The clearest advantage of new generation, atypical antipsychotics is a reduced risk of extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS), compared with conventional compounds. These findings might have been biased by the use of the high-potency antipsychotic haloperidol as a comparator in most of the trials. We aimed to establish whether the new drugs induce fewer EPS than low-potency conventional antipsychotics.

More than a decade ago, a mammography screening programme for women aged 50-69 years was initiated in the Netherlands. Our aim was to assess the effect of this programme on breast-cancer mortality rates.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is believed to be the most important cause of cervical cancer. Recent studies suggest that long duration use of oral contraceptives increases the risk of cervical cancer in HPV positive women.

We aimed to review published work for the efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with simulated ECT, ECT versus pharmacotherapy, and different forms of ECT for patients with depressive illness.

Antidepressant drugs can promote remission from acute depressive episodes. Our aim was to establish how long such treatments should be continued to prevent relapse.

Recombinant interferons have been approved by many national regulatory agencies for treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, but widespread discussion continues about their true effectiveness, benefits, side-effects, and costs.

Results from a retrospective analysis of the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) study suggest that angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may be less effective in patients receiving aspirin. We aimed to confirm or refute this theory.

Infrared ear thermometry is frequently used in children, because this is a quick method of taking temperature and the ear is easily accessible. Our aim was to evaluate agreement between temperature measured at the rectum and ear in children.

We did a systematic review, with a uniform method of assessment of efficacy and safety, to assess the different interventions available for the management of Parkinson's disease (drugs, surgical interventions, and physical treatments) with respect to the following indications: prevention of disease progression, symptomatic treatment of motor features (parkinsonism), symptomatic control of motor complications, prevention of motor complications, and symptomatic treatment of non-motor features. Our aim was not to define practice guidelines, but rather to improve clinicians' knowledge of the presently available published clinical evidence, based mainly on randomised controlled trials. We hope that our review will help doctors to incorporate this background into their own decision-making strategy to make appropriate choices with respect to the treatment of individual patients with Parkinson's disease.

Venous ulcers are usually treated with compression therapy, but, because this treatment may not be effective for some people, adjuvant therapy could be beneficial. We did a systematic review of randomised controlled trials that compared pentoxifylline (with and without compression treatment) with placebo, or other treatments, in patients with venous leg ulcers.

Evidence for cost-effectiveness of interventions for HIV/AIDS in Africa is fragmentary. Cost-effectiveness is, however, highly relevant. African governments face difficult choices in striking the right balance between prevention, treatment, and care, all of which are necessary to deal comprehensively with the epidemic. Reductions in drug prices have raised the priority of treatment, though treatment access is restricted. We assessed the existing cost-effectiveness data and its implications for value-for-money strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Trials on the effect of systemic chemotherapy on survival and recurrence in adults with high-grade glioma have had inconclusive results. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of such treatment on survival and recurrence.

About 9 million people are imprisoned worldwide, but the number with serious mental disorders (psychosis, major depression, and antisocial personality disorder) is unknown. We did a systematic review of surveys on such disorders in general prison populations in western countries.

UK government proposals to reduce the risks posed by people with "dangerous" severe personality disorders (DSPD) include a new legal framework for indeterminate detention. We aimed to establish the degree to which those operating the framework will be able to predict which people will act violently in the future.

Rates of caesarean sections in more-developed countries have been rising since 1970, and vary greatly between less-developed countries. Present estimates, based on data from more-developed countries need to be validated with data from less-developed countries. We estimated the need for caesarean section for maternal indication in a population of pregnant women in west Africa (MOMA survey).

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the commonest major operation in most developed countries. A single internal mammary artery (IMA) graft has proven survival benefits, but the additional survival advantage of a second graft is unknown. We systematically reviewed published studies of bilateral versus single IMA grafts in CABG to assess any differences in survival.

The US National Cancer Institute alert in February, 1999, stated that concomitant chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be considered for all patients with cervical cancer. Our aim was to review the effects of chemoradiotherapy on overall and progression-free survival, local and distant control, and acute and late toxicity in patients with cervical cancer.

There is a lack of strong evidence on the effectiveness of the content, frequency, and timing of visits in standard antenatal-care programmes. We undertook a systematic review of randomised trials assessing the effectiveness of different models of antenatal care. The main hypothesis was that a model with a lower number of antenatal visits, with or without goal-oriented components, would be as effective as the standard antenatal-care model in terms of clinical outcomes, perceived satisfaction, and costs.

Throughout history, doctor-patient relationships have been acknowledged as having an important therapeutic effect, irrespective of any prescribed drug or treatment. We did a systematic review to determine whether there was any empirical evidence to support this theory.

Concern about upper-genital-tract infection related to intrauterine devices (IUDs) limits their wider use. In this systematic review I summarise the evidence concerning IUD-associated infection and infertility. Choice of an inappropriate comparison group, overdiagnosis of salpingitis in IUD users, and inability to control for the confounding effects of sexual behaviour have exaggerated the apparent risk. Women with symptomless gonorrhoea or chlamydial infection having an IUD inserted have a higher risk of salpingitis than do uninfected women having an IUD inserted; however, the risk appears similar to that of infected women not having an IUD inserted. A cohort study of HIV-positive women using a copper IUD suggests that there is no significant increase in the risk of complications or viral shedding. Similarly, fair evidence indicates no important effect of IUD use on tubal infertility. Contemporary IUDs rival tubal sterilisation in efficacy and are much safer than previously thought.