Annals of internal medicine
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While high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk, global risk prediction models incorporating hsCRP have not been developed for clinical use. ⋯ A global risk prediction model that includes hsCRP improves cardiovascular risk classification in women, particularly among those with a 10-year risk of 5% to 20%. In models that include age, blood pressure, and smoking status, hsCRP improves prediction at least as much as do lipid measures.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors: a randomized trial.
The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. ⋯ Compared with a low-fat diet, Mediterranean diets supplemented with olive oil or nuts have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Acupuncture and knee osteoarthritis: a three-armed randomized trial.
Despite the popularity of acupuncture, evidence of its efficacy for reducing pain remains equivocal. ⋯ Compared with physiotherapy and as-needed anti-inflammatory drugs, addition of either TCA or sham acupuncture led to greater improvement in WOMAC score at 26 weeks. No statistically significant difference was observed between TCA and sham acupuncture, suggesting that the observed differences could be due to placebo effects, differences in intensity of provider contact, or a physiologic effect of needling regardless of whether it is done according to TCA principles.
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Conflicting reports have caused controversy on whether cysticidal drugs modify the natural course of neurocysticercosis. ⋯ Cysticidal drug therapy results in better resolution of colloidal and vesicular cysticerci, lower risk for recurrence of seizures in patients with colloidal cysticerci, and a reduction in the rate of generalized seizures in patients with vesicular cysticerci.