Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2017
Review Meta AnalysisLate (> 7 days) systemic postnatal corticosteroids for prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.
Many preterm infants who survive go on to develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia, probably as the result of persistent inflammation in the lungs. Corticosteroids have powerful anti-inflammatory effects and have been used to treat individuals with established bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, it is unclear whether any beneficial effects outweigh the adverse effects of these drugs. ⋯ Benefits of late corticosteroid therapy may not outweigh actual or potential adverse effects. This review of postnatal systemic corticosteroid treatment for bronchopulmonary dysplasia initiated after seven days of age suggests that late therapy may reduce neonatal mortality without significantly increasing the risk of adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the methodological quality of studies determining long-term outcomes is limited in some cases (some studies assessed surviving children only before school age, when some important neurological outcomes cannot be determined with certainty), and no studies were sufficiently powered to detect increased rates of important adverse long-term neurosensory outcomes. Evidence showing both benefits and harms of treatment and limitations of available evidence suggests that it may be prudent to reserve the use of late corticosteroids for infants who cannot be weaned from mechanical ventilation, and to minimise both dose and duration for any course of treatment.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2017
ReviewFluoride supplementation (with tablets, drops, lozenges or chewing gum) in pregnant women for preventing dental caries in the primary teeth of their children.
Dental caries (tooth decay) is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. Caries prevalence in most industrialised countries has declined among children over the past few decades. The probable reasons for the decline are the widespread use of fluoride toothpaste, followed by artificial water fluoridation, oral health education and a slight decrease in sugar consumption overall. However, in regions without water fluoridation, fluoride supplementation for pregnant women may be an effective way to increase fluoride intake during pregnancy. If fluoride supplements taken by pregnant women improve neonatal outcomes, pregnant women with no access to a fluoridated drinking water supply can obtain the benefits of systemic fluoridation. ⋯ There is no evidence that fluoride supplements taken by women during pregnancy are effective in preventing dental caries in their offspring.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2017
ReviewPlanned caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for severe pre-eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia is a very frequent complication of pregnancy, and anticipation of birth is often necessary. However, the best mode of giving birth remains to be established, although observational studies suggest better maternal and perinatal outcomes with vaginal birth. ⋯ There is a lack of robust evidence from randomised controlled trials that can inform practice regarding planned caesarean section versus planned vaginal birth for women with severe pre-eclampsia. There is a need for high-quality randomised controlled trials to assess the short- and long-term effects of caesarean section and vaginal birth for these women and their babies.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2017
Review Meta AnalysisPharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAnD).
Recognition is growing that social anxiety disorder (SAnD) is a chronic and disabling disorder, and data from early trials demonstrate that medication may be effective in its treatment. This systematic review is an update of an earlier review of pharmacotherapy of SAnD. ⋯ We found evidence of treatment efficacy for the SSRIs, but it is based on very low- to moderate-quality evidence. Tolerability of SSRIs was lower than placebo, but absolute withdrawal rates were low.While a small number of trials did report treatment efficacy for benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, MAOIs, and RIMAs, readers should consider this finding in the context of potential for abuse or unfavourable side effects.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2017
Review Meta AnalysisOral anti-diabetic agents for women with established diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance or previous gestational diabetes planning pregnancy, or pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes.
While most guidance recommends the use of insulin in women whose pregnancies are affected by pre-existing diabetes, oral anti-diabetic agents may be more acceptable to women. The effects of these oral anti-diabetic agents on maternal and infant health outcomes need to be established in pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, as well as in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus preconceptionally or during a subsequent pregnancy. This review is an update of a review that was first published in 2010. ⋯ There are insufficient RCT data to evaluate the use of oral anti-diabetic agents in women with established diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance or previous gestational diabetes who are planning a pregnancy, or in pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes. Low to very low-quality evidence suggests possible reductions in pregnancy-induced hypertension, caesarean section birth and neonatal hypoglycaemia with metformin compared with insulin for women with type 2 diabetes diagnosed before or during their pregnancy, and no clear differences in pre-eclampsia, induction of labour and babies that are large-for-gestational age. Further high-quality RCTs that compare any combination of oral anti-diabetic agent, insulin and dietary and lifestyle advice for these women are needed. Future RCTs could be powered to evaluate effects on short- and long-term clinical outcomes; such RCTs could attempt to collect and report on the standard outcomes suggested in this review. We have identified three ongoing studies and four are awaiting classification. We will consider these when this review is updated.