Numbers needed to treat calculated from responder rates give a better indication of efficacy in osteoarthritis trials than mean pain scores.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis trials usually report average changes in visual analogue scale (VAS) pain, and examine the difference between treatment and placebo. We investigated whether dichotomous responder analysis provides a more informative interpretation of drug efficacy.

Methods: Merck supplied the number of patients who, by 6 weeks, had achieved pain relief compared with a baseline of 0% or more, 10% or more, 20% or more, and so on at equal intervals up to 90% or more.

Maintaining confidentiality of interim data to enhance trial integrity and credibility.

Background: For clinical trials of interventions that could affect mortality or major morbidity, Data Monitoring Committees have an important role in safeguarding patient interests and enhancing trial integrity and credibility. In trials overseen by an independent DMC it is widely recognized that interim data should remain confidential to the DMC and to the statistical group preparing reports. However, we have found that the principle of confidentiality is not always followed in practice, particularly where the interim data include complete results on a short-term outcome measure.

What do we know about communicating risk? A brief review and suggestion for contextualising serious, but rare, risk, and the example of cox-2 selective and non-selective NSAIDs.

Background: Communicating risk is difficult. Although different methods have been proposed - using numbers, words, pictures or combinations - none has been extensively tested. We used electronic and bibliographic searches to review evidence concerning risk perception and presentation.

Faecal blood loss with aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors: systematic review of randomized trials using autologous chromium-labelled erythrocytes.

Introduction: Faecal blood loss has been measured using autologous erythrocytes labelled with radioactive chromium for several decades, using generally similar methods. We conducted a systematic review of studies employing this technology to determine the degree of blood loss associated with use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors (coxibs).

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and the Cochrane Library (to December 2006) was conducted to identify randomized trials in which treatment with aspirin, NSAIDs, or coxibs was continued for at least 7 days, and with at least 7 days of washout for crossover trials.

Prevalence of anaemia in older persons: systematic review.

Background: Ageing populations will impact on healthcare provision, especially since extra years are not necessarily spent in good health. It is important to identify and understand the significance of common medical problems in older people. Anaemia may be one such problem.

Intravenous parecoxib for acute postoperative pain in adults.

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To assess the efficacy and adverse effects of single dose parecoxib in studies of acute postoperative pain using methods that permit comparison with other analgesics evaluated in standardised trials using almost identical methods and outcomes.

Effects of adding extended-release niacin and colesevelam to statin therapy on lipid levels in subjects with atherosclerotic disease.

Background: The use of combination therapies is needed to treat dyslipidemia in patients with both elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). We conducted a study to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with statin plus extended-release (ER) niacin and colesevelam, aimed at lowering LDL-C and raising HDL-C, in subjects with atherosclerotic disease.

Methods: This 1-year study randomized 123 subjects with atherosclerotic disease to atorvastatin alone, double therapy with atorvastatin plus ER niacin, or triple therapy with atorvastatin, plus ER niacin and colesevelam.

The first case of vesico-vaginal fistula in a patient with primary lymphoma of the bladder - a case report.

Background: Primary lymphoma of the bladder is a rare condition with less than 100 cases reported in the literature.

Case Presentation: Here we present the case of a 64 year old woman with a 9 month history of haematuria, frequency, urinary incontinence and weight loss. Cystoscopy revealed a solid tumour throughout the whole bladder wall and a vesico-vaginal fistula.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus infection of mosquito cells requires acidification as well as mosquito homologs of the endocytic proteins Rab5 and Rab7.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a New World alphavirus that can cause fatal encephalitis in humans. It remains a naturally emerging disease as well as a highly developed biological weapon. VEEV is transmitted to humans in nature by mosquito vectors.

Atypical antipsychotics in bipolar disorder: systematic review of randomised trials.

Background: Atypical antipsychotics are increasingly used for treatment of mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and considered to have fewer extrapyramidal effects than older antipsychotics.

Methods: We examined efficacy in randomised trials of bipolar disorder where the presenting episode was either depression, or manic/mixed, comparing atypical antipsychotic with placebo or active comparator, examined withdrawals for any cause, or due to lack of efficacy or adverse events, and combined all phases for adverse event analysis. Studies were found through systematic search (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library), and data combined for analysis where there was clinical homogeneity, with a special reference to trial duration.

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: balancing gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risk.

Background: Differences between gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects of traditional NSAID or cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor (coxib) are affected by drug, dose, duration, outcome definition, and patient gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risk factors. We calculated the absolute risk for each effect.

Methods: We sought studies with large amounts of information to calculate annualised rates for clearly defined gastrointestinal (complicated upper gastrointestinal perforations, ulcers, or bleeds, but not symptomatic or endoscopic ulcers) and serious cardiovascular outcomes (antiplatelet trial collaborators - APTC - outcome of fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke, or vascular death).

Testing the hypothesis of atherosclerotic plaque lipid depletion during lipid therapy by magnetic resonance imaging: study design of Carotid Plaque Composition Study.

Background: In vivo testing of the lipid depletion hypothesis in human beings during lipid-modifying therapy has not been possible until recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Trial Design: The Carotid Plaque Composition Study is a prospective, randomized study designed to test the lipid depletion hypothesis in vivo. One hundred twenty-three subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) or carotid disease and with levels of apolipoprotein B > or = 120 mg/dL (low-density lipoprotein levels 100-190 mg/dL) were enrolled and randomized to (1) single therapy--atorvastatin alone, placebos for extended release (ER)-niacin and colesevelam; (2) double therapy--atorvastatin plus ER-niacin (2 g/d), and placebo for colesevelam; (3) triple therapy--atorvastatin, ER-niacin, plus colesevelam (3.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose in type-2 diabetes: what is the evidence?

Background: There is a controversy about self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with type 2 diabetes who are not using insulin. Randomized trials are limited in duration, size, and validity.

Methods: Systematic search for randomized trials and observational studies published since 1990.

Multipoint laser vibrometer for modal analysis.

Experimental modal analysis of multifrequency vibration requires a measurement system with appropriate temporal and spatial resolution to recover the mode shapes. To fully understand the vibration it is necessary to be able to measure not only the vibration amplitude but also the vibration phase. We describe a multipoint laser vibrometer that is capable of high spatial and temporal resolution with simultaneous measurement of 256 points along a line at up to 80 kHz.

Infection rates associated with epidural indwelling catheters for seven days or longer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To determine infection rate with use of epidural catheters in place for seven days or more.

Methods: Systematic review and pooled analysis of observational studies.

Results: Twelve studies with 4,628 patients (median 197 patients) provided information, of which nine (4,334 patients) were published after 1990.

Bayesian neural networks for internet traffic classification.

Internet traffic identification is an important tool for network management. It allows operators to better predict future traffic matrices and demands, security personnel to detect anomalous behavior, and researchers to develop more realistic traffic models. We present here a traffic classifier that can achieve a high accuracy across a range of application types without any source or destination host-address or port information.

Effects of a pyrethroid pesticide on endocrine responses to female odours and reproductive behaviour in male parr of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.).

Reproductive behaviour of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from an anadromous stock was studied in a large stream water aquarium. Four adult males and two ovulated females were placed in the aquarium together with eight mature male parr.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials and cohort studies of mycophenolate mofetil in lupus nephritis.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an immunosuppressant drug being used for induction and maintenance of remission of lupus nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus. Evidence about its use was sought from full publications and abstracts of randomised trials and cohort studies by using a variety of search strategies. Efficacy and adverse event outcomes were sought.

Dynamic two-axis curvature measurement using multicore fiber Bragg gratings interrogated by arrayed waveguide gratings.

We describe the use of arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) in the interrogation of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) for dynamic strain measurement. The ratiometric AWG output was calibrated in a static deflection experiment over a +/-200 microepsilon range. Dynamic strain measurement was demonstrated with a FBG in a conventional single-mode fiber mounted on the surface of a vibrating cantilever and on a piezoelectric actuator, giving a resolution of 0.