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Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Dec 2021Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by loss of motor neurons and muscle atrophy. Untreated infants with type 1 SMA...
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by loss of motor neurons and muscle atrophy. Untreated infants with type 1 SMA do not achieve major motor milestones, and death from respiratory failure typically occurs before 2 years of age. Individuals with types 2 and 3 SMA exhibit milder phenotypes and have better functional and survival outcomes. Herein, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify factors that influence the prognosis of types 1, 2, and 3 SMA. In untreated infants with type 1 SMA, absence of symptoms at birth, a later symptom onset, and a higher survival of motor neuron 2 (SMN2) copy number are all associated with increased survival. Disease duration, age at treatment initiation, and, to a lesser extent, baseline function were identified as potential treatment-modifying factors for survival, emphasizing that early treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is essential in type 1 SMA. In patients with types 2 and 3 SMA, factors considered prognostic of changes in motor function were SMN2 copy number, age, and ambulatory status. Individuals aged 6-15 years were particularly vulnerable to developing complications (scoliosis and progressive joint contractures) which negatively influence functional outcomes and may also affect the therapeutic response in patients. Age at the time of treatment initiation emerged as a treatment-effect modifier on the outcome of DMTs. Factors identified in this review should be considered prior to designing or analyzing studies in an SMA population, conducting population matching, or summarizing results from different studies on the treatments for SMA.
Topics: Cholestenones; Humans; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal; Observational Studies as Topic; Oligonucleotides; Prognosis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33792051
DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2247 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Aug 2014Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of uncorrectable severe vision loss in people aged 55 years and older in the developed world. Choroidal... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of uncorrectable severe vision loss in people aged 55 years and older in the developed world. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to neovascular AMD accounts for most AMD-related severe vision loss. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents, injected intravitreally, aim to block the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye to prevent vision loss and, in some instances, improve vision.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate: (1) the ocular and systemic effects of, and quality of life associated with, intravitreally injected anti-VEGF agents (pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab) for the treatment of neovascular AMD compared with no anti-VEGF treatment; and (2) the relative effects of one anti-VEGF agent compared with another when administered in comparable dosages and regimens.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register) (2014, Issue 3), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to March 2014), EMBASE (January 1980 to March 2014), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature Database (LILACS) (January 1982 to March 2014), the metaRegister of Controlled Trials (mRCT) (www.controlled-trials.com), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We used no date or language restrictions in the electronic searches for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 27 March 2014.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated pegaptanib, ranibizumab, or bevacizumab versus each other or a control treatment (e.g., sham treatment or photodynamic therapy). All trials followed participants for at least one year.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risks of bias. We contacted trial authors for additional data. We analyzed outcomes as risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs). We used the standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 12 RCTs including a total of 5496 participants with neovascular AMD (the number of participants per trial ranged from 28 to 1208). One trial compared pegaptanib, three trials ranibizumab, and two trials bevacizumab versus controls; six trials compared bevacizumab with ranibizumab. Four trials were conducted by pharmaceutical companies; none of the eight studies which evaluated bevacizumab were funded by pharmaceutical companies. The trials were conducted at various centers across five continents (North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia). The overall quality of the evidence was very good, with most trials having an overall low risk of bias.When compared with control treatments, participants who received any of the three anti-VEGF agents were more likely to have gained 15 letters or more of visual acuity, lost fewer than 15 letters of visual acuity, and had vision 20/200 or better after one year of follow up. Visual acuity outcomes after bevacizumab and ranibizumab were similar when the same regimens were compared in the same RCTs, despite the substantially lower cost for bevacizumab compared with ranibizumab. No trial directly compared pegaptanib with other anti-VEGF agents; however, when compared with controls, ranibizumab or bevacizumab yielded larger improvements in visual acuity outcomes than pegaptanib.Participants treated with anti-VEGFs showed improvements in morphologic outcomes (e.g., size of CNV or central retinal thickness) compared with participants not treated with anti-VEGF agents. There was less reduction in central retinal thickness among bevacizumab-treated participants than among ranibizumab-treated participants after one year (MD -13.97 μm; 95% confidence interval (CI) -26.52 to -1.41); however, this difference is within the range of measurement error and we did not interpret it as being clinically meaningful.Ocular inflammation and increased intraocular pressure after intravitreal injection were the most frequently reported serious ocular adverse events. Endophthalmitis was reported in fewer than 1% of anti-VEGF treated participants; no cases were reported in control groups. The occurrence of serious systemic adverse events was comparable across anti-VEGF-treated groups and control groups; however, the numbers of events and trial participants may have been insufficient to detect a meaningful difference between groups. Data for visual function, quality of life, and economic outcomes were sparsely measured and reported.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The results of this review indicate the effectiveness of anti-VEGF agents (pegaptanib, ranibizumab, and bevacizumab) in terms of maintaining visual acuity; ranibizumab and bevacizumab were also shown to improve visual acuity. The information available on the adverse effects of each medication do not suggest a higher incidence of potentially vision-threatening complications with intravitreal injection compared with control interventions; however, clinical trial sample sizes may not have been sufficient to detect rare safety outcomes. Research evaluating variable dosing regimens with anti-VEGF agents, effects of long-term use, combination therapies (e.g., anti-VEGF treatment plus photodynamic therapy), and other methods of delivering the agents should be incorporated into future Cochrane reviews.
Topics: Aged; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Aptamers, Nucleotide; Choroidal Neovascularization; Humans; Intravitreal Injections; Macular Degeneration; Middle Aged; Porphyrins; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Ranibizumab; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Verteporfin; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 25170575
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005139.pub3 -
Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory... Mar 2020Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are prevalent globally, and extensive efforts have been made to assess their status. Most traditional methods are expensive and...
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are prevalent globally, and extensive efforts have been made to assess their status. Most traditional methods are expensive and time-consuming; therefore, developments of rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive methods for the assessment of vitamins and minerals in biological samples are of high importance in research. Aptamers are synthetic nucleic acid single-stranded DNA or RNA that can be synthesized . They can be engineered to be analyte-specific and have been suggested as a substitute for monoclonal antibodies, due to their high sensitivity and affinity. In addition, aptamers can be chemically synthesized and readily modified for use as biosensors. These features make aptamers a promising tool for the detection of biological analytes. In this review, we provide an overview of the potential use of aptamer-based biosensors. Search terms were conducted on several online databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct from January 2000 to August 2019. Eligibility criteria were used and quality evaluation was performed. Following the review of 4349 articles, 39 articles met the inclusion criteria. Aptasensors have recently been developed for the detection of vitamins by using optical methods, with a detection range from 74 pM to 204 pM, and lower limit of detection of 2.4 pM. Both electrochemical and optical methods have been used for detection of minerals, however electrochemical methods show a wider linear range and lower detection limits compared to optical methods with a wide linear range from 0.2 fM to 1.0 mM and limit of detection of 14.7 fM. The current report reviews recent developments in aptamer-based biosensors for detection of vitamins and minerals. Studies have shown that aptasensors' properties are suitable for the quantification of vitamins and minerals with high sensitivity, affinity, and specificity. Nevertheless, the limitations and future directions of aptamers require further research and new technological innovation.
Topics: Aptamers, Nucleotide; Biosensing Techniques; Electrochemical Techniques; Humans; Minerals; Vitamins
PubMed: 31680587
DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2019.1678566 -
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics Aug 2022Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) exerts neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia (CI), but concrete evidence... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) exerts neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia (CI), but concrete evidence supporting its exact mechanism of action is unclear.
METHODS
We evaluated the neuroprotective role of poly I:C by assessing CI indicators such as brain infarct volume (BIV), neurological deficit score (N.S.), and signaling pathway proteins. Moreover, we performed a narrative review to illustrate the mechanism of action of TLRs and their role in CI. Our search identified 164 articles and 10 met the inclusion criterion.
RESULTS
Poly I:C reduces BIV and N.S. (p = 0.00 and p = 0.03). Interestingly, both pre- and post-conditioning decrease BIV (preC p = 0.04 and postC p = 0.00) and N.S. (preC p = 0.03 and postC p = 0.00). Furthermore, poly I:C upregulates TLR3 [SMD = 0.64; CIs (0.56, 0.72); p = 0.00], downregulates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) [SMD = -1.78; CIs (-2.67, -0.88); p = 0.0)], and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) [SMD = -16.83; CIs (-22.63, -11.02); p = 0.00].
CONCLUSION
We showed that poly I:C is neuroprotective and acts via the TLR3/NF-κB/TNF-α pathway. Our review indicated that suppressing TLR 2/4 may illicit neuroprotection against CI. Further research on simultaneous activation of TLR3 with poly I:C and suppression of TLR 2/4 might open new vistas for the development of therapeutics against CI.
Topics: Animals; Brain Infarction; Brain Injuries; Brain Ischemia; Cerebral Infarction; NF-kappa B; Neuroprotective Agents; Poly I-C; Signal Transduction; Toll-Like Receptor 2; Toll-Like Receptor 3; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
PubMed: 35510663
DOI: 10.1111/cns.13851 -
Restorative treatments of dystrophin expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A systematic review.Annals of Clinical and Translational... Sep 2020To evaluate the effect of pharmacological treatments that increase the synthesis of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Systematic searches were carried out... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
To evaluate the effect of pharmacological treatments that increase the synthesis of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Systematic searches were carried out in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science, and in gray literature from inception to December 2019. Clinical trials addressing the effect of restorative treatments of dystrophin expression in children and adolescents with DMD on functional outcomes {(6-minute walking distance [6MWD], other timed functional tests [TFTs], The North Star Ambulatory Assessment)}, dystrophin expression, cardiorespiratory function, and biochemical tests were included. The DerSimonian-Laird method was used to calculate the pooled estimates for functional outcomes. Eleven studies were included in the systematic review and five in the meta-analysis. Eteplirsen showed a significant effect on 6MWD, Δ6MWD = 67.3 m (95% CI: 27.32, 107.28), and Δ6MWD = 151.0 m (95% CI: 36.15, 265.85) at 48 weeks and 3 years, respectively. In the systematic review, analyzing individually the clinical trials using Ataluren and Drisapersen showed a nonsignificant effect on 6MWD. However, the meta-analysis showed a significant effect on 6MWD for Ataluren and Drisapersen, Δ6MWD = 18.3 m (95% CI: 1.0, 35.5) and Δ6MWD = 21.5 m (95% CI: 4.7, 38.3), respectively. There were no significant differences according to baseline age for Drisapersen. Similarly, the meta-analysis showed effect in TFT with Ataluren. All drugs induced a partial synthesis of dystrophin, and exon skipping was obtained with Eteplirsen and Drisapersen. Eteplirsen also improved forced vital capacity (Δ%pFVC = 1.8%) and maximal inspiratory pressure (Δ%pMIP = 4.4%). Eteplirsen and Ataluren could modestly reduce disease progression. However, more trials are needed to confirm its efficacy, as well as quality of life and cost-utility studies.
Topics: Dystrophin; Humans; Morpholinos; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Oligonucleotides; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Oxadiazoles
PubMed: 33325654
DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51149 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2021AKI has a high mortality rate, may lead to chronic kidney disease, and effective therapies are lacking. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) regulate biologic processes by potently... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AKI has a high mortality rate, may lead to chronic kidney disease, and effective therapies are lacking. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) regulate biologic processes by potently inhibiting protein expression, and pre-clinical studies have explored their roles in AKI. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of miRNAs as therapeutics in pre-clinical AKI. Study screening, data extraction, and quality assessments were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Seventy studies involving 42 miRNA species were included in the analysis. All studies demonstrated significant effects of the miRNA intervention on kidney function and/or histology, with most implicating apoptosis and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) signaling. Fourteen studies (20.0%) examined the effect of miRNA-21 in AKI, and meta-analysis demonstrated significant increases in serum creatinine and kidney injury scores with miR-21 antagonism and pre-conditioning. No studies reported on adverse effects of miRNA therapy. Limitations also included lack of model diversity (100% rodents, 61.4% ischemia-reperfusion injury), and predominance of male sex (78.6%). Most studies had an unclear risk of bias, and the majority of miRNA-21 studies were conducted by a single team of investigators. In summary, several miRNAs target kidney function and apoptosis in pre-clinical AKI models, with data suggesting that miRNA-21 may mediate protection and kidney repair.Systematic review registration ID: CRD42019128854.
Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Animals; Antagomirs; Apoptosis; Creatinine; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Female; Male; Mice; MicroRNAs; Rats
PubMed: 33907298
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88746-y -
Gene Therapy Sep 2022Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe childhood neuromuscular disease for which two genetic therapies, Nusinersen (Spinraza, an antisense oligonucleotide), and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe childhood neuromuscular disease for which two genetic therapies, Nusinersen (Spinraza, an antisense oligonucleotide), and AVXS-101 (Zolgensma, an adeno-associated viral vector of serotype 9 AAV9), have recently been approved. We investigated the pre-clinical development of SMA genetic therapies in rodent models and whether this can predict clinical efficacy. We have performed a systematic review of relevant publications and extracted median survival and details of experimental design. A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate and compare efficacy. We stratified by experimental design (type of genetic therapy, mouse model, route and time of administration) and sought any evidence of publication bias. 51 publications were identified containing 155 individual comparisons, comprising 2573 animals in total. Genetic therapies prolonged survival in SMA mouse models by 3.23-fold (95% CI 2.75-3.79) compared to controls. Study design characteristics accounted for significant heterogeneity between studies and greatly affected observed median survival ratios. Some evidence of publication bias was found. These data are consistent with the extended average lifespan of Spinraza- and Zolgensma-treated children in the clinic. Together, these results support that SMA has been particularly amenable to genetic therapy approaches and highlight SMA as a trailblazer for therapeutic development.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Genetic Therapy; Mice; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Rodentia; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34611322
DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00292-4 -
Journal of Tissue Viability May 2022Prevention of pressure ulcers (PU) is one of the most important indicators of the quality of patient care that may be influenced by the attitude of nurses. Nurses are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Prevention of pressure ulcers (PU) is one of the most important indicators of the quality of patient care that may be influenced by the attitude of nurses. Nurses are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the skin and preventing its complications. The aim of this study was to assess the overall attitude of nurses on PU prevention based on their scores on the Attitude towards Pressure ulcer Prevention instrument (APuP).
METHODS
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, databases including Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus were searched, using the following keywords: Pressure Ulcer, Pressure injury, Bedsore, Pressure Sore, Decubitus Ulcer, Attitude, and their possible combinations. Heterogeneity of studies was assessed with I index and Cochrane-Q test. Based on heterogeneity between the studies, the data were analyzed using a random effects model. All the analyses were performed using STATA v.16 software.
RESULTS
Twelve studies with a sample size of 7824 people were analyzed. The overall score of attitude towards pressure ulcer prevention was 70.84% (95% CI: 66.34-75.35) and the highest and lowest scores were related to the dimensions of individual priority (78.83%, 95% CI: 74.69-82.97) and competence (70.11%, 95% CI: 67.24-72.94), respectively. The percentage of the total score of attitude towards pressure ulcer prevention in nurses was higher than nursing students (72.15%, 95% CI: 67.10-77.20 vs. 67%, 95% CI: 53.80-80.20). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the results. Publication bias was significant (p = 0.036).
CONCLUSION
The attitude of nurses and nursing students towards the prevention of pressure ulcers was moderate, and providing the necessary training to these groups was essential.
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Crush Injuries; Humans; Nurses; Oligoribonucleotides; Pressure Ulcer; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34952775
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtv.2021.12.004 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Apr 2020Disease-modifying pharmacological agents for transthyretin (TTR)-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) have become available in the last decade, but evidence on...
BACKGROUND
Disease-modifying pharmacological agents for transthyretin (TTR)-related familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) have become available in the last decade, but evidence on their efficacy and safety is limited. This review focuses on disease-modifying pharmacological treatment for TTR-related and other FAPs, encompassing amyloid kinetic stabilisers, amyloid matrix solvents, and amyloid precursor inhibitors.
OBJECTIVES
To assess and compare the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of disease-modifying pharmacological agents for familial amyloid polyneuropathies (FAPs).
SEARCH METHODS
On 18 November 2019, we searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Embase. We reviewed reference lists of articles and textbooks on peripheral neuropathies. We also contacted experts in the field. We searched clinical trials registries and manufacturers' websites.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised clinical trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs investigating any disease-modifying pharmacological agent in adults with FAPs. Disability due to FAP progression was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were severity of peripheral neuropathy, change in modified body mass index (mBMI), quality of life, severity of depression, mortality, and adverse events during the trial.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We followed standard Cochrane methodology.
MAIN RESULTS
The review included four RCTs involving 655 people with TTR-FAP. The manufacturers of the drugs under investigation funded three of the studies. The trials investigated different drugs versus placebo and we did not conduct a meta-analysis. One RCT compared tafamidis with placebo in early-stage TTR-FAP (128 randomised participants). The trial did not explore our predetermined disability outcome measures. After 18 months, tafamidis might reduce progression of peripheral neuropathy slightly more than placebo (Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS) in the lower limbs; mean difference (MD) -3.21 points, 95% confidential interval (CI) -5.63 to -0.79; P = 0.009; low-certainty evidence). However, tafamidis might lead to little or no difference in the change of quality of life between groups (Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy (Norfolk QOL-DN) total score; MD -4.50 points, 95% CI -11.27 to 2.27; P = 0.19; very low-certainty evidence). No clear between-group difference was found in the numbers of participants who died (risk ratio (RR) 0.65, 95% CI 0.11 to 3.74; P = 0.63; very low-certainty evidence), who dropped out due to adverse events (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.30 to 5.54; P = 0.73; very low-certainty evidence), or who experienced at least one severe adverse event during the trial (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.37 to 3.62; P = 0.79; very low-certainty evidence). One RCT compared diflunisal with placebo (130 randomised participants). At month 24, diflunisal might reduce progression of disability (Kumamoto Score; MD -4.90 points, 95% CI -7.89 to -1.91; P = 0.002; low-certainty evidence) and peripheral neuropathy (NIS plus 7 nerve tests; MD -18.10 points, 95% CI -26.03 to -10.17; P < 0.001; low-certainty evidence) more than placebo. After 24 months, changes from baseline in the quality of life measured by the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey score showed no clear difference between groups for the physical component (MD 6.10 points, 95% CI 2.56 to 9.64; P = 0.001; very low-certainty evidence) and the mental component (MD 4.40 points, 95% CI -0.19 to 8.99; P = 0.063; very low-certainty evidence). There was no clear between-group difference in the number of people who died (RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.15 to 1.41; P = 0.17; very low-certainty evidence), in the number of dropouts due to adverse events (RR 2.06, 95% CI 0.39 to 10.87; P = 0.39; very low-certainty evidence), and in the number of people who experienced at least one severe adverse event (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.18 to 3.32; P = 0.73; very low-certainty evidence) during the trial. One RCT compared patisiran with placebo (225 randomised participants). After 18 months, patisiran reduced both progression of disability (Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale; least-squares MD 8.90 points, 95% CI 7.00 to 10.80; P < 0.001; moderate-certainty evidence) and peripheral neuropathy (modified NIS plus 7 nerve tests - Alnylam version; least-squares MD -33.99 points, 95% CI -39.86 to -28.13; P < 0.001; moderate-certainty evidence) more than placebo. At month 18, the change in quality of life between groups favoured patisiran (Norfolk QOL-DN total score; least-squares MD -21.10 points, 95% CI -27.20 to -15.00; P < 0.001; low-certainty evidence). There was little or no between-group difference in the number of participants who died (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.74; P = 0.35; low-certainty evidence), dropped out due to adverse events (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.82; P = 0.017; low-certainty evidence), or experienced at least one severe adverse event (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.28; P = 0.58; low-certainty evidence) during the trial. One RCT compared inotersen with placebo (172 randomised participants). The trial did not explore our predetermined disability outcome measures. From baseline to week 66, inotersen reduced progression of peripheral neuropathy more than placebo (modified NIS plus 7 nerve tests - Ionis version; MD -19.73 points, 95% CI -26.50 to -12.96; P < 0.001; moderate-certainty evidence). At week 65, the change in quality of life between groups favoured inotersen (Norfolk QOL-DN total score; MD -10.85 points, 95% CI -17.25 to -4.45; P < 0.001; low-certainty evidence). Inotersen may slightly increase mortality (RR 5.94, 95% CI 0.33 to 105.60; P = 0.22; low-certainty evidence) and occurrence of severe adverse events (RR 1.48, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.57; P = 0.16; low-certainty evidence) compared to placebo. More dropouts due to adverse events were observed in the inotersen than in the placebo group (RR 8.57, 95% CI 1.16 to 63.07; P = 0.035; low-certainty evidence). There were no studies addressing apolipoprotein AI-FAP, gelsolin-FAP, and beta-2-microglobulin-FAP.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Evidence on the pharmacological treatment of FAPs from RCTs is limited to TTR-FAP. No studies directly compare disease-modifying pharmacological treatments for TTR-FAP. Results from placebo-controlled trials indicate that tafamidis, diflunisal, patisiran, and inotersen may be beneficial in TTR-FAP, but further investigations are needed. Since direct comparative studies for TTR-FAP will be hampered by sample size and costs required to demonstrate superiority of one drug over another, long-term non-randomised open-label studies monitoring their efficacy and safety are needed.
Topics: Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Benzoxazoles; Diflunisal; Disease Progression; Humans; Oligonucleotides; Patient Dropouts; Quality of Life; RNA, Small Interfering; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 32311072
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012395.pub2 -
Annals of Internal Medicine Jun 2015Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating multisystem condition affecting more than 1 million adults in the United States. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating multisystem condition affecting more than 1 million adults in the United States.
PURPOSE
To determine benefits and harms of treatments for adults with ME/CFS and identify future research needs.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases (January 1988 to September 2014); clinical trial registries; reference lists; and manufacturer information.
STUDY SELECTION
English-language randomized trials of the effectiveness and adverse effects of ME/CFS treatments.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data on participants, study design, analysis, follow-up, and results were extracted and confirmed. Study quality was dual-rated by using prespecified criteria; discrepancies were resolved through consensus.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Among 35 treatment trials enrolling participants primarily meeting the 1994 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Oxford case definitions of CFS, the immune modulator rintatolimod improved some measures of exercise performance compared with placebo in 2 trials (low strength of evidence). Trials of galantamine, hydrocortisone, IgG, valganciclovir, isoprinosine, fluoxetine, and various complementary medicines were inconclusive (insufficient evidence). Counseling therapies and graded exercise therapy compared with no treatment, relaxation, or support improved fatigue, function, global improvement, and work impairment in some trials; counseling therapies also improved quality of life (low to moderate strength of evidence). Harms were rarely reported across studies (insufficient evidence).
LIMITATION
Trials were heterogeneous and were limited by size, number, duration, applicability, and methodological quality.
CONCLUSION
Trials of rintatolimod, counseling therapies, and graded exercise therapy suggest benefit for some patients meeting case definitions for CFS, whereas evidence for other treatments and harms is insufficient. More definitive studies comparing participants meeting different case definitions, including ME, and providing subgroup analysis are needed to fill research gaps.
Topics: Adult; Antiviral Agents; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Complementary Therapies; Counseling; Encephalomyelitis; Exercise Therapy; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Myalgia; Poly I-C; Poly U; Quality of Life
PubMed: 26075755
DOI: 10.7326/M15-0114