JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Review Meta Analysis
Glucosamine and chondroitin for treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic quality assessment and meta-analysis.
Glucosamine and chondroitin preparations are widely touted in the lay press as remedies for osteoarthritis (OA), but uncertainty about their efficacy exists among the medical community. ⋯ Trials of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations for OA symptoms demonstrate moderate to large effects, but quality issues and likely publication bias suggest that these effects are exaggerated. Nevertheless, some degree of efficacy appears probable for these preparations.
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Sedation has become an integral part of critical care practice in minimizing patient discomfort; however, sedatives have adverse effects and the potential to prolong mechanical ventilation, which may increase health care costs. ⋯ Considering the widespread use of sedation for critically ill patients, more large, high-quality, randomized controlled trials of the effectiveness of different agents for short-term and long-term sedation are warranted.