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Journal of Pharmacopuncture Jun 2022Post-term pregnancy is a condition associated with increased maternal and fetal complications. Administration of castor oil causes cervical stimulation by increasing the... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Post-term pregnancy is a condition associated with increased maternal and fetal complications. Administration of castor oil causes cervical stimulation by increasing the production of prostaglandins. We examined the effects of castor oil on cervical ripening and labor induction through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
The search process was performed to obtain relevant articles from databases including Pubmed, Cochrane library, Scopus, Science direct, SID, Iran Medex, and Google Scholar using the English keywords of cervical ripening, post-term, castor oil, labor induction, Bishop score, and pregnancy considering all possible combinations without time constraints and their Persian equivalents from national databases.
RESULTS
A total of eight related articles from the 19 primary studies were extracted and systematically reviewed. According to a cumulative chart, the difference in the post-intervention Bishop score was statistically significant (standard mean difference [SMD] 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-2.11, p = 0.001), indicating an effect of castor oil on increasing the Bishop score. In addition, the difference in labor induction was statistically significant after the intervention (odds ratio 11.67, 95% CI 3.34-40.81, p = 0.001), indicating an effect of castor oil on increasing the odds ratio of labor induction (experience of vaginal delivery).
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis showed that oral administration of castor oil is effective for cervical ripening and labor induction. Midwives should closely monitor pregnant women with prolonged labor and collaborate with obstetricians to employ castor oil as a safe intervention to induce cervical ripening and labor to prevent undue caesarean surgery.
PubMed: 35837141
DOI: 10.3831/KPI.2022.25.2.71 -
Cureus Dec 2019It is estimated that one in every six patients undergoing solid cancer treatment will develop secondary lymphedema. We conducted a systematic review of publications... (Review)
Review
It is estimated that one in every six patients undergoing solid cancer treatment will develop secondary lymphedema. We conducted a systematic review of publications assessing the potential use of pharmacotherapy agents in lymphedema treatment. The search was conducted on PubMed and eligibility criteria excluded papers that investigated other therapies or focused on primary lymphedema. From 285 potential papers found in the literature, seven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Different types of therapies were proposed, but all of them interfered with inflammation in the lymphedema tissue. Interestingly, the majority of publications were clinical, and three authors conducted randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical studies. Promising results were observed for the oral administration of ketoprofen or selenium and topical tacrolimus. Pharmacotherapy agents were successfully described in lymphedema treatment in clinical and experimental studies. The benefits of delivering ketoprofen, selenium, or tacrolimus in lymphedema were noticed, and these therapies were easily delivered and well-tolerated.
PubMed: 31815082
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6300 -
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research 2020To synthesize the best evidence surrounding the efficacy of cannabinoids for acute pain in the clinical setting based on subjective pain scores and observed adverse... (Review)
Review
To synthesize the best evidence surrounding the efficacy of cannabinoids for acute pain in the clinical setting based on subjective pain scores and observed adverse effects. Systematic review with meta-analysis. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Databases, and Google Scholar. English-language randomized-controlled clinical trials comparing cannabinoids with placebo in patients with acute pain. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. All stages were conducted independently by a team of three reviewers. Data were pooled through meta-analysis and stratified by route of administration. Patient-reported pain and adverse events (AEs). Six trials (678 participants) were included examining oral (5 trials) and intramuscular (1 trial) cannabinoids. Overall, there was a small but statistically significant treatment effect favoring the use of cannabinoids over placebo (-0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.69 to -0.1, =65%, =0.03). When stratified by route of administration, intramuscular cannabinoids were found to have a significant reduction in pain relative to placebo (-2.98, 95% CI -4.09 to -1.87, =0%, <0.0001). No difference in effect was observed between oral cannabinoids and placebo (-0.21, 95% CI -0.64 to 0.22, =3%, =0.34). Serious AEs were rare, and similar across the cannabinoid (14/374, 3.7%) and placebo groups (8/304, 2.6%). There is low-quality evidence indicating that cannabinoids may be a safe alternative for a small but significant reduction in subjective pain score when treating acute pain, with intramuscular administration resulting in a greater reduction relative to oral. Higher quality, long-term randomized-controlled trials examining whether there may be a role for cannabinoids in treating acute pain are required.
PubMed: 33381643
DOI: 10.1089/can.2019.0079 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2022N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is used as an antidote in acetaminophen (APAP) overdose to prevent and mitigate drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Our objective was to...
N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is used as an antidote in acetaminophen (APAP) overdose to prevent and mitigate drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Our objective was to systematically review evidence of the use of NAC as a therapeutic option for APAP overdose and APAP-related DILI in order to define the optimal treatment schedule and timing to start treatment. Bibliographic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and MEDLINE) were searched for retrospective and prospective cohort studies, case series, and clinical trials. The prespecified primary outcomes were DILI-related mortality, hepatotoxicity, and adverse events (AEs). In total, 34 studies of NAC usage in APAP-related DILI cases with 19,580 patients were identified, of which 2,376 patients developed hepatotoxicities. The mortality rate across different studies ranged from 0 to 52%. Large variability of NAC regimens was found, i.e., intravenous (I.V.) (100-150 mg/kg) and oral (70-140 mg/kg), and length of treatment varied-12, 24, or 48 h for I.V. regimen and 72 h for oral administration. The timing of initiation of NAC treatment showed different results in terms of occurrence of hepatotoxicity and mortality; if started within 8 h and no more than 24 h from APAP overdose, either intravenously or orally, NAC administration was efficacious in terms of mortality. The most frequent AEs reported were anaphylactic reactions, followed by cutaneous AEs for the IV route and intestinal AEs for the oral one. NAC improves hepatotoxicity and reduces mortality. Timing of treatment, ranging from 8 to 24 h from APAP overdose, regardless of the regimen or route of administration, is important to prevent or minimize liver damage, particularly in children and in elderly and obese patients.
PubMed: 36034775
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.828565 -
The Journal of Evidence-based Dental... Sep 2021This systematic review aimed to give an overview of the current evidence surrounding the aetiology and management in terms of treatment and prevention of syncope in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
This systematic review aimed to give an overview of the current evidence surrounding the aetiology and management in terms of treatment and prevention of syncope in dental practices. Alongside the occurrence, the practitioner's competence, and the association between syncope and local anaesthetics were discussed.
METHODS
An electronic search in EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane databases and a hand search were performed by 2 independent reviewers to identify studies up to November 2019. Eligibility criteria were applied and relevant data was extracted. Inclusion criteria covered all types of dental treatment under local anaesthesia or conscious sedation performed by a wide range of oral health care workers in their practices. Risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the methodological tools recommend by Zeng et al. No restrictions were made to exclude papers from qualitive analysis based on risk of bias assessment.
RESULTS
The search yielded a total of 18 studies for qualitative analysis. With the exception of one prospective cohort study, all articles were considered having a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed that dentists encountered on average 1.2 cases of syncope per year. The male gender (RR = 2.69 [1.03, 7.02]), dental fear (RR = 3.55 [2.22, 5.70]), refusal of local anaesthesia in non-acute situations (OR = 12.9) and the use of premedication (RR = 4.70, [1.30, 16.90]) increased the risk for syncope. Treatment and prevention were underreported as both were solely discussed in one study. The supine recovery position with raised legs and oxygen administration (15l/min) was presented as an effective treatment. The Medical Risk-Related History (MRRH) system was proposed as prevention protocol, yet this protocol was ineffective in reducing incidence rates (p = 0.27). The majority of dentists (79.2%) were able to diagnose syncope, yet most (86%) lacked the skills for appropriate treatment. Only 57,6% of dental practices were equipped with an oxygen cylinder.
CONCLUSIONS
Syncope is the most common emergency in dental practices. Nonetheless, the vast majority of dentists do not seem competent nor prepared to manage this emergency. Psychogenic factors seem to play an important role in provoking syncope. Placing the patient in a supine reclined position with raised legs in combination with the administration of oxygen seems effective for regaining consciousness. Although valuable in many aspects, risk assessment by medical history taking is not proven to result in fewer episodes. The strength of these conclusions is low based on GRADE guidelines..
Topics: Anesthesia, Local; Anesthetics, Local; Conscious Sedation; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Syncope
PubMed: 34479666
DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2021.101581 -
Nutrients May 2023(1) : Depression is a serious health problem with a high cost for public administration. Epidemiological studies report that one in five children have a mental disorder... (Review)
Review
Need for Multidimensional and Multidisciplinary Management of Depressed Preadolescents and Adolescents: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials on Oral Supplementations (Omega-3, Fish Oil, Vitamin D).
(1) : Depression is a serious health problem with a high cost for public administration. Epidemiological studies report that one in five children have a mental disorder and about 50% of mental health problems exacerbate in childhood and adolescence. Moreover, the antidepressant efficacy in children and adolescents is poorly demonstrated and can cause severe behavioral adverse events such as suicidal ideation. (2) : This systematic literature review examined oral supplementations (Omega-3, fish oil, Vitamin D) to treat depressed children, preadolescents, and adolescents. MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and PsycInfo were searched for articles published in the last five years. Six studies met the eligibility criteria. The inclusion criteria encompassed children, preadolescents, and adolescents, a diagnosis of depression, and an intervention of oral supplementations such as Omega-3, fish oil, and Vitamin D. (3) : Most of the studies demonstrated that dietary intervention provides positive outcomes in terms of depression symptoms. (4) : Overall, the results demonstrate a positive effect for oral supplementation suggesting an increase intake of Omega-3, fish oil, and Vitamin D. However, only a few studies assess the effectiveness of diet recommendations, as a monotherapy or combined treatment, for the management of depression at developmental ages. Thus, there is still a need to further investigate these aspects and to look more specifically at adolescents and preadolescents.
Topics: Cholecalciferol; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Antidepressive Agents; Fish Oils; Dietary Supplements
PubMed: 37242190
DOI: 10.3390/nu15102306 -
The Journal of Clinical Pediatric... Sep 2023Although periodontal diseases have been widely reported in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), their association with JIA remains controversial. This... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Although periodontal diseases have been widely reported in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), their association with JIA remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between JIA and periodontal diseases to facilitate oral health management and periodontal disease prevention in JIA patients. We conducted a comprehensive search of Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Chinese Scientific and Technological Journal (VIP) database, Wan Fang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) up to 30 September 2022, without publication dates or language restrictions. Two authors independently evaluated observational studies for inclusion, and the quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Continuous variables are presented as mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Parameters of the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and probing depth (PD) were considered as outcome measures and were compared between JIA patients and healthy controls. The initial search comprised 15 studies with a total of 1537 individuals. The meta-analysis showed the parameters of OHI-S (MD = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04-0.19, = 0.002), PI (MD = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.67-2.50, < 0.00001), GI (MD = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.17-0.82, = 0.003), CAL (MD = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.01-0.43, = 0.04), and PD (MD = 1.42, 95% CI: 0.08-2.77, = 0.04) in JIA patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. All of the included studies were of high quality. This systematic review and meta-analysis showed a possible association between JIA and periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to continuously pay attention to the periodontal health of JIA patients and fully explore the underlying mechanism.
Topics: United States; Humans; Arthritis, Juvenile; Periodontal Diseases; Administration, Oral; Databases, Factual; Oral Health
PubMed: 37732432
DOI: 10.22514/jocpd.2023.050 -
Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany) Dec 2023Acute pyelonephritis (APN) in pediatric patients may lead to kidney scarring and is one of the main causes of permanent kidney damage. The incidence of kidney scarring... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in pediatric kidney scar prevention after urinary tract infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
BACKGROUND
Acute pyelonephritis (APN) in pediatric patients may lead to kidney scarring and is one of the main causes of permanent kidney damage. The incidence of kidney scarring after one febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is reported to range from 2.8 to 15%, with the percentage rising to 28.6% after ≥ 3 febrile UTIs. Corticosteroids may have a role in the reduction of kidney scar formation and urine cytokine levels. The possible benefit of adjuvant corticosteroid administration in the reduction of kidney scar formation in children with APN has been recently examined in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this meta-analysis was to provide a summary of the current literature about the efficacy and safety of adjuvant corticosteroid administration in the reduction of kidney scar formation in children with APN.
DATA SOURCES
An extensive literature search through major databases (PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus) was carried out for RCTs from inception until October 12, 2022, investigating the efficacy and safety of adjuvant corticosteroids in preventing kidney scarring in children with APN. A risk ratio with 95% CI was used for dichotomous outcomes.
RESULTS
In total, 5 RCTs with 918 pediatric patients with APN were included in the study. Adjuvant corticosteroid treatment revealed a statistically significant reduction in kidney scarring (95% CI 0.42-0.95, p = 0.03), without increasing the risk of adverse events like bacteremia, prolonged hospitalization, or recurrence of UTI.
LIMITATIONS
There were limitations regarding sample size (n = 498 children), different classes of corticosteroids (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone), different routes of corticosteroid administration (intravenous or oral), and different day courses (3-day or 4-day course).
CONCLUSIONS
Adjuvant corticosteroid administration seems to have a beneficial effect on kidney scar reduction in children with APN. Future studies should focus on the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in kidney scarring reduction after APN to strengthen the results of our study. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.
Topics: Child; Humans; Cicatrix; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Urinary Tract Infections; Pyelonephritis; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Kidney; Glomerulonephritis
PubMed: 36943468
DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-05922-0 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Oct 2022Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome resulting from loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. It is a state of hypergonadotropic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome resulting from loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. It is a state of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, characterised by amenorrhoea or oligomenorrhoea, with low ovarian sex hormones (oestrogen deficiency) and elevated pituitary gonadotrophins. POI with primary amenorrhoea may occur as a result of chromosomal and genetic abnormalities, such as Turner syndrome, Fragile X, or autosomal gene defects; secondary amenorrhoea may be iatrogenic after the surgical removal of the ovaries, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Other causes include autoimmune diseases, viral infections, and environmental factors; in most cases, POI is idiopathic. Appropriate replacement of sex hormones in women with POI may facilitate the achievement of near normal uterine development. However, the optimal effective hormone therapy (HT) regimen to maximise the reproductive potential for women with POI remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the effectiveness and safety of different hormonal regimens on uterine and endometrial development in women with POI.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility (CGF) Group trials register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and two trials registers in September 2021. We also checked references of included studies, and contacted study authors to identify additional studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of various hormonal preparations on the uterine development of women diagnosed with POI.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard methodological procedures recommended by Cochrane. The primary review outcome was uterine volume; secondary outcomes were endometrial thickness, endometrial histology, uterine perfusion, reproductive outcomes, and any reported adverse events.
MAIN RESULTS
We included three studies (52 participants analysed in total) investigating the role of various hormonal preparations in three different contexts, which deemed meta-analysis unfeasible. We found very low-certainty evidence; the main limitation was very serious imprecision due to small sample size. Conjugated oral oestrogens versus transdermal 17ß-oestradiol We are uncertain of the effect of conjugated oral oestrogens compared to transdermal 17ß-oestradiol (mean difference (MD) -18.2 (mL), 95% confidence interval (CI) -23.18 to -13.22; 1 RCT, N = 12; very low-certainty evidence) on uterine volume, measured after 12 months of treatment. The study reported no other relevant outcomes (including adverse events). Low versus high 17ß-oestradiol dose We are uncertain of the effect of a lower dose of 17ß-oestradiol compared to a higher dose of 17ß-oestradiol on uterine volume after three or five years of treatment, or adverse events (1 RCT, N = 20; very low-certainty evidence). The study reported no other relevant outcomes. Oral versus vaginal administration of oestradiol and dydrogesterone We are uncertain of the effect of an oral or vaginal administration route on uterine volume and endometrial thickness after 14 or 21 days of administration (1 RCT, N = 20; very low-certainty evidence). The study reported no other relevant outcomes (including adverse events).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
No clear conclusions can be drawn in this systematic review, due to the very low-certainty of the evidence. There is a need for pragmatic, well designed, randomised controlled trials, with adequate power to detect differences between various HT regimens on uterine growth, endometrial development, and pregnancy outcomes following the transfer of donated gametes or embryos in women diagnosed with POI.
Topics: Amenorrhea; Dydrogesterone; Endometrium; Estradiol; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Menopause, Premature; Pregnancy
PubMed: 36200708
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008209.pub2 -
Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular... 2022Oral anticoagulation with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) could provide an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIMS
Oral anticoagulation with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) could provide an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing bioprosthetic heart valve replacement or valve repair.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The aim of this meta-analysis was to review the safety and efficacy of DOAC in patients with surgical implanted bioprosthetic heart valves or valve repairs and AF including data from six clinical trials with a total of 1,857 patients. The efficacy and safety data of DOAC and VKA were pooled to perform random-effects meta-analyses using the Mantel-Haenszel method with pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to assess statistical robustness. Death caused by cardiovascular cause or thromboembolic events were comparable (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.42-1.08; = 0.10) as DOAC significantly reduced the risk for major bleeding (RR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35-0.88; = 0.01) and thromboembolic stroke or systemic embolism rates (RR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32-0.90; = 0.02). Rates for intracranial bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke (RR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.07-0.99; = 0.05) show a trend toward fewer events in the DOAC group. Outcomes for major or minor bleeding events and all-cause mortality were comparable for DOAC and VKA.
CONCLUSION
Cumulative data analysis reveals that DOAC may provide an effective and safe alternative to VKA in patients with AF after surgically implanted bioprosthetic heart valves or repair with AF. Within a relatively heterogeneous study population, this meta-analysis shows a risk reduction of major bleedings and thromboembolic stroke or systemic embolisms for DOAC.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Hemorrhage; Humans; Stroke; Thromboembolism
PubMed: 35481366
DOI: 10.1177/17539447221093963