Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
ReviewOral immunoglobulin for the prevention of rotavirus infection in low birth weight infants.
Rotavirus infection is the most common neonatal nosocomial viral infection. Epidemics with the newer P(6)G9 strains have been reported in neonatal units worldwide. These strains can cause severe symptoms in infected infants. Infection control measures become necessary and the utilisation of hospital resources increase. Local mucosal immunity in the intestine to rotavirus is important in the resolution of infection and protection against subsequent infections. Boosting local immunity by oral administration of anti-rotaviral immunoglobulin preparations might be a useful strategy in preventing rotaviral infections, especially in low birth weight babies. ⋯ Current evidence from one randomised controlled trial does not support the routine use of oral immunoglobulin preparations for the prevention of rotavirus infection in low birth-weight infants. However, newer immunoglobulin preparations which have been found to be effective in older children have not been tested in neonatal trials. Therefore, researchers should be encouraged to conduct well designed trials in neonates at risk for rotavirus infections using the newer preparations of anti-rotaviral immunoglobulins (colostrum, egg yolk immunoglobulins). Such trials should also include cost effectiveness evaluations.
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Abnormal involuntary movements known as dyskinesias are amongst the most disabling side-effects of levodopa therapy. It is thought that amantadine, an NMDA-receptor antagonist, may reduce dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson's disease without worsening Parkinsonian symptoms. ⋯ Due to lack of evidence it is impossible to determine whether amantadine is a safe and effective form of treatment for levodopa-induced dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson's disease.
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Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disturbances in Parkinson's disease. 40% of observed variation in quality of life is due to depression. However, there is little hard evidence of the efficacy and safety of antidepressant therapies in Parkinson's disease. ⋯ Insufficient data on the effectiveness and safety of any antidepressants therapies in Parkinson's disease are available on which to make recommendations for their use. Further large scale randomised controlled trials are urgently required in this area.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
ReviewOral immunoglobulin for the treatment of rotavirus infection in low birth weight infants.
Rotavirus infection is the most common neonatal nosocomial viral infection. Epidemics with the newer P(6)G9 strains have been reported in neonatal units worldwide. These strains can cause severe symptoms in most infected infants. Infection control measures become necessary and the utilisation of hospital resources increase. Local mucosal immunity in the intestine to rotavirus is important in the resolution of infection and protection against subsequent infections. Boosting local immunity by oral administration of anti-rotaviral immunoglobulin preparations might be a useful strategy in treating rotaviral infections, especially in low birth weight babies. ⋯ We found no randomised controlled trials which assessed the effectiveness or safety of oral immunoglobulin preparations for the treatment of rotavirus infections in hospitalised low birthweight infants.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
ReviewLong acting beta-agonists versus theophylline for maintenance treatment of asthma.
Theophylline and long acting beta-2 agonists are bronchodilators used for the management of persistent asthma symptoms, especially nocturnal asthma. They represent different classes of drug with differing side-effect profiles. ⋯ Long-acting beta-2 agonists are at least as effective than theophylline in reducing asthma symptoms including night waking and improving lung function. Fewer adverse events occurred in subjects using long-acting beta-2 agonists(salmeterol and formoterol) as compared to theophylline.