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JAMA Psychiatry Dec 2022Whether ketamine is as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among patients with major depressive episode remains unknown. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Whether ketamine is as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) among patients with major depressive episode remains unknown.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review and meta-analyze data about clinical efficacy and safety for ketamine and ECT in patients with major depressive episode.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase were systematically searched using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and text keywords from database inception through April 19, 2022, with no language limits. Two authors also manually and independently searched all relevant studies in US and European clinical trial registries and Google Scholar.
STUDY SELECTION
Included were studies that involved (1) a diagnosis of depression using standardized diagnostic criteria, (2) intervention/comparator groups consisting of ECT and ketamine, and (3) depressive symptoms as an efficacy outcome using standardized measures.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Data extraction was completed independently by 2 extractors and cross-checked for errors. Hedges g standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used for improvement in depressive symptoms. SMDs with corresponding 95% CIs were estimated using fixed- or random-effects models. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline was followed.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
Efficacy outcomes included depression severity, cognition, and memory performance. Safety outcomes included serious adverse events (eg, suicide attempts and deaths) and other adverse events.
RESULTS
Six clinical trials comprising 340 patients (n = 162 for ECT and n = 178 for ketamine) were included in the review. Six of 6 studies enrolled patients who were eligible to receive ECT, 6 studies were conducted in inpatient settings, and 5 studies were randomized clinical trials. The overall pooled SMD for depression symptoms for ECT when compared with ketamine was -0.69 (95% CI, -0.89 to -0.48; Cochran Q, P = .15; I2 = 39%), suggesting an efficacy advantage for ECT compared with ketamine for depression severity. Significant differences were not observed between groups for studies that assessed cognition/memory or serious adverse events. Both ketamine and ECT had unique adverse effect profiles (ie, ketamine: lower risks for headache and muscle pain; ECT: lower risks for blurred vision, vertigo, diplopia/nystagmus, and transient dissociative/depersonalization symptoms). Limitations included low to moderate methodological quality and underpowered study designs.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that ECT may be superior to ketamine for improving depression severity in the acute phase, but treatment options should be individualized and patient-centered.
Topics: Humans; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Ketamine; Depressive Disorder, Major; Suicide, Attempted; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 36260324
DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.3352 -
Epilepsia Jun 2017The intravenous formulation of lacosamide (LCM) and its good overall tolerability and safety favor the use in status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this systematic review... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The intravenous formulation of lacosamide (LCM) and its good overall tolerability and safety favor the use in status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate studies reporting on the use of LCM in SE.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search of electronic databases using a combined search strategy from 2008 until October 2016. Using a standardized assessment form, information on the study design, methodologic framework, data sources, efficacy, and adverse events attributed to LCM were extracted from each publication and systematically reported.
RESULTS
In total, 522 SE episodes (51.7% female) in 486 adults and 36 children and adolescents were evaluated with an overall LCM efficacy of 57%. Efficacy was comparable between use in nonconvulsive (57%; 82/145) and generalized-convulsive (61%; 30/49; p = 0.68) SE, whereas overall success rate was better in focal motor SE (92%; 34/39, p = 0.013; p < 0.001). The efficacy with later positioning of LCM decreased from 100% to 20%. The main adverse events during treatment of SE are dizziness, abnormal vision, diplopia, and ataxia. Overall, lacosamide is well tolerated and has no clinically relevant drug-drug interactions.
SIGNIFICANCE
The available data regarding the use of LCM in SE are promising, with a success rate of 57%. The strength of LCM is the lack of interaction potential and the option for intravenous use in emergency situations requiring rapid uptitration.
Topics: Acetamides; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Child, Preschool; Epilepsy, Partial, Motor; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infusions, Intravenous; Lacosamide; Male; Middle Aged; Status Epilepticus; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
PubMed: 28295226
DOI: 10.1111/epi.13716 -
Journal of Cranio-maxillo-facial... Oct 2014The aim of this article was to review the literature regarding diplopia and driving license and to review the West European legislations about this topic, in order to... (Review)
Review
The aim of this article was to review the literature regarding diplopia and driving license and to review the West European legislations about this topic, in order to obtain appropriate indications for hospitals specialists and patients. A systematic review of articles published about diplopia and driving was performed. In addition a review of West European national legislations about driving license regulations for medical illnesses was performed, in addition to the European Union Directive on driving licenses. In the literature, the presence of diplopia has not been considered a reliable predictor of the safety of driving behavior, or it has not appeared to be a contraindication for driving according to some authors who were unable to demonstrate significant differences on driving simulator performance between subjects with chronic stable diplopia and control subjects. Nevertheless, in all western European legislations, acute diplopia constitutes an important limitation for driving, thus making the knowledge of current regulations fundamental for specialists involved in managing patients with diplopia. Ophthalmologists and maxillofacial/head and neck surgeons, may advise patients before hospital discharge about current legislations in their respective countries.
Topics: Automobile Driver Examination; Automobile Driving; Diplopia; Europe; European Union; Government Regulation; Humans; Licensure
PubMed: 24794892
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2014.03.022 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023The effects of various treatments on Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) have been studied. As monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been proposed for the treatment of moderate to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUNDS
The effects of various treatments on Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) have been studied. As monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been proposed for the treatment of moderate to severe GO, direct comparisons between different mAbs are lacking.We therefore conducted this meta-analysis to objectively compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous mAbs.
METHODS
To identify eligible trials, references published before September 2022 were electronically searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Pubmed, Embase,Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI,Wan-Fang and ICTRP databases.The Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool were used to assess the risk of bias of the original studies.The primary and secondary outcomes were the response and inactivation rates, with the secondary outcomes being the clinical activity score (CAS),the improvement of proptosis and diplopia improvement,and the adverse event rate. Publication bias was evaluated, along with subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS
A total of 12 trials with 448 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that TCZ (tocilizumab) was most likely to be the best treatment in terms of response according to indirect contrast, followed by TMB (teprotumumab) and RTX (rituximab).TCZ, followed by TMB and RTX, was also most likely to be the best treatment in terms of reducing proptosis. In terms of improving diplopia, TMB was most likely to be the best treatment, followed by TCZ and RTX.TCZ was the highest probability of safety, followed by RTX and TMB.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the best available evidence,TCZ should be the preferred treatment for moderate to severe GO.In the absence of head-to-head trials,indirect comparisons of treatments are routinely used to estimate the effectiveness of the treatments of interest. In addition,the optimal dose and potential mechanism of action of monoclonal antibodies remain to be established,and it is encouraging that the treatment paradigm for GO may change in the future.This study was designed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)(27).
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42023398170.
Topics: Humans; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Diplopia; Rituximab; Graves Ophthalmopathy; Exophthalmos
PubMed: 37288301
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1160936 -
Neurosurgical Review Aug 2023Although typically benign, trigeminal schwannomas (TS) may require surgical resection when large or symptomatic and can cause significant morbidity. This study aims to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Although typically benign, trigeminal schwannomas (TS) may require surgical resection when large or symptomatic and can cause significant morbidity. This study aims to summarize the literature and synthesize outcomes following surgical resection of TS. A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Data extracted included patient and tumor characteristics, surgical approaches, and postoperative outcomes. Odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for outcome analysis. The initial search yielded 1838 results, of which 26 studies with 974 patients undergoing surgical resection of TS were included. The mean age was 42.9 years and 58.0% were female. The mean tumor diameter was 4.7 cm, with Samii type A, B, C, and D tumors corresponding to 33.4%, 15.8%, 37.2%, and 13.6%, respectively. Over a mean symptom duration of 29 months, patients presented with trigeminal hypesthesia (58.7%), headache (32.8%), trigeminal motor weakness (22.8%), facial pain (21.3%), ataxia (19.4%), diplopia (18.7%), and visual impairment (12.0%). Surgical approaches included supratentorial (61.4%), infratentorial (15.0%), endoscopic (8.6%), combined/staged (5.3%), and anterior (5.7%) or posterior (4.0%) petrosectomy. Postoperative improvement of facial pain (83.9%) was significantly greater than trigeminal motor weakness (33.0%) or hypesthesia (29.4%). The extent of resection (EOR) was reported as gross total (GTR), near total, and subtotal in 77.7%, 7.7%, and 14.6% of cases, respectively. Over a mean follow-up time of 62.6 months, recurrence/progression was noted in 7.4% of patients at a mean time to recurrence of 44.9 months. Patients with GTR had statistically significantly lower odds of recurrence/progression (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.04-0.15) compared to patients with non-GTR. This systematic review and meta-analysis report patient outcomes following surgical resection of TS. EOR was found to be an important predictor of the risk of recurrence. Facial pain was more likely to improve postoperatively than facial hypesthesia. This work reports baseline rates of post-operative complications across studies, establishing benchmarks for neurosurgeons innovating and working to improve surgical outcomes for TS patients.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Male; Hypesthesia; Neurilemmoma; Cranial Nerve Neoplasms; Postoperative Complications; Facial Pain
PubMed: 37646878
DOI: 10.1007/s10143-023-02121-1 -
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders Dec 2022Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is a rare inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system,... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is a rare inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system, characterized by symptoms referable to the brainstem and cerebellum such as, diplopia, gait ataxia and cerebellar dysarthria. The features and outcomes of CLIPPERS remains uncertain. we conducted this comprehensive systematic review to summarize all the existing studies that described CLIPPERS in the literature and to provide a quantitative assessment on the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of this rare syndrome.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of PubMed and Web of Science databases was conducted from inception until January 15, 2022, was conducted. We only included the cases that clearly reported probable or definite diagnosis of CLIPPERS based on Taieb et al.'s criteria. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool. Descriptive statistics were performed to analyze the studies. Data were expressed as mean and standard deviation (SD) for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables.
RESULTS
We identified 100 case reports and series including a total of 140 patients with CLIPPERS (mean age: 46±18 years and males were 60%). The average follow-up duration was 32.27±57.8 months. Ataxia was the most common presenting symptom. Sixteen percent of the cases were associated with malignancy, mostly hematologic malignancies. The overall relapse rate was 59.2%, and the duration of steroid therapy was considerably shorter in the relapsed cases than in the non-relapsed (mean 6.19±7.9 vs. 10.14±12.1 days, respectively, P = 0.04). The overall mortality rate was 10%, but mortality in patients with malignancy was 30% and it was 12% in patients with relapses. In the case of steroid dosing (less than 20 mg/d versus greater than 20 mg/d) there was no significant modification in the risk of relapse.
CONCLUSION
CLIPPERS is a rare clinical syndrome that affects mainly middle-aged males. Diagnosis of CLIPPERS is often challenging, and delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, neurologists should maintain a high index of suspicion for CLIPPERS in any patient presenting with symptoms and signs referrable to the brainstem. These patients should be screened for associated malignancies, especially hematological malignancies. The cases associated with malignancy tend to have worse outcomes. The relapse rate is relatively high. The relapse rate may be associated with worse mortality. Based on our findings, we recommend that CLIPPERS be treated with high-dose steroid therapy for at least ten days during the acute phase with a very slow taper. Prospective studies with a larger sample size are needed to validate our findings and guide the clinical care of these patients.
Topics: Middle Aged; Male; Humans; Adult; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Prospective Studies; Pons; Inflammation; Steroids; Syndrome; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 36029706
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104112 -
Neurology Oct 2023Ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) is an autoimmune disorder resulting in ocular symptoms such as diplopia and ptosis. The proportion of patients who convert to secondary... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) is an autoimmune disorder resulting in ocular symptoms such as diplopia and ptosis. The proportion of patients who convert to secondary generalized myasthenia gravis (SGMG) reported in the literature has been varied. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with OMG and the proportion of SGMG conversion.
METHODS
We conducted an electronic database search for randomized controlled trials, prospective nonrandomized studies, observational studies, and retrospective studies in EMBASE, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. We included studies with patients with OMG who initially presented with ocular symptoms and signs only and were seen in clinical practice, reporting on the characteristics and outcomes of SGMG. We excluded studies with pediatric and congenital myasthenia gravis populations. Eligible studies included articles written in any language and containing data on patients with OMG. The main outcome measured was the proportion of patients with OMG who converted to SGMG and risk factors associated with secondary generalization of OMG. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts and extracted data from full texts, reporting findings according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The methodology was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal forms. PROSPERO registration number: CRD2021285257.
RESULTS
Thirty-one studies were included in the quantitative and qualitative analysis. The proportion of generalization ranged from 11% to 84%. The pooled proportion was 39% (95% CI 32%-47%, = 95.86%, < 0.001 unweighted, low certainty). The pooled risk ratio of female sex for conversion to SGMG was 1.06 (95% CI 0.96-1.17, = 0% = 0.614, 21 studies included, very low certainty), and the pooled risk ratio of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) positivity was 1.30 (95% CI 1.05-1.56, = 0% = 0.455, 16 studies included, very low certainty).
DISCUSSION
Risk factors such as female sex and anti-AChR positivity have been identified to have possible associations with SGMG, but there are not enough quality observational studies. There is a need for a prospective global database of patients with OMG, including all countries with different populations.
Topics: Humans; Female; Child; Retrospective Studies; Myasthenia Gravis; Receptors, Cholinergic; Risk Factors; Blepharoptosis
PubMed: 37643888
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207642 -
Survey of Ophthalmology 2014Strabismus affects approximately 4% of the adult population and can cause substantial physical disturbance and changes to appearance. This article aims to examine the... (Review)
Review
Strabismus affects approximately 4% of the adult population and can cause substantial physical disturbance and changes to appearance. This article aims to examine the impact of strabismus in adults both with and without diplopia, focusing primarily on quality of life (QoL). We highlight the value of measuring QoL, assess the ways in which it can be measured, and the impact the disease, diplopia, and surgery have on the patient. QoL differs for strabismus patients based on their diplopia status. Patients with diplopia tend to have more concerns relating to functional QoL, whereas patients without diplopia have primarily psychosocial concerns. Two diplopia-specific questionnaires have been designed to assess QoL and the perceived severity of symptoms. Further research is needed to identify the variables which influence QoL so that appropriate support can be given to all patients with strabismus to improve their QoL.
Topics: Adult; Diplopia; Humans; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Strabismus; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 24359806
DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2013.04.001 -
The Psychiatric Quarterly Dec 2020Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder with major implications for healthcare system and socioeconomic burden. For chronic and... (Review)
Review
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder with major implications for healthcare system and socioeconomic burden. For chronic and treatment-resistant depression, Ketamine has emerged as a possible treatment option. This systematic review explores the evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of Ketamine in patients with MDD. This systematic review was conducted following the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Eight electronic databases were searched by using search terms: (ketamine) AND (trial OR RCT OR clinical-trial) AND (depressive OR depression OR "depressive-disorder"). After a rigorous screening process against the predetermined eligibility criteria, 35 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Quality assessment of included studies was done by using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs. Thirty-five RCTs are included in this review article with majority of studies from United States, Iran, and China. Intravenous (IV) Ketamine was effective in 70% (21/30) of the included studies whereas oral and Intranasal (IN) Ketamine were effective in two and three studies, respectively. The majority of studies (6/8) using Ketamine as anesthetic agent during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) failed to show an improvement compared to the participants receiving ECT and placebo. The most common reported side effects were nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diplopia, drowsiness, dysphoria, hallucinations, and confusion. Ketamine is an effective treatment option for patients with MDD with undesirable effects when administered via oral, IV and IN routes. Ketamine agumentation of ECT requires further exploration in well-designed studies with adequate sample size. The short-lived antidepressant effect of Ketamine is a potential limitation, therefore, further studies administering multiple infusions for acute treatment and maintenance are necessary.
Topics: Antidepressive Agents; Depressive Disorder, Major; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Humans; Ketamine; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32852658
DOI: 10.1007/s11126-020-09830-6 -
BMJ Open Apr 2023To compare the efficacy and safety of tube shunt implantation with trabeculectomy in the treatment of patients with glaucoma. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and safety of tube shunt implantation with trabeculectomy in the treatment of patients with glaucoma.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed for studies comparing tube with trabeculectomy in patients with glaucoma (final search date: 27 February 2022). Comparisons between tube and trabeculectomy were grouped by the type of tube (Ahmed, Baerveldt, Ex-PRESS and XEN). The primary endpoints included intraocular pressure (IOP), IOP reduction (IOPR), IOPR percentage (IOPR%), complete success rate (CSR), qualified success rate (QSR) and adverse events (AEs).
RESULTS
Forty-nine studies were included in this meta-analysis and presented data for 3795 eyes (Ahmed: 670, Baerveldt: 561, Ex-PRESS: 473, XEN: 199, trabeculectomy: 1892). Ahmed and Ex-PRESS were similar to trabeculectomy in terms of IOP outcomes and success rate (Ahmed vs trabeculectomy: IOPR%: mean difference (MD)=1.34 (-5.35, 8.02), p=0.69; Ex-PRESS vs trabeculectomy: IOPR%: MD=0.12 (-3.07, 3.31), p=0.94). The IOP outcomes for Baerveldt were worse than those for trabeculectomy (IOPR%: MD=-7.51 (-10.68, -4.35), p<0.00001), but the QSR was higher. No significant difference was shown for the CSR. XEN was worse than trabeculectomy in terms of IOP outcomes (IOPR%: MD=-7.87 (-13.55, -2.18), p=0.007), while the success rate was similar. Ahmed and Ex-PRESS had a lower incidence of AEs than trabeculectomy. Baerveldt had a lower incidence of bleb leakage/wound leakage, hyphaema and hypotonic maculopathy than trabeculectomy but a higher incidence of concurrent cataracts, diplopia/strabismus and tube erosion. The incidence of AEs was similar for the XEN and trabeculectomy procedures.
CONCLUSION
Compared with trabeculectomy, both Ahmed and Ex-PRESS appear to be associated with similar ocular hypotensive effects and lower incidences of AEs. However, Baerveldt and XEN cannot achieve sufficient reductions in IOP outcomes similar to those of trabeculectomy.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER
CRD42021257852.
Topics: Humans; Trabeculectomy; Glaucoma Drainage Implants; Treatment Outcome; Glaucoma; Intraocular Pressure
PubMed: 37080625
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065921