British medical bulletin
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Subclinical thyroid disease is a common finding on testing of thyroid function and its management remains controversial. ⋯ A randomized controlled trial to identify those subjects identified from screening programmes that benefit from intervention in terms of morbidity and mortality.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease involving the cartilage and many of its surrounding tissues. Disease progression is usually slow but can ultimately lead to joint failure with pain and disability. OA of the hips and knees tends to cause the greatest burden to the population as pain and stiffness in these large weight-bearing joints often leads to significant disability requiring surgical intervention. ⋯ Further research is required to fully understand how OA affects an individual physically and psychologically, and to determine their healthcare need.
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Barrett's oesophagus (BO) is a common premalignant condition, which carries a risk of progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Recent advances include quantifying the risk of neoplasia progression, novel diagnostic tools and development of new endoscopic techniques to treat early Barrett's cancer. ⋯ The development of non-endoscopic diagnostic tools and radical endotherapy to treat early cancer strengthens the argument for surveillance and suggests the possibility of screening in the near future. Identification of a biomarker may help to select high-risk patients.
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British medical bulletin · Jan 2013
Regulation and safe adoption of new medical devices and procedures.
Recent problems with medical devices have highlighted the need for improved surveillance. New procedures are largely unregulated. ⋯ How to accrue more and better evidence about devices and procedures through clinical trials and various avenues of observational data collection.
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While social media interactions are currently not fully understood, as individual health behaviors and outcomes are shared online, social media offers an increasingly clear picture of the dynamics of these processes. ⋯ Further work is needed on social media as a valid data source for detecting or predicting diseases or conditions. Also, whether or not it is an effective tool for communicating key public health messages and engaging both, the general public and policy-makers.