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Evidence-based Complementary and... 2022Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat bleeding. We evaluated the efficacy of YNBY plus conventional pharmaceutical treatment (CPT) versus... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat bleeding. We evaluated the efficacy of YNBY plus conventional pharmaceutical treatment (CPT) versus CPT alone in patients with hemoptysis.
METHODS
A total of eight electronic databases were searched. The outcomes in the included studies were effective rate, hemoptysis volume, duration of hemoptysis and hospitalization, number of cases requiring endotracheal intubation, and adverse events (AEs). The studies were used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Risk of bias for included trials was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.
RESULTS
Thirteen RCTs were analyzed consisting of a total of 1379 patients. Treatment with YNBY + CPT had a greater effective rate than CPT alone (RR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.23; < 0.001; = 0%), a lower hemoptysis volume (MD: -107.37; 95% CI: -121.69 to -93.06; < 0.001; = 0%), a shorter duration of hemoptysis (MD: -2.70; 95% CI: -2.96 to 2.43; < 0.001; = 0%) and hospitalization (MD: -2.38; 95% CI: -2.93 to -1.83; < 0.001; = 9%), and a reduction in the incidence of AEs (RR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.51; < 0.001; = 0%). YNBY + CPT treatment provided no significant difference in reducing the number of cases requiring endotracheal intubation compared to CPT alone (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.60; =0.24; = 0%).
CONCLUSION
YNBY plus CPT showed better efficacy than CPT for patients with hemoptysis. Our study provides medical evidence for the efficacy and safety of YNBY for hemoptysis.
PubMed: 35242198
DOI: 10.1155/2022/4931284 -
Journal of Parkinson's Disease 2022Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Long-term levodopa administration for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) may shorten the duration of effect and cause dyskinesias, inducing the need for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors as adjuvant therapy.
OBJECTIVE
We provide pooled scientific evidence highlighting the efficacy and safety of opicapone, a newly approved COMT inhibitor, as an adjuvant to levodopa.
METHODS
We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant reports. Efficacy and safety were evaluated as off-time reduction and risk ratio (RR) of dyskinesia, respectively. Data were independently extracted using predefined criteria. Selected placebo-controlled trials were divided into double-blind and open-label periods. Using a random-effects model, the mean difference (MD) of the off-time reduction (efficacy), RR for the occurrence of dyskinesia, and on-time without/with troublesome dyskinesia (TD; safety assessment) were compared between opicapone and placebo groups.
RESULTS
Five studies from three randomized controlled trials were included, and a meta-analysis was performed with 407 patients receiving opicapone 50 mg and 402 patients receiving placebo. Compared with the placebo, opicapone (50 mg) reduced off-time by 49.91 min during the double-blind period (95% confidence intervals [CIs] = -71.39, -28.43; I2 = 0%). The RR of dyskinesia was 3.43 times greater in the opicapone 50 mg group than in the placebo group (95% CI = 2.14, 5.51; I = 0%). Compared with the placebo, opicapone increased the on-time without TD by 44.62 min (95% CI = 22.60, 66.64; I2 = 0%); the on-time increase with TD did not differ between treatments.
CONCLUSION
Opicapone can play a positive role as an adjuvant to levodopa in patients with PD by reducing off-time and prolonging on-time without PD.
Topics: Antiparkinson Agents; Catechol O-Methyltransferase; Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; Dyskinesias; Humans; Levodopa; Oxadiazoles; Parkinson Disease; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35180134
DOI: 10.3233/JPD-213057 -
Journal of Integrative Medicine Mar 2022Propolis and honey have been studied as alternative treatments for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no study has yet summarized the full body... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Propolis and honey have been studied as alternative treatments for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no study has yet summarized the full body of evidence for the use of propolis and honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This study systematically reviews the mechanisms of propolis and honey against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and current evidence for the use of propolis and honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
SEARCH STRATEGY
A systematic search was conducted of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library from their inceptions to April 2021.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Studies that evaluated the effect of propolis or bee products against SARS-CoV-2 using in silico methods, clinical studies, case reports and case series were included.
DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS
A standardized data extraction form was used, and data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Narrative synthesis was used to summarize study results concerning the use of propolis or honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment and their potential mechanisms of action against SARS-CoV-2.
RESULTS
A total of 15 studies were included. Nine studies were in silico studies, two studies were case reports, one study was a case series, and three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In silico studies, using molecular docking methods, showed that compounds in propolis could interact with several target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the main protease enzyme, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and spike protein. Propolis may have a positive effect for clinical improvement in mild and moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients, according to case reports and case series. The included RCTs indicated that propolis or honey could probably improve clinical symptoms and decrease viral clearance time when they were used as adjuvant therapy to standard of care.
CONCLUSION
In silico studies showed that compounds from propolis could interact with target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, interfering with viral entry and viral RNA replication, while clinical studies revealed that propolis and honey could probably improve clinical COVID-19 symptoms and decrease viral clearance time. However, clinical evidence is limited by the small number of studies and small sample sizes. Future clinical studies are warranted.
Topics: Honey; Humans; Propolis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 35144898
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.01.008 -
Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland) Apr 2022This systematic review aimed to determine the rate and identify correlates of adherence and persistence over five years of treatment with adjuvant endocrine therapy in... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This systematic review aimed to determine the rate and identify correlates of adherence and persistence over five years of treatment with adjuvant endocrine therapy in female breast cancer patients.
METHODS
Relevant articles were identified from Medline, Embase, AMED, PsycINFO, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and APA PsycArticles. Studies that measured patient adherence in the implementation or persistence phase for a period of at least five years using objective or multiple measures of adherence and investigated correlates of adherence were included. The titles, abstracts and full articles were screened and reviewed by two authors and any discrepancies were discussed with a third author.
RESULTS
Twenty-six studies were included. Mean rate of adherence at five-year for implementation phase was 66.2% (SD = 17.3%), and mean persistence was 66.8% (SD = 14.5%). On average, adherence decreased by 25.5% (SD = 9.3%) from the first to fifth year. Higher rate of adherence was observed through self-report in comparison to database or medical record. Older age, younger age, higher comorbidity index, depression and adverse effects were associated with lower adherence. Treatment with aromatase inhibitors, received chemotherapy, and prior medication use were associated with improved adherence.
CONCLUSION
Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy decreased from the first to fifth year of treatment. On average, one-third of patients were not adherent to treatment by the fifth year. Nineteen recurring factors were found to be significantly associated with long-term adherence in multiple studies. Further research using objective or multiple measures of adherence are needed to improve validity of results.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Aromatase Inhibitors; Breast Neoplasms; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Medication Adherence; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Patient Compliance
PubMed: 35121501
DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2022.01.012 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Mar 2022As the important active ingredients of Astragali Radix (AR), Astragalus polysaccharides (APs) have therapeutic potential for multiple diseases including nervous system...
As the important active ingredients of Astragali Radix (AR), Astragalus polysaccharides (APs) have therapeutic potential for multiple diseases including nervous system diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. A large number of cell experiments combined with animal experiments have shed light on the therapeutic mechanisms and therapeutic effects of APs on a variety of diseases. However, the clinical application of APs is not widespread, except for the use of injected APs in the clinical adjuvant therapy of cancer. Due to the excessive molecular weight, bulky, low solubility and negatively charged characteristics, APs have low bioavailability which limits their clinical application. With the deepening of researches on the pharmaceutics of APs, the nanocrystals and moderate structural modification enormously boost the bioavailability, which may expand the application of APs. This review summarizes the studies in pharmacodynamic properties and pharmaceutics of APs, with the purpose of providing experimental researches and clinical application data for expanding the clinical development through expounding the therapeutic mechanisms and pharmaceutical researches of APs.
Topics: Animals; Astragalus Plant; Cardiovascular Diseases; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Diabetes Mellitus; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Hypoxia; Immune Checkpoint Proteins; Immune System Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Molecular Weight; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Oxidative Stress; Polysaccharides
PubMed: 35086031
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112654 -
International Journal of Environmental... Dec 2021Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a disease that involves neurodegeneration and is characterised by the motor symptoms which include muscle rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia.... (Review)
Review
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a disease that involves neurodegeneration and is characterised by the motor symptoms which include muscle rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia. Other non-motor symptoms include pain, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. This disease affects up to ten million people worldwide. The pathophysiology behind PD is due to the neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway. There are many conventional drugs used in the treatment of PD. However, there are limitations associated with conventional drugs. For instance, levodopa is associated with the on-off phenomenon, and it may induce wearing off as time progresses. Therefore, this review aimed to analyze the newly approved drugs by the United States-Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) from 2016-2019 as the adjuvant therapy for the treatment of PD symptoms in terms of efficacy and safety. The new drugs include safinamide, istradefylline and pimavanserin. From this review, safinamide is considered to be more efficacious and safer as the adjunct therapy to levodopa as compared to istradefylline in controlling the motor symptoms. In Study 016, both safinamide 50 mg ( = 0.0138) and 100 mg ( = 0.0006) have improved the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III score as compared to placebo. Improvement in Clinical Global Impression-Change (CGI-C), Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and off time were also seen in both groups of patients following the morning levodopa dose. Pimavanserin also showed favorable effects in ameliorating the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis (PDP). A combination of conventional therapy and non-pharmacological treatment is warranted to enhance the well-being of PD patients.
Topics: Antiparkinson Agents; Humans; Levodopa; Parkinson Disease; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Psychotic Disorders; United States
PubMed: 35010624
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010364 -
Trends in Food Science & Technology Feb 2022Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease transmitted by the virus responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which exhibit... (Review)
Review
Evidences and perspectives of the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as adjuvants for prevention and treatment of COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis and systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease transmitted by the virus responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which exhibit several clinical manifestations including gastrointestinal symptoms.
SCOPE AND APPROACH
This review aimed to provide insights and perspectives for the use of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as adjuvants for prevention/treatment and/or modulation of the microbiota in COVID-19 patients. Eighty-four studies published in the Scopus database from the onset of the pandemic until December 2021 were assessed and submitted to a bibliometric analysis adapted from VOSviewer software.
KEY FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
Through bibliometric analysis, it might be suggested that the modulation of the gut/lung microbiome is promising as an adjuvant for the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 patients, due to immunomodulation properties related to probiotics and prebiotics. So far, few clinical studies involving the application of probiotics in COVID-19 patients have been completed, but reduction in the duration of the disease and the severity of symptoms as fatigue, olfactory dysfunction and breathlessness, nausea and vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms were some of the main findings. However, probiotics are not recommended to immunocompromised patients in corticosteroid therapy. The future perspectives point to the modulation of the intestinal microbiota by probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics represent a promising adjuvant approach for improving the health of patients with COVID-19.
PubMed: 35002079
DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.12.033 -
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Jun 2022Perineural dexamethasone has been regarded as a promising adjunct for prolonging the duration of nerve blocks. However, it is uncertain whether its effects are due to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Efficacy of perineural versus intravenous dexamethasone in prolonging the duration of analgesia when administered with peripheral nerve blocks: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Perineural dexamethasone has been regarded as a promising adjunct for prolonging the duration of nerve blocks. However, it is uncertain whether its effects are due to local effects on the nerves or from systemic absorption. This systematic review aimed to compare the duration of postoperative analgesia associated with perineural versus intravenous dexamethasone as an adjunct to peripheral nerve blocks.
METHODS
A total of 2,216 relevant academic articles were identified after a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov from 1967 until 2020. All randomized controlled trials that compared perineural and intravenous dexamethasone as adjuncts to peripheral nerve limb blocks were included.
RESULTS
Fifteen randomized controlled trials (1,467 cases; 738 perineural dexamethasone, 729 intravenous dexamethasone) were eligible. The primary outcome (duration of analgesia) was significantly longer in the perineural than in the intravenous dexamethasone group (mean difference [MD]: 2.72 h, 95% CI [1.42, 4.01], P < 0.001). Perineural dexamethasone was also found to prolong the sensory block (MD: 3.45 h, 95% CI [1.36, 5.54], P = 0.001) and lower 24 h postoperative pain scores (MD: -0.74 h, 95% CI [-1.40, -0.07], P = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS
This review confirms the greater efficacy of perineural compared to intravenous dexamethasone in prolonging the analgesic duration of peripheral nerve blocks. However, the extent of prolongation was small and may not represent a clinically meaningful difference.
Topics: Analgesia; Anesthesia, Conduction; Dexamethasone; Humans; Nerve Block; Peripheral Nerves
PubMed: 34963269
DOI: 10.4097/kja.21390 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Dec 2021Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Intermittent claudication is a symptomatic form of PAD that is characterized by pain in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. Intermittent claudication is a symptomatic form of PAD that is characterized by pain in the lower limbs caused by chronic occlusive arterial disease. This pain develops in a limb during exercise and is relieved with rest. Propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) is a drug that may alleviate the symptoms of PAD through a metabolic pathway, thereby improving exercise performance.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this review is to determine whether propionyl-L-carnitine is efficacious compared with placebo, other drugs, or other interventions used for treatment of intermittent claudication (e.g. exercise, endovascular intervention, surgery) in increasing pain-free and maximum walking distance for people with stable intermittent claudication, Fontaine stage II.
SEARCH METHODS
The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the ClinicalTrials.gov trials register to July 7, 2021. We undertook reference checking and contact with study authors and pharmaceutical companies to identify additional unpublished and ongoing studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Double-blind randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in people with intermittent claudication (Fontaine stage II) receiving PLC compared with placebo or another intervention. Outcomes included pain-free walking performance (initial claudication distance - ICD) and maximal walking performance (absolute claudication distance - ACD), analyzed by standardized treadmill exercise test, as well as ankle brachial index (ABI), quality of life, progression of disease, and adverse events.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently selected trials, extracted data, and evaluated trials for risk of bias. We contacted study authors for additional information. We resolved any disagreements by consensus. We performed fixed-effect model meta-analyses with mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We graded the certainty of evidence according to GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 12 studies in this review with a total number of 1423 randomized participants. A majority of the included studies assessed PLC versus placebo (11 studies, 1395 participants), and one study assessed PLC versus L-carnitine (1 study, 26 participants). We identified no RCTs that assessed PLC versus any other medication, exercise, endovascular intervention, or surgery. Participants received PLC 1 grams to 2 grams orally (9 studies) or intravenously (3 studies) per day or placebo. For the comparison PLC versus placebo, there was a high level of both clinical and statistical heterogeneity due to study size, participants coming from different countries and centres, the combination of participants with and without diabetes, and use of different treadmill protocols. We found a high proportion of drug company-backed studies. The overall certainty of the evidence was moderate. For PLC compared with placebo, improvement in maximal walking performance (ACD) was greater for PLC than for placebo, with a mean difference in absolute improvement of 50.86 meters (95% CI 50.34 to 51.38; 9 studies, 1121 participants), or a 26% relative improvement (95% CI 23% to 28%). Improvement in pain-free walking distance (ICD) was also greater for PLC than for placebo, with a mean difference in absolute improvement of 32.98 meters (95% CI 32.60 to 33.37; 9 studies, 1151 participants), or a 31% relative improvement (95% CI 28% to 34%). Improvement in ABI was greater for PLC than for placebo, with a mean difference in improvement of 0.09 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.09; 4 studies, 369 participants). Quality of life improvement was greater with PLC (MD 0.06, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.07; 1 study, 126 participants). Progression of disease and adverse events including nausea, gastric intolerance, and flu-like symptoms did not differ greatly between PLC and placebo. For the comparison of PLC with L-carnitine, the certainty of evidence was low because this included a single, very small, cross-over study. Mean improvement in ACD was slightly greater for PLC compared to L-carnitine, with a mean difference in absolute improvement of 20.00 meters (95% CI 0.47 to 39.53; 1 study, 14 participants) or a 16% relative improvement (95% CI 0.4% to 31.6%). We found no evidence of a clear difference in the ICD (absolute improvement 4.00 meters, 95% CI -9.86 to 17.86; 1 study, 14 participants); or a 3% relative improvement (95% CI -7.4% to 13.4%). None of the other outcomes of this review were reported in this study.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
When PLC was compared with placebo, improvement in walking distance was mild to moderate and safety profiles were similar, with moderate overall certainty of evidence. Although In clinical practice, PLC might be considered as an alternative or an adjuvant to standard treatment when such therapies are found to be contraindicated or ineffective, we found no RCT evidence comparing PLC with standard treatment to directly support such use.
Topics: Ankle Brachial Index; Carnitine; Humans; Intermittent Claudication; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Walking
PubMed: 34954832
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010117.pub2 -
Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology Jan 2022To determine the oncologic and toxicity outcomes of adjuvant immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) compared to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients treated... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Chemotherapy is superior to checkpoint inhibitors after radical surgery for urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of oncologic and toxicity outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the oncologic and toxicity outcomes of adjuvant immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) compared to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients treated with radical surgery for urothelial carcinoma (UC).
METHODS
We used the Bayesian approach in the network meta-analysis of different therapy regimens compared to observation or placebo.
RESULTS
Nine studies comprised of 2,444 patients met the eligibility criteria. In bladder UC, chemotherapy, atezolizumab, and nivolumab did not improve disease progression compared to observation/placebo. In upper tract UC (UTUC), chemotherapy was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of disease progression compared to observation/placebo, while atezolizumab and nivolumab were not. Based on the analysis of the treatment ranking, adjuvant chemotherapy appeared as the best treatment approach in both bladder UC and UTUC. The risk of adverse events with ICIs was comparable to that of observation/placebo.
CONCLUSION
Our analysis suggests a superior oncologic benefit to adjuvant chemotherapy over ICIs in patients treated with radical surgery for both bladder UC and UTUC.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bayes Theorem; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
PubMed: 34902554
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103570