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Systematic review of recent evidence for the safety and efficacy of elective endovascular repair in the management of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Conventional management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is by open repair and is associated with a mortality rate of 2-6 per cent. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is an alternative technique first introduced in 1991. A systematic review was undertaken of the evidence for the safety and efficacy of elective EVAR in the management of asymptomatic infrarenal AAA. METHODS: Thirteen electronic bibliographical databases were searched, covering biomedical, health-related, science and social science literature. Outcomes were assessed with respect to efficacy (successful deployment, technical success, conversion rates and secondary intervention rates) and safety (30-day mortality rate, procedure morbidity rates and technical issues-endoleaks, graft thrombosis, stenosis and migration). RESULTS: Of 606 reports identified, 61 met the inclusion criteria (three randomized and 15 non-randomized controlled trials, and 43 uncontrolled studies). There were 29 059 participants in total; 19,804 underwent EVAR. Deployment was successful in 97.6 per cent of cases. Technical success (complete aneurysm exclusion) was 81.9 per cent at discharge and 88.8 per cent at 30 days. Secondary intervention to treat endoleak or maintain graft patency was required in 16.2 per cent of patients. Mean stay in the intensive care unit and mean hospital stay were significantly shorter following EVAR. The 30-day mortality rate for EVAR was 1.6 per cent (randomized controlled trials) and 2.0 per cent in nonrandomized trials and case series. Technical complications comprised stent migration (4.0 per cent), graft limb thrombosis (3.9 per cent), endoleak (type I, 6.8 per cent; type II, 10.3 per cent; type III, 4.2 per cent) and access artery injury (4.8 per cent). DISCUSSION: EVAR is technically effective and safe, with lower short-term morbidity and mortality rates than open surgery. However, there is a need for extended follow-up as the long-term success of EVAR in preventing aneurysm-related deaths is not yet known.

Angioplasty↗

Systematic review of endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins.

BACKGROUND: The safety and effectiveness of endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) for varicose veins are not yet fully evaluated. METHODS: Medical bibliographic databases, the internet and reference lists were searched from January 1966 to September 2004. Only case series were available for inclusion in the review. RESULTS: : Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Self-limiting features, such as pain, ecchymosis, induration and phlebitis, were commonly encountered after treatment. Deep vein thrombosis and incorrect placement of the laser in vessels were uncommon adverse events. No study has yet assessed the effectiveness of laser therapy in comparison to saphenofemoral junction ligation with saphenous vein stripping. Occlusion of the saphenous vein and abolition of venous reflux occurred in 87.9-100 per cent of limbs, with low rates of re-treatment and recanalization. CONCLUSION: From the low-level evidence available it seems that EVLT benefits most patients in the short term, but rates of recanalization, re-treatment, occlusion and reflux may alter with longer follow-up. The lack of such data, in addition to the small numbers of patients in the available studies, demonstrates the need for a randomized clinical trial of EVLT versus conventional surgery.

Adult↗

A medical information networking system between practitioners and academia.

This paper reports on a one-year experience with an information networking system (MIS) between 47 rural practitioners and an academic center. Physicians were invited to phone in non-emergency clinical questions specific to daily practice needs to a telephone answering service located in the medical school library. Two-hundred-forty questions triggered by patient visits, colleagues, local rounds, allied health or local professionals, and on-site administrative meetings were forwarded to the MIS. All inquiries were classified according to the International Classification of Disease-9th Revision-Clinical Modification, and categorized into three areas of practice: diagnostic/investigative, general treatment, and pharmacology (therapeutics). The paper outlines how specific practice questions are being screened and adopted for decisions relating to four current activities which assist the ongoing maintenance of competence: 1) CME program planning, 2) residency/undergraduate curriculum development, 3) individualized CME for specific practitioners and sites, and 4) future CME research. The physician inquiries represent true needs in rural medical practice and as such should be given high priority in programs and assessments addressing the maintenance of competence.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Ethics and dementia: mapping the literature by bibliometric analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports on a bibliometric analysis of keywords in the literature on ethics and dementia during the period 1980-2000. METHODS: Keywords were drawn from titles, abstracts and keyword fields of 14 bibliographic databases and clustered in to 19 categories. These categories were then examined for their frequency and co-occurrences. The strength of relationships between these categories is mapped using the metaphor of the 'night sky' showing constellations of issues and changes over time. RESULTS: Four categories appear consistently and frequently in the literature: professional care, end-of-life issues, decision-making and treatment. Other issues come and go (such as quality-of-life issues) while others appear to respond to outside events (e.g. feeding issues). The research literature is based predominantly on surveys or studies soliciting responses to predefined issues. Little research has been undertaken to establish the range of ethical issues for either family members or professionals. DISCUSSION: We discuss the domination of the literature by four categories of ethical issues, the new and emerging areas of ethical interest and those areas that are triggered by external events such as legal cases. We also discuss some of the limitations of the study and note some omissions in the literature. CONCLUSION: During the period 1980-2000 the research literature has been dominated by surveys and studies soliciting views on predefined issues with relatively few in-depth, open-ended qualitative studies.

Aged↗

Adulthood consumption of preserved and nonpreserved vegetables and the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review.

The incidence rates of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are dramatically higher in certain regions of Asia compared to the rest of the world. Few risk factors for NPC are known; however, in contrast to the hypothesized health benefits of nonpreserved vegetables, it is thought that preserved vegetable intake may play a role in contributing to the higher incidence of NPC in high-risk regions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to systematically review the epidemiologic evidence on the associations between adulthood intake of preserved and nonpreserved vegetables and NPC risk. A search of the epidemiological literature from 1966 to 2004 was performed using several bibliographic databases, including PubMed and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database System. There were no language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted to obtain pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the highest-versus-lowest categories of preserved and nonpreserved vegetable intake. A total of 16 case-control studies were identified in the search. Results showed that highest-versus-lowest preserved vegetable intake was associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk of NPC (Random Effects Odds Ratio (RE OR) 2.04; 95% Confidence Limits (CL) 1.43, 2.92). Conversely, high nonpreserved vegetable intake was associated with 36% decrease in the risk of NPC (RE OR 0.64; 95% CL 0.48, 0.85). Findings for both preserved and nonpreserved vegetables were consistent across vegetable type and by country of study. Further research in high-risk areas to gain insight into the risk associated with preserved vegetables and protection associated with nonpreserved vegetables may advance understanding of NPC and yield clues for prevention.

Adult↗

Statins and risk of cancer: a systematic review and metaanalysis.

We conducted a systematic review of the association between HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) use and cancer risk. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, ISI Proceedings and BIOSIS Previews bibliographic databases, electronic trials registers and reference lists for potentially eligible randomized trials and observational studies. Thirty-eight individual studies (26 randomized trials involving 103,573 participants and 12 observational studies with 826,854 participants) were included. Median follow-up was 3.6 and 6.2 years for trials and observational studies, respectively. In metaanalyses of randomized trials, there was no evidence that statin therapy was associated with incidence of all-cancers (26 trials; pooled risk ratio = 1.00; 95% CI 0.95-1.05; I(2) = 0%) or the following site-specific cancers: breast (7 trials; risk ratio = 1.01; 0.79-1.30; I(2) = 43%), prostate (4 trials; risk ratio = 1.00; 0.85-1.17; I(2) = 0%), colorectum (9 trials; risk ratio = 1.02; 0.89-1.16; I(2) = 0%), lung (9 trials; risk ratio = 0.96; 0.84-1.09; I(2) = 0%), genito-urinary (5 trials; risk ratio = 0.95; 0.83-1.09; I(2) = 0%), melanoma (4 trials; risk ratio = 0.86; 0.62-1.20; I(2) = 17%) or gastric (1 trial; risk ratio = 1.00; 0.35-2.85). There was no evidence of differential effects by length of follow-up, statin type (lipophilic vs. lipophobic) or potency. Trial results were generally consistent with observational studies. We conclude that statin use is not associated with short-term cancer risk, but longer-latency effects remain possible.

Humans↗

Systematic review of the literature of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of neck pain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. However, there is controversy over its true efficacy. We aimed to determine the efficacy of LLLT in the treatment of neck pain through systematically reviewing the literature. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of computerized bibliographic databases covering medicine, physiotherapy, allied health, complementary medicine, and biological sciences was undertaken undertaken from date of inception until February 2004 for randomized controlled trials of LLLT for neck pain. A comprehensive list of search terms was applied and explicit inclusion criteria were developed a priori. Twenty studies were identified, five of which met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Significant positive effects were reported in four of five trials in which infrared wavelengths (lambda = 780, 810-830, 904, 1,064 nm) were used. Heterogeneity in outcome measures, results reporting, doses, and laser parameters precluded formal meta-analysis. Effect sizes could be calculated for only two of the studies. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides limited evidence from one RCT for the use of infrared laser for the treatment of acute neck pain (n = 71) and chronic neck pain from four RCTs (n = 202). Larger studies are required to confirm the positive findings and determine the most effective laser parameters, sites and modes of application.

Humans↗

Full publication of abstracts of randomised controlled trials published at International Continence Society meetings'.

AIMS: To find out how many abstracts reporting randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that are submitted to scientific meetings of the International Continence Society (ICS) are later published in full, and any predictors of full publication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The appropriate issues of "Neurourology and Urodynamics" and the Proceedings of the ICS for 1998 and 1999 were hand-searched for the abstracts reporting RCTs. Bibliographic databases (Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Healthstar, Psychlit, CINAHL) were searched, using the authors' names, to find full publications. Authors were contacted when no full publication was found to check that all full publications had been found. This was repeated for 1987. RESULTS: Sixty-three abstracts reporting RCTs were found in 1998 and 1999. Twenty-five of these (40%) were followed by full publication. The only characteristic that predicted full publication was the use of a no treatment control group. In 1987, 16 of 19 abstracts (84%) went on to be published in full. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of full publication of abstracts reporting RCTs submitted to recent ICS meetings is low. It is lower than the rate of 56% found in other meetings. As it is widely regarded as unethical not to publish in full, ICS members should make every effort to write-up studies for peer-reviewed publication.

Abstracting and Indexing↗

Mortality in schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to describe the current status of knowledge on excess mortality in schizophrenia and its causative factors, and to expand upon previous work evaluating approaches that may reduce mortality rates. METHODS: Literature available since 1995 was identified in a computerized search of the bibliographical databases Medline and Embase, using the topics 'mortality' and 'schizophrenia', and in a cross-reference search for articles that were particularly relevant. RESULTS: Schizophrenia is associated with mortality rates that are two to three times higher than those expected or observed in the general population. This excess of mortality is accounted for by a combination of an increased risk of suicide, in particular in young male patients soon after diagnosis, and more importantly, a higher number of natural deaths. In order to diminish the level of suicide among people with schizophrenia, the majority of research has focused on the identification of risk factors that predispose patients to attempt or commit suicide, while unhealthy styles, polypharmacy and inadequate healthcare have been shown to contribute to the high natural mortality. The link between the use of antipychotics and mortality has not been yet clarified. CONCLUSION: Dramatically increased mortality of schizophrenia patients is well established. It is time to move beyond this topic, and work towards interventions that aim at reducing the mortality risk in such patients.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PRIDE: the proteomics identifications database.

The advent of high-throughput proteomics has enabled the identification of ever increasing numbers of proteins. Correspondingly, the number of publications centered on these protein identifications has increased dramatically. With the first results of the HUPO Plasma Proteome Project being analyzed and many other large-scale proteomics projects about to disseminate their data, this trend is not likely to flatten out any time soon. However, the publication mechanism of these identified proteins has lagged behind in technical terms. Often very long lists of identifications are either published directly with the article, resulting in both a voluminous and rather tedious read, or are included on the publisher's website as supplementary information. In either case, these lists are typically only provided as portable document format documents with a custom-made layout, making it practically impossible for computer programs to interpret them, let alone efficiently query them. Here we propose the proteomics identifications (PRIDE) database (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/pride) as a means to finally turn publicly available data into publicly accessible data. PRIDE offers a web-based query interface, a user-friendly data upload facility, and a documented application programming interface for direct computational access. The complete PRIDE database, source code, data, and support tools are freely available for web access or download and local installation.

Computational Biology↗

Binding MOAD (Mother Of All Databases).

Binding MOAD (Mother of All Databases) is the largest collection of high-quality, protein-ligand complexes available from the Protein Data Bank. At this time, Binding MOAD contains 5331 protein-ligand complexes comprised of 1780 unique protein families and 2630 unique ligands. We have searched the crystallography papers for all 5000+ structures and compiled binding data for 1375 (26%) of the protein-ligand complexes. The binding-affinity data ranges 13 orders of magnitude. This is the largest collection of binding data reported to date in the literature. We have also addressed the issue of redundancy in the data. To create a nonredundant dataset, one protein from each of the 1780 protein families was chosen as a representative. Representatives were chosen by tightest binding, best resolution, etc. For the 1780 "best" complexes that comprise the nonredundant version of Binding MOAD, 475 (27%) have binding data. This significant collection of protein-ligand complexes will be very useful in elucidating the biophysical patterns of molecular recognition and enzymatic regulation. The complexes with binding-affinity data will help in the development of improved scoring functions and structure-based drug discovery techniques. The dataset can be accessed at http://www.BindingMOAD.org.

Biophysics↗

["The fungal jungle". Medical mycology on the Internet].

The World Wide Web offers an enormous variety of information about medical mycology. To go through the "fungal jungle" and find the website containing the information that is needed requires a great deal of effort and a lot of time. This article provides help in finding information about medical mycology and describes the contents of preselected websites in German and English. These pages address physicians, scientists, and students interested in dermato-mycology. Most of the pages also contain information about mycoses relevant to other medical specialties.

Databases, Bibliographic↗

[Minimum requirements in total knee replacement. Evidence report and model calculation of the healthcare situation].

This report assesses the volume-outcome relationship of total knee replacement and the effects of its application on medical care in Germany. Electronic bibliographic databases, the reference lists of relevant articles, and research-related resources of various health services were searched and selected studies were assessed. Additionally, the consequences of implementing a regulation based on volume-outcome relationship were calculated using different models. The results in the literature concerning defined outcome parameters are inconsistent, but in all but one publication a general correlation between high volume and low complication rate could be identified. Implementing a regulation based on volume-outcome relationship with cutoff points of 20/50/100 total knee replacements/year would lead to an exclusion of 242/502/709 hospitals, respectively, from medical care. This would result in a reallocation of 2358 (2.9%)/10752 (13.2%)/25482 (31.2%) patients/year, respectively (extrapolation). The application of a regulation based on volume-outcome considerations in the German healthcare system must be performed very carefully because significant effects are to be expected.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee↗

Combination enteral and parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients: harmful or beneficial? A systematic review of the evidence.

OBJECTIVE: A combination of enteral (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) is often used as a strategy to optimize nutritional intake in critically ill patients; however, the effects of this intervention on clinically important outcomes have not been widely studied. This paper systematically reviewed studies that compare EN + PN to enteral nutrition (EN) alone in critically ill patients. METHODS: We searched bibliographic databases, personal files, and relevant reference lists to identify randomized controlled trials that compared combination EN + PN to EN alone. RESULTS: Only five studies met the inclusion criteria. In all these studies PN was started at the same time as EN in the experimental group. When the results of these trials were aggregated, EN + PN had no significant effect on mortality. There was no difference between the two groups in rates of infectious complications, length of hospital stay, or ventilator days. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients who are not malnourished and have an intact gastrointestinal tract, starting PN at the same time as EN provides no benefit in clinical outcomes over EN alone. More research is needed to determine the effects of combination EN + PN on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients who are poorly intolerant to EN.

Critical Care↗

Antioxidant nutrients: a systematic review of trace elements and vitamins in the critically ill patient.

OBJECTIVE: Critical illness is associated with the generation of oxygen free radicals and low endogenous antioxidant capacity leading to a condition of oxidative stress. We investigated whether supplementing critically ill patients with antioxidants, trace elements, and vitamins improves their survival. METHODS: We searched four bibliographic databases from 1980 to 2003 and included studies that were randomized, reported clinically important endpoints in critically ill patients, and compared various trace elements and vitamins to placebo. RESULTS: Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria. When the results of all the trials were aggregated, overall antioxidants were associated with a significant reduction in mortality [Risk Ratio (RR) 0.65, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.44-0.97, p=0.03] but had no effect on infectious complications. Studies that utilized a single trace element were associated with a significant reduction in mortality [RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27-0.98, p=0.04] whereas combined antioxidants had no effect. Studies using parenteral antioxidants were associated with a significant reduction in mortality [RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0,92, p=0.02] whereas studies of enteral antioxidants were not. Selenium supplementation (alone and in combination with other antioxidants) may be associated with a reduction in mortality [RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.32-1.08, p=0.09] while nonselenium antioxidants had no effect on mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Trace elements and vitamins that support antioxidant function, particularly high-dose parenteral selenium either alone or in combination with other antioxidants, are safe and may be associated with a reduction in mortality in critically ill patients.

Antioxidants↗

Lifestyle interventions to prevent osteoporotic fractures: a systematic review.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for preventing osteoporotic fractures in people at high risk. Data sources were electronic bibliographic databases, reference lists of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and included trials, registers of trials and conference databases. There was no language restriction. Study selection comprised randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with appropriate comparator groups and at least 8 weeks of follow-up, reporting a fracture endpoint. Two reviewers independently abstracted data on the population, interventions evaluated, trial quality and outcomes of interest: fractures at any site, spinal, hip and wrist fractures. Six RCTs, enrolling over 1,656 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Overall, trials were of uncertain quality. We categorized trials by type of intervention: exercise (n=3), multifactorial interventions (environmental modifications, exercise programs and review of medical conditions, medication and aids) (n=2) and exposure to sunlight (n=1), and used random effects meta-analyses to combine data within these categories. Exercise was associated with a non-significantly lower risk of spinal fractures (RR=0.52, 95% CI=0.17 to 1.60). Multifactorial interventions were associated with a lower risk of hip fracture, which was of borderline statistical significance (RR=0.37, 95% CI=0.13 to 1.03). Exposure to sunlight was associated with a non-significantly lower risk of hip fracture (RR=0.17, 95% CI=0.02 to 1.35). While withdrawals from treatment were poorly reported, there was no indication of adverse effects of treatment. Multifactorial interventions may reduce the risk of hip fractures when delivered by residential care staff and health visitors. More RCTs of higher quality, recording fractures at all sites susceptible to osteoporotic fractures, are necessary to evaluate exercise interventions, exposure to sunlight and the place of lifestyle alongside pharmacological interventions.

Aged↗