Universal irradiation of platelets: Does irradiation affect the quality, effectiveness, and safety of platelets for transfusion?

We aimed to identify any detrimental effects on platelet quality and clinical effectiveness, of irradiated platelets compared to non-irradiated platelets for transfusion. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO [CRD42023441930].

Cell salvage for minimising perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion in adults undergoing elective surgery.

Background: Concerns regarding the safety and availability of transfused donor blood have prompted research into a range of techniques to minimise allogeneic transfusion requirements. Cell salvage (CS) describes the recovery of blood from the surgical field, either during or after surgery, for reinfusion back to the patient.

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of CS in minimising perioperative allogeneic red blood cell transfusion and on other clinical outcomes in adults undergoing elective or non-urgent surgery.

Pharmacological interventions for the prevention of bleeding in people undergoing definitive fixation or joint replacement for hip, pelvic and long bone fractures.

Background: Pelvic, hip, and long bone fractures can result in significant bleeding at the time of injury, with further blood loss if they are treated with surgical fixation. People undergoing surgery are therefore at risk of requiring a blood transfusion and may be at risk of peri-operative anaemia. Pharmacological interventions for blood conservation may reduce the risk of requiring an allogeneic blood transfusion and associated complications.

Interventions for improving adherence to iron chelation therapy in people with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia.

Background: Regularly transfused people with sickle cell disease (SCD) and people with thalassaemia are at risk of iron overload. Iron overload can lead to iron toxicity in vulnerable organs such as the heart, liver and endocrine glands, which can be prevented and treated with iron-chelating agents. The intensive demands and uncomfortable side effects of therapy can have a negative impact on daily activities and wellbeing, which may affect adherence.

A systematic review of the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma or immunoglobulin treatment for people with severe respiratory viral infections due to coronaviruses or influenza.

Objective: Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of convalescent plasma (CP) or hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIVIG) in severe respiratory disease caused by coronaviruses or influenza, in patients of all ages requiring hospital admission.

Methods: We searched multiple electronic databases for all publications to 12th October 2020, and RCTs only to 28th June 2021. Two reviewers screened, extracted, and analysed data.

Resistance Exercise in People With Stage-3 Chronic Kidney Disease: Effects of Training Frequency (Weekly Volume) on Measures of Muscle Wasting and Function.

Resistance training (RT) is a proven anabolic intervention in people living with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD). To date, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the dose-response relationship of RT in the non-dialysis dependent CKD population. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effects of RT frequency (weekly volume) on established measures of muscle wasting and function in CKD.

Assessing efficacy and safety of replacement fluids in therapeutic plasma exchange: A systematic scoping review of outcome measures used.

Objective: The aim of this systematic scoping review is to identify and categorize the outcome measures that have been reported in clinical studies, where therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been used as an intervention in any clinical settings, excluding thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

Methods: We searched electronic databases using a predefined search strategy from inception to October 9, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data.

Hyperkalaemia Following Blood Transfusion-a Systematic Review Assessing Evidence and Risks.

Hyperkalaemia following transfusion is widely reported in the literature. Our objective was to critically review recent evidence on hyperkalaemia in association with transfusion and to assess whether specific aspects of transfusion practice can affect the likelihood of developing hyperkalaemia. We searched 9 electronic databases (including MEDLINE, Embase, and Transfusion Evidence Library) using a predefined search strategy, from 2010 to April 8, 2021.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Iron Therapy for Treating Anaemia in Critically ill Adults: A Rapid Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Our objective was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy for treating anaemia in critically ill adults (>16 years) admitted to intensive care or high dependency units. We excluded quasi-RCTs and other not truly randomised trials. We searched 7 electronic databases (including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase) using a pre-defined search strategy from inception to June 14, 2021.

The Difference in Potential Harms between Whole Blood and Component Blood Transfusion in major Bleeding: A Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTs.

Our aim was to assess whether there is a difference in outcomes of potential "all-cause" harm in the transfusion of whole blood (WB) compared to blood components (BC) for any bleeding patient regardless of age or clinical condition. We searched multiple electronic databases using a pre-defined search strategy from inception to 2 March 2021. 1 reviewer screened, extracted, and analysed data, with verification by a second reviewer of all decisions.

Protein-creatinine ratio and albumin-creatinine ratio for the diagnosis of significant proteinuria in pregnant women with hypertension: Systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy.

Background: The gold standard for assessment and diagnosis of significant proteinuria in pregnancy has been by 24-hour urine collection and analysis. Determining fast, accurate methods to identify clinically significant proteinuria would aid diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of spot protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) and albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) measurements compared with 24-hour urine collection for the identification of clinically significant proteinuria in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Validity and reliability of high-resolution ultrasound imaging for the assessment of regional body composition in stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Accurate measurement of muscle mass is an important research and clinical tool. High-resolution ultrasound (US) has shown potential as a method to assess muscle and fat mass at specific anatomical sites. However, there is limited evidence for the reliability of US to measure muscle size in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Factors associated with unscheduled care use by cancer decedents: a systematic review with narrative synthesis.

Background: People who die from cancer (cancer decedents) may experience unpleasant and distressing symptoms which cause them to present to unscheduled care. Unscheduled care is unplanned care delivered by general practitioner out-of-hours and emergency departments. Use of unscheduled care can disrupt treatment plans, leading to a disjointed patient care and suboptimal outcomes.

Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ): initial validation survey among primary care patients and social care recipients in England.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate a new generic patient-reported outcome measure, the Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ), among a diverse sample of health and social care users in England.

Design: Cross-sectional validation survey. Data were collected through postal surveys (February 2016-January 2017).

Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews.

Background: Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting beyond normal tissue healing time, generally taken to be 12 weeks. It contributes to disability, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, poor quality of life, and healthcare costs. Chronic pain has a weighted mean prevalence in adults of 20%.

Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews.

Background: Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting beyond normal tissue healing time, generally taken to be 12 weeks. It contributes to disability, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, poor quality of life, and healthcare costs. Chronic pain has a weighted mean prevalence in adults of 20%.

Exercise rehabilitation following intensive care unit discharge for recovery from critical illness: executive summary of a Cochrane Collaboration systematic review.

Skeletal muscle wasting and weakness are major complications of critical illness and underlie the profound physical and functional impairments experienced by survivors after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). Exercise-based rehabilitation has been shown to be beneficial when delivered during ICU admission. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness of exercise rehabilitation initiated after ICU discharge on primary outcomes of functional exercise capacity and health-related quality of life.

Effects of education to facilitate knowledge about chronic pain for adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic pain can contribute to disability, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, poor quality of life and increased health care costs, with close to 20 % of the adult population in Europe reporting chronic pain. To empower the person to self-manage, it is advocated that education and training about the nature of pain and its effects and how to live with pain is provided. The objective of this review is to determine the level of evidence for education to facilitate knowledge about chronic pain, delivered as a stand-alone intervention for adults, to reduce pain and disability.

Exercise rehabilitation following intensive care unit discharge for recovery from critical illness.

Background: Skeletal muscle wasting and weakness are significant complications of critical illness, associated with degree of illness severity and periods of reduced mobility during mechanical ventilation. They contribute to the profound physical and functional deficits observed in survivors. These impairments may persist for many years following discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) and can markedly influence health-related quality of life.

Pilates for people with multiple sclerosis who use a wheelchair: feasibility, efficacy and participant experiences.

Purpose: This mixed methods study aimed to explore the feasibility, efficacy and the participants' experiences of a Pilates programme for people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) who use a wheelchair.

Method: Fifteen pwMS took part in the 12-week Pilates programme. At baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of the programme, sitting stability, measured as maximum progression of the Centre of Pressure when leaning sideways (COPmax), posture, pain on a Visual Analogue Scale, function, fatigue and the impact of MS (MSIS29) were assessed.

Influence of a fed or fasted state on the s-IgA response to prolonged cycling in active men and women.

This study investigated the effect of a fed or fasted state on the salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) response to prolonged cycling. Using a randomized, crossover design, 16 active adults (8 men and 8 women) performed 2 hr of cycling on a stationary ergometer at 65% of maximal oxygen uptake on 1 occasion after an overnight fast (FAST) and on another occasion 2 hr after consuming a 2.2-MJ high-carbohydrate meal (FED).