Is there a difference between pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane flap and pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for large macular holes? Key messages 1. Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane flap technique compared to pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for treating macular holes may result in better vision after three or more months. 2. Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane flap technique compared to pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for treating macular holes...

High flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for respiratory support in term infants Review question Does high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy improve the health outcomes of critically ill newborn infants requiring support for their breathing? Background When newborn infants have difficulty breathing, they may need external support to help move air in and out of their lungs (ventilation). There are various methods used to provide this breathing support. Invasive ventilation delivers air via a breathing tube placed in the baby's windpipe. Non-invasive ventilation delivers air via a mask that can...

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor biosimilars for macular degeneration This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and safety of the anti-VEGF biosimilars compared with their reference product in people with neovascular AMD. This is a protocol....

What medicines are best for people with narrowing of the carotid arteries (blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain)? Key messages Compared to placebo (an inactive medicine): - warfarin, an anticoagulant (blood-thinning medicine), may reduce the risk of side effects by 11%; - chlorthalidone, an antihypertensive (medicine for lowering high blood pressure), may slow the progression of carotid stenosis (narrowing of the carotid arteries) by 55%. Studies with more participants and with long-term follow-up are needed to define the best medical treatment for...

Combination treatment of pegylated interferon and tenofovir versus tenofovir for people with chronic hepatitis B This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of pegylated interferon combined with tenofovir versus tenofovir monotherapy in adults with chronic hepatitis B. This is a protocol....

De novo mTOR inhibitor immunosuppression versus calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppression for liver transplant recipients This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of de novo mTOR inhibitor-based versus calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression for liver transplant recipients. This is a protocol....

The effects of different abortion policy environments on women's health This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objective To investigate the effects of different abortion policies on country level maternal mortality, and abortion-related health outcomes, including abortion-related mortality, physical and mental morbidity, and social and economic well-being. Secondary objective To assess possible differences in the effects of different policies on specific vulnerable populations, including minors, refugees, immigrants, sex workers,...

Interventions for improving adherence to amblyopia treatments in children This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and harms of various behavioral interventions, such as educational and reward systems, for improving children's objective adherence to amblyopia treatments. Secondary objective: to assess the subsequent treatment effects of improved adherence to amblyopia treatments and qualitatively explore equity and social determinants of health as factors affecting adherence. This is a protocol....

What are the benefits and risks of covered stents compared with conventional bare stents for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in people with liver cirrhosis? Key messages – Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE)-covered stents may be more likely to reduce mortality (deaths), upper gastrointestinal bleeding, recurrence of ascites (a condition where fluid collects in spaces within your abdomen), and shunt dysfunction compared with bare stents of the same diameter. – Beneficial effects of ePTFE-covered stents remain unclear when comparing with bare stents of different diameters....

In adults, does oxygen therapy during the non-breathing period before intubation prevent complications? What is intubation? Intubation is a medical procedure that involves insertion of a tube into the breathing passage during the course of anaesthesia before surgery or in life-saving emergency situations such as road-side trauma or in times of critical illness. The breathing tube serves as a portal for assisted ventilation. Why might oxygen therapy help? During the time when a person stops breathing after going to sleep ready for an operation before an oral breathing tube is inserted low...

Vocabulary interventions for second language learners up to six years of age Key messages – Studies included in this review suggest that vocabulary interventions for L2 learners may benefit children's L2 vocabulary learning but have little to no effect on their listening comprehension skills, though the evidence is very uncertain. Vocabulary interventions probably improve their storytelling skills. – There is a need for more high-quality research that follows L2 learners over a longer time to investigate longer-term effects. This should include learners outside the USA. Why is this review...

What are the benefits and harms of brexpiprazole, a new antipsychotic medication, for the treatment of depression when compared to dummy tablets or antidepressants? Key messages – Brexpiprazole added to an antidepressant is better at reducing the symptoms of depression than placebo (dummy tablet) added to an antidepressant. – Brexpiprazole might be more commonly associated with weight gain and akathisia (a feeling of restlessness that causes a compelling need to move all the time). What is depression? Depression is a common mental health condition which leads to low mood, inability to...

Auxiliary procedures following percutaneous treatment to remove kidney stones Review question We wanted to know how important it is to leave a nephrostomy tube (which connects the inside of the kidney to the skin) or a ureteral stent (a small tube that goes from the inside of the kidney through the ureter to the bladder) in people after a percutaneous kidney stone removal operation (percutaneous nephrolithotomy [PNL]). Background Kidney stones is a common disease worldwide. PNL is a method to remove stones from the kidney by creating a connection between the skin and the inside of the kidney...

Invasive management for patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objective: to assess the effectiveness and safety of invasive PDA closure strategies in preterm infants compared to medical management (pharmacotherapy or conservative) or no treatment. Secondary objective: to analyse subgroups based on the following. Postnatal age at intervention (less than four weeks versus late rescue) Initial mode of treatment versus after failed medical management (based on courses and timing of...

Hyaluronic acid for chronic wound healing What is the aim of this review? The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of hyaluronic acid on the healing of chronic wounds. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule present in human cells. Chronic wounds are wounds that take a long time to heal. They include pressure ulcers, foot ulcers, and leg ulcers. Key messages We cannot be certain whether dressings and topical agents containing hyaluronic acid are more effective for healing pressure ulcers or foot ulcers in people with diabetes than other dressings and topical agents. When...

What is the evidence that 'microclots' cause the post-COVID-19 syndrome, and is removal using plasmapheresis justified? Key messages 1. The term 'microclots' is not the correct term for the particles being investigated in people with post-COVID-19 syndrome, as they are not clots. The term 'amyloid fibrin(ogen) particles' is more appropriate. 2. The evidence shows that amyloid fibrin(ogen) particles are found in healthy people and those with other diseases, so they are not unique to post-COVID-19 condition. 3. Patients should not receive plasmapheresis for this indication outside...

Cognitive behavioural therapy plus standard care versus standard care for persistent aggressive behaviour or agitation in people with schizophrenia Is cognitive behavioural therapy better than conventional treatment for treating aggression or agitation in people with schizophrenia? Key messages • We did not find enough good-quality evidence about the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy on aggression in people with schizophrenia. We found only two studies with not enough participants enroled to give reliable results. • Larger, well-designed studies are needed to give better estimates of...

Are antiplatelets an effective treatment for people with COVID-19? Key messages Antiplatelets are a group of different medicines that can prevent potentially fatal clot formation in the blood vessels ('thrombotic events'). For hospitalised patients with COVID-19, they probably slightly reduce thrombotic events but probably do not affect deaths, clinical worsening or improvement in COVID-19 compared with placebo or standard care. However, antiplatelets may result in a slight increase in serious unwanted effects ('adverse events') and probably increase major bleeding. Similarly, in...

Cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with overweight or obesity This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy for weight management in adults with overweight or obesity. This is a protocol....

Healthcare workers’ informal uses of mobile devices to support their work: a qualitative evidence synthesis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (qualitative). The objectives are as follows: To explore the views, experiences, and practices of healthcare workers, managers and other professionals working in healthcare services regarding their informal, innovative uses of mobile devices to support their work. This is a protocol....