Cochrane Library Podcasts

People with a wide variety of illnesses can experience symptoms of vertigo. Researchers at University College London in the UK published a new Cochrane Review of the relevant evidence for one possible treatment, betahistine, in June 2016. We asked James Handscome to speak with the lead author Louisa Murdin about the review and its findings.

Alongside several Cochrane Reviews of anti-cancer therapy for women with breast cancer, are those examining the effects of interventions that might help them after the completion of those treatments. In this podcast, Hayley Hassan, on behalf of the authors, tells us about one of these reviews, which compares different options for breast reconstruction and was published in May 2016.

Some patients who go into hospital develop delirium, which is a serious and distressing condition that can lead to poorer clinical outcomes, longer stays in hospital, and higher healthcare costs. It is important, therefore, to find effective ways to prevent it and an updated Cochrane Review from March 2016 examines the evidence for a variety of interventions. Lead author, Najma Siddiqi from the University of York in the UK, tells us what they found in this podcast.

A February 2016 addition to the nearly 200 reviews from the Cochrane Anaesthesia, Critical and Emergency Care Group examines the evidence on lidocaine as a way to reduce the pain from using propofol to induce anaesthesia. Hayley Hassan, from the Cochrane Central Executive Team, describes the need for the review and its findings in this podcast, on behalf of the review authors.

The Cochrane Oral Health Group has produced many reviews relevant to the prevention of tooth decay and, in July 2016, they updated their investigation of fluoride mouthrinses for children and adolescents. Helen Worthington, Co-ordinating Editor of the Group from the University of Manchester in the UK and one of the authors of this review, tells us what they found in this podcast.

In April 2016, Sant-Rayn Pasricha from the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Oxford in the UK and colleagues from Australia and Canada published their new review on the use of iron supplementation by menstruating women, strengthening the collection of Cochrane evidence on the treatment of iron deficiency. He describes the latest findings in this podcast.

There is considerable interest in innovative treatments for adult polycystic kidney disease, in particular those treatments that might interrupt the biological processes that lead to cyst formation and kidney failure. It is important, therefore, to have good evidence of the effects of these treatments and, in a July 2015 Cochrane Review, Davide Bolignano from Reggio Calabria in Italy and colleagues examined the relevant studies to assess the effects on patient outcomes. Here’s Davide to tell us more.

The typical Cochrane Review provides answers about the treatment of a disease but, occasionally, one comes along that tackles other major challenges facing society. One such new review in August 2016 looks at the evidence on various ways to prevent abuse in the elderly. Here’s one of the research team, Philip Baker from Queensland University of Technology in Australia to tell us what they found.

For many women with breast cancer, the use of post-operative radiotherapy will allow them to undergo less extensive surgery. In July 2016, Brigid Hickey from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane Australia and colleagues published an update of their Cochrane Review examining the research on the size of the doses in which the radiation is given. She tells us what they found in this podcast.

For many women with breast cancer, the use of post-operative radiotherapy will allow them to undergo less extensive surgery. In the update of a Cochrane Review in July 2016, Brigid Hickey and colleagues from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane Australia examined the research on the use of partial breast irradiation and she tells us what they found in this podcast.