To apply meta-analysis to compare the utility of lymphangiography (LAG), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in patients with cervical cancer.

To evaluate the effectiveness of dexamethasone in bacterial meningitis in the subcategories of causative organism and timing and nature of antibiotic therapy.

To provide an evidence-based practice guideline on the pharmacological management of alcohol withdrawal.

We systematically reviewed the literature to ascertain how well clinicians determine the probability and type of left-sided heart failure in their patients. Left-sided heart failure is characterized by decreased left ventricular ejection fraction or increased filling pressure. The type of heart failure determines optimal treatment. Systolic dysfunction exists when ejection fraction is reduced. Diastolic dysfunction is presumed to be present when filling pressure is increased with a normal ejection fraction and without another explanatory diagnosis. Many findings are associated with heart failure, and wide variation exists in clinicians' ability to detect these findings. The best findings for detecting increased filling pressure are jugular venous distention and radiographic redistribution. The best findings for detecting systolic dysfunction are abnormal apical impulse, radiographic cardiomegaly, and q waves or left bundle branch block on an electrocardiogram. Diastolic dysfunction is especially difficult to diagnose, but is associated with an elevated blood pressure during heart failure.

To assess the effects of supplementation with oral potassium on blood pressure in humans.

To evaluate the effect of treatment with alendronate sodium, a potent aminobisphosphonate, on the incidence of nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

To review the scientific evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of various antihypertensive therapies used as first-line agents and evaluated in terms of major disease end points.

To determine the effects of a purine nucleoside, acadesine, on the incidence of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

To review and discuss the differences and similarities between the use of crack cocaine and cocaine hydrochloride; and to determine how these findings might affect policies on the imprisonment and treatment of cocaine users.

To determine whether a glycosylated hemoglobin level can be used in place of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to diagnose diabetes.

To estimate the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and death in patients with unstable angina who are treated with aspirin plus heparin compared with patients treated with aspirin alone.

- To ascertain whether restriction of dietary sodium lowers blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive individuals.

To determine the ability of various antihypertensive agents to reduce left ventricular hypertrophy, a strong, blood pressure-independent cardiovascular risk factor, in persons with essential hypertension.

To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in infants.

To review the effect of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on blood pressure, preeclampsia, and adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

To review the effect of supplemental calcium on blood pressure.

To resolve discrepancies in previous systematic overviews and provide estimates of the effect of stress ulcer prophylaxis on gastrointestinal bleeding, pneumonia, and mortality in critically ill patients.

To systematically review the medical literature on the prognosis and outcomes of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

To study the relationship between the methodological quality and other characteristics of reviews of spinal manipulation for low back pain on the one hand and the reviewers' conclusions on the effectiveness of manipulation on the other hand.

To examine the effects of sugar on the behavior or cognition of children by using meta-analytic techniques on reported studies.