Value-impregnated factual claims and slippery-slope arguments

Slippery-slope arguments typically question a course of action by estimating that it will end in misery once the first unfortunate step is taken. Previous studies indicate that estimations of the long-term consequences of certain debated actions, such as legalizing physician-assisted suicide, may be strongly influenced by tacit personal values. In this paper, we suggest that to the extent that slippery-slope arguments rest on estimations of future events, they may be mere rationalizations of personal values. This might explain why there are proponents even for strikingly poor slippery-slope arguments.     

Real-world prospective analysis of treatment patterns in durvalumab maintenance after chemoradiotherapy in unresectable,locally advanced NSCLC patients

Investigational New Drugs - The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the clinical use and real-world efficacy of durvalumab maintenance treatment after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in...     

Outcome after carpal tunnel release: impact of factors related to metabolic syndrome

Objective: The standard surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), with an open carpal tunnel release, is reported to relieve symptoms in most patients. In a retrospective observational study, outcome after open carpal tunnel release was evaluated, focusing on factors related to the metabolic syndrome: diabetes, hypertension, obesity (BMI ≥30) and statin treatment.

Methods: Results from 493 out of 962 patients (531/1044 hands) operated for CTS during 18 months that had filled in QuickDASH questionnaires before and 1-year after surgery were included in the study.

Results: Patients with diabetes (n?=?76) had higher QuickDASH scores pre- (56 [36–77]; i.e. median [interquartile range]) and postoperatively (31 [9–61]) compared to patients without diabetes (48 [32–66]; p?p?10 (74% vs 61%; p?Conclusions: Patients with diabetes without neuropathy, as well as patients with hypertension, obesity or statin treatment, and CTS can expect the same effects of open carpal tunnel release as otherwise healthy patients. Patients with diabetic neuropathy and CTS did not experience the same improvement as otherwise healthy patients and should be informed about the risk of an unsatisfactory outcome.