However, after our literature search, no more trials were identified, except for four trials that focused on the effects of nifekalant, and they were all conducted in Japan [ 21- 24].
The mean Jadad score (2.1 points) was low, and the majority of RCTs were deemed low to moderate quality, except for six trials [ 31, 34, 35, 37, 46, 47] that were deemed high quality with a Jadad score of ≥3.
These trials were all conducted in high-income countries except for three trials conducted in LMICs Bowen 2004 CHN, (which was undertaken in Fujian province in China) Talaat 2008 EGY (which was conducted in Cairo, Egypt), and Pickering 2013 KEN (conducted in Nairobi, Kenya).
This was effective as no vocal responses were elicited from any individual during playback trials (except for one apple trial, which was excluded from analysis).
All of the trials had two arms, except two trials [ 14, 15] that had three arms.
All these drugs were continued for the entire treatment phase of the two trials, except for steroids, which were tapered from week 8. Efficacy assessment was based on an intention-to-treat analysis and the primary endpoint was clinical response at week 8 based on the Mayo disease activity score (Schroeder et al. 1987).
One trial per day for 7 successive days and two trials per day for next 6 successive days were conducted except for no trial on day 6 and one trial on the last day.
All trials, except for two [ 12, 24], reported adverse events for the interventions.
Indeed, in all the trials except for two, glycemic control had improved in the control group when compared to the first RCT.
Each subject performed sufficient practice trials with no feedback and then performed 600 experimental trials in random order (except for one subject, who performed 480 experimental trials): 150 (120) trials each for cases None and SCM and 50 (40) trials each for cases S, C, M, CM, MS, and SC.
