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Cochrane (Australasian Centre)

Cochrane is an independent, not-for-profit organisation made up of 37,000 contributors from 130 countries. Cochrane works together to make the vast amounts of evidence generated through research useful and accessible for patients, carers, healthcare providers, organisations and governments around the world.

Cochrane produces trusted health information in the form of systematic reviews that are free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest. Evidence underpins and informs the daily decisions of clinicians, patients and carers, researchers, policymakers and funding bodies. Cochrane's work is recognised as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Cochrane Australia is an active part of this collaborative network, with over 3,000 local researchers, clinicians and patient advocates who synthesise and analyse the latest health research. Cochrane Australia provides training and support to authors of Cochrane reviews, advocates on behalf of Cochrane nationally and promotes the use and uptake of Cochrane reviews.

Cochrane Australia is funded by the Australian Government through the National Health and Medical Research Council.

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Last reviewed: August 2016

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Found 167 results

Pulmonary artery catheters for adult patients in intensive care | Cochrane

A pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is a device utilized in intensive care units (ICU) to measure the pressures in the heart and lung blood vessels and to monitor patients. The catheter is inserted into the right side of the heart through a line placed in a large blood vessel in the neck or groin and is positioned into the pulmonary artery. Complications are uncommon and are mainly related to line insertion. Occasionally bleeding inside the lung and changes in heart rhythm have been reported, but death associated with a PAC is rare. The objective of this systematic review was to provide an up-to-date assessment of evidence on the effectiveness of PAC on death rates, days spent in ICU, days spent in hospital, and cost of care for adult ICU patients.

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Herbal medicine for cervical degenerative disc disease | Cochrane

Degenerative changes of the cervical spine are quite common and can cause severe neck pain, impairment and decreased quality of life. Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine can result in severe pain, instability and radiculopathy (pain spreading down the arms and into the head), myelopathy (spasticity and weakness of arms or hands, which may include "numb and clumsy" hands) or both. Chinese oral and topical herbal medicines are being used to treat many neck disorders. Some have been tested in clinical trials.

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Vitamin E supplementation for prevention of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants | Cochrane

Giving extra vitamin E to preterm babies can provide some benefits, but it increases the risk of life-threatening infections. Preterm babies (born before 37 weeks) can develop a range of problems because their organs are not mature. Vitamin E may be able to help prevent or limit some of these problems, but it can potentially also have harmful effects. Breast milk of a woman who has given birth prematurely has higher than usual levels of vitamin E. Preterm babies can be given extra vitamin E as vitamin drops, in vitamin E-enriched formula, in intravenous fluids, or by injection into their muscles. This review of studies of vitamin E supplements found that while extra vitamin E reduces the chances of some complications (including disease of the retina), the risk of life-threatening infection is increased. The risk of bleeding in the brain is increased when extra vitamin E is given by vein but decreased when the extra vitamin E is given by other routes.

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Acupuncture for stroke rehabilitation | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: From the available evidence, acupuncture may have beneficial effects on improving dependency, global neurological deficiency, and some specific neurological impairments for people with stroke in the convalescent stage, with no obvious serious adverse events

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Caesarean section versus vaginal delivery for preterm birth for women with a single baby (not multiple birth) | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of a policy of planned immediate caesarean delivery for preterm babies

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Acupuncture for tension-type headache | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: The available results suggest that acupuncture is effective for treating frequent episodic or chronic tension-type headaches, but further trials - particularly comparing acupuncture with other treatment options - are needed

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Polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for schizophrenia | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: Three updates of this review have resulted in more included studies and more people randomised but still relatively little useful additional data

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'Third wave' cognitive and behavioural therapies versus other psychological therapies for depression | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: Very low quality evidence suggests that third wave CBT and CBT approaches are equally effective and acceptable in the treatment of acute depression

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Acupuncture for shoulder pain | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: Due to a small number of clinical and methodologically diverse trials, little can be concluded from this review

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Metal-based, metallic fillings: is it better to repair or replace faulty metal-based fillings for adults? | Cochrane

Authors' conclusions: There are no published randomised controlled trials relevant to this review question

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