Latest Articles
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Meta Analysis
Tamoxifen for early breast cancer: an overview of the randomised trials. Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Collaborative Group.
There have been many randomised trials of adjuvant tamoxifen among women with early breast cancer, and an updated overview of their results is presented. ⋯ For women with tumours that have been reliably shown to be ER-negative, adjuvant tamoxifen remains a matter for research. However, some years of adjuvant tamoxifen treatment substantially improves the 10-year survival of women with ER-positive tumours and of women whose tumours are of unknown ER status, with the proportional reductions in breast cancer recurrence and in mortality appearing to be largely unaffected by other patient characteristics or treatments.
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A large number of epidemiologic studies have reported on associations between various "inflammatory" factors and coronary heart disease (CHD). ⋯ The published results from these prospective studies are remarkably consistent for each factor, indicating moderate but highly statistically significant associations with CHD. Hence, even though mechanisms that might account for these associations are not clear, further study of the relevance of these factors to the causation of CHD is warranted.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: a metaanalysis.
There have been numerous retrospective and uncontrolled series of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), as well as 16 prospective randomized studies published to date. Although most of these have concluded that the laparoscopic technique is as least as good as open appendectomy (OA), there has been considerable controversy as to whether LA is superior. To help clarify this issue, we performed a metaanalysis of the randomized prospective studies. ⋯ LA offers considerable advantages over OA, primarily because of its ability to reduce the incidence of wound infections and shorten recovery times. Its widespread acceptance should be considered. The trend toward increased intraabdominal abscess formation is worrisome, however, and demands further investigation.
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Meta Analysis
Effect of perioperative blood transfusions on recurrence of colorectal cancer: meta-analysis stratified on risk factors.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of perioperative blood transfusions on colorectal cancer recurrence. ⋯ A consistently detrimental association was discovered between the use of perioperative blood transfusion and colorectal cancer recurrence. Further studies are needed to confirm that blood transfusion has a causal association.