Evidence synthesis is the process of systematically gathering, analyzing, and integrating available research evidence. The quality of evidence synthesis depends on the quality of the original studies included. Validity assessment, also known as risk of bias assessment, is an essential method for assessing the quality of these original studies. Currently, there are numerous validity assessment tools available, but some of them lack a rigorous development process and evaluation. The application of inappropriate validity assessment tools to assessing the quality of the original studies during the evidence synthesis process may compromise the accuracy of study conclusions and mislead the clinical practice. To address this dilemma, the LATITUDES Network, a one-stop resource website for validity assessment tools, was established in September 2023, led by academics at the University of Bristol, U.K. This Network is dedicated to collecting, sorting and promoting validity assessment tools to improve the accuracy of original study validity assessments and increase the robustness and reliability of the results of evidence synthesis. This study introduces the background of the establishment of the LATITUDES Network, the included validity assessment tools, and the training resources for the use of validity assessment tools, in order to provide a reference for domestic scholars to learn more about the LATITUDES Network, to better use the appropriate validity assessment tools to conduct study quality assessments, and to provide references for the development of validity assessment tools.
Objective To systematically review the effect of different nutrient interventions on the physical function of elderly people with frailty through network meta-analysis. Methods The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase and Web of Science were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials of different nutrient interventions on physical function of the elderly with frailty, from database inception to June 30, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed using ADDIS 1.16.8, GeMTC 14.3, and Stata 15.0 software. Results A total of 13 studies involving 1 144 patients were included. There was no statistically significant difference in handgrip strength, time up to go test, gait speed, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) among different nutrient interventions. Significant differences were not found in vitamin D+ whey protein (VDWP) vs. placebo and Leu vs. placebo in handgrip strength, or VDWP vs. placebo in SPPB. The probability ranking diagram showed that the most effective of handgrip strength, time up to go test, gait speed, and SPPB were milk protein concentrate (MPC80), L-carnitime (L-Car), leucine (Leu), and MPC80, respectively. Conclusion The current evidence suggests that nutritional intervention did not significantly improve physical function in the frail elderly. MPC80, Leu, L-Car, and VDVEWP may play a role in improving the physical function of frail elderly people. Nutritional support programs that increase the above nutrients, combined with exercise training may become a better way to improve the physical function of frail elderly.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of different SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure. Methods The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed and EMbase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure from inception to July 2, 2021. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 16.0 software. Results A total of 16 randomized controlled trials, including 15 312 patients, involving 5 interventions, namely dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, canagliflozin, sotagliflozin and ertugliflozin were included. Results of network meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the compound outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death, hospitalization for heart failure, all-cause mortality, risk of cardiovascular mortality and serious adverse reactions among patients with heart failure among 5 different SGLT2 inhibitors (P>0.05). Compared with placebo, both selective and non-selective SGLT2 inhibitors improved the risk of hospitalization for heart failure, hospitalization for heart failure, or compound cardiovascular mortality (P<0.05), while only selective SGLT2 inhibitors improved the risk of cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, and serious adverse events (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05). The area under the cumulative ordering probability curve of selective and non-selective SGLT2 inhibitors ranked first and second, except for the combined outcome of heart failure or cardiovascular death. Conclusion The current evidence indicates that there is no significant difference in the efficacy and safety of the 5 different SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure, and there is no significant difference between selective SGLT2 inhibitors and non-selective SGLT2 inhibitors. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
OBJECTIVE: To study the stimulating effects of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) on fibroblast function and its ability to expression of c-fos gene. Furthermore, to explore the possible network action between bFGF and oncogene in modulating wound healing. METHODS: Cultured rat fibroblasts were divided into bFGF stimulating group and control group. Fibroblasts in bFGF stimulating group were treated with bFGF in a dosage of 40 ng/culture hole, while the control fibroblasts were treated with the same vehicle without bFGF. The morphology, cell vitality and their ability to express c-fos gene in the fibroblasts in both groups were studied with MTT and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: All fibroblasts in bFGF treated groups were enlarged and showed increased vitality with MTT method. C-fos gene expression in bFGF stimulating group was increased, especially in nucleus when compared with those in control group. CONCLUSION: The results show that the function and the ability to express c-fos gene in bFGF treated fibroblasts are enhanced. Combined with our previous studies, it may make a conclusion that there is a network regulation mechanism between growth factors and some oncogenes.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of Chinese medicine injection (CMI) for treating heart failure (HF).MethodsCNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMbase databases were electronically searched from inception to January 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on CMI for treating HF. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by RevMan 5.2 software and Stata 16.0 software.ResultsA total of 47 studies were included involving 4 902 patients and 5 types of CMIs, including Shenmai, Shenfu, Yiqi Fumai (lyophilized), Shengmai, and Danhong injections. The results of network meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of combined CMIs was superior to conventional Western medicine alone. For the main efficacy, Shenmai, Shengmai, and Shenfu injections had significant advantages in improving the total clinical effectiveness. Shengmai, Shenmai, and Yiqi Fumai (lyophilized) injections were significantly more effective for reducing NT pro-BNP levels than other injections. Shenfu and Shengmai injections were significantly more effective for reducing BNP levels than other injections. Shenmai, Danhong and Shengmai injections were significantly more effective for improving the left ventricular ejection fraction than the other injections. These CMIs showed similar advantages for secondary efficacy indicators as for main efficacy indicators.ConclusionsThe combined 5 types of CMIs for treating HF can improve the clinical efficacy when compared with conventional Western medicine treatment. Shenmai injection, Yiqi Fumai injection (lyophilized), and Shengmai injection, which is part of Sheng Mai San, have clear advantages in terms of the overall curative effect or on individual indices.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of oxygen therapy for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the efficacy of different oxygen therapies for DFUs from inception to April 1, 2024. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Statistical analysis was performed using R software, and GraphPad Prism was used for graphical representations. ResultsA total of 61 RCTs involving 4 306 DFUs cases were included in the analysis. The oxygen therapies examined primarily included hyperbaric oxygen, topical oxygen, and ozone therapy. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) indicated that hyperbaric oxygen therapy ranked highest for healing rate, area reduction rate, and healing time (SUCRA values were 0.957, 0.868, and 0.869, respectively). However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy also ranked higher for amputation rate and adverse events (SUCRA values were 0.616 and 0.718, respectively). Further subgroup analysis revealed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy maintained the highest ranking in area reduction rate across subgroups defined by publication language and treatment duration. ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen therapy has advantages in terms of healing rate, area reduction rate, and healing time for DFUs, but it is also associated with higher amputation rates and adverse events. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the improvement of symptoms in patients with moderate to severe asthma aged 5-18 years treated with GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) guidelines by network meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about asthma patients aged 5 to 18 years with reported asthma symptom scores were collected from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, SinoMed and clinical trial registry platform (ClinicalTrials.gov). The search time limit was from the inception to August 26, 2023. After two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies, Stata 15.0 software was used for network meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 23 studies were included, 23 of which reported daytime asthma symptom scores. Compared with symptom scores in the low-dose ICS group, there was a statistically significant difference in improvement of daytime symptoms between low-dose ICS+LABA+LTRA (SMD=?1.4, 95%CI ?1.99 to ?0.81) and low-dose ICS+LABA+SABA (SMD=?1.43, 95%CI ?2.48 to ?0.39). Symptom scores for nighttime asthma were reported in 20 RCTs, and there was a statistically significant difference in symptom scores for low-dose ICS+LABA+LTRA (SMD=?1.20, 95%CI ?2.20 to ?0.21) compared with the low-dose ICS group. After the ranking of efficacy, the number one asthma symptom score in both daytime and nighttime was low-dose ICS+LABA+LTRA group. ConclusionLow dose ICS+LABA+LTRA has the best efficacy in improving daytime and nighttime asthma symptom scores.
SAS Software is a powerful and internationally-recognized programming statistical software, which can implement all kinds of meta-analysis, including network meta-analysis. Bayesian statistics is an important statistical method, which uses MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) arithmetic to conduct various statistical inference. With this idea, we implement network meta-analysis thorough PROC MCMC process and introduce this process in this article based on an example.
Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a method that can compare and rank the effects of different interventions, which plays an important role in evidence translation and evidence-based decision-making. In 2014, the GRADE working group first introduced the GRADE method for NMA evidence certainty grading. Since then, its method system has been gradually supplemented and improved. In recent years, the GRADE working group has further improved the methods for evaluating intransitivity and imprecision in NMA, and has made recommendations for the presentation and interpretation of NMA results, forming a complete methodological chain of NMA evidence certainty grading and result interpretation consisting of 6 steps. Our team updated the method system of GRADE applied in NMA with specific cases to provide references for relevant researchers.
ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy and safety of various treatment strategies for patients with refractory/recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r-DLBCL) by network meta-analysis. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane Library databases were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials related to the objectives of the study from inception to November 16th, 2022. After two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies, a network meta-analysis was performed using R 4.2.2 software. ResultsA total of 8 RCTs and 11 non-randomized controlled trials were included, involving 2 559 cases. The treatment regimen included chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, chemotherapy combined with ADC, immunochemotherapy combined with ADC, ASCT based regimen, CAR-T based regimen, ASCT combined with CAR-T, immunomodulators, small molecule inhibitors, and rituximab combined with small molecule inhibitors. The ranking probability results showed that the top three complete remission (CR) rates among all schemes were ASCT combined with CAR-T, chemotherapy combined with ADC, and immune modulators; The top three overall response rates (ORR) were chemotherapy combined with ADC, ASCT combined with CAR-T, and ASCT. The CAR-T regimen had a higher rate of severe neutropenia; The severe thrombocytopenia rate of ASCT regimen was relatively high; There was no significant difference in the incidence of SAEs among the other options. ConclusionASCT combined with CAR-T and chemotherapy combined with ADC have the best therapeutic effects on r/r-DLBCL. However, the specific protocol to be adopted requires clinical doctors to combine actual conditions, comprehensively consider the efficacy and side effects, and develop personalized treatment strategies for r/r-DLBCL patients.
