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.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the safety and effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE), surgery and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of uterine fibroids.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect relevant studies on comparing the safety and effectiveness of UAE, surgery and HIFU in the treatment of uterine fibroids from January 2000 to August 2019. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies, network meta-analysis was performed by ADDIS 1.16.8 software and Stata 14.0 software.ResultsA total of 11 trials (22 references) involving 3469 patients were included. Compared with surgery, UAE and HIFU patients had higher quality of life (1-year follow-up) improvement, and UAE was higher than HIFU. Network meta-analysis showed that patients treated with HIFU had the lowest incidence of major complications within 1 year, followed by UAE, and surgery. Patients treated with HIFU and UAE had shorter hospitalization and quicker recovery time than surgery. The rate of further intervention after surgery treatment might be lower than that of UAE and HIFU.ConclusionsUAE has the highest quality of life improvement (1-year follow-up) for uterine fibroids. HIFU and UAE are safer with shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery time compared with surgery. However, both UAE and HIFU have the risk of re-treatment. However, limited by the number and quality of included studies, the above conclusions are needed to be verified by more high-quality studies.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of four antiplatelet regimens after coronary drug-eluting stents by network meta-analysis.MethodsPubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase and Web of Science databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the comparison of different antiplatelet regimens after coronary drug-eluting stenting from inception to December 31st, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk bias of included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by using Gemtc14.3 software, Stata16.0 software and RevMan5.3 software.ResultsA total of 23 RCTs involving 45 837 patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that: in terms of prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) recurrence, the aspirin monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy was inferior to the triple antiplatelet therapy (OR=2.13, 95%CI 1.08 to 4.03). In terms of reducing the incidence of ischemic compound events, the triple antiplatelet therapy was superior to the standard dual antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.53, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.72), the aspirin monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.49, 95%CI 0.35 to 0.69) and the P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.35 to 0.73). There was no statistically significant difference among the four interventions in reducing the rate of in-stent thrombosis and all-cause mortality (P>0.05). In terms of safety, the bleeding rate of aspirin monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy was lower than that of standard dual antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.70, 95%CI 0.55 to 0.86) and triple antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.58, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.90), and the bleeding rate of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy was also lower than that of standard dual antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.65) and triple antiplatelet therapy (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.26 to 0.67). The probability ranking diagram showed that: in terms of the recurrence rate of MI, the rate of in-stent thrombosis and the incidence of ischemic compound events, triple antiplatelet therapy was the lowest and aspirin monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy was the highest. However, in terms of all-cause mortality and bleeding rate, aspirin or P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy was the lowest and triple antiplatelet therapy was the highest.ConclusionsThe available evidence suggests that when the risk of ischemia is low, we should choose aspirin or P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after short-term dual antiplatelet therapy, and P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy may have a lower risk of ischemia and bleeding. When the risk of ischemia is high and bleeding is low, the triple or standard dual antiplatelet therapy should be selected, and the efficacy of triple antiplatelet therapy is superior, while the safety may be inferior.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of different nucleosides (acids) in preventing hepatitis B virus reactivation after chemotherapy in cancer patients. MethodsThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different nucleosides (acids) to prevent HBV reactivation after chemotherapy in cancer patients from inception to June 7th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by using Stata 16.0 software. ResultsA total of 43 RCTs involving 3 269 patients were included. There were 7 interventions, namely entecavir (ETV), lamivudine (LAM), adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), telbivudine (LdT), tenofovir dipivoxil (TDF), lamivudine combined with entecavir (LAM+ETV), and lamivudine combined with adefovir dipivoxil (LAM+ADV). The results of network meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of reducing the reactivation rate of ETV, LAM, ADV, LdT, TDF, LAM+ETV, LAM+ADV were superior than the control group. The ETV, LAM and ADV were not as effective as LAM+ETV. The leading drug combinations were LAM+ETV (94.8%), LdT (81.5%) and LA+ADV (58.0%). ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that LAM+ETV, LdT, and LA+ADV are more effective in preventing hepatitis B virus reactivation after chemotherapy in cancer patients. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce fear of childbirth. MethodsThe Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce fear of childbirth from inception to December 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies; then, a network meta-analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 software. ResultsA total of 19 RCTs involving 3 409 patients were included. Ten non-pharmacological interventions (prenatal education, scenario-based health education, psychological guidance, yoga training, hypnosis, mobile learning education, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical relaxation guidance, breathing guidance, and usual care) were included. The results of the reticulated meta-analysis of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ-A) showed that the rankings of the interventions were as follows: prenatal education > yoga training > cognitive behavioral therapy > situational simulation health education > psychological guidance > physical relaxation guidance > conventional care. The results of the Wijma Experience of Childbirth Questionnaire (W-DEQ-B) mesh meta-analysis showed that the rankings of the interventions were as follows: mobile learning education > prenatal education > scenario-based health education > cognitive behavioral therapy > breathing instruction > hypnosis > psychological instruction > physical relaxation instruction > usual care. ConclusionThe current evidence suggests that prenatal education, mobile learning education, situational simulation health education, and yoga training may be effective interventions in improving maternal fear of childbirth. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
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.
The aggregate data drug information system (ADDIS) software is a non-programming software which is based on the Bayesian framework and using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method for prior assessment and implementation. The operation is fairly easy for users. The consequent results and relevant plots could be output automatically by the software after users assess the consistency of model and convergence diagnostics. The major disadvantage of ADDIS is the more complicated data entry. This article introduces how to perform network meta-analysis using ADDIS software.
ObjectivesTo compare the effects of different bariatric surgeries on reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) of bariatric surgery were systematically searched in PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases from inception to February 20th, 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 14.0 software and R 3.6.2 software.ResultsA total of 24 RCTs were included. Compared with non-surgical treatments, 5 out of 9 procedures significantly reduced HbA1c, and the probability order for the effect was as follows: sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition (SGTB) (MD=?3.60%, 95%CI ?5.89 to ?1.31, P=0.002), mini-gastric bypass (MGB) (MD=?2.36%, 95%CI ?4.13 to ?0.58, P=0.009), duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL) (MD=?1.85%, 95%CI ?2.75 to ?1.96, P<0.000 01), sleeve gastrectomy (SG) (MD=?1.48%, 95%CI ?2.49 to ?0.47, P=0.004), and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (MD=?1.31%, 95%CI ?2.02 to ?0.59, P=0.003). The effects of biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch and gastric plication were uncertain. Adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy had no significant effects on HbA1c. Because of the limitations of small sample size and high risk of bias, the results of SGTB requires further validation. ConclusionsThe current evidence suggests that the bariatric surgeries that have relatively beneficial effects for lowering HbA1c treatment are MGB, DJB, SG and RYGB in sequence.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of different drugs for patients with methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorders by network meta-analysis.MethodsAn electronical search was conducted in PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMbase, CNKI, CBM, WanFang Data and VIP databases from inception to October 2016 to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about different drugs for methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorders. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk bias of included studies, and then RevMan 5.3, R 3.3.2 and JAGS 4.2.0 softwares were used to perform network meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 16 RCTs involving 1 676 patients and 9 kinds of drugs were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that: compared with the placebo group, olanzapine (OR=28.00, 95%CI 8.10 to 110.00), risperidone (OR=20.00, 95%CI 7.70 to 58.00), quetiapine (OR=30.00, 95%CI 6.60 to 160.00), ziprasidone (OR=28.00, 95%CI 3.70 to 230.00), chlorpromazine (OR=29.00, 95%CI 5.00 to 200.00), aripiprazole (OR=13.00, 95%CI 1.70 to 93.00), haloperidol (OR=19.00, 95%CI 2.10 to 190.00) could significantly improve the psychotic disorders of patients with methamphetamine, respectively, in which quetiapine was the best choice. There were no significant differences between any other pairwise comparisons of these different drugs.ConclusionFor the treatment of psychotic disorders caused by methamphetamine, quetiapine should be of a priority choice, follows by ziprasidone, chlorpromazine, olanzapine, risperidone, aripiprazole or haloperidol in a descending priority. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.
Network meta-analysis aims to integrate direct and indirect evidence, make a comprehensive comparison and in-depth analysis of three or more interventions and treatments, compare and rank the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment measures, so as to provide strong evidence for decision-making. However, there may be some bias in the process of making network meta-analysis, analyzing data and interpreting results. Therefore, accurate assessment and proper handling of the risks of bias in network meta-analysis is conductive to improve the quality of decision-making and promote the achievement of good clinical outcomes. At present, the number of published network meta-analysis has increased significantly globally, but the quality remains to be improved, and there is a lack of assessment tools for risks of bias in network meta-analysis. In 2025, Canadian scholar Carole Lunny and colleagues developed The Risk of Bias in Network Meta-Analysis (RoB NMA) tool for evaluating the risk of bias in network meta-analysis and published it in the BMJ, which is important to reduce the bias in network meta-analysis and promote optimal clinical decision-making. This study will interpret it with examples, aiming to help researchers better understand and apply this evaluation tool.
