Background Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with multiple maternal and neonatal complications. However, interventions to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy have not been adequately evaluated. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy and associated pregnancy complications. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register (20 October 2011) and MEDLINE (1966 to 20 October 2011). Selection criteria All randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised trials of interventions for preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Data collection and analysis We assessed for inclusion all potential studies we identified as a result of the search strategy. At least two review authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We resolved discrepancies through discussion. We have presented results using risk ratio (RR) for categorical data and mean difference for continuous data. We analysed data using a fixed-effect model. Main results We included 28 studies involving 3976 women; 27 of these studies with 3964 women contributed data to the analyses. Interventions focused on a broad range of interventions. However, for most outcomes we could not combine data in a meta-analysis, and where we did pool data, no more than two or three studies could be combined for a particular intervention and outcome. Overall, results from this review were mainly not statistically significant, and where there did appear to be differences between intervention and control groups, results were not consistent. For women in general clinic populations one (behavioural counselling versus standard care) of three interventions examined was associated with a reduction in the rate of excessive weight gain (RR 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.54 to 0.95); for women in high-risk groups no intervention appeared to reduce excess weight gain. There were inconsistent results for mean weight gain (reported in all but one of the included studies). We found a statistically significant effect on mean weight gain for five interventions in the general population and for two interventions in high-risk groups. Most studies did not show statistically significant effects on maternal complications, and none reported significant effects on adverse neonatal outcomes. Authors’ conclusions There is not enough evidence to recommend any intervention for preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy, due to the significant methodological limitations of included studies and the small observed effect sizes. More high-quality randomised controlled trials with adequate sample sizes are required to evaluate the effectiveness of potential interventions.

Calcium supplementation is associated with a significant protective benefit in the prevention of pre-eclampsia, and should be used for this indication according to a previous review. This review indicates that there are no additional benefits for calcium supplementation in prevention of preterm birth or low infant birth weight. While there was a statistically significant difference of 80 g identified in mean infant birth weight, there was significant heterogeneity identified, and the clinical significance of this difference is uncertain.

As a result of the limited number of included studies, the small sample sizes and the high risk of bias, we are unable to draw any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of meditation therapy for ADHD. The adverse effects of meditation have not been reported. More trials are needed.

This review indicates that there are no clear additional benefits to calcium supplementation in prevention of preterm birth or low infant birthweight. While there was a statistically significant difference of 56 g identified in mean infant birthweight, there was significant heterogeneity identified, and the clinical significance of this difference is uncertain.

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate utilisation of supplementary techniques for pain control during root canal treatment of lower molars with irreversible pulpitis. The literature was searched using electronic databases up to year 2012. Seventeen studies with 1504 participants were included and each study compared experimental interventions with a standard treatment, i.e. the inferior alveolar nerve block. Changing the injection techniques or supplemental injection had no significant effect on pulp anaesthesia compared to the standard treatment (P = 1.00 or P = 0.14), whereas changing anaesthetic features and increasing anaesthetic volumes resulted in significantly higher rates of anaesthesia than those of the standard treatment (P = 0.03 and P = 0.007, respectively). Premedication with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also significantly increased the success rate of anaesthesia (P = 0.001). Taken together, increased anaesthetic volumes and premedication with NSAIDs provide predictable anaesthesia and more pain control during endodontic treatment of lower molars with irreversible pulpitis.

BackgroundSystematic reviews (SRs) can provide accurate and reliable evidence, typically about the effectiveness of health interventions. Evidence is dynamic, and if SRs are out-of-date this information may not be useful; it may even be harmful. This study aimed to compare five statistical methods to identify out-of-date SRs.MethodsA retrospective cohort of SRs registered in the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group (CPCG), published between 2008 and 2010, were considered for inclusion. For each eligible CPCG review, data were extracted and “3-years previous” meta-analyses were assessed for the need to update, given the data from the most recent 3 years. Each of the five statistical methods was used, with random effects analyses throughout the study.ResultsEighty reviews were included in this study; most were in the area of induction of labour. The numbers of reviews identified as being out-of-date using the Ottawa, recursive cumulative meta-analysis (CMA), and Barrowman methods were 34, 7, and 7 respectively. No reviews were identified as being out-of-date using the simulation-based power method, or the CMA for sufficiency and stability method. The overall agreement among the three discriminating statistical methods was slight (Kappa = 0.14; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.23). The recursive cumulative meta-analysis, Ottawa, and Barrowman methods were practical according to the study criteria.ConclusionOur study shows that three practical statistical methods could be applied to examine the need to update SRs.

Coffee is believed to prevent postoperative ileus. This systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of coffee consumption in stimulating gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery. A number of databases for randomized controlled trials comparing coffee consumption following abdominal surgery versus water drinking or no intervention were searched. Cochrane’s Risk of Bias tool was used to assess risk of bias in included studies. Six trials involving 601 participants were included. All studies had high risk of performance bias. Three studies had an unclear risk of selection bias. Postoperative coffee consumption reduced time to first defecation (mean difference (MD), −9.98 hours; 95% CI, −16.97 to −2.99), time to first flatus (MD, −7.14 hours; 95% CI, −10.96 to −3.33), time to first bowel sound (MD, −4.17 hours; 95% CI, −7.88 to −0.47), time to tolerance of solid food (MD, −15.55 hours; 95% CI, −22.83 to −8.27), and length of hospital stay (MD, −0.74 days; 95% CI, −1.14 to −0.33). Benefits increased with increasing complexity of the procedure. None of the included studies reported adverse events associated with coffee consumption. Postoperative coffee consumption is effective and safe for enhancing the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is leading to several consequences as reported in adults. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is one of the effective treatments in pediatric OSA. However, the CPAP adherence rate is approximately 50%. This study aimed to evaluate if any interventions that improve CPAP adherence in pediatric patients with OSA using a systematic review. We included intervention studies on CPAP adherence in pediatric patients with OSA regardless of machine types. Five databases were used for article searching. Search terms included OSA, adherence, compliance, and CPAP. The outcomes of this study were adherence rate and usage hours/minutes. The outcomes were compared between the intervention and comparator groups with descriptive statistics. There were 2931 articles from 5-database searching. There were 41 articles related with children. There were 7 articles conducted with any intervention on CPAP compliance. Of those, 4 studies included in the analysis. There were 3 significant differences between both groups in 2 studies. Those with caregiver support had significantly longer CPAP use/night by 86.60 minutes (95% CI 10.90, 162.30) and percentage of CPAP usage more than 4 hours/night by 18.10% (95% CI 3.87, 32.33) than those without caregiver support. Those who received BPAP therapy had higher chance of good PAP adherence than those who received CPAP by 18.17 times (95% CI 5.19, 63.70). Caregiver support and BPAP therapy significantly improved CPAP adherence in children with OSA. Further studies are required to add additional comparisons and also other interventions.