******apologies for cross posting*******

The NHS Evidence Specialist Collections have been developed to identify and meet the information needs of particular communities of practice. They are web-based collections containing clinical and non-clinical information on the major health priority areas. Each specialist collection identifies and provides access to quality assessed information of relevance to the community that it serves. An aspect of this involves the production of Annual Evidence Updates, which aim to highlight the best current evidence for selected healthcare topics. Annual Evidence Updates consist of the good quality evidence from a search of research evidence on a particular topic over a 12 month period, plus user-friendly summaries written by relevant experts, and links to guidelines, secondary research and primary research, if applicable. All information included in Annual Evidence Updates has been subject to rigorous selection criteria.

The calendar of Annual Evidence Updates until March 2010 is available at www.library.nhs.uk/forlibrarians/sl (last updated 29 October 2009).

The following Annual Evidence Updates are scheduled for December:

7 December

Annual Evidence Update on Alcoholic Liver Disease (NHS Evidence - gastroenterology and liver diseases)

www.library.nhs.uk/gastroliver

NHS Evidence – gastroenterology and liver diseases will be publishing its first Evidence Update on alcoholic liver diseases on 7 December 2009. Alcohol misuse produces a spectrum of liver injury ranging from simple fatty change through alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis and, in some 20% of individuals, to hepatocellular carcinoma. We will be presenting an overview of the best systematic reviews and selected primary research from the past two years, along with commentary from experts in the field. We will also provide links to useful policy documents and other items of interest.

Annual Evidence Update on Malignancies Post Kidney Transplant (NHS Evidence - kidney diseases and male urogenital disorders)

www.library.nhs.uk/kidney

NHS Evidence - kidney diseases and male urogenital disorders is proud to present the 2009 Annual Evidence Update (AEU) on Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders (PTLD) in Renal Transplant Patients. We have used the latest guidelines on PTLD in Adult Solid Organ Transplant Recipients from the British Committee for Standards in Haematology and the British Transplant Society as a starting point for our update, to retrieve evidence on this topic from 2004 and present on the following topics: Science, Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment. This AEU includes commentaries by Drs David Goldsmith and Edward Sharples to help healthcare professionals to improve their understanding of this condition.

14 December

Annual Evidence Update on Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (NHS Evidence - genetic conditions)

www.library.nhs.uk/geneticconditions

NHS Evidence - genetic conditions is publishing an Annual Evidence Update on Familial Hypercholesterolaemia on 14 December 2009, with the results of a search for new evidence published since NICE clinical guidance 71 Identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia was published in August 2008. This update includes a list of relevant guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and selected randomised controlled trials, along with a commentary written by an expert in the field.

Annual Evidence Update on Spinal Disease (NHS Evidence - trauma and orthopaedics)

www.library.nhs.uk/trauma_orthopaedics

NHS Evidence - trauma and orthopaedics in conjunction with the Musculoskeletal Specialist Collection have produced an Annual Evidence Update on Spinal Diseases. Included in this Evidence Update are guidelines and systematic reviews published within the last year covering low back pain, ankylosing spondylitis, disc herniation and spinal fractures. This topic should be of particular interest to all health professionals working in this field.

Niamh Leonard
Information Manager - Specialist Collections

NICE Annual Conference: Innovation and Value, 2-3 December 2009, Manchester

Find out more and book your place at www.nice2009.co.uk