Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Bone marrow transplantation involves the administration of toxic chemotherapy and infusion of marrow cells. After treatment, patients can develop a poor appetite, mucositis and gastrointestinal failure, leading to malnutrition. To prevent this, parenteral nutrition (PN) support is the first choice but is associated with an increased risk of infection. Enteral nutrition (EN) is an alternative, as is the addition of substrates e.g. glutamine to enteral and parenteral solutions. However, the relative effectiveness of these treatments is not clear. ⋯ Lack of evaluable data means that the relative effectiveness of EN versus PN cannot be evaluated. Further studies and missing data from completed trials need to be retrieved. Studies comparing PN with glutamine versus standard PN suggest that patients leave hospital earlier, and experience a reduced incidence of positive blood cultures, than those receiving standard PN. Patients with gastrointestinal failure should consider PN with the addition of glutamine if enteral feeding is not possible.
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There have been many randomised trials of adjuvant prolonged polychemotherapy among women with early breast cancer, and an updated overview of their results is presented. ⋯ Some months of adjuvant polychemotherapy (eg, with CMF or an anthracycline-containing regimen) typically produces an absolute improvement of about 7-11% in 10-year survival for women aged under 50 at presentation with early breast cancer, and of about 2-3% for those aged 50-69 (unless their prognosis is likely to be extremely good even without such treatment). Treatment decisions involve consideration not only of improvements in cancer recurrence and survival but also of adverse side-effects of treatment, and this report makes no recommendations as to who should or should not be treated.
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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. The extract of the American saw palmetto or dwarf palm plant, Serenoa repens (also known by its botanical name of Sabal serrulatum), is one of the several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH. ⋯ The evidence suggests that Serenoa repens provides mild to moderate improvement in urinary symptoms and flow measures. Serenoa repens produced similar improvement in urinary symptoms and flow compared to finasteride and is associated with fewer adverse treatment events. The long term effectiveness, safety and ability to prevent BPH complications are not known. The results of this update are in agreement with our initial review.
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Group therapy offers individuals the opportunity to learn behavioural techniques for smoking cessation, and to provide each other with mutual support. ⋯ Groups are better than self-help, and other less intensive interventions. There is not enough evidence on their effectiveness, or cost-effectiveness, compared to intensive individual counselling. The inclusion of skills training to help smokers avoid relapse appears to be useful although the evidence is limited. There is not enough evidence to support the use of particular components in a programme beyond the support and skills training normally included.
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Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is an important cause of ill health in pre menopausal women. Medical therapy, with the avoidance of possibly unnecessary surgery is an attractive treatment option, but there is considerable variation in practice and uncertainty about the most effective therapy. Danazol is a synthetic steroid with anti-oestrogenic and anti progestogenic activity, and weak androgenic properties. Danazol suppresses oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the endometrium, leading to endometrial atrophy (thinning of the lining of the uterus) and reduced menstrual loss and to amenorrhoea in some women. ⋯ Danazol appears to be an effective treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding compared to other medical treatments, though it is uncertain whether it is acceptable to women. The use of danazol may be limited by its side effect profile, its acceptability to women and the need for continuing treatment. Overall no strong recommendations can be made due to the small number of trials, and the small sample sizes of the included trials.