This Week in PLOS Medicine: Screening for kidney disease; Xpert MTB/RIF; Ethics of cluster randomized trials

Four new articles posted this week in PLOS Medicine, focusing on major health burdens and research design:

A systematic review of risk prediction models conducted by Justin Echouffo-Tcheugui and Andre Kengne examines the evidence base for prediction of chronic kidney disease risk and its progression, and the suitability of such models for clinical use.

Maarten Taal discusses the potential benefits, risks, and evidence base related to screening policies for chronic kidney disease, drawing on a new research article in PLOS Medicine.

Nicolas Menzies and colleagues investigate the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of implementing Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosing tuberculosis in five southern African countries.

The Ottawa Ethics of Cluster Trials Consensus Group sets out 15 recommendations for the ethical design and conduct of cluster randomized trials.

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