THERAPEUTICS
Tugwell PS, Wells GA, Shainhouse JZ. Equivalence study of a topical diclofenac solution (Pennsaid) compared with oral diclofenac in symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial. J Rheumatol 2004;31:2002–12.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★★ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★★★
Juni P, Nartey L, Reichenbach S, et al. Risk of cardiovascular events and rofecoxib: cumulative meta-analysis. Lancet 2004;364:2021–9.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★★☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★★★
Bjordal JM, Ljunggren AE, Klovning A, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, in osteoarthritic knee pain: meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials. BMJ 2004;329:1317.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★★☆
Szeimies RM, Gerritsen MJ, Gupta G, et al. Imiquimod 5% cream for the treatment of actinic keratosis: results from a phase III, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, clinical trial with histology. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:547–55.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Dermatology ★★★★★★☆
Hornberger J, Grimes K, Naumann M, et al. Recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of primary focal hyperhidrosis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:274–86.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Dermatology ★★★★★☆☆
Bjornson CL, Klassen TP, Williamson J, et al. A randomized trial of a single dose of oral dexamethasone for mild croup. N Engl J Med 2004;351:1306–13.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Infectious disease ★★★★☆☆☆ Paediatrics ★★☆☆☆☆☆
Salinas R, Alvarez G, Ferreira J. Corticosteroids for Bell’s palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;4:CD001942.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Neurology ★★★★★☆☆
Dorey G, Speakman M, Feneley R, et al. Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle exercises and manometric biofeedback for erectile dysfunction. Br J Gen Pract 2004;54:819–25.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆
Harper DM, Franco EL, Wheeler C, et al. Efficacy of a bivalent L1 virus-like particle vaccine in prevention of infection with human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in young women: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2004;364:1757–65.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Allergy and immunology ★★★★★★★ Infectious disease ★★★★★★☆ Gynaecology ★★★★★★☆
Hand C, Harvey I. The effectiveness of topical preparations for the treatment of earwax: a systematic review. Br J Gen Pract 2004;54:862–7.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆
Alexander RB, Propert KJ, Schaeffer AJ, et al. Ciprofloxacin or tamsulosin in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, double-blind trial. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:581–9.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ Surgery ★★★★☆☆☆
Prinssen M, Verhoeven EL, Buth J, et al. A randomized trial comparing conventional and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. N Engl J Med 2004;351:1607–18.
Internal medicine ★★★★★★☆ Cardiology ★★★★★★☆ Surgery ★★★★★★☆
Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS) Team. Cognitive-behavior therapy, sertraline, and their combination for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: the Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS) randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2004;292:1969–76.
Mental health ★★★★★★☆ Paediatrics ★★★★★☆☆ Psychiatry ★★★★★☆☆
Berghella V, Odibo AO, Tolosa JE. Cerclage for prevention of preterm birth in women with a short cervix found on transvaginal ultrasound examination: a randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004;191:1311–7.
Obstetrics ★★★★★★☆
Krunic AL, Wang LC, Soltani K, et al. Digital anesthesia with epinephrine: an old myth revisited. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:755–9.
Emergency medicine ★★★★★★☆ Surgery ★★★★★★☆ Dermatology ★★★★★★★
Lebwohl M, Freeman AK, Chapman MS, et al. Tacrolimus ointment is effective for facial and intertriginous psoriasis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:723–30.
Dermatology ★★★★★★☆
Bridevaux IP, Bradley KA, Bryson CL, et al. Alcohol screening results in elderly male veterans: association with health status and mortality. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004;52:1510–7.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Geriatrics ★★★★☆☆☆
Ettinger B, Ensrud KE, Wallace R, et al. Effects of ultralow-dose transdermal estradiol on bone mineral density: a randomized clinical trial. Obstet Gynecol 2004;104:443–51.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★☆☆
Cushman M, Kuller LH, Prentice R, et al. Estrogen plus progestin and risk of venous thrombosis. JAMA 2004;292:1573–80.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆ Haematology ★★★★★★☆ Gynaecology ★★★★★☆☆
Maclennan A, Broadbent J, Lester S, et al. Oral oestrogen and combined oestrogen/progestogen therapy versus placebo for hot flushes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;4:CD002978.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆ Gynaecology ★★★★★☆☆
Atkinson W, Sheldon TA, Shaath N, et al. Food elimination based on IgG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised controlled trial. Gut 2004;53:1459–64.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Allergy and Immunology ★★★★★☆☆ Gastroenterology ★★★★★★☆ Immunology ★★★★☆☆☆
de Zeeuw D, Remuzzi G, Parving HH, et al. Albuminuria, a therapeutic target for cardiovascular protection in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Circulation 2004;110:921–7.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal Medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★★☆ Nephrology ★★★★★☆☆
Nissen SE, Tuzcu EM, Libby P, et al. Effect of antihypertensive agents on cardiovascular events in patients with coronary disease and normal blood pressure: the CAMELOT study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2004;292:2217–25.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★★☆ Cardiology ★★★★☆☆☆
Rothman RL, DeWalt DA, Malone R, et al. Influence of patient literacy on the effectiveness of a primary care-based diabetes disease management program. JAMA 2004;292:1711–6.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆
Due A, Toubro S, Skov AR, et al. Effect of normal-fat diets, either medium or high in protein, on body weight in overweight subjects: a randomised 1-year trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2004;28:1283–90.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆
Briel M, Studer M, Glass TR, et al. Effects of statins on stroke prevention in patients with and without coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Med 2004;117:596–606.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★★☆☆ Neurology ★★★★★☆☆
Spurling G, Mar C, Dooley L, et al. Delayed antibiotics for symptoms and complications of respiratory infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;4:CD004417.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Emergency medicine ★★★☆☆☆☆ Infectious disease ★★★★★☆☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆ Emergency medicine (Specialists) ★★★★★☆☆
Silverman RA, Nowak RM, Korenblat PE, et al. Zafirlukast treatment for acute asthma: evaluation in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial. Chest 2004;126:1480–9.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆Emergency medicine ★★★★★★☆ Allergy and Immunology ★★★★★★☆ Respirology ★★★★★★☆
Vas J, Mendez C, Perea-Milla E, et al. Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to the pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2004;329:1216.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Rheumatology ★★★★★☆☆
Peat JK, Mihrshahi S, Kemp AS, et al. Three-year outcomes of dietary fatty acid modification and house dust mite reduction in the Childhood Asthma Prevention Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004;114:807–13.
Allergy and Immunology ★★★★★☆☆ Immunology ★★★★☆☆☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆ Paediatrics ★★★★★☆☆
Alonso PL, Sacarlal J, Aponte JJ, et al. Efficacy of the RTS,S/AS02A vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum infection and disease in young African children: randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2004;364:1411–20.
Infectious disease ★★★★★☆☆ Tropical medicine ★★★★★★☆ Paediatrics ★★★★☆☆☆
Lim J, Lasserson T, Fleetham J, et al. Oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;4:CD004435.
Respirology ★★★★★☆☆
Kato K, Mizuno S, Umesaki Y, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled trial assessing the effect of bifidobacteria-fermented milk on active ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2004;20:1133–41.
Gastroenterology ★★★★★☆☆
Lee H, Ernst E. Acupuncture for labor pain management: A systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004;191:1573–9.
Anaesthesia ★★★★★☆☆ GP/FP/Obstetrics ★★★★★☆☆ Obstetrics ★★★★★★☆
de Lemos JA, Blazing MA, Wiviott SD, et al. Early intensive vs a delayed conservative simvastatin strategy in patients with acute coronary syndromes: phase Z of the A to Z trial. JAMA 2004;292:1307–16.
Internal medicine ★★★★☆☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★★☆☆
Lisa R, Matthew JT, Keith H. Strategies for managing sexual dysfunction induced by antidepressant medication. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;4:CD003382.
GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★☆☆☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Mental health ★★★★★★☆
Bakris GL, Fonseca V, Katholi RE, et al. Metabolic effects of carvedilol vs metoprolol in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2004;292:2227–36.
IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★☆☆☆ Cardiology ★★★★★☆☆ Endocrine ★★★★★☆☆