Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Lina Ghosn, Anna Chaimani, Theodoros Evrenoglou, Mauricia Davidson, Carolina Grana, Christine Schmucker, Claudia Bollig, Nicholas Henschke, Yanina Sguassero, Camilla Hansen Nejstgaard, Sonia Menon, Thu Van Nguyen, Gabriel Ferrand, Philipp Kapp, Carolina Riveros, Camila Avila, Declan Devane, Joerg J. Meerpohl, Gabriel Rada, Asbjorn Hrobjartsson, Giacomo Grasselli, David Tovey, Philippe Ravaud, Isabelle Boutron
Summary: IL-6 blocking agents have been used for treating severe COVID-19, with tocilizumab showing reduced all-cause mortality and possibly fewer serious adverse events at day 28. The efficacy of sarilumab remains uncertain, with more evidence needed to determine its effects on mortality and adverse events.
COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Amelia J. Scott, Louise Sharpe, Ben Colagiuri
Summary: The study found that there is little reporting on blinding in RCTs of antidepressants, with a high rate of blinding failure. Pharmaceutical company sponsorship predicted the assessment of blinding in trials, with unsponsored trials more likely to evaluate blinding.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Xueyan Liu, Guangpeng Wang, Yingjuan Cao
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of different types, forms, intensities, and durations of exercise on perinatal depressive symptoms. The results showed that physical exercise had a significant effect in reducing perinatal depressive symptoms, with walking, individual + group-based exercise, intensity of >= 150 min per week, and >= 12 weeks duration showing more prominent improvement.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Celine Kaegi, Benjamin Wuest, Catherine Crowley, Onur Boyman
Summary: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of obinutuzumab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, ublituximab, and veltuzumab for the treatment of immune-mediated disorders. The results showed promising outcomes in different diseases, but some treatments were associated with an increased risk of serious infections.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiangyu Chen, Qihua Wang, Yang Pan, Shangren Wang, Yuezheng Li, Hao Zhang, Mingming Xu, Hang Zhou, Xiaoqiang Liu
Summary: This network meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and toxicity of second-generation androgen receptor inhibitors (SGARIs) in the treatment of patients with different stages of prostate cancer. The results showed that enzalutamide and darolutamide improved overall survival in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), and enzalutamide, apalutamide, and darolutamide were beneficial for metastasis-free survival in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Furthermore, the use of enzalutamide before and after chemotherapy improved overall survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Muhammad Haseeb, Jeremy R. Glissen Brown, Umar Hayat, Camden Bay, Paul A. Bain, Pichamol Jirapinyo, Christopher C. Thompson
Summary: This study assessed the efficacy of transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) using the EsophyX device in treating atypical GERD symptoms. The results showed that TIF can effectively reduce these symptoms at 6 and 12 months of follow-up, with a high technical success rate and low adverse event rate. Most patients were satisfied with their health condition and a majority of them were able to stop using daily PPIs.
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Lincheng Zhang, Bing Chen, Qigu Yao, Weiyan Chen, Weinan Yang, Weiji Yang, Lan He, Yuyan Zhang
Summary: The study found that acupuncture is more effective in improving post-stroke depression compared to antidepressant therapy, with significant clinical efficacy.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Christopher Baethge, Cora Braun, Lena Rink, Guido Schwarzer, Jonathan Henssler, Tom Bschor
Summary: The study found that increasing the dose of tricyclic antidepressants has a slightly positive effect on antidepressant efficacy, but it is not statistically significant overall. While some comparisons showed a dose gradient, it was not significant in general, and higher doses of imipramine/desipramine were significantly superior to lower doses in efficacy. Drop-out rates increased with higher doses, but not significantly.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Francesca A. Scheiber, Kelli K. Ryckman, O. Ece Demir-Lira
Summary: Maternal depressive symptoms may have an impact on children's language skills, with child-directed speech as a potential pathway. However, the current research on the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms and the complexity of child-directed speech is limited and further investigation is needed.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Review
Psychiatry
Giada Benasi, Giovanni A. Fava, Jenny Guidi
Summary: This systematic review examines prodromal symptoms of unipolar depression, finding that a distinct symptomatology exists before the onset of depression, characterized by anxiety, tension, irritability, and somatic complaints. The duration of the prodromal phase varies across studies, but remains consistent within individuals across different depressive episodes.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS
(2021)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
Melissa P. DelBello, Aditi Kadakia, Vincent Heller, Rajpal Singh, Katsuhiko Hagi, Tadashi Nosaka, Antony Loebel
Summary: This systematic literature review and network meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of second-generation antipsychotics in treating major depressive episodes in youths with bipolar disorder. The results showed that lurasidone and the olanzapine-fluoxetine combination were effective in improving depressive symptoms, while quetiapine was not. Furthermore, lurasidone had fewer side effects and less impact on weight, cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to quetiapine and the olanzapine-fluoxetine combination.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Brona Nic Giolla Easpaig, Jianxia Zhai, Richard Gray, Ellie Brown, Daniel Bressington
Summary: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the recruitment rate, study attrition rates, and intervention completion of psychosocial intervention randomized controlled trial studies involving people with early and emerging psychosis. The findings will inform the design and planning of future research and support the development of high-quality evidence in this field.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmen Concerto, Alessandro Rodolico, Valeria Meo, Donatella Chiappetta, Marina Bonelli, Ludovico Mineo, Giulia Saitta, Sebastiano Stuto, Maria Salvina Signorelli, Antonino Petralia, Giuseppe Lanza, Eugenio Aguglia
Summary: This study found that high doses of Maca Root, SAMe, or Saffron may improve antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunctions. Additionally, Rosa Damascena was more effective in men, while no evidence of effects was observed for Gingko Biloba and Yohimbine. Future research should consider larger sample sizes and confounding factors, such as depressive status and individual vulnerability.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gonghui Hu, Meng Zhang, Yuyang Wang, Ming Yu, Yu Zhou
Summary: This article investigates the antidepressant effects of multiple endogenous compounds and their targets, and discusses the prospects and challenges in the development of novel antidepressants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Kwonmok Ko, Emma I. Kopra, Anthony J. Cleare, James J. Rucker
Summary: Psychedelic therapy shows promising therapeutic effects on depressive symptoms according to recent clinical research. Psilocybin, ayahuasca, and LSD demonstrated significant reduction of symptoms in both short-term and long-term treatment.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julia Harlfinger, Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: The aim of this study was to extend the guideline for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus to include antiviral prophylaxis. The guideline was developed in accordance with World Health Organization standards. In addition to the recommendations for testing and vaccination, two new recommendations were formulated to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Isolde Sommer, Andreea Dobrescu, Dominic Ledinger, Isabel Moser, Kylie Thaler, Emma Persad, Martin Fangmeyer, Robert Emprechtinger, Irma Klerings, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: This study assessed the benefits and harms of 12 different COVID-19 treatments in the outpatient setting. The findings suggest that certain antiviral medications and monoclonal antibodies may improve outcomes for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, but the generalizability of the findings to the currently dominant Omicron variant is limited.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Lisa Affengruber, Gernot Wagner, Andreea Dobrescu, Ana Toromanova, Andrea Chapman, Emma Persad, Irma Klerings, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: Developers of clinical practice guidelines should consider patient values and preferences when evaluating treatments for depressive disorder. This study assessed patient values and preferences regarding pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments. Findings indicate that there may be differences in preferences based on gender or race/ethnicity, and that insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, weight gain, agitation, and sexual dysfunction are important nonserious adverse events for patients treated with antidepressants.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Gerald Gartlehner, Andreea Dobrescu, Andrea Chapman, Ana Toromanova, Robert Emprechtinger, Emma Persad, Lisa Affengruber, Christoph Pieh, Irma Klerings, Gernot Wagner
Summary: This article compares the benefits and harms of nonpharmacologic treatments with second-generation antidepressants as first-step interventions for acute major depressive disorder (MDD), and compares second-step treatment strategies for patients who did not achieve remission after initial antidepressant treatment. The study found that most nonpharmacologic treatments and antidepressants have similar benefits as first-step treatments, but antidepressants have a higher risk of discontinuation due to adverse events. Different switching and augmentation strategies for second-step therapies provide similar symptomatic relief. Importance rating: 8 out of 10.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Andreea Dobrescu, Andrea Chapman, Lisa Affengruber, Emma Persad, Ana Toromanova, Gernot Wagner, Irma Klerings, Robert Emprechtinger, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: The study assessed the cost-effectiveness of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions for MDD patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was found to be cost-effective compared to second-generation antidepressants (SGAs) as a first-line treatment in the US, but the certainty of evidence is low and the findings should be interpreted cautiously.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Erin E. Krebs, William C. Becker, David Nelson, Beth M. DeRonne, Sean Nugent, Agnes C. Jensen, Erin C. Amundson, Jennifer K. Manuel, Brian Borsari, Allyson M. Kats, Karen H. Seal
Summary: The Veterans' Pain Care Organizational Improvement Comparative Effectiveness (VOICE) study is a 12-month trial conducted at ten United States Veterans Affairs (VA) health care sites, aiming to test interventions to improve pain while reducing opioid use among VA patients. The study faced challenges from opioid prescribing trends and the COVID-19 pandemic but successfully recruited eligible patients. The results will provide limited evidence for interventions to improve pain and reduce opioid use.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Elizabeth S. Goldsmith, Erin E. Krebs, Marizen R. Ramirez, Richard F. MacLehose
Summary: This study examines the potential bias in opioid-related mortality estimates due to misclassification in death certificates. By eliciting the opinions of primary care physicians and applying probabilistic bias analysis, the study finds that opioid-related mortality rates may be substantially underestimated, particularly among older adults. The findings highlight the importance of addressing misclassification in cause-of-death data for accurate public health assessments.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Gerald Gartlehner, Leila Kahwati
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Gerald Gartlehner, Emma Persad, Dominic Ledinger, Andrea Chapman, Arianna Gadinger, Johanna Feyertag, Robert Emprechtinger
Summary: The study examines the language used by systematic review authors to emphasize the meaningful differences shown by statistically nonsignificant results. It also compares the magnitude of these treatment effects with nonsignificant results that authors interpreted as not different. The findings suggest that some authors may overstate the importance of nonsignificant differences, while others may overlook meaningful differences.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gerald Gartlehner, Eva Schernhammer, Sigurd F. Lax, Matthias Preusser, Herbert Bachler, Harald Tietzer, Maria Kletecka-Pulker, Helga Turnher, Uwe Siebert
Summary: Colorectal cancer screening in Austria is currently opportunistic and the Austrian National Committee for Cancer Screening has developed evidence-based recommendations for an organized nationwide screening program. The recommendations suggest that adults aged 45-75 should undergo either a 10-year screening colonoscopy or biennial fecal immunochemical tests. Screening decisions for individuals aged 65 and older should be based on their overall health, prior screening history, and preferences.
WIENER KLINISCHE WOCHENSCHRIFT
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Doyanne Darnell, Minu Ranna-Stewart, Christina Psaros, Teresa R. Filipowicz, LaKendra Grimes, Savannah Henderson, Mariel Parman, Kathy Gaddis, Bradley Neil Gaynes, Michael J. Mugavero, Shannon Dorsey, Brian W. Pence
Summary: This study aimed to adapt transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral psychotherapy for people with HIV, addressing behavioral health comorbidities and HIV-related stigma. The adaptation process involved refining the therapy manual, obtaining stakeholder input through focus groups, training counselors, and revising the therapy based on feedback from implementing it with clinic patients.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Isolde Sommer, Dominic Ledinger, Kylie Thaler, Andreea Dobrescu, Emma Persad, Martin Fangmeyer, Irma Klerings, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: This study evaluated the benefits and harms of 22 different COVID-19 treatments. The findings indicate that Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and molnupiravir may improve outcomes for outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Correction
Medicine, General & Internal
Gerald Gartlehner, Eva Schernhammer, Sigurd F. Lax, Matthias Preusser, Herbert Bachler, Harald Titzer, Maria Kletecka-Pulker, Helga Turnher, Uwe Siebert
WIENER KLINISCHE WOCHENSCHRIFT
(2023)
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Karen Crotty, Meera Viswanathan, Sara Kennedy, Mark J. Edlund, Rania Ali, Mariam Siddiqui, Roberta Wines, Piotr Ratajczak, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: This study systematically assessed the comparative effectiveness of commonly used psychotherapies versus treatment as usual (TAU) or other psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment. The findings suggest that all commonly used psychotherapies improve the severity, symptoms, and functioning of BPD, but there is no strong evidence suggesting that any one psychotherapy is more beneficial than another.
JOURNAL OF CONSULTING AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julia Harlfinger, Isolde Sommer, Gerald Gartlehner
Summary: This guideline provides an updated and comprehensive overview of cervical cancer prevention through screening and therapy, covering screening methods, test regimens, and screening intervals. The target populations include adult females without known risk factors and women living with HIV.
