Our meta analysis of a homogeneous set of studies is the first to provide valuable LLNs for fiber CSA according to fiber type and gender .
Skeletal muscle atrophy is a major systemic impairment in chronic diseases .
Yet its determinants have been hard to identify because a clear research definition has not been agreed upon .
The reduction in muscle fiber cross-sectional area ( CSA ) is a widely acknowledged marker of muscle atrophy , but no reference values for the muscle fiber CSA at the age of the onset of chronic disease have ever been published .
Bad reporting does not mean bad methods for randomised trials: observational study of randomised controlled trials performed by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group
Abstract Objective To determine whether poor reporting of methods in r and omised controlled trials reflects on poor methods . Design Observational study . Setting Reports of r and omised controlled trials conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group since its establishment in 1968 . Participants The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group . Outcome measures Content of reports compared with the design features described in the protocol s for all r and omised controlled trials . Results The method ological quality of 56 r and omised controlled trials was better than reported . Adequate allocation concealment was achieved in all trials but reported in only 42 % of papers . An intention to treat analysis was done in 83 % of trials but reported in only 69 % of papers . The sample size calculation was performed in 76 % of the studies , but reported in only 16 % of papers . End points were clearly defined and α and βerrors were prespecified in 76 % and 74 % of the trials , respectively , but only reported in 10 % of the papers . The one exception was the description of drop outs , where the frequency of reporting was similar to that contained in the original statistical files of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group . Conclusions The reporting of method ological aspects of r and omised controlled trials does not necessarily reflect the conduct of the trial . Review ing research protocol s and contacting trialists for more information may improve quality assessment
Our meta analysis of a homogeneous set of studies is the first to provide valuable LLNs for fiber CSA according to fiber type and gender .
Skeletal muscle atrophy is a major systemic impairment in chronic diseases .
Yet its determinants have been hard to identify because a clear research definition has not been agreed upon .
The reduction in muscle fiber cross-sectional area ( CSA ) is a widely acknowledged marker of muscle atrophy , but no reference values for the muscle fiber CSA at the age of the onset of chronic disease have ever been published .