The New England journal of medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids for persistent acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Persistent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by excessive fibroproliferation, ongoing inflammation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and a substantial risk of death. Because previous reports suggested that corticosteroids may improve survival, we performed a multicenter, randomized controlled trial of corticosteroids in patients with persistent ARDS. ⋯ These results do not support the routine use of methylprednisolone for persistent ARDS despite the improvement in cardiopulmonary physiology. In addition, starting methylprednisolone therapy more than two weeks after the onset of ARDS may increase the risk of death. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00295269.).
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The effect of telithromycin in acute exacerbations of asthma.
We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of telithromycin in patients with acute exacerbations of asthma. ⋯ This study provides evidence of the benefit of telithromycin in patients with acute exacerbations of asthma; the mechanisms of benefit remain unclear. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00273520.).
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Homocysteine lowering with folic acid and B vitamins in vascular disease.
In observational studies, lower homocysteine levels are associated with lower rates of coronary heart disease and stroke. Folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 lower homocysteine levels. We assessed whether supplementation reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with vascular disease. ⋯ Supplements combining folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 did not reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with vascular disease. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00106886; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN14017017.).
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Abdominal sacrocolpopexy with Burch colposuspension to reduce urinary stress incontinence.
We designed this trial to assess whether the addition of standardized Burch colposuspension to abdominal sacrocolpopexy for the treatment of pelvic-organ prolapse decreases postoperative stress urinary incontinence in women without preoperative symptoms of stress incontinence. ⋯ In women without stress incontinence who are undergoing abdominal sacrocolpopexy for prolapse, Burch colposuspension significantly reduced postoperative symptoms of stress incontinence without increasing other lower urinary tract symptoms.