BACKGROUND A critical issue for multicentre clinical studies is conducting site initiations, ensuring sites are trained in study procedures and comply with relevant governance requirements before they begin recruiting patients. How technology can support site initiations has not previously been explored. OBJECTIVE This study sought to evaluate use of off-the-shelf web-based videoconferencing ...

In phase I cancer clinical trials, the maximum tolerated dose of a new drug is often found by a dose-escalation method known as the A + B design. We have developed an interactive web application, AplusB, which computes and returns exact operating characteristics of A + B trial designs. The application has a graphical user interface (GUI), requires no programming knowledge and is free to access ...

We apply Bayesian decision analysis (BDA) to incorporate patient preferences in the regulatory approval process for new therapies. By assigning weights to type I and type II errors based on patient preferences, the significance level (α) and power (1-β) of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) for a new therapy can be optimized to maximize the value to current and future patients and, consequently,...

Although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) play a key role in modern medicine, considerable variability exists in their quality and in the reliability (reproducibility) of their results. The present article discusses features that characterize high-quality trials, such as intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis, the avoidance of patient exclusions, and a procedure for evaluating the reliability of stu...

We study reactions to entry in a Cournot model, contrasting the case where firms are endowed with unchangeable technologies against that where technologies are flexible. By the latter we mean that firms can change the installed production technique at zero cost (fully flexible technologies). We show that when firms are technologically flexible, entry can increase equilibrium prices. The analysi...

The concept of evidence-based medicine has gained broad support in the medical community, because clinical decisions based on information from rigorous scientific study are most likely to provide optimal care. Researchers attempt to answer clinical questions using either observational studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Observational studies currently dominate the surgical literatur...

Objective: We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis study to determine saffron (Crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety in male infertility problems. Materials and Methods: The databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, SID, IranMedex and Magiran until July 2016 and reference section of relevant articles, were searched to find both English and Persian clinical trials on m...

background: super oxidized water (sow), as a novel antiseptic solution, is used with claims of effectiveness and cost effectiveness in healing chronic wounds such as diabetic foot, infectious post-operative ulcers and burn ulcers. we conducted a health technology assessment to evaluate the clinical evidence from clinical and randomized trials for this disinfection. this study aims to evaluate t...