Vaccines for preventing herpes zoster in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles, is a neurocutaneous disease caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes varicella (chickenpox). After resolution of the varicella episode, the virus can remain latent in the sensitive dorsal ganglia of the spine. Years later, with declining immunity, the varicella zoster virus (VZV) can reactivate and cause herpes zoster, an extremely painful condition that can last many weeks or months and significantly compromise the quality of life of the affected person. The natural process of ageing is associated with a reduction in cellular immunity, and this predisposes older adults to herpes zoster. Vaccination with an attenuated form of the VZV activates specific T-cell production avoiding viral reactivation. Two types of herpes zoster vaccines are currently available. One of them is the single-dose live attenuated zoster vaccine (LZV), which contains the same live attenuated virus used in the chickenpox vaccine, but it has over 14-fold more plaque-forming units of the attenuated virus per dose. The other is the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) which does not contain the live attenuated virus, but rather a small fraction of the virus that cannot replicate but can boost immunogenicity. The recommended schedule for the RZV is two doses two months apart. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2010, and updated in 2012, 2016, and 2019. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vaccination for preventing herpes zoster in older adults. SEARCH METHODS: For this 2022 update, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL 2022, Issue 10), MEDLINE (1948 to October 2022), Embase (2010 to October 2022), CINAHL (1981 to October 2022), LILACS (1982 to October 2022), and three trial registries. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included studies involving healthy older adults (mean age 60 years or older). We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs comparing zoster vaccine (any dose and potency) versus any other type of intervention (e.g. varicella vaccine, antiviral medication), placebo, or no intervention (no vaccine). Outcomes were cumulative incidence of herpes zoster, adverse events (death, serious adverse events, systemic reactions, or local reaction occurring at any time after vaccination), and dropouts. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We included two new studies involving 1736 participants in this update. The review now includes a total of 26 studies involving 90,259 healthy older adults with a mean age of 63.7 years. Only three studies assessed the cumulative incidence of herpes zoster in groups that received vaccines versus placebo. Most studies were conducted in high-income countries in Europe and North America and included healthy Caucasians (understood to be white participants) aged 60 years or over with no immunosuppressive comorbidities. Two studies were conducted in Japan and one study was conducted in the Republic of Korea. Sixteen studies used LZV. Ten studies tested an RZV. The overall certainty of the evidence was moderate, which indicates that the intervention probably works. Most data for the primary outcome (cumulative incidence of herpes zoster) and secondary outcomes (adverse events and dropouts) came from studies that had a low risk of bias and included a large number of participants. The cumulative incidence of herpes zoster at up to three years of follow-up was lower in participants who received the LZV (one dose subcutaneously) than in those who received placebo (risk ratio (RR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43 to 0.56; risk difference (RD) 2%; number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) 50; moderate-certainty evidence) in the largest study, which included 38,546 participants. There were no differences between the vaccinated and placebo groups for serious adverse events (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.21) or deaths (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.11; moderate-certainty evidence). The vaccinated group had a higher cumulative incidence of one or more adverse events (RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.11; RD 23%; number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH) 4.3) and injection site adverse events (RR 3.73, 95% CI 1.93 to 7.21; RD 28%; NNTH 3.6; moderate-certainty evidence) of mild to moderate intensity. These data came from four studies with 6980 participants aged 60 years or older. Two studies (29,311 participants for safety evaluation and 22,022 participants for efficacy evaluation) compared RZV (two doses intramuscularly, two months apart) versus placebo. Participants who received the new vaccine had a lower cumulative incidence of herpes zoster at 3.2 years follow-up (RR 0.08, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.23; RD 3%; NNTB 33; moderate-certainty evidence), probably indicating a favourable profile of the intervention. There were no differences between the vaccinated and placebo groups in cumulative incidence of serious adverse events (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.03) or deaths (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.04; moderate-certainty evidence). The vaccinated group had a higher cumulative incidence of adverse events, any systemic symptom (RR 2.23, 95% CI 2.12 to 2.34; RD 33%; NNTH 3.0), and any local symptom (RR 6.89, 95% CI 6.37 to 7.45; RD 67%; NNTH 1.5). Although most participants reported that their symptoms were of mild to moderate intensity, the risk of dropouts (participants not returning for the second dose, two months after the first dose) was higher in the vaccine group than in the placebo group (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.39; RD 1%; NNTH 100, moderate-certainty evidence). Only one study reported funding from a non-commercial source (a university research foundation). All other included studies received funding from pharmaceutical companies. We did not conduct subgroup and sensitivity analyses AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: LZV (single dose) and RZV (two doses) are probably effective in preventing shingles disease for at least three years. To date, there are no data to recommend revaccination after receiving the basic schedule for each type of vaccine. Both vaccines produce systemic and injection site adverse events of mild to moderate intensity. The conclusions did not change in relation to the previous version of the systematic review.

Insufficient evidence for vitamin D use in COVID-19: A rapid systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the increased severity of numerous viral infections. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether vitamin D supplementation is safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, LILACS and LOVE for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published up to 2 March evaluating the effects of vitamin D for the treatment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Two authors selected the studies and analysed the data evidence following Cochrane Recommendations. RESULTS: We included three RCTs with a total of 385 participants. We found low certainty evidence indicating that hospitalised patients under calcifediol plus standard care (SC) treatment seem to present a significantly lower risk of being admitted to ICU but no difference in mortality. We found low to very low certainty evidence that the improvement in fibrinogen levels is slightly greater in mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 that used cholecalciferol plus SC than in those treated with placebo plus SC (mean difference), and the patients who used cholecalciferol plus SC achieved more SARS-CoV-2 negativity, but not on d-dimer, c-reactive protein (CRP) or procalcitonin compared with the patients in the placebo plus SC group. We also found low to moderate certainty evidence that a single high dose of vitamin D does not seem to be effective for reducing mortality, length of hospital stay, ICU admissions and d-dimer or CRP levels when used in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: As a practical implication, the use of vitamin D associated with SC seems to provide some benefit to patients with COVID-19. However, the evidence is currently insufficient to support the routine use of vitamin D for the management of COVID-19, as its effectiveness seems to depend on the dosage, on the baseline vitamin D levels, and on the degree of COVID-19 severity.

lilacs search strategy for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

BACKGROUND: There are few publications on search strategies to identify diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies in lilacs. OBJECTIVE: To translate and customise medline search strategies for use in lilacs and assess their retrieval of studies in Cochrane DTA systematic reviews. METHOD: We developed a six-step process to translate and customise medline search strategies for use in lilacs (iAHx interface). We identified medline search strategies of published Cochrane DTA reviews, translated/customised them for use in lilacs, ran searches in lilacs and compared the retrieval results of our translated search strategy versus the one used in the published reviews. RESULTS: Our lilacs search strategies translated/customised from the medline strategies retrieved studies in 70 Cochrane DTA reviews. Only 29 of these reviews stated that they had searched the lilacs database and 21 published their lilacs search strategies. Few had used the lilacs database search tools, none exploded the subject headings, and 86% used only English terms. CONCLUSION: Translating and tailoring a medline search strategy for the lilacs database resulted in the retrieval of DTA studies that would have been missed otherwise.

Indications for accurate and appropriate use of personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The speed of the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put enormous pressure on hospitals and other healthcare facilities. This, together with blockages in several countries, has hindered the availability and accessibility of the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). OBJECTIVE: To identify, systematically evaluate and summarize the available scientific evidence on the efficacy, safety, safe use and reuse of PPE for healthcare professionals, for preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review of studies analyzing products for disinfecting and enabling reuse of PPE for coronavirus within the evidence-based health program of a federal university in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: A systematic search of the relevant literature was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science and LILACS databases, for articles published up to November 30, 2020. RESULTS: Ten studies were selected. These analyzed the use of N95, surgical and cotton masks, face shields, flexible enclosures with plastic covers or polycarbonate intubation boxes and plastic curtains; and also PPE disinfection using several substances. CONCLUSION: Combined use of a face shield with a N95 mask proved to be superior to other associations for protecting healthcare workers. Some products are useful for disinfecting PPE, such as 70% ethanol, 0.1% sodium hypochlorite and a mixture of quaternary ammonium and H2O2, and hydrogen peroxide. Ultraviolet light and dry heat at 70 °C can be used to decontaminate N95 masks. REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/4V5FD at the OPENSCIENCE Framework.

Effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab for COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Tocilizumab is an anti-human interleukin 6 receptor monoclonal antibody that has been used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is no consensus on its efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab for treating COVID-19. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic Review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and IBECS for RCTs published up to March 2021. Two authors selected studies and assessed the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence following Cochrane Recommendations. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with 6,139 participants were included. We were not able to find differences between using tocilizumab compared to standard care on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (risk ratio (RR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.13; 8 trials; 5,950 participants; low-certainty evidence). However, hospitalized patients under tocilizumab plus standard care treatment seemed to present a significantly lower risk of needing mechanical ventilation (risk ratio = 0.78; 95% CI 0.64-0.94 moderate-certainty of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: To date, the best evidence available shows no difference between using tocilizumab plus standard care compared to standard care alone for reducing mortality in patients with COVID-19. However, as a finding with a practical implication, the use of tocilizumab in association to standard care probably reduces the risk of progressing to mechanical ventilation in those patients. REGISTRATION: osf.io/qe4fs.

Psychosocial interventions for premature ejaculation.

BACKGROUND: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a very common sexual dysfunction among patients, and with varying prevalence estimates ranging from 3% to 20%. Although psychological issues are present in most patients with premature PE, as a cause or as a consequence, research on the effects of psychological approaches for PE has in general not been controlled or randomised and is lacking in long-term follow up. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for PE.To investigate any differences in efficacy between different types of psychosocial treatments for PE.To compare psychosocial interventions with pharmacological treatment and pharmacological treatment in association with psychosocial treatment for PE. SEARCH STRATEGY: Trials were searched in computerized general and specialized databases, such as: MEDLINE by PubMed (1966 to 2010); PsycINFO (1974 to 2010); EMBASE (1980 to 2010); LILACS (1982 to 2010); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library, 2010); and by checking bibliographies, and contacting manufacturers and researchers. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials evaluating psychosocial interventions compared with different psychosocial interventions, pharmacological interventions, waiting list, or no treatment for PE. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Information on patients, interventions, and outcomes was extracted by at least two independent reviewers using a standard form. The primary outcome measure for comparing the effects of psychosocial interventions to waiting list and standard medications was improvement in IELT (i.e., time from vaginal penetration to ejaculation). The secondary outcome was change in validated PE questionnaires. MAIN RESULTS: In one study (De Carufel 2006) behavioral therapy (BT) was significantly better than waiting list for duration of intercourse (MD (mean difference) 407.90 seconds, 95% CI 302.42 to 513.38), and couples' sexual satisfaction (MD -26.10, CI -50.48 to -1.72). BT was also significantly better for a new functional-sexological treatment (FS) (MD 412.00 seconds, 95% CI 305.88 to 518.12), change over time in subjective perception of duration of intercourse (Women: MD 2.88, 95% CI 2.06 to 3.70; Men: MD 2.52, CI 1.65 to 3.39) and couples' sexual satisfaction (MD -25.10, 95% CI -47.95 to -2.25), versus waiting list.One study (Li 2006) showed that the combination of chlorpromazine and BT was superior than chlorpromazine alone for IELT (MD 1.11, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.40), SAS (Self-rating Anxiety Scale) (MD -8.72, 95% CI -11.09 to -6.35) and for some CIPE (Chinese Index Premature Ejaculation) questions ('anxiety in sexual activity', 'partner sexual satisfaction', 'patient sexual satisfaction', 'control ejaculatory reflex' and 'ejaculatory latency') ('Analysis 1.2').One study (Yuan 2008) showed that citalopram significantly improved IELT (RR (risk ratio) 0.52, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.78) and the number of couples satisfied with their sex life after treatment (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.93), versus BT.In the last study (Abdel-Hamid 2001), 31 patients received 1 of 4 drugs administered on an as-needed basis 35 hours before anticipated coitus (clomipramine, sertraline, paroxetine, sildenafil), or were instructed to use the pause-squeeze technique. The study consisted of five four-week periods of treatment, separated by two-week washout periods. Anxiety score and ejaculation latency time were measured before treatment, after each treatment and during washout periods. Sexual satisfaction scores were measured after each treatment. However the available data from the article were not sufficient to be included, and the related database was not available anymore, according to the main author. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is weak and inconsistent evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychological interventions for the treatment of premature ejaculation. Three of the four included randomised controlled studies of psychotherapy for PE reported our primary outcome (Improvement in IELT), and the majority have a small sample size. The early success reports (97.8%) of Masters and Johnson could not be replicated. One study found a significant improvement from baseline in the duration of intercourse, sexual satisfaction and sexual function with a new functional-sexological treatment and behavior therapy compared to waiting list. One study showed that the combination of chlorpromazine and BT was superior to chlorpromazine alone. Randomised trials with larger group samples are still needed to further confirm or deny the current available evidence for psychological interventions for treating PE.

Screening for cognitive impairment among individuals aged 60 years or over: scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Growth in aging of the population has led to increasing numbers of elderly people presenting cognitive impairment and evolution to dementia. There is still no consensus within primary care on the best strategy for screening for cognitive impairment among elderly people. Standardization of a simple but reasonably accurate instrument for a brief cognitive test, in primary care environments, would enable healthcare professionals to identify individuals who require a more in-depth assessment of cognition. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the instruments used by healthcare professionals in studies conducted worldwide and ascertain the most suitable instruments for screening for cognitive impairment among individuals aged 60 years or over, in the Brazilian population. DESIGN AND SETTING: Scoping review developed at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: A systematic search of the literature was conducted for primary studies using instruments to screen for cognitive impairment among individuals aged 60 years or over, in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central and LILACS databases. RESULTS: A total of 983 articles were identified by two independent reviewers, from which 49 were selected for full-text reading, based on the criteria defined for this review. From this, 16 articles adhering to the theme of screening for cognitive impairment among the elderly were selected for in-depth analysis. CONCLUSION: The Mini-Mental State Examination was the instrument most cited in these studies. The Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire and the Verbal Fluency Test (semantic category) present characteristics favoring further studies, for testing as screening instruments for cognitive impairment among elderly people in Brazil.

COVID-19 and patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases undergoing pharmacological treatments: a rapid living systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) are at increased risk of infection. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether patients undergoing pharmacological treatment for IMID present higher risk of worse outcomes when diagnosed with COVID-19. DESIGN AND SETTING: Rapid systematic review conducted in the medical school of the Federal University of São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, SCOPUS, Web of Science, L·OVE, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO-ICTRP for studies evaluating patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were undergoing pharmacological treatment for IMID. Two authors selected studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence, following the Cochrane recommendations. RESULTS: We identified 1,498 references, from which one cohort study was included. This compared patients with and without rheumatic diseases (RD) who all had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Those with RD seemed to have higher chances of hospitalization and mortality, but no statistical difference was detected between the groups: hospitalization: odds ratio (OR) 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6 to 2.29; mortality rate: OR 1.53; 95% CI 0.33 to 7.11 (very low certainty of evidence). Patients with RD were three times more likely to require admission to intensive care units (ICUs), with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), than those without RD: OR 3.72; 95% CI 1.35 to 10.26 (for both outcomes; very low certainty of evidence). CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing pharmacological treatment for IMID seem to present higher chances of requiring admission to ICUs, with IMV. Additional high-quality studies are needed to analyze the effects of different treatments for IMID.

SARS-CoV-2 and arbovirus infection: a rapid systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The numbers of cases of arboviral diseases have increased in tropical and subtropical regions while the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic overwhelms healthcare systems worldwide. The clinical manifestations of arboviral diseases, especially dengue fever, can be very similar to COVID-19, and misdiagnoses are still a reality. In the meantime, outcomes for patients and healthcare systems in situations of possible syndemic have not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: We set out to conduct a systematic review to understand and summarize the evidence relating to clinical manifestations, disease severity and prognoses among patients coinfected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and arboviruses. METHODS: We conducted a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis, on prospective and retrospective cohorts, case-control studies and case series of patients with confirmed diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 and arboviral infection. We followed the Cochrane Handbook recommendations. We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Scopus and Web of Science to identify published, ongoing and unpublished studies. We planned to extract data and assess the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence of the studies included, using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment. RESULTS: We were able to retrieve 2,407 citations using the search strategy, but none of the studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentations, disease severity and prognoses of patients coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and arboviruses remain unclear. Further prospective studies are necessary in order to provide useful information for clinical decision-making processes. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER IN THE PROSPERO DATABASE: CRD42020183460.

O que dizem as revisões sistemáticas Cochrane sobre a suplementação de zinco? / What Cochrane systematic reviews say about zinc supplementation?

Contextualização: A suplementação de zinco tem sido recomendada para o tratamento e a prevenção de muitas doenças, mas já foi demonstrado que os achados in vitro não são os mesmos evidenciados na clínica, havendo carência de evidências científicas em humanos, relativa ao real benefício dessa suplementação para o organismo humano. Objetivos: Sumarizar as evidências de revisões sistemáticas da Cochrane, referentes à efetividade da suplementação de zinco para tratamento e prevenção de doenças. Métodos: Trata-se de overview de revisões sistemáticas Cochrane. Procedeu-se à busca na Cochrane Library (2024), sendo utilizado o descritor "ZINC". Todas as revisões sistemáticas de ensaios clínicos foram incluídas. O desfecho primário de análise foi a melhora clínica, a redução dos sintomas ou a prevenção da doença. Resultados: Quatorze estudos foram incluídos, totalizando 221 ensaios clínicos e 265.113 participantes. Discussão: há evidência de benefício do zinco na anemia falciforme (redução de crises e infecções); na prevenção de diarreia aguda ou persistente em regiões com taxas elevadas de desnutrição; na prevenção da diarreia e melhora no crescimento de crianças de 6 meses a 12 anos de idade; na redução da mortalidade e no ganho de peso a curto prazo em prematuros; e na redução da incidência e prevalência de pneumonia em crianças de 2 a 59 meses de idade. É necessário cautela, pois não há robustez dos resultados e o nível de evidência é limitado. Conclusão: Há evidência de efetividade do zinco em algumas intervenções, mas a evidência é limitada, sugerindo-se a realização de novos estudos prospectivos de qualidade.

What do Cochrane Systematic Reviews say about conservative and surgical therapeutic interventions for treating rotator cuff disease? Synthesis of evidence.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain is considered to be the third largest cause of musculoskeletal functional alterations in individuals presenting pain during movement. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this synthesis of evidence was to identify the clinical effectiveness of conservative and surgical treatments reported in Cochrane systematic reviews among individuals diagnosed with rotator cuff disease. DESIGNAND SETTING: Review of systematic reviews, conducted in the Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP). METHODS: This synthesis of evidence included systematic reviews that had been published in the Cochrane database. The inclusion criteria were that these systematic reviews should involve individuals aged ≥ 16 years with rotator cuff disease, comparing surgical procedures with or without associated nonsurgical procedures versus placebo, no treatment or other nonsurgical interventions. RESULTS: Thirty-one systematic reviews were included, involving comparisons between surgical procedures and conservative treatment; procedures either combined or not combined with drugs, versus other procedures; and procedures involving exercises, manual therapy and electrothermal or phototherapeutic resources. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that strengthening exercises, with or without associated manual therapy techniques and other resources, were the interventions with greatest power of treatment over the medium and long terms, for individuals with shoulder pain. These had greater therapeutic power than surgical procedures, electrotherapy or photobiomodulation.Protocol registration number in the PROSPERO database: ID - CRD42018096578.

A relação entre cafeína e zumbido: sinopse baseada em evidências / The relationship between caffeine and tinnitus: evidence-based synopsis

Contexto: A associação entre a cafeína e o zumbido é bastante descrita na literatura, mas o papel da cafeína no zumbido não é claramente explicado. A redução no consumo de cafeína ou mesmo sua abolição é recomendada como meio de melhorar o zumbido. Entretanto, há fundamentação nessa orientação? Há evidências científicas que respaldam essa ação? Objetivo: Avaliar as evidências relativas à possível associação entre a ingestão de cafeína e o zumbido. Métodos: Trata-se de sinopse baseada em evidências. Procedeu-se à busca por estudos que associavam cafeína e zumbido em quatro bases de dados: Cochrane - Central de Registros de Ensaios Clínicos - CENTRAL (2023), PubMed (1966-2023), Portal Regional Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (1982-2023) e Embase (1974-2023). Foram utilizados os descritores "caffeine" e "tinnitus". Dois pesquisadores, independentemente, extraíram os dados e avaliaram a qualidade dos estudos para a síntese. O desfecho primário de análise envolveu a relação entre o consumo de cafeína e o zumbido. Resultados: Foram encontradas 79 referências. Cinco estudos (1 ensaio clínico, 2 coortes e 2 estudos caso-controle) foram incluídos (n = 65.856 participantes). Discussão: A literatura apresenta poucos estudos que buscam a relação entre o consumo de cafeína e o zumbido. Trata-se de estudos com amostragem reduzida e limitações metodológicas. A evidência é baixa e são necessários novos estudos. Conclusões: Não é possível concluir sobre uma possível relação entre a cafeína e o zumbido. Há poucos estudos prospectivos realizados e a evidência é baixa, sendo necessária a realização de novos estudos prospectivos de qualidade para elucidação dessa questão.

Suplementação de selênio para tratamento e prevenção de doenças: uma overview de revisões sistemáticas Cochrane

Contextualização: O selênio é um componente fundamental em uma série de reações orgânicas que protegem contra o estresse oxidativo e com potencial para tratar e prevenir doenças, segundo a literatura. Objetivos: Sumarizar as evidências de revisões sistemáticas da Cochrane, referentes à efetividade da suplementação de selênio para tratamento e prevenção de doenças. Métodos: Trata-se de overview de revisões sistemáticas Cochrane. Procedeu-se à busca na Cochrane Library (2024), sendo utilizado o descritor "SELENIUM". Todas as revisões sistemáticas de ensaios clínicos foram incluídas. O desfecho primário de análise foi a melhora clínica, a redução dos sintomas ou a prevenção da doença. Resultados: Sete estudos foram incluídos, totalizando 122 ensaios clínicos e 50.267 participantes. Discussão: Há evidência com alto grau de certeza, segundo as revisões sistemáticas realizadas pela Cochrane, de que a suplementação de selênio não reduz o risco de câncer. Pode haver algum benefício para redução de episódios de sepse em crianças com prematuridade extrema, mas o nível de evidência é bastante limitado nesse caso, devido a reduzida amostragem e alta heterogeneidade nos estudos.

Telas de proteção em habitações para prevenção de doenças transmitidas por mosquitos: sinopse baseada em evidências

Contexto e objetivo: A transmissão de doenças por mosquitos afeta a população e a economia de todo o mundo. Há um número considerável de doenças que podem ser transmitidas por mosquitos, com destaque para a malária e a dengue, endêmica em regiões tropicais. Evidentemente, medidas preventivas são imprescindíveis para a redução da transmissão. Avaliar as evidências de efetividade das telas de proteção com e sem inseticida para prevenção de doenças transmitidas por mosquitos. Métodos: Trata-se de sinopse baseada em evidências. Procedeu-se à busca por estudos que associavam o uso de telas de proteção contra mosquitos à redução do contágio de doenças transmitidas por mosquitos em três bases de dados: PubMed (1966-2024), Portal BVS (1982-2024) e Epistemonikos (2024) e também no metabuscador de evidências TRIP DATABASE (2024). O desfecho de análise envolveu a efetividade das telas de proteção na redução de doenças transmitidas por mosquitos. Resultados: Foram encontradas 307 citações. Seis estudos (1 revisão sistemática e 5 ensaios clínicos) foram incluídos. Discussão: A maioria dos estudos envolveu a colocação de telas de proteção com inseticida, havendo evidência de alta certeza para redução de mortalidade por malária e redução na entrada de mosquitos nas habitações, mesmo com redes sem inseticida. Conclusões: Embora não haja robustez na evidência da efetividade das telas de proteção sem inseticidas contra mosquitos transmissores de doenças, o que demanda a necessidade de realização de novos estudos prospectivos, parece lícita e benéfica a utilização de telas de proteção em regiões endêmicas para doenças transmitidas por esses vetores.

Toxina botulínica para prevenção de migrânea: overview de revisões sistemáticas / Botulinum toxin for the prevention of migraine: overview of systematic reviews

Contextualização: A migrânea, também conhecida por enxaqueca, é um distúrbio sensorial relacionado a fatores genéticos, psicológicos e anatômicos, que afeta cerca de 10% dos adultos, trazendo impacto pessoal, social e econômico. Objetivos: Sumarizar as evidências de revisões sistemáticas, referentes à efetividade da toxina botulínica para prevenção de migrânea. Métodos: Trata-se de overview de revisões sistemáticas. Procedeu-se à busca em três bases eletrônicas de dados: Cochrane - Central de Registros de Ensaios Clínicos ­ CENTRAL (2023), PubMed (1966-2023) e EMBASE (1974-2023), sendo utilizados os descritores MeSH "Migraine disorders" e "Botulinum toxins". Todas as revisões sistemáticas de ensaios clínicos randomizados (ECRs) em humanos foram incluídas. O desfecho primário de análise foi a melhora clínica. Resultados: Foram recuperadas 21 revisões sistemáticas e, diante dos critérios de inclusão, 4 foram incluídas, totalizando 94 ECRs (n = 16.104 participantes). Os estudos sugerem que a toxina botulínica pode ser benéfica na redução do número de crises, intensidade de dor e melhora na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Entretanto, a evidência é limitada. Discussão: Embora os estudos incluídos tragam benefícios favoráveis à toxina botulínica para prevenção da migrânea, a evidência é de baixa qualidade, diante da heterogeneidade, fragilidades metodológicas e riscos nas análises desses estudos. Sugere-se a comparação da efetividade da toxina botulínica com outras intervenções disponíveis, objetivando melhor elucidação da questão. Conclusão: Parece haver algum benefício da toxina botulínica para prevenção de crises de migrânea, mas a evidência até o momento é limitada, sendo recomendada a comparação com outras terapêuticas utilizadas para prevenção da migrânea.

Varíola dos macacos: mapeamento nas principais ferramentas com sistemas metabuscadores e filtrados por evidências / Monkey pox: mapping in the main tools with metasearch and evidence-filtered systems

Contexto: O aumento de casos de varíola dos macacos fora do continente africano tem causado preocupação às autoridades sanitárias pela maior agressividade, sugerindo a necessidade de maiores cuidados, envolvendo maior risco de evolução desfavorável. Objetivos: Avaliar a efetividade dos mecanismos metabuscadores ao fornecer um mapeamento de evidências com foco em revisões sistemáticas e uma identificação dessas sínteses de evidência para responder questões atreladas à varíola dos macacos para a prática clínica de profissionais de saúde. Métodos: Trata-se de revisão de literatura. Foram pesquisadas cinco ferramentas eletrônicas: Tripdatabase, Epistemonikos, WorldWideScience, Portal Regional BVS e PubMed ­ Clinical Queries. O foco de busca envolveu apenas as sínteses de evidência em revisões sistemáticas. Foi utilizada a terminologia oficial em língua inglesa nos Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS) e no Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Monkeypox. Resultados: Os metabuscadores obtiveram os resultados para a identificação das sínteses: PubMed: 16 revisões sistemáticas; Tripdatabase: 4 revisões sistemáticas, nas quais somente 3, de fato, eram sobre a varíola dos macacos; Epistemonikos: 19 revisões sistemáticas; WorldWideScience: 35 revisões sistemáticas e Portal Regional BVS: 22 revisões sistemáticas. Discussão: A maior sensibilidade das ferramentas metabuscadoras alavancou os resultados, tornando possível um melhor cenário para profissionais de saúde tomarem decisões. Recomenda-se que essas ferramentas sejam utilizadas como rotina nas estratégias de busca. Conclusão: A análise estratégica de busca, a partir da varíola dos macacos, demonstrou que as ferramentas metabuscadoras apresentam excelente abrangência e cobertura no que tange à obtenção das melhores informações científicas, focadas em evidências, recomendando-se sua utilização como fonte inicial para as buscas de evidências e, também, no aprimoramento das perguntas de pesquisa.

Dieta mediterrânea para prevenção de doenças cardiovasculares: overview de revisões sistemáticas / Mediterranean diet for prevention of cardiovascular diseases: overview of systematic reviews

Contextualização: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) representam a principal causa de morte no Brasil e no mundo e a dieta mediterrânea (DM) surgiu como possibilidade de prevenção dessas doenças. Ela envolve o alto consumo de frutas, vegetais, frutos do mar, nozes, legumes, grãos e azeite, e ingestão moderada de vinho nas refeições, além de menor ingestão de carnes vermelhas e processadas, gordura saturada, doces e bebidas açucaradas. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade da DM para prevenção de DCV. Métodos: Trata-se de overview de revisões sistemáticas. Procedeu-se à busca por estudos que associavam a DM às DCV em quatro bases eletrônicas de dados: Cochrane - Central de Registros de Ensaios Clínicos - CENTRAL (2023), PubMed (1966-2023), Portal BVS (1982-2023) e EMBASE (1974-2023). Dois pesquisadores, independentemente extraíram os dados e avaliaram a qualidade dos estudos para a síntese. O desfecho primário de análise envolveu a prevenção de doença cardiovascular e a redução de mortalidade. Resultados: 5 revisões sistemáticas foram incluídas, totalizando 74 ensaios clínicos (n = 124.820) e 16 coortes prospectivas (n = 722.495). Discussão: Embora os estudos incluídos relatem benefícios favoráveis à DM para prevenção de DCV, as evidências são de baixa a moderada qualidade, diante da heterogeneidade e fragilidades metodológicas. Sugere-se a realização de novos estudos clínicos com padronização de relato dos resultados. Conclusão: Parece haver benefício da DM para prevenção de DCV, mas diante das evidências limitadas, há incertezas que tornam lícita a recomendação por novos ensaios clínicos com comparação a outras dietas, para maior robustez dos achados.

Effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab for COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Tocilizumab is an anti-human interleukin 6 receptor monoclonal antibody that has been used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is no consensus on its efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab for treating COVID-19. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic Review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and IBECS for RCTs published up to March 2021. Two authors selected studies and assessed the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence following Cochrane Recommendations. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with 6,139 participants were included. We were not able to find differences between using tocilizumab compared to standard care on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (risk ratio (RR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.13; 8 trials; 5,950 participants; low-certainty evidence). However, hospitalized patients under tocilizumab plus standard care treatment seemed to present a significantly lower risk of needing mechanical ventilation (risk ratio = 0.78; 95% CI 0.64−0.94 moderate-certainty of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: To date, the best evidence available shows no difference between using tocilizumab plus standard care compared to standard care alone for reducing mortality in patients with COVID-19. However, as a finding with a practical implication, the use of tocilizumab in association to standard care probably reduces the risk of progressing to mechanical ventilation in those patients. REGISTRATION: osf.io/qe4fs.

Efetividade das intervenções para prevenção de displasia broncopulmonar em recém-nascidos prematuros sob ventilação mecânica invasiva: overview de revisões sistemáticas / Effectiveness of interventions for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature newborns under invasive mechanical ventilation: overview of systematic reviews

Contextualização: A displasia broncopulmonar é uma das principais causas de enfermidade respiratória crônica na infância, levando a hospitalizações frequentes e prolongadas e com altos índices de mortalidade, alterações do crescimento pôndero-estatural e desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Tamanho impacto justifica o grande investimento nas pesquisas para identificar suas causas e buscar alternativas para prevenção e tratamento. Objetivos: Avaliar a efetividade das intervenções para prevenção de displasia broncopulmonar em recém-nascidos prematuros com ventilação mecânica invasiva. Métodos: Trata-se de overview de revisões sistemáticas realizadas pela Colaboração Cochrane. Procedeu-se à busca na Cochrane Library (2022), utilizando os termos "neonatal prematurity" e "bronchopulmonary dysplasia". Foram incluídos todos os ensaios clínicos randomizados. O desfecho primário de análise foi a redução de morbimortalidade. Resultados: A estratégia de busca recuperou um total de 47 revisões sistemáticas. Oito foram incluídas, totalizando 94 ensaios clínicos randomizados e 10.511 participantes. Discussão: Os estudos demonstram efetividade de corticosteroides, mas é necessário cautela na dosagem e no momento correto para sua administração. O uso de surfactante sintético pode trazer benefícios respiratórios, mas requer novos estudos. Não se justifica o uso de pentoxifilina. Conclusão: A displasia broncopulmonar tornou-se um grande desafio para o neonatologista e as revisões sistemáticas Cochrane sugerem que a corticoterapia pode ser efetiva na prevenção dessa condição, embora novos estudos sejam recomendados para estabelecer dosagem ideal e melhor momento para a terapêutica.

Intervenções para TDAH: o que dizem as revisões sistemáticas Cochrane? / Interventions for ADHD: what do the Cochrane systematic reviews say?

Contextualização: O transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH) é um transtorno do neurodesenvolvimento bastante prevalente e caracterizado por alterações nos níveis de atenção, presença de hiperatividade e impulsividade, cuja efetividade das abordagens terapêuticas é discutível atualmente. Objetivos: Sumarizar as evidências de revisões sistemáticas da Cochrane, referentes à efetividade das intervenções para tratamento de TDAH. Métodos: Trata-se de overview de revisões sistemáticas Cochrane. Procedeu-se à busca na Cochrane Library (2023), sendo utilizado o descritor MeSH "Attention Deficit Disorder with Hiperactivity". Todas as revisões sistemáticas de ensaios clínicos foram incluídas. O desfecho primário de análise foi a melhora clínica (redução dos sintomas). Resultados: Treze estudos foram incluídos, totalizando 317 ensaios clínicos (n = 25.946 participantes). Foram avaliadas intervenções com anfetaminas, antidepressivos, ácidos graxos poli-insaturados tipo ômega 3 e 6, acupuntura, terapia de meditação, terapia cognitivo-comportamental e treinamento dos pais. Discussão: Nenhuma intervenção mostrou efetividade com evidência de boa qualidade. Embora a maioria das intervenções pareça trazer algum benefício na redução dos sintomas do TDAH, há riscos de efeitos adversos, em geral não graves, sobretudo nos tratamentos farmacológicos. Os estudos realizados até o momento são heterogêneos e desprovidos de análises por subgrupos, o que impacta a obtenção de melhor evidência. Sugere-se a realização de novos ensaios clínicos com padronização de relato dos resultados. Conclusão: Não há suporte com bom nível de evidência atualmente para a maioria das intervenções para tratamento do TDAH, à luz das revisões sistemáticas da Cochrane, sendo sugerida a realização de novos ensaios clínicos de qualidade.