Cochrane

Live kidney donation significantly reduces waiting times and improves long‐term outcomes for recipients...but pain, length of procedure, blood loss, and time spent in hospital can be disincentives to potential kidney donors. 🤔 What are the benefits and harms of the different surgical techniques for live kidney donors? 📚 🔍 Cochrane authors looked at the evidence from 13 studies randomising 1280 live kidney donors. Key messages: 👍 Keyhole surgery was found to be associated with less pain 👍 Keyhole surgery was found to be associated with less hospital stay for donors 👍 Complications that require further treatment, surgery, or both were low with all types of surgery 👎 Keyhole surgery was associated with recovered kidneys deprived of oxygen for longer periods of time 🚩 There are not yet enough studies to compare newer robotic‐assisted keyhole surgery with other types of surgery 🤓 Read the #SystematicReview and #PlainLanguage summary in the #CochraneLibrary https://lnkd.in/grDNyCEy Kourounis G, Tingle SJ, Hoather TJ, Thompson ER, Rogers A, Page T, Sanni A, Rix DA, Soomro NA, Wilson C. Robotic versus laparoscopic versus open nephrectomy for live kidney donors. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD006124. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006124.pub3.

Does your Cochrane group work with a caregiver or patient who wants to attend the Global Evidence Summit? The deadline for applying for a Cochrane Consumer Stipend has been extended until Friday 17 May - please pass this on! https://lnkd.in/grcdt7Kh #GES2024

Since the 1980s, #zinc products have been marketed as treatments for the common cold...but do they work? 🤧 Zinc is an essential mineral naturally found in many foods and plays a role in immune function. Most people in high-income countries get enough zinc through their diets, although aging and some chronic diseases may lead to deficiency. The theory behind zinc-based lozenges, sprays and syrups is that the zinc may interfere with viral replication when it comes into contact with viral particles in the nose, mouth and throat. Zinc has been shown to interfere with viral replication in petri dishes and mice, although this alone doesn't tell us whether something will work in real people. 📚 🔍 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections authors looked at the evidence from 34 studies. Zinc supplements compared to placebo: 👎 There may be little or no reduction in the risk of developing a cold 👍 For people who already have a cold, there may be a reduction in how long the cold lasts, by about two days 😖 There is probably an increase in the risk of non‐serious adverse events; bowel problems, nausea, and unpleasant taste 🎤 “People considering zinc to treat a cold should be aware of the limited evidence base and possible side-effects,” says Assistant Professor Daryl Nault of Maryland University of Integrative Health, first author of the review. “Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to decide whether the risk of potential unpleasant side-effects is worth the benefit of potentially shortening their illness by a few days. The best advice remains to consult your physician if you’re feeling unwell and inform them if you use any supplements. While there have been many trials investigating zinc, the approaches vary, so it is difficult to draw conclusions with certainty.” 🎤 “The evidence on zinc is far from settled: we need more research before we can be confident in its effects,” says Assistant Professor Lisa Susan Wieland of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, senior author of the review. “Future studies should adopt standardized methods for administering and reporting treatments and defining and reporting outcomes. Additional studies focusing on the most promising types and doses of zinc products and using appropriate statistical methods to assess outcomes that are important to patients will enable us to understand whether zinc may have a place in the treatment of the common cold.” 🤓 Read the #SystematicReview and #PlainLanguage summary: https://lnkd.in/ggw4RGDN 📰 Read the press release: https://lnkd.in/gpNgNkuY Nault D, Machingo TA, Shipper AG, Antiporta DA, Hamel C, Nourouzpour S, Konstantinidis M, Phillips E, Lipski EA, Wieland LS. Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD014914. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014914.pub2. 

#CochranePodcast 💉 🤰 Does respiratory syncytial virus #vaccination during #pregnancy reduce #RSV related hospitalisations in #infants? 🏥 👶 Pregnant women are sometimes given vaccines to help protect the health of their babies after birth, with Cochrane reviews examining the evidence on this for, for example, pneumococcal disease and hepatitis B. In May 2024, we published a new addition, looking at RSV vaccination. In this podcast, review authors, Emily Phijffer and Odette de Bruin, medical doctors and PhD students in respectively, Pediatrics and Obstetrics at the Wilhelmina Childrens Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands, talk about their findings. 🎧 Listen to #SystematicReview authors explain the evidence in just 4 minutes! https://lnkd.in/eVkSCzgG 🤓 Read the full review and #PlainLanguage Summary on the #Cochrane Library https://lnkd.in/e-BcfPnr Phijffer EWEM, de Bruin O, Ahmadizar F, Bont LJ, Van der Maas NAT, Sturkenboom MCJM, Wildenbeest JG, Bloemenkamp KWM. Respiratory syncytial virus vaccination during pregnancy for improving infant outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD015134. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015134.pub2.

💜 We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Susan Phillips as the new Cochrane Governing Board Chair. 🎉 Susan is Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine at Bond University, Queensland, Australia. She has held leadership positions in the field of evidence-based medicine since 2001 when she joined the Australian federal government’s newly established National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS).  Susan is renowned for her achievements in translating research evidence into clinical practice. Her wealth of experience, gained from senior management roles at NICS where she became Interim Executive Director after the institute’s merger with Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council, and later Chief Executive Officer at Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd, are testament to this. Her contribution to research translation was recognised with an Australia Day Medallion in 2008. Susan’s extensive Board experience encompasses roles in organisations ranging from the Guidelines-International-Network (G-I-N), where she served as an elected Trustee for three terms, including two years as Vice-Chair, to Therapeutic Guidelines, and Therapeutic Guidelines Foundation. Susan has also served as Chair of other charities and not for profit organisations, including Climate for Change. She has been a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) since 2015. 🎤 In accepting this appointment, Dr Susan Phillips said: “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of Chair, especially during such a critical time for Cochrane when the need for trusted evidence to guide decisions about best treatments is greater than ever.” 🎤 Commenting on the appointment, Dr Tamara Kredo, Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee, said “I am delighted that Dr Susan Phillips has been appointed Chair of Cochrane's Governing Board. Sue brings a wealth of experience and leadership qualities at an exciting time as we implement our new organizational strategy. I am sure you will all join me in expressing sincere thanks to Jordi Pardo Pardo who has served as Interim Chair of the Governing Board since September 2023. His commitment, hard work and enthusiasm have served the organisation well”.  Jordi Pardo Pardo will remain on the Governing Board until his term comes to an end later on this year. Susan will take up the position as Chair in July 2024. 🤓 Learn more about Cochrane's governance: https://lnkd.in/gXfVsi2r

📣 Cochrane seeks new treasurer to join Governing Board. The Treasurer advises and supports the Governing Board in fulfilling all its financial duties and responsibilities. We are looking for someone with significant leadership experience, including decision making at Board level. The new Treasurer must have substantial experience of management accounting and a good understanding of the UK charity regulations. 💼 More information about the role and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/gyer2HsH Please share this opportunity with your colleagues!

"You know my methods, Watson. There was no one I did not apply to the inquiry. but ended in discovering traces, but very different ones than I had expected." 🤓 Watch this short video co-produced by the Cochrane Crowd team, Evidence Synthesis Ireland, and the public about 'assessing the evidence'. 🤓 Want to learn more? Watch all four module videos here: https://lnkd.in/g2EXYUN2

The world of #AI is moving rapidly. Cochrane is keenly aware of concerns and also serious about using AI in evidence synthesis in a way that is ethical and appropriate. We have outlined our strategic engagement with AI, including: 🤖 Setting standards for responsible AI use in evidence synthesis 🤖 Making sure AI tools measure up 🤖 Building a strong foundation for tool implementation 🤖 Studying how AI tools affect our work 📖 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gsYS8Nix 💻 Join a free webinar with Anna Noel-Storr, Ella Flemyng, and James Thomas on 9 May: https://lnkd.in/g7Q3U7NK

Adults with newly diagnosed multiple #myeloma ineligible for transplant...#Daratumumab + #AntineoplasticTherapy vs #antineoplastic therapy only. What are the benefits and harms? 🤔 📚 🔍 Evidence from 4 studies with 1,783 included. Key messages • Research shows that in adults with multiple myeloma, adding a newer medicine called daratumumab to standard antimyeloma treatments probably helps people live longer than treatment with standard antimyeloma treatments alone. • Adding daratumumab probably increases the chance of serious adverse events, but probably not the chance of overall adverse events defined as Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) of grade ≥ 3. • Treatment with daratumumab probably increases the chance of infections. 🤓 Read the full #SystematicReview and #PlainLanguage summary in the #CochraneLibrary Langer P, John L, Monsef I, Scheid C, Piechotta V, Skoetz N. Daratumumab and antineoplastic therapy versus antineoplastic therapy only for adults with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma ineligible for transplant. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2024, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD013595. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013595.pub2. #BloodCancer

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