Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Chronic amphetamine users may have experience of paranoia and hallucination. It has long been believed that dopamine antagonists, such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and thioridazine, are effective for the treatment of amphetamine psychosis. ⋯ Only one RCT of treatment for amphetamine psychosis has been published. Outcomes from this trial indicate that antipsychotic medications effectively reduce symptoms of amphetamine psychosis, the newer generation and more expensive antipsychotic medication, olanzapine, demonstrates significantly better tolerability than the more affordable and commonly used medication, haloperidol.There are other two studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria for this review. The results of these two studies show that agitation and some psychotic symptoms may be abated within an hour after antipsychotic injection.Whether this limited evidence can be applied for amphetamine psychotic patients is not yet known.The medications that should be further investigate are conventional antipsychotics, newer antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. However, naturalistic studies of amphetamine psychotic symptoms and the prevalence of relapse to psychosis in the presence of amphetamine, are also crucial for advising the development of study designs appropriate for further treatment studies of amphetamine psychosis.
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Seizures are poorly controlled in many people with epilepsy despite adequate current antiepileptic treatments. There is increasing interest in alternative therapies such as acupuncture; however, it remains unclear whether the existing evidence is rigorous enough to support the use of acupuncture. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2006. ⋯ The current evidence does not support acupuncture as a treatment for epilepsy.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Supplemental plant sterols and stanols for serum cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To determine the effects of phytosterols, phytostanols or their esters, ingested in supplemented foods, on blood cholesterol concentrations and cardiovascular disease;To look for adverse effects e.g. on nutritional status or physiological function;To study/comment on, possible effects of cost.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2008
Review Meta AnalysisRocuronium versus succinylcholine for rapid sequence induction intubation.
Patients requiring emergency endotracheal intubation often require a rapid sequence induction (RSI) intubation technique to protect against aspiration or increased intracranial pressure, or to facilitate intubation. Succinylcholine is the most commonly used muscle relaxant because of its fast onset and short duration; unfortunately, it can have serious side effects. Rocuronium has been suggested as an alternative to succinylcholine for intubation. This meta-analysis is an update since our initial Cochrane systematic review in 2003. ⋯ Succinylcholine created superior intubation conditions to rocuronium when comparing both excellent and clinically acceptable intubating conditions.
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Chronic cough (a cough lasting longer than 4 weeks) is a common symptom presenting to primary care in Australia and internationally. Chronic cough costs the community, is distressing to parents, and ignoring cough may lead to delayed diagnosis and illness progression of serious underlying respiratory disease. Clinical guidelines have been shown to provide more efficient and effective patient care and can clarify clinical decision making. Cough guidelines have been designed to facilitate management of chronic cough, however treatment recommendations vary and specific clinical pathways for the treatment of chronic cough in children are important, as the cause and treatments for cough in a child vary significantly adults. Therefore, it would be beneficial to clinical practice to systematically evaluate the use of clinical pathways for the treatment of chronic cough in children. ⋯ Without further available evidence, recommendations for the use of clinical pathways for the treatment of chronic cough in children cannot be made. Until further evidence is available, the decision for further investigation and treatment for the child presenting with chronic cough should be made on an individual basis (i.e. dependent on symptoms and signs) with consideration for existing data from other Cochrane reviews on specific treatments for cough. Trials are required to provide evidence on the effectiveness of clinical pathways for the treatment of chronic cough in children.