably little or no difference between prucalopride, also a laxative, and placebo in frequency of defecation per day, treatment success, and safety. • It is unclear whether any of the other treatments we looked at are helpful. The evidence is uncertain because of the very low number of study...

Ultra-early versus early surgery for hip fracture This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of ultra-early versus early surgery for hip fracture in adults. This is a protocol....

What are the benefits and risks of interventions to increase time spent outdoors for preventing the incidence and progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children? Key message An intervention of spending more time outdoors may potentially reduce the onset of myopia. However, we are uncertain if the intervention might reduce the progression of myopia. What is myopia? Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a disease in which individuals see near objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurred. In recent years, myopia has become a major public health problem all over the world. Myopia is the...