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Analytical pyrolysis is a powerful technique that is seldom used in the pulp and paper industry. This article illustrates the utility of the technique to study the chemistry of wood and pulps, mechanistic aspects of pulping, troubleshooting process upsets in pulp and papermaking, and evaluating the quality of finished products. The technique has advantages over other analytical techniques in that little sample preparation is required and enough data can be obtained from very small amounts such as dirt spots on paper. In many cases good data can be obtained by analyzing the pyrolysis products by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (FID). Detection with mass spectrometry (MS) offers the advantage of absolute qualitative and quantitative determination of the chemistry of the analytes. In many instances the chromatography can be improved by on-line derivatization of the pyrolysis products with an alkylating agent. This article takes the reader through a survey of the different types of analytical pyrolysis systems, through data analysis and processing, and examples of applications of analytical pyrolysis in the pulp and paper industry. Ample illustrations are used to highlight the usefulness of the technique.

Different from previous chapters of inductive power transfer (IPT), this chapter introduces capacitive power transfer (CPT) for static wireless electric vehicle (EV) chargers. A four‐plate compact capacitive coupler and its circuit model for a large airgap distance CPT is proposed. The four plates are arranged vertically, instead of horizontally, to save space in EV charging applications. The two plates that are on the same side are placed close to each other to maintain a large coupling capacitance and are of different sizes to maintain the coupling between the primary and secondary sides. The circuit model of the coupler is presented, considering all six coupling capacitors. The LCL compensation topology is used to resonate with the coupler and provide high voltage on the plate to transfer high power. The circuit model of the coupler is simplified to design the parameters of the compensation circuit. Finite element analysis (FEM) is employed to simulate the coupling capacitance and design the dimensions of the coupler. The circuit performance is simulated in LTspice to design the specific parameter values. A prototype of a CPT system was designed and constructed with the proposed vertical plate structure. The prototype achieved an efficiency of 85.9% at 1.88 kW output power with a 150mm air gap distance.This chapter is based on the recently published paper by Chris Mi (H. Zhang, F. Lu, H. Hofmann, W. Liu, and C. Mi, “A 4‐plate compact capacitive coupler and LCL compensation topology for capacitive power transfer in electric vehicle charging applications,” IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics , vol. 31, no. 12, pp. 8541–8551, December 2016). Those who want to investigate further can read another CPT paper by him (F. Lu, H. Zhang, H. Hofmann, and C. Mi, “An inductive and capacitive combined wireless power transfer system with LC‐compensated topology for electric vehicle charging application,” IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics , vol. 31, no. 12, pp. 8471–8482, December 2016).

Background Dysfunctional breathing is described as chronic or recurrent changes in breathing pattern causing respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms. It is an umbrella term that encompasses hyperventilation syndrome and vocal cord dysfunction. Dysfunctional breathing affects 10% of the general population. Symptoms include dyspnoea, chest tightness, sighing and chest pain which arise secondary to alterations in respiratory pattern and rate. Little is known about dysfunctional breathing in children. Preliminary data suggest 5.3% or more of children with asthma have dysfunctional breathing and that, unlike in adults, it is associated with poorer asthma control. It is not known what proportion of the general paediatric population is affected. Breathing training is recommended as a first-line treatment for adults with dysfunctional breathing (with or without asthma) but no similar recommendations are available for the management of children. As such, breathing retraining is adapted from adult regimens based on the age and ability of the child. Objectives To determine whether breathing retraining in children with dysfunctional breathing has beneficial effects as measured by quality of life indices.To determine whether there are any adverse effects of breathing retraining in young people with dysfunctional breathing. Search methods We identified trials for consideration using both electronic and manual search strategies. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE. We searched the National Research Register (NRR) Archive, Health Services Research Projects in Progress (HSRProj), Current Controlled Trials register (incorporating the metaRegister of Controlled Trials and the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) to identify research in progress and unpublished research. The latest search was undertaken in October 2013. Selection criteria We planned to include randomised, quasi-randomised or cluster-randomised controlled trials. We excluded observational studies, case studies and studies utilising a cross-over design. The cross-over design was considered inappropriate due to the purported long-lasting effects of breathing retraining. Children up to the age of 18 years with a clinical diagnosis of dysfunctional breathing were eligible for inclusion. We planned to include children with a primary diagnosis of asthma with the intention of undertaking a subgroup analysis. Children with symptoms secondary to cardiac or metabolic disease were excluded.We considered any type of breathing retraining exercise for inclusion in this review, such as breathing control, diaphragmatic breathing, yoga breathing, Buteyko breathing, biofeedback-guided breathing modification and yawn/sigh suppression. We considered programmes where exercises were either supervised (by parents or a health professional, or both) or unsupervised. We also considered relaxation techniques and acute episode management as long as it was clear that breathing exercises were a component of the intervention.Any intervention without breathing exercises or where breathing exercises were not key to the intervention were excluded. Data collection and analysis We planned that two authors (NJB and MJ) would extract data independently using a standardised form. Any discrepancies would be resolved by consensus. Where agreement could not be reached a third review author (MLE) would have considered the paper. Main results We identified 264 potential trials and reviews from the search. Following removal of duplicates, we screened 224 papers based on title and abstract. We retrieved six full-text papers and further evaluated them but they did not meet the inclusion criteria. There were, therefore, no studies suitable for inclusion in this review. Authors' conclusions The results of this systematic review cannot inform clinical practice as no suitable trials were identified for inclusion. Therefore, it is currently unknown whether these interventions offer any added value in this patient group or whether specific types of breathing exercise demonstrate superiority over others. Given that breathing exercises are frequently used to treat dysfunctional breathing/hyperventilation syndrome, there is an urgent need for well-designed clinical trials in this area. Future trials should conform to the CONSORT statement for standards of reporting and use validated outcome measures. Trial reports should also ensure full disclosure of data for all important clinical outcomes.

Background There are a limited number of treatment options for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). An increased risk of thrombosis in UC coupled with an observation that UC patients being treated with anticoagulant therapy for thrombotic events had an improvement in their bowel symptoms led to trials examining the use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) in patients with active UC. Objectives To review randomized trials examining the efficacy of unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for remission induction in patients with ulcerative colitis. Search strategy The MEDLINE (PUBMED), and EMBASE databases, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane IBD/FBD group specialized trials register, review papers on ulcerative colitis, and references from identified papers were searched in an effort to identify all randomized trials studying UFH or LMWH use in patients with ulcerative colitis. Abstracts from major gastroenterological meetings were searched to identify research published in abstract form only. Selection criteria Each author independently reviewed potentially relevant trials to determine their eligibility for inclusion based on the criteria identified above. The Jadad scale was used to assess study quality. Studies published in abstract form only were included if the authors could be contacted for further information. Data collection and analysis A data extraction form was developed and used to extract data from included studies. At least 2 authors independently extracted data. Any disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data were analyzed using Review Manager (RevMan 4.2.9). Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis, and treated dichotomously. In cross-over studies, only data from the first arm were included. The primary endpoint was induction of remission, as defined by the studies. Data were combined for analysis if they assessed the same treatments (UFH or LMWH versus placebo or other therapy). If a comparison was only assessed in a single trial, P-values were derived using the chi-square test. If the comparison was assessed in more than one trial, summary test statistics were derived using the Peto odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The presence of heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the chi-square test (a P value of 0.10 was regarded as statistically significant). If statistically significant heterogeneity was identified the odds ratio and 95% CI were calculated using a random effects model. Main results There were 2 randomized, double-blind studies assessing LMWH versus placebo for the treatment of mild-moderate active UC. Various outcomes were assessed in the 2 studies. LMWH showed no benefit over placebo in any outcome, including clinical remission (OR 1.09; 95% CI 0.26 to 4.63; P = 0.91), clinical improvement (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.32 to 1.66; P = 0.45 and OR 1.09; 95% CI 0.18 to 6.58; P = 0.92 in the two studies, respectively), endoscopic improvement (OR 1.35; 95% CI 0.29 to 6.18; P = 0.70), or histological improvement (OR 2.00; 95% CI 0.45 to 8.96; P = 0.37). LMWH was also not beneficial when added to standard therapy in a randomized open-label trial in which the outcome measures included clinical remission (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.17 to 2.95; P = 0.64), clinical improvement (OR 2.00; 95% CI 0.31 to 12.75; P = 0.46), endoscopic remission (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.17 to 2.95; P = 0.64), or endoscopic improvement (OR 1.40; 95% CI 0.34 to 5.79; P = 0.64). LMWH was well-tolerated and provided no significant benefit for quality of life. One study examining UFH versus corticosteroids in the treatment of severe UC demonstrated inferiority of UFH in clinical improvement as an outcome measure (OR 0.02; 95% CI 0 to 0.40; P = 0.01). Patients assigned to UFH did not improve clinically. More patients assigned to UFH had rectal hemorrhage as an adverse event. Authors' conclusions There is no evidence to support the use of UFH or LMWH for the treatment of active UC. No further trials examining these drugs for patients with UC are warranted, except perhaps a trial of UFH in patients with mild disease. Any benefit found would need to be weighed against a possible increased risk of rectal bleeding in patients with active UC.

Background This is an update of a review previously published in 2009. Chronic angina and advanced forms of coronary disease are increasingly more frequent. In spite of the improvement in the efficacy of available revascularization treatments, a subgroup of patients continue suffering from refractory angina. Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) has been proposed to improve the clinical situation of these patients. Objectives To assess the effects (both benefits and harms) of TMLR versus optimal medical treatment in people with refractory angina who are not candidates for percutaneous coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft, in alleviating angina severity, reducing mortality and improving ejection fraction. Search methods We searched the following resources up to June 2014: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, the metaRegister of Controlled Trials database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry. We applied no languages restrictions. We also checked reference lists of relevant papers. Selection criteria We selected studies if they fulfilled the following criteria: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TMLR, by thoracotomy, in patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society or New York Heart Association angina grade III-IV who were excluded from other revascularization procedures. Data collection and analysis Three authors independently extracted data for each trial about the population and interventions compared and assessed the risk of bias of the studies, evaluating randomisation sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding (of participants, personnel and outcome assessors), incomplete outcome data, selective outcome reporting, and other potential sources of bias. Main results From a total of 502 references, we retrieved 47 papers for more detailed evaluation. We selected 20 papers, reporting data from seven studies, which included 1137 participants, of which 559 were randomized to TMLR. Participants and professionals were not blinded, which suggests high risk of performance bias. Overall, 43.8% of participants in the treatment group decreased two angina classes, as compared with 14.8% in the control group: odds ratio (OR) 4.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.43 to 6.25), and heterogeneity was present. Mortality by intention-to-treat analysis was similar in both groups at 30 days (4.0% in the TMLR group and 3.5% in the control group), and one year (12.2% in the TMLR group and 11.9% in the control group). However, the 30-day mortality as-treated was 6.8% in the TMLR group and 0.8% in the control group (pooled OR was 3.76, 95% CI 1.63 to 8.66), mainly due to a higher mortality in participants crossing from standard treatment to TMLR. The assessment of subjective outcomes, such as improvement in angina, was affected by a high risk of bias and this may explain the differences found. Other adverse events such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias or heart failure, were not considered in this review, as they were not predefined outcomes in trials design and they show a high inconsistency across studies. No new trials on transmyocardial laser revascularization have been published in the last ten years and it is very unlikely that new research will be undertaken in this field. Authors' conclusions This review shows that risks associated with TMLR outweigh the potential clinical benefits. Subjective outcomes are subject to high risk of bias and no differences were found in survival, but a significant increase in postoperative mortality and other safety outcomes suggests that the procedure may pose unacceptable risks.

Most broadly defined, computer-based tests (CBTs) include not just tests administered on computers or workstations but also exams delivered via telephones, PDAs, and other electronic devices. There have been three main reasons for test developers to move beyond conventional paper and pencil administration. The first is to change the nature of what is being measured. The second is to improve measurement precision or efficiency. The third is to make test administration more convenient for examinees, test sponsors, or both. This entry details some of the advantages of CBTs relative to conventional paper and pencil tests, and describes some of the methods used for test administration and scoring. Keywords: computer-based testing; tailored testing

Background Various methods of sedation and analgesia have been used for pain relief during oocyte recovery in IVF/ICSI procedures. The choice of agents has also been influenced by quality of analgesia as well as by concern about possible detrimental effects on reproductive outcome. Objectives To assess the efficacy of conscious sedation and analgesia versus alternative methods on pregnancy outcomes and pain relief in patients undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval. Search strategy We searched the Specialised Register of the Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group, The Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) , MEDLINE (1966 to present), EMBASE (1980 to present), CINAHL (1982 to present), the National Research Register, and Current Controlled Trials. There was no language restriction. All references in the identified trials and background papers were checked and authors contacted to identify relevant published and unpublished data. Selection criteria Only randomised controlled trials comparing conscious sedation and analgesia versus alternative methods for pain relief during oocyte recovery were included. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently scanned abstracts of the reports identified by electronic searching to identify relevant papers, extracted data and assessed trial quality. Interventions were classified and analysed under broad categories/strategies of pain relief comparing conscious sedation/analgesia with alternative methods and administration protocols. Main results Our search strategy identified 390 potentially eligible reports and 12 papers met our inclusion criteria. There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rates per woman and patient satisfaction between the methods compared. Women's perception of pain showed conflicting results. Due to considerable heterogeneity, in terms of types and dosages of sedation or analgesia used, and tools used to assess the principal outcomes of pain and satisfaction, a meta-analysis of all the studies was not attempted. Of the three trials which compared the effect of conventional medical analgesia plus paracervical block versus electro-acupuncture plus paracervical block, there was no significant difference in clinical pregnancy rates per woman in the two groups (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.4). For intra-operative pain score as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), there was a significant difference (WMD -4.95; 95% CI -7.84 to -2.07), favouring conventional medical analgesia plus paracervical block . There was also a significant difference in intra-operative pain by VAS between patient-controlled sedation and physician-administered sedation (WMD 5.98; 95% CI 1.63 to 10.33), favouring physician -administered sedation. However, as different types and dosages of sedative and analgesic agents were used in these trials, these data should be interpreted with caution. For the rest of the trials, a descriptive summary of the outcomes was presented. Authors' conclusions There is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of different methods of pain relief when compared with conscious sedation and analgesia used during oocyte recovery. In this review, no one particular pain relief method or delivery system appeared to be better than the other. In future, greater consensus is needed to determine both the tools used to evaluate pain and the timing of pain evaluation during and after the procedure. Pain assessment using both subjective and objective measures may merit consideration. In addition, future trials should include intra- and post-operative adverse respiratory and cardiovascular events as outcomes.

Background NSAIDs are widely applied to treat cancer pain and are frequently combined with opioids in combination preparations for this purpose. However, it is unclear which agent is most clinically efficacious for relieving cancer-related pain, or even what may be the additional benefit of combining an NSAID with an opioid in this setting. Objectives To assess the effects of NSAIDs, alone or combined with opioids, for the treatment of cancer pain. Search methods CENTRAL (Issue 2, 2002), MEDLINE (January 1966 to March 2003), EMBASE (January 1980 to December 2001), LILACS (January 1984 to December 2001) were searched. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials that compared NSAID versus placebo; NSAID versus NSAID; NSAID versus NSAID plus opioid; opioid versus opioid plus NSAID; or NSAID versus opioid. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information. Adverse event information was collected from trials. Where there was disagreement between reviewers, the opinion of an additional reviewer was sought to resolve the issue. Main results Forty-two trials involving 3084 patients were included. Clinical heterogeneity of study methods and outcomes precluded meta-analyses and only supported a qualitative systematic review. Seven of eight papers that compared NSAID with placebo demonstrated superior efficacy of NSAID with no difference in side effects. Thirteen papers compared one NSAID with another; four reported increased efficacy of one NSAID over another. Four different studies found that one NSAID had fewer side effects than one or more others. Twenty-three studies compared NSAIDs and opioids in combination or alone with NSAID/opioid combinations. Thirteen out of 14 studies found no difference, or low clinical difference, when combining an NSAID plus an opioid versus either drug alone. Comparisons between various NSAID/opioid combinations were inconclusive. Nine studies assessed the association between dose and efficacy and safety. Four papers demonstrated increased efficacy with increased dose, but no dose-dependent increase in side effects within the dose ranges studied. Study duration ranged from single dose studies performed over six hours to crossover studies lasting six weeks; however, the majority of studies were of less than seven days duration. Authors' conclusions Based upon limited data, NSAIDs appear to be more effective than placebo for cancer pain; clear evidence to support superior safety or efficacy of one NSAID over another is lacking; and trials of combinations of an NSAID with an opioid have disclosed either no difference (4 out of 14 papers), a statistically insignificant trend towards superiority (1 out of 14 papers), or at most a slight but statistically significant advantage (9 out of 14 papers), compared with either single entity. The short duration of studies undermines generalization of their findings on efficacy and safety of NSAIDs for cancer pain.

In this chapter, the well???known coupled magnetic resonance system (CMRS) is explained, stating that it is nothing but new and is a sort of conventional inductive power transfer system (IPTS). There are three major magnetic couplings between coils in CMRS: source???transmitter (Tx), Tx???receiver (Rx), and Rx???load couplings, respectively. Except for Tx???Rx coupling, other couplings do not directly contribute to wireless power transfer. Hence, this miscellaneous coupling can be replaced with a lumped transformer with a ferrite core. Because there is only a Tx???Rx coupling, the CMRS becomes compact in size and robust to ambient changes. Moreover, the design of CMRS is drastically simplified without complicated multiresonance tunings due to a small magnetic flux linkage from the source coil or the load coil.Coreless coils are used for Tx and Rx coils to examine the characteristics of CMRS with lumped transformers. A detailed static analysis on the explicit circuit model of the proposed CMRS and design procedures are fully established. Experiments for 1 W and 10 W prototype CMRSs with a class???E inverter at the switching frequency of 500 kHz, where the quality factors are less than 100, verified the usefulness of the proposed model, achieving 80% of the maximum Tx coil???to???load efficiency. It is concluded that the conventional CMRS, in general, is just a special form of IPTS where the quality factor is extremely high with coreless Tx and Rx coils.This chapter is based on two papers, one by B.H. Choi, E.S. Lee, J. Huh, and C.T. Rim, ???Lumped impedance transformers for compact and robust coupled magnetic resonance systems,??? IEEE Trans. on Power Electronics , vol. 30, no. 11, pp. 6046???6056, November 2015 and the other by J. Huh, W.Y. Lee, S.Y. Choi, G.H. Cho, and C.T. Rim, ???Frequency???domain circuit model and analysis of coupled magnetic resonance systems,??? Journal of Power El ectronics , vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 275???286, March 2013.

In this chapter, the dipole coil inductive power transfer system (IPTS) is applied to a special purpose instrumentation. A highly reliable power and communication system that guarantees the protection of essential instruments in a nuclear power plant (NPP) under a severe accident is explained. Both power and communication lines are established with not only conventional wired channels but also the proposed wireless channels for an emergency reserve. An IPTS is selected due to its robust power transfer characteristics under high temperature, high pressure, and highly humid environments with a number of scattered debris after a severe accident. A thermal insulation box and a glass‐fiber reinforced plastic box are proposed to protect the essential instruments, including vulnerable electronic circuits, from extremely high temperatures of up to 627 ˚C and pressure of up to 5 bar. The proposed wireless power and communication system is experimentally verified by an IPTS prototype having a dipole coil structure and prototype Zigbee modules over a 7 m distance, where both the thermal insulation box and the glass‐fiber reinforced plastic box are fabricated and tested using a high‐temperature chamber. Moreover, an experiment on the effects of a high radiation environment on various electronic devices is conducted based on the radiation test having a maximum accumulated dose of 27 Mrad.This chapter is based on the paper by B.H. Choi, G.C. Jang, S.M. Shin, S.I. Lee, H.K. Kang, and C.T. Rim, “Development of highly reliable power and communication system for essential instruments under severe accidents in NPP,” Nuclear Engineering and Technology , available online, 3 May 2016.

Background Morbidity and mortality in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure is high, it predisposes to stroke and thromboembolism which in turn contribute to high mortality in heart failure. Objectives To determine effect of antiplatelet agents when compared to placebo or anticoagulant therapy on death and/or major thromboembolic events in adults with heart failure who are in sinus rhythm. Search strategy Systematic search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE). Abstracts from cardiology meetings and reference lists of relevant papers were searched. Authors of studies were contacted for further information. Selection criteria Randomised parallel group placebo or controlled trials comparing antiplatelet therapy with control or anticoagulation in adults with chronic heart failure in sinus rhythm. Treatment for at least 1 month. To assess any adverse effects cohort study & non-randomised controlled studies were assessed. Orally administered antiplatelet agents e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, TICLOPIDINE, CLOPIDOGREL, DIPYRIDAMOLE, ASPIRIN compared with anticoagulant agents e.g. COUMARINS, WARFARIN or placebo. Data collection and analysis Data were extracted by two reviewers independently. No meta-analyses were performed as no data were available from randomised comparisons. The data extracted included data relating to the complexities of the topic area, such as patient characteristics and concomitant treatments, as well as data relating to study eligibility, quality, and outcomes. Non-randomised studies were used to identify side-effects caused by anticoagulants. Main results One RCT of warfarin, aspirin versus no antithrombotic therapy was found but no definitive data have yet been published. Three retrospective, non-randomised cohort studies from the V-HeFT, SOLVD and SAVE trials examining the role of ACE inhibitors have examined the role of aspirin therapy +/- anticoagulant therapy in patients with heart failure and/or left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The results from these trials were conflicting. Reviewer's conclusions At present there is no evidence from long term RCTs to recommend use of aspirin to prevent thromboembolism in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm. A possible interaction with ACE inhibitors may reduce the efficacy of aspirin, although this evidence is from retrospective analyses of trial cohorts. There is also no evidence to indicate superior effects from oral anticoagulation, when compared to aspirin, in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm.

Minimizing the frictional power in the powertrain is an important and—from a cost/benefit perspective—very effective way of meeting more stringent CO2 limits. A basic understanding of the behavior of tribological systems is required to support this claim. In addition to component geometry, the contact surfaces and lubricant in particular determine, it is the surfaces and the lubricant in particular that determine the level of friction produced. The interaction between the component materials and the chemical constituents in the lubricant must be considered in every development phase. In recent years, the introduction of new coatings has provided a tool that enables wear and friction to be optimized in equal measures. Thus, in addition to the lubricant, the surface has become an important design element for optimizing tribological systems. This paper illustrates the possibilities for tribological optimization using the bearing arrangements in transmissions and other components of the powertrain and addresses the principal physical contexts and their implementation using modern calculation tools. Keywords: tribology; friction; wear; rolling bearing; transmission; valve train; surface technology; lubricants

Worldwide interest in prebiotics has increased in endothermic animals as well as in fish. Various sectors of the aquaculture industry would benefit if cultured organisms were conferred with improved growth performance, feed efficiency, disease resistance, modulation of the gut microbiota and enhanced immune responses. According to recent reviews, the potential benefits to health and performance in various endothermic animals are documented in numerous studies while the use of prebiotics in aquaculture has been less investigated. However, the studies carried out on prebiotics in fish and shellfish have investigated the following parameters: effect on growth performance, feed conversion, gut microbiota, gut morphology, cell damage in the gut, resistance against pathogenic bacteria and innate immune parameters. This review discusses the results from studies published post 2009–2010. Readers with an interest in probiotic studies published prior to 2009–2010 are referred to review papers previously published. If the use of prebiotics leads to health responses becoming more clearly manifested in fish and shellfish, then prebiotics might have the potential to increase the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture production. However, gaps of knowledge exist and in order to fully elucidate the beneficial effects of adding prebiotics to fish diets the topic merits further investigations.

Heteroatom-substituted dioxetanes are one subclass of dioxetanes that have at least one heteroatom (such as O, S, N) at its two carbons of dioxetane structures. These are readily formed from the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of heteroatom-substituted alkenes and singlet oxygen (1O2). Due to their unique characteristics, such as chemiluminescence and spontaneous cleavage, heteroatom-substituted dioxetanes have been used for a number of biomedical applications, for example biomedical analyses and light-controlled drug release. A number of review papers and book chapters have been published for the biomedical analyses of chemiluminescence. However, no comprehensive review or book chapter for the applications to light-controlled drug release have yet been published, although there have been very significant and interesting advances in the field in the last couple of years. In this chapter, we focus mainly on a new and exciting application of dioxetanes for light-controlled drug release. In the latter part of this section, we also introduce briefly another new interesting application of dioxetane chemistry for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) imaging. Keywords: heteroatom-substitued dioxetanes; visible and near infrared; drug delivery; photodynamic; singlet oxygen; alkenes; biomedical applications; drug release; light-controlled; hydrogen peroxide imaging

BACKGROUND: Dual-method contraception refers to using condoms as well as another modern method of contraception. The latter (usually non-barrier) method is commonly hormonal (e.g. oral contraceptives) or a non-hormonal intrauterine device. Use of two methods can better prevent pregnancy and the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to single-method use. Unprotected sex increases risk for disease disability and mortality in many areas due to the prevalence and incidence of HIV/STI. Millions of women especially in lower-resource areas also have an unmet need for protection against unintended pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: We examined comparative studies of behavioral interventions for improving use of dual methods of contraception. Dual-method use refers to using condoms as well as another modern contraceptive method. Our intent was to identify effective interventions for preventing pregnancy as well as HIV/STI transmission. SEARCH METHODS: Through January 2014 we searched MEDLINE CENTRAL POPLINE EMBASE COPAC and Open Grey. In addition we searched ClinicalTrials.gov and ICTRP for current trials and trials with relevant data or reports. We examined reference lists of pertinent papers including review articles for additional reports. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies could be either randomized or non-randomized. They examined a behavioral intervention with an educational or counseling component to encourage or improve the use of dual methods i.e. condoms and another modern contraceptive. The intervention had to address preventing pregnancy as well as the transmission of HIV/STI. The program or service could be targeted to individuals couples or communities. The comparison condition could be another behavioral intervention to improve contraceptive use usual care other health education or no intervention.Studies had to report use of dual methods i.e. condoms plus another modern contraceptive method. We focused on the investigators assessment of consistent dual-method use or use at last sex. Outcomes had to be measured at least three months after the behavioral intervention began. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors evaluated abstracts for eligibility and extracted data from included studies. For the dichotomous outcomes the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI was calculated using a fixed-effect model. Where studies used adjusted analysis we presented the results as reported by the investigators. No meta-analysis was conducted due to differences in interventions and outcome measures. MAIN RESULTS: We identified four studies that met the inclusion criteria: three randomized controlled trials and a pilot study for one of the included trials. The interventions differed markedly: computer-delivered individually tailored sessions; phone counseling added to clinic counseling; and case management plus a peer-leadership program. The latter study which addressed multiple risks showed an effect on contraceptive use. Compared to the control group the intervention group was more likely to report consistent dual-method use i.e. oral contraceptives and condoms. The reported relative risk was 1.58 at 12 months (95% CI 1.03 to 2.43) and 1.36 at 24 months (95% CI 1.01 to 1.85). The related pilot study showed more reporting of consistent dual-method use for the intervention group compared to the control group (reported P value = 0.06); the investigators used a higher alpha (P < 0.10) for this pilot study. The other two trials did not show any significant difference between the study groups in reported dual-method use or in test results for pregnancy or STIs at 12 or 24 months. AUTHORS CONCLUSIONS: We found few behavioral interventions for improving dual-method contraceptive use and little evidence of effectiveness. A multifaceted program showed some effect but only had self-reported outcomes. Two trials were more applicable to clinical settings and had objective outcomes measures but neither showed any effect. The included studies had adequate information on intervention fidelity and sufficient follow-up periods for change to occur. However the overall quality of evidence was considered low. Two trials had design limitations and two had high losses to follow up as often occurs in contraceptive trials. Good quality studies are still needed of carefully designed and implemented programs or services.

Background Please see Appendix 4 for a glossary of terms. The outcome of patients with esophageal cancer is generally poor. Although multimodal therapy is standard, there is conflicting evidence regarding the addition of esophagectomy to chemoradiotherapy. Objectives To compare the effectiveness and safety of chemoradiotherapy plus surgery with that of chemoradiotherapy alone in people with nonmetastatic esophageal carcinoma. Search methods We performed a computerized search for relevant studies, up to Feburary 2017, on the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase databases using MeSH headings and keywords. We searched five online databases of clinical trials, handsearched conference proceedings, and screened reference lists of retrieved papers. Selection criteria We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing chemoradiotherapy plus esophagectomy with chemoradiotherapy alone for localized esophageal carcinoma. We excluded RCTs comparing chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone with esophagectomy. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias and the quality of the evidence, using standardized Cochrane methodological procedures. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), estimated with Hazard Ratio (HR). Secondary outcomes, estimated with risk ratio (RR), were local and distant progression-free survival (PFS), quality of life (QoL), treatment-related mortality and morbidity, and use of salvage procedures for dysphagia. Data were analyzed using a random effects model in Review Manager 5.3 software. Main results From 2667 references, we identified two randomized studies, in six reports, that included 431 participants. All participants were clinically staged to have at least T3 and/or node positive thoracic esophageal carcinoma, 93% of which was squamous cell histology. The risk of methodological bias of the included studies was low to moderate. High-quality evidence found the addition of esophagectomy had little or no difference on overall survival (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.24; P = 0.92; I² = 0%; two trials). Neither study reported PFS, therefore, freedom from loco-regional relapse was used as a proxy. Moderate-quality evidence suggested that the addition of esophagectomy probably improved freedom from locoregional relapse (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.76; P = 0.0004; I² = 0%; two trials), but low-quality evidence suggested it may increase the risk of treatment-related mortality (RR 5.11, 95% CI 1.74 to 15.02; P = 0.003; I² = 2%; two trials). The other pre-specified outcomes (quality of life, treatment-related toxicity, and use of salvage procedures for dysphagia) were reported by only one study, which found very low-quality evidence that use of esophagectomy was associated with reduced short-term QoL (MD 0.93, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.62), and low-quality evidence that it reduced use of salvage procedures for dysphagia (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.75). Neither study compared treatment-related morbidity between treatment groups. Authors' conclusions Based on the available evidence, the addition of esophagectomy to chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, provides little or no difference on overall survival, and may be associated with higher treatment-related mortality. The addition of esophagectomy probably delays locoregional relapse, however, this end point was not well defined in the included studies. It is undetermined whether these results can be applied to the treatment of adenocarcinomas, tumors involving the distal esophagus and gastro-esophageal junction, and to people with poor response to chemoradiation.

Within the past years, an increasing number of optical techniques for the detection of harmful substances has been investigated on account of the threat of terroristic attacks. Optical technologies have the capability to overcome the problems of extensive sample preparation and long measurement cycles that are known from widely used detection techniques such as mass spectrometry and gas chromatography. The threat of bombings has also produced interest in standoff techniques — in addition to checkpoint applications for screening of persons. Even in this field, optical technologies are well suited: to date, Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) seem to be the most promising technologies, but other optical methods are permanently developed. Particularly detection in the midinfrared (MIR) spectral region, providing selective fingerprints of molecules in the range from 3 to 11 µm, has experienced a renaissance with development of new laser sources, detectors, and spectroscopic techniques. In this paper, some comparatively new techniques for the detection of explosives in the MIR spectral range, relying on quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), are presented. Another emphasis is put on the indirect detection of explosives via characteristic decomposition products and their active generation with laser-induced photodissociation techniques.

The emergence of a substantial body of literature focusing on uniaxial compression experiments of micro- and nano-sized single-crystalline cylindrical papers has unambiguously demonstrated that, at these scales, the sample dimensions dramatically affect crystalline strength (for reviews, see [1-3]). In most of these experimental studies, cylindrical pillars with diameters ranging from ~ 100 nm up to several micrometers were fabricated, largely by the use of the focused ion beam (FIB) method, with some non-FIB-based methods as well, and were subsequently compressed in a nanoindenter with a custom-made flat punch indenter tip. More recently, small-scale mechanical behavior has also been explored through uniaxial tensile experiments, usually performed inside of in-situ scanning electron microscopes (SEM)- or transmission electron microscopes (TEM)-with the custom-built mechanical deformation instruments by a small number of research groups [3-6]. Intriguingly, the results of all of these reports for single-crystalline metals with a variety of crystal structures - face-centered cubic (fcc), body-centered cubic (bcc), hexagonal close-packed (hcp), and tetragonal -show power-law dependence between flow stress and pillar diameter. Further, within the fcc family, the slopes of all metals tested converge on a unique value of approximately -0.6 [1-3,7] (see Figure 7.1), which is not the case for all other crystals.

This paper provides a literature review from 2004 to the present, summarizing studies evaluating the use of nanomaterials and microporous materials as sorbents for the separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions. Materials such as microporous titanosilicates, mesoporous silicas, metal oxide nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes exhibit increased loading and removal kinetics for a variety of metal ions compared to conventional sorbent materials. Also, incorporation of functional groups into these materials has shown promise to provide enhanced selectivity for a variety of metal ions. Keywords: adsorption; selectivity; affinity; separations; hazardous; surface area; pores

Background Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a common condition with a significant negative impact on quality of life characterised by urgency with or without urge incontinence, frequency and nocturia. Intravesical botulinum toxin is being increasingly used to treat severe overactive bladder refractory to standard management. An increasing body of literature is forming that supports this technique as effective, well tolerated, and safe. This review is a substantial update of the 2007 review of the same title. Objectives The objective was to compare intravesical botulinum toxin with other treatments for neurogenic and idiopathic overactive bladder in adults. The hypothesis to be addressed were whether intravesical injection of botulinum toxin was better than placebo or no treatment; pharmacological and other non-pharmacological interventions; whether higher doses of botulinum toxin were better than lower doses; whether botulinum toxin in combination with other treatments was better than other treatments alone; whether one formulation of botulinum toxin is better than another; and whether one injection technique was better than another. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register (searched 23 February 2010). The Register contains trials identified from MEDLINE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and handsearching of journals and conference proceedings. Additionally, all reference lists of selected trials and relevant review papers were searched. No limitations were placed on the searches. Selection criteria All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of treatment for OAB in adults in which at least one management arm involved intravesical injection of botulinum toxin were included. Participants had either neurogenic OAB or idiopathic OAB with or without stress incontinence. Comparison interventions could include no intervention, placebo, lifestyle modification, bladder retraining, pharmacological treatments, surgery, bladder instillation techniques, neuromodulation, and different types, doses, and injection techniques of botulinum toxin. Data collection and analysis Binary outcomes were presented as relative risk and continuous outcomes by mean differences. Little data could be synthesised across studies due to differing study designs and outcome measures. Where applicable standard deviations were calculated from P values according to the formula described in section 7.7.3.3 of the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data were tabulated where possible with results taken from trial reports where this was not possible. Where multiple publications were found, the reports were treated as a single source of data. Main results Nineteen studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Most patients in the studies had neurogenic OAB, but some included patients with idiopathic OAB. All studies demonstrated superiority of botulinum toxin to placebo. Lower doses of botulinum toxin (100 to 150 U) appeared to have beneficial effects, but larger doses (300 U) may have been more effective and longer lasting, but with more side effects. Suburothelial injection had comparable efficacy to intradetrusor injection. The effect of botulinum toxin may last for a number of months and is dependent upon dose and type of toxin used. Patients receiving repeated doses do not seem to become refractory to botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin appeared to have beneficial effects in OAB that quantitatively exceeded the effects of intravesical resiniferatoxin. Intravesical botulinum toxin appeared to be reasonably safe; however, one study was halted due to a perceived unacceptable rate of urinary retention. Authors' conclusions Intravesical botulinum toxin appears to be an effective therapy for refractory OAB symptoms, but as yet little controlled trial data exist on benefits and safety compared with other interventions, or with placebo. Further robust data are required on long term outcomes, safety, and optimal dose of botulinum toxin for OAB.

Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND), is a progressive neurodegenerative disease without effective therapies. Several studies have suggested that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may have positive benefit in ALS. However, the efficacy and safety of this therapy remain uncertain. This is the first update of a review published in 2011. Objectives To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of rTMS for treating ALS. Search methods On 30 July 2012, we searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL (2012, issue 7 in The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (1966 to July 2012), EMBASE (1980 to July 2012), CINAHL (1937 to July 2012), Science Citation Index Expanded (January 1945 to July 2012), AMED (January 1985 to July 2012). We searched the Chinese Biomedical Database (1979 to August 2012). We also searched for ongoing studies on clinicaltrials.gov (August 2012). Selection criteria Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials assessing the therapeutic efficacy and safety of rTMS for patients with a clinical diagnosis of ALS. Comparisons eligible for inclusion were: 1. rTMS versus no intervention; 2. rTMS versus sham rTMS; 3. rTMS versus physiotherapy; 4. rTMS versus medications; 5. rTMS + other therapies or drugs versus sham rTMS + the same therapies or drugs; 6. different methods of application of rTMS such as high-frequency (> 1Hz) compared to low-frequency (≤ 1Hz) rTMS. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently selected papers, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We resolved disagreements through discussion. We contacted study authors for additional information. Main results Three randomised, placebo-controlled trials with a total of 50 participants were included in the review. All three trials compared rTMS with sham TMS. All the trials were of poor methodological quality and were insufficiently homogeneous to allow the pooling of results. Moreover, the high rate of attrition further increased the risk of bias. None of the trials provided detailed data on the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) scores at six months follow-up which was pre-assigned as our primary outcome. One trial contained data in a suitable form for quantitative analysis of our secondary outcomes. No difference was seen between rTMS and sham rTMS using the ALSFRS-R scores and manual muscle testing (MMT) scores at 12 months follow-up in this trial. Additionally, none of the trials reported any adverse events associated with the use of rTMS. However, in view of the small sample size, the methodological limitations and incomplete outcome data, treatment with rTMS cannot be judged as completely safe. Authors' conclusions There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the efficacy and safety of rTMS in the treatment of ALS. Further studies may be helpful if their potential benefit is weighed against the impact of participation in a randomised controlled trial on people with ALS.

Background Mechanical ventilation is a critical component of paediatric intensive care therapy. It is indicated when the patient’s spontaneous ventilation is inadequate to sustain life. Weaning is the gradual reduction of ventilatory support and the transfer of respiratory control back to the patient. Weaning may represent a large proportion of the ventilatory period. Prolonged ventilation is associated with significant morbidity, hospital cost, psychosocial and physical risks to the child and even death. Timely and effective weaning may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and may reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with prolonged ventilation. However, no consensus has been reached on criteria that can be used to identify when patients are ready to wean or the best way to achieve it. Objectives To assess the effects of weaning by protocol on invasively ventilated critically ill children. To compare the total duration of invasive mechanical ventilation of critically ill children who are weaned using protocols versus those weaned through usual (non-protocolized) practice. To ascertain any differences between protocolized weaning and usual care in terms of mortality, adverse events, intensive care unit length of stay and quality of life. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; The Cochrane Library, Issue 10, 2012), MEDLINE (1966 to October 2012), EMBASE (1988 to October 2012), CINAHL (1982 to October 2012), ISI Web of Science and LILACS. We identified unpublished data in the Web of Science (1990 to October 2012), ISI Conference Proceedings (1990 to October 2012) and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (earliest to October 2012). We contacted first authors of studies included in the review to obtain further information on unpublished studies or work in progress. We searched reference lists of all identified studies and review papers for further relevant studies. We applied no language or publication restrictions. Selection criteria We included randomized controlled trials comparing protocolized weaning (professional-led or computer-driven) versus non-protocolized weaning practice conducted in children older than 28 days and younger than 18 years. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently scanned titles and abstracts identified by electronic searching. Three review authors retrieved and evaluated full-text versions of potentially relevant studies, independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Main results We included three trials at low risk of bias with 321 children in the analysis. Protocolized weaning significantly reduced total ventilation time in the largest trial (260 children) by a mean of 32 hours (95% confidence interval (CI) 8 to 56; P = 0.01). Two other trials (30 and 31 children, respectively) reported non-significant reductions with a mean difference of -88 hours (95% CI -228 to 52; P = 0.2) and -24 hours (95% CI -10 to 58; P = 0.06). Protocolized weaning significantly reduced weaning time in these two smaller trials for a mean reduction of 106 hours (95% CI 28 to 184; P = 0.007) and 21 hours (95% CI 9 to 32; P < 0.001). These studies reported no significant effects for duration of mechanical ventilation before weaning, paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and hospital length of stay, PICU mortality or adverse events. Authors' conclusions Limited evidence suggests that weaning protocols reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, but evidence is inadequate to show whether the achievement of shorter ventilation by protocolized weaning causes children benefit or harm.

The components of the space environment which affect the performance of materials in space are described. These include the gaseous atmosphere of low Earth orbit (LEO), atomic oxygen, radiation including vacuum ultraviolet, soft X-rays and cosmic rays and debris both natural and man-made. The effect of the environment on the performance of common spacecraft materials and components are identified and the developments in materials and design to combat degradation are considered. The paper serves as introduction to the more detailed contributions in this chapter. Keywords: space environment; atomic oxygen; radiation; impact; polymers; metals; testing; spaceflight experiments

Background Randomized trials investigating the efficacy of aminosalicylates for the treatment of mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease have yielded conflicting results. A systematic review was conducted to critically examine current available data on the efficacy of sulfasalazine and mesalamine for inducing remission or clinical response in these patients. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of aminosalicylates compared to placebo, corticosteroids, and other aminosalicylates (alone or in combination with corticosteroids) for the treatment of mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease. Search methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Library from inception to June 2015 to identify relevant studies. There were no language restrictions. We also searched reference lists from potentially relevant papers and review articles, as well as proceedings from annual meetings (1991-2015) of the American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of sulfasalazine or mesalamine in the treatment of mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease compared to placebo, corticosteroids, and other aminosalicylates (alone or in combination with corticosteroids) were included. Data collection and analysis Data extraction and assessment of methodological quality was independently performed by the investigators and any disagreement was resolved by discussion and consensus. We assessed methodological quality using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The overall quality of the evidence supporting the outcomes was evaluated using the GRADE criteria. The primary outcome measure was a well defined clinical endpoint of induction of remission or response to treatment. Secondary outcomes included mean Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) scores, adverse events, serious adverse events and withdrawal due to adverse events. For dichotomous outcomes we calculated the pooled risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model. For continuous outcomes we calculated the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI using a random-effects model. Sensitivity analyses based on a fixed-effect model and duration of therapy were conducted where appropriate. Main results Twenty studies (2367 patients) were included. Two studies were judged to be at high risk of bias due to lack of blinding. Eight studies were judged to be at high risk of bias due to incomplete outcomes data (high drop-out rates) and potential selective reporting. The other 10 studies were judged to be at low risk of bias. A non-significant trend in favour of sulfasalazine over placebo for inducing remission was observed, with benefit confined mainly to patients with Crohn's colitis. Forty-five per cent (63/141) of sulfasalazine patients entered remission at 17-18 weeks compared to 29% (43/148) of placebo patients (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.89, 2 studies). A GRADE analysis rated the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome as moderate due to sparse data (106 events). There was no difference between sulfasalazine and placebo in adverse event outcomes. Sulfasalazine was significantly less effective than corticosteroids and inferior to combination therapy with corticosteroids (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.86, 1 study, 110 patients). Forty-three per cent (55/128) of sulfasalazine patients entered remission at 17 to 18 weeks compared to 60% (79/132) of corticosteroid patients (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.91; 2 studies, 260 patients). A GRADE analysis rated the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome as moderate due to sparse data (134 events). Sulfasalazine patients experienced significantly fewer adverse events than corticosteroid patients (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.82; 1 study, 159 patients). There was no difference between sulfasalazine and corticosteroids in serious adverse events or withdrawal due to adverse events. Olsalazine was less effective than placebo in a single trial (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.71; 91 patients). Low dose mesalamine (1 to 2 g/day) was not superior to placebo for induction of remission. Twenty-three per cent (43/185) of low dose mesalamine patients entered remission at week 6 compared to 15% (18/117) of placebo patients (RR = 1.46, 95% CI 0.89 to 2.40; n = 302). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence supporting this outcome was low due to risk of bias (incomplete outcome data) and sparse data (61 events). There was no difference between low dose mesalamine and placebo in the proportion of patients who had adverse events (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.96; 3 studies, 342 patients) or withdrew due to adverse events (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.95; 3 studies, 342 patients). High dose controlled-release mesalamine (4 g/day) was not superior to placebo, inducing a clinically non significant reduction in CDAI (MD -19.8 points, 95% CI -46.2 to 6.7; 3 studies, 615 patients), and was also inferior to budesonide (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.78; 1 study, 182 patients, GRADE = low). While high dose delayed-release mesalamine (3 to 4.5 g/day) was not superior to placebo for induction of remission (RR 2.02, 95% CI 0.75 to 5.45; 1 study, 38 patients, GRADE = very low), no significant difference in efficacy was found when compared to conventional corticosteroids (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.36; 3 studies, 178 patients, GRADE = moderate) or budesonide (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.05; 1 study, 307 patients, GRADE = moderate). However, these trials were limited by risk of bias (incomplete outcome data) and sparse data (small numbers of events). There was a lack of good quality clinical trials comparing sulfasalazine with other mesalamine formulations. Adverse events that were commonly reported included headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Authors' conclusions Sulfasalazine is only modestly effective with a trend towards benefit over placebo and is inferior to corticosteroids for the treatment of mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease. Olsalazine and low dose mesalamine (1 to 2 g/day) are not superior to placebo. High dose mesalamine (3.2 to 4 g/day) is not more effective than placebo for inducing response or remission. However, trials assessing the efficacy of high dose mesalamine (4 to 4.5 g/day) compared to budesonide yielded conflicting results and firm conclusions cannot be made. Future large randomized controlled trials are needed to provide definitive evidence on the efficacy of aminosalicylates in active Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and has a lifetime incidence of one in nine in the UK. Curative treatment requires surgery, and may involve adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy. In many women, post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is essential to restore body image and improve quality of life. Timing of reconstruction may be immediately at the time of mastectomy or delayed until after surgery. Outcomes such as psychosocial morbidity, aesthetics and complications rates may differ between the two approaches. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of immediate versus delayed reconstruction following surgery for breast cancer. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group (CBCG) Specialised Register on 22 July 2010, MEDLINE from July 2008 to 26 August 2010, EMBASE from 2008 to 26 August 2010 and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 26 August 2010. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing immediate breast reconstruction versus delayed or no reconstruction in women in any age group and stage of breast cancer. We considered any recognised methods of reconstruction to one or both breasts undertaken at the same time as mastectomy or at any time following mastectomy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently screened papers, extracted trial details and assessed the risk of bias in the one eligible study. MAIN RESULTS We included only one RCT that involved that involved 64 women.We judged this study as being at a high risk of bias. Post-operative morbidity and mortality were not addressed, and secondary outcomes of patient cosmetic evaluations and psychosocial well-being post-reconstruction were inadequately reported. Based on limited data there was some, albeit unreliable, evidence that immediate reconstruction compared with delayed or no reconstruction, reduced psychiatric morbidity reported three months post-operatively. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The current level of evidence for the effectiveness of immediate versus delayed reconstruction following surgery for breast cancer was based on a single RCT with methodological flaws and a high risk of bias, which does not allow confident decision-making about choice between these surgical options. Until high quality evidence is available, clinicians may wish to consider the recommendations of relevant guidelines and protocols. Although the limitations and ethical constraints of conducting RCTs in this field are recognised, adequately powered controlled trials with a focus on clinical and psychological outcomes are still required. Given the paucity of RCTs in this subject, in future versions of this review we will look at study designs other than RCTs specifically good quality cohort and case-controlstudies.

Background: Glycaemic control is a key issue in the care of people with diabetes mellitus (DM). Some studies have suggested a bidirectional relationship between glycaemic control and periodontal disease. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between periodontal therapy and glycaemic control in people with diabetes and to identify the appropriate future strategy for this question. Search strategy: A comprehensive approach was adopted employing handsearching; searching of electronic databases including the Cochrane Oral Health Group’s Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ZETOC, ISI Web of Knowledge and LILACS; contact with appropriate non-English language healthcare professionals; authors and organizations. The final date for searching for studies was 24 March 2010. Selection criteria: This review studied randomized controlled trials of people with Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with a diagnosis of periodontitis. Suitable interventions included mechanical periodontal therapy with or without adjunctives and oral hygiene education. Data collection and analysis: The titles and abstracts of 690 papers were examined by two review authors independently. Ultimately, seven studies were included and 19 excluded after full text scrutiny. All trials were assessed for risk of bias. Main results: Three studies had results pooled into a meta-analysis. The effect for the mean percentage difference in HbA1c for scaling/root planing and oral hygiene (+/− antibiotic therapy) versus no treatment/usual treatment after 3–4 months was −0.40% (95% confidence interval (CI) fixed effect −0.78% to −0.01%), representing a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c (P = 0.04) for scaling/root planing. One study was assessed as being at low risk of bias with the other two at moderate to high risk of bias. A subgroup analysis examined studies without adjunctive antibiotics −0.80% (one study: 95% CI −1.73% to 0.13%; P = 0.09), with adjunctive antibiotics in the test group −0.36% (one study: 95% CI −0.83% to 0.11%; P = 0.14), and with antibiotics in both test and control groups after 3/4 months −0.15% (one study: 95% CI −1.04% to 0.74%; P = 0.74). Authors’ conclusions: There is some evidence of improvement in metabolic control in people with diabetes, after treating periodontal disease. There are few studies available and individually these lacked the power to detect a significant effect. Most of the participants in the study had poorly controlled Type 2 DM with little data from randomized trials on the effects on people with Type 1 DM.

Background The single most important risk factor for postpartum maternal infection is cesarean section. Although guidelines endorse the use of prophylactic antibiotics for women undergoing cesarean section, there is not uniform implementation of this recommendation. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 1995 and last updated in 2010. Objectives To assess the effects of prophylactic antibiotics compared with no prophylactic antibiotics on infectious complications in women undergoing cesarean section. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (31 July 2014) and reference lists of retrieved papers. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing the effects of prophylactic antibiotics versus no treatment in women undergoing cesarean section. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed the studies for inclusion, assessed risk of bias and carried out data extraction. The clinically important primary outcomes were wound infection, endometritis, serious maternal infectious complications and adverse effects on the infant. We presented dichotomous data as risk ratios (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and combined trials in meta-analyses. We assessed the quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. Main results We identified 95 studies enrolling over 15,000 women. Compared with placebo or no treatment, the use of prophylactic antibiotics in women undergoing cesarean section reduced the incidence of wound infection (RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.46, 82 studies, 14,407 women), endometritis (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.42, 83 studies, 13,548 women) and maternal serious infectious complications (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.49, 32 studies, 6159 women). When only studies that included women undergoing an elective cesarean section were analyzed, there was also a reduction in the incidence of wound infections (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.82, 17 studies, 3537 women) and endometritis (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.61, 15 studies, 2502 women) with prophylactic antibiotics. Similar estimates of effect were seen whether the antibiotics were administered before the cord was clamped or after. The effect of different antibiotic regimens was studied and similar reductions in the incidence of infections were seen for most of the antibiotics and combinations. There were no data on which to estimate the effect of maternal administration of antibiotics on infant outcomes. No studies systematically collected and reported on adverse infant outcomes nor the effect of antibiotics on the developing infant immune system. No studies reported on the incidence of oral candidiasis (thrush) in babies. Maternal adverse effects were also rarely described. We judged the evidence for antibiotic treatment compared with no treatment to be of moderate quality; most studies lacked an adequate description of methods and were assessed as being at unclear risk of bias. Authors' conclusions The conclusions of this review support the recommendation that prophylactic antibiotics should be routinely administered to all women undergoing cesarean section to prevent infection. Compared with placebo or no treatment, the use of prophylactic antibiotics in women undergoing cesarean section reduced the incidence of wound infection, endometritis and serious infectious complications by 60% to 70%. There were few data on adverse effects and no information on the effect of antibiotics on the baby, making the assessment of overall benefits and harms difficult. Prophylactic antibiotics given to all women undergoing elective or non-elective cesarean section is beneficial for women but there is uncertainty about the consequences for the baby.

Background Methotrexate, a folate antagonist, is an immunosuppressant drug that is effective for treating several inflammatory disorders including Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis, a related chronic inflammatory bowel disease, can be challenging to treat. T his updated systematic review summarizes the current evidence on the use of methotrexate for induction maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. Objectives The objectives of this review were to assess the efficacy and safety of methotrexate for maintenance of remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Search methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and the Cochrane IBD/FBD group specialized trials register from inception to June 26, 2014. Study references and review papers were also searched for additional trials. Abstracts from major gastroenterological meetings were searched to identify research published in abstract form only. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials in which methotrexate was compared to placebo or an active comparator in patients with quiescent ulcerative were considered for inclusion. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias for each study. The primary outcome was the occurrence of clinical or endoscopic relapse as defined by the primary studies. Secondary outcomes included frequency and nature of adverse events, change of disease activity score and steroid-sparing effect. We calculated the risk ratio and corresponding 95% confidence interval for dichotomous outcomes. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. The overall quality of the evidence supporting the outcomes was evaluated using the GRADE criteria. Main results Three trials (165 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. One study compared oral methotrexate (12.5 mg/week) to placebo, another compared oral methotrexate (15 mg/week) to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP, 1.5 mg/kg/day) or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, 3 g/day) and the other compared methotrexate (15 mg/week) in combination sulfasalazine (3 g/day) to sulfasalazine. The placebo-controlled study was rated as low risk of bias. The study comparing methotrexate to 6-MP and 5-ASA was rated as high risk of bias and the study assessing methotrexate and sulfasalazine was rated as unclear risk of bias for sequence generation, allocation concealment and blinding. The placebo-controlled study found no statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients who maintained remission. At nine months, 36% (5/14) of methotrexate patients maintained remission compared to 54% (10/18) of placebo patients (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.45). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence for this outcome was low due to very sparse data (15 events). The study comparing combination therapy to sulfasalazine found no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients who maintained remission. At 12 months, 100% (14/14) of patients in the combination group maintained remission compared to 75% (9/12) of sulfasalazine patients (RR 1.32, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.86), A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence for this outcome was very low due to unknown risk of bias and very sparse data (23 events). There were no statistically significant differences in maintenance of remission rates between methotrexate and 6-MP or between methotrexate and 5-ASA. At 76 weeks, 14% (1/7) of methotrexate patients maintained remission compared to 64% (7/11) of 6-MP patients (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.45) and 0% (0/2) of 5-ASA patients (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.06 to 20.71). A GRADE analysis indicated that the overall quality of the evidence from this study was very low due to high risk of bias and very sparse data. Adverse events reported in these studies included transient leucopenia, migraine, nausea and dyspepsia, mild alopecia, mild increase in aspartate aminotransferase levels, peritoneal abscess, hypoalbuminemia, severe rash and atypical pneumonia Authors' conclusions The results for efficacy and safety outcomes between methotrexate and placebo, methotrexate and sulfasalazine, methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate and 5-aminosalicylic acid were uncertain. Whether a higher dose or parenteral administration of methotrexate would be effective in quiescent ulcerative colitis is unknown. At present there is no evidence supporting the use of methotrexate for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. More studies are needed to determine the efficacy and safety of methotrexate maintenance therapy in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis. Large scale methodologically rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed. These studies should investigate higher doses of methotrexate (e.g. 15 to 25 mg/week) and parenteral administration.

This article explains the circumstances under which learned treatises, specialized papers and periodicals, and other professional publications may be introduced in evidence in adversary system jurisdictions for the purpose of cross-examining a testifying expert, or as substantive evidence of the publications' content. The litigant who seeks to present such testimony in court must first lay a foundation for their introduction by establishing their acceptance as standard publications in the field to which they pertain. The rule and its requirements have no applicability in civil law jurisdictions. Keywords: admissibility of treatises; adversary system; foundation testimony; hearsay rule; learned treatise exception to rule against hearsay

Background Central venous catheters (CVCs) facilitate the administration of intravenous drugs, fluids, blood products and parenteral nutrition to patients with either chronic disease or critical illness. Despite a pivotal role within medical management, a common complication associated with CVC use is occlusion of the CVC lumen(s). CVC occlusion can interrupt and cause serious delays in administration of treatment interventions. Objectives The primary objective of this review was to assess the efficacy and safety of different interventions used to restore patency of occluded CVC lumens, in adults and children. Search methods We identified trials by searching the Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 9); OvidSP MEDLINE (1950 to September 2011); OvidSP EMBASE (1980 to September 2011) and NHS Evidence CINAHL (1982 to September 2011). We also searched clinical trial registers, handsearched reference lists, contacted pharmaceutical companies and authors of publications that met the inclusion criteria to identify trials. Selection criteria We selected randomized controlled trials which investigated the efficacy of an intervention (chemical, surgical or drug) used to restore patency to an occluded CVC lumen, in either adults or children. Data collection and analysis Three authors independently assessed those studies that met the inclusion criteria for quality and extracted the relevant data using a standardized form. Main results No studies were found that investigated the efficacy and safety of either chemical or surgical interventions. Seven studies (eight papers) with a total of 632 participants were identified from the search. They investigated different comparisons, strengths of thrombolytic or anticoagulant drug interventions for treating CVC lumen occlusion thought to be caused by a thrombus. There was low quality evidence from a meta-analysis of two studies suggesting that urokinase (various strengths) was more effective than placebo for restoring patency to occluded CVC lumens in adults and children with underlying medical conditions (relative risk (RR) 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47 to 2.95), with a number needed to treat of 4 (95% CI 2 to 8). There was insufficient evidence to draw conclusions on the safety of urokinase. The overall quality of the evidence provided by these studies was low to very low due to one or more domains being assessed as either at 'unclear risk of bias' or 'high risk of bias'. Furthermore, the total number of participants in these studies was small and consequently may lead to spurious results. Authors' conclusions There is inadequate evidence to draw strong conclusions on the efficacy or safety of the drug interventions included in this review. There is some low quality evidence from a meta-analysis of two studies investigating urokinase (various strengths) and some very low evidence from two single studies investigating alteplase 2 mg/2 mL that suggest that these two drug interventions may be effective in treating withdrawal or total occlusion of CVC lumens caused by thrombosis. Further high quality, sufficiently powered research is still required to look at the efficacy and safety of urokinase, alteplase and other chemical, surgical and drug interventions for treating CVC lumen occlusion. Research studies which exclusively include child participants are especially warranted.

Background Lymphocytic colitis is a cause of chronic diarrhea. It is a subtype of microscopic colitis characterized by chronic, watery, non-bloody diarrhea and normal endoscopic and radiologic findings. The etiology of this disorder is unknown.Therapy is based mainly on case series and uncontrolled trials, or by extrapolation of data for treating collagenous colitis, a related disorder. This review is an update of a previously published Cochrane review. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatments for clinically active lymphocytic colitis. Search methods The MEDLINE, PUBMED and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to 11 August 2016 to identify relevant papers. Manual searches from the references of included studies and relevant review articles were performed. Abstracts from major gastroenterological meetings were also searched to identify research submitted in abstract form only. The trial registry web site www.ClinicalTrials.gov was searched to identify registered but unpublished trials. Finally, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Functional Bowel Disorders Group Specialized Trials Register were searched for other studies. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials assessing medical therapy for patients with biopsy-proven lymphocytic colitis were considered for inclusion Data collection and analysis Data was independently extracted by at least two authors. Any disagreements were resolved by consensus. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis. The primary outcome was clinical response as defined by the included studies. Secondary outcome measures included histological response as defined by the included studies, quality of life as measured by a validated instrument and the occurrence of adverse events. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The overall quality of the evidence supporting the primary outcome and selected secondary outcomes was assessed using the GRADE criteria. Data were combined for analysis if they assessed the same treatments. Dichotomous data were combined using a pooled RR along with corresponding 95% CI. A fixed-effect model was used for the pooled analysis. Main results Five RCTs (149 participants) met the inclusion criteria. These studies assessed bismuth subsalicylate versus placebo, budesonide versus placebo, mesalazine versus mesalazine plus cholestyramine and beclometasone dipropionate versus mesalazine. The study which assessed mesalazine versus mesalazine plus cholestyramine and the study which assessed beclometasone dipropionate versus mesalazine were judged to be at high risk of bias due to lack of blinding. The study which compared bismuth subsalicylate versus us placebo was judged as low quality due to a very small sample size and limited data. The other 3 studies were judged to be at low risk of bias. Budesonide (9 mg/day for 6 to 8 weeks) was significantly more effective than placebo for induction of clinical and histological response. Clinical response was noted in 88% of budesonide patients compared to 38% of placebo patients (2 studies; 57 participants; RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.33; GRADE = low). Histological response was noted in 78% of budesonide patients compared to 33% of placebo patients (2 studies; 39 patients; RR 2.44, 95% CI 1.13 to 5.28; GRADE = low). Forty-one patients were enrolled in the study assessing mesalazine (2.4 g/day) versus mesalazine plus cholestyramine (4 g/day). Clinical response was noted in 85% of patients in the mesalazine group compared to 86% of patients in the mesalazine plus cholestyramine group (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.28; GRADE = low). Five patients were enrolled in the trial studying bismuth subsalicylate (nine 262 mg tablets daily for 8 weeks versus placebo). There were no differences in clinical (P=0.10) or histological responses (P=0.71) in patients treated with bismuth subsalicylate compared with placebo (GRADE = very low). Forty-six patients were enrolled in the trial studying beclometasone dipropionate (5 mg/day or 10 mg/day) versus mesalazine (2.4 g/day). There were no differences in clinical remission at 8 weeks (RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.24; GRADE = low) and 12 months of treatment (RR 1.29; 95% CI 0.40 to 4.18; GRADE = very low). Although patients receiving beclometasone dipropionate (84%) and mesalazine (86%) achieved clinical remission at 8 weeks, it was not maintained at 12 months (26% and 20%, respectively). Adverse events reported in the budesonide studies include nausea, vomiting, neck pain, abdominal pain, hyperhidrosis and headache. Nausea and skin rash were reported as adverse events in the mesalazine study. Adverse events in the beclometasone dipropionate trial include nausea, sleepiness and change of mood. No adverse events were reported in the bismuth subsalicylate study. Authors' conclusions Low quality evidence suggests that budesonide may be effective for the treatment of active lymphocytic colitis. This benefit needs to be confirmed by a large placebo -controlled trial. Low quality evidence also suggests that mesalazine with or without cholestyramine and beclometasone dipropionate may be effective for the treatment of lymphocytic colitis, however this needs to be confirmed by large placebo-controlled studies. No conclusions can be made regarding bismuth subsalicylate due to the very small number of patients in the study, Further trials studying interventions for lymphocytic colitis are warranted.

This article begins by introducing the importance of electrical steels in their application as electrical machine cores. Nonoriented, grain-oriented, and high-silicon steels comprise over 97% of the world's production of soft magnetic materials. The origin, controlling factors, and methods of optimizing their most important magnetic parameter, the core loss, are discussed. The effect of magnetizing frequency, flux density, mechanical stress, temperature, and flux distortion is shown. Magnetostriction is a further factor of importance in many devices, so this is briefly discussed. There is a growing interest in predicting the losses of electrical steels, so the need for better understanding of magnetization processes to build accurate models which will cater to the more stringent specifications of modern industry are discussed, and new approaches are reviewed. Powder composite materials are finding niche applications in power devices, so their magnetic properties are compared with those of the traditional lamination steels. The paper does not cover magnetically soft ferrites or iron–cobalt alloys which are used in specialized power magnetic applications. Keywords: soft magnetic materials; electrical steel; silicon iron; iron loss; iron powder cores

BACKGROUND: Epithelial ovarian cancer presents at an advanced stage in the majority of women. These women require surgery and chemotherapy for optimal treatment. Conventional treatment has been to perform surgery first and then give chemotherapy. However, there may be advantages to using chemotherapy before surgery. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether there is an advantage to treating women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with chemotherapy before debulking surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT)) compared with conventional treatment where chemotherapy follows debulking surgery (primary debulking surgery (PDS)). SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases on 11 February 2019: CENTRAL, Embase via Ovid, MEDLINE (Silver Platter/Ovid), PDQ and MetaRegister. We also checked the reference lists of relevant papers that were identified to search for further studies. The main investigators of relevant trials were contacted for further information. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (Federation of International Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) stage III/IV) who were randomly allocated to treatment groups that compared platinum‐based chemotherapy before cytoreductive surgery with platinum‐based chemotherapy following cytoreductive surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias in each included trial. MAIN RESULTS: We found 1952 potential titles, with a most recent search date of February 2019, of which five RCTs of varying quality and size met the inclusion criteria. These studies assessed a total of 1713 women with stage IIIc/IV ovarian cancer randomised to NACT followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) or PDS followed by chemotherapy. We pooled results of the three studies where data were available and found little or no difference with regard to overall survival (OS) (1521 women; hazard ratio (HR) 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 to 1.19, I(2) = 0%; moderate‐certainty evidence) or progression‐free survival in four trials where we were able to pool data (1631 women; HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.13, I(2) = 0%; moderate‐certainty evidence). Adverse events, surgical morbidity and quality of life (QoL) outcomes were poorly and incompletely reported across studies. There may be clinically meaningful differences in favour of NACT compared to PDS with regard to serious adverse effects (SAE grade 3+). These data suggest that NACT may reduce the risk of need for blood transfusion (risk ratio (RR) 0.80; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.99; four studies,1085 women; low‐certainty evidence), venous thromboembolism (RR 0.28; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.90; four studies, 1490 women; low‐certainty evidence), infection (RR 0.30; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.56; four studies, 1490 women; moderate‐certainty evidence), compared to PDS. NACT probably reduces the need for stoma formation (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.72; two studies, 581 women; moderate‐certainty evidence) and bowel resection (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.92; three studies, 1213 women; moderate‐certainty evidence), as well as reducing postoperative mortality (RR 0.18; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.54:five studies, 1571 women; moderate‐certainty evidence). QoL on the EORTC QLQ‐C30 scale produced inconsistent and imprecise results in two studies (MD ‐1.34, 95% CI ‐2.36 to ‐0.32; participants = 307; very low‐certainty evidence) and use of the QLQC‐30 and QLQC‐Ov28 in another study (MD 7.60, 95% CI 1.89 to 13.31; participants = 217; very low‐certainty evidence) meant that little could be inferred. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The available moderate‐certainty evidence suggests there is little or no difference in primary survival outcomes between PDS and NACT. NACT may reduce the risk of serious adverse events, especially those around the time of surgery, and the need for bowel resection and stoma formation. These data will inform women and clinicians and allow treatment to be tailored to the person, taking into account surgical resectability, age, histology, stage and performance status. Data from an unpublished study and ongoing studies are awaited.

Background Patients may control postoperative pain by self-administration of intravenous opioids using devices designed for this purpose (patient controlled analgesia or PCA). A 1992 meta-analysis by Ballantyne found a strong patient preference for PCA over conventional analgesia but disclosed no differences in analgesic consumption or length of postoperative hospital stay. Although Ballantyne's meta-analysis found that PCA did have a small but statistically significant benefit upon pain intensity, Walder's review in 2001 did not find a significant differences in pain intensity and pain relief between PCA and conventionally treated groups. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of PCA versus conventional analgesia (such as a nurse administering an analgesic upon a patient's request) for postoperative pain control. Search methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2004, Issue 3), MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), and EMBASE (1994 to 2004). Additional reports were identified from the reference lists of retrieved papers. Selection criteria RCTs of PCA versus conventional analgesia that employed pain intensity as a primary or secondary outcome were selected. These trials included RCTs that compared PCA without a continuous background infusion versus conventional parenteral analgesic regimens. Studies that explicitly stated they involved patients with chronic pain were excluded. Data collection and analysis Trials were scored using the Oxford Quality Scale. Meta-analyses were performed of outcomes that included analgesic efficacy assessed by a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), analgesic consumption, patient satisfaction, length of stay and adverse effects. A sufficient number of the retrieved trials reported these parameters to permit meta-analyses. Main results Fifty-five studies with 2023 patients receiving PCA and 1838 patients assigned to a control group met inclusion criteria. PCA provided better pain control and greater patient satisfaction than conventional parenteral 'as-needed' analgesia. Patients using PCA consumed higher amounts of opioids than the controls and had a higher incidence of pruritus (itching) but had a similar incidence of other adverse effects. There was no difference in the length of hospital stay. Authors' conclusions This review provides evidence that PCA is an efficacious alternative to conventional systemic analgesia for postoperative pain control.