Annual Evidence Updates for December

If you've ever done a literature search, you'll know how time-consuming it can be. The Specialist Collections in NHS Evidence produce Annual Evidence Updates (AEUs) which undertake a review of all the literature published on a specific topic within the last 12 months. So if there is an update on a topic in your field of interest, it will save you time AND keep you up-to-date with the latest evidence! Take a look at the updates published this month - you might have an early present...


6th December

Alcoholic liver disease (NHS Evidence - gastroenterology and liver diseases)
Alcohol misuse produces a spectrum of liver injury ranging from simple fatty change through alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis and, in some 20% of individuals, to hepatocellular carcinoma. The update will present an overview of the best systematic reviews from the past year, along with commentaries from experts in the field. There will also be links to useful policy documents and other items of interest.
View it here from the 6th Dec: http://www.library.nhs.uk/gastroliver/

Malignancies post kidney transplant (NHS Evidence - kidney diseases and male urogenital disorders)
This update on post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) has reviewed the literature published over the last year and found relevant systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials and cohort studies. It will also assess the impact of the new evidence published since the introduction of the BSH/BTS guidelines for the diagnosis and management of PTLD in June 2010.
View it here from the 6th December: http://www.library.nhs.uk/kidney/

13 December

CAM for lower back pain (NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine)
This update includes a list of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and selected randomised controlled trials published since September 2009, along with commentaries from experts.
View it here from the 13th Dec: http://www.library.nhs.uk/cam/

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (NHS Evidence - genetic conditions)
It is over two years since NICE clinical guidance 71 'Identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia' was published and the topic continues to generate interest among healthcare professionals. This update includes a list of relevant guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and selected randomised controlled trials published in the last year, together with a commentary written by a relevant expert.
View it here from the 13th Dec: http://www.library.nhs.uk/geneticconditions/

Headache (NHS Evidence - neurological conditions)
The Project Team has carried out a systematic literature search on headache to identify all high level evidence published since the date of the last Headache AEU in August 2009, including guidelines, systematic reviews, health technology assessments and economic evaluations. Leading headache and migraine experts from around the UK have read and appraised these for their validity and relevance to the busy clinician. A list of the papers deemed worthy of inclusion, along with expert commentaries by reviewers, will be freely available on the site. The project team have also identified uncertainties in research to contribute to the DUETs database (see www.library.nhs.uk/duets for more details).
View it here from the 13th December: http://www.library.nhs.uk/neurological/

Spinal diseases (NHS Evidence - trauma and orthopaedics)
NHS Evidence - trauma and orthopaedics in conjunction with NHS Evidence - musculoskeletal have produced an Annual Evidence Update on Spinal Diseases. As in previous years, we have included guidelines and systematic reviews which have been published within the last 12 months. This Annual Evidence Update includes reviews covering disc surgery and minimally invasive surgery along with various therapies and treatments. This topic should be of particular interest to all health professionals working in this field.
View it here from the 13th Dec: http://www.library.nhs.uk/trauma_orthopaedics/