Assessing the predictive validity of the UCAT-A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Background: The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions assessment used by a consortium of universities across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, to aid the selection of applicants to medical and dental degree programmes. The UCAT aims to measure the mental aptitude and professional behaviours required to become successful doctors and dentists. We conducted a systematic review to establish the predictive value of the UCAT across measures of performance at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

Droxidopa for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Objective: To determine whether droxidopa, an oral norepinephrine precursor, improves symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH).

Methods: Patients with symptomatic nOH due to Parkinson disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure, or nondiabetic autonomic neuropathy underwent open-label droxidopa dose optimization (100-600 mg 3 times daily), followed, in responders, by 7-day washout and then a 7-day double-blind trial of droxidopa vs placebo. Outcome measures included patient self-ratings on the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ), a validated, nOH-specific tool that assesses symptom severity and symptom impact on daily activities.

Efficacy and safety of CH-1504, a metabolically stable antifolate, in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: results of a phase II multicenter randomized study.

Objective: To investigate the potential efficacy, safety, and tolerability of daily use of CH-1504 in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). US National Institutes of Health database no. NCT00658047.

Attenuation of capillary leakage by hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.42) in a porcine model of septic shock.

Objectives: Capillary leakage, a frequent complication in septic shock, is characterized by loss of intravasal fluid resulting in generalized edema and hemodynamic instability despite massive fluid therapy. We have shown that administration of an established colloid 200/0.5 hydroxyethyl starch (HES) stabilized plasma volume in a porcine septic shock model.