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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2011Almitrine-raubasine combination (brand name Duxil), has been considered as an alternative treatment for dementia. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Almitrine-raubasine combination (brand name Duxil), has been considered as an alternative treatment for dementia.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of Duxil in the treatment of patients with dementia.
SEARCH STRATEGY
We searched the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group Specialised Register (now known as ALOIS) (September 2009), the China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc 1979 to December 2009), the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (www.cnki.net 1979 to December 2009), the Stroke Trials Registry at www.strokecentre.org/trials/index.aspx. We searched identified citations for additional trials, contacted the first author of identified trials for additional references and unpublished data. We also contacted the pharmaceutical company manufacturing Duxil (Servier Pharmaceutical Co Ltd) for additional unpublished data.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials studying the efficacy and safety of Duxil for dementia were included, irrespective of blinding, publication status, or language. If the trial was cross-over in nature, only data from the first period were included.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed trial quality and extracted the data.
MAIN RESULTS
Three trials involving a total of 206 participants were included, all patients with vascular dementia. All three included studies were assessed as being at high risk of bias. When analysing these trials together, there was significant beneficial effect of Duxil on the improvement of cognitive function measured by MMSE (WMD 2.04, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.66). No data on behaviour and death at the end of treatment and follow-up were available from the included trials. Two trials failed to show an improvement of functional performance measured by ADL (WMD -1.68; 95% CI -3.70 to 0.35). Of the three included trials, all described the adverse events in detail, there were no statistically significant differences across the trials (OR 4.84, 95%CI 0.55 to 42.67). Behaviour disturbance, quality of life, caregiver burden were not undertaken in the included trials.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Due to the low methodological quality of included trials, small number of trials and probable publication bias, this review did not provide sufficient evidence to support the routine use of Duxil for the treatment of patients with dementia. High-quality and large-scale randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm or refute these results.
Topics: Aged; Almitrine; Dementia; Drug Combinations; Humans; Middle Aged; Neuroprotective Agents; Yohimbine
PubMed: 21412915
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008068.pub2 -
Age and Ageing Jul 2023community-based complex interventions for older adults have a variety of names, including Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, but often share core components such as... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
community-based complex interventions for older adults have a variety of names, including Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, but often share core components such as holistic needs assessment and care planning.
OBJECTIVE
to summarise evidence for the components and effectiveness of community-based complex interventions for improving older adults' independent living and quality of life (QoL).
METHODS
we searched nine databases and trial registries to February 2022 for randomised controlled trials comparing complex interventions to usual care. Primary outcomes included living at home and QoL. Secondary outcomes included mortality, hospitalisation, institutionalisation, cognitive function and functional status. We pooled data using risk ratios (RRs) or standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
we included 50 trials of mostly moderate quality. Most reported using holistic assessment (94%) and care planning (90%). Twenty-seven (54%) involved multidisciplinary care, with 29.6% delivered mainly by primary care teams without geriatricians. Nurses were the most frequent care coordinators. Complex interventions increased the likelihood of living at home (RR 1.05; 95% CI 1.00-1.10; moderate-quality evidence) but did not affect QoL. Supported by high-quality evidence, they reduced mortality (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.77-0.96), enhanced cognitive function (SMD 0.12; 95% CI 0.02-0.22) and improved instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs) (SMD 0.11; 95% CI 0.01-0.21) and combined basic/instrumental ADLs (SMD 0.08; 95% CI 0.03-0.13).
CONCLUSIONS
complex interventions involving holistic assessment and care planning increased the chance of living at home, reduced mortality and improved cognitive function and some ADLs.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Independent Living; Quality of Life; Activities of Daily Living; Hospitalization; Geriatric Assessment
PubMed: 37505991
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad132 -
AANA Journal Feb 2023Video laryngoscopy is useful when direct laryngoscopy fails. However, should video laryngoscopy replace conventional laryngoscopy? We sought evidence updating previous...
Video laryngoscopy is useful when direct laryngoscopy fails. However, should video laryngoscopy replace conventional laryngoscopy? We sought evidence updating previous systematic reviews examining whether video laryngoscopy should replace direct laryngoscopy for routine adult intubations performed by experienced anesthesia providers in the operating room. Six randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. All trials compared the success of various video laryngoscopes to Macintosh laryngoscopes. The primary outcome was the first-pass success rate. The secondary outcomes were time to successful intubation and oropharyngeal trauma occurrence. Overall, the evidence suggests there is no difference between video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy in first-pass endotracheal success rate, time to tracheal intubation, and occurrence of oropharyngeal trauma for adult intubations performed in the operating room. However, an important consideration in interpreting the evidence is that the studies were not uniformly powered to measure the outcomes of interest. Anesthesia providers should consider continuing the use of conventional laryngoscopy for adults not suspected of being difficult to intubate however, a video laryngoscope should be readily available. Future large-scale studies examining the use of the video laryngoscope for all adult intubations are needed.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Anesthesia; Anesthesiology; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngoscopes; Laryngoscopy
PubMed: 36722782
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Medical Internet Research May 2023The prevalence of mental health problems in children and adolescents is high. As these problems can impact this population's developmental trajectories, they constitute... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of mental health problems in children and adolescents is high. As these problems can impact this population's developmental trajectories, they constitute a public health concern. This situation is accentuated by the fact that children and adolescents infrequently seek help. Digital health interventions (DHIs) offer an opportunity to bridge the treatment gap between health care needs and patient engagement in care. Additional detailed research is needed to identify how children and adolescents can be empowered to access help through DHIs. In this context, an understanding of their attitudes toward digital health appears to be a necessary first step in facilitating the effective implementation of DHIs.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to establish an inventory of children's, adolescents', and their parents' attitudes toward DHIs.
METHODS
A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) recommendations was performed using the MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases. This research was conducted using 3 key concepts: "child and adolescent mental health service users," "digital health interventions," and "attitudes." Data extracted included the name of the publishing journal, the methodology used, the target population, the DHI studied, and the principal results.
RESULTS
Of 1548 studies found, 30 (1.94%) were included in our analysis. Among these, 13 concerned satisfaction, 24 concerned preferences, 22 concerned the use of DHI, 11 concerned perception, and 10 concerned needs.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study provide a better understanding of the factors influencing children's and adolescents' attitudes toward digital health and DHIs. The continued growth of DHIs can help reduce barriers to mental health care. Future research on these interventions should investigate the needs of the targeted populations to increase their engagement in care.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Telemedicine; Parents; Mental Health Services; Patient Participation
PubMed: 37129931
DOI: 10.2196/43102 -
Kidney360 Mar 2021Adults with dialysis-dependent ESKD experience higher rates of depression than the general population, yet efficacy of depression treatments in this population is not... (Review)
Review
Adults with dialysis-dependent ESKD experience higher rates of depression than the general population, yet efficacy of depression treatments in this population is not well understood. We conducted a systematic review of the benefits and harms of depression treatment in adults with ESKD. We searched multiple data sources through June 2020 for English-language, controlled trials that compared interventions for depression in adults with ESKD to another intervention, placebo, or usual care, and reported depression treatment-related outcomes. Observational studies were included for harms. Two investigators independently screened all studies using prespecified criteria. One reviewer abstracted data on study design, interventions, implementation characteristics, and outcomes, and a second reviewer provided confirmation. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality and resolved any discords through discussion or a third reviewer. Strength of evidence (SOE) was assessed and agreed upon by review-team consensus. We qualitatively analyzed the data and present syntheses in text and tables. We included 26 RCTs and three observational studies. SSRIs were the most studied type of drug and the evidence was largely insufficient. We found moderate SOE that long-term, high-dose vitamin D3 is ineffective for reducing depression severity. Cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective than (undefined) psychotherapy and placebo for depression improvement and quality of life (low SOE), and acupressure is more effective than usual care or sham acupressure in reducing depression severity (low SOE). There is limited research evaluating treatment for depression in adults with ESKD, and existing studies may not be generalizable to adults in the United States. Studies suffer from limitations related to methodologic quality or reporting. More research replicating studies of promising interventions in US populations, with larger samples, is needed. : PROSPERO, CRD42020140227.
Topics: Adult; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Depression; Humans; Psychotherapy; Quality of Life; Renal Dialysis
PubMed: 35369008
DOI: 10.34067/KID.0003142020 -
International Journal of Audiology Feb 2024To assess non-medical amplification devices in adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and the impact of device features on outcomes. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To assess non-medical amplification devices in adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, and the impact of device features on outcomes.
DESIGN
A prospectively registered systematic review.
STUDY SAMPLE
Ten studies evaluating personal sound amplification products (PSAPs), and four evaluating smartphone amplification applications (or apps). Devices were classified as "premium" or "basic" based on the number of compression channels (≥16 or <16, respectively).
RESULTS
Meta-analyses showed that premium PSAPs improved speech intelligibility in noise performance compared to unaided, whereas basic PSAPs and smartphone apps did not. Premium PSAPs performed better than basic hearing aids. Premium hearing aids performed better than premium and basic PSAPs, smartphone apps, and basic hearing aids. Although data could not be pooled, similar findings were also found for quality of life, listening ability, cognition, feasibility, and adverse effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Premium PSAPs appear to be an effective non-medical amplification device for adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Given the overlap in features available, it may be that this is a key consideration when drawing comparisons between devices, rather than the device being named a PSAP or hearing aid. Nevertheless, the extent to which PSAPs are effective without audiological input remains to be determined.
PubMed: 38421265
DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2321184 -
Nutrition Reviews Aug 2021Several studies suggest a relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations and increased cardiometabolic risk, but findings are controversial. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
Several studies suggest a relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations and increased cardiometabolic risk, but findings are controversial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize evidence of the relationship between circulating TMAO levels and risk of hypertension and increased serum lipids in a dose-response and 2-class meta-analysis of discrete and continuous variables.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and ProQuest databases were searched.
STUDY SELECTION
Observational studies that reported disease status of participants (≥ 18 years), type of sample in which TMAO was measured (serum or plasma), and results based on at least 2 categories of TMAO concentrations, including relative risks, hazard ratios, or odds ratios with 95%CIs for cardiometabolic risk factors in association with circulating TMAO levels were selected. Papers were reviewed independently by both authors. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of included studies.
DATA EXTRACTION
The following data were extracted: first author's name, publication year, study design, study location, demographic information of participants, and concentrations of circulating TMAO.
RESULTS
Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was a dose-response relationship between circulating TMAO and increased odds of hypertension in cohort studies (P for nonlinearity = 0.049), in plasma-derived TMAO samples (P for nonlinearity = 0.043), in patients with cardiovascular disease (P for nonlinearity = 0.048), and in apparently healthy individuals from community-based studies (P for nonlinearity = 0.005). Moreover, the highest category of TMAO concentrations was associated with a 2.36 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure when compared with the lowest category. The dose-response meta-analysis of continuous variables revealed that an increase in TMAO is associated with reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in apparently healthy individuals and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increased total cholesterol in patients with cardiovascular disease.
CONCLUSIONS
Circulating TMAO is positively associated with an increased risk of hypertension and other cardiometabolic disorders in adults.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO identification number CRD42019138296.
Topics: Adult; Cardiovascular Diseases; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Methylamines; Risk Factors
PubMed: 33270896
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa111 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2023A groin hernia is a collective name for inguinal and femoral hernias, which can present acutely with incarceration or strangulation of the hernia sac content, requiring... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
A groin hernia is a collective name for inguinal and femoral hernias, which can present acutely with incarceration or strangulation of the hernia sac content, requiring emergency treatment. Timely repair of emergency groin hernias is crucial due to the risk of reduced blood supply and thus damage to the bowel, but the optimal surgical approach is unclear. While mesh repair is the standard treatment for elective hernia surgery, using mesh for emergency groin hernia repair remains controversial due to the risk of surgical site infection.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the benefits and harms of mesh compared with non-mesh in emergency groin hernia repair in adult patients with an inguinal or femoral hernia.
SEARCH METHODS
On 5 August 2022, we searched the following databases: CENTRAL, MEDLINE Ovid, and Embase Ovid, as well as two trial registers for ongoing and completed trials. Additionally, we performed forward and backward citation searches for the included trials and relevant review articles. We searched without any language or publication restrictions.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing mesh with non-mesh repair in emergency groin hernia surgery in adults. We included any mesh and any non-mesh repairs. All studies fulfilling the study, participant, and intervention criteria were included irrespective of reported outcomes.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used standard Cochrane methodology. We presented dichotomous data as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We based missing data analysis on best- and worst-case scenarios. For outcomes with sufficiently low heterogeneity, we performed meta-analyses using the random-effects model. We analysed subgroups when feasible, including the degree of contamination. We used RoB 2 for risk of bias assessment, and summarised the certainty of evidence using GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 15 trials randomising 1241 participants undergoing emergency groin hernia surgery with either mesh (626 participants) or non-mesh hernia repair (615 participants). The studies were conducted in China, the Middle East, and South Asia. Most patients were men, and most participants had an inguinal hernia (41 participants had femoral hernias). The mean/median age in the mesh group ranged from 35 to 70 years, and from 41 to 69 years in the non-mesh group. All studies were performed in a hospital emergency setting (tertiary care) and lasted for 11 to 139 months, with a median study duration of 31 months. The majority of the studies only included participants with clean to clean-contaminated surgical fields. For all outcomes, we considered the certainty of the evidence to be very low, mainly downgraded due to high risk of bias (due to deviations from intended intervention and missing outcome data), indirectness, and imprecision. Mesh hernia repair may have no effect on or slightly increase the risk of 30-day surgical site infections (RR 1.66, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.88; I² = 21%; 2 studies, 454 participants) when compared with non-mesh hernia repair, but the evidence is very uncertain. The evidence is also very uncertain about the effect of mesh hernia repair compared with non-mesh hernia repair on 30-day mortality (RR 1.38, 95% CI 0.58 to 3.28; 1 study, 208 participants). In summary, the results showed 70 more (from 5 fewer to 200 more) surgical site infections and 29 more (from 32 fewer to 175 more) deaths within 30 days of mesh hernia repair per 1000 participants compared with non-mesh hernia repair. The evidence is very uncertain about 90-day surgical site infections after mesh versus non-mesh hernia repair (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.15 to 6.64; 1 study, 60 participants; very low-certainty evidence). No 30-day recurrences were recorded, and mesh hernia repair may not reduce recurrence within one year (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04 to 1.03; I² = 0%; 2 studies, 104 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Within 30 days of hernia repair, no meshes were removed from clean to clean-contaminated fields, but 6.7% of meshes (1 study, 208 participants) were removed from contaminated to dirty surgical fields. Among the four studies reporting 90-day mesh removal, no events occurred. We were not able to identify any studies reporting complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification or reoperation for complications within 30 days of repair.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that in terms of 30-day surgical site infections, 30-day mortality, and hernia recurrence within one year, the evidence for the use of mesh hernia repair compared with non-mesh hernia repair in emergency groin hernia surgery is very uncertain. Unfortunately, firm conclusions cannot be drawn due to very low-certainty evidence and meta-analyses based on small-sized and low-quality studies. There is a need for future high-quality RCTs or high-quality registry-based studies if RCTs are unfeasible.
Topics: Male; Adult; Humans; Middle Aged; Aged; Female; Surgical Wound Infection; Hernia, Inguinal; Hernia, Femoral; Herniorrhaphy; Surgical Mesh; Groin
PubMed: 38009575
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015160.pub2 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jun 2023Dendrobium is a kind of medicine food homology plant. Dendrobium has long been used to strengthen "Yin" and tonify five viscera. (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Dendrobium is a kind of medicine food homology plant. Dendrobium has long been used to strengthen "Yin" and tonify five viscera.
AIM OF THIS REVIEW
This paper presents a systematic review of the folk usage, chemical composition and pharmacological activity of Dendrobium, aiming to provide a reference for subsequent in-depth understanding and better exploitation of health food, medicine, and natural products.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Available information about the genus Dendrobium was collected via Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, APA-Psy Articles, Google Scholar, Connected Papers, Springer Search, and KNCI. The keywords for this article are Dendrobium, traditional use, chemical diversity and pharmacological activity. Use the "Dictionary of Chinese Ethnic Medicine" to provide 23 kinds of Dendrobium with medicinal value, the Latin name of Dendrobium is verified by the Flora of China (www.iplant.cn), and its species distribution and related information are collected.
RESULTS
There are 78 species of Dendrobium in China, 14 of which are endemic to China. At present, 450 compounds including sesquiterpenoids, lignans compounds, phenolic compounds, phenanthrene compounds, bibenzyls, polysaccharides and flavonoids have been isolated and identified from at least 50 species of Dendrobium. Among them, bibenzyls and polysaccharides are the main active components, phenolics and lignans are widely distributed, sesquiterpenes are the most common chemical constituents in genus Dendrobium plants. The most popular research objects are Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium huoshanense.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on traditional folk uses, chemical composition and pharmacological studies, Dendrobium is considered a promising medicinal and edible plant with multiple pharmacological activities. In addition, a large number of clinical applications and further studies on single chemical components based on the diversity of chemical structures should be conducted, which will lay the foundation for the scientific utilization of genus Dendrobium.
Topics: Dendrobium; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Lignans; Ethnopharmacology
PubMed: 36948262
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116382 -
Value in Health : the Journal of the... 2008To identify currently available generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments for children and adolescents up to 19 years old, to... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To identify currently available generic and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments for children and adolescents up to 19 years old, to describe their content, and to review their psychometric properties.
STUDY DESIGN
Previous reviews on the subject and a new literature review from 2001 to December 2006 (MEDLINE, the ISI Science Citation Index, HealthSTAR and PsycLit) were used to identify measures of HRQOL for children and adolescents. The characteristics (country of origin, age range, type of respondent, number of dimensions and items, name of the dimensions and condition) and psychometric properties (reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change) of the instruments were assessed following international guidelines published by the Scientific Committee of the Medical Outcomes Trust.
RESULTS
In total, 30 generic and 64 disease-specific instruments were identified, 51 of which were published between 2001 and 2005. Many generic measures cover a core set of basic concepts related to physical, mental and social health, although the number and name of dimensions varies substantially. The lower age limit for self-reported instruments was 5-6 years old. Generic measures developed recently focused on both child self-report and parent-proxy report, although 26% of the disease-specific questionnaires were exclusively addressed to proxy-respondents. Most questionnaires had tested internal consistency (67%) and to a lesser extent test-retest stability (44.7%). Most questionnaires reported construct validity, but few instruments analyzed criterion validity (n = 5), structural validity (n = 15) or sensitivity to change (n = 14).
CONCLUSIONS
The development of HRQOL instruments for children and adolescents has continued apace in recent years, particularly with regard to disease-specific questionnaires. Many of the instruments meet accepted standards for psychometric properties, although instrument developers should include children from the beginning of the development process and need to pay particular attention to testing sensitivity to change.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Quality of Life; Sickness Impact Profile; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 18179668
DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2007.00293.x