Ringer’s lactate and red blood cells: is there sufficient evidence to recommend for routine use?

Is there sufficient evidence to recommend antiviral therapy in hepatitis C?

While patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are treated in order to prevent liver-related morbidity and mortality, we rely on sustained virological response (SVR) as a virological biomarker to evaluate treatment efficacy in both clinical practice as well as in drug development. However, conclusive evidence for the clinical benefit of antiviral therapy or validity of SVR as sur...

Is there sufficient evidence for encouraging widespread use of HRT to prevent disease?

Sir, I enjoyed Philip Hannaford's measured and incisive editorial on the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (February Journal). 1 We too have been interested in the issue of using HRT for the prevention of osteoporosis, and have conducted an extensive literature search on the subject as part of a project to develop evidence-based audit criteria for osteo-porosis in primary care. 2 Despite...

Limited evidence to recommend lactate kinetics-guided therapy

We congratulate Zhou and colleagues on their randomized trial comparing central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2)and lactate-driven resuscitation in septic shock [1] and would like to offer the following comments. Only the use of inotropes and blood transfusions were triggered by lactate kinetics or ScvO2 according to the reported treatment algorithms. There was no difference in those treatments...

Racecadotril-is there enough evidence to recommend it for treatment of acute diarrhea?

Is There Sufficient Evidence to Support the Use of Intravenous N-acetylcysteine for the Prevention of Contrast Induced Nephropathy?

We discuss the safety of efficacy of using intravenous N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy. Herein we discuss the relevant literature and provide evidenced-based recommendation.