Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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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.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewPlasma volume expansion for treatment of women with pre-eclampsia.
Plasma volume is reduced amongst women with pre-eclampsia. This association has led to the suggestion that expanding the plasma volume might improve maternal and uteroplacental circulation, and so potentially improve outcome for both the woman and her baby. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence for any reliable estimates of the effects of plasma volume expansion for women with pre-eclampsia.
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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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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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Gangliosides may have a protective effect on the central and peripheral nervous systems. ⋯ There is not enough evidence to conclude that gangliosides are beneficial in acute stroke. Caution is warranted because of reports of sporadic cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome after ganglioside therapy.