Table of contents

Therapeutics

• Review: aspirin reduces the risk for stroke in patients with previous transient ischaemic attack or stroke but does not have a dose-response effect (1 January, 2000)
• Review: low-dose thiazides are the most effective first-line drugs for hypertension (1 January, 2000)
• Spironolactone reduced mortality in severe congestive heart failure (1 January, 2000)
• Review: long-term β-blocker use reduces mortality after myocardial infarction (1 January, 2000)
• n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced mortality and morbidity after recent myocardial infarction (1 January, 2000)
• Atorvastatin was at least as effective as PTCA for reducing ischaemic events in patients with stable coronary artery disease (1 January, 2000)
• Review: acellular vaccines prevent pertussis as effectively as whole-cell vaccines with fewer adverse events (1 January, 2000)
• Review: β-agonists plus ipratropium bromide improve airflow obstruction in adults with acute asthma (1 January, 2000)
• Inhaled budesonide plus oral prednisone reduced relapse after discharge from the emergency department for acute asthma (1 January, 2000)
• Glucocorticoids reduced short-term treatment failure in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1 January, 2000)
• A 14-day regimen of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids was more effective than placebo for persistent nocturnal cough (1 January, 2000)
• Buccal midazolam may be a useful alternative to rectal diazepam for treating acute seizures in refractory epilepsy (1 January, 2000)
• Pergolide reduced involuntary periodic leg movements and improved sleep in the restless legs syndrome (1 January, 2000)
• Review: lower doses of antidepressant drugs are effective and have fewer adverse effects in depression (1 January, 2000)
• Review: studies with sufficient follow-up do not show a clear benefit for pharmacotherapy in alcohol dependence (1 January, 2000)
• Transcervical resection of the endometrium was effective and acceptable at up to 2 years for heavy menstrual bleeding (1 January, 2000)
• Laparoscopic hernia repair reduced recovery time and days of postoperative analgesia use better than Shouldice repair (1 January, 2000)
• Review: avulsion with phenol prevents recurrence of ingrown toenails (1 January, 2000)
• The Baby Check booklet did not affect frequency of health service use in infants ≤6 months of age (1 January, 2000)