Sertraline for anxiety in adults with a diagnosis of autism (STRATA): study protocol for a pragmatic, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial.

Background: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to manage anxiety in adults with an autism diagnosis. However, their effectiveness and adverse effect profile in the autistic population are not well known. This trial aims to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the SSRI sertraline in reducing symptoms of anxiety and improving quality of life in adults with a diagnosis of autism compared with placebo and to quantify any adverse effects.

Remote Monitoring of Visual Function in Patients with Maculopathy: The Aphelion Study.

Introduction: Remote monitoring of vision, using tools such as the shape discrimination hyperacuity (SDH) test, can detect disease activity in patients with maculopathy. We determined the in-clinic accuracy and repeatability of three myVisionTrack expanded version (mVTx) tests for self-testing of visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity.

Methods: Aphelion, a single-arm, prospective study conducted at two sites in the USA, included adults with any maculopathy and a baseline VA of 0.

A model-based approach for historical borrowing, with an application to neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Bayesian historical borrowing has recently attracted growing interest due to the increasing availability of historical control data, as well as improved computational methodology and software. In this article, we argue that the statistical models used for borrowing may be suboptimal when they do not adjust for differing factors across historical studies such as covariates, dosing regimen, etc. We propose an alternative approach to address these shortcomings.

The Prevalence of Diabetes in Autistic Persons: A Systematic Review.

Background: It has been proposed that autistic individuals are at an increased risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Improved understanding of diabetes prevalence in autistic persons will help inform resource allocation for diabetes-related public health measures for this patient group.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of published literature pertaining to type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevalence in autistic individuals, including comparison with their non-autistic peers.

Testing adults by questionnaire for social and communication disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, in an adult mental health service population.

Objectives: Autism is difficult to identify in adults due to lack of validated self-report questionnaires. We compared the effectiveness of the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) and the Ritvo autism-Asperger's diagnostic scale-revised (RAADS-R) questionnaires in adult mental health services in two English counties.

Methods: A subsample of adults who completed the AQ and RAADS-R were invited to take part in an autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS Module 4) assessment with probability of selection weighted by scores on the questionnaires.

Cardiovascular Safety and All-Cause Mortality of Methoxy Polyethylene Glycol-Epoetin Beta and Other Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Anemia of CKD: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial.

Background And Objectives: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents correct anemia of CKD but may increase cardiovascular risk. We compared cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality associated with monthly methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta with those of the shorter-acting agents epoetin alfa/beta and darbepoetin alfa in patients with anemia of CKD.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We conducted a multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial in which patients were randomized to receive methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta or reference erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, stratified by maintenance or correction treatment status and C-reactive protein level.

RAS Mutation Status Confers Prognostic Relevance in Patients Treated With Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with peritoneal carcinomatosis is an increasingly prevalent disease that carries significant mortality if left untreated. Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) in this patient population is associated with improved outcomes but high morbidity. We sought to study the prognostic significance of the known genomic driver, RAS, in patients with mCRC undergoing CRS/HIPEC to allow for improved assessment of risk-benefit ratio in this patient population.

Efficacy and Long-Term Safety of C.E.R.A. Maintenance in Pediatric Hemodialysis Patients with Anemia of CKD.

Background And Objectives: The study was conducted to identify a conversion factor for switching from previous erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to continuous erythropoietin receptor activator-methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (C.E.R.

Nursing associates.

I think this role will give people a brilliant opportunity to enter the care service, obtain qualifications and develop a career. The degree pathway prevents some individuals from entering nursing. We must encourage people into the profession and support this - we need more people bedside with patients.

Methodology and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies in psychiatric epidemiology: systematic review.

Background: Relatively little is known of the use of systematic review and synthesis methods of non-randomised psychiatric epidemiological studies, which play a vital role in aetiological research, planning and policy-making.

Aims: To evaluate reviews of psychiatric epidemiological studies of functional mental disorders that employed synthesis methods such as systematic review or meta-analysis, or other forms of quantitative review.

Method: We searched the literature to identify appropriate reviews published during the period 1996 to April 2009.

Prevalence of psychiatric disorder in Europe: the potential and reality of meta-analysis.

Background: Within the European Mental Health Status Project, over 200 psychiatric surveys concerning members of the European Union (plus Norway) were examined for their potential for meta-analysis with regard to prevalence of psychiatric disorders and basic demographic and social variables. The diversity of samples, methods, analysis and presentation was such that only data derived from GHQ-12 and CIDI studies could be used, and those relating to sex differentials only.

Methods: The statistical program "Stata" was used to compute odds ratios (with confidence intervals) for individual studies, and to produce fixed and random effects estimates of the pooled odds ratio for all studies together, and a measure of heterogeneity.