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Shock (Augusta, Ga.) Oct 2023Objective: The objective of this study was to provide an in-depth analysis of the advantages and potential research directions concerning the utilization of terlipressin...
Objective: The objective of this study was to provide an in-depth analysis of the advantages and potential research directions concerning the utilization of terlipressin (TP) in combination with norepinephrine (NE) for the management of septic shock. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across five major electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE, using the Boolean method. The search encompassed articles published until May 22, 2023. Randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of TP combined with NE in the treatment of patients with septic shock were considered for inclusion. Results: A total of seven trials met the inclusion criteria. The combination therapy of TP and NE exhibited potential benefits in the treatment of adult patients suffering from septic shock. Furthermore, the concurrent administration of TP with NE demonstrated improvements in cardiac output and central venous pressure. However, it is important to acknowledge the presence of certain risks and potential adverse events, including an elevated risk of peripheral ischemia. Conclusions: The available evidence supports the notion that early combination therapy involving NE and TP holds promise in terms of reducing the required dosage of NE, enhancing renal perfusion, and improving microcirculation in patients diagnosed with septic shock.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Norepinephrine; Terlipressin; Shock, Septic; Lypressin; Combined Modality Therapy; Vasoconstrictor Agents
PubMed: 37548701
DOI: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000002204 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Jul 2023Metastatic cervical lymph nodes are a frequent finding in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). If a non-surgical approach is primarily chosen, a therapy... (Review)
Review
Metastatic cervical lymph nodes are a frequent finding in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). If a non-surgical approach is primarily chosen, a therapy response evaluation of the primary tumor and the affected lymph nodes is necessary in the follow-up. Supplementary contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can be used to precisely visualize the microcirculation of the target lesion in the neck, whereby malignant and benign findings differ in their uptake behavior. The same applies to many other solid tumors. For various tumor entities, it has already been shown that therapy monitoring is possible through regular contrast-enhanced sonography of the primary tumor or the affected lymph nodes. Thus, in some cases, maybe in the future, a change in therapy strategy can be achieved at an early stage in the case of non-response or, in the case of therapy success, a de-escalation of subsequent (surgical) measures can be achieved. In this paper, a systematic review of the available studies and a discussion of the potential of therapy monitoring by means of CEUS in HNSCC are presented.
Topics: Humans; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Lymph Nodes; Neck; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 37504354
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30070494 -
Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994) Oct 2023Although microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is considered an essential pathophysiology in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Although microvascular dysfunction (MVD) is considered an essential pathophysiology in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the frequency and prognostic impact of MVD are not fully understood. This meta-analysis evaluated the frequency of MVD in patients with HFpEF and its utility in risk stratification.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
On May 26, 2022, a literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane library, and Embase using the search terms such as "Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction," "HFpEF," "microvascular dysfunction," and "MVD." The prevalence of MVD in patients with HFpEF was calculated using the general inverse variance method. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the association between MVD and prognosis in patients with HFpEF.
RESULTS
Data pertaining to a total of 941 patients diagnosed with HFpEF were extracted from the collective pool of 9 studies. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that the frequency of MVD among patients with HFpEF was found to be 55.5% (95% CI: 34.8%-76.2%), with a substantial degree of heterogeneity (I = 98%, p for heterogeneity <.001). Among the five studies that provided data on the association between MVD and prognosis, a significant statistical association was observed in four of them.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis revealed that approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with HFpEF exhibited MVD. Moreover, the presence of MVD demonstrated significant prognostic implications in multiple studies conducted on patients with HFpEF. These findings strongly suggest that MVD plays a crucial role in the underlying pathophysiology of patients with HFpEF.
Topics: Humans; Heart Failure; Prognosis; Stroke Volume; Vascular Diseases; Microvessels; Coronary Vessels; Coronary Circulation
PubMed: 37491798
DOI: 10.1111/micc.12822 -
Medicine Jul 2023To investigate the potential active ingredients and possible mechanisms of Shujin Tongluo granules (SJTLG) in the treatment of cervical spondylosis (CS) by network... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To investigate the potential active ingredients and possible mechanisms of Shujin Tongluo granules (SJTLG) in the treatment of cervical spondylosis (CS) by network pharmacology and molecular docking.
METHODS
The active ingredients and potential targets of SJTLG were obtained through databases such as traditional Chinese medicine system (TCMSP) and BATMAN-traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the relevant human targets of CS were identified through databases such as OMIM, GeneCards, and DisGeNET. The intersection targets were imported into STRING for protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. The obtained data were imported into Cytoscape 3.9.0 software for visualization, and module analysis was performed using the MCODE plug-in. The representative targets were screened through the Metascape website for pathway enrichment analysis in Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Cytoscape software was used to build networks such as "drug-compound-target" and "drug-compound-target-pathway." Finally, the key targets were selected for molecular docking with the corresponding compounds by Autodock Tools 1.5.7 and visualized by PyMol.
RESULTS
A total of 132 active compounds and 996 targets from SJTLG and 678 targets from CS were screened with 116 intersection targets. The key targets were AKT1, GAPDH, ALB, IL-6, TP53, TNF, VEGFA, IL-1β, EGFR, HSP90AA1, ESR1, and JUN. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the treatment of CS was mainly related to biological processes such as cellular response to nitrogen compound, cellular response to organonitrogen compound, and positive regulation of locomotion, and the targets were mainly focused on pathways in cancer, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, lipid, and atherosclerosis. Molecular docking results showed that the minimum binding energy between the core targets and the corresponding compound was <-5.0 kcal·mol-1.
CONCLUSION
This study preliminarily elucidates the potential active ingredients and mechanism of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, microcirculation improvement, vasodilation, osteoporosis inhibition and nerve nutrition effects of SJTLG in the treatment of CS and provides a reference for its clinical application.
Topics: Humans; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Molecular Docking Simulation; Network Pharmacology; Spondylosis
PubMed: 37478234
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034030 -
Medicina Intensiva Dec 2023To determine the diagnostic performance of the clinical evaluation of peripheral tissue perfusion in the prediction of mortality. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To determine the diagnostic performance of the clinical evaluation of peripheral tissue perfusion in the prediction of mortality.
DESIGN
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
SETTING
Intensive care unit.
PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS
Patients with sepsis and septic shock.
INTERVENTIONS
Studies of patients with sepsis and/or septic shock that associated clinical monitoring of tissue perfusion with mortality were included. A systematic review was performed by searching the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and OVID databases.
MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST
The risk of bias was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate the predictive accuracy for mortality. Review Manager software version 5.4 was used to draw the forest plot graphs, and Stata version 15.1 was used to build the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies were included, with a total of 1667 patients and 17 analyses. Two articles evaluated the temperature gradient, four evaluated the capillary refill time, and seven evaluated the mottling in the skin. In most studies, the outcome was mortality at 14 or 28 days. The pooled sensitivity of the included studies was 70%, specificity 75.9% (95% CI, 61.6%-86.2%), diagnostic odds ratio 7.41 (95% CI, 3.91-14.04), and positive and negative likelihood ratios 2.91 (95% CI, 1.80-4.72) and 0.39 (95% CI, 0.30-0.51), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical evaluation of tissue perfusion at the bedside is a useful tool, with moderate sensitivity and specificity, to identify patients with a higher risk of death among those with sepsis and septic shock.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42019134351.
Topics: Humans; Shock, Septic; Sepsis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Intensive Care Units; Perfusion
PubMed: 37419840
DOI: 10.1016/j.medine.2023.05.011 -
Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology Sep 2023The aim of the work described here was to provide an evidence-based evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in acute kidney injury (AKI) and assess... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the work described here was to provide an evidence-based evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in acute kidney injury (AKI) and assess variations in renal microperfusion with CEUS quantitative parameters in patients at a high risk of developing AKI.
METHODS
A meta-analysis and systematic review were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library databases were used to search the relevant articles systematically (2000-2022). Studies using CEUS to assess renal cortical microcirculation in AKI were included.
RESULTS
Six prospective studies (374 patients) were included. The overall quality of included studies was moderate to high. CEUS measures, maximum intensity (standard mean difference [SMD]: -1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.64 to -1.09) and wash-in rate (SMD: -0.77, 95% CI: -1.09 to -0.45) were lower in the AKI+ group than in the AKI- group, and mean transit time (SMD: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.11-1.40) and time to peak (SMD: 1.63, 95% CI: 0.99-2.27) were higher in the AKI+ group. Moreover, maximum intensity and wash-in rate values changed before creatinine changed in the AKI+ group.
CONCLUSION
Patients with AKI had reduced microcirculatory perfusion, prolonged perfusion time and a reduced rising slope in the renal cortex, which occurred before serum creatinine changes. And they could be measured using CEUS, indicating that CEUS could help in the diagnosis of AKI.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Microcirculation; Acute Kidney Injury; Kidney; Ultrasonography; Contrast Media
PubMed: 37391293
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.06.002 -
Annals of the American Thoracic Society Sep 2023Sepsis and septic shock are associated with microcirculatory dysfunction, which is believed to contribute to sepsis-induced organ failure. Vasodilators have been...
Sepsis and septic shock are associated with microcirculatory dysfunction, which is believed to contribute to sepsis-induced organ failure. Vasodilators have been proposed to improve tissue perfusion in sepsis, but the overall survival impact of this strategy is unclear. To evaluate the impact of systemic vasodilator administration in patients with sepsis and septic shock on mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis using a random effects model. Published and unpublished randomized trials in adult patients with sepsis and septic shock were included when comparing the use of systemic vasodilators against no vasodilators. The primary outcome was 28-30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes were organ function and resource use measures. We included eight randomized trials (1,076 patients). In patients randomized to vasodilator arms compared with those randomized to treatment without vasodilators, the 28-30-day mortality risk ratio was 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.54-1.01). In a chronological cumulative meta-analysis, the association between vasodilators and survival improved over time. In a prespecified subgroup analysis in 104 patients in two randomized trials, prostacyclin analogues were associated with a decreased rate of 28-30-day mortality among patients with sepsis and septic shock (risk ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.85). In patients with sepsis and septic shock, administration of vasodilators is not associated with decreased 28-30-day mortality, but the confidence interval suggests potential benefit, and the meta-analysis might lack power. Prostacyclin appears the most promising. The results of this meta-analysis should encourage randomized trials evaluating the impact of vasodilators on mortality in sepsis.
PubMed: 37369141
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202303-205OC -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs, including VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and PLGF) have important roles in the development and function of the peripheral... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs, including VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and PLGF) have important roles in the development and function of the peripheral nervous system. Studies have confirmed that VEGFs, especially VEGF-A (so called VEGF) may be associated with the diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) process. However, different studies have shown inconsistent levels of VEGFs in DPN patients. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between cycling levels of VEGFs and DPN.
METHODS
This study searched 7 databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, WanFang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM), to find the target researches. The random effects model was used to calculate the overall effect.
RESULTS
14 studies with 1983 participants were included, among which 13 studies were about VEGF and 1 was VEGF-B, so only the effects of VEGF were pooled. The result showed that there were obviously increased VEGF levels in DPN patients compared with diabetic patients without DPN (SMD:2.12[1.34, 2.90], <0.00001) and healthy people (SMD:3.50[2.24, 4.75], <0.00001). In addition, increased circulating VEGF levels were not associated with an increased risk of DPN (OR:1.02[0.99, 1.05], <0.00001).
CONCLUSION
Compared with healthy people and diabetic patients without DPN, VEGF content in the peripheral blood of DPN patients is increased, but current evidence does not support the correlation between VEGF levels and the risk of DPN. This suggests that VEGF may play a role in the pathogenesis and repairment of DPN.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Neuropathies; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B
PubMed: 37251664
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1169405 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a higher risk of heart failure (HF) than those without NAFLD. However, the prognostic impact of NAFLD in HF... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a higher risk of heart failure (HF) than those without NAFLD. However, the prognostic impact of NAFLD in HF is still controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between NAFLD and the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with HF.
METHODS
We searched multiple electronic databases (Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar) for potentially related studies up to June 30, 2022. Cohort studies reported multivariable adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of adverse outcomes in HF patients with NAFLD comparing those without NAFLD were included for analysis.
RESULTS
A total of six studies involving 12,374 patients with HF were included for analysis, with a median follow-up duration of 2.5 years. The pooled analysis showed that HF patients with NAFLD were associated with a significantly increased risk of major composite adverse outcomes (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.25-2.07), all-cause mortality (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.39-1.98), and HF hospitalization or re-hospitalization (HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.03-2.86).
CONCLUSION
NAFLD is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with HF. Effective screening and treatment strategies are needed to improve the prognosis in HF patients with NAFLD.
Topics: Humans; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Heart Failure; Prognosis; Cohort Studies; Hospitalization
PubMed: 37152967
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1167608 -
World Journal of Cardiology Apr 2023Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic syndrome characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia that may lead to endothelial dysfunction, reduced...
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic syndrome characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia that may lead to endothelial dysfunction, reduced functional capacity and exercise intolerance. Regular aerobic exercise has been promoted as the most beneficial non-pharmacological treatment of cardiovascular diseases. High intensity interval training (HIIT) seems to be superior than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in cardiovascular diseases by improving brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and cardiorespiratory fitness to a greater extent. However, the beneficial effects of HIIT in patients with T2DM still remain under investigation and number of studies is limited.
AIM
To evaluate the effectiveness of high intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness and endothelial function in patients with T2DM.
METHODS
We performed a search on PubMed, PEDro and CINAHL databases, selecting papers published between December 2012 and December 2022 and identified published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the English language that included community or outpatient exercise training programs in patients with T2DM. RCTs were assessed for methodological rigor and risk of bias the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). The primary outcome was peak VO and the secondary outcome was endothelial function assessed either by FMD or other indices of microcirculation.
RESULTS
Twelve studies were included in our systematic review. The 12 RCTs resulted in 661 participants in total. HIIT was performed in 310 patients (46.8%), MICT to 271 and the rest 80 belonged to the control group. Peak VO increased in 10 out of 12 studies after HIIT. Ten studies compared HIIT with other exercise regimens (MICT or strength endurance) and 4 of them demonstrated additional beneficial effects of HIIT over MICT or other exercise regimens. Moreover, 4 studies explored the effects of HIIT on endothelial function and FMD in T2DM patients. In 2 of them, HIIT further improved endothelial function compared to MICT and/or the control group while in the rest 2 studies no differences between HIIT and MICT were observed.
CONCLUSION
Regular aerobic exercise training has beneficial effects on cardiorespiratory fitness and endothelial function in T2DM patients. HIIT may be superior by improving these parameters to a greater extent than MICT.
PubMed: 37124974
DOI: 10.4330/wjc.v15.i4.184