1 Cachexia/

2 Anorexia/

3 anorexi*.mp.

4 (cachex* or cachectic).mp.

5 exp Weight Loss/

6 Appetite/

7 (weight or wasting or appetite).mp.

8 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7

9 exp Megestrol/

10 megestrol.mp.

11 9 or 10

12 randomised controlled trial.pt.

13 controlled clinical trial.pt.

14 randomized.ab.

15 placebo.ab.

16 drug therapy.fs.

17 randomly.ab.

18 trial.ab.

19 groups.ab.

20 12 or 13 or 14 or 15 or 16 or 17 or 18 or 19

21 8 and 11 and 20

Key: mp = protocol supplementary concept, rare disease supplementary concept, title, original title, abstract, name of substance word, subject heading word, unique identifier; pt = publication type; ab = abstract: fs = floating subheading; MEDLINE 1948 to July week 3, 2011; we have rerun the searches from 2011 to May week 2 2012