The analysis of comparative efficacy and safety of topical antifungals in the literature is restricted to the treatment of tinea pedis and onychomycosis. Therefore our objective was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of topical antifungals used in the treatment of dermatomycosis, we performed a comprehensive search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the following databases:...

OBJECTIVE To assess evidence from randomised clinical trials about the effectiveness of extracts of Boswellia serrata (frankincense). DESIGN Systematic review. DATA SOURCES Electronic searches on Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Amed, and Cochrane Library. Hand searches of conference proceedings, bibliographies, and departmental files. REVIEW METHODS All randomised clinical trials of B serrata ex...

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in infants and preschoolers with recurrent wheezing or asthma. METHODS Randomized, prospective, controlled trials published January 1996 to March 2008 with a minimum of 4 weeks of inhaled corticosteroids versus placebo were retrieved through Medline, Embase, and Central databases. The primary outcome was wheezing/asthma exacerbation...

Current treatment options for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis include topical antihistamines, vasoconstrictors, mast cell stabilizers, intranasal corticosteroids (INCS), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are generally used as a supplement to oral or intranasal therapies, necessitating the use of multiple treatments for the different symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR). To assess the eff...

INTRODUCTION: With the introduction of newer atypical antipsychotic agents, a question emerged, concerning their use as complementary pharmacotherapy or even as monotherapy in mental disorders other than psychosis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: MEDLINE was searched with the combination of each one of the key words: risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine with key words that refered to every DSM-IV diagno...

BACKGROUND Many breast cancer patients suffer from hot flush and medical menopause as side effects of treatment. Some patients undergo acupuncture, rather than hormone therapy, to relieve these symptoms, but the efficacy of acupuncture is uncertain. This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture on hot flush and menopause symptoms in women with breast cancer. METHODS A literature se...

Ulam refers to a group of traditional Malaysian plants commonly consumed as a part of a meal, either in the raw form or after a short blanching process. Many types of ulam are thought to possess blood glucose-lowering properties, but relatively little is known on the effectiveness of ulam in modulating blood glucose levels in humans. This review aims to systematically evaluate the effectiveness...

BACKGROUND Specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI) is a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of persistent food allergy. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to systematically review the literature in order to identify, appraise, and synthesize the evidence about SOTI efficacy and safety. METHODS A comprehensive search for citations was conducted on May 2, 2009 using MEDLINE via P...

BACKGROUND Concern has been expressed over UK epilepsy service standards but the most clinically effective model of care is unknown. OBJECTIVE To systematically review the current evidence on specialist epilepsy clinics compared to general neurology clinics and specialist epilepsy nurses compared to usual care. METHODS Medline, Psychlit, Embase, Healthplan, GEARS, BIDS ISI, UKCHHO, internat...

Low-grade chronic inflammation is prevalent in patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) treatment and is linked to the development of premature atherosclerosis and mortality. The non-pharmacological approach to treat inflammation in HD patients through nutritional intervention is well cited. We aimed to assess the efficacy of different nutritional interventions at improving inflammatory outcomes ...