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1. Federal Research Agenda Targets Patient Care. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Initiative (PCORI), established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, has set five priorities as the group’s research agenda for the coming years, with the overall goal of advancing clinical effectiveness research.
2. Coding Muddies Stats on Statin Side Effect. Relying on use of the standard diagnostic code for rhabdomyolysis, a serious but rare side effect of statin therapy, to gauge incidence of the condition may lead to both under- and overestimates.
3. Shot Delivers Scant Relief for Back Pain. Epidural injections provided modest short-term pain relief from lumbrosacral radiculopathy, whether used with steroids or the anti-inflammatory biologic etanercept (Enbrel).
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