Does the outcome of acupuncture differ according to the location of sham needling points in acupuncture trials for migraine? A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Various acupuncture clinical trials have been conducted on migraine; however, the conclusions remain controversial especially when acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture. Sham acupuncture is sometimes performed at the same acupuncture points used for verum acupuncture despite the evidence on acupuncture point specificity. Four databases were searched for sham acupuncture or waiting list-controlled acupuncture trials for migraine on December 25, 2023.

Methodological Challenges in Randomized Controlled Trials of mHealth Interventions: Cross-Sectional Survey Study and Consensus-Based Recommendations.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) refers to using mobile communication devices such as smartphones to support health, health care, and public health. mHealth interventions have their own nature and characteristics that distinguish them from traditional health care interventions, including drug interventions. Thus, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of mHealth interventions present specific methodological challenges.

Traditional, complementary and integrative medicine therapies for the treatment of mild/moderate acute COVID-19: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Increasing evidence has emerged for traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) to treat COVID-19 which requires systematic summaries of the net benefits of interventions against standard care and one another. The study aims to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) regarding TCIM therapies for treating mild/moderate acute COVID-19, potentially informing the WHO guideline development and clinical decision-making.

Methods And Analysis: We will search Embase, MEDLINE, Virtual Health Library on Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WHO's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform with additional searches of Chinese and Korean literature sources for randomised controlled trials comparing TCIM with placebo, standard care, no treatment or with an alternate type of TCIM to treat COVID-19.

A review of health equity considerations in Cochrane reviews of lifestyle interventions for cardiovascular health in adults.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global disease burden and rising health-care costs. Systematic reviews (SRs) rigorously evaluate evidence on health interventions' effects and guide personal, clinical, and policy decision-making. Health equity is the absence of avoidable and unfair differences in health between groups within a population.

Comparison of eTEP and IPOM for ventral hernia surgery in the early postoperative period: a retrospective cohort study of a tertiary university centre.

Purpose: The extended totally extraperitoneal technique (eTEP) is a relatively new laparoscopic approach to address ventral hernias. Since this technique is not widely used yet, the literature regarding its efficacy and safety is limited, especially when compared to more established surgical techniques like intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM). This study aimed at contributing to the expanding body of evidence for eTEP, by comparing the early outcomes of eTEP and IPOM surgeries for ventral hernias.