DynaMed Weekly Update

August 18, 2009

Volume 4 Issue 33

DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance

For the week ending August 14, 2009

This week, 1,103 articles were considered for inclusion in DynaMed and 332 met criteria for inclusion.

Based on the criteria of selecting “articles most likely to change clinical practice,” one article of significant interest is included in this weekly update.

Neuraminidase Inhibitors May Reduce Duration of Seasonal Influenza Symptoms by 0.5-1 Day

Neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu), have previously been shown in a Cochrane review to modestly reduce the duration of seasonal influenza symptoms in otherwise healthy adults with confirmed influenza (level 1 [likely reliable] evidence). This review established efficacy but reported only relative results, so it did not clearly establish the magnitude of effect (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009 Apr 15;(2):CD001265).

A new systematic review of 26 randomized trials evaluated the magnitude of effect for reducing symptoms, but results were limited by heterogeneity and methodologic limitations in most trials (level 2 [mid-level] evidence). In healthy adults with no known comorbidities, neuraminidase inhibitors were associated with statistically significant reductions in symptom duration, by median 0.55-0.57 days. A subgroup analysis of patients at higher risk of influenza-related complications (mostly adults) found that zanamivir was associated with a statistically significant reduction in symptom duration, by median 0.98 days, while oseltamivir was associated with a borderline significant reduction of 0.74 days (Lancet Infect Dis 2009 Sep;9(9):537).

For more information, see the Influenza in adults topic in DynaMed.

For the latest evidence-based influenza-related information available for free, visit www.ebscohost.com/flu.

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DynaMed Topic Activity

New summaries added to DynaMed this week:

· Abdominal trauma in pregnancy

· Benign rolandic epilepsy

· Pleural effusion - diagnostic evaluation

· Swallowing dysfunction after stroke

DynaMed Peer Review

We are currently seeking reviewers for:

· Abdominal trauma in pregnancy

· Pleural effusion - diagnostic evaluation

For more information, see Editorial Policies for Authors & Reviewers and DynaMed Peer Review.

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DynaMed Weekly Update Archives

DynaMed Weekly Update is a compilation of 1 to 5 articles that are of significant interest to clinicians. Articles are selected from DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance as articles most likely to change clinical practice. Updates are prepared by the DynaMed Editorial Team which includes 28 clinicians from multiple disciplines. Send comments to DynaMedEditor@epnet.com. To learn more about DynaMed, go to www.dynamicmedical.com.

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Copyright © 2009 EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.
DynaMed® is a registered trademark of and published by DynaMed LLC. Original date of on-line publication December 15, 1995 with continuous daily updating. ISSN: 1554-1177. Subscriptions and queries can be addressed to DynaMed LLC, EBSCO Publishing, 10 Estes St., Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA 01938-0602, telephone (978) 356-6500, facsimile (978) 356-6565, e-mail Editor@DynamicMedical.com. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and editors and may or may not represent the official position of cooperating or endorsing Medical Societies. Development of DynaMed was supported in part by the National Science Foundation through a Small Business Innovative Research grant. (All other support comes from subscriptions. No advertisements are accepted.)