Lumenis Launches HoLEP Preceptor Program at American Urology Association 2008 Annual Meeting May 13, 2008
Lumenis(R) is a registered trademark of Lumenis Ltd.; VersaPulse(R) is a registered trademark of Lumenis Ltd.; PowerSuite(TM) is a trademark of Lumenis Ltd. (1) 2007, Ehab A. Elzayat, Mostafa M. Elhilali, European Urology, Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP): Long-Term Results, Reoperation Rate, and Possible Impact of the Learning Curve (3) 2008, Kuntz, R. et al., Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate versus Open Prostatectomy for Prostates Greater than 100 Grams: 5 - Year... (PR Newswire)
Lumenis Launches HoLEP Preceptor Program at American ... May 13, 2008
2007, Sascha A. Ahyai, et al., European Urology, Holmium Laser Enucleation versus Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: 3-Year Follow-Up Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial. SOURCE Lumenis Ltd.. (Fox News)
Carotid Bruit May Predict Cardiovascular Risk May 11, 2008
Personalize Your Medical News. Sunday, May 11, 2008. (MedPage Today)
Steroids Provide No Survival Benefit for Children With Bacterial Meningitis May 7, 2008
He added, "Our study shows the need for a further study in children -- a large randomized clinical trial to examine all outcomes of steroid use, before the use of these medicines becomes routine in children with bacterial meningitis." The National Center for Research Resources, part of the National Institutes of Health, supported the study, along with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. One co-author, Jillian Mongelluzzo, received support from the Doris Duke Medical Student Clinical... (PR Newswire)
Vitamin D May Protect Against Peripheral Artery Disease Apr 21, 2008
She notes that proving a cause-and-effect relationship between vitamin D and protection against PAD will require a large randomized clinical trial in which some people receive vitamin D supplementation while others do not. The scientists reported their findings at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference 2008. (Science Daily)
Chemotherapy-induced Anemia Increases Risk Of Local Breast Cancer Recurrence Apr 4, 2008
3, 2008) Patients with breast cancer who developed anemia during chemotherapy had nearly three times the risk of local recurrence as those who did not, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research. "We speculate that there may be an interaction between chemotherapy/radiotherapy and anemia," said lead researcher Peter Dubsky, MD, a senior consultant in the department of surgery at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. (Science Daily)
Postoperative Chemotherapy Does Not Improve Survival In Gastric Cancer Patients, Study Suggests Apr 1, 2008
31, 2008) The use of combination chemotherapy following surgery did not improve survival in patients with gastric cancer, according to a randomized clinical trial ... 8, 2008) Adding the drug docetaxel to anthracycline-based chemotherapy slightly improved disease-free survival in breast cancer patients, according to a randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of. (Science Daily)
Real-World Data from ARRIVE Registries Show Favorable Outcomes for TAXUS(R) Express(TM) Stent Mar 30, 2008
Outcomes through two years in the simple- use (single vessel/stent) patient group confirmed the favorable results seen in similar patients enrolled in previous TAXUS randomized clinical trials (the clinical trial cohort) ... "Outcomes in the simple-use patients in ARRIVE are consistent with results from the TAXUS Stent cohorts in the TAXUS randomized clinical trial program, indicating that the ARRIVE methodology is very efficient in capturing adverse event outcomes. Overall, then, these results... (PR Newswire)
Older donated blood tied to heart surgery risk Mar 20, 2008
But, he said, the report falls short of being definitive because it does not represent what scientists consider the gold standard of research: a randomized clinical trial. In such a study, researchers in advance would divide patients into a group that, in this case, would get newer blood and a second group that gets older blood. (Boston Globe)
Genetic counselors turn to unconventional counseling to meet demand for genetic testing Mar 17, 2008
To address these issues, Peshkin and her colleagues have launched a randomized clinical trial the largest to date at Lombardi to evaluate telephone genetic counseling versus in person (standard) genetic counseling among women at high risk of carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation. The study is outlined in the Spring edition of the journal Genetic Counseling posted online today. (EurekAlert!)
Suffering from MS, putting hope in a diet Mar 15, 2008
The diet has not been subjected to a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, the gold standard for determining the value of any therapy. But Ann Sawyer and Judith Bachrach, co-authors of "The MS Recovery Diet," say this should not dissuade people struggling with the debilitating symptoms of the degenerative disease. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Psychotherapy for all: An experiment in India Mar 15, 2008
Patel is conducting a randomized clinical trial to see whether the strategy works, the first time such a careful study has been run in the developing world. If the research, which will finish in 2010, reports positive results, donors and governments are more likely to try it elsewhere in India and the world, Patel said, adding: "This is the most important question in psychiatry. How do we scale up treatments to a population in a low-resource setting?". (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Late Treatment With Letrozole Can Reduce Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk Mar 15, 2008
While a randomized clinical trial would more conclusively determine the benefit of letrozole treatment for those who have been off tamoxifen for several months or years -- or even those who never took the drug -- the results of this study can help guide physicians and patients in deciding whether letrozole therapy would be appropriate. "Every patient who has previously taken tamoxifen should discuss these new results with her oncologist. The risk that hormone-dependent breast cancer will recur... (Science Daily)
2 companies compete to sell 'superbug' tests to hospitals Mar 4, 2008
The first randomized clinical trial of screening, which used a test other than Cepheid's, found that the strategy did not reduce the rate of colonization and infection by MRSA in intensive care units. But because that trial used a testing procedure that took days to produce results, some experts dismiss those findings. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Thalidomide Shows Promise For Treatment Of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer, Study Suggests Mar 1, 2008
This is the first randomized clinical trial to test thalidomide for recurrent ovarian cancer. Other clinical trials have shown thalidomide to be effective for treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. (Science Daily)
Customized treatments for sepsis lower treatment time and reduce length of ICU stays Feb 29, 2008
Our study is the first randomized clinical trial in which a surrogate biochemical parameter was used to reduce the duration of antibiotic therapy in a population of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU for severe sepsis and septic shock, wrote Dr. Pugin. Despite the relatively short duration of treatment in bacteremic patients assigned to the PCT group, no case of recurrence of infection was observed in these patients. (EurekAlert!)
What's Good for the Heart May Be Good for the Prostate Feb 13, 2008
For the current study, Kristal and colleagues assessed diet, supplement use and alcohol consumption in 4,770 men for seven years, 876 of whom developed symptomatic BPH. They collected the data in the context of a larger randomized clinical trial that aimed to determine whether finasteride, a drug used to treat BPH, would also prevent prostate cancer. The men involved in this analysis, all 55 and older, participated in the placebo arm of the finasteride trial. (PR Newswire)
Diabetes And Cardiovascular Disease Trial Involving Intensively Lower Blood Glucose Stopped For Risk Of Death Feb 8, 2008
However, a randomized clinical trial was needed to determine whether that hypothesis is accurate ... They were also enrolled in one of two other ACCORD randomized clinical trials examining effects of treatments for blood pressure or blood lipids; those study components will continue. (Science Daily)
Gene Variations Associated With Effectiveness Of Blood Pressure Medications Jan 25, 2008
The study included 38,462 participants with hypertension from ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial), a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted in the United States and Canada. Genotyping was performed from February 2004 to January 2005. (Science Daily)
Exercising Judgment: The Psychology Of Fitness Jan 11, 2008
11, 2005) The amount of exercise may be more important than intensity to improve cardiovascular health, according to a new analysis of the first randomized clinical trial evaluating the effects of exercise. (Mar. (Science Daily)
Discussing the options for breast cancer surgery Dec 26, 2007
CLINICAL TRIALS MAY NOT REPRESENT POPULATION The randomized clinical trial, widely considered the most reliable biomedical research method, can have significant drawbacks, a new study suggests, because patients included may not be representative of the broader population. The scientists, writing in the December issue of The Annals of Surgical Oncology, reviewed 29 clinical trials of surgical procedures in prostate, colon, breast and lung cancer involving 13,991 patients. (International Herald Tribune)
Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe Dec 22, 2007
They found a 1928 randomized clinical trial which compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. (Science Daily)
Medical myths that even doctors believe Dec 21, 2007
The researchers say that this myth was refuted back in 1928, when a randomized clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair that replaced the shaved hair was no thicker, nor did not grow in faster. (CTV.ca)
Cytomedix Announces That CMS Preliminarily Affirms Non-Coverage of PRP Gel Dec 21, 2007
The strength of its prospective, well-controlled, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial that shows higher healing rates in diabetic foot ulcers than any other technology including several that are reimbursed by Medicare without having been reviewed nationally in a formal coverage decision. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance recently obtained by Cytomedix for the use of its AutoloGel(tm) System in exuding wounds including chronic wounds and other surgically or mechanically debrided... (Primezone Releases)
Standard Hepatitis B Treatment Bested by Newcomer Dec 20, 2007
The study authors pointed out that telbivudine hasn't yet been compared to the other new hepatitis B medication, entecavir, in a randomized clinical trial. Entecavir has also been shown to be more effective than lamivudine and creates less resistance as well. (Health-Finder)
Venlafaxine Extended-release Effective For Patients With Major Depression, Study Suggests Dec 17, 2007
The PREVENT study, an acronym for the title of the study "The Prevention of Recurrent Episodes of Depression with Venlafaxine for Two Years study," is, according to one of the senior authors on the paper, Dr. Martin B. Keller, "a multiphase, double-blind, randomized clinical trial designed to investigate the efficacy of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine extended release in the prevention of depressive recurrence over 2 years in patients with a history of... (Science Daily)
Research Identifies Need for Improved Understanding of Sickle Cell Disease in Adulthood Dec 9, 2007
In addition, after one year of treatment, the deferiprone-deferoxamine group showed greater efficacy in terms of serum ferritin level reduction than the deferoxiamine-only arm of a previous randomized clinical trial in which a comparable cohort of patients were studied. -- Deferasirox, an oral iron chelator, works as well as deferoxamine, which requires subcutaneous injection, among sickle cell patients; possible implications for improved patient compliance, reducing risk of organ damage... (PR Newswire)
ZOLINZA (vorinostat) in combination with bortezomib demonstrated clinical activity Dec 9, 2007
Based on these initial results presented for the first time, Merck is evaluating plans to accelerate testing of ZOLINZA in combination with bortezomib in the randomized clinical trial setting to further define the clinical activity in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma," said Dr. Garcia-Vargas. ### About ZOLINZA ZOLINZA is the first histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cutaneous manifestations in patients with cutaneous... (EurekAlert!)
Pycnogenol Reduces Osteoarthritis Knee Pain Dec 6, 2007
Researchers believe this study is the first randomized clinical trial to show Pycnogenols effectiveness in alleviating the clinical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. There are several more breakthrough studies on Pycnogenol and osteoarthritis expected to be published next year allowing for development of innovative, natural formulas for joint health. (Newsmax)
Rural Patients' Colon And Lung Cancers Diagnosed Earlier, Research Says Nov 21, 2007
27, 2005) Almost half of lung cancers detected by a chest x-ray were early-stage cancers, according to baseline results of a large, randomized clinical trial that is testing the efficacy of a chest x-ray as a. (Apr. (Science Daily)
Caregivers Benefit From Cancer Support Programs, Study Shows Nov 13, 2007
Article: "Randomized Clinical Trial of a Family Intervention for Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Spouses," Laurel L. Northouse, Darlene W. Mood, Ann Schafenacker, James E. Montie, Howard M. Sandler, Jeffrey D. Forman, Maha Hussain, Kenneth J. Pienta, David C. Smith, Trace Kershaw, Cancer; Published Online: November 12, 2007 (DOI: 10. 1002/cncr. (Science Daily)
Family counseling improves lives of patients and spouses coping with prostate cancer Nov 12, 2007
This randomized clinical trial by Dr. Laurel Northouse from the University of Michigan and co-investigators found that patients and their spouses who participated in a five-session home counseling program reported significant improvement in such areas as symptom management, hope, uncertainty and couples communication ... Article: Randomized Clinical Trial of a Family Intervention for Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Spouses, Laurel L. Northouse, Darlene W. Mood, Ann Schafenacker, James E.... (EurekAlert!)
Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) Reports Recent Accomplishments and Third Quarter 2007 Financial Results Nov 8, 2007
Recent Events -- Announced agreement to acquire ZEVALIN(R) (ibritumomab tiuxetan), the first FDA-approved radioimmunotherapy, from Biogen Idec; this acquisition, if completed, will return CTI to a select group of only a few biotech companies which market and sell a commercial product -- Announced a potential abbreviated registration path for pixantrone based on the Company's decision to do a full analysis of the EXTEND (PIX301) phase III clinical trial for patients with relapsed, aggressive... (PR Newswire)
Fostering stem-cell research Oct 29, 2007
Fish oil and depression Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles are recruiting volunteers for a randomized clinical trial that will compare two compounds found in fish oil - the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA - against each other and against inactive pills in 300 adults who have major depression, the hospitals said. To be eligible, participants must not be taking antidepressant medications, principal investigator Dr. David Mischoulon of... (Boston Globe)
Treatment For Alcoholism Could Be Selected Based On Genetics Oct 26, 2007
Kranzler and his colleagues used data collected through Project MATCH, a multi-center randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of three types of psychosocial treatment for alcoholism: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and Twelve Step Facilitation (TSF). The researchers collected DNA samples from 812 European-American subjects (596 men, 216 women), and followed their passage through 12 weeks of treatment and a 12-month post-treatment period. (Science Daily)
Ore. prep athletes say drug testing does not deter Oct 19, 2007
The study involved roughly 1,400 teenagers and was the first randomized clinical trial to determine the deterrent effects of drug testing on high school athletes. The study comes at a time when an increasing number of high schools are testing for drugs -- a controversial practice. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Sports)
Random drug testing not reliable in keeping teen athletes from using Oct 19, 2007
The study, named SATURN (Student Athlete Testing Using Random Notification), is the first-ever prospective, randomized clinical trial to assess the deterrent effects of drug and alcohol testing among high school athletes. Prior to this study, there was little research and no randomized trials to establish whether student-athlete drug and alcohol testing is an effective deterrent, said Linn Goldberg, M.D., F.A.C.S.M., principal investigator, professor of medicine and head of the Division of... (EurekAlert!)
OrbusNeich's Genous(TM) Bio-Engineered R Stent(TM) is Subject of Sessions on Innovation at TCT 2007 Oct 18, 2007
Latest Randomized Clinical Trial Results of First Pro-Healing Stent Also Featured at Annual Symposium HONG KONG, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- OrbusNeich's Genous(TM) Bio-engineered R stent(TM) is the subject of several sessions about innovation in interventional cardiology strategies and device design at this year's Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics symposium, TCT 2007, which is set for Oct. 20-25 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The line-up of sessions that feature the... (PR Newswire)
New cervix test improves finding of pre-cancer cells Oct 18, 2007
In a blind, randomized clinical trial, Canadian researchers showed that a test that identifies the DNA of the human papillomavirus, the virus believed to cause cervical cancer, appears to be exquisitely sensitive, identifying nearly 95 percent of the women who have pre-cancerous or cancerous cells. In combination with the standard Pap smear, that number became 100 percent. (AZCentral -- News)
Banked Blood Loses Ability To Deliver Oxygen To Tissues Almost Immediately Oct 13, 2007
"Both McMahon and Stamler believe that a large-scale randomized clinical trial in humans is needed, arguing that blood has both benefits and risks, and therefore should be evaluated in the same manner as medications."There is little doubt that transfused blood can be harmful," said Stamler. "We are only uncertain about how serious the problem is. The availability of a potential solution will hopefully focus the attention of the medical community on the potential magnitude of this problem. (Science Daily)
Crucial factor declines in banked blood Oct 11, 2007
Both research teams believe that a large-scale randomized clinical trial in humans is needed, arguing that blood has both benefits and risks, and therefore should be evaluated in the same manner as medications. Editor: Liu Dan. (Xinhua)
Long-Term Follow-up of the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Oct 11, 2007
Background The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study was a randomized clinical trial comparing pravastatin with placebo in men with hypercholesterolemia who did not have a history of myocardial infarction, with an average follow-up of approximately 5 years. The combined outcome of death from definite coronary heart disease or definite nonfatal myocardial infarction was reduced from 7. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Banked Blood Could Do More Harm Than Good Oct 10, 2007
A large-scale randomized clinical trial in humans is needed, said McMahon and Stamler. These studies show that donated blood has risks as well as benefits, and therefore should undergo clinical trials in the same way as drugs and medication. (Medical News Today)
'Eat all you want and still lose weight!' Oct 8, 2007
It goes on to say that the research study was a "controlled, randomized clinical trial.". The site does not name the research study, but statistics it mentions match those in a report featured in 2001 by the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, a publication of the British Dietetic Assn.. (Los Angeles Times)
Acupuncture: it doesn't matter where you stick the needle Sep 26, 2007
To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture at healing back pain, the researchers carried out a randomized clinical trial that consisted of over 1,000 patients. Each participant had experienced chronic back pain for a minimum of eight years and underwent a series of ten 30-minute sessions for treatment of their pain. (Ars Technica)
Acupuncture Treats Back Pain Sep 25, 2007
D., M.D., of the University of Regensburg, Bad Abbach, Germany, and colleagues conducted a randomized clinical trial involving 1,162 patients (average age 50) who had experienced chronic low back pain for an average of eight years. Patients underwent ten 30-minute sessions (approximately two sessions per week) of verum acupuncture (387 patients), sham acupuncture (387 patients) or conventional therapy (388 patients). (Newsmax)
Two Drugs Equally Effective For Heart Patients Undergoing Angioplasty, Study Finds Sep 16, 2007
"It is not likely that there will ever be a randomized clinical trial comparing the two drugs, as it would require over 30,000 patients," says Henry Ting, M.D., Mayo Clinic cardiologist and co-author. "Our study fills an evidence gap by providing data to help guide treatment decisions.". (Science Daily)
Sometimes hyperactive kids are just seeing double Sep 13, 2007
Next spring, the U.S. National Eye Institute will announce the results of a $6 million randomized clinical trial measuring the benefits of vision therapy in a doctor's office versus home-based therapy. For Raea Gragg, the treatment was relatively simple. (International Herald Tribune)
2 drugs equally effective for heart patients undergoing angioplasty, Mayo study finds Sep 11, 2007
-- In lifesaving procedures to open blocked heart arteries a key question has persisted for years: Is use of the more expensive drug, abciximab, justified over use of the less-expensive eptifibatide" A new Mayo Clinic study to be published in the current edition of Value in Health, Volume 11, Issue 4 and now available as an e-publication, offers clinicians the first large-scale contemporary study to help answer the question. The study found no significant difference between the drugs in the... (EurekAlert!)
Researchers must try harder to recruit minorities to trials Sep 7, 2007
This report describes the successful strategies of recruitment and retention of African Americans and Latinos in a randomized clinical trial to reduce smoking, depression and intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Socio-demographic characteristics and risk profiles of retained vs. non-retained women and lost to follow-up vs. dropped-out women are presented. (BioMed Central)
Cholesterol Drug Change May Be Risky Sep 6, 2007
Cholesterol Management Health Center. Study by Maker of Statin Drug Lipitor Raises Questions About Switching to Generic Versions By WebMD Medical News Reviewed by. (WebMD)
New Study Findings Confirm CLEXANE(R)/LOVENOX(R) Long-Term ... Sep 5, 2007
ExTRACT TIMI 25 was a major randomized clinical trial thatsupported the worldwide submission and subsequent approval by the FDAand some European countries of the new Lovenox(R) indication for thetreatment of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardialinfarction (STEMI). STEEPLE (SafeTy and Efficacy of Enoxaparin in PercutaneousCoronary Intervention Patients) trial one year follow up shows thatthe composite of all cause death at 1 year and major bleeding was3. (Juraforum.de)
Avigen Initiates European Multi-Center AV650 Phase II Spasticity Trial in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Sep 5, 2007
This double blind, randomized clinical trial will be conducted in 25 MS centers in Germany and other European countries. It will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and efficacy in up to 150 MS patients suffering from spasticity. (Primezone Releases)
Cypher(R) Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent Demonstrates Sustained Clinical Benefits Compared to Bare Metal Stents in Five-Year Randomized Clinical Trial With No Differences in Long-Term Safety Sep 3, 2007
VIENNA, Austria, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinical investigators at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2007 (ESC Congress 2007) reported today that the CYPHER(R) Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent continued to provide clinical benefits compared to a bare metal stent in the E-SIRIUS Trial out to five years of follow-up with no differences in safety. At five-year follow-up, the patients in the CYPHER(R) Stent arm of the study continued to be significantly less likely than the patients in the... (PR Newswire)
New Study Findings Confirm CLEXANE(R)/LOVENOX(R) Long-Term Clinical Benefit in Patients Suffering From Acute Coronary Syndrome Sep 3, 2007
ExTRACT TIMI 25 was a major randomized clinical trial that supported the worldwide submission and subsequent approval by the FDA and some European countries of the new Lovenox(R) indication for the treatment of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEEPLE (SafeTy and Efficacy of Enoxaparin in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Patients) trial one year follow up shows that the composite of all cause death at 1 year and major bleeding was 3. (PR Newswire)
Hypnosis - Effective Pain Reliever for Breast Cancer Surgery Sep 1, 2007
" In a randomized clinical trial, 200 women scheduled for a breast biopsy or lumpectomy [removal of tumor without mastectomy] underwent a 15-minute hypnosis session before they went into the operating room. Others just had a consultation with a psychologist. While hypnosis has been studied before, this was the first time it was part of breast cancer treatment. Helen Dorman describes the pain of her surgery: "You sort of feel like you've been rolled over by a Mack [a brand of large truck] truck... (Voice of America)
Hypnosis Reduces Pain And Costs In Breast Cancer Surgery Aug 31, 2007
Article: Montgomery GH, Bovbjerg DH, Schnur JB, David D, Goldfarb A, et al. A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Brief Hypnosis Intervention to Control Side Effects in Breast Surgery Patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 2007; 99:1304-1312. (Science Daily)
Hypnosis eases breast cancer surgery pain: study Aug 29, 2007
"This is a randomized clinical trial of 200 patients that really showed beneficial effects for patients," said Guy Montgomery of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. "It really works well.". (Scientific American)
Migraine trial under way Aug 29, 2007
San Diego-based CryoCor said it has enrolled more than 170 patients in a randomized clinical trial of its ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation. Santarus signs a deal. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
FDA Gives Medtronic Cervical Disk Green Light Aug 28, 2007
The Prestige Cervical Disc underwent a prospective, multi-center, randomized clinical trial to assess its safety and effectiveness based on comparisons between data collected from patients with single-level symptomatic cervical DDD at one level between C3-C7. The investigational group of 276 patients received the Prestige Cervical Disc device while the 265 patients in the control group received an anterior plated surgical fusion utilizing bone graft and plate stabilization. (dBTechno)
It smells fishy - and that's good Aug 20, 2007
The reliability of many of these studies is limited by small sample sizes, animal-only subjects or the observational (rather than randomized clinical trial) design of the research. Within these limitations, some results are encouraging. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Sirr: Women's Health in Venezuela Aug 16, 2007
Condom use promotes regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and clearance of human papillomavirus: a randomized clinical trial. Hogewoning CJ; Bleeker MC; van den Brule AJ; Voorhorst FJ; Snijders PJ; Berkhof J; Westenend PJ; Meijer CJ Int J Cancer. (Zmag.org)
DNA Vaccine Against Multiple Sclerosis Appears Safe, Potentially Beneficial Aug 15, 2007
Based on these results, a phase 2b trial--a randomized clinical trial in approximately 290 patients--of BHT-3009 is already under way. "If successful in MS, antigen-specific DNA vaccines can be developed for prevention or treatment of related diseases, such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and myasthenia gravis," the authors conclude. (Science Daily)
DNA vaccine could help MS sufferers: study Aug 14, 2007
But based on the findings, a randomized clinical trial involving administering BHT-3009 to approximately 290 patients is underway with hopes that successful treatment of MS sufferers could pave the way for the development of similar vaccines to prevent or treat related diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, researchers concluded. "Eventually, and this is a goal for farther down the road, we believe that the targets of these diseases may not be identical across... (CTV.ca)
New Study Questions Avandia's Heart Risk Aug 9, 2007
That means their data fall short of the gold standard -- a randomized clinical trial -- so they "will neither solve the overriding problems of drug safety nor ultimately help a chronically underfunded federal agency," he said. More information. (Health-Finder)
