Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2009
Review Meta AnalysisVitamin D compounds for people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis.
Vitamin D compounds are used to suppress elevated serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). ⋯ There are not sufficient data to determine the effect of vitamin D compounds on mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in people with CKD not requiring dialysis. While vitamin D compounds reduce serum PTH (49.3 pg/mL (5.6 pmol/L)) compared with placebo, the relative clinical benefits of PTH lowering versus treatment-related increases in serum phosphorus and calcium remain to be understood.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2009
ReviewSingle dose oral tiaprofenic acid for acute postoperative pain in adults.
Tiaprofenic acid is a a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is widely available around the world, with indications for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, periarticular disorders, and strains and sprains. This review sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral tiaprofenic acid in acute postoperative pain, using clinical studies of patients with established pain, and with outcomes measured primarily over 6 hours using standard methods. This type of study has been used for many decades to establish that drugs have analgesic properties. ⋯ In the absence of evidence of efficacy for oral tiaprofenic acid in acute postoperative pain, its use in this indication is not justified at present. Because trials clearly demonstrating analgesic efficacy in the most basic of acute pain studies is lacking, use in other indications should be evaluated carefully. Given the large number of available drugs of this and similar classes which are effective, there is no urgent research agenda for this particular drug.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2009
Review Meta AnalysisChinese herbal medicines for esophageal cancer.
Esophageal cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines are sometimes used as an adjunct to radiotherapy or chemotherapy for this type of cancer. ⋯ We were unable to find any evidence from RCTs on the effectiveness of TCM in the treatment of esophageal cancer. New trials should be carried out and we recommend that they are large scaled, correctly randomised and that the assessors of the results are blinded to the conditions of allocation.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2009
Review Meta AnalysisPsychological treatments for bulimia nervosa and binging.
A specific manual-based form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been developed for the treatment of bulimia nervosa (CBT-BN) and other common related syndromes such as binge eating disorder. Other psychotherapies and modifications of CBT are also used. ⋯ There is a small body of evidence for the efficacy of CBT in bulimia nervosa and similar syndromes, but the quality of trials is very variable and sample sizes are often small. More and larger trials are needed, particularly for binge eating disorder and other EDNOS syndromes. There is a need to develop more efficacious therapies for those with both a weight and an eating disorder.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Oct 2009
Review Meta AnalysisTreatment of hypertension in peripheral arterial disease.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) causes considerable morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is a risk factor for PAD. Treatment for hypertension must be compatible with the symptoms of PAD. Controversy regarding the effects of beta-blockade for hypertension in patients with PAD has led many physicians to stop prescribing beta-blockers. Little is known about the effects of other classes of anti-hypertensive drugs in the presence of PAD. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2003. ⋯ Evidence on various anti-hypertensive drugs in people with PAD is poor so that it is unknown whether significant benefits or risks accrue from their use. Lack of data specifically examining outcomes in PAD patients should not detract from the compelling evidence of the benefit of treating hypertension and lowering blood pressure.