Protocol of investigation into reporting quality of RCT abstracts on COVID-19 pursuant to CONSORT (CoCo study)-a review.

Background: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic developed into a global crisis, the enormity and urgency of which accelerated research activities in the field. At the same time, manuscripts describing these research projects underwent fast-track peer review procedures and were published in freely accessible formats. Although full texts about COVID-19 are currently available for free, abstracts continue to play a key role since they provide essential information and possibly a decision basis for therapies.

Assessment of reporting quality in randomised controlled clinical trial abstracts of dental implantology published from 2014 to 2016.

Objectives: Access to full texts of randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) is often limited, so brief summaries of studies play a pivotal role. In 2008, a checklist was provided to ensure the transparency and completeness of abstracts. The aim of this investigation was to estimate adherence to the reporting guidelines of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) criteria for abstracts (CONSORT-A) in RCT publications.

Reporting of statistical sample size calculations in publications of trials on age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataract.

Background: Transparent and complete publications of randomised controlled trials (RCT) ought to comply with the guidelines of the CONSORT Statement, which stipulates sample size calculation as an important aspect of trial planning. The objective of this study was to analyse and compare the reporting of statistical sample size calculations in RCT papers on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma and cataract published in 2018.

Material And Methods: This study comprises a total of 113 RCT papers (RCT-P) published in 2018 (AMD: 14, glaucoma: 28, cataract: 71), in English or German, and identified through an internet-based literature search in PubMed and EMBASE.

Prevalence of Oral and Maxillofacial Disorders in Patients with Systemic Scleroderma-A Systematic Review.

Background: Systematic scleroderma is a rare chronic autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of orofacial pathognomonic conditions in patients with systemic scleroderma using only randomised prospective studies that investigated the treatment of oral and maxillofacial changes, highlighted associations between the disease and Sjogren's syndrome, and/or analysed the effect of oral hygiene.

Methods: The literature was systematically reviewed based on Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science articles published up to March 2020.

[Structures of Outpatient Medical Care: Germany and Other Decentrally Organized Healthcare Systems].

Background: The image of outpatient medical care is physician-centered; little attention is paid to the (potential) influence of health organizations and their characteristics on medical care dimensions.

Aim: Description of the structures of outpatient medical care stratified by legal forms, comparison with those of other decentralized health systems and discussion of the potential effect of legal form on different dimensions of medical care.

Methods: The frequencies of solo practice, group practice and Medical Care Centers for both primary and specialist medical care, the average team size of practices and the proportion of interdisciplinary health organizations are described over time based on secondary data sources (mainly provided by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians).

[Classification of floater patients : Evaluation of a study database on the relationship between characteristics and impairment].

Subjective impairment of floater patients can only be partially quantified using ophthalmological test methods. In order to classify floater patients, patient-related characteristics associated with higher level of impairment should be identified. A data set of a prospective, multicenter single-arm primary study of 64 floater patients who underwent vitrectomy includes patient-related characteristics and information on subjective preoperative and postoperative (3 months after vitrectomy) impairment.

[Indications, procedure and outcome of prehospital emergency resuscitative thoracotomy-a systematic literature search].

Background: Prehospital resuscitative thoracotomy (PHRT) is a controversially discussed measure for the acute treatment of traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA) recommended by the current guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC). The aim of this work is the comprehensive presentation and summary of the available literature with the underlying hypothesis that the available publications show the feasibility and survival following PHRT in patients with TCA with a good neurological outcome.

Method: A systematic literature search was performed in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Springer LINK and Cochrane.

Validity of sample sizes in publications of randomised controlled trials on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration: cross-sectional evaluation.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the completeness and accuracy of the reporting of sample size calculations in randomised controlled trial (RCT) publications on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: A sample of 97 RCTs published between 2004 and 2014 was reviewed for the calculation of their sample size. It was examined whether a (complete) description of the sample size calculation was presented.

Meta-analysis of the concordance of Icare PRO-based rebound and Goldmann applanation tonometry in glaucoma patients.

Background: The Icare PRO rebound tonometer is being promoted as a patient-friendly device for glaucoma detection and monitoring, allowing rapid and accurate intraocular pressure measurement avoiding anaesthesia. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the concordance of Icare PRO and Goldmann applanation tonometry in glaucoma patients.

Methods: The German and English literature research was carried out using PubMed and Cochrane Library between January 2010 and March 2018.

[Multi-disciplinary anonymous survey on a university hospital's medical doctors' knowledge of established terms and parameters in evidence-based medicine].

Background: Patient care according to the principles of evidence-based medicine (EbM) is defined by the Social Code (SGB, inter alia § 137f SGB V). As part of quality assurance in medicine, a mandatory further education for doctors is demanded. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate how familiar medical practitioners are with common terms and parameters of EbM.

[Do Clinical Trial Publications in AMD Healthcare Provide Sufficient Information on the Underlying Samples' Baseline Characteristics to Enable Generalizability Considerations on the Trial Design?].

Background: Results of RCTs must enable readers to assess applicability of the presented information into clinical routine. Therefore, the CONSORT statement's item 15 recommends explicit information on (baseline) characteristics for RCT samples. We sought to quantify the adherence to this CONSORT item by evaluation of RCTs on "age-related macular degeneration" (AMD).

[An Illustrated Guidance for the Implementation of Methodological CONSORT Criteria in the Transparent Publication of RCTs in Ophthalmology].

The CONSORT Statement (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) recommends an evidence-based, minimum set of recommendations for the standardised and transparent reporting of randomised clinical trials. This statement includes a checklist of 25 items on regulatory and methodological, as well as characteristics of editorial clinical trial design and results. The recommendations help authors of RCT reports to ensure the complete and transparent reporting of design and result determinants with regard to the standards of evidence-based medicine; furthermore, it seeks to enable readers to critically assess and interpret the presented information and possible limitations of the underlying study data.

[Influence of impact factor on reporting sample size calculations in publications on studies exemplified by AMD treatment : Cross-sectional investigation on the presence of sample size calculations in publications of RCTs on AMD treatment in journals with low and high impact factors].

Background: For scientific and ethical reasons randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) should be based on a sample size calculation. The CONSORT statement, an established publication guideline for transparent study reporting, requires a sample size calculation in every study publication.

Objective: The availability of sample size calculations in RCT publications on treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was investigated.

Influence of Luting Materials on the Retention of Cemented Implant-Supported Crowns: An In Vitro Study.

The retention force of cemented crowns on implant abutments with various luting materials was evaluated. Cobalt⁻chromium crowns were cemented onto tapered titanium abutments (Camlog) with eugenol-free temporary cement (RelyX TempBond NE), composite-based temporary cement (Bifix Temp), zinc phosphate cement (Harvard Cement), glass-ionomer cements (Meron, Fuji I), and resin-modified glass-ionomer cements (Fuji II, Fuji Plus, Ketac Cem Plus). Specimen aging via hydrostress was performed in artificial saliva at 37 °C for 14 days (S1), followed by hydrothermal stress with thermocycling (S2).

Reporting quality of randomised controlled trial abstracts on age-related macular degeneration health care: a cross-sectional quantification of the adherence to CONSORT abstract reporting recommendations.

Objective: To assess the reporting quality of randomised controlled trial (RCT) abstracts on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) healthcare, to evaluate the adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement's recommendations on minimum abstract information and to identify journal characteristics associated with abstract reporting quality.

Design: Cross-sectional evaluation of RCT abstracts on AMD healthcare.

Methods: A PubMed search was implemented to identify RCT abstracts on AMD healthcare published in the English language between January 2004 and December 2013.

[Evaluation of methodological quality in published RCTs on cataract surgery : Pilot study on the degree of adherence to CONSORT statement requirements and their qualitative validity].

Background: The CONSORT statement can be considered as a guideline to ensure transparency in the reporting of randomized clinical trials (RCT), in addition to specific author instructions and requirements of journals. It provides a total of 25 criteria and 12 additional subcriteria on methodological and regulatorical determinants of clinical trials. The availability of the CONSORT recommendations, however, does not necessarily imply adherence to their obligations and correct realisation of the latter from a methodological perspective, so that even in ophthalmology a lack of transparency in trial reporting cannot be excluded.

Clinical outcome and cost effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation after total hip and knee arthroplasty. A multi-centre cohort benchmarking study between nine rehabilitation departments in Rhineland-Palatinate (Western Germany).

Background: Rehabilitation after hip and knee replacement surgery is effective, but cost intensive. To ensure consistent cost-effectiveness across different providers prospective cohort studies on its clinical and economic outcome are recommended. Comparisons alongside suitable outcome quality indicators enable to contrast different providers and--in case of clinically or economically relevant differences--reveal constructive approaches to quality improvement.

[Clinical and economical outcome evaluation of dental care services received by German patients in countries outside the EU].

Purpose: During the past decade German patients developed an increasing tendency to dental health tourism in countries outside the European Union. The present investigation aimed at evaluating both clinical and economic outcome of dental care in these countries with regard to German directive standards.

Methods: Based on physical examinations performed by the Medizinische Dienst der Krankenversicherung Rheinland-Pfalz in the context of reimbursement or regress requests after dental care in countries outside the European Union, an individual treatment concept was designed and its direct costs from the patient's perspective were estimated according to German standards.