JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy and safety of recombinant human nerve growth factor in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy: A randomized controlled trial. rhNGF Clinical Investigator Group.
Nerve growth factor is a neurotrophic factor that promotes the survival of small fiber sensory neurons and sympathetic neurons in the peripheral nervous system. Recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) has demonstrated efficacy as treatment for peripheral neuropathy in experimental models and phase 2 clinical trials. ⋯ Unlike previous phase 2 trials, this phase 3 clinical trial failed to demonstrate a significant beneficial effect of rhNGF on diabetic polyneuropathy. JAMA. 2000;284:2215-2221.
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A growing number of academic researchers receive industry funding for clinical and basic research, but little is known about the personal financial relationships of researchers with their industry sponsors. ⋯ Faculty researchers are increasingly involved in financial relationships with their research sponsors. Guidelines for what constitutes a conflict and how the conflict should be managed are needed if researchers are to have consistent standards of behavior among institutions. JAMA. 2000;284:2209-2214.
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Patients with thrombocytopenia are at risk for spontaneous or procedure-related hemorrhage. Whether such patients can safely undergo lumbar puncture (LP) without prophylactic platelet transfusion is unknown. ⋯ In our study of children undergoing remission induction or consolidation therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, serious complications of LP were not observed, regardless of platelet count. Prophylactic platelet transfusion is not necessary in children with platelet counts higher than 10 x 10(9)/L. Due to the small number of patients in our study with platelet counts of 10 x 10(9)/L or less, conclusions cannot yet be drawn for such patients. JAMA. 2000;284:2222-2224.