Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
ReviewPlasma exchange for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy.
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is an uncommon progressive or relapsing paralysing disease caused by inflammation of the peripheral nerves. If the hypothesis that it is due to autoimmunity is correct, removal of autoantibodies in the blood by plasma exchange should be beneficial. ⋯ Evidence from two small trials showed that plasma exchange provides significant short-term benefit in about two-thirds of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy but rapid deterioration may occur afterwards. Adverse events related to difficulty with venous access, use of citrate and haemodynamic changes are not uncommon. More research is needed to identify agents which will prolong the beneficial action of plasma exchange.
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Hip fracture in the elderly usually results from a fall on the hip. Hip protectors have been advocated as a means to reduce the risk of sustaining a hip fracture. ⋯ There is no evidence of effectiveness of hip protectors from studies in which randomisation was by individual patient within an institution, or for those living in their own homes. Data from cluster randomised studies indicate that, for those living in institutional care with a high background incidence of hip fracture, a programme of providing hip protectors appears to reduce the incidence of hip fractures. Acceptability by users of the protectors remains a problem, due to discomfort and practicality.
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Colchicine has been used for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis because of its immunomodulatory and antifibrotic potential. The therapeutical responses to colchicine in randomised clinical trials were inconsistent. ⋯ We did not find evidence either to support or refute the use of colchicine for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. As we are not able to exclude a detrimental effect of colchicine, we suggest that it is only used in randomised clinical trials.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2004
ReviewPositive expiratory pressure physiotherapy for airway clearance in people with cystic fibrosis.
Chest physiotherapy is widely prescribed to assist the clearance of airway secretions in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices provide constant back pressure to the airways during expiration. This may improve clearance by building up gas behind mucus via collateral ventilation. Given the widespread use of PEP devices, there is a need to determine the evidence for their effect. ⋯ There was no clear evidence that PEP was a more or less effective intervention overall than other forms of physiotherapy. There was limited evidence that PEP was preferred by participants compared to other techniques but this finding is from studies of low quality.
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Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia. Long-acting depot injections of drugs such as bromperidol decanoate are extensively used as a means of long-term maintenance treatment. ⋯ Currently, minimal poorly reported trial data suggests that bromperidol decanoate may be better than placebo injection but less valuable than fluphenazine or haloperidol decanoate. If bromperidol decanoate is available it may be a viable choice, especially when there are reasons not to use fluphenazine or haloperidol decanoate. Well-conducted and reported randomised trials are needed to inform practice in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.