Reviews

Flexible sigmoidoscopy versus faecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening in asymptomatic individuals
There is high quality evidence that both flexible sigmoidoscopy and faecal occult blood testing reduce colorectal cancer mortality when applied as screening tools. There is low quality indirect evidence that screening with either approach reduces colorectal cancer deaths more than the other. Major complications associated with screening require validation from studies with more complete reporting of harms. Evidence Updates

Active Vitamin D Treatment for Reduction of Residual Proteinuria: A Systematic Review
Active vitamin D analogs reduced proteinuria (weighted mean difference from baseline to last measurement was -16% [95% CI, -13% to -18%]) compared with controls (+6% [95% CI, 0% to +12%]; P < 0.001). Proteinuria reduction was achieved more commonly in patients treated with an active vitamin D analog (204/390 patients) than control patients (86/298 patients; OR, 2.72 [95% CI, 1.82 to 4.07]; P < 0.001). Thus, active vitamin D analogs may further reduce proteinuria in CKD patients in addition to current regimens. Future studies should address whether vitamin D therapy also retards progressive renal functional decline. Evidence Updates

Yoga for Essential Hypertension: A Systematic Review
There is some encouraging evidence of yoga for lowering SBP and DBP. However, due to low methodological quality of these identified trials, a definite conclusion about the efficacy and safety of yoga on EH cannot be drawn from this review. Therefore, further thorough investigation, large-scale, proper study designed, randomized trials of yoga for hypertension will be required to justify the effects reported here. Wang J, Xiong X, Liu W. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 4;8(10):e76357. PMID: 24124549

Maintenance therapy with oxytocin antagonists for inhibiting preterm birth after threatened preterm labour
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of oxytocin receptor antagonists to inhibit preterm birth after a period of threatened or actual preterm labour. Any future trials using oxytocin antagonists or other drugs as maintenance therapy for preventing preterm birth should examine a variety of important infant outcome measures, including reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and long-term infant follow-up. Future research should also focus on the pathophysiological pathways that precede preterm labour. Papatsonis DN, Flenady V, Liley H. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 13;10:CD005938. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24122673