British medical bulletin
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Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA), even in non-weight bearing joints. High levels of adipose tissue-associated inflammation may explain this association. ⋯ In an era of an obesity epidemic, this review identifies a need for well-designed cohort studies assessing early metabolic changes in populations at high risk of OA and MetS, and to identify risk factors for increased mortality in patients with OA.
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Crowdsourced R&D, a research methodology increasingly applied to medical research, has properties well suited to large-scale medical data collection and analysis, as well as enabling rapid research responses to crises such as disease outbreaks. ⋯ Further research in areas such as artificial intelligence may allow better coordination and management of the high volumes of medical data and problem-solving inputs generated by the crowdsourced R&D process.
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British medical bulletin · Jun 2015
Review Meta AnalysisNo difference between unicompartmental versus total knee arthroplasty for the management of medial osteoarthtritis of the knee in the same patient: a systematic review and pooling data analysis.
One-third of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) has involvement of only one compartment, especially the medial one. ⋯ Large, multicentre, powered, randomized trials comparing UKA and TKA are needed to identify the best management for medial OA of the knee. Moreover, new score systems for satisfaction of the patient should be formulated.
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British medical bulletin · Jun 2015
ReviewPhenoxy herbicides, soft-tissue sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a systematic review of evidence from cohort and case-control studies.
Phenoxy herbicides have been used widely in agriculture, forestry, parks and domestic gardens. Early studies linked them with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but when last reviewed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1986, the evidence for human carcinogenicity was limited. ⋯ Extended follow-up of previously assembled cohorts may be the most efficient way of further reducing uncertainties.
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British medical bulletin · Jun 2015
ReviewReinventing clinical trials: a review of innovative biomarker trial designs in cancer therapies.
Recently, new clinical trial designs involving biomarkers have been studied and proposed in cancer clinical research, in the hope of incorporating the rapid growing basic research into clinical practices. ⋯ Biomarker-related trial designs that can resolve the statistical issues and satisfy the regulatory requirement.