Objective: To summarise the evidence about the efficacy and safety of using GH in adults with GH deficiency focusing on quality of life and body composition. Data sources: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science and Scopus through April 2011. We also reviewed reference lists and contacted experts to identify candidate studies. Study selection: Reviewers, working independently and in duplicate, selected randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared GH to placebo. Data synthesis: We pooled the relative risk (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) by the random effects model and assessed heterogeneity using the I 2 statistic. Results: Fifty-four RCTs were included enrolling over 3400 patients. The quality of the included trials was fair. GH use was associated with statistically significant reduction in weight (WMD, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): K2.31 kg, K2.66 and K1.96) and body fat content (WMD, 95% CI: K2.56 kg, K2.97 and K2.16); increase in lean body mass (WMD, 95% CI: 1.38, 1.10 and 1.65), the risk of oedema (RR, 95% CI: 6.07, 4.34 and 8.48) and joint stiffness (RR, 95% CI: 4.17, 1.4 and 12.38); without significant changes in body mass index, bone mineral density or other adverse effects. Quality of life measures improved in 11 of the 16 trials although meta-analysis was not feasible. Results: GH therapy in adults with confirmed GH deficiency reduces weight and body fat, increases lean body mass and increases oedema and joint stiffness. Most trials demonstrated improvement in quality of life measures.

Context: The diagnostic accuracy of tests used to diagnose GH deficiency (GHD) in adults is unclear. Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that provided data on the available diagnostic tests. Data sources: We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Sciences, and Scopus) through April 2011. Study selection: Review of reference lists and contact with experts identified additional candidate studies. Reviewers, working independently and in duplicate, determined study eligibility. Data extraction: Reviewers, working independently and in duplicate, determined the methodological quality of studies and collected descriptive, quality, and outcome data. Data synthesis: Twenty-three studies provided diagnostic accuracy data; none provided patient outcome data. Studies had fair methodological quality, used several reference standards, and included over 1100 patients. Several tests based on direct or indirect stimulation of GH release were associated with good diagnostic accuracy, although most were assessed in one or two studies decreasing the strength of inference due to small sample size. Serum levels of GH or IGF1 had low diagnostic accuracy. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of the two most commonly used stimulation tests were found to be 95 and 89% for the insulin tolerance test and 73 and 81% for the GHRHCarginine test respectively. Metaanalytic estimates for accuracy were associated with substantial heterogeneity. Conclusion: Several tests with reasonable diagnostic accuracy are available for the diagnosis of GHD in adults. The supporting evidence, however, is at high risk of bias (due to heterogeneity, methodological limitations, and imprecision).

Objetivos. Evaluar si la taquipnea y las retracciones subcostales son predictoras eficientes para el diagnóstico de neumonía adquirida en la comunidad (NAC) en niños. Materiales y métodos. Se revisaron las bases de datos: PubMed, LILACS, The African Journal Database y The Cochrane Central Library. Se incluyeron estudios originales que evaluaron el rendimiento diagnóstico de los criterios clínicos de taquipnea o retracciones subcostales, definidos según los criterios de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para el diagnóstico de NAC en niños de hasta cinco años de edad con tos y fiebre. Se estimaron las razones de probabilidades (LR), el odds ratio diagnostico (DOR) y sus respectivos intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC95%) para cada prueba clínica evaluada. Resultados. Se encontraron 975 estudios, incluyendo ocho en la revisión. Se enrolaron 4740 pacientes y analizaron 3584 (75%), de los cuales 916 (19%) tuvieron el diagnóstico de NAC. Al combinar los datos, la taquipnea obtuvo una LR positiva de 3,16, (IC95% 2,11-4,73) y una LR negativa de 0,36 (IC95% 0,23-0,57). El DOR fue de 10,63 (IC95% 4,4-25,66, I 2 =93%). Al realizar el análisis para retracciones subcostales se obtuvo un LR positivo de 2,49 (IC95% 1,41-4,37) y un LR negativo de 0,59 (IC95% 0,4-0,87). El DOR fue de 5,32 (IC95% 1,88-15,05, I 2 =89%). Conclusiones. Se puede tomar en cuenta la presencia o ausencia de taquipnea y retracciones subcostales en el diagnóstico de NAC, cabe considerar la incertidumbre relativa en su poder diagnóstico y los LR relativamente modestos. La confianza en estos resultados es baja por la inadecuada calidad de la evidencia en este tema.Palabras clave: Frecuencia respiratoria; Neumonía; Niños; Metanálisis; Revisión sistemática (fuente: DeCS BIREME). IDENTIFICATION OF TACHYPNEA AND SUBCOSTAL RETRACTIONS AS CLINICAL SIGNS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA AMONG CHILDREN: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS ABSTRACTObjectives. Determine whether tachypnea and subcostal retractions can be efficient predictors for the diagnosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) among children. Materials and methods. These were the databases used: PubMed, LILACS, The African Journal Database and The Cochrane Central Library. Original studies were included which assessed the diagnostic performance of the clinical criteria for tachypnea or subcostal retraction defined in accordance with the criteria of the World Health Organization (OMS) for CAP diagnosis in children ≤ 5 with cough and fever. The likelihood ratio (LR), the diagnosis odds ratio (DOR), and their respective confidence intervals at 95% (IC95%) were estimated for each clinical test. Results. 975 studies were found, eight were included in the review. 4740 patients were enrolled and 3584 (75%) were analyzed, 916 (19%) of which had a CAP diagnosis. When data were combined, tachypnea had a positive LR of 3.16, (95% CI 2.11-4.73) and a negative LR of 0.36 (95% CI 0.23-0.57). The DOR was 10.63 (95% CI 4.4-25.66, I2=93%). When subcostal retractions were analyzed, a positive...

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