On Doctoring MEDLINE searches, with reference librarian comments, March 2000

The question was

What are the possible treatments for Otitis Media, focused on the use of steroids?

1     exp Otitis media/dt,th [Drug Therapy, Therapy]    results=1203   
2     exp anabolic steroids/ or exp steroids/    results= 115221   
3     1 and 2    results= 41   

Reference Librarian comments

Your search is just fine. I usually "explode" the subject heading, and when I tried the search myself (see below), I decided to "focus" it also, for the otitis concept. Then I did the Human and English trick. I put the 20 titles I got down below, for your reading pleasure.

Good job. Thanks for participating in the assignment...

Medline 1991 to January 2000

#
Search History
Results
1
exp *Otitis media/dt [Drug Therapy]
546
2
exp anabolic steroids/ or exp steroids/
115221
3
1 and 2
24
4
limit 3 to (human and english language)
20
5
from 4 keep 1-10
1

<1>
TI Oral prednisolone is an effective adjuvant therapy for acute
otitis media with discharge through
tympanostomy tubes.

<2>
TI Treatment of chronic suppurative otitis
media with topical ciprofloxacin.

<3>
TI Intranasal beclomethasone as an adjunct to treatment of chronic middle ear
effusion.

<4>
TI Randomized trial of neomycin/dexamethasone spray vs drop preparation for the
treatment of active chronic mucosal otitis
media.

<5>
TI Safety of topical ear drops containing ototoxic antibiotics.

<6>
TI Single dose of betamethasone in combined medical treatment of secretory
otitis media.

<7>
TI Ototoxicity from ototopical aminoglycosides.

<8>
TI A double-blind comparative study of ofloxacin otic drops versus
neomycin-polymyxin B-hydrocortisone otic drops in the medical treatment of
chronic suppurative otitis media.

<9>
TI Pneumococcal meningitis during therapy of otitis
media with clarithromycin.

<10>
TI Ototoxicity of ear drops: a clinical perspective. [Review] [23 refs]

<11>
TI Nonsurgical management of surgical otitis
media with effusion.

<12>
TI Safety of ototopical antibiotics [see comments].

<13>
TI Treatment of secretory otitis media with
local instillation of hydroxyzine.

<14>
TI Ventilation tubes, swimming and otorrhoea: a New Zealand perspective.

<15>
TI Therapeutic management of chronic suppurative otitis
media with otic drops.

<16>
TI Conservative treatment in the management of inflammatory aural polyp.

<17>
TI Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion
[letter; comment].

<18>
TI Corticosteroid treatment of otitis media
with effusion [letter; comment].

<19>
TI Sensori-neural hearing loss in acute otitis
media due to beta-hemolytic streptococcus successfully
treated with penicillin and prednisone.

<20>
TI Medical treatment of chronic otitis media:
steroid or antibiotic with steroid ear-drops?.