BMJ : British medical journal
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Review Meta Analysis
Prophylactic antibiotics for burns patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.
To assess the evidence for prophylactic treatment with systemic antibiotics in burns patients. ⋯ Prophylaxis with systemic antibiotics has a beneficial effect in burns patients, but the methodological quality of the data is weak. As such prophylaxis is currently not recommended for patients with severe burns other than perioperatively, there is a need for randomised controlled trials to assess its use.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Stopping smokeless tobacco with varenicline: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial.
To assess the efficacy and safety of varenicline (a licensed cigarette smoking cessation aid) in helping users of smokeless tobacco to quit. ⋯ Varenicline can help people to give up smokeless tobacco and has an acceptable safety profile. The response rate in the placebo group in this study was high, suggesting a population less resistant to treatment than smokers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Parent initiated prednisolone for acute asthma in children of school age: randomised controlled crossover trial.
To evaluate the efficacy of a short course of parent initiated oral prednisolone for acute asthma in children of school age. ⋯ A short course of oral prednisolone initiated by parents when their child experiences an episode of acute asthma may reduce asthma symptoms, health resource use, and school absenteeism. However, the modest benefits of this strategy must be balanced against potential side effects of repeated short courses of an oral corticosteroid.
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Review Meta Analysis
Strength of association between umbilical cord pH and perinatal and long term outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis.
To evaluate the association between umbilical cord pH at birth and long term outcomes. ⋯ Low arterial cord pH showed strong, consistent, and temporal associations with clinically important neonatal outcomes that are biologically plausible. These data can be used to inform clinical management and justify the use of arterial cord pH as an important outcome measure alongside neonatal morbidity and mortality in obstetric trials.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Cost effectiveness of home ultraviolet B phototherapy for psoriasis: economic evaluation of a randomised controlled trial (PLUTO study).
To assess the costs and cost effectiveness of phototherapy with ultraviolet B light provided at home compared with outpatient ultraviolet B phototherapy for psoriasis. ⋯ Home ultraviolet B phototherapy for psoriasis is not more expensive than phototherapy in an outpatient setting and proved to be cost effective. As both treatments are at least equally effective and patients express a preference for home treatment, the authors conclude that home phototherapy should be the primary treatment option for patients who are eligible for phototherapy with ultraviolet B light.