CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne
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Review Meta Analysis
Intra-articular hyaluronic acid for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Osteoarthritis of the knee affects up to 10% of the elderly population. The condition is frequently treated by intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of this treatment. ⋯ According to the currently available evidence, intra-articular hyaluronic acid has not been proven clinically effective and may be associated with a greater risk of adverse events. Large trials with clinically relevant and uniform end points are necessary to clarify the benefit-risk ratio.
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Timely access to emergency contraception has the potential to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and subsequent abortions. A public health policy initiative in British Columbia beginning in December 2000 allowed pharmacists to provide emergency contraceptives (ECs) without a prescription. We sought to determine changes in EC use after the policy was introduced and to analyze EC use with data generated by the policy. ⋯ The policy change that granted pharmacists authority to provide ECs to women without a physician's prescription did not simply expand EC availability but was associated with an overall increase in EC use in the province.