Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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To assess the effects of salazopyrin, auranofin, etretinate, fumaric acid, IMI gold, azathioprine, and methotrexate, in psoriatic arthritis. ⋯ Parenteral high dose methotrexate and salazopyrin are the only two agents with well demonstrated published efficacy in psoriatic arthritis. The magnitude of the effect seen with azathioprine, etretinate, oral low dose methotrexate and perhaps colchicine suggests that they may be effective but that further multicentre clinical trials are required to establish their efficacy. Furthermore, the magnitude of the improvement observed in the placebo group strongly suggests that uncontrolled trials should not be used to guide management decisions in this condition.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2000
ReviewOral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy for cystic fibrosis.
Maintenance of optimal lung function is an important therapeutic goal in cystic fibrosis as it is lung damage that, in the long term, is responsible for most premature death among affected people. It has been hypothesised that lung damage results from inflammation and that prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may prevent progressive pulmonary deterioration and respiratory morbidity in cystic fibrosis. It is thus important to establish the current level of evidence about the potential benefits and harms of treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. ⋯ While there is preliminary evidence to suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may prevent pulmonary deterioration in subjects with mild lung disease due to cystic fibrosis, currently their routine use cannot be recommended. Further trials are required to confirm that their use prevents pulmonary deterioration and is associated with improved nutritional status. Such trials should also address the age group of subjects most likely to benefit, the prevalence of important adverse effects and the optimal dosage schedule as well as any reduction in concomitant therapy. Multi-centre trials will add to the validity of findings by enhancing their generalisability. The question of whether anti-inflammatory treatment prevents lung damage in pre-symptomatic
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Lung damage associated with persistent infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis. Nebulised antibiotics are commonly used for treatment of this infection. ⋯ Nebulised anti-pseudomonal antibiotic treatment improves lung function and reduces frequency of exacerbations of infection in people with cystic fibrosis. There is a need for more evidence for effect on quality of life and survival, for longer duration trials to determine if this benefit is maintained and to determine the significance of development of antibiotic resistant organisms.
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There are two reasons to believe anxiolytics might help in smoking cessation. Anxiety may be a symptom of nicotine withdrawal. Second, smoking appears to be due, in part, to deficits in dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, all of which are increased by anxiolytics and antidepressants. ⋯ There is no consistent evidence that anxiolytics aid smoking cessation, but the available evidence does not rule out a possible effect.
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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate, can lead to obstructive and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs (phytotherapy) for the treatment of LUTS associated with BPH has been growing steadily. Cernilton, prepared from the rye-grass pollen Secale cereale, is one of the several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH. ⋯ The Cernilton trials analyzed were limited by short duration, limited number of enrollees, gaps in reported outcomes, and unknown quality of the preparations utilized. The comparative trials lacked a proven active control. The available evidence suggests Cernilton is well tolerated and modestly improves overall urologic symptoms including nocturia. Additional randomized placebo and active-controlled trials are needed to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness and safety of Cernilton.