The Revised CONSORT Statement for Reporting Randomized Trials: Explanation and Elaboration | Annals of Internal Medicine | American College of Physicians
From ICRF Medical Statistics Group and Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford, MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, University of Bristol, Bristol, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Family Health International and The School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Thomas C. Chalmers Centre for Systematic Reviews, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Tom Lang Communications, Lakewood, Ohio.
Grant Support: Financial support to convene meetings of the CONSORT group was provided in part by Abbott Laboratories, American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, GlaxoWellcome, The Lancet, Merck, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, National Library of Medicine, and TAP Pharmaceuticals.
Current Author Addresses: Professor Altman: ICRF Medical Statistics Group, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LF, United Kingdom.
Mr. Moher: Thomas C. Chalmers Center for Systematic Reviews, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Room R2226, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L1, Canada.
Dr. Davidoff: Annals of Internal Medicine, American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine, 190 N. Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Professor Elbourne: Medical Statistics Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom.
Overwhelming evidence now indicates that the quality of reporting of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) is less than optimal. Recent methodologic analyses indicate that inadequate reporting and design are associated with biased estimates of treatment effects. Such systematic error is seriously damaging to RCTs, which boast the elimination of systematic error as their primary hallmark. Systematic error in RCTs reflects poor science, and poor science threatens proper ethical standards.
A group of scientists and editors developed the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement to improve the quality of reporting of RCTs. The statement consists of a checklist and flow diagram that authors can use for reporting an RCT. Many leading medical journals and major international editorial groups have adopted the CONSORT statement. The CONSORT statement facilitates critical appraisal and interpretation of RCTs by providing guidance to authors about how to improve the reporting of their trials.
This explanatory and elaboration document is intended to enhance the use, understanding, and dissemination of the CONSORT statement. The meaning and rationale for each checklist item are presented. For most items, at least one published example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies are provided. Several examples of flow diagrams are included.
The CONSORT statement, this explanatory and elaboration document, and the associated Web site (www.consort-statement.org) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of randomized trials.
In PCI-treated ACS, switching from aspirin + a newer P2Y12 blocker to aspirin + clopidogrel reduced adverse events
After treating unprovoked PE with VKAs for 6 months, warfarin for 18 more months reduced a composite of VTE or major bleeding
In ICUs, 24-, 16-, and 12-hour overnight resident duty schedules did not differ for patient adverse events
Self-monitoring of blood glucose did not improve HbA1c or QoL at 1 year in non–insulin-treated type 2 diabetes
Vegetable Biriyani - The most exotic, rich and delicious dish found in all parts of India, but with a different version! The biriyani calls for any dry vegetables you have in hand, adding a pinch of saffron at the end really completes this dish. But many won't prefer to use saffron including my mom :) Presenting my version of vegetable biriyani.
Note: Cooking time varies from rice to rice, you can add more water and increase the cooking time as per your choice.
Yogurt Curry or Moor Kuzhambu is the most soothing curry, specially in summer. I like to make this curry even in freezy winter too :)
Let me share a Joke, which I read in Baltimore metro today's news paper . Okay, I said it's JOKE.. so you gotta laugh!! Ha ha ha...
Heat oil in a pan, add green chillies, chopped garlic, curry leaves, onion and fry till onion turns golden brown.
This vegetable Pattie is very simple and can be made in 25 mins with any sort of vegetables :)) In India, it's called as Vegetable Cutlet. It can be taken as a snack or as a breakfast with burger buns. I just love this with ketchup.
Mix the fresh bread pieces with egg and milk or water. Let it soak for few mins and mash it in to paste.
This curry can be prepared using Garbanzo, Black eye or any type of beans you like. It is a very tasty and wide known curry in india, Perfect combo for any indian bread. You can also use the canned one instead dry(dry requires 7 hrs soaking). I prepared this curry using the mix of garbanzo and black eye peas.
Soak the garbanzo and black eye peas in water for 7 hours. Cook them in 1 cup water, salt and turmeric. Keep aside.
Take one hand full of cooked beans, ginger, cumin, pepper corns, garam masala,tomato,chilly powder and ground to fine paste.
Heat oil in pan, add the chopped onion and fry to golden brown, add the ground paste and let in cook in medium heat till the raw smell fades.
Add the cooked beans in to the gravy and add water if its too thick, dry fenugreek, thyme,1 tbsp of tamarind paste and cook in low heat for 5 mins.
It tastes best when it served warm with a loads of cream cheese frosting.. I love 'em... Cinnamon bun is originated in Sweden and named as Kanelbulle(meaning - 'Cinnamon bun') Sweden celebrates October 4th as a cinnamon bun day.
I made the cinnamon rolls using the ready mix from a leading brand, it turned out really well. I also kept only half hour waiting time for the dough to rise.
1/2 cup Luke warm water, 1 egg, 2 cups dough mix (contains the mix of 2 cups flour and 1/8th sugar and pinch of salt), 1 tbsp active yeast.
Blend egg and water , add the dough mix and yeast till it forms a dough. Use flour for kneading and to remove stickiness from hand.
Spread 2tbsp butter and sprinkle generously the cinnamon topping on the surface, Roll up the rectangle dough in to a tight cylinder and cut in to small slices and place in a greased pan with distant from one another. Cover with foil and let it stand for 30 mins to rise. Pre-heat the oven to 400F and cook for 17 mins.
This is the mixture of yellow split peas, onions and spices, that are ground to coarse paste and deep fried in oil. Very simple recipe and a quite filling snack for any time of the day. These are called as 'Dhal vada' in India and 'Gateaux Piments' in Mauritius.
Step 2.Grind the remaining soaked split peas, onion, chillies, fennel seeds, pepper, ginger, to coarse by adding only 2 tbsp water.
Mauritius is well know as a vacation spot. It is truly a romantic place, natural beauty and very relaxing place as well. I had been there for couple of weeks before few years, still it stands out to be my favorite vacation spot. The best compliment to the country is the weather during the summer or atleast I enjoyed the weather in summer! I remember the quotes from Author Mark Twain : "Mauritius was made first and then the heaven was copied after Mauritius". May be its purely depends on the way you see it!
I never had a problem for Indian food when I was in Mauritius (City-Port Louis). The Mauritian Culinary contains the combination of French, Indian, Chinese and African. I was even surprised to find some road side shops which has authentic biriyani and falooda as we do in India :) The deep fried lentil cakes are also known as 'Dhal Wada' in India and they are named as 'Gateaux Piments' in Mauritius. Even though the native language is Creole, people are fluent in English (the national language) and French. But most of the Indian-Mauritians still have their roots and speaks in Hindi(Indian national language).
I must say, for the first time in my life I saw a very graceful sea (there wasn't much of a wave) and the water was so clear.
Most of the souvenir are represented in the form of a cute bird, I was so ignorant, I admit! that I don't know what that bird called as until I ask the customs officer at the airport;why this bird is so special and displayed in the form of toys in almost all the stores? He laughed at me and said its Dodo (pronounced as Do-Du) Mauritius was the only know habitat for the Dodo bird!! Hummm interesting! I bought two Dodo toys, one as key chain and other a big fur toy.
The botanical garden was so wonderful and I could not believe that I had looked at the lotus leaves which were bigger than the ears of an elephant.. huh... ears of a huge elephant. That is the uniqueness of this garden. No where in the world that carries a record of a lotus leaves bigger than this one!!Shown the pic below:
If you are interested in Diamonds, just ask your local guide they will guide you to the diamond market. I had been there its worth the visit.
Seven Colored Sand - You can see multi colored sand due to volcanic rocks that became ashes with time in Chamarel
My favorite month of the year is about to start, yes I am talking about December(Holiday time). I gotta plan for my holiday trip. See you soon with a different travel-holiday spot.
Kurma or Korma can be prepared with any types of Vegetables. I had a pack of Soy Nuggets to add in to the kurma. You can get Soy chunks in any Indian Groceri shops. Soak the soys in warm water for 2 hours before cooking.
Add the ground paste and bring to a nice boil. Mix the cauliflower, soy chunks and lima beans allow it to cook in medium flame for 7 mins.
Tomato Korma or Thakkali Kurma (as we call it in one of the Indian languages) tastes very delicious with any type or idli or dosa.
heat pan with little oil, add mustard seeds,Curry leaves, onion, hing, turmeric and fry for 5 mins. Add the chopped or crushed tomatoes and allow to boil.
Add salt, 1 cup water and the ground paste in to the boiling gravy. Let it cook in low heat for 15 mins ans turn off the heat and garnish with cilantro.
Paruppu Dosai is very healthy and usually prepared with two or more lentils. This is even easier than the regular dosa. There is no fermentation needed. This is served as breakfast or dinner.
Wash and soak the grind ingredients for 4 hours, grind to fine paste by adding red chillies, ginger and salt. keep aside.
Heat pan with oil, add cumin, curry leaves, coconut, onion, asafotida & turmeric. let it cool and add this mixture and cilantro in to the lentil paste and mix well.
kavuni is the name of this red rice. This is a authentic recipe from Southern part of Tamilnadu in India.
This is a very famous Kerala dish from South-India, prepared traditionally using shallots. It can be made with different vegetables. I used bottle gourd, goes well with rice, roti, puttu and idli, dosa.
Dry fry red chillies, coriander,gram dal, grated coconut, cumin, pepper corns. Let it cool and grind to fine paste. keep aside.
Heat pan with 1 tbsp oil, add mustard, curry leaves, asafotida, turmeric, onions, and chopped vegetables. Let it cook for 5 mins.
Lemon rice is very simple to make. You can prepare this with the left over rice or with freshly cooked rice. Each grain should be separated, adding a spoon of ghee or oil while cooking rice can help in the separation of the grain.
Hint: After cooking the rice, allow the rice to cool completely, in that way each grain will stand out separately and coated nicely in turmeric.
Sometimes, I feel my day starts just to have the lettuce sandwich as my breakfast with herbal tea. This ain't no joke, I'm telling ya the fact! Seriously, its dead boring to think of having the universal standard- cereal and hormone injected milk in the morning.
I'm quite particular in having my breakfast before 8a.m, why? may be I'm having a ridiculous belief that, its gonna boost up my metabolism and keep my energy level up through out the indolent day.
Since I take lettuce bread sandwich on seven days a week, I'm having a big lens over the nutrition facts of the bread.
I love Whole Grain and Multi Grain breads. This has low GI value (GI - Glycemic Index; responsible for converting the Carbs in to Glucose in our bloodstream. The more low it dissolves in to blood, the better.) Whole grain has low GI index(50), good source of fiber, it helps in weight management and really tastes yum. Multi Grain has GI - 48, apparently it is lesser than whole grain. There are interesting varieties in grain bread like flax seed, 7-grain, 12-grain, sunflower seed, so you would never go disappointed with the taste. I prefer the 'Bakers Inn whole grain'. Trust me, I am not endorsing this product, it just has a longer expiry period than the usual ones.
If you think that you are addicted to the taste of Whole Wheat ( GI - Medium- 67) and White bread (GI - high-71), you should look atleast for Whole Grain Wheat and Whole Grain white breads instead blindly choosing plain white bread.
This topic is recently getting so greenish among my friends circle. During any kinda meeting or get together... at least one or two would be keen in digging up this matter. Initially I thought it will be quite difficult to contribute, but its actually vice-verse and also a win-win situation. You help the planet by saving energy and you help yourself by saving money.
One of my friend had sent this link http://www.storyofstuff.com/ which is extremely informative and has lot of tips on how not to waste energy. All you need is little time and patience to listen to this video.
I ditched my Microwave, just not it saves energy; also it keeps us away from the health hazards of microwave cooking . Refer http://anncookbook.blogspot.com/2008/09/gift-from-hell-microwave-cooking.html
Once I am done watching T.V, I unplug the wire from switch board, instead just turning off the T.V ( Same applies for the rest of my electronic items)
Oh, finally I don't have a need of paper towels in my kitchen I am getting adjusted to the cloth towels.
Well, I had not reached the absolute zenith of contribution towards Go Green, just figuring out few things every day and try to apply that in my life style. Currently I am working on how to use washing machine less and save energy? (!) will update once I am done with my research. Till then you all Stay Green !
I prepared Mexican rice with multi beans and green/red peppers. This is very simple and a delicious dish.
Soak the multi beans in enough water over night and cook the beans next morning. It takes around 30 mins to cook.Heat oil, add cumin, mustard, ginger garlic paste, red and green peppers.
Any vegetables can also be added to this korma. I like potatoes and peas as default with this korma.
During my initial days of cooking, half or more than a half of work was done by my microwave, which conquered big space in my kitchen. I thought I am really saving a lot of time by using it, right from making tea to re-heating the foods and frozen items. As you all know, there are so many debates on microwave cooking. Not surprisingly, no one gives much attention to it. Since it's a big celebrity in the kitchen, its natural for us to think twice before we forsake using it. Recently, I had made a little changes in my life style by introducing Ayurvedic concepts and herbs. I want to make sure that I am not doing more harm than helping myself, but microwave cooking kept me always skeptic. I been reading through a lot of articles and doing a little research on it, I was at utter shock to find the hidden health hazards of microwave cooking.
1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].
2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.
5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.
10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.
I really felt, its very harmful to take the hellish help from the microwave and its certainly inept to be in my kitchen. I have stopped using it... have you?
Kadala Curry is a very famous south-indian dish, its a best combo for puttu. It also taste good with idli, dosa, rice and roti. Amount of coconut can be adjusted as per the taste.
Heat oil in a pan and fry the ' to grind' ingredients, let it cool down completely and grind it to fine paste using very less water, set aside.
Saute clove, fennel, cinnamon, onion, add the paste and cooked channa dhal mix well and cook in medium heat for 10 mins. If needed add water.
Heat pan with oil and make tadka with cumin, mustard, channa dal, red chillies and curry leaves. Add the chopped beans and let it cook in medium heat for 15 mins.
Grind onion, green chillies, cloves, cinnamon, poppy seeds, ginger garlic paste, coriander leaves, cashews.
Boil the gravy for 10-15 mins. Add the tamarind paste and heat for 5 mins. Finally mix the fried vathal in to the gravy. Serve with rice, papad and vegetable fry.
My favorite English poets are William Shakespeare and Wordsworth. I absolutely adore all their work, specially the one about Daffodils and Fairy Land. In my school days, I never missed a English class particularly the poem class. My English teacher had an unique style of narrating poems by using different magical vocabulary which will take us to the imaginary world of arts and literature. That's where my thirst to visit UK begins.
huh! Finally I satisfied my thirst by making couple of weeks trip to UK - Stratford upon Avon. Which is a birth place of W.Shakespeare. I always expected it to be very greenish and wealthy, having all the mountains and valleys covered with baby green grass and cute little sheeps. It certainly din't fail to meet my expectations. William Shakespeare house is now used as a museum and they still have most of the house hold items used by the poet in display. I was quite obsessed with the elegance of this place, it has very narrow roads, old buildings and churches which now stands as a historic monuments. I would be at fault, If I miss to comment on the weather which was so graceful in drizzling and making the baby green grass to shine in the sun rays.
From Startford upon avon I travelled to small town called 'Llangollen' in east wales for the famous canal-barge ride. I got a chance to experience the english breakfast with a cream tea( it includes milk, tea, scones, clotted cream and jam). while having the glorious scenic ride in the canal, I was very curious about the sheeps which had a different number written on them in different colors, I asked the lady incharge of the barge.
Well, my journey moved from Llangollen to Scotland- Edinburgh. After spending some time in a very calm country side of wales, Edinburgh epitomizes posh and liveliness. The famous castle in Edinburgh looks so fantastic and the overall city glitters in the night. Still, I have a lot to talk about my experience, but I prefer to keep it in my memories :) To the whole my journey to the land of poets were fabulous!
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by AnneeMatthew | Aug 10, 2015 | Baby, Breastfeeding, First-time Mom, Real Moms, Real Stories, Tips | 0 comments
If you’re a new Mom who is nursing your baby you may be nervous about doing so in public. Or perhaps you are disturbed by media reports of women who are harassed for breastfeeding in public and are considering pumping your milk to give your baby when you leave home.
Here are some tips for discreet breastfeeding that have worked for many Moms. Hopefully they will help you feel more comfortable nursing in public, so you can avoid the inconvenience of pumping and preparing bottles.
1. Peer support. Before you have your baby, attend a breastfeeding support group meeting, or join one on Facebook, such as Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group Singapore, that organizes frequent events.
Unfortunately in our Society that gives lip service to the benefits of breastfeeding, it is still rare to see Moms nursing in public, and so most of us grow up having our own babies never having seen another woman nurse. Going to a meeting and seeing how other Moms nurse their babies discreetly and confidently can boost your own confidence. They can also share with you tips that will make nursing in public easier for you.
2. And even more peer support. At its best, social media is wonderful for creating a sense of community and support. We’ve already compiled a list of mothers on Instagram who inspire us with their breastfeeding images and stories.
3. Invest in a baby sling. These are wonderful for making life with a baby easier all around, but one thing they’re great for is discreet breastfeeding. I can’t count the times someone approached me in a store and commented on my baby having no idea that s/he was latched on and nursing! The fabric of the sling can be adjusted to come up over the baby’s head (yet most babies don’t mind this like they do a blanket), or you can use the extra fabric on the “tail” to cover baby.
4. Gain confidence in private. After your baby is born, practice nursing in front of a mirror or a friend to perfect your technique.Once you and baby are getting to be old pros at the latch on, you can most likely do so in just a couple of seconds.
5. Nurse at the first signs of hunger. A nursing baby generally draws less attention than a screaming one! So latch your baby on as soon as you notice that s/he is hungry…rooting, sucking on fist, grimacing face, etc. A crying baby also makes you nervous and you and baby may take longer to get latched on comfortably.
7. Try nursing clothes. These are designed to cover your belly for more discreet breastfeeding. Or simply wear a thin top under a cardigan or other shirt. We’ve also weighed in on the number of nursing tops you really need.
8. Get a nursing bra. Again, these are designed for discreet breastfeeding – without that time fiddling awkwardly with your clothes, you draw less attention to yourself. Here are more benefits of nursing bras you may not have known!
9. Bring a book or large purse to set in your lap to camouflage. Your diaper bag would also work. Set it in front of baby on your knees while you latch baby on. Or hold a book so that your baby’s head and your breast are out of view.
10. Be confident! You are doing something that is best for you and baby and that women all over the world for thousands of years have done. Be proud of yourself and give passersby a warm smile. You’d be surprised how often people will smile back or even approach with a commendation or anecdote about their own children.