BMJ : British medical journal
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Review Meta Analysis
The effects of excluding patients from the analysis in randomised controlled trials: meta-epidemiological study.
To examine whether excluding patients from the analysis of randomised trials are associated with biased estimates of treatment effects and higher heterogeneity between trials. ⋯ Excluding patients from the analysis in randomised trials often results in biased estimates of treatment effects, but the extent and direction of bias is unpredictable. Results from intention to treat analyses should always be described in reports of randomised trials. In systematic reviews, the influence of exclusions from the analysis on estimated treatment effects should routinely be assessed.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
The benefits of steroids versus steroids plus antivirals for treatment of Bell's palsy: a meta-analysis.
To determine whether steroids plus antivirals provide a better degree of facial muscle recovery in patients with Bell's palsy than steroids alone. ⋯ Antivirals did not provide an added benefit in achieving at least partial facial muscle recovery compared with steroids alone in patients with Bell's palsy. This study does not, therefore, support the routine use of antivirals in Bell's palsy. Future studies should use improved herpes virus diagnostics and newer antivirals to assess whether combination therapy benefits patients with more severe facial paralysis at study entry.
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Review Meta Analysis
Low intensity pulsed ultrasonography for fractures: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
To determine the efficacy of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography for healing of fractures. ⋯ Evidence for the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography on healing of fractures is moderate to very low in quality and provides conflicting results. Although overall results are promising, establishing the role of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography in the management of fractures requires large, blinded trials, directly addressing patient important outcomes such as return to function.