381,585 papers found

Researchers incorporate health state utility values as inputs to inform economic models. However, for a particular health state or condition, multiple utility values derived from different studies typically exist and a single study is often insufficient to represent the best available source of utility needed to inform…

The aim of coordinate-based meta-analysis is to provide valid quantitative summaries of the literature, while taking into account the specificities of neuroimaging data. Neuroimaging findings are usually reported as coordinates of effects surviving multiple comparison correction through statistical thresholding. Differ…

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic varicocelectomy has gained popularity in recent years. The aim of this study was to identify clinical evidence about the reliability of this technique in the recent literature. METHODS: We performed a Medline search for articles published during the last 10 years, using the key words "varicocele,…

BACKGROUND: Inguinal nodes dissection is associated with high rates of morbidity, lymphedema in particular is a chronic disabling condition which is a common complication following this operation. Prevention or minimization of this condition is an important aim when considering this procedure. Many technical modificati…

Observational studies have indicated a high but heterogeneous prevalence of low bone mineral density for adult patients with cystic fibrosis. Fracture complications were also described. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and fractures among adult patients with cysti…

The influence of body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and sex on variation in total energy expenditure (TEE) was examined by using meta-analysis (13 published studies in a total of 162 adults). TEE (10.9 +/- 3.2 MJ/d) was significantly correlated with body mass (BM; weighted mean converted r = 0.68, P < 0.05…

To appraise the effectiveness of the pneumonia case-management strategy in improving child survival, we have done a meta-analysis of six published intervention trials. The results of a seventh published study and two unpublished studies were also reviewed. The six published studies satisfied our criteria for methodolog…

Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) have theoretical advantages over standard heparin as postoperative thromboprophylactic agents. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies reported between 1984 and April, 1991, in which LMWHs were compared with standard heparin for postoperative prophylaxis. We included only randomise…

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively assess the efficacy and safety of published randomized trials comparing subcutaneous heparin with continuous intravenous heparin for the initial treatment of deep vein thrombosis. DATA IDENTIFICATION: Studies published between January 1986 and April 1991 were identified through computer se…

A statistical overview of published results on correlations between various prognostic factors in breast cancer was undertaken. A distinction was made between clinical (or anatomical) prognostic factors--namely, axillary lymph node status and tumour size--and eight different biological prognostic factors. The latter in…

Controversy about gastric cancer risk after partial gastrectomy exists, especially in the United States. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine overall relative risk and weighted mean relative risk for subsets of postgastrectomy patients, define possible high risk patients suitable for surveillance, and a…

This study reviews the available evidence on the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in cesarean sections. The study included a detailed analysis of the quality of design and performance and the clinical heterogeneity of selected clinical trials. Meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials estimated an efficacy of some 6…

Since the first report of an association between asymptomatic bacteriuria and low birth weight (less than 2,500 g) in 1962, greater than 30 other studies on the same subject have been published. Some of these confirmed this association while others disputed it. Now, however, by using meta-analysis (a technique consider…

The literature concerning mortality after a diagnosis of choroidal melanoma was reviewed to identify relevant articles published from 1966 through 1988 and to select those with mortality rates presented separately by tumor size for inclusion in a pooled analysis (meta-analysis) of 5-year mortality after enucleation for…

BACKGROUND: This paper is the first of two reports that together review the scientific evidence regarding the inverse relation between physical activity and cardiovascular fitness and coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: In Part I, the evidence suggesting a causal link between physical activity and CHD protection in…

Two recently published meta-analyses of controlled trials of a wide variety of progestational agents, used in pregnancy (Daya 1989; Goldstein et al. 1989), prompted this third meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials involving the prophylactic use of a single agent, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Of seven rel…

Thrombolytic therapy has become an established procedure in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the aftercare of such patients is still uncertain. A meta-analysis of twenty trials of intravenous or subcutaneous heparin in AMI performed during the prethrombolysis period indicated a significant redu…

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess how often randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adult cardiac surgery found significant mortality benefits for newer interventions vs older ones, whether observed treatment effect estimates changed over time and whether RCTs and nonrandomized observational studies gave similar results.…

BackgroundVaricose vein surgery increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is commonly used postoperatively, its efficacy and optimal regimen remain unclear. This study systematically reviews the effectiveness and safety of various anticoagulant strategies.MethodsA c…

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, particularly among older adults, and severely compromises functional independence and quality of life. Exercise interventions are well established as effective strategies for promoting motor recovery through improvements in neuroplasticity, fitnes…