Gonadotropins for pubertal induction in males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is characterized by inadequate secretion of pituitary gonadotropins, leading to absent, partial, or arrested puberty. In males, classical treatment with testosterone promotes virilization but not testicular growth or spermatogenesis. To quantify treatment practices and efficacy, we systematically reviewed all studies investigating gonadotropins for the achievement of pubertal outcomes in males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Fifteen-minute consultation: a structured approach to the child with primary amenorrhea.

Puberty is a life-changing time in the life of a young person, with physical, psychological and social considerations. Amenorrhea is derived from Latin: a-'not', men-'month' and rhein-'flow', meaning absence of monthly flow. In medical terms, it is a symptom describing absence of menstruation.

Serum periostin levels in adults of Chinese descent: an observational study.

Background: Periostin has been shown to be a marker of Type 2 airway inflammation, associated with airway eosinophilia. It has a potential role in identifying asthmatics who may be responsive to treatment with monoclonal antibody therapy directed against Type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-13, IL-4 receptor subunit-α and immunoglobulin E. The clinical utility of periostin measurements depends on better understanding of factors that may affect serum periostin levels, such as race.

Serum periostin levels following small bone fractures, long bone fractures and joint replacements: an observational study.

Background: In asthma, serum periostin may potentially be used as a biomarker in the management of patients with Type-2 eosinophilic airway inflammation. However, serum periostin may be influenced by factors other than Type 2 inflammation, potentially confounding its interpretation. We aimed to measure change in periostin following bone injury.

Change in biomarkers of type-2 inflammation following severe exacerbations of asthma.

We investigated the time course of change of type-2 asthma biomarkers after a severe asthma exacerbation. Blood eosinophils were lowest immediately after treatment was initiated (0.07 vs 0.

Effect sizes in ongoing randomized controlled critical care trials.

Background: An important limitation of many critical care trial designs is that they hypothesize large, and potentially implausible, reductions in mortality. Interpretation of trial results could be improved by systematic assessment of the plausibility of trial hypotheses; however, such assessment has not been attempted in the field of critical care medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine clinicians' views about prior probabilities and plausible effect sizes for ongoing critical care trials where the primary endpoint is landmark mortality.