Phenylalanine blood levels and clinical outcomes in phenylketonuria: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels provide a practical and reliable method for the diagnosis and monitoring of metabolic status in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). To assess the reliability of blood Phe levels as a predictive biomarker of clinical outcomes in the development of treatments for PKU, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of published trials of PKU, which included Phe level and neurological and dietary compliance outcome measures, was conducted. Within-study correlations between Phe level and intelligence quotient (IQ) were extracted from 40 studies.

A comparison of the accuracy of two minimally invasive breast biopsy methods: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The primary objective was to quantify and compare the accuracy and failure rates of directional vacuum assisted biopsy (DVAB) and core needle biopsy (CNB) when used under stereotactic (ST) guidance to biopsy suspicious breast lesions identified with screening mammography.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature published from January 1996 to July 2004, reporting all-comers populations in Western-style health care systems (i.e.

Warfarin anticoagulation and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and metaanalysis.

Objective: To examine the relationship between international normalized ratio (INR) and outcomes (major bleeding events and strokes) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving anticoagulation with warfarin.

Methods: A systematic review and metaanalysis of studies published in the English language between January 1, 1985, and October 30, 2002, was performed. MEDLINE (PubMed), Current Contents, and relevant reference lists were searched.