Effectiveness of screening older people for impaired vision in community setting: systematic review of evidence from randomised controlled trials

Objective: To assess whether population screening for impaired vision among older people in the community leads to improvements in vision.

Lowering blood homocysteine with folic acid based supplements: meta-analysis of randomised trials

Objective: To determine the size of reduction in homocysteine concentrations produced by dietary supplementation with folic acid and with vitamins B-12 or B-6.

Quantitative systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing antibiotic with placebo for acute cough in adults

Objectives: To assess whether antibiotic treatment for acute cough is effective and to measure the side effects of such treatment.

Fluid resuscitation with colloid or crystalloid solutions in critically ill patients: a systematic review of randomised trials

Objective: To determine the effect on mortality of resuscitation with colloid solutions compared with resuscitation with crystalloids.

Benefit of heparin in peripheral venous and arterial catheters: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objective: To evaluate the effect of heparin on duration of catheter patency and on prevention of complications associated with use of peripheral venous and arterial catheters.

Systematic review of dietary intervention trials to lower blood total cholesterol in free-living subjects

Objectives: To estimate the efficacy of dietary advice to lower blood total cholesterol concentration in free-living subjects and to investigate the efficacy of different dietary recommendations.

Effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in critically ill adult patients: systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Objective: To determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis reduces respiratory tract infections and overall mortality in unselected critically ill adult patients.