Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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There are two reasons to believe anxiolytics might help in smoking cessation. Anxiety may be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. Second, smoking appears to be due, in part, to deficits in dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, all of which are increased by anxiolytics and antidepressants. ⋯ There is no consistent evidence that anxiolytics aid smoking cessation, but the available evidence does not rule out a possible effect.
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate, can lead to obstructive and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs (phytotherapy) for the treatment of LUTS associated with BPH has been growing steadily. Cernilton, prepared from the rye-grass pollen Secale cereale, is one of the several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH. ⋯ The Cernilton trials analyzed were limited by short duration, limited number of enrollees, gaps in reported outcomes, and unknown quality of the preparations utilized. The comparative trials lacked a proven active control. The available evidence suggests Cernilton is well tolerated and modestly improves overall urologic symptoms including nocturia. Additional randomized placebo and active-controlled trials are needed to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness and safety of Cernilton.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewAntiplatelet therapy for preventing stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and a history of stroke or transient ischemic attacks.
People with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation who have had a transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic stroke are at risk of recurrent stroke. ⋯ Aspirin may reduce the risk of vascular events in people with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, but the effect shown in the single trial was not statistically significant.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewPramipexole versus bromocriptine for levodopa-induced complications in Parkinson's disease.
To compare the efficacy and safety of adjuvant pramipexole versus bromocriptine therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease, already established on levodopa and suffering from motor complications. ⋯ Although pramipexole and bromocriptine improved off time and reduced parkinsonian motor impairments and disability compared with placebo, no conclusions regarding their comparative effectiveness and safety can be drawn as this single trial did not have adequate power to assess such differences. Further larger trials are required to examine this issue in the future.
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Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of premature death and disability. Post-traumatic membrane lipid peroxidation has been proposed as one mechanism leading to secondary brain damage following head injury. Aminosteroids have been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation in laboratory animals and have the potential to improve outcome following head injury. ⋯ There is no evidence to support the routine use of aminosteroids in the management of traumatic head injury. On the basis of the existing evidence from randomised trials of aminosteroids in head injury it is not possible to refute the possibility of moderate but potentially clinically important benefits or harms. A further randomised controlled trial of tirilazad mesylate with 1156 participants has been completed, the results of which should become available in the near future.