Medicines for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Why is this review important? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe and disabling condition which may develop in people exposed to traumatic events. Such events can have long-lasting negative repercussions on the lives of those who have experienced them, as well as on the lives of loved ones. Research has shown that there are some alterations in how the brain works in people with PTSD. Some researchers have thus proposed using medicines to target these alterations soon after a traumatic event, as a way to prevent the...

Interventions for the treatment of persistent post-viral olfactory dysfunction This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of interventions that have been used to treat post-viral olfactory dysfunction. This is a protocol....

Folic acid supplementation and malaria susceptibility and severity among people taking antifolate antimalarial drugs in endemic areas This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To examine the effects of folic acid supplementation, at various doses, on malaria susceptibility (risk of infection) and severity among people living in areas with various degrees of malaria endemicity. We will examine the interaction between folic acid supplements and antifolate antimalarial drugs. Specifically, we will aim to answer the following. Among uninfected people...

Low-carbohydrate diets or balanced-carbohydrate diets: which works better for weight loss and heart disease risks? Key messages • There is probably little to no difference in the weight lost by people following low-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets (also known as 'low-carb diets') compared to the weight lost by people following balanced-carbohydrate weight-reducing diets, for up to two years. • Similarly, there is probably little to no difference between the diets for changes in heart disease risks, like diastolic blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c, a measure of blood sugar...

Are medicines that block interleukin‐1 (a protein involved in immune responses) effective treatments for COVID‐19 and do they cause unwanted effects? Key messages • Overall, we did not find sufficient evidence to show that medicines that block interleukin-1 (a protein involved in immune responses) are effective treatments for people with COVID-19, or whether they cause unwanted effects. • We found 16 studies with unpublished results. We will update this review when new data are available. • In future, we need high-quality studies to evaluate medicines that block interleukin-1 to treat...

Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective colorectal surgery This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: The aim of this review is to assess the evidence for the use of combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective colorectal surgery. This is a protocol....

Esketamine for treatment-resistant depression in adults This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: The main aim of this Cochrane review is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Secondary aims are to assess the risk of specific adverse events during esketamine treatment, and its acceptability. This is a protocol....

Cuffed versus uncuffed endotracheal tubes for neonates Background: newborn babies rarely need a tube placed in the windpipe; however, this may occur before a procedure or to help with breathing. The tube may or may not have a cuff. The standard of care in newborn babies is a tube without a cuff. Cuffed tubes are used more frequently in older babies and children to reduce leaks of gas around the tube, the risk of aspiration (breathing food, saliva, or stomach contents into the airways or lungs), the need to change the tube, or the tube coming out. Review question: in this review, we evaluated...

Non-pharmacological interventions for fibromyalgia (fibromyalgia syndrome) in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (overview). The objectives are as follows: To summarise the evidence on the effectiveness, acceptability, and safety of non-pharmacological interventions for FMS in adults. To explore variability in methods across Cochrane Reviews, in regards to inclusion/exclusion criteria, outcomes, comparisons, and the methods of assessment of adverse events. To examine the quality of Cochrane Reviews of FMS and inform on how reporting of Cochrane...

Fluid removal therapy in acute heart failure Review question What are the effects of ultrafiltration (UF), a fluid removal therapy, in acute heart failure (AHF)? Background AHF is a common condition where the heart does not pump effectively, causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs and body. This causes difficulty in breathing, damage to heart and kidneys, high readmission to hospital and high death rates. Usual care involves medications called diuretics to remove this excess fluid, but some people may become resistant to it. UF provides an alternative therapy to quickly remove fluid. A...

Interventions for smokeless tobacco use cessation This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of behavioural and pharmacological interventions for smokeless tobacco use cessation. This is a protocol....

Prophylactic antibiotics for uterine evacuation procedures to treat miscarriage This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of routine antibiotic prophylaxis to women undergoing uterine evacuation procedures to treat miscarriage. This is a protocol....

Gut microbial biomarkers for predicting adverse outcomes in people with chronic kidney disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (prognosis). The objectives are as follows: To (a) identify the gut microbial biomarkers in patients with CKD, on dialysis, and with kidney transplants; (b) determine whether these biomarkers are associated independently with adverse patient-relevant outcomes leading to progression of CKD stages 1 to 5; and (c) explore sources of heterogeneity. Investigation of sources of heterogeneity between studies We will explore potential sources of heterogeneity that...

Exercise training for adults receiving dialysis treatments What is the issue? People undergoing dialysis treatments are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and depression, have a lower quality of life and limited survival than the general population. Furthermore, many people undergoing dialysis have difficulty performing daily activities because they lack the physical capacity and strength to do so. Multiple trials have assessed the potential for exercise training to improve the condition of adults undergoing dialysis, but no consensus has been reached. What did we do? We searched the...

Dose reduction and discontinuation of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for juvenile idiopathic arthritis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of dose reduction or discontinuation of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in children and young people with clinically inactive juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This is a common protocol for two separate reviews: one on systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis and one on non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. A secondary objective is to keep...

Factors that impact on recruitment to vaccine trials during a pandemic or epidemic: a qualitative evidence synthesis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (qualitative). The objectives are as follows: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (qualitative). The review aims to explore the factors associated with a person’s decision to take part in a pandemic or epidemic vaccine trial. This is a protocol....

Topical repellents for malaria prevention This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effect of topical repellents alone or in combination with other background interventions for reducing malaria incidence in high-risk and non-high-risk populations living in endemic areas. This is a protocol....

Systemic therapies for preventing or treating aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal symptoms in early breast cancer What was the aim of this review? Hormonal therapy with aromatase inhibitors is used to treat a type of early breast cancer (hormone-receptor positive) in women after the menopause. AI cause side effects including joint and muscle pains and stiffness (aromatase inhibitors musculoskeletal symptoms, or so-called AIMSS), which may cause some women to stop taking their aromatase inhibitors, and potentially worsen survival. The aim of this Cochrane Review was to examine whether...

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the efficacy and safety of any catheter ablation in people with first diagnosed, paroxysmal, persistent, and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation versus any medical therapy. This is a protocol....

Electroconvulsive therapy for preventing relapse and recurrence in people with depression This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of ECT for preventing relapse and recurrence of depression in children, adolescents, adults, and older people with major depressive disorder. This is a protocol....