Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Selenium deficiency may be important in chronic asthma. Observational studies have demonstrated that patients with chronic asthma may have lower levels of selenium than their control. Nevertheless, selenium supplementation has not been recommended with drug therapy for asthma. This review systematically examines RCTs that evaluated the role of selenium supplementation in chronic asthma. ⋯ There is some indication that selenium supplementation may be a useful adjunct to medication for patients with chronic asthma. This conclusion is limited because of insufficient studies and lack of improvement in the clinical parameters of lung function.
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Trifluoperazine is an inexpensive accessible 'high potency' antipsychotic drug, widely used to treat schizophrenia or related psychoses. ⋯ Although there are shortcomings and gaps in the data, there appears to be enough consistency over different outcomes and periods to confirm that trifluoperazine is an antipsychotic of similar efficacy to other commonly used neuroleptics for people with schizophrenia. Its adverse events profile is similar to that of other drugs. It has been claimed that trifluoperazine is effective at low doses for patients with schizophrenia but this does not appear to be based on good quality trial based evidence.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
ReviewHigh dose versus low dose inhaled corticosteroid as initial starting dose for asthma in adults and children.
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) form the basis of maintenance therapy in asthma and their efficacy is well established. However, the optimal starting dose of ICS is not clearly established. Recent reviews demonstrate a relatively flat efficacy curve for ICS and increasing side effects with increasing ICS doses. High doses are frequently prescribed and there are now reports of significant side effects occurring with high dose ICS use. These issues demonstrate the need to establish the optimal starting dose of ICS in asthma. ⋯ For patients with asthma who require ICS, commencing with a moderate dose ICS is equivalent to commencing with a high dose ICS and down-titrating. The small significant benefits of commencing with a high ICS dose are not of sufficient clinical benefit to warrant its use when compared to moderate or low dose ICS. Initial moderate ICS dose appears to be more effective than initial low ICS dose. High dose ICS may be more effective than moderate or low dose ICS for airway hyperresponsiveness. There is no benefit in doubling or quadrupling ICS in subjects with stable asthma.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
ReviewRecombinant Factor VIIa concentrate versus plasma derived concentrates for the treatment of acute bleeding episodes in people with Haemophilia A and inhibitors.
In some people with haemophilia, therapeutic clotting agents are recognised as a foreign protein and anti-FVIII antibodies, known as 'inhibitors', are produced. This review investigates which treatment most effectively arrests acute bleeding in people with haemophilia A and inhibitors. ⋯ No RCTs on the relative effectiveness of Recombinant FVIIa concentrate compared to human plasma-derived concentrates in people with haemophilia A and inhibitors were identified for inclusion in this review. The research evidence on which to base clinical decisions is therefore limited to case reports, and other less robust evidence. There is need for a well-designed, adequately-powered randomised controlled trial to assess the relative benefits and risks of using Recombinant FVIIa concentrate compared to human plasma-derived concentrates in people with haemophilia A and inhibitors.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
ReviewZuclopenthixol acetate for acute schizophrenia and similar serious mental illnesses.
Medication used for acute aggression in psychiatry must have rapid onset of effect, low frequency of administration and low levels of adverse effects. Zuclopenthixol acetate is said to have these properties. ⋯ Recommendations on the use of zuclopenthixol acetate for the management of psychiatric emergencies in preference to 'standard' treatment have to be viewed with caution. Most trials present important methodological flaws and findings are poorly reported. This review did not find any suggestion that zuclopenthixol acetate is more or less effective in controlling aggressive acute psychosis, or in preventing adverse effects than intramuscular haloperidol, and neither seemed to have a rapid onset of action. Well-conducted pragmatic randomised controlled trials are needed.