Interventions for preventing falls in Parkinson's disease Review Question In this review we assessed the evidence on the effect of interventions designed to reduce falls in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The interventions included exercise, medication, fall-prevention education and exercise plus education combined. We excluded interventions that aimed to reduce falls due to syncope (e.g. dizziness and fainting). The evidence in this review is current to 16 July 2020. Background In people with PD, the emergence of frequent falls is one of the most serious disease milestones....

Unintended consequences of school-based measures to manage the COVID-19 pandemic Why is this question important? Countries worldwide have taken many public health and social measures to prevent and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, a highly contagious respiratory virus responsible for COVID-19. A range of measures have been put in place to minimise transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within schools and the wider community. Schools have the potential to be settings of high viral transmission because they involve extended interactions amongst people in close proximity. A previous review located and...

Which faecal blood test is more accurate in detecting bowel cancer and large polyps in population screening? Background One of the most common types of cancer diagnosed is large bowel or colorectal cancer (CRC). Early detection, before symptoms appear, makes it easier to treat bowel cancer and increases the chance of survival. Taking part in a bowel cancer screening program can lead to early detection and removal of large or advanced polyps (advanced adenomas), which are considered to be a precursor to bowel cancer. Simple faecal tests are used to detect the presence of blood in stool, which...

Midline and off-midline wound closure methods after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of midline and off-midline wound closure methods after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus. This is a protocol....

Vitamin E for people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin E in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This is a protocol....

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases: a network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of WHO pre-qualified human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines given in different dose schedules, in females and males, to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases by undertaking a network meta-analysis (NMA). We will rank the different vaccines and dose schedules according to the critical outcomes. This is a protocol....

Which is the best treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding? Key results Evidence suggests that the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is the best first-line option for reducing menstrual bleeding, while antifibrinolytics are probably the second best, and long-cycle progestogens are the third best. Because of some limitations in the evidence, we are not sure what the true effect of these first-line treatments is for the perception of improvement and satisfaction. For second-line treatments, evidence suggests any type of hysterectomy is the best treatment for reducing...

Effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on community rates of HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: We aim to assess population-level effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes on HPV-related disease and harms from vaccination. This is a protocol....

Surgery for nasal polyposis in cystic fibrosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the effects of sinus surgery alone or in combination with medical treatment (non-surgical) compared to medical treatment (non-surgical) alone on both nasal and pulmonary function in people with cystic fibrosis diagnosed with CRS with nasal polyposis. Further, to evaluate the impact of sinus surgery (with or without medical treatment) on hospitalization rates, use of antibiotics and pulmonary exacerbation rates. This is a protocol....

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonists for treatment of paediatric Crohn’s disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and safety of tumour necrosis factor-alpha antagonists for induction of remission in children with active Crohn's disease. This is a protocol....

Antibiotics for treatment of leptospirosis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of antibiotics versus placebo, no intervention, or another antibiotic for the treatment of people with leptospirosis This is a protocol....

Can ocular antibiotics treatment prevent eye infection following a corneal abrasion? What is the aim of this review? This Cochrane Review aimed to find out whether ocular (given in the eye) antibiotics treatment can prevent eye infection following a corneal abrasion. We collected and analyzed all relevant studies to answer this question and found two studies. Key messages We could not find evidence that compared antibiotics with placebo (dummy treatment) or no treatment. We could not find enough evidence to support the use of one antibiotic over another to prevent eye infections with corneal...

Is magnesium sulfate effective for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flare-ups? Background COPD is a long-standing disease of the lungs that causes airway narrowing. COPD flare-ups are episodes of worsening symptoms in people diagnosed with COPD, described as exacerbations in this review. Magnesium sulfate is reported to be able to widen the airways to help breathing. Magnesium sulfate can be given as an infusion into the veins or as an inhalation via a device called a nebuliser. Some studies have shown it to be helpful as an add-on to usual care in people with COPD flare-ups....

Oral probiotics for the treatment of infantile colic This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of probiotics for infantile colic in infants younger than four months of age. This is a protocol....

How effective are dressings and topical agents in the management of wounds after surgical treatment for pilonidal sinus of the buttocks? Key messages - Platelet-rich plasma (part of the participant's own blood that promotes tissue regeneration) may reduce time to wound healing compared with sterile gauze - Lietofix skin repair cream may help wounds to heal by 30 days compared with a dressing with iodine (which helps to reduce bacteria in the wound) - It is not clear whether hydrogel dressings (designed to keep the wound moist) reduce time to wound healing compared with wound cleaning with...

Topical ophthalmic anesthetics for corneal abrasions This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effectiveness and safety of topical ophthalmic anesthetics compared to placebo or other treatments in persons with corneal abrasions. This is a protocol....

Prophylactic antiemetics for adults receiving intravenous opioids in the acute care setting Key messages Metoclopramide did not reduce the risk of vomiting, nausea, or the need for rescue medication when provided prior to intravenous opioids in the emergency department. In terms of the severity of nausea, metoclopramide did not help patients any more than placebo (sham treatment). What is opioid-induced emesis? Physicians often give patients opioids for pain in emergency departments, but over a third experience the side effects of nausea and vomiting (emesis). Some experts have suggested...

Prone position for management of respiratory failure in non-intubated adults This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the effects of prone positioning versus standard care in either the supine or semi-recumbent position on adults who are non-intubated, and who are presenting with type I respiratory failure. This is a protocol....

Preparing a patient with bowel cancer for surgery with multiple interventions Aim of this review The aim of this review is to find out whether multiple interventions introduced in the period prior to surgery for bowel cancer could prepare a patient by increasing the patient's overall fitness, and thus improve outcomes after surgery. Cochrane researchers collected and analysed all available randomised controlled trials on this topic. Key messages Only three studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, information was not available for all outcomes and the overall certainty of evidence...

Xpert MTB/XDR, a rapid test for resistance to tuberculosis drugs Why is improving the diagnosis of tuberculosis drug resistance important? Tuberculosis tests, like Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, and Truenat, only diagnose rifampicin resistance, but do not provide information about resistance to other drugs used to treat tuberculosis. This information is needed to allow for effective treatment to be started quickly. Not recognizing tuberculosis drug resistance when present (false negative, FN) may result in severe illness and death. An incorrect diagnosis of tuberculosis drug resistance...