What are the benefits and risks of using cell salvage during birth? Key messages Use of cell salvage may reduce the need for additional blood transfusions, may reduce blood loss, and may increase postpartum haemoglobin on day one in women who have a caesarean birth. Cell salvage possibly makes little to no difference to the risk of sepsis and probably makes little to no difference to the risk of haemorrhage. We are not confident in the evidence regarding the effect of cell salvage on the risk of transfusion-related adverse (unwanted or harmful) reactions, length of operation, and length of...

Are actions taken in schools, colleges and universities to prevent self-harm and suicide in young people up to the age of 25 effective? Key messages • We found 51 studies to answer our question, but we remain uncertain about the impact of interventions in education settings to reduce self-harm. • There are some encouraging findings, but we need large studies to confirm them, and studies that examine the combination of different intervention approaches that are co-designed with young people, can be delivered in a safe environment and implemented over a long period of time. How are self-harm...

What are the effects of sex and gender on outcomes after kidney transplantation? Key messages • There may be no differences in the loss of a transplanted kidney (a surgical procedure where a kidney is transferred from one person - the donor - to another person - the recipient), death, acute or chronic rejection (the body's immune system attacking the transplanted kidney), or the incidence of cancer between male and female kidney transplant recipients (the definition of “male” or “female” based on biological differences). • Only one study investigated gender (defined as the sociocultural...

What are the benefits and risks of cycled light in the intensive care unit for preterm or very low birth weight infants? Key messages • For babies who are born prematurely, we do not know whether cycled light in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has an effect on growth, development of the nervous system, and unwanted effects. • We do not know whether cycled light in NICUs reduces the length of hospital stay. • Future research in this area should focus on assessing the effect of cycled light in NICUs on long-term health. What is cycled light in the intensive care unit? Babies who are...

Exercise as treatment for adults with chronic fatigue syndrome Editorial note:  Editorial note (19 December 2024; amended 31 January 2025): Larun L, Brurberg KG, Odgaard-Jensen J, Price JR. Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD003200. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003200.pub8. Accessed 18 December 2024. This Editorial Note is for the above article, published online on 2 October 2019 on the Cochrane Library (https://www.cochranelibrary.com/), and has been issued by the Publisher, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, in...

How accurate are cognitive assessment tools, that are completed by people themselves, at detecting dementia? Key messages - The evidence suggests that cognitive assessment tools that are completed by people themselves could be used in the detection and diagnosis of dementia. - There is not enough evidence to recommend one type of assessment tool over another. - Further research on the use of these assessment tools in different settings, such as clinics or people's homes, and the scores that indicate dementia is needed. Why is improving the detection of dementia important? The number of...

Are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) effective for treating symptomatic uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women? Key messages • Compared to antibiotics (medicines used to treat a wide range of infections or diseases caused by bacteria), NSAIDs (medicines that reduce inflammation, pain and fever) probably result in less short-term resolution of urinary tract infection symptoms (1 to 4 days), and may result in less medium-term resolution of symptoms (5 to 10 days). • NSAIDs may result in a longer duration of symptoms and probably result in more women needing antibiotic...

Peer-supported interventions for people with spinal cord injury This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objective To assess the effects of peer-supported interventions on quality of life and self-management compared with control (i.e. usual care, no intervention, or other supportive or psychosocial interventions) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Secondary objective To assess the effects of peer-supported interventions on health service utilisation, secondary health conditions, mood disorders, and social participation compared...

Clustering of care activities for promoting development and preventing morbidity in hospitalized preterm infants This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the benefits and harms of clustering of care activities for promoting development and preventing morbidity in preterm infants. This is a protocol....

What are the advantages and disadvantages of restricting fluids in babies who are born premature and with a patent ductus arteriosus? Key Messages: There is no evidence for or against reducing fluids as a treatment option for patent ductus arteriosus in premature babies. We need randomized controlled trials that answer our question to help inform clinical decisions. What is patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)? The ductus arteriosus is an extra blood vessel that runs between the heart and lungs in babies before birth and just after. In order for the heart and lungs to work properly after birth,...

What are the benefits and harms of acupuncture for babies with lack of oxygen at birth (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy)? Key messages • We are unable to draw any conclusions about the benefits and harms of acupuncture for babies with lack of oxygen at birth (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) due to lack of evidence. • There is a need for future studies looking at the benefits and harms of acupuncture, also compared to medicines, or comparing different ways of using acupuncture. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and acupuncture Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy occurs in babies when they lack...