JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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To assess the methodologic quality of approaches used to allocate participants to comparison groups in randomized controlled trials from one medical specialty. ⋯ Proper randomization is required to generate unbiased comparison groups in controlled trials, yet the reports in these journals usually provided inadequate or unacceptable information on treatment allocation. Additional analyses suggest that nonrandom manipulation of comparison groups and selective reporting of baseline comparisons may have occurred.
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To determine differences between racial/ethnic groups in overall rates of death by homicide, proportion of firearm homicides, and the use of cocaine prior to death. ⋯ The high rates of death by homicide among young African Americans and Latinos may be due to the increased involvement with both cocaine use and firearms. New efforts must be made to decrease cocaine use and firearm availability.
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To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pericardial effusion and focus on quantitating the success and complication rates of the many treatment modalities and updating recent advances in the field. ⋯ Treatment of malignant pericardial effusions must be individualized with consideration given to the patient's condition and tumor type, the success rates and risks of the various modalities, and local availability and expertise.