OBJECTIVE To determine whether gentamicin-impregnated collagen sponges (gentamicin-collagen implants) decrease the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). BACKGROUND SSIs cause substantial morbidity and increase the costs of healthcare. Antibiotic prophylaxis is a cornerstone of SSI reduction. Prophylactic local delivery of antibiotics with novel biodegradable drug carrier systems, such a...

BACKGROUND There is debate concerning methods for calculating numbers needed to treat (NNT) from results of systematic reviews. METHODS We investigate the susceptibility to bias for alternative methods for calculating NNTs through illustrative examples and mathematical theory. RESULTS Two competing methods have been recommended: one method involves calculating the NNT from meta-analytical e...

Mazkur maqolada inson huquqlarining ustuvorligi asosida yoshlarda ijtimoiy faollikni oshirish masalalarini o‘rganishni maqsad qildik. NNT faoliyati orqali omillari tizimli tahlil, qiyoslash, umulashtirish, deduksiya kabi metodlar yordamida o‘rganildi. Maqolada NNTning muvaffaqiyatli jamiyatda demokratik tamoyillar amal qilishi, fuqarolar faolligi ortib borishiga olib kelishi asoslandi.

BACKGROUND The success of evidence-based practice depends on the clear and effective communication of statistical information. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of using alternative statistical presentations of the same risks and risk reductions on understanding, perception, persuasiveness and behaviour of health professionals, policy makers, and consumers. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched Ovid...

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia can be a severe and chronic illness characterised by lack of insight and poor compliance with treatment. Psychoeducational approaches have been developed to increase patients' knowledge of, and insight into, their illness and its treatment. It is supposed that this increased knowledge and insight will enable people with schizophrenia to cope in a more effective way with...

BACKGROUND The JUPITER trial showed that some patients with LDL-cholesterol concentrations less than 3·37 mmol/L (<130 mg/dL) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations of 2 mg/L or more benefit from treatment with rosuvastatin, although absolute rates of cardiovascular events were low. In a population eligible for JUPITER, we established whether coronary artery calcium (CAC...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether acupuncture improves rates of pregnancy and live birth when used as an adjuvant treatment to embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Medline, Cochrane Central, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Database, hand searched abstracts, and reference lists. Review methods Eligible studies were random...

Discriminating subjects at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis who will develop psychosis from those who will not is a prerequisite for preventive treatments. However, it is not yet possible to make any personalized prediction of psychosis onset relying only on the initial clinical baseline assessment. Here, we first present a systematic review of prognostic accuracy parameters of predictive...

Pruritus is a frequent adverse event observed after neuraxial administration of opioids. Central 5-hydroxytryptamine subtype 3 (5-HT3) receptors may be activated in this process. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic 5-HT3 receptor antagonists on neuraxial opioid-induced pruritus. We searched Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Collaboration Library databases. Studies ...