Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Open angle glaucoma (OAG) is an important cause of blindness worldwide. Laser trabeculoplasty, a treatment modality, still does not have a clear position in the treatment sequence. ⋯ Evidence suggests that, in people with newly diagnosed OAG, the risk of uncontrolled IOP is higher in people treated with medication used before the 1990s when compared to laser trabeculoplasty at two years follow up. Trabeculoplasty is less effective than trabeculectomy in controlling IOP at six months and two years follow up. Different laser technology and protocol modalities were compared to the traditional laser trabeculoplasty and more evidence is necessary to determine if they are equivalent or not. There is no evidence to determine the effectiveness of laser trabeculoplasty compared to contemporary medication (prostaglandin analogues, topical anhydrase inhibitors and alpha2-agonists) and also with contemporary surgical techniques. Also there should be further investigation in to the effectiveness of laser trabeculoplasty in specific racial groups, specific diagnostic groups, such as pseudoexfoliation and pigmentary glaucoma and different stages of OAG. More research is also required determining cost-effectiveness of laser trabeculoplasty in the management of glaucoma.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2007
Review Meta AnalysisSurgical treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common disorder for which several surgical treatment options are available. ⋯ There is no strong evidence supporting the need for replacement of standard open carpal tunnel release by existing alternative surgical procedures for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision to apply endoscopic carpal tunnel release instead of open carpal tunnel release seems to be guided by the surgeon's and patient's preferences.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2007
Review Meta AnalysisAntiarrhythmics for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent sustained arrhythmia. After restoration of normal sinus rhythm, the recurrence rate of AF is high. Antiarrhythmic drugs have been widely used to prevent recurrence, but the effect of these drugs on mortality and other clinical outcomes is unclear. ⋯ Several class IA, IC and III drugs are effective in maintaining sinus rhythm but increase adverse events, including pro-arrhythmia, and disopyramide and quinidine are associated with increased mortality. Any benefit on clinically relevant outcomes (embolisms, heart failure, mortality) remains to be established.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2007
Review Meta AnalysisLipid-lowering for peripheral arterial disease of the lower limb.
Lipid-lowering therapy is recommended for secondary prevention in people with coronary artery disease. It may also reduce cardiovascular events and/or local disease progression in people with lower limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD). ⋯ Lipid-lowering therapy is effective in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in people with PAD. It may also improve local symptoms. Until further evidence on the relative effectiveness of different lipid-lowering agents is available, use of a statin in people with PAD and a blood cholesterol level >/=3.5 mmol/litre is most indicated.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2007
Review Meta AnalysisChemotherapy plus Rituximab versus chemotherapy alone for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Rituximab has been shown to improve response rates and progression free survival when added to chemotherapy in patients with indolent and mantle cell lymphoma. However, the impact of R on overall survival (OS) when given in combination with chemotherapy (R-chemo) has remained unclear so far. ⋯ The systematic review demonstrated improved OS for patients with indolent lymphoma, particularly in the subgroups of follicular and in mantle cell lymphoma when treated with R-chemo compared to chemotherapy alone.