Certolizumab pegol for the treatment of maintaining inactive Crohn's disease What was the aim of this review? This Cochrane Review aimed to find out if long-term use of certolizumab pegol (CZP) is an effective and safe treatment for people with Crohn's disease (CD) compared to placebo. We collected and analyzed all relevant studies to answer this question. What is Crohn's disease? CD is a chronic disease that causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract such as the small and large intestines. The common symptoms of CD are chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss....

Spontaneous breathing activity in COVID-19-related lung failure Is early spontaneous breathing beneficial in the treatment of lung failure in individuals with COVID-19? People with severe COVID-19 can present with lung failure, which is called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This requires invasive mechanical ventilation through a breathing tube. It is possible to allow breathing, triggered by the patient (called spontaneous breathing), whilst being on a ventilator. However, it is unclear whether this is beneficial for such individuals, especially in the early phase of...

What are the benefits and harms of physical activity for people with irritable bowel syndrome Key messages – Physical activity interventions of between six and 24 weeks may improve symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome but the evidence is very uncertain. – There is probably little or no difference between physical activity interventions and usual care for quality of life and abdominal pain. – There was not enough evidence to assess adverse effects associated with physical activity interventions due to a lack of reporting in trials. What are physical activity interventions?...

Purse-string skin closure versus linear skin closure in people undergoing stoma reversal This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the effects of purse-string skin closure (PSSC) and linear skin closure (LSC) techniques on surgical site infection (SSI) and patient satisfaction in people undergoing stoma reversal. Secondary objectives To compare the effects of PSSC and LSC techniques on anastomotic leak, incisional hernia, intestinal obstruction, operative time and length of hospital stay in people undergoing stoma reversal. This is a...

Neuroprotective effect of sulfonylurea drugs for people with ischemic stroke This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of sulfonylurea drugs for people with ischemic stroke. This is a protocol....

Colchicine for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the clinical benefit and harms of colchicine as primary prevention of cardiovascular outcomes in the general population. This is a protocol....

Immunomodulatory treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and harms or adverse events of immunomodulatory therapies in people with ALS compared with a placebo, no additional treatment, or a standard-of-care protocol (with or without riluzole, edaravone, or both). This is a protocol....

Mesh versus non-mesh for emergency groin hernia repair This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Main objective To assess the benefits and harms of mesh compared with non-mesh in emergency groin hernia repair in adult patients with an inguinal or femoral hernia. Secondary objective To assess whether the effects of mesh versus non-mesh in emergency groin hernia repair differ according to the degree of contamination. This is a protocol....

Short-acting inhaled bronchodilators for cystic fibrosis Review question We reviewed the evidence for using short-acting inhaled bronchodilators (treatments which widen and open the airways, making it easier to breathe) in people with cystic fibrosis. Short-acting bronchodilators take effect quickly and generally last 4 to 6 hours. We were interested in any type of short-acting inhaled bronchodilator, given at any dose, and by any type of device (inhalers or nebulisers). Both nebulisers and inhalers deliver medicine. Nebulisers turn liquid medication into an easily-inhaled mist. They vary in...

Transplantation versus other therapies for patients with polycystic liver disease This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: This review aims to look at the benefits and harms of transplant versus other therapies in patients with PLD. This is a protocol....

Exercise versus airway clearance for people with cystic fibrosis Review question Can exercise replace other methods of airway clearance for people with cystic fibrosis (CF)? Background CF affects many systems in the body, mainly the respiratory system. It causes a build-up of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs which causes irritation and damage to the lining of the airways. CF treatment involves chest physiotherapy, also called airway clearance, which uses a range of devices or techniques to get rid of this mucus. It has been suggested that exercise may have a similar effect. Exercising...

Immunosuppressive therapy for IgA nephropathy in children This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the benefits and harms of immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of IgA nephropathy in children. This is a protocol....

Serum and urine nucleic acid screening tests for polyomavirus-associated nephropathy in kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: This is a protocol....

Pharmacological interventions for the treatment of bleeding in people treated for blunt force or penetrating injury in an emergency department: a systematic review and network meta-analysis This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To systematically review the optimal administration and relative efficacy of pharmacological interventions for preventing blood loss in people treated in an emergency department for bleeding caused by a blunt force or penetrating injury. This is a protocol....

Antimicrobial sutures for the prevention of surgical site infection This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To compare the effects of antimicrobial sutures versus standard sutures for the prevention of SSI. This is a protocol....

Interventions to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for preventing soil-transmitted helminth infection What is the aim of this review? This review summarizes randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (studies where participants are randomly assigned to one of two or more treatment groups) and non-randomized trials (non-RCTs) evaluating the effect of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions on preventing soil-transmitted helminth infections. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) comprise a group of intestinal parasites that are transmitted to humans through ingestion of infective eggs or...

Which combinations of medicines are best for the prevention and treatment of anaemia in people with cancer? Key messages • Giving medicines that stimulate the bone marrow to produce red blood cells (ESAs) with iron supplements probably decreases the number of blood transfusions, but may also cause more deaths and increase the number of unwanted effects, such as blood clots. • Because of missing data from the studies we could not compare the different treatment options to each other and rank them. • We need more studies that compare these medicines directly against each other. What is anaemia...

Are laboratory-made COVID-19-specific monoclonal antibodies effective to prevent COVID-19 in adults? Key messages Pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19: – tixagevimab/cilgavimab probably reduces number of people infected with COVID-19 and development of COVID-19 symptoms, and may reduce number of people admitted to hospital; – casirivimab/imdevimab may reduce number of people infected with COVID-19 and development of COVID-19 symptoms, and may increase number of unwanted effects (any severity) slightly. Postexposure prophylaxis of COVID-19: – bamlanivimab probably reduces number of people...

Why is improving dementia diagnosis important? Dementia refers to a group of brain conditions that lead to progressive problems with memory, working-things-out, or functioning in everyday life. Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose dementia. People have often reported that it can take a long time to get a diagnosis of dementia from initially presenting to a healthcare provider with symptoms suggestive of dementia. Cognitive impairment is a broader term that includes people whose brain is not functioning as well as expected given their age, but they do not have dementia, as well as...

Psychoeducation for the parents of people with severe mental illness This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects (benefits and harms) of psychoeducation specifically for parents of people with SMI. This is a protocol....