Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Aug 2024
Review Meta AnalysisImmune checkpoint inhibitors plus platinum-based chemotherapy compared to platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for first-line treatment of older people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Lung cancer is a cancer of the elderly, with a median age at diagnosis of 71. More than one-third of people diagnosed with lung cancer are over 75 years old. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are special antibodies that target a pathway in the immune system called the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway. These antibodies help the immune system fight cancer cells by blocking signals that cancer cells use to avoid being attacked by the immune system. ICIs have changed the treatment of people with lung cancer. In particular, for people with previously-untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), current first-line treatment now comprises ICIs plus platinum-based chemotherapy, rather than platinum-based chemotherapy alone, regardless of their PD-L1 expression status. However, as people age, their immune system changes, becoming less effective in its T cell responses. This raises questions about how well ICIs work in older adults. ⋯ Compared to platinum-based chemotherapy alone, adding ICIs to platinum-based chemotherapy probably leads to higher overall survival and progression-free survival, without an increase in treatment-related adverse events (grade 3 or higher), in people 65 years and older with advanced NSCLC. These data are based on results from studies dominated by participants between 65 and 75 years old. However, the analysis also suggests that the improvements reported in overall survival and progression-free survival may not be seen in people older than 75 years.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Aug 2024
Review Meta AnalysisLiver fibrosis stage based on the four factors (FIB-4) score or Forns index in adults with chronic hepatitis C.
The presence and severity of liver fibrosis are important prognostic variables when evaluating people with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Although liver biopsy remains the reference standard, non-invasive serological markers, such as the four factors (FIB-4) score and the Forns index, can also be used to stage liver fibrosis. ⋯ Both the FIB-4 score and the Forns index may be considered for the initial assessment of people with CHC. The FIB-4 score's low cut-off (1.45) can be used to rule out people with at least severe fibrosis (≥ F3) and cirrhosis (F4). The Forns index's high cut-off (6.9) can be used to diagnose people with at least significant fibrosis (≥ F2). We judged most of the included studies to be at unclear or high risk of bias. The overall quality of the body of evidence was low or very low, and more high-quality studies are needed. Our review only captured data from referral centres. Therefore, when generalising our results to a primary care population, the probability of false positives will likely be higher and false negatives will likely be lower. More research is needed in sub-Saharan Africa, since these tests may be of value in such resource-poor settings.
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This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and harm of deep brain stimulation for motor symptoms, with psychiatric and behavioural comorbidities, either individually or in combination, in adults and adolescents with Tourette's syndrome compared to placebo, sham intervention, or the best available behavioural and pharmacological treatment.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Aug 2024
Review Meta AnalysisEarly versus delayed oral feeding after major gynaecologic surgery.
This is an updated and expanded version of the original Cochrane review, first published in 2014. Postoperative oral intake is traditionally withheld after major abdominal gynaecologic surgery until the return of bowel function. The concern is that early oral intake will result in vomiting and severe paralytic ileus, with subsequent aspiration pneumonia, wound dehiscence, and anastomotic leakage. However, clinical studies suggest that there may be benefits from early postoperative oral intake. Currently, gynaecologic surgery can be performed through various routes: open abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic, robotic, or a combination. In this version, we included women undergoing major gynaecologic surgery through all of these routes, either alone or in combination. ⋯ Despite some uncertainty, there is no evidence to indicate harmful effects of early feeding following major gynaecologic surgery, measured as postoperative ileus, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal distension. The potential benefits of early feeding include a slightly faster initiation of bowel movements, a slightly sooner resumption of a solid diet, a slightly shorter hospital stay, a lower rate of infectious complications, and a higher level of satisfaction.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Aug 2024
Review Meta AnalysisEducational and psychological interventions for managing atopic dermatitis (eczema).
Atopic dermatitis (eczema), can have a significant impact on well-being and quality of life for affected people and their families. Standard treatment is avoidance of triggers or irritants and regular application of emollients and topical steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. Thorough physical and psychological assessment is central to good-quality treatment. Overcoming barriers to provision of holistic treatment in dermatological practice is dependent on evaluation of the efficacy and economics of both psychological and educational interventions in this participant group. This review is based on a previous Cochrane review published in 2014, and now includes adults as well as children. ⋯ In-person, individual education, as an adjunct to conventional topical therapy, may reduce short-term eczema signs compared to standard care, but there is no information on eczema symptoms, quality of life or long-term outcomes. Group education probably reduces eczema signs and symptoms in the long term and may also improve quality of life in the short term. Favourable effects were also reported for technology-mediated education, habit reversal treatment and arousal reduction therapy. All favourable effects are of uncertain clinical significance, since they may not exceed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the outcome measures used (MCID 8.7 points for SCORAD, 3.4 points for POEM). We found no trials of self-help psychological interventions, psychological therapies or printed education. Future trials should include more diverse populations, address shared priorities, evaluate long-term outcomes and ensure patients are involved in trial design.