Current medical research and opinion
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Background: Among the numerous therapeutic approaches used in the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) few have been assessed with a sufficient level of evidence. The safety and efficacy of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) has been shown in several open-label and comparative clinical trials with different populations including two meta-analyses. In the context of the approval procedure of PPS for the treatment of IC/BPS by the European Medicines Agency we updated the findings of the previous analyses by incorporating the results of the latest studies. ⋯ Analyses showed no indication of heterogeneity or publication bias. Treatment with PPS led to a statistically significant improvement in the patient's overall response assessment (p < .001), pain (p = .009) and urgency (p = .005). Conclusions: Our meta-analyses confirmed the results of preceding meta-analyses showing that PPS is efficacious compared to placebo in the treatment of bladder pain, urinary urgency and frequency of micturition and thus an evident option for the treatment of IC/BPS symptoms.
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Introduction: The systematic review of biomedical ghostwriting has proven challenging due to problems in consistency and in study design. Moreover, authorship guidelines established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) may have inadvertently created opportunities to potentiate ghostwriting. Given continued interest in ghostwriting by the International Society of Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) and other organizations, we undertook an analysis of ghostwriting in the biomedical literature. ⋯ Discussion: The prevalence and definition of ghostwriting remain unclear. Increased transparency and auditable authorship practices that align with specific guidelines may aid in the avoidance of ghostwriting. In addition, MeSH or clearer indexing terms may be helpful to separate usages of ghostwriting in scientific settings (e.g. genetic research) versus biomedical publishing.
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Prediabetes is defined as a state of abnormal glucose homeostasis where blood glucose levels are elevated above those considered normal, but not as high as those required for a diagnosis of diabetes. As a condition intermediate between normal glucose homeostasis and the pathological condition of diabetes, the characterization of prediabetes as a distinct pathogenic condition is controversial. Emerging evidence suggests that the condition of prediabetes is associated with pathophysiological changes in several tissues and organs, which would support its recognition as a distinct pathological entity; the recent inclusion of prediabetes and associated billable conditions in the most recent ICD-10 codes provides additional credence to this position. This minireview summarizes our understanding of prediabetes and provides evidence that it should be considered a distinct and important clinical entity.
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Introduction: Many orthopaedic procedures require drilling of bone, especially fracture repair cases. Bone drilling results in heat generation due to the friction between the bone and the drill bit. A high-level of heat generation kills bone cells. ⋯ Discussion: Even in the face of growing evidence as to the negative effects of heat induction during drilling, simple and effective methods for monitoring and cooling in real-time are not in widespread usage today. For that purpose, we propose some suggestions for the future of bone drilling, taking note of recent advances in autonomous robotics, intelligent systems and computer simulation techniques. Conclusions: These advances in prevention of thermal necrosis during bone drilling surgery are expected to reduce the risk of patient injury and costs for the health service.
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Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) and/or meta-analyses of in vitro research have an important role in establishing the foundation for clinical studies. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the reporting quality of SRs of in vitro studies using the PRISMA checklist. Method: Four databases were searched including PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Web of Science (ISI) and Scopus. ⋯ There was a positive but not significant correlation between the overall quality score and the journal impact factor of the included studies. Conclusions: The adherence of SRs of in vitro studies to the PRISMA guidelines was poor. Therefore, we believe that using reporting guidelines and journals paying attention to this fact will improve the quality of SRs of in vitro studies.