Linguistic effects of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in patients with primary progressive aphasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Introduction: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has shown promising language improvements in patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Yet, individual studies have not been sufficient to yield strong conclusions on its efficacy.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing tDCS against sham stimulation in patients with PPA.

Is it Safe to Perform Concomitant Cholecystectomy in Patients With Confirmed Gallbladder Disease Undergoing Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery? An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Obesity is a global public health issue, and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) remains most effective intervention for achieving and maintaining long-term weight loss. However, rapid weight loss following MBS increases the risk of gallstone formation. Concomitant cholecystectomy (CC) during MBS has been proposed to mitigate this risk, but recent studies present conflicting evidence regarding its safety and efficacy, leaving no clear consensus.

Preoperative botulinum toxin for complex abdominal wall reconstruction: a meta-analysis of propensity-score matched studies with trial sequential analysis.

Purpose: Large ventral hernias can be associated with significant loss of domain, and preoperative Botulinum Toxin A (BTA) has been suggested as an adjunct therapy to minimize the effects of ventral hernia repair and facilitate fascial closure. However, there is often bias in studies involving BTA and its use is associated with significant cost and its efficacy remains unclear.

Methods: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrial.

A Bayesian Interpretation of CABANA and Other Randomized Controlled Trials for Catheter Ablation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation improves symptoms and quality of life in atrial fibrillation patients, but its effect on adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality remains uncertain. Bayesian analysis of randomized controlled trials offers a deeper understanding of treatment effects beyond conventional p-value thresholds.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc Bayesian reanalysis of CABANA and four similar trials to estimate catheter ablation's effect on cardiovascular and survival outcomes.

Educational interventions improve disparities in patient access to kidney transplantation: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Transplantation significantly improves the quality of life for patients with chronic kidney disease. Despite various educational strategies being assessed, the optimal approach to overcome barriers to kidney transplantation remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: The authors conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing educational interventions to improve kidney transplantation access.

Safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants in kidney transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have recently shown potential efficacy for many conditions without the need for regular monitoring. However, their use in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is controversial, with no clear consensus on how they compare to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), which have traditionally been used as preferred anticoagulation therapy in these patients.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Embase databases were systematically searched up to December 2023 for studies comparing DOACs versus VKAs in KTRs.

Cardiac Myosin Inhibitors for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials.

Background: Cardiac myosin inhibitors (CMI) have emerged as the first disease-specific, noninvasive therapy with promising results in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, its role in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) remains uncertain, especially in secondary endpoints of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.

Comparing cryoprecipitate-poor plasma to fresh frozen plasma as replacement therapy in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: An updated meta-analysis.

Background: Cryoprecipitate-poor plasma (CPP) has been suggested as a promising alternative to the standard fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in plasma exchange therapy (TPE) for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) given its lower concentrations of von Willebrand Factor (VWF). However, its efficacy and safety remain a topic of debate.

Study Design And Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing CPP to FFP during TPE in patients with TTP.

Effect of an abdominal binder on postoperative outcomes after ventral hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Abdominal binders consist of a wide compression belt that encircles the abdomen, theoretically supporting the abdominal wall. However, their use after ventral hernia repair is debated. Therefore, this meta-analysis evaluates their efficacy.

Reflectance confocal microscopy for margin mapping of melanoma of the lentigo maligna type: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Melanoma of the lentigo maligna (LM) type and its invasive counterpart, lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM), occur in chronically sun-damaged skin and tend to have subclinical extension that makes presurgical margin mapping challenging. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a non-invasive imaging modality that enables in vivo visualization of the skin at the cellular level, allowing for adequate estimation of LM/LMM margins.

Objectives: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating RCM's performance compared with histopathology in margin mapping of LM/LMM.

Efficacy of Bile Acid Sequestrants in the Treatment of Bile Acid Diarrhea: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Bile acid sequestrants (BASs) have often been used for bile acid diarrhea (BAD) but carry a high risk of adverse events. New generations of BASs show promising results; however, their efficacy remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase to assess randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to November 2023 to retrieve studies that measured the parameters before and after the administration of BASs.

Irrigation with fibrinolytic agents versus saline for percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses: A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized trials.

Introduction: Fibrinolytic agents (FA) activate the fibrinolytic system, converting plasminogen into plasmin to break down fibrin. Their use for irrigation of abdominal abscesses is debated, and this meta-analysis evaluates their efficacy.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FA and saline in percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses.

Cardiovascular Outcomes of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Therapy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: The efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) may depend on renal function, and this raises theoretical concern over its effects on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: This systematic review and updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared cardiovascular outcomes of patients with T2DM and CKD treated with SGLT2i to placebo. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were systematically searched.

Efficacy of automated insulin delivery in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Automated insulin delivery (AID) devices have shown to be a promising treatment to improve glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, its efficacy in pregnant women with T1DM remains uncertain.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central and ClinicalTrials.

Shorter versus longer duration of antimicrobial therapy for early Lyme disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Antibiotic therapy for patients with early Lyme disease is necessary to prevent later-stage Lyme disease complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis compares shorter versus longer antibiotic regimens in treating early Lyme disease.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted up to November 2023.

Preoperative Levosimendan in Patients With Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction Undergoing Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: To verify the impact of preoperative levosimendan on patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <35%) undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

Design: A meta-analysis.

Setting: Hospitals.

Behavioral and inflammatory changes in rats induced by a three-hit stress model: Implications for psychiatric disorders.

Many aspects of the impact of childhood trauma remain unknown, such as the age at which individuals are most vulnerable to trauma, whether traumatic experiences have more severe and lasting effects when experienced early in life, and whether early life trauma causes psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and major depressive disorder (MDD) that persist over time or evolve into other disorders. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the impact of traumatic experiences in childhood on susceptibility to mood disorders in adulthood, particularly MDD. Animal models were used to address these questions, and different stressor protocols at various stages of the offspring's life were used.

Modified Atkins diet for drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and side-effect profile of the modified Atkins diet (MAD) compared to the usual diet (UD) in reducing seizure frequency among patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

Methods: In February 2023, we conducted an extensive search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MAD to UD in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) on standard anti-seizure medication (ASM). We used random-effects meta-analyses and the Risk of Bias 2 tool to evaluate treatment effects and assess the quality of the included RCTs, respectively.

Glucose control and psychosocial outcomes with use of automated insulin delivery for 12 to 96 weeks in type 1 diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Glycaemic control of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) remains a challenge due to hypoglycaemic episodes and the burden of insulin self-management. Advancements have been made with the development of automated insulin delivery (AID) devices, yet, previous reviews have only assessed the use of AID over days or weeks, and potential benefits with longer time of AID use in this population remain unclear.

Methods:  We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials comparing AID (hybrid and fully closed-loop systems) to usual care (sensor augmented pumps, multiple daily insulin injections, continuous glucose monitoring and predictive low-glucose suspend) for adults and children with T1DM with a minimum duration of 3 months.

Direct oral anticoagulants versus aspirin for primary thromboprophylaxis in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing outpatient therapy: A systematic review and updated meta-analysis.

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are at an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is further increased for those undergoing anti-myeloma therapy. Current guidelines suggest low-dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as an alternative to aspirin for primary thromboprophylaxis in this population, but data comparing these two therapies are limited. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare DOACs with aspirin for primary thromboprophylaxis in individuals undergoing outpatient anti-myeloma therapy.

Polypill-based strategy vs. usual care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the impact of a polypill-based strategy (PBS) on therapeutic adherence and cardiovascular outcomes compared with usual care for secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Methods And Results: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases from inception to January 2023, including RCTs comparing PBS with usual care in patients with prior CVD. We assessed efficacy outcomes of therapeutic adherence, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and safety outcomes of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.