Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious disease most often seen in children during the summer. It is caused most commonly by the virus coxsackie A16, but other enteroviruses have been implicated. It presents with low grade fever, and a vesicular eruption on the hands, feet, and mouth. More serious manifestations are seen less commonly. Diagnosis is most often clinical and treatment is symptomatic in nature. The infection in a male adult is presented.
The authors reviewed 322 articles in podiatric medical journals to determine their level of evidence. Only 1% of the articles reviewed were randomized controlled trials. The authors concluded that if the podiatric medical profession wishes to become a participant in evidence-based medicine, greater emphasis must be placed on studies that assess hypotheses.
Persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are subject to a host of pathologic entities secondary to a depressed immune system. Kaposi's sarcoma frequently presents in this immunocompromised population and, therefore, diagnosis seems clinically straightforward. However, because of the prevalence of a strikingly similar infectious disease known as bacillary angiomatosis, skin biopsy of one or more lesions is crucial.
The purposes of this study were to develop an instrument to assess the validity of randomized controlled trials and to report on the differences in the validity of randomized controlled trials between two podiatric medical journals and a mainstream medical journal. The study demonstrated that after adequate training, there can be agreement among reviewers evaluating the quality of published randomized controlled trials using an established instrument and guidelines. The results of the study indicate that randomized controlled trials published in podiatric medical journals are less credible than those published in a mainstream medical journal.
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