Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisStrontium ranelate for preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Strontium ranelate is a new treatment for osteoporosis therefore, its benefits and harms need to be known. ⋯ There is silver level evidence (www.cochranemsk.org) to support the efficacy of strontium ranelate for the reduction of fractures (vertebral and to a lesser extent non-vertebral) in postmenopausal osteoporotic women and an increase in BMD in postmenopausal women with/without osteoporosis. Diarrhea may occur however, adverse events leading to study withdrawal were not significantly increased with taking 2 g of strontium ranelate daily. Potential vascular and neurological side-effects need to be further explored.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisTIPS versus paracentesis for cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites.
Refractory ascites (ie, ascites that cannot be mobilized despite sodium restriction and diuretic treatment) occurs in 10 per cent of patients with cirrhosis. It is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality with a one-year survival rate of less than 50 per cent. Few therapeutic options currently exist for the management of refractory ascites. ⋯ The meta-analysis supports that TIPS was more effective at removing ascites as compared with paracentesis without a significant difference in mortality, gastrointestinal bleeding, infection, and acute renal failure. However, TIPS patients develop hepatic encephalopathy significantly more often.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisAnabolic-androgenic steroids for alcoholic liver disease.
Alcohol is one of the most common causes of liver disease in the Western World. Randomised clinical trials have examined the effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids for alcoholic liver disease. ⋯ This systematic review could not demonstrate any significant beneficial effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids on any clinically important outcomes (mortality, liver-related mortality, liver complications, and histology) of patients with alcoholic liver disease.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisPortosystemic shunts versus endoscopic therapy for variceal rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis.
Randomised clinical trials have compared portosystemic shunting procedures with endoscopic therapy for variceal haemorrhage, but there is no consensus as to which approach is preferable. ⋯ All shunts resulted in a significantly lower rebleeding rate at the expense of a higher incidence of encephalopathy. TIPS was complicated by a high incidence of shunt dysfunction. No survival advantage was demonstrated with any shunt.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2006
Review Meta AnalysisTongxinluo (Tong xin luo or Tong-xin-luo) capsule for unstable angina pectoris.
Tongxinluo capsule is a medicine consisting of traditional Chinese herbs and insects used for cardiovascular diseases in China and some other Asian countries. To date the evidence of its effect has not previously been subject to systematic review, making it difficult to derive robust conclusions about its actual benefits, and indeed, possible harms. ⋯ Tongxinluo in combination with routine angina therapy appears to reduce the risk of subsequent AMI, PTCA or CABG, angina attacks and severity, as well as improving symptoms and ischaemic changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). Due to the methodological limitations of the studies, the evidence is insufficient to make any conclusive recommendations about the use of this treatment for patients presenting with unstable angina. Large high quality randomised controlled trials are warranted.