NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

NIH consensus development statement on management of hepatitis B.
CONCLUSIONS: The most important predictors of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in persons who have chronic HBV are persistently elevated HBV DNA and ALT levels in blood. Other risk factors include HBV genotype C infection, male sex, older age, family history of hepatocellular carcinoma, and co-infection with HCV or HIV. The major goals of anti-HBV therapy are to prevent the development of progressive disease, specifically cirrhosis and liver failure, as well as hepatocellular carcinoma development and subsequent death. To date, no RCTs of anti-HBV therapies have demonstrated a beneficial impact on overall mortality, l...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement: Family History and Improving Health: August 24-26, 2009.
Authors: Berg AO, Baird MA, Botkin JR, Driscoll DA, Fishman PA, Guarino PD, Hiatt RA, Jarvik GP, Millon-Underwood S, Morgan TM, Mulvihill JJ, Pollin TI, Schimmel SR, Stefanek ME, Vollmer WM, Williams JK PMID: 19721470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements)
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH state-of-the-science conference statement: diagnosis and management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis and management of DCIS is highly complex with many unanswered questions, including the fundamental natural history of untreated disease. Because of the noninvasive nature of DCIS, coupled with its favorable prognosis, strong consideration should be given to remove the anxiety-producing term "carcinoma" from the description of DCIS. The outcomes in women treated with available therapies are excellent. Thus, the primary question for future research must focus on the accurate identification of patient subsets diagnosed with DCIS, including those persons who may be managed with less therapeutic inter...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH state-of-the-science conference statement: Enhancing use and quality of colorectal cancer screening.
CONCLUSIONS: The panel found that despite substantial progress toward higher colorectal cancer screening rates nationally, screening rates fall short of desirable levels. Targeted initiatives to improve screening rates and reduce disparities in underscreened communities and population subgroups could further reduce colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality. This could be achieved by utilizing the full range of screening options and evidence-based interventions for increasing screening rates. With additional investments in quality monitoring, Americans could be assured that all screening achieves high rates of cancer preven...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH consensus development conference statement: Lactose intolerance and health.
CONCLUSIONS: • Lactose intolerance is a real and important clinical syndrome, but its true prevalence is not known. • The majority of people with lactose malabsorption do not have clinical lactose intolerance. Many individuals who think they are lactose intolerant are not lactose malabsorbers. • Many individuals with real or perceived lactose intolerance avoid dairy and ingest inadequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, which may predispose them to decreased bone accrual, osteoporosis, and other adverse health outcomes. In most cases, individuals do not need to eliminate dairy consumption completely. • Evidence-ba...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH consensus development conference draft statement on vaginal birth after cesarean: new insights.
CONCLUSIONS: Given the available evidence, trial of labor is a reasonable option for many pregnant women with one prior low transverse uterine incision. The data reviewed in this report show that both trial of labor and elective repeat cesarean delivery for a pregnant woman with one prior transverse uterine incision have important risks and benefits and that these risks and benefits differ for the woman and her fetus. This poses a profound ethical dilemma for the woman, as well as her caregivers, because benefit for the woman may come at the price of increased risk for the fetus and vice versa. This conundrum is worsened b...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH state-of-the-science conference statement: Preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.
CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and are substantially burdensome to the affected persons, their caregivers, and society in general. Extensive research over the past 20 years has provided important insights on the nature of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline and the magnitude of the problem. Nevertheless, there remain important and formidable challenges in conducting research on these diseases, particularly in the area of prevention. Currently, firm conclusions cannot be drawn about the association of any modifiable risk factor with cogn...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH consensus development conference: Inhaled nitric oxide therapy for premature infants.
CONCLUSIONS: (1) Taken as a whole, the available evidence does not support use of inhaled nitric oxide in early routine, early rescue, or later rescue regimens in the care of premature infants <34 weeks gestation who require respiratory support. (2) There are rare clinical situations, including pulmonary hypertension or hypoplasia, that have been inadequately studied in which inhaled nitric oxide may have benefit in infants <34 weeks gestation. In such situations, clinicians should communicate with families regarding the current evidence on its risks and benefits as well as remaining uncertainties. (3) Basic research...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH State-of-the-Science Conference Statement: Role of active surveillance in the management of men with localized prostate cancer.
CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has identified many men with low-risk disease. Because of the very favorable prognosis of low-risk prostate cancer, strong consideration should be given to modifying the anxiety-provoking term "cancer" for this condition. Treatment of low-risk prostate cancer patients with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy leads to side effects such as impotence and incontinence in a substantial number. Active surveillance has emerged as a viable option that should be offered to patients with low-risk prostate cancer. More than 100,000 men a year d...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research

NIH consensus development conference: diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus.
CONCLUSIONS: At present, GDM is commonly diagnosed in the United States using a 1-hour screening test with a 50-gram glucose load followed by a 3-hour 100-gram glucose tolerance test (a two-step approach) for those found to be abnormal on the screen. This approach identifies approximately 5% to 6% of the population as having GDM. In contrast, newly proposed diagnostic strategies rely on the administration of a 2-hour glucose tolerance test (a one-step approach) with a fasting component and a 75-gram glucose load. These strategies differ on whether a 1-hour sample is included, whether two abnormal values are required, and t...
Source: NIH Consensus and State of the Science Statements - November 16, 2014 Category: American Health Tags: NIH Consens State Sci Statements Source Type: research