Current medical research and opinion
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Review Meta Analysis
The impact of psychedelics on patients with alcohol use disorder: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Critique the available systematic review and de novo assessment of the role of psychedelics in the treatment of alcohol use disorder. ⋯ The use of psychedelics to treat alcohol use disorder is promising, but the weaknesses in the literature base preclude making definitive statements about its value. Future trials with greater methodological rigor are needed.
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Meta Analysis
Efficacy of tyrosine-kinase-2 and phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors for scalp psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Psoriasis of the scalp is challenging to manage. The only approved oral tyrosine kinase 2 and phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors for psoriasis are deucravacitinib and apremilast. The aim of this study was to explore their efficacy for scalp psoriasis utilizing data from randomized controlled trials. ⋯ Apremilast and deucravacitinib are effective for scalp psoriasis. Deucravacitinib may be more efficient in clearing the scalp.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Kalium phosphoricum comp. in patients with neurasthenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
This Phase IV placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the product Neurodoron (Kalium phosporicum comp., KPC) in patients with neurasthenia. ⋯ Trial treatment was well tolerated with only a few and minor AEs reported, confirming the markedly good safety of KPC. A significant improvement of neurasthenia was seen for the total study population at the end of the treatment period. Superiority of KPC vs. placebo could not be demonstrated with the pre-specified analysis with regards to a sum score of 12 typical symptoms, perceived stress, or general health status. However, the explorative post-hoc analysis revealed that KPC is superior to placebo in the characteristic symptoms irritability and nervousness. KPC could therefore be a beneficial treatment option for symptomatic relief of neurasthenia.
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Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) and sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) are two major vascular disorders of the liver, of which both can cause portal hypertension related complications, but their locations of obstruction are different. BCS refers to the obstruction from the hepatic vein to the junction between the inferior vena cava and right atrium, which is the major etiology of post-sinusoidal portal hypertension; by comparison, SOS is characterized as the obstruction at the level of hepatic sinusoids and terminal venulae, which is a cause of sinusoidal portal hypertension. Both of them can cause hepatic congestion with life-threatening complications, especially acute liver failure and chronic portal hypertension, and share some similar features in terms of imaging and clinical presentations, but they have heterogeneous risk factors, management strategy, and prognosis. Herein, this paper reviews the current evidence and then summarizes the difference between primary BCS and SOS in terms of risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.
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The value of patient involvement to the design, conduct, and outcomes of healthcare research is increasingly being recognized. Patient involvement also provides greater patient accessibility and contribution to research. However, the use of inaccessible and technical language when communicating with patients is a barrier to effective patient involvement. ⋯ The use of inclusive, empathetic, and clear language can encourage patients to be involved in research and, once they are involved, make them feel like equal, empowered, and valued partners. Working toward developing processes and guidelines for the use of language that enables an equal partnership between researchers and patients is critical.