Frontiers in pharmacology
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Frontiers in pharmacology · Jan 2020
Efficacy and Safety of Corticosteroid Treatment in Patients With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
COVID-19 is a type of pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that was identified in December 2019. Corticosteroid therapy was empirically used for clinical treatment in the early stage of the disease outbreak; however, data regarding its efficacy and safety are controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid therapy in patients with COVID-19. ⋯ The findings of our study indicate that corticosteroid therapy is not highly effective, but it appears to improve prognosis and promote clinical recovery in patients with severe COVID-19.
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Frontiers in pharmacology · Jan 2020
Comparative Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Injections for Pulmonary Heart Disease: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Given the severity of pulmonary heart disease and the wide utilization of Chinese herbal injections, this network meta-analysis was devised to assess the comparative efficacy of seven Chinese herbal injections (Ciwujia injection, Dazhuhongjingtan injection, Huangqi injection, Shenfu injection, Shengmai injection, Shenmai injection, and Shenqi Fuzheng injection) that were combined with Western medicines in the treatment of pulmonary heart disease. ⋯ In conclusion, Shenfu injection+ Western medicines, Shenmai injection+ Western medicines and Shenqi Fuzheng injection+ Western medicines may be potential optimal treatments for pulmonary heart disease. A larger sample size and high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm and support this network meta-analysis.
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Frontiers in pharmacology · Jan 2020
The Effects of Salvianolate Combined With Western Medicine on Diabetic Nephropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Salvianolate, a compound mainly composed of salvia magnesium acetate, is extracted from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. Because of its biological activity, easy quality control and certain efficacy, salvianolate is widely used in treating ischemic cardiocerebral vascular disease, liver damage, renal injury, diabetes, and its complications. Particularly, it has potential protective effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN). ⋯ This study indicated that salvianolate combined with western medicine contributes to protecting renal function, inhibiting inflammation, and exhibiting anti-oxidative properties, thereby improving clinical efficacy. Thus, salvianolate can be considered as a potential complementary therapy for DN patients. However, due to the low quality of methodology and small sample sizes, more rigorous and larger trials are essential to validate our results.
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Frontiers in pharmacology · Jan 2020
Dazhu Hongjingtian Preparation as Adjuvant Therapy for Unstable Angina Pectoris: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Objective: Dazhu hongjingtian [DZHJT, Rhodiola wallichiana var. cholaensis (Praeger) S. H. Fu] preparation as an add-on therapy has been applied to the treatment of angina pectoris. ⋯ Conclusion: Adjuvant treatment with DZHJT has an add-on effect in reducing angina pectoris attacks in patients with UAP. The beneficial effect may be correlated with regulating whole-blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, thromboxanes B2, and CRP level. However, future well-designed prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials with large sample sizes are required to evaluate the evidence.
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Frontiers in pharmacology · Jan 2020
Intrathecal Oxytocin Improves Spontaneous Behavior and Reduces Mechanical Hypersensitivity in a Rat Model of Postoperative Pain.
The first few days post-surgery, patients experience intense pain, hypersensitivity and consequently tend to have minor locomotor activity to avoid pain. Certainly, injury to peripheral tissues produces pain and increases sensitivity to painful (hyperalgesia) and non-painful (allodynia) stimuli. In this regard, preemptive pharmacological treatments to avoid or diminish pain after surgery are relevant. ⋯ Hypersensitivity was evaluated using von Frey filaments, whereas spontaneous activity (total distance, vertical activity episodes, and time spent in the center of the box) was assessed in real time using a semiautomated open-field system. Under these conditions, we found that animals pretreated with spinal oxytocin before plantar incision showed a diminution of hypersensitivity and an improvement of spontaneous behavior (particularly total distance and vertical activity episodes). This report provides a basis for addressing the therapeutic relevance of oxytocin as a potential preemptive analgesic molecule.