Dtsch Arztebl Int
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In recent years, a number of studies have shown that clinical drug trials financed by pharmaceutical companies yield favorable results for company products more often than independent trials do. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies have been found to influence drug trials in various ways. This overview of current, systematic studies on this topic is intended to identify and characterize the particular aspects of the performance of a drug trial that can be affected by financial support from a pharmaceutical company. ⋯ Financial support from a pharmaceutical company influences multiple aspects of the performance of drug trials and often leads to a favorable result for the corporate sponsor of the trial. Public access to trial protocols and results must be ensured. Moreover, more effort should be made to carry out drug trials independently, without the financial support of pharmaceutical companies.
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Review Meta Analysis
Obesity in disabled children and adolescents: an overlooked group of patients.
There is an ongoing debate concerning the relationship between disability and obesity in childhood and adolescence. ⋯ Since a high proportion of disabled children and adolescents are overweight or obese, effective strategies for preventing and managing excess weight need to be developed so as not to further endanger their social participation. Moreover, risk factors for overweight in disabled children and adolescents should be identified and their weight status carefully monitored.
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In recent years, a number of studies have shown that clinical drug trials financed by pharmaceutical companies yield favorable results for company products more often than independent trials do. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies have been found to influence drug trials in various ways. This paper provides an overview of the findings of current, systematic studies on this topic. ⋯ Published drug trials that are financed by pharmaceutical companies may present a distorted picture. This cannot be explained by any difference in methodological quality between such trials and trials financed in other ways.
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Zoonoses were already a subject of intense interest even before the SARS and avian influenza epidemics arose. For many years, chlamydiae have been hypothesized to be important zoonotic pathogens, because of their wide distribution and their infectious cycle. This article provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on this subject. ⋯ There is a considerable need for research on chlamydial infections, especially with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of persistent varieties.
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Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease of adults worldwide. Its incidence rises with age. Both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors promote its development. In men aged 60 to 64, the right knee is more commonly affected; in women, the right and left knees are affected with nearly equal frequency. ⋯ Osteoarthritis is not yet a curable disease, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. The best treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee is prevention. The goal of therapy is to alleviate clinical manifestations. The therapeutic spectrum ranges from physiotherapy and orthopedic aids to pharmacotherapy and surgery.