Iatrogenic risk factors for cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Background: To determine the iatrogenic risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods: The case-control study included 120 patients with CMV retinitis and 159 patients without CMV retinitis, all of whom had AIDS and CD4 counts less than 50 cells/microL at the time of diagnosis of retinitis or at the defined corresponding date in the controls. Iatrogenic risk factors studied were corticosteroid use, treatment with chemotherapy, treatment with radiotherapy, and blood transfusions.

Laboratory-based risk factors for cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Background: Very few studies have investigated risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Identifying these risk factors will have many benefits, including helping establish screening regimens, examination frequency regimens, and targeted prophylaxis with oral therapy with valganciclovir or other anti-CMV agents. The purpose of this study was to determine the laboratory-based risk factors for CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS.

Effectiveness of intensive rehabilitation on functional ability and quality of life after first total knee arthroplasty: A single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a new intensive functional rehabilitation (IFR) program on functional ability and quality of life (QOL) in persons who underwent a first total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Ambulatory care.

Surgery versus collagen for female stress urinary incontinence: economic assessment in Ontario and Quebec.

Introduction And Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of surgery versus collagen injection to treat female stress urinary incontinence after the failure of initial surgical treatment. The analysis was conducted from the health care system perspectives of Ontario and Quebec.

Materials And Methods: A decision-tree was constructed to compare each of three surgeries (i.

Oral health status and treatment satisfaction with mandibular implant overdentures and conventional dentures: a randomized clinical trial in a senior population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare elderly patients' satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life with mandibular two-implant overdentures and conventional dentures.

Materials And Methods: Sixty edentulous subjects aged 65 to 75 years were randomly assigned to two groups treated with maxillary conventional dentures and either a mandibular conventional denture (n = 30) or an overdenture supported by two implants with ball retainers (n = 30). Subjects rated their general satisfaction, as well as other features of their dentures (comfort, stability, ability to chew, speech, esthetics, and cleaning ability), prior to treatment and 2 months postdelivery.

A survey of physician efficacy requirements to plan clinical trials.

Purpose: Eliciting physician efficacy requirements for utilizing medical treatments can be a useful means of helping plan a clinical trial. Efficacy requirements were studied for female stress urinary incontinence, where an experimental treatment (collagen injection) was compared to the standard therapy (surgery).

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 223 North American urologists, gynecologists, and urogynecologists.

Effectiveness of WBC reduction in neonates: what is the evidence of benefit?

Background: The presence of WBCs in RBCs is thought to be associated with a number of significant adverse effects in recipients. In adults, WBC reduction has been shown to reduce the frequency of HLA alloimmunization, CMV and HTLV infections, and febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions. However, neonates are unique, given that they have an immature immune system and are frequently transfused with RBCs.