-
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Oct 2022Licorice, as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, possessing the efficacies of invigorating spleen and replenishing qi, heat-clearing and detoxicating,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Licorice, as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, possessing the efficacies of invigorating spleen and replenishing qi, heat-clearing and detoxicating, phlegm-resolving and cough suppressant, relieving spasm and pain, and hamonizing actions of various medicines.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The goal of this systematic review, which includes meta-analysis and network pharmacology in preclinical studies, is to investigate the multiple efficacies of licorice on ulcerative colitis (UC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We searched several databases, e.g., Web of Science, Elsevier ScienceDirect and PubMed until Januanry 2022 for literature collection, and the Review Manager 5.3 was used to analyze the data. To synthesize the retrieved data, the fixed and random-effects models were utilized, respectively, and network pharmacology was applied to confirm the mechanisms.
RESULTS
Based on the result of meta-analysis, it suggested that the treatments of licorice extract and its active compounds showed strong therpeutic effects, which not only reflected the declining histological score, a index of the colitis severity [SMD = -2.86, 95% CI (-3.65, -2.08); P < 0.00001], but also reversed colonic shortness [WMD = 1.67, 95% CI (1.16, 2.19); P < 0.00001] between experimental UC model and licorice-treatment groups. In addition, it suggested the significant reduction of TNF-α level [SMD = -2.70, 95% CI (-3.23, -2.16); P < 0.00001], which acted as a crucial role in inflammatory response. Furthermore, from the results of network pharmacology, it indicated that anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative stress, immunomodulatory effect and microbiota homeostasis were the predominant therapeutic mechanisms of licorice extract and its active compounds treating UC.
CONCLUSION
This systematic review with meta-analysis and network pharmacology demonstrates an efficient role of licorice extract and its active compounds in preclinical studies of UC, which provides supporting evidence for clinical trial implementation. However, there exist some limitations, such as technique quality decificency, missed reports due to negative outcome, failure to calculate sample size, and the risk of bias.
Topics: Colitis, Ulcerative; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Glycyrrhiza; Humans; Network Pharmacology; Plant Extracts; Triterpenes
PubMed: 35671864
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115444 -
European Journal of Clinical... Jul 2024Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) dysfunction is one of the most important mechanisms underlying depression. It seems that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) dysfunction is one of the most important mechanisms underlying depression. It seems that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improve depression via affecting BDNF level. In this systematic review, for the first time, we aimed to review the effect of three SSRIs including fluoxetine, escitalopram, and sertraline, on both depression and BDNF level in preclinical and clinical studies. PubMed electronic database was searched, and 193 articles were included in this study. After reviewing all manuscripts, only one important difference was found: subjects. We found that SSRIs induce different effects in animals vs. humans. Preclinical studies showed many controversial effects, while human studies showed only two effects: improvement of depression, with or without the improvement of BDNF. However, most studies used chronic SSRIs treatment, while acute SSRIs were not effectively used and evaluated. In conclusion, it seems that SSRIs are reliable antidepressants, and the improvement effect of SSRIs on depression is not dependent to BDNF level (at least in human studies).
Topics: Humans; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Sertraline; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Fluoxetine; Animals; Depression; Escitalopram; Antidepressive Agents
PubMed: 38558317
DOI: 10.1007/s00228-024-03680-y -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2017During the last decades, a huge body of evidence has been accumulated suggesting that fruits and their juices might have a role in preventing many diseases including... (Review)
Review
During the last decades, a huge body of evidence has been accumulated suggesting that fruits and their juices might have a role in preventing many diseases including cancer. To summarize the numerous evidences on the potential of juices and their extracts as anticancer agents. A systematic review of articles written in English using MEDLINE (1946-present), EMBASE (1974-present) and Web of Sciences (1970-present) was performed independently by two reviewers. Search terms included fruits, fruits extract, cancer, neoplasm, neoplasia, tumor, metastasis, carcinogenesis, proliferation. The last search was performed on March 16th, 2017. Study selection and systematic review were carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Prior to the beginning of the review, Authors defined a checklist for inclusion criteria, thus including articles which meet the following: (i) published on peer-reviewed scientific journals; (ii) juice used alone; (iii) extracts derived from juice; (iii) for preclinical studies, an exposure time to juices and their extracts more than 24 h. Reviews, meta-analyses, conference abstracts and book chapters were excluded. Three reviewers independently performed the extraction of articles. 22 papers met our inclusion criteria and were eligible for inclusion in the final review. According to the kind of study, the selected ones were further divided in preclinical ( = 20) and observational ( = 2) studies. The studies discussed in this review strongly corroborate the role of juices and their derivatives as potential resource against cancer.
PubMed: 28713272
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00420 -
Epilepsia Jul 2022Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is characterized by recurrent seizures despite appropriate treatment with antiseizure medication (ASM). Due to their regenerative and... (Review)
Review
Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is characterized by recurrent seizures despite appropriate treatment with antiseizure medication (ASM). Due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory potential, therapies with biologics such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a potential therapeutic benefit for structural causes of epilepsy, such as hippocampal sclerosis. In this article, we report a systematic review of the literature evaluating the preclinical and clinical studies of MSCs for DRE. Medline, Ovid EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Databases were searched electronically from their dates of inception to November 2021 using the following keywords: (("mesenchymal") AND ("stem cell")) AND (("epilepsy") OR ("convulsion") OR ("seizures")). This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The initial query identified 488 studies representing 323 unique manuscripts. After application of selection criteria, 15 studies were included in this systematic review; 11 were preclinical studies and 4 were clinical studies. All preclinical studies were performed in rodents and all clinical studies were phase 1 trials. Thus far, therapy with MSCs appears to be safe for use in humans, as no severe adverse events related directly to the therapy were reported. Furthermore, MSC therapy appears to provide a statistically significant clinical benefit by reducing the seizure burden of patients, reducing the electrophysiological biomarkers of epilepsy, and improving their comorbidities, such as depression and anxiety. In addition, animal studies reveal that the therapy exerts its effect by reducing aberrant mossy fiber sprouting (reduce excitatory pathways) and increasing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons (increase inhibitory pathways). Both preclinical and clinical studies have shown MSC therapy to be safe and preliminary effective, thus warranting further studies to investigate its therapeutic potential.
Topics: Animals; Drug Resistant Epilepsy; Epilepsies, Partial; Epilepsy; Humans; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells
PubMed: 35451066
DOI: 10.1111/epi.17266 -
Brain Sciences Feb 2020Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are characterized by weakened cerebral vessel walls that may lead to rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The mechanisms behind their... (Review)
Review
Intracranial aneurysms (IA) are characterized by weakened cerebral vessel walls that may lead to rupture and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The mechanisms behind their formation and progression are yet unclear and warrant preclinical studies. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive, systematic overview of available animal models for the study of IA pathobiology. We conducted a systematic literature search using the PubMed database to identify preclinical studies employing IA animal models. Suitable articles were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Included studies were reviewed and categorized according to the experimental animal and aneurysm model. Of 4266 returned results, 3930 articles were excluded based on the title and/or abstract and further articles after screening the full text, leaving 123 studies for detailed analysis. A total of 20 different models were found in rats (nine), mice (five), rabbits (four), and dogs (two). Rat models constituted the most frequently employed intracranial experimental aneurysm model (79 studies), followed by mice (31 studies), rabbits (12 studies), and two studies in dogs. The most common techniques to induce cerebral aneurysms were surgical ligation of the common carotid artery with subsequent induction of hypertension by ligation of the renal arteries, followed by elastase-induced creation of IAs in combination with corticosterone- or angiotensin-induced hypertension. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the multitude of available IA models to study various aspects of aneurysm formation, growth, and rupture. It will serve as a useful reference for researchers by facilitating the selection of the most appropriate model and technique to answer their scientific question.
PubMed: 32120907
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10030134 -
Cells Mar 2022In 2020, 55 million people worldwide were living with dementia, and this number is projected to reach 139 million in 2050. However, approximately 75% of people living... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
In 2020, 55 million people worldwide were living with dementia, and this number is projected to reach 139 million in 2050. However, approximately 75% of people living with dementia have not received a formal diagnosis. Hence, they do not have access to treatment and care. Without effective treatment in the foreseeable future, it is essential to focus on modifiable risk factors and early intervention. Central auditory processing is impaired in people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its preclinical stages and may manifest many years before clinical diagnosis. This study systematically reviewed central auditory processing function in AD and its preclinical stages using behavioural central auditory processing tests. Eleven studies met the full inclusion criteria, and seven were included in the meta-analyses. The results revealed that those with mild cognitive impairment perform significantly worse than healthy controls within channel adaptive tests of temporal response (ATTR), time-compressed speech test (TCS), Dichotic Digits Test (DDT), Dichotic Sentence Identification (DSI), Speech in Noise (SPIN), and Synthetic Sentence Identification-Ipsilateral Competing Message (SSI-ICM) central auditory processing tests. In addition, this analysis indicates that participants with AD performed significantly worse than healthy controls in DDT, DSI, and SSI-ICM tasks. Clinical implications are discussed in detail.
Topics: Humans; Alzheimer Disease; Cognitive Dysfunction; Hearing
PubMed: 35326458
DOI: 10.3390/cells11061007 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.... Oct 2023Plastic and reconstructive surgery is consistently one of the most competitive medical specialties in the match. The recent United States Medical Licensing Examination...
BACKGROUND
Plastic and reconstructive surgery is consistently one of the most competitive medical specialties in the match. The recent United States Medical Licensing Examination score reporting switch to pass-fail led to a change in metrics by which applicants are evaluated by plastic surgery programs. Applicant research productivity and the demand for plastic surgery mentorship will continue to rise. Given the competitive nature of the residency match and shift in metrics emphasis after the change in STEP 1 scoring, early exposure to plastic surgery and mentoring relationships are paramount to applicant success. However, most medical students are not exposed to plastic surgery until they begin clinical rotations.
METHODS
A literature review of plastic surgery mentorship programs available during preclinical years was conducted to identify preclinical mentorship opportunities in plastic surgery. Sixty-eight references were identified, but only two studies met the inclusion criteria of addressing mentorship programs in preclinical years.
RESULTS
Examination of the included studies indicated that preclinical medical students achieve self-identified goals and generate longitudinal benefits in plastic surgery by participating in early and focused mentorship programs.
CONCLUSIONS
The limited number of studies in this review highlights a lack of available, studied preclinical mentorship programs in plastic surgery and reveals a knowledge gap concerning the creation of successful preclinical mentorship programs. Early exposure to plastic surgery, combined with the development of structured preclinical mentorship programs, can potentially replicate successful outcomes seen in other surgical subspecialties' mentorship programs while addressing the lack of formalized mentorship opportunities for preclinical students in plastic surgery.
PubMed: 37817925
DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005322 -
Neuromodulation : Journal of the... Jan 2023Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a last-resort treatment for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. The mechanism underlying SCS and pain relief is not yet fully... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a last-resort treatment for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. The mechanism underlying SCS and pain relief is not yet fully understood. Because the inflammatory balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules in the spinal nociceptive network is pivotal in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, the working mechanism of SCS is suggested to be related to the modulation of this balance. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize and understand the effects of different SCS paradigms on the central inflammatory balance in the spinal cord.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed. All articles studying the effects of SCS on inflammatory or glial markers in neuropathic pain models were included. A quality assessment was performed on predetermined entities of bias.
RESULTS
A total of 11 articles were eligible for this systematic review. In general, induction of neuropathic pain in rats results in a proinflammatory state and at the same time an increased activity/expression of microglial and astroglial cells in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Conventional SCS seems to further enhance this proinflammatory state and increase the messenger RNA expression of microglial markers, but it also results in a decrease in microglial protein marker levels. High-frequency and especially differential targeted multiplexed SCS can not only restore the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules but also minimize the overexpression/activation of glial cells. Quality assessment and risk of bias analysis of the studies included make it clear that the results of these preclinical studies must be interpreted with caution.
CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the preclinical findings tend to indicate that there is a distinct SCS paradigm-related effect in the modulation of the central inflammatory balance of the spinal dorsal horn.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Spinal Cord Stimulation; Neuralgia; Pain Management; Spinal Cord; Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn
PubMed: 35931643
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2022.04.049 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022The effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on mood disorders (MD) and on inflammatory parameters in preclinical and clinical studies have not yet been comprehensively... (Review)
Review
The effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on mood disorders (MD) and on inflammatory parameters in preclinical and clinical studies have not yet been comprehensively evaluated. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the available knowledge on this topic according to PRISMA guidelines. Data from preclinical and clinical studies were analyzed, considering the safety and efficacy of ASA in the treatment of MD and the correlation of inflammatory parameters with the effect of ASA treatment. Twenty-one studies were included. Both preclinical and clinical studies found evidence indicating the safety and efficacy of low-dose ASA in the treatment of all types of affective episodes in MD. Observational studies have indicated a reduced risk of all types of affective episodes in chronic low-dose ASA users (HR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.95, p < 0.0001). An association between ASA response and inflammatory parameters was found in preclinical studies, but this was not confirmed in clinical trials. Further long-term clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of ASA in recurrent MD, as well as assessing the linkage of ASA treatment with inflammatory phenotype and cytokines, are required. There is also a need for preclinical studies to understand the exact mechanism of action of ASA in MD.
PubMed: 36678565
DOI: 10.3390/ph16010067 -
Perspectives on Behavior Science Mar 2023Resurgence is the return of a previously reinforced response as conditions worsen for an alternative response, such as the introduction of extinction, reductions in... (Review)
Review
UNLABELLED
Resurgence is the return of a previously reinforced response as conditions worsen for an alternative response, such as the introduction of extinction, reductions in reinforcement, or punishment. As a procedure, resurgence has been used to model behavioral treatments and understand behavioral processes contributing both to relapse of problem behavior and flexibility during problem-solving. Identifying existing procedural and analytic methods arranged in basic/preclinical research could be used by basic and preclinical researchers to develop novel approaches to study resurgence, whereas translational and clinical researchers could identify potential approaches to combating relapse during behavioral interventions. Despite the study of resurgence for over half a century, there have been no systematic reviews of the basic/preclinical research on resurgence. To characterize the procedural and analytic methods used in basic/preclinical research on resurgence, we performed a systematic review consistent with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). We identified 120 articles consisting of 200 experiments that presented novel empirical research, examined operant behavior, and included standard elements of a resurgence procedure. We reported prevalence and trends in over 60 categories, including participant characteristics (e.g., species, sample size, disability), designs (e.g., single subject, group), procedural characteristics (e.g., responses, reinforcer types, control conditions), criteria defining resurgence (e.g., single test, multiple tests, relative to control), and analytic strategies (e.g., inferential statistics, quantitative analysis, visual inspection). We make some recommendations for future basic, preclinical, and clinical research based on our findings of this expanding literature.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40614-022-00361-y.
PubMed: 37006602
DOI: 10.1007/s40614-022-00361-y