Outcome-Adaptive Randomization: Is It Useful?

Is it useful?

This article describes a language advisory programme established at one New Zealand university to support students (mostly New Zealand residents from Asian language backgrounds) experiencing difficulties with the English language. The programme was offered through the university self-access centre and consisted of students meeting several times over a period of three months with a personal lang...

Microscopic Nikolsky’s Sign: Is It Useful for Diagnosis of Pemphigus Vulgaris?

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune blistering disease, caused by autoantibodies against desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and / or Dsg1 which induce the loss of adhesion between keratinocytes. Nikolsky's sign is the ability to induce peripheral extension of a blister as a consequence of applying lateral pressure to the border of an intact blister. If the weakening of the intercellular adhesi...

Worth adapting? Revisiting the usefulness of outcome-adaptive randomization.

Outcome-adaptive randomization allocates more patients to the better treatments as the information accumulates in the trial. Is it worth it to apply outcome-adaptive randomization in clinical trials? Different views permeate the medical and statistical communities. We provide additional insights to the question by conducting extensive simulation studies. Trials are designed to maintain the type...

Some Caveats for Outcome Adaptive Randomization in Clinical Trials

Sedation in neurocritical patients: is it useful?

Anesthetics are widely used in the management of neurocritical patients, although has never been proved that the use of these drugs can contribute to positive outcome. The aim of this review was to evaluate the expected benefit of anesthetics use in relation to the altered physiology of the damaged brain while considering possible related complications.