Proteinuria and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate

The 2009 Annual Evidence Update on Proteinuria and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) has just been published by the team in the NHS Evidence - Kidney Diseases specialist collection. It provides an update on the evidence presented during last year's National Knowledge Week on Proteinuria and eGFR. The most useful papers on Basic Science, Clinical Aspects and Management have been selected by renal experts. You can read commentaries on the latest systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials and the 2008 NICE guideline on Chronic Kidney Disease. Click on the link to access the evidence:
http://www.library.nhs.uk/kidney/ViewResource.aspx?resID=315169&tabID=289

Smile! It's the Oral Health Evidence Update

NHS Evidence - Oral Health has published its Annual Evidence Update on Oral Health to coincide with National Smile Month. All aspects of oral health are covered in the update, within the areas of oral disorders and specialist dentistry.

This update will be complemented over the coming months by several specialised evidence updates focusing on particular aspects, including periodontology, special care dentistry and oral cancer.

The 2009 Oral Health Annual Evidence Update is available here:

http://www.library.nhs.uk/oralhealth/ViewResource.aspx?resID=314804&tabID=289

Epilepsy Update

Topic Advisors at NHS Evidence - Neurological Conditions reviewed almost 800 articles in order to select the best evidence-based systematic reviews on the diagnosis, treatment and management of epilepsy for the 2009 Annual Evidence Update. Other information in the second update since 2007 includes guidelines, health technology assessments and economic evaluations. Leading epilepsy experts from around the UK have appraised these for their validity and relevance to the busy clinician. Click on the following link to view the resources and their accompanying expert commentaries: http://www.library.nhs.uk/NEUROLOGICAL/ViewResource.aspx?resID=313400

2009 Update on Skin Cancer

The second Annual Evidence Update on Skin Cancer has been prepared jointly by the NHS Evidence – cancer and NHS Evidence – skin disorders specialist collections. The update presents the results of a search for new guidance since May 2008, including systematic reviews and other literature on melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Various health professionals from the UK and abroad have contributed expert commentaries on new topics included in the update. There is also a list of uncertainties about treatment effects in skin cancer, which have been gathered from the systematic reviews. These knowledge gaps, where new research is needed, have been added to DUETS, the UK Database of Uncertainties about the Effects of Treatment.

A wide range of patient information resources are also provided.

View the entire update here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/Cancer/ViewResource.aspx?resID=312455&tabID=289

Update on Cystic Fibrosis

The first Annual Evidence Update on Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has been published by NHS Evidence - Respiratory and NHS Evidence - Genetic Conditions. It presents an extensive list of systematic reviews and guidelines on CF published since 2005, along with expert commentaries and details of relevant associations. You can access the Update here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/RESPIRATORY/ViewResource.aspx?resID=311628&tabID=288&catID=5883

Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Asthma

The NHS Evidence - Complementary and Alternative Medicine team has produced the 2009 Annual Evidence Update on CAM for Asthma. New additions include systematic reviews which have a main focus on asthma, and other reviews examining specific therapeutic approaches. The resources are accompanied by an expert commentary. In addition, a number of reviews have been selected as relevant educational material. The Update can be viewed here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/cam/ViewResource.aspx?resID=313286&tabID=289

Some useful websites

Orphanet is a database of rare diseases. It contains information about more than 5000 conditions. You can search for research and trials being undertaken across Europe, as well as details of clinics and patient organisations. Click here to view the portal: http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/index.php

Martindale’s Health Science Guide is useful for multimedia resources, and has a wide variety of images and video clips in many medical specialties. http://www.martindalecenter.com/HSGuide.html

OTIS: The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists is a not-for-profit association based in North America and it provides evidence-based clinical information about exposure to any type of drug, disease, etc., during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Its website includes details of ongoing and completed research, as well as patient-friendly factsheets. View it here: http://www.otispregnancy.org/hm/

The Drugs and Lactation database (LactMed) is an American peer-reviewed database of drugs to which breastfeeding mothers may be exposed. It is supported by the US National Library of Medicine. Topics include the possible effects of each drug on mothers and infants, as well as alternative medication, and are fully referenced. It is freely accessible here: http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT

BMJ Best Treatments

The Guardian has teamed up with the British Medical Journal Group to provide access to Best Treatments: a source of independent, high quality patient information on a wide range of health topics. For patient-friendly information about the causes and symptoms of a medical condition, and the top treatment options, click on http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments

Neurological Conditions

'NHS Evidence - neurological conditions' has recently published its May 2009 Update.

New additions include guidelines from the Intensive Care Society and NICE, a number of Cochrane Reviews and various neurology-related patient information video clips produced by NHS Choices.

Editors' Picks include a report from the Stroke Association and a review on the treatment of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

To view the latest evidence in this area, click here: http://tinyurl.com/d65zfe

Annual Evidence Update on Rhinitis

The 2009 Annual Evidence Update for Rhinitis has now been published and it presents quality research evidence from the past 12 months on key rhinitis topics, along with ongoing therapeutic uncertainties. The contents include recently published guidelines, clinical tools, statistics, systematic reviews, clinical trials and diagnositic studies, as well as links to evaluated patient information websites.

The update pages are available at http://tinyurl.com/qstqr8 and would be useful for healthcare professionals working in ENT, respiratory and primary care.

MAY 2009

"April showers bring forth May flowers..."

1670 J. Ray English Proverbs 41