ObjectivesTo systematically review the safety and effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE), surgery and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of uterine fibroids.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect relevant studies on comparing the safety and effectiveness of UAE, surgery and HIFU in the treatment of uterine fibroids from January 2000 to August 2019. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias of included studies, network meta-analysis was performed by ADDIS 1.16.8 software and Stata 14.0 software.ResultsA total of 11 trials (22 references) involving 3469 patients were included. Compared with surgery, UAE and HIFU patients had higher quality of life (1-year follow-up) improvement, and UAE was higher than HIFU. Network meta-analysis showed that patients treated with HIFU had the lowest incidence of major complications within 1 year, followed by UAE, and surgery. Patients treated with HIFU and UAE had shorter hospitalization and quicker recovery time than surgery. The rate of further intervention after surgery treatment might be lower than that of UAE and HIFU.ConclusionsUAE has the highest quality of life improvement (1-year follow-up) for uterine fibroids. HIFU and UAE are safer with shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery time compared with surgery. However, both UAE and HIFU have the risk of re-treatment. However, limited by the number and quality of included studies, the above conclusions are needed to be verified by more high-quality studies.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of different stimulation modalities of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with SSRI in improving depressed mood after stroke using network meta-analysis. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, CBM and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the objectives from inception to October 1, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Network meta-analysis was then performed by using R 4.2.1software. ResultsA total of 25 RCTs involving 2 152 patients were included. Four types of rTMS stimulation combined with SSRIs were included: high-frequency stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal (l-DLPFC), low-frequency stimulation of l-DLPFC, low-frequency stimulation of the right dorsolateral prefrontal (r-DLPFC), and low-frequency stimulation of the bilateral DLPFC. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that the effect of combining four stimulation methods with SSRI in treating depression was better than that of SSRI alone (P<0.05). Probability sorting results showed that low-frequency stimulated bilateral DLPFC (88.9%) > low-frequency stimulated l-DLPFC (63.1%) > high-frequency stimulation l-DLPFC (57.1%) > low-frequency stimulation r-DLPFC (40.4%). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the four stimulation methods combined with SSRI and the use of SSRI alone (P>0.05). Conclusion?rTMS combined with SSRIs is better than SSRIs alone in improving depressed mood after stroke. Low-frequency rTMS stimulation of bilateral DLPFC may be the best. Meanwhile, the safety of different stimulation methods is good.
The theoretical foundation of relevant packages of R software for network meta-analysis is mainly based on Bayesian statistical model and a few of them use generalized linear model. Network meta-analysis is performed using GeMTC R package through calling the corresponding rjags package, BRugs package, or R2WinBUGS package (namely, JAGS, OpenBUGS, and WinBUGS software, respectively). Meanwhile, GeMTC R package can generate data storage files for GeMTC software. Techonically, network meta-analysis is performed through calling the software based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. In this article, we briefly introduce how to use GeMTC R package to perform network meta-analysis through calling the OpenBUGS software.
R Software is an open, free of use and charge statistical software which has a powerful graphic capability; however, it requires more complex codes and commands to perform network meta-analysis, which causes errors and difficulties in operation. WinBUGS software is based on Bayesian theory, which has a powerful data processing capability, and especially its codes are simple and easy to operate for dealing with network meta-analysis. However, its function of illustrating statistical results is very poor. In order to fully integrate the advantages of R software and WinBUGS software, an R2WinBUGS package based on R software has been developed which builds a “bridge” across two of them, making network meta-analysis process conveniently, quickly and result illustration more beautiful. In this article, we introduced how to use the R2WinBUGS package for performing network meta-analysis using examples.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of different exercises on inflammatory cytokines in individuals with overweight or obesity. Methods The CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of exercise on inflammatory cytokines in individuals with overweight or obesity from January, 2000 to April, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. The network meta-analysis was then performed using Stata 16.0 software. Results A total of 63 RCTs were included, 49 of which reported the changes in IL-6, 47 of which reported the changes in TNF-α, and 16 of which reported the changes in IL-10. The results of the network meta-analysis found that compared with those in the control group, aerobic exercise (AE) (SMD=?0.9, 95%CI ?1.4 to ?0.5, P<0.01) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (SMD=?1.3, 95%CI ?2.3 to ?0.3, P=0.011) significantly reduced IL-6. AE (SMD=?1.3, 95%CI ?1.7 to ?0.9, P<0.01), combined exercise (COM) (SMD=?0.7, 95%CI ?1.3 to ?0.1, P=0.02), and HIIT (SMD=?1.8, 95%CI ?2.6 to ?0.9, P<0.01) significantly reduced TNF-α; AE (SMD=0.8, 95%CI 0.1 to 1.5, P=0.03) significantly increased IL-10. The cumulative probability ranking results showed that HIIT was the most effective in reducing IL-6 and TNF-α and increasing IL-10, followed by AE and COM, and resistance training (RT) was the least effective. Conclusion Different exercise types have different effects on improving inflammation in individuals with overweight or obesity. HIIT can be suggested as the best exercise program to improve chronic inflammation in individuals with overweight or obesity. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
The netmeta package is specialized for implementing network meta-analysis. This package was developed based on the theories of classical frequentist under R language framework. The netmeta package overcomes some difficulties of the software and/or packages based on the theories of Bayesian, for these software and/or packages need to set prior value when conducting network meta-analysis. The netmeta package also has the advantages of simple operation process and ease to operate. Moreover, this package can calculate and present the individual matched and pooled results based on the random and fixed effect model at the same time. It also can draw forest plots. This article gives a briefly introduction to show the process to conduct network meta-analysis using netmeta package.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy of robotic, laparoscopic-assisted, and open total mesorectal excision (TME) for the treatment of rectal cancer. Methods The PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were electronically searched to identify cohort studies on robotic, laparoscopic-assisted, and open TME for rectal cancer published from January 2016 to January 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Subsequently, network meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software and R software. Results A total of 24 studies involving 12 348 patients were included. The results indicated that among the three types of surgical procedures, robotic TME showed the best outcomes by shortening the length of hospital stay, reducing the incidence of postoperative anastomotic fistula and intestinal obstruction, and lowering the overall postoperative complication rate. However, differences in the number of dissected peritumoural lymph nodes were not statistically significant. Conclusion Robotic TME shows better outcomes in terms of the radicality of excision and postoperative short-term outcomes in the treatment of rectal cancer. However, clinicians should consider the patients’ actual condition for the selection of surgical methods to achieve individualised treatment for patients with rectal cancer.
Objective To systematically review the efficacy and safety of 3-month sustained releasing gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) (GnRHa 3M) and 1-month sustained releasing GnRHa (GnRHa 1M) in the treatment of pre-menopausal females with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Methods Databases including CNKI, WanFang Data, PubMed, EMbase and Web of Science were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of GnRHa in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer from inception to May 18th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. The gemtc software package in R 3.6.1 software and Stata 15.0 software were used for network meta-analysis. Results A total of 11 RCTs including 7 484 patients were included. The network meta-analysis results showed that there was no significant difference between GnRHa 3M and GnRHa 1M in E2 level (MD=?1.3, 95%CI ?13 to 9.6), DFS (HR=1.2, 95%CI 0.88 to 1.7) and OS (HR=2.0, 95%CI 0.75 to 4.9). For safety, there was no significant difference between the two groups (RR=1.0, 95%CI 0.25 to 4.2). Conclusion Current evidence shows that the efficacy and safety of GnRHa 3M is similar to that of GnRHa 1M. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusions.
ObjectiveTo analyze the efficacy and safety of various treatment strategies for patients with refractory/recurrent diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r-DLBCL) by network meta-analysis. MethodsThe PubMed, EMbase and Cochrane Library databases were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials related to the objectives of the study from inception to November 16th, 2022. After two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies, a network meta-analysis was performed using R 4.2.2 software. ResultsA total of 8 RCTs and 11 non-randomized controlled trials were included, involving 2 559 cases. The treatment regimen included chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, chemotherapy combined with ADC, immunochemotherapy combined with ADC, ASCT based regimen, CAR-T based regimen, ASCT combined with CAR-T, immunomodulators, small molecule inhibitors, and rituximab combined with small molecule inhibitors. The ranking probability results showed that the top three complete remission (CR) rates among all schemes were ASCT combined with CAR-T, chemotherapy combined with ADC, and immune modulators; The top three overall response rates (ORR) were chemotherapy combined with ADC, ASCT combined with CAR-T, and ASCT. The CAR-T regimen had a higher rate of severe neutropenia; The severe thrombocytopenia rate of ASCT regimen was relatively high; There was no significant difference in the incidence of SAEs among the other options. ConclusionASCT combined with CAR-T and chemotherapy combined with ADC have the best therapeutic effects on r/r-DLBCL. However, the specific protocol to be adopted requires clinical doctors to combine actual conditions, comprehensively consider the efficacy and side effects, and develop personalized treatment strategies for r/r-DLBCL patients.
BUGSnet is a powerful R project package for Bayesian network meta-analysis. The package is based on JAGS and enables high-quality Bayesian network meta-analysis according to recognized reporting guidelines (PRISMA, ISPOR-AMPC-NCA and NICE-DSU). In this paper, we introduced the procedure of the BUGSnet package for Bayesian network meta-analysis through an example of network meta-analysis of steroid adjuvant treatment of pemphigus with continuous or dichotomous data.