Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38919968›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in neurology2024

The efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in postherpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Qi Dai, Aihua Xu, Kunpeng Wang, Yang Yang, Yang Shao, Yongxin Sun

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Qi DaiDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Aihua XuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Kunpeng WangDepartment of Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Yang YangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Yang ShaoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Yongxin SunDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: Through an extensive search in four databases until October 2023, we selected five randomized controlled trials adhering to our specific criteria, involving 257 patients in total. For continuous outcomes, the standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using Cochran's Results: Our analysis found that rTMS reduced the overall visual analogue scale (VAS) (SMD: -1.52, 95% CI: -2.81 to -0.23, Conclusion: Our study suggests that rTMS might have a potential alleviating effect on PHN symptoms. However, due to the limited number of studies and variations in rTMS parameters, larger sample studies involving more diverse populations, as well as further clarification of the most appropriate stimulation protocol, are still needed. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, Identifier ID: CRD42023488420.

Indexed as

efficacymeta-analysispostherpetic neuralgiarepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID38919968
PMCPMC11196813

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.