OBJECTIVE To evaluate available evidence on the diagnostic value of radioactivity-free cultivation and detection technologies for rapid detection of rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS A fully recursive literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Biosis, Web of Science (all 1990-2010), CBMWeb (1978-2010), and Google Scholar. QUADAS items were used to evaluate t...

PURPOSE Our goal was to perform a scoping systematic review of the literature on the use of plasmapheresis or plasma exchange (PE) for refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in adults. METHODS Articles from MEDLINE, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Global Health, Healthstar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, clinicaltrials.gov (inception to May 2016), reference lists ...

BACKGROUND Hysterosalpingosonography has been suggested as a less invasive alternative to hysterosalpingography for detecting tubal occlusion among subfertile women. We aim to determine the diagnostic accuracy of hysterosalpingosonography and to compare it to hysterosalpingography. METHODS/DESIGN We will conduct a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy. We will search Medline, Embase, ...

OBJECTIVE To review the available data about the use of nifedipine to treat hypertension in pregnancy. DATA SOURCES All English language cases and studies published after 1984 and indexed in MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica, and BIOSIS PREVIEWS under the headings nifedipine, hypertension in pregnancy, uteroplacental blood flow, maternal/fetal hemodynamics, preeclampsia, and pregnancy outcome. MAIN ...

BACKGROUND Prolonged catheterization is the primary risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Reminder systems are interventions used to prompt the removal of unnecessary urinary catheters. To summarize the effect of urinary catheter reminder systems on the rate of CAUTI, urinary catheter use, and the need for recatheterization, we performed a systematic review and me...

BACKGROUND Hyperthyroidism affects about 0.2%-2.7% of all pregnancies, and is commonly managed with antithyroid drugs (ATDs). However, previous studies about the effects of ATDs on congenital anomalies are controversial. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was performed to explore the risk of congenital anomalies in children exposed to ATDs in-utero. METHODS Embase, Pubmed, Web of Knowledge,...

Background and Aims. Multiple studies have reported associations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the flora disequilibrium of Bacteroides. We performed a meta-analysis of the available data to provide a more precise estimate of the association between Bacteroides level in the gut and IBD. Methods. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Wiley Library, BIOSIS previews, ...

Anthocyanins are dietary flavonoids commonly consumed in the diet, which have been suggested to have a preventative effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) development among epidemiological studies. We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing the effects of purified anthocyanins and anthocyanin-rich extracts on markers of CVD (triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-dens...

BACKGROUND Depression is a distressing side effect of cancer and its treatment. In the general population, exercise is an effective antidepressant. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the antidepressant effect of exercise in cancer survivors. DATA SOURCES In May 2011, we searched MEDLINE, PsycInfo, EMBASE, CINAHL, CDSR, CENTRAL, AMED, Biosis Previews, a...

BACKGROUND The use of aloe vera is being promoted for a large variety of conditions. Often general practitioners seem to know less than their patients about its alleged benefits. AIM To define the clinical effectiveness of aloe vera, a popular herbal remedy in the United Kingdom. METHOD Four independent literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Biosis, and the Cochrane Library....