Rate of decline in kidney function with age: a systematic review.

Objective: To determine the distribution of kidney function values as measured by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the rate of decline with age in male and female healthy subjects without pre-existing medical conditions.

Design: Systematic review and structured synthesis.

Search Sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science, from database inception to 25 October 2023.

Temporal trends and practice variation of paediatric diagnostic tests in primary care: retrospective analysis of 14 million tests.

Objective: The primary objective was to investigate temporal trends and between-practice variability of paediatric test use in primary care.

Methods And Analysis: This was a descriptive study of population-based data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum primary care consultation records from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2019. Children aged 0-15 who were registered to one of the eligible 1464 general practices and had a diagnostic test code in their clinical record were included.

Brief CBT-based psychological interventions to improve mental health outcomes in refugee populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people experience a high burden of mental health problems owing to their experiencing traumas and stressful events. To summarise the available evidence and analyse the efficacy of brief psychological interventions (< 3 months) on improving mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related symptoms in refugees. We searched Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Global Index Medicus from inception to 19 December 2023.

The Effect of Ophthalmic Antibiotics on Clinical Outcomes and Transmissibility of Conjunctivitis Associated with Haemophilus influenzae versus Other Pathogens: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Transmission rates among children with conjunctivitis were low and antibiotic use was not associated with reduced transmission. Policies recommending exclusion from daycare and school for conjunctivitis should be scrutinized as they may not reduce transmission and may increase unnecessary antibiotic use.

GPs' perspectives on diagnostic tests for children: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Most healthcare contacts for children in the UK occur in general practice. Diagnostic tests can be beneficial in narrowing differential diagnoses; however, there is substantial variation in the use of tests for children in general practice. Unwarranted variation in testing can lead to variation in quality of care and may exacerbate health inequities.

Trends in diagnostic tests ordered for children: a retrospective analysis of 1.7 million laboratory test requests in Oxfordshire, UK from 2005 to 2019.

Objective: To better understand testing patterns in children, we measured temporal trends in paediatric testing from 2005 to 2019 in Oxfordshire, UK.

Design: Descriptive study of population-based secondary data.

Setting: Oxfordshire University Hospitals National Health Service Trust laboratories.

The quality of diagnostic guidelines for children in primary care: A meta-epidemiological study.

Aim: To determine the quality of paediatric guidelines relevant to diagnosis of three of the most common conditions in primary care: fever, gastroenteritis and constipation.

Methods: We undertook a meta-epidemiological study of paediatric guidelines for fever, gastroenteritis and gastroenteritis. We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, Trip Database, Guidelines International Network, the National Guideline Clearinghouse and WHO from February 2011 to September 2022 for guidelines from high-income settings containing diagnostic recommendations.

The quality of paediatric asthma guidelines: evidence underpinning diagnostic test recommendations from a meta-epidemiological study.

Background: Asthma is one of the most frequent reasons children visit a general practitioner (GP). The diagnosis of childhood asthma is challenging, and a variety of diagnostic tests for asthma exist. GPs may refer to clinical practice guidelines when deciding which tests, if any, are appropriate, but the quality of these guidelines is unknown.

Amitriptyline's anticholinergic adverse drug reactions-A systematic multiple-indication review and meta-analysis.

Background: Half the US population uses drugs with anticholinergic properties. Their potential harms may outweigh their benefits. Amitriptyline is among the most frequently prescribed anticholinergic medicinal products, is used for multiple indications, and rated as strongly anticholinergic.

The power of integrating data: advancing pain research using meta-analysis.

Publications related to pain research have increased significantly in recent years. The abundance of new evidence creates challenges staying up to date with the latest information. A comprehensive understanding of the literature is important for both clinicians and investigators involved in pain research.

Smoking cessation for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Background: Smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly coronary heart disease (CHD). However, quitting smoking may prevent secondary CVD events in people already diagnosed with CHD.  OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of smoking cessation on death from CVD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), in people with incident CHD.

Physical activity for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Current recommendations for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to partake in physical activity are based on low-level evidence, do not incorporate evidence from all available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and provide little information regarding potential adverse effects.

Objectives: To assess the benefits and harms of physical activity interventions in adults diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and to explore possible effect moderators including type, setting and nature of physical activity interventions.

Search Methods: We searched nine electronic databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Embase to 5 November 2021.

Adverse drug reactions associated with amitriptyline - protocol for a systematic multiple-indication review and meta-analysis.

Background: Unwanted anticholinergic effects are both underestimated and frequently overlooked. Failure to identify adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can lead to prescribing cascades and the unnecessary use of over-the-counter products. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore and quantify the frequency and severity of ADRs associated with amitriptyline vs.

Rate of normal lung function decline in ageing adults: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review investigating the normal age-related changes in lung function in adults without known lung disease.

Design: Systematic review.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) were searched for eligible studies from inception to February 12, 2019, supplemented by manual searches of reference lists and clinical trial registries.

Use of the terms "overdiagnosis" and "misdiagnosis" in the COPD literature: a rapid review.

Unlabelled: Challenges in the diagnostic process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can result in diagnostic misclassifications, including overdiagnosis. The term "overdiagnosis" in general has been associated with variable definitions. In connection with efforts to reduce low-value care, "overdiagnosis" has been defined as a true positive diagnosis of a condition that is not associated with any harm in the diagnosed person.

Benefits and harms of pregabalin in the management of neuropathic pain: a rapid review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.

Objective: To assess the benefits and harms of pregabalin in the management of neuropathic pain.

Design: Rapid review and meta-analysis of phase III, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.

Participants: Adults aged 18 years and above with neuropathic pain defined according to the International Association for the Study of Pain criteria.

Working in global health: A planning and implementation framework for international electives.

Propose a framework for planning and undertaking an international elective. On returning from conducting maternal health and well-being research in several remote communities in India, two undergraduate medical students have reflected on and documented their experiences with the view to assisting other students (and their supervisors) considering undertaking an international elective. A framework for undertaking clinical or research electives in remote or rural communities is presented.

Prevalence of incidental breast cancer and precursor lesions in autopsy studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Autopsy studies demonstrate the prevalence pool of incidental breast cancer in the population, but estimates are uncertain due to small numbers in any primary study. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of autopsy studies to estimate the prevalence of incidental breast cancer and precursors.

Methods: Relevant articles were identified through searching PubMed and Embase from inception up to April 2016, and backward and forward citations.

Interventions for enhancing adherence to treatment in adults with bronchiectasis.

Background: Bronchiectasis is characterised by a widening of the airways, leading to excess mucus production and recurrent infection. It is more prevalent in women and those in middle age. Many patients with bronchiectasis do not adhere to treatments (medications, exercise and airway clearance) prescribed for their condition.