Outcome measures evaluating hand function in children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

Aim: To review outcome measures used to evaluate hand function, with emphasis on manual capacity and performance, in children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP), to describe the content and measurement properties of such measures, and to investigate the quality of the studies that have examined these properties.

Method: Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and CINAHL were searched. The COSMIN-criteria (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) were used to assess the quality of studies and the Terwee criteria were used to assess the result of the studies.

Systematic content evaluation and review of measurement properties of questionnaires for measuring self-reported fatigue among older people.

Purpose: The assessment of fatigue in older people requires simple and user-friendly questionnaires that capture the phenomenon, yet are free from items indistinguishable from other disorders and experiences. This study aimed to evaluate the content, and systematically review and rate the measurement properties of self-report questionnaires for measuring fatigue, in order to identify the most suitable questionnaires for older people.

Methods: This study firstly involved identification of questionnaires that purport to measure self-reported fatigue, and evaluation of the content using a rating scale developed for the purpose from contemporary understanding of the construct.

Computer-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems and Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Background: Evidence-based treatment guidelines embedded in computer-based clinical decision support systems (CCDSS) may improve patient-reported outcomes (PRO). We systematically reviewed the literature for content and application of CCDSS, and their effects on PRO.

Methods: A systematic review in MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted according to PRISMA standards.

Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease.

Background: Strength training or aerobic exercise programmes might optimise muscle and cardiorespiratory function and prevent additional disuse atrophy and deconditioning in people with a muscle disease. This is an update of a review first published in 2004.

Objectives: To examine the safety and efficacy of strength training and aerobic exercise training in people with a muscle disease.

Clinical tools to assess balance in children and adults with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

We aimed to review tools used to assess balance in clinical practice in children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP), to describe their content and measurement properties and to evaluate the quality of the studies that have examined these properties. CINAHL, Embase, and PubMed/MEDLINE were searched. The COnsensus-based Standards for selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) was used to assess the 'quality of studies' and the Terwee criteria were used to assess the 'result of studies'.

Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: This study aimed to systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of yoga on physical and psychosocial outcomes in cancer patients and survivors.

Methods: A systematic literature search in ten databases was conducted in November 2011. Studies were included if they had an RCT design, focused on cancer patients or survivors, included physical postures in the yoga program, compared yoga with a non-exercise or waitlist control group, and evaluated physical and/or psychosocial outcomes.

Alprazolam for depression.

Background: The 'off-label' effect of alprazolam on depression has not been systematically evaluated.

Objectives: To determine the antidepressant effect, including tolerability and acceptability, of alprazolam as monotherapy for major depression, when compared to placebo and conventional antidepressants in outpatients and patients in primary care.

Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group Register, which includes relevant randomised controlled trials from the following bibliographic databases: The Cochrane Library (all years to February 2012); EMBASE (1970 to February 2012); MEDLINE (1950 to February 2012) and PsycINFO (1960 to February 2012).

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are not using insulin.

Background: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has been found to be effective for patients with type 1 diabetes and for patients with type 2 diabetes using insulin. There is much debate on the effectiveness of SMBG as a tool in the self-management for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin.

Objectives: To assess the effects of SMBG in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are not using insulin.

Physical activity monitoring by use of accelerometer-based body-worn sensors in older adults: a systematic literature review of current knowledge and applications.

Objectives: To systematically review the literature on physical activity variables derived from body-worn sensors during long term monitoring in healthy and in-care older adults.

Methods: Using pre-designed inclusion and exclusion criteria, a PubMed search strategy was designed to trace relevant reports of studies. Last search date was March 8, 2011.

¹⁸F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in assessment of myeloma-related bone disease: a systematic review.

Background: The goal of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of whole body X-ray (WBXR) and (18) F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18) FDG PET) in staging and response assessment of multiple myeloma.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of studies comparing (18) FDG PET with WBXR and/or magnetic resonance imaging in terms of sensitivity for myeloma-related bone disease at staging and during follow-up.

Results: Eighteen studies involving 798 patients met the inclusion criteria.

Effectiveness of prevention programmes for hand dermatitis: a systematic review of the literature.

Hand dermatitis is a prevalent disease with an episodic, chronic character. The use of medical resources is high and is often related to reduced (work) functioning. The burden is therefore high for patients and society.

Added value of baseline 18F-FDG uptake in serial 18F-FDG PET for evaluation of response of solid extracerebral tumors to systemic cytotoxic neoadjuvant treatment: a meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the level of baseline (18)F-FDG uptake in the primary tumor adds value to its relative change in (18)F-FDG uptake in serial PET scans in predicting the histopathologic response to systemic cytotoxic neoadjuvant treatment of patients with solid extracerebral tumors.

Methods: We performed a literature search from January 1995 through November 2008 using PubMed and Embase. Two reviewers independently selected eligible studies for possible inclusion in the meta-analysis by reviewing titles and abstracts.

Treatment-related and patient-related expectations of patients with musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of published measurement tools.

Objectives: Many of the various types of treatments that are used in the rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) require active involvement of the patient. Patient expectations, for instance with regard to treatment, such as physical therapy, could be important prognostic factors. Behavioral interventions to modify those expectations might improve treatment outcome and prevent chronicity.

Ethical and practical concerns of surveillance technologies in residential care for people with dementia or intellectual disabilities: an overview of the literature.

Background: Technology has emerged as a potential solution to alleviate some of the pressures on an already overburdened care system, thereby meeting the growing needs of an expanding population of seriously cognitively impaired people. However, questions arise as to what extent technologies are already being used in residential care and how ethically and practically acceptable this use would be.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to explore what is known on the moral and practical acceptability of surveillance technologies in residential care for people with dementia or intellectual disabilities, and to set forth the state of the debate.

Physical examination for lumbar radiculopathy due to disc herniation in patients with low-back pain.

Background: Low-back pain with leg pain (sciatica) may be caused by a herniated intervertebral disc exerting pressure on the nerve root. Most patients will respond to conservative treatment, but in carefully selected patients, surgical discectomy may provide faster relief of symptoms. Primary care clinicians use patient history and physical examination to evaluate the likelihood of disc herniation and select patients for further imaging and possible surgery.

Strength training and aerobic exercise training for muscle disease.

Background: Strength training or aerobic exercise programmes might optimise muscle and cardiorespiratory function and prevent additional disuse atrophy and deconditioning in people with a muscle disease.

Objectives: To examine the safety and efficacy of strength training and aerobic exercise training in people with a muscle disease.

Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Trials Specialized Register (July 2009), the Cochrane Rehabilitation and Related Therapies Field Register (October 2002, August 2008 and July 2009), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2009) MEDLINE (January 1966 to July 2009), EMBASE (January 1974 to July 2009), EMBASE Classic (1947 to 1973) and CINAHL (January 1982 to July 2009).

Development of a methodological PubMed search filter for finding studies on measurement properties of measurement instruments.

Objectives: For the measurement of patient-reported outcomes, such as (health-related) quality of life, often many measurement instruments exist that intend to measure the same construct. To facilitate instrument selection, our aim was to develop a highly sensitive search filter for finding studies on measurement properties of measurement instruments in PubMed and a more precise search filter that needs less abstracts to be screened, but at a higher risk of missing relevant studies.

Methods: A random sample of 10,000 PubMed records (01-01-1990 to 31-12-2006) was used as a gold standard.

Systematic review: accuracy of imaging tests in the diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Background: Diagnosing recurrent laryngeal tumor after radiotherapy is challenging. The most reliable method is direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia. However, many futile laryngoscopies are performed in disease-free patients.

Suffering from dementia - the patient's perspective: a review of the literature.

Background: Among the general public there is a deep fear of developing dementia, which has led to an increasing number of people "at risk" seeking ways (such as advance directives) to avoid undergoing progressive mental decline. The views of people with dementia are vital in obtaining a real answer to the question of how the disease affects people's lives and whether it actually involves the suffering that so many fear.

Method: A review of the international literature is provided on what is known about living through dementia from the patient's perspective.

Nurse-led case management for ambulatory complex patients in general health care: a systematic review.

Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize the available literature on the effectiveness of ambulatory nurse-led case management for complex patients in general health care.

Method: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and Cinahl. We included randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before/after study, and time series studies; identified references were screened by two reviewers.

Attenuation-corrected vs. nonattenuation-corrected 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography in oncology: a systematic review.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the diagnostic accuracy of attenuation-corrected (AC) vs. nonattenuation-corrected (NAC) 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in oncological patients.

Procedures: Following a comprehensive search of the literature, two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of eligible studies.

A systematic review of the diagnostic accuracy of provocative tests of the neck for diagnosing cervical radiculopathy.

Clinical provocative tests of the neck, which position the neck and arm inorder to aggravate or relieve arm symptoms, are commonly used in clinical practice in patients with a suspected cervical radiculopathy. Their diagnostic accuracy, however, has never been examined in a systematic review. A comprehensive search was conducted in order to identify all possible studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria.

18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography for post-treatment evaluation of malignant lymphoma: a systematic review.

Despite the increasing number of publications concerning 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for post-treatment evaluation of lymphoma and the increasing availability of this novel diagnostic modality, its exact role in response assessment after therapy is still unknown. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding the diagnostic performance of dedicated FDG-PET in evaluation of first-line therapy of Hodgkin's disease and (aggressive) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and to calculate summary estimates of its sensitivity and specificity. The databases of PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant studies up to January 2004.

Update of the FDG PET search strategy.

The comprehensive search strategy for identification of FDG PET literature in the electronic databases MEDLINE and EMBASE, published in 2000, has been updated for PubMed. The new search strategy presented here is freely available at the VU website and can be easily copied from there and pasted into the PubMed search window. In addition, the strategy can be stored using the 'Cubby' feature on the PubMed interface and run whenever needed in a minimum of time.

Measures used to assess burden among caregivers of stroke patients: a review.

Objective: To describe measures used to evaluate the burden of caregiving experienced by caregivers of stroke patients and their clinimetric properties.

Design: A review of the literature was conducted to examine burden scales with regard to concept, feasibility, internal consistency, validity, reliability and responsiveness.

Results: The literature search resulted in 45 measures of caregiver outcomes, including 16 different measures of caregiver burden.