BMJ : British medical journal
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Review Meta Analysis
Effectiveness of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics in treatment of adult insomnia: meta-analysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration.
To investigate the effectiveness of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (Z drugs) and associated placebo responses in adults and to evaluate potential moderators of effectiveness in a dataset used to approve these drugs. ⋯ Compared with placebo, Z drugs produce slight improvements in subjective and polysomnographic sleep latency, especially with larger doses and regardless of type of drug. Although the drug effect and the placebo response were rather small and of questionable clinical importance, the two together produced to a reasonably large clinical response.
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Review Meta Analysis
Use of 3x2 tables with an intention to diagnose approach to assess clinical performance of diagnostic tests: meta-analytical evaluation of coronary CT angiography studies.
To determine whether a 3 × 2 table, using an intention to diagnose approach, is better than the "classic" 2 × 2 table at handling transparent reporting and non-evaluable results, when assessing the accuracy of a diagnostic test. ⋯ Parameters for diagnostic performance significantly decrease if non-evaluable results are included by a 3 × 2 table for analysis (intention to diagnose approach). This approach provides a more realistic picture of the clinical potential of diagnostic tests.
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Review Meta Analysis
Effect of tranexamic acid on surgical bleeding: systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis.
To assess the effect of tranexamic acid on blood transfusion, thromboembolic events, and mortality in surgical patients. ⋯ Strong evidence that tranexamic acid reduces blood transfusion in surgery has been available for many years. Further trials on the effect of tranexamic acid on blood transfusion are unlikely to add useful new information. However, the effect of tranexamic acid on thromboembolic events and mortality remains uncertain. Surgical patients should be made aware of this evidence so that they can make an informed choice.
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This patient reflects on his 20 years of unexplained ill health with multiple symptoms before a chance conversation in an internet chat room led to his initial self diagnosis.
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Review Meta Analysis
Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on weight loss: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.
To determine whether treatment with agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) result in weight loss in overweight or obese patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. ⋯ The present review provides evidence that treatment with GLP-1R agonists leads to weight loss in overweight or obese patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus.