Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Although the overall incidence of neonatal sepsis has declined over the past decade, mortality remains high in the pre term infant. The high level of mortality and morbidity from sepsis despite the use of potent anti-microbial agents, and the global emergence of antibiotic resistance, have led to the search for new modalities to boost new born host defences. Pentoxifylline, a xanthine derivative and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been shown to possess a broad spectrum of activity modulating inflammation. ⋯ Current evidence suggests that the use of pentoxifylline as an adjunct to antibiotics in neonatal sepsis reduces mortality without any adverse effects. But the number of neonates studied is small and considerable methodological weaknesses exist in the included trials. Hence these results should be interpreted with caution. Researchers are encouraged to undertake large well-designed trials to confirm or refute the effectiveness of pentoxifylline to reduce mortality and adverse outcomes in neonates with suspected or confirmed neonatal sepsis. Researchers might also compare pentoxifylline with other adjuncts to antibiotics which modulate inflammation (e.g. intravenous immunoglobulins, haematopoetic colony stimulating factors among others) in reducing mortality and morbidity due to neonatal sepsis.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
ReviewEffect(s) of assisted hatching on assisted conception (IVF & ICSI).
Failure of implantation and thus conception might result from inability of the blastocyst to escape from its zona pellucida. Artificial disruption of this coat has been proposed as a method of improving the success of assisted conception. ⋯ There is insufficient evidence to determine any effect of AH on the 'take-home-baby rate' of assisted conception. There are also very few data regarding miscarriage rates and other adverse events. This prevents us from extrapolating the impact of AH on live births from our finding of improved odds of clinical pregnancy.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
ReviewIbuprofen for the treatment of a patent ductus arteriosus in preterm and/or low birth weight infants.
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) complicates the clinical course of preterm infants, increasing their risks of developing chronic lung disease (CLD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Indomethacin is used as standard therapy to close a PDA, but is associated with reduced blood flow to the brain, kidneys and gut. Ibuprofen, another cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, may be as effective with fewer side effects. ⋯ We found no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of ibuprofen compared to indomethacin in closing the PDA. Ibuprofen reduces the risk of oliguria. However, ibuprofen may increase the risk for chronic lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension has been observed in three infants after prophylactic use of ibuprofen. Based on currently available information ibuprofen does not appear to confer a net benefit over indomethacin for the treatment of a PDA. We conclude that indomethacin should remain the drug of choice for the treatment of a PDA. Future research may include a four arm trial where infants are randomized at birth, either to a prophylaxis arm starting at birth or to an arm in which treatment starts after a PDA is diagnosed by echocardiography within the first seven days of life. Within the prophylaxis and treatment arms, the infants would be randomized to either ibuprofen or indomethacin. The primary outcome should be intact survival (survival without handicap) at 18 months corrected age.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
Review Meta AnalysisPet allergen control measures for allergic asthma in children and adults.
Although pet removal has been recommended in guidelines on the management of allergic asthma, pet ownership remains high in families where one or more members have an allergy to pet dander. Allergen control measures such as air filtration units placed in the homes of pet-allergic asthmatics have been used as a means of reducing allergen exposure. ⋯ The available trials are too small to provide evidence for or against the use of airfiltration units to reduce allergen levels in the management of pet-allergic asthma. Adequately powered trials are needed. There are no trials of other allergen reduction measures, such as pet washing or possibly pet removal.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2003
Review Meta AnalysisAudit and feedback: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes.
Audit and feedback continues to be widely used as a strategy to improve professional practice. It appears logical that healthcare professionals would be prompted to modify their practice if given feedback that their clinical practice was inconsistent with that of their peers or accepted guidelines. Yet, audit and feedback has not been found to be consistently effective. ⋯ Audit and feedback can be effective in improving professional practice. When it is effective, the effects are generally small to moderate. The absolute effects of audit and feedback are more likely to be larger when baseline adherence to recommended practice is low.