NPC Archive Item: CV risk reduction in diabetes: law of cumulative benefits, diminishing returns

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 15th July 2010 This modelling study demonstrates the “law of cumulative benefits” or conversely a “law of diminishing returns” with regard to the intensification of BP-lowering and lipid-modification therapy […]

NPC Archive Item: CONSORT Statement updated

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 26 May 2010 In 1996 and 2001, the CONSORT Group published recommendations on the reporting of randomised controlled trials. These have now been updated as CONSORT 2010. The new […]

NPC Archive Item: Observational data in swine influenza pandemic indicate benefit of early antivirals; new Cochrane review finds oseltamivir▼’s ability to prevent complications of seasonal influenza in otherwise healthy adults not proven.

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 22 December 2009 Action Health professionals’ responses to the swine influenza pandemic should not be affected by the controversy regarding oseltamivir▼’s ability to prevent complications of seasonal influenza in […]

NPC Archive Item: Selective outcome reporting identified in industry-sponsored trials of gabapentin

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 5 November 2009 A study has found evidence of selective outcome reporting in industry-sponsored reports of randomised trials of off-label use of gabapentin. For eight of the twelve reported […]

NPC Archive Item: Use of NICE appraised medicines in the NHS

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 18 September 2009 A report from the NHS Information Centre assessed the variation in the use of 26 medicines positively approved by NICE in 13 technology appraisals. In 7 […]

NPC Archive Item: Beware citations bias

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 18th August 2009 A recent study identified how citations made in the biomedical literature may selectively report work that does not represent the spectrum of available evidence, and can […]

NPC Archive Item: Even limited exposure to pharmaceutical promotion may influence subconscious attitudes to marketed medicines

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 18th August 2009 A randomised controlled experiment in US medical students suggests that subtle exposure to small, inexpensive pharmaceutical promotional items influences implicit (i.e. subconscious) attitudes towards branded medicines. […]

NPC Archive Item: Inadequate sample size calculation and reporting in clinical trials: what does it mean for me?

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 12th August 2009 A review of publications of randomised controlled trials found that only a third adequately described the sample size calculations. This is needed to base the statistical […]

NPC Archive Item: Press releases may not report research in an impartial manner

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 16th June 2009 A review has found that academic centre press releases often overstate the importance of the findings of their own research, while underemphasising cautions that limit the […]

NPC Archive Item: RECORD study confirms heart failure and fracture risks of rosiglitazone: uncertainties remain over other CV risks

NOTE – This is an archive post from the NPC and has not been updated since first publication. Therefore, some hyperlinks may no longer be working. 15th June 2009 The authors of this non-inferiority study claim non-inferiority of dual therapy with rosiglitazone plus metformin or a sulfonylurea compared to dual therapy with metformin plus a […]