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I know this sounds hopelessly idealistic (or just plain wrong) but a business case is supposed to inform and ask for (informed) consent. Since this cherry picked a few +ve examples (smoking) but did not accurately reflect the: breadth of Cochrane reviews; or bizarre e.g. the non-zero effect (of...

Thanks for the laugh - if only it were actionable ---

Reminds me of Paul Garner's Newsnight appearance were he assured us that he was ill and cured himself with the power of positive thought ---- if only you could bottle it and sell it ---

An unregulated charity which has a very poor record. I've copied an extract from my previous correspondence with NICE*. If NICE look at the quality of the base studies (which they claim*) and exclude studies which are not appropriate, then why link up with Cochrane? The claimed benefit is the...

Too realistic--- Unfortunately, despite the fancy words in the business case, re aligning Cochrane reviews with the needs of the system (NICE's needs), I would not be surprised if the outcome was flawed Cochrane reviews leading to flawed NICE guidelines. E.g. @Caroline Struthers has pointed out...

Presumably if you use an unblinded study and subjective outcome criteria then you can get a positive result --- "Outcome measures Experiences, opinions and views from patients’ and therapists’ perspective on psychosomatic therapy were identified." Results "(1) building rapport; (2)...

Moved post I've had a brief look at the business case. Comments from others on this forum that the "logic" was saving money i.e. through avoiding "duplication" (NICE &Cochrane both doing reviews) came to mind. If you search for "dup" or some such then you'll see 4 hits. Another thing was that...

Thanks Michiel. @Caroline Struthers Michiel has posted the first response from NICE.

Copied post I submitted a request for: "The latest full business case for the NICE Cochrane collaborative agreement*. If not the same document, please also provide the business case that was presented at the highest-level meeting where the collaborative agreement* was approved.’ NICE replied -...

Perhaps the involvement of e.g. dopamine, serotonin, --- something neurological --- would be indicated by a GWAS study? Yes, it seems to be inappropriate to give toxic drugs when there's no evidence that ME/CFS is a disease treated/targeted by those drugs. I wonder if these drugs have been...

OK pretty much everyone on this site agrees that unblinded studies with subjective outcome criteria=useless crap (or worse) The question seems to be why are career scientists publishing systemic studies derived from crap primary studies --- what is the incentive? Maybe the answer (referred to...

I noticed an appraisal of the PACE trial which highlighted that there was no increase in (participants) hours worked, participation in education ---- these type of indicators are also highlighted above. In terms of activity levels, actimetry (FitBit type devices) seems deliverable. However, it...

Unfortunately I could go with that abbreviated quote. I'm hoping that the GWAS study [Chris Ponting's] will help to focus biomarker studies and thereby provide useful results.

When do you anticipate sampling to start (saliva in tubes)?

Almost becoming a standard reply from me but the GWAS study (Chris Ponting - sampling starting in May) might provide a way to test hypothesis like this. E.g. presumably if this was a common mechanism then there would be clues in the GWAS results. @Simon M

This one's been kicking around for years [suramin as a treatment for ME/CFS*]; possibly Chris Ponting's GWAS study might provide an indication re a role for purinergic signaling in ME/CFS @Simon M *""People who suffer from Long COVID Syndrome and ME/CFS have nearly identical physical symptoms...

From this it appears that NICE is doing what it should be i.e. evaluating the evidence. It's difficult to see how NICE could maintain those standards and use Cochrane; particularly since Cochrane seems no closer to changing it's systems to align with the [NICE] protocols you outline...

That grates given the amount of time and effort @Caroline Struthers has spent trying to get Cochrane to remove redundant reviews. I think @Jonathan Edwards considers that much/everything is spin now - comes to mind when reading "dynamic, living guideline recommendations" Yes if there was a...

I think @Jonathan Edwards is key i.e. The business case (hopefully released under FOI) should tease out these issues but I kind of expect the drafter avoided highlighting the fundamental flaws in the NICE/Cochrane agreement. Old advice ---- what's the answer you want? Once I know that I'll...

Yea I think there were some weasel words in NICEs reply i.e. assurances that NICE would review the evidence independently (of Cochrane) in accordance with the NICE guideline.