Effectiveness of different appendiceal stump closure methods in laparoscopic appendectomy a network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Choosing the best stump closure method for laparoscopic appendectomy has been a debated issue, especially for patients with acute appendicitis. The lack of consensus in the literature and the diverse techniques available have prompted the need for a comprehensive evaluation to guide surgeons in selecting the most optimal appendiceal stump closure method. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted on multiple databases from inception until December 2023 to find relevant studies according to eligibility criteria. The primary outcome was the incidence of total complications. RESULTS: 25 studies with a total of 3308 patients were included in this study, overall complications did not reveal a significant advantage for any intervention (RR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.53; 1.01), Superficial and deep infection risks were similar across all methods, Operative time was significantly longer with endoloop and Intracorporeal sutures (MD = 7.07, 95% CI: 3.28; 10.85) (MD = 26.1, 95% CI: 20.9; 31.29). CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences in overall complications among closure methods. However, Intracorporeal sutures and endoloop techniques were associated with extended operative durations.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of insomnia in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a meta-analysis with GRADE analysis.

Insomnia, as a difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep, coupled with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increase the risk of aggravate daytime symptoms, mortality, and morbidity. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is thought to have a significant impact on insomnia treatment, but in patients with CVDs, there is a paucity of data. To provide a comprehensive appraisal on the impact of CBT on the treatment of insomnia in patients with CVDs. We searched Ovid, Scopus, Web of science, and Cochrane central, to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception till November 2022. Outcomes of interest were insomnia severity index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), sleep efficiency (SE), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale (DBAS), and sleep disorders questionnaire (SDQ). Pooled data were analyzed using mean difference (MD) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random effect model using STATA 17 for Mac. Nine RCTs comprising 365 patients were included in the analysis. CBT significantly reduced scores of ISI (MD = - 3.22, 95%  CI - 4.46 to - 1.98, p < 0.001), PSQI (MD = - 2.33, 95%  CI - 3.23 to - 1.44, p < 0.001), DBAS (MD = - 0.94, 95%  CI - 1.3 to - 0.58, p < 0.001), SDQ (MD = - 0.38, 95%  CI - 0.56 to - 0.2, p < 0.001). Also, it increased the score of SE (MD = 6.65, 95% CI 2.54 to 10.77, p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in terms of ESS. CBT is an easy and feasible intervention with clinically significant improvement in insomnia symptoms. Further large-volume studies are needed to assess sustained efficacy.

Impact of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Catheter Ablation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis of Reconstructed Kaplan-Meier Curves with Trial Sequential Analysis.

PURPOSE: The role of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in managing cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is evolving. This meta-analysis seeks to explore the influence of SGLT2i on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation (CA) in individuals with T2DM qualitatively and quantitatively. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in electronic databases. Studies meeting predefined criteria were included. Individual patient data (IPD) were used from reconstructed time-to-event data to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for AF recurrence. IPD meta-analysis was followed by a direct meta-analysis to assess the risk of AF recurrence. RESULTS: A total of five studies [one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and four cohort studies] were included in this study, and five studies were included in the qualitative analysis, while four studies comprising 1043 patients with T2DM were included in the quantitative analysis. The pooled Kaplan-Meier curve based on reconstructed data showed a significantly lower risk of AF recurrence in the SGLT2i group compared with all antidiabetic drugs (log-rank P = 0.00011) and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitors (DPP4i) (log-rank P = 0.01). Cox regression analysis showed consistent results. Direct meta-analysis showed that SGLT2i, compared with all antidiabetic medications (HR 0.57, 95% CI [0.44, 0.73], I2) and DPP4i (HR 0.41, 95% CI [0.24, 0.70], I2), was associated with a lower risk of AF recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: SGLT2i are associated with a reduced risk of AF recurrence after CA in patients with T2DM. These results suggest that SGLT2i is promising in improving clinical outcomes for this population.

Safety and efficacy of intranasal insulin in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and Aim: We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intranasal insulin in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted for PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception until August 2022. Documents were screened for qualified articles, and all concerned outcomes were pooled as risk ratios or mean difference (MD) in the meta-analysis models using Review Manager (RevMan version 5.4). Results: Our results from 12 studies favored intranasal insulin over placebo in terms of Alzheimer Disease's Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) 20 IU, (MD = -0.13, 95% CI [-0.22, -0.05], P = 0.003). The overall effect did not favor either of the two groups for ADAS-cog 40 IU, memory composite 20 IU and 40 IU, and adverse events (MD = -0.08, 95% CI [-0.16, 0.01], P = 0.08), (MD = 0.65, 95% CI [-0.08, 1.39], P = 0.08), (MD = 0.25, 95% CI [-0.09, 0.6], P = 0.15), and (MD = 1.28, 95% CI [0.75, 2.21], P = 0.36), respectively. Conclusion: Ultimately, this meta-analysis showed that intranasal insulin in small doses (20 IU) significantly affects patients with AD. Further studies are recommended on reliable insulin delivery devices to increase insulin in the central nervous system. Relevance for Patients: Intranasal insulin has shown promising results in treating patients with AD. The lower doses (20 IU) can play a positive role in improving the disease. As research continues, it is likely that this treatment will become more widely accepted and utilized in clinical practice.

Does pericapsular nerve group block have limited analgesia at the initial post-operative period? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Perioperative pain management related to hip surgical procedures is challenging. Pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a novel technique that is assumed to provide better analgesia in addition to its post-operative motor-sparing effect. In this review, we aim to assess the safety and efficacy of PENG block on pain management in patients undergoing hip surgeries. Fifteen clinical trials with a total of 837 patients were included. Pain scores favored PENG group when compared to FICB group (fascia iliaca compartment block) or analgesics-only group, but the difference could only be detected in the early post-operative period. Afterward, it seems to lose its superiority, and no difference could be detected. In addition, cumulative opioid consumption favored PENG group at 24 h but not at 48 h. Regarding patients' satisfaction, our analysis showed results favoring PENG group, but there was no difference in time to first opioid or length of hospital stay. The incidence of vomiting was lower in PENG, but there was no difference in the incidence of nausea, pruritis, and dizziness. PENG provides better analgesia and lower opioid consumption in the initial post-operative period. Current evidence is not enough, and further high-quality randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are required.