Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · May 2010
Review Meta AnalysisRadiotherapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Radiotherapy has been proposed as a treatment to prevent new vessel growth in people with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). ⋯ This review currently does not provide convincing evidence that radiotherapy is an effective treatment for neovascular AMD. If further trials are to be considered to evaluate radiotherapy in AMD then adequate masking of the control group must be considered.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · May 2010
Review Meta AnalysisChemotherapy and supportive care versus supportive care alone for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Since our individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis of supportive care and chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), published in 1995, many trials have been completed. We have carried out an updated IPD meta-analysis to assess newer regimens and determine conclusively the effect of chemotherapy. ⋯ All trials were of good methodological quality with no risk of bias. This meta-analysis of chemotherapy in the supportive care setting demonstrates that chemotherapy improves overall survival in all patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients who are fit enough and wish to receive it should be offered chemotherapy.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · May 2010
Review Meta AnalysisDifferent anthracycline derivates for reducing cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.
The use of anthracyclines is limited by the occurrence of cardiotoxicity. In an effort to prevent this cardiotoxicity, different anthracycline derivates have been studied. ⋯ We are not able to favour either epirubicin or doxorubicin when given with the same dose. Based on the currently available evidence on heart failure, we conclude that in adults with a solid tumour liposomal-encapsulated doxorubicin should be favoured over doxorubicin. For both epirubicin versus doxorubicin and liposomal-encapsulated doxorubicin versus conventional doxorubicin no conclusions can be made about the effects of treatment in children treated with anthracyclines and also not in patients diagnosed with leukaemia. More research is needed. For other combinations of anthracycline derivates not enough evidence was available to make definitive conclusions about the occurrence of cardiotoxicity in patients treated with anthracyclines.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · May 2010
Review Meta AnalysisProphylaxis for venous thromboembolic disease in pregnancy and the early postnatal period.
Venous thromboembolic disease (TED), although rare, is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity, hence methods of prophylaxis are often used for women at risk. This may include women delivered by caesarean section, those with a personal or family history of TED and women with inherited or acquired thrombophilias (conditions that predispose people to thrombosis). Many methods of prophylaxis carry a risk of side effects, and as the risk of TED is low, it is possible that the benefits of thromboprophylaxis may be outweighed by harm. Current guidelines for clinical practice are based on expert opinion only, rather than high quality evidence from randomised trials. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence on which to base recommendations for thromboprophylaxis during pregnancy and the early postnatal period. Large scale randomised trials of currently-used interventions should be conducted.