Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
Review Meta AnalysisTreatment for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND), is a rare neurodegenerative disease. Approximately 5% to 7% of ALS/MND patients report a family history of a similarly affected relative. Superoxide dismutase-1 gene mutations are the cause in about 20% of familial cases. In those with non-familial (sporadic) ALS/MND the cause is unknown. Also unknown is whether patients with familial and sporadic ALS/MND respond differently to treatment. ⋯ Future RCTs should document whether patients with familial ALS/MND are included and the presence or absence of a mutation in the superoxide dismutase-1 gene amongst those with familial ALS/MND.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
Review Meta AnalysisIndividual patient education for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Type 2 diabetes is a common and costly chronic disease which is associated with significant premature mortality and morbidity. Although patient education is an integral component of diabetes care, there remain uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of different methods and modes of education. ⋯ This systematic review suggests a benefit of individual education on glycaemic control when compared with usual care in a subgroup of those with a baseline HbA1c greater than 8%. However, overall there did not appear to be a significant difference between individual education and usual care. In the small number of studies comparing group and individual education, there was an equal impact on HbA1c at 12 to 18 months. Additional studies are needed to delineate these findings further.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
Review Meta AnalysisInterventions for preventing late postnatal mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Worldwide, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) represents the most common means by which children acquire HIV infection. Efficacious and effective interventions to prevent in utero and intrapartum transmission of HIV infection have been developed and implemented. However, a large proportion of MTCT of HIV occurs postnatally, through breast milk transmission. ⋯ Complete avoidance of breastfeeding is efficacious in preventing MTCT of HIV, but this intervention has significant associated morbidity (e.g., diarrheal morbidity if formula is prepared without clean water). If breastfeeding is initiated, two interventions 1). exclusive breastfeeding during the first few months of life; and 2) chronic antiretroviral prophylaxis to the infant (nevirapine alone, or nevirapine with zidovudine) are efficacious in preventing transmission.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2009
Review Meta AnalysisTransmyocardial laser revascularization versus medical therapy for refractory angina.
Chronic angina and advanced forms of coronary disease are increasingly more frequent. Although the improved efficacy of available revascularization treatments, a subgroup of patients present with refractory angina. Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) has been proposed to improve the clinical situation of these patients. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence to conclude that the clinical benefits of TMLR outweigh the potential risks. The procedure is associated with a significant early mortality.
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Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common form of dementia in people with Down Syndrome (DS). There is an understanding that an increase in L-glutamate contributes to the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemias and AD. Memantine acts as an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type receptors, which is thought to reduce abnormal activation of glutamate neurotransmission. It binds with a low affinity to the NMDA receptor and so should not prevent learning and the formation of memory. Memantine can improve cognitive function and slow the decline of AD in the general population over time, and is the subject of this review. It is important to note that people with DS tend to present with AD at a much younger age than the normal population as well as having subtle differences in physiology (e.g. metabolism and heart rate) and may therefore have different requirements from the general population. ⋯ As there are no included trials, recommendations cannot be made about memantine for AD in DS. Well-designed, adequately powered studies are required.