Guidelines for Reporting Medical Research:A Critical Appraisal

As a response to a low quality of reporting of medical research, guidelines for several different types of study design have been developed to secure accurate reporting and transparency for reviewers and readers from the scientific community. Herein, we review and discuss the six most widely accepted and used guidelines: PRISMA, CONSORT, STROBE, MOOSE, STARD, and SPIRIT. It is concluded that the implementation of these guidelines has led to only a moderate improvement in the quality of the reporting of medical research. There is still much work to be done to achieve accurate and transparent reporting of medical research findings

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in adults: systematic review on population studies

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common multifactorial skin disease occurring primarily in young children. AD has increased in prevalence over the past decades, but little knowledge exists on the prevalence of AD in adults. Herein, published estimates of the point-prevalence and one-year prevalence of AD in adults are reviewed in the context of various study characteristics such as the age and gender distribution of the populations, sampling methods, study design, and geographical area of origin. In total, 14 different population studies reporting the prevalence of AD in adults in 17 countries were identified. There was a substantial between-country variation in both the point-prevalence (1.6 to 11.5%) and one-year prevalence (2.2 to 17.6%) of AD with heterogeneity explained partly by gender, age, geography, study design, and diagnostic criteria

Type 2 diabetes and psoriasis:links and risks

Jesper Grønlund Holm,1 Simon Francis Thomsen1,2 1Department of Dermato-Venereology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Abstract: Psoriasis (PsO) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases with a world prevalence of 2%–4%. The increasing knowledge of the mechanisms driving PsO has raised focus on existing links to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We reviewed the existing literature of the prevalence and risk of T2D in patients with PsO. The studies reviewed were mainly large retrospective cohort and case–control studies, showing an increased prevalence of T2D in PsO patients compared to controls, particularly in late onset (type 2) PsO. T2D prevalence did not correlate to patient age or severity of PsO in the reviewed studies. Conclusively, T2D was found to be more prevalent in patients with PsO compared to the background population. Several mechanisms involved in lipid transportation seem to be upregulated in PsO patients. Physicians play a key role concerning information about known comorbidity and promotion of early prophylaxis in patients with PsO. Keywords: psoriasis, type 2 diabetes, association, risk, lin

A daily SMS reminder increases adherence to asthma treatment: A three-month follow-up study

SummaryBackgroundPoor adherence to asthma treatment is a well-recognised challenge and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and consumption of health care resources. This study examined the impact of receiving a daily text message reminder on one's cell phone on adherence to asthma treatment.MethodsA total of 26 subjects aged 18–45 years, with a clinical history of asthma and a positive methacholine challenge test (PD20≤4μmol) were randomised to receive, or to not receive, a daily short message service (SMS) reminder on their cell phone to take their anti-asthmatic medication. Inhaled corticosteroids to last for eight weeks and a prescription for four additional weeks were given to the subjects. The primary outcome was adherence to asthma treatment. Secondary outcomes were reimbursement of asthma medication, and change in exhaled nitric oxide levels, lung function, and airway responsiveness.ResultsThe absolute difference in mean adherence rate between the two groups after 12 weeks was 17.8%, 95% CI (3.2–32.3%), p=0.019. No significant differences were observed between the two randomisation groups for the secondary outcomes.ConclusionDaily text message reminders are already after a short period of observation associated with increased adherence to anti-asthmatic medication

Omalizumab for Chronic Urticaria: A Case Series and Overview of the Literature

Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the high-affinity Fc receptor of IgE. Omalizumab has been approved for the treatment of moderate to severe asthma; however, there is currently more and more data showing promising results in the management also of chronic urticaria. We present a case series of 19 patients with chronic urticaria treated in a university department with omalizumab and give an overview of the existing literature comprising an additional 59 cases as well as a total of 139 patients enrolled in two randomized controlled trials comparing omalizumab with placebo. The collective evidence points to omalizumab as a safe and effective treatment option for patients with chronic urticaria who do not sufficiently respond to standard therapy as recommended by existing guidelines