The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews - Issue 8 2012

In the eighth issue of The Cochrane Library for 2012, 37 new Cochrane Reviews were published, and 43 existing reviews were updated, with 10 undergoing substantial changes that led to revised conclusions. The reviews covered a broad range of health interventions, including the effects of cocoa on blood pressure, pharmacotherapy for mild hypertension, and garlic for cardiovascular prevention in hypertensive patients. Notably, a review involving over 4,000 participants examined the effects of interactive computer-based interventions on weight loss or maintenance in overweight or obese individuals. Updated reviews provided new evidence supporting psychological therapies for borderline personality disorder, suggested neoadjuvant chemotherapy as an initial treatment alternative for advanced ovarian cancer, and examined physiotherapy's role in Parkinson's disease. Additionally, some authors created podcasts to describe their findings, and topics covered in recent Evidence Pods included treatments for female pattern hair loss, pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention, and the use of electric fans during heatwaves.