OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of levothyroxine sodium starting dose on cognitive development, growth, or behavior in children with congenital hypothyroidism identified by neonatal screening. DESIGN Systematic review of cohort studies. Two analyses were performed: a between-study comparison of mean starting dose with mean developmental score and an analysis of the within-study effects of s...

OBJECTIVES To compare narrowband UV-B (TL-01 lamp) phototherapy for psoriasis with individual patient starting doses based on minimal erythemal dose (MED) determination vs a standard fixed starting dose and to compare the efficacy of 70% of MED vs 50% of MED starting dose regimens. DESIGN Single-center, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. SETTING Department of Dermatology, Ninewells H...

Background and purpose: Research studies indicate that almost 80% of the present day drugs are derived directly or indirectly from medicinal plants. The estimation of a safe starting dose is a concern when a new substance is to be investigated including medicinal plants, in clinical and laboratory studies. This study was intended to explore a simple and reliable method of calcu...

BACKGROUND The treatment of hypothyroidism with levothyroxine is effective and simple; however, recommendations for the starting dose vary considerably. To our knowledge, the levothyroxine starting dose has never been studied prospectively. METHODS We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial that compared a full starting levothyroxine dose of 1.6 mug/kg with a low starting dose...