Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Recruitment Bias (recruitment + bias)
Selected AbstractsFeasibility of surveillance of changes in human fertility and semen qualityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue S2 2000Baker To show that male fertility is declining is not simple. Few men volunteer and recruitment bias may lead to over-representation of the subfertile. Semen analysis has errors arising from counting and poorly standardized criteria, which may be overcome by automation. Time to pregnancy (TTP),the number of menstrual cycles taken to conceive,measures fertility and allows male recruitment bias to be estimated. We review automated measurement of sperm concentration, motility and morphology and present a preliminary report on a study to assess a retrospective TTP questionnaire, recruitment bias and feasibility for large-scale surveillance of fertility. [source] Botulinum toxin injection therapy in the management of lower urinary tract dysfunctionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2006A. K. PATEL Summary We have great pleasure in introducing this supplement containing a collection of articles reviewing the contemporary clinical management of functional disorders of the lower urinary tract (LUT) with particular emphasis on the potential role of botulinum toxin injection therapy. Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD), detrusor overactivity (DO), painful bladder syndrome (PBS) and LUT symptoms consequent on bladder outflow obstruction (LUTS/BPH) have all been treated by the injection of botulinum toxin. This treatment can be administered as a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure which on the initial trials for DO (particularly of neurogenic aetiology) shows a remarkable efficacy with effects lasting up to a year after a single treatment with few significant side effects. Success has been reported with the management of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia and preliminary series report positive outcomes in the management of PBS and LUTS/BPH. However, most of the studies to date include small numbers and have a recruitment bias with few randomised controlled trials having been reported. The answers to some of the key questions are addressed with reference to our contemporary knowledge. It is clear that considerable work both clinical and basic science still needs to be performed to answer the many remaining questions with regard to this treatment modality but undoubtedly it will be a major future treatment option in those with intractable symptoms or those unable to tolerate medications. Currently, all botulinum toxin use for urological conditions is off-label and unlicensed, therefore caution should be exercised until future large randomised studies are reported. [source] Review article: Early detection of chronic kidney disease in Australia: Which way to go?NEPHROLOGY, Issue 4 2009TIMOTHY MATHEW SUMMARY Early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) followed by appropriate clinical management appears the only means by which the increasing burden on the health-care system and affected individuals will be reduced. The asymptomatic nature of CKD means that early detection can only occur through testing of individuals. The World Health Organization principles of screening for chronic disease can now be largely fulfilled for CKD. The risk groups to be targeted, the expected yield and the tests to be performed are reviewed. For a screening programme to be sustainable it must carry a greater benefit than risk of harm for the participant and be shown to be cost-effective from the community point of view. Whole population screening for CKD is impractical and is not cost-effective. Screening of those at increased risk of CKD could occur either through special events run in the community, workplace or in selected locations such as pharmacies or through opportunistic screening of high-risk people in general practice. Community screening programmes targeted at known diabetics, hypertensives and those over 55 years have been described to detect 93% of all CKD in the community. The yield of CKD stages 3,5 from community screening has been found to vary from 10% to 20%. The limitations of screening programmes including the cost and recruitment bias are discussed. The most sustainable and likely the most cost-efficient model appears to be opportunistic general practice screening. The changing structure of general practice in Australia lends itself well to the requirements for early detection of CKD. [source] | ||||||||||