Lucas M Bachmann

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..To summarise the evidence on accuracy of the Ottawa ankle rules, a decision aid for excluding fractures of the ankle and mid-foot...

..The Ottawa knee rule is a clinical decision aid that helps rule out fractures and avoid unnecessary radiography...

..The objective was to develop and test search strategies to identify diagnostic articles recorded on EMBASE...

..To develop an analytical approach to estimate the probability of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer in women with postmenopausal bleeding, using a combination of patient history and tests...

..Elective cervical cerclage has been purported to prevent spontaneous preterm birth. We present a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of cervical cerclage in preventing spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks' gestation...

..To determine sample sizes in studies on diagnostic accuracy and the proportion of studies that report calculations of sample size...

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..The objective of this study was to construct and validate better search strategies to identify diagnostic articles recorded on MEDLINE with special emphasis on precision...

..With this study design, it was possible to identify manipulation of home blood pressure values for the first time. Accuracy and interpretation of home blood pressure measurement may be increased by using devices with a memory function...

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..Some people believe that likelihood ratios provide diagnostic information that is more useful than sensitivity and specificity estimates...

..We examined the accuracy of the Ottawa Ankle Rule (OAR) to rule out ankle and mid-foot fractures in patients presenting with acute ankle sprain and differences of accuracy between surgeons and non-surgeons...

..In addition, the assessment of the broad variety of adverse events is dissatisfying. Our aim was to compare adverse events of antimuscarinics using a network meta-analytic approach that overcomes shortcomings of conventional analyses...

..The goals of our study were to translate the Dutch Radboud Skills Questionnaire into German and to assess its external criterion validity with the German version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire...

..We provide an overview of the use, objectives and methodology of these studies in the medical field...

..This is an avoidable cause for the increasing worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance. We developed a user-friendly decision aid to rule out pneumonia and thus reduce the rate of needless prescriptions of antibiotics...

..Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) emerged as a promising test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer and showed encouraging results...

..Therefore we assessed, using a network meta-analytic technique, the relative effectiveness of the common inhaled drug regimes used to reduce exacerbations in patients with COPD...

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..Uncertainty exists about the performance of the Framingham risk score when applied in different populations...

..Whether the identified indicators can be compiled into a prognostic instrument requires confirmation in a properly designed and sized study...

..These studies do not determine the diagnostic accuracy, but the clinical impact of a novel test on patient management and outcome...

..Yet a CCL-induced increase in corneal rigidity may interfere with intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. In an investigation of the effect of CCL on the accuracy of IOP measurements, IOP readings before and after CCL were compared...

..These guidelines address and propose some solutions to two major threats to validity: spectrum bias and test review bias...

..To identify key principles of graph construction and to review guidance on graph construction provided by medical journals...

..We tested to what degree Swiss adult citizens satisfy this criterion for MMK and whether people with medical experience have acquired better knowledge than those without...

..0 mmHg (log rank p<0.01). CONCLUSION: This pilot study indicates that an early drop in OPA of more than 2.0 mmHg after TE may be a good prognostic parameter for successful long-term control of IOP...

..To review the accuracy of electrocardiography in screening for left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension...

..These questions can be addressed in the context of a cohort study...

..DCT seems to be an appropriate method of tonometry for routine clinical use...

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..Does a similar situation exist in Switzerland? Using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening as an example, we surveyed Swiss physicians and assessed the extent to which liability fears influenced their recommendation for testing...

..Moreover, to allow comparison to the readers' patient population authors should provide data on study population characteristics, in particular on the spectrum of diseases and illness severity...

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..We compared the cancer detection rates and complications of different extended prostate biopsy schemes for diagnostic evaluation in men scheduled for biopsy to identify the optimal scheme...

..The aim of this research was to assess randomised controlled trials (RCTs) testing the additional benefit of supplemental interventions during respiratory rehabilitation in COPD patients...

..Of all MMPs and angiogenic factors tested, MMP-9 expression has the potential as a prognostic marker in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically organ-confined cases of prostate cancer...

..Further research is required to derive probabilities for individual patients from sequential testing as applied in the diagnostic work-up of patients with head and neck cancer...

..To assess the extent to which different forms of summarising diagnostic test information influence general practitioners' ability to estimate disease probabilities...

..In recent years various prognostic instruments have become available showing conflicting results regarding estimated risks for individual patients...

..We assessed whether implementation of a community-based CBT weight loss programme for adults in routine care is feasible and prospectively assessed patient outcome...

..The Pra is likely of high interest to governments and health insurance companies worldwide as a basis for programs aimed at health risk management in older persons...

..Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are a common problem in childhood. Some evidence suggests a benefit regarding the prevention of ARTI in children treated with the immunomodulator OM-85 BV (Bronchovaxom)...

..Acute chest pain is a frequent reason to attend an emergency room, and various instruments for calculating the probability of an acute coronary syndrome exist...

..A large-scale, randomized controlled trial is required to determine the effects of sonography on clinical outcomes, the number of nerve conduction studies performed, and the total cost...

..Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves symptoms and lung function in selected patients with severe emphysema...

..4%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of BNP tests to rule out CHF in primary care settings could reduce demand for echocardiography. The advantages of rapid ELISA tests need to be balanced against their higher cost...

..The value of these treatments, which are thought to be immunomodulating, is poorly understood. Our aim was to quantify the efficacy of oral bacteria extracts in patients with chronic bronchitis and COPD...

..97 (95% CI 1.00 to 8.85; P = .05). Concomitant biceps tenodesis appears to have a favorable effect on 1-year treatment success after total shoulder arthroplasty...

..The purpose of this study was to compare IOP measurements using GAT and DCT in eyes undergoing LASIK for correction of myopia...

..We note, also, that these taxonomic issues have no material bearing on epidemiologists' etiologic research for the knowledge base of community-level preventive medicine...

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..Assessment, whether location of impact causing different facial fracture patterns was associated with diffuse axonal injury in patients with severe closed head injury...

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..Evaluation of all available tests in a systemic review will require a broad search strategy...

..Diagnostic information should be presented in an easily interpretable way, which conveys both test characteristics (diagnostic accuracy) and the potential for use in clinical practice (predictive value)...

..Therefore, close collaboration between the national patient organization and the expert Judiciary and medical societies of the corresponding country is strongly recommended to Improve the Informed consent procedure...

..To determine the accuracy with which a cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin test predicts spontaneous preterm birth in women with or without symptoms of preterm labour...

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..To assess the accuracy with which antenatal maternal anthropometric measurements predict the risk spontaneous preterm birth...

..6) and LR- of 0.9 (0.7 to 1.0). CONCLUSION: There was a lack of difference in the accuracy of the various bacterial vaginosis tests for predicting preterm birth in both asymptomatic and symptomatic women of threatened preterm labour...

..Future instruments should be based on models with a comprehensive set of known risk factors. These models should be constructed and validated by international, coordinated research teams...