http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Research into the complementary therapies evening primrose oil and borage oil shows little, if any, benefit for people with eczema compared with placebo, according to a new systematic review. The authors, who published their review in The Cochrane Library, conclude that further studies on the therapies would be difficult to justify. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-benefit-evening-primrose-oil-eczema.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:00:03 EST news286480652 Giving prescribers access to education and advice or imposing restrictions on use can curb overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals, according to a new Cochrane systematic review. This is important because unnecessary use of these life-saving drugs is a key source of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-excessive-antibiotics-hospitals.html Medications Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:00:02 EST news286480695 Smoking prevention in schools reduces the number of young people who will later become smokers, according to a new systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. For young people who have never smoked, these programmes appear to be effective at least one year after implementation. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-schools.html Health Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:00:01 EST news286480715 Self-management interventions delivered by computer and mobile phone currently provide limited benefits for people with diabetes, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. Although computer and mobile phone-based self-management programmes had small positive effects on blood sugar levels, these effects seemed to be short-lived. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-diabetes-based-interventions-limited.html Diabetes Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:00:06 EST news283629998 Prebiotic supplements in infant formula may help to prevent eczema, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. However, the review highlights a lack of high quality evidence for the effects of prebiotics in preventing allergies. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-prebiotics-supplements-baby-formula-allergies.html Health Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:00:01 EST news283630083 Improving housing can improve health, particularly when interventions are targeted at those in the poorest health, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The authors say their review underscores the importance of targeting those most in need when devising programmes for housing improvement. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-housing-poorest-health.html Health Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:00:09 EST news281208796 A new systematic review published in The Cochrane Library has raised doubts as to the effectiveness of "red flag" indicators at both identifying and excluding cancer in patients with lower back pain. The authors of the review concluded that most individual red flags were poor at diagnosing spinal malignancies and call for further studies focused on combinations of red flags. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-spinal-cancer-guidelines-diagnosis-unsupported.html Cancer Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:00:01 EST news281209173 Among fibromyalgia patients taking either of two commonly prescribed drugs to reduce pain, 22 percent report substantial improvement while 21 percent had to quit the regimen due to unpleasant side effects, according to a new review in The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-drugs-fibromyalgia.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:20:05 EST news278844198 A diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) can accurately and quickly detect both TB and drug-resistant strains, according to a new study. The authors of a new systematic review assessing the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert® MTB/RIF test published in The Cochrane Library say their study can provide timely advice for clinicians and policymakers in countries where TB is a major public health problem. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-tuberculosis-who-endorsed-rapid.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:06 EST news278789871 A systematic review published today in The Cochrane Library finds that in well-nourished adults current evidence does not support selenium for preventing heart disease. The review suggests that taking selenium supplements does not reduce a person's risk of developing heart disease, although most evidence is currently limited to healthy American adults. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-current-evidence-selenium-heart-disease.html Health Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:05 EST news278789946 Dementia patients may benefit from a promising new treatment called Cerebrolysin, according to the results of a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The authors brought together the most up-to-date evidence on Cerebrolysin as a treatment for vascular dementia. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-dementia-cerebrolysin.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:05 EST news278790071 People with hepatitis C and chronic liver disease who relapsed or failed to respond to initial treatment are unlikely to improve on interferon retreatment. In fact, they may face an increased risk of dying sooner, and are likely to experience a variety of adverse effects, according to an updated systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-chronic-hepatitis-interferon-re-treatment.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:01 EST news278790292 Babies born prematurely are at higher risk of having a lower IQ and impaired cognitive and motor skills. Programs aimed at helping these infants and their families once they leave the hospital have been found to increase IQ in the period up to school age and provide lasting improvements in cognitive skills, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-early-intervention-premature-infants-iq.html Pediatrics Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:20:01 EST news275303080 Medical students, doctors and nurses can be taught to use a more holistic, patient-centered approach during medical consultations, focusing on the person and not just their medical complaint, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library. Furthermore, short term training (less than 10 hours) was as effective as longer-term training. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-health-patients.html Health Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:43:43 EST news275132618 A new review in The Cochrane Library finds that education and social support for staff and caregivers can reduce the use of antipsychotics in nursing home patients with dementia. Improved staff training and education, communication between personal and professional caregivers and support for everyone involved in the patient's care are effective non-pharmacological methods to try before using antipsychotic medications. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-antipsychotic-drugs-nursing-home-patients.html Health Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:00:06 EST news274697316 In an age when physicians are often short on time and deluged with information, printed reminders about screening tests, vaccinations and other health topics can help them provide care that more closely reflects current medical guidelines and evidence-based medicine, finds a new review from The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-doctors-health.html Health Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:56:11 EST news274524957 A Cochrane review of studies into manipulative therapies for colic, by the University of Southampton, suggests that the treatment technique may be of some benefit. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-therapies-beneficial-treatment-infantile-colic.html Pediatrics Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:00:09 EST news274465603 Children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of traumatic events, including child abuse, may benefit from psychological therapies, according to a review published in The Cochrane Library. In the first systematic review of PTSD in young people, researchers found that children and teenagers diagnosed with PTSD showed signs of improvement up to three months following treatment and called for more studies to assess long-term benefits. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-psychological-therapies-life-children-post-traumatic.html Psychology & Psychiatry Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:00:03 EST news274465654 Patients who practice respiratory physical therapy exercises before elective cardiac surgery may reduce serious pulmonary complications later, finds a new evidence review from The Cochrane Library.  http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-evidence-respiratory-heart-surgery-pneumonia.html Cardiology Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:18:47 EST news272103521 Aerobic exercise can help relieve the fatigue often associated with cancer and cancer treatment, according to Cochrane researchers. Their updated systematic review strengthens findings from an earlier version on cancer-related fatigue published in The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-cancer-tiredness.html Cancer Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:00:01 EST news272047139 Older adults who get the shingles vaccine have a nearly 50 percent reduced risk of developing the often debilitating disease, finds a new evidence review from The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-shingles-vaccine-painful-disease-older.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:10:01 EST news269678263 Collaborative care, a model that involves multiple clinicians working with a patient, significantly improves depression and anxiety outcomes compared to standard primary care treatment for up to two years, finds a new review by The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-collaborative-teams-mental-health-outcomes.html Health Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:00:01 EST news269678056 Smokers who try to quit would be more successful if they combined medication or nicotine-replacement therapy with behavioral counseling, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library. Few lifestyle changes deliver as many positive health benefits as quitting smoking, including improved circulation, lowered blood pressure and a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-combined-approach.html Health Wed, 17 Oct 2012 07:50:02 EST news269678032 On average, new treatments perform better in clinical trials only slightly more often than existing treatments, according to a new systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The fact that experimental treatments are not more effective may seem disappointing, but the authors of the review say their findings satisfy an important ethical requirement for clinical trials. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-clinical-trials-treatments.html Medical research Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:00:05 EST news269625721 Cranberry juice is unlikely to prevent bladder and kidney infections, according to an updated systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The authors analysed the most up-to-date evidence and concluded that any benefit, if present at all, is likely to be small and only for women with recurrent UTI. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-cranberry-juice-cystitis.html Health Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:00:03 EST news269625816 Carrying out general health checks does not reduce deaths overall or from serious diseases like cancer and heart disease, according to Cochrane researchers. The researchers, who carried out a systematic review on the subject for The Cochrane Library, warn against offering general health checks as part of a public health program. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-cochrane-benefit-routine-health.html Health Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:00:01 EST news269625893 Manipulating or "adjusting" the spine is a popular way to treat occasional or acute lower back pain and is covered by many health insurance plans, but a recent review by The Cochrane Library finds no evidence to suggest it is more effective than other therapy options. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-evidence-spinal-acute-pain.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:36:53 EST news267438995 For those suffering from osteoarthritis of the knees or hands, applying topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—in the form of creams, gels and patches—can bring weeks of pain relief, finds a new review by The Cochrane Library. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-topical-nsaids-relief-arthritis-pain.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:50:42 EST news267267035 "Rooming in," keeping mother and her newborn in the same room 24/7 to encourage breastfeeding has been a popular initiative of The WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital. A new review from The Cochrane Library finds some evidence that it does support breastfeeding, at least in the short term. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-evidence-rooming-mother-baby-birth.html Health Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:00:01 EST news266826984 Although many women coping with hot flashes and other distressing symptoms of menopause have turned to black cohosh supplements as a treatment alternative, a new review by the Cochrane Library finds no evidence that the herb is effective. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-evidence-black-cohosh-relieves-menopause.html Health Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:36:02 EST news266826945