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....

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...