Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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The mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia is the antipsychotic group of drugs. These are usually given orally but compliance with medication given by this route may be difficult to quantify. Problems with treatment adherence are common. The development of depot injections in the 1960s gave rise to their extensive use as a means of long-term maintenance treatment. Haloperidol decanoate is one depot drug available in clinical practice. ⋯ Haloperidol decanoate may have a substantial effect in improving the symptoms and behaviour associated with schizophrenia in comparison to placebo, but data are remarkably sparse. There are no discernible differences between the depot form of haloperidol and its oral equivalent. For those needing and willing to take the drug, the means of administration is then a matter of individual choice and clinical judgement. As there are no clear differences between haloperidol decanoate and other depots, the choice of depot medication could also be individually tailored and patient preference exercised. Well-conducted and reported randomised trials are needed comparing haloperidol decanoate with other depots but the comparison of haloperidol decanoate to oral antipsychotics is a priority.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewSynthetic surfactant for respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants.
This section is under preparation and will be included in the next issue. ⋯ Six randomized controlled trials of synthetic surfactant treatment of established respiratory distress syndrome were identified. Five of the studies used Exosurf Neonatal (a synthetic surfactant composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, hexadecanol and tyloxapol); one small study utilized a mixture of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Treatment with intratracheal Exosurf Neonatal in premature infants with established respiratory distress syndrome improves pulmonary gas exchange and decreases the requirement for ventilatory support. In individual trials, the use of Exosurf Neonatal resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pneumothorax, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), BPD or death at 28 days, and mortality. Similar results are seen when these large trials of Exosurf Neonatal are analyzed in conjunction with the smaller trial of dry powdered DPPC and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). The meta-analysis supports a decrease in the risk of pneumothorax (typical relative risk 0.64, 95% CI 0.55, 0.76, typical risk difference -0.09, 95% CI -0.12,-0.06), a decrease in the risk of pulmonary interstitial emphysema (typical relative risk 0.62, 95% CI 0.54, 0.71, typical risk difference -0.12, 95% CI -0.16, -0.09), a decrease in the risk of patent ductus arteriosus (typical relative risk 0.90, 95% CI 0.84, 0.97; typical risk difference -0.06 95% CI -0.10, -0.02), a decrease in the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (typical relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.77, 0.99; typical risk difference -0.04, 95% CI -0.08, -0.00), a decrease in the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (typical relative risk 0.75, 95% CI 0.61, 0.92; typical risk difference -0.04, 95% CI -0.06, -0.01), a decrease in the risk of neonatal mortality (typical relative risk 0. 73, 95% CI 0.61, 0.88; typical risk difference -0.05, 95% CI -0.07, -0.02), a decrease in the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death at 28 days (typical relative risk 0.73, 95% CI 0.65, 0.83; typical risk difference -0.06, 95% CI -0.11, -0.05), a decrease in the risk of mortality prior to hospital discharge (typical relative risk 0.79, 95% CI 0.68, 0.92; typical risk difference -0.05, 95% CI -0.07, -0.02) and a decrease in the risk of mortality during the first year of life (typical relative risk 0.80, 95% CI 0.69, 0.94; typical risk difference -0.04, 95% CI -0.07, -0.01). (ABS
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In cystic fibrosis, airway obstruction and recurrent respiratory infection leads to inflammation and eventually long term lung damage, (bronchiectasis), respiratory failure and death. Inflammation occurs early in the disease process, hence the rationale for the use of anti-inflammatory agents such as oral steroids. ⋯ Oral corticosteroids at a prednisolone equivalent dose of 1-2 mg/kg alternate days appear to slow the progression of lung disease in CF but this benefit needs to be weighed against the occurrence of adverse events, in particular, development of cataracts and effect on linear growth. A risk/benefit analysis of low-dose alternate days corticosteroids would be important and the role of short term use of oral steroids should be more fully evaluated.
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It is thought that vitamin E may improve tolerance to intermittent claudication (i.e. pain caused by ischaemia in the muscles of the leg during exercise), thereby relieving the pain, through a variety of mechanisms. ⋯ While vitamin E - which is inexpensive and has had no serious side effects reported with its use - may have beneficial effects, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether it is an effective treatment for intermittent claudication.
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Heat and cold therapy are often used as adjuncts in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by rehabilitation specialists. ⋯ Since patients enjoy thermotherapy, and there are no harmful effects, thermotherapy should be recommended as a therapy which can be applied at home as needed to relieve pain. There is no need for further research on the effects of heat or cold for RA.