Cochrane

Some people with advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) experience respiratory failure whereby blood oxygen levels fall and high levels of the waste gas carbon dioxide accumulate and cause worsening symptoms. In extreme cases this disturbance in the blood can cause coma and death. When respiratory failure is severe giving oxygen alone ...

Injectable gold has been used to treat several conditions since the 18th century. This review included four trials and 415 patients. Patients receiving gold injections had 30% fewer swollen joints compared to patients receiving placebo. Improvements were also found for blood work and patient and physician assessments in those patients receiving gold ...

Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of premature death and disability. Severe head injury can trigger brain swelling, thereby increasing pressure on the brain (raised intracranial pressure, ICP). Raised ICP increases the likelihood of brain damage or death. Treatment to lower people's ICP commonly involves hyperventilation therapy (increasing blood ...

Animal derived surfactant extract improves outcomes for babies at risk of respiratory distress. Surfactant is essential to normal lung function in babies. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is caused by a lack of, or dysfunction in, surfactant, the chemicals that line the lung air spaces and help keep the lung expanded. A variety of animal derived ...

Immunisation of Rhesus negative women with anti-D after the birth of a Rhesus positive infant reduces the chances of developing Rhesus antibodies. Mothers and babies may have incompatible blood characteristics (such as Rhesus positive babies and Rhesus negative mothers). After the birth of a Rhesus positive infant, Rhesus negative women are given an ...

Synopsis pending.

There is no evidence that treatment with ganglioside reduces disability after stroke. Drugs which can reduce disability in people who survive an acute stroke are needed. Gangliosides are a component of cells membranes and can protect neurons against injuries and enhance their growth. Ganglioside treatment has been tested in many clinical trials, mostly ...