OBJECTIVE: The use of topical corticosteroids (TCSs) has become an efficient, less-invasive treatment for phimosis. Whether any significant difference in efficacy exists between TCSs based on their potency is unclear.
METHODS: Electronic databases were searched up to March 2024 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the use of any type or concentration of TCSs with placebo or no treatment in boys with any degree of physician diagnosed phimosis. A random-effects network meta-analysis (NMA) using a consistency model within a frequentist approach was employed. The primary outcome was partial or complete resolution of phimosis reported as a pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI. Relative ranking was assessed with surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities.
RESULTS: Seventeen RCTs, containing 2057 participants were identified. NMA suggested that, compared with control, the high (RR 3.19 (95% CI 1.42 to 7.16), moderate (RR 2.68 (95% CI 1.87 to 3.83) and low (RR 3.05 (95% CI 1.63 to 5.71) potency TCSs statistically significantly increased complete or partial clinical resolution of phimosis. The SUCRA plot revealed that high potency (SUCRA = 0.76) was ranked first followed by low and moderate TCSs. When we assessed comparative efficacy among TCSs based on potency, none of the classes were superior to others. The certainty of the evidence for an effect of moderate potent TCSs was that of moderate GRADE quality.
CONCLUSIONS: Moderate to low potency TCSs are of comparable therapeutic effect in the treatment of phimosis to that of highly potent formulations. More high-quality RCTs are warranted.

We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to assist clinicians in determining the optimal patient-specific method of analgesia during radial artery puncture by comparing radial artery puncture procedural pain. We included randomized controlled trials that assessed the prophylactic efficacy of local anesthesia for radial artery puncture-associated pain. We searched the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online in January 2023, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in January 2023, the Excerpta Medica Database in December 2022, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal in January 2023, and ClinicalTrials.gov in January 2023. We synthesized the pain scores (0-100 scale) using the frequentist random-effects NMA model. We evaluated the confidence in each outcome using the CINeMA tool (https://cinema.ispm.unibe.ch/). We conducted an NMA of 1,619 patients across 14 studies on pain scores during radial artery puncture-related procedures for 12 interventions. Compared with placebo, mepivacaine infiltration and lidocaine spray probably reduce pain (mean difference (MD): -47.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): -61.45 to -33.89, confidence rating (CR): moderate; MD: -27.38, 95% CI: -37.53 to -17.22, CR: moderate). Of the 32 studies included, none reported systemic adverse events, such as anaphylaxis or local anesthetic systemic toxicity, or severe local adverse events. In conclusion, mepivacaine infiltration and lidocaine spray probably reduce the pain associated with radial artery puncture more than other local anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Great saphenous vein insufficiency (GSVI) adversely affects the quality of life of affected individuals. Minimally invasive endo-venous ablation techniques have emerged as effective and safe treatments, despite the longstanding use of surgical interventions. We aim in our study to evaluate all the available interventions in the literature, either endo-venous or conventional approaches for the treatment of GSVI.
METHODS: A thorough search was performed across four electronic databases to identify relevant studies. A frequentist network meta-analysis (NWM) was executed on the combined data to derive network estimates pertaining to the outcomes of concern. Risk ratios (RRs) were employed as the effect size metric for binary outcomes, while mean differences (MDs) were utilized for continuous outcomes, each reported with a 95% confidence interval. The qualitative review was conducted employing the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool 1.
RESULTS: Our NWM included 75 studies encompassing 12,196 patients. Regarding technical success rate within the first 5 years after treatment, Endo-venous Laser Ablation (EVLA) with High Ligation and Stripping (HL/S), EVLA alone, Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Injection, cryostripping, HL/S and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) were significantly better than Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy and F-care. Also, invagination stripping was inferior to all interventions. Conservative Hemodynamic Cure for Venous Insufficiency and Varicose Veins (CHIVA) demonstrated a significantly lower recurrence rate with a RR of 0.35 [0.15; 0.79] compared to RFA, but RFA was more effective in recurrence prevention than HL/S and Mechanochemical Ablation (MOCA), with a RR of 0.63 [0.41; 0.97] and 0.18 [0.03; 0.95], respectively. Endo-venous Steam Ablation (EVSA) emerged as the most effective in reducing post-intervention pain, showing a MD of -2.73 [-3.72; -1.74] compared to HL/S. In Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire outcome, our analysis favored MOCA over most studied interventions, with an MD of -6.88 [-12.43; -1.32] compared to HL/S. Safety outcomes did not significantly differ among interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed significant variations in the technical success rates, recurrence rates, and post-intervention pain levels among different interventions. CHIVA exhibited enhanced performance in terms of lower recurrence rates, while EVSA emerged as a promising choice for mitigating post-intervention pain. Additionally, our analysis underscored the significance of patient-reported outcomes, with MOCA consistently yielding favorable results in terms of enhancing quality of life and expediting the return to regular activities.

OBJECTIVE: Traditional Chinese exercises (Taichi, Wuqinxi, Liuzijue, and Baduanjin) are considered effective alternative treatments for improving symptoms in the stable phase of COPD. However, the most effective exercise remains unknown. This study compared the effectiveness of different traditional Chinese exercises on pulmonary function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using a network meta-analysis.
METHODS: From database establishment until September 2023, eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched. Two reviewers performed the risk of bias assessment of the included studies using the Cochrane Collaboration tool, and the evidence level was suggested using the GRADE system.
RESULTS: Fifty-seven studies comprising 4294 patients were included. The results of the network meta-analysis show that Baduanjin was most effective in improving the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1). However, Liuzijue significantly improved the first-second forced vital capacity percentage of expected value (FEV1%) and the ratio of the forced expiratory volume in the first second to the forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC). The probability ranking results indicated that Liuzijue was the most effective, followed by Baduanjin, Wuqinxi, and Taichi. Subgroup analysis in conjunction with intervention duration revealed that Liuzijue had a significant advantage over other interventions for improving FEV1, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC within 6 months and improved FEV1% and FEV1/FVC for ≥ 6 months. Moreover, Subgroup analysis based on baseline pulmonary function revealed that Liuzijue had a significant advantage over other interventions for improving FEV1% within severe and moderate groups. Finally, Subgroup analysis based on the frequency of interventions showed that Liuzijue was still more effective in improving FEV1, FEV1%, and FEV1/FVC in the ≥ three times one week.
CONCLUSIONS: Liuzijue was more effective than Taichi, Wuqinxi, Liuzijue, and Baduanjin in improving pulmonary function in patients with stable COPD.

This network meta-analysis aims to compare the clinical efficacy of seven non-surgical therapies for peri-implant disease, including laser treatment, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), systemic antibiotics (SA), probiotics, local antimicrobials (LA), and air-powder polishing (APP) combined with mechanical debridement (MD). We conducted searches in four electronic databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library, to identify randomized controlled trials of non-surgical treatments combined with MD for individuals (aged at least 18 years) diagnosed with peri-implantitis or peri-implant mucositis with a minimum of 3 months follow-up. The outcomes of the study were the reduction in pocket probing depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BoP), plaque index (PLI), clinical attachment level (CAL), and marginal bone loss (MBL). We employed a frequency random effects network meta-analysis model to combine the effect sizes of the trials using standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Network meta-analyses include network plots, paired comparison forest plots, league tables, funnel plots, surface under the cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) plots, and sensitivity analysis plots. The results showed that, for peri-implantitis, PBMT +MD demonstrated the highest effect in improving PPD (SUCRA = 75.3%), SA +MD showed the highest effect in improving CAL (SUCRA = 87.4%, SMD = 2.20, and 95% CI: 0.38 to 4.02) and MBL (SUCRA = 99.9%, SMD = 3.92, and 95% CI. 2.90 to 4.93), compared to MD alone. For peri-implant mucositis, probiotics +MD demonstrated the highest effect in improving PPD (SUCRA = 100%) and PLI (SUCRA = 83.2%), SA +MD showed the highest effect in improving BoP (SUCRA = 88.1%, SMD = 0.77, and 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.28), compared to MD alone. Despite the ranking established by our study in the treatment of peri-implant disease, decisions should still be made with reference to the latest treatment guidelines. There is still a need for more high-quality studies to provide conclusive evidence and especially a need for studies regarding direct comparisons between multiple treatment options.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly being diagnosed in older adults. Our objective is to assess the advantages and potential drawbacks of different glucose-lowering medications in this specific population.
METHODS: A network meta-analysis was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials that examined patient-centered outcomes in adults aged ≥65 years with T2DM. We searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase up to September 23, 2023. Quality of eligible studies were assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool.
RESULTS: A total of 22 trials that involved 41 654 participants were included, incorporating sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, metformin, sulfonylureas (SU) and acarbose. Our findings reveal that GLP-1RAs reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (risk ratio [RR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 0.97) and body weight (mean difference [MD], -3.87 kg; 95% CI, -5.54 to -2.21). SGLT2 inhibitors prevent hospitalization for heart failure (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.77), renal composite outcome (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.89), and reduce body weights (MD, -1.85 kg; 95% CI, -2.42 to -1.27). SU treatment increases the risk of any hypoglycaemia (RR, 4.19; 95% CI, 3.52 to 4.99) and severe hypoglycaemia (RR, 7.06; 95% CI, 3.03 to 16.43). GLP-1RAs, SGLT2 inhibitors, metformin, SU and DPP-4 inhibitors are effective in reducing glycaemic parameters. Notably, the number of treatments needed decreases in most cases as age increases.
CONCLUSIONS: Novel glucose-lowering medications with benefits that outweigh risks should be prioritized for older patients with diabetes.

UNASSIGNED: Effective acid suppression is a crucial component of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication regimens. Approved treatments include dual, triple, and quadruple therapies composed of certain antibiotics in combination with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Vonoprazan, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, provides more potent and durable acid suppression than PPIs. We compared the efficacy of vonoprazan-based therapies vs approved standard regimens using new evidence from the phase 3 pHalconHP trial in North America and Europe.
UNASSIGNED: Studies reporting first-line H. pylori eradication rates from empiric treatment with Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies and vonoprazan-containing therapies were identified via bibliographic searches of systematic literature reviews and a subsequent MEDLINE/Embase search using index terms for H. pylori and eradication. Randomized controlled trials comparing 2 or more relevant comparators were included in Bayesian network meta-analyses for grouped and distinct therapies.
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-three distinct regimens from 42 trials including 12,773 patients were identified. Vonoprazan-based triple therapy showed the highest relative efficacy (odds ratio: 2.73, 95% credible interval 2.11, 3.54) and 72.1% probability of being the best. North American, Western, and global scenarios were largely consistent. Vonoprazan-based therapies demonstrated higher odds of H. pylori eradication than each PPI-based triple therapy. Furthermore, vonoprazan-based triple therapy was superior to bismuth subcitrate quadruple therapy (odds ratio: 1.60, 95% credible interval: 1.07, 2.38).
UNASSIGNED: Vonoprazan-based eradication regimens represent novel treatments for H. pylori infection on a global scale, offering efficacy that, in this analysis, is superior to PPI-based triple therapy and comparable or better than bismuth quadruple therapy.

Background: Evidence comparing the efficacy of different treatments for patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) receiving first-line or maintenance therapy is sparse. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of these treatments, with a distinct focus on evaluating first-line and maintenance treatments separately. Methods: We conducted Bayesian network meta-analyses, sourcing English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through July 2023 from databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and key conference proceedings. Phase Ⅱ or Ⅲ trials that assessed two or more therapeutic regimens were included. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), adverse events graded as 3 or above (SAE), and R0 liver resection rate. Hazards Ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as effect size for OS and PFS, Odds Ratios (ORs) and 95% CI were used for ORR, SAEs and R0 resection rate. Subgroup and sensitive analyses were conducted to analysis the model uncertainty (PROSPERO: CRD42023420498). Results: 56 RCTs were included (50 for first-line treatment, six for maintenance therapies), with a total of 21,323 patients. Regarding first-line, for OS, the top three mechanisms were: local treatment + single-drug chemotherapy (SingleCT), Targeted therapy (TAR)+SingleCT, and TAR + multi-drug chemotherapy (MultiCT). Resection or ablation (R/A)+SingleCT, S1, and Cetuximab + intensified fluorouracil-based combination chemotherapy (ICTFU) were identified as the best treatments. For PFS, the top three mechanisms were: Immune therapy + TAR + MultiCT, multi-targeted therapy (MultiTAR), TAR + SingleCT. The top three treatments were: Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab + fluorouracil-based combination chemotherapy (CTFU), TAS-102+bevacizumab, Bevacizumab + ICTFU. Cetuximab + CTFU was the best choice for RAS/RAF wild-type patients. Regarding maintenance treatment, Bevacizumab + SingleCT and Adavosertib were the best options for OS and PFS, respectively. For safety, MultiCT was the safest, followed by local treatment + MultiCT, TAR + MultiCT caused the most SAEs. Bevacizumab plus chemotherapy was found to be the safest among all targeted combination therapies. Conclusion: In first-line, local treatment or targeted therapsy plus chemotherapy are the best mechanisms. R/A + SingleCT or CTFU performed the best for OS, Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab + ICTFU was the best option regarding PFS. For RAS/RAF wild-type patients, Cetuximab + CTFU was the optimal option. Monotherapy may be preferred choice for maintenance treatment. Combination therapy resulted in more SAEs when compared to standard chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE:  Although endoscopic resection is an effective treatment of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (R-NENs) with low malignant potential, there is no consensus on the most recommended endoscopic method. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of different endoscopic treatments for R-NENs with low malignant potential.
METHODS:  We searched databases for studies on treatments of R-NENs using endoscopic resection. These studies comprised techniques such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), modified endoscopic mucosal resection (EMRM), modified endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESDM), and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). The primary outcomes assessed were histological complete resection (HCR).
RESULTS:  Overall, 38 retrospective studies (3040 R-NENs) were identified. Endoscopic mucosal resection with a cap (EMRC), endoscopic mucosal resection with ligation (EMRL), ESD, ESDM, and TEM demonstrated higher resectability than did EMR in achieving HCR. Endoscopic mucosal resection, EMRC, EMRL, EMRP, EMRD, and EMRU required shorter operation times than did ESD. Endoscopic mucosal resection, EMRC, ESDM, and TEM incurred lower risks than did ESD.
CONCLUSIONS:  Regarding R-NENs <20 mm with low malignant potential, ESD could be used as the primary treatment. However, TEM may be more effective if supported by economic conditions and hospital facility. With respect to R-NENs <16 mm with low malignant potential, EMRL could be used as the primary treatment. In regard to R-NENs <10 mm with low malignant potential, EMRL, EMRC, and ESD could be used as the primary treatment. However, EMRL and EMRC might be better when operational difficulties and economic conditions were considered.

BACKGROUND: The presence of perioperative insomnia is common but yet often overlooked among cancer survivors. Non-pharmaceutical therapies have shown promise in treating cancer-related insomnia during the perioperative period; however, the existing evidence from various studies remains inconsistent. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review and assess the effectiveness of a wide range of non-pharmaceutical interventions during perioperative period for cancer-related insomnia. Findings from this study will help to make evidence-based treatment decisions.
METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search will be conducted to identify relevant articles from multiple databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Chinese literature databases such as CNKI, VIP, Wanfang from inception to 1 December 2023. Language restrictions will not be imposed to ensure inclusivity. The change of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index or the Insomnia Severity Index from baseline will be used as the primary outcome of the study. Studies using these as secondary outcomes are also acceptable. Pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata V.15.0 software. The Cochrane collaboration tool for assessing the Risk of Bias and Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions will be used for risk and bias assessment. Additionally, the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation scale will be employed to evaluate the quality of the evidence.
BACKGROUND: Ethical approval is not required for this study since it involves the analysis of existing studies. The anticipated results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
UNASSIGNED: CRD42023437356.