***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: To comprehend the results of a r and omised controlled trial ( RCT ) , readers must underst and its design , conduct , analysis , and interpretation . That goal can be achieved only through total transparency from authors . Despite several decades of educational efforts , the reporting of RCTs needs improvement . Investigators and editors developed the original CONSORT ( Consoli date d St and ards of Reporting Trials ) statement to help authors improve reporting by use of a checklist and flow diagram . The revised CONSORT statement presented here incorporates new evidence and addresses some criticisms of the original statement . The checklist items pertain to the content of the Title , Abstract , Introduction , Methods , Results , and Discussion . The revised checklist includes 22 items selected because empirical evidence indicates that not reporting this information is associated with biased estimates of treatment effect , or because the information is essential to judge the reliability or relevance of the findings . We intended the flow diagram to depict the passage of participants through an RCT . The revised flow diagram depicts information from four stages of a trial ( enrolment , intervention allocation , follow- up , and analysis ) . The diagram explicitly shows the number of participants , for each intervention group , included in the primary data analysis . Inclusion of these numbers allows the reader to judge whether the authors have done an intention- to-treat analysis . In sum , the CONSORT statement is intended to improve the reporting of an RCT , enabling readers to underst and a trial 's conduct and to assess the validity of its results A pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of Healing Touch ( HT ) on agitation in persons with dementia . Because of the restricted availability of patients , the main purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of HT on dementia patients who demonstrated similar high levels of agitation as measured by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory . Results indicated that agitation levels were significantly lowered and that HT is worthy of further study & NA ;  Pain intensity is frequently measured on an 11‐point pain intensity numerical rating scale ( PI‐NRS ) , where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain . However , it is difficult to interpret the clinical importance of changes from baseline on this scale ( such as a 1‐ or 2‐point change ) . To date , there are no data driven estimates for clinical ly important differences in pain intensity scales used for chronic pain studies . We have estimated a clinical ly important difference on this scale by relating it to global assessment s of change in multiple studies of chronic pain . Data on 2724 subjects from 10 recently completed placebo‐controlled clinical trials of pregabalin in diabetic neuropathy , postherpetic neuralgia , chronic low back pain , fibromyalgia , and osteoarthritis were used . The studies had similar design s and measurement instruments , including the PI‐NRS , collected in a daily diary , and the st and ard seven‐point patient global impression of change ( PGIC ) , collected at the endpoint . The changes in the PI‐NRS from baseline to the endpoint were compared to the PGIC for each subject . Categories of ‘ much improved ’ and ‘ very much improved ’ were used as determinants of a clinical ly important difference and the relationship to the PI‐NRS was explored using graphs , box plots , and sensitivity/specificity analyses . A consistent relationship between the change in PI‐NRS and the PGIC was demonstrated regardless of study , disease type , age , sex , study result , or treatment group . On average , a reduction of approximately two points or a reduction of approximately 30 % in the PI‐NRS represented a clinical ly important difference . The relationship between percent change and the PGIC was also consistent regardless of baseline pain , while higher baseline scores required larger raw changes to represent a clinical ly important difference . The application of these results to future studies may provide a st and ard definition of clinical ly important improvement in clinical trials of chronic pain therapies . Use of a st and ard outcome across chronic pain studies would greatly enhance the comparability , validity , and clinical applicability of these studies Pain , swelling , loss of function , and hyperthermia are acute postoperative sequelae of inflammation due to tissue injury during surgical procedures . Pharmacologic strategies for minimizing the clinical manifestations of surgical trauma are often directed toward blocking the formation or inhibiting the effects of the biochemical mediators of acute inflammation . This study compared two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) , flurbiprofen and ibuprofen , with a prototype glucocorticoid , methylprednisolone , in two replicate placebo-controlled studies for suppression of inflammation due to the surgical removal of impacted third molars . The results indicate that NSAIDs produce greater initial analgesia than do steroids , whereas steroids result in greater suppression of swelling and less loss of function . Examination of the pooled data from the two studies indicates that NSAID pretreatment results in a modest suppression of swelling in comparison with placebo . These data suggest that the acute analgesic effects of NSAIDs in the oral surgery model are due to suppression of a nociceptive process , presumably prostagl and in formation , rather than a generalized anti-inflammatory effect Reiki is one type of alternative therapy that is increasing in popularity . It is advocated by its practitioners as a precise method for connecting universal life energy with the body 's innate process of healing through h and s-on techniques . The cl aim of Reiki practitioners is that Reiki reduces a variety of physical problems and improves psychospiritual well-being . There are abundant anecdotal records that support the previous cl aim , and a few pioneer scientific studies are starting to emerge . Although the Reiki research in totality supports the anecdotal records , the absence of r and omized and placebo-controlled trials precludes the interpretation of the outcomes as result ing from specific effects as opposed to placebo effects plus natural history . Authorities in the field indicate that research ers interested in placebo-controlled studies should have the placebo treatment look exactly like the real intervention in every respect . Because no studies could be found in the literature that tested st and ardization procedures for real and placebo Reiki , the decision was made to conduct one . The purpose of this study was to test the st and ardization procedures developed by our research team for placebo Reiki , before going ahead and conducting our planned full-scale r and omized and placebo-controlled Reiki efficacy study . This study used a 4-round , crossover experimental design in which 20 blinded subjects ( 12 students , 4 breast cancer survivors , and 4 observers ) were exposed to a combination of 2 interventions ( Reiki plus Reiki , or placebo plus placebo , or Reiki plus placebo , or placebo plus Reiki ) ; and were then asked to evaluate the interventions using a self-administered question naire . The blinded observers were used in round number 4 . Two real Reiki practitioners in the Usui system were chosen first , then 2 placebo practitioners who closely resembled them were recruited . The placebo practitioners were trained in Reiki by the study Reiki Master and the principal investigator , but were not initiated . The belief in Reiki is that only practitioners that are initiated could give Reiki , thus making it possible to have a placebo arm in efficacy studies . The findings of the study indicate that the developed st and ardization procedures were successful because none of the final participants in round 4 ( 4 breast cancer patients and 4 observers ) could differentiate between the identity of placebo and Reiki practitioners . The qualitative comments expressed by the participants further con-firmed the quantitative data . It was concluded based on these findings that it is safe to go ahead and conduct the planned r and omized 3-arm Reiki efficacy clinical trial . It is recommended that scholars interested in Reiki research could incorporate our techniques to strengthen their design s by adding a placebo arm 
    Output:
    
Results of trials conducted by more experienced practitioners appeared to yield greater effects in pain reduction .
Touch therapies may have a modest effect in pain relief .