Quasi-abelian codes constitute an important class of linear codes containing theoretically and practically interesting codes such as quasi-cyclic codes, abelian codes, and cyclic codes. In particular, the sub-class consisting of 1-generator quasi-abelian codes contains large families of good codes. Based on the well-known decomposition of quasi-abelian codes, the characterization and enumeratio...

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are increasingly popular in the social sciences, not only in medicine. We argue that the lay public, and sometimes researchers, put too much trust in RCTs over other methods of investigation. Contrary to frequent claims in the applied literature, randomization does not equalize everything other than the treatment in the treatment and control groups, it does n...

Although randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are universally regarded as the standard for establishing treatment efficacy (Shapiro and Louis 1983), relatively few RCTs have been attempted in the field of outpatient drug abuse treatment. Of those that have been attempted, most have reported subject recruitment and retention to be among the most pervasive problems encountered. Considerable attentio...

The role of real-world evidence (RWE) in regulatory, drug development, and healthcare decision-making is rapidly expanding. Recent advances have increased the complexity of cancer care and widened the gap between randomized clinical trial (RCT) results and the evidence needed for real-world clinical decisions. Instead of remaining invisible, data from the >95% of cancer patients treated outside...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A wide body of research suggests that the nature of communication between patients and physicians is strongly related to health outcomes. Interventions that involve teaching patients to communicate with physicians are important to assess in this context. METHODS We conducted a review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the outpatient setting from 1975 to 2000. ...

Although the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been established in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), safety concerns have emerged, particularly with regard to risk of infection, malignancy, and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Because of the shorter duration and limited number of patients enrolled in RCTs, evidence regarding t...

A systematic search was performed to identify active, externally funded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that target suicidal ideation or behavior as a primary or secondary outcome among U.S. military service members, guard-reservists, and veterans. Twenty-three studies were identified, most funded by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Several innovations ...

PURPOSE To discuss the methodological considerations of a standard and applicable randomized clinical trial (RCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a predefined strategy, we conducted systematic computerized search of the MEDLINE (1966 to 2011) and EMBASE (1980 to 2011) databases to identify all English language educational articles discussing the RCT methodological aspects. Full text versions of ...

leagues in the June 2004 Canadian Journal of Surgery (volume 47, pages 200–208) nicely takes readers through the process of assessing the value of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) in surgery. These steps are based on the invaluable work of the Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group (EBMWG). Considerable effort has also gone into standardizing reportage of RCTs. Thoma’s article has 35 references...

BACKGROUND Very elderly subjects (VES; aged 80 years or older) constitute a special population as they frequently present multiple diseases (polypathology). Results from trials on general adult populations therefore cannot be extrapolated to VES. We performed a census of randomized controlled trials (RCT) on VES published between 1990 and 2002, and carried out a descriptive and methodological a...