Are randomized trials conducted in China or India biased? A comparative empirical analysis

Compliance with clinical trial registration and reporting guidelines by Latin American and Caribbean journals

“…Results show that the level of endorsement and compliance is variable and generally low, corroborating similar findings of studies carried out in other regions of the world 26 .…”

Are cardiovascular trial results systematically different between North America and Europe? A study based on intra-meta-analysis comparisons

“…In particular, the potential for finding spurious international differences in trial results, which may have been found in other studies [3], was reduced by the fact that a random-effects model was used to allow for this latter type of heterogeneity. Also, the matching up of trials through the use of published systematic reviews avoided the type of pragmatic strategies for comparing trials between countries that have been used by other researchers [73,74]. The task of performing this kind of study in the future would clearly be made easier if researchers preparing the results of trials or systematic reviews for publication were willing to be more explicit about the countries in which trials have taken place.…”

Is the Chinese medicinal formula Guipi Decoction (归脾汤) effective as an adjunctive treatment for depression? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…(45) The conventionally prescribed tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of mortality, with the latter also being associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic and fatal stroke. (41) Therefore, CMs such as GPD are widely used in patients with depressive disorders.…”

“…The results of the funnel plots were also in accordance with the reports that suggest that clinical trials originating in some countries always have positive results (44) and that positive results are more likely to be published than negative ones. (45) Although a comprehensive search of journal and conference databases was conducted to ensure that all published and unpublished trials were identifi ed, it was impossible to account for additional studies with negative findings that may remain unpublished.…”