Abstract

Published clinical trials form the basis of our clinical information. We refer whenever possible only to trials of adequate size and design, and with appropriate statistical analysis. We prefer to cite articles published in journals which are accessible to our readers and which submit their articles to independent referees before publication. Sometimes the only studies available fall short of these standards. This is common in published proceedings of manufacturer-sponsored symposia (PPMSS). These often appear as supplements to learned journals but are seldom vetted as rigorously as articles published in the regular issues of the same journal. In future we will indicate any PPMSS publications we cite by an S before the reference number in the list of references.