Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2001
ReviewOral immunoglobulin for preventing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm and low birth-weight neonates.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common emergency of the gastrointestinal tract occurring in the neonatal period. There have been published reports which suggest that oral immunoglobulins IgA and IgG produce an immunoprotective effect in the gastrointestinal mucosa. This systematic review was undertaken to clarify the issue. ⋯ Based on the available trials, the evidence does not support the administration of oral immunoglobulin for the prevention of NEC. There are no randomised controlled trials of oral IgA alone for the prevention of NEC.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2001
ReviewColchicine for alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
The majority of liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis cases in the Western World is caused by alcohol and hepatotoxic viruses. Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic medication. Several randomised clinical trials have addressed the question whether colchicine has any efficacy in patients with alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic fibrosis and cirrhosis. ⋯ Colchicine should not be used for alcoholic, viral, or cryptogenic liver fibrosis or liver cirrhosis outside randomised trials.
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Haloperidol was developed in the late 1950s for use in the field of analgesia. Research subsequently demonstrated effects on hallucinations, delusions, aggressiveness, impulsiveness and states of excitement and led to the introduction of haloperidol as an antipsychotic. ⋯ Haloperidol is a potent antipsychotic drug but with a high propensity to cause adverse effects. Given no choice of drug, use of haloperidol to counter the damaging and potentially dangerous consequences of untreated schizophrenia is justified. If a choice of drug is available, however, people with schizophrenia and clinicians may wish to start another antipsychotic with less likelihood of causing parkinsonism, akathisia and acute dystonias. For countries where haloperidol is not widely used, it should not be a control drug of choice for randomised trials of new antipsychotics.
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Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia in pregnancy worldwide. Iron treatment can be given by mouth, intramuscular or intravenous injection. Alternatively, blood transfusions and recombinant erythropoietin are also used. ⋯ This review provides inconclusive evidence on the effects of treating iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy due to the shortage of good quality trials.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2001
ReviewTiclopidine versus oral anticoagulation for coronary stenting.
A 2-4 week course of ticlopidine plus aspirin following coronary stenting is considered effective in preventing thrombotic occlusion of the stented vessel and safe in regards to bleeding and peripheral vascular complications. However, rare, although potentially life-threatening haematological complications have been reported with this drug regimen. ⋯ Ticlopidine plus aspirin after coronary stenting is effective in reducing the risk of the revascularization, non fatal myocardial infarction and bleeding complications when compared with oral anticoagulants. No effect is observed on total mortality. However, the haematological side effects of ticlopidine are still a matter of concern, and strict monitoring of blood-cell counts is recommended. Physicians should also be aware of the possibility of rare although potentially life-threatening complications such as TTP