BioMed Central Blog
Research needed to prevent enrollment error
In a systematic review published this week in Trials, Simpson and colleagues investigate techniques and interventions to reduce inappropriate enrollment of patients into clinical trials. Key
eligibility criteria ensure the exclusion of patients likely to be harmed by treatments,
and enrollment of patients in violation of these criteria can result in
avoidable harm including serious adverse events and death.
A
systematic review of techniques and interventions for improving
adherence to inclusion and exclusion criteria during enrolment into
randomised controlled trials
Fiona Simpson, Elizabeth A Sweetman, Gordon S Doig
Trials 2010, 11:17 (23 February 2010)
[Abstract] [Provisional PDF]
A search of the literature uncovered only one abstract describing an intervention designed to reduce enrollment error - a dummy enrollment run-in phase that was found to be effective in reducing inappropriate enrollment during the actual clinical trial. As a first step to addressing the paucity of literature on this topic, Simpson et al recommend that authors report all protocol violations, including non-adherence to inclusion and exclusion criteria, within the primary results paper. However, given the serious potential implications, it is hard to ignore the authors' call for more research to identify and validate new techniques to reduce enrollment error.
Posted by Victoria Thompson at 16:37 Comments (0)
Predicting progression of Alzheimer's disease
The rate at which Alzheimer's disease progresses varies greatly between patients. Clinicians are often asked by patients and their families to predict the rate of decline, however there is currently little data available to base such predictions on. In research published in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy this week, Doody et al. have used a simple, calculated progression rate at initial visit to predict future performance of patients at assessments of cognition and activities of daily living.
Predicting
progression of Alzheimer's disease
Rachelle
S
Doody,
Valory
Pavlik,
Paul
Massman,
Susan
D
Rountree,
Eveleen
Darby,
Wenyaw
Chan
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy
2010,
2:2
(23 February 2010)
Abstract
|
Provisional
PDF
Their research may have implications for research as well as the clinic. Incorporating pre-progression rates into clinical trial design should enhance the power of such studies to find real treatment differences. And their inclusion in trial design may reduce the duration of trials investigating disease-modifying treatments that could potentially benefit patients with this devastating condition.
Posted by Frances Mulvany at 14:48 Comments (0)
Neural Systems & Circuits is now accepting submissions!
Neural Systems & Circuits, a new open access journal focusing on systems and computational neuroscience, is now accepting submissions.
Neural Systems & Circuits aims to publish exciting research on how individual neurons interact at the network level to perform interesting computations, and welcomes studies combining theory and experiment, reports of technical or analytical innovations and large-scale genetic or connectomic studies.
This new BioMed Central journal is overseen by co-Editors-in-Chief Peter Latham (Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL, UK) and Venkatesh Murthy (Harvard University, USA), who are supported by an expert Editorial Board
For more information on Neural Systems & Circuits, please visit the journal website or contact the Editorial Office. Why not register for updates keeping you abreast of any journal developments?
Submit your research to Neural Systems & Circuits, and take advantage of an efficient online submission process, rapid, high-quality peer-review service, and high visibility. There are no extra charges or limits on the number of color figures or videos you wish to include.
Posted by Emma Pettengale at 10:04 Comments (1)
Meet Professor Jean-Louis Vincent at ISICEM
The International Symposium on Intensive Care Medicine (ISICEM) is an annual event open to all intensivists and clinicians working in the critical care field, and is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this March. To mark this occasion, Critical Care is giving delegates a unique opportunity to meet Editor-in-Chief and ISICEM chairman Prof Jean-Louis Vincent, and ask him any question about the journal, and the critical care field.
To take part in this event, please contact ISICEM@ccforum.com to express your interest and submit your question to Prof Vincent.
Critical Care Meet the Editor Event:
Thursday 11 March 2010
17:00 - 18:00pm
Room 211
Whether you're asking a question or listening to the answers, please come along and be a part of the debate. Places will be limited however, so please contact us in advance to avoid disappointment.
Critical Care and BioMed Central will be exhibiting at ISICEM from the 9th -12th March, offering all delegates a free one-year subscription to the journal. All research published in Critical Care is open access; reviews, commentaries and reports require a subscription.
Surayya Johar - In-house Editor Critical Care
Posted by Frances Mulvany at 08:48 Comments (0)